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West Indies will begin their home season with a five-match ODI series and a Twenty20 international against Zimbabwe before hosting South Africa for three Tests, five one-dayers and a Twenty20. The ICC World Twenty20, which will be played in Barbados, St Lucia, Guyana and St Kitts between April 30 and May 16, is sandwiched between the two tours. The season is packed with limited-overs games but includes only three Tests.Zimbabwe arrive on February 23 and open their tour with the Twenty20 in Trinidad before the five ODIs, in Guyana and St Vincent. The South Africans will begin their tour with the limited-overs matches in Trinidad, Dominica and Jamaica before the Tests, in Jamaica, St Kitts and Barbados respectively.Zimbabwe last toured West Indies in 2006 for a series of seven ODIs, which they lost 5-0. South Africa last visited in 2004-05, winning the Tests 2-0 and sweeping the one-dayers 5-0.Zimbabwe in the West IndiesFebruary 26: Tour match, v UWI Vice Chancellor’s XI, Barbados
February 28: Twenty20 International, Trinidad
March 4:1st ODI, Guyana
March 6: 2nd ODI, Guyana
March 10: 3rd ODI, St Vincent
March 12: 4th ODI, St Vincent
March 14: 5th ODI, St Vincent
South Africa in the West IndiesMay 19: Twenty20 International, Trinidad
May 22: 1st ODI, Trinidad
May 24: 2nd ODI, Trinidad
May 27: 3rd ODI, Dominica
May 30: 4th ODI, Dominica
June 2: 5th ODI, Jamaica
June 5-6: Tour match, Jamaica (Chedwin Park)
June 10-14: 1st Test, Jamaica
June 18-22: 2nd Test, St Kitts
June 26-30: 3rd Test, Barbados

New Zealand’s captain Daniel Vettori has been declared fit for the first Test against Pakistan but there was no such good news for Kyle Mills, who needs shoulder surgery and is expected to miss at least four months. Vettori will lead the side for the opening Test in Dunedin, starting next Tuesday, after missing the two Twenty20s in the UAE due to concussion.He suffered the problem when struck on the helmet while batting during the ODI series against Pakistan and sat out of the last part of the tour as a precautionary measure. Vettori has also been battling a shoulder injury but after being assessed by an orthopaedic surgeon, he has been cleared to play as the problem will not affect his ability to bowl.However, Mills does require an operation for a torn rotator cuff on his left shoulder and he will have surgery in the next fortnight. Mills will also take the opportunity to deal with an ongoing knee injury that has not affected his ability to play; he will have surgery on the patella tendon of his right knee.Mills is likely to be out of action for at least four months, meaning he will almost certainly miss the entire home summer. New Zealand are hoping Mills will be able to return in time for the ICC World Twenty20 in the West Indies in April.”The shoulder injury was a bit of a freak accident. I just landed on it as I dived for a ball and landed awkwardly and tore my rotator cuff off the bone,” Mills told . “I tried to do a lot of rehab on that over the winter and it just got to the stage on the last tour [of Sri Lanka and the Champions Trophy] that it was really affecting my bowling.”The knee problem is just the general wear and tear of an international bowler. It’s been bugging me for a good two years and I have been trying to play through it but it’s just got to the stage where I can’t put up with it any more.”

