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Hashim Amla has resigned as South Africa captain following the second Test against England at Newlands. AB de Villiers will take over for the final two Tests of the series in Johannesburg and Centurion.Amla has come in for criticism of his leadership since the start of the series but had returned to form with the bat in Cape Town with 201 in South Africa’s only innings. Amla was named as Graeme Smith’s replacement as captain in mid-2014 and this was his sixth series in charge. After winning his first three against Sri Lanka, Zimbabwe and West Indies, he oversaw a rain-affected drawn series against Bangladesh and the 3-0 defeat in India.In a statement, Amla said: “This decision has not an easy one to make I felt I had to be true to myself. I am comfortable with my decision and I feel I need to work on my own game.”I was deeply honoured when the position was given to me. Throughout my time as captain, I have always had the support of my team-mates and coaching staff . I remain committed to the Proteas across all formats and I will fully support whoever is shown as my successor.”Amla said that he had begun to think about stepping down two weeks ago, before the start of the series against England. South Africa are currently 1-0 down, after defeat in Durban, but emerged with credit after a hard-fought draw in Cape Town.”Captaining your country is probably the pinnacle,” he said. “Why I did it now, it just so happened I got 200 and it fitted nicely that the South African team did exceptionally well on the last day. It was coming for the last two weeks.”I had chatted to a few of the guys in the team before this, so I don’t think it had come as a massive shock,” he added. “We have a very tight leadership team: myself, AB, Faf [du Plessis]. AB is very able and a brilliant leader and we will all follow similar goals. Whether I’m pulling the rope, or AB is pulling the rope or Dale [Steyn] is pulling the rope, as long as someone is going in the right direction, we all will go with him.”Despite reports that Amla had, at times, been a reluctant captain during his two-year tenure, he insisted he had not had to be coerced into the role in the first place, and that his decision to stand down was also entirely his own.”It was always my decision,” he said. “In life I have learned that if you are going to do something, you’ve got to do something you enjoy. I’ve always enjoyed captaincy.”When Graeme stepped down, it gave an opportunity for me to explore my captaincy. I thought at the time I could add value and I’d like to believe that I have added value. I am really surprised some people have suggested it was not my choice. You don’t look like me in this world without being firm on what you want to do.”Amla found his form with 201 in the Newlands Test•Getty Images

“The decision has been purely based on that I think somebody else can do a better job. It was just something that crossed my mind and was working on my mind. My leadership style, and we have a very young team, maybe somebody else would have done a better job.”Haroon Lorgat, the CSA chief executive, said: “We respect Hashim’s decision and the manner in which he thought about it and then communicated with me. It was consistent with his well respected personality”He still has a huge role to play in shaping the success of our team without the need for a leadership title. He is just that type of a person and we are very fortunate to have him in our stable.”I want to thank AB for readily accepting the challenge of rebuilding our Test team as we seek to remain the best team in the world.”De Villiers said that while being handed the job in such circumstances was not ideal, it would allow him to fulfil a dream of captaining his country in Test cricket.”I’ve said this before that it is an incredible honour to captain South Africa in any format. The captaincy has obviously come at short notice and is the realisation of a lifelong dream,” de Villiers said.”At the moment my priority and focus is placed on leading this team to what can be a memorable series win against England. This Test squad is motivated and determined to turn our performances around and I’m looking forward to taking up that challenge as captain. Hashim is a good friend and close colleague and I am grateful for his support.”Russell Domingo, South Africa’s coach, added that de Villiers was the frontrunner for the role full-time, but said that the selectors would make a long-term decision at the end of the England series. He added that Amla’s achievements as South Africa’s captain stood up to scrutiny in spite of the criticism he received during his time in charge.”I feel that there hasn’t been enough respect shown for what he has achieved as a player,” he said. “People can say what they want to, [but] he is still averaging 45 as captain. He has gone to Zimbabwe, won a series there, gone to Sri Lanka and won a series there which no other captain has done. He won a series against West Indies. He has gone to India where a lot of captains have lost under tough conditions, and we’ve come here with six new players who have all played under 10 Test matches.”He has sacrificed himself for the rest of the team which speak volumes for him, and people need to appreciate that type of character and it seems we sometimes undervalue that on the field. He has got a lot of experience, and expertise and advice that he can give, particularly the younger players in the side.”

