Twin delight for Powell

On the fourth day of the Dhaka Test, Kieran Powell became the first West Indies batsman to score hundreds in each innings of a Test since Brian Lara achieved the feat against Sri Lanka in Colombo 11 years ago. The only other West Indies opener to hit twin Test centuries is Gordon Greenidge in 1976, but Powell was more concerned about what awaits his team on the fifth day than in history.

Powell wasn't even aware of who he stood a chance of emulating with his 117 and 110, saying he was reminded by a member of the support staff the night before. "Last night I was speaking to my massage therapist and he told me that this is perfect opportunity to do something like this," Powell said. "I am not too sure how often it happened but I am happy that it happened to me."

After fielding for a day and a half, Powell's second-innings century has been a reflection of his marked improvement as a batsman in the past year. He has now scored three centuries this year, solidifying his position in the Test side. Even in the space of two innings, Powell has showed the maturity that has escaped many West Indies openers when batting in the subcontinent. He adjusted perfectly to the match situation and the pitch, playing a lot straighter in the second innings while he had played all around the wicket in the first innings.

He was however part of the reason West Indies are in a position of weakness as they slipped from 212 for 3 to 244 for 6 at stumps. Powell was the fourth wicket to fall when he misjudged a straighter delivery from Shakib Al Hasan, exposing two new batsmen. That too in the absence of the experienced Shivnarine Chanderpaul, who was ill and resting at the team hotel on the fourth day.

West Indies are 215 ahead with four wickets in hand, which Powell felt was a score from which they could push for a win. "I think we are still in a good position. I think once we get to 300 tomorrow we should be in a good position to look for a win or even trying to save the game.

"All we need to do tomorrow is to bat through the first session. Once we do that we should be in a safe position and then push forward from there. I think we have enough time considering the [state of the] wicket."

Vermeulen ton sets up big win for Rhinos

Mid West Rhinos 265 (Vermeulen 68, Mugava 52, Waller 42, Jarvis 4-37) and 433 for 7 dec (Vermeulen 146, Sibanda 89, Taylor 68) beat Mashonaland Eagles 245 (Utseya 77, Jarvis 48, Chibhabha 42, Chinouya 5-61) and 130 (Rainsford 3-36, Madziva 3-22) by 323 runs
Scorecard

A century by Mark Vermeulen and an effective second-innings bowling performance led to Mid West Rhinos' 323-run victory over Mashonaland Eagles in Harare. The contest was even after the first innings, with Rhinos gaining a slender lead of 20 runs. But Vermeulen, opener Vusi Sibanda - who scored 89 - and captain Brendon Taylor guided them to 433 for 7 before declaring the innings 25 overs into the final session on the third day. Eagles were derailed by six wickets from seamers Neville Madziva and Ed Rainsford, and folded after 46 overs on the final day.

After being put in to bat, Rhinos were struggling after regular strikes from Eagles but half-centuries from Vermeulen and Simon Mugava, and a knock of 42 from middle-order batsman Malcolm Waller, guided them to 265. Eagles' reply progressed similarly as No. 7 Prosper Utseya, who scored 77, No. 9 Kyle Jarvis, who had taken four wickets earlier, and opener Chamu Chibhabha led them to 245. Seamer Michael Chinouya claimed five wickets, following on from the ten-for he took against Rocks last week.

The balance of the game shifted when a 144-run second-wicket stand between Sibanda and Vermeulen was followed by a 134-run stand between Vermeulen and Taylor. At 304 for 2, Rhinos were in a position to set a huge target for their opponents, which was ultimately 435. Eagles couldn't bat to save the game or try for an improbable win, and ended up crashing to a big defeat.

Matabeleland Tuskers 380 (Querl 188*, Duffin 63, Coventry 50) and 67 for 0 (Duffin 37, Chari 30) beat Southern Rocks 152 (Slater 37, Burgoyne 30, Mpofu 6-21) and 292 (Mutumbami 75, Masvaure 72*, Slater 42, Querl 4-31, Moeen 3-73) by ten wickets
Scorecard

An unbeaten 188 and five wickets by allrounder Glen Querl helped Matabeleland Tuskers to an easy ten-wicket victory in Bulawayo. A 228-run first-innings lead, helped by Querl's ton and seamer Chris Mpofu's six wickets, helped them gain the big win despite a strong second innings by Rocks.

Mpofu ran through the top order and the lower order to help dismiss Rocks for 152 in their first innings. The last six wickets fell for 21 runs.

Tuskers built on that performance to set a strong total. Querl, who came in to bat at No. 3, played an aggressive knock, making his first first-class century and led Tuskers to a massive lead. He scored at a strike-rate of 84.68 and ran out of partners, remaining unbeaten 12 short of his double-century. His two major partnerships, both worth more than a 100 runs, came with opener Terry Duffin, and with wicketkeeper Charles Coventry.

Rocks were in danger of losing by an innings but that didn't happen thanks to a much-improved batting performance in the second innings. Wicketkeeper Richmond Mutumbami and Prince Masvaure scored half-centuries, with Masvaure remaining unbeaten at the end of the innings. However, with no one going on to score a big century, the small target of 65 wasn't going to challenge Tuskers, who eclipsed it without the loss of any wicket in the 16th over of their innings.

Patel fronts up to England failings

Maybe they are in denial or maybe he was simply in an impossible position, but there were times when it was hard to remain straight faced when Samit Patel spoke to the media after the second day's play in Ahmedabad.

It was not his laudable faith in his teammates, or his admirable desire to fight from the desperate position in which England find themselves that provoked the raised eyebrows. Both are to his credit. It was the insistence, in the face of all facts, that England were "good players of spin" that was hard to take. For England, with one or two notable exceptions, are not good players of spin. The record does not suggest that. It grabs us by the shoulders and screams in our faces. It has been proved over the last year really rather often and no amount of insistence otherwise will change that. Only an improvement in form will do so.

Patel's explanation for England's struggles in their reply was also grimly amusing. "The ball's harder and I think it spins more when the ball's harder," he explained. And, while there is some truth in that, it ignores the fact that England also had a new ball. In fact they had two of them.

To be fair to Patel, he was in an almost impossible position. Having been kept out in the field for the best part of two days and then lost early wickets, there was little positive to take from proceedings. At least when he spoke of the challenge ahead, his words rang true.

"We have two world-class batsmen at the crease," he said. "Ian Bell is still to come, there's me and there is Matt Prior. There is a lot of batting. There's no question about how long we can bat. We've got the same potential of batting as India have and we've got to keep believing that. I think the telling time will be when the ball gets soft; then we can get in.

"We've put in the hard yards; we know what we can do. Tomorrow, we hope we can show what we're made of. We're going to have to play some good cricket. It's hard work - but that's Test cricket. We have to front up. We can't go anywhere. We've got to stand up and be counted. It's no place for hiding."

Patel was also quite right to acknowledge that India's batsmen had played beautifully. "Sometimes you have to give credit to the batsmen," he said. "Sehwag played outstandingly well and Pujara carried on. Yuvraj played as he does. They're good players of spin. As the Indians showed, if you bat a long time, you can wear teams down. That's what they did. It's something we expected. You lose the toss, and field for two days. We knew what was coming and we're prepared."

Harris pushes Robin Peterson's Test case

A frontline spinner is likely be included in South Africa's starting XI for the second Test against Australia next week after the dalliance with an all-pace attack proved unsuccessful in Brisbane. While Imran Tahir is the obvious choice, being the incumbent, former Test player Paul Harris had some other advice for the national selectors.

Speaking to ESPNcricinfo before the series, Harris said he would "love to see Robin Peterson get a go in Test cricket". Peterson may always be remembered as the man Brian Lara took 28 runs off in a single over at the Wanderers in 2003, still the most expensive over in Test history, but he has made massive strides since then.

While Peterson has only played six Tests, his last more than four years ago against Bangladesh, he has become and ODI and T20 regular. He was South Africa's top wicket-taker at the 2011 World Cup and was preferred to Johan Botha in the home series which followed that summer. Botha has since relocated to Australia, which has created more opportunity for Peterson, and he has made the most of it. He also finished the August one-day series in England with the most scalps and has been involved in the past three touring Test squads.

