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Muttiah Muralitharan, Chaminda Vaas, and Kumar Sangakkara, currently playing county cricket in England, will be available for selection for the home Test series against Bangladesh.Ashantha de Mel, Sri Lanka Cricket’s chairman of selectors, said the selectors wanted to look at every angle before they decided on the squad. The availability of the three senior players, de Mel said, meant that Sri Lanka would have a well-balanced squad for the series. Murali, playing for Lancashire, Vaas for Middlesex, and Sangakkara for Warwickshire, will miss the Afro-Asia Cup, hosted by India in early June, due to their county commitments.Meanwhile,the venue for the first Test in Colombo, starting June 25, has been moved from R Premadasa Stadium to the Sinhalese Sports Club Ground. The second Test will be played at the P Saravanamuttu Stadium in Colombo from July 3 to 7 and the third at Kandy’s Asgiriya Stadium from July 11 to 15.

The Sri Lankan tourists are braced for a pace onslaught in England’s unfamiliar early-season conditions, after arriving in the country for the start of their ten-week tour. After a two-week break to recharge their batteries, the coach, Tom Moody, and the captain, Mahela Jayawardene, fronted up to the press just hours after arriving at their team hotel near Lord’s.England lost 1-0 in the last encounter between the two teams, on the 2003-04 tour of Sri Lanka, but Moody accepted that the return leg would be a much tougher proposition for a young and largely inexperienced team.”Conditions are pretty extreme in Sri Lanka and we know our backyard inside out, but stepping out of that is a challenge,” he admitted. “In the past, that hasn’t been taken as well as it could be, but we’ve got some fresh faces on this trip who haven’t experienced the same issues away from home, so now’s the time to turn a leaf.”Sri Lanka travel as distinct second-favourites, certainly in the Test series, where the loss of two of their most experienced campaigners, Marvan Atapattu and Sanath Jayasuriya, will be felt keenly. “There are positives and negatives,” insisted Moody. “[Marvan and Sanath] are two wonderful players, but the door is open to a couple of youngsters who could be the future of Sri Lankan cricket.”At present no decision has been made as to which of the three openers – Michael Vandort, Upul Tharanga and Jehan Mubarak – will take their place in the first Test at Lord’s, but whoever it is will have to expect a hostile reception from England’s pace battery.

“We expect aggression,” stressed Moody, “and we’d be alarmed if we didn’t get it. The ball will move around, but it can move around everywhere in the world, even in Colombo at times. A lot of our players enjoy facing pace, and it’ll be no surprise if the ball whistles around their ears. Sri Lankans are renowned as wonderful players of spin, but when they’ve come across Brett Lee or Shane Bond, they’ve equipped themselves very well.”Moody’s assertion was backed up by his captain, who pointed to the team’s recent visit to Australia, where they reached the final of the VB Series and even won the first match of the rubber. “It was one of the best Australian summers for Sri Lanka ever,” insisted Jayawardene. “Brett was bowling very quick, on very quick tracks, but we settled ourselves and knew exactly what to do. We worked very hard to get used to those conditions, and we will do the same here.”Moody’s own experience of England will prove invaluable to his team’s preparations. He was a regular at Worcestershire throughout the 1990s, and won the World Cup with Australia in May and June 1999. “It’s more of an advantage than a disadvantage,” he conceded, “but the bottom line is how the team executes its own game-plan. Preparation-wise, we’ll be well-equipped.”Though Moody insisted Sri Lanka were here to win, more realistically they are here to learn and compete. “We’re in a transitional time as a team, with retirements to key players in both forms of game,” he said. “Our main focus is the first three Test matches, then we’ll get our head around one-day cricket, but we’re here to prepare the next generation.””In one-day cricket we are planning towards [the World Cup in] 2007, and we’ve got certain players earmarked in that campaign. We’ve come here to win, and compete against a good English side in challenging conditions, but along the way, we’re here to develop as a team and take advantage of the experience that we get from playing here in England.”In the circumstances, a huge onus is once again going to rest on the shoulders of Sri Lanka’s veteran bowlers, Muttiah Muralitharan and Chaminda Vaas, who has been sidelined through injury in recent weeks. “He’s got 600 wickets so of course he’ll be a key bowler,” said Jayawardene of Murali, “but Vaas coming back is great. He’s got inside knowledge of English conditions, and he’s a great asset because he knows exactly what to do here.”The rest of the attack is somewhat raw by comparison, but Jayawardene was upbeat about their prospects. “These are the young guys who will take us into the next five-six years of Sri Lankan cricket,” he said. “Guys like [Farveez] Maharoof are going well, [Nuwan] Zoysa is coming back to form, Lasit Malinga is awkward to face anywhere in the world, so he’ll be something new, while Malinga Bandara, the legspinner, had a good season at Gloucester last year.”

