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A ninth-wicket partnership of 77 in 17 overs between Robert Croft and Dean Cosker lifted Glamorgan from a gloomy 170-8 and helped them secure two batting points on the rain-interrupted opening day of the CricInfo Championship match against Surrey in Cardiff.Glamorgan were eventually dismissed for 258 in 74.4 overs but the rain that had already cost 23 overs of the day then returned to wash out the final four overs of play and save Surrey from what could have been a testing few minutes.In theory at least, Surrey began the day needing a further four points to ensure against joining Glamorgan in the second division next season and they set off strongly after Steve James had won the toss and chosen to bat first under heavy skies.Ben Hollioake, who shared the new ball with Martin Bicknell, sent back Jimmy Maher and Ian Thomas in successive overs and Bicknell then accounted for James and Adrian Dale to reduce Glamorgan to 62-4 in the 21st over.Michael Powell and Jonathan Hughes began the recovery with a partnership of 81 for the fifth wicket. Hughes, a 20-year-old right-hand bastman, played plenty of aggressive shots, including a straight six off Ian Salisbury, and showed few nerves on his Championship debut.Powell reached his half-century off 91 balls with five fours and had moved on to 56 when he edged Ed Giddins to first slip. Giddins, who did not bowl until the second over after lunch, then sent back Hughes for a well struck 38 off 66 balls, Mark Wallace and Darren Thomas to finish with 4-71 from 16 overs.It left Croft and Cosker to lift Glamorgan’s spirits with their encouraging late partnership and Croft was eventually unbeaten on 70 from 83 balls with eight fours and a six.

Kumar Sangakkara has said being relieved of the gloves in Tests was the “best thing” that happened to his career.”I didn’t like it when they stopped me keeping,” Sangakkara said. “But the selection committee spoke to me and said: ‘What we’re trying to do is improve your batting and to get you scoring more runs for the team. We are asking you to do this. It will be better for the team and better for you.’ At the time, I thought: ‘That’s not true. I can do both.’ But when I look back on it now, that was the best thing to happen to me. It’s great that they took that decision for me, without letting me take it. That has hugely influenced the runs that I scored, and the centuries I made.”Sangakkara had begun his Test career behind the stumps, as Romesh Kaluwitharana’s replacement. Even though he had some success with the bat in the early years, averaging 46.90 in mid-2006, the Ashantha de Mel-led selection committee believed he would be more valuable to the side as a specialist batsman. Sangakkara had by then become Sri Lanka’s regular No. 3 batsman, raising concerns that he would be too fatigued to excel at both roles.A nine-year boom in his batting output has followed the decision to play him as a batsman only. In 84 Tests as a specialist batsman, Sangakkara has hit 9188 runs at an average of 68.05. That average is only second to Don Bradman’s for non-wicketkeepers who have scored more than 1000 Test runs.Sangakkara admitted he regrets not having won a World Cup after playing in two finals, but took particular pleasure from Sri Lanka’s performances in major tournaments. Sri Lanka’s inability to win Tests in Australia and India had also grated, but the team has generally fared better in England. They drew 1-1 in 2006, then defeated England 1-0 last year.”I remember going to England with the team last year, and beating England 1-0 in that series was the best overseas tour I have been on,” he said. “In that 2006 series when we drew, we also won the one-dayers 5-0.”All the wins we have had, especially away from home, have been special. Beating Australia for the first time in a one-day series in 2010, the World T20 which we won it – all of these have been really standout moments for me. But also, once Sanath Jayasuriya, Marvan Atapattu, Chaminda Vaas, Aravinda de Silva all of these guys left, I’m happy to have been part of a set-up that produced cricketers like Angelo Mathews, Lasith Malinga, Upul Tharanga – and the one guy who has been outstanding and who is never spoken about – Rangana Herath.”Though his batting is often called attractive, Sangakkara said he does not consider himself a stylist. “I used to have these arguments with Thilan Samaraweera in the dressing room about who had had the best looking forward defensive shot in the Sri Lankan side. He always told me that I had the ugliest forward defensive shot he had ever seen in his life and Mahela Jayawardene and Marvan Attapattu had the nicest,” Sangakkara said.”They always say the left-handers were extremely graceful. I watched Brian Lara, then Upul Tharanga and Lahiru Thirmanne from the younger lot, and feel they are much more pleasant to look at. Whenever I play the cover drive, with the back knee bent and head back, I just say to myself: ‘How can that be stylish?’ But I’m glad with the amount if runs I’ve scored and how effective I’ve been.”

