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Glamorgan have signed Craig Meschede from Somerset on a permanent deal after he was released from his contract at Taunton.He has signed a three-year deal and will report for pre-season training this week.An allrounder and product of the Somerset academy, Meschede spent the 2015 season on loan at Glamorgan and quickly becoming an integral member of the side in all formats.He joined Glamorgan in a swop deal with Jim Allenby, who immediately joined Somerset on a three-year deal, with no suggestion at the time that Meschede’s move to South Wales would become permanent.He hit his maiden century against Surrey at Cardiff, followed up with another against Northamptonshire at the SWALEC Stadium and his displays of clean-hitting prompted his elevation to open the batting during NatWest T20 Blast games.Glamorgan chief executive Hugh Morris was keen to recruit Meschede on a permanent basis and concluded negotiation with the Somerset management team on Monday.”Craig played an important role in our team last season and although we were keen to keep him, any deal relied on Somerset’s sanction as he had a year to run on his contract,” said Morris.”We’re delighted to have got the deal over the line and believe that we’ve signed a player who adds a lot to the side and also has the potential to develop further.”Meschede, 24, has taken 92 wickets in 45 first class matches while maintaining a batting average of 24.29.Meschede said: “This has been a tough decision as Somerset has been a massive part of my life. I’d like to thank Somerset for the last eight years. It has been an absolute honour and pleasure to represent the club.”Glamorgan is the best opportunity for my cricket at this stage in my career. I really enjoyed my time at the club last year so I look forward to returning on a full-time basis.”

The Bangladesh Cricket Board has, for the first time, offered central contracts to 105 players from outside the national team, taking a major step towards decentralisation of the game from its present Dhaka-centric structure. The decision is aimed at increasing competition in the NCL, long called a “picnic tournament” because of the lack of seriousness among players preferring the Dhaka club circuit.The list includes cricketers from each of the eight designated regions of the country – Barisal, Khulna, Rajshahi, Chittagong, Sylhet, Rangpur, Dhaka and Dhaka Metropolis – that take part in the NCL.Cricketers with more than 11 years of first-class experience will be paid Tk 25,000 (approx $300) per month under Catergory A. Players with 6-10 years of experience will receive Tk 20,000 (approx $240) per month in Category B and Tk 15,000 (approx $180) per month in Category C for players who have played for 1-5 years.The 2012-13 domestic season will begin in the second week of October, but the contracts will be effective on January 1, 2013. These salaries will be in addition to the match fees that the players will continue to receive.The BCB chief AHM Mustafa Kamal made the announcement at the Sher-e-Bangla National Stadium in Mirpur during a function attended by BCB directors, national selectors and some first-class players, who were handed the contracts.”This is just the beginning. We have given the players the contracts and soon we will be able to put in place the infrastructure across the country,” Kamal told ESPNcricinfo.Hannan Sarkar, who has played 17 Tests, 20 ODIs and 92 first-class games, spoke on behalf of the players and talked about the need for such a system.”We have waited a long time for such an initiative. We always wanted to be under the BCB’s contracts. We thank them on behalf of the players,” Sarkar said. “Every