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Colin Graves, Yorkshire’s chief executive, promised a major shake-up after a disappointing season – and the first round of changes were announced yesterday. Darren Lehmann will return as an overseas player next summer while Darren Gough will remain at the club. But Ryan Sidebottom and Gavin Hamilton, who both won one England cap, are leaving.Lehmann was a key figure in Yorkshire’s Championship win in 2001, and he led the side the following year when they were relegated to Division Two. No decision has yet been taken on whether he will be given the captaincy again, but Graves confirmed that his return was “sorted out, agreed and signed”.Gough has a year left on his contract and will be staying to fulfil that. Graves said: “I want people who will run through a wall for us. I had long discussions with Darren last week and I’ve got his commitment that that is what he wants to do.”Meanwhile Sidebottom, who played one Test for England against Pakistan in 2001, has asked to leave and has already started talks with other clubs. In a statement, he said it was a real wrench to be leaving, adding: “It is my aspiration to build on the success I have had with Yorkshire and to win back my place in the England Test team.”But while Sidebottom can look forward to a new challenge, the future isn’t so bright for Hamilton, another one-Test wonder. Hamilton, who had an attack of the bowling yips, has been struggling for form recently and has played only three Championship matches in the last two seasons. He was the star of Scotland’s World Cup campaign in 1999 – he scored more runs than any England batsman managed in the tournament – and toured South Africa with England that winter, winning his one and only Test cap at Johannesburg, where he bagged a pair and failed to take a wicket.

Close India A 216 for 4 (Ramesh 110, Chopra 66) trail New Zealand 375 for 7 dec (Richardson 128, Oram 101*, Munaf 3-83) by 159 runs
ScorecardSadagoppan Ramesh staked a strong claim for a national team recall with a fluentcentury as India A progressed to 216 for 4 at stumps on the second day against the New Zealanders at Rajkot. Stephen Fleming had earlier declared the NewZealander’s innings at 375 for 7, once Jacob Oram had completed a power-packed and entertaining hundred.Akash Chopra (66) gave Ramesh solid support, with a dogged display that combined long periods of calm with several glides and drives. The New Zealanders, after a lukewarm second session, were rewarded with four wickets in the last hour of play, when they stuck to a consistent plan.It was a day when the run-feast continued, with Oram bludgeoning the jaded India A bowlers, and Ramesh and Chopra – with contrasting styles – laying the foundation for an effective riposte.Oram made full use of a dried-up pitch and a disinterested bowling attack,muscling away the full-pitched balls, which were available aplenty. Oram reverse-swept Kartik twice and reached his hundred, at which point Fleming called them in.The second session was similarly uneventful, and Chopra’s vigil and Ramesh’sfinesse ensured that a rock-solid foundation was laid. Chopra was initially uncomfortable against every bowler, survived a huge lbw appeal against DarylTuffey and was foxed a couple of times by Daniel Vettori. He not only survived the test but also managed to get on top of each bowler as the day wore on.Ramesh showed flourish right through his innings, and a keen eye assisted inpendulum-smooth drives and punched square cuts. He left the short balls for Robbie Hart, flashed rarely at the wide ones, but always cashed in on the loose deliveries. At the fag end of the day, it was Tuffey’s excellent short one that finally undid him, cannoning high into the bat before lobbing up to Fleming.Connor Williams and Mohammad Kaif were both dismissed rather tamely, a result ofthe New Zealanders sticking to their task while the batsmen lost concentration at the end of the day. In the absence of Bond’s incisiveness and Cairns’ experience, the New Zealanders will have to rely hugely on their planning and consistency. Neither Vettori nor Paul Wiseman got any purchase from the pitch, and on this display they will hold few fears for the Indian batsmen. Tuffey, Oram and Styris stuck to a definite plan but its execution over two Tests will take a lot of doing.When Chopra and Ramesh were going strong, Fleming might have remembered the lastTest he played at Ahmedabad, when Ramesh, Sachin Tendulkar and Sourav Ganguly enjoyed a sumptuous feast of runs. He has tomorrow, and then four more days, to chalk out a masterplan that will avert a repeat of the same story at the Motera.Day 1 Bulletin

