Canterbury will be without Michael Papps, their in-form opening batsman, for the rest of their State Shield campaign after injuring a finger.Papps, 26, is expected to be out for six weeks after injuring the tendons in his left index finger while taking a catch in the outfield during a 118-run win over competition leaders Otago at the Hagley Oval in Christchurch on Saturday.Papps has been in good form this summer, hitting 357 runs at an average of almost 90, and had admitted to eyeing a return to the national side. He has represented New Zealand in four Tests – he scored 86 against England in his last appearance – and six one-day internationals, where he averages over 50, but has not been selected following an injury via a Brett Lee bouncer in early 2005.”He will be missed; he has been playing very well for us,” Dave Nosworthy, the Canterbury coach, told , a New Zealand daily.

Dammika Prasad, the 22-year-old fast bowler, is the only newcomer to the Sri Lanka Test and one-day teams picked for the tour of Bangladesh starting later this week.Prasad, a right-arm fast bowler has played in only 22 first-class matches since his debut in 2001-02 but within that period has captured 80 wickets at the impressive cost of 22.85 runs apiece.He is the only new face in two squads of 15 players picked separately for the series of three one-day internationals and two Tests in Bangladesh.The surprise element in the selections is the dropping of Russel Arnold and the retention of veteran Sanath Jayasuriya in the one-day squad – but not for the Tests. Arnold returned to form by scoring half-centuries in the last two matches of the VB Series against Australia, which Sri Lanka lost, but he fails to find a place in the one-day or the Test sides.Jayasuriya, 36, is by far the elder statesman of the team and has recovered from a nagging dislocated shoulder. It is, therefore, a surprise that he has been chosen for the shorter, fast-paced version of the game, and not the Tests.However, champion offspinner Muttiah Muralitharan – who has made his intentions clear about playing one-day cricket – has been picked only for the Tests. With captain Marvan Atapattu and Chaminda Vaas rested from the tour, the responsibility of leading the side has fallen on the shoulders of Mahela Jayawardene who will have Kumar Sangakkara as his deputy.Along with Jayawardene and Sangakkara, seven others – Upul Tharanga, Tillakaratne Dilshan, Chamara Kapugedera, Malinga Bandara, Farveez Maharoof, Prasad and Dilhara Fernando – have been picked for both versions of the game.Sri Lanka will have a new pair of openers for the Test series with Tharanga and Michael van Dort being named in the Test squad. There are also recalls for wicketkeeper Prasanna Jayawardene, allrounder Hasantha Fernando and legspinner Kaushal Lokuarachchi. Maharoof, who was forced out of the Australian tour with a leg injury, has regained his place for the Tests and one-dayers while Jehan Mubarak has been retained for the one-day matches.The Sri Lanka team, which returns from a tour of Australia today, will immediately for Bogra, Bangladesh. They open the tour with matches at Bogra on February 20 and 22 followed by the final ODI at Chittagong on February 25. The Tests will take place at Chittagong from February 28-March 4 and at Bogra from March 8-12.One-Day squad: Mahela Jayawardene (captain), Kumar Sangakkara (vice-captain), Upul Tharanga, Sanath Jayasuriya, Jehan Mubarak, Tillakaratne Dilshan, Chamara Kapugedera, Farveez Maharoof, Hasantha Fernando, Dhammika Prasad, Dilhara Fernando, Ruchira Perera, Akalanka Ganegama, Malinga Bandara, Kaushal Lokuarachchi.Test squad: Mahela Jayawardene (captain), Kumar Sangakkara (vice-captain), Upul Tharanga, Michael van Dort, Tillakaratne Dilshan, Chamara Kapugedera, Prasanna Jayawardene, Muttiah Muralitharan, Malinga Bandara, Farveez Maharoof, Dhammika Prasad, Lasith Malinga, Dilhara Fernando, Thilan Samaraweera, Sajeeewa Weerakoon.

