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Hayden lies in wait © AFP

Sourav Ganguly certainly isn’t expecting any favours from the Australian bowlers when the first Test of the four-match series against Australia gets underway at the Gabba in Brisbane tomorrow.”I expect to get a few,” he said with a smile when asked whether he thought Australia’s bowlers would target his perceived vulnerability against the short ball. “We’re all prepared for that.”With torrential rain buffeting the area this morning, and further showers predicted over the next few days, the bowling attacks could well hold sway on a 22-yard strip that was tinged with travel-sickness green on the eve of the match.Steve Waugh, for one, wasn’t writing off India’s chances. “They have bowlers who can swing the ball,” he said, “and you can’t say the same about too many teams in international cricket.” Whether Zaheer Khan and Ashish Nehra can pitch it in the right areas against a formidable batting line-up is another matter altogether.”We’ve been practising on that,” said Ganguly, talking about the ideal length to bowl to the Australian batsmen. “A good ball is a good ball to any batsmen, regardless of whether it’s Matthew Hayden facing, or someone else. We need to hit the right areas of the pitch.”Ganguly admitted that the team had performed pretty poorly in the warm-up matches against Victoria and the Queensland Academy of Sport. “It takes time to get used to the new conditions … on the positive side, most of the batsmen were hitting the ball quite well.”He was also at his diplomatic best when asked whether the series would be special because his side would be the last to test their mettle against Steve Waugh. “It’s going to be a special series anyway,” he said. “We’re the only team to have beaten Australia in the past five years … I have a lot of respect for him [Waugh]. He’s taken them to another level in his years in charge, and I’m sure Australian cricket will miss him when he leaves.”Waugh admitted relief that the speculation was finally over. “Everyone knows what the deal is now, and we can just get on with things,” he said in typically acerbic fashion. Both captains will also get on with the toss in the time-honoured fashion this time, with none of the gamesmanship that plagued the last series between these sides. “Captains have to set the right example when it comes to the way Test cricket is played,” said Waugh, suggesting that both men will walk to the middle together tomorrow morning.Australia go into the game without Brett Lee and Glenn McGrath, but Waugh was emphatic that the resources he had – Brad Williams and Nathan Bracken to back up Jason Gillespie and Andrew Bichel – would be enough to “knock the Indians over”. Even with grey clouds still dominating the horizon, Stuart MacGill will get a look in.India’s selection dilemma centres around the spinners, Harbhajan Singh and Anil Kumble. Only one will play, and Harbhajan – hero of the 2001 triumph, and one of the individuals mentioned by Waugh as posing a special threat – should be the one. Ajit Agarkar, the only Indian pace bowler with previous experience of Australian pitches, should also start, with neither Irfan Pathan nor L Balaji having scythed through the opposition in the tour games.Sadagoppan Ramesh should open the batting with Virender Sehwag, having been one of the few batsmen to strike any sort of rhythm so far on this tour. Ganguly and Wright also have 24 hours to sort out a batting order. VVS Laxman played his best innings against Australia at No. 3, and there’s a good chance that he’ll be asked to do so again, with Rahul Dravid moving down the order to lend extra solidity in the event of the openers failing again.The focus of most Australian eyes tomorrow will be Sachin Tendulkar, 12 years on from the tour that established him as one of the brightest stars in cricket’s alltime firmament. “Special players like him have a way of working around whatever plans you make,” said Waugh. It’ll take some truly special work from Tendulkar if India aren’t to leave the Gabba with a fifth successive defeat. Tendulkar and rain – in that order – offer India the biggest hope, on a pitch where the bowlers should be into the swing of things from ball one.Australia (probable): 1 Matthew Hayden, 2 Justin Langer, 3 Ricky Ponting, 4 Damien Martyn, 5 Steve Waugh (capt), 6 Simon Katich, 7 Adam Gilchrist (wk), 8 Andy Bichel, 9 Jason Gillespie, 10 Brad Williams, 11 Stuart MacGill.India (probable): 1 Sadagoppan Ramesh, 2 Virender Sehwag, 3 VVS Laxman, 4 Sachin Tendulkar, 5 Rahul Dravid, 6 Sourav Ganguly (capt), 7 Ajit Agarkar, 8 Parthiv Patel (wk), 9 Harbhajan Singh, 10 Zaheer Khan, 11 Ashish Nehra.

