All posts by csb10.top

Jai P Yadav has made a strong case for his inclusion in the India one-day eleven with his fine all-round showing in the Irani Trophy. After compiling 104 on the second and third days, the 26-year-old decided to make an impression with the ball on the fourth day. Bowling his medium-pace trundlers, he devastated the Rest of India batting, claiming six wickets and paving the way for their being dismissed for 292 in the second essay. This left Railways needing just 243 on the final day for sealing an outright win.The stunning Rest of India collapse came after a 123-run opening stand between Wasim Jaffer and Akash Chopra. Chopra was the first to fall after his second fifty of the match, a 59 off 116 balls. Rest of India skipper Yuvraj Singh, who followed, helped Jaffer add 47 for the second wicket before he too was forced to make his way back to the pavilion after scoring 26.Yadav, who claimed Yuvraj’s wicket, went to add another five more scalps, as the Rest were reduced to 235-7. At the same score, Jaffer, who had stood firm till then to make 116 off 321 balls, too departed, falling to medium-pacer Harvinder Singh. Irfan Pathan (29), Timil Patel (11) and Tinu Yohannan (16), then, cobbled together 57 runs for the last two wickets, as Rest got to within eight runs of 300.But with 90 overs of play remaining on the last day, it is the Railways who hold the whiphand in this contest. If they play to potential, they should run out winners and have the joy of adding the Irani Trophy to the Ranji Trophy they have already won.

There’s a familiar pattern developing at the top of the ECB Southern Electric Premier League, with Havant and BAT Sports contesting pole position.The two past Division 1 champions both won again – Havant recovering from early setbacks to beat Burridge by six wickets and BAT Sports skittling early season pacesetters Andover for 90 before claiming an 11th successive all-day win.Moeen Cheema (2-68) had Havant rocking at 39-3, in reply to an all-out Burridge total of 190, before Paul Gover (71 not out) and Andy Perry (69) turned the tide with a match-winning century partnership.Burridge, struggling themselves at 89-6 (Cheema 35), owed much to Jo Dixon (40) and Matt Godwin (37) for their eventual 190 all out.Andover‘s golden start has begun to lose some of its early season gilt – Richard Dibden (5-21) and Dan Goldstraw (4-38) skittling a weakened town side for a disappointing 90 at London Road.Only Roger Miller (27) and in-form Lee Wateridge (21) made reasonable contributions as Australian wicket keeper Michael Watson snapped up the first three victims.Andover lurched from 64-3 to 90 all out, but then had BAT on the hop, with three wickets falling for just five runs after the defending champions had moved to 31 without loss.Dependable Damien Shirazi kept his cool, hitting a decisive 47 as BAT got home, somewhat unconvincing five-wicket winners.James Hibberd hit an undefeated 87 as Calmore‘s match against Portsmouth at Loperwood Park petered out into a tame draw.But the ever improving Wiltshire all-rounder lacked any real support as Calmore closed on 177-8, well adrift of Portsmouth’s 226-9 off the full 66 overs.Portsmouth batted themselves into a strong position, with top order quartet Warren Swan (43), Geoff Pike (37), Lee Savident (32) and Matt Keech (30) all making their mark.Promising teenager Matt Metcalfe (4-46) and Allan Hurst (3-31) created inroads as Portsmouth slipped from 163-3 to 196-8 (Matt Scott 24), but a timely 24 by tailender Pete Hayward wrested the initiative from Calmore.Any prospect of a Calmore success effectively disappeared at 38-3, leaving Hibberd with the task of holding the innings together – one he performed admirably.Shaun Lilley’s undefeated 47, coupled with four-wicket hauls by Kevin Nash and John Whiting, ended Bashley-Rydal‘s three-match losing sequence and set up a much needed victory over South Wilts at Lower Bemerton.They reduced South Wilts to 33-5 in the morning session, but lost six wickets chasing South Wilts’ eventual 165 all out before match winner Lilley steadied the visitors’ nerves.John Whiting (4-71) struck the first two blows, removing Paul Draper and top Premier run scorer Russell Rowe before Kevin Nash (4-34) nailed Tom Caines and Jamie Glasson in quick succession to leave South Wilts floundering at 22-4.When Nash