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Mahela Jayawardene, the Sri Lankan captain, has been fined 20% of his match fee for knocking over his stumps after being dismissed at Trent Bridge in the final Test of the series.Jayawardene, hoping to become only the second captain from his country to win a Test in England, vented his frustration after being dismissed for 45. After chasing a wide delivery from Liam Plunkett, he got an edge and was caught by wicketkeeper Geraint Jones upon which he swished his bat and knocked over his stumps, more in frustration with himself than in annoyance with the umpire’s decision.Though he apologised immediately to square leg umpire Rudi Koertzen as he left the field, it wasn’t enough to save him from punishment following a hearing with match referee Alan Hurst, who imposed the fine in accordance with a Level One breach of the ICC’s Code of Conduct.

The Pakistan squad were rewarded with cash bonuses at a reception organised by the PCB for reaching the final of the ICC World Twenty20.Each of the 15 Pakistan players and their eight officials were given Rs 2.5 million [approx. US$41,200]. “We may not have won the World Twenty20 title but our cricketers have made all of us proud by the way they played in the tournament,” Nasim Ashraf, the PCB chairman, said.The PCB also honoured Mohammad Yousuf for canceling his contract with the Indian Cricket League and returning to the national Test squad. Yousuf, 33, received $100,000 for signing a central contract with the board and a further $100,000 for becoming the ICC’s Test player of the year.The squad also received a cheque of Rs10 million [approx. US$164,000] from the Dubai-based Fortune Group owned by Mohammad Ali, a Pakistani businessman. The total prize money awarded was US$2 million.

ScorecardSteven Finn was back in the groove in his comeback performance for England Lions (file photo)•Getty Images

Steven Finn enhanced his prospects of a belated call-up to England’s Test tour of South Africa with a hostile three-wicket comeback performance for England Lions in Dubai, but his efforts were trumped by the Pakistan A opener Sharjeel Khan, whose 70 from 50 balls set his side up for a tense four-wicket victory and a 2-1 lead in the five-match series.Finn, who was withdrawn from the recent Test series against Pakistan due to a stress-related injury in his foot, showed plenty hostility and no signs of discomfort to claim figures of 3 for 22 in four overs, including two wickets in two balls in the second over of his spell.”It just felt nice to be playing again, and I’m very happy with how it went,” Finn said. “Bowling in the nets can’t give you that competitive edge you get in a match. I really enjoyed being back out there. It’s definitely a good starting block.”Defending a target of 143 after another promising start from Dawid Malan and a strong finish from Liam Dawson, Finn found his range in conceding two runs from his opening over before a change-up in pace confounded Sohaib Maqsood, who was bowled round his legs for 3. One ball later, Mohammad Nawaz had no response to a perfect outswinger that curled off his edge and into the gloves of Sam Billings behind the stumps.It was a statement of intent from a bowler whom Alastair Cook, in his departure press conference at Heathrow on Thursday, had admitted was ahead of schedule in his comeback from injury, having spent most of the last month with his left foot in a moon boot. “Steven has made big strides over the last couple of weeks,” Cook said. “That’s really encouraging for him.” On this evidence, he can probably start making plans for a Cape Town New Year.However, Finn’s figures were dented in his third over by Sharjeel, who pulled a four then smeared a six to kick-start his own innings and Pakistan’s run-chase. He galloped along to a 30-ball half-century, with six fours and a six, adding 52 for the third wicket with Iftikhar Ahmed, who played a willing second-fiddle with 15 from 19 balls before flapping a short ball from Jamie Overton to midwicket.Their stand had given Pakistan command of the contest but, at 92 for 3, Finn returned in the 14th over to complete his spell. Sure enough, with his second ball, he beat Babar Azam for pace as Dawson at midwicket collected a top-edged pull.Sharjeel, however, responded immediately with a four through an unguarded fine leg and, one over later, the new batsman, Saad Nasim, lifted Tom Westley over fine leg for six to restore Pakistan’s ascendancy. England’s death bowlers battled valiantly to keep their side in the game but Nasim added two more sixes, including one in the final over off Reece Topley, to all but seal the victory with 33 from 21 balls.Nasim was denied the winning shot when Topley completed a caught-and-bowled with two runs needed for victory, but Saifullah Bangash walloped four to seal the result with two balls to spare.After winning the toss and batting first, England’s innings failed to ignite despite a handful of promising cameos at the top of the order. For the third match running, Malan provided the early impetus, making 35 from 29 balls with three fours and a six over long-on off the spin of Bilal Asif.But at the other end, James Vince fell in the second over, well caught by the diving keeper, Bangash, off Mir Hamza for 6, and though Westley came out swinging with three fours in the space of four balls, he fell in search of his fourth, a miscued pull off Rumman Raees that picked out deep fine leg for 13.Billings was unable to get going in his run-a-ball 15. Although he top-edged his fifth ball, off Raees, over fine leg for six, he then added six more singles in the space of his next ten balls before mowing across the line at Asif and holing out to Ifhikhar at long-on.Malan and Ross Whiteley then fell in the space of six balls to a pair of expertly judged catches – first Azam flung himself full-length at midwicket to intercept Malan’s flat pull before Junaid Khan leapt in the covers to send Whiteley on his way for a third-ball duck, as England slipped to a precarious 76 for 5 in the 12th over.However, Dawson marshalled his side’s recovery with 45 not out from 37 balls, including a final-ball six over fine leg as Junaid strayed on to his pads. He added a restorative 54 runs for the sixth wicket with Ben Foakes, whose 16 from 18 balls ended when he inside-edged Raees on to his stumps, then farmed the strike well with Jamie Overton to give his bowlers a total to defend. Despite Finn’s best efforts, it wasn’t quite enough.

