Little has gone right for Shane Warne in recent weeks, and now it seems that he might be banned from training with Victoria after the federal government appeared to apply pressure on Cricket Australia (CA) to take action.Although he is serving a 12-month ban suspension following his failed drugs test, Warne has been training with his state and club sides in the belief that while he is barred from actually playing, that doesn’t extend to off-the-field activities. Now the government-funded Australian Sports Commission (ASC) has said that this is in breach of the terms of the ban. Officials from the Australian board will meet with the ASC next week.Warne’s brother and manager Jason said he was very disappointed at the government’s advice. “It’s something we have to look into,” he explained, “because it conflicts with the information we’ve had over the last few months.”James Sutherland, chief executive of CA, said that his belief was that Warne was clear to train. “Our own interpretation has been that training can be permissible in certain circumstances, such as when a suspended player is giving rather than receiving help, as long as there is no material assistance such as travel, accommodation or provision of equipment,” he said in a statement. “[We] have … a determination that there is no place for doping in cricket, but implementation of this ideal needs discussion.”Tim May, the chief executive of the Australian Cricketers’ Association, sought clarification from Sutherland yesterday on Warne’s status, after Sutherland was quoted as saying he was “not comfortable” with the prospect of Warne training publicly in Australian squad workouts.An arbitration case last month cleared Warne to play in charity matches during his suspension, and his advisers will examine that ruling to see if it also covers training.Given that CA receives federal government funding for game development, it is unlikely to take on the ASC if next week’s meeting does not change the advice.Cricket Australia distances itself from Warne

Jagmohan Dalmiya hopes that the Indian junior team’s forthcoming visit to Pakistan will pave the way for a resumption of matches betweeen the two nations at senior level.”I’ve been getting positive indications from the government aboutresumption of bilateral cricket ties with Pakistan,” said Dalmiya, the President of the BCCI, after a meeting of the Asian Cricket Council. “The government is yet to give the final permission, but I think it may be round the corner.”The Indian government last week cleared the national Under-19 team’s visit to Pakistan in November, where they will take part in a four-nation tournament which also features Bangladesh and Sri Lanka. The government has also cleared a Pakistan second XI to participate alongside Sri Lanka in a limited-overs tri-series in India in December, while the Indian academy side will take on Pakistani opposition during their tour to Sri Lanka this month.These junior tournaments are the first clashes between Indian and Pakistani cricketers on the sub-continent since the senior teams met in the Asia Cup in Bangladesh in May 2000. The Indian government later banned bilateral cricket matches with Pakistan due to political tensions, but allowed them to meet in multi-nation events such as the World Cup.The Pakistan Cricket Board has invited India for a Test series in March next year, although no agreement has yet been reached. India has not played a Test match in Pakistan since 1989, while Pakistan played three Tests in India in 1999-2000, despite threats of disruption from Hindu fundamentalists.

Close West Indies 87 for 1 (Ganga 49*) trail South Africa 561 (Smith 132, Gibbs 60, Kallis 158, van Jaarsveld 73, Hinds 3-79) by 474 runs
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Jacques Kallis, whose imperious 158 was his 12th Test century, lifted South Africa into a seemingly impregnable position on the second day at the Wanderers. They were eventually bowled out for 561, their highest Test total against West Indies, who reduced the deficit by 87 in 31 overs after tea for the loss of one wicket.It was Andre Nel, gurning and grimacing like a clean-shaven Merv Hughes, who made the breakthrough for South Africa. He had fizzed a couple past Wavell Hinds’s nose in his first over, and later squared him up to induce a weak drive that lobbed to Robin Peterson at backward point (43 for 1). Nel was impressively quick and direct, and kept it tight while all the other bowlers were leaking runs down to third man. But Daren Ganga, who played some delicious drives, and Ramnaresh Sarwan survived a tricky spell until the close, at which point West Indies still needed a daunting 275 runs just to avoid the follow-on.Kallis led the way in South Africa’s big innings, stroking 17 fours and a six in his 297-ball stay. Resuming with 87, he soon reached three figures, with a crunching square-cut for four, to the delight of another rather disappointing crowd of just over 8000. Kallis was rarely in trouble, although at 109 he did mis-pull Fidel Edwards just beyond the grasp of the diving Merv Dillon at mid-on. He made Dillon pay for that miss shortly afterwards with the shot of the day, leaning back and lashing a short one savagely over point for yet another four.

