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The crowds have been disappointing so far in the ICC Champions Trophy but on Friday afternoon even the streets outside Premadasa International Stadium will be overflowing. Match tickets are already exchanging hands for five times their face value. No one wants to miss the Sri Lanka-Australia semi-final. In a country that adores one-day cricket, this is the biggest game since the Sri Lanka’s 1996 World Cup final.Sri Lanka felt an equal weight of expectation on their shoulders in thetournament curtain raiser against Pakistan, when defeat would have forced upon them the humiliation of an early exit. Instead of wilting under the pressure they drew inspiration from the occasion and skipper Sanath Jayasuriya hopes that his players will react similarly in tomorrow’s game."This is the biggest game we have had for a long time," says Jayasuriya, dripping with sweat after the team’s final practice session. "The whole of Sri Lanka is following this match, hoping that we will win. But we must not put ourselves under too much pressure – we have to treat it like any other game."Jayasuriya is under no illusions as to the enormity of the challenge posed by Australia, even if Sri Lanka has the advantage of home conditions. Ricky Ponting’s side have emerged from a winter’s break in scintillating form, brushing aside their opponents with contemptuous ease."We are playing the best team in the world tomorrow – it is going to be very tough," admits Jayasuriya. "The boys know that it’s not going to be easy but they are looking forward to the game. We are not going to roll over just because this is Australia – we are going to give them a hard time."He wants the players to concentrate on the basics: "We have to carry ondoing the things that we have been doing well and stick to the basics. But to win against such a good side as Australia we are going to have to perform in all three departments."But the key will be the front-end of both innings: "We have to keep ourwickets intact during the first 15 overs. They have three of the best fast bowlers in the world and we have to be more cautious. But if there is anything loose then we must play our natural game."Jayasuriya comes into the game still suffering considerable pain from adislocated shoulder – an injury that may now require surgery – with aformidable run of form having scored 36, 102*, 71, 46, 97, 49 and 36 in his last seven games. He is the single most important reason for the turnaround in Sri Lankan fortunes and there may be concerns that he is due a failure.He just wants to prepare in the same manner, focusing on the present rather than the past: "I am not putting myself under unnecessary pressure to perform again. The important thing is to prepare for the game as I have been before."Coach Dav Whatmore admits the captain’s contribution has been immense but believes that the other batsmen will stand up to be counted when heeventually fails. "His performances have been wonderful recently and the knock-on effect is self-evident," says Whatmore. "But there have been others that have also contributed and we are prepared for the eventuality of Sanath not getting runs. We feel confident enough with the batsmen that we have to do a repair job if he fails."But Whatmore is concerned about the Australian batting, particularly the openers: "If you look at the other end both openers are capable of scoring big hundreds. They have been the catalyst for recent victories."Thus, restraining Australia’s powerful batting line-up has become the focus of Sri Lanka’s strategic planning. The selectors and management are yet to agree on the best course of action but it is clear that they have identified spin as their trump card on the slow, turning Premadasa pitch – the only question is how many do they play.Sri Lanka last played Australia at the same venue during the AIWA Cupstraight after the 1999 World Cup. During the final of that tournament Sri Lanka played just two fast bowlers, opening the bowling with the part-time off-breaks of Russel Arnold and bowling 35 overs of spin in all. Australia were bowled out for 202 and the hosts cruised to a comfortable eight wicket win.And once again the management are considering dropping a fast bowler toprovide the luxury of three specialist spinners. With Australia having four left-handers in their top six and a perceived weakness against off-spin, Kumar Dharmasena is certain to play alongside Muttiah Muralitharan.The dilemma is then whether to play leg-spinner Upul Chandana as well. If they do then either Dilhara Fernando or Pulasthi Gunaratne must step down. The fact that Fernando, despite being Sri Lanka’s most penetrative pace bowler, struggles with the new ball means that he is the most likely to be discarded.The case is more compelling when one considers extra depth provided byhaving both Dharmasena and Chandana in the lower middle order. With Chaminda Vaas they would bat down to number nine.Sri Lanka:Sanath Jayasuriya (capt), Marvan Atapattu, Kumar Sangakkara (wk), Mahela Jayawardene, Aravinda de Silva, Russel Arnold, Tillakaratne Dilshan, Upul Chandana, Kumar Dharmasena, Chaminda Vaas, Hasantha Fernando, Dilhara Fernando, Muttiah Muralitharan, Pulasthi Gunaratne.

