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Vaibhav Daga, the physiotherapist of the India A team, might join the Indian team in England, according to reports in Indian newspapers. Daga’s appointment will be a stop-gap arrangement following the injury to John Gloster, the team’s full-time physiotherapist.Gloster broke his right hand during a training session on June 24. “Gloster broke his hand during fielding practice and might be away for two months,” informed Ratnakar Shetty, the chief administrative officer of the Indian board.Shetty hinted that the BCCI was also considering approaching a professional based in England.

Ben Hilfenhaus, the Tasmania fast bowler, will replace Mitchell Johnson for the match against India A on Saturday at the TIO Stadium in Darwin. Cullen Bailey, the South Australia legspinner, has also been included in the squad.”Ben Hilfenhaus will be given an opportunity in this game with Mitchell Johnson being rested,” said Andrew Hilditch, the chairman of selectors. “Ben is an exciting young bowler from Tasmania and we see this as a great opportunity to have a good look at him.”The 12th man will be announced on the morning of the match.Australia A
Phil Jaques, Travis Birt, Brad Hodge, Mark Cosgrove, Brad Haddin (capt), Shane Watson, James Hopes, Ben Hilfenhaus, Daniel Cullen, Brett Dorey, Cullen Bailey, Shaun Tait

Nasser Hussain today spoke of the colossal importance of England’s forthcoming tour of Australia, while giving an assurance that he is completely focused on the massive challenge that lies ahead.Hussain flies out to Australia tomorrow – a week ahead of the rest of the England party – with his wife Karen and 16-month-old son Jacob. Their second child is scheduled to be born on November 20, between the first and second Test matches in Australia.”It’s going to be a huge tour for me personally,” said the England captain. “I’m going to be fully focused. The present regime is helping as much as it can.”We have a coach and captain who understand there is no reason why you shouldn’t play your best cricket just because you have your family around. In many ways it is the other way round.”But in many ways it will always be a problem. Wives and families do have other jobs and commitments and sometimes players will have to consider the two – a great career as an international cricketer and their family lives.”Everyone’s situation is different and sometimes you have to choose between how many pound signs you want against what you want to do personally.”Hussain also warned that Graham Thorpe, who pulled out of the original Ashes squad for family reasons, might need to score a hatful of runs to win his England place back. He also backed Thorpe’s replacement, Kent’s Robert Key, to win his spurs Down Under.”Graham will be missed – I’m not hiding from that – but the lad replacing him is a fine player,” said Hussain. “All four selectors wanted Robert Key on the plane to Australia. He played in the summer – it isn’t a selection committee that looks backwards.”Other players have come in – the Flintoffs, Trescothicks and Vaughans – and taken their opportunities. There is no point playing Robert in two Tests and then going back. You have to move forward. If he was good enough to be in our team this summer then he’s good enough now.”However Hussain indicated that the door might not be closed on Thorpe forever. “I would hope at some stage he will be back playing for England. He has always been the sort of player who can turn on a switch and get runs as long as he is mentally right.”England cannot just dismiss one of their best players of the last 10 years but Graham will have to prove to the selectors that he can get runs in international cricket,” he added.Hussain, who was launching the England party’s new range of off-field clothing, also responded to comments made by Darren Gough, who expects to miss the first two Tests as he continues to recover from knee surgery.”We knew Darren wouldn’t be getting off the plane straight into 100% cricket because he needs rehab. Obviously it’s disappointing to hear what he said about the first two Tests but maybe he’s being a bit pessimistic because of all the injuries he’s had. I’d rather wait and see how he goes out there.”Hussain himself insists there is cause for optimism. “If key areas and key battles are won – and the first Test is a very important area – there’s no reason why not and I hope everyone in my squad will feel like that.”For us to beat Australia a few things have to go right off the field but there is no reason why that shouldn’t change.”

