Ryan ten Doeschate has set his sights on achieving success with the Netherlands in the World Cricket League.ten Doeschate has been one of the leading batsmen outside Test cricket in the last year, averaging over fifty in Netherlands’ six ODIs in 2006 and scoring 686 runs at 228.66 in the Intercontinental Cup. His continuing good form will be crucial if his side is to reach the final and so qualify for the inaugural Twenty20 World Championships in South Africa in September.”We have been working very hard to get the formula right,” he explained. “We were on a recent tour to Pretoria and we devised a formula for one-day cricket that we think is going to work for us.”I think we learned a lot from the ICC Trophy. Ireland and Scotland had obviously moved ahead and we had started to stagnate a little bit. Now I think we are back on track and we have been putting in some strong performances.”We certainly want to get to the final – that may sound optimistic because the favourites will probably be Kenya, Scotland and Ireland for the two final spots, but we think we have what it takes to get there.”

India and Pakistan have been drawn together in the group stage of the inaugural Twenty20 World Championship while England and Australia will also face each other in South Africa during September.Cricket South Africa have confirmed the four groups, although the fixtures still have to be ratified by ICC and the final list is not expected until the end of the month. The groups have South Africa, West Indies and Bangladesh in Group A, England, Zimbabwe and Australia in Group B, New Zealand, Sri Lanka and Kenya in Group C and Pakistan, India and Scotland in Group D.The tournament is due to run from September 11 to 24, although there seems to be confusion over the dates. Roweda Kandan, who is overseeing the preparations for CSA, confirmed the schedule while an ICC spokesman told Cricinfo said they had still to be finalised.Warm-up matches are slated for September 8 and 9, yet England and India don’t complete their one-day series until September 8 at Lord’s. “England and India will arrive late and might just have one warm-up game,” Kandan told Cricinfo.

Bob Woolmer was remembered as a passionate man who lived and died for the sport he loved during a memorial service in his adopted South Africa. The on-going murder inquiry has prevented Woolmer’s body from being flown back from Jamaica for a private funeral service, but friends and colleagues gathered at Cape Town’s Wynberg high school to give him a public send-off.”He lived for the game and he succumbed to the game,” Allan Donald told the mourners. Donald, the former South Africa fast man, credited his close friend and mentor with much of his success. “But the one thing he could never coach me was to run between the wickets,” he said in reference to South Africa’s exit from the 1999 World Cup.Woolmer was found dead, presumed strangled, in his Jamaican hotel room on March 18, a day after Pakistan were dramatically ousted from the World Cup by Ireland. Detectives are exploring the possibility that Woolmer was murdered with the cyanide-like poison aconite, which causes internal organ failure and forces the victim’s breath to slow until it finally stops. Reports have also said Woolmer’s body has been embalmed, which could make a second post-mortem difficult.His death has sparked one of the most complex murder investigations in Jamaican history and has triggered speculation about possible links to match-fixing and illegal betting. Tim Noakes, who co-authored a book with Woolmer on the art and science of cricket, rejected suggestions the coach was about to expose any scandals, saying the publication “does not include the word match-fixing”. Fighting back tears, Noakes described Woolmer as a “cricket missionary”.Noakes said the global community of cricketers and all who loved the game now had to face the possibility that cricket “may have lost its moral compass”. He praised Woolmer, who was in charge of South Africa between 1994 and 1999, as a man who had shaken hands with the queen of England and dined with presidents, but at the same time coached children in Cape Town’s Langa township.

Donald read a statement on behalf of Woolmer’s widow Gill and sons Dale and Russell, thanking well-wishers from around the world for their condolences. “To Inzamam and the Pakistan cricket team, Bob loved you.”The Pakistan Cricket Board chairman Nasim Ashraf conveyed the sadness of his government and people at Woolmer’s death, telling his family: “We in Pakistan loved Bob.” He said he had received an email from Woolmer on the day of his death, as the shock of the exit at the hands of Ireland was still reverberating. “One thing struck me,” he said, “even at that time, he never made any excuses and stood by his troops.”Ashraf announced that an indoor cricket centre in Lahore would be named after Woolmer. “He lived cricket, he loved cricket and he died for cricket,” he said.Mourners included the former South Africa players Nicky Boje, Paul Adams and Gary Kirsten. Bert Erickson, of the Avendale Cricket Club in the Western Cape, told how Woolmer had defied apartheid-era racial barriers by coaching teams of colour and setting up the first mixed-race boys’ cricket team in the province.

