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	Chris Gayle broke his thumb during the second Test against South Africa in Cape Town, and will play no further part of West Indies’ tour © Digicel

Chris Gayle, the West Indies captain, will fly home to the Caribbean after admitting that his injured thumb and hamstring will not heal in time for him to play in any of the four remaining ODIs in South Africa.”Given the most recent prognosis that I will require at least another two weeks of recovery before I could even consider picking up a bat again – furthermore being declared match fit – I have been granted permission by the WICB to return home to Jamaica to concentrate on getting better,” Gayle wrote in his Cricinfo diary.The news, though not entirely unexpected, is a blow to West Indies who lost the first one-dayer by six wickets in Centurion yesterday. Gayle, who injured his thumb in the second Test in Cape Town, has entrusted Bravo to steer the ship in his absence – but he too is combating his own injury after picking up a side strain during the Test series.”I had already been feeling quite frustrated at just sitting around and having to watch my team-mates battling out in the middle without any contribution from me,” Gayle said. “This injury update only made me feel worse. I therefore spoke to team management and the WICB chief executive, Dr. Donald Peters, who was here in South Africa, and expressed the view that it would be best for me to head back to the Caribbean immediately and focus on recovering fully. Sitting on the sidelines was really beginning to affect me.”We will be hosting two top teams, Sri Lanka and Australia, in the coming months and I definitely want to be 100 percent fit for those matches. So leaving the tour is the most logical step at this stage.”Clive Lloyd, the West Indies’ team manager, said: “This gives an opportunity for the younger players to show their mettle and step up to the plate.”West Indies host Sri Lanka for two Tests and three one-dayers in March and April, with Australia arriving for three Tests and five ODIs in May.

Scorecard and ball-by-ball details

Ramesh Powar was in his element, picking up four top-order wickets © Getty Images

West Zone huffed and puffed to a three-wicket win over Central Zone in the opening match of the Deodhar Trophy at Ahmedabad. West Zone were coasting to victory after opener Wasim Jaffer laid the foundation with a calm and collected 89 before a wicket burst gave the opposition a glimmer of hope. In the end, the Mumbai duo of Amol Muzumdar and Abhishek Nayar steered the side home with seven overs to spare.Jaffer and Yusuf Pathan, promoted up the order, added a quick-fire 47 for the first wicket in conditions where the seamers struggled to contain the batsmen with the new ball. Yusuf made a breezy 20 off 18 balls before edging to Rohit Jhalani off RP Singh. Hrishikesh Kanitkar, the former Indian batsman, joined Jaffer and the pair added 102 for the third wicket. Jaffer was particularly impressive, picking the gaps with ease, managing 13 boundaries in his 106-ball knock.Shalabh Srivastava, the left-arm seamer, caught the middle order off guard with three quick strikes to peg West Zone back. Irfan Pathan, boosted by the news of his final inclusion in the World Cup squad, failed to cash in and Srivastava proceeded to scalp Parthiv Patel and Sairaj Bahutule in successive deliveries with West Zone needing a further 20. Nayar and Muzumdar buckled down to polish off the remaining runs in the face of some penetrative bowling and sharp fielding by Central Zone.Earlier, Ramesh Powar, the offspinner, played his part with a miserly spell to restrict Central to 234 after the openers got off to a flier. Powar’s ten overs included four top-order wickets in quick succession, as he applied the choke on the Central batsmen, conceding only 25 runs.The spotlight was on Pathan to prove his form and fitness in this crucial encounter, one which was to determine his participation in the World Cup. His first ball, an inswinger bowled wide outside the off stump was dispatched over midwicket by Praveen Kumar, who blazed away in an opening stand of 85 with Faiz Fazal in just under 15 overs. Kumar made merry against Pathan and Rakesh Patel, scoring 51 off 42 balls with three sixes.The spinners were brought on early and Powar removed Kumar, courtesy of some neat work behind the stumps by Patel. The Central batsmen found it difficult to free their arms against Powar who varied his length beautifully. The in-form Mohammad Kaif was Powar’s second big victim and he proceeded to take two more wickets to leave Central at 110 for 4. It was a statement of intent from Powar, who was left out of the World Cup squad despite a decent showing in the one-dayers against West Indies recently. His fellow spinners, Bahutule and Yusuf Pathan chipped in with a wicket each to leave Central at 165 for 8.S Abbas Ali, the left-hander, revived the innings with a half century and his stand of 62 with Singh averted an early finish and lifted the side to a respectable total. Ali reached his fifty at the tail-end of the innings, falling for 51. Pathan finished with two wickets – dismissing both Ali and Singh – but was a little expensive, conceding over five and a half runs per over.

Munaf Patel: change of action, change of fortunes © Getty Images

Munaf Patel, who engineered an eight-wicket victory for the Board President’s XI in Baroda last week, has been rewarded with a call up for the Mohali Test, with Vikram Raj Vir Singh making way for the match which will be played at his home venue.The only other change in the 15-man squad is the return of Yuvraj Singh, recovered from the hamstring strain that ruined his matchwinning century in the final ODI against Pakistan at Karachi. Suresh Raina, touted as an Indian great of the future, makes way, though Kiran More, the chairman of selectors emphasised that he was very much a part of plans for the future. “We have to pick Yuvraj,” More said. “Suresh Raina is an outstanding player, and is part of a grooming process. He’s ready to play any class of cricket.”The inclusion of Munaf, the 22-year-old from Ikhar in Gujarat, ahead of VRV was just as easily explained. “We wanted to give VRV a taste of Test cricket and also assess his fitness. He has not played much, and we want him to go back to domestic cricket and play more games. Munaf has been in great form. He’s taken a lot of wickets in domestic cricket [for Maharashtra and West Zone], and also had 10 wickets in the side game. Even from the Deodhar Trophy, the reports that we have got have been outstanding.”More also spoke of how delighted the selection committee and team management were with Wasim Jaffer, who justified with recall with superb knocks of 81 and 100, his maiden century. When asked if India would continue to repose faith in specialist openers rather than going back to the makeshift theory adopted in Pakistan, More minced no words. “Jaffer has proved himself. We will certainly go in with specialist openers. It was a big area of concern for us, but he batted brilliantly and we’re very happy.”When prodded about “the other opener” – Virender Sehwag failed in both innings here – More refused to take the bait. “He’s one of the best we have,” he said in perfunctory fashion. Enquiries about Harbhajan Singh’s fate, after unflattering figures of 2 for 527 from his last three Tests,met with a guarded response. “We haven’t even seen the pitch yet,” said More. “We’ll go there and decide on an XI after we see the pitch and conditions.”An attempt to inject some controversy into an otherwise straightforward media briefing was coolly shot down. When asked about his comment that the door had been shut on Sourav Ganguly, More said: “I said the same thing at my last press conference. We’re not going to look back. We will only look forward. There’s nothing new in that.”Squad Virender Sehwag, Wasim Jaffer, Rahul Dravid (capt), Sachin Tendulkar, Yuvraj Singh, VVS Laxman, Mohammad Kaif, Mahendra Singh Dhoni (wk), Irfan Pathan, Sreesanth, Rudra Pratap Singh, Anil Kumble, Harbhajan Singh, Munaf Patel, Piyush Chawla.