Sanath Jayasuriya has signed a short-term contract to play for Somerset, as a replacement for Australia’s captain, Ricky Ponting, who was unable to confirm his availability. Jayasuriya, now 35, was reported to have been approached by Scotland but apparently turned down the offer.”This is a very exciting short-term signing,” said Peter Anderson, Somerset’s chief executive. “His availability has to be ratified by the Sri Lankan Cricket Board but we are not anticipating any problems.”Jayasuriya is expected to depart for Somerset straight after Sri Lanka’s postponed tour of New Zealand which finishes in mid-April. He will be available for five Frizzell Championship fixtures, four Totesport league matches and the early rounds of the C&G Cup, and is expected to make his debut against Yorkshire at Headingley on April 20.His contract runs only until the end of May, when South Africa’s Graeme Smith takes over after the completion of his international commitments. Albie Morkel, Somerset’s other prospective South African signing, has been replaced by Nixon McLean because of a long-standing ankle problem. In addition, it has been agreed with the ECB that Marcus Trescothick will be available for the opening match of the season.It will be Jayasuriya’s first stint with an English county despite a long 15-year career and he’ll be joined by Upul Chandana (Gloucestershire), Chaminda Vaas (Worcestershire) and Muttiah Muralitharan (Lancashire), who hopes to be fully fit in time for the season. During his time in England, he will be helping to raise funds for the Sri Lankan TWINS Tsunami Schools Project, of which he is Patron.A small gap in Sri Lanka’s international calendar has provided the opportunity for the largest-ever influx of Sri Lankan players into County Cricket. The demand has largely been for bowlers but frontline batsmen Kumar Sangakkara and Mahela Jayawardene are also on the lookout for club or county contracts.

Cricket Australia Code of Behaviour Commissioner Mr Alan Sullivan QC today reprimanded West Australian batsman Murray Goodwin for breaching Cricket Australia’s Code of Behaviour.Goodwin was charged by the Western Australian Cricket Association under Rule 9 of Section 1 of the Code for making detrimental public comment regarding the selection of the Zimbabwe Test team.The case against Goodwin, due to be held before a full hearing in Sydney tomorrow (Saturday 1 November) was brought forward after Goodwin advised of his intention to plead guilty.Mr Sullivan was asked to determine the question of penalty, if regarded as appropriate.Mr Sullivan found Goodwin’s comments were inappropriately timed and were potentially harmful to the interests of cricket.In handing down the verdict Mr Sullivan took into account Goodwin’s prior record and his genuine regret in making the comments.He considered that Goodwin intended no malice in the comments he made.WACA CEO Mrs Kath White, who brought the charge against Goodwin, said it was now time to move forward."It is regretful that this had to happen," Mrs White said."In my view Murray’s comments, inadvertent though they may have been, called other players’ abilities into question."We look forward to moving on and putting this matter behind us. I hope Murray can have a successful season for the Retravision Warriors."The reprimand means Goodwin is available to represent the Warriors in Sunday’s ING Cup clash against New South Wales at North Sydney Oval and the corresponding Pura Cup fixture beginning at the Sydney Cricket Ground on Tuesday 4 November.

When the organisers of World Series Cricket decided to play cricket under lights, they could not have believed just how much their revolutionary idea would catch on. It had been done earlier but by gaining a foothold in Sydney it won a respectable face among cricket’s traditionalists. In the 25 years since that first match in Sydney, on November 28, 1978, the cricket world has been treated to a remarkable infusion of innovation that has breathed new life into the old game.A match between Australia and the West Indies was played on that date to test lights, and cricket never looked back. More than 50,000 were similarly curious and they were hooked. Of all the venues in the world for day-night cricket it is hard to go past the SCG – not only because of the climate which makes it ideal for the day-night game, but because of the way the lights highlight the traditional elements of the ground to lend it more character.The day-night phenomenon was crucial to attracting the paying customer support that was necessary to fund the increased pay packets the players picked up. So successful has it been that rather than being the extraordinary, lights at grounds are the norm.A total of 115 ODI day-night matches have been played at the ground. Australia has won 65 of its matches and opposing countries 47.Most runs scored by an individual batsman in day-night matches is held by Allan Border, who hit 570 runs in 25 matches. Adam Gilchrist has the highest score, 131 against Sri Lanka in 1999 while Craig McDermott has taken most wickets, 28 in 20 games.

