Here’s a tip – Justin Langer is struggling.Langer’s miserable start to the season continued today when he made only four runs in the Pura Cup match against NSW at the Sydney Cricket Ground, where rookie leg spinner Liam Zammit bowled in his baggy blue cap, West Australian Murray Goodwin cracked 184 not out and a conveniently rescheduled drinks break lasted 12 minutes so the players could watch the Melbourne Cup on the big screen.Mark Waugh, a gambler of some repute, successfully backed Makybe Diva, as did NSW coach Steve Rixon.Waugh – who admits to throwing away his wicket in a club game years ago in order to watch the Cox Plate – also pulled the names out of the hat for the NSW team’s Cup sweep, but he wasn’t lucky enough to get the winner twice.Langer, the Test opener, is having plenty of luck – none of it good.His scratchy 23-ball knock came after lowly returns of 26, two and eight in the Tests against Zimbabwe, and 11 and 15 in the ING Cup. His average is 11 in a season where so many of Australia’s premier batsmen are gorging themselves on runs, both here and abroad.WA was 8-350 at stumps, with Goodwin, the former Zimbabwe Test batsman, letting his bat do the talking after being reprimanded last month for saying Zimbabwean selections favoured black players.”I couldn’t believe how far that (his comments about black players) had gone,” said Goodwin.”It was just a personal comment on my experiences and got me into hot water. I couldn’t believe it when I had to employ lawyers and stuff like that to defend me, it was ridiculous.”It’s nice to get some runs when you’ve been in the press for not the right reasons, and it’s nice show WA I’m willing to work hard and play well for them.”Goodwin, who did his dough on Distinctly Secret, was gobsmacked when umpire Darrell Hair told him drinks would be taken at the unheard of time of 3.08pm.”I found it hard to start up again after the race because you get into a rhythm, and then you’ve got to stop,” he said.”It’s such a big race, and I think a few of the guys had a bit of money on it. They wanted to stop, so I went with the flow. The umpire came up and said we’re going to have a drinks break for the Melbourne Cup and I said, ‘oh, okay.”Goodwin – using SCG Test century-maker Stuart Carlisle’s locker – saved WA after the failures of Langer and Mike Hussey.Langer slashed at a drive from NSW fast bowler Matthew Nicholson, succeeding only in giving a catch to Greg Mail at gully.Nicholson, in his first match for the Blues since switching from WA, had already made his presence felt by trapping Hussey LBW for a duck with his fifth ball of the day.Bowling in his cap like the legendary Clarrie Grimmett, Zammit took wickets with two of his worst balls, a full toss which had Marcus North (26) LBW and a long hop which Shaun Marsh (29) played onto his stumps, but there was plenty of good stuff in between.He finished with 2-71 from 17 overs.The 22-year-old has been bowling in a cap since he started playing for Penrith in the Sydney grade competition eight years ago. He’s worn the caps of NSW and Australian junior representative sides while bowling and saw no reason to change when he stepped up in class today.With the Melbourne Cup starting at 3.10pm, drinks were taken at 3.08pm and continued until 3.20pm. Waugh watched his nag get up then walked back to slips with his arms folded, not saying much.

Steve Bucknor has rejected criticism of his umpiring during the first Test between Australia and India at Brisbane, especially his controversial leg-before decision against Sachin Tendulkar in India’s first innings.And Bucknor, long regarded as one of the best umpires in the world, dismissed suggestions that his form was on the wane. “Just recently I was umpiring the World Cup final so I don’t understand what is happening, but at the moment I am pretty comfortable with my form,” he told the Australian Associated Press. “The criticism doesn’t bother me. Mistakes are going to be made. I know that. Everyone makes mistakes including myself.”The plethora of television replays indicated the ball which trapped Tendulkar would have sailed over the top of the stumps. But Bucknor delivered his verdict – described by the media in terms such as “a disgrace” and “an insult” – after his customary long deliberation.”I give myself enough time to think about my decision, to replay just about everything about that delivery, and by so doing I should in the end be able to make that [correct] decision,” he explained. While refusing to discuss the Tendulkar decision itself, he added, “Sometimes it doesn’t go that way … it’s not because my brain is working slowly. Once the hit is made I have a fair idea of what my decision is it’s a matter of seeing whether something else could have happened.”Although the Tendulkar dismissal was the one which grabbed the headlines, Bucknor was also criticised for other decisions during the match. He gave Australia’s batsmen the benefit of the doubt on three well-justified appeals, and also appeared to mistakenly reprieve Akash Chopra for what looked like a good bat-pad catch shortly after Tendulkar’s wicket.

