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On his recent performances
After being out with injury during the Australia tour I had a point to prove to show that I can be a good allrounder. So I have been working hard on my fitness and every aspect of my game with Tom (Moody), who has helped me a lot. I’m happy with the way I have been approaching my cricket and on the field, I have just been playing my natural game. I have been keeping things simple and things are going well at the moment.On how his game has developed
Tom has helped me with my technique and also mentally as well. We have recently changed some of my bowling methods, opening up my action slightly and making sure my front arm was pulling down straight. I feel there has been a big improvement since making those changes. I just have to make sure that I am always asking the batsman questions as to whether to play or not.On his batting
Batting-wise, I have just been trying to adapt to the situation. When I went in on Monday I was just thinking about getting through what was a tough period. They were bowling a good line and length. We knew it would ease-up after lunch and just wanted to survive the first session. Dilshan played brilliantly for his 69 and I gave him company. I’m just disappointed to not get a half-century.On the progress of the match
After Pakistan started the innings well, we just tried to focus on the basics and that worked for us as we took three quick wickets. Inzamam and Farhat batted well. This morning I was just concentrating on bowling in the right areas rather than looking for seam or swing. That paid off and from the other end, we also kept it tight. Murali took wickets and Malinga (Lasith) chipped in. Then Upul (Tharanga), Sanga (Sangakkara) and Mahela (Jayawardene) batted brilliantly – it was a good day for us.On the present match situation
We are in the box seat at the moment with a lead of 250-odd with eight wickets in hand. But you never know in cricket and we just want to get a score where we feel we are safe and can win the match. I think around 350 to 400 would be a good target on this pitch.On the condition of the pitch
The pitch has eased a lot compared to the first day and now it is playing very well. The spinners are getting some bite and jump. It’s a good track but when we go out in the second innings to bowl, we’ll be looking to be positive and trying to make sure we are hitting the good areas as much as possible.

Rumours have been circulating of late in US cricket circles that Gladstone Dainty, the USA Cricket Association’s president, is about to start legal proceedings against the ICC. While that might seem far-fetched, Cricinfo has now learnt that Dainty might well be considering going to court over the late payment of a fee due to the board.The sum of around US$58,000 was a regular payment resulting from the USA’s status as an associate member of the ICC. The ICC’s relationship with the USACA has been extremely frosty of late, but as the official board, the ICC had an obligation to recognise it and deal with Dainty and his executive.Things came to a head in January when Malcolm Speed, the ICC’s chief executive, wrote to Dainty. “We have never seen a sporting organisation that combines such great potential and such poor administration as USACA,” he said. “From our observations, much of the blame for this lies with the current office-bearers of USACA including yourself. We question whether the current administration of USACA can play any constructive role in taking the game forward in the United States.”The USACA elections in March were, almost inevitably, controversial, and resulted in the emergence of two rival executives. One, under the control of Dainty and his supporters, was still officially presenting itself as the USACA board, while the other, containing a broader cross-section of stakeholders, set out its stall as being the true representatives of US stakeholders. To an outsider, Dainty’s board appears to have little credibility. It exists only because of the highly questionable suspension of three anti-Dainty candidates on a disputed minor technicality after the close of the poll, and has lost the support of the vast majority of those within the game there.As a result of this standoff, the Council of League Presidents, a hitherto fairly anonymous body, emerged as the main opposition to the Dainty board, and in Dallas on April 16 it set in motion a mechanism aimed at ending the tenure of Dainty and the establishment of a more democratic and accountable executive.One outcome of the CLP meeting was that the ICC was asked to suspend all payments to the USACA until the impasse had been resolved. One source told Cricinfo that the CLP were surprised not to receive any response to its request from the ICC. “In fact,” he added, “it was then learned that it was preparing to send that $58,000 the following day (April 18).” The ICC was contacted and, according to the source, the payment was held up after the situation was explained.Dainty, it seems, got wind of this, and allegedly called the Israeli representative on the ICC who, in turn, upped the pressure for the payment to be sent. Although the ICC has continued to delay, it seems unlikely that it can do so for much longer without being drawn into the domestic quagmire, something it will not allow to happen.Meanwhile, Dainty is coming under more fire on the home front with allegations that USACA funds accrued from membership subscriptions are being used to pay for attorneys to fight some of the board’s legal battles. The accounts have not been formally declared – one of the CLP’s major gripes – but it is reported that in the last fiscal year, the USACA ended up with a substantial deficit. With all the current problems, it is unlikely that there is much spare cash left in the kitty now.Against this backdrop, the USA squad is supposed to be preparing for this July’s ICC Trophy, the tournament in which success would provide them with a place in the 2007 World Cup. But without funds, the necessary preparations won’t happen, and there are growing concerns that the USA might even have to withdraw from the event.”We would like ICC to deny participation from the USA team in the ICC Trophy,” a local administrator said, “because any Dainty-sponsored USA team will be so riddled with nepotism and mismanagement that calling it a ‘USA team’ would be a joke. Ideally, we would like the ICC to name an individual to review all the irregularities that have gone on in the past few months, and render a verdict on what needs to happen to clean up the mess.”That plan looks to have legs, as there have been calls over the last two days for the CLP to go on the attack and issue a warning to all member clubs that any player agreeing to play for a team selected by Dainty’s board would be banned from playing league cricket again in 2005.Another person close to the toing and froing said that the ICC’s role was vital, and that there was a fear that if Dainty’s board got the money, then the struggle would be prolonged and the funds swallowed by legal fees. An emergency meeting has been called for June 4 when the old guard is likely to be removed, but whether they even recognise any such decision is another matter.Whereas the old USACA has been reluctant to work with any outside body – and most internal ones as well – the CLP has stated that it is willing to deal with “anyone, anywhere, at any time”, to end the current mess.There is a certain irony that in the world’s leading democracy, a few can hold out when all the rules of fair play suggest that they should be long gone, or at the very least, should explain exactly what is happening. Instead, Dainty has been silent, not answering any questions put to him.That he and his associates will be removed is certain. The worry is that by the time they finally depart, the damage to US cricket could be virtually irreparable.

