LEFT SIDE: “Where the left side, the left side, the left side and werehere.”MIDDLE: “Where the middle, the middle, the middle and were here.”RIGHT SIDE: “Where the right side, the right side, the right side and werehere.”ALL TOGETHER: “You’re the Sri Lankans, the Sri Lankans, the Sri Lankans andyou’re over there.”According to the Barmy Army melody (and it is not a hard one) you eithersupport England or you don’t. Broken into three bays upon Yabba’s Hill,Sydney Cricket Ground, the Barmy Army do their best to upset opposing fans,and during the England v Sri Lanka game, this Australian journalist learnt alot about the English spirit.Spending time with the Barmy Army is a multitude of melody mixed withgenerous serves of humour. Being able to take a joke is important whenaround the Barmy Army. This I soon discovered after enquires were made aboutmy favourite player and my response of Steve Waugh brought about a smile anda knowing look between members that made me think perhaps there was a betteranswer.Soon I was serenaded with a few Steve Waugh songs – Waugh: what is he goodfor and one about the current Test skipper not making the plane to Jamaicaand going into obscurity just like Mark.I assumed they would be cheeky and to the point. And I also assumed theywould be good fun. I wanted the fun and was not sure whether my thick skincould handle the criticism but luckily today Australia was not playing. (Forif the green and gold¹s were playing my skin would be thinner and theinsults would bring a defensive nature about myself.)Although, these boys and girls can sling mud better than any supporter groupI have known, they also respect and support their own to the death. SteveHarmison bowled a shocking first over; dot, wide, wide, wide, dot, dot, noball, dot, wide, three and six. Not the most impressive over from apromising young bowler but what impressed me was the support given by theArmy. Coming back to his fielding position in front of the Army they clappedand chanted OeStevo¹ as if the lanky quick had just taken a wicket.But being in the Barmy Army means you must also be cheeky.A few bays over to the left a contingent of Sri Lankan supporters haveamassed. Today they have brought with them drums, cymbals and horns to joinin with their clapping and singing as the Sri Lankans do good things.At every run, the horn blare, the cymbals crash and the drums are beaten -for this the Barmy Army really have no comeback. But wait, they start up aruckus chant of “You¹ve only got one song” and take off their shoes and bangthem above their heads to imitate the Sri Lankans. The Sri Lankans playlouder with the entire orchestra joining in. Generous laughter ripples fromthe surrounding England supporters and one journalist as I laugh at them.I find myself laughing a lot. They poke fun at everyone includingthemselves, and me, but they have an affable nature and it¹s not done in amalicious way at all.It¹s fun and done with good taste – they mean nothing by it. Today the pointof their chants is Sri Lanka, next week it may be Australia and in a coupleof months it will be the entire world – well those unfortunates who will goup against England and the Barmy Army at the World Cup.And today the aim is also directed at the Sydney Cricket Ground itself.According to the Barmy Army – it is curry day. When they were here for theTest, the SCG did not sell curry. But today because England is playing SriLanka curry is on sale. So the first commandment is to eat all the curry sothe Sri Lankans are forced to eat pies and chips.With only a small number remaining they may well fall short of the target.In addition to eating all the curry, the Army has made up a tune to go handin hand with Curry Day. Soon OeThe 12 days of Christmas¹ becomes OeThe 12curries of Sydney¹.The song written on a piece of paper at the pub this morning by two of themembers is soon rushed to a local Internet café where 200 copies are madeand then distributed to Army troops. The song is sung with gusto as Englandtries to keep the total as low as possible.The Barmy Army though is more than a bunch of English people who gettogether to sing songs and annoy the fellow spectators. During the week, thelads went up against the Kings Cross World Bar side in a match of cricket.With three balls to spare from a 30-over-a-side match played at CentennialPark, the Barmy Army XXI beat a World Bar XIX with all the money raised fromthe match going towards the Leukemia Foundation – it also gave England theirsecond win against Australia this tour.The time spent with the Barmy Army was fun and entertaining. They lovecricket and enjoy a joke along with a beer whether it is on the left, rightor in the middle.