Thilanga Sumathipala: battling for control of Sri Lankan cricket© Getty Images

The legal battle for control of Sri Lankan cricket has officially started after Thilanga Sumathipala’s executive committee – all appointed at Sunday’s AGM in defiance of the government’s suspension of the board – filed an application in a Court of Appeal. Sumathipala’s legal team requested an interim order to prevent the suspension of the board.The suspended executive committee has confronted Jeevan Kumaratunga’s surprise decision last week, claiming that the minister has been mislead by vested interests within the government, effectively pointing the finger of blame at Arjuna Ranatunga, now the deputy tourism minister, who has been a fierce critic of Sumathipala over the years.They have also challenged the right of the appointed six-man interim committee, headed by Jayantha Dharmadasa, to enter the board premises. The Colombo headquarters has been locked up and protected with extra security guards to prevent access to the board’s "immovable property". All employees have been sent home on leave.Meanwhile, Sri Lanka’s president Chandikra Kumaratunga has demanded an immediate report on the cricket board crisis, according to The Island newspaper. A ministry official was quoted as saying that a full report was being compiled outlining the chief reasons for the decision to suspend the board.The central reasons justifying the suspension in the official Gazette Order issued last Thursday include Sumathipala’s participation in ICC Executive Board meetings without ministerial permission in November and March and for "ineffective and improper financial management" leading to a massive $3.3 million loss last year.Sumathipala’s team has explained the heavy losses as the result of the cyclical nature of tour revenue and insisted that the financial future of the board is secure after their signing of a record $50 million broadcasting deal with Taj Television. They have also rubbished claims in the media by the sports minister of running an inflated salary bill.But potentially more serious to the suspended executive committee will be the alleged reimbursement to Sumathipala of $300,000 of Sri Lanka Cricket funds for personal legal and professional fees during the course of the year. Claims of excessive travelling by officials will also be investigated.In addition, the sports minister has accused Sumathipala of having links with the gambling industry, revealing to the BBC that he has been sent a detailed report from the ICC, which has set up a Code of Ethics inquiry to investigate his relationship to Sporting Star, a betting shop owned by his family.The board’s tsunami disaster fund Cricket-Aid, the brainchild of Sumathipala, has come under the spotlight too after newspaper allegations that the fund is not properly registered as an NGO. Critics have claimed that the setting up of a separate charity was unconstitutional under the present sports law.

Has Ricky Ponting saved the best for last? © Getty

This was the final that you could have predicted with eyes tight shut a month ago, with one flyweight – Zimbabwe – competing against two heavyweights. And despite a wobble or two against a plucky Zimbabwe team led with characteristic skill and bravery by Heath Streak, neither Australia nor India had to stretch too many sinews to get here. That said, three of the four league games they contested were humdingers, with only Australia’s romp in Perth interrupting the trend of fine contests that have defined this summer.The cavernous Melbourne Cricket Ground will dredge up mixed emotions in both camps. Until recently, it was the one venue where Australia appeared most vulnerable, with 40 wins and 34 defeats in their first 77 games there. But since then, in an era when they have boldly charted new waters in one-day cricket, Australia have reeled off 15 victories in 18 matches at the MCG.India’s Melbourne experience has followed a distinctly different route. Having won four of their first five one-day games there, they have now lost four on the trot and you have to go back to January 31, 1986 – when Sunil Gavaskar and Dilip Vengsarkar were the batting heroes – for their last triumph.It’s impossible to separate the two teams in the batting stakes, though each will look to their marquee names to deliver more than they have thus far. In the league matches, you had Adam Gilchrist and VVS Laxman matching each other stroke for stroke, though Laxman reeled off three centuries to Gilchrist’s one. Both teams have also depended on middle-order effervescence in the shape of Andrew Symonds and Yuvraj Singh, the only Indian batsman to play Australia’s quick bowlers with confidence on a bouncy WACA pitch.Neither team distinguished itself overly with the ball, not helped by pitches made for batsmen’s pleasure. India can boast two of the highest wicket-takers in the tournament – Irfan Pathan has 14, and Ajit Agarkar 11 from just five matches – but neither has shown an inclination to be as economical as Scrooge.For Australia, Brett Lee – savaged for 83 runs in Brisbane – appears back to something like his rapid-fire best, while Jason Gillespie has struggled to live up to his billing as the world’s premier fast bowler. Symonds, with his innocuous offspin has taken more wickets (10) than either Lee (8) or Gillespie (6), but all of them have been eclipsed by the exceptional Brad Williams, who can point to 12 wickets at 16.66 and a superb economy rate of 4.12.

