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Inzamam-ul-Haq and Bob Woolmer refused to speculate about their futures after this humiliating defeat, but Pakistan cricket can certainly expect a night of the long knives similar to that which followed the debacle in 2003. Both men suggested that winning the toss had evened up the contest, though neither was prepared to make excuses for a diabolical batting display that reduced them to 72 for 6 before a late flourish took the total to 132.”We have to wait and see what happens next,” Woolmer said. “Basically, our World Cup is over. I didn’t think their bowling was anything special. From my perspective, we just didn’t score enough runs.” Inzamam chose to sing from the same sheet, but he wasn’t quite as dismissive of Ireland’s bowling effort. “The pitch was difficult, they bowled well and we batted poorly,” he said, face downcast after what he called “the worst day of my cricketing career”.For Inzamam, whose World Cup adventure started back in the halcyon year of 1992, it will all end with a meaningless outing – for Pakistan anyway – against Zimbabwe. But even in this darkest of hours, he didn’t lash out at those who had let him down so badly. When asked if Mohammad Yousuf’s dismissal could be cited as the moment when the tide turned to swamp Pakistan, Inzamam said: “He was set, and we needed a big score from him. But when everyone has flopped, it’s not right to pinpoint any one thing as a turning point.”Before taking charge of Pakistan in 2004, Woolmer was closely associated with the ICC’s High Performance Programme, which has endeavoured to improve standards of play in the Associate nations. And while he didn’t think that such countries were ready to mix it with the big boys on a day-to-day basis, Woolmer reckoned Ireland’s triumph was vindication of the effort put in.”I’m not going to say that they’ll close the gap soon,” he said. “There were extenuating circumstances today. It was a grassy pitch, and the toss was important. But I’m fully in favour of 16 teams. Playing against such teams can be a banana-skin, and you saw that today, with Bangladesh beating India as well. I think you can say that March 17, 2007 will be a historic day for cricket.”Woolmer’s contract runs out after the World Cup, and an extension is unlikely after this reverse. He wouldn’t say whether this was the end of the road as far as coaching international teams was concerned. “I’d like to sleep on my future as coach,” he said. “I’ve had bad days before, the worst of them was at Edgbaston in 1999 [when his South Africa team missed out on the final despite the game ending in a tie]. Things like this happen in cricket.”

Inzamam too had no idea what the future would hold. “It’s only been a few minutes and I can’t say what I’ll do,” he said. “Since we haven’t performed, changes are likely and needed too.” Asked if it was a heartbreaking way to end his World Cup innings he said: “Every player has to go some day. I’ve had my innings, and you can’t really choose the way you leave.”To add to Inzamam’s woes he was fined 50% of his match fee for Pakistan’s slow over rate, which fell four short. Inzamam pleaded not guilty to the level two offence, but Chris Broad, the ICC match referee, ruled against Pakistan’s captain and each player was also docked 20% of their payment.Despite the setbacks, there was still time for a droll moment, as someone asked what sort of reaction he anticipated when the team arrived home. “In my view, there won’t be a reception,” said Inzamam poker-faced, as a laugh escaped Woolmer’s lips.When asked what went wrong, Woolmer didn’t sugar-coat his words. “We hit balls in the air to fielders, we stopped balls with our pads in front of the stumps, that’s what went wrong. We’re sorry we performed like we have. We didn’t mean to do it.”It’s unlikely that such an explanation will wash with a nation in mourning. And with India also humbled, more than half the subcontinent certainly won’t be engaged in any St Patrick’s Day revelry.

Pre-season friendlies are normally no more significant than batsmen getting time in the middle and bowlers building miles in their legs. However, Glamorgan’s early season warm-up match against Sussex at Hove marked a milestone for Simon Jones, the England paceman, who is completing his recovery from yet another knee injury.Since his starring role in the 2005 Ashes, Jones has barely set foot on a cricket field, and when he has it has usually resulted in him limping off. His comeback for Glamorgan during the 2006 season, following his aborted return on England’s tour of India, lasted four matches before he broke down against Ireland in the C&G Trophy.Now he is trying again, following a winter spent working on his knee at Loughborough, Glamorgan and latterly a warm-weather stint in Cape Town. Statistically the first results have been modest, eight overs for 27 spread over two spells not a full pace, but at this stage it is about the small steps.Ahead of his comeback, Jones said he was feeling confident: “I’m back to bowling at full pace occasionally. I hit 79mph off three steps last week and I’ll be back bowling at 90mph soon; I’m confident now as my knee feels strong. I’ve no negative demons. I’m probably in the best nick of my life.”However, despite the problems England’s pace attack has suffered in Jones’s absence the selectors will be wary of rushing him back into the side especially with the first Test against West Indies starting on May 17, only four weeks into the season. Glamorgan have two Championship matches and a University fixture during the opening stages of the summer, which will give a better indication of Jones’s long term prognosis.

