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Sourav Ganguly and Anil Kumble will both play in India’s next game in the TVS Cup, against Australia at Bangalore on Nov 12. According to a BCCI press release, Ganguly has recovered from his injury and will resume the captaincy. Kumble, who had taken time off following the death of his father, will rejoin the team in place of Sairaj Bahutule.Ricky Ponting, Australia’s captain, said that India would benefit from Ganguly’s return. “Ganguly is a very good leader,” he said. “His return to the field will bring a spring in the steps of the Indians. He is a great one-day player who has more than 20 one-day hundreds to his name.”

It is a subject of feverish speculation as to how the portable pitch to be used in Darwin for Bangladesh’s historic international matches there will behave. Dav Whatmore, Bangadesh’s coach, believes that it might be a slow one.Speaking to ABC Radio, Whatmore said: “It’s a drop-in pitch. [There] seems to be some indication it might be slow but we’ll never really know until you start playing.”Bangladesh will not have to wait long to find out. On Friday they take on the Chief Minister’s XI, less than a week after their two-wicket win over the Commonwealth Bank Academy side. If Whatmore’s prognosis about the pitch is confirmed, they will face the Australian new-ball attack with somewhat more confidence than you’d expect from international cricket’s fledglings.Meanwhile the Chief Minister, Clare Martin, has announced the team to play Bangladesh. The local side has been bolstered by the inclusion of Michael Clarke, who will captain the team, and Australian allrounder Nathan Hauritz, who played for Queensland’s Academy XI in Bangladesh’s first tour game.”I wanted to give Territorians an opportunity to play against Bangladesh,” said Martin, “and I know a squad of local cricketers have been training in preparation for the match.”James Sutherland, Cricket Australia’s chief executive, said that the decision to include two CA-contracted players would help generate further interest in the game. Clarke and Hauritz have recently returned from the tour to West Indies and represent Australia’s next generation of players, having already played for the national side in one-day intenationals.Martin also renewed a call for volunteers, inviting Territorians to grab the opportunity to be involved in the staging of international cricket. She said that each volunteer would have an opportunity to watch the cricket after performing their duties, which would take up only three hours of their time. Apart from free entry, they would also receive a free polo shirt and hat, lunch and an opportunity to be involved in one of Territory’s major sporting events.Chief Minister’s XI squad
Michael Clarke (captain), Darren Treumer (vice-captain), Terry Bayly, Nick Berry, Anthony Dent, Mark Hatton, Brad Hatton, Nathan Hauritz, Tim Knox, Adrian McAdam, Ian Redpath, Ken Skewes, Ken Vowles, Ashley Williams.

Yesterday, it was Robert Croft the batsman who was the scourge of Derbyshire. Today, itwas Croft the bowler who left the visitors in danger of following-on intheir Championship match at Swansea.At the end of another rain-affected day, Derbyshire were teetering on 190-8, still 205runs behind Glamorgan, with Croft having taken 5/61 from 27 overs on a wicket that,as expected, gave assistance to the spin bowlers.Dean Cosker also picked up two wickets including the prized scalps of Mohammad Kaif,Derbyshire`s newly registered overseas player and their captain Dominic Cork. Coskerfinished a good day`s work with figures of 2/44 from his 16 overs.Derbyshire`s tailenders will resume in the morning battling to avoid the follow-on, whilst Glamorgan`s supporters will be hoping that the rain, whichprevented any play in the morning session today stays away from Swansea Bay tomorrow,as the Glamorgan spinners look to press home the advantage they gained in the 65 overs today, and secure Glamorgan`s first win over Derbyshire at St.Helen`s ground since 1970..

Regional Group 11

Second Round Draw on 12th MayMatch A – Bashley (Rydal) v Waterlooville
Match B – Thatcham Town v Havant
Match C – Hungerford v Cove
Match D – Basingstoke & North Hants v Falkland
Match E – Portsmouth v Lymington
Match F – South Wilts v Gosport Borough
Match G – Burridge v Winchester K.S.
Match H – Ventnor v Andover
Third Round Draw – 26th MayMatch I – Thatcham Town or Havant v Bashley (Rydal) or Waterlooville
Match J – Basingstoke & NH or Falkland v Hungerford or Cove
Match K – South Wilts or Gosport Borough v Portsmouth or Lymington
Match L – Ventnor or Andover v Burridge or Winchester K.S.
Fourth Round Draw – 9th JuneMatch M – Winners Match I v Winners Match J
Match N – Winners Match K v Winners Match L
Fifth Round Draw – 20th JuneWinners Match N v Winners Match M

