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When Andy Flower and Henry Olonga protested the “death of democracy”, the Zimbabwe captain Heath Streak insisted that sport and politics could not mix. In the latest edition of Wisden Cricket Monthly Tom de Castella asks him whyHeath Streak can have no illusions about the dreadful things that happen in Zimbabwe. Last August his father was jailed because he refused to give up his farm to Robert Mugabe’s licensed thugs. But his refusal to make a political statement during the World Cup seemed to put him on the government’s side. Despite his own intimate understanding of widespread hunger and repression, his silence appeared to imply criticism of the brave black-armband protests of team-mates Andy Flower and Henry Olonga. Streak became known among opposition supporters as the Anti-Flower.

His reputation for having deserted the side of the angels started before the World Cup when Streak sounded strident and uncompromising. Here was a man who spoke only of sporting performance while all around him people were trying to survive the state-sponsored famine of Mugabe. His defence was lame. “I believe sport and politics can’t mix,” he said. “The security of teams coming here is perfect. I think things should go ahead.”In retrospect it might seem not to have been worth it. During the World Cup the team, distracted by the controversy, suffered. Despite making the Super Six stage, partly due to England’s refusal to play in Harare, the team was thrashed by Kenya and beat only Namibia and Holland. Now Streak, at 29, has to oversee the rebuilding of a side hit by four retirements of key players, starting with Flower and Olonga.On the two-Test tour to England he leads a team whose vice-captain is a promising 19-year-old wicketkeeper, Tatenda Taibu. The only team members whose Test qualifications are not in doubt are Streak himself and Grant Flower. As a fast bowler of great strength and stamina, Streak has taken 180 wickets at 26.98 in 51 Tests and averaged 21.01 with the bat. At Lord’s on May 22 he leads his side for the 14th time in Tests. But he is now considered less as a hero and more as an enigma in international cricket.A big, physically imposing man with dark smouldering eyes, Streak belongs to the strong, silent school of leadership. He is ill at ease under interrogation by journalists and it is easy to see how he became a media bogeyman. “Never complain, never explain” would summarise his public relations technique. He obviously prefers the new ball to do his talking for him.When we met in Bulawayo, his hometown, he was sitting at a cafe table nursing a cup of tea being unrepentant about his behaviour during the World Cup. “No one lives in an ideal world,” he said. “We’re in a world where there’s terrorism and a war in the Middle East. At the end of the day sport is a job like any other, the players are just trying to make a living.”Flower used similar language to reach exactly the opposite conclusion when we spoke a couple of days later. “It’s a bit of a cop-out to say `I can’t get involved in politics because I’m a cricketer’. What about a businessman, what about a bricklayer? That argument is flawed. Only in an ideal world do sport and politics not mix.”But Streak’s own daily life is inseparable from the consequences of politics. We had been talking for 10 minutes when a man approached our table with two small sacks. A conversation ensued in Ndebele, the local African language, which ended with Streak handing over money in exchange for the unlabelled sacks. “Sorry about that,” he said. “It’s so hard to get bread these days. I’m lucky to know people who can.”

