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A Pakistan legends side will play their Indian counterparts at the Rogers Centre, Toronto on March 3, 2007. The match comes one week before of the start of the World Cup in the Caribbean.Wasim Akram will captain the Pakistan side, and Mohammad Azharuddin India in the 50-overs-a-side game. The organisers and the Canadian Cricket Association President, Mr Ben Sennik, hope for a capacity crowd of 60,000.Canada holds the record attendance for a cricket match in North America, when around 43,000 watched a game at the same venue in 1989 (when it was called the Skydome).This new event, which is billed as an attempt to bring “community togetherness through sports and entertainment”, is being presented by M+D Community Corporation in partnership with the Heart and Stroke Foundation and the Canadian Cricket Association.

Australia’s cricketers have donated their prize money from the Melbourne Test to the disaster relief funds of the tsunami and earthquake victims in South-East Asia.Ricky Ponting, who hit an unbeaten 62 to lead his side to a nine wicket victory over Pakistan at the MCG, indicated that Australia had more fund-raising projects in mind. “We’ve got a number of things in the pipeline as a team that we’re looking at that haven’t been finalised yet,” he told reporters after the Test. “One thing that we have decided to do from today’s game is to donate all of our winning prizemoney from this Test match, which is about $13,000, which the team has decided to donate to the fund.”Bob Woolmer, Pakistan’s coach, was also sympathetic. “I think the two teams have signed shirts and they’re being auctioned somewhere to help them,” he said. “It’s a tragedy that puts everything into perspective as far as cricket goes. We understand that and it’s very sad for all the people who have suffered and are still suffering.”More than 56,000 people so far have been killed, and many more left homeless by the effects of the massive earthquake and tidal waves that hit shorelines of all round the Indian Ocean.

Apart from the three Australian signings, who have yet to arrive at The Rose Bowl, the whole Hampshire squad are off to the Royal Military Academy, Sandhurst on Thursday until Sunday, for what is described as a fitness and leadership course.A number of businesses and organisations have already gained enormous benefit from training developed and conducted at Sandhurst through the auspices of this agreement – most prominent being the Grand Slam and World Cup winning England Rugby Team.This training course is followed by a 2 day friendly match at Hove against neighbours Sussex, followed by a 2 day match at The Rose Bowl on Wednesday and Thursday against Warwickshire.After the open day on 10th April (10:00am start), the squad then travel to Canterbury for another practise match against Kent, leading up to the opening Frizzell Championship encounter with Durham starting on April 16th.

