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Brian Lara: ‘We shouldn’t lose confidence from a series such as this. Even if we were winning, not to leave here over-confident’ © AFP

Though not “100% sure” of his ability to take the field for tomorrow’s crucial one-day international at Chennai, Brian Lara cut a confident figure as he assessed his side’s current form. With one eye very focused on the World Cup at home in 46 days, Lara stressed on the role of youngsters and the constant need to assess and adjust against the odds.”We’re still very buoyant. The guys are looking forward to the remainder of the series,” he told reporters ahead of West Indies’ practice session at the MA Chidambaram Stadium. “I think this has always been called a build-up to the World Cup, so whatever we can get out of it – not necessarily results, but in terms of improving different aspects of our game – is important. We shouldn’t lose confidence from a series such as this. And even if we were winning, not to leave here over-confident.”It’s easy to suggest that West Indies’ morale may be down given the 0-2 score line in the four-match series, but Lara thought otherwise: “We are achieving certain things, maybe not in the form of results, but its very optimistic in the dressing-room. We know what the bigger picture is.”For as far back as one can remember, West Indies’ batting has revolved around the three senior players – Lara, Shivnarine Chanderpaul, and Chris Gayle – but Lara denied it was over-reliance. “The batting has definitely improved. Marlon Samuels in Pakistan and the likes of Dwayne Bravo, on a couple of occasions here, have shown that we’re trying to improve as far as the matchwinners in the team go – in terms of with bat and ball and the occasional run-out or two.”It’s important to understand that we have a good allround team. We’re just trying to get everyone to improve, but of course there are going to be guys well-positioned to do a large part of the job, like Gayle and Chanderpaul and myself, but we have specific jobs for every individual. It’s important that they execute it.”Lara did not see the need to change the make-up of the team based on the surface and praised Gayle for the leadership he showed at Cuttack. “It’s an exercise for any captain that likes to lead and likes the intricacies of the game. You want to be able to have that kind of situation. I think Chris enjoyed himself a couple days ago, moving around the bowlers, and I think he did a tremendous job. It’s only going to develop any captain if he has conditions of that sort.”

I must commend them for the sort of character they’ve shown over the last week or so, because they were destroyed in South Africa and didn’t do too well in the ICC Champions Trophy. India is a team you never take lightly

Despite so much focus being directed towards the Caribbean’s first World Cup, Lara refrained from talking strategies. “After this series, we head back to the Caribbean, where we have regional cricket to play, and there’s a camp before the World Cup. This particular series is paramount to us before the World Cup. We needed to get some sort of international cricket under our belt, and this is what we’re doing at present.”Having a little break before that is good, too, and I think we can get back well. The way the World Cup is structured, it allows you a couple of practice games, and some against the minnows to get you moving ahead of the main stage. We’re well on course as far as our preparation goes. It’s just a matter of staying fit, everyone staying together, and having the right group around.”Lara was also eager to point out the aggressive streak in India. “I’m not going to compare what I saw back then [in the ICC Champions Trophy and in Malaysia] but what I can tell you now is that they look hungry. They look like a team desperate for wins. Their results haven’t been good in the recent past, and leading up to the World Cup, with a billion people following you, you need to leave them with some sort of hope going into that tournament.”They were finalists four years ago, and know what they need to do as far as getting their act together goes; they’ve reshuffled a few players to try and get the right mix come March. I must commend them for the sort of character they’ve shown over the last week or so, because they were destroyed in South Africa and didn’t do too well in the ICC Champions Trophy. India is a team you never take lightly.”

