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Nasser Hussain was not flinging idle praise around when he termedMichael Vaughan’s 197 one of the best innings he had ever seen fromthe blade of an English bat. The classical opener’s highest firstclass score was quite definitely an innings that would done the bestof his tribe proud.

Vaughan’s shot selection on the day he held everybody in thrall wasadmirable, with his driving off the back foot in particular being ofsuch a high order that former England all-rounder Vic Marks was movedto liken it to that of the great Peter May.The Yorkshireman was helped in no small measure by the Indian bowlers,who played a significant part in the transformation of the 27-yearold, whom many had previously marked as the ideal replacement foranother Michael – the very correct and very stodgy Atherton – into abatsman who tore the opposing attack to shreds.Pitching short and spraying the ball everywhere, India’s bowlershelped the England opener feel at home immediately upon his arrival atthe crease. High on confidence after his hundred in the England secondinnings at Lord’s, Vaughan was not in the mood to miss out on sucheasy pickings.With dozens of short-of-a-length deliveries on offer, the regionbetween point and third man naturally proved a productive one,yielding as many as 43 runs. Another area that provided runs by thebucketful was mid-wicket, where Vaughan creamed as many as 44 throughfine back-foot pulls and front-foot drives. It is also telling thatonly 20 runs out of 197 – a measly 10.15 % – came in the vee betweenmid-off and mid-on. On that Trent Bridge wicket, India should havebeen pitching the ball up much further, allowing it to swing and usethe juice in the wicket. If Vaughan had made 197 with the bowlerssticking to the appropriate length, many more runs would have come offstraight drives.

The sole variety in the Indian attack – Harbhajan Singh – wascountered by either staying on the back foot and playing the fineflick, or by sweeping. The pitch afforded only slow turn, enablingVaughan to play the offie on the back foot, something not normallyadvised on more vicious tracks. Harbhajan Singh only helped thattactic along by constantly drifting to leg, unable to bowl the classicoff-spinner’s line just outside the off. The success of Vaughan’sstrategy is best represented by the fact that he scored 27 runs in thefine-leg region and 11 runs to the square-leg against the Harbhajan.Harbhajan also made another fundamental error, not only againstVaughan but against the rest as well. Not once did he succeed inflighting the ball and luring Vaughan into the expansive drive.Ironically enough, then, it was Vaughan who, in India’s secondinnings, reminded everybody of the efficacy of that classic offspinner’s tactic. The ball with which he brought about SachinTendulkar’s downfall was exactly the kind that Harbhajan himselfshould been attempting.

No breach of the bargaining protocol occurred when New Zealand Cricket chief executive Martin Snedden released his side’s documents in the dispute with New Zealand’s players into the public arena two weeks ago.The New Zealand Cricket Players’ Association (NZCPA) had sought mediation on the matter claiming Snedden had breached the protocol.Snedden denied the claim and according to a joint release made by both parties today it was accepted that neither party had breached the protocol.The mediation did result in a reconfirmation by both parties to the bargaining protocol while concerns of the NZCPA were clarified in relation to the confidentiality provisions.Both parties agreed that:In the event any one of them should place information into the public domain, then any other party shall be free to comment publicly on that information.If one party should present information within the negotiating process then that information shall remain confidential to the parties and not be referred to the media or else where without the prior consent of the presenting party.