A superbly constructed 171-run partnership for the fourth wicket between Graeme Smith and Gary Kirsten completely swung the match South Africa’s way, as they levelled the series 1-1 with a convincing six-wicket win at Wellington. Needing 152 on the final day with seven wickets in hand, Smith led the way with an unbeaten 125, but Kirsten, in his last Test innings, played an equally crucial hand, battling his way to 76 before being dismissed in the last over before lunch.The story of the day was the matchwinning stand, but the most poignant moment came off the last ball of the morning session, when Kirsten left the field for the final time in Test cricket after being trapped in front by Scott Styris. Normally not given to emotion, Kirsten passionately kissed his helmet before walking off in tears, while all the New Zealand players stood aside and applauded the effort of the man who had – one last time – helped steer his team to the brink of victory.When play began on the final day, both sides had an equal chance of victory, but Smith and Kirsten shut New Zealand out with a nerveless batting display. Smith carried on from where he had left off on the fourth evening. Pilloried for everything from lack of mental toughness to lack of tactical acumen in the last month, he hit back in style. The feature of his knock was his leg-side batting, as he repeatedly took balls from around off stump and effortlessly clipped them to midwicket, a stroke which, fittingly, brought South Africa the winning run. It would normally be termed risky cricket, but so fluent was Smith that it seldom appeared so.Kirsten, on the other hand, was far more scratchy at the start – he mistimed drives, played and missed at a few, and generally struggled with footwork and timing. Hardly the sort of person to be bothered by it all, he just knuckled down, soaked up all the pressure, knocked around the singles, and gradually got back into the groove. By the end of his innings he was in excellent form, stroking drives through cover and back past the bowler, and even executing a couple of delightful late-cuts for four.With early wickets so crucial to their chances of victory, New Zealand started proceedings with Chris Martin and Jacob Oram. However, both began by straying towards leg stump, and were picked off for easy runs by Smith, who flicked fours off both bowlers to reach his half-century in style. Martin failed to get the swing that had made him such a potent force in this series, which meant that the deliveries which were supposed to pitch on leg and move late across the left-handers now became regulation runscoring opportunities.Twenty-four came off the first seven overs, but New Zealand gradually tightened their line, as Chris Cairns and Daniel Vettori were pressed into the attack. The next nine overs produced only ten runs, but both batsmen survived that period patiently, knowing that with plenty of time in hand, the onus would be on New Zealand to force the issue. Cairns, in possibly his last home Test, bowled with plenty of fire and tried every trick in his bag, bowling from round the wicket, teasing the batsmen with wide half-volleys and then with the short stuff, but today, he came off second-best.The highlight of the session was the way Smith and Kirsten neutralised the threat of Vettori. On a pitch that – despite some rough areas outside the left-handers’ off stump – was still an excellent one for batting, both used their feet regularly against him, not to tonk boundaries but to work him with the spin just wide of mid-on for ones. And when Vettori altered his length, the batsmen were waiting on the back foot to turn it away behind square for more singles. It was risk-free cricket, and it added to the frustration for Vettori and Stephen Fleming.After working their way through a critical runless phase, Smith and Kirsten slowly turned it on: Cairns was slashed through gully for four by Kirsten, ending a sequence of 19 consecutive singles by both batsmen, while Vettori was lofted for four over mid-on.The over that completely shifted the momentum was the 55th, Vettori’s tenth and last of the match. Smith creamed an on-drive and a flick for two fours, in between chopping one past slip for two, as 12 came from the over. Vettori went into the drinks break – the second of an extended morning session – completely demoralised; Smith and Kirsten went in for the breather with victory well in sight, and the target whittled down to 73.The personal landmarks for both batsmen came immediately after play resumed – Kirsten clipped one from Oram to square leg for three to bring up his 34th Test fifty, and next ball, Smith eased a four to midwicket for his seventh century. Kirsten’s wicket was a bit of a dampener, but he had done enough to ensure that his swansong would end in a memorable victory for South Africa.

Scorecard

Strange game, this cricket. In the morning session here at Arundel, Sussex’s opening batsman Ian Ward found the very meat of the bat in an assured half-century on a true pitch: it looked as if only a piece of wizardry or a thermonuclear strike would remove him. Then, shortly after lunch, and with no obvious explanation, he became part of a landslide of Sussex wickets, five in 17 balls.Robin Martin-Jenkins and Mushtaq Ahmed then put that collapse in embarrassing perspective, adding 88 for the eighth wicket. But they were revelling in the freedom of a lost cause: Gloucestershire had only 25 to dash off for victory. They breezed it in four overs after tea, thus ensuring a good match at a charming ground was ended before going into the one day when most members of the working population could actually come and watch it. A strange game indeed.Sussex’s collapse was astonishing. There was little to explain the huge swing other than the confidence of the batters: Ward’s surfeit, after averaging more than 80 in his last two games, and the run-less middle-order’s lack. Perhaps that is a disservice to Gloucestershire’s seamers, unspectacular but relentless, who bowled a good line and length and built pressure, restricting the batsmen to just above two an over in the morning, despite Ward’s assured cuts and cover-drives. Mark Alleyne also managed to winkle out two of Ward’s partners with his medium-pace all-sorts before lunch.Afterwards the dam-wall burst: Chris Adams was caught by a tumbling second slip; Ward padded up to a straight one; Tim Ambrose tried to cover up and edged to the keeper; and then two classic Mike Smith deliveries from left-arm over took wickets: first the inswinger had Matt Prior lbw, then the one that holds its line had Alex Gidman caught behind. From 113 for 2, Sussex were 115 for 7 inside 15 minutes. Gloucestershire’s worries about a nasty forecast for tomorrow had evaporated.The same could not be said of the worries of the Sussex accountants, who pay rent to Arundel to stage games here. An early finish deprived them of a valuable day’s gate money, though not of revenue from their corporate guests, who inexplicably disdain Saturdays and prefer to take their entertainment on weekdays.