The Worcestershire offspinner, Gareth Batty, has been called into England’s squad ahead of the first Test against Bangladesh, as cover for Ashley Giles, who has a hip injury.Batty, 27, played the last of his five Tests in Antigua in April 2004, at the end of England’s triumphant tour of the Caribbean. But he toured South Africa last winter with both the Tests and the one-day sides, and has been in good form for Worcestershire in the County Championship. In their current match against Essex at Chelmsford, he has made 54 and taken 3 for 26.Giles, meanwhile, has been troubled by a hip problem since Warwickshire’s Championship match against Sussex at Hove on May 10. “Ashley’s fitness will be re-assessed by the England medical team tomorrow when the Test squad reports for practice,” said David Graveney, England’s chairman of selectors. “Gareth has been added to the squad as a precautionary measure.”Giles was restricted to 11 overs in the match against Sussex but batted in both innings and was confident of making the Test side. However, he is now feeling discomfort again and will be put through his paces by England’s medical team on Monday. He began the season in superb form, taking 24 wickets at 18 apiece, including three five-wicket hauls.Giles’s injury could increase the chances of England playing a full hand of seamers at Lord’s. Simon Jones has bowled 34 overs for Glamorgan in their game against Hampshire, to suggest that he has recovered from his back injury. The vulnerability of the Bangladesh batting to the county seamers they have faced may encourage the selectors to pick an all-pace attack, therefore giving Jon Lewis a Test debut and reducing the workload on Andrew Flintoff.Duncan Fletcher has said that England will need to make sure they do not take Bangladesh lightly at Lord’s. He believes Bangladesh have the ability to make things awkward if England are not on top of their game.He told : “They are a side that will make some progress. Cricket is a strange game and you can never underestimate anyone. It’s important we appreciate there are some good players in their side. There have been other sides who have been in the same position when they’ve entered the international arena and look where they are today. On any given day if one or two of their bowlers bowl in the right areas, you’ve got to make sure you’re at the top of your game.”

Derbyshire have signed James Bryant, the former Somerset batsman, on a two-year contract. The deal was originally agreed back in September last year, but only sealed this week.Bryant, 27 and born in South Africa, had a disappointing last season for Somerset, averaging under 30. However, he has impressed for Eastern Province, the South African domestic side this winter, scoring 163 and two half-centuries.Bryant, whose parents were born in the UK, qualifies as a domestic player after he granted a British passport last year.

Well its tuesday morning the temperature is about 35, there’s not a cloud inthe sky another awful day in Perth!I’m just taking my morning off to write a report on how things are going over here. I’ve been here since October and loved every day, Perth is a fantastic place with great weather and lots to do. But I don’t want this to sound too much like a holiday because I’ve put in some hard work.There are fourteen cricketers on the Paul Terry scheme or “Aus CricketManagement” and that has made it great fun to train with the other guys.Chris Liptrott, Stevie Peters from Worcestershire, James Hamblin and DimiMascarenhas from Hampshire and plenty more from other counties. Fourteen may sound a lot, but Paul seems to have got things just right. Mixing one to one coaching with Team training sessions. Along with Fielding, Pschycology and being laid back enough to cope with the shenanigans that go along with fourteen cricketers.My cricket has been going well, I’m playing for a team called Gosnells in the Waca Perth grade league. This is a good standard and regularly play against WA and sometimes international players such as Ryan Campbell, Brad williams Justin Langer, Adam Gilchrist and Mike Hussey.Gosnells are’nt having A great season, But they have a very young side andwill be much better in a few years. We are “The Baggy Blues”, Aussie leagueplayers are very proud of who they play for and passionate about winning.Personally things have gone well, I’ve taken wickets all summer and bowledwith good control. I have worked with Bret Mulder on my bowling, And likehis approach to spin. He’s been helping me fine tune my action and get theball up and down With a better loop.Paul has worked with my batting. Focusing on my balance and making mymovements quicker and more decisive. Although i haven’t had the same successwith the bat for Gosnells as I have with the ball I feel to be playing welland more solid from the work im doing.Paul employs a fitness trainer called Craig Wilson. He’s come to be known aslots of other things that are unprintable as he screams at us towards theend of every session. I thought the training would be quite scientific beenin Australia but Willo runs the sessions like boot camp. The fitness is veryvaried and ranges from sprints, boxing, swimming to Jacobs Ladder! A particular favorite. The ladder is 220 stairs that lead up to kings park, combine this with a slope called Heartbreak hill, do six ladders followed by sprints up Heartbreak and you have a great little workout.That’s all for now looking forward to the season, See you all soon.