Harbhajan Singh has warned opposition batsmen to expect a new “magic ball” when they face him next time. Talking to the media during the Indian team’s fitness camp in Bangalore, Harbhajan said: “I have been working on a magic ball. I won’t tell you [anything more on that]. You will see it definitely … it is going to be a surprise.”Harbhajan hasn’t played competitive cricket for more than six months due to a finger injury which cut short his tour of Australia. However, he said that he was now fully fit after following a rehabilitation programme under the guidance of Andrew Leipus, the team physiotherapist. “I have started bowling since the last one month or so. I am feeling confident the way it’s going. I have been working on fitness. Let’s see how it works. I just can’t wait getting into the middle.”Talking about his prolonged absence from the game, Harbhajan said: “[Missing out on the series in] Australia was the most frustrating. I wanted to do well there. Unfortunately, I could not play the full series. I just played one Test and got injured,” he said. “It was frustrating to sit out and watch.”Harbhajan also indicated that he would play a few matches for Indian Airlines, his employer, to gain match-practice before the start of the international season.

Players from West Indies and Australia have another major incentive to do well in the Cable & Wireless 2003 Cricket Series.For the second year running, Suzuki will provide the Cable & Wireless Man-of-the-Series winner of with a brand new Suzuki XL7 four-wheel drive vehicle."All Suzuki dealers in the Caribbean are extremely happy to be associated once again with the Caribbean’s most important sport — cricket," remarked Debbie Simpson, General Manager of Simpson Motors Ltd., the dealer for Suzuki in Barbados."We are very committed to the advancement of cricket in our region and wish the teams and Cable & Wireless 2003 Cricket Series every success," she added.Simpson noted that the Suzuki family was delighted to provide the XL7, the flagship of the Grand Vitara range, and believes it is fitting prize to the Cable & Wireless Man of the Series, given the heightened interest in the upcoming matches against Australia.Darren Millien, Marketing Manager of the West Indies Cricket Board, thanked Simpson Motors and Suzuki for their commitment to West Indies cricket."We ve enjoyed a wonderful partnership with Suzuki over the years and we are very pleased that they have agreed once more to provide a Suzuki XL7 for the Man-of-the-Series award," Millien said.Suzuki has the distinction of being the first motor company to provide the Man-of-the-Series award for Tests and limited-overs internationals in the Caribbean when they provided a Suzuki Baleno to the winner 1995, 1996 and a Vitara in 1997.Suzuki returned last year to provide the Cable & Wireless Man-of-the-Series prize – a Suzuki XL7.

Another senior official closely linked to the Barbados cricket teamhas quit his job.William Bourne has resigned his post as coach of the Barbados CricketAssociation (BCA), a little over a week after it was confirmed thatDesmond Haynes had given up the post of chairman of selectors.Yesterday, BCA secretary Philip Nicholls would only say: "Mr Bourne isno longer with the BCA. His employment has come to an end."As to whether Bourne left of his own free will or was "pushed",Nicholls had "no comment".Bourne was not prepared to shed much light on the issue either, butsaid he had severed ties with the BCA as far back as March 5.The situation puts the BCA in a quandary as Barbados prepares for theRed Stripe Bowl One-Day competition starting on October 3.Springer is expected to be with the team for the Red Stripe Bowl, butan inside source said a "full-time coach is vital to the smoothrunning and development of the game".The source told the SUNSPORT yesterday that the matter could beheading for the law courts.In January, Bourne was replaced as Barbados’ team coach by HendySpringer for the Busta Cup, and then asked to formulate a programmefor the future development of cricket on the island.This programme came at the request of Prime Minister Owen Arthur, whosaid he would commit funds to the BCA if a framework was put in placeto develop young players aimed at putting together a professionalnetwork.So far there has been no word about the programme.Bourne was national coach throughout the 1990s, travelling with thesenior and junior sides. He also coached the West Indies Under-19 teamto England in 1993.He is a former Barbados fast bowler and played professionally forWarwickshire in the English County Championship.

