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Malcolm Speed: “The confirmation of this team does not change the need for the stakeholders in the game to come together and resolve their domestic differences’ © Getty Images

The ICC has confirmed that USA will participate in the ICC Trophy after their cricket association named a squad and also stated that the team would not be disputed by a faction which has been contesting the legitimacy of the USACA.In a media release, Malcolm Speed, the ICC’s chief executive, said: “The nomination of the team and the confirmation from the opposition group that it would not be disputing the squad through any domestic legal or other type of challenge or submitting an alternative team clears the way for USA’s participation in the event.”Though the immediate issue of participation in the ICC Trophy has been resolved, Speed warned that there were other matters that needed to be sorted out. “The confirmation of this team has addressed the ICC’s most immediate concern regarding cricket in America but it does not change the need for the stakeholders in the game in the United States to come together and resolve their domestic differences in the overall interests of the sport.” Earlier, the ICC had indicated that USA might not be allowed to participate in the tournament after internal bickering between the two factions who both claim to represent the USA Cricket Association.”The ICC does not and will not unilaterally get involved in the domestic issues that affect its members,” Speed said. “The ICC has repeatedly offered to assist the disputing parties in the USA to help find a way forward but these offers have not been accepted by both sides. These offers have now been withdrawn.”It is now up to the factions within cricket in America to find a solution to their internal dispute through the mediation, arbitration or legal systems that are available to them. I hope this happens quickly and that a resolution can be found.”

VVS Laxman: a threat for Australia © Getty Images

In Australia a batsman needs to be patient. He also needs to rely mostly on shots square of the wicket rather than straight down the ground because of the extra bounce. Even a batsman like [Sachin] Tendulkar – who scores against all sorts of bowling across the globe – will be tested by the bounce: you have to be able to cut, pull and hook to score runs in Australia. You need to be a good player off the back foot. The advantage of batting in Australia is that the ball comes on to the bat so you can hit through the line of the ball.The range of strokes that Tendulkar and VVS Laxman possess makes them the main dangers to the Australian bowlers. These conditions are not good for Sourav Ganguly – he, and most of the others, will need to be prepared to cop a lot of short-pitched bowling. Even the great Sunil Gavaskar had problems dealing with the extra bounce. What tends to happen with visiting batsmen is that due to the extra bounce they tend to follow the ball outside off, with their hands pushing at it. But to succeed you have got to judge the line of the ball early. In India the ball comes slower off the pitch, so you can make last-minute adjustments and not get an edge, but in Australia if you misjudge the line of the ball you will end up getting an edge.Brisbane is the best pitch in Australia – and the world – as it has a beautiful covering of grass, and is always hard and even. The Gabba is notoriously live on the first day. It won’t be significantly fast, but it will have a lot of bounce, and a little bit of sideways movement, particularly in the first session. But if you can get through that period, then batting becomes easier. Conditions are best for both batsmen and bowlers on the second day: the wicket is at its fastest with maximum bounce, so there is something in it for bowlers. The ball comes on to the bat, so good batsmen can score runs and good bowlers can take wickets. Brisbane provides the best advantage to the Australians to break into the opposition batting order and stir them up quickly. A look at their recent record shows that Australia have often wrapped up matches inside four days here.Adelaide is the best batting wicket in the world, and it will favour the Indians because it will not bounce as much as the Gabba, and it will turn towards the end of the game. It is a beautiful track and the team winning the toss must bat.The wicket at the Melbourne Cricket Ground has changed over the recent years as it has been relaid. It is now a pretty bouncy pitch, not as fast as Brisbane and Adelaide, but it will provide assistance to the seamers on the first day due to its bounce, which will stay for about three days.Sydney is an ordinary pitch – it will spin a lot, and finger-spinners will find it especially helpful. Anil Kumble can prosper there as he is quick through the air, but [Stuart] MacGill and [Shane] Warne have had a lot of success, too, as they turn the ball prodigiously. There will be some life in the pitch on the first day but thereafter it will turn and the bounce will be lower.

