Trevor Hohns has denied that Australia’s much-maligned rotation policy had been scrapped. Hohns’s comments came after Allan Border, his fellow selector, had said that the rotation policy was “dead and buried”.According to Border, the policy, which resulted in the team composition being altered for every game, was responsible for Australia’s below-par batting in the VB Series against Pakistan and the West Indies. “We’ve had a fair bit to do with it and we’ve taken a bit of flak for it but I think it’s dead and buried,” said Border, talking on Fox Sports’ show. “I just think, going forward, we pick our best side and if guys need a break we give that to them accordingly.”But Hohns, who heads the selection panel, insisted that they would continue with a policy of resting players to avoid burnout. “We’ll always use a squad for one-day cricket as we have done for five years,” he told AAP. “It’s served its purpose … it’s about giving players who play both forms of the game a rest.”It’s not rotation but whether we use it to give players a rest in the future that remains to be seen. We’ll use it as we see fit.”Simon Katich, one of the beneficiaries of the rotation policy in recent times, supported it, telling ABC Sport, "I guess that for guys like myself who have been on the fringe, it’s a bonus to be playing. It’s a tough one and I can understand that guys who are permanent members of both teams wouldn’t want to be rested."

Scorecard

Anil Kumble triggered South Zone’s fightback and Vinay Kumar mopped up West’s tailenders as the Duleep Trophy game at Hyderabad was intruigingly poised at the end of the second day. After conceding a slender 20-run lead, West hit back through Irfan Pathan and reduced South to 141 for 5.Resuming on 71 for 3, West received a major jolt early in the day with Kumble bowling Sachin Tendulkar for just 4. Lakshmipathy Balaji snapped up two more quick wickets and had West reeling at 75 for 5. Niraj Patel, the Gujarat batsman who topped the Ranji Trophy charts, resisted for a while, making a gritty 43, and stitched together some useful partnerships with the lower order. Ramesh Powar, the star with the ball yesterday, chipped in with 31 but Kumar didn’t allow the tail to wag for too long and finished with impressive figures of 4 for 22.South lost wickets at regular intervals when they batted for the second time with Pathan removing both the openers. Zaheer Khan got through VVS Laxman’s defences while Powar dismissed Rahul Dravid for the second time in the game, with Niraj Patel taking the catch on both occasions. Venugopal Rao, a classy batsman from Andhra, prevented a further slump and remained unbeaten when stumps were drawn.With 25 wickets falling on the first two days the much-awaited encounter, played in a packed stadium, the match was set for an early finish. West still held the advantage they gained on the first day but they will know that facing Kumble on a bowler-friendly pitch in the final innings can be a deadly proposition.

Mohammad Kaif doesn’t hide his disappointment at being dropped from the Indian side for the first Test match against Pakistan. However, his job, he says, is to keep scoring runs which will feed him the confidence that is required when the big call comes. On his being dropped from the first Test
I am a little disappointed to be honest. Since I made a comeback in the Test matches, I’ve done reasonably well. I have been hitting the ball well and I was feeling confident. But these things happen and the selectors know what they are doing. But I keep the smile on my face.On what the focus will be during the tour game
I don’t think I’ve to prove much in this game as my domestic form has been quite okay, but all the games are important. And as the captain I know how to set an example for the boys as we’ve a young bunch of players, who are all looking forward to prove themselves.On how his young team would set a challenge for the visitors in the tour-opener
As a captain I’m happy that all the young guys have done well on the domestic circuit and as I said they are eager to prove their worth. Since it’s just a three-day affair I don’t see a result. But we won’t be taking this just like a practice match and will make things difficult for Pakistan.On how a player adjusts while playing at a high altitude
Players are used to playing at different places and they don’t find much of a difference. It’s just a case of mental adjustment. Players from the north are used to such conditions and the rest, too, travel across a lot, so it doesn’t affect the players.On whether there should be separate Test and ODI teams
Personally, the kind of confidence I gained facing the Australian bowlers was immense. It relieved a lot of pressure as I was making a combeback after a long gap. About fielding two separate teams, I don’t want to comment on that. But my job is only to keep scoring runs, which is my main goal.