As West Indies contemplated their navels and prepared to say farewell to their own World Cup party, South Africa’s captain, Graeme Smith, expressed his delight at the manner in which his team had bounced back from their defeat against Bangladesh. The eventual 67-run margin was by no means flattering to a side that had the game under control from the earliest moments of the West Indian reply, after posting a huge 356 for 4 in their 50 overs.”It’s obviously very important,” Smith said of the win that takes his side to six points in the Super Eights table with two games remaining against England and New Zealand. “After the last game and the quick turnaround, there were always going to be some nerves around this morning. But to come out and play the way we did today, under that amount of pressure, was so important.”The slow, low surface at the Providence Stadium in Guyana had not been to South Africa’s liking – they posted just 184 in their defeat against Bangladesh and came close to throwing away an unassailable position in their one-wicket victory over Sri Lanka. But today they batted as if they were back in Basseterre, swatting 14 sixes and 24 fours in an imposing performance led by AB de Villiers’ 146.”We felt we were a little bit tentative against Bangladesh and we wanted to really come out and express ourselves this time,” Smith said. “We got ourselves to the top ranking by playing our natural game, and we discussed how we just occasionally put ourselves under pressure by not sticking to what we do best. We wanted to relax and go back to that today and play with freedom, and a bit of brain.”The Bangladesh loss led to South Africa’s surrendering of their No. 1 status amid the usual accusations that they choke when it comes to the big matches. But Smith was in a bullish mood as he rubbished the claims that his team had been divided during their lengthy stay in Guyana.”We just played really poorly against Bangladesh and we knew we’d let ourselves down,” Smith said. “Every one of us felt bad after that game, but some of the stuff that’s been going around back home about the team being divided and in pieces and fighting is all crap – so it’s really nice for the guys to bounce back the way they did.”

In particular Jacques Kallis has borne the brunt of much criticism, especially since his sluggish performance in the run-chase against Australia in St Kitts. But today it was his dismantling of Dwayne Bravo in the second Powerplay that laid the platform for South Africa’s victory.”Since the Australia game, Jacques has played pretty aggressively and his strike-rates have been up there,” Smith said. “Today he played some superb shots and got the ball rolling – and then AB [de Villiers] followed suit. It was always going to be tough to bat up front today, and Jacques’ experience shone through. There was a lot of moisture in the first 10 to 12 overs.”After Kallis had perished for 81, it was de Villiers who took centre stage, defying a painful bout of cramp and dehydration to slug his way to 146 of the finest runs. “I was actually trying to get out,” he joked, “but that didn’t work, so I had to play through the cramps. I stayed there for much longer than I thought I would, but when I got to a hundred I knew I had to go for it and play my shots – because I knew the guys after that could hit the ball even further than me.”New Zealand are next in line for a South African side who are firmly back on track after their hiccup against Bangladesh, and victory over Stephen Fleming’s unbeaten side will give them one foot in the semi-finals “It’s a big game,” Smith said. “New Zealand have played well in the tournament, but if we can play the type of game we played today – allowing our natural ability to come through and allow us to attack – it will bode well.”

The Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) announced a new six-member junior selection committee, to be headed by former Test opener Naushad Ali.As with the national selection committee, members of the committee will be full-time, paid employees and have been appointed for a two-year tenure. They will be responsible for selection of academy teams and all age-group teams from U-15 to U-19.The committee is comprised of former Test cricketers Aftab Baloch, Mohsin Kamal, Azhar Khan and Arshad Khan, the off-spinner from Peshawar who was, until recently, a part of Pakistan’s international squad. Mudassar Nazar, director of the National Cricket Academy (NCA) at Gaddafi Stadium, is the sixth member of the committee.

