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The Gambia Cricket Association (GCA) plans to open a National Cricket Academy at the newly-renovated July 22 Square Grounds in Banjul, the capital city.Johnny Gomez, a GCA development officer, said in , a Gambian newspaper, that a full-time coach will be stationed at the academy, which will run from 8.00am to 2.00pm daily.”We have a standard bowling machine donated by the International Cricket Council, and other necessary equipment to start an academy,” Gomez continued. “The ground has the capacity to accommodate three pitches at a time.”He added that the goal of the academy was to build an interest in the game among Gambian children, and hopefully create professional cricketers. “We want to penetrate the grass roots for the development of the game, back to the level it was decades ago.”The Gambia was elected to affiliate status by the ICC in 2002.

Gordon Parsons has been appointed as the new coach of the Highveld Lions for the 2005-06 season. Parsons, the former Boland and Free State fast bowler, will replace Shukri Conrad, who was named the Western Province/Boland coach.Parsons is no stranger to the Lions set-up, as he had assisted Conrad in coaching the Lions during the 2004-05 season when the franchise system was put in place. “I am excited about the challenge that lies ahead,” said Parsons at a press conference at the Wanderers. “You know there is a lot of to do to win silverware.” He added that he would like to utilise the young talented players within the franchise system instead of contracting an overseas player, giving the young ones the opportunity to prove themselves.Parsons said that the Lions have a balanced team with talented young players as well as established ones who could provide guidance to the youngsters. He also said that the only major change the team would have to make next season would be to play more confidently on the field.Allan Kourie, the Lions CEO, said, “We took continuity into consideration, being that he already worked with Shukri, the players know him. It’s good if you look at that Charl Langeveldt, Garnet Kruger, David Tebrugge worked pretty close with him.”

Stephen Fleming, the New Zealand captain, admitted that his team put in a below-par performance against Zimbabwe on Wednesday, but said that the display would help the players focus better for the rest of the Videocon Cup tournament. New Zealand were patchy with both bat and ball, scoring only 238 – a big come-down from the 397 they amassed against Zimbabwe in their earlier game – and then allowed their opponents to get to within 27 runs of victory.”The adrenaline was running a bit because it got quite close at the end, but that was good for us,” Fleming said after the match. “We didn’t play well throughout, we never really got out of second gear but sometimes you need those kind of wins. They keep you focused for the rest of the tournament. We stuttered our way through the innings and scraped to 238 – against India we’ve got to be better than that.”Fleming, though, wasn’t too concerned by the relative closeness of the contest. “It’s a good exercise for us, a line in the sand as to where we need to be,” he said. “Twice now we’ve fallen short of that mark, but it’s not going to take much to get there.”New Zealand have already confirmed their place in the final with an all-win record in three games. With India almost certain to be their opponents in that match, Friday’s contest between the two will be a warm-up to the final, allowing each team to size up the other. “We can look at what we want to get out of it [Friday’s match],” Fleming said. “We want to win, firstly, but we can look at other things like whatever information there is to be gathered because there is the bigger picture to consider.”One worry for them would be the fitness of Chris Cairns, their star allrounder who missed Wednesday’s match due to a strained hamstring. “His hamstring is a bit tight and we’re nursing him through,” Fleming said. “Hopefully he’ll be fit for the game against India because he needs the cricket under his belt after coming out of a New Zealand winter.”Meanwhile, Tatenda Taibu, the Zimbabwe captain, was quite pleased with his team’s fighting performance. “We’ve definitely improved in our bowling and in the field, and our batting is also better,” Taibu said. “It was getting close at the end, and maybe we should have been more positive at the start and in the middle of our innings. We’ve been having problems against the new ball, so my message to the guys was to try and spend more time at the crease and get some confidence back.”

