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SYDNEY, Nov 14 AAP – Test batsman Darren Lehmann and South Australian opener David Fitzgerald stood up against a star-studded NSW and set the Redbacks off to a blazing start in their Pura Cup cricket match at the SCG today.NSW captain Steve Waugh’s decision to send SA in to bat on a green wicket in gloomy conditions appeared to have backfired before Brett Lee took his third five-wicket haul in as many innings to put the visitors at 5-319 at stumps.By the close of play on day one, John Davison was not out nine and Shane Deitz was on four following a record 191-run stand between Lehmann and Fitzgerald.Lehmann fell just shy of his century with 97 while Fitzgerald carved out an elegant 153, the pair’s partnership SA’s best for the second wicket against NSW at the Sydney ground.SA went into the match severely undermanned with Test paceman Jason Gillespie being rested and star batsman Greg Blewett on Australia A duties.To make matters worse, Redbacks bowler Damien Fleming was a late withdrawal with a shoulder injury and batsman Chris Davies pulled out with a hamstring complaint last night.NSW on the other hand had Michael Bevan, Michael Slater, Simon Katich and Stuart MacGill joining Lee and the Waugh brothers.Lee continued his campaign for a Test re-call following his 10-wicket haul against Tasmania last weekend in response to his axing from the first Ashes Test in Brisbane.The 26-year-old, who was today predictably selected in Australia’s 12-man squad for next week’s Adelaide Test, took all of the Blues’ wickets to finish with 5-80 from 25 overs.After an initial five-over spell, Lee returned to the attack in the 20th over and struck with a sizzling third delivery.The ball struck Ben Johnson’s bat high as the left-hander fell backwards and the ball popped into the air, finding the safe hands of Steve Waugh, running in from gully to take a strong catch diving forward and dismissing the batsman for 29.The Blues missed out on taking another wicket in the first over after lunch when Fitzgerald, on 30, edged a Don Nash delivery with SA on 1-83.Wicketkeeper Nathan Pilon – standing in for Australia A gloveman Brad Haddin – got his hand to the ball as he stretched forward and to his right but failed to take the difficult chance.Pilon also spilled a chance off Lehmann when he was on 47 and the score 1-131.Attempting to take a catch off the bowling of Nathan Bracken, Pilon dived across first slip Katich but the ball bounced off his glove and hit Katich on the chin, forcing the fielder off the ground for treatment.The Blues introduced Mark Waugh, the man Lehmann replaced in the Test side, in a bid to break the partnership, but to no avail and SA went to tea at 1-209.It was not until Lee was brought back into the attack half an hour after the break that the breakthrough came, the paceman clean bowling Lehmann with the first ball of his spell.Fitzgerald took SA past the 300 mark before Lee found a top edge to have him caught behind.Lee then dismissed Ben Higgins (13) and Mark Higgs (0) with successive balls.

Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB)’s decision to include Performance Based Emoluments clause in the original players’ contract offered to the Zimbabwe-bound national squad could lead to the cricketers becoming easy prey for bookmakers.PCB Monday announced cash incentives for individual performances.A player, besides getting his usual match and slab fee, will have earn additional 20 per cent reward if Pakistan win either a Test or a One-day International. Similarly, the same will be deducted in case Pakistan lose a match. But the real problem lies in the cash awards made public for individual performances. PCB promises to hand out Rs 100,000 each to anyone scoring a century, claiming five wickets in innings, holding four catches or run-outs and wicket-keeper effecting four dismissals in an innings.In addition, a batsman making 200 or more in an innings expects to earn another Rs 250,000. Another amount of Rs 200,000 will be dished to any bowler picking up six or more wickets in an innings.To earn these rewards, the players will have to toil extremely hard in the sun to achieve the desired milestones. But what if a shady character, without arousing any suspicion, somehow manages to contact some players and offer more attractive bounties.For instance, a player just might think why he has to put in extra effort to get what the PCB has offered. He would easily strike a hefty deal with one of the bookies and under perform and yet get more without sweating much. Suppose a player is offered Rs 200,000 for scoring, say something like 20-40 or take a couple of wickets.To stop this menace, it would had been wiser for PCB’s top brass to reward players at the end of the tour without making prior announcement as they did Monday.

