Bloomfield The Premier League Limited overs clash between the Police SC and Bloomfield SC, which scheduled to be played at Bloomfield but was hastily rearranged in the morning and played at D.S. Senanayake Ground. When play finally got underway at 2pm Bloomfield proved to be too strong for the Police SC.With only 25 overs possible per innings Police decided to put Bloomfield into bat having won the toss. Despite suspect conditions Bloomfield amassed a formidable 168 from their allotted overs. Sanath Jayasuriya, though clearly displeased by the conditions, led from the front with 32 runs from just 24 balls. He was well supported by Darshanayake, who scored 38 from 44 deliveries. The pair added 62 for the first wicket. The middle order then chipped with some cameo knocks: Tillekeratne Dilshan smashed 22 from 15 balls and Dharmasena pitched in with 22.Bloomfield’s imposing total was always going to prove difficult to chase, even it this were a small ground. They started in glorious fashion, adding 27 in the first 3 overs. However the innings faltered thereafter and Police were eventually bowled out for just 94. Kumar Dharmasena was the pick of the bowlers and ended up with four wickets for just nine runs.

There is no one-to-one meeting scheduled between the officials ofthe Indian and Pakistani Cricket Boards and the two-day Asian CricketCouncil meeting in Lahore would only discuss matters relating to thedevelopment of cricket in the region, said Cricket Board secretary JaywantLele.The meeting, which started in Lahore on Thursday, had generatedconsiderable interest with speculations that BCCI president A CMuthiah and PCB chief Lt Gen Tauqir Zia may meet to discuss the Indiangovernment’s refusal to allow its cricket team to play a bilateralseries with Pakistan.However, Lele told PTI on phone that the ACC meeting was an’informal get-together’ of the heads of the Cricket Boards of thecountries in the region and on the opening day it discussedmatters of mutual interest.”There is no meeting between Muthiah and Zia on the cards,” Lelesaid. The meeting will decide on the proper utilisation of the $6.5million provided by International Cricket Council for the developmentof the game in the region and finalise the schedules for the Asia Cup,to be played in Pakistan next year, and the Asian Test Championship.

Queenslander Wade Seccombe will make his international debut at the home of cricket tomorrow after being named to replace Australian vice-captain Adam Gilchrist against Middlesex.Seccombe was a late inclusion in the Ashes touring party to give Gilchrist a breather whenever the need arose during the three-month tour, but his call-up has come after only one week.Gilchrist is not injured.Rather, the wicketkeeper-opening batsman is easing his way into his duties, giving his talented understudy the honour of representing his country at Lord’s, which has been on its present site since 1814.Brett Lee flew in to London today but the Australian Test paceman, clocked at 96 miles per hour before suffering an elbow injury in February, will not play in any of this month’s limited-overs games. He spent the afternoon resting before the squad attended a function at the Australian High Commission.Michael Bevan, Damien Fleming and pace spearhead Glenn McGrath will also be rested against Middlesex, but they are most likely to play against Northamptonshire on Thursday.McGrath’s new ball partner, Jason Gillespie, will make his first appearance of the tour tomorrow, as will allrounders Ian Harvey and Andrew Symonds.The Australians were swamped by British journalists and photographers at Lord’s this morning, with Waugh, McGrath and Shane Warne the centre of attention for more than an hour.Warne was encouraged by his match figures of 3-72 and 109 runs from two innings in the tour opener against Worcestershire.”The wrong ‘un came out pretty well, the change of pace was good, the flipper was better – I bowled two bad ones but the rest of them were good – and the change of pace was good,” he said.Australia plays back-to-back matches at Cardiff and Bristol – against Pakistan and England respectively – on the weekend to start its international limited overs campaign.The one-dayer against Middlesex starts at 8pm (AEST) today.AUSTRALIA: Steve Waugh (c), Mark Waugh, Matthew Hayden, Ricky Ponting, Damien Martyn, Ian Harvey, Andrew Symonds, Wade Seccombe, Shane Warne, Jason Gillespie, Nathan Bracken (12th man to be named).

