Pakistan’s defeat in the Lord’s Test was their 68th in test cricket. Out of 278 tests played to date, Pakistan have lost 18 against Australia, 16 against England, 13 against West Indies, 6 each against New Zealand and Sri Lanka, 5 against India, 3 against South Africa and 2 against Zimbabwe. 51 of these defeats have come on away grounds, against 17 at home.West Indies and Sri Lanka have most victories (4) against Pakistan on Pakistan grounds. Pakistan suffered their heaviest defeat – by an innings and 185 runs – against New Zealand at Hamilton in 2000-01. In terms of runs, Pakistan have lost two matches by a margin of over three hundred runs – against Australia (Melbourne 1976-77) and South Africa (Johannesburg 1994-95).Pakistan’s heaviest defeat at home was by an innings and 156 runs at Bagh-e-Jinnah, Lahore, against West Indies in 1958-59. Pakistan’s inaugural test against India at Delhi in 1952-53 resulted in an innings defeat. Their 10th defeat came against England at Lahore 1961-62, 25th against England at Edgbaston 1978 and 50th against Sri Lanka at Sialkot 1995.The complete break-up of Pakistan’s 68 defeats against each country in chronological order, followed by margin-wise and venue-wise defeats, is presented below:

Defeats against each opponent

India

England

New Zealand

Australia

West Indies

Sri Lanka

Zimbabwe

South Africa

Summary of defeats against each country from 1952-53 to date

Pakistan’s defeats – 1st, 10th, 25th & 50th

Defeats – by margin

Biggest defeats

Margin-wise defeats – highlights

• 19 of Pakistan’s defeats were by an innings, 28 by wickets and 21 by runs.
• Three innings defeats were by an innings plus 150 or more runs (v New Zealand at Hamilton 2001, v West Indies at Kingston 1957-58 and v West Indies at Lahore 1958-59).
• Six innings defeats were by an innings plus 100 to 149 runs (v Australia at Sydney 1999-2000, v England at Nottingham 1954, v Australia at Brisbane 1995-96, v England at Lord’s 1978, v England at Leeds 1962, v Australia at Adelaide 1972-73).
• Two defeats by a margin of over 300 runs (v Australia by 348 runs at Melbourne 1976-77 and v South Africa by 329 runs at Johannesburg 1994-95).
• Pakistan also suffered three other defeats of over 200 runs (by 286 runs v Australia at Perth 1981-82, by 212 runs v India at Delhi 1998-99 and by 204 runs v West Indies at Port of Spain 1992-93).
• Pakistan’s narrowest defeat, by one wicket, was recorded at St John’s Antigua v West Indies 1999-2000.

Defeats – by venue

Venue-wise defeats – Highlights

• 17 out of 68 defeats have been recorded at home grounds while the remaining 51were suffered on opponents’ grounds.
• Most number of defeats (6) on one home ground have been suffered at Lahore.
• Outside Pakistan, the most number of defeats (3 each) have been recorded at Lords, Edgbaston, Melbourne, Sydney, Brisbane, Perth and Port of Spain.
• West Indies and Sri Lanka have defeated Pakistan on four occasions each on Pakistan grounds, Australia thrice, England and New Zealand twice and Zimbabwe and South Africa once each.
• On their own grounds, Australia have beaten Pakistan in 15 tests, England 14, West Indies 9, India 5, South Africa 2 and Sri Lanka and Zimbabwe one each.
• India is yet to win a test match on Pakistan soil.

Shaun Udal Hampshire’s all-rounder, won the counties Players, player of the season 2001. Adi Aymes won the fielder of the season award.Jimmy Cook coach presented the awards at the teams end of season fancy dress party. He said of Shaun Udal “He has been 100% professional this season, his bowling has been a large contributary factor to the teams promotion, and he also batted better than ever, coming in at awkward situations to recover the innings.Shaun Udal was delighted with the award – “It is a great honour” he replied on receiving the shield “to be voted by your own colleagues to be the players player brings a lump to your throat, and I will treasure the memory”.”Adi Aymes“, Jimmy Cook said, “has not only been a great wicket-keeper for his side, and a great contributer with the bat, but he also inspired players around him. His fielding, was as always exemplary and deserves he the accolade”.

