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Somerset’s CB40 game against Durham, scheduled to take place at The Recreation Ground in Bath on Sunday July 22, has been moved to Taunton because of the continuing adverse weather conditions.Somerset’s chief executive Guy Lavender said: “Sadly the poor weather during the first part of the year has meant that the pitch at Bath isn’t going to be ready in time for us to play there on July 22 leaving us with no alternative other than to transfer the fixture back to the County Ground.””This really is a tremendous disappointment for all of the spectators who come and support Somerset when we play in Bath, for the Bath and Wiltshire Area Committee and Bath Rugby who have all worked hard to put this in place.””The club is very disappointed because we are keen to play cricket outside of the County Ground and hope the conditions are more favourable in future seasons for games to go ahead at Bath. However the weather has conspired against us this year so it is just not going to be possible.”The club will be contacting ticket purchasers shortly to offer a transfer to the match at Taunton or a full refund. Further details are available on the club’s website www.somersetcountycc.co.uk or through their Ticket Office on 0845 337 1875.

Kevin Pietersen has kept the door open for a return to limited-overs cricket for England and is still hoping for a late change of policy by the selectors to allow him to appear in the World Twenty20. Although, he admits that both scenarios still remain unlikely.Pietersen quit international one-day cricket at the end of May citing England’s heavy schedule and the way the ECB central contracts are written meant his decision made him ineligible for Twenty20 selection as players have to be available for both limited-overs formats. Pietersen, who returned to action with Surrey at the beginning of this month ahead of the Test series against South Africa, said the fixture demands would need to change for him to consider reversing his retirement but he still wishes he could play Twenty20.”Never say never. I’m a lot older and more mature than a few years ago, so you never know,” he told the about whether he would return to coloured clothes. “Anything can happen. I’ll never say no, but the schedule would have to be a hell of a lot different for me to come back. Wait and see.”I’ve had my wife, mother, dad, mother-in-law, brothers and my best mates all saying to me ‘don’t you wish you were out there batting against Australia?’ And I’ve said to them I haven’t missed it at all. But maybe all I needed was a break. Who knows? I’ve played a lot of cricket in the last seven years.”As for the World Twenty20, which takes place in Sri Lanka from late September, where England will be defending their title, Pietersen has always been clear that he wanted to play in that tournament.”I still hope there might be a compromise for the World Twenty20 in Sri Lanka,” he said. “The squad hasn’t been announced. I would love to play in that and defend our title with England. If it happens, great, but I’m not holding my breath.”Pietersen’s comments about the packed international schedule have not always gone down well because he continues to play in the IPL. However, he believes it is unfair that he is criticised for taking up that opportunity when so many of the game’s leading players take part.”Okay, the ECB may say me playing in the IPL makes it hard to rest me but what annoys me is that, with every other board the IPL is a matter of fact. It’s not going away,” he said. “It’s going to be there and players want to play in it. Players want to go and earn their money and unless you let them decisions will have to be made.”Big players want to play in front of big audiences. You want to hear your name chanted by 50,000 people. It’s amazing. It makes you feel so good. The window for that has been created by the other boards but unfortunately not ours.”England have responded outstandingly well to the loss of Pietersen from both limited-overs formats. Ian Bell has slotted into the opening role with 364 runs in five innings while Alex Hales made 99 in the Twenty20 against West Indies and Pietersen has enjoyed watching the results.”I’m a huge England fan and it’s brilliant to be beating Australia at the moment,” he said. “We’ve got an Ashes series next year and you want their guys to say ‘we’ve got to play against these blokes next year. We can’t score more than 250 against them in a one-day game’. It’s the mental edge you want over them. We’ve thrown some big punches against them and that’s fantastic.”

