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South Africa have announced their World Cup squad for the forthcoming tournament in March and April in South Africa. Alison Hodgkinson retains the captaincy and, as expected, their rising star, the 15-year-old Johmari Logtenberg, also earns a place.There are three changes to the 16-player squad who played two warm-up matches against Under-17 boys’ sides at the weekend. Hanri Strydom, Yulande van der Merwe, Sunette Viljoen did not make the final squad, while Tamara Reeves – omitted from the warm-up squad – has been drafted in, and Susan Benade has been placed on standby for Magdaleen Terblanche, whose participation is subject to her passing a fitness test before 01 March 2005.South Africa reached the semi-final in the last World Cup in New Zealand in 2000 and lost their last ODI home series 4-1 to England but, as hosts, they will fancy themselves as lively outsiders behind Australia and the holders New Zealand.Their coach, Stephen Jones, was upbeat about South Africa’s chances. “No doubt home advantage will play a factor,” Jones told a media conference on Monday. “We know the wickets, and on tour you have to take other factors into account: food and water and so on. One good thing is that we’ve not got the huge expectations of the men’s side. There are 15000 in the ground, but hopefully, we’ll have only 10000!””Hopefully we’ll have 14 stars, but any cricket team a nucleus of four or five, six players. We have that nucleus, can compete with anyone,” he added.He expected Logtenberg to play another starring role. Logtenberg, who plays for Kwa-Zulu Natal, burst on to the international scene in 2003 when, aged 14, she struck 74 on her Test debut against England. Her one-day form is pretty good, too. She has hit scores of 61, 67 and 76 in her first eight matches.”She’s a young girl, but hugely talented,” Jones said. “The last thing I want to do is put any pressure on her, or expectation. But if she can play and have a lot of fun and enjoyment, at 25 you still have to enjoy the game, never mind at 15.””I have no doubt she will have a really good tournament – but I can’t say that South Africa relies just on Logtenberg. She is one of the team but, if looked after by the rest of them, then no doubt she will have a good tournament.”Louise Vorster, the president of SAWCA, was in equally positive mood. “Although the players are relatively young it is a well balanced squad,” she said. “They have prepared well and spent time together over the last three months. We are confident that Stephen Jones and the squad will do our nation proud during their campaign.”Squad Alison Hodgkinson (capt), Cri-Zelda Brits, Lonelle de Beer, Shandre Fritz, Ashlyn Kilowan, Johmari Logtenberg, Nolubabalo Ndzundzu, Shafeeqa Pillay, Alicia Smith, Tamara Reeves, Angelique Taai, Claire Terblanche, Daleen Terblanche, Charlize van der Westhuizen.

New Zealand 484 beat Zimbabwe 231 and 207 (Taylor 77, Mahwire 50*, Bond 4-84) by an innings and 46 runs
ScorecardDay 3
Bulletin – Zimbabwe’s batsmen capitulate
News – Streak fit to resume
News – Curran replaces SimmonsDay 2
Bulletin – Vincent and Astle make hayDay 1
Bulletin – Taibu leads fightback after Bond onslaught
Comment – Absentee spectator

VVS Laxman has spoken of the transition to domestic cricket and his current batting form. Laxman, who captained Hyderabad and struck two half-centuries against Punjab after being rested from the Indian one-day side, reckoned that domestic cricket could do with the presence of international stars so standards improved. Incidentally, and perhaps unknowingly, he spoke of this a couple of days after Sachin Tendulkar made himself unavailable for a Ranji game against Delhi to avoid aggravating an elbow injury.Speaking to the Laxman said, “I was able to spend considerable time out in the middle. I have been in good touch right through the season but somehow was unable to convert the good starts into good scores. Barring the Mumbai Test, I have not been able to spend more than one session at the wicket. So I decided to do it in this match. I had to accept the fact that I was not part of the Indian squad. So I decided to play for Hyderabad and do my best for the team.” Laxman’s 79 and 60 were by far the highest scores for Hyderabad in the low-scoring game, and helped them to victory by 60 runs and took them closer to a semi-finals berth.Laxman was happy with the way Hyderabad had performed, but added that the players had to do a lot more. One way that could happen, he suggested, was: “It is important for all of us to play for our state. This will increase competition and also help upcoming players learn a lot. It is also good for domestic cricket.”It is wonderful to lead the Hyderabad side. I am always at home as the bonding is great. The effort the boys put in the match was tremendous. The victory is a result of the great team spirit that exists among us.”

