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According to Glenn McGrath, Shoaib Akhtar’s king-size run-up has more to do with his love of playing to the gallery than a desire to bowl fast. McGrath weighed in to the issue after Bob Woolmer, Pakistan’s coach, had earlier pleaded with Shoaib to cut down on his approach, which slowed the game down and also drastically reduced the chances of him bowling long spells.And while McGrath accepted the fact that Shoaib, on his good days, could run through a side, he pointedly suggested that he was also capable of bowling “a heap of rubbish”. McGrath took 8 for 24 in the second innings at the WACA in Perth, demolishing Pakistan with the steepling bounce and accuracy that has underpinned his charge to 472 wickets in just 104 Tests.And while Shoaib laughed off suggestions that he pare down a run-up that starts in the shadow of the sightscreen – “Can a plane take off without a run-up?” he asked enigmatically – McGrath told the that the response was typical of Pakistan’s premier bowler. “He’s a showman, and that’s what he loves,” said McGrath. “Cutting that run-up down might take a bit away from that and take a bit away from who he is. Maybe that’s why he’s holding on.”I don’t know what I can say I am, a jump-jet or a helicopter or something. I think he could bowl just as quick off a shorter run. They say it’s [Akhtar’s run-up] 33 metres. Mine’s 23 metres and he looks a good 17 or 20 metres behind me, so I’d say it’s 40-plus. When you’re bowling six-minute overs it puts pressure on the other guys to get through their overs, plus you can only get through three or four overs at top pace before you really start feeling the pinch.”McGrath also reckoned that Shoaib needed to take fresh stock of his priorities, given how much the team relied on him. “From a personal point of view, my goal was always to be the best bowler, not so much the quickest, whereas I’m sure Shoaib’s major and only goal is to be the quickest bowler in the world, if not of all time,” he said. “He’s the type of bowler that can just rip through sides. He’s got that potential there but then he’s got the potential to bowl a heap of rubbish as well.”But having got in a none-too-subtle sledge ahead of the Boxing Day Test,McGrath admitted that, ultimately, run-ups were dictated by a bowler’s sense of well-being. “At the end of the day, a run-up has got to feel good for the bowler. I shortened my run-up and it felt ordinary, so I had to go back to my old one. Shoaib might be the same.”

Progress towards a revised schedule for international cricket took a step forward following the conclusion of the ICC Chief Executives’ Committee (CEC) meeting at the new ICC offices in Dubai.A special scheduling summit was followed by a meeting of the CEC which enabled all of the ICC full member countries and associate member representatives to consider the implications of a move from a five-year programme to a six-year cycle of international cricket.Malcolm Speed, the ICC’s chief executive, said that the gathering of all those responsible for the scheduling of international cricket was critical to the effective completion of this complex task.”We have worked through initial drafts and all of the countries will now be given an opportunity to comment on a revised six-year plan. There is still plenty of work to be done but this was an important part of the process,” he said. “Once we have received comments from the countries the matter will be considered by the ICC board at its next meeting in Australia in October.”As well as consideration of scheduling issues, the CEC discussed a range of other issues during the meeting.Super Series
The on-field umpires will be able to ask the third umpire for help on a greater number of decisions during the Super Series one-day internationals and Test match. Run outs and stumpings will be referred in the normal way to the TV umpire with the TV umpire making the final decision. For all other decisions the on-field umpires will have the discretion to consult with the TV umpire before making the final decision. The CEC confirmed that the only exception to this would be clean catches where the current principle that the on-field umpires should only consult the TV umpire when both on-field umpires are unsighted should apply.The meeting also approved the playing conditions for the Super Series, confirming that the trial ODI innovations concerning replacement players and fielding restrictions would apply. It has been decided that the Super Series matches will be officiated by the top four members of the elite panel of ICC umpires. Officials from Australia will be permitted to undertake on-field duties in the matches but no two umpires from the same country will be able to stand together in the same match.ICC U-19 Cricket World Cup
The CEC approved the competition dates for the next Under-19 World Cup. Sixteen teams will contest the event in Sri Lanka from 5 to 19 February 2006.Twenty20 Cricket
Discussions on the role of Twenty20 cricket in the international arena led to an agreement that ICC management should conduct an investigation and evaluation of a range of scenarios in relation to this particular format. A report will be compiled for consideration by the ICC board.Commonwealth Games
The CEC reviewed a proposal from the organisers of the Commonwealth Games in India in 2010. The matter has been referred to the ICC board for further consideration at its meeting in October.Use of substitutes
The issue of the use of substitutes in international cricket was raised during the meeting. In seeking to clarify the role of the 12th man, the ICC has committed to raising this issue with all full member captains and elite panel umpires during forthcoming meetings with both groups scheduled for October.

