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Habibul Bashar, Bangladesh’s captain, has slammed the practice facilities at Bogra as his side prepares for the forthcoming series against Sri Lanka.”Out nets for three days in Dhaka were very poor and it was same in Bogra, Habibul said. “The central pitches where we had our session today was not perfect for practice. It’s not good for us the way we are making important net sessions on unfriendly surfaces. Everybody should understand that it is a very important part of a team’s preparation. I am really frustrated and I must say we have wasted fours days.””It is really unfortunate what our captain has told about the facilities,” Rafiqul Islam Babu, chairman of the grounds committee, countered. “Still, the team management has not expressed what kind of wicket they needed. Everybody knows that seamers will get some movement in Bogra, so I can’t understand why our captain told this.”Meanwhile, hundreds of cricket fans took to the streets to protest about the lack of any Test or ODI matches against Sri Lanka being played in Dhaka. All three ODIs and two Tests will be staged outside the capital because the new stadia being built there will not be finished in time.The centre of the protests was at the Bangabandhu National Stadium, the previous Test venue in the city. It was always used for a variety of sports and the Bangladesh board (BCB) decided that it needed a purpose-built venues to enable the pitches and outfield to be of as higher a standard as possible.A recent ICC inspection concluded that the two new arenas in Dhaka were not ready to stage major matches, and so all games were switched to Bogra and Chittagong.

England 180 for 2 (Edwards 99, Taylor 55*) beat South Africa 174 for 6 (Brits 46) by eight wickets
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Lucy Pearson: two wickets for England© Getty Images

England’s women wasted no time in getting back to winning ways, as they brushed aside the hosts, South Africa, to secure an eight-wicket victory that will all but guarantee them a place in the semi-finals of the World Cup.Charlotte Edwards was the mainstay of England’s innings. Chasing 180 for victory, Edwards racked up 14 fours in her 133-ball innings, and though she was dismissed one short of a richly deserved hundred, Clare Taylor was on hand to seal the contest in style. With one needed for victory and more than 10 overs to spare, Taylor clobbered Shandre Fritz for the only six of the match, to bring up her half-century and cue the celebrations.Following their dispiriting loss to India on Sunday, England were back on song with the ball and in the field, as they restricted South Africa to 174 for 6 from their 50 overs. Isa Guha and Lucy Pearson grabbed two wickets apiece, while Arran Brindle executed a fine run-out to remove Fritz for 19. Only Cri-Zelda Brits, who top-scored with 46, was able to hang around long enough to set a competitive total, but it never looked like being enough.New Zealand 184 for 9 (McGlashan 57) beat India 168 for 9 (Milliken 5-25) by 16 runs
ScorecardFollowing their top-of-the-table victory over England on Sunday, India lost ground on the new log leaders, Australia, as they stumbled to a 16-run defeat against New Zealand at the Technikon Oval in Pretoria. Despite being set a modest target of 185 in 50 overs, India faltered in the face of a hostile spell from Louise Milliken, who finished with 5 for 25, as they collapsed from 136 for 3 to 162 for 9 in 38 chaotic deliveries.The match seemed to be going to plan for India, after they won the toss and asked New Zealand to bat. Neetu David bamboozled her way to 5 for 32 with her left-arm spin, and the wicketkeeper, Anju Jain, held onto three catches and two stumpings. Only Sara McGlashan, with 57 from 73 balls, was able to get to grips with the attack, although Aimee Mason (36) and Rebecca Rolls (23) both made starts.Milliken, however, soon rocked India with two quick wickets (10 for 2), and though Anjum Chopra and Mithali Raj battled back with a 91-run stand for the third wicket, India were chugging along at a run-rate of less than three an over, and looked ill-prepared for a late push. So it proved, as Milliken returned to make the breakthrough, and India’s tail folded meekly.Australia 58 for 2 beat Sri Lanka 57 (Nitschke 3-5) by eight wickets