Two of greatest cricketers produced by Barbados and the West Indies were honoured for their outstanding contributions to the game on Sunday night.Sir Clyde Walcott and Wes Hall, who were brilliant players and highly-respected administrators, were inducted into the Sticky Wicket West Indies Hall of Fame during a lavish ceremony in Antigua at the Stanford Cricket Ground.Sir Clyde died last August at age 80. He was an outstanding batsman and member of the famous 3Ws. After his playing days he became chairman of West Indies selectors, manager of the team, president of the West Indies Cricket Board (WICB) and the first non-Englishman to be appointed president of the ICC. He had a superb batting record, making 3 798 runs in 44 Tests with 15 centuries, at an average of 56.68. He was represented at the ceremony by his wife Lady Walcott and son, Michael.In his heyday Hall was a barrel-chested fast bowler and was the best in the game in the 1960s, and ended his career with 192 wickets in 48 matches. After hanging up his boots he too was chairman of selectors and manager of the Windies team, and was also president of the WICB. He was a minister of Government in the 1980s. Fast bowling legend Michael Holding played in the West Indies with both Hall and Sir Clyde as manager. In his tribute to Sir Clyde, he outlined how he was instrumental in helping to develop his career especially when he had been struggling in the unfamiliar conditions on the 1976 tour of England. Holding said Sir Clyde genuinely cared about people and was an individual who instilled discipline.Holding referred to Hall as “chief” and described the 69-year-old as a “great” manager and stressed he was “still a great man”. He pointed out that Hall, who also served as manager after retiring from international cricket, was very accommodating and had made time for players under his charge.In his address, Hall said he was honoured to be inducted into the Hall of Fame, which was the brainchild of Texan billionaire Allen Stanford. Hall also noted that his aim was to continue to make a contribution to the game.Lady Walcott spoke to the media and said she was thrilled by the tribute paid to Sir Clyde. She also noted that if he were still alive, Sir Clyde would have graciously accepted the honour.The event was attended by several other outstanding cricketers including Barbados National Hero Sir Garfield Sobers, Sir Viv Richards, Sir Everton Weekes, Lance Gibbs, Joel Garner, Gordon Greenidge, Desmond Haynes, Richie Richardson, Curtly Ambrose, Courtney Walsh, Ian Bishop, and Colin Croft.

Ajit Wadekar, the former Indian captain has said that an Indian coach would be better suited for the requirements of the Indian team. He said that a foreign coach coming from a different cultural background generally encounters a communication gap while dealing with the team.”Personally, I believe because of the Indian culture, psyche and varied backgrounds of the Indian players, they can subconsciously form groups. A foreign coach may not be able to understand the nuances or work ethics as well as an Indian coach,” said Wadekar.The former captain was critical of Greg Chappell as the Indian coach and he said so in not unclear terms. “Well, if you look at the sharp dip in world ratings of Indian team, it shows that he failed. Perhaps, because he tried to implement what might have suited the Australian system,” said Wadekar.When asked about the ways in which Indian cricket could be improved, Wadekar, the first Indian captain to lead the team to series victories abroad, said that the best thing to do would be to prepare more sporting pitches in the country. He also said that participation of all star players should be made mandatory in domestic matches to help up-and-coming cricketers improve their game.Wadekar was not happy with the reactions which came after the Indian team’s shock defeat to Bangladesh in the World Cup. He said that the defeat was more of an exception. “That was only an aberration and after the recent Indian success we know where they stand in world cricket,” he said.Wadekar also voiced his worry over the frequent breakdown suffered by India’s young fast bowlers. “It is really disturbing that so many young fast bowlers are getting injured. There is something seriously wrong. The support staff and the physio should make comprehensive tests before declaring a player completely fit. On their part, the players have to be honest and never fake injuries. They should look up to the great Kapil Dev as the perfect role model,” said Wadekar.

