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The proposal made by the ICC chief executive’s committee to reduce the next World Cup from 16 to 14 teams “isn’t great news for the Associates” according to Warren Deutrom, the chief executive of the Irish Cricket Union.One of the major complaints of the 2007 tournament in West Indies was the number of one-sided matches during the 47-day event. Ireland enjoyed a memorable experience, beating Pakistan and forcing a tie with Zimbabwe to move into the Super Eight stage, where they overcame Bangladesh, but the other Associate countries didn’t come out in a great light.However, Deutrom says people are expecting the next rung of countries to become competitive too soon. “It is a move we both feared and expected and it’s not great news for the Associates,” he told Cricinfo. “Neither is it a great vote of confidence in the ICC’s own High Performance Programme.”The view of the HPP countries was that with another four years of funding – two of which would see heavily increased money coming through from ICC’s deal with ESS [ESPN-Star Sports] – would have seen significant improvements in the Associate countries and all would be better prepared.”He also said that the move to reduce the number of teams goes against the ICC’s stated aim of expanding the game. “The ICC are also quick to say how the World Cup should be a global showcase for the sport but it’s hard to see how that can happen when they cut back on countries.”It seems to also go against the recent increase in HPP countries to 10 and it’s difficult to see how the game will expand.”

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.

Preparations for the inaugural Stanford 20/20 tournament stepped up this week as a US$2.75 million promotional and marketing campaign, due to start in May, was announced.Billionaire Allen Stanford and 13 of his West Indies legends took part in a shoot for a TV commercial in Antigua this week. The entire tournament will be shown on TV throughout the Caribbean, and it is being widely reported that there has also been considerable interest from around the world.”The Stanford 20/20 is a new spin on an old game. It’s the game we love like we’ve never seen it before,” Stanford said when asked to explain the tournament’s slogan The Game We Loved. Evolved.. “It’s big names with big career statistics and new names and lesser-known heroes. It’s heavy favourites and come-from-behind underdogs. This tournament is unique in so many ways, not only because of the prizes up for grabs but also for the different elements that we are going to add to the game that will make it even more exciting. I don’t want to reveal too much but I hope everyone will come out and see what we have in store.”Stanford is investing in the region of US$28 million in the event and there is a $1 million prize for the winning team, with $500,000 for the runners-up. Stanford’s longer-term aim is to establish a professional Super League in the Caribbean with two $5 million winner-takes-all games featuring a Caribbean Super Stars XI against world-class opponents.Meanwhile, the tournament committee met in St Kitts where the rules and regulations were nailed down and progress reports received from the 19 participating countries. Most countries have received the first three months of funding – totalling around US$45,000 – and most have also started spending the US$100,000 allocated to them as capital investment monies.The Stanford 20/20 begins on Tuesday, July 11 at the Stanford Cricket Ground in Antigua.The countries due to take part are Anguilla, Antigua & Barbuda, Bahamas, Barbados, Bermuda, Cayman Islands, Dominica, Grenada, Guyana, Jamaica, Montserrat, Nevis, St Kitts, St Lucia, St Maarten, St Vincent, Trinidad & Tobago, British Virgin Islands, US Virgin Islands.

India 449 (Sehwag 201, Laxman 79*, Kaneria 5-127) and 25 for 0 need 358 more runs to beat Pakistan 261 for 2 (Younis 84*, Hameed 76, Afridi 58) and 570
Scorecard and ball-by-ball commentary
How they were out

