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Shoaib Akhtar will take no further part in the VB Series because the Pakistan Board wants to ensure his fitness in time for next month’s tour of India. He was told to return to Pakistan after the board made its decision yesterday.A press release by the PCB stated that Shoaib would be “placed on a specific fitness rehabilitation regime so that he operates at optimum capacity against India”. Shoaib sustained an injury that affected his back and upper legs during the Test series against Australia, after which he was ordered to take rest.Shoaib’s frequent injuries have been been the subject of much attention, not all of which has come from the game’s followers. Last year, after the series against India – in which Shoaib injured himself – a high-level inquiry was held in Pakistan over the team’s performance against India, and Shoaib’s commitment was questioned.

As the dust settles on an epic Test series, Andrew Miller looks back at the moments that turned the 2005 Ashes into the greatest sporting contest of the 21st Century

Batting performance of the series
Kevin Pietersen’s blistering denouement will linger long in the memory, but by that stage of the series, the dream was there to be grasped. It took instead a similar feat of inspiration on the upward journey to set up England’s shot of glory. Freddie Flintoff’s devastating, last-ditch 73 at Edgbaston was the moment the series was transformed, as he and Simon Jones added 51 for the final wicket to revive an Ashes challenge that was sinking back to its knees.Bowling performance of the series
Warne at Edgbaston, Warne at Trent Bridge, in fact, Warne throughout the summer. His contributions were the single greatest reason why this series will echo through the ages. Without his 40 wickets (not to mention his 249 runs), Australia would have been rolled over after Edgbaston, quite possibly by the sort of margin that the Aussies themselves had envisaged. Instead, they came within an ace of plucking both defeats out of the fire, and could even have squared the series if they’d held their catches at The Oval. How the side will fare in Warne’s absence doesn’t bear thinking about.Shot of the series
“Helloooo … Massive!” Mark Nicholas had no doubt about this one. Flintoff’s humongous heave into the TV gantries at Edgbaston, with the entire Australian team set back for the shot, could one day rival Ian Botham’s swat off the eyebrows at Old Trafford in 1981 as the most replayed six in history. But for sheer pain relief, Matthew Hoggard’s extraordinary cover-drive off Brett Lee, with eight needed for victory at Trent Bridge, was an improbable second-place.Ball of the series
Two. For sheer significance, Harmison’s branding of the Australian captain on the first morning at Lord’s. The message was clear – England would not be cowed, in spite of the mixed messages they transmitted for the remainder of the Test. But for sheer eye-popping magnificence, Warne’s ripper to Strauss at Edgbaston brooks no argument. With five balls of the day remaining, the seam gripped the rough like a tank track and rumbled into the stumps, leaving England in no doubt as to the contest that lay ahead.Catch of the series
This is case of style versus significance. The photographers’ vote goes unequivocally to Andrew Strauss, whose horizontal extraction of Adam Gilchrist at Trent Bridge was not only a seminal moment, but a collector’s item that Mark Waugh would have been proud to pull off. But, in a summer when Geraint Jones turned every edge into a heart-in-the-mouth moment, he chose the perfect moment at Edgbaston to get everything right, by completing the catch that changed a world order.Drop of the series
For the entire time that England’s Ashes dream remained in the balance, there could only be one contender. Pietersen’s agonising spill at cover, that allowed Michael Clarke to gallop to a matchwinning 91 at Lord’s. It was the sort of fractional error on which this series has balanced, and sure enough, Pietersen’s crown was claimed at the very last by none other than Warne, who dropped his Hampshire team-mate when he made just 15 of his 158 series-sealing runs.Turning point of the series
A seismic double-whammy at Edgbaston. First Glenn McGrath, fresh from nine wickets at Lord’s, steps on a cricket ball during pre-match practice and is stretchered off to hospital. Then, Ricky Ponting wins the toss and neuters his one remaining champion, Warne, by choosing to bowl first. England rampage to 407 on the first day and the momentum of the series has been seized.

