Imran Khan, former Pakistan captain, said he doubted England would ever emulate Australia’s success and become the world’s top team because they lacked a quality spinner like Shane Warne.Imran told AFP, “England is a young emerging side and exudes the confidence of Australia but for them to emulate Australia-like success is difficult because they do not have a spinner of Warne’s quality.”Michael Vaughan’s team closed the gap on world champions Australia when they regained the Ashes with a 2-1 victory on Monday, their first win over Australia since 1986-87.Imran praised Vaughan and allrounder Andrew Flintoff for their roles in England’s success. “Flintoff is the pivot around which the England team revolves. He is a genuine allrounder,” he said. He added that in Vaughan, “England has a very determined sort of character as captain, quite unpretentious.”Following the conquest of Australia, Vaughan said his side would only achieve the top ranking if they beat Pakistan in the November-December series and India early next year.But Imran, who took 362 wickets in 88 Tests and led Pakistan to their first series win over England in 1987, said England would struggle on the subcontinent’s slow pitches.Imran added, “They have a fast-maturing pace attack but when they come up on wickets which do not have support for pace then they do not have the variety that Warne provides.” Warne led the Australian attack with 40 Ashes wickets.”I do not see them attaining the consistent success rate of Australia until they have a matchwinning spinner.”But he also had reservations about Australia’s future at the top, saying the side was on the decline because their players were ageing and the Ashes had shown that their batting could collapse under sustained pace pressure.”Australia is in decline… the most notable thing of the Ashes was that the Australian batting was exposed for the first time against a sustained pace attack.”The myth of Australian batting’s invincibility was broken, except for one innings at Lord’s when they did well after the England team was completely demoralised by a Glenn McGrath spell,” said Imran.He also said Jason Gillespie’s lack of form was also throwing the Australian attack out of balance.Pakistan, Imran said, could match England’s attack if they had fit bowlers but their batsmen need to improve their form. “They need a fully fit Shoaib Akhtar, Mohammad Sami and Umar Gul and an in-form legspinner, Danish Kaneria. But for me the concern will be Pakistan’s batting.”Pakistan hosts England for three Tests and five one-day matches starting in Multan from November 12.

New Zealand women have appointed Steve Jenkin as their new coach on a part-time 19-month contract.Jenkin has previously coached the Australian’s women team to World Cup glory in 2005 and was also a senior coach at Australia’s Centre of Excellence. “New Zealand Cricket (NZC) is pleased to appoint Steve as White Ferns coach,” said NZC chief executive Martin Snedden. “He has a proven track record at international level and will take the White Ferns forward both as individual players and as a team.”

Michael Lewis, the fast bowler from Victoria, has been investigated for alleged ball-tampering during the Pura Cup game against Queensland at the Gabba. In what was the first such video review in the history of Australian domestic cricket, Lewis was found to have applied his thumbnail to the ball but the umpires, stating that he hadn’t done anything illegal, let him off with a warning.Lewis was caught in suspicious circumstances on camera on two occasions: first, applying his thumbnail to the ball; and second, in the way he was holding the ball, with both hands over the top. Norm McNamara and Dave Orchard, the on-field umpires, reviewed the footage with Greg Shipperd, Victoria’s coach, and Cameron White, the captain, at the end of the day’s play and decided Lewis had no case to answer, saying the matter had been “dealt with” on the field.However, when Lewis and White were asked to comment by the media, they denied being addressed by the umpires, claiming that their on-field discussions with McNamara and Orchard were in regard to a different incident. Lewis had earlier hurled the ball at Clinton Perren, the Queensland batsman whose second-innings 90 had set his team up for a win, and this forced the umpires to intervene. “We wouldn’t be so stupid as to do something illegal when we know the cameras are on us,” Lewis has been reported as saying by the , a Melbourne-based daily.During the second day’s play, Lewis had requested McNamara and Orchard to clean the ball after it had been soiled by sand and dirt when retrieved from the boundary. Both umpires consented, and Lewis apparently cleaned the ball with his thumb. Later in the day’s proceedings, Lewis was seen to have applied his thumbnail to the ball. After being shown the footage, Graham Dixon, Queensland’s cricket chief executive, brought the matter to the attention of the umpires, adding that he was suspicious over the manner in which Lewis held the ball during delivery. The umpires watched the video and decided Lewis had done nothing illegal, and a warning was issued to Lewis that such instances were not permissable without the umpires’ consent.Despite Victoria’s claims of being scrutinised because of the intense rivalry between both teams, this incident has been taken seriously owing to another case earlier this year. An investigation into a ball-tampering episode involving an assistant coach during a Victorian second XI game was dismissed due to lack of evidence, but the vigilance with which such cases have been approached has put players under pressure. Further, Victoria’s bowlers have a reputation of generating reverse-swing, and Lewis – who maintained that he along with Rodney Hogg, the former Test bowler, had devised a legal method – has been recognised as one of the chief exponents of the craft.

