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England will announce an Under-18 squad soon in a bid to improve on their performance at the last Under-19 World Cup.The players will be chosen alongside this summer’s Under-19 squad, so that their coach Andy Pick can keep an eye on their development as candidates for the World Cup in Malaysia in February 2008. The squad is to be picked now, rather than September, with a view to looking ahead – and players can be drafted in or removed at any point.At this stage the idea is, says Pick, “very, very general, not too specific”, but the players will undergo coaching on role identification and look at how to lay the foundations for groundwork for one-day cricket. Players may be part of both squads simultaneously.With regard to the Under-19s, the new England coach Peter Moores is going to be more hands-on than his predecessor Duncan Fletcher. “That’s not a bad thing,” says Pick. “I’m looking forward to it.” The pair have played against each other before, and have already worked with the England youth last year, before Pick’s year-long sabbatical looking after Canada during their World Cup campaign.Pick has already built on his time with Canada, and this month he will bring them together with an England Select XI – a squad of players around the age of 20 – for a two-day match in Loughborough. This will give Canada practice ahead of their ICC Intercontinental Cup final against Ireland, and also give Pick the chance to catch up with the youth players’ development.England Under-19s made the semi-finals of the last World Cup, in Sri Lanka in 2004, before being crushed by India.

Lara’s 40 steered West Indies to a five wicket win in the first ODI © Trinidad & Tobago Express

Brian Lara has said that West Indies still have plenty of work to do after they stumbled to an unconvincing five-wicket win over Zimbabwe in the opening one-day international at the Antigua Recreation Ground.After restricting Zimbabwe to 151 for 9 in their 50 overs, West Indies slipped to 77 for 4 before recovering to reach their target of 154 for 5 off 38.3 overs.”We wanted to win it in a much more authoritative fashion and we didn’t. We got to go back and work,” said Lara. “The new ball bowlers have to get more wickets early up and that’s the sort of attack we have. We’ve got guys bowling 90 miles an hour, we want them to get wickets. There are areas we are going to talk about and work on.”I don’t think it was as comfortable as it looked and Zimbabwe must be commended for the fight that they gave. [It was] a reasonable result. We set ourselves targets throughout this game [and] we did hit some, not all,” said Lara. “I thought that we needed a lot more wickets in the first 25 overs. The Zimbabweans did it, consolidated-didn’t score much runs-but didn’t lose any wickets. It’s situations like that when you are bowling first you would like to get more wickets. Batting last, we set ourselves of getting the runs in 35 overs which we failed to do.”

Samir Inamdar, the new chairman of the Kenya Cricket Association, has ruled out restoring central contracts for leading players, explaining that the association does not have the finances to do so.The main issue is that the KCA has no sponsor, and it has been advised by the Africa Cricket Association that it would be unwise to undertake the financial commitment of central contracts until one is found. The last official sponsor, Kenya Breweries, withdrew after the 2003 World Cup, and the internal wrangles which have dogged the KCA made attracting new investment almost impossible.The previous board did have players on contracts, but as funds ran out, pay cuts were implemented, and last October most leading names went on strike, alleging that money owed to them had not been paid. Given the dire state of the accounts inherited by Inamdar and his new board, reimbursement for monies owed is unlikely.”The new office has inherited heavy debts from the previous one” said Inamdar after meeting with the national team players last week. “If the players figures are to be believed the association owes them something to the tune of Shs 19,250,000 (US$ 250,000). We are also aware that KCA employees have not been paid for five months as well.”Inamdar and Tom Tikolo, the head of selectors, leave for London where they will meet with senior ICC officials later in the week. “We are going for a series of difficult meetings not only over funding but also over the one-day international status and the future of cricket in the country.” Inamdar said. “We expect to be in the United Kingdom for seven to eight days.”But he had some good news. He explained that Kenya had been offered non-financial support by South Africa. “They have promised to provide us with coaches and accommodation when our boys go there to play. South Africa have also said they could look into the possibilities of contracting our boys to play local South African league cricket.”

Justin Langer celebrates his century, but Australia have plenty to do over the next couple of days © Getty Images

