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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).

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.”

Former New Zealand bowler Gavin Larsen has been named a national selector as a replacement for Bruce Edgar, who stood down from the position in May.Larsen will assist New Zealand coach Mike Hesson in picking the Test, ODI, T20I as well as the New Zealand A squads. Larsen’s first task will selecting the squad for the tour to Zimbabwe and South Africa, which will be announced on Thursday.”Gavin will be a real asset,” NZC’s Head of Cricket Lindsay Crocker said. “His breadth of experience – as a player, as a Cricket World Cup administrator and a former chief executive of Cricket Wellington means he’s stayed close and connected to the game.”Larsen, who served as a Cricket Operations Manager for New Zealand during the World Cup, expressed excitement about the new role. “I have the utmost respect and admiration for the way the Blackcaps have moved things forward under Mike’s direction and I’m looking forward to helping that progress continue.”It’s impossible not to be impressed by the consistency and stability of the selection process in recent years, which, I believe, points to excellence in terms of leadership.”Larsen played 121 ODIs and eight Tests between 1990 and 1999.

With a number of counties under attack for packing their sides with Kolpak players – last week Geoff Miller, the head selector, was at Edgbaston where Warwickshire and Leicestershire fielded ten South Africans between them – David Smith, the Leicestershire chief executive, has hit back.Smith said that Leicestershire had identified the need to bring on the best young English talent and, as a result, had a policy of including England-qualified under 25s.”The make-up of our core group of senior professionals this season has been the subject of some comment recently in the media,” Smith said. “What has received less comment is the number of young England-qualified cricketers that we have played so far in line with our stated policy. In each of our three Championship games to date, Leicestershire have selected more England qualified cricketers aged 25 and under than each of our respective opponents, averaging over five per game.”In recent seasons, Durham have demonstrated that the tactical use of non-qualified, senior role model professionals, such as Dale Benkenstein, can be highly effective and beneficial and there need not be a contradiction between playing non-qualified senior players and developing cricketers for England. That is the same path we at Leicestershire have chosen to take.”Smith insisted that young players who show promise in the 2nd XI will be given every opportunity. “With four ECB Level 4 coaches we have one of the most highly qualified coaching teams in the country aimed at developing young cricketers and giving them every opportunity of making the grade in first-class cricket. Our core group of senior players will be rotated over the season.”

Even after the debacle of the first ODI, following as it did hard on the heels of the 3-0 Test whitewash, Shaun Williams, Bangladesh’s coach, had refused to become despondent. “I think still there were lot of positive things for us as we dominated the match till 60 overs and our bowling was tremendous,” he said.However, the biggest question surrounding the Bangladesh team is whether, despite the obvious intent, they can avoid repeating the negatives. Throughout the summer, the batting has let them down and the first ODI had presented the same script.Unlike in the Tests, they had made a promising start and Sri Lanka’s 234 did not look too distant at 45 for 0 in 11 overs. But then came the familiar collapse as they slid to 56 for 5. The broadsheets back home in Bangladesh have not taken to it kindly. The Daily Star slammed Mohammad Ashraful’s tendency to play rash strokes with a headline, ‘A fatal illness!’Ashraful had swayed away from two bouncers but top edged the third to fine leg. “Believe me I went into the middle with a mind set of avoiding the pull shots, but I made the same mistake,” Ashraful said. “I am ready to accept all the blame. All the other batsmen have reasons for their dismissals but there was no excuse in my case. I can’t still believe that we lost the match. What a great opportunity we spoiled.””It was disappointing the way we lost the match because we were in a position to win it. But I don’t want to criticise any individual player because the whole squad is disappointed by the outcome,” said Williams. Tomorrow offers another opportunity at redemption.However, they would take heart from the bowling performance. Mashrafe Mortaza, who had looked listless in the Tests, came back up with an improved performance and Syed Rasel strangled with a nagging line and length.Sri Lanka do not have any such worries. “We want to have a clean sweep in the one-day series just like the Tests,” Mahela Jayawardene said on the eve of the ODI series. Although without Muttiah Muralitharan and Chaminda Vaas they have a strong bowling lineup in Lasith Malinga, Dilhara Fernando and Farvez Maharoof. The batting, with the return of Sanath Jayasuriya, looks formidable and Jayawardene will be looking to seal the series tomorrow.

