Despite being sidelined for various reasons, the Jamaican pace duo of Jerome Taylor and Jermaine Lawson will still play a role in the West Indies training camp currently underway at the Three Ws Oval, University of the West Indies Cave Hill Campus.Taylor is undergoing rehabilitative work on his action while Lawson is recovering from ankle surgery, but Tony Howard, the West Indies manager, said the two players would still be put through some paces in the week-long camp.”We have 24 players in the camp plus two players we brought down to put through some extra work in Jermaine Lawson and Jerome Taylor,” Howard told CMC Sports. “They are here because there is some work for them to do on the physical side. Jerome has some technical flaws that we need to straighten out and Jermaine has had a minor operation and we are trying to get him back on the physical track.”The West Indies camp, currently preparing for the tour of Australia next month, began in earnest on Sunday (September 25) after most of the 24 players arrived in the island over the weekend. The 23-year-old Lawson underwent minor surgery two weeks ago and was expected to miss the camp while the 21-year-old Taylor had been ruled out of selection for the Australian tour after it was decided that more work was needed on his action.After a tough workout on Sunday, the majority of the players spent time in the indoor nets on Monday under the watchful eye of Bennett King, the head coach , assistant coach David Moores and technical consultant Sir Garry Sobers.

Moin Khan, the former Pakistan captain, has been named the captain of Karachi Harbour in the Silver League of the Quaid-i-Azam Trophy, which starts later this month. Khan, 34, last played for Pakistan against Sri Lanka almost a year ago.Moin’s task, aside from endeavouring to recapture his place in the Pakistan team, will be to help Karachi Harbour win the Silver League – or the second division in the newly bifurcated Quaid-i-Azam Trophy – so that the city qualifies for promotion to the more lucrative Gold League for the 2006-07 season.Karachi Harbour were known until last season as Karachi Whites, and were led by Faisal Iqbal, ex-Test player and nephew of Javed Miandad. Moin took over during the season and the veteran retains the post this season.Karachi has traditionally fielded two teams in the competition; last season’s Karachi Blues are now to be called Karachi Urban and will be led by Hasan Raza. Last season, the team were led by another Pakistan wicketkeeper, Rashid Latif, but he has been surprisingly left out of the squad this season. The city has won Pakistan’s premier domestic competition a record 17 times, including a run of seven consecutive wins between 1958-59 and 1966-67.This year, seven teams have been placed in the Golden League, including holders Peshawar and last season’s second-placed side Faisalabad. The other outfits are Rawalpindi, Sialkot, Multan, Karachi Urban and Lahore Shalimar.The six teams in the Silver League are Lahore Ravi, Karachi Harbour, Hyderabad, Quetta, Islamabad and Abbottabad.Junaid Zia has been appointed captain of Lahore Shalimar while Imran Tahir, the former Pakistan U-19 legspinner, will lead Lahore Ravi. Quetta have named Faisal Irfan, a fast bowling all-rounder as captain and another fast-medium bowler, Sajid Shah, will captain Abbottabad. Hyderabad, meanwhile, will look to Faisal Athar, a prolific middle-order batsman, to lead them during the tournament.The Quaid-i-Azam Trophy begins on October 16, and the winners of the Gold League can expect to receive Rs1,100,000 (US$18,500).

It is time now to take serious note of India. It was all too easy in Nagpur and Mohali but Jaipur was the first real challenge they faced in the series. They did not panic or change their approach in the third one-dayer. They came out swinging and showed the surge of belief which is running through their veins.It is too early but a seriously good team is in the making now. The batting is flexible and is being groomed to adapt to different situations and different slots. The opposition can struggle to plan in advance. Bowling and fielding are both on the mend. India’s rise has taken the world by surprise.I feel it has happened because they have built competitions for spots. When a senior pro like Sourav Ganguly cannot find a place, and he would soon I am sure, it brings the hunger back in the team. There is no other magic in this transformation. This is exactly what we ignored in Sri Lanka in recent years.In the mid-nineties, we followed the same route and men like Sanath Jayasuriya, Mahela Jayawardene and Chaminda Vaas in due course first became the integral part and then lynchpin of the team. The likes of Tillakaratne Dilshan and Russel Arnold were brought in by the old gang. But the past few years have been an antithesis to this theory.

Peter Chingoka and Ozias Bvute have been released without charge some 36 hours after they were arrested by police in Harare. The Attorney General’s office ruled that the pair had no case to answer. They were arrested on Monday night and charged with offences under Zimbabwe’s tough Exchange Control Act.But Chingoka and Bvute will not attend today’s stakeholders meeting called by Ahmed Ebrahim where it is expected that there will be an attempt to remove them from office. “How can I attend meetings I haven’t been invited to,” Chingoka told Reuters. “I do have a bit of etiquette.” Ebrahim claimed he has made several unsuccessful attempts to contact the pair.Their release does not change the reality that both remain deeply unpopular among many factions inside Zimbabwe cricket, and if they remain the crisis is likely to drag on.

