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What does it feel like, finally making it to the England side, after scoring almost 7000 first-class runs?
My aim in my first Test is quite simple – I just want to play well. I’ve had a good run of form and scored a few centuries this season, and I just want to take that into the Test and play well for England.What have you done differently this season?
I haven’t changed very much. I’ve felt in good form since my trip to India in January, where I worked on a few things at the Cricket Club of India. Ever since then, I’ve felt good when I’ve walked out to bat and I’ve got a lot of hundreds.But surely you’ve changed something?
The one thing I have deliberately changed in the recent past is the type of bat I’m using. About two or three years ago I started using a bat with a longer handle. I did this on the advice of Vasu Paranjpe. That has helped my balance and it helped me get a bit tighter.How did going to India help?
I’ve been to India twice. The first time I came down was in 2001 when I stayed at the CCI for about a month. And then I came down again this winter, in January. I thoroughly enjoyed both trips and made some very good friendships in Bombay. On both trips I learned a great deal about cricket – especially playing spin and batting on wickets that are on the slower side. I’d have to say those two trips to India were a big part of my development as a cricketer.How much of the game is played in the mind?
I’d say about 50% of the game is mental. But it’s not really about percentages. There’s a great deal in having your mind in exactly the right state when you’re playing. Of course, you have to get things right with the physical aspects as well, and it helps to be in good form, but you can never undermine the importance of being in the right frame of mind.They say you have “a brain the size of the planet” …
Well (laughs), that’s certainly an exaggeration I’m afraid. People certainly like to exaggerate these things, don’t they?But you’ve written a book … cricket’s generally a blokeish profession where people are good at hitting a ball or bowling one, but not much else?
I have written a book, and am writing another one now. The first one was a comparison of cricket and baseball, and what they mean to England and America. It grew out of my experiences in New York, where I fell in love with the New York Mets baseball team. I wrote a book comparing the two games, so to that extent I’m guilty as charged of having a life outside cricket!And a double-first in history from Cambridge on top of writing books …
Unfortunately that doesn’t help me when I walk out to bat. The two things don’t have very much to do with each other. When I’m batting I’m very much thinking like a cricketer. And I try my best to play cricket as a cricketer. The double-first does nothing for me when I’m at the crease, I’m afraid.Apparently there are a few bowlers who think you’re a bit susceptible to the short stuff?
We’ll see on Thursday. We’ll all find out soon enough. I’m looking forward to playing on Thursday. I want to enjoy playing my first Test and then enjoy playing for England.Haven’t you credited Steve Waugh for helping with your game?
I really enjoyed playing with Steve. I learned a lot from batting at the other end, when he was here. He was not in the greatest form, but fought his way out of it with some very positive cricket. As much as batting with him, it was terrific to talk to him about batting, about cricket. I did learn a lot from him.