Teenage batsman Nick Kruger will make his ING Cup debut for the XXXXQueensland Bulls on Saturday in Adelaide following an arm injury toStuart Law.Kruger, 19, was named to make his limited overs debut for Queenslandfollowing the decision to rule out Law after he was struck a painfulblow on the arm yesterday in the Pura Cup match against the SouthernRedbacks.X-rays yesterday cleared Law of any fractures but he was unable to battoday in the Bulls second innings due to the injury.A hard-hitting left-hander, Kruger was twelfth man for the Bulls intheir outright Pura Cup win over the Western Warriors in Perth lastmonth and played for Queensland in their recent one-day match againstAustralian Country in Bundaberg.Kruger top-scored with 65 from 58 balls in the Bulls win over Country.The Bulls will look to rebound on Saturday against the Redbacks, afterlosing their most recent ING Cup match to the Bushrangers at the Gabbalast week and facing certain defeat in the Pura Cup match presentlyunderway.The Bulls are equal top of the ING Cup ladder along with the WesternWarriors on 22 points.XXXX Queensland Bulls v Southern Redbacks, ING Cup, Adelaide Oval,Saturday: Martin Love (c), Daniel Payne, Lee Carseldine, Clinton Perren,Nick Kruger, Brendan Nash, James Hopes, Wade Seccombe, Ashley Noffke,Nathan Hauritz, Michael Kasprowicz, Scott Brant (all 12 to play).

PAARL – Saeed Anwar and Saleem Elahi became the first two Pakistanis to undergo a random dope test here under the new regimen introduced by the ICC.The urine samples of the two Pakistani batsmen were taken immediately after the side won its fixture against Holland by the ICC panel of doctors. The result of the tests are likely to come within a week.The entire Pakistan team was tested for banned substances by the PCB’s panel of doctors, and each of the players was found negative after examination by an IOC-approved clinic at Penang (Malaysia).The Pakistan team management was told on the morning of the match that random tests would be conducted after the match.Speaking on the issue, the team spokesman said: “We have nothing to be concerned about. We believe that our boys are clean, but we have to follow the ICC regimen”.

Sachin Tendulkar ended the World Cup at the top of the PwC one-day ratings for batsmen, and India finished the tournament with four bowlers in the world top 15 for one-day cricket.But as the Final demonstrated, Australia remains the dominant team in one-day cricket. Matthew Hayden had a quiet tournament (he was number one coming into the World Cup and had dropped to 6th place by the end) but the Australians won every match in the World Cup thanks to their incredible strength in depth.Ricky Ponting ends the tournment as the top Australian batsman (4th), followed by Adam Gilchrist who is at his personal best one-day rating (5th), as is Damien Martyn (13th). Andrew Symonds, up 44 places to 29th, was one of the most improved players of the World Cup. Andy Bichel, who climbed in both the batting and bowling , established himself as an all-rounder.Already, another wave of Aussies is proving itself to be world-beating. The absence of Gillespie, Warne and two Waughs seems to have made not a hap’orth of difference.

Mohammed Sami of Pakistan clocked 156.4km/h in Thursday’s game against Zimbabwe to become the third fastest bowler in recent times.In the absence of enduring stars like Waqar Younis and Wasim Akram, and the hundred-miles-per-hour man Shoaib Akhtar, Sami seems to have grabbed the bull by the horns and decided that he wants the mantle not only as the spearhead of Pakistan’s pace battery but also perhaps as the world’s fastest bowler.Sami’s 156.4km/h leapfrogs him into third place in the pace race and signals intent to both Lee and Shoaib of his impending presence.Mohammed Sami’s career has previously been one of unfulfilled promise, as he has threatened to ignite for some time but has failed to live up to expectation.Before his debut, Sami had been described as “Very fast and very hostile.” In 2000, about the then 18-years-old, Wasim Akram said that he was at least as fast as Shoaib and that he was happy for him to play Test cricket.It was almost two years ago to the day that Sami, a skinny 20-year-old fired up the guns with a 147.5km/h thunderbolt against Sri Lanka. Sami had previously clocked 143km/h on his debut against New Zealand but it was this 90mph plus delivery which signalled to many that he had arrived as a genuine speedster and would soon be in the express category.The past two years have seen Sami’s speeds all but stall as he has hovered around the mid-140s (km/h) with a top speed confirmed at 149.7km/h. The 150km/h-plus deliveries have proved elusive as he has sat on the edge of the ‘express paceman’s’ club watching other emerging speed demons pass him by.Some have proposed that the 22-year-old has been living in the shadow of established stalwarts for too long and that his potential speed would only come to fruition with the confidence which results from being handed the reigns as a leader of the attack. Others have stated that his slight frame would physically not allow him to bowl above the 150km/h mark.Sami has now blasted the latter train of thought out of the water whilst the former looks to be more on the money.In his first five-over spell, Sami bowled nine balls exceeding the 150km/h benchmark. Five of them went well beyond it at 152km/h or above, culminating with the 156.4km/h delivery, the first ball of his fifth over. This speed has been verified by the second radar which captured the ball’s velocity slightly later in its flight path at 155.7km/h. Thanks once again goes to Warren Brennan and the crew at BBG for their continued support and professionalism with regards the confirmation of bowling speeds.The magnitude of Mohammed Sami’s new found pace can only be comprehended when it is realized that he is the only bowler ever to be recorded initially breaking the 150km/h barrier and then pushing past 155km/h within the same match. That kind of jump is unheralded.Sami followed up his Herculean performance with 10 balls registering above 149km/h against Sri Lanka. A remarkable effort considering the high temperature in Sharjah and the unusual strain that his body underwent the previous day.To try and put one’s finger on the physical modifications which have given birth to Sami’s fresh pace would be to analyse Sami’s bodily metamorphosis and his action adjustments. He has no doubt added a bit of meat to his light bones and a few yards of pace to his diminutive run-up. Add to this a demeanour bristling with confidence and the result is an explosive burst which propels the ball at breakneck speeds.Pakistan’s cricket fans the world over are left wondering what might have been, had the kid from Karachi been given the opportunity to partner Shoaib in a twin pace assault at the recently completed World Cup. In an event where only four of the world’s pacers bettered 150km/h, it would have been a sight to behold having the fast men charging in and giving the batsmen no respite.The temptation for the Pakistan selectors now would be to rush back Shoaib and see just what this pairing are capable of. If it is anything even remotely close to what Waqar and Wasim were accomplishing back in their halcyon days, then the world’s batsmen may be in for a few sleepless nights as they scramble to send off order forms for the finest in new-fangled body armour.

