India’s surprise series leveling victory in Kandy has forced a re-think bythe Sri Lankan selectors, who have made two changes for the crucial finalTest in Colombo, as the home side looks to end a 16-month spell without aseries win, whilst India set their sights on their first overseas Testseries triumph since 1993.Sri Lanka will retain the same formation of six batsmen, one all rounder andfour frontline bowlers, but fast bowling allrounder Suresh Perera and leftarm pace bowler Ruchira Perera have been axed.Off spinning allrounder Thilan Samaraweera, who has captained Sri Lanka A inthree successive series, comes in place of Suresh Perera and will be makinghis Test debut.Suresh Perera looked short of confidence after being reported by umpireSteve Bucknor in Galle for having a suspect action and bowled just twelveovers in the game. With hindsight he should have been rested until thedoubts over his action had been eased.Fast bowler Dulip Liyanage, 29, has been chosen in place of Ruchira Perera -surprisingly left out of the final 14-man squad after two modest, but by nomeans poor, performances in Galle and Kandy.Liyanage – after beingconsistently impressive in the practice nets and throughout the lastdomestic season. He will also strengthen the lower order batting.Liyanage last played for Sri Lanka nearly eight years ago, way back in1993/94 during Sri Lanka’s disastrous and controversial tour of India. Heonly played eight Test matches after a series of debilitating injuries.Sanath Jayasuriya, speaking after the team’s final practice, called for histeam to play positive cricket: "We didn’t play well in Kandy, but that ishistory now. This is a fresh game and the team must think positively and notput themselves under pressure. The players must relax and enjoy themselves."He, though, stressed once again that the batsmen have to show greaterresponsibility: "The batsmen are in good form, but they have been gettingout in the 30’s and 40’s. When we get set we have to go on to make a bigscore."Coach Dav Whatmore pointed out that the failure of the batsmen in Kandyrevolved around the mental approach of the individuals concerned: "There isno technique problem. We have shown that we can score heavily. However, itseems to me that we can win by a large margin, but when it gets close, wefind it difficult. Sometimes we suffer from a rush of blood.""The players have to give 100 per cent and be totally committed," he warned."They must adopt that attitude that `everything depends on me’ not on anyoneelse."India, initially disappointed by their boards refusal to send Ajit Agarkar,which was confirmed by the Indian captain today, may now be somewhatrelieved, as they are considering playing 28-year-old Bombay legspinnerSairaj Bahutule, as the fourth bowler in place of Harvinder Singh.India, it seems, believe that the ball will turn appreciably. Sourav Gangulycommented that: "This does not look to be the normal bouncy SSC wicket and Ithink it will turn by day three."India are therefore expected to bat first if they win the toss. "We willhave a look in the morning and see how damp it is, but right now it lookslike a bat first wicket," said Ganguly.The curator Ranil Abeynaike, though, was singing a different song, promisingplenty of "pace and bounce" throughout the game with the prospect of lateralmovement for the fast bowlers on day one.Jayasuriya also commented that there was more grass on the wicket than therehad been in the last game England, when the ball turned sideways, and heexpects there to be plenty of encouragement for the pace bowlers. Sri Lankaare expected to field first if they win the toss.Ganguly pointed out that: "The mood within the side is good, but there wasno chance of complacency after the Kandy Test. We just want play goodcricket here. If we play well and take it session by session then the resultshould take care of itself."He defended the decision to retain Hemang Badani after three failures so farin the series: "Hemang deserves another opportunity. He is struggling a bitand not playing like he did in Zimbabwe, but it’s not right to drop abatsman after two games. Hemang has potential and maybe he will make a markin this Test."India have not won a Test series overseas since 1993 when MohammadAzharuddin’s side defeated Sri Lanka at the Sinhalese Sports Club to win theseries 1-0. There have been two matches since between India and Sri Lanka atSSC, both of which have been drawn.

