A little over eight months ago, Makhaya Ntini produced a devastating spell under lights as Australia were skittled out for 93 at Newlands, and similar pace-friendly conditions in Durban are likely to influence India to play seven batsmen (including Mahendra Singh Dhoni) in the second match of the series. With Virender Sehwag still nursing a sore hand, Sachin Tendulkar could be called on for some seam-up bowling should the rain, which again threatens to disrupt play as it did at the Wanderers on Sunday, relent on Wednesday.Mickey Arthur, South Africa’s coach, made it amply clear that his team would target the Indians with pace, and they have released Boeta Dippenaar from the 14-man squad that was picked for the opening game. But South Africa too have a history of batting frailty when the ball moves around – Stuart Clark routed them in last year’s Newlands Test , and Kyle Mills inspired an emphatic New Zealand victory in the Champions Trophy – and some of the grass seen on the pitch on Tuesday could be clipped away before the game starts.With the evening conditions providing extra incentive to the pace bowlers, the toss will be crucial. Over the past few seasons, and especially during the 2003 World Cup, the winning formula for Kingsmead usually meant putting a decent total on the board and then unleashing the fast men to scupper the run chase. In Munaf Patel, Irfan Pathan, Zaheer Khan and Ajit Agarkar, India have some options of their own, even if they’re not in the Ntini-Pollock class.If Tendulkar and Sehwag do fill up the fifth-bowler quota, Dinesh Mongia is almost certain to get a game at No.7. And with Zaheer having emerged with credit from the tour game at Benoni, Agarkar could be the one to miss out on the XI. Despite this being no spinners’ paradise, Harbhajan Singh’s recent displays more or less seal his place in the side.South Africa will leave the slow bowling to Graeme Smith, if needed, and opt for an all-pace attack in conditions that are likely to be overcast with all the rain about. With the breeze from the Indian Ocean an additional factor to consider, a line-up of Ntini, Pollock, Andre Nel, Jacques Kallis and Charl Langeveldt is a frightening prospect.On his first tour here in 1996-97, Rahul Dravid revealed glimpses of his class with a fine second-innings display even as India were shot out for 100 and 66 in a Test match. Not long after, he played a wonderful knock in a lost cause in an ODI while an irate Allan Donald let fly with a volley of abuse. The leader of the pack will need to set the tone for his players in this series, and then hope that some of the youngsters show the same sort of resolve that he did all those years ago.Teams
South Africa (likely): 1 Graeme Smith (capt), 2 Loots Bosman, 3Herschelle Gibbs, 4 Jacques Kallis, 5 AB de Villiers, 6 Mark Boucher (wk),7 Justin Kemp, 8 Shaun Pollock, 9 Charl Langeveldt, 10 Andre Nel, 11Makhaya Ntini.India (likely): 1 Sachin Tendulkar, 2 Virender Sehwag, 3 MohammadKaif, 4 Rahul Dravid (capt), 5 Mahendra Singh Dhoni (wk), 6 Suresh Raina,7 Dinesh Mongia, 8 Irfan Pathan 9 Harbhajan Singh, 10 Zaheer Khan, 11Munaf Patel.