Pakistan made a concerted push for a series-equalling victory on thefourth day of the Bangalore Test, bowling, batting, and then bowling againin an attempt to speed the game towards its conclusion. Pakistan firstbowled India out for 449, getting a lead of 121, then three of their batsmen rattled uphalf-centuries as they put up 261 for 2 to extend that lead to382, and Inzamam-ul-Haq finally inserted India back in for six oversbefore stumps. Virender Sehwag and Gautam Gambhir managed to see the dayout, leaving Pakistan a minimum of 90 overs on the morrow in which to tryand bowl India out.Pakistan would have left themselves more time to bowl at the Indianbatsmen in the evening had they been able to capitalise on a near-perfectstart to the morning session that yielded them three quick wickets andleft India tottering at 396 for 9. But VVS Laxman, having lost threetailend partners to the scorching pace of Mohammad Sami and clevervariations of Danish Kaneria, finally found some support in the form oflast man Anil Kumble. Laxman and Kumble detained Pakistan for 19 overs,added 53 runs for the last wicket, and extended the Indian innings beyondlunch.Shahid Afridi was the man who finally brought an end to the Indianinnings, bowling Kumble with his superfast change-of-pace ball. Afridithen padded up and emerged with Yasir Hameed, and proceeded to make up forlost time by lashing a half-century off just 26 balls, the fastest by aPakistani batsman in Tests, and the joint second-fastest overall. Irfan Pathan and Laksmipathy Balaji had no answer to Afridi’s belligerence, and Pathan’s attempt to bounce Afridionly resulted in the fielder at deep square leg having to retrieve theball from the boundary several times. Pathan’s woes continued when hepalmed an Afridi hit over the boundary for six, giving the batsman hisfifty. It was electric stuff, and Pakistan were back in the hunt.Sourav Ganguly had to resort to the legspin of Sachin Tendulkar to try andquell Afridi, and Tendulkar, bowling from round the wicket with thelegside boundary manned as if to stop an invading army, soon had Afridistumped for 58 (91 for 1). Indeed, after having sped quickly out of theblocks, Pakistan found themselves in marshy territory for a while againstthe leg-stump line of Tendulkar and Anil Kumble, and at one stage lookedto be taking up too much time.

But Younis Khan, who could do no wrong in this match, batted brilliantlyonce again to add 84 not out to his first-innings 267. With so manyfielders on the leg side, Younis spent the better part of his inningsimprovising, mostly with excellent reverse-sweeps. After being reverse-sweptseveral times, Kumble was not amused when Younis suddenly changed hisstance and the grip on the bat and clubbed him over the cover fielder, asif he were a left-handed batsman, for a boundary. Kumble’s one consolationwas the wicket of Yasir Hameed for 78 (183 for 2), his only wicket of thematch.Pakistan would have dearly loved at one least wicket before close of play,and there is every reason to believe that Inzamam would have donesomersaults across the field had one of his opening bowlers managed to getSehwag out. Indeed Sami, who has bowled his heart out in this game, didcome close, producing a nasty lifter that Sehwag fended off with hisgloves, but the ball just fell short of gully.Even so, there was much to commend about Pakistan’s effort, the dedicationand resolve in the ranks being symbolised by Sami, who bowled unchangedfor ninety minutes in the morning; the intelligence by Younis, who battedinventively, and by Inzamam, who had to have his thinking cap on all day;and the raw aggression by Afridi, who has had a real impact on the sidesince being drafted in at Kolkata. Even if they cannot force a resulttomorrow, there are still many things of value that Pakistan will takeaway with them from this series.How they were outIndia Tried to cut a short ball over point but couldn’t clear the fielder. A massive swipe at a legbreak ended in the hands of mid-on. Swung across the line at Kaneria and was adjudged to have got a thin bottom edge. Beaten all ends up by a faster ball.Pakistan Charged down the track, missed, and was stumped by yards. Caught on the crease by an incoming delivery.

The escalating furore over the West Indies Cricket Board’s decision to massively hike ticket prices for the forthcoming home series against England took a new turn with news that the Barmy Army – England’s loyal band of supporters – are set to boycott the Caribbean in protest.The Barmy Army have been unfaltering in their support of England overseas for more than a decade, never failing to travel to venues others – including some players – have feared to tread. But the WICB’s ploy to raise money for cricket in the region looks as if it is an obstacle too far.”They [the Barmies] don’t like being treated like idiots,” Katy Cooke, the secretary of the Barmy Army, told The Guardian. “They’re being asked to subsidise ground improvements in another country. No one who went to Bangladesh is going to the West Indies. I know lots of people who were going to take their families out there, but it just isn’t worth it now, especially as the accommodation is already expensive. There’s been absolute outrage.”If we’d told Zimbabweans at the Chester-le-Street Test last summer that they suddenly had to pay more than the England fans to get in so that the authorities could fund some new seats in Durham, we’d have been branded racist pigs.”And the view that staying at home is the preferred option is echoed by Phil Long, another ever-present Barmy. “I’ve been following England abroad since 1996,” he told the newspaper. “But the trip to the West Indies will be the first I’ve dismissed on the grounds of cost. In Bangladesh you could get by on £150 for the entire five-week trip. Now we’re being asked to pay more for the tickets alone. A lot of the boys are saying we’ll give this one a miss.What’s happening is a real shame, because we’re the best touring fans there are. I was in Calcutta for the one-day final recently between India and Australia, and there were only about 10 Aussie fans there. We’re being penalised for giving such good support.”New Century Marketing, the London-based firm in charge of selling the tickets, continues to insist that sales for the four-Test series which starts in March are good.

