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India’s first ever domestic Twenty20 competition is taking place, and hasreached the business end, with the top ten teams – two from each of theNorth, South, East, Central, and West zones – battling it out in twogroups in Mumbai and Ahmedabad. India’s big stars – Sachin Tendulkarto Sourav Ganguly to Rahul Dravid – are playing in the competition,yet the fan cannot watch this on television.”We have not sold the rights to the Twenty20 championship,” RatnakarShetty, chief administrative officer of the Board of Control for Cricketin India (BCCI), told in Mumbai. “This tournament was not part ofthe original tender [for TV rights to domestic cricket],” he said. NEOSports, which won the rights to broadcasting cricket in India, were committed to telecasting 74 days of domestic cricket, an obligation they have already fulfilled.But, with fan attention flagging after India’s early exit from the WorldCup, there was an opportunity to showcase the Twenty20 event in a big way.”At the last minute it was not possible to do this. There are many thingsto work out, starting from production schedules,” Shetty said. “We are running thisedition on an experimental basis, with the World Cup also going on at thesame time. At least it gives the selectors a chance to look at how theplayers perform.”For the BCCI, this tournament represents to some extent a change of heart. When the regime currently heading the Board took over in November 2005 they hadunequivocally stated that the BCCI was not interested in taking part inTwenty20 cricket. Subsequent meetings with theICC in Dubai have softened their stance somewhat.The success of Twenty20 cricket – commercially and in termsof ground attendance – in England, South Africa and even Pakistan has evidently not been lost on the Indian board. Also, the ICC’s inaugural Twenty20 World Championship, due to be played in September in South Africa, promises to be a high-profile and permanent addition to the cricket calendar. Given India’s extremely limited experience inTwenty20 cricket – they have played just one Twenty20 international,against South Africa on their most recent tour, which they won by sixwickets thanks to a clever performance from Dinesh Karthik – the BCCIneeded to put in place a tournament at the domestic level.The format has state teams playing each other within theirzones, with the top two teams from each zone – Mumbai and Gujarat(West), Tamil Nadu and Karnataka (South), Railways and Madhya Pradesh(Central), Bengal and Orissa (East), Punjab and Haryana (North ) -qualifying for the next round. This has been split into two groups withPunjab, Orissa, Karnataka, Railways and Gujarat playing in Mumbai at theBrabourne Stadium and the Wankhede Stadium and the rest playing in Ahmedabad at the Sardar Patel Gujarat Stadium in Motera. The top team from each group will play thefinal at the Brabourne Stadium on April 21.

Scorecard and ball-by-ball details

Jamaica claimed a thrilling one-run win over defending champions Guyana, who failed to score the 12 runs required off the final over bowled by Marlon Samuels, to move into the final of the Stanford 20/20. Jamaica will now face Trinidad and Tobago in Sunday’s title clash.Guyana had a pathetic start to their chase of 143. They slumped to 42 for 5 by the 11th over against some tight bowling by the pace duo of Jerome Taylor and Darren Powell and the spin of Marlon Samuels. Travis Dowlin hit a boundary on the first delivery of Guyana’s innnings but he made a quick return to the pavilion after miscuing a shot off Taylor. Samuels was introduced into the attack as early as the fifth over and he found success first-ball, dismissing Sewnarine Chattergoon. Powell then struck twice in the next over; he cleaned up Shivnarine Chanderpaul (10) with a yorker before having Lennox Cush caught behind. Guyana were staring down the barrel when captain Ramnaresh Sarwan holed out to Shawn Findlay at long-off while stepping out against Samuels.However, Guyana’s lower order adapted themselves to the task better than the top half. Royston Crandon took the lead by dispatching three sixes and a boundary in his 14-ball 35 as he attempted to bring down the required run-rate. By the time he was dismissed, Guyana needed 28 off 21 with three wickets in hand. Mahendra Nagamootoo struck a couple of fours in his 15 and the Jamaican think-tank decided to hand over the last-over duties to Samuels. A boundary was conceded on the first ball, but only two runs came off the next three deliveries. Derwin Christian took a couple off the fifth ball, and with a last-ball four needed, he only managed to hit the ball one-bounce to long-on to set about frenetic celebrations by the Jamaican team.Put in, Jamaica were pegged back when Findlay was dismissed without scoring by Esuan Crandon, who returned to trap Gayle in the fifth over. But Samuels changed the course of their inning when he took 11 runs off a Crandon over before he chopped a delivery from left-am spinner Neil McGarrell onto his stumps for a run-a-ball 26. Danza Hyatt consumed 21 balls for his first ten runs before he freed his arms, blasting McGarrell for 14 runs in the 12th over, after which he turned his attention to Crandon, whom he hit for a brace of sixes. Hyatt found ideal support from Xavier Marshall, with whom he added 91 runs for the fourth wicket.But Guyana pulled things back after Cush, the offspinner, claimed the first hat-trick in Stanford 20/20 history. In the 19th over, he bowled Hyatt for 59 with a flighted delivery, induced a false stroke from Wavell Hinds, who found the long-on fielder, before he completed the ‘trick when Xavier Marshall, after scoring 31, came down the track and hammered the ball straight to McGarrell at long-on.

