The itinerary for the Indian tour of South Africa has been finalised. The two month tour will begin on September 28 and end on November 28 India play three Test matches and a triangular one day series involving the host country and Kenya apart from a few first class fixtures. The tentative dates are as follows 31 Sept- 27 Oct: Triangular series between India, South Africa and Kenya. 1st Test: 3-7 November
2nd Test: 10-13 November
3rd Test: 16-20 November

The former chief minister of Bihar Laloo Prasad Yadav has been unanimously elected to head the Bihar Cricket Association. His election to the post was announced after no other nominations to the post were received. But this could turn out to be a sticky wicket for the flamboyant chief minister as there have been whispers going around that Laloo's election is a clear violation of the rules of the Bihar Cricket Association.

Finally, India has agreed to participate in the one-day series that is to be held at the Colonial indoor stadium in Melbourne from September 10 to 14. The visit will be a reciprocal one with the Australians touring India some time next year. This will be the second one-day series to be played at this indoor venue. The first one was played last year, against South Africa.

According to reliable sources the BCCI was informed about the attempt made by an unknown person to obtain information from the Australian players (Miller and Gilchrist) and coach John Buchanan on the last day of the final Test match at Chennai. Acting immediately the BCCI issued a sweeping order to hotels at all venues of the one-day series that followed, to screen all telephone calls and visitors of both teams. It has been further reported that the matter was kept completely confidential on the request of the Australian management. However, the BCCI was taken by surprise when the ACB, after more than a month, decided to make the incident public. This has put the BCCI in an awkward situation, although its secretary JY Lele has denied knowledge of the incident.

The BCCI technical committee is to meet in New Delhi next week. Former Indian skipper Sunil Gavaskar heads the committee. The committee is to discuss apart from many other things a plan to implement changes in the structure of the Ranji Trophy and Duleep Trophy to make the tournaments more competitive. There has been a proposal to adopt a two-tier playing system with teams doing well earning a promotion and vice versa.

On day three it was the turn of a Derbyshire batsman to grind the Pakistani bowlers. Twenty-seven year old batsman Mathew Dowman, on his birthday, scored an unbeaten hundred (145) with the help of 20 boundaries and two sixes as Derbyshire climbed to a lead of 151. In an attempt to encourage a declaration by the home side, Pakistani bowlers indulged in some wavered bowling. The final scores of the drawn encounter are: Derbyshire: 166 & 247-5 decl.; Pakistan: 262 & 64-1

In today's cricketing world a huge amount of importance is being given to formation of academies to mould young aspirants. After India it is now the turn of Pakistan. The new National academy is to start operations on May 14 at Lahore. At the same time regional academies will also be launched at Rawalpindi, Karachi and Sheikhpura. The main aim of the academies to unearth talent that will serve as suitable replacements to the national side in case of emergency. Former Pakistan all-rounder Mudassar Nazar is the chief coach, and will be assisted by former international players at various centers.

The Australian cricketers will leave no stone unturned to improve their cricket. Now it has been learnt that the Aussie cricketers are going to a police school, to learn leadership skills. Those who will be talking to the team members at the police school include Australia's army chief and other police training experts. Australian skipper Steve Waugh said the exercise was useful and invaluable to the players.

The proposed million-dollar salary that the Australian players are going to get may see players past their prime still trying to hang on to their places. However according to skipper Steve Waugh the high pay packet will do nothing to influence their on-field performances or increase the life span of the careers of the players. Waugh said all the contracted players were happy with the proposed deal.

The Australian cricket team coach John Buchanan, has been axed from the job of a selector on tour as the ACB felt that his job as a selector would clash with his role as a coach. The decision to remove Buchanan from the post of selector was taken on the recommendation of the national selectors.

Following the Australian national cricket team its now the turn of the South Africans to allot jersey numbers to their players based on the order in which they made their one-day debut for the country. With this system former opener Jimmy Cook (now retired) would have been allotted the "number 1" jersey while the latest player to make his debut Justin Ontang has his jersey numbered at 64. These numbers have been allotted to each player and will be displayed on their shirts during an ODI match.

England off spinner Robert Croft said he would be willing to play for Wales against England in the one-day international series that has been planned for next summer if the matches were guaranteed international status. Croft incidentally plays for the Welsh county, Glamorgan. The ECB has planned this series for next season as a preparation for a tri-nation tournament between host England, India and Sri Lanka

Graeme Hick's 120 enabled Worcestershire reach a decent total of 236, in reply to Hampire's total of 309 at the Rose Bowl on the second day of the County championships. At close Hampshire was 16-0.

Surrey's Mark Ramprakash must have had his hopes dashed of making a comeback to the national side when he got out first ball in Surrey's reply to Northamptonshire's reply to 476 all out. Surrey at close on the second day was 126-2.

Yorkshire was dismissed for 231 thanks to a five-wicket haul by England paceman Andrew Caddick. Somerset who made 257 in the first innings was 101-1 on day two.

Veteran fast bowler Devon Malcolm's 5-78 enabled his side Leicestershire dismiss Lancashire for 199 at Grace Road, which gave the former a lead of 41 runs. Leicestershire are 72-4 in their second knock after scoring 240 in the first.

New Zealand captain Stephen Fleming made 52 for Middlesex at Bristol, to rescue his side from 5-2 to a respectable 186-7 on the second day against Gloucestershire, who had made 272.

Yesterday's News                                   News Roll archive