Sourav Ganguly does not attribute his recent runs to the loss of captaincy © Getty Images

Sourav Ganguly, the former Indian captain, admits that he is unsure whether being relieved of the captaincy has helped him play better.”For the last five-six months, I have been making runs in both domestic and Test cricket. I also scored runs as the captain in Zimbabwe, so I don’t know whether I am playing better because I am no longer the Indian captain,” Ganguly said after compiling a well-made 88 in Bengal’s Ranji trophy loss to Tamil Nadu at the Eden Gardens in Kolkata yesterday. “But yes, it’s a different phase. The responsibility is less because as a captain you have to do many other things. But it is the same for all other captains.”Asked whether he was looking forward to the Test series in Pakistan, Ganguly said, “Not just me, but the entire team should do well there,” he said. “It will be a series between two good teams. Whoever plays well, will win.”Meanwhile, in an extraordinary attack on Ganguly, Raj Singh Dungarpur, manager of the touring Indian team, yesterday described him as the “laziest and possibly the worst fielder” of the side.”Sourav is not a student of the game. He is also not a role model of a captain. A captain cannot be the laziest and possibly the worst fielder of the side,” Dungarpur told television reporters in Lahore. He also claimed that John Wright, the former Indian cricket team coach, was frustated with the ways of Ganguly but could not get him removed as captain. “Wright was a little mild. He always had huge problems with Sourav.”

David Hussey, a star for Australia A, has been cut by Victoria© Getty Images

David Hussey, the Australia A batsman, was a stunning omission from Victoria’s Pura Cup side for the match against South Australia at the MCG on Friday. In a month where Hussey has scored 128 and 5 against West Indies and 45 and 50 against Pakistan in tour matches, his state has dropped him as they look for answers following a heavy loss to Western Australia last week.Greg Shipperd, the coach, said Hussey’s lack of runs – he has 257 at 23.36 in six Pura Cup games – forced the change. “David’s record – and I’m sure he’d be the first to admit it – in the four-day version of the game this season is nowhere near what he is capable of,” he said. “He needs to go back to the drawing board and make sure that he tightens up his game a little bit.”Hussey will be replaced by Nick Jewell, who has performed strongly in 2nd XI and club matches, while Shane Harwood returns for Allan Wise and will play his first game since breaking his cheekbone in December. “Our team performance indicates our batting’s going astray and a change needs to be made,” Shipperd said. “We’ve had some players putting pressure on from behind the scenes for a little while now.”Mark Cosgrove, who has scored a miserable 233 runs at 18.58 this season, has been dumped from the South Australia squad. Last season Cosgrove, nicknamed `Baby Boof’ for his heavy likeness to Darren Lehmann, was a glowing find for the Redbacks, but his second summer has been a disaster. Daniel Harris, the 25-year-old batsman, has been recalled after two years away from the side and 772 grade runs at 51.47, including three hundreds in his past three innings.The match will decide the second-year holder of the David Hookes Memorial Trophy, which is determined by points from the four Victoria and South Australia Pura and ING Cup games. Victoria currently leads with nine points to South Australia’s six.South Australia Graham Manou (capt, wk), Daniel Harris, Paul Rofe, Ryan Harris, Nathan Adcock, Trent Kelly, Greg Blewett, Tom Plant, Daniel Cullen, Shaun Tait, Callum Ferguson, Luke Williams.Victoria Cameron White (capt), Matthew Elliott, Jason Arnberger, Brad Hodge, Jon Moss, Nick Jewell, Ian Harvey, Graeme Rummans, Peter Roach (wk), Shane Warne, Mick Lewis, Shane Harwood.

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Peter Worthington: a 27-ball 45 wasn’t quite enough to clinch victory for Western Australia © Getty Images

