All posts by csb10.top

Scorecard

Stuart Clark took a five-wicket haul to help New South Wales to a 200-run Pura Cup victory against South Australia, who required 495 to win. They were eventually bundled out for 295, with fighting half-centuries from Callum Ferguson and Nathan Adcock.Ferguson (81) and Adcock (67) put on 107 runs to show resistance, but Ferguson fell before lunch, opening the door slightly for NSW. He was caught behind off Nathan Bracken. Adcock then added 66 with Graham Manou, who scored 33. But right after lunch both fell in quick succession, with Clark and Bracken taking a wicket each (244 for 7).Clark then removed Daniel Cullen and Paul Rofe, ending with 5 for 91. This was NSW’s fourth outright win in six games.

An Australian businessman based in Sri Lanka has called on Australians to help rebuild Galle International Stadium which was devastated by last week’s tsunami.Eight days after the disaster, the ground is almost entirely wrecked, with many of the stands gone and the playing area strewn with debris.”Basically, the cricket ground has largely been destroyed. That was one of the places where the major water hit,” Karl Steinberg, the owner of the Galle Fort Hotel, told AAP. “With the cricket ground, the water came in from both sides. It came around the port and met in the middle of the cricket ground and the bus stand. That’s why there was so much devastation in that area.”So the ground itself is destroyed, the fence is destroyed, parts of the grandstand are destroyed.”While all efforts concentrate on the human disaster – Between 5,000 and 10,000 people are thought to have perished in the gigantic waves which hit Galle – Steinberg said that rejuvenation of the ground could be a vital symbol of hope for the people of the city and Sri Lanka.”If people could actually re-grass that, repaint and restructure the cricket ground, and put the fence up again, that would be a great symbol to Galle that things can be done,” he explained. “What we need is some people who understand cricket pitches and cricket grass.”The really inspiring thing about Australians helping will be that Australians have always played here and the Australians are seen as great contestants and great heroes here, especially the battle between and Warney and Murali, the great international battle. The other thing is that it would be something that would have enormous impact very quickly. It would be a fantastic symbol to the town that people cared and that the cricket community cared as well.”Steinberg added that it would be fitting if the ground could be used for an international fundraiser, along the same lines as the game scheduled for Melbourne on January 10. “If people rebuilt the ground and then had a match, that would be a true symbol to the international community that Sri Lanka was on its way back,” he explained. “It’s exactly what it needs right now.”

There is every likelihood that Australia will push for Zimbabwe to be stripped of Test status when the International Cricket Council meets next month. Addressing a news conference on Saturday, James Sutherland, the chief executive of Cricket Australia, said, “It’s over a month away right now and that gives the Zimbabwe Cricket Union a chance to resolve some of their differences with their players. I think that [the Test status of Zimbabwe] is a question that has probably come on to the table and is higher on the agenda now than it has ever been before.”Sutherland said that a decision would be taken in June, but he admitted that Australia, and several other Test-playing nations, were concerned about the current impasse between players and administrators in Zimbabwe.The two-Test series between Zimbabwe and Australia was cancelled on Friday, just 24 hours before the first match was due to start. And given Australia’s crowded itinerary, it’s unlikely to be played for at least another four years. The two teams will now play three one-day internationals in Harare, though once again, the rebel players have not been considered for selection.”One can’t predict but one would assume that a Zimbabwe 2nd or 3rd XI playing against the best team in the world would not have been a pretty contest,” said Sutherland. “It’s well known that the ICC have commenced a review of the structure of international cricket. There are certainly concerns about the standard of their team at the moment and that’s something the ICC will address at their June meeting.”