Any player representative recognition by the International Cricket Council (ICC) has to be when all Test players are represented by that body.When addressing a press conference at the Taj Samudra Hotel in Colombo onSaturday, ICC president Malcolm Gray and chief executive Malcolm Speed spoke in detailabout ICC’s views on the Federation of International Cricketers’ Associations (FICA) and player representation.Gray said: “As a central body, it will be easier for us todeal with a body that represents the players, as compared with theindividuals.”Some countries do have well-organised players’ associations. In turnthose country player associations have come together to form FICA.However, It is the belief of the board of ICC that FICA at presentdoes not really represent all the international players,” he added.Gray explained the reasons for FICA not being recognised as theglobal players body. Without specifically naming any member boards,Gray definitely threw some darts at some members.He said: “There aresome national boards who do not believe in players being representedby player associations. A paper was presented to the ICC board to giveFICA more representation and the board didn’t agree with that.”There is a paper going forward to the next board meeting (to be heldon Monday and Tuesday in Colombo), whereby players will be given farbetter representation and voice in the management within ICC. Nowwhether that gets approved is something I can’t say,” said Gray.Having said that, Gray played the diplomatic card, “ICC respects thesovereignty and the right of the individual boards to have their ownviews, in regard to player management. It is not up to us to interferein the internal affairs of a country.”Chief executive Malcolm Speed elaborated on the player representationissue.”In seven countries there are player representative groups. In theother countries there are no such representative groups, and they arequite vigorously opposed to having player representative groups.”In October last year the management put forward a paper to the ICCboard that FICA be given limited recognition to be invited toparticipate in different forms of ICC meetings. First of all, thechief executives of the boards rejected that. They were led by thechief executives of the countries that do not have formal playerrepresentative groups.”Same recommendation went to the board and didn’t achieve thenecessary majority. For something to be resolved at the ICC executive board meeting, youneed seven of the full member countries to vote for it,” he added.The ICC management under the two Malcolms from Australia have now putthe onus on India’s BCCI to negotiate with the Indian players. Given what theICC management have to say about the player representation, it isquite apparent that the Indian players have to slug it out at homewith their board.

Vasbert Drakes gets a big hug from his son Dominic as they relaxed at Kensington Oval yesterday evening.Barbadian cricketer Vasbert Drakes has answered a last-minute call from the West Indies selectors and is ready to play a starring role in the upcoming International Cricket Council mini World Cup in Sri Lanka.Drakes, who has been out of West Indies cricket for seven years due to the old eligibility rule, leaves the island today to join the rest of the 14-man side.The 33-year-old turned down a lucrative contract with South African provincial side Border to wear the Windies colours."Border has been loyal to me for many years, but at the end of the day, which little boy growing up in the Caribbean wouldn’t want to play for the West Indies," he said.

Somerset Second Eleven have suffered the effects of the weather on both of the first two days of their three day championship match against Yorkshire at Taunton.Yesterday the visitors scored 250 for 3 before the rains fell to put paid to the day just before teatime.Today play did not get underway until 1.30pm, and then after just 8.5 overs the rains fell again and play was abandoned for the day with Yorkshire having taken their score onto 290 for 3.With heavy rain having fallen since play ended, both teams could well face another frustrating day on Friday.

A three-day finish looks certain at Southampton after 22 wickets fell on day two between Hampshire and Lancashire. Hampshire, 45 for two overnight, were dismissed for just 132, with Ricky Anderson taking six for 23. Lancashire were then bowled out for 187, with Shaun Udal (five for 59) completing a nine-wicket haul in the match. Veteran Neil Fairbrother was Lancashire’s top scorer with 39. It means that the hosts must score the highest total of the match – 239 – to win it, which on the evidence so far would be no mean achievement. At stumps it looked decidedly distant, with Hampshire on 54 for four.Surrey are favourites to wrap up their sixth Championship win of the season after they were left needing 237 to win by Yorkshire. A career-best 124 by Michael Lumb and a half century from Richard Blakey carried Yorkshire to a respectable 446 all out in their second innings, but by the end of the day it was looking less than adequate. Although they had lost three wickets by stumps, the in-form Ian Ward is still there on 67 and the hosts must fancy their chances of knocking off the 126 runs they need tomorrow.Kent look even likelier winners at Grace Road, even though a century from the evergreen Phil DeFreitas propped up the lower Leicestershire order. Iain Sutcliffe (103) and Michael Bevan (61) were today’s other main contributors as the hosts were dismissed for 400 in their second innings, leaving Kent needing just 193 for victory. Martin Saggers (four for 68) and David Masters (three for 86) were the main wicket-takers. Kent closed on 66 for one, also with another 126 needed.Sussex are pursuing a rather tougher target at Edgbaston after Warwickshire declared at 284 for six, leaving the visitors needing 401 for victory. Nick Knight (97) completed a remarkable match tally of 342 runs, and contributions all down the order then enabled the declaration. Sussex then made the worst start imaginable, losing Murray Goodwin lbw to Alan Richardson without a run on the board. At stumps they were five for one.In Division Two, Durham remain at the foot of the table after losing at home to Nottinghamshire by eight wickets. Following on, the home side were bowled out for 328 after another disappointing day with the bat. They lost five wickets for 37 runs in a mid-innings collapse with Andrew Harris (four for 60) the pick of the bowlers. Guy Welton then led his side to victory with an unbeaten 42.Essex will go into day four of their clash with Glamorgan confident of avoiding defeat at Chelmsford. The home side found it easy going after eventually dismissing Glamorgan for 575 – Steve James was out for 249. Will Jefferson (102) scored his maiden Championship century in a superb 173-run stand for the first wicket with Darren Robinson (119). With plenty of batting still to come the home side closed the day on 281 for two, trailing by 63 runs.Dominic Cork (three for 53) and Tom Lungley (three for 40) helped Derbyshire restrict Northants to 210. Only Jeffrey Cook (88) rose to the challenge as the hosts wilted in the sun. In reply, the visitors struggled to build on their lead as off-spinners Graeme Brown (three for 71) and Jason Brown (two for 71) bowled for most of the day. At stumps Derbyshire, at 188 for six, held a commanding lead of 366.Paul Weekes (102) and Phil Tufnell (seven for 49) were outstanding for Middlesex with bat and ball respectively after Gloucestershire lost control of their clash at Cheltenham. Needing 127 to avoid the follow-on, the visitors were grateful for a 114-run seventh-wicket partnership between Weekes and wicket-keeper David Nash (43) and ended on 363 all out. The hosts then struggled against Tufnell, who bowled with greater conviction as the innings progressed. Gloucestershire lost six wickets for just 43, and ended the day on 175 for eight, a lead of 306.

