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Multiple sources have also said that another independent director, Rohan Sajdeh, submitted his resignation in March

Peter Della Penna17-May-2022Six months after the resignation of CEO Iain Higgins, USA Cricket is facing more uncertainty in leadership with board chairman Paraag Marathe also stepping down.USA Cricket board member Venu Pisike told ESPNcricinfo that this is all part of an agreement: Marathe’s resignation in return for Pisike and fellow board member Srini Salver dropping a longstanding lawsuit against the board.Multiple sources have also said that another independent director, Rohan Sajdeh, submitted his resignation in March which now leaves three significant roles vacant in the board.The lawsuit filed by Pisike and Salver was in relation to the USA Cricket elections, namely that they had waived the constitutional requirement that in order to vote, members had to be registered and in good standing for a minimum of 12 months prior to a vote.Related

• USA cricket running afoul of ICC financial protocols

• Terminated contractor files case against USA Cricket for 'racial discrimination'

• USA-Ireland ODI series cancelled due to Covid-19 outbreak

• Iain Higgins resigns as USA Cricket chief executive

• USA Cricket confirms Marathe reappointment as board chairman

USA Cricket was going to allow new members to vote just weeks after enrolling in late 2020 and early 2021. Separately, Pisike and Salver issued a legal challenge to Marathe’s re-appointment as an independent director and board chairman in March 2021. They claimed that the post should only have been filled after the election, which has already been delayed by 17 months, with inputs from the newly-elected board members.”The two issues raised in the lawsuit are addressed to our satisfaction,” Pisike wrote via email when contacted by ESPNcricinfo. “Members who registered in early 2021 now meets the constitutional one-year eligibility requirement. Chairmam [sic] who is reappointed as independent dir[ector] against the adopted process submitted his resignation.”USA Cricket made no mention of either board member’s resignation in a press release on Monday night announcing that the Pisike & Salver lawsuit had been withdrawn. A USA Cricket spokesperson did not comment directly when asked about Marathe’s resignation.Paraag Marathe has resigned six months after USA cricket CEO Iain Higgins did the same•Getty Images

The credibility and stability of Marathe, who also serves as an executive vice-president for the NFL’s San Francisco 49ers, and Higgins were seen as key reasons for USA Cricket’s successful bid to become co-hosts for the 2024 ICC Men’s T20 World Cup along with Cricket West Indies. But their absence – Higgins resigned as CEO in November – now leaves a significant leadership vacuum just over three years after USA Cricket was readmitted as an Associate member by the ICC and recognised as the official governing body in America following the expulsion of USACA in 2017.Pisike is also looking to renegotiate a billion-dollar contract signed with American Cricket Enterprise (ACE) in 2019.A copy of the agreement, which has been obtained by ESPNcricinfo, states that ACE keeps 95% of all cricket-related commercial revenue – including TV broadcast rights, sponsorship agreements and gate sales – generated for USA Cricket while USA Cricket keeps 5%. The agreement provides a minimum annual payment to USA Cricket from ACE – which is listed at $399,000 for 2022, meaning USA Cricket would need to generate $8 million in revenue before they would receive anything beyond the base level disbursement guaranteed by ACE – in the event that the 5% revenue figure does not reach that threshold, which it has not in the first three years of the deal.”Also the majority of the board agreed to prioritise ACE contract negotiation which is pending for almost three years,” Pisike said. “I personally think the current contract doesn’t benefit USA Cricket or it’s constituents hence we need [and] desire a contract that is good for all parties including ACE.”Former USA Cricket CEO Iain Higgins played a part in the country getting to co-host the 2024 T20 World Cup•Peter Della Penna

