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ScorecardWorcestershire seamers Matt Mason and Alan Richardson dismissedNorthamptonshire for their lowest County Championship total of the season as17 wickets fell on the second day at New Road.The experienced pair – Mason at 36 and Richardson a year younger – made themost of favourable conditions in claiming six of the dismissals at a miserlycost of 62 runs in 40.4 overs. Worcestershire’s batsmen then took their turn to struggle on a seaming pitchwhen crashing to 72 for 8 – a lead of 201 – after Lee Daggett’s livelyopening salvo of 4 for 25 in 10 overs.Northamptonshire only dodged the follow-on thanks to a couple of droppedchances when David Murphy (26) and David Lucas (24) put on 43 before Richardsonaccounted for the tail-end pair in six balls.Finally bowled out for 158, the visitors were still in a tight corner, trailingby 129, but Daggett kept them in the game with his best performance in twoseasons for his third county. The former Warwickshire and Leicestershire bowler landed a double blow in thespace of nine deliveries. First he removed Daryl Mitchell, brilliantly caught byJames Middlebrook at backward point, and next he had Vikram Solanki taken atsecond slip by Stephen Peters.With David Wheeldon and Moeen Ali also falling in an inspired spell,Worcestershire were rocking at 43 for 5 when Shakib Al Hasan played on toLucas.Alexei Kervezee (24) fell to Andrew Hall and with the light fading prior to anearly closure because of rain off-spinner Middlebrook played an influential partwith 2 for 11. There was an extra problem for the batsmen as the bounce became steeper on theunpredictable surface.Resuming at three for one, Northamptonshire lost Middlebrook to a catch behindthe wicket in a testing opening spell by Mason and the pressure built up asRichardson’s figures showed only three scoring shots after 11 overs. Ben Howgego succumbed when Richard Jones ran out the opener from mid-on and Mason found some extra lift when David Sales registered his fourth duck in six Championship innings.Alex Wakely (20) and Rob Newton, with a promising knock of 23 on his debut,steadied the ship for a while before medium-pacer James Cameron bagged the firsttwo wickets of his four-match Championship career. Elton Chigumbura quickly fell to another rising delivery from Mason and Northamptonshire’s last hope appeared to have gone when Richardson pounced fromshort mid-wicket to run out Hall for 28.Murphy atoned for his part in going for a dodgy single with four fours and thefollow-on threat disappeared in an erratic over from Jones. Shakib dropped Lucasat point and the next four balls went to the boundary – three of these off thepads for a dozen leg byes.

Scorecard
Rearguard batting from Paul Nixon, with an unbeaten half-century, and nightwatchman Jigar Naik ensured Leicestershire earned a draw against promotion-chasing Glamorgan on the final day at Swansea. Leicestershire’s batting tactics were questionable, as in both innings they averaged little more than two runs an over, but in the end the result earned the counties seven points each.That was enough to take Glamorgan up to second place in Division Two five points ahead of third-placed Gloucestershire, who they take on at Cheltenham next week.When the players shook hands at 4.50pm to ensure the draw Leicestershire had reached 221 for 6 in their second innings, an overall lead of 178.Glamorgan went into the final day very hopeful of sealing their sixth championship win of the season. That optimism was heightened when James Harris bowled Jacques du Toit with the first ball of the morning to leave Leicestershire 41 for 3 in their second innings still two runs behind Glamorgan.But after that the home side failed to make further inroads for another 33 overs as Naik and James Taylor dug in for a draw. Only 63 runs came in those 33 overs as Leicestershire hardly played a shot in anger and the pitch failed to produce the same prodigious turn that it had on the third day.A rare boundary from Taylor brought up the Leicestershire 100 but four runs later the right hander was dismissed by Robert Croft, to give him 1,001 first-class wickets for Glamorgan, caught one-handed by Gareth Rees at short leg. Taylor was obviously upset by umpire Richard Illingworth’s decision claiming the ball had come off his chest.Either side of lunch Leicestershire continued to frustrate Glamorgan’s hopes of a victory with Naik and Nixon holding off for another 19 overs. Glamorgan were given slight hope when Naik’s three-hour vigil, during which he faced 193 balls for his 35, came to an end when he was bowled by Jamie Dalrymple.But Nixon, an obdurate batsman at the best of times, ensured Leicestershire shut the door on the Welsh county. Glamorgan delayed taking the new ball but when it was thrown to James Harris he duly obliged by having Tom New caught behind to leave Leicestershire 176 for 6, a lead of 133.Nixon went on to make his half century from 118 balls, but when play resumed following a rain break after tea the crowd were treated to the farcical spectacle of wicketkeeper Mark Wallace coming on for the final over – his first in first-class cricket.

