After making heavy weather of a target of 172 off50 overs, Tamil Nadu managed to edge past Andhraby two wickets in their South Zone Ranji One-Dayencounter at the CPT-India Pistons Ground atChennai. On winning the toss, Andhra skipper ASPathak elected to bat first on a slow wicket. Thisturned out to be a good decision for the skipper,but not necessarily so for the team. Opening theinnings for the visiting side, Pathak made asteady 80 (100 balls, 9 fours) before he was runout by substitute fielder R Satish.Unfortunately there was no serious support forPathak other than a innings of 32 from FaiyazAhmed. With seven batsmen failing to make it todouble figures, Andhra slumped to 171 all out in49.2 overs. Chasing a target of 172 should nothave been a tall order for the Tamil Nadu side.However, they have not been in the best of battingform in the tournament and this hampered them.Free stroking southpaw Sridharan Sharath openedthe innings and looked to get his eye in. After hewas well set he began to open up, driving the ballwell square of the wicket. After making anenterprising 47, he departed, falling tooffspinner Vatekar. The middle order failed yetagain and a mini collapse was at hand. At 114 for6, it looked like Andhra would pull off an upsetvictory.Aashish Kapoor and Thirunavukarasu Kumaran ensuredthat this did not happen. Batting sensibly, Kapoormanaged 19 from 26 balls before being trapped legbefore wicket by Vatekar. At this stage Tamil Naduwere 144 for 8 and there was still a bit of workto be done. Kumaran mixed a cautious straight batwith several well placed heaves and Tamil Naduwere nearly home. A frantically scampered leg byeoff the third ball of the last over took the homeside to victory by just two wickets.Tamil Nadu take on an inform Hyderabad tomorrow,and will have to do much better if they want tocome out of the game with a positive result.

As a wave of fanfare and a splash of headlines has made clear in recent weeks, it will soon be that Australian cricket has its first million dollar player. Within such a context, it has been easy to lose sight of the unprecedented opportunities also being created for cricketers at the other end of the spectrum.In the elevation of young wicketkeeper-batsman Tim Paine to Tasmania’s new list of contracted players for the 2001-02 domestic season, though, there can’t be too much room for misunderstanding.At his tender age of 16 years and 188 days, Paine’s stunning emergence is significant for a number of reasons.And not simply because he has just become Australian cricket’s youngest ever contracted player; younger, certainly, than new state teammate and personal idol Ricky Ponting was when he made his domestic debut all those years ago in 1992-93 as a prodigious teenage talent himself. Younger, also, by six months than South Australia’s Mark Cosgrove, a fellow newcomer to a state list for 2001-02. Younger by five months even than Western Australia’s Shaun Marsh was when he was offered a contract with the Warriors at this time last year.In short, Paine’s acceptance of a so-called ‘rookie contract’ with the Tigers is also significant in that it is symbolic.Although talk might still rage about the ageing complexion of the current national squad, attention these days is increasingly being paid to the development of genuine cricketing career-paths for Australia’s aspiring young players. Introduced as part of the recently-signed Memorandum of Understanding between the Australian Cricket Board and the Australian Cricketers’ Association, the sort of deal to which Paine has been tied provides evidence of the latest innovation in such thinking.”It’s all going to be a really good experience, I think,” says Paine of the chance not only to join the Tigers’ inner sanctum but to become one of the first players in the country to accept an agreement of this type.Potentially available to as many as thirty players in total across the country, the advent of the rookie contract scheme has been aimed at reducing the gap between junior and domestic cricket and at making the transition between the two arenas less daunting. It not only permits each of the six state associations the chance to recruit, retain, and financially assist five previously-unsigned players under the age of 23. As such, it also supplies incentives to cricketers who might not otherwise have received the opportunity to train with, and/or form part of, their state’s first-class squad.”These new contracts are a great idea; I’m pretty happy about them anyway!” adds Paine.”It’s good to give young players something (along these lines) to show them that they’re in the back of the minds of the administrators and the coaches.”The sort of opportunities that await Paine – now that he has been handpicked as one of at least two Tasmanian youngsters worthy of such encouragement for at least the next twelve months – have simply never been available before.He is not expected to become a serious challenger for selection in the state team for some time yet. He also potentially faces the enduring curse for wicketkeepers of having to bide his time behind another player – in this case Sean Clingeleffer, a similarly accomplished young gloveman who currently occupies the post.But even to a talented and versatile young athlete with a passion for, and a noteworthy pedigree in, at least one other sport, it means that a long and successful career in cricket has now become the central focus of his sporting ambitions.Where a burgeoning career as a hard-running half-forward flanker in Australian Rules Football might have lured others away previously, this early investment of faith from cricket administrators seems set to be a decisive catalyst in settling the issue.The nephew of Robert Shaw (a well-known figure in Australian Football League circles as the current assistant coach at reigning premier Essendon and former senior coach at fellow league clubs Adelaide and Fitzroy) has seen enough of what cricket can potentially offer him to know where his future lies.”Cricket would have been a pretty important priority still without the contract, but definitely not as important as it is now. I’ve pretty much got to train now all the time so it’s taking over from footy from here on in. My attention is on cricket.”In truth, it won’t really be possible to make worthwhile judgements about the effectiveness of the new system until much further down the track. And, on basic retainers of $A10,000, players like Paine still remain a long way away on the pay scale from those of their countrymen whose salaries are soon expected to traverse the seven figure mark. But, even this early, he is proof positive of its potential utility.