Hampshire cruised to a seven-wicket win over Sussex and were left with an agonising wait to discover whether it would be enough to secure promotion to Division One of the Norwich Union League.A Worcestershire victory over Essex at New Road would deny them and if that were the case Robin Smith’s men will doubtless reflect on the home defeats against lowly Essex and Middlesex as the reasons why they missed out.At least they ended in style, bowling Sussex out for just 142 on a greenish Hove pitch before racing to victory with 22.1 overs unused.James Hamblin was their match-winner. He checked a late order Sussex revival by taking the last three wickets to finish with 3-23 before smashing 60 off just 42 balls as Hampshire launched their reply in thrilling style.Hamblin hit 14 fours and a six off James Kirtley in his blitz, racing to his 50 in just 33 minutes of mayhem off just 28 balls. Neil Johnson (42) supported him well in a stand of 103 in 13 overs for the first wicket.Hampshire lost three wickets in successive overs with veteran Mark Robinson claiming two of them on what could turn out to be his final appearance for the county.But Derek Kenway and Simon Francis sped their side to victory with an unbroken stand of 35 and the winning runs were scored at 4.25pm.Earlier Robin Martin-Jenkins (38) and Billy Taylor (19) had organised some resistance from the Sussex tail after they had slumped to 63-6. There were two wickets apiece for Dimitri Mascerenhas, Shaun Udal and Alan Mullally.

Aggressive Eastern Province fast bowler Nantie Hayward has been added to the South African squad for the Standard Bank One-Day International against India in East London on Friday, bringing the total number in the home party to 15.It is understood that national selectors will meet again in East London to reassess their squad, at which point the numbers of travelling players may be trimmed.Hayward’s selection as a one-day bowler will raise some eyebrows. Although he is among the quickest bowlers operating South Africa and highly-regarded by his peers for his attitude towards batsmen, there is a school of thought, which includes former South African captain Kepler Wessels, which holds that the restrictions of limited overs cricket, particularly those regarding wide balls, could count against him.Beset by personal problems last summer, Hayward had a difficult time of it, but it now seems that he has sorted out his private life and on the evidence of his first-class efforts this summer it appears that he has regained his control.Quite why the selectors have chosen to expand their squad once again is not entirely clear, but if Hayward does play on Friday – and there seems no reason to bring him into the squad if the intention is not play him – then close attention will be paid to his bowling.The new squad: Shaun Pollock (capt), Gary Kirsten, Herschelle Gibbs, Jacques Kallis, Neil McKenzie, Jonty Rhodes, Lance Klusener, Mark Boucher, Andre Nel, Makhaya Ntini, Justin Kemp, Nicky Boje, Boeta Dippenaar, Charl Langveldt, Nantie Hayward.

Former Leicestershire player Jonathan Dakin has become the latest player to join Essex as part of the Club’s rebuilding programme in their quest to regain their mantle as one of the country’s leading counties.Born in Hitchin, Hertfordshire, the 28-year-old all-rounder made his debut for his former county in 1993 and was a regular member of both their championship and one-day squads.Standing 6’6″ tall, he is a powerful left-handed batsman and right-arm medium-fast bowler with a highest score of 190 against Northamptonshire in the championship. Last season, he topped the Leicestershire first-class bowling averages with 16 wickets at 26 runs apiece in his seven matches.Chief Executive David East said: “Jonathan is currently playing in Tasmania and is delighted at the prospect of joining us. We all believe that he can play a full part in taking the county into Division 1 of both league competitions, as he is a proven performer at that level. We expect him to prove a shrewd capture.”

Matt Bulbeck just can’t wait for the start of the 2002 season,when he can get back to where he was and “start taking wickets again.”The left arm seamer who celebrated his twenty second birthday just recently told me of his frustrations during 2001. “I want to put two bad years behind me and get back to where I was before all of this happened” he said.Certainly Matt, who announced his arrival on the scene in 1998 by taking 26 wickets to top the Somerset averages,has been working hard to ensure that he back to full fitness by the time the 2002 season gets underway.Every morning for the last couple of months he has been a regular visitor to The Academy Fitness Centre at The County Ground where he has been following a rigorous training programme under the watchful eye of Club Physio Darren Veness and Fitness Trainer Andy Hurry.The Physio told me “Matt is training very hard, and his fitness is better now than it has ever been.He’s naturally fit so we have to step things up a gear for him.”What about next year I asked him. “We are looking for Matt to start 2002 as a definite first team prospect” the Physio replied.Matt will have the added bonus of training in the sunshine during the winter months because he is jetting off to Australia just before Christmas where he will be spending three months at The Paul Terry Cricket Academy in Perth.During his time in Perth Matt will continue with his fitness programme and will have daily nets working with former Aussie bowler Bruce Reid. He will also play cricket for a local club at the weekends.By the time he returns to Taunton in March “I want to be better than I was before I got injured” Matt told me, a sentiment that will be echoed by all Somerset supporters.