Sri Lanka’s national players returned to practice on Tuesday to prepare for the forthcoming tsunami charity games in Abu Dhabi, but were forced to abandon their plans because Sri Lanka Cricket officials refused to release practice balls, claiming “proper protocol” had not been followed by the government-appointed interim committee.The 14 players were left kicking their heels in frustration as Brendon Kuruppu, the team manager, tried unsuccessfully to convince Sri Lanka Cricket’s operations department to hand over some balls. “We went to SSC for a net session but the basic requirements like balls and water were not there and we were forced to return an hour later,” Marvan Atapattu told The Island newspaper.Ray Illangakoon, Sri Lanka Cricket’s media manager, blamed the interim committee, telling the Daily Mirror: “We didn’t know anything about these practices. Nobody had informed us, so how could we issue balls? It is the interim committee that arranged this tournament and the practice and they should therefore take the blame.”The farcical mix-up is the latest manifestation of a board crisis that has become intensely embarrassing for Sri Lanka. The government is locked in a confusing legal power struggle with Sri Lanka Cricket after it suspended the registration of the association on the grounds of financial mismanagement.Thilanga Sumathipala, Sri Lanka Cricket’s president and the sports minister’s key adversary, defended the decision to not release the balls: “There is a protocol that needs to be followed for these practices, with the coach sending a list of things needed which is then approved by the chief executive and released by the director of cricket operations. People blame us when we don’t follow these protocols, claiming there is no accountability, and when we do follow the protocols we also get criticised.”Meanwhile, Jeewan Kumaratunga, the sports minister, was left furious after the incident, telling The Island: “This is a clear example that some of these individuals don’t have the interests of the game at their heart and it shows that my decision to appoint an interim committee was a right one.”Jayantha Dharmadasa, the chairman of the government’s interim committee, called for Sumathipala’s permanent removal from the administration: “People can have their differences but they should not mess with the cricketers. If cricket in Sri Lanka is to improve the man who is causing all the trouble must be removed.”Sri Lanka’s cricketers will try to practise today at 2pm, and Kuruppu told journalists that the issue would be resolved by then. Sri Lanka are sending a “Sri Lanka XI” to the three-match tournament, which will now start on May 1 after being delayed for two days to accommodate a veteran Indian team. They will travel without a coach or a physio.

Harbhajan Singh turned in his first outstanding performance of the season for Surrey, taking 6 for 36 in their Frizzell County Championship match against Hampshire at the Rose Bowl. Surrey scored 361 – where Harbhajan chipped in with a 16-ball 25 – and then stunned Hampshire, knocking them over for just 146. Martin Bicknell and Mohammad Akram provided the initial breakthroughs, dismissing the openers, and then Harbahajan took over, and cleaned up the middle-order.Irfan Pathan had a lukewarm game against Glamorgan, picking up no wickets in 19 overs while conceding 66 runs. Glamorgan racked up an impressive 584 for 3 declared, and did not even have to use the services of Sourav Ganguly, as Daniel Cherry (229), David Hemp (103) and Jonathan Hughes (134 not out) all made big scores. Middlesex were 96 for 1 in response at the end of the second day’s play.Dinesh Mongia enjoyed another good outing, top-scoring with 66 in Leicestershire’s first-innings 225 against Worcestershire. Mongia struck 13 boundaries in the course of his 82-ball innings, but was eventually bowled by Nadeem Malik, who picked up 5 for 71. In response Worcestershire reached 158 for 4.

The World Cricket Classic, a Twenty20 cricket competition set to feature former leading international players, has been launched in London.The Get Fit Foundation, an organisation which describes itself as the UK’s new national governing body for physical activity, announced plans for an over-35s tournament in Bermuda in April 2006. Among those set to appear include Martin Crowe, Aravinda de Silva, Joel Garner, Mike Gatting and Clive Rice.The organisers said that the event, which would be played on a floodlit all-weather pitch, would feature sides from the Australia, Bermuda, England, India, New Zealand, South Africa, Sri Lanka and West Indies, and explained that only players who had played international cricket, were over 35, and had not been banned by the ICC would be eligible.A number of former England and Wales Cricket Board employees are now involved in the Get Fit Foundation.Confirmed: Mike Gatting, Martin Crowe, Joel Garner, Chris Cairns, Dipak Patel, Gus Logie, Maninder Singh, Javagal Srinath, Clive Rice, Richard Snell, Gary Kirsten, Aravinda de Silva, Hashan Tillakaratne, Arjuna Ranatunga, Arun Lal, Danny Morrison, Trevor Franklin, Robin Smith, Madan Lal, Narendra Hirwani, Pat Symcox, Chris Harris, John Wright, Mark Greatbatch, Dion Nash, John Shepherd.

