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Ahead of their County Championship tie against Gloucestershire at Cheltenham, Yorkshire have dropped Yuvraj Singh from their middle order, bringing in Gavin Hamilton instead.Yuvraj has struggled in the County Championship, making only 137 runs in 10 innings. His big knocks for Yorkshire came only in the Twenty20 Cup.Geoff Cope, director of cricket for the county, said: “Yuvraj has come over here and has not found it easy. Pressure has been coming from the second team, with Gavin Hamilton in good form and scoring runs, and we felt the time had come for a change.””Yuvraj is struggling,” Cope added. “He has accepted the decision and we all hope that he will find his touch and show everyone what he is capable of.”Yuvraj Singh in county cricket

Aravinda de Silva has been appointed as a national cricket selector just days after retiring from international cricket.De Silva, Sri Lanka’s highest run scorer in Tests and ODIs, is one of three new faces on a five-man selection panel to be announced on Tuesday.Former Sri Lanka leg-spinner and selector Lalith Kaluperuma and former manager Jayantha Paranathala have also been appointed.Former Sri Lanka wicket-keeper Guy de Alwis will continue as chairman and Roger Wijesuriya will remain a member.Sri Lanka’s selectors are appointed by the Minister of Sports, usually after recommendations from the Cricket Board.The panel’s first task will be to resolve a disagreement with star spinner Muttiah Muralitharan who was originally omitted from a 15-man squad for the Sharjah Cup.Muralitharan has reacted with surprise and confusion to his omission from the squad, apparently on the grounds of fitness.

Sri Lanka captain Sanath Jayasuriya hopes that coach Dav Whatmore willconsider extending his contract which expires at the end of May.Whatmore, who was appointed in 1999 for a second stint in charge, hasconfirmed that he will discuss his future with the Sri Lanka Cricket Boardshortly.There had been speculation that cricket officials had approached severalalternative coaches, including former South Africa coach Bob Woolmer, formerSouth Africa captain Keppler Wessels and former New Zealand coach SteveRixon.However, Jayasuriya wants Whatmore to stay in charge as Sri Lanka lookforward to a tough year ahead with Test series against New Zealand, WestIndies and England.”Dav has been very good for the boys,” said Jayasuriya. “We won the 1996 finals with him and have done well again since he came back in 1999.””He has been doing a good job and has been there for a long time.”Whatmore, who is yet to publicly confirm a willingness to extend hiscontract, hopes to have discussions with the Cricket Board after he returnsfrom South Africa on Friday morning.”I am contracted until the end of May and any decision regarding my personalfuture will be made with the cricket board after the tournament,” he said.”There are still some challenges there but it is a case of communicationsand dialogue after this tournament.”