In the men’s game, Sachin blinks and it’s front-page news. For the women, seismic shifts are underway, but they barely register on the Richter scale of media – and world – attention. Keen eyes, though, would have been scanning the developments following last year’s merger of the ICC with the IWCC. And those followers won’t have been disappointed.While some countries whose boards merged years ago will see only marginal benefits – Australia and England, for example – for the rest it’s like all their Christmases, Diwalis, Eids, and birthdays arrived at once, in a big bundle labelled “Cash”.India are already benefiting from huge improvements – getting to play in better stadiums, with better facilities and vastly increased match fees. As if to celebrate, they lifted the Asia Cup again, and even won a Test against England for the first time, just their third ever victory – and it was achieved on English soil, too, as they won the two-Test series 1-0. They did, however, fall to the Australians in the one-off Test earlier in the year.Women’s cricket in Africa is taking shape, too. For the first time there was a set of Africa pre-qualifiers for the qualifying tournament in Pakistan in 2007. Zimbabwe, in their first ever one-dayers, swept aside all opposition to storm into the next round, winning 3-0.Something for Zimbabwean cricket as a whole to cheer about, as their male counterparts (and in some cases brothers – Julia and Chamu Chibhabha, Ed and Yvonne Rainsford all play at the highest level) slid into further misery on the international stage. Zimbabwe women will now join South Africa, who are still kicking themselves after narrowly missing out on automatic qualification in the last tournament, which they hosted, in 2005.And it’s not just cash: the ICC put their mouth where their money is. There was a big stride forward on the awards stage when Karen Rolton became the first ICC Female Player of the Year after three years of ICC Awards. It was fitting that Australia’s captain should lift the award, after Anjum Chopra and Katherine Brunt were the others on the shortlist.So the women are finally mixing it with the big boys like fellow Aussie captain Ricky Ponting and on the pitch there will be more mixing – with the announcement of a women’s Twenty20 preceding a men’s for the first time, when South Australia and Queensland head to the Adelaide Oval on January 10 in Australia. The idea is to showcase the women’s matches, at no extra cost, to a ready-made audience. If it is deemed successful, the format could extend to international matches, an idea which has already been mooted informally in England.

Recognition came for one woman at Lord’s. England returned to the home of cricket for the first time in five years and Claire Taylor graced the occasion with a flowing 156 from 151 balls against India, the fastest one-dayer at Lord’s in history, eclipsing Viv Richards’s effort in the World Cup final in 1983. She was rewarded with an honours board at the ground and that achievement, along with the admirable conduct of both sides in front of a crowd of 6000, will have done wonders in helping to convince the decision makers to stage another women’s match at headquarters soon.Another psychological boost came when Somerset offered Taunton as the home of women’s cricket in England. For the first time the women will be considered alongside the men when it comes to having the pick of the fixtures. The more cynical may say this hints at Somerset bidding for Test status – if they can prove they can stage internationals and are seen to be promoting all forms of cricket, but they’re showing their commitment in other ways, with an enviable women’s set-up. They’re even funding a girl, Anya Shrubsole, on the Academy at a cost of around £15k per annum and other counties, such as Lancashire, are following suit.Attention, then, is being paid to the women’s game. Sky covered some more one-dayers once again, if only to cover their contractual obligations. And unfortunately, despite some compelling cricket, the cameras also captured great swathes of empty seats, as matches still failed to large crowds.India’s captain Mithali Raj, though, is confident that with the new cashflood, the women can up their game to play more exciting, attacking cricket. Tests in particular need an injection of excitement. Scrapping them altogether may be more feasible. Tests are thin on the ground as it is – there were only three Tests played all year – and the players don’t even practise playing this form of cricket leaving England, for example, to rely on their coach, the former first-class player Richard Bates, to talk them through session by session, as the games unfolded.New Zealand refuse to play this form of cricket – and, with low attendances and little incentive to play, perhaps other countries should follow suit. Although two-day cricket is being introduced to India that makes them the only country to play anything above one-day cricket at domestic level. And of course two-day cricket is still vastly different from four days, as played in Tests.Women’s cricket, then is heading in the right direction. But while there’s light, it’s still a very long tunnel.

