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Australia’s first ten-wicket loss in a one-day international left Michael Hussey searching for answers in only his second outing as captain of his country. New Zealand’s win at Wellington means Australia must win both the remaining games in the Chappell-Hadlee Trophy series to retain their No. 1 spot in the ICC’s ODI rankings.Hussey said Friday’s loss could not be taken as proof Australia had made a joke of the series by resting Ricky Ponting and Adam Gilchrist. “Not at all, Ricky is recovering from a back complaint which he’s had from halfway through the Test series, so he needs to get that right, and no one can begrudge Gilly for being with his wife when she’s about to give birth,” Hussey told . “We’ve got Andrew Symonds and Michael Clarke out as well, who are two big losses.”He said having been sent in to bat on a difficult batting pitch the Australia batsmen needed to adjust their tactics – something they failed to do. “It’s a very disappointing loss,” Hussey said. “We weren’t up to scratch really. The ball was holding in the wicket a little bit so we couldn’t play our strong shots through the field, which is probably what we’re used to a little bit in Australia.”We needed to adapt a bit quicker than what we did. The Kiwis did it pretty well early by dropping and running, which on the slower pitches is something that can be very effective.”Stephen Fleming said the win was pleasing considering the criticism that had been levelled at him and his side after their failure to reach the CB Series finals in Australia. “It probably releases the pressure tap a little bit but not enough to sit back and say ‘job done’,” Fleming said in the . “Beating Australia twice in a row is something we desperately want to do.”

Andy Moles has quit as Scotland’s coach, although a formal announcement will not be made until he has agreed severance terms with Cricket Scotland.Moles, who only took charge in March last year and who signed a two-year extension to his contract in September, appears to have been forced out by a group of senior players. He spent three months before Christmas working as head coach at the ICC’s development academy in Pretoria but it is reported that some players felt he had spent too much time abroad, even though Cricket Scotland encouraged him to take the job.The Scotsman reported that his fate was sealed last weekend when he supervised the first indoor training session of the year. “It was clear Andy had lost the confidence of a few of the guys,” a source told the newspaper. “The session was disastrous and embarrassing.”That convinced Moles that his position was untenable, and it seems he received little support from the board. Even though Moles guided Scotland to the ICC Trophy and a place in the 2007 World Cup, relations with some players had been shaky ever since he lambasted their fitness and approach at the end of the season.The main criticism aimed at him was that he undertook very little one-on-one coaching, and the fact that he had not relocated to Scotland and still had his home in South Africa also rankled.His future was discussed at a meeting of Cricket Scotland on Tuesday where it seems the executive wavered in the face of player unrest. “There was unrest over several aspects of the coaching situation,” an insider said. “It’s ironic after all the success the national side had last season but Andy seems to have lost the confidence of the players.”But the board’s climbdown was slammed by Bob Cottam, who filled the same role with Scotland last summer. “Last season we beat two sides in the National League, tied with another and won all seven of our games in the ICC Trophy. The spirit in the dressing-room was excellent, and there was no evidence of any cloak-and-dagger activity. I think that Andy has been treated abysmally.”

The State Shield game between Auckland and Canterbury was abandoned without a ball being bowled due to heavy rain around Eden Park’s Outer Oval. The match had been built up by the Auckland Association as a tsunami relief fund match but it never looked like getting started.As a result of the abandonment the Auckland side, which has been such a top performer in the four-day competition, ended the first half of the State Shield without a win. The two other games to complete the fifth round of matches are scheduled to be played on Sunday.As cricketers around the country have honed their card-playing skills,caught on the books they had put aside to read or taken up a moreexciting game, like chess, the rain has once again marred matches.Long-time followers of the game cannot remember a more disruptive weather influence in their memories. The good news for the Sri Lankans who went home as a result of the tsunami is that they were lucky they didn’t stay to play as they may well have ended up playing on weather-affected strips like those India had to play on two summers ago.