Hampshire Hawks welcome back Alan Mullally from England duties, for the Norwich Union National League match against Durham Dynamos at West End on Sunday.Derek Kenway again takes over the wicket-keeping duties, with Jason Laney replacing Giles White from the successful CricInfo championship side, and James Hamblin for Alex Morris.The eleven: Jason Laney, Neil Johnson, Dimitri Mascarenhas, Derek Kenway, Robin Smith, Will Kendall, Lawrence Prittipaul, Shaun Udal, Chris Tremlett, James Hamblin, Alan Mullally.

Durham’s bowlers earned their side a decisive advantage at the end of the first day, making a mockery of Hampshire’s choice to bat first. Danny Law produced the best bowling performance of his career, six for 53 while Nicky Hatch on his debut took two top order wickets in three balls.Hatch, a 6 ft 8 inch understudy for the injured Steve Harmison, dismissed Derek Kenway and Will Kendall in his fourth over and Hampshire were never completely in control again.Law dismissed Neil Johnson and Lawrence Prittipaul just before lunch and, getting bounce from a helpful but by no means unreliable wicket, caused more havoc afterwards by removing Giles White, who took two-and-a-half-hours over his 41, and Shaun Udal. Hampshire were 149 for eight before there was any semblance of a revival which came belatedly in the shape of a stand of 92 for the ninth-wicket between Adrian Aymes and Alex Morris. Morris hit 12 fours in his 59 and Aymes made 41 before they were both out to the persevering Law.All out for 246, Hampshire had no respite as Jon Lewis and Michael Gough put on 55 for the first Durham wicket and Lewis and Martin Love carried on to take Durham to a cosy 113 for one at the close, 133 behind. Hatch’s big day ended with figures of two for 55 incidentally.