*East Zone*Bengal complete eight-wicket winAs Bengal left-arm spinner took six wickets, his side went on to win their Ranji Trophy league match against Assam at Kolkata on Monday.Overnight on 147/6, Assam collapsed in the face of sustained spin from Chatterjee and off-spinner Saurashish Lahiri (4-65). Barring the 83 from PK Das at the top of the order, none of the batsmen could even cross 50. The visitors were consequently bowled out for 206.Set a target of 157, Bengal reached it easily, losing only the openers along the way. Nikhil Haldipur made an unbeaten 51 and skipper Rohan Gavaskar 40 not out. Bengal collect eight points from this outright win.*Tripura draw with BiharSurviving some hiccups along the way, Bihar held on to draw with Tripura in their Ranji Trophy league match at Agartala on Monday.Tripura, at 50/3 overnight, went on to make 249 in their second innings boosted by another fine knock from C Sachdev. Sachdev, however, missed a century for the second time in the match, falling for 96 made off 170 balls.Set a victory target off 232 off 17 overs, Bihar had no option but to play for the draw. That too seemed in jeopardy as three wickets fell in four overs. T Rehman and N Ranjan finally held on till the end, taking their side to 59/4 at stumps. S Shukla was the Tripura bowler who rocked Bihar’s second innings, taking four for 24 off eight overs.*South ZoneSharath, Badani star for Tamil NaduSharing 196 runs for the fourth wicket, Sridharan Sharath and Hemang Badani took Tamil Nadu to a strong position at the end of Day Two in their Ranji Trophy match against Karnataka at Bangalore.Losing opener Sridharan Sriram early in the day, Tamil Nadu’s fortunes revived with a mini-stand between Hemant Kumar and Badani. Karnataka dismissed the former just before lunch, but Sharath and Badani then combined for their mammoth partnership. Sharath made 113 off 173 balls, while Badani struck 124 off 234 balls. At the end of the day, Tamil Nadu were 357/5, with skipper Robin Singh and TR Arasu at the crease.In the other South Zone match, Venkatapathy Raju brought Hyderabad surging back into their match after being dismissed for a low first-innings total by Kerala. Raju returned figures of 23-9-42-6 as Kerala collapsed for 125, with only Sunil Oasis (47) showing any resistance. At stumps, Hyderabad were 124/2, with Vanka Pratap and Anirudh Singh unbeaten on 23 and 17 respectively.At Vijayawada, Andhra Pradesh were comfortably placed at the close of play on Day Two. Bowling Goa out for 270 in their first innings, with Tanveer Jabbar making 107, Andhra Pradesh ended the day on 184/1, with skipper MSK Prasad unbeaten on 74 and LN Prasad Reddy on 28.*North Zone*Services draw with Jammu & KashmirSet a total of 306 to win, Services opted for a safe draw and three points in their Ranji Trophy league match at Delhi on Monday.Jammu & Kashmir, 133/4 overnight, went on to score 242 in their second innings. The innings revolved largely around wicket-keeper Arshad Bhatt, who made a patient 98 off 177 balls. Bhatt came in at the fall of the fourth wicket and stayed till the end, becoming the tenth wicket to fall. He was also Arun Sharma’s fifth wicket; Sharma took five for 39.Services started steadily but lost openers K Chawda and PMS Reddy within the space of 29 runs. Thereafter, Jasvir Singh and Yashpal Singh played well. The former made 54 off just 55 balls, while Yashpal Singh made an unbeaten 51. At stumps, Services were 202 for the loss of four wickets.*Himachal Pradesh play unimaginative cricketDespite being in a position to declare and set Haryana a sporting target, Himachal Pradesh opted to bat out most of the day in their Ranji Trophy league match at Rohtak on Monday.Overnight batsmen Rajiv Nayyar and Sangram Singh, both in good form, made the most significant scores of the innings. Sangram Singh fell for 54, made off 94 balls. Nayyar, as has been his wont, occupied the crease dully, making 102 off 314 balls, with 13 boundaries.Himachal skipper Varinder Sharma never enforced a declaration, so that when they were finally bowled out for 270 (made off 101 overs), Haryana were set a target off 347 off 20 overs. The match petered out into a dull draw, and the only excitement of the day was provided by Amit Mishra, who took a hat-trick by claiming Varinder Sharma, Amit Sharma and C Kumar off successive deliveries.*Punjab draw with DelhiA match that saw two high first-innings total, the Ranji Trophy league tie between Punjab and Delhi at Amritsar ended in the expected draw on the fourth day.Punjab, still continuing their first innings on the fourth day, were finally bowled out for 441, with Amit Bhandari picking up 7-92 for Delhi. The visitors, on batting again, could not repeat their first-innings heroics; barring a resolute 75 from Pradeep Chawla, no batsman could really get going, and the innings was declared at 198 for nine.Set a target of 257 off 16 overs, Punjab inevitably played for the safe draw and reached stumps at 58 for one. Delhi, by virtue of their first-innings total, collect five points from this match, while Punjab collect three.

