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Hampshire’s Academy side crashed to its first Southern Electric Premier League, Division 2 defeat, losing by three runs to Rowledge on the Rose Bowl Nursery ground.The Young Hawks failed in a dramatic attempt to score seven runs off the final over of the day, bowled by Ricky Yates, whose figures of 4-60 included two key wickets in those last six balls.The Academy closed at 218-5 after Rowledge, who had lost their two previous games, recovered from 38-3 to reach 221-8."We did everything right until the very end," said Academy captain Tony Middleton."We needed seven to win off the last two overs – and then Rowledge bowled a maiden, which proved decisive."Hampshire hopeful David Wheeler (3-35) inflicted a double blow in his second over but, led by fourth-wicket pair David Lloyd (47) and Australian Jeff Anning (53), followed by an unbeaten 41 from skipper Dave Booton, last year’s Division 3 runners-up rallied to make 221-8.Peter Hammond, at 15 years of age the youngest Academy player, hit 84 and shared productive partnerships with Martin Bushell (52) and Wheeler (24).But, with victory in sight at 215-3, Irfan Shah skied a catch and Yates picked up Hammond for a superbly constructed 84.The Academy finished three runs behind at 218-5.Hampshire’s defeat leaves Easton & Martyr Worthy, four-wicket winners over Old Tauntonians & Romsey, and United Services as the only unbeaten Division 2 sides.Australian left-arm pace bowler Francis Gill (5-33) and the Green brothers sent OTs crashing to 128 all out (Charlie Forward 32, Max Smith 30) on a damp surface at Romsey.Kevin Neave (53) guided Easton to a third successive victory.Lymington were unable to halt United Services’ march – Pete Andrew’s 120 – the highest individual SPL score this season – setting up a 61-run victory at Burnaby Road.The Royal Navy opener dominated proceedings and, with Mark Toogood (38) and Gary Hounsome (33) in support, eased US to 237-7.Glyn Treagus took 3-44 and then hit 33 – only to watch in dismay as wickets tumbled all around him as veterans Paul Barsby (3-27) and Kelson Brooks (3-56) reduced Lymington to 59-5.Neil Trestrail (53) struck out before becoming the third of Andrew’s catches.Lymington limped to 176 all out and a second defeast in three games.Winchester KS, unable to raise a 2nd XI for a Hampshire League match at Eastleigh & Otterbourne, crashed to 83 all out and a thumping 131-run defeat at previously unsuccessful Sparsholt.Sparsholt made steady progress throughout the afternoon session, with Tim Richings (46), Rob Savage (33) and Andy Lang (31) top scoring in a useful 214-8.Raj Naik and Rhys Oxley shared six of the Sparsholt wickets, but Winchester’s batting never fired once Richard Edwards (3-21) had achieved a double early breakthrough.Ian Ellis took 3-10 as Winchester plunged to 81 all out.Simon Williams struck a season’s best 83 and shared a profitable fifth-wicket stand with Paul Durand (40) as Trojans posted 210-8 at Hungerford.But a cloudburst ended proceedings after 23.2 overs after tea, with Hungerford interestingly placed at 88-3 (Nick Wilton 36 not out).

The venue for Australia’s cricket series against Pakistan later thisyear remains a mystery after the Pakistanis rejected another alternativesuggested by the world champions.Pakistan is still determined to host the three Tests in October despitethe recent escalation in tensions with India.The Pakistan Cricket Board has rejected Australia’s proposal to swap thetour and host two Tests after also knocking back its suggestion ofstaging matches in neutral Colombo, Dhaka and Sharjah.Australian Cricket Board chief executive James Sutherland and PCBdirector Munawar Rana have held discussions this week while in Londonfor a meeting of ICC delegates and say they hope to reach a decisionsoon.Sutherland says the decision will come down to advice the ACB receivesfrom political and security experts who advised the Australians not totour Zimbabwe earlier this year.ICC chief executive Malcolm Speed insists the tour is still on buthinted that it will likely take place at a neutral venue such as Moroccoor Sharjah.

