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Herschelle Gibbs’s appeal against the ban imposed by Chris Broad following an incident during the first Test between South Africa and Pakistan at Centurion has been rejected by Richie Benaud, the ICC’s code of conduct commissioner.The original punishment was a two-Test ban, but this will now be one Test, one Twenty20 and one ODI as the ban has to apply to the next matches the player is scheduled to play. By appealing, Gibbs was able to take part in the second Test.He will now miss the third Test starting at Cape Town on Friday as well as the first two fixtures of the limited-overs series between the two sides that follows. Cricket South Africa have said they accept the decision and have withdrawn from their own disciplinary process against Gibbs which was announced before the ICC’s hearing.Gibbs said: “I am really disappointed to be missing the Test match in front of my home ground and the next two matches. However, I am glad that I have now had a proper opportunity to explain myself. I feel it is important that Mr Benaud has confirmed that I am not racist.”I have apologised if my remarks inadvertently caused offence, and that apology still stands. I regard the matter as now closed, and I will now concentrate on cricket”.The charge against Gibbs, which was laid by Malcolm Speed, the ICC’s chief executive, related to an incident that took place shortly before the lunch interval on the fourth day of the match, when Gibbs’s comments were overheard through a stump microphone on the ground.Graeme Smith said that South Africa were disappointed to lose Gibbs. “It’s a tough one. We have one or two gripes with the ICC, I guess, and maybe this is not the forum to discuss it.”Maybe we need to get on the phone with Dave Richardson and Malcolm Speed and discuss these things. We just want to see consistency in decision making around the world. We’ve experienced things that haven’t been dealt with.” That latter remark seems a clear reference to the crowd problems the South Africans experienced in Australia last year.Benaud spoke at length on the telephone to Gibbs and his legal representative on Wednesday, and announced his decision today.”It was put to me that the fact the remarks in question were heard through stump microphones on the ground should invalidate the whole matter,” Benaud said, explaining that the ICC was aware that there were issues with stump microphones not being switched off at the right times. “That though is ICC policy rather than a Law or Playing Condition of the game and Chris Broad, in his decision, gave Gibbs full mitigation for the fact that the stump microphones had been left on by the television network.”With the benefit of some experience I am able to add that players, no matter where they may be, should always bear in mind that a microphone could be live. That does not just apply to stump microphones used by television networks, but it could be in a radio studio or in a press conference with the print media. There is no malice about it, but it could happen just because someone has not pushed a button or pulled a switch.”It is precisely the same in the television commentary box for a television commentator. If you do not use the words, they do not get to air.”But Benaud was at pains to stress that he did not believe there was any evidence that Gibbs’ comments were in any way racial motivated. “I certainly do not consider Herschelle to be a racist and I take great exception to the suggestion, in the same way I believe Chris Broad would object [to suggestions his finding would do the same].”Benaud also expressed surprise South Africa’s players did not draw the attention of match officials to the abuse they were receiving from sections of the crowd. “I find it extraordinary that apparently the umpires were never brought into the problem by the captain, or the players. Or by Gibbs himself.”On the question of procedural matters, I am satisfied that Chris Broad handled those in straightforward fashion, that no justice was denied, the player admitted using the words and unfortunately they went to the world. My view is that the sentence imposed by Broad is correct and accordingly the appeal is dismissed.”