The Tasmanian Cricket Association’s Chief Executive, David Johnston, today announced 16 State contracted players and 2 Rookie contracted players.2002/2003 Tasmanian Contracted Players

• Jamie Cox
• Michael DiVenuto
• Daniel Marsh
• David Saker
• Gerard Denton
• Damien Wright
• Scott Kremerskothen
• Sean Clingeleffer
• Scott Mason
• Shannon Tubb
• Shane Jurgensen
• George Bailey
• Xavier Doherty
• Ben Oliver
• Luke Williams
• Michael Dighton

Rookies

• Ben Hilfenhaus
• Brett Geeves

The squad also includes Ricky Ponting and Shane Watson who are both Australian Cricket Board contracted players.The States must register between 14 and 20 State Player contracts and between 2 and 5 rookie contracts by September 28.

Avesh Khan and Venkatesh Iyer have been asked by the BCCI to stay on in the UAE after the completion of the IPL to join Umran Malik as net bowlers for the Indian team during the T20 World Cup. As things stand, they are not part of the list of standby players, which currently includes Shreyas Iyer, Shardul Thakur and Deepak Chahar, though India – like the other teams – have until October 15 to make changes to their final squad for the competition.Related

• Venkatesh Iyer, the 'Stephen Fleming clone' who turned KKR's season around

• Shardul Thakur replaces Axar Patel in India's T20 World Cup squad

• Umran Malik to stay back in UAE as net bowler for India's T20 World Cup campaign

• Avesh Khan wants to be a bowler who can produce what his captain wants

Avesh had travelled with India to England earlier this year after a series of starring performances for Delhi Capitals in the first leg of the IPL. But he had to return home after injuring his thumb during a tour game, and while he has been on the fringes of the national team, Iyer’s inclusion in the list of “net bowlers” came as a bit of a surprise, primarily because while he bowls seam-up, it is as an opening batter for Kolkata Knight Riders that he has made a name.Iyer, a Madhya Pradesh player who made his List A and T20 debuts in 2015 and then his first-class debut in 2018, has been one of the finds of the second leg of the IPL in the UAE, where he has been a big performer, especially with the bat at the top of the order for Knight Riders. He has so far scored 265 runs in eight innings at a strike rate of 123.25. He has also picked up three wickets in 7.3 overs – including 2 for 29 in a league match against Delhi Capitals – while returning an economy rate of 8.53.Avesh Khan is the Delhi Capitals’ leading wicket-taker in IPL 2021•BCCI

Avesh, meanwhile, has continued to be one of the stars for Capitals, and is their leading wicket-taker by far: 23 in 15 games with an economy rate of 7.50, eight strikes ahead of second-placed Axar Patel, who has 15.The third member of the net bowlers’ line-up, Malik, has been another outsider to have turned heads at the ongoing IPL, primarily because of his pace and ability to crank it up to above 150kph regularly. The 21-year-old Jammu & Kashmir rookie was promoted from net bowler to the Sunrisers Hyderabad squad proper after T Natarajan had to miss the second leg of the IPL because of Covid-19-related issues. A rank newbie, Malik was included in the XI for Sunrisers’ last three games, after the team had been knocked out of the competition, and he impressed with his pace, even though he didn’t end up picking up too many wickets – just two – and has tended to be a bit wayward at times.All the India players have been in the UAE for the past few weeks because of the IPL, and will get together in time for their first warm-up game, against Australia on October 18, three days after the completion of the IPL. Their second and final, warm-up game is against South Africa on October 20, and they will kickstart their campaign in the main tournament on October 24, against Pakistan.