As long as they had taken the precaution of packing sunscreen as well as a coat, and perhaps even an umbrella for the journey home, spectators at the opening of this Pura Cup match between Victoria and Queensland couldn’t have had too many grounds for complaint today. Because, around weather which underscored Melbourne’s capacity to produce a full range of seasons in the course of one day, they saw Matthew Hayden play a glorious innings and watched his Test teammate Shane Warne help to offset its impact by igniting a collapse.As the Pura Cup finalists of the last two seasons were drawn into battle, the first day rapidly looked like becoming a no-contest. Having won the toss and gained a decided advantage by having the first chance to bat on a placid pitch, the Queenslanders were quick to assert the authority that they have consistently hawked over the Victorians in big matches over recent years.Hayden (145*) was at the heart of the Bulls’ progress en route to a scoreline of 7/305 by the time that bad light fatally intervened, joining with Jimmy Maher (96) in an opening stand of 176, and then forging another union of 74 with Martin Love (33) for the second wicket.A near-flawless exhibition of strokeplay from Hayden delivered his second first-class century in the space of five days, albeit that he initially played second fiddle to the even more aggressive Maher. His shotmaking was typically authoritative and, in replicating many of the methods that brought him success against spin bowling on Australia’s recent tour of India, he also looked the most capable batsman against the Bushrangers’ two best bowlers – Warne (3/90) and Colin Miller (1/81).Only one wicket fell – and even that came courtesy of a brilliant running catch from Mathew Inness as he raced in some 20 metres off the fine leg fence to claim a top edged sweep from Maher at full stretch – in the opening four-and-a-half hours, and very few false shots were even played.As the temperature cooled and sunny skies gave way to overcast ones, though, the state of the match altered in kind. It wasn’t only the almost mass donning of jumpers which made the two teams look completely different, but also Victoria’s sudden capacity to gain movement from a previously barren surface and to hold some difficult catches instead of dropping them.Thirty minutes into the final session, medium pacer Ian Harvey (2/36) convinced Umpire Parry of the merits of an lbw decision against Love and the shift was under way. Harvey had endured a frustrating morning, spilling particularly difficult chances at slip from Warne’s bowling when Maher was on 22 and Hayden on 41 respectively, but wasted little time in turning matters around. The second scalp in a procession that saw five crash in total for the addition of just 11 runs came when Clinton Perren (1) drove outside the line of a ball that seamed back marginally at him.The Bushrangers’ recovery was assisted by further controversial lbw decisions against Andrew Symonds (1), struck as he came well forward to defend a ball that pitched only a few inches in front of his lunging front pad, and Stuart Law (3), who seemed to inside edge another Warne delivery into his pads.And great catching also helped: short leg fieldsman Jason Arnberger magnificently intercepting a shot played off the toes by Wade Seccombe (1) and Warne hanging on to the proceeds of a slash to end a mini-revival from Hayden and Andy Bichel (15).Whatever was on the Victorians’ menu at tea now looks likely to be incorporated into their diets on a more regular basis.

Brett Lee’s sheer pace is no guarantee of a place in the Australian cricket team according to his brother and state captain Shane Lee.Brett Lee returns from a long injury layoff when NSW plays South Australia in a Pura Cup match starting at the SCG tomorrow.A good performance will push him into calculations for selection against New Zealand in the Test starting at the Gabba on November 8. But according to his big brother, Lee must do more than just get through the game to prove his worthiness of a 13th Test cap.”Obviously he’s got to get through the game for starters but he’s got to bowl well and take wickets,” the NSW captain said of his younger brother.”I don’t think anyone should walk into the Test team if they’re not bowling well.”He’s like any other guy – even though he’s quick he still has to perform.”However, Shane Lee said any glimmer of form from his sibling should be enough to ensure his selection.”If they think he can get through a Test match and if he’s bowling well, they’ll have to pick him because he’s a match-winner.”Lee promised he wouldn’t give his brother an easy time at the crease.”He’s picked to play, he says he’s fit – I’ll treat him like any other bowler. He’ll have to bowl a 10-over spell at some stage.”For his part, Brett Lee said he just wanted to “have fun” in his first first-class match since a wayward performance in the final Ashes Test.”It’s good to be back – I’m not trying to look too far ahead as far as the first Test is concerned,” he said.”I just want to go out there and enjoy myself and try to bowl like I have for the past two years.”The NSW-SA match is a Test selectors’ dream with its Ashes pace trio of Lee, Glenn McGrath and Jason Gillespie all in action. At the top of the NSW order Michael Slater will again be trying to push his case for a Test recall and a big examination for him will be facing up to Gillespie and the new ball.And with indications the pitch will eventually provide bite and turn for the spinners, Stuart MacGill has a chance to keep the pressure on Shane Warne as well as redeeming himself after last week’s angry outburst against umpire David Brandon.Add to that the in-form batting of Mark Waugh, Michael Bevan, Greg Blewett and Darren Lehmann and it’s the closest thing to a trial match for some of Australia’s top players.NSW suffered a blow today when wicketkeeper Brad Haddin was ruled out of the match after failing a fitness test on a thumb injury he picked up against Tasmania last week. He has been replaced by Nathan Pilon, who will play his second match for NSW.Teams:SA: Darren Lehmann (captain), Greg Blewett, David Fitzgerald, Shane Deitz, Jeff Vaughan, Darren Dempsey, Ben Higgins, Graham Manou, Jason Gillespie, PaulRofe, Peter McIntyre, Mark Harrity. 12th man to be named.NSW: Shane Lee (captain), Michael Slater, Greg Mail, Michael Bevan, Mark Waugh, Mark Higgs, Nathan Pilon, Brett Lee, Nathan Bracken, Stuart MacGill,Glenn McGrath, Stuart Clark. 12th man to be named.

