Sourav Ganguly has been looking forward to this day for the last 28 months. That elusive Test hundred finally came about on a murky afternoon at the Feroz Shah Kotla in Delhi on the third day of the second Test match against Zimbabwe. The century hopefully marks the beginning of the end of the wretched form that Ganguly has been carrying with him in Test cricket for a long time now. He was still going strong at stumps on 135 off 279 balls, punctuating his knock with 21 fours and a six.There was not much cricket played today at the Kotla as the sun kept playing hide and seek behind dark clouds. There was a shower in the morning to start with, and the occasional drizzle kept playing spoilsport for the best part of the day. In the 47 overs of play possible today, India scored 148 runs, losing the wickets of Virender Sehwag and Sanjay Bangar.If it was Ganguly’s day to celebrate, the crowd also had enough to cheer about as local hero Sehwag went about smashing the bowling regardless of the frequent stoppages. As yesterday, he targeted Ray Price, the most successful of Zimbabwe’s bowlers at Nagpur. The left-arm spinner was not given enough time to settle into a good rhythm as Tendulkar allowed him to do the previous evening.The wristy shots through mid-wicket, the powerful off-drives, and the caressing drive through covers were all a treat to watch at the Kotla. As a matter of fact, Sehwag took nine fours off Price. He did not spare the faster bowlers either; Streak too suffered through merciless hitting. In the meanwhile, Ganguly reached his hundred off the very last ball before the tea interval, pulling one from Streak to the fine-leg fence.In the very first over after the tea break, bowled by Travis Friend, Sehwag struck a couple of boundaries to send out a clear message of getting on with the job at hand. If Sehwag has a weakness, though, it is the ball that leaves him outside the off. When Streak got it right once, Sehwag flashed at it, but the resultant edge was put down by Andy Flower at first slip. The very next ball was cleverly bowled – getting it to move back in off the seam and hitting Sehwag on the pads, well in line with the stumps. Umpire Jayaprakash did not hesitate to put the finger up. Sehwag made 74 brilliant runs off 118 balls, striking 16 boundaries and emphasising his value in the middle order.Bangar came in and played a delicate shot to third-man for four. That was all he could make, as he became the second batsman to be dismissed by Ganguly’s reluctant running. Carlisle’s throw from covers to Taibu was a bit too quick for Bangar, who was trying to get back to his crease. India were 280/6 at that stage.Streak (2/82) bowled well today without much luck. The final phase of today’s play saw some dour defensive batting by Kumble. No running between wickets was to be seen as Kumble took much of the strike, leaving the in-form Ganguly a spectator at the non-striking end for the best part. India still trails by 10 runs and will be looking forward to building up a lead tomorrow.

Auckland’s Matt Horne gave the national selectors a healthy nudge to remind them that he wasn’t prepared to be discounted as an opener’s alternative for international cricket when guiding Auckland into the State Shield final today.Auckland will have the chance to win the domestic one-day competition for the first time since 1989/90.Horne batted superbly to score 96 as Canterbury were beaten by six wickets at Jade Stadium.It was cruel misfortune that he missed out on what would have been a deserved century as he wasn’t able to get a gift ball from Craig McMillan far enough behind deep backward point for the boundary that would have brought the reward. Instead Chris Harris took the catch.McMillan was the beneficiary when two sucker balls he bowled in the over dramatically improved his return for the day. He also had Lou Vincent when he hit a soft caught and bowled chance back to McMillan who had gone into the over with none for 35 off four overs but who ended with two for 39 off five.The comparisons between the batting of the two sides could not have been further apart.Auckland achieved the basic requirement of building partnerships as seen from the 70 for the first wicket between Horne and Llorne Howell, 70 for the second wicket between Horne and Tim McIntosh and 55 between Horne and Vincent.Canterbury paid the price for a diffident display of batting which seemed to read more terrors into the slow pitch than was warranted. They also had to admit to superior catching by the Aucklanders who managed some outstanding takes to further penalise the home side.Craig Pryor completed a fine catch running back with the ball dropping away from him to dismiss Shanan Stewart while McMillan fell to a fine reflex catch by Aaron Barnes at short mid-wicket.Only another innings of consequence from Harris, his second in three innings, got Canterbury as high as they did with their 199 for nine wickets. He was out in the 49th over when bowled by Andre Adams for 58, scored off 84 balls. He and Peter Fulton had added 72 runs