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Wellington and Otago, the two teams bringing up the rear of the Ford Trophy points table, played out a tie at Basin Reserve. Set 250 to win, Wellington’s line-up could only accelerate at a run-rate of 3.21. They had made 74 off 23 overs when rain arrived, stayed and put an end to the match. In the end, the two teams had to share two points each.Otago, who had won the toss, but had only one batsman capitalising on it even though six of the top eight got off to starts. Neil Broom made 54 off 57, with eight fours but his wicket paved way for a mini-collapse. Otago slipped from 147 for 2 to 172 for 6 before Mark Craig at No. 8 hit 46 off 41, with three fours and two sixes.They were all out for 249 without batting their full quota of overs, and the main reasons for that were seamer Brent Arnel and offspinner Jeetan Patel. The duo claimed four wickets and gave away only 54 runs in 19 overs, a combined economy rate of 2.84. Their colleagues, however, went at well more than double that rate. Matt McEwan, Anurag Verma and Alecz Day bowled 29.5 overs and leaked 196 runs.Otago’s bowlers, however, were able to put up a miserly display from all sides. Jacob Duffy, the 21-year old seamer, came away with figures of 5-1-8-1 and their most expensive bowler, Craig, still only conceded 25 runs in five overs, one of which was a maiden.Perhaps that was because Wellington were trying to build a solid enough base first, believing they had 50 overs to chase down 250. Captain Michael Papps and Stephen Murdoch were in the middle of a 69-run partnership when bad weather broke out and Wellington had to settle for a tie. At the time, they had nine batsmen left to tackle an equation that read 176 off 27 overs and an asking rate of 6.5.Tom Latham strengthened his bid to claim a permanent place as New Zealand’s one-day opener with a fluent 96 off 111 balls that helped his state side and table-toppers Canterbury to a 98-run victory over Auckland at Hagley Oval.Latham batted through to the 38th over to set a strong foundation, and though his team lost all six remaining wickets and were all out in the 49th over, they had a formidable 265 on the board. Todd Astle, who has been picked to play Pakistan in the upcoming T20s, chipped in with 52 off 67 as well.For Auckland, Colin de Grandhomme picked up 3 for 42 while Michael Bates and Robert O’Donnell claimed two wickets each. But any threat their batsmen could pose was wiped out when they fell to 32 for 5 inside 10 overs and were bowled out for 167. New-ball bowlers Ed Nuttall (4 for 50) and Kyle Jamieson (2 for 24) were the wreckers-in-chief. Auckland’s bottom five added 118 runs, a whopping 70 percent of their runs, but it was nowhere near enough.A century from Dean Brownlie and an unbeaten 99 from Anton Devcich made small work of Northern Districts‘ chase of 225 against Central Districts in Whangarei, for an eight-wicket win. The two put on 198 runs in 32.4 overs to seal the chase in the 43rd over and give Northern Districts four points, taking them to fourth place in the table.Opting to bat, Central Districts were rattled early by James Baker, who reduced them to 29 for 4 in the fifth over with two wickets off consecutive deliveries. Doug Bracewell (80) helped them past 50 with captain Will Young and hauled the score from 91 for 6 to 192 for 7 with Ben Wheeler (53). Two wickets each from spinners Ish Sodhi and Jono Boult then bowled them out for 224 in the 49th over, and Baker finished with 3 for 30 from seven overs.Northern Districts were in a spot of bother early, being 29 for 2 after ten overs. But Brownlie and Devcich scored briskly and put the chase on track with plenty of boundaries. Brownlie struck ten fours and two sixes in his unbeaten 107, while Devcich collected nine fours and a six.