Valuable knocks by JP Yadav and Amay Khurasiya helped Madhya Pradeshto score 214 for five off 90 overs at stumps on the first dayof their Central Zone Ranji Trophy league match against Rajasthanat Gwalior on Monday.Winning the toss, MP were given a steady start with openers Yadav and AnkitShrivastav (17) putting on 40 runs off 20 overs. Then came the best part of the batting with Yadav and Khurasiya adding 114 runs for the second wicket off 36.4 overs. But at 154, MP suffered a double blow. First, Yadav was bowled by Rahul Kanwat for 70. He faced 162 balls and hit seven fours. In the following over, Khurasiya was leg before to Krishan Kumar for 59. Khurasiya faced 126 balls and had just one boundary hit.There was another double blow for MP shortly afterwards when at 174 theylost two more wickets, those of Abbas Ali (17) and Devendra Bundela (4).However Nikhil Patvardhan (21) and CA Pandit (14) added 40 runs for theunbroken fifth wicket off 23.4 overs to put their side in a more comfortingframe of mind at close of play.

Fear of the dark
Just after seven o’clock, the players were warming up when the lights went out and the laser show started. Most of them just stood around looking rather helpless. This is supposed to be a cricket league, but entertainment clearly comes first.Southern Spice
A day after Mohali triumphed over Delhi in the battle for northern pride, it was the south’s turn. Quite a few Chennai Super Kings’ fans were present at the Chinnaswamy Stadium and their bright yellow shirts and cheers were in evidence as Mahendra Singh Dhoni and Michael Hussey went berserk in the final stages of the innings. After dinner, with the Bangalore Royal Challengers making a good fist of the chase, the locals discovered their voices, with chants of “Chennai, go back” greeting every big hit.And the band played on
Suresh Raina is one of India’sspecial talents, and he showed it again with a superb little cameo. One six down the ground was struck so cleanly that it bounced on to the elevated stage where the band had played earlier. Music to the [Chennai] supporters’ ears.Umpiring’s a dangerous job
When Michael Hussey propelled one down the ground at blistering pace, Billy Doctrove had next to no time to react. The ball struck him on the shoulder, and almost certainly saved Bangalore four runs. Good thing the game wasn’t that close.Pace like fire
Quick bowlers are certainly hit and miss in this form of the game, and bowling them at the end of an innings is always laced with risk. Dale Steyn had conceded just 16 in his first three overs, but when Dhoni started to tee off, he had no answer. Even yorkers were smashed away with a bat-swing that resembles a whiplash. The over cost Bangalore 24 runs, and perhaps the match.Despair to ecstasy
Against the Mumbai Indians, Palani Amarnath conceded 57 in his four overs, the most expensive spell in the IPL’s short history. When Wasim Jaffer was dropped by Manpreet Gony off the first ball he bowled today, the man named after a temple town in Tamil Nadu where people usually get their heads tonsured must have felt like tearing his hair out. Two wickets later, the follicles were a bit safer.Optical illusion?
When Jaffer clubbed Albie Morkel over midwicket for six, there were more than a few gasps of disbelief. That turned to joy when he flicked one effortlessly over fine leg for six more. For a man with no great pedigree even in the ODI arena, a 33-ball 50 was someeffort.Much ado about drumming
After Chennai clinched victory, Sivamani, the drummer rushed on to the field, drum-kit in tow. As officials and police tried to stop him, Dhoni intervened on his behalf. A few triumphant beats of the drums later, Sivamani was done. Both thedrums, and Bangalore, were beaten into submission.

The Court of Arbitration for Sports has been forced to dismiss an appeal by the World Anti Doping Agency over the reprieves for the Pakistan fast bowlers, Shoaib Akhtar and Mohammad Asif, saying it had no jurisdiction to overturn the decision.The CAS panel said in a statement that the conclusion had been reached “with some considerable regret”. Shoaib and Asif tested positive for the banned steroid nandrolone in internal tests conducted by the Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) last year, and were banned for two years and one year respectively in November 2006.However, a month later, both were controversially reinstated by a Pakistani appellate committee, prompting WADA to appeal to CAS in Lausanne. Dick Pound, the chairman of WADA, had told the BBC last December that the ICC – the game’s governing body – was “a signatory to the anti-doping code” and that Pakistan, as a full member of the ICC, was bound by its rules.However CAS, which set up a special panel to examine the issue, found that the PCB does not provide a right of appeal to the international sports court. Furthermore, it added, the ICC’s code did not contain any rules that obliged the Pakistan board to allow appeals to CAS.Shoaib and Asif were both removed from their country’s squad for the World Cup in March and April, although the PCB insisted they had missed the event because of injuries. That explanation, however, was countered by Malcolm Speed, the ICC’s chief executive, who said at the beginning of the tournament in March that the duo had escaped a drugs test by not being selected for the World Cup.The PCB had announced beforehand that 11 of its 15-man squad and seven reserves had passed domestic, pre-World Cup dope tests, but Shoaib and Asif were left out of the testing.