The troubled North Indian state of Kashmir, at the heart of innumerable border disputes with neighbouring Pakistan, may soon be playing host to international cricket, if the region’s chief minister, Mufti Mohammed Sayeed, has his way.”I will take up with the BCCI president, Jagmohan Dalmiya, the state’s demand to allot at least one match to Kashmir,” said Sayeed in a prepared statement, which comes in the aftermath of the BCCI’s decision to award Kashmir two matches in this year’s Ranji Trophy. Jammu & Kashmir will take on Orissa and Himachal Pradesh at the Sher-e-Kashmir stadium in Srinagar later this year.Dalmiya, who gave a positive response to a similar request last year, was warm to the idea. “The state government has told me the time is ripe to bring back big cricket to the valley,” he told AFP. "We may decide to host a Test match or one-day international there in the near future, but all factors will be taken into account before that happens.”

Glenn McGrath
On comparing a fifty to a big wicket haul
It’s nearly better. When I hit that one and realised it was going for four it was a pretty good feeling.On working on his batting
I probably didn’t do as much work on it [in the past] as I do know. My three highest scores have always been with Dizzy [Gillespie], he’s good at hanging around. When I’m hitting them well the batsmen get out or I get a good one early – it’s tough work batting at No. 11.On his batting practice
When I was injured I was going to the nets twice a week with my trainer and he’d feed the ball machine. I’d probably hit 500 balls a week, which is more than I’d do in one month, two months – actually, that’s being kind, 12 months.On hitting a six
It was my first one in a Test. A few of the boys were ribbing me that my Test wickets had nearly reached my runs again. I had a look at them and it was 477 to 454, but that six brought up 25 and 500 Test runs. Unlike Matthew Hayden, who doesn’t know how many runs he’s got, I pretty much knew where I was.On when he thought he could reach fifty
At 34 I thought it could be today. The next thing is to get Dizzy to his fifty. I started to get nervous for the first time after I’d made mine – he’s in the 40s, I’ve got to get him to the 50s.On his team-mates’ reaction
They reckon it was some of the most exciting cricket they have ever watched. It’s always quite funny when the tail is batting and making runs. The response from the crowd was quite amazing as well. I wasn’t too sure how to celebrate. The whole crowd just cheering was something I’ll always remember.

Daniel Vettori
On the team’s mood
We were pretty happy until the last session, obviously it’s not easy watching that partnership develop and we need to get that wicket quickly tomorrow. The track’s reasonably good so we need to bat for a long time and put a score on the board that is competitive.On the strong lbw shout when Gilchrist was 7
It was pretty frustrating, especially when he goes on to make a hundred. It was a pretty big momentum shift for the day, but it’s something that you really can’t control.On Clarke’s innings
I’ve seen him a few times in one-dayers and understood that he’s a pretty fair player, has all the shots and looks to play them. He’s obviously got a good future for Australia.On the speed the game changed
Everyone in world cricket knows how threatening Gilchrist can be. Not only did they hit boundaries, but they ran well between the wickets. It’s all good stuff that you want from your middle order and they managed to do it todayOn his bowling form
Yeah, I’m comfortable with where it’s at. Obviously I’d have liked to pick up one or two more wickets. The biggest thing that we didn’t do was bowl in partnerships. To beat the Aussies you need 11 guys at once.On the team’s confidence levels
They’re pretty good and it only takes a little bit of time to turn them around. Nine and eleven don’t often put on that many runs so it’s obvious that there’s some frustration around and we dropped some catches.

The troubled Mashonaland Cricket Association held a lively annual general meeting on Friday evening, which finally ended after a gruelling five hours.Tavengwa Mukuhlani, a member of the Zimbabwe cricket board, sailed through as chairman under a constitutional provision which allowed him to continue for a second year at the helm of Zimbabwe’s biggest cricket stakeholder.The meeting was held without the complete audited financial report, which raised emotional opposition from some administrators. Mukuhlani explained that the auditors would release the full audited accounts soon, attributing the delay to the squabbles which threatened to paralyse cricket operations in the province until his board was retained by the same clubs who had previously passed a vote of no confidence in them.Peter Chingoka, the Zimbabwe Cricket chairman, was present but remained was quite throughout, while sacked national team coach Phil Simmons left midway through the meeting.