Brett Lee says Australia will spend a few days “taking the pressure off” before Saturday’s tour game against Essex at Chelmsford. Australia, who narrowly lost the fourth Test on Sunday and are behind 2-1 in the series, will have two days in London before starting their preparation for the final Test at The Oval starting on September 8.Lee said the team was very upset and disappointed to lose by three wickets after “a very tough four days” at Trent Bridge. “We can’t reflect over what’s happened in the past too much,” he told . “We can have a few days away from cricket, we can enjoy it and have a game of golf. Do whatever takes the pressure off.”Since returning to the Test side at Lord’s, Lee has made valuable contributions with 152 runs at 30.40, including being not out at the end of the second and third Tests, and 19 wickets at 33.68. “Physically it’s been a tough four days, it’s been a tough four months,” he said. “It’s a matter now of going to freshen up.”

Shabbir Ahmed’s rectified bowling action has been found to be within the current parameters set by the ICC, following extensive tests conducted at the University of Western Australia.Saleem Altaf, Director Operations Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB), told Cricinfo that he had received communication from officials at the university who said they were satisfied Shabbir’s action, as it stands, is within the ICC tolerance level, which allows for bowlers to flex their arms up to 15 degrees from the elbow.Altaf said, “We received communication today stating that, as per the tests they conducted, Shabbir’s action is within the tolerance level. The next step is now for the university to use the results of their tests and send it as a report to the ICC. They plan to do this during the middle of next week.”The ICC will then decide on a course of action, in consultation with the PCB, once they receive the report. Altaf added, “Once they have received the report we will be in touch with them to see what the next step is. They can read the report and clear him or they can call him up before their bowling action review committee for one final clearance. In this case, an official will travel with him to that meeting. We would ideally like this whole procedure to be over before the England series so he is cleared to play.”Shabbir was reported for a suspect action for the third time in his career against the West Indies in May this year. He chose to work with Bob Woolmer, the Pakistan coach, instead of seeking help outside the country from specialists to rectify his faults. Under current regulations, if he is reported twice within two years, he faces a suspension from all forms of cricket.The ICC, however, is keen to stress that no bowler is permanently cleared. Dave Richardson, general manager ICC, said earlier this month, “All bowlers are subject to further reporting if the match officials are of the view that they have concerns about whether a delivery or deliveries conform to the laws of cricket when observed with the naked eye.”

Australia’s former wicketkeeper Rod Marsh says the national team should be better prepared to deal with life after Shane Warne and Glenn McGrath.Marsh, who recently returned to Australia to take up a consultancy position with the South Australian Cricket Association after leaving his post as director of the ECB Academy, said a group of bowlers needed to be developed, but he was particularly worried about the dearth of young fast men.”You can’t take Warne and McGrath away from the Australian side, which is going to happen at some stage, and be the same side,” Marsh said. “You need a battery, I reckon, of ten fast bowlers to choose from. Obviously if anyone’s going to break down it’ll be the fast bowlers, so that’s what you need, and that’s what Australia must develop.”Marsh also said Cricket Australia needed to use more of Terry Jenner and Dennis Lillee as specialist coaches. “TJ’s the best legspin bowling coach in the world and he should be with [Cameron White] as far as I’m concerned,” he said. “God knows that when Shane Warne and Stuart MacGill go you’ve got to bring on another leggie.”Dennis is probably the best fast-bowling coach in the world and Troy Cooley, who’s just left for Pakistan with the England squad, is the second best. I don’t know what’s going on here, but it would be nice to think there’s some young fast bowlers around.”

