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On the plan when he walked out to bat this morning
It was to get as much of a lead as possible. It was a bonus that Gillespie batted so long – three or four hours was fantastic. It would have been nice to set them 250-plus but history shows that it’ll be tough to chase on the last day here, and hopefully that’ll come true tomorrow for us.On whether the target of 229 is enough
I think so. We always want more. I think it’s about 200 that they need now, and it’ll be a great day of Test cricket tomorrow, which is what it’s all about. We’ve had plans when it comes to our bowling and hopefully they’ll come off tomorrow. We’ve got a great spin bowler in our ranks as well, and they’re going to have to bat very well.On whether he rated this innings better than the two centuries in Sri Lanka last March, and on what changes he had made to his technique for the subcontinent
It’s up there with my best hundreds in the sense that you had two world-class spinners bowling on the fourth day. It’s always satisfying as a batsman to test your skills against the best. Not much has changed [technique-wise]. We’ve played a lot of one-day cricket in India and Sri Lanka and all the batsmen over the last four or five years have had a chance to play on these pitches. That’s definitely helped us.On whether the pitch was less conducive to bounce when compared to the opening day
Yeah, but it varied a lot out of the footmarks. The centre of the pitch was playing well, but the natural variation out of the footmarks is getting all the wickets. If we can get a couple of early wickets tomorrow and throw the ball to Shane Warne, hopefully he can do well.On who out of Harbhajan and Kumble was more difficult to face
For the right-hander there were the left-arm bowlers’ footmarks for him [Harbhajan]. He doesn’t give you many scoring opportunities and you had to be patient out there.On whether Warne’s world record had been a source of solace on a rough day yesterday
It’s great that he broke the record but we were a long way behind on the first-innings score. I think it was a great fightback by us. We’d shown in Sri Lanka that we could come from behind, and we’ve done it again.On whether reverse-swing will be a factor tomorrow
It always happens over here when the shine goes off the ball after four or five overs.On the fielding lapses made by Australia earlier in the game
We had chances which were put down, but only a couple that you could say were easy. There were a lot of half-chances and we usually pride ourselves on taking those.On whether his Sydney experience of 1993-94 has had any influence on his batting in crunch situations
I don’t think Sydney has had an influence. I think it’s more about getting to know your game and being around international cricket for a long time. Look at someone like Michael Clarke who’s played one-day cricket for two years now, and been comfortable coming into Test cricket. The amount of cricket we play and the touring we do in different conditions helps you a lot.On whether he and Gillespie both being dismissed in the same over prevented a bigger total being scored
It’s disappointing, for sure. You have no trouble for almost four hours, and then ten minutes before tea, you lose two in four balls. But it’s part of the game.

Tino Best, the West Indian fast bowler, has been fined 75% of his match fee for breaching the ICC Code of Conduct during the first Test against Bangladesh in St Lucia, which finished yesterday.Best, 22, was fined after pleading guilty to breaching Level 2.5 of the Code, which relates to deliberate physical contact between players in the course of play. A Level 2 breach of the Code carries a potential fine of between 50 and 100% of the player’s match fee, and/or a ban from one Test or two ODIs.Best was reported by the umpires – Daryl Harper and Jeremy Lloyds, who was standing in his first Test – for an incident during Bangladesh’s second innings. After bowling the final ball of the 19th over, Best was deemed to have deliberately moved into the path of the batsman as he sought to take a run, ensuring that physical conduct occurred.The fine was imposed by Roshan Mahanama, the ICC match referee, in a hearing after the match at Gros Islet.

New Zealand Cricket’s web site, Wisden CricInfo New Zealand, had another record season over the summer.A total of 61,265,127 page impressions were made for the six months from October 1 to March 31.That was up from 47.5 million last year, and ahead of the record of 52.2 million of the summer of 2000/01.December’s traffic on the New Zealand site of 35,558,347 was a record month, ahead of the previous best of 23.2 million recorded in March 2001 when the Pakistan Test series was played here.The January figure this year of 20,452,633 was the third best month in the New Zealand site’s history.Both Test matches against India broke records for the matches most-followed in New Zealand. Previously the second Test against Pakistan at Christchurch in March 2001 with its 8.2 million impressions was the best.However, the first Test against India, at the Basin Reserve this summer resulted in 10,313,781 impressions and the second Test at Hamilton 12,383,355!The fifth One-Day International, played at Wellington and which saw 4,575,738 impressions broke the record for ODIs of 3.4 million for the fifth and deciding match against Pakistan in Dunedin in February 2001.A feature of the season was the 943,699 impressions for the World Series of Women’s Cricket.Each of New Zealand’s domestic association had increases on their sites during the summer which produced a net overall increase of 60%.Northern Districts increased by 174%, Wellington 66%, Central Districts 60%, Canterbury 59%, Otago 54% and Auckland 23%.The number of New Zealanders visiting the Wisden CricInfo site is also on the rise. An average of 51,000 unique users were recorded each month during the 2002/03 season, up 6% from 2001/02.

