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Trevor Barsby, the former opening batsman, will begin coaching Queensland immediately following a restructure that pushed Terry Oliver into the new position of high performance manager. Oliver has looked after the Bulls for six years, but the team has struggled in the Pura Cup over the past two seasons, finishing fourth and last, and has lost some long-term players in Jimmy Maher and Michael Kasprowicz.Queensland Cricket completed a two-month review of its major teams before settling on the revamped structure. Oliver departs for the West Indies on Saturday as an assistant with the national team and when he returns he will oversee all of the state’s elite programmes.Barsby, a level three coach, played 111 first-class games for Queensland and will step up from his post at the Queensland Academy of Sport, where he has worked since 2005. “I’ll be looking to use the experience I had as a player with Queensland, through the good times and the bad, to work with the current group,” Barsby said. “This decision allows the Bulls to focus on playing and the coaches to focus on coaching.”After starting his state career in 1984-85, Barsby experienced some painful near-misses in the Sheffield Shield before scoring 151 in the breakthrough win in 1994-95. He retired after the 1996-97 success in Perth.Damien Mullins, the Queensland Cricket chairman, said Oliver’s role was the most significant appointment since John Buchanan was hired in 1994. “It comes after some intensive scrutiny of how we have managed our elite programmes in the past,” Mullins said. “Terry takes on this position after following a pathway through Queensland Cricket that has seen him progress through our system, first as a player and then as a coach, so that he has a deep understanding of all of our processes.”Oliver was in charge when the Bulls won the 2005-06 Pura Cup and the 2006-07 FR Cup. “I’m excited about taking Queensland in a new direction,” he said, “while also maintaining contact with the Bulls and working closely with Trevor.”

Lasith Malinga began Bangladesh’s slide towards their lowest total in Test cricket in his first over and proceeded to blow away the top four batsmen to finish with 4 for 25 in nine overs on the first day at the P Saravanamuttu Stadium in Colombo.”For me the first over is the best. I put in a lot of effort in that over to capture as many wickets as possible,” said Malinga after the day’s play. “My fast bowling coach, Champaka Ramanayake, has instilled in me that the first ball of the match is the most important. I begin every match with that attitude. I give the ball 100%.”Malinga said Bangladesh’s dismal batting was not due to poor technique but because Sri Lanka made use of the conditions and bowled well. He said the ball swung more here than at the SSC on the first day probably due to the overnight rain. When questioned whether playing against a weak side like Bangladesh brought him easy wickets, Malinga replied: “I try to obtain wickets with variations. I don’t’ think any side gives you wickets easily. It’s a challenge for me to take wickets. There are a lot of fast bowlers on the fringe waiting to get into the side. So it’s a challenge to perform well to be in the team.”Malinga said there was intense competition for places in the team. “With Murali going for [Shane] Warne’s record, [Chaminda] Vaas having taken over 300 Test wickets and two other fast bowlers supporting them, there is competition in our bowling line-up to take wickets. Murali doesn’t have the pressure he used to have because every one of us is taking wickets.”

The interim executive of Zimbabwe Cricket has announced that it has dissolved the existing five provinces and replaced them with ten new boards.The move, which had been planned for some time, further weakens opposition to Peter Chingoka, the ZC chairman, and his executive as many of the existing provincial board members are now to all intents and purposes redundant.A statement issued by ZC said that it had received applications for affiliation from five provinces around the country – Mashonaland Central, Mashonaland East, Mashonaland West, Matabeleland North and Matabeleland South – and that it had “affiliated them in line with the policy of the country’s sports regulatory authority, the Sports and Recreation Commission, for national sporting associations to devolve along the country’s 10 administrative provinces.””In affiliating the five, we have not only implemented one of the Interim Committee’s terms of reference but also continued with the ZC mission of spreading the game to all the corners of the country without regard to race or creed,” Chingoka explained. “We will continue working with the new affiliates to create provincial cricket administrative structures.”Three of the five – Manicaland, Masvingo and Midlands – were dissolved because they did not “conform with the new geographical limitations of their central government administrative namesakes”. The other two – the more infulential Mashonaland and Matabeleland – have effectively been split in smaller units.Much of the opposition to Chingoka has centred on the old established provinces, and their demise and division will ease the pressure on the board. Furthermore, ZC, which has effectively cleansed itself of any dissenters in recent months, will appoint interim committees to run the new entities pending the drawing up of new constitutions and fresh elections.The new ZC affiliates are as follows:
Harare Metropole Provincial Cricket Association
Bulawayo Metropole Provincial Cricket Association
Matabeleland North Provincial Cricket Association
Matabeleland South Provincial Cricket Association
Mashonaland Central Provincial Cricket Association
Mashonaland East Provincial Cricket Association
Mashonaland West Provincial Cricket Association
Manicaland Provincial Cricket Association
Masvingo Provincial Cricket Association
Midlands Provincial Cricket Association

