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Sri Lanka coach Dav Whatmore said he was keen to play champion off-spinner Muttiah Muralitharan in the second cricket Test against England beginning at Edgbaston here on Thursday, but skipper Sanath Jayasuriya was however wary of exposing his trump card too early from injury.”Ideally we like to play everyone who is 100 percent fit. But there are occasions that can come up when players can do more than a decent job when they are not 100 percent fit, as long as everyone knows the boundaries and limitations,” said Whatmore today as his team was confined to indoor net sessions here because of bad weather. “In certain instances the risks are greater. In special sort of circumstances, the likes of which exists with Murali at the moment. That full 100 percent effort that he generally generates on the ball when he delivers, to me is as I see it, is not 100 percent. But the ball behaves abnormally and will still cause some problems,” he said.”There are a number of angles you have to consider before a decision is made. You’ve got to understand what he can and what he can’t do basically with the bat and in the field. You can see what he can do at the nets because he is performing the skills. But in terms of his fielding you know what he is like. He’s got no regard for his body at times. In his batting, he has to lift the bat with the left hand. There are a few things to cover before a decision is made,” Whatmore said.Whatmore said that Muralitharan has been bowling in the nets today as he has been over the past four to five days.”He is showing that he can run up and bowl and he’s still got a few tricks as you see the different varieties of deliveries that he’s got. He is not 100 percent fit, but he is building up to that and if he is selected in this Test match, it will be a calculated decision the selectors will have to take,” said Whatmore.Skipper Jayasuriya said: “It all depends on how Murali feels. We don’t know what his injury is like and what pains he is going through. We want him to play. As a captain I would love to play Murali, but if something happens to him, he will be out for another 3-4 months. We can’t take that chance”.”I would rate Murali’s chances of playing as still 50-50. He is still working hard with Alex (Kountouri). It all depends on what the doctors have told Alex and how he improves in his physical therapy. Murali hasn’t bowled for the last eight weeks and he needs a lot of practice also. Alex and Murali will have to talk with each other and decide. We can’t come to a conclusion at the moment. We will be knowing by tomorrow evening whether he will be playing or not. It is very unlikely, but you know,” said Jayasuriya.Muralitharan (30) has not bowled in a match since he injured his left shoulder while fielding in the Sharjah Cup final against Pakistan at Sharjah six weeks ago. He underwent treatment in Australia under the supervision of Dr. David Young and joined the Sri Lanka team in England a week ago. Since then he has got the sling which held his injured arm in place removed and has been working on his arm with Kountouri to try and regain full fitness.

Newspaper reports from London and inputs from New Delhi suggest that top Indian cricketers and the International Cricket Council (ICC) have reached an agreement on the contract issue that has dogged the warm-up to the ICC Champions Trophy in Sri Lanka.Speaking to CricInfo, Niranjan Shah, honorary secretary of the Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI), said, “We have not received anything in writing from the players. Even if some agreement is reached, the players still have to sign the relevant contracts and give copies to the board.”It was earlier reported that the ICC and the players had reached a compromise agreement, wherein the following changes had been agreed on:1) The ICC would not have image rights to Indian cricketers. Previously, the ICC and its sponsors had the right to use footage and photographs of the Indian players for their campaigns for a period of six months.2) The Indian players will be allowed to advertise with rival sponsors shortly after the end of the ICC Champions Trophy. Under the earlier clause, cricketers could not advertise with rivals of the official sponsors of the ICC, for a period of 30 days before and after the tournament – and of course for the duration of the tournament. It is believed that this period has been reduced to a level acceptable to both parties in conflict and might actually work out to a figure of 17 days after the tournament.Shah further told CricInfo, “If the players have reached an agreement with the ICC, the Board is only too happy. It was good that the players could meet and sort things out. However, I must tell you that we have not got anything in writing from the players or the ICC so far on this matter.”A point of major concern to the board however, was its exposure to liability from various parties in case a fresh agreement is reached. “Let me make it very clear at this point itself. If the players reach any kind of agreement with the ICC and resolve the matter that is fine. But it must not cause any liability to the Board, now or on a future date,” added the secretary.It must be remembered that an ICC press release yesterday categorically denied that it was seeking any compensation from the Indian board in connection to this matter. The release goes on to say, “What has occurred today is that the BCCI sought a blanket indemnity from any damages claim that may be made in the future against it or the ICC in relation to the ICC Champions Trophy. It sought this undertaking from all other countries playing in the tournament. This request was considered by the countries and it was agreed that such an undertaking could not be given.”As it stands, there have been no claims for compensation from either the ICC or other countries. However, this does not guarantee that such claims may not arise in the future. With regard to this, the ICC says, “Should a claim emerge in the future, it would be a matter for that time to determine who, if anyone was at fault and the size, if any, of any compensation payout.”That might be the one clause that makes emphatic cries of a happy ending a bit premature. That said, this sticky issue has never been closer to amicable resolution. The Board secretary himself was confident, and concluded, “Hopefully, by the end of the day, we’ll be able to work things out and send our best team to the Champions Trophy.”