Scorecard and ball-by-ball details
How they were out

Upul Tharanga starred with a career-best 160 not out, his maiden Test century and highest first-class score, to revive a Sri Lanka innings that was in a parlous state in the morning. Batting throughout the day, Tharanga battled hard, as Sri Lanka closed on 302 for 8, a lead of 68 runs.Tharanga’s fine knock, a mixture of studious defence and adventure, saved Sri Lanka from potential embarrassment as they slumped to 43 for 4. First, he consolidated the innings in partnership with Mahela Jayawardene (49), settling dressing-room nerves as they added 124 runs, before carrying Sri Lanka to first-innings parity with Tillakaratne Dilshan (33).But once again, when a run fest had beckoned after Muttiah Muralitharan’s first-day wizardry, Bangladesh displayed resilience and a never-say-die spirit. Perhaps, with hindsight, they might rue not being more aggressive in the first session, but they could not be faulted for application or effort.Shahadat Hossain epitomised this spirit with intense bursts throughout the day. In the first Test he mopped up the Sri Lanka tail with a series of bumpers and here he shook up the top order as Thilan Samaraweera (20) feathered a catch behind off a rising ball and Kumar Sangakkara (0) departed first ball to an lbw shocker.Later on, too, as Sri Lanka eyed a commanding lead after the tea interval, Bangladesh came back strongly, this time through their spinners as Mohammad Rafique hurried an arm through Dilshan and Enamul Haque snapped up both Farveez Maharoof (7) and Dilhara Fernando to leave Sri Lanka on 263 for 8.Sri Lanka, though, finished strongly with an obstinate stand between Tharanga and Lasith Malinga, who batted responsibly in his newly-promoted position of No.9, hanging in for 64 balls for his 12 not out. The pair added 39 in the final hour, tipping the match towards Sri Lanka as their lead reached handy proportions.However, Bangladesh are by no means out of the fight yet. Should they clean up the tail on the third morning then they are still in the game. The question is whether they can deliver in the second innings as the pressure intensifies – if they can then Sri Lanka will be left with a tricky run chase.

Thilan Samaraweera c Mashud b Hossain 20 (43 for 3)
Kumar Sangakkara lbw Hossain 0 (43 for 4)
Mahela Jayawardene c Rahim b Ashraful 49 (167 for 5)
Tillakaratne Dilshan b Rafique 33 (232 for 6)
Farveez Maharoof c Mashud b Haque 7 (251 for 7)
Dilhara Fernando lbw Haque (263 for 8)

Scorecard

Jimmy Maher posted his highest first-class score and Martin Love nailed his fourth century in a final as Queensland tightened their grip on the Pura Cup at the Gabba. On a tremendous third day for the Bulls and an awful one for Victoria, the home side lost only two wickets – Maher for 223 and Love for 169 – to go to stumps preparing their victory speech at 3 for 584.A 297-run partnership between Maher and Love, the former state junior team-mates, set up the Bulls’ ride in a five-day match they have only to draw to end their three-year sequence of finishing second. Maher, who has been inspired by the victims of Cyclone Larry in north Queensland, brought up his double-century a ball after Love reached three figures shortly before lunch and enjoyed an animated celebration.Maher went on to beat his 217 for Glamorgan in 2001 before edging Mick Lewis, who had figures of 1 for 125, and leaving with 29 fours from his 385 balls. Queensland were in extreme comfort at 2 for 454, but they added 71 more through Shane Watson and Love, whose only error came when he hit a catch to Nathan Pilon off Nick Jewell from his 291st delivery.Queensland were forced to field for three days against Victoria in the 2003-04 final when the hosts scored 710, and the home side was intent on delaying their opponents for as long as possible. Watson was unbeaten on 73 and Clint Perren reached 24, with the state’s highest score of 687 against New South Wales in 1930-31 approaching.”I wasn’t thinking of pulling out at 711, put it that way,” Maher told . “That day we got hammered into the ground. Let me put it this way – I’ve got a pretty good memory. In saying that we want to win the game outright.”

The Indian board and the the state of Maharashtra told the Supreme Court today that they were not opposed to the anticipatory bail granted to Jagmohan Dalmiya, the former BCCI president, in the case regarding misappropriation of funds related to the 1996 World Cup.The state of Maharashtra, which had challenged the anticipatory bail granted to Dalmiya, changed its stance after a bench of Justice SB Sinha and Justice PK Balasubramanyan observed that “it was a problem of vindictiveness”.However, the court issued notices to Dalmiya, SK Nair, former BCCI secretary, and treasurers Kishore Rungta and Jyoti Bajpai, on Maharashtra’s Special Leave Petition as Harish Salve, senior counsel appearing for the state, said he wanted certain observations made in the Bombay High Court order expunged. Salve said that the high court’s observations on the merits of the case amounted to saying there was no case against Dalmiya and the others.When initially L Nageshwar Rao, the board’s counsel, opposed the anticipatory bail granted to Dalmiya, the court said “BCCI is only a complainant in the case. It has no locus standi… This is too much…”, following which Rao retracted his earlier position.On behalf of Dalmiya, senior counsel Soli J Sorabjee submitted it was a case of vindictiveness and nothing else and the court should record it in its order.Salve submitted certain documents relating to the case in the court for perusal. However, when Sorabjee asked for a copy of the same, he refused to part with them saying he cannot share it with the accused as the investigation was still going on.