In terms of ratio, the civilian population and hence the cricketers of theFalkland Islands are amongst the most protected in the world.Just 35 miles from the British overseas territory’s capital, Stanley, around2000 members of the British Armed Forces at Mount Pleasant Military Basestand ready in case Argentina seeks a 20 year anniversary reinactment of itsinvasion of the South Atlantic outcrop, protecting a population of 2,800.The ‘Civvies’ demonstrate their gratitude by usually losing the biggestevent in Falkland Islands cricket, the annual South Seas Ashes match betweenthe Governor’s XII and the Combined British Forces XIIThe 2002 version took place last month under the keen observation ofterritorial Governor, Mr. Donald Lamont and a smattering of players’ friends& relatives.The Mount Pleasant Oval Cricket Ground, with matting laid over a cementpitch, is situated at the Army base of the same name. It is arguably theworld’s second most southerly cricket venue, after Chile’s Punta Arenas(although it may rank third if rumours of an annual match at the Mawson Basein Antartica are true).The 2002 South Seas Ashes match got underway with CBF XII captain, FlightLieutenant, Dave Howey winning the toss and electing to bowl.The ‘Civvies’ found the military discipline of British Forces opening attackof Phillips and Farr overwhelming, the pair bowling very tightly to have theGovernor’s XI reeling at 25-4 after the first 10 overs.It was left to Welsh born power station worker and alleged wildlifeexpert/conservationist, Mike Bingham, to stop the procession of wickets andthanks to him the Governor’s XI avoided lowering their previous lowest totalof 63 to finish 77 all out in 26 overs.Bingham’s 35 was the second highest individual score in the 10 year historyof the South Seas Ashes. He received support from Mike Barton with 11.The Civilian pace attack then embarked on a first innings total defencewhich initally resembled Western Australia’s famous Gillette Cup semi-finalwin in 1976 protecting just 76.Barrister, Richard Marlor, aided by Barton, Steve Tyldsley, and Bradfieldreduced the British Forces to 22-5 in 12 overs. Marlor was to finish withthe figures of 5-1-5-3.Alas, there was to be no Dennis Lillee-like performance to finish the jobfor the Governor’s XII at Mt. Pleasant last month and the British Forcesproceeded to the target without losing another wicket in the 21st over.Health (31) and Green (11) led the recovery for the British Forces.Most personnel of the British Forces are stationed in the Falklands for afour month tour of duty, so like many non-Test countries and territories,the game’s true health is reflected in the performance of the permanentresidents.The progressive Falkland Islands Cricket Association (FICA), keenly aware ofthat, has linked up with the International Cricket Council’s DevelopmentProgramme, and is hoping an ICC representative can visit next year.FICA officials are planning a tour to Puntas Arenas on the turbulent Straitsof Magellan and are seeking a fortnight long visit from a First Class coachnext southern summer to complement their development work with juniors.

Bishan Singh Bedi, a former Indian captain, has delivered a scathing salvo against another, Sunil Gavaskar, in the wake of recent happenings in Indian cricket.Bedi termed Gavaskar a “destructive” influence and felt he “always liked power without accountability”. These comments come in the wake of Gavaskar criticising Dav Whatmore in one of his columns, despite being part of the committee that was to decide the next coach.”Cricket circles had immense and blind respect for him [as a cricketer] and he successfully used this to ensure that board officials remained in awe of him,” Bedi told , a weekly Indian magazine. “He wants the glamour, the position and if there are any financial gains so much the better … but he does not want any accountability. He’s always liked power without accountability.”Bedi was critical of Gavaskar’s role at the National Cricket Academy, where he was the director from 2001 to 2006. “I had a lot of time for his batting but never as a thought leader,” said Bedi. “You tell me what his contribution has been. He is destructive, there is nothing positive. I remember the time I was called by the then NCA director Brijesh Patel, along with Erapalli Prasanna and VV Kumar, to train spinners there. We did not hear at all from NCA chairman Gavaskar before, during or after the camp. I also recall his presiding over a captains and coaches meeting where he gave me the impression that he was not even listening.”I can’t forget the time he once told a team meeting ‘The day I stop thinking of money, I will stagnate’.”Gavaskar has been embroiled in a few controversies in the last few years, one of them involving writing about how John Wright, India’s former coach, was abused by the players only after Wright’s term ended. More recently he suggested John Emburey as a candidate for the job of Indian coach despite the fact that his coaching credentials were less than impressive.

