Inzamam-ul-Haq, the Pakistan captain, had some good news for Umar Gul, the discarded young medium-pace bowler, on Saturday. Inzamam told that Umar figured very much in the plans for next month’s Test series against India and could be selected in the Test squad. “He is a fine bowler and we wanted him to go and play some domestic cricket after his recovery from his back problem,” said Inzamam. “He is definitely in our plans for the series against India and I would like the selectors to invite him for the conditioning camp we set up from January 6.”Umar last played for Pakistan in April 2004 against India in the second Test at Lahore and set up a victory with a first-innings haul of five for 31. The 21-year-old from Peshawar is a fine controlled seam bowler who has taken 25 wickets in five Tests and another 19 in 15 one-dayers with a best of 5 for 17. Umar is currently playing for his employers PIA in domestic cricket and Inzamam said that the more he played the better he would become after being out of the game for a more than a year.Umar was sidelined for more than a year with a stress fracture of the back after the Test against India and made a comeback to domestic cricket this season, but was not considered for any of the international games including the tour matches against England.”Our strength lies in our pace bowling with all our bowlers doing really well against England,” said Inzamam. “But with Mohammad Asif also having a good debut match we are keen to develop a reservoir of pace bowlers against India.”

Uganda’s ability to construct decent totals could be the key to their competitiveness when the Under-19 World Cup gets underway in Sri Lanka.The African nation, whose development program is held up as a blueprint for other countries throughout the ICC Associate and Affiliate world, is likely to be able to hold its own with the ball and in the field. But there are question marks over whether the players can back up thoseaspects of their game with sizeable scores when they bat.Uganda reached the World Cup by finishing as runners-up to Namibia in the Africa-East Asia-Pacific qualifying tournament held in Benoni, South Africa last August. They won four of their five matches, including a victory over Kenya, and even beat the Namibians in the group stages before losing to them by three wickets in a closely-contested final. But in all those matches Uganda’s batsmen mustered only one half-century between them, the 61 scored by their captain Hamza Almuzahim against Fiji. In their defence it was a low-scoring tournament, but that worrying trend has continued in the two warm-up matches the side has played in Sri Lanka.In matches against colleges sides, Uganda was bowled out for 161 and 133 and that problem will need to be solved and solved quickly before their Group A matches against the hosts Sri Lanka, and New Zealand and Pakistan. Much of the responsibility for that required improvement will fall on the shoulders of captain Almuzahim, one of ten players in the squad that also took part in the 2004 event in Bangladesh, the first time Uganda played in the finals of the World Cup.Four of the squad – opening bowler Emmanuel Isaneez, allrounder PatrickOchan, vice-captain Raymond Otim, a batsman who bowls legspin, and left-arm medium-pacer Charles Waiswa, were also part of the senior Uganda squad that played in the ICC Trophy in Ireland last July.Along with Almuzahim, the other key members of the batting line-up could be prospective openers Mauneek Solanki and Roger Mukasa, the former U15 captain Arthur Kyobe, wicketkeeper Denis Musali and Jimmy Okello. Musali opened the innings in every match in Benoni and made an unbeaten 27 to steer the side home against Tanzania. The bowling and fielding appears to be less of a concern, especially when judged on performances not only in those qualifiers but also in the two warm-up matches so far.Isaneez, who took 6 for 37 to give Bangladesh a real scare in the Plate competition two years ago, is back to lead the attack again and among those likely to back him up is Ronald Semanda, who took 4 for 28 in the side’s match on Friday.Daniel Ruyange, who took 3 for 15 against Tanzania in Benoni, and Davis Arinaitwe will also bowl offspin while Waiswa played for the Uganda senior side in last year’s ICC Intercontinental Cup. Most intriguing of all is the presence in the squad of offspinner Emmanuel Nakaana. The youngest player in the tournament, he only celebrated his 14th birthday on December 24 last year but has already shown signs of promise and took 4 for 24 in the side’s latest warm-up match.Whatever Uganda’s limitations with the bat, they come to Sri Lanka with a reputation for excellence in the field. They effected four run-outs in one of their games with Namibia in Benoni and Otim is one of their stars in this area. Expect to find him at backward point.Uganda’s only previous appearance in the U-19 World Cup came two years ago, when they lost to South Africa (eight wickets), England (by 213 runs) and Nepal (five wickets) before taking part in the Plate competition. They lost to Ireland (123 runs) and Bangladesh (four wickets) but finished the tournament on a high with a five-wicket win over Canada when they chased 232 for victory.Realistically they are expected to struggle this time around as they have been drawn in one of the two groups that includes three Test-playing sides. But the signs are there that Uganda could be an emerging force within the game over the next few years. They have consistently boasted one of the biggest development programs in the Associate and Affiliate world with over 20,000 children involved in organised sessions. They also have an excellent schools program and the only limitation to growth is a lack of facilities although that, too, is being addressed.The long-term future for cricket in Uganda looks promising and the next three weeks will be another step on the road to growing the game in that country.Uganda squad Hamza Almuzahim (capt), Raymond Otim, Davis Arinaitwe, Emmanuel Isaneez, Arthur Kyobe, Roger Mukasa, Denis Musali, Emmanuel Nakaana, Patrick Ochan, Jimmy Okello, Danniel Ruyange, Mauneek Solanki, Ronald Semanda and Charles Waiswa.