Kent fast bowler Amjad Khan took the honours on day one of their visit to Aigburth to meet Lancashire in Division One of the Frizzell County Championship. Khan took five for 74 as Lancashire were bowled out for 226. But for Stuart Law (75) and Ryan Driver (56) putting on 99 for the fifth wicket, Lancashire would have fallen well short of 200. As it was they fought back before the close, with Glen Chapple taking two wickets as Kent struggled to 102 for four.Bottom-of-the-table Yorkshire found it hard work at Arundel, although they were bolstered by the return of skipper Darren Lehmann from his international commitments in Australia. Lehmann made 71 as Yorkshire mustered just 255 all out. Robin Martin-Jenkins and Mark Robinson took three wickets apiece. Sussex ended the day on 23 without loss.Warwickshire were unable to muster an individual fifty at Steffan Jones took four wickets for Somerset at Edgbaston. Ian Bell (46) and Jim Troughton (42) showed continued good form following Warwickshire’s Benson and Hedges Cup win, and Graham Wagg made an unbeaten 42 as the home side were dismissed for 230. After losing both openers cheaply, Somerset closed on 121 for three in reply, with both Mark Burns and Peter Bowler reaching half centuries.In Division Two, Andy Strauss played a captain’s knock for Middlesex as they continued their consistent batting at Cardiff. Strauss made 141 before he was lbw to Robert Croft, and Owais Shah (62), Ed Joyce (50*) and Abdur Razzaq (88*) all chimed in with useful knocks to take the visitors to 408 for four at stumps.Mark Alleyne and Martyn Ball ensured that a Kim Barnett century didn’t go to waste against Essex at Gloucester, after the veteran opener came within just four runs of reaching the landmark before lunch. After Ashley Cowan bowled Barnett for 106, Gloucestershire were in danger of squandering his efforts at 214 for seven. But Alleyne (87) and Ball (63) put on 158 for the eighth wicket before the hosts were bowled out for 383. At stumps Essex were 11 for no wicket.Centuries from England rejects Jason Gallian and Chris Read launched the post-Rice era for Nottinghamshire at Northampton. Gallian made exactly 100 and Read finished the day unbeaten on 106 as the visitors closed on a healthy 339 for six.Worcestershire look unassailable after just a day of their meeting with Durham at New Road. Andy Bichel (four for 58) and Kabir Ali (four for 31) played havoc with the visitors’ fragile batting line up, which folded for just 120. By stumps Worcestershire already had a healthy lead, thanks to Graeme Hick (119*) and Anurag Singh (88) who had taken them to 264 for two.

West Indies A ended their tour to England in fine style, with a 44-run win over Gloucestershire at Cheltenham. Chris Gayle hit a sublime 83, with Ryan Hinds chipping in with 68 as the visitors totalled 279.Hinds completed an excellent day with six wickets. Jermaine Lawson and Sulieman Benn claimed two scalps apiece as Gloucestershire struggled to maintain good early momentum.Skipper Daren Ganga had earlier won the toss, electing to bat. Gayle launched an astonishing early assault, climbing into loose deliveries and spanking the ball through the covers.Ganga was first to go, caught by Tim Hancock at square-leg to give RogerSillence the first of his four wickets. Devon Smith followed, slashing Sillence to Jeremy Snape at point.Runako Morton joined Gayle and the pair embarked on an enterprising 72-runpartnership. Morton made use of a typically flat Cheltenham pitch and fastoutfield, slashing seven boundaries in a quick-fire 41. Morton’s tour ended as Alistair Bressington removed his middle stump.Gayle progressed smoothly to 83 (79 balls, 12 fours and a six) before Snape got rid of him. Hinds continued to blaze away, hitting two big sixes at this, one of the most beautiful English grounds.All-rounder Alex Gidman accounted for Dwayne Bravo (38) who was caught by James Averis attempting to extend his boundary tally.Averis picked up two late wickets, with Sillence bowling Hinds. Sillence soon grabbed his fourth victim, as Jermaine Lawson was caught at long-off by debutant James Pearson.The home side got their chase off to the worst possible start on a hot, muggy day. Pearson, who plays his club cricket for Bristol West Indies, was dismissed for nought. The 18-year-old was bowled by Tino Best in the second over.Tim Hancock responded to some fast and hostile bowling from Best and DarrenPowell with a clutch of back-foot boundaries. He had made a rapid 27 before he was caught at mid-wicket. Chris Taylor hit a couple of fours before he was clean bowled by Best.Snape (55), along with Windows (41) took the attack to the West Indians, asGayle and Lawson were particularly expensive. The pair added 110 for the fourth wicket before Hinds had Windows stumped and Snape caught in the deep.With the run-rate climbing out of control, the visitors’ tightened their grip. Hinds wrapped up the tail, with Gidman’s powerful 36 the only real resistance. Ganga’s men now head home, and should be content with a tour which started poorly but improved consistently.

