It was always destined to be a day of Aussie runs – why else would the start of play have been delayed by the appearance of a green-and-gold banner behind the bowler’s arm, bearing the urgent request: “Mum, send Imodium!”? But the warning came too late for Michael Clarke and Adam Gilchrist. Their rollicking 167-run partnership came at such a rate this morning that there was never any prospect of reaching the dunny in time.Runs, and lots of them, are what Indian crowds appreciate the most. But when Australia resumed at 5 for 316 this morning, the stands began to swell with the optimistic assumption that Australia had had their fill – or most of it, at any rate. So it was with some simmering disappointment that they were made to wait until the stroke of lunch for their first breakthrough.Even the scoreboard operator seemed to be feeling the strain, as he acknowledged Gilchrist’s half-century by flashing up the message: “Congratulations, Haidee Tiffen – 50 not out”. Tiffen, for the record, is a New Zealand women’s allrounder, who made 56 on her last (and first) appearance at Bangalore in December 2003. Who knows which of the city’s copious databases they dredged that particular graphic from.It was all getting too much for the besieged national TV network as well. They were awarded the rights to this series as a last-ditch measure, following the breakdown in communications between the BCCI and its primary suitors, and thecobbled-togetherness of it all meant that there were bound to be a couple of wobbles along the way.The former England captain Mike Atherton, primarily out here as a newspaper correspondent, was press-ganged into service as a commentator, while the producer only arrived midway through the first day, after being airlifted from a family holiday in Turkey. The upshot was that India’s armchair fans spent much of the morning watching a re-run of Kenya’s 1996 World Cup victory over West Indies, among other such gems. Mind you, after being subjected to the vacuous soap-star-turned-anchorwoman, Mandira Bedi, during Sony’s coverage of the Champions Trophy, the Indian public are well used to such irrelevances.What they missed during that hiatus was the continuation of an innings of utter serenity from Clarke. His personal fan club, those Imodium-seekers above the sightscreen, had been so convinced that he would reach three figures that they had come armed with a second banner reading “On ya Clarkey, 100 on debut”. It required a bit of black tape and a hasty scramble for the scissors, however, to adjust the banner in time for his 150.Clarke’s eventual demise geed the home support up no end, as they suddenly awoke to the prospect of witnessing their own batsmen in action. The Mexican Wave, more commonly associated with boredom and frustration, now carried the resonance of an expectant volcano, as an urgent drum-beat echoed across from the bleachers at midwicket.Not for the first time in the day, however, it was the travelling band of 200 or so Aussies who had all the more to crow about. A pair of exceptional deliveries from Glenn McGrath, including the ball of the match to dislodge Rahul Dravid, and those little splodges of yellow began to vibrate in adulation once again. But the counter-roar was massive and defiant, as the home support responded with ecstasy to every push for two into the covers.Special mention, however, must go to the lone Indian voice that rang out above all others, all throughout the day, as he sung merrily to himself in a disturbing falsetto, utterly oblivious to the concerned looks from his neighbours (not to mention the men in white coats hovering at the entrance to the stand). Among his favourite numbers were “Kaspa has only got one ball”, “MrLaxman, do it for me”, and “Knick-knack paddy-whack, these Aus-sies are going home.”With such a devoted support behind them, and an even bigger crowd expected as the weekend approaches, there can be no giving up of the ghost just yet. Not when there’s a follow-on looming and a Mr Laxman in the side, at any rate.Andrew Miller is assistant editor of Wisden Cricinfo.

Richard Logan, a right-arm seam bowler, has signed a two-year deal with Hampshire.Logan, 24, was released last month by Nottinghamshire, who he has represented for the last four years, taking 88 wickets at just over 35. He had spent two years at Northants before joining Notts. In June this year, he returned match figures of 8 for 90 against Hampshire at the Rose Bowl.”I’m very excited to be signing for Hampshire,” Logan said, “and I’m really looking forward to the challenge of bowling in the top division of the County Championship and the National League next season. It’s a great move for me.”Both Nottinghamshire, who won the second division, and Hampshire who finished second, were promoted in the 2004 County Championship.

