The Chairman of England’s cricket selectors, David Graveney, today issued the following statement in response to media reports that the Kent batsman, David Fulton, had been put on official stand-by for this winter’s tour of India and New Zealand.David Graveney said: “I did tell David Fulton at the end of the season that he was unlucky not to have been chosen for the winter tour squads and that he would be in our thoughts as a possible replacement if anyone withdrew from the tour party.”But I would like to make it clear that at this stage we have not formallyappointed any players to be on stand-by for this winter. We will not make any decision on replacements until we hear from the five players who have yet to confirm whether they are available for the tour of India.”

Just where do New Zealander’s cricketers rate in the world?Things are not as bad as some would have you believe, if you regard the figures with any respect.The PriceWaterhouseCoopers rankings system of players has become the accepted standard of assessment and the latest figures provide some interesting reading.Of the top nine Test-playing nations, New Zealand ranks only behind Australia in the number of players represented in the top 40.Australia has nine batsmen on the list: Steve Waugh (placed third), Adam Gilchrist (6), Mark Waugh (equal 10), Justin Langer (17), Ricky Ponting (22), Matthew Hayden (24), Damien Martyn (28) and Michael Slater (31).New Zealand has six players in the group: Craig McMillan (12), Mark Richardson (equal 14), Chris Cairns (18), Stephen Fleming (32), Mathew Sinclair (34) and Nathan Astle (37).Sri Lanka’s five are Mahela Jayawardene (5), Marvan Atapattu (26), Aravinda de Silva (27), Kumar Sangakkara (35), Sanath Jayasuriya (39).South Africans has five: Jacques Kallis (equal 8), Daryll Cullinan (equal 10), Gary Kirsten (16), Herschelle Gibbs (21), Lance Klusener (40).England also has five: Graham Thorpe (equal 14), Alec Stewart (20), Marcus Trescothick (23), Mark Butcher (36), Nasser Hussain (38).Four West Indians are there: Brian Lara (7), Ridley Jacobs (29), Carl Hooper (30) and Shivnarine Chanderpaul (33).India has three: Sachin Tenulkar (2), Rahul Dravid (equal 8) and VVS Laxman (25).Pakistan has three: Inzamam-ul-Haq (4), Saeed Anwar (13), Yousuf Youhana (19).Zimbabwe has only one in the list, Andy Flower, but he sits on top at No 1.Similar standings apply to the New Zealand bowlers in the top 30 positions.New Zealand sits second equal with South Africa and Pakistan, with four bowlers in the top 30, although Shayne O’Connor is in 31st place. Australia leads with seven bowlers on the list.The list is:Australia – Glenn McGrath (1), Shane Warne (6), Jason Gillespie (10), Colin Miller (equal 16), Brett Lee (19), Damien Fleming (20), Stuart MacGill (22).New Zealand – Chris Cairns (8), Dion Nash (21), Daniel Vettori (26), Chris Martin (27).South Africa – Shaun Pollock (2), Allan Donald (4), Jacques Kallis (14), Nicky Boje (30).Pakistan – Waqar Younis (7), Saqlain Mushtaq (9), Wasim Akram (16), Arshad Khan (24).England – Darren Gough (5), Andrew Caddick (18), Dominic Cork (25).India – Anil Kumble (11), Harbhajan Singh (12), Javagal Srinath (15).Sri Lanka – Muttiah Muralitharan (3), Chaminda Vaas (23).West Indies – Mervyn Dillon (equal 28), Dinanath Ramnarine (equal 28).Zimbabwe – Heath Streak (13).The latest ratings for New Zealand and Australian players involved in the current tour are:Batsmen:

Rank Player Team Points Average Highest Rating3 (-) Steve Waugh Aus 861 51.60 909 v WI at Melbourne 19966 (-) Adam Gilchrist Aus 804* 52.57 813 v Eng at Nottingham 200110= (-) Mark Waugh Aus 724 42.67 803 v RSA at Port Elizabeth 199712 (+1) Craig McMillan NZ 703 42.51 713 v Zim at Bulawayo 200014= (+4) Mark Richardson NZ 687* 52.86 687 v Aus at Brisbane 200117 (+5) Justin Langer Aus 682 41.80 767 v NZ at Hamilton 200018 (+4) Chris Cairns NZ 677 33.03 705 v Zim at Harare 200022 (-5) Ricky Ponting Aus 658 42.79 829 v Ind at Sydney 200024 (+7) Matthew Hayden Aus 655* 40.77 655 v NZ at Brisbane 200128 (-7) Damien Martyn Aus 628* 48.76 658 v Eng at The Oval 200132 (+1) Stephen Fleming NZ 617 36.89 676 v Eng at Auckland 199734 (-6) Mathew Sinclair NZ 606* 47.57 643 v Pak at Christchurch 200137 (+3) Nathan Astle NZ 601 35.88 648 v Aus at Wellington 200064 (+1) Adam Parore NZ 424 25.75 533 v SL at Galle 199881 (-4) Matthew Bell NZ 334* 22.85 359 v Pak at Hamilton 200183= (+6) Dion Nash NZ 317 23.51 324 v Zim at Harare 200093= (+1) Daniel Vettori NZ 279 18.07 309 v Eng at The Oval 199996= (+11) Brett Lee Aus 273* 26.11 293 v WI at Perth 2000

