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Scorecard
Essex’s Adam Wheater seized his chance to impress watching England selector James Whittaker as he destroyed Gloucestershire’s attack on the first day of their Division Two match at Colchester. The pugnacious 21-year-old right-hander plundered 135 as Essex recovered from55 for 5 to post a total of 359 for 9 wicketsWheater pulled and drove with immense authority against pace and spin alike as he scored his runs from 124 deliveries and smashed 17 fours and five sixes. The suffering endured by the visiting bowlers ended when he was trapped leg before by paceman Ian Saxelby – but only after he and Ryan ten Doeschate had shared in a stand of 204 in 38 overs.Ten Doeschate went on to register a season’s Championship best of 120 not out but only after a change of heart by umpire Steve Gale.From the final ball of the morning session, the Netherlands allrounder was given out caught behind following a half-hearted appeal from bowler Will Gidman. But before Ten Doeschate and the rest of the players left the field, the umpire informed the batsman that he had made a mistake and reversed his original decision.The batsman, who had only made 10 at the time of his reprieve, showed his thanks by going on to help himself to 10 fours and a six before bad light cut 11 overs from the day’s schedule.Graham Napier also piled the misery on a toiling attack by hitting two sixes among his six boundaries before he was caught behind for 45. It all ended up as a successful opening day for Essex who still nurse hopes of figuring in the promotion race.But it could not have started more disastrously. Billy Godleman was out lbw to the first delivery of the match to give bowler Jon Lewis his 50th Championship wicket of the summer and the bowler quickly followed up by having Owais Shah caught in the slips.David Payne then had Tom Westley snapped up behind before Will Gidman removed Jaik Mickleburgh and James Foster in the same over. However any hopes Gloucestershire might have entertained of dismissing their opponents vanished as Wheater and Ten Doeschate took charge to establish a new sixth wicket record stand by any county at Colchester. The previous best was 178 by Trevor Bailey and Ray Smith against Lancashire in 1951.Lewis emerged as the visitors’ most successful bowler with 3 for 43 whilst Gidman and Payne claimed 2 for 65 and 2 for 74 respectively.

Pakistan’s future as an international cricket team could hinge India’s willingness to resume bilateral relations, according to a source close to the ICC Pakistan Task Team, which recently published a 38-page report on the future of the game in the country.The PTT, which was headed up by the ECB chairman Giles Clarke and drew on the experience of three former Test captains in Ramiz Raja, Mike Brearley and Greg Chappell, presented its findings at the ICC’s annual conference in Hong Kong last week. The report addressed a number of wide-ranging issues, from the quality of balls used in domestic cricket to the structure of the Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) itself.The report has been criticised for being whimsical in tone, because it failed to address the most fundamental problem facing Pakistan at present – the deteriorating security situation which led, in March 2009, to a terrorist attack on the Sri Lankan team bus in Lahore. However, in the opinion of the men who compiled the report, the most pertinent issue is one of finances, because unlike terrorism, that remains something that the international cricket community is capable of addressing.”The ICC has a security task force, but it can only talk about security when you are dealing with a country where it can be provided,” the source told ESPNcricinfo. “It’s not for cricketers to lecture governments about that.”Pakistan cricket is right on the edge financially. The report makes it bluntly clear what’s necessary, which is that the Pakistan government and ICC must work together, and that India should play Pakistan if they are going to survive economically.That recommendation is spelt out in bold type on the sixth page of the PTT report, and does not couch its words in chiding India for its failure to assist a fellow Test nation. The two teams have not faced each another in a bilateral Test series since November 2007, with the following year’s terror attacks in Mumbai putting an instant freeze on diplomatic relations. Nevertheless, in that time, Pakistan have played overseas series against every other Test nation bar Bangladesh – with two of those, against Australia and South Africa in 2010, taking place at neutral venues.”Several other boards [are] going out of their way to ensure touring commitments could be honoured and new opportunities conceived,” the report states. “There is one notable exception, however, which must be highlighted in the strongest possible terms.”The absence of the traditional bilateral series between Pakistan and India from the international cricket calendar is denying millions of cricket loving fans across the world from enjoying an iconic series. It is also hurting the sport, particularly in Pakistan and the PTT sees no reason why this great sporting rivalry should not be restored as soon as possible, even if on neutral soil.”The PTT fully appreciates the historical issues, but urges the ICC Executive Board and all related parties including both Governments to seek a swift resolution to enable this great iconic series to resume to the benefit of all stakeholders in both countries and the rest of the world.”Reaction to the report has been muted in both India and Pakistan. The PCB has set out a ten-day time-frame in which to respond to the PTT’s 63 recommendations, but is reportedly unhappy with some aspects, particularly those concerning selection and contracts. India’s government, meanwhile, remains to be convinced of the merits of a resumption of cricket ties.From a strictly sporting point of view, however, the PTT believes that the Indo-Pak rivalry is the cornerstone of the modern international game, as demonstrated by the massive interest in the recent World Cup semi-final in Mohali. “India needs iconic series too,” the source said. “The ratings speak for themselves.”If you had a Pakistan-India series every two years, even at a neutral venue, how much money would that put into both India and Pakistan cricket? One only needs to look to the Ashes to see what a truly iconic series is worth.”The report, which has been drawn largely from conversations with Pakistani players and administrators living in Dubai, Pakistan and England, has been described as a blueprint for helping Pakistan cricket drive itself forward. But in the short term at least, the country needs assistance from its nearest and largest neighbour to find its feet in the international game once again.