Sean Ervine, one of the rebel cricketers in dispute with the Zimbabwe Cricket Union, has signed a two-year contract with Western Australia. He has been given a state contract after moving to Perth from Zimbabwe, in an effort to gain Australian residency and make a fresh start to his cricket career. With his international experience he will be an obvious asset to a WA side which last won the domestic competition in 1998-99, when it was still called the Sheffield Shield.Ervine announced his retirement from Zimbabwe cricket over its controversial selection policies last month, and now lives in Perth with his partner Melissa Marsh, the daughter of the Zimbabwe coach and former WA great, Geoff Marsh. He has said that he would one day like to play for Australia.”I’m exceptionally thrilled and honoured to be awarded a contract with the Retravision Warriors,” said Ervine. “It’s a great way to start my new life here and cricket career, but the challenge now is to keep working and earn my place in the team with some strong performances in club cricket.”Ervine, 21, played 42 one-day internationals for Zimbabwe, scoring 698 runs at an average of 25.85, with his highest score of 100 coming against India at the Adelaide Oval in last season’s VB Series. He took 41 wickets at an average of 39.07. He also played five Tests in his short career, averaging 32 with the bat and 43 with the ball. He becomes the second of the rebel players to sign for an Australian state side, following Andy Blignaut, who will spend the next three summers playing for Tasmania.Tony Dodemaide, WACA’s new chief executive, said he had been impressed by Ervine’s character:”Sean displays the type of qualities that typify Australian and West Australian cricket, and because of that we’re pleased to have him in our squad.”

Gordon Greenidge, the former opener and current chairman of the West Indies selection panel, has responded to criticism about a conflict of interest in the game’s development. Greenidge and fellow selector Andy Roberts’s roles on the board of directors for the Standford 20/20 Cup had come in for question following the recent row over the Stanford All Stars match and Pakistan tour dates.”Wherever and whenever anyone wishes to assist West Indies cricket, believe me, I will be one of the first persons to help them do so,” Greenidge told reporters. “We have been trying hard for many years for someone to come on board and financially support West Indies cricket. We have had a number of companies and persons who have vowed to assist West Indies cricket financially.”We saw recently that the Carib Beer Series was not the kind of tournament we would wish because it was reduced due to a lack of finances,” he continued. “We have a situation with the 20/20 – a shorter version of the one-day game – and a benefactor was willing to come on board.” Greenidge felt that the progress of the Stanford 20/20 organisers would not harm West Indies cricket. “I don’t think it can take it any lower now because it is low, quite low right now and it is something about which we are not pleased,” he said. “We – the legends – have all been willing to help West Indies cricket and to see that it is run in the way we would like it to run. None of us wants to bring West Indies cricket into disrepute with anyone.Last month, Clive Lloyd resigned from his position as chairman of the Stanford 20/20 Cup board citing concerns over how the future of the tournament affects West Indies cricket. Greenidge, however, remained unfazed about his role. “I don’t feel my situation, being on the Stanford board, and being chairman of selectors which I did not know I was going to be is difficult. Do you wish me to relinquish one and take up the other?” he said. “Until the West Indies Cricket Board says it does not wish for me to be a selector or chairman of selectors, or the Stanford board says it is going to dissolve I will remain in this position.”