Emma Liddell: two wickets for Australia© Getty Images

Australia confirmed their status as favourites for the Women’s World Cup by marching to an effortless eight-wicket victory over Sri Lanka at Hatfield. Shelley Nitschke epitomised a suffocating performance by taking 3 for 5 in six overs, as Sri Lanka used up almost 39 overs in making a pathetic 57. Shashikala Siriwardena top-scored with 14 from 40 balls, while Julie Hayes and Emma Liddell both took two wickets.Australia, in reply, hardly broke sweat. Lisa Keightley and Belinda Clark strolled to a first-wicket partnership of 52, as the match was wrapped up with more than 33 overs to spare.West Indies 162 for 2 (Nero 71*, Lavine 66*) beat Ireland 159 for 6 (Joyce 37) by eight wickets
West Indies eased to an eight-wicket win over Ireland at the Laudium Oval, thanks to half-centuries from Juliano Nero and Pamela Lavine. Ireland, who have yet to win a match in the tournament, had given themselves an outside chance of pulling off an upset by posting a competitive 159 for 6 after losing the toss and being asked to bat first, but in the end it wasn’t enough.Ireland’s openers, Cecelia Joyce (37) and Anne Linehan (25), added 79 for the first wicket, before Catriona Beggs (31) and Una Budd (21) completed a spirited performance by adding 40 for the sixth wicket.

The long wait … and then Sachin Tendulkar was given leg-before by Steve Bucknor © Getty Images

Steve Bucknor has rejected criticism of his umpiring during the first Test between Australia and India at Brisbane, especially his controversial leg-before decision against Sachin Tendulkar in India’s first innings.And Bucknor, long regarded as one of the best umpires in the world, dismissed suggestions that his form was on the wane. “Just recently I was umpiring the World Cup final so I don’t understand what is happening, but at the moment I am pretty comfortable with my form,” he told the Australian Associated Press. “The criticism doesn’t bother me. Mistakes are going to be made. I know that. Everyone makes mistakes including myself.”The plethora of television replays indicated the ball which trapped Tendulkar would have sailed over the top of the stumps. But Bucknor delivered his verdict – described by the media in terms such as “a disgrace” and “an insult” – after his customary long deliberation.”I give myself enough time to think about my decision, to replay just about everything about that delivery, and by so doing I should in the end be able to make that [correct] decision,” he explained. While refusing to discuss the Tendulkar decision itself, he added, “Sometimes it doesn’t go that way … it’s not because my brain is working slowly. Once the hit is made I have a fair idea of what my decision is, it’s a matter of seeing whether something else could have happened.”Although the Tendulkar dismissal was the one which grabbed the headlines, Bucknor was also criticised for other decisions during the match. He gave Australia’s batsmen the benefit of the doubt on three well-justified appeals, and also appeared to mistakenly reprieve Akash Chopra for what looked like a good bat-pad catch shortly after Tendulkar’s wicket.

Somerset skipper Jamie Cox has had a season to remember back home in Tasmania this winter.Jamie has broken the number of appearences for the state of Tasmania, beating the previous record of 139 which was held by David Boon.He has also enjoyed considerable success with the bat to become one of the highest run scorers for a single state, and this winter he has also become the fourth-highest run scorer in Australian Domestic First Class Cricket.Off the field the highlight for Jamie and his fiance Helen has been the birth of their first baby, Lachlan who was born before Christmas.When I contacted Jamie he told me: “Lachlan is wonderful – Helen and I think that we have gotten lucky as he eats and sleeps well and only grizzles when there is obviously something wrong.”Helen was certainly born for motherhood – she has coped superbly. So far so good!”What about Somerset in 2002, I asked. “The new season is obviously full of expectation on the back of last season’s great results. Kevin Shine has told me that all are training hard and are excited about the new challenges ahead. We should be well placed to have another crack at winning trophies, but of course so much depends on the unknown variables such as injuries, English selection and weather etc,” Jamie said.Jamie and Helen get married in early April and then they return to England on April 18th with baby Lachlan, six days ahead of the Cidermen’s first County Championship match against Sussex at Hove.With less than two months to go to the start of the new season, Somerset fans will already be looking forward to welcoming back the captain who led the county to their most successful season ever in 2001. They will be hoping that they will go one stage further in 2002 and win the blue riband of cricketing trophies, the County Championship.

