Close England 445 and 0 for 1 (Vaughan 0*) lead South Africa 362 (McKenzie 90, Anderson 5-102) by 83 runs
Scorecard

Worth a shout: Andrew Flintoff roars with delight after trapping Mark Boucher lbw

Marcus Trescothick’s wicket to the final ball of the evening rounded off a fruitful day of fight, with a touch of finesse, for South Africa in the third npower Test at Trent Bridge. After a dramatic start by James Kirtley, who took two wickets in as many balls, South Africa were hauled right back in to the contest by some determined and, at times, dazzling batting from Neil McKenzie, Mark Boucher and Shaun Pollock.McKenzie and Boucher led the fightback for South Africa with an 129-run partnership, as England lost their way after a good morning in which they took three quick wickets. McKenzie was solid in defence and looked to get forward at every opportunity, stroking a host of superb cover-drives in his 11 boundaries. He and Boucher batted throughout the afternoon session and they passed the follow-on target with ease as the England bowlers couldn’t match their good early work. McKenzie played a cracking square cut off Steve Harmison and brought up his 11th Test fifty with a classical cover-drive two balls later.The new ball didn’t faze him either. He drove Harmison for another four to signal the hundred partnership. Boucher, meanwhile, was happy to play second fiddle to McKenzie as he quietly went about his business. It was the highest sixth-wicket stand for South Africa against England and it squashed England’s early spark and zest in the field as they, like the pitch, went strangely flat.Harmison missed the evening session with a thigh strain, but James Anderson and Andrew Flintoff did temporarily lift England’s spirits again after their wicketless afternoon. Anderson struck to give England, and himself, a boost when he ended McKenzie’s eye-catching innings. Anderson bowled a good length ball outside off which McKenzie drove at loosely and edged to Trescothick at first slip (261 for 6). It was uncharacteristic lapse of concentration from McKenzie who fell 10 runs short of what would have been a well-deserved hundred.Boucher continued to play cautiously until he was adjudged lbw by Daryl Harper. Flintoff nipped one back off the seam and hit Boucher on the back pad for a dogged and effective 48 (284 for 7).Cue Pollock. He strode out with a purpose and batted with one. He played his shots from the off, carting Anderson through the covers and spanking Flintoff past midwicket among his nine boundaries. He’s in good form and he played a crucial cameo for South Africa, guiding them under the 100-deficit mark and frustrating England’s progress.Pollock received handy support from the tail as well. Andrew Hall was beginning to fire until Anderson squeezed one through his defence for 15 (309 for 8). Paul Adams then hung around for a niggly 13 and put on 28 with Pollock before his stumps were shattered by an Anderson offcutter (337 for 9). Pollock was eventually out for 62 when he lofted Anderson (5 for 102) to Kirtley at mid-on, but those 62 runs could be vital come the end of the match.But don’t forget McKenzie. He may have a bad back, but he was the backbone of the innings and was their one shining light in their bleak morning, in which England made an explosive start. Kirtley took his first Test wicket, and his second the very next ball, as South Africa struggled to come to terms on a pitch of increasingly uneven bounce. Jacques Rudolph thick-edged an off-stump delivery to Alec Stewart for 15 (88 for 3). Boeta Dippenaar then fell to a big inducker that rapped him on the pads plumb in front of middle (88 for 4).Jacques Kallis was never comfortable and he played a miscalculated leave to Anderson as the ball crashed in to his off stump.South Africa were reeling at 132 for 5 at that stage, but McKenzie and Pollock battled hard to leave the match finely balanced. And this evening, South Africa will feel things have swung right back their way after Harper incorrectly adjudged that Trescothick gloved Pollock to Adams at short leg. It was the first ball of England’s second innings, and the last of an intriguing day’s play.Click here for the Wisden VerdictClick here for yesterday’s bulletin

