The USACA elections have sent a clear message to the existing administration that their time in charge is drawing to a close.Although some results have not been declared because of the ongoing dispute as to the eligibility of candidates, it seems that those opposed to Gladstone Dainty, the association’s president, have won a majority of board seats. One independent observer reckoned that the anti-Dainty faction now had a 6-4 majority – but, crucially, that is one shy of the required two-thirds majority needed to oust Dainty.The key election was in the Atlantic region where Sheldon Glasgow, a Dainty supporter, won because two opponents split the dissenting vote between them. Glasgow gained 21 votes while his rivals polled 16 and 9.Nevertheless, it is hard to see how Dainty will be able to remain in power.In two regions – North East and Council of Presidents – the independent auditor was unable to declare a winner because the candidates gaining the most votes had been barred from standing by Dainty and the old board at the weekend. That move is subject to intense debate.Legal challenges are almost a given, but one opponent of the existing board described this as a "very good day for US cricket."Atlantic
Shelton Glasgow – 21
Syde Zohair-Uddin – 16
Ashok Kumar Patel – 9Central East
Akhtar Masood Syed – 24
PK Guha – 15New York
Milford Lewis – 17
Hubert Miller – 17
Jefroy Morrishaw – 16
Paul Dasilva – 15North West
Laks Sampath – 24
Abar Ahmad – 8The following results have not been certified by the independent auditor because of uncertainty over eligibility of candidatesNorth East
Nafis Ahmad – 9
Curtis Clarke – 2Council of Presidents
Polam Reddy – 10
Michael Dupigny – 8
Sohail Bari – 2
Samuel Belnavis – 2
John Wainwright – 0

The Delhi District Cricket Association (DDCA) has found itself in a tricky situation over hosting the final India-Pakistan one-dayer after the Indian government said security concerns could be overcome and that the match should be played as scheduled. “All requisite security arrangements will be in place for holding the one-day match at the ground,” a home ministry spokesman is quoted as saying by newspaper. “There is no reason why the match should be called off due to security considerations.”The report further quotes a source as saying that MK Narayanan, the national security advisor, had spoken to Shivraj Patil, the home minister, regarding this matter, and that there was no security problem as was being suggested by the Delhi District Cricket Association. Further, the report adds that Manmohan Singh, the prime minister, was looking forward to meeting Pervez Musharaff, whose presence at the match was the reason the DDCA brought up the security issue in the first place.

South Africa 588 for 6 dec (Kallis 147, Prince 131, Smith 126, de Villiers 114) and 127 for 1 (Smith 50*, Dippenaar 56*) drew with West Indies 747 (Gayle 317, Sarwan 127, Chanderpaul 127, Bravo 107)
Scorecard and ball-by-ball details
How they were out

Dwayne Bravo’s maiden Test century was the highlight of the final day of the long-dead-and-buried Antigua Test, but he will hope that his next hundred comes in rather more memorable circumstances. His was the eighth three-figure score of the match – a new world record – as West Indies were finally extracted for a jumbo total of 747, leaving them just four runs shy of the ground record, as set by West Indies themselves against England last year.In the 31 overs that were available before an early finish, South Africa reached 127 for 1, with both Graeme Smith and Boeta Dippenaar making unbeaten half-centuries. A match that had been played for the most part with a shrug of the shoulders ended on an unwarranted sour note, however, when Wavell Hinds and Graeme Smith had a very public disagreement as the last rites of the game were played out. The scene was untypical of a largely good-humoured series.Given the circumstances of the match, South Africa’s innings contained several moments of improbable excitement. AB de Villiers, with one century in the bag already, seemed intent on raising a second before the close, when he clobbered Tino Best for three fours from the first three balls he faced. But he then skewed his fourth – a optimistic bouncer – straight to Dwight Washington at mid-on. Four overs later, Smith came within a hair’s breadth of a similar cock-up – but after a brief consultation, Narsingh Deonarine admitted that he wasn’t sure if his catch at midwicket had carried.