Marcus Trescothick, the England opening batsman, has expressed his hunger to return to the national side after missing the Ashes with a stress-related illness. He made an astonishing return to competitive action this week by smashing 256 from 117 balls in a pre-season friendly for Somerset against Devon at Taunton.Trescothick dramatically pulled out of England’s Ashes tour last November and underwent a double hernia operation last month in Manchester. However, Trescothick was guarded about an immediate return to the England side and said that he would wait for the right moment before confirming his availability.”I am desperate to play for England again,” Trescothick told Somerset’s official website. “But it wouldn’t be fair to anyone if I attempted to do so again without being doubly certain that I could complete an overseas tour, as well as take part in games over here. I am sure I will reach a stage when I am fully recovered, but I will not put pressure on myself by predicting when that will be.”Reflecting on the Ashes pull-out, Trescothick said it was unfortunate he was not able to support the struggling team. However, he backed his decision to return home given his state of mind at that time.”I wouldn’t have gone to Australia if I hadn’t felt convinced in my own mind that I could handle an Ashes series there,” he said. “Now I know that feeling was wrong. While viewing the Ashes matches I really wished I could be out there helping the team, but knew deep down that I needed to be at home.”

BCCI president Sharad Pawar has announced a cash prize of Rs 5 lakh (around US$12,000) each for the 15 members of the Asia Cup-winning Indian women’s squad.Hailing the triumph, Pawar said, “I congratulate the women’s cricket team for winning the Asia Cup.” India were undefeated throughout the tournament, winning all six league games before crushing Sri Lanka by 177 runs in the final on Sunday to clinch their fourth successive Asia Cup.After Asha Rawat’s 114-ball 97 helped set up a stiff target of 261 for Sri Lanka, the Indian spinners sparked a collapse which saw the hosts lose their last eight wickets for 22 runs. It was the fourth consecutive time that India and Sri Lanka had clashed in the finals.India’s president, Pratibha Patil, also congratulated the team and their captain Mithali Raj for the victory.

