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Umar Gul: randomly tested for banned substances © Getty Images

The International Cricket Council (ICC) picked Pakistan fast bowlers Umar Gul and Rana Naved-ul-Hasan for random dope tests after the opening match of the World Cup against West Indies at Sabina Park on Tuesday.PJ Mir, Pakistan’s media manager, said that Pakistan were informed that Gul and Naved-ul-Hasan would be tested for banned drugs as a part of ICC’s anti-doping regulations for the World Cup, which requires two players from each of the 16 teams to be selected at random for testing at 15 of the World Cup matches.The ICC had earlier tested selected players in the World Cup warm-up gamesGul and Naved-ul-Hasan are the spearheads of Pakistan’s attack that had received a pre-World Cup setback when Shoaib Akhtar and Mohammad Asif were withdrawn from the squad at the last minute because of injuries. However, it is suspected that they were held back to shield them from ICC dope tests during the World Cup as there were fears that both still carried traces of nandrolone in their bloodstreams.

Damien Martyn has filled a number of roles since his broken finger healed © Getty Images

John Buchanan says Damien Martyn has the ability to handle the No. 3 spot if he replaces the injured Ricky Ponting for the next two matches against South Africa. Martyn has been shuffled from opener into the middle order since returning from a broken finger for the VB Series and he stepped in at first-drop after Ponting pulled out of the opening game on Sunday with a stomach injury.Ponting and Andrew Symonds [hip] did not train on Wednesday due to their problems and they are unlikely to appear in Friday’s second match at Cape Town. Phil Jaques, who is covering for both players, has been touted as an option at No. 3, which would allow Martyn, Clarke and Hussey to fill spots four to six, but Buchanan offered more praise to Martyn for the vital position.”Damien is a very skilful player,” Buchanan told . “He’s played a lot of cricket at three in Test cricket or early in his career and certainly for Western Australia. So I think he’s got the ability to handle that position.”Jaques has batted successfully in the middle order for the English counties Yorkshire and Northamptonshire, but Buchanan doubted he would be employed lower down the list. “I expect the selectors would view him very much as a top-order player,” he said, “particularly an opening batsman.”While Buchanan did not rave about Jaques’s prospects, he did compliment his fielding, which was given as a reason for him missing the original touring party. “He’s one of the best short-legs I’ve ever seen,” Buchanan said. “So he’s not quite the rabbit that everyone makes him out to be. But there are issues like a bit of movement around the field.”Buchanan also said the bowlers were working on strategies to smother Graeme Smith, who scored a match-winning century in the first ODI, but AB de Villiers said Australia would have a battle to stay in the five-match contest. “They are obviously going to fight back real hard,” he said, “but we are not going to allow them to get back in the series.”

Scorecard and ball-by-ball details
How they were out

Adam Gilchrist played a characteristic hard-hitting knock in the face of danger at Christchurch© Getty Images