Andy Caddick has been ruled out of the Test series against Zimbabwe after sustaining ligament damage in his right foot.Caddick, England’s leading wicket-taker in last winter’s Ashes series, had retired from one-day cricket after the World Cup in order to concentrate on Tests. But after seeing a specialist this morning, he is likely to be ruled out of all forms of cricket for up to six weeks, after being diagnosed as having damaged ligaments in the arch of his right foot.

The chief medical officer of the England & Wales Cricket Board, Dr Peter Gregory, said: “We will re-assess Andy’s condition again in the near future but at this stage we anticipate, that with rest, he should be fit and available for the npower Test Series against South Africa.” Caddick has been advised to wear a protective surgical boot for up to six weeks to help overcome the problem.Caddick is not the only England player with fitness problems. Andrew Flintoff recently suffered a trapped nerve in his right shoulder and was ruled out of Lancashire’s latest Championship match against Essex. “At this stage there is a slim chance that Andrew will be available for the first Test,” added Gregory. “We will have a clearer idea once we have had an opportunity to assess the results of the tests he underwent earlier today.”But Caddick’s absence will leave England’s selectors with the biggest dilemma when they gather on Saturday to select their squad for the first Test at Lord’s, which starts on Thursday. James Anderson is now likely to take the new ball with Stephen Harmison, both of whom were awarded England central contracts last month, but their lack of Test experience is a worry.Matthew Hoggard and Alex Tudor, both of whom played during the winter, are among the likely candidates to take Caddick’s place, but there is the outside chance that England could turn to Darren Gough, whose recovery from a chronic knee condition has been one of the highlights of the early season.

The ongoing debate over Steve Waugh’s future as Australia’s captain surfaced again at the weekend with comments from two former players turned commentators, Jeff Thomson and David Hookes, that the time is right for him to step down.Thomson and Hookes said that with the Australian middle-order aging and with a series against Bangladesh starting in July, Waugh should go in the interest of the team. “It’s time to move on and it’s a good time to do it when the opposition isn’t that good,” Thomson argued. “When he [Waugh] got the hundred in Sydney, I thought that was enough. What’s he going to prove if he plays Bangladesh? Who cares if Steve Waugh gets a hundred?”Hookes, a long-standing critic of Waugh, agreed. “I can’t see any point [him] playing against Bangladesh. He won’t get a hit for starters. Look at the batting,” he continued. “You’ve got him, Lehmann, Ponting and Martyn to come back – they are not young blokes.Thomson went one step further, suggesting that Glenn McGrath should be relived of his new-ball duties in favour of Brett Lee and Jason Gillespie. “If the wicket’s got something in it, you may as well use Gillespie and Lee,” Thomson said. “Lee should be opening the bowling, get the choice of ends. To bowl Lee into the wind is not on any more. McGrath wouldn’t have to wait long. They are only going to bowl five or six overs.”