“I hope to be going to Bangladesh.” The words hit you in the gut. They signified a passing of time; a marker between eras. A flurry of statements is to be expected. Of course John Wright will go to Bangladesh, they will announce. But Wright’s thoughts betrayed an uncertain future. These are uncertain times in our game, and furtive glances have been cast at the men who were chosen to give Indian cricket new direction only a presidential term ago.After a long while, there is intrigue again. It says much about Wright and Sourav Ganguly. Dark shadows poised over Indian cricket showed no signs of receding four years ago when the task fell on them. Tough words were satisfyingly followed by tough deeds. India had turned an invisible corner and stepped out of the shadows into light that only became brighter. But blinded by the limelight of the last season, they seemed to have stumbled into another dark alley.If a man’s darkest moments are the sternest test of his character, these have not been glorious days for Indian cricket. The word `greenwicketitis’ was invented after Ganguly was declared unfit for the last two Tests against Australia. A victory on a morbid pitch followed. It served no one’s purpose besides giving fleeting cheer to a victory-sapped public. Then more turners were asked for. Now the coach is vague about his future. There’s something very wrong here.It’s too familiar for comfort. Wright’s reign was supposed to end with a ceremony, where he crowned the next-in-line, a worthy who carried on his good work – a bit like Australia, where succession has been more or less smooth. Instead, the murky future has hit home hard because it’s a feature of Indian cricket that we believed was dead and buried, at least when it came to national team. India were to have moved ahead when the coach changed, not taken a step back. Wright went all the way…nearly.It was only spring when India beat Pakistan. So what changed so drastically? Nothing. It was pure bad timing that India went into a collective slump this season. After two years of persistence, a quality Wright imbued in the side, India simply derailed. It went against his commitment to see the team move forward, and he recently admitted that each time India lost, he wondered if he was good enough. Not many people think that way and admit it. India took more catches under him, were fitter, ran harder, and even began smiling again. It was the `love and care’ approach before Ray Jennings put it in words. It’s exactly what India needed.His quiet steel and Ganguly’s temperament came together at the right time. Some would call it fate. Others will claim it was a calculated move. Whatever, it worked. Out went the dainty Indian image, replaced by the sight of a miffed Steve Waugh waiting at the pitch for the toss. It was rude and tough. The approach was so unIndian, it was shocking at first, but the acceptance came. The players were not only expected to give it back, but to sledge some as well. In a sense, the approach applied by Wright and Ganguly appealed to India as a country. It was a happy turn of events.He demanded intensity from every member of the side. He understood the pitfalls of success in India, and asked the team to keep themselves motivated even when they weren’t playing. No namby-pambying for superstars here. That he and Ganguly changed India in such a short span of time is a wonder. Having exceptionally talented players helped, but then you could say that the early 90s team with Tendulkar, Azhar and Kambli was just as talented. It’s just that one team was more driven.When the camera turns to him, he’s mostly behind a laptop. Not the most unique thing, but before Wright, which Indian coach would rely on technology to help? Pre-Wright, you had the Javed Miandad-ish `fergit technology, I’ll teach ya what to do’ approach. Wright pulled India out of a comfort zone and got them to work on their game. It was the clearest indication of direction in a long time.It is tragic that this season will be added as an afterthought, an asterisk, when Wright is spoken about. But it comes with the territory, and Wright is already mentioned fondly. He will be recalled as one of the architects of a tougher India where a work ethic was applied and the value of the team was emphasised. He’ll be reminisced about for being there when India and Australia played two great series. He’ll also be remembered as the one man who made Ganguly hurry between wickets.

