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Ehsan Mani has criticised the Zimbabwe rebel players for adopting what he calls a “high-risk” approach. He said that the dissident players were making it more difficult to find a permanent solution to the crisis that has rocked Zimbabwean cricket.However, Wisden Cricinfo understands that the players are angry and disappointed that the ICC has made no attempt to speak to them and hear their side of the story, and appears to have relied entirely on what they have been told by the ZCU. There is a strong feeling among the rebel players that the ICC statement was heavily biased in favour of the board.In a statement in London on Wednesday, Mani spoke about how this approach could end of the players’ careers and affect any team that Zimbabwe put together in the future.”I am not going to pass comment on the rights or wrongs of what has happened in this case, but what is clear is that by walking out on their teammates on the eve of a Test match, the rebels have placed Tatenda Taibu and his team in an invidious position. I am concerned that even if an agreement is now reached between the ZCU and the rebel players, this tactic of walking out on their teammates could irreparably split the dressing room, making a lasting solution even more difficult to find.”Mani added that disputes between players and administrators in any country should be sorted out at the local level. “If the rebels believe that walking out will result in other countries interfering in Zimbabwean cricket, I think that they have been very badly advised. Many of our members have faced similar issues and are very strongly of the view that the only way to find a solution is at the local level.”

New Zealand can set themselves for phase two of their World Cup bid having nothing to fear.While their entry into the Super Six was a last-minute affair, there seems to be a general consensus that their effort in beating South Africa and the West Indies was sufficient for them to warrant their place.They now face Zimbabwe this Saturday, Australia on Tuesday and India on Friday.New Zealand might have a poor overall success rate in One-Day Internationals of only 42.75%, but there seems to be something in the air in World Cup play where its winning percentage lifts to 56.25%.And its winning percentage at neutral venues is even slightly better at 56.66%.More particularly, in World Cup matches, New Zealand has a 3-0 win line over Zimbabwe, with one no result.Against Australia, in the five games they have contested at World Cup level, the scoreline favours Australia 3-2.India and New Zealand have met six times in World Cups with New Zealand holding the win advantage 4-2.One feature of captain Stephen Fleming’s New Zealand team has been its ability to knock over the record books.Reputations don’t necessarily matter to this side.They were the team who won New Zealand’s first international tournament, the ICC KnockOut in Kenya in 2000. They recorded New Zealand’s first victory at Lord’s and The Oval, in 1999. They were the first team in the world to win successive Tests in Zimbabwe. They achieved the highest fourth innings total to lose a match (outside of timeless Tests) with 451 against England at Jade Stadium last year. They became the first New Zealand team to win a Test series in the West Indies. They were the first New Zealand team to complete a 5-0 one-day series sweep, against the West Indies in 1999/00. They were the first New Zealand team to shut Australia out of their annual tri-series.They like re-writing history.Some of these features might seem insignificant when lined up against the deeds of other international sides, but the point remains, they have been firsts for New Zealand and are symptomatic of a growing confidence of this side.Individually, there are also some significant milestones to be played for in the remaining games of World Cup 2003.Fleming sits on 598 World Cup runs. Only Martin Crowe 880 and Glenn Turner 612 have scored more.Chris Cairns is sitting on 475 runs.Cairns and Chris Harris have now played 25 World Cup matches, the most by New Zealanders.Harris has taken most wickets, 31, by a New Zealand bowler. Behind him are Richard Hadlee 22, Geoff Allott 20, Willie Watson 19, Gavin Larsen 18 and Cairns 16.Of the players in South Africa, Jacob Oram and Nathan Astle taken 11 wickets, Shane Bond nine and Andre Adams eight.Chances are that if New Zealand can maintain their reasonable success rate at the World Cup, some of the individual records will be extended with obvious benefits for the overall team performance.

