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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.

Chaminda Vaas’s 50th Test has been a wonderful one so far. The leftarm seamer not only did the damage with the ball, claiming four crucialIndian wickets, but also made a more than useful 42 in Sri Lanka’sfirst innings as well.In an exclusive interview with CricInfo at the end of the day, the SriLankan cricketer declared, "It was a good day. Ended up scoring someruns and bowled pretty well."Vaas however just missed on a five-wicket haul and that meant that he still is one short 150 Test wickets. "I am not worried about that. Not at all. I got four wickets bowling well. We’ve got to bowl at them in the second innings and hopefully can get at that then"Speaking about the Kandy wicket, on which fast bowlers have so fartaken 18 out of 20 wickets which fell to full-time bowlers, Vaas said,"The wicket was a good one. It helped me a bit. I bent my back and bowled at the right spot and the wickets came."That Dilhara Fernando and Ruchira Perera too have been taking wicketsin the recent past has taken a huge load off the shoulders of bothMuralitharan and Vaas."The whole nation is expecting me and Murali to take wickets. But recently the other guys like Dilhara and Ruchira have been of immense help for Murali and me. The stress on you is less when you’ve got more wicket taking bowlers."He looks forward with optimism to the future. "When Nuwan Zoysa returns from injury it’ll be even a better attack."Earlier today, Vaas missed out on his fifth fifty as he was dismissed for 42, "I tried to protect Ruchira and get to the 50 but couldn’t make it."Finally it looks as if Vaas has come of age with the bat. He has always had the potential to be a good all-rounder but he knows that has not yet realised it."In the recent times I have concentrated on my batting more with Davand am happy about the progress I have made. I feel I have madeabout 70 percent improvement and more importantly I want toconcentrate on it more."

Scorecard and ball-by-ball details 1:56

‘Kookaburra balls swings more’ – Ishant Sharma

Ishant Sharma’s searing opening spell defined day two of the tour match, as he tore through half the opposition inside 21 balls, after India had reached 351. Sixteen wickets fell in total during the day – most of these to the new ball, on a surface that remained helpful for seam bowling.The Indians themselves were in trouble at 28 for 3 in the second innings, but were steadied by KL Rahul and Cheteshwar Pujara, who led the team to 112 for 3 by stumps. The visitors lead the Board President’s XI by 342.Ishant prospered bowling full and straight, finding sharp movement off the seam, as well as a little swing in the air. Though the Board XI’s attack is comprised of inexperienced first-class cricketers, the top order is packed with Sri Lanka players. Three of Ishant’s victims – Kaushal Silva, Lahiru Thirimanne and Upul Tharanga, had played in Sri Lanka’s most recent Test in Pallekele. His two other scalps – Kusal Perera and Dhananjaya de Silva – also played in the recent T20 series against Pakistan, at the same venue.

“Major difference is the ball” – Ishant

The extra movement on offer in Sri Lanka was the major change from bowling in India, Ishant Sharma said. Ishant used the movement in the air and off the surface to claim figures of five wickets for five runs in his first competitive spell in the country.
While an SG ball is used for Tests in India, Sri Lanka uses the Kookaburra ball. “Initially with Kookaburra ball it swings, and there was help for fast bowlers today,” he said. “Major difference is the ball. They also leave some grass here so the ball is seaming and swinging a bit. As you can see we also lost three wickets and they also lost quite a few wickets. New ball is important and after that how consistent you are with the old is going to make a huge difference.”
Reverse swing often also plays a role in Sri Lanka, particularly at Galle, where the track is often dry and a strong breeze blows off the sea. “We have been discussing how to maintain the ball, and how we will bowl in certain situations when the batsmen are set and ball is old. Ball is going to swing for 12-14 overs so after that how you will bowl is really important.”

Silva was dismissed off the first ball Ishant delivered. The bowler sent one at the stumps and jagged it in at the batsman to trap him in front. De Silva was gone by the end of that over, when he let another full Ishant delivery through his defences. Tharanga was also out lbw, and Thirimanne and Kusal fell off consecutive deliveries. Thirimanne was caught in the slips as he pushed at a ball just outside the line of the stumps. Kusal barely had time to register the delivery that clattered into his stumps, before he was headed back to the pavilion.Thirimanne’s failure may be particularly significant in the context of the series. His place in the Test XI had been under significant contention, following a string of low scores against Pakistan. He will now know he needs a second innings score to shore up his position.Having reduced the opposition to 10 for 5 inside eight overs, the Indians eased off the throttle. Ishant was taken out of the attack to allow Umesh Yadav and Varun Aaron a run at the lower order. They teased batsmen’s edges by consistently delivering the ball that shaped away from left-handers. There was plenty of pace in that spell too. Of the few runs the Board XI could manage against the new ball, most came behind square.Milinda Siriwardene survived for 47 deliveries, in which he hit 32 runs. The cut and the square drive were his most productive strokes, until he edged Aaron behind, having pushed the score beyond 50.Niroshan Dickwella and Danushka Gunathilaka came together with the score on 51 for 7 to put on 63 together. The ball had aged enough to dull some of the movement, and the zip off the pitch, and both men chose to attack, even when Ishant returned to the bowling crease. It would eventually be the spin of R Ashwin that removed them. Gunathilaka gave up a top-edge as he attempted to launch Ashwin over the legside, and Dickwella was bowled. The board XI innings was wrapped up for 121 runs.The new ball brought wickets again towards the end of the day, when left-armer Vishwa Fernando and Kasun Rajitha combined to claim the Indians’ top three in quick succession. Rohit Sharma collected his second single-figure score of the match when he was lbw to Fernando for eight. Wriddhiman Saha received a somewhat more contentious lbw decision when the ball hit him somewhere near the top of his pad, third ball. Kohli fell for his second low score in the match as well, chipping Fernando straight to cover.Pujara was again on hand to stem the quick loss of wickets, combining with Rahul put on a slow but risk-free 84 runs. Rahul was not out on 47 at day’s end, and Pujara on 31.

