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ScorecardEngland Lions opened their three-week tour with a comfortable 52-run victory against UAE A, but it needed a three-wicket spell from James Tredwell and a tight burst from Peter Trego to restrict the home side after a rapid start from their openers as they chased 185.Amjad Ali and Indika Sampath added 51 in 5.2 overs against the pace bowlers with Sajid Mahmood being dispatched for 19 from his one over and, as so often in Twenty20, it took the introduction of spin to slow the scoring rate. Tredwell, who will switch to the full England squad for the Bangladesh tour later this month, struck with his second ball to remove Ali (24) and also added Sampath (33) followed by Swapnil Patil, while Adil Rashid played his part with the wicket of Shaiman Anwar.Trego then ensured there was no late charge from the hosts with a miserly spell of four overs that cost 14 runs and also brought two wickets. Trego, the Somerset allrounder, had early provided the late punch to the Lions innings with 25 off 10 balls including three sixes and was named Man of the Match.He added 47 in 18 balls with Ian Bell who ended unbeaten on 37 from 21 deliveries. The Lions had opened the innings with two wicketkeepers and both Steven Davies and Craig Kieswetter scored at a good rate before Michael Lumb kept up the tempo at No. 3 with 42 from 32 balls.The scoring slowed after Kieswetter and Lumb departed as offspinner Salman Farooq bowled his four overs for 18 and Rohan Mustafa also contained well as he conceded a run-a-ball. However, the Lions were able to press the accelerator in the closing overs in a performance that will have helped shake off the early-tour rust.

Betty Wilson, one of the greatest women’s cricketers who was sometimes called Australia’s female Bradman, has died aged 88. Her decade-long international career lasted till 1958 and, in an era where there was little women’s cricket, she averaged 57.46 with the bat and 11.80 bowling offspinners in 11 Tests.She made a spectacular entrance to top-flight cricket, scoring 90 and taking ten wickets on debut against New Zealand in 1948. In her next Test, she became the first Australian woman to make an Ashes hundred, and topped that effort with nine wickets in the match. Other highlights in a legendary career include becoming the first woman to take a Test hat-trick, becoming the first person to achieve the double of a century and ten wickets in a Test, and signing off with a couple of centuries and 21 wickets at 9.71 in her final series.In 1985, Wilson became the first woman cricketer to be inducted into the Australian Sporting Hall of Fame and and that year the Under-21 National Women’s Cricket Championship was renamed the Betty Wilson Shield.She was born in Melbourne in 1921 and became part of the club cricket scene by the age of 10, joining Collingwood. In four years, she had graduated to the second XI of the Victoria side and at 16 she was in the state side. A natural athlete, she was also admired for her work ethic – practicing daily when most of her team-mates trained once a week.

Boundary drought
It was tough going against the new ball as England bowled impressively. South Africa scored at barely a run-an-over during the first hour and couldn’t find the boundary. A slow outfield didn’t help and it wasn’t until the 15th over that the ball crossed the rope but even that was off Graeme Smith’s pad. The first authentic boundary came the following over when Jacques Kallis chopped Graham Onions through the slips and then, like the proverbial London bus, another followed next ball when Kallis pulled a short ball through square leg.Another blow for Graeme
Smith has painful memories of batting at Kingsmead. Against Australia in February he was struck by Mitchell Johnson and broke the little finger on his right hand, less than two months after Johnson had broken the same digit on his other hand. So when Jimmy Anderson, during a hostile opening spell, got one to bounce and strike Smith on his left hand he could have been forgiven for thinking the worst. But the physio was quickly out with the magic spray and Smith was soon fit to resume his defiance of the England attack.Mixed reception
Castle Corner was packed from early in the day and the fans were soon enjoying plenty of the sponsor’s product. They really came to life when home-town boy Kevin Pietersen was dispatched down to the fine leg boundary during the morning session, with cheers from the England supporters and something a little less polite from the home contingent. Pietersen, though, just smiled and waved, even finding time between deliveries to sign a few autographs and when he came onto bowl it was a 50-50 split between boos and cheers.Wrong slip
England have again gambled with a four-man attack and when they failed to build on two early wickets Andrew Strauss was left searching for options. His fifth choice was Jonathan Trott and he almost managed to extract Kallis from the crease when he found the outside edge with a ball that straightened. However, Strauss was stood very wide at a lone slip and the nick flew between him and the wicketkeeper to bring up Kallis’s fifty. Strauss could only look and scratch his head.Cook’s perfect judgement
It doesn’t really matter how much a batsman is run out by, so long as he is run out, but Alastair Cook cut it fine against Smith. The South Africa captain dropped the ball into the off side and before he knew it AB de Villiers was almost at his end. Smith started and stopped, de Villiers tried to turn around, but it was a shambles. Cook, meanwhile, hurtled in from cover and had to decide in a split second whether to throw at the stumps or run at them with ball in hand. He chose the latter option and it was nip and tuck whether he would beat Smith back. Replays proved he had, by a couple of inches, and that’s all that mattered.

