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Andrew Symonds wants to make it clear that he has not complained about his treatment from spectators during the one-day series in India. Symonds has been a target of sections of the home crowds, especially during the seventh match in Mumbai on Wednesday, but he insists he has not sought to make an issue out of the abuse and has only responded to questions when asked about the incidents.”Over the past couple of weeks, I have felt as though I have been put in a situation that is not of my making,” Symonds said in the Sydney Morning Herald. “I never made a complaint at any venue, but I did answer media questions asking whether I had heard the chants aimed at me in Vadodara.”At the time Symonds said he was not bothered by the treatment, but he was more upset that the abuse had been denied by local authorities. “I tried to defuse the original situation by interacting with the crowd,” he said. “I feel that the print and TV media have badly misrepresented my views at times over the past three matches.”Symonds, who is uncomfortable in the off-field spotlight, said he understood racism in all sports was a sensitive, serious and global issue. “It is pleasing to see the authorities here in Mumbai tackling the issue following the seventh one-day match,” he said in the Australian. “I would much prefer the focus be on the cricket and for the cricket to be played in an atmosphere where players and spectators can enjoy a good day out, full of excitement and go home having had a great day of sport.”Tim Nielsen, the Australia coach, was impressed with the way Symonds had coped with the unwanted attention. “The most positive thing from my regard is that he has been the Player of the Series under that sort of pressure,” Nielsen said. “That shows a strength of mind and a lot of support from his team-mates.”

New Zealand’s domestic season kicks off on Monday when Northern Districts begin their State Championship defence without their leading run scorer from last summer. Hamish Marshall made 766 runs at 54.71 and was second on the competition run tally in 2006-07 but he will not be back at Hamilton this season after deciding to pursue his career in England.Predicting winners in New Zealand first-class cricket is a difficult task, but Northern Districts may fancy their chances again this year. They are one team that remains relatively unaffected by the loss of players to the New Zealand side, although they have suffered two big blows with Marshall’s departure and Daryl Tuffey’s decision to play a full season of club cricket in Sydney.Daniel Vettori would be a major loss to any team, but lately he has been the only Northern player to regularly wear national colours. The captain James Marshall has been overlooked recently but he will be aiming for a big season as he pushes hard for re-selection in the national team.On the bright side, the New Zealand A allrounder Mark Orchard is back in the Northern Districts line-up after injury. His abilities with bat and ball will be an important weapon as they look to retain the silverware they took possession of last summer.James Marshall told the the batsmen were aware there would be greater expectation on their shoulders without Hamish Marshall in the squad. “The bowlers form the real experienced part of our side now, but a lot of the batsman have had three to five seasons with us,” James Marshall said.Their opponents in last year’s final may have an uphill battle if they are to threaten again this summer. Canterbury have looked unbeatable over recent seasons. In the days when international players were available for most domestic cricket, they had a host of stars to call on, including Chris Cairns, Shane Bond, Nathan Astle, Brendon McCullum, Craig McMillan and Stephen Fleming (before he moved to Wellington).But lately with retirements and greater international commitments, the Christchurch-based team has not looked the same. The one thing that has held them together has been the presence of Chris Harris. He has been overlooked for national honours lately and has led his provincial team from the front. Not only have the younger players learnt from him, but he has also scored a host of runs. Last season he was named the domestic cricketer of the year.His decision to join the Indian Cricket League is a huge blow to his team. It will now be up to the younger players to put into practice what they have learnt during their brief first-class careers. The addition of the South African players Kruger Van Wyk and Johann Myburgh may help Canterbury this summer, but the team will find it difficult to repeat last season’s performance.Van Wyk will captain the team from behind the stumps and the coach Dave Nosworthy said he had not put any definitive time frame on van Wyk’s captaincy but would just see how things went. “Harry [Chris Harris] might be back later but there are no guarantees about that or whether he would even then return to the leadership,” Nosworthy told the . “You generally don’t want to be chopping and changing your captain.”The remaining four teams have all had their successes in different forms of the game over recent summers. Auckland are becoming known as one-day and Twenty20 specialists who can’t win a game in the longer version. Central Districts are often a surprise package who are written off early but confound the critics – they won the State Championship in 2005-06. Wellington have a number of solid players who are just outside the gaze of the national selectors, while Otago are always a chance because they are never badly hit by an exodus of players to international duties.All this shows that it’s impossible to predict who will be popping the champagne corks when the State Championship comes to an end on April 11 next year. The first four rounds of the four-day competition will be played before Christmas. It then takes a break as the shorter versions of the game take the spotlight and the business-end of the first-class season then commences in early March, culminating in the five-day final beginning on April 7.Notable squad changes
Auckland In: Gareth Hopkins.
Canterbury In: Kruger van Wyk. Out: Chris Harris.
Central Districts Out: Lance Hamilton.
Northern Districts In: Mark Orchard. Out: Hamish Marshall, Daryl Tuffey.
Otago In: Derek de Boorder. Out: Gareth Hopkins.

