The England and Wales Cricket Board (ECB) has joined forces with BBC Sport to promote two exciting grass roots initiatives designed to inspire more people to get into the sport.The BBC Sport Kwik Cricket tournament is a national cricket competition for primary school children. Last year’s tournament attracted more than 5,500 teams from across the country and it is hoped that over 60,000 year six boys and girls will take part in this year’s event, the final of which will take place on 15 July 2003 at Trent Bridge.The second initiative concerns Play-Cricket, the ECB Cricket Network found at www.play-cricket.com, a system which provides all ECB affiliated clubs and leagues with free administration systems and web-sites. The network hosts a rapidly growing base of over 1500 clubs and 150 leagues around the UK. BBC Sport will have a significant presence on the site, which is at the forefront of sports administration.Play-Cricket is also developing extensive links with the BBC’s network of local “Where I Live” web-sites. This partnership brings together the BBC’s commitment to reflecting grass roots sport activity on its growing local web services, with the ECB’s drive to raise the profile of local club cricket. In addition, BBC Sport will sponsor a club cricket ‘Player of the Month’ competition.The deal forms part of the ECB’s broadcast contract with BBC Sport which runs until 2005, and follows the BBC’s successful support of the ECB’s campaign to ensure wider provision of children’s cricket safety helmets.Tim Lamb, ECB Chief Executive, said, “We are delighted to have obtained BBC Sport’s support for Play-Cricket as we see the system as a major tool to help the development of club cricket. Since its launch, the site has gone from strength to strength and has without doubt dramatically improved the efficiency of cricket administration at club level.”Kwik Cricket has been one of the ECB’s real success stories over the years. Launched in 1988, over 61,000 bags of Kwik Cricket kit have since been distributed and millions of children have been introduced to cricket this way. BBC’s involvement will help to give the tournament the additional prestige and publicity it deserves.”Peter Salmon, Director BBC Sport, said, “BBC Sport is dedicated to supporting sport at the grass roots level. The ECB’s initiatives are vitally important for the game and we are delighted to be involved with them.”Play-Cricket.com is a network of cricket websites and administrations systems. It provides all clubs, leagues and County Boards with customised cricket applications to make cricket administration and club management more efficient. Standard Administration systems are free to clubs and leagues with upgrade features available starting from £25 per annum per club.The benefits for users are substantial. As well as facilitating communication amongst club members, there is significant time saving potential by offering online alternatives to existing processes (e.g. team e-mail, automated league tables, player availability etc). In addition, due to reduced telephone and post requirements, administrative costs can be reduced by between £400 – £1000 per year for the average club.Schools wishing to enter the BBC Sport Kwik Cricket Tournament 2003 should contact their local Cricket Development Officer. Details of the CDOs can be found here or by calling the ECB Development information line on 0800 214 314. The competition is run jointly by the ECB and the English Schools Cricket Association.

Glenn McGrath is expected to make an announcement within two days about re-joining the Australian cricket team after positive news about wife Jane’s cancer, Australian Cricket Board (ACB) spokesman Pat O’Beirne said.Mrs McGrath was facing her second battle against cancer in six years.The fast bowler abandoned his journey to the West Indies and rushed home on Thursday to be with his wife, 36, who had been diagnosed with a secondary cancer in her hip.The cancer was related to the breast cancer she was first diagnosed with in 1997. After a mastectomy, she was declared cancer-free in 1998.O’Beirne said ACB general manager Michael Brown had a telephone conversation with McGrath, who said he accompanied his wife to a cancer specialist in Sydney on Friday.”Jane has seen the specialist and the news is good,” O’Beirne said.”The visit brought a good prognosis and she will have radiation therapy which is expected to treat her condition.”As far as the McGraths are concerned it is great news.”Prior to Friday’s trip to the specialist, the McGraths released a statement which said: “All indications are that with treatment, she (Jane) will have a full recovery”.O’Beirne could not confirm reports that McGrath would miss at least the first two Tests.He said McGrath was expected to make his announcement following discussions over the next 24 to 48 hours that would involve the bowler, selectors, captain Steve Waugh and team management.McGrath learned during a stopover in London that scans for a back problem had revealed his wife’s condition.McGrath’s manager Warren Craig said English-born Jane, a former flight attendant and mother of James 3, and Holly, 18 months, had been troubled by back problems.Despite the diagnosis, Craig said McGrath had been in a positive mood and the 33-year-old bowler believed he would return to the West Indies.