England look certain to ditch the seven-batsmen policy for the Third npower Test in the knowledge that they must bowl Australia out twice if they are to have any chance of winning the Ashes.So far England have captured only 22 of the tourists’ wickets in the first two Tests so know they face a tall order. Their task is made no easier by the absence of skipper Nasser Hussain who, as expected, failed to recover in time from his broken finger. Once again, Michael Atherton will lead the side.In order to lend variety to the support bowling for Darren Gough and Andy Caddick, the selectors have added the names of Alex Tudor and Robert Croft to the squad for the Trent Bridge Test.Chris Silverwood is again named in the squad so it looks like a toss-up between him and Tudor, though the latter’s batting ability – as scores of 116 and 86 in the CricInfo Championship this summer testify – might make him favourite.For the first time this summer, England are likely to field a spinner and it will be down to Croft to do the donkey work on a flat Trent Bridge wicket.There is a certain irony that on the day Croft was brought back into the squad, his spinning rival Phil Tuffnell captured his 1,000th first-class wicket. In addition, Croft’s record in England – his 13 wickets in 11 matches have cost him 73.23 apiece – is hardly auspicious.However, the selectors feel that Croft offers continuity – a watchword for the current England set-up – after some reasonable performances in Sri Lanka during the winter.”We did not want to make wholesale changes to the squad for this TestMatch,” said chairman of selectors David Graveney.”But we feel we will need more variety in our attack at Trent Bridge and theinclusion of Alex Tudor and Robert Croft will give more bowling options.”Dominic Cork misses out this time as we have decided to go for the extrapace of Alex Tudor, who has performed well for Surrey this season since comingback from injury.”We wanted to show continuity of selection by including Robert Croft as hewas included in the squad earlier in the season and also performed very well onthe winter tour of Sri Lanka.”On the batting side, Usman Afzaal could win the battle with Ian Ward for the number six spot on his home ground, Ward having posted a highest score of only 39 since coming in against Pakistan in May.With Graham Thorpe (broken hand) and Michael Vaughan (knee) both out untilthe Fourth Test at Headingley, Afzaal could stake his claim for an extended run in the side. He is in form, having hit a century for Nottinghamshire in their current Championship game against Derbyshire.Graveney added: “After the last Test match, you have to hold your nerve against a side like Australia.”If you hit the panic button, it not only affects the people you leave out,but other guys that are still in and looking over their shoulders.”Phil Tufnell is always in with a shout for selection, but you also have tolook at the continuity aspect.”Croft did very well in the winter and we brought him back into the squad atEdgbaston and may be with hindsight, we should have played him there.”It was a close call, as was Alan Mullally, but Tudor would have beenselected had he not been coming back from injury for the last Test.”As far as Croft is concerned, Nottingham is a pretty flat wicket and Croftcan beat the bat from both sides. He is likely to have to spend a lot of timebowling overs.”And the fact that the pitch will not spin so much is not something that weare unduly concerned with. He will enable us to use our quicker bowlers in shortspells.”We have to get runs on the board – when we are batting second we are notgetting to 200, and under those circumstances it is very difficult.”We are getting players out at vital times when they have made 30 and 40,they are getting out in clutches, and out before and after intervals.”If you look at the difference between the sides, they have already got twoor three 100s in every Test Match, and we are not getting those scores. At theend of a series, those tallies hurt you.”Graveney also spoke of the injuries which have disrupted both selection andfinal team make-up.He added: “It is up to other people to say how they have affected us, but itis a huge thing to lose your captain.”It is very difficult for guys like Alec (Stewart) and Mike Atherton to comein as captain and try to keep the continuity going.”The injuries are a factor. We have lost five guys for this series alone, andthat affects you in any Test match you play.”Squad: Atherton, Afzaal, Butcher, Caddick, Croft, Gough, Ramprakash, Silverwood, Stewart, Trescothick, Tudor, Ward, White.