Tony Dodemaide, MCC’s head of cricket, is to leave England to become Western Australia’s chief executive.He spent five years at Lord’s, and oversaw several major operations, including the re-laying of the outfield and the development of portable pitches. He was also at the heart of the MCC’s efforts of encouraging the game in schools.”In five years, Tony has made an impressive impact at Lord’s – both personally and professionally," said Roger Knight, MCC’s secretary. "He has always been an extremely popular member of our senior management team. While we all congratulate him on his exciting new appointment, which is richly deserved, we shall be very sorry to see him go. Everyone at MCC wishes Tony every success in the future.”

South Africa’s Herschelle Gibbs and Nicky Boje have both made themselves available for selection to play in the Champions Trophy in India in October and November.Gibbs and Boje have avoided touring India since 2000, as they have failed to obtain any assurance from India that they will not be detained by the police with regards to questioning on the match-fixing scandal.Gerald Majola, the board’s chief executive, said: “Herschelle and Nicky have confirmed that they will go to India if selected and that they will co-operate fully with any interviews which the Indian Police may wish to hold with them.”Cricket South Africa will now put forward their names to the selection panel and support them in need, which we hope will assist in the investigation, in order to minimise any disruption to the team’s training and playing programme. Their lawyers will also be available to take appropriate steps to protect all of their rights.”Gibbs had earlier confirmed his desire to travel to India but had inflamed the situation with criticisms of the Indian authorities.In an interview with in South Africa, Gibbs told features editor Mark van Dijk: “Ja, I am going to go. But my lawyer’s coming with me. I’ve put forward a proposal to Cricket South Africa, which was discussed on Thursday. I’ve proposed that my lawyer and I will travel with the team, and once we get to the hotel, they can then do the questioning at the hotel.”I’ve got the 18 questions that they want to ask me. It’s basically exactly the same stuff that I answered at the King Commission. I’ll just be repeating myself.”Gibbs claimed that the delays were all at the Indian end: “They haven’t really played their part,” he shrugged. “You know, we’ve asked them many a time to come question me on neutral territory, and they refuse. So it’s not like I haven’t made the effort. It’s them being hard-arses. That’s it.”However, KK Paul, the Delhi Police commissioner, rebutted the claim. “I haven’t received any such communication,” he told Cricinfo. “If he has to say anything, let him communicate through the board. So far, I haven’t received any such offers from the board or from him.” Gibbs responded later on Thursday in a statement issued via Cricket South Africa in a placatory manner: “I recognise that the police have their processes to follow and I am sorry if it has appeared that I was critical of these. I think whatever I said may have been taken out of context. I’m now really looking forward to representing my country in India at the ICC Champions Trophy.”Tony Irish, the chief executive of the South African Cricketers Association, added: “Over the last five or six years there was uncertainty about a number of things. Legal advice obtained by Herschelle and Nicky has understandably been cautious. I think however, that the players’ great desire to play cricket in India again and to participate in this ICC Champions Trophy has overtaken everything else.”