For a 29-year-old who had spent the last eight years of his life playing professional cricket, being dumped by the county that nurtured him since boyhood was a frightening situation. At the end of last season Somerset decided Wes Durston had no future at the club and he was left contemplating a career outside the game.One remarkable innings later his fortunes flipped. He cracked 117 off 68 balls in a chase of 325 in the Clydesdale Bank 40, the highest score by any side batting second in the history of 40-over cricket, to help the Unicorns, an ECB team made up of players outside the professional game, stun defending champions Sussex.He was then promptly snapped up by Derbyshire for the Friends Provident t20 and celebrated by hitting the first century of the tournament – 111 off 59 balls – against Nottinghamshire in his fourth game.”It has been a huge turnaround, I completely didn’t expect it. It was an incredible hour, where I just hit everything cleanly and that one innings against Sussex changed my life effectively,” he told Cricinfo. “Just a few months ago, I was out the game and trying to become a teacher. Suddenly now it’s all non-stop and I’m completely loving it.”Between the 2009 and 2010 seasons a host of players were quietly released by their counties, some finding new opportunities within the county game and others left scrambling outside the profession for new avenues to earn a living.”Losing your contract is a very painful experience,” said Durston. “You imagine yourself playing the game for as long as you can, and then suddenly I was 29 and out the game. It was very, very difficult to take.”In my mid-season appraisal last year there was no indication I’d be out of a contract. The communication from Somerset was really poor.”Durston was lucky enough to have a sports fitness degree to fall back on and had spent the previous four winters teaching hockey and cricket at Millfield school. Yet, despite his qualifications there was no job for him to walk into and it was left to the PCA to help him find his feet.”The PCA were very helpful. Within two weeks of explaining my situation to them they had found me two job interviews,” he said. “They play a crucial role making players seek out courses and work experience while they’re in the game so that when that day comes – an injury or retirement or something – people aren’t lost.”However, there is always that lingering hope for a second chance. Back in the professional game and scoring heavily, Durston’s story is a boon for the ECB, whose Unicorns idea was ridiculed in some quarters when it first emerged.They were little more than a hasty arrangement, invented as a 21st team for the new 40-over competition when Ireland pulled out of English domestic cricket to focus on international commitments. Yet their success, and Durston’s promotion, proves the side can be both competitive and act as a shop-window for prospective players.”I’m obviously the person that has profited most but people can see from my experience that there is a link back to county cricket through the Unicorns,” he said. “We were a fully-fledged team that trained throughout the winter, which meant that by time the game’s came round we had got to know each other quite well, had built up an understanding and had good camaraderie.”We beat Glamorgan and Sussex and proved there is definitely a space for having us in the tournament, that’s two professional clubs with egg on their faces and a feather in the cap for us.”For now though, he has set his sights higher. He wants to play all forms of the game and has been promised that good performances could lead to a full contract for the remainder of this season. If he keeps pummelling runs in Twenty20 cricket, however, even bigger riches may not be far away.

