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The England and Wales Cricket Board (ECB) today announced a provisional squad of 30 players for the ICC Cricket World Cup, which begins on Sunday 9 February in Cape Town, South Africa.A final England squad of 15 players will be announced by Tuesday 31 December.England 30-man squad:1. Nasser Hussain (Essex)2. Marcus Trescothick (Somerset)3. Nick Knight (Warwickshire)4. Michael Vaughan (Yorkshire)5. Owais Shah (Middlesex)6. Alec Stewart (Surrey)7. Ronnie Irani (Essex)8. Paul Collingwood (Durham)9. Andrew Flintoff (Lancashire)10. Craig White (Yorkshire)11. Ian Blackwell (Somerset)12. Jeremy Snape (Leicestershire)13. Ashley Giles (Warwickshire)14. Andrew Caddick (Somerset)15. Matthew Hoggard (Yorkshire)16. James Kirtley (Sussex)17. Robert Key (Kent)18. Darren Stevens (Leicestershire)19. Vikram Solanki (Worcestershire)20. Anthony McGrath (Yorkshire)21. Matthew Maynard (Glamorgan)22. Adam Hollioake (Surrey)23. Chris Read (Nottinghamshire)24. Richard Dawson (Yorkshire)25. Martin Saggers (Kent)26. Kyle Hogg (Lancashire)27. Kabir Ali (Worcestershire)28. Stephen Harmison (Durham)29. Ryan Sidebottom (Yorkshire)30. James Anderson (Lancashire)

And to think the format started out as a gimmick. When Surrey won the inaugural Twenty20 Cup in the summer of 2003, they did so as reigning County Champions, and though they enjoyed their big day out at Trent Bridge, there was no question that the four-day format was their over-riding priority. Now, however, things are not so clear-cut. After a seismic six months, in which Twenty20 cricket has taken over as the driving force of the world game, the 2008 tournament could quite possibly turn out to be the most important competition in England this summer.That was already set to be the case, but now that the £2.5 million Champions League has been dangled in front of the counties’ eyes, the stakes have got even higher. “I know it’s going to change the whole landscape of how people look at Twenty20 cricket, and indeed the way we react to it,” Surrey’s chief executive, Paul Sheldon, told Cricinfo. “I just hope very much it doesn’t change the variety of cricket and the whole issue of County Championship and Test cricket that the ECB have rightly set out to protect.”On Sunday, the ECB moved quickly to buttress the pre-eminence of England’s Test team – and appease those players whose Twenty20 opportunities have been limited by international appearances – by announcing a £2 million performance-related bonus pool. But to judge by the reactions of the Surrey players who gathered at The Oval on Monday for the launch of their 2008 campaign, it’s going to be hard to halt the momentum of the newest form of the game.”I think it’s fantastic and it’s what cricketers need,” said the former England Test batsman, Usman Afzaal, who joined Surrey from Northamptonshire at the end of 2007. “We’re a sport that gives a hell of a lot, for six months we work from eight in the morning to seven in the evening, and it’s great to see cricketers getting the recognition they are deserving. That’s what the entertainment business does to you. If you start filling seats you have a serious business, and it’s nice to see that cricket is starting to do that.”Afzaal has been a professional cricketer since his Nottinghamshire debut in 1995, and his attitude to Twenty20 cricket has moved with the times. “When it first started I also thought it was a bit of fun, but the most important thing was all the kids around the grounds,” he said. “It was like carnival cricket for three weeks, but then when we went back to the 40 and 50-over games, and the crowds vanished. It was clear we had hit on something special, so it’s nice to see we are now being recognised as entertainers.”For the players at the beginning of their careers, the possibilities currently seem endless. “It is scary yet exciting at the same time,” said Jade Dernbach, who – at the age of 22 – has just been awarded a three-year extension to his Surrey contract. “Just think where cricket might be in four or five years’ time. This is a shop window for everything that’s out there, so all I’m looking to do is do as well as possible. If I do well for Surrey it opens a lot of doors.”At Whitgift School last week, Dernbach broke into Surrey’s Championship side for the first time this season, although it is his limited-overs form that earned him his new contract. For all the determination of the ECB to preserve the pre-eminence of first-class cricket, Dernbach speaks for a new breed of cricketer who sense a shifting of priorities.”There is a very real possibility of that,” said Dernbach, when asked if Twenty20 cricket would eclipse the four-day game. “It’s a massive competition now, with all the publicity around it, and I think everything is just being geared around Twenty20. When you see the amount of money going into it, the danger is the kids of 12 or 13 years old, when they go to the nets are they going to practice technique, or are they going to see how far they want to hit the ball? I think through the younger levels, there needs to be an understanding that four-day cricket is the top of the game. We mustn’t lose sight of that.”All of which adds up to something of a headache for Surrey’s director of cricket, Alan Butcher, whose task it is to weigh up the competing priorities in this most seismic of seasons. “Twenty20 cricket has taken off incredibly after the initial scepticism in the first year,” said Butcher. “The players like it, the public like it and the finance people certainly like it. It’s been the flavour of the last six months, and it’s very apparent it’s not going to go away.”Butcher’s problems have been exacerbated by the row over the participation of ICL players, which could force Surrey to make do without the services of their star spinner, Saqlain Mushtaq. But, he insisted, such political issues would be as far as possible from his squad’s thoughts. “The danger is that people will start looking for the pot of gold before they’ve spotted the rainbow,” said Butcher. “We’ve got to pick the best side to win each game and then we see what happens. You can think as far ahead as you like, but if you don’t win those initial games, you aren’t going to get to the Champions League.”