Mark Butcher has been ruled out of England’s next tour match, against a Vice-Chancellor’s XI starting on Friday, although he still hopes to be fit for the first Test at Sabina Park, which begins on March 11. “He’ll continue to receive treatment over the next few days and we’ll just have to see how the injury progresses,” said an England spokesman. “We haven’t ruled him out of the Test match as yet.”Butcher was fielding at mid-off on the second day of England’s drawn tour match in Jamaica, when he moved to catch a ball being returned to the bowler. He appeared to go over on his ankle and collapsed to the ground, to the initial amusement of his team-mates. But it quickly became apparent that the damage was serious, and Butcher was carried off the field in some pain. A subsequent x-ray revealed a ligament sprain and he spent the evening on crutches and with the ankle strapped.”It seems that Nasser was throwing the ball to Rikki Clarke but I thought he had thrown it to me,” Butcher explained. “Rikki called ‘mine’ just as I went to catch it and as I came down I turned to see where he was and twisted the ankle. It made quite a nasty noise and I was concerned it was worse than has turned out. There are countless more dangerous things to do on a cricket field than trying to get the ball back to the bowler and to injure myself is such innocuous circumstances is quite upsetting.”Duncan Fletcher, England’s coach, expressed his concern about Butcher’s condition. “It’s got to be a big concern for us when one of our key players is injured,” he said. “He’s batted really well for us over the last two years and he’s a major component of that batting line-up. He’s a left-handed batter, which is important, and he plays pace really well, but we’ll only know how bad he is in a day or two.”Butcher has played in England’s last 35 matches, but if he does miss the Jamaica Test then his place is sure to go to Paul Collingwood, who staked a bold claim for the No. 3 position with a century in today’s match. Butcher should, at the very least, be fit for the Trinidad Test which starts on March 19.”We won’t be able to tell for 48 hours how much healing time will be needed,” he admitted on Monday. “Tours are short and you don’t get time to play much before the first Test. It’s a big blow and the last thing I needed.”

