Tino Best has been recalled to the West Indian squad for the second Test against Pakistan at Kingston, as a replacement for his fellow Barbadian Fidel Edwards, who suffered a strained hamstring during their 276-run victory in the first match at Bridgetown.Best is the only change to the side that ended West Indies’ run of 10 defeats out of 12 in all forms of the game this season. Edwards will be sidelined for at least ten days, but Ian Bradshaw has fully recovered from the viral infection which ruled him out of the first match. Dwayne Bravo, meanwhile, is undergoing treatment on an ankle injury.West Indies’ convenor of selectors, Joey Carew said he was “very elated” about the first-Test victory and hoped that it was a sign of better things to come. “The team played hard and got the rewards for their efforts,” he said. “I agree with coach that a lot of work still has to be done but there is a little light at the end of the tunnel.”West Indies squad Chris Gayle, Devon Smith, Wavell Hinds, Ramnaresh Sarwan, Brian Lara, Shivnarine Chanderpaul (capt), Dwayne Bravo, Courtney Browne (wk), Corey Collymore, Daren Powell, Reon King, Ian Bradshaw, Tino Best.

Dinanath Ramnarine, the head of the West Indies Players Association (WIPA), maintained yesterday that money was not an issue in senior players rejecting contracts from the West Indies Cricket Board (WICB) and opting out of the upcoming tour of Sri Lanka.However, Roger Brathwaite, the WICB chief executive, insisted that it was.The two spoke on the ongoing impasse between the two bodies on BBC’s Test Match Special broadcast during the NatWest Series final between England and Australia at Lord’s. Ramnarine noted that the WIPA presented “a verbal figure” of US$200,000 as the sponsorship fee that covers players’ commitments such as appearing at the official sponsor’s functions, wearing the appropriate gear and signing bats and team sheets.”We moved to US$150,000 and moved again to US$125,000 but we never agreed that was what our final figure would be,” he said. “We were in negotiating mood and that is how you negotiate.”I want to make it absolutely clear that money for going on this tour was not the issue,” Ramnarine told interviewer Jonathan Agnew. “We were prepared to negotiate but we got a response in respect of the money value (for the sponsorship fee) from the board at 7.40 pm Thursday after we had already been informed at 2 p.m. that a new team would be picked, “he continued. “I want to make it absolutely clear that money for going on this tour was not the issue because there are far more important issues.”He charged that while the WIPA wanted all issues, including the WICB’s sponsorship agreement to go to arbitration before Justice Adrian Saunders, the WICB was seeking “very narrow terms of reference”. Brathwaite said he was “surprised” to hear Ramnarine say that money was not “at the heart of the issue.””Certainly if money was not an issue, the original team would have been in Sri Lanka,” he said. He repeated the WICB’s earlier position that, with a deficit of US$6 million budgeted for the year leading to an overall end of year deficit of US$17 to $18 million, it was “just not able to afford” what WIPA was seeking. Its offer was US$50,000. Asked whether, even at this late stage, the matter could be resolved so that the original, full strength team would make the tour, Brathwaite replied: “I never rule out anything. I’m the eternal optimist and I will keep on trying, based on the guidelines given by my board.”But, he acknowledged, the board had made a decision that the team on its way to Sri Lanka would be the one to play the two Tests and in the triangular one-day series also involving India.

Western Province wrapped up their SuperSport Series match against Boland on the stroke of tea on the third day with victory by an innings and 20 runs.Resuming on 189 for 8, Boland survived just 3 overs on a partly cloudy morning before Adams cleaned up the tail. HD Ackerman had no hesitation in enforcing the follow-on.Alan Dawson produced another fine opening spell. Bowling straight and full, he yorked both openers, Henry Davids completing a pair, and had further reward in a long opening spell when Gerhard Strydom trod on his wicket attempting to play to leg.Louis Wilkinson batted with some authority before being bowled by Claude Henderson and Vinod Kambli just looked to be getting into his stride when he provided Neil Johnson at first slip with a regulation catch. Any realistic hope Boland might have had of saving the match dwindled in the last over before lunch when Steve Palframan fell to Charl Willoughby, attempting to hook a ball which he should rather have left.Willoughby struck again immediately after lunch when new batsman Jacques van Wyk was leg before without offering a shot. Willem du Toit assisted Con de Lange in raising the 100 before holing out in the covers, at which stage Boland required 115 to avoid the innings defeat with just 2 wickets in hand.Charl Langeveldt dug himself in while de Lange played several attractive shots, being especially harsh on Paul Adams. The pair raised a face-saving 95 run partnership for the ninth wicket before Dawson atoned for an earlier miss with a good catch to dismiss Langeveldt.De Lange had, in the meantime, raised his third fifty of the season with a powerful pull off Willoughby. The Boland left-arm spinner has had a marvellous season for a man who had not even reached 30 in a First Class match previously. Henry Williams, predictably, did not last long. Indeed, if Ashwell Prince had held on to a difficult chance, Boland would not have reached the relative respectability of 200.WP earned 18.82 points to go to the top of Pool A. Prince edged out fellow centurion Gary Kirsten to take the Man of the Match award.