ScorecardSri Lanka ended a rain-shortened opening day to the second Test in a strong position thanks to the efforts of Shalika Karunanayake, a seamer from Kurunegala, who took 4 for 31, leaving England tottering 144 for 7. Only 39.3 overs were possible at Scarborough but, following their first Test defeat at Shenley, Sri Lanka will be delighted with their position.Karunanayake’s spell reduced England from a promising 112 for 3 to 126 for 7, and included three wickets in an over as he ran through the middle order. Kevin Latouf and Ben Harmison had staged a partial recovery following a top-order wobble after they had been put into bat. Latouf’s 61 came from 67 balls and included nine boundaries, while Harmison is unbeaten at the close, with much resting on his shoulders.England’s tail, which made some crucial runs at Shenley, will need to be at their best on the second day. Tom Smith is a capable batsmen but Adam Harrison and Mark Footitt also have an important part to play in offering support to Harmison.

With the massive challenge of a tour to India just around the corner, Australia’s captain, Ricky Ponting, has admitted he is “shattered” to have suffered a broken thumb at such an untimely juncture. But, as he faces up to possible surgery on Friday, Ponting is confident that Australia’s young batting star, Michael Clarke, will shine in his absence.Ponting suffered the injury – a fracture between the nail and first knuckle – while dropping a slip catch during Australia’s Champions Trophy semi-final defeat against England. The upshot is the likelihood of a Test debut for Clarke, one of the hottest young batsmen in the game, in perhaps the toughest environment in world cricket.”You’d probably think Michael would play,” Ponting told the Sydney Morning Herald. “It’s going to be a hard test for him. There’s probably no more challenging tour in world cricket than touring India, but he will do a good job. He’s a confident young fella, he’s well prepared, he plays the spinners well. He’ll be fine.”He’ll be nervous,” added Ponting. “He’s a bit of a nervous sort of bloke anyway, but he’ll be looking forward to it. He’s obviously been dreaming of playing for Australia for a long time. The fact he has been there and had a bit of success in that one-day tour last year will hold him in good stead for this tour.” On that trip, in November 2003, Clarke scored 70 at Pune and followed up with an unbeaten 44 from 28 balls in the final at Kolkata, as Australia won by 37 runs.Ponting’s own experiences of Test cricket in India have not been good – he was tormented by Harbhajan Singh and averaged just 12 in the 2000-01 series – but his absence is a bodyblow to Australia’s hopes of winning there for the first time in 35 years. From the prospect of making history, Ponting is now facing up to a period on the sidelines, which he rates as “probably the biggest disappointment of my career”.”Being the captain and having to leave the team on the eve of one of our biggest tours in the last few years is pretty shattering,” he said as he awaited the prospect of hand surgery, which would leave him unable to hold a bat for two weeks. “I was really looking forward to captaining the side in India, taking on the challenge of playing India in India.”After the last series there, the end result was disappointing for everyone who was there, but I guess a bit more so for me, not making any runs. Just falling over at the last hurdle as a team was bitterly disappointing, and I’ve been looking forward to getting over there and changing that whole thing around. Hopefully I can get there for the second Test and play a good part in the last three Test matches.””It wouldn’t have been so bad if it was my bottom hand,” he explained, “but being my top hand, a lot of your grip strength goes through your thumb on your top hand, so [batting] is only going to make it worse if anything. I won’t be able to pick up a bat for a couple of weeks, because if there’s any movement on that thumb it will hinder the healing process.””They could put a pin in it, or a screw, and fix that bit of bone back down to where it should be. Hopefully that will make it heal quicker.” Either way, he intends to fly out to India as soon as is medically permissable, even if it means sitting on the sidelines and watching his team-mates perform without him.In his absence, Adam Gilchrist takes over as Australia’s captain, with Darren Lehmann working alongside him as vice-captain. “They’ll do a good job,” said Ponting. “They’ve both got very good cricket brains.”

