Muttiah Muralitharan has stated that the ICC’s constant scrutiny of offspinners’ bowling actions might force them to abandon the doosra. His comments came in the wake of the umpires’ report against Harbhajan Singh during the Chittagong Test against Bangladesh.Speaking to the Sydney Morning Herald, Murali said: “Definitely it could [force offspinners to give up the doosra]. If that happened, it would be a loss for the game. I don’t know what the thinking is with umpires and match referees with this – it is obviously a very sensitive issue, because you are dealing with bowlers’ careers. But I think [the doosra] is good for the game.”Murali also gave Harbhajan’s doosra a clean bill of health: “With the naked eye, I can’t see anything wrong with it. I don’t think there is a problem.”Murali’s own doosra came in for scrutiny during Australia’s tour of Sri Lanka earlier this year. He was later cleared after Bruce Elliott’s biomechanics team at the University of Western Australia concluded that he should be allowed to bowl his doosra until further tests were carried out on spinners. Those tests did take place during the Champions Trophy in England in September, after which it was recommended that the level of tolerance be increased to a 15-degree bend at the elbow. According to unofficial sources, though, Harbhajan’s elbow flexion while bowling the doosra is some 22 degrees.

A bad week for Zimbabwe Cricket got even worse with news that Bata, Nissan and Old Mutual, its major sponsors, will all end their existing deals by February next year. That will leave the cash-strapped board chasing new deals at a time when many potential partners have been frightened off by recent poor publicity.Bata, who supplied the Zimbabwe team with kit, have already disassociated themselves with Zimbabwe Cricket citing financial problems. The new kit used by the Zimbabwe team does not have the Bata logo on it and was designed by Faithwear clothing, who already sponsor a one-day inter-provincial competition, and might be the new kit sponsors.Nissan have been sponsoring Zimbabwe Cricket since 2001 and they service and insure cars for the players and officials. To date they have supplied ZC with about 70 cars, which ZC has an option of buying. Nissan have been the sponsor for all of Zimbabwe’s one-day international series.Old Mutual, an insurance company, entered the fray in 2002 and have been the major sponsors for all Zimbabwe’s home Test matches since that time.Cricket in Zimbabwe was courted by many sponsors only four years ago, as they fell over each other to be involved with a sport which has grown second in popularity to soccer in Zimbabwe.Zimbabwe Cricket chairman Peter Chingoka is quoted in a local daily newspaper confirming that they have severed ties with Bata and Nissan, while Old Mutual will pull out next February. Chingoka is further quoted saying that they are already talking to new potential sponsors.Speculation was rife that sponsors would pull out back in April when Heath Streak’s dismissal triggered the player walkout. That has grown more likely as Zimbabwe cricket has continued to make the headlines for all the wrong reasons.Streak said he was not surprised that sponsors are starting to pull out of Zimbabwe Cricket, adding that he was still willing to play for his country without getting anything. “I have always said that guys like Ozias Bvute are in there for the money and now that sponsors are now pulling out, Bvute and other guys will leave,” he said. “I am prepared to play for my country without any pay … when I started playing international cricket I was not paid anything.”

Scorecard and ball-by-ball details

Bangladesh achieved their first Test-series win after a tense final day in which they spurned an opportunity to go for a win, mindful of the larger objective. Chasing 374, Bangladesh’s batsmen, led by Nafis Iqbal, began the day carefully, saving wickets for a late charge that never came. They ended at 285 for 5, scoring about two per over, but this was a draw that meant more than a Test win for them.Zimbabwe bowled spiritedly, but the pitch had nothing for the bowlers. They were briefly encouraged when two wickets fell soon afer tea, but Rajin Saleh and Khaled Mashud prevented any further problems. However, as the day came to a close, Tatenda Taibu brought on Stuart Matsikenyeri, whose excessive turn had the batsmen in trouble immediately. But the discomfort came too late and, as both teams walked off amid descending gloom, one wondered if Taibu had missed a trick.There was little the bowlers could do in the morning, given Iqbal and Javed Omar’s ultra-defensive approach. They kept their bats well away as the bowlers maintained a line outside off stump, and otherwise tapped the ball to the fielders. The morning session yielded only 37 runs, and Taibu tried several bowling changes before settling on the legspin of Graeme Cremer, who induced an edge from Omar (133 for 1). He later surprised Mohammad Ashraful too with one that bounced, kissed the edge of the bat, and went to slip (153 for 3).