A Happy New Year to all our readers and to all genuine cricket-lovers everywhere. It has not been a happy New Year, though, for Zimbabwean or South African cricketers, struggling unsuccessfully overseas, or indeed for Bangladesh, overwhelmed yet again in a manner that should wake up the ICC to the fact that they did far too little to prepare their latest full member for the realities of Test cricket.For Zimbabwe, the First Test match against Sri Lanka went pretty much as could be forecast. Sri Lanka batted first and their grossly talented batsmen built up a huge total against an innocuous Zimbabwe bowling line-up. Then, aided as usual by umpiring errors that really did no more than hasten the inevitable, they failed twice with the bat, following on to be beaten by an innings.Incredibly, Zimbabwe set a record by being the first Test team to play in Sri Lanka without a specialist spinner. Captain Brian Murphy, out of form and confidence, felt he had no alternative but to stand down – and there was no other specialist spinner in the touring party! Surely the experienced Paul Strang should have been there, with Raymond Price a good alternative. Instead Zimbabwe had to rely on a four-man pace attack, backed only by two part-time spinners in Trevor Gripper and Grant Flower. Perhaps this was what persuaded them to take what at this distance (and in the absence of any discussion of the issue in the match reports) seems to be the incredible decision to put Sri Lanka in to bat on winning the toss. However justified it may have seemed at the time, the proof of the pudding is in the eating, and this decision proved indigestible.The present trend of play in Zimbabwe cricket suggests we can hope for no better in the two remaining Tests. Sri Lanka have an awesome array of talent, especially in batting, and Zimbabwe have found the island the hardest place of all to tour – so far they have lost every single match they have ever played against the home side there. Four years ago, as I have mentioned before, they almost did achieve the near-impossible by winning a Test match there, only to be robbed by craven umpiring.If they play their best, and the home side does not, it is just conceivable they might be able to match Sri Lanka in one match, although they are without several of their experienced players on this tour. But to play their best they need to show more spirit than they have done for a long time. Just occasionally Zimbabwe surprise us with an unexpected victory, but things look very bleak at the moment.Further evidence that they could do better, with the bat at least, comes with the statistic that in both innings of the First Test, five batsmen passed 20. Yet not a single one reached 50. They did the hard work, but then got themselves out when they should have been setting their sights on a really big score.Back home, Bryan Strang, whose accuracy would have been invaluable on this tour, has in disenchantment announced his retirement from Zimbabwe cricket. He fought his way back to fitness after a hamstring injury in August, only to be overlooked by the selectors yet again, even for the Zimbabwe Board XI. He has now had enough, and is looking to find a job and play out his career overseas, in England or perhaps for a provincial side in South Africa.Bryan is a mercurial character and may change his mind, as he has done before. He has not always been easy for the administrators to get on with and he has sometimes been his own worst enemy, but Zimbabwe cricket cannot afford the loss of another experienced player with much to offer. Player dissatisfaction, some of it perhaps self-imposed, is surely a part of the team’s current failures, although it is impossible to say how much. But it is an issue that needs to be recognized, tackled and resolved.A New Year is also a time for looking back, and we can spare a moment for what might have been in Zimbabwe cricket. Murray Goodwin and Neil Johnson both walked out on the country just over a year ago, while several months ago Trevor Madondo, our most talented black batsman, sadly died of cerebral malaria. Updated profiles of all three are included in this issue, along with one of Bryan Strang.ZIMBABWE A IN KENYAThe Zimbabwe A team has just returned from an unsuccessful tour to Kenya, although they did fight back to win the last two one-day matches once the series had already been divided. Alistair Campbell, who was there, talks about that tour in this issue and he reveals how Kenya’s distinctive game plan took the Zimbabweans by surprise.THE JUSTIN ONTONG AFFAIRSouth African cricket, battered by the Australians as their players appear to have lost their spirit as well as their quality pace attack, is embroiled in another controversy as their board president vetoed the team chosen for the Third Test against Australia, insisting that coloured player Justin Ontong replace white player Jacques Rudolph in the selected team.This is an issue that also causes controversy in Zimbabwe, but here I am only going to comment on the situation as it concerns the young all-rounder Ontong. Playing for one’s country for the first time, being selected as one of the eleven best, should be a source of tremendous personal joy and sense of achievement. Is that still possible when the player knows that he is in the team, not because his ability demanded it, but because the colour of his skin got him in?How can Ontong be expected to take a real pride in his selection under these circumstances? The decision to put him in the national side because of the colour of his skin has stripped him of the dignity and worth he would deserve as being officially rated as one of his country’s eleven best. Surely he must feel demeaned by his inclusion under such circumstances, especially as he failed as a player in the warm-up match against New South Wales immediately before the Test.The `quota system’, supposedly designed to combat racism, actually exacerbates any that is there. White players omitted in favour of black or coloured players of lesser quality will naturally resent it; so will their team-mates, who want to play in the strongest possible team. The policy hits at team spirit and demeans the individual promoted on race rather than merit.By all means spend extra money to help the disadvantaged, but when it comes to selection on merit, surely all unprejudiced people must agree: the best team must be selected. It only causes trouble to put race or age or privilege or lack of it ahead of sheer merit. Ontong has become a Test player but at the same time, knowing he was not there on merit, he has become a victim.