Allen Stanford, the Texan billionaire behind Stanford 20/20, is expected to offer US$20 million for a one-off, winner-takes-all fixture between England and an All-Stars West Indies XI, when he meets the ECB at Lord’s on Tuesday to discuss possible joint ventures.According to the BBC, Stanford’s idea would be for the match to take place on England’s tour of the Caribbean next winter, although he has already made similar offers to both South Africa and India, and had them rejected. With the Indian Premier League just three days away, however, the ECB are eager to react to the game’s changing landscape.”Allen Stanford is an individual who is extremely wealthy and really doesn’t take no for an answer,” the veteran West Indian commentator, Tony Cozier, told BBC Sport. “He will come in and put forward a proposal that he will feel cannot be turned down, but I understand Giles Clarke is similar [in character] so we will see.”Clarke, the ECB chairman, has already talked about the creation of an English Premier League (EPL) to run during the middle of the domestic season when most international teams have time off. The hope is that the tournament would be able to attract overseas stars the same way as the IPL and in turn ward off the threat of English players jumping ship.”We don’t want a knee-jerk reaction to the IPL,” said Clarke, “but we believe that we can set up a robust, spectator-friendly, economically sustainable competition of our own which will not cut across the core revenue streams of Test and one-day international cricket.”Stanford could be a useful ally for the ECB as he has already shown his ability to set up and run a successful Twenty20 tournament then sell it overseas. Stanford is keen on multiple franchise tournaments and Lalit Modi, the IPL chairman, has said an EPL would be welcome if it didn’t clash with the Indian version.Sean Morris, the chief executive of the Professional Cricketers’ Association, told the : “Looking at all options is pure commercial commonsense. There is no proof yet that the global TV market is strong enough to have a lot of different leagues,” he said. “But it is genuinely achievable to make it attractive for everyone to play in.”If we have got the right format and scheduling that will be an attractive product to the wider TV audience and that is where most of the money will come from. Half-a-billion pairs of watching eyes is also appealing to outside investment.”Kevin Pietersen, who has made no secret of the fact he would love to play in the IPL, was encouraged by the sound of the idea. “Until I hear more about Stanford and his proposals I cannot comment,” he told AFP, “but it sounds great, very exciting for players and spectators.”He would not be drawn on the Indian issue again. ” “I have said all I am going to say about the IPL. I am not going to get into a slanging match with the people who employ me. I do not want to jeopardise my England career. All I ever asked for was some space to play both.”Clarke, along with David Collier, the ECB chief executive, and John Perera, the commercial director, are due to attend the launch of the IPL later this week where they will hold talks with Modi.

Kenya have reportedly named a provisional 28-man squad for next week’s Intercontinental Cup tie against Uganda at Kampala, but with Kenya cricket in such a state of flux, few appear to know exactly who is in the side.The Nation reported that Steve Tikolo would lead the team, even though he quit the captaincy after last September’s Champions Trophy and was replaced by Hitesh Modi. Modi was training at the Aga Khan club on Wednesday.And more remarkably, Ragheb Aga, who captained Kenya in their last match as Modi was on honeymoon, has reportedly not been contacted by the selectors, nor has Abeed Janmohamed, who kept wicket in their last two games. Both are based in the UK. Amit Bhudia, who is considered one of the best up-and-coming batsmen, is also unavailable as he is in the Netherlands.The preparations have been further disrupted by the news that Ravi Shah, who is probably the best batsman outside Test cricket, will miss the match after failing to shake off a long-standing knee injury. That will be a blow to the side as Shah averaged 57.55 in first-class matches for Kenya last year.Training is being co-ordinated by Mudassar Nazar, who was appointed as coach by the Kenya Cricket Association following the resignation of Andy Moles in January, and who has been retained by the interim selection panel.