Bowlers:

Rank Player Team Points Average Highest Rating1 (-) Glenn McGrath Aus 911 21.63 919 v Eng at The Oval 20016 (-) Shane Warne Aus 724 26.19 907 v Eng at Melbourne 19948 (+1) Chris Cairns NZ 682 29.20 733 v WI at Wellington 199910 (-) Jason Gillespie Aus 665 25.00 783 v Eng at Lord’s 200119 (+12) Brett Lee Aus 581* 22.64 754 v WI at Perth 200021 (-2) Dion Nash NZ 567* 28.48 695 v WI at Wellington 199926 (-3) Daniel Vettori NZ 513 33.31 610 v Aus at Wellington 200027 (-1) Chris Martin NZ 498* 28.10 503 v Pak at Hamilton 200131 (-1) Shayne O’Connor NZ 461* 32.52 513 v RSA at Port Elizabeth 200054 (-1) Daryl Tuffey NZ 321* 36.26 324 v Pak at Hamilton 2001

Figures in brackets represent change in ranking since last ratings issued. An asterisk signifies player has yet to play enough Tests to attain a full rating.

With less than 24 hours to go before the start of the crucial second Castle Lager/MTN Test match against South Africa, Indian captain Sourav Ganguly narrowed down the candidates to open the batting with Shiv Das to a choice between two – either himself or wicketkeeper Deep Dasgupta.What seems certain, however, is that neither Rahul Dravid, who opened in Bloemfontein, nor VVS Laxman will be asked to go in at the top of the order."I’m keen," said Ganguly on Thursday. "It’s not a question of sacrifice. It’s a question of somebody pushing up the order. At six sometimes you get to play the new ball."It is, nevertheless, a far from ideal situation for India who need to win, or at the very least not to lose, to stay in the three-match series.Indian coach John Wright confirmed that both Dravid and Laxman were unwilling to open the batting, although he said: "I reckon we’ve got the matter under control."Wright said that as an opening batsman himself, "you realise that it’s a specialist position".He said he understood the reluctance of Dravid and Laxman, "particularly so in Laxman’s situation where he has tried for 22 Tests and he does feel uncomfortable in that position".And so the captain, who now seems the most likely candidate despite the suggestion that Dasgupta might go in first, has had to put up his hand.Ganguly confirmed that three of the 15-man squad – Venkatesh Prasad, Connor Williams and Zaheer Khan – were not in contention for Test places. This means, however, that India still have to choose four from Javagal Srinath, Ashish Nehra, Ajit Agarkar, Anil Kumble and Harbhajan Singh to make up their attack. And this decision, almost certainly, will be delayed until the tourists have studied the pitch and the weather on Friday morning.If they are interested local knowledge, they might well have a word with Dave Callaghan, the former South African one-day player who is now in his 17th season at St George’s Park."It will probably be a slow seamer on the first day," said Callaghan on Thursday, "before it flattens out on days two and three when it will be good to bat on with the ball coming onto the bat. Then it starts to get lower and it will probably take a bit of spin."Callaghan qualified this assessment, however, by saying "it still all depends on the wind. If it blows from the east it helps the ball to swing, and if it comes from the west it dries the pitch out. It normally blows from the west, but we’ve had the easterly blowing for nearly three weeks now which is a bit unusual."And the pitch seems a bit softer today than it did yesterday. Which makes it interesting, doesn’t it?"