Bishop Foxes School from Taunton were the winners of the highly successful Somerset Girls Under 15 eighta-side indoor cricket competition that took place in the Centre of Excellence at the County Ground yesterday.The national tournament that has been organised by the E.C.B. attracted eight entries, with teams travelling from Bath Cricket Club, Hayesfield School from Bath, Butleigh Kwik Cricketers, East Bridgwater College, Bedminster Down School from Bristol, Churchill School, Bishop Foxes School and St Augustines of Canterbury School from Taunton to take part.Every match was keenly contested, and every run and wicket was greeted with great enthusiasm by the eighty plus girls who were involved.Bishop Foxes, who were the eventual winners beat East Bridgwater in the first round, disposed of Hayesfield in the semi finals and were then being victorious over Churchill School in the final.At the end of the event Bishop Foxes were presented with the Somerset Girls Under 15 Indoor Trophy and will now go forward to the regional finals that will take place at The Hampshire Rose Bowl on March 22nd.The winners of the plate competition were East Bridgwater who beat Bath C.C. in a very keenly contested final.At the end of the day Somerset Cricket Development Officer Andrew Moulding told me: "We were absolutely delighted with the response that we got from everyone, and this proves that there is a considerable interest in girls cricket in the county. Congratulations to Bishop Foxes on winning, and well done to everybody who took part."He concluded: "Lets just hope that the girls who participated in this event will go along and join their local clubs so that girls cricket can develop at club level."

Favourites Scotland scored their third consecutive victory in Group Aof Division One of the ICC Trophy beating UAE by five wickets hereMonday.Holland also posted their third straight win to share Group A’s topspot with the Scots, both having six points to their credit.The Dutchmen outplayed Canada by six wickets. The hosts lost hopes ofstaging a comeback with two defeats and a win.Tournament’s first hat trick from Soren Vestergaard helped Denmarkscore a magnificent 101-run victory over USA.In other matches on the fifth day of the World Cup qualifying event,Namibia downed Nepal by eight wickets, Germany grabbed a three-wicketwin against fighting Giblartor, Ireland took it easy to beat Bermudaby eight wickets and Fiji gave Singapore a thrashing by 86 runs.On a bright sunny day, UAE won the toss and elected to bat first atSunnybrook Stadium. Before the start of the match, the two teamsgathered in the middle for a minute of silence in memory of the fatherof Scotland opener Bruce Patterson.Openers Babar Malik (30) and Nasir Siddiqui (19) gave UAE a flyingstart scoring 51 together but the other batsmen looked completelyhelpless against the on-target bowling from Tim de Leede (four for 23)and Jacob-Jan Esmeijer (four for 26).UAE were finally bundled out for 119. Scotland reached their target in35.1 overs losing five wickets in the process.Stylish opener Riaan Walters (61 not out) continued his run ofexcellent form as Namibia scored an impressive win over Nepal atEglinton Flats ground.Nepal batted first after winning the toss but struggled against somehostile pace bowling from Bjorn Kotze (four for 37). Jay Sarraf foughtsingle-handedly with an unbeaten 47 as his team crawled to 131 forseven in 50 overs.Walters and Gavin Murgatroyd (51 not out) made Namibia’s taskrelatively comfortable.