A welcome return for Michael Kasprowicz, an honest toiler © Getty

With a trophy at stake, Australia’s selectors have also been prompted to do what they should have done even before the Test series started – bring in Michael Kasprowicz. Now Queensland’s all-time leading wicket-taker, Kasprowicz has been one of the most consistent – and ignored – performers in world cricket for half a decade or more.His 48 wickets in the Pura Cup last season, and stellar displays for Glamorgan in the county championship, didn’t sway the selection panel, who persisted instead with those woefully out of form. The way he bowled against India when given a chance in the TVS Cup should have told them all they needed to know, but they still overlooked him. This call-up, however late, might just spare their blushes.The selectorial eyes will also be keenly trained on Damien Martyn – so out of sorts this season – and Simon Katich, competitors for a seat on the plane to Sri Lanka, with Darren Lehmann almost certain to be an automatic choice. Michael Clarke will also be under scrutiny, with the Hussey brothers forcing themselves into the picture through sheer weight of runs.As for India, they would do well to experiment with their bowling attack. L Balaji has been the most unflappable of their pace bowlers, and would be an ideal foil for Agarkar. At the moment, Pathan doesn’t have the raw pace, or the composure, to take on Gilchrist in full flight, and his enthusiasm and aggression would be best served as first change, Lee’s role not so long ago when Australia sensibly decided to keep the new ball with Glenn McGrath.A summer when runs have rained down should see many more scored on Friday, with the likes of Matthew Hayden and Sachin Tendulkar overdue a big score. India should welcome back their slow-bowling talisman, Anil Kumble, if he is fit in time, but even that might not be enough against an Australian side that have won 14 of 23 finals at the “G”, including four on the bounce.Australia (likely) 1 Adam Gilchrist (wk), 2 Matthew Hayden, 3 Ricky Ponting (capt), 4 Damien Martyn, 5 Andrew Symonds, 6 Michael Clarke, 7 Simon Katich, 8 Brett Lee, 9 Jason Gillespie, 10 Brad Williams, 11 Michael Kasprowicz.India (likely) 1 Sachin Tendulkar, 2 Virender Sehwag, 3 VVS Laxman, 4 Rahul Dravid (wk), 5 Sourav Ganguly (capt), 6 Yuvraj Singh, 7 Rohan Gavaskar, 8 Ajit Agarkar, 9 Irfan Pathan, 10 Anil Kumble, 11 L Balaji.