Four years ago when Australia visited the West Indies, Corey Collymore took on the Aussies and looked to be the genuine article.Four years on the world champions are on their way back to the region and Collymore is still waiting for his second West Indies Test cap.The tall, accurate seam bowler has struggled with injury, but this has not fazed him. His aim for now is to do well for Barbados in the upcoming Carib Beer International Challenge matches and take it from there. The Bajans meet Trinidad and Tobago in tomorrow’s semifinal at Kensington Oval."I’m focused on doing well for Barbados and helping my country to win the tournament," Collymore said in a rare interview after yesterday’s training session at Queen’s Park."I just want to put in my best performances and leave it up to the selectors. I know what it is like at the top [in West Indies team] and my aim is to stay there, but I’ll just take it step by step."Since recovering from a near career-ending back injury three years ago, the 25-year-old Collymore has been selected only for One-Day Internationals by the West Indies selectors.He was a member of the ill-starred West Indies side at the recent World Cup in South Africa, but did not bowl in his only match against Bangladesh at Benoni.He has chalked up 32 One-Dayers and this has left him branded as a "One-Day player" and not suited to the longer version of the game."I rate myself as a cricketer in the true sense of the word, not a One-Day cricketer," he said. "I have taken over 60 wickets in about 16 matches for Barbados in four-day cricket so that speaks for itself."In his career he has managed 90 wickets in 28 first-class matches since his debut five years ago. His best figures are six for 109 against Guyana at Kensington Oval."I have fully overcome my back injuries, but this has caused me to be more chest-on and as a result I have lost a bit of my pace. I still move the ball around and I feel good about the way I’m bowling right now."I need to put in a bit more work to get everything in the right place and by Friday I’ll be ready."

Unlikely as it might have seemed a month ago, the player who may be under most threat of missing out on the New Zealand team for the World Cup is Chris Harris.The most experienced player in New Zealand’s One-Day International history, Harris has played most matches 216, and scored 3955 runs with a strike rate of 67 while he has also taken 192 wickets with an economy rate of 4.31.An outstanding servant of the game, Harris has fashioned a superb record and has become known as a reliable performer under duress with many outstanding innings in the latter stages of New Zealand batting efforts.As legendary figures go in New Zealand ODI cricket, Harris is near the top of the pole.No-one has played more matches, taken more wickets or taken more catches than the 87 he has held. And probably no-one has made more run outs or saved more runs.But the quandary the New Zealand selectors face is the advance of several other all-rounders, with whom he is in competition for a place. Scott Styris and Kyle Mills are the obvious contenders because Jacob Oram has leap-frogged them both to claim his place in emphatic fashion over the last week. The call-up of Michael Mason as a replacement for Shane Bond is another indication of a possible line the selectors are taking.At best, Harris may be in the side but more of a bit player, dependent on conditions, for his opportunity than has been the case in the past.And if the selectors have been watching Harris closely in State Shield, they will have noted he was out for a duck and had 34 runs hit from his six overs in the first match and did better with 45 off 75 balls and two for 29 off 10 in the second game.Mills had a second chance for New Zealand in their second ODI at Napier. Styris was also out for a duck in Northern Districts’ match against Auckland while bowling he conceded only seven runs from his first seven overs. Then in ND’s game against Canterbury he scored the match-winning 91 off 105 balls to secure his place.Pressure has clearly been on Craig McMillan to do better than in the last few months, but he scored a century in Pakistan and had two scores of 83 and 69 in the West Indies so as an incumbent he has experience and performance on his side.For the rest however, the side picks itself.It seems Stephen Fleming and Nathan Astle will open the innings. Mathew Sinclair has taken his chances at No 3. McMillan will be at No 4 with Lou Vincent at No 5 and Chris Cairns at No 6 should he prove to be fit. Oram shapes at No 7 and Brendon McCullum at No 8. That leaves room for Daniel Vettori, Daryl Tuffey and Bond in the 11 of preference. Missing are Andre Adams and Styris who are likely to be in the touring party. Either one of them could replace Sinclair or Vincent depending on the preferences for matches. So that leaves two more spots to be filled. Fighting for them are Harris, Paul Hitchcock, Mills and now, it seems, Mason.Whether the selectors see the necessity for both Harris and Hitchcock will determine Mills’ fate, with Mason the genuine outsider.That is how close the call is going to be for the selectors.It is difficult to see anyone coming from outside this group of players but there has rarely been a World Cup selection without one surprise in it.This could be the World Cup side: Stephen Fleming (captain), Nathan Astle, Mathew Sinclair, Craig McMillan, Lou Vincent, Chris Cairns, Jacob Oram, Brendon McCullum, Andre Adams, Scott Styris, Daniel Vettori, Daryl Tuffey, Shane Bond, Chris Harris, Paul Hitchcock.

