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Queensland will rely on an inexperienced line-up to push them to a fourth FR Cup victory in a row when they encounter New South Wales in Brisbane on Wednesday. After beating South Australia last week, the Bulls have had their team cut down by representative calls and will miss Matthew Hayden, James Hopes, Mitchell Johnson, Ashley Noffke and Andrew Symonds, who are preparing to face New Zealand this week.The fringe fast bowlers Scott Brant, Chris Swan and Grant Sullivan were promoted and the batsman Nathan Reardon was also included. Michael Kasprowicz and Shane Watson will provide the side with much-needed nous while Jimmy Maher, the captain, has extra batting responsibility as his team tries to close the gap on the leaders Tasmania.Both Watson and Kasprowicz showed strong patches of form on Wednesday after struggling with injury. Kasprowicz put Queensland on track for victory with 3 for 38 while Watson helped finish the match with 70. The Bulls are in second on 16 points, seven behind the Tigers.New South Wales have made one change with Daniel Smith replacing Brad Haddin, who is also in Australia’s Chappell-Hadlee squad. The Blues’ match against South Australia at Wollongong on Sunday was abandoned without a ball being bowled and they have not won an FR Cup game since November last year.Queensland squad Shane Watson, Jimmy Maher (capt), Clinton Perren, Aaron Nye, Craig Philipson, Nathan Reardon, Chris Simpson, Chris Hartley (wk), Michael Kasprowicz, Chris Swan, Scott Brant, Grant Sullivan.New South Wales squad Phillip Hughes, Phil Jaques, Peter Forrest, Simon Katich (capt), Dominic Thornely, Steve Smith, Daniel Smith (wk), Moises Henriques, Nathan Hauritz, Matthew Nicholson, Mark Cameron, Doug Bollinger.

Glamorgan’s Alex Wharf has been rewarded for his instant impact in England’s one-day side, by earning a call-up for next week’s Champions Trophy.Wharf, 29, grabbed a wicket with his fifth ball in international cricket at Trent Bridge on Wednesday, followed up with two more in his next two overs, and was named Man of the Match for his sparkling display.His inclusion in the Champions Trophy squad was signed and sealed by the International Cricket Council’s technical committee, after it was revealed that Kabir Ali had failed to recover from a side strain. England play their opening Champions Trophy match against Zimbabwe at Edgbaston next Friday.South Africa and Pakistan have also had changes to their squad approved. Charl Langeveldt has been called up in place of Andre Nel, while Azhar Mahmood comes in for Shabbir Ahmed. Shabbir is likely to be out for another six weeks after being diagnosed with a cartilage tear in his knee. Mahmood, who is with Surrey at the moment, will take his place.Andre Nel, the South African fast bowler, will also miss the tournament. Nel didn’t play in the Tests on the tour to Sri Lanka and was forced to fly home after failing to recover from a back strain. He was replaced by Langeveldt, who impressed with his medium-pace, with 3 for 31, in one of the one-dayers.

A record-breaking stand of 125 in 24 overs for the 6th wicket between TrevorWard and Paul Nixon completely transformed Leicestershire`s floodlit match with Glamorganat Sophia Gardens. Although Ward was dismissed for 104, his partnersaw his side home with an unbeaten 67, with the doughty wicket-keeper hitting the winning runs offthe last ball as Leicestershire won by 3 wickets.The pair had come together with their side on 52-5, chasing 227 to win, after aremarkable early spell from David Harrison who took 4 wickets for 3 runs in thespace of 14 balls. His victims included the prolific Brad Hodge and captain PhilipDe Freitas, and with 175 runs still required from 34 overs, Glamorgan looked tobe in the box seat.But Ward and Nixon carefully milked the Glamorgan bowlers and rotated the strike to keep thescoreboard ticking over, and maintain the asking rate of 5 an over. Ward was also not afraid toopen his shoulders, and theirstand, a record in all one-day cricket against Glamorgan, turned the game around asWard reached his first League century of the season.Shortly after reaching three figures, Ward chipped Robert Croft into David Hemp`shands at mid-wicket, and the equation was 50 runs from the final 49 balls. JeremySnape then came in to give Nixon valiant support, and they added a further 44 runsbefore Snape was fortunate to survive an attempted run out in the penultimate overbowled by Adrian Dale.Andrew Davies returned to bowl the final over with 6 runs still required, and aftera scampered leg bye and a dot ball, Snape lofted the ball into the air and Hemptook another good running catch. However, the batsmen had crossed and Nixon was ableto loft the penultimate ball to the boundary fence to bring the scores level, beforehitting the winning runs off the final ball.Earlier , Michael Powell had made a career best 91* as the Welsh countytook first use of a slow Sophia Gardens wicket, and he anchored their innings of 226-7 afterhis side had slipped to 114-5 in the 30th over. He then shared a record 6th wicket partnershipfor Glamorgan against Leicestershire with Mark Wallace, adding 78 in 11 overs as the pair upped thetempo against a Leicestershire side whose fielding at times was rather laboured.Powell survived a sharp chance when on 48 and then recorded his third consecutivehalf-century before picking off some wayward bowling as Glamorgan scored 85 in thefinal 10 overs. During the course of his innings Powell also passed 500 runs for the season in thecompetition – the first time he has passed this landmark – and his 91* came from 92 balls with 8fours and a six.

