Darren Lehmann has taken his exclusion from the Ashes squad as a sign that his international career might just have ended. Dropped from the side after Australia’s second Test against Pakistan, he did not tour New Zealand, but had hoped for one last shot at England. Lehmann admitted today that last shot might not come.”You only have to read between the lines … and that’s fine,” Lehmann said to ABC Sport. “I’ve had a great time and enjoyed every part of it and I’ve played with a bloody good cricket team. So for me now it’s a case of working well with the Redbacks and looking forward to that future.”Lehmann has scored nearly 22,000 first-class runs in a career that began in 1987, and tallied 1798 runs in a 27-match Test career that spanned seven seasons.

Three first-class players were inducted into the 18th intake of the Australian Academy at Allan Border Field today. James Packman, the New South Wales batsman who played in the Pura Cup final victory, Tasmania’s David Dawson and Ryan Harris, from South Australia, were part of the 23-man squad that opened with an exhibition match in Brisbane.The players in the Australian Institute of Sport program will undergo a 13-week course that has been used by 67 cricketers on the way to international honours. James Sutherland, the Cricket Australia chief executive, said the Commonwealth Bank Centre of Excellence was a pivotal component for Australia’s aspiring cricketers. “It forms an integral part of the pathway to help these talented players refine their skills and prepare for the next step in their career,” he said. “For some that may culminate in representing their country.”Since the course started in 1988 there have been 240 inductees and 72.5% have reached first-class level while 30 have played Tests. Shane Watson was the last Academy graduate to figure in a Test while James Hopes, the Queensland allrounder, is the most recent one-day international representative. At the end of the two training blocks in July a 14-man squad will be picked for a three-week tour to Bangalore and Chennai.

Division One

Darren Bicknell and Stephen Fleming batted firmly for Nottinghamshire as a heavily rain-affected match edges towards stalemate. Andrew Harris took three of Sussex‘s final four wickets as they made 355 on the third day. Harris ended with 5 for 131. In reply, Jason Gallian fell early for 5 and Russell Warren made 25 before being bowled. But Bicknell (88) and Fleming (102 not out) stood firm to take Notts into a strong position.Mohammad Akram took five wickets in the second innings to consign Hampshire to Surrey a heavy defeat at The Rose Bowl. Ormond had taken apart the top order – Jimmy Adams, who made just 1 for the second time this match, Michael Brown (20) and Chris Benham, who made a duck – before Akram ripped through the middle order with 5 for 41 from just 9.3 overs. John Crawley offered the best resistance for the visitors, with 67, before Harbhajan Singh penetrated his defences and Hampshire collapsed to 160 all out from just 33.3 overs.An intriguing final day is in prospect at Southgate after Middlesex declared on 435 for 4, and Glamorgan replied with 125 for 3. In another run-fest, Ed Smith fell eight short of his century, Scott Styris 15 short of his but Ed Joyce managed to post his – and went on to stricke an unbeaten 155. Glamorgan increased their lead of 149 to 325 by the end of play, but Daniel Cherry couldn’t repeat his first innings heroics: he made 16 before Alan Richardson dismissed him, the first of his three wickets. Matt Elliott (20) and David Hemp (29) were the other casualties.Kent are strongly placed for victory after their batsmen struck 569. Warwickshire still trail by 272 with eight wickets remaining. For a full report see Match of the Day.

Division Two

Dale Benkenstein followed up a good performance with the bat with four wickets as Durham took firm control of their match against Northamptonshire. Benkenstein ran through the middle order with 4 for 29 as Northants collapsed from their overnight score of 98 for 2 to 214 all out. Jonathon Lewis and Nathan Astle led the charge in reply, each striking half centuries to leave Durham with a good chance of success as they have a lead of 372 with six wickets remaining.Lancashire edged a one-wicket win against Derbyshire. The visitors had been in firm control, requiring just 136 for victory after Muttiah Muralitharan took six wickets to shoot Derbyshire out for 185. But they didn’t make it easy for themselves – and Derbyshire nearly snuck the win after Lancashire slumped from 57 for 1 to 131 for 9. Ian Sutcliffe, though, proved a hero with the bat, anchoring the innings with 62 not out as Muralitharan hit the winning runs in the third additional over.Worcestershire are scenting victory at Grace Road after advancing to 323, with Zander de Bruyn topscoring with 67. Daryl Mitchell ended unbeaten on 63 and James Pipe added 47 to give the visitors a first innings lead of 98. Leicestershire chipped away at the deficit, but lost four wickets for 28 runs, and HD Ackerman fell for 2 later to give them a slim lead of 34, with five wickets remaining. Worcestershire will press for early wickets tomorrow.

