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The English domestic season will again be launched in the Middle East next year with the Champion County, Nottinghamshire, taking on MCC in Abu Dhabi with the possibility of using the fixture for further trails of coloured cricket balls.The match will take place from March 27 to 30 at the Zayed International Cricket Stadium which hosted the match between Durham and MCC in 2010. That match was a day/night encounter using pink balls as MCC took the opportunity to explore the possibility of floodlit first-class cricket.No decision has yet been taken on the exact nature of the 2011 match, but it could include the use of a new white ball and players using a variance of coloured clothing. These details will be discussed at an MCC cricket committee meeting in Perth before the third Ashes Test later this month. An MCC spokesman told ESPNcricinfo that they are keen to work closely with the ECB and ICC to make the most of the fixture.John Stephenson, the MCC head of cricket, hopes to build on last year’s success. “It is an excellent ground for competitive first-class cricket and, played in good weather, will be ideal preparation for the players ahead of an English season. The fixture also provides a perfect platform for us to use as valuable research and development for the world game.”MCC believes they made positive strides with the pink ball although reviews from those who took part in the match were mixed with concerns raised about the seam. However, Michael Di Venuto and Kyle Coetzer didn’t appear to have many problems as they both hit hundreds to set up Durham’s 311-run victory.MCC also confirmed that Lord’s had successfully bid to host the CB40 final at the end of the 2011 season. The match will be played on September 17 and will be a traditional daytime encounter rather than the floodlit final between Somerset and Warwickshire last season. That game attracted criticism for making it difficult for fans to attend because of problems getting home and also because of the cooler evening weather in September.

The Pakistan players will sign a revised code of conduct with a strong emphasis on anti-corruption ahead of the upcoming tour to UAE, team manager Intikhab Alam has said. The Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) revised its standard touring code following harsh criticism from the ICC over the spot-fixing controversy and the board’s handling of the issue.”There are one or two things that are new in this code of conduct for touring,” Intikhab told ESPNcricinfo. “We have tightened up on indiscipline and have reiterated that there will be zero tolerance for it. There are a couple of new points about corruption, being wary of agents and a few other things.”Taking note of the continuing decline in Pakistan’s cricket governance in the wake of the spot-fixing controversy, the ICC had decided to closely monitor the running of the game in the country. The international body also set an ultimatum to the PCB to implement a series of effective anti-corruption measures within 30 days, starting October 13. The revised code of conduct is seen as one of those measures.”The new code of conduct is the first step towards fulfilling the ICC’s recommendations,” Intikhab told AFP. “We hope the new code will help us in dealing with the disciplinary and corruption problems.”The Pakistan team is currently undergoing a training camp in Lahore ahead of the UAE tour, and Intikhab said the players attended a 90-minute briefing about a number of issues that have dogged the side in recent times. “They were briefed about corruption in the game, doping and discipline and I hope the players will be responsible enough to show good conduct during the tour and in home matches.”

Zimbabwe Cricket has announced a US$1 million-plus kit sponsorship deal with sports goods manufacturer Reebok.”We have reached an agreement with Reebok to sponsor our national team and domestic league for three years,” Zimbabwe Cricket managing director Ozias Bvute told . “The agreement is worth nearly US$400,000 annually.”The deal, which was reached earlier this month, with Reebok brings to an end a long-term tie-in with the local manufacturers, Faith Wear. Reebok, a subsidiary of the German sports manufacturer Adidas, has also secured kit deals with the Sri Lanka and South Africa teams.The sponsorship deal is the latest in a series of positive measures taken as Zimbabwe bids for re-entry into the Test arena. Earlier this month, Zimbabwe Cricket said it planned to renovate two of the country’s main venues, Harare Sports Club and Mutare Sports Club. The work will result in an increase in crowd capacity and an improvement in playing and spectator facilities.

