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Five years ago Wasim Jaffer left Trent Bridge uncertain. In India’s second Test of their previous tour, he’d endured a double-failure (0 and 5) and unsure of his place for the next match at Headingley. He was eventually left out for Sanjay Bangar, who went on to play a pivotal role in the side’s series-levelling win, and began a period of exile that was to last four years.Nottingham proved a happier experience for Jaffer this time. His half-century set the base for India’s imposing total, and he followed it up with two handy scores against Sri Lanka A in Leicester. Looking back at his previous tour to England, he termed it a life-changing experience and felt he’d “matured” in the intervening period.”I was four years younger then,” he said matter-of-factly when asked the difference between the previous tour and this one. “That tour changed me completely. I learnt quite a lot. I went back to domestic cricket and corrected whatever mistakes I’d made. It made me determined to make a comeback and I’m more mature now.”He was exposed on the previous tour mainly because of his tendency to neither getting forward or back, stuck in a position that cricketers refer to as half-cock. He was in a similar muddle at the start of this tour as well, unable to make a meaningful contribution against Sussex and England Lions, but has looked far more assured in the Tests.His 58 in the first-innings at Lord’s provided a launching pad for the team to build on – the fact that they didn’t is another issue – and his 62 at Trent Bridge did the same. For a batsman who gorges on domestic attacks once he’s settled, he ought to be disappointed with giving it away. His two innings here were classic examples, spooning catches to the infielders while trying to go over the top. As he himself admitted: “I need to convert stats into a big one. We all know how important The Oval Test is and we’re in the right frame of mind.”Jaffer was happy that the side had got a chance to play another set of tourists – Sri Lanka A – instead of taking on a county. “All the A teams that tour get these games which are very important. If I would have come as an A tour player I would have taken this very seriously. The competition is very strong compared to county cricket.”His half-century allowed India to hold on to a draw in their three-day match, though a late stumble caused a few flutters. “We thought they would set us a rate of 4.5 or five an over and we would have gone for it,” he said when asked about Sri Lanka’s delayed declaration. “But they set us a higher rate and it was tough. We went for it initially but later had to play out. Yuvraj [Singh] and [Mahendra Singh] Dhoni got out and Rahul [Dravid] was supposed to bat later. But even when he was out the wicket was playing well. Gautam [Gambhir] was batting well and Ramesh [Powar] can bat. So the mood in the dressing-room was okay.”

Shoaib Akhtar has blamed Pakistan allrounder Shahid Afridi for the spat that led to him hitting fast bowler Mohammad Asif with a bat during Pakistan’s build-up to the ICC World Twenty20 in South Africa. On his return home today after being thrown out of the squad, Shoaib apologised for his actions and said the matter should have stayed in the dressing room.Shoaib, who has been handed an indefinite ban for the scuffle two days ago, said he didn’t mean to hit Asif, whom he described as a younger brother. “I apologised to Asif and he forgave me but another team-mate, Afridi, took the matter further and it forced the management to send me back,” Shoaib said.”The incident began with a verbal spat between me and Afridi, who used foul language,” Shoaib said, “and Asif intervened and in anger I hit Asif with a bat.””Afridi said things about my family which I could not tolerate. He made comments that cannot be called jokes. I am sorry for what happened and it should not have happened. I request the authorities not to ban me for a lengthy period. I want to play for my country and talk of a life ban or lengthy ban is worrying.”Afridi, however, denied that he had provoked Shoaib and was surprised at the accusations.”I can’t say much because I am bound by the central contract,” Afridi told PTI. “But it is fact that Shoaib has been facing one problem or the other in the last two years and he is frustrated. I have had a good relationship with him so I don’t know why he has targeted me. But he is lying and it would be better if everyone asked Asif what happened. I know Asif could have suffered more injuries if I had not stepped in.”Shoaib also criticised the media for blowing the incident out of proportion and making him a “villain”. “The matter got blown up. The media has contributed to the whole controversy. There is a lobby which has always been trying to malign me by selling negative news about me. I request you all to stop doing that. Stop spreading false propaganda against me, stop selling my name in the name of news.”The main theme, though, was contrition. “If Pakistan lose [in the ICC World Twenty20] because of bowling, I will never be able to forgive myself.” Shoaib also reiterated his commitment for the Pakistan team and said, “I have played with passion for Pakistan. It means something to me. I have turned down a lucrative contract with the ICL [Indian Cricket League].”However, Pakistan board official Shafqat Naghmi said Shoaib would face a disciplinary committee hearing very soon. “Akhtar is suspended indefinitely until a disciplinary committee meeting. He is also issued a notice to explain his comments against a doping tribunal.”Pakistan’s president, General Pervez Musharraf, who is also the PCB’s patron-in-chief, reportedly directed the board to take strict action against Shoaib. “President Musharraf directed PCB chairman Nasim Ashraf to take strict action against Akhtar as the quarrel between him and Asif gave a bad name to Pakistan,” private channel Geo reported.Pakistan have asked the ICC to approve the uncapped allrounder Sohail Tanveer as the replacement for Shoaib. Their first game of the ICC World Twenty20 is against Scotland on Wednesday.

