Lancashire ground out a dull draw at Old Trafford to leave Northants in evendeeper relegation trouble.Red Rose skipper John Crawley prolonged his team’s second innings untilshortly before tea, declaring on 243 for seven to leave the visitors needingan impossible 349 to win in only 140 minutes.They reached 13 for the loss of Tobin Bailey, opening in place of theinjured Mal Loye, when rain stopped play and the match was abandoned shortlyafter tea.The draw suited Lancashire more than Northants, as they extended their leadover the Midlands county to 23 points by “winning” the game on points 11-10- although Northants, and the other three teams below Lancashire in thefirst division table, have a game in hand.Off-spinners Jason Brown and Graeme Swann had each taken three wickets inthe Lancashire second innings.Brown even raised hopes of an unlikely victory after Lancashire had resumedon 64 without loss, having Mark Chilton and Andy Flintoff caught behind inthe space of three balls and then trapping John Crawley lbw for 68.Despite a total of 348 runs in the match from their captain, that leftLancashire on 115 for three and only 220 ahead.But Neil Fairbrother and Joe Scuderi then linked up in a fourth-wicketstand of 55 which effectively killed off Northants’ victory chances.Fairbrother went soon after lunch for 44, the first of Swann’s wickets, but Scuderi moved on to an unbeaten 61 following his first innings 89 before Crawley declared. Brown ended with three for 89 from 30 overs, and Swann had figures of 27-7-75-3.But the draw leaves Northants needing to win their last three matches tohave a realistic chance of avoiding the drop, while Lancashire could nowsecure their safety by beating Essex in Colchester next week.

Indian Railways ground home their advantage on the second day of their semi-final clash with New Zealand ‘A’ in the MRF Buchi Babu Tournament at the MA Chidambaram Stadium in Chennai. After dismissing New Zealand ‘A’ for a low 129 and notching up 114/4 at the end of the first day, Indian Railways went on to make 279. The first innings lead was a handy 150 runs. In their second essay, New Zealand ‘A’ are 216/6 off 42 overs. With one day to play, New Zealand ‘A’ are effectively up by 66 runs with 4 second innings wickets to come.For Indian Railways, Yere Goud was the hero, striking 125 (397 mins, 289 balls, 16 fours, 1 six). This is Goud’s second ton in the tournament and a timely one indeed. Remaining unbeaten, Goud batted in the company of several partners, with P Rawat (38) contributing the most.In the New Zealand ‘A’ second innings, it was a familiar story once more as Mark Richardson held fort with an attacking 71 (93 balls, 8 fours). Chris Nevin (6) promoted in the batting order, failed to impress. While skipper Matthew Bell got a start he did not spend a significant amount of time at the wicket and was dismissed for 38. Lou Vincent continued a run of good form and remained unbeaten on 57 off just 50 balls when play was called off for the day. Striking 8 boundaries in his innings thus far, Vincent has shown that a positive approach is crucial for taking on the spinners in the subcontinent.The match remains interestingly poised, and the first session of the final day could be crucial.

