One of Trevor Bayliss’ tasks as Sri Lanka’s coach is working out a way to ruin the international re-entry of a player he worked so hard with to earn an Australian spot. Phil Jaques, who will open with Matthew Hayden on Thursday, has been closely monitored by Bayliss since he was in the New South Wales Under-19 squad and the pair was operating together in the state’s senior team as recently as March.Sri Lanka enlisted Bayliss as Tom Moody’s replacement three months later and his jump into the international arena was made more interesting by his intimate knowledge of Australia’s Sydney-based contingent of Jaques, Stuart Clark, Michael Clarke, Brett Lee and Stuart MacGill. Jaques has been a stop-gap measure in two Tests but he has a chance for an extended run after being promoted into Justin Langer’s old position. Bayliss is trying to make him fail.Jaques, 28, has been a strong performer at state and county level, where he has picked up more than 10,000 first-class runs, but his performances under Bayliss at New South Wales have been responsible for the elevation. Both men were cautious about what tactics would be employed during the two-match series.”It’s going to be interesting,” Jaques said. “I’ve had a lot to do with Trevor over the last few years. I’m sure he’ll have a few plans and I’m sure I’ll know those plans. I guess it’s just a matter of who is better on the day.”He smirked when he refused to divulge his weaknesses and Bayliss expected Jaques to smile when he sees Mahela Jayawardene’s fields. “But he faces those types of settings and bowling week in, week out,” Bayliss said. “He’s also played a lot of Sri Lankan guys in county cricket and they’re aware of how he plays.” Muttiah Muralitharan has bowled to Jaques twice in England and Chaminda Vaas, who should take the new ball, has been another opponent.Bayliss started his hands-on role with Sri Lanka three months ago, but he is struggling to move away from his allegiance to the state he played with in 58 first-class matches before progressing to coaching. “Hopefully the New South Wales boys do well,” he said, “and the Sri Lankan boys win the Test.”Jaques is being helped by his new team-mates against his old ally. He has received a lot of support in the lead-up to the game and on Monday a call came from Langer telling him to enjoy the experience. Hayden, Langer’s former partner, has assisted the settling-in process by staying close to Jaques and chatting with him about Sri Lanka’s bowlers. “I can’t wait to bat with him,” Jaques said, “and I hope we can develop into something special as a partnership.”Australia’s training over the past two days has had a new feel with Glenn McGrath, Shane Warne and Langer missing and the fresher faces of Jaques and Mitchell Johnson joining the regime. In his previous appearances in the squad Jaques has been the temp, but with the prospect of a long stay he is already looking to enhance the team’s reputation.”There’s definitely an added excitement in the camp and I’m looking forward to playing with the new guys,” he said. “Hopefully there’ll be a new-found energy and hopefully we can go even higher.” Bayliss has similar goals for his new outfit.

Steve Harmison looks set to be included in England’s Test squad for the series against Sri Lanka next month, after receiving the backing of the team coach, Peter Moores.Harmison, who underwent a hernia operation in July, is currently playing for the Highveld Lions in South Africa in a bid to recapture his form ahead of the three Tests in Kandy, Colombo and Galle.Though he returned an impressive nine-wicket haul against the Cape Cobras last week, Harmison confessed to a touch of rustiness after sending down a familiar spate of wides and no-balls. There had been some speculation in the British media that he would remain on the sidelines, but Moores – speaking to BBC radio – quashed that notion.”I’ve spoken to Steve this morning, and we hope he will be joining us for a good tour,” Moores told Radio 5 Live. “I don’t think it is a make-or-break tour at all. He has a lot of cricket left in him.”Earlier in the week, Moores explained the reasons for Harmison’s two-match spell with Highveld Lions. “He’s in South Africa to prove three things. Physically, can his body take bowling in competitive cricket? Secondly can he get that bowling fitness he needs and, finally, can he be in the form he’ll need to be in Sri Lanka?”He had a tough last season,” said Moores. “He struggled for form early on, then started to find some form, then got injured and missed the rest of the season, which was obviously disappointing for him.”This is the reason why he is in South Africa now – he hasn’t bowled competitively for quite a long time. Sri Lanka will be a tough, short tour, we need everybody to be ready to go at the start of that trip.”

Scorecard

Inzamam-ul-Haq and Abdul Razzaq made light work of a stiff target as the Hyderabad Heroes completed a comprehensive seven-wicket win over the Chennai Superstars.The two former Pakistan players were unbeaten on 44 and 40 as the Heroes hunted down the target of 163 with 13 balls to spare.For the Chennai Superstars, undefeated in the tournament before this match, Ian Harvey once again anchored the innings, remaining unbeaten on 63 as the Superstars scored 162. Stuart Law scored 44 while Hemang Badani’s 13-ball 31 provided the boost towards the end.Hyderabad Heroes needed to chase what would equal the highest total of the tournament and their top three – Anirudh Singh, Shashank Nag, and Ambati Rayudu – got them off to a solid start. When Rayudu fell for 28 with the score on 86 for 3, they needed 77 off 52 deliveries for the win.Razzaq joined Inzamam at the crease and the two didn’t take much time to get going, blasting 27 runs off the 12th over bowled by R Sathish. That brought the asking-rate down from over nine to around six and a half, making the remainder of the chase a cakewalk for the Heroes.