The closing stages of the West Indian innings had been equally farcical, as all 11 South Africans were called upon to bowl – as had been the case when the Indians visited in 2001-02. Even the wicketkeeper Mark Boucher, with just 18 first-class deliveries to his name, turned his arm over, and, lo and behold, it was he who ended the innings, when Bravo slapped a rank long-hop to Ashwell Prince at cover. It was an undignified end to an important innings for the 21-year-old Bravo, whose marshalling of the tail was proof of a maturity beyond his years.For the fourth day out of five, there were two batsmen celebrating centuries (yesterday, by way of contrast, it was one batsman – Gayle – celebrating twice). South Africa took to the field in the morning session like condemned men, and little wonder. Chanderpaul was 82 not out overnight, and as he continued to bat with a singular lack of urgency, it was left to Makhaya Ntini to keep his team-mates’ spirits up, as he celebrated bringing up his “century” by borrowing a bail and holding it aloft to milk his applause.

Pollock, who might now wish that his ankle had not been passed fit for this game, later followed suit, and of the frontline bowlers, only Jacques Kallis (0 for 96) and Nicky Boje (0 for 76) managed to avoid the same ignominy. Boje, in fact, never took the field at all. He was examined by a cardiologist after suffering from irregular breathing during the tea interval on the fourth afternoon, and took no further part in the match. Haroon Lorgat, the convenor of selectors, later confirmed that they would be exercising caution and Boje was duly withdrawn from the one-day squad.South Africa’s first breakthrough of the day was a bolt from the blue, but an entirely appropriate one at that. An amble down to deep mid-on, a casual pick-up and a speculative throw, and Pollock pulled off a direct hit run-out to end Chanderpaul’s 287-ball vigil and inject some fresh colour into the match. And, as so often happens, one wicket heralded two, when Smith struck the new batsman, Courtney Browne, flush on the toe and sent him on his way for a sixth-ball duck.That wicket ensured a pleasing symmetry remained on the West Indian scorecard (century, single-figure, century, single-figure … well, you’ve got to keep yourself amused somehow …) and Bravo duly obliged with his maiden hundred to maintain the pattern and level the individual centuries tally at 4-4. Simple pleasures for the statistically minded, but little consolation for those who prefer their cricket to be a contest between bat and ball.

How they were out

West IndiesShivnarine Chanderpaul run out (Pollock) 127 (665 for 6)
Speculative throw, direct hit from deep mid-onCourtney Browne lbw Smith 0 (665 for 7)
Full toss, hit on toe in front of off stumpDaren Powell b de Villiers 12 (700 for 8)
Inswinging yorker – remarkably good deliveryTino Best c Gibbs b de Villiers 5 (712 for 9)
Slogged high to midwicketDwayne Bravo c Prince b Boucher 107 (747)
Slapped rank long-hop to coverSouth AfricaAB de Villiers c Washington b Best 12 (14 for 1)
Three fours in three balls, then toe-ended slog to mid-on

