Not much has gone right for Brian Lara in the last fortnight. And now on top of his own personal dip in form and West Indies’ dismal performances, he has been reported by the umpires to Mike Procter, the ICC’s match referee.The complaint stems from Lara’s argument with Daryl Harper and Billy Bowden at the close on Sunday night when he remonstrated animatedly after the England batsmen were offered the light for the second time, minutes after declining to go off. Although the specifics of the discussion were unclear, Lara’s anger was clear to see. More than once he started to walk away, only to turn and resume his finger-wagging exchange with the umpires.At Kingston, Lara’s bad language had been audible on the stump microphones when he debated a similar incident, but on that occasion no action was taken. This time he faces an official hearing.

Zaheer Khan has joined Surrey as an unpaid amateur, and he made an instant impact as he blasted out two wickets in his first over. His stint at Surrey is with a view to getting match-fit ahead of India’s next assignment, the Asia Cup in Sri Lanka in July. Surrey couldn’t sign him as an overseas player because he didn’t possess a work permit, but in any case, the arrangement is likely to be a short-term one.Saqlain Mushtaq, Surrey’s overseas professional, has been sidelined with a knee injury, and that allowed Zaheer to make his debut in a Totesport match against Essex on Sunday. His impact was immediate, with two wickets in the opening over – including one off the very first ball he bowled as Surrey registered their first victory of any kind this season.Zaheer’s injury woes started in Australia last winter, when a torn hamstring forced him to miss two of the four Tests and the VB Series. He recovered in time to play the one-day series against Pakistan, but limped out of the Test series in Multan. And with Irfan Pathan, Lakshmipathy Balaji and Ashish Nehra all having performed creditably in Pakistan, Zaheer’s position at the spearhead of India’s pace attack has been under threat.Speaking to , a Surrey spokesman said, “The arrangement suits both parties.” But it remains to be seen though how long Zaheer intends to turn out for the team that has dominated county cricket in recent seasons. “I would think he’ll definitely play in the next championship game and maybe the one after that, but we’ll just have to see,” said the spokesman.”Zaheer has been training with us for the past week and wanted to sign as an overseas player. But when he couldn’t, he decided to play anyway in an amateur capacity. He just wants to prove to the Indian selectors that he is fit and playing well.”

Sourav Ganguly has sought to end the debate about India’s opening position by saying that performances in the forthcoming one-dayers would settle the issue. While Yuvraj Singh is the most likely candidate for the slot – he enjoys the confidence of the captain – Virender Sehwag, the other opener, said that he would prefer a more defensive partner.Ganguly told Press Trust of India that there was plenty of time before the Tests against Australia and South Africa, and that personal opinions would not interfere with team decisions.”There are still five-six months to go for the team to play a Test match,” Ganguly said. “Presently the team will play in the one-dayers. After seeing the form of the players in the one-dayers, we will decide on the second opener’s slot. Whatever is best for the team, would be done.”Last season, the Indian team’s improved performances were attributed to a consistently solid opening partnership between Sehwag and Aakash Chopra. Sehwag was as attacking as Chopra was defensive, and both helped India deal with the Australians, and then the Pakistanis. But while Sehwag scored runs in great volume and speed, Chopra’s long innings for fewer runs were questioned. When Yuvraj scored a hundred at No. 6 in the second Test against Pakistan, Ganguly said that that he was too talented to keep out of the side. His comments stoked an argument about whether a one-day middle-order batsman could replace a Test opener who had performed in high-pressure situations.Sehwag and Sachin Tendulkar recently opined that a defensive opener would be a better option, but also added that they had no problem with Yuvraj opening. Ganguly played down the matter and said that the players were only airing their views. “Sehwag and Tendulkar have made no adverse remark on [the] choice of Yuvraj as second opener. It is merely an opinion of both the players. We will do whatever is best for the team.”

