Rafique to retire after South Africa series

Mohammad Rafique will call time on his career after the home series against South Africa © AFP

Mohammad Rafique, the veteran left-arm spinner, has informed the Bangladesh selectors that the upcoming home series against South Africa will be the final leg of his 13-year stint with the national squad.”Rafique is our most experienced spinner. We have recalled him [after he missed out of the New Zealand series] because our chances of winning the series depend on him,” Bangladesh chief selector Rafiqul Alam told AFP, adding that Rafique told him about the his decision to retire.Rafique, who is Bangladesh’s highest wicket-taker in Tests and ODIs with 94 and 119 wickets respectively, is aiming to sign off by becoming the first bowler from his country to take 100 Test wickets.He made his ODI debut against India in Sharjah in April 1995, and played in Bangladesh’s inaugural Test in November 2000, also against India, and was their most economical bowler with figures of 3 for 117 in 51 overs. Rafique played starring roles in Bangladesh’s first ODI and Test wins: against Kenya in 1999 he followed three wickets with 77 as opener and, against Zimbabwe in early 2005, he claimed figures of 5 for 65.An aggressive lower-order batsman, Rafique has scored 1035 at 19.52 in his 31 Tests, his only century coming while batting at No. 9 against West Indies in St. Lucia, when he helped Bangladesh claim a vital first-innings lead.In the one-day format, Rafique has scored 1191 runs at 13.38, and is the first Bangladesh player to achieve the 1000 runs and 100 wickets double in ODIs.

Symonds and Voges shoot into Test squad

Adam Voges has had a strong start to the season for Western Australia © Getty Images

On a day of shocks for Australian cricket the selectors produced two more by picking Andrew Symonds and Adam Voges, a Western Australia batsman, in the 13-man squad for the third Test starting on Thursday. Damien Martyn began the rash of surprises by retiring and the decision was followed by Cricket Australia insisting he was part of the original outfit for Perth.While a “flabbergasted” Symonds was an outsider, Voges was not even on the radar until Martyn walked away. Voges, a hard-hitting 27-year-old, was chosen ahead of the injured Brad Hodge and Phil Jaques, Chris Rogers and Marcus North. He did not know the news until tapped on the shoulder during the game against the England XI at Lilac Hill. Told to leave the field, he thought he was in trouble until he took the call from Michael Brown, Cricket Australia’s operations manager.”This was not an easy decision as there are many players pushing for selection, which augers well for the future,” Andrew Hilditch, the chairman of selectors, said. “His inclusion in the squad is a just reward for his efforts to date.” Voges has impressed during his time at the Centre of Excellence in the off-season and he started the summer strongly for Western Australia, but he was dropped last month when the state’s internationals returned to face Queensland.The Symonds Test experiment appeared to have ended after the South Africa tour when he was dumped for the Bangladesh series in April, but the aging attack’s need for assistance has provided an opening. Shane Watson, the injured allrounder, was the first choice for the spot and Symonds has a chance to add to his 10 Tests and contribute with his mix of medium pace, offspin and aggressive batting.”I was flabbergasted when I got the call,” Symonds said. “I thought I was a million to one to play this series, especially when they went for Pup [Michael Clarke] when Watto was ruled out. I dug out my baggy green the other day when I was moving some stuff around and wondered if I would ever put it on my head again. That’s still up in the air but I’m obviously a fair bit closer to that moment than I thought I was.”Hilditch said there was some uncertainty over the conditions at the WACA and the pitch would be assessed closely before the XI was named. Perth’s previously quick surface has become more batsman friendly and a cap for Symonds is more likely than a debut for Voges, who will gain useful experience in the squad ahead of the one-day section of the summer.Voges has scored two Pura Cup centuries this season, including a high of 152 against Tasmania, and has 320 runs at 53.06. In the one-day competition – he owns the record for the fastest century after his 62-ball effort in 2004-05 – he has picked up 233 runs at 46.60 and posted two half-centuries. Shaun Tait has been dropped from the squad while Mitchell Johnson, the 12th man for the first two Tests, has retained his spot.Australia squad Justin Langer, Matthew Hayden, Ricky Ponting (capt), Michael Clarke, Michael Hussey, Andrew Symonds, Adam Voges, Adam Gilchrist (wk), Shane Warne, Brett Lee, Stuart Clark, Glenn McGrath, Mitchell Johnson.