* Narvekar remanded to one day police custodyFormer Deputy Chief Minister of Goa and the president of the Goa Cricket Association Dayanand Narvekar was on Tuesday remanded to one day police custody for his alleged involvement in the ticket scam. The scam broke out after the fifth one-day international match between India and Australia at Panaji on April 6.Navrekar who has been charged under section 420, 468, 471 and 120 (b) of the IPC was remanded to a day’s custody by the Margao First Class Judicial Magistrate, pending the final disposal of the remand application.Narvekar, who was arrested on Monday, was admitted to a city hospital after he complained of chest pain in the night and could not be interrogated as doctors attending on him said he was not fit to be interrogated in custody, Deputy Inspector General of Police, Goa, Karnal Singh told reporters in Panaji.* BCCI’s fixtures committee to meet on June 8The BCCI tour programme and fixture committee would meet in Mumbai on June 8. The BCCI’s executive secretary Sharad Diwadkar told PTI on Tuesday that the main agenda would be to finalise the venues and dates of matches during India’s forthcoming tour of South Africa involving three Test matches and a triangular series from September 28 to November 28. Kenya is the third team in the triangular series.”The selectors would then meet in Mumbai on June 13 to pick the one-day team for the triangular series involving India, Zimbabwe and West Indies in Zimbabwe from June 23 to July 7,” Diwadkar added.The Indians will also visit Sri Lanka to play three Test matches and a triangular series with New Zealand being the third team from July 15 to September 3.* Revised timings for India – Zimbabwe TestsThe International Cricket Council on Wednesday announced a change in the timings for the forthcoming Test matches between India and Zimbabwe. In a press release, the ICC made it clear that there would be a break from tradition in the format of the day’s play.Firstly, play will start at 9.30am local time (1300 IST, 0730 GMT) as opposed to the originally announced 10.00am. The session timings are as follows: First session – 09.30 to 12.00, Lunch – 12.00 to 12.40, Second session – 12.40 to 14.40, Tea – 14.40 – 15.00, Final session – 15.00 to 16.30.This also means of course that the playing hours are split into sessions of two and a half hours, two hours and one and a half hours. Traditionally, the day is split into three sessions of two hours each. It is believed that these changes have been made in view of the failing light later in the day at Zimbabwe.

Pakistan ‘A’ captain, Hasan Raza, has been declared fit to play in thedecisive third and final One-Day International tomorrow, against Sri Lanka ‘A’at R. Premadasa Stadium, Colombo.There were doubts about Hasan’s participation, after he was hit by a SureshPerera delivery, when batting in the second One-Day International. Theright-hander, who was not wearing a helmet, took his eyes off a shortdelivery as he ducked. The batsman was rushed to the hospital forprecautionary x rays.Though the player returned later in the day, he didn’t return the crease andlooked unwell. He appeared doubtful for Wednesday’s game. Today, however,team officials revealed that he will be available for tomorrow’s game.