Australians planning to watch next year’s Ashes series at home may have to fork out for pay television after the Seven and Nine networks said they were unlikely to cover the tour, The Age has reported.David Hurley, a Nine spokesman said a final decision had not been made, but according to the newspaper it was unlikely to bid for the series, which clashes with winter football competitions and Wimbledon. Nine last broadcast the Ashes in 1997, when Australia won 3-2 and the coverage didn’t begin until the second session.Seven received heavy criticism for the way it screened the 2001 series and The Age reported a spokesman saying “the time zone and scheduling difficulties across Australia are significant”. Ten, the third major network, presumably cannot program seven consecutive hours without an episode of The Simpsons.With England finally in regular good form, the five-Test series shapes as a gripping contest that will only be available on Fox Sports. James Sutherland, the Cricket Australia chief executive, said it would be disappointing if it was not available on free-to-air television, but there was little they could do. “We don’t have ownership of the rights and ultimately it is the England and Wales Cricket Board who are trying to sell these rights for the best price,” he told ABC Online.

Scorecard

Just as Australia thought things could not get much worse, their second string players suffered a comprehensive seven-wicket defeat on the third day of their opening tour match against Pakistan A.Mohammed Sami was the catalyst for Pakistan’s victory as he tore through the Australian top order in their second innings. He removed Mike Hussey, Brad Hodge and Dominic Thornely in his opening burst and returned to dismiss Brad Haddin, the top scorer, for 34.Pakistan had stretched their first innings into a slender of 17 before Shane Watson wrapped it up to finish with four wickets. Australia were quickly in deep trouble with Sami’s opening burst and two wicket for Umar Gul reducing them to 33 for 5.Haddin and Nathan Bracken fought hard but Shahid Nazir and Mansoor Amjad completed the demolition job, leaving Pakistan with a target of 114. Salman Butt and Shoaib Malik put them on course with an aggressive stand of 76 and despite three wickets for Cameron White they completed the chase in under 20 overs.

Pakistan have confirmed that they will host an inaugural women’s Asia Cup of cricket starting in December, amid growing female interest in South Asia’s most popular sport.Pakistan’s arch-rivals India, along with Sri Lanka and possibly Bangladesh, will take part in the tournament in Karachi from December 26 to January 4. “It’s a big honour for Pakistan to be the first host of the Asia Cup and the event will definitely raise the standard of cricket in Asia,” said Shamsa Hashmi, the secretary of the Pakistan Cricket Board women’s section.Pakistan, who will also host the ninth men’s Asia Cup next year, was chosen as the hosts after a two-day meeting in Lahore which was also attended by representatives from India and Sri Lanka.”Bangladesh has yet to confirm its participation,” added Hashmi, “but we are in touch with them and if they do not come, the tournament will be contested by three teams on a double-league basis.”India is the top Asian nation in women’s cricket, having finished runners-up to Australia in the women’s World Cup held in South Africa early this year. Pakistan, Sri Lanka and Bangladesh all failed to qualify for the World Cup.Cricket has been drawing a growing female fan base in India while, across the border, the women’s sport got a shot in the arm earlier this year when it was placed under the supervision of the Pakistan Cricket Board.The board hosted Pakistan’s debut national cricket championship for women in March and then invited the Indian Under-21 team for a first-ever women’s cricket series between the rivals, which India wrapped up last week.