The IPL’s decision to rule out Pakistan’s players from the third season of the Twenty20 league was a result of time constraints arising from visa complications, Lalit Modi, the league’s commissioner, has said.Pakistan’s players will miss the IPL for the second season running, despite getting clearances from their sports, foreign affairs and interior ministries, an NOC from the PCB and letters of invitation from IPL franchises. However, the players failed to get their visas in time to meet the IPL’s deadline of December 7, two days before the trading window closes.Modi said the deadline had already been extended twice for Pakistan and another delay would handicap franchise planning and team-building for the next season, due to begin in March. “We follow the same procedure for all countries,” Modi told Cricinfo. “We ask players to obtain all permission – whether NOCs from boards, government and visas. We provide the back-up letters and players get their documentation. We had a deadline of November 20 for all players. At the request of PCB chairman Ijaz Butt we extended it twice, first to November 30 and then to December 7.”This was the absolute final date as the last date for teams to put their players for trading is tomorrow and the last date for teams to file expression of interest for players is December 11. Thus teams could not be handicapped with the notion that they did not know availability of players for whatever reason beyond a point.”PCB officials are clear that all that needed to be done from their end had been done, indicating that clearance ultimately hadn’t been given by the Indian government, either at all, or within the required time.Pakistan’s government did not clear their players to participate in the second IPL, concerned primarily over their security in India following the deterioration in relations between India and Pakistan after the Mumbai terror attacks in 2008. Five Pakistan players were trying to clear a path to IPL 2010. Kamran Akmal, Sohail Tanvir, Umar Gul and Misbah-ul-Haq all played in the first season – six others who also played had their contracts cancelled after the Mumbai attacks – and Kolkata Knight Riders had expressed an interest in signing up Abdul Razzaq.After winning the World Twenty20 in June, Pakistan’s players were understandably in demand with franchises; men such as Tanvir and Gul also impressed enough in their only season for their franchises to be particularly keen at trying to bring them back in.Tanvir was the leading wicket-taker for Rajasthan Royals in their run to the title in the inaugural season and, though the franchise was disappointed, it said it had anticipated such a scenario in any case. “We are definitely disappointed some of our players will not make it,” Raghu Iyer, chief marketing officer Rajasthan Royals, said. “But it is finally IPL’s decision. It has not come as a shock for us as we were always prepared to handle such a situation. We knew the chances of Pakistan players playing IPL 3 was 50-50.”Though they have been ruled out of this season, the decision on any future participation will also rest ultimately, it appears, with the Indian government. “As far as we are concerned it is a government decision,” Kolkata’s Joy Bhattacharjya said. “We are obviously interested in having our Pakistan players back for the next IPL, so they asked us to provide them with the invitation letter. Throughout this our policy was to abide by the IPL’s decision. The IPL couldn’t extend its deadline as based on the Pakistan players’ availability, a decision about trading had to be taken as the deadline for the trading ends tomorrow.”As far we are concerned it is up to the IPL. We would love to have Umar Gul. But after this really the ball is in the government territory.”

New Zealand captain Daniel Vettori has said that Shane Bond will not be rushed back into Test cricket when Pakistan arrive next month. Vettori said Bond will be given the freedom to decide on his return after acclimatising and adjusting to the rigors of the longer version of the game after a lengthy lay-off.New Zealand will face Pakistan for three ODIs and two Twenty20s in the UAE early next month before heading back home for three Tests. Bond, who made his international comeback in Sri Lanka recently, has been included for the UAE leg. It has been close to two years since he played a Test and his availability for the first match in Dunedin, starting November 24, is not guaranteed, according to his captain.”It’s a difficult one, it’s going to be tough. Obviously that’s what we want to happen but Shane hasn’t played four-day cricket for a long, long time,” Vettori said. “We don’t want to force him into it and realise we could set him back. He’s going to need some four-day cricket and as soon as he gets that I think he’s going to be able to put his hand up for selection.”New Zealand conclude their UAE tour on November 13, after which the players join their domestic sides for the first-class State Championship. Bond will have an opportunity to acclimatise when Canterbury play Otago from November 17. But if Bond feels he is not fit for the first Test he will have to wait till Canterbury’s next game, against Auckland starting November 24, and that will mean skipping the Test.”He’s got the opportunity to play in a four-day game but that’s probably a day after stepping off the plane after being in Dubai,” Vettori said. “Whether that’s the best thing to do or not, Shane is the best judge of that.”If he plays in that first Canterbury game and goes well the selectors will definitely look at him. I’d be guided by what he says because he’s such a valuable asset that if we don’t utilise him well, we could get ourselves in trouble.”The second Test starts at the Basin Reserve in Wellington on December 3.