for the sixth wicket when Fulton was run out, albeit by the third umpire’s decision, when attempting a second run off a no-ball.Had Fulton managed to slide his bat in a straight line, he would still have been in but the movement as his bat ended up at about 30 degrees to the crease meant he was just short of his ground.Shane Bond was used as a pinch-hitter but didn’t succeed and it was left to Gareth Hopkins to strike some lusty blows as 25 runs were added to add some lustre to Canterbury’s innings.Earlier, Nathan Astle had been strangely subdued as he was forced to change the nature of his innings after losing Stewart and McMillan in reasonable proximity. Then when Gary Stead and Chris Cairns were both out cheaply to leave Canterbury 65 for four wickets after 20 overs.Frustration finally appeared to get the better of Astle in the 27th over, Astle was well caught by Rob Nicol at backward square leg on the boundary for 32 scored off 68 balls.Another fine catch was made by Adams to make the last dismissal off the last ball of the innings running around the boundary and diving to dismiss Hopkins from Pryor’s bowling.Auckland’s bowlers generally used the conditions better with Kyle Mills taking two for 36 runs from his 10 overs, Barnes one for 26 off 10 and most impressively of all, Tama Canning one for 23 off 10.Canterbury captain Stead said his side lost too many wickets in the first 20 overs.”Auckland outplayed us in all facets of the game,” he said.Adams would have to be concerned that his 10 overs cost 50, although he did pick up two wickets.Horne said the key to Auckland had been getting off to a good start.”We were able to get partnerships going, some of the wickets have been quite tough but our boys bowled sensationally today,” he said.Canterbury’s bowling lacked penetration. Bond did get through 10 overs to take one for 41 while Stephen Cunis with none for 25, Astle one for 28 off six and Harris none for 27 off his six were the pick of the rest.It was a disappointing end for the Cantabrians, but the Aucklanders came up with the goods at the right time and deserved their final success.

POTCHEFSTROOM, South Africa, Feb 17 AAP – Jimmy Maher is expected to be Australia’s wicket-keeper in the World Cup match against Holland, meaning a break for the bowlers from his hand-written messages.The mismatch at NorthWest Stadium on Thursday gives unbeaten Australia the chance to rest keeper Adam Gilchrist, promote rusty batsmen Michael Bevan and Darren Lehmann and give one or two of its pace bowling trio a breather.The clash with a winless Dutch team, including players the Australians have never heard of, promises to be either a whitewash or a washout, if Potchefstroom has another of its torrential afternoon downpours.Australia is so worried about Gilchrist suffering an injury before a big game that specialist batsman Maher is being given every chance to retain touch and to hone his wicketkeeping skills.When he fields in regular positions, like he did against Pakistan in Australia’s first Cup game, mischievous Maher can’t help leaving scribbled notes on the ground for the bowlers, according to Australian coach John Buchanan.”He will be as happy as a very fat spider behind the stumps and opening the batting,” said Buchanan, stealing one of Maher’s favourite sayings.”I’m sure a number of the bowlers will be happy to see him behind the stumps because they won’t have to read the little messages he leaves at the top of their bowling marks.”It’s believed, in the absence of confirmation, that Maher’s messages are not entirely serious nor motivational. He has a sense of humour.Gilchrist is fit and could play at a pinch but he needs to be kept fresh because his workload is going to be intense next month when Australia starts plotting its course through the Super Sixes and beyond.”Gilly’s fine,” said Buchanan.”He’s probably one of the guys who would like to keep going at this stage but I think from our point of view it will be important for Mabo (Maher) to again gain a bit of ‘keeping experience and also have an opportunity to bat at the top of the order.”It helps us cover any possible bases that need to be covered that haven’t been done already.”Buchanan has a few hopes for Thursday’s game at North West Stadium.He hopes Potchefstroom will not have one of its huge afternoon thunderstorms, he hopes his gun players don’t get injured and he hopes the Dutch play well above their capabilities to give the Australians a decent game.Never heard of some of the Dutch?”Definitely, definitely,” said Buchanan.”That can be the case with some of the leading sides, too, although it’s less likely, I suppose, because we’ve basically seen most of those players.”It’s one of the good things about playing the likes of Namibia or Holland or Kenya or even Bangladesh for that matter – we haven’t seen too much of them and therefore we don’t sit down an analyse the team to death.”We really just get out there and respond to what they throw at us.”Holland lost its first two games to India and England.They don’t have much to throw.

