The worrying increase in the amount of violence in club cricket was highlighted by a brawl during a game at the weekend which left one man in intensive care after he was assaulted with a stump.The attack happened on Sunday at Bilsborough, near Preston in Lancashire. Witnesses say the trouble began when drinkers left a bar and started jeering players in a match on the nearby pitch. The incident quickly escalated and a mass fight broke out which involved more than a dozen people."It would appear that what started out as banter between players and spectators ended up as something more serious," a police spokesman explained. "Up to 18 people were involved on the cricket field at any one time. There was a large fight and one man ended up with serious injuries.”The injured man was taken to a local hospital where his condition was described as "serious but stable".Police are appealing to anyone who saw the assault to come forward.

England 319 and 284 for 6 beat New Zealand 384 and 218 by four wickets
ScorecardDay 1
Bulletin – Fleming’s century lifts New Zealand
Roving Reporter – The boys behind the blimp
Verdict – A polylingual prince charming
Day 2
Bulletin – New Zealand fall for 384
Roving Reporter – Sports replica v Sports casual
Verdict – New Zealand’s lucky streakDay 3
Bulletin – New Zealand keep their noses in front
Verdict – Trojan horseplay
Day 4
Bulletin – Thorpe leads England to victory
Verdict – A powerful cat among pigeons
Paper Round – Thorpe takes the plaudits
Paper Round – Cairns calls time on his Test career
New Zealand Verdict – The perils of underachievement

Glenn McGrath, the Australian fast bowler, is to play for Middlesex for a month later this season. McGrath has not played in a Test for almost a year due to injuries, and, even though he has been picked to play for Australia against the touring Sri Lankans, he still needs to prove his fitness to the national selectors.McGrath marked his comeback from injury with a disappointing one-day series against Zimbabwe last month, taking only one wicket in three matches. He has also effectively been put on notice by Trevor Hohns, Australia’s chairman of selectors, who suggested this two-Test series against Sri Lanka could be his last if he doesn’t perform.After that series, McGrath, 34, will replace Lance Klusener, one of Middlesex’s overseas players, who is likely to tour Sri Lanka with the South Africans later this summer. McGrath, who had a successful season with Worcestershire in 2000, will be available for four County Championship matches and five National League games between July 18 and August 15.Middlesex have lost four of their last five matches, and yesterday announced that Ed Joyce had replaced Owais Shah as captain after their poor run of results. The arrival of McGrath, who has played 95 Tests and taken 430 wickets, is sure to be a boost.

India’s one-day batsman, Dinesh Mongia, has joined Lancashire on a short-term basis as a replacement for the injured Carl Hooper, and makes his debut against Warwickshire in today’s championship fixture at Stratford-upon-Avon.Mongia, 27, is regarded by India as a one-day specialist, and has yet to play Test cricket despite 48 ODI appearances, including the World Cup final against Australia in 2003. This season, he has been playing club cricket in England in an attempt to regain his place, and back in May, he actually played for Staffordshire against Lancashire in the C&G Trophy, scoring 31 and picking up two wickets with his left-arm spin.Hooper, who scored 66 in Lancashire’s defeat against Yorkshire on Tuesday, will be sidelined for at least three weeks after fracturing a thumb during that game.

Scorecard

The West Indians completed a remarkable turnaround in their tour match against Derbyshire with a thumping 315-run win. After Carlton Baugh and Ridley Jacobs increased the West Indians’ total to 368 to 6 declared in the morning, Fidel Edwards then took 5 for 22 to blow Derbyshire away for only 88.Baugh, resuming at 110 not out, progressed to 150 before the declaration, and he added a further 72 runs in the morning with Jacobs, who ended on 59 not out. Ramnaresh Sarwan, the acting West Indian captain, called the batsmen in shortly before lunchtime, leaving Derbyshire 404 to win, but more realistically, needing two sessions to bat out the draw.But things didn’t quite go to plan as they crashed to 16 for 5, thanks to Edwards, and to two run outs. Andrew Gait was the first of Edwards’s victims, lbw for 2, and Hassan Adfnan soon fell in the same fashion for 6. James Bryant was caught by Baugh off Edwards for 2, and add to that the two run outs of Stephen Stubbings and Steven Selwood, and Deryshire were already staring down the barrel.Luke Sutton did at least manage to delay the inevitable, putting on 26 with Nathan Dumelow, and some small stands with the rest of the lower order. However, they all fell in regular succession, with Dave Mohammed, the left-arm wrist spinner, picking up two of them. Sutton was the last man to fall, to Edwards for 27, and that completed a much-needed morale booster for West Indies ahead of the third Test at Old Trafford next Thursday.

