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VVS Laxman has said India will need to seize every opportunity to win the upcoming home Test series against Australia. “I think you should grab the opportunities and not lose them,” he told the Indian news channel . “With other teams you can get back in the game, but against Australia, when you get the opportunity, make sure you are on top”.He said batting well would be crucial to put Australia under pressure. “Whenever we have batted well against them and put up a huge score, we have always put them under pressure,” he said. “The Indian spinners then, could also use the home conditions to their advantage.”Laxman, who boasts a formidable record against Australia, said the rivalry would be the best draw for cricket lovers. “We have played against a lot of teams in various series but playing against Australia always, right from the 2001 series to the last one in Australia, went down to the wire,” he said. “The highly intense battles were the best cricket for the viewers”.Laxman averages 50.63 in 20 Tests against Australia. He said he enjoyed performing against them, particularly their pace attack, now spearheaded by Brett Lee. “It gives you a lot of satisfaction when you perform against the best side and the best bowling attack in world cricket”.He said the nature of his batting depended on the situation. “I could play an innings like I did at Sydney [in 2008] where I batted at No. 3 and went after the bowling”. Laxman scored a brisk 109 off 142 balls in that match, which India lost by 122 runs. “I could also play an innings like the one in Perth where I batted with the tail and got 79 which was very useful in the context of the game as India won by 72 runs”.Laxman, who played for Rest of India against Delhi in the Irani Trophy recently, said he was looking forward to a highly-competitive series. “It’s going to be a intense series. So I’d like to do my bit and help India win the series”.

Finding some dry weather appears to be the biggest challenge ahead of the one-day series between England and South Africa, but when the contest does get under way – hopefully at Headingley on Friday – one of the major focuses will be how Kevin Pietersen takes on the South Africa attack.Against New Zealand earlier this season he sparked heated debate by unleashing his switch-hits at Chester-le-Street during a flamboyant century. Pietersen then repeated the shot against Paul Harris at Edgbaston during the South Africa Test series and his century at The Oval, in his first match as captain, suggests he isn’t about to change the way he plays because he’s captain.However, South Africa – No. 2 in the one-day rankings – are not about to be intimidated by Pietersen’s bravado. “Obviously you have to find a way to bowl some dots against him and build a bit of pressure, because he is one of the world’s best if not the best at the moment,” said offspinner Johan Botha. “He has got all the shots and new ones. I see it as a challenge because no one else out there does it, so I would like to see what I do if he does it.Being the team’s main spin option Botha is likely to be one of Pietersen’s targets for the switch-hit, but he is prepared for anything that is thrown at him. “We have had a few chats, and some of the senior guys have an idea what I should do,” he said. “If he moves late you cannot do anything if the ball has already left your hand.”If he does move early you maybe could pull out, but I suppose it is also a good opportunity for a wicket if you get it right. If he is totally turning around then his head is moving. But you have to acknowledge he has done it well so far: I have seen him five to 10 times, and he has never failed.”The gap between South Africa in second and England ranked at sixth suggests that the visitors start with a significant advantage. The last time the two sides met in a bilateral series, in 2005, South Africa won 4-1 despite three centuries from Pietersen in his debut series.”The first two games are going to be important,” Botha said. “If we can set it up early and take a lead I am sure the confidence should take us through to the end, and we can win the series.”For Botha to be in the position of South Africa’s premier one-day spinner represents a strong fightback after he was reported for a suspect action following his Test debut against Australia, in Sydney, in January 2006. However, he went away and remodelled his delivery during 18 months out of international cricket and has now played 27 ODIs while adding another Test cap.”It definitely strengthened me a lot mentally,” he said. “During that period, I had to really think about my bowling and be really on my game – so that if something didn’t feel right with my bowling I knew what it was.”That helped me to groove my action and feel my action a bit more, so I can work it out if something goes wrong.”