Close Pakistan 348 and 8 for 0 (Taufeeq 6*, Farhat 1*) need 294 runs ro beat South Africa 278 and 371 for 8 dec (Kirsten 118, Smith 65, Razzaq 3-70)
Scorecard

Pakistan survived a tense 20 minutes at the end of the day after South Africa declared 301 ahead, leaving 100 overs in the game. Gary Kirsten was the star of the day, making a pugnacious 118 – his 19th Test century – to play his team into a position of strength. Pakistan’s bowlers struggled all day to make any breakthroughs, and most of their wickets came in the second half of the day, when South Africa tried to up the momentum.The South African innings revolved around two partnerships that Kirsten put together – of 85 with Neil McKenzie and 90 with Jacques Kallis. The theme of the day was patience. Long spells by the slower bowlers came to nought as the batsmen played with great application, determined to claw one back in this series.McKenzie batted with impressive restraint in the morning, watching the ball carefully, playing late, and letting everything outside off pass by uninterrupted. The only moments of aggression he showed were when he swept Danish Kaneria. He had scored a patient six off 65 when he slog-swept Kaneria twice, to pick up a four and a six.

He then went back into his shell, where he should have remained. After a slog-sweep off Shoaib Malik for a four to midwicket, he went down on his knee to Kaneria to repeat the shot, but the premeditation failed. The ball turned away from him – as it had been doing for much of the morning – and hit the toe of the bat, looping up behind the wicket. Taufeeq Umar at slip, who had taken four catches in the first innings, took his first of the second (213 for 4). McKenzie had 35 off 120 balls. Was this where things would unravel?Not if Kirsten could help it. Batting with his customary ungainly efficiency, Kirsten frustrated Kaneria and Malik, who did the bulk of the bowling in the session, by refusing to be drawn into the slightest indiscretion. Most of the time he was shuffling slightly across or playing back, eyes on the ball till it was past him, or onto his bat. He nurdled more than he drove, and most of his runs came square of the wicket and behind. His resolve was impressive, and Kallis took a cue from him, blocking everything that came his way – except the ones he let sail harmlessly by.Kirsten stepped out a couple of times against the slower bowlers, but was otherwise content to play the role of an anchor – until he reached his century. With the South African lead past 200, and five-and-a-half sessions left in the match, there was a need to accelerate, and Kirsten celebrated his 19th Test century by stepping out and tonking Mushtaq Ahmed over long-on for six. But he was out shortly after, trying to cut Abdul Razzaq and edging to Taufeeq at slip. Taufeeq fumbled with the ball once before holding on to his sixth catch of the Test – a Pakistan record (303 for 5).Razzaq had bowled Mark Boucher in the first innings, and déjà vu struck. Boucher played across the line on the first ball he faced, missed and had his leg stump uprooted. Shaun Pollock kept out the hat-trick ball, and added 22 with Kallis, before Razzaq struck again. A low inswinger trapped Kallis plumb in front, and South Africa were 325 for 7. Kallis had made 43 invaluable runs, off 113 balls.Pollock then kept one end up, and Robin Peterson and Paul Adams, with some lusty hits, brought up the lead of 300. Graeme Smith declared, leaving Pakistan a sporting target – they would need to bat for a day and a bit at three an over. They played out the bit – but the day still remained, and it promised to be quite a contest.