Hundreds from Chris Taylor and Jeremy Snape, plus a half-century from Kim Barnett, powered Gloucestershire to 415-5 on the opening day of the CricInfo Championship second division match with leaders Sussex at Cheltenham.Sussex captain Chris Adams chose to field first, but saw his decisionbackfire as his team put down four catches and struggled to stem the flow ofquick runs on a fast-scoring ground.To add to their woe, wicket-keeper Matt Prior departed midway through thesecond session with a injured thumb on his left hand, which had beensustained in the third over as he made a legside stop from a James Kirtleydelivery.Adams took over behind the stumps and held the catch that ended Barnett’s accomplished innings of 79, which contained 14 fours and came from 135 balls.Dominic Hewson and Matt Windows fell for ten and 22, to Kirtley and Adamsrespectively, and Mark Alleyne soon followed Barnett back to the pavilionwhen he was caught by Bas Zuiderant at slip off Mark Robinson for one.That left Gloucestershire on 193-4, but thereafter there was no stoppingTaylor and Snape as they peppered the short, square-side boundaries in afifth-wicket partnership of 204.Taylor brought up his second hundred of the season ­and the third of his career with a cut four to backward point off Kirtley.He was finally undone shortly before the close when he drove a low returncatch to spinner Mark Davis, having struck 25 fours and one six in his 226-ball innings of 140.Snape, who has prospered since being moved up to six in the order over thepast couple of months, brought up his century with a single to long leg inthe penultimate over of the day, bowled by Umer Rashid.He finished on 100 not out, with 11 fours and two sixes so far in his 155-ball innings.

Champions Gloucestershire suffered a 27-run defeat to Northamptonshire on the Duckworth-Lewis system in their final National League match of the season.Gloucestershire captain Mark Alleyne was presented with the trophy by sponsors Norwich Union after the finish of a low-scoring encounter.It was the county’s third one-day trophy of a record-breaking season and, despite the defeat, it did little to dampen the champagne celebrations at the end.A 3,500 crowd helped create a buoyant atmosphere during the game and they must have thought a Gloucestershire victory was on the cards when the visitors, who had elected to bat, slumped to 32-5 in the 14th over.Ian Harvey uprooted Jeff Cook’s off stump with the first ball of the innings and the Australian all-rounder went on to record a career-best one-day return of 5-19.He finished the campaign with 34 National League wickets, which was four more than the county record he set last season.It needed some disciplined batting from Tony Penberthy (30), David Ripley (17) and Kevin Innes (32) to take Northants into three figures.Even so, a score of 129 in a match reduced to 43 overs per side by a shower looked inadequate.Gloucestershire were asked to score 129 rather than 130 to win under the Duckworth-Lewis rules, and set off briskly in pursuit of the runs.The fifty came up in ten overs and a quick finish looked likely as Harvey blazed the ball to all areas.He had smashed 43 from only 27 deliveries when he was bowled by Penberthy, a wicket which changed the game dramatically.The runs dried up and Penberthy also accounted for Matt Windows, Alleyne, Chris Taylor and Martyn Ball in a spell of 5-29.It was his best figures in a limited overs match, surpassing the 5-36 he took against Gloucestershire in a Sunday League match at Northampton seven years ago.He was well supported by off-spinner Jason Brown, who claimed a return catch to remove James Averis in nine overs which only cost 12 runs.Jack Russell stood defiant for Gloucestershire with an unbeaten 17, but the end came when Innes had Mike Smith caught at slip by Northants skipper Matthew Hayden.It was appropriate that Hayden should hold the final catch of Northants’s season, for the Australian won’t be back with them next year because he is expected to be part of his country’s Ashes squad.Harvey should be back with Gloucestershire, however. He will probably be part of Australia’s squad for the triangular one-day series, but that won’t preclude Gloucestershire from re-signing him. They have already offered him a new two-year deal.

Ireland have announced that RSA, formerly known as Royal & SunAlliance Insurance, will be their new sponsor for the 2008 season.Currently the deal is only for the one season, but discussions will be held to extend the agreement for a longer term. The sponsorship covers the men’s and women’s senior squads, as well as the men’s A team and Under-19 side.Cricket Ireland have been searching for a new sponsor since Bank of Ireland ended a long-term association last year. Warren Deutrom, the chief executive, said: “We are delighted to be partnering with such a globally recognised blue-chip brand as RSA. Our current arrangement is just for the year, although we are hopeful of extending our relationship further into the future.””Together with our new name, our new governance structure and recent agreements with the England and Wales Cricket Board and our kit supplier Kukri, this new partnership with RSA will assist Cricket Ireland to put the pieces in place to provide support to all areas of the game on our shores, from the grassroots to the international arena.”Ireland begin their season on Sunday with a Friends Provident Trophy match against Ireland against Nottinghamshire in Dublin.

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.