Pakistan and Bangladesh are scheduled to play the inaugural match of the second Asian Test Championship at Multan from August 29, 2001. Ironically, after staging the first test match way back in 1980-81 the historical city Multan was ignored as a test venue until now.Multan has staged 12 International matches to date including a Test match and 6 ODIs. However, Pakistan’s record at this venue is not impressive, the only test match played so far ended drawn and out of the ODIs they won two and lost four.Presented below is a brief review of previous International matches played at Multan.1955-56: MCC ‘A’ v Combined Railways and Baluchistan
Donald Carr’s strong MCC ‘A’ team won the match against combined Railways and Baluchistan team by an innings and 23 runs. Tony Lock claimed nine wickets including second hat-trick of the tour.1968: Unofficial Test Match v Commonwealth Team
Pakistan won the first match of the unofficial test series against Commonwealth Team by 105 runs with 35 minutes to spare on the last day. Mohammad Ilyas hammered superb 149 runs for Pakistan. Mushtaq Mohammad chiefly contributed with 104 for the visitors. Setting a target of 237 in three and a quarter hours, spinners Intikhab Alam (5/44) and Zulfiqar (5/49) bowled Pakistan to a convincing victory.1974: Sri Lanka v Pakistan Under-19
Nasir Valika (114) and Qasim Umar (66) were principal scorers for Pakistan Under-19. Duleep Mendis (100) and skipper Anura Teenekoon (68) helped Sri Lanka to amass 431 for 5 declared in a drawn match. Kaluperuma claimed five wickets (5/59).1978: India v Pakistan Universities and Youth XI
Despite teen ager Amin Lakhani’s hat-trick in each innings, a rare feat (only the fifth bowler to do so in first class cricket) Bishen Singh Bedi’s visiting Indian team won the low scoring match by 2 wickets Surinder Amarnath scored 72 and Sunil Gavasakar made 65.1980: Australia v Punjab Governors XI
Allan Border scored 178 on the final day to save the tourists from an embarrassing defeat. Australian’s scored 213 & 302. Governors XI replied with 323 (Azhar Khan 100) and 88 for one. Match drawn.1980-81: Test Match, Pakistan v West Indies
On December 30, 1980 Multan became Pakistan’s sixth Test venue. This rain hit yet historic drawn match is more remembered for the unfortunate incident of brick hurling into the crowd by late West Indies fast bowler Sylvester Clarke. He reacted to oranges being pelted at him while fielding at the boundary. Helped by a tremendous 120 not out by Vivian Richards, the visitors scored 249 in the first innings. Imran Khan claimed 5 for 62. A fighting 57 by skipper Javed Miandad enabled Pakistan to reply with a score of 166. Four quick wickets fell (84/1 to 85/5) for just one run in the visitor’s second innings that gave the home team an outside chance of victory to square the series in this fourth and final test match. However, rain and wet wicket prevented any possibility of play on most of the fourth and entire fifth day. Joel Garner claimed his 100th Test wicket in this Test.1982: Australia v BCCP XI
Allan Border and Geoff Lawson claimed five wickets each in BCCP XI’s first innings. G.Wood (52), Kim Hughes (50), G. Richie (59), Zahid (64) and Taslim Arif (51) all scored fifties. Match ended drawn.1982-83: ODI v India
Zaheer Abbas won the man of the match award after scoring 118 in Pakistna’s total of 263 for 2. Mohsin Khan (117 no) also scored a century. India replied with 226 for 7 (B. Patel 84). Jalaluddin, Zaheer Abbass, and Mudassar Nazar all claimed two wickets each and Pakistan won by 57 runs.1990-91: ODI v West Indies
Pakistan, after scoring 168 for 9 in 40 overs won the low scoring match by 31 runs after the West Indies failed to achieve the target and scored 137 for 7 in 40 overs. Imran Khan scored 46 not out and won the man of the match award. Courtney Walsh claimed 3/28, Ian Bishop took 2/35, Mushtaq Ahmed took 3/31 and Waqar Younis took 2/19.1991-92: ODI v Sri Lanka
Despite Inzamam-ul-Haq’s brilliant 101 to bring Pakistan to a modest total of 205 for 5 in 40 overs, Sri Lanka clinched the match by 4 wickets with 2 balls to spare.1994-95: ODI v Australia
Pakistan’s score of 200 for 8 in 50 overs was not good enough to stop the Australians from a thumping seven wicket victory in 46 overs. MoM award winner David Boon scored 84 not out. Inzamam-ul-Haq (59) scored another fifty in his hometown.Summary of International Matches at Multan
1955-56 To Date

Middlesex have announced that chief executive Vinny Codrington has resigned from the position with immediate effect. Codrington has been the club’s chief executive since 1997, making him one of the longest-serving administrators in the game.Recent weeks have seen Middlesex caught up in a scheme to sell on Ashes tickets for Lord’s set up by former players Chris Rogers and Tom Scollay. Rogers, the Australia opener, had planned to use tickets granted to him by Middlesex as part of hospitality packages for the second Ashes Test, contrary to the regulations.Codrington denied that the episode was a motivation in him stepping down halfway through the season, however. The MCC, with whom Middlesex have a tenancy agreement at Lord’s, are understood to still be investigating the matter.”Over the past few years, I have become increasingly aware of my desire to seek a new challenge and now is a good time for me to make that move,” Codrington said. “Once I had made that decision, I felt it was in the best interests of both parties for me to move on immediately, so I requested a release from my contract. I am grateful to Middlesex for agreeing to that request.””Being the chief executive of a sporting organisation is emotionally draining in every sense. After 18 years, this does catch up with you and that is why I have been considering my position. People may assume that the Chris Rogers ticket affair was a factor in this. I cannot deny that we, as a club, made mistakes on the issue. However, it is not a factor in my resignation, nor was I asked to resign by the club.”Codrington leaves Middlesex with them re-established in Division One of the Championship. They won the Twenty20 Cup in 2008, as well as the Division Two title in 2011, but silverware was otherwise in short supply.”It is with regret that we have accepted Vinny’s resignation,” Middlesex’s chairman, Ian Lovett, said. “In the modern era, it is almost unheard of for a chief executive to spend 18 years at the same sports club. That achievement is testament itself of Vinny’s great talents and his endless commitment to the club; he has made a quite remarkable contribution to the development of Middlesex cricket, both the professional game and, in many ways more importantly, at recreational level.”