As fitness tests go, it was unconventional but effective. All week long, Ryan Sidebottom has been struggling to recover from the grade one hamstring tear that ruled him out of England’s final warm-up match in Dunedin, but with six deliveries in the nets at Hamilton’s Seddon Park, he confirmed that, come Wednesday morning, he’ll be ready to resume his new-ball role.Granted, the over was a sideshow as the target was the team’s security advisor, Reg Dickerson, who has been so under-employed on this sleepy trip that it was decided his own safety should be put on the line. But Sidebottom’s zip and swing were very much in evidence, as was his snarl of frustration when his prey avoided dismissal, as all doubts about his fitness were allayed.”I’m fighting fit and available for selection,” said Sidebottom. Earlier in the afternoon he had been put through an exhaustive series of shuttle runs by the team physio, Kirk Russell, and later returned to the nets for a proper work-out. “It’s a bit of relief because it’s a worry when you get injured, but I’m not getting on the plane home so I’m happy with that and I’m raring to go now.”The New Zealand series will be the culmination of a remarkable year for Sidebottom, who wasn’t even a blip on the international radar during the dying days of Duncan Fletcher’s England regime. But then last May came the new coach, Peter Moores, and within the month, he’d recalled from the wilderness a man whose only previous Test had come six years previously, at Lord’s in 2001.And for that, ironically, Sidebottom owes a debt of gratitude to Stephen Fleming, his captain at Nottinghamshire, who is now chief among his targets for the Test series. It was a phone call to Fleming from Moores’ deputy, Andy Flower, that set the chain of events in motion. “I had to give him an honest appraisal of Ryan’s bowling,” said Fleming, “and that killed me because I knew if I told them how good he was then he’d get taken away from us and he’d do bloody well for England. But I thought Ryan had been overlooked for too long.””He’s had some lovely words to say about me,” said Sidebottom after hearing of Fleming’s praise. “He’s a lovely bloke, a great character and a really nice man. For him to say those things about me is a great honour, and I’m looking forward to bowling at him. Hopefully I can knock him over.”New Zealand will be hoping that Fleming’s influence on Sidebottom is not too detrimental to their series prospects. “He’s a very positive captain, so I’m a lot more positive as well,” said Sidebottom. “He was always very attacking so that helped my bowling. He taught me to keep plugging away and never give up, because he always had the slips in so you had to bowl well and on the money more often than not. “So far, Fleming has been spot-on in his predictions. Sidebottom has been arguably England’s bowler of the year with 29 Test wickets at 32.27, and undoubtedly the unluckiest – innumerable chances have been missed off his bowling, not least by the former wicketkeeper Matt Prior, who has paid for his errors with his place in the side.The missed chances have been hard for Sidebottom to bear, especially on the pancake-flat decks at The Oval and Galle where he toiled lucklessly in consecutive series-deciders against India and Sri Lanka. “The lads keep going on about me having a bit of white-line fever, but aggression is part of my game,” said Sidebottom. “When I’m pumped up I’m bowling well. Sometimes go over the top and react too much so I know I’ve got to curb it a little bit, but sometimes you do get frustrated. You just have to get on with it, and keep bowling.”Happily for England, that is exactly what Sidebottom intends to do in the coming week. With England’s other injury concern, Paul Collingwood, also coming through practice unscathed, the team is taking shape nicely with one day of practice to come.

Adrian Birrell, the Ireland coach, will look to his Australian-born captain Trent Johnston to fight fire with fire when the World Cup debutants clash with Ricky Ponting’s defending champions in Barbados on Friday. Johnston is one of three Australian-born players in the Ireland team.”What I look for most in a player is attitude,” Birrell said. “Obviously talent is important but I need to know that if we get into a scrap they’re there for you. Trent brought that.”He’s a fighter on the field. He leads on the field and he leads off the field. He leads in training. The guys needed to be pushed. You don’t get any glory without hard work. And we needed the hard work.”Jeremy Bray, the opening batsman, Dave Langford-Smith, the fast bowler, and Johnston are all Austalians who settled in Ireland after marrying Irish women. Birrell, who hands the reins over to Phil Simmons after the World Cup, is adamant that his coaching career will end on April 18 when Ireland play their last Super Eights match against Sri Lanka in Grenada.”I know my time in Ireland has been successful but somehow the judging of a coach at a top level is all about winning and losing and I sometimes feel disillusioned with that,” Birrell told the newspaper. “There’s more to cricket than just winning and losing.”I derive more satisfaction by getting success out of a young player. The top level also takes me away from my family. We’re not going to close the door on any big job. But my first priority is the family and I’ll have to make sure the family are okay before accepting any other job.”Right now any big job in world cricket involves a huge amount of travel and that’s just not on for me. I’ve probably taken it [the Ireland job] as far as I can take it. I think they’re capable of better and bigger things. With Phil’s experience he’s better placed than me to take them forward.”

Jamie How, Peter Fulton and Jeetan Patel have been included in New Zealand’s squad for the first Test against West Indies at Eden Park in Auckland on March 9.John Bracewell, New Zealand’s coach, announced the 13-man squad for the first of three Tests with the major talking point being the opening combination of How and Hamish Marshall. How and Fulton, the Canterbury batsman, have shown promise in the handful of one-day appearances they have been given, while Patel’s inclusion comes on the back of handy spells as Supersub in recent times.The remainder of the squad is the nucleus of the side which thumped West Indies 4-1 in the one-day series. The surprise omission was that of Lou Vincent, who scored a century in the fourth one-day match in Napier on Wednesday. Chris Martin, the fast bowler, makes a return to the side.Two players will be omitted on the morning of the match to play domestic cricket, New Zealand Cricket said.Squad: Nathan Astle, Stephen Fleming (captain), Peter Fulton, Jamie How, Hamish Marshall, Scott Styris, Brendon McCullum, Chris Martin, Kyle Mills, Jeetan Patel, Daniel Vettori, Shane Bond, James Franklin.

