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Sean Ervine is among 17 players who have earned a central contract with Western Australia for the 2004-05 season. Ervine, who played for Zimbabwe before retiring from international cricket earlier this season, joins another Zimbabwean, Murray Goodwin, on the list of contracted players.The initial list of 17 names includes two rookies, Justin Coetzee and Aaron Heal. A 20-year-old left-arm swing bowler, Coetzee earned his reward after putting in some superb performances for Scarborough in the WACA’s Vodafone Cup competition. Coetzee’s 42 wickets in grade cricket last season came at just 17.02 apiece and included a hat-trick against South Perth.Commenting on Coetzee’s selection, Wayne Hill, the chairman of the Western Australian selection panel, said: “We’re excited about Justin’s long term prospects and pleased to offer him a Rookie Contract after some consistent efforts playing for Scarborough in recent seasons. We hope to see him develop over the next few seasons and from this encouragement transfer his club performances to the next level.”The contracted players Ryan Campbell, Beau Casson, Michael Clark, Ben Edmondson, Sean Ervine, Murray Goodwin, Kade Harvey, Steve Maggofin, Shaun Marsh, Scott Meuleman, Marcus North, Chris Rogers, Luke Ronchi, Adam Voges, Peter Worthington.Rookie contracts Justin Coetzee, Aaron Heal.

With the staff covering the ground to protect it from the driving wind and rain the County Ground in Taunton was a sorry place to be on Tuesday morning.After some of the best ever weather for this time of year, the day before the Cidermen play their first pre-season three day friendly against Glamorgan, the heavens opened and the players were sadly confined to indoor nets in the Centre of Excellence.As he sat looking out across the windswept ground former Somerset favourite Peter Robinson explained that April 1st was a bit of a special occasion for him. "This is my first day as a part timer here since I joined the club all those years ago, and it’s just about typical that it’s pouring down with rain. Still I suppose one good thing is that it will help to germinate my parsnip seeds!" he told me.The former Worcestershire player who made the journey down the A38 in 1965 has held almost every job that there is at the club since then, including being first team coach during the `Glory Years’ when Somerset tasted the first success of their long and colourful history.Since 1999 one of `Robbo’s’ major responsibilities has been that of Ground Safety Officer at the club, a job that has increased considerably since he took it on.Earlier this year he celebrated his sixtieth birthday and decided that it was time to relinquish the post and give himself more time to concentrate on doing the job he enjoys most, cricket coaching.`Robbo’ told me: "The Ground Safety Officer’s job started in 1999 with the World Cup, and since then it has just got more and more to do, so I wasn’t sorry to hand it over yesterday to somebody else."However the former Somerset all rounder will not be lost to the club. When I spoke to him he had just finished working with a group of youngsters from Minehead Middle School who were working at the Playing for Success Centre at the County Ground as part of the Exmoor Extension Project.He told me: "I shall have more time to coach cricket now, and will spend time working on one on one and group sessions, as well as continuing my role as cricket secretary which involves sorting out the second eleven fixtures, dealing with the cricket balls and other jobs on match days."`Robbo’ is also the official coach to the Somerset Women’s Cricket team, which includes the Somerset Under 17 and Under 15 Girls teams, and on Wednesday evening he will be attending their pre season meeting in Taunton.The job of Ground Safety Officer at Somerset County Cricket Club has been taken over by Paul Bulbeck.The former police inspector who lives in Taunton is the father of left arm seamer Matt, and his son in law Guy Wolfenden works in the Centre of Excellence at the County Ground, so he is certainly no stranger to the Somerset cricket scene.