NATIONAL LEAGUE AVERAGES (after Round 6, 5 January)Note: these averages are not accurate due to numerous discrepancies in the scoresheets submitted.BATTING AND FIELDINGM I NO Runs HS Av. 100 50 Ct/St R/OAdam, A (U) 1 1 0 0 0 0.00 – – -Adam, H (U) 4 2 1 9 8 9.00 – – -Adam, S (U) 1 1 0 0 0 0.00 – – -Ali, W (HSC) 4 4 0 10 9 2.50 – – 1Anticevich, C M (Alex) 4 3 1 30 17 15.00 – – 1Austin, I (Q) 3 3 0 8 8 2.66 – – 1Bala, S (HSC) 6 4 0 52 23 13.00 – – 2Barrett, G F (OG) 2 2 0 71 51 35.50 – 1 1Barry, S (Alex) 1 1 1 2 2* — – – -Bartlett, T G (Alex) 1 1 0 2 2 2.00 – – -Bath, B (Alex) 4 4 2 21 9 10.50 – – 1Benade, T (OH) 6 6 0 212 63 35.33 – 1 1Benhura, B Z (Alex) 5 4 0 79 37 19.75 – – 1Bennett, R J (OG) 6 4 2 31 18* 15.50 – – 1 1Biggs, J (OG) 2 1 1 1 1* — – – -Blignaut, A M (Alex) 5 5 1 78 25 19.50 – – -Brent, G B (Mut) 4 3 0 12 12 4.00 – – 1Brewer, C H (OH) 6 6 0 144 54 24.00 – 1 3 1Broadbent, S (Q) 1 1 1 3 3* — – – -Brooks, A A (HSC) 1 1 0 0 0 0.00 – – -Brous, P (HSC) 1 1 0 1 1 1.00 – – -Brundle, M R D (HSC) 2 2 0 45 39 22.50 – – 2Burki, A (OH) 5 2 1 2 2* 2.00 – – 3Burmester, M G (Mut) 3 3 0 239 133 79.66 1 1 -Butterworth, R E (OH) 5 5 0 126 92 25.20 – 1 2Cameron, J (Alex) 1 1 0 11 11 11.00 – – -Campbell, A D R (Mut) 3 3 1 224 93* 112.00 – 2 1Campbell, D J R (K) 5 4 2 64 26 32.00 – – 5/1Carlisle, S V (HSC) 4 4 2 247 128* 123.50 1 1 3Chari, N (OH) 6 5 1 38 14 9.50 – – 1Chauluka, E (T) 2 2 0 50 38 25.00 – -Chawaguta, W R (T) 3 3 1 28 14* 14.00 – – -Chengetere, R (OG) 5 4 0 18 10 4.50 – – -Chibhabha, C (T) 2 2 0 41 40 20.50 – – 3Chigumbura, E (T) 5 5 0 156 70 31.20 – 1 – 1Chinyoka, I M (K) 5 4 1 60 45 20.00 – – 4Chiradza, R (U) 2 1 0 22 22 22.00 – – -Chirwa, T (Q) 4 4 2 22 11 11.00 – – -Chitare, N (T) 1 1 0 0 0 0.00 – – -Chiwara, D (OH) 2 2 1 19 19 19.00 – – 1Chouhan, N (U) 5 3 1 57 31 28.50 – – 1 2Cloete, S (OG) 2 2 0 59 38 29.50 – – -Connelly, K M (K) 1 1 0 21 21 21.00 – – -Cornford, J M (K) 3 3 1 70 38 35.00 – – 2Coulson, I M (OG) 6 3 0 3 3 1.00 – – 4Coventry, C K (BAC) 4 4 0 199 124 49.75 1 – 2Cremer, G (HSC) 3 2 0 8 7 4.00 – – -Crouch, D (Q) 1 1 1 30 30* — – – 1Croxford, G M (U) 6 6 2 192 48* 48.00 – – 1Croxford, R (HSC) 1 1 1 2 2* — – – -Dabengwa, K M (BAC) 6 5 0 22 9 4.40 – – 1de Beer, D (Alex) 2 2 0 38 36 19.00 – – 1de Grandhomme, C (Alex) 1 1 0 0 0 0.00 – – -de Grandhomme, I (Alex) 4 4 1 53 24* 17.66 – – 3de Sousa, M (OG) 3 3 0 11 7 3.66 – – -Delport, C (K) 1 1 0 8 8 8.00 – – 2du Plessis, G (Alex) 4 3 2 17 15* 17.00 – – 1Dube, F (Q) 1 1 0 3 3 3.00 – – -Duffin, T (K) 6 6 0 159 71 26.50 – 1 1Durham, A M (HSC) 3 2 0 2 2 1.00 – – 2Ebrahim, D D (U) 3 2 0 94 92 47.00 – 1 2Ervine, C (OH) 6 6 0 72 61 12.00 – – 3 1Ervine, R (K/OH) 2 2 0 5 4 2.50 – – -Ervine, S M (K) 3 3 0 205 96 68.33 – 3 3Evans, C N (OG) 6 6 1 214 88 42.80 – 2 5Ewing, G M (BAC) 5 4 1 195 85* 65.00 – – -Ewing, K (Q) 1 1 0 1 1 0.50 – – -Ferreira, N R (Mut) 4 4 1 248 125 82.66 1 1 10/1Flower, A (Mut) 1 1 0 1 1 1.00 – – -Flower, G W (OG) 3 3 1 105 67* 52.50 – – 3Fourie, H (K) 1 – – — — — – – 1Fraser, A (OG) 1 – – — — — – – -Friend, T J (K) 3 3 0 137 109 45.66 1 – 1Gilmour, A R G (Alex) 2 2 0 19 15 9.90 – – 2Goodwin, M (BAC) 1 1 1 0 0* — – – -Goosen, G C (Alex) 6 6 0 68 51 11.33 – 1 6/0 2Gripper, T R (HSC) 5 5 0 171 102 34.20 1 – 3 1Hamid, A (OH) 1 1 1 4 4* — – – -Hitz, J H (BAC) 3 3 0 73 51 24.33 – 1 5Hoffman, A P (BAC) 6 6 1 76 27 15.20 – – 2Hondo, D T (U) 4 3 1 35 21 17.50 – – 1Hundermark, B (K) 2 1 0 0 0 0.00 – – -Irvine, E (HSC) 1 1 0 7 7 7.00 – – -Island, R (K) 1 – – — — — – – 1Johnston-Robertson, G (HSC) 3 1 1 0 0* — – – -Jones, S (OG) 2 2 1 1 1* 1.00 – – 1Kalas, W (OG) 1 1 1 4 4* — – – -Karamba, T (K) 1 – – — — — – – -Kasawaya, R (BAC) 5 4 0 92 75 23.00 – 1 2/1Kaschula, R (OH) 5 5 1 53 28 13.25 – – -Khalid, S (OH) 1 1 0 3 3 3.00 – – 1Khan, S (OH) 6 5 1 25 12 6.25 – – 7/2King, R J (Q) 4 4 0 47 21 11.75 – – -Koen, B (HSC) 2 – – — — — – – -Kugotsi, A (Mut) 4 3 0 32 14 10.66 – – 1Lamb, G A (K) 1 1 0 77 77 77.00 – 1 -Lewis, J M (Mut) 3 2 1 4 4 4.00 – – – 1Lewis, M (HSC) 