ScorecardHalf-centuries by Michael Papps, Mathew Sinclair and Craig McMillan took New Zealand A to a reasonable position at the end of the first day of their four-day match against India A at the Gardens Oval in Darwin. The bowlers managed to keep the runs in check, restricting the scoring rate to less than three an over as New Zealand ended at 4 for 257.After winning the toss, the New Zealanders suffered an early setback as Matthew Bell was dismissed by Siddharth Trivedi for 1. Sinclair joined Papps and the two added 148 for the second wicket. Piyush Chawla, the legspinner, then dismissed both batsmen in quick succession, leaving New Zealand at 3 for 157. Craig McMillan, the captain, and Rob Nicol settled down to add 83 for the fourth wicket, till Nicol was run out for 36. McMillan remained undefeated on 62 at the close of play. For India, Chawla was the most effective bowler, taking 2 for 56 off 28 overs. Rudra Pratap Singh, the left-arm seamer, bowled economically, giving away only 41 runs off his 19 overs with nine maidens.

Bernard Cameron, the president of Major League Cricket, has dismissed suggestions that promises and commitments made by MLC during the Interstate Tournament have yet to be fulfilled several months after the event itself.MLC had promised a $7000 cash award to Texas, the winners of the event, a bowling machine, and vouchers for purchases from L-Sporto. The certificates for the cash awards, and the vouchers for L-Sporto equipment, were indeed delivered by the due dates as promised. However, when the recipients of these awards attempted to follow up with L-Sporto, the discovered that the business’s website had been discontinued and no longer existed, so there was no way to collect on the vouchers. The same thing happened with the certificates promising cash awards for development of local programs promised to Texas.”We have repeatedly attempted to collect on the promises made by Chris Anderson, CEO of L-Sporto, on behalf of our state squads to no avail,” admitted Cameron. “Anderson made these promises in front of all cricketers present at the finals ceremony and signed an agreement to such.”MLC has sort legal recourse on this matter with substantial costs and no definite outcome presently in sight. We will continue to proceed as we attempt to collect on the merchandise vouchers. Sponsors must be made accountable. Their inaction leaves a perception of doubt with our fan-base and we have demanded that they meet their end of the agreement as MLC has met its.”With regard to the development funds and the bowling machine, Cameron insisted that MLC was not at fault. “One of the requirements for receiving the development fund (which included the bowling machine) was the submission of an approved development plan.”The bowling machine manufacturer (JUGS) did indicate that production was delayed and the first one was ready and shipped in early April. MLC has one machine on hold for Texas. This machine was planned for delivery on April 15 to Houston during the annual Indo-Pak competition. No responses were received from Texas to the development plans, hence, delivery was cancelled.”We must all be held accountable for our agreements, actions and responsibilities,” Cameron continued. “MLC intends to be held accountable and deal with any consequences whereas L-Sporto is concerned. Unscrupulous sponsors rise up and fall every day. We are looking down the barrel of having dealt with one.”At the same token, our immigrant cricketers must begin to realise that they too are responsible and cannot and will not be given continuous free rides whereas the development of cricket in the United States is concerned.”As a avid tennis player: I pay the United States Tennis Association for my yearly membership, pay the tournament fees for any tournaments, leagues, ladders etc that I wish to play in – while paying my own transportation, accommodation and meals to and from the tennis event.”Moreover, as I am a part of a community tennis development program, if I require any funding from the USTA – or any foundation for that matter – I must submit a proposal that must be approved before one iota of funds can be distributed.”In this instance we MLC paid all hotel, meals and ground transportation for all players in addition to providing development funds. The only requirement for release of the development funds/bowling machine: an approved development plan.”