The match could not commence at the schedule time on account of heavy rain that flooded the ground. After hectic efforts put in by the ground staff to turn the ground and the pitch fit for play, it was possible to start the game at 4:30 p.m. local time.Only 2.4 overs were bowled when the game had to be suspended on account of sudden drizzle. During this period, Atapattu was, however, able to complete his well-cherished double century. The play was called off for the day with Sri Lanka at 467 for 5. Atapattu was batting at 207 while Dharmasena was at the crease with 12 runs.

Mark Guidi has dropped a teasing injury update on Celtic centre-forward Kyogo Furuhashi.

What’s the latest?

In recent comments made to Go Radio (via Vital Celtic), the journalist revealed that the centre-forward – who has been sidelined with a hamstring injury since December 26 – could finally be in line for a return to first-team action after the upcoming international break.

Speaking about the current condition of the Japan international, Guidi said: “On Kyogo, well, there are one or two murmurs that he’ll be available for the first game after the international break, which is Ibrox on April 3rd.

“Now, we could see Kyogo coming on for the League Cup Final against Hibs, the impact he made with not a lot of training time behind him.

“So if it was to be the case, if that’s accurate and he’s available for the game at Ibrox, I wouldn’t imagine that he would start unless there’s an injury problem to Maeda or Giakoumakis or whatever.

“But, certainly, having somebody like Kyogo on the bench, what a lift that would give to Celtic – to the manager, to the players, to the supporters, albeit there won’t be Celtic supporters in the ground that day.

“And, if he’s required for whatever reason, to come on and give 25 minutes to half an hour, he would have that in his locker all day to go and do that.”

Postecoglou will be buzzing

Considering just how important a part of the Celtic side Kyogo has become since his £4.6m move to Parkhead last summer, should the striker indeed be in line for a return to action at Ibrox at the start of next month, it would undoubtedly be an outcome that will have Postecoglou buzzing.

Indeed, over his 14 Premiership appearances so far this season, the £4.95m-rated hitman has been in deadly goalscoring form, scoring eight goals, registering two assists and creating four big chances for his teammates, as well as taking an average of 2.1 shots and making 1.1 key passes per game.

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These returns have seen the £18k-per-week forward average a highly impressive SofaScore match rating of 7.03 in the league, however, the 27-year-old has also been in equally impressive form in cup competitions this term – bagging a further eight goals and providing three assists over 12 outings in the Europa League, Europa League qualifying and the Scottish League Cup.

As such, it is clear for all to see that the return of Kyogo for the Rangers fixture would provide Celtic’s chances of leaving Ibrox with three points with a huge boost – one that could all but seal the Premiership title for the Bhoys.

In other news: Worrying Celtic development emerges on £15k-p/w “rogue”, Postecoglou will be gutted

	The Australian and Indian parties rise at the commencement of Harbhajan Singh’s appeal against racism charges in Adelaide © Getty Images

