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Ian Ward has announced he will leave Surrey at the end of the season, citing the need for a new challenge and fresh motivation as the reason.Ward did not play for Surrey in today’s National League match against Glamorgan at Sophia Gardens, but was in the commentary box instead. And talking on , Ward insisted his departure from Surrey was not acrimonious, but said: “I feel my future lies elsewhere, I want a new motivation in a new place. I’m looking forward to a challenge somewhere else.” He didn’t let out where that somewhere else will be, although he did admit he had received interest from a few counties.Keith Medlycott, Surrey’s coach, said that financial reasons also played a big part in Ward’s departure. He said: “Cricket is a business and we have to stay within a set budget, and players’ salaries play take up a big part of that.”Ward, who played five Tests against Pakistan and Australia in 2001, also said he hoped this move would help him revive his international career. “I am desperate to resurrect my England career. I feel a move away with new ideas and new drive is what I need.”

England 416 (McGrath 81) beat Zimbabwe 94 (Johnson 6 for 33) and 253 (Harmison 4-55, Anderson 4-55) by an innings and 69 runs

James Anderson and Steve Harmison picked up four wickets apiece, as England completed their second consecutive innings victory over Zimbabwe shortly before 4.45pm on the third day of the second npower Test at Chester-le-Street. Zimbabwe, led by Travis Friend, made a better fist of things in their second innings of 253, but they were always staring at a heavy defeat after yesterday’s first-innings debacle.For the first time in the series, England had to work hard for their wickets in a much more even contest. While Richard Johnson tried but failed to recapture his magic touch, Anderson again showed maturity beyond his years by rising to the challenge with 4 for 55. Harmison, who also took 4 for 55, too showed his worth as a strike bowler by stepping in to break two irritating partnerships, before wrapping things up with two wickets in consecutive overs.Anderson got things going for England last night with the wicket of Mark Vermeulen, and he carried on the good work throughout the day, while Harmison delighted his home crowd with his pace and aggression. And just when Nasser Hussain wanted to finish things off, it was fitting that Harmison blasted out the last two wickets. He produced a snorter of a lifter to a helpess Ray Price, and started the celebrations with a spearing yorker to get rid of the last man Douglas Hondo.However, even though it was another crushing win inside three days for England, today wasn’t the easy ride many were expecting. Friend stood up to England with an aggressive and defiant 65 not out. He took his chances along the way, but it was just what Zimbabwe needed to restore some much-needed pride.With Sean Ervine, Friend added 54 for the sixth wicket, and treated the crowd to some rare quality strokeplay. Ervine cracked a quickfire 36, including a straight six off Ashley Giles, and Friend took his lead. Although he didn’t move his feet much, he drove the ball with equal ease off both the backand front-foot, and he fittingly brought up a well-deserved fifty with a glorious back-foot drive off Johnson, to whom he took a particular liking. For the first time in the day – and arguably, in the series – runs began to flow freely for Zimbabwe. But just when Hussain needed a wicket, Harmison stepped up to remove Ervine.Ervine was undone by Harmison’s extra pace when, trying to get his bat out the way of a high-bouncing ball outside off stump, he got a thick inside-edge which cannoned into his stumps (185 for 6). Ervine had scored 36, and it was a good effort considering Zimbabwe’s position and disastrous start to the afternoon after all the hard work they put in during the morning session.In the morning Dion Ebrahim had played sensibly, and with some determination, for a patient 55 before suffering another dubious lbw decision from Darrell Hair. With support from Stuart Carlisle (28), Ebrahim helped Zimbabwe to a respectable position at lunch, and the prospect of batting throughout the day looked a possibility.But Grant Flower played on to James Anderson for 16 in the first over after lunch, and when Giles picked up Tatenda Taibu soon afterwards, the writing was well and truly on the wall. And after Ervine’s and Friend’s sprightly partnership ended, Zimbabwe’s fortunes in this match were summed up shortly before tea by the dismissal of their captain, Heath Streak. Friend drilled a return catch to Steve Harmison , who spilled the chance and diverted the ball on the stumps at the non-strikers’ end, with Streak way out of his crease (202 for 7). It just hasn’t been their tour.Click here for today’s Wisden Verdict

Here is confirmation of the details for Glamorgan`s fourth round match in the Cheltenham and Gloucester Trophy against Derbyshire at Cardiff on 28th May 2003 (reserve day 29th May).The match will start at 10.45am, and the cost for members and non-members alike will be £12 for adults, and £6 for juniors (16 or under as at 1.4.03) and Senior Citizens (state pension age).Tickets can be purchased in advance from Glamorgan`s Reception at Sophia Gardens during normal office hours – and matchdays – or by ringing our main office number 029 2040 9380 (Postal / Phone applications attract a £1 admin fee per ticket).