A predictable redemption for former New Zealand Cricket captain Martin Crowe has occurred with today’s release of New Zealand Cricket’s inquiry into allegations made against Crowe by Indian bookmaker Mukesh Gupta.All Gupta’s claims have been thrown out unceremoniously by the inquiry which found no record of Gupta ever having entered New Zealand.Making matters all the more frustrating for Crowe was the realisation that despite the fact, which he used in his defence, he was to have been paid $US3000 for newspaper articles in India, he never received a cent.”Martin Crowe’s incorrect assumption, that he had been paid when the story broke in November 2000, was understandable,” the inquiry said.”The issue had not arisen between 1992 and 2000, so far as he was concerned. Only then did he check to see if any bank credit could be identified as had been agreed with the “journalist”. That enquiry, carried out by chartered accountants, revealed no sum approximating that which he agreed, or Gupta alleged. He could have avoided any such inquiry, simply by asserting a cash payment, or denying payment, had he something to hide,” it said.Crowe’s insistence on facing up to the charges, despite the lack of supporting evidence to Gupta’s claims made to the Indian police, won credit from the New Zealand inquiry of Sir Ian Barker and Nick Davidson.”Martin Crowe would have been entitled to refuse to come before the Inquiry,” their report said.”The Inquiry would have accepted that decision without criticism and it would have left Gupta’s allegations as unsubstantiated except to the extent Martin Crowe acknowledged contact with him.”However, Martin Crowe still sought to tell his story, and have his credibility assessed.”This was much to his credit.”He was prepared to give his evidence under oath, but as there was no jurisdiction for this Inquiry to administer such an oath, he made a statutory declaration, to record the truth of his statements. The interview took place on 4 July 2001 in Auckland,” they said.There was scope for the Inquiry to treat the allegations as unproven.However, the inquiry would have been a proper conclusion and fair to Martin Crowe.”He chose however to have his credibility assessed, despite that fact. Readers of this Report should recognise the significance of that stance, and the finding of credibility in his favour.”By this Report, Martin Crowe is cleared of any wrongful practice. His reputation should stand untarnished,” they said.The inquiry reported that Crowe explained to the Inquiry that when he learned after one or two calls that the person with whom he was speaking by telephone was not a journalist but a bookmaker attempting to fix matches, he reacted with shock and disgust. He spoke crudely and forcibly to this person and ended the conversation and all contact.”Crowe said he immediately spoke with Mark Greatbatch while in a state of shock, and told him what had occurred.”Mark Greatbatch confirmed what Martin Crowe had said. He remembered vividly Martin Crowe’s shocked state at the time, and the reason for it,” the report said.New Zealand Cricket chairman, Sir John Anderson, said the NZ Cricket board fully accepted the Inquiry findings and thanked the Inquiry team for their detailed and thorough investigation of the issues and their clear and concise conclusions.”The Board fully accepts the principal findings of the Inquiry: that former New Zealand cricket captain, Martin Crowe, was unfairly accused, and there is no evidence of any wrongdoing on his part.”The Board believes the ‘name and shame’ approach of the initial Indian CBI report offended principles of natural justice.”Martin Crowe can hold his head high in the knowledge that he has been exonerated by this rigorous and independent Inquiry. The Board accepts the allegations of corruption against Martin were without substance and considers the matter now closed,” Sir John said.By way of explanation of their approach to the inquiry Barker and Davidson backgrounded their .”The Inquiry had no powers to compel any attendance before it, or indeed provision of any information. It relied on co-operation,” they said.”Martin Crowe responded to the Report at the time by acknowledging he received money from a person whom he now understood to be Gupta, without realising he was a bookmaker. Martin Crowe said he thought he was to be paid for writing articles from a captain’s perspective, relevant to the 1992 World Cup, for syndication in India.”From the outset, Martin Crowe through his Counsel, David Howman, said he would co-operate with the Inquiry and attend for interview.”There was some public criticism of him, for stating as a condition that Gupta first come forward with his evidence, so that it could be tested in full. The Inquiry does not share in that criticism. Martin Crowe’s stance was entirely proper. Having been accused of associating with a known bookmaker for money, he was entitled to require that person to come forward before he gave his own evidence.”There were from the outset essential differences between the public statement Martin Crowe made, after publication of the CBI Report, and Gupta’s ‘statement’, they said.These were:

• Martin Crowe denied that he knew the person with whom he dealt (assumed to be Gupta) was a bookmaker, until he was asked to fix a match. He said he was approached by a person whom he believed to represent a newspaper, to write articles for syndication in India.
• He denied that Gupta had ever been to his home and that of his (then) wife Simone Crowe, as Gupta alleged.
• He denied that he was introduced to Gupta by Arvinda de Silva of Sri Lanka.
• He denied being paid US$20,000 in cash, in an envelope, but said he agreed to a fee of US$3,000, for provision of information for newspaper articles.

The New Zealand Inquiry attempted to interview Gupta through their counsel assisting the inquiry, Tim Gresson, of Timaru. He visited India in December 2000 with Anti Corruption Unit representatives and met with the Indian Bureau of Investigation. Efforts to interview Gupta failed.The Inquiry also conducted an exhaustive serach of New Zealand immigration files to see if Gupta visited New Zealand in 1991 and 1992. While Gupta reportedly left India in September 1991, there was no record of him entering New Zealand.The Inquiry also worked with the Sri Lankan inquiry into allegations made against Aravinda de Silva and Arjuna Ranatunga and De Silva denied introducing Gupta to Crowe, as Gupta claimed.”Because Simone Crowe was implicated in the narrative of Gupta’s allegations, the Inquiry asked her to come before it. Despite being encouraged by Martin Crowe, she chose not to do so and gave reasons which the Inquiry accepted.”She provided a written statement which denied the allegations made by Gupta,” the Inquiry said.