Australia’s Steven Smith doesn’t think the send-off he got from India’s Virat Kohli, after being dismissed in the first T20 on Tuesday night, has a place on the cricket field. While it’s okay to have a bit of “banter” going around the field, Smith said, the kind of aggression Kohli showed was not needed.”I don’t think you need to do that kind of thing when someone gets out,” Smith told . “It’s fine to have a little bit of banter when you’re out in the field, but when someone’s out I don’t really think that’s on. He gets pretty emotional out there, doesn’t he?”Kohli was fielding at cover when he took the catch to dismiss Smith for 21 off Ravindra Jadeja’s bowling in Adelaide and gave the batsman a long, animated send-off. Smith was connected to a microphone at the time and had been conducting an interview with Channel Nine commentators during the over, and Kohli’s gestures seemed to refer to that.India offspinner R Ashwin played down the incident, saying it was “probably a personal battle” between Kohli and Smith. He also added that Kohli’s competitive streak was beneficial for the Indian dressing room. Kohli had also earlier exchanged words with Australia’s allrounder James Faulkner during the ODI series.”It’s probably a personal battle between those two of them,” Ashwin said. “I think both of them are very good competitors. They know what they’re doing, they don’t go down without a fight. It’s good to have such competition on the field. Both of them are champion cricketers. I think it just adds to the spice of the game so I don’t mind it at all.”Meanwhile, Hardik Pandya, who made his international debut in Adelaide, received an official reprimand for his celebrations after he dismissed Chris Lynn in the 16th over of Australia’s chase. Pandya’s Level 1 breach of article 2.1.7 of the ICC Code of Conduct for Players and Player Support Personnel relates to: “Using language, actions or gestures which disparage or which could provoke an aggressive reaction from a batsman upon his/her dismissal during an International Match.”The charge was leveled by on-field umpires Simon Fry and John Ward, third umpire Paul Wilson and fourth umpire Gerard Abood. Pandya admitted to the offence and accepted the sanction proposed by match referee Jeff Crowe.

Danish Kaneria has turned down the chance to play in the Indian Cricket League. Kaneria, who is currently playing for Essex, said that he rejected the approach as his priority was to Pakistan and that “money is not everything”. He also called on the selectors to give him a place in the one-day side.In an interview which will appear on the Essex CCC website, he said: “There was an offer to me to play in the Indian Cricket League but my country always comes first to me. I always want to give 110% to my country so don’t want to be playing in another league.”There are three teams I want to play for – firstly my country, then Essex and my department, Habib Bank. They are three major teams who look after me so I try my level best to give to them.”International cricket is something different to domestic cricket so I want to stick with that. Money is not everything. I want to get my name where Muttiah Muralitharan and Shane Warne is. I want to achieve something in my life.”I would love to be in the one-day team and I don’t know why the selectors and captain don’t have confidence in me. They should do because I’ve bowled well in the county game [with Essex] which has a high level in the one-day cricket.”Leg-spinners play a vital role in any one-day team such as India who have been putting Piyush Chawla up against the England batting line-up. I would love to play but it depends on the management, the selectors and captain. They should have faith in me in all forms of cricket.”Kaneria’s next international commitments are in October, with the Test series against South Africa in Pakistan. In the meantime, he has been confirmed by Essex as their one overseas player next year.

Michael Hussey insists he is not trying to gain Ricky Ponting’s job despite his rapid elevation to the side’s vice-captaincy for the short tour of Malaysia. Hussey started playing Test cricket barely a year ago and has been outstanding in both forms of the game while displaying impeccable leadership skills.While Hussey enjoys skippering teams, he has no plans to take Ponting’s position. “I want to make it clear I am not trying to become Australian captain or anything like that,” Hussey said in the as the squad began its preparations for the tournament with India and West Indies. “I am 100% behind Ricky and Adam [Gilchrist] and I am not trying to promote myself as a leader.”The role will end when the Champions Trophy starts in India in October and Gilchrist, who is training at home while the team goes to Kuala Lumpur, rejoins the squad. “I’m just filling in but I am really honoured and will try and give Ricky as much support as I possibly can, and try and take some of the weight off his shoulders,” he said. Australia’s first game of the series is against West Indies on Tuesday.