Hamilton Masakadza has been appointed Zimbabwe’s captain in all three formats following Elton Chigumbura’s resignation. Legspinner Graeme Cremer has been named vice-captain.”It is very exciting, because it is a big honour to lead your country,” Masakadza told the . “It is an exciting challenge I am looking forward to. I was not exactly expecting this. I didn’t think I was going to be one of the front runners. I have been waiting for my turn for such a long time, I never thought it was going to come, I thought it had evaded me.”A long-term vice-captain, Masakadza has also filled in as captain in 12 internationals when injury or absence ruled out the regular skipper. He also has extensive captaincy experience at domestic level, having led Easterns under the old domestic system and Mountaineers when Zimbabwe adopted the franchise system.Cremer is new to vice-captaincy at national level, but was a senior member of the Mid West Rhinos for several years before his hiatus from the game, and has skippered the Zimbabwe Board XI and provincial sides on occasion. Both men are also in sparkling form in the game’s shortest format, with Masakadza currently ranked eighth in the T20 batting rankings, while Cremer is ranked fifth as a bowler.”Both Masakadza and Cremer are senior players who have shown their leadership abilities working with previous captains,” ZC managing director Wilfred Mukondiwa said. “We have no doubt they will be successful in their substantive posts, which come at a time when both are in the top 10 of the ICC T20I Player Rankings for batsmen and bowlers respectively.”Masakadza’s ascent to the captaincy is all the more remarkable because he was dropped from the national squad in October after a middling year with the bat. He was recalled for Zimbabwe’s trip to Sharjah, scoring his fourth ODI hundred during the tour. His returns from Zimbabwe’s four-match T20 series were even more impressive, with Masakadza scoring 222 runs to take the record for most T20 runs in a bilateral series and became the first Zimbabwean to reach 3,000 runs in T20 cricket.”I never for a moment thought my career was over, I still have a lot in me,” Masakadza said. “I still have a few years. At the moment I want to play through to the next 50 over World Cup.”Once thought too slow even for ODI cricket early in his career, Masakadza has evolved into a stroke-playing batsman across all formats. “Naturally I play a slow game, I start my innings slowly and when T20 cricket came I thought that was the end of my cricket. I have been working hard on my game and processes. I have always worked on my game and fitness. When I was dropped I did not feel out of touch. I didn’t think I was struggling with my game that time, but still I went and worked hard, something I have always done in my career.”The Zimbabwe administration is working on securing short format fixtures for the national side ahead of the World T20 in March, which will be Masakadza’s first major challenge as captain. Zimbabwe will play Hong Kong, Scotland and Afghanistan in a qualifying round ahead of the tournament proper, and Masakadza’s form is likely to be vital for his team.”Our chances are high,” Masakadza said. “On paper we are better than those teams. I hope to maintain my form and win games for the team.”

ScorecardLuke Wright celebrated his call-up to England’s Twenty20 World Championship squad with a breathtaking 73-ball 125 as Sussex completed a two-wicket win in a high-scoring match at Hove. Still, when Wright was fifth out with 86 still needed, it required sensible innings from Carl Hopkinson, Robin Martin-Jenkins and the tail to see the chase home.Wright, who earlier this season hit a Twenty20 century off 45 balls, was in supreme touch as he struck 19 fours and four sixes. He displayed the clean striking that made him the leading run-scorer in this year’s Twenty20 and caught the eye of England’s selectors.He showed brutal strength through the off side and made full use of a short leg-side boundary as Gloucestershire’s attack, apart from Jon Lewis, was made to look pedestrian. He was finally dismissed when a top-edged sweep found Chris Taylor and he left to a long standing ovation.Wright’s domination was highlighted by a fourth-wicket stand of 73 where Michael Yardy’s contribution was 17 off 32 balls, but Gloucestershire almost pulled the match back. Lewis had removed the first three wickets and returned to shift Rana Naved-ul-Hasan with 14 still needed. However, Andrew Hodd and Saqlain Mushtaq finished the job, ensuring Wright’s effort wasn’t in vain.It was always going to take something special to overshadow Hamish Marshall’s 105-ball 122, which powered Gloucestershire towards an impressive total. He shared a stand of 180 with Kadeer Ali (76) before James Kirtley, another of England’s Twenty20 selections, claimed four late wickets.

