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Ebony Rainford-Brent, one of England’s standby players for the Ashes trip, says the team are heading Down Under with more aggression after being shocked by the pace of the game’s development. England have been training at Loughborough over the winter, and will come out with a plan to be really positive.”We’re looking a lot more aggressive, a lot more attacking,” she told Surrey Cricket. “Australia and the Kiwis are really aggressive, they’ll bowl bouncers and hit over the top. The women’s game is coming on really quickly and I think that was a bit of a wake-up call for us as well.”We had to put our foot down and get more aggressive. We’re all really fired up. The girls are bowling well, really on top of it. The girls are feeling good, the coaches are feeling good. We’re ready to get off the bowling machines and get onto the grass.”Rainford-Brent would love to join them in February if she gets the call-up as she is fighting fit at the moment. She has been playing as a batsman because of a serious back injury, but it has not affected her recently, and she feels strong. In fact, the problem has had an unexpected benefit: improved batting as she has been concentrating hard on that discipline.”The winter’s been really good. I’ve not been bowling, so I’ve had long words with the coaches what I need to achieve as a batter. I think I’m coming on and understanding my game. I’ve not had any problems at all [with my back]. I’ve been doing loads of gym work. I’ve not had any problems, feeling really strong.”But whether she’s part of the action or not, she can sense a real momentum with England at the moment. “Hopefully we will have a good series and hopefully retain the Ashes. We want to hold on to that. We need to hit the ground running. We really want it. It’s the first time we can feel we’ve got the upper hand. If we win out there it would be an amazing win.”Meanwhile, the women’s squad has had a boost with the news that British fashion designer Paul Costelloe will supply their official formal wear. For formal occasions a suit with white trim and the ECB logo embroidered onto the left breast pocket will be complemented by a white cotton shirt. For more casual occasions, navy blue linen trousers have been chosen to be worn with a navy and white striped top.A white linen jacket completes the look. England women’s captain Charlotte Edwards commented: “It’s fantastic. The whole look gives us an identity as a team and both outfits are of really high quality.”

Scorecard and ball-by-ball details

Rain ruined the deciding ODI between New Zealand and Sri Lanka as the match was abandoned without a ball being bowled. The two sides were tied 2-2 after the first four games of the five match series.New Zealand won the toss and elected to bowl but the game couldn’t get underway owing to incessant showers. Both teams were at full strength with Sri Lanka naming an unchanged side after their 189-run win at Eden Park. New Zealand recalled Danierl Vettori, James Franklin and Nathan Astle. Billy Bowden was to officiate in his 100th ODI.However, the climax turned into a damp squib and the two sides shared the trophy in a well-contested series. New Zealand will now head to Australia to compete in a tri-series against the host nation and England. Their first game will be against Australia this Sunday in Hobart.

Dion Ebrahim, Zimbabwe’s former vice-captain, was arrested this morning for using a ZC-sponsored car two weeks after the board decided not to offer him a new contract. Ebrahim was held at Highlands Police Station in Harare for several hours. Beatrice Mtetwa, his lawyer, told journalists that the arrest was illegal as ZC had not paid Ebrahim his outstanding match fees.”They had him arrested because he was using their car,” Mtetwa said. “They are still holding him. I wrote their lawyers telling them that we will not release the car until he is paid his dues. They can only take the car with a court order. This case has nothing to do with the police. This is a civil case. It is an abuse of the police, and ZC have always done that.”A spokesman for the board told Cricinfo: “Ebrahim no longer has a contract with ZC and so there are no grounds for him to continue using ZC property. Because of the continued unlawful use of the ZC vehicle, ZC approached the police to retrieve from a former employee what belongs to it.”It later emerged that Tatenda Taibu, the former captain who quit international cricket, had also been contacted by the police. He told Associated Press: “I am not handing over the car until I have been paid all the money I am owed in several months’ salary and Test match fees amounting to a large sum of money.” Ebrahim said on his release: “Like Tatenda said, they are not getting the car until they pay me all the money I am due, which is a lot.”Ebrahim and Taibu are among a number of players who are still owed around $200,000 in backpay. ZC has repeatedly avoided settling, and even though they were supposed to be paid in US dollars, the players claim that ZC has only offered to settle in Zimbabwe dollars at a derisory exchange rate.”The issue of Ebrahim’s payment is separate from his continued use of the ZC vehicle,” the spokesman said. “However, for the record, Ebrahim collected part of his payment from us and rejected the other cheque saying it was not in the form he wanted, possibly foreign currency. As we have said before, we are under advice to pay in local currency. Thus, the payment that Ebrahim says is outstanding to him is only so because he has made it that.”Although the strike by leading players ended last week when almost all of them signed new contracts, the issue of backpay remains unresolved. Critics of the board claim that it has no money, and it is also reported that ZC has approached the ICC and asked for an advance of the money it will receive from the 2007 World Cup to help it meet its running costs.