Steve Rixon proved a good judge as New South Wales routed Western Australia for 89 to score a stunning outright win in their Pura Cupcricket match here today.Comprehensively outplayed for the first three days, the Blues set WA a modest 141 runs for victory after being dismissed in their second innings for 327.Rixon, the NSW coach, had predicted last night WA would struggle to haul in a target as low as 150 on the North Sydney Oval wicket.WA was in immediate trouble when NSW paceman Don Nash rattled Ryan Campbell’s stumps with the third ball of the innings, triggering a collapse that left thevisitors 4-16 at lunch.Campbell (nought), Simon Katich (five), Damien Martyn (nought) and Mike Hussey (four) were all back in the pavilion.Katich and Martyn had combined for a sparkling 192-run partnership in the first innings but Martyn, a likely replacement for Steve Waugh in the Australian team forthe Third Test, lasted only two balls today.He slashed a delivery from NSW speedster Nathan Bracken straight to Shawn Bradstreet at point.Katich flicked a nice boundary off his legs before Corey Richards ran him out with a direct underarm hit on the only stump he could aim at from point.Tom Moody looked less than impressed walking from the field when a spectator yelled at him: “17 runs of misery.”Bracken was the destroyer with career-best figures of 5-22 from 15 immaculate overs.With Rixon’s request for a 150-run lead still ringing in their ears, the Blues fell nine runs short of the desired target this morning when they were dismissed for 327.Richards top-scored with 66 and received lusty support from Nash, who belted three fours and two sixes in his 35-ball stay.

Southampton crashed to a second home defeat in four days on Sunday afternoon, going down 2-1 to Watford at St Mary’s.

Two first half goals from Cucho Hernandez ultimately secured victory for the relegation-threatened visitors, and while Mohammed Elyounoussi halved the deficit on the stroke of half-time, the Saints were unable to complete the comeback on the south coast.

Unsurprisingly given the result, there were some players among Ralph Hasenhuttl’s team who will feel disappointed with their performances today. We’ve pored through the numbers from statistical specialists Sofascore to pick out who were the three poorest performers in a red and white shirt, with the caveat that only those who featured for 45 minutes or more are eligible for classification.

Armando Broja (6.4)

The Albanian came on as a half-time substitute for Will Smallbone but was unable to inspire a Southampton rescue act in the second half.

Broja completed only six passes in his 45 minutes on the pitch, lost four of his five duels, gave the ball away five times and touched the ball only 14 times.

In a particularly alarming indictment of his performance, the 20-year-old striker did not even take one shot throughout his time on the pitch, with his team in need of an equaliser.

Mohammed Salisu (6.2)

The Ghanaian centre-back had a day to forget, his weak backpass inadvertently setting up the opening goal for Hernandez and ultimately proving costly to the Saints.

The 22-year-old’s statistical return from the match was also disappointing. He lost nine of the 15 duels that he contested, gave away possession 19 times, was dribbled past on two occasions and misplaced four of his eight long balls.

Romain Perraud (6.1)

He may have netted a sublime goal in the recent FA Cup win over West Ham, but the Frenchman was well below his best today at St Mary’s.

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The 24-year-old came off second best in six of his 12 duels, misplaced 15 of his 43 passes, lost possession 23 times and was also dribbled past on one occasion. He ended the day as Southampton’s lowest-rated player, and Hasenhuttl will no doubt hope for better from him next time out.

