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Harbhajan Singh will return home from Australia without having undergone surgery on his injured finger. Initial tests at a Melbourne hospital had indicated that he needed an operation immediately, but an official of the BCCI told the Times of India that Harbhajan would “undergo the surgery only if pain recurs.”This is the latest twist to a story which started a month ago when Harbhajan was reported to be about to travel to America to be operated on by the same surgeon who treated Sachin Tendulkar. Within days the destination had switched to Melbourne after Harbhajan spoke to Shane Warne.Harbhajan, with the consent of the BCCI, travelled to Australia and was preparing for surgery when his doctor changed his mind after physiotherapy began to show some positive results. At the weekend Harbhajan bowled in the nets for almost an hour and he came through the session with little discomfort.It is expected that Harbhajan will return to India later in the week.

Afghanistan were facing innings defeat after Mardan sentthem on a leather chase on the first day of the two-dayQuaid-i-Azam Trophy Grade-II match at Gymkhana ground inPeshawar.Batting first, Mardan rattled up 382 for five and then leftAfghanistan tottering at 96 for eight in 30 overs.Mardan opener Sajjad Ahmad slammed a 150-ball 126 andfeatured in a 81-run opening stand with Nair Zada who scored27. But the innings got the real impetus from Adnan Raeeswho hammered an undefeated 61-ball 101.Allah Dad, who has been the most productive Afghanistanbowler, suffered the most when he went for 107 runs from his18.2 wicketless overs. Daulat Khan snapped up three wicketsfor 64 runs from seven overs.When Afghanistan batted, they were left guessing by Noor-ul-Amin who picked up four wickets for 25 runs. Adnan Raeesbagged two for 14.Alam Khan was fighting a lost battle when he was 38 not outat stumps. Daulat Khan (21) and Asif Hashmi (11) were theother batsmen to reach double figures.In the last round matches in Pool A Group I, Larkana scored286 for nine against Jacobabad who finished the day at 64for one at the Asghar Ali Stadium.At the Nawabshah Cricket Stadium, Nawabshah were dismissedfor 203 in 60.5 overs by Shikarpur who ended the day at 89for four.In Peshawar, Abdul Salam’s unbeaten knock of 111 helped Fatato 293 for five against Abbottabad at Arbab Niaz CricketStadium.In reply, Abbottabad were 80 for five in 23 overs.

India’s national selection panel is likely to ponder over the composition of the team’s spin attack when they sit down on Thursday in Delhi to finalise the squad for the three-Test series in Sri Lanka.Harbhajan Singh has seemingly justified his recall with decent outings in the Bangladesh and Zimbabwe ODIs, and is set to be given a full series, while R Ashwin, too, is ready to roll in what would be his maiden Test series in Sri Lanka. With two spots locked in the XI, the selectors will have to decide on the back-up spinners.Karn Sharma, who was the third spinner in the Test squad in Bangladesh, got injured ahead of the Zimbabwe tour. It is understood, however, that he has recovered from his finger injury and is available for selection. Still, Karn is not assured of a spot, with three other players competing for the third spinner’s position, even though Ravindra Jadeja has fallen out of the radar in recent months.Axar Patel, considered to be a like-for-like replacement for Jadeja, has put in consistent performances in limited overs. Also, the fact that Amit Mishra and Pragyan Ojha have been rewarded with India A call-ups indicates that Sandeep Patil’s panel has not written the pair off completely. Interestingly, it was Mishra and Pragyan who shouldered the responsibility in India’s last Test series in Sri Lanka, in 2010, when Harbhajan returned home after the first Test.With opening batsman KL Rahul also returning to top-flight cricket after recovering from a bout of dengue fever, 14 of the 15 members, barring Karn, who were originally selected for the lone Test in June are likely to be persisted with.The other point of discussion would be whether to add a reserve keeper in the squad. MS Dhoni’s Test retirement will give Wriddhiman Saha, who was Dhoni’s understudy in Sri Lanka in 2010, his first full series behind the wickets. Considering that it is a three-Test series, if the selectors decide to include a reserve keeper and expand the squad to 16 members, Naman Ojha will be the frontrunner for the position. Naman, who was in the Test squad for the final match against England last year, was also with the squad in Australia till the first Test as Dhoni had missed out with injury.While the seven batsmen select themselves, the selectors are likely to persist with captain Kohli’s demand for an aggressive pace attack.