Scorecard and ball-by-ball detailsIan Bell clocked up another century to give England a chance of pushing for victory•Getty Images

Sri Lanka’s top order made England work hard for their successes but the home side will be confident of securing a 2-0 series win if the rain stays away for long enough. England, led by Ian Bell’s sublime 119, showed positive intent throughout the first full day’s play of the match as Andrew Strauss declared 193 ahead with the aim of a victory push and Sri Lanka finished on 112 for 3, still 81 runs behind.With memories of what happened in Cardiff, and a lively pitch offering encouragement for the quicks, England will have fancied their chances of significant inroads and even a dart at a four-day finish. However, Sri Lanka’s batsmen didn’t roll over and showed real guts – especially debutant Lahiru Thirimanne – after an insipid performance in the field. However, the late dismissal of Mahela Jayawardene to Stuart Broad left huge pressure on Kumar Sangakkara who ended unbeaten on 44 alongside nightwatchman Rangana Herath.Chris Tremlett was again the stand-out England quick. He was hostile with the new ball and produced some vicious lifters in his opening eight-over spell. A glove down the leg side from Tharanga Paranavitana just eluded the diving Matt Prior and Aleem Dar then made an excellent decision when the ball clipped the batsman’s sleeve. Early in the final session Thirimanne fended a delivery off the face of the bat to short leg but Bell couldn’t cling on.James Anderson provided the breakthrough when Paranavitana edged low to second slip where Graeme Swann held a sharp chance but there was no cluster of wickets for England. Thirimanne, on his debut, showed terrific resilience as he took a blow on the thumb but withstood the challenge.Broad had been denied the new ball and responded with a rapid spell which tested both batsmen. But it was the return of Tremlett that gave England a boost when he completed a fine over to Thirimanne by finding the edge which carried perfectly to first slip. However, Thirimanne’s 112-ball stay marked him out as a talent worth persisting with in Test cricket.Sangakkara, meanwhile, has perhaps this one innings to partially correct his poor record in England. His duel with Swann was particularly compelling as the offspinner almost beat him in the flight twice but Sangakkara managed to withstand the variations with his most focused performance of the series. Jayawardene couldn’t stay with him to the close after being given a working over by Tremlett, although it was Broad who gained the scalp when Jayawardene was squared up and edged to the keeper. Broad celebrated with a mixture of relief and elation after a lean series and on such moments can a season be transformed.Unlike Broad, Bell has no concerns over his form and produced the the most fluent batting of the day. He barely put a foot wrong during his innings as he reached three figures off 159 balls and the century took his average for 2011 over 300 after his previous tons at Sydney and Cardiff. The late cut to third man was one of his favourite strokes while his cover-driving continued to be eye catching. The closest he came to a scare was when an outside edge fell short of gully, but he is now a complete Test player and can comfortably compete with Alastair Cook and Jonathan Trott for the tag of the team’s leading batsman.A positive tone had been set to England’s day by Anderson’s spritely 27 as nightwatchman. He had just slotted Chanaka Welegedara for consecutive fours when the bowler dragged his length back to find the edge. Morgan took time to play himself in against some fairly gentle bowling but collected his first boundary with a strong square cut then drilled a superb straight drive off Thisara Perera. After lunch Bell and Morgan pressed the accelerator with some strokeplay that wouldn’t be out of place in the one-day series next week as their partnership reached 137.Morgan’s second fifty of the series came from 88 balls then he started to give himself a touch of room to pierce the off side as England hunted quick runs. He was given lbw on 58 against Suranga Lakmal but the DRS showed the ball pitched a fraction outside leg and he added 13 more until edging a booming drive off the same bowler.After Strauss had received some criticism last week for a delayed declaration at Lord’s this was a far more positive decision with an eye firmly fixed on Monday’s forecast. However, in a match where so much time has been lost to rain it could yet be the weather that has the final say.