Darren Gough’s knee injury has already ruled him out of England’s plans for the ICC Champions Trophy tournament in Sri Lanka next month, and Andrew Flintoff’s hernia has left him as only doubtful of being fit to go to Colombo. Now another injury doubt has affected England’s planning.Ronnie Irani, who returned to international cricket with a degree of success during the NatWest Series, is to undergo an arthroscopy on his right knee in an attempt to discover the cause of the injury incurred while playing for Essex against the Indian tourists at Chelmsford last week. Depending on what the operation reveals, the all-rounder is likely to be out of cricket for between two and three weeks. That takes him close to the start of the ICC tournament.Even if he recovers in time for international duty, his absence will come as a severe blow to his county. Irani has led Essex to third place in the Division Two promotion race in the Frizzell County Championship while there is still a chance of promotion in the Norwich Union League, although the games Essex have in hand over their rivals might prove of less use without Irani’s driving presence as captain of the team. He has scored 892 first-class runs this season at an average of 63.71 and taken 26 wickets at 21.07 each, in addition to his substantial contributions in one-day cricket.

Somerset go into their county championship match against Kent at Taunton tomorrow knowing that nothing short of an outright victory will be enough to help them to escape relegation to the second division next season.Earlier this season when the two sides met at Canterbury it was the `White Horse’ county who came out on top. Since then Kent have recruited the services of Aussie superstar Steve Waugh, himself a former Somerset player, to boost their championship chances.Everyone in the Somerset camp is only too well aware of the situation that they find themselves in.Captain Jamie Cox told me: "We need to win this one, because we are sitting last at the moment and the only way that we can improve our position is to win matches. If we don’t win then we will be playing in the bottom division next season which we don’t want, but I am confident that we will be staying up in the top flight."All rounder Mike Burns told me: "This is another huge game for us, and if we perform as well as we did in our last home game then we should win. We had a shocker at Blackpool but we played well against Warwickshire down here, its just a pity that we couldn’t take that last wicket."The former Warwickshire player continued: "I reckon that we need to win at least two of our remaining games and get good points from the other to stay up, and I don’t see any reason why we shouldn’t. Everybody is thinking that we can stay up, and we have bailed ourselves out of this sort of situation before."Somerset coach Kevin Shine told me: "We are looking for a win, its as simple as that."What was the side likely to be I asked the coach. He told me: "We have a few aches after our hectic weekend and will not decide on a final line up until the morning."With Andy Caddick and Marcus Trescothick both back on England duty the squad for the match will be: Jamie Cox, Matt Wood, Mike Burns, Peter Bowler, Keith Parsons, Ian Blackwell, Rob Turner, Keith Dutch, Richard Johnson, Matt Bulbeck, Stefan Jones and Piran Holloway

Somerset CCC have just announced the following draft fixture list for 2003.