The respect for the Indian batsmen has grown and grown, and after their epic performance in this Test, it now borders on awe. Justin Langer, who kept Australia alive for the best part of today, paid his rivals the ultimate compliment by saying that the Australians have a lot to learn from the way the Indian batsmen have batted in this series.”The reality of this series is the extraordinary Indian batting,” Langer said, “there is a lot we can learn from them. They look so patient, as if they are in a meditative state. It’s awesome the way they apply themselves. I can’t remember being under pressure in this manner – the pressure to bowl against them, field against them, and to chase huge scores.”I can’t remember in my career playing a team (like them). It’s a credit to them that they have been able to play like that in these conditions.”Even though Langer blazed away from the start – at one point he had 28 runs to Matthew Hayden’s 1 – and Australia scored at more than four runs for over, Langer admitted that for the first time in his career he was thinking about time rather than about scoring runs. “It’s funny. It never happened to me before,” he said, “usually Matt (Hayden) and I look at the first ten runs, then the next ten and then the next. But today, we were thinking about how long we can bat.”Langer, who scored a hundred in the first Test, and then did precious little in the next two, brought up the 17th hundred of his career with 15 fours and a six in 124 balls, but he admitted the long hours in the field had taken their toll on him. “I am disappointed not to score a big hundred but to be honest, I am feeling pretty tired. We spent a long day in the field at Melbourne and then more than two days here.”Langer conceded that from here on it will take a big performance to save the Test, but asserted that Australia will not give up without a fight. “From the time he (Waugh) has taken over as captain, he has always asked us to get better and fight. It will be nice for him to play a characteristic innings and save or win the game.”But even while admitting that Australia will have to bat long periods in this game to be able to save it, Langer didn’t foresee a defensive approach to batting. “I think it’s in our nature to keep scoring runs, because I honestly believe that if you are scoring runs, the opposition will have some doubts in their mind. If you hang around and try to build pressure, you are going to be under even more pressure.”The bowler who took the Australians by surprise was Irfan Pathan, who struck two big blows by removing Steve Waugh and Adam Gilchrist in quick succession. “He swung the balls prodigiously. And he was swinging it late. That was surprising because I thought the ball didn’t swing in the first 40 minutes of our bowling. That had an effect I think.”

Roland Holder’s first-class cricket career isn’t over yet. Theexperienced middle-order batsman, who has been discarded by theBarbados selectors, was yesterday appointed captain of the West Indies’B’ team for the forthcoming Busta Series.I was surprised at the offer. It was very late in coming,Holder saidon Voice of Barbados’ Tell It Like It Is Programme minutes last nightafter his appointment was announced by West Indies Cricket Board(WICB) chief cricket operations officer Michael Hall.Perhaps I was caught a little bit off-guard. I had to give it someconsideration, Holder added. They actually approached me yesterday, soit took a while for me to make up my mind and decide on it.The West Indies ‘B’ team, participating in the championship for thesecond successive year, are a development side for Under-23 playersaround the region who are unable to make their national sides. But theWICB has once more opted for a seasoned player as captain. Former WestIndies captain Richie Richardson led the team last year.In this capacity, I’d be more there to advise granted that I’m goingto have to field, bat and do whatever else, Holder said.I wouldn’t want to play the leading role. The tournament is more forthe Under-23 people. I’m hopeful that I’ll be able to guide them,hopefully along the same sort of lines that I’ve tried to do forEmpire and the youth we have there.Against the background that he has not been in serious training inrecent weeks, his fitness may be tested. But at least he comes intothe competition with the benefit of the full Division 1 season behindhim in which he snared the most dismissals as a wicket-keeper.I don’t think I’ve been doing too much work, Holder admitted.Initially, it may be a bit of a problem. I’ll just have to pacemyself.Holder, who made his first-class debut in 1986 while still a schoolboyat Combermere, was a seasoned Barbados player and national captainbetween 1992 and 1994 and again in 1999.His appointment as West Indies ‘B’ captain presents him with thechance to achieve the landmark of playing 100 first-class matches. Hegoes into the tournament with 98 matches in which he has scored 5 550runs (average 38.27), including 16 centuries and 23 half-centuries.The Busta Series opens next week Friday, but the selection of the WestIndies ‘B’ team has been delayed for various reasons. Their firstmatch is against Bangladesh ‘A’, who arrive in Antigua on January 20.