Nicky Boje, who announced his retirement from international cricketearlier in the week, has slammed South Africa’s selection policies, andexpressed fears that there could be something of an exodus once the WorldCup squad is named early in 2007.”Enough is enough,” he said in an interview with , anAfrikaans Sunday paper. “I’m fed up with reading in newspapers and hearingon a daily basis that I am not good enough, that I am not Warne or Murali.They are good, but take them out of the picture and see what world cricketis left with.”Boje was named in the Test squad for the series against India, but it’sthought that comments made by Haroon Lorgat, convener of the selectionpanel, triggered his decision to retire. “The time comes when you have toask yourself where you are going and where your loyalties lie,” said Boje.”And mine are not with the Proteas anymore. The last straw was Lorgat’scomment that apart from our spinners, our bowling attack is on par withAustralia. There was a long build-up to my retirement, but it was still adifficult decision as I feel I still have a lot to offer the country.”Boje’s relationship with Graeme Smith, captain since 2003, has frequentlybeen an uneasy one, and it was noted in many quarters that he communicatedhis decision to retire to Tony Irish, of the players’ union, and GeraldMajola, Cricket South Africa’s chief executive. Lorgat and Mickey Arthur,the coach, were not initially informed. “Haroon did try to phone me,” saysBoje, “but unfortunately I missed the call.”Lorgat’s unflattering comments about South African slow bowlers had comeafter a shock recall for Paul Adams, and Boje admitted that it was adecision that did little for the morale of other spinners in the country.”We have got spinners that can do a good job for SA,” he said. “ClaudeHenderson, Con de Lange, Paul Harris and Johan Botha have got thepotential to do well. Thandi Tshabalala is still young, but with the rightleadership, he can become a factor. He just needs to know he’s got theselectors’ backing.”It’s funny that they say we don’t have spinners of quality in thecountry, but yet the spinners are the leading wicket-takers in domesticcricket. I will share my experience with the young spinners in thecountry, but for now I’m focusing all my attention on the Eagles. They,after all, pay my salary.”Boje clearly feels that he never had the support from those that matter.”They treated me poorly,” he says frankly, and another player quoted inthe article also spoke of poor channels of communication between theselection panel and the players. “You never know what is expected of youor what your role should be,” said the player, name withheld by request.”And you never know for sure that, despite a good performance, you willplay in the next match.”With the so-called quota system the source of considerable disquiet -Kevin Pietersen weighs in with a comment every other week, or so it seems- Boje fears that things will only get worse. “I feel sorry for [someonelike] Boeta Dippenaar,” he said. “It can happen that some players decideto play overseas once the World Cup squad is selected, and they’re not init. With this uncertainty about their places, I get the idea that someplayers only play for themselves. That’s not healthy for cricket in SouthAfrica.”

James Sutherland, Cricket Australia’s chief executive, has told broadcasters they will not be allowed to interview players as they leave the field during the Ashes series.The ban follows an incident this week in Victoria’s game against Western Australia in Perth involving Shane Warne, who was doorstopped by a television reporter as he left the field after being dismissed for 17. The female journalist was keen on exploring more about the rumours he and his ex-wife, Simone, were reuniting.The unprecedented interest in Australia’s fight to regain the Ashes has prompted Channel Nine, the Australian broadcasters, to try and boost their coverage by including on-field questioning of players. However, Sutherland said there would be limits set on the television company’s coverage.”You’re not going to see people talking to them straight after they have got out, that wouldn’t be appropriate,” Sutherland said. “There has to be some parameters that are appropriate to the circumstances. The players are more than happy to encourage the coverage as long as their boundaries are respected.”

