Mark Butcher believes that the resumption of his Test career may be out of his hands, as he attempts to battle back from the wrist injury that kept him out of the 196-run defeat against South Africa at Newlands last week.Butcher, who has been wearing a cast over his sprained wrist, has received two cortisone injections and hopes to be fit to take part in Monday’s nets practice at the Wanderers. But even so, he may be unable to dislodge his replacement, Robert Key, who made a decent 41 in the second innings at Newlands in his first first-class appearance since September.Key had been Butcher’s stand-in throughout the 4-0 home series victory over West Indies, after he succumbed to a succession of untimely injuries, including whiplash from a car crash and a thigh injury while moving boxes at his new home in South London. And though Butcher resumed his No. 3 position at the start of the South Africa tour, he has been unable to make a concrete case for his reinstatement for a second time.His first Test innings of the tour was a gritty 79, but that was followed by three consecutive failures in the second innings at Port Elizabeth and at Durban. “I travelled out here not knowing whether I was going to be in the starting line-up,” said Butcher. “So to get that vote of confidence before the first Test was a huge boost, and I was determined not to let anybody down.”I might get down to the nets on Monday and not be able to bat properly,”Butcher conceded, “in which case there is no decision to be made. But I amcertainly hoping that Michael [Vaughan] and Duncan [Fletcher] are having to choose between one of us again. Obviously this injury has come at a bad time. I hate sitting out missing Test matches.”For Key, however, the prospect of another opportunity will be seen as justreward for his uncomplaining approach to the tour. He top-scored with 87 in the tour opener against Nicky Oppenheimer’s XI, but immediately conceded that his name was not in the frame for the Tests. “It wasn’t his decision, but I meant to talk to him at some point,” said Butcher. “But the time never seemed to be right. ‘What am I going to say? Thanks mate?'”That’s the way it is with teams,” he added. “Sometimes you have to accept your misfortune is going to benefit other people, and you cannot begrudge anybody that. My friends were texting me, hoping he would get out for nought and stuff like that! But I like him; he’s a good lad. I think he’s a good player, and I hope he scores runs as much as I hope any of the other batters score runs.”For England, the next two Tests are going to be a huge test of their mettle. They came within a whisker of going 2-0 up in Durban, only to be pulled back to 1-1 at Cape Town, and Butcher conceded that South Africa’s fightback was no flash in the pan. “They are starting to put their side together in the way it probably should have been from the start,” he said. “We never estimated they were going to be easy to beat anyway.”They have guys in their team who average 60 with the bat, and Shaun Pollock averages 22 with the ball – so it was never going to be easy. If we play to the potential we have shown, with all things firing as we would like, we are a better side than they are – but they are at home, they are a decent team and they played well in this last Test. We just can’t afford to slip up again.”

Ehsan Mani, the president of the International Cricket Council, is disappointed with the confusion surrounding the venues for the forthcoming Pakistan tour of India and hopes that the issue gets resolved in an amicable fashion. With little more than a week remaining until Pakistan arrive in India, the two boards have failed to resolve the issue, as Pakistan are unwilling to play in Ahmedabad due to security reasons.Mani, who is here to conduct regular meetings with the Indian Board, told newspaper: "This is not the right time to decide the schedule for the forthcoming India-Pakistan series. It is being done in the eleventh hour, I may say."The BCCI should have sorted out the TV rights and the tour itinerary a long time ago,” he said. “They could not do so because of some legal matters that were pending in the courts. These legal matters have played spoilsport and delayed the work process of the BCCI."Mani denied the presence of any tussle existing between the two boards. "There is absolutely no difference of opinion," he said. "I am told that the BCCI will be announcing the itinerary in the middle of this month. The Indo-Pak series generates tremendous goodwill and both the nations will once again come together to celebrate this great moment. Even I don’t want to miss it!"Not mentioning his favourites for the series, Mani expects the series to be a thrilling contest between the arch-rivals. "It really doesn’t matter who are the winners at the end of the series but cricket will be the ultimate champion. And when this happens, the ICC gets benefitted."With regards to ICC’s plan to shift the headquarters from London to Dubai, Mani noted: “From ICC’s point of view, it is a big move. But we need some time to resolve this issue. In the next four to five months, we will make it happen.”