Australia 474 and 4 for 127 (Katich 39) lead India 246 (Patel 46, Ganguly 45, McGrath 4-55) by 355 runs
Scorecard and ball-by-ball details

India waged a grim battle in the face of a near-hopeless cause, first through their tailenders who hung on with gumption, and later through their bowlers, who prised out four Australian wickets on an absorbing third day at the Chinnaswamy Stadium in Bangalore. However, despite that grit, Australia were still overwhelming favourites to go one up in the series as they led by 355 runs when stumps were drawn.It wasn’t a day of pretty cricket, but it was utterly compelling nevertheless. Only 223 runs came in the day, but India fought an admirable trench war, keeping Australia at bay in the first half and then holding them on the leash after they had got off to a rollicking start. Harbhajan Singh bowled beautifully, much better than his figures (1 for 43) suggest, varying his length, pitching the ball on the stumps, and keeping the batsmen tentative.Seen in isolation, it was India’s day, but Australia have taken far too much ground in the first two for India to feel any degree of comfort. They will have to bat out of their skins for around five sessions on a wearing pitch to save the Test.Unlike the top order, the Indian tailenders gritted it out against some testing bowling and used up valuable time in the process. Parthiv Patel and Irfan Pathan led the defiant batting display, putting on 60 invaluable runs for the seventh wicket, as India extended their innings midway into the second session. They played out the opening spell from Glenn McGrath and Jason Gillespie with assurance – singles were cheered like centuries, and every ball negotiated prompted rapturous applause. Patel nudged and glided behind square, while Pathan made sure he played as straight as possible.The short ones were left alone – Patel weaved and ducked, refusing to be lured into the hook trap – while most of the balls outside off stump were left untouched. Patel tackled Shane Warne with soft hands, and waited for the ball to come on after turning slowly off the pitch.At the other end, Pathan showed streaks of aggression against Warne, dancing down the track and hoisting him for two fours. He fell to Warne immediately after the second of those lofted drives, given out for 31 to a dubious caught-behind decision as the ball deflected off the pad and sneaked through to Adam Gilchrist (7 for 196).Patel continued his obdurate ways as Anil Kumble, promoted ahead of Harbhajan , kept him company. Kumble, who was the first to walk out for a net session after India’s miserable batting display last evening, battled bravely in the face of a menacing spell from Michael Kasprowicz after lunch. He was rapped on the pads on a number of occasions before missing one that came in late and squirted away for four byes.

However, the new ball put an end to the tailend resistance: Gillespie gated Patel for 46, with one that came in late and uprooted middle stump (8 for 227). Kumble fell soon afterwards, and India finished with 246, nursing a slim hope of saving the game.That hope was slightly enhanced with the fourth ball of the Australian innings, as Irfan Pathan trapped Justin Langer in front with one that cut back in late. Replays showed that the ball might have gone marginally over the stumps. Simon Katich began with a flurry of fours, including an almost-perfect back-foot straight-drive off Pathan, and, with Matthew Hayden driving powerfully at the other end, the runs came in a rush.Harbhajan helped India stem the flow with a splendid piece of fielding at point. He charged towards the ball once Katich had pushed it to his right, picked up and threw down the stumps to leave Hayden (30) inches short of the crease (2 for 65). That proved to be a crucial point in the day, as Australia managed just 62 more in the last 26 overs, while losing two more wickets to the slow bowlers.India’s game-plan tomorrow will be similar to the final hour today, as they will want to delay Gilchrist’s declaration as long as possible. It might well turn out to be another absorbing day.