Shabbir Ahmed, the Pakistan fast bowler who served a 12-month ban for an illegal action, has been called up as a reinforcement for the side touring South Africa following injuries to Shoaib Akhtar and Umar Gul, both of whom are on their way home.Shabbir’s last Test was against England at Multan, in November 2005. The ICC lifted his ban last December after receiving a detailed report from the Universiity of Western Australia, which conducted tests on the bowler’s action. “Shabbir is coming,” Inzamam-ul-Haq, the Pakistan captain, said, “but I don’t know his condition.”Shoaib was only a late addition to the squad, having been omitted originally on the grounds that he wasn’t fit. But he was called up as cover for Gul, who is suffering from an injured ankle, and returned spectacularly after a long lay-off, helping to skittle out South Africa for 124 in their first innings at Port Elizabeth with a four-wicket haul. The 11-over burst proved too much, a hamstring strain preventing him from bowling in the second innings.”According to an interim medical report Shoaib has torn his hamstring and would require at least 14 days to recover,” Salim Altaf, the PCB’s director of operations, told the Karachi-based .To compound matters, TV channels also broadcast what appeared to be a heated argument between Shoaib and Bob Woolmer, the Pakistan coach, before the start of play on the second day of the Test. There has been speculation about the nature of the argument but no official word has been forthcoming. Altaf said that Talat Ali, the team manager, will conduct an inquiry into the incident.”I have talked with Talat on this particular incident,” said Altaf. “The manager has assured the board that he would conduct an inquiry and then take action if required. The board has told the manager that it would support any decision he takes over the issue.”Shoaib’s injury isn’t the only headache for the management, with Gul’s ankle injury not improving and Shoaib Malik yet to play any part in the series. Malik, too, is suffering from an ankle injury and is considered a doubtful starter for the third Test, starting at Newlands on January 26. He is, however, expected to be fit for the one-day series.”Talat has told us that the management would have a meeting tonight at which it would decide about the fate of the squad’s injured players,” Altaf said. “Unfortunately, Gul and Malik have not responded to the treatment they have been receiving for the last several days.”

Bangladesh’s preparations for the forthcoming tour of Zimbabwe have been overshadowed by political unrest in the country which mean that there is uncertainty whether national league games will go ahead.”Nothing could have been better than playing more league matches before going to Zimbabwe but everything looks uncertain due to the political crisis,” admitted Habibul Bashar, the captain. “I don’t think fatigue would be an issue in the World Cup because it’s always a better option to play matches.”Dav Whatmore led a training session in Dhaka yesterday, but Aftab Ahmed failed to travel from Chittagong because of the countrywide blockade.Whatmore hinted that the World Cup was the centre of attention rather than the Zimbabwe trip. “It’s hard to look into one with out thinking of the other. I think we have to look at both. It’s very close isn’t it…” he said. “You get just one week after returning from Zimbabwe and then you go to the World Cup.”The Bangladesh selectors meet today to pick the side for Zimbabwe, and the squad leaves for the four-ODI series on January 31.

Canterbury‘s bowlers kept their nerve to edge a tense thriller against Northern Districts at Whangerei. After making just 125 for 4 – a fairly low score for this format – the Canterbury attack needed to muster all of their acumen to restrict ND.The home side’s chase was going great guns while James Marshall and JosephYovich (21*) were batting, after coming together at 69 for 4. They added 45 between them but Marshall’s dismissal for 48 on the last ball of the 17th over proved the turning point.The team then needed 12 from the last three overs, but lost a further three quick wickets to put paid to their chances. Two of those fell in the final over, bowled by Leighton Burtt – Graeme Aldridge was run out, and then Daryl Tuffey was caught and bowled. Three runs were needed off the final ball, but they could only grab a single as Canterbury squeezed the win.Canterbury were indebted to their captain Chris Harris’s unbeaten 45, which rescued them from a spot of bother at 64 for 3.No such bumsqueaking at Auckland where the home side’s 212 proved insurmountable. Central Districts’ reply got off to a confident enough start – and then some – Ewen Thompson (25) and Jamie How (52) putting on 79 off the first 28 deliveries.But How’s dismissal triggered a collapse from which they couldn’t recover. Dave Houpapa was Auckland‘s topscorer – he struck 74 not out from 53 balls and his knock proved the difference.

