Compared with the soul-searching and winter-long agonising that went intoEngland’s eventual refusal to visit Zimbabwe for lastyear’s World Cup, the decision that Steve Harmison reached this morning wasan absolute no-brainer. But it was no less laudable for that.In the 18 months that have passed since that World Cup,Harmison’s stock as a cricketer has risen exponentially, the standard ofthe Zimbabwean team has fallen through the floor, and the situation in that country becomes ever more objectionable by the day. In the eyes of those who seek to put a political spin on every step of this saga, he had muchto lose from taking the trip, but plenty to gain from taking a stand.The tour will probably benefit from his absence as well. At a time when theworld is debating whether cricket’s minnow nations have any place inthe big pond, it makes no sense for Harmison, one of the meanest pikes inthe game, to be let loose on such defenceless opposition in suchmeaningless circumstances. If England are obliged to take part in thisseries, then the least they can do is blood some young bowlers and makea competition of it.Harmison has long had a reputation as a somewhat reluctant traveller, sothe moral aspect of his stand is probably less relevant than was the casewith Australia’s Stuart MacGill, who might now be reflecting on whether his refusal to tour Zimbabwe had anything to do with his omission from nextmonth’s India series. Naturally, Harmison has no such fears.But looking at the bigger picture, this tour is an unwanted distraction forEngland. They have a crucial nine months coming up, with a massive series in South Africa in December, followed by next summer’s Ashes. The morale ofthe side is every bit as important as form and fitness, and all three couldbe jeopardised on this trip.Harmison has a young family to consider and a huge workload ahead of him.Secretly, the England management may be hoping that his influence rubs offon some of the other key players, not least that man Flintoff. For the timebeing, less is definitely more.

The highlights of Michael Clarke’s debut series in India had been limited to news bulletins and pay television, so most Australians were getting their first real look at the boy wonder. And in one shot Clarke united grandstands and lounge rooms when he pulled a four from the final ball before lunch to bring up a magical century. What an introduction.Eleven minutes earlier he had been 16 short, straining to go for it but running out of seconds. With one over to go he needed 11 and the mark was surely impossible. But he followed a four through cover off Chris Martin with a three to mid-on, Adam Gilchrist got off strike and Clarke had one ball to move off 96.Stephen Fleming posted two men in the deep at fine and square leg. Knowing the batsman was in the mood for risk, Chris Martin wanted a short ball rising to shoulder height or more above off stump. He delivered it. Clarke rocked back and slapped it in front of square, punching out his celebration like a Cup-winning jockey.Gilchrist, one of the game’s finest shot-makers, had been left behind and clapped in amazement as Clarke slobbered on his helmet, belted the Australia crest on his shirt with his bat and walked off to the appropriate backing music of Alex Lloyd’s ‘Amazing’. It was almost Doug Walters versus Bob Willis at the WACA in 1974-75.Walters trotted off for a beer; Clarke deserved a few breaths to settle down. It was a wild ride that had pulled him more history. Clarke had registered centuries on debut at home and away, joining Kepler Wessels at the Gabba and Kandy in 1982-83 and Harry Graham at Lord’s in 1893 and Sydney in 1894-95. It took Clarke, 23, less than seven weeks.Starting the morning on 31, Clarke was in a hurry and hit Kyle Mills through midwicket in the same over he hooked him for four. As he passed fifty his innings became a sprint and the lunch break hovered. Drives went on both sides to passthrough the 60s, fiercely timed pulls and back foot cover drives got him to the 80s. There were also surges of youthful, unrefined adrenalin that forced an inside edge and some minor miscues.Gilchrist had been Clarke’s Sherpa during his hundred at Bangalore and was again trying to be a calming influence. His message was there was no need to rush. Clarke was listening, but thankfully – and spectacularly – ignored the request for caution.

Sourav GangulyOn whether this series would help India in the forthcoming series against Pakistan
I thought we played well. I think we played well in Test cricket over the last couple of years. I don’t think this series has any relevance to the Pakistan series, that is still two months away. We will all play some domestic cricket before that series. We’ve beaten Pakistan in Pakistan last year. I think confidence is the key and I’m sure we will go into that series with a lot of confidence.On what India could have taken from this series
We just try and keep on winning. At the end of the day it is Test cricket. For us it was important to win these two Test matches, for guys to pick wickets and score runs.On Bangladesh’s second innings collapse
I thought the resistance would be a bit better, looking at the way they played in the first innings. We picked 12 wickets in the last session, that’s the way it goes.On enforcing the follow-on
I spoke to the bowlers and asked if they were fresh and fit enough to come back and bowl again. They were, so taking their point of view we decided to bowl again.On Mohammad Ashraful
I think he is a quality player. He played an outstanding innings, played shots on all sides of the wicket, off both front foot and back foot. We peppered them with short stuff early in the morning but he saw off that phase and then played one of the best Test knocks I’ve seen. I’m sure he is going to serve Bangladesh cricket for a long time. Ashraful played the best innings of the series.On experimenting a bit more in the one-dayers
We are looking to give all the newcomers [some] games because we haven’t played one-day cricket in the last 3-4 months. Our one-day cricket needs to be lifted and people need to get an opportunity.On how the Test series will impact the one-dayers
I believe in cricket every day is a new day. What you did in the last game, whether it is good or bad, has no relevance on the next game. We will have to wait and see how they play in one-day cricket. I don’t think it is fair to make a comment or statement on their one-day cricket on the basis of how they have done in these two Test matches.On batting well this year but not scoring hundreds
It’s happened to me a lot this year. I’ve played well in Test matches this year, whatever opportunity I’ve had, I’ve been able to get runs but I’ve not been able to convert them into hundreds. It’s disappointing because you look forward to getting hundreds. I hope next time when I make a big score I go on to get a hundred.