New Zealand has played a significant role in the development of Bangladesh’s international advance, but there is likely to be little celebration of that once the National Bank Test series starts in Hamilton on Tuesday.Once the Bangladeshis were in line for Test status their first first-class matches were played in New Zealand.They came to take part in the Conference Cricket series in the 1997/98 season, a programme of games designed to strengthen the first-class programme in New Zealand.Playing against the Northern, Central and Southern Zones that comprised the Conference sides, the visitors were well beaten on each occasion, the first two by an innings and by seven wickets in the third.A match against the New Zealand Academy XI was also lost by an innings.As a newcomer it is interesting to compare their advance with that of New Zealand when it was looking for Test status during the last 10 years of the 1890s and the first 30 years of the 20th Century.New Zealand had tours to Australia (1898/99, 1913/14, 1925/26, 1927/28), to England (1927), while also hosting tours from the MCC (1902/03, 1922/23), Australia (1904/05, 1909/10, 1920/21, 1927/28), New South Wales (1889/90, 1893/94, 1895/96, 1923/24), Victoria (1924/25), Queensland (1896/97), Tasmania (1883/84) as well as Arthur Sims’ Australian team of 1913/14.In that time they played 103 first-class games at home, and 37 overseas for a total of 140 games.Bangladesh, by comparison, has played 20 first-class games (only 10 before their first Test). Seven games of the 20 have been Test matches.New Zealand’s teams won 19 of their first 140 matches and drew 45.Bangladesh has lost 13 of their 20 games with the other seven drawn.They have had a total of 71 days of first-class cricket out of a possible 80.Their Test record reads: v India (2000/01) lost by nine wickets, v Zimbabwe (2001) lost by an innings and 32 runs, v Zimbabwe (2001) lost by eight wickets, v Pakistan (2001) lost by an innings and 264 runs, v Sri Lanka (2001) lost by an innings and 137 runs, v Zimbabwe (2001) drawn, v Zimbabwe (2001) lost by eight wickets.It is going to be a hard road for Bangladesh to establish itself with such limited background.It will be interesting to compare how quickly it can register its first Test victory although its exposure to top level cricket through One-Day Internationals may be the sort of foundation on which the Bangladeshis develop.Yet, even that is not the greatest harbinger of future good fortune for them as in 44 ODIs to date, they have won only three games.Even Kenya, surely the next Test nation, has won seven ODIs out of 37.What makes life even more difficult for the Bangladeshis in New Zealand is that this two-Test series is the first time their players will have been exposed to different conditions to those they have faced in their earlier Test matches.And it won’t come much greener than Hamilton, or Wellington’s Basin Reserve, after the wettest spring and early summer in recent memory.

Controversial pacer Shoaib Akhtar and the Pakistan CricketBoard (PCB) got a sigh of relief when the InternationalCricket Council (ICC) named New Zealand’s Brian Hastings asmatch referee for next month’s Test series between Pakistanand Bangladesh.The ICC also appointed Englishman John Hampshire andZimbabwean Russel Tiffin as umpires for the Dhaka andChittagong Tests.Pakistan leave for Dhaka on Jan 2 for two Tests and threeone-day internationals. It will be Pakistan’s maiden Testtour against the newest Test nation who got into the ICCfold last year.The three ICC officials are some of the few who have notraised any suspicion against the bowling action of Shoaib,rated as one of the quickest in the world.Shoaib, who has been reported twice this year, faces a oneyear suspension if reported again after the PCB decided notto utilize the services of Michael Holding as bowlingadvisor in accordance with Stage 2.However, Inzamam-ul-Haq doesn’t have happy memories ofHastings who fined him 50 per cent of his match fee duringthe home series against Sri Lanka in March 2000 for accusingthe opponents of sledging.

The ECB National Academy ended the second day of the four-day match againstVictoria 2nd XI in Melbourne today in a strong position.The ECB NA were dismissed for 247 with Mark Wagh finishing on 74 not out, Ian Bell scoring 48 and Chris Schofield 49. Australian fast bowler, Damien Fleming ended with figures of five for 36 off his 20.2 overs.In reply the Victorians ended the day on 83 for 4. Yorkshire’s Steve Kirbytook two wickets with Steve Harmison and Chris Tremlett taking one each.

Somerset coach Kevin Shine was in a buoyant mood when I spoke to him at the County Ground in Taunton earlier today.”There is something special happening at the club at the moment, and there is a really exciting feel about the place.”The coach continued, “The whole club is linking together which is fantastic. Take a look at what is happening here this afternoon,Steffan Jones is working alongside the Somerset Academy boys, along with Mark Garaway and myself, which is how it should be, with the youngsters learning from the first team players.”The coach talked about some the new equipment which has been brought into use over the last few months. “Somerset are at the cutting edge of things with all of their new technology, there aren’t many other counties, if any, who are better equipped than we are.”Kevin Shine paid tribute to “backroom” staff, the trainers and the physios at the club, who have worked hard in the background over the winter months to ensure that the players are fitter and stronger than they ever have been.He also paid tribute to all of the players at Somerset for their attitude towards the new fitness and dietary regimes, “Everybody has taken it on board, from the first team right the way through to the Academy boys, and even down to the Under 12’s. Peter Bowler who is the oldest player on the staff has been a wonderful example for the youngsters to follow.”Meanwhile Steffan Jones who was working in one of the nets with a youngster from the Somerset Academy told me, “There’s only just over two months until the new season. I just can’t wait to get out there and bowling again.”

