Mal Loye underlined his liking for Lancashire’s bowlers with a brilliant 177 as Northamptonshire made the most of winning an important toss in their Division One contest at Wantage Road.It was Loye’s third century in four seasons off the Lancashire attack, and boosted the home side to 365-6 from 116 overs at the close after John Crawley called incorrectly to give the home side first use of ideal batting conditions.Loye cracked two sixes – both off Muthiah Muralitharan before lunch – and 22 fours in his six-hour stay, and provided the perfect platform in partnership with Australian Mike Hussey (70). The pair posted 159 for the first wicket in 38 overs until Hussey edged Murali behind with lunch beckoning.Lancashire’s seamers were disappointing in the first session but Peter Martin turned in an outstanding post-lunch spell of 2-24 from 13 overs to bring the visitors back into contention.He dismissed Jeff Cook (23) and Russell Warren (0), while Murali accounted for Alec Swann cheaply as 248-1 became 257-4 in the space of nine overs.But Loye and vice-captain Tony Penberthy (31) steadied the innings by adding 57 either side of tea, and Loye’s 318-ball knock lasted until half-an-hour before the close when a tired-looking stroke saw him play on to the persevering Martin.Graeme Swann and skipper Ripley batted out the day, and Northants’ first target will be scoring another 35 in 14 overs to secure the maximum five batting points.

Goa Cricket Association (GCA) secretary Vinod Phadke, wanted by policefor his alleged involvement in the fake ticket scam during the fifthone-day international between India and Australia, today surrenderedbefore the judicial magistrate of Margao and was granted bail.Phadke was released on a bail of Rs one lakh and two sureties of likeamount on conditions includang that he make himself available to theinvestigating officer as and when required, DIG Karnal Singh said.GCA president and former deputy chief minister Dayanand Narvekar,treasurer Ramnath Shankar Das and Phadke have been called forinterrogation at Margao tomorrow as the police santed someclarifications and more details of some events, Singh said adding eventhough the custodial enquiries were not possible the police would getto the truth.Das was arrested immediately after the episode was reported and is nowon bail. Narvekar was granted bail yesterday. But both Narvekar andPhadke did not cooperate with the police and from time to time filedbail applications before different courts, and finally got the bailfrom the Goa bench of the Mumbai High Court for a month.The judicial magistrate of Margao has now given bail to Narvekar andPhadke for two months or till the chargesheet is filed, whichever isearlier.

All rounder Thilan Samaraweera has been retained as the captain of Sri LankaA team to take on Pakistan A in the three match One Day series, which startsat De Soyza Park Stadium, Moratuwa on Saturday.Samaraweera performed remarkable well in the three Match Test series wherehe claimed 21 wickets at 14.09 apiece. Apart from his impressive bowling thecaptain scored 94 runs in five innings, averaging 23.Other than the captain, Avishka Gunawardene, Chamara Silva, TillakarathneDilshan, Kumar Sangakkara, Suresh Perera, Akalanka Ganegama, and NiroshanBandarathillake all have played in the senior side.With the triangular series against India and New Zealand close at hand, theselectors will be keen to pick up few players who could move up the ladder.Suresh Perera, back after a long period of injury, will be keen to press hisclaims for the national team while Avishka Gunawardene is a strong contenderto get back to the side after his powerful batting in the three-Test Aseries. He is though not even in the 24-man training squad for thetriangular series.Jehan Mubarak, who was not selected to play in the three unofficial TestMatches, gets a chance while Muthumudalige Pushpakumara who was the 12th manin the first and the last Test Matches gets an overdue chance.The full squad:Thilan Samaraweera, Avishka Gunawardene, Shantha Kalavitigoda, JehanMubarak, Chamara Silva, T.M.Dilshan, Kumar Sangakkara, Suresh Perera,Sajeeva Weerakoon, Akalanka Ganegama, Dinusha Fernando, Upeka Fernando,Gayan Wijekoon, Muthumudalige Pushpakumara, Niroshan Bandarathillake.