ScorecardTim McIntosh proved that last season was a temporary aberration as he scored his ninth first-class century for Auckland against Central Districts at McLean Park, Napier. McIntosh moved to Canterbury last season to make a push for national selection, but had an embarrassing time of it, posting just 49 runs in 10 innings. He doubled that total in one knock with his 280-minute stay, scoring 101. He shared a 154-run partnership with nightwatchman Tim Lythe (63), who was making his first-class debut. However Auckland’s pedestrian scoring rate meant they never really capitalised on this foundation, moving through to 238 for 5, a lead of 14 when stumps were drawn. At the crease was Rob Nichol (29 not out from 146 balls) and Carl Cachopa (10 not out from 55) who shared a painstaking unbroken partnerhip of 26. Michael Mason, returning from injury, was the best of the bowlers with 2 for 20 from 22 overs. Lance Hamilton left the field with an injury and is unlikely to play again in this match.
ScorecardOtago moved into a near unassailable position against Northern Districts following two days of their clash at Gisborne’s Harry Barker Reserve. Chasing Northern’s sickly first innings total of 229, Otago passed that mark with the loss of only Jordan Sheed’s (62) wicket. They finished the day on 319 for 2. Craig Cumming, the Otago captain, retired hurt on 46 but that just paved the way for South African import Jonathan Trott, who had impressed with the ball taking four wickets, to join Aaron Redmond. Trott scored 89 before he was dismissed to a brilliant catch by Peter McGlashan. Redmond will resume tomorrow on 99. He started the final over of the day on 95, hit a four off the first ball but Te Ahu Davis, the young fast bowler, prevented him scoring from the final five deliveries. Joseph Yovich was the only successful bowler with 2 for 87 off 16 expensive overs.
ScorecardOnly 16 overs were possible on day two of the match between Canterbury and Wellington at the Village Green in Christchurch. In that time Wellington took their overnight score from 415 for 5 to 465 for 7. Jesse Ryder, the star of the first day, was dismissed without adding to his overnight total of 133. Grant Elliott, a South African who controversially transferred from Christchurch club cricket to Wellington before the start of the season, did not last long, scoring 2 before he was dismissed. Chris Nevin (28 not out) and Mark Gillespie (15 not out), were the unbeaten batsmen. Nixon McLean was the best bowler for Cantrbury, returning figures of 3 for 50.

Scorecard and ball-by-ball details
How they were out

For the second consecutive day, the pendulum oscillated to and fro, with several stars lighting up the tense slugfest, as the game hung on a fine thread, with the scores level, at the end of a thoroughly engrossing battle at Perth. Two rollicking fifties gave South Africa a slender lead, their first against Australia for nearly nine years, but superb spells from the record-breaking Shane Warne and red-hot Brett Lee ensured the contest was tantalisingly poised.Punch followed counterpunch as both teams refused to let the game slip away. There was a bubbly half-century from AB de Villiers that helped South Africa reach 127 for 2; a teasing spell from Warne, who overtook Dennis Lillee’s tally of 85 wickets in a calendar year, that suffocated the middle order, reducing them to 187 for 6; a bouncing half-century from Mark Boucher, gaining the lead; a speedy burst from Lee that cleaned up the tail; and a final phase where Australia wiped out the deficit.There was a striking resemblance to yesterday’s events with the batting side bossing the game in the first session. de Villiers’s effervescent knock, accompanied by oodles of confidence, helped South Africa set a solid platform. Having set the tone late last evening, with a majestic hook off the very first ball of the innings, de Villiers drove through the nagging opening spell, from Glenn McGrath and Lee, and sparkled with rasping strokeplay. Rocking back and piercing the off-side field, he frustrated a disciplined attack, getting away with streaky moments as twinkling cuts flew in the vacant regions. Despite the risks, he backed himself and profited by adopting a positive approach.The same, though, couldn’t be said of the middle-order as they withdrew into a shell, only to inevitably succumb. Despite promising much in their short stints, Graeme Smith and and Herschelle Gibbs couldn’t build a sizeable score and their departure left the underbelly of the batting line-up exposed, allowing Warne and Co. to claw back into the contest. Warne’s teasing spell after lunch, when only 19 came off 13 overs, had the batsmen constantly guessing. A brilliant set-up undid de Villiers – a series of legbreaks preceding a slider that drifted in and stayed straight – before Warne put an end to Ashwell Prince’s misery with a ripping legspinner. None of the batsmen managed to break the shackles, with almost every ball being accompanied with a whir of mystery, and were gradually strangulated.McGrath and Lee gave Warne fantastic support, with both showing superb control with their variations. Justin Kemp, who initially struggled to get the ball off the square, wasn’t allowed to express himself as McGrath foxed him by varying length and pace. Lee accounted for Gibbs and Jacques Rudolph, before returning to mop up the tail, ending with his sixth five-wicket haul in Tests.