Steve Elworthy’s nine-wicket haul spearheaded the Northerns Titans’ 139-run victory over the Highveld Strikers in their Supersport Series match at the Wanderers on Monday.Elworthy swept through the Strikers’ batting order with 5-81 on a final day when the Strikers, chasing a victory target of 421, were bowled out for 281 with 16.5 overs to spare.Elworthy took 4-34 in the first innings, and a consummate bowling performance by the Titans veteran was matched by an equally impressive display with the bat in the Titans’ first innings. Elworthy scored an unbeaten 75 in the innings, earning him the man of the match award.”I think the 75 runs gave me more pleasure than the wickets. It was great to do that in a Derby like this against the Strikers, and I’ve always been lacking with the runs in the past,” Elworthy said.This is the Titans’ second successive victory in the Supersport Series, after they beat the Griqua Diamonds the week before. But while Gerald Dros could not have asked for a better start to their season, his captaincy in this match was called into question. Dros was criticised for an elaborate waste of time in compiling a lead of 420 runs on Sunday, a decision that nearly came back to haunt him on the final day.The Strikers resumed on 30 for one, and put on only 90 runs in the first session. Daryll Cullinan’s dismal performance in this match continued – he was dismissed for 12 on the back of his duck in the first innings. Andre Seymore fared only marginally better with 16 to see the Strikers at 120-3 at lunch.But Zander de Bruyn began rattling the first ghostly chains in Dros’ ear with a defiant 66, including 13 fours off 138 balls and in 182 minutes. De Bruyn and Andrew Hall put on 72 runs for the fifth wicket to further frustrate the Titans.There were still a few flicks of the Strikers’ tail to come. Nic Pothas added a valuable 60 runs off only 97 balls, and shared in a 65-run stand for the eighth wicket with David Terbrugge. But when his wicket fell, Elworthy wrapped up the tail with ease and his captain could breathe again.”We’re still a young side and we’ve got a way to go,” said Dros, preferring not to focus on whether this could turn into a championship season for a side that is one the rise. “If the youngsters can continue to learn as quickly as they have, then I’m sure we’ve got a chance,” said the skipper.

Gerald Majola, the chief executive of Cricket South Africa, has emphasised the board needs to be reasonable while trying to adhere to its transformation policy.”Our transformation policy has not changed. It’s about targets, we aspire to reach certain targets,” Majola told . “But we also believe we need to be reasonable and look at what we have.”We understand that there are specialist positions in cricket and if we need four or five black players and they are mostly bowlers, then we will have issues of balance within the team,” he said. “That is why it is a target.”The selection of South Africa’s national sides have been in the headlines of late, with the latest episode seeing Charl Langeveldt opt out of the tour to India, as he was upset by the controversy surrounding his selection ahead of Andre Nel, a decision many felt was taken by the selectors to fulfil the requirements of the transformation policy, which stipulates that a 15-man touring squad must have at least seven players of colour.Prior to that, the selection of South Africa’s national team for the recent tour of Bangladesh caused a public spat between coach Mickey Arthur and CSA president Norman Arendse, who was unhappy the 14-man squad didn’t have enough players of colour. However, it’s believed the team originally selected was finally sent for the tour.Majola said that all selection matters, including the one-off decision of Monde Zondeki replacing Langeveldt, had to go through the CSA president. “The process is that the selectors sit down and choose a team and then take it to the president. Even if they are choosing just one player, they must always go back to the president.”He has a right of veto, in terms of ensuring that CSA’s policies are met.”Majola, though, admitted the recent incidents had overshadowed the performance of the team. “I think all this drama is a concern to all cricket lovers, cricket is making headlines for reasons other than the magnificent performance of the team.”It must be very frustrating for the players when things like 400 partnerships are overshadowed by players withdrawing from teams because of other issues. That’s not where we want to be.”

Ravi Shastri the opening batsman was obdurate – he didn’t thrill with his art and yet contributed to the team in a manner nobody else in his time could. On the eve of India’s tour of Bangladesh, in the absence of injured captain Rahul Dravid at the customary departing conference, Shastri the cricketing manager recreated some of the old batting days.Shastri didn’t provide the media with any entertainment, letting pass every controversial question, much like the deliveries outside his off stump. “That’s not my business,” he said when asked whether the muddle over the contracts was affecting the players’ mindset. “I can assure one thing – once they go to Bangladesh, cricket will be on the top of their minds.”He also provided a straight, broad, dead bat to the tricky ones. There’s no practice match in Bangladesh before they play their first ODI on May 10 – a question of improper scheduling perhaps? “We know that; so we’ll go there and get ready for the game.” Asked to speak on the absence of Sachin Tendulkar and Sourav Ganguly from the one-day side, Shastri said, “I have got the team that has been given to me, and we will go there and play cricket.” Shastri has a term of only one series and he is incidentally also on the committee to select the new coach. “Cricket, camp, please” – pat came the dismissal as he moved out of the way of a camera flash, providing a light moment. “I’ll let that go.”And when it came to questions regarding cricket and the team, he sounded upbeat, even bordering on being gung-ho, much like his six sixes in an over in a Ranji game. “If you guys have any doubts over Tendulkar or for that matter [Virender] Sehwag, you have got another one coming,” Shastri said. “You will be in for a surprise. It might not come immediately… but give them some time and you will see what they are capable of… They [Tendulkar, Ganguly, and Sehwag] are not finished yet by any means.”In the same tone, he dismissed any talks of factionalism in the team. In fact, he himself brought up the topic. “What do you think? You guys have been looking at the guys from the outside. Did the guys look happy? Did you see any groups?” he asked the journalists. “I have seen a lot of bull honey being written and said over the last few days. You guys are seeing something different.”The camaraderie out there is unbelievable. Even when I took this job, I was made to read and believe [otherwise], but it took me an hour to find out what these guys are made up of. They are a brilliant bunch and their privacy should be respected.”Shastri was also positive that Dravid was recovering well from the nose injury he had sustained at the nets yesterday, and should be able to play the first match at Mirpur on May 10. “He [Dravid] is a tough cookie. I don’t have to tell you that. He has hung around long enough to be rest assured about. I am sure he would be wanting to take guard there first ball.” The Indian team do not have a designated vice-captain on the tour. Would there be a leadership problem if Dravid sustains an injury that is more serious than this one? “We will relate to the ifs when the ifs arrive. Don’t worry; there will be no problems. We know who should do the job and who should not do the job.”The focus after the World Cup debacle has been to live in the present and “enjoy” the game. ” I didn’t like the way they played over the last six months,” said Shastri, “it was as if they were doing a desk job sitting behind a computer from nine to five rather than enjoying what they do. It is a sport, which is played in the open. If they enjoy it you guys will also enjoy it.”In between ducking a few and hooking a few, Shastri sounded a warning to Bangladesh. “Bangladesh is a challenge. After the World Cup it is not only the people of India who are disappointed. The players are more disappointed than anybody else. Make no mistake about that. They will want to prove a point.”The wounded ones reach the land of the Tigers tomorrow.