Match facts

Tuesday, November 3
Start time 15:00 (11:00 GMT)

Big Picture

Tempting as it is to look at this series as a mighty battle for fourth place in the ICC ODI rankings, or even a series where Pakistan seek cold-blooded revenge for the ignominy heaped upon them by the very same opponents at the Champions Trophy, it is, fortunately, neither. This is simply a compelling series between two eminently watchable sides who usually tend to produce some eminently watchable cricket against each other; no Pakistan-New Zealand contest, for example, is complete without one spectacular batting collapse.There are other reasons as well. New Zealand are here without a coach and Pakistan’s man, Intikhab Alam, is more a manager than a modern-day coach. So for the first time in many years, we will be watching cricket, essentially, coach-less. As cricket comes to the end of a decade in which coaches have assumed the significance of unelected advisors to government – they are important but no one can decide why – it is a timely, if no doubt temporary, step back to a forgotten time.On the field will step two of cricket’s most powerful current captains. After recent fudges at home, Daniel Vettori and Younis Khan have the kind of control, say and influence captains around the world could only hope for. Vettori has selection duties, is his side’s key allrounder and matchwinner and is taking on more coaching duties after the exit of Andy Moles. Younis, having resigned, has come back as captain with greater security, a more amenable management setup and presumably a free hand over selection matters, as most Pakistan captains have had. Admittedly, his grip will always be more fragile than Vettori’s.And there will still be much else to keep an eye on. Shane Bond continuing his return to international cricket, the forgotten Scott Styris trying to capitalise on others’ injury misfortunes, the perpetual hope of a hand or two from Brendon McCullum. Pakistan will eagerly monitor the ongoing development of Mohammad Aamer and Umar Akmal, as well as the return of some real openers at the top of the order.

Form Guide (most recent last)

Pakistan WWWLL
New Zealand – LWWWL

Watch Out For

Now that Younis Khan has got what he has wanted, it might not be a bad time for him to pick up some ODI form. This year has been a poor one for him: in 16 ODIs he has 398 runs at less than 25, with only two fifties.Similarly, this might be a fine time from Brendon McCullum to fire with the bat as well. Expectations have been unnaturally high since that scarcely believable IPL hundred, but an average of 26 from 21 ODIs this year, with just two fifties, is disappointing at many levels. A move down the order may be the tonic.

Team News

Pakistan will have one, possibly both, different openers from those who played in the Champions Trophy, with Salman Butt and Imran Farhat the likely beneficiaries. The only other question mark is likely to be over Naved-ul-Hasan and whether Abdul Razzaq should replace him.Pakistan (probable): 1 Salman Butt, 2 Kamran Akmal (wk), 3 Younis Khan (capt), 4 Mohammad Yousuf, 5 Shoaib Malik, 6 Umar Akmal, 7 Shahid Afridi, 8 Naved-ul-Hasan/Abdul Razzaq, 9 Umar Gul, 10 Mohammad Aamer, 11 Saeed AjmalNew Zealand are injury-ravaged as they were during the Champions Trophy, missing key personnel in Daryl Tuffey, Jesse Ryder and Grant Elliott. Scott Styris is back, as is Jacob Oram and with Kyle Mills suffering an injury, the young, impressive Tim Southee is definitely in contention for a starting place.New Zealand (probable): 1 Aaron Redmond, 2 Brendon McCullum (wk), 3 Martin Guptill, 4 Ross Taylor, 5 Scott Styris, 6 Neil Broom, 7 Daniel Vettori (capt), 8 Jacob Oram, 9 Nathan McCullum, 10 Shane Bond, 11 Tim Southee

Pitch and Conditions

Surfaces at the Sheikh Zayed Stadium have not always been reminiscent of the run-leakers of the 80s and 90s Middle East cricket. Generally they are low and sluggish and batsmen find it difficult to get away, often making for low-scoring, tense encounters. It will not be a surprise if conditions are much different this time round. Pakistan’s stronger spin attack and knowledge of the surfaces and conditions should give them a slight advantage.