Mohammad Yousuf will be meeting Nasim Ashraf, chairman of the Pakistan board, this week in Lahore to discuss his future with Pakistan cricket as well his decision to join the Indian Cricket League (ICL).”No agenda has been finalised for this meeting,” Shafqat Naghmi, PCB’s chief operating officer, said. “But since Yousuf is a very important member of the team, the chairman will try to persuade him to give Pakistan top priority.”Yousuf, together with Inzamam-ul-Haq, Imran Farhat and Abdul Razzaq, joined the ICL after being overlooked for the ICC World Twenty20. The PCB, in a similar manner to some other boards, has threatened to place life bans on players joining the unofficial Indian league.Yousuf, however, has not made any immediate plans and is waiting to see the results of his meeting with Ashraf. “Obviously, Pakistan is my first priority,” he said. “But I need to know how things can be worked out without any inconvenience to anyone.”While the PCB has been trying to lure Yousuf back into national reckoning, no such move has been made for Inzamam, Farhat or Razzaq prompting rumours that their international careers might very well be over.Pakistan play host to South Africa in a two-Test and five-ODI series starting next month.

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Queensland ground out a 201-run advantage to build a commanding position on the second day against the defending champions Tasmania. Ryan Broad’s 94 headlined a cautious innings of 6 for 359, which also included half-centuries to Greg Moller and Clint Perren, as the Bulls took few chances in their quest for a perfect start to the Pura Cup season.Tasmania collected an early breakthrough after Queensland resumed at 0 for 136 – Moller was unable to control a pull shot on 78 – but they had to wait until shortly before lunch, by which time Queensland had two first-innings points, for Broad to give Geeves his second wicket. Broad had worked calmly towards his century, hitting 14 fours from 194 balls, and fell for 94 to a sharp take from Tim Paine at short leg.Maher (26) departed to Geeves in the second session while Perren pushed Queensland further ahead with 63 before Aaron Nye chipped in with a useful 46. Geeves made sure the Tigers were not overpowered as he picked up an impressive haul of 4 for 87, including 12 maidens in his 35 overs, but it was the home side’s day again.

Sanjay Jagdale, one of India’s national selectors, has dismissed the idea of replacing senior players in the side with youngsters. “I do not know where these theories originate from,” Jagdale, who represents central zone, told the . “When we sit for a selection meeting, we only look at the merits of a player. We do not look at this senior-junior business.”How can you overlook somebody like Sachin Tendulkar or Sourav Ganguly and [Rahul] Dravid when they still have a lot more to offer?”The triumph at the ICC World Twenty20 last month prompted calls from various sections to include more young players in the team, instead of retaining older ones.But Jagdale believes Twenty20 is a completely different form of the game and its demands should not be confused with those of one-day cricket. “I am against drastic changes made on the emotion of the moment. A side should be built gradually with the seniors in the frame. You cannot throw in all the youngsters against sides like Pakistan and Australia.”Jagdale also backed Rahul Dravid as a one-day batsman and was confident that he would soon be back in the runs. “It was only a couple of months ago that he made a match-winning 90-odd in just around 70 balls against England in Bristol,” Jagdale said. “It was one of the finest one-day innings I have seen. How can he become a bad player in a matter of days?”This game is all about confidence. Dravid has been there before and I am sure he will be back.” Dravid made 51 runs at 10.20 – including two ducks – from the first six ODIs against Australia.