Sri Lanka’s captain, Mahela Jayawardene, said that Sri Lanka’s drawnseries felt more like a win after the manner in which they surged tovictory in the third Test at Trent Bridge, and he called on his youngteam to treat the result as a springboard for further success.”The result is much sweeter because of the way we fought,” saidJayawardene. “Lord’s was where we kept the series alive. We made a lotof mistakes at Edgbaston, by not putting enough runs on the board, buthere we didn’t let them loose in the first innings, we batted well insecond innings, and gave Murali a good score to bowl at. It was abrilliant effort from the whole team.”In a way, it feels like a win,” he added. “We came here to competebut were pushed back from the first Test onwards. But we’ve come backin the series and the draw is great, so I’m pretty happy with theguys. But let’s not go overboard. We will enjoy the next couple ofdays but we’ll have the focus and be ready for the next series.”It’s just another brick in the wall,” he added in an unexpected PinkFloyd reference, although given all the selectorial meddling that hasovershadowed this series, he’d be entitled to sing the refrain: Leavethe kids alone. “We’re not going to get over-confident with what we’veachieved,” he added. “If we keep going in the right direction I’m surewe can improve ourselves as a team.Though Jayawardene had praise for all his players, he reserved specialmention for the man of the hour, Muralitharan, whose stunning figuresof 8 for 70 took his phenomenal tally to 635 Test wickets. “I’ve beenwatching him for the last eight years, and he’s a genius at work. Heknows exactly the areas to bowl in, but the best thing is hisconsistency. He asks questions from the batsmen all the time.””He’s a different guy,” Jayawardene continued. “He has enthusiasm andhunger for cricket, and the way he’s bowling he could walk up to thecrease and pick up wickets. Personally I feel very honoured to playwith him in the side. You can see his character, he is a very, verynice guy, and I’m very proud to be part of his group.”As to Murali’s long-term future, Sri Lanka are not due to tour againfor another four years, but Jayawardene did not rule out his return toEngland in 2010. “It’s all to do with what he wants to do,” heexplained. “He’s doing brilliantly and his motivation is great, but Ithink we should enjoy him as he is right now.”

The graded-payment system for India’s international cricketers could be implemented soon. Jagmohan Dalmiya, president of the Indian board, has announced that the BCCI and the players have agreed on the details of the new system.Speaking to the media after meeting the players in New Delhi, Dalmiya said: “We’ve agreed on all the points and nothing more is left to discuss. It’ll now be sent to the board’s lawyers who’ll give it legal shape. The details are confidential. Nobody is in a hurry to implement it.” According to a report in the Times of India, sources in the board indicated that the new contracts will be implemented before India’s tour of Australia later this year.The players were represented by Sourav Ganguly, Rahul Dravid, Sachin Tendulkar, Anil Kumble, Virender Sehwag, Zaheer Khan and Harbhajan Singh, while Dalmiya, Amrit Mathur, the media manager, and Ratnakar Shetty, joint secretary of the BCCI, represented the board.Under the new system, the players would be slotted into one of three grades, and would receive an annual retainer fee. For players in the top grade, the sum is expected to be Rs 60 lakhs (US$130,000 approx), while those in the second and third tiers would receive Rs 30 lakhs and Rs 15 lakhs. The team would also receive bonuses for wins – with the amount varying according to the rank of the opposition – while every defeat would result in a penalty which would be deducted from the match fee.