Irfan PathanOn the Bangladesh tour
It’s been a wonderful experience here in Bangladesh so far. I’m happy with my bowling performance and the way things are going. I’ve been bowling well in the last year and I’ve got the reward.On his cricketing journey in the last year
In the last one year I’ve learnt so many things. I’ve seen good performances, I’ve seen bad performances. I’ve seen my injuries. It’s been a wonderful experience for me in international cricket so far.On addressing press conferences day-in and day-out
These press conferences and awards are not going to come every day. Whenever you are asked to do something, you’ve to enjoy every bit of it. I’m not going to get five wickets every time, and when I don’t nobody is going to ask me for a press conference. It’s good to be asked question and give answers. I’m enjoying every bit of it.Dav WhatmoreOn the positives Bangladesh can take from this series
I think what we have seen is the potential to do well. I think the difference between the two sides in the series really is the Man of the Series, Irfan Pathan. I think it’s clear to see that we have to resist the new ball. We are going to have to play better to get a score that is competitive.On the forthcoming Zimbabwe tour
The realistic result for us against Zimbabwe is to win. But in saying that, in playing better teams like India I think we need to show bits and pieces, which I think we did. Taking away our second-innings batting, in the first two-and-a-half days, it was a test of character both in bowling and batting. The boys responded very very well and I’m sure we all agree. We just dug in for the last 28 overs. So there is more positives to take out of this game than the previous game.On playing against India
Every game is a learning curve for us. It’s a great experience to play aganst a full Indian team. We’re very grateful to the Indians for having come over with a full team.On what to expect in the one-dayers
It’s all a package in a one-day game and games can change very quickly so I wouldn’t discount the fact that Bangladesh may scare the opposition a bit.On Ashraful’s innings
We are all priviliged to see the innings. We are all lucky to see a 124-ball hundred. Firstly I thought he probably batted better from 100 to 150. It’s nice to know there is somebody in the group who is capable of those things. What he himself would know and would want is the consistency. I would rank it up there with all the hundreds I have seen. His shot-making was something extra special and he was full of confidence.On the frustrations he feels as a coach
I’m very lucky to be part of a group that is on a learning curve. They are able to give personal bests and Ashraful and Talha Jubair are examples and also Aftab Ahmad who gave his best. Yes, there is frustration on one hand but there is potential to gain a lot of happiness with the group who want to improve.On batting well in the first innings and crashing in the second
Test matches are about the game but you got to keep coming up with performances. The team is growing into that. To be very honest, if you have a close look at that the half hour leading up to being asked to bat again, you will all agree that the team had done enough to avoid the follow on. It was desperately unlucky not to get that extra seven runs.

Brett Lee will knock back "four or five" English county offers after Cricket Australia advised him to stay fresh for the Ashes. Despite a summer that has carried six Tests as 12th man, Lee will not use the break between the New Zealand tour in March and the start of the Ashes Tour in June for match practice.Neil Maxwell, Lee’s manager, said Lee had talks with the Australia selectors and was expected to decline a lucrative short-term contract. "They are keen for him to give it a miss and we would be silly not to follow their advice,” Maxwell told the Daily Telegraph. "They felt it would be too much of a drain on him.”While the selectors have asked him to slow down, Lee’s team-mates are telling him to hurry up because his run-up is threatening to cost them extra time and money. Ricky Ponting and Darren Lehmann have both advised him to speed up as Australia have regularly fallen behind their over rates during the VB Series."It is an issue for us,” Lehmann said. “That’s probably why we sometimes have to bowl myself and Andrew Symonds – probably not at the ideal time – to make sure we get our overs in. Lee’s got a long run, he knows that. He’s got to be quicker through his overs."Ponting told the Daily Telegraph "it was a bit of a concern". "There are times when sometimes I am forced to bowl the spinners when I probably wouldn’t want to because we are so far behind," he said. When a side fails to bowl its overs each player is fined 5% of their match fee per over and the captain’s loss is doubled. “It is something we have to address and get better at,” Ponting said.