2 1 0 1 1 1.00 – – – 1Lombard, R (Q) 2 2 0 20 20 10.00 – – -Lurie, A (HSC) 1 1 1 10 10* — – – -Mabuza, M (Q) 2 2 0 33 26 16.50 – – 1Mackay, A J (OG) 5 5 0 104 39 20.80 – – 2Macmillan, C (K) 5 4 1 43 23 14.33 – – 2Mahachi, C (BAC) 5 5 2 40 27* 13.33 – – 1 1Mahwire, N B (U) 5 2 0 25 24 12.50 – – 1Makoni, G (T) 5 5 0 60 29 12.00 – – 2Makovah, B (T) 1 1 1 1 1* — – – -Makunura, S T (T) 3 3 0 9 4 3.00 – – 1Malloch-Brown, L S (OG) 4 3 0 58 43 19.33 – – 5Manyande, R N (T) 5 4 0 68 44 17.00 – – -Maregwede, A (T) 6 6 1 164 52* 32.80 – 1 3/0Marillier, D A (Alex) 4 4 0 101 51 25.25 – 1 1Marillier, S J (Alex) 5 5 0 130 70 26.00 – 1 2Marisa, S (Q) 1 1 1 5 5* — – – -Marodze, A (K) 1 1 0 12 12 12.00 – – 1Masakadza, H (T) 2 2 0 92 69 46.00 – 1 3Mashanganyika, T (OH) 4 3 1 8 5 4.00 – – 2Matambanadzo, D R (U) 5 4 1 59 39* 19.66 – – -Matsikenyeri, S (T) 4 4 0 126 83 31.50 – 1 2Maungwa, A (T) 2 1 1 1 1* — – – -Mawoyo, T K (Mut) 5 3 0 36 24 12.00 – – 4Mbangwa, M (Q) 2 2 0 47 29 23.50 – – -Mboyi, T (Q) 2 2 2 10 7* — – – 1Mbwembwe, A (T) 3 2 0 3 2 1.50 – – 1McCormick, C (Alex) 2 1 0 15 15 15.00 – – 1McKean, M (HSC) 1 1 0 2 2 2.00 – – -McKillop, M G (BAC) 3 3 0 83 40 27.66 – – -McTaggart, A (Q) 2 2 0 4 3 2.00 – – -Meman, I (U) 6 4 1 43 29* 14.33 – – 1 1Meth, K (Q) 3 3 1 63 62* 31.50 – 1 -Mhandu, A (HSC) 6 4 1 13 7* 4.33 – – 2 1Moyo, V (BAC) 1 1 0 1 1 1.00 – – -Mufambisi, T (T) 2 2 0 42 35 21.00 – – 1Mukondiwa, B (BAC) 1 1 0 18 18 18.00 – – -Mukondiwa, N (BAC) 4 3 0 36 22 12.00 – – 1Mupariwa, T (BAC) 4 2 1 32 29 32.00 – – 1 1Murphy, B A (U) 5 5 0 295 174 59.00 1 1 2Musundire, O (Q) 3 3 0 21 8 7.00 – – -Mutendera, D T (U/T) 3 2 0 27 14 13.50 – – -Mutendera, L (HSC) 3 1 1 1 1* — – – -Mutyambizi, L K (K) 2 2 0 4 3 2.00 – – -Muzah, G (T) 1 1 0 5 5 5.00 – – -Mwayenga, A (HSC) 4 3 1 7 4 3.50 – – 3Mwayenga, W (OG) 4 2 1 13 7* 13.00 – – 1Neethling, A J C (OG) 6 5 0 45 17 9.00 – – 2Nicolle, J S (BAC) 5 3 0 8 7 2.66 – – 3Nicolle, M (BAC) 1 1 0 3 3 3.00 – – -Nkala, M L (Q) 3 3 1 157 74 78.50 – 2 2Nkala, Q (Alex) 4 2 0 11 11 5.50 – – 1Nyumbu, J (Q) 5 3 0 1 1 0.33 – – -Obank, P (Mut) 2 2 1 22 22* 22.00 – – 1Oberholzer, D (Mut) 1 – – — — — – -Olonga, H K (T) 3 3 0 24 11 8.00 – – 1 1Panyangara, T (T) 3 3 3 11 7* — – – 1Penney, A (HSC) 1 – – — — — – – 1Preston, C (HSC) 1 1 0 2 2 2.00 – – -Price, R W (K) 4 3 0 45 35 15.00 – – 4Rainsford, E C (K) 3 2 0 5 4 2.50 – – 1Rennie, G J (Alex) 4 4 0 43 31 10.75 – – 3Rinke, H P (OH) 5 4 0 37 19 9.25 – – -Robb, D (OG) 2 1 0 4 4 4.00 – – 1 1Robbie, J (HSC) 1 1 0 23 23 23.00 – – -Rogers, B G (U) 5 5 1 234 126 58.50 1 1 3 3Ruswa, T P (T) 1 – – — — — – – 1Sanders, C J (K) 1 1 1 2 2* — – – -Sanyika, B (U) 5 2 2 8 4* — – – 1Saunders, N V (K) 1 1 1 1 1* — – – -Scroobie, D (K) 1 – – — — — – – -Seager, M S L (OG) 1 1 0 0 0 0.00 – – -Shah, S (U) 4 1 0 15 15 15.00 – – -Shambare, A (HSC) 1 – – — — — – – -Shamuyarira, A (OG) 2 2 0 4 4 2.00 – – 1Sibanda, T (BAC) 2 1 0 0 0 0.00 – – -Sibanda, V (T/K) 5 5 0 91 39 18.20 – – 1Sims, R W (Mut) 4 3 0 53 40 17.66 – – 1Siziba, W T (Q) 4 4 0 92 67 23.00 – 1 1Smith, A (OH) 1 1 0 0 0 0.00 – – -Smith, H (OH) 1 1 1 0 0* — – – 1Soma, A D (Mut) 5 4 1 49 17 16.33 – – 2Soma, L J (Mut) 4 3 0 31 20 10.33 – – -Staddon, B (BAC) 4 4 0 42 26 10.50 – – -Stannard, D D (Alex) 6 4 2 31 31* 15.50 – – 1 1Strang, P A (OH) 3 3 1 124 77* 62.00 – 1 5Strydom, G M (Q) 1 1 0 43 43 43.00 – – -Swanepoel, G (Q) 2 1 0 22 22 22.00 – – 1Taibu, K J (U) 4 1 0 19 19 19.00 – – -Taibu, T (T) 3 3 2 155 66* 155.00 – 2 4/2Taylor, A L (Mut) 1 1 1 3 3* — – -Taylor, B R M (HSC) 4 4 0 170 134 42.50 1 – 2/2 1Taylor, K J (Mut) 5 3 2 23 11* 12.00 – – -Townshend, M W (Q) 4 4 0 35 14 8.75 – – -Utseya, P (T) 5 5 2 60 39* 20.00 – – 3van Rensburg, N R (Q) 4 4 0 113 67 28.25 – 1 3Vaughan-Davies, M J (K) 5 5 1 117 67 29.25 – 1 2Vaughan-Davies, W J (Alex) 1 1 0 8 8 8.00 – – 1Veheremi, E (K) 1 1 1 0 0* — – – -Vermeulen, M A (HSC) 4 4 1 303 143 101.00 1 2 6 1Vermeulen, R (HSC) 1 – – — — — – – -Viljoen, D P (K) 5 5 0 154 55 30.80 – 1 4Waller, A C (OG) 1 1 0 