Shane Warne’s use of a banned drug left Ricky Ponting, Australia’s one-day captain, annoyed at what he described as Warne’s “madness”. In his World Cup diary, which is published this week, Ponting said that his sympathy for Warne was tinged with “a feeling of annoyance”.Ponting said the Australians have a lecture on drugs every year, and as a result he was aware of the issues and checked any drugs before he took them. “That is common sense, and for Warney, who has been playing international cricket for over a decade, to ignore that approach is just madness.”Not surprisingly, given the campaign he was about to embark on in defence of the World Cup, Ponting said he was upset that the controversy came up when it did in South Africa.”I think there was plenty of shock in the room already,” he wrote. “But to then see the greatest bowler in Australian cricket so distressed in front of us all was as sobering a sight as you could ever wish to see.”The room was reduced to complete silence, an awkward silence, as Warney tried to regain his composure and finish what he was saying.”Ponting said Warne was more composed when he addressed his teammates again later that night, telling them: “You are a better team than just one person, and even though I am going to go home, you can and will win the World Cup without me.” Ponting wrote: “Whatever you might think of Warney, it took a lot of guts and quality for him to stand up, admit what he had done and wave goodbye to his dream of one last crack at the World Cup.”However, Ponting did say that he was looking forward to having Warne back in his armoury when the 12-month suspension for using a banned diuretic ends on February 10. “He’s a great player and I really hope I get to play some more cricket with him.”

Andy Flower’s winter in Australia proved more lucrative than expected when he collected a Aus$50,000 prize for hitting an ING advertising hoarding during South Australia’s ING Cup match against Western Australia. Flower sweptthe ball over midwicket to become the sixth player during the 12-year sponsorship to win the prize.In an impressive innings, his first at home for the Redbacks, Flower hit 74 off 73 deliveries, the winning six coming in the 45th over off WA’s Marcus North. Flower and youngster Mark Cosgrove (50 from 75 balls) put on 107 runs for the fifth-wicket from 121 balls to help SA to a solid total.But despite Flower’s personal success, it was a poor day for South Australia as they went down to a comprehensive seven-wicket defeat with Murray Goodwin (80) and Mike Hussey (84*) putting on an unbeaten 153 for the fourth wicket in 121 balls.In 2001-02 Hussey collected Aus $200,000 for hitting a simlar sign at Perth.