The Auckland Cricket Association Premier and First Grade club competitions begin tomorrow with the first round of matches in the Crown Relocations Cup and Crown Relocations Rosebowl respectively.The separate limited overs format competitions will be played out to the end of the seven round robin matches before the teams begin their two-day competitions for the Crown Relocations Trophy (Premier Grade) and Crown Relocations Plate (First Grade) on November 17.The competition is expected to be strong in both grades with all clubs having been training for around eight weeks and each boasting a qualified coach (subsidised by Auckland Cricket in a programme to improve the standard of club play and the training of team coaches) to assist their preparation for the 2001/02 season.Clubs with State Auckland Aces players have been delighted to learn that, due to NZC scheduling the bulk of the National Provincial Competitions on mid-week dates, their star players will be available to them for all but a few of the nearly 30 days of club play this summer.Premier Club details are:Birkenhead City:Promoted from First Grade at the end of last season, Birkenhead will provide stern opposition for most Premier Grade sides this season. Key players are opening batsman and player/coach Michael Clark, NZ test representative Chris Drum, State Auckland Aces all-rounder Terry Crabb, perennial new ball bowler Grant MacPherson and English professional player Ashley Wright.Cornwall:Looking for back-to-back success in the limited overs format and for an improved showing in the two-day version of the game, Cornwall are again expected to present a tough challenge for any opposition this summer. A blend of youth (Rob Nicol [this years New Zealand player to Lords], Avinash Sharma, Rob Lynch, Chris Knight) and experience (Aaron Barnes, Dave Storer, Heath Davis, Richard Morgan, Richard Thompson) will be the foundation on which this club looks to build its season. The depth of the squad will be assisted by the clubs’ 2nd XI competing in the First Grade competition in the coming season.East Coast Bays:An underachiever in 2000/01 but have prepared well over the 2001 winter and should be ready for action from day one. State Auckland Aces players Mark Haslam and Llorne Howell will join forces with Auckland ‘A’ rep Michael Hendry and talented youngsters Mark Badland, Matt Mimmack and David Nash. Former Northern Districts all-rounder Aaron Bradley returns to the club after a one season absence.Grafton United:Probably favourites in both competitions before a ball is bowled, the Victoria Park based/Richard Irving coached and captained side will be very hard to stop, especially if State Auckland Aces players Lou Vincent, Andre Adams and Matt Horne (returning to his home club after five seasons with Otago) are not required by the New Zealand selectors.Top order batsman Blair Bulloch returns to the club after a season in Wellington. These four will be joined by State Aces squad members Richard Pudney (transferred from Waitakere), Tane Topia and top performing club players Guy Coleman, Aron Fuller and Nick Jury. There is no reason to believe they cannot defend their two day title or improve on their runner-up position in the limited overs championship.Howick Pakuranga:A disappointing finish to 2000/01 will have the eastern suburbs club hungry for better performances from its key players.Last season’s captain Rowan Armour was critical of his leading players’ inability to have an impact on the crucial matches played last summer – best documented by the heavy defeat to Grafton in the final match of the season which, if the result had been reversed, would have seen them take the two-day title.New State Aces skipper and NZ player Brooke Walker will join fellow NZ and State Aces team members Kyle Mills and Dion Nash in attempting to set the club back on track toward championship success. Other key players are Richard King, 2000/01 ACA most improved club player Brad Nielsen, NZC Academy player Sam Whiteman, and Sanjeewa Silva, who returns to the club after two seasons with Central Districts. 2000/01 State Aces players John Aiken, Blair Pocock and club stalwart (and current State Aces selector) Armour have retired.North Shore:A tough season is predicted for the Devonport-based club. They are rebuilding a side which has, in previous seasons, performed well thanks to its’ stalwart players. Many of these are expected to be missing this summer and it is now up to the new guard to represent and protect the proud traditions of this long established club.Auckland and New Zealand Under-19 representative Gene Andrews, Chris and David McGuigan and wicket-keeper batsman Michael Hart will be key players at the top of the order and solidity will be provided to the middle order by Jamie Stuart. All rounders Brad Leonard and Hayden Smith will be relied upon for their skills with both bat and ball. Smith will captain the side after the retirement, at the end of last season, of Steve Sharp. Sharp’s wicket taking abilities will be sorely missed this summer unless young opening bowler Peter Lawson, from Minor Counties side Cumberland, produces the goods in his first season with the club. An Englishman will also coach the side, with the club having recently appointed Surrey County Cricket Club’s David Corrod