Glenn McGrath has warned those writing him off ahead of this years Ashes and aims to reclaim a spot among the top three ranks in the Australian team.McGrath opted out of Australia’s tours to South Africa and Bangladesh so that he could stay with his wife Jane, who is battling cancer. “Whenever people have written me off, I have always proved them wrong,” McGrath told . “People can say what they want but all it means is I’ll be proving them wrong again.”I can’t see why some people are singling me out. I’ve been working on a number of things I believe will make me an even better bowler come the start of the Ashes. I don’t say things just for the effect. I say things because I believe them. I’m the best person to judge how I’m going and I’m back in training and have never felt better.”I’m really in the same position as every other player because the Ashes will be our first series after a long break. If anything, I’m ahead of some of the other guys because they are now resting. I’ve been back working hard for a couple of months and feel very fresh. Binger [Brett Lee] and Huss [Michael Hussey] have had great years, so I expect to slide down the rankings. One of my goals is to make it back into the top three.”McGrath felt that the Champions Trophy would be good preparation for the Ashes. “We have the ICC Champions Trophy and I can’t think of a better way to get back into the game than through one-day cricket. In some respects, it will be harder for the batsmen going into the Ashes with just some one-day cricket under their belts.”

Shane Warne has been given permission to sit out the rest of Hampshire’s Twenty20 group matches, to allow him to rest ahead of the Ashes series. The request came from Cricket Australia and Rod Bransgrove, the Hampshire chairman, granted Warne a two-week break.Bransgrove told the Press Association: “Cricket Australia have asked before for him to take a break but he choose not to. He has bowled more than we expected him to. I’m happy for him to take a break. I have no problem with it at all.”Warne has been suffered with a slight problem to his spinning finger, which was picked up during the Championship game against Kent at Canterbury in May. However, Warne will still be available for Hampshire’s next Championship game, against Middlesex at Southgate, starting on July 8. This will be his last match for the county before the Ashes, but he will return in mid-September, after the final Test.Warne has bowled 299.4 overs in eight Championship matches this season, taking 37 wickets at 22.75 apiece. He is aiming to take his 600th Test wicket during the Ashes series and currently stands on 583.

Hampshire appear to be in with a very good chance of winning their opening Frizzell Championship Division Two match of the season against Durham, but still have a job to do. Chasing 109 to win they lost openers Brown and Kenway early in the second innings.Hampshire started the second day in suicidal mode, four of the last five wickets to fall in the morning were poor shots offered up to the gleeful bowlers. Mark Davies was the receipient of most of these to finish with career best figures of 6 for 53.Hampshire lost five wickets in the morning for just 26 runs. Michael Clarke who had entertained the crowd on the first day was out early adding just 2 runs to his overnight score.With a deficit of 97, Durham lost three wickets for just 19, and a two day finish was looking likely. However, skipper Jon Lewis and Nicky Peng put together a brave partnership of 111, before Warne picked up the first of his 5 wickets bowling the young Peng quite comprehensively. Tremlett and Mullally, and a long economical stint from Mascarenhas all contributed to the visitors downfall, but it was Warne who finally put paid to any resistance with 5 for 68.With just 5 overs remaining in the days play, and Hampshire set 109 for victory, 11 runs in the first over looked like a stroll. Bowlers Plunkett and Davies has other ideas dismissing the openers before the close.