Caddick hopeful of swift return

Andrew Caddick has been forced to sit out Somerset’s first Championship match © Getty Images
 

Somerset are confident that Andrew Caddick’s back injury, which has kept him out of the Championship match against Lancashire, is not linked to the surgery he had last Christmas. He has been diagnosed with a muscle tear and is aiming to return for Somerset’s match against Hampshire on May 7.Caddick limped off midway through his fifth over in the second innings against Cambridge University last week and the initial fears were that it could be another serious problem. He had an operation on Christmas Eve to correct a disc problem, but Caddick is hopeful of a swift return this time.”I had a cortisone injection in my back under sedation in Musgrove on Saturday and things seem to have settled down,” Caddick told the Somerset website. “I am now having a lot of physiotherapy and hoping to start bowling again next week. Obviously we are being cautious but I am hoping to be fit to play against Hampshire the week after next.”Brian Rose, the club’s director of cricket said: “Caddy has got a slight muscle tear in his upper back which is not as serious as we thought at first. We don’t think it is linked to the operation and believe it is a separate issue.”Caddick took 70 Championship wickets in 2007 to spearhead Somerset’s promotion push and his new-ball partnership with Charl Willoughby was set to be one of the team’s key weapons this season.

An eventful stroll

Inzamam-ul-Haq acknowledges the applause after his last ODI innings © AFP

1989

January 13-14, Karachi
Scores 201 not out on a greentop for United Bank Limited in the Quaid-e-Azam Trophy. Haroon Rashid, the former Pakistan batsman and coach, considers it the best innings he has ever seen.

1989-90

Finishes the season with 1645 runs at an average of 60.92, with six centuries and as many fifties in 21 matches.

1991

November 22, Lahore
Has to contend with a fiery line-up of Curtly Ambrose, Ian Bishop, Malcolm Marshall and Patrick Patterson on his ODI debut. Manages 20 before being bowled by Marshall. The game turns out to be a thriller and ends in a tie.

1992

January 17, Multan
Scores his first ODI hundred – a 101 – in alosing cause against Sri Lanka. Follows up with a century in the next game, as Pakistan thump Sri Lanka by 117 runs in Rawalpindi to take the series 4-1.March, Australia-New Zealand
World Cup heroics. His volcanic 60 at Auckland in the semi-final against New Zealand separates the two teams. Later, a thrilling 42 in the final proves crucial in Pakistan’s dream triumph.June 4, Birmingham
Test debut. Not much batting for Inzamam in a high-scoring draw against England.

1993

May 2-4, St John’s, Antigua1993
Another high-scoring draw, but Inzamam manages to notch up his maiden Test century, despite having to shepherd the tail for much of his innings.

1994

April 20, Sharjah
Partners a world record. A monstrous stand with Aamir Sohail takes New Zealand to the cleaners. They add 263 for the second wicket, at the time a record ODI partnership for any wicket, with Sohail belting 134 and Inzamam 137.October 2, Karachi
Stars in a cliffhanger. Not many nails are left at the end of this one as Inzamam and Mushtaq Ahmed engineer a minor miracle against Australia. From 258 for 9, Pakistan manage to surmount the target of 315 and go one-up in the series. Ian Healy misses a stumping when three runs are needed and Pakistan prevail in one of the closest finishes of all.

En route to the triple at Lahore © Getty Images

1996

July 25-29, Lord’s
On the opening day of a series against England at Lord’s, Inzamam walks in at 12 for 2 and revives the innings before stamping his authority with a magnificent 148. He tightens the noose in the second innings with 70 more as Pakistan wrap the match by a 164-run margin.

1997

September, Toronto
After being endlessly mocked by a spectator through a megaphone, about his nickname “Aloo” (potato) and his religion, Inzamam finally snaps. Armed with a bat, he wades into the stands and thumps his tormenter. Fortunately, the crowd and security staff prevent him from landing any telling blows, but it is 40minutes before play can resume amid the chaotic scenes. He is subsequently banned for two matches.

1999

March 12-14, Dhaka
His first Test double-hundred comes in the final of the Asian Test Championship against Sri Lanka. Ijaz Ahmed joins in the run-glut and Pakistan sail to the title.November 18-22, Hobart
His only century against Australia comes in a losing cause, but it is made with the match very much in the balance. Australia have managed only a slender lead and he consolidates Pakistan’s position with a controlled 118. It almost turns into a series-levelling knock until Justin Langer and Adam Gilchrist begin their daylight robbery.