Uttar Pradesh169 for 7 (Pandey 57*) v Mumbai
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Uttar Pradesh were pegged back on the first day of their third-round Elite Group match against Mumbai at Lucknow. After choosing to bat, UP managed just 169 in the whole day, with only Gyanendra Pandey making his start count with a workmanlike half-century. The Mumbai opening bowlers, Swapnil Hazare and Robin Morris, picked up early wickets and had UP struggling at 36 for 3 at one point. The spinners choked the runs even more – Nilesh Kulkarni conceded only 27 runs in his 25 overs. Omkar Khanvilkar also had a good day, with 2 for 14 in his 14 overs.Bengal 207 for 3 (Haldipur 79*, Chakraborty 58) v Tamil Nadu
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Bengal put in a good batting performance, scoring 207 runs for the loss of only three wickets. Nikhil Haldipur spent nearly five hours in the middle and, along with AP Chakraborty, laid a solid foundation with a 119-run opening partnership. Laxmi Ratan Shukla, who had played two important innings in the last match, was promoted up the order and remained unbeaten on 34. Rain stopped play just after tea, but Bengal will be happy with their improved batting display after their feeble batting performances in the previous matches.Rajasthan 111 for 5 trail Karnataka 145 by 34 runs
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For the third match in a row, the KL Saini ground at Jaipur was a nightmare for all batsmen, as 15 wickets fell on the first day of this match. All the Rajasthan bowlers shared the wickets, with Sanjeev Sharma being the most successful with 3 for 39. Stuart Binny top-scored for Karnataka with 39, a contribution that may prove vital on this difficult surface. Rajasthan also suffered when they came out to bat, losing half their side for only 45 runs, with Venkatesh Prasad and Dodda Ganesh among the wickets. But Gagan Khoda hit an unbeaten 43, and has so far put on a priceless 66 with Rahul Kanwat (38*) to take them to a position of relative safety. Neither of the previous matches at Jaipur lasted the distance, and a quick finish is on the cards for this match too.Delhi 194 for 8 (Manhas 62) v Railways
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Delhi limped to 194 for 8 by the end of the first day against Railways. Mithun Manhas played a lone hand with a battling 62, while all fell around him. Harvinder Singh, Sanjay Bangar and Kulamani Parida picked up two wickets apiece to restrict Delhi.Assam 230 for 3 (Saravanan 80*, Das 71) v Hyderabad
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Vasanth Saravanan carried on his rich vein of form and helped Assam reach a commanding 230 for 3 at stumps on the first day against Hyderabad. PK Das also hit a half-century, while JS Yadav was the only bowler to make any impression, with 2 for 44. Saravanan’s undefeated 80 contained 11 fours, and a big hundred from him tomorrow could give Assam a platform for their first win of the season.Baroda 233 for 3 (Parab 54, Martin 80*) v Punjab
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Baroda put up a good batting show to finish the first day at 233 for 3. Jacob Martin justified his decision to bat first with a well-compiled 80, and was still there at the close. Rishikesh Parab had earlier hit 54 to get Baroda off to a good start.Plate Championship First Round
Vidharbha 254 for 8 v Tripura
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All the Vidharbha batsmen got starts but none kicked on to get a big score as they finished the first day at 254 for 8. RS Paradkar and N Gawande both passed 40, but the Tripura bowling kept pegging away to pick up regular wickets. AR Kapoor was the most successful bowler with 4 for 82 in his 29 overs.Goa 208 for 6 (Swapnil 119) v Orissa
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Only three Goa batsmen passed 10 on the first day at Cuttack, but importantly AA Swapnil, the opener, scored a fine 119, studded with 20 fours, to prevent a total collapse. For Orissa, Debashish Mohanty and Bipin Singh picked up two wickets apiece.Haryana 218 for 6 (Sunny 66, Ganda 57, Shafiq 59*) v Jammu & Kashmir
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Haryana got off to a sedate start on the first day of the Plate A group match against Jammu & Kashmir. From an uncomfortable 26 for 2, three middle-order half-centuries took them to 218 for 6 by the close. Sunny top-scored with 66, while Ishan Ganda and Shafiq Khan both passed 50 as well. Sameer Khajuria, the J&K offspinner, was the pick of the bowlers with three wickets.Services 182 for 4 (Reddy 66, Verma 55*) v Himachal Pradesh
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Services crawled along at just over two an over on the first day of the Plate B match against Himachal Pradesh. MP Reddy hit 66 after batting for nearly five hours, while S Verma, the captain, was unbeaten at close of play with a dour 55.

Rain came to Otago’s aid on the second day of their State Championship match against Auckland on Eden Park’s outer oval. Chasing the daunting target of 424, Otago were left scrambling on 131 for 6.Otago started their chase well enough and with Chris Gaffaney and Andrew Hore carrying on from their overnight position. They took the score through to 78 for 1, before the introduction of Aaron Barnes, the medium-pacer, undid Otago. He first picked up Gaffaney’s wicket. Gaffaney edged to Tim McIntosh at second slip when he had scored 42. Robert Lawson followed soon after for four and by the time Otago had reached 96, Hore had departed leg before wicket for 37.Barnes had 3 for 12 and Otago suffered an uncomfortable lunch. After the resumption the situation worsened as Kyle Mills and Andre Adams picked up a wicket apiece and by the time the rain set in Otago had limped to 131 for 6.An intriguing contest was set up in Gisborne as Central Districts look to save their game against Northern Districts. Jamie How, 97 not out at close, is on the verge of the third first-class century of his career, with the opportunity to go on for much longer as CD look to put the game out of ND’s reach.It was unfortunate for CD, that just before bad light caused the end of play, Jesse Ryder was dismissed, stumped for 49, having added 104 patient runs with How for the third wicket. He was just starting to go on the offensive when he failed to get onto a ball from Nick Horsley and was dismissed.Earlier, ND’s ninth-wicket pairing had taken their stand to 99 before Graeme Aldridge was dismissed for 49 and what would have been a maiden first-class half-century. His partner Ian Butler did achieve that feat when unbeaten on 51 when the declaration was applied with ND 445-9.