Vasbert Drakes bowled Warwickshire to an improbable ten-wicket win as Gloucestershire’s fragile batting again let them down at Edgbaston.A draw appeared the most likely outcome when Warwickshire declared at their overnight total with a lead of only 88 but it proved more than enough for Gloucestershire who tumbled to 106 all out.Drakes took five for 37 in 19 hostile overs, his first five-wicket haul for Warwickshire, and Gloucestershire had no reply to his aggression and accuracy on a pitch that offered some sideways movement.But there was little excuse for Gloucestershire’s timid approach as they slipped to 17 for four in the first 45 minutes which effectively sealed their fate.Dominic Hewson lost his middle and off stumps after he deflected a rising delivery from Drakes via his elbow and Matt Windows then fell leg before shuffling across his stumps to Melvyn Betts.Chris Taylor gave Warwickshire a helping hand when he shouldered arms and went leg before to Drakes and Kim Barnett then edged Betts to wicket-keeper Keith Piper with a loose push outside off stump.Mark Alleyne and Jermey Snape prospered for a time while Drakes and Betts were recharging their batteries but Alleyne fell to the first of three catches by Ian Bell at short leg as he pushed forward to Dougie Brown.Bell held another bat-pad catch to account for Snape when Drakes returned at the City End and he then produced a stunning effort, diving to his left, to get rid of Reggie Williams off a full-blooded stroke.Martyn Bell played on to Brown, Drakes took his fifth wicket when James Averis offered no stroke and lost his off stump but belated belligerence from Tim Hancock and Jon Lewis ensured Gloucestershire avoided their lowest-ever score at Edgbaston and ensured that Warwickshire had to bat again.But Warwickshire needed only 19 to record their third win in four Championship matches and openers Bell and Piper needed only four overs to knock off the runs.

Boeta Dippenaar has been elected as the president of the South African Cricketers’ Association (SACA) at its annual general meeting in Johannesburg.”I feel privileged that the players have elected me as the president of our players association” Dippenaar said. “The player voice is very important in the game and we feel that SACA plays a big part in this. Our involvement in shaping things now can only make it better for those players who will follow us in the future.”Ahmed Amla, who was elected vice-president, said: “We are hoping to build on the good work already done by SACA and to do this by working within the spirit of the game. To be elected by fellow players is an honour and I will do my best to make a contribution.”Justin Ontong and Gerald Dros were also elected as members of the executive committee. Gerald Dros, who retired as a professional cricketer at the beginning of last season, was re-elected having already served on the committee for a number of years.”It’s good to see the players elect such a strong executive committee” said Tony Irish, Chief Executive Officer of SACA. “The re-election of Dros gives the executive committee some continuity while Boeta, Ahmed and Justin are among the most respected cricketers in the country. I’m looking forward to working with these players. SACA plays a vital role in collectively representing the players in the Proteas and in each of the franchise teams. We intend to continue to take the players association from strength to strength”.

Chaos reigned supreme at Bangalore’s Chinnaswamy Stadium on Monday. The day before the Afro-Asia Twenty20 game there were few signs of an impending intercontinental battle; the promised press conference got cancelled; half of the Asian team haven’t arrived yet and one look at the African team sheet indicated they could be lambs thrown to the wolves.On paper it’s a major mismatch: A bunch of eager-eyed, almost anonymous Africans face up to a team of Asian giants starring Shahid Afridi, among others. However, the nature of the Twenty20 game offers hope. So believes Gulam Bodi, the vice-captain of the African squad. “It’s Twenty20 cricket after all and funny things happen there,” Bodi told Cricinfo. “To be honest, we are playing as men against men. We are not playing any names. We will go out there and put our ability to the best utility.”His bullishness is shared by Morne Morkel, the tall fast bowler from South Africa who ripped apart the Indian line-up in a tour game in Potchefstroom last year. “Yes, there are big players like Afridi but the basics of the game still remain the same. If we can get it in the right areas, anything can happen.”Morkel can also take heart from the pitch, which from the grassy surface looks as if it will offer bounce and pace. The KSCA have roped in the services of curators Blair Christiansen and Bede O’Connell, from the New Zealand Turf Institute, to oversee the preparation of the two pitches.Christiansen, who was approached a month ago by the authorities, has been at work here for the past 11 days. “We have changed the soil type from the traditional mixture of red soil and local soil”, he said while explaining the work done. “We have changed it to high clay content and put more grass on the track to allow the pace to come off the grass rather than the soil.”Given that it’s a virgin track, will it be a disadvantage? “Yes, a little”, he conceded. “But then there has always to be a first. I don’t see any major hiccups. The pitch should play to expectations.”Pitch apart, the Africans could benefit from any sign of complacency or overconfidence among their opponents. Whether it’s the the chaotic organizing process or general laxity many of the squad hadn’t landed in Bangalore till Monday evening. They will have a nets session on the match-day morning and head straight into the game. Roger Binny, the coach of the Asian team, appeared relaxed. “It’s just a one-off Twenty-20 game”, he said, “the real thing is the one-day internationals after that.”His offhand statement mirrored the enthusiasm – or lack of it – among Bangalore’s cricket-loving public. The turnout for tomorrow’s match isn’t expected to break any records – not even after the KSCA’s offer of a free ticket along with every one bought for Wednesday’s one-day international.Bodi sees more stakes in it than that. “It’s not about going out there and having a blast. We have played a lot of Twenty20 back home. The basics still remain the same. There is no use going bang-bang-bang. The first six-seven overs you play around, keeping wickets in hand and then you hit the accelerator. A score of even 180 is possible.”Bodi, who was born in Gujarat before emigrating to South Africa 17 years ago, spoke of the pride among his team-mates. “There is a good vibe in the team, it’s a great honour and privilege for us to be here. We just landed this morning and the boys are tired but they are still very enthusiastic about playing the big stars.”They have a point to prove, they are eager to play in front of the big crowds and take this great experience back home. There are a few youngsters in the team but they aren’t daunted. All of us are just looking to go out there and play our best cricket.”It’s that basic instinct that offers the best shot at a competitive game tomorrow. The weather could be a problem – this is the time of evening showers – and the curators are concerned. “We have covered the pitch and rain has done no damage so far. We can only hope we won’t have any further rain”, said Christiansen. At every level, this match operates on a wing and a prayer.