Frizzell County Championship Division OneKent 362 and 418 for 3 dec beat Nottinghamshire 156 and 337 by 287 runs at Maidstone
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Mohammad Sami completed the superb match figures of 15 for 114, the best bowling figures of the season so far, as Kent completed their first Championship victory of the season by overwhelming Nottinghamshire at Maidstone. Kent didn’t have it all their own way, however, as Notts mounted a valiant rearguard, led by Jason Gallian’s six-hour 106 and ably supported by Kevin Pietersen, Chris Cairns and Paul Franks. Sami though was irresistible, and followed his eight wickets in the first innings by skittling Notts’s tail with five more wickets in the space of seven runs. Muttiah Muralitharan arrives at the end of the month, and Kent’s prospects are on the up at last. Leicestershire 447 and 148 for 2 trail Middlesex 620 for 7 dec by 25 runs at Southgate
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It’s not often that a side scores 447 and still has to follow on, but that indignity was inflicted on Leicestershire, after Middlesex had compiled a whopping 620 for 7 Dec on the first two days at Southgate. Chad Keegan added three more wickets to his overnight haul to finish with a career-best 6 for 114 from 29 overs, and when John Maunders fell to the first ball of the follow-on, caught behind off Ashley Noffke, the omens didn’t look good. Noffke then dealt with Leicestershire’s first-innings hero, Virender Sehwag, in similar fashion (31 for 2), but Darren Maddy and Brad Hodge knuckled down to rescue the innings with an unbeaten 117-run stand for the third wicket. By the close, Leicestershire were 25 runs behind, with eight wickets remaining, and a draw seemed to be the likely result.Essex 340 and 254 for 6 lead Sussex 282 for 8 by 235 runs at Arundel
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The Championship fixture between Essex and Sussex remained evenly poised, after another day of slow manoeuvring at Arundel. The early honours belonged to Sussex, who secured a first-innings lead thanks to Mushtaq Ahmed, James Kirtley and Jason Lewry, who added 79 runs for the last two wickets. Essex then slipped to 50 for 2, with both Nasser Hussain and James Foster dismissed, but Paul Grayson’s 71 and a pair of half-centuries for Andy Flower and Aftab Habib put Essex back in the reckoning. Warwickshire 245 and 304 for 5 trail Surrey 355 and 450 for 5 dec by 256 runs at Edgbaston
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Warwickshire’s pursuit of the improbable suffered two devastating blows shortly before the close, when Ian Bell and Jonathan Trott were prised out in quick succession, to leave Surrey on the verge of their fifth Championship victory of the season. Warwickshire’s slim hopes had been ground into the dust in the morning session, as Mark Ramprakash converted his overnight 121 into a magnificent unbeaten 182, allowing Surrey to declare on 450 for 5, a lead of 560. But Michael Powell led the charge with 91, and at 293 for 3, Warwickshire dared to dream. But Adam Hollioake trapped Trott lbw for 51, before Saqlain Mushtaq picked up Bell three runs later for 71.Frizzell County Championship Division Two Gloucestershire 277 and 171 for 5 beat Derbyshire 89 and 356 by five wickets at Derby
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Derbyshire were made to pay for a pathetic first-innings effort, as Gloucestershire eked out a five-wicket victory that might have been very different had they been set more than 169 for victory. After collapsing to 89 all out in their first effort, Derbyshire fared considerably better second-time around, as Michael di Venuto (148) and Luke Sutton (81*) carried them to a healthy 356. Gloucestershire, who had managed 277 in their first innings, then slumped to 52 for 4, with two wickets each for Kevin Dean and Graeme Welch. But Jonty Rhodes calmed the nerves with an unbeaten 62, and Alex Gidman added a brisk 41 from 46 balls before being bowled by Dominic Cork with 48 runs still required. Northamptonshire 322 and 206 for 2 beat Durham 327 and 199 by eight wickets at Chester-le-Street
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Jason Brown gave a reminder of the form that earned him a place on England’s tour to Sri Lanka in 2000-01, as he bowled Northants to victory at Chester-le-Street with second-innings figures of 7 for 69. Northants and Durham had been level-pegging on first innings, but match was transformed when the spinners Brown and Graeme Swann entered the fray. From 70 for 0, Durham slumped to 100 for 5, and though Nicky Peng and Phil Mustard slowed the rot with a 71-run partnership, Brown ripped through the tail for his best figures in first-class cricket. Set 205 to win, Mike Hussey and Phil Jaques broke the back of the run-chase with a 156-run partnership, as Northants took their place at the top of Division Two. Somerset 233 and 129 for 3 trail Glamorgan 349 and 307 by 294 runs at Cardiff
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Matthew Maynard completed his third Championship century of the season as Glamorgan closed in on victory against Somerset at Sophia Gardens. Maynard, who had been 32 not out overnight, was in scintillating form, rushing to 101 from 114 balls, with 13 fours and two sixes to give Glamorgan plenty time to force a result. By the close, Somerset had limped to 129 for 3 in pursuit of 424.