Jason Gillespie, the Australian fast bowler, will represent Yorkshire in the northern summer as the county’s second Australian overseas professional alongside Darren Lehmann. Gillespie has committed himself to the County Championship and one-day competitions, but he has opted out of the Twenty20 Cup because he doesn’t enjoy the format.”I’ve got a few weeks off then I’m off to Yorkshire and looking forward to it … it’ll be my first time with an English county,” Gillespie told . “I will play the full season but I probably won’t play much Twenty 20 because I don’t like the game and it’s probably not suited to someone like me who can’t bat and field.”Gillespie, who was left out of the Australian squad after a disastrous Ashes tour in 2005, hit a purple patch in the Australian domestic season with 40 wickets in nine Pura Cup games, including three five-wicket hauls. He was also overlooked for the Test series in South Africa when the selectors recalled Michael Kasprowicz to the bowling line-up, which was short of experience in the absence of Glenn McGrath.Gillespie has fond memories of Headingley, the Yorkshire home ground. In 1997 he demolished England with 7 for 37 to guide Australia to victory.

Scorecard and ball-by-ball commentary
How they were out

Ricky Ponting added to his impressive collection of individual records in the second Test as Australia targeted a series victory by setting South Africa 410. With his twin centuries Ponting became only the second player alongside Sunil Gavaskar to achieve the mark in three matches, and he also stepped ahead of Don Bradman’s 29 hundreds to sit two behind Steve Waugh, the leading Australian.While his batting was superb, Ponting’s tactics of delaying the declaration, despite last-session problems with the light throughout the match and today’s murky weather, will be questioned as South Africa escaped to 29 for 0 in 7.1 overs before the players went off. Ponting closed the second innings half an hour before tea at 307 for 4 and Graeme Smith and AB de Villiers were not troubled in the first five overs.The conditions deteriorated during and after the break, and Andrew Symonds, who was bowling medium pace, and Shane Warne had delivered 13 balls when the batsmen were offered the light after a couple of umpiring conferences. Symonds’s offspin was not tried as de Villiers, who played an aggressive hook shot off Brett Lee, reached 17 and Smith 10.Australia’s chances of sealing the series now rely on them taking ten wickets on day five, but their main threats are a combination of a South African rearguard and more poor weather. Ponting experienced a selection of the possible conditions when he batted with blue sky, rain, wind and gloom, but the chances of a reduction in match time did not seem to affect his declaration plans.Starting the day with a 227-run advantage, Ponting set the pace of Australia’s target-setting next to Matthew Hayden as they both reached three figures in a 201-run stand. Play began with the lights on but they didn’t dim the batsmen’s outlook. Pulling was again a productive shot for Ponting, who slapped Shaun Pollock for six over midwicket, and Hayden was driving strongly as he overtook his captain and beat him to 100.Hayden, who picked off 12 boundaries in 102, replaced his stolid performance of day three with one of more power as Australia kept ticking off their goals. With a single to point Hayden moved to his 26th hundred and for two overs was within three of Ponting, who restored his four-century lead by picking up a one to mid-on from his 166th ball.South Africa’s fast men struggled for spark as they watched the total grow and they finally had a moment to cheer when Hayden nicked Makhaya Ntini to Mark Boucher with the score on 250. As the closure approached Ponting departed to a big heave to deep midwicket and Adam Gilchrist smashed Andre Nel for 22 in an over including five fours. Not that it shut the bowler up.There was regular talk on the field and Ponting ensured they would be more about his decisions and his batting records. He opened the Test series against West Indies in November with a couple of hundreds at the Gabba – the first time he reached the milestone – and he matched the feat in his 100th Test at the SCG in January to earn a 2-0 win against South Africa. In the first innings he sweated for 103 and today’s smoother 116 was his seventh hundred in a 2005-06 season of 1238 runs in nine matches.Ponting is in the middle of a remarkable batting streak and his side is now stuck in an intriguing race of ball, bat and weather. If the conditions allow expect an absorbing final day.

