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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.

Western Province 217 and 62 for 1 lead KwaZulu-Natal 187 (H Amla 78*, Henderson 3-27) by 92 runs
Scorecard
Western Province reclaimed the initiative in the SuperSportSeries final at Newlands, as KwaZulu-Natal were bowled out for a mere 187 in their first innings. By the close of the second day, WP had extended their lead to 92, with nine wickets still standing.Natal had resumed on 33 for 1, and found the going just as hard as their opponents had on the first day. The two Amla brothers proved how difficult it was, scoring just 14 runs in a partnership that lasted for 14.1 overs.On a bowler-friendly pitch, Hashim Amla showed a lot of patience to held the innings together with an unbeaten 78, while Claude Henderson, in his last first-class match in South Africa, took 3 for 27 and was ably assisted by all the Province bowlers.Bad light once again caused an early finish, although with 21 wickets in two days, one wonders if this final will last the full five days.

PERTH, Feb 28 AAP – New South Wales’ ambitions of making the Pura Cup cricket final lifted dramatically today as it moved towards outright points over Western Australia at the WACA Ground.WA was still in deep trouble at 3-216 in its second innings, despite a spirited unbeaten fourth wicket stand of 140 between Chris Rogers (89) and Marcus North (69).The Warriors still needed another 92 runs to make the Blues bat again at the end of the second day.And with second-placed Victoria struggling against Queensland at the Gabba, the Blues are on track to be equal points with the Bushrangers heading into the final round.The star-studded Blues are peaking at the business end of the season and look in ominous shape after securing the ING Cup trophy last Sunday.NSW host Queensland next week while Victoria play the Warriors at the MCG in what looks likely to decide the Bulls’ opponents for the final starting March 14.The Blues totally outclassed WA with some tight bowling and outstanding catching today while some undisciplined batting from the home side only aided the visitors’ cause.Resuming at 3-353, Steve Waugh closed the Blues’ first dig at 8(dec)-418 before dismissing the home team for a paltry 110.WA’s opening reply started disastrously, slumping to 3-28 at lunch after wicketkeeper Brad Haddin’s spectacular catch to dismiss Murray Goodwin (2) and captain Justin Langer’s (22) reckless stroke against burly Don Nash.The Test opener had hit a four over point the previous delivery and was attempting the same shot which flew into the safe hands of Mark Waugh in slips in the final ball of the session.Steve Waugh’s decision to bring on rarely-used medium pacer Greg Mail (4-18) proved an inspired one.The 28-year-old right-armer further stamped his mark on the match, backing up his 90 in the first innings with a four-wicket haul from just 6.1 overs.Mail had only bowled 15 overs in 26 first class outings before today, taking just two wickets for 51 runs.However his gentle out-swingers troubled WA after Stuart Clark (3-38) and Nash (2-28) had ripped through the top order.Forced to follow-on, Langer (33) came out in a hurry with his first seven scoring shots all boundaries in the second innings.But the left-hander again fell to NSW left-armer Doug Bollinger (2-36), who Waugh hinted before the match had the wood on the 59-Test veteran.Murray Goodwin (4) exited soon after but not before swinging his bat in disgust at his stumps after playing on to a Nash (1-8) delivery.ACB-contracted batsman Michael Hussey (12) continued a disappointing summer by feathering a catch down the leg side to Haddin for Bollinger’s second.However Rogers and North’s partnership handed WA a glimmer of hope at the end of an otherwise ordinary day for the Warriors.

Daren Ganga’s fourth career first-class century was the highlight of the finalday of the four-day match between the West Indies and Kenya which ended in adraw at the Mombasa Sports Ground on Sunday.Ganga made 105 as the West Indies batted through the last day of the match,reduced to three playing days following the washout on Saturday. In reply toKenya’s first innings total of 290, the tourists were 403 for 8 when play wascalled off half an hour early at 5pm yesterday.Four other West Indian batsmen reached their half-century yesterday. ChrisGayle, continuing his outstanding form from the Zimbabwean leg of the tour,made 84, sharing an opening partnership of 160 with Gayle. Both fell to thebowling of Steve Tikolo, Gayle’s wicket the result of a superb running catch atthe long-on boundary by Martin Suji. Ganga’s 105 came from 213 balls andincluded 15 fours.Wavell Hinds made an even 50, wicketkeeper-captain Courtney Browne 56, and allrounder Neil McGarrell 54 not out. Best bowler for Kenya was the captain,Maurice Odumbe, who bowled 41 overs of off-spin in the West Indian innings totake 3/71, including the wickets of Hinds, Ramnaresh Sarwan (18) and MarlonSamuels (17). Odumbe also took the catch to remove Leon Garrick for a duck.Tony Suji and Collins Otieno Omondi were the remaining wicket-takers for Kenya.Kenya and the West India will play a three-match series of one-dayinternationals at various grounds in Nairobi on Wednesday, Saturday and Sunday.