What saved South Africa, though, was a sizzling 77-run stand between Boucher and Shaun Pollock, who upped the ante immediately after tea. Six fours came in the four overs after the break as they dared to attack Warne and throw him off rhythm. Anything short was smashed to the square fence, inside out shots were attempted and the faster men were driven with aplomb. Scampering between the wickets and not hesitating to flash hard at the wide ones, the pair went about neutralising Australia’s advantage.Lee returned to break the stand, fizzing one through Pollock’s defences, and Boucher floundered against a ripping legbreak from Warne – with Hayden pulling off an outstanding slip catch. Hayden returned when Australia batted, began as if it was a Twenty20, unleashing five glorious pulled fours off Ntini, but, in what was a repeat of his first-innings dismissal, he top-edged while trying to pull Langeveledt. It was a fitting end to a day replete with first-day trends repeating themselves. Now, with three days to go and a clean slate to begin with, it’s all back to square one.How they were outSouth AfricaGraeme Smith c Ponting b Bracken 34 (1 for 83)
Herschelle Gibbs b Lee 21 (2 for 127)
AB de Villiers b Warne 68 (3 for 135)
Jacques Rudolph c Langer b Lee 8 (4 for 145)
Justin Kemp c Hodge b McGrath 7 (5 for 167)
Ashwell Prince lbw b Warne 28 (6 for 187)
Shaun Pollock b Lee 34 (7 for 264)
Mark Boucher c Hayden b Warne 62 (8 for 282)
Charl Langeveldt lbw b Lee 0 (9 for 283)
Makhaya Ntini c Hodge b Lee 12 (296 all out)
AustraliaMatthew Hayden c Boucher b Langeveldt 20 (1 for 37)

Virender Sehwag has said he will adopt a new approach to his game in the coming year, beginning with the Test and one-day international series in Pakistan in January.Admitting that he had not performed to potential recently – specifically in the shorter version of the game – Sehwag said he was eager to put his poor form behind him. “I know I have not played up the expectations, especially in the one-day games,” he told PTI. “I have been able to score 20s and 30s but could not convert them into big innings. But I believe this is a thing of the past. In the new year, people will see a new Sehwag with a new technique and I am confident of making good scores.”Sehwag was keen to point out that it was at the top of the order where he would continue to bat. “I have played better than many players who have opened for India in the recent past,” he said. “Many batsmen such as VVS Laxman, Hemang Badani, SS Das, Aakash Chopra, Wasim Jaffer and Sanjay Bangar also opened with me but I think they were not so successful. I made my debut as an opening batsman in 2002 and since then I have made nine centuries whereas playing in the middle order, I have made one century. By any standards, I think it’s a good performance.”Sehwag also maintained that every batsman suffered a slump in form, and that his bad patch would pass. “There comes a time when a batsman is out of form and everybody from Sachin to Rahul Dravid to Sourav Ganguly to Laxman – all of them have gone through it.”