4 4 4.00 – – -Went, K R P (Mut) 4 4 0 101 45 25.25 – – 3Whittall, G J (Mut) 2 – – — — — – – – 2Williams, C R (BAC) 3 3 1 22 15 11.00 – – -Williams, S (BAC) 3 3 1 30 20 15.00 – – 2 1Wishart, C B (OG) 2 2 1 173 112* 173.00 1 1 3Ziegler, C (OH) 1 1 0 5 5 5.00 – – -200 OR MORE RUNSM I NO Runs HS Av. 100 50Vermeulen, M A (HSC) 4 4 1 303 143 101.00 1 2Murphy, B A (U) 5 5 0 295 174 59.00 1 1Ferreira, N R (Mut) 4 4 1 248 125 82.66 1 1Carlisle, S V (HSC) 4 4 2 247 128* 123.50 1 1Rogers, B G (U) 5 5 1 234 126 58.50 1 1Burmester, M G (Mut) 3 3 0 239 133 79.66 1 1Campbell, A D R (Mut) 3 3 1 224 93* 112.00 – 2Evans, C N (OG) 6 6 1 214 88 42.80 – 2Benade, T (OH) 6 6 0 212 63 35.33 – 1Ervine, S M (K) 3 3 0 205 96 68.33 – 3HIGHEST AVERAGES (100 or more runs)M I NO Runs HS Av. 100 50Wishart, C B (OG) 2 2 1 173 112* 173.00 1 1Taibu, T (T) 3 3 2 155 66* 155.00 – 2Carlisle, S V (HSC) 4 4 2 247 128* 123.50 1 1Campbell, A D R (Mut) 3 3 1 224 93* 112.00 – 2Vermeulen, M A (HSC) 4 4 1 303 143 101.00 1 2Ferreira, N R (Mut) 4 4 1 248 125 82.66 1 1Burmester, M G (Mut) 3 3 0 239 133 79.66 1 1Nkala, M L (Q) 3 3 1 157 74 78.50 – 2Ervine, S M (K) 3 3 0 205 96 68.33 – 3Ewing, G M (BAC) 5 4 1 195 85* 65.00 – -Strang, P A (OH) 3 3 1 124 77* 62.00 – 1Murphy, B A (U) 5 5 0 295 174 59.00 1 1Rogers, B G (U) 5 5 1 234 126 58.50 1 1Flower, G W (OG) 3 3 1 105 67* 52.50 – -BOWLING AVERAGESO M R W Av. Best RateAdam, H (U) 14.5 2 64 2 32.00 1/12 4.31Adam, S (U) 3 0 8 1 8.00 1/8 2.66Ali, W (HSC) 2 1 8 1 8.00 1/8 4.00Anticevich, C (Alex) 13 4 35 3 11.66 2/14 2.69Austin, I (Q) 10 0 58 0 — — 5.80Bala, S (HSC) 50 11 121 8 15.12 3/22 2.42Barrett, G F (OG) 1 0 17 0 — — 17.00Barry, S (Alex) 8 0 40 1 40.00 1/40 5.00Benade, T (OH) 40.1 1 234 6 39.00 2/49 5.82Benhura, B (Alex) 29 0 140 4 35.00 1/21 4.82Bennett, R J (OG) 43.3 2 242 10 24.20 3/34 5.56Biggs, J (OG) 3 0 19 0 — — 6.33Blignaut, A M (Alex) 45.4 5 215 12 17.91 6/18 4.70Brent, G B (Mut) 28 2 135 6 22.50 2/15 4.82Brewer, C H (OH) 27 2 170 4 42.50 3/33 6.29Broadbent, S (Q) 3.5 0 35 0 — — 9.13Brooks, A (HSC) 10 1 38 1 38.00 1/38 3.80Brundle, M R D (HSC) 12 2 45 0 — — 3.75Burki, A (OH) 37.2 4 173 8 21.62 3/12 4.63Burmester, M H (Mut) 18 4 43 3 14.33 2/26 2.38Butterworth, R E (OH) 40 2 221 5 44.20 3/36 5.52Campbell, A D R (Mut) 20 0 96 3 32.00 2/38 4.80Campbell, D J R (K) 2 0 21 0 — — 10.50Carlisle, S V (HSC) 4 0 24 0 — — 6.00Chari, N (OH) 32 0 187 4 46.75 1/23 5.84Chawaguta, W R (T) 9 0 33 1 33.00 1/33 3.67Chigumbura, E (T) 28 3 131 5 26.20 2/24 4.67Chinyoka, I M (K) 25.1 1 118 5 23.60 2/41 4.68Chirwa, T (Q) 26 1 197 2 98.50 1/44 7.57Chitare, M (T) 2 0 18 0 — — 9.00Chiwara, D (OH) 9 0 53 5 10.60 5/53 5.89Chouhan, N (U) 13 0 62 0 — — 4.76Coulson, I M (OG) 34 4 136 5 27.20 2/17 4.00Coventry, C K (BAC) 7 0 49 2 24.50 2/49 7.00Cremer, G (HSC) 11 0 46 2 23.00 2/23 4.18Croxford, G M (U) 42 2 184 10 18.40 4/29 4.38Dabengwa, K M (BAC) 53 8 236 8 29.50 3/45 4.45de Grandhomme, C (Alex) 5 0 22 0 — — 4.40Delport, C (K) 2 0 6 0 — — 3.00du Plessis, G (Alex) 28 4 75 4 18.75 2/21 2.67Duffin, T (K) 2.4 0 12 0 — — 4.50Durham, A M (HSC) 27 2 107 8 13.37 3/19 3.96Ervine, C (OH) 16 0 104 3 34.66 3/43 6.50Ervine, S M (K) 22.4 1 133 7 19.00 4/58 5.86Evans, C N (OG) 38.3 3 160 4 40.00 2/24 4.15Ewing, G M (BAC) 36.3 2 169 2 84.50 2/45 4.63Ewing, K (Q) 5 0 21 0 — — 4.20Flower, A (Mut) 7 1 12 1 12.00 1/12 1.71Flower, G W (OG) 27.5 2 60 8 7.50 4/14 2.15Fraser, A (OG) 3 0 21 2 10.50 2/21 7.00Friend, T J (K) 20 2 93 7 13.28 5/33 4.65Gilmour, A R G (Alex) 0.4 0 12 0 — — 18.00Gripper, T R (HSC) 37 6 106 4 26.50 2/20 2.86Hitz, J H (BAC) 3 0 31 0 — — 10.33Hoffman, A P (BAC) 50.2 6 248 11 22.54 4/29 4.92Hondo, D T (U) 10 3 27 2 13.50 2/27 2.70Johnston-Robertson, G (HSC) 14 2 46 4 11.50 3/18 3.28Karamba, T (K) 1 0 4 0 — — 4.00Koen, B (HSC) 6.1 0 29 2 14.50 2/29 4.70Kugotsi, A (Mut) 7 0 55 1 55.00 1/34 7.85Lamb, G A (K) 9 1 40 2 20.00 2/20 4.44Lewis, J M (Mut) 21 6 62 6 10.33 5/25 2.95Lombard, R (Q) 12 0 75 0 — — 6.25Lurie, A (HSC) 3 0 22 0 — — 7.33Mackay, A J (OG) 44.2 7 121 11 11.00 3/21 2.72Macmillan, C (K) 41 2 175 9 19.44 3/38 4.26Mahwire, N B (U) 15.2 1 97 1 97.00 1/27 6.32Makoni, G (T) 2 0 18 2 9.00 2/18 9.00Makunura, S T (T) 12.3 0 52 4 13.00 4/14 4.23Manyande, R N (T) 21 1 113 2 56.50 2/53 5.38Marillier, D A (Alex) 37.5 0 173 3 57.66 1/36 4.57Marillier, S J (Alex) 29.1 1 159 5 31.80 2/22 5.45Marisa, S (Q) 7.3 0 46 0 — — 6.13Masakadza, H (T) 2 0 9 1 9.00 1/9 4.50Matambanadzo, D R (U) 31 0 138 3 46.00 3/60 4.45Matsikenyeri, S (T) 25 3 100 7 14.28 3/43 4.00Maungwa, A (T) 12 1 40 4 10.00 3/17 3.33Mbangwa, M (Q) 14 1 46 1 46.00 1/35 3.28Mboyi, T (Q) 14 0 103 1 103.00 1/34 7.35Mbwembwe, A (T) 20 2 91 2 45.50 1/17 4.55McKillop, M G (BAC) 1 0 5 0 — — 5.00Meth, K (Q) 15 0 68 2 34.00 1/24 4.53Mhandu, A (HSC) 24 1 158 3 52.66 2/44 6.58Mukondiwa, N (BAC) 24 2 130 2 65.00 1/19 5.41Mupariwa, T (BAC) 34.2 3 157 6 26.16 3/49 4.57Murphy, B A (U) 50 6 183 8 22.87 4/26 3.66Mutendera, D T (U/T) 14 1 68 1 68.00 1/18 4.85Mutendera, L (HSC) 1 0 8 0 — — 8.00Mutendera, L (HSC) 3.1 0 20 0 — — 6.31Muzah, G (T) 1 0 9 0 — — 9.00Mwayenga, A (HSC) 26 2 119 10 11.90 5/34 4.57Mwayenga, W (OG) 35 4 138 9 15.33 4/35 3.94Neethling, A J C (OG) 4 0 33 0 — — 8.25Nicolle, J S (BAC) 36 1 201 7 28.71 3/32 5.58Nicolle, M (BAC) 5 0 54 0 — — 10.80Nkala, M L (Q) 26 1 132 3 44.00 2/31 5.07Nyumbu, J (Q) 30 1 145 6 24.16 3/55 4.83Olonga, H K (T) 30 5 97 4 24.25 2/39 3.23Panyangara, T (T) 19 2 85 4 21.25 3/29 4.47Penney, A (HSC) 7 0 28 0 — — 4.00Price, R W (K) 32.4 11 65 4 16.25 2/21 1.98Rennie, G J (Alex) 25 3 92 2 46.00 2/6 3.68Rinke, H P (OH) 48 4 220 3 73.33 2/29 4.58Rogers, B G (U) 37 2 148 5 29.60 2/25 4.00Ruswa, T (T) 2 0 23 0 — — 11.50Sanders, C J (K) 8 0 62 0 — — 7.75Sanyika, B (U) 15 0 104 3 34.66 3/39 6.93Scrooby, D (K) 3 0 18 0 — — 6.00Shah, S (U) 14 0 78 2 39.00 2/34 5.57Sims, R W (Mut) 29.2 6 66 5 13.20 2/5 2.25Smith, H (OH) 3 0 10 0 — — 3.33Soma, A D (Mut) 7 0 58 2 29.00 2/52 8.28Soma, L J (Mut) 29.1 2 96 9 10.66 5/32 3.29Staddon, B (BAC) 6 1 52 0 — — 8.67Stannard, D D (Alex) 45.4 2 174 4 43.50 1/17 3.81Strang, P A (OH) 17 3 65 1 65.00 1/23 3.82Strydom, G M (Q) 7 1 36 1 36.00 1/36 5.14Swanepoel, G (Q) 2 0 11 0 — — 5.50Taylor, A L (Mut) 2 0 23 0 — — 11.50Taylor, K J (Mut) 8.5 2 36 4 9.00 4/19 4.07Townshend, M W (Q) 9 0 66 0 — — 7.33Utseya, P (T) 42.4 11 126 5 25.20 3/25 2.95van Rensburg, N R (Q) 18 0 74 2 37.00 2/36 4.11Vaughan-Davies, M J (K) 39 5 159 8 19.87 3/35 4.07Vermeulen, M A (HSC) 10.4 0 70 2 35.00 1/32 6.56Viljoen, D P (K) 33.2 3 122 6 20.33 2/23 3.67Went, K P R (Mut) 1 0 20 0 — — 20.00Whittall, G J (Mut) 12 3 37 3 12.33 2/28 3.08Williams, S (BAC) 15 1 76 3 25.33 3/44 5.0610 OR MORE WICKETSO M R W Av. Best RateBlignaut, A M (Alex) 45.4 5 215 12 17.91 6/18 4.70Mackay, A J (OG) 44.2 7 121 11 11.00 3/21 2.72Hoffman, A P (BAC) 50.2 6 248 11 22.54 4/29 4.92Mwayenga, A (HSC) 26 2 119 10 11.90 5/34 4.57Croxford, G M (U) 42 2 184 10 18.40 4/29 4.38Bennett, R J (OG) 43.3 2 242 10 24.20 3/34 5.56BEST AVERAGES (25 overs)O M R W Av. Best RateFlower, G W (OG) 27.5 2 60 8 7.50 4/14 2.15Soma, L J (Mut) 29.1 2 96 9 10.66 5/32 3.29Mackay, A J (OG) 44.2 7 121 11 11.00 3/21 2.72Mwayenga, A (HSC) 26 2 119 10 11.90 5/34 4.57Sims, R W (Mut) 29.2 6 66 5 13.20 2/5 2.25Durham, A M (HSC) 27 2 107 8 13.37 3/19 3.96Matsikenyeri, S (T) 25 3 100 7 14.28 3/43 4.00Bala, S (HSC) 50 11 121 8 15.12 3/22 2.42Mwayenga, W (OG) 35 4 138 9 15.33 4/35 3.94Blignaut, A M (Alex) 45.4 5 215 12 17.91 6/18 4.70 Croxford, G M (U) 42 2 184 10 18.40 4/29 4.38Macmillan, C (K) 41 2 175 9 19.44 3/38 4.26Vaughan-Davies, M J (K) 39 5 159 8 19.87 3/35 4.07BEST RUN RATES (25 or more overs)O M R W Av. Best RatePrice, R W (K) 32.4 11 65 4 16.25 2/21 1.98Flower, G W (OG) 27.5 2 60 8 7.50 4/14 2.15Sims, R W (Mut) 29.2 6 66 5 13.20 2/5 2.25Bala, S (HSC) 50 11 121 8 15.12 3/22 2.42du Plessis, G (Alex) 28 4 75 4 18.75 2/21 2.67Mackay, A J (OG) 44.2 7 121 11 11.00 3/21 2.72Gripper, T R (HSC) 37 6 106 4 26.50 2/20 2.86Utseya, P (T) 42.4 11 126 5 25.20 3/25 2.95