Leicestershire batsman Ben Smith will captain State Central Districts in this year’s State Championship.Smith, who next season will play for Worcestershire, was one of the most successful batsman in last year’s competition.He takes over from the injured Jacob Oram who was recovering from a broken bone in his foot but who has suffered another injury to his foot. and who is hopeful of being fit again in time for the domestic one-day competition which starts in January.Campbell Furlong returns after spending last season overseas.CD will play Auckland in the first round of the Championship at Eden Park’s Outer Oval starting on Monday.New players to the side include Richard Scragg and Richard King, who have both previously played for Auckland.The CD team, named today by selectors Basil Netten (convener), Dipak Patel and Barry Roberts, is: Ben Smith (captain – Hawke’s Bay), David Kelly (Hawke’s Bay), Richard Scragg (Taranaki), Richard King (Hawke’s Bay), Jamie How (Manawatu), Campbell Furlong (Taranaki), Bevan Griggs (Manawatu), Ewen Thompson (Wairarapa), Andrew Schwass (Nelson), Michael Mason (Manawatu), Brent Hefford (Marlborough), Lance Hamilton (Hawke’s Bay).

Darren Gough has decided to stay with Yorkshire next season. The England fast bowler’s future at Headingley has been the subject of rumour and speculation for months, but Yorkshire have now issued a statement indicating he is to stay there for at least one more summer.Gough’s contract runs out at the end of the 2002 season, and he has still not signed any new deal.However tonight’s statement announced: “Darren Gough has today confirmed that he will continue his career with Yorkshire.”His existing contract has a year to run, and the club have indicated theirwillingness to extend the contract when the existing term expires.”Gough, 31, made only two appearances for Yorkshire in last summer’s CricInfoChampionship, as Yorkshire won the title for the first time in 33 years.But Yorkshire added in the statement that they do not doubt his commitment to the club, despite his inevitable focus on internationals as a centrally-contracted England player in recent years.The statement continued: “It has been a difficult time for him personally with a heavy international programme, his benefit activities and persistent press comment as to his future with the club.”The county has acknowledged Darren’s significant contribution to Yorkshirecricket over many years both on and off the field and which has included raisingthe profile and standards of cricket throughout Yorkshire and elsewhere.”