A consistent Mutare Sports Club ended Old Hararians’ reign as the National League champions when they clinched the title on 10 February ahead of Old Georgians by virtue of a superior net run rate.Mutare beat Bulawayo Sports Club by nine wickets in a rearranged match while OGs thumped third-placed Universals by a massive 162 runs in another rearranged match. The Universals /OGs match had to be played on 9 February to avoid inconveniencing the Mashonaland Vigne Cupprogramme set for the 10th.The Universals attack could not breach the OGs top order and could only take two wickets in 50 overs. The visitors piled up 239 for two with Craig Wishart unbeaten on 85 while Barney Rogers was 72 not out. The only wickets to fall were those of openers Lance Malloch-Brown (33) and Grant Flower (31). The Universals batting was equally lethargic as they were dismissed for a mere 77 in 25.5 overs. An unheralded Alan Shamuyarira took three wickets for nine runs off 2.5 overs while Gus Mackay claimed three for 24 off eight overs.The win gave OGs a three-point lead at the top of the standings but this only lasted 24 hours as Mutare romped to an expected victory over a winless Bulawayo Sports Club. BSC batted first and were all out for 77 in 38.5 overs with a top score of just 18 from Dash Vaghmaria. IainCoulson took three wickets for two runs in three overs while Richard Sims took two for 10 off nine overs. Mutare reached 81 for one in 19.3 overs with number three batsman Neil Ferreira unbeaten on 40 while opener Andy Flower had 29 not out.Mutare will now meet fourth-placed Takashinga in the semi-final of the knockout tournament while Old Georgians will play Universals in the other semi-final.Meanwhile Old Hararians kept their hopes of winning the Mashonaland Vigne Cup alive with a 21-run away win over Alexandra Sports Club. OH batted first and made 225 for eight off their allotted 50 overs with Trevor Penney the top scorer on 51 runs while Colin Delport made 43. In reply Alex could only reach 204 for nine off their 50 overs with opener Doug Marillier scoring 67 while number three batsman Gavin Rennie weighed in with 43. Leg-spinner Paul Strang took three wickets for 53 off 10 overs.Harare Sports Club posted the biggest win of the week with a crushing 94-run home win over Takashinga. HSC were bowled out for 222 in 45.3 overs with number five batsman Andre Hoffman leading the batting with a fluent 67 while national captain Stuart Carlisle added 46. Walter Chawaguta took three wickets for 19 off eight overs. Takashinga were then bowled out for 128 in 44.4 overs with Brighton Watambwa, Hoffman, Andrew Durham and Trevor Gripper taking two wickets each.In the other match OGs completed a double over Universals with a five-wicket win a day after their National League encounter. Universals were all out for 158 in 46.4 overs while OGs reached 159/5 off 33.1 overs.

Amid much press speculation that the England players have come out strongly against fulfilling their World Cup fixture in Harare on February 13th, ECB chief executive Tim Lamb and players’ representative Richard Bevan have both indicated the likelihood that England will be in Zimbabwe as scheduled.Speaking on BBC Radio, Bevan, managing director of the Professional Cricketers’ Association (PCA), said there was legitimate concern over the security situation among the players. However, he refuted widespread reports about more sinister developments.”The players have not received death threats, they have not received letters. They have received propaganda about the disastrous state Zimbabwe is in.”He went on to say that England captain Nasser Hussain had asked him to confirm this point.Speaking on the same programme, Lamb said, “We can understand the players’ misgivings but the best information we have is that the players are fully committed to going.”There will be a statement tomorrow and I very much hope that the outcome of that statement will be that the players will reaffirm their intention to go, providing the security situation is kept under review in the run-up to the match.”Bevan continued, “The players over the last few months have had numerous discussions about this. Certainly in the minds of some of the players they’re going to be torn, but ultimately they are contracted to the ECB, and their responsibility is to their contracts."They have had reservations for a number of weeks, but that’s not to say they weren’t going to commit to the ECB and actually go. The players are supportive of the ECB, they are supportive of what Tim Lamb is trying to do.”The statement from the players is expected tomorrow. As well as reaffirming their position, they are likely to take the opportunity to express their dislike of the Mugabe regime in Zimbabwe in order to distance themselves from any accusation that, by appearing in Harare, they are in any way supporting his policies.At the same time, all sides will be watching the security situation and any significant deterioration could trigger an immediate change of attitude.

Shane Warne and ACB chief executive James Sutherland will hold a mediaconference to discuss the leg-spinner’s availability for the ICC WorldCup.The conference will take place in Johannesburg at 9am local time (6pmAEDT), just before Australia’s opening World Cup match against Pakistan.Baggy Green will provide further details on the conference as theybecome available.