Muttiah Muralitharan has signed as Lanka IOC’s brand manager in a lucrative sponsorship deal. The company had showed interest in Muralitharan after the Lanka IOC Asia Cup held earlier this year.M Nageswaran, the managing director of the company, said, “This tie-up between Lanka IOC and Muralitharan effectively brings together two major players in their respective fields, with the hope of working together as a team to further promote and develop not only the petroleum industry in the country, but also Sri Lanka as a whole.” Nageswaran also spoke about how the company and Muralitharan were part of the `500-club’: one had more than 500 Test wickets, the other was a Fortune-500 company, and both were on everybody’s lips.”Not only is Muralitharan loved and admired in his country of origin, but he is also a much-respected figure the world over. Having faced and successfully overcome many obstacles in his rise to the top position in the cricketing world, Muralitharan is an example of how strength and determination can conquer any obstacles placed in its way. Similarly, ensuring international standards of service and meeting stringent quality and eco-friendly standards, Lanka IOC’s operations in Sri Lanka will also uphold those virtues of strength and determination.”

Tino Best, the West Indies fast bowler, has been fined 50% of his match fees for bowling beamers during the second Test at Kandy. Best was found to have breached the ICC’s Code of Conduct, with Mike Procter, the match referee, ruling that Best’s conduct was not ‘within the spirit of the game.’Best was suspended from bowling in the second innings of the match after two beamers in quick succession. He was also warned in the first innings for bowling a similar delivery.All Level 1 breaches carry a minimum penalty of an official reprimand and a maximumpenalty of 50% of a player’s match fee. The charge was brought by on-field umpires Simon Taufel and Tony Hill, TV umpire Tyrone Wijewardene and fourth umpire Gamini Silva.Procter reached his conclusion after a hearing attended by the umpires, Best and Tony Howard, the West Indies team manager.

Darren Stevens, who was not offered a new contract by Leicestershire at the end of last season, has signed a two-year deal with Kent to bolster their middle-order batting.Stevens, 28, made his debut for Leicestershire in 1997, but failed to establish a place in the side until Aftab Habib and Ben Smith had left. He toured with the England Academy side in 2002-03, was in the final squad of 30 for the last World Cup, and has made over 600 runs in each of the last three seasons. But the feeling lingered at Grace Road that he never quite fulfilled the potential that his vibrant strokeplay suggested.”A number of counties have shown an interest in me,” he said, “but the opportunity to play on good wickets and in a side with real ambition persuaded me to come to Kent. I feel I still have much to prove and look forward to doing so in the seasons ahead.”Kent recently lost Ed Smith to Middlesex and Alex Loudon to Warwickshire, and were among the counties that failed to sign Kevin Pietersen, who eventually went to Hampshire.Graham Johnson, the Kent chairman, said: “We look forward to Darren adding to the list of Kent players who have represented their country. We know that he has the desire to fulfil his undoubted potential and felt that Kent would give him the best possible opportunity to do so. This is another important step in the development of our squad for next season.”

It has been announced this afternoon that Warren Hegg, the Lancashire and England wicketkeeper, has retired from first-class cricket. Following the injury to his hand in last week’s championship match against Essex at Chelmsford, Hegg is unable to take part in the final two fixtures of the season for his county.He had announced his intention to retire in May, but had hoped he would play a full season with Lancashire. Speaking from Old Trafford this afternoon, Hegg, 37, said: “I’m extremely disappointed not to be playing at Old Trafford again. I’d always hoped that my last game would be at Old Trafford, but it’s not to be. I can’t complain however, I’ve had a relatively injury free career and getting an injury is an occupational hazard. You have to accept it, and move on. I’ve been so lucky, enjoyed a great career and leave with some fantastic memories.”Hegg played two Tests for England, both against Australia, on the 1998-99 tour; he made his debut for Lancashire in 1986. Both his batting and wicketkeeping have always been consistent, and he was appointed captain of Lancashire in 2002, taking his side to third place (2002) and second place (2003) in Division One of the championship. In 348 matches, he scored 11,302 runs at 27.90.Jack Simmons, Lancashire’s chairman, said: “I am greatly saddened Warren has not had the opportunity to break George Duckworth’s wicket keeping record of 925 dismissals; falling 6 short of the total. However injury is one of the things you put up with and part and parcel of the game.”Warren has been an exemplary professional and a great ambassador for Lancashire County Cricket Club and cricket in general. It is a shame he can’t finish his career at Old Trafford. He is always welcome at Old Trafford and the Club would like to place on record its thanks for his loyal service to the county and wishes him all the best his future career.”