Lalit Modi, in his reply to the second show-cause notice served on him by the BCCI – which was prompted by a letter from Giles Clarke, the ECB president – has said Clarke’s allegations were “motivated”, given their “history of run-ins”, and “not worthy of credence”. His reply – a copy of which is with Cricinfo – also said that the board, knowing this background, should have backed him and sought his comment before issuing the notice.The notice was issued to Modi on May 6, ten days after he was suspended from his position as IPL chairman. It followed an email sent by Clarke to BCCI president Shashank Manohar alleging activities by Modi that were “detrimental to Indian cricket, English cricket and world cricket at large.” Both communications referred to a meeting Modi held on March 31 in Delhi with representatives of three English counties in which he is alleged to have discussed a parallel IPL in England and Wales.In his reply, which runs to 24 pages and has five supporting documents, Modi has cited specific examples of his differences with Clarke which, he claims, began during the inaugural season of the IPL. “It is well known in informed cricketing circles that Mr. Clarke holds a personal grudge against me. This started as far back as 2008. Mr. Clarke came to India at the time of the IPL Season 1 and noticed that the IPL was a resounding success.”He has mentioned the ECB’s brief relationship under Clarke with Allen Stanford, the Texan billionaire, which ended in early 2009 when the latter was charged with fraud. The contrast between that scenario and the IPL, which was “going from strength to strength”, is offered as a reason for the animus.Other examples cited include the ECB’s decision to not accept the stakeholding offered to it for the Champions League; the IPL’s decision to stage the second season in South Africa instead of England; the general scheduling of the IPL, whose later games clashed with the English domestic season and the scheduling of the 2010 Champions League; the IPL’s insistence that its franchises be given the preference by players taking part in the Champions League; and the status of English players with the unofficial ICL.Part of his reply dealt with the way the issue has been handled by the BCCI and he has some strong words for N Srinivasan, the board secretary, who sent him the notice. “The manner in which, on completely flimsy and frivolous grounds, a Show Cause Notice has been issued shows the prejudged, premeditated and biased mind set with which the Hon Secretary is working. The fact that Hon. Secretary had chosen to act on the basis of an email which was merely a perception of the sender with no confirmation or acknowledgement at any stage by me itself shows that the 2nd Show Cause Notice has been issued on flimsy and/or non-existent grounds.”He also repeated his request to Manohar and Srinivasan for them to step down from the probe against him and instead appoint an independent panel to adjudicate the matter.

Scorecard
Worcestershire’s recovery from relegation to Division Two of the County Championship – and a subsequent £300,000 cut in their playing budget – continued at New Road as they overcame Derbyshire by eight wickets to register their third win of the season.A revamped side finally dismissed the visitors for 389 and then cantered to a target of 126 with 14.1 overs to spare as Phil Jaques narrowly missed the fastest championship century of the season.The Australian left-hander romped to 94 from 57 balls with two sixes and 17 fours, but with only four needed for victory, he was caught on the deep square-leg boundary off Robin Peterson.Jaques got the run-chase under way with four fours in succession off Tim Groenewald and a game that Derbyshire fought so hard to save was snatched away from them as he reached 50 from 35 balls. Vikram Solanki and Jaques both cleared the fence in the same over from Peterson as the home side moved up to third place in the table.An extensive and fascinating last day was available to anyone walking in off the street after Worcestershire officials – possibly anticipating a much earlier finish – offered free admission. Athough Derbyshire mustered resilience after being made to follow on 264 behind, Garry Park’s fourth career century – all of them not out – merely delayed another defeat after their mauling by Middlesex last week.The South African-born batsman gradually found some form, moving from 34 overnight to an unbeaten 116 from 288 balls, but Worcestershire’s seam quartet persevered until they had shared all 20 wickets in the match.Greg Smith added only 13 before he was caught down the leg-side off Richard Jones for 64 and Chesney Hughes, the left-handed teenager from Anguilla, fell for 20, pushing a bat-pad chance to short leg off Jack Shantry.Derbyshire, still 81 behind on starting the last day at 183 for 3, had reduced the deficit to only four when Worcestershire made their final push on taking the new ball. It worked initially with wickets in quick succession for Alan Richardson and Jones, but Park’s craft and determination gave the lower order an incentive to hang around.They did this so well that the last three held up Worcestershire for more than two hours. Park reached his hundred with a pick-up for six and the number 11, Steffan Jones, followed up his 86 in the first innings with 21 before Richardson claimed his sixth wicket of the game in his 58th over.

Raees Ahmadzai, who was part of Afghanistan’s dream run from Division Five to the World Twenty20, has retired from the game in order to focus on developing the next line of Afghan cricketers.”Thanks for all the supportive messages. I have retired in order to focus on developing the younger generation of Afghan cricketers,” read the 25-year old middle-order batsman’s Twitter feed, yesterday.Ahmadzai has played a handful of international fixtures, averaging close to 30 in both ODIs and T20Is. He was however, not able to make an impression in the World Twenty20, managing nine runs in Afghanistan’s matches against South Africa and India. His departure will leave a void in the inexperienced Afghanistan line-up as they face up for tougher challenges.