Wicket of the series
Kasprowicz at Edgbaston is the runaway winner, naturally, although Harmison’s slower ball to Clarke the previous evening was perhaps even more invaluable. As the tail so amply demonstrated on that fourth morning, the pitch was good and England were fearful. Half a session of brilliance from Clarke, and it could have been all over.Over of the series
Edgbaston again, and that man Flintoff again. At 47 for 0 needing 282, Australia were flying and England needed a shot in the arm. Enter Freddie, bundling in from around the wicket. His second delivery bludgeons through bat and pad, and onto Langer’s off stump. His third, fourth and fifth deliveries curve into Ponting and torment his off stump. A tactical no-ball sets up a seventh stab of inspiration, and a wicked outswinger skims off the edge to cue pandemonium.Letdown of the series
Jason Gillespie’s demise was tragic – a likeable man, his tour had been over ever since Aftab Ahmed smacked him for six at Sophia Gardens, but the Australians were too bound up in their team ethic to spot how costly his demise was becoming. But the biggest disappointment was Simon Katich. His classy guidance of the tail at Lord’s should have been a springboard to greater feats, but instead he floundered against England’s reverse swing, and ultimately imploded with an out-of-character tirade at Trent Bridge.Stat of the series
For the first time since the 1978-79 Ashes – a series blighted by Packer defections – Australia failed to muster 400 in any of their innings. This, beyond all else, was the difference between the sides. As Adam Gilchrist graciously admitted, England’s attack was the best he had ever encountered in his career. The fortunes of Gilchrist and Matthew Hayden, two of the most aggressive batsmen in Test history, epitomised a side that had turned from hunters to hunted.Best moment of the series
At Edgbaston, Flintoff’s consoling of Lee at the moment of victory was beautiful, a revival of the sort of chivalry that was supposed to be anathema to modern-day sport – just imagine Wayne Rooney producing a moment like that. But what preceded it was all the more important. If Harmison had not conjured that last-ditch dismissal, if Jones had not taken the tumbling chance, England would have lost an unloseable game, Australia would be 2-0 up with the Ashes in the bag, and a generation would be lost to the game forever.Worst moment of the series
Flintoff’s apparent dislocated shoulder at Edgbaston. Not here, not now, not in this way. All the while that he struggled to regain his timing and nerve-endings, a sense of dread permeated every stakeholder in the game. England’s wipeout at Lord’s was none too clever either, and nor was the bungling bureaucratic idiocy that turned England’s moment of glory at The Oval into a confused melee of umpire meetings and tannoy announcements.Blinkered selection of the series
Australia’s insistence on turning to Stuart Clark (who?) whenever Glenn McGrath’s place was in doubt. A) He was never going to play, and B) Andrew Symonds or Shane Watson would have given a stricken side so many more options.

Nine members of the New Zealand squad will turn out for their respective state sides in the domestic State Shield on Thursday, following the postponement of the one-dayer against Sri Lanka at Napier. The game has been rescheduled for January 11 as a mark of respect for the victims.Chris Cairns, Brendon McCullum and Kyle Mills will not participate in the domestic games because of injury concerns. Cairns rolled an ankle during the first ODI at Auckland, Mills suffered some stiffness in his back in the same game while McCullum will use the time for do rehab work on his injured knee.The New Zealand cricketers expressed their full support of the decision to postpone the second ODI. Ross Dykes, the acting team manager, said that the players’ thoughts were with the Sri Lankan team in their time of sorrow and grief. “The delay of a cricket match is inconsequential compared to what the people of Sri Lanka are going through,” he said. “So we will just fit in with what is required. Our sympathies are with the Sri Lankan team and their family and friends at this tragic time for them.”The New Zealand squad were scheduled to train when they reassembled in Queenstown on Friday afternoon. The selectors will still reselect the squad after the third match of the series, which will now be after the game at Jade Stadium on January 4, instead of Queenstown.