as their coaching director.Parnell:A tremendous performance from this club last year saw them finish as runners-up in their first season back in the top flight. To repeat or improve on this performance, they will look to the bats of State Aces squad members Tim McIntosh and Nick Horsley, Auckland Under 19 captain Akshay Reddy and his Under 19 team-mate Willy Barton.Bowling duties are expected to be shared by the very successful (in 2000/01) Simon Dykes and Roger Henderson, and the wily off-spin of captain Wayne Wheeler. Ex-State Auckland Aces all-rounder Hamish Barton returns to Auckland and will join his brother here after leaving Auckland and the University club for a three year stint in Christchurch where he played some representative cricket for Canterbury. A new home venue for the side, at Shore Road, may be introduced part way through the season.Suburbs New Lynn:The only western suburbs club in the Premier Grade again this summer, Suburbs New Lynn will look to improve on a disappointing 2000/01 season. A nail biting end to that season saw them keep Takapuna out of seventh place by just 1.55 points and consign the North Harbour-based club to First Grade for the coming season.Good performances from State Auckland Aces all-rounder Tama Canning and wicket-keeper/batsman Reece Young (presently resident at the NZC Academy in Christchurch) will be essential if the club is to improve on its lower than expected finish last season.Skipper John Vujnovich and last season’s captain Chris Fawkner, perhaps the toughest player in the entire competition, will provide steel and inspiration to his team who include exciting young quick bowlers Michael Bates (last season’s ACA “Rookie of the Year”) and Dunu Eliaba among their ranks. They will hope that Chris Lee’s departure overseas will be more than covered by the arrival of Dean Blackwood and Russell Hewage from University.First Grade Club details are:Auckland University:After two disappointing seasons this club are injecting some names from the past into their ranks for the coming season in order to turn things around. The addition of Tim Lythe as coach/captain of the side, the return of brother Ben and the introduction of former Eden Roskill players Nick Thompson and Geoff Waterhouse will provide strength to a side which retains all rounder Nick Smeeton and spinner Mathew Lindenburg but will sorely miss the wicket taking ability of former State Auckland Aces player and club stalwart Johnathan Lintott who has retired. Left arm medium pacer Dean Blackwood and middle order batsman Russell Hewage have moved to Suburbs New Lynn and wicket-keeper Scott McNaughton is overseas.Eden Roskill:An improving side which should show the benefits of the dedicated work put in by club administration as well as the coaching and playing personnel over the last two seasons. Key players will be opening bowler Dean Bruce, middle order batsman Sami Lala and wicket-keeper/batsman Izzy Isaia. A top four finish would be a good return for this side.Ellerslie:Bottom half of the league finishes in each of the previous three seasons will have this club hungry for better performances from its’ top side. Skipper Grant Wilcox will look to batsmen Mark Cribbens and Brad Barlow, all rounder Kris Baker and Campbell Marr’s bowling to provide something for Ellerslie supporters and members to cheer about this summer.Papatoetoe:A strong showing last season saw this club go close to promotion to the Premier Grade. Stalwart Neil Ronaldson and new skipper Shane Singe will look to themselves and the performances of returning club professional, Englishman Chris Borroughs, batsmen Nick Edwards and Ashley Clarke as well as their State Auckland Aces squad member – young fast bowler Gareth Shaw – to carry the bulk of the responsibility for the side this summer.Takapuna:A wake up call for this club last year as their top team was relegated from the Premier Grade after a poor season. The way that their key players react to that result will determine their fate this season. Skipper Peter Escott, wicket-keeper batsman Martin Barrell and bowlers Luke Armstrong, Stuart Jensen and Rhys Henderson will need to produce more consistent performances if they are to bounce straight back up into the Premier Grade at the end of the season.Waitakere City:A rapidly improving side which went close to promotion last season and will be very hard to keep away from the top end of the table throughout the summer. Well coached by Randall Todd and well supported by a solid club administration setup, this side will look to key players from last season to reproduce the same sort of form again. Brothers Corey and Keeley Todd, Blair White and the return of Worcestershire professional Matthew Rawnsley will provide the foundation from which the side will look to launch into the top flight for the 2002/03 season.Cornwall and Howick Pakuranga (2nd XI’s):Both are new to the competition this year by virtue of the increase in the size of the league (from six to eight teams). Will very much rely on consistent performances from players on the verge of their respective Premier teams but may struggle to compete on some occasions due to the lack of previous exposure at this level. Will be assisted by the strong administrative and coaching structures in place at their clubs.

