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Northamptonshire 149 for 5 (Shafayat 76, Hossain 3-67) v Bangladesh
ScorecardAfter their two-and-a-half-day debacle against Sussex earlier in the week, Bangladesh enjoyed a much improved day in the field at Wantage Road, albeit against a significantly weaker opposition, as Northamptonshire were limited to 149 for 5 by the time the rains rolled in midway through the afternoon session.Bangladesh’s star performer was their seamer, Anwar Hossain Monir, who picked up 3 for 67 on his first outing of the tour. His efforts ensured that Northants would not be able to gallop away with the game in quite the same manner that Sussex – and Michael Yardy – had done at Hove.In fact, that mismatch had been so emphatic that Northants saw fit to rest the bulk of their first-team squad, with only Bilal Shafayat and Usman Afzaal, deputising for David Sales, retained among a team of rookies. One familiar face for the Bangladeshis was the South African student, Matt Friedlander, who had played against them for British Universities in their opening fixture at Fenner’s. He is not even on the Northants playing staff.Rain delayed the start by 75 minutes, but once Northants had won the toss and chosen to bat, Shafayat was quickly into his stride, striking 14 fours as he clattered along at nearly a run a ball. Wickets continued to fall at the other end, however, with Monir and Tapash Baisya both breaking through with the new ball.Monir grabbed his second when Tim Roberts was caught-behind for 16 (93 for 3), but it was the spinner, Enamul Haque jr, who struck the big blow in his second over, as Shafayat was caught by Nafees Iqbal for 76. One run later, Riki Wessels became Monir’s third victim but before they could make any further inroads, the rain came to Northants’ aid.Bangladesh were hampered by the continued absence of their captain and leading batsman, Habibul Bashar, who was felled by a Jason Lewry bouncer at Hove and did not take part in the remainder of that match. In his absence, the wicketkeeper Khaled Mashud took over as captain, with the 16-year-old Mushfiqur Rahim retained in the side after his brave half-century against Sussex.Northamptonshire 1 Thomas Huggins, 2 Bilal Shafayat, 3 Robert White, 4 Tim Roberts, 5 Usman Afzaal (capt), 6 Riki Wessels (wk), 7 Matt Friedlander, 8 Andrew White, 9 Charl Pietersen, 10 Richard King, 11 John Wolstenholme.Bangladesh 1 Javed Omar, 2 Nafees Iqbal, 3 Rajin Saleh, 4 Mohammad Ashraful, 5 Khaled Mashud (capt, wk), 6 Aftab Ahmed, 7 Mushfiqur Rahim, 8 Mohammad Rafique, 9 Enamul Haque jnr, 10 Anwar Hossain, 11 Tapash Baisya.

Australia 225 for 8 (Gilchrist 95, Ponting 42) beat India 296 for 4 (Yuvraj 139, Laxman 106*) by 2 wickets with a ball to spare (D/L method)
Scorecard