Tim May, the chief executive of FICA, the body which represents the international players’ associations, has attacked the way the Harbhajan Singh issue was handled by the two boards and called on the ICC to investigate their conduct.”Cricket has had three attempts to deal with alleged racial abuse of the same player and has failed on every occasion,” he told Cricinfo. “In the latest instance a player held an honest and reasonable belief that he had been racially abused. It does not matter if he may have been mistaken, the fact is, he held an honest and reasonable belief that he had been racially abused. For this, he has been portrayed as a villain.”The priorities of each board have been misdirected at best – one hell bent on protecting its image and the other hell bent on protecting its revenues. Allegations of intimidation, interference and some good old ‘backroom bullying’ have unfortunately been all too prevalent in this issue and other issues.”Racism is a sensitive and very serious issue within our respective communities. The boards have failed in their responsibility to uphold their respect for this issue. They have failed the players, they have failed both the ICC’s Code of Conduct and the ICC’s Anti Racism Code, and they have failed the communities where racism is a real, live issue.”After this latest episode and seeing how cricket handles this type of issue, why would any player possibly think about reporting any further instances of racism?” May asked. “You will be hounded by the press, you will be directly or indirectly will be intimidated by cricket officials and you will be hung out there to dry and be painted as the bad guy. Players should be approaching such matters with confidence that the system will support and protect you, not decimate and discredit you.”It’s the ICC’s duty to protect the integrity of their Code. I am confident that the ICC will launch a thorough investigation into the alleged actions of both boards and key officials – there are serious allegations of intimidation and interference of those involved in this hearing -and such allegations must be dealt with swiftly and decisively.”Cricket cannot have a repeat of this type of behavior. Boards and officials have a responsibility to the ICC, the game and the community. They must be held to these responsibilities and, just like the players, they must be held accountable for their actions.”

Charl Langeveldt sits in the car park outside the Hilton Hotel after a gas leak prompted an evacuation © Getty Images

It hasn’t been an auspicious start.The hotel housing four of the teams in Port of Spain had to be cleared because of a teargas attack, an embarrassing breach for the combined law enforcement services involved. The Barbados police chief rightly blew his top over the frisking of his officers by overzealous security staff at the Three Ws Oval. One match in Trinidad was in jeopardy when the teams complained about the state of the pitch.The company that manufactured the seats for the new stands at Sabina Park was sacked a week before the opening match, a seemingly unnecessary step given the empty spaces during the warm-ups at Trelawney, the other Jamaican venue. The bumped-up prices, for everything from peanuts to patties, from beer to burgers, and the ever-present annoyance of ambush marketing were soon to the fore. Not surprisingly, the clash involved the two telecommunications companies whose wrangle so divided West Indies cricket in recent times.Such setbacks over the first week of the Caribbean’s first World Cup, and others besides, have been moderated by the welcoming efficiency of the hundreds of gaily-bedecked volunteers, certainly at Trelawney and, from all reports, at the three other venues so far used. And, as the organisers are quick to point out, the warm-ups were not designed for the teams alone but also for the purpose of eliminating the inevitable glitches prior to the tournament proper that swings into full gear at Sabina Park on Tuesday.We are assured, as we have been all along, that all will be well but it is not undue cynicism to concede that we will continue to keep fingers firmly crossed over the coming six weeks. Nor, after the West Indies’ abject capitulation to India in their last preparatory match on Friday, is it pessimistic to fear for what is to come on the field. It was, it is true, an unofficial, 13-a-side contest. The 85 all-out was the type of double-digit total that has become as familiar a feature of West Indies teams as designer sunglasses and glittering gold chains. In this form of the game, they do not necessarily lead to disaster.Was the West Indies’ most ignominious defeat, when dismissed for 93 by Kenya in the 1996 World Cup, not followed by victory over Australia the next match and a spot in the semi-final? More recently, the all-out 86 and a nine-wicket loss to Sri Lanka in the qualifying round of the Champions Trophy counted for nothing as they advanced to the final. And so on and so forth. It is tempting to clutch at such straws for the impact on a floundering sport of a West Indies’ triumph in the game’s most prestigious tournament on home territory is obvious. Sadly, the disunity and the absence of proper preparation within the team has become even more obvious.The lack of intensity in Friday’s effort was one symptom. The pre-match routine was so laughable that John Wright, the former New Zealand opener and India’s immediate past coach, believed at first glance they were the day’s ball boys tossing tennis balls to each other. The batting that followed might well have been by the ball boys as well. The contrast with India’s purposeful approach was distressing for the sizeable crowd that had never before witnessed such a high-profile international fixture on the north coast.The evidence of internal divisions was just as clear-cut, as it has been for some time. Interviewed by Jeffrey Dujon prior to the toss, head coach Bennett King offered the opinion that, since they had batted first in the previous match against Kenya, West Indies should bowl if the captain won the toss. Lara chose to do the opposite. It reflected the earlier difference of opinion between King and convener of selectors, Gordon Greenidge, over the choice of Dwayne Smith in the squad of 15.It might explain why the West Indies Cricket Board (WICB) is not sending its three appointed selectors, Greenidge, Clyde Butts and Andy Roberts, to any of the World Cup matches. Greenidge and Roberts will be at Sabina on Tuesday to be honoured along with others from the 1975 and 1979 World Cup champion teams, Roberts at other venues as an official World Cup pitch inspector. Had they had any input into proceedings, it was unlikely there would be as much messing around with the batting order as there was.