Stung by a heavy defeat in the opening game, Pakistan has forced Super Challenge II into a series-deciding clash at the ‘Gabba next Wednesday after registering a hard-earned two wicket win over Australia in Melbourne tonight. Spirited bowling was complemented by patient batting as the tourists dug deep into their reserves of skill and commitment to secure victory with seven balls to spare.Unlike Wednesday’s series-opener, this was a high-standard encounter. As a contest, it had much to offer too, with Pakistan waiting until the last half-hour of a prolonged arm wrestle to genuinely secure its win.The sophisticated strokemaking talent of Younis Khan (56*) was the key, delightful footwork and crisp hitting allowing him to persistently guide the ball through and over the field on a day when almost every batsman struggled. Crucial, too, was his patience in a difficult period in the middle of the innings during which spinners Shane Warne (2/49) and Darren Lehmann (1/17) rudely interrupted the progress of Yousuf Youhana (29), Rashid Latif (16) and Shahid Afridi (3).Pakistan’s pursuit of the paltry Australian total of 167 had sputtered into difficulty at various stages of the evening session as wickets were frittered away at regular intervals. But the young right hander was able to play the lead role in partnerships of 35 with Latif; 19 with Wasim Akram (10); and 18 with Waqar Younis (8*) to haul his team back from the potential ruin posed by scorelines of 3/21 and 5/85.Earlier, the direct hit run out of Saeed Anwar (0) from mid off, and the departures of Imran Nazir (6) and Azhar Mahmood (4) in the space of a single Brett Lee (2/44) over, had posed grave threats to the satisfactory progress of the Pakistan innings.In truth, though, Australia should never have been given a chance to win after a typically explosive opening to the match from Akram.Amid cold conditions, the teams had played a slow-burning match to mark the beginning of the series three days ago. As Akram (3/18) set to work, though, this one could barely have exploded into life any faster.The first serious questions of the afternoon – not to mention the prayers of the series’ promoters – had been answered when Lee and Shoaib Akhtar were included in the respective elevens. There still remain few players as pleasurable to watch in full flight as Akram, however, and it was the 36-year-old former Pakistan captain who duly stole all the headlines once play commenced.In a frenzied beginning, the redoubtable left arm paceman struck with the first and third deliveries of the match, initially finding a feint outside edge as he drew Adam Gilchrist (0) into nibbling at an outswinger of exceptional quality. Ricky Ponting (0) then made a similarly forlorn exit when a defensive shot caused the ball to jam off a combination of bat and pad, and loop in a gentle low parabola to the jubilant bowler.Fellow members of the upper order should have been quick to join their captain and vice-captain among the ranks of the fallen.But Jimmy Maher (12) survived a pair of desperately close lbw and run out decisions and Damien Martyn (56) encountered two anxious moments of his own, top edging the ball just short of fine leg as he hooked at Akram with his score at 3 and then benefiting from a controversial decision with his score only four runs advanced.A mistimed pull at Akram had sent the ball toward Waqar at mid on, and the Pakistan skipper initially appeared to have clutched the ball cleanly just above the turf. Neither Martyn nor umpire Darrell Hair, standing only a short distance away from Waqar, seemed fully convinced, though, and an ensuing series of replays failed to shed further light on the catch’s validity for third umpire Simon Taufel.Pakistan paid a heavy price in that Martyn’s escape set the stage for a defiant 66-run stand for the fourth wicket with Lehmann (31).On a pitch again offering consistent pace and bounce – as well as appreciable turn at times – it was only when Afridi (3/28) proceeded to encourage Martyn to cut a low catch to backward point that the tourists redressed the balance. The leg spinner swiftly made further important breaches of the home team’s defences when he trapped Shane Watson (8) and Warne (1) on the line of the crease.Akhtar (2/30), the speed of whose deliveries peaked at the match-high reading of 151.9 kilometres per hour, then mopped up the remnants of the innings by bowling Andy Bichel (7) and having Michael Bevan (30) caught behind while cutting.The Australians ultimately lost 5/29 in the closing stages of the afternoon session to pair a poor finish with the disastrous start that they had made after winning the toss.

LAHORE, July 20: Test captains have opposed the proposal of use of technology to assist umpires in adjudging leg before decisions, Pakistan skipper Waqar Younis said Saturday.Waqar observed that it would complicate matters and the umpires would become more dependent on the technology.He said the proposal, that would be experimented during September’s ICC Champions Trophy, would further slow the proceedings as each time the appeal would be referred to the third umpire.”Already the teams struggle to complete 50 overs in the stipulated time and if this is also introduced, that would make it difficult for teams that rely on fast bowlers,” he said.Waqar, who represented Pakistan in the captains conference at Lord’s earlier this week, said the International Cricket Council (ICC) admitted the point but still decided to go-ahead with the experimentation.The paceman, however, said the ICC has agreed in principle to include at least one current Test captain in the rules committee.The Pakistan captain said during the meeting, he met his Indian counterpart Saurav Ganguly and persuaded him to convince his board on the revival of cricket between the two countries. “But as always, he expressed his helplessness over the scenario saying it was entirely upto the Indian government on the revival of cricket,” he said.