Western Australia came home with a sprint in their quest to score 270 off 38 overs to beat the Zimbabweans, but finally fell four runs short. It was a close-run thing in a thrilling test of cricket character which left the Zimbabweans hanging on by their fingernails.It seemed that Heath Streak had set an improbable target, but that fighting quality that is so obvious in Australian international cricket also exists at first-class level. The WA top order responded to the challenge in superb style, and put the Zimbabwean attack through hell. But in the end, a tight penultimate over from Sean Ervine, which yielded only three singles, managed to shut the assault down. Andy Blignaut was left to bowl the last over with 15 runs required. While Marcus North did his best, 11 was all that could be managed.Chris Rogers gave WA their initial impetus. He scored 26 of the first 32 runs before he was dismissed to a tidy catch low down at backward point by Mark Vermeulen off Blignaut. But once Ryan Campbell joined Mike Hussey the target was lifted into the realms of possibility. They scored at better than a run a ball in their 128-run stand, with Campbell scoring his half-century from 52 deliveries.Smart running between the wickets kept the pressure on the Zimbabwean fielders, and the 100 partnership came up in an hour off only 79 balls. But the heat was always on the batsmen too, and when Campbell advanced to take on Trevor Gripper’s offspin he was stumped for 59. At one stage Gripper was no-balled for having too many men behind square – the batsmen weren’t the only ones feeling the pressure.Gripper had his reward with Hussey’s wicket after he had waltzed to 79 from as many balls. That left WA at 211 for 3, but Peter Worthington continued to take the attack to the bowlers and his 27-ball innings produced 45 runs and pulled his side back to the point where they needed 32 runs from 25 balls. But then Worthington lofted Ervine to long-off, and the draw loomed. All the Zimbabwean bowlers suffered – Streak finished with 0 for 81 from 13 overs, Blignaut 1 for 60 off nine, Ervine 1 for 57 from nine, and Gripper 2 for 57 off seven.It was a situation created by declarations. Western Australia declared at 207 for 6 overnight, and then the Zimbabweans responded at 146 for 6, although there must have been some moments of disquiet at the manner of the dismissal of several of their top-order batsmen. Gripper proved the most consistent of them, with 54, but he was out to the last ball of the same over – the first after lunch – in which he reached his half-century. Paul Wilson, who finished with 3 for 26, grabbed three quick wickets to have the Zimbabweans struggling at 124 for 6.There was an unusual interruption in the morning session, when a swarm of bees descended on Chris Rogers while he was fielding. He fell to the ground and was attempting to beat off the bees before his team-mates realised what was happening. When the bees followed Rogers towards the pitch, the players at the wicketkeeper’s end decided to move smartly to the bowler’s end, but they soon had to move even closer to the pavilion. At that point the umpires decided to call for drinks nine minutes ahead of schedule. Four minutes were lost before the swarm flew off, allowing play to resume.It was a sign of things to come: just when it seemed the match would peter out to a tame draw, it had some sting to it.

Wellington tried to contain the ebullient Chris Harris as their key to beating Canterbury and their failure to do so almost cost them the game.They held out for a draw with only three wickets left but Harris, with the bat especially, was the dominant performer in the match.Wellington captain Richard Jones, who scored a century today – his fourth in the calendar year – said: “Canterbury dominated throughout the game and Harry was the dominant figure. He was the key wicket we had to get because they feed off him.”Harris’ first innings 70 and his second innings 117 not out proved how futile Wellington’s efforts were.But despite that, there was still a chance of a Wellington win today.”It needed Grant Donaldson or myself to get through to tea and losing only one of us. That would have meant we had six wickets under our belt but we steadily lost our wickets,” he said.Going into the day he hadn’t been looking too far ahead because that created its own pressure and they were just concentrating on biding their time, knowing the runs would come as long as they were there.Jones was confident that despite the loss of wickets Wellington could hold on because the nature of the pitch was that once in, it was possible to stay in.Canterbury captain Gary Stead said it was disappointing not to win but there were some encouraging signs from the game.”We were in a position of maybe winning the match and there were a couple of half chances that we didn’t hang onto,” he said.But compared to the performances over the last few years the side had set a benchmark now and had shown it was level, if not ahead, of last year’s champions at the moment.The Cantabrians had created enough chances through pressure bowling, had the benefits of Aaron Redmond and Harris’ record partnership and Wade Cornelius’ first innings seven-wicket bag.”Warren Wisneski bowled well throughout and our spinners bowled reasonably well,” he said.Redmond, the leg-spinner, was in an unusual position of being able to attack through longer periods than having to bowl defensively as has often been the case previously.If the side could learn from the situation it found itself in, it would win more games than it draws in the future.Stead hadn’t been concerned about the morning session when Jones and Donaldson looked like getting Wellington into a position to launch an assault.”We kept attacking fields and we knew if we could get Jones that would put the brakes on the scoring,” he said.And so it proved.It was just the lack of normal wear on a pitch four days out, but in reality still about three days old, that had reduced the chances of bowling Wellington out.