The tour match between New South Wales and South Africa appears headed for an exciting finish tomorrow after Michael Bevan and HerschelleGibbs again laid waste to the bowling for their respective teams on the third day of the contest here in Sydney.After Bevan (183*) had cut short a magnificent innings of his own to throw the game open, Gibbs dominated the day’s closing session to lead theProteas to a second innings score of 1/112 and an overall advantage of 225.Bevan had earlier been within 17 runs of scoring his second successive first-class double century on the SCG when he decided to effect a tea timedeclaration, ending the New South Wales first innings at a healthy 6/385.Though he was very slow to begin, even to the point that his score did not move for 50 minutes at one point, his innings was an outstanding one. Hiscapacity to transform a vigilant hand into an explosive one upon reaching three figures also appealed.”I hit them alright and was pretty happy,” said Bevan.Over the last two years, the experienced left hander has enjoyed a love affair with this ground, producing a remarkable average of 125.85 from hislast seven matches – and ten innings – here.His career record at the SCG is also quite remarkable; from 50 matches, he has scored 4850 runs at the mammoth average of 79.50.”It’s where I’ve played most of my career – at the SCG. You obviously get enough chance to see how it plays.”Early on I thought they bowled pretty well, pretty tight. And, at the end, we had to score a bit quicker in the hope of setting up a (good finish tothe) match,” Bevan acknowledged.”At tea I thought it was the right time [to declare]. It gave us a chance to get a few wickets in that session and gave them a chance to get a few runsso it was more to do with the match situation than anything else.”Young spinner Justin Ontong (0/47) endured especially spectacular punishment, battered for 18 runs in his fifth over before conceding another 17from his sixth as Bevan initiated an assault that delivered 97 runs from the last 71 balls of his innings.It was a tough day for all of the tourists’ bowlers, though. And the mindset of veteran paceman Allan Donald (0/64) – who bowled excellently attimes today – wasn’t helped by criticism that had appeared overnight from former rebel wicketkeeper Ray Jennings.Jennings argued that Donald shouldn’t have been included in the tour party in a statement that appeared in the Daily Telegraph newspaper here inSydney today.”Maybe we should ask Ray Jennings if it’s alright with him if I play,” said Donald after play.”It’s very uncalled for, the comments he made,” the quick said.Donald’s teammate, Gibbs (75), soothed the Proteas’ concerns as the day closed, with another sparkling innings that laid the platform for anotherlikely declaration at some stage early tomorrow.Though leg spinner Stuart MacGill (1/27) again found a way to remove Gibbs just as he was close to the height of his powers – receiving an lbwverdict in his favour after two such appeals had been turned down by umpire Bob Parry – the South African openers performed well. Left handerGary Kirsten (34*) played in sound fashion, and will be back to resume with Jacques Rudolph (2*) in the morning.

A little-known fact about Indian cricket is that the country’s youngtalents in various age groups have really proved their mettle at theinternational level. Aside from the under-19 team winning the World Cuptwo years ago in Sri Lanka, the under-15 team lifted the World Cup inEngland in 1996. The under-17 team won the Asian Championship last year.Somehow, though, this supremacy is lost during the transition to thesenior ranks. But the juniors have certainly covered themselves withglory in bringing laurels to the nation.

These thoughts come to mind as the Indian lads are now in New Zealand totake part in the under-19 World Cup competition. As the well-knownsporting adage goes, it is hard to get to the top, but harder to staythere. Indian cricket authorities are well aware of the truth behindthis adage and have left no stone unturned in preparing their squad todefend a title that they won in Sri Lanka in January 2000.For one thing, the training sessions for the 26 probables were long andsystematic. For example, coach Balwinder Singh Sandhu was well awarethat the lads would encounter considerable lateral movement in NewZealand, where the World Cup is to be staged between January 19 andFebruary 10. So this was among the specifics that went into thetraining. Then, after a long stint at the National Cricket Academy inBangalore, the squad travelled to Chennai to play three practicematches.Unfortunately this aspect of the training was hit by rain, but theenthusiastic lads made the best of the truncated opportunities. Further,the selected squad of 14 first went to Australia for a nine-day tour,during which they played – and lost – two practice games before leavingfor New Zealand. But most important of all, the authorities, underliningthe importance of defending the title, have done well in appointingformer Indian captain Dilip Vengsarkar as consultant.Indeed, the combination of Vengsarkar and Sandhu, both members of thevictorious World Cup squad in 1983, forms a think-tank that would behard to beat. Sandhu is head coach at the NCA, and Vengsarkar has spenta lot of time with the boys, giving them the full advantage of hisconsiderable experience. The boys certainly do not have to look too farfor inspiration.The squad, led by Parthiv Patel of Gujarat, is nicely balanced, but onlytime will tell whether it is good enough to retain the Cup it won twoyears ago. Vengsarkar, however, is in no doubt that the team is strongenough to retain the title. “The confidence level of the squad is prettyhigh, and they have trained strenuously. We have a couple of fine allrounders and a good attack, both spin and medium pace,” Vengsarkar saidin Chennai recently. He was of the view that the under-19 age group heldthe key to the future of Indian cricket. This viewpoint is difficult todisagree with, especially when one considers that players like YuvrajSingh, Mohammad Kaif and Reetinder Singh Sodhi, all members of thatvictorious squad in Sri Lanka, went on to play for India within a shortperiod.Vengsarkar said that the youngsters should be nurtured to fill the gapsin the Indian side and for this, the proper exposure would be to makethem play in Australia, South Africa, New Zealand and England. Whiletalking with confidence about the Indian team’s chances in New Zealand,the former star batsman, who scored 6,868 runs in 116 Test matches andis also the only non-Englishman to score three Test hundreds at Lord’s,felt that Australia and South Africa would be the teams to beat. Thingsare not very different even at the junior levels, are they?