Scorecard and ball-by-ball details
How they were out

A scorching 105-run opening stand between Virender Sehwag and Sachin Tendulkar, and a glorious unbeaten 82 from Yuvraj Singh were instrumental in India’s emphatic seven-wicket victory over Pakistan in the second one-day international at the Rawalpindi Cricket Stadium. Having bowled Pakistan out for 265 in the final over, thanks to some disciplined bowling, sharp fielding and less-than-perfect shot selection, India chased down the target with 41 deliveries to spare.Shoaib Malik’s 110-ball 95 and a pugnacious 81 from Younis Khan had revived the Pakistan innings after Irfan Pathan’s early blows, but the eventual target proved to be no challenge at all once Sehwag and Tendulkar set about an attack that was missing the pace and menace of Shoaib Akhtar. Yuvraj piloted the pursuit in its latter stages, playing some dazzling strokes in an 89-ball knock. He struck eight fours, and two sixes over long-on off Malik as Pakistan’s hopes evaporated in the afternoon heat and sunshine.Rahul Dravid was also on top of his game, picking off 56 from just 61 balls before a sharp return catch from Malik sent him back when within sight of victory. The real damage though had been done at the top, with Sehwag – so out of sorts after that 254 in the first Test – careering to67 from 60 balls before a remarkable throw from Umar Gul shattered the stumps from deep fine leg.After a sedate start, Sehwag exploded to life in the fifth over of the innings, carving Naved-ul-Hasan over point for six, and then thumping him for three fours in an over that cost 22 runs. Emboldened by that little burst, he then concentrated his attention on Mohammad Asif, soimpressive in the Test at Karachi and the opening ODI at Peshawar. A clip through midwicket, and a superb square-drive followed, as India reached 64 in the first 10 overs.Tendulkar had been content to tick along at the other end, but with the bowling and fielding fraying at the edges, he too joined in, with a meaty off-drive off Asif and three crisp fours against the errant Gul. The run-rate climbed to seven, and it was looking all too easy when Tendulkar,who had eased to a run-a-ball 42, tried to be too cute with an Abdul Razzaq delivery that deviated a touch off the seam.When Sehwag soon followed, Pakistan might have glimpsed an opening. And had Razzaq held on to a difficult caught-and-bowled chance at short square leg after Yuvraj miscued a pull horribly, it might well have been game on. Having had their wake-up call though, and with Inzamam-ul-Haq calling for the third Powerplay, India quickly put the game out of reach.Dravid and Yuvraj, with such a platform to build on, cruised along, stealing the singles and putting away the loose deliveries with a flourish. Yuvraj laced three lovely fours in a Razzaq over, and Dravid cut and drove powerfully when afforded width. With pace and spin being treatedwith an equal measure of comfort, the partnership quickly assumed match-winning proportions.

When Malik and Younis were batting with aplomb earlier in the day, Pakistan had been in a similar situation. With Malik deflecting and nudging the ball at will through the gaps, and Younis providing an energetic foil, Pakistan had recovered impressively from a strife-ridden 68 for 4. Malik, after easing to 50 from 66 balls, opened out with some fabulous strokes, especially through midwicket, as the Indian fielders were harried in the middle overs. Younis too played some punchy drives and crafty cuts as the rate rose to five an over, and the partnership wasworth 102 from just 119 balls when disaster struck.Two runs were certainly on when Malik struck one to deep point, but the batsmen had reckoned without S Sreesanth’s magnificent throw from the deep. Initiative lost, Pakistan stuttered thereafter, despite cameos from Shahid Afridi, Razzaq and Gul. Sreesanth bowled wonderfully well in the final stages, conceding just 11 in four overs, and with Irfan Pathan and Ajit Agarkar also producing fine spells, the innings was reined in. When Younis played a premeditated shot to Mohammad Kaif at cover, it was apparent that Pakistan would finish well short of the total that had been on the cards when Malik and Younis were going full pelt.For India, it was a satisfying way to finish a day that began so well, with Salman Butt getting the faintest off edges to Pathan’s second delivery of the match. After a brief period of consolidation, Kamran Akmal hacked one on, and Mohammad Yousuf – who started the innings on 6998 runs- was needlessly run out going for a non-existent second off a misfield. Inzamam then miscued a pull off the hips, and though Malik and Younis restored parity, Sreesanth’s bolt from the deep and India’s batting depth proved decisive.How they were outIndia
Sachin Tendulkar c Akmal b Razzaq 42 (105 for 1)
Virender Sehwag run out (Gul) 67 (123 for 2)
Rahul Dravid c and b Malik 56 (241 for 3)
Pakistan
Salman Butt c Dhoni b Pathan 0 (0 for 1)
Kamran Akmal b Pathan 14 (43 for 2)
Mohammad Yousuf run out (Tendulkar) 1 (46 for 3)
Inzamam-ul-Haq c Sreesanth b Zaheer 8 (68 for 4)
Shoaib Malik run out (Sreesanth) 95 (170 for 5)
Abdul Razzaq run out (Raina) 14 (234 for 7)
Younis Khan c Kaif b Agarkar 81 (242 for 8)
Rana Naved-ul-Hasan c Raina b Agarkar 6 (257 for 9)
Mohammad Asif run out (Sehwag) 2 (265 all out)