Shoaib Malik, the Pakistan allrounder and former captain, has announced that the current Test match against England at Sharjah will be his last.In a shock announcement at the close of the third day’s play, an emotional Malik, 33, said that the “time was right” to move on, only three matches after his five-year exile from the Test team had come to an end.His decision came out of blue as he arrived at the end-of-day press conference with a piece of paper in his hand. The team’s assistant manager informed the media that, before taking questions, “Shoaib want to say something”.His team-mates were also caught unawares. Mohammad Hafeez, talking to the host broadcaster outside the team dressing-room, was shocked when asked to give his reaction and Mushtaq Ahmed, Pakistan’s spin bowling coach, was also taken by surprise.”I am taking retirement from Test cricket and this is my last Test,” Malik said in his statement. “I would like to thank my family, cricket board, my team-mates and my supporting staff as they have supported me all the way along. I think it’s the right time to quit this format and I want to focus on the upcoming 2019 World Cup.”Shoaib Malik marked his Test comeback with his highest score of 245•Getty Images

Malik made a dramatic return to the fray in the first Test at Abu Dhabi last month. Called in to the team as a late replacement for the injured Azhar Ali, he made a career-best 245 in his first appearance since the Edgbaston Test against England in 2010.However, his scores have fallen away since then, with scores of 0, 2, 7, 38 and 0 in his next five innings, the latest duck coming on Tuesday as he was trapped lbw first-ball by a big inswinger from James Anderson.Malik has played his part with the ball in this match in particular. He returned his best Test figures of 4 for 33 in 9.5 overs as England were bowled out for 306 in their first innings.At the age of 33, and having earned his recall to the Test team on the strength of his recent one-day performances, Malik’s one remaining ambition is to earn selection for the 2019 World Cup in England.His only previous experience of the tournament came way back in 2007, when he made one half-century in three appearances in Jamaica as Pakistan were eliminated at the group stages following defeats against Ireland and West Indies.”Cricket is my passion, has always been, and I might keep on playing first-class cricket, but the main reasons I am retiring are because of my family, and to allow youngsters [in the Test team] to be groomed.”Now is the time, amid the settled line-up, we can easily fit them in without any hitch. Since I haven’t played many 50-overs World Cups, I want to play [in England] and I am looking ahead to get ready by quitting Test cricket so I can save my energy.”Malik’s first stint in the Pakistan team included 32 Tests between 2001 and 2010, in which time he may never have been a consistent selection but was nevertheless named as captain across all formats in 2007, including three Tests against South Africa and India in October and November that year.However, he was sacked as captain in 2009 with Younis Khan taking over. He returned to domestic cricket and scored 799 runs at 88.77, including four hundreds, in six matches, making him the second-highest run-getter in the Quaid-e-Azam Trophy Division One season.However, he faded away from the international scene following the controversial tour of England the following summer, in the wake of which the PCB launched an integrity inquiry. Though Malik was subsequently cleared by the board, he was nevertheless omitted from the squad for the 2011 World Cup.”I am disappointed that I didn’t play Test cricket in the last five years and those were the years I wanted to play,” he said. “But that is part of life and you move on. Now I can see many youngsters knocking at the door and it’s the best time to allow them to get adjusted.”Malik has scored 1898 runs at 35.14, including three hundreds, in 35 Test appearances, to go with 29 wickets at 51.48 with his offspin.”It was tough to take a call as I could have played for another two years,” he said. “But Test cricket is probably the toughest format, and we have a settled line-up.”Representing Pakistan is a biggest honour but I have been thinking about [retirement] for a while. It was somewhere in my mind even before the double hundred [in Abu Dhabi] but, at the moment, my satisfaction is to walk away from this format. My fitness is fine but I think we have to step aside to allow youngsters to take over.”

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According to Sport English, Andre Gomes is ‘on the verge’ of a permanent move to Everton after club officials flew out to Barcelona as they looked to smooth out the finer details of the deal.

What’s the word, then?

Well, the Toffees had the pleasure of having the Portuguese international in their side throughout the entirety of last season on a loan spell, and Gomes certainly impressed.