All Today’s Yesterdays – August 9 down the yearsAugust 8 | August 101992
The last day of Test cricket for David Gower, bowled for 1 by Waqar Younis in the second innings as Pakistan won by ten wickets at The Oval to take the series 2-1. In the previous two Tests, Gower had scored 73 and 31 not out – so there seemed to be something personal in Graham Gooch’s decision not to take him to India that winter, an omission that did England no good. Gower’s languidly brilliant shotmaking brought him 8231 Test runs, an England record broken shortly afterwards by … Gooch himself.1991
The day Ian Botham “just, just couldn’t quite get his leg over”. Botham’s hit-wicket dismissal against West Indies at The Oval sparked that comment from Jonathan Agnew, and a fit of hysterics in the Test Match Special box as Agnew and Brian Johnston fought an irresistible attack of the giggles. Johnston was still fighting for composure long after Agnew had given up the ghost, and the exchange has been replayed time and time again since.1977
As well as taking 143 Test wickets for England, Chris Old could bat a bit, as he showed in hammering a century in only 37 minutes for Yorkshire v Warwickshire at Edgbaston. He hit six sixes and 13 fours and scored his second fifty in only nine minutes.1976
In a typically powerful and merciless assault, West Indies captain Clive Lloyd scored an unbeaten 201 against Glamorgan at Swansea. Wisden called it “the fastest double century since Gilbert Jessop’s days in 1903”. In the next match of the tour, Lloyd’s side completed a 3-0 series win over England.1944
Birth of Terry Jenner, a Test legspinner who was best known for being hit on the head by England fast bowler John Snow at Sydney in 1970-71 but made a genuine contribution to Test cricket by recognising and nurturing the talent of Shane Warne.1965
Hostile fast bowler Peter Pollock completed his second five-wicket haul of the match to win the Trent Bridge Test. It was South Africa’s last Test victory in England until 1994.1926
Birth of Denis Atkinson, who took 47 Test wickets but is best remembered for his only Test hundred. Facing an Australian total of 668 at Bridgetown in 1954-55, West Indies were 146 for 7 when Atkinson was joined by Clairmonte Depeiza. Their stand of 347 was a record for the seventh wicket in first-class cricket. Atkinson scored 219 then took 5 for 65 to become the first to do that double in Tests. His brother Eric also played Test cricket.1946
Death of Ernie Vogler, one of the quartet of South African googly bowlers who toured England in 1907. The following winter, he took all ten wickets in an innings for Eastern Province – and his 36 wickets helped win the 1909-10 series against England. As far as Wisden can discover, he was the first batsman to be dismissed for a king pair in Test cricket, at Sydney in 1910-11. Some modern sources call him Bert – but one of his contemporaries, BJT Bosanquet the inventor of the googly, referred to him as Ernest.Other birthdays
1897 Ted Badcock (New Zealand)
1902 Edward “Nobby” Clark (England)
1911 Khurshed Meher-Homji (India)