"He has always been a good bowler and has had a chance to show that now," Harris said. "What I've been impressed with is the way he flights the ball, he is not scared at all." Having a more permanent place in the side is something that has helped Peterson shed the fear, according to both Peterson himself and Harris. "It's a massive thing to know you are backed," Harris said. And he would know.

Harris played 37 Tests for South Africa between 2007 and 2011, during which he was often criticised from the outside but praised from within for his ability to dry up an end. He formed an important part of South Africa's building to the No.1 ranking and was part of the squads that won in England and Australia in 2008. During Harris' time, South Africa did not lose a series on the road and although he was not given much credit for that run, he did have something to do with it.

"I knew I had a job to do and a lot of the time my job was to hold up an end," he said. "With the attack we had at the time, it wasn't part of my role to be attacking. And maybe it would have been nice at time to be able to be more aggressive and take wickets but that wasn't the strategy then and I was happy with that."

Harris thinks Peterson is in a position where he may be able to do both. "Robbie has got the ability to take wickets and we've seen that but he is also capable of doing the holding role," he said. "That is an important job too, even if it's not very glamorous."

The South African attack's inability to keep Ed Cowan, Michael Clarke and Michael Hussey quiet during the Brisbane Test was proof that a so-called boring bowler is not surplus to requirements. Debutant Rory Kleinveldt and Graeme Smith both admitted that the unit did not bowl well "in partnerships," and even where one bowler strung a few quiet periods together, the others could not back him up.

Tahir could easily fall into that category too and has been expensive in the past. Harris believes the selectors should take note of Peterson's ability to be miserly. Peterson is also a competent lower-middle order batsman and, with South Africa having lost JP Duminy, may fit better into Andrew Hudson's preferred "like-for-like replacement" category than Dean Elgar, a top-order batsman who joined the squad yesterday.

Harris said it would also be novel to see both Peterson and Tahir in the same XI, as South Africa's attitude to spin has changed enough to accommodate two. Spin went from being a defensive must-have to a genuine attacking option when Tahir made his debut in November last against Australia. Tahir has played 10 Tests since, although his return has been a modest 26 wickets at an average of 40.19, but much has been invested in him.

Not since Paul Adams has South Africa had a wrist-spinner. Both captain Graeme Smith and coach Gary Kirsten have said they are excited by the option Tahir provides and have suggested they will continue to back him in future. So far, they have reneged on that twice, both times for tactical reasons.

An all-pace attack was fielded in Wellington in March this year when Jacques Kallis had a stiff neck overnight and South Africa had to make last-minute adjustments to their XI. In that match, Duminy made his comeback and bowled 10 overs and was due to perform a similar role in Brisbane. If Harris has his way, Peterson could take over in the near future.

Gibson defends West Indies' declaration

Following Bangladesh's fight back on the third day in Mirpur, West Indies coach Ottis Gibson has defended his team's decision to declare their first innings when they did. West Indies were cruising at 527 for 4 at tea on the second day, when Darren Sammy called the innings closed, after which Bangladesh pushed on to 455 for 6 by stumps on day three.

"You can make 600 but you will still need to have enough time to come back and win the match," Gibson said. "The pitch is flat and the ball didn't do much for pace or spin. So if you want to get 20 wickets, you need more time to bowl them out."

Sunil Narine going wicketless so far, giving away 89 runs from 21 overs, has been another problem for West Indies. Tamim Iqbal and Shakib Al Hasan have picked him well, while the maiden centurion Naeem Islam faced 52 deliveries of his to score 32 without being troubled too many times. Gibson expressed his disappointment over Narine, while having good things to say about debutant Veerasammy Permaul.

"He [Sunil Narine] didn't bowl as well as we expected him to bowl, but this is his [fourth] game in international cricket and it's a learning experience for him. On the other side, young [Veerasammy] Permaul bowled really well. He flighted the ball.

"Sammy bowled well too. Today was not all bad for us. We probably expected to get a few more wickets, but we need to work a little harder."

After the first session of this Test match, the Shere Bangla National Stadium pitch lost all moisture that would have ensured some bounce and turn, and transformed into a featherbed - that only ten wickets that have fallen in three days serves as evidence of the same.

Gibson put the onus on Bangladesh to still play positive cricket, the hosts yet being adrift by 72 runs in the first innings with four wickets in hand. "There are still two more days to go and I would like to say that Bangladesh will definitely want to win it. If they targeted to draw the match then it would be a negative situation. They played a really good day today and that will give them confidence to win the game. But there are two days ahead of us and they are still behind us, so who knows what will happen."

West Indies most successful bowlers so far have been the faster bowlers: Ravi Rampaul picked up three wickets from his 26 overs while captain Sammy was rewarded for being patient. Gibson said the conditions had taken a lot out of them. "There is not a lot on the pitch, not a lot of swing. So guys running in were trying hard. They put in a lot of effort.

"On a flat pitch like that you need to unsettle them with bouncers. But credit to the Bangladesh batsman, they didn't let us bully them too much."

Pakistan seek Lorgat's help for launching T20 league

Haroon Lorgat, the former ICC chief executive, will be assisting the Pakistan Cricket Board in setting up the proposed Twenty20 league, contributing at a strategic level to ensure the board is headed in the right direction.

Lorgat, who was headed to Sri Lanka, stopped over at Lahore after the PCB chairman Zaka Ashraf invited him for his expert opinions on launching the league in March next year.

"It's not a long time from now to then but there is still a lot of planning and work has been done and a lot to be done but I can see that there is a lot of energy to get this league off the ground," Lorgat said at the PCB headquarters. "Cricket is a growing game and Twenty20 cricket seems to have taken roots and I am pleased to see the progress the PCB has made in that respect."

He served as the ICC chief executive for four years before stepping down at the end of June. He has been assisting Sri Lanka Cricket as a special advisor to help the board revamp its domestic cricket structure and improve the administration of cricket in the country. The PCB, however, didn't offer him a permanent role.

"At this stage (I am supporting the PCB) at a strategic level, ensuring that the details are being attended to and that the concept (for the league model) is correct," Lorgat said. "With my experience in dealing with sponsors, broadcasters, setting up models, the kind of objective and the financial matters are the level where I am contributing at the moment. It appears like the PCB has already done a lot in linking with the member boards and interactions have been made with the international players as well."

Lorgat sees the proposed premier league as a stepping-stone for the revival of international cricket in the country and said it needed to exploit the shortest format of the game on a commercial scale. International sides have refused to tour Pakistan since the Sri Lankan team bus was attacked in Lahore in March 2009. Last month, a World XI side played two unofficial T20s against a combined Pakistan XI in Karachi.

"Twenty20 cricket is certainly an attraction, lots of new audiences are coming and a lot of exciting players are coming into it. I can recall a few years back even players didn't consider it as a serious form of the game. So on one front Pakistan should not be left out. They should have a league of the highest professional standard and there are commercial opportunities and the PCB is looking to exploit that."

So far, Bangladesh is the only full member board to give Pakistan a positive response in breaking the ice, towards the revival of international cricket. "You do lots of little things to grow in confidence, you will get those interested in coming to Pakistan and the league will go a long way in securing the confidence that cricket can be played in Pakistan.

"It's a good stepping-stone, if international players come in personal capacity to play. Many of them can experience it themselves that cricket can be played at a secured venue and there's no reason why they can't convince the member boards to send their national teams."

Peter Moores to review Pakistan's domestic structure

The Pakistan Cricket Board has sought an independent review of its domestic cricket structure, appointing the former England coach Peter Moores in a consulting role. Moores, on a two-day visit, is expected to submit a comprehensive report to the PCB in the next 10 days.