The current arrangement has left USA Cricket severely cash-strapped, especially since the cancellation of the ODI series against Ireland in December. That tour was projected to break even thanks to incoming sponsorship and broadcast revenue, but only if all of the scheduled two T20Is and three ODIs had gone ahead. The cancellation of the three ODIs because of Covid-19 meant that USA Cricket lost out on significant revenue for those matches, though the costs of stadium venue rentals, Covid testing fees and hotel rooms for the squads remained. According to multiple sources, that led to USA Cricket suffering a loss of between $200,000 to $250,000.The domino effect of that financial hit has resulted in the board laying off numerous staff. USA Cricket announced late last week that they were not going to renew the contract of USA women’s head coach Julia Price, preferring someone who is based in the USA full-time. Price, who recently served as head coach of the Warriors squad in the Fairbreak Invitational T20 event in Dubai, is based in Australia and had been traveling back and forth since her appointment just over three years ago.Kirk Greaves, who was one of several independent contractors who also had their contracts terminated in recent months, has filed a lawsuit against the governing body claiming “racial discrimination” and is seeking $2 million in damages.USA Cricket has also delayed announcing the scheduling of any domestic championships for 2022 due to financial constraints. USA’s men’s side is due to travel to Zimbabwe for the 2022 Men’s T20 World Cup Qualifier B in July, but tentative plans for a slate of T20I fixtures to help prepare USA in the lead-up to that event may also be in doubt for financial reasons.

Club makes further commitments to inclusion in wake of Azeem Rafiq allegations

George Dobell25-Nov-2020Yorkshire have committed to appointing a Head of Equality, Diversity and Inclusion as part of the club’s efforts to “improve inclusion across all forms and levels of the game”.The club has recently been rocked by claims of racism from former player, Azeem Rafiq, and have launched an investigation to consider the allegations. They have also said they will “seek to implement the recommendations due to be made by the investigation panel”.Now, on the day the ECB announced a raft of new measures to tackle discrimination, the club have pledged their support and acknowledged “there is much more we can do”.”Cricket enjoys support from diverse audiences across the world, however, it is clear we must do much more to improve inclusion across all forms and levels of the game if we are to truly reflect the communities who contribute so much to the sport,” a statement from the club read.”The Yorkshire County Cricket Club wholeheartedly support the ECB’s aims to further their work on an Equality, Diversity and Inclusion Plan for 2021-24 and want to be part of ensuring meaningful change across the game.”We recognise that County clubs are crucial to the success of the plan and will look to apply its actions, initiatives and targets across our own organisation. We already support the ECB in a number of their projects but there is much more we can and must do to properly address issues of diversity and equality in our sport. As part of our commitment to this Action Plan, our board will look to appoint a Head of Equality, Diversity and Inclusion in the New Year with responsibility for delivering meaningful, measurable initiatives across Yorkshire Cricket.”As well as the ECB actions, we will also seek to implement the recommendations due to be made by the investigation panel considering the allegations made by our former player, Azeem Rafiq. This is an important investigation and we have committed to a full and thorough process to provide an in-depth set of recommendations which we now hope to publish in early 2021.”

The visitors looked in trouble after Amar Virdi’s three wickets reduced them to 175 for 5 shortly before tea, still 37 away from an innings defeat

ECB Reporters Network21-Aug-2019Liam Dawson’s fourth half-century of the season steered Hampshire to the safety of a draw on the final day of their County Championship fixture with Surrey at The Oval.The visitors looked in trouble after Amar Virdi’s three wickets reduced them to 175 for 5 shortly before tea, still 37 away from an innings defeat.But Dawson, who was 65 not out having scored a century against Surrey in the Royal London Cup earlier in the season, proved their nemesis again, batting for two hours to take Hampshire to 253 for 5 in company with debutant Harry Came, who remained not out 23 as they avoided defeat.Earlier, Ollie Pope had completed a maiden County Championship double century to set up the hosts’ morning declaration before hot-footing it to Headingly as England cover should Jason Roy be ruled out of the third Test with possible concussion.Surrey began the day 123 ahead and in need of quick runs. Skipper Ben Foakes was bowled through the gate before the go button could be pressed, but Pope continued serenely onto his double hundred from 323 balls with 19 fours.Rikki Clarke hoisted Dawson for a huge straight six to provide the necessary acceleration before being adjudged lbw to Fidel Edwards, who claimed 5 for 125, though replays suggested the ball would have missed leg-stump.The declaration came soon afterwards at 579 for 7 with Pope 221 not out, which left Hampshire 212 in arrears and with 40 minutes to negotiate before lunch.The hosts spurned a chance when Ryan Patel dropped Felix Organ at third slip after he was on eight, but they made the breakthrough with the last ball before the interval, Virdi having Ian Holland caught down the leg side by Foakes.There was more encouragement soon after the resumption when Clarke pinned England hopeful James Vince in front for just a single to leave Hampshire 39 for 2.It was clear the visitors’ intent was to play positively in a bid to wipe out their arrears and get in front. However, Sam Northeast took that intention to extreme lengths with a string of streaky shots down through third man and ultimately it proved his undoing when he slashed one from Morne Morkel to Scott Borthwick at slip.Organ meanwhile, was making the most of his earlier reprieve, racing to 50 in 55 balls with a six and eight fours, ending up with 77. He looked increasingly confident, but with a second century in as many matches beckoning he, like Northeast, contributed to his own downfall, giving Virdi the charge and missing the ball to be stumped by Foakes.The same combination would account for Rilee Rossouw before the end of the session, though the South African should probably reflect on why he was playing a needless sweep shot so close to an interval.Hampshire were wobbling but Dawson dug in, finding an ally in Came, who showed great composure for a man making his first appearance six days shy of his 21st birthday as a concussion replacement for Aneurin Donald, who was injured in the field on day three.Dawson’s 50 came in 63 balls to wipe out the arrears and the pair shared a half-century stand in the game’s dying embers.