Ravi Rampaul, the promising West Indian seamer, returned to competitive cricket last weekend in the Carib Beer League limited-overs competition after being out for almost six months due to shin splints. Rampaul, who was forced out of last year’s summer tour to England, resumed training only in December and is slowly getting back to full fitness.Anthony Gray, the coach of Rampaul’s club CLICO Preysal, told CMC Sports that Rampaul is primarily being played as a batsman in the one-day series, following the advice of Dr Terry Ali, the West Indian board’s physiotherapist. “We are using him in short spells. He bowled okay, but we are a bit concerned as his landing foot is twisting. We are awaiting an innersole from England for his bowling boots, before any more corrective measures are taken.”Rangy Nanan, the cricket manager at Preysal Sports Club, indicated that the support staff was careful not to rush his recovery process. “Ravi is working hard to come back at 100% full fitness. He is eager for action, he wants to be back on the T&T and West Indies teams. But his training programme is fully set out and monitored by Dr Terry Ali.” Nanan also stated that while his progress was encouraging, a more clear picture would only emerge in about four weeks.Rampaul played the last of his 17 one-dayers against England in the Natwest series in 2004, and has captured 11 wickets at an average of 49. He was forced to miss out on Trinidad and Tobago’s triumph in last year’s President Cup in Guyana and Barbados, and has already missed out on the first five matches in the 2005 Carib Beer Regional Series.West Indies have a packed season ahead of them, with two home series, against South Africa and Pakistan. The South African series, consisting of four Tests and five one-dayers, begins in March, while Pakistan will tour immediately after, for two Tests and three ODIs.

Monde Zondeki and Ashwell Prince have been rewarded for their career-best performances in the second Test against Zimbabwe, by being named in South Africa’s Test squad for their tour of the Caribbean, which gets underway at the end of the month.Zondeki, who wrapped up today’s innings victory with 6 for 39, and Prince, whose unbeaten 139 was his maiden Test century, have been named in a 15-man squad. The players leave for the West Indies on March 24, with the first of four Tests getting underway in Guyana a week later.All 11 of the players who took part in the Centurion Test have been named in the squad. The other four members of the squad are the first-choice new-ball attack of Shaun Pollock and Makhaya Ntini, both of whom were rested for this match, plus Andrew Hall and Boeta Dippenaar, who scored a century in the opening Test of the series against England, but failed to build on that performance in the remainder of the Tests.All the selections are subject to fitness, and South Africa have several injury concerns ahead of the trip. Charl Langeveldt’s lower-back problem is a particular worry – he was unable to bowl in Zimbabwe’s second innings. Andre Nel’s left hamstring didn’t look too much of a worry today, nor Jacques Kallis’s right hip, but along with Shaun Pollock’s left ankle, they will all continue to receive treatment.Commenting on the squad, Haroon Lorgat, South Africa’s convenor of selectors, said: “We have reached a point where we have a reasonably settled squad, and it is unfortunate that talented players like Dale Steyn, Thami Tsolekile, Hashim Amla and Zander de Bruyn had to be left out of the touring party. They all have the potential to succeed at the highest level.”The squad will spend three days preparing in Antigua before moving to Guyana for the first Test. The squad for the five-match one-day series will be announced in April.South African squad Graeme Smith (capt), Nicky Boje (v-c), Mark Boucher (wk), AB de Villiers, Boeta Dippenaar, Herschelle Gibbs, Andrew Hall, Jacques Kallis, Charl Langeveldt, Andre Nel, Makhaya Ntini, Shaun Pollock,Ashwell Prince, Jacques Rudolph, Monde Zondeki.

ScorecardWellington added 8 runs to their fourth-day 268 for 9 before being all out, leaving Otago chasing 199 for victory on the final day. Then Jeetan Patel and Jesse Ryder got stuck in, sharing the wickets between them as Otago slumped to 147 all out and lost by 51 runs. Patel’s offspin fetched him outstanding figures of 6 for 32, while Ryder’s mediumpace yielded 4 for 23. Otago’s batsmen had no response to the bowling, with only Mohammad Wasim, the former Pakistani batsman, and Gareth Hopkins offering any resistance.