ScorecardBilly Godleman struck the highest score by an England Under-19 batsman in one-day internationals as the team kept alive their hopes of squaring the series against Pakistan Under-19s with an 80-run win at Grace Road. Godleman and Adam Lyth added 126 for the second wicket as England piled up their biggest total at this level then Steven Finn’s four wickets meant Pakistan couldn’t get close.The day after the senior side comprehensively beat India at The Rose Bowl, the U-19s put in an equally impressive display. The 36-run defeat at Northampton left England facing a must-win situation to retain any interest in the series. Godleman and Alex Wakely laid a solid base with an opening stand of 100 before Lyth arrived and increased the scoring rate.Godleman showed the skills which have earned him a place in Middlesex’s Championship side and why many believe he is an England opener in the waiting. He was strong through the off side and paced his innings to perfection, expanding during the closing overs and surpassing such household names as Michael Vaughan and Mike Gatting.Lyth’s 75 took 65 balls and although the middle succumbed to a series of wild swings, the momentum was never lost and England scored more than 100 off the last 10 overs.Pakistan needed a rapid start if they were to chase down the runs, but weren’t helped when opener Shan Masood was unable to take his place after picking up a finger injury in the field. Finn produced a superb opening spell and removed Umar Amin, who has been one Pakistan’s leading batsmen on the tour.Usman Salahuddin again showed good form, but was forced to retire hurt with cramp when Pakistan needed to accelerate. Left-arm spinner Liam Dawson removed Ali Asad and Imad Wasim in three balls as the middle order tried hit out and got out. Although Salahuddin returned to completed a battling half-century, and Masood showed what Pakistan had missed in the top order, the contest was long since over.The final match of the series takes place on the same ground on Thursday.

Marylebone Cricket Club (MCC) is to conclude its current tour of India with a first-ever match against Afghanistan.The fixture, described by an MCC spokesman as “pioneering and historic, will take place at the Police Ground in Mumbai on Thursday. MCC will be led by the former England and Middlesex captain, Mike Gatting.”I am delighted to have the opportunity to lead MCC in this historic gameagainst Afghanistan,” said Gatting. “Cricket has developed rapidly in the country over the last few years and MCC is keen to assist this process – as it is in all emerging cricket-playing nations.”Cricket’s popularity in Afghanistan has surged since many of the refugees who fled from the country in the early 1980s, after the Soviet invasion, started to return from Pakistan – where they first saw the game and started to play and follow it.In the last decade, the membership of the Afghanistan Cricket Federation has grown more than twenty-fold – from 500 to 12,000 members. The Afghan team, whose travel is being sponsored by MCC, will be flying into Delhi before transferring to Mumbai by train. The British Embassy in Kabul and the World Cricket Academy inMumbai have also played key roles in facilitating this match.Explaining the background to the fixture, MCC’s president, Robin Marlar, said:”This match is the culmination of many months of hard work. It all started severalyears ago when an MCC Member, Mark Scrase-Dickens, raised the issue of Afghancricket at a Club AGM.”Subsequently, at the Asian Cricket Council in London last summer, I was asked to help and we have been so pleased with the contributions made by the World Cricket Academy in Mumbai and, of course, the authorities in Afghanistan who have been swift to seize the opportunity.””This is merely the beginning,” added Marlar. “Because of the intensity of interest in the game in Afghanistan, there is no reason why that country should not progress year upon year with Bangladesh – the newest of the Test-playing nations – as the example to follow.”MCC also played a key role in the development of cricket in Bangladesh in the months and years following their war of liberation in 1971, with representative sides being sent to rekindle interest in the game. In 2002, MCC joined forces with Slazenger and the RAF to equip an Afghan XI and an international peacekeepers’ team for a match in Kabul.MCC squad Mike Gatting (capt), Tony Matharu, Bryan Jones, Sam Anderson, Stephen Brogan, Paul Carroll, Matthew Friedlander (Cambridge UCCE), Chinmay Gupte, Michael Jarrett, Richard Kettleborough, Tom Leaming (Cardiff UCCE), Danny Miller (Loughborough UCCE), Sameer Patel, Tim Smith, David Snellgrove.