Lou Vincent will open the innings for New Zealand in their first ODI against Australia at Auckland on December 3.Vincent, one of the few to escape from his side’s tour of South Africa with his reputation intact, will partner Nathan Astle in the absence of Stephen Fleming, their captain and regular opener, who is recovering from facial surgery, as they seek to find a dominant opening pair who can exploit the first few overs, especially the Powerplays.”We’ll open with Lou and Nathan because we’re looking for an offensive start to the first 20 overs,” John Bracewell, the New Zealand coach, told the . “We’re still working on our game-plan in that period. We’re anxious to develop something that we can carry into the [2007] World Cup, and a three-pronged attack at the top of the order continues to interest us.”Aside from Fleming’s absence, Shane Bond – who has a commendable record against Australia in one-day internationals – has been suffering from a stomach upset, but Bracewell is confident that he will be fit enough to resume his battle with the Australians:”He’s feeling a lot better and probably wanted to practise today but we left him at home as a precaution. He probably could have practised this afternoon and I’m confident he should be right for the match.”Bond, like many of his team-mates, struggled for form in South Africa, picking up just six wickets at the costly average of 35.16.”He’s still developing his game,” said Bracewell. “He had an outstanding tour of Zimbabwe and bowled well against India. But he met an international-class batting line-up in South Africa and it will be interesting to see how he’s developed from there.”

The Pakistan pace bowler, Shabbir Ahmed, has had his 12-month ban for an illegal bowling action upheld by an independent bowling review (BRG) group in Dubai. The decision of the BRG is final and binding, and means Shabbir becomes the first player to be banned from bowling in international cricket for 12 months under the revised bowling review regulations.Shabbir was reported following the first Test against England, at Multan, in November and then underwent laboratory tests to compare his action to previous footage. It was the fourth time in his career that Shabbir had been reported for a suspect action, and the second within 12 months.The BRG was chaired by Sir Oliver Popplewell and included Javagal Srinath, the former India seam bowler, and Roshan Mahanama, a current match referee. Dick French, a former international umpire, and Dr Marc Portus, who is a specialist in human movement, made up the group.In its judgment, handed to Shabbir and the PCB chief executive, Salim Altaf, the BRG said: “We have decided that the player had an illegal bowling action and that the suspension of the player is to be maintained. This is the unanimous view of the BRG.”While it is clear that a laboratory test can never fully replicate match conditions the regulations provide for match conditions to be simulated as best as possible. We take the view that the laboratory test was carried out as fairly and properly as it should be.”The BRG was asked to consider video evidence and the match officials’ report from the Multan Test in which Shabbir’s action was reported. Professor Bruce Elliott, who conducted the independent biomechanical assessment of Shabbir, then presented the findings of his report and responded to questions from Shabbir and the BRG.Following this, the PCB produced its own evidence, including recent video footage of Shabbir bowling at the PCB Academy and in a domestic match. The members of the BRG then met privately to consider the matter before delivering their unanimous decision.The amended regulations, introduced in March 2005, stipulate that a player who is found to have been bowling with an illegal action twice within two years will face an automatic 12-month suspension from international cricket.

Allan Wise, the fast bowler, has been added to the Victoria squad for the Pura Cup match against Tasmania at St Kilda starting on Monday as the Bushrangers attempt to extend their lead. Victoria have three homes games in their run into the final and they still hold some hope of adding Mick Lewis to the final side.Lewis has replaced Glenn McGrath in the VB Series finals squad and if Australia win the contest in two matches the national players may be released to their states for next week’s games. Wise, who has played five Pura Cup fixtures and taken 23 wickets this season, is the only addition to the line-up that beat South Australia by seven wickets last week.Cameron White, the captain, has been pleased with Victoria’s recent form, but he knows they have to gain rewards from their remaining matches to retain their two-point buffer. “We’ve worked hard in recent games, but need to continue putting in strong performances to give ourselves the best possible chance of making the final,” he said. Queensland are second on 22 points with New South Wales and South Australia third on 20.Tasmania, who are last on eight points, have named their squad and Dan Marsh will again captain the side after returning from injury in the loss to Western Australia last week.Tasmania David Dawson, Michael Di Venuto, Michael Bevan, George Bailey, Travis Birt, Dan Marsh (capt), Sean Clingeleffer (wk), Xavier Doherty, Adam Griffith, Brett Geeves, Brendan Drew, Ben Hilfenhaus.Victoria Lloyd Mash, Jason Arnberger, Brad Hodge, Nick Jewell, David Hussey, Jon Moss, Cameron White (capt), Adam Crosthwaite (wk), Shane Warne, Shane Harwood, Gerard Denton, Allan Wise, Mick Lewis.