Earlier this morning I asked Chief Executive Peter Anderson for an update on Somerset Coach Kevin Shine who has been missing from the scene since the middle of last week.Mr Anderson told me, “The tough guy image which Kevin Shine likes to project took a battering last week when he disclosed that he had to go into hospital for a hernia operation which the club reliably understands was caused by coughing.”He continued, “With the operation successfully completed at the Nuffield Hospital the professional players are wondering when the coach will be fit enough to throw them 100 m.p.h. balls off 18 yards.”Mr Anderson added, “When Kevin Shine was bowling we used to watch him off 18 yards, but it was nowhere near 100 m.p.h.”A mystery surrounds the sender of a bouquet of yellow pansies to Kevin Shine, which was suitably wrapped in a long pink ribbon.The Somerset Chief Executive is calling upon all of his police experience to try to solve this mystery, but it has been said that on Thursday last week Ian Blackwell was spotted returning from a local garden centre, leaving a trail of pansy petals!Everyone at the club wishes Kevin Shine all the best and hopes that he makes a speedy recovery and is soon well enough to return to work!

Bat again dominated ball on the second day at West End where Hampshirefinished the day 92 for one from 42 overs in response to the Sussex firstinnings total of 500 for seven declared.As on the opening day, it was the Zimbabwean batsman Murray Goodwin who provided the impetus with a career-best score of 195 made in a patient eight hours 41 minutes.Goodwin, who was 132 overnight, found a willing partner in nightwatchman JamesKirtley who helped him add 100 for the fifth wicket against a depletedHampshire attack. Overseas all-rounder Neil Johnson was unable to bowl andEngland’s Alan Mullally retired from the fray with a slight groin strainafter a few overs in the morning session.Goodwin’s vigil came to an end at 390 when he fell leg before attempting to sweep occasional bowler Giles White. His innings included 20 fours mainly off the backfoot or punched square on the offside and came off 421 balls.Sussex acclerated during the afternoon session thanks to a stand of 79 between Umer Rashid and Robin Martin-Jenkins who was 56 not out at the declaration from 81 balls.Hampshire, after a day and a half in the field, needed 351 just to avoid the follow-on. But Giles White and Derek Kenway made a confident response in an opening stand of 59, ended when Kenway was lbw only half-forward to Martin Jenkins – and with White 45 not out at the close, Hampshire were moving towards safety.

An update has emerged on Rangers midfielder Scott Arfield, regarding his future at Ibrox…

What’s the latest?

According to the Daily Record, the club remains in talks with the Canadian utility man over an extension as Ross Wilson attempts to thrash out a deal.

The report claims that the two parties are yet to reach an agreement over fresh terms but they have not given up hope yet, with the Gers sporting director plotting a big move to keep him. He is currently due to leave on a free transfer at the end of the campaign.

Elation

This update will surely leave Gio van Bronckhorst feeling elated as he will want to keep the midfielder around in Glasgow for another season.

He was previously dubbed a “managers’ dream” by his former manager John Hughes and that is exactly why van Bronckhort will be delighted with the club’s attempts to tie him down to a new contract. Arfield is a valuable squad member as he has been regularly called upon by the Dutchman throughout the campaign.

The ex-Burnley man is capable of playing in a variety of positions and works his socks off for the team whenever he plays. He has played 23 matches in the Premiership, starting 14, and made 1.3 tackles and interceptions per game whilst playing in central midfield and out on the right wing.

Whilst he may not have the quality to continue to be a regular starter for the Gers, he can still offer value off the bench and in rotation. Van Bronckhorst, given Arfield’s appearances this term, clearly trusts him to do a job in midfield and that is why he would love to have him as an option for the 2022/23 campaign.

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He has produced four goals in the Premiership this season but has also missed a whopping seven ‘big chances’ and failed to record a single assist. This shows that his final product has been inconsistent, at best, and that is why he should be kept on in a reduced role.

Instead of being a player van Bronckhorst relies on to start each week, he should be utilised as an experienced squad option who can fill in when needed whilst offering advice to the younger players. He can help the likes of Charlie McCann and Alex Lowry in order to get them into a position where they can take over from him in the first team.

