The Aussies are at it again - the war of words - before the Ashes series. This time former Australian all-rounder Greg Matthews issued a statement that Darren Gough was good but not good enough to find a place in the current Australian side. He said he believed that McGrath, Gillespie and Lee were much better bowlers and that Gough's success came against a weak Pakistan side. England on the other hand are unlikely to pay attention to Matthews comments as they have two wins on the sub-continent during the last season, while Australia has lost both their series in Sri Lanka and India.

Alec Stewart will take over as England captain for the second Test against Pakistan that begins on May 31 at Old Trafford, Manchester. Stewart was chosen ahead of Graham Thorpe who led England in Hussain's absence in Sri Lanka in March. Chairman of selectors David Graveny said he would talk to both Thorpe and Stewart regarding the captaincy for the forthcoming Natwest one-day series. Stewart has been brought back as captain after having been accused last year of accepting money from an Indian bookie Mukesh Gupta. However there was no conclusive evidence against the England veteran.

Expressing his shock and disappointment over Pakistan's tame surrender the Pakistan Cricket Board chairman General Tauqir Zia, gave all credit to the attitude and professionalism of the English players and said that was the difference between the two teams. The chairman however expressed his unhappiness over a couple of umpiring decisions. He also hinted at some changes in the squad for the forthcoming tri-nation one-day series.

All the England players who have been contracted by the ECB have been cleared to play for their respective counties in the quarter-finals of the B&H tournament. Somerset play Yorkshire and so Darren Gough and Andy Caddick, the heroes of the Lord's Test will face each other. Michael Vaughan, Mathew Hoggard, Dominic Cork and Michael Atherton have all been released to do duty for their county clubs.

Controversial politician and former chief minister of the state of Bihar, Laloo Prasad Yadav, who was recently elected president of the Bihar Cricket Association has sent down the first bouncer of his tenure as president. The flamboyant Bihari politician has vowed to organize an India-Pakistan one-day match at Patna. He said he was keen not to allow religion and politics to get involved in sport.

Meanwhile, the state of Bihar looks to its new President. Laloo Prasad Yadav to further the development of cricket in the state. The secretary of the Bihar Cricket Association Ajay Narayan Sharma said he was confident that Bihar could achieve more in the three years under the leadership of Yadav, than it was able to achieve in the last 60 years of its existence. He added that the association was looking to set up turf wickets in about 15 districts as compared to the existing two and would also set up cricket academies at all these venues to spot talent and train youngsters.

India and Pakistan will be facing each other again on Thursday when the officials of the two countries assemble in Lahore at the Asian Cricket Council meeting. It is Pakistan's turn to host the Asia Cup and they will be looking to persuade India to come over for the Asia Cup and the second edition of the Asian Test championships. BCCI president AC Muthiah, secretary JY Lele and treasurer Kishore Rungta will represent India at the meeting.

The new sponsor of the Indian cricket team will be disclosed just three days prior to the team's departure for Zimbabwe on May 25. The marketing committee of the BCCI are due to finalise the new sponsor of the team as well as for the Indian domestic one-day tournament. The names of the applicants include Nestle India, Britannia, Reliance and Hero Honda. It is understood that the BCCI has received offers about 45 percent more than what was offered by the previous sponsor ITC (Wills). Meanwhile, former BCCI secretary and ICC president Jagmohan Dalmiya, who had resigned as a member of the marketing committee of the BCCI, will be attending the meeting to decide on the new sponsors, since the Board has not accepted his resignation.

The financial position of the current Sri Lankan Cricket Board has been left in complete disarray after a court order prevented the new administration from operating the Board accounts. The sacked former President Tilanga Sumathipala, who filed the case, said the current administration, under the sports minister Lakshman Kiriella, will have to make interim arrangements if they have to run the Board. The current position lands the Sri Lankan Board in a soup as the twin tours of New Zealand and India to the island nation are slated this July. It may be recalled that the sports minister had sacked the entire Sri Lankan Cricket Board, under Tilanga Sumathipala in March this year, due to financial irregularities and had setup an interim administration in its place.

The Australian Cricket Board (ACB) and Ansett Australia, the local airline, has signed a multi-million dollar agreement for five years covering seasons from 2001-02 to 2006-07 for sponsoring the domestic Test matches. This is believed to be one of the largest financial commitments the ACB has ever received from a sponsor. The sponsorship allows Ansett Australia naming rights to each Test match played in Australia during the time of the agreement, as well as branding on Test match playing shirts and training apparel and other supplementary benefits including signage at venues.

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