Wasim Akram was showered with praise by former colleagues following his decision to end his 19-year international career, but Pakistan’s selectors also came in for criticism over their handling of him.Former captain Imran Khan, who mentored Wasim as an 18-year-old, hailed him as one of last century’s greatest fast bowlers. “I reckon Wasim and West Indian Michael Holding are two of the best and most natural fast bowlers of the century,” Imran told AFP.Taking Wasim under his wing in 1984, Imran nurtured him until he became one of international cricket’s most productive fast bowlers. “Grooming Wasim was the easiest thing because he was naturally gifted. All I ingrained in him was the ability to take wickets,” said Imran, adding that the retirement decision was “the right thing.”But Imran accused the Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) of ending Wasim’s career in an undignified manner. “I do think the PCB should not have dumped him in such an unceremonious manner.”Another former captain, Zaheer Abbas, described Wasim as the “pride of Pakistani cricket.” He continued: “Losing a player like Wasim is the most depressing thing. It will be hard to replace him.”But Aamer Sohail, Pakistan’s chief selector, denied Wasim’s decision was prompted by his expulsion. “We did not close the doors on any senior player. Wasim could have staged a comeback,” he said. “Wasim was a great servant of Pakistani cricket and I pay him the richest of tributes.”

West Indies will be looking to consolidate on the gains from the Australian series when they clash against Sri Lanka in the first of three one-day internationals on Saturday. Despite a poor start to the Test and the one-dayers against Australia, West Indies ended both series on a positive note, winning the final Test and the last three ODIs.Brian Lara was confident that West Indies would win the series if they maintained the same form they showed against Australia. “Sri Lanka are not as strong as Australia,” he told reporters, “although of course they have a couple of match winners, but we are looking to keep up the standard we achieved in the last three one-day games.”If we don’t drop our standards, we’re going to get more success against teams of lesser ability than Australia. We’ve proved that we can be competitive, but we’ve to maintain it. Now we know where we stand.”Sri Lanka, on the other hand, have suffered a slump in form since reaching the semi-final of the World Cup. They failed to qualify for the finals in two successive tournaments – at Sharjah in April, and then in the Bank Alfalah Cup at home last month, when Pakistan and New Zealand contested the final.The captain-coach combination of Sanath Jayasuriya and Dav Whatmore was disturbed as well, with Jayasuriya stepping down from captaincy and Whatmore moving on to coach Bangladesh. Marvan Atapattu, who took over the reins from Jayasuriya, admitted that West Indies were favourites.”They are playing at home and their morale is high. The West Indies are favourites, but it’s better for us to start as underdogs,” he said. “We are rebuilding our squad, but we’ll play positive cricket.” Atapattu would be encouraged by Sri Lanka’s recent results against West Indies, though. West Indies have only won one out of their last four ODIs against Sri Lanka.West Indies brought in fast bowler Darren Powell into their 15-man squad for the first two ODIs as a replacement for the injured Jermaine Lawson. Lawson is struggling to recover from the back injury he sustained during the Antigua Test against Australia. Allrounder Ryan Hurley was named in the squad after recovering from a shoulder injury.The first two matches will be played at the Kensington Oval over the weekend, while the third will be held at St Vincent on June 11. The one-day series will be followed by two Test matches.Squads
West Indies Brian Lara (capt), Ramnaresh Sarwan, Omari Banks, David Bernard Jr, Corey Collymore, Mervyn Dillon, Vasbert Drakes, Chris Gayle, Wavell Hinds, Ryan Hurley, Ridley Jacobs, Daren Powell, Ricardo Powell, Marlon Samuels, Devon Smith.Sri Lanka Marvan Atapattu (capt), Mahela Jayawardene, Sanath Jayasuriya, Romesh Kaluwitharana, Kumar Sangakkara, Tillakaratne Dilshan, Chaminda Vaas, Muttiah Muralitharan, Koushalya Lokuarachchi, Kumar Dharmasena, Prabath Nissanka, Upul Chandana, Darshana Gamage, Dinusha Fernando, Naveed Nawaz.

