Pakistan breezed through their first game against England by winning the Natwest series day-night game at Birmingham by 108 runs. Batting first they amassed 273 largely due to the efforts of Saeed Anwar (77) and Inzamam ul Haq (79) and some late order hitting from Azhar Mahmood (38). England who never looked in the chase were bundled out for 165 with only Nick Knight (59) making a reasonable contribution.

Play at Birmingham international was held up for nearly half an hour with still six overs remaining as security was thrown to the wind, with crowds invading the pitch at Edgbaston. The predominantly Pakistani crowd held up play for a while as the two teams discussed if it would be safe to come back and play. Stewart expressed his concern for his team. Meanwhile, the English Cricket Board officials are likely to review the security arrangements for the rest of the games and increase security personal at all grounds, especially those involving Pakistan.

Injury worries continue to haunt England with the latest casualty being left-hander Graham Thorpe, England's in form batsman. A right calf muscle injury has ruled out the gritty batsman for at least the first two games. Thorpe will be examined again next week to decide when he is fit enough to play again

Australia just managed to save their skins as they tied their second warm up game against Northamptonshire. The tourists batting first made 234 thanks to the efforts of Damien Martyn (101 not out) and Mark Waugh (88 not out). Trying to scamper a run of the last ball that would bring them victory the home team's JF Brown was run out for 0 and the match thus ended in a tie. The Australian skipper for the match Adam Gilchrist swept away talk that a form crisis has hit the Australian camp with the tour matches not having gone as well as they would have wanted. It may be recalled that Australia had lost their previous warm up match to Middlesex.

Australian fast bowler Glen McGrath hit out at the England team saying it was their negative approach on the last day that cost them the Manchester Test match and not the no-balls. McGrath felt that the survival tactics employed on the final day invited pressure and Pakistan were able to get on top. McGrath, throwing England a challenge said, he would enjoy bowling to defensive minded English batsmen.

In a surprise move Zimbabwe chose to play Henry Olonga, who was not in the original squad of 13, after a late thigh strain to pace bowler Travis Friend ruled him out of the first Test match at Bulawayo. Olonga, who had been out of competitive cricket for the past six months had been training with the squad for the past week. Meanwhile the honours of the low scoring first day's play went to India after they dismissed the home side who won the toss for a paltry 173 in just 59 over. India, in reply were trying to steady themselves at 83-3 at stumps. Earlier left-arm pace bowler Ashish Nehra bowled intelligently to claim three wickets, including that of Andy Flower (51) who was India's thorn in the flesh when Zimbabwe toured here last year.

Statistical Highlights - Day 1

Vinod Phadke, the Goa Cricket Association (GCA) secretary and prime accused in the one-day international ticket scam on April 6, surrendered before the magistrate. He was given bail for Rs one lakh and on assurance that he will make himself available to investigation officers whenever called for. Meanwhile the GCA president and former deputy chief minister of the state Dayanand Narvekar and treasurer Ramnath Shankar Das have been called for interrogation at Margao tomorrow as the police wanted some more clarifications from them.

A Sri Lankan selector has revealed the reason behind Aravinda de Silva being denied a contract by the Board. It seems since Sri Lanka would be playing a very small number of Test matches in the next six months, it was felt that there was no need to offer a contract to the batsman, considered perhaps the best ever to come out of the island nation. Moreover De Silva has not been a regular member of the one-day side since 1999. His attitude also apparently went against him after he declined to join the team last year in South Africa saying he was out of match practice. He eventually did go but could not accomplish much. Through not contracted Aravinda is in the pool of players that have been selected to train prior to the tour by the visiting Indians. Payments will be made to him depending on the number of matches he plays.

Former West Indian all-rounder Gary Sobers, who is currently in Scotland supervising a coaching clinic said he hoped he could help to thrust Scotland into the limelight in the cricketing world. Scotland have been playing cricket for many years now and many top cricketers from Australia, India, Pakistan, West Indies and South Africa have played league cricket there. Scotland also appeared in the last World Cup in 1999.

Australian spinner Shane Warne will not renew his seven year $US 500,000 deal with the sports manufacturing gaint Nike and has signed up a deal for more with an European company Mitre. The latter is better known for its soccer gear, are trying to make inroads into the cricket arena. Warne had completed his contract with Nike and decided not to renew it after having talks with them.

The West Indies Cricket Board confirmed that India and New Zealand would tour the Caribbean next year. India will play five Tests and seven one-dayers, while New Zealand will play two Tests and three one-dayers. Meanwhile, the West Indies Board has also voiced their concern over the proposed pool of eight ICC umpires saying it was too less a number to bear the workload. It was also announced that a new president of the WICB would be elected next month following the resignation of Pat Rousseau, in the wake of the Ricky Skerritt controversy. There is a strong rumour that former fast bowler Wesley Hall will take over as the new president of the West Indian Cricket Board.

South African opening batsman Herschelle Gibbs admitted before a hearing committee yesterday that he smoked marijuana during the West Indies tour. This perhaps could be the reason why the committee decided to let him off lightly and select him for the tour of Zimbabwe. He however will have to undergo a mentoring programme that includes counseling on life skills.

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