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Brad Hogg has no intention of giving up the mantle of Australia’s leading one-day spinner to Dan Cullen, the rookie offspinner, before next year’s World Cup. However, he believes Cullen is the man to take over the role of leading Australian spinner in the future.Hogg, 35, said that the hunger to compete in the World Cup was greater than it had ever been for him. “As things get closer I think it was halfway through last year [it became] one of those goals where I wanted to defend something that I have done before,” he told the . “It is good that Dan has got a crack and he has a little taste of international cricket. He is probably going to be our main spinner once Warne and MacGill go in the Test arena and hopefully he can play a big part in the one-dayers as well from now on.”Following Shane Warne’s retirement from one-day cricket, Hogg has carved out a handy role for himself and picked up his 100th wicket during the first match against Bangladesh at Chittagong on Sunday. His tally rests at 101 wickets at 28.88 – with an economy rate of 4.52 – in 83 one-day matches, and he averages just over 20 with his late-order hitting. Cullen conceded just 36 from his ten overs on debut, but it was Hogg, with 3 for 37, who was the stand-out bowler on a spin-friendly pitch in Chittagong.Hogg believed he was in the form of his career and expected himself and Cullen to both make the squad for the World Cup in the Caribbean. “They took two spinners to the last World Cup and I can’t see why they won’t this time,” he said. “It looks like it is going to be Dan or myself or either one of us, but we have to keep performing to keep our spots. As they say you don’t give a sucker an even chance.”Both bowlers are set for another crack at Bangladesh at Fatullah tomorrow with Australia naming an unchanged side for the second game of the three-match series.

The start of South Africa’s next domestic season could be threatened by the Griqua Diamonds’ decision to go the legal route in their efforts to become one of the six franchises who compete in the country’s premier local competitions.Griquas have filed a High Court order seeking to stop the implementation of the franchise review committee proposals accepted by the United Cricket Board (UCB) of South Africa’s General Council on June 11 and have named an astonishing 24 respondents – all six franchises, the provinces, the companies that run the main stadiums, the UCB, the South African Cricketers’ Association, the men who conducted the independent review (former Minister of Education Kader Asmal and legal experts John Smith and Norman Arendse), the Minister of Sport and Recreation, Makhenkesi Stofile, and even their own sponsors, De Beers, the diamond mining giants.When a new franchise system was adopted for South African domestic cricket in 2003, Griquas were grouped with Free State in a Central Region franchise to be based in Bloemfontein. But the Kimberley-based union failed to agree with their Free State counterparts on how to combine forces and Griquas went to court in a bid to stop the inaugural season (2004-05) of franchise cricket.They halted their legal action when the UCB agreed to a fresh independent review of the franchise system, conducted by Asmal, Smith and Arendse, at the end of last season. The review suggested Griquas join with Free State in a 50/50 split of the Central Region franchise, with the headquarters to alternate between Bloemfontein and Kimberley.The Griqua Diamonds are still not happy and on Tuesday will seek an urgent High Court interdict setting aside the UCB General Council decision of June 11.The General Council decision of June 11 was on the back of a 16-0 vote in favour of the review committee’s recommendations. Franchises were awarded to teams based in Durban, Bloemfontein, Cape Town, Centurion and Johannesburg, with East London and Port Elizabeth agreeing to alternate as headquarters of the Eastern Cape franchise.If Griquas are successful in getting the number of franchises increased, they will have to fight off stiff competition from Port Elizabeth, Benoni and Paarl/Stellenbosch for the extra places.Port Elizabeth is South Africa’s fifth biggest city and the home of the country’s oldest Test venue – St George’s Park. Benoni is in the Witwatersrand, 30 kilometres east of Johannesburg, but their provincial team – Easterns – was one of the strongest in domestic cricket, winning the four-day SuperSport Series competition in 2002-03. After the switch to franchises they joined forces with Northerns, based in Centurion.The Boland Cricket Board is based in Paarl, with a prestigious university situated in nearby Stellenbosch, and the area is a major producer of talent, especially among the coloured (mixed race) community.Griquas abstained from voting on June 11, but have been vehemently opposed to the franchise system from the outset. In 2003, when the new structure was first adopted, their representative on the UCB General Council said “we will stop this just like we stopped the Gatting tour”. Mike Gatting led a rebel English squad on a tour of South Africa in 1989-90, but it was cancelled due to unprecedented protests in most South African cities by anti-Apartheid demonstrators.Griqua Diamonds chief executive Brian Kidson said “he had nothing to say yet” when asked about their reasons for going to court.Ken Borland is a journalist with the MWP Sports Agency in South Africa.

