HOBART, Jan 26 AAP - Jason Gillespie made an eye-catching return from injury today but his presence failed to save South Australia from another batting embarrassment in its ING Cup match against Tasmania in Hobart.

Whatever the future of off-season international matches in Australia - and no-one is yet sure what the long-term holds - their earliest protagonists have at least wasted little time in marking them with brilliant individual performances and the

Stung by a heavy defeat in the opening game, Pakistan has forced Super Challenge II into a series-deciding clash at the 'Gabba next Wednesday after registering a hard-earned two wicket win over Australia in Melbourne tonight

Not quite an open and shut case in re-shaping the teams' respective odds ahead of next year's World Cup

Australian vice captain Adam Gilchrist has received a formal reprimand for weekend comments deemed to have been detrimental to the interests of cricket.

Victoria's pursuit of a more youthful playing list has crashed into a significant early hurdle today with talented all-rounder Ben Oliver's decision to leave the state in search of greater opportunities in Tasmania.

Adam Gilchrist's image as his nation's most untarnished cricketer took a blow late today when he was charged by the Australian Cricket Board (ACB) with making statements detrimental to the sport.

After losing the services of three former international players between them during the past week, Western Australia and Victoria appear to be facing a fight to retain several more of their best cricketers.

New South Wales has landed a major recruiting coup overnight with confirmation that Simon Katich will be leaving his native Western Australia to join the Blues next season.

The two Shanes - Warne and Watson - are likely to play a significant role for Australia when one-day international cricket returns to Melbourne's Colonial Stadium next month.

Australian authorities will continue to monitor events in the region but this year's Test and one-day international tours of Pakistan appear in grave doubt after today's fatal bomb blast in Karachi.

Cricket's transformation in Australia from summer sport to all-year-round sport has received another fillip today with confirmation that northern cities Darwin and Cairns will each host international matches from next year.

The changing of the guard in Australia's international playing ranks has received further expression today with an unprecedented seven revisions made to the annual list of Australian Cricket Board (ACB) contract holders.

Former Australian vice-captain David Hookes has been named as Victoria's new cricket coach at a press conference in Melbourne today.

Victorian elite coaching co-ordinator Brian McFadyen will be switching to a new home within a month after winning appointment today as Tasmania's new cricket coach.

Such is the clamour for new state coaches that Tasmania's decision today to appoint Brian McFadyen will arguably assume as much importance in the short-term in Victoria as it will further south.

The English county system takes in four major competitions during the course of the northern domestic summer

Though it seemed to escape serious attention on both sides of the Atlantic last year, it's worth bearing in mind that, among the four major prizes that were on offer in English domestic cricket in 2001, only one went to a team without an Australian

Queensland has continued the trend of appointing home-grown identities to its on and off field leadership positions by naming Terry Oliver as its new senior coach in Brisbane today.

Darren Lehmann's status as Australian domestic cricket's finest player received further endorsement last night when he was named winner of the prestigious Lord Hampden Medal at South Australian cricket's night of nights in Adelaide.