Hampshire 145 for 3 v Sussex 3438
ScorecardYoung opening batsman Liam Dawson continued his fine early-season form in the County Championship with an important half-century for Hampshire against Sussex at the Rose Bowl. Dawson, playing only due to the absence of experienced pair Michael Carberry and Michael Lumb, hit his fifth 50-plus score as his team began the daunting chase of Sussex’s first-innings total of 438.At stumps on day two, 21-year-old Dawson’s 60 had helped the hosts to 145 for 3 to trail Sussex by 293 runs. Sussex resumed this morning at 321 for 3 but managed only 117 more runs for their final seven wickets, three of which fell in the morning session to Hampshire pace bowler David Griffiths.Griffiths removed Ben Brown (23) in his first over and then got rid of danger man Murray Goodwin for 43 three overs later. Griffiths struck again with the score on 342 when Luke Wright (9) edged to the wicketkeeper. Griffiths’ three scalps in five overs was impressive on a wicket that was still playing as well as it had done on the first day.Hampshire were eventually held up when Andy Hodd and Naved Arif added 46 for the seventh wicket. Spinner Danny Briggs broke the stand when he bowled Hodd for 31 and, four runs later, Arif guided Friedel de Wet to Dominic Cork to end his effort on 18.Naved ul-Hasan struck three sixes against Briggs in a breezy 34 before Cork finished off the resistance, getting a leg-before verdict against the Pakistani and then giving Nic Pothas his third catch of the innings behind the stumps when James Anyon (15) touched a rising delivery. Griffiths finished with figures of 3 for 73 while there were two wickets apiece for Cork, Briggs and De Wet.Hampshire made a strong start to their reply with Dawson and Jimmy Adams putting on a 98-run opening partnership before Anyon struck with two quick wickets. Adams was the first to go, caught behind for a watchful 24, but Dawson’s proved to be an important wicket for Sussex.Dawson had been in superb form, striking eight fours in his 83-ball 60 before he went the same way, caught behind, to leave Hampshire on 103 for 2. Monty Panesar plunged Hampshire into further trouble when he trapped Neil McKenzie lbw for six in the 36th over, but Johann Myburgh and James Vince took Hampshire safely through to stumps unbeaten on 18 and 15 respectively.