ScorecardBrad Hodge enhanced his prospects for a place on the New Zealand Test tour with an unbeaten 140 as Victoria’s batsmen dominated the opening day against Tasmania. Hodge, who made 204 in the last match against South Australia, is a contender for a national spot if Darren Lehmann is overlooked, and he made a big impression at the MCG in front of the selector Andrew Hilditch.Victoria produced a cracking performance to rack up 4 for 388, but Hodge was the standout, hitting 20 fours and two sixes in 182 balls, and shared partnerships of 92 with Jonathan Moss and 127 with Cameron White (50 not out).Desperate for a win to stay in touch of a Pura Cup final berth, Victoria began strongly as the openers Matthew Elliott and Jason Arnberger steered them to 148. The stand was the pair’s 16th century partnership in their 50th Pura Cup match together, but neither posted three figures. Elliott, who was dropped on 33, played on to Adam Griffith for 89 while Arnberger slipped to Damien Wright on 60. Griffith and Wright both picked up two wickets.

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.

Teenage leg-spinner Cameron White and veteran captain Paul Reiffel fell short of personal milestones but did enough to set Victoria up for its first victory of the Pura Cup cricket season here today.The heroics of White (91) and Reiffel (75) against South Australia helped the Bushrangers reach 405 and snare first innings points – their first of the domestic season.At stumps on day two, South Australia was 2-74 in its second innings, still trailing by 102 runs overall.South Australia was still hopeful of saving the match with dangerman Greg Blewett not out 23 and skipper Darren Lehmann still to bat.At one stage the Bushrangers were 6-198 but Reiffel and White destroyed the visitors’ attack with some power hitting as the Vics’ last four wickets put on 207 runs.White, controversially preferred to former Test off-spinner Colin Miller for the past two matches, looked set to become the youngest player ever to score a century for Victoria in the competition formerly known as the Sheffield Shield but holed out on 91.At 18 years and 118 days the boy from Bairnsdale in eastern Victoria was in line to break the previous record of Les Joslin, who was 18 years and 341 days oldwhen he scored a century in 1966-67.White, who took two wickets in his first over yesterday, not only justified his selection ahead of 37-year-old Miller but also the decision to bat him at No.7 ahead of out-of-form wicketkeeper Darren Berry.Showing great maturity and tremendous power as he drove and pulled relentlessly, White hit 13 boundaries in his 91 which came off only 130 balls.Having already scored two centuries in grade cricket, White has emerged as a potential star with both ball and bat and next month will captain the Australian under 19 team to the World Cup in New Zealand.Reiffel was content to play the supporting role to White in their 86 run eighth wicket stand but dominated a 75 run ninth wicket partnership with fast bowler Mick Lewis, who contributed his highest first-class score of 27 not out.But just as the 35-year-old Reiffel looked set to finally score his maiden first-class century he was run out by a direct hit from Jeff Vaughan at mid-off.It was Reiffel’s 18th first-class half century in 166 matches and his sixth for Victoria in the Pura Cup.Despite having also scored almost 1000 Test runs for Australia, Reiffel’s highest first-class score remained at 86 – scored 11 years ago for Victoria against Tasmania at the Junction Oval.