Sri Lanka are the world’s second-best Test side yet their fast-bowling line-up is unlikely to send shivers down a batsman’s spine. Their five-member pace contingent for the India tour, comprising Nuwan Kulasekara, Thilan Thushara, Dammika Prasad, Angelo Mathews and Chanaka Welegedara, have played 27 Tests among them, sharing 68 wickets with only one five-for (Thushara). Yet, Kumar Sangakkara, Sri Lanka’s captain, is not edgy about his inexperienced pace attack.Smart, ambitious and spirited leader that he is, Sangakkara knows the only way he can get the best out of his young bowlers is to encourage and challenge them. Sangakkara is well aware that the young blood understands no defeat. “Reputations are there to be made (on the Indian tour),” Sangakkara said after a long practice session at Motera on a hot Sunday afternoon.”When you bring in a lot of fresh guys who have perspective and fire in them, they have the great opportunity to pick up wickets of big names in Test cricket. And if they do that, they’ll have a reputation going into another series.”The Sri Lankans landed in India exactly a week ago and their stay so far has been a mixed experience. Cyclone Phyan skipped Mumbai but washed out the visitors’ only warm-up game ahead of the series, the three-day affair against Board President’s XI. It did not help matters when the SuperSopper at the venue (MCA Recreation ground) was moved to the DY Patil Cricket Stadium, which was hosting the final ODI of the India-Australia series. When it was brought back on the final day of the tour game, it started leaking oil. The visitors had to make do with nets, the fast bowlers hardly getting any freedom to charge in with a full run-up. Sangakkara admitted that it was a bit disappointing.Despite that, he remains confident of his team’s prospects of making history and winning their maiden Test in India in 27 years. “We have a much-improved pace attack. We have a good balance where we can play two or three specialist spinners and still have two fast bowlers playing in the side. That probably is the difference from the sides that came here in the past.”A major shot in the arm for the tourists is Tillakaratne Dilshan’s return to peak fitness after he suffered an ankle injury during practice in Mumbai. But today, Dilshan enjoyed a warm-up game of football and Sangakkara confirmed that he [Dilshan] would open the batting with Tharanga Paranavitana. Dilshan, who recently scored the fastest fifty (off 31 balls) by a Sri Lankan in Tests, in Galle against New Zealand, is a valuable addition at the top of the order. Sri Lanka would hope he can rein in his aggression to consolidate later on on a flat pitch, which both Sangakkara and his counterpart MS Dhoni, agreed would steadily get slower.One area where the Sri Lankans are spoilt for choice is the spin department, with three quality spinners in Muttiah Muralitharan, Ajantha Mendis and Rangana Herath. The visitors have a difficult task on their hands, considering Sangakkara had earlier pointed out that the chief yardstick to pick a player would be his form.Murali walks into the team by default, but Sangakkara said he would think hard before picking the second (or even third) spinner. “It is an interesting choice. But if Herath misses out, and if I were him, I would be very, very disappointed because he has outbowled both Murali and Mendis in the previous two Test series [New Zealand and Pakistan] so he has got a very, very good chance.”

England fast bowler Steve Harmison has signed a four-year deal with Durham that will keep him at Chester-le-Street till 2013. Harmison, 31, may be having a torrid time internationally, yo-yoed in and out of the England squad, but he had an impressive 2009 with the Division One side, picking up fifty Championship wickets to take his career tally to over 400 first-class wickets.”I have always loved playing cricket for Durham and I’m incredibly proud to represent the club and be part of the setup here,” Harmison said. “I’m looking forward to the next four seasons, especially 2010 as we look to win the Championship for a record third year.”Harmison, however, insisted that his England career wasn’t over. He played two Tests in the Ashes, took five wickets but was omitted for the tour of South Africa. Commenting on his omission, he understood the national selectors’ plans of building a team for the future.”I will go out like I did this year and the year before that to try and take wickets for Durham,” Harmison was quoted in the . “If that sees my name put in the hat to play for England again and I can be of service, I will be happy to do that.”But the way it has been explained to me is that England are trying to move on to the next level for their next big series in Australia in 2010. They don’t see me being a part of that and I think I would struggle because of all the international cricket between the last Test I played at the Oval and that first Ashes Test in Brisbane next year.”England have made their decision to build for the future, which is fine by me. They are going through an exciting time, they are going with a group of young fast bowlers to South Africa which will be helpful for them. I hope they do well. If I knew it wasn’t possible for me to go to Australia in 2010, then I would come out and retire [from international cricket] for the sake of everybody.”Harmison, in fact, claimed the wicket that clinched the County Championship in both of Durham’s title wins in 2008 and 2009, and was named the county’s Bowler of the Year for the second year running. Despite the achievements, Harmison failed to make England’s squad for the upcoming tour of South Africa.Durham head coach Geoff Cook, however, was delighted that Harmison had committed his future. “Stephen is a huge asset to our team, he has a great presence, both on the field and in the dressing room, and his commitment and dedication to the Club has always been fantastic,” Cook said.The sentiment was similar from David Harker, Durham’s chief executive. “Stephen is a great performer for Durham and we are absolutely delighted that he will remain a major partof the team for the foreseeable future. Off the field we have a number of young players benefiting from his experience and guidance and that contribution cannot be underestimated.”

Australian batsman Cameron White has said that Michael Clarke should remain the first choice for the Twenty20 captaincy. White, current vice-captain Clarke and Brad Haddin are the candidates in the running to fill the role, following the retirement of Ricky Ponting from Twenty20.White, who has led Victoria to all four finals of Australia’s domestic Twenty20 Big Bash tournament, said he was happy with his own credentials but backed Clarke, who’s the favourite to take over.”I’ve captained for a fair while now and had some good success for Victoria, especially in that format,” White told the . “I think I understand the game pretty well. If that happened that would be great, but Michael will definitely take over.”The Victoria coach Greg Shipperd said earlier this month that White would be an ideal fit for the captaincy, keeping in mind that Clarke may quit at least one of the limited-overs formats to concentrate on Tests and prolong his career. Clarke has had his share of injuries and was ruled out of Australia’s opening Champions Trophy match against West Indies on Saturday due to a sore back.White has an impressive Twenty20 record as a batsman, with a strike rate of 151.67 in 46 domestic Twenty20s. He has represented Australia in eight internationals, with an average of 41.40. Cricket Australia is expected to announce Ponting’s successor at the conclusion of its board meeting next month.