Adam Gilchrist took no prisoners in his explosive innings of 95 ©Getty Images

Even losing 16 overs to a lightning-illuminated thunder shower did not dampen a cracker of a game at the SCG. Yuvraj Singh (139) and VVS Laxman (106 not out) lifted India to a commanding 296 for 4, only to watch in shock as Adam Gilchrist made a mockery of the target. He blasted 95 from just 72 balls and set up a platform from which the supporting cast merely had to hold their nerve to go past the finish line. They did so, but not before several twists and turns, with just one ball to spare.When he began his innings Gilchrist was still looking at a long, hard climb, with Australia needing to score at nearly six an over for 50 overs. But Gilchrist knows no plodding. He slapped the second ball he faced to the cover-point fence, and proceeded to hit every bowler off his line and length. Ajit Agarkar, returning to the team, kept the ball up in quest of swing, and was duly thrashed. Lakshmipathy Balaji began promisingly, but soon discovered that there was no room for error when bowling to Gilchrist outside the off stump. Irfan Pathan was promising, and had Simon Katich out in just the second over, pulling awkwardly to mid-on (1 for 1).From then on, however, Gilchrist took over. He went after anything that was loose, unafraid to slash hard even if he was not to the pitch of the ball, and threaded gaps in the off side with ease. Any width outside the off was mercilessly exploited. Soon the bowlers were forced to keep it straighter, and began to stray onto leg. That, of course, was simply playing into Gilchrist’s hands. His nonchalant flick over midwicket for six was a case in point.But when play was stopped with 9.2 overs bowled and Australia on 73 for 1, India still held the edge. Scoring close to 300 would never be easy, no matter how deep a team bats. When over an hour of play was lost and the players returned, Gilchrist was a bit more circumspect. Ricky Ponting, nowhere near his fluent best, had made 13 before the interruption. The break had obviously done him good. He grew in confidence, dispatched Sourav Ganguly for a six over square leg, and now appeared to be in control.Completely against the run of play, Pathan snaffled two wickets in as many balls. Ponting and Damien Martyn went in identical fashion, feathering nicks to Parthiv Patel (150 for 3). Just four runs later, Gilchrist (95, 72 balls, 14 fours, 1 six) presented Murali Kartik with a return catch (154 for 4), and India were back in the hunt.Andy Symonds (16) creamed one delicious six over cover off Ganguly, but then hit the very next ball down Agarkar’s throat at square leg (176 for 5). The situation was tailormade for Michael Bevan. Unfortunately for Australia, though, he was edgy at the crease, and made just 12 from 20 balls before playing down the wrong line and losing his off stump to Ganguly (195 for 6). The pressure was on, and Michael Clarke jumped down the wicket off the first ball he faced. He was comprehensively beaten, but then so was Patel, who fumbled the stumping.Clarke clattered 21 from just 20 balls, but fell with the score on 210, holing out to Hemang Badani at long-on. Andy Bichel and Brett Lee were charged with the task of making 15 runs in 12 balls. The penultimate over, bowled by Agarkar, went for four runs, and now 11 were needed off the final over, bowled by Balaji. He fired the first three balls into the blockhole, and only four runs were conceded. Going for the yorker once more, Balaji dropped the fourth ball in the slot. Lee lined up and teed off. The ball sailed into the stands over long-off and that settled the matter. With one ball left, Australia were home.The Indians, deflated, walked off the field a dejected lot. After all, they had done everything right when they won the toss and chose to bat first. On a true wicket, Yuvraj played an innings he will remember for a long time to come. He hit the ball with amazing power and precision, never more so than in the penultimate over, when he belted Ian Harvey for 22 runs, and powered India to 296 for 4. While Yuvraj (139, 122 balls) battered the bowling to the tune of 16 fours and two sixes with his long blade, Laxman caressed and coaxed his way to an unbeaten 106, his fourth ODI century. With a little help from Patel (28), who was once again promoted to the opening slot, and Rahul Dravid (12), who stroked three gorgeous boundaries in his short stay at the crease, India finished just four runs short of the 300 mark. In the end, though, the total was inadequate.

Team Englandat the ready Photo Jeremy Snape

A week ago we pulled back to level the series at 2-2. We had a come a long way from the disappointing loss at Wellington and rediscovered the fighting spirit that we had so confidently displayed in India.A highlight for all of us this week was the opportunity to spend a day with the Great Britain America’s Cup Team in Auckland. Days like this offer a welcome break from continual travelling and match preparation of long tours. ‘Goughie’ entertained us all by scaling up the 40-foot mast of the racing yacht. Some of his Yorkshire teammates were keen to leave him there but Nasser thought he might just need him for the final game!For the one-day squad this was the final chapter in what had been a chaotic road show of cricket played over seven weeks and two continents.Dunedin on first impressions could easily have been mistaken for the Glens of Scotland with its cool climate and livestock-filled pastures. A heavy Celtic influence could also be seen in the town; we just hoped that we were not going to bump into William Wallace and his men at the game!Students turned out in their thousands on Tuesday to watch our match, using fancy dress as a therapeutic break from their lectures. It’s the first time I have seen 20 Elvises sitting next to a group of nuns, especially as the nuns were quaffing beer all day!On a serious note, our preparation had gone very well and we were desperate to finish the tour with a series win. Again we decided to bat and put the Kiwis under pressure to chase a high first innings target. The early signs were that this was going to be the perfect wicket for an exciting one-day final.Marcus Trescothick was unfortunate again to be dismissed for a low score. He had played so well in India and this highlights the ups and downs which players have to deal with. `Tres’ really impressed me on the tour though, and I am sure that he is going to be a fine cricketer for England in the years to come.Nasser and Owais Shah got into a position to take the control of the game as they both played very well to reach half centuries. Unfortunately we saw how one ball can change a game at this level, and Nasser’s dismissal forced us to reassess our attack in the last 15 overs of the innings.