2000

Aggregates 1000 runs in both Tests and ODIs in the calendar year. Scores 1090 runs in 12 Tests, including four hundreds and six fifties at an average of 60.56; in 34one-dayers, it was 1074 runs with a lone hundred and nine fifties at an average of 42.96.

2001

May31-June 4, Manchester
With the series in the balance and Darren Gough, Andy Caddickand Matthew Hoggard swinging it on the first morning, Inzamam responds with a rattling 114. A tenacious 85 in the second innings sets the game up, as Saqlain Mushtaq and friends take eight wickets in the final session to seal the series-levelling win.

Escaping in style: At Multan, saving Pakistan the blushes against Bangladesh © AFP

2002

May 1-2, Lahore
The triple. For nearly two days, New Zealand have no respite in the searing heat and are clobbered to all corners of the Gaddafi Stadium. Inzamam’s 329 is the second-highest score by a Pakistan batsman, behind Hanif Mohammad’s 337, and the tenth-highest score in Test history.

2003

March, South Africa
Has a miserable World Cup. Scores 19 runs in six innings in Pakistan’s shambolic World Cup performance. Perhaps the 23 pounds he lost in the run-up to the tournament reduced his appetite for runs. Is one of many who are dropped in the aftermath.September 3-6, Multan
The jailbreak. Chasing 261 in the final Test against Bangladesh, Pakistan are 205 for 8 and in danger of giving Bangladesh their first Test win. Inzamam has none of it, however, and with sizeable help from Nos 10 and 11, inches them past the line.October 24-28, Faisalabad
In his first Test as captain, his calm presence on the final day earns Pakistan a nervy draw against South Africa.

2004

March 13, Karachi
In a coruscating display of mind-blowing strokeplay, Inzamam nearly makes the impossible happen against India. No team had successfully chased down 350 in an ODI at the time, but his 122 off 102 balls is like a divine bolt that landed in Karachi. Pakistan fall just short, but it is undoubtedly the innings of the series, maybe even the best of his career. However, Inzamam’s team is unable from preventing India from clinching victory in both Tests and ODIs.July
Spat with Shoaib Akhtar comes out in the open. Differences between the two emerge after the loss at home to India, where Shoaib limps out of the Test series with an injury.September, EnglandLeads Pakistan to the semi-final of the ICC Champions Trophy, where a puzzling decision to bat first – akin to Wasim Akram’s decision in the 1999 World Cup final – sees his side crumbling to 131 (132 in 1999), chased by West Indies with seven wickets to spare.

2005

January, Australia
Misses two of the three Tests, as Pakistan are trounced 3-0.March 24-28, Bangalore
Makes a stellar 184 in his 100th Test as Pakistan level the series 1-1 in the final Test. In the one-dayers that follow, Pakistan win 4-2, with Inzamam topping the averages for Pakistan.

Facing up to Comrade Shoaib at the nets © AFP

August
Captains Asia XI in the inaugural Afro-Asian Cup.October
Is named in both World Test and ODI XI of the year. Surprisingly though, isn’t picked for the teams to play Australia in the Super Series. However, he finally does play in the Super Test, being named as a replacement for Sachin Tendulkar. That too isn’t without drama, as he refuses initially, still angry at the snub in the first place.November 20-24, Faisalabad
In the second Test against the visiting Englishmen, an umpiring gaffe sees Inzamam declared run-out for 109 as he tries to evade a throw aimed at the stumps by Steve Harmison on his follow-through. Inzamam moves out of the way, but is caught short when the ball thuds into the stumps. Since Inzamam is not attempting a run, there is no way he can be given out. Inzamam’s 109 in Pakistan’s first innings equals Javed Miandad’s Pakistan record of 23 Test centuries, and he goes better in the very next innings with an unbeaten 100.Pakistan win the series 2-0. With 431 runs at 107.75, he is the Man of the Series. Also completes 1000 Test runs in a calendar year for the second time in his career.

2006

August-September, England
Inzamam is at the centre of perhaps the most controversial episode in the history of the game. The first forfeiture in Test cricket takes place on August 20, after Inzamam and his team refuse to take the field after tea on the fourth day at The Oval. The spark that starts it off is the decision of the umpires – Billy Doctrove and Darrell Hair – to give five penalty runs to England after the 56th over as they feel the ball has been tampered with by the Pakistan players. The ball is changed, but it is only after a while at tea that the Pakistan players decide to protest by staying in the dressing room. Finally, when the players decide do step out, the umpires stay put, and going by the rulebook they deem Pakistan to have forfeited the match. Pakistan are later cleared of the charges, but Inzamam is handed a four-match ban, that rules him out of the ICC Champions Trophy in India. Pakistan lose the series in England 3-0.