Sussex’s defeat, following a brace of washouts, probably puts the knockouts out of reach

ECB Reporters Network01-Jun-2018
ScorecardA partnership of 98 from only 10 overs between Colin Ingram and Kiran Carlson saw Glamorgan win their first game in the competition, against as a strong Sussex team, who included Chris Jordan and Jofra Archer for the first time this season.This defeat and two abandoned games last week, has probably denied the visitors any chance of qualifying for the latter stages of the competition. Ingram was undefeated on 95, as his team reached their target with 10 balls remaining.After Sussex had been put in, the two Lukes – Wright and Wells – gave their team a brisk start, sharing 41 in eight overs before Wells chipped Timm van der Gugten to mid-on, then Wright, who had scored 41 from 34 balls, flicked one down the legside from Lukas Carey to the wicketkeeper.Andrew Salter’s offspin was introduced in the 12th over, and with Graham Wagg bowling his cutters effectively from the other end, they restricted Sussex’s progress, with no boundaries conceded from 16 overs. The visitors also lost two wickets, with Ben Brown sent back attempting an impossible run, and Harry Finch lbw, sweeping at Salter.After Ingram and David Lloyd- the fifth and sixth bowler- came into the attack, Burgess and Wiese restored Sussex’s fortunes, by adding 71 in the next 10 overs. A series of full tosses and short pitched deliveries did not help Glamorgan’s cause, and they would have been disappointed not to have capitalised after bowling so well in the middle of the innings.The partnership was broken by the admirable Wagg, who began his second spell by having Burgess caught low down at extra cover, before Wiese, in the next over, struck a short ball from van der Gugten to cover point. His belligerent innings of 67, included seven fours and two sixes as Sussex reached a commendable total from their 50 overs.Despite losing Nick Selman early on, Aneurin Donald, who has experienced a lean start to the season, and Connor Brown moved along at a brisk pace and had put on 69 for the second wicket, until Donald, who made 40, chipped Chris Jordan to Burgess on the midwicket boundary.Brown quickly followed, dragging one from Ishant Sharma to mid-on, but David Lloyd gave Ingram valuable support by adding 77 for the fourth wicket, with Ingram the dominant partner. Lloyd departed for 20, but Kiran Carlson, playing his first game in the competition, soon made his intentions clear by striking Danny Briggs and Archer for sixes.With five overs remaining, Glamorgan required 47, but the home team kept up with the required run rate with another brace of sixes from Carlson, as he reached a rapid unbeaten 59 from only 40 balls.