The Hampshire Academy need only two points from tomorrow’s visit to Stoneham Lane to clinch the Southern Electric Premier League Division 2 championship.But they’ll find relegation-threatened Trojans fired up, ready to make one last ditch attempt to stave off the drop into Division 3."A fortnight ago, we were goners," confessed Trojans skipper Simon Williams. "Since then, we’ve beaten United Services and Lymington – and given ourselves a mathematical chance of staying up."I accept we need a big win tomorrow – but I’ve told the boys they are capable of achieving it."Trojans are certain to be without Tim Osman, who is getting married. "But I’ve persuaded a few of the others to join Tim at the reception, where they can hopefully toast our survival as well."Tony Middleton expects to have a full strength side at his disposal, although quite a number of the Under-19 side will be on the coach bound for Bristol – and the ECB final – immediately after the game.Trojans will, however, need a helping hand from Winchester KS at the Romsey Sports Centre if they are to survive."If Old Tauntonians & Romsey get eight points against them it’s curtains for us – but that’s out of our hands completely," Williams added.The outcome of the Hungerford-Rowledge match could also have impact at the bottom. A 22-point win for Rowledge, currently bottom, would do neither OT’s nor Trojans any good at all.Second-placed Easton & Martyr Worthy entertain Lymington, with Sparsholt visiting United Services.Purbrook, already assured of promotion after last week’s thrilling one-run win at Hursley Park, need ten points from Ventnor’s visit to Purbrook Heath, where South African Willem Prozesky still has his eyes firmly fixed on beating Robin Smith’s all-time league 1,015 run record.He took his season’s tally to 924 after striking a superbly executed century at the Quarters last week and is certain to curb his naturally aggressive instincts as he goes for his fourth hundred of the summer against Ventnor tomorrow.St Cross Symondians, meanwhile, require five points from Havant II’s visit to the Royal Green Jackets Ground to clinch the probably runners-up spot…. and the second promotion place.But Havant are going well, having won their last five matches, with opening pair Simon Greenfield and Jon Owen in particularly good form.In-form Gosport, though, could finish third if they beat off-colour Flamingo.Hursley Park wind up their programme at New Milton, while Redlynch & Hale will be saying their goodbye – after a fleeting excursion into the Premier League – at one-time leaders Alton.