One veteran spinner at the crossroads, and two slow bowlers at the starting gates of potentially prolific careers. It will rely on the weather, but it’s possible that Tasmania and Victoria will make a major contribution toward a changing of the guard in Australian spin bowling when their Pura Cup match begins in Hobart tomorrow.Ordinarily, Colin Miller – who returned to Victoria at the start of last summer, but who still remains something of a hero in both locations – would be expected to represent a major force in a meeting between these two states. But a slow start to the season from a Bushrangers squad that doesn’t easily deal with being on the bottom of competition ladders means that no-one is being spared in the search for better results.Tasmania is having its own problems after an encouraging start in Sydney. Injuries to key batsmen Dene Hills and Michael DiVenuto and all-rounder Scott Kremerskothen haven’t helped, compounding a lack of penetration with the ball that has forced the Tigers to attempt to bat out the last day of all three of their matches to date.Which all means that, though neither 19-year-old Xavier Doherty nor 18-year-old Cameron White was barely even born by the time that Miller had graduated to first-class ranks, there is every chance they’ll be the spinners making the waves this week.Along with left arm paceman Mathew Inness, White and Miller are likely to jockey for the remaining two positions in a Victorian attack headed by pacemen Paul Reiffel and Damien Fleming and all-rounder Ian Harvey.”He’s got a huge future ahead of him. We’re very excited about him; we think he has a very long career ahead,” said Reiffel of leg spinning all-rounder White on his arrival in Hobart today.”He seems a lot older than he actually is. He carries himself very well. He’s an exciting talent; there’s no doubt about that.”We’re very happy to have him in our side.”In the opposite dressing rooms, meanwhile, left arm orthodox spinner Doherty is certain to be included in the eleven, filling a berth vacated by all-rounder Brad Thomas after a crushing innings loss to South Australia.”Potentially, he could have a very good career ahead of him,” said Tasmanian captain, Jamie Cox, in reference to Doherty.”We’ve monitored his progress for quite some time now.”And there are great opportunities for Xavier, with a bit of a dearth of finger spinning (bowlers) around the country … really there aren’t many around. We thought the time was right to give him a go.”It opens the way for the prospect that White will play just his third first-class match and Doherty his first.And that not even Miller’s status as his country’s reigning Test player of the year, nor as one of the most successful bowlers in history at the Bellerive Oval, may guarantee him his place.And all in a game that is likely to be played in attacking style, given that results elsewhere over recent weeks have left these two teams in urgent need of outright points.The only threat might be Hobart’s weather. Though there has ironically been no rain at the ground since Monday – the last of four days of poor conditions which played havoc with the Second Test between Australia and New Zealand – the long-range forecast points to the likelihood of a return of unpleasant conditions over the weekend.One team may need to turn the match its way quickly.Teams:Tasmania: Jamie Cox (c), Scott Mason, Michael Dighton, Shane Watson, Daniel Marsh, Shaun Young, Sean Clingeleffer, Damien Wright, David Saker, Xavier Doherty, Shane Jurgensen, Adam Polkinghorne.Victoria: Paul Reiffel (c), Matthew Elliott, Jason Arnberger, Matthew Mott, Brad Hodge, Michael Klinger, Ian Harvey, Darren Berry, Cameron White, Damien Fleming, Colin Miller, Mathew Inness.