ScorecardBangladesh A survived a fine comeback by Derbyshire’s bowlers to record a thrilling one-wicket win on the final day at Derby. Sajidul Islam, the Bangladesh No. 10, struck the winning run to squeeze his side over the line off the penultimate delivery.A Bangladesh win seemed highly unlikely when Derbyshire declared shortly after midday on 176 for 8, setting the tourists a challenging 285. However, Tamim Iqbal crashed 60 from 69 balls, lofting three sixes in the process, to give Bangladesh a terrific start. Iqbal and his captain, Junaid Siddique, put on 84 for the first wicket.Derbyshire never gave up; in fact, momentum switched entirely to their favour when Greg Smith removed Nazimuddin (19) and Shakib Al Hasan in quick succession. When Raqibul Hasan offered no stroke to Wayne White, Derbyshire were slight favourites needing another five wickets.Like Derbyshire, Bangladesh refused to give up hope, as Mushfiqur Rahim (36) and Dhiman Ghosh put on another fifty partnership, while Mosharraf Hossain clipped 31 to leave his side needing just 12. But further drama ensued when Ghosh, Dolar Mahmud and Hossain all departed in quick succession leaving Bangladesh’s tail needing five from the last over. A three flicked off his legs by Sajidul calmed their nerves before he glided the winning run to seal a remarkable one-wicket win.Bangladesh’s next match is against the South Africans at New Road on Friday.

Darrell Hair has been included in Cricket Australia’s four-member Umpire High Performance Panel, which will help guide and develop umpires in the country. Hair returned to top-level international umpiring during the England-New Zealand Test series last month after an absence of nearly two years following his ruling that Pakistan tampered the ball during the controversial Oval Test in 2006.The other members of the panel are Ric Evans, who stood in international matches between 1988 and 1994, Bob Stratford, who is also one of the five regional umpires’ performance managers, and David Levens, a former Australian Football League umpires coach. The panel will help in the selection and appointment of umpires besides assessing their performance and helping in their professional development.”CA is committed to ensuring the highest standard of umpiring for CA’s competitions and to enhance and support the development of Australian umpires for international cricket,” Cricket Australia CEO James Sutherland said. “This new panel has a broad range of skills in elite officiating as well as umpire education and management, and will add an important new dimension to CA’s development of umpires.”The panel will start its work at the Emerging Players Tournament starting in Queensland on July 14.

Journalists stormed out of Geoff Lawson’s press conference as tempers frayed after Pakistan’s 64-run loss to Sri Lanka, which pushed the hosts to the brink of elimination.A visibly irate Lawson, Pakistan’s coach, attended in place of captain Shoaib Malik and immediately set down some ground rules. “Couple of rules before we start. Don’t make statements, ask questions. If someone asks a question twice, I won’t answer it. Make questions sensible, otherwise I won’t answer it.”A senior journalist then asked him whether he was dictating to the media several times, prompting Lawson to tell him to “improve his English.” Lawson then pointed his finger at another reporter’s face and told him, “If you are rude I’ll have to leave.”He then made to walk off, decided against it and walked back in. At this point, another senior local journalist led a boycott and the entire multinational media contingent walked out, an indicator of the poor relationship Lawson has had with the local media.Lawson, who was appointed in August 2007, has had a troubled time in Pakistan. After Pakistan lost to South Africa in Karachi, in his first Test as coach, he attended a fractious post-match conference. Since then, his interactions with the media have been mostlycool, often tense.To add to his troubles, Pakistan’s on-field performances since he took over have been poor. The Pakistan board, and a number of players privately have been unimpressed by his contributions. A couple of officials told Cricinfo during the Kitply Cup that Lawson’s position, as well as that of the captain, were under the scanner and performances in the Asia Cup would be instrumental in deciding his future.He has also had a difficult time with the selection committee since his arrival, with several documented run-ins over selection. In an interview to an Australian radio station, he criticised the ad-hoc manner in which selectors operate in Pakistan. The committee, in turn, is less than impressed with his contributions till now.With Pakistan almost out of the tournament – they need to beat India and Bangladesh and hope for other results to go their way – it is almost certain Lawson’s position will come under review after the tournament, if not over the next few days.