Sourav Ganguly will miss the second Test against Pakistan at Lahore, after it was decided by the team management to fly him back to India for further investigation of his back injury.Ganguly hurt himself diving in the outfield trying to stop an Inzamam-ul-Haq drive during the final one-day match at Lahore, and despite Andrew Leipus – the team physio – having worked with him over the past few days, there was no visible improvement in his condition.”The MRI was clear, but he is still experiencing back spasms,” said Ratnakar Shetty, the team manager. “We have therefore decided to send him back to India. He will fly to Kolkata on April 1, where he will consult with a doctor who has treated him before.”Shetty went on to add that the management were going to ask the Indian Board to send Mohammad Kaif as a replacement. “There is a gap of ten days before the final Test,” he said, “and we hope he [Ganguly] will be fit for that.”Kaif is expected to reach Lahore on April 2. In Ganguly’s absence, Rahul Dravid will continue to lead the side.

What is it like to be in the dressing room with the cream of Indian cricket?
It’s fantastic to be here because it is a carry-over from the Challenger series. It’s great just to be a part of the dressing-room with all these guys. You pick up a lot of small things just talking cricket.But the experience can’t possibly make up for the fact you’re not in the playing XI…
Obviously it is very disappointing not to be part of the XI. But you have to shrug off your disappointment and do the job at hand. Sometimes you have to field for a few overs when someone’s injured, and you try to do that as well as you can.And you might have some good advice for your team. After all, some of the opponents in the Mumbai team are your close friends…
These guys are my close friends off the field, but none of that matters on the field. I would always go up to the captain and offer my suggestions if the opportunity came up. But then Sourav (Ganguly) has been the captain of the Indian team for so long now, what am I going to tell him?There’s been a huge furore about your selection. What do you have to say about that?
I haven’t selected myself, so what can I tell you? The selectors obviously thought I was good enough and they’ve picked me. I’ve nothing to say about the furore that’s been caused. It’s got nothing to do with me, to be honest.Has the Gavaskar surname actually been a negative thing for you? More disadvantages than advantages, perhaps?
My father worked very hard to earn the name he has got. I’ll never consider it a disadvantage or something that puts pressure on me. I’m very proud of the last name I have. I wake up every morning feeling proud of what he’s done and what he’s achieved.How often do you speak to your father about cricket?
I speak to my dad quite often. Whenever I have a problem with my game I speak to him. If I have a technical problem, or am getting out in similar fashion more often than I should, then I discuss it with him. We try to analyse what mistakes I’m making and try to sort things out.Do you sometimes think it might have been a bad idea to take to cricket?
No, it’s fantastic. I play the game because I love the game. It’s given me a great deal. I’ve made so many close friends in the game. Ajit Agarkar and Kiran Powar are practically family now. I wouldn’t have known a lot of these people if not for cricket, and that would have been a tragedy. The game’s given me a lot of happy memories and some sad ones, but the happy ones definitely outlast the unhappiness.You did get some time out in the middle today, with a lot of players needing breaks because of the heat and humidity…
I started the day on the field and ended the day on the field, but really, that’s no solace.