Onthe ocean Photo Jeremy Snape

Scoring 220 was modest from our expectations of the wicket, but we knew that if we could take early wickets, the Kiwis could fold as they had done before during the summer. With better fortune in some of the lbw appeals, there is no doubt that we could have forced another nail-biting victory, but it was not to be. Instead, we were treated to a fantastic unbeaten century by Nathan Astle, which guided New Zealand to an emphatic victory.This was very disappointing for all our squad, and it highlights the need to add more consistency to our game in the run up to the World Cup. With Nasser and Duncan Fletcher at the helm, I have no doubt that we will grow from this tour and the invaluable lessons which we have encountered. Looking forward, our home series against India and Sri Lanka this summer, followed by winter tour of Australia, will provide us the ideal preparation for our challenge on the World Cup next March.Personally, this tour was a wonderful experience for me and despite not playing in New Zealand, I was delighted with my all-round contributions.The long flight back home has left me a little tired but also gave me time to reflect on a fascinating period of my life. I now look forward to joining up with my Gloucestershire teammates on Monday and training hard for the demands of the new season. With our new signing and pace bowlers fit, we have the potential to put more silverware in the cabinet in 2002.My goals remain unchanged; to develop my game further to make me an improved player for both Gloucestershire and England, and I look forward to the exciting challenges of the year ahead.

Zimbabwe coach Carl Rackemann has blamed his side’s eight-wicketdefeat by India in the first cricket Test in Bulawayo on injuries tokey players, captain Heath Streak and Henry Olonga.India beat Zimbabwe on Sunday with a day to spare to record theirfirst victory outside the sub continent in 15 years.”We lost because of the injury to Henry Olonga and Heath Streak. Whenyou have an injury to any of your bowlers, it is a big setback.Otherwise there is nothing wrong with the players. The team has anucleus of very good and experienced players,” the coach said.Rackemann said with the loss of the two bowlers, who were injuredbefore the start of India’s second innings, all hopes were lost. Buthe said the performance of Brighton Watambwa, playing in only histhird Test, gave them the confidence of winning the second match andforcing a draw in the two match series.”The young man who has just started his career took over the baton andspearheaded the attack. The manner in which he did the job was good,”he said.Rackemann hoped their performance would be a lot better in the secondTest in Harare which starts on Friday. Streak is expected to recoverin time but Olonga has been ruled out of the Test.”We were in India last year and were beaten there. They (India)recently beat Australia, the world’s top cricketing team. AlthoughZimbabwe have beaten India in Harare, it shows what opposition thecountry is facing,” the coach said.

Tottenham Hotspur return to Premier League action later this afternoon and manager Antonio Conte is facing a number of selection dilemmas.

The north London outfit welcome a resurgent Newcastle United to the Tottenham Hotspur Stadium, where they’ll be looking to gain ground on the race for a top-four finish following Manchester United’s draw to Leicester City on Saturday evening.

There have been a few injury concerns heading into kickoff, with midfield academy graduate Oliver Skipp still thought to be nursing an issue, whilst Wales international Ben Davies should be available despite withdrawing from international duty.

“Ben is okay. He had a little problem, but he’s available,” the Spurs boss said of the 28-year-old defender ahead of the game (via the club’s official website).

However, given the opposition, it may not be the best decision to put him straight into the starting XI today.

Eddie Howe’s Magpies side have won three of their last five matches in the top-flight and will be looking to respond from their late 1-0 defeat to a struggling Everton team last time out.

The former AFC Bournemouth boss has quite the threat up top in Chris Wood, and his physical and towering presence could cause a lot of trouble to Conte’s backline, especially if he opts for Davies over someone like Davinson Sanchez.

At just 5 foot 11, the Welshman doesn’t possess the height to combat the 6 foot 3 marksman. Davies is losing 1.8 of his four attempted headers per 90 in the Premier League this season, whereas the Colombian colossus has won 2.7 aerial duels per 90, as per WhoScored.

Furthermore, the £27m-rated centre-back is averaging more tackles (2.1) and interceptions (1.4) than his makeshift counterpart, albeit starting five fewer matches.

He’s also better with the ball at his feet, managing a better passing accuracy by nearly 3%, which should also appeal to the Italian head coach with his intentions to play out from the back.

Wood may have only scored one goal from his ten league appearances for the northeast giants this campaign, but he’s still playing the full 90 minutes as a trusted man under Howe.