Tapping the existing base in the Pacific Islands for derivatives of cricket has the potential to open up vast areas for the development of the game.ICC East Asia-Pacific manager Matthew Kennedy told a New Zealand Cricket development conference in Christchurch today that the potential exhibited in the region during the recent Pacifica Cup tournament, won by New Zealand Maori, was only the start of development efforts.Much will depend on a decision over what the Associate and Affiliate members agree should be a World Cup structure.One suggestion has been an expansion of the traditional ICC Trophy tournament which finds three teams to attend the World Cup every four years, although in future as many as five associates may be included in the world event.That would allow for regional tournaments, such as the Pacifica Cup, to be played every two years.The second option was to have a world cricket league where the associates and affiliates were ranked from one to 62. That provides problems of its own however. Seeding teams from one to six and seven to 12 was fine, based on the performances at the ICC Trophy.But ranking teams from 13 to 62 was much more difficult. The issue of whether a New Zealand Maori, and a New Zealand Islands, team take part in regional tournaments was an issue for New Zealand Cricket.Another issue in the East Asia-Pacific region is a request from Hong Kong/China to go with the Asian region. That would involve them more in the richer Asian development region which on its own receives half the funding development allocation from the ICC.Kennedy, an Australian who works out of the ACB headquarters in Melbourne, said the Pacific offered a prime area for development because of the cricket culture that exists already and the spaces that were available in which to play the game.One of the most productive areas for development was Papua New Guinea.”They have truckloads of players and a real cricket culture. They receive Australian television and get all the cricket, and the players are naturally talented.”Japan is our target for the next affiliate members in our region. They have seven competitions and 30-35 teams, and for the first time this year locals and ex-pats have united to play each other,” he said.What Kennedy did ask for from the delegates attending the three-day meeting from each of New Zealand’s major associations was to consider entering into a partnership with one of the emerging countries in the same way that Auckland has done with Samoa and Tonga.Victoria has links with Japan and South Korea and New South Wales is linked to Fiji and Vanuatu.This was a way of providing any old playing kit, advice or experience to those countries and whatever was offered was bound to be appreciated by those countries, he said.Support provided by the ICC to the countries was not just a monetary handout but more in the field of support and that had been well received to date.Kennedy said the establishment of practice nets in Samoa and Tonga, the first such facilities, and the development of a ground and practice facilities in Fiji had made a big difference to those countries and would make a difference in the future.

Carl Hooper put a lifetime of underachievement finally and firmly behind him yesterday, appropriately on the ground he has always called home.His peerless 233 on the second day of the opening Cable & Wireless Test was not simply the highest innings by a West Indian at Bourda.It was as much belated vindication for the thousands of Hooper’s celebrating fellow Guyanese in the stands and his host of loyal fans throughout the Caribbean who have always been adamant that it was only a matter of time but for whom time was running short.Hooper, now 35 and in his 93rd Test, brought an unsatisfactory average of 35 into the match, but has now joined only three other West Indies captains, Denis Atkinson, Clive Lloyd and Brian Lara, who have scored double-hundreds.Incredibly, given the usually placid nature of the Bourda pitch and the great players who have batted on it, his was only the third Test double on the ground following the Trinidadian Clifford Roach’s 209 against England in the inaugural Test in 1930 and the New Zealander Glenn Turner’s 259 in 1972.As was the case on the first day, when he, Ramnaresh Sarwan and Shivnarine Chanderpaul combined to rally the West Indies from the insecurity of 44 for three to 270 for four, it was again an all-Guyanse show.Hooper and Chanderpaul, contrary in everything but their country of birth, extended their partnership from its overnight 113 to 293 against the lacklustre Indians whose bowling in the uncompromising conditions lacked penetration and whose tactics were short of imagination.Chanderpaul’s enterprising 140, studded with 23 fours, was his third Test hundred and his second at Bourda. No Guyanese has made as many at home, another staggering revelation given the quality of so many who have preceded him.It was no less personally significant for the neat eft-hander that was the double