Indo-Pak cricket relations
The Agra Summit between the President of Pakistan and the Prime Minister of India ended rather abruptly. It seems many issues like restoration of cricket relations between the two countries, a matter to be talked over in a leisurely mood, may not have appeared on the conference table.Apart from restoring permanent relations, it’s surprising the Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI) is still awaiting Government permission to send the team to Pakistan for the Asian Test Championship tie to be held in September 2001. As per the ACT itinerary, India is scheduled to play the opening match against Pakistan at Lahore from 12-16 September 2001.According to a news item, Mr Kishore Rungta, Treasurer of the BCCI has expressed the view that ‘there was no reason for the Ministry of Sports to restrain the national squad from participation in the championship’. Of note is the news that India has pulled out of a one-day series in Australia, mainly because the dates clashed with the Asian Test Championship.Further, in the last meeting of the Asian Cricket Council in which the programme of the tournament was finalised, the President of the BCCI assured members that the Indian Ministry of Sports had no objection to the Indian cricket team playing in Pakistan in a ‘multilateral tournament’. Strangely, a fresh approval is still required.Shoaib dictating terms to PCB
Shoaib Akhtar, who has not paid back in terms of performance even a fraction of the amount spent by PCB on the correction of his suspect bowling action and medical treatment, has started dictating terms to the Board.Earlier, Shoaib was sent to Australia to take guidance from Coach Daryl Foster and former pace icon Dennis Lillie to rectify the fault that made his bowling action suspect. After a few weeks of guidance, coaching and practice under the two stalwarts, his action was cleared. He joined the Pakistan team for its tour of England. In order to turn Shoaib into an effective fast bowler and boost his skill and potential for the future, the PCB even hired Daryl Foster to be at his side during the tour.Ironically, after all the efforts to build him into one of the world’s leading fast bowlers, Shoaib came out to be in a poor state of health and physical fitness. He broke down on the field, failing to bowl more than a few overs, thus causing a set back to the team as well as disappointing the spectators. When dropped for the next match, Shoaib is reported to have left the hotel to live out and signed up with some local teams to play in England.Now that the Pakistan team is preparing for the Asian Test Championship, Shoaib was asked to join the training camp starting in the 1st week of August. In his response to the PCB’s call, Shoaib has apparently made his inclusion in the team a condition for his return to the country. This seems an act unbecoming of a test player.No player can be guaranteed a place in the team until he proves his fitness and is selected by the Board’s Selection Committee. To perhaps knock-in some sense and set matters straight with Shoaib, the PCB would be well advised to ignore him from inclusion. This jolt should prove an effective medicine to improve his physical fitness as well as discipline.A legal challenge to Hansie Cronje’s ban
Reports indicate, former South African captain Hansie Cronje may be up for a dramatic return to cricket coaching, if not actually playing the game. It seems his well-prepared legal team may challenge their client’s hastily applied life ban in the court. The lawyers feel that Percy Sonn, President of the United Cricket Board of South Africa insisted on slapping the life ban on Cronje without a hearing, thereby denying the former captain the legal right to have his side heard.The cricket fraternity, however, thinks otherwise. Re-counting his crimes they maintain that by his own admission, Cronje has been guilty of accepting $30,000 from the Indian bookmaker MK Gupta for losing a Test against India at Kanpur in 1996. In the one-day series between South Africa, England and Zimbabwe in the year 2000, he accepted $10,000 from a bookmaker, again by his own admission.Despite all this, if a remission is granted him, he may get away with every thing except the one-year ban that he has already served. In such a case, the game of cricket may have to call up some new axioms like ‘play with a crooked bat’ or ‘cheats always beat’. With other cases also being swept under the carpet, the impression that the fight against corruption was directed mainly against Asian players is likely to gain further momentum among cricket fans.In the light of above one feels that the cases of two former Asian captains Azharuddin and Saleem Malik may also have to be reviewed. Though the Lahore High Court has already rejected Saleem Malik’s appeal, the fact remains that he was punished on the evidence of two Australian players with no chance to defend himself provided to him.

