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The dateline might have changed but there wasn’t too much difference in the look of the scoreline as openers Justin Langer and Matthew Haydencombined to hand Australia early command of the Third Test against South Africa in Sydney today.Exactly as they had been through the final five months of 2001, Langer (126) and Hayden (105) were emphatically on song at the start of 2002,hoisting Australia toward a mark of 5/308 by stumps on the match’s opening day.In adding 219 for the opening wicket after captain Steve Waugh had won the toss on another warm morning in hazy, bushfire-charred Sydney, thepair remarkably raised a fourth double century stand for the summer. It now means that no opening pairing in the annals of Test cricket hasregistered more partnerships in excess of the 200 mark. And there certainly hasn’t been any in history that has scored as many within the space ofjust nine appearances as a combination.The home team’s position was weakened nonetheless when a hard-working attack hit back to claim all five of the day’s wickets in the final session.It was in that period that Hayden edged a Shaun Pollock (2/64) delivery to slip and Langer played off bat and pad to silly point fieldsman NeilMcKenzie from the bowling of the sparingly used Nicky Boje (1/25). In between those dismissals, Ricky Ponting (14) – not the first time in thisseries – was run out after Langer had pushed a ball to cover and set off the stroke. Later, Steve Waugh (30) also succumbed, beaten as he playedoutside the line of a Pollock off cutter with the second new ball. And Mark Waugh (19) then complicated matters in the very last over, perishing ashe cut errantly at Allan Donald (1/64) and edged a catch to wicketkeeper Mark Boucher.Yet Langer and Hayden’s efforts ensured that this was again a day largely owned by Australia.There was a nervous period for the twin left handers through the opening half-hour as both Pollock and Donald extracted notable seam movementwith the new ball. Langer’s outside edge, in particular, was beaten more than once and he later played two shots over the slips cordon and onethrough it in the air.Accordingly, it wasn’t an opening partnership based on the sort of total domination of the attack that has characterised some of their previousefforts. But it was pretty darn impressive all the same.Langer’s 12th Test century – and an astonishing fourth for the 2001-02 summer alone – was typically full of well-crafted strokes, many of themreleased from off the back foot.For its part, Hayden’s seventh Test century – also a fourth for the season – was raised more slowly and its arrival was not accompanied by quite thesame degree of exuberance. But it was similarly punctuated by a series of powerful strokes, with one crunching cover driven boundary off Donaldbefore tea even staking claim to be classed as the shot of the entire Test summer.Through a wretched middle session, the South Africans’ woes were further compounded as Boeta Dippenaar’s penchant in this series for ending onthe wrong side of catches continued. With the total at 168, Dippenaar dropped a comfortable waist-high offering at square leg as Hayden (on 68)miscued a sweep at Claude Henderson (0/28). Therein it extended a run of misfortune that has seen the young South African spill three chances inthe series and fall to three barely conceivable catches when it has come his own turn to hit balls in the air.Worse was to come just before tea when Boucher failed to grasp an outside edge as Langer – on 102 – pressed half-forward at Boje.Confirmation from national selector Graeme Pollock on ABC Radio that the team originally chosen to play in the match was vetoed overnight by the United Cricket Board of South Africa (UCBSA) failed to ease the sense of calamity either.The UCBSA adopts a policy that at least one coloured player should always be part of its eleven, and accordingly chose to supplement Herschelle Gibbs’ presence with the inclusion of young all-rounder Justin Ontong in the side ahead of batsman Jacques Rudolph.But it still represented something of a shock move, albeit that Ontong was by no means the Proteas’ worst player on a day when he bowled two tidy overs and orchestrated the departure of Ponting.