The classy midfielder won over the supporters with his consistently excellent performances, where he and the more combative Idrissa Gueye proved to be the perfect foil for each other in the Everton midfield.

Wearing the No.8 shirt at Goodison Park, Gomes made 27 Premier League appearances and took to the English game like a duck to water.

Watch how to cross the road like a boss with freestyler Ben Nuttall in the video below…

The 25-year-old will reportedly cost a fee in the region of €30m (£26.7m), which can be considered a snip in the modern transfer market.

Marco Silva gets 50% of his wish, but it’s not all good news

Back in May, Everton boss Silva said on Gomes and another loan star in Kurt Zouma: “We believe in them, we give them something and we really help them. They help us, also. They have been fantastic professionals since they joined our club so let’s see what we can do. I hope and our fans also hope we can sign with them.”

Zouma was on loan from Chelsea and impressed massively in his 32 league appearances, although despite the good news on Gomes’ imminent arrival, Silva doesn’t look likely to get 100% of his transfer wish from last month after a fresh report.

The Daily Star believes that the Blues will block any potential exit for the French international as a result of their transfer ban. Chelsea bosses are said to be keen to limit the number of players leaving Stamford Bridge, as they would be unable to replace them.

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The supporters and Silva will be overjoyed to see Gomes close in on a permanent move, but it isn’t all good news on Merseyside in regards to the former Watford boss’ transfer hopes from May.

New South Wales 5 for 360 (Forrest 177, Haddin 55*, Hughes 51, Katich 51) v Tasmania
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Peter Forrest was understandably thrilled at reaching his first century © Getty Images

Peter Forrest made his first Pura Cup century as New South Wales batted themselves into a strong position on the first day against Tasmania. Forrest fell late in the day for 177 and at the close the Blues had reached 5 for 360 with Brad Haddin on 55 and Grant Lambert yet to score.The early signs for New South Wales were excellent as Forrest, in his fifth first-class game, combined with the debutant opener Phillip Hughes for a 112-run second-wicket stand. Hughes, 18, is the Blues’ youngest first-class player since Michael Clarke burst on the scene and he immediately displayed the skills that earned him his place, striking 51.Forrest then had strong support from Simon Katich (51) and Haddin, as Tasmania’s attack struggled to string together two wickets in close proximity. His century came from 174 balls but he was not content to leave it there and finished with 21 fours and two sixes.His lengthy stay finally ended when Brendan Drew trapped him lbw with only 15 minutes left in the day. Ben Hilfenhaus was the only Tasmania bowler to claim more than one wicket, ending the day with 2 for 90.

Anil Kumble has urged his team-mates to approach the Tests with a positive mindset © AFP

Anil Kumble has happy memories of the Wanderers, and he urged his team-mates to be positive – “Let’s forget about the one-day series” – in the build-up to the first Test which starts on Friday. Back in November 1992, Kumble was a young man on his way back from the wilderness, and a stupendous second-innings display, 44-22-53-6, more or less sealed his place in the side for the best part of the next decade.”Personally, I’ve had a good tour whenever I’ve come here,” said Kumble, speaking to the media after another long net session on Tuesday. With 31 wickets from his nine Tests here, Kumble will be one of the men South Africa worry about the most, but he was almost anxious to shy away from talk of the individual. “It’s important that we play well collectively as a team,” he said. “It’s always a great atmosphere here at the Wanderers, and it will be a good Test series. The boys are geared up.”According to him, the 4-0 defeat in the one-day series was a page from the past, and he was confident that the team had the quality to bounce back over the three Tests. “If you look back at the West Indies tour, we won the Tests after we had an ordinary one-day series,” he said. “And inPakistan, we didn’t do too well in the Tests, but came back in the one-day games.”Not many gave us a chance when we toured Australia last time. Everyone said we would lose 4-0, and that turned out to be one of the best series we’ve ever played. The conditions here are pretty similar to Australia. When you look back at how the team performed, and also individuals, you can draw inspiration from that.”When asked what lessons could be learnt from the displays of that side, which left Australian shores after having nearly ruined Steve Waugh’s farewell, Kumble said, “We have more or less the same set of players. It’s a matter of one innings. Hopefully, it will be the first innings of thefirst Test here. We picked up 20 wickets and won a Test [Adelaide], and came close to winning another [Sydney]. You need runs on the board, and you need time.”