Ashley Giles: in the Edgbaston hot-seat © Getty Images

Ashley Giles has been unveiled as Warwickshire’s new director of cricket, only one month after retiring from first-class cricket because of a long-term hip injury. Giles, 34, takes over from the former New Zealand opening batsman, Mark Greatbatch, and his first task will be to galvanise morale at the club, after their relegation from the first divisions of both the County Championship and the Pro40 League.Described by his England coach Duncan Fletcher as one of the most professional men he had ever worked with, Giles is a Warwickshire folk hero. He made exactly 100 first-class appearances for the club in a 12-year career, scoring 3,297 runs at an average of 30.24, and taking 323 wickets at 26.19. He was a member of the treble-winning Warwickshire side that won consecutive Championships in 1994 and 1995.The club could hardly be at a lower ebb at present. They were top of the Championship back in May, but they have not won a match since and their relegation was confirmed after their defeat at Old Trafford last week. Greatbatch, who was two years into a three-year contract, telegraphed his imminent departure with some outspoken comments in the local Birmingham press.”I can look myself in the mirror,” he told the Birmingham Post last week. “I’ve met some good people and some not-so-honest people. There have been more positives that negatives generally. When a team plays well, the players get the accolades but when they lose the coach bears the brunt. I’ve always said we need to re-strengthen. We’re short of quality. We have some … but we need to strengthen.”Though Greatbatch has been keen to pass the buck for Warwickshire’s predicament, there’s no doubt locally where the blame for their failings lie. “I don’t know what happened to [that] genial fellow,” said George Dobell in the Birmingham Post. “He is unrecognisable from the gruff man I’ve encountered of late. Stung by criticism, hurt by failure and confused by the lack of reward for his hard work, Greatbatch has, somewhere along the way, lost all those positive qualities.”Warwickshire’s best shot at glory this season came in the Friends Provident Trophy. Instead they went out to Hampshire in the semi-final, a match that earned notoriety after the controversial omission of their England batsman, Ian Bell. This, Dobell added, was just another example of Greatbatch’s misfiring man-management that has led to so many ructions within the dressing-room.”It was his fault that Mark Wagh left. It was his fault that Moeen Ali left. It was his fault that he alienated senior players like Michael Powell and [Dougie] Brown who had only the best interests of the club at heart. And it was his fault that the side played unattractive cricket. For Greatbatch distrusts flair.”Greatbatch met with the Warwickshire chief executive, Colin Povey, on Monday, and his departure was rubber-stamped at a press conference at Edgbaston on Tuesday afternoon. “We have agreed that it is in the best interests of the club to make this move now and to draw a line under the season,” Povey said. “I would like to thank Mark for all he has contributed.”Giles – who will be chosen for the role ahead of his former captain, Dermot Reeve – has a tough task to reinvigorate his old team-mates, but as a familiar and trusted face around the dressing-room, he starts his reign from a position of strength. “His knowledge of both the club and what it takes to perform at the highest levels make him an ideal candidate to take the squad forward,” Povey confirmed. “I very much look forward to working with Ashley and wish him every success in his new role.”

India Under-19 profited from three crucial half-centuries to reach 255 for 7 in their first innings on the first day of the four-day match against Pakistan Under-19 at the Rawalpindi Cricket Stadium.Put in to bat by Pakistan U-19 captain Mohammad Ibrahim, India U-19 slipped to 95 for 3 before a 110-run fourth-wicket stand between Virat Kauli (63) and Tanmay Srivastava (55) lent stability to their first innings.At the top of the order, opener Pervez Aziz held the innings together with 63 off 112 balls with 10 fours. Kauli smashed eight boundaries in his 121-ball knock while Tanmay struck two fours and a six off 137 balls before handing a catch back to new-ball bowler Mohammad Naved, who finished with 2 for 38.Nayyar Abbas captured 2 for 57 while his fellow left-arm slow bowler Imad Wasim took 1 for 36. The Indian Under-19 side will play another four-day match at Peshawar from September 13 before clashing against Pakistan Under-19 in four one-day matches.