In an upset result, West Indies overturned the form book to record a16-run victory over India on Saturday to win the Coca-Cola Cup finalat the Harare Sports Club, after twice losing to the same oppositionin the preliminary round.The weather (and the media facilities, as is usual until the new mediacentre is finally built) failed to match the occasion. It wasunusually overcast and therefore very cold, like an English countymatch in April.The pitch was good for batting, giving only a little early help to theseamers, and it took a fair degree of spin. However, Sourav Gangulywas happy to put West Indies in to bat on winning the toss for India.West Indies, in Wednesday’s `preview’ of the final, had made a solidstart that had proved to be too slow. They were determined it wouldnot happen again. Daren Ganga and Chris Gayle began with positivestrokeplay and had 33 on the board after five overs, mostly offDebashish Mohanty, who went for 26 in his first three-over spell.The Indian bowlers and fielders showed signs of stress under theunexpected pressure as the fifty came up in the eighth over. HarbhajanSingh was brought on to bowl the tenth over and succeeded in putting abrake on the scoring rate. Runs still cascaded from the other end, asthe batsmen matched each other with superb driving in particular, andran well between wickets. These first ten overs were the decisiveperiod of the match, as the West Indian openers gave them an advantageand impetus that they never lost.Harbhajan finally broke through as Gayle (43 off 45 balls) holed outto long-off in the 14th over, having put on 86 with Ganga, who in thefollowing over hit Virender Shewag over his head for four to reach 50off only 40 balls. He eventually holed out at deep midwicket off Sodhifor 71 off 62 balls. Carl Hooper came in next, but Wavell Hinds becamebogged down against the spinners and hit a return catch to Sodhi for10.Two new batsmen in Hooper and Shivnarine Chanderpaul had to settle in,but then they got the board moving again, not so much with thepowerful boundaries of their opening pair but more through skilfulplacement for ones and twos. Hooper ran to his fifty off 46 balls, andChanderpaul soon followed before being yorked by Nehra for exactly 50.The pair had added 108 and West Indies were 238 for four in the 43rdover.The aim was no doubt for 300, but Hooper (66 off 63 balls) skiedZaheer Khan to mid-off, which put that difficult target just out ofreach. Ramnaresh Sarwan made 16, Ridley Jacobs 26 not out, and WestIndies finished with 290 for six.Only spinners Harbhajan (35 runs conceded off 10 overs) and Sodhi (31off 7) escaped serious punishment and India faced a mammoth task towin the Cup the form book said should be theirs. But with SachinTendulkar in their ranks, it could be done.However, India’s hopes soon received a crushing blow. Tendulkar,suffering apparently from stomach trouble, had not scored when hetried to pull Corey Collymore in the third over and skied a catch tomidwicket.Ganguly however seemed quite to have regained his form, scoring 22 ofthe first 24 on the board and playing some daring shots, especiallyover the covers, against the pace bowlers. However, when he had 28 hetried to swing Collymore across the line, to be trapped lbw, and Indiawere 35 for two in the ninth over.Heavy responsibility now devolved upon VVS Laxman, returned frominjury, and Rahul Dravid. Laxman (18) was just settling in and lookinggood when he pulled to square leg to give Collymore his third wicket,and at 58 for three in the 13th over, India were staring defeat in theface.Dravid, undaunted, played some fine strokes, but Shewag (2) alsoflicked a catch to midwicket, this time off Dillon. Then came thefinal blow as Dravid (30) played back to Reon King and played the ballon to his stumps via the inside edge. At 80 for five with all theirfront-line batsmen back in the pavilion, India were to all effectsdead and buried.Sodhi and Sameer Dighe did their best to ensure India would lose withhonour, as they shared an aggressive partnership of 101 beforeCollymore returned to have Sodhi caught at long-on for 67 off 76balls. Gayle bowled Harbhajan (12), going for a big hit, and Khan (0)with successive balls, but Dighe continued to blaze away, hittingparticularly powerfully to leg.But 25 were needed off the final over and it was just too much, withthe heroic Dighe finishing unbeaten with 94, assisted perhapsunexpectedly by Mohanty (18 not out). Collymore finished with four for49. Although India were never quite there after the loss of theirfirst five, it was great entertainment to the last ball.