Australia
Justin Langer c Pollock b Boje 37 (49 for 1)
Matthew Hayden c Boucher b Ntini 102 (250 for 2)
Ricky Ponting c Boje b Pollock 116 (278 for 3)
Adam Gilchrist c Nel b Boje 24 (307 for 4)

The West Indies Players Association (WIPA) offered a counter-proposal to the West Indies Cricket Board (WICB) yesterday as the retainer contract impasse continued unresolved.And the board was to discuss the matter by teleconference last night to decide on their next move, while the Caribbean Media Corporation reported that both parties “are expected to meet again on Tuesday in a bid to end the protracted negotiations, even as the recommended deadline passed on Friday with little fanfare”.With the Zimbabwe tour scheduled to start in Antigua on Saturday, and with the West Indies captain and team still to be named, the Board and WIPA have not yet reached an agreement on the contentious issue which cast regional cricket into the headlines again following the WICB’s announcing of an ultimatum.That ultimatum was recommended by the WICB Cricket Committee, comprising Clive Lloyd (chairman), Michael Holding, Andy Roberts, Desmond Haynes, Deryck Murray and Ian Bishop, following what they claimed were three months of bargaining. And the committee advised the WICB to set last Friday as the deadline for the finalisation of the retainer contract matter. It further suggested that in case of the failure to conclude the talks, “thereafter the team shall be selected based on those players who make themselves available”.But the deadline has come and gone with no such drastic action taken. Dinanath Ramnarine, the WIPA president and CEO, who said he was “very shocked and surprised” at the WICB ultimatum, met with Murray yesterday and delivered his association’s counter-proposal. “We put forward a proposal,” he stated, “now it’s for them (the WICB) to get back to us.” Asked if the talks yesterday were compromised by the WICB ultimatum, Ramnarine said his organisation approached it as business as usual.”We (he and Murray) conducted our business as normal, I did not have a mandate before but I got one yesterday from my membership and got a consensus from the membership which I put in a proposal and delivered to Mr Murray.”Asked if he felt the best West Indies team available will take the field for the start of the Zimbabwe tour, he replied: “We hope that good sense prevails. We negotiated in good faith … and now we hope we can get on with what is best for West Indies cricket.”So what if there is failure to agree on the retainer contract? “We’re optimistic,” Ramnarine stated, “because we are absolutely for the retainer contracts, once it is done in the best interest of the players and West Indies cricket, but if the retainer does not come through we have the example of the match/tour contracts from previous tours which has worked. But if we can’t reach an agreement on that, that is something that the Board and us will have to discuss, but we would like it to be resolved as soon as possible.”