Adam Gilchrist catapulted Australia from the brief possibility of following on to trailing by 10 runs at the end of a swinging and absorbing day at Christchurch. Backed by Simon Katich, who scored 118 to seal his short-term career at No. 6, Gilchrist grabbed his cape to smash a century that threatened to break New Zealand for a second time this season.But just as they started planning a lead of up to 100, Australia were finished off by the impressive Daniel Vettori as he collected five wickets following some stinging Gilchrist treatment. Batting at No. 8 once Jason Gillespie was used as a nightwatchman, Gilchrist arrived at 201 for 6 when another wicket could have exposed the tail to a nervous period to avoid batting again.The 212-run seventh-wicket rescue act had a feeling of déjà vu for Stephen Fleming after his side controlled the game’s first seven sessions. But the eighth, a 133-run jaunt in which Katich brought up his second Test century, proved the most damaging until Australia lost their last four wickets for 19 runs. New Zealand walked unscathed through six overs to be 9 for 0 at stumps.Making 126 at Brisbane in November, Gilchrist’s cracking display was overlooked as Michael Clarke crashed 141 to turn a losing situation into an innings victory. This match was heading in a similar direction until he holed out to Vettori chasing a seventh six in an innings devalued only by the regularity of his 14 Test centuries. Gilchrist’s previous innings was an unforgettable 113 against Pakistan at Sydney. Before that was Brisbane, and four matches further back was the 104 at Bangalore. Two of those three responses came in the first game of the series when his side was in trouble.The danger with Gilchrist’s play is that the knocks will merge. His 121 came from 126 balls and was set up by an uninhibited attack on Vettori. Fuelled by lunch, Gilchrist targeted New Zealand’s most dangerous bowler and planted him for three sixes in three overs, earning 29 runs. Tempo set, he rattled up more boundaries and despite changes in flight and speed, Vettori was unable to break through until Ian O’Brien caught a slight mishit at deep mid-off. The cruel treatment suddenly eased and Vettori wiped over Shane Warne and Glenn McGrath to finish with 5 for 106. Once again he had tricked Australia, but once again he was short of quality support as the game ran away.Australia’s turnaround from on their backs to eyes level was impressive and familiar. Boundaries flowed and the deficit dropped when the two saviours arrived. Gilchrist was the star attraction but Katich was a capable deputy as he sprinkled moments of brilliance in his return from five Tests away watching his replacement Darren Lehmann.Katich’s century came from 173 balls and depended on positive play despite miscues and bouts of frustration. A hard day of graft seemed the best option for batsmen, but the logic didn’t convince Katich and he eyed 20 fours and one six. His pulling on a slowing wicket was powerful and regular; his off-side driving was careful, patient and often piercing.After being dropped twice in the past year to mean decisions, he wanted to cement the No. 6 spot and can stop looking at challengers for the rest of the series. Katich’s timing was crucial and Gilchrist gave him his moment to celebrate before it was interrupted by a spectator who was crash-tackled by security. At that point Fleming felt equally wounded.Ricky Ponting and Clarke had been deceived in the day’s very early stages and 36 runs were eked in the first hour. It is rare for Australia to bat ugly, but in the first session runs were difficult against penetrative swing bowling from Chris Martin and James Franklin.Before play many commentators – mostly Australian ones – generously decided the match was evenly poised. It was a brave verdict considering they started 292 runs behind with seven wickets in hand on an uncomfortable pitch for free-flowing strokes. Fleming’s band came out ready to starve and strike. Martin bowled a wonderful over to force a jumpy edge from Ponting and Clarke made a minor misjudgement to Franklin’s left-arm angle.When Gilchrist returned from lunch the mood of everybody changed. The bowlers worried and their radars wobbled, Fleming waited for too long for something positive to happen, and Katich settled in alongside his partner. The pair cruelly and efficiently combined to re-float Australia in a contest that became delightfully and unbelievably even.How they were out
Ponting c McCullum b Martin 46 (147 for 4)
Ball moved away off the pitch to surprise Ponting and he pushed an edge to McCullum, who caught smartly low and to his right.Clarke c McCullum b Franklin 8 (160 for 5)
Flirted slightly away from his body to an angled ball, forcing McCullum to come forward for an even better – and lower – catch.Gillespie c Cumming b Vettori 12 (201 for 6)
Propped front leg defensively, but straight ball hit high on the bat and skirted to short leg.Gilchrist c O’Brien b Vettori 121 (413 for 7)
Tried to launch a six over mid-on but fell a couple of metres short and O’Brien took the running catch.Katich c Vincent b Astle 118 (418 for 8)
Struggling for runs after Gilchrist’s departure, he aimed a tired, wide drive to an outswinger and found cover.Warne c Astle b Vettori 118 (426 for 9)
Slashed hard to a faster ball and Astle took the pace off with his first touch, grabbing it with his second.McGrath lbw Vettori 0 (432)
Swept across the line to give Vettori his fifth wicket.