Kent 259 for 5 (Dexter 101*, Key 73) beat Somerset 222 (Kieswetter 90) by 37 runs
ScorecardKent booked a semi-final meeting at Durham with a 37-run victory over Somerset at Beckenham thanks to a 113-ball hundred from Man of the Match Neil Dexter.Dexter, who blasted an unbeaten 101, and Robert Key provided the bulk of Kent’s runs after they had won the toss and opted to bat. Key and Joe Denly gave them a breezy start in an opening stand of 68, and then Key and Dexter maintained the momentum in adding 104 in 20 overs.Dexter, who only came into the side after Martin van Jaarsveld withdrew for family reasons, rode his luck well – he was dropped at deep midwicket by Steffan Jones – rubbing salt in the wound by thumping Jones for a straight six soon after. Key also scored freely until he edged Ben Phillips to the keeper the ball after smashing him for six.Dexter continued to score swiftly even though he found only fleeting support once Key had departed, reaching his hundred with two off the final ball of the innings.Somerset lost Marcus Trescothick to a sharp second-slip catch in the fourth over, but Craig Kieswetter and Justin Langer appeared to put them on course with a solid second-wicket stand of 80. The innings checked after Langer was caught behind trying to run the ball to third man, and then really wobbled when Ian Blackwell was run out by a direct hit from Darren Stevens.Somerset’s remaining hope all but disappeared when Kieswetter was held on the midwicket boundary aiming for a fourth six, and their last four wickets added only 18 runs.The game, which should have taken place at Canterbury yesterday, was switched to Beckenham after heavy storms left the St Lawrence Ground underwater.

PERTH, Nov 14 AAP – Victorian cricket captain Shane Warne may feel he spoke a little too soon.The Australian spin wizard said yesterday it could be the Bushrangers’ season to break its 12-year drought in the Pura Cup competition.But he would probably reconsider his words after watching Western Australia hammer his side on a boiling opening day at the WACA ground.The Warriors had already claimed first innings points to be 3-134 at stumps in reply to Victoria’s first innings score of 110.Damien Martyn and Ryan Campbell were both unbeaten on 23.But it only gets worse for the visitors with dashing Warriors captain Adam Gilchrist still to bat tomorrow.Opener Michael Hussey guided the home side to 50 off just 42 balls before partner Justin Langer (10) was caught behind chasing a wide ball from Michael Lewis.Warne introduced himself with the score at 1-74 off 17 overs and it took the master leg spinner just eight balls to dismiss Chris Rogers (12).WA safely negotiated within five runs of the Bushrangers’ tally before promising all-rounder Cameron White removed Hussey (56) with his third delivery.Campbell was fortunate to still be there after being dropped at first slip by Warne and almost being run out by Brad Hodge at cover in the third last over on 17.Evergreen West Australian quick Jo Angel (4-29) and young left-arm seamer Michael Clark (4-33) earlier led a much-improved display from the Warriors’ pace quartet.The Bushrangers’ batting lineup was easily cracked through consistent line and length and a couple of questionable hometown rulings.The competition leaders lasted only 51.5 overs and 216 minutes in very warm conditions after Warne opted to bat on a track which had a few noticeable cracks before the first delivery.Opening bowlers Matthew Nicholson and Paul Wilson (2-18) set the tone early, restricting the scoring rate to a trickle.Wilson removed opener Jon Moss (4) after he padded up to a ball which appeared to be going well over the stumps.The 34-year-old Angel dismissed Klinger (4) and then Hodge (11) just before lunch after the gifted right-hander played a lazy shot off the back foot and was caught behind.Clark trapped former NSW batsman Graeme Rummans (1) in front to close the visitors’ wretched first session at 4-47.But the Warriors’ disciplined bowling effort was sustained after the break with Wilson ending opener Jason Arnberger’s (28) 137-minute knock.White (13) became the second unlucky victim of the umpires, with Clark’s delivery crashing high onto his front pad.Angel then put a stop to Darren Berry’s (8) scratchy knock before taking a fine return catch low down to remove Warne (25).Clark cleaned up the tail removing Lewis (5) and bowling Will Carr (0) first ball to be on a hat-trick next innings.Gilchrist celebrated his 31st birthday by taking four catches while national teammate Langer spent a short time off the field with a stomach complaint.