At the Irani Trophy a few weeks ago, Sourav Ganguly was asked by a journalist how Yuvraj Singh might find a place in the Indian Test side. “When you’re aspecial player,” replied Ganguly, “places automatically open up for you.” Yet,even Ganguly wouldn’t have thought that Yuvraj’s route to Test cricket wouldbe via boils on his own thigh.But that is what it has come down to. Ganguly, who underwent minor surgery forthe infection last night at the dauntingly named Fortis Heart Institute and Multi-Speciality Hospital, is said to be flying home tomorrow, while Yuvrajis set to play in his first Test, and on his home ground too.By late morning, news trickled in that Stephen Fleming had also stopped by thehospital, for a head-scan, and the spate of injuries was appearing a bit spooky. Fleming’s scan turned out only to be a precaution, after “one of the young pace bowlers in the nets decided to make a point”.So Fleming will lead, though it is not clear what he thinks of Ganguly’sabsence. “I don’t know whether it strengthens or weakens the team,” he said,rather unflatteringly for Ganguly. Word from the New Zealand media is thatFleming, having spent time with Yuvraj at Yorkshire, has vast respect for his talent. And this in a season where Yuvraj averaged 17 and needed to be dropped from the county’s 1st XI.If Yuvraj felt tense, he certainly didn’t show it, cheerfully sauntering alongside his crocked captain for the inauguration of a second gymnasium in thePunjab Cricket Association’s unfailingly impressive premises. Wonderful thoughit is, Mohali’s reputation for bouncy wickets must no longer be taken seriously. Ever since the first Test here, nine seasons ago against West Indies, there has been nothing to suggest that this is a pitch out of the ordinary.Stephen Fleming got it right when he said that “your perception of bounce and pace in wickets is a bit different from ours. Last time too (when India werebowled out for 83 on the first day but eventually drew the game), there was notreally too much bounce.” Rahul Dravid, addressing his first press conference asIndian Test captain, tended to agree: “It was a bit damp, and the bowlers put the ball in the right areas, Dion Nash bowled superbly, and it was one of thosemornings where we nicked a lot.”The discussion around the pitches on this tour hasn’t abated. Ganguly was disgusted at the pitch at Ahmedabad; Dravid, while more subtle, holds a similarview. Yesterday Ashley Ross, New Zealand coach, let drop a snide one saying that it wasn’t India’s best preparation for Australia. And Fleming, whileconceding that he wasn’t one to talk after what India were served up last year in New Zealand, thinks that surfaces without some bounce and pace shave off an entire dimension of cricket, to the spectators’ disadvantage.This Mohali pitch does have a tinge of green on it, but nothing excessive, and the heat (about 33 degrees), says curator Daljit Singh, might lead to a surface that becomes increasingly dry as the match progresses.It makes New Zealand’s final selection tricky. They have retained the same XIIthat did duty at Ahmedabad. Tomorrow morning they will decide whether an extra seam option should be pursued in Ian Butler, or Paul Wiseman, the offspinnerwho took four wickets in the second innings, should keep his place.India, meanwhile, are in a position with which they have become unfamiliar over the past two years. In each of their last three home series – against West Indies, Zimbabwe and England – they have won the first Test, and done so comfortably. The one against England was here at Mohali – and forget pace, India won because Harbhajan Singh and Anil Kumble took 15 wickets between them. They will have to be at their very best if India are to once more force victory at a venue where teams average 37.44 runs per wicket – six points higher than at Ahmedabad.TeamsIndia (from) Rahul Dravid (capt), Sachin Tendulkar, Virender Sehwag, Akash Chopra, VVS Laxman, Yuvraj Singh, Parthiv Patel (wk), Ajit Agarkar, L Balaji, Anil Kumble, Harbhajan Singh, Zaheer Khan, Sairaj Bahutule.New Zealand (from) Stephen Fleming (capt), Nathan Astle, Lou Vincent, Craig McMillan, Mark Richardson, Robbie Hart (wk), Daryl Tuffey, Daniel Vettori, Paul Wiseman, Ian Butler, Jacob Oram, Scott Styris.

India’s recruitment of Greg Chappell as their new coach leaves Sri Lanka poised to sign up his fellow Australian Tom Moody. A deal is expected to be finalised early next week after a formal interview on Monday or Tuesday.Sri Lanka had been forced to put their own recruitment process on hold because of India’s interest in both Moody and Chappell, the two favourites to take the Sri Lanka job after several weeks of discussions with a range of possible candidates.Moody was considered Sri Lanka’s first-choice candidate anyway, because Chappell’s other work commitments might have affected his availability between tours, and board sources have privately expressed their delight that Moody is now available.”We hope to have an interview with Tom early next week, probably on Monday and Tuesday,” Jayantha Dharmadasa, the chairman of Sri Lanka Cricket, told Cricinfo on Friday. Moody is expected to travel to Colombo over the weekend.Sri Lanka have already had preliminary discussions regarding possible terms, and the interview is expected to be a mere formality. The contract will probably be for two years up until the 2007 World Cup.Moody, who played eight Tests and 76 one-day internationals for Australia, is currently the director of cricket at Worcestershire. He has been linked to several coaching jobs in recent months, including the England post during speculation earlier in the year that Duncan Fletcher might call it quits at the end of the summer.

Stuart MacGill will miss Australia’s second Test against Zimbabwe with a calf injury. It is the latest in a line of injuries for the Australians, who have been forced to make three changes to the previous side which walloped Zimbabwe by an innings and 175 runs in Perth.MacGill aggravated his calf while bowling in the first Test but had hoped to be fit in time for the Test at Sydney, starting on Friday (October 17). However, he failed to pass a fitness Test and Brad Hogg steps in to take his place.Meanwhile, Brad Williams makes his debut in place of the injured Jason Gillespie, while Simon Katich, set to play only his second Test after a two-year gap, replaces Darren Lehmann.