Cricket lovers in the United States and the Caribbean will be able to watch the World Cup live on televisions and computers.EchoStar and its Dish Network said besides live matches, their customers would be able to watch replays, highlights and news. Simultaneously, it would provide background information on players and teams.Michael Kelly, Executive Vice President of EchoStar, which has exclusive distribution rights in North America and the Caribbean, said viewers in America, having a strong South Asian community, would be able to watch matches live during the day.But those who would miss the live action can watch the matches and replays on their computers though a broadband connection, he added. It also provides its customers with digital video recorder (DGV) on which they can record and see them later.The full package costs USD 199.95 and Kelly said because of licensing and technological problems they could not provide subscription on match by match basis. But those who do not want to see the matches on television can subscribe to watch these on their computers.

An inquest into the death of Bob Woolmer has been set for April 23. Patrick Murphy, the Kingston coroner, will conduct a hearing at the Jamaica Conference Centre and, according to , a dozen or more witnesses are expected to testify.Woolmer was found unconscious in his Kingston hotel room on March 18 and was pronounced dead after being rushed to the hospital. Five days later Jamaican authorities confirmed the cause of death to be asphyxia as a result of manual strangulation and the police are investigating it as a murder case. The inquest was ordered on March 24 and, said, it will be the first time that a detailed account of what is known of Woolmer’s final hours and the discovery of his body has been aired in public.The CCTV footage from the Pegasus hotel, where the Pakistan team had stayed and where Woolmer died , has been sent to the UK for “further consideration”, Karl Angell, the Jamaica Police spokesman, was quoted as saying by the BBC.Meanwhile Inzamam-ul-Haq, the former Pakistan captain, has criticised the security arrangements at the Pegasus. “Four international teams were staying in one hotel – what security arrangements were made for them”, Inzamam asked in an interview with Geo TV. “There should be an investigation,” he added.Inzamam took full responsibility for Pakistan’s shock defeat to Ireland in the World Cup and insisted that the team was not bad, it was just that they had played badly. Inzamam, who retired from one-dayers to concentrate on Tests, said that he would not reverse his decision to retire and that he had no problem playing under any captain.

Gill Woolmer, the widow of late Pakistan coach Bob Woolmer, has offered her good wishes to the South African team as they prepare to take on Australia in the World Cup semi-final in St Lucia. On the eve of the clash between the top two one-day sides, she urged the team to win it in memory of Bob Woolmer, quoting “do it for Bob – I hope they win”, referring to his stint as coach of South Africa in the 1990s.South Africa have a chance at redemption after they were lost out in a thrilling tie in the 1999 semi-final at Edgbaston. South Africa needed one to get off four balls with one wicket in hand before a farcical run-out ended their World Cup campaign, as Australia edged ahead on net run rate. The result left the South Africans devastated ,and Woolmer later referred to that moment as the darkest in his career. Woolmer, who later took over as coach of Pakistan, was murdered in Jamaica after Pakistan’s early exit from the World Cup.The team has been flooded with good luck messages from several supporters in South Africa, including ex-players. , a South African daily, forwarded over 1000 SMS messages of support from readers to the team.”They must play like they played against England,” Helen Zille, the Cape Town mayor, was quoted as saying on the website . “We’re all with them, behind them, holding our breaths and supporting them all the way.”Gary Kirsten, the former South African opener who also played in the Edgbaston semi-final, also extended his wishes, as did the father of current opener AB de Villiers. “It’s just going to be a mental battle,” Kirsten was quoted on the same website. “We’ve got the players. We chased down 438 not so long ago – and they’ll still have that in their memory.””AB said we have a very good chance of whipping them and they’re all in very good spirits,” said de Villiers senior. de Villiers slammed 92 against Australia in a group stage match in St Kitts recently.