Streak insists he is not insensitive to the pain people are suffering but his public position is uncompromising. He believes that sportsmen stand above politics and have a separate responsibility for a higher national ethos. “I think, as far as we can, sports people must realise that we’re ambassadors for our country and we’ve got to try and keep to sport as our topic,” he said. In what appeared to be a gentle dig at Flower and Olonga he added: “I encouraged the team to do that so that they could try and focus and give themselves their best chance in the tournament.”But not many personalities are as simple as they look, and it would be a serious error to think that Streak is motivated by racism. He grew up in Matabeleland, in the south-west of the country, and feels a strong kinship to the area’s Ndebele tribe who make up about a fifth of Zimbabwe’s population and have suffered more than any other ethnic group during Mugabe’s 23-year rule. I had watched Zimbabwe’s opening Super Six game against New Zealand with the squad of Bulawayo’s biggest football team, Highlanders, and was surprised to hear the esteem Streak is held in by Bulawayo’s Africans. As Streak put on an exhibition of ferocious hitting, scoring 72 off 84 balls, one partisan spectator said: “Heath is a great man, a real Ndebele, he learnt Ndebele before he could speak English. You would never know he was white the way he speaks it.”When I told Streak he leaked a little passion. “I grew up in a farming area and used to play with Ndebele kids, so my first language as a youngster was Ndebele and I’ve spoken it ever since. I think it’s a pity more Europeans here don’t speak the language. We learn how to speak Afrikaans and French but I think it would be of greater benefit to speak African languages. You have a much greater understanding not only of what people are about but also their culture.” He is a Matabele and a Bulawayo boy and proud of it.His cultural sensitivities make his stubborn political position all the more perplexing. When the subject turns to the 40 democracy campaigners arrested at the Holland match, who were later locked up in a cell measuring 15 feet by eight with no functioning toilet, Streak is ambivalent. He described the incident as “disappointing” and then repeated his familiar mantra. “To use a sporting stage to make political statements is a little bit unfair on the sport and also on the people who go there for an enjoyable day and are impartial to what’s going on.” It is his denial of any political context which gives rise to the “Mugabe apologist” tag, however unfair.Streak himself declares that the World Cup was a “fantastic” tournament that will accelerate the development of cricket in Africa. He regrets the cancelled game with England. “We were disappointed in a cricketing sense when England decided not to come,” he said. “We’ve always had a good rivalry in the past here; we’ve beaten them and they’ve beaten us. But I do sympathise with Nasser Hussain who was already under a lot of pressure without this boycott issue.”Pressed on England’s safety in Harare he sighs. “I always say `my crystal ball went in for a service so I can’t really tell” – a sign perhaps that his certainty before the World Cup was dented slightly by the demonstrations that did take place, together with the knowledge that an England protest would have dwarfed the others. Indeed opposition supporters have said that weeks of detailed planning had gone into preparation for a “stunning” demonstration for the England match. They will not reveal the plan. “We might use it another time, so we’re not telling anyone,” said one of them.If the past was lined with potential pitfalls, the future looks no less testing. With Flower and Olonga joined on the international retirement list by Guy Whittall and Alistair Campbell Zimbabwe look fragile. Unless young players, such as Tatenda Taibu, and the medium-fast bowler Andy Blignaut quickly establish themselves as replacements the English tour could become a rout. Streak, who made his debut against Pakistan 10 years ago, says Zimbabwe are in a “rebuilding phase”.Zimbabwe did restore some pride by defeating Kenya and Sri Lanka to reach the Sharjah Cup final in April and, playing as a national team against England, Zimbabwe can perform well above themselves, as they did in a well-fought, rain-spoiled draw at Trent Bridge in 2000 after losing by an innings and 209 runs at Lord’s. (Streak took nine wickets at 20.22 in the series.) But the youngsters will have to step up fast if Zimbabwe’s “rebuilding phase” is not to turn into a bereavement phase.Click here to subscribe to Wisden Cricket MonthlyThe June 2003 edition of Wisden Cricket Monthly is on sale at all good newsagents in the UK and Ireland, priced £3.25.

