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The international flavour in Indian domestic cricket is getting stronger and stronger with Vikram Solanki and Kabir Ali being the two latest imports. They will turn out for Rajasthan in the Elite Group of the Ranji Trophy as well as in the domestic one-day competition.Solanki, who was born in Udaipur in Rajasthan, plays for Worcestershire in the County Championship, and has been spoken about as being a strong candidate to lead Rajasthan in this year’s competition. He arrived in India on Wednesday along with Kabir and was received at the airport by Murali Kartik, the Indian left-arm spinner, who is an old friend of Solanki’s.This follows the news that Sarfaraz Nawaz, the former Pakistan fast bowler, is scheduled to conduct a seven-day coaching stint with Delhi’s fast bowlers. However, neither are firsts. Maharashtra have employed Darren Holder, the Australian, as coach for some time now, and Punjab used the services of Intikhab Alam, the former Pakistani captain. Technically, neither Solanki nor Kabir will be the first foreign players to compete in Indian domestic cricket.Nayan Doshi, who, like his father Dilip, also bowls left-arm spin, has turned out for Saurashtra, the state his family originally hails from. Nayan, who lives in England now and turns out for Surrey, is a British passport holder, so he would technically qualify as a foreign player. Jermaine Lawson, the West Indies fast bowler, has been recently linked with Maharashtra.The rules allow each state team to field up to three “professionals” – players from outside the state in the XI. Cricketers moving from state to another have to obtain a no-objection certificate from their home states, but, of course, no such thing exists for cricketers who come from outside the country.

149* v Pakistan, Hobart, 1999-2000
It was one of the great comebacks after Australia fell to 5 for 126. They were chasing 369 for victory and the top order, boasting plenty of experience with the Waugh brothers, Michael Slater and Ricky Ponting, had failed. Gilchrist, on the other hand, was playing in only his second Test and he and Justin Langer combined for 238 in 59 overs to set up the win. His unbeaten 149 took just 163 deliveries, and featured 13 fours and a six. Steve Waugh later said he looked like he was playing in his own backyard. It was the first of many times that Gilchrist would turn a game on its head.204* v South Africa, Johannesburg, 2001-02
An emotional man, Gilchrist cried on reaching one of many milestones in the innings after being the victim of a vicious internet rumour. He was brutal throughout the performance which at the time was the fastest double-century in Test history, his 204 coming from 213 balls. Eight sixes were thrashed, most over midwicket, as he showed his amazing power in a performance that would remain his highest.122 v India, Mumbai, 2000-01
It was 99 for 5 when Gilchrist walked in. Only Matthew Hayden stood his ground in the hot cauldron as Harbhajan Singh ran amok. In a couple of hours he changed the face the game and the contest. Sweeping, cutting and lofting, he raced to an 84-ball century, the fastest by a visiting batsman on Indian soil. Even if he was playing his first Test in India, the foreign conditions didn’t matter. He took risks, survived clear chances and half chances, but never retreated.113 v Pakistan, Sydney, 2004-05
The scorecard shows Stuart MacGill as the Man of the Match and Ricky Ponting as the dominant batsman with 207, but it was Gilchrist’s 109-ball century that really wrested the match away from Pakistan. It was his 13th Test hundred – he passed Andy Flower’s record for a wicketkeeper-batsman – and featured scintillating striking towards the end. He brought up the milestone with a straight six off Shahid Afridi and had raced within reach thanks to consecutive sixes pulled off Mohammad Asif. For Yousuf Youhana and Shoaib Akhtar, who had also been part of the Pakistan team Gilchrist destroyed in Hobart five years earlier, there was a touch of déjà vu.102* v England, Perth, 2006-07
Only Viv Richards has reached a century faster than the 57 balls it took Gilchrist on his home ground in the 2006-07 Ashes. On a boiling Perth day he sizzled, taking to Monty Panesar (24 runs in an over that started with a dot) and Matthew Hoggard in a stunning burst, which included 12 fours and four sixes. Had he known about the record he could have broken it, but no message came from the dressing room, and he was glad he didn’t get there. “Viv deserves that mantle as the fastest hundred,” he said.149 v Sri Lanka, World Cup final, Bridgetown, 2006-07
It’s one thing to blast runs in any old ODI, but only the best of the best save their finest moments for the biggest stage. Gilchrist’s 149 in the World Cup final gave spectators reason to remember the match for pure cricketing brilliance, not its farcical finish in the dark. After morning drizzle made the fans nervously check their schedules for the reserve day, Gilchrist reminded them why they were there. He belted eight sixes in his 129-ball display, and for a while it seemed he could make 200 even in an innings reduced to 38 overs. He was so mesmerising that occasional boos came from the crowd when he gave the strike to Matthew Hayden. Squash ball or not, this was undoubtedly the pinnacle of a glittering ODI career.