Ernest Hilaire, chief executive of the West Indies Cricket Board (WICB), believes that major changes will have to be made to the management structure of Caribbean cricket in order to deal with the challenges posed by the modern-day game, not least the growing tendency for the region’s top players to turn down central contracts in favour of lucrative deals in Twenty20 tournaments such as the Indian Premier League.Consulting firm Deloitte Touche Tomhatsu has been commissioned by the board to compile a study of cricket’s changing landscape, and Hilaire believes that their findings will have to be taken seriously by the region’s administrators. “Once that exercise is complete, you will see some fundamental changes to how West Indies cricket is managed,” Hilaire told ESPNcricinfo. “Anyone who thinks we don’t have to change are just fooling themselves.”Hilaire said the board had asked the three players who have turned down their central contracts for next season – Dwayne Bravo, Kieron Pollard and captain Chris Gayle – how to ensure such a situation does not arise again in the future.”Two of them have said they are willing to share with us how this matter can be dealt with,” Hilaire said. All three of them will be considered for selection for West Indies and the board will assume that they are available to tour at that time.Bravo and Pollard, followed by Gayle, turned down the one-year central contracts offered by the WICB last month. The contracts require the players to make themselves available for the West Indies team at all times, something the three players – all of whom have forged prominent careers in domestic Twenty20 competitions including the IPL – were reluctant to do.”I don’t know that we should necessarily condemn them or chastise them [for doing so],” Hilaire said. “I don’t think it is the right decision and I will tell them that.”Under the current rules of international cricket, those who want to play in overseas competitions, such as the Big Bash in Australia or the lucrative IPL, must get clearance to do so from their national board. Hilaire said the WICB has not received any requests from any players so far but the board is re-evaluating its liberal policy of issuing NOCs.”We need to be a little more circumspect. It is not ideal to allow somebody to turn up just before a Test match. It doesn’t make sense, but we did it. On the eve of a major series, we can’t have key players exposed to exhaustion or injury.”We want to know that when we are selecting players, there are some assurances that they will participate in preparatory activities and be at the standard that we need.”Gayle arrived in England two days before the first Test at Lord’s in May 2009, two days after his scheduled arrival. He was granted two further days so that he could squeeze in one more IPL match with the Kolkata Knight Riders .”We are not against players trying to maximise their earnings,” Hilaire said. “You should go out and earn money. You are a professional sportsperson. But there are other interests and we have to figure out how best to protect all the interests involved.” He admitted that it is unlikely everyone will be completely happy but believes it is possible to come up with a framework that can satisfy all the stakeholders in West Indies cricket.Hilaire said the board has not had any discussion on whether Gayle should be replaced as captain. The West Indies selection committee will be meeting in Jamaica in a few days and will select a captain and vice-captain for the tour of Sri Lanka.”The selection committee is empowered to pick a captain and should do so. We [the WICB board of directors] can only hold a discussion after we receive a recommendation.”Hilaire reiterated that the board is committed to the rejuvenation of West Indies cricket and is encouraged that 22 of the 25 players offered central contracts have signed them. “We have a new generation that are eager to play for West Indies on the international stage. They understand the importance of playing for the West Indies and it is an opening for us to build on that.”He said the board was focused on specific activities and programs geared at getting players ready for international cricket, as well working on broadening the base by facilitating more youngsters to take up the game. “There is competition from other sports more now than ever before. Post 15 [years of age] we should not lose players to basketball, football, tennis and swimming. If you don’t have programs, they will go into other sports that do offer programs.”The WICB also wants to improve its relationship with West Indies Players’ Association (WIPA), as the two organisations have to work together, but Hilaire said the relationship is “still a work in progress,” and that there will always be moments where the board and WIPA do not agree. However, the important thing, according to him, is that everyone agrees “that some direct and aggressive intervention is needed” to turn West Indies cricket around.