The Abhijit Kale scandal has deepened, with Jagmohan Dalmiya revealing that Kale called Kiran More and Pranab Roy, the two national selectors, as recently as November 18. This added a new dimension to the story; it had been widely reported that contact between the two parties ended on August 5. Kale admits to having called More on November 18, but says he did so at the behest of Balasaheb Thovre, the chairman of the Maharashtra Cricket Association.In an interview on Hard Talk, telecast by the on Friday night, Dalmiya said, “The last one [call] was on November 18 and this is his admitted position [now]. And the phone call was from the local cricket association [MCA].”Kale spoke to the , and said, “August 1 was the last time I spoke to More and the November 18 call was made at the behest of Thovre.”Thovre claims to have spoken to More on November 18 in Kolkata (the day of the TVS Cup final) where he was informed about the allegations against Kale. Thovre said, “He [More] told us that Kale has been trying to put pressure on him for selection in the national squad. Kale’s mother even went to Baroda to meet him [More].” Thovre spoke to Kale immediately, asking him why his mother had gone to meet More. Kale said that his mother had gone to Baroda seeking a bride for him and on that trip handed over his fitness certificates to More.Thovre added, “Kale then said that he would talk to More and immediately called him on his mobile. More was in the same hall till then. I agree that the call was made from the MCA office, but what transpired between them [Kale and More] is not known.”

Leicestershire have added two young players to their squad with the signings of Chris Liddle and Nick Ferraby. Liddle, 19, is a left-arm quick bowler, while Ferraby, 20, is a promising top-order batsman.”Both Chris and Nick are excellent prospects for the future,” James Whitaker, Leicestershire’s director of cricket, said. “Chris, formally of the Durham junior squads, is tall, athletic and already shows signs of continuous improvement."Nick has made a number of significant contributions for the 2nd XI over the past couple of seasons, and has signed a three-month summer contract. A former pupil at Oakham School, Nick is now studying at Loughborough University.”Leicestershire have also announced that Rupesh Amin, the 26-year-old left-arm spinner, has retired from first-class cricket in order to pursue a career in London.Whitaker said, “The club would like to thank Rupesh for his efforts in 2003 and wish him all the very best in the future.”

The West Indies Cricket Board denied reports that Dwight Washington, the 21-year-old Jamaican fast bowler, had been reported to the International Cricket Council for having a suspect bowling action and, as a result, left out of the West Indies squad.The WICB’s Bowling Review Committee insisted that they had no concerns about Washington’s action, and the ICC’s Brendan McClements also confirmed that he had not been reported.The rumours appear to have started when Roger Braithwaite, the WICB’s chief executive officer, confirmed that Washington’s action was highlighted by domestic umpires who asked the board to take a look.”There have been reports from umpires on Washington and other players and one young player was reviewed without a report having been submitted,” he was quoted as saying on caribbeancricket.com. “The committee looked at videotapes of Washington’s bowling this weekend and found no cause for concern.”Gus Logie, the West Indies coach, confirmed that the matter had nothing to do with Washington’s omission from the squad for the Sabina Park Test.