Sunil Gavaskar’s speech at the Colin Cowdrey memorial lecture raised the issue of sledging in international cricket, but Sourav Ganguly has played down its importance, calling it a “part of modern-day cricket”. In an interview with ESPN-Star Sports, Ganguly said: “I don’t totally disagree with Gavaskar, these things happen. There are a bit of words exchanged on the field these days. It happens with every team. But the players have learnt to live with it. It is a minor issue which should not be blown out of proportion.”Ganguly said that he wasn’t worried by the Australian team’s reputation for sledging, but admitted that the tour to Australia presented a huge challenge to his team. “We know what the conditions will be in Australia, we know what to expect. It is going to be a tough tour. We have to be honest and work really hard and raise our game if we have to compete with them.”India are scheduled to play four Tests in Australia later this season, their first tour to that country since being blanked 0-3 in a Test series in 1999-2000, but Ganguly indicated that he would try to gain some psychological points over Australia when they visit India for a one-day triangular tournament in October. “Obviously, Australia are a great side, but they have not won against us at home.”

The Adelaide Turf Cricket Association (ATCA) has been rescued by its member Clubs and players and the South Australian Cricket Association (SACA).The rescue package, which was overwhelmingly supported last night at a general meeting for the Association’s members, included a $10 per player rescue levy, payable at the beginning of the coming season.The meeting saw representation from 44 out of their 45 member clubs, including life members, umpires and players.The package also included a $52,000 interest-free, 5-year loan, negotiated with the SACA, which has enabled the Association to clear itself of its immediate creditors and remain solvent.General manager of the Adelaide Turf Cricket Association, Andrew Ramsay, who commenced in the role at the beginning of August, was encouraged by the support shown by all member clubs."It was fantastic to see such a healthy turn out last night. Everyone at the Association is thrilled with the support from of our member clubs and players during such a difficult time.""The proposed rescue levy was strongly embraced, with clubs simply wanting to see the Association get on with administering the game of cricket for our 4,000 players."The rescue levy will be officially tabled at the Association’s annual general meeting of September 22, and is anticipated to be positively endorsed.The Association also plans a number of fundraising and other activities to secure its financial future.

Ashley Ross, New Zealand’s coach, is a man on a mission. Speaking to The Times of India just before New Zealand’s second tour game in India, Ross said, "We are here to make history. We have been preparing for this tour for a long time. Expectations are high."Ross wasn’t particularly concerned about his two missing stars, Chris Cairns and Shane Bond. "This is a good opportunity for those who made the trip," he said. "We have some fantastic players right here."Ross downplayed the likelihood of New Zealand struggling in Indian conditions. "We are a good team," he said. "That, along with our ability to adapt to different conditions, is our strength. We have been playing all over the world from Sydney to Colombo and are used to it. It doesn’t matter much who the opponents are."Ross agreed that Indian conditions favour spinners, but said, speaking to reporters after a practice session, that New Zealand’s medium pacers would nevertheless be effective. "If the medium pacers can make inroads into the Indian batting, then there is need for only one spinner. We have high hopes on Vettori on this tour."He also praised Stephen Fleming’s captaincy. "Fleming is an outstanding captain as he takes full advantage of planning before a big match and uses his cricket acumen to his benefit. He leads from the front whenever his team is fighting with its backs to the wall."

Rizwan Saeed’s 10 wickets went in vain as his team, Defense Housing Authority (DHA), still faced defeat against Pakistan Customs in the sixth round of the Inter-Department Qualifying Tournament.Rizwan, after taking 6 for 58 in the first innings, took 4 for 88 in the second, but Customs still built a lead of 349, scoring 268. DHA, needing 350 for victory, had slumped to 119 for 4 at stumps with Junaid Zia and Imran Ali taking two wickets apiece.To earn a place in the Patron’s Trophy first-class competition starting on December 1 at Karachi, Customs not only needed to win this game but they also needed PIA to defeat DHA in the final round.Overnight rain affected three matches played in Punjab and while KPT benefited, NBP suffered. KPT needed points through a first innings lead, even if their game was drawn, and had closed the first day play at 221 for three. The second rain-affected match was at the Shalimar Ground in Islamabad where PTCL, engaged in a duel with ARL, were 135 for 1 after first day’s play.There was no play at LCCA Ground, where Service Industries were 222 for 3 against HEC.

