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Andrew Symonds has apologised publicly for his “a lump of s…” remark about the New Zealand wicketkeeper Brendon McCullum. While Symonds will have to wait until Tuesday or Wednesday to learn whether he will be punished by Cricket Australia for the incident, he has received support from Ricky Ponting, who said the troubled allrounder was essential to Australia’s future plans.”I wish to sincerely apologise to Brendon McCullum for my comments during the radio interview with Roy and HG on Friday afternoon,” a statement from Symonds said. “My intentions for this interview were light-hearted and my comments no way reflect the respect that I have for McCullum both on and off the field.”I understand how this has been received differently to the way in which I intended to express myself and for that I am extremely sorry. I wish Brendon nothing but success in his cricket and for the future.” Symonds’ offensive comment came when he was discussing McCullum’s signing with New South Wales for the final of the domestic Twenty20 competition.Ponting said he was interested in hearing Symonds’ views. “I’d like to have a good conversation with him about the whole situation. As part of the leadership group in the Australian team, it’s part of my job to do that,” Ponting told . “I know at CA, James Sutherland and Michael Brown have been out of the office and I think they’re meeting on the whole scenario on Tuesday, so by then we’ll have a much clearer picture.”I’d like to consider, if I was in that situation, I wouldn’t have done that. So Andrew’s going to have a look at that radio interview and work out for himself if he’s done something wrong. He’s not part of our current set-up at the moment, and I don’t think there’s ever been anything in place to say that he can’t actually go out and have a drink. Does he need more rehab? That’s up to him and his counsellor to work out.”Ponting hoped the matter would be resolved swiftly. “He has been [vital] for us over the last three or four seasons in one-day cricket and, in the last two in Tests, he’s been a vital cog in our side,” he said. “No one can ever doubt his cricket ability, talent and match-winning abilities. So hopefully everything keeps progressing with him and his fitness and we can get to the bottom of this issue, move on and let him worry about his cricket.”While the New Zealand Cricket chief executive Justin Vaughan said he expected his Australian counterparts to ‘”do the right thing”, McCullum was happy to let the moment pass. “Mate, people are entitled to their opinion and I certainly wasn’t offended by it at all,” he said. “There’s nothing you can do about it. I was over here [in Australia] to enjoy the occasion and certainly did that and it was just a great game to be a part of. I’m not worried what people have to say and certainly not offended by it at all.”The radio comment is the latest in a series of incidents involving Symonds, the most notable of which was him being axed from the Australian squad in Darwin for going fishing, and a pub altercation after his Test comeback in Brisbane. Symonds had also admitted that alcohol played a part in his poor attitude in 2008 and getting cut from the squad in Darwin was the wake-up call he needed to address his behaviour.Symonds, who is recovering from knee surgery, will have a chance to prove his fitness for an international comeback during Queensland’s Sheffield Shield match against Western Australia at the Gabba from Friday. He was picked in the side alongside Ashley Noffke and Chris Swan, who have also been struggling with injuries, and the 19-year-old debutant Scott Walter.Queensland squad Chris Simpson (capt), Ryan Broad, Lee Carseldine, Ryan Harris, Chris Hartley, Nick Kruger, Martin Love, Ashley Noffke, Nathan Reardon, Chris Swan, Andrew Symonds, Scott Walter.