Singapore inningsIn the match played at the National Bank of Pakistan (NBP) ground Karachi, Singapore batted first and were all out for 115 runs.The opening pair of Zeng Penchun and Sidarth Verma provided the team a solid start of 54 when Sidarth was out after scoring 27 runs with the help of two 4s. The 2nd wicket fell immediately when Anand Sanrthanam was run out for a duck. Except for Zeng Renchun who scored a steady 21 and Nishant (11 not out) no other batsman could hold the crease with confidence.The whole team was thus out for 115 runs in 34 overs. The UAE bowlers being too wayward bowled 18 wides in a total of 30 extras. Aamir Shahzad was however, the most successful bowler for clinching 4 wicket for 24 runs.UAE inningsUAE had a moderate target of 116 runs to win the match. They had a fantastic start with Aamir Husain (28) and Aamir Shahzad (45) mounting the score to 66 when the first wicket fell. Both of them hit 3 boundaries each during their stay at the crease. In 20 overs UAE was at 79 for the loss of 2 wickets.Nidike Kiran who came to bat at no.4 played an excellent innings of 22 not out with 4 hits to the boundary. He received sound support from Mohammad Usman who also remained not out with 10. Both of them raised their team’s total to 119 for the loss of 5 wickets in 30 overs. Anand Santhanam took 3 wickets for 38 runs. UAE defeated Singapore by 5 wickets.

New Everton boss Frank Lampard has already brought through a number of youth team players despite his relatively short time spent as a head coach after stints at Derby County and Chelsea.

While Anthony Gordon has already made giant strides this season and is showing great potential, Lampard will likely also be looking to find his new Mason Mount, someone who can create from deep but also play across the attacking-midfield positions too.

Bristol City’s 18-year-old sensation Alex Scott could be that man, after showing some incredible development across this season and turning into one of the Championship’s finest prospects – the same league where Lampard gave Mount his first minutes in English league football.

What’s the news?

According to the Daily Mail, Everton are just one team on a lengthy list of clubs interested in acquiring the teenager’s services in the summer, including the likes of Tottenham, West Ham and Leicester.

While Spurs are now believed to be the ‘front-runners’ for Scott’s signature, the possibility of working with Lampard, who himself was a world-class complete midfielder that loved to attack, would surely be tempting.

Lampard must develop youth

Dubbed the “the next Grealish” by a prominent West Ham insider also reporting the story, the England U19 international is a technically sound and versatile player, who has scored three goals and set up another two in 28 appearances, as well as winning over 50% of his duels across the season and averaging around 74% for completed passes.

Thus, with his ability to score and create consistently, comparisons with Mount start to emerge, someone that Lampard played a pivotal role in developing.

Should Scott choose the Toffees in the summer, he could well become another one of the top young players in the Premier League under the stewardship of the former Chelsea legend.

Furthermore, with the prospect having a market valuation currently at £270k (albeit Bristol City are likely to demand far more than that), not only could Everton gain a future profit, but the signing could facilitate the sales of current deadwood like Fabian Delph and Andre Gomes, who are on far too high wages for the amount of playing time they receive.

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The likes of Marc Guehi, Tariq Lamptey and Fikayo Tomori were all developed by Lampard during his time at Stamford Bridge, and have since made permanent moves to top tier clubs for a combined £45m.

If Lampard could replicate this at Everton, who have had close runs with financial fair play troubles this season, he would not only surely re-establish himself as one of the top up-and-coming managers in world football, but also potentially begin to turn things around at the club.

In other news: Everton’s “embarrassing” £34m mistake could now finally be revitalised under Lampard

One spectator was taken to hospital when a corrugated-iron roof fell off at Kandy © Andrew Miller