Western Province 276 for 7 dec beat North West 98 (Coetsee 50, de Stadler 5-18, Friend 3-37) and 98 (de Stadler 3-18, Magiet 3-0) by an innings and 80 runs
ScorecardWestern Province needed just 5.3 overs on the third morning at Cape Town to send North West tumbling to an abject innings-and-80-run defeat. Quinton Friend was the man who inserted the final stitches, grabbing both remaining wickets as North West were dismissed for 98 – a replica of their first-innings total.Gauteng 228 and 266 for 6 dec (Otto 91) drew with KwaZulu-Natal 274 for 5 dec and 214 for 7 (Gobind 87, de Bruin 5-48) by 44 runs
ScorecardKwaZulu-Natal came within a whisker of a thrilling victory over Gauteng at Durban, but in the end they were forced to settle for a draw, as time ran out with them seven runs from victory, with three wickets standing.The tight finish had been made possible by a bold declaration from Gauteng, who left Natal needing 221 runs in 43 overs. They were given the best possible start by their captain, Rivash Gobind, who followed up his first-innings 77 with another good innings of 87, and while he and Wayne Madsen were adding 139 for the second wicket, victory was on the cards.But when Gobind was run out, the innings stuttered and Gerhard de Bruin took full advantage, ripping through the middle-order for figures of 5 for 48, as six wickets tumbled in nine overs. The effort had come too late for Gauteng, however, as time ran out for both sides.

Stephen Fleming says his team must learn from this “hiding” and called it a performance that would send “tremors around the world”. He shared his thoughts at the post-match press conference where John Bracewell answered questions about criticism in New Zealand and the difference between his Test and one-day records.

Stephen FlemingOn the series result
It’s certainly disappointing. It’s a comprehensive display by Australia, one of the most comprehensive I’ve seen. They’ve gone up another level and some of the bowling during the series was superb. We lacked a bit of sting in our bowling.On his side’s performances
I’m absolutely concerned about some of them. We have deserved the criticism. There have been sessions that have been exasperating for us all. We knew we had to compete in every session. The first two days were fine, then the ante got lifted and we didn’t turn up for the next seven. A tough learning curve for the team.On whether any team can challenge Australia
Teams are going to have their days and have opportunities to win matches, but day-in day-out this team is by far the most superior around. Their displays have been as we expected, but there’s more developing to come. It’s scary.On teams to compete with Australia
England are licking their lips and deserve to be full of anticipation. Teams are comparing themselves against Australia and the standard is improving, but at some stage there’s going to be a group of guys who can match them. England will have to perform extremely well to compete, but they have the personnel to do that.On facing Australia
The pressure they created was pretty telling and there were mistakes made from players who normally wouldn’t make those mistakes. Every time they play this well they send tremors round the world. We’ve only got a short period before we have another crack at it and that’s exciting.On any positives from the losses
You’ve got to be professional and understand the hiding we’ve taken and walk away a better side for it. I look at how much the players have learnt. You’ve got to look at how well the Australians have played and try and learn something from it. We’ve got a group of young bowlers, and even in my situation I’m still learning from these players.John BracewellOn criticism of him in New Zealand
I must accept the fact, it’s an accountability process and we’ve lost two Tests in Australia in a row. We haven’t lived up to the standard of a wicket that is one of the best Test pitches I’ve ever seen.On the differences between his Test and one-day record
I don’t let it distract me from my core purpose to lift the side and the individuals within the side. It’s a side that has found Test cricket tough over the past 12 months and is endeavouring to put it right.On the game and mental weakness
We recognise that the third innings is something that has plagued us. Everyone wanted to win the toss here and 500 is what you wanted to get. In other games we competed whether we won or lost the toss and fell away as the game continued, particularly in the third innings. We’re looking at it, but it’s one of those things that the more you mention it, it can get to you.On playing Australia
The first time you play Australia is the best time to get them and Jacob Oram proved that. They toughened up on him and he will have to toughen up for the home series, realise where they are going to attack him and expand his game to counter that.

Ahead of the first Test against Pakistan at the WACA, Adam Gilchrist has said that Australia would deal with their tempestuous opponents with care. Pakistan’s campaign has been a shambles so far, with losses to the main Western Australian team as well as its second XI. However, Gilchrist said that teams often struggled initially before lifting their game as the tour went on.”I guess it’s up to them how they deal with that [the bounce at the WACA] and counter that over the next few days,” Gilchrist said to ABC Sport. “All of us have seen Pakistan be hot and cold, whether it’s a tour match or an international game. So we’ll be wary of them still.”Gilchrist echoed a belief common among former players who had witnessed Pakistan’s mercurial ways. Dennis Lillee said, “I think that the Pakistanis are always a team that save their best until it’s an interesting game. They are very much a team for the occasion and when they want to they can turn it on.”