Warwickshire powered towards their first home County Championship win since September 1999 as Durham meekly surrendered a position of strength on the third day.Melvyn Betts hijacked his former county by taking five for 22 in their second innings collapse for 102 and Warwickshire rattled along to make 176 for two, needing a further 51 to reach a target of 227.The only obstruction in their progress came when Paul Collingwood dismissed the openers in quick succession but otherwise it was a story of inadequate bowling. The lowest point for Durham was an over from Ian Hunter which included three fours from Mark Wagh and a drop at second slip by Collingwood.The former Oxford University captain profited from this let-off by making 76 not out and putting on 91 in 20 overs with David Hemp as Warwickshire rushed to grasp an opportunity presented by Betts’ outstanding performance.Durham were clearly mindful of inconsistent bounce when they lasted only as far as the 56th over after losing their first six wickets – five of them to Betts – for only 43.The former England A paceman, who moved to Edgbaston in the winter, had figures of 11-6-14-3 before lunch and came back to take two more from his first four balls in the afternoon.Danny Law (23) and Ian Hunter (37) then launched a recovery with a stand of 58 before Dougie Brown polished off the last three wickets for a final return of three for 16. Durham were a man short because James Brinkley had rushed away to attend the birth of a first child.

Former Test paceman Paul Wilson faces the daunting prospect of making his Pura Cup comeback in South Australia’s most important four-day match in three seasons.But Redbacks captain Greg Blewett is glad to have the 30-year-old back in the extended version of the game after an injury-plagued 12 months for the bullocking quick.Wilson’s bowling style should be well suited for the WACA pitch in the vital match against Western Australia starting tomorrow.The Redbacks and Warriors are two of the four teams still in the running for spots in the final heading into the last round of matches.Queensland is in the best position on 30 points, but needs first innings points against Victoria to ensure its third home final in a row.Meanwhile, Western Australia and Tasmania are locked on 24 points and need large victories to improve their chances of making the final.The Redbacks (20) have a slim hope of playing next week but need an outright victory over the Warriors and other results to fall their way.Blewett today welcomed the four changes made to the Redbacks’ line-up for the match after back-to-back losses at home.”We felt that we needed a bit of a change in personnel because we thought the guys who’d been beaten pretty soundly in the last couple of games were a little bit flat, so we have got some new guys in the team,” he said.Blewett said Wilson, who has played a handful of one-day matches since returning from a knee operation, had not been recalled earlier because of the Redbacks’initial run of good form post-Christmas.”I think Paul is one of the best bowlers in our state and he is always pretty tough under these conditions over here so I am glad to have him back,” Blewett said.”He’s really keen to do well as this is his only game for the season. He generally hits the right area and hits the seam so he’s a difficult customer.”Blewett said the pitch looked a little moist and could provide assistance for the bowlers early on.Meanwhile, for the Warriors, Murray Goodwin has been recalled to open the batting with Michael Hussey.And veteran paceman Jo Angel needs just five more wickets to become the second-highest wicket-taker in Australian domestic first-class cricket.Angel, who has taken 37 first-class wickets this season, has 380 career wickets in Austalian domestic first-class cricket while Clarrie Grimmett is the leading wicket taker with 513.Angel will also become Western Australia’s highest wicket-taker in Sheffield Shield/Pura Cup history if he passes Terry Alderman’s mark of 384 wickets.Teams:Western Australia: Simon Katich (capt), Jo Angel, Ryan Campbell, Michael Clark, Murray Goodwin, Brad Hogg, Michael Hussey, Matthew Nicholson, Marcus North,Chris Rogers, Brad Williams, Brad Oldroyd (likely 12th man).South Australia: Greg Blewett (capt), Nathan Adcock, Chris Davies, Shane Deitz, David Fitzgerald, Ryan Harris, Ben Johnson, Paul Rofe, Mike Smith, Paul Wilson, Bradley Young, Daniel Harris (likely 12th man).