Kallis had lost his overnight partner in the first over of the day. Martin van Jaarsveld started brightly with a four off Dillon – the 13th boundary in his Test-best 73 – but padded up to the last ball, which jagged back and trapped him in front (372 for 4). It was just the start that West Indies needed on another warm day, which had started badly for them with the news that Chris Gayle had torn a hamstring in the field yesterday and would not field (and he will bat at No. 7, with a runner).Neil McKenzie took 17 balls to get off the mark, before squeezing a boundary between third slip and gully, and four runs later drove low to point, where the substitute Dave Mohammed couldn’t latch on to a difficult chance. But McKenzie had made only 8 in an hour when he hooked at Edwards and was given out caught behind by Darrell Hair, although the replays suggested the ball only kissed his shoulder (398 for 5).Mark Boucher survived an enjoyable joust with his old Border team-mate Vasbert Drakes, who bowled an impressively tight spell in the morning despite a niggling side strain. Boucher had made 27 in a stand of 64 with Kallis when he squirted a drive off Corey Colllymore to be well caught by a diving Ganga in the gully (456 for 6). One allrounder replaced another, and Shaun Pollock was equally solid, once swatting Collymore for a contemptuous four through midwicket.Pollock and Kallis completed another fifty partnership before Kallis finally fell. He jabbed down on one from Dillon that came back in and kept low, and only under-edged it into his stumps (510 for 7). Kallis the batsman might not have liked it much, but Kallis the bowler must have smiled inwardly as the pitch began to play tricks.Pollock soon inside-edged one of Hinds’s teasing medium-pacers through to Ridley Jacobs (520 for 8), and next ball Nel missed a straight one. But there was more torture to come for West Indies: as thoughts turned to their innings, Makhaya Ntini hit out, walloping 16 in Hinds’s next over, including a cracking straight six. The last pair piled on the agony with a stand of 41, rushing the total past 550, before Peterson (25) nicked one to Jacobs.It was a much-improved performance with the ball by West Indies, and their batsmen did their bit in the evening session on a pitch that remains good, although some worrying cracks are beginning to make their presence felt. But tomorrow will be a crucial day – and you can’t help thinking that a lot will depend on the next man in – Brian Lara, in his 99th Test match.

India 143 for 3 (Jain 55) trail New Zealand 201 for 9 dec (Tiffen 66*) by 58 runsScorecard
India established their stranglehold over New Zealand on the second day of the one-off women’s Test at Vapi. New Zealand’s lower order were rallied by a determined 66 from Haidee Tiffin, made in more than five and a half hours. A ninth-wicket partnership of 33 with Louise Milliken saw New Zealand past the 200 mark.Neetu David and Nooshin Al Khadeer were the most successful Indian bowlers with three wickets each. Seventy-two overs were left on the second day when India began their chase. Anju Jain hit a fine half-century to give India the advantage.The Indian reply showed more application after a shaky start, and they finished the day at a comfortable position of 143 for 3. Sunetra Paranjpe, one of the openers, was forced to retire hurt very early on when she injured her shoulder having been forced to dive back into her crease to avoid being run out. Anjum Chopra hung around for 71 balls without too much of a contribution. But a 65-run partnership between Jain, the other opener, and Mithali Raj put India on a firm footing. Both struck four boundaries apiece and hustled the singles with a great deal of urgency.However, both fell as stumps approached and New Zealand made sure they were still in the contest. Raj was unlucky to get a leading edge to a wide, full ball down leg-side and was caught at mid-wicket. Hemlata Kala and Jhulan Goswami were at the crease when stumps were drawn. New Zealand had a good last session with the ball and would look to carry on in a similar vein tomorrow. As far as India are concerned, application will be the buzzword.Rebecca Steele, the left-arm spiner, was the pick of the New Zealanders, bowling Chopra, the former Indian captain, with a ball turning back into the left-hander from wide outside off stump. She also had Jain’s wicket, caught and bowled.