The four “rebel” Zimbabwean cricketers selected for the first Test against Sri Lanka, which starts at Harare on Thursday, have pulled out of the match after the Zimbabwe Cricket Union refused a request from the 15 disaffected players for independent arbitration.Heath Streak, Trevor Gripper, Sean Ervine and Ray Price had been named in a 17-man squad, but their decision to withdraw left Zimbabwe with a squad of only 13 to choose from. Mark Vermeulen and Vusumuzi Sibanda were later omitted from the final eleven – Vermeulen being ruled out on medical advice.”The ZCU did not accept our proposals and we do not accept theirs,” said Grant Flower, one of those to have initiated the boycott in April. “There is simply no agreement, and on that basis the four chosen for the squad are withdrawing. They have fully agreed to that.”Vince Hogg, the ZCU’s chief executive, said: “I am extremely disappointed by their decision. It is very sad that it has come to this.”With Stuart Carlisle, Craig Wishart and Andy Blignaut not considered for the squad, Zimbabwe now face the harrowing prospect of going into the Test series with more or less the same side that was routed 5-0 in the one-day series.”We’re back to square one, we are boycotting again,” said an unnamed player earlier, after they threw out the ZCU’s offer of non-binding mediation. “In effect, we’ve had three weeks of mediation, and we believe arbitration is the only route. We’re meeting at 10am tomorrow [0800 GMT on Wednesday] to write what will hopefully be our final letter, to say we’re rejecting this.”The players had resumed training as an act of good faith, and Streak – Zimbabwe’s former captain – had declared his willingness to play if the ZCU acceded to the rebels’ requests. But according to a report in The Guardian in London, a source was quoted as saying that the board was not going to be seen to be “bowing down to a bunch of whites – their egos won’t let them”.”It was unnegotiable that this matter had to go to arbitration to give it the seriousness and the respect it deserves,” said Chris Venturas, the lawyer representing the players. “Mediation doesn’t assist in any way. Regrettably, [the ZCU] feel they will pacify us with a mediation process. Even if the mediator finds in our favour on all three points, the ZCU don’t have to abide by his ruling.”The players have made it clear that they do not trust the ZCU to honour any assurances it gives. They have been given until May 7 – the second day of the first Test against Sri Lanka – to end their boycott, but face being fired if they are still holding out at that time.”Most of us are almost at the point where we wouldn’t bat an eyelid if they just fired us,” one of the players is quoted as saying. “We’re not getting through to these guys. If they say they want to mediate, maybe they think we’re bloody fools. They’re just not getting us. Mediation is going to take another three weeks, and Zimbabwe cricket can’t afford that.”We’re all sick of this, but we’re standing strong together. It’s very simple: arbitration with those three points and we’re all back.”Zimbabwe team for first Test
1 Dion Ebrahim, 2 Brendan Taylor, 3 Stuart Matsikenyeri, 4 Tatenda Taibu (capt and wk), 5 Elton Chigumbura, 6 Alester Maregwede, 7 Prosper Utseya, 8 Mluleki Nkala, 9 Blessing Mahwire, 10 Douglas Hondo, 11 Tinashe Panyangara.

ScorecardIndia Under-19s combined a massive batting performance with incisive bowling to put Pakistan Under-19 between a rock and a hard place on the second day at the Arbab Niaz Stadium in Peshawar. Piyush Chawla weighed in with a century as India declared on 611 for 9. Facing a daunting total, Pakistan withered to 109 for 6 and needed another 303 runs to avoid the follow on.Resuming on 393 for 4 on the second morning, India lost Tanmay Srivastava, who added only seven to his overnight score for 220. However, Chawla ensured that Pakistan’s misery did not end there. He formed the mainstay of partnerships for the sixth and seventh wicket that added 57 and 115 runs respectively. Chawla’s hundred pushed India past 600 and the only Pakistan bowler to emerge with some sort of credit was Mohammad Naved who ended with 5 for 118 from 32 overs.After spending ages in the field, the Pakistan batsmen returned to the dressing-room in a hurry as the top order crumbled. Vijaykumar Yo Mahesh removed Ahmed Shehzad before Pakistan had scored a run and Ishant Sharma soon reduced Pakistan to 16 for 2.All the Indian bowlers managed wickets and Chawla capped an excellent day by dismissing Moinuddin who was the only batsman to offer any sort of resistance during his 53.India had won the first match by a whopping 271 runs and unless Pakistan pull out all the stops a larger defeat is surely on the cards.