Tim Lamb, chief executive of the England and Wales Cricket Board, has extinguished Australian hopes of returning home with the real Ashes.Australian captain Steve Waugh, speaking after the tourists had wrapped up the series with their Test win at Trent Bridge, said that his “personal point of view” was that: “We have won 3-0. We have won the series, and I think we should get the Ashes — the original. You are playing for the trophy, so why not get it?”It is the ultimate prize in cricket, they say. But you cannot get near it. It is not much of a prize really if you cannot see it or cannot touch it."And England chairman of selectors David Graveney sympathised by admitting: “I can understand where he’s coming from."However, Lamb has pointed out that the logistics of transporting such a valuable trophy half way round the globe makes it impossible for Australia to take home the treasured urn.He said: “There is absolutely no question of the original Ashes urn leaving Lord’s – it belongs at Lord’s.”There have been a number of replicas which have been used over the years – but the MCC would never let the original out. It is in the museum at Lord’s and it stays there.”The Australian Cricket Board realise that if anything happened to it then it would be gone forever."The winners of the Ashes instead receive a Waterford Crystal replica of the Ashes urn, which will be presented to Waugh after the Fifth Ashes Test at the Oval. Lamb pointed out that the production of the crystal replica as a “perpetual trophy” in 1998 had been supported by the ACB.Lamb admitted that, “It’s something completely different — but at least there is a trophy for one of the teams to keep. It will be presented to Australia – and we hope to be bringing it back in 18 months’ time."The Ashes may seem to be in the perpetual possession of Australia at the moment, but for the foreseeable future the urn itself will stay at Lord’s.

Surrey’s hopes of a third successive Championship looked all but gone, whilst Glamorgan continued their fight against relegation on the third day of their CricInfo Championship fixture at The Oval.A glut of injuries preoccupied Surrey, as the unsung Welsh due of Mark Wallace (64 no) and Darren Thomas (57) composed a partnership of 94 in 158 balls to take the visitors from 83 for six to 223 all out, just 58 behind.Surrey’s second innings soon collapsed to 95-7 to an unheralded Glamorgan seam attack. Four current Test batsmen all edged to wicket-keeper Wallace or his slip cordon. Only Ben Hollioake and Alec Stewart were blameless in their dismissals.It was then left to Martin Bicknell (25no) to be responsible for the batting as well as the bowling. Surrey closed on 129-7, 187 ahead, and must be worried about a first home defeat since the last game of the season in 1998.Early on, Matthew Maynard passed 1,000 runs for Glamorgan against Surrey, but became the first of Bicknell’s four victims today. The consistent 32-year-old completed 50 wickets in a season for the tenth time in his career, second only to Phil DeFreitas of current county players, when he dismissed Robert Croft during a morning spell of 3-13.Bicknell claimed the cricketers he most respects are “ordinary county trundlers”. With a season’s batting average above 40 and a bowling average of 21, Surrey’s captain today is too good to retire with this tag to be applied to him. Headingley on Thursday might well see a third Test appearance for Bicknell after an eight-year interlude.Surrey’s reply was dogged by two early dismissals, as England’s middle order of Mark Butcher and Mark Ramprakash played airily at Ian Jones. Meanwhile Ian Ward strained his knee, but soldiered on until slashing Darren Thomas to second slip when on 24.In contrast another England left-hander Graham Thorpe looked fit in The Oval’s indoor nets as he tested his broken little finger.