Adam Hollioake, the former England allrounder, has been forced to stop playing four-day Championship cricket because of an ankle injury.Hollioake, 32, had already announced that he was to quit all forms of the game at the end of this season, and he will now play in only the National League games, and the Twenty20 Cup finals day this Saturday at Edgbaston.His ankle problem had been affecting him for the majority of the season, and he had been having cortisone injections on the injury for the last six weeks. However, to help relieve the pain, he won’t play in any more Championship games this season, with his last four-day game for the club being the six-wicket defeat at Northants last week.Hollioake, who was born in Melbourne, played four Tests and 35 one-dayers for England, captaining the one-day side 14 times between 1997 and 1999. He explained at the end of last season that he wanted to devote more time to other things, particularly charity work for the Ben Hollioake Fund and his own business interests in Perth.

The Pub Charity Youth Cricket Draw – 18 October 2003Please Note: All matches are 1-day matches.U18:St Bedes Black v Midd G Midd G 1,Pap HS v Stac Stac 3,Pk v St Bedes Red St Bedes 5,CBHS v Syd Straven 4.Colts (1-day):Burn HS v St Thom Red Burn HS 2,SBHS v St Bedes Red St Bedes 3,St Thom Yellow v CC CC 2,Stac v CBHS Stac 2,Pap HS v Syd Pap HS 1.U16A (1-day):CC v SBHS SBHS 4,St Bedes v CBHS Straven 2,Syd v Stac Cash HS 1.U16B:Upper Ricc v Hornby CC Hornby HS,Ricc HS v OC Ricc HS 3,LPW v Nb South Brighton Dom,CBHS Bye.U15A (1-day):CC v Stac Blue CC 3,St Thom v SBHS Porritt 1,Stac White v Burn HS Stac 4,CBHS v Syd Hals 4.U15B:Burn HS v Pap HS Burn HS 3,St Bedes v CC St Bedes 4,Pk v CBHS Blue Straven 3,CBHS Black v Upper Ricc Ricc Dom.Stac ByeU14A (1-day):Syd v CC CC 5,St Thom v St Bedes St Bedes 6,SBHS v Stac Stac 5,Burn HS v Linc/Elles Tai Tapu Domain,CBHS Blue v CBHS Black Straven 6.U14B:CC v Pap HS CC 6,Burn HS v Ricc HS Ricc HS 4,SBHS v St Bedes St Bedes 7,Stac v CBHS Blue Stac 6,CBHS Black v Syd Cash HS 2,Nb v Rang HS Rang HS 1.U14C:SBHS v BWU Burn 5,LPW v CC CC 9,CBHS Black v CBHS Blue Ilam 2.

Some ten months after he was banned, Shane Warne is beginning the process of planning his comeback, and Terry Jenner, his coach and mentor, is hoping that he might start his rehabilitation as early as this weekend.Both Warne and Jenner will be in Adelaide for the second Test, and Jenner admitted that he is ready to roll. “I’ll have a bag of balls in the boot,” Jenner said, “and when he wants to release the cobwebs, we’ll have a crack somewhere.”Warne hopes to bowl at former team-mates Mark Taylor and Ian Healy, and all that remains is to find the place. The indoor nets at the Adelaide Oval would be the preferred choice, but were that to prove a little too close to home for Cricket Australia, then an alternative venue would not pose any issues for Warne. Cricket Australia, however, explained that Warne could hire facilities as long as those facilities were also available to the general public.But Jenner acknowledged that a session at the Adelaide Oval might not be a realistic aim. “It’s unfortunately not as easy as it should be,” he said. “Shane’s intentions are good but if they put too many spokes in the wheel, I don’t know what to do. It’s not just finding a venue, it’s Shane finding time away from the commentary and other things, something that fits in for him and for me. But if it’s at all possible, we’re going to have a bowl.”Warne is especially keen to dust off the cobwebs following comments from Trevor Hohns, Australia’s chairman of selectors, to the effect that he had not been ruled out of the reckoning for the squad to tour Sri Lanka which is announced shortly after his ban ends.Jenner believes that Warne is capable of finding his form by then, although he advised against trying to do too much too soon. “I think, sensibly, he will ease himself into it,” Jenner explained. “The selectors have said they may need to have a look at him in a game or two, so that’s what he’s gearing towards, I’m sure.”

