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The West Indies Cricket Board has backed down over its decision to remove Dwayne Bravo from its list of players offered retainer contracts after pressure from the ICC and FICA, the international players’ association.The website caribbeancricket.com quotes sources close to the board as saying that Bravo, Daren Ganga and Runako Morton had been added to the list published in July.Bravo was not offered a retainer contract because of his deal with bMobile, a direct competitor of Digicel, the board’s official sponsor. But representatives from the ICC and FICA informed the board that the existing contract could not be a factor as an agreement signed by the board stated that “a player may have and shall be entitled to fulfil obligations under pre-existing Player Endorsement Contracts”. Ganga also has a private endorsement deal with bMobile that will remain in effect while he is contracted to the WICB.WIPA, the West Indies players’ association, had been deeply unhappy that an agreement it had with the board stating that at least 10 retainer contracts would be issued was ignored when only seven – plus Bravo – were unveiled. As a result of pressure, the board had little choice but to add the three named today.The WICB has repeatedly tried to find a way round the agreement regarding pre-existing contracts and has been hauled back into line every time. It might well be that the board now has no choice but to go back and renegotiate its multi-million dollar deal with Digicel as it may have given undertakings it can now not adhere to. Given its financial predicament, the board is in no position to lose any more income, but there have been deep reservations about the terms of the contract from the off.Contracted players Dwayne Bravo, Shivnarine Chanderpaul, Corey Collymore, Fidel Edwards, Daren Ganga, Chris Gayle, Brian Lara, Runako Morton, Denesh Ramdin, Ramnaresh Sarwan.

Live scorecard and ball-by-ball details
How they were out

A lower-order fightback from Gary Brent and Elton Chigumbura wasn’t enough to prevent South Africa from coasting to a five-wicket victory in the first one-dayer at Bulawayo. Zimbabwe recovered from a disastrous 72 for 7 to post 206 but the target was hardly challenging for the South Africans as Gulam Bodi, Graeme Smith and AB de Villiers helped themselves to half-centuries, polishing off the target with nearly three overs to spare.After losing Loots Bosman in the first over to Christopher Mpofu, Bodi and Smith added 72, ensuring Zimbabwe could take no advantage of the early dismissal. To their credit, the Zimbabwean bowlers didn’t allow the batsmen to blitz away to the modest target, and the fielders too impressed with their commitment, plugging the gaps in the infield.Smith, playing his first match since the World Cup semi-final, got into his groove with boundaries on either side of the pitch. He used his feet against the gentle medium-pace of Elton Chigumbura and brought up his fifty with a boundary, an uppish drive off the same bowler. However, Chigumbura won the battle two balls later when he held on to a one-handed return catch. At this stage, the South Africans upped the tempo and pushed the run-rate above four.Bodi had the most to gain, impressing in his debut game. He fetched his first boundary with an innovative flick across the line from off stump and kept the runs coming. He impressed with his range of strokes, caressing half-volleys past mid-off and then took on the spinners, sweeping and stepping down the track. Zimbabwe used as many as six bowlers by the 25th over but none looked like troubling the batsmen as Bodi and de Villiers milked the attack with minimum fuss.Bodi eventually fell just after reaching his fifty, beaten for turn from the Prosper Utseya and edging to Tatenda Taibu, in his first match since 2005. de Villiers then took charge of the chase, stating his intent with three boundaries in an over off Mpofu, and even the loss of two more wickets – that of Jean-Paul Duminy and de Villiers – couldn’t bring the home side back into the game.Earlier, the Zimbabwe top and middle order were exposed in their inept display, after Utseya chose to bat under sunny skies. Vusi Sibanda set the pace with some confident boundaries off the front and back foot but he was unable to convert his breezy start courtesy a brilliant catch at slip by Smith in the fifth over with the score at 21.Reckless running contributed to five of their dismissals and Hamilton Masakadza was the first victim, following a mix-up with Brendan Taylor. The arrival of Taibu spiced things up and his urgency to get off the blocks was evident as he took on the short stuff from the seamers. Taibu, perhaps the only world-class batsman in the line-up, sized up Makhaya Ntini with a fierce pull over square leg and in the company of Taylor, settled into a good rhythm, flicking anything drifting on the pads from Johan van der Wath and Morne Morkel.