Inspired by a four-wicket burst from Oliver Thomas (4/28), a South Australian Invitation Under-19 team has narrowly taken away the honours from the first match of the Sri Lankan national under-19 team’s current tour of Australia. The two-day encounter ultimately ended in a draw – with the South Australians at 0/63 in their second innings and holding an overall lead of eighty-three by the end – but not before there had been an exciting contest for a first innings victory.In the final analysis, it was the right arm pace bowling of Thomas which played the deciding role. He took a wicket early in the Sri Lankan innings before returning to capture the last three and seal the twenty run first innings win for the locals at the Adelaide Oval No 2 ground.But, for all of that, it was a generally satisfactory start to the Sri Lankans’ tour. The visitors fielded fourteen of their sixteen-strong touring party -under the specialised rules in place for this match – and several of them turned in heartening performances. Particularly pleasing were the stylishly crafted half-centuries from captain Thilina Kandamby (56) and Muthumudalige Pushpakumara (56) today.The local team had started proceedings in good style yesterday by assembling the respectable total of 274. Captain Andrew Crook (79) and wicketkeeper Jim Plant (49*) were the main contributors with the bat, while left arm paceman Chandana Nilantha (4/18) stole the show with the ball.

Warwickshire 298 for 5 (Westwood 81, Ambrose 64*) v Nottinghamshire
ScorecardPaul Franks claimed three wickets but Warwickshire ended the opening day well placed•Getty Images

Increasingly, it is difficult to dismiss the suspicion that Nottinghamshire’s title challenge is on its last legs and that Warwickshire have one hand on the trophy. Quite apart from the knowledge that Chris Read’s team will be shorn of four of their top six batsmen when these sides meet again at Trent Bridge in the last week of the season, it now looks likely that Andre Adams, the bowler on whom so much of their recent success has rested, will be missing too.Adams, who turned 37 last month, was recalled after missing Nottinghamshire’s match against Durham nearly two weeks ago with a calf injury. However, it was clear during his 10-over opening spell that he was not at his best. He bowled two much shorter spells later and by the end of the second of those he was coming in off a shortened run in clear discomfort. He left the field soon afterwards.Mick Newell, Nottinghamshire’s director of cricket, confirmed that Adams was still troubled by the calf problem and that he feared his season was over.”He has been struggling since our game at Taunton three weeks ago and it isn’t getting better,” he said. “It was a bit of a gamble playing him here but it is a game we have to win so we felt we had to take that gamble. Unfortunately he has had a recurrence and I think that may be it for the season for him now.”Nottinghamshire are also without their left-arm quick, Harry Gurney, while Ben Phillips was ruled out of this match when he went down with a ‘flu-like virus overnight. With Samit Patel on England duty, Nottinghamshire are left with Luke Fletcher, Andy Carter and Paul Franks to share the seam-bowling duties, with Graeme White in as specialist spinner.However, though Fletcher and Franks – both keen to impress, for different reasons – performed well, with Adams ineffective they lacked enough armoury to contain Warwickshire’s strong batting line-up.A partnership of 102 between Tim Ambrose and Rikki Clarke, spanning 30 overs either side of tea against an ageing ball, built on opener Ian Westwood’s valuable 81 to take Warwickshire close to 300 at the close and with Ian Blackwell still to come it would be no surprise on a good pitch if the final total were closer to 400, even if a full quota of batting points might be out of reach.Westwood might have been out twice. He was dropped on 48 low down at first slip by Alex Hales off Fletcher and again on 62 at second slip by Adam Voges off Adams. In matches as critical as this, chances missed are forgiven less easily than ever and Hales, in particular, has not had the surest hands this season.Hales did hold on to one earlier as Fletcher made the first breakthrough by removing Varun Chopra. Fletcher, 23, is a favourite with Nottinghamshire supporters, who always appreciate a trier. A new-ball bowler with natural aggression, he is a broadly built character who plainly does not find it as easy as some to keep off the pounds yet is a handful for most batsmen when he is on song and this was such a day. He finished with 2 for 49 from 25 overs, proving his stamina when he came back for his fourth spell of the day, with the new ball, and almost immediately had Clarke caught behind.Compared with Fletcher, Franks is at the other end of his career. Like Fletcher, he can seldom be faulted for commitment, not least because he is also a Nottinghamshire man and wears his county allegiance on his sleeve. His motivation now is that he would prefer to finish his career there, after 17 seasons as a senior player, rather than move on. Although he has a year left on his contract, he has become peripheral to Nottinghamshire’s plans as they seek to build a new seam attack and he has been told he can speak to other counties.He had taken only seven first-class wickets before this match yet performed impressively, adding three to his score with swinging deliveries. He bowled William Porterfield with one that came back into the left-hander and persuaded another to move enough to trap Westwood leg before, having had Jim Troughton caught behind off an inside edge for 40 the over before.Those wickets threatened momentarily to shift the balance back towards Nottinghamshire. Had Adams been somewhere near his best, it might have been a turning point. As it is, Ambrose, who has hit 11 fours and looked in control, has taken the initiative back and Nottinghamshire’s chances of taking the win they need to stay in contention already look slim.

