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After the Durban drizzle decided the series – it’s still 3-1 to South Africa with just one to play – the final match at Centurion won’t quite be the nailbiting occasion the marketing men would have hoped for. Instead, assuming the fickle weather holds off, it will be an entertaining end to a compressed carnival of cricket.No tour has ever had an itinerary quite like it: since the five-Test series started the only non-international game was a one-day warm-up for the seven-match ODI series. Marcus Trescothick has played in every match of te tour, and although he probably wants to hang on to that record he has looked increasingly tired in the last couple of matches, and may be given an overdue break.England have persisted with Geraint Jones as a pinch-hitting opener, and although the experiment hasn’t been an abject failure the feeling remains that he is a better bet as a perky presence down the order. He also disrupts a top order packed with people used to opening – Vikram Solanki and Andrew Strauss, as well as Michael Vaughan – and also pushes Ian Bell down (when he plays) to No. 7, behind the find of the series, Kevin Pietersen. It’s time for Bell to be given a chance to show what he can do.And, with the series decided, there might be an outing for that loyal drinks-waiter Gareth Batty, and a recall for the former golden boy James Anderson.Similar thoughts will be going through the minds of the South African selectors. Will Adam Bacher be given another – and surely last – chance? Or does the precocious AB de Villiers come back in on his home ground, where he collected 92 and 109 in a final Test that seems an awfully long time ago now.South Africa’s bowlers have done a sterling job, but Nicky Boje is likely to return at Centurion, to give the spin option that Graeme Smith might well have missed if the rains had held off at Durban.There’s not much previous history to go on. England and South Africa have only played one previous ODI at SuperSport Park, back in 1995-96. South Africa won that one, overhauling a decent England total of 272 with two overs to spare, mainly thanks to an opening stand of 156 between Gary Kirsten (116) and Andrew Hudson (72). Three of the survivors of that match are likely to play again here: Shaun Pollock and Jacques Kallis (who was in at the end of that first game nine years ago) for South Africa, and the seemingly ageless Darren Gough, who has been easily the most impressive of England’s faster bowlers in this series. Gough, however, is in some doubt after reporting slight breathing difficulties when he woke up on Saturday.South Africa (from) Graeme Smith (capt), Adam Bacher, AB de Villiers, Jacques Kallis, Herschelle Gibbs, Ashwell Prince, Justin Kemp, Jacques Rudolph, Nicky Boje, Mark Boucher (wk), Andrew Hall, Shaun Pollock,Makhaya Ntini, Andre Nel.England (from) Marcus Trescothick, Geraint Jones (wk), Vikram Solanki, Andrew Strauss, Michael Vaughan (capt), Kevin Pietersen, Ian Bell, Paul Collingwood, Ashley Giles, Kabir Ali, Gareth Batty, Alex Wharf, Darren Gough, Steve Harmison, Matthew Hoggard, James Anderson.