ScorecardRelegation-threatened Warwickshire inched closer to County Championship Division One safety on a gloomy, interrupted day at the Rose Bowl by claiming all three bonus bowling points against Hampshire.Hampshire, resuming on 147 for 6 with the settled pairing of Dominic Cork and Liam Dawson at the crease, were quickly on the back foot in overcast conditions which once again favoured the bowlers. Veteran Cork, so fluent on Monday in bludgeoning his way to an unbeaten 41, was dismissed by Darren Maddy (4 for 37) without adding to his overnight score, bringing an end to his and Dawson’s 64-run partnership.James Tomlinson followed for a solitary single just three overs later, snared by Rikki Clarke (two for 47) to leave Hampshire once again in the mire on 156 for 8. The wicket brought youngster Danny Briggs to the middle to join his similarly youthful team-mate Dawson, and together the pair dragged the hosts’ total towards respectability.Dawson in particular impressed, going to his half-century while seemingly relishing playing the anchor role to the innings. His scoring remained slow but he demonstrated well-placed trust in his partner as the fresh-faced pair rotated the strike confidently to put on a 50 partnership for the ninth wicket.With Warwickshire’s bowlers growing increasingly frustrated by Briggs’ unexpected resistance, the Rose Bowl gloom – which had been threatening to descend all morning – finally settled in. The break was enough to give Warwickshire the fresh impetus they needed as after a paltry six minutes off the field, Imran Tahir returned to finally break the 60-run ninth-wicket partnership by removing Briggs for a well constructed 27 off 43 balls.A tired Dawson (74) followed just an over later as his stubborn 173-ball stay finally came to a close when he edged a tame Keith Barker delivery behind to leave Hampshire 218 all out. All eyes were cast skywards as the heavy cloud cover lingering over the Rose Bowl made the pavilion lights shine ever brighter, but Warwickshire were able to get their reply underway.In chilly conditions, Warwickshire made steady progress to their innings, skipper Ian Westwood and Varun Chopra moving to 29 without loss in the face of a fiery spell from former Ashes winner Simon Jones.Jones, making his first-class debut for Hampshire, troubled both batsmen with good pace, consistent line and some extravagant seam movement on a helpful pitch. But as the Welshman inched ever closer to a maiden first-class wicket in Hampshire colours, so the murky Rose Bowl light finally became too dim, bringing play to a close some four hours early.

A Jim Allenby half-century and 4 for 33 from Dean Cosker helped Glamorgan towards only their second Clydesdale Bank 40 victory of the season with a three wicket success over Sussex at Swansea. The defeat is a setback to Sussex’s chances of reaching the competition semi-finals and was not the best way to warm up for Monday’s Friends Provident t20 clash against Nottinghamshire at Trent Bridge.Alex Hales returned to haunt Durham by smashing an unbeaten 96 in Nottinghamshire’s five-wicket Clydesdale Bank 40 triumph at Chester-le-Street. On his last visit to the ground, 21-year-old Hales held a controversial boundary catch which turned a Twenty20 match in his side’s favour. He insisted the catch was clean and Dale Benkenstein, who was on 40, took his word for it when a six had been signalled.Ravi Bopara put his England snub behind him by hitting a superb half-century as the Essex cruised to a nine-wicket Clydesdale Bank 40 victory over the Northamptonshire at Wantage Road. Young opening batsman Rob Newton blasted his first half-century in senior cricket, making 66 off 78 balls, but some indifferent batting from his team-mates meant the Steelbacks could only reach 198 for 9 off their 40 overs.Veteran seamer and Hampshire captain Dominic Cork held his nerve in a last-ball finish in Canterbury to clinch a tense two-run win over Group C rivals Kent. Chasing Hampshire’s par-for-the-course 40-over total of 238 for 7 on a tricky St Lawrence pitch, Kent needed 13 off Cork’s final over of the game with six wickets still intact. Home opener Joe Denly chipped a single from the first ball to reach a 107-ball century – the first by a Kent player in this year’s competition – but it was Cork who kept his cool.Mike O’Shea hit 90 to help the Unicorns pull off a shock three-wicket victory over stunned Worcestershire in a thrilling match at Kidderminster. Needing 278 to win, they reached their target with two balls to spare. O’Shea was the hero with his best one-day score which included five sixes and seven fours off 62 balls. He put on 115 in 13.3 overs for the fourth wicket with Keith Parsons who made 47 to leave embarrassed Worcestershire still searching for their first Group A win of the season after seven attempts.Ajmal Shahzad marked his selection in the England Test squad with a four-wicket haul as Yorkshire maintained their 100% winning record with an eight-wicket win over Middlesex. The 24-year-old, selected in the 12-man Test squad to face Pakistan on Thursday, took 4 for 34 as Yorkshire coasted to a comfortable victory. Shahzad’s efforts together with a fine unbeaten innings of 86 by Jacques Rudolph means Yorkshire top Group B with five wins from as many games.A Marcus Trescothick cameo helped Somerset maintain their 100% record in this season’s Clydesdale Bank 40 with a crushing 94-run victory over Surrey to stay top of Group A after six matches. Batting first on a magnificent pitch at The Oval, the Sabres posted a massive 303 for five thanks to a whirlwind 69 off 47 balls from Trescothick and a stand of 145 in 19 overs between Zander de Bruyn and James Hildreth – a Somerset record for the fourth wicket in one-day cricket against Surrey.Warwickshire strengthened their grip at the top of the Group C table with a 25-run victory over Leicestershire, despite a brilliant unbeaten century and career-best bowling figures from James Taylor. Warwickshire opener Neil Carter laid the foundations for the Bears’ win with the third limited-overs century of his career, scoring 101 out of their challenging total of 272 for 8.