ScorecardA blistering century by Justin Langer, along with an unbeaten 117 from Chris Rogers, steered Western Australia to a record win over Queensland in the day-night ING Cup match at the WACA.Langer reached his hundred in 75 deliveries, just one ball more than the record jointly held Stuart Law and Brad Haddin. Meanwhile, WA’s seven-wicket win went down in history as the highest run-chase at the WACA.The victory means WA are now two games clear at the top of the table, while Queensland slipped to fifth after South Australia’s defeat of Tasmania.Martin Love appeared to have given Queensland the upper hand after he struck 110 off 97 deliveries with eight boundaries and a six. Love, batting at No. 3, was the rock around which the innings was built. James Hopes provided some big hitting towards the end with 46 off 37 balls.WA’s chase started slowly, but Ryan Campbell, who snared three catches in the Queensland innings, soon got the score ticking over. But he was dismissed for 23 in the seventh over, and John Taylor, promoted to No. 3, followed him back to the pavilion in the next over.Langer came to the crease with the score on 42 for 2 and he raced to a half-century from 46 deliveries, and needed only 29 more balls to reach three figures.However, the reintroduction of Michael Kasprowicz to the attack resulted in Langer’s dismissal, and that slowed the innings dramatically.Only 41 runs were scored off the next 11 overs as Chris Rogers continued to play the sheet-anchor role and Murray Goodwin took time to find his feet. The pair picked up the rate in the 40th over with 11 runs, and followed that with 10 to reduce the asking rate down to under five an over with nine overs remaining.Rogers brought up his 100 in the 43rd over with a crashing square-drive and Goodwin finished on 43 not out as they completed the chase in the 47th over.

Ben Cameron, the 23-year-old batsman, has been added to the South Australian squad for the Pura Cup match against Victoria at the MCG next week. With Andy Flower still unavailable because of a broken finger, Cameron was the only change to the side which lost outright to the Bushrangers at the Adelaide Oval.Cameron has been in good form for his club side Tea Tree Gully, scoring 448 runs this season at an average of 64. He has also scored 371 runs at 46 for the South Australian second XI. He comes into the squad to replace David Fitzgerald, who was omitted.A South Australian Cricket Association spokeswoman said recent x-rays on Flower’s injured finger showed the fracture had not completely healed. “The splint is expected to remain in place for up to a further two weeks,” she said.Squad Darren Lehmann (c), Shane Deitz, Greg Blewett, Ryan Harris, Ben Cameron, Graham Manou, Mark Cleary, Mick Miller, Mark Cosgrove, Paul Rofe, John Davison, Shaun Tait (12th man to be named).

Day 2 of 4 Victoria 7 for 252 (Hodge 125, McDonald 51*) trail Tasmania 341 by 89 runs
ScorecardTasmania were focused on securing the vital first-innings points against Victoria on the second day of the decisive-round Pura Cup clash at the Bellerive Oval. Victoria were 7 for 252 at stumps in reply to the Tasmanian first-innings total of 341.Two first-innings points would improve Tasmania’s prospects of a final berth against the runaway leaders Victoria. “We would have liked to have taken another wicket today, but at the start of the day we would have certainly taken that score,” said Brian McFadyen, the Tasmanian coach. “Certainly, I think one more wicket will break it open and I would expect that we’d get through the last few really quickly. We do bowl well at the tail, as a rule.”A week out from the Melbourne final, second-placed Tasmania need to fend off a challenge from rivals Queensland and NSW. NSW were 4 for 177 at stumps today at the SCG in reply to Queensland’s 9 for 418 declared, with rain forecast for the weekend.McFadyen said the Sydney showdown was “hard to ignore, but it is certainly not our major focus. I do truly believe that we’ve got the second-best side in the competition so far and I do believe we deserve the opportunity to take [Victoria] on in the final.”Shane Watson did his bit for Tasmania’s finals campaign today when he snared the coveted scalp of Brad Hodge. Hodge posted his fifth hundred of the season en route to 125 before he was dismissed by Watson, who has been cleared to bowl on a daily basis after suffering a debilitating back injury. Watson finished the day with 2 for 57 off 18 overs.The innings started badly for Victoria when their top runscorer of this season, Matthew Elliott, was caught by Dan Marsh at first slip off Damien Wright for 1. It was quite a coup for Wright, who has been receiving injections to deaden the pain of a nagging left-knee injury.Matthew Mott, his fellow opener, was next to go when he fell lbw to Gerard Denton for 10. Andrew Downton, the left-arm fast bowler, nailed David Hussey (7) and Cameron White (2) to achieve the respectable figures of 2 for 51 off 18 overs.