Ben Smith reached his second double century in first-class matches for Central Districts against Canterbury at Pukekura Park today, transforming at one stroke this match and his season.Smith had scored 32 runs in five previous State Championship innings this season and seemed a player well short of his best form, a player struggling to recover the prolific scoring touch of a season ago when he was Central’s batting mainstay.But as Smith turned around CD’s first innings over the past two days, taking them from two for two on his arrival at the crease to a bold declaration at 336/5 – 92 runs behind Canterbury – he also brought to an end his own batting slump.”It’s a mental thing,” Smith said after being left 200 not out at Central’s teatime declaration, only four runs short of his highest score in first-class matches. “Thirty five runs at [an average of] seven suddenly becomes 235 at 40.”That’s the marvellous thing about the game of cricket. Things can change so suddenly and so completely, even with a single innings. Now I feel confident and comfortable at the crease and I’m ready to get on with the job of scoring runs.”Smith now stands only 54 runs away from 10,000 runs in first-class cricket – a milestone he might yet have the opportunity to surpass in this match.The onus has fallen on Canterbury to reciprocate Central’s imaginative declaration and to foster the possibility of an outright result on the final day of the match tomorrow. Canterbury were 102/4 in their second innings at stumps tonight, leading by 194 runs overall but having lost four important wickets in 31 overs before stumps.Central have challenged Canterbury to make a declaration tomorrow which will make the last day of 2001 a memorable one for New Plymouth’s cricket fans. Judging that declaration will be difficult.Smith believes Canterbury might leave Central 300 to 320 to score in 70 or 80 overs but Canterbury will have in mind Smith’s form and the fact they scored 301 in 80 overs on the game’s first day on the way to their first innings of 428.”I think there’s no way after we played as well as that and made a declaration like that that Canterbury won’t come to the party,” Smith said. “It’s in their interests as much as ours to make something out of the last day. For one of us to walk away with six points before we get into the one-day series would really set us up for the second part of the season.”I think the slow bowlers could play a big part tomorrow but, having said that, there’s still a bit for the quicks and all four new balls have done a bit. The consistency of the wicket is tremendous and it was great to bat on.”Smith was aware he was encroaching on his highest first-class score when Central’s declaration came today but he calmly accepted the decision to withdraw while that milestone was within range.”The message came out that we were looking to declare at tea and while I wasn’t sure whether things had changed or not I could see the sense in the declaration and I’m happy with my score.”Smith’s innings gained in importance because of the background against which it was achieved. Central had lost both openers to lbw decisions when he came to the wicket at five minutes past four last night with his team two wickets down and with only two runs on the board. Central were seven for three when he was joined by his captain Glen Sulzberger.Smith and Sulzberger put on 175 for the fourth wicket in 181 minutes before Sulzberger was out shortly before 1pm today for 52. He had been 48 not out overnight.Richard King joined Smith in a fifth-wicket partnership of 88 in 111 minutes and had put on 66 in 61 minutes with Bevan Griggs before the declaration. King made 28, Griggs was left 23 not out and all of the Central wickets today fell to Warren Wisneski who had 4-95.Canterbury’s progress towards stumps, armed with that 92-run lead, was indecisive. They lost the valuable wickets of Jarrod Englefield, Shanan Stewart, Michael Papps and Gary Stead and were left with Chris Harris and Aaron Redmond at the wicket, still in the early stages of their innings.Englefield fell lbw to Brent Hefford for three, Stewart was caught by Griggs off Andrew Schwass for 38, Papps edged a catch to Sulzberger off Tim Anderson and part-timer David Kelly claimed his second first-class wicket when he trapped Stead lbw. Kelly took his first first-class wicket in Canterbury’s first innings.

ADELAIDE, Feb 20 AAP – Prime Minister John Howard today said it would be a great shame if Shane Warne was banned from cricket.Warne faces a possible two-year ban from the game after being charged with testing positive to the banned diuretics hydrochlorothiazide and amiloride on January 22.Warne’s drugs case hearing will be held tomorrow in Melbourne by the Australian Cricket Board’s three-person anti-doping committee.Warne returned home from the World Cup in South Africa last week without bowling a ball after being informed of the positive test.His defence, so far, was that he was given a weight loss tablet by his mother, Brigitte, and was unaware it contained the banned substances.If Warne is exonerated, he could be back in the Australian World Cup squad for its pool match against Namibia on February 27.Mr Howard said the rules must be upheld at Warne’s drugs case hearing but added it would be sad to see him go.”He’s facing a tribunal and I don’t think it’s fair for someone in my position to express a view either way, except to express the hope he’s dealt with fairly and justly,” Mr Howard told Adelaide radio station 5DN.”It would be a great shame if we lose his services.”On the other hand there are rules that need to be upheld and I would support the rules being upheld.”I just hope that he (Warne) doesn’t break them.”

New Zealand’s Cricket Academy made full use of the head start it made to the season last week, and the batting skill of Chris Cairns, to beat Central Districts by 79 runs in a 40-over match at Lincoln Green today.It was the only day of four scheduled days for CD at Lincoln University after bad weather in the Canterbury region.The Academy side batted first at CD’s request and lost Brendon McCullum who misjudged an inswinger from the fourth ball he faced, from Ewen Thompson, while fellow opener Jamie How was defiant for 50 minutes before being trapped leg before wicket by Brent Hefford.However, Shanan Stewart and Nick Horsley regained some initiative for the Academy in a 66-run third wicket stand in only 52 minutes. Stewart was first to go when caught at deep backward square leg on 31 when picking up a ball from off spinner Campbell Furlong.Horsley was in full cry however, and he put together 86 at almost a run a ball before he was out to Thompson’s bowling having hit two sixes and 10 fours.Any hopes CD had that they had gained the breakthrough were soon allayed when Cairns took control. Michael Mason was on the receiving end at one stage when in the space of seven balls, Cairns scored 22 runs, including three sixes. He raised his 50 off only 33 balls with four sixes and five fours.Cairns finished 84 not out, scored off 41 balls and he ended with seven sixes and seven fours. He found a solid ally in Nathan McCullum who scored 28 off 24 balls as 83 were added off 47 balls.It took only 19 minutes for the Academy side to move from 200 to 250 and at the end of 40 overs the Academy were 266/6. All of CD’s bowlers took a pasting with Thompson the only bowler to take more than one wicket with his two for 48 from seven overs.The Academy bowlers were miserly in their approach and only 30 runs came in the first 10 overs and by 20 overs the score was only 61/1. David Kelly and Peter Ingram scored 98 in 78 minutes for the second wicket. Both batsmen fell to Nathan McCullum’s spin bowling for 50 runs while Furlong retired on 35, scored off 30 balls.Time and overs ran out for the CD batsmen and the score was 187/5 when the 40 overs were completed. Nathan McCullum finished with two for 34 from his six overs. Cairns had none for 19 from his five overs.