Bradley Hodge, Durham’s overseas signing brought in to replace Martin Love,has broken his thumb during a training session less than a week after hisarrival from Australia.Bradley was bowling in a practice session in the nets the day before the NULgame against Notts when he was hit on the thumb.Brad will see a specialist tomorrow, but is likely to be out of action untilthe end of August.Chairman Bill Midgley said: “The Club is looking at the possibility of areplacement, but at this late stage in the season, the options forreplacements is limited.”

Andover’s unbeaten start is over after a two wicket defeat by Havant – but they remain top of the ECB Southern Electric Premier League by a four-point margin.They were edged out four balls from the end of an absorbing, rain-affected contest in which Havant just got home, chasing a reduced 124 off 39 overs.Former Havant skipper Paul Gover felt Andover were hard done by.”I was a little sorry for them because they fought and battled all the way – and ended up with nothing,” he said.Andover’s 158-9 on a damp, slow London Road surface owed much to third-wicket pair Ian Gardner (43) and Roger Miller (38), who eased the total to 93-2 after 30 overs.But a three-wicket burst by Mackie Hobson (4-16), aided by Richard Hindley’s tidy 3-37, disrupted the middle-order flow and left Andover defending 155-9.The score was arguably 20 runs short of what Andover would have liked, but when Richard Taylor (2-25) nailed Andy Perry and Hindley in successive balls, Havant were rocking at 1-2.The visitors saw their target reduced to 124 off 39 overs, but continued to lose wickets around Gover’s patient 33.Havant tottered at 75-5, but Yorkshireman Bevis Moynhan (32) struck out to lift the reply to 108 before being suicidally run out by skipper Dominic Carson.Havant eventually lost eight wickets before Carson redeemed himself by steering the 2000 league champions home with four balls to spare.Exciting Western Australia prospect Luke Ronchi smashed five sixes clean out of the Bashley Cricket Ground as the New Forest club went on a 301-run romp against Burridge.Ronchi, 21, sent one six into the Bashley football ground, another into a nursery and three more into the road on his way to a blistering 96 scored off 70 deliveries.”Two of the sixes were among the biggest I’d ever seen at Bashley,” confirmed skipper Neil Taylor, whose side rattled up a massive 301-5 off 50 overs.Ironically, both Ronchi and Neil Thurgood (97) missed out on centuries after their second-wicket stand yielded 138 and eased Bashley to 200-2.Thurgood, yet to score a SL century, played the supporting role in a 62-run start with Andy Sexton (41), while Ronchi typically dominated, hitting nine fours, in addition to his five ‘out of ground’ sixes.Richard Knowles weighed in with an unbeaten 43 as Bashley took the game totally out of reach.Neil Cunningham (50) top scored as Burridge replied with 199-9 – Kevin Nash (3-33) and Neil Taylor (3-25) taking the bowling credits for Bashley.Calmore Sports (171-9) held off a determined rally from Liphook & Ripsley (170 all out) to win by one run at Loperwood Park.Tom Pegler (40) prospered at the start for Calmore, who dipped from 55-0 to 82-5 against Matt Eaton (3-35) and spinner Alan Crawford (2-16).James Hibberd (41 not out) and Mark Boston (30) rebuilt the Calmore innings, which subsided later to 171-1, with Graham Tyler taking 3-36.It looked all over bar the shouting when Christof Bothma (2-18) and Matt Metcalfe (3-33) sent Liphook sliding to 68-5, but South African Alistair Gray (60) and skipper Duncan Berry (37) fought back to take the visitors to 136 before the Cape Town all-rounder became Pegler’s fourth victim.Liphook suffered a spate of run outs before Allan Hurst bowled Tim Wheatley two balls from the end, with the visitors at 170.Former Hampshire pair Lee Savident (79) and Matt Keech (77) led Portsmouth to a 45-run victory over South Wilts at Lower Bemerton.The ex-county duo shared a second-wicket stand of 140 – both eventually fell to Paul Draper (3-19) – as Portsmouth built a tidy 211-6.But South Wilts fell to pieces after early blows by the impressive Naqeeb Ali Mohammed (2-30) and Ben Nolan, and were out of the contest at 46-5.Richard Parker (58) launched a late rally as South Wilts closed at 162-9.