Match facts

October 18, 2012
Start time 1330 local (1130 GMT)Mitchell Starc has been an integral part of the Sydney Sixers’ impressive pace battery•Associated Press

Big Picture

There is a striking similarity in the Champions League campaigns of the Sydney Sixers and the Highveld Lions. They have won their two opening matches – counting Chennai Super Kings among their victims – their batsmen have contributed right across the order and their pace attacks have thrived on the fast, bouncy surfaces at the Wanderers and in Cape Town. They remain in Cape Town for this clash, and the winners will be within touching distance of the semi-finals.In Mitchell Starc, Pat Cummins, Shane Watson and Josh Hazlewood, the Sixers have a better pace battery than most international sides can claim, and they will be riding high after restricting Yorkshire to 96 for 9 only two days previously at the same venue. On that occasion, the pace and bounce generated by the Sixers’ quicks on a helpful surface not only proved penetrative, but when that aggression was allied with tight lines, the bowling was difficult to score off as well.If the Sixers can take early wickets, they will be able to test a Lions middle order that hasn’t yet been called upon for big runs in this tournament. But given the Lions top four boasts the experience of Alviro Peterson, Gulam Bodi and Neil McKenzie, that will not be an easy task. How the young Sixers pacemen go against the established Lions top order might go a long way in determining the outcome.The Lions attack may not have as many big names, but they have restricted oppositions to two chaseable totals so far. Different bowlers have starred in each game and stepped up to break burgeoning partnerships, and with the batting also following a similar pattern, the team bears the hallmarks of a side who are achieving beyond what their individual records suggest.

Watch out for…

Apart from having perhaps the best profile picture ever, Aaron Phangiso has provided economy to the Lions attack while some of the seamers have been going for runs. The pitches have not been conducive to turn, but Phangiso has been disciplined and varied enough his pace to strike a good balance between attack and defence on the early-season pitches. He has 3 wickets for 34 from eight overs so far.Beyond franchise cricket, Brad Haddin‘s future is being decided by the Australian selectors, as they ponder whether to bring in Haddin or retain Matthew Wade in the Test team. Haddin was belligerent when he came out to bat in what was a straightforward chase against Yorkshire – perhaps in an attempt to improve the Sixers’ net run rate, but surely also, to prove his worth to the Australian cause. If the Sixers make it to the Champions League final, Haddin will not have time to play a Sheffield Shield match before the South Africa tour of Australia begins. The best he can do to woo the selectors, if that happens, is to score heavily in the Twenty20 tournament he is playing.

Quotes

“In the past people saw the Lions as a team that fights from behind. This time we were out to change that perception. We wanted to lead and that’s exactly what we’re doing.”