As was widely predicted, Bangladesh have picked uncapped batsman Mehrab Hossain Jr in their 14-man squad for next month’s ICC Champions Trophy in India. Opener Javed Omar, batsmen Mushfiqur Rahim, Tushar Imran and all-rounder Alok Kapali were omitted from the final squad.Habibul Bashar, who missed six matches against Zimbabwe and Kenya in July and August due to a thumb injury, has been retained as captain, though he is yet to recover fully.Faruque Ahmed, chief selector, told reporters, “Mehrab Hossain Jr had some very good performances over the last two years and we hope he can do something good in the Champions Trophy.”Bashar’s selection had been confirmed by the selectors a few days ago. Ahmed told the Dhaka-based then that “Habib’s progress is satisfactory so he will definitely be included to lead the side in the tournament.”There was uncertainty over Bashar’s participation after he fractured the fifth metacarpel on his left hand during the second one-day match against Zimbabwe in July. He also missed the last Champions Trophy in England in 2004 because of a fracture to his right thumb. Bashar has said recently that his condition will only be confirmed once he starts batting from September 14.Bangladesh will play Sri Lanka, West Indies and Zimbabwe in the qualifying phase of the Champions Trophy from October 7-14. The top two teams will qualify for the main competition from October 15 to November 5.Squad: Habibul Bashar (captain), Shahriar Nafees (vice-captain), Khaled Mashud, Mohammad Rafique, Mohammad Ashraful, Mashrafe Mortaza, Rajin Saleh, Abdur Razzak, Aftab Ahmed, Syed Rasel, Shahadat Hossain, Farhad Reza, Saqibul Hasan, Mehrab Hossain jnr.

Division One

Points TableJonathan Trott moved on to a double-century as Warwickshire ended their first innings on a dominant 475. Trott was last man out for 210. Sussex got off to the worst possible start, losing Richard Montgomerie first-ball to Makhaya Ntini. Mike Yardy, with 75 and Murray Goodwin, with an unbeaten 103 steadied a wobbling Sussex ship as the visitors ended the day on 244 for 3, trailing by 231 runs.Middlesex batted for a further 22 overs this morning, allowing Paul Weekes to register his hundred and Peter Trego to reach a blistering half-century, in their declaration of 400 for 8 against Kent. In reply, Robert Key and David Fulton put on 283 for the first wicket, both striking centuries before Key was run out for 142, his fourth hundred of the season. Fulton fell just before the close of play to leave Kent on 290 for 2, trailing by 110 runs.A sporting declaration by Hampshire has brought the possibility of a result in their match against Surrey. Hampshire, starting the day on 28 for 2, declared on 361 for 6 with Shane Watson hitting 88 and the wicketkeeper, Nick Pothas, striking an unbeaten 100. In what is essentially now a one-innings match, Surrey had five overs in which to survive, which they managed without alarm.Alex Wharf took 6 for 59 for Glamorgan, to bundle Gloucestershire out for just 133 and give the visitors control of the game. Glamorgan, who are still searching for their first win of the season, were bowled out for 382 before their seamers got to work. David Harrison got things going by dismissing Craig Spearman, as he and Wharf decimated Gloucestershire’s batting. At one stage, the home side were 37 for 6; they were indebted to Stephen Adshead, who made 36 and Jon Lewis with an unbeaten 36 at better than a run a ball. Glamorgan lost five wickets in their second innings, including two to Ramnaresh Sarwan’s leg-breaks, but they lead by 400 runs.