The PCB had invited Moores to the National Cricket Academy in Lahore along with former captains Wasim Akram, Waqar Younis, Aamir Sohail, Inzamam-ul-Haq, Javed Miandad and Intikhab Alam to discuss ways to improve the structure and functioning of domestic cricket and the role of the national and regional cricket academies in the country. This is the second instance during the ongoing tenure of current chairman Zaka Ashraf that the PCB has sought recommendations on domestic cricket, after an earlier a task team was formed examine the setup, but the report was never implemented.

Moores, who coached Lancashire to the County Championship title last year, will now help prepare a plan for the PCB to implement. "I know Pakistan has produced so many talented players and I came here to see where things are at the moment and if I can help in any way to move things forward it would be great," Moores said in Lahore.

"It's really interesting to put together the views of some of the great players like Miandad and Waqar. I will see what I can add to the structure, suggesting something that will work well for everybody."

The Pakistan domestic structure has undergone changes almost every two years in the past decade, with regional and departmental teams in the mix. Though the task team did recommended changes to the structure earlier this year, the report never came up and was buried citing most of the recommendations were 'not feasible'.

Moores, 49, made comparisons with the English system. "The system doesn't look particularly different (compared to England). I need some time to find out what is going on," he said. "I can't say that I have the answer because that will obviously come from the people who work here. Every country wants a strong domestic structure in place. What I can see is the great desire to keep Pakistan cricket improving."

Watson named, pending fitness

Shane Watson will travel to Adelaide as part of Australia's squad for the second Test against South Africa but will need to prove his fitness ahead of the match.

"Shane Watson is making steady progress from his calf injury, but it is too early to determine if he will be fit to come under consideration for selection; the game beginning next Thursday," Inverarity said. "The NSP was very pleased with the strong showing by Michael Clarke's team after an indifferent opening day of the first Test in Brisbane.

"They were put under pressure early, but showed great composure to not only regroup but then put considerable pressure on South Africa."

Watson's inclusion swelled the squad to 13, with Rob Quiney to make way should the vice-captain recover from a calf problem in time. The 12th man in Brisbane, Mitchell Starc, is likely to duel with Ben Hilfenhaus for the third pace bowling spot behind James Pattinson and Peter Siddle.

More to come...

Umar Akmal dropped by his domestic side

Umar Akmal, the Pakistan batsman, has been left out by his department side Sui Northern Gas Pipelines Limited (SNGPL) from the President's Trophy, the Pakistan's domestic first-class tournament. Akmal had skipped several rounds of the tournament, but was 'discouraged' after being dropped as he had hoped to show his Test credentials in the remaining rounds of the competition.

SNGPL are currently unbeaten in the President's Trophy, topping the table with 45 points after winning five of their six matches. Akmal only featured in one game, against National Bank of Pakistan in mid-October. He played in two Twenty20s against an International XI led by Sanath Jayasuriya and in the Hong Kong Sixes in late October but mainly missed matches due to his brother Adnan's wedding between November 6 and 8. Akmal has been associated with SNGPL since 2007 and scored 2224 first-class runs for the department at 57.02.

"It's really discouraging for me when I was snubbed by my department for just a petty reason," Akmal told reporters in Lahore. "I am in full practice and was meant to play most of the rounds but due to Adnan's wedding I had to miss most of the matches- a reason that was known to the management but still I am dropped. I was informed that it's a decision taken by higher management, and not the team management."

Basit Ali, the SNGPL coach and former Pakistan batsman, said Akmal was dropped over his form and he need to work on his technique to play first-class cricket. "He needs to learn how to bat in the longer-format of the game," Basit told reporters on the sidelines of the on-going match against Pakistan International Airlines at Gaddafi Stadium. "No doubt he is a great talent but he must sense the nature of the formats and play according to the format. He wasn't in good touch and was asked to play club cricket."

Akmal, 22, scored his maiden ODI hundred in his third match of his career and also made a century in his debut Test in 2009. While his limited-overs career has flourished since that promising start, his Test fortunes have waned, and he is yet to establish himself in the side.

Akmal shrugged off the tag of being a limited-overs cricketer, and said he was keen to play the longer format. "I have scored a lot of runs with good average (35.82) and I think I have done well with my Test cricket," Akmal said, "but perhaps because I play aggressively, the label is there. But I had a golden opportunity to play the President's Trophy to impress the selectors and win back my Test place. I am disappointed at being dropped (by the SNGPL)."

Patience pays for Chanderpaul

While Tamim Iqbal was taking apart the West Indies attack in Mirpur, Shivnarine Chanderpaul walked up to him. "He asked me whether I was playing a Twenty20," Tamim said. "I replied that I'm just hitting what the bowlers are bowling but I can't bat like you." To which Chanderpaul said, "Neither can I."

Perhaps Chanderpaul meant that is the case at his current age of 38, because he has batted at higher strike-rates than Tamim in the past two decades, most memorably during the 69-ball century against Australia in 2003, which at the time was the third fastest Test hundred. In Mirpur, though, he showed the side of his batting that is more frequently seen these days.

His 203 took more than seven-and-a-half hours, the fifth longest innings in terms of minutes. He used the example of the first two days of this Test to explain how he changes the pace of his innings according to the situation. He batted at a strike-rate of 63 on the first day during which he scored 123 runs off 195 deliveries, but then he took 177 balls to score 80 on the second day, at a strike-rate of 45.2.

"These are things I work out in my game, whichever way I can," Chanderpaul said. "Sometimes you find yourself in good form and things go your way, you get into a rhythm and you're able to score freely and quicker. Some days you have to work hard, that's how it goes.

"We scored freely yesterday, but we had to work hard today. The [Bangladesh] bowlers tried a little too hard yesterday but today they bowled well. They bowled to a plan, stuck to it and made us work hard. You have to, as a Test cricketer, put your head down and work hard when the time comes."

His double-century also brought him level with Garry Sobers on 26 Test hundreds, leaving Brian Lara as the only West Indian with more Test tons. "The team comes first, it doesn't matter what the individual score is. Whatever the team plan is, that is what we have to stick to. It is always a great honour [to be mentioned] with names like Sir Garry, though I have played a lot more games than him."

This was only his second double-hundred, and he doesn't have the mammoth scores that Sobers and Lara ran up. "[Batting low down the order] could be one reason. I had opportunities to get a big hundred but I didn't, it's unfortunate. Thankfully today I was able to cross it [200]."

Chanderpaul's usefulness isn't limited to the field. He is a mentor to batsmen like Kieran Powell and Denesh Ramdin, both of whom shared long partnerships with him in this game. Powell missed a short ball from offspinner Sohag Gazi to be bowled after making a century, prompting Chanderpaul to have a talk with the young opener about his dismissal. "He played a fantastic innings yesterday. Unfortunately he got out the way he did. I had a chat with him about the way he did. I thought he should have played the first ball after tea a lot straighter.

"I didn't see anybody getting him out, he's the one who's giving his wicket away. I have talked to him about already. The future looks bright, you've seen [Veerasammy] Permaul today. We were here last year, you know what we have back home on offer. The future looks good for us."

At the end of the tour last year, Chanderpaul spent nearly half an hour with the Bangladesh batsmen. How Bangladesh would like to have someone like him in their midst for the long term.

Century eludes aggressive Tamim again

There's an innings that Tamim Iqbal can't seem to forget. When he spoke to ESPNcricinfo a few days ago, he used it to explain why he missed so many hundreds in the past and said he wanted to instil some restraint into his game. After throwing it away again on the second day of this Test match, Tamim remembered the moment he had a brain-freeze in the eighties against West Indies in the Dhaka Test last year.

Regardless of the situation, Tamim's approach rarely differs from his natural instinct. But the innings he keeps referring to also had a period when he batted out the last hour and a half of a crucial fourth day scoring very few. He had called it a breakthrough in his career at the time, and though he got restless and was dismissed early the next morning, it was understood he could grit it out in Test cricket.

A year ago, an ability to change gears in Test cricket was hailed as progress, but now Tamim has suggested he is better off sticking to his attacking mind-set.

