Pakistan might have won the first Test at Karachi, but all the gains went to Bangladesh. To push Pakistan into the fifth day was an excellent effort on their part, especially after their hapless showing of the last few months. Pakistan’s performance, on the other hand, left a lot to be desired.Bangladesh batted with a new-found grit and determination, especially in the second innings. Shoaib Akhtar was not allowed to rip through the batting order, and Rajin Saleh and Habibul Bashar handled his extreme pace with remarkable ease. Saleh, the talk of the town on his debut, is a player to watch out for – he has a good technique and can stay at the crease for long periods of time without getting flustered.Dav Whatmore, who took over as coach just before Bangladesh’s series against Australia, has already made an impact on his side. Whatmore was instrumental in converting one Asian minnow into a top team – he coached Sri Lanka to the 1996 World Cup. Bangladesh might be a different ballgame, as he recently explained in an exclusive interview to Wisden CricInfo, but he has begun well.One of Whatmore’s biggest worries will be the bowling. Mashrafe Mortaza troubled the Pakistani batsman and Mohammad Rafique was economical, but the rest lacked penetration. Bangladesh do not yet have the ability to take 20 wickets in a Test, and Khaled Mahmud hardly leads by example. He doubled his tally of Test wickets in this game, but his bowling average still stands at 244. The cricket academies back home need to breed genuine pace bowlers – and a quality legspinner would do quite nicely as well.Pakistan do not have much cause for cheer. Their fielding was atrocious – a major reason for Pakistan’s lack of success in the longer version of the game is their inability to hang on to chances in the slips. The bowlers, as a result, concentrate on getting batsmen out bowled or lbw and are taken for runs when they drift onto the pads. This Test was no exception, as Taufeeq Umar dropped a sitter in the first innings and Yasir Hameed bungled a simple chance offered by Habibul Bashar in the second. Bashar was then on zero – he went on to make 108.The batting, with the exception of Yasir Hameed’s centuries, was ordinary. The shot selection by Inzamam-ul-Haq, Mohammad Hafeez and Taufeeq Umar was awful. Pakistan must sort out its opening combination quickly, as neither Hafeez nor Taufeeq seem to possess the technique to succeed against better teams. The Bangladesh attack was modest, yet Pakistan managed just 346 in the first innings on a docile pitch.The only positive to come out for Pakistan was the impressive performance of 25-year old Hameed. He had shown a glimpse of his talent in the one-day internationals that preceded this Test, but had failed to convert any of his starts. He showed great composure and concentration and worked his way to two centuries on debut, only the second player to achieve that feat. However, it would be too early to say that Pakistan’s worries over the crucial No. 3 slot are over. Pakistan has a penchant for discarding players after the odd appearance in a Test match, and Hameed will have to prove himself against better teams.The pitch at Karachi was pathetic. Pakistan’s strength lies in its pace attack, and the pitches prepared for a home series should be lively, with an even covering of grass. The Karachi pitch offered no assistance to Pakistan’s fast bowlers, and neutralised the home advantage they had. It may not matter against Bangladesh – it will against better teams.Final day Bulletin

Sydney Grade Cricket’s 111th season commences this Saturday 27 September, with a round of one-day limited-overs matches commencing at 9.30am. They will feature a host of New South Wales and Australian stars.At Bankstown Oval, Bankstown’s NSW and Australian captain Steve Waugh will go head-to-head with Western Suburbs’ young heir-apparent, Michael Clarke. Mark Waugh will captain both Bankstown, and his older twin, for the first time.At Manly Oval, Michael Bevan will spearhead Manly’s batting against a powerful Randwick Petersham side. The visitors’ batting strength includes the Blues’ Pura Cup Player of the Year Simon Katich, and 2001/2002 Grade Player of the Year Richard Chee Quee. They will test the Seasiders’ formidable bowling attack that includes State bowlers Shawn Bradstreet, Mark Cameron and Jamie Heath.At Drummoyne Oval, Australian leg-spinner Stuart MacGill and Speedblitz Blues batsman Matthew Phelps will make their debut for defending premier Sydney University. They will encounter staunch opposition from UTS-Balmain’s World Cup squad member Nathan Bracken, Blues opening batsman Greg Mail, and former Australia A all-rounder and Fijian star Neil Maxwell. Unfortunately, Greg Matthews is recovering from a shoulder operation and will not partner MacGill in his club debut.Other matches- Penrith v Eastern Suburbs at Howell: Hawkesbury v North Sydney at Owen Earle; St George v Sutherland at Hurstville; Fairfield-Liverpool v Northern District at Rosedale; Campbelltown-Camden v Blacktown at Raby; Mosman v Gordon at Rawson; and University of NSW v Parramatta at Village Green.

