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.

After some sincere efforts over the past 18 months to revolutionise Pakistan’s cricket with the help of Advisory Council, the PCB Chairman was not satisfied with the level of success. In a further move towards progress he has dissolved the Council and replaced it with 5 committees to run cricket in the country.Since some of the old `advisors’ have been retained, the Chairman still hopes to benefit from their know-how. This may be worthwhile for maintaining continuity and one cannot challenge their on field `cricket savvy, however, the fact remains that administering the game is entirely different from playing it. To become better planners and administrators, they need to re-orientate their thoughts and actions.It is unfortunate that the Chairman who happens to be a diehard cricket lover and a man of good intentions was not provided the right guidance to run the affairs of cricket. There were chinks in almost all fronts, starting from team selection to the administrative functions of the Board. While others suffered from one blemish or the other, Zahid Bashir the Marketing Advisor, was perhaps the only official who distinguished himself by giving a boost to the Board’s treasure chest.During the last 18 months the Pakistan Cricket team has had its ups and downs like some of the other cricket teams. Even the once mighty West Indies and England, the pioneers of cricket have recently performed poorly. Yet, there is no cause for despair and this decay in Pakistan’s performance can be arrested with a little re-orientation of policies and preferences.It is unfortunate during the period under discussion the emphasis remained on undue expansion of the Board. A new structure was put in place and at times it seemed that everything done in the past was thought to be no more than trash. Also there was some over-patronisation of newbies at the expense of experienced players and even cases of over-projection of achievements.Being an ardent cricket fan and a former Board official who worked for promotion and love of the game and not for the money, I feel frustrated to see my old organisation criticised in the media from right, left and centre. Having served the Board in three stints of over 8 years, the HQ at Gaddafi Stadium is more like a second home to me. The tarnishing of PCB’s image for faults and follies that can be rectified with a little imagination and thought, pains me.Considering the love for Pakistan’s cricket like a cherished treasure and the PCB’s next objective of winning World Cup 2003 as a national aspiration, I have decided to put across my views on the subject in a series of articles with the hope that they will be given dispassionate thought. I feel some of the comments may taste like a bitter pill but shall have to be swallowed for the good of Pakistan’s cricket. So here goes!First of all I would say that `yes men’ are the biggest enemies of any well-run organisation. Real friends or advisors are those who speak frankly and explain what is right and wrong. To prosper from this, the Chairman shall have to alter his thinking from military precision to a sportsman and develop the tolerance to accept disagreements as well as criticism.Cricket administration is a science, one learns by playing cricket at some level, acquires thorough knowledge of cricket through research and study and gains administrative experience by handling different aspects of the game from club to national levels. The essential pre-requisites being flexibility of thought, administration skills particularly when dealing with the common man, love for the game, dedication and other traits of this nature.It is a specialised field and just as officials or organisers cannot win test caps, similarly, all test cricketers cannot be good organisers and efficient managers of the game. Those handling affairs of the Board and the newly formed committees must be a blend of players as well as administrators so that they can reinforce and balance each other to hit at the correct solution of a problem. They must be able to bring both sides of a picture to the top management.Each establishment has its peculiar characteristics, organisation, constitution, aims and objectives, resources, spheres of influence, national as well as public demands, hopes and aspirations. It cannot be efficiently run on the pattern of a radically different and disciplined institution like the army.We must also try and adapt only those portions out of the ICC structure that fit our own norms and systems in this country.Just as the present set up took over, the Board’s establishment grew disproportionately to its role and the work involved. The offices as well as stadiums were stuffed with many irrelevant people, most of them having no cricket back ground.To quote one example: a doctor, instead of practicing his skills on the needy, was appointed Media Manager with no qualifications and experience as such. He toured half the world as Assistant Manager with his last stint being Cricket Analyst for the New Zealand tour. Having recently reverted to medicine, he is said to have cost the Board a lot of money and to what avail?In the old days the Cricket Board was run by half a dozen officials, it has now around two-dozen. Part of this could be explained if there had been a corresponding increase in the amount of cricket played but not really so. Commenting on such an unwieldy establishment, one of the national dailies remarked `the PCB had opened an employment exchange for the job seekers’. Why must the Board earn a bad name for pleasing people who are not specialists for the jobs they hold?From my assessment and experience of running the Cricket Board, except for increased activity on the commercial side that spins money from sponsorships, nothing else has changed. Moreover, there is no expansion in the field of domestic cricket and even the visits of foreign teams to Pakistan are far less than they were in the past. Thus the expansion in Marketing is justifiable the rest is not.I would, therefore, humbly suggest conducting `right-sizing’ of the Board to reduce expenditure, gain efficiency and save the Board from undue criticism.
(To be continued)