It’s the new wave of the international game, so we might as well get used to it. Those who measure the quality of a cricketer by his performances over the long haul, and have grown to tolerate one-dayers as a necessary evil, will probably look scornfully upon the two Twenty20 Internationals between the West Indies and England.Just as the 50 over version was ridiculed in its fledgling years as “pyjama cricket” with its coloured clothing and other gimmicks, so too has the 20 overs-per-side hybrid been dismissed as a glorified whipping session, where the subtleties and complexities of the real thing are abandoned in the quest to clear the boundary ropes almost every delivery to the accompaniment of ear drum-puncturing noise from the resident DJ.Given their stubborn refusal to accept those ODI innovations in the immediate aftermath of Kerry Packer’s revolutionary World Series Cricket, it is more than a little ironic that this latest consumer-friendly variety has really taken off in England, as evidenced by the overwhelming popularity of the domestic version since it was introduced to a very receptive audience four years ago.They were not the first to experiment with an even shorter form of one-day cricket, but it is fair to say that its instant success convinced the ICC of the need to get in on the action, seeing as almost every match, whether domestic or international, is played in front of capacity crowds that are representative of every strata of society, from hardcore party animals to whole families enjoying an evening’s entertainment.And that’s essentially what it is: entertainment. Not a complex series of sub-plots and individual skirmishes, all unfolding over time in a duel that has almost as many twists, turns and changes of pace as the most complex scandal-laced soap opera.In an era when those who have extra money can’t enjoy the luxury of much spare time, Twenty20 fills the breach almost perfectly.

Most people were more preoccupied with the staggering sums of money shovelled out than the quality of the cricket played, but Allen Stanford’s ground-breaking Caribbean version of the frenetic spectacle proved such a hit last August in Antigua that, just for a moment, we almost believed his baseless boast that “West Indies cricket is back on track!” just after Narsingh Deonarine smashed a six off the penultimate ball of the final to give Guyana a pulsating victory over Trinidad and Tobago.It’s all about instant gratification, so there’s no point griping about it lacking the depth of the longer contest. That is not to say, of course, that any fool can dash to the nearest phone booth and be transformed Clark Kent-style into a Twenty20 superhero.Indeed, there is enough evidence to suggest that the concentrated demands of this extremely abbreviated style have contributed to even sharper fielding, while batsmen exposed to it on a regular basis are now more inclined to attack much earlier and with more clinical efficiency in both Tests and one-dayers.Still, it doesn’t appeal to all players, despite the financial rewards. Two years ago, Brian Lara commented that he didn’t enjoy having to swing for the hills almost from the word go when rain reduced an ODI against South Africa at the Queen’s Park Oval effectively to a Twenty20 affair.A number of Australia’s senior players, including skipper Ricky Ponting and 2007 World Cup final hero Adam Gilchrist, have cautioned against exposing younger players too much to a form of the game that could see them developing habits inimical to ensuring the country’s continued dominance at Test level.Still, Twenty20 has well and truly claimed its place in the cricketing world with the ICC approving the inaugural World Cup in South Africa in September. It is unlikely, however, given the increasing complaints about squeezing more matches into an already congested international schedule, that Twenty20 will enjoy the unfettered growth of its 50-over relation.Of course, as with anything else, it takes some getting used to, and Sunday’s 84-run humiliation at the hands of Derbyshire is not an encouraging sign for Chris Gayle’s reconstituted side. Hopefully, the final warm-up against the PCA Masters at Arundel would have proven more encouraging ahead of their first clash with Paul Collingwood’s England at The Oval in London.In their only Twenty20 International before the upcoming matches, the West Indies lost out in a tie-breaking bowl-out in Auckland at the start of their New Zealand tour in February of last year. It was an entertaining experience with a thrilling finale, but apart from the fact that it marked the farewell of allrounder Chris Cairns to international cricket, hardly anything else is worth remembering.But that’s Twenty20 for you: gratification without any real meaning, much like life in the 21st century. It is very much a game for the times.

