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The hunt for the next pop idol, soap actor, and super model have allappeared on TV recently and now Nottinghamshire’s Usman Afzaal is to launcha national search for a future professional cricketer.Under a scheme organised by Afzaal¹s Cricketing Elite (ACE), the left-handeris to be joined by fellow international cricketers Graham Thorpe, MarkRamprakash, Andy Flintoff, Owais Shah and Chris Lewis to identify promisingplayers.It is also hoped, international commitments permitting, that the world¹sfastest bowler Shoaib Akhtar, will soon be confirmed among the elite band of”selectors”.Afzaal explained: “The players mentioned will all take part in a two-daycoaching clinic at Trent Bridge open to any youngsters aged 13 or above.”I suppose it¹s similar to the ‘Pop Idol’ idea but this time the cricketersof tomorrow will get a unique opportunity to be taught and chosen by theirheroes of today.”We are hoping for around 700 young players on the course over the weekendand from them, we will select a squad of 15 to take on an all-expenses-paidoverseas tour to further improve their game.”Afzaal added that on returning, the best of the bunch will also be referredto county clubs by their illustrious coaches with a view to obtaining trialsto become professional players.The clinics are to be filmed by Sony TV and will be held on Saturday October5 and Sunday October 6 with entry costing £149 per person.For further information and details of how to get a place on the coursecontact the ACE office on 0115 979 2512 or 0115 979 2514.PLEASE NOTE – This release was distributed on behalf of ACE by BowlesAssociates.All media enquiries should be directed to the ACE office on the number aboveor to Usman Afzaal on 07768 558122.

ADELAIDE – England fast bowler Andrew Caddick will know on Wednesday ifhe is fit enough to face Australia in the third Ashes Test.Caddick underwent a scan on his injured back today after sustaining aback spasm during the second Test, in which he batted at number 11 asEngland slumped to an innings-and-51-runs defeat at the Adelaide Oval.He failed to improve this morning and a scan revealed “wear and tear” onhis back.Caddick will have a steroid injection into his back tomorrow, with afitness test scheduled for Wednesday.England physio Kirk Russell said: “The scan has revealed long-standingwear and tear consistent with a fast bowler of Andrew’s age which iscontinuing to cause him pain.”He will have a steroid injection into his back in Perth tomorrow andhis fitness will be reassessed at nets on Adelaide. At this stage he hasnot been ruled out of the third Test.”The tourists have cover in Alex Tudor and Chris Silverwood if Caddickfails to make a recovery.

The England selectors have delayed announcing their squad for the first npower Test against India, which starts at Lord’s in a week’s time.The squad was due to be revealed this morning, but due to injury concerns it will not now be announced until Saturday. Both Marcus Trescothick and Andrew Caddick are unavailable due to injury.Trescothick may miss the whole series after suffering a multiple fracture of his thumb. The Somerset opener twice visited hospital yesterday to have the injury assessed, and will have his broken bones realigned once specialists representing his county and his country have decided what course of action should be taken.Trescothick injured his left thumb when he was hit by a fierce drive fromGraeme Hick while fielding for Somerset in their Cheltenham & Gloucester Trophyquarter-final victory over Worcestershire at Taunton.As he left the County Ground last night, he said: “The x-rays showed there were a few cracks in my thumb. If it is plastered it will be in the cast for a couple of weeks at least – and then it is a case of waiting and hoping.”It is always a shock to get an injury at any time, but with the Test series coming up obviously it is even worse. The ball hit me on the end of the thumb, and I saw it was bleeding. But it was not until I got back in the dressing room that I realised I was in real trouble.”England’s chairman of selectors, David Graveney, is also awaiting news on fast bowler Alex Tudor, who is struggling with shin splints.”We are aware that he has got a bit of a problem and it is one that needs to settle down,” Graveney said.”He has been involved in the one-day squad and all the boys that were involved in that are pretty tired. We may name him in the squad while also including someone else to cover his position.”Tudor’s Surrey colleague Mark Butcher has yet to play any competitive cricket following knee surgery, while Darren Gough has played only one-day cricket since returning from his knee injury.Both Gough and Butcher will play in the next round of Frizzell CountyChampionship matches, which start tomorrow.Meanwhile India are refusing to derive any satisfaction from Trescothick’s injury, having already suffered a setback of their own with 20-year-old Yuvraj Singh returning home for treatment on a chipped bone in a finger.”We are sorry about what has happened to Trescothick,” said Amrit Mathur, the Indian team’s communications manager.”It is a bad thing to happen when he is such a very good player. It is sad that he will miss out because of the injury. We are also disappointed that Yuvraj Singh has had to go back. It is better for the game and the spectators if the best players are playing.”