We apologise to our readers for a smaller issue than normal this week, due to circumstances beyond our control.CONTENTS

• Interviews: Dirk Viljoen on Midlands v Manicaland
• Logan Cup:
  • Round Three Preview
  • Logan Cup statistics: – Mashonaland v Midlands
  • Logan Cup statistics: – Matabeleland v Manicaland
• Career statistics: Andy Flower in first-class cricket
• Letters

A one-man business or a one-man show has nobody else to fall back on, and apart from an interview with Dirk Viljoen on the exciting match between Midlands and Manicaland last weekend, we found it impossible to arrange the interviews we wanted, including the one we have been seeking for weeks with the reluctant Andy Flower. Hopefully we may be able to catch up during the Logan Cup match at Harare Sports Club – should the run of play permit. Other problems encountered helped to prevent substitute articles.As noted in our Logan Cup preview, three of the teams in the competition are very evenly matched and the matches between them have been extremely well fought. It is just Mashonaland that spoils the show! – despite giving out spare players to the other teams they can also field a B side strong enough to overwhelm all opposition there as well.On the statistical side we include records of matches involving Mashonaland and Midlands, and Matabeleland and Manicaland, who meet in the Logan Cup this weekend, before Pakistan arrive. We also include a complete overview of Andy Flower’s first-class career, correct to the start of the current season.

Somerset County Cricket Club licensee and bar manager Mike Smith has rounded off his season in style by winning the Courage Golf Day.Whilst Somerset have struggled out on the pitch this season and been relegated in both the County Championship and the NUL National League Mike has enjoyed considerable success on the golf course in 2002.His latest triumph came at Royal North Devon which is one of the oldest golf courses in the country and is situated near Westward Ho on Northam Burrows.Mike who is a member of Minehead Golf Club where he plays off a handicap of twelve won the stableford competition with a score of 35 to head the field of well over forty entrants.The bar manager who has become a popular member of staff since joining Somerset in April 1994 still lives in West Somerset and before joining the club he ran the Egremont Hotel in Williton and the Bicknoller Inn.He swept the board at Royal North Devon by coming first in the individual competition, being a member of the winning three man team and also won the nearest the pin contest, to come away with a number of prizes including a cut glass Dartington Glass ice bucket, a Dartington Glass tankard and some golf balls.One of his most memorable shots of the round came on the eighteenth when he drove towards the green with his six iron but when he approached the putting surface could’nt find the ball. After lengthy searching and momentary panic because he needed a par to complete a good card, a sheep that had strayed onto the green stood up to reveal Mike’s lost ball!At the County Ground Mike told me: "I am absolutely delighted with the way that I played in the competition. It’s good to have something to celebrate at the end of a disappointing season for the club."

Somerset County Cricket Club have confirmed that long serving all rounder Graham Rose is retiring from the first class game at the end of this season.All rounder Rose, who is thirty eight years old joined the Cidermen in 1987 and since then has appeared in nearly 250 first class matches for the county, scoring over 8500 runs and taking almost 600 wickets. He has also made many invaluable contributions in limited overs matches for the county.In his benefit year of 1997 he enjoyed probably his best season for the county and was voted All Rounder of the Year after scoring 852 runs and taking and 63 wickets, and in many peoples eyes was unlucky not to receive international recognition.Earlier this week Somerset Chief Executive Peter Anderson paid tribute to the veteran all rounder when he told me: "Graham has a wonderful first class playing record and was a dedicated professional, a fine example to all those around him. Having played most of his cricket in the second eleven for the last two seasons his enthusiasm and dedication to the game did not diminish, and if young players wanted to know how to conduct themselves all they had to do was to look at him."Mr Anderson continued: "In his pomp he was the leading English all rounder and quite why he never got a One Day England cap is quite unbelievable. At that time the selectors never looked west."He concluded: "On a personal level Graham was always a thorough gentleman to deal with and never indulged in the silliness that goes on now. He will be a credit to any profession he chooses to follow and we wish him and his family all the luck in the world for their future."Right to the end the all rounder has remained totally involved in the club and on Monday he played in the Minehead CC side that won the Rob Turner Benefit six a side tournament, and later on in the week was still busy training with the youngsters from the second eleven.