Bob Woolmer, the Pakistan coach, expects a stiff challenge from West Indies in their imminent series of three one-day internationals and two Tests, despite the beating that they have taken from South Africa. West Indies were thrashed 2-0 in the Tests and 5-0 in the one-day series.”I think they have played against a strong South African team, but I think they are rebuilding, and they will be tough opposition,” Woolmer said. “It is important for us to be geared up and hit the road running in the series because it is so short. Fortunately, all the players have been playing a lot of cricket, so it is not necessary from a practice point of view.”It is just a matter of adjusting slightly to the pitches. I think they are going to be the same. After our performance in India, it is important that we build on this. We can’t sit on it. We have got to put that away. We have got to get stuck into this series.”Woolmer disclosed that Pakistan had taken a keen interest in the recently concluded series between West Indies and South Africa. “We have watched every game,” Woolmer said. “South Africa have a different side to us. They rely very much on their pace attack. We have a very good spin attack. It is not to say we haven’t got a good seam attack. We don’t have the super pace, but we have players who bowl up there – 145 kph, 148 kph, so they are not slow. They are all good cricketers. We have some exciting young batsmen, and so we are really looking forward to the tour.”Pakistan opened their tour with a limited-overs warm-up match against an Antigua and Barbuda Select XI on Sunday and won convincingly by 248 runs. Woolmer also expected Brian Lara to be a factor in the series. “He is a world class player, so if he plays spin well someone will have to try and get him out,” he said. “But we have noticed some very good performances from the other players. We don’t underestimate the West Indies side at all.”Woolmer also revealed that Pakistan would be using this tour, especially their visit to Jamaica for the second Test, to prepare themselves for the 2007 World Cup scheduled in the Caribbean. “We will be based in Jamaica [with West Indies] for the World Cup, and so being in Jamaica for the last Test match will be a good experience for us,” he said. “We will be able to see the facilities, and have a look to see what we need to do in that particular scenario.”

Surrey have confirmed two star-studded teams for the Twenty20 tsunami fundraising match at The Oval on June 20, between an International XI and an Asian XI.The International XI will be led by Brian Lara while Rahul Dravid will captain the Asian side. There is still one place to be filled in both teams and the final name will be announced shortly.Shane Warne will line-up for the International XI, while the two finest offspinners in the world, Harbhajan Singh and Muttiah Muralitharan, are both in the Asian XI.Eight of the 10 Test nations are represented – Graham Thorpe is the England player making an appearance – while Alec Stewart will manage the International XI and Wasim Raja, the former Pakistan batsman and match referee, is in charge of the Asian team.The Surrey chief executive Paul Sheldon said: “This special game promises a feast of entertainment from many of the world’s greatest international stars in front of a newly developed ground. It is a privilege to be hosting the match for such a worthwhile cause.”The match is raising money for the Oval Cricket Relief Turst, which has been set up with the intention of donating money to the rebuilding of a Sri Lanka village after the tsunami in December 2004.Tickets are still available online at www.surreycricket.com for £20.International XI (one to be added) Graeme Smith, Brian Lara (capt), Stephen Fleming, Andy Flower (wkt), Graham Thorpe, Chris Cairns, Shaun Pollock, Heath Streak, Shane Warne, Makhaya Ntini Alec StewartAsia XI (one to be added) Marvan Atapattu, Sanath Jayasuriya, Rahul Dravid (capt), Mahela Jayawardene, Mohammed Kaif, Kumar Sangakkara (wkt), Irfan Pathan, Chaminda Vass, Harbhajan Singh, Muttiah Muralitharan Wasim Raja

West Indies selectors will meet today to pick an alternative squad of players for the tour of Sri Lanka. Most members of the current squad are locked in a contractual dispute with the board, and negotiations are on to try to break the deadlock.The West Indies board announced that only three of the 17 players originally approached to play in the series had signed and returned their letters of invitation.”We have been in touch with some of the players currently on tour with the A team in Sri Lanka, regarding their availability and have had a very positive response from them,” said Roger Brathwaite, the CEO of the West Indies board, although Cricinfo reported a quite different scenario.The West Indies board is keen to settle this dispute, for a failure to honour their commitment to the ICC-approved schedule could result in sanctions and fines to the tune of US$2million, something it can ill afford at the moment.”We have a responsibility to Sri Lanka, India and the ICC to honour the agreement for this Test series and one-day international triangular contest and we will do all in our power to meet that commitment,” said Braithwaite.Meanwhile, the West Indies Players’ Association (WIPA) has said it was ready to compromise further “to ensure the tour of Sri Lanka takes place with the best players chosen on merit and cricketing ability.” Dinanath Ramnarine, the president of WIPA, said that a fresh proposal had been tabled before the board. It is “our considered view that, having regard to all the present circumstances, our proposal is both fair and reasonable to all parties.”The West Indian team is slated to play two Tests against Sri Lanka, as well as a triangular series involving India.