Partial play was possible in just three National Junior (Under-19) Grade-II Cricket Championship matches because of inclement weather in different cities of Punjab Monday.The second day of the remaining three matches of Pool ‘D’ was washed out.Sargodha resumed their first innings at 4:40pm at overnight total of 106 for one and by close of play were 146 for five in 59 overs against Kasur. Farrukh Shahzad who resumed at 47 scored 60.At Mahmood Stadium, Rahim Yar Khan, Faisalabad had gained an overall lead of 165 with one second innings wicket in hand against Rahim Yar Khan.Batting first, Faisalabad scored 225 due to a fine 88 by Ghulam Dastagir.Off-spinner Aamir Akram bagged six for 43.In reply, the home side made 221. Leg-spinner Mudassar Hussain got five for 80.By close of play, Faisalabad, in their second knock were 161 for nine in 54 overs.Okara gaineda lead of 26 runs against Multan at Okara Gymkhana ground.Replying to Okara’s first innings total of 239, Multan started their first innings in the morning and were all out for 213. Paceman Jawad Hafeez took five for 65.Not a single ball was bowled in the matches between Mianwali v Gujrat at Zahoor Elahi Stadium, Gujrat, Lahore Greens v Attock at Saga Ground, Sialkot andGujranwala v Sialkot at Jinnah Stadium, Gujranwala.Summarised scores:At Sports Stadium, Sargodha:SARGODHA 146-5 (Farrukh Shahzad 60, Qaiser Iqbal 44; Aslam Shahid 3-37) v Kasur.At Mahmood Stadium, Rahim Yar Khan:FAISALABAD 225 (Ghulam Dastagir 88; Aamir Akram 6-43) and 161-9 (Naveed Haider 50 not out; Mohammad Tayyab 3-18);RAHIM YAR KHAN 221 (Fayyaz-ul-Hasan 46, Asif Mumtaz 46, Ajmal Shah 46; Mudassar Hussain 5-80).At Gymkhana Ground, Okara:OKARA 239 (Mohammad Pervez 61, Zahid Ali Khan 63; Mohammad Umair 6-79);MULTAN 213 (Yasir Arafat 62; Jawad Hafeez 5-65, Zulfiqar Babar 3-45).At Nawabshah Stadium, Nawabshah:MIRPURKHAS 242 (Syed Rehan 73; Sharafat Ali 3-45) and 163 (Syed Rehan 44; Zahid Hussain 4-26, Ghulam Yasin 3-44);SHIKARPUR 185 (Ghulam Farid 50; Syed Rehan 5-62, Nabi Mohammad 3-44) and 28-1.At Niaz Stadium, Hyderabad:Hyderabad beat Badin by six wickets.BADIN 122 (Hasan Muzammil 7-46) and 105 (Shoaib Leghari 6-20);HYDERABAD 206 (Kamran Khan 5-36) and 22-4.At Shola Ground, Quetta:PISHIN 370 (Rehmastullah 143 not out, Ghulam Ishaq 101) and 245 Salam Durrani 68, Ghulam Ishaq 49; Javed Raza 4-71);TURBAT 238 (Sajjad Habib 84, Abdul Ghani 46; Samiullah 4-61, Mohammad Amin 3-15).At Kohat Stadium, Kohat:AZAD JAMMU KASHMIR 298 (Afaq Raheem 122, Sohrab Aslam 53; Javed Khan 5-70, Adil Hasan 3-75) and 92-0 (Afaq Raheem 59 not out);MARDAN 217 (Shiraz Khan 82, Zeeshan Akbar 45; Abdul Shakoor 5-68, Afaq Raheem 3-26).At D.I. Khan Stadium, D.I.Khan:HARIPUR 125 (Azaz Khan 5-36, Nasir Niaz 3-35) and 72-3;BANNU 201 Naimatullah 74; Amjad Waqas 6-73, Babar Khan 3-41).

Unfortunate, but largely true – a high-scoring, tamely drawn Testmatch sometimes produces the most glittering of statistical nuggets.Antigua, after the fourth Test between the West Indies and India, willnow be in the record books for much more than Brian Lara’s 375 againstEngland.