The Curran brothers shared six wickets as England Lions completed a comprehensive 195-run victory in the opening four-day match against Sri Lanka A

ESPNcricinfo staff21-Feb-2017
ScorecardSam Curran cleaned up Sri Lanka A’s lower order•Getty Images

The Curran brothers followed their important second-innings runs by sharing six wickets as England Lions completed a comprehensive 195-run victory in the opening four-day match against Sri Lanka A.The contest was over shortly after lunch on the final day as Tom Curran ended with 3 for 35 and Sam Curran 3 for 21. The previous day they had added 62 to stretch the Lions lead. There were also two wickets for Middlesex offspinner Ollie Rayner.Sri Lanka A offered minimal resistance, expect for opener Udara Jayasundera who carried his bat with 64 off 166 deliveries, although a final-wicket stand of 54 delayed the end a little.”Everyone has chipped in,” Keaton Jennings, the England Lions captain, said. “As a whole team performance it was absolutely brilliant. It’s a good bowling attack to captain, with a lot of variety, and a really good bunch of guys to captain as well. Those runs we got lower down the order in the first innings were very important in setting up the game.”When Sri Lanka resumed on 41 for 2, Tom Curran gave the Lions an ideal start to the final day when had Roshen Silva caught behind in the first over. Tom Helm also produced a first-over trick, for the second time in the match, by surprising Charith Asalanka with extra bounce.Rayner removed the key wicket of captain Dhananjaya de Silva and also claimed Dilruwan Perera as the Sri Lanka slide continued before the Currans almost finished things off in double-quick time. Sam Curran was on a hat-trick with the No. 11, Asitha Fernando, on strike but he survived and alongside Jayasundera played out the extra half hour the Lions claimed to try and wrap up the victory before lunch.However, it did not take long after the break until Fernando picked out Nick Gubbins at mid-on to give Sam Curran his third.Despite the convincing margin of victory, Jennings pinpointed the top-order batting as an area for improvement ahead of the second four-day game in Dambulla. In the first innings the Lions’ last two wickets added 106 and in the second the last four provided 130.”We all know our roles and responsibilities, and as a top order batter you want to score runs,” he said. “Not everybody can score runs all the time. But you’ve got to make sure you try and take care of that role, show the grit to get through those tough periods and get runs.”From a bowling point of view as well, there’s a few plans we can come up with now we’ve seen a few of their guys. That’s the exciting thing, the room for improvement in the second game in Dambulla. But this was a very good team performance – very enjoyable.”

Chris Gayle, Dwayne Bravo, Andre Russell, Kieron Pollard, Sunil Narine and Darren Sammy awill be eligible for selection for the World Twenty20 despite not being a part of the 15 players who were given retainer contracts by the West Indies Cricket Board la

Nagraj Gollapudi13-Jan-2016Chris Gayle, Dwayne Bravo, Andre Russell, Kieron Pollard, Sunil Narine and Darren Sammy will be eligible for selection for upcoming tournaments, including the World Twenty20, despite not being given annual retainer contracts by the West Indies Cricket Board. The only condition the WICB has placed is that the players will need to meet criteria set in place by the selection panel, led by former West Indies captain Clive Lloyd. The six players are not part of the group of 15 who were given retainer contracts for the period between October 1, 2015, and September 30, 2016.According to Michael Muirhead, the WICB’s chief executive, the selectors had shortlisted 15 players for the contracts based on certain criteria that were drawn keeping in mind the future of West Indies cricket. Muirhead pointed out that the aforementioned six players – including Sammy who captains the West Indies T20 side – did not fit into the selection panel’s vision and hence were not given a contract.”The selectors did the retainers based on where they saw West Indies cricket going and the philosophy which they wanted to encourage and adopt, principally being loyal to commitment and really build for the longer form of the game,” Muirhead told ESPNcricinfo on Tuesday. “Lloyd had previously said how and where he was projecting our cricket to go, and how he wanted to build it.”According to Muirhead, the 15 players were shortlisted by the panel and endorsed by the WICB based on the “combination of their performances in the regional tournaments as well as their attitude”.Still, Muirhead insisted the six players should not misread the situation as they would be eligible for forthcoming series, if the selectors deemed fit.Some of the six players have failed to feature in the list of contracted players in the past, for reasons ranging from disputes with the WICB to voluntarily declining the retainer. In January 2015, Gayle and Narine had refused the retainer contracts as they
wanted to focus on playing domestic Twenty20 leagues around the world, where they are marquee players.”When Chris Gayle and Narine refused our retainer contracts some years ago it was so that they had the freedom to do what they wanted,” Muirhead said. “But they are eligible to play all our games if they meet our criteria. This not a penalty.”Muirhead said most of the players had made the decision to make themselves unavailable because they wanted to be free to play in T20 leagues to earn more. “And they took that business decision to do so,” Muirhead said.Muirhead also stressed that most of the six players had already made public their intentions of not playing Test cricket. “Many of those players have withdrawn from the long form of the game officially and are not interested in playing for the West Indies in all formats,” he said.In the last two years, Bravo and Sammy announced their retirement from Test cricket. Pollard has never played Test cricket and is seen by selectors as a limited-overs specialist. Although Lloyd has always been keen for Russell to play Test cricket, the allrounder told the chairman of selectors he would like to play only limited-overs cricket due to a bad knee. Narine, who has played six Tests, is busy remodelling his bowling action after he was suspended by the ICC in November last year. Only Gayle, a 103-Test veteran, has openly stated he is still keen to return to Test cricket in 2016.