England have suffered an injury scare 12 days before the first Ashes Test in Brisbane after wicketkeeper Matt Prior was unable to take the field with his team-mates in Hobart due to a calf problem, which will require a scan.Prior batted when the match resumed after two days of rain, falling lbw when trying to sweep the left-arm spinner Jon Holland after making 26. However he did not reappear in the middle for the Australia A innings, undergoing treatment for what the ECB described as a “tight left calf”.Andy Flower, England’s team director, said that it was too early to determine how serious the injury was but was hopeful about Prior’s fitness for the Ashes opener. England travel to Sydney on Sunday, with only one more four-day match, against an Invitational XI, before the Test series begins.”He’s tweaked something in his calf, we’re not sure of the extent of it yet. He will have to have a scan,” Flower said. “He didn’t make it much worse, he was off soon after he tweaked it. I don’t think it’s anything too serious, it shouldn’t keep him out of the first Test.”Just from what I’ve seen, I would imagine he’d be okay for that first Test. But I hope I’m not speaking out of turn there. He’s moving around okay … I don’t think it’s linked to the Achilles problem [he has had]. His experience is very valuable to us. However, if he’s injured and unavailable, Bairstow will step in. He is a very good young cricketer, and will bring his own qualities to the England side.”Joe Root kept wicket in Prior’s place, with the reserve gloveman Jonny Bairstow not in the playing eleven. Root kept despite Australia A raising no objections when England requested whether or not Bairstow could substitute for Prior – an agreement that was overruled by the umpires as the game’s laws now prohibit it.”Our reserve wicketkeeper is Jonny Bairstow, but the rules of first-class cricket are quite black-and-white and don’t allow a substitute fielder to take the field as wicketkeeper,” Flower said. “So Jonny couldn’t do it. Root took over, and I thought he did a really good job. He looked a natural.”He takes on any challenge with a smile on his face, and also no mean skill. It’s not an easy thing to do at all, and he handled himself really well out there. I was surprised. But he’s a natural ball-player, and I think he had a bit of fun as well.”With 12 days to go until the Ashes, there are doubts of Matt Prior’s fitness•Getty Images

Bairstow instead batted in the nets and could find himself promoted to play in the final tour match in Sydney – although Flower suggested that England would prefer to field that same top seven intended for Brisbane. Bairstow played in the first four Tests against Australia during the English summer but only made one half-century and has since been a familiar face as 12th man.As for the loss of more than half the match to rain, Flower said his side had taken as much as they could from the time available, pointing out that most players had some involvement in the game on day four. “There’s nothing you can do about bad weather. It’s a pity – it is what it is – but I think we made the most of what time we’ve been allowed in the middle,” Flower said. “It was nice to see Cook and Carberry get heavy runs, forming a great partnership on that first day.”It was a very impressive knock here [from Carberry], as it was in Perth. He left well, and looked very organised and comfortable with his game. Root went on to get an unbeaten 50 or so out there today, and played very positively; then our bowlers had a little run-out, a couple of spells each.”Swann had his first bowl on tour, so we got what we could out of the game. Whatever happens – even if there are weather problems in Sydney – we will make sure we are ready for that first day in Brisbane.”

The Bangladesh selectors have trimmed the 30-member preliminary squad for the upcoming series against New Zealand by two on Thursday. There are, however, several changes from the the previously announced squad, with left-arm spinner Mosharraf Hossain dropped due to allegations of fixing against him.Mosharraf is serving provisional suspension, which began on August 13, as one of the nine accused of being involved in alleged corruption in this year’s BPL. The seven others who were also not included are Shahriar Nafees, Shahadat Hossain, Junaid Siddique, Imrul Kayes, Raqibul Hasan, Saqlain Sajib and Nazmul Hossain Milon.They have been replaced by Al-Amin Hossain, Enamul Hoque jr, Souyma Sarker, Sabbir Rahman, Mukhtar Ali and Noor Hossain.BCB have also announced a 14-member squad to take on the visiting New Zealanders in a three-day practice match at MA Aziz Stadium in Chittagong. Four uncapped players – Marshall Ayub, Soumya Sarkar, Mukhtar Ali and Noor Hossain – have been included in the side. Legspinner Hossain is the only specialist slow bowler in the side.Bangladesh preliminary squad: Mushfiqur Rahim, Mahmudullah, Anamul Haque, Tamim Iqbal, Shakib Al Hasan, Nasir Hossain, Mohammad Elias, Ziaur Rahman, Mashrafe Mortaza, Jahurul Islam, Shafiul Islam, Abdur Razzak, Naeem Islam, Sohag Gazi, Rubel Hossain, Mominul Hoque, Shamsur Rahman, Marshall Ayub, Robiul Islam, Farhad Reza, Mehrab Hossain, Sajedul Islam, Al-Amin Hossain, Enamul Hoque jr, Souyma Sarkar, Sabbir Rahman, Mukhtar Ali, Noor Hossain.BCB XI: Mahmudullah, Anamul Haque, Ziaur Rahman, Jahurul Islam, Naeem Islam, Mominul Haque, Shamsur Rahman, Marshall Ayub, Farhad Reza, Mehrab Hossain jr, Sajidul Islam, Soumya Sarkar, Mukhtar Ali, Noor Hossain.