Injuries continue to plague Australia and a squad of 14 players has been named to prepare for the second Test against Zimbabwe starting in Sydney on Friday. The latest concern is for Darren Lehmann who has suffered an achilles tendon strain.Simon Katich has been included in the squad as cover for Lehmann while Brad Hogg would take Stuart MacGill’s place if MacGill should fail his fitness test. Nathan Brackan has also been included in the squad. With a replacement necessary for Jason Gillespie, Brad Williams would be favoured to make his Test debut.In a worst case scenario with Lehmann and MacGill out of the side and Katich, Hogg and Williams included, with only 53 Tests between them, it would be the least experienced Australian attack for many years.The Australian squad is: Steve Waugh (capt), Ricky Ponting, Andy Bichel, Nathan Bracken, Adam Gilchrist, Matthew Hayden, Brad Hogg, Simon Katich, Justin Langer, Brett Lee, Darren Lehmann, Stuart MacGill, Damien Martyn, Brad Williams.

Tatenda Taibu, Zimbabwe’s captain, has ended his 11-year relationship with Takashinga and is looking for a new club side. He joined in 1993 when he was still at Chipembere Primary School in Highfield.Taibu made up his mind before last month’s Champions Trophy. “It was a very difficult decision for me to make but I felt that I needed to move to a club with very few, if any, players in the national team,” he told the Daily Herald. “At the moment there are about seven Takashinga players in the national team and so I decided to join a smaller club where I can help the youngsters there to progress in their cricket.”Three clubs – Uprising, Old Georgians and Harare Sports Club – are vying to sign him. “I have already spoken to these clubs,” he admitted. “This week I will be attending their training sessions to see how they do it and also have a look at their facilities.”His decision to move might not be as straightforward as it seems. Taibu admitted that there were problems – he described them as minor – with Takashinga but stressed the club “had become my second home and it was hard leaving”.But Takashinga has strong political affiliations and its influence with the selectors is considerable – Steven Mangongo, until recently the chief selector, is a senior member – and it is rumoured to have close links with the ruling Zanu-PF party. Its players have been sent home from development clinics for turning up in Zanu-PF T-shirts and bandanas, and one former club member said; “The ZCU makes them a powerful club, because they want them to be powerful. They have some real radicals and that suits some people at the ZCU down to the ground.”Every time they play against white or Indian clubs there are problems. There are always racial things said, and arguments on the field. Except when Taibu and [Stuart] Matsikenyeri play, then they keep quiet.” Without the calming influence of Taibu, things are likely to get worse.

Division One

Gloucestershire v Surrey at Bristol
Gloucestershire enter the match without an overseas player with Upul Chandana back in Sri Lanka and Malinga Bandara not arriving until next week. Mark Ramprakash is still out with a broken thumb and Graham Thorpe will lead the side in the absence of Mark Butcher, who is not expect to be back into action until August. Alistair Brown took charge for the Twenty20 but Thorpe takes control for the Championship and is in need of some runs in his last first-class outing before the Lord’s Test.Middlesex v Hampshire at Southgate
Ed Joyce returns to boost Middlesex after powering Ireland to the World Cup at the ICC Trophy in Ireland. Alan Richardson also comes back into the side after resting for the Twenty20. Shane Warne returns for Hampshire after two weeks out while Dimitri Mascarenhas will undergo a late fitness test. Only 16 points separate the two teams and Middlesex have a game in hand.Nottinghamshire v Glamorgan at Trent Bridge
Mark Footitt, a seam bowler, makes his first-class debut for Nottinghamshire against struggling Glamorgan. Stephen Fleming and Mark Ealham return to the side after missing some of the Twenty20 matches. Glamorgan have also called up a young seam bowler with Huw Waters, 18, in their 12-man squad. Alex Wharf and Adam Harrison both miss out with injuries sustained during the last couple of weeks. Glamorgan have lost seven out of eight Championship matches this season.