Mathew Sinclair will finally get to take part in the World Cup after being named as Nathan Astle’s replacement in the New Zealand side to play Bangladesh in Kimberley today.Astle has been rested on medical advice, he is suffering from a hernia and more problems with his troubled knee.Also out of tonight’s game is livewire fieldsman Lou Vincent who has conceded a place to fast-medium bowler Kyle Mills who is also expected to play his first match of the Cup.The selectors are clearly expecting to make an impact on the Bangladesh side with their pace options from an attack containing Shane Bond, Andre Adams, Mills, Jacob Oram and possibly Chris Cairns.The side for the game is: Stephen Fleming (captain), Andre Adams, Shane Bond, Chris Cairns, Chris Harris, Brendon McCullum, Craig McMillan, Kyle Mills, Jacob Oram, Mathew Sinclair, Scott Styris, Daniel Vettori.Selection committee chairman Sir Richard Hadlee said: “We believe the Bangladesh side might be vulnerable to pace bowling and that Kyle has the ability to swing the ball and take wickets at the top of the order.”He has an excellent record for New Zealand and is a multi-skilled player who also provides us with a batting option in the middle to lower-order.”Hadlee added: “Mathew Sinclair is a ready made replacement at No 3 in the batting order for the injured Nathan Astle.”Mathew will have an opportunity to put his case up for further selection should there be any form or injury concerns with other batsmen during the remainder of the tournament.”

MELBOURNE, March 5 AAP – Shane Warne will know by next month what he can and can’t do in cricket during his year-long doping ban.But Victoria coach David Hookes would like him to at least visit the Bushrangers’ dressing room some time this week.Hookes again called for the state captain to be able to train with his team-mates so Warne can be ready to play once his ban ends on February 10 next year.The Australian Cricket Board’s legal department is working on the parameters of Warne’s ban, while its cricket operations manager Michael Brown will soon speak to Hookes about the issue.”I think it would be very unfair if he’s not allowed to practise cricket,” Hookes said ahead of the Pura Cup match against Western Australia from tomorrow at the MCG.”I concede his playing ban ends on February 10, but surely he should be ready to play on February 11.”I’m not sure if he can or not, but that’s certainly one thing we would fight on his behalf.”I don’t think anybody anywhere, even Dick Pound, would say he shouldn’t be allowed to at least play on the 11th.”Pound, the World Anti-Doping Agency chairman, has been scathing of Warne during the doping controversy that led to the leg spinner’s ban.An ACB anti-doping committee suspended Warne late last month after he tested positive to banned diuretics.ACB public affairs manager Peter Young said apart from working out the details of the suspension, the board was also keen to help make sure Warne was ready to play once his ban ended.”What we’re trying to do is we’re seeking to understand what he can and can’t do – obviously he can’t play,” Young said.”We also want to help work out a plan that will have him in peak condition and form once he returns to cricket.”Michael Brown is consulting with stakeholders in this and he’s due to speak to David Hookes.”Once the ACB lawyers finish their document, it will be signed off as policy.Young said this would probably not happen until next month.Meanwhile, Hookes was hopeful Warne would attend this week’s match and also talk to his state team-mates.”My understanding is Warney will come down during the game at some stage, just to stay away from the media people and sneak in the back door,” Hookes said.”I’d love to see him during the game – his great strength, Warney, is also his dressing room presence, because he understands the game.”He’s a big calming influence in the changeroom at the right time.”Hookes was also adamant Warne needed to bowl to national-quality batsmen during his ban.”There’s no point saying to Warne, go to some club ground and bowl against yourself, he needs to bowl against batsmen of quality,” he said.