"The last time I made around 80 at this ground, I played out 15-20 overs when I had made only 10 runs [against West Indies]. It is probably how one should bat in a Test match but everyone has an individual plan due to difference of mentality," Tamim said at the end of the day's play. "I wanted to bat long [in this game], so that it would help the team. I also wanted to keep my aggressive approach intact. I think I was thinking properly, but the shot was wrong.

"I started well and I was playing as I normally do but I didn't want to be bogged down. I was leaving the good balls when Sammy was bowling. I would say it was a bad shot. The open leg-side field played on my mind. It was a bad decision because it wasn't the right ball to play that shot."

After West Indies had declared surprisingly at the stroke of tea, it was clear Tamim wanted to open up. The 16-run sixth over off Tino Best had a straight drive and a cover drive but Tamim was also brutal on the short deliveries. He played one towards midwicket, keeping the ball down, and then smashed the next through the same region. He also launched Sunil Narine for two sixes as he moved from 45 to 57.

But just as Tamim took advantage of their lengths, West Indies began to take advantage of his hastiness and his reputation to be erratic after crossing the 50-mark. After two more boundaries off Ravi Rampaul, Tamim was strangled by Narine and Sammy, both by their lengths and the fields they had set.

Tamim tried to explain why his approach is correct: "There are two types of batsmen. Some score runs and get set, and some spend time at the crease to get set. I am from the first group, I am settled quickly when I see runs on the scoreboard.

"I don't want to let go of my strength, but it is true I have got out at strange times and playing strange shots. It is natural for such things to happen because I am a stroke player. Still, it is not an excuse for getting out in this manner."

Shivnarine Chanderpaul, whose double-century pushed West Indies into a strong position, also backed Tamim's belligerent approach. "That's his style," Chanderpaul said. "We can't be surprised [at] how Christopher Gayle bats also. He bats one way, we can't tell him how to bat. If Tamim has his style, he has to play his game."

Flintoff defends move into boxing

Andrew Flintoff has hit out at suggestions that his professional boxing debut at 34, more than two years since his retirement from international cricket, is little more than a TV publicity stunt.

Flintoff will make his professional debut at the Manchester Arena against Richard Dawson - a little-known American pugilist, not the former England spinner - amid widespread criticism from the boxing fraternity and fears within cricket for his welfare.

The boxing promoter, Frank Warren, has described Flintoff's debut as "car crash TV", while another promoter, Frank Maloney, has called it a "scandal". Colin Hart, the highly-regarded boxing correspondent of The Sun, has dubbed him Foolish Freddie and said he did not know whether to laugh or cry.

But Flintoff, who claims to have lost 45lbs (20.4kgs) in weight during a training camp which has been filmed for a three-part TV series, insists he could not have withstood four months of intensive training is his intentions were not to succeed in his new career.

"You couldn't go through this for a TV stunt," he said. "If I was looking for a publicity stunt I'd have picked something easier. There has been criticism of things I've done in the past. I'm just getting my head down and doing the best I can.

"I appreciate that people want to protect the sport they're involved in. I'd be the same with cricket. I'm hoping this is something where boxing is celebrated because it's not my intention to cheapen the sport or show it up.

Flintoff had been due to announce his opponent on Friday but Dawson, who has won his two fights on points, jumped the gun by confirming that it was him.

A spokesman for Dawson was quoted as saying: "It will be a wonderful experience. We respect Mr Flintoff as an athlete and from everything we've read he appears to be a well -conditioned athlete. However, he does not appear to have any fight experience and even though we know he has been training with some of the best in the business, that is not the same as being in a prize fight."

Flintoff, who is training under the supervision of the former WBA featherweight champion, Barry McGuigan, claims to have given up beer to get himself in shape, will contest four two-minute rounds against Dawson, who has won both of his bouts.

McGuigan said: "What we're doing is the opposite of cheapening the sport, it's promoting it. You see the pain and anguish Freddie goes through. How can that be negative in promoting the sport? To say it cheapens boxing is a complete and utter load of nonsense. Freddie has worked his nuts off and we're promoting the sport in a very positive way."

Even McGuigan accepted at a private screening of the forthcoming TV series that Flintoff, who played 79 Tests and 141 ODIs for England, was not a natural and was technically limited.

Since retirement, he has been a captain on sports panel show A League of Their Own, the celebrity face of Morrisons supermarket, a guest commentator (briefly) on the world darts championships and star of Freddie Flintoff vs The World, in which, according to promotional material, you could watch "cricketing legend and ultimate bloke Freddie Flintoff try his hand at some of the most extreme sports and challenges on offer around the world".

He has his limits, though, vowing never to do I'm A Celebrity Get Me Out Of Here or Strictly Come Dancing, on which several former England cricketers have appeared, currently including Michael Vaughan.

Gazi bright spot on tough first day

Sohag Gazi is the first offspinner in Test history to bowl the first over of a Test match on debut, and the first debutant spinner to do so in 103 years.

The surprise move didn't ruffle Chris Gayle, though, who lashed the first ball of the match for a six, on his way to 18 runs in the opening over. Gazi removed Gayle soon after but despite his best efforts, West Indies scored more than four an over on the first day and are poised for a big total. This, after the hosts gave up the momentum they had gained at the end of the first session, picking up three wickets.

Bangladesh had to wait out a full session for their next wicket, as both Kieran Powell and Shivnarine Chanderpaul helped themselves to centuries. As the day progressed even the more experienced Bangladesh bowlers looked short of ideas, and later liveliness.

This was Bangladesh's first Test of the year, and none of the front-line bowlers, barring Shahadat Hossain, have played enough first-class cricket recently to be physically prepared for staying on the field for a long time. With the wicket easing up, more hard work lies ahead for them. Shahadat and Rubel Hossain were costly as they have been throughout their careers while Shakib Al Hasan was simply steady, mainly because the allrounder finds it tricky to switch between long stints as a Twenty20 bowler to bowling long spells in Test cricket.

"The wicket flattened out after the lunch session, but there was turn in the first hour," Gazi said after the first day. "We will try to bowl them out as quickly as we can. We don't have any sort of targets because the wicket is flat. We will try to keep them to as low a total as possible."

But it was the first session which showed Bangladesh in a positive light. Mushfiqur Rahim had decided quite early, in fact the day before, that it would be Gazi who would open the bowling regardless of who takes first strike for West Indies. So despite the inevitable attack, Gazi was only encouraged by his captain and to his credit, the debutant kept giving the ball flight. "He told me that Gayle wasn't comfortable with my bowling, that's why he gave me the charge. He said keep doing what you're doing.

"I was prepared to bowl the first over, whether Gayle took the strike or not," Gazi said. "It was my bad luck that I got hit for two sixes in the first over. I was going to bowl my second over, and I just wanted to bowl dot balls. I didn't really think of who was on strike."

The first-ball six was a jolt for Gazi, but he wasn't frazzled. "Anyone can hit a six, I wasn't expecting that exact shot. The ball I got him out turned slightly, because there was turn on the pitch in the first session. He tried to lift me over mid-on but mistimed it."

After he had picked up Gayle's wicket, Gazi added that of Darren Bravo before Shahadat Hossain accounted for Marlon Samuels. But they hit a wall in the form of the Powell-Chanderpaul partnership during the middle session and lost their way in the final two hours.

With West Indies sitting on a strong position after the first day, questions will be asked about the need for three off-spinning allrounders - Mahmudullah, Naeem Islam and Nasir Hossain. The trio bowled 16 wicketless overs and Gazi's introduction to international cricket could spell the end of Bangladesh's defensive ploy of employing eight batsmen and playing three similar allrounders. It is now clear that all three would have to make major contributions with the bat in the next four days to be automatic picks in the near future.

Powell firming up opening spot

Two hundreds in a day are more likely to grab headlines, but it was the partnership of the centurions that lifted West Indies from trouble and placed them in a commanding position at the end of the first day's play in Mirpur.

Shivnarine Chanderpaul and Kieran Powell added 125 runs for the fourth wicket, which wasn't even the highest partnership on the day, but it was their solidity that stood between Bangladesh and dominance. Powell was dismissed for 117 after a four-hour stay in the crease, hitting 18 boundaries and a six. Chanderpaul remained unbeaten on 123 off 195 balls with the help of 17 fours, having reached his 26th Test century.