A day after refusing to confirm his retirement, Glenn McGrath has decided to walk away after the World Cup. McGrath will join Shane Warne in playing his final Test at his SCG home ground starting on January 2 to end a spectacular career that has been crucial in pushing Australia to the top of the Test and one-day trees.McGrath, the leading Test fast bowler with 555 wickets, has endured a week of speculation that he will step down and he made it official at the MCG after Australia’s training session and team meeting for the Boxing Day Test. The scene was not as hectic or dramatic as it was for Warne on Thursday, but he will also be sorely missed.”The plan I had come up with Shane was he would go before Melbourne and me before Sydney, but with the hearsay and the scrutiny we wanted to get it out of the way,” he said at the MCG’s indoor nets. “Trying to deny about retiring is a bit tough, I’ve always been honest.”McGrath will step down from all forms of cricket and came to the conclusion it was time to go during the Ashes series. “It’s the perfect or fitting ending to play my last Test at Sydney, my favourite ground in the world,” he said. “It’s only in the last couple of games I made the decision to hang up my boots. It’s been a tough decision and an easy decision. The body feels great and I couldn’t be happier with my bowling, but it’s made by easier by all the training and the travel, especially with Jane and the kids growing up.”In two weeks Australia will have lost two bowlers with more than 1250 wickets between them. Regaining the Ashes at Perth on Monday has meant a number of Australia’s senior players have achieved a significant goal after they were responsible for handing over the urn at The Oval in 2005. McGrath was injured in both the matches that were lost, but he has gained revenge over the past month.McGrath will now aim to reach the World Cup and collect his third consecutive trophy after being part of the 1999 and 2003 successes. In South Africa he earned a career-high 7 for 15 against Namibia and he has appeared in 230 matches. His 342 wickets are the most by any Australian bowler and he is sixth on the overall list.”I still place more importance on Test matches, but I still enjoy one-dayers,” he said. “It would have been tough to have walked away mid-season. To win the World Cup for the third time would be amazing. I intend to finish my duties under the current contract, purely because I enjoy it.”Having returned from an 11-month Test lay-off to start the current series, McGrath opened with 6 for 50 at the Gabba, but even though he has produced some important spells he has been below his best. Aged 36, McGrath has spent 13 years in the Test set-up after making his debut as a stringbean fast man against New Zealand at Perth.He started with match figures of 3 for 142 and was immediately dropped and it wasn’t until he was part of Australia’s first series victory in the West Indies for 32 years that he became an essential team member. In the 1994-95 Caribbean campaign he refused to be intimidated by the home side’s bowlers and fearlessly bounced them despite his limited ability with the bat. Australia sealed the series and McGrath’s reputation continued to be enhanced.Employing a simple action and applying regular check-ups, he was able to nag away with an unrelenting line and pick up kitbags full of wickets with movement off the seam. A shy and calm man off the field, he had no problem firing up when bowling and his behaviour often came under scrutiny. In the West Indies in 2002-03, when he arrived mid-tour after his wife Jane was diagnosed with cancer, he had an angry, finger pointing exchange with Ramnaresh Sarwan. He admitted to “carrying on like a pork chop” at times but Australia would not have changed anything about their long-term spearhead.McGrath passed Dennis Lillee’s 355 Test wickets – it was the most famous Australian bowling milestone until Shane Warne overtook it – at The Oval in 2001 and became the country’s first fast man to play 100 Tests when he achieved the mark at Nagpur in 2004. It was a particularly satisfying record as he was out for a year with a serious ankle problem requiring two bouts of surgery. He briefly considered retiring and there were questions over whether he could return to his best. It became a repeated theme during the past couple of years.Following his long break to care for his family when his wife experienced another relapse of the disease in January, McGrath’s comeback ability was doubted again. He started slowly in the Malaysia tri-series and was part of Australia’s first Champions Trophy victory in India before re-setting his sights on England.

Supporters in the United Kingdom did not understand the McGrath fuss when he first toured England in 1997 and Australia lost the opening Test at Edgbaston. He stepped in quickly to assure them he was a player of the highest quality. In the rain-ruined second Test at Lord’s he was responsible for knocking England over for 77 with his incredible 8 for 38.Michael Atherton was a victim, one of 19 times in his career, and they were McGrath’s best figures until he produced 8 for 34, the second-best haul by an Australian, against Pakistan at the WACA in 2004-05. When it comes to wickets he has an almost photographic memory and his removal of the opposition’s best players are recalled proudly. Brian Lara was taken 15 times in Tests while Alec Stewart was also high on the list at 10. His comedic 61 against New Zealand two years ago also showed the hours of work he put into his often-ridiculed batting.McGrath beat Courtney Walsh’s fast-bowling world record of 519 wickets during the one-off Super Test against the World XI in 2005-06. It was suitable company for such a wonderful competitor. A country boy from central New South Wales, McGrath has grown from a spindly adolescent who was told he couldn’t bowl into one of the most durable men in Test history. His record over 122 matches is amazing and will always be treasured.

The England chairman of selectors David Graveney has given his backing to Geraint Jones, the England wicketkeeper, ahead of the first Test against Pakistan at Lord’s on Thursday.England’s choice of wicketkeeper has again come under scrutiny following a superb hundred from Chris Read, who Jones replaced in 2004, in England A’s warm-up match against the touring Pakistanis. In his last ten Tests, Jones has reached fifty just twice and averages a mere 19 – some distance behind an already meagre career average of 26.67.”We have selected Geraint Jones, because we believe he is the best wicketkeeper,” Graveney told Sky Sports yesterday. “What he brings to the team is what we want at the present time. Geraint Jones is our man, and we will give him our full support.”Read, though, has plundered runs heavily in domestic cricket: since 2003, he has amassed 2357 runs for Nottinghamshire and England A at an average of over 50. Graveney and Geoff Miller, both selectors, were at Canterbury to see Read’s unbeaten 150 but the notable absentee was Duncan Fletcher. It was Fletcher who initially stated his preference for Jones when Read, so faultless with the gloves, struggled with the bat during his 11 Tests and was famously bowled by Chris Cairns’ slower ball.”Chris has done really well,” Graveney added. “It has been said that he does not get enough runs – but since he was left out of the team he averages 50 in the first-class game. He got a fantastic hundred at Canterbury.”