NatWest Series, The Oval: England (207 all out off 50 overs) lost toZimbabwe (210 for five off 48.2 overs) by five wickets.Zimbabwe, NatWest Series outsiders, pulled off another surprise victory,this time by five wickets over England at The Oval.Marcus Trescothick dominated the stage early in the match with a mostimpressive debut innings of 79, but England declined from 136 for one to 207all out. It was leg-spinner Paul Strang who began the collapse after anabsence from international cricket of almost a year due to injury. Then,after Zimbabwe were reeling at 35 for three, Alistair Campbell (80), the Manof the Match, and Andy Flower (61) shared a crucial partnership of 123 toset up the position for another creditable and clear-cut victory.Trescothick impresses on debutThe left-handed debutant Trescothick played a most impressive inningsof 79 as England ran to 150 for three at a scoring rate of almost five anover against Zimbabwe in their NatWest Series match against Zimbabwe at TheOval. He began in partnership with Stewart, recording the first boundary ofthe innings when he picked up a short ball from Johnson high over midwicket,almost for six. His no-nonsense firm driving, especially on the off side,and more delicate glances radiated confident and positive play right fromthe start. He lost Stewart at 30, trapped palpably lbw by the same bowlerfor 12, trying to drive a very straight ball slightly across the line.England’s fifty came up in the 13th over, but almost immediately therain arrived, quite heavily. The players left the field with England 52 forone (Trescothick 31, Hick 7). To modify the old saying, it was nice weatherfor Duckworth-Lewis, but in the event no overs were lost for thisinterruption.Narrow Run-out EscapePlay recommenced at 12.20, the pitch having got slightly damp before the covers could be applied. Hick greeted Brent, replacing Strang, with a powerful back-foot drive to the cover boundary, while Trescothick hit him high over his head in his next over for six. Trescothick had a narrow escape just after the hundred came up in the 23rd over; backing up too far as Hick played into the covers, he was stranded in mid-pitch, only for the fielder to panic and return the ball far too high. Soon afterwards he turned Brent on the leg side to record a well-earned fifty off 73 balls.Immediately afterwards he had another slice of luck, a run-out appeal going for a quick single being rejected by umpire Shepherd without referral to the third umpire – but the replay appeared to show a dismissal by the narrowest of margins. The century partnership came up off only 108 balls, Hick reached his fifty off 57 balls, and the Zimbabwean fielding, hitherto excellent, began to slide once or twice. But then Hick, still on 50, tried to turn Paul Strang to leg, only to give Grant Flower a catch at extra cover off the leading edge. England were 136 for two.Soon afterwards Trescothick’s fine innings came to an end as he swungPaul Strang high to the deep square leg boundary for Campbell to take thecatch. It was the signal for more rain to arrive, and again the playerswere forced to leave the field.Rain is good change bowlerA combination of the second break for rain and the rejuvenated leg-spin ofPaul Strang turned the England innings on its head when the team had buildsuch a fine foundation to their innings. The middle order, instead oflaunching an assault that could have taken the home side close to 300,collapsed in familiar fashion as Zimbabwe commendably pulled themselvesright back into the game.England lost two wickets in the first two overs after the 30-minutebreak. Paul Strang, tossing the ball up and looking a much better bowlerthan he had in the World Cup last year, struck again, as without addition tothe score of 150 Maynard swung across the line at Paul Strang and was bowledby a fine leg-break for 3. Flintoff (2) quickly followed him, loftingbrother Bryan straight down the throat of mid-off Whittall, and England hadsubsided to 153 for five.Paul Strang continued to tantalise, as Ealham almost hit a return catchand Thorpe skied a hit into vacant territory on the leg side. The two triedto regain the impetus lost by that flurry of wickets, and were justbeginning to look settled when Thorpe (12) checked a drive at Paul andspooned a simple return catch; England 183 for six. Zimbabwe continued torely on spinners after Strang had finished his spell, and Croft (5) holedout to Whittall at deepish extra cover off Viljoen; 191 for seven.Caddick (2) was next to go, swinging over a ball from Grant Flower tobe bowled leg stump; 197 for eight, in the 48th over. Gough got off themark when Brent missed a difficult return catch, and a thick edge from Croftbrought up the 200. Grant Flower, slow left-arm, bowled the last over anddismissed Ealham, swinging a full toss straight to Whittall at deepmidwicket for 32; 