Michael Vaughan – England captain
I said at the start of the tour that we expected to win, but you can’t win any game without putting in hard work and getting accustomed to the conditions. You have to give the opposition as much respect as you possibly can. The first two weeks before the first Test, we didn’t have too many nets or training facilities because of the bad weather. But I put the 2-0 victory down to all the hard work we did in that period.This pitch definitely suited our style of play. The wicket in Dhaka was a passive slow pitch, which suited the Bangladeshis better. There was a bit more bounce here and all our four seamers exploited the conditions superbly. There were a couple of injuries which created opportunities for Richard Johnson and Martin Saggers, and Johnson especially has given the selectors a real headache. As for Nasser [Hussain], he showed the kind of character he is. He got no runs in Dhaka and so he put in a lot of hard work between the Tests. He worked on a few technical things in the nets, and it didn’t surprise me at all when he bounced back.Of the ten Test matches we’ve played this year, we’ve won seven. So that’s a pretty good indication of where we’re going. The wins are just starting to come and we have a really tough series against Sri Lanka ahead of us, which will be the perfect test of how far we’ve progressed. We are coming together as a team and learning to play with each other, although with all the chopping and changing through injury, it has been very difficult to keep the performances up.Duncan Fletcher – England coach
I’d give this performance about seven-and-a-half out of ten. I just think that through certain periods we didn’t quite perform to our potential. In one or two sessions, if we’d really looked at it, we could have played better.Dav Whatmore – Bangladesh coach
It was certainly a more convincing win for England. They played exceptionally well, although we handed them the advantage a little bit. Obviously we would have preferred to make a bigger fight of it, but when you get a couple of run-outs like that, things get a bit difficult.It very much becomes a mental game when you are so far behind the opposition by day four. It takes a superhuman effort just to dig in, dig in and dig in. Things like that don’t happen very often. It’s a very disappointing match for us, but we need support. This is not the time when we need people to say you’re terrible. We played nine days of Test match cricket against England. Two of those seven days England dominated, but you couldn’t say they dominated on any of the other seven days. I’d rather look at the bigger picture, than take the negative approach.In my experience in sport, if you are looking to improve from a position of weakness, it is never, ever, going to be a straight line upwards. It is how the team handle this sort of situation in the future that will determine how they shape up. I don’t think we should jump to conclusions – I still think the team has done pretty well.The short-pitched bowling was a good test for our batsmen. I don’t think they would have encountered a barrage like this before, on a wicket with a bit of variable bounce. We did pretty well in Pakistan and Australia, and they have some pretty nasty bowlers. But I think it was the variable bounce that was the enemy of the batsmen, rather than the length of the bowling.Sri Lanka will certainly be a stiffer test for England. I’m sure one or two of their batsmen will be in better nick, but England will give them a good fight.Khaled Mahmud – Bangladesh captain
People are looking too much at the outcome, but we’re really not focusing on that right now. Yes, we lost 2-0 to England, but I think we learnt a lot from it and under the circumstances we didn’t do a particularly bad job, at least in the first Test. As for the captaincy, that is up to the selectors. But I would very much like to continue.