Ricky Ponting exchanges words with Matthew Hoggard and Ashley Giles on his way back to the pavilion © Getty Images

Ricky Ponting faces disciplinary action from match referee Ranjan Madugalle for how he reacted when he was run out by substitute fielder Gary Pratt’s direct hit on the third day. He is to appear before Madugalle after stumps on Sunday.Ponting, who made 48, was called for a tight single by Damien Martyn, and Pratt, fielding for the hospitalised Simon Jones, threw down the stumps from cover with Ponting six inches short of safety. As he waited for the third umpire’s decision, Ponting was seen having an animated discussion with Aleem Dar, the square-leg umpire, and he also exchanged words with some of the fielders as he left the field as well as aiming comments towards the England dressing room.”I was disappointed with my dismissal given that it was a crucial stage of the game and I’d worked hard to get to that position,” Ponting said in a statement. “I let myself down with my reaction and for that I apologise to those who see me as a role model.”My frustration at getting out was compounded by the fact that I was run out by a substitute fielder, an issue that has concerned us from the start of this series and one we raised before the series.” Australia have been concerned about England’s use of substitute fielders since the NatWest Series, arguing that it is a way of giving the home side’s fast bowlers a rest. Substitutes are only generally allowed if players are ill or injured but, according to the Laws of Cricket, it is the umpires alone who have the responsibility for letting substitutes take the field and the opposing captain has no right of appeal.

Ponting in discussion with Aleem Dar as they wait for the third umpire © Getty Images

Some reports claimed that Duncan Fletcher, who was on the England balcony when Ponting returned, was the target of comments . “I don’t know what he said, I haven’t spoken to my players about it but there’s always some sort of chat out there,” Fletcher shrugged. “I don’t say ‘hold on what are you talking to the Aussies about?’. I saw him mumble something but I don’t know what he said.”As for complaints about the use of substitutes, Fletcher was dismissive. “Simon Jones was off and I don’t think we could have gone on with 10 men. It was very important we put a 12th man on to replace him. The guys go off to excuse themselves – nature calls and they’re replaced for an over. That’s the way it goes. You want to take a run to a cover fielder and get run out, whose fault is that?”

Kenya’s legspinner Collins Obuya will almost certainly miss the Champions Trophy in September after undergoing surgery to remove his appendix. He was rushed to hospital with stomach pains during Kenya’s match against Pakistan A on Monday.Obuya was instrumental in Kenya’s advance to the World Cup semi-finals last year, taking 5 for 24 in their vital group-stage victory over Sri Lanka. He was subsequently signed by Warwickshire as an overseas player for the 2003 season.”He is likely to be out of action for seven weeks. It is a great shame because Collins has played good one-day cricket for Kenya,” lamented Andy Moles, Kenya’s coach. “It’s very disappointing for the team as a whole and for Collins but he is definitely out of the triangular series and very doubtful for the Champions Trophy.”Kenya have already been weakened by the withdrawal of their captain, Maurice Odumbe, who has taken a break from cricket while answering match-fixing allegations.