AND in other news, 27 appearances, 3 goals: Allen had a howler with “unbelievable” £8.5k-p/w Rangers flop…

	Misbah-ul-Haq was not in the fray during the first auction, but is a big draw © Getty Images

Pakistan’s Misbah-ul-Haq, Australia’s Shane Watson, and Mohammad Ashraful, the Bangladesh captain, are among 18 players included in the second Indian Premier League (IPL) auction to be held in Mumbai on March 11. The list is made up of seven New Zealanders, four Australians, three Pakistanis, two Bangladeshis, one Sri Lankan and South African each but no English cricketers.The injury-prone Watson has not played for Australia since the ICC World Twenty20 in September 2007 and he has struggled during Queensland’s Pura Cup campaign. He earned a recall to the national side for the CB Series but nagging leg problems forced him out again. Misbah, who was not included for the initial auction, is a big draw given his Twenty20 success in the last season.Mohammad Yousuf and Ashwell Prince, who failed to be picked up by any of the eight franchises last month, will be auctioned again.Western Australia’s Luke Pomersbach, who joins fellow Australians Watson, Brad Hodge and James Hopes in the second auction, said he was willing to play in the IPL for free. “I am pretty excited about it, because I did not think I would have a chance, but I have, and it will be a chance to play with some serious cricketers,” he told . “I would be happy to go over for free and play that standard of cricket and cricketers,” he said. “I will be able to learn so much from them, but I will take anything I can get.”A top BCCI official, on condition of anonymity, told IANS: “There are 13 other foreign players who have shown keen interest to play in the first season”. These include Shaun Tait, on a self-imposed indefinite break from cricket, Brad Hogg, who recently retired, West Indies’ Dwayne Smith, and Yasir Hameed, the Pakistan batsman. Seven other Australians have also apparently expressed interest.The IPL permits each franchise to buy more foreign players outside the list of 18 if they inform the tournament officials about who they are interested in. The IPL organisers would then negotiate the players’ base prices and try and secure No-Objection Certificates (NOCs) from the respective country boards.This auction is expected to be relatively smaller than the first, which was worth US$42 million. The eight franchise owners still have unspent money, a factor which has necessitated a second auction. The amounts are: $374,000 (Bangalore), $23,750 (Chennai), $71,250 (Delhi), $262,500 (Hyderabad), $1,700,000 (Jaipur), $107,500 (Kolkata), $292,250 (Mohali) and $53,750 (Mumbai).”If a team exceeds $5 million [after spending] on players who were initially not available but become available later, the excess expenditure will be ignored,” said the official. “Also, player fees for Indian players who were not in the auction do not count against the $5m purse. There will be no more auctions this season.”All team owners have to finalise their squads 30 days before the start of the 2008 season. The IPL kicks off on April 18.Players for second auction:
Pakistan: Mohammad Yousuf, Misbah-ul-Haq, Mohammad Hafeez; South Africa: Ashwell Prince; New Zealand: Ross Taylor, Peter Fulton, Jamie How, Jeetan Patel, Chris Martin, Kyle Mills, James Franklin; Australia: Brad Hodge, Shane Watson, James Hopes, Luke Pomersbach; Sri Lanka: Prasanna Jayawardene; Bangladesh: Mohammad Ashraful, Mashrafe Mortaza.Players who have expressed their interest:
Australia: Shaun Marsh, Brad Hogg, Shaun Tait, Adam Voges, Mick Lewis, Darren Lehmann, Allan Wise, Aiden Blizzard, Adam Crosthwaite; South Africa: Goolam Bodi; Pakistan: Yasir Hameed; West Indies: Kieran Powell, Dwayne Smith.

South African left-hander Arno Jacobs will join Australian George Bailey as the two permitted overseas professionals for the Scotland in this year’s Friends Provident Trophy campaign, which starts at the Grange on April 29.Jacobs, 30, plays for Western Warriors in South Africa’s domestic competitions, and has a first-class average of nearly 40 with nine centuries and more than 20 half-centuries to his name. In 99 one-day games, he has reached three figures six times, and 50 on twelve occasions. He also scored a century in a World Cup warm-up match against Pakistan at Kimberley in January this year. Jacobs, who had a spell as pro for Stoneywood-Dyce recently, is currently playing for the Middleton club in Lancashire.George Bailey, 24, who is this year’s club professional for national league champions Grange, is one of the brightest prospects in contemporary Tasmanian cricket. He has a first-class average of 36.95 from just 26 matches. He got his chance in the Pura Cup in 2005-6, scoring three centuries and 778 runs, and last year staked a claim for national representation with his highest score of 155 against South Australia, in a record 292-run partnership with Travis Birt. A former Australia under-19 player, he is a direct relation of George Herbert Bailey, who was part of the 1878 touring squad to England.Both players will feature in Scotland’s nine Friends Provident Trophy matches, only four of which are home games: against Yorkshire (Sunday April 29), Nottinghamshire (Sunday May 20), Derbyshire (Sunday June 3) and Warwickshire (Sunday June 10). The away matches are against Leicestershire (Sunday May 6), Northamptonshire (Monday May 7), Lancashire (Sunday May 27), Durham (Monday May 28) and Worcestershire (Wednesday May 13).Roddy Smith, chief executive of Cricket Scotland, said: “We are delighted to have recruited two players of high quality to supplement our Scottish players. Both George and Arno have had very successful domestic seasons in Australia and South Africa respectively, and we are sure they will add significantly to the Saltires squad for this season.”National coach Peter Drinnen added: “Our new captain Ryan Watson will be greatly helped in his task by having two such accomplished run-getters. That should enable our own players to gain confidence in their own abilities as the season progresses.”