206 for nine. Gough (3 not out) took a single beforeMullally emulated Ealham, Whittall’s catch being much more difficult thistime, and England were dismissed for 207.It was a most disappointing score after being so well placed when therain struck for the second time, and the Zimbabweans astutely played on theperceived English weakness against flighted spin. Paul Strang, who beganthe collapse, took three wickets for 36 runs, Grant Flower carved three for9 out of the tail, while the left-arm spin of Viljoen accounted for two morewickets. Zimbabwe brought themselves right back into the match, but theyare still far from secure chasing totals and there could well be a tightfinish – should the weather permit it. The match remains wide open.Zimbabwe resistance flowers in poor lightAfter losing three wickets, one of them controversially, for 35 runs inpursuit of England’s total of 207, Zimbabwe appeared to be as good as buried. Then came a determined fighting partnership between present and past captains, Andy Flower and Alistair Campbell, who fought back against some fine bowling and poor light to keep their team in the match with 20 overs still to be bowled.England struck back with the third ball of the Zimbabwe innings, as without a run on the board their key batsman Johnson drove uppishly at Caddick and Maynard at backward point juggled and then held the vital low catch.Caddick and Gough gave Goodwin and Wishart a torrid time with some superb bowling as they tried to dig in, but the total was only 9 when Wishart (2) stepped across his stumps and was adjudged lbw by umpire Shepherd, to a delivery that the camera showed to be going down leg side. Campbell came in but the light was clearly deteriorating, and the batsmen earned the ire of the crowd by opting to go off with the score on 12 for two (Goodwin 5, Campbell 3). However within two minutes it was raining again.Gough and Caddick off-line
Should try ecb.co.uk/liveAbout ten minutes were lost before play restarted, in light that was not noticeably any better. Gough and Caddick continued their assault, but bowled enough deliveries off-line now to allow the batsmen to keep the score ticking over. Campbell, despite edging his first ball just short of slip, soon began to show glimpses of his true ability, despite the increasing gloom; streetlights and car headlights were beginning to come on.Ealham came on to bowl and with his second ball dismissed Goodwin lbw for 11, playing outside a ball that moved back to him, and Zimbabwe were 35 for three. Andy Flower and Campbell got their heads down and fought back, this time refusing to go off when offered the light and winning the gratitude of the crowd. They ran well between wickets and chose their strokes well in what was clearly an uphill battle. Ealham and Mullally were unable to bowl quite straight enough and many of their runs came from nudges and dabs to fine leg and third man, with Andy playing the reverse sweep to good effect.The fifty partnership came up off 88 balls in the 26th over, but Zimbabwe were still slightly behind on Duckworth-Lewis. In the 3oth over they took the lead for the first time to set up the prospect of a superb finish to this match.Zimbabwe move towards the lightCampbell reached his first one-day fifty for many a long moon when he pulled Mullally powerfully over midwicket for four. The light was improving again and Zimbabwe were now beginning to move ahead – but always in the knowledge that the loss of one more wicket would swing the balance right back towards England. Gough and Caddick returned, but were unable to test these well-set batsmen as they had at the start of the innings.On 40 Flower did offer a difficult chance to extra cover, a powerful drive that Trescothick leapt for but could do no more than parry one-handed. Then came the century partnership, off 151 balls. It finally came to an end when Campbell was beaten through the gate by Croft and trapped lbw for 80, a fine knock and his first fifty in international cricket for more than 50 innings. Zimbabwe were 158 for four and, given the fragile nature of their batting, the match was in the balance again.Creditable and clear-cut victoryAndy Flower was soon to his fifty, off 72 balls, while his brother Grant caused surprise by stepping down the pitch, with only a single to his credit, and lofting Croft for a straight six. The pair placed the ball skilfully and ran well between wickets, an art they developed when opening the batting together several years back, and the English faces became increasingly grim. A lofted on-drive from Grant off Mullally brought up the 200 but, with just two runs needed, Andy drove over a yorker from Mullally to be bowled for 61. Guy Whittall, though, drove his first ball straight for four and Zimbabwe were through to another creditable and clear-cut victory, with ten balls to spare.