West Indies batsman Ramnaresh Sarwan has said the youngsters in the squad need to improve their performances if they are to be a permanent feature.”We’re the most experienced and it’s important we try to give the young players as much support as we can but it’s important for them to learn as well,” the former captain said. “It’s a great chance for them to cement a place in the team and that should be the biggest goal for them, striving to be better players. We’ve already spoken to them, but it’s a matter of them seizing the opportunity.”Sarwan mentioned no names but at least nine of the 15-man squad, currently touring New Zealand, are playing for their immediate, some for their long-term, futures.Sewnarine Chattergoon has yet to put together a significant innings since introduced as the latest in the long line of opening batsman last season in the home series against Sri Lanka and Australia this year.Xavier Marshall is more likely to be retained for the forthcoming series against England in the Caribbean, either as Gayle’s opening partner or separating Sarwan and Shivnarine Chanderpaul in the middle order. But runs in the ongoing ODI series against New Zealand will boost his confidence.Shawn Findlay who, given his modest record for Jamaica, was a surprise choice when included in the ODI series against Australia, is an electric outfielder but seems out of his depth at this level in his primary role as left-hand batsman.Carlton Baugh has almost had the last of his many chances as wicketkeeper-batsman. It is a position that Denesh Ramdin appeared to have claimed as his own until his batting declined so markedly that it allowed Baugh to return. Runs over the coming five matches are important for his status.Kieron Pollard’s star has pitched since his sensational entry into first-class cricket two seasons ago when his six-hitting put spectators in danger and embarrassed bowlers. His boundary-filled hundreds against Barbados and the Leeward Islands earned him a place in the World Cup squad but he has found runs, far less sixes, hard to come by since then. Still, he is only 20, massively built and powerful and clearly talented. As much as anyone, he can heed Sarwan’s words about learning, striving to be better players and seizing the opportunity.Darren Sammy, perhaps not as dynamic but an honest and intelligent all-rounder already with a taste of Test and ODI success, is an alternative not far away from a recall.

After six years, 32 Tests and 50 ODIs, Daren Powell is surely on his way out. He is an enthusiastic competitor but it is an extravagance to pay 46 runs a wicket in Tests as he does. Only a cupboard bare of fast bowlers and the strange selectorial reservations about spinners have kept him going.New fast bowlers should be lining up to fill his spot and potential spinners continuing to wait patiently to be given their due.Lionel Baker, the young Montserratian, is the first new fast bowler since Jerome Taylor, Fidel Edwards and Ravi Rampaul five years ago. The first two now lead the attack, Rampaul has been so unlucky with injuries his prospects are doubtful.The door is open for the new crop, as it always is with West Indies selectors. Baker has been ushered through it but it will take time to establish whether his stay will be permanent. Sulieman Benn and Nikita Miller, two left-armers of different heights and methods, are the latest spinners on the roller coaster.The selectors have surely got them wrong way round, using the beanpole Benn for the Tests and the diminutive Miller in the ODIS.The former is flat through the air, steady in control and gains bounce, attributes more effective in the shorter (Twenty20 even) than the longer form. He has suffered the habitual fate of those of his ilk, given one Test here, one Test there along with three Twenty20s. No wonder he is still not sure of his role.Miller, who depends more on flight and turn, has so far been confined to the ODIs where he can hardly express himself properly.The decision to choose Benn for the Tests and the Twenty20s in New Zealand, but replace him for the one-dayers would be confusing were it not a West Indies selection.While the five ODIs are in progress, the first-class season would have started back home. Results from both will shape the composition of the team for the series against England in February and March and even beyond.

No tea for you
A full day in the field is draining enough but Australia’s oldest player, Matthew Hayden, was given even less time to rest than his younger team-mates. During the tea break Hayden was presented with a special baggy green cap to commemorate his 100th Test. He posed for photos with his family and spoke about his journey from rural Queensland but by the time the presentation was over he had used up nearly all of the tea interval. Hayden dashed off for a three-minute sit-down before resuming his spot at first slip for the final session.Another spinner bites the dust?
