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Bob Woolmer is looking forward to the match between India and Pakistan, who will meet in the second round of the Asia Cup, and despite describing the match as a "needle" encounter, has played down the rivalry between the two sides.”I don’t think the Pakistan players are seeking any revenge against India in the match,” said Woolmer, “But yes, they remain stunned by their home series defeat recently to the Indians and it will be a needle encounter. Obviously every time these two teams play it is a big match with a lot of emotions to it. But I think the players are looking beyond the India match in this tournament.”Pakistan and India resumed cricketing ties earlier this year after a three-year break over tensions in the disputed Himalayan state of Kashmir. India won both the one-day and the Test series.Woolmer, in his third week as Pakistan’s coach, refused to give any hints of his strategy for the second round match against India. “I can’t share the plans I have for the team with the media," he insisted, "But yes, I have set some goals for myself and the team in this tournament. Hopefully this team will get better and be more competitive.”

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Marvan Atapattu’s 11th Test century gave Sri Lanka the upper hand on the first day of the first Test – the inaugural match at the Beausejour Stadium in Gros Islet, St Lucia. Sri Lanka had reached 250 for 4, with Atapattu still unbeaten on 108, when rain forced a slightly early close after 87.1 overs.Atapattu was his usual steady self, hitting 13 fours in his 242-ball stay. He put on 108 with Kumar Sangakkara (56), then added 68 with Mahela Jayawardene – still battling with his form after a run of low scores – who made 45.The first man to go was Sanath Jayasuriya, the former captain, who has been struggling for his best form on this tour (he didn’t manage a half-century in the three one-day internationals). He hade made only 8 when he chopped a wide delivery from Corey Collymore straight to gully, where Omari Banks took a good sharp catch (19 for 1).West Indies’ only success of the afternoon session was the dismissal of Sangakkara, shortly after a heated exchange with Brian Lara, who accused him of deliberately scuffing up the pitch by running on the danger area. Sangakkara, who had raised the tempo of the Sri Lankan innings in the morning after Jayasuriya went, cracked six fours. But eventually he was trapped leg-before as he shouldered arms to a Chris Gayle offbreak (127 for 2).Jayawardene regained some sort of form before he edged Banks’s offspin to slip, where Lara plunged to take a fine catch (195 for 3). Then, as the clouds that eventually brought an early finish closed in, Sri Lanka’s captain Hashan Tillakaratne misjudged one from Collymore and inside-edged it into his stumps (228 for 4).The pitch is already beginning to take spin, which would have pleased the watching Muttiah Muralitharan. If Atapattu can keep going tomorrow, Sri Lanka will be strong favourites to lift the first match of this short two-Test series. It already looks an uphill struggle for West Indies, who gave a debut to Jerome Taylor, a 18-year-old fast bowler from Jamaica. He was sharp, but a tendency to send down one bad ball an over meant he proved rather expensive – 76 runs came from his 18 wicketless overs.

Sri Lankan fast bowler Nuwan Zoysa, who is nursing a stress fracture in hisankle, is expected to be available for selection for the forthcoming Sharjahtri nation one-day tournament in October.”He should be fit for the triangular tournament in Sharjah,” declared SriLanka physiotherapist Alex Kountouri on Monday.Zoysa broke down just before the three nations Coca Cola Cup in Sri Lanka inJuly and missed the tournament and then the Test series against India thatfollowed. He will also miss the Asian Test Championship match againstBangladesh, which starts Thursday.”The fracture would take 12 weeks to heal. He was in crutches for six weekswhich is over and now it’s the recovery part,” said Kountouri.”He says there’s no pain at all at the moment, but there’s no need to rushanything. He’s working out at the gym these days, but he can’t bowl yet,”revealed Kountouri.

The Lodha committee was tasked with fixing the sanctions on Gurunath Meiyappan, Raj Kundra, Chennai Super Kings and Rajasthan Royals. Here’s the case made to the committee for a lenient punishment by India Cements Limited (ICL) and Jaipur IPL Cricket Limited‘s (JIPL) lawyers, and the committee’s responses.ESPNcricinfo Ltd

1. Gurunath Meiyappan

Having rejected all the arguments presented by India Cements Ltd and Jaipur IPL’s lawyers, the Lodha Panel announced the following sanction on the two companies.””The period of suspension shall commence from the date of this order.

Reports that the multi-million dollar deal between Allen Stanford and the ECB is under threat because of problems with Stanford’s black bats were dismissed as “rubbish” by an ICC spokesman.It was claimed that Stanford’s trademark black bats, which are central to his marketing strategy, would be outlawed by the ICC and, as a result, he would withdraw his offer to put up to US$100 million into matches in the Caribbean and London.However, matches played by Stanford are not under the jurisdiction of the ICC, who oversee international cricket, and, as such, the sides involved can agree to their own playing conditions and amendments to the laws.The Times quoted a source close to negotiations between the ECB and Stanford as saying that “we have been told that the ICC put forward this recommendation about the colour of the blades at the request of the BCCI”. The ICC spokesman pointed out that coloured bats were not even discussed by the cricket committee.