At least four England supporters suffered minor injuries on the final day of the first Test at Kandy, when the corrugated-iron roof of their stand blew off in high winds and landed on the seats below. According to eye-witnesses, one male supporter was taken to hospital with a gash to his chest, while three others suffered minor cuts and bruises.”To be honest, I’m feeling nervous sitting here,” said Steve Lindley, an England fan out here for all three Tests, who was hit in the small of the back by the falling sheets of iron. He and his fellow fans had been sitting in the special enclosure at the Hunnasgiriya End of the ground, which was quickly evacuated after the incident.”There was no real sign that they were going to come off,” Lindley told Cricinfo. “We were looking towards another stand where they were starting to blow off, but then there was a gust and three sheets all came off together. They came straight down onto the group of us sitting there.”One girl was taken for a medical check-up after receiving a gash to her shin, while another male supporter cut his leg on a concrete support in the rush to clear the seats. None of the injuries arebelieved to be serious, but Lindley intended to get a check-up during the lunch interval. “My back is quite sore now, and if at any point it gets worse … you never know with bruising.”The area was soon cleared, as local maintenance men set about removing the other loose sheets on the roof. “They went up there with bare feet, no safety equipment, and just dropped them down,” said Lindley. “One lad nearly dropped a sheet on his mate. There was no regard forsafety. “

ScorecardSulakshana Naik and Thirush Kamini struck half-centuries to steer India to a resounding ten-wicket victory against Sri Lanka at the Sawai Man Singh Stadium in Jaipur. The opening pair shared an unbeaten 151-run stand for the first wicket after the Indian bowlers restricted Sri Lanka to 145 for 8 from 50 overs.Naik struck 11 fours and a six during her 79 and Kamini’s 60 included five fours as the pair finished the run-chase in just 31.3 overs. The ground work for the victory, however, was laid by a splendid bowling effort after Mithali Raj asked Sri Lanka to bat.Jhulan Goswami and Amita Sharma bowled miserly opening spells and did not allow Sri Lanka to build any momentum. Preeti Dimri took three vital top-order wickets and prevented partnerships to build. She finished with figures of 3 for 14 off eight overs and received support from Kamini who chipped in with 2 for 38 to go with her excellent innings.Shashikala Siriwardene, the captain, top-scored with 40 but there was a shortage of support from the other end as Sri Lanka struggled to reach 145 off their 50 overs.

Ian Bell – floored © AFP

As England faced up to the prospect of their first series defeat in two years, Ian Bell vowed that the pride in the team’s dressing-room would be enough to prevent a capitulation on the final day of the third Test at Lahore. By the close on the penultimate evening, England had fought their way to 121 for 2 in the second innings, with Bell himself leading the resistance with his third half-century of the tour.”We can’t win the series, but we don’t want to lose, and I’m very confident we can save the game,” Bell told reporters at the close. “It’s a good pitch and I’ll take every ball as it comes, break it down, play very straight, and do what Pakistan did in their first innings. The secret is not to give your wicket away or sell it cheaply.”England still need the small matter of 227 runs to make Pakistan bat again, and so the ideal scenario would be for Bell himself to do what he does best, and occupy the crease from dawn till dusk.”I’m not going to get carried away [by such thoughts],” he emphasised. “The key for me tomorrow is to break it down as much as I can. I’m not looking to bat until a certain time at night, I’ll be taking it ball by ball. But it’s been a very good wicket all through the Test match. Our target is to bat all day, so if we stick to our gameplans and play straight, then there’s no reason why we can’t.””Play it straight” is something of a mantra for Bell, which made his first-innings aberration all the more unfortunate. He was one of four batsmen to fall to the sweep shot, but he was adamant that the shot would remain in his armoury.”I know my game,” he insisted. “I know I can’t do certain things that Kevin Pietersen or Andrew Flintoff can do, so I’ve got to play in my way, and knock it round. The shot I got out to, I was purely trying to get off the strike and not trying to hit it out of the ground. It was well within my gameplan to get a single. I’ve played reasonably well all series and made one mistake, so I’ve got to capitalise when set.””I think it depends on who’s bowling and what the field placings are,” he added. “A lot of the time when we play the shot, it is to move a fielder. That’s in our gameplan so we’re not going to change that.” But Bell did concede that the match situation would have some impact on their approach. “We’re just looking to bat all day tomorrow, and the pitch has dried out a bit and become a bit skiddier. There’s not as much turn for the offspinner, so there’s an opportunity to play straight down the ground.”For the second time in the series, Bell’s major alarm of the innings came courtesy of Shoaib Akhtar’s slower ball. But whereas the one at Multan dipped out of the press-box windows and bowled him between his legs (only to be called no-ball), this time was rather more dangerous, as it hurtled head-high towards his helmet and struck his forearm as he flinched defensively.Shoaib apologised instantly and the moment was soon forgotten after some brief treatment from the physio, but Bell admitted to a moment of alarm. “For a split second I thought it was a quicker one, and I didn’t see it at all. But credit to him, he’s bowled it really well, and manages to get a real dip on it so that when it goes above that sightscreen it’s tricky to pick up. As soon as it goes up, you lose it and start to worry.”For Bell, the final day provides an opportunity to put his personal seal on an important learning experience. He had not been expected to play in the first Test, but instead has chipped in with valuable scores in all three matches, and could yet finish as England’s leading run-scorer. “My goal was not only to get into the side, but to find consistency as well,” he explained. “If you want to be a top player that’s got to be in your game.”India awaits for England after Christmas, and Bell is hopeful that the lessons learned here will stand the squad in good stead. “A few of the guys are in the same boat,” he said. “This is our first senior trip to this part of the world, and it’s been a big experience for me. We’ve been playing some good quality spinners, and people who know how to bowl in these conditions. It’s not only about going to India but our overall cricket development. We will be better players after this.”