Look Sir Curtly Ambrose in the eye (you may need a ladder) and tell him the West Indies have no hope of beating Australia.Tell him this first Test in Hobart will be over in two days – three, if Jason Holder’s men are lucky – and that more humiliation will follow in Melbourne and Sydney.Tell him that David Warner and Steve Smith will feast on a modest bowling attack and that Australia’s greenest bowling line-up in years will embarrass the West Indies batsmen.Tell him any of this and you’ll be on the wrong end of the fearsome glare that terrorised many a champion batsman throughout his celebrated career as one of the game’s very best fast bowlers.”You as reporters have got to report what you see,” Ambrose said. “So I’ve learned over the years to, I won’t say ignore, but know what to take from the reports and what not to take. But we’re going to be focused. We’re not going to worry about what has been said about us not being a good team or not going to compete … At the end of the day when we perform and beat Australia, then the reporters will have to change their tune.”We played against Australia not so long ago in the Caribbean and even though we lost 2-0 there were moments or periods when we had them on the back foot and had their backs against the wall. And we never really finished them off. So we believe we can compete and not only compete but we believe we can beat them and that’s our focus to beat Australia. Not just to compete but to win and, being the underdogs, sometimes it’s good to be that way.”We have nothing to lose. As far as I’m concerned the Australians are the ones under pressure. They have to beat us because Australians and cricket in general expect them to steamroll us. So they’re the ones who are under pressure, not us. And we’re going to put up a good show.”They are fighting words and there are few who can deliver them with as much conviction as Ambrose, the giant quick who generally let the ball – and his eyes – do the talking on the field.It’s two decades since Ambrose and Steve Waugh conducted one the most famous stare-offs in cricket’s history, the flint-eyed Australian stoic in the face of a blistering spell from Ambrose in Trinidad during the third Test in the 1995 battle for the Frank Worrell Trophy.20 years may have passed since his man-of-the-match performance, but Ambrose’s gaze has lost none of its intensity. And now, as West Indies’ bowling consultant, he wants to use the predictions of impending doom to fire up his charges after an insipid showing in the tour match in Brisbane.”Well first of all we’re not going to be distracted by those comments,” said Ambrose. “We’re here to do a job and we’re going to make a good job of it.”Being here alone should be more than enough motivation for the players but having heard or read those comments should be added motivation for them to prove the critics [wrong], if you will. We are not really distracted. We’re focused and in light of what happened in the warm up game, we are confident that we can put up a good show against Australia.”On its own, the West Indies’ 10-wicket loss to an inexperienced Cricket Australia XI side ahead of the series was a heavy blow. That they avoided an innings defeat thanks only to a stubborn partnership between Holder and Kemar Roach has given former players and current commentators ample fodder to question how the West Indies could take any confidence into the first Test. However, Ambrose pointed to frank discussions in the wake of the match as a potential turning point for the tourists.”We had a meeting, we had a talk about it,” Ambrose said. “And I explained to the guys in no uncertain terms that that’s unacceptable and if we’re going to struggle against an Under-19 team how do we expect to compete against a strong Australian line-up?”But we had a good meeting. Coach Phil Simmons called a meeting and we talked about a lot of things and I expect that, going forward, what’s gone already cannot be changed. So we’ve got to stay focused and move forward. I believe strongly that we’re going to put up a better show against Australia.”Ambrose took up his consultancy role in February 2014 and admits it took time for his charges to “bind” to his concept for their approach to bowling. His status alone ensured the players listened – “Well, I am bigger than most of them so they have to,” he joked – and, while their lack of patience was initially the biggest stumbling block, Ambrose has witnessed an improvement in the control and consistency he believes is necessary to succeed in Australian conditions.West Indies will look to Jerome Taylor, whom Ambrose dubs “the leader of the pack”, to replicate his best spells from the second Test of Australia’s 2-0 series victory in the Caribbean earlier this year. Taylor’s impressive first-innings haul of 6 for 47 off 25 overs in Kingston offered a spark of hope for renewal in his side’s heavy defeat and Ambrose is confident a Taylor-led attack has the ammunition to take 20 wickets, particularly if they can account for Warner and Smith.”Of course they are in some good form at the moment,” said Ambrose. “They are two good batsmen as well, they are going to be key. If you can get them out pretty early for not too many runs and get into the middle as quick as possible, I believe the middle order for Australia is not that solid at the moment.”Once we get them out early that is going to give us some leeway to get into the middle and really test them.”Ambrose isn’t the only member of the 1995 side that defeated Australia in Port of Spain – but, ultimately, lost the series – trying to inspire the current crop of players. Richie Richardson, Courtney Walsh and Stuart Williams all have roles within the West Indies set-up.But whether or not their defiant words can inspire a Test side ranked above only Zimbabwe and Bangladesh to victory over Australia remains to be seen. It will certainly take more than a withering glare. If West Indies manage to pull off an unexpected victory, they will need all the self-belief and passion of their predecessors.”I’m going to do whatever I can, and the coaching staff of course, to put up a good show here,” said Ambrose. “And I believe, once the guys are focused, we’re going to do well.”We’re going to do much better than you think.”