Just when Michael Slater’s supporters were rousing themselves from slumber to barrack for his recall into the Australian XI, Justin Langer chose the perfect moment to ride his luck – and play some magnificent shots – all the way to a 16th Test hundred.”Steve Waugh always wants you to back yourself, don’t hesitate and play your shots,” said Langer, addressing the media after yet another fairly routine day at the office for Australia. He was unbeaten on 115 at stumps – rattling along from 50 to 100 in 47 balls – and admitted afterwards that Australia had made plans to dominate the opening day.”We always aim to win the first session,” he said. “After that, we target winning the first day. Today, they had very good conditions to bowl in, so it was a huge day for us.” While he said the team hadn’t set any session targets, he said, “It takes courage to be aggressive. We’ve won a lot of Test matches playing that way over the past five years.”He rated his innings among the best he’d ever played – “One of the best, if not the best” – because the conditions, especially early on, had been so challenging. “The ball was seaming around a lot all day. The wicket got harder and faster as the game went on.”India’s decision to bowl first surprised him, though he said neither he nor Matthew Hayden was fazed by the thought of going out to bat on a green wicket. “Matty and I raised eyebrows when we were told by Steve … but we know that at the Gabba, if you get past the first 20 or 25 overs, you can set up the game.”Of India’s inexperienced bowling attack, he said, “They certainly don’t lack talent. Zaheer Khan’s first spell was outstanding. The other guy [Nehra] bowled well too. If they were to be critical of themselves, they’d say that they didn’t string good spells together…it was scarier watching from the non-striker’s end. Their bowlers must have thought it was heaven bowling on such a pitch.”The sweep shot brought him some joy against Harbhajan Singh, but he confessed that it was only once he stopped pre-meditating the stroke that it came smoothly. “Early on, I was thinking about playing the shot. It’s a trap we fall into while touring India or Sri Lanka, going for the pre-meditated sweep. After tea, I decided I was just going to watch the ball. With him [Harbhajan] bowling that line, I was able to get a few away.”For India, and Rahul Dravid, it was a sobering day, a “tough day” to use his words. “It was overcast and there was a bit in the wicket. And it was one of those on-off days with the rain. We just didn’t bowl as well as we should have.”Dravid refused to comment on the two lbw decisions, or the Langer catch off a no-ball when asked about their impact on the proceedings. “Maybe we didn’t get the breaks,” he said, “but credit to them. There’s no guarantee that you’ll make a hundred if you get a life on 20. He [Langer] played really well.”Despite Steve Waugh’s assessment yesterday that the first day would decide the series, Dravid refused to throw away last vestiges of hope. “They’ve won the first day,” he said. “But losing the first day doesn’t lose you the series.”On his sickbed in Sri Lanka, Nasser Hussain – who inserted Australia at the Gabba last year only to see them romp to 364 for 2 – might view it slightly differently.

Ricky Skerritt is the epitome of managerial unflappability, but heseemed to be drifting towards the edge of that idyllic state on Thursday. Did he have a moment to talk to Wisden CricInfo? “Yes, but no more than a moment – I’m just leaving a doctor’s office,” said Skerritt, who was himself admitted to hospital for tests after complaining of chest pains in Zimbabwe last month.The West Indies squad arrived in Bloemfontein at lunchtime onThursday, and among team manager Skerritt’s duties was to get his captain, Brian Lara, to a man in a white coat. “Brian had to go to the dentist, just for a little, routine filling,” Skerritt said. Still, it was serious enough to preclude Lara from talking to journalists on the day: “Out of the question, I’m sorry.”There was urgency in Skerritt’s tone, not least because Lara’spresence will presumably be required in the team that begins a four-day match against Free State today. The match is West Indies last engagement before the Test series starts in Johannesburg next Friday.Lara’s teething troubles came on the heels of Jerome Taylor beingsent home to recover from the lower back problem that curtailed his involvement in the Zimbabwe leg of the West Indies’ southern African tour to taking 10 for 112 in a tour match and bowling 9.4 overs in the first Test.”The loss of Taylor is significant because he was part of a balance that had been put together, and every young fast bowler has their own strengths to help create that balance,” Skerritt said. “It’s also unfortunate because it was an opportunity for him to get some exposure and some experience. He’s definitely a player for the future.”Was the rest of the squad in good health? “More or less, I would say,” Skerritt said. Curiously, the West Indies brains trust has decided to replace Taylor with Dave Mohammed, a left-arm wrist spinner. “I think the selectors probably took the opportunity to throw a little bit more variety into the attack, and to get a little more versatility,” Skerritt said. Mohammed, 25, is no stranger to the West Indies squad and its environs – Chairman’s XIs and the like – but he has yet to make his international debut. In 16 first-class matches from the 2000-01 season he has taken 53 wickets at an average of 23.41.Mohammed is the youngest of 10 siblings, and he lists his mother,Saferan, as a guiding light in his life and career. South Africans understand so few of the mysteries of chinaman bowling that their selectors prefer to persevere with a patently out of form Paul Adams rather than turn to another, less exotic but more reliable spinner. Which could mean Mahommed is already halfway to making a namefor himself in South Africa.