Division One

A solid hundred from Mal Loye, aided by a typically pugnacious and aggressive fifty from Glen Chapple (82) led Lancashire to a powerful 388 for 7 on the opening day against Durham at the Chester-le-Street. After losing Ian Sutcliffe early, Loye found support in Mark Chilton (44), Stuart Law (45) and Luke Sutton (39*). But it was Chapple who took the game away from the hosts. His 82, from just 73 balls, included 14 fours and a couple of sixes to hand Lancashire the advantage on day one.Hampshire dismissed Sussex for 212 on a seamer’s pitch at Southampton, thanks to Sean Ervine and Dominic Thornely’s three wickets. Chris Adams anchored Sussex manfully with 64, which spanned three hours; though he found support from Carl Hopkinson (45) there was little of substance from the rest. Rana Naved-ul-Hasan, making his first appearance of the summer, injected some life into proceedings with a run-a-ball 38. Before today, Thornely had only taken 10 first-class wickets in his career with New South Wales, to give him the impressive figures of 3 for 38. Sussex struck back immediately, however, as Rana removed Michael Brown with the first ball of their reply, to leave Hampshire wobbling on 34 for 1.Middlesex v Kent – full bulletin by Andrew McGlashan at Lord’s.Dropped catches and mixed fortunes hampered Yorkshire on the first day of their match against Warwickshire at Edgbaston. Jonathan Trott (43) was given two lives before even reaching double figures, and Alex Loudon ought to have been run out for 34. He went on to make 73. Making his debut for Yorkshire, Jason Gillespie lacked the venom which he displayed for Australia against Bangladesh and managed just one wicket, that of No. 10 Neil Carter. Missed chances aside, Warwickshire’s young batsmen – Loudon and Jim Troughton who both top-scored with 73 – played sensibly, edging their side to 316 before Troughton was the last man out. Anthony McGrath, who had taken an excellent catch at gully, was the pick of the bowlers with 4 for 62.

Division Two

A pair of magnificent hundreds – one from an old-stager and the other a bright prospect – led Essex to the imposing total of 400 for 3 against Glamorgan at Cardiff. Having been put into bat, Essex stumbled to 60 for 2 before Andy Flower (154*) and Ravinder Bopara (159) demolished Glamorgan’s bowlers. Their stand of 339 was a record for any wicket against Glamorgan, who must now be questioning the wisdom of inserting the opposition on such a flat track. Though Simon Jones – in his comeback game – leaked runs, he bowled with aggression and pace and was unlucky to go wicketless. The day, though, belonged to Flower and Bopara who flayed the home attack to all parts.Mark Ramprakash and Mark Butcher powered Surrey to a dominating total of 320 for 4 against Leicestershire at Leicester. Ramprakash (113) made the most of the benign pitch and, though he was dropped on 31, played with his customary class and shared in a 162-run partnership with Butcher who remained unbeaten on 75. Butcher, who was injured for most of last season, never looked fluent but nevertheless batted with great skill and determination.Four fifties from Somerset’s batsmen – including two blistering knocks from their lower-order – led them to a dominating total of 406 against Worcestershire on the first day at New Road. The home side began well, removing Marcus Trescothick for a duck, John Francis for 27 and Matthew Wood to leave them struggling on 67 for 3. However, Cameron White continued his early season form with a pugnacious 65 from 81 balls and Wes Durston played solidly for his 74. The innings was given great momentum with two fifties from Richard Johnson and Peter Trego – both of whom made 51 – who swung lustily to hand the advantage to Somerset and power them past 400.