Titans 184 for 5 (Rudolph 46, Kemp 48) beat Eagles 94(Bosman 42, Thomas 3-20, Reddy 3-27) by 90 runs
ScorecardThe Titans demonstrated how much they had learned from their first match of the Standard Bank PRO20 series, as they compiled 184 for 5 second time around, against the Eagles at Bloemfontein. After winning the toss and batting first, Jacques Rudolph anchored the innings with 46 from 45 balls, allowing Justin Kemp to crack 48 from 24 deliveries, including three boundaries and four sixes. Gerald Dross then added 35 from 20 and right at the end of the innings Daryll Cullinan had a ball, belting 16 off only five balls.The Eagles stumbled at first, as they lost three wickets in four overs, all to Alfonso Thomas. Loots Bosman briefly looked as though he might repeat his efforts at the weekend, but he was running out of partners when he was bowled for 42. Brendon Reddy then wrapped up the tail, taking 3 for 27 in his four overs to help the Titans to the bonus point.

Though a number of changes are likely to take place in the Pakistan domestic structure, the board will not do away with the inter-departmental tournaments, which will remain an integral part of the format. Talking to The News, Shaharyar Khan, the chairman of the Pakistan board, said that televising domestic matches and formulating a new code of conduct, which would require players to play a minimum number of matches to qualify for selection to the national team, were also likely.Shaharyar also stressed the role of the departments and banks. “In the new format,” Shaharyar said, “we will allow the top eight departments and banks to compete in a first-class tournament and a one-day competition while there will be no limit on number of departments, organisations and banks in the grade two competition which would be held on a promotion and relegation basis.”Shaharyar said that the new domestic format would be announced later this week and that it would be in place on an experimental basis for the next three years. “We have now got to the final stages of finalising the domestic structure and in this regard I would be holding a meeting with former players on Tuesday and then we will have a meeting with the Advisory Council members on Wednesday.”There was also a chance, according to Shaharyar, that the board might consider increasing the number of regional teams in the premier first-class competition. He also confirmed that there would be a final in the regional tournament from next year.About the introduction of the Twenty20 Cup, Shaharyar said that it would be held in the festive season of Ramzan and was being introduced to serve as entertainment for the younger generation and the families. He added, “We are not going to treat Twenty 20 Cup as a barometer for judging any player but we will try to ensure the best players take part in this competition.”

Sri Lanka could pose a major threat to Australia’s supremacy in international cricket after picking Tom Moody as their new national coach, says skipper Marvan Atapattu.Sri Lanka are second behind Australia in the one-day rankings, but Atapattu hopes his team will now be able to threaten their position and put up a strong performance in the 2007 World Cup under Moody.”We are now No. 2 on the ICC’s one-day rankings. We need to go one notch up to get to the pinnacle and hope we’ll be able to achieve that with the new coach,” Atapattu told AFP on Tuesday. “He [Moody] has been part of a great team and has been highly regarded as a coach. I hope with his fresh ideas we’ll be able to achieve a higher level of consistency.”Moody, 39, who played significant roles as an allrounder in Australia’s World Cup triumphs in 1987 and 1999, was named as Sri Lanka’s new coach last week. Moody immediately set his sights on the 2007 World Cup in the West Indies, saying his aim would be to make Sri Lanka more competitive, especially away from home.”Our main focus obviously will be on the World Cup,” Moody said last week. “I’d like to think that the journey between now and 2007 is a process towards a successful campaign in the West Indies. “We as a team should achieve one of the top three positions in Test standings and in order to get there we need to improve on our form at home and away. That will be one of my main areas of concern.”Moody, who played eight Tests and 76 one-dayers, will arrive here next month to prepare Sri Lanka for two home Test matches against the West Indies in July and then a triangular one-day series also featuring India.Chaminda Vaas echoed Atapattu’s sentiments, saying Moody’s presence will make the team stronger. “I appreciate his desire to succeed,” said Vaas. “He’s very young and aware of the requirements of the modern game. He knows how to get the best out of players. I’m sure he’ll enjoy his stint with the Sri Lankan players who will benefit from him a lot. What I like most about him is his preparation ahead of a game. I’ve been part of the Worcestershire dressing-room for a couple of months and I feel he’s a coach with a difference who will have an impact on the Sri Lankan side.”Vaas is currently playing county cricket for Worcestershire, where Moody is director of cricket, but with a “getaway” clause which will make him free to take on the new job. Moody was also in the running to coach India before losing out to his compatriot Greg Chappell.