Nathan Hauritz would have been happy to copy his fellow offspinner Jason Krejza’s 12-wicket match-haul. Instead, he emulated Krejza in an unwelcome way. Hauritz got his unexpected opportunity because Krejza twisted his ankle in the lead-up to the match and there were some feelings of déjà vu when Hauritz hurt his ankle in the field. Hauritz ran around to cut off a ball at deep backward square leg and during the lunging save he rolled his right ankle. He hobbled to the dressing rooms but soon re-emerged, alleviating the immediate fears of the Australians.Boycott drags on
Major news agencies continued their boycott of the Australia-New Zealand series due to a dispute over their accreditation agreements with Cricket Australia. and the refused to cover the first Test at the Gabba and the status quo remained for the Adelaide Test. The picture agency Getty Images, which supplies photographs to Cricinfo, also declined to cover the event. The news organisations launched a similar boycott last season but reached agreement with Cricket Australia after the first Test of the summer.Take it easy, Ryder
Jesse Ryder is not the prototype of the modern professional sportsman but he proved his athleticism during his short innings. Ryder drove Mitchell Johnson towards long-on and Adelaide Oval’s lengthy straight dimensions meant it was hauled in before reaching the boundary. Despite his solid frame, Ryder hared back impressively for a fourth run. His stamina ran out when he pulled Hauritz to midwicket in the first over after lunch.Punter a reluctant tosser
Attending the toss has been rather pointless for Ricky Ponting over the past few weeks, so it was understandable that he was reluctant to take the coin out to the middle at the Adelaide Oval. Daniel Vettori was waiting patiently on the pitch at the appointed time of 10am but Ponting was nowhere to be seen. A couple of minutes later, Ponting was hustling out the middle, still putting on his green-and-gold blazer with the help of a Cricket Australia official. He had been batting in the nets for just a fraction too long. Ponting need not have rushed – he lost his fifth toss in a row.Remembering Hibbert
The Australians were wearing black armbands in memory of the victims of the Mumbai attacks and of the former Australian opener Paul Hibbert, who died this week. Hibbert played one Test during the days of the World Series Cricket split and while he was never a flamboyant batsman, he could be an immovable and effective one. In 1977 he became the second man to score a first-class century without striking a single boundary. It was the sort of self-control New Zealand needed on the first day in Adelaide, where their top three all threw their wickets away with reckless shots.

ScorecardHalf-centuries from Chamu Chibhabha, Hamilton Masakadza and Stuart Matsikenyeri ensured the four-day contest between Zimbabwe Select XI and the Sri Lankans ended in a draw at the Queens Sport Club in Bulawayo. After rain made only 38 overs possible on the third day, a wet outfield delayed the start by an hour on Saturday. The Sri Lankans opted to push for a result, declaring their first innings at 567 for 4 – a commanding lead of 408.Their opening bowlers, though, failed to make early inroads, and it was only wickets from Ajantha Mendis that kept the visitors interested. Mendis took his second four-wicket haul of the game, and the only other bowler to take a wicket in Zimbabwe’s much-improved second innings performance was allrounder Angelo Mathews.Zimbabwe folded for 159 on the first day, but the signs were positive from the start as openers Timycen Maruma and Chibhabha played out 17.5 overs before Mendis struck his first blow. Maruma was caught behind for 16. Chibhabha fell in the same manner 19 balls later; he scored 59 off 70 balls with nine fours. Masakadza and Matsikenyeri then put on a 132-run stand.However, they failed to convert the fifties into centuries; both departed having made 70s. Matsikenyeri was out for 71, caught and bowled by Mathews, and wicketkeeper Regis Chakabva was dismissed for a duck by Mendis the next over. Masakadza’s 72 ended in the 60th over, and one over later play was called off.The Sri Lankans will play Zimbabwe A in a one-day game on Monday, before the five-ODI series in Harare, which starts on November 20.