A career can end in many ways. Some prefer a planned exit, others an impromptu departure. Some retire too quickly, others too slowly. Some Asian cricketers drag out their demise, eking out every morsel of acclaim and monetary reward. The bigger they come the slower they fade. Kapil Dev and Javed Miandad are two prime examples. This is not just an Asian trait, but it certainly runs more strongly in our blood.Such dithering can become a little bothersome for a cricket board intent on a clearout. What to do with a great cricketer who won’t let the fat lady sing? The answer is genius in its simplicity: announce a farewell match and stop the debate. The question is, why has nobody thought of it before? And the man with a chance to go down in history as a pioneer is Waqar Younis.Waqar has had some difficulty in the last few months. He hasn’t quite got the message. After Pakistan’s abysmal World Cup performance it seemed inevitable that he would retire from international cricket. Indeed, if Pakistan were to fail in the World Cup, a bad failure probably suited the purposes of the Pakistan Cricket Board best. Off the record, Pakistan officials will admit that it was a relief – they now had a mandate for change.Instead Waqar vowed to fight for his place, with a return to county cricket as part of his comeback plan. But in the meantime Pakistan’s young fast bowlers have rendered Waqar obsolete. And the recent public tiff between Waqar and Shoaib Akhtar underscores the painful tussle between old warhorses and young bucks that has paralysed Pakistan cricket over the last year. In offering Waqar a farewell home game against South Africa the message from the Pakistan Cricket Board is clear and simple: thank you and goodnight. The subtext is that this is Waqar’s best chance of a dignified exit, whereas the alternative is adding his name to the long list of great Asian cricketers who have departed with acrimony.It is touching too that this planned farewell will be hand in glove with Wasim Akram’s. Together they formed the most potent fast-bowling partnership in the history of Asian cricket, perhaps in world cricket. Together they will reward their fans with a final hurrah. Wasim, as ever, has shown a shrewder touch. Sensing that the mood was against him, Wasim announced his retirement and was instantly rewarded with a farewell game. During the NatWest Challenge in England I asked Wasim if he thought he should be playing. His reply? “I’ve had my time. It is time for the youngsters to enjoy themselves in the middle.”Waqar should have taken a hint from Wasim’s retirement. Now the ignominy of having a farewell game foisted upon him can only be surpassed if he refuses to accept this unique offer. Waqar’s glittering career has brought many records. But there are no more on the horizon, except the dubious one of the first forced farewell. Waqar has still not accepted the Pakistan board’s proposal. He should. The selectors have said goodnight to Waqar Younis and Wasim Akram. Against South Africa in Pakistan it will be time for thank you.Kamran Abbasi, born in Lahore, brought up in Rotherham, is deputy editor of the British Medical Journal.

Sanwar Hossain was cleared to play for Bangladesh against Australia in the three-match ODI series despite being reported to the International Cricket Council for having a suspect bowling action. However, he runs the risk of being no-balled if the umpires feel that he is throwing the ball.Hossain was reported by David Shepherd, Rudi Koertzen and SteveDavis, the three umpires at the second Test at Cairns, after they reviewed tape of his bowling action. The issue is now under the ICC’s jurisdiction and over the next six weeks Hossain and the Bangladesh Cricket Board (BCB) will have the opportunity to work on any areas of concern.”Hossain will be able to continue to play during this time,” the ICC said yesterday. “But the bowler remains subject to being called on the field by an umpire in accordance with the laws of the game”. With Shepherd to officiate in all three one-dayers, and Davies to stand in the second match, Hossain will be under scrutiny. The on-field umpires can no-ball him for chucking and repeated offences could see him taken out of the attack.Hossain’s questionable delivery is a back-hander similar to one used by Sri Lanka’s Muttiah Muralitharan. Muralitharan, whose action has repeatedly been questioned, has been cleared on a number of occasionsbecause of his flexible elbow. But Hossain’s copycat delivery looks as if it involves a straightening of the arm as he flicks the ball out of his hand.Hossain is at stage one of the ICC’s process for dealing with suspect actions, which allows him to continue to play while working withadvisers to be appointed by his home board and a human movement specialist from an ICC panel. This stage will last up to six weeks.At that point a detailed report will be submitted to the ICC.If Hossain’s action is not remedied in the next six weeks and he isreported again, he could risk a formal hearing and could be banned for 12 months under the ICC guidelines.