The Irish 14 man squad for the ICC trophy in Toronto has been announced. It is:

W.K.McCallan (Cliftonville) (Capt)

D.J.Curry (Limavady) (Vice Captain)

P.J.Davy (Pembroke)

M.D.Dwyer (The Hills)

R.L.Eagleson (Carrickfergus)

D.Heasley (Lisburn)

Dominick Joyce (Merrion)

E.C.Joyce (Dublin University/Merrion)

P.J.K.Mooney (North County)

A.G.A.M.McCoubrey (Ballymena)

J.A.M.Molins (Railway Union)

A.D.Patterson (Cliftonville)

M.W.Patterson (Cliftonville)

A.R.White (North Down)

Four Nominated Substitutes to be on stand by:

G.J.Neely (Donemana)

M.A.Gillespie (Strabane)

A.T.Rutherford (Brigade)

C. Armstrong (North County)

Coach: K.R.Rutherford (New Zealand)

After they received a sound thrashing at the hands of the Australians, the New Zealanders admitted that nothing had gone right for them on the day. Stephen Fleming, tired, disappointed and probably wondering how quickly things can change – one day defending champions and the next virtually knocked out – had a few things to say before he picked the pieces up and moved on to the next game.”We didn’t execute well enough and to beat Australia you have to execute in the right areas when you bowl and be thorough with your batting. The fielding was a bit lazy as well. In that sense, we were under par and to beat a side like Australia you probably have to exceed expectations. That didn’t happen today,” said the Kiwi skipper.Australian captain Ricky Ponting, for his part, explained how he never went into a match expecting to win so easily: “You never expect to bowl a side out for about 100. There was some sloppy fielding towards the end of the day but we took the initiative away from New Zealand very early on with some good aggressive opening batting. That laid the foundation and the other batsmen chipped in around them. I’m a bit disappointed that none of the top order batsmen went on to make a big score after they got starts, but all in all it was a very satisfying day for us.”The Australian bowling, while effective, was by no means unplayable on this wicket here at the Sinhalese Sports Club Grounds. Fleming agreed with this while conceding that the Aussies did get the basics right: “We probably made it look very good. They bowled a good line and length but it was still a good wicket to bat on. We probably fell a bit to the pressure as well. When there is a big score on the board you have to be aggressive and when you’re aggressive you push the limits. The limits were too far today and we lost wickets. We had no partnerships, we had no tempo and they dominated the game.”Much credit must go to Glenn McGrath and Jason Gillespie who bowled with fire and broke the back of the Kiwis. Ponting was effusive in his praise of the duo: “Jason and Glenn bowl very well every game they play. They’re two of the best fast bowlers in the world – that’s what the statistics and the other players will tell you. As a captain, it’s nice to have these two opening the bowling for you. They bowl in the right areas, keep the seam upright and if there’s anything in the wicket they usually get it out of it and that makes my job as captain easier.Man of the Match for his 5/37, McGrath, deflected his captain’s words of praise, saying there was no real secret to fast bowling: “I don’t bowl that quick and I don’t really do a great deal with the ball. What I do is land the ball pretty much where I want to. My accuracy is the key and a bit of bounce to go with it. I don’t think there’s any secret to fast bowling. No matter what pace you bowl at, if you can land the ball where you want – hitting the top of off – 99 times out of 100 then you will take wicket.”In the course of his performance, McGrath joined the club of bowlers who have taken 250 ODI wickets. The New South Welshman believes there’s a bit left in him yet.”I guess 250 was the landmark I wanted to reach. Obviously 300 is the next landmark. Let’s see how the body holds up, I want to play for another two or three years at least so hopefully there’s a few wickets left in me yet,” he said.Once again New Zealand have come into a tournament missing key players due to injury. None more so than Chris Cairns and Craig McMillan. Fleming said this was a worry but tried to look at the bright side of things: “The positive thing is that we’re developing players. This is the second biggest stage and the players are experiencing playing in big games. There a few cricketers back in New Zealand who will be back in the side for the World Cup like Chris Cairns and Craig McMillan. But come World Cup time we’ll have a bigger pool of players to choose from and some idea of how certain players perform under pressure.”And finally, one interesting if not terribly relevant aspect of New Zealand on the field, was their method of throwing from the deep. Even from the shorter boundaries the Kiwis were using a relay method, throwing the ball to man in the circle for him to fire in to the keeper. “We’re just trying new things, experimenting new ways to play the game. We want to know exactly what we want to do and how we want to do it when we hit the World Cup. There are other things we want to try and will do when we get the opportunity,” Fleming explained.