Denesh Ramdin: miffed about his non-selection, and voicing it on the Internet © Getty Images

After his hundred against Kenya on Tuesday, Marlon Samuels had restated his preference for batting at No.4. Informed he was in the 13 only on the morning of the match against India, he was then slotted in at No.8. That placed him one down from Denesh Ramdin, the wicketkeeper who, in his diary on the internet, revealed that he was “a bit surprised by not being selected” for the opening match. Manager Clive Lloyd, never one to stand for nonsense during his time as the longest-serving and most successful captain, might have taken him aside and explained the meaning of team unity and the need for players to accept selections, far less airing their “surprise” globally.Such players’ diaries and newspaper columns are now common place. Almost every member of the England team in Australia recently enunciated his thoughts to a national newspaper, mostly through his “ghost” writer. It is a dicey practice. Either the player is cagey about what he puts to print, wary of upsetting captain and management, or is utterly frank. In the first case, the readers are not getting full value, in the latter the team’s dirty linen gets washed in public.Chris Gayle, for instance, let it be known in his diary on the same website in December that “I am not a scapegoat bowler to be used only when things are difficult”. It was an interesting insight into his feelings but hardly likely to endear him to captain or coach. And, like Ramdin’s “surprise”, it provided convenient sledging ammunition for opponents (“Hey Chris, Brian not bowling you today?” or “Denesh, I don’t think the captain and coach like you”).That the relevant website happens to be run by Digicel during a tournament of which Cable & Wireless is one of the sponsors adds a complicated twist to the tale. More will undoubtedly follow in several other areas before the finalists-India and Australia once more meet in the final at Kensington Oval on April 28.

Zimbabwe’s Stuart Matsikenyeri has said he did not sign a new contact with the Zimbabwe Cricket interim board because he is “looking at other things”, but says he is not certain about his future.Matsikenyeri was one of the few remaining experienced yet still young players left in the Zimbabwe team after endless disputes cost the country many of its senior players.”There are other things that I’m looking at, some cricket .. some not,” said Matsikenyeri, who was too demoralised to speak about crisis that has took ruined cricket in the country “A lot of things have happened in the past 11 months, haven’t they?”Things that are out of my control. At this stage I don’t know what I will be doing. What I can only say is that I will be playing club cricket for my club [Old Hararians].”It is also being suggested that Matsikenyeri’s decision was partly because of his close friendship with former captain Tatenda Taibu, who quit international cricket to draw attention to the players’ plight. Many feel that Taibu, who is now back in the country but refusing to have anything to do with the game there, has been abandoned by his former team-mates.There is also confusion over the position of Andy Blignaut. Although ZC claim he has signed his new contract before he returned to play franchise cricket in South Africa, a source said that the player was livid that his name had been included on the list issued by the board. He added that Blignaut would not play for Zimbabwe until all the outstanding matters, including backpay, had been resolved.

Defending champions Barbados take on Windward Islands on the opening day of the West Indian cricket season, which gets underway on January 7. In the two other matches on the first day of the Carib Beer League Cup, Guyana visit Trinidad & Tobago while Jamaica host Leeward Islands at home.This year the tournament will be played on a home and away basis and the Carib Beer League is scheduled to be completed on March 14. The two top teams in the League will meet in the Carib Beer Challenge over five days beginning on March 18. The runner-up must defeat the League champions outright to win the Challenge Trophy.The League winner will receive the Carib Beer Cup and US$12,500 with the Man of the Match for each game receiving US$150 and a medallion. The winner of the Challenge will earn the Carib Beer Challenge Champion Trophy and US$5,000.There are also individual prizes – named after West Indian legends – to be won with the top batsman, bowler, fielder, allrounder and wicketkeeper each collecting US$1500.