Ajay Ratra, Man of the Match possibly for disproving GeoffreyBoycott’s assessment of his batting skills, had a hand in both of themore unique records set during the course of the Test. His century inthe first innings – one, incidentally, that made the 20-and-a-halfyear-old the youngest wicket-keeper to score a century – was followedby Ridley Jacobs’ hundred, making the Antigua match the only one inwhich the regular wicket-keepers of both sides reached three figures.The fact, no doubt, will come as a surprise to many, especiallyconsidering the calibre of wicket-keepers who have played in the sameTest. Alec Stewart and Adam Gilchrist, Andy Flower and KumaraSangakkara, Alan Knott and Rod Marsh, Farokh Engineer and Imtiaz Ahmedare just some names that instantly emerge from cricket’s rich trove ofstumpers.There was, however, another occasion on which men who kept wicket alsoscored hundreds – double hundreds, in fact. When Australia playedPakistan at Faisalabad in 1979/80, Greg Chappell slaughtered theattack to the tune of 235 runs, and his side was bowled out for amammoth 617.

That happened only on the fourth day, and a draw loomed decisively inthe offing. Taslim Arif, Pakistan’s wicket-keeper and opening bat,took the opportunity to hit 210 not out. With any result absolutelyout of the question, Australia decided to have some fun. Chappelldonned the wicket-keeping pads himself and let Marsh bowl 10 overs for51 runs.Australia, thus, used 11 bowlers in that innings, but in this uniquefeat, they were pre-empted by the old enemy, England, who did soagainst the visiting Australians at the Oval in 1884. The Hon. AlfredLyttleton, England’s wicket-keeper for the match, was actually thehighest wicket-taker in the first innings, taking four for 19.Ratra, thus, was instrumental in creating another notable highlightwhen he bowled the penultimate over of the Test. He may not have hadLyttleton’s stunning success, but India became the third side to use11 bowlers in an innings.

Warwickshire recovered from losing skipper Michael Powell for a duck to reach 295 for four after winning the toss against the Frizzell County Championship leaders Leicestershire. Phil DeFreitas had Powell caught by Darren Stevens, but Ian Bell (72) and Nick Knight (47) steadied the ship. Dominic Ostler then made 81 and Jamie Troughton an unbeaten 65 to take the home side to an impressive total by stumps.There was a landslide of wickets after the first session of play was lost to rain at The Oval. After putting Kent in Surrey bowled them out for 153, with Martin Bicknell taking six for 42 and James Ormond three for 56. Paul Nixon made a battling 54 for the visitors. Surrey found life no easier when they batted, although a swashbuckling, unbeaten 49 from Ally Brown helped them to 111 for five at the close.Sussex recovered from a poor start against Yorkshire at Headingley, after being reduced to 70 for four in the first session. A stand of 191 between Timothy Ambrose (146*) and Matthew Prior (83) took the visitors to 375 for six after they were put in this morning.After a delayed start at Bath, Hampshire ended the day on 149 for three after being put in by Somerset. William Kendall was the mainstay for the visitors, with an unbeaten 70, and there were two wickets for Simon Francis.In Division Two, Nottinghamshire captain Jason Gallian’s decision to bat first at Trent Bridge against Division Two leaders Derbyshire paid handsome dividends. Notts were bowled out for 393, with Paul Johnson making 96, Nicky Boje 84 and Gallian himself 69. Derbyshire closed on 18 without loss.Ronnie Irani continued his sparkling run of form as Essex fought back from 22 for three after being put in to bat by Northamptonshire at Ilford. William Jefferson (59) and Andy Flower (85) initiated the revival, which was completed by an unbeaten 121 from the Essex skipper. The hosts ended the day on 322 for five.Nicholas Hatch took three wickets for Durham after another delayed start at Chester-le-Street. Worcestershire, after winning the toss, were reduced at one point to 90 for five, but David Leatherdale (32*) and Gareth Batty (27*) had pulled them back from the abyss by the close, when they were 153 for five.There was no play on day one between Middlesex and Glamorgan at Lord’s, where the outfield was waterlogged.