Thilina Kandamby, the 21-year-old Bloomfield left-hander, has been named as Naveed Nawaz’s vice-captain in the 16-member Sri Lanka A team which will tour New Zealand next month.Kandamby is looked upon as future captaincy material, and has proved to be a thinking man during matches for his club in the Premier Trophy tournament.Nawaz will lead a team which includes five fast bowlers, an allrounder and a solitary spinner on the five-week tour, in which Sri Lanka A will play a series of three five-day unofficial Tests, and three one-day matches against New Zealand’s A team.The fast bnowlers are Lasith Malinga, Mario Villavarayen, Tharanga Lakshitha, Charitha Buddhika and Dinusha Fernando, with Hasantha Fernando as the fast-bowling allrounder. Dinuk Hettiarachchi, the slow left-armer, is the only recognised spinner.Prasanna Jayawardene is the only wicketkeeper in the side: in anemergency Chamara Silva may be asked to don the gloves.The squad, which is awaiting ratification from the Sports Ministry, is:Naveed Nawaz (capt), Thilina Kandamby (vice-capt), Ian Daniel, Shantha Kalavitigoda, Pradeep Hewage, Jehan Mubarak, Bathiya Perera, Chamara Silva, Hasantha Fernando, Prasanna Jayawardene (wk), Dinuk Hettiarachchi, Lasith Malinga, Mario Villavarayen, Tharanga Lakshitha, Charitha Buddhika, Dinusha Fernando.Tour itinerary:
March 3 – Arrival
March 5-7 – v Otago at Alexandra
March 11-15 – 1st “Test” at Queenstown
March 19-23 – 2nd “Test” at Lincoln
March 27-31 – 3rd “Test” at Christchurch
April 3 – 1st ODI at Lincoln
April 5 – 2nd ODI at Lincoln
April 7 – 3rd ODI at Lincoln
April 8 – Departure

Darren Gough is preparing to play international cricket in the Caribbean for the first time in his long career, after winning a recall to England’s one-day colours for the seven-match series that follows the Tests against West Indies. Also back in the fray is Steve Harmison, England’s star bowler from the Jamaica and Trinidad Tests, who won the second spare fast-bowling slot ahead of Simon Jones.Gough was Man of the Match in his last one-day outing, the final of the 2003 NatWest Series against South Africa in July, but was controversially overlooked for the pre-Christmas trips to Bangladesh and Sri Lanka. He has since completed a high-profile move to Essex in a bid to relaunch his international career, and has successfully convinced the selectors that the dodgy knee that forced his retirement from Test cricket will not hamper him in one-dayers.”Darren has proved his fitness to our medical team,” said David Graveney, England’s chairman of selectors. “His inclusion will give us valuable experience and knowhow within our bowling attack. He is a proven international performer, and I’m sure that he will be relishing the prospect of his first England tour of the Caribbean.”Harmison’s inclusion follows a stunning coming-of-age in the first two Tests against West Indies, in which he has taken 16 wickets, including a record-breaking 7 for 12 in the second innings at Kingston. “Stephen has performed superbly against West Indies in the Test series,” said Graveney, “and we hope that he can carry this rich vein of form into the one-day arena.”Harmison travelled to South Africa for last year’s World Cup, but his accuracy was not able to match up to his pace and he was a peripheral member of England’s set-up. Since then, however, he has worked on his rhythm and approach to the crease, and has established such a psychological hold over the West Indian batsmen that his inclusion was virtually guaranteed. “He is an important part of our plans for the future,” added Graveney, “in both forms of the game.”England squad for one-day series
Michael Vaughan (capt), Marcus Trescothick, Andrew Strauss, Paul Collingwood,Andrew Flintoff, Anthony McGrath, Rikki Clarke, Ashley Giles, Ian Blackwell, Chris Read (wk), Gareth Batty, Darren Gough, Stephen Harmison, James Kirtley, James Anderson.

