India in England

India coach John Wright admits that his team's poor overseas record is a cause for concern ahead of their four-Test series in England.

India have not won a Test series outside the sub-continent since 1986 when Kapil Dev led the side to a 2-0 victory in England. "I've been on four tours with this team," said former New Zealand batsman Wright. "On three we've gone into the last Test with a chance to win the series.

"We were not successful in those three games and it's still a challenge for this team," Wright told reporters at Lord's.

"We had a good opportunity against the West Indies (where India recently lost a Test series 2-1) but we did not take it."

However, Wright was upbeat about his side's chances in England. "We have a number of players with experience of playing in England," he said.

Sri Lanka in England

Muttiah Muralitharan has flown back to Sri Lanka and will take no part in the NatWest one-day series in England.

The off-spinner played through two Tests despite pain in his left shoulder in the 2-0 series defeat against England.

But the tour management have decided against risking him further. He originally damaged ligaments in his left shoulder while fielding in the Sharjah Cup final in April against Pakistan.

At the time he was sent for intensive physiotherapy in Australia, but was rushed back into the team to play in the final two Tests in England.

He bowled 126 overs in those two matches but despite his considerable efforts, Sri Lanka lost both matches.

Now the Sri Lankan tour management are worried about the effect on his future fitness if he continues to play while carrying the injury.

And they want to make sure he is able fully to recover in time for the home Test series against Bangladesh starting in late July.

New Zealand in West Indies

Captain Stephen Fleming led New Zealand's resistance with a magnificent century before falling to Carl Hooper shortly before stumps.

Fleming made a vital 130 after New Zealand fought back from 117 for five.

He said: "Obviously with my record, every century is crucial and it was nice today in a situation where the team needed it.

"If we win the Test match, I'll rate it highly. If we don't win the Test,then I'm a few runs short."

The West Indies earlier seized control on the first day of the first Test at the Kensington Oval.

Fleming steadied the ship by reaching 68 at tea, after the Kiwis lost four wickets in the afternoon session to surrender the initiative.

ICC Champions Trophy

Hosts Sri Lanka will play Pakistan in the opening match of the ICC Champions Trophy in Sri Lanka in September.

The International Cricket Council announced a revised version of the tournament schedule, with the opening game - a day-night clash - set for September 12 at Colombo's Premadasa stadium.

Each of the 12 competing nations will play two games in the pool stage before the semifinals, with the final due to be staged on September 29, also at Premadasa stadium.

The tournament is a revamped version of the ICC Knock-out Trophy, known as the 'mini World Cup' and which was last won by New Zealand.

World Cup 2007

Caribbean countries will be asked to bid to host matches in the 2007 World Cup, scheduled for the first time in the West Indies, an official said.

The West Indies Cricket Board has set up a committee to manage the event in the region, said the board's chief executive officer, Gregory Shillingford.

"Almost every country will have an opportunity to be able to bid for games ... even if a country does not have facilities," said Shillingford, of Dominica. Shillingford did not say when the bidding is to begin.

The committee's managing director, Chris Dehring, will "divide the various games into categories," he said. Preliminary and practice games would be in the lowest category, followed by first-round games up to finals.

Miscellaneous

Former India allrounder Robin Singh was named coach of the under-19 team for the tour of England in July, BCCI secretary Niranjan Shah said.

Arjunsinh Rana, who had been with the India A side in the past was named the team physiotherapist.

Ashok Ori, the vice-president of the Rajasthan Cricket Association, was appointed the manager for the series.

Robin Singh was recently associated with the South Zone wing of the National Cricket Academy as one of the coaches.

He had also been named as one of Kapil Dev's assistant for the pace wing in Bangalore along with Sunil Valson.

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The Tangiers Cricket Stadium in Morocco has been granted permission to stage international matches.

The International Cricket Council's decision clears the way for a triangular one-day series between Pakistan, Sri Lanka and South Africa which will take place from 12-21 August.

Former South African all-rounder Mike Procter, now an ICC Match referee, inspected the stadium last week and was satisfied that it met all relevant criteria.

"The ICC's approval is backed by the endorsement of the ICC Anti-Corruption Unit (ACU), which has audited the stadium against stringent security standards and protocols.

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There is a real charm to the Caribbean, perhaps even more charming now that Holding, Garner, Roberts, Marshall, Ambrose and Walsh are no longer roaming around in whites. This is my first tour to the Windies and I love the place.

Island life is laid back, and as a result you have to be a little open-minded when it comes to organisation.

But you don't mind if things don't go quite to plan when you're playing in paradise. It is the start of the rainy season so weather conditions for the most part have not been ideal for cricket and the team has not had much opportunity for net training.

However, the rain generally comes in the form of intermittent showers and I'd still say the weather is pretty pleasant.

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Mark Butcher's disciplinary hearing over comments about Sri Lankan bowler Ruchira Perera's action has been rearranged for next Thursday.

Butcher refused to pay a GBP1,600 fine handed out by the England and Wales Cricket Board, thereby necessitating a hearing.

But when the Surrey batsman went into hospital for knee surgery the initial date had to be rescheduled - and he will now be in attendance at Lords on June 27 at 10am.

Butcher claimed in the Croydon Advertiser that Perera, whose action was reported to the ICC by the umpires following the Lord's Test, "definitely straightens his arm".

In a column penned by himself, Butcher added: "It's not so bad when the ball is pitched up but when he bowls short, he just runs up and throws it at you - I can't believe someone gets away with it!"

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New national coach Eric Simons arrived in London for at least a week of intensive meetings and 'getting to know you' chats with national captain Shaun Pollock.

"Our relationship will be at the core of the team's well-being and it will be central to planning and strategy, so it's obviously important that we set off on the right foot and make sure we understand each other," Simons said before he left Cape Town.

National selection convenor Omar Henry was originally due to travel with Simons as the top triumverate of strategy makers planned to meet as a threesome, but Henry has remained in his Stellenbosch base.

"Eric is the main man, he is the one who is going to be heading South African cricket from now on so I felt it was only right that he spent as much time with Shaun as possible on this trip," Henry told.

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South African Jacques Kallis has set his sights on embarrassing his mentor Duncan Fletcher when Wales meet England in their one-day encounter in Cardiff.

Kallis has been made an honorary Welshman for the cricketing clash at Sophia Gardens 24 June and is keen to impress Fletcher, who he played under at Western Province.

"I met up with Duncan a few weeks ago on the golf course and took some money off him," said Kallis. "Hopefully I can put one over him on the cricket field this time.

"I was surprised to get the call asking me to play because I didn't know I qualified for Wales. It sounds like a great idea, though."

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