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

A magnificent innings from Michael Hussey, a top-notch allround display from Shane Watson and a searing first spell from Brett Lee were the main talking points as Australia pulverized an abysmal World XI side to clinch the Super Series by an emphatic 3-0 margin. Rated underdogs heading into the series, Australia underlined just why they’re on another planet as a one-day side, skittling out the World XI for just 137 to complete a 156-run rout.Lee did the early damage to finish with stunning figures of 4 for 30, and there were four scalps as well for Watson, whose dismissal of Andrew Flintoff and spectacular run-out of Virender Sehwag stymied any faint hopes the World XI had of overhauling a daunting total. Watson had played his part with the bat too, smashing a splendid run-a-ball 66 as he and Hussey added 145, including 95 from the final 10 overs.That partnership turned a game which appeared to be in the balance when Muttiah Muralitharan and Daniel Vettori picked up three wickets for five runs in just 19 balls. With Ricky Ponting, Andrew Symonds and Damien Martyn back in the warren in quick succession, a collapse was on the cards, but Hussey and Watson, first with cleverly placed singles and twos and then with mighty hits to the fence, thwarted the World’s finest with such composure and aplomb that recent predictions of a winter of Australian discontent seemed like the ravings of madmen.Having runs to play with, Lee’s early incisions made the top order resemble a hapless pub side. He was on a hat-trick and the World XI tottering at 27 for 4 when Flintoff walked out, right wrist taped after being struck by a fierce Ponting drive that forced him off the park when bowling. He and Sehwag added 60 in just 7.1 overs, reminding the Sunday crowd of the talent in the ranks. Unfortunately for those craving a genuine contest, Watson sneaked one through Flintoff’s defence to leave the World side at 87 for 5, and well on the slippery slope to defeat.Their pursuit of 294 had started disastrously, with Chris Gayle helping on a 145.8 kmph special from Lee, and when the in-form Kumar Sangakkara impetuously skied a pull off McGrath, the portents were ominous. Jacques Kallis and Brian Lara had failed to ignite in the opening two matches, and any thoughts of stroke-filled explosions were ruthlessly quelled in a Lee burst that left World XI supporters stunned.With the innings in disarray, Sehwag – who had been put down by Michael Clarke at point off McGrath when he had made just two – decided to back his instincts, clattering McGrath over the off-side cordon for two fours before skimming one over cover for six. Flintoff joined in the fun with two meaty swipes off Nathan Bracken, who went for 29 in two utterly radar-less overs, as the best of the rest gave a fleeting glimpse of what they were capable of.After Ponting won his third straight toss, Adam Gilchrist had set the tone with another thrilling cameo. Makhaya Ntini had raised visions of an improved performance by snaffling Clarke early, but with Shaun Pollock struggling with no-balls and looking increasingly pedestrian, there was no halting the Australian momentum. Gilchrist and Ponting worked the ball around, and when Ntini dropped one in far too short, Gilchrist smacked it nonchalantly over midwicket for six.The game sparked to life in Ntini’s next over as Ponting – who had flicked one over midwicket and cut another past point for fours – was caught palpably plumb in front. Aleem Dar refused to refer to the third umpire, and appeared to indicate that the ball would have passed over the stumps, giving Ponting – then on 19 – the slice of luck he needed to plunder more boundaries. With Martyn swinging his bat with the cavalier air of a man giving an exhibition, Ponting focussed his attention on Australia’s Ashes tormentor, Flintoff. Each time Flintoff dropped short, the savage pull came into play, and when he erred on the side of fullness, the flick through or over midwicket exacted a heavy toll.To exacerbate the World XI’s woes, Flintoff was then forced off for treatment on his wrist, and having seen the back of what one fan called Pommie Granite, Ponting then lofted one back over Kallis’s head to raise his 50. A century appeared to be his for the taking until Murali chipped in with a bit of magic.Hussey and Watson, however, had no intention of surrendering the initiative, plundering the bowling as it grew increasingly ragged once Murali and Vettori had finished their 20 overs for combined figures of 3 for 72. Fielders were too often caught on their haunches, catches went down or were taken off no-balls, and Pollock, Ntini and Gayle got a real pasting at the death. There was even time for Hussey to thump the steel ceiling with a steepling hit off Ntini, surely the emblematic moment of a day when awesome Australia truly raised the roof.

AustraliaMichael Clarke lbw Ntini 3 (15 for 1)
Adam Gilchrist c and b Pollock 32 (58 for 2)
Ricky Ponting c Lara b Muralitharan 68 (143 for 3)
Andrew Symonds c Sangakkara b Muralitharan 1 (146 for 4)
Damien Martyn lbw Vettori 33 (148 for 5)
World XIChris Gayle b Lee 0 (0 for 1)
Kumar Sangakkara c Martyn b McGrath 13 (20 for 2)
Jacques Kallis c Hussey b Lee 2 (27 for 3)
Brian Lara c Gilchrist b Lee 0 (27 for 4)
Andrew Flintoff b Watson 21 (87 for 5)
Virender Sehwag run out (Watson) 37 (99 for 6)
Rahul Dravid c Martyn b Lee 16 (119 for 7)
Daniel Vettori c Clarke b Watson 0 (120 for 8)
Shaun Pollock c White b Watson 8 (137 for 9)
Shahid Afridi c McGrath b Watson 16 (137 all out)

