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Shoaib Malik has defended his 14-month tenure as Pakistan captain amid speculation that a leadership change could be in the offing after the resignation of Nasim Ashraf as chairman of the PCB.”I did not tell anybody to make me captain,” Malik told the Karachi-based . “I was chosen to lead Pakistan and I have been doing the job in the best possible manner.”Malik highlighted Pakistan’s successes during his time in charge. “We did well in the World Twenty20 [where Pakistan reached the final], and remember, Pakistan also won 12 consecutive one-dayers with me as captain.”Bangladesh and Zimbabwe were whitewashed in a couple of bilateral series, results which are primarily responsible for Malik’s 20-10 win-loss record in ODIs. “A record is a record,” he said, “and the opponents we play is not under my control.”Pakistan went on to win the Kitply Cup, a tri-nation tournament in Bangladesh, but doubts about Malik’s captaincy persisted when they failed to reach the final of the Asia Cup, which was held in Karachi. Pakistan also lost their two Test series when he was in charge, first against South Africa at home, and then in India.However, Malik’s deputy, Misbah-ul-Haq, said he had no aspirations to become Pakistan captain. “Obviously, leadership brings extra load of responsibility and I am enjoying my present status of vice-captain in the team,” he said. “I know it is a great honour to be the captain of the team but I feel content where I am.”Malik’s comments come a day after Intikhab Alam, the former Pakistan captain, criticised his leadership abilities. “I don’t think he has the ability to keep players together,” Alam told the on Tuesday. “Malik is not impressive at all and it’s better the PCB should start looking for a new captain to lead the side against India at home.”

You might not think it looking at England’s record in Australia so far, but recent one-day international form indicates that their chances of reaching the finals of the VB triangular series, which starts in Sydney tomorrow, are not entirely unrealistic. This is despite England being the lowest-placed of the three teams in the ICC Championship Table (Australia are first, Sri Lanka fourth and England seventh).Given England’s appalling injury record (almost unbelievably, Surrey’s Adam Hollioake is the 31st player to join the squad in Australia) and the fact that they have yet to win a match on the tour, it is not surprising that they are the bookies’ outsiders. However they had the better of Sri Lanka in the NatWest Series in June, and have proved a force to be reckoned with against both New Zealand and India over the past year.Sri Lanka, after losing all but one of their six matches in England, have had an uneven run. After completing the regulation (if irrelevant) clean sweep over Bangladesh in August, they showed steelier signs of revival by winning the first-ever Morocco Cup, beating South Africa. They met India in a more significant final the following month, as hosts of the ICC Champions Trophy, but were fortunate to share the spoils after rain intervened with India on top. The wheels came off again in South Africa, where they lost 4-1.However as Nasser Hussain has pointed out, past form is not necessarily a guide to future performance anyway. “When we lost to Wales last summer, everyone built it up as the death of English cricket, and we played some excellent cricket in the tournament that followed,” said the England captain.For all three teams, this series is a vital part of the build-up to the World Cup in South Africa in two months’ time. So far, Australia’s progress has gone most smoothly. Since jettisoning the Waugh twins they have won 5-1 in South Africa and lost 2-1 at home to Pakistan, and were heading for a clean sweep against Pakistan and Kenya when rain washed out the PSO tri-nation final in Nairobi. In the Champions Trophy they handsomely beat New Zealand and Bangladesh, only to be undone by Sri Lanka’s spinners in the semi-final.England opening bowler Andrew Caddick will have a fitness test before the start tomorrow, after sustaining a knee injury during the final warm-up defeat in Canberra on Tuesday. He bowled off his full run-up today despite having his left knee well strapped up. If fit, Caddick is expected to be given the new ball with James Kirtley, with all-rounders Craig White and Ronnie Irani providing support. Australia’s twelve shows two changes from the Perth Test, with Steve Waugh and Justin Langer making way for Michael Bevan and the young Tasmanian all-rounder Shane Watson.Australia (from): RT Ponting (captain), ML Hayden, AC Gilchrist (wkt), DR Martyn, MG Bevan, DS Lehmann, SR Watson, SK Warne, B Lee, JN Gillespie, GD McGrath, AJ Bichel.England (from): N Hussain (Essex, captain), NV Knight (Warwickshire), ME Trescothick (Somerset), RC Irani (Essex), OA Shah (Middlesex), ID Blackwell (Somerset), C White (Yorkshire), AJ Stewart (Surrey, wkt), GJ Batty (Worcestershire), AR Caddick (Somerset), RJ Kirtley (Sussex), PD Collingwood (Durham), SJ Harmison (Durham), JM Anderson (Lancashire).Umpires: RE Koertzen (South Africa) & S Taufel (Australia).3rd Umpire: S Davis (Australia).Match referee: Wasim Raja (Pakistan).

