India's tour of England

Second Test, Trent Bridge, day two (stumps) India 302-8 v England Indian captain Sourav Ganguly held his side together as England once again failed to make the most of decent bowling conditions. But the left-hander's controversial dismissal for 68, sandwiched between tea and and a terminal break for rain, means India are unlikely to get close to 350. Debutant Steve Harmison admitted he had been terribly nervous before claiming his first Test wickets. He began the match with four wayward overs, which were only maidens because so many of the deliveries he sent down veered down the leg-side. "I was very nervous yesterday (Thursday) and I was just starting to come round by the end of play," admitted the 23-year-old. "The first four overs were not very good - if they had gone for runs the confidence would have gone downhill from there." Ganguly could be in trouble with disciplinary chiefs for showing dissent after he was given out in the second Test against England at Trent Bridge. Ganguly was dismissed for 68, facing just one ball after the interval, when he was caught down the leg-side by wicket-keeper Alec Stewart as he flicked at a Matthew Hoggard delivery. Zimbabwean umpire Russell Tiffin gave him out but Ganguly, convinced he had not touched the ball, raised his head skywards and then shook it in disbelief at the verdict. His gestures were a direct contravention of the International Cricket Council's (ICC) code of conduct for players which states they must not show dissent at umpiring decisions.

Australia's tour of Pakistan

Cricket's governing body looks likely to give Pakistan financial assistance after Australia became the latest country to pull out of a scheduled tour. Australian officials cited player safety fears behind the cancellation of three Tests scheduled for October, but Pakistan claimed they could face bankruptcy as a result. The Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) estimates it has already lost £16m after India, New Zealand and West Indies all pulled out of trips in the last year.

Miscellaneous

The Australian Cricket Board has appointed former South Australian wicketkeeper Tim Nielsen as assistant coach to John Buchanan, in an effort to increase their use of technology in coaching. Nielsen, who has been fulfilling a similar role as Greg Chappell’s offsider with the Redbacks for the last three seasons, will be Buchanan’s assistant and also the team’s computer and video performance analyst. South Africa was on Friday rocked by reports that at least eight top cricketers of the country have signed up contracts with English county sides and have no intention of returning after the World Cup next February. The reports in the local media have linked the move with the recent controversy surrounding the race quota system. Jonty Rhodes, who is playing for South Africa in one- dayers only, has already been named as one of the players who will be moving to England after the World Cup after apparently signing up a contract with Gloucestershire. The WACA Ground may follow Subiaco Oval's lead by selling its name if a buyer can be found at the right price. The Western Australian Cricket Association estimates $1 million a year and a long-term contract would be required for naming rights to the 111-year-old ground. The WA Football Commission, through a consultancy group, is negotiating with three corporations - Telstra, Vodafone and BankWest - to buy the naming rights to Subiaco Oval. WACA president Brian Rakich said it was unlikely the cricket ground would follow suit but it could not be ruled out.

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