In other news: ‘It is true’ – Southampton backed by transfer source as they now eye 39-assist ‘star’ for Hasenhuttl

Day 2 Centuries from Reeza Hendricks and Johnathan Vandiar on the second day gave South Africa Under-19 the advantage in their three-day match against Bangladesh Under-19 in Potchefstroom. The two shared a 166-run stand for the fourth wicket and were not parted until the Bangladesh’s first-innings score of 294 was surpassed as South Africa finished the day on 393 for 4, a lead of 99 runs.Resuming on 35 for 1, South Africa lost Riley Rossouw in the day’s third over for the addition of just one run. Opener Jon-Jon Smuts was joined by Hendricks and the two added 93 at a brisk pace. Smuts was particularly aggressive, hitting three sixes and nine boundaries before falling to medium-pacer Rony Talukder.That brought to the crease Vandiar, who was in a similarly belligerent mood, chalking up 18 fours and a six during his stay. He scored the bulk of the runs during his partnership with Hendricks and was finally dismissed by Nasir Hossain on 103 off 151 balls.Hendricks held firm after Vandiar fell, and forged an unbroken 98-run stand with Yaseen Vallie. The 18-year-old Hendricks, who has played for Griqualand-West in the South African Airways Provincial Three-Day challenge since the previous season, finished the day unbeaten on a four-hour 145. South Africa maintained a breezy run-rate of four an over through their innings.The three-day match is followed by a triangular one-day tournament, scheduled to start on Tuesday, that also features India U-19.

Both Shoaib Akhtar and Mohammad Asif are likely to face immediate bans if they test positive in the dope test results that come out in early March © Getty Images

Pakistan announced a 15-man squad for the World Cup shred of major surprises but seeped in uncertainty with the selection of three fast bowlers none of whom, for varying reasons, may make it to the Caribbean.After extensive deliberations, the PCB announced a squad that includes Shoaib Akhtar, Mohammad Asif and Umar Gul. The announcement was delayed through the day as medical reports of the three players were examined, before finally the squad was unveiled in the afternoon.Of the trio, Shoaib and Asif are still under a cloud over the doping issue. Both players, like the rest of the squad, are due to undergo internal PCB drugs testing on February 17 and if, as experts fear, they still retain traces of Nandrolone, they are likely to face immediate bans.Salim Altaf, director operations, PCB, said that Shoaib and Asif are selected subject to clearance in the dope tests of which results are expected during the first week of March. “We will cross that bridge once the results come in,” said Altaf of what happens if they do test positive again.Additionally, all three are carrying injuries. Shoaib has just flown to London to consult specialists about what could be a recurrence of the serious knee injury which kept him out of cricket for most of last year.Concerns about Asif’s physical wellbeing are also enhanced, following a grueling workload during the current tour to South Africa. The niggle is a flare-up of the elbow troubles that forced him to miss three Tests in England last year.Gul missed the entire South Africa series with an ankle injury and though he maintains he is fit now, it has emerged that he was carrying a stress fracture which may or may not heal in time.Altaf added, “Shoaib and Gul are subject to clearance of injuries. We are having a second opinion on Shoaib in London because he has shown signs of wear and tear. As for Gul, enough time has elapsed now since he got the injury. He is bowling six overs with a full run-up and the panel feels he will be fit for the World Cup so he has been included in the team. If anyone is unfit he will be replaced.”The Pakistan board has been assured by the ICC that injured players named in the squad can be replaced before the World Cup begins.