Bangladesh’s only hope of saving the first National Bank Test against New Zealand in Hamilton rests in the weather which ruined the first two days and, from their point of view, the signs are not good.This has been a match which has dramatically highlighted the Bangladeshi inexperience in Test match play.New Zealand bowled below standard, failing to pressure the visitors, who were only too willing to cash in on the plethora of unnecessary short-pitched bowling. And they could be thankful the visitors were not more experienced in the ways of Test cricket.The home bowlers disappointed in the first innings. Perhaps it was a hangover from their time in Australia, but they failed to get the measure of their length in conditions that demanded fuller bowling to force the Bangladeshis onto the front foot, rather than rocking onto the back foot as is their wont.However, there were some more worrying signs for the tourists by the end of the day as Chris Cairns looked to be starting to find his rhythm, most notably with the return of his vaunted slower ball, a sure sign of rising confidence.In the first innings Bangladesh got too close for comfort as the follow on neared, and it was not without significance that it was a Shane Bond that accounted for Khaled Mahmud, a troublemaker in the bottom of the order who hadn’t heard about giving up without a fight.Mahmud, a fiesty batsman who revelled in the challenge, led a stunning assault on the wayward New Zealand attack and almost single-handedly took his side through to the 216 they were looking for.The tea break possibly unsettled him, but his was a welcome wicket as the innings was all over one run later with Bangladesh 11 runs short of the mark.Earlier, Habibul Bashar gave a demonstration of the latent batting talent waiting to benefit from more experience at international level with a nicely balanced innings of 61 runs, scored off 84 balls and including eight fours and a six.He took 12 runs off one Chris Cairns over with an elegant cut, a well-timed pull and a lucky squirt through a vacant section of the slip cordon. Cairns in the first innings bowled without effect, but he did turn his performance around in the second innings, unveiling his slower ball again, to great effect.Habibul hooked a ball from Craig McMillan for six runs to go to 49 and brought up his 50 off 38 balls having hit eight fours and six.However, the arrival of Daniel Vettori and Chris Martin stemmed the run flow which placed a different sort of pressure on the batsmen and their patience wore out too quickly for comfort.They went to lunch at 93/3 but almost immediately after the break Vettori had Mohammed Ashraful nicely caught at slip by Mathew Sinclair who slipped, but then managed to recover and lunge towards the ball to hold the chance.Then the tension told on Bashar as Vettori kept his stranglehold and forced the batsman to offer up a chance to wide mid on where Martin held the chance.But any thoughts the New Zealanders had of a quick finish were unrealised as they paid the price for their indifferent bowling.Sanwar Hossain stepped into the batting breach and scored 45 off 72 balls but was undone as McMillan picked up two cheap wickets for four runs before he gave up 19 runs off one over.Bond showed the advantages of having a fast man bowling at the tail-enders as he quickly cleaned up and ended with four for 47.New Zealand then picked up three wickets for three runs, with Cairns sitting on a hat-trick at the top of the second innings to make Bangladesh’s job that much harder.Earlier, in the day, New Zealand added another 59 runs in 9.1 overs, a wise move as it turned out, as it ensured a slightly tougher follow on requirement for the visitors.Mark Richardson went on to be out for 143 as Mohammed Sharif cashed in on New Zealand’s loose approach to finish with three wickets for 114, after ending the first day with none for 87.

New Zealand will go into this week’s one-day cricket finals series as the surprise packet of the tournament, but carrying a fatal flaw.The Kiwis’ inability to control the opposition scoring in the last 10 overs looms as the difference between them and South Africa from tomorrow at the MCG.The likely returns of allrounder Chris Cairns (back) and Shane Bond (groin) will boost the Black Caps at the MCG tomorrow on Waitangi Day, their nationalcommemoration, for game one of the best-of-three finals series.But they are still trying to work out tactics for the most crucial period in the one-day match.”We’ve seen teams become very good at exposing bowling in the last 10 overs – we saw a case of it the other day with Australia beating South Africa, so it’s noteasy,” said Kiwi captain Stephen Fleming.”It’s just repetition – getting the options right, discussing the options.”It comes down to accuracy in those last 10 overs and all the best plans depend on the accuracy of the bowler – it is a tough skill.”Cairns and Bond would be the first choices to bowl at the end of the innings, but Cairns’ bowling availabilty remains in doubt.He did some bowling in the nets today and New Zealand will leave it until just before the start of the match to decide his role.Cairns did not bowl in the loss to Australia last week when Michael Bevan’s century turned the match around in the late overs, and he then missed last Friday’s loss to South Africa altogether.”If he’s 100 per cent fit, he’s a genuine option (to bowl at the end of the innings), he has been at the start of the tournament,” Fleming said.”It’s whether firstly if he’s fit enough to bowl, secondly if he’s fit enough to come back, thirdly if he’s able to bowl a third spell at the death – a lot of question marks on that.”At full fitness he’s the guy who wants it.”Australia was the title favourite at the start of this series, but New Zealand deserved its finals berth after some impressive wins, particularly in early games.South Africa and New Zealand are yet to win this series.The Kiwis have also beaten South Africa only once in their last 16 one-dayers, something Fleming was coy about.”There’s a couple (of reasons) and I don’t want to talk about it,” he said.South African captain Shaun Pollock said little could be read into the form between the two sides on the eve of the finals.”We have played well against them, but at finals time that counts for nothing,” he said.”What you bring into the finals from the rest of the series means nothing.”While South Africa will go into the finals with a settled line-up, Pollock said “one or two” changes might be made.Possible line-ups:South Africa: Shaun Pollock (capt), Nicky Boje, Mark Boucher, Boeta Dippenaar, Allan Donald, Hershelle Gibbs, Jacques Kallis, Justin Kemp, Gary Kirsten, NeilMcKenzie, Makhaya Ntini, Jonty Rhodes (12th man to be named).New Zealand: Stephen Fleming (capt), Andre Adams, Nathan Astle, Shane Bond, Chris Cairns, James Franklin, Chris Harris, Craig McMillan, Dion Nash, AdamParore, Daniel Vettori, Lou Vincent (12th man to be named).