Division Two

Points TableA blistering 82 by Glen Chapple, from just 67 balls, gave Lancashire the honours on day two of their match against Worcestershire. Mal Loye could only add a further 17 runs, ending on 187, but Lancashire’s lower-order denied Worcestershire’s bowlers as they reached a formidable total of 562. In reply, Worcestershire lost Chris Gayle, Graeme Hick and Stephen Moore to leave the visitors struggling on 111 for 3, some 451 runs behind Lancashire.In Essex’s match against Somerset, which has been heavily affected by rain, James Foster’s first hundred of the season allowed Essex to reach a comfortable total of 400 for 6 declared. Foster and Ronnie Irani put on 157 for the sixth wicket, with Foster’s hundred coming off 196 balls with 13 fours and a six. The match is already into its last day, tomorrow, and despite Andre Nel picking up Matthew Wood and Arul Suppiah for ducks, the game is heading for a draw.Darren Robinson’s 19th hundred of his career, and his third of the season, was the highlight for Leicestershire who ended the day on 390 for 6. Leicestershire’s middle-order all got starts, but failed to convert them into substantial innings; Northamtonshire’s Damien Wright took four for 83 to leave the hosts struggling on 292 for 5. However, Ottis Gibson and Paul Nixon combined in a partnership worth 98, with Gibson ending the day unbeaten on 63 as the home side reached 390 for 6.Dale Benkenstein struck a century for Durham, whose first innings closed on 414 against Yorkshire. They lost wickets regularly, however, with Deon Kruis picking up 5 for 106, his third 5-wicket-haul of the season. In reply, none of Durham’s front-line seamers could force a breakthrough, but Paul Collingwood took 2 for 25 to leave Yorkshire on 129 for 2, trailing by 285.

Kenny Benjamin, the former West Indian fast bowler, has joined the USA coaching staff ahead of next week’s ICC Champions Trophy in England. Benjamin, 36, is an accredited Level II Coach, and will serve as a technical consultant and bowling coach to help boost USA’s prospects in their maiden senior tournament.Benjamin appeared in 26 Tests for West Indies between 1992 and 1998, picking up 92 wickets at 30.27. In his entire first-class career, he grabbed 403 wickets in 108 matches. He was recently a part of the West Indies coaching set-up, on their tour of Zimbabwe and South Africa at the turn of the year.The USA team is benefiting from a considerable West Indian presence. Their head coach is the former opener, Faoud Bacchus, while their captain is Richard Staple, a 34-year-old immigrant from Jamaica. Their star batsman is Clayton Lambert, the scourge of England’s bowlers on their tour of the Caribbean in 1997-98.USA launch their campaign against New Zealand on September 10.

Khaled Mahmud, the Bangladesh captain, put on a brave front as his 15-man squad left for a daunting one-month tour of Australia. Claiming that the preparations under Dav Whatmore, the new coach, had been”better and different from what we have had before”, Mahmud said: “Australia will be tough opponents. But we are not scared or nervous as we have already faced some of the world’s best teams, like South Africa.” Bangladesh will reach Australia more than three weeks before their first international match, in an effort to familiarise themselves with the local conditions.Bangladesh haven’t won an international match in four years, a fact that wasn’t lost on their captain. “We hope to show our improvements on the field. We also want to dispel the international criticisms against Bangladesh.” Ehsan Mani, the new president of the International Cricket Council (ICC), had sounded a warning to Bangladesh last week, saying that the country’s international commitments would be reduced.Bangladesh will play two Tests and three one-day internationals, with the first Test starting from July 18 at Darwin.Squad
Khaled Mahmud (capt), Javed Omar, Khaled Mashud (wk), Habibul Bashar, Mohammad Rafique, Hannan Sarkar, Mohammad Ashraful, Al Shahriar, Manjurul Islam, Alok Kapali, Sanwar Hossain, Tarek Aziz Khan, Mashrafee-bin-Murtaza, Tapash Baishya, Anwar Hossain Monir.

Former New Zealand opener, captain and coach Glenn Turner will be the guiding hand for Otago this summer following his appointment today as Otago coach.Turner takes over from Denis Aberhart who served for one year as Otago coach before being appointed the New Zealand coach.Turner has a long involvement in coaching following his own illustrious playing career with Worcestershire in English county cricket and for two stints with the New Zealand team, the most notable of which saw New Zealand achieve its first series victory over Australia, in Australia in 1985/86.Otago has been able to make the two-year appointment with Turner due to a New Zealand Cricket initiative to part-fund major associations for the employment of full-time coaches.His role will include assisting with the development and talent identification of players throughout the Otago region and also the Otago cricket coach development programme.Turner is very familiar with the Otago scene having been the convener of selectors for the past three seasons.Otago Cricket chief executive Graeme Elliott said: “We are delighted to have secured Glenn as our coach for the next two years. His extensive playing and coaching record will be fully utilised by Otago Cricket.”We have already developed a very good working relationship and I am confident that with his knowledge of the game, Glenn will give our players a significant advantage next season.”Turner commented on his appointment when saying: “We are in a process of building a solid base of players in the region and we now have an excellent high performance centre. It will be good to be back, being fully involved in cricket.”The appointment takes place immediately.