‘The only eyebrow-raising selection is that of Danish Kaneria, an integral component of Pakistan’s Test team, has rarely been part of Inzamam-ul-Haq’s ODI plans © Getty Images

Otherwise, the only eyebrow-raising selection is that of Danish Kaneria. The Karachi leggie, an integral component of Pakistan’s Test team, has rarely been part of Inzamam-ul-Haq’s ODI plans. He has only played 16 ODIs in a six-year career and since Inzamam and Bob Woolmer came together in June 2004, has appeared in only seven matches.Imran Nazir has also made a late burst into the squad, edging out the likes of Yasir Hameed and Imran Farhat for the opening slot. Nazir was recalled to the Pakistan side during the current ODI series in South Africa, having been out of favour for over two years. He returned in some style, scoring a blazing 39-ball 57 in Pakistan’s win at Durban.And despite speculation, and mounting pressure on selectors to act, no wicketkeeping back-up is being taken for Kamran Akmal. Through the last year, Akmal has suffered a horrendous blip in form behind the stumps leading to suggestions, from Pakistan’s chief selector no less, to rest him and groom an understudy. It hasn’t happened and though Akmal has struggled as opener, his glovework in the ODIs against South Africa has shown some improvement.Azhar Mahmood, who made a surprise comeback to an injury-ravaged squad in South Africa, will not be given the chance to extend his fairytale return any further. With the nature of the injuries suffered by the fast bowlers, and those that Mohammad Sami and Shabbir Ahmed, as potential replacements, are suffering, a return cannot be entirely ruled out.Squad: 1 Inzamam-ul-Haq (capt), 2 Younis Khan (vice-captain), 3 Mohammad Hafeez, 4 Imran Nazir, 5 Mohammad Yousuf, 6 Shoaib Malik, 7 Abdul Razzaq, 8 Shahid Afridi, 9 Kamran Akmal, 10 Shoaib Akhtar, 11 Mohammad Asif, 12 Umar Gul, 13 Danish Kaneria 14 Rana Naved-ul-Hasan, 15 Rao Iftikhar Anjum

Sourav Ganguly: fighting on © Getty Images

Sourav Ganguly flies home to India today at the end of a disappointing Test tour of Pakistan, but insists he has no plans to retire, despite the unsavoury selection controversies that have pushed his career to the brink.Ganguly, who was last year replaced as India’s captain by Rahul Dravid, was not selected for the one-dayers and played in only one of the three Tests – the 341-run defeat in the series-decider at Karachi. But in an interview with a TV channel prior to his departure he insisted: “I am playing well at the moment and I will continue to play.”Ganguly denied reports that he was becoming increasingly isolated in the dressing-room that he used to command, “These are mere speculations. I had a good time in the dressing-room. All the boys have played under me, so there is no problem.” He added that he would be willing to open the innings if the team management so desired.”Of course, I have been asked to open before and I have agreed here [in Pakistan] and in the future too,” he said, after being selected ahead of the two specialist openers, Gautam Gambhir and Wasim Jaffer. “I have no problems opening the innings.”In his one outing at Karachi, Ganguly was a qualified success in a disappointing display from India’s batsmen, scoring 34 and 37 and featuring in two century partnerships. “I thought I batted pretty well,” he said, “though I am disappointed that I got out at a crucial point in the match. We had made a 100-run partnership and my wicket could have made a big difference.”

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Phil Jaques passed 1000 runs for the season with his 115© Getty Images

Three quick wickets in the final session of the second day reignited New South Wales’ hopes of the outright victory they need to ensure a spot in the final, after Jason Arnberger and David Hussey had threatened to bring Victoria right back into the match with a pair of half-centuries. From 1 for 155, however, Victoria lost three wickets for seven runs, before closing on 4 for 170 – a lead of 47.After being bowled out for 169 in their first innings, Victoria had been in some trouble at the start of play, as NSW resumed on 1 for 132. The nightwatchman, Matthew Nicholson, fell early, but Phil Jaques completed a fine century, adding 88 for the third wicket with Matthew Phelps (43). But Jaques then gloved to Adam Crosthwaite for 115 off Mick Lewis and the slide began.With Lewis and Shane Harwood combining to good effect, NSW lost 8 for 66 to collapse to 292 all out. Lewis collected four wickets while Harwood picked up three to limit the deficit to 123 at tea. Jaques became the second batsman of the season behind Michael Bevan to reach 1000 runs with his third century.