Mansur Ali Khan, the Karnataka seamer, has announced his retirement from first-class cricket. Mansur made his debut in the 1995-96 season and played the last of his 24 matches in the 2001-02 season, finishing with 78 wickets. He also took 39 wickets in 22 one-dayers.Mansur was part of the 1998-99 Ranji Trophy winning squad and forged a successful partnership with Dodda Ganesh, the former Indian seamer. He was, however, overshadowed by illustrious colleagues like Javagal Srinath, Venkatesh Prasad and Anil Kumble who all went on to carve successful careers for India. Mansur was overlooked by the state selectors in favour of younger bowlers.He later took to coaching and has coached the Karnataka Under-22 team to the semi-finals of the All-India tournament, as well as the U-25 team which won the South Zone title. He has also represented his employers, Canara Bank, as a player.Mansur, 36, admitted his retirement was rather belated, and said he would continue to pursue coaching. “I am thankful to all those who have supported me over the years in my cricketing career,” he told . “I would like to continue coaching. The main intention is to give back to cricket what I have learnt to the game.”

Ben Smith, Worcestershire’s 30 year-old right-handed batsman, has been appointed as the county’s captain in succession to Graeme Hick. Hick was relieved of the post after three seasons in charge in somewhat controversial circumstances in that he expressed profound disappointment at the decision.Smith had been vice-captain of Leicestershire in 2001 but left at the end of that season to join Worcestershire. He enjoyed a successful first season with his new county and led the side in the final Norwich Union League match of the season – against Leicestershire – when Hick was absent with a broken thumb.Having been a part of Leicestershire championship-winning teams in 1996 and 1998, he knows what it takes to reach the pinnacle of the county game and wants to emulate those performances now he is in a position to lead Worcestershire.On his appointment he said: "I am thrilled to have been given the honour of leading the county during what promises to be a very exciting period. I have settled into the club extremely well both on and off the pitch and am looking forward to building on the progress we made as a side last season."I know Graeme was disappointed not to continue in the job but I have spoken to him and he has assured me I have his full support and I have no doubt he will continue to be a huge asset to the side as he has been throughout his career with the club."Director of cricket at New Road, Tom Moody, commented on Smith’s appointment by saying, "I am confident Ben will take us to new heights and lead us with great success. The club feels that the time is right to move forward with the captaincy of the team and Ben has all the attributes as a leader to take us to the next level."Smith’s first task will be to lead Worcestershire out of the second division of the championship. It is thought that failure to achieve that last season was influential in the decision to change the captaincy.