Hopes that Zimbabwe’s remaining striking players might soon return to the fold appear to be stalling, according to a report in the local Independent newspaper.The stumbling block appears to be the rebels’ demands over the selection process, although other sticking points are said to include their demands for three-year contracts. Few countries give such long-term commitments and it is hard to see Zimbabwe Cricket doing so if that is what it is being asked to do.At the moment the rebel players are in ongoing talks with a committee under the leadership of Addington Chinake. Only when this committee presents its findings will the full board discuss the matter.But one of the rebels told The Independent that some of the reported conditions had never been raised. "It’s mischievous for anyone to claim that we have demanded tax-free salaries and three-year contracts," he said. "So far our discussions with the committee have been promising, though I’m bound not to say much."What appears to be factual is the stalemate over the choice of selectors. The rebels have demanded all along that the national selection panel should be made up of people with first-class cricket experience, or at least a good level coaching qualification. Crucially, that would rule out Max Ebrahim, currently the senior selector, as he has no such background."All we want are selectors with a cricketing background like in any other country," the player told the newspaper. "We’re hopeful everything will work out well because we hear [Peter] Chingoka has been really good and has already tasked a constitutional committee to review the whole selection policy. If Zimbabwe Cricket does not accede to our proposals, that’s it. No rebel will return."

Dwayne Smith has been ruled out of West Indies’ first Test against England, which starts on Thursday in Jamaica. Smith dislocated a finger in his right hand while fielding in the nets.”It was a most unfortunate development for the young man,” Ricky Skerritt, the team manager, said. “But Dwayne has the right attitude towards situations likethis and there is no doubt he’ll be back stronger than ever.”The West Indian selectors have decided against naming a replacement for Smith, which means that Ricardo Powell or Ryan Hinds will take the No. 6 spot in the line-up. Dave Bernard has been added to the squad as an emergency fielder.

Scorecard
An unbeaten 53 by Mark Cosgrove lifted South Australia to 2 for 103 on the second day against New South Wales, who were earlier bowled out for 288 in their first innings. Cosgrove and Cameron Borgas added 90 for the third wicket after the early dismissal of both openers, but South Australia still trailed by 31 at close of play.After bundling out the Redbacks for just 154 in their first innings New South Wales had the opportunity to amass a huge lead, but fine bowling performances by Shaun Tait and Jason Gillespie restricted their advantage to 134. Tait nailed three middle-order batsmen and finished with 4 for 97, while Gillespie wrapped up the tail and ended with fine figures of 3 for 46.Resuming at 2 for 96, the Blues quickly lost a couple of wickets to slump to 4 for 111 before Aaron O’Brien and Brad Haddin rescued them with a 72-run stand. Haddin finally fell for 46, but O’Brien carried on and top-scored with 74, before being dismissed by the left-arm spin of Darren Lehmann. Stuart Clark contributed 25 and helped add 56 for the seventh wicket to ensure New South Wales ended with a sizeable lead.Clark then struck crucial blows with the ball as well, dismissing Matthew Elliott and Shane Deitz with only 13 on the board. Cosgrove and Borgas fought back spiritedly, but with the Redbacks still trailing by 31, New South Wales still held the upper hand.