for Hooper.His appearances for the West Indies have been severely restricted by injury and illness in the past three years in which he has missed 17 Tests.His misfortune clearly affected the self-confidence of a batsman once the most reliable in the team and his average plummeted from the mid-40s into the high 30s.The fifth-wicket stand between the two was a Test record for all teams against India and the basis of a formidable total of 494 for seven when drizzle and fading light halted play with 21-and-a-half overs available.Notwithstanding the placid pitch, greased-lightning outfield, inexperienced bowling and the presence of Sachin Tendulkar in the opposition ranks, it should be enough to put pressure on the Indians.Hooper and Chanderpaul are the ideal combination, the former right-handed, all graceful power and sweet timing, the latter left-handed, short on finesse but with strong wrists, an eagle eye and a keen sense of placement.Hooper had a scratchy start on the opening day, when he might have been out to his first ball and again when he was 10, but he was impeccable throughout yesterday.Not one of the 172 balls he received in moving from 108 to his eventual 233 caused him any serious concern. He added two sixes and 15 fours and they came in all directions with strokes of every description.There were deft cuts, savage pulls, lofted strokes off the legs, drives that took the breath away, neat paddle sweeps.Chanderpaul was no less punishing, so confusing the Indian think tank that they briefly positioned a solitary leg-side fielder, at mid-on, for the medium-pacer Sanjay Banger to try to check him. The tactic was quickly abandoned as he slipped two fours to the vacant fine leg.The left-hander did have an anxious moment or two. He was 94 when he edged the veteran leg-spinner Anil Kumble past slip’s right hand to the boundary, clipping his next ball for three to reach his cherished landmark quarter-hour before lunch.A smile, a raise of the bat and genuflection on the pitch marked his gratitude. After that, a dizzy spell that brought attention from trainer Ronald Rogers, a desperate dive to avoid a run out and a close lbw call from the left-arm Zaheer Khan were his only alarms.Zaheer finally removed him lbw in the best spell of the day as Chanderpaul was beaten coming forward by his 290th ball. His 23 boundaries from the 290 balls be received were indicative of his form, the pitch, the lightning fast outfield and the bowling.Zaheer quickly repeated the dose for Junior Murray and, at the opposite end, Hooper finally fell to Sarandeep Singh’s spectacular tumbling catch running in from long-leg off the perserving Kumble.Hooper had launched Kumble onto the top of the antiquated scoreboard at square-leg for his third six the ball before but found the top-edge attempting a repeat.He occupied ten hours 35 minutes for 402 balls and tallied 29 boundaries in addition to his sixes, only one that sneaked through the slips early in the piece in the direction other than that intended.He left to a standing ovation from fans who had waited 15 years for an exhibition such as this. It was far, far better late than never.

An inspired five wicket haul by the Punjab left arm spinner BablooKumar helped the hosts crush Rajasthan by an innings and 12 runs onthe third day of the five day Ranji Trophy pre quarterfinal match atthe Punjab Cricket Association ground in Mohali on Monday. They nowplay reigning champions Mumbai in the quarterfinal at the Wankhedestadium from March 20.Resuming at the overnight score of four for no loss in their secondinnings, Rajasthan, 318 runs in arrears on the first innings, were allout for 306. Openers VA Saxena (11) and skipper Gagan Khoda (40) tookthe score to 25 but Punjab seamer Gagandeep Singh made the firstinroads by trapping Saxena leg before in the 19th over of the innings.Then Rahul Kanwat (88) joined his skipper and took the score along to97. Khoda after a patient 110-ball innings was bowled by Babloo Kumarto give the latter his first wicket of the innings.Nikhil Doru (14) then partnered Kanwat for a third wicket stand worth54 useful runs. Doru was trapped in front of the stumps by BablooKumar and he was soon followed to the pavilion by Kanwat. During his166-minute stay at the crease, Kanwat faced 116 balls and hit 14boundaries and two sixes.All this while, Rajasthan nurtured hopes of making Punjab bat againand Saket Bhatia lead them from the front with a valiant innings of53. He shared a 55-run sixth wicket stand with Rohit Jhalani (27) whichtook them closer to their objective. But the fall of Jhalani and alittle later, Bhatia left them stranded. Bhatia, who was the seventhbatsman to be dismissed, faced just 86 balls and found the boundaryropes on ten occasions.Babloo Kumar came back and struck twice to pick up the wickets ofSanjeev Sharma and Mohd Aslam. The last three wickets yielded just 36runs, which saw them falling short of their target by 12 runs. BablooKumar ended with figures of 5 for 48 from 17.5 overs.