Western Australia 427 for 9 and 148 for 2 (Langer 88*, Goodwin 5*) v Queensland 434 (Hauritz 94)
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Nathan Hauritz fell six runs short of his maiden first-class century, as Queensland clambered to a first-innings lead against Western Australia at Perth. Hauritz, whose previous highest score was 41, batted for nearly four hours and added 134 for the eighth wicket with Ashley Noffke. But by the close, WA had marched onto 148 for 2, with Justin Langer reaching the close on 88 not out.Queensland had resumed the day in some strife at 280 for 7, and it took Hauritz 38 minutes and 35 balls to get off the mark. He enjoyed some luck as well, as Michael Hussey dropped a hot chance in slips when he was on 12. But the pair grew in confidence, and were closing in on the first-innings points when Beau Casson struck twice in quick succession to complete his five-wicket haul.But Hauritz kept his cool with Joe Dawes for company, and was looking set for a hundred when he was cruelly adjudged lbw to a delivery that appeared to be heading down the leg side. Hauritz’s previous best of 41 had come on his Pura Cup debut against Victoria in 2001-02. He had not scored more than 20 in any of his subsequent outings.Buoyed by their unexpected batting success, Queensland removed the dangerous Mike Hussey in the 15th over. Hauritz then got in on the act with the ball as well, as Chris Rogers was caught behind for 34, slashing wildly at a wide delivery. But Langer was unmoved, and by the close, he was grinding ever closer to his fourth first-class century of the season.

Group A Zimbabwe U19 74 for 3 (Williams 37*) beat Australia U19 73 (Panyangara 6-31, Chigumbura 4-17) by seven wickets
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The Under-19 World Cup produced its first major shock when Australia were routed by Zimbabwe after being bowled out for 73 in front of a capacity 15,000 crowd at the Bogra District Stadium. To add insult to injury, it was Australia’s lowest score in the tournament.Australia won the toss and batted, and Tim Paine (19) and Theo Doropoulos (26) gave them a solid start as they reached 50 for 1 after 10 overs. But then the wheels came off as right-arm fast bowler Tinashe Panyangara ripped through their top and middle order. In a devastating nine-over spell he grabbed 6 for 31, the second-best bowling figures in the tournament’s history. Four of his victims were caught by wicketkeeper Brendon Taylor.Elton Chigumbura picked up the remaining four wickets for 17 runs as Australia succumbed in 19 overs.Australia briefly harboured hopes of snatching a remarkable victory when Zimbabwe lost two wickets in the first three overs, but that was as good as it got and Zimbabwe coasted to a seven-wicket win with 32 overs to spare.”Winning the game today was a great feeling,” said Zimbabwe’s captain Tinotenda Mawoyo. “Our morale is now very high. We played very well today and we hope to do the same in our next matches.” Australia’s coach, Bennett King, on the other hand, was understandably downcast. “Everything about [Zimbabwe’s] game was perfect. I can’t remember a game where we have been so completely dominated.”Australia must now beat Sri Lanka at Rajshahi on Friday (February 20) to keep alive their hopes of retaining their U19 title.

North Zone 249 and 2 for 0 need another 115 to beat Central Zone 154 and 211 (Saxena 51)
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The North Zone bowlers gave their team a great chance of posting an outright victory over Central Zone in Gurgaon. Having conceded a vital 95-run lead, Central Zone managed only 211 when they batted again a set North a simple target of 117. Barring Vineet Saxena, who compiled a dogged 51, none of the batsmen managed a sizeable score. Wickets fell at regular intervals and 211 was all that they managed. Amit Bhandari, Gagandeep Singh and Joginder Sharma – the three medium-pacers – picked up three wickets each and put North on course to winning their opening game. The North Zone openers, Aakash Chopra and Gautam Gambhir, had to face only one over before stumps were drawn.

