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Jason Gillespie is wearing the unusual tag of Australia’s fast bowling ironman in South Africa as he tries to cement his place in one-day international cricket.Gillespie has humped the reputation of an injury-plagued bowler through his stop-start career, admitting he was once a “crazy trainer” who did not understand the best way to manage his body.But Gillespie is now a more streetwise player and the 26-year-old is the only bowler to have played in every match on the South African tour, which continues today with the sixth one-day clash in Port Elizabeth.Gillespie is the most successful bowler in the series with 12 wickets, helping him establish a spot in the Australian team after his luckless run of just 34 one-day matches in six seasons.”Nowadays I train a lot smarter. I used to come in and bowl in the nets for a couple of hours everyday and I used to go running every morning for half an hour and put added stress on my body that I didn’t need,” Gillespie said.”I don’t bowl as much in the nets now and I tend to look after myself a bit more. I don’t go running as much.”The hardest thing was changing my way of thinking because you always think you have to train harder and harder and sometimes it’s training smarter that gets you results.”Now I’m spending a bit more time in the pool and more time relaxing and that’s helped me.”But Gillespie won’t declare himself over the annoying run of injuries, preparing to stick to a “one-game-at-a-time” theory as the new-look Australians prepare for next February’s World Cup defence.He has become a central plank of the Australian attack in South Africa, giving up a passable 4.60 runs per over while showing good control with the new ball.If he maintains that progress, Gillespie and Glenn McGrath will be the pace spearheads when the World Cup begins next February in South Africa, where Gillespie boasts a quirky record.He has played more one-day internationals in South Africa than Australia – 13 compared to just eight in his homeland – typifying his annoying run with injuries.”I don’t want to get too far ahead of myself because, if you do that, things can go wrong,” Gillespie said.”But it just seems to be going really well at the moment.”I’ve always believed I was good enough but it was a matter of getting on the park and staying on the park.”I’ve never doubted that I could succeed. I’ve had to work pretty hard to get where I am and think about the game a lot more.”Despite his returns on tour, Gillespie could be rested in one of the final two matches after Australia wrapped up the series in Durban last Wednesday night.Selectors indicated they could rest key players once the series was won, enabling young talent like Tasmanian all-rounder Shane Watson to continue his introduction to international cricket.

The Indian team probables for the Test series against Australia limbered up at the opening session of their five-day conditioning camp in Chennai, minus skipper Sourav Ganguly and eight others. The nine arrived from Bangalore this morning after playing a benefit match and will join the camp from Thursday. Indian coach John Wright and BCCI consultant Geoff Marsh oversaw the nets and fielding practice following which the team adjourned in the afternoon to the beach resort at Fisherman’s Cove for lunch and a team meeting.Wright had agreed to speak to reporters only on Thursday after Ganguly’s arrival but later relented briefly. Asked about the focus of the camp, Wright said, “We’re just doing a lot of the basics, particularly fielding. It’s a chance for all of us to see these 25 players who have a good opportunity to play in the series against Australia. We’ll see how they approach their training.”Wright praised the facilities at the IIT-Chemplast ground as ‘fantastic’. “The greenery is beautiful and it’s a little bit cooler than other places in Chennai.” He also spoke on the purpose of practice, as he saw it. “I’m just bringing my coaching exposure and maybe a different perspective. The main thing about practice is to practice the way you play. You need to put yourself under pressure whilst training. If you go through the motions, there’s no point being here.”Ace leg-spinner Anil Kumble, who showed up with his right arm in a sling, confirmed that he would attend the entire duration of the camp. Kumble said “The most important reason I’m here is for the physiotherapy on my shoulder with Andrew (Leipus, the team’s physical trainer) and also in whatever way I can contribute. It’s good that John Wright has asked me to help the boys.”Kumble expressed frustration at being forced onto the sidelines. “It’s really disappointing to miss a big series. Having said that, the good thing is that in four months time, I’ll be back and the shoulder will be pain-free”, he said.But Kumble was optimistic about India’s young pretenders in the spin department. I’ve always believed that once you’ve got the runs on the board, without me it shouldn’t be a problem. We’ve got some good young spinners coming through, this is a good opportunity for them, Harbhajan, Sharandeep, Kartik, Joshi and I’m happy they’ve considered Raju, his experience will be very helpful.” Asked inevitably about fellow legspinner Balaji Rao, whose name seems to be bobbing up everywhere, Kumble said he hadn’t seen him bowl lately. “The last I saw him was while playing for Karnataka against Tamil Nadu in 1995-96 but I’ve been hearing a lot of good things about him.”Wright watched over his wards with eagle eyes, quick to pull up players who tarried awhile in changing their gear. All the players, including the bowlers, tested out their batting at the three practice wickets. Harbhajan Singh in particular seemed to take his batting very seriously. Sachin Tendulkar was the cynosure of most eyes, immersing himself totally in his chosen activity, either with bat or ball. Simple gestures told the tale, really. Like when bowling to Zaheer Khan with an imaginary slip and silly point, Tendulkar induced an edge towards silly point and let out a whoop of exultation.But for the most part, the emphasis was on fielding routines, as Wright had noted. Marsh took the lead in organising catching practice in batches and the program was rounded off with a throwing drill with each player running from one base to another, baseball style. Since there was no fitness regimen on the first day, Leipus spent over an hour giving a reclining Kumble’s shoulder muscles a workout. It was not a pleasant sight to see Kumble wince in pain and he later indicated that he would not hurry his return into international cricket. “It’s too early for me to say anything, it’s just two weeks since the surgery. It’ll take a while. I’m not really desperate to come back fast.”