2007

March 17, Jamaica
For the second time in succession, Pakistan are knocked out of the World Cup in the first round. Ireland pull off the upset of the tournament on St. Patrick’s Day, and Inzamam’s future at the helm looks in imminent danger.March 18
Announces retirement from ODIs and steps down from Test captaincy on the same day that Bob Woolmer, Pakistan’s coach, tragically collapses and dies at the team hotel.August
Joins ICL, along with team-mates Mohammad Yousuf, Imran Farhat and Abdur Razzaq. Inzamam’s decision comes after he is not offered a central contract by the PCB in July.October
Is selected for the second Test against South Africa in Lahore, which is his farewell Test. Scores 14 and 3, falling two short of Javed Miandad’s record for the highest Test aggregate by a Pakistan batsman. Ends with 8830 runs in 120 Tests, falling 60 runs short of a career average of 50.

Klusener offers olive branch to Smith

Despite threatening to sue the United Cricket Board of South Africa for unfair dismissal, Lance Klusener has attempted to build bridges with South Africa’s captain Graeme Smith, by offering his services if Jacques Kallis chooses not to rejoin the current tour of England.Klusener, 31, was dropped from South Africa’s squad after the World Cup, and was branded “disruptive” by Smith in a breakfast interview. His threat of legal action is based on his loss of earnings, as Klusener has claimed he turned down offers of work with English counties after being assured he would be included in the Test squad.But now, with South Africa waiting for Kallis to decide whether he wants to continue playing so soon after the death of his father, Klusener has offered himself up as a potential replacement. “I would like the captain to know that if he has a problem on this tour I am available to step into the breach if wanted,” Klusener told the Mail on Sunday, "with my boots already packed.”I care passionately about South African cricket and the team," added Klusener, a veteran of 48 Tests and 154 one-day internationals. “I will admit that I am reserved and unwilling to stand up and address a room full of people. There is no dark side to my character I need to hide."”I’d like nothing better than to be given the chance to share a beer with Graeme [Smith] and discuss the future. What is so sad is that he has made statements about me without even knowing me properly. But I bear no grudges and I would like to explain to him how I think we could still work together for the team’s benefit.”

Magnificent Hussey inspires Chennai win


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

Michael Hussey clobbered an unbeaten 114 as the Chennai Super Kings piled on a massive total (file photo) © Getty Images
 

A pair of Australians, in what was more KFC Twenty20 action than IPL, treated a buzzing Mohali crowd to a run-filled Saturday clash as the bandwagon moved north. Unfortunately for Kings XI Punjab, James Hopes’ 32-ball 71 couldn’t overhaul a massive total of 240, while the Chennai Super Kings had their Western Australia specialist Michael Hussey to thank for a massive total. His scintillating unbeaten 116, another superb exhibition for this juiced-up format, left Punjab a mountain to climb and with Yuvraj Singh dethroned early they could muster only 207 for 4.”We’ll just have to put runs on the board and pressure on Yuvraj,” was Mahendra Singh Dhoni’s reason for batting first on what looked a dry pitch and 20 overs later his team had reason to feel confident. Walking in at No. 3 after Brett Lee’s pace and bounce accounted for Parthiv Patel, Hussey looked on as Matthew Hayden’s cameo came to end. Then Dhoni, the most expensive player in the IPL, flopped for 1, though replays suggested an inside-edge on to pad. But Hussey, preferred to Stephen Fleming today, was immediately dancing down to hit Lee through extra cover and past midwicket.His cool head and ability to put away the average deliveries kept runs ticking over on a speedy outfield and his handling of the slow bowlers was superb. Piyush Chawla wasn’t allowed to settle, his first ball sailing over mid-on for six, and Suresh Raina took a cue with a pull over the boundary and a lovely straight-driven four. The Hussey-Raina stand, a blend of soft-handed pushes and some crowd-pleasing pulls, yielded 66 in five overs. Raina’s 32 from 13 balls was a powerful effort before he fell attempting a fourth six.