World Cup thinking was understandable as a distraction for batsmen during the National Bank Series but New Zealand captain Stephen Fleming thought the pressure to be in the side was a greater factor in batsmen’s minds.New Zealand have only six more games to get themselves into a confident frame of mind for the World Cup, and, in the process, into the sort of batting form that will make them a competitive unit in South Africa.Tomorrow’s match is even more important as it represents the last chance for players on the fringe to solidify their places.Fleming said the World Cup was very important to the players and he was hopeful that some of the diffidence being faced at the moment might be a repeat of the switch that was flicked before the 1992 World Cup. On that occasion, the New Zealanders quickly put behind them the poor form evident in their series with England and switched into some of the most impressive form witnessed in New Zealand.”I don’t think that looking ahead to the World Cup is detracting from this series. If anything, it has created a little more pressure for certain players and how they respond to that is a good test,” he said.Conditions would improve the longer the series went, and Fleming was confident the batsmen would get their opportunity in the remaining games.”As you go down the country, the wickets are pretty good, starting with Napier. Christchurch’s pitch looked very good for the Max International and hopefully as we work our way back up, they will all improve with the sunlight and the weather improving.”It’s too early to say panic because we haven’t got runs. There is a lot more cricket to be played in this series, especially for the batters and hopefully for us it starts tomorrow,” he said.One benefit for New Zealand from the dicey batting conditions had been a genuine sharpening of fielding and, especially, catching standards. That will always be of use going into the game’s major championship when every chance counts.”Every ball you think there is one coming, so you don’t go to sleep. There is always something happening which I think helps concentration,” he said.

GEORGETOWN, Guyana, April 5 AAP – West Indian selectors must appoint a new vice-captain after local hero Ramnaresh Sarwan was today ruled out of Thursday’s opening Test against Australia in Georgetown.Sarwan and captain Brian Lara were forming a new leadership team for the series but Sarwan’s cracked finger has not healed in time.He was a notable omission from a 14-man squad named today, along with batsman Chris Gayle.Gayle’s exclusion raises questions after his controversial decision not to play in the final of the West Indies’ domestic first-class competition in Barbados.Instead, Gayle opted to play in a lucrative double wicket tournament with Carl Hooper in St Lucia which also features South Australian pairing Greg Blewett and John Davison.Chairman of selectors Viv Richards and his panel were not available for comment but Gayle’s omission would not appear form-related because the left-hander has scored the second-highest amount of Test runs for the Windies in the last 12 months.The Jamaican Cricket Association has stated Gayle was not given permission to miss the final, which may explain why he is out of the Test.Batsman Daren Ganga, who was supposed to be out for a week with a leg injury, is part of the squad along with promising batsman Devon Smith, deposed captain Hooper and rising quick Jermaine Lawson.Selectors included two wicketkeepers, with incumbent Ridley Jacobs joined by Carlton Baugh Jr, who is playing for the Guyana President’s XI in a three-day tour match against Australia.West Indies squad: Brian Lara (capt) Carlton Baugh Jnr, David Bernard Jnr, Shivnarine Chanderpaul, Pedro Collins, Vasbert Drakes, Mervyn Dillon, Daren Ganga, Wavell Hinds, Carl Hooper, Ridley Jacobs, Jermaine Lawson, Marlon Samuels, Devon Smith.