Rumesh Ratnayake, the former Sri Lanka fast bowler, has agreed to succeed Trevor Penney as Sri Lanka’s assistant coach once Penney’s contract expires at the end of August.Sri Lanka Cricket was planning to get Ratnayake roped in for next month’s home series against Bangladesh, but his commitments with the Asian Cricket Council (ACC) as a developing officer won’t see him relieved off his duties until August end.As a result, Penney will take over as coach for the Bangladesh series from Tom Moody who finishes his contract with Sri Lanka Cricket at the end of May. Moody is undertaking a coaching job with Western Australia where he can be close to his family and Penney is due to join him in September.Ratnayake is due to sign a four-year contract starting in September 2007. This is the first time any coach assigned to the national team is going to be signed for such a long period of time. The maximum has been for a period of three years.”Tom has set such high standards that I am delighted to except the challenge of assisting the national team,” Ratnayake said. Prior to working with the ACC, Ratnayake successfully headed Sri Lanka Cricket’s fast bowling academy. He is a qualified Level 4 (English) and Level 2 (Australian) coach.In 23 Tests Ratnayake took 73 wickets at 35.10 and was a more than useful tailender making two fifties in Tests. His most memorable performance was bowling Sri Lanka to their maiden Test victory at Colombo in 1985 by capturing nine Indian wickets for 125 runs. He also took 76 wickets from 70 ODIs and figured in the 1983 and 1987 World Cups.

Sri Lanka captain Mahela Jayawardene said that his players were constantly challenging their individual comfort zones after his team had recorded their second straight three-day victory in a Test beating Bangladesh by an innings and 90 runs at the P Saravanamuttu Stadium. “If you are not put under pressure it’s quite easy for us to take things easy. But if we focus on us improving ourselves challenging individually to be better cricketers, we will always push ourselves to come up with good performances,” he said at a post-match press conference.”Everyone is doing well, the way Malinda (Warnapura) came back after the first Test match it was brilliant. He showed a lot of patience. It’s not easy for a guy who made his debut and got a first ball duck to settle down and start scoring runs. He looked really motivated and his temperament was good. There are a few areas he has to work on like technique and all that. When he plays more matches he can do that,” Jayawardene said.Jayawardene said he was not surprised by Bangladesh’s late fightback when they prolonged the match into the final session of the third day after beginning at 69 for 4. “We knew they had the talent. Even in the first Test second innings their top order batted really well. It was for us to create pressure and opportunities. When we do that we get wickets but sometimes when we don’t get those half chances going our way and not creating opportunities you have to be patient and wait for it to happen,” he said.”We’ve been spoilt a bit a couple of the first innings when we get sides out for 62 and 89. You think you could bowl them out but this is actually how Test cricket is when you play on good tracks. Any opposition if they put their head down and bat, it’s going to be a struggle. There were a few half chances, close decisions.”The Sri Lanka captain was, however, quick to praise his bowlers. “(Chaminda) Vaas’s bowling was brilliant. With him it’s all about patience. With the old ball he will reverse a bit. He created a few opportunities but it didn’t come his way. Yesterday him and Dilhara (Fernando) were both brilliant. With Lasith’s (Malinga) and the unpredictability with (Muttiah) Muralitharan we got a decent line up. It’s all about playing as a unit,” he said.Jayawardene rated his counterpart Mohammad Ashraful’s unbeaten 129 as the best knock he’s seen under the conditions. “Bangladesh were not under pressure. They probably knew the outcome and Ashraful just played himself in. He didn’t play that many shots but he knew how to control the innings. He played a very good innings today. He had a good partner in Mushfiqur Rahim. He was a bit aggressive at the start but he settled down as well. The thing is Ashraful batted at No. 6. When you do that the side is gone. The best player should be batting right up in the order and taking more responsibilities. It’s always good to have individuals doing well. Credit should go to Ashraful and the other guys. But its all about trying and being competitive in Test cricket. That’s the area Bangladesh should be looking at not just the individual,” he said.Bangladesh coach Shaun Williams said Test cricket was a tough school and his team really needed to take a long hard look at themselves. “Our bowers need to be more consistent and we need to bowl better areas for longer periods. It’s a tough ask when we haven’t scored enough runs. We need to bat better and if we do that the bowlers will lift their standards as well,” he said.Williams went on to say that something needs to be done about their first innings batting performances. “Whether the guys are nervous on day one I am not sure. It is something we need to look at. The context of the game changes when you bat poorly in the first innings and then there is a big total facing you.” He praised the batting of Ashraful and Mushfiqur and said the rest of the team should take the positives that came out of that record partnership and take it to the third and final Test starting at Kandy next Wednesday.