The messages to Nathan Bracken telling him it’s time to get a real job have been light-hearted, but he knows his mates are right. Bracken lost his Cricket Australia contract on Wednesday and will spend the winter without the security and status of the precious item he has owned for most of the past decade.At 32, having overcome some serious knee operations, he is effectively a state player despite being ranked as high as No.2 last year in the ICC’s one-day list. Bracken was surprised by the decision, figuring his limited-overs talents would be relied on heavily in the next 12 months, but he has been over-run by a group of younger, fitter and faster bowlers.He is not angry when he speaks about his omission and at times sounds like he is already in retirement, but he is definitely not stepping down. Just stepping back after five Tests and 116 ODIs, and beginning to think about what life might be like away from his bowling mark.It doesn’t mean he’s taking the news well. “It’s very disappointing to lose it,” he told Cricinfo. “As David Hussey said in the paper, he enjoys proving people wrong. I’m in a position where I’ve done that before and it feels pretty good. I want to prove that me being ranked No.1 in the world [in 2008] was no fluke, to show that I can get back there.”The cross from Andrew Hilditch and his selectors “changes things dramatically” for Bracken, who was planning to be at full fitness for the tour of the British Isles in June. He points out he was the one-day player of the year at the 2009 Allan Border Medal, but is realistic enough to know that if he heads to England during the winter it will be for the county Twenty20 competition.”I thought this year, with the amount of one-day cricket and the World Cup in India, that would really improve my chances of getting a contract,” he said. “The World Cup years are usually more in favour of the one-day players, but it didn’t quite go through as I thought it might.”He has already turned down a T20 contract with Northamptonshire for the winter because it clashed with Australia’s itinerary and his management is now scouting for other opportunities on and off the field. Having started a communications degree before his international career blossomed, he would enjoy a role in the media.Ideally he’d love to be a sideline reporter or a behind-the-scenes man who details the extensive preparation of high-profile players. “Missing a Cricket Australia contract gives me these sorts of opportunities,” he said. Support has come quickly from his followers on Twitter and Facebook and 47% of voters in a poll on Cricinfo’s Australia home page believe he didn’t deserve to lose his deal.Bracken isn’t sure what happens next in New South Wales’ contract process but he does know about the IPL auction later in the year. Injuries and Australian commitments ruled him out of the first two tournaments and his contract for this event was bought out by Bangalore during his knee rehabilitation. He is well-suited to a role as a Twenty20 bowler for hire, giving away less than seven runs an over and achieving a strike-rate of 19.8 during 19 internationals.While he was away from the Australian team Ryan Harris, Clint McKay and Doug Bollinger grew in popularity and won contracts along with Brett Lee and Shaun Tait. At New South Wales there is impressive younger talent in Mitchell Starc, Josh Hazlewood and Trent Copeland. The environment has changed and Bracken is aware of it.”I’ve been lucky to be on a CA contract for the last eight or nine years and it’s been very good to be on them,” he said. “Missing out is never a great state to be in … It’s a chance to get back and re-set goals. It’s a time to sit back and have a look at a few things.”He is determined to be ready for New South Wales’ first game in October and the overall aim remains. “I want my contract back, plain and simple.”

The PCB has confirmed the appointment of former fast bowler Waqar Younis as Pakistan coach, replacing Intikhab Alam. Waqar has been offered a contract till December 2011 and comes to the helm after a disastrous tour of Australia, which Pakistan finished without a win. Former Pakistan batsman Ijaz Ahmed, who was in charge of the national Under-19 team which reached the final of the World Cup in New Zealand, will be the batting and fielding coach.PCB chairman, Ijaz Butt, said the board had also considered Waqar’s new-ball bowling partner in the 90s, Wasim Akram, for the post. “We had a choice between Younis and Wasim Akram,” Butt said, “but since Akram was busy with his commitments in the media we decided to appoint Younis as the new coach.”Waqar has already had a couple of stints as bowling coach, first between March 2006 and January 2007 when Bob Woolmer was head coach, and then on the recent visit to Australia. He is being offered a monthly salary of 650,000 rupees (US$7600). His first challenge will be to prepare the team for the defense of their World Twenty20 crown in the Caribbean in a couple of months.Waqar’s appointment comes after the PCB failed to convince former Australian captain Greg Chappell to take up the coaching job. “Foreign coaches were demanding big money and were willing to work with our team only when its touring some other country,” Butt said. “This was not acceptable to us.”