The sign of the cross, a gesture of praise and gratitude forall Christians, has taken on a diametrically opposite meaning for WestIndian cricketers over the past week.As the only one of his faith in the team representing the IslamicRepublic of Pakistan, Yousuf Youhana celebrates every landmark in aninnings with a religious acclamation more familiar in the Caribbeanthan in his homeland.It was evident twice on his way to 115 on the first day of the secondTest at Kensington Oval last Thursday that guided Pakistan throughearly troubles to a respectable total.Youhana was able to repeat it in similar circumatances on the firstday of the third, final and decisive Test here yesterday by scoring102 runs not out. For five-and-a-half hours and 228 balls ofunwavering concentration and flawless stroke selection, he kept theWest Indies at bay after they had justifiably chosen to bowl onwinning the toss and had once more undermined the early Pakistanbatting.The closest the West Indies came to removing him was when he snickedWalsh a couple of feet short of Shivnarine Chanderpaul at second slipwhen 27 and when his one hook stroke, off Walsh, just clearedAmbrose’s elongated stretch at fine leg and went for six to carry himinto the 90s.In a repetition of the previous two Tests, Pakistan battled their wayout of a tight spot to a satisfactory, if not commanding, position bythe end of the day’s 90 overs.Youhana and Inzamam-ul-Haq, who had been at the heart of the earlierrecoveries, shared a partnership of 97 with Youhana either side oflunch that steadied the innings.In yet another of the wholehearted spells that have characterised hislengthy career, Courtney Walsh removed the threatening Inzamam to acatch at point for 55, that included six meaty fours and a pulled outof-the-ground six off Ambrose, and the troublesome Abdur Razzaq fortwo just before tea.But the West Indies had neither the penetration nor the variety tosustain their advantage in conditions that always offered them someencouragement, especially in the opening exchanges.They could not budge Youhana, who received useful support insuccessive stands of 41 with his captain, Moin Khan, and 33 with WasimAkram before both fell to edged catches just when they threatened todisrupt West Indian plans even further.Moin edged low to ‘keeper Ridley Jacobs during a spell of eight oversfrom Franklyn Rose, as spirited as that from Walsh, whom he replaced.Akram was neatly taken by Sherwin Campbell, low down at first slip,off Reon King, who had an otherwise lacklustre day.West Indian frustration was compounded by Saqlain Mushtaq, who heldfirm for one hour before the tireless Walsh despatched him to anotherCampbell slip catch off his second delivery with the second new ballas the shadows lengthened.West Indian problems were typified by 16 no-balls, five more than intheir previous three innings in the series put together and shoddyground fielding that conceded two boundaries from overthrows.It was an unusual off-day for Ambrose, who bowled only five oversafter lunch and none at all after tea.There was the rare gamble of a couple of overs of unpractised leg-spinfrom Ramnaresh Sarwan. The youngster had previously sent down eight,wicketless overs all season and now went for 16 as Akram lashed a fourto midwicket and a huge six over the Richie Richardson Stand at longon.Yet the West Indies made their usual encouraging start.As if they didn’t have enough to concern them, Pakistan lost the tossand had to cope with a pitch spiced by preparation moisture.

According to reports out of Spain, there has been an update on Tottenham Hotspur’s transfer plans as manager Antonio Conte eyes another one of his former stars in Milan Skriniar.

The Lowdown: Conte plotting Serie A raid?

The Italian has been linked with a plethora of his ex-big names in the last few months, not excluding marquee attacking stars Lautaro Martinez and Romelu Lukaku.

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Stefan de Vrij and Marcelo Brozovic, who were also key players for his Serie A title-winning side last year, are another San Siro pair recently linked.

Tottenham chief Fabio Paratici and chairman Daniel Levy are said to be under pressure to deliver for Conte, coming after the 52-year-old dropped another hint he could leave this week.

The Latest: Source makes Skriniar claim…

As per Spanish sources, it is now believed that Skriniar is one of ‘five signings that Conte has asked’ for at Tottenham.

The Slovakian has continued to thrive at Inter in Conte’s absence, going on to become an untouchable in Simone Inzaghi’s starting eleven, playing the second-most Serie A minutes out of any Nerazzurri player (WhoScored).

The Verdict: Get it d0ne…

The signing of Skriniar to upgrade Conte’s back-three options would undoubtedly be a statement of intent.

A composed and colossal figure at the San Siro, the 27-year-old has averaged a greater pass accuracy out from the back (93%) than any Tottenham regular and stands out as an elite, ball-playing centre-half (WhoScored).

Serie A critics have had no shortage of praise for Skriniar this season with European football expert Carlo Garganese even calling him a ‘monster’.

FootballFanCast General Stay ahead in the world of football analysis, commentary, and fan insights with FootballFancast. Subscribe FootballFanCast General Stay ahead in the world of football analysis, commentary, and fan insights with FootballFancast.

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ESPN and The Athletic columnist David Amoyal has also raved over the international’s ‘sensational’ performances since Spurs failed to sign him (Twitter).

Valued at around £59 million by Transfermarkt, it will cost Levy and co significant investment, but we certainly can’t imagine a better partner for Cristian Romero.

In other news: Tottenham ‘monster’ now eyes summer exit as club chiefs already take steps to sign him…find out more here.