The legal wrangle ahead of what is expected to be an interesting BCCI annual general meeting (AGM) continued on Monday, with developments in two separate court cases. While the BCCI has challenged an order restraining it from holding its special general meeting (SGM) on September 25 to decide the fate of former IPL commissioner Lalit Modi, Cricket Association of Bihar (CAB) secretary Aditya Verma has moved the Supreme Court, pleading that BCCI president N Srinivasan not be allowed to contest the board’s election.A Delhi trial court had issued an order on September 21, barring the BCCI’s SGM on Wednesday, and expectedly the board has now moved the Delhi High Court. Even though the lower court had stayed the SGM, it had declined to pass an order on Modi questioning the appointment of Sanjay Patel and Jagmohan Dalmiya as BCCI’s secretary and head of day to day affairs, respectively, by president N Srinivasan who had stepped aside in the wake of IPL spot-fixing scandal.After hearing the BCCI’s argument against the trial court’s order, which was based on the court having no jurisdiction to pass the same, Justice VK Shail decided to continue the hearing on Tuesday and also hear Modi’s cross petition against the appointment of Patel and Dalmiya.Senior advocate CA Sundaram, on behalf of the BCCI, told the judge that since the SGM was slated to be held in Chennai, a trial court in Delhi could not pass an order staying it. “The Delhi court has no jurisdiction to pass such an order as the BCCI headquarters is in Mumbai and SGM was to be held in Chennai where Srinivansan resides. Just because the disciplinary committee meeting [which found Modi guilty on eight different charges] was held in Delhi, Modi has approached the city court,” Sundaram was quoted as saying by . “In the SGM, the report of the disciplinary committee will be considered and if the report will be accepted, then a show cause notice will be issued to Modi to make his defence.”Even if the High Court gives the go-ahead for the BCCI to conduct the SGM on Wednesday, the BCCI camp is expecting Modi to move Supreme Court in what is believed to be “delaying tactics”.In the other case, CAB secretary Verma moved an application in the Supreme Court seeking an interim injunction against Srinivasan from contesting the BCCI election pending the verdict on the special leave petition (SLP) filed by Verma against the BCCI. The Supreme Court, on September 12, had run out of time and hence failed to hear the SLP where the BCCI lawyers were expected to enter final arguments against the CAB petition that had challenged the Bombay High Court order for failing to appoint a fresh probe panel to investigate corruption in the IPL despite ruling the BCCI probe panel was constituted illegally.On Monday, Verma, through his counsel Gagan Gupta, entered a prayer in the Supreme Court asking it to restrain Srinivasan from not only standing for the BCCI president’s polls (scheduled to be held during the board’s AGM on September 29) but also bar him from being part of any of the board’s committees. The court is expected to give a date of hearing on Tuesday.The Bombay High Court had pointed out in its order that Srinivasan had “prima facie” a hand in the appointment of the two-man probe panel that had cleared the owners of Chennai Super Kings and Rajasthan Royals of corruption charges. The High Court had called the finding “illegal”. The BCCI had filed its own SLP challenging that order. The Supreme Court is yet to announce the next date hearing for this.The main reason behind the BCCI’s SLP was to erase the black mark on Srinivasan left by the High Court order. Lawyers on both sides confirmed that Srinivasan was free to attend the BCCI AGM as well as stand for the president’s elections despite the CAB petition.The significance of the CAB prayer cannot be determined at this stage. Verma’s intention from the beginning has been to restrain Srinivasan from performing his BCCI duties till the courts conclusively clear him of all allegations.