Scorecard

Middlesex and Surrey played out a draw on a slow final day at Lord’s. Surrey’s bowlers failed to make inroads as Middlesex kept their Eds – Smith and Joyce – long enough to put the result beyond doubt. Smith posted 88 and Joyce made 60 and, with Surrey’s bowlers failing to find any penetration on a flattish pitch, the game petered out into a tame draw.The final day started with Surrey in a position to go for the win and Graham Thorpe – Surrey’s stand-in captain in the absence of the injured Mark Ramprakash – kept the catchers in but his bowlers lacked the venom to force the issue. Thorpe turned to Dominic Thornely to try for the breakthrough. It was a sound decision: Thornely removed Smith 12 short of what would have been only the third championship century for Middlesex this season. But by that time, Smith and Joyce had posted a stand of 100 and the result was a foregone conclusion.Smith played well for his 88 while Joyce again showed why he is England class with his 60, which included nine fours, before Harbhajan Singh eventually trapped him lbw. Singh bowled consistently but, as with the rest of the attack, rarely was he threatening. Not that he had much opportunity: he was given only ten overs on the final day.The game meandered on – and even the commentators on Sky Sports began to question whether this was a great advertisement for the county game. Scott Styris helped himself to a stylish 55, while Ben Scott added 61 not out from lower down the order and by the close Middlesex were 353 for 6.The pitch didn’t help the search for a result, neither did the loss of 30 overs last night through bad light. “We wanted to try to get a lead [on the third day] and there were some tired bowlers out there,” Ramprakash told Sky Sports after the match. “But then the bad light came and we can’t control that.”Nevertheless, he was in bullish mood, as Surrey recorded yet another draw. “We are very happy with how we are playing at the moment. Twice in this match we had Middlesex under pressure. If we keep putting ourselves in those positions, I think those wins will come.”He confirmed that he has a hairline fracture of his thumb and is not anticipating a return to action for at least three weeks.

Muttiah Muralitharan will be sent to the University of Western Australia forassessment by Bruce Elliott, an ICC-approved human-movement specialist, Sri Lanka’s cricket board confirmed on Tuesday. Elliott will film and analyse Muralitharan’s doosra after it was reported as suspect by Chris Broad, the match referee during the recent Test series against Australia.Elliott tested Muralitharan in 1996, after he was no-balled for throwingduring the Boxing Day Test in Melbourne in December 1995 by Darrell Hair. Elliott cleared his action then, but has since voiced concerns in the media over the legality of Muralitharan’s doosra, arguing that it should also now be tested.Elliott said in a report for the Sydney Morning Herald: “Having seen him bowl on television, it looks like an area of concern. There does seem to be some extending of his action as he releases the ball. You are allowed a ten-degree extension of the arm during delivery.”