player now will want to be under the BCB’s contract. This is a big recognition for a professional cricketer. The competition that I felt as a salaried national cricketer will be replicated at the first-class level.””This is the start of a journey, so for those who are going to be enrolled in the future, it will be much better for them. And I also think the careers will be longer from now on,” he said.Former national captain Habibul Bashar, who is now a national selector, underlined the importance of this contract to the players. “From my personal experience, I have often seen that it is hard to motivate players in first-class cricket. We have talked about the lack of professionalism in this format, but from now on, I hope this question will never arise,” Bashar said.”The standard will be higher because everyone will be serious from this point onwards. I think this step will take Bangladesh cricket a long way ahead,” he said.First-class cricket began in Bangladesh in 1999 with the six divisional sides taking part in the NCL, which is now in its thirteenth season, and it is the only first-class competition in the country.List of cricketersCategory A (playing experience of 11 years and above): Tk 25,000 ($300) per month.Category B (playing experience between 6-10 years): Tk 20,000 ($ 240) per month.Category C (playing experience between 1-5 years): Tk 15,000 ($180) per month.Barisal: Shahin Hossain (category A); Syed Rasel, Nasiruddin Faruque, Shahfaq Al Zabir, Monir Hossain, Abul Bashar, Iftekhar Nayeem and Shahriar Nafees (category B); Ishraq Sonet; Tariqul Islam, Fazle Mahmud, Kamrul Islam Rabbi, Bikash Sharma, Mohammad Sajib and Sohag Gazi (category C).Chittagong: Nafees Iqbal and Faisal Hossain (category A); Aftab Ahmed, Gazi Salahuddin, Yasin Arafat, Kazi Kamrul Islam, Raihanuddin Arafat and Rezaul Karim (category B); Sadid Hossain, Mahbubul Karim, Mominul Haque, Iqbal Hossain Rony and Noor Hossain (category C); Tamim Iqbal and Nazimuddin (central contracts).Dhaka: Imran Ahmed (category A); Mahbubul Alam, Hannan Sarkar, Mohammad Sharif, Anwar Hossain, Mosharraf Hossain, Uttam Sarkar, Raqibul Hasan and Shahadat Hossain (category B); Nazmul Hossain Milon, Rony Talukder, Saikat Ali, Taibur Rahman, Nazmul Islam (category C); Shuvagata Hom (central contract).Dhaka Metro: Mohammad Ashraful, Tareq Aziz Khan, Arafat Sunny, Arafat Salahuddin, Nadif Chowdhury, Mehrab Hossain Jr, Talha Jubair, Shamsur Rahman, Marshall Ayub, Arman Hossain and Sharifullah (category B); Asif Ahmed and Tasamul Haque (category C); Elias Sunny and Mahmudullah (central contracts).Khulna: Tushar Imran (category A); Nazmus Sadat, Sahagir Hossain, Ziaur Rahman and Nizamuddin (category B); Dolar Mahmud, Taposh Ghosh, Murad Khan, Mithun Ali, Anamul Haque (category C); Mashrafee Bin Mortaza, Shakib Al Hasan, Abdur Razzak, Imrul Kayes and Rubel Hossain (central contracts).Rajshahi: Anisur Rahman (category A); Mohammad Shahjada, Farhad Hossain, Junaid Siddique, Farhad Reza, Saqlain Sajib and Delwar Hossain (category B); Jubair Ahmed, Mizanur Rahman, Sabbir Rahman, Mukhtar Ali, Sanjamul Islam (category C); Mushfiqur Rahim, Jahurul Islam and Shafiul Islam (central contracts).Rangpur: Naeem Islam, Dhiman Ghosh, Sajidul Islam and Sohrawardi Shuvo (category B); Ariful Haque, Shuvashish Roy, Mahmudul Hasan, Tariq Ahmed, Tanveer Haider, Alauddin Babu, Saymon Ahmed, Naeem Islam Jr, AR Rahman Rony and Liton Das (category C); Nasir Hossain (central contract).Sylhet: Rajin Saleh and Imtiaz Hossain (category A); Ezaz Ahmed, Tapash Baisya, Alok Kapali, Enamul Haque Jr, Nabil Samad, Golam Rahman, Golam Mabud and Robiul Islam (category B); Abul Hasan, Sayem Alam, Abu Jayed and Shaker Ahmed (category C).