Harbhajan Singh has warned New Zealand of a gruelling upcoming tour of India, saying that the hosts had not forgotten the 2-0 series drubbing late last year on fresh, batting-unfriendly wickets in New Zealand.”In India we don’t play in gardens like they do in New Zealand,” he said ina television interview. “I can’t wait to get my hands on the ball and have a go at the Kiwis. They will struggle here.”But Harbhajan hastened to point out that India would not prepare vicious turners to defeat New Zealand. “I have forgotten the last time we played on a square turner in India,” he said. “Wickets here are good for both batsmen and bowlers.”The whole team is looking to avenge the defeat in New Zealand. We want toshow we can beat them on good wickets.”

Karnataka pulled off a three-wicket win against Delhi in the finals of the HSBC National Cricket Tournament for the Blind at the SPIC-YMCA ground in Chennai. The final was the obverse of the last league match between the same two teams yesterday at the Southern Railway Ground, a match that was won by Delhi. Shekar Nayak was the chief architect of today’s victory with a majestic ton.Delhi won the toss and decided to bat first, echoing yesterday’s decision. They scored 291 for the loss of nine wickets in the allotted 40 overs. Delhi openers Ram Karan and Pratap Bisht batted splendidly and added a mammoth 177 for the first wicket before the former fell to a direct hit from Manjunath after making 65 (74 balls, 3×4). Bisht made 39 (110 balls, 1×4), but his effort contributed 78 runs to the team score as he was completely blind.Barring Sunil Kadyan, the rest of Delhi’s batsmen failed to impress; Kadyan remained unbeaten on 40 off just 36 deliveries with two hits to the ropes. The Karnataka bowlers continued with their habit of gifting extras, with 53 wides and 25 no-balls featuring in the 86 extras. Manjunath was the pick of the Karnataka bowlers with three for 33 from his eight overs. Mahesh had a good day in the field, picking up two wickets and also effecting two stumpings.Chasing 292, Karnataka reached the target with just 11 balls to spare. Shekar Nayak was rightly adjudged the Man of the Match for his mammoth 161 off 138 balls with 13 fours. He won the match singlehandedly for Karnataka today, with the extras (62) being the next highest individual score.Nethraj gave good company to Nayak and scored 20 runs and contributing 40 to the team total. Like the Delhi middle order, the Karnataka middle order too failed to score runs. In fact, towards the end, Karnataka lost wickets in a hurry. When even Nayak was dismissed, Ravikumar held his nerve and made an important run-a-ball 17 not out. For Delhi, Gaur, Ram Karan and Ramesh Kumar picked a wicket each.Nayak also won the Man of the Series award in the partially sighted category for his consistent performances through the four days of the tournament. Bisht was the Man of the Series in the totally blind category and Mahesh in the partially blind category.The awards ceremony after the match was presided over by Ashok Kumbhat, Honorary Secretary of the Tamil Nadu Cricket Association. Prakash Kuruvilla, Senior Manager – South India, HSBC, was the chief guest, and he handed over the trophies and prizes. Badri Seshadri, MD, CricInfo India Pvt. Ltd., offered a speech of thanks at the end of the ceremony, bringing to an end a tournament that should go a long way in promoting the worthwhile cause of blind cricket.

Yorkshire paved the way for an exciting climax to the season by making a surprise declaration against Essex at Scarborough when trailing by 146 runs on the first innings.As soon as Yorkshire had reached 104 for five and avoided the follow-on, skipper David Byas injected much-needed life into the rain-hit game by making his declaration and by the close of the third day Essex were 48 for three and leading by 194.Essex, who resumed their first innings in the morning on 99 for three, collapsed after lunch to 250 all out, the last four wickets going down for 19 runs in six overs.Star of the show for Yorkshire was Matthew Hoggard who warmed up for his winter tours with England by capturing career-best figures of six for 51.He was far more accurate than his new ball partner, Steven Kirby, who went for 81 runs in 15 overs, sending down 15 no-balls and failing to claim a wicket. In one over, Graham Napier smashed him for 18 off three consecutive deliveries with a four and two sixes, one of which was hit off a no-ball.Ashley Cowan and Justin Bishop both picked up a couple of early wickets as a number of poor strokes reduced Yorkshire to 37 for four but Anthony McGrath helped stage a recovery with a solid 29 before being trapped lbw by Napier.The brightest of Yorkshire’s batting came from Byas who middled the ball well and he had advanced to 41 when he hit the boundary which brought the declaration.Hoggard struck a further blow with his second ball which dismissed Darren Robinson lbw and it became nine for two when Richard Clinton was caught at point off Kirby.Former Yorkshire all-rounder Paul Grayson batted well but after making 33 he mistimed a pull at Kirby and was caught by Vic Craven but soon afterwards the last four overs of the day were lost to bad light.