1. Geoff Marsh – Mr. Nudist
A long-time room-mate of David Boon, Swampy lived and breathed cricket, mostly batting, as anyone who saw his bowling action would testify. He was so passionate that Boonie was often woken early in the morning to the site of Swampy – in his birthday suit – practising forward defences in front of the mirror! Never great at amusing himself, he would get annoyed if Boonie was reading a novel and not talking to him. On one occasion Boonie left the room, only to return to find his novel ripped to shreds by a smiling Swampy.2. Justin Langer – Mr. Sleepwalker
JL is known as a bit of a sleepwalker and also talks in his sleep. This alone might not seem like such a big problem, however Alfie is a black belt in martial arts, which adds some intrigue when you are woken by him screaming obscenities as he walks towards you throwing his kicks and punches. One of the major factors in the push for single rooms, not so much for solitude but for self-preservation.3. Steve Waugh – Mr. Messy
There is an old TV sitcom called The Odd Couple about Felix too neat, and Oscar too messy. When I roomed with Steve it was two Oscars and that meant trouble. I roomed with him once in Brisbane before the first Test against the Poms in 1994-95, and it was a disaster. We got along fine as blokes but we had a few problems with our domestication duties – shirts, shoes, socks, cricket gear and mini-bar wrappers were all sprawled around our room over the week-long stay. At the end of the Test, he left with half my gear and I left with half of his, although I didn’t get his cherished baggy green.4. Mark Waugh – Mr. Julio
I roomed a bit with Junior early in my career before I really got to know him. We didn’t have a lot in common in our touring life. I’m a massive Hawthorn fan in the AFL and his love was for the Bulldogs in the NRL. On a day off he loved nothing more than 18 holes of golf, while I was a non-golfer. He was one of the prominent members of the Julios, guys within the team who took a lot of pride in personal grooming. I was in the middle of the Nerd clan and very fashion-challenged. To motivate myself for big games I’d listen to Metallica, ACDC and Kiss, while Junior preferred the sounds of The Little River Band!

5. Michael Bevan – Mr. Mission Impossible
Rooming with Bevo was a bigger challenge than Tom Cruise had in any of his Mission:Impossible movies. Bevo was a perfectionist who needed the right amount of sleep to bring out his best game. He took objection to smokers, snorers, earlier risers, late-to-bedders, tall blokes, small blokes, drinkers etc. This is a man who has had the flu now for 36 years and took his own pharmacy on tour to maintain peak physical condition. Another individual who brought the notion of single rooms to the forefront.6. Darren Lehmann – Mr. McDonald’s
Would be Michael Bevan’s nightmare roomy from hell. Smokes like a trooper, loves a beer and the odd late night. Then when he does get home he proceeds to snore as loud as rioting elephants. We roomed together in Sri Lanka in 1996 for an ODI tournament which was under heavy security. We couldn’t leave the hotel, so that made the boys a little stir crazy for the three weeks. The highlight, for Boof and myself, was me questioning him about the McDonald’s menu. At that stage he had a McDonald’s card that gave him free food. I would ask questions like, “How much is a Big Mac meal deal, six nuggets and a caramel sundae?” He would have 15 seconds to answer. “Supersize or regular?” he would ask. “Supersize”, I would reply. “$9.55” . . . hours of fun!7. Brad Hogg – Mr. Fitness
Hoggy made his Aussie debut touring India in 1996 and was keen to set a good example. He was always first to training and last to finish, which would have impressed his team-mates except for the fact that the team bus couldn’t leave until he had finished! Jeez we watched him bowl a lot in the nets. Being from the country he was always up early and ready for action. Room-mates were woken to grunting noises as he punched out push-ups and sit-ups at 5.30am. And he is still the only Australian cricketer to actually buy weights on a tour and carry them around for the entire trip!8. Shane Warne – Mr. Entertainment
Rooming with Warney was always enjoyable as he loves his gadgets – DVDs, Minidiscs and the latest in mobile phones. He used to bring complete home entertainment systems on tour, lugging around a subwoofer and speakers in its own suitcase, before proceeding to play his music and movies – loud. Not a problem when he played some Powderfinger but I think Spice Girls should be listened to in the privacy of your own headphones. He once bought a mobile phone in Dubai in 1994 when they were only just new and the size of a house brick. He was disappointed with the low volume when speaking only to realise the phone was upside-down and back-to-front! Also a softie at heart, I once woke to find him crying during Notting Hill, when Hugh Grant and Julia Roberts reunite at the end.