Alastair Cook and James Anderson are being flown in to India as cover for an injury-hit England side. They will arrive in Nagpur tomorrow to join the England side ahead of the first Test beginning on March 1.Cook and Anderson, part of the England A side touring the West Indies, had been put on stand-by to join the England squad in India as injuries and illness continue to hamper the senior tour. However, the need of the hour has forced the England management to press the red light button. The pair flew out of the West Indies, where the first Test is being played, and landed in the UK yesterday.Andrew Walpole, the England team spokesperson, clarified the news at the start of the third day’s play of the tour match at Vadodara. He did not confirm whether any of the current England squad will be returning home.Michael Vaughan (knee), Paul Collingwood (back) and Simon Jones (virus) were ruled out of the current warm-up match against a Board President’s XI, while Kevin Pietersen joined the casualty list after retiring hurt with back spasms. Liam Plunkett was also unable to bowl on the second day after picking up a bruised heel.Cook was added to the England squad in Pakistan when Vaughan succumbed to his knee injury ahead of the first Test at Multan. He has already hit form on the A tour, scoring 101 in the warm-up match against an Antiguan XI. Anderson went wicketless, but towards the end of the one-day series in Pakistan showed signs of a return to form.

In mid-April last year, in the final of the Ranji Trophy one-day tournament at Mumbai, one batsman, touted by many as an India prospect, made a couple of selectors’ jaw drop. He walked in at 12 for 1, with Uttar Pradesh chasing 249, spanked nine fours and a six in his 33-ball 48 before rushing off to catch a flight to complete his class 12 exams. One year on and he delivered a performance, on the international stage, that had both captains gushing. When Andrew Flintoff uses the word “fantastic” three times, you know you have witnessed something special.Suresh Raina’s was a calculated effort; one where sense blended beautifully with cheek. He made sure he cashed in on the lollypops; but occasionally summoned the courage to walk right across the stumps and execute lap sweeps to the vacant fine-leg region. “It was a tough time to bat when he came in at 90 odd for 5 but he got his head down,” said Flintoff at the post-match press conference. “We tried to squeeze him and try and get him to hit through the off side but he stayed patient. He works hard for his runs and it was a fantastic knock.”The secret probably lies in the cricketing nurseries of Uttar Pradesh. Raina, like Mohammad Kaif before him, was groomed in the state’s hostels and matches him not only on the field, but also with his calm temperament. “For a 19-year-old to have such a temperament is something special,” said Dravid, who has used adjectives like “stupendous” and “extraordinary” in his past references to Raina. “He’s an exciting talent and we’re happy that he’s developed into such a good player in his first year of international cricket.”Raina surged India to their 14th successful run-chase on the trot, a record that comes as a pleasant shift from the days when they invariably choked while faced with a target. “It’s got a lot to do with the good learning environment we have,” Dravid explained.” These young guys have come in and shown that they enjoy pressure situations. It’s also got to do with us trying to be flexible in the past. We have given the guys different challenges in different positions and it comes of use when put under pressure.”England might have gone down but Flintoff will be encouraged by the “mightily improved” batting performance after the Delhi debacle. “Andrew Strauss batted well at the start and I thought Kevin Pietersen played magnificently,” Flintoff continued. “We can take a lot of heart from this performance, taking India down to the wire. Their bowlers tied us down and it wasn’t an easy pitch to bat on. Ramesh Powar took the pace off the ball and we found it hard.”Powar’s effort might have been overshadowed by Raina’s spunk but it was an impressive return for a man playing in just his fifth one-day game. It must be tough to be perennially on the fringes but Powar, extracting considerable turn and varying his pace, showed virtues which had made him the highest wicket-taker in this year’s Ranji Trophy. “I thought he bowled beautifully,” said Dravid, “and with a bit more luck he could have had more wickets.”It was a triumph of sorts for Powar, ending with his best figures in one-dayers. One of cricket’s strengths lies in accommodating men of all shapes and sizes, and the roly-poly Powar, sporting red goggles and increasingly looking like a modern-day Duleep Mendis, managed absolutely fine in athletic company. If one had to pick the moment of the day, it had to be when he tried to run-out Ian Blackwell, when the pillars in the stadium creaked and when every single cricketer silently applauded.