An MCC squad will leave London today for a seven-match tour of Italy. The team, which will be captained by Nick Archer, includes Rob Turner, Somerset’s wicketkeeper, and Jim Love, the ex-Yorkshire and England batsman, who played three one-day internationals against Australia in 1981. Nick Denning, a former MCC Young Cricketer, is also in the squad.The tour includes two games against Italy’s Under-23 team, and will culminate in two matches against the full national side at Capannelle. The trip was planned in conjunction with the International Cricket Council to promote the development of the game, and increase its popularity, in Italy – which is an ICC Associate Member.The tour is part of MCC’s ambitious international playing programme which, so far this year, has already taken the Club’s teams to countries including Ghana, The Gambia, the United States and the United Arab Emirates. MCC’s next overseas tour, to Gibraltar and Morocco, is in early October.MCC team for Italy tour
Keith Dennis (manager), Nick Archer (capt), Matt Cousen, Nick Denning, Alan Duncan, Matthew Eyles, Chinmay Gupte, William Hodson, Tim Kirk, Jim Love, Clive Offer, Andrew Steward, Rob Turner (wk), Matt Weller, John Holder (umpire).Fixtures
Sept 23 v Maremma (Maremma Falsetti), Sept 25 v Italy U-23 (Grosseto), Sept 26 v Italy U-23 (Grosseto), Sept 28 v Gallicano (Capannelle), Sept 30 v Capannelle (Capannelle), Oct 2 v Italy (Capannelle), Oct 3 v Italy (Capannelle).

The Indian team has landed in Dhaka under moderately heightened security following the death threat from an Islamic militant group. They arrived without fanfare or scares, but to a throng of curious locals who were waiting in the hundreds outside the Zia International Airport. They emerged first from the aircraft and were taken to a VIP room, where the necessary paperwork and formalities were completed. They then boarded a bus through a private exit, and, with police escort, were driven to their hotel.While the security arrangements were slightly more elaborate than those in India, it was not quite to the dramatic scale of India’s recent tour to Pakistan. There, the streets were cleared each time the team ventured from their hotel. In Pakistan the motorcade was an imposing one, with motorcycle outriders, police jeeps and army rangers with mounted submachine guns flanking the team bus. Here, a couple of simple escort vehicles sufficed, and at no point was the normal flow of traffic interrupted by the local police.Sourav Ganguly spent a quick few minutes on arrival, answering questions. “We have just landed and we have no idea about the security situation. We are here to play the game,” he said, when asked what he thought of the security situation.Ganguly also dismissed suggestions that this series would be merely preparation for India’s home series against Pakistan in the beginning of next year. “We have to play to our potential and take it series by series. [Pakistan’s visit] is still a long way off. We have a lot of time to think about it.” This is India’s first full series in Bangladesh, and he added that his team would have no trouble motivating itself even against a relatively weak team like Bangladesh. “Test cricket itself is a motivation for everybody.”