Stats and trivia

• Umar Gul has taken 21 wickets in 10 ODIs in the UAE (excluding matches at the old Sharjah ground)
• Pakistan have played 11 ODIs at the Sheikh Zayed stadium in Abu Dhabi since its inauguration in April 2006. That is more ODIs at the venue than any home venue, including their two main ones in Lahore and Karachi in the same time
• New Zealand haven’t played in the Middle East since April 2002 and their record in the region is poor: eight wins in 29 games.

Quotes

“It’s not a revenge series, but all the players have it in their minds to beat New Zealand.”

“Everyone goes on about the speed, I’m happy with the pace I’m bowling.”

Sean Morris, the chief executive of the Professional Cricketers’ Association, has announced his intention to stand down from the role at the end of October. The current PCA chairman and Worcestershire captain, Vikram Solanki, will take on an enhanced role until a full-time replacement is appointed.Morris, 41, took over the PCA role in January 2008 as a successor to Richard Bevan, and his tenure coincided with some dramatic developments, including the rise of Twenty20 cricket, the terrorist attacks that interrupted England’s tour of India last winter, and the high-profile falling-out of Kevin Pietersen and Peter Moores at the beginning of the year.”During the last 18 months Sean has guided the PCA through possibly the most turbulent period in the game’s history and amidst this backdrop he has represented the PCA and the players with distinction,” read a PCA statement.”His close relationships with the England captains and the team has been essential in steering them through the many international issues that the game has encountered and his involvement in the England team returning to India after the Mumbai attacks has been warmly appreciated by cricket administrators and players across the international game.”Morris was also responsible for delivering a 35% increase in PCA commercial income despite the difficult financial climate. However, away from the international scene, he attracted heavy criticism from within his organisation – firstly when he declared, early on in his tenure, that there was no room for 18 first-class counties in the modern game – a statement that put the wind up a third of his members . And later, on his watch, the PCA also failed to prevent the imposition of the ECB’s controversial incentive payments scheme, an issue on which Solanki was particularly outspoken earlier in the season.Solanki, however, insisted that no pressure had been brought to bear on Morris from within the PCA. “The decision has been Sean’s and his alone,” Solanki told Cricinfo. “There has been nothing more to it. I am one year into a four-year contract and I fully intend to be playing for Worcestershire next year. This is just an interim period where I can take a more active role to make sure business remains as usual.”However, Solanki stressed that the core values of the PCA would need to be revisited in the coming months while a successor for Morris is sought. “The timeframe will be dictated by the suitability of candidates,” he said. “One thing we are adamant about is getting the appointment right. The PCA are responsible for providing services for all first-class cricketers, and that is very important.”Part of the job is obviously looking after the Team England-Player partnership, and that is a very important element of the PCA, but by no means should that be to the detriment of first-class cricketers. Our mission statement is very clear in stating that. We aim to look after the interests of and provide services for all first-class cricketers, and the PCA and ECB must be prepared to work together for the betterment of the English game.”Morris now intends to use his experience at the PCA to forge a career in sports administration. “I would like to place on record my thanks to all of the players for the support they have given me over the last 18 months,” he said in a statement. “We’ve certainly been through some interesting times together and I wish them well in the future. Thanks also to the leading stakeholders in the game who I have had the pleasure of working with.”I hope the PCA will continue to cement close relationships with them which will certainly benefit the game as a whole. Finally, I am extremely grateful to the PCA team for their hard work and energy in delivering a number of notable achievements over the last 18 months. “I am now looking forward to pursuing a number of exciting opportunities and will be using my experience to make a meaningful contribution in other areas within sport.”

Brian Boshier, who played for Leicestershire between 1953 and 1964, has died at the age of 77.Boshier, a medium-pace seamer who used his height to good effect, had no pretensions as a batsman, and his bat bore the legend on the back – “Running In – Please Pass”. In 1955 he did not get off the mark until his tenth innings of the summer.But as a dependable seam bowler he really came to the fore in 1958 when he took 108 wickets for the county, earning him his cap. He again captured 108 wickets in 1961, and these were the only occasions he took more than 60 in a summer. His form fell away and he was released at the end of 1964.”Brian was an opening bowler, medium fast,” county colleague Terry Spencer said. “He was accurate and did a lot with the ball. He was a great bloke. He enjoyed his cricket tremendously and we had some great days together.”In 170 first-class matches he took 510 wickets at 23.03, including 23 five-wicket hauls, with a best of 8 for 45 against Essex in 1957. His 579 runs came at 4.32. He played only two limited-overs matches, including the first ever Gillette Cup tie in 1963.