ScorecardBangladesh completed a hat-trick of victories in Group Two of the Plate Championship with an eight-wicket demolition of Ireland at Chittagong.Both sides were already through to the semi-finals before today’s match, but the incentive for the winners was a match against Scotland, while the losers knew they would have the stiffer task of facing Australia.Ireland chose to bat first, knowing that Bangladesh have stuttered when chasing small totals in the tournament so far, against Canada and Uganda. But Ireland were unable to set any sort of challenging target, crashing to 141 all out in the 47th over with Nadif Chowdhury, the left-arm seamer, the pick of the bowlers with 4 for 14.This time Bangladesh’s batsmen made few mistakes in their reply. Opener Nafis Iqbal at last found form with the bat, hitting 86 not out to guide his side to victory for the loss of only two wickets in 30 overs.Iqbal was named Man of the Match and said he was pleased to have made some runs for his team. He said, "It is not about scoring centuries, it is all about winning the match for the team. It was just important today that we won the match."Adrian Birrell, Ireland’s coach, singled out Iqbal for his batting performance. "All credit to Nafis for a very good innings, he batted very well against us," he said."I’m not too disappointed with our performance, we just came up against a better team on the day. We will now turn our efforts towards beating Australia and hopefully we may even meet Bangladesh in the final."

Relentless pressure from Australia’s bowlers, in particular Brett Lee, proved too much for England in a pulsating finish to the second VB series final at Melbourne. Lee took three wickets in the 48th and 50th overs to deny England after their victory target had appeared well within reach. Australia have taken the series, with the third final at Adelaide now unnecessary.England’s reply began badly, with Brett Lee’s express pace again undoing Marcus Trescothick, who found Andy Bichel at third man with an upper cut. The promotion of Ronnie Irani to number three backfired again as the Essex captain, after swinging Williams for one mid-wicket boundary, was well caught there in the same over close to the rope by Andrew Symonds, whose sunglasses served him well against the evening glare.Knight, who had looked uncomfortable against Lee, was a little unfortunate to pick out Symonds at backward square leg with a firm push. But Michael Vaughan and Nasser Hussain settled England down, Vaughan with fine timing either side of the wicket and Hussain with some good fortune, edging Lee between keeper and slip and almost perishing when the ubiquitous Symonds couldn’t quite hold on to a chance by the rope at deep square leg.Shane Warne, making his one-day farewell to the MCG, was held back until the 23rd over. When he did come on he was feted by his home crowd, but it was Brad Hogg who made the breakthrough in the next over, when Hussain (28) lost his off stump hitting across the line. But Alec Stewart joined Vaughan to maintain the momentum, with 13 runs coming off Warne in the 27th over. A Matthew Hayden misfield on the mid-wicket boundary gave Vaughan his half-century.Australia made the breakthrough they desperately needed when Vaughan, on 60, clipped Warne straight to Ricky Ponting at short mid-wicket. With the pressure mounting Stewart responded magnificently, driving Warne for ten runs off three balls to keep England on target. He went to his half century with an inside edged two in the same bowler’s next over, but his terrific effort was also halted by Warne, when an airborne cut was held safely by Lee at short third man.A booming boundary over extra cover got Andy Flintoff under way, and another in Warne’s final over brought up England’s 200. Paul Collingwood kept his cool with a succession of ones and twos, but Lee struck immediately on his return to york Flintoff for 16. Ian Blackwell lashed Lee to a diving Damien Martyn at deep gully, and the force was back with Australia.A leg-side yorker was deflected on to Andy Caddick’s stumps off his toes, and James Anderson was run out off his second ball, looking for a single after failing to make contact. After being favourites to win five overs from the end, England had the game stolen from them at the death.Earlier an unbeaten 71 from Brad Hogg enabled Australia to fight back after a middle order collapse. A batting onslaught in the last ten overs propelled Australia to 229 for seven, with Hogg receiving sterling support first from Lee and then from Bichel.In a twist so typical of this unpredictable game Warne, having been cheered all the way to the wicket on his farewell batting appearance in ODIs, was caught and bowled first ball by Irani. If there was dismay as he walked off, the cheering more than made up for it in the end, as Australia’s champion was chaired off by his team at the moment of victory.