First Round part one – Tuesday May 22Alton v Liphook and Ripsley
Andover v Hook and Newnham Basics
Burridge v Hambledon
Havant v Waterlooville
Lymington v Old Tauntonians and Romsey
Paultons v Calmore Sports
South Wilts v Leckford
St.Cross Symondians v Easton and Martyr Worthy
First Round part two – Thursday May 24Bashley (Rydal) v B.A.T.Sports
Gosport Borough v Purbrook
Hungerford v Old Basing
Rowledge v Cove
Sparsholt v Flamingos
Trojans v New Milton
United Services v Portsmouth
Winchester K.S. v Hursley Park

David East, Essex’s chief executive, is to leave the county for a new role in the UAE. East, who was Essex’s wicketkeeper during the 1980s and made more than 350 appearances for the county, has been appointed as chief executive of Abu Dhabi Cricket Club and Emirates Cricket Board.After ending his playing career, East returned to Essex as commercial manager before being made chief executive in 2000. He will remain with the club until the end of the year and help oversee the process of recruiting a successor.”David leaves the role after 12 years in the position and everyone associated with the club would like to wish him the best of luck in the United Arab Emirates,” Nigel Hilliard, Essex’s chairman, said.

New Zealand developed a strong position on day one of the first Youth Test with South Africa and has already taken a 17-run lead with seven wickets in hand.South Africa chose to bat first in the four-day game at Molyneux Park, Alexandra in Central Otago.It proved a fatal choice as South Africa was dismissed for 150 and by stumps, New Zealand was 167/3 thanks largely to the efforts of Central Districts batsmen Greg Todd and Ross Taylor.The wicket looked good and as the South African batting progressed it appeared to contain no dangers whatsoever. However, apart from the South African eaptain Rivash Gobind who scored 68, no player really got on top of the bowling.The bowling was steady without being spectacular. Taraia Robin, another CD player did the early damage and finished the innings with 4-65. The other contributors were Ian Butler 2-32, Greg Todd 1-11 and Iain Robertson 1-1.Wicket-keeper Brendon McCullum, of Otago, captained New Zealand well and made several diving saves and took four catches for his side, two of them being real pearlers. The fielding was enthusiastic and it was easy to distinguish that the Kiwis were very focused.Setting out in pursuit of the South African 150, New Zealand were uncertain in the early stages of their innings and through the early stages battled through from 10/1, 35/2 and 51/3 before Todd and Taylor began the revival. They played some glorious shots off the South African attack.In the early stages of their innings they were very watchful, but towards the end of the day attacked with some class and the very hot day ended with New Zealand 167/3. Todd was 66 not out and Taylor 54 not out.Bowling for South Africa, Gerhard de Bruin had 2-11 and Warren Hauptfleisch 1-26.Bowling and fielding in the unique Central Otago heat, South Africa understandably tired and their effort flagged a little as the afternoon wore on but in the absence of two of their main bowlers, Johan Botha and Monde Zondeki, they worked hard.