Somerset pace bowler Richard Johnson has made it clear that if required he would be happy to go on the England Tour to India and New Zealand this winter.With Andy Caddick withdrawing from the original squad there is a vacancy for an opening bowler, and after being called up as cover for several of the summer 2001 Test series against the Aussies Johnson is likely to be in the frame.The former Middlesex quickie who joined the Cidermen during last winter toured India with England “A” in 1994, and was chosen to go on the full England tour to South Africa the following winter but had to withdraw because of injury.He said, “I’m 26 and want to play for England. If I’m offered the chance then I will jump at it.”

The Railways-Vidarbha Ranji Trophy league match played at Nagpur ended on Day Three, with Railways emerging comprehensive winners and picking up eight points in the process.Resuming at their overnight score of 113/5, Vidarbha had to mount a massive second-innings total and bowl Railways out to stand any chance of winning the game. That did not happen; although Ulhas Gandhe (44) and Sameer Khare (39*) ensured that their side were not humiliated as badly as in the first innings, the lower middle-order collapsed, with the last wicket falling for 205 just four minutes before lunch. Murali Kartik, Railways’ left-arm spinner, picked up five wickets for 33 runs.Set a target of 30 to win, Railways were never likely to be in any deep trouble and, as expected, openers Jai P Yadav and Sanjay Bangar knocked off the runs in eight overs. The match ended just 35 minutes after lunch, a good sign of how Railways dominated Vidarbha in this game right from the outset.

Hampshire start their 2002 County Championship First Division campaign with a visit to Canterbury on the 19th April, and their first home match is against Leicestershire on 24th April.India are the tourists this year with a proposed 3-day fixture on 20th July, but this is still to be confirmed.In the Norwich Union League, Hampshire again have one floodlit match at West End against Lancashire on Tuesday 23rd July, but they play three other day/night matches on the road, at Old Trafford, The Oval and Hove.All home matches to be played at The Hampshire Rose Bowl

Fri 19 Apr – Mon 22 Apr CCH1 Kent Canterbury (4 days)Wed 24 Apr – Sat 27 Apr CCH1 Leicestershire West End (4 days)Mon 29 Apr BHC Kent West End (1 day)Wed 1 May BHC Surrey AMP Oval (1 day)Fri 3 May BHC Sussex Hove (1 day)Sun 5 May BHC Essex Chelmsford (1 day)Mon 6 May BHC Middlesex West End (1 day)Wed 8 May to Sat 11 May CCH1 Kent West End (4 days)Sun 12 May NUL2 Gloucestershire West End (1 day)Wed 15 May to Sat 18 May CCH1 Warwickshire Edgbaston (4 days)Tue 21 May OR Wed 22 May BHC Quarter Final (1 day)Fri 24 May to Mon 27 May CCH1 Yorkshire Headingley (4 days)Wed 29 May CGT Kent CB Folkestone (1 day)Fri 31 May to Mon 3 Jun CCH1 Warwickshire West End (4 days)Tue 4 Jun NUL2 Middlesex Lord’s (1 day)Thu 6 Jun OR Fri 7 Jun BHC Semi-Final (1 day)Sun 9 Jun NUL2 Derbyshire West End (1 day)Wed 12 Jun to Sat 15 Jun CCH1 Somerset Bath (4 days)Sun 16 Jun NUL2 Surrey West End (1 day)Tue 18 Jun OR Wed 19 Jun * CGT Somerset Taunton (1 day)Sat 22 Jun BHC Final (1 day)Sat 23 Jun Prov India West End (1 day)Sun 24 Jun Prov West Indies ‘A’ West End (1 day)Tue 25 Jun to Thu 27 Jun UNI Loughborough UCCE West End (3 days)Wed 3 Jul to Sat 6 Jul CCH1 Sussex West End (4 days)Sun 7 Jul NUL2 Sussex West End (1 day)Wed 10 Jul to Sat 13 Jul CCH1 Leicestershire Leicester (4 days)Sun 14 Jul NUL2 Essex Southend (1 day)Tue 16 Jul OR Wed 17 Jul CGT Quarter-Final (1 day)Tue 18 Jul NUL2 Gloucestershire Cheltenham (1 day)Sat 20 Jul to Mon 22 Jul TOM India West End (3 days)(To be confirmed)Tue 23 Jul (Floodlit) NUL2 Lancashire West End (1 day)Thu 25 Jul to Sun 28 Jul CCH1 Lancashire West End (4 days)Wed 31 Jul OR Thu 1 Aug CGT Semi-Final (1 day)Sat 3 Aug NUL2 Derbyshire Derby (1 day)Sun 4 Aug NUL2 Northamptonshire Northampton (1 day)Tue 6 Aug (Floodlit) NUL2 Lancashire Old Trafford (1 day)Wed 7 Aug to Sat 10 Aug UTMS England v India West End (4 days)Thu 8 Aug to Sun 11 Aug CCH1 Lancashire Old Trafford (4 days)Wed 14 Aug to Sat 17 Aug CCH1 Somerset West End (4 days)Sun 18 Aug NUL2 Essex West End (1 day)Wed 21 Aug (Floodlit) NUL2 Surrey AMP Oval (1 day)Thu 22 Aug to Sun 25 Aug CCH1 Surrey AMP Oval (4 days)Tue 27 Aug to Fri 30 Aug CCH1 Yorkshire West End (4 days)Sat 31 Aug CGT Final (1 day)Sun 1 Sep OR Mon 2 Sep NUL2 Middlesex West End (1 day)Tue 3 Sep (Floodlit) NUL2 Sussex Hove (1 day)Thu 5 Sep to Sun 8 Sep CCH1 Sussex Hove (4 days)Wed 11 Sep to Sat 14 Sep CCH1 Surrey West End (4 days)Sun 22 Sep NUL2 Northamptonshire West End (1 day)KeyCCH1 County Championship Division 1NUL2 Norwich Union League Division 2BHC Benson & Hedges CupCGT Cheltenham & Gloucester TrophyUNI University Centre of Cricketing ExcellenceTOM Tourist MatchProv Provisional – TBCUTMS Under 19 Test Match* Dependant on winning v Kent CB on 29 May