Brian Lara: ready to instil leadership qualities in the next generation © Getty Images

When the West Indies Cricket Board named Brian Lara as their captain for the third time, they were opting for experience, as their focus will undoubtedly be on preparing for the World Cup in the region in 2007.Lara’s return had been foretold after Shivnarine Chanderpaul resigned one year into the post. His third stint in the job was seen as a critical aspect of preparing this young team for the tournament that is now less than a year away. His experience and maturity will be vital elements for a team in need of nurturing, especially after the uninterrupted string of defeats they have just suffered.At the press conference in Port of Spain where the announcement was made today, Lara described himself as a “father figure” and a “leader” in the team, and said this time around for him, he would define success as producing a leader, improving the relationship between the West Indies Players’ Association and the WICB, “turning the corner” for West Indies cricket, and playing well at the World Cup. He also said he hoped that long-waited resurgence would come under his leadership.Lara added that the WICB had gone for experience instead of youth, and the names that had been bandied about prior to the announcement were all youthful, with the exception of Chris Gayle.Gayle, whose name seemed to have surfaced only to recede again, was the contender with the most experience following Lara. And although it ended up with most people narrowing it down to a choice between Ramnaresh Sarwan, the former vice-captain and Daren Ganga, the Trinidad and Tobago national captain, both lack the kind of experience needed at this juncture.For Sarwan, who has had more Test exposure than his demeanour suggests, it might be a good internship, one he would do well to take seriously as his boyish impetuosity seems to distort his learning curve too often.Ganga, who has only just recovered some of his Test form, has done a brilliant job of leading Trinidad and Tobago to two regional victories. But Ganga cannot be expected to carry the burdens of this crucifying captaincy yet. He offers great hope as a future leader, but needs to come into his own first, and to have a chance to settle in as a Test player.Gayle, on the other hand, has all the makings of a young Clive Lloyd, and it will be interesting to see if he is entrusted with a position of leadership, as it could lift his game to a more careful, consistent level, as it did for Lloyd. With Lloyd himself back within the corridors of West Indies cricket, there is no reason for them not to develop a mentoring relationship that could help Gayle to become the powerful leader this team needs.Earlier this year, at a leadership seminar held for some of the cricketers at the Cave Hill campus of the University of the West Indies, it was observed that Gayle was seen by the other players as a senior, experienced player to be heeded and respected. For a team that has been riven by internal divisions particularly over the contract disputes, which were finally ended today as well, the importance of a leader that has the respect of all is particularly crucial.What emerged from the seminar was that, despite the existence of little cliques within the team, Gayle is perceived to be above the partisan behaviour, and thus is liked by all. These attributes would be well remembered, especially for the old/new captain who has already declared it his mission to groom his potential successors.The WICB was unable to name a vice-captain today, and that alone should underscore the importance of Lara’s mission. These three are part of a group described by Lara as being under 25, but within their ranks there are one or two others with potential as well. Lara’s return should be seen as part of a moulding mission, of working to build a team that has shelf life – not on the bottom shelf, but at eye level at the very least, long after the World Cup.Squad to face Zimbabwe Chris Gayle, Runako Morton, Ramnaresh Sarwan, Brian Lara (capt), Shivnarine Chanderpaul, Dwayne Smith, Marlon Samuels, Dwayne Bravo, Denesh Ramdin (wk), Corey Collymore, Fidel Edwards, Jerome Taylor, Ian Bradshaw.