A district cricket match between Hawke’s Bay and Manawatu scheduled for this weekend has proven quite timely for the Central Districts’ selectors.The two teams contain a significant proportion of the members of the CD squad and the traditionally hard-fought match will be a welcome chance to assess the form of players, only a week out from the opening of the State Championship.CD play the first match of the competition against Otago at Wanganui, starting on November 23.New CD coach Mark Greatbatch said it had not been ideal not being able to work with the players for six weeks while they were on strike.The players still in New Zealand had been getting together every fortnight since mid-winter which was something that hadn’t been done before and it had been working well.However, he was confident that getting the players back together and playing cricket, and making them the better players they want to be, would see them pick up where they left off very quickly.There was some competition for places in the side, and Greatbatch was expecting the four members of the New Zealand Under-19 side from last summer, Jesse Ryder, Ross Taylor, Ian Sandbrook and Richard Sherlock to all push for places in the side.The side will have to do without bowler Andrew Schwass for the first match. Last year’s most successful bowler for CD, he took 45 wickets at 14.73, dislocated his thumb while batting in Nelson last week. He put it back in himself, continued batting, bowled and then the next day complained of soreness.A check with a specialist showed that he had ruptured a ligament and he has the thumb in a cast for two weeks.Craig Spearman lends a factor to the top of the order that was missing last summer for the side and after his experience in county cricket with Gloucestershire during the winter, he can be expected to be in good shape.”If he is playing well, and it is his day, other sides know what can happen,” Greatbatch said.”He’ll give us experience whoever he is opening with.”Mathew Sinclair had been working hard in Marlborough, where he is playing this year. That has given him a head start over other players because the competition starts a little earlier in the sunshine capital of New Zealand.He scored 90 runs in club cricket last Saturday and had a century the weekend before.”It looks like he is progressing well there,” Greatbatch said.Michael Mason, after a full off-season in which to put the injuries of his past behind him, is looking very fit and Greatbatch is expecting him to be a dangerous bowler this year.Jacob Oram, who is looking to clinch a place in the World Cup side, has already made an impression on Greatbatch with his bowling this year and he is expecting Oram to take his batting to another level this summer.One player who will be watched in Napier over the weekend will be Greg Loveridge who has started the season well with the bat but who hasn’t had a lot of opportunity to bowl yet.CD will name their team for the opening match on Monday.

Daren Ganga hit his first century on tour as West Indies A moved into anunassailable position against Lancashire at Liverpool.With a day to play, the touring side are 451 in front, closing on 361/5. They will surely declare overnight in order to stand a reasonable chance of victory on what is still a good Aigburth pitch.The West Indian skipper made an unbeaten 139, but his effort was overshadowed by the brilliance of Chris Gayle and the power of Runako Morton. Gayle fell six runs short of a century in a classical innings, with Morton thumping his way to an agricultural 53.There can be few finer sites in cricket than Gayle at his best. Still notperfect in defence, his attacking strokes are played with a rare elegance. The left-handed opener sent the ball to the boundary 17 times, and was typically strong through the covers.Morton, on the other hand, just thumps the ball. Clearly gifted, the right-hander hit six fours and two sixes, seizing upon an inexperienced Lancashire attack.Ganga had hit only one half-century on tour before today. He has neither thestyle of Gayle nor the clout of Morton, but is a composed cricketer. Solid in defence, he pushed singles, rotating the strike and dispatched half-volleys with aplomb.After resuming on 38-0, the West Indians never looked like losing control. Mike Smethurst was particularly expensive as Gayle scored at every opportunity. Seamer James Anderson eventually induced a mistake from the left-handed Jamaican to give Smethurst a regulation catch.Morton was sent in early, and looked to force the pace. He found the boundary regularly, and the visitors looked well set to declare before the close. The Nevis-born 23-year-old reached his fifty from his 84th ball, with seven fours and two sixes. Morton fell soon after, giving occasional seamer Ryan Driver his sixth wicket of the match.Driver struck again to remove Ryan Hinds cheaply as Ganga completed his ton at the other end. Dwayne Bravo was run out, failing to make an impact. Devon Smith (17) looked good before becoming Smethurst’s first victim.Ganga, along with Keith Hibbert (15 not out) batted out the day. Ganga opened up towards the end of the day, and has18 fours and a six to show for his all-day vigil. Tomorrow, the bowlers will take over as West Indies A strive for a confidence-boosting victory.

Somerset suffered a frustrating day at The Oval as the third day of their championship match against table toppers Surrey was abandoned without a ball being bowled.After several attempts to get things started the day’s play was eventually called off by umpires Graham Burgess and John Holder in the mid afternoon, to leave the Cidermen kicking their heels with disappointment.Following yesterday’s very positive performance and the late breakthrough by Ian Blackwell to remove Graham Thorpe, Somerset were hoping to get early wickets this morning and set themselves a target to chase.As it was they will just have to wait until tomorrow and hope that the weather will be kinder to them in their attempts to get the result they feel that they have earned from this match.