India’s thumping win at Mohali reinforced the perception that the visitors might lose all the three Tests in the series. But even though this is one of the weakest English teams to visit India, they are a bunch of determined players always willing to learn fast. And they went ahead to prove almost everybody wrong at Ahmedabad.

The Motera realities are something that the Indians will try to forget as soon as possible. England controlled the first four days of the Test match, defying all odds and putting up a spirited show, which almost blew India away. I am most impressed by Nasser Hussain’s captaincy; he reminds me so much of Tiger Pataudi, remarkably calm and collected, and when it matters most – being very aggressive.I have only respect for the English skipper; the way he has used his limited bowling resources is simply amazing. Any other captain would have resorted to match saving tactics; Hussain always retains the positive outlook, which has added a new dimension to this Test series.I am absolutely sure that there would have been many advisers in the Indian camp, who would have shared their wisdom with the captain, on what to do and what not to, if the Indian bowling were to be so limited. Hussain and his team, despite this severe handicap, though had a clear game plan where India lacked one and this allowed the Englishmen to dominate through the Test match.

If I were to pick one player from this English squad, it has to be Craig White. I had mentioned in one of my previous column that White is the man to watch out for. When I look at his game through a bowler’s eye, all I see is a batsman who is studying the bowler and reading the bowler’s intention, which on any day is a tell-tale sign of sheer class. I am pretty sure that White has a fair idea of Harbhajan Singh and Anil Kumble’s bowling. His first Test hundred was due to the never-say-die approach he brings to the game. The Bangalore Test will witness more of this intelligent cricketer.The second Test exposed the limitations of Dasgupta’s wicket-keeping. In my opinion, he is not allowing the ball to come on to him, instead he is trying to snatch it. The young keeper’s footwork is also leaden and it seems that he is not rising up with the delivery. Dasgupta gives the impression that he is a bit too cramped and stressed behind the stumps.

Once again Kumble and Harbhajan Singh proved that they are more than a handful in Indian conditions. It is about time that the other young off-spinner Sarandeep Singh is given an opportunity to play at the highest level.Ashley Giles is a class act, bowling an exceptional line and length. All his wickets were due to his faith in keeping the basics simple. If Richard Dawson can support him well in Bangalore, we might have yet another close contest in the final Test.As for the Indian batting, it was Sachin Tendulkar who rescued the faltering first innings. In the second essay, Shiv Sunder Das and Dasgupta applied themselves very well.Going in to the Bangalore Test, the biggest factor that will weigh in the final outcome is the newly laid wicket at the Chinnaswamy Stadium. What it holds is just anybody’s guess, as no one really knows how it is going to behave. It will be sad if the wicket starts calling the shots in deciding the quality of the game played and the final result.