The Afro-Asia A-team tournament scheduled to be held in Bangladesh in the last two weeks of January has been postponed following the withdrawal of Zimbabwe.Only four countries – Bangladesh, Sri Lanka, India and Kenya – remained in the tournament, and India are thought to have expressed reservations as to the strength of the side they could field because of other commitments.A spokesman for the Afro-Asian Cricket Corporation said that it was hoped to re-arrange the tournament for the end of February.

Allied Bank (ABL) have paid one million US dollars to become one of the co-sponsors of the Pakistan-India series, a top bank official said here on Saturday. Naveed Masud, ABL’s Senior Executive Vice President, told reporters that ABL has signed an agreement with Nimbus Sports, a move that marks the bank’s arrival as a sponsor of a major international sports event.ABL has come under the microscope for closing down its sports department last year but Naveed said that the move does not mean that the bank has stopped supporting sports. “We have changed our policy and now rather than supporting individuals, we are spending our sports funds to sponsor events.” Naveed said that sponsoring sports events like the Pakistan-India series would give “us a lot of mileage”. He asserted that ABL would continue investing funds in the sponsorship of sports in the coming years.Meanwhile, after signing the contract, ABL has joined Allianz, Hutch and Grassim Cement as sponsors of the Pakistan-India series. Allianz are the title sponsors for the three-match Test series while Hutch are the lead sponsors for the five-match ODI contest.”The decision to sponsor the India-Pakistan 2006 series was taken with the knowledge of the passion of the game shared by both the nations and our intention to be an active part of the same,” said Khalid Sherwani, ABL President, in a media statement. A Nimbus official welcomed ABL’s entry as one of the series sponsors. “Allied Bank has beaten Indian banking sponsors to the line on this series — one of most important events in the cricket calendar in 2006,” said the official.