Shoaib Akhtar, the Pakistan fast bowler, will train with Warwickshire as he recovers from a stress fracture of the ankle that ruled him out of the initial part of Pakistan’s tour of England.”They [Warwickshire] will try to arrange a couple of club matches to help him come back from his injury,” Shahryar Khan, chairman of the Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) told bigstarcricket.com. He is improving quickly but needs match practice and the weather in Pakistan right now is not conducive to him playing there – it is either too hot or raining. So he will train in England and will be checked up by our medical team.”Bob Woolmer, Pakistan’s coach, was hopeful that shoaib would be fit towards the end of the series. “We’ve not completely given up hope,” Woolmer told BBC Test Match Special. “We’re looking to get him going and – touch wood – he might be available for the third and fourth Tests.”We’ve had some good news recently. His fracture’s virtually healed, so he should be able to start bowling again. We’re going to bring him over to England and try to find him some cricket. So if there are any clubs interested in having him bowl for them on a Saturday or Sunday afternoon then that would be useful for us.”Shoaib had earlier expressed plans to be fit in time for the second Test at Old Trafford from July 27. But Shahryar made it clear that it was not a possibility. Shoaib last played for Pakistan in the Karachi Test against India in January this year. He has been out of action for the best part of the last five months after undergoing a twin knee surgery in Australia in February. He was named in a provisional Pakistan squad for England earlier this summer but was left out of the 16-man touring party after it was revealed that an earlier ankle fracture had not healed.

Stuart MacGill, who picked up a knee injury during Australia’s five-day boot camp in the Queensland bush recently, feels the problem may interfere in his Ashes preparations. MacGill has resumed training for New South Wales after missing the first state practice session, but by his own admission, was more than concerned about an “avoidable” incident at the age of 35.”I’m going to have things go wrong with me this summer, that’s for sure,” MacGill was quoted as saying in the . “I don’t really need to go into a season already carrying something that was probably avoidable.The camp was designed with certain objectives in mind and I’d say those objectives were achieved. I just think we probably could have achieved those goals in a different format.”Having recently recuperated from surgery to his right knee, MacGill conceded that the latest injury left him quite sore. With the Ashes around the corner, MacGill hoped he would fully recover to be a part of Australia’s attempt to win the urn back. “Unfortunately the timing has not been great,” he said. “I am going to ease my way into things, and my intention is to be bowling at my peak and being ready to go when the NSW season starts in four or five weeks. Unfortunately, I’m going to have to take it a little bit slower than I had hoped to at this point.”Ricky Ponting has publicly said once more that England are very susceptible to wrist spin, and MacGill – with 39 wickets in six Tests against them – refused to shirk away from his predicament. “Now is not a time for me to be stepping out of the game because I’m sore. I can’t really afford that in my career. I’m 35, and every day I’m out of the game is shortening my career. I can’t have that. If I’m ever omitted from the team and a second spinner is picked, I want it to be because they are better than me.”

The Pakistan Under-19s lost badly to the India Under-19s because Pakistan had fielded a relatively inexperienced team, said Iqbal Qasim, the chairman of Pakistan’s nations cricket junior committee.”Actually their [India] players also have experience of the last Under-19 World Cup besides first-class matches, but we have just included the youngsters who showed their best in the ongoing domestic activities,” Qasim told .Pakistan lost 2-0 to India in the two-‘Test’ series held in September. While they lost by 271 runs in the first match at Rawalpindi, the defeat in the second match at Peshawar was even more comprehensive with India wrapping up the proceedings inside three days to win by an innings and 240 runs.”Pakistan has had less time to form a combined team from among the best available players at the junior level, besides the regional event [Inter-region championship] is still going on due to that the selector did not find much time to see and find out the best among the existing talent,” said Qasim. “I hope with the passage of time these youngsters would improve their performance,” he added.The two teams will meet next on September 19 to play the first game of the four-match one-day series.

It’s hard to know where Tatenda’s Taibu’s future lies at the moment.In the year since he walked away from Zimbabwe cricket he has had spells in Bangladesh and England. A month ago he stated that he would not return to Zimbabwe to play and hinted that his future lay in South Africa. But after being rebuffed there, he returned home, suggested that he had been misquoted and stated he might again be around to play for Zimbabwe. Barely had the ink dried on those reports than he popped up in Namibia at the weekend keeping for them.”I wanted to be away from the politics in Zimbabwean cricket, and at the same time remain active in competitive cricket, so Namibia is good for me at the moment,” Taibu told the BBC in yet another about face. “I’m going through the contract at the moment and should sign it in the next couple of days.”Taibu is only playing for Namibia in South African domestic cricket – it would take him five years to qualify for the national team.There is an strong feeling inside Zimbabwe that as his options run out, he will be back, and most believe that will be as soon as the tour of Bangladesh next month to enable him to reclaim his place ahead of the World Cup.Last week, Themba Mliswa, the man whose alleged threats sent Taibu and his family into exile, claimed the pair had made up. The only remaining obstacle seems to be the presence of Peter Chingoka at the head of the board, but given Taibu’s ever-changing moods, by next week they may well be on speaking terms as well.