Zimbabwe batsman Mark Vermeulen has been banned from all cricket by Zimbabwe Cricket after it emerged that he had engaged in a racist tirade on social media during which he referred to black Zimbabweans as “apes”.”Racism is abominable and there can be no defence for it,” said a statement released by Zimbabwe Cricket. “Mark Vermeulen has been banned from participating in all cricket activities, after he owned up to repulsive remarks that reflect racism, prejudice and plain ignorance. We find Vermeulen’s Facebook comment distasteful and unacceptable, particularly for a senior sportsman who should have learned from playing in Zimbabwe and abroad that there is no place for racism in sport.”Vermeulen had posted his comment in July, on a thread underneath an article posted on Facebook about Prosper Utseya’s letter to the ZC Board, which alleged that racism persisted in Zimbabwean cricket. Though Vermeulen subsequently deleted the comment, a screenshot eventually made its way into the public sphere, again on social media.ESPNcricinfo has seen the screenshot of the comment, which talked of “white people” having “fxxxd up the apes’ lives”. “If we… had never educated them, Prosper wouldn’t be having these problems,” it said.As the reaction to his comment gathered steam online, it is believed that some members of Vermeulen’s domestic franchise, Mashonaland Eagles, insisted they would boycott any team with Vermeulen in it. The administration of the franchise met today to decide how to respond, and this evening it was confirmed that Vermeulen has been banned from all cricket activities by Zimbabwe Cricket.Vermeulen had issued a public statement, which was reproduced in local newspapers today, and which he called an apology. In it, Vermeulen said that he had apologised personally to Utseya and that “he accepted my apology”.”I know my comments were over the top and I apologise to all that I have offended,” continued Vermeulen’s statement. “But as a cricketer, it’s how our minds work… It was not meant in a menacing way. It was just a chirp that often happens out on the field of play and as men, you take the blow on the chin and get on with the game.”Behavioural and disciplinary issues have long been a problem for Vermeulen, with trouble surfacing as early as his high school days in Harare in the mid-1990s. He was banned from representing his school, Prince Edward High in Harare, for walking off with the stumps after receiving a poor lbw decision and locking himself in the changing room.His fierce desire to succeed as a cricketer led to a Test debut in 2002, but two years later he was struck on the head by a bouncer from Irfan Pathan at the Gabba, during a tri-series in Australia. The injury, which replicated one he had suffered in 2003, when he was struck on the head by fast bowler Travis Friend while batting in the nets, required urgent surgery, and Vermeulen’s behaviour became increasingly erratic. He was banned from playing cricket in England for ten years after an altercation with some spectators during a club game and, most infamously, he burned down Zimbabwe’s cricket academy in 2006 in retaliation for being overlooked by the national side.Vermeulen was acquitted of charges of arson in 2008, on the grounds that he had been suffering psychiatric problems, including partial complex epilepsy and impulsive behaviour disorder, ever since his injury in Australia. Remarkably, Vermeulen returned to international cricket with a one-day half-century against Bangladesh the following year, but his form tailed off and, though he played for every domestic franchise in the country in his efforts to win a national contract, it seemed his days as an international cricketer were over. Yet Vermeulen was called upon once more in 2014, re-selected by coach Steve Mangongo and convener of selectors Givemore Makoni, for a one-off Test against South Africa. There had also been talk that Vermeulen was hoping to win yet another recall for the upcoming series against Bangladesh.

Paras Dogra’s unbeaten 97 got Himachal Pradesh to 259 and then Vishal Bhatia took four wickets to bowl out Jharkhand 30 runs short of target in Visakhapatnam.Half-centuries from Sandeep Sharma and Manoj Sharma laid the platform for Paras’ 104-ball innings which included six fours and two sixes. Paras and Manvinder Bisla added 53 for the fourth wicket but the middle order didn’t push home the advantage. The last six wickets fell for 65 runs. But in the end the target set by Himachal was more than enough.Ishank Jaggi (55) led Jharkhand’s chase along with Saurabh Tiwary (40) and the two added 72 together before Jaggi was caught and bowled by Sarandeep Singh. When Tiwary was caught behind off Bhatia, Jharkhand needed 138 off 131 balls to win. Bhatia then removed Amir Hashmi and Santosh Lal in two consecutive overs and Jharkhand required 102 off 83 balls with four wickets in hand. The last four only managed to add 71 more.In the second match in Visakhapatnam, Tamil Nadu scored a six-wicket win over Madhya Pradesh after they bowled them out for 189 and chased the target with more than eight overs left.Shadab Khan top scored for MP with 39 and his 53-run stand with Murtaza Ali was the only one of any significance in the innings. Tamil Nadu gave eight of their players a chance to bowl and C Ganapathy, R Ashwin and S Badrinath picked up two wickets each. L Balaji, returning to competitive cricket after one and a half years, took 1 for 31 in his 7.2 overs.Badrinath hit an unbeaten 79 and added 62 with S Vidyut to take Tamil Nadu to an easy win.