Mighty English batsman Adrian Rollins will return to captain Taranaki in New Zealand next season.”It will be my last,” the two metre tall opener told CricInfo. A growing family and two years of non-stop cricket will mean the Northamptonshire opener won’t continue after a successful run of form in 2000/1.”The main reason I went was to get my game back and get back into a positive frame of mind,” the powerful right-hander revealed.”I like to score quickly,” he continued. I normally go out and just try to attack the bowling.”However after seven seasons at Derbyshire, Rollins hoped for new lease of life at Midlands’ neighbours Northants backfired.”Statistically it was the worst season of my career,” the 105 kg heavyweight admitted. In 2000 he scored just 636 runs at 26.50.”I haven’t done as well as I should have since coming here from Derbyshire,” he conceded, “but New Zealand regained my positivity.””I tried to play anchor last year for some reason, but I’m back to the old style now,” he said candidly.That old style has an Ashes link. Aussie openers Michael Slater and Matthew Hayden have been Rollins’ opening partners for much of his career, first at Derby, then Northampton.”They rubbed off on me,” said the man who first played county cricket on the same day as his brother, former Essex wicketkeeper Robert, back in 1992.Twelve first-class centuries later, Rollins has still to reach his potential. An early season leg injury hampered his progress after averaging “about 70″ for Taranaki in New Zealand’s second-string Hawke Cup competition. The only team Rollins feared in NZ was Manawatu, captained by Jacob Oram and featuring many Central Disticts’ players.Rollins revealed he may not have won the call-up to Dipak Patel’s ambitious side if it wasn’t for the presence of prolific English professional Ben Smith.Rollins first played in New Zealand for Kaponga in 1993/4.”I enjoy it a lot over there,” he concluded. “I’m definitely going back.”

England’s Under-19 cricketers are facing the problem of how to contain a powerful West Indies outfit which is already 289 runs ahead with five wickets still standing.With one day remaining in the First Test at Leicester, West Indies are 254-5.England took their overnight score from 207-7 to 243 all out thanks largely to a last-wicket stand of 32 between James Anderson and Andrew McGarry. Left-arm seamer Kenroy Peters took his haul to six wickets.Then Grenadian left-hander Devon Smith stroked 90 off 162 balls, with 13 foursand a six over long on, to record his fifth score of 50 or more against Englandon this tour.Before he was caught at mid on, Smith shared a third-wicket stand of 101 in 100minutes with Tonito Willett from the idland of Nevis.Willett scored 75, with 14 fours off 113 balls, before being caught behind offLancashire seamer Anderson, who took three for 45 in his 17 overs.

Jimmy Maher plundered a career-best 217 as Glamorgan put themselves in astrong position going into the last day of their CricInfoChampionship Division One Clash with Essex at Sophia Gardens.Thanks to the Queenslander, Mike Powell and a 98-run partnership downthe order between Darren Thomas and Andrew Davies, Glamorgan were able todeclare their first innings on 546-8 – a lead of 219.By the close Essex openers Darren Robinson and Paul Grayson had survived 19overs to leave Essex in their second innings on 64-0, 155 behind.On 102 overnight, Maher took the attack to the Essex bowling to score 94in the opening session of the third day.And shortly after lunch the Australian went past 200 and his previousbest score of 208 not out for Queensland against South Australia threeyears ago before he was dismissed by youngster Justin Bishop, ending afive-hour vigil that included 324 balls with 32 fours.Maher and Mike Powell resumed the Glamorgan innings on 188-2 – 139behind Essex – but proceeded to knock off the deficit in just 32 overs.By lunch the partnership was worth 240 in 74 overs.Maher added 284 in 74 overs for the third wicket with Powell, who wenton to score his second century of the season off 222 balls.By tea Glamorgan had reached 474-6 – an overall lead of 147. But Thomas,who passed 500 first-class runs for the summer, and Davies tookGlamorgan to the 500 mark.

England had the better of the first day of the Third and final U19 Test against the West Indies as the Riverside, Chester-le-Street.England, needing a win to level the series, were indebted to an incisive opening spell from Lancashire’s Kyle Hogg for their favourable position.The Lancashire seamer took the key wicket of Devon Smith, caught behind by Matthew Prior off the first ball of the match, to end a prolific run; Smith has scored 54, 90, 169 and 15 so far this series. He then bowled skipper Brenton Parchment for 23 before Justin Bishop weighed in with two wickets to reduce the West Indies to 63-5.Narsingh Deonarine resisted for the tourists with a patient 54, but when he was bowled by Monty Panesar on 149, the end was in sight for the West Indies. Their final total of 166 all out was particularly disappointing considering they had won the toss and elected to bat.Ian Bell had little chance to enjoy his call-up to the England Academy team as left-arm pace bowler Kenroy Peters soon dismissed him and Gary Pratt as England began their reply.That left in-form Durham batsman Nicky Peng, and Yorkshire’s Joe Sayers to see England to the close on 54-2, trailing the by 112.

Earlier today at The County Ground in Taunton Somerset Chief Executive Peter Anderson told me, “Somerset are busy gearing up all their powers of persuasion in preparation for the forthcoming meetings to discuss the future organisation and structure of first class cricket.”Mr Anderson continued, “The Chief Executive has been active writing articles for the national press and cricketing periodicals which have drawn letters of support from all areas of the country.”The Chief went on, “It was very pleasing to note that Graeme Hick has come out in favour of County Cricket – it needs more players to do likewise.”Mr Anderson added, “County Cricket is not all bad, and it is a silly notion to think that the standard of County Cricket is ever going to be the same as Test Cricket. It’s far to simple to say that if it can’t match Test Cricket it’s no good.”He concluded, “In the meantime Somerset are well advanced for the Regional Academy which will up and runing by November 1st. We hope to announce the new intake towards the middle of October. There are some outstanding young cricketers which augers well for the future of both Somerset and England cricket.”

