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Giles Clarke, the chairman of the England & Wales Cricket Board, has risked incurring the wrath of England’s centrally contracted players by effectively vetoing their participation in either of the first two editions of the IPL.The 2008 tournament, which gets underway next week, may have been off-limits for logistical reasons, but several members of the team had been hopeful of signing lucrative contracts in time for 2009. Not least among these was Kevin Pietersen, who would be a prize signing for any franchise, and who this week told The Times it was “silly” to make players choose between an international career and the riches of the IPL.Clarke, however, will not be moved on the issue, and warned that the 2009 Ashes, which is looming large on the horizon, will be considered the ultimate priority for any player who signs up for an annual ECB contract in September.”The England team is the critical part of the economics of our game,” said Clarke, “and having the best players available is critical to that. The reason we have England central contracts is to enable the head coach to determine how much cricket those who were centrally contracted played. That was the original basis of it, and I’ve not seen any evidence or heard any requests to change that.”Following their 5-0 thrashing in the 2006-07 Ashes, the ECB is understandably keen to prepare the England team as professionally as possible for the return series next July, when they no doubt hope to replicate the euphoric scenes that greeted England’s victory in 2005. However, Clarke’s unsympathetic attitude at a time of great change in world cricket could well have the opposite effect.For instance, a window appeared to have been formed in England’s international schedule when their tour of West Indies next spring was brought forward by a month to February. However, Clarke insisted that that had not been done to enable English participation in the IPL, but to allow the players to rest up ahead of the Ashes.”What about player burnout?” asked Clarke. “Perhaps it’s not the worry that some thought it was. As I’ve said, for any centrally contracted player, I can’t see Peter Moores releasing them to play. The risks are very significant. We’re about to face Australia. What would you people [the media] write?”I don’t see it remotely as a rigid stance,” added Clarke. “When someone signs an employment contract, you honour it and he honours it. There would be a few acres of newsprint if the players weren’t fresh and alert at the start of the Ashes tour. The people of this country want to know that our players are as fit, and as sharp, and as ready as we can ensure that they can be.”Clarke’s attitude raises the very real possibility that some of England’s biggest names will choose not to accept their ECB contracts when they come up for renewal in September, and opt instead to go freelance, with the risks and rewards that such a move would entail. Though no names have been named, Pietersen and the injured Andrew Flintoff are the two England cricketers with the talent and global profile to have their cakes and eat them.Clarke issued a veiled threat against such an approach. “It would free him up, and it’s a risk he would take,” he admitted. “But he runs the risk as anyone does of losing his place and getting injured. Employment contracts are a matter between an employer and an employee. If you don’t want to be employed by someone you don’t have to be, but in turn you run the risk of not being employed by that person.”Cricket careers can come to ends as well as beginnings,” he warned. “Cricket is a team game, and we have some very significant incentive programmes for winning series. Those who turn up exhausted after flying around India and participating in the IPL are not going to be in a position to help their fellow players earn those significant rewards.”The message from the chairman is pretty stark, and to underline it, he called upon an historical parallel from 1977. “Tony Greig thought it was appropriate to play in World Series Cricket,” he said, “and Ian Botham appeared out of pretty much nowhere.”Clarke wasn’t so keen to recall WSC where the thorny issue of the rebel Indian Cricket League was concerned, however. Several players, including Gloucestershire’s Hamish Marshall, are currently barred from playing in county cricket as part of a worldwide clampdown on “unauthorised cricket”, with a hearing due tomorrow.There are fears that the ECB could end up in court on the grounds of restraint of trade, precisely as happened when Kerry Packer took the TCCB to the cleaners in the 1970s. Publicly, however, Clarke shares none of those concerns. “Unauthorised cricket is a fundamental threat to the management and economics of the game,” he said. “The governing body has to look after all the interests of the game. Unauthorised cricket doesn’t do that. I don’t see this as being remotely the same as the Packer issue.”

