For the first time in history a Test match is being played without a genuine spinner. Both England and Pakistan decided to go for an all-pace attack in the Lord's Test, which began yesterday, after the opening day was washed out. After being sent in to bat, England at close on the second day had reached 254-4 in 90 overs. In form batsman Graham Thorpe made 80.

Jason Gillespie and Bret Lee will have to undergo fitness Tests prior to the Ashes tour of England. Both of them have been spending time recuperating the last few months. Lee has been out of action since February while Gillespie was sent home early from the tour of India. Both have been selected to tour subject to their fitness.

The Australian Cricket Board (ACB) has finally managed to find a new sponsor for its team for the Ashes series in England. A foreign exchange company, Travelex is now the new team sponsor. The agreement by the ACB is said to be the most lucrative for the team in the recent times, but the duration is only for the tour of England. The team will sport the logo of Travelex on their clothing through out the tour.

The Indian cricketers have requested the BCCI to implement the contract system as a mode of payment. Prof RS Shetty, a member of the BCCI's finance committee, spoke to the players regarding this and the final decision will be taken at the next meeting of the finance committee. Sachin Tendulkar, Sourav Ganguly, Javagal Srinath, Anil Kumble and Rahul Dravid were those who met Prof. Shetty in Bangalore. Prof. Shetty said he warned the players the repercussions of turning professional regarding their tax and legal affairs. The Indians who will be off next week to Zimbabwe have left it to Anil Kumble to follow up with the BCCI and keep them informed of the latest developments.

Former Bengal and India wicket-keeper Syed Saba Karim, 33, has decided to call it a day after he has been plagued with eye problems since an Anil Kumble delivery struck his eye at Dhaka last year during the Asia Cup. Even a surgery has done little for the stumper who continues to feel uncomfortable. He however will continue to play for his employers Tata Steel in club cricket. Karim who has been playing first-class cricket since 1982-83 for Bihar and Bengal has appeared in one Test match and 34 one-dayers for the country.

In a column in a daily newspaper former Indian captain Ravi Shastri has suggested some interesting changes to the existing one-day format. He said bowlers should be allowed to bowl one bouncer per over for all overs except in the last over. He also suggested a system where in field restrictions within the circle be reduced gradually so to help bowlers try for wickets and batsmen try different methods to score runs. As of now captains have a tendency to be too defensive after 15 overs. He also suggests, as done in football, a squad of 14 be selected, from which the captain should be allowed to make relevant substitutions as per situation. This he says will prevent the teeming numbers of just ordinary batsmen and bowlers who thrive in cricket today. One wonders how many of these random thoughts from one of India's more intelligent cricketers will see the light of day.

The major agenda items for next week's ICC Cricket Committee -Playing meeting, in London from 23rd to 25th May will be the use of technology for decision-making in international cricket and a three yearly review of on field playing conditions. The committee will take up the question of technology against a background of technical developments in the broadcast coverage of the game and its affect on the role and authority of umpires.

Pakistan's National Cricket Academy that was inaugurated on May 14 at Lahore's Gaddafi Stadium is now in full swing. NCA's chief coach is Mudassar Nazar, who is assisted by a former first-class player Ali Zia for batting and former Pakistani pace bowler Moshin Kamal for bowling. Sessions are being held from 5.30 am to 11.30 am and from 4.00 pm to 7.00 pm. Weight training, physical exercises and fielding drills are practiced daily.

Two days after playing the one-day series against South Africa in the Caribbean, Brian Lara will make his first appearance in England when he turns out for the Lashings Cricket Club in Lancashire today. Lara should feel at home as the Lashings team includes several former West Indian cricketers.

Sanath Jayasuriya will lead Sri Lanka for the home series against India and the triangular competition involving India and New Zealand. The selectors have named a squad of 22, which includes veteran batsmen Aravinda de Silva and Hashan Tillakaratne.

South African batsman Daryll Cullinan is reported to have leaked the news of the five cricketers smoking marijuana in a hotel room at St John's, Antigua, last month. Cullinan, who is currently playing for Kent in the English county, however has vehemently denied it, although he was glad that action was taken against these cricketers. Meanwhile The South African Cricket Board has also admitted that the news have been leaked by one of the players, since only the players and team officials knew about it. The Board also admitted that in concealing the information they had just tried to protect South Africa's newest entrant to international cricket, pace bowler Andre Nel, who it seems took just one puff and was totally devastated by the incident.

Former Australian captain and batsman Greg Chappell, who is the manager of the South Australian cricket team has denied rumours that he was leaving the association, after the team finished at the bottom of the Australian national championships - the Pura Milk Cup. Chappell said he was under contract since 1998 and has been pursuing other business interests, which his present contract allows him to do so.