Daryl Mitchell, the Worcestershire opener, will retire at the end of this season after nearly two decades at New Road.The 37-year-old Mitchell will call time on his career after his side’s final Championship match of the year against Leicestershire, beginning at New Road on September 21.Mitchell has made more than 500 appearances across all formats for Worcestershire since his senior debut in 2005. He has scored 13,874 first-class runs at an average of 38.75 and has 38 centuries to his name, putting him among the top-six century-makers for Worcestershire. He also has 3874 List A runs and 2310 runs in T20s and is the only Worcestershire player to have taken 100 T20 wickets.Mitchell captained Worcestershire for six seasons and spent four years as chair of the Professional Cricketers’ Association, where he is now director of cricket operations and the chair of its newly formed advocacy group. He will take up working with the PCA full-time in October.Related

• Doughty Danny Lamb, Tom Bailey make Nottinghamshire battle for vital victory

• Lyndon James, Tom Moores rough up Lancashire's bowlers

• Brett Hutton makes his stats count as Nottinghamshire seize the upper hand

• Matt Fisher trawls through Somerset once more as Yorkshire harvest two-day rout

• Worcestershire slip towards heavy defeat after Jack Leaning, Sam Billings lead way for Kent

“I’m in a lucky and privileged position to be able to transition from playing to that role and really excited about that for the future,” Mitchell said. “Hopefully, I can go out with a bit of a bang with a couple of hundreds and a couple of wins. That’s the plan.”I have nothing but fond memories here at New Road. I’ve had a brilliant career here and played with some fantastic people and I’m looking forward to coming next year as a fan. This place is very close to my heart, and I guess I’ll go full circle and bring the kids down next year just like my dad used to bring me.”Fanos Hira, Worcestershire CCC chair, said: “Daryl has been an outstanding, loyal and committed player for our club. He has been supremely impressive on the field, and having dealt with him on many matters off the field, I am sure he has a very healthy future in sports administration. In many ways, he is a role model for elite sportsman as they transition to a new life after sport.”

Twenty-year old quick Lungi Ngidi has not recovered from the hip injury he sustained during the third T20 against Sri Lanka in Cape Town two weeks ago and will not travel with South Africa’s limited-overs squad to New Zealand. David Miller, who is sitting out the rest of the ongoing series against Sri Lanka after he required stitches to his hand, has recovered and will travel with 14-man group to play one T20 and five ODIs, starting next Friday.The only addition to the outfit that leads Sri Lanka 4-0 with a game to play is that of Cobras’ bowler Dane Paterson, who will travel as cover for Dwaine Pretorius who is awaiting the birth of his first child. Paterson was capped for a T20 against Sri Lanka but has yet to make his ODI debut. He will travel with the squad from Saturday and is expected to remain with them for the lone T20 and the first ODI. He will return home once baby Pretorius arrives and Dwaine is available to travel.”We, as selectors are very happy with the way the squad has gelled over the past 6 months and consistency in selection is very important as we continue our build-up towards the ICC Champions Trophy tournament,” Linda Zondi, South Africa’s convener of selectors said.The lack of changes to the South African squad comes after they won two successive series at home – 5-0 against Australia and the victory over Sri Lanka which may yet become a whitewash – and suggests South Africa have largely settled on their Champions Trophy squad. After the New Zealand series, they will play three ODIs in England in May in preparation for the tournament and if they were going to trial any different combinations, they would have used their time in New Zealand to do so.With Paterson only included as a short-term replacement, though, there may yet be a spot for Ngidi, who will likely play in the domestic one-day cup when he regains fitness. South Africa have yet to decide who will take the new ball and have experimented between Kagiso Rabada, Wayne Parnell and Pretorius.South Africa will expect New Zealand to present a sterner challenge than Sri Lanka, especially since they recently beat Australia in an ODI series, but will also place an emphasis on conditions which could be similar to England’s early season. If South Africa beat Sri Lanka in the final ODI on Friday, they will travel there as the No.1 ranked ODI side. New Zealand are in third place.South Africa squad: AB de Villiers (capt), Faf du Plessis, Hashim Amla, Farhaan Behardien, Quinton de Kock (wk), JP Duminy, Imran Tahir, David Miller, Chris Morris, Wayne Parnell, Dane Paterson, Andile Phehlukwayo, Dwaine Pretorius, Kagiso Rabada, Tabraiz Shamsi