FootballFanCast General Stay ahead in the world of football analysis, commentary, and fan insights with FootballFancast. Subscribe FootballFanCast General Stay ahead in the world of football analysis, commentary, and fan insights with FootballFancast.

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The New Zealand international has also won a whopping 8.8 aerials per game since his winter move from Burnley, so that only goes to show why Conte must trust the 6 foot 2 Sanchez over a full-back playing out of position in Davies.

As such, the Spurs boss must turn to the defender, who Mauricio Pochettino once lauded as a “beast”, ahead of today’s kickoff – it could prove to be a game-changing call from the Italian as he looks to combat Newcastle’s main threat up top.

AND in other news, Conte can unearth his next 243-goal talent in Spurs prodigy who “runs over every blade”…

Scorecard

	Kyle McCallan’s all-round performance put Ireland on track for a win © pacemakerpressintl.com

Ireland marched towards victory against United Arab Emirates on the third day of their Intercontinental Cup match, with the hosts tottering at 186 for 7 after conceding a 246-run lead on the first innings.Niall O’Brien, who made 137 on the second day, added a further 37 to his score as Ireland converted their overnight score of 366 for 7 to 474. UAE, who had dismissed Trent Johnston on the second day’s final delivery to end a 163-run stand, were yet again frustrated as Niall found company in Kyle McCallan.UAE were unable to dislodge McCallan during his 52, which included a 77-run eight-wicket partnership with Niall. Sameer Zia finally ended Niall’s innings on 174, and then dismissed Greg Thompson for 1. Last-man Dave Langford-Smith scored 15 in a 37-run stand with McCallan, before UAE captain Saqib Ali put an end to the misery.Saqib was UAE’s leading bowler, with figures of 3 for 84. He was not done for the day though, and came with a fighting 98 as he kept his team in the hunt to avoid an innings defeat.McCallan, coming in a first change, removed the openers Amjad Ali and Gayan Silva, while Johnston had Naeemuddin Aslam trapped leg-before as UAE stumbled to 64 for 3. Rashid Khan (17) put on a 44-run partnership with Saqib, but his wicket triggered a collapse; Alex Cusack scalped two as UAE lost four wickets for 19 runs.Saqib took control from then on, and got support from No. 9 Zahid Shah to take UAE to 186 for 7 at stumps, still trailing by 60. Saqib played an attacking knock; his 98 came off 137 deliveries, with 14 fours and two sixes.McCallan capped off a good day with a 3 for 65 to add to his unbeaten fifty, while Cusack’s seven overs went for only ten runs, and his two wickets jolted UAE at a crucial juncture.

Graeme Smith: “Australia are carrying all the expectations and we are happy to go under the radar” © AFP

Throughout the World Cup Graeme Smith has dealt with many questions about choking. It’s a reputation South Africa have earned over years of failing a few big tests, and none have been more famous than two World Cup matches. In 1999, the inability to get one run in four balls cost them a place in the final, and, in 2003, they fell one short of a spot in the Super Sixes at home.”Today, we demolished it,” Smith said of the choking tag after beating England in a must-win match last week. Yet, he must know that there is only way to bury the past: they must not finish the World Cup as second-best. For a start, they need to beat Australia in St Lucia on Wednesday.The scar of 1999 runs the deepest. Smith was nowhere near the dressing room then – he was there when they botched the chase against Sri Lanka in 2003 – but he must face up to it every time South Africa meet Australia in a match of consequence. It was the second question addressed to him at St Lucia today and Smith responded with outward calm.Was his team fed up with being asked that question? “Not really,” he said. “It doesn’t get mentioned within the setup that much.” He did admit that it came up during a recent team conference. “But even with the guys who were part of the game it’s not such a big issue as people are making it out to be.”The 1999 game was a game in history, an incredible game of cricket and obviously it was disappointing for the country, but it’s a game that you learn from and move forward.” Of course, it would have been lost on no one that there would be no better way of moving forward than getting past Australia in a World Cup semi-final.Smith is aware of the enormity of the task. Australia have not lost a World Cup match since May 23, 1999, and have looked like a team from a different planet in this event. Batsmen in all other sides have struggled at various times in the tournament, but Australia have not lost more than six wickets, and have never failed to score 300 when batting first. Smith was quick to grab the role of the underdog.”It must be said they haven’t looked like a team beaten,” he said. “They are carrying all the expectations and we are happy to go under the radar.” He did make it clear that unlike the rest of the world, which thinks South Africa’s best chance lies with Australia having an off day, his team is prepared to take on Australia at their best.