Australia 235 for 5 (Martyn 61, Clarke 44*) beat India 198 (Dravid 49; Harvey 4-21) by 37 runs
ScorecardA superb allround display from Michael Clarke, and a devastating exhibition of late-overs bowling from Ian Harvey inspired Australia to a 37-run victory in the final of the TVS Cup. Sachin Tendulkar, Rahul Dravid and Hemang Badani had given the raucous capacity crowd more than a few glimpses of hope, but India simply had no answers to the Clarke-Harvey show.At 159 for 4, with Badani timing the ball superbly and Dravid rotating the strike cleverly, India were on course for a famous victory. Then, Badani went to sweep a Clarke delivery, which flew off the top edge to Andrew Symonds at square leg. It was a massive blow, given how fluently Badani had eased the ball through the covers each time Andy Bichel or Clarke erred in line and length.Minutes later, Dravid too was back in the pavilion, having played on to Clarke. His 49 was another fine effort, but the manner of the dismissal was enough to rouse his own ire.That set the stage for Harvey, who had been smacked around in his first spell by Tendulkar and Dravid. In the first over of his second spell, he bowled Murali Kartik and then yorked Zaheer Khan the next ball (186 for 8).And after Ajit Agarkar had briefly excited a flagging crowd with a wonderful straight six off Clarke, Harvey came back to tie up the game. Harbhajan Singh spooned a slower ball to cover, where Symonds took a magnificent catch diving forward, and then Aavishkar Salvi was knocked over to leave India 37 short.India’s reply had started slowly, with Sehwag giving Nathan Bracken a return catch via the pad (8 for 1). VVS Laxman then tested Brad Williams’s patience with two edged fours, before producing three authentic shots to the rope. An infuriated Williams responded with a delivery that hit the seam, kept low, and knocked out the off stump (36 for 2).Tendulkar, who took over half an hour to strike his first four, opened up against Bichel and Harvey, and India were coasting when Bichel produced a superb off cutter to send back Tendulkar for 45 (99 for 3). Yuvraj Singh followed soon after, caught by Hayden at slip off Symonds, and India were tottering. Badani and Dravid gave it a good shot, but ultimately it wasn’t quite enough.

Earlier, the Australians put 235 on the board despite a wretched start. Adam Gilchrist made just 7 before being bowled off the pads by Agarkar (16 for 1), and Hayden – who was gifted two chances by a butter-fingered Laxman – following soon after, thumping a Zaheer delivery to the same man at short cover (32 for 2).Damien Martyn and Ricky Ponting played some superb strokes to up the run rate, but all that impetus was lost once Kartik and Harbhajan came on. Kartik bowled quite beautifully, flighting the ball and turning it sharply on a surface that was beginning to take appreciable turn.Ponting (36), who had twice been reprieved by the hapless Laxman, edged one that turned sharply across the bat to first slip, where Laxman dived low to make some amends (112 for 3).Symonds made just 10 before smashing Harbhajan straight to Badani at midwicket (129 for 4), and Martyn’s tremendous anchoring effort ended at 61 when he flicked a Sehwag delivery to Yuvraj at midwicket (170 for 5).India were in control at that stage, but Clarke’s frenetic 28-ball 44 titled the scales, aided by a gritty 40 from Michael Bevan, who batted with a pulled hamstring. In the final analysis, justice was done, as an outstanding side who won six of their seven matches – and held most of the catches that came their way – beat one that lost four games, and fluffed too many lines in the field. Remember this day, and remember the name Michael Clarke, already on his way to becoming the next Australian legend.Dileep Premachandran is assistant editor of Wisden Cricinfo.

The Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) Monday defended itsdecision to reduce Riazuddin to a TV umpire in theforthcoming Test series against the West Indies at Sharjah.”The recommendation of National Umpiring Council wereimplemented. The council comes under the Cricket ManagementCommittee,” director of the PCB Brig Munawwar Rana said fromLahore.Riazuddin was not given a field umpire’s posting despitebeing Pakistan’s representative in the International CricketCouncil (ICC) panel of umpires. Riazuddin has got the mostforeign assignments as compared to his compatriot Mian Aslamwho has been given the first Test.The second Test will be supervized by Shakeel Khan who was aTV umpire for the second Test against England in 2000 ontourists protest.Riazuddin was also not given any of the three one-dayinternationals for which Saleem Badar, Asad Rauf, NadeemGhauri and Aleem Dar were named.The PCB official admitted that it might hurt Riazuddin’sfuture postings by the ICC, but stressed that the board onlyimplemented the council’s recommendations.The chairman of the CMC, Iqbal Qasim, said Riaz was notgiven the Test just to give others an opportunity.”The ICC is to constitute an elite eight-umpire panel fromApril. Others have been awarded an opportunity to show howgood they are in decisions making,” he said.The official, when inquired what was the criterion forrecommendation, repeated that the PCB only implemented therecommendations.The spokesman said the PCB will bear all the expenses of theTest series. “The PCB, being the host board, will bear allthe expenses. This is the most comprehensive answer I cangive,” he said when inquired of the details and break-up.Interestingly, the PCB has already announced that theSharjah series will be a “no profit no loss” venture withthe marketing department yet to reveal its home work and theboard to audit the expenses.