Brett Lee and the Kolkata Knight Riders share unhappy common ground. For all the gloss, talent and market power each possess, their most indelible images on the cricket grounds of India have been forged in defeat.For Lee, the 2008 Test tour, on which he lost the mantle of world’s best fast bowler never to regain it, sits alongside more tragically heroic scenes from the 2011 World Cup quarter-final against India, when he dove valiantly around the field while trying to pull Australia into the semis through sheer force of will. Kolkata’s three editions of the Indian Premier League without a semi-final berth tell their own story of wasted talent; the owner Shahrukh Khan’s grimace, and the encroachment of impatient businesses on a faltering Twenty20 team.After an initial stint with King’s XI Punjab that was mixed in terms of results if not his own personal impressions – “I had three great years”, he says – Lee and Kolkata have now been united in what seems a chance for each party to extract the best from each other. Lee’s profile is ideal for Kolkata but so too is his work-rate.”Hopefully we can go out there and make a difference to the way Kolkata have been playing,” Lee told ESPNCricinfo before flying to India at the end of Australia’s tour of Bangladesh.”We’ve got a big tournament ahead, missed a couple of games, but looking forward to getting out there and leading from the front.”I’ve heard it’s a great club, a great franchise; Shahrukh Khan the owner, he’s an amazing actor, like the Brad Pitt of India, so there’s a lot of prestigious things there even away from cricket.”Lee’s description of Kolkata’s owner says all it needs to, about the world of the IPL. This is show business with all the trappings, as distinct from the purer pleasures and insights that can still occasionally be derived from the international game. Searching for words to describe it, Lee settled on “soap opera”, and was happy with his choice.”It’s a totally different set-up to what most organisations would be; with Australia it’s totally different,” Lee said. “The IPL is exactly what people think: it’s about Twenty20 cricket, it’s about the glitz and glamour and the Bollywood stars; it’s about the fireworks, the cheerleaders and the noise.”They love watching the Indian players throughout India, but now, [since they are] playing for different franchises, they’re not booed but they’re not cheered as much as they would be under their normal colours. It’s like a soap opera, that’s what it’s like, it’s all part of that set-up and that shouldn’t change.”As for the infringement of celebrities and after-party orchestrators on the organisation of the team, Lee did not deny a source of tension, but argued it was workable. “If you’re talking more so about how much input the stars should have in the side, what I’ve seen through [was] what’s happened in King’s XI,” he said. “Preity Zinta who was our leader, our owner, along with Ness Wadia; they had their input of course, but at the end of the day we had to go out there and play cricket, under the coaching of Tom Moody back then.”Kolkata are under the coaching of Dav Whatmore now; hopefully they can take care of the off-field stuff and we’ll take care of the on-field stuff, and when the on-field stuff’s finished we can enjoy the odd party or two and enjoy what the IPL’s all about.”But that won’t happen unless we’re going out there and doing the business. I think they definitely realise that and they want us to do the very best we can as cricketers. That’s why they’re paying us; we’re employees and we’ll go out and try to do the best job we can.”Lee’s best job is a distance from the one he managed in 2008, when the break-up of his marriage and a limited pre-season took him to India under-strength and soon left him desperately out of form. Illness also intervened, and by the end of the tour he was on the slippery slope towards the foot fractures that ended his Test playing days.Brett Lee: “The IPL is a soap opera”•AFP

“There are times in your playing life when you’ve been through a rough patch. Ricky [Ponting] has been through that now and hopefully will get through the other side of it. Mine was definitely in 2008, for a number of reasons,” Lee said.”I’ve also got the knack of deleting it; it’s like you push F7 on the computer keyboard and somehow just take it out of your mindset. It’s something you do learn from; it does make you a tougher player when you’ve not played at your best ability and your head [is] probably not in the right space, but that’s all part of being a professional cricketer. It’s not always about getting through and making sure you’re not injured – there are other factors as well.”It’s terrible when you’re going through that particular time with your cricket and with other things, but you’ve always got to find a way to get through it.”Before Lee would leave 2008 behind, he spoke of the fact that he has had plenty of better days on the subcontinent, most importantly the 2009 Champions League with New South Wales when he contributed runs as well as wickets to be player of the tournament. If he can reprise the form of those storming two weeks, Kolkata may just be able to shed their millstone of underachievement.

The Bangladesh selectors’ contracts, which expire on April 30, will not be renewed the Bangladesh Cricket Board has said. The three-man committee is headed by Rafiqul Alam and includes former captain Akram Khan and Zahid Razzak.The decision comes as part of a revamp of the Bangladesh cricket setup, after a disappointing World Cup performance. Coach Jamie Siddons departed earlier this month, after Bangladesh succumbed 3-0 to Australia at home, while a host of support staff are either leaving or under review. While bowling coach Ian Pont has already parted ways with Bangladesh cricket, strength and conditioning coach Grant Trafford Luden will stay on for another year and the future of fielding coach Julien Fountain and physio Michael Henry is as yet unclear.The BCB has also decided to initiate legal proceedings against Nimbus Sports International, to recover outstanding dues in connection with television broadcast rights.