First of many
The opening success of a Test career that had been tipped a decade earlier came in Mitchell Johnson’s eighth over. Dennis Lillee discovered Johnson’s promise when the bowler was a teenager and after a bumpy journey he made it to the big time, picking up Thilan Samaraweera and Marvan Atapattu in Sri Lanka’s first innings. Johnson was mobbed by his team-mates after the first breakthrough. He did manage a small wave and fist clench to his girlfriend after escaping the throng.Sanath strikes
Sanath Jayasuriya was unlucky in the first innings and he quickly aimed his frustration at Brett Lee when Sri Lanka batted for a second time. A pulled six was followed by a flick to midwicket and a slash over slips earned a third breath-taking boundary in three balls. His late-afternoon attack of 39 from 49 balls provided entertainment and brief hope.Successful intervention
Governments are always attacked for ridiculous decisions so some praise is due for Gamini Lokuge, the Sri Lankan sports minister, who insisted Marvan Atapattu tour Australia. Without Atapattu’s gumption the tourists’ first innings would have fallen before tea and his 51 off 183 balls showed it was possible to hold off the Australians.Spills and MacGill
Adam Gilchrist had a chance to take catches for the first five dismissals when Chamara Silva cut an edge off Stuart MacGill. The ball rebounded from Gilchrist’s gloves and MacGill’s push to 200 wickets was delayed further when Michael Clarke spilled another Silva offering while lunging at square leg. MacGill performed well without reward until he bowled Chaminda Vaas, but still needs another wicket to reach the milestone.Sticking your neck out
A dive to beat an Andrew Symonds throw became a pain in the neck for Prasanna Jayawardene. The physio Tommy Simsek sprinted out to administer treatment immediately and at the following drinks break, but while Jayawardene was hurting it didn’t affect his batting. He battled to a gusty 37 before being lbw to Lee.Umpire or bowler
If Lee’s post-bowling career had not already been mapped out for Bollywood he might have been applying for an umpiring job when he had Prasanna Jayawardene lbw. Lee, who was in trouble last year for not appealing to the officials, turned to Rudi Koertzen as he screamed and they raised their fingers in unison.