Ken Hough, who died at his home in Queensland at the age of 80, was a right-arm pace bowler who played two Tests for New Zealand against England in 1958-59, taking six wickets, after unluckily missing out on a place in the tour party which visited England earlier in the year.In 1959-60 he grabbed 12 for 146 against Central Districts, and in the same season made a career-best 91 against Otago.Hough also played football for New Zealand as a goalkeeper, making five appearances for them in August and September 1958. His debut came against Australia, who he had already represented in an international.

ScorecardMarcus Trescothick played a superb innings as he struck 56 off 32 balls in Somerset’s victory•PA Photos

It was always a fanciful notion that Marcus Trescothick would come out of international retirement to help England at their hour of need – or even be asked to – but his brutal innings of 56 off 32 balls just reinforced why he has been centre of attention over the last week. It was a display of power, timing and skill as he plundered the Kent attack around Edgbaston to set Somerset on track for a place in the Twenty20 Cup final.As with Sussex earlier in the day, they are now assured of progression to the Champions League Twenty20 in October and there Trescothick faces another decision about travelling to the tournament. Touring was what he found impossible at the end of his international career, but before this semi-final he did talk of the excitement of the Indian event. “You’d have to ask him about that,” dead-batted Justin Langer when asked about Trescothick’s availability.As with his four-day and 50-over batting, Trescothick is world-class at Twenty20. He warmed up for this match with 80 off 61 balls in the Pro40 (a game that wasn’t far off a Twenty20 after some inept Gloucestershire batting) and continued in the same vein here.Belying a slow pitch that made hitting through the line difficult, he took 16 off the opening over of the innings from Amjad Khan with four consecutive meaty boundaries. He launched a six over deep midwicket, but saved his best to reach fifty from 27 balls as he drove inside-out over extra cover. He’d been missed moments earlier on 47 when Azhar Mahmood spilled a return chance, but the stuffing had already been knocked out of Somerset.Justin Langer contributed 17 in an opening stand worth 73 off 40 balls. He was out, getting a leading edge to cover off James Tredwell and the offspinner also removed Trescothick with an outside edge to backward point. However, such was the head start which Somerset had been given, that the remainder of the chase was a fairly simple process.The dominance of Trescothick was highlighted after his dismissal, as boundaries became harder to find, but that wasn’t a concern for Somerset. At any rate, Zander de Bruyn – the county’s leading Twenty20 run-scorer of the season ahead of Trescothick – and James Hildreth found the rope when they needed to and the game was over long before the finish.Kent had come into Finals Day billed as the most complete team on show, but Twenty20 again proved notoriously hard to predict. Joe Denly was bowled in the first over by Alfonso Thomas, who followed up by trapping Martin van Jaarsveld leg before with one that skidded on. That Thomas got his wickets by bowling straight should be no surprise – he was the hero in the quarter-final bowl-out against Lancashire.When Geraint Jones fell to Charl Willoughby, Kent were 31 for 3 with the fielding restrictions almost gone and precious time was used up rebuilding. Robert Key couldn’t find his timing – his struggle marked a contrast to Trescothick’s subsequent skill – and used up 38 balls for 34. He was bowled in odd fashion, when the ball grazed off stump and required a referral to the third umpire.Darren Stevens finally gave the innings some momentum during the final five overs, adding 52 off 30 balls with Justin Kemp, and passed 50 from 40 deliveries. Kent’s effort was rounded off in positive style as the final over, bowled by left-arm spinner Arul Suppiah, went for 20, and with a strong attack 145 suggested a decent game. Then came Trescothick.