The match against India brought out every possible emotion from a Pakistani cricket fan – absolute jubilation during Pakistan’s batting to utter despair at the end of the game. Their performance, similar to the emotions experienced by the fans, was a mixed bag. The bowling, which has been our source of pride for so long, let us down at the crunch time.However, I shall put my hand up and acknowledge the brilliance of Sachin Tendulkar’s knock. The world has rarely seen such an innings played under immense pressure, and the beauty of it lay in the fact that it was an array of classical strokes, not mindless slogging. The Indian team looked a side with a mission, playing like a unit and their huddles at the fall of each Pakistani wicket, proved how committed they were.The Pakistani team did not lack commitment either, but there was a lack of common sense. The fans in Pakistan should not be over critical of the team’s performance it was almost as if they were too passionately involved to think logically. As far as I am concerned the team gave it their best shot and fought in a manner they have not in the recent past. We simply have to acknowledge the fact that the better side won at the end of the day.Pakistan’s batting was far above anyone’s expectations. Pakistan won the toss, made the right move to bat first, and piled up a total that on other days would have been easily safe. Saeed Anwar returned to form in brilliant fashion answering all his critics in grand style. He showed tremendous composure during his innings, and kept his concentration despite being highly fatigued during the latter half of his knock. Inzamam’s body language when he walked out to the center was outstanding, and the “slumbering giant” looked more pumped up than I have ever seen him since the World Cup in 1992. His run-out was a tragedy, but such things are part and parcel of the game. Younis Khan looked very good, thoroughly warranting his inclusion, while Youhana looked in terrific touch as well. At the end of the day 273 was a tremendous score keeping our recent form in mind, and only a very harsh critic would find faults with the batting performance.The performance on the field, commenced awkwardly when Rashid Latif could not make it onto the field after he had been hit a blow on his helmet while batting, leaving Taufeeq Umar with the huge task under immense pressure. Taufeeq Umar deserves tremendous praise for his effort, with the bat and the gloves, as he pulled of some saves that professional keepers would have been proud of. Keeping wicket to an erratic pace attack is no easy task, and I really feel that Taufeeq Umar should be groomed for this task after the World Cup. If he can put in a bit of effort and practice, he can be a useful wicket keeper in ODI’s and would lend tremendous balance to the team.The Pakistani bowlers, touted as the best pace attack in the world were smashed to all corners of the park by Tendulkar, who played like a man possessed. While the bowling at him may have been a bit of a mixed bag, he played some unbelievable strokes. Fortune favoured him when Razzaq got his fingertips to a catch offered early on, but failed to latch on. The Pakistan plan of blasting out the opposition backfired badly, as they tried to knock over the stumps on each ball, rather than looking to peg away on a line and length and frustrate the opposition. The bowling was governed more by the heart than mind, and although Waqar got early wickets, he was one of the culprits too.Shoaib Akhtar’s performance is hard to describe, where he bowled a couple of beauties along with a majority of highly wayward deliveries. The idea of giving him the new ball has brought little for Pakistan, and its time to get him back to first change, even after the World Cup. The new ball deserves to be taken by bowlers who can genuinely swing it, and Waqar, Akram and Sami fit that bill.The game was always going to drift away after the swashbuckling start by India, and Pakistan managed to make a good fist of it anyway. Full marks to the fielders for putting in great effort though the overthrows were disappointing. To summarise the fielding effort, it was good to see the Pakistanis throw themselves around for a change, and produce some direct hits, which were unfortunately of no use in the end.At the end of the day, it leaves a nation in misery and a cricket team that has slim chances of progressing to the next round. England will have to lose to the Aussies, and Pakistan win by a huge margin against Zimbabwe, but even if they do manage to progress to the Super Six (which will be nothing short of a miracle), the Pakistan cricket fans will not be satisfied at heart. I would strongly urge Pakistani fans to refrain from over-reacting to this loss and not resort to ugly demonstration of their disappointment. The team fought bravely and that was the maximum they could offer. Someone had to lose, and fate had Pakistan on the losing end.This may be the last occasion we get to see the greats like Akram, Waqar and Anwar clash against India, and it is sad that it had to end this way.Ed: If readers wish to correspond with the author, please email Taha Noor

Neil Johnson the Zimbabwean all-rounder receives his cap after just 3 months with the side. He recently recovered from a shoulder injury, and the return to full bowling fitness has contributed to the success Hampshire has found of late.Alex Morris the tall Yorkshireman has fought well through injury to command a regular place in the first team. His seam bowling has been an great asset to the side, and his batting at times can prove vital down the order, as was proved against Durham in the recent CricInfo Championship match.Derek Kenway’s season started badly when he was left out of the Hampshire party to their pre-season tour to South Africa. There were doubts mainly to his fitness levels. Instead of sulking, this likeable opening bat, who also acts as wicket-keeper in one day matches, has knuckled down to his game, and is now looked as as one of the brightest batting prospects around.The trio were awarded their caps by David Robinson, Cricket Committee Chairman, with Club Chairman Rod Bransgrove and captain Robin Smith in attendance.