Rahul Dravid admitted that he hadn’t played in a more convincing one-day series victory and said that he was privileged to captain the current squad of players. On the eve of the seventh and final game at Baroda, Dravid and Greg Chappell, the coach, hailed their players for pulling off an emphatic series victory and acknowledged the crucial role played by the support staff throughout.”We hadn’t won a home series in a long time,” said Dravid while speaking to the press on the eve of the match. “We started off well and kept the momentum going for the rest of the series. The first two games were crucial. It’s important to have a good squad of players with several options so that we can use them as and when we need to. Even though we’ve sealed the series, winning every game is important. Irrespective of the score, we need to go out there tomorrow and perform and try all we can to win.”While praising the efforts of youngsters in the side, Dravid quickly pointed out that the support staff had played their part as well. “It was tough for players like Gambhir and RP Singh to come into the side from the sidelines and perform immediately,” he said. “But even when they haven’t been playing, they have been put through a lot of routines. Some of the drills that Greg and Ian Frazer have introduced have been really good. You get to see some of them on the field, but even off the field they have introduced new methods that have helped.”Chappell too echoed Dravid’s sentiments, adding that he was happy with the effort and energy with which the team was preparing for games. “We’re happy with the squad,” Chappell said. “We have had both immediate and long-term plans and we are happy with the way we are executing both. It’s important to keep the group in a good mental and physical state and make sure that all the players are constantly on their toes. We are developing a large pool of players so that those in the team are under pressure from the fringe players. We still need to be rigourous in our methods.”We’re not a great team by any means but are getting close to being a very good side. The good thing is that different players are showing up in each game. They are taking turns to perform and that is a sign of a good side.”He wasn’t too perturbed by Sehwag’s recent lean patch in one-dayers and elaborated a bit on the important role he is performing in the side. “I’m not overly concerned about Sehwag’s form,” he said. “Yuvraj went through a similar phase and came back really well in the last game. Sehwag is an allrounder, contributes with his ideas as a vice-captain, and performs a mentoring role for the youngsters. He should ideally be scoring runs for us but even without that, he is playing a vital part.”

As if by rote, questions of psychological advantages began as soon as Matthew Hoggard was bowled in the final Test at Lahore. `Does Pakistan now hold a psychological advantage over England in the ODI series?’ `Is England psychologically down already before the series starts?’ `Psychologically, are Pakistan favourites?’ No psychologist has been on hand to answer the queries, only Inzamam-ul-Haq, Pakistani captain. And, along with Bob Woolmer, he has only told us that one-day cricket is indeed a different game to Test cricket.Psychology aside, there is little doubt that Pakistan is not lacking for confidence at the moment. That much, at least, Inzamam is willing to admit. “Obviously the team has been very confident after the Test win,” before obviously adding, “but ODIs and Tests are a different game. We will have to work hard. In ODIs one player can change the match completely but yes we are confident.”Even disregarding the Test results, Pakistan’s ODI record, recent and over the last 18 months, is impressive. They begin Saturday having won their last seven matches and 22 from 34 since June last year. Their success in that time has been moulded out of Pakistani and Woolmerian principles; allrounders (multidimensional if you’re a psychologist) are not bits n’ pieces, they are spectacular and a clinical batting line-up revolving largely around the bulwark of Inzamam but boasting cavaliers such as Abdul Razzaq and Shahid Afridi at either end of the line-up. Spearheaded by the unassuming Rana Naved-ul-Hasan and backed up by Mohammad Sami (who does still cut it over ten overs) and a motley crew of spinners and medium-pacers, the bowling has also never lacked for options or incisiveness.But for and from tomorrow, with Shahid Afridi missing (“He will definitely be missed as he is one our main