had Jo Cranch caught behind at 33-5, it looked as though the Salisbury club might collapse completely.But Jon Nash (no relation) led a courageous fightback as South Wilts rallied from an equally desperate 67-7 to reach 151 before Whiting returned to dismiss South African Shaun Adam (31).The pair added 84, with Nash going on to hit a season’s best 79 before South Wilts, after a late flurry by Chris Steedon, were finally dismissed for 165.Bashley’s recent lean form with the bat suggested the victory chase would be anything but straightforward – and so it proved.Former Salisbury Wanderers medium-paceman Adam Smith (3-66), extracting considerable movement off the surface, had Bashley wobbling at 56-3 (Luke Ronchi (33) and tottering again at 101-5 after Chris Sketchley had been needlessly run out.Lilley, arguably the guilty party in the run out, spared his own blushes with an unbeaten 47 which, supported by Dale Middleton and skipper Taylor, eased the nerves and guided Bashley to a four-wicket win."I had visions of another batting collapse," Taylor admitted. "But it was pay-back time for Shaun. He ran Sketch out, but went on, got his head down and won us the game."Bournemouth came within four runs of losing to bottom club Liphook & Ripsley at Ripsley Park.They totalled 218-4 off 64 overs, with Liphook closing at 215-8 after facing two overs less.Matt Swarbrick (52) and Tom Webley (35) provided Bournemouth with a 71-run start, which Dan Jackson (53 not out), Julian Cassell (26) and Alex Allum (32 not out) subsequently improved.But Liphook, with only one previous win, battled to the end, with South African youngster Alistair Gray (57) piloting his side to within a boundary of the Bournemouth total.Left-arm seamer Mark Mixer (3-34) and Kristian Wilson (2-31) bowled well for the visitors, with Tom Webley sending down an economical spell of left-arm spin.

There is a busy time ahead in the Norwich Union League, with matches coming up on Saturday, Sunday, Monday, Tuesday and Wednesday when the lights will be burning brightly.The feature match is on Sunday when leaders Worcestershire Royals take on second-placed Glamorgan Dragons at New Road. The Royals have an eight-point lead, but the Dragons have two games in hand, so the Welsh will be arriving breathing fire and hoping to narrow the gap.The Dragons will be in action on Saturday, at home to Somerset Sabres. With games in hand, the Sabres will be hoping to cut back on the deficit that leaves them struggling in the relegation zone. Also on Saturday in Division One, Durham Dynamos, who have been charging up the table, meet Kent Spitfires while Yorkshire Phoenix must be looking to rise to the occasion against Nottinghamshire Outlaws. It is a pity this game could not have been scheduled for Scarborough – so close to Robin Hood’s Bay.In Division Two on Saturday, leaders Gloucestershire Gladiators entertain Lancashire Lightning at Bristol, with the visitors trying to strike a blow for the chasing pack. Surrey Lions head that group in second place and they go into the second half of their term against third-placed Northamptonshire Steelbacks at Whitgift School. Derbyshire Scorpions and Hampshire Hawks both have 14 points from eight matches and they meet at Derby.Apart from the match of the day at Worcester on Sunday, the fur could fly at Edgbaston where third-placed Warwickshire Bears play Leicestershire Foxes, who are fourth. In Division Two, the Hampshire Hawks fly straight from their encounter at Derby on Saturday to meet Northamptonshire Steelbacks in Northampton on Sunday. Meanwhile, Middlesex Crusaders will be defending their own castle at Lord’s with Essex Eagles the visitors.Monday sees two floodlit matches with, appropriately, Durham Dynamos the visitors at Headingley against Yorkshire Phoenix and Gloucestershire Gladiators on a sortie to Hove to meet Sussex Sharks.The lights will be on at Old Trafford on Tuesday when Lancashire Lightning play Hampshire Hawks, while Surrey Lions will learn more about their promotion prospects against Middlesex Crusaders in their second match at Whitgift School.Surrey Lions move south to Hove on Wednesday with teeth bared to meet Sussex Sharks while interest will be focused on top and bottom of Division One as Worcestershire Royals play Nottinghamshire Outlaws in another floodlit match that should draw a big crowd.