The funny thing is there is no tension yet. There is a unique confidence in the side that I haven’t seen for a while. We have peaked at the right time

“We’re not sitting back expecting them to play a bad game,” Smith said. “That’s not how we’re going into this. We’re going into this game looking to execute our plan and expecting to beat them. We’re hoping to beat the best Australian team, and we are mentally preparing for that.”A semi-final is a tough game, what’s happened before means nothing. The fact you are here, I guess, is the most important thing. The guys are focused and the funny thing is there is no tension yet. There is a unique confidence in the side that I haven’t seen for a while. We have peaked at the right time, the game against England gave us a large boost.”Smith also stood up for Jacques Kallis, whose approach has been criticised despite him being South Africa’s leading run-scorer with 480 runs at 96. “My feeling about Jacques is that he’s a world-class player, definitely a team player,” he said. “He plays to the way he assesses a team total on the day and not all the time can anyone get it right.”He’s won many games for South Africa as a batter. Over the last couple of months and maybe years, he has had a look at his one-day game, maybe with the game changing he’s had to reassess a few things, but he’s an integral part of our team and I’m sure he’s going to play a massive role in the semi-final.”Smith singled out Herschelle Gibbs as the man most likely to be able to hustle Australia. “He’s unpredictable, has shots all around the wicket and he’s played well throughout the tournament,” he said. “He looks very determined going into this.”You talk about ’99 and how many guys get a second chance. He’s looking forward to the opportunity, I really believe Herschelle is up there for Wednesday.” Smith would not admit it, but there was no getting away from 1999. In the most unflattering way, it defines South Africa.

‘For me and Monty a home debut is something totally new…I’ve just got to make sure my mind is fully focused’ © Getty Images

Somewhere beneath his poised and upright exterior, Alastair Cook claims to harbour a shred of nervousness. But as he and his fellow winter debutant, Monty Panesar, faced the media ahead of their anticipated home debuts on Thursday, the fear of failure was clearly not weighing too heavily on his mind.After hurtling into the national consciousness with a brilliant century on debut, Cook is inked in to bat at No. 3 when the first Test against Sri Lanka gets underway at Lord’s. North-West London in early May is a world away from the heat and hubbub of Nagpur, but for Cook all things are equal when he steps on a cricket field. He was allowing nothing to faze him.Not even the prospect of shifting from the opener’s slot to one-down, a position he has not played in regularly since his days as a club batsman for Maldon in Essex. “There’s not really any difference,” he shrugged. “The only difference is you put your feet up while the other lads go out straight away. It’s still the same game, and I’ll still go through the same things to make sure my game is right.””I always get a bit nervous every time I bat,” he insisted, although England’s fans have yet to witness any evidence to support this claim. This is a man who believes that international cricket is his birthright, and though his chance has come about because of Michael Vaughan’s injury, he is not about to be regarded as a stop-gap Test cricketer.”Obviously Vaughan is going to be captain when’s back, but if you keep scoring runs, then they can’t leave you out,” he grinned. “I was disappointed to miss the Test in Mumbai through illness, so I’m glad I’ve got another chance now to stake a claim and score a few runs to keep my place.””It’s a fantastic time to be involved, on the back of the Ashes while everyone’s interested in cricket,” Cook added. “For me and Monty a home debut is something totally new. We’ve not done this before, so it’s a good place to learn. But our main focus will come when we get out there to the middle. I’ve just got to make sure my mind is fully focused.”Panesar, for his part, was the more diffident character, although to be a rookie spinner in the earliest home Test in English history is not quite the same as being presented with perfect slow-bowling conditions in Nagpur or Mumbai. “I’m trying not to complicate things too much,” he said. “I’ve got a good rhythm this season, so I’ll be trying to get the ball in the right areas and keep things simple.”Matching up against the great Muttiah Muralitharan will be a daunting prospect for Panesar, but at least the pair have got one thing in common – neither has yet played a Test at Lords. Murali’s first appearance in England was his 16-wicket haul at The Oval in a one-off Test in 1998, while he missed the Lord’s match four years later with a shoulder injury.”He’s got so many variations, and as a world-class spinner, he’s someone you look up to,” said Panesar. “You just want to learn and observe.” Cook, on the other hand, displayed few concerns about his impending contest with Murali, having coped with the twin threat of Harbhajan and Kumble after arriving in Nagpur just 48 hours before his debut in March.”I’ve watched him on TV, so know what he does,” added Cook. “Obviously it’s a different perspective when you face him, but it gives you an idea, and I’ll be going up to people who’ve played him well and getting hints off them.” Naturally enough the man he replaced in India, Marcus Trescothick, who scored a century in his first encounter with Murali in 2000-01, will be the first man to whom he will turn for advice. “It’s not rocket science,” shrugged Cook.Cook’s performances in India have confirmed his ability to an admiring public, but most importantly, they have given the man himself a sense of belonging. “It gives you that inner belief,” he admitted. “It’s not so much the unknown of Test cricket any more. I know it’ll never be as smooth as that every time, but I know I’ve scored a hundred and I know I can do it again.”He’s had an early setback in this summer as well, recording a sixth-ball duck for England A against the Sri Lankans at Worcester last week, but his failure was hardly noticed, as the tourists were routed inside three days. “We did what we were told to do, and went out and thumped them,” he said unequivocally. “The wicket had a little bit in it for our bowlers and they did fantastically well. Hopefully that’s got their confidence down a bit, so we can exploit it this week.”Nothing, it seems, can get at Cook’s confidence at present. At the age of 21 years and 135 days, the world really is his oyster.