Match Facts

Sunday, July 18, 2010
Start time 1000 (0430 GMT)Will Muttiah Muralitharan have a memorable swan song before he starts to enjoy his retirement?•Associated Press

The Big Picture

For one last time in Test cricket, that most controversial bowling arm of our times will release the ball. For one last time, many of us will enjoy the experience of watching the greatest offspinner the world has seen. For one last time, some of us will call him a chucker. For one last time, every one of us will laugh as we see him slog joyously to the on side. For one last time, the slow motion replays will linger on his conspiratorial smile, on that whirring right arm, on those eyes that almost pop out at release, on that final shudder of the body after he pivots and comes to rest, and on his eager face that follows the trajectory of the ball. In the years to come, it will be something to say that we have seen Muttiah Muralitharan bowl.Beyond Muralitharan, there is a Test match to be won or lost. Unless Harbhajan Singh is inspired by Murali’s farewell, it’s difficult to see India taking 20 wickets. Sri Lanka are the favourites to win this – it’s their game to lose. Forget what the curator has said, the pitch will take turn. It’s the modern master’s farewell game and he is eight short of 800 wickets. Don’t kid yourself that the pitch won’t offer turn.As always, everyone will expect the batsmen to dominate in a Sri Lanka-India series. Never mind Yuvraj Singh, even Rahul Dravid and VVS Laxman have much to prove after their poor outing last time around in 2008. M&M assaulted and harassed them then; they might not have Ajantha Mendis to contend with in the first Test, but Rangana Herath is no slouch either. And Lasith Malinga is back to Test cricket after two and a half years and he will be keen to make his return a memorable occasion. Sri Lankan batsmen should, in theory, have it relatively easier as India’s bowling looks the weakest it has been in years.

Form guide

India WLWWW
Sri Lanka LLDWW

Watch out for…

Who can stop Tillakaratne Dilshan from smashing a ton against this Indian attack? If he can play with controlled aggression, a hundred is there for the taking. And he can set the tempo by denting Ishant Sharma’s already fragile confidence with a few boundary hits. It should be much fun watching Dilshan bat in this Test. Will he be over eager to attack? Can he show judicious shot selection?Gautam Gambhir has already shown that he is the one of the best players of spin in this Indian side. Watch out for his inside-out drives against Muralitharan and cuts against all spinners. He rarely plays from the crease, preferring to go forward or press back.