Gary Wilson, the wicketkeeper batsman currently with Ireland at the World Cup, has extended his deal at Surrey and is now contracted until 2012.Wilson, 25, had a productive 2010, scoring his maiden first-class and ODI centuries and averaging 43.62 in his six first-class games for Surrey.Although Steven Davies is Surrey’s first choice wicket keeper, Wilson was able to force his way into the side on the strength of his batting, justifying his selection with 125 against Leicestershire at Grace Road in late August last year.Wilson said he is looking forward to continuing his development with Surrey: “It is brilliant to be extending my deal,” he said. “I really enjoy playing for the club and feel I can make a big contribution as we continue to move the team in a positive direction. Following my performances last year, I am looking to continue scoring runs and push my case for selection at all times.”Surrey coach Chris Adams added: “Gary is a hugely popular member of the playing staff here both in the dressing room and around the club in general. I am very pleased he has extended his contract and look forward to him continuing to develop his game over the next two years.”

Yuvraj Singh had a year to forget in 2010, with a loss of form and fitness costing him a place in the Test side, and briefly even his one-day spot. Hand fractures, a wrist injury, and a neck strain all contributed to his toughest year in international cricket, but Yuvraj has said he’s now “100% fit” and primed for his third World Cup.”I used to get thoughts like ‘Should I quit the game’ because I was getting injured all the time, and it was difficult to get back on the field and repeatedly getting injured,” Yuvraj said in Bangalore. “It was a tough phase, I’ve gone through it, definitely my body is feeling better and I’m feeling 100% fit at the right time, which is the World Cup.”This will be Yuvraj’s third World Cup, and he has been part of two contrasting campaigns – cruising to the final in 2003, and crashing out at the first hurdle in 2007. He was keen to erase memories of the debacle in the Caribbean four years ago, and focus on preparing for the challenge ahead. “We have definitely thought about the 2007 World Cup in West Indies and the reasons for not qualifying for the next round,” he said. “We are preparing well for the first game against Bangladesh, we are charged up and raring to go.”With India likely to go in with only four specialist bowlers, Yuvraj will have to chip in with his left-arm spin, something he has done regularly over the past couple of years. “I don’t think I am a specialist bowler. I just enjoy my bowling whatever situation I get, whatever results I get are great,” he said. “The day I start thinking I’m a specialist bowler, I’ll start getting hit.”Three of India’s frontline bowlers have been around for nearly a decade, and the team boasts of perhaps the strongest batting line-up in the competition, but Yuvraj pointed out one area where the side needed to improve. “We have a lot of experience in bowling and batting, if we field well in the World Cup it will definitely help.”

Stumps
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Andre Gale’s half-century was the highlight of England Lions’ innings as they reached 277 on the first day of their two-day tour match against St. Kitts and Nevis at Molyneaux. Entering at 128 for 3, Gale stroked three fours and two sixes in his 53 to see his side past 200. Seamer Tonito Willett was the pick of the home attack, dismissing Gale, Liam Plunkett and Danny Briggs on his way to 3 for 60 off 22 overs.Openers Adam Lyth and Jimmy Adams gave the Lions a solid start after captain James Hildreth won the toss and opted to bat first, putting on 74 before Adams was dismissed for a patient 24. Lyth departed soon after for a fluent 45, but Hildreth and Ravi Bopara steadied the innings with a 52-run partnership for the third wicket.After Bopara’s promising knock was ended by medium-pacer Calvin Williams, Gale shared in two crucial partnerships to ensure his side reached a competitive first-innings total. He put on 61 for the fourth wicket with Hildreth and another 37 for the fifth wicket with Johnny Bairstow, easing past fifty in the process.Ben Stokes and Plunkett proved there was some fight left in the lower middle order, both making starts, but wickets fell at regular intervals and Kieran Powell ended the innings with a wicket maiden. He was back on the field shortly afterwards as he and fellow opener Shane Jeffers played out the remaining four overs of the day without losing a wicket.