Mohammad Kaif’s one-day debut for Derbyshire, in the Cheltenham and Gloucester Trophy, was memorable – he made 81 off 85 balls, playing an innings of class and character. But he couldn’t quite get it together after that, failing to justify his reputation as one of the rising stars of World Cricket.
Derbyshire averagesAugust 24 National Cricket League
Derbyshire beat Northamptonshire by 3 wicketsDerbyshire avenged their crushing defeat by Northamptonshire in the Frizzell County Championship, eking out a three-wicket in the National League. Kaif’s contribution was just 10, but Michael Di Venuto slammed 130 to take Derbyshire to the victory target of 252.
Scorecard ReportAugust 20-22 Frizzell County Championship
Derbyshire lost to Northamptonshire by an innings and 231 runsOnce again Kaif got starts in both innings, scoring 31 and 14, but failed to carry on, as Derbyshire slumped to a humiliating defeat by an innings and 231 runs. Derbyshire were bowled out for a measly 138 in their first innings, while Northamptonshire bludgeoned 647 for 5 declared. Derbyshire made a better effort the second time around, but despite Michael Di Venuto’s 116, could manage just 278.
ScorecardReportAugust 17 National Cricket League
Derbyshire lost to Hampshire by 6 wicketsIn Derbyshire’s first innings of 158 in 45 overs, Kaif made the third highest score, stroking 21 off 33 balls before falling to Tremlett. His captain, Dominic Cork, made 49 lower down the order, but their final total of 158 for 9 was still not enough to test Hampshire, who cruised home with six wickets to spare.
Scorecard ReportAugust 13-14 Frizzell County Championship
Derbyshire beat Hampshire by an innings and 43 runsKaif failed to convert his start, being trapped lbw by Chaminda Vaas for 36, but Derbyshire coasted to a thumping win inside two days. Their hero was Dominic Cork, who had match figures of 10 for 67 as Hampshire were bundled out for 143 and 155.
Scorecard ReportAugust 10 National Cricket League
Derbyshire beat Sussex by 6 wicketsKaif and Dominic Hewson combined to guide Derbyshire to a six-wicket victory, with seven balls remaining. Kaif anchored the run-chase, making 55 from 62 balls, while Hewson chipped in with a 29-ball 39. Sussex’s total owed much to a 55-ball 60 from Matthew Prior, but it wasn’t enough in a match restricted to 32 overs-a-side by rain.
Scorecard ReportAugust 7 C&G Trophy semi-final
Derbyshire lost to Gloucestershire by 1 wicketKaif rose to the occasion of a semi-final encounter, scoring a fluent 72 off 83 balls, but Derbyshire were edged out by one wicket in a thriller. Kaif’s knock lifted Derbyshire to 219 in an innings where no other batsman topped 40. Ultimately, though, he was upstaged by Shoaib Malik’s 74, which won the day for Gloucestershire.
Scorecard ReportAugust 4 National Cricket League
Derbyshire lost to Lancashire by 8 wicketsThe first half-century for Kaif in the National League, but his 70, scored off 89 balls with nine fours, wasn’t enough to secure a win for Derbyshire. Kaif got little support from the rest of the batsmen, as Derbyshire folded up for 197. Lancashire romped past the target with almost 10 overs to spare.
Scorecard ReportAugust 3 National Cricket League
Derbyshire lost to Middlesex by 4 wicketsKaif managed just 1, taking his National League tally to a miserable 69 from four innings, but Derbyshire rode on a 111-ball 106 by Michael Di Venuto to post a challenging 259. It wasn’t enough, though, as Middlesex won by four wickets.
Scorecard ReportJuly 24-27 Frizzell County Championship
Derbyshire drew with DurhamMohammad Kaif had another disappointing match, scoring 31 and 7 as Derbyshire drew against Durham. Three declarations in the first three innings of the match left Derbyshire chasing 251 for victory, but by close of play they managed only 204 for 7.
Scorecard ReportJuly 15-18 Frizzell County Championship
Derbyshire lost to Worcestershire by an innings and 42 runsMohammad Kaif will be disappointed with contributions of 31 and 30, but in both innings of the game against Worcestershire, he end up topscoring, as Derbyshire recorded paltry totals of 129 and 96. Worcestershire’s 301 proved to be more than enough to seal a game dominated by their bowlers. Michael Mason’s first-innnings 5 for 43 was overshadowed by Kabir Ali, who scythed through the Derby batting with 8 for 58 in 15.4 overs.
Scorecard ReportJuly 13 National Cricket League