When will it end?The depressing sequence of inevitable West Indies defeats was extendedto No. 5 yesterday after South Africa taught them a lesson in how todefend a seemingly modest total.Utilising conditions that were friendly for bowlers, South Africadisplayed the tenacity that have made them one of internationalcricket’s most feared teams.For once, the West Indies appeared to have a genuine chance of winningafter they restricted the visitors to 190 in mainly overcastconditions at a packed Queen’s Park Oval.The South Africans, however, admirably defended the type of totals theWest Indies could not in previous matches to the extent that they wonby a relatively comfortable margin of 53 runs.They bowled straight for the most part, produced a few wicket-takingdeliveries and fielded with their customary efficiency in spite of thedistractions over the recent revelations of marijuana use by some oftheir team members.West Indies’ response to the target was encouraging for a period. Theypassed 100 with three wickets down, but as the asking rate keptincreasing, so too did the fall of wickets and the last seven fell for29.By the time they were all out for 137, many fans were already on theirway home.It was the West Indies’ fourth lowest total at the ground, but Hooperrefused to blame the pitch.It wasn’t the best track that we played on in the six games, but itwasn’t poor by any means, he said.The ball kept a bit low but South Africa worked and got 190 on it andwe struggled to even get 150. I don’t think you can blame the wicket,but it wasn’t the best One-Day wicket.Instead, the West Indies captain was singing a familiar tune.It’s disappointing to set games up and then not being able to finishthem off, Hooper said. We can’t drop in the towel and get negative anddisillusioned. We’ve got to keep working hard and try to rectify theareas which are giving us problems.West Indies found the pitch even more challenging than South Africadid and it took them the better part of four overs for their firstrun, courtesy of a no-ball from debutant Andre Nel which ShivnarineChanderpaul edged to the ‘keeper.Nel did get his just reward when Daren Ganga edged a beauty to firstslip.It made way for Brian Lara, who immediately raised the tempo instroking 41 off 63 balls. The Prince of Port-of-Spain was just aboutgetting into top stride when a combination of his misjudgment andJonty Rhodes’ typically outstanding fielding silenced a crowd of morethan 20 000.Lara pulled Justin Kemp through mid-wicket and mid-on off successiveballs and 11 were taken from the 26th over when he and ShivnarineChanderpaul were indecisive over a single to point. Lara virtuallygave up and he was well short of his crease when Rhodes’ direct throwhit the stumps at the bowler’s end.Struggling ChanderpaulChanderpaul (27 off 84 balls) never came to terms with the surface orthe bowling and most of the spectators were relieved when left-armunorthodox spinner Paul Adams spun one away from him for Mark Boucherto complete the stumping.The match was still in the balance at 108 for three in the 38th overbut Nel delivered telling blows in consecutive balls by dismissingHooper and Ricardo Powell. Even if the pitch was not the easiest forbatting, the West Indies bowlers should still be given credit fortheir control after Hooper asked South Africa’s new-look XI to batfirst on a strip with an extra tinge of grass.With the exception of a third-wicket stand of 92 in 21.5 overs betweenNeil McKenzie and Kemp, South Africa, who made four changes from theline-up that wrapped up the series three days earlier, struggledagainst an attack in which almost everyone played his part.The leg-breaks of Dinanath Ramnarine were expensive after he came onat the half-way stage, but Cameron Cuffy, Corey Collymore, KerryJeremy, along with the off-spin combination of Hooper and MarlonSamuels each chipped in with two wickets apiece.Cuffy and Collymore, in for his first match of the series, applied theearly pressure to the extent that the first ten overs produced only 20runs.By then, Cuffy’s sharp break-back had accounted for Herschelle Gibbs,whose run-scoring and off-field activities have commanded just as muchattention in recent days.The tall Vincentian removed Boeta Dippenaar after he laboured 37 ballsfor seven runs. Cuffy’s inward movement earned him a lbw verdictbefore South Africa recovered through the aggression of Kemp and themore measured strokeplay of McKenzie, who showed little effects fromthe hamstring injury that sidelined him for the previous four matches.Especially strong off the pads, McKenzie counted eight of SouthAfrica’s 14 boundaries in an innings of 73 off 117 balls. He was theone who looked likely to boost the total to over 200, but Collymorekept him scoreless for three balls in the 41st over before removinghim with the help of a diving catch by wicket-keeper Ridley Jacobs.Before McKenzie went, Hooper tightened West Indies’ grip with adouble-strike in successive overs. The victims were the dangerousKemp, whose 46 included a stunning six over long-on off Jeremy, andJacques Kallis, bowled between bat and pad attempting a nondescriptshot.The West Indies captain was again tight throughout his ten overs andwhen Samuels replaced him after 40 overs, he was just as effective inclaiming the wickets of Pollock and Paul Adams.Jeremy, under the microscope after he was not given a single ball inBarbados, conceded 28 runs from his first six overs, but came back totake two wickets in a commendable second spell.