Before lunch however, the situation was different. Bangladesh were celebrating after West Indies lost their third wicket. It gave the home side momentum going into the second session. But the pair batted until the tea break, unperturbed, with West Indies scoring 121 more without the loss of any wickets. They, however, didn't slow the scoring rate, batting at a slightly higher pace than the first session, which included Chris Gayle's 17-ball 24.

What makes the partnership more important were the efforts Bangladesh made between lunch and tea. The home side had to wait in the face of Gayle's early onslaught, but once they got rid of him and took two more wickets, they went for the kill. Captain Mushfiqur Rahim rotated his bowlers quite regularly, and the bowlers changed angles a number of times. The fielders worked hard too, but neither Chanderpaul nor Powell yielded as the latter went on to score his second Test hundred.

Later Powell said he found it comforting to bat with the Chanderpaul, who is in the 18th year of an illustrious international career.

"I think batting with any senior player is easy. Shiv has lots of experience, something like 145 Test matches," Powell said after the day's play. "He takes all the pressure off you and lets you play the normal game. He keeps talking to you."

The age difference between the pair is around 16 years, a non-issue for Chanderpaul, who has been known to take young batsmen under his wing. "He's just telling me to be patient, stay positive, look to rotate the strike and put away the bad balls, and play straight," Powell said.

It is only natural for Powell to have batted, among the senior batsmen, more frequently with Gayle. It was only the third time for him to bat with Chanderpaul and it was obvious who suited him more, especially when playing a long innings.

"Both are different players. Chris [Gayle] is more of a power player. Shiv is more about manoeuvring the ball. You have to give him the strike and keep it flowing (when you bat with Chris) but with Shiv you have to maneuver and build a steady partnership."

Powell has had to fight for his spot with the likes of Kirk Edwards, Adrian Barath and Kraigg Brathwaite. With Gayle returning to the team after his clash with the WICB, it was one out of four who would get a place, but Powell got in after his century and big opening partnership against New Zealand in July. This innings, too, would put him right ahead in the race.

"I can't really say if I'm going ahead, you would have to ask the selectors," he said. "I'm just trying to strengthen my case each and every day. The more centuries you have, the better it is. I want to control what I can."

Media boycott threatened over BCCI stance

Major news agencies could boycott the series between India and England in protest at restrictions imposed upon journalists by the BCCI.

The News Media Coalition (NMC), which campaigns for media freedom around the world and represents a large number of media organisations, has issued a statement saying it "deplored" a decision by the India board to bar photo agencies such as Getty Images and Action Images. The BCCI have said they will supply their own images of the series, which starts with the first Test in Ahmedabad on Thursday, to be downloaded from their website.

"The NMC, an international organisation which defends the ability of the press to inform the public with independent news material, has urged the BCCI to withdraw the policy which will hit media coverage, fans and the sponsors involved with teams," a NMC statement read. "Getty Images and Action Images and Indian photographic agencies have been barred by the BCCI for this latest cricket series."

Agence France-Presse (AFP) announced they would suspend text and photo coverage unless the matter could be resolved ahead of the series. AFP stated that it "strongly believes the right of the media to cover news events without undue restrictions should be protected", adding it hoped "the BCCI will lift its policy so news media and fans can continue to get independent coverage".

Reuters and the Associated Press also said they may be forced to suspend coverage. Other news organisations are considering their positions, fearing that the BCCI's policy may set a precedent.

"The BCCI has offered to make its own photographs available but this is no substitute for independent and objective press photography," Andrew Moger, executive director of NMC, said. "Despite numerous opportunities, the BCCI has yet to explain why it is discriminating against photographic agencies or indeed whether other news sectors will be targeted. We deplore this move and insult to organisations which have supported cricket worldwide."

BCCI media manager Devendra Prabhudesai said the board was not seeking to bar news agencies. "The BCCI has a policy not to accredit photo syndication services like Getty Images and other similar foreign and domestic agencies," he told AFP. "We have no such problems with AFP, AP or Reuters since their text and photo service is for editorial use only. We have already explained our stand to the News Media Coalition."

The episode is the latest dispute between the BCCI and media organisations in the run-up to the series. Sky TV, which owns the television rights for the tour in the UK, decided not to send its team of commentators to India after the BCCI demanded £500,000 for hosting them in the grounds. Sky refused to pay and will instead commentate from a live television feed in London.

The BBC, which owns the rights for audio coverage in the UK, was also asked for an extra £50,000 but reached an agreement with the BCCI.

Langer confirmed as Warriors coach

Justin Langer has been confirmed as Western Australia's new coach, leaving his role as an assistant with the national team to try to improve the state side's fortunes after almost a decade without a domestic trophy and widely known cultural problems.

The announcement, which also has Langer taking up the job as coach of the Perth Scorchers in the BBL, arrived the day after Australia drew the first Test with South Africa in Brisbane. Langer will be in place as coach of the Warriors in time for Saturday's domestic limited overs match against South Australia in Perth.

He has been contracted until the end of the 2015-16 season, offering Langer the chance to work with and improve the the team's results over a lengthy term.

Noted for his heavy emphasis on team-work and the mental side of the game, Langer has the job ahead of him to build a WA side in his own determined and dedicated image, following a dire start to the season that included widely publicised disciplinary problems at the T20 Champions League in South Africa and three outright losses to start the Sheffield Shield.

"I am really thrilled to be taking up the position as Warriors and Scorchers Head Coach and feel that the energy for my work will be doubled now that I am back home around my family, my cricket friends and my personal friends," Langer said.

"I have two main objectives. The first is to bring cricket back to life in Western Australia, and the second is to help these boys become men on and off the cricket field.

"I was very fortunate to serve an apprenticeship with the Australian team and I can't wait to roll up my sleeves and get started on this new challenge at what promises to be an exciting time in WA cricket."

Having retired from a decorated international career at the conclusion of the 2006-07 Ashes series in Australia, Langer returned to the national set-up as batting coach in November 2009. Since then he has applied for various coaching jobs, including WA's, and was also a candidate for the senior Australian coaching job when Mickey Arthur replaced Tim Nielsen in 2011.

Worcestershire sign RAF Corporal

Worcestershire have signed Graeme Cessford, a Royal Air Force Corporal, for the 2013 season.

Cessford, 29, has been granted elite athlete status by the Royal Air Force which means he can take his chance in county cricket before returning to the military when his contract expires.

During the 2012 season Cessford made three appearances for Worcestershire's Second XI, taking seven wickets. He also played for Northumberland Minor Counties and Chester-le-Street in the North East Premier League.

"I'm delighted to have signed for Worcestershire," Cessford said. "I'd like to extend a massive thank you to the Royal Air Force, the RAF Sports Board, and Worcestershire for giving me this fantastic opportunity."

Worcestershire's director of cricket, Steve Rhodes, said: "Cess has the ability to bowl with pace and this will be a valuable asset in our 2013 campaign. He will give the squad some depth for bowling spots and I am looking forward to working with him."

Squadron Leader Sally Varley added: "Corporal Graeme Cessford has been granted Elite Athlete Status by the Royal Air Force. This status allows him time to realise and develop his cricket potential through the opportunity to play for Worcestershire County Cricket Club. In addition, the Royal Air Force has exceptionally adjusted Corporal Cessford's employment for a year to include a public relations engagement role."

Cessford is not the first county cricketer to join from the military in recent seasons after Gloucestershire signed David Wade, an active Lance Corporal with Royal Signal Corps in the British Army, although he was released after the recent 2012 season after a two-year stint where he failed to break into the First XI.

All-round Bruce Martin takes Auckland to big win

Auckland 392 (B Martin 114, Craig Cachopa 82, Aldridge 3-74) and 14 for 0 beat Northern Districts 208 (Yovich 106, B Martin 4-43) and 196 (Yovich 42, B Martin 3-63) by ten wickets
Scorecard

Seven wickets and a century from left-arm spinner Bruce Martin enabled Auckland to defeat Northern Districts by ten wickets at Eden Park. Auckland scored a commanding 392 in their first innings to gain a lead of 184, after which Northern Districts were bowled out for 196, narrowly avoiding an innings defeat.