Like Sibanda, Taibu too failed to sustain the momentum, edging to the keeper for 22. The introduction of Vernon Philander left the home side in further disarray, as he picked up two wickets off successive balls. An astounding one-handed pluck by Shaun Pollock at slip sent Sean Williams packing and Stuart Matsikenyeri was all at sea to an offcutter that sent his off stump for a mid-morning jog.Two more run-outs followed; that of Taylor and Utseya, adding to the embarrassment for the home side. With all the regular batsmen back in the pavilion, Brent and Chigumbura set about the repair work with nothing to lose. They buckled down and picked up singles and twos. After nearly ten overs of nudging and grafting, Chigumbura broke the shackles with cover drives off Thandi Tshabalala, while Brent used the long handle to good effect each time the bowlers, especially Ntini, erred in length. The confidence in his strokeplay rubbed off on Chigumbura. A six by Brent brought up the 150 in style and soon after, Chigumbura took control, outscoring Brent.A couple of spanking drives through the off side brought up Chigumbura’s seventh half-century in ODIs and following it, he proceeded to cart the bowlers over midwicket. A run-out, courtesy de Villiers, ended Chigumbura’s knock at 59 but Brent stayed on till the end, reaching his maiden international half-century in 78 balls. Zimbabwe posted a more respectable 206 but it was hardly a match-winning one.

The rain affected South Zone Cooch Behar Trophy match between Kerala andGoa, predictably enough, ended in a disappointing draw at the MedicalCollege ground in Trivandrum today. Play was possible only for 133 minuteson the first day during which Goa made 71 for eight wickets. The second andthird days were completely washed out and the teams got three points each.This was the second successive no result for Kerala.

John Wright has asked Indian officials in charge of preparing wickets to be more thoughtfulwhen they set their job. In the drawn Test at Ahmedabad, Anil Kumble and HarbhajanSingh could not force the issue despite giving their best. “It is the responsibility of peoplepreparing the wickets to keep these things in mind. Sometimes you probably need to raisethese points with the people responsible,” said Wright at a press conference in Mohali,where the second Test starts on Thursday.”It’s unusual in India that the team batting first scores 500 runs in the first innings andthere is no assistance to the bowlers in the later stages of the match,” said Wright. “Wehave to play on wickets that are given to us. Sometimes you hope for a little bit of homeadvantage. It is the case in all the countries. In Australia, they make sure that theirwickets never turn.”Sourav Ganguly has publicly defended his bowlers for their effort in Ahmedabad, and Wrightechoed these thoughts. “There were three world-class spinners — [Anil] Kumble, Harbhajan[Singh] and [Daniel] Vettori – playing in the match. They all struggled on the track. But thelong spells will help them in the subsequent match.” However, he did not cite this as anexcuse. “You have to play on whatever wicket that is given to you. You have to approachthe game and adapt accordingly. We played good cricket but we could not finish the matchin the way we desired”Wright believed that four bowlers could do the job adequately, unless specialcircumstances demanded the inclusion of an extra bowler. He also had a comforting wordfor Akash Chopra. “It is important to give some space to the newcomers. You have to havefaith in them and show it. You have to allow these players to settle down.”Wright also downplayed calls for preparing fast tracks in India. “Trying to change the basicnature of Indian pitches will not be good for the game. India should keep its tradition. Ifwe start making pitches like the ones in Australia, it will not be good for the game. Thediversity of the game is also important.”

Douglas Hondo picked up five wickets and Grant Flower cracked a century togive Zimbabwe the upper hand against British Universities at Edgbaston, inthe opening match of their tour.After a rain-affected first day, the Universities resumed on a healthy 92for 2, but by the time Hondo had taken four wickets in three overs, theirinnings was in tatters. They folded for 146, as 15 wickets fell in the day.Zimbabwe launched their reply with a brace of fifties for Mark Vermeulen andStuart Carlisle, but by the time Rob Ferley and Justin Bishop had rippedthrough the middle order, Zimbabwe were themselves in some considerablestrife at 183 for 7. Flower, however, stood firm, adding 119 for the eighthwicket with his captain Heath Streak (37 not out).

In the latest round of Championship matches, a record-breaking 341 from Craig Spearman set up a 10-wicket win for Gloucestershire over Middlesex, while 13 wickets from Heath Streak for Warwickshire helped his side beat Northants at Edgbaston. Sussex beat Lancashire by eight wickets after making them follow on at Hove, and 103 from Andrew Symonds helped Kent draw at Worcester. In Division Two, Yorkshire wrapped up a comfortable victory against Durham thanks to a century from Darren Lehmann, and there were comfortable wins for Glamorgan and Hampshire. Notts beat Somerset by 7 wickets at Bath after five wickets to Greg Smith.