Kevin Pietersen has been included in the squad of 12 for England’s first Ashes Test against Australia at Lord’s, which starts next Thursday. Pietersen has been included ahead of Graham Thorpe, who has been struggling with a back injury. Ian Bell and Christ Tremlett have also been included in the squad.David Graveney, England’s chairman of selectors, admitted that the decision to include Pietersen caused much difficulty. “This has been the most difficult decision that I have been party to in my time as a selector,” said Graveney, “with both Kevin and Graham making compelling cases for selection.”Ultimately, we have opted for Kevin because of the form he showed against Australia in The NatWest Series and The NatWest Challenge, his excellent first-class career record and the energy and enthusiasm he brings to the England dressing room. We have no doubts that he will be able to transfer his one-day form into the Test arena and firmly believe that he has the potential to become a world class player in England’s middle order and a genuine match-winner.”The selectors do not view this decision as marking the end of Graham Thorpe’s international career. He has been one of our most impressive performers with the bat since he returned to Test cricket in 2003 and, subject to form and fitness, he will continue to come under consideration for the remainder of the Ashes Test series.”We did consider other possible permutations with the batting order. But Ian Bell has made an excellent start to his Test career, is currently averaging over 60 for Warwickshire in first- class cricket this season, and we feel that he has the temperament and the technique required to succeed against Australia. Chris Tremlett made a promising start to his international career with the one-day squad. His selection will give us another bowling option once we have had a chance to assess the wicket and the conditions at Lord’s next week.””I’m delighted,” said Pietersen. “I’m the happiest boy in the UK this morning. I’ve got goosebumps – it’s a special feeling. I ticked the right boxes, thank goodness. It’s big shoes to fill, Graham Thorpe’s shoes, but it’s an opportunity for me now to go and cement my place in the England side and reward the people for selecting me. I put a lot of pressure on myself going into bat [at the Oval on Tuesday]. For the first time in cricket, I was really, really nervous going into the game. I put a lot of pressure on myself in terms of going out there to do well. Thank goodness I got there.”Pietersen ummed and ahhed about whether or not he would be nervous heading into the first Test next Thursday. “I’ve been given a positive boost by Grav and the selectors and all the public saying I should be penciled in. I said before I keep things very, very simple. It’s a different game, yes, but I’m not going to blow it up and say it’s a massive something. I will just give it a go. I went to South Africa and played a series there, there was loads of pressure on me but I came out all right. There was loads of pressure I put on myself on the other day but I came out of that OK. That was a difficult situation – 55 for 3 at Lord’s. I’m not going to get worried about it – I’m just going to enjoy the moment keep it simple and enjoy the moment. “However, a few moments later he admitted that he was bound to get nervous: “You’re always nervous. I always knew – with missing out on a few occasions recently – that I had to make a few on Tuesday. I’m not going to say I’m not nervous because it’s huge. It’s the Ashes, it’s Lords, and my family will be there. It’s ridiculous to say I’m not going to be nervous.”Graveney said he had rung Thorpe ahead of Pietersen, to explain that there were several factors which worked against him – but mainly Pietersen’s good form. “As phone calls go it was easier than some – that’s to Graham’s credit,” said Graveney. “He was fit for selection. He’s not played a lot of cricket over the last few weeks. He’s not available for Test matches from the end of the season. I don’t think there have been too many instances where people have indicated they are going to finish three or four months ahead. But in the end Pietersen was the decisive factor. We are looking to beat Australia – the selection of Pietersen gives us a better chance.”Graveney touched upon why Tremlett had been chosen ahead of Jon Lewis. “Chris has won the nod in this instance – but that doesn’t mean that Jon won’t feature in the future, and that underlines the quality in our squad.” He added that he wasn’t too perturbed by the fact that England have only played one-day internationals recently and no Tests since early June. “It’s not a major concern. England have been playing international cricket against the best side in the world.”And he dismissed suggestions that he was worried that Australia were peaking just at the right time. “They’ve played some exceptional cricket in the last few matches. They played some good cricket in the last few games of the NatWest Challenge, but when the Australians arrived here we surprised them with the quality of our players. They raised the bar and we need to do that leading up to Thursday.”England squad Marcus Trescothick, Andrew Strauss, Michael Vaughan (capt), Ian Bell, Kevin Pietersen, Andrew Flintoff, Geraint Jones (wk), Ashley Giles, Simon Jones, Matthew Hoggard, Steve Harmison, Chris Tremlett.