Scorecard & ball-by-ball details
How they were out

Two earnest if not express mediumpacers and two moderate if unspectacular batsmen made life miserable for the Sri Lankans when they took on the Mumbai Cricket Association President’s XI at the Wankhede Stadium in a one-day practice match that went right down to the wire. There was no stand-out performance for the Sri Lankans – Farveez Maharoof made a spirited 64 – and apart from testing their fitness in hot and humid conditions, little was achieved as they slumped to a three-wicket loss.After scoring 267, and allowing the MCA XI to get off to a fine start, the Sri Lankans used all their experience to wrest back control of the game. However, it would not prove to be enough as the MCA XI just squeezed through, needing two to win off the last ball as Dilhara Fernando sent down a no-ball that the batsmen managed to scamper a single off.Early warning signs for the Sri Lankans showed up when, put in to bat, the top-order batsmen failed to apply themselves. Usman Malvi, a diligent bowler, gave MCA XI the early breakthroughs, having Marvan Atapattu caught behind, Kumar Sangakkara caught and bowled and Dilhara Lokuhettige, the Supersub, trapped in front. The one batsman to get some measure of the bowling was Sanath Jayasuriya, who cut over cover, and pulled well, racing to 34 from just 26 balls, with seven boundaries, before pulling up with an injured shoulder.From 30 without loss the Sri Lankans had slipped to 57 for 3, and Nilesh Kulkarni, the captain, wisely introduced Abhishek Nair, the promising young seamer, into the attack with two new batsmen at the crease. Nair held a steady line and length, giving away little in terms of width, and the rewards came soon enough. Mahela Jayawardene found the point fielder, Russel Arnold tickled one to the keeper and Upul Chandana was caught at midwicket.If it was not for the cool head and clean strokes of Tillakaratne Dilshan, things could have been much worse for the Sri Lankans. He came to the wicket with the score on 82 for 4, and helped add 53 for the fifth wicket. He became the first batsman to reach 50, and looked good for more, but fell after a mix-up with Chandana left him stranded. Chandana (37) did his best to make amends, but when he departed, in the 47th over, with 222 on the board, it looked like the Sri Lankans would find themselves a few runs short.Maharoof then powered his way to 64, clattering four sixes in the dying moments of the innings, using up just 44 balls for his innings. His method was simple – he gave himself room and smashed the ball over cover, and followed that up with big heaves over midwicket. His innings took Sri Lanka to 267 for 9 in 50 overs.The target was stiff enough, but Vinayak Mane and Nishit Shetty, after the early loss of Praful Waghela, built a sensible partnership that put MCA XI in a great position to mount an assault on the target. Mane, diminutive and compact, played well within himself, taking his own time to get well set. Shetty, for his part, survived an early let off when Arnold put down a straightforward chance at cover, but settled down to play some pleasing strokes. The sapping heat did not make life easy for the Sri Lankans, and just after the half-way mark, they finally got some respite as the 113-run second wicket stand was broken.Shetty, who had batted well for 58, mis-hit a pull shot off Nuwan Zoysa to Dilhara Fernando, and the Sri Lankans had a serious chance to claw their way back into the game. But Mane, in the company of the experienced Amol Muzumdar, pressed forward. He was looking good for a century when, against the grain of play, he was cleaned up by a quick one from Chandana. Mane’s solid 75 included 7 boundaries, and when he was dismissed a further 83 runs were needed, off as many balls, with 8 wickets in hand.With the set batsman dismissed, Muzumdar took over the scoring, slowly opening his shoulders and playing a few more strokes, taking a few more chances. But the fall of Parag Madkaikar soon after meant that the momentum swung away from the MCA XI. The required run-rate mounted, and several close-run singles ended in one risk too many being taken and Nair being run out. This turned out to be a blessing in disguise, as Wilkin Mota brought fresh legs and a free-swinging bat to the middle and struck a couple of bold boundaries to wrest back the initiative. With 16 needed off as many balls Muzumdar (56) played a needless big shot, and holed out to square-leg. From then on, it was simply a question of taking the odd chance and hustling to victory, which Malvi (7 not out) and Samant (5 not out) managed, with one ball to spare.