A good innings from skipper Ronnie Irani who made 95, helped Essex torecover from 13 for three to make 292 all out in 103.2 overs againstfellow Division Two County Championship promotion hopefuls Glamorganat Southend on the first day today.Irani (95) and Stuart Law (70) put together a partnership of 111 forthe fourth wicket before Law fell to Robert Croft. Irani was out toDean Cosker, the left arm spinner.The other impressive performer for Essex was the debutant James Foster(52) who fell to Steve Watkin. For Glamorgan, Watkin, Croft and DarrenThomas took three wickets each.In reply, Glamorgan were 40 for 1 with Steve James being the batsmandismissed for 30 by Ashley Cowan. In the process he crossed 1000 runsfor the season.

Scorecard and ball-by-ball detailsShaun Marsh steered the Scorchers home with an unbeaten 63•Getty Images

To cap off a momentous day for the BBL, defending champions Perth Scorchers produced their most ruthless performance of the season to dismantle Sydney Sixers in front of a reverberating, sold-out WACA crowd in Perth.The atmosphere did not quite mimic the astonishing scenes at the MCG, where 80883 spectators attended the Melbourne derby earlier in the day, but 20444 patrons ensured the WACA was once again almost at capacity. Testament to the BBL being the hottest ticket in Perth, the Scorchers became the first team in BBL history to sell out all home matches in the regular season.The parochial hometown fans, many garbed in superhero attire in a nod to the match’s quirky Batman v Superman theme, had a merry time with the Scorchers winning their third consecutive game.Perhaps buoyed by their rabid fans, the Scorchers completed the type of dominating all-round performance which has long been their trademark. On a pitch offering variable bounce conjured from several notable cracks very much reminiscent of the WACA’s golden era, they were disciplined with the ball and energetic in the field. The stingy Scorchers reduced the Sixers to a paltry 8 for 112, then easily chased down the total with nine wickets in hand and 33 balls to spare.The Scorchers openers Shaun Marsh and Michael Klinger continued on from their record-breaking partnership against the Melbourne Renegades and ensured there would be no nervous chase. It appeared the Scorchers were headed for another 10-wicket victory with Klinger and Marsh easily combating the tricky conditions with smart batting. They effectively curbed dangerous Sixers pace bowlers Doug Bollinger and Jackson Bird with shrewd batting but pounced on anything loose.However, Klinger was unable to bat through, dismissed for 28 in Sean Abbott’s first over after a 65-run opening partnership. Marsh continued to remind the national selectors of his sublime talents, with a 54-ball 63 to once again be the Scorchers’ superhero.The lopsided match was a letdown, as there was much anticipation over the re-match of last year’s epic final, which saw Scorchers win by one-wicket in arguably the greatest ever BBL clash.Nic Maddinson, the Sixers captain, won the toss and elected to bat on a tricky pitch, where sharp bounce juxtaposed with deliveries that went low off several menacing cracks. But the lightning outfield ensured runs could be scored quickly.Unfortunately for the Sixers, their confidence seemed bereft after a demoralising loss on New Year’s Eve to the Travis Head-inspired Strikers. The Sixers could not handle the extra bounce engineered by the Scorchers’ bevy of talented pacemen, led brilliantly by spearhead Jason Behrendorff (2 for 24) who continued his successful comeback from injury.Scorchers wisely bowled on a back-of-a length to exploit the conditions and the Sixers’ fragility. The visitors fell in an early heap at 4 for 48 by the ninth over, a perilous position which could have been graver had Andrew Tye not spilled an absolute sitter to reprieve dangerous English import Michael Lumb on 25.In a notable contrast to his nervy team-mates, Lumb was adventurous and inventive in a determined bid to counterattack the unwavering Scorchers bowlers. Lumb did not always strike the ball cleanly but was effective in muscling the ball to the boundary.However, Lumb was unable to find support, with the Sixers’ top order rattled by the WACA’s variable bounce, highlighted by opener Ed Cowan (6) being bowled by a David Willey delivery that hit a crack and stayed low. Conversely, Maddinson and Jordan Silk were undone by deliveries that reared sharper than they expected.For Sixers to muster a competitive total, Lumb had to bat through the innings but his momentum was stifled with the constant wickets around him. When Lumb fell for 47 off 45 ball after an unsuccessful swipe off Behrendorff, the Sixers’ hopes of a decent total were effectively over.Wicketkeeper Ryan Carters tried valiantly and ensured Sixers would pass triple figures, but it was all in vain. The Scorchers have now leapfrogged to the top of the table and a three-peat is well on course.