Vincent hasn’t been so popular since singer-songwriter Don McLean was in his heyday but everybody was talking about Lou Vincent after his outstanding debut century at Perth’s WACA yesterday.The New Zealand Herald: “Lou Vincent made a fairytale start to his test cricket career yesterday when he struck a century on debut to leave New Zealand reasonably placed on the first day of the third and deciding test against Australia.”Vincent, who grew up in Forrest Hill on the North Shore and was striking hundreds as a third former for Westlake Boys High School, became just the sixth New Zealander to score a century on debut when he square drove Australian fast-bowler Jason Gillespie to the boundary shortly after the tea adjournment.”Remarkably, it was the first century scored on debut by a touring player in Australia since the Nawab of Pataudi sen struck 102 in the second test of the Bodyline series in 1932-33, and one of only four after the first-time efforts of Englishmen R.E. Foster in 1903-04 and George Gunn in 1907-08.”The Sydney Morning Herald: “The pre-match warnings of a terror ride for the Kiwis on the best fast bowling strip in the country would have seemed a distant memory for Fleming and Vincent as they went to tea with an impressive partnership of 171 in 207 minutes behind them, with Vincent on 86 and Fleming on 79.”Fleming passed 50 for the 34th time in Tests, contributing a fine captain’s hand with more of the style to suggest he should have converted far more than two of those half-centuries into hundreds.”But the real hero for New Zealand was Vincent, the Auckland-born 23-year-old who was raised in Adelaide and was shaping for a career as an Australian football umpire before cricket took hold.”Known as a middle-order batsman and a hugely talented fieldsman, Vincent was injected into his first Test as opener on this pacemen’s pitch and covered himself in glory.”Peter Roebuck (The Sydney Morning Herald): “It was a remarkable effort. He had done it on a pitch whose bounce has unnerved those unaccustomed to it. He’d done it against a vaunted attack and in the last and decisive match of a series. He’d done it on debut after leaving his usual perch in the middle order, and despite the early departure of his senior partners. It was the innings of a lifetime.”Pressed into service as an opening bat, the 23-year-old showed the temperament and technique of an old hand. No-one had ever doubted his spirit, for he is a sportsman from top to tail and proved it with a diving catch in Brisbane and by his willingness to accept a position in the batting that causes vertigo amongst lesser mortals. That his technique stood the test was more surprising.”At first Vincent did not look like lasting long as he prodded at a few deliveries and almost edged to slip or to fieldsmen placed close by. For 20 minutes he did not score a run. Significantly, Vincent did not panic in this period, instead biding his time with the air of a man with greater plans. Here was a fellow determined to grasp his opportunity. He did not change from first to last and was entirely focused. He was excited by the challenges and unperturbed by the hazards.”The Daily Telegraph: “Australia’s cricketing production line produced another Test match hero – for the wrong team – but it wasn’t enough to stop the locals from storming back to level terms at the WACA.”Adelaide-raised Lou Vincent, who said he had been facing Australia’s bowlers in his dreams, yesterday found them far less fearsome in the flesh when he claimed a stunning debut Test century for New Zealand.”New Zealand were 7-293 at stumps on day one of the Third Test after Vincent (104) and Steve Fleming (105) adding 199 for the third wicket in the most serious resistance Australia had faced since VVS Laxman and Rahul Dravid stormed their castle in India.”Australia’s cause was desperate when the Kiwis had waltzed without discomfort to 2-218 but the tourists lost 4-17 just before stumps in the series decider.”Even though Australia’s bowling for most of the day was modest, there was a buoyancy among the Australians as they left the field, as if they had soaked up the tourists best punch and still finished the day a nostril ahead.”The Australian: “Haunting memories of Australia’s heartbreaking defeat in India earlier this year evaporated with the second new ball at Perth’s WACA Ground yesterday after New Zealand’s smiling debutant Lou Vincent and quality captain Stephen Fleming put Australia to the sword on the opening day of the third and final Test.”Both scored centuries before Jason Gillespie (3-79) and Brett Lee (2-89) claimed two wickets each in a stunning late burst which saw New Zealand lose 4-17 to finish 7-293 at stumps, giving Australia the ascendancy they had lacked for most of the day.”After washouts in Brisbane and Hobart, this match will decide the trans-Tasman trophy.”Vincent (104) and Fleming (105) added a third-wicket partnership of 199 in four hours, the highest stand against Australia since VVS Laxman and Rahul Dravid put on 376 in Calcutta earlier this year to flip that Test and series on its head.”A 23-year-old middle-order player, Vincent had just one first-class century before yesterday. He was given the opportunity to open in this match when Matthew Bell was dropped.”After batting for 4½ hours, facing 207 balls and hitting 15 fours and a six, Vincent fell in somewhat controversial circumstances. He was given out, caught at first slip by Mark Waugh after driving at a ball which may have turned so far that the right-hander simply missed it and hit the pitch with his bat.”

Bashley regained top spot in the New Forest Indoor Cricket League thanks to a 78 run victory over Swan Green. All rounder Neil Taylor, who had earlier made the dash from the St Mary’s Stadium where he watched the current Premiership champions Manchester United also regain their pole position, enhanced his own team’s championship hopes with 39 runs and two wickets.Ross Grierson (31) also figured for Bashley who were dismissed for 131. Poor Swan Green, without a win all season, slumped to 53 all out with Taylor grabbing his brace of wickets at a cost of just 5 runs.Burley’s failure to raise a side meant the postponement of their match with North Baddesley.Match of the day came in Division Two where Brockenhurst pipped Pylewell Park in a dramatic finish. Simon Naylor’s superb unbeaten 61 led Brock to 133 for 4 (Dick Wickison 31). Matt Doe hit 20 in reply, but it was Trevor Mapes who almost won the game single-handedly for Pylewell who fell agonisingly just 2 runs short of victory.Milford-on-Sea’s poor season continued with a 4 wicket defeat by Godshill. The seasiders had scored 113 for 4 (Steve Thomas 30no), but this was not enough as John Harrison (20) and Alan Pollard (26no) saw Godshill home with 5 balls to spare.The other Division Two match saw Cadnam Seconds comfortably beat Ringwood. Paul Jewar (65no) and Neil Garvey (35no) scored the majority of the runs as Cadnam reached 134 for 4. Only Graham Bowater (37) put up any resistance for Ringwood who were bowled out for 76 with Neil Dunning, Alan Dunning and Paul Jewar each taking 2 wickets.Pylewell Seconds underlined their promotion credentials with the six wicket hammering of Burley Seconds. Les Browning (26no) was given little support by his Burley teammates as his side were restricted to 77 for 3. Pylewell cantered to victory in just 9 overs with Wayne Royan and his uncle John both scoring 25 not out.