Division Two

Durham v Lancashire at Chester-le-Street
The return of Jon Lewis, Nathan Astle and Ashley Noffke given Durham an almost full strength squad as they aim to consolidate their position at the top of the table. Lancashire are now without Muttiah Muralitharan who is back in Sri Lanka but Kyle Hogg returns to the squad. Lancashire’s batsmen have found some form in recent Twenty20 games and will be targeting revenge over Durham who comprehensively beat then at Old Trafford earlier this season.Somerset v Leicestershire at Taunton
Charl Langeveldt will make his debut for Somerset, joining up with Graeme Smith, and replaces Gareth Andrew from the recent Twenty20 sides. Leicestershire will have Chris Rogers making his county debut, after joining as cover for Dinesh Mongia who is back at an Indian training camp. Darren Robinson, the opening batsmen, takes the place of Stuart Broad in the 12-man squad.Worcestershire v Yorkshire at Worcester
Shoaib Akhtar faces a late fitness test while Steven Davies and Matt Mason return to the Worcestershire squad. Matthew Hoggard is recalled by Yorkshire after suffering some harsh treatment during the recent one-day action. Deon Kruis also bolsters the seam attack but Adam Warren or Richard Pyrah will miss out.

Muttiah Muralitharan is now hopeful that his controversial doosra, a delivery that he has been forced to stop bowling by the ICC, will be given the all-clear shortly.Muralitharan’s arm bends by an average of 10 degrees when bowling the delivery, which is double the permitted level of bend for spinners, but an ICC-convened sub-committee has just completed the first stage of a review of the laws during a two-day meeting in Dubai.The sub-committee is expected to recommend changes to the current laws after the latest biomechanical research on fast bowlers by Marc Portus in Australia and by the UK-based Paul Hurrion on spinners, a project that culminated during the ICC Champions Trophy.The meeting was chaired by Dave Richardson, the ICC general manager, and attended by five other former players – Aravinda de Silva, Angus Fraser, Michael Holding, Tony Lewis and Tim May – and three leading mechanists: Bruce Elliott, Portus and Hurrion.Muralitharan, currently focusing on charity work after shoulder surgery, is waiting anxiously to see if the doorsa is finally given the greenlight. The next stage of the review is an ICC Cricket Committee meeting on November 9 and 10.Muralitharan has studied the scientific debate closely during the difficult months since his action was reported in March and he is now very optimistic that the case for change is too strong to be ignored.”I sincerely believe I will be allowed to bowl the doosra again,” he told the Island newspaper recently.Muralitharan feels his bowling is handicapped without the doosra: “If I had bowled that particular delivery, I would have got more wickets and the team would have enjoyed more victories. But unfortunately that wasn’t so and I am keeping my fingers crossed.”The ICC has not divulged the conclusions of the sub-committee, but claimed that the two-day meeting had been instructive they tried to gain a better understanding of one of the most controversial topics in the game.”It has been a big help to have this matter discussed by such a well-qualified group of former international cricketers,” said Mr Richardson. “This is only the first step in the review process and as the matter is still to be discussed by the full Cricket Committee it would be inappropriate for me to comment further at this stage.”