Kent County Cricket Club today announced that it has accepted a challenge todo battle with Lashings, the Maidstone-based pub side. The two teams willplay under floodlights at the St Lawrence Ground on Monday 6 August for theIntertops.com Titans of Kent Cup – a 40-over match starting at 4.30pm.In accepting the challenge from Lashings, Kent’s Captain, Matthew Fleming,commented: “Lashings has raised the profile of the game in the county with appearances by Brian Lara, Jimmy Adams and other well-known international players.”Having said that, our Second XI recently beat them at Sutton Valence and wehave made it clear to Richie Richardson that, if it’s to be anything of amatch, he will have to look to finding reinforcements!””The only hope Kent have that day is rain,” said David Folb, Lashings’Chairman.A sentiment echoed by Lashings’ Captain, Richie Richardson, whosaid in response: “Matthew Fleming will be pleased to know that Shaoib Aktar, Allan Donald, Wasim Akram and Courtney Walsh will be playing on that day. I know that it is often the trait of old pros to take the day off when the touring sides visit but I very much hope that Matthew will be there on the day to benefit from my expertise and advice.”Tickets are on sale now at the St Lawrence Ground:Adults £10Reduced (Over 65s) £5Children under 18 freeKCCC Members £3Car Parking £10

The Sri Lanka-India Test series witnessed its first major boil-over on its penultimate day following a spat between Ishant Sharma and Dhammika Prasad towards the end of India’s second innings at the SSC. The umpires spoke to both captains following the incident, but the bad blood didn’t end there; it spilled over into Ishant’s celebrations at the fall of Sri Lanka’s third wicket, the bowler smacking his own head repeatedly.The drama began when Ishant, the last man in, ducked under a Prasad bouncer in the 76th over of India’s innings, and grinned back at the bowler. It had been a long and hot day for the bowlers, and from that moment things got out of hand. Prasad and Ishant exchanged glares, and faced off.Things got more heated when Ishant pushed the next ball for a single and smacked his helmet repeatedly while running down the pitch and past Prasad, as if goading him to bowl more bouncers. Dinesh Chandimal walked over from slip, his shoulder grazing Ishant’s. Non-striker R Ashwin then joined the discussion before the umpires stepped in. Prasad, who had been peppered with short balls from Ishant while batting, took the bouncer invitation when Ishant next came on strike, the batsman swaying out of the line. Prasad, who had overstepped by a big margin, treated Ishant to a glare.Towards the end of the over, the umpires had a word with the Sri Lanka captain Angelo Matthews. Next ball, Prasad dismissed Ashwin to end India’s innings. A bizarre sight followed. Ishant sprinted towards the dressing room, in order to get changed and ready to return to bowl. Dhammika followed him in what looked like a full sprint.The two players were headed for different rooms and television footage showed Ishant turning right after getting to the top of a flight of stairs; when Prasad reached the top of the stairs, it is learnt, he was pushed towards his own dressing room by members of the Sri Lankan support staff, to avoid any further confrontation.Before the Sri Lankan second innings began, the umpires had a long conversation with Virat Kohli, India’s captain. It didn’t subdue Ishant, who once again gave a departing batsman a send-off – he had been fined 65% of his match fee for committing the same offence, twice, during the second Test – when he dismissed opener Upul Tharanga. Kohli joined in.When Ishant took the wicket of Chandimal, he marked the moment by striking the side of his head. Mathews, who walked in at this point, sought to cool the rising tempers, talking to both Ishant and Kohli.At the press conference at the end of the day’s play, Rohit Sharma said he hadn’t seen the initial incident since he was getting a massage. But he didn’t think there was any bad blood between Ishant and Prasad. “All this keeps happening,” he said. “They are very good friends. I just saw them having a cup of tea after the game, which is good.”In a series that had been played without any major incident, the first simmering was sighted on the third evening of the third Test, but had been sorted out by the players themselves. As Kusal Perera and Rangana Herath held off the Indian bowling after the Sri Lankans were reduced to 47-6, frustration boiled over as Herath and Ishant went into an eyeball-for-eyeball contest in the 32nd over, after Herath ducked under an Ishant bouncer. They were separated by very little except about 12 inches in height and Ajinkya Rahane’s intervention.After Perera was dimissed, following a 79-run stand with Herath, Kohli, who had taken the catch, kicked the ball and swore under his breath (unfortunately, not out of the sight of TV cameras), with the departing batsman and Ishant exchanging words. Ishant later said he had only “asked him about our dinner plans”. The general order of the series was eventually restored with Ishant and Herath having a shorter and far more fruitful peace talk than India-Pakistan diplomats can manage these days. Kohli patted Herath on the back when he was the ninth batsman out.