Scorecard

The men building the new Vauxhall Stand at The Oval clocked off at 12.30 this afternoon. Perhaps they were on to something: sometimes the spectators must have wished they’d slipped off too. After some slow rebuilding, Sussex ended the day at 445 for 9, a lead of 141, which was more than they should have. Surrey’s bowling in the evening was awful.Sussex cricket is widely known for deckchairs at Hove and flamboyant batsmen: CB Fry’s cover-drive, Duleepsinhji’s late cut, Ted Dexter’s effortless superiority. But this Championship-winning side is a bit different. Resuming at 75 without loss, they lost three early wickets. After that it was dour: exactly 75 more runs before lunch. Chris Adams blocked his buccaneering instincts ­­- and the Surrey seamers ­- for much of his 101. Tim Ambrose, his partner after lunch, was neat, unflamboyant, and the antithesis of the eccentric wicketkeeper.The odd spectator nodded off. Sometimes you could see why Lord Mancroft called cricket “A game the English, not being a spiritual people, invented to give themselves some conception of eternity.”But it was effective. Adams reached an 182-ball hundred after tea, with a cut for four. But just as he promised to add style to the substance he was lbw to Ormond. Adams added 102 with Ambrose, and then 83 with Prior, both wicketkeeper-batsmen with England hopes. Adams has helped bring a new toughness to Sussex: reared in Whitwell, a Derbyshire mining village, and steeled in a disputatious Derbyshire dressing-room. Whitwell has produced winners before, notably Joe Davis, the all-conquering snooker player who won a record 15 world titles.After tea Sussex let their hair down, playing shots and losing wickets. Jason Lewry feasted on some feckless bowling to end with 44 not out. At the very last there was a touch of the fun of the fair.Earlier, Ian Ward had looked as if he’d make his former club pay for edging him out last year, and for missing a catch off him here. But he was trapped on the crease and lbw to Tim Murtagh. Murtagh is standing in for Alex Tudor who, almost inevitably, has a bad back. Steve Rixon, Surrey’s hard-nosed new coach, will make big demands on Tudor, which could well show once and for all whether he will make a Test player. As the ball swung around, it looked as if Sussex could collapse. Then Adams took over.Day 1 – Bulletin – Azhar Mahmood to the rescue for SurreyPaul Coupar is assistant editor of Wisden Cricketers’ Almanack.

Saturday, April 12, 2003:::
“When we came here, we were without superstars, but we are returning home with new stars, who will become superstars,” Pakistan skipper Rashid Latif, after winning the Sharjah Cup
Source: BBC, UK
“People are well aware here that my interest in the captaincy has diminished since I left in 2000 and I’ve said on numerous occasions that I want to be led. I want someone to come out there and lead the team with myself on the team,” Brian Lara
Source: The Advertiser, Australia
“I’m aware of what stats are and my job as captain is to be aware what’s going on so I look up cricket sites, I read newspapers because I like to find out bits of information about the opposition. But I’m not a great student of the game,” Steve Waugh
Source: FOX Sports, Australia
Tuesday, April 8, 2003:::
“I’ll be going there just to prove as a 40-year-old I can do exactly what I could do as a 39-year-old. My desire, hunger, passion and enjoyment is still exactly the same as it was when I was 25,” Alec Stewart, on his fortieth birthday
Source: BBC, UK
“”I know these boys inside out, having spent good time with them. It will be a very challenging job and I am looking forward to the chance,” Ashok Malhotra, after being named to replace the bereaved John Wright as India coach for the early part of the Dhaka tri-series
Source: Rediff, India
“I would be interested in the job. Coaching New Zealand would be my main ambition but any team that plays one-day internationals and test matches would appeal to me,” former New Zealand spinner John Bracewell, expressing his willingness to be the next Sri Lankan coach
Source: Stuff.co.nz
“There’s just too much at stake at the moment for every member of the squad, and that includes me as well. This tour to Bangladesh is vital for the team’s success in later series, the big one being the tour to England later this year,” South African captain Graeme Smith
Source: The Star, South Africa