Discussions are to take place next Thursday between the West Indies Cricket Board (WICB) and the regional players’ body, after the board answered calls to come to the table in a bid to resolve their latest argument – this time over a players’ training camp.Dinanath Ramnarine, the president of the West Indies Players’ Association (WIPA), invited the board to talks to temper the growing friction between the two bodies, which had been made worse after the board invited 25 players to attend the camp ahead of the tour of Australia in 2005 without first consulting WIPA.Following the snub, the WIPA had asked the players not to sign the letters of invitation as Ramnarine said the players could be left open to commercial exploitation in some cases. “It is to be noted that some of the conditions stipulated by the WICB have nothing to do with cricket,” he said, “but represent an attempt to exploit the players for commercial purposes.”The board, meanwhile, issued a press release expressing their disappointment at the developments. “The West Indies Cricket Board is disappointed at the reported instruction issued to its members by the West Indies Players Association not to sign letters of invitation,” it said.But Ramnarine hopes that the talks will bring the matter to a head. “[The WIPA] calls on the board to return to the bargaining table in order that the parties can achieve a mutually satisfactory resolution of the issues involved,” he said.This is not the first time that the two bodies have clashed. In March 2003, the players answered their unions’ call to strike over the allocation of sponsorship money. The regional first-class semi-finals were put on hold until a solution was agreed. The WIPA has also twice threatened strikes over pay in the last three years.

Although South African cricket has largely left the troubles of the Hansie Cronje era behind, there is still a fascination surrounding the whole matchfixing controversy if the sales of a new book are any indication. “The Hansie Cronje story: an authorised biography,” by Garth King is racing off bookshelves around the country.It was published on July 22 and rushed to the top of the non-fiction bestseller list in South Africa. In Bloemfontein, Cronje’s hometown, the book reportedly outsold Harry Potter during the first week.By the end of the first month it had sold 12,000 copies – unusual for a South African sports book – and at the end of this week 17,000 had left the shelves, prompting an extra print run of 8000.Esme Britz of the Cape Town-based publishers, Global Creative Studios, told Reuters: “When I arrived at my desk today I had another order for 300 copies waiting. Every day we get enquiries from the UK asking where they can buy the book, but it’s not available overseas yet. We’re trying to get someone over there to warehouse copies of the book for us before we sell it there.”However, despite the interest from the public, the South African cricket hierarchy are not racing to pick up their copies. Ali Bacher, who was the managing director of the United Cricket Board (UCB) when the Cronje story broke in 2000, said: “I have a copy, but I haven’t read it, I will one day.”Percy Sonn, who was UCB president at the time, told Reuters he had no interest in reading the book. Most of Cronje’s former team mates have said they haven’t read the book, except for Jonty Rhodes, who is a long-time supporter of Cronje’s.”After the first day of the King commission (the South African investigation into Cronje’s conduct) I couldn’t watch the rest,” Rhodes told Reuters. “So, while I was familiar with the ground covered in the rest of the book, I found that section interesting. I thought the book gave Hansie’s life a broad background, and the key for Frans [Cronje’s brother] and the rest of the family are the lessons of Hansie’s life.”

Bennett King, the West Indies coach, reposes more faith in his unproven bowling attack than in the team’s batting. King believes it will be the Australian bowlers who will turn on the pressure on the West Indies in the three-Test series that begins in Brisbane on November 3.”We have the bowling that can unsettle the Australian batsmen,” King was reported as saying in the . “History shows they have two of the best bowlers in the world, so batting is in for a tough time, I guess.”King regards Glenn McGrath and Shane Warne as the prime threats to a star-studded batting lineup that includes Brian Lara, Shivnarine Chanderpaul, Ramnaresh Sarwan and Chris Gayle, all of whom have played over 50 Tests. Lara averages 53.75 with the bat, Chanderpaul 47.41, Sarwan 40.87 and Gayle 39.38, but King feels that they have their task cut out for them.The West Indies squad to Australia includes six fast bowlers, none of whom has played more than 17 Tests. Jermaine Lawson, whose action has been scrutinised in the past, is the only fast bowler who averages less than 30 with the ball. King believes all six have the necesssary pace and fire to succeed, and cited their good showing in Sri Lanka in July. “We didn’t get enough runs in Sri Lanka on very good batting decks but we certainly got very good players out,” King said. “We know we can get good players out. We have to make sure we get runs as well.”King’s claims come a day after his bowlers, led by Daren Powell (4 for 58), bowled out Queensland for 323 in a warm-up game ahead of the Test series. Lawson, Fidel Edwards and Corey Collymore were all rested but are expected to come into contention for the first Test.