Malcolm Speed, the International Cricket Council (ICC)’s chief executive, has urged English cricket authorities to ensure that there are no security lapses when England take on Pakistan in the second one-day game at The Oval. The first match at Old Trafford had been marred by a pitch invasion by Pakistan fans.”Ultimately it’s the England and Wales Cricket Board’s (ECB) responsibility,” said Speed, addressing the media after the ICC meeting at Lord’s. “We can’t have international matches where players and officials are subjected to pitch invasions. It is a serious issue. It’s very disappointing. I thought that the steps that the ECB had taken in relation to player safety meant they were on top of this issue. I think it’s back to the drawing board.”The Surrey authorities are planning a “human shield” comprising stewards to prevent any repeat of the Old Trafford shambles. “We’ll be forced to have a fairly obtrusive presence of stewards who will form a complete ring round the perimeter for at least 15 minutes before the end of the game,” said Surrey chief executive Paul Sheldon. “In that way, a very clear message is sent to the crowd at an early stage. We’re very resolute and determined to ensure maximum safety for the players, officials and spectators.”Rashid Latif, Pakistan’s captain, had urged calm on the part of the supporters in the build-up to the opening game, and he repeated his plea on Thursday. “I am again appealing to the crowd to stay back,” he said. “The one good thing at Old Trafford was that they did not come on during the game. We need their support but it’s not good for the game if they come on like that.”

Amani High School with Kwik cricket sets donated by ECB

As part of an appeal by Afghan national coach Taj Malik, for help in developing cricket in his war-weary country, the England Cricket Board (ECB) has responded positively.The ECB was quick to provide six sets of Kwik Cricket equipment, designed to introduce cricket to schoolchildren via the British Embassy in Kabul. The equipment has already been distributed to schools by the Afghanistan Cricket Federation (ACF).In a message from Afghanistan to Wisden CricInfo, Taj Malik said, “We are grateful to Wisden CricInfo for bringing out cricket news from Afghanistan to the world and we are hopeful of receiving more help in other donations from the cricket world. This equipment has been distributed to local schools.”He added, “The ACF GM Abdul Khalil, director of the Kabul Cricket Association Khaliq Dad Noori, the political advisor from the British Embassy and I went to six high schools in Kabul and gave them the equipment.”The recipient schools included Amani, Isteqlal, Habibia, Khushal Khan and Nadaria High Schools.

Habibia High School with Kwik cricket sets donated by ECB

Taj Malik further reported, “When we reached the schools to distribute the equipment and to invite kids to play and learn, the staff welcomed us and requested to help make teams. They collected kids for us who were very happy to see and play with the equipment. The kids said ‘we love cricket’, some of them told me ‘I am a bowler’ and others claimed ‘I can bat very will’.””We gave them some coaching and instructions and promised we’d be back for more training soon.”This ever-effusive and committed coach finished his message with a request and a firm but intriguing promise, “So I request cricket playing nations, cricket lovers and businessmen to help me in my project because very soon the world of cricket will see that Afghanistan is the most popular cricket playing nation.”Take out your worry beads cricket playing countries – watch out for cricket to flourish in Afghanistan and get ready for battle on a cricket field!

Close England 296 for 3 (Hussain 108*, E Smith 40*) v South Africa
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Nasser Hussain screams his approval as he reaches his century

