The New Nation - Internet Edition

Reuters, Melbourne

Australia opener Matthew Hayden scored his 28th test century, while India captain Anil Kumble took five wickets to leave the first test evenly poised after the first day's play on Wednesday.

Hayden, who shared a 135-run opening partnership with Phil Jaques, was dismissed for 124 as the home side reached stumps on 337 for nine. Mitchell Johnson was on 10 and Stuart Clark on 21.

Kumble finished with figures of five for 84, while left-arm pace bowler Zaheer Khan grabbed three wickets including captain Ricky Ponting and Hayden.

"We perhaps lost a few too many wickets t (but) all those little partnerships along the way contributed to a good team total," Hayden told reporters. "It was a difficult wicket and I think that will be borne out over the next four days."

Kumble was pleased his side refused to buckle under Australian pressure and captured wickets at crucial times after breaking the opening stand.

"I think the intensity was good after lunch, we kept at it and kept coming hard at Australia and I'm really happy with the way all of the bowlers bowled," he said.

"To get nine wickets on the first day after losing the toss was a brilliant effort."

Australia made a tentative start after winning the toss and choosing to bat on a pitch that had signs of grass and moisture in the outfield, before Hayden and Jaques guided them through to lunch at 111 for no wicket.

MOMENTUM STALLS

However, the home side's momentum stalled after Kumble drew Jaques down the wicket with a topspinner that was neatly taken by wicketkeeper Mahendra Dhoni, who whipped the bails off to dismiss him for 66.

Ponting was bowled by Zaheer for four with a delivery that seamed away to knock over off stump before Mike Hussey was trapped in front by Kumble off another delivery that failed to spin, for two, leaving the home side at 165 for three.

Hayden, who reached his century with a cover drive off Rudra Pratap Singh for his eighth boundary, consolidated the innings with Michael Clarke before they both fell in quick succession.

Clarke was well caught by Vangipurappu Laxman at second slip for 20 chasing a full, wide delivery from RP Singh, before Hayden spooned a catch to Saurav Ganguly at mid-on shortly after.

Symonds, who had ominously moved to 35 off 42 balls, was then caught by substitute fielder Dinesh Karthik to give Kumble his third wicket.

The Indian captain then had Gilchrist mistiming a sweep to be caught by Sachin Tendulkar for 23, then trapped Lee in front for a duck to give him his 35th five-wicket haul in tests.

Khan then had Brad Hogg caught in the slips for 17 with the first delivery with the new ball before Clark, who produced two cover drives for boundaries in the final over that belied his number 11 status, and Johnson saw the home side through to stumps.

Sports Reporter

The Meril First Women's Divisional Cricket League begins today at the Mirpur Sher-e-Bangla National Stadium. Rajshahi will face Khulna in the opening match.

President of Bangladesh Cricket Board Major General Sina Ibn Jamali,awc, psc will formally inaugurate the cricket meet as the chief guest.

A total of four divisional team will take part in the cricket league for women. They are:Rajshahi, Dhaka, Khulna and Chittagong.The competition will be held on single league basis.

Marking the ensuing cricket meet, a press conference was held at the Navana Tower on Wednesday. Vice-Chairman of Game Development, Media and Communications & Grounds and Facilities Management Committee of Bangladesh Cricket Board (BCB) Ishtiaque Ahmed, Member of Commercial Committee of BCB Zulfiqar Ahmed, Chairman of Women's Wing of BCB Monwar Anis Minu were present among others.

Minu disclosed all the matters related to the cricket competition for women.

The budget of the cricket competition has been estimated at Tk 23 lakh while Square Toiletries Limited, the sponsor of the meet has given Tk four lakh to BCB. BCB will bear rest of the expenditure.

The participants of the every match will get Tk one thousand as participation fee.

The champions will be awarded Tk fifteen thousand while the runners-up will get Tk ten thousand. Besides, the best- disciplined team will be given Tk five thousand.

The player of the competition will be awarded Tk five thousand. The highest scorer, the highest wicket taker, the best wicketkeeper will be given Tk two thousand each. The player of the match will get Tk one thousand.

Every match will be 30-over-a-side.

UNB, Dhaka

Three cricketers have been selected to join the visiting Bangladesh national cricket team to participate in the two-match test series against New Zealand beginning on January 4 at the University Oval in Dunedin.

The three selected players are former national captain Habibul Bashar, former national vice-captain cum opening batsman Shahriar Nafees Ahmed and spinner Enamul Haque Jr. They are expected to reach New Zealand on December 29.

Four cricketers from the present ODI squad, to be named later, will return home from New Zealand on completion of the ongoing three-match ODI series.