Shoaib Akhtar’s troubled career has taken yet another twist following a decision by the Pakistan board to send him back from Pakistan’s 15-man squad for the ICC World Twenty20 after a dressing-room scuffle in which he was alleged to have hit fellow fast bowler Mohammad Asif with a bat.The Pakistan Cricket Board has responded by handing Shoaib an indefinite ban, pending a disciplinary hearing that will be conducted once the team returns from South Africa.”Shoaib’s ban is an indefinite suspension,” Nasim Ashraf, the board chairman, told Cricinfo. “There is no question of Shoaib returning to South Africa for the latter half of the tournament [in the event of Pakistan playing more than five matches].””When the team management returns [from the tournament], the board will launch a full investigation and disciplinary hearing into the matter. Further action based on that is likely,” Ashraf said.A press release issued on Friday by team manager Talat Ali in Johannesburg said, “The decision [to send him home] has been taken on an incident that took place yesterday [6th September] afternoon at the Centurion Park after the practice session of the Pakistan team. It was reported to us by Asif that Shoaib had hit him on his leg with a bat and abused him.”The bowler was already on six weeks’ probation following a breach of discipline last month after he left a training camp in Karachi without informing officials. Two hearings were held, after which it was decided that a monetary fine would be suspended pending his behaviour. Ashraf indicated that action would be likely.The sorry development means that Pakistan finds itself in the spotlight at a major international tournament once again for all the wrong reasons. Shoaib and Asif were sent back on the eve of their opening match at the Champions Trophy last year, after they had tested positive for banned anabolic steroids. During the World Cup in March, Pakistan’s disastrous performance took backstage to the death of Bob Woolmer.The decision will be a blow to the team’s chances at the tournament, as Pakistan’s strength was widely considered to lie in a pace attack that included Umar Gul and Rao Iftikhar Anjum. AFP, citing team sources, reported the PCB has picked Sohail Tanvir, an allrounder, as Shoaib’s replacement.In any case, a replacement will also depend on approval from the ICC’s technical committee. The Participating Nations’ Agreement, which every team signs when taking part in ICC tournaments, refers to the replacement of players and there is provision for a player to be replaced for reasons other than injury: “Except for medical grounds, players may only be replaced in exceptional circumstances such as family bereavement or where a player is suspended and such suspension relates to an incident which is unrelated to the event.”

The trial of Mark Vermeulen, the former Zimbabwe Test player charged with arson attacks on the Zimbabwe cricket association’s boardroom and training academy, has been adjourned after the prosecution failed to produce vital video evidence.Vermeulen, 27, who played the last of his eight Test matches in 2004, is charged with two counts of arson and if convicted faces 25 years in prison. He is accused of first trying to torch the association’s boardroom at the Harare Sports Club in late October and then burning down the pavilion at the training academy the following day.His trial is now set for February 7 after his defence lawyer, David Dhumbura, outlined the problems in a letter to the court. He wrote: “To date we still have not received a copy of the video footage on indications made by [the] client.”He went onto say that the delay had meant they had been unable to prepare the defence case in time for the December 6 hearing. “This is a serious and sensitive matter, we cannot afford ill-preparation. The liberty of our client is at immense risk.”Dhumbura said Vermeulen required expert medical examination and added: “We will be seeking a medical report from Australia which will describe the effects of a serious skull fracture which our client sustained in January 2004 [during the VB series].”Vermeulen was also examined by a local psychiatrist and a psycho-analyst who had both indicated they would only be able to provide comprehensive reports after December 8.Dhumbura applied for Vermeulen to be allowed to play cricket at any venue other than Harare Sports Club or Country club. The Magistrate William Bhila deferred the trial to next year and relaxed Vermeulen’s bail conditions from reporting daily to the police to once a week.