Paul Collingwood put the blame for England’s 19-run defeat against SouthAfrica at Newlands on their poor fielding rather than the crucial, andslightly controversial, run-out of Kevin Pietersen. With Englandchasing 155, Pietersen was dismissed after colliding with ShaunPollock as he attempted a quick single.”He [Pietersen] was looking at the fielder and the ball and Pollock,whether he meant it or not, got in his way,” explained Collingwood.”He would have got in very easily and that was a bit of bad luck wehad tonight, but even with that we still should have knocked thoseruns off.”Collingwood then suggested that the third umpire could have givenPietersen not out, even though it isn’t within his remit. “Sometimesyou think common sense would prevail and maybe the third umpire wouldgive him not out.”If that’s something that has to be put into the rules regardingdecisions like that I’m not too sure. I don’t want to make it a bigissue. It was the third umpire’s decision and he has to make thatquick decision.”Graeme Smith had no issues with the dismissal: “If I felt Shaun did iton purpose I would have called KP back but he was trying to get backto the stumps. It’s a big pitch out there and Kevin ran straight athim in the middle of the wicket.”Collingwood said it was England’s shoddy catching which let SouthAfrica off the hook after they had been reduced to 94 for 6. At leastsix chances went down, the most costly of which came when Albie Morkelwas on 14. Collingwood, back peddling from midwicket, couldn’t get a hand to a steepling top-edge and it appeared a more comfortable chance for OwaisShah running in from long-on.”It was very noisy out there and I wasn’t sure whether Owais had heardmy call because I saw him out of the corner of my eye,” saidCollingwood. “I don’t think our ground fielding was too bad, it wasthe catches and it was very costly in the end. It is something we haveto look at. I can hold my hands up on that one and we could haveprobably bowled South Africa out for maybe 130.”If they’d have got a score like that it would have put them out ofthe game – saying that I think we’d have still taken 154 at the startof the day and we were disappointed we didn’t knock them off.”

The Championship season could be set for a grandstand finale between the world’s two best spinners after Lancashire hinted that they are sounding out Muttiah Muralitharan for a short end-of-season stint.Cricinfo sources have confirmed that Muralitharan was approached about a return but also said that it was unlikely to happen. After the current triangular series also involving South Africa and India, he is keen to rest ahead of the Champions Trophy.The final round of Championship matches pits Lancashire, currently top, with Hampshire, currently third, in a potential title decider. If Muralitharan returns to Lancashire, he could face Shane Warne in a Rose Bowl head-to-head.Muralitharan has taken 152 wickets during his previous stints at Old Trafford, but any return is dependent on Cricket Australia’s ruling over Brad Hodge, Lancashire main overseas signing for this season. Hodge picked up a neck injury during the Top End series last month, but is still set to take part in Australia’s pre-summer training camp in Queensland.If the Australian board rule Hodge fit, but decided to rest him, Lancashire might be allowed a replacement depending on how the ECB read the situation, which would open the door for Muralitharan. However, if Hodge is still sidelined due to an official injury, ECB rules wouldn’t allow a direct replacement.Jim Cumbes, the Lancashire chief executive, told the : “We are waiting to hear from Brad and Cricket Australia. If he is still injured, we can’t replace him, but if they decide he is fit but needs rest, we may look to bring someone in.”Murali is certainly in the frame, but it depends on which area of the side coach Mike Watkinson feels we need to address. I wouldn’t be surprised if Mike has asked him if he is available.”

Kevin Pietersen has not backed away from any of the challenges that have been thrown his way during his dramatic start to international cricket – from playing in front of a baying crowd at Johannesburg to blasting England over the winning line against Australia – and he is now ready for the ultimate challenge: his Test debut at Lord’s on Thursday.”I’ve always said I want to challenge myself against the best and see where I stand.” Pietersen said during England’s pre-series press gathering in London. “I played OK against them in the one-dayers and it’s just a case of going out there. It will be good to see how I stand up against them.”He has no regrets that he starts against Australia, despite missing out on some stress-free runs against Bangladesh. “It may have been easier to get a hundred against somebody else but you don’t know where you are,” he said. “To get one against Australia would be extra special.”I’ve been through two tough experiences, in South Africa and now I’ve been