Murray Goodwin, the former Zimbabwe batsman, could still be a part of the Sussex camp for the Champions League as a member of the support staff though he has been banned from playing or coaching in the Twenty20 event due to his links with the unofficial ICL.”Murray is very keen to come and we would love to have him there,” Sussex chief executive Dave Brooks told the . Champions League officials have confirmed to Cricinfo that Goodwin can accompany the team as a member of the support staff as long as he doesn’t play or is not involved in coaching the squad in any manner.Goodwin ended his ties with the ICL in June, which paved the way for Sussex to play in the Champions League. The lucrative tournament, to be played in India in October, bars players who have played any unofficial cricket to be part of the playing or coaching staff.”He can’t go in any coaching capacity and we would have to make sure he wasn’t seen to be doing any coaching,” Brooks said. “We are also allowed to take three club officials so he could come as one of those.”Sussex qualified for the Champions League by making the finals of the domestic Twenty20 Cup; they are grouped with New South Wales and South African side, Eagles, in the preliminary phase of the tournament.

ScorecardIndia Emerging Players, aided by Virat Kohli’s century and Sudeep Tyagi’s four wickets, clinched the Emerging Players Tournament by defeating South Africa at the Allan Border Field in Brisbane. In South Africa’s only loss of the tournament they went down to India in the final by 17 runs, losing their last five wickets for 30 runs.Vaughan van Jaarsveld, the South African captain, chose to give his bowlers first use of the surface and Lonwabe Tsotsobe dealt the early advantage. Tsotsobe, the tall left-arm fast bowler, trapped Ajinkya Rahane lbw in the first over, the ball after the opener smacked him for six over extra cover. Next ball he had M Vijay lbw for a duck with a fuller ball and India were 2 for 7.S Badrinath (20) and Kohli started a recovery but India were further rattled and found themselves half down for 109 in the 22nd over. Then Wriddhiman Saha, the wicketkeeper, added 78 with Kohli who raised his half-century from 59 balls. Kohli was particularly strong on the leg side, collecting sixes in consecutive overs with superb feet movement. Kohli brought up his century from 97 balls, a sterling effort under pressure, before he fell for 104 when driving straight to extra cover. Saha made a fine 74 and with Amit Mishra contributing 25 from 22 balls India finished on 9 for 283. Tsotsobe finished with 5 for 69.South Africa’s openers put on 52 with Rilee Rossouw particularly dismissive of India’s new-ball pair. He slammed 35 from just 16 balls, including consecutive sixes off Tyagi, before the bowler had his number. Tyagi struck in successive overs and thereafter India’s bowlers chipped away. The blow that effectively turned the match their way was Tyagi’s dismissal of Henry Davids for 82 in the 40th over, the opener steering a widish delivery to backward point. Thandi Tshabalala nicked Tyagi next ball and South Africa slumped to defeat with Misha capping a good day with two economical wickets.
ScorecardNew Zealand Emerging Players’ poor run in Australia continued with a crushing defeat at the hands of the Australian Institute of Sports in Brisbane. The third-place play-off was a 40-overs per side affair and Australia hardly broke a sweat as they chased down 245 with eight wickets and 42 deliveries remaining.This was a win set up in the field. Peter George hurt New Zealand at the top and put pressure on Watling, who responded with a mature innings that spanned the full 40 overs. Anaru Kitchen’s 45 helped steady the situation with Watling but he became the first of offbreak bowler Jason Floros’ three wickets. There was little else in terms of support and Watling swung his bat at the end to remain unbeaten on 115 from 104 balls as New Zealand made 244.Led by the opener Rob Quiney’s unbeaten century, Australia cruised to victory. Quiney and Tom Cooper shared a 60-run opening stand after which Steven Smith added 79 with Quiney. Once he was dismissed for a brisk 44 Matthew Wade walked in and blasted 60 from 42 balls, including five sixes, and the match was a fairly one-sided affair. Quiney’s 115 needed 94 deliveries and featured six fours and a three sixes.