Division One

Lancashire put the seal on a one-sided win against Surrey at Old Trafford, wrapping up proceedings in the afternoon session. Glen Chapple prised out two wickets; Tom Smith removed James Benning who had resisted to make a top-score of 36, and then Oliver Newby bowled Jimmy Ormond for 20 as Surrey subsided for 120. Lancashire were in a brief flicker of trouble at 8 for 3, but they powered to their target of 90 without further alarm.Younis Khan struck a magnificent unbeaten 202 as Yorkshire piled on the runs on the third day against Hampshire at The Rose Bowl. Younis and Matthew Hoggard, who made an obdurate 61, put on 152 for the third wicket before Gerard Brophy hammered a brisk hundred from just 113 balls, with Yorkshire declaring on 439 for 4. Chasing 443 Hampshire lost Michael Brown just before the close and trail by 427 going into the final day.Graeme Hick and Ben Smith both struck two fifties each, on the third day against Warwickshire at New Road, but Worcestershire still trail by 171 with seven second-innings wickets left in hand. In their first innings Hick struck a forceful 91, receiving good support from Smith (50), but there was little resistance from the middle and lower order who collapsed to 288 all out. Capitulation was in store second time round, too, with Dale Steyn rocking their top-order with two quick wickets. But Hick and Smith again combined to stave off a collapse and remained unbeaten going into the final day.

Division Two

Charlie Shreck’s six wickets for Nottinghamshire rocked Glamorgan at Trent Bridge, dismissing them for 205 to win by an innings and 8 runs. Resuming on 14 for 2 they were reduced to a perilous 57 for 5, with Shreck removing all five. Ben Wright (66*) and David Hemp briefly delayed the inevitable but Shreck returned to pick up his sixth, before Paul Franks and Graeme Swann chipped in to sink Glamorgan midway into the afternoon session.A disciplined display from Northamptonshire’s bowlers left Essex limping on 180 for 8 on the third day at Northampton. Johan van der Wath (94) and David Wigley (53) took their stand to 110 but, shortly after lunch, Steven Crook removed Alastair Cook for 37 to start Essex’s slide, but it was Jason Brown who did the damage with four late wickets, causing a slump in which Essex lost 6 for 56 before bad light stopped play. Essex lead by just 98 going into the final day.Cameron White’s 138 and good support from Somerset’s lower middle-order staved off a slide on the third day against Derbyshire at Taunton, though they went to stumps on 497 for 9, still trailing by a mammoth 304. White’s hundred came off 158 balls with 13 fours and a six, and there were fifties for Craig Kieswetter, Wes Durston and Peter Trego. Unless the pitch begins to break up tomorrow, this match is heading towards a draw.Tom New fell two short of a fine maiden hundred as Leicestershire conceded a first-innings deficit of 131 on the third day against Gloucestershire at Bristol. Marcus North took 3 for 53, and Steve Kirby 3 for 75, to dismiss Leicestershire for 376. Though the visitors hit back with two quick wickets, Gloucestershire extended their lead to 277 going into the final day.

MCC is preparing plans to redevelop Lord’s and add an additional 10,000 seats according to .Keith Bradshaw, the newly installed Australian secretary and chief executive of MCC, which owns Lord’s, is keen to expand the capacity of the London ground whose space currently holds 28,500. This is dramatically short of most other grounds in the world, particularly those in Bradshaw’s Australia, but the additional concern is to retain Lord’s famed and unique atmosphere which, it is feared, might be lost.”We’ve been shown plans that could increase the ground capacity to 35,000 or 40,000 – although that might be too many in case the character and ambience of the ground is altered and it becomes difficult for people to circulate around the ground during a match,” Bradshaw told .Another of Bradshaw’s innovative plans is to relocate MCC’s museum, which holds the Ashes urn, to its own premises on St John’s Wood Road, thus opening up a section of the perimeter wall to enable easier access to the ground. And Bradshaw also revealed that Lord’s could be used for purposes other than cricket: apartments, an ice rink in winter and a restaurant are all plans being mooted.”The outcome will be a hybrid of everything presented to us and we have to engage the members,” Bradshaw said. “I am not for or against apartments and moving the museum will give the public greater access to it. We could start tours of Lord’s from there.”