chucked in against Australia in one-day cricket. It might have been easier going in against someone else but I look forward to the challenge. They are a great side with great players and are over here to do a job. They will probably come harder at me now because of what I did against them in the one-dayers. That will obviously be a bigger challenge for me and hopefully I can conquer the challenge.”The Australians have already focused on Pietersen and feel they have gained useful insights during the one-day series. John Buchanan, the Australia coach, told Cricinfo that he could see a clear weakness in his game. “Look, Pietersen is obviously integral in one-day cricket, but we’ve no doubt he’s a very poor starter and that gives us one or two areas to work with,” he said.”The one-day arena seems to suit his style of play, and I haven’t really seen him in the longer form of the game but, I suppose, he has longer to play and stay at the wicket and time to score more runs as well. He is certainly one of those confidence players and he wants to take on Australia. The England selectors have given him his chance.”Pietersen was the centre of attention at England’s team hotel and his friendship with Shane Warne – after their time at Hampshire – has created much interest about what Pietersen might be able to tell his team-mates. But he insists he has no magic formula for facing Warne, who has taken 132 wickets in 26 Ashes Tests: “I don’t know which is the best way to play him, you should probably ring Sachin Tendulkar or Brian Lara if you want to find that out, not me. I’ve watched Warney a bit, I know how he looks to take wickets, he was pretty open with me because he’s a mate of mine. That isn’t to say that it won’t pitch in the rough and knock the top of off stump, it’s a funny game this Test cricket, anything can happen.”However, he did say that he would be happy to pass on any bits of information if he is asked and has no doubt that Warne will be filling in any blanks the Australians have about him. “I’ll be offering some sort of advice if people ask me. He will probably do the same because he is looking to get me out, he is looking to win the Ashes, but hopefully I’m not going to let him do it.”Warne has openly said how he would like to claim Pietersen as his 600th Test wicket – he currently has 583 – and Pietersen admits it could be a bit strange when he faces up to him, especially as Warne is not shy of having a chirp at the batsmen. “I don’t know what it will be like,” he said. “When I faced him last month for Hampshire [in England’s one-day warm-up match] it was pretty funny but I tried not to see the funny side because I was trying to get the job done as we were in a bit of trouble. It will be fun, I’m looking forward to it, and it will be enjoyable.”While Pietersen will be battling on the field with Warne and the rest of Australia’s attack he believes what happens off the field – in the stands – can have a huge bearing on the outcome of the series. “If the crowd can get behind us from the first ball and replicate what the Rose Bowl crowd did [during the Twenty20 international] it would be fantastic. It will pick the boys up, not that I’m saying they won’t be up for the Test, it will be massive, but if the crowd can get behind the players and give them stick from ball one it would be brilliant.”But he added that he is not going to get drawn into a sledging war and believes England have to concentrate on playing tough cricket. “Who am I to start abusing these blokes, they are a great side, we are out to play hard, tough cricket to make sure that we stand up and be counted and are not bullied,” he said. “That is how we play and that’s how we are going to go about it. There is no point just going up and verbally abusing them because I don’t think that will get to them anyway. It is just a case of play good, positive cricket.”

Makhaya Ntini will be travelling to Uganda this weekend as part of South Africa’s 10 years of democracy celebrations. Ntini was invited to join Hoosain Ayob, ICC-Africa Regional development manager, to join in the festivities of the 10 years of cricket development by the Uganda Cricket Association.Ntini will tonight attend a gala dinner with Ugandan cricket stakeholders as well as members of the Southern African business community. On Saturday he will visit Kings College Budo, the oldest cricketing school in the country, to experience first-hand the talents and skill of young Ugandan cricketers.”As far as we are concerned it’s a major scoop to have Makhaya in ourmidst, said Ayob. “His presence alone will go a long way instrengthening the development programme in Uganda”.Before returning home on Sunday, Ntini will watch a match hosted by UCA between members of the South African community and a UCA’s Chairman’s XI.”I am grateful to be part of the enjoyment," said Ntini, "And I look forward to sharing with my Ugandan counterparts my experience of international cricket."