Sri Lanka’s selectors have named a 22-man training pool for the forthcomingfive-match one-day series against Zimbabwe. The squad will start trainingfor the tour from April 4.The pool includes several new faces, including Farveez Maharoof, a medium pace allrounder who captained the Sri Lankan Under-19 team in Bangladesh, andThilina Kandamby and Ian Daniel, batsmen who had an impressive tour of New Zealand with the A team.Sri Lanka are scheduled to play five one-dayers and two Tests during their month-long tour to Zimbabwe, beginning April 20.Pool of 22 1 Marvan Atapattu, 2 Sanath Jayasuriya, 3 Kumar Sangakkara, 4 Mahela Jayawardene, 5 Tillakaratne Dilshan, 6 Thilan Samaraweera, 7 Russel Arnold, 8 Upul Chandana, 9 Chaminda Vaas, 10 Nuwan Zoysa, 11 Dilhara Fernando, 12 Muttiah Muralitharan, 13 Saman Jayantha, 14 Nuwan Kulasekera, 15 Rangana Herath, 16 Thilina Kandamby, 17 Farveez Maharoof, 18 Prasanna Jayawardene, 19 Ian Daniel, 20 Avishka Gunawardene, 21 Chamila Gamage, 22 Kaushal Lokuarachchi.

Chris Tremlett has said New Zealand should be prepared for a short-pitched attack during the first Test after England Lions gave the batting line-up a working over on the second day at The Rose Bowl. There was one major exception for New Zealand as Aaron Redmond compiled a career-best 139, but Tremlett wasn’t overly convinced.Redmond took a blow from Graham Onions and also a couple of bruising hits on the body from Tremlett. “At times it didn’t look as though he fancied it too much so we got stuck into him but he’s got the bulk of their runs and has played well at the end of the day,” Tremlett said.”On a couple of occasions, the way he reacted to it, he didn’t look too comfortable against the short ball and I think that’s quite obvious from our point of view so we tested him. I’m sure those messages will go across to the boys for the first Test.”During the series in New Zealand the short ball was a tactic England tried with mixed results. Stuart Broad used it well in Napier, but sometimes it was overdone to players like Ross Taylor and Brendon McCullum who weren’t afraid to attack.Redmond, who is now in line for a Test debut at Lord’s, said the short stuff is nothing less than he expected. “It’s all part and parcel of being an opener. If I was a fast bowler I would run in and bowl short to any batsman, it’s just the way they are. It’s also good practice for the future games.”Tremlett has been accused of not always bending his back but he was the pick of the bowlers on the second day. Onions produced some nippy away swing, but it was the bounce from Tremlett that caught the attention, and not only of New Zealand’s batsmen. “I’m certainly happy with my first couple of spells from the Pavilion End, I lacked a bit of rhythm from the other end but it was generally a pretty good day,” he said. “It’s probably not the best I’ve bowled all season but it’s good to put my name in the hat.”He doesn’t believe, though, there is much of chance forcing his way into the Test line-up with James Anderson, Matthew Hoggard – who didn’t impress here despite three late wickets – and Andrew Flintoff vying for a place.”There’s lots of competition. Anderson got some wickets today so he’s obviously bowling well and in contention for the first Test. [Stuart] Broad and [Ryan] Sidebottom bowled well in New Zealand so their places probably aren’t up for grabs so it’s just about being consistent and knocking on the door. Realistically I probably don’t think I’ve got a chance of playing in the first Test and the other thing