Chris Gayle: the fourth triple-centurion in Tests for West Indies © Getty Images

Chris Gayle was a satisfied man after scoring his first triple-hundred in Tests, and credited Sir Garry Sobers for assisting him with his technique and making this achievement possible. West Indies ended the day on 565 for 5, thanks primarily to Gayle’s 317.”You can’t complain after scoring 300 runs man. I’m really happy for that,” Gayle was quoted as saying in The Trinidad Express. “A lot of pressure was on me, having played two Test matches and not scoring any runs. In this one, I told myself I really had to dig deep and cash in on this wicket. I’ve been working hard with Sir Garry and it really paid off today.”Gayle’s 317 was the fourth-highest individual score in Tests by a West Indian. Elaborating further on Sobers’s help, Gayle said, “Basically, it’s all about balance and trying to get your momentum going. I’ve done a lot in the indoor nets, myself and Wavell [Hinds]. The three of us [Gayle, Hinds and Sobers] worked together. He taught me a lot of things and they paid off here and thanks to him.”Gayle also admitted that he had tried to correct his footwork prior to this match. “In the last two games, I was trying to move a lot,” he said. “What I tried to do in this game is try and be as still as possible. I tried to widen my stance a bit to feel a bit more balance out there.”However, his ten-and-half hour innings was brought to an end when he was caught at first slip off Monde Zondeki. “I was looking to hopefully come tomorrow and build on it or try to get as close as possible to 400 today, but I was really tired yesterday, having been on the field for two days and coming back in to bat just before lunch [on the third day]. It was very hectic to have to go out there and bat under those conditions and I really pulled myself together.”

Gavin Hamilton has been recalled to the Scotland squad. Hamilton last represented Scotland in the 1999 World Cup, and now he has served a mandatory four-year absence after playing one Test for England in 1999, he is eligible again for selection.The Scotland selectors today confirmed the 14-man squad for the ICC Six Nations Challenge Tournament in Dubai between February 29 and March 6. Scotland will join five other associate member countries, including the hosts United Arab Emirates, Namibia, Holland, USA and Canada. The winners will then take part in the ICC Champions Trophy, to be played in England in September 2004.”It’s an exciting time to be back involved with Scottish cricket," said Hamilton, who recently joined Durham from Yorkshire. "I hope I can push the team forward by playing my part in the Six Nations Challenge and ultimately qualify for the Champions Trophy at the end of the season."The tournament should also give me a chance to spend some time in the middle and ensure I’m on top form for Durham when the campaign begins in April.”Craig Wright, Scotland’s captain, was also pleased with Hamilton’s return to the squad. “It’s exciting for us to go into a tournament of this stature," he said. "It’s also great to see Gavin back in Scotland colours. His ability and experience can only assist us in our desire to win this competition. The guys have been training really well and showing some good form in practice.”Squad Craig Wright (capt), Ryan Watson, Douglas Lockhart,Greg Williamson, Dougie Brown, Gavin Hamilton, Jamie Kerr, Fraser Watts, James Brinkley, John Blain, Majid Haq, Gregor Maiden, Ian Stanger, Paul Hoffmann, Tony Judd, Peter Drinnen, Euan McIntyre.