Dwayne Bravo is looking to put the advice he has received from Brian Lara to good use when the third Test against England gets under way at Old Trafford on Thursday. Lara could do nothing as his former team-mates slumped to a record innings and 283-run defeat in the second Test at Headingley.”Just last [Monday] night I was on the phone with Brian,” Bravo said. “He called me, having arrived in London. He is aware of everything that is going on. He still has a big interest in the team’s performance. At Lord’s [where West Indies drew the first Test] he was in the dressing room among the guys.”It is very nice to know that even after he called it a day he still has enough time to make himself available to the younger players. Brian has a special place in the heart of West Indian cricket and has a lot to offer still. Anything going wrong with our batters, whether it be Chris Gayle or Devon Smith, if he can’t get hold of them, he will pass it on to me.”West Indies technique against the swinging ball looked inadequate at Headingley where the cold conditions were far removed from those in the Caribbean, although they weren’t helped by being without Shivnarine Chanderpaul and Ramnaresh Sarwan. But Bravo, whose second-innings 52 at Headingley was a rare West Indies highlight, is hoping for better weather at Old Trafford, where three years ago he struck 77 and took six wickets in the first innings of a Test.”The weather is looking fine so far,” he said. “The pitch looks hard and that is our kind of cricket, where the ball is coming on to the bat and there is bounce for the fast bowlers.”

Simon Jones is all set to return to competitive cricket for the first time since recovering from his knee injury, when his county side Glamorgan take on Northamptonshire in a pre-season friendly on Thursday.Jones, one of the recipients of the prestigious at the Wisden 2006 launch on Tuesday, said he was raring to go after pulling out of the winter tour of India midway.”We’ve got a friendly at Northampton, and I’m fit and hoping to go there,” Jones told Sportinglife.com. “I’ve done a lot of hard work over the winter and I’m really looking forward to the first match.”Jones, one of the star performers during last year’s Ashes series, has missed plenty of cricket due to his recurring injury problems. He pulled out of the Ashes decider at The Oval last September due to an ankle injury, which subsequently ruled him out of the Pakistan tour. His participation in the India tour was unfortunately cut short after playing the first warm-up game at Mumbai, when he twisted his knee during a net session at Nagpur before the first Test.

John Buchanan, whose coaching contract expires in October, is confident of a renewal that will keep him in charge until after the World Cup. Buchanan, 52, told The Age discussions with Cricket Australia for a two-year deal were advanced and there were enough challenges to keep the world champions fresh after the Ashes tour.The Australians have been in camp this week tentatively planning for the England Tests and one-day tournaments, but they have also focussed beyond the trip, which starts tomorrow. “We’ve specifically avoided concentrating too much on this series because it’s a long tour,” Buchanan told the paper. “There will be time when we get there to really put our minds and training to what we’re going to do in England.”Buchanan said the side could still improve and use its skills more consistently, especially with its catching. “We can introduce some more tactics along the way that we’ve at least talked about and it’s now a case of how we implement those,” he said. “If myself or a player or the team believes that there aren’t new challenges and there aren’t things we can improve significantly in our games, then it’s time to move on.”The World Cup is already on Buchanan’s mind and he said he was hopeful of securing a place at the event following his discussions with Cricket Australia. “They’ve been good negotiations so far and I’m hopeful we’ll reach a conclusion on that as soon as we can,” he said. “With that in mind I’ve produced a blueprint for the World Cup 2007.”

Stuart Law’s bid to become a non-overseas player with Lancashire looks likely to fail in the short term.Law is applying for British citizenship – his wife comes from Liverpool – but he has been told that the process could take as long as two years. That won’t cause any problems this summer, but in 2005 counties will only be able to employ one overseas player each, meaning that if Law isn’t qualified by that time then Lancashire could face a tricky decision.Law scored 1820 first-class runs at an average of 91.00 for Lancashire last summer. He plays his final match in Australia this week, for Queensland against New South Wales at the SCG.