The rapidity with which cricket has shifted toward professional status in Australia was underscored today when the Australian Cricket Board (ACB) foreshadowed the imminent emergence of the sport’s first millionaire player.ACB Chief Executive Officer Malcolm Speed revealed in Melbourne today that, under the terms of a new four-year deal his Board had negotiated with the Australian Cricketers’ Association (ACA), the nation’s top players are set to receive a significant boost in overall income.The Board’s new Memorandum of Understanding with the ACA – the body established in 1995 to act as the collective voice of Australia’s first-class cricketers – ensures that players will receive the increases in line with the sharp rise in overall Australian cricket revenue during recent summers.Speed announced that the total of that revenue had increased by fifty per cent over the past four years and that it will reach a level of $A85 million for 2001-02. That figure is projected to rise again to around $109 million in 2003-04.The underlying principle of the agreement, which replaces the first MoU signed between the two parties in September 1998, remains that Australia’s cricketers will be paid a set percentage of the total revenue produced by the ACB and state associations. Relative to the previous deal, that percentage has also risen.Three years ago, national and state players were guaranteed an entitlement to 20 per cent of the first $60 million of revenue accrued annually, and to 25 per cent of the remainder. That figure now reverts to a flat rate of 25 per cent for all revenue derived. This money is then divided between all contracted state players and the twenty-five ACB-contracted players, with fifty-five per cent allocated to the latter group.An additional feature of the new compact is the introduction of specialised rookie contracts, which will provide the six state teams with the opportunity to offer retainers of $10,000 to five previously unsigned players under the age of 23.The ACB confirmed that, on current figures, the changes would result in an indexed increase of three per cent – or $3 million – in the general size of the player pool.Under the revised arrangements, it is anticipated that the highest paid Australian player will be receiving an annual wage of more than $1 million within the space of three years.Over the course of the last year, the nation’s most lucrative individual contract was worth $625,000 and that amount is expected to hit $832,000 in 2001-02.Speed declined to comment on the identity of the player holding that contract or to speculate on who might be in line to become the first Australian to receive a seven figure sum.In making the announcement with ACA president Tim May, Speed stated that the new pay deal offered the game’s administrators the opportunity to make cricket a viable career for current and aspiring players.”One of the important messages here is that the game can afford to pay this money to put in place thoseinfrastructures,” he said.”The finances that underpin the game have grown considerably and this will continue through the long term commercial agreements, particularly in the area of overseas media rights and sponsorship that the ACB has been able to negotiate.”What we’ve sought to do in this agreement is to put together a very healthy career path for young athletes coming into the game of cricket.”Among the state players, the highest amount paid to an individual last summer was $89,000 and that is expected to rise to the level of $140,000 within a further four years.In overall terms, it’s the sort of outcome that did not look remotely possible only three years ago when negotiations between the two bodies broke down repeatedly. Back then, the threat of formal strike action by the national team loomed as a genuine possibility and talks remained deadlocked for several months.

All the results from the Hampshire Cricket Board Indoor Cricket Championship will appear here as soon after the event as possible …..HAMPSHIRE CRICKET BOARD INDOOR CHAMPIONSHIPS 2002Sunday 7 April 2002 – at River Park Leisure Centre, Winchester5.30pm : Under-13 Semi-finals
Court A – Hook & Newnham Basics v Waterlooville
Umpires: Roy Harrison & Dave KirkCourt B – St.Cross Symondians v Havant
Umpires: Roger Forder & Nick Goode6.30pm : Under-16 Semi-finals
Court A – Sarisbury Sharks v Andover or Basingstoke & North Hants
Umpires: Roy Harrison & Dave KirkCourt B – Havant v Hursley Park Hurricanes
Umpires: Roger Forder & Nick Goode7.30pm : HCB Senior Cup quarter-finals
Court A – Harting v Easton & Martyr Worthy
Umpires: Roy Harrison & Jeff LevickCourt B – Hook & Newnham Basics v Paultons
Umpires: Roger Forder & Nick Goode8.30pm : HCB Under 16 and Under 13 Finals
Court A – Under 16s – Umpires: Roy Harrison & Jeff Levick
Court B – Under 13s – Umpires: Roger Forder & Nick GoodeALL PARTICIPANTS PLAYERS MUST WEAR WHITE TRAINERS – BLACK/BLUE ONES ARE UNACCEPTABLESunday 14 April 2002 – at Hampshire Rose Bowl, West End5.30pm : Winchester K.S. v Hook or Paultons – 1st Senior Semi-final
Umpires: Denis Emery & Ray Holyer6.30pm : Lymington (NF) v Harting or Easton – 2nd Senior Semi-Final
Umpires: Denis Emery & Ray Holyer7.45pm : NatWest Under-16 Development League play-off
Fair Oak v Havant (followed by a presentation on behalf of the Lord’s Taverners Foundation by Lawrie McMenemy)
Umpires: Denis Emery & Ray Holyer8.45pm : HCB Senior Championship final
Umpires: Denis Emery & Ray HolyerNote:Clubs participating in these Championships are reminded of the strict qualification rule, ie that players may play in only one team throughout the winter, eg a player who has turned out in a club’s B team indoors cannot play in the A side if it has qualified, as above. Similarly, players may only play in one qualifying centre. Please refer any questions re eligibility to me well inadvance of the Championships.