Not many gave us a chance when we toured Australia last time. Everyone said we would lose 4-0, and that turned out to be one of the best series we’ve ever played

That said, South Africa are formidable opposition, having lost only to Australia and England on home soil since their re-admission to the Test arena in 1992. “They know their conditions well,” said Kumble. “They have the bowlers to suit the pitches they play on. But then again, not manyhave gone to Australia and returned [nearly] victorious, so we must be positive.”Though he emphasised that the batsmen would need to get their act together over the next month, Kumble wasn’t overly worried about the poor displays in the one-day series. “It’s especially important for a spinner to have runs on the board,” he said. “The one-day series wasn’t easy. A couple of times, we had to bat under lights, and if you look at the record for thosekinds of games in South Africa, it’s a bit tough. We also didn’t have proper practice before the first game because of the rain.”South Africa too had the odd batting wobble during the one-day series, and Kumble was confident that India had the resources to hurt them again if they slipped up in the Tests. “Their top order also didn’t fare too well in the one-day games,” he said. “We have the quality when it comes to the bowling. If we bowl in the right areas, and get a couple of early wickets,we can put pressure on them.”The South Africans have already talked of how they won’t allow the Indian spinners to settle, and AB de Villiers and Herschelle Gibbs could be given the task of trying to unsettle Kumble with some big hits. de Villiers played some splendid knocks against Muttiah Muralitharan in Sri Lanka, but the prospect of the batsmen taking him on didn’t faze Kumble in the slightest. “Their approach will depend on the situation,” he said. “It will be good if they’re aggressive, it also gives us a chance to get them out.”

Kumble’s showing in the one-day series went almost unnoticed amid the batting meltdown © AFP

Given that India are almost certain to go into the game with a four-man bowling attack, Irfan Pathan, the spearhead less than a year ago, will miss out. The likes of Suresh Raina and Mohammad Kaif are already back home, after unconvincing one-day performances. Kumble, however, urged them not to be disheartened as they analyse what has gone wrong.”It’s important for the development of a youngster that you have these ups and downs,” he said. “Every outing won’t be a century or a five-wicket haul. I try and put positive thoughts in their minds. I’ve been through this before, as has everyone who’s played a lot of cricket. You just keep talking to them, and you hope that when they do come back, the experience they have gained will help.”He didn’t wax eloquent about his return to the one-day side, but made it clear that he was determined to be a part of India’s World Cup campaign, having played only a fringe role in the last edition. “It’s good to be in the scheme of things,” he said. “It’s a young man’s game, but you also need experience.”In the midst of the batting meltdown that cost India the one-day series, a couple of strong showings from Kumble went almost unnoticed. It didn’t really bother him. “As a team, we didn’t do well,” he said bluntly. “My performance was not so important. You need to win, and if that doesn’t happen, it doesn’t count.”If each of his team-mates had that town-sized heart and unflinching desire to win, India would hardly ever lose a game.

Dinesh Mongia is looking for more consistency in his game for 2006 © Getty Images

Dinesh Mongia has agreed to return to Leicestershire for another season in 2006, in a bid to reclaim his spot in the Indian one-day squad. Mongia joins Asif Mohammad, the Pakistani fast bowler, who signed for the club yesterday.”I was a part of India’s World Cup squad when we reached the final in 2003 and hope to be involved again next time,” Mongia, who is currently captaining Punjab back home in India, told BBC Sport. “Achieving consistency is undoubtedly my number one objective next summer, particularly in the Championship.”Mongia performed reasonably well last summer – averaging just over 40 and accumulating 684 first-class runs – but his best performances came in the Totesport League where he made significant contributions with bat and ball as Leicestershire fell agonisingly short in their bid for promotion from the second division.”There is no doubt that he is a very talented cricketer with considerable international experience,” said Leicestershire chairman Neil Davidson. “And he has made it very clear to us that he wants to make more of an impact next season.”