Tasmania 7 for 219 (Watson 63, Bailey 52*) beat Victoria 218 (Berry 64, Butterworth 3-33, Kremerskothen 3-35) by three wickets
Scorecard

Tasmania recorded their first win of the ING Cup season, effectively killing off any hopes that Victoria may have had of winning the trophy. In sweltering heat at the MCG, Tasmania emerged victorious by three wickets chasing a Victorian total of 218 all out. Shane Watson was the hero, belting 63 after claiming 2 for 15 with the ball.Tasmania slumped to 4 for 90, but Watson and George Bailey (52*) gutsed it out to ensure an upset. Shane Warne was a peripheral figure in his comeback game, finishing with 1 for 48, and scoring only 7.Victoria remain on 23 points, with Queensland (28) and Western Australia (29) now favourites to contest the final on February 29 . Victoria will need an overwhelming victory against Western Australia next weekend to have any chance.Victoria won the toss, but were quickly in trouble, losing 3 for 31 in seven overs. It didn’t get any better, and when David Hussey – in superb form this season – was out for 25, they slumped to 6 for 83. It was left to Darren Berry, the wicketkeeper-captain, to get his team back on track. Berry made 64, and added 96 with Andrew McDonald.

Warne lasted only 12 balls before popping a return catch to Scott Kremerskothen, who finished with impressive figures of 3 for 35. Luke Butterworth was the other bowling star, with 3 for 33.With the temperature soaring past 40 degrees, Tasmania were given a decent start by Michael Di Venuto (45). But when Warne trapped Daniel Marsh leg before for 5, Tasmania were in trouble. But Watson and Bailey saw off Warne, and edged Tasmania close to victory with a 94-run partnership.Watson was superbly caught by Matthew Elliott off the bowling of Michael Lewis, but despite some more wobbles, Tasmania got home with three overs to spare. Both Lewis and Cameron White finished with two wickets apiece, but Victoria were left to rue an indifferent batting display.

Mickey Arthur, the newly appointed coach of South Africa, has asked his team to stick to their own gameplan on the tour to Australia in December 2005.”When we play against them at the end of the year I want the team to play our own game and not try and follow their play,” Arthur was quoted as saying in News24.com website. “When they bat at four runs per over I don’t want us to try and bat at four-and-a-half runs to the over. We should not worry about what they do, but rather play to our own strengths and as well as we possibly can.”The tour includes three Tests and a triangular series also involving Australia and Sri Lanka, and Arthur said that there was a possibility the team might leave a week early to fit in an extra warm-up game before the first Test, which starts on December 16. “We’d like to play such a game at the WACA where the Test is being played. The match against Western Australia can’t be played on that pitch because it will then be prepared for the Test.”Speaking about Australia’s below-average one-day show against England, Arthur said, “There seem to be a few cracks in the ODI team, but with the return of Shane Warne their Test side is still tops. What I do like, however, is that they are increasingly being put under pressure and they don’t seem to handle it very well. Their major problem is that the senior players are not performing as expected.”

Ricky Ponting may be happy with Australia’s performance but the side’s success means more selection difficulties for the New Zealand series.Darren Lehmann’s torn hamstring spared a tough call in Mumbai and he is again fighting for a place with Michael Clarke, who averaged 57 in his first series, and Simon Katich for the first Test, starting at Brisbane next Thursday.”I know Darren Lehmann still has a lot of good Test cricket left in him but when someone like Michael performs as well as he did on the last tour he looks to be the future of Australian cricket,” Ponting told reporters. “It’s going to be very hard for the selectors.”Ponting, who missed the first three Tests with a broken thumb, said he hoped Australia would play another series in India before 2010, when the next one is scheduled. “The most disappointing thing for me when I got injured at the start of this tour was that I had a very poor time last time. I’m sure that I have some very unfinished business in India.”He added that he was confident that Shane Warne would be fit to face New Zealand. “It seems he’s pretty likely to come up for the Brisbane Test. He believed that in 10 to 14 days, he should be right.”And after calling for an ICC inquiry into the state of the pitch for the fourth Test at Mumbai, Ponting was still critical of the wicket. “To have the whole series ruined by a very poor surface in the last Test was very disappointing for all the players and spectators.”