Michael Hussey scored just seven runs behind the wicket in his whirlwind knock © Cricinfo
 

Hussey, however, wasn’t flustered by the loss of wickets. Hopes was hit for a straight six, Wilkin Mota’s military medium was clubbed over mid-on, and Hussey celebrated a drop by Sreesanth with ten in two balls. Irfan Pathan took his second wicket by yorking Jacob Oram – a dismissal which was celebrated with a raucous din – but Hussey motored on with effortless biffs down the ground. His seventh six, again lofted straight, took him into the 90s and two balls later the landmark was duly reached with a single off Lee. It took just 50 balls. Hussey celebrated with two more sixes and, with some help from a gung-ho S Badrinath, Chennai took 25 off the final over.Hopes took to Punjab’s daunting target with steely-eyed gusto, adding 56 in 5.5 overs with Karan Goel. He was quick to latch on to anything fractionally short, the pick being flat sixes over backward point and deep square leg off Manpreet Gony. Hopes raised a 24-ball half-century, the fastest of the tournament, to keep Punjab near the asking rate. Dropped by P Amarnath off his own bowling, Hopes hammered Joginder Sharma for powerful boundaries and with Kumar Sangakarra sensibly farming the strike, he even slogged Muttiah Muralitharan for six. But Amarnath had his revenge when long-off held an easy catch and with that, ultimately, went Punjab’s hopes.The run-rate was more than 13 when Yuvraj joined Sangakkara, and two scorching sixes were followed by a tame hit down long-on’s throat. Sangakkara swung the bat around during a feisty 54, meshing paddles and pulls with aplomb, but fell to Murali in the 18th over as the chase was snubbed.The tournament opener in Bangalore began and ended with Brendon McCullum’s blitzkrieg, but Hussey proved there was plenty of oomph to go around with a spectacular hundred. His brother David, who famously ribbed him for fetching a higher price, made just 12 in the first match and you can imagine his sibling sending him a text message after this stunning effort. The IPL is certainly abuzz.

Pagnis sustains Railways with unbeaten 142

A fine unbeaten 142 by Amit Pagnis and his unfinished third wicket partnership of 147 runs off 57.4 overs with skipper Abhay Sharma (61) helped Railways score 267 for 2 wickets in 90 overs at the end of the first day’s play in the Central Zone Ranji Trophy match against Madhya Pradesh at Karnail Singh Stadium in New Delhi today.Abhay Sharma won the toss and decided to bat. Pagnis, who joined Railwaysfrom Mumbai this year, opened the innings with Sanjay Bangar. The two put on 91 runs before Bangar was caught by debudent wicket keeper Gurucharan Singh off the bowling of JP Yadav. Bangar scored 41 off 64 balls with the help of 4 fours and a six. Murli Kartik was out for 8 off JP Yadav.Pagnis completed his century in 4-1/2 hours off 218 balls with the help of 15 fours and 2 sixes. By close he had batted six hours, faced 308 balls and hit 20 fours and two sixes. Sharma had faced 162 balls, hitting six of them to the ropes. Not even the new ball taken at 260 for two after 84.5 overs, made any impression on the two batsmen.For MP, medium pacer JP Yadav took both the wickets conceding 65 runs off25 overs.

Grit sees New Zealand emerge victors

Every Indian tour of New Zealand has been affected by rain andbad light, and the last trip there in 1998-99 was no different.In fact, the scheduled three-Test series got reduced to two asthe first match at Dunedin was abandoned because of a downpour.There was never really any chance of play, and the umpiresformally abandoned the game on the third day. Of the tworemaining Tests, New Zealand won one and the other was drawn,which meant that the hosts had lost only one series to India insix contests at home ­ the first one, played way back in 1967-68.


The wash-out of the first Test was more a handicap to the Indiansthan the New Zealanders, and the visitors must have approachedthe swirling conditions in Wellington with some apprehension.When Simon Doull had the Indians at 16 for four on the firstmorning, the match was virtually decided.