Leading South African cricket officials paid tribute on Saturday to Minister of Safety and Security and former Minister of Sport, Steve Tshwete, who died at the weekend.As the then shadow Minister of Sport, Tshwete played a leading role in bringing the old South African Cricket Union and the South African Cricket Board together to form the United Cricket Board in 1991. He was also instrumental in South Africa’s readmission to international cricket and the country’s participation in the 1992 World Cup.”When Steve held the ANC’s sport portfolio, he was instrumental in unifyingSouth African cricket,” said UCB chief executive Gerald Majola. “We all owe Stevea great debt for the fundamental role he played in bringing all SouthAfrican cricketers together under one roof. In the process he made manylife-long friends in the cricketing fraternity, friendships he maintained asMinister of Sport and Recreation and later as Minister of Safety andSecurity.”Ali Bacher, the first managing director of the UCB and currently Executive director of the 2003 World Cup, said: "Hewas loved by all. Hhe was loved and respected by everyone whowas committed to the normalisation of South African sport.”Bacher worked closely with Tshwete during the unification of South African cricket and said: “I was immediately struck by the confidence Steve exuded for the task facingus all. He became known as ‘Mr Fixit’ by virtue of the central facilitatingrole he played in the unification of South African cricket in 1991. With himas the confident and compassionate facilitator it took just three shortmeetings in the wake of the ill-fated Gatting tour to achieve unification.”UCB president Percy Sonn said: UCBSA President Percy Sonn added: “A great friend of South African crickethas passed away. We all respected Steve and we loved him. Steve was apersonal friend of many members of the General Council and of the cricketingfraternity. He will be sorely missed.”

President of the Eastern Province Cricket Board, Mr Ronnie Pillay, today announced that he was resigning his position and cutting all ties with the game at a senior level. He has also resigned all his United Cricket Board commitments where he served on the Board.”I regret to announce that present circumstances does not allow for me to fulfill my duties as President of the Eastern Province Cricket Board (EPCB). In the light of these circumstances I have to resign from the EPCB. When and if these circumstances change satisfactorily I will seriously consider deployment in any position or in any way that I can contribute to this game to which I am so closely attached. It is a personal decision that was taken after thorough consideration.I have informed all board members, including the vice-president of the EPCB, Mr. Max Ntshona, of my decision as well as the President of the United Cricket Board of South Africa, Mr. Percy Sonn.I have also resigned from all UCB commitments where I served as an ordinary board member”.

SYDNEY – Australian cricket vice-captain Adam Gilchrist expects “one hell ofa fight” for the Ashes after England’s emphatic Test victory over Pakistanat Lord’s.England took 16 wickets on the fourth day – the first was washed out by rain- to humble the Pakistanis for 203 and 179 and win by an innings and nineruns.Gilchrist went to bed last night knowing Pakistan had been forced to followon but he expected the first match on the world Test championship rotationto last another day.He was wrong, with England seamers Darren Gough and man-of-the-match AndyCaddick taking eight wickets apiece to spark a pitch invasion from adelighted Lord’s crowd.”We were getting the feeling over here, even before this, that Englandreally had the wheels in motion and were going to give us one hell of afight,” Gilchrist said when told the result.”Beating a good side like Pakistan in three days is, well, a fantasticeffort whichever way you look at it, and it will give them a lot ofconfidence for the rest of the summer.”It should be a very good, hard competitive series and we’re looking forwardto it.”Victory over two Tests against Pakistan would be England’s fifth series winin a row while Australia, triumphant in the last seven Ashes battles, iscooling its heels after losing 2-1 in the Indian epic.Gough, who took three wickets in four balls either side of lunch, took hisTest tally to 205 and jumped past John Snow (202) into seventh on theall-time English bowling list.Man-of-the-match Caddick moved the ball through the air and off the trackfrom the outset.The result of the battle between Gough and Caddick and Australian pace trioGlenn McGrath, Jason Gillespie and Brett Lee will go a long way to decidingthe outcome of the Ashes.”Vital,” said Gilchrist.”It’s going to be a matter of who can keep their bowlers fit over what is avery long tour, and then get them peaking at the right times,” Gilchristsaid.”Caddick and Gough can obviously make the most of the conditions over there,but so can our blokes.”Meanwhile, International Cricket Council headquarters at Lord’s will be busythis week.A three-day meeting starting Wednesday will determine whether technologyshould be increased, decreased or maintained, with Asian nations wantingvideo umpires to start ruling on bat-pad catches.The use of lights in Tests – currently dependant on mutual agreement – willbe discussed, as will the possible introduction of a panel of eight eliteumpires to control the game worldwide.Such a panel would most likely consist of Australian Darrell Hair, WestIndians Eddie Nicholls and Steve Bucknor, New Zealander Doug Cowie, SriLankan Asoka de Silva, Indian Srinivasan Venkataraghavan and EnglishmenPeter Willey and David Shepherd.The interim report of the ICC’s anti-corruption unit, headed by formerLondon police chief Sir Paul Condon, will be released on the Internet onWednesday, Australian time.