Opener Salman Butt was retained Pakistan captain for nextyear’s Youth World Cup to be played in New Zealand from Jan15.Paceman Junaid Zia, son of Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB)chairman Lt Gen Tauqir Zia, was retained vice-captain.Chairman of junior selection committee Zaheer Abbas alsoannounced the squad and unnecessarily made comments on theability of the team which landed him in an embarrassingposition.As Zaheer said the team had good bowlers and fielder but notquality batsmen, he was left dumb-founded when he was askedwasn’t it strange that Haroon Rasheed (team coach) hadfailed to improve the technique of the stroke-makers despitebeing a batsman of repute.Zaheer said more emphasis would be laid to improve thebatting department in the training camp which would be heldat Rawalpindi, the dates of which would be announced later.He said Rawalpindi was selected for the camp as it hadsimilar grassy pitches as in New Zealand.Five reserves players were also announced.Squad: Salman Butt (captain), Atiq-ur-Rehman, KhaqanArsal, Asim Munir Butt, Mohammad Fayyaz, Irfanuddin, AzharAli, Amin-ur-Rehman, Arslan Mir, Kamran Sajid, KamranYounis, Najaf Shah, Umer Gull and Junaid Zia (vice-captain).Reserves: Mohammad Khalil, Zulqarnain, Saqib Zia,Azam Husain, Yasir Shah.

National League

Scotland v Hampshire, Edinburgh
ScorecardRahul Dravid’s Scotland debut was overshadowed by Robin Smith, who compiled a stylish 82 from 85 balls to guide Hampshire to a six-wicket win at the Grange. Derek Kenway also added a half-century as Scotland’s total of 201 for 8 was overhauled with two overs to spare. Dravid himself could only manage 25 from 41 balls, and it was Scotland’s other overseas pro, the South African Jon Kent, who top-scored with 57. The pick of the bowlers was yet another import, Hampshire’s Wasim Akram, who dismissed Scotland’s opener Ryan Watson with his first ball and later bowled Kent on his way to figures of 3 for 32.Leicestershire v Gloucestershire, Grace Road
ScorecardGloucestershire continued their excellent one-day form with a three-wicket win over Leicestershire at Grace Road. Matt Windows led the way with a 91-ball 76, making light work of a tricky target of 235 on a difficult pitch. His third-wicket partnership of 100 with Chris Taylor laid the foundations for victory, and though Leicestershire struck back with a flurry of wickets in the later overs, Mark Alleyne and James Averis steered Gloucestershire home. Leicestershire’s total had owed much to Brad Hodge’s 63 … and extras, who contributed 46, including 14 wides.