It was essentially a battle between a team made up of severalstars and another constituting essentially of journeymen. But thehome team proved to be fitter and more committed and resilient.India’s stars performed only in fits and starts, and consistencywas sadly lacking. They suffered a setback in the opening firstclass fixture of the tour when they lost to Central Districts byseven wickets. Although they recovered to defeat Wellington byeight wickets in the only other firstclass game before the Testseries, the portents of defeat were all too apparent, especiallygiven their none-too-convincing record in New Zealand.The wash-out of the first Test was more a handicap to the Indiansthan the New Zealanders, and the visitors must have approachedthe swirling conditions in Wellington with some apprehension.When Simon Doull had the Indians at 16 for four on the firstmorning, the match was virtually decided. Navjot Sidhu, RahulDravid and Nayan Mongia all failed to score, and it took a braveunbeaten 103 by Mohammad Azharuddin to get India to 208. TheIndian captain’s 21st Test century was made in the face of someinspired bowling by Doull, who kept an admirable line and lengthand used the wind to swing the ball menacingly. He finished withseven for 65, the fourth-best figures for New Zealand in Testcricket.The Indian bowlers fought back, and New Zealand lost sevenwickets in catching up with India’s moderate total. But a recordeighth-wicket partnership of 137 between Dion Nash and DanielVettori helped them wrest back the initiative. A lead of 144 wasalways going to be handy, even if the Indians did much better inthe second innings, posting a total of 356. Sachin Tendulkar topscored with 113 and the New Zealanders were left a victory targetof 213.Again India’s bowlers did very well, and at the end of the fourthday, New Zealand were 73 for four ­ effectively five, as NathanAstle had retired after having his hand fractured by a deliveryfrom Javagal Srinath. A fifth wicket fell at 74, but then CraigMcMillian (74 not out) and Chris Cairns (61) quashed Indian hopesof a victory by adding 137 runs for the sixth wicket. Cairns gotout trying to hit the winning stroke, and that honour fittinglywent to Nash.India never really had a chance to square the series in the finalTest at Hamilton. The pitch was too good, as symbolised by thefour centuries and as many as eight other scores over the halfcentury mark being notched up. The one consolation was that Indiahad the Man of the Match in Dravid, who became only the thirdplayer from the country to get a hundred in each innings of aTest after Vijay Hazare and Sunil Gavaskar (who performed thefeat three times).New Zealand led off with 366, to which the Indians replied with416. This represented a pretty good recovery, for at one stagethey were 211 for seven. Dravid and Srinath added 144 runs forthe eighth wicket, with the fast bowler getting a career-best 76.Then Dravid and Venkatesh Prasad (30) carried India’s total pastNew Zealand’s with a ninth-wicket association of 61. Dravid wasfinally out for 190 after having batted for more than eight hoursand hitting 31 fours.The first-innings lead of 50 seemed to be valuable when NewZealand were 85 for four in the second knock. Thereafter, though,India’s bowling ran out of steam, and McMillan (84), Adam Parore(50), Cairns (126), Nash (63) and Daniel Vettori (43 not out) allmade merry. Stephen Fleming delayed the declaration ­ at 464 foreight ­ until after lunch, and in the remaining time, Dravid hithis second century (103 not out) while Sourav Ganguly too got anunbeaten 101 as the Indians closed at 249 for two. Incidentallythis was Sidhu’s 51st and last Test.The five-match series of one-day internationals was keenlyfought, and fittingly it ended with each side winning two matchesand the third game at Wellington being declared a no-result. NewZealand won the first by five wickets on the Duckworth-Lewissystem, while India hit back by taking the second by two wickets.India maintained the momentum with a five-wicket victory in thefourth ODI, only for New Zealand to draw level with a 70-run winin the final game.