Zimbabwe’s Captain Cool, the unassuming Stuart Carlisle, comes across as being an open and candid individual who learns with every match that he plays and knows that cricket is the teacher in his life.Captaincy came upon him all of a sudden, as he was asked to lead the side when Brian Murphy was headed homewards. At a time when the question of captaincy was more like a joke – "So who is the captain this time around?" – Stuart Carlisle made a bold decision and took the reins of his team in his hands. Self-set goals had to be readjusted, and new avenues opened. But the journey had to continue, and the man has walked well.In a free-wheeling conversation he reveals his thoughts on the team, on the future, on captaincy and a lot more. So get that cup of coffee, sit back and let this captain take you through the thoughts in his mind.Trishna Bose: Stuart. thanks for your time. First tell me about the Indian experience. How has it been for you?Stuart Carlisle: It has been very good. There are lots of pros and cons but obviously when you lose a Test series 2-0 it is not so nice. I thought that in the Second Test the guys fought very well and I also thought that we should have won that Tes. There is no doubt in my mind that we should have won it. There were a couple of instances that went against us that I would rather not talk about. It is a bit sad that we tried so hard and the fact is that we could not finish it off, but it was a good Test.In the First Test we definitely lacked runs in the first innings, and in Test cricket you can always say that you were 30 to 40 runs short, or your tail should have added on, or the top order should have got a certain amount of run. There are lots of excuses, but at the end of the day this has been a good experience and a couple of young guys have done well.TB: This is your third series as captain. How has captaincy suited you?SC: I think that it was a big decision and I took a while to decide on [accepting] the captaincy . Eventually in Bangladesh when Brian Murphy got sent home I decided to take it on and I was not sure if I was going to be on; in fact I am still not sure if I am going to be on permanently. So I have decided to go tour by tour and do my best that I can. I have enjoyed the challenge and the team meetings and being part of the management team and in a sense preparing strategies. You learn a lot even by just talking to media and dealing with the press. You mature a lot over the years.TB: Captaining in the tests and in the one-dayers must be two totally different challenges?SC: Test cricket is slightly easier than one-dayers. It is slower and therefore you can readjust ever so often. But one-day cricket is a lot more tense and you have to make quick decisions and there is a lot more pressure. Trying to open the batting in Tests and captaining the side I find rather tough and immensely draining, but I have to get on and lead from the front because it can work for you and against you. All in all it is a big challenge.But I would not say that captaincy is easy at all. It is pretty difficult and there is a lot of stress because you have to deal with individual players. There are always different characters. You have guys that are behind you sometimes and others who have problems, and you have to deal with them. You are always involved and never seem to rest. There are pros and cons all the time – right?!TB: With ex-captains in the side and senior players too, one notices that you consulted Andy Flower and Heath Streak on more that one occasion.SC: I think you should communicate with the seniors all the time and especially with the bowlers. I don’t think you should be stubborn as a captain and I don’t think you should make all the decisions. You have to work with the team and that would help. In captaincy there are two or three theories – but you have to decide to go with one theory; that is why you are captain of the side. It is a learning curve for me at the moment and I have already learnt so much on the field settings and just from thoughts from the other guys.TB: One department that the Zimbabweans scored over the Indians was that of fielding. In the other department there is room for improvement; would you agree?SC: The fielding was much approved, definitely. We are getting the energy levels up and the urgency on the field too. The boys are encouraging each other on the field, and they are getting more and more confident. We fielded really well this series so I am happy with that.At Test level what we need to work on is our top six batsmen. They need to get one or two hundreds going and we have to get big scores. We have to be more ruthless and more positive. What happens sometimes is that we get negative and tire ourselves down a bit, so we have to learn to keep the ball rolling and keep the