SAT 12 APR to MON 14 APR UNIV L’BORO UCCE (TAUNTON) (3 DAYS)Fri 18 Apr to Mon 21 Apr CCh Gloucester (away) (4 days)WED 23 APR TO SAT 26 APR CCh DURHAM (TAUNTON) (4 DAYS)SUN 27 APR NCL DURHAM (TAUNTON) (1 DAY)Wed 30 Apr to Sat 3 May CCh Derbyshire (away) (4 days)Sun 4 May NCL Derbyshire (away) (1 day)Wed 7 May(reserve day 8th) C&G Scotland (away) (1 day)Fri 9 May NCL Scotland (away) (1 day)WED 14 MAY TO SAT 17 MAY CCh GLAMORGAN (TAUNTON) (4 DAYS)SUN 18 MAY NCL NOTTS (TAUNTON) (1 DAY)Wed 21 May to Sat 24 May CCh Hampshire (away) (4 days)Sun 25 May NCL Hampshire (away) (1 day)Wed 28 May(reserve day 29th) PC&G *** C&G Trophy *** (1 day)WED 4 JUN TO SAT 7 JUN CCh WORCESTER (BATH) (4 DAYS)SUN 8 JUN NCL NORTHANTS (BATH) (1 DAY)Tue 10 Jun or Wed 11(reserve 11/12) PC&G *** C&G Trophy *** (1 day)FRI 13 JUN *20 WARWICKS (TAUNTON) (1 DAY)SUN 15 JUN NCL SCOTLAND (TAUNTON) (1 DAY)TUE 17 JUN Tou ZIMBABWE (TAUNTON) (1 DAY)Wed 18 Jun *20 Glamorgan (away) (1 day)Fri 20 Jun *20 Northants (away) (1 day)SAT 21 JUN *20 GLOUCESTER (TAUNTON) (1 DAY)Tue 24 Jun *20 Worcester (away) (1 day)FRI 27 JUN TO MON 30 JUN CCh YORKSHIRE (TAUNTON) (4 DAYS)WED 2 JUL TO SAT 5 JUL CCh GLOUCESTER (TAUNTON) (4 DAYS)SUN 6 JUL NCL SUSSEX (TAUNTON) (1 DAY)Wed 9 Jul to Sat 12 Jul CCh Glamorgan (away) (4 days)Sun 13 Jul NCL Middlesex (away) (1 day)TUE 15 JUL TO THU 17 JUL Tou S.AFRICA (TAUNTON) (3 DAYS)Sat 19 Jul(reserve day 20th) P*20 * 20 overs Trophy Final * (1 day)Wed 23 Jul to Sat 26 Jul CCh Northants (away) (4 days)Mon 28 Jul F NCL Lancashire (away) (1 day)Wed 30 Jul to Sat 2 Aug CCh Durham (away) (4 days)Sun 3 Aug NCL Durham (away) (1 day)TUE 5 AUG NCL MIDDLESEX (TAUNTON) (1 DAY)Thu 7 Aug or Sat 9(reserve day 8 or 9) PC&G *** C&G Trophy *** (1 day)SUN 10 AUG NCL HAMPSHIRE (TAUNTON) (1 DAY)Tue 12 Aug F NCL Northants (away) (1 day)THU 14 AUG TO SUN 17 AUG CCh NORTHANTS (TAUNTON) (4 DAYS)Wed 20 Aug to Sat 23 Aug CCh Worcester (away) (4 days)TUE 26 AUG TO FRI 29 AUG CCh HAMPSHIRE (TAUNTON) (4 DAYS)Sat 30 Aug (reserve day 31st)P C&G *** C&G Trophy *** (1 day)MON 1 SEP F NCL LANCASHIRE (TAUNTON) (1 DAY)Wed 3 Sep to Sat 6 Sep CCh Yorkshire (away) (4 days)Sun 7 Sep NCL Notts (away) (1 day)WED 10 SEP TO SAT 13 SEP CCh DERBYSHIRE (TAUNTON) (4 DAYS)SUN 14 SEP NCL DERBYSHIRE (TAUNTON) (1 DAY)Sun 21 Sep NCL Sussex (away) (1 day)F = Floodlit matchP = Possible match

BRISBANE, Oct 20 AAP – Passionate Queenslander Jimmy Maher put his first stamp on the Bulls captaincy when he engineered an important win over NSW in the ING Cup one-day cricket clash at the Gabba today.Maher hit a classy century, made key decisions and even had some luck in the final overs as the Bulls charged to a 46-run win, atoning for last Sunday’s 45-run loss to the Blues at North Sydney Oval.The victory was cemented well before Maher, Andrew Symonds and Michael Kasprowicz spilled relatively straight-forward catches – perhaps costing the Bulls a bonus point – as NSW edged to 8-241 from 50 overs in reply to Queensland’s slick 4-287.Maher at least made up for dropping rival captain Simon Katich by grabbing the loose ball and throwing down the stumps at the non-striker’s end to run out Dominic Thornely (28).It was a fitting finish for Maher, whose efficient knock of 119 from 140 balls ended a satisfying week during which he led Queensland to first innings points against the Blues in a Pura Cup match at the Gabba.The 28-year-old Australian one-day batsmen has looked comfortable since taking over the captaincy from Stuart Law this season but said the responsibility did not affect his game.”I don’t go out there and think I have to perform differently just because I’m captain,” Maher said.”We were out there today trying to get a good start and set the standard for the rest of the day.”That ploy worked, with Maher leading a sometimes brutal assault on the two medium-pacers who wrecked the Bulls during last season’s ING Cup final.Shawn Bradstreet and Dominic Thornely shared seven wickets in that match but they conceded a combined 78 from 11 overs today against an assault led by Maher, Lee Carseldine (59 from 64) and Clinton Perren (52 not out from 46).Maher then proved his nous as captain to blunt a promising run chase from the Blues, who had skipped to 2-114 in the 25th over.Maher caught Brad Haddin (16 from 48) at a specially-placed short cover before employing all-rounder Andrew Symonds to break up the dangerous partnership between Michael Bevan (39 from 67) and Michael Clarke (43 from 45).Symonds (2-48 from 10) claimed Bevan in his first over and Clarke five balls later during a barren patch which ruined the Blues’ chances.The NSW squad returns home tomorrow without a point from five hot days at the Gabba but their performance was much better than that statistic.New captain Katich had plenty to like today about the performance of Australia A paceman Stuart Clark (3-31 from 10), who would have had some effect on the Pura Cup match if not for an ankle injury.Young batsman Michael Clarke continued his rise up Australia’s batting ranks while Matthew Phelps boosted his confidence with 147 in the Pura Cup match.