Michael Kasprowicz and Brad Haddin have won spots in the Australian one-day team that will tour Sri Lanka beginning on February 20. Michael Bevan, who missed out on the two finals of the VB Series with a fractured rib, is also fit and returns to the 15-man squad.Trevor Hohns, the chairman of the selection panel, said “Playing in the sub-continent and taking on Sri Lanka presents a real challenge to this group, but we feel that 15 players will give us adequate depth and the necessary firepower to do the job.” He also welcomed Bevan’s return to the squad. “Michael Bevan’s return to the squad following injury is welcomed, and we feel that a back-up wicket-keeper to support Adam Gilchrist is also necessary.Hohns also justified the selections of Kasprowicz and Haddin. “Brad Haddin performed well when called into the squad during the VB Series and this touring experience should help in his overall development as a senior cricketer. In the pace-bowling department, we have included Michael Kasprowicz, who despite not playing during the two VB Series finals, is a proven performer on sub-continental wickets. His performance over a long period of time has been first-rate.”The Test team for the Sri Lankan tour will be selected on February 20.Squad 1 Ricky Ponting (capt), 2 Adam Gilchrist (wk), 3 Michael Bevan, 4 Michael Clarke, 5 Jason Gillespie, 6 Brad Haddin, 7 Ian Harvey, 8 Matthew Hayden, 9 Brad Hogg, 10 Michael Kasprowicz, 11 Simon Katich, 12 Brett Lee, 13 Damien Martyn, 14 Andrew Symonds, 15 Brad Williams

Saeed Anwar is set to bring an end to his international career after being overlooked for the forthcoming series against Bangladesh.Anwar told the Press Trust of India that retirement was on his mind, but that he wanted to do so in a way that would be beneficial to Pakistan cricket. “I don’t want to sever all my ties with cricket which has given me a lot of fame and wealth,” said Anwar. "But the time has come to call it a day.”I’ve enjoyed playing for Pakistan and it has always been a great honour for me to wear the national blazer," he added. "I relished the challenge of facing the world’s fastest bowlers and scoring runs against them.”Anwar, 34, made his one-day international on New Year’s Day 1989, and entered Test cricket two years later. In 55 Tests he scored 4052 runs at 45.52, including 11 hundreds, but he achieved global fame through his exploits in ODIs.His defining innings was his 194 against India at Madras in 1997 – the highest score by any batsman in one-day cricket. He went on to score 8823 runs at an average of 39.21, with 20 hundreds. He was one of the few batting successes of Pakistan’s disastrous 2003 World Cup campaign, but even his fine 101 against India at Centurion couldn’t avert defeat.Anwar’s priorities in life altered in 2002, following the tragic death of his baby daughter, and he spent several months out of the game in the build-up to the World Cup. In its aftermath, however, he was one of eight players dropped from the squad as the rebuilding process began.