India have a lot on their plate as they move to Sri Lanka for the triangular series. They have a new coach and a new captain; Sachin Tendulkar and Sourav Ganguly are missing and a few seniors have been asked to prove themselves all over again. Merely winning will not satisfy them. They seek a few critical answers with the 2007 World Cup in mind.It amuses me to see so much of a build up in India over Greg Chappell, the new coach. Everyone expects him to conjure up miracles. Unfortunately, cricket does not work that way. A good team wins because it has worked out a good combination, its wheels are running on a good piston and engine. Just one factor is not decisive. I have seen good teams win even when they have had a bad coach, as bad teams have lost even when a super coach has worked tirelessly. It’s a combination in the park which does the trick.Similarly, Rahul Dravid as a new captain cannot provide all the answers straightaway. He is an experienced guy who has constantly striven to improve himself. But he will miss the experience of Tendulkar and Ganguly, two guys who not very long ago appeared to have a 99-year lease at the batting crease in the one-day context. Dravid is expecting the seniors to show the freshness of youngsters, and the rookies to play with a mature head.It is important for India to find most of these answers in Sri Lanka for two reasons. One, they face Sri Lanka in their own group in the 2007 World Cup. Two, conditions in the Caribbean are largely similar to what exist in Sri Lanka. A good performance will show them they are on the right path.Unfortunately, it will not be easy. Sri Lanka has lost only one of their last nine games at home. In the last five years, India has won just three and lost six one-day matches in Sri Lanka. Most of Sri Lanka’s top forces remain unmoved. Sanath Jayasuriya recently has not been in good touch in one-dayers but the sight of Indian bowlers nearly always gets him going. Chaminda Vaas and Muttiah Muralitharan, as they have showed against an admittedly weak West Indies side, still retain a voracious appetite. These three will ask a few technical questions of the Indian players. Jayasuriya, with all the talk about cramping him up, still finds room to play his on-side strokes or leans back to crunch it through point. Vaas disguises his indippers beautifully and does not need much support from his close-in fielders. A few full-throated appeals for lbw nearly always find the umpire’s approval. As for Murali, it is some wonder that a ‘How-To-Play-Murali’ guide has not attracted a writer or a publisher. They would be assured all the batsmen of the world will queue up to pounce on the offering.I have not seen many young Indian batsmen, or for that matter batsmen worldwide, do a particularly good job of picking up Murali’s wrong’uns. Once you commit yourself, it becomes very difficult to counter him. Vaas too is brilliant in confounding batsmen with movement either way without any discernible change in action. Not to forget Nuwan Zoysa who is as stingy as they come. Zoysa has worked in the shadow of superstars butwithin the Sri Lankan team we know his worth. Jayasuriya as a bowler is not an insignificant force either. All these years, Sri Lanka have been indebted to these four bowling aces. What is the best way to play them? It is something which Dravid and Chappell, and all those young and not-so-young Indian batsmen will have to find out themselves. Should they take them on or simply try to play out the quota of overs from Murali and Vaas? It would be dangerous to go with a pre-conceived notion.A lot depends on the wicket, surface, conditions and the field setting. A good coach and captain should not lose sight of the abetting factors. It was only last year when I predicted that India could win the 2007 World Cup. Since then they have slipped up dramatically. Their consistency is missing and I also believe they are ageing a bit. Look at Australia – advancing years are asking them a few tough questions too. Not that there should be question-marks about VVS Laxman and Anil Kumble’s presence in a one-day side. Without them India would have been too light on experience in Sri Lanka.Sri Lanka are nearly impregnable at home because the conditions suit their composition to the hilt. At the moment, their batsmen are a little untidy but the Tests against West Indies would ease them into a good rhythm for the triangular series. They are a good unit which would look to play to their potential against India. Somehow, they never fail to getinspired at the sight of an Indian team.

Shoaib Akhtar and Mohammad Asif attended the preliminary hearing of the tribunal investigating the doping case at the Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) headquarters in Lahore today. Both players – suspended from the Champions Trophy after testing positive for nandrolone, a banned steroid – recorded their statements separately. They were asked to submit their written statements for the next hearing, scheduled for October 26, after a break in proceedings for .”The hearing lasted around four hours as we had to do some initial work and then heard Akhtar and Asif,” Shahid Hamid, the chairman of the tribunal, told reporters. “We have given them reports of their tests and have asked them to submit their written statements in the next hearing.” The tribunal consists of Hamid and Intikhab Alam while Waqar Ahmed, the third member and medical expert, was unable to attend the hearing.The tribunal is expected to return its findings in two weeks, after which the PCB will decide on a final course of action. Both players are liable to face bans of anywhere between one and two years. Hamid said that the players were briefed about the procedures and added that they had the option of bringing their lawyers in the next hearing.”I cannot predict any time frame but would try to reach the conclusion as early as possible. We will give fair chance to both the players and then submit our report to the PCB. Both Akhtar and Asif have been told about the procedure of the doping matters.”The PCB also stated that both players will have the opportunity to get their B samples tested after the tribunal hearings. The B sample is still with the laboratories and will be used for testing only if the players request for it.