Bangladesh, which conceded a six-wicket defeat against New Zealand in the first ODI match at Eden Park in Auckland today, will play their 2nd ODI match on Dec 28 at the McLean Park in Napier and the 3rd and last ODI match on Dec 31 at the Queenstown Events Centre.

The Bengal Tigers will play their second and last test match against the Kiwis on January 12-16 at the Basin Reserve in Wellington.

Bangladesh Squad now in New Zealand are: Mohammad Ashraful (Captain), Mashrafee Bin Mortaza (Vice Captain), Javed Omer Belim, Tushar Imran, Khan Abdur Razzak, Shakib Al Hasan, Syed Rasel, Aftab Ahmed Chowdhury, Mushfiqur Rahim, Kazi Shahadat Hossain Rajib, Junaed Siddiqui, Farhad Reza, Mehrab Hossain Jr, Tamim Iqbal Khan, Nazmul Hossain, Sajedul Islam and Rajin Saleh.

AFP, Melbourne

Champion cricketer Shane Warne will coach and develop young spin bowlers in a new initiative announced today by Cricket Australia.

Warne, who revolutionised leg-spin bowling during his 15-year playing career, will work for Cricket Australia (CA) encouraging young aspiring spin bowlers, the sport's governing body here said.

Warne, who captured a then world record 708 wickets in 145 Tests before his retirement after last January's home Ashes series against England, will pass on his skills and knowledge to a new generation of Australian spinners.

CA said Warne, 38, will also spend time at the CA Centre of Excellence and work with the Australian women's and men's squads.

He will be part of preparations for the Australian Under-19 team before they head to the ICC World Cup in 2008, the organisation said.

Warne said he was looking forward to giving something back to cricket.

"The work I'm going to be doing with young spinners and their state captains is a really important role and I believe I've got a lot to offer," Warne said in a CA statement.

"I've already had some contact with some youngsters around the country but to be able to work in a structured way with spin bowlers and their captains will hopefully give teams an even greater understanding of how to develop spin bowling talent.

"The initiatives I'll be working on with kids and in the area of game development are important and I intend to make a meaningful contribution back into the grass-roots of cricket.

"I'm in a different phase of my life now and it's going to be interesting being on the other side of the table and helping to influence and shape the future direction of the game in Australia.

"I'll be aiming to help get the best result for cricket."

Warne will also work with former Australian captains Mark Taylor and Allan Border on CA's playing conditions committee and offer recommendations to the world governing body about the on-field development of the game.

CA chief executive James Sutherland said Warne's appointment was a boost for Australian cricket.

"Shane Warne is someone with a true passion for Australian cricket and when you combine that with his obvious expertise it is a very exciting prospect for Australian cricket," Sutherland said.

Reuters, Wellington

Opener Jamie How guided New Zealand to a comfortable six-wicket win over Bangladesh in the first match of their one-day international series in Auckland on Wednesday.

How, who scored 90 on New Zealand's recent tour of South Africa, was closing in on his maiden one-day international century but was caught by Aftab Ahmed off the bowling of Shakib Al Hasan for 88.

New Zealand eventually cruised to the target, finishing on 203 for four, after dismissing the visitors for a disappointing 201. Scott Styris was on 25 not out and Mathew Sinclair on one with 7.2 overs remaining.

Bangladesh captain Mohammad Ashraful had topscored for the visitors with a dashing 70 off 57 balls, though their target was disappointing after they suffered a slump that saw them lose four wickets for four runs in 20 balls.

New Zealand never seemed in danger of not achieving victory, with How combining with Brendon McCullum (40) and Peter Fulton (35) in useful partnerships before he was dismissed with the score on 173 for three, the win all but achieved.

All-rounder Styris thumped a six over long on to end the game in the 43rd over.

Al Hasan took three for 56 for Bangladesh.

Earlier, Ashraful and opener Tamim Iqbal (50) combined in a 97-run partnership, and seemed destined for a big total with Ashraful in full counter attack mode.

He smashed Kyle Mills for two boundaries in his first full over at the crease then hit two more and a six off Mark Gillespie in the next over in a show of defiant contempt.

Iqbal also grew in confidence and proceeded to hit two sixes and four boundaries before he was caught at deep backward point off Oram to leave the visitors well placed at 136 for three in the 27th over.

However, Bangladesh lost their way after that partnership, and their total of 201 could have been worse had Abdur Razzak (22 not out) not produced some lusty blows at the end.

Mills (three for 46), Gillespie (three for 27) and Jacob Oram (three for 36) shared the wickets for New Zealand.