Derbyshire beat Sussex by 6 wicketsA game of two centuries, with Christopher Bassano’s being the decisive contribution, as Derbyshire made it past the target with 20 balls remaining. Mohammad Kaif cobbled together 44, and Dominic Hewson – who had earlier snared 4 for 40 – made 34 in support of Bassano’s brilliant 126. Murray Goodwin was Sussex’s batting hero with a classy 129.
Scorecard ReportJuly 9-11 Frizzell County Championship
Derbyshire lost to Gloucestershire by 5 wicketsAn encounter both Derbyshire and Kaif would like to forget. Derbyshire batted first on winning the toss and were skittled out for 89 in just 36 overs (Kaif 12 from 28 balls). Gloucestershire then made 277, and Derbyshire batted a bit better in the second innings, hitting up 356 – Kaif’s contribution was just 6 off 17 balls. Gloucestershire reached the target of 169 without breaking much of a sweat.
Scorecard ReportJuly 2-5 Frizzell County Championship
Derbyshire lost to Yorkshire by 10 wicketsYorkshire thrashed Derbyshire with time to spare, as Kaif saved his side the embarrassment of an innings defeat. Derbyshire followed on after being dismissed for 128 (Kaif 0) chasing Yorkshire’s 444 (Yuvraj 6), and Kaif then grinded four-and-a-half hours for his 87, ensuring that Yorkshire would have to bat again. The result, though, was hardly in question.
Scorecard ReportJune 27-29 Frizzell County Championship
Derbyshire lost to Northamtonshire by 180 runsKaif made a duck in the second innings, as Derbyshire – needing 287 for a win – were bowled out for a paltry 106. Kaif’s 28 was the second-highest score in Derbyshire’s first innings, and he also chipped in with a wicket, trapping Philip Jacques in front. It was only his 18th first-class scalp.
Scorecard ReportJune 24 Twenty20 Cup
Derbyshire lost to Leicestershire by 1 runKaif was at the forefront of a thrilling run-chase – he came in with Derbyshire on 9 for 2, chasing 171, and made a combative 53 off 40 balls. Derbyshire eventually fell just a run short, in a match marred by controversy, as Derbyshire disputed the legality of a late boundary catch where the fielder appeared to have crossed the rope. In a few earlier matches, Kaif had failed and his team had won. This was the reverse.
Scorecard ReportJune 23 Twenty20 Cup
Derbyshire beat Durham by 6 runsKaif failed again, making just 4, but Derbyshire won regardless, posting 157 and restricting Durham to 151 for 5.
Scorecard ReportJune 21 Twenty20 Cup
Derbyshire beat Lancashire by 7 wicketsKaif failed, though Derbyshire won easily. Dominic Hewson took four wickets as Lancashire was skittled out for 91, but Derbyshire almost made a meal of it. They were 10 for 2 when Kaif walked in, and though he made only 7 off 12, he added 35 crucial runs with Michael Di Venuto, who continued a fine run of form and wrapped up the game with 52 not out.
Scorecard ReportJune 19 Twenty20 Cup
Derbyshire beat Nottinghamshire by 9 wicketsNot much for Kaif to do in this game. Nottinghamshire was knocked over for 94, and Kaif walked in to bat with Derbyshire on 56 for 1. He eased himself to 11 off 12 balls as Derbyshire won with 8.3 overs to spare – a handsome margin for a 20-overs-a-side game.
Scorecard ReportJune 15 National Cricket League
Derbyshire lost to Lancashire by five runsKaif failed again, as Derbyshare fell short of Lancashire’s total of 251 by just five runs. He walked in to bat at 24 for 2, but just as a recovery seemed to be underway, Kaif was bowled by Brad Hogg for 12.
Scorecard ReportJune 14, Twenty20 Cup
Derbshire lost to Yorkshire by 45 runsKaif ended on the losing end of a battle of rising Indian stars; Yuvraj Singh made a sterling 44 off 41 as Yorkshire made 186 for 5 in their 20 overs. Kaif, coming in to bat 36 for 2, made a second-ball duck, being trapped lbw by Ryan Sidebottom. Derbyshire duly crumbled to a 45-run defeat.
Scorecard ReportJune 11 C&G Trophy
Derbyshire beat Surrey by 137 runsMohammad Kaif played a matchwinning innings of 81, off 85 balls, in his first one-day game for Derbyshire. Kaif came in to bat with the score on 75 for 2, and played an innings of character, nurdling the bowling with ease and dominating a fourth-wicket partnership of 88 with Dominic Hewson. His placement was excellent and his cover-driving, sublime. Derbyshire thus walked into the semi final of the C&G Trophy with an astonishingly easy win, against the one-day powerhouse of the previous year.
Scorecard ReportJune 4-7 Frizzell County Championship
Derbyshire lost to Glamorgan by an innings and 70 runsMohammad Kaif’s debut for Derbyshire ended in debacle, as Kaif made 13 (off 26) and 6 (off 12; note the strike-rate in both innings) and Derbyshire lost by their biggest margin of the season. Not an auspicious start.
Scorecard Report