ScorecardA torrential mid-afternoon downpour put paid to Derbyshire’s hopes of building a sizeable lead over Leicestershire on the second day at Grace Road.Derbyshire, the Divison Two leaders, had reached 191 for 5 when the rain arrived, saturating the square and outfield and leaving umpires Richard Kettleborough and Nigel Llong with little option but to abandon play after a 5pm inspection.There were still 43 overs left in the day, and Derbyshire will resume with a lead of just 14 runs as they look to set up their fifth win of the season and cement their position at the top of the table.With conditions remaining helpful to the bowlers, Derbyshire found progress difficult after starting the day on five without loss, still trailing by 172 runs. Both Chesney Hughes and Matt Lineker enjoyed some good fortune as seamers Matthew Hoggard and Nathan Buck found the edge of their bats on several occasions, only for the ball to fly past the slips and down to the third man boundary.There was no element of luck about a crunching cover drive by Hughes off Buck, while Lineker was much more circumspect – contributing just nine runs to an opening stand of 43 before being bowled off his pads by Buck.Hughes followed eight runs later. Having survived one confident lbw appeal by Hoggard, he was again struck on the pads by the Leicestershire captain in his next over and was this time given out.Wes Durston, however, looked in good touch, hammering 16 runs in one over off Buck with two boundaries through midwicket followed by a huge six to take Derbyshire past 100. But just when it seemed Derbyshire were gaining the initiative, Leicestershire struck back, taking two wickets for six runs in the space of three overs just before lunch.Wayne Madsen, who shared a stand of 66 with Durston, was out for 21 caught at second slip as he edged a lifting delivery from Wayne White. Then Durston fell in bizarre fashion, pulling a rank long hop from off spinner Josh Cobb into the hands of Michael Thornely at midwicket.A brief rain shower 20 minutes after lunch brought a half-hour stoppage and, on the resumption, the home side quickly snapped up a fifth wicket with Ross Whiteley dragging the ball back into his stumps as he tried to a pull a delivery from Buck.Dan Redfern (40 not out) and David Wainwright (20no) shared an unbroken stand of 41 before the rain arrived to halt Derbyshire’s progress.

ScorecardMichael Carberry, recalled to the England Lions squad for the match against the West Indies at Northampton next month, quietened any lurking doubts about his fitness when he no longer needed the runner he had summoned on the previous day because of the dual effects of cramp and a groin injury.Carberry took his overnight 73 not out to 84 as rain and bad light meant only 10 overs were bowled on the third day of Hampshire’s second division match with Leicestershire.With only one day remaining the match is heading for a draw. Hampshire are 217 for 4 from 55 overs, still 17 behind the Leicestershire first-innings total of 234 all out made on the first day and some of the second.

NKP Salve, who had been the president of the BCCI when India won the World Cup in 1983, has died aged 91 in New Delhi. He is credited with helping India and Pakistan win rights to hosting the 1987 World Cup.The Indian board hailed Salve’s services to Indian cricket. “His contribution to Indian cricket, as President of the BCCI, can never be forgotten,” N Srinivasan, the current BCCI president, said. “It was during his tenure that we won the World Cup for the first time, in 1983. It was also due to his initiative that the World Cup was co-hosted by India and Pakistan, in 1987. Thus, he was responsible for the World Cup becoming the ‘global’ event that it is today.”Srinivasan extended his condolences to Salve’s family and said Indian cricket “has lost one of its pillars.” In recognition of Salve’s contribution to Indian cricket, the Challenger Trophy was named after him.Kapil Dev, the captain of India’s 1983 World Cup winning team, also expressed sadness over the death of Salve. Kapil said Salve was like a father figure to the World Cup winning team. “He enjoyed an excellent relationship with the players and also ensured that there was a sense of camaraderie within the team at all times,” he told the . “Back in those days, the BCCI didn’t have lots of money. But that didn’t stop Salve from inquiring with us if we needed anything to become better players.”After India won the title, Salve announced a cash prize of Rs 1 lakh for each member of the team. Singer Lata Mangeshkar, who shared a close bond with Salve, was requested to sing in a concert to raise money for the cash awards. “He made a special request to me to do a special programme for the victorious 1983 World Cup team and I could not say no to him. I could not resist his request and many members of the Indian team were on dais for the specially-composed song for the team,” Mangeshkar was quoted as saying in .”Thanks to Salve’s enterprise, Rs 17-18 lakh were raised from the concert for the cash awards” BCCI chief administrative officer Ratnakar Shetty told the same newspaper. “Salve’s passion for the game was unbelievable and he took great interest in the players’ welfare,” Mohinder Amarnath, former India allrounder, told the .Salve was also a senior political leader of the Congress party, and had been a former union minister. He is survived by his son Harish Salve who is a prominent lawyer, and daughter Arundhati.