The more things change, the more things stay the same. After enduring the month from hell, in which England’s fortunes plummeted to their lowest level in four years, it was left to two elder statesmen, Mark Butcher and Nasser Hussain, to pull the team out of its slough. By the close, each had scored a century in a total of 296 for 3, and England had taken command in a Test for the first time in the series.It was far from one-way traffic. After winning an important toss, England were reduced to 29 for 2 inside the first hour, and it appeared that a repeat of that fateful first day at Lord’s was on the cards. But Butcher and Hussain, in their utterly contrasting styles, turned the game around by adding 189 for the third wicket. And by the time Ed Smith had overcome his understandable nerves to add a fluent 40 not out on debut, his namesake Graeme had a furrowed brow for the first time in three weeks.Smith, though, is one for the future. This day belonged to two of those players who might have been consigned to the past if the recent flock of vultures had had their way.Hussain, typically, was all grit and defiance, and in the early part of his innings it seemed that any portion of his bat would suffice to keep South Africa at bay. Butcher, on the other hand, was all cover-drives and fluency, and just as had been the case in the second innings at Lord’s, he was in superb touch. He had given it away on that occasion, but today there was no let-up. When he wasn’t thumping straight, he was slapping long-hops over gully for four, and he brought up his eighth Test century by whipping Andrew Hall through midwicket for his 21st four.Butcher did have one moment of good fortune on 41, when he edged Makhaya Ntini just wide of second slip, and Ntini eventually made the breakthrough when he angled one across Butcher’s bows and found a thin edge (218 for 3). But, on the whole, it was not Ntini’s day. His fortunes were summed up when he came round the wicket to vary the angle to Butcher. His idiosyncratic sideways leap meant that he was warned for running on the pitch twice in as many overs, and he quickly returned to his familiar over-the-wicket line.At the other end, Hussain grew in confidence and arrogance as his innings progressed. His off-side strokes – in particular one furious square-drive off Andrew Hall – reeked of vengeance, and he celebrated his 13th Test century with a flurry of invective directed at everyone and no-one in particular. He reached the close on 108 not out, after adding 78 with Smith, who began with a near run-out and a Chinese-cut off Pollock, but was soon booming out his already-fabled front-foot strokes like a veteran.England dominated for two and a half sessions, but their position hadn’t looked too promising in the first hour. Vaughan was pinned down by a typically accurate spell from Pollock, before squirting a low chance to Herschelle Gibbs at third slip (7 for 1), while Trescothick alternated between punchy and cagey in his 24. After surviving an intriguing duel with Ntini, he nibbled at the innocuous-looking Hall, and edged to Boucher in that now-customary fashion (29 for 2).At that stage South Africa held all the aces, especially as Jacques Kallis had returned to the side for the first time since the death of his father. But his bowling, understandably, was rusty, while Paul Adams was unable to rediscover the form that collected him nine wickets in an innings against Kent last week. He was restricted to a stock role, and the occasional chirp at Smith from under the helmet at short leg. England took full advantage, and suddenly, this see-saw summer seems to be tipping ever-so-slightly back where it started.Click here for the Wisden VerdictEngland 1 Michael Vaughan (capt), 2 Marcus Tresocthick, 3 Mark Butcher, 4 Nasser Hussain, 5 Ed Smith, 6 Alec Stewart (wk), 7 Andrew Flintoff, 8 Ashley Giles, 9 James Kirtley, 10 Steve Harmison, 11 Jimmy Anderson.
South Africa 1 Graeme Smith (capt), 2 Herschelle Gibbs, 3 Jacques Rudolph, 4 Jacques Kallis, 5 Boeta Dippenaar, 6 Neil McKenzie, 7 Mark Boucher (wk), 8 Shaun Pollock, 9 Andrew Hall, 10 Paul Adams, 11 Makhaya Ntini.

Frizzell County Championship Division One
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Lancashire 368 for 5 v Sussex at Old Trafford
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The champagne in the Sussex dressing-room will have to wait for at least one more day as Lancashire and the rain further prolonged their wait for that elusive maiden Championship title. They did at least pick up three wickets, including the centurion Mal Loye, in the 42 overs possible. Loye eventually fell, caught off Robin Martin-Jenkins for 144, after a partnership of 241 with Stuart Law, who then added 56 with Carl Hooper (33). Law batted throughout the truncated day’s play and ended with 131 not out, having hit 20 fours. Lancashire closed on 368 for 5 with Mushtaq Ahmed still searching for his 100th wicket of the season, a feat not achieved since Andy Caddick and Courtney Walsh both did it in 1998.Leicestershire 295 v Kent 23 for 1 at Leicester
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In an ominous sign for the England batsmen this autumn, Muttiah Muralitharan added a few more Englishmen to his bagful of wickets this season. Murali polished off Leicestershire’s last three wickets for 34 runs on the way to 6 for 51, and at the same time sealed their long-threatened relegation from Division One. Leicestershire’s fate was sealed when they failed to take maximum batting points. John Maunders was one of the few to escape Murali’s magic, and scored a century to boot. Resuming on 76, Maunders went on to make 129, his second hundred of the season. In Kent’s reply, Rob Key was bowled early on by Phillip DeFreitas for 11, leaving David Fulton (7*) and Ed Smith (0*) at the crease when the gloom forced an early finish.Nottinghamshire 361 v Middlesex 9 for 0 at Lord’s
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Nottinghamshire’s problem all season has been that one good day is followed by a bad one, and it happened again today. Resuming on a strong 316 for 5, they lost their last five batsmen for 44 as Middlesex fought back at a murky Lord’s, on a day in which only 28 overs were possible. Jamie Dalrymple (2 for 5) took two of those wickets and Chad Keegan (2 for 105) took the big one of Russell Warren for 123. In their reply, had Middlesex reached 9 for no loss before bad light stopped play.Essex 249 for 9 v Warwickshire at Chelmsford (Day 1)
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The steady old head of John Stephenson showed Essex how much they have missed him this season as he marked his Championship comeback with a rescuing 69 not out to pull his side out of the mire at 73 for 7. Stephenson, 38, put on 106 with Graham Napier, who showed signs of why he was selected for the academy with a sprightly 48 from 65 balls, with eight fours and two sixes. Andy Clarke then carried on the rescue act with 41 from 34 balls to bump Essex up to 249 for 9 before bad light brought an early close. Relief for Essex, but frustration for Warwickshire, who threw away their good early work in which Alan Richardson took 3 for 47 and Corey Collymore 2 for 60.Frizzell County Championship Division Two
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Somerset 409 v Derbyshire 326 for 6 at Taunton
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Andrew Gait kept Derbyshire in touch with Somerset’s big first-innings score with 110, his fourth first-class century. Gait hammered 17 fours and a six, and put on 185 with Steve Stubbings, who scored 93 in Derbyshire’s 326 for 6. But it could have been even better, as Simon Francis hit back for Somerset late in the day. Francis grabbed four wickets for only 12 runs, three of which were catches for Rob Turner, the wicketkeeper, who pouched five in all. Francis finished with 4 for 74. Derbyshire now trail by 83, with four wickets in hand.Northants 319 and 80 for 2 v Glamorgan 203 at Cardiff
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Graeme Swann sliced through the Glamorgan innings with 5 for 37 to put Northants into a strong position. Mark Wallace was out without adding to Glamorgan’s overnight total of 20, when he was trapped lbw by Mike Cawdron, who also nipped out the other opener, Jimmy Maher, for 29. Swann then dismissed the two top-scorers, Matthew Maynard (48) and Mike Powell (40), and polished off the tail after Jason Brown chipped in with two wickets. Northants had a lead of 116, but made a wobbly start when Tim Roberts and Phil Jaques were both out with only seven on the board. But Mike Hussey (22*) and David Sales (52*) steadied things up to give Northants a 196-run advantage.Gloucestershire 374 and 53 for 2 v Durham 218 at Bristol
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Ian Fisher and Jonathan Lewis gave Gloucestershire the advantage as they helped to bowl out Durham for a below-par 218. Lewis (3 for 52) started things off by removing his namesake, Jonathan, and Gordon Muchall early on. And despite a stylish 98 from Martin Love, including 20 fours, the Durham batsmen were always on the rack as Fisher reeled in the last five wickets, including Love’s. Shoaib Akhtar struck back with the scalps of Craig Spearman (28) and Phil Weston (7), but Gloucestershire still ended the day with a 209-run lead, and with eight wickets left.