Iqbal’s demeanour in the morning suggested that Bangladesh wanted a draw, but after lunch he brought out drives and cuts en route to his first Test century. But with wickets falling around him regularly, Iqbal reverted to his role as stodgy defender until Saleh provided a reassuring presence. Iqbal was eventually dismissed right after tea, chasing one from Tinashe Panyangara and nicking it to the wicketkeeper. Panyangara also removed Habibul Bashar and Aftab Ahmed, to give Zimbabwe fleeting hope of the improbable.Saleh and Mashud then put on 79 as the light faded, ending their stand in a flurry of fours. While Mashud scored 28, Saleh ran up 56 – hitting three boundaries in succession to go past fifty and light up a turgid innings.The mission to win a series had finally been accomplished. And it took some doing. At several key moments in the second Test Bangladesh could so easily have thrown it away, as they have done in the past. But, to their credit, they did not let their eagerness get the better of them. Even considering the easy nature of the pitch, scoring 374 in the last innings to win was always going to be asking too much. Fortunately for Dav Whatmore Bangladesh’s batsmen stuck to the task on hand, ground out the draw, and achieved the bigger goal.

Gladstone Dainty, the president of the USA Cricket Association (USACA), has denied making a number of comments attributed to him in the media about the relationship between the ICC and the USACA.Following a letter from the ICC seeking clarification from Dainty on comments attributed to him, Dainty insisted the remarks were inaccurate and did not accurately reflect his views."I would like to make it perfectly clear that USACA board of directors and its executive officers unreservedly recognise the ICC as its parent organisation," he said. "It would be extremely silly not to want to do business with the ICC especially when it is for our benefit. Every member of the USACA board and executive committee are excited and looking forward to working with the ICC. We will not be distracted by any party whose interests are questionable."Dainty denied specific comments attributed to him in the media reports. He wrote: "I am not in a position to nor did I ever characterise the ICC’s position as unreasonable. I never attributed the leaking of any documents to the ICC … as a matter of fact I contacted a private attorney to seek assistance in determining who was leaking this information."I vehemently deny any statement attributed to me that speaks of any `lynching’. I see it as being counter-productive to our efforts to move Project USA forward. If I indeed felt that way I would never consider being part of such a diverse organisation as USACA. I am absolutely disgusted that such a statement has been published as one that I made."Dainty colcluded by saying that he would address the matter directly with the journalist that wrote the original article.

Mark Butcher could return to action in Surrey’s second County Championship game of the new season as he continues his recovery from the wrist injury that forced him home during England’s tour of South Africa this winter. April 27 is being suggested as Butcher’s possible return, when Surrey face Glamorgan at Sophia Gardens.Butcher will be keen to get back to full fitness quickly to enable him to have as many opportunities as possible to stake a claim for the No. 3 slot in the Test match side. Robert Key took his place when he was forced out of the Cape Town Test with his wrist injury, sustained during practice at the start of the tour. There is now increased competition for batting places in the England top six after the dramatic success of Kevin Pietersen and the fact that Ian Bell’s claims for an extended run can’t be ignored for much longer.It is unlikely that Butcher will force his way back for the two Tests against Bangladesh as the selectors will want to give Key another opportunity and Pietersen will also be in the mix, but his hardened Test experience could come in vital if England suffer any injuries during the Ashes series.

Scorecard and ball-by-ball commentary5th day
Bulletin – Malinga shines but match drawn
The Big Picture – Sanath’s joy
4th day
Bulletin – Malinga strikes in fading light
News – Vettori ruled out of second Test
3rd day
Bulletin – Atapattu and Jayawardene prosper
2nd day
Bulletin – Astle and McCullum wrest control
Commentary – The Marshall Art
1st day
Bulletin – Marshall twins bolster New Zealand