is that Freddie might be back as well.”However, last year a strong performance for the Lions against India earned him a call-up to the squad and he played all three Tests of that series, impressing at stages against the likes of Sachin Tendulkar and Rahul Dravid. A difficult winter followed where he wasn’t selected for the Sri Lanka tour and then got injured after being a late replacement for the Test party in New Zealand when places became available.”I’d only really been bowling in the nets and hadn’t a chance to play any games. Then unfortunately I got injured. It was disappointing that I had to go home, but if my body had held up there would been a good opportunity but hopefully I’ll get a game this summer.”Last year it [the Lions game] got me in the frame against India and then I got called up and played in the first Test. These matches are important and you try to do as well as you can. Hopefully it shows the selectors what you capable of and that you are on form.”

John Davison relaxed after his remarkable allround performance had helped Canada to a 104-run victory over USA in their Intercontinental Cup match at Fort Lauderdale and admitted that he should “probably should thank the ICC for giving this game first-class status”.Davison took 17 for 137 , the best first-class return since Jim Laker’s 19 for 90 for England against Australia at Manchester in 1956. His also made 84 in Canada’s first innings, the highest score of the match. The Intercontinental Cup is a new tournament introduced by the ICC to give international cricket’s second-string sides first-class experience.”To take so many wickets in any game of cricket is always terrific and it was a perfect wicket for spin bowling,” Davison told the Australian-based Advertiser. “I think too that we handled the pressure of three-day cricket perhaps a bit better than the US.”Davison admitted that he had been laid low with a stomach bug in the hours before the game, and was vomiting shortly before the start. “Certainly the heat didn’t help me too much,” he told the newspaper. “I lost quite a bit of weight during the game.”

There weren’t many close finishes in the latest round of Twenty20 Cup matches, as Kent, Leicestershire, Somerset, Derbyshire and Hampshire all collected the points in their matches.At Canterbury, an unbeaten 48 from Matthew Walker and 36 from Rob Key helped Kent to 163 for 6 against Sussex, who then bombed to 116 all out with Ian Butler taking 3 for 19 as Sussex went down by 47 runs. Darren Stevens hit a quick 31 in Leicestershire’s 150 for 7 at Grace Road, which was enough to beat Nottinghamshire. They crashed to 110 all out as Charlie Dagnall came up trumps with 4 for 22.A rapid 51 from only 32 balls by James Hildreth, along with 47 from Keith Dutch, boosted Somerset to 178 for 6 against Worcestershire at Taunton.An unbeaten half-century from David Leatherdale wasn’t good enough for Worcestershire, who were pegged back by Aaron Laraman. He finished with the impressive figures of 4 for 15.At the Rose Bowl, a blistering 52 from 22 balls by Dimitri Mascarenhas and a quick 46 from Michael Clarke helped Hampshire to victory against Middlesex. Hampshire posted a healthy 170 for 7, and Middlesex couldn’t keep up with the rate, despite an unbeaten 35 from Lance Klusener.James Bryant guided Derbyshire to victory against Durham at Chester-le-Street. After Durham struggled to 117 for 9, Bryant made sure the result was never in doubt with a run-a-ball 41 as Derbyshire cruised home with an over and a half to spare.