After a tie in their last meeting the stage was set for an explosive climax to the Metropolitan cup in Sunday’s final between La Dehesa and Las Condes.Las Condes was hoping to repeat last year victory, but La Dehesa had been unbeaten all season and had other ideas.Unfortunately for Las Condes, the die was cast in La Dehesa’s favour before a ball had been bowled with only 9 players able to play on the day.But Las Condes captain Marriott won the toss and decided to bat, hoping the old adage of putting some numbers on the board first would work in his favour.However, La Dehesa’s bowlers made life difficult for the Las Condes openers. Wily spinner Adams frustrated Wollocombe into a rash shot in the fifth over that was easily caught by Harvey.McGovern’s fast bowling from the other end kept the batsmen off their guard and he was rewarded for his efforts the next over with the wicket of Hickman who missed a straight delivery.At 12 for 2 it looked as if lunch would be served sooner than expected, but Paul ‘Wonder Boy’ Hollis had other ideas and he kept Las Condes’ hopes alive with a solid innings of 71 that included several well timed drives for four.At the other end Las Condes batsmen came and went without ever settling in long enough to provide Hollis with any real support. Walker was out LBW to a quick straight delivery from Khaalid, and Messner was out in the same fashion.Mouton attempted to hook a short delivery from Dowling and deflected the ball onto his chin. Not to be kept off the pitch, however, Mouton was back after receiving medical attention and scored 13 before being caught & bowled by McGovern.That left Las Condes capitan Marriott and Dawson to hold up the Las Condes tail, but Dawson was stumped by some quick thinking from La Dehesa keeper Larsson and Marriott was clean bowled by Brink going for a slog.After lunch, La Dehesa was set the modest target of 153 to win. Messner opened the bowling with a head of steam and quickly earned the wicket of opener Dowling in the second over with a fast delivery that kept low.But La Dehesa capitan Phillips was solid as a rock expect for several LBW decisions that luckily for La Dehesa went his way. Phillips was well supported by first drop McGovern, who showed once again that he is truly a batsman of class.Together they put on a slow-scoring partnership of 34, before McGovern was bowled by Mouton on 19 in the 17th over. That brought Khaalid Mooradd to the crease. The South African native needed hardly an over before he had his eye in and started dispatching the Las Condes bowlers all over the ground.Khaalid has not had much of a chance to show his talent after arriving in Chile late this season, but he certainly made up for lost time on Sunday with a splendid innings of 64 including one glorious six over the bowler’s head and almost through the clubhouse windows.Khaalid was given out LBW to Messner but by then La Dehesa only needed one run to win in the 39th over, and Phillips wasted no time scoring the winning run off Mouton and ending his captain’s innings of 59 not out.When it was all said and done, La Dehesa’s strong bowling attack was able to keep Las Condes from putting together a truly competitive total, and with La Dehesa’s deep batting line-up, the outcome of the game was never really in doubt.After team pictures, and a pause to super-glue the bat back on the trophy, Marriott presented Phillips with the Metropolitan Cup, which will remain in his safe hands, until next year at least.The Metropolitan Cup final caps an extraordinary season for Chilean cricket that included a second place finish in the South American Championships held in Argentina, and a developing youth cricket program.The 2003-2004 season is sure to showcase the talents of Chile’s emerging young cricketers as well as another exciting Metropolitan Cup.¡Viva Chile!

Title holders Havant fear their unbeaten Southern Electric ECB Premier League record could go when they send a weakened team to face third-placed BAT Sports at Southern Gardens tomorrow, 11.30am.The defending champions, who won all five 50-over games before being held to a draw by Calmore Sports last week, travel to Totton minus four key players.In-form Andy Perry, who hit an unbeaten 160 in the Calmore statemate, is ruled out with back trouble, while leading wicket-taker Phil Loat is out of the country playing golf.Also missing are Luke Sears and medium-pace bowler Mark Copping. “It’s a worry,” confesses skipper Paul Gover, who plans to move himself up the batting order.”These are four main players and to have them all missing at once is a recipe for trouble.”Nonetheless, Havant call up four more than adequate replacements in Army all-rounder Steve Hole, Matthew Ward, Graham Benton and Gover’s younger brother Matt, whose fielding is sure to have an effect on the champions’ out-cricket.BAT, meanwhile, are quietly confident they can be the first team to lower Havant’s sails.They field an unchanged side, with Australian all-rounder Dave Carson showing glimpses of a return to form after back-to-back