The Australian batsman Brad Hodge, who is currently on tour in India, has signed a two-year contract with Lancashire. He and Muttiah Muralitharan will be Lancashire’s overseas players in 2005 as they bid to reclaim their Division One status.”When I recently became aware of Lancashire’s offer, despite interest from other counties, it didn’t take long to make up my mind,” said Hodge. “Lancashire is a big club, and I have always enjoyed Old Trafford, along with having good experiences of the county from my league cricket days.”Obviously the priority is a return to Division One of the Championship,” he added, “and I look forward to teaming up with Murali to hopefully achieve this goal.”Hodge, 29, was the leading scorer in the 2004 Championship with 1528 runs at just under 62, and helped Leicestershire win the Twenty20 Cup with a superb 77 in the final. But last month he rejected a two-year extension to stay at Grace Road, which means that Lancashire will be his third county in four years – he also played for Durham in 2002 before moving to Leicestershire the following season.Mike Watkinson, Lancashire’s cricket manager, commented: “I am delighted thatBrad will be joining us. He is a proven runscorer who will be a great asset to the squad.”

Somerset have named their strongest available team for the championship opener against old rivals Gloucestershire, that gets underway at the County Ground in Bristol on Friday, which means that the line up includes Marcus Trescothick.The England star will be making a welcome return for the Cidermen who will be anxious to get their championship campaign off to a good start, after being relegated to Division Two at the end of last season.The county’s three new signings, batsman James Bryan, all rounder Aaron Laraman and West Indian Test bowler Nixon McLean have all given a good account of themselves in the pre season matches and are all selected.Certainly there is no shortage of confidence at the club. New captain Mike Burns told me: “We are all really looking forward to getting going in the championship. All of the batters and bowlers performed well in our match against Loughborough earlier this week, and we are going into the match feeling very positive indeed.”New batsman Bryant, who scored an impressive century against Loughborough UCCE last weekend, is also raring to get his competitive season underway. During a break from his net practice at Taunton yesterday morning he said: “I’m feeling really good and looking forward to the first championship match. I seem to have found some good form out in the middle which is very pleasing and I’m look forward to scoring many more runs for the county.”Somerset’s two England left handers, Ian Blackwell and Trescothick were also enjoying some last minute batting practice in the nets, and showing that they have lost none of their old form.Even though he has been overseas playing cricket all winter, Trescothick is just as keen to get started again. He said: “It can’t come soon enough for me, it’s just a shame that we are not playing down here at the County Ground.”Looking forward to the match coach Kevin Shine said: “This is what we have been training hard for all the winter. We have had one of our most competitive pre seasons ever and now we have to go out there and put it into practice.”The full Somerset squad to face Gloucestershire is: Marcus Trescothick, Peter Bowler, Mike Burns, Jamie Cox, James Bryant, Ian Blackwell, Rob Turner, Aaron Laraman, Richard Johnson, Nixon McLean, Simon Francis and Keith Dutch.Andy Caddick, Somerset’s third England player is expected to make his return for the county in their championship match at Derby on April 30th.

John Buchanan, the Australian coach, has said that England’s weaknesses that he spotted during the NatWest Series were still obvious even though England has been dominant in the last two Tests at Edgbaston and Old Trafford.He said that Michael Vaughan and Andrew Strauss were let off early in their innings after which they proceeded to score centuries at Old Trafford. “I know England are saying ‘gee, isn’t it amazing Australia are happy to get a draw these days?’,” Buchanan was quoted as saying by sportinglife.com. “But in the course of a series things develop and we could talk about Ricky Ponting’s innings, what Brett Lee did throughout the Manchester match, Shane Warne again and we saw the failures of Kevin Pietersen and Andrew Flintoff with the bat.”Buchanan maintained that Australia had created winning opportunities all through the series and it was just a matter of taking advantage of them. “We created chances from the top order, we have all summer. So there are lots of good things there – it is now a matter of sticking it all together. The win will only come from us doing the things we can do well; we probably haven’t stuck all that together that well so that is our major focus, to put our game together and deliver throughout the whole Test.”The impetus is with England to go all out for a series win because a drawn series will result in Australia retaining the Ashes for a ninth consecutive time. However Buchanan said that playing for a draw was not in the Australian psyche. “We know two draws would be fine but I would be disappointed if that was in the thinking of any of our players. I don’t really want to go in with that sort of approach,” said Buchanan. “We are beginning our preparation for the one game that is really important to us right now, the fourth Test at Trent Bridge. That is our focus and we will go into that game wanting to win it.”Jason Gillespie’s spot in the team is in serious jeopardy after a terrible loss of form. He has taken only three wickets in as many Tests at an extravagant average of 100. Shaun Tait and Michael Kasprowicz are both staking their claims and they will have a chance to make an impression when the Australians plays Northamptonshire on August 20. “It [The tour game] will have some bearing obviously,” Buchanan said. “But I think what we need to do is be very clear on how we want to play the game and that really dictates the final make-up of the Test side. Jason is just the same as anybody else at the moment.”