Rahul Dravid, the Indian captain, has backed VVS Laxman to compensate for past failings in England and produce a big series this time round.In a largely bat-dominated series in 2002, Laxman made only one fifty in six innings, averaging a touch under 40, a record Dravid believes will be rectified this time. “I back Laxman to have a big tour this time. The last time he didn’t have as great a tour as the other guys. I can see that he’s determined to correct it this time. He looks hungry,” Dravid said.Laxman began his tour in good shape with a sparkling 95 on the second day of a tour game against Sussex at Hove and is likely to feature in the first Test at Lord’s, starting from July 19, after not being picked to play in either of the Tests against Bangladesh in May.India will consider playing four bowlers against England – as opposed to the five they picked against Bangladesh – as Dravid said he was “pretty clear” about the top six batsmen for the first Test.”I know my best top order. I’m pretty clear about the top six going into the first Test match. In the next game (against England ‘A’) we will be playing our top six batsmen,” said Dravid.With Mahendra Singh Dhoni certain to come in at number seven, India are likely to use Sourav Ganguly as the fifth bowler. Dravid pinpointed the absence of a genuine all-rounder as one reason why India didn’t play with five bowlers.”We will probably go in with four bowlers. Depending upon the weather and the pitch we will have to decide whether it’s two spinners and two fast bowlers, or three pacers and a spinner. We have struggled to find an all-rounder, so it’s always a tricky balance,” he added.

Simon Taufel, the Australian umpire, said that he was “very upset” at having wrongly given Sachin Tendulkar out leg-before on the third day of the second Test at Trent Bridge.”I always look at the big screen after giving a decision. And the minute I saw the replay of Sachin’s dismissal, I knew I got it wrong,” Taufel told Sky Sports commentators David Lloyd and David Gower, according to agency reports.Taufel was sorry for mistakenly denying fans the chance to watch their favourites at the crease. “The big disappointment is that people come to watch the top players and I gave him out wrongly. That upset me.”But Taufel, who has won the ICC Best Umpire of the Year award for three successive years, defended his decision to give Sourav Ganguly out caught behind on the leg side.”However, I would have given Ganguly out every time,” he said.David Lloyd told Sky Sports viewers that even VVS Laxman – who was at the non-striker’s end – heard a sound when the ball passed Ganguly’s bat.Taufel had also incorrectly given Rahul Dravid and Kevin Pietersen out in the first Test at Lord’s.

The Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI) is on the verge of forming a two-tier cricket league that will involve domestic leagues in four countries and an international league. It’s believed to be along the lines of professional football, with clubs being able to hire players from wherever they like to play in a Twenty20 format. Cricket Australia (CA) is believed to be involved in the process and the International Management Group (IMG), the event manager, is putting it all together.IMG is set to meet with officials of four cricket boards – India, Australia, South Africa and England – next week in Singapore, to finalise the details. According to the deal, details of which first appeared in Hindustan Times, there will be domestic leagues in these countries, where the cricket economy can support such a structure. Players from other countries, including Pakistan and Sri Lanka, will be able to take part in any of these leagues.Further, the top sides from each of the four leagues, likely to be called Professional Cricket Leagues, will then take part in a Champions Cricket League, similar to the Champions League in football.If this plan does work, it would be a severe blow to the fledgling Indian Cricket League, which has targeted the same sector – format, players, audience – but has the disadvantage of not being recognised by the BCCI, with whom it is effectively in hostile competition.Lalit Modi, from the BCCI, and James Sutherland, from CA, are believed to be spearheading this venture, and have been planning it for several months.Officials from IMG recently met Sharad Pawar, the Indian board president, and made a presentation. But it was not put before the working committee of the board – which is the body that will make a final decision on the matter – to ensure it stayed under wraps till the deal was through.A CA spokesperson, when contacted, did not deny the possibility of such a league but refused to confirm any developments. “All I can tell you is that Cricket Australia is not in a position to make a comment at this stage. We are regularly approached by all sorts of people who have exciting ideas. We’re always keen to look at these ideas and see what’s possible,” he said. “Until we have ink on a contract we don’t believe in making public statements. On this issue it would be more appropriate if you spoke to the BCCI.”It has been learned, however, that plans for this league have been on for a while now, and this is not a reaction to the formation and launch of the Indian Cricket League. The idea is that each of the countries staging the Professional Cricket League will hold auctions for team franchises. Corporates can buy a team and then staff it with 15-20 players, although it is expected that there will be a cap on the limit a player can be bought or sold for. What this will mean is that there will be more employment for cricketers, an opportunity for domestic cricketers to earn more. This will also result in the creation of related jobs – coaches, administration, scorers and other peripheral roles associated with the running of any tournament.