Worcestershire start their Frizzell County Championship season against Hampshire at New Road with Graeme Hick just one century short of matching Tom Graveney’s total of 122 first class hundreds.Hick, who has a top score of 405 not out, currently lies 13th in the all time list of leading century makers behind Jack Hobbs 197, Percy Hendren 170, Wally Hammond 167, Phil Mead 153, Geoff Boycott 151, Herbert Sutcliffe 149, Frank Woolley 145, Len Hutton 129, Graham Gooch 128, WG Grace 126, Denis Compton 123 and Graveney 122.The 12 for the opening game are: Singh, Peters, Hick, Smith (capt), Solanki, Leatherdale, Batty, Rhodes (wk), Kabir Ali, Harrity, Hayward, Mason.

The second Test drifted towards stalemate on the fourth day after another gritty marathon from Hashan Tillakaratne. Both sides had opportunities to push for a series-clinching win but neither was willing to grasp the initiative, preferring instead to wait patiently for the other to slip up. If the day provided further evidence of the propensity of two-Test series to produce drab cricket, it also betrayed the lack of positive ambition of the two sides.Sri Lanka were particularly reluctant to force the pace, content to first rule out the possibility of defeat as they inched warily towards New Zealand’s 305 first innings score. The strategy changed at the tea interval after it became clear that Marvan Atapattu, who had spent most of the morning trying to sleep of the concussion sustained during his collision with Daniel Vettori yesterday, would not be able to continue batting. But by then the opportunity to put pressure on the visitors had been missed after a dreary afternoon session that yielded just 72 runs in 28 overs.When they were finally dismissed for 298, shortly after tea, there were 33 overs scheduled for the remainder of the day. New Zealand’s openers, Mark Richardson and Matt Horne, squashed hopes of a spectacularcapitulation, batting positively during a 65-run stand for the first wicket. Although Matt Horne was prised out for 27 by Muralitharan – caught at forward short leg – Mark Richardson batted positively for his unbeaten 51 and New Zealand were comfortably placed on 92 for 1 at the close. Barring a sensational final day, a draw is inevitable.Tillakaratne was never expected to take risks. As a batsman he places a high price on his wicket and as a captain he is overly wary of losing. His first priority today was to ensure that Sri Lanka could not lose. He achieved that objective, steering Sri Lanka past the 156-run follow-on target in the morning – revised because the first day was washed out and this became a four-day game.New Zealand too contributed to the drudgery. Immediately after lunch, Paul Wiseman, who had extracted dangerous bounce and turn from the flaking surface to pick up 4 for 104 in the innings, was asked to bowl over the wicket at Tillakaratne’s leg stump. A fielder patrolled the point boundary, blocking off Tillakaratne’s favourite run-scoring area against the slow bowlers. If Stephen Fleming was trying to frustrate the batsman into indiscretion, he was testing the wrong man. Tillakaratne plodded on.He scored just 27 runs in the middle session before trying to make a dash for his third successive test century after the decision had been made to declare or score quickly in the 10 overs after the break. However, although he found the boundary on four occasions during that short session, he missed out on his hundred as he chopped an off-break from Wiseman onto his stumps. Tillakaratne batted five-and-a-half hours for his 232-ball 93, hitting 12 boundaries in all. Earlier, Sri Lanka lost Sanath Jayasuriya, Romesh Kaluwitharana and Kumar Dharmasena during an extended first session.Jayasuriya was on course for his 11th Test century having started themorning with a flurry of boundaries. Both Daryl Tuffey and Shane Bond were smashed through the off side before Fleming turned to the offbreaks of Wiseman – New Zealand’s only spinner in the absence of Vettori, who was hobbling around on crutches with a badly swollen left ankle.Jayasuriya, playing defensively, edged an offbreak that turned sharply into the hands of Fleming at slip – a regulation chance (126 for 3). He had scored 82 from 110 balls and his innings contained a high percentage of boundaries – 14 in all.Kaluwitharana came to the crease and announced his positive intentions with a sizzling pull in front of square. However, that didn’t prevent New Zealand’s tall pace bowlers from testing him. Famously impulsive,Kaluwitharana couldn’t resist hooking a quick shoulder-high bouncer from Bond and was pouched in the deep off a top edge (169 for 4).Minutes before the lunch break, the initiative bent further towards NewZealand as Wiseman claimed his second victim of the morning. Dharmasena was surprised by some extra bounce and gloved a catch to Fleming at a well-positioned leg slip (189 for 5).After the break, Kaushal ived more dangerously before being was well-caught for 20 by a diving Tuffey. Chaminda Vaas was also positive, cracking four boundaries in his 22 before being bowled by Jacob Oram, but the crowd but the crowd only really came to life when Atapattu, made his unexpected entrance. Cheered and clapped all the way to the middle, like a soldier returning from battle, his stay was shortlived as he complained of dizziness and retired hurt.