Division One

Lancashire’s depleted attack put in a determined performances to leave their team with a healthy advantage over Durham. Without the services of Dominic Cork, who injured his ankle batting late on the first day, the remaining bowlers produced a concerted effort. Tom Smith again put in a commendable show following his three wickets on Championship debut last week and three more in the C&G Trophy. Here he claimed four important strikes including Dale Benkenstein, who was looking dangerous on 37. Gordon Muchall provided the major obstacles as he also continued fine early-season form by following his 213 against Kent with 102. But he was removed by Glen Chapple, who chipped in with three wickets, leaving Durham trailing by 144 runs.The Rose Bowl continued its reputation of aiding the seamers as Hampshire and Sussex traded blows. Rana Naved-ul-Hasan, the Pakistan paceman, claimed 5 for 63 as Sussex established a vital lead of 43. Robin Martin-Jenkins helped out with two wickets during an exceptionally tight spell as he conceded just 19 runs in 14 overs. However, the Hampshire attack struck back as James Bruce continued his encouraging start to the campaign although Chris Adams remains unbeaten and Sussex have a significant advantage of 192.Warwickshire took a firm grip on their clash against Yorkshire by claiming a 100-run lead. All the Warwickshire bowlers chipped in but Heath Streak led the way and set the ball rolling as he removed both openers. However, the key wicket of Darren Lehmann fell to the unheralded figure of Timothy Groenewald, a 22-year-old South African seamer making his Championship debut, who also removed Michael Lumb. Jason Gillespie, whose last innings was his unbeaten 201 against Bangladesh, came in at No. 10 and was left stranded on 6. With a healthy cushion behind them, Warwickshire built confidently with Neil Carter smashing 36 off 27 balls. Nick Knight and Jonathan Trott consolidated and stretched the lead towards 250.Middlesex against Kent at Lord’s. For a full bulletin by Will Luke click here.

Division Two

Essex continued to enjoy a run-fest against Glamorgan following the record-breaking efforts of Ravindar Bopara and Andy Flower on the first day. Flower fell early on, trapped lbw by Simon Jones, but the runs stilled flowed through Ronnie Irani and then Ryan ten doeschate, who brought up Essex’s third ton of the innings off 143 balls. There were some painful figures for the Glamorgan attack, although Ryan Watkins gave them something to smile about. His unbeaten 76 set up the Glamorgan reply after Darren Gough claimed an early scalp.Tim Murtagh and Nayan Doshi claimed three wickets apiece to hand Surrey a 126-run lead over Leicestershire. At 126 for 6, Leicestershire were facing the prospect of the follow-on but John Maunders averted that possibility with a fighting 87. Stuart Broad enjoyed a fine all-round day, firstly confirming the potential of his pace bowler with a maiden five-wicket haul, as Surrey lost their last six wickets for 35, before showing that some of his father’s batting skills had rubbed off with an 83-ball 24. He is certainly one to keep an eye on, but has a huge task to keep Leicestershire in this match when he takes the ball for a second time.In contrast to the run-filled opening day when Somerset racked up 406, today was dominated by the bowlers as Worcestershire slumped for 161. The clatter of wickets continued after Somerset declined to enforce the follow-on and crashed to 97 for 7, although they hold a commanding lead of 342. From 79 for 1, Worcestershire crumbled as Andrew Caddick claimed five. When Somerset batting again Marcus Trescothick suffered his fourth Championship failure in four innings, trapped lbw by Kabir Ali. Zaheer Khan, the Indian pace bowler, scythed through the order with four wickets, but it is probably too late for Worcestershire.

Heeding a request from the Indian team management, Andy Roberts, the legendary West Indian fast bowler, has spent some time with Irfan Pathan, trying to pin-point the problem areas with regard to his bowling. Roberts felt that Pathan’s run-up was an area of concern, and spent close to half an hour, after the fourth day’s play, trying to rectify it.”I think he has a problem with the final couple of strides of his run-up,” Roberts said. “If you don’t have your run-up right, then you will have problems with the rest of the action. He was missing his run-up a few times, but by the time he finished he was OK. It was just a couple of minor corrections.”Roberts had spent some time chatting with the team management on the second day of the warm-up match at the Police Recreation Ground. The team-management, in turn, thought it best to use his services. “Well it so happened that I was watching him bowl at training in the morning,” added Roberts, “That was the first time I’d seen him bowl. I didn’t watch him in all the one-dayers because I wasn’t present at all the games. Also watching a bowler on television it is not always possible to tell what the problem is. Today, I spotted something. I approached the coach [Greg Chappell], who asked me if I could have a word with him.”In the twenty minutes he spent with him, Roberts asked Pathan to take his run-up without the stumps, and also asked him to measure his run-up to where he felt comfortable for his delivery stride. Pathan then had a lengthy bowl with his new run-up. Roberts was also seen advising Pathan to apply more thrust while following through and swing his arms faster.This isn’t the first time an expert was asked to spend some time with the team. On India’s 2003-04 tour to Australia, Bruce Reid, the former left-arm fast bowler, was roped in to help out the fast bowlers, and, at the end of the tour, was praised for his services.