Hashan Tillakaratme, Sri Lanka’s 35-year-old Test captain, has vowed to makeup for lost time and continue to play Test cricket for Sri Lanka as long aspossible. Claiming he’s fit, healthy and, most importantly, still hungry forsuccess, Tillakaratne has made it clear that he has no retirement plans.

©CricInfo

“After two years out of the team I have a lot of catching up to do,” writesTillakaratne in the official England tour souvenir for Sri Lanka Cricket. “Imay be 35-years-old but I am fit, agile and hungry for success. I want toplay many more Test matches for Sri Lanka.”Tillakaratne had spent two years in the wilderness after the 1999 World Cup,a disastrous tournament for Sri Lanka that precipitated the implementationof a radical youth policy by the selectors. When he finally returned, aftertwo seasons of heavy scoring in the domestic competition, he scored a stackof runs, claiming back a regular place.Then, when Sanath Jayasuriya stepped down as Sri Lanka captain earlier thisyear, Tillakaratne assumed the captaincy – a surprise choice from theselectors. But now, after a drawn home series against New Zealand and a 1-0defeat in the Caribbean, Tillakaratne is under pressure to perform. Defeatagainst England would almost certainly end his tenure.

©Reuters

But Tillakaratne, an adhesive player who clearly revels in adversity,rejects criticism that his captaincy has been too negative thus far, arguingthat with greater luck Sri Lanka could have bagged their last two Testseries against New Zealand and West Indies.”We failed to win my first two Tests series in charge, against New Zealandand West Indies, but the margin between success and failure is small and,with some more luck and a bit more application, we could have won both,” hesays in his column.”Against New Zealand, we were let down by our catching in the first Test. Wespilled an unacceptable number of chances. Then, in the second Test, we wereunfortunate to lose so much time to the poor weather. In the end we wereleft with too few overs to chase a modest victory target.”The first Test in the West Indies was rain-affected and drawn. We playedcreditably. In the second Test we were in the hunt for a series win.However, we batted badly in the second innings. Had we dismissed Brian Laraearlier in the final run chase – which we so nearly did – it could so easilyhave been a different result.”

© AFP

He’s looking forward to taking on the challenge of facing the English, and achance of securing some payback from two heavy defeats in the last twoseries between the sides, particularly the painful 2-1 loss at home in 2001.”This series, against a newish-looking English outfit, we need to pulltogether all departments of our game,” he says. “Although I didn’t play inthe last home series against England, my assessment was that we did more tolose the series than England did to win it. We must be tougher and play toour potential.”England have a sturdy top five that is stacked full of experience,” hesays. “One of the keys will be to make early inroads into this powerful toporder and put pressure on a lower middle order weakened by the absence ofAlec Stewart.”We have the bowlers to do that, especially the hard-working Chaminda Vaaswith his skilful swing bowling and Muttiah Muralitharan, a bowler who issurely destined to become the highest wicket-taker in Test history.”But we cannot rely solely on this pair. We have done so too much in thepast and that has held back our development. We need the bowlers to click asa unit. The support bowlers must maintain the pressure created by Murali andChaminda.”Once again our batsmen must be on guard. Our batting, especially the middleorder, has not lived up to expectations during the past year. It’s essentialthat we knuckle down to play with discipline and determination. The goodnews is that most of the top order has found good form in the currentdomestic tournament.Tillakaratne hopes that an extended four-month break for the players sincethe last tour will have a positive effect: “We are fortunate to have had aproper break. After nearly two years of non-stop cricket everyone needed tospend time with their families to refresh the mind and body. We should nowbe hungry and sharp.”

Andhra Pradesh successfully chased a target of 89 to win their Ranji Trophy league match over Goa at Vijayawada on Wednesday.Reeling at 57/6 overnight, Goa found a rescuer in Kiran Powar, who scored his second century in as many Tests. Remaining unbeaten on 104, Powar saw his side through to a total of 191, avoiding an innings defeat if not giving his side a shot at victory. He was supported only by HAS Khalid, who made 52 lower down the order.Set a target of 89, Andhra Pradesh shrugged off the early loss of openers and went on to win after the loss of only three wickets. They pick up eight points from this win, while Goa gain none.