Dhaka 143 and 318 for 9 dec (Al Sahariar 87, Sanwar 52, Mahmud 45) beat Chittagong 134 and 101 (Faisal 43, Naimur 5-16, Rafique 4 for 39) by 226 runs
ScorecardThe offbreaks of Naimur Rahman and the left-arm spin of Mohammad Rafique proved too potent a combination for Chittagong, who were skittled out for just 101 in their second innings, to lose the match by 226 runs. Faisal Hossain, Chittagong’s top-scorer in the first innings, led the way in the second as well, providing lone resistance with a fiesty 43, off just 59 balls. But Naimur’s 5 for 16, which included Faisal’s wicket, sealed the day. Rafique, who had taken 6 for 45 in the first innings, made it 10 for the match with a second-innings haul of 4 for 39 in 17 overs.The victory had been set up by Dhaka’s batsmen, who finished with 318 for 9 declared in their second innings, a towering total in a relatively low-scoring game. Much of the credit for this fine performance was due to a 116-run second-wicket partnership between Mohammad Al Sahariar and Sanwar Hossain, two men who have repeatedly flirted with the Test team without quite managing to settle down. Al Sahariar made 87 and Sanwar made 52. Khaled Mahmud, who has been in fine form this domestic season, made a sparkling 45 at No. 8.Dhaka’s performance lifted them to the top of the points table, with 12 points.Sylhet 102 and 233 (Parvez 91) beat Rajshahi 200 and 122 (Tapash 4-28) by 13 runs
ScorecardOne would scracely have thought it possible when Rajshahi took a 98-run lead in the first innings, but Sylhet came back magnificently to win by 13 runs in Rangpur. Much of the credit for the fightback went to Syhet’s batsman, who compiled a doughty 233 in 97 overs in their second innings. The batsman around whom their innings revolved was Parvez Ahmed, their captain, who made a spirited 91, an effort for which he was later named Man of the Match.Sylhet’s other star was Tapash Baisya, who made early breakthroughs, and then cleaned up the tail, to finish with 4 for 28. Rajshahi, needing 136 to win, finished heartbreakingly close on 122.Khulna 219 for 7 dec (Tushar 103*, Hasibul 42) drew with Barisal 112 for 4 (Nahidul 35*)
ScorecardAfter the first two days of the match between Khulna and Barisal were washed out, a result was never likely. Khulna, batting first when the game eventually got underway on the third day, made 219 for 7 declared, of which Tushar Imran made 103 not out. Barisal were 112 for 4 in reply at close of the play on the fourth and final day of the match.

Australia will go into their first Test against Bangladesh without a practice game or a training camp, and Steve Waugh has admitted that his team will beunderprepared at Darwin next month.Bangladesh will play three warm-up matches before the Darwin Test, but Waugh did not appear too worried about the lack of preparation. “I’m assuming the guyswho played both the Tests and the one-dayers in the West Indies won’t be picking up a bat or a ball until next week at least,” said Waugh. “I think we’ll be scratchy and not that well-prepared, but the guys are used to that now, and they know how to get themselves prepared.Waugh added: “It’s a pretty low-key preparation coming into a Test series – there’s no practice matches, there’s no camp – but it is difficult to keep having those things when the guys are away from home so much.”The series has already faced much criticism, with Dennis Lillee attacking the International Cricket Council (ICC) for organising such tours for televisionrevenue earnings. Malcolm Speed, chief executive of the ICC, has also broached the idea of a two-tier system, with promotions and demotions within the Test world.Speed’s suggestion did not find favour with Waugh. “I think that would be unfair,” he said. “How are you going to get the bottom sides to improve if they keep playing other weak sides? I’d like to think cricket is in a better state than that. I think that’s being too elitist.””They (Bangladesh) have got to learn and they’ve got to catch up. Sri Lanka proved they could do it; 10 years after being given Test status, they won theWorld Cup,” said Waugh. “So I think you’ve got to put more resources into these countries and help them out rather than say ‘you’re not good enough, we’ll see you in five years when you’ve improved’.”Waugh also denied that Australia were playing the one-sided series for financial benefit. “I don’t think it’s ever about money. I don’t think any of the guys have ever played cricket because of money. We’re going into the Bangladesh series to play for pride and respect,” said Waugh. “It’s a big honour to be playing for Australia, and a lot of other guys would love tobe playing in this series.”