LOGAN CUP REPORT: MATABELELAND v MASHONALAND, Day 3ByAfter putting up a good fight for the first day and a half of theLogan Cup match at Bulawayo Athletic Club, Matabeleland thensubsided weakly to lose to Mashonaland by the huge margin of 276runs in a most unimpressive performance. The highlight of the daywas a record partnership for any wicket in Zimbabwean crickethistory, as Craig Evans and Dirk Viljoen put on 330 together forthe third wicket. The previous best by a Zimbabwean team was300, also for the fourth wicket, by Robin Brown and Peter Allanfor Rhodesia B against Eastern Province B in 1978/79, and byopponents 317 for the second wicket between Roger Twose and AsifDin for Warwickshire against a Mashonaland XI in 1993/94.Mashonaland began the day 261 runs ahead, with seven wickets inhand, and it was clear from the start that the policy was tobuild on this lead with all possible speed. Dirk Viljoen drovethe first ball he faced on the third day through the covers forfour; Craig Evans pulled his second over the leg boundary forsix. Both batsmen hit at everything against a toothless attack,and added 100 runs to the score in just eight overs. Evans,after passing his century, began to look for his usual massivesixes, one over long-off and the rest pulled over midwicket,while Viljoen slashed and cut his way past 150.Evans took 24 in an over from Dion Ebrahim, including threesixes, then, in Ebrahim’s next over, with a declaration imminent,he tried to swing him over the midwicket boundary again, only forthe ball to keep a little low, trapping him lbw for 153. Viljoenwas not out with 173 off 175 balls, including a six and 18 fours,while Evans’ 153 came off 143 balls and included 5 sixes and 16fours.Matabeleland’s target, for what it was worth, was 363 runs; theyneeded to survive 97 overs to avoid defeat. Charles Coventry(12) played some sweet drives, but was adjudged lbw to GusMackay, following which Mark Vermeulen was caught at the wicketdown the leg side first ball. The normally aggressive DionEbrahim came in and concentrated on strict defence, but in vain;two overs alter and still without addition, he suffered an almostunplayable ball from Mackay – directed at leg stump, swinging inand pitching on middle, then cutting away to uproot off.Matabeleland, at 13 for three, were in serious trouble.Mark Abrams, as so often, flattered only to deceive, playing eachball on its merits for a while, hitting two fine fours, and thenpulling Mackay down the throat of fine leg to be out for 10; thescore 23 for four, with the defiant Siziba still there on 1.Sanyo Nyakutse played some good strokes before lunch, whenMatabeleland were 39 for four (Siziba 3, Nyakutse 14).After lunch, for a while it appeared as if Matabeleland weregoing to make a fight of it. Siziba continued to play safely,while Nyakutse went for his strokes, playing some attractivefront-foot drives and twice pulling Mackay for four in an over.Then, after a partnership of 49, the fight evaporated. Siziba,having looked so solid, drove half-heartedly at Viljoen and hit alow catch to mid-on, after scoring 9 off 82 balls. In thefollowing over, Nyakutse (41) obligingly pulled Evans straightdown the throat of Dan Peacock at deep midwicket; Rennie paddedup to a ball from Evans that broke back sharply and was given outlbw; then Engelbrecht, appearing to lose his nerve, was stumpedby Campbell standing up to Evans. All four wickets fell with thescore on 72, and Evans had bowled three successivewicket-maidens.Warren Gilmour played a couple of defiant strokes, but Jason Hitzcontributed the fifth duck of the innings, turning Evans tomidwicket where substitute fielder Brighton Watambwa took a goodlow catch. Evans’ figures were now 5-5-0-4. He finally concededruns when Gilmour slashed him over backward point for four, butthe sorry end was not long in coming, as Gilmour hit Viljoenuppishly to short extra cover for Mackay to take the catch.Matabeleland had compiled a sorry 86, the same figure as theirfirst-innings lead, and caved in on the final day with scarcely astruggle.

Newcastle United are reportedly now set to snatch Robert Sanchez from Brighton and Hove Albion.

The Lowdown: Goalkeeper wanted

As per The Athletic, the St. James’ Park faithful are now weighing up moves for Manchester United’s Dean Henderson and Chelsea’s Kepa Arrizabalaga.

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This suggests that they are looking for a new goalkeeper in the summer to take over from Martin Dubravka as number one, with the new owners surely set to flex some financial muscle once again when the transfer window opens.

The Latest: Sanchez move

According to The Sun, the North East club are now ‘set to snatch’ Sanchez from the Seagulls, and are ‘lining up’ a £20m offer for the Spain international.

Eddie Howe’s scouts have been ‘tracking’ him, and insiders have revealed that he is Howe’s first choice.

The Verdict: Sign

With Dubravka getting on now at 33 years of age, Sanchez is an exciting shot-stopper that has a much higher ceiling at just 24.

Described as having ‘amazing’ ability and a player who can be ‘anything he wants’ by his manager Graham Potter (Sky Sports), Sanchez certainly has a lot of potential, and could be a mainstay in the Tyneside outfit’s side for years to come.

Despite a dip in Brighton’s form of late, he has still managed to keep five teams in the top flight have conceded fewer goals than them.

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Nonetheless, at £20m, he could be a bit of a steal.

In other news, find out what fresh NUFC update this transfer insider has now dropped here!