Gautam Gambhir has been named the captain of the Rest of India squad to take on Railways, the Ranji champions, in the Irani Trophy to be played from October 1 to October 5 at the Karnail Singh Stadium in Delhi. Gambhir is currently playing the first Test against Zimbabwe in Bulawayo.Despite India not having any international assignments at that time, the selectors decided to not include the big stars and go for untested talent instead. Ramesh Powar, the offspinner from Mumbai, and Ramakrishnan Ramkumar, the left-arm spinner from Tamil Nadu, were the two spinners included. VRV Singh, the fast bowler from Punjab who had an impressive debut season, will get an opportunity to showcase his skill.A surprise omission from the squad is Dinesh Mongia, who had led the side last year. Parthiv Patel will get another chance to prove himself with the gloves while Venugopal Rao returns to the team as the vice-captain, after a disastrous one-day series in Zimbabwe.Rest of India squad:Gautam Gambhir (capt), Dheeraj Jadhav, Shikhar Dhawan, Robin Uthappa, Y Venugopal Rao (vice-capt), Suresh Raina, Niraj Patel, Parthiv Patel(wkt), Ramesh Powar, Ramakrishnan Ramkumar, RP Singh, Sreeshanth, Ranadeb Bose, Amit Bhandari, VRV Singh

Bangladeshis 136 for 7 (Habibul Bashar 47) beat WICB XI 135 (R Hinds 48, Manjural 4-9) by 3 wickets
ScorecardThe Bangladeshis began their tour of the West Indies with a morale-boosting three-wicket win against the West Indies Cricket Board XI. In a low-scoring match in St Vincent, the Board XI, with six international players in their ranks, won the toss and chose to bat on an easy-paced pitch, but were soon undone by the Bangladesh attack and were bowled out for just 135 in 45.3 overs. Bangladesh themselves stumbled in their run-chase, but Habibul Bashar, their captain, scored 47, while the lower order chipped in with some useful runs to ensure a victory with nine overs to spare.Batting at his customary No. 3 position, Bashar consolidated the innings after Bangladesh had lost an early wicket. However, there was little support from the rest of the top order, and at 82 for 6, the Board XI had an opportunity to sneak a win. Mushfiqur Rahman and Khaled Mashud scotched those hopes with a 50-run stand that took the Bangladeshis to the brink of victory. Mashud was dismissed for 17, but Mushfiqur remained unbeaten on 25 to take his side home.Earlier, Manjural Islam Rana, the left-arm spinner, and the former captain Khaled Mahmud combined to bundle the Board XI out cheaply. Mahmud (3 for 33) did the early damage, dismissing three of the top four batsmen, while Manjural wrapped up the tail to finish with the remarkable figures of 4 for 9 from 9.3 overs. Ryan Hinds was the only batsman to offer any resistance, making 48, the highest score of the match.This was Bangladesh’s only warm-up game before the one-day series, which starts with back-to-back matches here in St Vincent over the weekend.

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.

Sharjah cricket chiefs will limit players’ use of mobile phones and increase security near dressing rooms as part of a campaign to combat corruption in the sport.The Cricketers Benefit Fund Series, which organizes the twice-yearly tournaments in Sharjah, wants to prevent the desert venue – host of a record 174 One-Day Internationals – becoming a potential haven for match-fixers. The CBFS had sought guidance from cricket’s Anti-Corruption Unit on how to implement recommendations from ACU Director Lord Condon.Condon, a former police commissioner in London, submitted a report in April on how best to eradicate match-fixing and other forms of corruption from cricket. The International Cricket Council ruled that his advice be adopted.”We have embraced Lord Condon’s recommendations, especially security around the players’ dressing rooms,” said Zahid Noorani, CBFS chief executive. “There’ll be one mobile phone allowed and that is with the manager.”Five players, including former South Africa captain Hansie Cronje, have received life bans in the past two years as a result of investigations into match-fixing. Cronje was found out when police listened to his cellular-phone conversations with bookmakers.The ACU’s Bob Smalley and Jeff Rees, who visited Sharjah during the Aprilevent, accepted an invitation from the CBFS last month to advise on security.They will fly out again for the next tournament comprising Pakistan, Sri Lankaand Zimbabwe from Oct. 26 to Nov. 4th.”The action is for the players’ benefit,” Noorani said. “The only purpose behind this exercise is to protect them from untoward approaches from bookmakers.”The Emirates Cricket Board, independent of the CBFS, last year commissioned a three-man party – headed by former West Indies captain Clive Lloyd – to investigate claims of cricket corruption in the U.A.E. It hasn’t yet submitteda report.