National League Division One
Glamorgan 198 for 3 beat Warwickshire 196 all out by seven wickets at Sophia Gardens
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Only Trevor Penney (64) made a real impression with the bat as Warwickshire struggled against the bowling of Adrian Dale – 3 for 16 – and Dean Cosker (3 for 44). Glamorgan’s run-chase was a formality once Robert Croft blazed his way to 71 at the top of the order. Matthew Maynard and David Hemp then administered the last rites.Leicestershire 90 for 4 beat Essex 212 for 6 by six wickets (D/L method) at Grace Road
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Andy Flower held the Essex innings together with a superb 103 (113 balls), but it wasn’t enough to edge out Leicestershire in a truncated match at Grace Road. With the innings reduced to 43.3 overs, Flower combined with Darren Robinson (35) and Aftab Habib to post a competitive total. Phil DeFreitas and Darren Stevens got Leicestershire off to a good start, but the D/L target became stiffer with the fall of wickets. Needing 89 from 16 overs, they got there with two deliveries to spare.National League Division Two
Derbyshire 163 for 4 beat Sussex 160 for 6 by six wickets (D/L method) at the County Ground
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Mohammad Kaif and Dominic Hewson combined to guide Derbyshire to a six-wicket victory, with seven balls remaining. Kaif made 55 from 62 balls, and Hewson chipped in with a 29-ball 39. Sussex’s total owed much to a 55-ball 60 from Matthew Prior, but good bowling from Graeme Welch (2 for 27) and Dominic Cork (2 for 34) restricted them to a below-par total in another match interrupted by rain.Middlesex 210 for 8 beat Durham 203 for 6 by 7 runs at Lord’s
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Middlesex eked out a narrow victory thanks largely to Tim Bloomfield’s superb bowling (4 for 36). Ed Joyce and Simon Cook had almost single-handedly taken Middlesex past 200, after Neil Killeen – who bowled a beautiful spell to finish with 5 for 33 – and Mark Davies cut through the top order. Durham’s response was anchored by Gary Pratt (63*), but despite contributions from Nicky Peng (41) and Gordon Muchall (44), it was Middlesex, and Bloomfield, who had the final word. Hampshire 335 for 6 beat Somerset 219 all out by 116 runs at the County Ground in Taunton
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Simon Katich, who cracked a magnificent 106 from 88 balls, and John Crawley – with a far from sedate 92 (64 balls) – were instrumental in this comprehensive rout of Somerset. John Francis made 50 too, as Somerset’s bowlers – the exception being Nixon McLean, who took 3 for 51 – were taken apart. Chaminda Vaas then got Jamie Cox fourth ball to start Somerset’s slide to defeat. Ian Blackwell (43) and Keith Parsons were the only ones to offer any resistance as Hampshire wrapped up the innings with 8.5 overs to spare. Shaun Udal finished with 3 for 36.