West Indies and Pakistan have given us tough, hard-fought cricket along with the usual doses of excitement when we least expected them, setting it up for one, final tussle

The Preview by Abhishek Purohit23-Jul-2013

Match facts

Wednesday, July 24, 2013
Start time 0900 local (1300 GMT)Will Chris Gayle adapt his style?•WICB

Big Picture

Tough, hard-fought cricket, along with the usual doses of excitement when you least expect them. Star player makes umpteenth comeback, walks in at 47 for 5, cracks 76 off 55 and then takes other-worldly figures of 9-3-12-7. Home side rebound from the thrashing with a convincing win in the second game, then follow it up with a last-ball, last-wicket train robbery of a tie when they are all but derailed. West Indies and Pakistan, true to reputation, have given us what they were expected to.And the Caribbean has given us another ODI series with twists and turns, following the tri-series also involving India and Sri Lanka. The balance between bat and ball, the absence of which renders so many one-day contests into one-dimensional batting gluts, has set this series up for one, final tussle between the two sides.In what has become unfortunately recurring due to the forced change in the West Indies home season, rain influenced the result of the fourth game. It arrived while the Pakistan chase was on, and imposed a revised target. West Indies found their three specialist bowlers had already bowled most of their quota; Pakistan had lost only their openers. Although the conditions and the situation were more in favour of the chasing side than the defending one, it must be said that more than those two, Pakistan’s self-destructing tendency often proves to be their undoing. That they didn’t succumb to any of the three is creditable, and irrespective of what happens in the final game, they have maintained their record of not losing a bilateral ODI series in the West Indies since 1988. They have, in fact, won the last two, in 2005 and 2011; even another tie will suit them fine.A lot has been said about West Indies’ improvement, recent and continuing, in limited-overs cricket. The improvement, however, does not seem to be translating itself clearly into results yet. In the past year, away series losses to Bangladesh and Australia, the latter a 0-5 whitewash, have been followed by an early exit from the Champions Trophy in England, and failure to make the final of a home tri-series. They are now faced with the task of winning the fifth match to avoid losing another home series to Pakistan. It is also crucial for Dwayne Bravo’s fledgling captaincy that he comes out of this scrap with a tied series.

Form guide

West Indies LTWLL (most recent first, last five completed matches)
Pakistan WTLWL

In the spotlight

This is Chris Gayle‘s worst year in ODIs, after his debut year in 1999, with an average just above 20. In a way, he is to the Caribbean what Shahid Afridi is to Pakistan. The star who towers above the rest of his team-mates, peerless in fan following. You don’t drop Afridi without expecting a backlash from the public; the same applies to Gayle. At 33, though, he is at an age where similar batsmen such as Virender Sehwag, batsmen who rely more on timing or power than on technique, have found it difficult to reinvent themselves in the face of dwindling returns. He was demoted to as low as No. 5 in the previous match and made 30 at a strike-rate of 65. How will he respond to this late challenge in his career?Mohammad Hafeez needed that fifty in the previous game. He’d gone 11 innings for a lone score of 50-plus, a century against Ireland. While Hafeez’s bowling in limited-overs is always handy, he is also a top-order batsman, and the Twenty20 captain. Given the long struggle to prove himself that Hafeez’s career has been, you sense that the feeling of insecurity somehow still lurks somewhere inside, and is likely to worsen matters when the runs are not coming. It also does not help that Hafeez is a rhythm player, and when the rhythm deserts him, it really does. Has he regained it after that 59?