Team news

India (probable) 1 Gautam Gambhir, 2 Virender Sehwag, 3 Rahul Dravid, 4 Sachin Tendulkar, 5 VVS Laxman, 6 Yuvraj Singh, 7 MS Dhoni (capt and wk), 8 Harbhajan Singh, 9 Ishant Sharma, 10 Pragyan Ojha, 11 Abhimanyu Mithun/Munaf Patel Sri Lanka (probable) 1 Tharanga Paranavitana, 2 Tillakaratne Dilshan, 3 Kumar Sangakkara, 4 Mahela Jayawardene, 5 Thilan Samaraweera, 6 Angelo Mathews, 7 Prasanna Jayawardene, 8 Rangana Herath, 9 Muttiah Muralitharan, 10 Lasith Malinga, 11 Dammika Prasad/ Chanaka Welegedara

Pitch and conditions

There have been short and sharp showers everyday leading up to the Test. Being so close to the sea, the weather in Galle is hard to predict, but if the trend continues, we shouldn’t lose too much time.Here’s what the curator said about the pitch: “There is a little bit of grass left to hold the pitch together. Any wicket will turn on the fourth, fifth day, and this should go to a fifth day. It’s up to the players, though.” Does it mean he doesn’t think it will last the full distance?! Wait and watch!

Stats and trivia

• Chanaka Welegedara has dismissed Rahul Dravid thrice in two Test matches. He took Dravid’s wicket in the warm-up game that preceded this Test as well.
• Ishant Sharma averages 43.50 against Sri Lanka as opposed to his career bowling average of 34.93. His record, though, improves slightly if you just take his performances in Sri Lanka; he has picked six wickets at 35.50. Only a brave man would punt on him to improve his record in this series.
• Muralitharan has taken 97 Indian wickets; 57 of those have come in Sri Lanka at an awesome average of 24.84. He has dismissed Sachin Tendulkar 7 times and Rahul Dravid 6 times in Test matches.
• Rahul Dravid needs 30 more runs to reach 9000 runs while batting at number three in Tests. If he gets there he would become the second batsman after Ricky Ponting (9447) in the annals of test cricket to accumulate over 9000 runs at the no 3 position.
  

  Quotes

  “Hopefully I’ll get some sleep tonight with my stiff neck ! Had a good practice game gambhir looks in great touch “
  Yuvraj Singh tweets ahead of first Test”What really disturbs me is, this is another cricket series India are going into with bowling being their major weakness. My feeling is that you will get high-scoring draws and the odd result in between.”Sanjay Manjrekar states his concerns

Simon Katich has questioned Australia’s limited preparation for the Test series against Pakistan after the first day of their two-day game against Derbyshire. The match is the only chance for the Australians to adapt to facing the red Duke ball before the first Test at Lord’s, which starts on Tuesday, and Katich would have preferred a four-day encounter.”I honestly don’t know why we’re playing a two-day match, but there’s obviously a reason for it,” Katich said after the first day. “It must be the schedule. It’s the first time I’ve been on a tour where we haven’t played at least a four-day match, at least one if not two before the Test series. I’m not sure, I haven’t asked anyone why.”Australia have been busy with one-day cricket and Twenty20s against England and Pakistan over the past few weeks, and most of the Test players have been involved in those games. Of those who were not in the limited-overs squad, Marcus North has been at home in Perth during the winter and faced only 32 balls in Derby, Ben Hilfenhaus had a decent run during the Australia A series in Queensland and Katich, who made 22, has been playing for Lancashire.”I feel like it’s been good to have gotten over here earlier, even though it wasn’t a lot of four-day cricket I got to play one game,” he said. “It was better than being at home practising indoors.”Practising at home, you can’t really replicate the same sort of conditions because you have to train indoors because of the weather, and you’re facing either the machine or not the same balls. There’s only one way, to play in the same conditions with the same balls you’re going to cop in a Test match.”But while a two-day game is not ideal ahead of a Test match, Michael Hussey and Ricky Ponting made the most of the opportunity by scoring centuries against a Derbyshire attack lacking experience. The second day will be just as important for Hilfenhaus, Doug Bollinger, Mitchell Johnson and Steven Smith, who are likely to form Australia’s attack at Lord’s.”It was a good hit-out,” Katich said after Australia posted 436. “Most of the guys had a pretty good stint out in the middle, just getting used to facing red balls again. The boys have been facing white ones for the last month. Hopefully tomorrow the weather will be good and we’ll be able to get our full day in the field and give our bowlers a bit of a hit-out as well.”