The rankings might suggest a cosmic difference between the two sides, but, as the first one-day international showed, West Indies had it in them to fight tooth and nail. Despite their poor effort on the field, and despite stuttering in the middle overs, they managed to take the game to the penultimate ball. India’s much-vaunted batting line-up was no doubt tested and it ultimately boiled down to a few lucky breaks at the death.Brian Lara admitted as much after the match. “I don’t think we’re getting the respect we deserve. We might be No.8 in the rankings but we still have a very good game. It’s just that we need to deliver more consistently. India needed every last ounce of energy to beat us. We need to take our game one level up.”West Indies need to address two maladies urgently: the multitude of extras and the shabbiness on the field. India overwhelmed Sri Lanka and Pakistan mainly because of their superiority in the two departments. They conceded 28 extras yesterday, but that can confidently be termed an aberration. Greg Chappell admitted that the players were caught unawares in the morning: “We thought the chances of getting play were zero. Once it started the players took some time to adjust to the conditions. It was really hot and humid out there and we struggled because of that.”India will acclimatise soon. “We’ve done a lot of work on that area,” said Chappell about guarding against the dehydration of players. “Even as recently as the last few weeks, we’ve done a bit of work on finding out the best research, spoken to a few world leaders and discovered a few things that might make a difference. We’ve started testing the players from a few days up, making sure they’re keeping their fluids up. There are few other products available these days that weren’t available earlier. We’ll experiment with a few of those and come up with a few answers.”The two big positives for India came in the form of Harbhajan Singh and Mohammad Kaif. The first troubled the likes of Lara and Chris Gayle with turn; the second produced his first fifty in 15 games. One has often failed while bowling away from home, when he doesn’t have his favourite SG ball; the other, with nine single digit scores in the last 15 innings, would have seen the axe looming. “We see Kaif as an important member of our side while planning for the World Cup,” Chappell stated, “and we knew he would come out of the bad run. He’s a very experienced player and this will help his confidence.”On the eve of the game, West Indies had optional nets while the Indians, who were scheduled to have a light stint, were forced to have a pool session. Rain and sunshine alternated, keeping everyone guessing about the forecast. Weathermen predict Saturday to be another day with scattered thunderstorms in Kingston. One certainty, though, is that it won’t take too long for Charlie, the groundsman, and his boys to get Sabina Park ready for the clash. The lukewarm spectator response – the ground was hardly half full – disappointed the local authorities but they expect a larger turnout for Saturday’s contest.With another royal sweatfest on the cards, don’t forget to bring your handkerchiefs and towels.TeamsWest Indies (probable) 1 Chris Gayle, 2 Runako Morton, 3 Ramnaresh Sarwan, 4 Brian Lara (capt), 5 Shivnarine Chanderpaul, 6 Marlon Samuels, 7 Dwayne Bravo, 8 Carlton Baugh (wk), 9 Ian Bradshaw, 10 Jerome Taylor, 11 Fidel Edwards.India (probable) 1 Virender Sehwag, 2 Rahul Dravid (capt), 3 Yuvraj Singh, 4 Mohammad Kaif, 5 Suresh Raina, 6 Mahendra Singh Dhoni (wk), 7 Irfan Pathan, 8 Ajit Agarkar, 9 Harbhajan Singh, 10 Sreesanth, 11 Munaf Patel.