pace throughout the entire innings. The tail has been relatively good, so no complaints there.In the bowling, Travis Friend in particular did not bowl to his potential, as he has bowled a lot better before. Brighton Watambwa is a good prospect for the future; this was his first tour to India and I think he learnt very quickly how to bowl on these pitches. It is tough for a seamer to get the right length on these pitches. But Heath Streak I think did a fantastic job again; he has really carried this team for a long time now. It is good that Friend and Brighton have learnt to bowl on these pitches, and they should be able to take more responsibility and bowl a few more overs, and take the pressure of Heath a bit. Consistency then is the answer in both the bowling and the batting.TB: Colour suddenly seems to be a big issue in Zimbabwean cricket. The goal is to get more coloured cricketers involved. How do you view this?SC: The future, we are all aware, relies on the young black kids coming through. We have known that for a long time and we have had development programmes. In the last eight to ten years we have had at least ten international black players. But what the public don’t understand is that in Test cricket and one-day cricket – but Test cricket specifically – it takes a long time to get to the top. It has taken Andy Flower 14 years to get to number one in the world. It is probably unlike other sports where it takes three to four years to get to the top.This is a sport where you never stop learning or growing. I know that is true for most sports, but cricket in particular is very technical and experience is a massive thing in cricket. I won’t say anything further, as I am not supposed to say more. But there is not one senior guy in the side who has not tried to help any young player, whether white, Indian or black, and colour has never been a big issue in our teams in the past. But now I feel it is certainly being used as a weapon by certain individuals. But I rather not comment any more on this. Has this affected relations within the team at all? How united in the Zimbabwean team?SC: We all get along very well, but we go through transitional phases and our team is changing very rapidly, too quickly. One understands the need for change, but they have to be careful what they do, because they could scare away a lot of players and Zimbabwe cannot afford that. It is as simple as that. The camaraderie in the team in the past couple of years has been tremendous. All players get along regardless of colour, creed or whatever; this has never been a problem. With World Cup 2003 less than a year away, has Zimbabwe started rebuilding the team towards that goal?SC: The biggest thing for us before the World Cup is for our country to get sorted out, so that all our families back home are more relaxed, and we will not be required to talk about politics. The other thing is that I would like to see a lot more of the experienced players involved in the one-day set-up because the World Cup will be a very massive occasion and it is very demanding and pressurizing event. I think we lack a bit in experience at the moment but it would be fantastic to see some of the younger players come through. So I would like to see more experienced players in the World Cup squad and with Geoff Marsh our coach working on them. We need more all-rounders, for that is the way one-day cricket is going. It is vital that we have a combination of these factors and I am certain we can make it to the top six again in World Cup 2003. Finally Stuart, how much have you changed as a person with all the experiences that you have had over the past few months?SC: I am very fortunate, I have a degree in marketing and I went to university for four or five years, and I think that broadened my mind totally as marketing is what makes the world go around. So that has helped with my job, dealing with press and media. Just being able to talk naturally, for talking can be a nerve-racking experience for most individuals (smiles). All this talking and interviewing, etc., is making me become a better person who can talk more freely.Captaincy certainly matures you and before I became captain one of my goals was to better my batting averages, both in Tests and one-dayers and get them into the mid-thirties. I did not know that I would get captaincy so soon; I thought it would eventually happen, but it all happened so suddenly, and then I decided to do the best I can as a captain. I have reset my goals and now they are even higher. I just have to see that I do not crack under pressure and that I move in the right direction.Stuart Carlisle is moving all right, and for the moment he is heading in the right direction. With an uncertain future and fledgling dreams, being positive is the next best thing.