Cricket goes on, as perhaps it should. Pakistan, over the last year, and Zimbabwe, for some time, have probably realised the significance of that sentiment more than most nations. Both countries, bedeviled by any variety of issues, might even empathise over the turbulence of what is happening within their borders and the coverage of it from afar, which they might complain is often hyped, often poorly-informed, often misperceived.Which is why this tour is less low-key, and more important for both, than it may immediately appear. Pakistan won’t mind trialing some of their bench strength through the four-day game and the ODI series. Neither will they mind, with Australia nervously looking on, an incident-free visit.Zimbabwe, meanwhile, have all manner of incentives, not least clocking up further mileage on the road back to Test status. They take on a strong-ish Patron’s XI led by Shahid Afridi in a four-day game from Monday and Prosper Utseya, the touring captain, is confident his side can put on a good show.”We have played some good cricket in recent months and we have done it against big teams,” he told reporters in Karachi. “We have also played a few four-day games and that has helped prepare us. If we can beat Australia, we can beat anyone. We want to continue doing that in Pakistan.”Indeed, Zimbabwe have taken an upward turn in recent months, and without too much attention being roused. That Twenty20 World Championship win over Australia noted, but since then they have quietly beaten the West Indies in an ODI as well as won all three four-day games against a South African Composite XI in South Africa.Robin Brown, who was appointed coach last August and is a one-time international, knows just how those results have come: “A lot of hard work. We’ve improved enormously not only technically, but psychologically and we are not afraid coming here. We want to win a few games.”To that end, the return of several vital, experienced players such as Ray Price and Tatenda Taibu has helped. It might not immediately make up for the loss of the many who made Zimbabwe so competitive earlier this decade, but Brown points out that the current side are not quite the newbies Pakistan might expect.”We have lost a few over the years, but we are young in age, not experience,” he said. “Many of our players have now played between 50-60 ODIs, so we have experience. We played four-day games in South Africa with good results and the more cricket we play, the more experience we will gain. We’re not too far away fromgetting back to where we were.”Still, whatever the strength of the Pakistan sides, they will provide an altogether different and unique challenge. “Most sides are good at home, but good cricketers adapt to different conditions,” Brown said. “We have a few spinners so our bowling will be up to strength. Our batting will have to adapt but we’ve had lots ofpractice and preparation and we’re keen to play.”That eagerness to play will see them through some tough days for sure, but so will the attitude of Utseya, the only international captain younger than Shoaib Malik. Not yet 23, the captaincy, he admitted, had been hard at times and little wonder. He didn’t say too much else, but what he did was honest and fearless. When asked theinevitable question about handling the pace of Shoaib Akhtar, he said simply, “We don’t fear anyone.”

Cricket Kenya might delay shortlisting candidates for the vacant national coaching position in the aftermath of the unrest inside the country following December’s presidential elections.A six-man panel is due to meet this weekend to discuss applications but a source told Cricinfo that holding interviews now might not be a good idea.Kenya have two Intercontinental Cup matches in Sharjah in the next month but after that their calendar is bare until August, and it is unlikely that they will be able to attract any sides to travel to the country. There had been talk that Zimbabwe, who also have a free schedule, would visit but they seem reluctant after they were embarrassed in a 2-2 draw in a one-day series in 2006.Reports in the local media suggested that former India coach John Wright had applied for the position but this was dismissed by the source. It was also stated that Andy Kirsten had applied. He was one of the front-runners before Roger Harper’s appointment in 2005 but at that time he had existing commitments he was unable to get out of.

England 185 for 8 (Pietersen 43, Martin 2-34) beat New Zealand 152 (Oram 61, Sidebottom 3-16) by 32 runs
Scorecard and ball-by-ball details
How they were out