Somerset County Cricket Club have confirmed that Michael Burns will skipper the side next season and that West Indian fast bowler Nixon McLean has signed as their second overseas player for 2003.With regard to the appointment of the former Warwickshire all rounder to the captaincy Peter Anderson the Somerset chief executive told me: “I think the club accepted that probably we didn’t get it right in 2002 and swapping between Jamie Cox, Marcus Trescothick and Mike Burns was unsuccessful.”The Somerset boss continued: “Of course we tried to help Marcus to get captaincy experience because he wants to be the captain of England, which probably wasn’t in the club’s interest, but every cloud has a silver lining and Mike Burns pushed himself to the front when he had his chance. He is now a solid journeyman professional who knows the game inside out and has now been given his opportunity.”Regarding the signing of Nixon McLean, who had two seasons with Hampshire in the late 1990’s Mr Anderson told me: “In the light of our injury stricken season with fast bowlers the club decided that we had to sign a fast bowler as our second overseas player. Nixon McLean had an outstanding season for Natal in 2002 and good judges of players in South Africa tell us that he is now at the top of his game and he is a formidable strike bowler.”The chief continued: “When we first contacted him he said that he was excited at the prospect of filling Joel Garner’s size fifteen boots, even though he only takes size twelve, and asked us me to tell Andy Caddick that he (Nixon) would be bowling with the wind next season!”Mr Anderson expanded on the situation regarding Andy Caddick’s new England contract and looking forward to next season told me: “With Andrew getting a twelve month contract, and following an arduous winter tour to Australia and the 2003 World Cup in South Africa it may well be that he will be available for a large part of the season as England ring the changes.”He concluded: “An attack containing Caddick, McLean and Richard Johnson would be formidable and would strike the hearts of any opening batsman on the circuit.”

The Western Australian Cricket Association (WACA) is pleased to announce the following list of State Contracted Players for season 2002-03:

Player	Club	DOB
Jo Angel	Midland Guildford	22 April 1968
Ryan Campbell	Joondalup	7 February 1972
Sean Cary	Willetton	10 March 1971
Michael Clark	Subiaco-Floreat	31 March 1978
Murray Goodwin	Subiaco-Floreat	11 December 1972
Kade Harvey	Scarborough	7 October 1975
Brad Hogg	Willetton	6 February 1971
Stuart Karppinen	South Perth	13 June 1973
Shaun Marsh	Willetton	9 July 1983
Scott Meuleman	Melville	17 July 1980
Matt Nicholson	Scarborough	2 October 1974
Marcus North	Bayswater-Morley	28 July 1979
Chris Rogers	South Perth	31 August 1977
Luke Ronchi	Perth	23 April 1981
Adam Voges	Melville	4 October 1979
Darren Wates	South Perth	2 July 1977
Paul Wilson	TBA	12 December 1972
Rookies
Andrew James	Perth	2 February 1983
Craig Simmons	Rockingham-Mandurah	1 October 1982
Michael Thistle	Bayswater Morley	5 August 1980
ACB
Adam Gilchrist	Perth	14 November 1971
Mike Hussey	Wanneroo	27 May 1975
Justin Langer	Scarborough	21 November 1970
Damien Martyn	South Perth	21 October 1971
Brad Williams	Scarborough	20 November 1974