For Hashan Tillakaratne, it was the second time in consecutive Tests that his side had let slip the initiative. Here’s what he had to say about the Kandy defeat:On the result
It was so disappointing. We had our chances but just gave them [away] on a platter once again. It was so close and yet so far. We told our players to remain positive, and that this target was gettable. There were so many soft dismissals down the line. Our batting and catching really let us down in this Test.On Sri Lanka’s tactics in the morning
Our intention was to remain positive this morning. We told Vaasy [Chaminda Vaas] to get as much strike as possible. When he got the reprieve [he was dropped by Andy Symonds off Shane Warne] he should have just settled down and rotated the strike, but that’s how the game goes.Sri Lanka’s problem areas
The middle order is a concern. I am trying hard to get some runs, but disappointed that I am getting out so cheaply. There are other batsmen who are getting thirties and forties but not getting the big ones. [Our] catching has really let us down. We dropped [Damien] Martyn when he was on 0, and then at 65. I know that no-one wants to miss a catch purposely, but they were very costly.On where Sri Lanka lost this Test
After getting them out for 120, I think we lost the match in our first innings. We could have batted more sensibly and should have got a bigger total than 211 – that’s where we got it wrong.

Tino Best took 3 for 57 to light up a rain-interrupted third day at Kingston, including Graham Thorpe for 19, his first-ever Test wicket. But it was his exuberant celebrations that really made the moment. "I had planned the moment," Best admitted at the close. "I did the same for my first wicket for Barbados."Best’s efforts were all the more important to West Indies’ hopes, after Fidel Edwards was forced to pull out of the attack with a back twinge."I knew I needed to step up my game today with Fidel injured," said Best. "My body has still not fully developed yet but I am improving. If we can get somewhere around 295 then we will have a good chance ofwinning.Nasser Hussain, one of Best’s three victims, was full of admiration for his efforts. "Good on Tino," said Hussain. "He enjoys his cricket, and plays the game in the right way. We had a few characters like that, like Darren Gough, and good on him. He’s an entertainer.Hussain, who made 58, took his fair share of blows along the way, but was smiling by the close. "I don’t mind gutsing it out,’ he said. "That’s what I’m paid to do. It was tough out there. Facing their new-ball pairing was the toughest cricket we’ve had for a long time. It’s great for West Indies that they’ve found two fast and nasties. It must have reminded them of the good old days."It’s been a good Test match so far, with all to play for," added Hussain. "We will have to see how the pitch reacts, how the West Indies’ injury situation pans out, and a lot depends on how we bowl with the new ball tomorrow. That will be crucial."It’s the first time we’ve seen all four of their bowlers together for the first time. They’re quick and build a lot of momentum, especially on a bouncy wicket, and any result is possible from here."