ScorecardEngland were three wickets away from an emphatic 3-1 series victory after more superlative all-round cricket left Australia in tatters on 7 for 213, still 151 runs short of making the visitors bat again. James Anderson produced an outstanding display of reverse swing, and Chris Tremlett battered the batsmen with hostile pace, to follow up Matt Prior’s first Ashes hundred which led England to their highest total down under.England claimed the extra half an hour to try and complete victory after Tremlett removed Brad Haddin and Mitchell Johnson in consecutive balls amid a heady atmosphere as the travelling fans, who outnumbered the locals, savoured every moment. However, Steve Smith and Peter Siddle managed to see out the eight further overs to keep England waiting overnight to celebrate.Prior added 102 for the eighth wicket with Tim Bresnan (35) to extend the advantage to mammoth proportions before the innings finally ended for 644 shortly after lunch. Any hope of Australia levelling the Ashes had long since disappeared underneath the deluge of runs and it was down to the batsmen to see how deep they could dig. Shane Watson started brightly before a horrendous run out, then England’s skills with the old ball – Swann’s probing spin and Anderson’s masterful control of swing – meant the pressure was never released.Anderson dispatched Usman Khawaja and Michael Clarke in a high-class six-over spell, while Bresnan was also a significant threat with the older ball. Australia’s remote chance of salvaging pride disappeared when Mike Hussey carved Bresnan to point six overs before the close. Tremlett’s double blast momentarily brought the prospect of a swift finish when he bounced out Haddin and clattered Johnson’s off stump.Watson played his shots at the start of innings, collecting seven boundaries with a combination of thumping pulls and drives, but for the third time in the series he was involved in a horrid mix-up and this time he was the one to depart. Phil Hughes turned the ball into midwicket where two runs were there for the taking, but he ambled the first so when Watson turned and sprinted back for the second Hughes hadn’t moved. Watson soon ended up at the same end while Kevin Pietersen’s throw reached Prior.Hughes, rattled by the incident, didn’t last much longer when he edged a good ball from Bresnan that seamed away a touch. Bresnan was again superb in tying down the batsmen and alongside Swann dried up the scoring after the early flurry of boundaries.Khawaja produced another composed display until, the ball after pulling Anderson for four, he followed one that reversed away from him and edged to the wicketkeeper. By then Anderson was making the ball do exactly what he wanted and gave Clarke a thorough examination to match that of Simon Jones at Old Trafford during the 2005 Ashes.It took all of Clarke’s skill to survive as long as he did but eventually he pushed at one that moved away and even before Prior took the catch he was cursing himself. For a moment Anderson thought he had a third when Hussey drove at a full delivery, however the noise was bat clipping ground and Andrew Strauss correctly opted not to review.

Smart Stats

• Matt Prior’s century is his fourth in Tests and his first against Australia. This is also the sixth century scored by an England wicket-keeper against Australia.

• England made their fourth total over 500 in this series, which is only the fourth time a team has done so in a series.

• In England’s first innings, three batsmen scored centuries. This was only the seventh occasion overall and the second time this series that three or more batsmen have scored hundreds in an innings for England against Australia.

• England batsmen have scored nine centuries in the series so far, the most by a visiting team in Australia.

• If Australia lose by an innings, it will be their third innings defeat in the series and their fourth since 2009. In contrast, they lost only three times by an innings between October 1988 and November 2010.

Swann also played his part in maintaining the pressure and was denied a wicket he deserved when Ian Bell dropped a low chance at short cover offered by Haddin. It’s a sign of how well England have operated as a unit that Swann, who was expected to be a major wicket-taker here, has just one to his name yet the team are so dominant.As has been the case for the majority of the series, England’s day couldn’t have gone much more to plan. Prior resumed on 54 and reached his hundred, the fourth of his career, with an expansive cover drive off Michael Beer and coming off 109 balls it was England’s fastest Ashes ton since Ian Botham at Headingley in 1981.He has always been one of the finest off-side drivers in the England team and despite defensive fields had few problems picking the gaps. He also showed a deftness of touch to milk the spinners, then when the third new ball was taken made the most of the extra pace. As the runs piled up, England passed 500 for the fourth time in series, another new record against Australia.Bresnan played the ideal support role and having taken 61 balls to reach double figures began to unleash some powerful strokes of his own. This situation was far from the most challenging he’ll face but he showed a good range of strokes and a solid defence before edging Johnson to second slip. Swann played with the freedom the situation afforded him and Prior eventually fell as he slashed at Ben Hilfenhaus, although the TV umpire checked for a no-ball and it was only fractionally in the bowler’s favour.Swann proceeded to take 17 off five balls against Johnson and his last four-over spell cost 48 runs. It’s a long time since Australia have been dominated so extensively in a five-match series on home soil and on Friday the final nails will be hammered in.