Live scorecard and ball-by-ball commentary

Australia’s perfect home summer continued with England’s tour of woe as Adam Gilchrist and Ricky Ponting set up a crushing eight-wicket victory in the opening CB Series game. If England expected any relief after the Ashes whitewash and the Twenty20 demolition they were severely disappointed and they managed to leave the MCG with more severe bruises.Kevin Pietersen felt the most pain after receiving a cracked rib from Glenn McGrath, which ruled him out of the rest of the series, and Andrew Flintoff suffered further on a demoralising trip by giving up 11 runs of wides in the opening over of their defence.The Australian team does not need such generous donations and Gilchrist and Matthew Hayden piled on the misery during a 101-run opening stand that ended in the 16th over. Despite picking up both openers quickly, England barely had time to celebrate their minor achievements before Ricky Ponting and Michael Clarke fulfilled their roles in an unbeaten 125-run partnership that earned the success with 4.4 overs remaining. The result continues their impressive winning streak over the past two months and gives Michael Vaughan an understanding of what lies ahead.Vaughan won the toss in his first ODI for 18 months as he returned from a serious knee injury, but it was one of the few highs during a disappointing contest. “When it rains it pours,” Vaughan said. Pietersen made a courageous half-century and England reached 8 for 242 with help from Flintoff, who returned to form to belt 47 from 38 balls. England’s best player of the Test series continued his strong performances, but Pietersen’s desire to dominate McGrath led to the end of his tour.Attempting to force the pace, Pietersen was on 73 when he charged the bowler – it was a popular tactic during the Ashes – and attempted to swivel the ball to the legside. He missed, was almost bent in half by the impact and collapsed to the ground out of his crease. He returned to safety swiftly, spent a couple of minutes with the team medical staff and was taken for a scan after his dismissal that revealed more bad news.The blow troubled him as he continued his innings and he fell to a slightly mistimed heave to deep mid-on for 82 from 91 balls. Pietersen arrived with England needing a boost after Vaughan’s departure for an encouraging 26 and he provided it once he settled. He registered his fifty with a six over mid-off from White, who he later pounded for two rope clearances in consecutive balls, and combined with Paul Collingwood (43) for a crucial 95-run partnership from the discomfort of 3 for 73.Flintoff built on their gains with a bright contribution after struggling during the Tests. With Vaughan in charge he was able to relax with the bat, although he did not enjoy the same feeling with the ball. While Nathan Bracken’s three wickets and two each to McGrath and Mitchell Johnson combined for a fine home-team performance, England struggled from the opening exchanges.It was Flintoff who had a strong say in his side’s early lack of direction when he started the second innings with a spray of 11 runs, none of which came from the bat. His first ball was a wide and another two went for five wides when they were not intercepted by Paul Nixon, the debutant wicketkeeper.Australia were showing off a new uniform in baggy-green colours and the opening batsmen made sure the first outing was as successful as the previous five Tests under the famous cap. Gilchrist and Hayden sped away during the stand that quickly downgraded England’s total from testing to easy.Gilchrist pounded a string of boundaries in front of the wicket during his 60 – the six he launched over long-on off Flintoff was the best – as England’s hopes of a first win drowned. Benefiting from sloppy early bowling, Gilchrist took advantage while the start was slower for Hayden, who returned to the team after missing the Champions Trophy when Shane Watson was preferred.Hayden edged Monty Panesar on 28 and Gilchrist finished with seven fours from his 61 balls in an innings that ended when he nicked Jamie Dalrymple. Ponting made sure the loss of his two frontmen was barely a blip and he eased the side to victory with an impressive 82 off 96 balls. Clarke’s 57 not out was a useful contribution alongside his captain as a new tournament started with an old result.

Kyle Coetzer, the 23 year old Durham batsman, has been recalled to the Scotland squad for their one-dayer against Pakistan on Sunday, July 1.Dougie Brown, their veteran allrounder, has also been included in a 13-man squad along with Gordon Drummond.”Every game we play at this level gives us a chance to improve our world rankings, so it is a significant event for our players,” Ryan Watson, the Scotland captain said. “Last year, we made the Pakistanis work hard for their victory. We would like to go one better this time.”It was largely down to Watson’s muscular 80 that Pakistan were made to work for their victory last year, in the one-off match at Edinburgh. And the match also represents a vital warm-up for Pakistan, too, who face India two days later in Glasgow.Scotland squad Ryan Watson (capt), John Blain, Dougie Brown, Kyle Coetzer, Gordon Drummond, Majid Haq, Omer Hussain, Neil McCallum, Dewald Nel, Colin Smith, Fraser Watts, Craig Wright