David Sheppard led England in two of the 22 Tests he played© Getty Images

David Sheppard, the former England Test captain, has passed away, aged 75, following a long battle with cancer. He would have turned a year older on March 6. Sheppard was also the former Bishop of Liverpool.Sheppard played 22 Tests – and led England in two – in a career that spanned 13 seasons. He averaged 37 and racked up three hundreds and six fifties in that time, and was named one of five Wisden Cricketers of the Year. One of his hundreds came against Australia at Old Trafford in 1956, the match in which Jim Laker took 19 wickets.Remembered by cricket fans for his graceful play and immense concentration, he was nonetheless also remembered for his fielding. Six years after he returned to the side in 1956 as the first ordained minister to play for England, he toured Australia and dropped catches, provoking a legendary jibe from Fred Trueman: “It’s a pity t’Reverend don’t put his hands together more often in t’field.”

Chris Cairns: taking greenhorns to Pakistan © Getty

Three new caps, Tama Canning, Matthew Walker and Craig Cumming, have been named in the New Zealand team to tour Pakistan. Hamish Marshall and Kerry Walmsley have also been recalled after long spells in the wilderness.Canning was the subject of a New Zealand query to the International Cricket Council for eligibility dispensation two summers ago when it appeared he was on the verge of making the one-day side. However, despite approval for the Australian-born Canning being given, he did not get the call-up. His parents are from New Zealand, of Maori origin, though he was brought up in Western Australia.Canning had an outstanding season for Auckland last year, taking 46 wickets, the most by any bowler in first-class play last year. He also scored 465 runs at 38.75, including one century. The second-highest wicket-taker, Matthew Walker with 45 wickets at 18, has also been included. Both players have been solid performers on the New Zealand scene for the last few summers and have also made their mark in the one-day game.The selectors, John Bracewell, Sir Richard Hadlee, Ross Dykes and Brian McKechnie have also included Cumming, the Otago captain, who scored 751 runs at 46.93 in domestic cricket last summer, including three centuries. The 28-year-old Cumming headed off the country’s highest domestic runscorer last year, Tim McIntosh, a 23-year-old who had been in good early season form for Auckland in matches with the New Zealand Academy this week.Marshall’s recall is probably the biggest selection surprise given that he is still without a century in first-class cricket, while his one-day average is only 23.56. He made his solitary Test appearance when called as a replacement on New Zealand’s 2000 tour of South Africa. While on the tour he impressed with his attitude but has so far been unable to convert that into consistent run scoring.Walmsley is another interesting choice. A big, strong fast-medium bowler, he showed some signs of regaining his form last summer for Otago when he took 37 wickets on the domestic circuit.Chris Cairns will captain the side and it may be that the unlucky Richard Jones, who has been on two Test tours with the New Zealand side, will get to make his first appearance on this tour. Michael Mason has also been included, as expected, while Mathew Sinclair has been recalled. Daniel Vettori has been named vice-captain of the side.The following players were not considered for selection: Stephen Fleming, Nathan Astle and Kyle Mills, who has a viral infection. Andre Adams and Matt Horne made themselves unavailable for selection.Hadlee, the selection manager, said: “The absence of several established players has paved the way for some others and they will now get their opportunity. For the selectors this is exciting, as we will now get to learn something about the new players’ capabilities at international level.”We are confident that several players will step up to the level required which will broaden our player base and create further competition for places in the Black Caps moving forward.”Hadlee said there was also an opportunity to look at specific areasthat had been difficult for the Black Caps in recent times. “It will be interesting to see how a new opening combination performs and how the new bowling combination performs, particularly at the end of the innings.”However, Hadlee was also realistic about the challenges in front of whatis a relatively inexperienced squad. “Playing Pakistan in Pakistan always presents unique pressures. However, this squad has the added challenges of having to come together at relatively short notice to then play five one-day internationals in nine days. It’s going to be a real test of their focus andprofessionalism.”The team: Chris Cairns (capt), Tama Canning, Craig Cumming, Chris Harris, Paul Hitchcock, Richard Jones, Hamish Marshall, Brendon McCullum (wk), Jacob Oram, Mathew Sinclair, Daryl Tuffey, Daniel Vettori, Matthew Walker, Kerry Walmsley.