The recently appointed Sri Lankan selection committee, headed by Tikiri Banda Kehelgamuwa, has confirmed that it will continue with the youth policy that has been followed since the 1999 World Cup.Kehelgamuwa said : “Our policy to emphasise on youth for the past two years has produced the desired results. There may have been the odd hiccup or two, but overall we are quite happy the way the national team is shaping up”.”Our goal is the 2003 World Cup and we will continue to build a team with emphasis being based mainly on youth,” said Kehelgamuwa, who is continuing in his tenth successive year as a cricket selector.Kehelgamuwa succeeded Sidath Wettimuny as chairman of selectors soon after the tour of Pakistan last year, and has continued the policy of basing selections on youth despite pressure from certain quarters to include experienced players.There were moves to expel him from the selection committee recently, but as happened two years ago, the hand of fate saved Sri Lanka cricket again with the change of administration.Following Sri Lanka’s debacle in the 1999 World Cup the new selection committee headed by Wettimuny completely revamped the national team and changed selection policies. Experienced cricketers like Arjuna Ranatunga, Aravinda de Silva, Hashan Tillakaratne and Roshan Mahanama, all past captains, failed to find a place in the Sri Lanka one-day squad, which led to criticism from certain sections of the public and also in cricketing circles.But the selectors stuck to their guns and continued their policy with youth. Test victories over Australia, Zimbabwe and Pakistan matched by one-day wins in the Aiwa Cup and the Singer Triangular Series kept the critics at bay.While Ranatunga and De Silva were retained for the Test matches, Mahanama quit the game internationally and Tillakaratne has not given up trying to regain his place.Test defeats at the hands of Pakistan, South Africa and England in recent times has ruffled a few feathers and questioned the policy of the selection committee once more. Although it might be admitted that the youth have some way to go in Test cricket, there is no doubt that they have the makings of a champion outfit when it comes to the overs-limit game.The recent Test losses has been somewhat compensated by victories over New Zealand (4-1), England (3-0) and in the ARY Gold Cup triangular in Sharjah.After Wettimuny quit as selector, Kehelgamuwa continued the policies of his predecessor and Sri Lanka cricket can thank its present standing in world cricket to the bold stand taken by these men in the past two years.The present committee comprises Kehelgamuwa, Brendon Kuruppu, Kapila Wijegunawardena, Amal Silva and K.M. Nelson.Kehelgamuwa said the 27 players selected to represent Sri Lanka `A’ in next month’s unofficial test and one-day series against Pakistan `A’ were the future prospects of the country.”What these youngsters require is not skill and technique which they already have, but someone to psyche them,” said Kehelgamuwa. Cricket is a mind game and no amount of skill can bring success unless the player is mentally strong.Kehelgamuwa welcomed the decision by the interim council to obtain the services of former South African batting `great’ Barry Richards.”If his services can be obtained before the Indian series, it will be of immense help to our batsmen,” said Kehelgamuwa, who has noticed a few flaws in our top order batsmen.Richards is expected to come on and off on four occasions with each visit lasting a fortnight with the intention of helping our cricketers prepare for the 2003 World Cup in South Africa.The interim council is presently working on a plan at the R. Premadasa Stadium to put up wickets of different pace and bounce to assist the batsmen. It is a priority which the interim council has identified, following our batsmen’s poor showing on the last tour to South Africa.The senior team will come up against India and New Zealand in a one-day triangular tournament commencing in July followed by a three-Test series against India in August.

Somerset have just launched their Young Cricketers Patron Scheme with the specific aim of giving club members and the general public an opportunity to support Somerset Youth Cricket.Somerset Cricket Development Officer Andrew Moulding told me: "The Somerset Young Cricketers Patron Scheme is simply a `membership’ scheme. Somerset Youth Cricket is seeking to attract Patrons to offset the cost of youth squad matches, the Corner system, associated coaching programmes and school competitions. There are no restrictions on who can become a Somerset Young Cricketers Patron."Andrew Moulding continued: "The scheme is aimed at all supporters of Somerset Youth Cricket. These could be club cricketers, County Cricket Club members, former Somerset players, parents, grandparents, etc. Basically, anyone who wishes to help the next generation of Somerset cricket to flourish can do so by becoming a Somerset Young Cricketers Patron."Mr Moulding concluded: "We would like to think that potential patrons will come forward and support young cricketers from grassroots to professional cricket."The cost of becoming a Somerset Young Cricketers Patron is just £15. In return, as well as supporting a very worthwhile cause which in the past has produced a number of players currently on the staff including Marcus Trescothick, Rob Turner, Keith Parsons and Matt Bulbeck, Patrons will receive their own distinctive maroon tie featuring the Somerset dragon, a Somerset Cricket Board fixture card, a Somerset Cricket Board newsletter (3 per year) and a copy of the Somerset Young Cricketers review which contains details of the seasons performances.Anybody interested in joining the Somerset Young Cricketers Patron Scheme or helping with Somerset Youth Cricket in anyway should contact Andrew Moulding at the Centre of Excellence, The County Ground, Taunton, Somerset , TA1 1JT. (telephone 01823 352266).