Gloucestershire carried on from their overnight score of 405 for 4, before declaring at a massive 603 for 8. Rob Cunliffe, who was not out overnight, was eventually dismissed for 120, while his overnight partner Chris Budd remained unbeaten on 159 at the declaration.Chris Budd, who plays club cricket for Thornbury Cricket Club, is a former Gloucestershire Under-19 player and is currently at the University of Bath.For Somerset Keith Parsons ended with 2 for 58 in 14 overs, Graham Rose took 2 for 84, and Cornishman Jason Hall 1 for 40 in his 8.5 overs.Matt Bulbeck did not take the field for the second day after suffering a hamstring injury on Tuesday, which is hopefully not too serious.The Somerset reply started at 2.30pm, and by close of play they had 218 for 4, with opener Chris Hunkin making 55, Mike Coles 46 and Graham Rose remaining unbeaten on 70 at stumps.

Peter Chingoka, the Zimbabwe Cricket chairman, has given an upbeat interview to the Sydney Morning Herald, although he refused to be drawn on some of the more contentious issues affecting his country.In a week when the ICC cleared the Zimbabwe board of financial wrongdoing, although still accused it of “serious financial irregularities”, Chingoka was understandably bullish, further buoyed by his own position within the ICC hierarchy.”Your company does its books, and sometimes money gets sent to the wrong places,” Chingoka told the newspaper’s Alex Brown. “We have adopted a new accounting protocol. KPMG [the independent auditors appointed by the ICC] found that there was no misappropriation from any individuals. The audit showed no single individual benefited from this. I am happy.”Asked about the many accusations from within Zimbabwe accusing him of mismanagement, Chingoka was equally dismissive. “If players have these opinions, then they must produce evidence. Our books are clean in that respect. Ask the players what the problem is, not me. There is always going to be criticism. I am not going to run around with a flag saying I’m innocent.”But on other issues, he was less forthcoming. He refused to discuss Australia’s refusal to tour in 2007 or on the ongoing problems he is having obtaining a visa to enter the UK or on his arrest in 2006 on charges of breaching Zimbabwe’s draconian foreign exchange regulations.

Michael Hussey is happy with his batting form despite scoring only 20 runs in his opening five World Cup matches. While Australia’s top order has fired, posting four 300-plus scores, Hussey has struggled at No. 6 with 4, 2, 5 and 9.”I’ve been hitting the ball well in the nets,” Hussey, who has dropped two spots to No. 3 in the world rankings, told AFP. “But I haven’t really had too many opportunities.”The strong form of the batsmen above him has limited Hussey’s time at the crease and he may be shuffled down another spot if Australia prefer Brad Hodge to Mitchell Johnson for the game against England on Sunday. “I’ve only been coming out in the last three, four or five overs when you have to take a lot of risks,” he said. “Unfortunately for me they haven’t come off in the last couple of games and I hope that will turn around in the next couple of games.”That’s part of one-day cricket and part and parcel of my job. It’s an important job in the team and one I really enjoy a lot. But I know there are going to be times throughout this tournament when I might have to come in when the team is in a bit of trouble and resurrect the innings. I need to be ready for that when it comes.”Hussey knows his role and is happy alongside Australia’s power hitters. “I can’t bat like a Ricky Ponting or an Adam Gilchrist or an Andrew Symonds, I have my particular style,” he said. “In our team we complement each other very well. It’s important for me to stick to my plans and my game.”