The squad for the Logan Cup has been hit by injuries and unavailability of three players, not a great start to the campaign. Keith Dabengwa, last year’s CFX Academy student of the year, has undergone an emergency appendix operation, Clement Mahachi, also a student at the academy two years ago, has recurring back strains and Dash Vaghmaria is again unavailable.With young Ian Engelbrecht, the promising left-arm spinner, overlooked by the selectors due to his imminent departure to the UK, and the absence of Dabengwa, young Gavin Ewing seems set to make his debut in the provincial side. It would now appear that the bowling will be focused around Mbangwa, Nkala, Townshend and Strydom, providing the seam attack, with Ewing and, depending on his form, Mecury Kenny as the two spinners.Matabeleland open their season with a hard game against Mashonaland in Bulawayo and it will be interesting to see if the national players make themselves available having only just returned from their current tour and then the short tour of India. Should they be available then Heath Streak who for whatever reason was not named in the Logan Cup side will hopefully also be available. The forthcoming tour of India will mean the national players are away for the first two rounds of the competition.In the National League some of the squad had reasonable performances, with Matthew Townshend of Queens taking three wickets in each game against Old Georgians and Alexandra Sports Club, a welcome return to form, while national team discard Mluleki Nkala did well with both bat and ball. Pommie Mbangwa had steady performances on both days, a player who is now thriving on his responsibilities as a captain.Queens lost to Old Georgians and then beat Alexandra; Macdonald Club lost to Mutare Sports Club; Bulawayo Sports Club lost to Kwekwe Sports Club; while BAC also lost to Old Georgians. The gap between some of the Bulawayo sides and Harare sides still evident, though one must take into account the population ratio between the two cities.

Takashinga return to Murare Sports Club this Sunday – three weeks after their day of infamy – to contest the semi-finals of the league knockout competition. Awaiting the outcome of a ZCU disciplinary hearing set for Thursday 21 February for their conduct during the earlier game, this match should provide compulsive viewing for the Mutare public. Spectators are advised to keep clear of war zones this time – in the last game Odzi farmer Logie Slabbert and his wife Estelle were relaxing in deck chairs near the boundary rope when a Takashinga fielder pursued a ball over the top of Estelle, smashing chairs and bodies everywhere. Reality TV would have paid handsomely for copyrights. Missing the reliable all-rounder Richie Sims and three Test stars, Manicaland are wobbling and vulnerable after losing their Logan Cup game against CFX Academy last weekend.Alan Walsh – the umpire at the centre of the storm in the previous game – is away on leave, so Manicaland Umpires Chairman Kevan Barbour has requested a `neutral’ umpire to drive down from Harare for the game. His concern is that numbers will plummet in his association if he asks members to stand in volatile `unprotected’ games of this nature. That it has come to this is unfortunate but reflects the times in which we live. There will be substantial financial rewards at stake for the winner – another factor likely to increase on-field tension.Losing with four sessions to spare in the four-day game last weekend, Manicaland will need to dig deep to stay with Takashinga. Positives are the form of captain Neil Ferreira and the returning form of left-arm seamer Justin Lewis. Ferreira hit 106 (14 fours) and Kingsley Went 57 in Manicaland’s first innings. Andre Soma and Tino Mawoyo managed just 30 runs between them in four innings – a disappointing return for batsmen of such obvious quality. After a first-innings failure Naeem Sheth top-scored (40) in the second after recovering from a clash of heads with Mawoyo as the pair converged on a catch in the CFX second innings.Happiest man on the field for all three days was pint-sized twelfth man Marvin Vogel. A 16-year-old leg-spinner from Mutare Boys High, his enthusiasm whilst rushing drinks or equipment onto the field was enjoyed by everyone. His best moment came at Friday midday when Naeem Sheth left the field to attend prayers at the local Mosque – an hour’s uninterrupted fielding in first-class cricket.Adiel Kugotsi was another to have a quiet game. Managing only 10 runs in two innings with bowling figures of 3-0-16-0, his moment of glory came early in CFX’s first innings when he effected a stunning direct throw run-out from the covers. In his O-level year at Mutare Boys High, he hopes to earn a living one day from cricket.There was excitement off the field on Saturday afternoon when security guards employed by the cricket association apprehended a suit-wearing thief in the process of removing a pair of track shoes from the change rooms. Unlike the other first-class grounds in the country, Mutare Sports Club is not security fenced and occasionally plays host to unusual visitors.