Dimitri Mascarenhas pummelled Jeetan Patel for four consecutive sixes in an over, to set England on their way to a comfortable 32-run victory in the first Twenty20 at Auckland. On an excellent batting track, Mascarenhas’s intervention in the 16th over transformed an attainable total into an imposing one, and when Ryan Sidebottom removed the dangermen Brendon McCullum and Ross Taylor in his second over, New Zealand’s challenge fell away. Jacob Oram, with 61 from 40 balls, kept their hopes alive until the final over, but it was Sidebottom, fittingly, who sealed the win with figures of 3 for 16.New Zealand won the only previous Twenty20 encounter between these two sides, in the ICC tournament in Cape Town last September, but the boot today was very much on the other foot. Kevin Pietersen showed signs of his best form as he muscled his way to 43 from 23 balls, Paul Collingwood and Owais Shah played attractive cameos, and aside from Luke Wright, who was dismissed before he got going, each of England’s top-order reached double figures at more than a run a ball.England’s dominance began from the moment the match got underway. England lost the toss and were inserted, but Phil Mustard started with real intent, slashing two fours in Kyle Mills’ first over, closely followed by a violent six over midwicket off Chris Martin. Mustard fell in the same manner one over later, as Jesse Ryder took a comfortable catch in the deep to calm his nerves to calm his nerves on debut, but Pietersen clipped his first ball through square leg for four to maintain England’s tempo.Pietersen, strangely, has managed just one half-century in 12 Twenty20s – and that came against Zimbabwe to boot. But today he seemed set to add to that tally. He clobbered six fours in his first 14 balls, then launched Martin for a vast six down the ground, but New Zealand’s fielders lived up to their reputations throughout the innings. With Pietersen on cruise control, Ross Taylor at short midwicket intercepted a screaming on-drive in Patel’s first over.Ian Bell by this stage had been and gone, bowled for 12 from 10 balls by Oram’s slower-ball yorker, but Collingwood and Shah kept the total ticking along. Collingwood played one expansive stroke, a mighty flick for six off Patel, and later clobbered a Mills full-toss for four, while Shah saved his most savage strokes for the 19-year-old debutant, Tim Southee, whom he clipped for two fours and a sweet six over midwicket.It was the other debutant, however, who did for Shah. Ryder entered the attack in the 14th over and with his second ball he beat an attempted sweep and claimed the plumbest of lbw decisions. That was his only over, however. Instead McCullum tossed the ball to his senior spinner, Patel, whom Mascarenhas bludgeoned four times in a row over deep midwicket. Patel did have his revenge when Mascarenhas picked him out with an uppercut to third man, but with 31 from 14 balls, he had made the difference to England’s total.New Zealand’s tough task was made all the tougher when Sidebottom got hold of the new ball. Finding prodigious swing, and good pace and accuracy, he cut McCullum off in his prime with a surprise short ball that was gloved to Shah at short cover, before trapping Taylor plumb lbw for a second-ball duck.Ryder responded with a series of brusque boundaries to keep New Zealand in touch with a spiralling run-rate, but wickets kept falling to peg their ambitions back. Jamie How picked out Pietersen at long-on with a slog down the ground, Ryder himself was run out two balls later as he backed up to a drive into the covers, and when Scott Styris and Peter Fulton were bowled in consecutive overs by Mascarenhas and Stuart Broad respectively, New Zealand had slumped to 70 for 6.New Zealand weren’t finished just yet. Mills smacked a massive six over the covers off Broad, only then to fall victim to the catch of the match, as James Anderson parried another exocet just inside the rope, and braced himself for the rebound before he toppled over.Oram took up the cudgels with a brace of fours off Graeme Swann and a six and a four off Collingwood, but he had also to farm the strike to protect his tail – and that’s not exactly easy in Twenty20 cricket. Patel and Martin helped New Zealand attain respectability, as the last two wickets added 50 runs in five overs, and the match was sealed with four balls to spare as Bell at long-off clung on to a sizzling drive.

Kyle Coetzer, the Scotland batsman, has extended his contract with Durham by one year as he looks to cement his place in the first team.Coetzer, 23, performed well in last year’s Friends Provident Trophy and struck 61 for Durham in their final against Hampshire at Lord’s. And, in the winter, he has spent time in Mumbai to work on his batting skills against spin.”I felt during last season I got out a couple of times when I should not have done against spin bowling.,” he told BBC Radio Newcastle. “I also felt I was lacking in ideas sometimes in the one-day format, so I went to the Academy in Mumbai where I spent 10 days batting against their spinners.”My target this year is not only to hold down a regular place in the first team, but to contribute more too,” said Coetzer. “I want to score more hundreds and contribute to the whole effort of the team, not just hope to hold down a place in it.”