Australia have backed their World Cup-winning squad to repeat the job at the Twenty20 World Championship, with Brett Lee the only addition to the outfit that was successful in the Caribbean. Lee missed the World Cup with a serious ankle injury but has been named in Australia’s 15-man group that will compete in South Africa in September.The same players make up Australia’s 14-man squad to tour India straight after the World Championship, although Brad Haddin was not included for that trip. Australia’s seven-match ODI series with India begins at Bangalore on September 29, five days after the Twenty20 final.Lee replaces Glenn McGrath, who retired after the trip to the West Indies, while Shaun Tait has also been chosen as he recovers from elbow surgery. Australia opted not to pluck any Twenty20 specialists from state cricket or test any untried talent in South Africa.”We looked at the performances of some of the top domestic Twenty20 players, but ultimately we felt that the World Cup-winning side would adapt well and deserved the opportunity to prove that they can perform to the highest standards in both shorter forms of the game,” Andrew Hilditch, the chairman of selectors, said. “It’s fantastic to have Brett Lee back, fully fit and resuming his spot in the Australian side. He’s back to training and raring to go.”Several players who must have come close to breaking into the Twenty20 side, including Cameron White, Luke Ronchi and Adam Voges, will have their own taste of overseas action in September on Australia A’s tour of Pakistan. Voges will captain the group of 14, with White as his deputy.Phil Jaques and Chris Rogers will make the trip, which might serve as an audition for Australia’s vacant Test opener position. As expected, the outstanding performers from Australia’s domestic season in 2006-07 were rewarded, including three players in their 30s. Two of those older members, David Hussey and Ashley Noffke, are yet to make their debuts for Australia.Stuart MacGill’s presence confirms that at 36 he is still prominent in the selectors’ plans, although his fellow spinners Dan Cullen and Cullen Bailey were chosen as well. There was also a focus on allrounders, with James Hopes and Andrew McDonald recognised for their dominance at state level.Twenty20 World Championship squad Matthew Hayden, Adam Gilchrist (wk), Ricky Ponting (capt), Michael Clarke, Brad Hodge, Andrew Symonds, Michael Hussey, Shane Watson, Brad Haddin (wk), Brad Hogg, Brett Lee, Mitchell Johnson, Nathan Bracken, Stuart Clark, Shaun Tait.Squad to tour India Matthew Hayden, Adam Gilchrist (wk), Ricky Ponting (capt), Michael Clarke, Brad Hodge, Andrew Symonds, Michael Hussey, Shane Watson, Brad Hogg, Brett Lee, Mitchell Johnson, Nathan Bracken, Stuart Clark, Shaun Tait.Australia A squad Phil Jaques, Chris Rogers, David Hussey, Adam Voges (capt), Cameron White, Luke Ronchi (wk), James Hopes, Andrew McDonald, Ashley Noffke, Cullen Bailey, Dan Cullen, Ben Hilfenhaus, Doug Bollinger, Stuart MacGill.

Nasim Ashraf, the chairman of the Pakistan Cricket Board, has expressed satisfaction that several Pakistan cricketers have turned down lucrative offers to join the Indian Cricket League (ICL). Eight Pakistan cricketers signed six-month contracts offered by the PCB, which would prevent them from joining any professional league.”We had faith in our players that they will not join the Indian league,” Ashraf told reporters in Karachi. The PCB had already made it clear that any contracted player turning out for the ICL will not be considered for Pakistan. Seven current players were reported to have been approached by the league and Shoaib Akhtar, Mohammad Asif and Shahid Afridi have already turned down offers.Younis Khan, the middle-order batsman, too was among those who were approached and Ashraf confirmed that he had also rejected the offer. “Younis was made the offer in England where he is playing county cricket but he told the official who contacted him that he is happy playing for his employers Habib Bank and for Pakistan.”Ashraf highlighted other factors which may have influenced the decision of the players, mainly the fact that the league is yet to be recognised by the ICC and the Indian board. Secondly, the league has attracted former players like Brian Lara and Shane Warne but no high profile current players. With the contracts being issued, Ashraf said he was confident that none of his players would compromise on representing their country.”I was least bothered because I know my players and was sure that they would not join any league which is neither accepted by the Indian board nor by the ICC,” he said. “I am pleased to know the players’ sentiments and they proved they only want to play for Pakistan. The league is only signed by players who have either retired or are on the verge of retirement so we were not bothered.”Pakistan face a busy schedule in the months ahead with a home series against South Africa in October, followed by a tour of India, the dates of which would have invariably clashed with those of the ICL.