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Bangladesh secured their third straight win against Kenya, and in so doing won the four-match series, but it was their least convincing performance to date, and for a time Kenya even threatened to pull off a remarkable comeback after being down and out halfway through their innings.In the end, Kenya’s middle and lower order were left with too much to do, but well-paced contributions from Collins Obuya (45) and Tanmay Mishra ensured that the home supporters had to endure more than a few anxious moments. Only when Mishra became the fourth of Mohammad Rafique’s five victims with 25 needed from 11 balls could they finally relax.A win is a win, but Dav Whatmore will be disappointed at what was a below-par performance after two games in which Bangladesh underlined the gulf in class between them and the Kenyans. At times today they appeared complacent, and they almost paid for that.Their innings stuttered in the early stages against some tight bowling, and it took some enterprise from Aftab Ahmed to ease the shackles. But his dismissal, chancing his arm once too often, triggered a wobble, engineered by the impressive Peter Ongondo, which reduced Bangladesh to 65 for 4. Shahriar Nafees steadied the ship, adding 70 for the fifth wicket with Mohammad Rafique, who chipped in with a 33-ball 31.

Steve Tikolo, back in the side after a viral infection forced him out of the previous match, dismissed Nafees for 57 just after the halfway mark, but that only increased the run-rate as Alok Kapali, possibly the last-ever Supersub, and Khaled Mashud (39 from 51) put on a breezy 89 to enable Bangladesh to post 231. Whereas in the first two matches Kenya’s bowling deteriorated in the latter stages, with Tikolo maintaining the pressure with his offspin, Bangladesh were bowled out with more than four overs to spare.Given the pattern of the first two meetings, that did not seem vital at the time, and Kenya’s start was equally unconvincing as they slipped to 79 for 4 midway through their innings. After losing the out-of-sorts Kennedy Otieno and David Obuya early, they made steady headway thanks to Tikolo and Hitesh Modi, but were never able to get on top of the bowlers.Syed Rasel, the pick of the Bangladesh attack in the first two games, was bowled through his 10 overs, but it was Abdur Razzak who took the key wicket of Tikolo, a superb catch off his own bowling. Tikolo stood his ground, probably more through disappointment as there was little doubt about that the low chance had been cleanly taken.Hitesh Modi followed soon after, trapped leg before by Mohammad Rafique, and as the asking rate crept past a run a ball, that appeared to be that. However, Obuya, whose bowling remains unconvincing despite time spent with Terry Jenner last year, showed he remains a useful batsman, and he found a doughty ally in the precocious Mishra. Together they not only ensured the margin of defeat was small, but also – briefly – threatened something more dramatic.

Shane Warne joined a select band of cricketers when he unveiled a portrait of himself at Lord’s on Tuesday. The oil-on-linen painting of the legspinner will be hung in the ground’s famous pavilion where it will be only the third portrait of an Australia player – late cricket greats Sir Donald Bradman and Keith Miller are the two others – to go on display.”It’s taken a lot of sittings with Fanny. It’s a privilege for me. I feel very proud of the achievement. It (Lord’s) is a fantastic ground,” said Warne, after unveiling the portrait by London-based artist Fanny Rush. The portrait will initially be hung in the Pavilion’s Long Room, meaning Warne, the world’s leading Test wicket-taker, is set to walk past it when he takes the field for the first Ashes Test against England at Lord’s starting on July 21.Ever since bowling the ‘ball of the century’ to dismiss Mike Gatting at Old Trafford in 1993, Warne has tormented England batsmen. “Some of the members might want to throw darts at it,” he joked. “But seriously, I think they have respect for what I’ve achieved.”Warne was more concerned about the reaction of his Australian team-mates. “I hope they don’t let Brett Lee anywhere near it with a black pen because I might end up with a moustache like Merv’s (Hughes’s).” The former Australia batsman Mark Waugh recently suggested his old team-mate’s powers were waning. “I don’t think Warney is quite the bowler he was five to to 10 years ago,” Waugh wrote in .”He’s still very good but he relies more on accuracy, subtle variation and reputation these days than on vicious ripping leg-breaks and unplayable flippers.” But Warne, 35, countered by saying that he was still at the top of his game. “Mark’s a great friend of mine and he’s got to make a few quid somehow, even by joining you blokes (the media).”He’s got a great cricket brain and he’s entitled to his opinion. But the way I look at it, the last 25-30 Tests, I’ve played some of the best cricket of my career and I haven’t played against Bangladesh. My role in the team has changed, bowling behind Lee, (Jason) Gillespie, (Glenn) McGrath and (Michael) Kasprowicz.”We’ve been bowling first a lot lately and that means I’ve been bowling on day one, two and three wickets. Under Mark Taylor we’d always bat first and so I’d be bowling on day four of five when it turns more.”Warne has been in England since the start of the season, captaining Hampshire, currently top of the First Division of the County Championship. He is the county’s joint leading bowler so far this season alongside Chris Tremlett. Tremlett, the young seamer, also has 35 wickets including a hat-trick against Nottinghamshire that sealed an improbable win last weekend.”Chris Tremlett is dynamite at the moment and it wouldn’t surprise me if he played against Australia at some stage this season,” said Warne. He has also repeatedly called for Hampshire team-mate Kevin Pietersen to be given a Test debut.But the South African-born batsman was left out of England’s recent 2-0 series win against Bangladesh and Warne, while refusing to talk up his county colleague’s chances further, said that he should have played.Rush’s portrait shows Warne in cricket whites tossing up a ball in the air. “The painting took 10 months because Shane went back to Australia,” Rush said. “He was a good sitter. I didn’t feel intimidated but I got the sense he’s a great strategist.”Adam Chadwick, the curator of collections for Lord’s owners Marylebone Cricket Club (MCC), said there was a simple reason for the commission. “He (Warne) is one of the greats of the game, the leading Test wicket-taker. Unfortunately, not long after the commission, he had his break (a one-year drugs ban) but now he’s back and bowling as well as ever.”