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Brendon McCullum stroked his way to his maiden Test hundred (143) to give New Zealand a lead of 225 runs, before Bangladesh lost two wickets before the end of the day, and looked set to lose the first match of the series within four days. They reached the close on 41 for 2, with Daniel Vettori doing the damage second-time around.The day had belonged entirely to New Zealand. They first frustrated Bangladesh by repelling the bowling with ease, and then built a comfortable lead for their team before prising out Javed Omar and Hannan Sarkar before the close. When they resumed their innings, unperturbed by the absence of specialist batsmen, McCullum did not attempt to shield the tailenders when the spinners came on. And Vettori (23) and James Franklin (22) held their own, in partnerships of 71 and 57. While McCullum went after the loose balls, Vettori and Franklin tapped it around, applying themselves in a manner missing when the top order batted yesterday. McCullum fed off their comfort, and took the match further away from Bangladesh.McCullum was quick to pounce on anything either too short or too full, and though he was mostly fluent, he did enjoy some luck. Two catches were dropped, but he carried on as if nothing had happened. Cuts flew to the fence. Sweeps beat the fielders. He stayed back and played strokes as late as possible. Some balls stayed low, others jumped, and patience was needed, of which he had plenty. Bangladesh grew more and more dispirited as his score grew. When he eventually fell, it was while attempting to steer Mohammad Rafique to leg – a shot he had played successfully until then (371 for 9). But New Zealand were safe, and had broken away from Bangladesh’s clutches for the first time in three days.Bangladesh were restricted by their limited bowling attack. Apart from Rafique (6 for 122) and Manjural, no-one looked likely to get a wicket, and runs came freely when the fast men bowled. They had opportunities: the new ball swung, but it was pitched on the wrong line, and a shot off McCullum flew airily to third man, where the fielder chose to save four runs, rather than dive for a catch. Apart from the spinners, Bangladesh lacked penetration. Vettori fell to an outstanding catch by Nafis Iqbal, and Franklin attempted an over-ambitious pull (351 for 8).Soon, Bangladesh’s batsmen were in pads, with the task of wiping out the considerable lead. They played steadily at first, barring two edges off Franklin that went through slips to the boundary, but all that changed when Vettori came on. Getting one to turn a bit, he clipped Omar’s outside-edge, before Sarkar tried playing a ball to leg, but edged it back to Vettori (33 for 2). Nafis Iqbal was still there on 24, though, striking the odd defiant shot, but there was no doubt about which team was in complete control of the game.

Matthew Hayden is to be rested from Thursday’s VB Series match against India at the Sydney Cricket Ground. Simon Katich will be his replacement.Instead Hayden will remain in Brisbane, before rejoining the squad in the lead-up to Australia’s match against Zimbabwe in Adelaide on January 26.Trevor Hohns, Australia’s chairman of selectors, explained: “The selectors believe that this short layoff should help Matthew as he prepares for the remainder of the VB Series and all other cricket that lies ahead. It gives him the chance to manage a range of minor injuries that he has endured, including knee soreness which is a common problem amongst top-order batsmen.”He also commented on Katich: “Simon’s form has been irresistible this summer and although his selection in the squad is just for one match at this stage, we are keen to see how he performs at one-day international level.”Katich was pleasantly surprised when he received the news. “It was a nice surprise to get the call-up, and I’m absolutely thrilled to get this opportunity. I love playing at the SCG so if the chance presents itself I’m keen to grab it with both hands.”Australia (from): 1 Adam Gilchrist (wk), 2 Simon Katich, 3 Ricky Ponting (capt), 4 Damien Martyn, 5 Andrew Symonds, 6 Michael Clarke, 7 Michael Bevan, 8 Brad Hogg, 9 Brett Lee, 10 Jason Gillespie, 11 Brad Williams, 12 Andy Bichel.