	Andrew Symonds is obliged to visit Pakistan if Cricket Australia deem it safe, according to Ricky Ponting © Getty Images

Ricky Ponting says most of Australia’s players have concerns about touring Pakistan next month but he believes any individual who pulls out of the series will be in breach of their Cricket Australia contract. Andrew Symonds said on Wednesday he was unlikely to make the trip even if Cricket Australia deemed it safe, but Ponting said in that situation the players would be contractually obliged to tour.”The rest of us, we’ve all got our concerns,” Ponting said. “Cricket Australia have obviously got their concerns as well or we wouldn’t be here talking about it now. Some of the players have got some concerns and Andrew has been a bit more public with his.”It would actually be some sort of breach of a Cricket Australia contract, I would imagine. I think that’s how it is set out at the moment, that you are to make yourself available for any international games that are scheduled to be played. I think that’s how the Cricket Australia contract reads now. Whether it’s unfair or not, we’ve all signed off on it.”The tour might still be cancelled, if Cricket Australia’s security delegation decides the team’s safety cannot be guaranteed, however Ponting said it would not be up to individual players to make those decisions. He said it was a completely different situation to when Stuart MacGill boycotted the tour of Zimbabwe in 2004 due to moral concerns.”That’s where the grey area will come out of this. There will be lots of safety and security measures put in place and there’ll be all sorts of security checks done throughout Pakistan over the next few weeks to let us know as a player group whether it’s actually safe to tour or not. If it is seen to be safe and you don’t go, I think that’s where the breach of your contract would be.”Symonds has voiced his concerns over the situation in Pakistan since November and his latest comments left little room for doubt about his reluctance to visit the country. Just hours after he said he was unlikely to go, Symonds was sold to Hyderabad in the Indian Premier League auction for US$1.35 million, which was the highest price paid for an Australian player.Ponting said the timing of Symonds’ statement was regrettable, as it would lead to speculation he was angling for more money due to his potential availability while the rest of the Australians might be in Pakistan. “I don’t think it was planned for him to come out and make those statements yesterday,” Ponting said.”I just think it was a bit unfortunate that he was probably out doing a promotion appearance just before the events took place yesterday, otherwise we wouldn’t have heard of it until today or the next opportunity he had to front the media. It’s not the first time he’s said it, he said it earlier in the year as well. So I think we all understand his feelings on touring Pakistan.”

Scorecard
Chasing a mammoth target of 517 Bangladesh A collapsed to 233 handing Sri Lanka A a 283-run victory on the final day of their first test at the Colts Cricket Club Ground in Colombo.Bangladesh A were in trouble from the start of day four as captain Tushar Imran and Nazmul Hossain came out to bat with the score at 110 for 3. They added 50 runs before Hossain was caught for 11 off Malinda Warnapura who had earlier set up Sri Lanka’s victory with a maiden double-century in their declared first-innings score of 547.With another 10 runs on the board Imran, the top-scorer of the innings at 54, was run out. Sujeewa de Silva, a left-arm medium-fast bowler, dismissed the next two batsmen for a run. Khaled Mashud, the former Bangladesh wicketkeeper, and Mahmudullah then put up an 82-ball resistance before de Silva dismissed Mahmudullah for 38. Mashud remained not out on 11 as Sri Lanka A wrapped up the match with nearly two sessions to spare. de Silva ended with a match haul of 7 for 107.Chandika Hathurusinghe, the Sri Lanka A coach, said that the target had been to give maximum exposure to the players and allow them to play under different conditions. “We did not enforce the follow-on although we had a big first innings lead because we thought we should give the openers another chance to prove themselves,” Hathurusinghe told , a Colombo-based newspaper. Sri Lanka lead the two-match series 1-0 with the second test starting on March 25 in Colombo.

Owais Shah and his controversial blade © Getty Images

The Marylebone Cricket Club, the guardian of the game’s laws, is seeking clarification from the ICC over the controversial issue of graphite-backed bats, after a week in which England’s debutant, Owais Shah, scored 126 runs with a similar make of bat that Ricky Ponting, Australia’s captain, was recently asked to change.The Kookaburra “Kahuna”, which Ponting has stopped using, and “The Beast”, which Shah waved in India, have a thin strip of graphite running down the spine, an accessory which contravenes Law 6.1 – “the blade of the bat shall be made solely of wood”.During last week’s first Test at Cape Town, Ponting had reverted to a conventional bat, and expressed surprise that Shah had been allowed to play with the graphite-enhanced version.”He can’t use it, he’ll be suspended,” said Ponting. “It was supposed to be banned as of the 12th of this month, which was the last one-day game the other day. That was all the feedback I received from Kookaburra and everybody else, but guess what I’m using in Durban then!”Roger Knight, the secretary and chief executive of MCC, felt that without clear guidance from the ICC, umpires were being put in an awkward position. “[The graphite backing] does not strengthen [the bat] but does stiffen it,” he told listeners to BBC’s Test Match Special, “which probably means it exerts more power.””The patent application refers to the back of the blade being carbon graphite and, as it says in the laws, the blade must be made solely of wood. We have no authority to tell umpires how to umpire the game but there is quite a lot of questioning of us as to what umpires should do.”At international level it’s very much the ICC which has to implement the law. If they want to put in place a playing condition they are of course entitled to do. We have made our ruling on whether it complies or not – we are waiting for the ICC and other bodies to implement it.”