Scorecard

Kent claimed only their third domestic title in 29 years with a thrilling four-wicket victory in an action-packed and controversial Twenty20 final against Gloucestershire. Needing 13 off the final over, Darren Stevens crunched two boundaries off an overawed Carl Greenidge, but in chaotic scenes there was confusion over if the match had actually been won.The equation had come down to six off three balls when Stevens launched Greenidge over cover. Kent’s batsmen ran off to begin celebrating, but Gloucestershire were ready for another ball and the umpires weren’t sure either. It had been missed, apparently by everyone except TV, that a no-ball had also been called. After a consultation between the umpires the Kent celebrations began in front of a near full-house.The champagne spraying was led by Robert Key, but the final was tinged with a moment of controversy involving the Kent captain’s dismissal for 18. He flicked a ball from Greenidge and Hamish Marshall dived forward at midwicket to claim, what appeared, another impressive catch. Key took Marshall’s word and made his way off, but in similar scenes to Kevin Pietersen’s ‘dismissal’ at Lord’s against India earlier this season the big screen flashed up a replay before Key reached the boundary.He lingered inside the rope, but by now the umpires (Neil Mallender at square leg had been happy about the catch), and players were ready for the next delivery and the TV replay wasn’t called for. Clearly unimpressed, Key flung his bat across the boundary and stormed into the Kent dug-out. A short while afterwards, having calmed down in the dressing-room, he told : “I’m surprised they didn’t take it to the third umpire. The boys told me to go back like Kevin Pietersen.”Repercussions are likely for such a clear show of dissent, but it proved how much the players now want to win the Twenty20 and that it is played as intensely as the other tournaments. “I’ll probably cop it,” admitted Key afterwards. However, it shouldn’t take away from an impressive performance by Kent who were on-song throughout the day. In the end, Key was able to smile with his first trophy as captain and said: “Two overs from the end I was back in the dressing kicking a few things around thinking we were done for, but it’s pretty special.”Ryan McLaren’s hat-trick, the fifth in English Twenty20, helped restrict Gloucestershire to 146, a total around par for the day where scoring never appeared quite as easy as first imagined. After slipping to 62 for 4, Gloucestershire threatened a recovery as Marshall, with a 49-ball 65, formed a useful stand with Mark Hardinges before McLaren intervened. Marshall chopped into his stumps as he tried to glide a ball to third man, Stephen Adshead was cleaned-up by a beauty that held its line and took off stump and Ian Fisher was trapped in front.As in the semi-final against Sussex, Kent’s chase was handed a flying start by Key and Joe Denly. After Key’s dismissal Denly and Walker continued to make good progress. However, Hardinges removed Denly and Martin van Jaarsveld as the pressure mounted. Then Jon Lewis brought himself back and picked up Matthew Walker on the deep square-leg boundary and bowled McLaren. When Geraint Jones was involved in a manic run out, slipping as he tried to abort a second run, Gloucestershire were sensing the win.But Lewis had gambled on giving the final over to Greenidge, the weakest link in his attack, and the move backfired badly as he followed long-hop with half-volley, even bowling one delivery off two steps. Stevens connected cleanly with two mighty swings and the first trophy of the season was heading to Canterbury. That, though, was only one of the talking points from another eventful Twenty20 final.