Mark Ramprakash was delighted with his role in the partnership with Mark Butcher on the third day of the Second npower Test at Lord’s. But the Surrey batsman also admitted to feelings of frustration that he was unable to convert his promising innings into a century for England.”It was nice to bat with ‘Butch’, we kept the singles going,” he said. “It was very important to have a partnership and we need a few more. Every batsman that comes to Lord’s wants to score a hundred. That was my disappointment today. At this level if you get to 30 or 40 you want to cash in. I’d got in and it was a good opportunity to push on and get a good score for the side.”We are not too unhappy with the situation. I’m happy for Mark. He was very composed. We’ve got some batting to come. I think with the ball 50 overs old and the pitch playing pretty well, we’ll be looking to build on the score and get a lead.”And on the 20th anniversary of England’s most remarkable win over Australia (Headingley 1981 when Botham and Willis combined to snatch victory after England followed on. By strange coincidence Australia’s first innings total in this match, 401, is the same as in that game), Ramprakash believes that an England victory is still not out of the question.”We’ve seen Australia lose games chasing about 180 at Melbourne and also about 120 at The Oval in 1997,” Ramprakash pointed out. “We certainly know they have a history of not scoring those kind of totals.”It will be interesting to see if uneven bounce does come along, whether the cracks will open up in the pitch. Anything over 150 is something that we would like to see.”Australian hero, Adam Gilchrist, admitted that he’d benefited from some lapses in England’s fielding on the way to his 90.”I certainly had my fair share of chances, and it was one of the more fortunate innings that I’ve had, but there’s nothing I can do about that so I’ve got to face up to the next ball,” he reasoned. “It was disappointing to miss out on a Lord’s century, it would have been a nice memory but I was pretty fortunate to get past 13.”England’s bowlers came in and tried really hard. ‘Goughy’ threw everything at us, he could easily have snapped me up with his first ball. They are showing a lot of aggression but things didn’t quite go their way, I guess, with the catching.”Gilchrist was generous in praise of Butcher and Ramprakash, but believed that Australia are still well placed and pointed to Shane Warne as the potential match-winner tomorrow.”Mark Butcher applied himself well, Mark Ramprakash played well but you’ve got to expect that in Test cricket. In previous innings, we’ve had them one for a hundred but we’ve got through them. They’ve played well but we’ve still done enough to be in a strong position. But we’ve been in these positions before and had a tough battle.”It’s a wicket where if you get yourself in you can play a few shots and the runs will come,” Gilchrist continued. “Jason Gillespie has looked threatening all the time, and Brett Lee showed some old form, good pace, good aggression but I guess Shane Warne is going to come into play because he’s turning it a lot. There’s some good rough there.”We’ve built up some good pressure, we haven’t really let them get away with anything. We’ve taken four wickets, and we haven’t let them dominate us.”

Thanks to Stuart Law and James Foster Essex ended an abbreviated first day of their CricInfo Championship clash against Glamorgan atSophia Gardens in much better sorts than they had started it.Glamorgan’s seam battery had reduced Essex to 55-4 inside 22 overs despite Ronnie Irani winning the toss but by the close with 20.1 overs lost to bad light the bottom-placed side in Division One had recovered to 242-7.Law and Foster set about the repairs putting on 119 in 36 overs before the Queenslander perished to a slower ball from Darren Thomas nine short of what would have been his fifth first-class century of the season.Although Foster lost Law and subsequently Graham Napier, the Essex wicketkeeper carried on his rearguard action despite being dropped on 18, as Essex reached 212-6 at tea. But he perished six overs after the interval to leave Essex 224-7.Steve Watkin did the early damage on a pitch that looked a little damp before the start.Watkin struck with the third ball of the match finding the inside edge of Darren Robinson’s bat, which had helped the Essex opener to centuries in both innings against Leicestershire.From 0-1 Essex soon found themselves 16-2 10 overs later as Watkin struck again to have Stephen Peters caught behind.Andrew Davies earned Glamorgan an early bowling point when his fourth ball bowled Paul Grayson and a poor morning for the bottom-placed side was completed when Darren Thomas got a ball to rise off a length whichRonnie Irani gloved to third slip.