Luuk vav Troost, the Holland captain, has criticised the ECB for not allowing his team to participate in the English county season. Holland lost to Scotland in their last group match of the ICC Trophy – a game they needed to win to stand a chance of qualifying for the semi-finals – and Troost suggested that Scotland had an unfair advantage over the other teams.”They won’t even let us play in the C&G Trophy any more,” the BBC Sport website quoted van Troost as saying. “We didn’t play very well against Scotland and if we don’t improve we won’t qualify at all. Scotland are a much stronger team than they used to be after playing in the English one-day league. I’m very jealous – I don’t understand why we’re not in it.” Holland played in the C&G Trophy this year, losing to Warwickshire by 23 runs in the first round, but will not feature in the tournament from next year.Holland can still make it to the 2007 World Cup as the fifth qualifier – a position for which UAE, Denmark and Namibia are also in contention. Holland play the first of those qualifying games against Denmark on Saturday.

Surrey’s cricket manager, Steve Rixon, will be parting company with the county at the end of the season, after failing to agree terms for a new contract. Rixon signed a two-year contract when he joined Surrey from New South Wales in 2004, but was unable to ignite their glory years of the early 2000s.”I’d like to thank Steve for all of his hard work over the past two seasons,” said Paul Sheldon, Surrey’s chief executive. “We wish him all the best in the future.”Rixon stated: “I have enjoyed my two years at Surrey and hope that I have begun to instil a new culture within the dressing-room. I hope that whoever Surrey appoint as the next manager can continue to progress the side and further develop the talented young players at the club.”

Division One

Points Table
Tight bowling by Essex’s Danish Kaneria, and an innings of 88 by Will Jefferson allowed Essex through to a 12-run win over Hampshire, and the National League title. Jefferson aside, there was little of much substance from the rest of Essex’s innings, with both Grant and Andy Flower falling for single-figures. John Crawley got Hampshire off to an excellent start – he and Nic Pothas put on 95 for the first wicket. But wickets tumbled at regular intervals, and Danish Kaneria stemmed the flow of runs to take 4 for 26 from 9 overs to seal a win for Essex.Northamptonshire overcame a stuttering run-chase to beat Nottinghamshire by four wickets, with five balls to spare. Nottinghamshire failed to bat out their 40 overs, falling to 207 all out thanks to a five wicket-haul from Damien Wright. Chris Read top-scored with 45 from 50 balls, but Nottinghamshire’s eventual score of 207 was never likely to trouble Northamtonshire. A partnership of 83 between Usman Afzaal and Martin Love set them up nicely, but wickets continued to fall and Love was dismissed for 59 by Younis Khan, one of three wickets for the Pakistani. Despite losing their sixth wicket, Riki Wessels and Ben Phillips saw the home-side through by four wickets.

Division Two

Points TableA brilliant, destructive innings of 88 by Ian Blackwell saw Somerset through to a comfortable five-wicket victory over Surrey. Surrey’s innings started promisingly, with a 65 from James Benning and a pair of forties from Jon Batty and Mark Butcher. Arul Suppiah took three wickets with his left-arm spin, but Surrey ended with a useful score of 237 for 7. In reply, losing Matthew Wood for a duck and both John Francis and Arul Suppiah cheaply. This brought Blackwell to the crease, who smashed 88 from just 53 balls. Combined with James Hildreth, whose unbeaten innings of 75 was equally excellent, albeit less destructive, the pair took Somerset home by five wickets, with more than five overs to spare.A hundred partnership between Ant Botha and Graeme Welch was the catalyst for Derbyshire who defeated Yorkshire at Scarborough. Yorkshire set Derbyshire 220 to win, but only Michael Lumb, with 69, and Joe Sayers with 41 made significant contributions. Derbyshire, too, struggled early on in their reply, with Deon Kruis taking two quick wickets to reduce the visitors to 85 for 4. When Luke Sutton was run out for 27, Derbyshire still needed 102 to win, and did so comfortably thanks to Welch and Botha, both of whom hit half centuries.Durham easily defeated Scotland by 93 runs through a professional all round performance. Gordon Muchall and Gareth Breese were the key run-makers, Muchall’s 79 including eight fours and a six. Ryan Watson took 4 for 36 then provided the only real resistance to Durham’s attack with an impressive 86. Breese, Brad Williams and Liam Plunkett took two wickets each.