It was a day of mixed emotions at The Oval where Surrey announced Adam Hollioake’s decision to retire from first-class cricket at the end of the 2004 season, and that Graham Thorpe had signed a new two-year contract with the county.It had been common knowledge that some of the spark had gone out of the game for Hollioake lately, especially since the death of his brother, Ben, last year. He explained that he wanted to devote more time to other things, particularly charity work for the Ben Hollioake Fund and his own business interests in Perth. “I have had a marvellous 14 years at Surrey,” he said, “and in the last seven years as captain, I feel we have achieved many things of which I am immensely proud. I will continue to give everything I can to the club in the next 12 months, and in the years to come.”Under the 32-year-old Hollioake Surrey have enjoyed their most successful period since the halcyon days of the 1950s, winning eight trophies, including three championship titles. In 2003 they completed the one-day double by winning the Twenty20 Cup and National League.Melbourne-born Hollioake played four Tests and 35 ODIs for England , captaining the one-day side 14 times between 1997 and 1999. He made his Surrey debut in 1993, scoring 123 in the second innings, and was named Surrey Young Player of the Year that season.Hollioake will remain as captain for the 2004 season, which is also his benefit year.But the news that Thorpe had agreed new terms with Surrey helped to offset the feeling of disappointment. Coupled with his triumphant return to the England side last month, it brings an end to a troubled period in his career. “I am delighted to have signed a new two-year deal with the county with whom I have grown up with in cricketing terms since I was nine,” he said. “I couldn’t imagine playing anywhere else or ever playing against Surrey.”Thorpe is Surrey through and through. He was born in Farnham and made his first appearance for the county’s youth side in 1978. His first-class debut followed in 1988.

Younis Khan, the Pakistan vice-captain, has said that they will have to keep Andrew Flintoff and Kevin Pietersen in check to have a successful home series against England in October.”We can’t let them [Flintoff and Pietersen] get away. Because they are match-winners and play the spinners well they will hold the key to the series in Pakistan and India,” Younis was quoted as saying by Reuters. “They are a destructive pair and they can turn a match around with their positive approach. They made the difference in the Ashes series.” Younis also said that the series against England would be a tough one. “They [England] have just beaten Australia and any side which has done even reasonably well against Australia in recent times has gone on to perform in their next series.”Having just returned from a six-week stint with Nottinghamshire as a replacement for Stephen Fleming, the New Zealand captain, Younis said that he was not satisfied with his county experience and wished that he had played more cricket while in England.”Honestly speaking there is not a feeling of fulfilment after the six-week stint. Firstly because there was no cricket played on 20 to 22 days of my contractual period of 42 days. We [Nottinghamshire] were not in the Twenty20 Cup and C&G tournament.” Younis was quoted as saying by . “Then I also took time to settle down and adjust to the conditions there which become wet and rainy at this time of the year. But I definitely would like to go back for another stint in England and show my true worth.”He also added that he was impressed by the manner in which cricket was organised and managed in England. “I learnt a lot from observing how they manage things in many areas. They are very well organised and the people there were also very receptive and appreciative of your efforts.”Michael Vaughan, the England captain, said that England needed to perform well in the series against Pakistan and then India in March 2006 to dethrone Australia as the top team in Test cricket. “We haven’t been to the subcontinent and won yet,” said Vaughan. “If we play good cricket over there, I’m sure the rankings will change.”England’s tour of Pakistan starts on October 26 and comprises three Tests and five one-day internationals.

Ashley Giles may be forced to miss England’s one-day campaign in Pakistanto undergo treatment on a long-standing hip injury.The same problem caused Giles to miss the Test series against Bangladeshlast summer but according to his coach, Duncan Fletcher, he was notconsidered a doubt for either of the remaining two Tests of the series.”It’s a slight problem,” said Fletcher. “We’re going to monitor him forthe next two Tests, and there is a chance we’ll want to send him backearly. He felt it in the summer and it is the same thing that hasprogressed.”He is not a doubt for this match, but we will look at the one-dayers, andahead to the Tests in India, and take action depending on how bad it is.”England took similar action last winter, when it was decided that the spurin Andrew Flintoff’s ankle needed to be removed immediately after thefinal Test in Centurion. He missed the seven-match one-day series thatfollowed, and as a result was fully fit for the Ashes series that began inJuly.With a tough tour of India beginning in March, England will want to givetheir No. 1 spinner plenty time to recuperate if the injury proves to bemore serious than it is currently believed to be.