The Champions League Twenty20 governing council has named the venues for the second edition of the tournament to be held this year in South Africa. The Wanderers stadium in Johannesburg, St. Georges Park in Port Elizabeth, Kingsmead in Durban and Centurion Park in Centurion will host the competition that will feature ten of the top domestic Twenty20 teams, from September 10 to 26.”South Africa is widely regarded as a top international host nation, having successfully hosted most major international cricket events in recent years,” said Shashank Manohar, the league chairman. “The Governing Council is satisfied with the four venues that Cricket South Africa have recommended. We are excited about the future of CLT20, and call on the South African public to come out and support the second edition of this tournament, which features the best of the best.”Gerald Majola, the CEO of CSA, was pleased with South Africa getting the opportunity to host another major sporting event. “CSA is proud to be hosting CLT20 in what is an iconic year for South Africa with the soccer World Cup currently being hosted here. We are encouraged by the eagerness of the four host venues to make this tournament a success.”CLT20 has already picked the interest of South African fans, especially with the Lions and Warriors (South African teams participating in the tournament) having qualified for this prestigious event. We are confident of hosting a successful CLT20.”Following the the 2003 one-day World Cup, South Africa have been one of the favourite destinations for multi-team cricketing tournaments, including the inaugural World Twenty20 in 2007, the second edition of the Indian Premier League and the Champions Trophy in 2009.The inaugural Champions League was held in India last year, with New South Wales beating Trinidad & Tobago to win the event that was contested by 12 teams. This year’s event will feature ten teams, nine of which have already qualified. The tenth spot will be taken by a representative from the West Indies following the Caribbean Twenty20 tournament in end July. The CLT20 2010 will feature 23 matches, with the tournament format and match schedule to be decided at the next governing council meeting on June 28 in Singapore.Teams contesting Champions League T20 2010:
From India – Chennai Super Kings, Mumbai Indians and Royal Challengers Bangalore
From Australia – Victorian Bushrangers and South Australian Redbacks
From South Africa – Warriors and Highveld Lions
From New Zealand – Central Stags
From Sri Lanka – Wayamba Elevens
From the West Indies – TBC

The controversy over the nomination of John Howard for the role of ICC’s president-designate has taken an interesting turn with Sharad Pawar, the president-in-waiting, throwing his weight behind the process that chose the former Australian prime minister. Pawar’s stand, which also received backing from ICC president David Morgan, comes in the wake of opposition, led by the Zimbabwe, South Africa and Sri Lanka boards, to Howard’s nomination.The ICC statement, released following a meeting between Morgan and Pawar in London, did not mention Howard by name and made it clear that the final decision on his candidature will be taken by the ICC board.”The ICC had decided that the next vice-president would be nominated by Cricket Australia and New Zealand Cricket. Those two boards have been through a very thorough and robust selection process to suggest a candidate,” the statement said, “and now the ICC Board has to consider and decide on this nomination.”As it stands, the ICC board is divided on the issue, with Cricket South Africa and Zimbabwe Cricket leading the move to prevent Howard’s nomination. On Thursday, Sri Lanka expressed their support to the African bloc. Howard needs seven of the ten votes in his favour, and with three countries already against him, one more negative vote will rule him out. India is expected to play a crucial role in the final result.”I am sure we can reach a decision which will be unanimously supported by the ICC Board,” the statement quoted Pawar as saying.”The board of the ICC debated and approved, some two years ago, a nomination process for the presidency and the vice-presidency,” read the joint statement issued by Morgan and Pawar. “The unanimous decision of the Board at the time was that the presidency and the vice-presidency should be decided on a rotational basis.”All the previous nominations to the ICC presidency have been unanimous.