Sri Lanka 158 (Fernando 78*) beat South Africa 126 (de Alwis 3-19) by 32 runs
ScorecardSri Lanka recorded their first victory of the tournament and in doing so ended South Africa’s faint hopes of reaching the semi-finals, as Priyanga de Alwis spun her way through some feeble batting to take 3 for 19. Needing an unremarkable 159 for victory, South Africa slumped from 84 for 3 to 126 all out, with only the teenage sensation, Johmari Logtenberg, providing any lasting resistance. In her first meaningful innings of the competition, Logtenberg made 39 from 57 balls, but when she was fifth out with the score on 91, the end came swiftly.Earlier, Sri Lanka had themselves been in a sticky situation. Hiruka Fernando and de Alwis shared a fourth-wicket partnership of 75 to add some respectability, after South Africa had reduced them to 1 for 3. But their stand merely halted the slide, and after de Alwis (32) edged Shandre Fritz through to Shafeeqa Pillay, they crumbled. After a streaky tournament, Fernando finally came good with an unbeaten 78 – just the second Sri Lankan to strike fifty so far. It never looked like being enough, but South Africa wilted. New Zealand 180 for 5 (Tiffen 43) beat England 179 (Taylor 46, Brindle 42) by five wickets
ScorecardEngland qualified for the semi-finals despite going down to a tense five-wicket defeat against New Zealand at the de Villiers Oval. Needing 180 for victory after another solid performance from Claire Taylor, who made 46, New Zealand had slipped to 59 for 3 in the 19th over when Haidee Tiffen and Sara McGlashan set about rebuilding the innings with a 77-run stand. Tiffin top-scored with 43, but England secured the bonus point that, allied to India’s defeat of West Indies, ensured a top-four finish.In spite of Taylor’s efforts, England’s total never looked sufficient against an upbeat New Zealand side. Taylor once again led the charge, sharing a second-wicket stand of 75 with Laura Newton after the early dismissal of Nicki Shaw. Louise Milliken, India’s nemesis in the last match, struck with the fifth ball to remove Shaw, opening in place of vice-captain Charlotte Edwards, who sustained a thigh strain in Wednesday’s victory over South Africa, before Taylor arrived to administer a familiar rescue act. Arran Brindle continued with her good form, adding 42, but after a stodgy batting display, England’s bowlers needed to be disciplined if they were to keep the holders New Zealand at bay.West Indies 135 (Lavine 43, Goswami 4-16) lost to India 139 for 2 (Jain 68*) by eight wickets
ScorecardIndia eased to an eight-wicket win, and in doing so ended West Indies hopes of reaching the semi-finals. At one stage West Indies were 20 for 2, before Nadine George (33) and Pamela Lavine (43) lifted them to 61 for 3 in a third-wicket partnership of 41. But Jhulan Goswami (4 for 16) and Neetu David (3 for 11) handed India firm control of the match. An well-paced opening stand of 107 between Anju Jain (68*) and Jaya Sharma (47) brought India to the brink of a victory which meant their final match, against Australia, would decide who finished top of the group stage.Ireland 66 for 8 lost to Australia 68 for 0 by ten wickets
ScorecardClare Shillington bravely chose to bat against Australia, but that was as good as it got for Ireland as they crawled to 66 for 8 from their 50 overs, an agonisingly slow pace. The pace bowler Cathryn Fitzpatrick was the pick of the bowlers, taking 2 for just 9 from her ten overs, while Clea Smith (1 for 16) and Emma Liddell (1 for 13) returned similarly tidy figures. Australia made light work of chasing the modest total, reaching the target without losing a wicket in 14 overs.

Scorecard
Nottinghamshire are closing in on victory at The Oval, after reducing Surrey to 220 for 6 on the third day. Surrey will begin the final day on Monday needing 255 runs with just four wickets remaining. Mark Ramprakash is still at the helm after posting 92 by the close, but a draw would be a more realistic ambition for the home side. Stephen Fleming added just 15 to his overnight score, but his dominant 238 has given Notts a very real chance of winning. He was well supported by Mark Ealham who added an unbeaten 57 to sit nicely with his first-innings haul of four wickets.
Scorecard
Scott Styris took 6 for 73 for Middlesex to set up an intriguing final day at The Rose Bowl. Middlesex will start the final day needing an imposing 294 runs for victory, but with all of their wickets intact. Hampshire’s attack was led by John Crawley (40) and Nic Pothas (65) but their progress was checked by Styris’ super six wickets, as his impressive start to the season continued.
Scorecard
Glamorgan are plummeting towards their third consecutive defeat of the season despite posting 345 in their second innings. Gloucestershire will require just 60 more runs with seven wickets in hand when play commences on the final day. Upul Chandana and Ian Fisher shared nine wickets between them, Chandana taking 5 for 117 and Fisher 4 for 89 to ease out Gloucestershire for 345; Chandana finishing with match figures of 8 for 190. Matthew Elliott struck 123 and was assisted by David Hemp, who hit 57, but their efforts are likely to be in vain with Gloucestershire so strongly placed. They had a minor wobble late on the third day, losing three for 27 runs, but they will fancy their chances of completing the victory.