Continuity is a word seldom associated with Pakistan cricket, so when onediscovered that seven members of the Pakistan A squad that triumphed overSri Lanka in the unofficial three-Test series, also played in the Under 19World Cup here last year, one felt obliged to comment, because the converseis true of Sri Lanka.Not a single member of the Sri Lankan team in the final Test Match, played in the Youth World Cup; a tournament in which they had defeated Pakistan in the semi-finals, before losing to India in the final. Ian Daniel, who played in the First Test Match in Dambulla, and Akalanka Ganegama, who played in the first two Test Matches, were the only representatives in the entire series.Indeed, for Pakistani players, the route into the national side is clearer.The Under 19 team side is a natural feeder into the A team and then fromthere one can progress into the national team.For Sri Lankan cricketers, however, the process is confused – there is nonatural progression from the Under 19 team to the A side. Worse, no oneseems to quite know what the A team is.Sri Lanka used 22 players in this three-match series, an unwieldy numberthat smacks of selectorial indecision and almost certainly hampered theperformances of individuals involved and contributed to the team’s eventualdownfall.With the squad being chopped and changed with alacrity, the players wereforever looking over their shoulders and were put under unbearable pressureto perform. Privately they admitted to unsettling feelings of insecurity.According to the team management, the selectors rationale was that theywanted to give an opportunity to as many players as possible. This serieswas to act as a stepping to the future when a leaner squad of approximately16 could be picked for forthcoming A tours.It is true that many players were given an opportunity, but it is thequality of that opportunity that poses the problem. With an overbearingimportance attached to each innings played and with the omnipresent threatof the axe should they fail, it is no wonder that the batsmen failed to liveup their potential.Sure, the selectors are looking for strong-minded players, but one cannotexpect even the most battle hardened young cricketers to flourish in such anenvironment of flux. Continuity of selection breeds confidence and anenvironment conducive to personal success.One wonders as to what poor Hemantha Devapriya, the A-team coach, said tohis batsmen before each match. Perhaps it was: “Good luck machang butremember, if you don’t score today, you will probably be dropped because theselectors think you may be a good player but they are not very sure.”Is it really true that the selectors could not identify a squad of 15players for the Test series? If they have not seen enough of the playersinvolved then the obvious question is, why not? A stable squad would havebeen preferred by the players and would have provided a clearer indicationas to the potential of each player.As it stands, the selectors have gained few insights from this three-matchseries. The now know that Thilan Samaraweera deserves to be promoted aheadof Kumar Dharmasena; they will realise, perhaps reluctantly, that AvishkaGunawardene is head and shoulders above the other upcoming batsmen; and thatMichael Vandort is an exceptional slip fielder and a promising batsman.Apart from those three, we know little more. Those that have failed were notgiven a proper chance, so a judgment now would be premature. This is true ofIan Daniel, Jeevantha Kulatunga, Dammika Sudharshana, Shantha Kalavitigodaand Malintha Warnapura.In the defense of the selectors they did they need to balance the needs ofthe national team. For several of the 24-man national squad this A tourprovided an ideal opportunity to gain valuable match practice against a highquality opposition. In normal circumstances the likes of Kumar Sangakkara,Tillakaratne Dilshan, and Indika de Saram may not have played.Clearly a decision has to be made: the A team is either a vehicle for thenational players to practice or it is a gateway to the senior side, a meansof providing experience to an emerging crop of players.In fact, the situation is crying for a complete overhaul of thedevelopmental system. The concept of an A team has become confused. Is itthe Sri Lankan second team, a natural feeder into the test team? Or is it acollection of young players, a true developmental team, who are unlikely toplay for the national team immediately, but could so in a couple of years?The obvious solution, in a country such as Sri Lanka where the domesticcricket is so poor, is to have two developmental sides: an A team which iseffectively a Sri Lankan 2nd XI and an Academy side, which provides astepping stone from the Under 19’s to the A team, and offers young playersan exposure to a high standard of cricket at an early age.A proper Second XI or A team is crucial because it will help to bridge thegapping divide between first class and international cricket. The Second XIwould play touring teams in Sri Lanka and could tour the likes of Australia,South Africa and England to gain greater experience. In the spirit of Asianco-operation there could even be regular tournaments with our neighbours.The Academy Side would also play touring sides in their warm-up games andtour abroad to play against the Academies that are springing up all over theworld. The important point is that the squad members get a greater exposureto a higher standard of cricket at an earlier age, something that is notpossible in the present hybrid system because the youngsters are crowded outby more established players. Even if they do get an opportunity, it is oftenshortlived.The root of the problem is, of course, domestic cricket, but that is adilemma that could take time to adequately resolve. In the meantime thesetting up of an Academy and A team is essential if Sri Lanka’s youngcricketers are to realise their full potential.