9. Merv Hughes – Mr. Bodily Functions
I first roomed with Merv as an 18-year-old mulleted teenager straight from high school. I grew nervous when my fellow team-mates wished me luck. But we hit it off straight away; he became like a big brother to me. On arrival I would be sent to get food – maybe a couple of hamburgers, with a diet coke to even it out! I would also buy a Big M and Picnic each for sweets, to be saved for later that night. We would then “bat cave” our room by closing all curtains so no light could enter and have a couple of hours’ siesta, then wake up and go out that night. Merv would then leave earlier than me, and I would go home to find two empty Big M cartons and Picnic wrappers. No need for an alarm clock, we had Merv’s natural one. All I will say is that it was loud and smelly but very consistent – set for 30 minutes before departure. In those days for Victoria we used to swap roomies every second trip. I don’t know what I did wrong but I roomed with Merv for six years!10. Craig McDermott – Mr. Neat
Was the leader of our pace attack when I first came on the Australian scene and going from Big Merv’s laidback attitude to Billy was quite a contrast. It really was The Odd Couple with myself and Billy. Everything had to be packed neatly, clothes put into drawers and shirts hung up on their hangers. In my seven years touring with the Aussie team I never packed any clothes in hotel drawers. Any rubbish I had thrown around was picked up by Billy and put in the bin before he would even acknowledge me. He was a massive snorer. The night before an Adelaide Test against the Poms I was in bed early, wanting a long relaxing sleep. Just as I was drifting off, Billy starts snoring. After tossing and turning for hours I finally screamed out, “Stop snoring Billy!” In a semi-conscious state he apologised and proceeded to stop snoring. I don’t know how that works.11. Troy Corbett (Vic) – Mr. Fast Food
Special mention to one of the great blokes of Victorian cricket. I was rooming with him and our middle-order player Laurie Harper in Darwin for pre-season one year. The apartments had one double bedroom and one bedroom with two singles. Using my Australian experience, I pulled rank immediately and chose the double. I slept beautifully and woke to see Laurie camped with bed sheets in the kitchen looking like he’d hardly had a wink of sleep. He told me he’d had to move out as he was scared to sleep in the same room as Ronnie. Ronnie, who was working at McDonald’s at the time, was a sleepwalker and Laurie awoke to his team-mate above him, flipping burgers in his sleep, and of course … he was nude!

Chris Cairns, the New Zealand allrounder, has been ruled out of the rest of the Videocon Cup in Zimbabwe owing to a recurrence of a hamstring injury during the fifth match of a tri-series against India on Friday.Lindsay Crocker, the New Zealand manager, said Cairns had appeared to make a full recovery before the match after passing a fitness test in the nets. New Zealand have further injury problems ahead of the final on Tuesday with Jacon Oram, the other allrounder, also suffering from a hamstring problem.Cairns didn’t make too much of an impression in the tournament, managing only 40 runs and two wickets in the three games he played in.