Paul WilsonPaul Wilson has been recruited to the Western Warriors from South Australia. The 30 year-old former Southern Redbacks pace-man has taken 125 wickets in 40 1st class games at an average of 29.79 and, 99 wickets from 52 limited overs matches at an average of 23.75 – economy rate of 4.05.Craig SimmonsCraig Simmons is the first Rockingham-Mandurah player to be awarded a State Contract. A promising opening batsman, Simmons was a key member of Australia s successful Youth World Cup team last season.From last season’s list of State Contracted Players, Rob Baker, Geoff Cullen, Brad Oldroyd, Gavin Swan, Peter Worthington and Rookie Beau Casson have so far not been offered a contract. Simon Katich has been listed with the NSW Blues.Luke Ronchi and Adam Voges have been up-graded from Rookie to Senior status.Additional ContractsOver the next few weeks the WACA will give consideration to the addition of up to 3 State Player Contracts and two Rookie Contracts.

Former England captain Michael Atherton has backed Mark Butcher to be the next captain of the national team. The present incumbent, Nasser Hussain, recently indicated that he intends to stay in the job for another year.Although Marcus Trescothick, 26, the current vice-captain, and Michael Vaughan, 27, have both been mentioned as likely candidates, Atherton believes they should extend their success as England’s opening batsmen while Butcher, 30, takes the reins.”It looks like it is out of those three and I think the bookies’ favourite isTrescothick. My own personal choice would be Mark Butcher, I just think he has got a good cricket brain,” said Atherton.The Surrey left-hander made a successful return to international cricket against Australia last summer, crowned by his memorable, match-winning 173 not out against Australia at Headingley. He currently averages 32.87 in Tests.”He’s in prime form, old enough to have seen some of the vagaries of the gameand experienced some of the ups and downs,” Atherton told a Sports Writers’Association lunch in central London. “I would like Trescothick and Vaughan to flourish at the top of the order. They should be left to concentrate on that.””Butch has been through a bad run of form and left out of the team, he’s seenthings outside of the game which have affected his life and he’s come through.”Atherton also believes that if Graham Thorpe is fit, focused and available, he should be included in the squad for this winter’s Ashes series in Australia.Thorpe, 33, is taking a break from all cricket to spend more time with his young children, but has been asked to tell the selectors whether he is available for the Australian tour this week.”He is still the best player in the team and the one the Australians rate themost,” said Atherton. “They think of him as being our only world-class player.If he is fit and half-focused he is not right, I think you take him if he isfully focused. If Graham is fit he is an automatic pick for the selectors.”Of Darren Gough, who is aiming to prove his complete recovery from a troublesome knee injury, Atherton said: “If he is anywhere near fit they can take him and rely on back-up from the academy. It will be good for him if he can get fully fit over the next month and I think the selectors will take a risk on him.”Although England lost 4-1 last summer when injuries undermined their challenge, Atherton believes their chances this winter are better.”I think we will do rather better than people expect, I’ve played under Duncan Fletcher and been very impressed by what he has done as coach. The team is definitely moving in the right direction.”Fletcher will begin talks about a new contract with the England and Wales Cricket Board next Monday.”I hold him in the highest regard and I hope the ECB can capture his servicesfor the foreseeable future,” said Atherton. “They should go with what Duncan Fletcher wants because he’s an extremely clear-sighted coach with a long-term vision. I think they should give him his hand and let him do what he wants, I amvery impressed by his handling of the team.”