Adrian Le Roux, the physical trainer of the Indian team for the last year, has decided to quit the post and join the South African team as their trainer. Le Roux, whose contract with South Africa extends till 2005, will join the squad later this week.The Indian board (BCCI) was initially caught unawares by this development, but later issued a statement saying that it respected Le Roux’s decision, and would start searching for a replacement.Speaking to the Times of India, John Wright, the India coach, said, “it has come as a surprise. However, he has made a decision as a professional and we can only respect his judgement.” He added: “But he has left a schedule to follow for Indian players and I am sure everyone will try to live up to it.”Le Roux had joined the Indian team early last year, and had won the praise of the players after significantly improving fitness levels. Impressed by his performance, the Indian board had increased his salary and extended his contract by a year immediately after the World Cup.”He blended so well within the team and its structure and contributed immensely to the boys’ fitness. He took immense pains and spent time with individuals to improve their mental and physical toughness,” Wright said. “I can safely say that we all, including the boys, will miss him. But he had to make a personal decision and one could only wish him good luck.”In a statement, Le Roux said that he enjoyed his stint in India, but was delighted to get an opportunity to work with the South Africans. “It was a wonderful experience working with India, in a very different cricket culture, and I learnt a great deal with them,” he said. “It is obviously a great privilege to have the opportunity to work with one’s own national team and I am looking forward to the challenge of helping the team’s performance.”I wish the Indian cricket team and its management all the best for the future and I hope that they will continue to be a winning team.”Jagmohan Dalmiya, president of the Indian board, said that he understood Le Roux’s stand perfectly. “We have received a communication from Le Roux, resigning from the position of fitness trainer,” Dalmiya said. “Adrian did a wonderful job with the team and this was reflected in the results. The BCCI, however, respects his national sentiments and, therefore, a suitable replacement is being explored.”Working for his own country would obviously mean much more to Le Roux and the BCCI understands his sentiments. It will also give him an opportunity to stay with his family.”Dalmiya ruled out any action against Le Roux for breach of contract. He said that the board had already started the process of looking out for possible contenders for the post, and would announce the replacement soon.

The Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) has invited Waqar Younis to join Wasim Akram in making their international farewells during the forthcoming one-day series against either South Africa or Bangladesh.Wasim announced his retirement from international cricket last month but accepted an invitation from the PCB to make a final one-off appearance. But Waqar, who was sacked as Pakistan’s captain after the World Cup, has not indicated that he is considering retiring and so the PCB’s offer might come as a surprise to him.A spokesman for the PCB told Pakistan’s Dawn newspaper that the intention was for the pair to play together “in the final match of their illustrious careers”. Waqar might have something to say about that.