players,” said Inzamam) the line-up will float. With the World Cup now 15 months away and seven ODI series till then, mild experimentation, as Woolmer said, has begun. “This is part of the build-up to the World Cup. The start of getting our team together, getting the players together, making sure they know their roles, getting ideas together. We’ve got seven series leading up to the World Cup and we treat them all as a build-up.”Shoaib Malik, responsible for much of Pakistan’s batting thrust from number three for the last year (947 runs from 22 matches at 45.09 from one down), might play tomorrow or he might not, depending on whether he has recovered from an exhausting three-day jaunt to Australia to have his action examined again. If he does, he might open, or he might not. No clue came from Inzamam either, who said only, “, he will play.”If he doesn’t, then it is understood Kamran Akmal might open. Then again, he might not. Younis Khan, somehow still to fit into Pakistan’s ODI scheme of things, may move to number three, or he may come in lower down, a finisher in the making. With the bonus return of Shoaib Akhtar, Abdul Razzaq and the possibility of playing Danish Kaneria, the final XI and its order is only more uncertain.For the first time though, Pakistan will be taxed by the dilemma of the Supersub. When the rule first emerged, it was designed seemingly with Pakistan in mind: one wildcard who can come in and throw all plans out the window, preferably with bat and ball. Cards don’t come much wilder than Razzaq, Afridi or even Malik. Not that Pakistan seem particularly disturbed by the prospect. Frankly, Inzamam said, “I can’t say too much about it because I don’t have experience of using it. From tomorrow I will get a clearer idea of it. We haven’t decided yet who it will be.” Woolmer offered only gentle criticism. “We haven’t used it so it is unfair for me to criticise it. But there is an anomaly in it that you have to announce your Supersub before the toss and that is unfair on one side in particular.”Talk of pitches for ODIs borders on the irrelevant in any case and Gaddafi Stadium is unlikely to buck that trend. Runs will come off it and because of the 11.00am start, dew is unlikely to play such a factor later in the game. Inzamam psychologised, “Because of the start, dew might only play a part in the last hour or so of the match but I think the late start covers the effects pretty much. It is a batting pitch but there is nothing in it really that will give a decisive advantage to whoever wins the toss.”All of which brings us back, of course, to the only question: Who starts favourite? England, said Inzamam after much pestering and with a hint of exasperation, but as it was followed by laughs all around, are we to assume that Pakistan start favourites? Maybe not, Inzamam retorted: “They are a big team. They can come back at any time so we can’t be overconfident.” With Woolmer adding he never regards himself as favourite for anything, the only thing left to do is to call for the psychologist and ask him.Pakistan (probable) 1 Salman Butt, 2 Kamran Akmal (wk), 3 Shoaib Malik, 4 Inzamam-ul-Haq (capt), 5 Mohammad Yousuf, 6 Younis Khan, 7 Abdul Razzaq, 8 Rana Naved-ul-Hasan, 9 Shoaib Akhtar, 10 Mohammad Sami, 11 Danish Kaneria. Supersub Yasir Arafat

Misbah-ul-Haq compiled a splendid double-hundred but Sufyan Munir fell in the nervous nineties as Sui Northern Gas Pipeline Limited (SNGPL) amassed a first-innings score of 498 for 8 against Pakistan Customs on day two of their second round Patron’s Trophy Cricket Championship match at Karachi.Misbah maintained his fine run on the domestic circuit with his 21st first-class century – and third double-hundred – which is now his highest. Batting for just over nine hours, he faced 397 balls and hit 12 fours and six sixes. Misbah was particularly severe on Murtaza Hussain’s offbreaks, launching him for for three sixes, and Stephen John, the fast bowler, who was twice struck out of the ground. Murtaza, who had five wickets in his last match against Khan Research Laboratories (KRL), finished with none for 105 in 37 overs.Playing in his 99th first-class match, Misbah was first associated in a 166-run partnership in 288 minutes for the third wicket with Munir before putting on a further 165 runs for the sixth wicket with Mohammad Salman, the wicketkeeper, to build a big total for his team.Munir was unlucky to miss what would have been his career’s eighth hundred when he was bowled by Imran Ali’s medium pace for 91. Sufyan