Scorecard and ball-by-ball details

Mohammad Yousuf and Abdul Razzaq guided a jittery Pakistan to a five-wicket win as they began their UK tour in Edinburgh. Pakistan wobbled on 93 for 5, but they eventually eased home with 37 balls to spare. However, Scotland can be proud of their efforts, especially the stand of 113 between Ryan Watson and Neil McCallum which was the backbone of their total.The packed Grange ground was treated to a decent day’s cricket, starting with impressive bowling from Pakistan, followed by the Watson-McCallum alliance, a fine spell from Paul Hoffmann and the elegance of Yousuf and Razzaq. However, at the end the international skill and calmness of Pakistan proved too much for Scotland.But at one stage a major upset was on the cards. Hoffman caused the early alarms for Pakistan through an outstanding spell of medium-pace with the new ball. He had Salman Butt caught at slip, Shoaib Malik clubbed to mid-on and also removed Younis Khan. The top order didn’t find their timing – they only arrived in the country on Sunday – and the situation was particularly dicey when Inzamam-ul-Haq was caught behind off Dewald Nel.The 3000-strong crowd had flocked in to watch many of the Pakistan stars, but none more so that Shahid Afridi. The cheers that greeted him as he walked in continued with every shot although he never really hit his straps. Attempting to up the tempo he was held on the long-off boundary off Ross Lyons – the young offspinner – and Scotland started to believe.However, Yousuf is a master of such situations and milked the bowling in partnership with Razzaq. As the target got closer both batsmen began to open their shoulders and Razzaq completed the chase with a rash of blistering boundaries across, and over, the ropes to stamp Pakistan’s authority. Scotland, though, more than held their own.Spurning the chance to enjoy some early-tour batting practice, Inzamam asked Scotland to bat first and was immediately rewarded when Umar Gul and Mohammad Asif reduced them to 20 for 4, also with the aid of Gavin Hamilton’s run out.However, Watson has been in fine form of late in club and C&G Trophy cricket and took the attack to the Pakistan bowlers. After weathering the storm from Asif and Gul he tore into a wayward first over from Razzaq – which cost 16 – and launched Scotland on their way then launched Danish Kaneria over deep midwicket for six. Watson’s fifty came off 49 balls as Pakistan were given more of a run-around than they would have expected.He received outstanding support from McCallum, who was happy to play second fiddle, but also kept the scoreboard ticking. His half-century took 100 balls as the pair added Scotland’s highest stand against a full international side. Watson chipped a catch back to Afridi and when a useful stand of 55 between McCallum and Douglas Lockhart was ended the innings withered away. Malik helped himself to three wickets at the death and kept the total down after 230 was a possibility.Scotland gave Pakistan a real test with the type of performance that the beleaguered England side would gladly take. It wasn’t enough, but everyone took plenty from the match; Pakistan have started with a win and Scotland have shown they are no pushovers as they build towards the World Cup.

Little-known opening batsman Brendan Nash pushed Queensland into a promising position against NSW on the opening day of the Pura Cup cricket match at the Gabba today.At tea, the Bulls were 2-176 with Nash batting through both sessions for 91 not out after Queensland had been sent in by new Blues skipper Simon Katich.Nash was the anchor for the Bulls, outlasting captain Jimmy Maher (39) and Martin Love (27) and showing some aggression against leg-spinner Stuart MacGill (1-49 from 16 overs).The 24-year-old left-hander raced past 50 with three boundaries, hitting against the spin, from one MacGill over before hitting two fours from the next over sent down by Nathan Bracken (0-20).Nash was following his excellent 96 against Tasmania in the Bulls’ Pura Cup final victory last season.Stuart Law was unbeaten on nine at tea, playing a record-breaking 124th interstate match for Queensland.The Bulls did not give a chance until Maher edged Don Nash (1-26) down the legside to wicketkeeper Brad Haddin in the second over after lunch.Nash and Love then added 79 runs in a stylish partnership before MacGill was rewarded by claiming Love to a sharp catch at first slip by Michael Clarke.

The ongoing battle over the way English domestic cricket should be run shifted back towards the counties and away from the England & Wales Cricket Board with the announcement that a county-dominated review group would look at the way ahead.Last month the proposals made by the ECB’s Domestic Structure Review Group (DSRG) – which included merging the first-class and one-day leagues – were soundly rejected by the counties, and at yesterday’s meeting of the First Class Forum (FCF) in Loughborough it was agreed that an Interim Review Group (IRG) would come up with an alternative strategy.The ECB will still have the final say, but it represents a setback for those at Lord’s determined to press ahead with radical reforms.The IRG will be chaired by Mike Soper, chairman of the FCF, and will look at the development of Twenty20 cricket, the National League format, the scheduling of first-class cricket, the issue of promotion and relegation and the extension of floodlit cricket. The IRG will put forward its proposals at an ECB management meeting on June 8 and, if accepted, make its report by the end of the season.Whereas the DSRG’s proposals were largely centred on a desire to improve the standing of the national team, the IRG’s are likely to be based more on the self-interest of the counties. The decision yesterday to continue with two overseas players per county in 2005 rather than limit it to one per county was an indication of this.Reaction to the formation of the IRG was mixed. Those closely allied with team England will have been disappointed that proposals to limit the amount of cricket played during the summer have almost certainly been shelved. But county treasurers, secretaries, and members will have been relieved that those at the cutting edge appear to have regained control."The present bunch of county chairmen appear to be a militant lot who clearly feel enough sacrifice has been made to the cause of team England," wrote Derek Pringle in the Daily Telegraph. "If it looks like revolt, it is not. The 18 county clubs have long wielded power disproportionate to their financial clout within the modern game. Some … feel their relationship is little more than parasitical, something this latest move does little to dispel."