Following hectic parleys between the Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI) and the England and Wales Cricket Board (ECB), a sixth one-day international match has been fitted into what was originally a five-match series between India and England in January-February 2002.The compromise reached by the two boards also involves a fourth Test match to be included when India tours England next summer. The amicable decision thus ends a disagreement that, at one stage, threatened the entire Indian tour of England.The one-day series is now due to start on January 19, with the first game to be played at the Eden Gardens in Calcutta. The second match is scheduled for Cuttack on January 22. The remainder of the itinerary is unchanged; Chennai on January 25, Kanpur on January 28, New Delhi on January 31, and Mumbai on February 3 will host the other four games.

Former Test batsmen Darren Lehmann and Greg Blewett tormented Queensland’s fast bowlers in their own playground today as South Australia took control of the Pura Cup cricket match at the Gabba.Lehmann (129) and Blewett (109) unleashed centuries, becoming the bullies against a Queensland attack which has floored plenty of visiting batsmen in the last decade.The Redbacks were 4-349 in their first innings at stumps on the opening day, after Bulls captain Stuart Law told them to bat on an overcast morning.Ashes tourist Ashley Noffke (2-108) removed openers Ben Johnson (25) and David Fitzgerald (39) but he then became one of the punching bags for the Redbackstag-team.Lehmann and Blewett piled on 201 runs for the third wicket, driving fiercely against prolific domestic wicket-takers Michael Kasprowicz (0-62) and Joe Dawes(1-75). Lehmann also plundered runs to the third man fence as he charged to his 37th domestic four-day century.The left-hander went from 79 to 100 in eight balls, twice deliberately flicking boundaries between first slip and third man.Lehmann was so dominant that Law employed just one slip and a third man when the inconsistent Bulls attack took the second new ball after 80 overs.It was a very un-Queensland field setting but rarely have the competition leaders been belted with such ease at the Gabba.”We’ve had some reasonable results here in the last few years and we’re not daunted by playing here anymore,” Lehmann said.”That was an exceptional day for us and probably the best day we’ve had at the Gabba that I can remember.”Lehmann was dropped on 87 and Blewett on 78 but both catches were difficult.Lehmann’s 173-ball innings, featuring 17 boundaries, only ended when wicketkeeper Wade Seccombe grabbed an outstanding one-handed catch from a relieved Dawes.Blewett wasn’t as quick but his Gabba record is among the best in Australian cricket.He has scored 369 runs from his last two innings at the ground, where his first-class average is 64.94.The right-hander now looks nothing like the jittery opener dropped from the Test team in New Zealand two years ago.”New Zealand was a horror towards the end and I was really tight but I know my own game a lot better now,” Blewett said.”I know the danger signs now and my batting revolves around my balance and when I’m standing up tall and hitting the ball straight everything else looks after itself.”It was hardly an enjoyable day for Matthew Hayden – the batsman who took Blewett’s place in New Zealand.Hayden returned to his beloved Bulls today after being dumped from the Australian one-day team last Monday.Lehmann worked several boundaries past an outstretched Hayden in the gully but at least the Queenslander can count on a friendly batting deck tomorrow.

The Centre of Excellence is a very busy place to be at the moment and probably there is nobody who is busier than Pete Sanderson, who is the Youth Development Officer and Coaching Coordinator.In response to numerous requests he has received from all quarters to run an additional ECB Level 1 Coaching Course, Pete Sanderson has arranged for this to take place over the weekend of April 19th, 20th and 21st, with the assessment on April 28th.All of the tutors will be ECB Staff and Advanced Coaches, and the course is offered on a first come, first served basis. The fee is only £70, thanks to the financial support of the Somerset Cricket Board, and applications must be received by March 31st.Further details of the ECB Level 1 Coaching Course can be obtained by contacting the Centre of Excellence at Taunton, on 01823 352266.