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Scorecard

Jacob Oram: fell just three short of his maiden Test hundred © AFP

New Zealand took two quick wickets to ensure that they maintained the momentum they had gained with their batting effort against Pakistan inthe second Test at the Basin Reserve in Wellington. After scoring 366, they had Pakistan struggling at 52 for 2 at stumps, still trailing by 314 runs.New Zealand benefited from two innings by Mark Richardson (82) and Jacob Oram (97) that were deserving of centuries, but were denied by momentary, but fatal, lapses in concentration. Richardson, who was immovable for all but the last ball of his innings, batted for a phenomenal 439 minutes. But disappointing as his dismissal may have been for him – he slapped a wide ball from Shabbir Ahmed to Yousuf Youhana at point – there was no doubting the value of his innings, as it allowed Oram and Daniel Vettori to plunder the tiring Pakistan attack, of which Shoaib Akhtar was the best, taking 5 for 48.Richardson got out just before lunch in the extended morning session of 150 minutes. New Zealand added only 101 runs in that time for the loss of Richardson and, earlier, Robbie Hart (19), who played a leg-glance off Shoaib Akhtar that was picked up at leg gully after 20 runs had been added to the overnight score (171 for 6).But just before Richardson’s dismissal, Oram had upped the scoring rate, getting down the wicket to the legspin of Danish Kaneria and lofting him for runs. With Richardson, he added 76 for the seventh wicket, in the process scoring the second half-century of his career.After the break, the Pakistan attack lost its fire. Shabbir bowled a long spell with the wind and was guilty of feeding Vettori’s strength, bowling repeatedly outside off. Meanwhile Oram continued to attack Kaneria, hitting him through the off side with little difficulty. He used his height and reach well, and was out against the run of play, playing a lazy drive off the back foot and edging a ball from Shabbir to Moin Khan (327 for 8). Oram may have missed out on his maiden Test century, but he demonstrated most emphatically that he could step into Chris Cairns’s shoes as a quality allrounder.

Shoaib Akhtar: a triumphant return from injury © AFP

Akhtar finished with a five-for although he could not claim to have beenoverbowled. The more onerous workhorse duties fell on Mohammad Sami, Shabbir and Kaneria. They bowled more than 30 overs each, while the lack of use of Abdul Razzaq, who bowled 18 overs into the wind yesterday, was understandable. Shabbir took 3 for 87 from his 37 overs.Not satisfied with his batting effort, Oram returned to dismiss Imran Farhat, caught by Hart for 20 (27 for 1). Ian Butler bowled with fire, and while he was not as quick as Shoaib, his pace caused problems for Taufeeq Umar, who was hit on the helmet while trying to avoid a bouncer.Yasir Hameed wasn’t comfortable against Butler either, especially as the bowler found sideways movement from the pitch. Butler soon nailed him for 3 with one that nipped back from outside off (30 for 2). New Zealand missed an opportunity to get a late wicket when, Hart missed a chance from Youhana off Daryl Tuffey.

An unhappy day for South African cricket ended in shameful fashion with three spectators arrested for spitting and throwing beer at Australian batsmen, two of the home team’s most senior players off the field with injuries and the tourists nicely placed at 331 for five in their first innings at stumps on the first day of the first Castle Lager/MTN Test match at the Wanderers.Already up against it even before the match with captain Shaun Pollock and Justin Ontong ruled out of the game with injuries, South Africa’s resources were further depleted when Gary Kirsten had to be helped off the field after being struck near the right eye by a powerful Mark Waugh pull while fielding at short leg while champion fast bowler Allan Donald went down in a heap with a hamstring strain towards the end of the day.Of the two, Donald seems to be the more serious. Kirsten has a small cut under the eye and an impressive shiner, but if the swelling around his leading eye subsides, he should be able to bat. There are fears, though, that Donald may have made his last appearance in the series and even, given his advancing years, Test cricket altogether.A gloomy position for the home team became even more depressing after stumps with the announcement that three spectators had been charged with crimen injuria, one for spitting at Australian captain Steve Waugh as he left the field after making 32 and the other two for throwing beer at Damien Martyn and Adam Gilchrist as they left the field at stumps. The charges have been laid by the Australian team management.The disgust felt by the Australians at this treatment will have been eased a little by their position. With South Africa now a bowler down a total beyond 500 is entirely possible on the second day and with the pitch already deteriorating according to centurion Matthew Hayden South Africa will not relish the prospect of batting last against Shane Warne.Hayden was the day’s outstanding figure, taking advantage of a life before he had scored to score 122, his fourth century in as many Tests against the South Africans. He was dropped by Jacques Kallis at second slip off Makhaya Ntini in the second over of the day and made South Africa pay dearly for this lapse. "I thought I was blessed," said Hayden, a deeply religious man, afterwards.Blessed or not, the secular side of his innings consisted of a succession of powerfully struck shots. Two off drives off Andre Nel in the afternoon could not have been bettered by any left-hander in any age while his pair of sixes of Nicky Boje were picked up with disdainful ease.The Australians will probably feel that more of their batsmen should have build on solid starts. Justin Langer’s 28 was the lowest score of the dismissed batsmen, but only Hayden and Mark Waugh (53) went beyond 50. Both fell to catches down the leg side while Ricky Ponting was unfortunate to be given out caught at the wicket when he seemed to miss the ball altogether and Steve Waugh was brilliantly caught at backward point by Herschelle Gibbs off a full-blooded cut off Kallis.In truth the South African bowling and approach was very ordinary on a day when they might have hoped to break free of the shackles imposed on them by Australia in Australia. Before his injury Donald was disappoint, Kallis largely ineffective and only Ntini really approached anything like his potential.They were led, it must be said, by a stand-in captain in the absence of Pollock and it would probably be unfair to be too critical of Mark Boucher’s captaincy on his first day in the job. What was disappointing, though, was the apparent lack of planning by the home team and the sense that rather than having a clear idea of what they hoped to achieve, they were able only to react to Australia’s initiatives.If this is the case, it could be a very long series for the South Africans.