Sri Lanka’s cricketers are set to receive their outstanding salaries by the end of February after a Sri Lankan bank agreed to release 600 million rupees (approx US$5.07 million) to Sri Lanka Cricket (SLC) to meet this commitment, the country’s sports ministry has said.The state-owned Bank of Ceylon agreed to provide the funds following discussions between its officials and the Sports Minister Mahindananda Aluthgamage. The minister subsequently instructed SLC “to pay the pending salaries up to the month of February to its contracted cricketers by February 28, 2012,” according to a statement from the ministry. The minister also stated that payments from March 2012 onwards would be paid on time.The players have been owed more than half their dues since the 2011 World Cup. Two months ago the ICC paid 42.36% of the fees due to the players from the World Cup to September 30, 2011. The payment of US$2 million was made directly into the players’ bank accounts, instead of routing it through Sri Lanka Cricket (SLC), on December 16.In addition, the statement said that Aluthgamage had, in writing, “instructed the officials of SLC not to overlook contract payments in the future and Sri Lanka Cricket should take the full responsibility to ensure that the player payments are made on time in the future.”The Ministry had previously told the players that that they would be fully paid by January. The team is currently involved in a tri-series in Australia that also features India.SLC ran into financial problems after running up debts of close to $70 million to finance the building of two international stadiums in Hambantota and Pallekele, and to renovate the R Premadasa Stadium in Colombo, for the World Cup. All three stadiums have since been handed over to the military because the board was struggling to maintain them.

ScorecardStafanie Taylor’s half-century ensured that West Indies Women began the home series against India Women with a commanding eight-wicket victory in the first Twenty20 in North Sound.Chasing only 102, Taylor scored 54 off 52 balls and remained unbeaten as the target was achieved with four overs to spare. Deandra Dottin made 29 off 18 balls. Jhulan Goswami and Archana Das were the wicket-takers for India.The victory had been set up by West Indies’ bowlers, who restricted India to 101 for 9. Anisa Mohammed was the most successful, taking 3 for 20 in four overs, but Taylor’s spell of 4-0-10-1 stifled India. No one apart from Harmanpreet Kaur got past 20 and India’s innings also suffered from three run-outs.

Scorecard and ball-by-ball detailsKevin Pietersen looked confident before falling again to left-arm spin, Abdur Rehman trapping him lbw for 32•Getty Images