After being put in to bat, Northern Districts started strongly to score 118 for 2, but eight wickets then fell for 90 runs as opener Joseph Yovich struck small partnerships with seven other batsmen to score 106, taking his team past the 200-run mark. Auckland's openers didn't begin as strongly, and they had lost six wickets for 150, but middle-order batsman Craig Cachopa, who is the brother of this season's prolific run-getter Carl Cachopa, struck a 168-run seventh wicket partnership with Martin to go well past their opponent's score. Cachopa was dismissed for 82, but Martin went on to complete a hundred.

The game had already tilted towards Auckland with the big lead and a collective bowling performance ensured a comfortable win. Yovich, the first-innings centurion, top scored with 42 and none of the other Northern Districts batsmen scored more than 24. At 150 for 9, an innings defeat was probable, but the last pair of Brent Arnel and Jimmy Baker took them to a 12-run lead. Martin took three wickets, to add to the four he had taken in the first innings. Auckland needed only eight deliveries to complete the chase. They move to third in the points table.

South Africa face grim afternoon

South Africa 450 and 1 for 31 trail Australia 5 for 565 declared (Clarke 259*, Cowan 136, Hussey 100, Morkel 3-127) by 84 runs
Scorecard and ball-by-ball details

South Africa were left with a grim afternoon's batting ahead in order to save the first Test after Australia's declaration allowed James Pattinson to claim the early wicket of Alviro Petersen in the minutes before lunch.

The visitors reached the interval at 1 for 31, requiring a further 84 to make Australia bat again, and might have been in a more parlous position but for a no-ball by Pattinson. Hashim Amla was bowled off an inside edge by a ball of full length, but the umpire Asad Rauf had the front crease checked after the dismissal and replays showed the bowler clearly over-stepping.

It was a frustrating moment for Pattinson, who was comfortably the most rhythmic and dangerous of Australia's bowlers. The hosts' slim chance of pressing for a victory will require a rush of wickets after the interval to become more realistic.

Australia's captain Michael Clarke had declared with a lead of 115 after he reached the highest individual score in Tests at the Gabba. Michael Hussey made his century and Matthew Wade also hit out with some success as the hosts gave their opponents an awkward final day scenario to contend with.

Clarke's unbeaten 259 featured some rollicking shots on resumption, lofting drives down the ground and heaving over midwicket with plenty of force. Hussey's advance to a hundred was a little more edgy, and on 99 he escaped being LBW on South Africa's referral via the thinnest of edges picked up on Hot-Spot.

The pitch was starting to show the very first signs of deterioration, Morne Morkel extracting some variable bounce to strike Clarke in the ribs and on the back, while Vernon Philander gained some disconcerting seam movement. After Hussey lifted Morkel to cover - the first wicket to a bowler in 120 overs - Wade took his time getting in, and was beaten several times.

However once he had his sighter Wade unleashed a trio of rasping offside strokes, the first a drive that might have decapitated Rory Kleinveldt, and hurried Clarke towards his declaration.

South Africa's response to the scenario confronting them was uncertain. Pattinson found his rhythm and some early swing, and it was the combination of speed and movement that drew Petersen into an ambitious drive that resulted in a thin edge through to Wade. Graeme Smith battled through the session, snicking Peter Siddle just short of the slips, and Amla was grateful for the fourth wicket off a no-ball in the match.

Dravid wants more powers for Fletcher

Rahul Dravid has called for giving more powers to India coach Duncan Fletcher, and for the role of the national coach to be made more hands-on and accountable. Fletcher, he says, has a lot to offer Indian cricket and needs to be more involved in team selection.

"Duncan has a lot of strengths as a coach," Dravid said on Time Out, ESPNcricinfo's fortnightly audio podcast, which will be published on Wednesday. "He connects well with a lot of the players and works quite well with them. But, in some ways, the scope or power that he has to make decisions or to make selections has been a little limited."

Dravid pointed out that India's earlier overseas coaches had played a more active role in team composition, a practice that changed in the Gary Kirsten era. "I remember John Wright or Greg Chappell consistently attending selection committee meetings, watching domestic matches. I think over the last three-four years we've seen that coaches have taken a slightly more detached, or slightly more backward, role to our selections. I don't think Gary watched a lot of domestic cricket. Duncan has not really done that as well."

After the retirement of VVS Laxman and Dravid, India are looking to fill two spots in the middle order and Dravid said Fletcher's knowledge would be of great help in finding the answer. "He's seen a lot of players… who's a better middle-order player among Manoj Tiwary, an Ajinkya Rahane or a Shikhar Dhawan or Murali Vijay? At least, to have an opinion, an informed opinion by actually coming and watching some games…The fact that he didn't come and didn't attend the selection committee meeting tells you that maybe that's not in his scope of work, he doesn't have those powers."

Dravid said that giving Fletcher an active role in selection meetings would be important. "You want to give people powers and you want to hold them accountable, especially when you have senior, knowledgeable people like Duncan." Conceding that he was not aware of Fletcher's own opinion on the subject, Dravid said, "I think his reputation is on the line as well. I think, knowing someone like him, he would want to get more involved and have a say in where his own career and his own reputation is headed."

A coach like Fletcher, he believed, could easily bridge the gap between being a player's trusted confidante as well as his selector. "Some of these people [coaches] do have the maturity to be able to understand that when players come to them with a problem, they don't necessarily use that as a way to drop someone. But also the coach sees players from such close quarters, he understands players. So I think he [Fletcher] must have a say [in selection]."

Dravid said Fletcher had put greater emphasis on fitness after India's losses overseas and hoped that would reflect in the forthcoming season. "Definitely after the loss, he has put a lot of emphasis on the fitness and certain disciplines of the players and knowing and talking to maybe some of them. Over the last few months, there has been a little bit more focus on fitness and disciplines and the basics in skill levels of some players. Hopefully we'll see some of that in these Test series."

Fletcher got the India job on the recommendation of his predecessor Kirsten and Dravid said both men had strengths but were not similar coaches. "Gary was a terrific coach, a really good man-manager, very hardworking person who led with example in a lot of ways in the way he worked. Duncan, obviously because of an age difference, maybe doesn't have that personal connect with some of the players. Or the level of conversations that he can have with some of the guys are maybe a little different to what Gary could have had because he played with some of them.

"But, I think, Duncan has a lot to offer in terms of a coach, in terms of the tactics, his knowledge of the game, he works well in that area, he works quite closely with a lot of players... I think the relationship is good within the team."

Fletcher, he said, would eventually be judged by his results. "The results haven't been great in the last one year. That's why these questions are being raised."

Doing everything I can to make a comeback - Fawad Alam

Fawad Alam scored a century in his debut Test for Pakistan in 2009, making 168 out of a total of 320 against Sri Lanka in Colombo after Pakistan were shot out for 90 in the first innings. He finished third on the batting charts in Pakistan's premier domestic first-class tournament in 2011-12, with 945 runs at 67.50 for National Bank of Pakistan. This season, after six matches, he's on top of the run-scorers' table, his 446 runs coming at 51.77.

Yet Alam has only three Tests to his name, the last of which was in November 2009. Three Tests, 27 ODIs and 24 Twenty20s. He is considered more of a limited-overs player, despite not having made much of a mark in the shorter formats and despite his fine numbers in first-class cricket, which show his technique isn't flawed and he has the temperament to succeed in the long form.

Alam quashes the notion that he is a short-format player, and puts his lack of Test caps down to luck. "I've always wanted to be prominent, and I want gain this prominence by scoring heavily. I think my first-class career is evidence enough to dispel this false perception," he told ESPNcricinfo. "I have scored runs in difficult situations and won my national place in 2007. If I am away from the national side, it is perhaps because of my luck; otherwise I have scored enough.