ScorecardEighteen wickets fell as the momentum swung back and forth on a dramatic third day’s play between Jammu & Kashmir and Madhya Pradesh in Jammu. Having resumed on 159 for 5, MP were bowled out for 242, yielding a 39-run first-innings lead. But Anand Rajan, the medium-pacer, got MP right back into the game with a career-best figures of 6 for 45 as J&K were bundled out for 91. There was to be one more twist in the day, though. Set 131 to win, MP lost three quick wickets, including that of the first-innings top-scorer Devendra Bundela for a first-ball duck, to end the day needing another 113 runs to win.
ScorecardDevendra Israni and Tahir Khan struck their maiden first-class centuries to propel Services to 325 for 5 against Kerala at Fort Maidan in Palakkad. But Services were still 241 runs in arrears and will have to play out of their skin to earn a first-innings lead. Israni and Khan shared a 197-run stand for the second wicket but Services lost their way towards the end of the day, when five wickets fell for only 99 runs. it was only because of Jasvir Singh’s unbeaten 56 that Services were still afloat.
ScorecardHarshad Rawle cracked his maiden first-class ton while Mahesh Rawat approached his fourth to keep Railways in the game against Goa. However, like Services, Railways might find the going tough as they still trail by 244 runs. Having resumed on 31 for 2, they lost a wicket early but Rawle’s 87-run partnership with Sanjib Samyal and a subsequent 132-run stand with Rawat bailed them out of trouble. But Harshad Gadekar, who took 3 for 40, removed Rawle to push Railways on the back foot at 266 for 5. Rawat soldiered on, finishing on an unbeaten 83, to carry on the fight to the final day.
ScorecardAt Motera, Tripura were staring at an innings defeat against Gujarat, who declared after extending their first-innings lead to 354 before snaring four quick wickets to take control. Bhavik Thaker, overnight on 102, moved on to 154 as Gujarat added 90 runs in 20 overs before declaring. Tripura started off well, courtesy a 68-run opening stand, but Ashraf Makda, the left-arm mediumpacer, got into the act with three wickets. Manoj Singh made 73 but he was the only batsman to touch 25 as Gujarat reached a near-impregnable position by the end of the day.
ScorecardHaryana restricted Jharkhand to 205 before stretching the overall lead to 354, with four wickets intact by the end of the third day’s play in Jamshedpur. Sachin Rana, the medium-pacer, removed both the overnight batsmen – Sunny Gupta and Shabhaz Nadeem – to give Haryana a 68-run first-innings lead. Then the top order fired – three batsmen managed fifties with Mithun Beerala top scoring with 75 – and Haryana finished the day on 286 for 6.
ScorecardNo play was possible for the second day running betweenAssam and Vidarbha at the Nehru Stadium in Guwahati. Heavy rainsruled out possibility of play on day two and three after most of dayone had been washed out. Assam batted for 29 overs to get to 65 for 2before play was called off before lunch on the first day.

Shaun Udal, the former England and Hampshire offspinner, has come out of retirement to sign a two-year deal with Middlesex.Udal, 38, quit first-class cricket at the end of last season, saying he “wanted to go out on a high as a decent player, instead of being a player who did not deserve his place on the staff”. In a shock turnaround, however, Middlesex have snapped him up on a two-year contract which means he could be playing county cricket in his 41st year.”I’m delighted to be given this unexpected opportunity to extend my playing career at Middlesex and am very excited at the thought of playing for another two years,” Udal told Middlesex’s website. “Retirement, in hindsight, was the wrong choice for me and, due to John Emburey and Middlesex’s persistence, I’ve been given a great chance to continue doing something I love and prove to people that I am still one of the best at what I do.”I’d like to thank Middlesex for backing me and look forward to the next two years with great enthusiasm. The squad is very strong and I see no reason why we can’t win something next season.”Udal made his Test debut aged 36, against Pakistan at Multan in 2005. And although he spun England to a memorable win in Mumbai against India the following year, that was his final international match.”We are very fortunate to have gained the services of Udal,” Emburey, Middlesex’s director of cricket, said. “Shaun’s experience, knowledge and match-winning capabilities will complement a very determined Middlesex team in 2008.”