ScorecardA century from Amandeep Khare laid the platform for India Under-19s to wrap up a four-run D/L win over Sri Lanka Under-19s at the Premadasa Stadium. Khare, who came in to bat after a 77-run opening stand between Washington Sundar and Ishan Kishan, made 102 off 98 balls, with nine fours and a six. He added 107 with Washington, who was out for 77, and a further 82 with Virat Singh (30) to take India to 266 for 2 with 3.1 overs remaining. Sri Lanka struck back, taking five wickets and conceding only 18 runs off the last 19 balls of India’s innings to limit them to 284 for 7.Set a revised target of 255 in 47 overs, Sri Lanka began well, with Avishka Fernando (75, 89b, 4×4) adding 60 for the first wicket with Salindu Ushan and 94 with Charith Asalanka (74, 86b, 7×4) for the second wicket. When Fernando was run out in the 31st over, Sri Lanka needed 101 from 99 balls. Though Shammu Ashan (23), Wanidu Hasaranga (27) and Kamindu Mendis (15 not out) all made useful scores, they fell just short, ending on 250 for 5. Rahul Batham (2 for 32) and Zeeshan Ansari (1 for 32) played key roles in India’s defence, maintaining a combined economy rate of 3.96 across the 16 overs they bowled.

Yorkshire have released opening batsman Matthew Wood, who hasn’t managed a Championship match this season. Wood, 30, made his debut in 1997 but lost his place to Joe Sayers and has been stuck in the second team.”Matthew has given outstanding service to Yorkshire and has always been thoroughly professional in his approach to the game,” said Stewart Regan, the Yorkshire chief executive. “We greatly appreciate his efforts for the club over the past decade and wish him every success in the future.”He added that it had been a difficult decision to take, but one which the player had accepted. Yorkshire are now circulating other counties to inform them of Wood’s availability and the hope is that he will be able to continue his first class career elsewhere.Wood leaves Yorkshire with 6840 runs at 33.52 in first-class cricket and 3271 runs at 27 in one-day matches.

The West Indies Cricket Board (WICB) has accepted the invitation from the Indian board (BCCI) to participate in the tri-nation series in Singapore and Kuala Lumpur in September and selected a squad of 14 players. However, the WICB bypassed the West Indies Players Association (WIPA) and issued match/tour contracts directly to selected players.According to a WICB release yesterday, the decision was taken to directly invite players to the tour, after talks on Wednesday between board representative Deryck Murray and Dinanath Ramnarine, the WIPA president, and subsequent discussions between Ramnarine and Ken Gordon, the WICB president, “broke down in spite of our best efforts.”The release continued: “It has now become imperative that we act if we are to participate in this series because of the tight timelines between now and the September tournament”.The release also disclosed that offers to the players for the series ranged from a minimum of US$25,000 to a maximum of US $59,000 per player, with the “prospect of each player earning an additional 50 per cent on these fees if West Indies qualifies for the final”.The WICB also stated that these fees were “unprecedented” at 488% of the normal match fees, and “25 % of the net revenue to be paid to the WICB for the series.” They said this was only made possible due to the “one-off nature of the series” and the board’s commitment to “enhance earnings of players whenever practicable”.The WICB also claimed the WIPA’s demands – ranging from US$40,000 to $US95,000 per player represented 40 per cent of the net revenue the WICB were due to receive, and almost double the premium on normal match fees. They said this was considered “unacceptable”. The disagreements over match fees and contractual conditions stem back to November 2004.The selected players have also been given until August 10 to accept the invitation, after which the WICB said that another team will be chosen to replace West Indies in the series, which also features India and Australia.A noteworthy inclusion in the squad is Carlton Baugh, the wicketkeeper, who replaces Denesh Ramdin, despite an impressive performance in the recent Jamaica Test against India. Brian Lara, who apologised to Gordon for his comments on team selection, will continue to lead the squad. Fast bowler Fidel Edwards returns to the squad after missing the last three Tests against India due to a hamstring injury.Squad Brian Lara (capt), Ramnaresh Sarwan, Chris Gayle, Shivnarine Chanderpaul, Runako Morton, Dwayne Bravo, Dwayne Smith, Carlton Baugh (wk), Corey Collymore, Fidel Edwards, Ian Bradshaw, Jerome Taylor, Marlon Samuels, Wavell Hinds.