Sri LankansMarvan Atapattu c Samant b Malvi 7 (30 for 1)
Kumar Sangakkara c & b Malvi 6 (57 for 2)
Dilhara Lokuhettige lbw b Malvi 0 (57 for 3)
Mahela Jayawardene c Mane b Nair 13 (82 for 4)
Russel Arnold c Samant b Nair 35 (135 for 5)
Thilan Samraweera c Mane b Nair 0 (137 for 6)
Tillakaratne Dilshan run out (Samant) 50 (175 for 7)
Upul Chandana c Muzumdar b Kulkarni 37 (222 for 8)
Nuwan Zoysa c Kulkarni b Shetty 1 (237 for 9)
Mumbai President’s XIPraful Waghela c Dilshan b Zoysa 4 (14 for 1)
Nishit Shetty c Dilhara b Zoysa 58 (127 for 2)
Vinayak Mane b Chandana 75 (183 for 3)
Parag Madkaikar c Dilshan b Chandana 12 (205 for 4)
Abhishek Nair run out (Sangakkara) 12 (222 for 5)
Amol Muzumdar C Samaraweera b Fernando 56 (353 for 6)
Wilkin Mota c Maharoof b Dilshan 24 (257 for 7)

Australia suffered a double injury blow today with Shaun Tait and Brad Hogg ruled out of the Super Series. Tait is expected to miss at least three months with a right-shoulder problem while Hogg suffered torn left-knee cartilage at training yesterday.Stuart Clark, the New South Wales bowler who was twice on standby during the Ashes series, will step in for Tait during the one-day series and Cameron White, the Victoria legspinner, replaces Hogg. Tait experienced pain while bowling for his Adelaide club side Sturt on Saturday and again during training this morning.A Cricket Australia spokesman said diagnostic scans and a review by the specialist Greg Hoy showed Tait had torn cartilage and he was expected to undergo surgery later in the week. “Cricket Australia’s medical staff anticipate that he will be sidelined for a minimum of three months,” the spokesman said.The injury is a severe blow for Tait after he performed solidly in two Tests during the Ashes series and was in line for a limited-overs debut at the Telstra Dome in Melbourne this week. He will have to recover ahead of schedule to play a Test this summer and will probably look to the South Africa tour in March for an international recall.Hogg, who is expected to miss between three and six weeks, was also disappointed to pull out of the three ODIs and will have surgery tomorrow. “I will get back to Perth tonight and get straight on the operating table tomorrow lunch-time,” Hogg told at the official tournament launch today. “It’s disappointing, but that’s the way it goes. I may never have an opportunity like this again, to be a part of such a prestigious event.”Errol Alcott, the Australia physiotherapist, said Hogg was in pain after a training session on Sunday. “MRI scans taken earlier today have revealed the cartilage tear,” he said, “but we are confident that with the correct surgery he will make a full recovery.”Ricky Ponting said White was likely to come into the team for the first of the three matches on Wednesday. “There’s a good opportunity for an up-and-coming legspinner to get a chance to play some cricket for Australia,” he said. “With a negative there always comes a positive, so that’s the positive side to it.”White, 22, knows the Australian set-up after touring India in 2004, and he picked up the wickets of Shahid Afridi and Chris Gayle in the World XI’s warm-up against Victoria on Sunday. He has played 39 first-class games for Victoria, who he has captained since 2003-04, and 38 domestic limited-overs matches.

It appears that other Zimbabwe cricketers might be about to follow Tatenda Taibu’s lead and quit the national team and are due to meet on Monday to discuss following his lead.A fortnight ago 74 players signed a petition demanding the resignation of Peter Chingoka, the ZC chairman, and Ozias Bvute, the MD. The board has done little since then, and when Taibu met with Chingoka earlier this week, it became clear to him that the board was not planning to address those demands in the near future.Some of the national side met with Clive Field, the players’ representative, yesterday. “We discussed at some length the Taibu development and where it left them all personally,” he said. “We decided they should go away for the weekend, consider their own feelings and talk to their families. We won’t be making a collective decision on Monday. That wouldn’t be relevant. Each man must make his own stay-or-go decision. There is a lot of concern about their own careers and also the team situation.”Taibu was a quality batsman and wicketkeeper and undoubtedly inspirational as captain. His departure is a big setback for the others. He will leave a considerable void. In addition, many of the other national players have no other job and they are worried.”Zimbabwe has lost a stream of their best players since the 2003 World Cup. Andy Flower and Henry Olonga both quit after the tournament, Sean Ervine, Grant Flower and Ray Price are all now playing in England, and in the last three months Craig Wishart, Stuart Carlisle and Heath Streak have turned their backs on the side.It is thought that some of those, particularly Streak and Taibu, would be prepared to return to the national colours, other commitments permitting, were the domestic mess to be sorted.A dossier compiled by the provincial chairmen detailing a large number of allegations against the board is understood to have been delivered to the ICC, although Cricinfo is still waiting for a response to a query as to whether this will alter the ICC’s approach to the growing crisis.Some board officials have been questioned by representatives of the Reserve Bank of Zimbabwe over allegations that the country’s foreign exchange rules have been broken. Those investigations are said to be ongoing.