Jacob Oram, the New Zealand allrounder, doesn’t want to think about a worst-case scenario as he recovers from his latest back injury. Despite a sequence of bowling-related injuries, Oram maintained that he was far from becoming a specialist batsman as he concentrated on his rehabilitation ahead of the summer season.Oram’s latest injury is another stress reaction identical to the one he suffered 18 months ago. “It’s a good time to get injured right now,” Oram told the . “I’d rather have it now so I can hit the season 100% fit. Bowling doesn’t help; the stresses of bowling a cricket ball makes it worse.”The latest injury is a bruised bone, which can lead to a stress fracture including degenerative joint and disc problems. This time around the injury was less stressful because it was not in the middle of summer, as the heel injury was which put him out of action for two months.”You try and talk yourself out of it but you know deep down you are moving into pain,” Oram said. “I didn’t realise it would be such a major [problem]. But as soon as I went to bowl again, it was very evident. It happened on the last day of the tour [of South Africa] which really did disappoint me because it was my first Test series for a long time and personally I felt very good with bat and ball.”However, Oram felt that his inactivity at home gave his body a chance to recover. With competitive cricket set to begin only in October, he said he had time to mull over his future.”I’d be lying if I said I hadn’t thought about it,” he said. “I could give batting a really good shot and maybe there is a future there. Out of the three injuries, this one seems the most positive because I seem to have good direction and know about my rehabilitation.”

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.

West Indies 294 for 3 (Lara 120, Sarwan 106*) lead Bangladesh 284 (Rajin Saleh 47, Banks 4-80) by 10 runs
Scorecard

Hundreds by Brian Lara and Ramnaresh Sarwan put West Indies in control of the second Test against Bangladesh at Sabina Park. At the close if the second day, they had reached 289 for 3, a lead of 10 runs.Although Lara fell five overs before the close for an excellent 119, the day belonged to West Indies. Pedro Collins wrapped up the Bangladesh innings in the morning, and despite the early loss of Chris Gayle, caught behind off a lazy drive for 14, it was one-day traffic thereafter.Sarwan and Devon Smith added 83 for the second wicket before Smith was run out for 44, and then Lara and Sarwan put on 179 in 45 overs. In scoring his 26th century, Lara joined Sir Garfield Sobers as the West Indian with the most Test centuries. Compared to Lara, Sarwan’s hundred was relatively sedate, spanning 186 balls. Despite the wicket of Lara, West Indies remain in a good position to press ahead and build a substantial first-innings tommorow.

A convincing five-wicket win over Canterbury on Saturday gave Auckland their fourth consecutive State League title.The defending champion Hearts returned to Christchurch’s Redwood Park with recent memories of twice losing to the Magicians in round-robin play.Keen to avenge the losses, Hearts’ skipper Michelle Lynch won the toss and gave Canterbury first use of a bouncy pitch and lightning-fast outfield.Early breakthroughs by pace bowler Natalee Scripps and off-spinner Debbie Ramsay brought key Magicians pair Haidee Tiffen and Nicola Payne together at the crease with the score at 18 for two wickets and the innings delicately poised.A partnership of 82 runs between the TelstraClear White Ferns pair had their side well placed at 100 for two when a low, diving catch by Emily Drumm in the covers sent Tiffen back to the pavilion for 38.Payne, who had struck some crisp straight drives and was punishing of anything short, followed soon after for 34 when Rebecca Rolls gloved a fine edge off Scripps.The Magicians middle and lower-order were unable to sustain any momentum as the last eight wickets fell for 42 runs.Capable left-hander Maria Fahey was left stranded on 13 not out as run outs and the medium pace of Helen Watson, with two for 31 from 10 overs, claimed the final wickets.Scripps finished with the impressive figures of three for 13 from 8.3 overs as the Magicians were all out for 142 in the 47th over, no doubt grateful for the Heart’s contribution of 17 wides.Hearts’ opener Rolls signaled how she was going to go about chasing the meagre total with a cracking back foot drive for four through cover point from the first ball of the innings.In a player of the match performance, Rolls peppered the boundary and dominated the scoring, putting on 33 for the first wicket with Lynch and 67 with Drumm for the second.A premeditated sweep shot lead to her demise on 82, bowled by left-armer Helen Daly with the score at 132.In similar fashion to the Magicians, the Hearts’ middle-order made hard work of scoring the remaining 11 runs, losing two more wickets before Watson finished the match with a boundary through the covers in the 38th over.