English county cricket has always been characterised by its festival weeks.Evocative names like Ashby de la Zouch, Weston-super-Mare and Moreton inMarsh have, over the years, given the fixture list an appeal that could notbe matched by an everlasting rotation of county headquarters.Some of these festivals still flourish, and how appropriate that the mostfamous of them all, Scarborough, was the venue when Yorkshire secured theCricInfo Championship this year – their first title in the competition for 33 years.Even the Scarborough festival has changed. Not so long ago it was an end-of-season party with serious cricketers playing cricket that fell just a littleshort of the highest level. Anyone who needed a couple of wickets to reach a hundred in the season, or a few runs for a thousand, would be very disappointed to turn out for, say, T.N. Pearce’s XI and return home without achieving their personal landmark.When players turned up in some of the out of the way venues, usually having made their way through high-season holiday traffic to arrive at some ungodlyhour, they would all complain about the accommodation, the catering, and thesize and condition of the dressing rooms. Batsmen would complain that thepitches were dreadful, as would the bowlers at some of the flatter ones.All in all, the cricket was good or, at least, different and the presence offestival weeks certainly spiced up the daily round of cricket. Most importantly, the crowds would flock in, having fixed their holidays theprevious year to coincide with the next festival of cricket.That has changed along with the face of English cricket. Two three-day matches fitted rather neatly into a week, especially when there was a Sunday League match to be played as well. One four-day match and perhaps a limited-overs game do not make the same financial sense. That is what it comes down to. Why go to all the expense of transporting the trappings of a county match to a distant venue when there is a perfectly good headquarters ground, on which so much has been invested, standing empty?That is what has put a question mark over the continuance of so many festivals. The latest is not by the sea or in some scenic delight. It is in metropolitan Essex. To be exact, in Valentine’s Park, Ilford.At one time, Essex did not have a permanent home. They were a team of gypsies forever plying the A12 as they travelled from Leyton in the west to Clacton in the east, stopping at Ilford, Romford, Brentwood, Chelmsford, Colchester, Southend, and Westcliff on the way. British Railways Eastern Region did much the same.Gradually, as Chelmsford was developed as the county’s home, other venues were dropped. Nowadays, only Ilford, Southend, and Colchester are visited, and Ilford is under threat.Essex have just issued a statement which reads as follows: “Following a recent meeting of the Club’s Executive Committee it has been provisionally decided to proceed with the Ilford Festival in 2002.”The Festival has caused the Club considerable financial difficulty over several years, and the Club is at an advanced stage of negotiations withRedbridge Council for financial support for the future.”Chief Executive David East said: “The problems we have been experiencing with the Ilford Festival are common knowledge, and it is essential that we receive significant support from Redbridge Council if the Festival is to proceed next year.”Our Committee has decided to defer a final decision at this time, but has confirmed that it will not proceed if we are unable to obtain the necessary funding from Redbridge. Early indications are very favourable, but we understand that the Council’s budget will not be finalised until the early New Year.”We very much wish to return to Ilford to continue with our great traditionof first class cricket in the region. The Festival is the pinnacle of ourcommunity development activity in the Ilford and East London area, and weremain hopeful that Redbridge Council will provide the support we need tocontinue with the Festival.”Although our commitment to cricket development will remain, if Council funding is not forthcoming the matches provisionally scheduled at Ilford will have to be switched to Chelmsford.”East makes an important point. A large county in geographical terms, Essex has always felt it important to take the game to outlying areas. Not only does it boost membership by doing so, it also brings more young players into contact with the stars of the game. A couple of players to have come to Essex in recent years from the very same Ilford club whose festival is now under threat go by the names of Graham Gooch and John Lever.It is also the part of the world where the young Nasser Hussain learned his cricket. And yet that whole corner of a cricketing county could be left without any first-class fixtures unless a council budget can be manipulated to find a way of preserving the game. Otherwise, the name of Ilford could be added to a list that includes the likes of Ashby de la Zouch, Weston-super-Mare and Moreton in Marsh – the list of former first-class venues.

Sri Lanka are likely to start their third match in tri-series in Sharjahwithout fast bowling spearhead Dilhara Fernando who is suffering from a soreback.Fernando was forced to leave the field for treatment on Saturday night aftera three-wicket burst in seven overs that sent the Pakistan innings into atailspin. He did not return to the field afterwards.Team manager Ajit Jayasekera told reporters Monday that Fernando’s injurywas not serious but confirmed that he has been advised to take three daysrest before his next game.Sri Lankan captain Sanath Jayasuriya will be desperately keen for Fernandoto play against Pakistan on Friday and he is not expected to take theunnecessary risk of playing him today.Fernando’s injury may provide a welcome opportunity for Dulip Liyanage, 29,who has been patiently waiting since being brought into the one-day squad inJuly.Newcomer Prabath Nissanka is expected to be replaced by Charitha BuddikaFernando as the management continues with their rotation plan for the rookiepacemen.With the Zimabwean batsmen noticeably uncomfortable against spin, KumarDharmasena is also likely to play, probably in place of a batsman.