As the champions Sussex struggled against MCC at Lord’s, Surrey, their likely title rivals, made an authoritative start to their season against Oxford UCCE at The Parks. A strong side racked up 452 for 5 with three players scoring hundreds. Mark Ramprakash made 113 before retiring hurt, and two of the younger faces, Scott Newman and James Benning, who were the other centurions.Meanwhile, Lee Daggett took 8 for 94 as Durham’s students made life difficult for their professional counterparts at Chester-le-Street. Daggett, 21 and on Lancashire’s books, had a previous first-class best of 2 for 95 and with an average of over 100. Today, though, he almost single-handedly restricted Durham to 311, with Andrew Pratt rescuing his side from 129 for 5 with 67. The students closed on 24 for 1 in reply.Loughborough UCCE also made a decent fist of things, against a Somerset side including Andrew Caddick at Taunton. They reached 257 for 6 with Christopher Nash leading the way. He ended on 54 not out as Caddick finished with figures of 2 for 62.Elsewhere, though, the university sides struggled. Nadeem Malik took 6 for 41 as Worcestershire blasted out Cardiff UCCE for 118 at New Road. The two Stephens, Peters and Moore, then progressed to 21 not out each as Worcestershire closed on 44 for 0. At Fenner’s, Will Jefferson stood out for Essex against Cambridge UCCE with 144, including 19 fours. Jefferson put on 144 with fellow opener Aftab Habib, who scored 54. Ronnie Irani, Essex’s captain, put an end to his side’s extended net, declaring on 292 for 5. Adrian McCoubrey then struck twice before the close as Cambridge faltered to 19 for 2.Christopher Taylor and Simon Guy ensured that Craig White’s first day as Yorkshire captain went smoothly. They put on 200, with Taylor scoring 150, to help Yorkshire to 401 against Bradford/Leeds UCCE at Headingley. John Blain and Victor Craven then grabbed two wickets apiece as the students lost their way, stumbling to 57 for 5 at stumps. Lucky for them it’s not first-class.

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On a day that varied from engrossing to downright boring, Jacques Kallis displayed tremendous application to strike an unbeaten 150 on a deteriorating pitch. Neil McKenzie, who knocked a busy 52 in the morning, played the ideal Robin to Kallis’s Batman. However, after the first session, South Africa’s run-rate went south. An overcautious approach took them to 313 for 4 in 116 overs, and when they eventually declared, New Zealand were set 264 in 23 overs. There was never a case for a chase and the match ended with New Zealand on 39 for 1.There was a possibility of the match being called off earlier in the day, when a few balls hit an ever-growing hole in the pitch and jagged off wickedly, and prompted an inspection by the match referee. But play resumed, and South Africa continued at a snail’s pace.South Africa had taken another approach in the morning. Kallis and McKenzie mixed caution with aggression to keep New Zealand’s bowlers – particularly the spinners – at bay. All the while, Kallis revealed an array of shots as effective as his padwork. When the spinners pitched the ball on the scuffmarks, he stood back – often inches from the stumps – and played it as late as possible. But when they strayed, a damaging sweep shot often came into play. The faster bowlers provoked a different response. He cut repeatedly, and pushed the ball through the covers, and when Scott Styris bowled, the slower pace allowed Kallis the time and control to drive straight down the ground.