ScorecardLydia Greenway’s innings was full of sweeps and paddles, as England secured the Ashes with a five-wicket win•Getty Images

Lydia Greenway was England’s hero as they regained the Ashes with a five-wicket victory in the second Twenty20 at the Ageas Bowl. The chase of 128 was wobbling badly on 9 for 3, but Greenway showed all her experience with a magnificently paced innings full of deft touches as England secured the two Ashes-winning points with six balls to spare.For the second time in two days the record for England’s highest individual Twenty20 score was broken, with Greenway’s unbeaten 79 overtaking Sarah Taylor’s 77 at Chelmsford. Fittingly it was Greenway who sealed the match with two reverse sweeps in the final over then a scampered single, which was the signal for an invasion from the England bench.Australia’s 127 for 7 – built around Meg Lanning’s 60 – was initially made to look more daunting when three wickets fell inside the first three overs. Heather Knight played around a straight one from Julie Hunter then Sarah Coyte produced a superb over to remove Sarah Taylor – brilliantly held, one-handed in her follow through – and Danni Wyatt.Then, however, came the moment that could well have decided to the Ashes when Greenway was given a life on 10, a missed stumping off Erin Osborne, which would have left England 25 for 4. Together with captain Charlotte Edwards the pair – who hold 121 Twenty20 caps between them – firstly steadied the chase and then increased the tempo.Edwards played the anchor role while Greenway dominated the scoring. Laps and sweeps, a hallmark of her batting, featured regularly as she kept finding the gaps in whatever field Jodie Fields tried to set. It was one such delicate sweep – from a delivery around middle and off – which took Greenway to her fifty from 45 deliveries.By then she had lost Edwards, who found mid-off trying to go over the top and spent the rest of the innings living every delivery in the dugout. Natalie Sciver offered sensible support in a stand of 40 in 27 balls until sacrificing herself for a tight single, leaving Greenway to finish the job, which she did in style.Australia’s innings had struggled for early impetus against accurate bowling from Katherine Brunt, who delivered her four overs straight, while Jess Cameron was run out by a direct hit from Jenny Gunn as she chased the ball in her follow through.Lanning and Alex Blackwell gave the innings backbone with a stand of 57 in seven overs, Lanning collecting the one six of the innings when she cleared deep square leg off Gunn to go to fifty at a run a ball. Her eagerness to try and get back on strike ended her stay when she was run out backing up when a fierce drive from Blackwell clipped Holly Colvin’s fingertips.The innings closed in rather chaotic fashion with England claiming a team hat-trick in the final over – Danielle Hazell’s two wickets sandwiched either side of Fields’ run-out by Greenway, who would go on to have a far greater impact on the match.

Ramnaresh Sarwan, captain of the Guyana Amazon Warriors, has hailed his side’s commanding showing in the semi-final of the inaugural Caribbean Premier League – they scored a seven-wicket victory over Trinidad & Tobago Red Steel in Port-of-Spain, with more than three overs to spare. Guyana’s attack, bolstered by the arrivals of Tillakaratne Dilshan and Lasith Malinga, had T&T reeling at 32 for 5 inside 10 overs, and the eventual target of 104 was never a challenge.”It was almost the perfect performance,” Sarwan said. “What we wanted to do was put them in to bat and put them under pressure because [Kevin] O’Brien has been playing a big part at the top of the order and getting them off to a flier. With our bowling attack we had a good chance of getting him out and then grabbing another one or two [wickets], and we were able to do that.”Guyana’s campaign seemed to have hit a speed bump when New Zealand batsman Martin Guptill injured his hand in the final group game in Antigua and Pakistan’s Mohammad Hafeez had to leave for national duty in Zimbabwe. Both batsmen were among the top ten run-scorers of the tournament. But Guyana’s replacements – Dilshan and Malinga – ensured their side was not left wanting, picking up two wickets each, at well under run-a-ball in their first match. Dilshan also anchored the chase with a 29-ball 39, which included three fours and a six.”We [him and Malinga] had to make it count,” Dilshan said. “We were coming from a long way – more than 20 hours flying – and then playing a match within 24-hours’ time, we had to make it count here otherwise it would have been a waste coming from there [Sri Lanka].”I have really enjoyed my performance today, especially considering it was the semi-final. We are through to final – that was the main goal for us today. We have a day off so we can rest and come back on Saturday and play good cricket against whoever comes the final.”Curtly Ambrose, Guyana’s assistant coach, said he had always known his side was capable of putting together a game like this. “I’ve been saying it right from the start, that we have a good enough team to win the tournament as long as we play proper cricket,” he said. “We haven’t played our best game up until today and I keep telling the guys there are two good games somewhere round the corner – this was one of them. So I’m hoping that we can bring our A game to the finals on Saturday and win the tournament.”