Kingston – Alison Hinds’ voice kept emanating from the speakers in theelectrifying Mound Stand with the phrase: ‘Are you there.’If you weren’t, you missed one of the most brutal and belligerentdisplays by two young Jamaican batsmen amidst unrestrainedcelebrations from 14 000 of their countrymen.Sabina Park once more took on a Carnival-like atmosphere, especiallyfor one exhilarating hour when Wavell Hinds and Chris Gayle destroyedZimbabwe’s bowling with the type of fury of the hurricane thatdevastated Jamaica 12 years ago.The 23-year-old Hinds, taking advantage of a promotion in the order,was the initial aggressor and was unbeaten on 116 off 125 balls whenthe West Indies relieved Zimbabwe from their misery with the total 280for three.Gayle, age 20, provided even more fireworks in a whirlwind unbeaten 58off 45 balls that prompted the similar type of whistle-blowing,flag-waving and Mexican waving that had engulfed the ground the daybefore.By then, the match was virtually finished as a contest and the placenever generated the same excitement and intensity in a Zimbabweinnings that never seriously mounted a challenge.The tourists, pegged back by Curtly Ambrose’s mean ten overs that cost19 runs and Reon King’s three successive maidens at the start andthree wickets later, finished their 50 overs on 239 for eight, 41behind the West Indies’ highest total in eight One-Day Internationalsagainst their African opponents.The second successive defeat for Zimbabwe has left them in a must-winsituation for their next match in the tri-nation series againstPakistan at the Antigua Recreation Ground on Wednesday.The pattern for the West Indies’ innings was almost identical to theprevious day, but Hinds and Gayle corrected what went wrong onSaturday during the final ten overs.In the first match, the West Indies reached 181 for two after 40overs, but lost seven wickets for 56 in the last ten. Yesterday, therewere no such problems in the happy hour when Hinds and Gayle clobberedexactly 100 runs from the final 60 balls.Captain Jimmy Adams’ run out for 41 off 54 balls from another directthrow by Stuart Carlisle would have brought back memories of the firstmatch when the West Indies were plagued by four run-outs.But, those would have been out of everyone’s minds when Hinds andGayle plundered the bowling and put so much pressure on Zimbabwe thattheir fielding was not of the impeccable standard they had set on thistour.On another day, Hinds might have been caught by Grant Flower runningback from mid-wicket when he was 82 or by Gary Brent coming off thedeep backward square boundary when he was 96.The latter was a miss that allowed Hinds to reach his hundred and heimmediately punched the air with more force and aggression that is noteven common among heavy-weight boxing champions.He had justifiable reason to do so.Sent in at his accustomed No. 3 position in place of Gayle, heresponded with an innings that became more of a joy to watch as itprogressed.His runs were made in all directions, but he was especially moreenter-taining when he was driving through the covers, down the groundor on the pull.By the time Gayle joined him in the 36th over, Hinds had just passedhis 50 and the two left-handers scored at about the same ratethroughout their partnership of 125 off 91 balls.It included two big sixes, the first lifted by Hinds off GrantFlower’s left-arm spin and the second hit high and hard by Gayle overlong-off off Henry Olonga.Gayle needed a couple balls to adjust to the pitch and the bowling,but once he did so, no one could contain him and his 58 came off only45 balls and included five fours.Zimbabwe might have been encouraged when they removed openers SherwinCampbell and Philo Wallace within seven runs after the Barbadians hadposted a half-century stand in quick time.The optimism was prompted by Brent’s introduction. He came on to bowlhis medium-pace after 11 overs and bowled Campbell with a ball thathad neither the line nor length to necessitate a steer to third-man.Wallace still appeared to be struggling for form and after a few meatyblows, he was bowled by Brent playing across the line in a manner thatwas similar to his dismissal of the previous day.Zimbabwe lost their openers after the early pressure against Ambroseand King before Carlisle and Murray Goodwin again featured in theirsecond successive significant partnership.Carlisle and Goodwin put on 47 for the third wicket, but by the timeGoodwin was bowled by Franklyn Rose, the asking rate had climbed tomore than seven runs an over.Captain Andy Flower arrived to effortlessly compile 52 off 54 balls,but it was too little much too late.King was the one who broke the middle order with the scalps ofCarlisle, who hit a catch down the throat of mid-off and Dirk Viljoen,a victim to an edged catch at first slip in the same over.Even though Rose and Mervyn Dillon were expensive, the West Indies hadno cause for concern, thanks to Hinds and Gayle.Facts of the match:Details on the second One-Day International yesterday:West Indies’ 280 for three off 50 overs was their highest total ineight One-Day Internationals against Zimbabwe

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Finishing top 10 in the rather feisty environment of the Premier League is usually a job easier said than done. Crystal Palace know that better than most. They just missed out on it last year, but it’s possible looking ahead to 2019/20, and here are five key dates that might determine whether they make it.

10 August, Everton (H)

Palace will start the new season with a bang, literally. Everton should be top of their list of teams they have to take down in their journey to the top 10. This becomes even more evident when we factor in that they barely scraped a point off the Toffees last season. Starting the new campaign strong is vital.

28 September, Norwich City (H)

Establishing themselves against the newcomers could also prove to be important. But this game is an absolute must-win considering it comes right after Spurs (A), as well as Wolves (H), and is preceded by West Ham (A) and Manchester City (H). A huge sequence for Palace where getting any points will be vital.