NSW Speedblitz Blues players will be a welcome boost to Sydney grade Cricket teams as Round 13 begins this Saturday. With just three remaining rounds, competition will be fierce, as team’s battle for the right to feature in finals cricket. Sunday will feature semi finals of the one-day competition. Bankstown will host Eastern Suburbs at Bankstown Oval while Mosman take on Sydney University at Rawson Oval. Mosman have been involved in the last four one-day semi finals and will be keen to claim a title, which has so far eluded them. They take on a rejuvenated Student’s outfit that welcomes back the experienced Greg Matthews for the encounter.Mosman have consistently shown their ability in the one-day cricket format being involved in the past three semi finals. Whilst playing in the final two seasons ago, the Whale’s are keen to end their title drought. Mosman believe their strength is in their experienced bowling attack, which features three former NSW pace bowlers in Warwick Adlam, Phil Alley and Trent Johnston. "We all seem to be bowling as quick as we did three years ago, but with more experienced heads now", Adlam said.The 32 year old Adlam claimed his 500th first grade wicket in his teams recent clash with Sutherland and sits second only to Aaron Bird (59) with 48 wickets so far this season. Adlam further believes the Clubs latest acquisition in Nottingham’s Guy Welton is a secret weapon. "Guy is a powerful hitter who has an uncanny resemblance to Ian Botham in physique, batting style and looks". The Whales will be hoping Welton (568 runs) can continue his form with his adopted club.Bankstown will be looking to continue its current form in their semi final with Eastern Suburbs. Talented Bankstown speedsters Aaron Bird and Scott Thompson will target NSW Speedblitz Blues hard hitter Brad Haddin and former Blues batsman Mark Patterson in their clash. The encounter should be an enthralling one with two of the form teams in the competition.In Round 11 matches; Fairfield-Liverpool v Campbelltown-Camden at Rosedale; Blacktown v UTS-Balmain at Joe McAleer; Hawkesbury v Randwick Petersham at Owen Earle; Manly-Warringah v Eastern Suburbs at Manly; Mosman v North Sydney at Rawson; Northern District v Bankstown at Waitara; Parramatta v Sydney University at Old Kings; St George v Gordon at Hurstville; Sutherland v Penrith at Caringbah and University of NSW v Western Suburbs at Village Green. . All Saturday games will commence at 11.00am, while Sunday’s semi finals will commence at 10.00am

Alec Stewart has followed in his father’s illustrious footsteps by being awarded an OBE for his services to cricket in the Queen’s Birthday Honours’ List.Stewart passed Geoffrey Boycott and David Gower to move into second place in England’s list of Test run-scorers against Zimbabwe at Durham last week, and was also awarded the MBE in the 1998.On receiving the honour, Stewart said: “The great thing is that I’ve now managed to catch up my Dad because he was awarded the OBE a good few years ago.””It’s a terrific honour and it’s really pleasing to be recognised in this way.I’ve always gone about my cricket in a professional way and to be honoured in this way for it makes me very proud and it’s a moment I’ll treasure.”Stewart, now 40, has continued to defy his critics by making more appearances than any other England player at both Test and one-day level, and his ability with the bat and behind the stumps has stood the test of time since making his international debut 14 years ago.He retired from one-day international cricket after the World Cup, but has no plans to do the same in Tests. He recently said: “All I’ve ever said about the future is that while the enjoyment is there and I feel I’m playing well enough to warrant a place in the side, I see no reason to give it away myself.””I feel exactly the same as I did 20 years ago. I have the same buzz and pre-match nerves I’ve always had and that’s a good thing because that shows you’re still up for the game.”

The final schedule for England’s tour of Sri Lanka later this year has been confirmed after slight changes by the Board of Control for Cricket in Sri Lanka.The BCCSL is determined to take cricket away from Colombo to more far-flung areas, where larger crowds can be expected, and has now scheduled the first one-day international at Dambulla, and the second Test at Kandy rather than the Premadasa Stadium in Colombo.England will play a total of three ODIs before a three-match Test series, which will start at the picturesque Galle International Stadium on the south coast.Schedule:November 13: arrive in Colombo
November 15: v Sri Lanka A, Moratuwa (previously Colombo)
November 18: v Sri Lanka, first one-day international, Dambulla (previously Colombo)
November 21: v Sri Lanka, second one-day international (day/night), Colombo
November 23: v Sri Lanka, third one-day international (day/night), Colombo
November 26-28: v Sri Lanka A, Colombo
December 2-6: v Sri Lanka, first Test, Galle
December 10-14: v Sri Lanka, second Test, Kandy (previously Colombo)
December 18-22: v Sri Lanka, third Test, Colombo
December 23: depart for England