Afghanistan will play Pakistan in a Twenty20 match in Sharjah, on December 8, the Afghanistan Cricket Board has announced. The match is a result of the Memorandum of Understanding signed between the Afghanistan and Pakistan boards, through which the PCB will aid the ACB in the lead-up to the 2015 World Cup.”We are excited by the opportunity to play against a Full Member nation,” Noor Mohammad Murad, the ACB’s chief executive, said. “Win or lose, the experience gained by our players will be absolutely invaluable.”One of the issues for Afghanistan cricket in recent years has been that we are among the top teams of the Associate and Affiliate members and we tend to win a high percentage of our matches against them. Our national team needs the challenge of playing against some of the elite cricket teams like Pakistan and Australia, in order to raise their performance level. So far only Pakistan and Australia have given us this opportunity, but we are hoping that more Full Member nations will follow their example.”Afghanistan have played four Twenty20s against Full Members, including South Africa, India and England, but those matches came in the 2010 and 2012 World Twenty20s. Outside of ICC tournaments, they’ve played one ODI each against Pakistan and Australia last year.Understandably, they did not win any of those six games, but Murad remains confident of a strong showing in December. “We believe we can give the Pakistan team a good run for its money. T20 is one of our strengths and last year we gave India a scare in the World T20. We hope to give the Pakistan team a strong challenge and, who knows, maybe even more than that.”

ScorecardMartin Guptill helped New Zealand recover from the loss of two early wickets•Getty Images

The New Zealanders warmed up for the Twenty20 series against England with an efficient 42-run win against Kent on a murky evening in Canterbury. Martin Guptill and Ross Taylor hit half-centuries to leave the home side a demanding chase and they fell well short.There was cause for Kent pride, however, in the debut of Fabian Cowdrey, the grandson of the former Kent and England captain Colin and son of Chris Cowdrey, who took the Cowdrey name into its third generation in Kent colours.Guptill and Taylor added 98 in 11 overs after Hamish Rutherford and Brendon McCullum had fallen inside the first two overs to leave New Zealand 9 for 2. Both batsmen cleared the boundary twice, but the significant acceleration came from Tom Latham who clubbed 38 off 18 balls.Latham was part of the Test squad last month and has been playing for Scotland while not need for the Champions Trophy campaign. Although he did not keep wicket in this match he is an option to take the gloves if McCullum’s back causes him problems.Mitchell Claydon, who is on loan at Kent from Durham, struck regularly in the closing overs having earlier trapped McCullum lbw and finished with 5 for 31.In reply, Kent struggled from the outset to keep up with a required rate of more than nine an over. Sam Billings pulled to mid-off and Sam Northeast, the captain for the match and who had hit a maiden one-day hundred in the high-scoring YB40 match against Sussex, was bowled by Ronnie Hira as he came down the pitch.The hero of Kent’s chase of 337 against Sussex, Darren Stevens, was given two lives early in his innings and managed to strike three sixes but Kent were always behind the rate.The youngsters, though, were certainly not overwhelmed with Daniel Bell-Drummond making 31 and Cowdrey marking his first-team debut with 21 off 14 balls which included a ramp shot against Ian Butler.Most of New Zealand’s bowlers chipped in; Hira was especially economical with his four overs costing just 19 and Butler claimed two scalps. Mitchell McClenaghan and Kyle Mills were rested after their efforts in the Champions Trophy.

Despite securing a last-ball tie against Pakistan in the first ODI in Dublin, Ireland batsman Kevin O’Brien admitted that having come so close to victory, the result felt “like a loss”. Ireland were set a target of 276 from 47 overs in a rain-affected match and they needed 15 off the last over bowled by Saeed Ajmal. Only two runs came off the first three balls before O’Brien hit a six off the fourth ball and took a couple off the next to bring the equation down to five off the last ball. O’Brien struck the last delivery for a four.”It feels like a loss as we came so close, but just couldn’t get over the line,” O’Brien said. “If I had left [Saeed] Ajmal’s delivery, it could have been a wide, but that is hindsight. You are in the moment and you just swing a bat on it. We are not out to tie games, and that is why it feels like a loss, to be honest.”After Pakistan scored 266 for 5 from 47 overs, the target for Ireland was revised to 276 as the Pakistan innings was interrupted thrice by rain. Ireland’s chase was led by opener Paul Stirling with a knock of 103 – his fifth ODI hundred and second against Pakistan.The two batsmen in the middle for the last over – O’Brien and Trent Johnston – were the same who sealed a stunning three-wicket win against the same opponents in the 2007 World Cup. O’Brien said it brought back memories of the World Cup and the two batsmen talked about it before he faced the last ball.”Trent mentioned it before the final ball and asked: ‘How about you hit the winning runs this time?'” he said.Meanwhile, Pakistan batsman Asad Shafiq, who was involved in a 188-run partnership with centurion Mohammad Hafeez for the second wicket, gave due credit to the Irish players for putting up a competitive match.”They played very well, and we are expecting another tough match,” Shafiq said. “It will be very good preparation for our Champions Trophy campaign [in England in June].”The second ODI will also be played in Dublin, on May 26.