Daryll Cullinan continued where he left off last week, scoring anotherhundred (125) and 61 not out, but it was his Easterns team-mate Zander deBruyn, with a career-best 266 not out, who took the batting laurels in the second round of matches in the SuperSport Series.Batsmen generally continued to hold the upper hand. A total of 11 centuries were scored, by Justin Ontong, Hashim Amla, Justin Kemp, Martin Gidley, James Louw, Laden Gamiet, Davie Jacobs, Sven Koenig … and Shahid Afridi, the Pakistan one-day star, who hit 111 for Griqualand West in that match against Easterns. Afridi also took 5 for 92 in a match that finished in an exciting draw that went down to the final over.Elsewhere a remarkable spell from Russel Symcox, the son of the former Test offpsinner Pat, enabled Natal to run through Free State. In 8.3 overs Symcox jnr wrapped up the innings with 4 for 13, after Lance Klusener grabbed 4 for 27 with the new ball.Paul Harris helped Northerns make short work of their neighbours from acrossthe Jukskei river, taking six Gauteng wickets for 59 in the second innings.Match figures of 7 for 162 earned the North West paceman Francois van der Merwethe Man of the Match award as North West opened their season with a winover Border.SuperSport Series Pool AKwaZulu-Natal beat Free State by an innings and 115 runs. Free State 93 (Symcox 4-13, Klusener 4-27) and 185 (Khan 4-37); KwaZulu-Natal 393 for 6 dec (Amla 159, Khan 53*, Benkenstein 50).Griqualand West drew with Easterns. Easterns 528 (de Bruyn 266*, Cullinan 125, Koenig 51, Shahid Afridi 5-92) and 215 for 5 dec (Koenig 100, Cullinan 61*); Griqualand West 485 (Gidley 143, Shahid Afridi 111, Malao 4-129) and 140 for 9.Eastern Province drew with Boland. Boland 534 for 6 dec (Ontong 166, Magiet 92, Baxter 86, Marais 52*, de Lange 51*) and 109 for 5; Eastern Province 426 (Louw 124, Thyssen 56*, du Toit 4-97).
SuperSport Series Pool B North West beat Border by 5 wickets. Border 369 (Gamiet 116, Kreuch 56, Strydom 53, van der Merwe 5-94) and 215 (Bruyns 59, Gamiet 57); North West 443 (Jacobs 110, J Henderson 84, Cilliers 54, C Henderson 4-74) and 145 for 5.Northerns beat Gauteng by 223 runs. Northerns 402 (Kemp 143, Petersen 89, de Villiers 62, Dros 54, Powell 4-125, Eksteen 4-80) and 227 for 7 dec (de Villiers 54, Kemp 77); Gauteng 217 (Cook 63, Mbhalati 4-55, Thomas 4-48) and 189 (Bacher 51, Harris 6-59).

Ok, we lost, but the result was of less significance than the performance ofKumar Sangakkara, who played his finest one-day innings, fully justifyinghis last-minute inclusion into the squad.

Sangakkara never deserved the chop. His wicket-keeping was at times raggedduring the World Cup but his form with the bat improved steadily throughoutthe tournament – the lingering feeling was that he was batting too low inthe order.Nevertheless, the jolt he received when he was first omitted from theSharjah squad appears to have had a positive impact, making him determinedto prove his worth to the side.

Whether the lifting of the wicket-keeping burden contributed is a mootpoint. Many will say so but the statistics suggest otherwise – he averages31.22 in 54 matches with the gloves and only 23.04 in 32 matches as aspecialist batsman.Of greater consequence is his position in the order and it is hoped that hewill now be given an extended chance to bed down at number three or four,positions that allow him to build an innings in orthodox fashion.

However, apart from Sangakkara, and Kumar Dharmasena later, who looked atease on his return to the international fray, the batting was once again aconcern. Clearly, Mahela Jayawardene needs to be slotted back in as soon ashe has freshened up and forgotten his horror run in the World Cup.Prasanna Jayawardene also had a nightmare start to his international career,playing all around a quick leg-stump yorker. There is no doubting hisefficiency behind the stumps but he must prove his batting or make way – yousimply cannot afford to have a specialist wicket-keeper in the modern daythat cannot sit comfortably in the top seven.

The absence of Aravinda de Silva and Russel Arnold (who must be hankeringafter an opportunity higher up the order) certainly reduced options with theball and that is a serious concern with Sanath Jayasuriya is now overlyreliant on five bowlers. If someone has a bad day then there will beproblems.Probably, Sri Lanka would have preferred three seamers with the dew causingsuch problems later on. But with Chaminda Vaas crook the only option was forPrabath Nissanka to play ahead of Dharmasena and that would have involvedconsiderably more risk with no part-timers to chip in should his radarmisfire. Moreover, such a move would have weakened the batting.

Indeed, Sri Lanka are a side grappling with issues, including the balance ofthe side and the best personnel. That is inevitable as they try to look tothe future but it does carry a price. Unfortunately, matches will be lostthat could have been won.But, in this tournament, the end result is off secondary importance.Yesterday, Sangakkara gave Sri Lankan fans something to cheer, on Sundaylets hope someone else raises their hand.