A plan for the Ashes urn to be displayed in Melbourne and Sydney, during the current Australia vs England Test series, has been postponed on the advice of independent conservation experts.The two experts concluded that there is a real risk of breakage if the urn, in its current condition, is subject to unnecessary movement and to changes in humidity and pressure.Its current fragility has been caused, in particular, by the degeneration of some adhesive that was used to repair the urn at least 75 years ago. This adhesive, in the crucial area between the urn’s stem and foot, needs to be removed before it can degenerate any further. Accordingly, the urn will soon be removed from display in the MCC Museum at Lord’s for further expert analysis and subsequent repair. This process will include an X-ray examination of the urn, to identify any other problems which may not be apparent to the naked eye.Roger Knight, MCC’s Secretary & Chief Executive, said:

“We had hoped to display the Ashes urn in Australia this winter. We are deeply disappointed that these plans have had to be put on hold. However, we simply could not ignore the emphatic and authoritative advice that we received. Our absolute priority is to ensure that the urn receives expert attention, from leading conservation specialists, as a matter of urgency.Once the work has been completed, and the current risk of breakage has been ended, we hope it will prove possible for the urn to be displayed in Australia. Indeed, we intend to complete the important preparatory work that has been undertaken over recent weeks in conjunction with our insurers and the Australian Cricket Board.As well as sharing our disappointment over the postponement of the proposed Ashes display, the Board shares MCC’s belief in the importance of safeguarding this tiny but irreplaceable piece of sporting history. We are grateful to the ACB for their understanding and support.”

The Chief Executive Officer of the ACB, James Sutherland, agreed it was disappointing that the Australian public would not be able to see the urn during the current Ashes tour. He added:

“However, we are pleased that MCC is still keen to plan a future visit. We look forward to completing our role in the planning process once the restoration of the urn has been completed”.

Background information1. The term "Ashes" was first used after England lost to Australia – for the first time on home soil – at The Oval on 29th August 1882. A day later, the Sporting Times carried a mock obituary to English cricket which concluded that "The body will be cremated and the ashes taken to Australia".2. A few weeks later, an English team, captained by the Hon Ivo Bligh [later Lord Darnley], set off to tour Australia. The side lost the first of the three scheduled Tests but won the next two, prompting a group of Melbourne ladies (including Miss Florence Rose Morphy – Bligh’s future wife) to burn one of the bails used in the Third Test, put it in a small brown urn, and present it to Bligh.3. He subsequently took the urn back to England, where it is now owned and displayed (at Lord’s) by MCC.4. The four-inch, or 10 centimetre, urn has moved from London only once, when it went to Australia for the bicentennial celebrations in 1988.5. In 1998, MCC commissioned a Waterford crystal trophy, modelled on the Ashes urn, which is now presented to the winner of each Ashes series. This trophy (which is currently in Adelaide) was first presented to the Australians after their success in the 1998-1999 series, and will be presented to the winner of the current series by MCC’s President, Sir Tim Rice.6. In 1948, after the 4-0 series victory by Bradman’s touring “Invincibles”, MCC presented a 24 centimetre-high replica of the Ashes urn to the Australian Board of Control for International Cricket. It is currently showcased at the ACB’s offices in Jolimont, Melbourne – close to the Melbourne Cricket Ground.

SYDNEY, Dec 13 AAP – England captain Nasser Hussain today won the toss and elected to bat in the limited overs tri-series match against Australia at the SCG.Australia named Andy Bichel 12th man while Paul Collingwood will carry the drinks for England.Australia: Ricky Ponting (c), Adam Gilchrist, Matthew Hayden, Michael Bevan, Damien Martyn, Darren Lehmann, Shane Watson, Shane Warne, Brett Lee, Jason Gillespie, Glenn McGrath, Andy Bichel (12th man).England: Nasser Hussain (c), Marcus Trescothick, Nick Knight, Ronnie Iranie, Owais Shah, Ian Blackwell, Alec Stewart, Craig White, Andy Caddick, Gareth Batty, James Kirtley, Paul Collingwood (12th man).