Bangladesh U-19 210 for 6 (43.5 overs, Saqibul Hasan 82, Mehrab Hossain jnr 62*) beat England U-19 208 (49.4 overs, Ali 70) by four wickets
ScorecardA superb 62-ball 82 from 15-year-old Saqibul Hasan guided Bangladesh to a four-wicket win over England in the opening match of the tri-nation Under-19 tournament at Savar.Hasan came in with Bangladesh struggling on 19 for 2 chasing a target of 209, but the next six overs produced 60 runs as he cut loose. Although Mehdi Hasan was then dismissed for 28, Hasan was joined by Mehrab Hossain jnr , and they added 85 for the fourth wicket at a little over four an over. By the time Hasan, who hit 13 fours and two sixes, fell in the 28th over, Bangladesh were almost home and dry. Although two wickets in successive balls by Moeen Ali caused a few jitters among the home crowd, Bangladesh eased home with more than six overs in hand.England won the toss, but Varun Chopra, the captain, must have questioned the wisdom of his decision when he edged the first ball of the match to wicketkeeper Mushfiqur Rahim. The innings never really gathered any momentum against some good bowling, although Ali’s 70 did ensure that they passed 200.It was another setback for the England side who came into this tournament on the back of a whitewash in a five-match series against a BCB High Performance side.The next fixture will be between England and Sri Lanka on Friday. Sri Lanka will be confident as they beat Bangladesh when the sides met in the Afro-Asia U-19 tournament in India earlier this month.

Warwickshire have confirmed that Heath Streak has been appointed as their captain for the next two seasons, a move which means that he has possibly played his last game for Zimbabwe.Streak, who has spent the last two summers at Edgbaston, was reported to have grown disenchanted with the constant in-fighting inside Zimbabwe cricket. Although he was been offered a new contract by Zimbabwe Cricket he did not sign it, and the offer from Warwickshire led to him quitting international cricket.But he has not ruled out a return at some time. “I cannot rule out playing for Zimbabwe in the future, outside my Warwickshire contract which takes priority,” he said. “I am not sure what the Zimbabwe Cricket plans are. I have not discussed anything with them, and I’m still willing to play club and provincial cricket.”Streak joined Warwickshire in 2004, and although his appearances were limited by international calls, he made a strong impression and his appointment will be welcomed by both players and spectators alike.”I am honoured to be appointed as captain,” Streak said. “The club has a proudhistory and I’m looking forward to working with the players, staff and supporters to bring more silverware in the future.”I’ve enjoyed playing for Zimbabwe immensely but I have decided to retire from international cricket in order to fulfil my contractual commitments with Warwickshire. I hope that one day I can assist Zimbabwe cricket again in its efforts to develop.”Mark Greatbatch, the county’s director of cricket, said: “Heath has had an outstanding international career and we are fortunate to secure his services as he has all the qualities that are vital in a club captain. All the players and management staff are looking forward to having him back next season.”

The South Zone under-14 tournament match between Kerala and Andhra atthe Ukku Stadium in Vijayawada meandered into a tame draw on the finalday on Friday. Andhra due to their first innings lead earned fivepoints while Kerala three.Resuming at the score of 35 for no loss on the third day, Kerala losteight wickets while scoring 215 runs in their second innings. RohanPrem was the top scorer with a fine unbeaten 106 off 287 balls. Rohanduring his stay shared a 75 run seventh wicket stand with SajithMuralidaran (30) in 30.3 overs.Earlier, Andhra took an 82 run first innings lead. The Andhra total of194 was boosted by a fine 114 by K Raghunath Reddy. Reddy who lostmost of his partners early found unlikely company in the no 10 batsmanTRLR Shekar (3) and put on 59 runs for the ninth wicket. Reddy did thebulk of the scoring during the innings, which witnessed only two otherbatsmen M Praneet (31) and AG Pradeep (10) reach double figures.On the opening day, Kerala opted to bat and were bundled out for 112.Rohan Prem with 33 runs was the top scorer. Raghunath Reddy (3 for 25)along with Moshin Basha (2) and Shekar (2) shared the wickets forAndhra.