Stadium experiment hailed a success

SYDNEY, Feb 16 AAP – It’s played host to one of Australia’s proudest sporting triumphs, so why not the nation’s favourite sport?Telstra Stadium, the former centrepiece of the Sydney Olympics, today made its debut as a cricket ground in the last regular season match of the ING Cup between NSW and competition wooden spooner South Australia.And, judging by the enthusiasm with which it was greeted as a cricket venue, there seems no reason why it won’t be used again, particularly as a stage for one-day internationals.But that won’t happen until at least 2005-06 because of an agreement between Cricket NSW and the Sydney Cricket Ground Trust to play one-day internationals at the SCG until then.Some 25,763 people turned up today, the second-biggest crowd at a domestic one-day game behind the 32,908 who watched Victoria play Western Australia at the MCG on January 23, 1977.As a result, the atmosphere was fantastic – plenty of crowd participation with chanting and Mexican waves, not to mention 17-year-old Stephen McCabe who won a $5,000 investment portfolio and $1,000 cash for catching a six off Mark Waugh.One could only imagine the vibe an international fixture would generate.The only downside was a rain delay of more than an hour, when the lights even got a workout while poncho-clad fans danced to an impressive array of songs with rain as the theme blaring over the public address system.”For me, the big success story about today is that this has proved without a shadow of a doubt that this is a cricket venue for the future,” said Cricket NSW chief executive David Gilbert.And while the traditionalists might be opposed to moving games from the SCG, Gilbert believes the beloved ground can co-exist with Homebush, the two venues sharing one-day international fixtures.”Everyone in their right mind understands the Test match belongs at the Sydney Cricket Ground,” Gilbert said.”That’s where the traditions are. But one-day international cricket … we’re talking about a game that’s 30 years old, there’s no traditions to one-day cricket.”When that gets pedalled out, that really gets my back up because one-day cricket is the fast food of cricket.”It’s about a result on the day, everyone has a great time, everyone has a beer and a pie and are probably hard pressed the next day to remember who won the game – that’s the game.”Gilbert said while NSW would find it difficult to poach any more one-dayers from other states, the plan would be to play two of its current allocation of four matches at the SCG and two at Telstra Stadium.”Even thinking further ahead, 2011, which I think will be the next time that we get the World Cup and why shouldn’t Sydney put its foot forward now and say, ‘we would like to think that we could host the World Cup final’,” he said.”Why has it got to go to Melbourne on a platter purely because they’ve got the capacity?”

Butcher returns for Surrey as Thorpe misses out

Division OneLeicestershire v Essex, Grace RoadBrad Hodge is set to make his championship debut for Leicestershire after returning from international duty with Australia A, and a first outing of the season is also in prospect for Devon Malcolm, who was overlooked for last week’s draw against Kent, but is included in a 13-man squad. Essex will be without Andrew McGarry, who is still troubled by a side strain.Surrey v Warwickshire, The OvalOne international sent to the bench, another promoted to the starting line-up – Surrey have taken another leaf out of Manchester United’s book, as Mark Butcher plays his first match of the season … at the expense of Graham Thorpe. Rikki Clarke, who made a match-saving century against Lancashire last week, has also been excluded, as Martin Bicknell and Alec Stewart take their places for the first time this season. Warwickshire’s Australian seamer Michael Clark is expected to pass a late fitness test on his injured groin, although their captain, Michael Powell, misses out again with a broken toe.Sussex v Kent, HoveWith no injury worries, Sussex are expected to name an unchanged side, despite their nail-biting three-wicket defeat against Middlesex last week. Mushtaq Ahmed is expected to play a more prominent role after recovering from the finger infection which hampered his bowling at Lord’s. Kent’s David Fulton and Min Patel remain sidelined following eye and back operations respectively.Division Two Derbyshire v Somerset, DerbyDerbyshire welcome back Michael Di Venuto, Chris Bassano, Mohammad Ali and Kevin Dean, all of whom sat out the three-day game against Bradford/Leeds UCCE last week. Somerset are boosted by the presence of Marcus Trescothick and Andy Caddick, after they were cleared to play by the ECB. However, their fellow international Ian Blackwell is unavailable after splitting the webbing on a hand against Gloucestershire.Durham v Gloucestershire, Chester-le-StreetDurham’s South African seamer Dewald Pretorius is set to make his championship debut after picking up four wickets in Sunday’s National League victory over Somerset. Gloucestershire are boosted by the return of Mike Smith and Jon Lewis after injury, but with a Durham greentop in prospect, Martyn Ball has been dropped in favour of Mark Hardinges, despite taking seven wickets against Northamptonshire.Hampshire v Yorkshire, SouthamptonSimon Katich is set to make his Hampshire debut against former club Yorkshire, after completing his international duty with Australia A. Ed Giddins is doubtful with bruised ribs, although Chris Tremlett has made a full recovery from sore shins. Yorkshire have lost Matthew Elliott to a knee injury, but they have received ample compensation in the return of Michael Vaughan, who has been cleared to play by the ECB. Matthew Hoggard and Craig White both miss out, however.Worcestershire v Northamptonshire, WorcesterGraeme Hick, Nantie Hayward, Kabir Ali, Steve Rhodes and David Leatherdale all return to the Worcestershire side after missing last week’s three-day game against Oxford UCCE. Mike Hussey plays his first championship game of the season for Northants, despite David Paynter’s half-century against Gloucestershire. Ricky Anderson makes way for Ben Phillips, while John Blain replaces Graeme Swann, who has an ankle injury.