Bermuda’s Royal Gazette has reported that the indiscipline of the national team, which was of concern for some time before the World Cup, has grown worse in the two months.In the four weeks since training restarted for the national side, only three players – Irving Romaine, Kevin Hurdle and Lionel Cann – have bothered to attend, with another, Dwayne Leverock, absent because he is recovering from a tonsillectomy. A further three players – Dean Minors Saleem Mukuddem and Clay Smith – have retired.”There seems to be a certain amount of disinterest as far as the cricket and the preparation is concerned for the players to play to the best of their ability, and maybe this is something that needs to be looked at when the Board has its AGM,” Gus Logie, the coach, told the newspaper. “People have been invited to train with the squad but if they aren’t showing any interest then I think the board will have to make a decision on that.”Logie has clearly grown exasperated by the attitude of many players. “I have gone beyond being surprised by anything and I’m prepared to work with what I have.”Bermuda’s World Cup preparations were dogged by problems of the fitness and discipline of a number of players.Tell us what you think …

Andrew Miller on the second day of the Trent Bridge Test
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Streaming Audio: Real :: WMALasith Malinga and Muttiah Muralitharan bowled particularly well on a day when Sri Lanka brought themselves back into the series, getting England out for 229 and getting a two-run lead in the process. Andrew Miller, Cricinfo’s UK editor, chats with Ranjit Shinde, and tells him about how this Test is perfectly balanced. Listen in.Download MP3 (right click and select “save target as”)
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The West Indies selectors delivered a significant vote of no-confidence in Mehendra Nagamootoo yesterday, omitting the leg-spinner from the squad for the second Test against India in spite of a bare pitch seemingly tailored for the Indian spinners.Nagamootoo was the only one dropped from the 11 that lost the first Test in Mumbai by an innings and 112 runs.Jermaine Lawson, the 20-year-old fast bowler, and his fellow Jamaican, off-spinner/batsman Gareth Breese, 26, neither of whom has yet played Test cricket, were included in the 12 from whom the final team would be named at the start.Both were expected to make their debut with Lawson gaining final preference over aging fast bowler, Cameron Cuffy, 32.Manager Ricky Skerritt said Nagamootoo was unfortunate to lose his place but added he seemed to be lacking confidence.The fourth leg-spinner used by the West Indies in the past six years, after Rajindra Dhanraj, Dinanath Ramnarine and Rawl Lewis, Nagamootoo’s five Tests have been spread one at a time (against England in England in 2000, Australia in Australia in 2001, India and New Zealand in the West Indies in 2002 and India in the first Test in Mumbai).His 12 wickets have cost an average 53.08 runs each and taken a strike rate of one every 20.75 overs. He had three for 132 from 47 overs in the first Test but his first was not until his 38th over.The 12: Carl Hooper (captain), Chris Gayle, Wavell Hinds, Ramnaresh Sarwan, Shivnarine Chanderpaul, Ryan Hinds, Gareth Breese, Ridley Jacobs, Merv Dillon, Jermaine Lawson, Pedro Collins and Cameron Cuffy.

Zaheer Khan has finally sorted out his action at the MRF Pace Academy, guided by a world-renowned bio-mechanics expert who assisted him with tips about injury prevention. Press Trust of India reported that according to Dr David John, the expert, the minor changes Zaheer made to his action helped him bowl faster and without pain during match situations simulated at the academy.Zaheer’s injuries and niggles had become a source of worry for the Indian team, who have required him to spearhead the bowling attack. But during the sessions with Dr John, his bowling action was scrutinised and his run-up dissected. John said, “He was not making any good use of his front arm by jumping high in the air, which translates more power on his front leg.” He added that Zaheer’s previous action resulted in his muscles coming under a lot more stress.The news, if true, will come as welcome relief for India, who need all the fit bowlers they can get before the start of the new season. Last season, the main bowlers were constantly hampered by injuries, and India were fortunate that Irfan Pathan and Lakshmipathy Balaji filled in admirably.

The Australian Cricket Board (ACB) today extended its deepest sympathies and condolences to the family of former Australian Test bowler Ernie Toshack, who passed away on Sunday night, aged 88.Toshack, who made his Test debut for Australia against New Zealand at Wellington, in 1946, played 12 Tests for Australia between 1945-46 and 1948, taking 47 wickets at an average of 21.04.A valued member of the Don Bradman’s 1948 Invincibles, Toshack also enjoyed a successful career with NSW, making 48 first-class appearances between 1945-46 and 1949-50 when a troublesome knee forced his retirement.ACB Chairman Bob Merriman today extended his condolences to the Toshack family.”On behalf of the ACB, I would like to express sincere condolences to the Toshack family, including Ernie’s wife Cathleen and daughter Maria,” Mr Merriman said.”Ernie will be remembered for playing an important part in an unforgettable era of Australian cricket as a member of the late Sir Donald Bradman’s 1948 Invincibles.”