Graeme Hick has not ruled out returning to the England set-up – with his sights set firmly on the 2003 World Cup.The prolific Worcestershire batsman was not selected for either the two-Test series against Pakistan or the following NatWest Series. His form during the winter tours of Sri Lanka and Pakistan had been disappointing despite the team’s overall success.Hick made his England debut a decade ago and has been recalled to the England side no fewer than ten times – and he’s now holping to make it 11.Although at the age of 35 he admits the chances of any further Test appearances may be slim, he believes he still has something to offer the one-day side.”I can’t envisage myself playing Test cricket this summer againstAustralia with the way the side has been selected and the way they are nowlooking,” he said.”I accept that the winter was not the best for me personally although it wasstill one I enjoyed immensely because of the results and being part of anEngland team while it was successful.”Winning in Pakistan and Sri Lanka was special and not something you do veryoften.”I was disappointed to miss out on the one-day games against Australia andPakistan but I think there is still an opportunity or chance that I could stillbe playing in the World Cup next year.”That is my goal, to keep myself fit and be in with a fighting chance forthat, but any international cricket would be great. As long as I am playingcricket well and I am healthy then I will have those aspirations.”

Dr Mtutulezi Nyoka is to pursue his challenge for the presidency of the United Cricket Board despite the probability that the leaking of a letter at the weekend deeply critical of Percy Sonn may have irreparably damaged his chances of unseating the current president."I have no intention of withdrawing my nomination," Nyoka said on Monday night."I will be standing against Mr Sonn even if I get no votes at all."Nyoka denied he had leaked the letter, written more than five weeks ago to the provincial affiliates, in which he charged that Sonn intended to use the elite Scorpions unit to investigate him, allegedly for misusing his position on the World Cup policy committee for personal gain. The letter also claims that Sonn refused to apologise for saying that the Minister of Sport, Ngconde Balfour, had been talking "shit" after he had addressed a UCB executive committee meeting in May.Sonn has dismissed the allegations as "nonsense"."If I had wanted to leak the letter myself, why would I have waited since June 25 to do so," said Nyoka.Whoever leaked the letter to certain sections of the South Africa media on Saturday, however, the effect has probably been to scupper Nyoka’s election bid.Several provincial officials offered the view that Nyoka’s challenge would have been handicapped in the first instance by his relative lack of experience in cricket administration – he was elected chairman of the Gauteng Cricket Board only a week ago. The fact that he seems to have breached the confidentiality of the committee room would be further held against him.Whatever the merits, or otherwise, of either man’s candidacy, South African cricket is still trying to come to terms with the match-fixing scandal, not to mention the dope-smoking affair that tarnished the otherwise successful tour of the Caribbean. The sport can ill-afford an election battle characterised by public mud-slinging

The Board of Control for Cricket in India on Sunday denied it had madeany offer to former Indian captain Mohammed Azharuddin to lift thelife ban imposed on him.”Why should the BCCI have any truck with the banned players. I denythat the board has any private understanding with Azharuddin. Thematter is in the court and let the courts decide,” BCCI president ACMuthiah told PTI in Chennai reacting to a media report.The ‘Daily Telegraph’ of London in a report on Saturday said “TheIndian board have made a face saving offer to Mohammed Azharuddin byoffering to lift the life ban imposed on him if he is willing to givea voluntary pledge that he will never again be involved in cricket.”Azharuddin has challenged the life ban imposed on him in a Hyderabadcourt, the next hearing of which is due on August 29.As a fallout of the match fixing scandal, the BCCI had bannedAzharuddin and Ajay Sharma for life and imposed a five-year ban onAjay Jadeja, Manoj Prabhakar and former physio Ali Irani.