Lower grade scores for Saturday, November 1 were:Senior 2 : Well Coll 272-9 ( C Spring 90, J Dean 77, J Sewell 39*, R Ellis 5-65) met Karori 77-4; U Valley 158 ( Morrison 55, Hedman 39,Diggins 4-26) met J’ville 76-2 (Antequil 44); Brooklyn 160 ( D Hartley 38, R Mistry 36, Charman 3-14) met Onslow 93 ( O Allen 30, L Moore 7-25, McDougall 3-39); Taita 141 ( C Roper 46) met Hutt 78-3Senior 3; Indian Sports 304-8 ( S Winspear 66*, D Lala 52, N Dayha 48,Coleman 3-38) met Univ139O’Loghlin 36, John 32, Lala 3-43); Eastbournre177 ( D Reed 79, Rutherford 5-50) met Karori 175-5 ( Wiig 110*); Naenae 97 ( L Bassett 31, S Dixon 5-27) & 20-1 met Colls 118-8 ( Patel 4-48, Talbot 3-17);Super 8sSection One:Taita 231 ( Moore 55*, Kalasih 54*, Coxhead 49) beat Colls 48; U Valley 80-1 beat J’ville 79 ( C Howard 30, N Pederson 4-15);Section Two: Wainui 102-1 beat Onslow 62 ; U Hutt B 109-8 ( M Bremner 35, L Bailey 4-14) beat Univ 100.Hutt Valley 2A: Taita Black 167-6( S Mettam 53, S Dougan 40*,) met Taita Red 64 ( M Eno 4-10) & 7-2; Northern Park 169 ( R Bradbury 79* ) met Tokelau 43 ( R Bradbury 3-5) & 7-2; Wainui A 77( J Patmore 6-31) & 111-2 (F Tafunai 85) met Wainui B 83(S Sumner 45, I matheson 4-31, J Gilbert 3-23)2B : Taita Black 185-4 ( McDonald 69, Fairbrother 64, C Murphy 3-30) met Eastbourne 50 ( Bevin 5-5, Mason 3-21) & 40-3; S Valley 190 ( S Wilson 98) & 40-1 met Pet/Riv 107 ( S Wilson 3-15inc hat-trick)); Taita Red 203-9 ( P McNelis 41*, M coffin 40,J Aekins 36, R Cardno 4-44) beat Wainui 42 ( M Benson 4-14, D Handisides 3-18) & 37 (M Bensem 7-16); Naenae 169-8 ( James 69*) met U Hutt 115-6 ( C Gamble 39*)4A: hutt defaulted to S Valley; Te Aroha 146 ( J Morgan 39) beat Taita 98 ( J reriti 5-16); U Hutt 111 lost to Pet/Riv 1354B: Eastbourne defaulted to Hutt; Naenae Soccer 128 v Naenae Gold 59; U Hutt 97 beat S Valley 91 (P Sinai 3-8)4C: Wainui 121 ( M Johnson 37) beat TokelaU 112 ( P Brosnan 3-5)Wellington 2A: Onslow 165 ( A McKenzie 71, McDonald 4-35) met Colls 136 ( A Hill 47,J Duffy 31, A McKenzie 7-13);Univ 150-7 ( A Slater 69*, S Wiringi 3-10) met Easts Panthers 114 (R Thevakalasingam 3-9, G Mann 3-42); Mana 205-9 ( Lynneberg 61; A Vanson 32,N Dixon 3-26, M Riley 3-58) met Tawa 82-6.2B: Easts A 109-5 (Neale 51*) beat Tawa 21(Applegarth 3-5) & 30( McKnight 7-1); Onslow 232-6( A Young 80*, S Matira 55) met Brooklyn 93( M Young 4-30) & 38-4.2C: Tawa 95 ( A Twose 35, Parish 3-`10) met Onsl;ow 148-7 (Nadesa 34, S Jellyman 3-34)Karori 186-6 ( Ewington 64*,O’Connor 42) met Mana 108-7 (Jones 42,Ringrose 31,Cameron 5-23).2D: Tawa 253-8(B Nochols 85,E Raven 49,R Bishop 31) met Newlands 161 ( E Raven 3-21)3A:Easts B 261-6 (J Allen 4-76) met Newlands 173-9 (G Fowler 46, J Allen 53); Univ 105 met Easts A 234-7 (J Meerman 3-37)4A: Collegians 136-3( G Neal 60, A Trevean 33) beat Karori 134; Thorndon 190-9(B Cullen 76, S Connolly 55) beat Sikhs 130(R Singh 39)Univ 120-4( C Seed 49*) beat Mana 119 (S Wainwright 3-20);Colls B 233-4( G Williams 101*, W Sadler 42, D Fraser 40) beat Onslow B 75; Onslow A 135-1 ( P Mazey 66*, J Pavey 49*) beat Easts 134(M Patterson 4-20).4B: Univ B 108( P Smeed 3-10) beat J’ville A 99( S Pulman 5-14, A Smith 3-16);Ons A 135 lost to Ons B 277-8 (Treder 122*); Univ A 268-9 Bignall 68,Marshall 54, Wilson 48, M Tait 36,Taylor 3-32, Lu 3-43) beat Karori A 129 (Taylor 59, Wilson 3-20); Easts A 171 lost to Karori B 230-5; Easts B 51-4 beat J’ville 46 ( O Bates 3-12).