Andrew Strauss has announced his retirement from professional cricket, ending a 10-year career at international level, the last three of which he was England’s Test captain. Alastair Cook, the one-day captain, will take on the Test job.His decision comes after a week of soul-searching during a family break following the 2-0 loss against South Africa which meant England lost the No. 1 Test ranking and also comes at a time when Kevin Pietersen’s exile from the team has dominated the agenda.Strauss played down the significance of the current Pietersen situation in his decision saying it “was not a factor at all” and retiring was on his mind before the series against South Africa started. He did, though, admit that his lack of runs had played a major part.Strauss’ decision ends a career that began in 1997, an international career that started in 2003 and captaincy reign that began early in 2009 in the wake of the Pietersen-Peter Moores fall out.”After much thought over the last few weeks, I have decided to step down as England Test captain and announce my retirement from all forms of cricket,” Strauss said. “It has clearly been a tough decision to make, but I believe that it is both in the best interests of the England cricket team and myself to step down at this stage.”There are too many people who have helped me on this incredible journey to mention them all by name, but I would like to thank all the Middlesex and England players I have played alongside, as well as the phenomenal coaches and support staff with whom I have been fortunate enough to work.”Particular mention has to go to Andy Flower and Duncan Fletcher in that regard. It would also be remiss of me not to thank Middlesex, the ECB and the PCA for their support and guidance over the years.”No one can play international cricket for any length of time without having an incredibly strong support network around them, and I would like to take this opportunity to thank my family for going through it all alongside me over the course of my England career.”I am extremely proud of everything I have achieved as a cricketer, and I have found myself very fortunate to play in an era when some of English cricket’s greatest moments have occurred. I have loved every minute of it. All that remains is for me to wish Andy, Alastair and the rest of the team the very best for the coming months. I will be an interested spectator.”Strauss, 35, played his 100th Test at Lord’s against South Africa and after the loss he said he still had “a lot of desire” but did not categorically declare his intention to continue leading the side. Strauss said at the time he was keen to take a break and then discuss the future with the coach Andy Flower.ESPNcricinfo were the first to suggest immediately after the Test that perhaps Strauss was considering resignation.The South African series was a difficult one for Strauss, who not only had to deal with the ongoing Pietersen saga but also his own struggle for runs – his best score during the three Tests was 37. Cook, who took on the ODI captaincy last year, will now step into the Test role and will start with the tour of India later this year.Cook said: “Andrew’s contribution to England cricket in recent years is evident to everyone who follows the sport but only those of us who have been lucky enough to share a dressing room with him are fully aware of his immense contribution to our success.”He has been a fantastic captain, has led from the front for three and a half years and is a true ambassador for the game. To have played 100 Tests for your country is a phenomenal achievement and I want to congratulate him on a superb career. I know this can’t have been an easy decision for him and everyone in the dressing room will be sad to see him go.”I’m very excited by this new challenge, it is a huge honour to be appointed Test captain and am very much looking forward to captaining the side in India this winter and beyond, but my immediate focus is on this current NatWest one-day series. Once the series is over I will turn my attention to the Test captaincy and building on the work Andrew has started.”David Collier, the ECB chief executive, said: “On behalf of the ECB and everyone involved in cricket I’d like to thank Andrew Strauss for his outstanding contribution to the game.”Andrew has been a highly successful captain and opening batsman for Middlesex