Team news

West Indies demoted Gayle and chose Devon Smith to open instead in the previous game. Another failure for Smith followed, but it will be unfair on him if he gets just the one chance.West Indies: (probable) 1 Devon Smith, 2 Johnson Charles (wk), 3 Darren Bravo, 4 Marlon Samuels, 5 Chris Gayle, 6 Lendl Simmons, 7 Dwayne Bravo (capt), 8 Darren Sammy, 9 Kemar Roach, 10 Sunil Narine, 11 Jason HolderGiven Ahmed Shehzad’s continuing struggles, Pakistan have the choice of opening with Asad Shafiq, who’s batted at the top before on a few occasions. Umar Amin played the tour match against Guyana but hasn’t got a game yet in the series. He is another option.Pakistan: (probable) 1 Nasir Jamshed, 2 Ahmed Shehzad, 3 Mohammad Hafeez, 4 Misbah-ul-Haq (capt), 5 Haris Sohail, 6 Umar Akmal (wk), 7 Shahid Afridi, 8 Wahab Riaz, 9 Junaid Khan, 10 Saeed Ajmal, 11 Mohammad Irfan

Stats and trivia

• Dwayne Bravo has the worst economy-rate in the series – 6.44. Hafeez has the best – 3.24
• Including the fourth game, Gayle has batted at No. 5 only eight times in 248 ODI innings

Quotes

“I had a good talk with Dr Scott Hamilton [West Indies’ sports psychologist] and I was trying to refresh my memory of the way my style of play is. My style of play is give myself a chance and push it around, and then I can definitely make up at the end.”

PM Rungta, a former BCCI president and head of the Rajasthan Cricket Association, has died at the age of 84 at his residence in Mumbai

ESPNcricinfo staff12-Jul-2012PM Rungta, a former BCCI president and head of the Rajasthan Cricket Association, has died at the age of 84 at his residence in Mumbai. Rungta had been ill for a while and had been recently operated on. He had served as BCCI president from 1972-73 to 1974-75.”Mr. Rungta was an individual who lived and breathed cricket,” N Srinivasan, the BCCI president, said. “He served the BCCI with distinction as its president, and was an invaluable guide in later years. He will always be missed.”Rungta, who was nickname was “Bhaiji” (big brother), was “crazy for cricket”, according to former India captain Ajit Wadekar, whose career overlapped with Rungta’s time as board president. Wadekar said Rungta was very accessible to the players while he was playing. “We could approach him directly and not have to go through the proper channels,” Wadekar said. “He would take decisions on his own.”Back then the board was not the financial powerhouse it is now, and the players often had to rely on the largesse of individual board members for uniforms and equipment. “He [Rungta] used to spend from his own pocket quite a lot – clothing and other things like caps and ties,” Wadekar said. Rungta also used to host a farewell party for the players at his house in Mumbai before every overseas tour.Rungta was also on the BCCI’s disciplinary committee that banned six players, including Dilip Vengsarkar, Kapil Dev and Ravi Shastri, for a year for playing friendly matches in the United States and Canada after a poor tour of the West Indies in 1989. That decision led to the players challenging the board in court for the first time, a battle they ultimately won. After facing criticism from all quarters, including the Supreme Court, the board relented and withdrew the ban.Rungta’s brother, Kishan, is a former first-class cricketer and chairman of the national selection panel, while his son Kishore is a former treasurer of the BCCI.

VVS Laxman, who rescued India with a sublime 85, threw his support behind Virat Kohli and the openers who haven’t done well so far in the series