Hard work and perseverance pays in any field. And cricket has been nodifferent. Sanjay Bangar finally saw it pay off at the VidarbhaCricket Association stadium at Nagpur on Sunday.Talking to newsmen after the end of the day’s play, the Railways’ allrounder appeared more than satisfied on reaching his first Testcentury against the visiting Zimbabweans. “It was a wonderful feeling.I dedicate this to my mother who is no more and my family members,”said the 29-year-old cricketer from Beed, Maharashtra.Having rung home after the delightful knock, Bangar poignantlyrecollected all the years of hard work, and the support from coachJohn Wright and skipper Sourav Ganguly that helped his cause. “I wouldlike to thank the team management and my captain who have helped mereached my first Test hundred. I was in the nineties when the call fora declaration had arrived. Yet I was given the chance of going in forthe much needed runs before the innings concluded.”It had been quite a struggle for Bangar after having failed to performto his fullest potential in his first Test against the Englishmen atMohali. Having finally made a return to the national side at the costof the latest sensation Virendra Sehwag, Bangar did prove his worth tothe five wise men who make up the BCCI Selection Committee.A prolific run-getter that he has been in the domestic circuit inrecent times, Bangar asserted that “the double century against TamilNadu (in the Ranji Trophy quarter-finals) did boost my confidence.”Bangar also said that he was not under any kind of pressure whileplaying with Sachin Tendulkar. Scoring at a faster clip than themaster batsman, Bangar smashed 12 boundaries and two sixes on his wayto his first Test hundred in just his second Test.”Sachin helped me a lot with minute instructions – where to go forruns, how to be comfortable while at the crease, which bowler to goafter and a few more,” the modest cricketer said.On whether he became nervous at any point of time in the nineties, hestated, “I just went for my shots, it was my day. There wereinstructions to collect as many runs as possible in the next twentyovers and that is exactly what I tried to do.”He accepted that he tried to protect his wicket on Saturday to startafresh on Sunday. “We were already five down and still needed to getsome runs on the board,” he explained.As for the ground, Bangar felt that the VCA had always been lucky forhim.Asked if Sourav Ganguly had under-bowled him in the first innings, heshrugged away the suggestion, saying, “I cannot comment. It was theteam management’s decision.”

After enjoying the first sweet taste of success on their winter tour when they beat Sri Lanka at Brisbane on Tuesday morning, the England team have now moved onto Perth where they face the team from the sub continent again on Friday morning.Ian Blackwell one of three Cidermen players in the victorious side shared his thoughts with me on that welcome change of fortune."Finally the first England win has come on Australian soil. It was obviously a much needed victory for all concerned which hopefully gives us much more confidence going into Friday’s match," `Blackie’ told me.He continued: "Sri Lanka were quite poor by their standards but we did play very well. Of course there can still be improvements and I hope this young side can gel and become a much greater side by the time this tour has finished."Talking about the new young bowlers he said: " I believe we have found two very good bowlers who could play regularly. Both James Anderson and Steve Harmison bowled with considerable pace that helped knock over their middle order."Regarding his own performance he told me: "Personally the game went OK but it would have been nice to have cashed in even more in those last five overs. I probably would have if Mr Fernando hadn’t pulled off the most remarkable blind catch I have ever witnessed!!!"Looking ahead to the match in Perth he told me: "All the boys are upbeat and believe the Sri Lankans are there for the taking, especially without `Murali’. They seem to be a different team without him, and lack penetration in the spin department. Lets hope we can build some momentum now and put a run of wins together, starting Friday," a sentiment that will be shared by all England supporters.