Chris Cairns has said he believes this New Zealand side is one of the best ever to leave their shores. Cairns is captaining the New Zealanders against Kent today in their final warm-up game before the first Test, which starts a week today at Lord’s.With Nathan Astle and Shane Bond back in the side from injury, the squad are at full-strength for the first time since the touring 2001 side drew 0-0 in Australia. Cairns, who has announced he will retire from Tests at the end of this series, said, “I’ve always thought this is one of the strongest teams, if not the strongest, that New Zealand’s sent away.”However, he also rued the wet English weather, which has intervened in all three of their games so far on tour. “The unfortunate thing is that we haven’t had much cricket – I haven’t had a bat on tour going into a Test match next week. It’s a concern, but we’re not too worried because we were playing a Test match four to five weeks ago.”While Cairns would like some time in the middle, he was still happy to let the rest of the team take on the responsibility. “The ideal scenario is I don’t get a bat because it means the guys at the top are doing their jobs. Then again, I want a hit-out so I can contribute.” He added, “The issues we have are not often ones I’ve been associated with in New Zealand teams. We’ve got a very strong squad here. If I can get a bat that’s great, but I’m happy to hand it over to the guys to score runs at the top.”John Bracewell, the coach, was also frustrated by the bad weather, and by the lack of quality indoor facilities. The bowlers have struggled to adapt with the Duke make of balls, which have a more pronounced seam than the Kookaburra equivalent, and the wet run-ups and damp outfields have troubled all the bowlers. “They’ve all been stop-start affairs so far and we’ve been bowling with wet balls,” Bracewell said. “I’m happy with how they’ve dealt with very difficult circumstances. It’s the cricket mecca of the world, but if it rains everything stops. Their indoor facilities make it very difficult for the bowlers.”Cairns, meanwhile, wasn’t complaining. “I love it over here because conditions suit me. I’m not a big swinger of the ball, I’m a seamer and conditions help that,” he said.”At the moment they’re a bit slow, but I suspect Lord’s will have more pace in it.”

Shaharyar Khan, the chairman of the Pakistan board, has clarified that the decision to end Javed Miandad’s tenure as coach was taken mutually by both Miandad and the board. According to a report in The News, Shaharyar said that while Bob Woolmer, the new coach, would receive full support from the board, it was wrong to state that the PCB had sacked Miandad.”I am sad that this impression has circulated around that we have sacked him. The truth is we spoke to him on certain issues and he indicated himself he could not continue and the financial part of the remaining months of his contractual period should be fulfilled by us.”I had a detailed discussion with Miandad and he told me that he wanted absolute power and authority as coach and he would produce results in the next 11 months. I told him we could not give him that absolute power and the coach would have to work in cooperation with the captain, manager and selectors. Miandad said if he didn’t get the powers it would be better for him to go.”I think `sacked’ or `terminated’ are the not correct words to use here. Because we didn’t terminate his contract we wanted to use his experience and skills elsewhere for the remaining part of his contract but Miandad preferred to leave with mutual understanding.”Reacting quickly to Miandad’s claim that the Pakistan board did not giving him enough authority in decision-making, Shaharyar offered the assurance that Woolmer would have complete power. “We will give Woolmer full authority and we will make sure he has the powers to implement his decisions on and off the field. If we get complaints about any player coming into line with the ground rules laid down by Woolmer, we will take action against him or them.”Woolmer’s first assignment will be the six-nation Asia Cup tournament, which starts on July 16 in Sri Lanka.

After taking a wicket in his first match back in international cricket, after a break of seven months, Harbhajan Singh pronounced himself satisfied. He spoke to Kolkata’s The Telegraph about what he had hoped for, and what actually happened.Anil Kumble was rested, and Harbhajan was told that he would play on the morning of the game. “It’s in the morning that I was informed Anilbhai is going to be rested and I would make the XI,” Harbhajan said. “But theek hai [that’s alright] at this level, one should always be ready for opportunities.”Harbhajan had last bowled a ball in competitive cricket during the first Test against Australia at Brisbane in December, and then, bowling with a finger that was just about to go under the surgeon’s knife, he had match figures of 1 for 169. This time though, things were different, even if they were figures of 1 for 20 in ten overs against Bangladesh.”For the first few moments, it did seem I was starting my career all over again … lekin, main khush hoon [but I’m happy]…Of course, I would have been happier had I managed a couple of wickets, but 20 off 10 isn’t bad in an ODI. I’m satisfied,” Harbhajan said. “I think the ball came out of the hand rather well and, except one delivery, I got things right. Now, it’s a question of getting more confident.”What about the magic ball, the one that he had spoken about before the Asia Cup began? “Sab time pe ho ga [It will happen when the time comes],” he said, “when I’m 100% sure of getting what I want.”