2 November, Leicester City (H)

Another huge home game where they can’t afford to drop any points if they are to make the top 10. Beating the Foxes is a top priority, considering this game is sandwiched between Arsenal (A) and Chelsea (A). The match against the Blues is also followed by a heavyweight contest with Liverpool at Selhurst Park.

7 December, Watford (A)

Watford finished one place above Crystal Palace last season, so beating them should definitely be on the agenda when the new campaign rolls around. This is amplified even more when we consider that the Hornets beat Palace home and away when the two sides met last term.

18 January, Manchester City (A)

Crystal Palace can’t really hope to take down too many of the top teams throughout the whole season, but let’s not forget that game at the Etihad in 2018/19. If Palace can somehow replicate that result, or maybe even improve on it in some other big encounters, it could prove to be essential if they are to break the top 10 ceiling, as Wolves beat Manchester United, Arsenal, Tottenham and Chelsea last term.

Neil McKenzie, the Lions middle-order batsman, will captain a 12-member South Africa A squad to face West Indies in a four-day tour match starting on December 19.The A side will be looking to complete a double against visiting national teams after their 85-run win against the New Zealanders in November.However, their captain in that match, Boeta Dippenaar has not been selected for the game against West Indies after he stated his unavailability because of examinations. McKenzie had a good outing against the New Zealanders, scoring 182 and 34.Lonwabo Tsotsobe, the Warriors left-arm seamer who has impressed in the ongoing SuperSport series, has been rested at the request of Cricket South Africa’s (CSA’s) High Performance Centre. His place has been taken by right-arm fast bowler Monde Zondeki, who will be hoping to make an impact with his re-modelled bowling action.The national selection committee, headed by Joubert Strydom, also named two separate South Africa Composite XIs, comprising promising amateur and franchise players, to face Zimbabwe in the second and third matches of their Super Sport Challenge series.Zimbabwe have a 1-0 lead in the three-match series after their 10-wicket win in Potchefstroom in November.Zimbabwe are playing as a seventh franchise in the South African domestic structure for the current calendar year, as part of an initiative taken by the CSA to improve their cricket, but will not be taking part in the SuperSport series as it is already underway.South Africa A
Neil McKenzie (capt), Morne van Wyk (wk), Justin Ontong, JP Duminy, Gulam Bodi, Vernon Philander, Monde Zondeki, Johan Botha, Freidel de Wet, Charl Langeveldt, Robin Peterson (12th man)South Africa Composite XI (for second four-day match in Paarl)
Rusdi Jappie (Titans), Blake Snijman (Lions), Benji Hector (capt) (Cobras), Shaun Liebisch (Northerns), Wayne Madsen (Dolphins), Shane Burger (Lions), Wendell Bossenger (Diamond Eagles), Con De Lange (Cobras), Saidi Molongo (Dolphins) , Alan Kruger (Diamond Eagles), Brendon Reddy (Titans), Pepler Sandri (Cobras)South Africa Composite XI (for third four-day match in Kimberley)
Justin Kreusch (Warriors), Mohammed Akoojee (Diamond Eagles), Adrian McClaren (Diamond Eagles), Riaan Jeggels (Warriors), Pieter Koortzen (Diamond Eagles), Jean Symes (Lions), Wendell Bossenger (capt) (Diamond Eagles), Thandi Tshabalala (Diamond Eagles), Juandre Coetzee (Diamond Eagles), Sinethembu Mjekula (Warriors), Basheer Walters (Warriors), Frikkie Holtzhausen (Diamond Eagles)

ScorecardThings didn’t get any better for Railways as Himachal Pradesh, led by their captain Sandeep Sharma, piled on the runs and the frustration against a team fighting to gain a promotion to the Super League. Sharma batted for the better part of two days for his 161 before Sanjay Bangar finally ended his marathon knock, which came off 521 balls. Mukesh Sharma chipped in with an unbeaten 44 as Himachal extended their lead to 117 with three wickets in hand. With only two days to go, it would take a minor miracle for Railways to fight back in this one.
ScorecardPritam Das, in his first-class debut did Assam proud as his five-wicket haul helped his side gain an invaluable two run lead in the semi-final against Orissa at Cuttack. Orissa were in danger of folding up for under 200 but the last-wicket pair of Sourabha Sehgal and Sukanta Khatua resisted. Das finally brought an end to the innings after trapping Khatua for 14. Assam in their second innings were jolted first by Debasis Mohanty who picked up three early wickets and later by Sehgal, who took two late wickets in his six overs, during which he conceded just one run. With Assam ahead by just 102, both teams head to the final day evenly matched.