Close Bangladesh 278 for 9 (Bashar 71, Kapali 46, Sarkar 41)
Scorecard

Bangladesh rode on a run-a-ball 71 from Habibul Bashar, and useful contributions from most of the top order, to reach 278 for 9 at the end of the first day’s play at the National Stadium in Karachi. Bashar’s 114-run second-wicket stand with Hannan Sarkar (41) put Bangladesh in control, but Pakistan chipped away with wickets in the last two sessions to pull things back.It was a fair effort by Bangladesh’s batsmen, especially considering the fact that they were asked to make first use of a pitch which had a fair smattering of grass, but it could have been much better had their batsmen not thrown away starts. Four of the top six passed 25, but only Bashar managed a half-century.Bashar’s knock was a chancy one – there were plenty of airy drives as he flailed at deliveries with minimal footwork – but his onslaught ensured that Bangladesh snatched the initiative after the early loss of Javed Omar, yorked by Umar Gul for 1 (9 for 1). It was Gul’s first Test wicket, but he marred his debut performance with plenty of loose balls later in the day.Even as Bashar tonked the ball around, Hannan Sarkar made an assured 41. Fresh from two fifties in the second Test against Australia, he was compact in defence and showed excellent judgment around the off stump. Bangladesh went into the lunch interval at a healthy 97 for 1, but spoilt all the good work with some reckless shots in the next two sessions.Sarkar gloved a leg-side lifter from Shabbir Ahmed to Rashid Latif (123 for 2), and four balls later, Bashar played a shockingly irresponsible stroke. A cross-batted swipe off Shoaib Akhtar presented Mohammad Hafeez with a simple catch at extra-cover.Shoaib then trapped Sanwar Hossain in front for 15 (146 for 4), and when debutant Rajin Saleh threw away a promising debut innings of 26 with a rash lofted shot off Danish Kaneria, Pakistan were on top (176 for 5).Alok Kapali put on a stubborn partnership of 55 with Khaled Mashud, and then decided that he was done with grafting. Another reckless lofted shot off Kaneria found Shabbir Ahmed at mid-off (231 for 6), and Kapali trudged back for 46.The lower order offered brief resistance, but with conditions getting increasingly murky – and Pakistan armed with the second new ball – the umpires called off play with seven overs still left in the day.Meanwhile, there was good news for the Pakistan camp when Latif’s finger injury, sustained while keeping wicket, turned out to be nothing more than a bruise. Latif had left the field after hurting a finger in his right hand, but x-rays revealed that he could return to his wicketkeeping duties tomorrow.

Close Australia 323 for 9 (Langer 121, Ponting 42; Zaheer 5-95) v India
Scorecard

A day riddled with breaks caused by rain and bad light belonged completely to India. A mere 16 overs were possible, and Australia lost an alarming seven wickets as they added 61 to their overnight score to reach 323 for 9. As the players took the final drinks break, natural light faded away, and the umpires called off play for the day. India, though, did anything but fade, on the day. Zaheer Khan was the shining star, ending on 5 for 95. On the day, he was good enough to pick up an expensive yet vital 3 for 42 from eight overs.When play started, at the first possible moment, at 11.30am, Zaheer and Ajit Agarkar were pumped up. The rest in the dressing rooms seemed to have done them a world of good. Zaheer struck a good line and length straightaway, and put Justin Langer and Damien Martyn under pressure.The first to go was Langer (121, 17 fours), trapped in front of the stumps by Agarkar just balls after smashing him to the cover fence. Late inswing aided Agarkar’s skiddy mediumpace, and Australia were 268 for 3. Langer looked unhappy when he saw the slow finger of Rudi Koertzen going up, but replays showed that the ball pitched in line, and only swung enough to beat the bat. It would not have gone past the leg stump.Steve Waugh walked out to the middle amidst loud cheers from the Gabba crowd. But things began badly for him. Martyn (42) languidly punched a ball through cover, and scurried away to make the most of it. Waugh, momentarily ignoring Martyn, ran back for a tight third run. Martyn took a few steps down the wicket, then changed his mind and frantically pleaded with his partner to go back. By this time it was too late for Waugh to reverse his momentum and turn around. Harbhajan Singh’s throw from the deep was not the greatest, but it still gave Parthiv Patel enough time to lob the ball to Sourav Ganguly, who eagerly whipped the bails off at the bowler’s end. Martyn had sacrificed his wicket (275 for 4). Ironically, the run-out came off a no-ball, accentuating the bizarre nature of the dismissal.