The inaugural NatWest Speed Challenge Final at Lord’s on Saturday (13 July) saw four future cricket stars claim the title of the UK’s Young Fast Bowler of the Year (in their age category). The young cricket stars qualified at one of the 10 NatWest Interactive Roadshows that toured the country in June. The winners for 2002 are:

Category Name Age From SpeedU17 Boys Tom Strong 16 Longfield, Kent 71.4mphU17 Girls Moira Comfort 16 Chatham, Kent 50.1mphU12 Boys Kieran Brookes 11 Lytham St Annes 54.6mphU1 Girls Cara Jade-Lowe 11 Leigh, Lancs 43mph

James Kirtley, the Sussex and England fast bowler, was on hand to give encouragement and support to the kids taking part in The NatWest Speed Challenge Final. All the competitors spent the day experiencing the excitement and tension of being a cricket star for the day including being photographed and interviewed by the media.Tom, Moira, Kieran and Cara have won a day’s coaching with NatWest Ambassador and England fast bowler, Darren Gough as well as a medal and a cricket bat signed by all three teams competing in this year’s NatWest Series (England, India and Sri Lanka). The cricket clinic will take place at Headingley at the end of July. They also got the opportunity to watch one of the best one day international matches of all times with India clinching a dramatic victory over England in The NatWest Series Final.All the finalists qualified at one of the NatWest Speed Challenge competitions that took place at the NatWest Interactive Roadshows with the results displayed on www.natwestseries.com giving the kids the opportunity to check their fastest delivery and position in the competition.Abigail Searle, Sponsorship Manager, NatWest said: “Grassroots cricket is fundamental to the success and future of the sport and we are delighted that the first NatWest Speed Challenge has been such a success, with over 5000 kids entering the competition across the country.”The NatWest Speed Challenge is part of a major grassroots campaign to encourage and develop children’s interest in the sport. NatWest have invested over half a million pounds over three years in a series of grassroots initiatives including the NatWest ‘Get Involved’ programme and the distribution of 800 flicx pitches and 10,000 skills balls to schools and clubs across the UK.The young bowlers were also ‘zinced up’ and wearing Marie Curie Cancer Care daffodils in support of the ‘Sun Safety – know your boundaries’ campaign that NatWest and Marie Curie are undertaking. Sun protection sachets and sun safety checklists were distributed at each of this year’s matches to help raise awareness of the dangers of prolonged exposure to the sun while watching or playing sport. NatWest have also developed an in-branch promotion with a £1 donation being made to the Marie Curie Research Institute for every Advantage Gold account opened from June to the end of August.

The Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) Thursday announced a predictable 14-member squad for the Super Challenge series in Australia next month.With Abdul Razzaq and Saqlain Mushtaq unavailable because of county commitments with Middlesex and Surrey respectively in England, the selectors wisely decided to stick with an experienced team for the three One-day Internationals against world champions Australia.The squad is: Waqar Younis (captain), Inzamam-ul-Haq (vice-captain), Saeed Anwar, Imran Nazir, Shahid Afridi, Younis Khan, Yousuf Youhana, Rashid Latif, Azhar Mahmood, Wasim Akram, Shoaib Akhtar, Shoaib Malik, Mohammad Sami and Misbah-ul-Haq.Azhar Mahmood was recalled to replace fellow all-rounder Razzaq after a short but successful stint with Surrey.Saeed Anwar retains his place in the squad. He was slated to play against New Zealand in the second Test here earlier this month but the suicide bomb blast vanquished his comeback prospects.The 33-year-old former skipper was sidelined by a stress fracture in his wrist after his last international appearance during the Sharjah Cup in November. He missed the subsequent series against Bangladesh, West Indies and New Zealand as well as last month’s Sharjah Cup.The Pakistan squad will undergo a short training camp at Gaddafi Stadium in Lahore from Wednesday before the team leaves for Australia on June 5.Australia have already named a 13-man squad led by Ricky Ponting.The first two matches will be played indoors at Colonial Stadium in Melbourne on June 12 and 15 respectively. The final game is scheduled for June 19 at the Gabba in Brisbane.