clubbed 13 boundaries in his 91 off 250 balls while occupying the crease for almost five and a half hours. Misbah too fell just before the close, offering a return catch to Afsar Nawaz, the part-time offspinner, trying to pull him over midwicket.Salman hit an attractive 72 in 126 deliveries, with four boundaries and three sixes. Imran Ali, with a marathon 41 overs sent down so far, has been the most successful bowler with three wickets for 109 runs.Habib Bank nosed ahead of Khan Research Laboratories (KRL) to take a 21-run lead on the second day of their second-round Patron’s Trophy match at the National Bank of Pakistan (NBP) Sports Complex in Karachi.After having dismissed KRL for a rather modest score of 247 on the opening day, Habib Bank reached 268 for the loss of six wickets by the close of play yesterday. Farhan Adil, the middle-order batsman, was still at the wicket with an unbeaten 73 off 134 balls with six fours. After a useful start, Hasan Raza, the Habib Bank captain, and Aftab Khan came together for an 84-run partnership for the third wicket. Aftab’s 59 runs saw him negotiate 156 balls in just over three-and-a-half hours as he hit eight boundaries.Raza followed his knock of 178 in the first-round match against Pakistan International Airlines (PIA) with a useful 44 off 87 deliveries with two fours. Another 62 runs came for the fourth-wicket stand between Aftab and Adil, who played for Pakistan in a Test match against Bangladesh two years ago.In their first-round match, a tall-scoring affair, Habib Bank – record seven-time Patron’s Trophy winners – claimed the three first-innings points from a draw against PIA.Service Industries were hurtling towards a certain defeat as the second day of their match against National Bank came to a close at the Sheikhupura Stadium.National Bank first gained a big 164 runs first-innings lead over Service, who had been dismissed for a mere 72 on the opening day, and then restricted them to 90 for 5. Service still need another 75 runs to make National Bank bat again. Wasim Khan, the fast-medium bowler from Lahore, proved to be Service’s tormentor yet again, taking 4 for 39 to add to his first innings 6 for 38.National Bank, five-time Patron’s Trophy winners, had equalled the Service first-innings total by stumps on the first day, for the loss of only two wickets. Yesterday, they took their tally to 236 all out but still attained a substantial advantage. No National Bank batsman crossed 50 but there were three individual scores in the 40s. Mansoor Amjad, the allrounder, top-scored with 47 from the No.7 spot, with five fours and a six. The Service bowlers were wayward, conceding 26 no-balls as the extras column reached a shocking 44. However, Rizwan Akbar, the young fast bowler, achieved first-class career-best figures of 6 for 76 from 11.5 overs.Earlier, Imran Nazir, the former Pakistan opener, hammered a characteristic 46 off 64 balls with seven boundaries. Naved Latif, who has also represented Pakistan, needed a mere 28 deliveries to smash 42.Service qualified for this season’s first-class circuit after having won the Patron’s Trophy Grade-II tournament in 2004-05. They were beaten by Pakistan Telecommunication Company Limited (PTCL) in their first-round Group B encounter.Pakistan Telecommunication Company Limited (PTCL) cleared the first hurdle when they gained the first innings advantage over Zarai Taraqiati Bank Limited (ZTBL), on the second day of their clash at the Iqbal Stadium in Faisalabad.PTCL finished the day’s play at 265 for 6 – which took them six runs ahead – after ZTBL made 259 on the opening day. PTCL’s sound position was made possible by a 116-run partnership for the fourth wicket between Zulqarnain Haider, the wicketkeeper, and Aamer Bashir, the captain. While Bashir hit a quick 77 off 114 deliveries with 12 fours, Zulqarnain remains at the wicket with an unbeaten 88 runs to his name.PTCL had started the day precariously placed at 3 for 2 before a third-wicket stand of 82 between Zulqarnain and Ashar Zaidi, the left-handed opener, steadied them. Zulqarnain, who has so far faced 250 balls and hit seven fours, found another able partner in Shahzad Malik (33) as 44 runs were added for the fifth wicket. Shahzad got his runs off only 36 balls with two fours and a six.ZTBL, who have won the Patron’s Trophy title four times, were beaten by their 2003-04 runners-up Water and Power Development Authority (WAPDA) in the first round. PTCL, however, took six points from their win over Service Industries in their opening game.