Scorecard and ball-by-ball details
How they were out

A classical hundred from Marvan Atapattu, his first against New Zealand, and a serene unbeaten 118 from Mahela Jayawardene helped Sri Lanka stroll within touching distance of the 362 follow-on target to ensure that a draw remains the likeliest result to the opening Test despite New Zealand’s massive first-innings score. Sri Lanka closed on 351 for 3 when bad light stopped play for the third successive day.Atapattu’s chanceless innings was a textbook gem. His elbow was perpendicular and his bat dead straight as he unfurled his full repertoire of off-side strokes. His cover-driving was particularly resplendent. Against the spin of Paul Wiseman his footwork was so precise and swift as he danced down the pitch that Wiseman, the only spinner in the absence of the much-needed Daniel Vettori, was visibly rattled, eventually bowling a waist-high full-toss during a particularly punishing over just before tea.The placid pitch made it virtually impossible for New Zealand’s bowlers to exploit the few chinks in his technical armoury – lifting deliveries in the corridor of uncertainty and ones that jag back from outside the off-stump – and only Chris Martin, who bowled at a decent lick and extracted some seam movement when he bowled a fuller length, proved a handful as Atapattu stroked 22 boundaries in his 127 – a hundred that that now gives him a full house against all nine Test-playing opponents.Jayawardene, meanwhile, started like a well-oiled train and sped to his fifty at just under a run-a-ball. Unafraid to loft down the ground, he also timed the ball well through the covers and played a couple of deft late cuts. As he flowed Atapattu was able to sit back and lay anchor. Then, in the second half of the afternoon, the tables turned and Jayawardene started to slow while Atapattu grew more aggressive, quickly moving through the 90s and then passing 5000 Test runs. Their 184-run stand was a third-wicket record against New Zealand, surpassing the undefeated 159 compiled by Roy Dias and Sidath Wettimuny in Colombo during 1983-84.The pair ran up 130 in a fast-scoring afternoon session but were then separated soon after the tea break as Nathan Astle, bowling wobblers in defensive mode, had Atapattu caught at first slip. The breakthrough created an opportunity for New Zealand, opening up one end minutes before the second new ball was due. However, although Jayawardene survived one scare when he got in a tangle trying to hook on 96, the new batsman did not create any chances. Thilan Samaraweera (34 not out) and Jayawardene rounded off the day with a solid 66-run stand.Earlier, the morning began under clear blue skies, hinting at a tough day for the bowlers. The pancake-flat pitch offered no encouragement either. Sri Lanka’s openers started in the same stylish vein they finished the previous evening, scoring freely against the still-new ball in the first half hour. But Martin’s rhythm improved steadily and he began to trouble Sanath Jayasuriya (48) with deliveries that nipped back off the seam between bat and pad. He had two strong caught-behind appeals turned down before he finally broke through with a fuller off-stump delivery that seamed back just enough to win an lbw decision from Steve Bucknor.A few moments later, with the first ball after the drinks break, Martin also dismissed Kumar Sangakkara with a similar delivery that ricocheted onto the stumps after a lazy drive. Suddenly, on 101 for 2, needing 362 to avoid the follow-on, Sri Lanka were under pressure. But Atapattu and Jayawardene buckled down and, after lunch, started to reap the rewards for their hard work.A decisive result now seems improbable, but New Zealand will be kept interested by Sri Lanka’s unusually long tail. Although many of the bowlers are useful with the bat, they don’t have the luxury of a seventh batter in this match. Sri Lanka’s only chance of forcing a result will be to have a glorious batting day and draw level or build a small lead by teatime. However, with the pitch showing no signs of deterioration, a draw is the likely conclusion.How they were out
Caught on the crease by a full-length delivery that cut back.
Chopped ball on to the stumps with a lazy off-side drive.
Edged to the solitary slip while attempting to cut.

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.