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.

After a cracked rib ended Michael Bevan’s tournament, Trevor Hohns, head of the Australian selectors, gave Michael Hussey a ring at about seven o’ clock last night to tell him he was in the international team. Hussey wasn’t expecting it.”I was pretty shocked really. It was a surreal feeling. He [Hohns] said I was in to replace Bevan for this game. It is a strange feeling really. It is something you obviously dream about as a kid. For all your life you are hoping you get the call. And then when it does finally come, it is a bit of a bizarre feeling. I was hoping and praying that I wouldn’t wake up to find out it was all a dream.”He realised it wasn’t, and spoke about his intended approach to the game on Sunday. “I think I will feel a bit nervous. It is great that it is at the WACA in front of my home crowd and my family and friends will all be able to be there. So I have plenty of support in that respect. I am just going to go and try and enjoy the whole experience.Hussey has been a prolific middle-order batsman for Western Australia, scoring over 12,000 runs in nine seasons. And with more than 5000 in 146 one-day games, with eight hundreds and 39 fifties, he has been one of the most consistent batsmen in Australia. Though he comes in for Bevan in the middle-order, and serves the same purpose, he hasn’t modelled himself on the man he’s replacing.”I haven’t really molded myself on him. But we do play a similar role. I guess that they wanted a like for like player. The main thing is to score runs. Quite often you come in with four or five overs to go, and you pretty much have to slog from ball one. That is the great thing about batting in the middle order, you get so many different challenges, and you have just got to try and cope with them as best as you can.”Though the tour of Sri Lanka was imminent, Hussey preferred to concentrate on the job at hand. “I am really just trying to get my head around this game on Sunday. After Sunday I can sit down and see where they are going and if they want to have a chat to me I don’t know. I will go to Sri Lanka if they need me.”I am going to try and concentrate on scoring as many runs as I can, and whatever will happen will happen. I hope that it is not the one and only experience, I am sure the selectors will keep me in the forefront of their minds over the next few years. Hopefully there will be more opportunities as well.”

ScorecardJustin Langer and Ricky Ponting, a surprise choice as his opening partner with Matthew Hayden getting a rest, gave Australia a solid start in their three-day tour game against a Sri Lanka Cricket President’s XI at the Colombo Cricket Club. At lunch on the opening day, Australia were 110 for 0, with Ponting unbeaten on 60. Langer’s contribution was a rather more sedate 30.Hayden, Adam Gilchrist, Damien Martyn and Jason Gillespie will sit this one out, as Australia went in with five bowlers. Brett Lee, Brad Williams and Michael Kasprowicz provided the pace, while Shane Warne and Stuart MacGill were both selected in the final warm-up game before the first Test starts on March 8.

England, Pakistan and India all have a chance to wrest the third spot in the ICC Test Championship table going into the final match of their series in West Indies and Pakistan. Currently, just two points separate the three teams, with Pakistan on 102, England on 101, and India on 100.A victory at Rawalpindi will push Pakistan’s tally to 105 points and assure them of third spot regardless of the outcome of England’s Test against West Indies in Antigua. If Pakistan only achieve a draw, though, they will stay on 102 points, and England can sneak ahead with a draw and a 3-0 series win – which will improve their rating to 103 points. If England win in Antigua, their tally will go up to 104.For India to leapfrog both teams, they will have to beat Pakistan in the third Test, and then hope that West Indies pull off a surprise win against England. If that happens, India and England will be tied in third place with 102 points, while Pakistan will slip to sixth place with 99.Australia lead the way with 127 points, while South Africa are in second place with 112.

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.