Just when England’s players looked to be wilting under the oppressive wetheat of Colombo they once again displayed their new-found propensity to fightthemselves out of tricky situations with a stirring comeback in the lateevening sunshine. Now, after the first day of this crucial Third Test Match,an historic series victory remains a distinct possibility.Sri Lanka, like they did in Kandy, batted themselves into a strong positiononly to frivolously surrender their hard-fought advantage, losing four wicketsfor 14 runs to finish the day on 221 for seven. With their tail weakened bythe replacement of Kumar Dharmasena with left arm spinner, DinukHettiarachchi, their immediate goal tomorrow will be to score 250.So far in the Test series it has been the fast bowlers that have keptEngland’s hopes alive, as they claimed 18 of the 25 Sri Lanka wickets tofall in the first two Test Matches. At the Sinhalese Sports Club today,however, the spinners finally played their part. Ashley Giles and RobertCroft bowled 58 of the 91 overs, both conceded less than two runs per overand took five precious wickets between them.It was Giles, who only had one solitary wicket and a sore Achillestendon to show for his efforts in the Test Matches before today, whostarted the Sri Lankan slide, when he had Aravinda de Silva smartly caughtoff bat and pad by Michael Vaughan for 38 to end a 97-run partnership forthe fourth wicket.The loss of de Silva was followed soon after by that of Russel Arnold, whoonce again padded up, only to be adjudged out leg before by umpireDavid Orchard without scoring.Tillakaratne Dilshan was deceived in the air by Croft as he slogged across the line and, although he lingered like a man wronged, he can have no complaints about his decision.Moments before the close England then added the prize scalp of MahelaJayawardene to their late-evening pickings. Jayawardene scored yet anotherelegant half-century today, leaving him with a run of 61, 101 and 71 in thefirst innings in this three-Test series. Well as he batted, however, hisdismissal – caught behind as he tried to square cut Croft – was casual andmay cost Sri Lanka dear, for it has now exposed the Sri Lankan lower orderto the new ball.Earlier in the day Sanath Jayasuriya won his 16th toss in 18 innings. Theonly Buddhist cricket captain in world cricket is clearly on a differentplane when it comes to this important job. Unfortunately, his team hasgenerally failed to profit from his hand-spun advantage and they have onlywon three of those 16 Test Matches.When Andrew Caddick ripped through the usually tight defences of MarvanAtapattu in just the second over of the day, Sri Lanka’s cricketers may havefeared the worst. However, they enjoyed an excellent morning as SanathJayasuriya returned to form with 45, his highest score in six Test matches, surpassing the 26 he made in Durban.He was well supported by Kumar Sangakkara, the devil dressed in flannels, ifyou listen to the English players. Like Sangakkara or not, you could notdeny the elegance of his stroke-play, as he flowed to 45, only to betray hisinexperience again with a loose back foot drive immediately after theluncheon interval.Jayasuriya and de Silva then added 20 runs before the Sri Lankan captainskewed a catch to backward point – not for the first time in the series – ashe tried to loft Croft. Sri Lanka’s innings was back in the balanceon 108 for three. Jaywardene and de Silva then weathered the immediatedanger, but failed to finish the job.

Two of England’s brightest young batsmen took centre stage at Chester-le-Street as Owais Shah set up the chance for Middlesex to set Durham a target today.After 18-year-old Nicky Peng became Durham’s youngest century-maker, Shah followed his 190 in the first innings with a scintillating 52-ball half-century.He was still there on 62 as Middlesex reached 83 for one in 20 overs to lead by 195 runs.Since making 98 on his debut against Surrey 13 months ago, Peng’s highest score in 15 innings was 23 but he superbly shouldered the task of holding a disappointing Durham innings together.At 165 for six they were still 72 short of avoiding the follow-on, but Ian Hunter passed 30 for the third successive innings in a stand of 74.Peng raced from 86 to his hundred, pulling three successive balls from Tim Bloomfield for two, four, four then driving Phil Tufnell wide of mid on for his 13th four to reach the landmark off 186 balls. He then holed out at deep mid-wicket for 101.Tufnell did not concede a boundary until his 27th over, when Peng drove him through the covers for four and the left-armer finished with three for 44 from 32.5 overs.After Peng’s exit Stephen Harmison swiftly followed and Durham were all out for 274, which was more than looked likely when Angus Fraser removed both Martin Love and Paul Collingwood in his eighth over of the day.