Sourav Ganguly has said that his forced exile from international cricket made him more determined to prove a point. He also said that he intends to play through 2008.”Not better, but probably more determined,” Ganguly told the Kolkata-based Telegraph. “I wish to add that the circumstances and the manner in which I got dropped just weren’t right. I don’t have an issue with being left out, that’s part of the game, but the manner wasn’t right.”Ganguly had differences with the then coach Greg Chappell and the issue snowballed after one of Chappell’s email to the board was leaked in September 2005. On November 22, the selectors ended his five-year reign as Test captain when they picked Rahul Dravid to lead the side for the series against Sri Lanka. Dravid had been handed the one-day captaincy a month before. Ganguly was dropped from the one-day side in October and the Test team in December and made his comeback in to both teams a year later in December last year.Ganguly, 35, is so far India’s leading Test run-scorer for 2007 with 932 runs following his double-hundred in Bangalore, and he has been growing from strength to strength. He squashed all speculations about his retirement, saying he intends to play next year. “Call it [his age] a driving force or whatever, but I want to continue being successful… The hunger hasn’t died… Form permitting, I intend playing through 2008.”

Anil Kumble is confident India can beat Australia in the upcoming series if the batsmen perform the way they did during the previous tour in 2003-04. Kumble, fresh from a 1-0 series win against Pakistan in his first assignment as Test captain, took heart from the manner in which Sri Lanka nearly chased down a target of more than 500 against Australia in the second Test in Hobart last month.”We have the potential to beat Australia because we have the batting line-up to put runs on the board,” he said during the shoot of a special television programme in Bangalore. “And once we have runs on the board, I believe we have the ability to get 20 wickets.”Kumble recently trumped Mahendra Singh Dhoni for the Test captaincy, after Rahul Dravid and Sachin Tendulkar had turned down the job. “I thought the chance had passed me by, I thought there was a chance when I was vice-captain in 1996,” said Kumble, adding that he didn’t expect to be made captain even as recently as two months ago. “When I became captain was not in my control [but] I think it has come at the right time.”In front of an audience that included many of his school teachers and college professors, Kumble said being handed the reins of the Test side was a great motivation. The 37-year-old Kumble, whose career spans 17 years and 121 Tests so far, said he had contemplated retirement several times in the past and that Test captaincy was a “shot in the arm” .In a recorded message, Sourav Ganguly – India’s most successful captain – hailed Kumble’s leadership skills. “The first day in Delhi [ahead of the first Test against Pakistan], the team meeting summed up everything. Certain issues were addressed and from that point I knew things were going to turn out well.”In a freewheeling chat, Kumble picked Shane Warne over Muttiah Muralitharan as his favourite spinner, termed his maiden Test century (at The Oval against England in June this year) as one of his career highlights, and mentioned that, post-retirement, he would prefer coaching in Bangalore to touring as part of the media.

Yuvraj Singh has been found not guilty of breaching the Code of Conduct during the second day of India’s first Test against Australia in Melbourne.Yuvraj was charged with breaching Level 1.3 of the ICC Code which relates to showing dissent at an umpire’s decision by action or verbal abuse. The charge, laid by the four umpires on duty in the match, related to an incident on the second day when Yuvraj stood his ground after he was given out by Billy Bowden, caught behind off Stuart Clark.The hearing took place after the third day’s play. After considering the evidence, match referee Mike Procter decided Yuvraj had not stood his ground in protest. “It was evident that Yuvraj took more time than normal to leave the crease but it was due to the fact that he was shocked at the decision,” Proctor said. “At no stage he showed displeasure or dissent at the umpire’s decision.”The hearing was attended by the four umpires, India manager Chetan Chauhan, captain Anil Kumble and Yuvraj Singh. Video evidence was used. If found guilty, the penalties for a Level 1 offence range from an official reprimand to a maximum penalty of a 50% fine on match-fee.