The ICC has confirmed that Harbhajan Singh, the Indian offspinner, will be able to continue to bowl in international cricket, provided he uses an action consistent with the one he exhibited in the biomechanical tests conducted at the University of Western Australia in February.The decision follows a report from Marc Portus, the independent biomechanist, who conducted a further analysis of Harbhajan’s action after he was reported during the recent series against Pakistan.Portus’s report identified several differences in the actions employed by Harbhajan during the match against Pakistan and the one analysed at the university. However, it was unable to reach a definitive conclusion on the action used in the Pakistan match.Dave Richardson, the former South African wicketkeeper who is now the ICC’s cricket general manager, said that while the differences in the actions were identified, Portus had advised that he could not reach a conclusive decision because of differences in the footage quality and the camera angles.”There is no doubt that the action analysed in the university showed Harbhajan bowling with an action that is in accordance with the regulations,” said Richardson. “The analysis of the action used during the Pakistan match identifies some differences, including the position of the feet and the speed of the delivery. However, Portus was unable to reach a definitive conclusion on the action used against Pakistan because of the quality of the footage and the camera angles used. On this basis the ICC has advised the BCCI that Harbhajan is able to bowl in international cricket, provided his action is consistent with that used in the laboratory.”But Richardson added: “Should his action deteriorate, it is possible that the match referees would again report him and this would raise the prospect of further biomechanical analysis.”SK Nair, the BCCI’s honorary secretary, said that his board “welcomes the ICC decision to allow Harbhajan to bowl in international cricket. BCCI firmly believes that no bowler is licensed to throw. But at the same time, if a prima facie case cannot be established against the bowler, he should be allowed to play with a free mind. This cricket-friendly decision would not only lift the morale of Harbhajan, but also the other bowlers around the globe.”So that Harbhjan can be given the opportunity to understand the concerns raised in the Portus report, the BCCI has accepted an offer from the ICC for Richardson to meet with Harbhajan and his coach, to go through the specific points raised.

Michael Clarke entered Australian folklore at the Chinnaswammy Stadium today, by converting his overnight 76 into a brilliant 151 on his Test debut. And batting alongside him at the crucial moment was his captain, Adam Gilchrist, who also went on to score a century of his own.”It’s an absolute dream come true,” said Clarke, “firstly for Australia, but also for me personally as well. I’ve scored a hundred on debut, and in Bangalore as well, which is a great place where I’ve enjoyed some good one-day games in the past, and to do it with my captain at the other end is fantastic.”As the century approached, the first signs of nerves crept into Clarke’s game, but Gilchrist was on hand for reassurance and was regularly seen applauding his team-mate’s patience.”The communication levels in this team are well established,” explained Gilchrist afterwards. “It’s two of us against 11 of them, so we talk to each other as much as we can. They bowled a really tight line and length and tightened Clarkey up in that nineties period, and it was inevitable he was going to be nervous. But I was simply there to keep him keep focussed on the bigger picture and, more importantly, the next ball. It was a very special moment.”Clarke’s nerves had been exacerbated by the arrival of his family, who arrived en masse to witness the event. And in a moment of symbolism to bring a tear to every Australian eye, Clarke chose to don the Baggy Green cap as his hundred approached. “It was all pre-planned,” he explained. “I told my father and manager, that if I ever got the opportunity to score a hundred, I’d do so wearing the Baggy Green. And it all worked out perfectly.”I didn’t sleep well at all last night,” he admitted. “I woke early, and then couldn’t get back to sleep, but it’s all been worth it. The last four restless nights have definitely been worth it. And my parents were able to get on a flight and get over here, so to be able to look up into the stands and see them there was brilliant.”Gilchrist admitted that the emotion of Clarke’s achievement had swept his team along, but he was keen not to lose sight of the primary objective, which was to win the Test match. “Let’s not get too overrun by the personal issues,” he urged. “Great though they are, the real excitement is for the team to be in this position, after performing with both bat and ball.”Gilchrist’s own innings was somewhat relegated into the shadows, although the comparisons with his start to the 2001 series were hard to ignore, especially given that he followed his 122 at Mumbai with two runs in four more innings. “I’ve been thinking back to the way I started the series then,” he admitted. “[That century] was probably a more flamboyant hundred, but a bit risky. It all came off that day, but I failed for the rest of series.

“I’ve had three long years to think about it, and today I adopted a different gameplan. The wicket played well, but because I expected it to spin more, I felt more confident playing straight. I never thought I’d get a hundred in India with one sweep shot, so that’s pleasing. Now, hopefully, I won’t get a dirty, dodgy little lbw decision like I did in Kolkata three years ago! Moments like that can change your life.With 2001 in mind, the question of whether Gilchrist would adopt the follow-on was a hot topic among the local media. But he refused to get carried away with Australia’s position.”The wicket is not breaking up as we expected,” he said, “although it could yet get difficult, with a bit of inconsistent bounce and some reverse swing. There are still 270 overs left in this match, so anything can happen. I remember being cock-a-hoop with our position in Kolkata, but we are wise to that experience, and we’re not going to get ahead of ourselves. Today is a day to enjoy individual feats, but tomorrow we’ll be executing our plans as best we can.”