A return to international cricket is a possibility for Heath Streak, and some of the other so-called rebel players, as a result of a series of meetings with Zimbabwe Cricket to broker a resolution to the long-standing dispute.The players have refused to play for Zimbabwe since last April, after a disagreement about selection policy led Streak to resign and be replaced as captain by Tatenda Taibu. Fourteen other players supported him, although some have since rejoined the mainstream of Zimbabwean cricket, and the remaining rebels recently agreed to resume playing league matches.But today Streak – who is by far Zimbabwe’s leading bowler in Tests, with 202 wickets – told Reuters: “We have a meeting on Friday, and following on from the constructive meetings we’ve had so far we’re hopeful of a positive outcome.” Apparently the Zimbabwean government’s sports commission helped set up the meetings.Zimbabwe are shortly due to depart for a tour of South Africa, which includes two Tests and three ODIs. It’s unlikely that the rebels’ dispute will be resolved in time for them to take part in those matches, but after that Zimbabwe do not have any international cricket planned until they play New Zealand in September.

Scorecard

Belinda Clark struck a magnificent 86 to lift Australia to an easy victory against New Zealand in the first one-dayer of the three-match Rose Bowl series at Perth. Australia rattled up 207 from their 50 overs, before shooting out the visitors for 120, the perfect start to their final preparations for the impending World Cup in South Africa. The defending champions New Zealand, however, must improve their batting in the next match if they are to stay in the hunt in this three-match series.The captain Clark played a typically charismatic innings on her way to 86 from 114 balls. She received strong support from Mel Jones: they put on 97 for the third wicket before the medium-pacer Nicola Browne trapped Clark lbw to break the stand (3 for 176). Jones crunched 55 from 78 before becoming one of four run-out victims as Australia wobbled late on. But the damage had already been done.New Zealand made a nightmare start to their reply, as they slumped to 2 for 3. It was a position they could not recover from, and wickets tumbled steadily from there on in, as Australia’s bowlers turned the screw. It was a polished performance from the Australian attack: no bowler went for more than three runs an over, with Clea Smith the pick, returning figures of 2 for 29 from her ten overs. New Zealand pulled up 87 runs short, more than aware that they have a rebuilding task on their hands when the series resumes at the WACA on Saturday (March 12).

Younis KhanOn his chances of getting a triple century
I never thought of getting it, I just played for my team. I never think of statistics and records while playing, I just play for my team.On the pressure he’s faced over the years
I have never played with fear. Pressure does not affect me. I just aim to enjoy my cricket. If I get dropped from the Test side tomorrow, I will go and play cricket somewhere else, and I will continue to enjoy it.On the difficult parts of the innings
The first and the last few balls are always difficult. If you carry yourself through those, you’re OK. And I managed to get through those first few overs today.On what inspired him
The innings Inzamam played yesterday – but I couldn’t play as well as he did.On batting at No. 3
When I was made vice-captain, people advised me to take the opportunity to bat lower down the order, in a safer position. But I thought of how I had been thrust into the No 3 position in 2000 against the West Indies against [Courtney] Walsh and [Curtly] Ambrose. I did not want to put a young player in that position; I took it upon myself. I shall bat anywhere my team wants me to bat. I’ll open if they want me to; I’ll bat at No. 10 if they want me to.On playing Anil Kumble
I played him as if he were an inswing bowler.On the pitch
There are cracks on the pitch, and we will use those cracks.On his stay in India
I love it. Everywhere I have gone, people have given me so much love and wished me well. The room service boys, the housecleaning boys, I love this country.Harbhajan SinghOn choosing to bowl his doosra
Yes, I bowled my doosra. Why shouldn’t I? After all, the ICC had cleared it.On the pitch
It is good for batting, and will remain so. There’s not much spin onit, but good bounce. The bounce was more important [than the turn]. Igot a fair amount of bounce from the rough which was created by IrfanPathan.On the wicket he enjoyed most
Abdul Razzaq’s. I tossed the ball up, he tried to play thecover-drive, and I took the catch.On the controversies plaguing him
I was confident [to get through]. When these things happen, theseallegations, how you deal with them shows your character.On a chat he had with Sunil Gavaskar
He asked me why I was looking so thin.He told me that I was bowling at just the right pace, and I shouldcontinue doing what I was doing.On what he was discussing with Younis Khan
Oh, it wasn’t a heated conversation. But you know, we were speaking inPunjabi, and Punjabi is such a language that even when you have anormal conversatiion in it, it sounds heated.

Scorecard
Hong Kong were skittled out for 91 by Nepal on the second day of the latest Intercontinental Cup match in Kathmandu. Following the first day wash-out Nepal set about making up for lost time, led by Binod Das who took 6 for 29.Das ripped through the Hong Kong top-order as none of the top six reached double figures and they slumped to 40 for 8, after Nepal had won the toss and put them into bat. There was some late resistance from Nasir Hameed, who made 32 from 94 balls in over two hours of steady accumulation, but he was the last wicket to fall with Hong Kong still short of the hundred mark.However, before Nepal could begin their reply the rain returned and is set to be the deciding factor in this match.