Marlon Samuels has been reported after the umpires during the Durban Test between South Africa and West Indies decided that aspects of his action were suspect.Samuels, a part-time bowler with seven Test wickets at 127.00 to his name, was used more than usual during the match because of an injury to Dwayne Bravo and the absence of Chris Gayle and his offspinners. But on-field umpires Simon Taufel and Aleem Dar, supported third umpire Brian Jerling. Match referee Roshan Mahanama informed both the ICC and the West Indies team management of the report.”Concerns have been raised by the match officials over the legality of Marlon’s bowling action with particular reference to his ‘fast ball’ when viewed with the naked eye,” Mahanama said in a statement. “We are therefore requesting the ICC to commission a biomechanical report into the bowler’s fast-ball action in accordance with the process introduced in 2005.”Samuels will now undergo independent analysis of his action by a member of the ICC’s panel of human movement specialists. That will take place as soon as is practicable. Within 14 days of the independent analysis being carried out, the appointed specialist will supply the ICC with a written report advising the outcome of the biomechanical assessment. This will confirm whether the action used by Samuels in the bowling of his fast ball was legal or illegal.If Samuels is found to have been bowling with an illegal action he will be suspended from bowling that particular delivery in international cricket with immediate effect. He would then have the option of applying to the ICC for a re-assessment of his fast ball at any time in order to return to bowling it. If that was approved he would be allowed to continue but subject to the warning that should he continue to bowl his fast ball he would run the risk of being reported a second time.In the circumstance that a further report resulting in an independent analysis concluded that he bowled with an illegal action, the resultant suspension would be considered to be a second suspension and therefore he would be suspended for a minimum period of one year. Only after the expiry of this one year period would he be entitled to approach the ICC for a re-assessment of his action.In the mean time, at this stage Samuels is free to play and bowl in international cricket, at the discretion of the WICB, until the biomechanical report has been completed.

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Kerala, having fallen behind by 45 in the first innings, scored quickly to give themselves 83 overs to try and bowl Railways out, but Railways duly batted out a draw to move into the final of the Ranji Trophy Plate League. Railways made a cautious start, which would have been consistent with the team plan, but Kerala captain Sony Cheruvathur took two wickets in two overs to send back Amit Pagnis and Sanjay Bangar. However, that would be the last bit of success for Kerala as Siddharth Joshi and Harshad Rawle ensured there weren’t any dismissals through the day. The teams agreed to call the match off, with a minimum of 19 overs left.This was Railways’ second season in the Plate League after they were relegated in their title defence season in 2005-06.

Queensland have regained Michael Kasprowicz after a minor hamstring injury as they prepare to take on Victoria in a one-day match at the MCG on Wednesday. Kasprowicz pulled up sore during the Bulls’ win over Tasmania ten days ago and his presence will be a significant boost as his team aims to keep its hopes of defending its FR Cup title alive.The trip to Melbourne will also continue a hectic week for Ashley Noffke, who was released from the Australian ODI squad when Stuart Clark became available. Noffke’s busy period has included playing for the Prime Minister’s XI in Canberra last Wednesday, flying to Melbourne for Australia’s Twenty20 international on Friday, making his ODI debut in Brisbane on Sunday and now returning to the MCG.Queensland have also included Lee Carseldine and Chris Swan to replace James Hopes, who is with the national team, and Greg Moller, who has been omitted. The Bulls are fourth on the FR Cup table, equal on points with the third-placed South Australia and one behind Victoria, who are second.Victoria welcome back Brad Hodge – he was rested from Saturday’s victory due to a Cricket Australia regulation – and he comes in for Michael Klinger, who broke a finger in the win over Western Australia. The coach Greg Shipperd will be treating the match as a virtual semi-final.”We’ve played some scrambling cricket, some winning cricket, of recent times,” he said. “We certainly know we’re not playing at our best – we’re looking for that perfect game, hopefully it will come [on Wednesday].”Queensland squad Jimmy Maher (capt), Nathan Reardon, Clinton Perren, Craig Philipson, Chris Simpson, Aaron Nye, Lee Carseldine, Ashley Noffke, Chris Hartley (wk), Michael Kasprowicz, Chris Swan, Scott Brant.Victoria squad Rob Quiney, Aiden Blizzard, Brad Hodge, David Hussey, Andrew McDonald, Cameron White (capt), Aaron Finch, Adam Crosthwaite (wk), Bryce McGain, Clint McKay, Darren Pattinson, Peter Siddle.