England 222 for 9 (Liddell 4-45) lead Australia 131 (Brunt 5-47) by 91 runs
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England ground out a first-innings lead over Australia on the second day of the second Test at Worcester, but it was an affair for the diehards. In 101 overs, they reached 222 for 9 at the close, a lead of 91.Australia’s tail had wagged to great affect in the first Test at Hove, but it succumbed with barely a whimper in the opening overs today as their last three wicket added only five runs to their overnight 126 for 7. In 15 balls Katherine Brunt took all three wickets, giving her a Test-best 5 for 47.England’s innings was solid but never remotely spectacular, with the run rate struggling to stay above two an over for most of the day. Jenny Gunn (38) Clare Connor (37) and Claire Taylor (43) all played themselves in without ever accelerating, but in the context of the match it was important for England to build a lead, and they had the luxury of having the time to do so.Cathryn Fitzpatrick led the attack with typical fire, taking 3 for 76, while Emma Liddell took crucial late wickets, finishing with 4 for 45.

Scotland go into their latest match of their Intercontinental Cup campaign acutely aware that nothing less than a win tomorrow against Namibia, who lead the table, will suffice if they’re to stay in the competition.Scotland are languishing in fifth place on 26 points. Although the weather hasn’t helped them this season – two draws were rained off – they nevertheless need to perform now if they’ve any hope of staying alive.”It is a must-win game for us,” Ryan Watson, the captain, admitted. “We have been hurt by the weather in previous fixtures and so it has not turned out how we wanted but we still have a chance.”They (Namibia) are in the middle of their season and have been doing well in the South African competition they play in so this match is going to be one hell of a challenge.”Ironically, having got on the road and away from the unpredictable Scottish weather, there is a chance that this four-day game in a region that boasts the famous Kalahari Desert could be interrupted by rain. There has been an unusually large amount of rainfall in the Windhoek area in recent weeks and the Met Office has predicted a mixture of sunshine and showers for the next few days.”There’s nothing we can do about that,” Watson said. “We have prepared well for this tour. We’ve been here for a week now and we had a good win over a Namibia Invitational XI. Ideally we would have had one more preparation game but I think we are ready to go. No excuses, we know it will be tough but we have a good side.”Without the services of Dougie Brown and Kyle Coetzer, the Scots will rely on the experience of Gavin Hamilton, Fraser Watts, Neil McCallum and the skipper for the majority of their runs while John Blain has been in good form with the ball.The pitch at the Wanderers Cricket Ground in Windhoek is normally a batsman’s dream but with all the rain that has been around, it is not known how it will play this time. It might even take a bit of spin and, in that case, Majid Haq could come to the fore for Scotland.In contrast to Scotland, Namibia’s confidence is high. Topping the ICC Intercontinental Cup table ahead of Kenya in second place and defending champion Ireland in third, Namibia are favourites to make the final but Louis Burger, the captain, refuses to get carried away.”Scotland is a really good team and we know it’s going to be a tough battle for us. They will come hard at us because they know they need full points from this game or they are probably out of contention,” Burger said.”But the atmosphere in our team is very good. Everyone is happy and confidence is high so we are not going to be a pushover either. We love this competition, we take it very seriously and before it started we targeted a place in the final. We know that if we can just focus on our game and do what we do well, we should be OK.”The Namibia squad reads like a list of in-form players. Gerri Snyman, Craig Williams, Jan-Berrie Burger and Bjorn Kotze are all in the runs while Louis Klazinga, Kola Burger and Snyman are all in a hot streak with ball in hand.SquadsNamibia: Louis Burger (capt), JB Burger, Raymond van Schoor, Gerri Snyman, Deon Kotze, Bjorn Kotze, Kola Burger, Tobias Verwey, Louis Klazinga, Craig Williams, Sean Silver, Sarel Burger, Nicolaas Scholtz.Scotland Ryan Watson (capt), Richard Berrington, John Blain, Gordon Drummond, Gavin Hamilton, Majid Haq, Omer Hussain, Dougie Lockhart, Neil McCallum, Dewald Nel, Glenn Rogers, Qasim Sheikh, Simon Smith, Fraser Watts, Sean Weeraratna, Craig Wright.