Matthew Bell – 3
A brave half-century in Napier massaged his figures but couldn’t disguise the woefulness of his form. Prior to that innings he had managed 48 runs in five outings, including three ducks, the worst of which came in the first innings of the same game, when he padded up to Ryan Sidebottom for the most palpable lbw of the series. If he’s done enough to make the England tour, swing bowlers up and down the country will be gleefully awaiting his lack of foot movement.Jamie How – 6
The stats don’t quite show it, but this was something of a breakthrough season for How. He starred in the one-day series and carried some of that form through to the Tests, where his first-innings 92 at Hamilton was instrumental in the victory that followed. These are lean times for New Zealand’s batting, but How has the technique and the temperament to cement a role at the top of the order.Stephen Fleming – 6
What an appropriate send-off. Six innings, six starts – nothing less than 31, nothing higher than 66. It’s been the story of his 14-year career. Flashes of brilliance, followed by momentary losses of concentration. Whenever he was at the crease, New Zealand looked in control of their destiny. Now that he is gone, their batting looks threadbare, to say the least.Ross Taylor – 8
A class act who reached maturity while his team-mates fell like dominoes. He had an embarrassing welcome to the crease at Hamilton when the PA announcer revealed his career average of 17 to all and sundry, but he rose above such indignities with a finely crafted 120, an innings of uncharacteristic circumspection from a man best known for his one-day exploits. He added half-centuries in each of the two defeats that followed, including a defiant 74 on the final morning of the series, and England will not be taking him lightly in the return series in May.Mathew Sinclair – 2
It is now more than seven years since “Skippy” scored the last of his three landmark centuries, 204 not out against Pakistan, and the change that has washed over his game in that time is tragic to behold. He barely managed a third of that tally for the entire series, and succumbed in such a variety of manners that it was impossible to pinpoint any single weakness. He is simply devoid of all confidence, and surely cannot now expect to redeem himself in England.Grant Elliott – 3
His debut started brightly enough with a first-morning wicket, but Elliott’s limitations were sorely exposed thereafter. His pace was insufficient, and his batting undercooked. In an 11-year career he has managed only four centuries at an average of 27.94, and that was pitifully apparent as he mustered a match tally of ten runs. At one-day level, he might yet be a proposition, but he’s out of his depth in Test cricket.Jacob Oram – 7
Sorely missed at Napier, if only for his strangulatingly accurate bowling, which was more than any of England’s specialist batsmen could cope with in the first two Tests. Only Tim Ambrose, with his penchant for the uppercut, was able to hit him off a length, but he still went at less than two runs an over while claiming eight key wickets. His batting was less of a success, although his reputation preceded him, and England didn’t start celebrating their Wellington win until he had been prised from the crease.Brendon McCullum – 6
Counterattacked impressively on the first day in Hamilton, and bludgeoned a quickfire 85 in Wellington, but too many of his innings were, in his own words, “short and sweet”. After his spectacular one-day season, McCullum was loathe to temper his aggression, but paid the price in each of the three Tests. His keeping wasn’t flawless either, but he has a presence about him that too many of his team-mates lack.

Daniel Vettori – 7
His captaincy in the first Test was positive, pro-active, and decisive, and could have set the tone for the series, had it not been for the subsequent failings of his top order. Vettori did his utmost to stem the tide on each occasion, batting with grit and panache at No. 8 to finish as New Zealand’s third-highest run-scorer for the series. His bowling was skilful but under-rewarded, at least until he doubled his series tally in the final innings at Napier. His marathon 56-over stint in the first innings at Hamilton strangled England’s ambitions.Kyle Mills -7
Produced the spell of his life on the final day in Hamilton, scalping four wickets in 5.3 overs to set New Zealand up for a very famous win. Swung the ball consistently throughout the Wellington defeat, and could be relied upon for some lusty tail-end blows as well. Was a loss to the side when he withdrew with a calf tear.Tim Southee – 9
Quite a debut. Southee poked his nose into the international arena during the Twenty20s in February, but it wasn’t until he returned a Man of the Tournament performance at the Under-19 World Cup that his star really started to rise. Into the fray he was pitched, and he responded with a wonderful first-day display of 5 for 55, swinging the ball at good pace and cool accuracy. He didn’t look too flash with the bat in the first innings, as Broad bounced him out with disdainful ease. But second-time around, and the disdain was all Southee’s, as he swiped his way to an incredible 40-ball 77 not out, including nine sixes.Jeetan Patel – 6
Sparky appearances at the top and tail of the series. He doesn’t look like a world-beater with ball in hand, but he has the confidence and attitude to make up for his shortcomings, and the manner in which he ripped his offbreaks at Hamilton went a long way to undermining England’s collective confidence. He’ll be on the plane to England, and deservedly so.Chris Martin – 6
New Zealand’s leading wicket-taker for the series, and a key performer in the Hamilton victory. Went missing a touch in the second Test, but returned at Napier where he proved a vital foil to Southee with the ball in the first innings and, less expectedly, with the bat in the second. Deserves and needs his rest now, before leading the attack in England in May.Mark Gillespie – 5
Picked up wickets, six of them in his solitary outing of the series, but didn’t entirely convince his doubters – especially those who winced at his occasionally haphazard fielding. Nevertheless, a tally of 11 in his first two Tests cannot be sniffed at. He’ll no doubt thrive in the early-season English conditions, where his zip and swing will prove especially tricky to negotiate.

Scorecard