Justin Langer missed a century but he may have booked a Test berth after joining West Australian captain Adam Gilchrist in a run feast against Queensland at the Gabba today.Langer and Gilchrist brought about their own downfalls in the Pura Cup cricket match with rash shots in the 90s, but only after leading the Warriors into a solid position against the Bulls after two days.At stumps, Queensland was 0-41 in its first innings in reply to the Warriors’ enterprising 8(dec)-360.Langer had himself to blame for missing a ton, reaching 96 against a quality attack before he was bowled trying to slog Adam Dale (2-46).Gilchrist had a similar ending, skying Andrew Bichel (2-98) to Dale at wide mid-on, but the captain said the quick tempo was necessary after yesterday’s first day was washed out.Both players strolled off the ground with a slouch but Langer should have been happy after showing national selector Trevor Hohns he wanted to open against NewZealand in the first Test at the Gabba on November 8.Following another century from Tasmanian Jamie Cox yesterday, the pressure tightened on Langer to retain the Test position he won from dumped opener Michael Slater in the last match on the Ashes tour.He was cautious early, surviving a chance when Bulls ‘keeper Wade Seccombe spilled a tough catch from the second ball of the day.But he stepped up the pace until falling to the same rush of blood which ruined his Test tour of India earlier this year.Gilchrist, who was the batting star against a Queensland attack which failed to live up to its reputation, said Langer was ready to trade in his No.3 spot to become a full time opener in Australia, reprising the same role he had played in English county stints.”The option is there for him and he is in control of his destiny,” Gilchrist said.”It’s got our backing and, if he keeps getting runs, I couldn’t see where it would change.”He’s pretty comfortable and he’s determined to do well.”Gilchrist outshone Langer with a typically blistering knock, smashing 11 fours and four sixes from 102 balls, including a towering six over the backward squareboundary which wrecked his bat.His 154-run stand with Marcus North (47) helped make up for a bunch of missed opportunities from Simon Katich (25), Damien Martyn (22) and Murray Goodwin(24).Martyn was run out in a wasteful mix-up with Langer, who stood his ground when his partner called for a single from the non-striker’s end.It wasn’t a great day for the Bulls, with even Gilchrist admitting their bowling performance was “very un-Queensland-like”.There were too many short and overpitched balls, enabling Gilchrist, North and Langer to tear up plenty of runs on a Gabba pitch which zipped around early.Ashley Noffke dented his Test chances with an indifferent return of 0-76, while Michael Kasprowicz (3-89), Bichel and Dale took wickets without hitting theirstraps.Bulls openers Matthew Hayden (12 not out) and Jimmy Maher (29 not out) negotiated a tough period before stumps to ensure the home team would start its run chase intact tomorrow.