Scorecard and ball-by-ball details

Upul Tharanga grasped a prime opportunity to stake a long-term claim for a regular position in Sri Lanka’s top order with a fine 105 against Bangladesh at a depressingly empty Premadasa International Stadium. Tharanga laid the foundation for an imposing total and then Tillakaratne Dilshan starred with the ball as Sri Lanka cruised to a series-clinching 75-run victory.Young contenders dream of being given a chance against such threadbare bowling attacks, but the trick is to cash-in, which Tharanga has now done twice in successive matches. Once again, he was the fortunate beneficiary of some sloppy Bangladesh catching, as Manjural Islam Rana grassed a regulation slip chance when he was on just 13, but he also batted impressively with a composure and focus that hinted at a real future.Bangladesh will certainly have grown sick of him after a string of scores that reads 104 (for Sri Lanka President’s XI), 60 and 105. Sanath Jayasuriya is rarely overshadowed with the bat, but Tharanga outscored him early-on, racing to his fifty off just 44 balls, driving beautifully through the covers. Sri Lanka piled on the runs in the first five-over power play, adding 51 runs to reach the 15-over mark with 100 runs already in the bank.Bangladesh badly missed their key strike bowler Mashrafe Mortaza, who has been struggling with back spasms, although Syed Rasel, a left-armer, bowled steadily for the second consecutive match. But the visitors, thanks mainly to their spin twins, Mohammad Rafique (2 for 47) and Manjural Islam Rana (2 for 37), did still manage to disrupt the run fest during the middle overs after Jayasuriya flashed a catch to Khaled Mashud behind the stumps having made 40 from 45 balls.Sri Lanka’s surprise decision to promote Dilshan to the No. 3 slot, ahead of in-form batsmen and potential pinch-hitters, backfired badly as the momentum of the innings was checked. Moreover, his shaky confidence will have not been buoyed by a laboured 27 from 59 balls. Sri Lanka, who before the game had stressed a desire to capitalise on the fielding restrictions, wasted the second power play, scoring just 19 runs between the 15th and 20th over.Tharanga also slowed after reaching his fifty and the innings only perked up after the arrival of Marvan Atapattu, who batted fluently for his 53 from 43 balls and raised the tempo with Kumar Sangakkara (28) and Mahela Jayawardene (24 from 18 balls) in the final overs.Realistically, Bangladesh’s task was hopeless. No side has successfully chased such a large total at Premadasa, Sri Lanka’s one-day home, and their innings was all about salvaging some respect after a dismal performance in the opening game that had left the coach having stern-faced one-to-one post mortems late into Wednesday night.And Dav Whatmore’s sessions appeared to have worked as the top order showed a far higher level of application. Shahriar Nafees was especially impressive with his gritty 51 from 83 balls, once again displaying the swagger of someone capable of cutting it at the top level. His efforts were supported by Mohammad Ashraful (31), Habibul Bashar (41 not out) and Tushar Imran (31).But Bangladesh were always well behind the pace and when, belatedly, they did try and step on the gas, Dilshan snapped up three scalps with his useful off breaks.Earlier, Bangladesh bolstered their seam attack, dropping Khaled Mahmud who was substituted after just first overs at the SSC and calling up Nazmul Hossain. Sri Lanka also made a change, resting Farveez Maharoof as a precautionary measure because of his recent hamstring tweak and including Dilhara Lokuhettige.How they were outSri LankaSanath Jayasuriya c Mashud b Hossain 40 (100 for 1)
Tillakaratne Dilshan c Omar b Rafique 27 (171 for 2)
Upul Tharanga st Mashud b Rana 105 (194 for 3)
Kumar Sangakkara c Rana b Rafique 28 (245 for 4)
Dilhara Lokuhettige lbw b Rasel 2 (252 for 5)
BangladeshJaved Omar c Atapattu b Vaas 18 (38 for 1)
Aftab Ahmed b Muralitharan 18 (77 for 2)
Shariar Nafees c Muralitharan b Dilshan 51 (122 for 3)
Mohammed Rafique c & b Dilshan 9 (137 for 4)
Mohammed Ashraful b Dilshan 31 (140 for 5)
Tushar Imran b Lokuhettige 31 (211 for 6)