The struggling Western Australian Cricket Association (WACA) today received a $5 million conditional state government grant to help it wipe out crippling debt repayments. The WACA will use the money to meet loan payments on the $13 million ground redevelopment it undertook two years ago to retain international Test status.Western Australian sports minister Bob Kucera said that the WACA would receive an immediate $2 million cash injection, plus annual funds of up to $600,000 over five years, provided it achieved certain milestones.Kucera said the government loan would convert to a grant after five years provided that the WACA secured one Test cricket match a year, met its financial arrangements and continued negotiating with the East Perth Redevelopment Authority (EPRA) over the sale of some of its valuable land assets.”It is absolutely important to keep the WACA viable,” Kucera told reporters. “(But) at the end of the day the sport still has to pay for itself and we now have a WACA board in place that is taking a very financially responsible position in partnership with the government. This is not a handout.”Dennis Lillee, former fast-bowling great and newly-installed WACA president, described the funding as “a great start” for the revamped WACA board. “We’re confident we can meet the milestones – we know we’re on the right track.”Lillee said that with the WACA ground used for only three months of the year, the association was looking at other initiatives for use. They included selling some of its land to the EPRA, opening the facility to the public in winter and hosting state league football matches.Kucera said that although Perth recently had won the new Australian Super 14 rugby union franchise, it hosted very few international sporting events. He went on to add: “It’s important to make sure the WACA is given time to work through some of its current problems.”

Scorecard

Shib Shankar Paul put Bangladesh Cricket Board XI on the verge of a big defeat in their opening game of the Duleep Trophy as East Zone dominated the second day at Nagpur. Paul’s six-wicket haul in the first innings skittled out Bangladesh for just 142 and they conceded a massive first-innings lead of 312. It was a similar story in the second innings and Bangladesh struggled to 123 for 8 at stumps.Mohammad Ashraful, who top-scored with 40 in the first innings, managed only 1 in the second as Bangladesh lost wickets at regular intervals. Saghir Hossain, their wicket-keeper, top-scoring with a modest 34 and both Aftab Ahmed and Alok Kapali, batsmen with Test experience, didn’t make too much of an impression.Paul added two more wickets in the second innings before Sanjib Sanyal, his fellow medium pacer, snapped up three more and had Bangladesh reeling at 44 for 5. Ranadeb Bose, the medium pacer who was the highest wicket-taker in league phase of the Ranji Trophy, claimed two more and put East on the threshold of their first win in the tournament.Earlier in the day, East, who began on 356 for 5, stretched their score to 454 mainly due to Sourav Ganguly’s fine 170. Ganguly, who had missed his side’s opening game owing to an injury, smacked 21 fours and four sixes before he was dismissed by Manjural Islam Rana, the left-arm spinner.With an innings defeat looming, Bangladesh now turn their attention to Jaipur, where they will meet Central Zone on March 1.

England A 424 (Bell 144, Prior 76*, Bandara 5-96 ) and 240 for 5 (Powell 54, Shah 81) v Sri Lanka A 228 (Bandara 45, Gidman 3-8, Mahmood 3-53)
Scorecard

Bad light and a gathering thunderstorm forced England’s players to flee the Colombo Cricket Club with 14.5 overs of the day’s play remaining, but by that stage they were able to reflect on a third consecutive day of control. After Ian Bell’s first-day leadership and Sajid Mahmood’s spark on day two, it was the turn of Alex Gidman and Owais Shah to shine today. England A finished with a whooping 436-run lead and five wickets still in the bag.Sri Lanka’s A’s tail-wag proved shortlived on the third morning, cut short by the steady medium pace of Gidman. Malinga Bandara extended his overnight 30 to 45 and Thushara Mirando flogged a quick 27, but Gidman ended the innings in a hurry, claiming 3 for 8 in just 3.2 overs. Sri Lanka A were bowled out for a disappointing 228 – far too little on a fine batting strip and in familiar conditions.England’s reply got off to a shaky start as Nandika Ranjith trapped Alistair Cook lbw for 18, before Bell, the first-innings bedrock, nibbled at a delivery from Gayan Wijekoon and was caught behind for 4. England were 32 for 2, but sweating only because of the humidity. Shah (81) and Mike Powell (54) soon settled and added 86 for the third wicket, carrying England A towards a position of impregnability.Mohamed Suraj, Sri Lanka A’s offspinner, broke through when an lbw appeal against Powell was upheld and Ranjith, no doubt mindful of the selectors’ close scrutiny after Nuwan Zoysa’s withdrawal from the New Zealand tour, proved successful when he returned for a mid-afternoon spell, finishing Shah’s 134-ball innings, an entertaining stay that included three sixes and five fours.But Matthew Prior followed on where he left off in the first innings, speeding to 40 not out from only 33 balls as England A stepped on the gas to give themselves time for a few overs’ bowling in the evening. Rikki Clarke joined the fun with his own blitz, racing to 30 from 23 balls. But Sri Lanka A were saved when bad light ended the day. Survival tomorrow, though, may not be so easy."I was disappointed I didn’t get to three figures,” said Shah after the day’s play. “Considering the nature of the game we were only going to bat for another three overs or so. The captain said to get as many runs as I can. I took a few shots on which I normally wouldn’t. Sometimes you get away with it, sometimes you don’t."I’ve been involved with the England side for the last two or three years and all of a sudden to be picked on an `A’ tour was great news," said Shah. "I am very keen to prove myself once again and try and get myself in the fold of a potential replacement and put my name in the hat. This tour is extremely important to me. It could be my last chance to play for England."