Bruce Blair’s exposure to the preparation and planning required for international play was greatly enhanced by his stint as a coaching observer with the New Zealand team during the recent Test series with India. Blair was sent, at New Zealand Cricket’s expense, to India to be part of the tour management team. Auckland coach Mark O’Donnell is there now, and Wellington coach Vaughn Johnson will be in Pakistan for that leg of the tour.Blair had been to India before, but many years ago, and said as always India had been an awakening, a life experience in a culture so diverse from New Zealand that it was pretty eye-opening.But as far as the playing and preparation was concerned he felt there was a lift in intensity from that he had experienced on the first-class scene in New Zealand with his Northern Districts side. “When you go into a Test series, you know who you are going to play against and that is different to domestic cricket. The level of planning for the Tests was extremely comprehensive and New Zealand’s effort was no accident.”Blair said he felt the New Zealanders had surprised the Indians in terms of how competitive they were. “It was quite disappointing at the end of the second Test that we had not been able to force a victory. We were right on the money with where we wanted to be during the Test but just couldn’t finish it off. It was a quiet dressing room afterwards because we were so close.”But the plan turned out to be a good plan and I think that did surprise the Indians. As a batting unit we left New Zealand with no player having scored a Test century in India and now five have scored them, while Jacob Oram added another against India A,” said Blair.Everyone had contributed from a bowling point of view while the fielding had also been good. Blair said from a coaching point of view having observed Daryl Tuffey working harder at his own game and fitness, which didn’t suggest he hadn’t worked hard before, to lift himself to a new level and then get the results, such as on the last morning in Mohali, had been most enjoyable.For medium-fast bowlers having to run in and bowl hard on flat tracks, Tuffey, Ian Butler and Jacob Oram couldn’t help but come back as better bowlers for the experience. Butler had hurried up some good bowlers in those conditions which was a demonstration of his capabilities. With speed guns in India showing Butler constantly bowling around the 147 km/h mark, Blair was not surprised that he showed up faster than he had in New Zealand.”I knew he was bowling too briskly onto batsmen for the New Zealand speed figures to have been slower.” Another of his Northern Districts charges, Daniel Vettori had been highly respected by the Indians. He had a good economy rate and the batsmen were playing him into the safety zones to minimise the risks.Asked what he felt the benefits might be for Northern Districts from his trip away, Blair said that his goal had always been to have all the players in his side capable of stepping up to international cricket. He said he came away from the tour with the view that cricket can only be enhanced, not only for the Northern Districts Knights but also for all the other cricketers he comes into contact with.”There are various systems I saw that I will introduce straight away, there are some that I will explore to a new level but there was plenty of good to come out of it overall,” he said.”It was fantastic to have the opportunity to go and if it is ongoing then the next time they need to select a New Zealand coach there should be six first-class coaches who put their hands up. If it goes ahead, it can only be good for New Zealand.”Blair was full of admiration for Nathan Astle’s effort to overcome illness to go out on the last afternoon of the first Test in Ahmedabad and help save the match. “He was physically sick with not a lot of control. But he adjusted to batting in extremely difficult conditions of 37-38 degrees. He showed tremendous courage and determination. I think they can take great heart out of the way they performed. They scored a lot of points over there,” Blair said.