Ahead of his first foreign series as a Test captain, Rahul Dravid admitted that leading India against Pakistan was something he hadn’t imagined he would do, when he began his career in 1996, and hoped the team could repeat the success that they had achieved on their last tour. Sporting the understated confidence that has been his hallmark all these years, Dravid, along with Greg Chappell, the coach, spoke about the exciting challenge and was upbeat about his side carrying on their superb run.A few hours before boarding their flight from Delhi to Lahore, for a 45-day tour involving three Tests and five one-dayers, Dravid, Chappell and Sharad Pawar, the president of the Indian board, addressed the media and stressed the importance of cricket helping in fostering better relations between the two countries. “There will be tremendous interest in this series,” said Dravid, “and a number of Indians and Pakistanis staying abroad will also be following us closely. A tour to Pakistan is special and we have fond memories of the last trip in 2004.”He confessed that he didn’t envisage captaining India in such a big series and said he had taken things step by step. “I didn’t think I would captain India when I made it to the Indian team in 1996. All I thought of was to establish myself as a batsman. After some years I got the vice-captaincy, then the captaincy. So it’s been a gradual progression. It’s not going to be a major difference this time. I have always thought it was important to play well abroad, in different conditions and I think I will aim for the same here. I think we have a good side with everyone contributing. It’s important we continue to do the same.”Chappell echoed his views and was looking forward to the “marquee series of the subcontinent”. He spoke about his visit to Pakistan as a player and termed it as a huge honour to be able to watch the events of the current series from the sidelines. “It promises to be an exciting series as both teams are in good form. The Pakistan team is playing with confidence and on the way up. We’ve had a few good results off late and hope to continue in the same vein.”He revealed that India would continue their policy of “strategising”, with different players being called upon to perform different roles. “We’ve tried to build some flexibility into our side,” he continued, “to cover certain eventualities and hope to implement some of those strategies in the next few weeks.” While talking about the importance of preparing for the World Cup in 2007 – “we hope to settle into a groove as soon as possible and mould ourselves into a unit” – he insisted that every series was vitally important in itself.Though he admitted he wasn’t completely satisfied with the performance of the top order, Chappell was buoyant about things falling into place. “We have three openers and all are really good players. Whichever two we choose for the first Test, we will be confident of them doing well.” He was looking forward to Zaheer Khan’s return, after a four-month lay-off, and felt he had “done whatever we needed him to do”.Neither were willing to be drawn into the topic of individual battles and stated that one player, like Shoaib Akhtar, was not going to make too much of a difference to the team effort. “Any bowler who is doing well is an asset to the team,” continued Dravid, “and one can’t target one or two players. Anyone in form is going to add value to your side and we need to look at them as a team rather than as individuals.” On a lighter note, he pooh-poohed suggestions of this being his biggest challenge to date and cheekily added,” My biggest challenge at the moment is to try and get my son to sleep when he wakes up in the middle of the night.”Pawar, who revealed that he will be traveling to Lahore for the first Test, talked about the professionalism and transparency that the new administration were trying to put in place. He also wished the team well and, like the former Prime Minister Atal Behari Vayjpee had done last time urged the team to not only win matches but also hearts.

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

Adam Gilchrist generated a high-energy batting performance that gave Australia the ideal warm-up for the VB Series finals as they thrashed South Africa by 57 runs at Sydney. Gilchrist slammed 88 from 66 deliveries to guarantee a massive total and Ricky Ponting, Damien Martyn and Michael Hussey cashed in to catapult the side to 6 for 344. Only occasionally were the visitors in sight of the huge target.South Africa must now win their final game against Sri Lanka on Tuesday to meet Australia in the best-of-three finals and they must hope Shaun Pollock recovers quickly from a bruised heel. While Pollock rested, his bowling team-mates collected serious bruises from the home side’s batsmen which must heal if they are to make a further impact on the tournament.Gilchrist starred in the first act of an incredible performance, Martyn and Hussey finished it off with an 81-run stand from 9.1 overs, and the bowlers made sure their opponents rarely travelled at more than five an over. Mark Boucher and Herschelle Gibbs gave South Africa a chance of keeping pace with an escalating run-rate, but each time they closed in a serious disruption arrived and they had to start again.Needing more than seven an over from the outset, they lost Graeme Smith to a sensational one-handed, legside take from Gilchrist before Boeta Dippenaar (27) and Gibbs (46) departed after bright but ultimately inconsequential rallies. A one-day personal best of 76 drove Boucher and he clung on to the hope of a successful pursuit, but after launching two sixes in the same Brad Hogg over the pressure of having to find – or clear – the boundary told.His attempt at a third six fell about five metres short and was caught by James Hopes. As the match lost its impact despite the excitement of Johan van der Wath’s four sixes, spectators thronged to the exit, which was a turnaround from the opening ten overs as people raced to their seats.Gilchrist lit up the innings in an amazing example of power driving and was on target for a huge score – he admitted at the dinner break he thought about a double-century – until he miscued a pull from Charl Langeveldt in the 18th over. His one other moment of difficulty was an lbw shout on 65, but the rest of the time he charged at the South African attack with 14 boundaries.His fifty came in the eighth over from 29 deliveries as van der Wath and Monde Zondeki, who was subbed in the 14th over after giving up 42 from four, were punished. Driving, cutting and flicking, Gilchrist was unstoppable no matter how many men Graeme Smith placed on the offside.Smith delayed his second Powerplay after Australia were 121 from 15 overs and the ploy worked as Gilchrist went to the relief of the bowlers and the disappointment of a buoyant crowd. Ricky Ponting took Gilchrist’s lead and drove superbly as he collected eight boundaries in his 72 from 61 deliveries and it was such a powerful team display that it felt like Martyn was crawling, even though a fierce pull brought up his half-century from 55 balls.Hussey played his usual role of late-over storming to pound 47 from 33 and it seemed Australia could do nothing wrong as mis-hits and full-blooded strokes found the fence. In partnership with Martyn, who added a fine 79, Hussey dominated in muscular fashion and ended the innings with four fours and a six. It was an appropriate conclusion to a reign of terror begun by Gilchrist.The total lifted Australia, who were again missing Glenn McGrath after he ruled himself out due to his wife Jane’s cancer. He has also withdrawn from the finals to spend time with his family.South Africa had few moments of joy despite the early departures of Simon Katich and Andrew Symonds. van der Wath, who spilled 82 runs against Australia on Friday, was thrashed for 76 today while Andrew Hall gave up 69, and Smith and Johan Botha were pleased to go at the relatively quiet pace of five an over. The side has one game to set things right if they want a chance for finals revenge.