Michael Vaughan, the England captain, has said that he is making slow but steady progress in his bid to be fit for the summer, and also stated his desire to play in next year’s World Cup.England’s selectors will name their squad this weekend for the first Test against Sri Lanka at Lord’s which starts on May 11. It seems increasingly unlikely that Vaughan will be fit in time to play.”I’m just trying to tick all the right boxes during my rehab. I’ll play when the knee’s ready, not when the schedule suggests,” he said. “It’s important I do get it right and once I do start playing again, it’s not just for a short period but hopefully for a long time.”I’m deep into rehab spending hours in the gym,” he continued. “The most frustrating thing is that you’re doing two or three good weeks and then you have a setback and then another good week and another setback. The problem is the knee had been giving way. It’s not as bad as it was but it still happens.”Asked about his future, he smiled. “It’s interesting that so many people have an opinon. So many thinsg get said and a lot of it’s negative. But I’m positive I’ll play again. Hopefully it’s with three lions on my chest and hopefully it’s as captain.”And he rebuffed suggestions he was planning to stop playing one-day cricket. “I’d love an opportunity to go the World Cup, fully fit and, hopefully, as captain. But that’s not my decision.””Michael still has some way to go before returning to action but is getting stronger and stronger by the day,” David Byas, Yorkshire’s director of cricket, told the Yorkshire Post. “Progress is being made, albeit gradual progress, and neither ourselves nor England are putting him under pressure.”Vaughan was forced to miss the India series after a recurrence of a long-standing knee injury, but he has been batting in the nets this week as well as undergoing gentle fielding practices.

Hopes that the transition from the old to the new in Kenyan cricket would be a smooth affair were scotched when Sharad Ghai, the embattled chairman of the Kenya Cricket Association, told a local radio station that he was unhappy with the way that existing board officials had effectively been blocked from standing in this month’s elections.The new constitution barred the officials unless they were nominated as delegates by the provincial associations, but Ghai told Capital FM Sport that this was not in accordance with the decision made by Percy Sonn, the ICC’s vice-president, when he decided on the new rules.”There is one clause that is the issue, but as KCA we are not happy with that clause,” Ghai said. “It says that the people who are eligible for the election are among those 20 who have been nominated. The way the clause has been put yesterday, gives the right to only those 20 and morally we think that is wrong, and I remember Sonn … made a ruling that anyone can stand.”Ghai said that this would not block the elections set for May 22, but added that he would be raising the matter with the Africa Cricket Association.The changes to the constitution were made to avoid a repetition of the situation where a small number of people could effectively seize control of the national association, and sources close to the process maintain that the ruling made at the weekend was exactly what had been agreed.Although Ghai, who is facing a court case after being charged with misappropriating $3.3million of KCA funds, has insisted he will not stand for election, his comments will worry his long-standing opponents who fear that some of the old guard might not be willing to go quietly.

Scorecard

South Australia won a thrilling ING Cup day-night match at the Adelaide Oval, squeezing home against Tasmania by three wickets and with one ball to spare. Chasing 251, Darren Lehmann anchored the chase with 83 before Graham Manou scored the winnings runs – and also hit the sponsors’ sign, earning him A$50,000.Shaun Tait got SA off to a great start as he took 8 for 43 in Tasmania’s innings of 250. That was the first ever eight-wicket haul by a bowler in Australia’s domestic limited-overs competition, enough to earn him the Man of the Match award.After SA had slumped to 106 for 5 in their chase, Lehmann, playing his first game since October having recovered from an achilles injury, guided SA over the stormy waters with 83 from 88 balls. He added 130 with Mick Miller, who scored a valuable 51, but after they both fell, the game was back in the balance.In a nail-biting finish, SA needed nine to win with five balls remaining, and Manou, the wicketkeeper, smashed a six over midwicket which hit the sponsors’ sign, meaning he won a $50,000 prize for the second time in two seasons.He scored two off the following ball to level the scores, and then hit a four past midwicket off the fifth ball of the over to win the match, after facing only six balls in his innings of 14.