A logistical headache in the lead-up to the New Zealand tour of Pakistan appears to have been solved should New Zealand A make the final of the Coromandel King Moin-ud-Dowlah Gold Cup in Hyderabad.New Zealand’s tour of Pakistan opens with a warm-up game on Sunday and three of four members of the NZ A team need to be in Karachi on Saturday. The A players who have been selected for the One-Day International series against Pakistan are: Chris Nevin, Jacob Oram, Glen Sulzberger and Lou Vincent.If the NZ A side loses its quarter-final game tonight, or a semi-final game on Friday, there will be no problem.To cover the eventuality of NZ A making the final, Test selection Chris Martin will fly to India on Friday morning. That would see him arrive on Saturday for the Sunday match.If NZ play the semi-final and lose, Martin will carry on to Pakistan arriving before other members of the Test side but having the chance to practice with the ODI side.New Zealand Cricket’s operations manager John Reid said the NZA team had been told that NZC did not want to pull them out of their tournament to solve the logistical problems. They had done so well NZC wanted to see them continue.”We are flying Test player Chris Martin to India which will give the A team 11 players and the CLEAR Black Caps 12 players for their first warm-up game, as captain Stephen Fleming does not finish his Middlesex commitments until the weekend,” Reid said.”The priority for us has to be the Black Caps.”Of the players who would go to Pakistan, Reid said Nevin had to be one as he is the wicket-keeper and it was likely that Vincent would remain in India because he could also keep wickets.”It is probably not the solution they want but it is the practical solution to a practical problem,” Reid said.

The VCA have announced the following Under-17s squad for 2001/2:

• Rhys Adams (Hawthorn-Monash University)
• James Allan (Geelong)
• Nathan Allen (Gippsland)
• Scott Anderson (Gippsland)
• Lincoln Blake (Central Highlands)
• Ashley Brown (Northcote)
• Mich Buchanan (Geelong)
• Peter Buszard (Richmond)
• Phil Carroll (Richmond)
• Lachlan Crawford (Geelong)
• Tom Evans (Camberwell Magpies)
• Dean Gunawardana (Prahran)
• Adam Hardy (Camberwell Magpies)
• Matthew Harrison (Geelong)
• Matt Hurley (Gippsland)
• Jack Joslin (Footscray-Victoria University)
• Chris Lee (Central Highlands)
• Ben MacRae (Melbourne)
• Aaron Mato (Essendon)
• Peter Nevill (Melbourne)
• Timothy O’Brien (Footscray-Victoria University)
• Brian O’Carroll (Frankston Peninsula)
• James Pearson (Camberwell Magpies)
• Scott Sanders (Central Highlands)
• Kane Shaw (Richmond)
• Peter Siddle (Dandenong)

Thirteen players will be selected to represent Victoria in the Australian Under-17s Championships to be held in Melbourne on 4-15 January 2002

Indian selectors on Tuesday named the 16-man squad for the three-match Test series against South Africa. Zaheer Khan and Ashish Nehra, who were both found to be fit in the morning, were included. So also were Baroda opener Connor Williams and wicket-keeper Sameer Dighe.Deep Dasgupta, the young wicket-keeper whose performance in the one-dayers had reportedly not pleased the team-management , has also been surprisingly retained. Virender Sehwag was the other player making it to an Indian Test squad for the first time.The squad:Saurav Ganguly (captain), Rahul Dravid (vice-captain), Shiv Sunder Das, Connor Williams, Sachin Tendulkar, V V S Laxman, Virender Sehwag, Sameer Dighe and Deep Dasgupta (wicket-keepers), Harbhajan Singh, Anil Kumble, Ajit Agarkar, Venkatesh Prasad, Zaheer Khan, Ashish Nehra and Javagal Srinath