While India seem to have only the security situation to worry about,Bangladesh under no illusions that the Indians have arrived with plenty to achieve. Anil Kumble, equal with Kapil Dev at 434 Test wickets, is certain to make the record his own. Sachin Tendulkar is one century away from drawing level with Sunil Gavaskar, on 34 Test tons. But, as Habibul Bashar, the Bangladesh captain, said recently, Bangladesh have a few kinks to iron out. “[Our] batting is the main worry. The top order have not put up scores when they should have,” he said. “Also, Harbhajan [Singh] and [Anil] Kumble take plenty of wickets in every Test.”This left Bangladesh with a tricky dilemma when it came to the type of pitch they wanted. Mohammad Rafique and Manjural Islam, the two left-arm spinners, have been the most penetrative of Bangladesh’s bowlers. But, with Kumble and Harbhajan in such fine form in the recent past, the Bangladeshis were wary of preparing a track that would turn. To complicate matters further, their batting has struggled so much against swing and seam movement that it would be disastrous to prepare a strip that assisted the seamers. Hence, as local sources suggest, it seems inevitable that the pitch will be a flat, batting beauty.With the Indian team safely tucked away at its hotel, the Bangabandhu stadium wore a desolate look. Groundstaff pottered about attending to the pitch and outfield, and other officials sorted out advertising hoardings, facilities for players and the media, and similar last-minute details. There was no evidence of the massive security presence recently reported in sections of the media.The first Test is scheduled to start at Dhaka on Friday, a day behind the original date.

Glamorgan officials have acted quickly to try and play down suggestions that Simon Jones is on the move following recent comments hinting that he is considering his options.”We spoke to Simon on Friday and we’ll have a big chat with him when he comes back in January,” Mike Fatkin, the county’s chief executive, told the Western Mail. “Any issues he has he can air them then.”On Wednesday, Jones told reporters that there was “a little bit of doubt in my mind” over his plans. He continued: “I cannot be approached by another county because I am not out of contract, but there are options open. I am not saying I am going and I am not saying I am staying. I am just thinking about it and trying to do what is best for me.”Fatkin said that he was “sympathetic about his [Jones’s] position” but added that “he could have worded things a bit differently than he did.”Jones’s main gripe appeared to be that he was not a part of Glamorgan’s one-day side, with just 10 appearances in six seasons. “He obviously wants to play more one-day cricket,” admitted Fatkin, “but there has to be a balance struck between his personal ambitions and the success of the Glamorgan side in one-day cricket. You have to remember that we won the national league without him.”We have to understand Simon’s career development path,” Fatkin told the Western Mail, “but we want him to remain here. He’s Welsh and I’m sure deep down he would prefer to be with us. We would like to sign him for another two years.”

When India won the first one-dayer at Chittagong by 11 runs, Sourav Ganguly said the margin did not truly reflect how the game had gone. He thought Bangladesh were never in that game. Well, in the second one-dayer, there can be no doubts about who was in control and who wasn’t. Ganguly admitted that India were outplayed on the day. “We didn’t play well enough. We didn’t bat well enough, 230 was a gettable total, but we lost wickets at regular intervals,” he said. “But we must give credit to Bangladesh for their outstanding effort on the field. Their bowling was backed by some outstanding fielding effort and we were not good enough.”India were also forced to set aside all ideas of experimenting with youngsters after they were beaten by 15 runs today. “Obviously we are going to be at our full-strength for the next game. It is the series decider,” said Ganguly, though he defending the decision to experiment. “We had to give them opportunities as the selectors had selected them. Obviously we didn’t play well enough to win the game. I don’t think the youngsters are only to blame, it’s all eleven.”When asked to pinpoint the reasons for India’s defeat, Ganguly said, “We lost wickets early so we had to build a partnership and when we built a partnership we again lost wickets. We lost wickets at regular intervals so that kept Bangladesh in the game and that kept the pressure on us.”Ganguly also agreed that this match was the lowest point in a season where India have struggled in the shorter version of the game. “Obviously it is the lowest point [of the season]. We struggled but it is a one-day game and we have been beaten by a side which played better than us today so that is a point of concern and we need to wake up and do something better tomorrow.”Bangladesh were sharp in all three disciplines, and Ganguly made it a point to mention this. “Definitely they have become a good bowling side and a much better fielding side. They fielded outstandingly. Obviously in the three departments of the game, I think they have improved in these two departments since the time what I have seen them last,” he said. “Everybody contributed and their batters batted well. Aftab [Ahmed] played well, [Mashrafe] Mortaza and Tapash Baisya had an important partnership at the end. They then came back, bowled well and fielded outstandingly.”Habibul Bashar, for his part, did not want to put this win on a pedastal, among Bangladesh’s rare victories. “I don’t want to rate this win. For us every victory is important especially against a Test-playing nation,” he said. “Kaif’s run out was one of the important turning points of the match. I’m very pleased with the allround effort of the team. I’m not thinking of a series win but just carrying the form into the next game.”