Following his impressive performance against Hampshire at Bath, fast bowler Richard Johnson has been named as the new Somerset Hero of the Week.In making his choice Somerset chief executive Peter Anderson said: "For his patience and resolve to make a complete recovery from his injury, and not rush back before being fully fit he was rewarded with a seven wicket haul and ten wickets in the match against Hampshire. Duncan Fletcher please note!"Richard Johnson moved west to join Somerset during the winter of 2000 after playing for Middlesex for nine seasons. In 1994 he became the first player for thirty years to take all ten wickets in an innings when he captured 10 for 45 against Derbyshire at Derby, whilst Kevin Shine was bowling at the other end!`Johnno’ was capped by Middlesex in 1995, and selected to play for England on their tour to South Africa in 1995-6. However he had to pull out after a persistent back injury.Since joining the Cidermen for 2001 he has enjoyed considerable success, and last season was the leading wicket taker in the county championship with 62 victims. He was awarded his Somerset cap during the season.During last winter Richard was called up for the England test tour to India to replace Andrew Caddick.When I caught up with Richard between training sessions at the County Ground he gave me the following answers to the `hero’ questions.Q1 What sports do you enjoy, apart from cricket?
A. I enjoy football, especially watching Tottenham who are my favourite team. I also enjoy watching rugby and most sports, and playing golf. I play off a handicap of sixteen, but people say that I am a bit of a bandit!Q2 Who was your idol when you were young?
A. There was only one hero for me and that was Ian Botham, who I watched many many times on the television. He has always been my hero.Q3 Who is your favourite pop star or band?
A. I don’t really have any particular favourites at the moment, but I do like any dance music.Q4 What do you do in your spare time?
A. Anything to relax, including taking my dog for a walk and playing golf with my friends.Q5 Where did you go to school, and when did you start to play cricket?
A. I went to Sunbury School and then onto Spelthorne College. I started to play cricket at the age of nine and from the age of eleven represented Middlesex through the age groups.Q6 What is your favourite food?
A. I enjoy eating a really hot curry.Q7 How much training do you do every week, are there any special exercises?
A. During the season I don’t do much, but in the winter I train five days of the week.Q8 What has been your most memorable match for Somerset?
A. My most memorable match of Somerset has to be winning the Cheltenham and Gloucester Trophy at Lord’s last September.Q9 Apart from the County Ground at Taunton, which is your favourite cricket ground and why?
A. It has to be Lord’s where I played so many times over the years for Middlesex. The facilities there are just like a five star luxury hotel.Q10 What are your cricketing ambitions?
A.My cricketing ambitions are to win as many trophies as I can for Somerset and of course to play for England.Many thanks to Richard for answering the questions for us, and we all hope that you fulfil your ambitions. Thanks also to Thomas and George who provided the questions

A fine all round effort from the spinners and a century opening partnership put Lancashire in control at the end of the second day of play versus Boland Academy at Bellville.Chris Schofield bowling for the first time on tour struck twice in an over just before lunch to remove danger man Vuuren and Jephta second ball to tilt the balance of play to Lancashire. After lunch Keedy bowling for the first time since his back injury, took two wickets and Gary Yates polished off the tail with figures off three for 15, reducing Boland to 201 all out, a deficit of 136.With one session of play remaining in the day captain John Crawley promoted himself to open with Mark Chilton. The two put on 151 runs before Crawley was stumped with the last ball of the day for a brilliant 101. Mark Chilton who desperately seeking runs having not scored double figures all tour was left unbeaten on 49.