David Gilbert, CEO, Cricket NSW is pleased to announce the following selections for NSW Breakers to play in the Women’s National Cricket League against Victoria Spirit at the Frankston Oval, Vic, on 20th & 21st December. Selectors have kept the same team who played against SA Scorpions in Bowral on 6/7 December.NSW and Victoria last met in the WNCL Final Series in 2002-03 at MCG and this season are currently on equal points, each winning 3 out of 4 matches and earning3 bonus points but NSW take top position with a better net run rate.Selections for NSW Breakers v Vic Spirit:

1. Julie Hayes (Captain), Gladesville
2. Lisa Sthalekar (Vice-Captain), North Sydney
3. Leonie Coleman (Third Selector) (Wk), Moonbi
4. Sarah Andrews, Fern Bay
5. Alex Blackwell, Griffith
6. Kate Blackwell, Griffith
7. Bronwyn Calver, Amaroo, ACT
8. Shannon Cunneen, Lane Cove
9. Michelle Goszko, Chiswick
10. Lisa Keightley, Mudgee
11. Emma Twining, Glenwood
12. Jenny Wallace, Wyong

Coach: Kerry Marshall, Haberfield
Assistant Coach: Matthew Betsey, Penshurst
Manager: Jacqui Hoban, Cronulla

That controversial decision: Lillee thought it was ok, so what’s all the hullabaloo about? © Getty Images

While many are calling for an increase in the use of technology to assist umpires, Dennis Lillee has slammed the way that television coverage has taken on board some of the devices. He is particularly incensed by “Hawkeye”, a system used to predict where a ball which hits a batsman’s pads would have travelled.”I have no problems with technology that assists in helping umpires adjudicate correctly on run-outs and stumpings, but I am afraid Hawkeye and his mate, the Snickometer, are pure gadgetry,” Lillee wrote in his column for the Geelong Advertiser. “Some of Channel Nine’s graphics regarding where the ball supposedly lands and travels after it bounces are an insult to one’s intelligence.”Hawkeye is purely a guide for armchair buffs, yet it seems a hell of a lot of experienced commentators take it as the be-all and end-all. Blokes with that experience — and most of them are former Test captains — know full well that every ball does not continue through at the predicted height.”From a fast bowler’s perspective, there is no way Hawkeye can tell if a delivery is going to skid a bit more than normal or hit a crack, or a damp or worn patch, or a bit of grass on the wicket. Batsmen struggle with the unpredictability of bounce, so how on earth is Hawkeye going to know what every ball is going to do, how it comes out of the hand or is angled?”Lillee’s comments come in the aftermath of the leg-before decision given by Steve Bucknor against Sachin Tendulkar in the first Test at Brisbane. Bucknor was roundly condemned for what many pundits thought was a dreadful decision, but Lillee thinks otherwise. “When I first saw Jason Gillespie thump the ball into Tendulkar’s pads my immediate thought was ‘He’s out’,” Lillee wrote. “I found the hullabaloo surrounding Tendulkar’s dismissal quite disturbing.”

Michael Vaughan: caught in the middle © Getty Images

England’s cricket authorities may have been given a get-out clause in their dilemma over the Zimbabwe tour, after claiming to have received a letter from the government instructing them not to go.Tim Lamb, the ECB’s chief executive, said his letter from Jack Straw, the British foreign secretary, was “tantamount to an instruction”. Under ICC rules, teams may only withdraw from a fixture if there are safety risks or if there is a Government ban.In his letter, Straw said the current situation in Zimbabwe is worse than it was this time last year, when England were faced with their World Cup crisis. “The EU, the US and others maintain targeted restrictive measures against leading members of the Zimbabwean regime,” wrote Straw. “The UK has taken a leading role on this issue. You may wish to consider whether a high profile England cricket tour at this time is consistent with that approach.”Lamb added that the letter is “couched in political language” but “as close as we’re going to get to an instruction”. He told BBC Radio Five Live he would seek further clarification from the government before a final decision is made.The ICC remain opposed to England’s stance, and Ehsan Mani, the president, once again raised the possibility of financial redress if they fail to meet their obligations. “Where governments fall short of strong and decisive action,” he said, “all members of the ICC are committed to touring.”The Zimbabwe Cricket Union, meanwhile, reminded England of the verbal undertaking they made a year ago, when the chairman David Morgan flew to Harare to negotiate over Zimbabwe’s summer tour of England. Peter Chingoka, their chairman, said: “We have a right to host England and they have a corresponding duty to honour their obligations.””I’m well aware of our international obligations,” said Lamb. “But at the end of the day our directors will make the right decision on whether to go or not.” The ECB executive board will meet for a dull debate on January 29, after Lamb has met with Mani and Malcolm Speed, the ICC’s chief executive.Lord MacLaurin, the former ECB chairman and current chief of Vodafone, England’s main sponsors, called on the government to clarify its position. “The government took the decision to take us into war in Iraq,” said MacLaurin. “The regime in Iraq is not that different from what’s going on in Zimbabwe.”