The Tasmanian Cricket Association turned back the clock today by taking state cricket to a regional centre. And its team responded in kind by producing a stunning reversal to take charge of the Mercantile Mutual Cup clash against South Australia here at the Devonport Oval. A victory to tighten the battle that seems to be on in earnest between Western Australia, South Australia and Tasmania for the two Final spots on offer in this season’s competition, it came when an even bowling and fielding performance allowed the Tigers to successfully defend the moderate-looking tally of 9/194.Only the third biggest city in the state, Devonport has not tasted elite-level cricket for three years. But it belied the long break in the association to produce sunny skies, a healthy crowd of 2303 (near to one-tenth of its population), and an always-engrossing game of cricket.In the form of excitement, a stunning turnaround, and a result that went the crowd’s way, this match could have been said to have had it all. What it did not possess, though, was large contributions with the bat.At its position on the tip of the island’s north-west coast – it is, in fact, bordered at its northern extremity by the entrance to Bass Strait – this ground has a reputation for being dominated by a late afternoon breeze which rips in from those waters and across the narrow stretch of roadway in between. Today, the winds themselves were comparatively light. The only gale force change that occurred was instead conjured by a Tasmanian side that looked out of the match by as early as halfway.In hindsight, the Tasmanians had done well to reach their scoreline. But they appeared to make their way there in only laboured style. Daniel Marsh (33) and Jamie Cox (30) made typically effective, albeit slower than normal, contributions through the middle stages and youngsters Sean Clingeleffer (21*) and Scott Kremerskothen (20) performed an excellent job with some controlled hitting near the end. Otherwise, though, even the mere task of issuing scoring shots forward of the wicket proved illusory.After captain Greg Blewett had won the toss, the South Australian attack held sway for virtually the entirety of the morning session. Pacemen Paul Wilson (1/29 from ten overs) and Brett Swain (1/33 off ten) set the tone with magnificent opening spells during which they removed Michael DiVenuto (15) and Todd Pinnington (4) and then applied the clamps to an already flagging run rate. In spending nearly twenty overs to add fifty-nine runs together in the biggest partnership of the day, the rate of progress of Tasmania’s two most experienced players, Cox and Shaun Young (22), was revealing in itself about how difficult matters were proving.Leg spinner Peter McIntyre (2/28 from ten probing overs of his own) later followed up on his teammates’ work to continue to make life frustratingly difficult for the Tasmanians. It wasn’t until the forty-fifth over of the innings – when Kremerskothen and Clingeleffer combined to plunder an invaluable twenty-one runs from the medium pace of Mick Miller (2/62 off ten overs) – that a tone of belligerence was finally connoted to the strokeplay.By the end of eleven overs, South Australia had reached 1/40 in response and only one outcome appeared likely. But the innings fell away dramatically after the departure of Blewett (32), the one player who had made the task of piercing the field look a doddle. In accumulating three fours, Blewett produced precisely one fifth of the total number of strokes for the day that sufficiently defied the capricious pitch and the extremely slow outfield to reach the boundary.After five wickets were surrendered for the addition of only another fifty-one runs, Shane Deitz (44) and Graham Manou (19) generated a rally to re-ignite the Redbacks’ cause late in the piece. But, by then, the seagulls and plovers that had begun to take up their positions for the evening on the edge of the cycle track that skirts the ground were never in danger of being forced to scatter.Not that Tasmania was complaining. The combination of accurate bowling and wonderful fielding, aligned against the South Australian middle order’s deficiencies, proved way too much for the visitors. In the end, the Redbacks were fortunate not to concede a bonus point to the Tasmanians, a scenario from which they squeaked away by only six runs.The result was all the more amazing given that the Tasmanians had surrendered two of their three specialist bowlers to injury before the match. Both Brett Geeves and David Saker succumbed – to groin and calf muscles respectively – and were forced to make late withdrawals.Reflecting the grievous nature of the situation, the Tasmanian selectors were forced to rush local youngster, Kade Munday – who is a specialist batsman – into the side as one of the two late inclusions. Munday had merely been driving to the game, intending to serve out the day as a spectator, when called up. He only contributed one run with the bat, did not bowl, and had little to do in the field as it turned out. But, like many others, he drove away from here with numerous pleasant memories of a morning and afternoon well spent.