It’s been a while since Surrey had a young tearaway fast bowler of West Indian heritage. Sylvester Clarke terrorised the circuit for nine, bruising years between 1979 and 1988; Joey Benjamin, a one-cap wonder for England, lacked the menace of his namesakes, Winston and Kenny, and Chris Lewis – returning to the club aged 40 – was no more than nippy, even in his pomp. For all Alex Tudor’s riches of talent, the ability to stay injury-free utterly eluded him.Now, however, they have Chris Jordan, a 19-year-old from Barbados who possesses all the attributes a West Indian fast bowler should, and can qualify for England through his English grandmother who lives in Hertfordshire. A smooth and rhythmical run-up, with emphasis on into the crease, his whippy arm action is not dissimilar to Simon Jones’ in his early days, and nor is the speed generated. He is not yet consistently blistering, but some at The Oval believe he is already nudging 90mph.One man who can testify to his speed is Neil Killeen, who Jordan pinged on the elbow last week in Surrey’s drawn match against Durham. Jordan then cleaned up Killeen and Mark Davies with classical yorkers in an exhibition of how to polish off the tail, picking up 3 for 32 from 11.3 overs.It comes as a surprise, then, to learn that fast bowling is a relatively new concept for him. “Fast bowling came on when I was 16 or 17, about three years ago,” he said. “I started to get strong, taller and suddenly I could bowl fast. Before that, I was more-or-less a medium pacer and the keeper used to stand up to the stumps.”Jordan was born and raised in Barbados, educated at Combermere School – the same establishment who produced two of West Indies’ absolute finest, Sir Clyde Walcott and Sir Frank Worrell. “My coach at Combermere in Barbados mentioned there was a scholarship at Dulwich College and asked if I’d be interested and, of course, I said yes. I played in a game with Mr Athey [Dulwich coach and former England batsman Bill Athey] in a PRO AM tournament in Barbados which is conducted every November. I played more or less as a trialist, did quite well – didn’t take any wickets but I scored about 30. Two weeks later I was at Dulwich College.”What is a West Indian fast bowler of obvious natural riches doing in England? The question is obvious; the answer even more obvious though vaguely depressing. Clive Lloyd, who spends a lot of his life in Britain but whose heart will always lie in the Caribbean, is clear. “If we [West Indies] had a proper youth academy, it wouldn’t have happened,” he told Cricinfo. “I saw him play against Lancashire last season and was quite impressed. He looks a very good prospect and can bat, bowl and field. I did try to get his phone number, and I spoke with the Surrey coach, but I’ve not been in regular contact with him [Jordan].”The word at Surrey is Lloyd and other eminent West Indians are keen, if not desperate, to persuade Jordan back to his homeland. Surrey have tied him down for another two seasons, and though he seems to be revelling in the added responsibility of playing first-team cricket, he won’t be moved as to where his allegiances lie.”It’s not a matter of coming to a decision really,” he says, with a hint of weariness. “I’m certainly not thinking about it – yet, anyway. When the bridge comes for me to cross it, I will have to make the correct decision. I have to take things day by day.”Jordan’s heart clearly belongs to his birth country, but is that enough in these days of player-power, year-long contracts and fat salaries? The race is on between England and West Indies, and it’s obvious who has stolen the lead on Jordan.

Uncapped left-arm spinning allrounders Milinda Siriwardana and Sachith Pathirana have been called up to Sri Lanka’s squad for the five-match ODI series against Pakistan. Test spinners Rangana Herath and Tharindu Kaushal have been left out, as have seamers Nuwan Kulasekara and Dhammika Prasad.In addition to the new allrounders, Sachithra Senanayake and legspinner Seekkuge Prasanna serve as the squad’s frontline spin options. Nuwan Pradeep, who has played two ODIs, most recently in 2012, joins Lasith Malinga and Suranga Lakmal to form the quick bowling line-up. Seam bowling allrounder Thisara Perera has also been named.The batting contained few surprises. Kusal Perera is in the squad following his stellar performances against Pakistan A. Upul Tharanga, Lahiru Thirimanne, Dinesh Chandimal and Ashan Priyanjan have also been named while captain Angelo Mathews and opener TM Dilshan are almost certain to play. Opener Dimuth Karunaratne, who had been in Sri Lanka’s original World Cup squad, has been left out.Siriwardena, 29, had an outstanding domestic season this year, hitting 1144 runs at an average of 67.29 across 19 first-class innings. He has also been a dependable bowler in domestic cricket. Pathirana, 26, is more of a bowler, and has been chosen on the back of several solid domestic seasons. He has taken 86 List A wickets at 22.58.This series will be Sri Lanka’s first ODI foray since the World Cup. It is also their first series without Mahela Jayawardene and Kumar Sangakkara. Other players who featured in the World Cup campaign but have not been chosen include Jeevan Mendis and Dushmantha Chameera. The first match begins on July 11, in Dambulla.Squad: Angelo Mathews (capt), Tillakaratne Dilshan, Kusal Perera, Upul Tharanga, Lahiru Thirimanne, Dinesh Chandimal, Milinda Siriwardana, Ashan Priyanjan, Nuwan Pradeep, Thisara Perera, Suranga Lakmal, Lasith Malinga, Sachithra Senanayake, Seekuge Prasanna, Sachith Pathirana