Pakistan’s batsmen will be hoping that Inzamam-ul-Haq wins the toss at Hamilton’s Westpac Park for the first Test against New Zealand which starts tomorrow (2200 GMT on Thursday). Two recent matches will leave them nervous as they contemplate batting on what, at its best, can be the finest Test pitch in New Zealand.Last year, India’s total of 99 was sufficient to gain them a first-innings lead. Wet weather in the lead-up to the match prevented the groundstaff from completing their preparation of the pitch, which continued to provide alarming assistance to seam bowlers throughout the match. Pakistan have had problems at Hamilton too: in their last Test here, three seasons ago, they failed to cope with the extra bounce on the surface and were bundled out for 104 and 118. New Zealand declared at 407 for 4 to win by a whopping margin of an innings and 185 runs, their greatest margin of victory in Test cricket.However, the pace and bounce also makes it an excellent pitch if the weather remains dry: on the last occasion Australia played there, Steve Waugh rated it one of the finest tracks outside Australia. Fine weather over the last few days has given Karl Johnson, the new groundsman, the time he needs to ensure that a quality pitch is available. Both Johnson and Stephen Fleming believe that the pitch will provide the expected early life during the first session but should then settle down to ensure an even contest.New Zealand may have thrashed them the last time they played here, but the current Pakistan unit has a far more cohesive feel to it. This squad also has significant firepower that wasn’t available last time around – Shoaib Akhtar and Mohammad Sami missed that Hamilton Test with injuries. With both being available this time, New Zealand’s opening batsmen will await the result of the toss quite anxiously as well.In fact, Sami had wrecked New Zealand in the first Test of that series – also his debut match – taking 5 for 36 in the second innings as New Zealand lost nine wickets for 26 runs. Shoaib and Sami will be working in tandem should Inzamam bowl first, and it promises to be one of the better shows in town since Waqar Younis and Wasim Akram bowled their side to victory here in 1993.Speaking to the media before the match, Inzamam said that while Pakistan were confident after their easy win against New Zealand in the home series, they also realised that the team which Chris Cairns captained was without several top players. “I am hoping the momentum can continue but every match is a new one.”Fleming has said that it will come down to a battle between Pakistan’s fast bowlers and New Zealand’s comparatively slower medium-pace line-up. “We will have to be very disciplined. It is a battle of two very different bowling attacks.” He also added that the pitch appeared a lot dryer than it was before last year’s Test against India. Talking about his own fitness, Fleming said that he had recovered completely from the abdominal strain which had forced him to miss the tour of Pakistan.New Zealand (probable): 1 Mark Richardson, 2 Lou Vincent, 3 Stephen Fleming (capt), 4 Scott Styris, 5 Craig McMillan, 6 Chris Cairns, 7 Jacob Oram, 8 Robbie Hart (wk), 9 Daniel Vettori, 10 Daryl Tuffey, 11 Ian Butler.Pakistan (probable): 1 Taufeeq Umar, 2 Imran Farhat, 3 Yasir Hameed, 4 Inzamam-ul-Haq (capt), 5 Yousuf Youhana, 6 Younis Khan, 7 Moin Khan (wk), 8 Abdul Razzaq, 9 Danish Kaneria, 10 Shoaib Akhtar, 11 Mohammad Sami.

Australia A 327 for 6 (North 115, Clarke 93) beat Zimbabweans 208 (Flower 67, Ervine 51) by 119 runs at Adelaide
Scorecard

In an ominous premonition of what lies in store in the VB Series later this month, Zimbabwe were overwhelmed by 119 runs at Adelaide, as Marcus North’s century guided Australia A to an impregnable total of 327 for 6.To make matters worse for Zimbabwe, they lost the services of Stuart Carlisle, who sustained a hand injury while fielding and was unable to bat. With Craig Wishart already laid up with a knee injury, it was the last thing that an inexperienced squad needed.The toss was won by Michael Clarke, captaining Australia A for the day, although he is certain to feature in the senior squad, especially after lamping a whirlwind 93 from just 71 balls. His innings included 11 fours and a six, and put the icing on the cake after North, Brad Haddin and Shane Watson had carried Australia A to 177 for 2 by the 30th over.North’s innings hardly paled in comparison. He needed just 109 balls for his 115, and none of Zimbabwe’s bowlers escaped his wrath – none of them went for less than five an over.Mark Vermeulen and Vusi Sibanda launched an optimistic reply, but both fell in the space of two overs, whereupon Tatenda Taibu went for a duck. It was left to Grant Flower and Sean Ervine to patch the innings back together with a 122-run partnership for the fourth wicket, which ended with an untimely run-out. There was little resistance thereafter, especially with Carlisle on the sidelines, and Australia A wrapped up victory with six overs to spare.