Shane Warne’s Ashes career is set to come full circle when the third Test of the series starts at Old Trafford on Thursday. Twelve years ago at Old Trafford Warne’s first delivery in Test cricket against England saw him dismiss Mike Gatting.A vicious turner that pitched outside the batsman’s pads before clipping the top of off-stump, the delivery was latter dubbed ‘the ball of the century’. Now Warne returns to Old Trafford needing just one more wicket to become the first bowler to take 600 in Tests.Warne is in prime form after taking 10 for 162 during England’s thrilling two-run win at Edgbaston that saw them level the five-Test series at 1-1. Warne couldn’t quite believe how his on-field life had panned out. “Old Trafford has been a happy hunting ground for me. It’s one of my special memories in 15 years of international cricket, the Gatting ball was my first one against England.”Whoever writes my scripts over the years, well it’s quite something to be on 599 going back to Old Trafford. My parents are coming over for that Test match which has been planned for a long time. They’ve supported me through a lot of things in my private life.”But Warne, whose gutsy 42 on Sunday helped Australia get close to pulling off a seemingly impossible chase, said individual success would mean little unless it helped his team win a Test. “I feel good about my bowling. But to take 10-for doesn’t mean anything. I took 12 for 128 against South Africa in Sydney in 1994 and we lost the Test by five runs.It means nothing in the context of things. When we all sit around at a barbecue and have a beer it won’t be one I’ll be taking about.”Warne said wickets had been harder to come by in recent years given that so few of Australia’s games were reaching the fifth day when a wearing pitch usually offers the spinner more assistance than at any other time in the match.”Over the last few years especially there haven’t been a lot of five-day Test matches, so you’re not exploiting the conditions late [in the] fourth day and fifth day,” explained Warne, who also took six wickets in Australia’s 239-run first Test win at Lord’s last month.”I’m bowling a lot more on day one, two and three these days so to spin the ball, as I have done at Lord’s, and in this game means I must be doing something pretty right. I’m not a big stats man but my stats over the last couple of years bowling on day one, two and three, stand up to any stage in my career.”Warne found himself upstaged at Edgbaston by Andrew Flintoff’s man-of-the-match winning display with both bat and ball. However Warne, who was the first Australian to congratulate the England all-rounder after bowling him for 73 in England’s second innings, had nothing but admiration for Flintoff, who himself was the first member of the home side to shake Brett Lee’s hand after he finished the Test on 43 not out. “I think he’s a guy anyone would want in their side. It’s always nice to see someone like ‘Freddie’ do well because he’s one of the good guys of cricket.”Asked how long he might continue, Warne, who is 50 wickets ahead of Muttiah Muralitharan in the list of leading Test wicket-takers, replied: “As I’ve probably said 500 times, when the enjoyment stops I’ll stop. At the moment the enjoyment is going pretty well. The way the Lord’s Test match was played, the way England have fought back here, who wouldn’t want to be involved and how can you not enjoy it?”

Yuvraj Singh says his century against Zimbabwe is all thanks to the hard work he has put in recently, under the watchful eye of India’s coach Greg Chappell and his assistant Ian Frazer.”I was short of confidence when I went to Sri Lanka,” he told PTI, “and Greg (Chappell) and Frazer worked very hard on me. My footwork improved greatly,” he added, after his 120 bailed India out of a tricky situation against Zimbabwe in a tri-series game on Sunday.”I worked very hard on my first 50 runs but once I got set I chose my bowlers to attack. It never crossed my mind that we could lose the game. I knew that if I could bat till the end, we cannot lose the game.”He said the pressure was definitely on India after an early flurry of wickets. “If you lose four early wickets, whatever is the attack, the pressure is on the opposition,” he added. “Our top order is one of the best in the world and if they were out, they must have bowled good balls.”