The Pakistan Cricket Board has clarified that it will not initiate any investigation into the rape allegation against one of its players, which came to light yesterday. In a press release, the board said that a preliminary inquiry had been conducted by the team management, and stated that since no formal complaint had been made about the incident, the board wouldn’t press charges. It also warned that legal action would be taken against any report which made “defamatory references” against a player.”Despite the passage of a month, no formal complaint has been lodged either with the police or with the female harassment centre against any member of the team,” the press release stated. “In the absence of a formal plaint there is no legal basis to press further charges.”Legal opinion has been obtained through the Pakistan High Commission in Canberra and the team management on the uncorroborated and sensationalist reports by a small section of the Australian press and it is confirmed that legal notice will be served for any defamatory reference to the team or to individual players regarding an incident that has no basis in law. Cricket Australia have also been informed of the developments.”The press release went on to dismiss the allegation by stating that it could be a plot to demoralise the Pakistan team. “It is generally known that the tabloid press across the world has sometimes reported sensationalist items about visiting sports stars to undermine their morale. On other occasions the complainants seek personal publicity and notoriety by reporting such events to the press.”In a separate release, the board also clarified that Shoaib Akhtar’s return to Pakistan had nothing to do with this incident. Certain sections of the media had linked the two, but the PCB emphatically denied it: “The PCB wishes to clarify that the decision to recall him was taken in order for him to achieve full fitness in readiness for the India tour. His recall has no connection whatsoever with the uncorroborated and sensationalist reports relating to an incident in Melbourne.”The allegation first came to light on January 21, when it was revealed that the woman involved had reported the incident to a suburban Centre Against Sexual Assault, but had not made a formal police complaint. The incident was alleged to have happened during the team’s stay in Melbourne for the Boxing Day Test.

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.