Kabir Ali, the former England fast bowler, has joined Lancashire on a two-year deal, attempting to revive a career recently blighted by injury. The signing is the latest change at Old Trafford as Lancashire prepare for life in Division Two of the County Championship.Kabir, 31, moved to Hampshire in 2010 but has managed just 33 appearances in three years following a serious knee injury and a further ankle problem. A previous ankle injury also prevented him from touring India with England Lions in 2008.The tour would have been Kabir’s comeback into the England set up after 25 wickets in 14 ODI appearances and a solitary Test cap between 2003 and 2006 – an international record that fails to reflect his ability to bowl with pace and his impressive return of 483 first-class wickets at 27.35.He was initially tipped as a one of the brightest prospects on and off the field – as a part-time model, he was once named among the 50 most eligible bachelors in Britain – and his 11 successful years at Worcestershire included an England ODI debut against Zimbabwe in 2003, with a Test cap following later that summer, but he gradually drifted out of the England selector’s thoughts as injury took over his career.A tough three-years at Hampshire ended in triumph as he held his nerve to secure a dramatic last-ball win in the final of the Clydesdale Bank 40 League in September. He also played the first match at the Champions League T20, but having been out of contract on the south coast, he has moved to his third county to continue his career.Lancashire will hope his injury problems are behind him. “We are pleased to bring in Kabir whose experience and proven track record in all forms of the game will be of great benefit to our bowling unit,” Mike Watkinson, Lancashire director of cricket, said.Kabir added: “Lancashire is a fantastic Club with a proud history. I am excited at the prospect of working under Peter Moores and his coaching team as well as playing alongside Glen Chapple who is still one of the best in the country. Lancashire has an exciting and emerging squad and I am looking forward to playing my part in the challenges ahead.”It is the first signing of the close season for Lancashire, who were relegated from Division One of the County Championship last season having won their first title in 77 years in 2011. Veteran spinner Gary Keedy left to join Surrey and unsettled seamer Sajid Mahmood was released, having been loaned to Somerset for part of the 2012 season. Lancashire also failed to retain Ajmal Shahzad, who was offered a permanent deal after a loan spell from Yorkshire; he joined Nottinghamshire.The Red Rose will also welcome new chief executive Daniel Gidney in the new year, who will replace Jim Cumbes. Gidney will be charged with rebuilding the county on and off the field: Old Trafford is undergoing a £12 million upgrade with the first phase, including a developed pavilion, set to be completed in time for the third Ashes Test next summer.

Chasing an eminently scorable target of 236 from 75 overs, MadhyaPradesh could only muster 158/7 as their final Ranji Trophy CentralZone clash against Uttar Pradesh ended in a draw at the Green Park inKanpur. MP collected five first innings points to take their finaltally to 19. They finished third in the group and qualified for theknockout phase unlike their opponents who bowed out of the competitionwith just 14 points to their credit.After having resumed at 296/6, UP declared 13 overs into the day at375/9, bidding for an elusive victory that would take them through tothe next round at MP’s expense. Rizwan Shamshad and Ashish Zaidiadeded 55 for the eighth wicket before the former was finallydislodged from the crease for 153 (242 balls, 16 fours). He fell tothe occasional bowling of MP skipper Chandrakant Pandit. Zaidi hit abrisk unbeaten 29 off 30 balls.MP slumped alarmingly to 98/6 in the 49th over and it looked as thoughUP might pull off a stunning coup as seamers Shalabh Sriwastava andAshish Zaidi struck blow after blow. Zaidi (3/38) got the crucialwicket of Jai P Yadav trapped leg before for 36 while skipper AmayKhurasiya was run out for 13. Needing to play out the last 25 overswith only four wickets in hand, MP found their crisis man in skipperChandrakant Pandit who made a battling unbeaten 47 to guide them outof harm’s way.

Australia held Ranji Trophy champions Mumbai to a draw in the threeday warm up match played at the CCI in Mumbai on Saturday. Australiawere 141 for six in 55 overs at the finish. Steve Waugh (34 not out)and Damien Fleming (22 not out) were unbeaten at final draw of stumps.Mumbai who declared their first innings at 328 for nine, closed theirsecond innings at 191 for eight, shortly after lunch. Australia whowere set to get 317 runs for victory, were never in with a chance. Infact they faced defeat until Waugh and Fleming added 61 valuable runsfor the unbroken seventh wicket.The Australians proved in the match that they had the batting strengthto offset any reverses early in the order. Also, their bowling attackcame good in the latter part of the match. Shane Warne sent a clearmessage with a seven wicket haul in the second innings.All the three days of the match were well contested. The Worldchampions looked rusty on the first day but came back well on the lasttwo days of the match. Steve Waugh led from the front and top scoredin both the innings. He was also unbeaten on both occasions. The twoskippers led their teams well with fighting knocks with the bat andthe tail wagged successfully for both sides.This morning, Warne pegged back Mumbai with a magical spell. He baggedseven of the eight wickets to fall in Mumbai’s second innings,conceding 56 runs off 21.3 overs. Glenn McGrath picked up the otherwicket.Going after a tough target, the Australians soon ran into trouble.The openers would have liked to spend valuable time in the middlebefore the Test match. Michael Slater played a steady innings anddisplayed vintage strokes all around the ground. In his brief inningshe showed excellent ball selection and aggressive batting style,something that was lacking the first time around.Slater made 32 before he was stumped by Dighe off Sairaj Bahutule.Ricky Ponting followed soon, dismissed by the same duo. Adam Gilchristand Justin Langer were out to mistimed strokes, the former beingcastled and the latter holing out to mid-wicket.The Australians at tea were 60 for three off 20 overs. It was onceagain Steve Waugh who bailed the visiting team out of trouble. Threemore wickets fell after the interval before Waugh and Damien Flemingfigured in their match saving partnership. Sairaj Bahutule was thebowler who did the most to torment the Australians, picking up fourfor 38.