Venkatesh Prasad, India’s bowling coach, has said the selectors should have consulted him before deciding to pick Munaf Patel for the ongoing one-day series.Munaf, who missed the Test series because of a back strain, was included in the one-day squad as a replacement for Sreesanth. Prasad said he was “pretty happy” with his fitness but suggested that he wasn’t bowling with the same intensity as earlier.”He has not played much cricket but what’s important is that the selectors need to talk to me on how a bowler is bowling,” he said. “It’s important to have a good communication and be proactive in terms of fast bowling. When I’m handling the fast bowling it’s important [the selectors] have a talk with me on how one is doing and how one needs to be going about it. It’s a proposal I’m giving to the board.”Before joining the squad Munaf last played in May, against Bangladesh in Mirpur. He played two games during the Diamond Jubilee Tournament organised by the Karnataka Cricket Association before being selected for this series. He has picked up four wickets in two games against England but been profligate enough to concede 8.23 runs per over.”I’m pretty happy [with his fitness],” said Prasad. “But I need to know from the bowler and know how he’s bowling. I’ve been travelling and there needs to be somebody else to make sure that he is bowling with the same intensity that he was bowling earlier while playing for the country.”Prasad felt that fielders dropping “easy catches” had not helped India’s new-ball bowlers. However he felt that they needed to work hard on their pace-variations, especially while bowling in the death.”We’re talking about that. The yorker percentage has been pretty good but change of pace is something we’re working on. We don’t normally practice slower balls at the nets but it’s something we need to do. We also need to make sure they are managed well between those matches. They need to be given time for rest and recovery.”

There’s barely time for the dust from the celebrations of the ICC World Twenty20 to settle and the Australians are upon India for a seven-match ODI series. In India, the reaction was predictably exaggerated, both spontaneous and genuine and pre-planned and stage-managed. The players basked in the limelight and the administrators cashed in on the euphoric response of fans. The players though will have to wind up the celebrations soon, as India take on Australia in the first game in Bangalore on September 29.It’s interesting that India and Australia should play right after the ICC World Twenty20 for the two teams approached that tournament so differently. India were diffident and hesitant to begin with, with little or no experience in that form of the game, and completely unfancied. Australia were natural favourites, as they are in any cricket match, irrespective of the length or format. By the end of the tournament, though, India had beaten England, Australia, South Africa and Pakistan. Australia had limped out, first not too interested in the hit-and-giggle, shocked by Zimbabwe, and then outplayed by lesser teams.But Australia’s limping out, at least in the literal sense, will have an impact beyond the tournament. Ricky Ponting’s hamstring niggle has not stopped him from touring India, though it is unlikely he’ll play a part in the early games. Shane Watson and Michael Hussey have been ruled out, and Shaun Tait continues to stay out. What this will mean is a step-up for Brad Hodge, who has to keep Ponting’s batting place warm, even as Adam Gilchrist stands in as captain.While Ponting the batsman will undoubtedly be missed, there are players who can step in and fill that breach with runs. Ponting the captain, however, will not be so easy replace. Even in the Twenty20, the Australian team looked different with him at the helm and when he was not in charge, out there, on the field. Speaking before the series began, it was Ponting who fired the first salvo. “They [India] definitely deserved it [Twenty20 win]. Just look at the last three teams they beat. They thoroughly deserve to come back as champions but that’s finished now,” Ponting said. “We’ve got to look at the seven games we have here in India and we know what we have to do to win in the subcontinent. If anything now, a bit of the pressure will come back on the Indians.”And there’s little doubt that the already unrealistic expectations of this nation have been heightened. The open-bus parade and the grand felicitation ceremony certainly wouldn’t have helped, and India have always taken a bit of time to adjust between different forms of the game. If they come out swinging in the forthcoming ODIs, taking too much out of the Twenty20s, they’ll be in for a rude shock.

“Cricket in general is about how much pressure you can apply on the opposition; that’s what we try and do all the time, whether batting or bowling. That won’t change in this tournament and it won’t change because we’ve played a couple Twenty20 games,” Ponting said. “We’ll have lots of individual plans for their players and it’s about us being able to execute those over 100 overs. That means they are under pressure and we’re in control. That’s what any type of cricket is about for the Australian team.”The Australians have already congregated in Bangalore and have their sights firmly trained on the one-day series. India’s players will come in, in batches over Thursday evening and Friday morning. There will be little time for the new captain to get together with his team. The personnel have changed since the World Twenty20, with Sachin Tendulkar, Rahul Dravid, Sourav Ganguly and Zaheer Khan coming back into the mix, and people like Rohit Sharma slipping out. The BCCI is yet to appoint a cricket manager for the series, although that is expected to happen some time in the course of Thursday. In all, the Indians will have to catch their breath, hit the ground running and somehow turn up to take on the best team in the world. Even in the best of times, with the most meticulous preparation, Australia are hard to beat, especially over seven matches. India are anything but in that situation. No-one should be surprised if the results reflect this.