Zimbabwe successfully recovered from their chastening 38 all out on Saturdayto defeat a West Indies side that looks ill at ease after a spate ofinjuries, disciplinary problems and a three-Test drumming by Sri Lanka.The four-wicket victory, played out in front of empty Sinhalese Sports Clubstadium, ended a 28-match run stretching back 10-months in which Zimbabwehad not beaten any team bar Bangladesh.Indeed, so lackluster does the West Indies team now look, that one wouldfear for them in a series against Bangladesh. Their batting was sloppy,fielding nervy and bowling unthreatening, which was hardly unexpected aftertheir best two bowlers, Dinanath Ramnarine (side injury) and Mervyn Dillon(disciplinary reasons), had been sent home.West Indies – unsurprisingly asked to bat first when Zimbabwean captainStuart Carlisle won the toss for the first time all tour – failed tocapitalise on an easy-paced pitch that had long since lost the moisture thathad assisted Chaminda Vaas yesterday, as they were bowled out for 173 byZimbabwe’s makeshift spin attack and plodding seamers.Zimbabwe too looked short of confidence and edged towards the winning targetwith the uncertain air of a side too used to failure. However, thanks to achancy 30 from Grant Flower, a responsible 47 from Carlisle and an unbeaten48 from Andy Flower, they eventually secured victory with 1.5 overs tospare.West Indies batting faltered right from the start as Chris Gayle recordedhis fourth duck in consecutive international matches; a slump that stretchesback to the second Test in Kandy. This time, though, it wasn’t his techniquethat was at fault, but his running, as Dion Ebrahim threw down the stumpsfrom backward point.Heath Streak then managed what the Sri Lankans have failed to do all tour:dismiss Brian Lara cheaply. The star left-hander walked across his stumpsand was trapped lbw for two (nine for two).Ramnaresh Sarwan and Daren Ganga rescued the innings with a forthright 57run partnership for the third wicket. Ganga went on to score 59, his fifthone-day fifty, but Sarwan, uncharacteristically, threw away his wicket withan ungainly swipe across the line to be clean bowled for 36 (66 for three).Carl Hooper was then run out for five after Ganga tried to nudge a quicksingle on the off-side, only to see his plan anticipated by the energeticHenry Olonga, who fielded in his follow through and knocked down the stumpswith an underarm flick (77 for four).Ganga partially made amends in a 60 run stand with Marlon Samuels beforeGrant Flower’s innocuous looking spinners swung the match firmly towardsZimbabwe, as Samuels (32) chipped a catch to mid-wicket and Ganga was caughtand bowled (152 for six).Thereafter, Zimbabwe’s fast bowers chipped away at the lower order. RidleyJacobs tried to rally but, running out of partners, was eventually last man outfor 20 as Streak took a smart, juugling catch on the mid-wicket boundary.Zimbabwe’s start didn’t engender great confidence, as Dion Ebrahim wastrapped lbw for his second consecutive golden duck to the first ball of theinnings.But Grant Flower, missed on 19 when wicket-keeper Jacobs should have divedin front of first slip and on 26 when Ganga dropped a dolly at mid-on, added59 with Carlisle to steady dressing room nerves.Those nerves started to fray again when Carlise was third man out for 47 (96for three) as Craig Wishart (12), Douglas Marillier (5) and Tatenda Taibu(0) were dismissed cheaply.However a calming innings from the prolific Andy Flower, coupled with somesolid lower order support from the experienced Heath Streak (19*), saw theZimbabwean’s home.

A brittle Indian top order collapsed to some good seam bowling fromKiwi opening bowlers T Robin and I Butler. Ravneet Ricky (15), ManishSharma (9), Mohammad Kaif (0) and Reetinder Sodhi (5) were out beforeIndia had 40 runs on the board. After that, a swashbuckling innings of68 off from Yuvraj Singh saved the day for India.The South paw played some solid shots in his innings that included 12boundaries. He took the New Zealand bowling apart, hammering the ballto all parts of the ground. His sense of timing was not impeccable,but he hit the ball with such raw power that anything off the middleof the bat raced to boundaries. When he was dismissed by Irwin, theIndians once again began to falter. A useful 25 from Patel saw Indiathrough to 199.Robin was the pick of the bowlers with 4/26 off his 10 overs.The Kiwis began their response well, though they lost Bredon McCullumfor just 6. Probably the two best batsmen in the New Zealand team,James Franklin and JP McNamee came together to give New Zealand aserious chance of victory. The two hit the ball crisply and scoredfreely gainst the Indian mediumpacers. After the spinners wereintroduced, the scoring rate dropped. Yuvraj Singh got into the attackagain and removed McNamee after he had made exactly 50 runs.At this point the Indian spinners tightened the screws on the Kiwisand closed the match out. The Kiwis lost wickets at regular intervalsand were finally dismissed for 171 off 49.3 overs.