Left-arm medium-pacer Sajidul Islam has been called up to Bangladesh’s Test squad in South Africa as a last-minute replacement for Syed Rasel, who’s been forced to return home after a back injury flared up.Sajidul is expected to reach South Africa on November 17, two days before the first Test against South Africa in Bloemfontein. He had played in the two Tests against New Zealand in January this year during Bangladesh’s tour of the country; Sajidul was added to the touring party after Rasel, also a left-armer, dislocated a shoulder during a practice game in December last year. Sajidul has taken 17 wickets in five games this season in the National Cricket League, Bangladesh’s domestic first-class competition, at 19 apiece.Rasel has been in and out of Bangladesh’s side since that shoulder dislocation, plagued by various injury problems. He has played only eight of Bangladesh’s 26 ODIs this year, and hasn’t played in a Test since July 2007. Like the other bowlers, Rasel didn’t have too much success in the ODI leg of their South Africa trip, giving away 131 runs in 20 overs for his two wickets. Bangladesh’s selectors had retained the players in their limited-overs squad for the two Tests.

A fine all-round performance from Mohammad Nabi helped Afghanistan secure their fourth successive victory in Division 4 of the World Cricket League. Nabi took 5 for 32 before cracking 70 to lead Afghanistan to a four-wicket win over Hong Kong with just two balls to spare.Hong Kong were well placed to set Afghanistan a very challenging target, cruising to 152 for 2 from 40 overs, until Nabi tied them down to restrict their last ten overs. Zain Abbas, one of the tournament’s most consistent batsmen, top scored with 69 and, together with Roy Lamsam (35), the pair added 84 for the third wicket. Nabi had other ideas, however, rattling through Hong Kong’s middle and lower order to restrict Afghanistan’s target to 207.They began confidently, with Karim Khan slapping five fours in a 13-ball 20, but Hong Kong’s spinners – backed up by excellent fielding – tightened the screws and soon had Afghanistan stumbling on 48 for 3. Enter Nowroz Mangal who, along with Nabi, turned the match on its head with a decisive 105-run fourth-wicket partnership. Calmly nudging singles and pushing for twos, without wasting any opportunity to punish the bad ball, the pair quickly regained the upper hand – helped by a number of sloppy chances missed by a nervous Hong Kong side.Mangal fell shortly after notching his fifty, but Nabi continued unabated, cracking three fine sixes – two of which went out of the ground – in a sparkling 78-ball 70. He couldn’t see them home himself, but Samiullah Shenwari took them to victory with a blazing four over the covers.”It was a very good performance and I am very happy with our team,” Nabi said. “It was a turning track and I used the doosra effectively. It is very important for us. Our coach [Kabir Khan] told us to bat 50 overs and just concentrate on singles. He said if we succeeded in batting the full 50 overs, we would win the match and we did exactly that.”Meanwhile, Jersey got their first win of the tournament with a 79-run win over Fiji. Jersey managed to reach an impressive 228 for 4 in 40 overs, owing to the rainy conditions, with the two Gough Brothers, Jonathan (75) and Peter (41) starring in the innings. They received good support from Ryan Driver who skipped to an unbeaten 46.In reply, Fiji put up their best batting display of the tournament, but could still only muster 149 before they were bowled out. Ben Stevens, Jersey’s promising slow-left-armer, took 4 for 46.The eagerly anticipated clash between Tanzania and Italy was abandoned due to rain and will be played on Thursday. Tanzania will then play Fiji on Friday, while Hong Kong take on Jersey and Italy play Afghanistan.

Dilhara Fernando, the Sri Lankan fast bowler, has been targeted as an overseas player for Baroda this Ranji season. “We’ve sent our terms and conditions to him and we should know in the next few days his decision,” VS Indulkar, the Baroda Cricket Association secretary, told Cricinfo.The news comes not long after Sunil Gavaskar, currently the chairman of the BCCI’s technical committee, expressed hope that the introduction of foreign players in Indian domestic cricket would make significant contributions to the application levels and attitudes of the teams across the country.The Baroda management opted for Fernando because the local pitches are pace-friendly, said Indulkar.Fernando, 29, returned to international cricket against India last month after recovering from a leg injury. He is currently with England county side Worcestershire as a replacement overseas player for the remainder of the season, but is expected to be free by the time the Ranji Trophy begins on November 3.Baroda were semi-finalists in last year’s Ranji Trophy Super League.