"I don't even buy this point, that I am only getting a chance in the wrong format. Yes, I have more success in longest format of the game, but I have been scoring in all formats. Now I am doing everything I can to make a comeback. You ask in which format? That is what selectors have to decide. I just want to focus on my cricket."

So what kept him from cementing his place in international cricket? He's payed 51 limited-overs games between May 2007 and December 2010. Former and current selectors believe that Alam was short-changed when compared with the other well-established limited-overs players in the team. "In the presence of the [Shahid] Afridi, [Abdul] Razzaq, Umar Akmal it was bit hard for him to step up and match them in limited-overs cricket," a former selector said. "These days ODI and T20 cricket demand some big hitting, which we need to see from Fawad. Otherwise he is good all-round cricketer in the longer format of the game. His temperament is well-suited for multiple days of cricket."

Alam leads National Bank of Pakistan in the President's Trophy, and is clear about the importance of his role as captain. "I believe cricket carries a lot of emotions and the captain is like a mother who always backs even if you are falling and that is a key to thrive. My hundred on debut was the result of Younis bhai's trust in me. Being a captain, he worked hard with me and helped me in the nets. I don't think any captain does that these days - he is legend and a great human being."

Sunny helps Dhaka Metropolis top table

Left-arm spinner Arafat Sunny took seven wickets to help Dhaka Metropolis defeat Barisal Division before the end of the third day in their National Cricket League (NCL) match in Chittagong. Barisal were pegged back in the contest after they were bowled out for 138 runs in the second innings. Sunny took three wickets, adding to his four in the first innings, while Mohammad Ashraful took three wickets with his off-spin.

Barisal's innings had spun out of control in the afternoon on the second day, after they were reduced to 28 for 5. Salman Hossain, who scored 42, led their recovery briefly in the morning of the next day. No. 8 Fariduddin's 36 was the next best score in the innings.

In the first innings, Fariduddin had shepherded the tail in his 107-ball knock, taking Barisal past the 200-run mark. Dhaka Metropolis replied with 241, mainly through a 105-run seventh wicket stand between Mehrab Hossain jnr and Suleman Khan, both of whom scored half-centuries. Barisal's left-arm swing bowler Syed Rasel took four wickets, but with Dhaka Metropolis facing only 140 to win, even the wily international bowler couldn't do much.

Shamsur Rahman slammed an unbeaten 71 off 60 balls to enable Dhaka Metropolis to gain seven points from the game. They are now at the top of the table with 15 points.

Nafees keen to make most of West Indies series

Bangladesh's last Test, played almost a year ago, was a memorable one for batsman Shahriar Nafees. Though Pakistan defeated them, he scored 97 in the first innings. The long break from Test cricket will end when they take on West Indies on Tuesday, but Nafees, 26, doesn't want to say much about the skewed FTP. Tackling the West Indies bowling attack, which offers enough variety to keep the free-stroking Bangladesh batsmen on their toes, is more important to him.

"I don't want to bring up the FTP and use it as an excuse," Nafees said on Sunday. "If I don't do well, nobody will remember what I did or didn't do in the last year. If I do well, people will say that I have made a successful comeback.

"We played well against West Indies last year and did well individually against Pakistan. So if a player can continue playing cricket that would only be a good thing. The players don't have control over the FTP, so we have to make the best use of opportunities."

After that Mirpur Test against Pakistan, Nafees was left out of the centrally contracted players' list. He, then ran into trouble in a tournament in Bangalore playing for Bangladesh A, when he showed dissent at an umpiring decision and was sent home. He was handed a suspended ban by the Bangladesh Cricket Board, but was later picked for the A side in September

He hasn't been scoring prolifically in domestic cricket and hasn't performed exceptionally for the A team. In 23 matches in first-class, one-dayers and Twenty20s, he has scored only 528 runs. But Nafees has 2011 in his mind, a year in which he struck five fifties, which included that knock of 97 against Pakistan.

"I am happy, I played well in ODIs last year and got runs in Test cricket. I played regularly in 2011 so I was pretty happy. But I haven't played after a gap, so I have to do well," he said.

But to do well, Nafees will have to come out on top against a strong bowling attack. Sunil Narine is the most talked-about bowler in the West Indies attack but the pace attack will be a challenge to face as well. "They are in good form. Ravi Rampaul, Fidel Edwards and Tino Best are their strike bowlers and they also have some good spinners. We can't just work on one bowler because they are on a high note. We have to take everyone seriously," he said.

Nafees was hit on the face by Edwards in the first Test against West Indies last year (and was struck on his eye by Shahadat Hossain two months ago). Rampaul said short-of-length deliveries will be used depending on the batsmen's weaknesses.

"It's too early to say how the wicket will play, we have some good quick fast bowlers who bowl at 90 miles an hour, and if we put the ball in the right areas we will do well. As a bowling unit we tend to look at the batsmen and at their weakness, if the short ball is one of their weaknesses then we will exploit it," Rampaul said.

Rampaul has toured Bangladesh a couple of times in the past, including in the 2004 Under-19 World Cup, so he should adapt quickly to conditions, which he knows will assist the slow bowlers.

"From past experience, I can say that the wicket in Bangladesh is slow and it helps the spinners. It's basically a wicket where you'll have to use your variation. We have played in all parts of the world. We will just try to stick to the basics and bowl well," he said.

Cowan, Clarke frustrate visitors

Australia 3 for 214 (Cowan 98*, Clarke 78*, Morkel 2-38) trail South Africa 450 by 236 runs
Scorecard and ball-by-ball details

A doughty stand by Ed Cowan and Michael Clarke frustrated South Africa and lifted Australia to the firmer ground of 3 for 214 at lunch on day four of the first Test in Brisbane.

Graeme Smith's side began the day in search of quick wickets to press for victory, but Cowan's highest Test score and a determined if occasionally fortunate contribution by Clarke raised the prospect of a stalemate at the Gabba - about the best Australia could hope for after sliding to 3 for 40 on the third evening.

Considered to be under some pressure for his place entering this match, Cowan provided exactly the sort of innings the team required in the circumstances, scoring within his favoured zones and showing sound judgement of when to defend. It was an

In responding aggressively to a perilous position the night before, Cowan and Clarke had tilted momentum their way even before they emerged on the fourth morning. But they had to fight to build on that advantage against refreshed opponents.

After a brief early flurry, runs came steadily rather than swiftly, Cowan pushing singles while Clarke punched a pair of delectable straight drives back past Steyn in between leaving plenty of deliveries wide of off stump.

Cowan had an uncomfortable moment when he cuffed past the stumps and down to the fine leg boundary while trying to leave Steyn, and Clarke was twice the beneficiary of good fortune when his unconvincing attempts at a sort of half-pull shot lobbed into the air but out of the reach of fielders.

Both such strokes were attempted off the bowling of Kleinveldt, who bowled far better than his nerve-wracked first spell the previous evening. Nonetheless, a wicket was not forthcoming, and Smith brought himself on for a rare spell of friendly off spin in the absence of Imran Tahir and the injured JP Duminy.

Clarke looked uncomfortable against the short ball on more than one occasion, once taking his eye off a Steyn bouncer and gloving into the space between the stumps and the slips cordon. But he prospered in other areas, playing with a restraint that showed self-awareness of how important his wicket has become for Australia.

As the adjournment ticked closer Cowan reached the outskirts of a century, gaining four runs when the umpire Asad Rauf failed to detect Morne Morkel's bouncer had skimmed straight off the batsman's helmet. Ultimately he would go to the interval two runs short of a hundred, but happy to wait for them.

Kallis grinds down Australian bowlers

South Africa 3 for 357 (Kallis 137*, Amla 104) v Australia
Scorecard and ball-by-ball details

Hashim Amla reached a century and Jacques Kallis sailed well past one as South Africa's batsmen ground Australia's bowlers to 3 for 357 at lunch on day three of the first Test in Brisbane.

Losing only Amla's wicket in a session extended by half an hour, the visitors progressed calmly in the face of an improved bowling effort by the Australians, which began with the second new ball and ended with a neat display from Nathan Lyon. Peter Siddle defeated Amla on 104 though South Africa's No. 3 would have been reprieved had he reviewed the dismissal.