Scorecard
Points table

Brad Hodge celebrated his 100th one-day game with Victoria with a dominant century that virtually guarantees the Bushrangers a spot in the FR Cup final. In a match reduced by three overs due to rain, Hodge patiently steered the team out of trouble and then accelerated as they reached the required 209 with seven wickets and four overs to spare.The Bulls had started the defence well, dropping Victoria to 3 for 52 in the 15th over, but there was no more joy as Hodge combined with the captain Cameron White in an unbroken stand of 157. White picked up a confidence-boosting 64 while Hodge starred with 119, which included 10 fours and a six.Hodge stayed for 134 balls and while he was around the Bushrangers always remained in control. They have one match remaining to seal their spot in the decider – they are five points ahead of the third-placed South Australia – and could host it if the leaders Tasmania falter.Queensland fought for their 214 in 48.4 overs after Chris Simpson started the target-setting with 42. While none of the top seven failed badly, the batsmen were unable to reach a significant total. The Bulls were in big trouble at 5 for 110 before Craig Philipson (32) and Aaron Nye (39) combined to add some respect.Bryce McGain, the leading wicket-taker for Victoria this summer, picked up two crucial victims, bowling Clinton Perren after taking care of Nathan Reardon. The double-blow continued the good work of Clint McKay and he finished with 3 for 42. McKay captured the captain Jimmy Maher and Ashley Noffke early in the innings before returning for Nye.

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.

Australia have confirmed that Ricky Ponting and Andrew Symonds will miss the second one-day international against South Africa at Cape Town on Friday. Ponting is still struggling with the stomach muscle injury he picked up before the first match, and there is some doubt as to whether he will take any part in the series. Symonds’s hip-flexor problem is improving but he won’t be rushed back into action.Both players took part in a net session during the afternoon training at Newlands and Errol Alcott, Australia’s physiotherapist, said they needed extra time to make sure they are fully fit. “Although Ricky was unhampered by his injury in batting and fielding today, we consider it more prudent to rest him tomorrow considering the length of time since the injury,” he said. “We will continue further treatment and cricket activity, and will review his availability for Sunday’s game.”Symonds had a batting session and Alcott was pleased with his progress. He will continue to receive treatment and be monitored ahead of the third match at Port Elizabeth.South Africa, who lead the series 1-0 following their six-wicket win in the opening match at Centurion Park, will pick from the same squad after Shaun Pollock was passed fit for the rest of the contest. “It’s big for us,” Ponting told . “It’s only a five-match series so if you can manage to get 2-0 up it puts a lot of pressure on a touring team especially if there are injuries.” Their pace attack is returning to full strength and they may consider bolstering it further by replacing Robin Peterson, who was ineffective at Centurion, with Johan van der Wath.South Africa (probable) Graeme Smith (capt), Boeta Dippenaar, Herschelle Gibbs, AB de Villiers, Mark Boucher (wk), Justin Kemp, Shaun Pollock, Johan van der Wath, Andrew Hall, Makhaya Ntini, Andre Nel.Australia (probable) Adam Gilchrist (capt, wk), Simon Katich, Damien Martyn, Michael Clarke, Michael Hussey, Shane Watson, Brad Hogg, Brett Lee, Nathan Bracken, Stuart Clark, Mick Lewis.