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Match starts 14.00GMT Thursday, March 31

Ticket sales for the first Test in Guyana appear to have been seriously affected by West Indies’ ongoing sponsorship row. As it is, the Bourda, which is usually close to capacity for the opening day of a Test, could be less than a quarter full.As ever in Guyana, local weather forecasts have played their part – thundery showers are predicted for the next five days – but the increasingly bitter dispute which means that Brian Lara won’t be playing has also taken its toll. “With all this controversy, I think it’s because of the team,” a ground official told The Daily Telegraph. “Most people are waiting to see what happens.”To underline what is at stake in the contract dispute, visitors to Guyana are greeted with a huge billboard showing Ramnaresh Sarwan endorsing Cable & Wireless. Sarwan is one of the seven who have the personal deals with C&W which have led to their being dropped.Unless there is some last-gasp compromise – and both sides appear fairly entrenched as things stand – it will be an unfamiliar West Indies side which takes the field tomorrow, and one assembled against a backdrop of virtual civil war. Their squad includes some new faces – Donovan Pagon, Narsingh Deonarine, and Dwight Washington – as well as some old ones brought back to plug the holes. Tony Howard, the manager, remained positive.”We are trying to build a unit of players who will work together. All the boys are geared up and ready to face the challenge,” he told The Nation. “I always look forward to a challenge and the players will be approaching the challenge with confidence. Some factors are missing but we are looking at things in the long term.”Shivnarine Chanderpaul, who will lead the side in the absence of Lara, was keen to put an equally upbeat spin on the situation. “I’m positive, we all are positive and once we play to our abilities – and all the guys are very talented – and once we can play to that and play better than South Africa we will win.”While attention has been on West Indies, South Africa have been going through their paces. Already without Shaun Pollock, who is still undergoing treatment on his injured ankle back home – Andrew Hall or Charl Langeveldt will replace him – they are also waiting on a late fitness Test on Jacques Kallis who is still troubled by the hip injury he picked up against Zimbabwe.”Kallis bowled the fastest in Tuesday morning’s training session,” explained Ray Jennings, South Africa’s coach. “We are interested to know if he can bowl between 15 and 20 overs a day for us. If the answer is yes, the compilation of the team will change.” Given Kallis’s apparent reluctance to bowl – except when confronted with Zimbabwe’s paper-thin middle order – the chances are that he will not be risked as a front-line bowler.West Indies (possible) 1 Devon Smith, 2 Wavell Hinds, 3 Daren Ganga, 4 Shivnarine Chanderpaul (capt), 5 Ryan Hinds, 6 Daren Powell, 7 Courtney Browne (wkt), 8 Dwight Washington, 9 Pedro Collins, 10 Corey Collymore, 11 Reon King.South Africa (probable): 1 Graeme Smith (capt), 2 AB de Villiers, 3 Jacques Rudolph, 4 Jacques Kallis, 5 Herschelle Gibbs, 6 Ashwell Prince, 7 Mark Boucher (wkt) , 8 Nicky Bojé, 9 Andrew Hall, 10 Makhaya Ntini, 11 Andre Nel.