Saket Bhatia and Sanjeev Sharma, with a sixth wicket partnership of112 runs, were instrumental in Rajasthan gaining a first innings leadof 26 runs on the third day of their Central Zone Ranji Trophy leaguematch at the KL Saini stadium in Jaipur on Wednesday. Replying to UP’s270, Rajasthan were all out for 296. In their second innings, UP were81 for three at stumps.Resuming at 183 for five, Rajasthan lost their sixth wicket only at253 when Bhatia was leg before to Salabh Srivastava for 79. Bhatiafaced 184 balls and hit ten fours. Sanjeev Sharma kept going till hewas ninth out at 296. For his 85, he faced 180 balls and hit 11 fours.The bowling honours were cornered by opening bowlers AW Zaidi (5 for84) and Srivastava (4 for 98).Openers Rohit Prash (26) and Jyoti Yadav (28) gave UP a good start byputting on 46 runs. But in the last hour, UP lost three wickets to bein a position of some anxiety at close.

While Samir Nasri arrived at Manchester City as one of the brightest talents in Europe and with an array of experience at the highest level from his time at Arsenal, he also brings with him one of the tennis world’s gems in girlfriend Tatiana Golovin.

Nasri may not be one of the Premier League’s most decorated players, nor did he feature in the 2010 World Cup for France, but as one of the most gifted attacking players in the league he adds another dimension to Manchester City’s already seemingly flawless attack.

Tagging along for the almost limitless City adventure is Nasri’s stunning girlfriend Tatitana Golovin – a native of Russian who was known for one of the best forehands in tennis.

Currently an inactive pro, she’ll give Nasri enough company as he settles into his new home in Manchester.

Click on Tatiana below to see her gallery

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Birmingham City will welcome back five key players for their English Premier League relegation battle against Wigan Athletic on Saturday.Birmingham boss Alex McLeish should be able to call upon defenders Roger Johnson, Martin Jiranek and Stephen Carr, midfielder Barry Ferguson and on-loan striker Obafemi Martins.All five have trained in the past week and their return should provide the team with a boost after an FA Cup quarter-final exit at the hands of Bolton Wanderers in their last match. “We had a right few missing last week and I said at the time if they had played there could have been a danger of them incurring muscle injuries and being out for the next month or even longer,” McLeish said.”It was good for them to get a regeneration of the batteries and also to get some much needed treatment.””Johnson, Ferguson, Carr, Jiranek, Martins all trained today and were declared fit by the medical staff.””(Nikola) Zigic, (Keith) Fahey, (Lee) Bowyer, (David) Bentley did some separate work with the physios so they are the doubts. It is good to get the experienced guys back.”McLeish believes the availability of certain players could dictate whether Birmingham survive in the top flight.”You need to persevere right to the very end but the experience could help as well, could be a factor, and we have that as well,” he said.”It would be nice to get the other players back on track as well … It would be good to have everyone available in the run-in.”McLeish does not expect Wigan to spring any surprises in regards to team selection or tactics at the DW Stadium. “We’ve got a pretty good idea of what side we are going to face,” he said.”(Wigan manager) Roberto (Martinez) will try and get his strongest team out.””We know he can change the system a bit but we know by and large how they are going to play and he will know the same about us.””There are no real secrets in the Premier League.”While a victory over their fellow strugglers would be invaluable, McLeish insists the clash with Wigan is not a must-win game.”There are a lot of big games this weekend and as a league we have come to the real business side of the season,” said McLeish.”We know that winning this game would give us fantastic confidence for the run-in.””If we don’t get the result we are looking for, the league is not finished. There will still be plenty of points to be played for.”