Mark Ramprakash suffered an untimely failure as Surrey launched their reply to Northamptonshire’s daunting 476 all out in the Division One contest at Wantage Road.The 31-year-old, hoping to catch the selectors’ attention ahead of next week’s First Test against Pakistan at Lord’s, was dismissed for a first-ball duck when he offered no stroke to seamer Tony Penberthy and saw his off stump flattened.Ian Ward (58 not out) and England certainty Graham Thorpe (34 not out) steered the visitors to 126-2 from 43 overs at the close, still needing a further 201 to avoid the follow-on.Northants resumed on 320-4 and ground on to record their highest total against Surrey on home soil. It surpassed the 430 all out they made in the celebrated 1920 match between the sides that more famously featured Percy Fender’s sensational 35-minute century.Alec Swann top-scored with 96 from 199 balls, missing out on a century when he edged a drive at Mark Butcher to Alec Stewart behind the stumps just before lunch. Best support came from Penberthy (75), who helped Swann add 161 in 51 overs for the fifth wicket, with handy contributions lower down the order from Toby Bailey (41) and John Blain (34).The departure of Mark Butcher and Ramprakash to successive balls left Surrey on the back foot, but Ward and Thorpe saw out the day with some ease, adding an unbroken 75 in the last 25 overs of the session.

Veteran batsman Peter Bowler , now in his seventh season at The County Ground feels that Somerset have got as strong a team now as they have had during his time at the club.Peter of course was with Derbyshire when they put paid to Lancashire in the Lord’s final to lift the Benson and Hedges Cup in 1993.”I really feel that we have a good chance of winning the Benson and Hedges Cup, the players are in a confident mood and we must be one of the four best sides in the country. Yorkshire also have a good side , especially Australian Darren Lehmann and of course their England players.But we expect to win on Wednesday, he said.”Peter was missing from the Somerset scene earlier in the season to allow him to take some more law examinations which are ‘an ongoing thing.’ These are completed now so he can now"concentrate on playing cricket for the rest of the season.”Despite his success in both the County Championship and Norwich Union League matches against Kent, Somerset’s young all rouder Pete Trego doesn’t think that he will be in the side for the Bensons match against Yorkshire.”I have done very well over the last five days,” he told me on Sunday evening,” my batting is coming along well, and I felt very comfortable at the crease.I don’t think that I will be playing against Yorkshire, but would like to wish all the boys who play the best of luck.”