Injuries to Sachin Tendulkar, during the third Test, and Virender Sehwag, during training on the eve of the five-ODI series, have given India a major headache ahead of the remaining four matches – that of finding a solid opening combination.Tendulkar’s 13,245 runs and 38 centuries as opener is beyond compare, while Sehwag’s ability to provide explosive starts tackle Sri Lanka’s spinners was paramount. With the BCCI deciding not to send a replacement for Sehwag – how this team could do with a Sourav Ganguly now – India are left with only one specialist opener in Gautam Gambhir.India’s predicament was obvious in game one. In 70 domestic limited-overs matches Subramaniam Badrinath has never opened, and so India felt they had no option but young Virat Kohli. It put a lot of pressure on Kohli, and it showed. Kohli has spent most of his domestic career in the middle order, but was preferred for this match because of his success in the recent Emerging Players Tournament in Australia. Yet it was extremely difficult for him to assume the responsibility of opening the innings. He didn’t look the part in the warm-up match either.The only others in the squad who have opened at the international level are Parthiv Patel (53 runs from four games in 2004,) and Irfan Pathan. In terms of team composition Pathan appears the best option; he is technically accomplished and can score quickly.The first time he was sent in at No. 3, against Sri Lanka in Nagpur in 2005, Pathan hit 83 from 70 balls. He had further success against Pakistan in Peshawar and Kuala Lumpur. The thinking on those occasions was to try to utilise the early overs. In Sri Lanka once the ball becomes old and soft, it will not be easy to play shots – something that is particularly crucial in this series, given the Mendis-and-Murali threat which follows. Sending him up the order will take the pressure off the middle order. Maybe Pathan could even be asked to go after the new-ball bowlers, with a target of scoring around 100 in the first 12 overs.The problem was not just at the top yesterday. What was disappointing was the irresponsible shots played. Gambhir played down the wrong line to the second ball of the match, Suresh Raina and Rohit Sharma threw away their wickets without even facing the spinners, while Yuvraj Singh left a gaping hole between bat and pad against Ajantha Mendis. Mahendra Singh Dhoni also fell attempting a cute cut.If a few batsmen had chosen to dig deep, the script might have been different. A target of 200 would have been tough on this track. It seemed everyone was trying to do a Virender Sehwag, when what was needed was preservation. India’s highest partnership was 37 between Rohit and Yuvraj, followed by the 29 that the last pair of Pragyan Ojha and Munaf Patel put on. Like Zaheer Khan and Ishant Sharma at the PSS, Harbhajan Singh, Ojha and Munaf batted time against the spinners.Since India’s premature elimination from the World Cup, this side has been in transition. Senior batsmen like Ganguly and Rahul Dravid – both members of the 10,000 club – have been dropped and Dhoni’s method of experimenting has yielded both good results (the decision to play five bowlers at Hobart earlier this year keeping in mind ground conditions, entrusting Praveen Kumar with the new ball) and bad (playing the extra batsman in the Asia Cup final).This is a motivated side with an inspirational leader. You can argue that too much self-analysis can obstruct the creativity of this youthful team. There is a feeling that India’s one-day team is more likely to succeed because of the youth factor and the exuberance it brings. It may well succeed because of its inexperience.In the past, Indian teams haven’t been allowed enough leeway in testing times. There have been too many young players drafted in as lambs to the slaughter, with inadequate returns marring the blueprints. There is plenty of one-day cricket coming up and Dhoni and the selectors have identified this as the core group for the immediate future. The talent of the side is not in doubt, the preparation and applications is.India are known to be slow starters in any series, and they have the ability to bounce back in the remaining matches. But some serious introspection is needed if India aim to leave Sri Lanka unscathed. They can start by thinking out of the box.