New Zealand captain Stephen Fleming’s choice to bowl first in the second Test at Hobart yesterday was the talk of newspapers covering the match today.New Zealand Herald: “It was hard to decide last night which blunder was going to cost New Zealand more – the non-selection of Chris Martin or the decision to ask Australia to bat first in the second test at Bellerive.”Despite a Daniel Vettori-inspired fightback it was still a calamitous day for New Zealand, as the bowling attack was demolished for the second consecutive occasion by Australian opening batsmen Justin Langer (123) and Matthew Hayden (91).”The last time New Zealand captain Stephen Fleming inserted this pair they piled on 224 so it may have been considered something of a victory yesterday when they were restricted to a mere 223, as Australia marched through to a commanding 411 for six at stumps.”It could have been worse but for a touch of Vettori magic through the second and third sessions.”The left-armer indicated a return to his best form with four precious wickets.”The Sydney Morning Herald: “Driving is Langer’s hallmark and was again to the fore, but both left-handers were given no shortage of fodder to pull as the Kiwis were again left to question the wisdom of sending an opponent in.”Old slow-coach Hayden got a wriggle on after Langer’s departure, leaving his crease to lift Daniel Vettori to the cover and straight boundaries. Nine runs short of a fourth century of the calendar year, he lifted the spinner straight to long-on.”Vettori was doing all that a spinner has to do, holding his nerve and getting just enough turn. He soon had Mark Waugh in two minds, playing inside a drive after skipping forward and losing his off stump.”First-gamer Shane Bond hit Adam Parore’s gloves harder than anyone, particularly in a pre-tea spell in which he hit Steve Waugh’s as well. The captain, again confronted with a leg gully, a short leg and short bowling, watched the ball bob just out of reach.”Bond, a trainee policeman with a good name for hunting down his man, kept at him and made Waugh his first Test victim with a leg before verdict that bemused the batsman. It might have passed over, but a similar appeal minutes earlier might not.”The Daily Telegraph: “For the first time in 1570 matches through 124 years of international cricket, two left-handers have made three century opening stands in as many Tests. Langer and Hayden have two of the five century partnerships scored at the top of the order in Australia’s 40 Tests against New Zealand, they are the only pair to do it twice and the only ones with a double century to start the innings.”Moreover, Langer is the first Australian to score a century in three successive matches since David Boon on the 1993 Ashes tour.”In Brisbane, Langer should have been leg before wicket to the fifth ball of the match but survived.”Yesterday he was dropped by Matthew Bell from the seventh ball of the game while on one, after cutting Daryl Tuffey’s first delivery hard and high to gully.”Langer then put the New Zealand bowlers to the sword. His 50 came in just 48 balls with 10 fours – mostly blazing drives and pulls. Hayden was only one at the time.”Once Langer went, Hayden holed out to long-on on the verge of another century, mis-hitting a flighted delivery from Vettori.”New Zealand Press Association: “Some commentators suggested New Zealand were foolish not to select accurate fast-medium bowler Chris Martin who has taken 28 wickets in seven tests and could move the ball away from the left-handed opening batsmen.”Fleming acknowledged he had made a mistake by asking Australia to bat first after winning the toss.”‘The moisture was in there but it just didn’t do as much as we had hoped,'” Fleming said.”‘I’m probably feeling the most disappointed out of anybody.'”‘Once we realised there wasn’t much (movement) there, we had to settle in and do some work. We obviously didn’t do that well enough until halfway through the second session.'””That was the Black Caps’ best period when both openers were dismissed and memories of the first test in Brisbane were revived as Australia lost five wickets for 44.”

Former Indian skipper Sunil Gavaskar said on Friday he was taught torespect decisions of umpires very early in his career “but at timesdue to unavoidable pressures I have reacted negatively for which Istill have regrets.”Inaugurating the Board of Control for Cricket in India’s two-day 13thall India Umpires’ seminar in Mumbai, Gavaskar said players shouldlearn to respect the decisions of umpires so that the game can go onsmoothly as cricket is considered to be a gentleman’s game.Gavaskar, who is also one of the leading TV commentators in the worldtoday, said new technology has put umpires under tremendous pressure”but still I think they are doing a very good job out there as theyhave to be 110 per cent sure of their decisions.””When you watch replays on TV, you see 95 per cent of the decisionsmade by the umpires are right and it is human that a few decisions maygo the other way due to the tremendous pressure faced by umpires,” headded.The second highest run getter in Test cricket, Gavaskar said he wasfortunate to have umpires like Pillo Reporter, MV Gothoskar, PRPanjabi and AM Mamsa when he was playing.”In fact, during my days players and umpires had a good rapport onand off the field and we would discuss the rules and regulations ofthe game in detail,” he said.Gavaskar, recipient of the Padma Bhushan and Maharashtra Bhushanawards, praised the BCCI for conducting such seminars, saying they actas a platform for umpires to exchange their views.”The seminars also help discuss the new rules of the game and give aninsight into the problems faced by umpires in the country,” he added.BCCI secretary JY Lele, joint secretary Jyoti Bajpai, Mumbai CricketAssociation (MCA) joint secretaries Ratnakar Shetty and MayankKhandwala, vice president Pravin Bharve and international umpires AVJayprakash, SK Bansal and VK Ramaswamy attended the seminar.About 180 umpires from all over the country are participating in theseminar.