Match facts

Monday, February 8
Start time 12.00 (23.00 GMT)Andy McKay was one of two New Zealand players to make promising debuts in the first ODI•Getty Images

Big Picture

Bangladesh cricket fans looking for good news over the past week have had to follow the South Asian Games, where their Under-21 team won gold in a tournament also containing the likes of Pakistan and Sri Lanka. The senior team in New Zealand, though, has been abject in the two matches so far and were thrashed in the only Twenty20 and the first ODI in Napier.For New Zealand, Monday’s match presents a chance to complete a quick series victory. With several of their key players injured, the contests against Bangladesh are a good opportunity to test their bench strength, and Daniel Vettori will be satisfied with the performance of both the players they blooded in Napier – Peter Ingram making a steady 69 and Andy McKay nipping out two top-order batsmen. Perhaps the biggest gain from that victory was Jacob Oram showing that he had not lost his lethal hitting ability, something which has not been on view too often of late.The only redeeming features for Bangladesh were a robust opening stand between Tamim Iqbal and Imrul Kayes, and young Shaiful Islam’s performance – four wickets, including giving away only four runs in a double-wicket over in the middle of Oram’s blitzkreig. However, unless the Bangladesh middle order gets its act together, their hunt for a maiden victory in any format in New Zealand is likely to be extended.

Form guide (most recent first)

New Zealand WWWLL
Bangladesh LLLLL

Watch out for

At 25, Ross Taylor is already New Zealand’s most important batsman in the middle order. He was in stunning form in the domestic Twenty20 tournament in January, leading the run-charts and rounding it off with a 30-ball 80 to hand Central Districts the title. Bangladesh have already had a taste of how dangerous he can be when he slammed a couple of sixes on his way to a quick 51 in the first ODI.Tamim Iqbal is becoming an increasingly influential batsman for Bangladesh. A naturally aggressive player, he has worked hard on tempering his attacking stroke play. Another aspect of his batting that has improved is the way he deal with spinners, using an effective sweep shot to blunt them. With Mohammad Ashraful and Shakib Al Hasan not in the greatest of touch, Tamim has added responsibility at the top of the order.

Team news

The only decision for New Zealand is whether they want to bring in Ian Butler for one of the three quick bowlers who played on Friday. If they do, Tim Southee could be the one who sits out.New Zealand: (probable) 1 Brendon McCullum (wk), 2 Peter Ingram, 3 Martin Guptill, 4 Ross Taylor, 5 James Franklin, 6 Neil Broom, 7 Jacob Oram, 8 Daniel Vettori, 9 Tim Southee/Ian Butler, 10 Daryl Tuffey, 11 Andy McKay.
Bangladesh have named their playing XI. Mohammad Ashraful, despite a lean run, keeps his place but Raqibul Hasan has been dropped for Aftab Ahmed. Rubel Hossain has earned a starting spot ahead of Nazmul Hossain.Bangladesh: 1 Tamim Iqbal, 2 Imrul Kayes, 3 Mohammad Ashraful, 4 Aftab Ahmed,5 Shakib Al Hasan (capt), 6 Mahmudullah, 7 Mushfiqur Rahim (wk), 8 Naeem Islam, 9 Shahadat Hossain, 10 Shafiul Islam, 11 Rubel Hossain.

Quotes

“Oram has been a bit frustrated with results but [on Friday] we saw a guy who, if we can get him back to where he was 12-18 months ago, is going to be a big help to this side.”
Mark Greatbatch, New Zealand coach, emphasises what an important player Jacob Oram can be to the one-day outfit.