The South Australian Cricket Association (SACA) today announced a twelve-man West End Redbacks squad to take on the Western Warriors in the first Pura Cup game of season 2003-04.Greg Blewett will captain the side, with new recruit Andy Flower making his debut for the South Australian team.West End Redbacks coach Wayne Phillips said he is looking forward to the first game of 2003-04 after an excellent pre-season."I am very happy with the effort and commitment shown by the players during the pre-season and am confident it will hold us in good stead for the first game.""The selectors have chosen a balanced side, with a mixture of experienced senior players and some of our up and coming talent.""I’m sure the boys, like me, are looking forward to getting the season underway this weekend."The Redbacks team is:

Greg Blewett (c)	Andy Flower
Mark Cleary	Mark Higgs
Chris Davies	Graham Manou
John Davison	Mick Miller
Shane Deitz	Paul Rofe
David Fitzgerald	Shaun Tait

The Pura Cup game runs from October 19 to 22 at the WACA Ground in Perth. The Redbacks remain in Perth to take on WA in an ING Cup game on October 24.

Vanka Pratap, the former Hyderabad and India A player who added fuel to the bribery saga by stating that he was asked to pay for a place in the Indian team, has now retracted the allegation.”I have never made any allegation against HCA [Hyderabad Cricket Association] or any selector,” Pratap said. “No selector has ever approached me directly. I have never named anyone.” The comments came after the HCA sent a show-cause notice to Pratap, in view of the prior allegations.Earlier, Pratap had alleged that he was asked to pay a selector to play for India. He told the Sahara Samay Rashtriya television channel, “I have been approached but I didn’t bother.”The identity of the selector was unclear, but the report quoted Pratap: “Someone approached me on behalf of the selectors. I wouldn’t like to name the selector but everybody in the Hyderabad cricket association knows who he is.”Alleging that places in the national team were up for sale, Pratap cited the example of Noel David, the former Hyderabad offspinner. David was selected for India’s tour of the West Indies in 1996-97. “The selection of Noel raised eyebrows. Noel was not even sure of a place in the Hyderabad team but he was picked for the Indian team.”Pratap played 83 first-class matches, scoring 3957 runs at an average of 36.30, with a highest score of 136. He hit six centuries and 27 half-centuries in a ten-year career. He also played for India A against the West Indies A side in 1998-99.