Sharad Ghai, the chairman of the Kenyan Cricket Association, has called on the International Cricket Council to push for Kenya to be given more matches against major nations, arguing that the lack of exposure is hampering their development.”How are we expected to improve without a chance to play the likes of Australia, Zimbabwe, South Africa, West Indies, Sri Lanka, New Zealand, England, Pakistan, India, and Bangladesh?" he asked. "You can see the progress Bangladesh has made because they have a chance to play the top teams.”Ghai added that Kenya only has seven guaranteed one-day internationals ahead of the 2007 World Cup. Since reaching the semi-finals of the 2003 tournament a year ago, Kenya have played three ODIs – all in Sharjah – against leading countries. They have also met Sri Lanka A as well as participating in the Caribbbean’s Carib Beer Series.The next competitive matches will be against Pakistan A and India A in Nairobi in August.The KCA has severe financial difficulties and is still seeking a major sponsor to fund either the senior team or any of the domestic competitions.

Sunday saw the Prince of Wales Country Club (PWCC) take on La Dehesa at Craighouse. Batting first, La Dehesa accumulated 212 from their allotted 40 overs. Opener Julian Dowling showed good application in compiling 48, before being run out by Clinton Porteous (2 wickets), who along with PWCC’s seam bowlers Mark Rosevear (3), Dean Ilott (2), Ian Scott and Dave Kitley (1) generally kept a lid on the scoring, supported by some solid fielding. Khaalid Moradd (21) was removed by a spectacular jack-in-the-box catch by Ricky Salas at midwicket just as he was looking dangerous.But La Dehesa’s wicketkeeper-batsman Clinton Larson picked up the pace, smacking a quickfire 58. Two overs of Stuart Nelson’s slow left-armers disappeared for 44 runs, and the fielding began to look ragged towards the end, as La Dehesa’s batting depth told.PWCC’s run chase faltered early, with both openers back in the pavilion with the score on 30. Ilott (14) and Salas (57) added 50 for the third wicket before Ilott failed to get over a cut shot and was caught at point. Scott (10) and Salas then took the score to 123, when Scott became Cameron McGovern’s third victim, who then compounded PWCC’s worries by removing Dave Kitley without scoring.McGovern was the unlikely hero with the ball for La Dehesa, with no less than four PWCC batsmen contriving to get themselves out to his straight-breaks. He finished with 4/43 from eight overs.When Salas was unfortunately run out for a typically hard-hitting 57, his team were still 80 short. Some intelligent lower-order resistance from Nelson (16) and Rosevear (19 not out) was appreciated, but was never enough to get them home, and the tail capitulated quickly (184 all out). Again, La Dehesa’s bowling depth was on show, with Bruce and Luke Phillips bowling out the final overs.PWCC will be looking to win against Las Condes next weekend to prove that their victory against Santiago was no fluke. Meanwhile, La Dehesa will square up with Santiago in two weeks.Points awarded La Dehesa:23,PWCC:12