The Duleep Trophy, Indian domestic cricket’s inter-zonal tournament, begins on Thursday with two four-day matches: South Zone take on West Zone in Indore, while Central Zone do battle with East Zone in Gwalior.Sourav Ganguly, the former Indian captain, will lead East Zone. After his failure in the recent Challenger Trophy, the tournament is another opportunity for Ganguly to prove his form for a return to the national side. Meanwhile, VVS Laxman, who missed the Challenger Trophy due to a hamstring injury, has been appointed captain of South Zone. Wasim Jaffer, the Test opener, will lead West Zone.Zaheer Khan, the left-arm fast bowler, has also targetted the Duleep Trophy for a comeback. India tour South Africa for five one-day internationals and three Tests from November, and thus the tournament provides ample opportunities to impress.The Duleep Trophy tournament consists of six teams, divided into two pools, which play each other in four-day matches. Five of the competing teams are Indian, while the sixth is an overseas side. This season, Sri Lanka A has been included after conflicting playing schedules forced the Nashua Dolphins to pull out.The 2005-06 competition was won by West Zone after they beat East Zone by five wickets in the final.For the full schedule of the 2006 Duleep Trophy, click here.Squads
East Zone: Sourav Ganguly (capt), Lakshmi Shukla, Deep Dasgupta (wk), Subhomoy Das, Shib Shankar Das, Ranadeb Basu, Debasish Mohanty, Abhishek Jhunjhunwala, Sourashish Lahiri, Ashis Sinha, Pravanjan Das, S S Rao, D Mohan, S Saigal, P Mallick and Ashoke Dinda.South Zone: VVS Laxman (capt), Venugopal Rao, Anil Kumble, S Badrinath, Dinesh Karthik (wk), Ambati Rayudu, Robin Uthappa, Sreesanth, L Balaji, Pragyan Ojha, Gnaneshwar Rao, Arjun Yadav, Ibrahim Khaleel, Swapnil Asnodkar, Vijaykumar Yo Mahesh.West Zone: Wasim Jaffer (capt), Parthiv Patel (wk), Dhiraj Jadhav, Cheteshwar Pujara, Rohit Sharma, Amol Muzumdar, Kiran Powar, Sairaj Bahutule, Vinit Indulkar, Rajesh Pawar, Zaheer Khan, Siddharth Trivedi, Ravindra Jadeja, Suyash Burkul and Sanjay Maniar.North Zone: Mithun Manhas (capt), Gautam Gambhir, Akash Chopra, Ravneet Ricky, Sachin Rana, Yashpal Singh, Mahesh Rawat (wk), M Bisla, Ashish Nehra, VRV Singh, Gagandeep Singh, Joginder Sharma, Rajesh Sharma, Virat Kohli, Vishal Bhatia.Sri Lanka A: Thilan Samaraweera (Capt.), Jehan Mubarak, Michael Vandort, Mahela Udawatte, Jeevan Mendis, Malintha Warnapura, Kaushal Silva (wk), Upul Chandana, Rangana Herath, Chamara Silva, Dhammika Prasad, Tharanga Lakshitha, Akalanga Ganegama, Ishara Amarasinghe, Kosala Kulasekara.