half-centuries in his past two knocks.South Wilts skipper Russell Rowe, who has already scored over 500 runs this season, aims to notch yet another century as the Salisbury club entertain Bournemouth at Lower Bemerton.Rowe completed a glorious hat-trick of hundreds with an undefeated 170 at Liphook & Ripsley.Newly-wed Jamie Glasson, his long-term opening partner, makes his first appearance of the season tomorrow, but Dorset’s Tim Lamb is out.Ironically, mid-table Bournemouth are experiencing a few run-scoring problems, but Tom Webley’s return should remedy things at the top of the batting order.Provided he comes through Hampshire’s current Second XI Championship match with Kent unscathed, Andy Sexton will return for Bashley (Rydal) against struggling Hungerford at Bashley Common Lane.Sexton missed last week’s seven-wicket over Andover with a damaged finger.Andover, who have sunk to the Premier League basement after a sequence of poor performances, are likely to be unchanged against Calmore Sports at Loperwood Park.Calmore, certain to be without Mark Boston, could have Allan Hurst back after a shoulder injury, but skipper Tommy Pegler is unlikely to finalise his side until this evening.Burridge, who entertain in-form Liphook & Ripsley at Botley Road, expect Hampshire’s James Hamblin to return, while John Francis is set to make his first SPL appearance of the season after a successful term at Loughborough University in which he hit 126 against Leicestershire and 88 off the Nottinghamshire attack.Dave Tiller, who broke his collar bone at Sparsholt last week, will mss Portsmouth’s next six Premier Division 2 matches, but fit-again Ben Nolan returns for the Cove match at St Helen’s, Southsea.Second placed Lymington are unchanged at Easton & Martyr Worthy, where Andy Birch is well again. A bout of `flu meant the influential Easton all-rounder missing his first game in over ten years last weekend.Rob Savage could be a key absentee as Sparsholt visit Old Tauntonians & Romsey, while a breakdown in Trojans’ internal communication system could mean West Indian all-rounder Tim Subnaik missing the game with basement boys Old Basing.Division 3 pace-makers Winchester KS should win easily at lowly Lymington II, but Havant II – depleted by first team calls – have their hands full against New Milton. Alton go to run-shy Leckford.One key tussle in the lower echelons is Flamingos home match with Bashley (Rydal) – neither club being in particularly good batting form.

Bangladesh Under-19 cricketer Nihaduzzaman was one of nearly 40 individuals to suffer injuries in a bus accident near Sirajganj, about 100 km northwest of Dhaka, in which seven people died. Nihaduzzaman needed 12 stitches to his skull and forehead and said he was released from hospital under the condition of full rest at home in Rajshahi.He was heading back after completing a BCB High Performance training programme in Bogra when the incident happened. The bus, run by Desh Travels, collided with another one, and within seconds a truck rammed into the rear of the Desh Travels bus.Nihaduzzaman said medical help had been scarce and thanked his friend Naeem Islam jnr for making sure he did not lose consciousness until he was put on a bus to Natore, the nearest town in the area. Naeem hurt his leg in the ordeal.”I was bleeding from my forehead and two other places,” Nihaduzzaman told ESPNcricinfo. “Naeem called our physio Moon who told him to make sure that I don’t go unconscious or start to vomit. I was losing a lot of blood but there was nothing in sight, not even a hut.”So I wrapped my head with my T-shirt while Naeem tried to get me into the ambulance. The problem was, seven people had died and more than 40 people were injured so there was not enough room for me in the ambulance. After about two hours we got a bus and were taken to Natore town nearby. I couldn’t find my phone but thankfully Naeem was there. I really needed someone to help me to the bus to Natore.”In Natore, the doctors hurriedly gave me the stitches, but it wasn’t great. I couldn’t blame them since they were only three and we had about 40 people looking for medical attention. I managed to call a friend in Rajshahi, who came quickly and picked me up. I was admitted to Islami hospital in Rajshahi where they re-did my stitches and I was released this afternoon. I am at home now.”While trying to locate him, this reporter spoke to his father who said, “It is Allah’s grace that he is still among us. It was a horrific accident.”Nihaduzzaman said he was feeling better and was out of danger. He will undergo a CT scan and pass on the results to the BCB by Saturday. “I think I have to submit all my medical reports to the BCB. I am not sure if I will be going to Dhaka though. The Rajshahi divisional team’s first National Cricket League (first-class) game is in Rajshahi so I don’t know if I should stay here. The doctors have asked me for rest. I still have pain in my head.”The BCB has offered him full support, and is likely to ask him to come to Dhaka for precautionary measures.