Scorecard
Riding on a magnificent unbeaten 87 from wicketkeeper Violet Wattenberg, Netherlands defeated Scotland by five wickets at The Inch to set up a winner-takes-all clash with Ireland at The Hills tomorrow. It was a chanceless 110-ball innings, comprising four boundaries, that took Netherlands home with five overs to spare.Scotland were looking to make amends for their heavy defeat to Ireland but they did not manage the best of starts after being put in, with the openers returning to the pavilion very early. At 8 for 2, another early finish looked on the cards, but Kari Anderson and Leigh Kasperek had other ideas.The pair batted with great responsibility and skill, adding a superb 135 in 31 overs. Kasperek struck six boundaries during her 106-ball stay, while Anderson top scored with 63 from 101 balls, including five boundaries, three of which came in the one over from Annemarie Tanke. Kathryn White bludgeoned a rapid 40, adding 62 in 7 overs with Anderson, to get Scotland past the 200-mark. The Scottish total was also bolstered by 57 extras, including 41 wides and six no-balls.Wattenburg set the tone for the chase, and together with Cheraldine Oudolf strung together an opening partnership of 74. Wattenburg played an innings of genuine quality, working the ball into the gaps, and striking the occasional boundary. She received excellent support from Marijn Nijman, who crashed 40 from just 44 deliveries, including six fours and a six. Nijman hit the ball with real power and placement and their fourth-wicket stand of 63 took Netherlands from a precarious 108 for 3, closer to victory.

Brett Lee’s chances of returning for next week’s third Test have been reduced after he was left out of Australia’s tour match against Northamptonshire on Friday. There was an outside chance Lee would be picked in an attempt to prove his fitness from a stomach injury that ruled him out of the first two Tests, but the selectors have decided against rushing him back.Australia, who are behind 1-0, missed Lee when Mitchell Johnson misfired at Lord’s and the fast bowler must now prove he is ready for the intensity of back-to-back Tests through his work in the nets. Lee, who has taken 310 wickets in 76 matches, was under pressure entering the tour following ankle surgery, but he showed his form during the warm-up match in Worcester before succumbing to the stomach problem.Lee’s absence allows Stuart Clark a chance to push for a recall after he was left out in Cardiff and Lord’s when Peter Siddle and Ben Hilfenhaus were preferred to support Johnson. It is expected that only one of Hilfenhaus, who performed strongly at Lord’s, and Siddle will turn out in the three-day fixture.Australia named a 12-man squad and have given the captain Ricky Ponting, deputy Michael Clarke and wicketkeeper Brad Haddin a break, leaving Michael Hussey to lead the side. The game will be no easy ride for Johnson or Phillip Hughes, who are fighting for form after disappointing starts to the series increased the pressure on their spots.Hughes has been roughed up by Andrew Flintoff’s short-pitched attack while Johnson was unable to hold a consistent line at Lord’s. Despite the setbacks, which include some family issues back home, Johnson has still managed to take eight wickets and the Australians don’t want to give up on him.”I don’t want to bowl him into the ground as there is just over a week until the Test starts,” Hussey said. “I don’t want him punching out 25 to 30 overs in an innings or anything like that. I’ll communicate with him and see how he’s feeling, and also take into account the situation of the game.”Hussey said Johnson seemed to be in a good frame of mind. “He seems comfortable and was focused at training,” Hussey said. “He and [the bowling coach] Troy Cooley are very clear on what they need to work on.”The allrounders Shane Watson and Andrew McDonald will appear in their first matches of the tour alongside Graham Manou, the back-up gloveman. Ponting, Clarke and Haddin have scored a century each in the series and will turn their thoughts to rescuing the Ashes instead of facing Northamptonshire.Australia squad Phil Hughes, Simon Katich, Michael Hussey, Marcus North, Shane Watson, Andrew McDonald, Graham Manou, Mitchell Johnson, Peter Siddle, Stuart Clark, Ben Hilfenhaus, Nathan Hauritz.

Day 2 of 4 Wellington 288 for 9 (Walker 73*, Franklin 62, Martin 4-90) lead Canterbury 192 by 96 runs
ScorecardA solid response from their middle and lower order helped Wellington wrest the initiative against Canterbury in the State Championship final being played at the Basin Reserve. Matthew Walker, a solid servant for the side ever since moving south from Central Districts, showed yet again why he has such an important role to play in the side. At stumps he was unbeaten on 73, having toiled for 234 minutes.His work backed up the efforts of James Franklin, who scored 62 in 236 minutes worth of sheer application that was rewarded with his inclusion in the New Zealand A team to Sri Lanka which was named today.Michael Parlane, an infrequent member of the Wellington team, stuck around against his more attacking nature to score 30 in 141 minutes while Luke Woodcock hit 26 in 98 minutes while adding 73 with Walker.Chris Martin, recalled to the Test squad this week, bowled 32 overs and returned figures of 4 for 90 while Andrew Ellis backed his notable batting effort of yesterday with 2 for 39 from 26 overs.