New Zealand A were forced to sit out another day of frustration at the Moin-ud-Dowlah Gold Cup cricket tournament yesterday.Their match with the Cricket Association of Bengal side was cancelled due to a wet outfield at the Lal Bahadur Stadium, the same venue that became unplayable during New Zealand’s first game.Both teams were awarded one point from the game.New Zealand’s next game is against Chemplast tomorrow at a different ground, but with only two points from the first two games, New Zealand A could do with victories in its remaining games in order to qualify for the quarter-finals.

Somerset gradually turned the screw on Surrey on the third day at Taunton,building a lead of 360 by the close, with five wickets still in hand.Richard Johnson swung the ball in the opening session to return 5-62 as thevisitors were bowled out for 278 – a deficit of 95 – having begun the day on224-6.Then Mike Burns (70), Jamie Cox (46) and Peter Bowler (34) batted soundly totake Somerset’s second innnings to 265-5, despite a good post-lunch spellfrom Martin Bicknell, who bowled with no luck and beat the outside edgeseveral times.As on the first two days, the humid conditions encouraged the ball to movearound in the air. Johnson capitalised in the morning by removing BenHollioake (56) and Bicknell (34), both to diving catches by wicketkeeper RobTurner, who equaled a Somerset record by catching six victims in theinnings.Steffan Jones wrapped up the Surrey innings by dismissing Ian Salisbury andSaqlain Mushtaq, taking his first class wicket tally for the season to 50 inthe process.Somerset began their second innings looking to bat Surrey out of the game.Matt Wood fell early, but Cox and Burns then put together a watchful standof 75 for the second wicket.Burns reached his half-century of 138 balls, with 5 fours, also receivinggood support from Bowler in a third-wicket partnership of 77.By the time Saqlain removed Burns and Bicknell sent back Bowler for anoverdue success Surrey were looking at the prospect of a formidable last-daytarget, something Mark Lathwell (27) and Ian Blackwell (36 not out) assured.

Australian speedster Jason Gillespie has been selected to spearhead South Australia’s attack when it opens its ING Cup season in Perth next week.International commitments limited Gillespie, 26, to a total of just six matches with the Redbacks last summer.But, with a successful Ashes tour of England behind him and with five weeks still remaining before the First Test against New Zealand, he becomes a welcome re-inclusion for the day-night match against Western Australia on 12 October.Gillespie heads a strong pace attack that also includes Paul Wilson, Brett Swain, Mark Harrity and Paul Rofe, while the slow bowling options will be led by left arm orthodox bowler Brad Young, another player making a return after a long absence.Young, the state’s premier spinner, was sidelined in November last year when he sustained ligament damage to his knee during training. He underwent a full knee reconstruction immediately, before returning to play Lancashire League cricket in the Australian off-season.The South Australians have named a balanced squad, continuing to show faith in many of the players who took the state within a whisker of a finals appearance last season. Back from successful county seasons with Yorkshire and Nottinghamshire respectively, Darren Lehmann and Greg Blewett will again fill the side’s leadership positions.The Redbacks’ pre-season has included a two-day stopover in the Victorian country town of Mildura as well as the start of a series of intrastate league fixtures. Two matches against Tasmania were also scheduled, but the first of those – which was due to be played today – was abandoned because of a wet outfield at Adelaide’s Park 25.The full South Australian side is: Darren Lehmann (c), Greg Blewett (v/c), David Fitzgerald, Jason Gillespie, Ryan Harris, Mark Harrity, Ben Johnson, Graham Manou, Paul Rofe, Brett Swain, Jeff Vaughan, Paul Wilson, Brad Young.