Sri Lanka’s cricketers are enjoying a long overdue four-month break frominternational action after two years of nonstop cricket. When the team nextsteps out onto a field it will be against a rejuvenated England one-day sideat Dambulla in November.

Apart from allowing the players a much-needed chance to rest and refresh,the break marks the start of a new era as John Dyson, the new coach fromAustralia, begins a two-year term. He will settle in Colombo from August andstart the process of pushing a talented but frustratingly inconsistent teamforward.After reaching the semi-finals of the World Cup, Sri Lanka’s form dipped andsuccess dried up. There were one-day defeats at Sharjah and during the BankAlfalah Cup, as well as a dreary performance during the drawn home seriesagainst New Zealand and a lost two-Test series against the West Indies. Wereit not from the unexpected heroics of Upul Chandana at Bridgetown, whichallowed Sri Lanka to clinch the one-day series, the team would officially bein crisis.Fans will be hoping that the rare and welcome chance to rest will itself beenough to usher in a new competitiveness during another congested and toughyear in 2003/4 that includes two Australia series, home and away, as well ashome tours against England and South Africa.It had become increasingly obvious during recent months that several playerswere exhausted. Turned into factory cricketers by the never-ending touring,the players had been distanced from family and friends for too long. Mindswere turned stale and the cutting edge was lost. Come November theirbatteries should have been recharged and their hunger restored.

Physically, too, they suffered. The constant stream of matches meant therewas too little time for fitness training. The players lost shape – onepossible explanation for the spilled catches and momentary concentrationlapses that cost the batsmen dear – and niggling injuries stacked up. A newfitness trainer is to be appointed to work alongside the physio and his jobwill be to ensure that everyone is in peak condition by November.But a good rest will not be enough turnaround Sri Lanka’s fortunes. Firstand foremost they must shed the creeping negativity that has so shackledtheir cricket in recent times. Confidence has plummeted and the ebullientnatural strokeplayers have become stilted and unsure. Dyson, highlyqualified in the field of sports science and psychology, needs to injectfresh positivity into the dressing room and nurture greater self-belief.That assumes though that he gains sufficient respect from the players, someof who may be suspicious of his lack of coaching experience (his highestposition beforehand had been as assistant coach of New South Wales), as wellthe necessary support from the cricket board. It’s essential that he begiven extra clout, in selection and team policy, to implement his ideas andinfluence team decision-making.

Dyson chances of putting Sri Lanka back on track will be helped by an end tothe experiment with two captains. Hashan Tillakaratne’s caretaker period incharge has been disappointing with three draws and a loss against mid-tableopposition. His safety-first approach has hampered the team’s progress,especially during the New Zealand series where Sri Lanka lacked the killerinstinct to ram home their home advantage.Marvan Atapattu, a more adventurous leader, has impressed sufficiently withthe one-day side to take over the Test captaincy burden too. His battingform has not suffered and his eagerness for the extra responsibility isplain to see. But whether the selectors, who appear less convinced about hiscredentials, are prepared to back him completely remains to be seen.They must. Only with strong and imaginative leadership from a secure captainand coach will Sri Lanka be able to make the most of their summer break andclimb back up the Test and ODI rankings. After a period of interim control,stagnation and disappointment, Sri Lanka now have a chance to move forwardagain – let’s hope that they are able to grasp this opportunity.

Former India wicket-keeper MSK Prasad and Y Venugopal Rao were the stars in Andhra’s 52-run win over Kerala at the Trishna Stadium, Visakhapatnam on Saturday.Prasad, who also happens to be the Andhra captain, made 82 off 82 balls and Venugopal Rao 91 off 100 balls as Andhra made 270 for four in their 50 overs.MP Sorab’s 72 off 112 balls meant that the Kerala reply got off to a decent start. But his dismissal with the score on 155, saw the visitors lose their way; they were dismissed for 218 off 49.1 overs. Andhra were rewarded with four points for their win.

Somerset all rounder Ian Blackwell told me he was flattered to be nominated by the Cricket Writers for the Young Player of the Year Award.After scoring 86 to help Somerset Sabres beat Leicester Foxes at the County Ground he told me, “I feel very flattered to be nominated, but to be quite honest I hadn’t heard anything about it until I read it on Ceefax.”He went on, “it’s hard to take on board the recognition that people give you but it’s nice to be appreciated.”