Short of genuine class, the West Indies selectors have depended mainly on current form in choosing their squad for the first of five Tests in the Cable & Wireless Series against India, starting at Bourda in Guyana on Thursday.They have also deemed that age and previous record, two usual considerations, are luxuries that cannot be afforded at one of the most difficult periods in the history of West Indies cricket.The upshot is the recall of opening batsman Stuart Williams, 32, and wicket-keeper Junior Murray, 34, more than three years after their last Tests, on the 1998-99 tour of South Africa, and the inclusion of leg-spinner Mahendra Nagamootoo, whose previous two Tests were in England in August 2000 and in Australia in January 2001.Adam Sanford, the 25-year-old fast bowler who had played a solitary first-class match for the Windward Islands prior to the 2002 season, is the only newcomer in the 13 announced yesterday.He is the eleventh contender chosen in the past five years as the desperate search for worthy successors for Curtly Ambrose and Courtney Walsh continues.Like Williams, Murray and Nagamootoo, his choice is based on form in the recent Busta Cup, in which his swing and control snared 41 wickets for his adopted Leewards.A native of Dominica, he can claim to be the most authentic West Indian in the team as a descendant of the Carib Indians, one of the indigenous tribes Christopher Colombus encountered when he first landed in the New World.Merv Dillon, Marlon Black and the giant Cameron Cuffy are the other three fast bowlers in the squad and one is almost certain to be omitted.Williams, whose earlier 28 Tests brought him the moderate average of 24.26 and inevitable dismissal, reclaimed his place on the irrefutable evidence of statistics.His 974 runs in the Busta Cup, at an average of 97.40, were a record for the annual first-class tournament and included scores of 195 and 252 not out against Guyana, pertinently led by West Indies captain Carl Hooper.He replaced Daren Ganga, the 23-year-old Trinidadian who, like Williams before him, failed to make use of the several chances offered him by selectors seduced by his sound technique. He averages 20.85 from his 15 Tests all overseas in South Africa, New Zealand, Australia, Zimbabwe, Sri Lanka and Sharjah.Murray’s four hundreds in a weak Windward Islands batting team in the Busta were as much a factor in his return as his wicket-keeping.It is ironic that he comes back to resume a career of 31 Tests instead of Ridley Jacobs, who took over from him in the series in South Africa three years ago in a shuffling for the position that had also included David Williams and Courtney Browne.Jacobs, actually two months older than Murray, is dropped or the first time after 37 Tests. He previously commanded his place through reliable, if unspectacular, keeping and dogged left-handed batting at No. 7 that brought him the only West Indian hundred in last year’s home series against South Africa.The incessant grind of the modern game appeared to have taken its toll on Jacobs in the last two series in Sri Lanka and against Pakistan in Sharjah where his standards behind and in front of the stumps perceptibly waned.Nagamootoo is preferred as the leg-spinner in the squad to Dinanath Ramnarine, who held the spot for nine of the last 12 Tests.His record in this season’s Busta of becoming the first bowler to claim 50 wickets in the annual regional tournament was a powerful recommendation that could not be denied. His left-handed batting is a useful supplement.Ryan Hinds, the 20-year-old Barbadian left-hander who made an impressive debut in the two Tests in Sharjah in February, is retained as the youngest member of the squad.But, with an established middle-order boosted by the return of Brian Lara and Ramnaresh Sarwan, he may have to wait a while for another chance.Squad:Carl Hooper (captain), Chris Gayle, Stuart Williams, Ramnaresh Sarwan, Brian Lara, Shivnarine Chanderpaul, Ryan Hinds, Junior Murray, Mervyn Dillon, Cameron Cuffy, Adam Sanford, Marlon Black and Mahendra Nagamootoo.

Somerset finished the first day at Edgbaston 109 behind Warwickshire with seven wickets in hand, but will have to do without the services of strike bowler Richard Johnson for the rest of the match, after he left the field early on during the morning with a hamstring injury.After winning the toss Warwickshire batted first, and looked like being dismissed cheaply before Graham Wagg ( 42 not out) and Melvyn Betts (23) came to the rescue by putting on 65 for the ninth wicket to enable their team to reach 230 all out.The pick of the Somerset bowlers was Steffan Jones, who on his return to the championship scene ended with 4 for 46 from his 16.1 overs.The Cidermen’s reply got off to the worst possible of starts when Piran Holloway was dismissed without any score on the board, and six runs later his opening partner Matt Wood followed him back into the pavilion.Mike Burns and Peter Bowler then steadied the Somerset innings, sharing a third wicket partnership of 104 before the acting captain was bowled by Duggie Brown for 54.At the close of play Peter Bowler remained unbeaten on 54, with night watchman Steffan Jones yet to score as Somerset had reached 121 for 3 off 35 overs.Afterwards Kevin Shine told me: "It was a good effort from all of the boys today, especially after losing one of our big guns early on. Steffan bowled well today, but I’m pleased with them all, they all knuckled down well after losing Johnno."He continued: "When we batted Mike Burns and Peter Bowler shared an important partnership to put us in a good position, and tomorrow we will be looking to get a lead."