England 111 for 3 (Solanki 50) beat South Africa 107 (Anderson 3-50, Gough 2-9) by seven wickets

England added the NatWest Series trophy to their cabinet with a crushing seven-wicket win over a demoralised South Africa at Lord’s. England’s bowlers skittled a sorry South Africa for only 107 – their fourth-lowest score in one-day internationals and their lowest against England – as what promised to be a classic turned out to be a cake-walk.Michael Vaughan’s decision to field first proved to be a masterstroke as James Anderson and Darren Gough again led from the front for England, making the best of the early bowling conditions in a display fit for any final. The pitch held no demons, but South Africa never recovered from a disastrous start, showing no fight against controlled and disciplined bowling from England – in which even Ashley Giles took a wicket. It was an unworthy display from South Africa, as the pressure and the big-match nerves got the better of them.The tone of the day was set as early as the third over when Smith, who was dropped second ball of the match, edged a beauty of an awaycutter to Marcus Trescothick at first slip (10 for 1). It’s been a nightmare series for Herschelle Gibbs – 117 runs from seven innings, even allowing for a 93 not out – and he again looked as if he had two left feet as his touch and timing still eluded him. And Gough put him out of his misery in the eighth over when he nicked a full outswinger to Chris Read, the wicketkeeper, for 9 (30 for 2).Morne van Wyk, making his international debut, came in at No. 3 and was understandably a touch nervy. And after he gave Anderson a bit of stick, he was cleaned up with a fullish ball which cut back and beat his expansive drive (39 for 3).England had dug South Africa in to a deep hole, and not even South Africa’s man of the moment, Jacques Kallis, could get them out of it. Kallis is to fly back to South Africa tonight for family reasons and his mind looked to be elsewhere in his short and subdued stay at the crease. Gough continued his controlled line in a remarkable opening spell of 2 for 9 from seven overs, and he got one to leave Kallis, who edged it through for Read to take a good tumbling catch (43 for 4). It was a forgettable 12-ball duck for Kallis, and a forgettable start for South Africa.Jacques Rudolph and Mark Boucher did their best to rebuild the ruins and they put together a partnership of 32 – the highest of the innings – before Rudolph was snaffled by Andrew Flintoff (75 for 5). While England had fought hard for their early wickets with attacking, yet controlled, seam bowling, Boucher then gave his wicket away. He played a lazy drive to a wide Richard Johnson delivery to give Read his fourth victim of the innings and leave South Africa in even deeper trouble (75 for 6).And, believe it or not, it got even worse as the middle and lower-order self-destructed with mindless shots when they should have been looking to eek out runs on a good batting track. Martin van Jaarsveld and Shaun Pollock put on a valuable 27 including a few handsome fours from Pollock, and then something of a rarity happened when Giles took a wicket to dismiss van Jaarsveld. Attempting to turn the ball through the on side, van Jaarsveld was undone by a hint of turn and spooned a leading edge back to a delighted Giles, for whom it was only his first wicket of the series, and second one-day scalp of the summer (102 for 7).Andrew Hall, coming in at No. 9 today, has batted in virtually every position during this series, but he self-destructed with a shot that would have shamed a batsman of any ability. Just when Pollock needed some support, Hall tried to pull a full ball from Anderson and top-edged to Vaughan at mid-on (103 for 8). Nel then didn’t do any better with a horrible heave to a straight ball from Giles and was plumb lbw (107 for 9). And Pollock rounded off a dismal batting display when he edged a swishy drive off Flintoff to Read as South Africa crashed to the lowest ODI score at Lord’s and eradicated any hopes of a repeat of last year’s England-India epic.Vikram Solanki and Vaughan then made quick work of polishing off the runs to get their hands on the pot. Makhaya Ntini did make an early breakthrough when Trescothick flashed a flat-footed drive to Hall at first slip for a duck (1 for 1), meaning Solanki was temporarily forced to curb his natural attacking instincts, and it wasn’t until the eighth over that he hit the first of his eight fours.Vaughan also made a cautious start, but picked up the pace in the ninth over with two boundaries in a row off Pollock. The first was a lofted square drive, and the second that old swivel pull. And that signalled the charge for victory from the captain.Smith gave Ntini and Pollock five overs each, after which he turned to Nel and Kallis as the trophy slipped even further away from him. However, they failed to conjure any miracles and Kallis, as he has been all series, was expensive. Solanki, in particular, took a liking to him, smacking him all over Lord’s, including a nonchalant leg-side flick for six, followed by a spanking straight drive on the up to bring up his fifty from only 52 balls.Kallis, however, didn’t take a liking to Solanki, giving him a few words of advice as Kallis – who had a stinker of a final – went for an embarrassing 33 from three overs. Nel did pick up the consolation wicket of Vaughan, who miscued him to Ntini at mid-on for an accomplished 30 (88 for 2), and Solanki chopped one on to his stumps off Andrew Hall (89 for 3) for a dazzling 50, but by then England were home and dry.Click here for the Wisden Verdict