Scorecard
Sri Lanka Under-19s cruised to a seven-wicket win against England Under-19s in the third match of the triangular series being played in Colombo. Chasing 209, they cantered home with more than 11 overs to spare after a second-wicket stand of 106 between Kushal Perera and Dinesh Chandimal .Chandimal, the wicketkeeper, and Dilshan Munaweera added 68 in eight overs for the first wicket as Sri Lanka sped out of the blocks in their chase. Munaweera clubbed six fours and three sixes in a 32-ball 45 before being bowled by James Goodman but the momentum was firmly with Sri Lanka.Chandimal and Perera continued the comfortable progress with a pair of composed half centuries, adding 106 in 23 overs, as England’s bowlers laboured to find a breakthrough. Alex Wakely used seven options, however by the time Hampshire’s Liam Dawson struck, the match was a lost cause.Earlier, England had again been let down by their top-order batting, although not quite in the same way as the Pakistan match when they crashed to 44 for 5. James Taylor and Greg Wood both made 43 and Ben Brown followed his match-winning 93 against Pakistan with a brisk 38 off 24 balls. Sri Lanka’s bowlers, though, performed as a unit and the target proved a cakewalk.

The Indian board’s plan to rethink its earlier decision allowing the coaching staff with the national team to sign on full-time with any of the Indian Premier League (IPL) franchises has not gone down well with the team management in Australia, Cricinfo has learnt. Two of India’s support staff have tied up with IPL teams for the six-week tournament but may have to pull out if the board does not agree.”What I fail to understand is how all the Indian players are being allowed to play for the IPL and not the coaches,” said a source close to the team’s support staff. “The players are still in contract with the BCCI and will be paid even when they are playing in the IPL so why not the coaches? Besides, when the players are involved with the IPL there won’t be any international matches involving India, so what should these coaches do?”Gary Kirsten, who will take over as India coach on March 1, has refused to be part of the IPL, saying he wants to concentrate on the forthcoming Test series against South Africa. But the bowling coach, Venkatesh Prasad, has tied up with the Bangalore franchise and the fielding coach, Robin Singh is slated to coach the Hyderabad team.A board official told Cricinfo there “might be a conflict of interest” later on and the BCCI wanted the coaches to be “wholly dedicated” to the national side.Interestingly, the source claimed that Prasad and Robin currently do not have a formal contract with the board, though they have been receiving monthly payments for their services. “These coaches are getting a monthly remuneration for their services and I can tell you it is well below the global salary levels,” the source said.Board officials, though, say both are contracted to them until May this year.

Victoria’s struggling top order will need to fend off a fired-up Brett Lee if the Bushrangers are to upset the favourites New South Wales in the Pura Cup final at the SCG. Despite playing only one match during the Blues’ campaign this season Lee is desperate to help his state finish the summer on top, according to the team’s coach Matthew Mott.”I know he’s fired up, he’s incredibly keen to do well,” Mott told the . “He’s never played in a shield final before and he’s absolutely champing at the bit. We’re hoping that if he doesn’t get the wickets he’ll at least rattle a few blokes for others to cash in. He’s certainly keen to play, very excited. The week off will do him good.”A Pura Cup title would cap off an incredible summer for Lee, who stepped up to be Australia’s spearhead following Glenn McGrath’s retirement. He was named Man of the Series in both of Australia’s Test contests, against Sri Lanka and India, and became the first bowler since McGrath to win the Allan Border Medal.Lee joins Stuart Clark, Nathan Bracken and Stuart MacGill in a Test-quality attack that will provide a serious challenge for Victoria, whose top order has hit a slump at the wrong end of the season. Brad Hodge, David Hussey and Cameron White continue to pose a threat in the middle but it is three months since the Bushrangers have had a 50-run partnership from their openers, Nick Jewell and either Rob Quiney or Lloyd Mash.Mark Cameron, the New South Wales fast bowler who has impressed with 27 wickets at 17.51 this season, is likely to miss out when the game starts on Saturday, to accommodate the returning Australia bowlers. Mott said it was disappointing for whoever was omitted but the Blues had a duty to field their best available side.”That debate always comes up but it’s something the players have been used to in New South Wales for a while, having such a big number of Australian representatives,” he said. “Sometimes you get the good end of it as well. The thing that the players have got to remember is if the Test players were around all the time they probably wouldn’t get an opportunity at all.”I think it makes them hungrier. It is very hard for the likes of Matthew Nicholson and Mark Cameron who have done exceptionally well all year. But they’ve all copped it pretty well. We love having the Australian blokes back and it’s special for the other guys to get to play with them, playing with the best players in the world. It’s something they look forward to.”