Bangladesh left-arm spinner Enamul Haque Jr and Sri Lankan medium-pacer Sujeewa de Silva will join the Maharashtra squad for the 2008-09 season. Haque and de Silva will replace Sairaj Bahutule and Munaf Patel who have not renewed their contracts. The selectors were keen on choosing international professionals since other states could be interested in domestic players, Maharashtra Cricket Association president Ajay Shirke, has said.”Since the board allows only three professionals in a squad of 25, we decided to go for two players that other states will not be thinking of,” Shirke told Cricinfo. Maharashtra also recently hired Shaun Williams as coach and are looking to improve their position in the Elite group. Williams was Bangladesh’s assistant coach and he could have had a role in Haque’s selection.Haque has played three one-day internationals and 12 Tests for Bangladesh and took 6 for 45 in his country’s maiden Test victory against Zimbabwe in 2005. He has been a consistent performer in Bangladesh’s domestic competitions which has impressed Shirke. “He has 15 five-wicket hauls in Bangladesh domestic cricket and it speaks highly of him,” Shirke said. “Even Sujeewa has had the experience of playing at the highest level, so we are happy with the duo’s selection.”The primary reason, according to Shirke, for picking Haque and de Silva was Maharashtra inexperienced bowling attack, especially after Patel’s departure. “Our bowling department needs to be strengthened while the new bowlers are still young. So we thought of going for experienced bowlers who can help us achieve better results”, Shirke said.Meanwhile Hrishikesh Kanitkar, Maharashtra’s former captain and senior most player, has asked for a no objection certificate from the state. “He has asked for an NoC as he wants to play elsewhere”, Shirke said.

Victoria’s coach Greg Shipperd has given his blessing for the inaugural Champions Twenty20 League to be held in the middle of Australia’s domestic season, even if it means rescheduling some of the state’s Sheffield Shield fixtures. The ICC has requested the boards from Australia, South Africa and India reconsider the dates of the $6 million tournament due to its starting on September 29, the day after the Champions Trophy final.Twenty20’s emergence has changed many of cricket’s scheduling rules and instead of being concerned by the possible changes, Shipperd said his side, which has won all three of Australia’s interstate Twenty20 titles, would be happy to play anytime – as long as the tournament happened. “It’s no big deal, we’ll adapt to whatever is decided,” he said. “It’s in the interests of all cricket and we’ll play where we’re given a space.”The Australian, South African and Indian boards are exploring the available options, which include a slight amendment to the original dates, staging the event between December 2 and 11, or postponing it until next year. If it is held in December the competition would disrupt both Victoria and Western Australia’s Sheffield Shield and FR Cup seasons.Victoria would have to move three matches in order to go to India while Western Australia have a four-day game ending on December 1, a one-day contest on the 12th and another first-class fixture starting on the 14th. “If it happened in December then games being shifted is a possibility,” Shipperd said. “We’re flexible, as long as it goes ahead. If it means a Pura Cup game is brought forward, opening a block of six or seven days, then bring it on.”However, the prospect of waiting another summer for the tournament does not excite Shipperd. “It seems pointless to play it after the season,” he said. “There would have been another competition and we’ve been hoping this would come off for three years.”Due to the event’s domestic status it does not fall directly under the ICC’s scope, but the global body does not want the Champions Trophy – the 50-over mini-World Cup due to be held in Pakistan – to be overshadowed. State and provincial teams are such small entities in a battle including the ICC, the Indian board and the Champions Trophy broadcasters ESPN that they have little choice but to accept any alterations, especially as they consider the potential riches from a successful showing. Victoria earned A$32,000 for their Twenty20 victory in 2007-08, an amount which could be easily multiplied by 100 if they succeed in India.Despite the radical changes being suggested for the Sheffield Shield, a competition which has been previously interrupted only by war, there are indications Cricket Australia would agree to release the teams. South Africa’s Dolphins and Titans have similar scheduling concerns over a domestic one-day tournament while three international series involving Australia, India, England and South Africa finish on December 2. The ICC has asked the boards to report back with their recommendations in the next week.