A second round of interviews will be undertaken before the appointment of a coach for the CLEAR Black Caps is announced.The board of New Zealand Cricket at its meeting today was briefed about the short-listed candidates and was advised the New Zealand team manager Jeff Crowe will also be involved in the process.He was not available for the first round of interviews due to an overseas commitment.New Zealand Cricket’s operations manager John Reid said today: “The inclusion of Jeff Crowe in a second round of interviews with the leading candidates will add an important team management perspective and is crucial to the decision-making process.”It was expected an appointment might be made today by the board, and annnounced next week.However, the board said there was no urgency in the appointment and they wanted to make sure the decision was right.The position will be made in time for the successful candidate to be able to join the New Zealand team on its tour of Pakistan in September.

Wolverhampton Wanderers sealed a Premier League double over West Midlands rivals Aston Villa with a 2-1 win this afternoon.

The win cements bragging rights for the Molineux faithful in his particular rivalry and moves the Old Gold up to seventh place overnight.

Bruno Lage will be impressed with his side after they bounced back from the disappointing 3-2 defeat against Leeds United just before the international break, with Jonny Otto opening the scoring and an Ashley Young own goal ultimately giving Wolves the three points.

Although the victory means that they have now won three of their last four games, questions over why 19-year-old Fabio Silva has not featured more this season may become pertinent.

At such a young age, the Portuguese starlet has “enormous potential” according to Daily Mail senior sports reporter Ollie Lewis, and although his underlying stats do not flatter him, he put in a spectacular performance for Wolves this afternoon.

Silva realising his potential for Wolves

Whilst his hold-up play demonstrated maturity and his physicality caused issues among the Villa defence, Silva’s ability to create space for team-mates was reminiscent of an old-fashioned centre-forward from yesteryear, as he grafted throughout a display which more than repaid Bruno Lage’s faith in him in what was just his third Premier League start this season.

The former Porto prospect has struggled to get to grips with the English game, and those who solely rely on statistics would have believed that the 19-year-old capitulated today. Although the young striker had fewer touches than both goalkeepers and completed just 12 passes, the fewest of any Wolves starter, it was a performance which could only be valued through the ‘eye test’.

Writing in his post-match player ratings for Birmingham Live, Alex Dicken awarded the teenager an eight, with the summary of: “Other than a first goal of the season, there wasn’t a great deal missing from Silva’s display. In just his third Premier League start of the season, Silva showed intelligence and awareness to get the better of Villa’s physically imposing defensive duo. The 19-year-old’s link up play with Trincao and Podence was very good.”

Nonetheless, Silva will have been questioning how his name evaded the scoresheet, with his two big chances providing an xG total of 0.50. Those kind of chances from that specific area of the pitch would certainly go in for him on another day.

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At a time when Raul Jimenez is serving his initial two-match ban, the Portuguese youngster has just put in a performance which will surely put him in contention to achieve his first back-to-back Premier League starts under Lage this season when Wolves make the trip to Newcastle next Friday.

In other news – Lage could finally unearth Wolves’ new Diogo Jota in “unpredictable” £33m creator

Cricinfo has learned that the new USA Cricket Association constitution has been approved by 74% of clubs which voted, although the turnout was disappointingly small.Only 180 of the 677 clubs who could have voted did so, despite the deadline being extended. Of the votes received, more than a quarter, surprisingly high number, were rejected for a variety of technicalities. Of the ballots accepted, 97 voted yes and 34 no.This now means that fresh elections have to be held within 30 days, although critics of the board are certain to be unhappy with way that the USACA has handled the process, especially the inordinate delay in announcing the results of a poll of less than 200 votes. Oddly, although Dehring released the results to the USACA, they were not immediately announced, as he requested, because Paul DaSilva, the secretary, wanted approval from his executive before he released them.The news means that Chris Dehring, appointed by the ICC as an independent third party, has been able to hand over a democratically-approved constitution which will provide the basis of a new platform for the USACA to operate under. No more could have been asked of him.It is, however, unlikely to be the end of the bitter rows which have blighted US cricket for several years. The low turnout will be used by critics of the current board to show the level of apathy among stakeholders and that, in effect, the approval came from less than 14% of the total clubs.

Shane Watson is one of several international players who will not represent their states this weekend © Getty Images

Australia are taking no chances on further injuries ahead of the World Cup and have ordered their squad members not to play for their states in the Ford Ranger Cup final on Sunday. Queensland had named Shane Watson and Mitchell Johnson, while Victoria were expected to play Brad Hodge in the MCG clash.Matthew Hayden was originally included in the Bulls’ line-up but was ruled out when he broke a toe during his record-breaking 181 against New Zealand on Tuesday. Andrew Symonds (arm) and Brett Lee (ankle) are already in doubt for the West Indies trip and Michael Clarke is carrying a hip problem, leading the selectors to be extra-cautious with their remaining players.Andrew Hilditch, the chairman of selectors, said he had discussed the situation with Hodge, Watson and Johnson. “All three are being rested on the recommendation of the Australian coach and support staff on the basis that this is in the best interests of the Australian team as they continue their preparation for the World Cup,” Hilditch said.The decision angered Terry Oliver, the Queensland coach, who said his players should be available unless they are injured. “If there is a plan to rest players just for the sake of being rested, I’d be very disappointed,” Oliver told . “There is a duty under their contracts to play state cricket. I have had a look at the schedule for the World Cup and it’s not that heavy. Watto [Watson] is one bloke who would certainly benefit from this game of cricket on the weekend.”Australia’s move came as Johnson told the paper he would require “clean-up” injections for a minor injury to his right ankle. John Buchanan, the Australia coach, said it would be disappointing for the state competition that the stars would not be there but it was a necessary precaution.”Having been a state coach I understand the position of the states and recognise that this is a premier fixture in the domestic calendar,” Buchanan said. “But in this case I believe there’s a bigger picture and that’s the World Cup and the preparation of players in the Australian squad for that tournament.”