Could Waugh make up for the Martyn run-out with a big score? Not today. A quick bouncer from Zaheer, who had been bowling well all morning, had Waugh moving to the off side and tickling the ball fine. While all eyes turned to Patel behind the stumps, Waugh overbalanced, trod on the stumps, and knocked the bail of the off stump out of its position. Waugh was hit-wicket for a duck, and the Indians were grinning ear to ear (275 for 5).From that moment on, the Indians could hardly put a foot wrong. As they were eating lunch, the rains came down, keeping the players indoors till 4.20pm. Then came a passage of play where India drove home the advantage.Adam Gilchrist lasted just four balls, and registered the second duck of the innings when he edged Zaheer to Laxman in the slips cordon (276 for 6). The Indians were visibly buoyed by the fall of Gilchrist’s wicket. There was a spring in the step of fielders, and the fast bowlers kept the heat up. Andy Bichel (11) tried to play too many strokes, and edged Ajit Agarkar to Laxman in the slips (302 for 7).Eight runs later Simon Katich’s nervous 16-run stay at the wicket ended. He poked tentatively at a Zaheer delivery and feathered a catch to Parthiv Patel behind the stumps (310 for 8).Jason Gillespie did not hang around for too long. To start off, he was tested with some sharp deliveries from Agarkar. He played and missed more than once, and was distinctly uncomfortable. Gillespie then got carried away when he worked the ball through the off side. He attempted an overambitious fourth run, and Harbhajan’s good throw deposited the ball in Agarkar’s hands right over the stumps at the bowler’s end. Two rather sheepish tailenders were at the other end of the wicket, and an easy run out resulted (317 for 9).As soon as thoughts of wrapping up the innings quickly and facing a tricky passage of play entered the minds of the Indians, the light worsened and play was called off. You can bet your bottom dollar India were not unhappy with that.

A monumental innings of 194 not out by Mark Vermeulen, Zimbabwe’s openingbatsman, dominated the first day of their match against Sussex atHove. At close of play, Zimbabwe were comfortably placed at 317 for 4.

Heath Streak won the toss and decided to bat, on a warm, sunny day by the sea. With the exception of Mluleki Nkala, who got his game of the tour in place of the rested Douglas Hondo, Zimbabwe played their probable first-Test team. This meant they batted down to No. 11 – ten of them have scored first-classcenturies, and even the last man had several fifties to his name. Sussexplayed a weakened team, captained by the former Zimbabwe Test batsman MurrayGoodwin.The pitch was slightly green, and the bowlers found some swing early on, butthe openers, Vermeulen and Dion Ebrahim, had few problems with the bowling.Vermeulen was soon playing powerful off-side drives as the Sussex bowlers often pitched a little too short. The sun shone, and the tourists enjoyed the pleasant conditions. Hopes of a major opening stand vanished though when, with the total on 33, Ebrahim hooked at a bouncer from Billy Taylor and was given out caught down the leg side for 14. Stuart Carlisle struggled to get off the mark, before finally cutting a ball from Jason Lewry to the boundary.Vermeulen became increasingly confident, reaching his fifty with a slashpast slips for four off Lewry, and then adding another two fours in the sameover. The ball travelled fast over the quick outfield and when a strokebeat the field, it usually went the full distance.The batsmen struggled for a while after lunch. Carlisle played and missedseveral times without edging, as he had done against Worcestershire, whileVermeulen showed some nerves while approaching his century, although he didclout Mark Davis for a clean six over wide long-on. Carlisle finally didedge one from Davis to slip, departing for 35 after a partnership of 114 forthe second wicket. Vermeulen was then on 96, and he reached three figures when he hammered a short vall from Taylor past cover for four.Most of Vermeulen’s eight first-class centuries have been big ones, althoughhe had yet to reach 200, and he showed no desire to give it away. GrantFlower was positive from the start, using his feet well and selecting hisshots with skill. Still, the afternoon session was rather slow – Vermeulenmanaged only 47, moving from 81 to 128, in the two hours.The pair continued their accumulation after tea. Vermeulen passed 150 with afierce square-drive to the boundary, and Flower – who survived a chancebetween keeper and second slip when 43 – reached his own fifty with a neatcover-driven four. He had two more escapes – a return catch to Taylor, andan edge which was floored by Andrew Hodd, Sussex’s 19-year-old debutantwicketkeeper.Late in the day Vermeulen made a bid for his double-century (his highest score is 197) with two magnificent back-foot straight-drives off Paul Hutchison. The dismissal just before the close of Flower – for 64, slashing Hutchison to backward point – and Tatenda Taibu, caught at second slip for a second-ball duck, put paid to that, but he survived to fight another day.