After their glum-faced humiliation against India the smiles returned to SriLanka’s players on Saturday as they booked themselves into the World Cupsemi-finals with a 74 run victory against Zimbabwe at Buffalo Park.Needing to 257 to win after opener Marvan Atapattu, the Man of the Match,scored a polished and hard-working tenth one-day hundred, Zimbabwe werebowled out for 183 in 41.3 overs.Sri Lanka will now face tournament favourites Australia in the firstsemi-final at Port Elizabeth on Tuesday, a venue that promises to suit theirspin-based attack.And despite Australia’s aura of invincibility and Sri Lanka’s earlier Super Six thrashing, Sanath Jayasuriya believes that his side has a chance against the world champions, saying afterwards: “History suggests that the ball will turn and anything can happen on the day.”Jayasuriya’s side had looked in firm control of this match after winning animportant toss and then producing a solid batting performance, thecornerstone of their large total being provided by Atapattu who carried his bat throughout the innings.The patient right-hander compiled significant partnerships with Jayasuriya(41 in 12.2 overs), Avishka Gunawardene (83 in 18 overs), Aravinda de Silva(51 in 10 overs) and Kumar Sangakkara (52 in 6.2 overs).But Sri Lanka’s opening bowlers took a pounding early on and Zimbabwe wereon target for victory whilst stalwart left-hander Andy Flower, who had earlyreleased a statement confirming his retirement from international cricketafter the World Cup, milked Sri Lanka’s spinners easily.Zimbabwe were 140 for three in the 29th over of the innings and thepossibility of Flower, Zimbabwe’s outstanding cricketer during the pastdecade, who had nudged and nurdled his way to 38 from 50 balls, bowing ofthe game with a match-winning innings loomed increasingly large.However, a poor lbw decision by umpire Brian Jerling off the bowlingof Aravinda De Silva handed Sri Lanka back the initiative. Flower stoodaghast and replays showed him to be justifiably aggrieved as the ballclearly hit his bat.Sri Lanka then tightened the screws, grabbing two more quick wickets.Tatenda Taibu was bamboozled by a fizzing off-break from MuttiahMuralitharan and Andy Blignaut tapped a simple catch to de Silva at shortcover to leave Zimbabwe on 151 for six.Grant Flower, who scored 31 from 52 balls, tried to glue the inningstogether but the runs dried up as Jayasuriya, so well versed in the art ofdefending totals on slow turners, rotated his spinners cleverly.Rookie all-rounder Sean Ervine added 27 in 36 balls with Flower beforeChaminda Vaas, whose first five overs leaked 40 runs, pegged back his middlestump with the second ball of his third spell.Heath Streak came to the crease stocked full of confidence after his battingheroics against New Zealand as Zimbabwe started the final ten overs needing79 runs for victory.But the match lurched to a quick conclusion as Streak holed out in the deepand Jayasuriya clung onto a stinging return catch from Flower.Vaas wrapped up the match when he bowled Douglas Hondo to take his 20thwicket of the tournament, equaling Geoff Allot and Shane Warne’s recordWorld Cup tally.Earlier, Sri Lanka’s batsmen had eschewed their normal free-flowing stylewith the bat, opting instead for a strategy of steady accumulation afterwinning the toss and batting first.Even the normally explosive Jayasuriya struggled to time the ball on theturgid surface, facing 44 balls for his 22 and waiting until the 11th overbefore finding the fence.The skipper eventually nicked a catch behind before Avishka Gunawardenejustified his inclusion ahead of the out-of-form Mahela Jayawardene with 41from 62 balls.Atapattu played the sheet anchor role perfectly, patiently waiting for runscoring opportunities and running hard between the wickets, before reachinghis second hundred of the tournament in the final over of the innings,finishing with 103 from 127 balls.The right-hander was well supported by the middle order, particularly deSilva and Sangakkara, who added impetus to the innings after Gunawardene wascaught off a leading edge.De Silva maneouvred the ball around expertly for his 25 before edging anattempted late cut and Sangakkara made the most of Hondo’s spilled chance atmid-wicket, crashing 35 from 25 balls.Heath Streak, the Zimbabwean skipper, was the pick of the bowlers – eight ofwhom were used during the course of the innings – claiming two for 40.