Western Province vice-captain Alan Dawson again underlined what a canny competitor he is with the ball as he took all four Natal wickets on a day which ended with the home side holding the upper hand.After eventually being dismissed shortly after lunch for 352, Province had reduced a moribund Natal batting line-up to 118 for four when bad light stopped play nine overs early on the second day at Newlands.Dawson took his wickets in two short but effective bursts, ending the day with figures of 4-32. The openers were his first victims, first Mark Bruyns edging to captain HD Ackerman in the slips with the total on 35, and then Doug Watson tickling one through to Thami Tsolokile behind the stumps a run later.The two dismissals put a halt to the momentum the Natal innings had briefly generated and Ashraf Mall and Andrew Hudson were forced to dig in, offering little more than resolute defence for the next hour or so.With the occasional flurry of attacking strokes, the pair had put on 72 before Dawson came back for another brace. This time he trapped Mall leg before on the front foot and then induced a faint edge from Hudson which brought a fine catch from Tsolokile.Natal’s 118 runs had came at a miserly rate, the scoring rate barely creeping above two per over.Earlier Jacques Kallis had looked a certainty to score what would have been his nineteenth first-class hundred but instead edged a catch to Shaun Pollock at slip just a run short of the milestone. It was the fifth time he has been out in the nineties.Although the departure of Kallis was a setback for Province, Ackerman will have been delighted with the way the tail set about adding further runs.And no one was more impressive than Paul Adams, his undefeated 42 a personal best in the first-class game. But Roger Telemachus and Charl Willoughby also played their part as the last two wickets added 86 runs. They could prove to be vital.

As per reports out of Spain, a West Ham United transfer update has come to light involving Valencia star Carlos Soler.

The Lowdown: Rice rumours prevalent…

Hammers superstar Declan Rice has been repeatedly linked with an east London exit recently with no sign of a new deal just yet despite West Ham’s rumoured intentions.

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The England international rejected two new contract offers last summer and Premier League rivals like Man City and Man United are allegedly prepared to test West Ham’s resolve in the summer (The Telegraph).

Irons players apparently fear Rice could be tempted by a move away in the summer and, as per a Spanish source, it appears the club and transfer chief Rob Newman are preparing themselves for that eventuality.

The Latest: West Ham could make ‘great proposal’ for Soler…

According to the claim out of Europe, West Ham ‘may lose’ their star midfielder with inquiries having already been made.

As a result, West Ham are ‘already preparing’ to find Rice’s replacement and could make a ‘great proposal’ to sign Valencia star Soler this summer.

The Spaniard is apparently very liked at Rush Green as David Moyes scours the market for possible Rice alternatives.

The Verdict: Right call?

Soler has been a revelation at the Mestalla Stadium this season, scoring nine goals and assisting four others in 21 La Liga appearances, coming as a bit of an all-rounder.

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The 25-year-old, still fairly young with a long shelf life, can play in a variety of midfield roles and his current deal expires in 2023 – putting West Ham in a potentially strong negotiating position to sign Soler for less than his £45 million market valuation (Transfermarkt).

If Rice were to leave, the Irons could certainly do a lot worse for a replacement.

In other news: West Ham join race for £30m ‘beast’ as Newman now eyes ‘exciting signing’ for Moyes! Find out more here.