ScorecardIndia A turned in a sound allround performance to humble Pakistan A by 130 runs in their limited-overs match in the Top End Series in Darwin. Opener Gautam Gambhir led the assault for India with an undefeated 142 which propelled them to 313. His 147-run opening stand with Robin Uthappa (72) laid the foundation for a big score. Rohit Sharma (47*) joined Gambhir after captain Venugopal Rao was dismissed, and the pair added 121 in the last 15 overs.Pakistan began poorly, with Rudra Pratap Singh and Shib Paul, the Indian seamers, making early inroads. Rafatullah Mohmand was the only batsman to cross fifty, while the rest succumbed, mostly to the spinners. Leg spinner Piyush Chawla finished with figures of 3 for 34 from his 10 overs while Rao chipped in with two wickets, including that of Mohmand for 84. Parthiv Patel, India’s wicketkeeper, too had a good outing, effecting five dismissals.

Sanath Jayasuriya has been named in a 14-man squad for the first Test against South Africa starting in Colombo on Thursday. The national selection committee, headed by Ashantha de Mel, finalised the squad after the three-day tour opener against Sri Lanka A ended in a draw yesterday. With no A team player showing great promise, the selectors sprung no surprises in their decision.Jayasuriya, 37, has been tipped to retain his opening slot alongside Upul Tharanga following Michael Vandort’s failure in the warm-up match. Jayasuriya had been called back from retirement during Sri Lanka’s recent tour of England, and batted at No.6 in the third Test. During the one-day series, Jayasuriya hit the England bowlers for 322 runs as he picked up the Man-of-the-Series award. He and Tharanga were also involved in a record 283-run stand that carried Sri Lanka to a 5-0 sweep.All the fast bowlers who toured England – Chaminda Vaas, Lasith Malinga, Dilhara Fernando and Farveez Maharoof – have been retained while Rangana Herath, the left-arm spinner, has also been included. His last Test was against Bangladesh in September 2005. Sajeewa Weerakoon, a slow left-arm bowler, has been placed on standby with reports that Herath is nursing an injury.The 14-man squad is subject to final ratification by Sri Lanka’s sports minister. Meanwhile, South Africa have yet to finalise their team for the Test.Sri Lanka squad: Sanath Jayasuriya, Upul Tharanga, Kumar Sangakkara, Mahela Jayawardene, Tillakaratne Dilshan, Chamara Kapugedara, Chaminda Vaas, Farveez Maharoof, Malinga Bandara, Muttiah Muralitharan, Lasith Malinga, Dilhara Fernando, Michael Vandort, Rangana Herath.

James Anderson seems increasingly unlikely to be fit in time for this winter’s Ashes series after it was revealed that his rehabilitation after sustaining a stress fracture of his lower back was not going well.Anderson’s injury was diagnosed earlier in the summer and he was placed in a support corset. Although that was removed six weeks ago, he has yet to bowl at anything like full paceHis recovery is being overseen by Dave Roberts, Lancashire’s physio, who told The Sunday Times that there was “no timescale” on his return to action. He added: “The emphasis is on trying to reduce the load on his lumbar region.”The article also hinted that Anderson might be working on remodeling his action after Troy Cooley, who was England’s fast bowling coach until May, warned that it would cause injury unless revised.That news contradicts what Mike Watkinson, Lancashire’s manager, told Sky Sports News less than a fortnight ago. At that time he said that Anderson’s rehabilitation programme was “looking good,” and was “very positive”.However, a spokesman for Lancashire told Cricinfo: “It was never the club’s intention to rush Jimmy back into action before he was ready. We always knew it would be a very long and very slow recovery. Any earlier remarks about his progress from the stress fracture where meant in the context of the seriousness of Jimmy’s injury.”