Scorecard and ball-by-ball detailsFile photo: Mushfiqur Rahim remained unbeaten on 25, but was off strike in the final over•AFP

The voodoo of chasing continued to haunt Sylhet Super Stars, as they lost their third consecutive game in similar fashion, this time by six runs to Rangpur Riders, who had made only 109 batting first.Mushfiqur Rahim was there till the end, unbeaten on 25, but the big question was why he let Ajantha Mendis keep the strike when eight runs were needed off seven balls, meaning the No. 11 was on strike to face the last over.Abu Jayed was given plenty of advice by his captain Shakib Al Hasan and senior players before running in to bowl the crucial last over. The first ball was an in-ducker, which Mendis survived. At the next delivery, though, Mendis swung hard and was caught at long-on by Thisara Perera.Shakib, who contributed with both bat and ball, enjoyed the win by treating himself to a jig with Darren Sammy. But he was also involved in an ugly fracas with the umpire Tanvir Ahmed in the 13th over after a caught-behind appeal was turned down.Despite Mushfiqur’s inability to steer Sylhet home, the team’s top-order batsmen did not help their cause either. Sylhet lost wickets at regular intervals in the chase, starting with the openers Josh Cobb and Dilshan Munaweera gifting theirs to Shakib without much on the board.Mominul Haque and Mushfiqur tried to get them to some comfort, but Mominul was given out leg-before for 29, though replays showed there was an inside-edge on to the pad. Still, it was arguably Mominul’s best innings of the season, as he was severe on Arafat Sunny and Shakib to find six fours.Sylhet’s decision to send in Nazmul Islam and Nasum Ahmed did not work, as they fell for 0 and 7 respectively. Ravi Bopara, a full batsman, hardly did better, trapped lbw for 1.With 25 needed off 24 balls, Nazmul Hossain Milon was cleaned up by Shakib before Nurul Hasan was run out after a mix-up with Mushfiqur. The equation at this stage read 14 required off 13 balls. Mohammad Shahid, who had bowled so well to keep Rangpur to 109, edged a boundary, but was gone next ball to be the eighth wicket to fall.Earlier, Shahid gave a short account of his current form, picking up 4 for 12 including a maiden in the final over of the Rangpur innings. His two overs up front and two towards the end were more about taking wickets rather than restricting the opposition.Shakib tried hard to hold the Rangpur innings together, but there was a free-fall at the other end. He came to the crease in the third over when Soumya Sarkar’s lean period continued, edging Shahid for just 7. Lendl Simmons was run out attempting a quick single before Mohammad Mithun was stumped off left-arm spinner Nasum.As soon as Rangpur crossed the fifty mark, Jahurul Islam was also run out, and this time it was Shakib who sent him back when there was a sure single to midwicket, where Ravi Bopara took time gathering the ball. Perera tried to counterattack, hitting Ajantha Mendis for two sixes in the 13th over, but Bopara bowled a beauty to get rid of him in the next over.Sammy, on whom a lot of Rangpur’s plans rested, was out hit wicket as he went too far back to a Nazmul delivery. The next three wickets went to Shahid, who had Sachithra Senanayake, Shakib and Arafat Sunny all caught off skiers in the 18th and 20th overs.