The Antigua Cricket Association Inc. (ACA) has vowed to participate as a separate entity in this year’s Red Stripe Bowl Competition. This, despite a recent resolution of the Leeward Islands Cricket Association (LICA) that would require them to participate as part of a combined Leewards team.During the LICA regular general meeting held on Saturday, 18th August, in Anguilla a motion was passed “not to allow Antigua to accept the invitation from the West Indies Cricket Board Inc. (WICB), to field a separate team in the Red Stripe Bowl.” Instead, LICA voted for two teams (i) Leewards East (Antigua, Montserrat, and Combined Virgin Islands) and (ii) Leewards West (St. Kitts, Nevis and Anguilla), both representing LICA in the competition. However, the ACA representatives – John Maginley and Zorol Barthley – voted in favour of the ACA accepting the said invitation from the WICB. Enoch Lewis, the ACA’s president was also in attendance as LICA’s representative to the WICB.Communication to this effect was today sent to the WICB and the matter is now being considered (again), and a final decision on this delicate matter is expected tomorrow. Meanwhile, ACA today confirmed that they are still going ahead with plans for their solo participation in this year’s Red Stripe Bowl. A 24-man squad has already been called up for training.The WICB’s Chief Cricket Operations Officer – Michael Hall – weighed in on this latest controversy. Hall indicated that at the WICB’s meeting of 21st July, the LICA representatives (Enoch Lewis and Carlisle Powell), advised that the winner of the Leeward Islands one day tournament – Antigua – would be the “individual” team and a “rest” team will compete in the Red Stripe Bowl 2001.Hall stressed that the WICB is committed to expanding the Red Stripe Bowl competition, but are not able to go through with the desired expansion plans “primarily for financial reasons.” He also confirmed that the WICB at its 21st July meeting in Barbados had “no prior indication that the Leewards participation was in jeopardy”. The Board accepted the proposal as put forward by the two LICA representatives and only learned of the situation today.According to Hall, “the Windward Islands could not devise a mechanism by which they could transparently select an individual island”. For this reason, special dispensation has been made in which there will be a “Windwards North” and a “Windwards South” team for the competition. Hall stressed that this is a “one off” situation.The WICB will make a ruling on this latest controversy in West Indies cricket tomorrow.

Scorecard
Ranil Dhammika, the left-arm spinner, claimed career-best figures of 6 for 39 as Lankan Cricket Club beat Burgher Recreation Club by 113 runs to clinch the Tier B section of the Premier Limited Over Tournament, Sri Lanka’s main domestic List A tournament.Chasing 276 to win, Burgher were off to a solid start with Dilan Sandagirigoda being involved in a 60-run opening stand with Chamil Perera (28). But Burgher went downhill once an opening was found by Dammika, who caught Perera off his own bowling.Dhammika then wreaked havoc with the middle order, dismissing three more batsmen, including Sandagirigoda for 44. Wicketkeeper Mudhita Fernando made 15 before he was run out while Janaka Kumarage, the No 3 batsman, was trapped by Raju Gayashan as the pressure got to Burgher. When Sathira Fernando was dismissed by captain Suranjit Silva, Burgher had slumped to a precarious 116 for 7, having lost their first seven wickets for the addition of only 56 runs.The late-order delayed the inevitable, with Marlan Madusanka taking 31 balls for his unbeaten 11, before Dhammika returned to apply the finishing touches, trapping both Romesh Eranga (19) and Roshan Fernando as Burgher were bowled out for 162.Earlier, Lankan, who were put in by Burgher, were led by a run-a-ball 79 from Nuwan Shiroman on their way to 275. Shiroman, who struck seven fours and two sixes in his innings, was involved in 59-run stands with Chanaka Withanage (18) and Dammika Gunawardene (35) for the first and second wicket respectively.Gunawardene was dismissed by offspinner Thamara Abeyratne, but Shiroman and Rasika Priyadarshana (22) kept the runs coming. The duo, though, were dismissed within the space of three balls – Priyadarshana caught by Madusanka off Abeyratne, while Shiroman was run out.But wicketkeeper Upul Fernando, who smashed two sixes during his aggressive 40 and Dhammika, who made a boundary-less 26, made sure that Lankan set up an imposing target.