Zimbabwe won the Second Test match against Bangladesh at Harare Sports Club in mid-afternoon on the fifth day, by a margin of eight wickets. They bowled out the tourists for 265 and knocked off the 100 needed to win without undue trouble, for the loss of their openers. This was Zimbabwe’s fifth Test victory in exactly 50 matches, Andy Flower and Alistair Campbell having playing in them all, and their first proper series win at home, excluding their one-off victory over India in 1998/99.Bangladesh began the day steadily but again lost a vital wicket just as they were looking settled, Habibul Bashar (76) chasing a ball from Heath Streak that moved away to be caught at the wicket. Then Naimur Rahman (36), who had been looking determined and solid, attempted a second run to Gavin Rennie, substituting for Andy Blignaut who had a leg injury, and was run out. Bangladesh, at 264 for seven and only the tail left, appeared to be on their way out.As usual the tail did not last long. Enamul Haque (3) soon followed, caught at the wicket off Brighton Watambwa; Mohammad Sharif (0) was caught in the slips off Streak, and then Monjurul (0) snicked Watambwa to the keeper. Mushfiqur Rahman was unbeaten on 2 as Bangladesh were dismissed for 266, leaving Zimbabwe exactly 100 to win. Watambwa returned the best bowling figures with four for 64.Bangladesh fought hard and Guy Whittall at times seemed to be playing the ball with his midriff as often as his bat. But their bowlers are not as lethal as Courtney Walsh and Co in the Caribbean a year ago, and the openers survived until lunch. Then immediately afterwards they managed to achieve their fourth run-out of the match, casual running and fine fielding from Javed Omer at third man resulting in the dismissal of Dion Ebrahim for 10.Eight runs short of victory, Whittall was bowled for 60, attempting a big hit off Enamul Hoque that turned out of the rough, but two powerful leg-side hits by Stuart Carlisle settled the issue.

With the ticklish question of playing cricket against Pakistan yet to be sorted out, the Board of Control for Cricket in India on Wednesday said it was “not necessarily keen” to host the ICC KnockOut Tournament next year.”We have asked the ICC (International Cricket Council) to come out with the details,” Board Secretary Jaywant Lele told reporters in New Delhi today.After a visit to the North Zone Cricket Academy here, Lele said “we don’t know the terms and conditions, particularly revenue sharing, offered to Bangladesh and Kenya for hosting the previous editions. This whole matter will be discussed at ICC’s annual meeting in London in June. Till then we are not necessarily keen to host the tournament”.While Lele did not mention the issue of Pakistan’s participation, Sports Minister Uma Bharti is on record saying that the ban on playing cricket was on bilateral series between India and its neighbour and there was no hitch about participating in multi-lateral tournaments.Bharti had also assured full support, including tax exemption for thetournament when ICC President Malcolm Speed met her in New Delhi last month.India had hosted the 1987 World Cup jointly with Pakistan and Sri Lanka joined these two countries for co-hosting the 1996 edition.Weatherwise too, Lele said September, when the tournament is proposed to be held, would not be a suitable time of the year as it would be raining all over the country except, maybe, in Chennai and Bangalore.The BCCI secretary confirmed that India would be going to Australia inSeptember this year to participate in a three-match one-day series against that country. The first two matches, to be played on September 14 and 16, would be indoors in Melbourne while the final game on September 18, would be outdoors in Brisbane. “The arrangement for the series is on a reciprocal basis and in return, Australia will play three one-dayers in India next year,” Lele said.After inspecting the facilities offered to the trainees at the Ferozeshah Kotla ground, Lele said he was happy and satisfied with the way the National Cricket Academy and its zonal branches were functioning. “I have visited all except the East Zone Academy which is being visited by Board consultant Geoff Marsh of Australia in a day or two,” he said.Asked about reports from Australia that its players Adam Gilchrist andColin Miller and coach John Buchanan had received anonymous phone calls during the third and final Test against India at Chennai in March, Lele retorted “Ask them. Who knows who rang them up? Was it an Indian or an Australian? BCCI does not come into the picture”.The Indian Board has since treated the matter as closed.