As Kallis approached yet another century, Daniel Vettori suddenly found his line and extracted disconcerting bounce that had not only the batsman, but also the wicketkeeper and slips, fumbling. But unlike the first innings, when he fell for 92, Kallis reached three figures. McKenzie, however, fell by the wayside for 52. His refreshingly nimble footwork was a contrast from the leaden approach of the other batsmen, and his ploy of coming down the track threw the spinners off their length. Paul Wiseman had him in the end, though. Turning the ball wildly, the spinner had the support of three close-in catchers, who were always kept busy with the odd bat-pad chance off McKenzie, until one finally stuck (215 for 4).It was the last success New Zealand’s bowlers had, because Gary Kirsten and Kallis presented a dead bat (or no bat at all) to almost everything thrown at them, until a briefly entertaining period before tea when the batsmen burst into a medley of cover-drives, square cuts, and other shots. Kirsten even stepped out and swatted a six off Wiseman before the declaration.New Zealand, given a target of 264 in 23 overs, held out well, losing the wicket of Michael Papps on their way to 39 for 1 before the match was called off. But in that brief period, Brendon McCullum (19 not out) showed good form and attacked the bowling with powerful square cuts that beat the fielders. It rounded up a good match for McCullum, who kept wickets competently on what resembled a really bad fifth-day subcontinental turner. The spinners kept him busy, and though they bowled with near-perfect control, Kallis – in probably the best form of his life – thwarted their aspirations.

Australia’s four-yearly cycle of hosting Test tours by West Indian teams has been broken, following the announcement that New Zealand and Pakistan will be next summer’s main visitors. The strategic shift in mindset means that England is now the last remaining country guaranteed a Test series in Australia every four years.In another significant development the VB triangular one-day series, now entering its 26th year, will be the briefest on record. Each team will play only six preliminary matches, instead of the usual eight, with the competition wrapped up in a little over three weeks.Insatiable cricket watchers need not despair, however; Australia will battle New Zealand for a new prize, the Chappell-Hadlee Trophy, which is to become an annual neighbourhood shootout of three one-day games. New Zealand will host it the following year.”The Chappell-Hadlee Trophy will become as eagerly anticipated as other great annual sporting events such as the Bledisloe Cup,” predicted New Zealand Cricket’s chief executive Martin Snedden. Said James Sutherland, his Australian counterpart: “Chappells and Hadlees have been involved in a lot of the trans-Tasman cricket rivalry that goes back 50 years but, inparticular, goes back to the start of one-day international cricket 30 years ago.”Almost as ancient is the custom of Caribbean teams coming to Australia at least every four years. Although West Indies will later join Australia and Pakistan for the VB Series, next summer’s five Tests will be split between New Zealand (two) and Pakistan (three). Thus ends a tradition that began with Clive Lloyd’s raw but soon-to-be-ravishing West Indians of 1975-76.During those years the two teams have contested some powerhouse series, both gripping (1981-82, 1992-93, 1996-97) and one-sided (1975-76, 1979-80, 1984-85, 1988-89, 2000-01). Never has it been remotely boring. The West Indies’ absence next summer is officially an outcome of the undulating global timetable, a clash of fixtures, and supposedly has nothingto do with their dwindling box-office appeal. But you’d love to be a fly on the Cricket Australia wall. They were whitewashed 5-0 under Jimmy Adams in 2000-01, losing twice by an innings and twice inside three days. Wisden Australia called it a tour of “unrelenting misery”: their batting was “feeble in the extreme”, their bowlers “never looked consistently menacing”and the fielding was “sloppily amateurish.”Thrashed 3-0 by England recently, things are hardly looking up. They will return in 2005-06, along with South Africa, for three Tests – including one at Hobart’s Bellerive Oval – which was lopped off the calendar today for the third summer in a row. The Kiwis, meanwhile, are back for the second time in four years. It is a sign of strange times when New Zealand, traditionallythe uncharismatic ducklings of world cricket, are considered a more mouthwatering prospect than West Indies.The decision to trim a little flab off the VB Series is equally intriguing. Only 341,426 spectators attended last summer’s tournament – the third-smallest crowds ever and umpteen grandstands shy of the 553,730 who went along in the 1982-83 heyday of the old Benson & Hedges World Series Cup.Administrators have brainstormed tirelessly over ways to brighten up the competition: we’ve endured bonus-point systems, pop musical accompaniments, roped-in boundaries, draconian wide and bouncer laws, two Australian sides and endless costume changes. Perhaps they have fiddled too much; perhaps the tournament’s freewheeling, wild-swinging spontaneity got lost somewhere. Ultimately there’s only so much you can do with a limited, and limited-overs, product.