Opener Evin Lewis struck 74 off 71 balls as Trinidad & Tobago defeated Jamaica by 84 runs at Queen’s Park Oval. Lewis propelled his side to a speedy start after electing to bat, before a middle-order collapse had the hosts fall to 119 for 6 before the halfway point of the innings.A lower-order revival was led by Rayad Emrit and Marlon Richards, who scored 43 and 31 respectively to get T&T past 200. Legspinner Damion Jacobs finished with 3 for 40 as Jamaica restricted T&T to 137 in 47.2 overs. Richards continued his solid match by ripping out the Jamaica middle order to claim 5 for 36 as the visitors were eventually bowled out for 137 in the 43rd over.Barbados held off a gritty ICC Americas upset bid to win by four wickets in St Augustine. The Americas squad were sent in and found themselves in trouble by the 30-over mark at 110 for 8 before Alex Amsterdam’s 73 off 87 balls propped up his side to a total of 183 in 43.1 overs.Amsterdam received support from tailender Hammad Shahid with the pair putting on 66-run stand for the ninth wicket before Sulieman Benn claimed both men to wrap up the innings. The left-arm spinner was named Man of the Match for his 4 for 40.Barbados were in trouble at 125 for 6 in 32 overs after legspinner Timil Patel burrowed into the middle order with a pair of wickets. However, a composed effort from Jonathan Carter – an unbeaten 55 off 84 balls – helped Barbados across the line. Carter and Justin Greaves put on an unbroken 59-run seventh-wicket partnership to see Barbados to victory with 7.1 overs to spare.In Group B, Windward Islands kicked off their campaign with a narrow one-run win by D/L Method over Guyana in St Kitts. Devon Smith starred for Windwards with 91 at the top of the innings after being sent in. Smith put on 84 runs with Sunil Ambris for the fourth wicket in what turned out to be a vital partnership in Windwards’ total of 214.Gudakesh Motie took 3 for 32 while fellow spinner Steven Jacobs took 3 for 40 opening the bowling for Guyana. Assad Fudadin scored an unbeaten 44 in Guyana’s D/L adjusted target of 123 in 26 overs. Guyana finished on 122 for 4 with Raymon Reifer alongside Fudadin on 18 not out falling just short of the par score when play ended.Leeward Islands split points with Combined Campuses & Colleges in a match with no result after rain ended play at Warner Park with just 38 overs of the first innings. Nkrumah Bonner led the way with 65 off 69 balls for Leewards after electing to bat while Ryan Hinds took two wickets in the field for CCC before play was halted at 187 for 5.

Scorecard and ball-by-ball details2:32

Bishop: Bravo has a great attitude

Darren Bravo’s hot bat put Barbados on ice as Trinidad & Tobago secured their second straight Nagico Super50 title with a 72-run win in front of a small but noisy crowd on Saturday night at Queen’s Park Oval. Bravo made 97 off 104 balls, his third straight fifty in the tournament, as Barbados had few answers for an aggressive T&T batting unit.Despite playing in only three matches, Bravo’s 274 runs at an average of 91.33 put him at No. 1 for both categories in the tournament. His value was immense both in the semi-final win over Guyana and in the final against Barbados, helping T&T avenge a loss to end group play.Evin Lewis and Kyle Hope got the hosts off to a confident start after being sent in, cruising through a wicketless power play before Lewis was caught behind off Carlos Brathwaite in the 12th over for 25 to end a half-century stand. It was the first of three such partnerships on the day as a deep T&T lineup offered little respite for the visitors.Bravo, who was named Man of the Match for his efforts arrived in the 17th over and didn’t depart until the 49th, given out caught behind chasing a wide delivery from Jason Holder. By that stage though he had put T&T in a commanding position.Bravo brought up his half-century off 69 balls in the 38th over having spent much of the innings blunting the left-arm spin tandem of Sulieman Benn and Jomel Warrican. Benn entered Saturday’s final tied for the tournament wickets lead with 14 in six games including two four-wicket hauls but could only snare one man on the day, Jason Mohammed for 31 after the T&T captain had added 75 with Bravo for the fourth wicket.With the score 177 for 4 to start the final 10 overs, Bravo and Denesh Ramdin stepped on the accelerator by taking on Holder and clattered him for four boundaries over his next two overs. Holder was forced to turn elsewhere for help and it took Brathwaite to end the 57-run stand with a slower ball to Ramdin. Holder returned in the 49th to claim Bravo three short of a ton but the damage had been done.The Barbados chase stuttered from the start – Dwayne Smith gone in the second over slashing Marlon Richards to Rayad Emrit on the boundary at third man – and they were four down by the end of the opening ten-over power play. Emrit took two of those wickets, including the prized scalp of Kraigg Brathwaite who chased a wide inswinging delivery only to chop onto his stumps.With the fall of Shane Dowrich in the 20th over, the visitors were reduced to 80 for 6. Shai Hope continued to battle in making 50 and put on a 59-run stand with Carlos Brathwaite. By the time Hope fell, the score was 149 for 9 in the 35th over. A 49-run 10th-wicket stand only served to make the margin of defeat look respectable but in reality Trinidad & Tobago brushed off Barbados in much the same fashion as they had Guyana in last year’s final.

Scorecard and ball-by-ball details4:58