England’s batting has been so ineffably weak in this Test series that even the sight of a Pakistan side bundled out for 99 was not about to fill them with resolve. Where once they were steadfast now they are overwrought. All logic suggested they should have ended the opening day of the third Test in a position of authority but logic left this series long ago.It is the first time that Test cricket has been played in winter in the UAE and the pitches have been enlivened from their usual moribund state as a result but not remotely to the extent that the scores suggest. Every day brings something more bizarre. This should not by any stretch of the imagination have been a 16-wicket day.Pakistan avoided their lowest Test score against England thanks only to 45 from Asad Shafiq, the one batsman to pass muster as England’s new-ball pair, Stuart Broad and James Anderson, made full use of encouraging conditions. Pakistan began the final Test imagining they could whitewash England in a Test series for the first time. It is quite something to be dismissed for fewer than 100 on a decent-enough surface and still be in the match.An England innings has become something fantastical. The DRS has sapped their resolve. It was introduced to reduce umpiring mistakes, and it has achieved its purpose, but in this series at least, it has shifted the balance of the game fundamentally. Umpires in this series are giving most marginal calls to the bowler, too many marginal calls. Batsmen are confused about their technique and spinners are bowling straight and imagining themselves as superheroes. It will right itself in time; the authorities are not fond of three-day Tests.This series has already produced more lbws than in any three-Test series in history – 35 and counting. There were eight umpiring reviews and the Australian Simon Taufel, who has mused about retirement more than once, had an uncomfortable day as he had several decisions overturned.Almost unnoticed, Andrew Strauss reached the close of a bewildering day unbeaten on 41, an England captain labouring to add a major batting contribution to his undoubted leadership qualities. Overlook a flirt with a sweep or two and he stood alongside Shafiq and Kevin Pietersen as the most secure batsmen on an insecure day.Memories of England’s batting debacles in the first two Tests must have preyed on Alastair Cook’s mind as he fell to the sort of hesitant jab against Umar Gul that Australia, in England’s victorious Ashes series barely a year ago, must have dreamed of. Gul also had Trott lbw: a dodgy decision by the umpire, Steve Davis, which England failed to review.Then came the curiosities. Kevin Pietersen looked in good trim but fell to left-arm spin once more, a marginal decision that might have been designed to taunt his pre-match assertion that his record against this type of bowler was “not a train crash”. Ian Bell was out to Saeed Ajmal for the fourth series, straying out of his crease and stumped fortuitously by Adnan Akmal off a blur of pads and gloves – that is how his brother Kamran used to do it. Eoin Morgan, his reputation as a good player of spin now in tatters, was trapped on the back foot by a quicker, flatter one. And finally Matt Prior, desperate not to be struck on the pads, was bowled by one that turned.Pakistan were no better. By drinks on the first morning, England had five Pakistan wickets; shortly after drinks came round again in the afternoon they had them all. This was far from a fast bowlers’ feast but Broad, England’s outstanding player of the series, and Anderson made full use of a little swing and some unexpected bounce.Broad’s new-ball return of 3 for 12 in six overs included two overturned decisions for Taufel as England successfully resorted to DRS. The dismissal of Mohammad Hafeez was the most controversial of the day.England were searching for a lbw decision but there seemed to be little conclusive evidence to overturn Taufel’s decision. Indeed those blessed with the eyes of a hawk and high-definition TVs insisted there was a slight mark on hot spot that should have reprieved Hafeez. Shavir Tarapore, the third umpire from India in his fourth Test, gave him out, causing Hafeez to slap his bat in unconcealed disgust.In the seconds a fielding side has to decide on a review, the captain, Andrew Strauss, mentally dons a business suit, calls a meeting, studies a report, draws conclusions and lays out a systematic process. The sense is of clipboards, posh pens and PowerPoint presentations. Misbah tries to do the same for Pakistan but he is a bit short of reliable middle management.In England in 2010, Pakistan collapsed for 72, 76 and 80, three batting disasters at Edgbaston, Lord’s and Trent Bridge that count among their eight lowest Test scores in history. They no longer had to contend with a surly English summer but they did face the debilitating effect of a series already secured.Their collapse began in the first over, Taufeeq Umar defeated by Anderson’s inswinger. There were few demons in the ball from Broad that dismissed Azhar and Younis Khan’s jab at a wide, rising ball, even allowing for the unexpected steepness of the bounce: another poor shot in a career nearing its end.Misbah and Adnan, who should also have been run out by Morgan, both turned to DRS without success to try to stem the flow of wickets. Rehman’s slog at Graeme Swann, in his solitary over, was the worst batting moment on a day replete with them. Shafiq was ninth out, trying to cut Panesar and getting struck on the pad in front of middle.For Pakistan the morning had brought back bad memories of their first Test in the UAE. Against Australia in Sharjah ten years ago they were dismissed for 53 and 59 – their two lowest Test scores. Misbah, Taufeeq and Younis were all in the top six then. In some ways little has changed in Pakistan cricket. In other, more significant ways, everything has changed.