Frizzell County Championship Division One

Scorecard
Day 1 report: Klusener blasts off after top guns self-destruct – The Guardian
Day 2 report: Spearman punishes Middlesex – The Times
Day 3 report: Spearman surpasses greats – The Telegraph
Day 4 report: Unstoppable Spearman finishes off Middlesex – The Independent

Scorecard
Day 1 report: Lancashire lacking leading lights as Adams steals show – The Independent
Day 2 report: Mahmood thrashes as Lancs topple – The Guardian
Day 3 report: Lancashire crumble before champions – The Times

Scorecard
Day 1 report: Mean Streak gets record – The Daily Telegraph
Day 2 report: Phillips checks march of leaders – The Times
Day 3 report: Perfect Streak shows allround abilities – The Times
Day 4 report: Streak revels in return to day job – The Independent

Scorecard
Day 1 report: Peters hits century to set tone -The Daily Telegraph
Day 2 report: Symonds gets stuck on record – The Guardian
Day 3 report: Peters steals the show – The Times
Day 4 report: Careful calculations required by Worcs – The Telegraph

Frizzell County Championship Division Two

Scorecard
Day 1 report: Dawson delivers England hint – The Daily Telegraph
Day 2 report: Dawson puts Yorkshire in dominant position – The Times
Day 3 report: Yorkshire seal early win – The Telegraph

Scorecard
Day 1 report: Kaneria cramps Hampshire’s style – Wisden Cricinfo
Day 2 report: Warne turns the tide Hampshire’s way – Wisden Cricinfo
Day 3 report: Rampant Hampshire race to victory – Wisden Cricinfo

Scorecard
Day 1 report: Mighty Matt’s record glory – The Western Mail
Day 2 report: Leicestershire lifted by Maddy – The Times
Day 3 report: Hughes and Croft build victory platform – The Times
Day 4 report: In-form Glam stroll to victory – The Western Mail

Scorecard
Day 1 report: Heavy artillery from Blackwell – The Daily Telegraph
Day 2 report: Patience is its own reward for Bicknell – The Independent
Day 3 report: Somerset upstaged by Smith’s inspired swing – The Times
Day 4 report: Caddick a lone star as Notts steam on – The Independent

Other match

Scorecard

Scorecard and ball-by-ball details

An accomplished allround performance by Shoaib Malik, and a century of faultless grace and measured intent by Yousuf Youhana, brought Pakistan their third straight victory in the Paktel Cup, against a Sri Lankan team that has had the edge over them in recent times.Sri Lanka made a good start after winning the toss and choosing to bat, but some less-than-committed batting, and a probing and skilful spell of offspin bowling by Malik in the middle overs, led them to founder, and eventually they managed only 232. Given a slow outfield and enervating conditions – most of the game was played in 40-degree heat – Sri Lanka might have stretched Pakistan even with this total, but after they had made two early breakthroughs Malik and Youhana came together, and took the game away with a partnership of 200, the highest stand for any wicket in a one-day international at the National Stadium in Karachi.Sri Lanka were playing their first game since their loss to England at the Champions Trophy, and Marvan Atapattu caused some surprise with his decision to bat first. The ground had absorbed plenty of rain in the days leading up to the game, and what with a 9.30am start, it was almost certain that conditions would help the bowlers in the first hour. Atapattu’s counterpart Inzamam-ul-Haq, returning to the team after missing a match with a groin strain, was somewhat surprised at this decision, and had to confirm it a second time from Atapattu.But after the early loss of Avishka Gunawardene, always in trouble against the moving ball, Sri Lanka actually prospered in the first hour of play. Although both Naved-ul-Hasan and Mohammad Sami kept the ball up to the batsmen, and runscoring was not easy, some characteristically enterprising batting by Sanath Jayasuriya kept the run rate ticking along at just over four an over. Jayasuriya employed his favourite drive through extra cover and pick-up stroke over square leg whenever he saw the opportunity, and Atapattu also looked in gorgeous touch – he seemed to check one square-drive off Naved, but it beat point and raced away for four – and worked the ball around adeptly for singles. When Shoaib Akhtar came on at first change, Jayasuriya greeted him with a six and a four, and after 15 overs Sri Lanka had reached 71.But as the morning progressed the heat grew stronger and ever more enervating, and seemed to take a toll on Jayasuriya. Shortly after he brought up his fifty, off 78 balls, he gave up his wicket in one of the most disappointing ways possible. Standing at the non-striker’s end, he backed up a couple of yards as Atapattu came down the pitch to drive Malik, and made no attempt to return to his crease as the ball was hit straight back to the bowler. He almost seemed to want an end to his innings, and Malik happily obliged (113 for 2).With Jayasuriya gone, the Sri Lankan innings floundered, and lost its way against Malik’s offspin. Atapattu advanced down the wicket to him again but found himself short of the pitch of the ball and chipped a catch to midwicket (129 for 3); Mahela Jayawardene feinted a forward movement and laid back to cut, only to be beaten by the sharp spin and find his off bail disturbed (165 for 4); and Tillakaratne Dilshan scratched around for a while before edging a cut (177 for 5). With the outfield slower than normal, boundaries were hard to come by, and the batsmen could not work enough singles to keep up an acceptable run rate. When Kumar Sangakkara was bowled for 38 attempting a wild slog, Pakistan knew they were in control of the game, and they bowled out the last ten overs competently without conceding too many.