Scorecard

Wellington resolved the issue of Northern Districts fighting their way back into this game by making a breakthrough in the second over of the day. James Franklin, who took his second five-wicket bag to end with match figures of 10 for 72, trapped Peter McGlashan lbw for 25. Daryl Tuffey went one run later, and the last pair added 48 runs before Graham Aldridge was dismissed by Jayesh Patel, the offspinner, for 22.Joseph Yovich, who was left not out on 57, gave his team-mates a clear demonstration of the value of application, by spending 201 minutes at the crease. No-one else managed to bat more than McGlashan’s 81 minutes. Franklin took 5 for 48 and Mark Gillespie 2 for 36.Wellington were left with a target of 159 and were never troubled, despite losing the wickets of Matthew Bell for 18 and Luke Woodcock for 27. With Stephen Fleming coming at No. 3, and in such good form at the moment, the result merely rested on how long it would take. Fleming scored 80 off 66 balls to ensure it was a merciful release for ND. Neal Parlane was with him at the end on 20.
ScorecardPut in to bat at Eden Park’s Outer Oval, Central Districts had cause for concern when they could manage only 146 runs from their top-order, with Ross Taylor’s 42 the only sizeable contribution. Fortunately, they found Jarrod Englefield ready to continue his good run of form with an unlikely partner in Ewen Thompson, the left-arm fast-medium bowler.Before this match Thompson’s best first-class score was 55 not out. However, he had his batting mojo with him on the day, and scored a sparkling 102 off 89 balls with four sixes and 14 fours. Englefield played his support, batting for 268 minutes for his own 95 in a seventh-wicket stand that netted 159 runs, six short of the record for CD against Auckland for the wicket. Englefield hit 17 boundaries in his innings.Some lower-order support from Andrew Schwass who was 25 not out at the end saw CD reach the sound position of 350. Kyle Mills took 3 for 74 and Tama Canning 3 for 84. Auckland lost Richard Jones when the score was two but got through to 20 by stumps without further loss.Otago 308 (Todd 123*, Redmond 55, Cumming 43; Cunis 5 for 78, McMillan 3 for 37) lead Canterbury 8 for 1 by 300 runs
ScorecardAnother recovery act was completed at Dunedin’s University Oval where Otago were asked to bat first after Craig McMillan, the Canterbury captain, won the toss. Craig Cumming scored 43 and Aaron Redmond hit 55 during a 135-minute stay at the crease, but they couldn’t avoid Otago sitting in the uncomfortable position of 171 for 8.One man who refused to yield was Greg Todd, who had moved to Otago from Central Districts in a bid to get more match play. He made the most of this opportunity and scored his maiden first-class century. There were some anxious moments as defensive field setting restricted him to singles as he approached three figures.The loss of his partner during a 110-run ninth-wicket stand with Warren McSkimming, who scored 30 in 127 minutes, when Todd was still two runs short of the century-mark added to the tension. James McMillan, the No. 11 batsman, had no fears however, and he turned the strike over enough for Todd to achieve his century with a straight-driven boundary.Having achieved the mark, he lifted the assault level and got to 123 before Craig McMillan, who ended with 3 for 37, broke the partnership. Todd’s 123 came off 157 balls and included two sixes and 18 fours. The best of the Canterbury bowlers was Stephen Cunis, who took 5 for 78.