Michael Vaughan has admitted that, although far from quitting the one-day game, he may have to do so in the future to continue playing at the highest level.”A lot of people are trying to make that decision for me,” he told BBC Radio Five Live. “The most important thing for me is to just get back playing cricket and then there are decisions I will probably have to make. I love playing cricket and while I am given the opportunity to play both forms of the game, I would love to continue.”But in the future if a stage comes whereby missing out on one form of the game will prolong my cricket for a few years then of course that decision will be made. But until I get back playing cricket with all the work I’m doing now it is very difficult to say what I’m going to do. I’ve just got to work hard and make sure I get back and play and then I’ll make a few decisions.”Vaughan, who is preparing for the three-Test series against Sri Lanka starting next month,has suffered a miserable winter with injuries. Most recently being forced out of the Test series in India with a knee problem. He was given an ultra-sound injection in his right knee on which he had undergone surgery in December before being ruled out of the series, which England drew 1-1. Although Vaughan has suffered various injuries as well as illness, he has had a series of knee problems since he first tweaked his right knee in the warm-up to the second Test against Australia in November 2002. He wrenched it in May 2004 before suffering cartilage damage in November last year while in Pakistan.Andrew Flintoff took over the captaincy in India and Vaughan acknowledged there were alternatives if he decides to quit. “Freddie did a tremendous job. It was a very difficult position he was put in with so many senior players leaving. And that is part of trying to build a good team. When the captain does go eventually – because you are not going to be captain forever – the team should continue and play good cricket. It should not be a massive loss that you have lost a captain but hopefully that is in the long-term future.”

Simon Katich has warned his team-mates to prepare for some Adam Gilchrist-style treatment if Kevin Pietersen fulfils his potential during Australia’s tour of England. Pietersen is still waiting for his Test debut, but Katich said he was capable of turning a game in a couple of hours.Australia will get their first look at Pietersen in the Twenty20 international at Southampton on June 13, but Katich has spent time with him as a batting partner at Hampshire. Katich, who is involved in a pre-Ashes training camp in Brisbane, said Pietersen was a formidable stroke-maker whose shots when firing were too big for any ground.”It’s hard to put someone in Gilly’s category because he’s got the record that speaks for itself,” Katich told AAP. “KP’s only 24 and he’s a lot younger and more inexperienced. But he’s got something about him that says this guy’s going to be a dangerous cricketer.”Ian Bell was preferred to Pietersen in the Tests against Bangladesh, but after averaging 139.5 in 11 ODIs Pietersen is a certainty to play in the two one-day tournaments before the Ashes series. Katich said if Pietersen performed well he would expect him to be involved in the five Tests.”It wouldn’t surprise me if he plays, just knowing the type of character he is and how crucial he could be in that he can turn a game in the space of a couple of hours,” Katich said. “He’s done that in the one-day game, and someone who plays like that in Test cricket can try and dominate our bowling.”Katich said England were a more balanced outfit than when he played one Test on the 2001 tour, but he predicted Shane Warne, the Hampshire captain, would again cause a lot of problems. “Shane’s been bowling very well and as the game wears on in England – on day three, day four, day five – the wicket will certainly turn,” he said. “The fact we’re playing later in the summer is an advantage to him because generally the weather improves.”