and England, who will be remembered for leading the side to two Ashes victories and to the top of the Test rankings. He has shown tremendous integrity, dedication and commitment both on and off the field and under his leadership the side has grown immeasurably and reached new levels of professionalism.”Andrew’s calmness and authority when dealing with some of the most difficult moments in our sport in recent times should be applauded and I have no doubt that his contribution as an ambassador for the game will be recognised by anyone who has had an opportunity to spend time with him. His legacy within the game will be felt for many years to come and we now need to continue to build on the progress we have made under his leadership.”Strauss made his debut for England in 2004, scoring a century against New Zealand at Lord’s in a performance that was enough to push former captain Nasser Hussain into retirement, and his most recent Test against South Africa was his 100th Test. When talking recently to mark the occasion he spoke about his desire to continue but events of recent weeks, including the controversy surrounding Pietersen, appear to have changed his mind.As captain, Strauss led England to new heights, including back-to-back Ashes triumphs in 2009 and 2010-11 plus the No.1 Test ranking which they held for a year before losing the series against South Africa. That was the first home Test series England had lost under Strauss’ leadership and just the third of his entire stint.However, the runs had largely dried up for Strauss in recent years. The two hundreds he scored against West Indies earlier this season hinted that he could recapture some of his best form but reality hit home against South Africa when he scored 107 runs in six innings. Having started his time as captain with three hundreds against West Indies in 2009 he managed just four more. He will finish with 21 Test centuries, one behind the England record held by Geoff Boycott, Colin Cowdrey and Wally Hammond.In his 100 Tests Strauss has scored 7037 runs at 40.91 and in the 50 Tests he captained (which included four before being appointed fulltime captian, against Pakistan in 2006) he won 24 of them.Strauss is the third England captain to resign either during or after a series against a South Africa side led by Graeme Smith. Hussain stood down early in the 2003 series and Michael Vaughan ended his time as captain after South Africa won the 2008 series with victory at Edgbaston.

A breathtaking 99 from Sadagoppan Ramesh and unbeaten half centuries byskipper Rahul Dravid and VVS Laxman helped South to a formidable 296/2 onthe second day of their Duleep Trophy clash against West Zone at Surat’sLalbhai Contractor’s Stadium. This was after a dismal collapse earlier inthe day by West, which slipped from their overnight 310/3 to 376 all out injust over 21 overs.After a trying time for the South bowlers on the first day, they swiflyclaimed the ascendancy on the second morning as West lost four wickets inthe first six overs for the addition of sixteen runs. With the fourth ballof the day, Dodda Ganesh removed Jacob Martin for 89, caught by Laxman inthe slips. The other overnight batsman, Vinod Kambli duly completed hishalf century in 60 balls before knocking one back to Ganesh for 56.Three balls later Abhijit Kale was run out for one and skipper Nayan Mongiafollowed shortly afterwards for the same score, caught off Aashish Kapoor.Ajit Agarkar and Sairaj Bahutule added 30 for the eighth wicket beforeGanesh fired out both men in successive overs. Sunil Joshi claimed histhird scalp by bowling last man Lalit Patel to terminate the innings in the112th over. The persevering Ganesh collected the best figures of 4/81 in 29overs.South openers Sridharan Sriram and Sadagoppan Ramesh proceeded to add 139for the first wicket in just 29 overs. They scored the runs in contrastingstyles, Sriram labouring for 95 balls to make 38 before he was caughtbehind off Iqbal Siddique. Ramesh on the other hand caned a 99-ball 99, 76of which were scored off boundaries, before being bowled by Bahutule. Fromthere on Laxman and Dravid forced the West attack into submission, addingan unbroken 141 in 32.2 overs. Laxman, with nine centuries in his last ninegames, marched inevitably towards yet another, unbeaten on 80 (111 balls,12 fours) while Dravid was keeping him company on 60 (106 balls, 7 fours).