South AfricaGraeme Smith c Gilchrist b Lee 6 (1 for 7)
Boeta Dippenaar c Hussey b Clark 27 (2 for 52)
Herschelle Gibbs c Gilchrist b Symonds 46 (3 for 105)
Justin Kemp c Bracken b Hogg 28 (4 for 172)
Mark Boucher c Hopes b Symonds 76 (5 for 199)
Ashwell Prince run out 25 (6 for 236)
Australia
Simon Katich c Kemp b van der Wath 11 (1 for 65)
Adam Gilchrist c Boucher b Langeveldt 88 (2 for 138)
Andrew Symonds c Hall b Smith 7 (3 for 168)
Ricky Ponting c Gibbs b Botha 72 (4 for 203)
Michael Clarke c Rudolph b Hall 27 (5 for 263)
Damien Martyn run out 79 (6 for 344)

Cricket Australia is hoping next summer’s Ashes will build on cricket’s current capacity as the sport attracting the most new players. Figures released by Cricket Australia showed an “unprecedented” growth in participation of 11.3% since 2005, which it said was the most rapid increase of any sport over the past decade.However, James Sutherland, the Cricket Australia chief executive, told delegates of a nationwide development conference an extended vision was necessary to continue the trend. “Cricket will never have a better opportunity than with the coming Ashes series to achieve sustainable growth for the long term,” Sutherland said.”We have to be smart about how we use this opportunity as a platform for the future. Paramount to this is our ability to prioritise and balance our huge investments in grass-roots cricket and elite-level cricket. If we are serious about cricket being Australia’s favourite and only truly national sport, we have to find ways to ensure all Australians have the opportunity to develop an affinity for the game.”Australia has 532,000 players and the sport achieved a 12.6% rise in traditional cricket over the past 12 months along with a 26% increase in entry-level participation. The Northern Territory’s rate was 45.6% higher while metropolitan figures showed a 7.9% improvement.

Kenya’s veteran wicketkeeper-batsman Kennedy Otieno has vowed to quit international cricket after being dropped for the opening match of the ICC Intercontinental Cup which starts in Nairobi today. Otieno, 34, was angry at being left out of the side following a dramatic slump in form.The selectors said Otieno and his opening-partner David Obuya, who was also dropped, had failed to deliver during the recent tour of Bangladesh and Zimbabwe. Otieno scored 8 runs in three innings in Bangladesh before being dropped for the final ODI.”I am very bitter right now and am even considering retiring from international cricket,” he said. “I am very disappointed considering what I have done for this country. “I am crying for justice. I should be treated fairly and judged fairly as the whole top order failed in Bangladesh.”Otieno had been a virtual ever-present in the national side since 1996 and he is one of only three players – Steve Tikolo and Maurice Odumbe being the others – to have played more than 60 ODIs for Kenya.

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.