Cricket NSW Chief Executive David Gilbert has announced the SpeedBlitz Blues team to play the Queensland Bulls in an ING Cup Match in Brisbane on Friday January 30th, 2004.

Steve Waugh (c)
Brad Haddin
Dominic Thornely
Simon Katich
Phil Jaques
Mark Waugh
Grant Lambert
Stuart Clark
Nathan Bracken
Matthew Nicholson
Stuart MacGill
Aaron O’Brien

Queensland 4 for 285 (Maher 116) v New South Wales
ScorecardJimmy Maher put Queensland in control against their arch-rivals New South Wales with a finely-crafted century on an uncharacteristically low, slow Gabba wicket. Mixing patience with slick strokemaking, Maher grafted his way to 116 to provide the backbone of Queensland’s first-day total of 4 for 285.New South Wales need maximum points from this match to keep their Pura Cup hopes alive, and the y toiled manfully, using eight bowlers in the energy-sapping conditions. But Steve Waugh let slip NSW’s best chance of taking control when he dropped Maher at midwicket on 39.Maher admitted he expected Waugh to snaffle the overhead chance. “Having said that I would have been pretty angry had he caught it because I couldn’t have hit it any harder,” he said after recording his 13th century for Queensland. It was a fine riposte to the Australian selectors, after he was overlooked as Michael Bevan’s replacement for the VB Series.But Maher denied that he was fuelled by his omission. “As far as I’m concerned today was just about playing well for Queensland,” he said. “You don’t have to answer questions from anyone, just those from yourself. I’m very happy, it was a tough day. The runs never came easy at any stage.”Stuart Clark, with 2 for 39 from 19 overs, was the pick of NSW’s attack, and it was he who ended Maher’s five-hour stay by inducing an edge behind from a widish leg-cutter. Maher received great support from Martin Love (68) and Stuart Law (67 not out) in two key partnerships.Two late wickets renewed NSW’s hopes, but Law, who belted eight fours and a six in 119 balls, remains a huge obstacle as he searches for his first Pura Cup century in three years. On 49, he became Queensland’s highest first-class run-scorer when he pulled Stuart MacGill to the square-leg boundary, passing Sam Trimble’s mark of 9465 runs.

New Zealand v South Africa – play abandoned due to rain
ScorecardThe storms that had been scheduled to hit North Island duly did, and the fifth one-day international between New Zealand and South Africa, at Auckland, was rescheduled for tomorrow.New Zealand lead the series 3-1, and South Africa desperately need to win this match if they are to have any chance of drawing level in the six-match series. The rescheduled match is to be a day game, not a day-nighter.

Chris Adams, Sussex’s Championship-winning captain, has signed a two-year extension to his contract, which will keep him with the county until the end of the 2006 season.”There has been a lot of speculation about Chris’s future over the last few months," admitted Peter Moores, Sussex’s director of cricket, "and the agreement of the new contract couldn’t have come at a better time as a boost to all at the club.”Chris’ role as both captain and player have been crucial in Sussex’s recent successes and this new contract ensures continuity for the foreseeable future," added Moores. "The key now is for us to focus on the cricket and get ready for what promises to be another exciting journey.”

Alec Stewart, who represented England for over a decade before retiring at the age of 40 last year, has said that the proposed tour of Zimbabwe in October is both unsafe and morally wrong. England are expected to honour their commitment and tour Zimbabwe, unless security fears or a an unlikely veto from the British government force them to do otherwise. The International Cricket Council had warned them of serious repercussions and a massive fine if they failed to meet their obligations.Speaking at a fundraiser, Stewart said: “What’s happening in Zimbabwe isn’t right. Morally, and for safety and security issues, it’s probably not right to go. In fact, it isn’t right to go.” Stewart was part of the World Cup squad that refused to play in Zimbabwe last year, citing security concerns.”The ECB have been backed into a corner,” said Stewart. “The ICC have put the ECB under huge pressure with financial penalties on the tour … that’s harsh.”Stuart MacGill has already pulled out of Australia’s tour of Zimbabwe later this month, but few other Australian players seem likely to follow his example.