Malik finished with 3 for 32, but there was more to come from him. Since Bob Woolmer’s appointment as coach of the Pakistan team four months ago, Malik has been not only the first-choice spinner but also the regular No. 3 batsman – in effect he is now the player on whom the greatest responsibility has been thrust. After being on the field for 50 overs, he was out on the ground again in the 11th over of Pakistan’s innings after Chaminda Vaas had trapped Yasir Hameed in front (33 for 1).Sri Lanka soon had another success to celebrate, when Nuwan Zoysa nailed Salman Butt in the next over. Pakistan only managed 49 in the first 15 overs as Malik and Youhana settled in, but thereafter the two batsmen upped the tempo and paced the run-chase to a nicety. With the target not an especially demanding one, it was more important that Pakistan kept their wickets intact, and there was hardly a risky stroke as Youhana and Malik proceeded neck-and-neck to their half-centuries. Atapattu shuffled his bowlers around without reward, and none of his spinners, including the usually reliable Jayasuriya, could get him a breakthrough. But Atapattu was also guilty of not putting enough pressure on the batsmen with fielders in the 30-yard circle. With only four men saving the single for most part, Malik and Youhana were able to rotate the strike more easily than they should have.Youhana hit only two fours on the way to a measured fifty off 70 balls, but then proceeded to attack the bowling with relish and assurance, deliberately lofting drives over the infield, and launching Upul Chandana for six over wide long-on. When he reached 66 he became the second-fastest Pakistan player to reach 6000 runs in one-day internationals, after Saeed Anwar, and quicker than all-time greats like Javed Miandad and Inzamam. He duly completed a superbly-paced hundred off 112 balls, and as Pakistan reached the final stretch Malik joined the fun, hitting powerfully down the ground and walking around his crease to manufacture shots around the wicket. The last scoring shot of the game brought up the 200 partnership. After a point, Sri Lanka were never in the game.Pakistan are now through to the finals, and can enjoy a well-deserved rest while Sri Lanka occupy themselves with the not-so-daunting task of beating Zimbabwe in the next two games to be sure of joining them there.

Darrell Hair, Australia’s most high-profile umpire, has announced that he will be moving to England to live early in the New Year. He will continue to be a member of the ICC’s international panel.”I’m looking forward to what lies ahead but I will certainly miss Australia,” Hair admitted. “Being on the international Test umpiring panel, and with all the travel that is involved with this role, it does not really matter where I’m based. The ICC doesn’t appoint an umpire to any international matches in their home country, so in many respects, moving to London will cut down a lot of my travel."The announcement effectively ends Hair’s career in Australian domestic cricket, and as he is not on the English panel of umpires, it would seem to be international games or nothing for him from now on."I intend to be actively involved in umpiring for the next few years, whether it be with the blessing of ICC or village matches in Steeple Bumpstead,” Hair told his New South Wales umpiring colleagues. “Hopefully there will also be some other options arising from time to time to help fill in my days.”