The Sri Lankan selectors have picked a 27-man squad for the forthcomingPakistan A tour of Sri Lanka, which was to commence on the 9th May, but hasnow been delayed until the end of May.The squad includes a number of players, who have played for the senior side,including Dilhara Fernando, Akalaka Ganegama, Thilan Samaraweera, AvishkaGunawardene, Tillakaratne Dilshan, Chamara Silva, Lanka de Silva, PrasannaJayawardene, Indika Gallage, Rangana Herath, Malinga Bandara and SureshPerera, who has finally recovered from injury and is being keenly watched bythe Sri Lankan management as they look for an all rounder for the 2003 WorldCup.There is, however, no space in the squad for left arm spinner DinukHettiarachchi, who impressed in the final Test Match against England, andNiroshan Banadaratillake, who looked to have bowled his way back intointernational contention just a few weeks ago. Their places have been takenby Sajeewa Weerakoon, a left arm spinner who has taken 66 first-classwickets for BRC this season, and Sajeeka Abeynayake, who plays forBloomfield. Malintha Warnapura, an off spinning all rounder, who played forSri Lanka in the Commonwealth Games comes back into contention.The pace bowling looks strong with the likes of Dilhara Fernando, AkalankaGanegama, Indika Gallage, Suresh Perera, being joined with Dinusha Fernandoand Sujeewa de Silva.The batting includes a number of exciting uncapped young players: SukithPeiris, who impressed on the recent Under 19 tour of Australia, the freeflowing Jevantha Kalatunga, Michael Vandort, Jehan Mubarak, MuthumudaligePushpakumara, who impressed against England, and Ian Daniel.The squad is currently training under the guidance of A-team coach, HemanthaDevapriya, and Under 19 coach, Owen Mattau.Full Squad:Avishka Gunawardene, Jehan Mubarak, Sukith Peiris, Chamara Silva, Lanka deSilva, Malintha Warnapura, Thilan Samaraweera, Rangana Herath, KaushalyaLoukuarachchi, Sujeewa de Silva, Indika Gallage, Gayan Wijekoon, DinushaFernando, Michael Van Dort, Shantha Kalavitgoda, Ian Daniel, TillakaratneDilshan, Upeka Fernando, Jevantha Kulatunga, Muthumudalige Pushpakumara,Suresh Perera, Sajeewa Weerakoon, Malinga Bandara, Akalanka Ganegama,Dilhara Fernando, Prasanna Jayawardene, Sajeka Abeynayake.

New Zealand batsman Dean Brownlie will travel to India in October, to work on his batting in spinner-friendly conditions. Brownlie, who was dropped from the New Zealand squad after a poor tour of the Caribbean, said he had been looking to take up such a training stint for ‘a couple of years’.”I’ve wanted this for quite a while,” Brownlie told . “I’ve been pushing for this for a couple of years, because I didn’t want to waste a tour – I suppose, like I did [against West Indies] – working out my best way to play in those conditions. But the cricket has been so full on and so busy, so it’s been hard to get the time to do it.”Brownlie will train at a Mumbai academy for five days, before heading to Pune to play in a few local matches. He will leave for India soon after the completion of New Zealand A’s home series against India A, which runs from September 18 to October 6.In the Caribbean, Brownlie had been dismissed on five occasions out of nine (including the tour game against WICB President’s XI) by the spinners, and got into double digits only twice on the tour, with a highest of 35.More than the technical aspects of his game, though, it is the mental side of it that needed some working on, Brownlie said. “It’s not so much about making big changes,” he said. “I need to learn to trust my game a little bit more. I realise it shouldn’t have taken six weeks on tour [in the West Indies] to realise what I was doing wrong, but it did.”I think I can play spin well, but I do need to work on how I play it in those [slow, low] conditions.”