India 342 for 4 (Dravid 134*, Laxman 71, Patel 69, Ganguly 53*) lead Pakistan 224 by 118 runs
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Rahul Dravid struck 134 not out, an innings of the highest class and character, to put India well on top on the second day of the deciding Test against Pakistan at Rawalpindi. India reached 342 for 4 by the close of play, 118 ahead, with six wickets still in hand. It was no solo act, though – Parthiv Patel vindicated Sourav Ganguly’s bold decision to promote him to the top of the order by making a feisty 69, VVS Laxman made a strokeful 71, off just 99 balls, and Ganguly himself made an aggressive 53 not out.Dravid’s century, his first against Pakistan, reflected his quintessence. It featured solid defence, impeccable shot selection, classical strokeplay, and unwavering concentration. Dravid has been the key figure in India’s finest overseas wins of recent times – Headingley and Adelaide, especially – and here, on yet another big occasion, in conditions which offered some encouragement to the bowlers, he played a calm and unhurried innings.Dravid had his slices of luck, though. He survived an early scare, when an lbw appeal against him, off Mohammad Sami, was turned down by the umpire, although it appeared absolutely plumb, an impression confirmed by Hawk-Eye. The last few minutes before tea were also nervy ones – he cut a ball from Sami uppishly to Yasir Hameed at point, who fumbled with it, and dropped it. Moments later, Dravid inside-edged a ball from Danish Kaneria down near his feet, from where it bobbed up and was caught by a diving Kamran Akmal. Replays were called for but were inconclusive, and Dravid survived.But these were isolated instances in a beautifully constructed innings, the centrepiece of three lucrative partnerships – 129 with Patel, 131 with Laxman, and an unbeaten 81 with Ganguly.Patel’s elevation as an opener entailed tests of both character and technique. On both fronts, he delivered. His shot-selection was immaculate, and in the first few overs of the morning he let go everything that was not on the stumps, and played everything else late, and close to his body. He opened up as the game went along, though, and was especially severe to anything full or short outside off, getting most of his ten boundaries square of the wicket on the off side.But although Patel excelled in the areas square of the wicket, he was not limited to them. An on-drive off Sami and a straight-drive off Shoaib Akhtar were orthodox strokes of the highest class, and showcased the potential Patel has as a batsman. He may not be a long-term opening option for India, but Ganguly’s move was a short-term tactical move*, and it paid off superbly.

Pakistan’s fast bowlers, in the morning, had not extracted anywhere near the kind of movement as the Indians had done on the first day, though Shoaib hurried both batsman initially with his pace. Kaneria troubled Patel when he came on, beating him with a top-spinner and a googly early on, but once the batsman had a good look at him, he no longer looked dangerous. It was eventually Fazl-e-Akbar who got Pakistan the first breakthrough.Akbar bowled an accurate spell in the post-lunch session, getting some movement, and pitching the ball consistently in the corridor. He accounted for Patel, who edged one that was leaving him to Akmal (129 for 2). Sachin Tendulkar came out to bat – but not for long.After getting off the mark with an edge through slips off Akbar, Tendulkar succumbed to Shoaib off the first ball of the next over, a snorter just outside off stump which Tendulkar could not get his bat away from in time. The face of his bat opened as the ball passed him, as he simultaneously tried to draw it away, and the ball was virtually guided through to Akmal (130 for 3).Laxman, who is accustomed to long partnerships with Dravid, was the next man in, and after an early edge through slips for four, he showed no sign of nerves. Solid in defence, imperious on the attack, Laxman quickly got into his groove. If there were any demons in the pitch, he quickly exorcised them, playing some dazzling pulls and drives, and timing the ball so well that it seemed almost magical.The second new ball brought Pakistan some relief, as Shoaib launched into yet another hostile spell. He induced two edges off Dravid, both of which fell short, before knocking off Laxman’s middle stump with a full-toss that swung wildly from its original line on leg stump (261 for 4).Ganguly came in next, and began positively, slashing the short balls outside off, timing his off-drives to perfection, and scoring at a run a ball for much of his innings, before slowing down towards the end. Shoaib, meanwhile, went off the field to treat an injured wrist, as news filtered in that he would not bowl for the rest of the day. It was a stony cherry on the top of a bad cake.India looked well set, as the day ended, to extend their lead to such an extent that they wouldn’t have to bat again. Dravid was still at the crease, defiant and determined, and Ganguly would certainly take the attack to Pakistan on the third morning. And Yuvraj Singh waited in the pavilion. The big question that now remained, it appeared, was if Pakistan’s batsmen could bat well enough in the second innings to save the Test. Ganguly’s men were running the show.Amit Varma is managing editor of Wisden Cricinfo in India.*Patel is clearly not a long-term option to open, as he cannot possibly both keep wicket and open the batting. But in this crucial Test, he did the task asked of him. Patel’s brief was the same as Aakash Chopra’s had been, to take the shine off the new ball, and he did better than what one could expect from Chopra. His 69 was higher than Chopra’s best of 60, he lasted much longer (141 balls) than Chopra’s average stay at the crease per innings, of 79 balls, and his strike-rate of 49 was much better than Chopra’s, of 35.46. Patel’s performance was Ganguly’s triumph as a tactician. (Back to article)