Newcastle United are lining up a £50m summer bid for Bayer Leverkusen winger Moussa Diaby, according to The Daily Mail’s Simon Jones.

The lowdown

The 22-year-old came through the Paris Saint-Germain youth ranks before joining Leverkusen in a £13.5m deal in the summer of 2019 (via Transfermarkt).

He has scored 33 goals and laid on 32 assists in 113 appearances for Die Werkself, with nearly half of those goals (15) and almost a third of his assists (nine) coming this season.

One of the Frenchman’s outstanding attributes is his pace. Clocked at 21.79mph earlier this season, he is among the quickest players in the Bundesliga. Also, German publication The Rheinische Post have described his pace as ‘irresistible’ and his dribbling as ‘amazing’ (via bundesliga.com).

The latest

Jones reported for The Daily Mail that Newcastle have been monitoring Diaby for months and scouted him during Leverkusen’s 1-1 draw with Bayern Munich on Saturday.

The Magpies are willing to break their transfer record to get a £50m deal done, but Leverkusen value him in the same bracket as Kai Havertz, who was sold to Chelsea for £75m in 2020.

The verdict

Would Newcastle have been further encouraged by what they saw against Bayern this weekend?

It was a mixed performance from Diaby. He failed to complete any of his three dribbles and lost five of the six ground duels he contested, but he created a ‘big chance’ and was duly unfortunate not to get another assist to his name (via SofaScore).

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The Daily Mail’s report states that Newcastle are wary of greater competition for the 22-year-old emerging in the coming months, and that’s no surprise given his excellent record this season. Therefore, if they want to bring him to St James’ Park, time may be of the essence.

In other news, these were Newcastle’s three worst players against Brighton

Paul Collingwood lost 50% of his match fee because of England’s tardy over-rate © Getty Images

Paul Collingwood, the England captain, has been fined 50% of his match fee for England’s slow over-rate in the second ODI against India at Bristol.The rest of the team was also fined 15% of their match fee as England were three overs short of the target after time allowances were taken into consideration.Roshan Mahanama, the match referee, imposed the fines once the charge was laid by the two on-field umpires Billy Doctrove and Ian Gould and third umpire Nigel Llong. Since the shortfall was more than two overs, Collingwood was charged with breaching a Level II Code of Conduct.The hearing was attended by Collingwood, England team operations manager Phil Neale, coach Peter Moores and the four umpires on duty for the match.

Shane Watson offers Australia a fifth bowling option © Getty Images

The success of Glenn McGrath’s international return over the next two months will have a strong impact on who bats at No. 6 in the first Ashes Test, according to Ricky Ponting. McGrath leaves this week for his first action since withdrawing from the team in January with the team balance for the England series hinging on his lanky shoulders.If McGrath, 36, stutters through the Malaysian tri-series and the Champions Trophy Australia will seriously consider using the allrounder Shane Watson at No. 6 instead of the batting specialist Michael Clarke. With almost three months until the start of Ashes it seems to be the only position in question, although injuries and the form of McGrath after his wife’s battle with cancer will also be factors.”I don’t think there’s any doubt [a fifth bowling option] would help,” Ponting said in the Sydney Morning Herald. “We probably felt coming back from the last Ashes series that at times we were a bowler down, or that it would have been nice to have someone else to go to with the ball through that series.”I think that a lot of that No. 6 position could come down to how Glenn’s going at the time. If we’ve got Glenn, Brett [Lee], probably Stuey Clark and [Shane] Warney all bowling well, then there mightn’t be a greater need for another, unless it’s me or Damien Martyn rolling our arm over, but hopefully that doesn’t happen. It all depends on how Glenn comes along.”The Ashes lead-up will also include at least one Pura Cup game for every player – it could be more with an early exit at the Champions Trophy – and Ponting said the series would be thought about in Malaysia and India. “I don’t think one-day form as such counts for a lot as far as Test form goes, but if you’re out in the middle, hitting balls and scoring runs – or taking wickets and bowling the ball where you want to – it doesn’t matter what form of the game you are playing,” he told . “You can feel like you’ve got your game in pretty good order.”Ponting told the he still had aches and pains from the pre-season camp but said it was a huge success despite a knee injury to Stuart MacGill. “The one downside was that there might have been a couple of little niggles from it,” he told the paper. “Hopefully we can all get over that. The team is a lot closer and stronger now than it’s been for a long time as a result of that camp.”