Kallis found another determined ally in AB de Villiers, and eased to his highest Test score in Australia. Given the full day lost to rain, South Africa may be expected to push on a little more aggressively for runs after the break, though they may also choose to influence the outcome of the series by wearing down Australia's three pacemen.

Facing up to a second new ball that had been due since Friday evening, Amla and Kallis began carefully, as Ben Hilfenhaus and James Pattinson found a far better length than they had on the first morning. Amla was particularly reserved, but on 99 lashed out at Pattinson and the boundary sliced through gully had him saluting a third hundred against Australia in as many Tests.

Amla's celebration was muted, his intent to go well beyond the century mark, but on 104 Siddle pinned him on the crease with a delivery seaming back. Australia's appeal was beseeching, Asad Rauf's finger was raised, and Amla exited without calling for a review. Had he done so, the decision would have been reversed, as ball tracking showed a path going over the stumps after Amla was struck on the knee roll.

De Villiers announced his arrival by punching his first ball down the ground, and with Kallis he set about establishing another partnership of deliberate intent. Kallis reached his century by pushing Hilfenhaus through midwicket, and continued to bat with unhurried insouciance. At one point he shaped to avoid a Pattinson bouncer before waving his bat at it as he crouched, but it was a rare lapse.

Nathan Lyon delivered a teasing spell in the 45 minutes up to lunch, finding turn as well as bounce, and encouraged Michael Clarke to bring himself on before the interval, coaxing a couple of airy shots from Kallis though no wicket. Australia had bowled far better than they had done on day one, but only one wicket for the session left them with another long afternoon ahead against South Africa's imposing bats.

All-round Hafeez thumps United Bank

Star-studded Sui Northern Gas Pipelines Limited thrashed United Bank Limited by an innings and 216 runs in Rawalpindi. Mohammad Hafeez hit 193, just three shy of his career best, Misbah-ul-Haq made 109 and Ali Waqas 95 as SNGPL racked up 455 for 5 declared. Misbah has now made successive hundreds, after his 110 in his side's previous game. Hafeez's best in this tournament so far was 95 against Khan Research Laboratories in October. Before hitting 32 fours in his 193 off 301 deliveries, Hafeez had also picked up 4 for 13 as United Bank crumbled to 165 after being inserted by Misbah. Only opener Abid ali (82) resisted for United Bank, who plummeted further in the second innings. Asad Ali grabbed a career-best 7 for 42 to blow them away for just 74, with five batsmen registering ducks, and eight failing to get into double digits.

Wahab Riaz took a first-class best 7 for 29 as National Bank of Pakistan thumped State Bank of Pakistan by an innings and 31 runs inside three days in Lahore. Coming on as first change and after Imran Khan had made the first breakthrough, Riaz scythed through the State Bank line-up to dismiss them for 136 in reply to National Bank's 304. Fawad Alam enforced the follow-on and this time, the wickets were shared among four bowlers. While Riaz and Hammad Azam picked up three each, Imran and Uzair-ul-Haq took two apiece as State Bank managed 137. Byes contributed 18 and 23 to State Bank's totals in both innings. National Bank's 304 had earlier been set up by fifties from Sami Aslam (89) and Qaiser Abbas (66).

England confident on Finn fitness

Steven Finn, the England fast bowler, is expected to be available for the first Test against India and he has said his looking to put pressure on Stuart Broad and James Anderson for the new ball.

Finn limped out of England's opening tour match after just four overs with a thigh strain suffered in the field but has been taking a full part in training sessions and could share the new ball with Anderson on Thursday if Broad has not recovered from a bruised heel. Whoever is selected, both Finn and Broad will be short of match practise.

Finn made his England Test debut against Bangladesh in March 2010 and played in every Test that calendar year until being dropped for the fourth Ashes Test in Melbourne. Despite his height, pace and wicket-taking ability, he was criticised for being expensive, something Finn feels he has addressed.

"I suppose when I started, I was a little bit expensive, " Finn told Sport magazine. "But I still managed to take wickets, which is probably what kept me in the team. My economy rate in Tests, 3.66, isn't terrible - but it's not great either. I set myself very high standards, and it's probably not up to scratch by those standards."

Finn took 46 wickets at 26.23 from his debut until the Perth Test in December 2010. "The criticism of my knack of leaking runs hasn't been unfair but I was young at the time and I'd back myself now to be able to hold an end up and not give away as many runs. I feel like I've learned and developed a lot over the last 18 months.

"I've proved in limited-overs cricket for England that my economy rate has been as good as anyone's. I go at 4.67 runs an over in one-day internationals, and my T20 rate, 6.70, is okay as well and there's no reason why I can't transfer that into Test cricket."

Finn has forced his way back into the England bowling attack and has benefitted from the help offered by Anderson - whom he is aiming to start alongside in the first Test. "The guys who have opened the bowling for the past two or three years have been exceptional," he said. "Broady and Jimmy have both been brilliant, so I think it would be hard for me to knock either of them off their perch.

"I'm not saying it's not something I'm aspiring to, though, because I've enjoyed taking the new ball in one-day and T20 cricket - and it's something I've done for Middlesex since I was 18 or 19 years old. It's something I'm accustomed to and really enjoy."

Finn is keen to test himself in subcontinental conditions again, having been one of few bright points for England during their ODI tour of India in October 2011. He took eight wickets at 31.62 with an economy rate of 5.27, when England as a team went at 5.88 an over during the 5-0 defeat.

"I've always enjoyed bowling on subcontinent pitches because you need a different set of skills and I think that suits me," he says. "You need to be able to reverse-swing the ball, your changes of angles on the crease are important, and having that bit of pace also helps on those sorts of wickets.

"There's definitely room for aggression, too. We saw that India struggled with the short ball when they came over to England last summer, and just because the wickets are slower there's no reason why you can't still use it."

Finn will resume his battle against Virat Kohli, a batsman in exceptional recent form, against whom Finn has played since he was 17. "He's not invincible," Finn said. "And we have a very good track record when it comes to getting the big men out."

Another big man is Sachin Tendulkar, who could end his Test career at the end of the forthcoming series. "There's been talk of that," Finn said. "The bloke averages 55 in Test cricket and obviously still loves the game; but you can't play the man - you have to play only the batsman in front of you, no matter what his name is. It would be nice to say I was the last person to take Tendulkar's wicket in Tests - definitely something to tell the grandkids."

Law in line to mentor batsmen

Stuart Law is expected to take over as Australia's batting coach for the remainder of the series against South Africa if Justin Langer is confirmed as Western Australia's new coach. Langer is likely to be put in charge of the Warriors after the end of the Brisbane Test, and Australia's management has already sounded out Law, an assistant coach at the Centre of Excellence, about filling the post for the Adelaide and Perth Tests.

Law was working with the Australians in the nets ahead of the Gabba Test and he could be the front-runner for the full-time role if Langer departs. Prior to joining the Centre of Excellence, Law served as the coach of Bangladesh and was Sri Lanka's interim coach after the 2011 World Cup, having first joined them as an assistant in 2009.

"I've had word from both Pat Howard [Cricket Australia's team performance manager], and the Australian team management that providing that Justin takes the West Australian job they would like me to be around the group for the summer for the preparation stages of each Test match," Law told the Sun-Herald.

"To be the national team batting coach would be a huge honour. I'm actually flattered that I'm even thought about in this position. I'm relatively new to coaching, I've been coaching international cricket for three years, but I've got a lot of knowledge. I've played a lot of cricket in all sorts of conditions against all sorts of opponents. There is no better environment than coaching around the likes of the Pontings, Clarkes and the Husseys and Warners of the world."

Although Langer has not officially taken the job as Western Australia's coach, he is expected join the Warriors after completing his national team duties in Brisbane. The state's mentor, Lachlan Stevens, quit last week, soon after the captain Marcus North also announced his resignation.

Subscribe to: Posts (Atom)