Match Facts
Wednesday, February 3
Start time 07.00pm (0600 GMT)Brendon McCullum and the rest of the New Zealand batting will fancy their chances against Bangladesh, but should guard against complacency•Associated Press

Big Picture
Bangladesh begin their tour of New Zealand with a Twenty20 fixture in Hamilton and, despite the gulf between their respective standings in the pecking order of the game, both sides will look forward to the face-off as an opportunity to settle nerves and fire a strong opening salvo.It can be argued that Shakib al Hasan’s young Bangladesh side is cut out for the Twenty20 format. In the recent Tests against India there were passages of play where their batsmen combined premeditated aggression with caution, often several times in the same over. The newest format of the game, however, gives them the license to not have to shoulder arms, and to throw the kitchen sink at everything – something that their cavalier batting line-up will fancy. Add the attraction of a smaller ground and the absence of Shane Bond, and Bangladesh emerge as serious contenders for the solitary Twenty20 fixture at Seddon Park.Even as the higher-ranked teams struggled to come to grips with the format, Bangladesh got off to a strong start in Twenty20s, winning three of their first four matches, including one against West Indies in the inaugural World Cup. Reality has caught up with them since, and the next nine matches ended in defeat.The hosts have their own problems to address, and will hope that Mark Greatbatch’s appointment as coach will end a tumultuous period that began with Andy Moles’ resignation in October. One of the biggest problems New Zealand have faced in recent times, albeit in the longer formats, is their misfiring top-order. Greatbatch has already identified it as a priority area and will hope his batsmen use this platform to ease back into form.Form guide (Most recent first)
New Zealand: LLWWL
Bangladesh: LLLLLWatch out for…
Brendom McCullum will have fond memories of the only previous Twenty20 match at Seddon Park, when he caned the West Indies bowlers to set up an easy win. He will have equally fond memories of batting against Bangladesh, in particular his brutal, unbeaten 80 in a Queenstown ODI that ended in quick time. The Bangladesh attack, sans Mashrafe Mortaza, will need some well-thought plans for the elder McCullum.Bangladesh may not have found a pace bowler of Mortaza’s quality but in Shakib al Hasan they have a strong stand-in for the captaincy. While his batting was a let-down in the Tests against India, he was more than a handful with the ball. In the past, he has opened the bowling for Bangladesh in the shortest format and his searching lines and lack of pace could set up an intriguing duel against McCullum and co.Team news
The hosts are expected to exclude Gareth Hopkins from the twelve, leaving Brendon McCullum to handle duties behind the stumps in addition to opening the innings. He is most likely to be accompanied at the top by Peter Ingram, who is set to debut at the age of 31.New Zealand (probable): 1. Brendon McCullum (wk), 2. Peter Ingram, 3. Martin Guptill, 4. Ross Taylor, 5. Jacob Oram, 6. Daniel Vettori (capt), 7. Nathan McCullum, 8. James Franklin, 9. Ian Butler, 10. Daryl Tuffey, 11. Tim Southee.Bangladesh announced their side a day early, leaving out Imrul Kayes and Junaid Siddique. Aftab Ahmed comes back into the picture, and could share opening duties with the in-form Tamim Iqbal. The promotion to Mohammad Ashraful and the lower-order firm of Mahmudullah and Mushfiqur Rahim, augurs well for the visitors.Bangladesh (probable): 1. Tamim Iqbal, 2. Mohammad Ashraful, 3. Aftab Ahmed, 4. Raqibul Hasan, 5. Shakib al Hasan (capt), 6. Naeem Islam, 7. Mahmudullah, 8. Mushfiqur Rahim (wk), 9. Shahadat Hossain, 10. Shafiul Islam, 11. Nazmul Hossain.Pitch and conditions
Expect a pitch full of runs, and nippy conditions that could see the ball moving around. Though there is almost no chance of rain, the forecast is for cloudy skies, with the temperature hovering around 20C.Stats and trivia

• Bangladesh have lost their last nine Twenty20 matches.
• With 813 runs in 30 innings, Brendon McCullum is the most prolific batsman in Twenty20 internationals, 171 runs clear of Graeme Smith. Ross Taylor is 11th in the list.
• Daniel Vettori’s 27 wickets puts him at third in the wicket-takers list, behind Umar Gul and Shahid Afridi.

Quotes“Bangladesh are playing some good cricket and if we go out there and are complacent it will show in our performances.”

“”From my point of view, I expect us to win the one-day series, and win the Test match if we play well, without a doubt.”