After their narrow defeat in the third one-dayer at Wellington, South Africa have had more bad news with Shaun Pollock likely to miss the next match on Tuesday at Dunedin with a groin strain.There are also worries about Lance Klusener, who missed the last match with a sore back, and Albie Morkel, who has a bad hip.Graeme Smith, South Africa’s captain, admitted his team were feeling the effects of a hectic schedule over the past 16 months, which has included the World Cup, a tour of England and a home series against West Indies.”We realise there’s a month and a half still to go here, the guys are tired and carrying niggles, and there is some flu around the team,” Smith said. “We’ve got to dig a little deeper and it’s no excuse.”

South Africa 227 for 3 (Kallis 82*, Rudolph 71*) beat England 223 for 7 (Trescothick 60) by seven wickets

An unbeaten fourth-wicket partnership of 145 between the two Jacques, Kallis and Rudolph, guided South Africa to an easy and emphatic win against England in the fifth match of the NatWest Series. Batting second under the Old Trafford lights, Kallis continued his sparkling form with an authoritative 82 not out, while Rudolph played with impressive control and maturity for an unbeaten 71 – his second one-day international fifty. For England, however, they will be ruing a lack of runs and an un-enterprising bowling attack, which lacked in penetration.Kallis and Rudolph were completely unflustered in their calm advance, with both concentrating on placement rather than power, despite the odd big shot towards the end of the victory march. Kallis used his experience to pace his innings to perfection and play in the style the dry and slow Old Trafford dictated, which was to show application and the right temperament – and there aren’t many than better than Kallis at that. Although the bulk of his runs came in singles, he treated the crowd to a few exquisite cover drives, and one towering six off the ineffective Ashley Giles.While Kallis passed 300 runs in the series, Rudolph was like a mirror image at the other end. Left-handed and maybe not as elegant as Kallis with a dominating bottom hand, he too made batting look alarmingly easy. His success was no secret, play the ones and twos and hit the bad ball for four, which is exactly what he did to great effect.After Herschelle Gibbs and Graeme Smith had fallen early, Kallis and Rudolph – and, to a lesser extent, Andrew Hall- took the sting out of the England attack a little too easily for Michael Vaughan’s liking. Hall’s wicket (82 for 3) threatened to get things going again, but England showed little stomach for the fight.Darren Gough started brightly but the batteries quickly ran out, while James Anderson had another disappointing game. He has set himself high standards to maintain, but he was affected when twice warned by Billy Bowden for following through on to the danger area. Even though he got his revenge on Graeme Smith, with whom he collided in mid-pitch with a peach of an inswinger, like the rest of the bowlers, he became more and more ineffective.Giles bowled round the wicket to the right-hander for the first time in the series, but rather than adding to his solitary wicket this summer, he conceded 18 from his first three overs. He later reverted to his customary line of attack, but it made little difference.As Kallis and Rudolph strolled ever nearer to their target, England were in desperate need for a wicket and Vaughan turned first to the old campaigner Gough to make something happen. But Rudolph was having none of it and cut him immediately for four. Kallis then cover-drove Richard Johnson for four in following over, the fifty partnership came up in 74 balls, and you sensed South Africa were winning the race.England didn’t bowl well, and despite a late repair job from Chris Read and Giles, they didn’t bat well either. Marcus Trescothick, playing in a record 68th consecutive one-day international for England, and Anthony McGrath shared a rescuing record third-wicket partnership for England against South Africa, but their total of 223 for 7 was not nearly enough.Shaun Pollock took a bit of stick at The Oval, and while questions were being asked about his form and hunger, he showed he was back to his miserly best, removing Vaughan for 3 in a stingy spell of 1 for 21 from his 10 overs.For South Africa it was sweet revenge for The Oval, for England it revived bad memories of their defeat against Zimbabwe at Trent Bridge where a lack of invention in the field cost them dear.Click here for the Wisden Verdict