Sriram Veera at the Kensington Oval29-Jun-2011VVS Laxman, who rescued India with a sublime 85 to help them reach 201, backed Virat Kohli and the openers, M Vijay and Abhinav Mukund, who haven’t done well so far in the series, and said playing county cricket will help young batsmen adapt to different conditions and hone their skills.Twice in three innings Kohli has fallen to the short ball. However, Laxman believed Kohli would be the batsman to watch out for. “Today, it was unfortunate,” he said. “Considering the bounce of the wicket, he expected that ball to rise more. It was an unfortunate dismissal. He is a fabulous cricketer and has improved as a batsman in the last two years. He has played well in various tough situations in ODIs. It shows he is improving with every match. He will be a great player to watch out for, a match-winner for the country.”The openers haven’t scored much either. Vijay, who failed in the first Test, fought hard for nearly two hours before he fell, strangled down the leg side. Mukund fell early, unable to cope with extra bounce off a delivery that jumped from short of a length. However, Laxman didn’t see any cause for concern. “We’ve got talented openers. Abhinav had an excellent domestic season and Vijay has always grabbed his opportunities. It’s tough playing in the West Indies, especially on wickets that are usually damp in the first couple of hours on the first day. They are potential match-winners.”Virat Kohli hasn’t got going in his debut Test series•Associated Press

Laxman agreed when asked whether the youngsters would benefit from the experience of playing county cricket but wondered if the tight international calendar would allow them that opportunity. “It will be a great experience for a batsman to play county cricket. I enjoyed my time with Lancashire. But given the amount of time the cricketers are already playing, it doesn’t give much opportunity. It will be great for a batsman because you get so many opportunities to play on different pitches, in different weather conditions and against different bowlers.”Laxman also praised Suresh Raina, with whom he was involved in a 117-run partnership to lift India from the depths of 38 for 4. “Raina has practiced a lot playing the short deliveries. You could see that in Jamaica and here. He has played two important knocks. He played positively when the chips were down. It was great to see the way he approached the innings.”The two batsmen didn’t talk much at lunch, Laxman said. “That’s the beauty of this Indian team. Irrespective of the situation, it’s very relaxed. Someone puts his hand up.”Laxman reached 8000 Test runs during his innings, but rued the fact that he couldn’t carry on to reach a century and take India to a more competitive total. “Had we batted on, we could have got around 250 to 300, which would have been a very good score.”It was yet another innings of substance in crisis from Laxman, who said such situations bring out the best in him. “It gets the best out of me, especially when we are in a terrible situation. The track was challenging and so was the situation. But I always regret not converting the hard work done into big hundreds. Still, I got into better rhythm especially after Jamaica.”Laxman felt the pitch had some venom in the morning session but eased out once the sun came out in the afternoon. “It was a difficult wicket before lunch because it was slightly damp. They were getting bounce. After lunch, the wicket eased out a bit and it was nice for strokeplay. Raina came out positively and changed the momentum of the innings. That partnership was important but I think we threw away the hard work done after lunch. “While Laxman appreciated the 8000-run landmark, he said he could only savour it after retirement. “So many runs seem great once you retire. At the moment I am not elated. I was just disappointed not getting a hundred. Personally, it would have been satisfying had I got the hundred as those additional 15 to 20 runs would have got us to 250. The bowlers did well to get us right back in to the game. It is an evenly poised situation.”

Kumar Sangakkara has called for a more equitable distribution of Tests in the new Future Tours Program that will govern the international calendar post 2012

Cricinfo staff11-Jul-2010Kumar Sangakkara, the Sri Lanka captain, has called for a more equitable distribution of Tests in the new Future Tours Program (FTP) that will govern the international calendar post 2012. Sri Lanka had only two Tests scheduled in 2010 – a home series against West Indies – until a three-Test series was arranged against India a few months ago.”All sides should have an equal opportunity to play Tests,” Sangakkara told . “We are lucky India are touring us, but the opportunity for Sri Lankan players to fulfil their Test dreams are getting more and more limited.”Sri Lanka have not played a Test series outside Asia since the tour of Australia in 2007. They have not been to South Africa for a Test tour since 2002 and the Tests in England in 2011 will be their first there in five years. Sri Lanka’s lack of foreign opportunities is highlighted by the fact that Mahela Jayawardene has played only four Tests in Australia in a 13-year career.”The FTP must be drawn up in a way that some of the best sides tour more than just once in five years,” Sangakkara said. “They should be meaningful tours that also make economic sense.”There have been plenty of requests from players and coaches for an IPL window in the international calendar, something Sangakkara also asked for. “We need a proper FTP to avoid players having to choose between their country and commercial interests. A proper FTP will focus on competitive tours, on nations competing with each other, ultimately making it attractive for consumers.”