The last twelve months has been a momentous period of time in the life of Somerset all rounder Ian Blackwell whose rise to the top in cricketing circles has been meteoric.This time last year the twenty four year old was itching to get the season started after spending the winter of 2001-2 working in the office at the County Ground in Taunton.During the past winter `Blackie’ spent time with the England Academy in Adelaide, made his One Day International debut and played in the World Cup in South Africa, and has come a long way in a short space of time.The former Derbyshire player reflected on the past year when I spoke to him recently. He said: “I was disappointed not to go on the Academy in 2001-2 but I worked very hard during the winter and was determined to make up for it, which I am pleased to say has happened.”He continued: ” I started the 2002 season very well, and got a hundred against Yorkshire in the opening championship match here, which was watched by Duncan Fletcher, and I think it was that which led to me being short listed for the Academy last winter, and then I had a very successful season, scoring 900 runs at an average of almost 40.”`Blackie’ went on: “I got my England chance when Andrew Flintoff got injured, so you could say that his injury was a blessing in disguise for me. I was very pleased to go to Sri Lanka and get runs against India, and then to be selected for the one dayers in Australia.”I asked how he felt playing for England.”It was strange experience really because I wouldn’t say that I felt nervous, in fact I feel worse when I go out to bat in front of the Taunton crowd. It felt kind of surreal to be playing against names that I had only seen on the television. It was a great eye opener, and you have to experience it to appreciate how big a step it is up from county cricket. At that level there are no `gimme’ bowlers, you are made to work hard for ever run you get. It’s much quicker, and the fielding is much sharper,” he told me.Looking back over his eventful winter he told me; “It was a valuable experience for me, and I was one of the best one day bowlers for England. I was very pleased with the way that I adapted, although there is still some work to do, but I didn’t do myself justice with the bat.”With regard to 2003 he told me: “Hopefully I played well enough to suggest that there is a place for me in the England squad and that I will get my chance in the triangular tournament during the summer. There’s nothing like walking out in front of a crowd of 50,000 it gives you a real buzz, and it’s why we play cricket. It’s an experience you can’t buy.”On the eve of the championship opener how did he think Somerset would fare. “I am very optimistic about the season. Everyone has worked very hard during the winter and in the early season matches and everybody knows exactly what is expected. Let’s hope that we can get straight back up to where we belong and that is in the top division, but there are a lot of good teams in Division Two. We need to play well in the early matches and give ourselves a good platform to work from,” he told me.Judging by his early season from with both bat and ball Ian Blackwell is primed and ready for the first championship match at Bristol that starts at the end of this week.

Graeme Hick scored the seven runs he needed to complete his 130th first-class hundred on the second day of Worcestershire’s Championship game against Northamptonshire at New Road. He now sits in eighth place in the list of all-time century makers, moving ahead of Sir Len Hutton. It was also his 100th hundred for his county.It didn’t take long for Hick, who finished on 93 not out last night, to add the seven required runs to his overnight total. As he flicked the ball off his legs to take a single from Nicholson, he lifted his bat to the players’ balcony and was greeted by rapturous applause and a standing ovation. He went on to make 139.Less than a month ago Hick, who turned 40 in April, was being all-but written off after a poor start to the season. On June 4, Steve James in The Sunday Telegraph wrote: “I am worried about Graeme Hick. Worried that a glorious career might be heading for a less-than-glorious ending.” That same week Hick bounced back with 182 against Somerset at Taunton.”It was a special day for me,” Hick admitted. “There’s quite a lot of people who have sat here for many years and hopefully enjoyed my batting and it’s been a good day for them as well. “To get the hundredth hundred for Worcestershire here at New Road adds a bit to it.””I’m enjoying my cricket at the moment,” he replied when asked the inevitable question about how long he plans to go on. “I’ve always said I’ll make a decision about my future at the end of the season. At the same time, the club have got to do the same thing. The club is obviously bigger than the player.””Graeme has achieved something that not many people can dream of doing,” said Steve Rhodes, Worcestershire’s director of cricket. “His 100th hundred is a true reflection of what he has done for Worcestershire over the course of his career. I consider myself extremely fortunate to be amongst those who have watched Graeme’s successes unfold and it has been fantastic to watch him score many of his hundreds over the years.”We all have great memories. Perhaps the thing I most remember from his heyday was his strength. We would watch from the balcony as, time after time, he would hit a yorker straight back past the bowler for four: something incredibly difficult to do and which gave rise to the dressing room saying “You can’t bowl there to Hicky!”