Will Mariner smashed four sixes in a blistering 40 not out as Sparsholt hit 27 runs off nine balls of the final two overs to secure a thrilling two-wicket win over Southern Electric Premier League Division 2 rivals Hambledon.Sparsholt began the penultimate over at 172-7 and didn’t appear likely to threaten Hambledon’s 196 … until Mariner launched his blitz.He hit two towering sixes at the start of Gary Shotton’s 49th over (which yielded 16 runs) and then swept Simon James for a giant six over square-leg to win the game for Sparsholt with three balls to spare.Tim Richings (72) was at the heart of Sparsholt ultimately successful run chase, but some tidy bowling by spin pair Ian Turner (4-32) and Kelvan Finch put the brake on proceedings … until Mariner’s late cameo changed everything.Mark le Clerq (58) was the mainstay of Hambledon’s 196 all out – Finch cracking a quick-fire 29 late on … ironically, with most of his runs coming off Mariner !Last year’s Division 3 champions Old Basing suffered a third successive defeat when they were dismissed for 70 and beaten by eight wickets by Cove.Seamer Mark Smith (5-9) and paceman Steve Audsley (4-17) did the damage, before a no-nonsence 47 by Ian Crompton carried Cove to a second consecutive win.Easton & Martyr Worthy are also struggling after a 66-run defeat by Portsmouth, whose Southsea-seafront meeting with Lymington on June 2 promises to be a key affair in the championship stakes.Former Hampshire all-rounder Matthew Keech (69) and county starlet Lawrie Prittipaul (56) established Portsmouth’s position, although Andy Birch (4-48) got amongst the middle-order and and brother David (3-2) the tail to reduce the visitors to 194 all out.Steve Green (29) and Andy Birch (24) steered Easton to 69-2, but Maru’s magnificent left-arm spell of 2-8 in ten overs nullified any prospect of a surprise result.Easton’s lower order collapsed against Pete Hayward (3-25), only Mark Stone (24) making any late impression in his side’s disappointing 128 all out.Lymington’s impressive run romp goes on – the Division 2 contenders celebrating a third successive win after posting yet another 250-plus total.They flayed the United Services attack for 259-6 off 50 overs, but had to keep a careful eye on the Burnaby Road scoreboard as the Portsmouth side responded with a creditable 223 all out.Ben Craft, with an unbeaten 72, and Neil Trestrail (59) enjoyed a fourth-wicket stand of 148 after Australian Brian Clemow (44) and Glyn Treagus (20) had got the innings off to a flying start.Mark Toogood (43) and teenager Matt McKeever (24) got US away to a half-century start, before skipper Gary Hounsome (55) and South African youngster John Geoghan (37) took the reply on to a threatening 118-1.Clemow (3-40) effectively ended the challenge when he got amongst the middle-order, before spin duo Treagus (2-26) and Daniel Peacock (2-52) finished US off at 223 all out.