Life is never dull when Daryll Cullinan is concerned, and he is again in trouble after a well-publicised confrontation with HD Ackerman at the weekend. Following a private hearing on Monday with Michael Kuper, the South African board’s disciplinary commissioner, he was banned for one match after being found guilty of contravening two clauses of the board’s Code of Conduct.Cullinan, who captains Titans, was summoned along with Ackerman, skipper of Lions, after the pair clashed during a match between the two sides at Potchefstroom last week. Witnesses said the trouble started when Cullinan spoke to Ackerman as he came out to bat. Ackerman was clearly upset by the comments and got involved in a heated confrontation, later making a formal complaint to the umpires.Cullinan, who will not appeal, will miss the match against Eastern Cape Warriors starting on January 6. Ackerman was “severely reprimanded” for his part in the incident.The exact details of the face-off are not known, but it left Lions’ officials deeply unhappy. Shukri Conrad, the coach, was reported in some newspapers as saying it was time Cullinan retired, and he slammed the player for not speaking to any of the Lions team after the match. “If he can’t take time out to thank us, then that just sums up the man.”It is understood that Titans officials have fully accepted the punishment and also that Cullinan has apologised to them for his conduct.

Andre Adams has been thrown a lifeline by John Bracewell, the New Zealand coach, who has said that Adams still has an international future as long as he sorts out his attitude.Adams, who turns 29 in a week, joined the New Zealand squad for the first time in 14 months yesterday after falling off the radar last season and not even being considered for New Zealand A. A perceived casual attitude, injuries and inconsistent performances meant that he was left off the list of 20 New Zealand contracted players in April.Adams was summoned this week from Lancashire league cricket with Colne, to cover for injury niggles to Daryl Tuffey (thigh), Chris Cairns (ankle) and Jacob Oram (side) ahead of Saturday’s NatWest Series final against West Indies at Lord’s.Bracewell said he was determined that Adams wouldn’t be cast to the international scrap heap, and had organised a programme with the team’s psychologist, Gilbert Enoka. “He’s a talented athlete, and we won’t give up on Andre,” Bracewell said. “He’s talented enough to play international cricket again, but you can’t drift through life on talent alone.”You’ve got to have discipline and professionalism, and a day in, day out attitude. You can’t just turn it on like a light switch.”After returning home from a limited role in New Zealand’s tri-series win in Sri Lanka last May, Adams admitted it all went downhill. “Last year was a really difficult season for me. I didn’t do the things I wanted to do, got more and more frustrated and started taking it out on team-mates and anyone else around me,” Adams told New Zealand Press Association, having brushed with officialdom several times in recent seasons after clashes with players and umpires. “I got frustrated with where I was going, which was nowhere fast.”He said he was stunned to get the call-up from Lindsay Crocker, the New Zealand manager, earlier this week, but admitted it got the pulse racing again. “You don’t realise how much you want it till you get the phone call. I’ve been trying to tell myself it’s OK, I don’t really need it, but as soon as you hear Lindsay’s voice at the end of the line, I was jumping out of my skin to get here.”

Minor Counties failed to take advantage of first use of a wicket offering the bowlers variable bounce and were bowled out for 130 in just 42.5 overs, thanks to some poor shot selection and fine pace bowling by Sri Lankan overseas player Mohamed Maharoof. Howitt (27) and Trower (39) showed some of their true form but there was only one decent partnership – 39 – between Trower and Mann.Kidner got an early breakthrough, bowling the dangerous Alleyne for 1. Brown bowled an immaculate 10 overs of off-spin taking 1-18 and Dawson bowled 5 tight overs of seam, but the target was reached comfortably, giving Middlesex victory by 7 wickets with 11 overs to spare.

Despite leading his Hampshire side to CricInfo Championship Division Two promotion, Robin Smith has admitted to contemplating handing over the captaincy reigns at the end of the season.Smith, who replaced John Stephenson as captain in 1998, has been upset by his own batting form over the past couple of seasons and attributes the blame for this dip on the pressure of leading the side.The former England batsman, who celebrated his 38th birthday on Thursday, the same day Hampshire secured promotion at Trent Bridge is considering playing out what is expected to be his final year amongst the rank and file.He believes the time maybe right to hand over the challis. “It has been a grat honour to have been chosen to captain Hampshire”, he said.”But I feel my own game has been affected for the worse.”I have to hold my hands up and admit I have been disappointed with my own form since taking on what at the moment is a pretty stressful job.”If the club feel it is better for me to concentrate on my own game and score the runs, then I will stand down. If not then I will also be happy to continue.”He is not expecting to annouce his decision until well after the dust has settled on a successful season in charge.Will Kendall is his likely successor, having been appointed vice-captain at the start of the season. However, his personal form this season has been far from impressive either.