The post-World Cup exodus of England’s old guard continued with the announcement by Nick Knight that he was retiring from one-day internationals. The news follows similar decisions by Nasser Hussain and Andy Caddick, and signals from Alec Stewart that he is ready to step down as well."I have decided to call it a day," Knight, 33, told Sky Sports. “I’ve had a fantastic time and enjoyed every moment of it. I’ve been planning it for a while and it’s something I’ve thought long and hard about recently. It’ll be nice to spend some time at home and at Warwickshire.”I was desperate to play in the World Cup having missed out on the last one, but I’ve got other challenges ahead of me. There is an incredible amount of talent in the game, it’s four years before the next World Cup, I’m not going to make it, so it’s a chance for other guys to make it.”Asked whether the England selectors had tried to talk him out of the decision, Knight was cagey. “They were very good but I’ve made the decision and it’s something I’m going to stick by.” David Graveney, England’s chairman of selectors, explained that he had talked with Knight recently, adding that “you have to respect players’ views in that situation”.Knight only retired from ODIs, insisting that he would, “still like to play some Test cricket”. But he was realistic enough to admit that he was not sure that he would “get the call”.In 100 ODIs Knight scored 3637 runs at 40.41 including five hundreds, but he never cemented his place in the Test side, making 719 runs at 23.96 in his 17 Tests, with a highest score of 113 against Pakistan in 1996.

Indian stand-in captain Rahul Dravid issued a warning to the other twosides participating in the Coca-Cola Cup after India beat Sri Lankaconvincingly by seven wickets in the sixth match of the tournament atthe Premadasa Stadium in Colombo on Saturday."We can be very dangerous from here on. If we have some luck fromhere on, we can be a real threat to the other two sides," said theright handed batsmen who came in as captain for this game after SouravGanguly was given a one match suspension."It was just for this one game," said Dravid, reflecting on his roleas captain in today’s match. "At this moment I am happy to play underSourav. He’s done a wonderful job as captain during the last year. Iwas in for today because of an unfortunate incident."Sri Lanka started off very well with the dangerous opening duo ofRomesh Kaluwitharana and Sanath Jayasuriya putting on an openingpartnership of 103 runs off 24.2 overs, but thereafter things changedquickly and Sri Lanka were shot out for 183."With Sanath and Kalu in the middle, the pressure was really on us.But the run rate was under control and when we got that wicket ofJayasuriya I knew we had a real chance," said Dravid.Chasing a modest target, the Indian batsmen initially struggled a bit,but in the end they reached it comfortably. "We just didn’t want loseour wickets to Murali chasing such a small target. That’s why we justplayed him off" said Dravid on his side’s policy of playing MuttiahMuralitharan whose 10 overs just cost 28 runs today.Man of the match, VVS Laxman made an unbeaten 87 and made sure Indiareached the score without much difficulty. "We didn’t want to loseearly wickets with the experiences of the past few games. I justwanted to play as straight as possible and stay there. Luckily thebowlers had done a great job for us."Laxman has to undergo a knee surgery, which will take at least fourweeks to heal. He was to return to India for his surgery and wasunlikely to play this game, but the suspension of Ganguly ruled outany chances of his going back to India to attend to his injury;"You can’t be worrying about injuries or anything once you are in thefinal eleven. After Sourav was out, I had to play. Our physiotherapisthas done a tremendous job," reflected the right-hander who might goback to India if the injury does not heal.Chasing the small target, the Indian batsmen had problems against theSri Lankan bowlers. Laxman himself struggled against Murali but in theend he finished off in style, "Initially it was very difficult toplay Murali," said Laxman. "This is the first time I have playedhim, so it was a big challenge for me to face him. He’s a greatspinner no doubt about it, but I won’t disclose my tactics of playinghim."Sri Lankan captain Sanath Jaysuriya accepted that his side had put upa poor performance."It was a disappointing performance by our batsmen once again. Weshould have pushed for more singles and worked out our ways of scoringoff the Indian bowlers. But to be honest the Indians bowled well."However the captain said the team has played relatively wellthroughout the tournament, "There’s nothing to panic. If you take thelast game we came back well. This was just one of those days wherenothing went our way."