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

Yuvraj Singh played an inspired innings of rare quality after Rahul Dravid won an important toss on a sluggish pitch as India posted a mammoth 294 and overwhelmed England by 49 runs to take an impressive 3-0 lead in this seven-match series. A raucous Goa crowd cheered India all the way as a strident batting performance laid the base for a strong win.When India began to bat it was immediately obvious that this 22-yard strip of real estate was not unlike life one of Goa’s beaches – slow and not particularly conducive to getting anywhere in a hurry. The pitch at the Nehru Stadium in Goa has not been used for a single first-class match this season, and till late February the ground had been used for football. In that sense it is understandable – though by no means excusable – that the surface is as it was, slow, crumbling, taking spin, breaking up and deteriorating with every passing hour. Virender Sehwag was hardly amused when the first few deliveries shot under his bat and after having a biff or two was cleaned up by one that came back in a touch. India’s decision to leave out Gautam Gambhir worked well as Dravid opened, and he was best equipped to show the way to bat on this pitch.Dravid knuckled down and realised that protecting his stumps was priority No.1 with the ball being up and down. Only when he had picked the length really early did he reach for the ball outside the off stump, and even then he fetched it and placed it into the gap rather than trying to hit it too hard. Another thing that worked for India was pushing Irfan Pathan up the order. His uncomplicated technique worked well, and a partnership of 78 for the second wicket set things up nicely before Dravid (46) dragged Paul Collingwood back onto his stumps.Soon England sniffed a chance as Pathan failed to clear the infield and the out-of-form Mohammad Kaif tickled one to the keeper and India wobbled at 131 for 4. What they would not have accounted for was Yuvraj Singh playing as superbly as he did, using his power and free-stroking ability to best effect on a pitch where run-making was desperately difficult. Though he played and missed a few early on, and even inside-edged towards fine-leg as he tried to force the ball through the off side, Yuvraj settled down beautifully to play an innings that would form the backbone of India’s effort. His trademark big shots did not suffer even though the ball was barely coming onto the bat. The sweep was struck firmly and placed well, the booming cover-drive was a thing of beauty, the pick-up shot over midwicket was effortless. After laying a solid foundation through a long partnership with Raina, Yuvraj really let rip, taking 22 off the 44th over.

Yuvraj’s knock, a rollicking 76-ball 103 that included 10 fours and 3 sixes, made a mockery of the tough batting conditions. Ably assisted by Raina, who shared in a 142-run partnership in making 61 very compact runs of his own, Yuvraj had taken India to a score that would take some getting on a flat deck, forget about a slow crumbler. Mahendra Dhoni had his say in the few balls that he faced and India ended very comfortably placed.With a big score on the board India only had to bowl sensibly given the conditions to put the pressure firmly on England. Pathan showed that he was the man for the job, his well-disguised slower deliveries proving to be the undoing of the top order. With the ball gripping the surface all Pathan had to do was put the ball in areas where a mistake in timing would create problems and he did just that.Three slower deliveries accounted for Andrew Strauss, who tickled one to the ‘keeper, Ian Blackwell, who was bowled playing and missing early, and Owais Shah, who failed to get to the pitch of the ball and chipped to point. Matt Prior had battled hard for 37 and when he was run out in a mix up with Andrew Flintoff, England were in deep trouble at 48 for 4. Mere trouble gave way to complete disaster soon enough when Flintoff holed out to midwicket off Ramesh Powar. When the halfway mark came England were 100 for 5 and needed to score at 7.8 from the remaining overs to reach 295.Collingwood threatened to do a Yuvraj, showed he had the stomach for a fight, and battled it out for a belligerent 93 but there was just too much for him to do after the top-order had failed. After he holed out going for a big one England folded for 245 and India closed out the match by 49 runs.How they were outVirender Sehwag b Anderson 15 (27 for 1)
Rahul Dravid b Collingwood 46 (105 for 2)
Irfan Pathan c Collingwood b Flintoff 36 (130 for 3)
Mohammad Kaif c Jones b Plunkett 0 (131 for 4)
Yuvraj Singh c Collingwood b Flintoff 103 (273 for 5)
Suresh Raina b Flintoff 61 (288 for 6)
England
Andrew Strauss c Dhoni b Pathan 7 (8 for 1)
Ian Blackwell b Pathan 9 (27 for 2)
Owais Shah c Yuvraj b Pathan 7 (47 for 3)
Matt Prior run out (Patel/Dhoni) 37 (48 for 4)
Andrew Flintoff c Sehwag b Powar 15 (83 for 5)
Vikram Solanki c Yuvraj b Harbhajan 10 (100 for 6)
Geraint Jones c Sehwag b Pathan 32 (205 for 7)
Paul Collingwood c Raina b Harbhajan 93 (223 for 8)
Liam Plunkett b Agarkar 18 (242 for 9)
Sajid Mahmood b Agarkar 8 (245 for 10)