New Zealand’s weary bowlers, on the receiving end of an English rewriting of the record books, could be excused if they asked Christchurch ground authorities to rename their stadium Jaded Stadium.England set New Zealand a massive target of 550 to win the first National Bank Test after declaring their second innings closed at 468/6 with a maximum 206 overs in which to score them. The available overs now are 195.New Zealand were 28 without loss when shadows from the new grandstand on the western side of the ground saw an early end to play. Mark Richardson was 20 not out and Matt Horne three not out.Graham Thorpe punished New Zealand severely for dropping him off the second ball he faced, by scoring the third fastest double century in Tests, off 231 balls while Andrew Flintoff scored his maiden Test century, a magnificent effort off 114 balls, after his previous highest score had been 42.Thorpe and Flintoff added 281 for the sixth wicket, the best by all nations against New Zealand, and did it in 215 minutes off 312 balls.The New Zealand bowlers must have felt, when they picked up Nasser Hussain and Mark Butcher in the first half hour of the morning session, that they were in with a chance.Had Nathan Astle held Thorpe’s chance off Chris Drum’s bowling, they might well have been.Instead, they were left to toil in bowling purgatory without the experience of Chris Cairns who did not take the field having suffered a patella tendon strain yesterday.It was a tough job for debut bowler Ian Butler who was welcomed to Test cricket by having three for 137 from 23 overs. Drum in his third Test had two for 130 off 32 overs.Even left-arm spinner Daniel Vettori could eke nothing out of the bland portable pitch as he strove for any assistance in the air, or off the track, in taking none for 97 from his 22 overs.Thorpe said after the game that it might take longer than a day to bowl New Zealand out because the pitch was so good now.”There’s a lot of depth in their batting, it could be hard for us.”New Zealand are a competitive side, they will come back. The game’s not over yet,” Thorpe said.His fellow century maker Flintoff said: “The wicket has got better, it is not the wicket it was on the first day.”Thorpe, who had twice been out for 138 in Tests, said it had been great to be able to get a big score.”That’s 100 each for both my children but it was very much towards the team as well because I have had bags of support.”It was a challenging situation for us as we were 110/5 and only leading by 180.”But the pitch has got better and it was great to have a partnership with Fred (Flintoff) and great to be involved in a big partnership,” he said.There were many good players who had never scored a double hundred and that was also a source of satisfaction, Thorpe said.Flintoff said when he went to the wicket originally trying to avoid a pair and never dreamed that he would have 130-odd by the end of the day.”I just went out to play with a positive attitude and to get in the right position to hit the ball in the middle of the bat,” he said.Flintoff said that he hadn’t really had the chance to play a big innings earlier in the summer because he tended to be getting out in the first 10 minutes of innings’.Batting with Thorpe was also enjoyable because Flintoff said Thorpe knew his game and kept him going.”I’m not going to get carried away. What I want to strive for now is consistency and start scoring runs on a more regular basis.”I was more nervous in the 40s than in the 90s and 50 was quite a landmark for me,” he said.Thorpe said the pitch demanded positive play because if batsmen nudged around on it they would get themselves out.The pair of them had been in one-day mode at one stage and while that can go on for an hour sometimes, today it went on for three or four hours.The pitch also helped because the ball came on well and once the moisture dried out the ball came on well. That was why the early start tomorrow at 10am was a vital period for England in their quest to win the game.New Zealand’s high fielding standards have slipped in this match with both Stephen Fleming and Astle dropping vital catches, while a missed run out chance when Richardson was unable to hit the wickets from point blank range when Mark Ramprakash was short of his ground.However, that proved not so costly as Ramprakash was bowled soon after.It was surprising also that Astle, having bowled so well in the first innings was used so sparingly and late in the innings.

It seems that Somerset all-rounder Keith Dutch has at last found his true vocation in life. After spending a number of seasons on the staff at Middlesex he has had to travel to the West Country to find his real forte and be fully appreciated, and not just on the cricket field.Out on the field today there was no play because of the heavy rainfall so “Dutchy” put his talents to good use elsewhere at the club.Membership secretary Jo Betsworth told me: “Today we have been so busy in the office, fielding telephone calls regarding the match and dealing with membership enquiries along with allsorts of other things that we have all been rushed off our feet. We needn’t have worried though because Keith Dutch came to our rescue and made us all a nice cup of tea, which just arrived unannounced, it was very much appreciated!”Jo Betsworth also told me that for the first time ever the club is going to have a mascot that will be making it’s first appearance in front of the large crowd who are expected to be present for the Golden Jubilee Match against Yorkshire Phoenix on Sunday May 12th.The Somerset mascot will be very friendly, and is currently eagerly waiting to announce it’s arrival to home crowds. The new mascot is expected to become a firm favourite with both young and old, and a competition will run throughout this season to come up with a name for it.The advice from Jo Betsworth is: “Watch out for the new Somerset mascot on May 12th. You won’t be able to miss it because it will be everywhere!”Meanwhile official 2002 autograph sheets are now available from the office, priced £1, which includes postage. Anybody who would like the new autograph sheet should write to membership secretary Jo Betsworth at the County Ground, St James Street, Taunton, Somerset, TA1 1JT.