Don’t despair: in every cloud there is a silver lining; in every crisis there is some hope on which to cling. And so it is for Sri Lanka fans after a disastrous Test series against England.As England romped to their most emphatic series win for 16 years at a gloomy Old Trafford, the one bright light of the game for Sri Lankans was the sight of Russel Arnold throwing off the shackles of poor form.`So what?’ you may scoff. But hang on a second, this was a moment of significance…and not just because he has been picked to showcase Woodworm’s revolutionary new Wand cricket bat, an innovation that will maximise his productivity.For two and a half years the 29-year-old left-hander had struggled in Test cricket, hanging on to his place by the skin of his teeth. The statistics told a sad tale. Whilst most of his colleagues were averaging in the forties, he averaged just 21.63 in all Tests from January 2000 to December 2001. His Manchester hundred was the third of his career, but the first for 43 innings.Had it not been for Sri Lanka’s nine-match winning stretch and the contributions of his high scoring teammates, the selectorial axe would surely have fallen, possibly condemning him to live out his cricketing career in coloured clothing, a form of the game in which he excels.He was dropped once, against Bangladesh in the Asian Test Championship last year, but soon returned. The team management were convinced of his all-round value, as a cricketer and competitor, even if their exasperation with his continued under achievement became increasingly visible.Sri Lanka’s previous selection panel, headed by former Sri Lanka captain Michael Tissera, also admired Arnold. In their eyes he was a versatile and strong-minded cricketer. Maybe not the prettiest strokeplayer in the squad, but a workmanlike and intelligent player, who displayed a fierce commitment to the team’s cause.Ironically, his unselfishness contributed to a dip in his personal performance. When the South Africans toured Sri Lanka in 2000 coach Dav Whatmore was concerned about the strength of his middle order; he wanted a player with the courage to muscle the side out of a hole. And Arnold, who been very successful in the middle order in the limited overs side, agreed to drop down the order.But the plan backfired. Arnold struggled to adapt his game, preferring the harder ball and open spaces of the top order, where he had scored both of his previous centuries. His confidence started to sag and uncertainty crept into his strokeplay. Poor fortune also played a part with a string of poor decisions heightening his frustration.Thankfully his performances in one-day cricket didn’t suffer, a fact that must have helped sustain his natural self-belief. Throughout his barren run he maintained a one-day average in excess of 40 – a fine achievement in the shortened game, especially when you are batting in the late overs.In 2002 he started to show the first signs of form, scoring 71 at Kandy and 40 at Galle against Zimbabwe and then 44 at Lahore in the Asian Test Championship final. It was enough to guarantee himself a place in the tour to England.As soon as he arrived it became clear that he was hitting the ball with a new crispness and authority. But although he sparkled at Lord’s, where he thrashed an entertaining fifty, the real turning point proved to be another reshuffle in the order: Sanath Jayasuriya, his technique exposed against high class quick bowling on English pitches, dropped himself down the order for the final game.Arnold, probably aware that Jayasuriya would be keen to slot back into the top of the order once the side returned to the sub-continent, grabbed his opportunity. Afterwards, as he fended off questions about Sri Lanka’s defeat, Jayasuriya admitted that Arnold had made a compelling case for an extended spell as opener.In fact, Jayasuriya may well have to make way in more ways than one. Arnold is one of the candidates for the captaincy should Jayasuriya not be able to display greater tactical acumen and stronger leadership in the forthcoming year.And he would do a good job. Self-confidence and good communication skills have long marked him out as a natural leader, someone who could wield together and motivate the team, protecting its spirit from the disruptive political undercurrents that so hamper Sri Lanka’s cricket.Moreover, an aggressive streak could lead to the development of a more battle-hardened edge. Whilst the differing leadership styles of Arjuna Ranatunga, shrewd and arrogant, and Jayasuriya, down to earth and consensual, each have their advantages, the optimum approach is probably somewhere in between – a course that Arnold could steer well.Perhaps he will never get the chance. Certainly there are other contenders, his friend and colleague Kumar Sangakkara being an outstanding prospective captain.But that matters not. The point is that Arnold’s performance at Old Trafford should not just have been the source of momentary celebration, but also of hope for a better future – a time when Sri Lanka’s openers score more consistently, where the top order shows greater obduracy abroad and the team is led with greater verve and direction.

ScorecardIshant Sharma destroyed West Zone’s top order•K Sivaraman

North Zone strengthened their grip on the Duleep Trophy quarter-final in Chennai with a combined bowling performance that bowled West Zone out for 164 and secured a 320-run lead. Ishant Sharma destroyed the top order and legspinner Amit Mishra ran through the tail, taking seven wickets between them. The North Zone openers batted for 14 overs to add 30 runs before stumps, with a day remaining.Six for 1 overnight, West Zone’s slump began in the second over of the day, when opener Kaustubh Pawar fell without a run being scored. The new batsmen tried to build partnerships but were slow. When in-form Cheteshwar Pujara got out to Ishant in the 22nd over, West Zone were struggling at 40 for 4. Bhushan Chauhan and wicketkeeper Parthiv Patel batted together for 24.2 overs, scoring 72 runs – the highest stand of the innings. Chauhan was dismissed by Ishant, who had accounted for four top-order wickets. Patel reached a fifty but departed soon after, and West Zone were 128 for 6. The last four wickets added only 36 more.Besides Sharma and Mishra, seamer Rishi Dhawan also helped North Zone with important wickets of No. 3 batsman Murtuja Vahora and Patel. To force a result on the last day, North Zone will want to declare early and bowl West Zone out quickly again.