Australians 484 for 6 (Lehmann 134, Katich 116, Ponting 116) v Sri Lanka Cricket President’s XI
Scorecard

Shane Warne drives – his was a rare failure on a day of runs for Australia

Simon Katich and Darren Lehmann gave the Australian selectors the proverbial headache on the opening day of their tour match against the Sri Lanka Cricket President’s XI. Both men cracked stylish centuries, and Ricky Ponting added one of his own as well, to lift the Australians to a monstrous 484 for 6 at the close.Katich and Lehmann are competing with the allrounder Andrew Symonds for a solitary middle-order slot, and on this evidence, the selectors will have to decide on the toss of a coin. Katich made 116 off 118 balls with 17 fours and two sixes, while Lehmann, who is still recovering from the death of his friend and mentor David Hookes, slugged an entertaining 134 off 143 balls with 19 fours.The pair have been going head-to-head for the last few months – Katich was given his Test opportunity when Lehmann tore a calf muscle against Zimbabwe early in the Australian season, and grasped it with two match-saving innings of 125 and 77 in the final Test against India at Sydney. In six Tests he’s averaging 60, while Lehmann is averaging 49.75 from his 15 Tests.Katich was all class, threading the ball through slender gaps and, apart from one chance, when he was dropped at second slip on 67, he was impeccable. He wasn’t afraid to go over the top either, with his first six bringing an early tea adjournment when the ball got lost in a property bordering the ground.Lehmann, by contrast, seemed to be batting for fun, and towards the end of his innings he showed a reckless disregard for the coaching manual, taking guard more than a metre outside leg stump. At one stage he was so far away from the stumps he was almost off the pitch. He employed the reverse sweep liberally, danced well down the pitch to all the bowlers, even the pacemen, and brought a cavalier feel to the innings with some inventive shot-making. Symonds, meanwhile, furthered his own claims for a Test spot, smacking a quick 45 not out.”It’s been a good workout for Katich and Lehmann,” said Ponting., whose own century was virtually overlooked. “It looks like the wicket will take a fair bit of turn late in the game which will be good for our bowlers. It will also be a useful exercise should we bat a second time, because it’s those conditions that we will need to be ready for come the Test matches.”Ponting’s 116 took his tour tally to 417 runs in six matches. He was eventually stumped by de Silva off the bowling off Rangana Herath, who also claimed the wicket of Justin Langer (35), who shouldered arms to a straight delivery.

England will wait until the International Cricket Council has signed the agreement for them to host the Champions Trophy in September before announcing whether the tour to Zimbabwe will go ahead.Speculation has been rife that were England to refuse to tour then the tournament would be moved to another venue in retaliation – several countries’ boards are understood to support such a move.England are keen – some would say desperate – to avoid such a scenario as it would cost the already financially strapped England & Wales Cricket Board (ECB) millions of pounds. The ECB signed the agreement last week, and it expects that the ICC will countersign by the end of March.Officially, the ECB says it has not made a decision over Zimbabwe, but few believe the tour will take place. So its main aim now is damage limitation.The ECB has reacted to the ICC’s threat of a large fine by looking to the government to come up with something more concrete than verbal disapproval. If the government were to say that England couldn’t tour, then the ICC would be unable to fine the board. The ECB is believed to be seeking legal advice as to whether letters and statements saying England shouldn’t go amounts to the same thing.