Somerset coach Kevin Shine told me earlier today that he felt Richard Johnson’s call up for the England tour to India was “well deserved”.The coach,who Johnson said at the time of his signing was one of the reasons why he joined the Cidermen went on, “This goes to show that his move from Middlesex was the right one for everybody. He helped us to win the Cheltenham and Gloucester Trophy, and has almost achieved his ambition of playing for England.”The tall quick bowler has found the wickets at Taunton to his liking and during the season took 62 first class wickets including five hauls of five wickets or more in an innings. He has also become quite a favourite with the crowds around the boundary edge.The coach concluded, “We all know that Johnno is good enough, and now he has got his chance for England.”

At a meeting held this afternoon at Lord’s, an ECB Bowling Review Group chaired by the Board’s Cricket Advisory Committee Chairman David Acfield approved an interim report on the Sussex pace bowler James Kirtley’s bowling action for submission to ICC.The report is required under Stage 1 of ICC’s Bowling Review procedures which was activated when James’ action was reported by the ICC Match Referee during the ODI Series in Zimbabwe in October 2001.The report contains sophisticated scientific analysis of James’ action and it has identified issues which he will work on over the next four months with the assistance of Bob Cottam, ECB’s Bowling Advisor, and other Sussex CCC and ECB support staff.James’ action will be reassessed by the ECB Bowling Review Group before thestart of the 2002 season and an updated report will be submitted to ICC.

Any Indian fan who has been following the news from the Indian camp during the last few days will have every reason to feel disgusted and demoralised. The second Test against South Africa, due to start at Port Elizabeth this Friday, has now become all-important for Sourav Ganguly’s men after they lost the first inside four days. Yet, instead of putting up a united front and looking professionally at their failings, the Indians seem to be in great disarray. And guess what the hullabaloo is about – the opening slot indeed!Rahul Dravid, who in Ganguly’s own words had volunteered to be the opener ahead of the Bloemfontein Test, apparently is not besotted with the idea anymore. So the Indian camp has been mulling over the various possibilities – would VVS Laxman best serve us at the top of order? Or will Deep Dasgupta’s elevation make more sense? Might Sourav Ganguly not be the best choice?John Wright, in particular, seems to be expending much verbal energy in getting the issue resolved. On Monday, he began to question VVS Laxman’s credentials as the Indian No. 3. Giving his reading of the issue, Wright said, “I think it is a choice between Dravid and Laxman, and possibly Dasgupta.””It is tough on Laxman, but in three Tests, he doesn’t have a fifty. Sometimes the need of the team is greater than the individual needs. It is all about the national team, it is not about what you choose or who you choose,” he further remarked. “By that token, Dravid has the right to play in the middle-order. He is averaging 50 plus in Test cricket and has a very important part.”There are, thus, clear indications that at least Wright wants Laxman to move up the order and create a slot for Dravid in the middle. What is bewildering, though, is the tactics that Wright seems to be employing to convince Laxman.By all accounts, the stylish Hyderabadi batsman is not in the least bit inclined to don the mantle of opener yet again. In fact he had announced, even during his days in the wilderness, that he was ready to wait until he found a place in the Indian middle order. Now after a few great deeds on the international arena, it is understandable that he expects to be left in peace to concentrate on the job at hand.The Indian coach might have dredged up Laxman’s performances as Indian No. 3 to support his argument that the latter could not fare any worse as an opener. But was this, diplomatically and otherwise, the right line to take?Probably not; all it could possibly do is put additional pressure on Laxman, who has not really done all that badly in his last five innings – there have been at least a couple of brilliant cameos from him. And before that, he had the stupendous series against Australia. Yet, here he is, finding himself painted into a corner, with his coach also having turned hostile. Couldn’t Wright have shown greater sensitivity?Also, since when has the media turned into a message-board where the coach posts his daily observations? If Wright felt Laxman must do the job, he should have first talked to the rest of the think-tank, and then personally convinced the batsman. Even in that situation, the phraseology used in explaining the situation to Laxman should have suggested understanding and sympathy, and not seemed a crude effort at arm-twisting. The media, meanwhile, should only have been involved after the final decision was made.It is one thing for the journalists to sit and speculate, and quite another for the Indian coach to tell the world, on an almost regular basis, that he is at sixes and sevens.The truly great leaders are almost inscrutable to the outside world. They move in the most silent and yet most efficient manner. This is a lesson that Wright would be well advised to learn; on a foreign tour in alien conditions, the last thing India should be doing is conceding further ground by way of improper planning and less-than-average media-management skills. Wright, then, must begin by restraining his impulses to seek catharsis every time a journalist comes his way.