Wellington eased to an innings and 95-run victory over Auckland that was set up by the 246-run stand of Neal Parlane and Grant Elliott on the second and third days at Eden Park Outer Oval. Parlane’s career-best 165 and Elliott’s 108 pushed the visitors to a first-innings total of 524 for 6 declared and Auckland were able to scramble only 132 to add to their opening 297.Luke Woodcock, Wellington’s left-arm spinner, captured 4 for 24 and Mark Gillespie chipped in with three wickets while Charlie Shreck finished with six for the game. The England bowler James Anderson’s first experience with Auckland included 38 overs and two wickets in a losing cause. Wellington’s victory moves them to the top of the State Championship table, six points ahead of Auckland and Canterbury.Centuries to Johann Myburgh and Michael Papps drove Canterbury to a satisfying nine-wicket win as they posted an incredible 344 for 1 in 76 overs on the final day in Napier. Central Districts declared after Peter Ingram’s 79 and Greg Hay’s 127 got them to 347 for 6 shortly before lunch, but they were unable to make any breakthroughs after Todd Astle fell for 41. Myburgh completed an excellent game with his 148 from 154 balls, which included 16 fours and four sixes, complementing his opening 62, while Papps struck 134 to secure the victory.In the first innings Canterbury, who needed the contributions of Shanan Stewart (87) and Iain Robertson (85), looked in danger at 326 for 8 trying to overhaul their opponents’ 376, but Brandon Hiini (28) and Leighton Burtt (28) earned a small lead and the declaration came at 380. Central Districts were in big trouble on the first day at 122 for 6 and 158 for 7 before a 159-run partnership between Brendon Diamanti and Richard Sherlock. Diamanti, the No. 8, finished with 136, his maiden first-class century, while Sherlock picked up 64 in the recovery.Northern Districts had to settle for first-innings points when the rain-hit match against Otago in Invercargill ended in a draw. Brad Wilson reached his maiden first-class century to put Northern Districts, who also benefited from half-century help from James Marshall and Peter McGlashan, on track for 410 for 9 declared and the bonus for passing the home team’s 305.However, any outside hopes of a result were ended when the final day was delayed by the weather, which also stole time from the match on days two and three. Brent Arnel collected 5 for 80, his first five-wicket haul, as Otago fought their way from the struggles of 58 for 4 after being sent in on Thursday. Craig Cumming, the opener, collected 62 while Nathan McCullum and Brad Scott picked up fifties, but the top score went to the wicketkeeper Derek de Boorder with 74. In their second innings Otago reached 115 for 2 before time was called.

Mahela Jayawardene will not feature for Derbyshire this season owing to fixture clashes, the county has announced. Fans will be disappointed but perhaps not surprised after an already short stint was squeezed further by international demands.Jayawardene, the Sri Lanka captain, had planned to arrive after the Indian Premier League but with the Asia Cup being moved forward to June and changes to India’s tour of Sri Lanka, there was too little time to make even a shortened contract worthwhile, the county said.”This is obviously a disappointment but the landscape of cricket worldwide is changing very rapidly,” said Derbyshire’s chief executive Tom Sears, “and we are forced to accept that. Unfortunately circumstances have changed in recent weeks.”John Morris, the head of cricket, added: “It is a shame that Mahela won’t be coming this year but we took the sensible option of securing Chris Rogers’ services some weeks ago and he will play as our overseas player.”Morris said that Derbyshire may look to bring someone in specifically for the Twenty20 Cup if Rogers does not play the whole season. “That is something we will decide together in the coming weeks.”We have left things on a very positive note with Mahela and there is a strong possibility we will look at him coming to Derbyshire at some stage in the future.”Jayawardene said: “I was really looking forward to playing for Derbyshire this season and I am very disappointed that the dates did not work this time. I wish the club success during the coming season and hope that one day I will be able to play for them.”