The crisis gripping Pakistan cricket intensified on Monday with the resignation of the PCB’s director of operations, Abbas Zaidi.”Abbas Zaidi has resigned and we have accepted his resignation,” Nasim Ashraf, the newly appointed PCB chief, told reporters after a meeting of the board in Lahore.Zaidi’s departure comes three days after the resignation of the former PCB chairman, Shaharyar Khan, and two days after Mushtaq Ahmed was sacked as assistant coach for the Champions Trophy.Pakistan cricket has been in the spotlight since August’s Oval Test against England when the captain, Inzamam-ul Haq, refused to take his team back on the field after it was accused of ball-tampering.Inzamam was acquitted of tampering but was handed a four-match ban for bringing the game into disrepute, and according to Zaheer Abbas, who was Pakistan’s manager on the tour, he had “lost the confidence” of senior board officials.Inzamam’s replacement, Younis Khan, last week refused to lead the side, saying he did not want to be a “dummy” captain. The refusal prompted Khan to resign, although he was reinstated by Ashraf on Saturday, hours before the team’s departure for India and the Champions Trophy.Ashraf said that Inzamam would captain Pakistan against West Indies, who are set to tour in November and December for three Tests and five one-day internationals.”Inzamam will lead Pakistan in the home series against West Indies,” said Ashraf. “Younis was only appointed for the Champions Trophy.”

Scorecard and ball-by-ball details

Australia’s mighty batting line-up capitulated for just 93 in the face of some magnificent bowling from Harbhajan Singh and Murali Kartik, as India pulled off a scarcely credible 13-run victory in the final Test at the Wankhede Stadium. Australia might have already won the series, but for an Indian team under the cosh since the third Test at Nagpur, it was a triumph to savour. Though the bowlers will get most of the plaudits, many of the hard yards had been done earlier in the day, with Sachin Tendulkar and VVS Laxman scripting superb half-centuries before Michael Clarke uncurled his golden arm.But no-one could steal the limelight from Harbhajan. When Dravid recalled him into the attack, after Australia had crept to within 14 of the modest 107 they needed, he had Michael Kasprowicz caught at leg slip, and Glenn McGrath taken at slip to leave India victorious, and Jason Gillespie unconquered on an obdurate 9 that had spanned 51 balls.Zaheer Khan, destined for nothing more than a supporting role on this dustbowl, had given India the perfect fillip when Australia started their pursuit, with Justin Langer edging one to Dravid at first slip. And after a quick flurry of fours from Ricky Ponting and Matthew Hayden, Dravid opted for spin at both ends, with Kartik taking over from Zaheer.The impact was immediate. Ponting was caught by Laxman at second slip after the edge had initially gone on to Dinesh Karthik’s thigh-pad, and Damien Martyn, Australia’s most assured batsman in this series, lasted just five balls, trapped in front on the back foot by the last ball of the over (24 for 3).

That was the wobble. The quake started in earnest when Simon Katich aimed a drive at Harbhajan to give Dravid another scalp at slip. Hayden (24) was still a menace though, cutting Harbhajan for four and then miscuing one down to the fence at long-off. But when he attempted a sweep to one pitched outside leg, the ball trickled onto the stumps via glove and pad. Harbhajan celebrated, and Australia’s hopes nosedived.Kartik then bowled Clarke, and the collective delirium intensified when Tendulkar took a simple catch on the square-leg boundary after Adam Gilchrist had essayed a senseless sweep. But though India were in the box seat, the drama was far from over. Nathan Hauritz chiselled out 15 from 18 balls, and with Gillespie in thou-shall-not-pass mode, the target was whittled down by 20.Anil Kumble, on for Harbhajan, provided the crucial breakthrough, with Aleem Dar giving India the benefit of the doubt after Hauritz was struck on the pad in front of leg stump. But Gillespie and Kasprowicz then weathered the assault for over half an hour while eking out 15, before the voluble Harbhajan had the final word.Such a gripping contest had appeared very unlikely when Clarke, who had already given India plenty of heartache with the bat in this series, turned in a stunning spell with the ball either side of tea. Dravid, who had compiled a patient 27, was his first victim, caught off the glove by Gilchrist, and Karthik’s prod was expertly grabbed by Ponting at silly point (188 for 6). With tea only moments away, Kaif – who was sprightly and fluent on his way to 25 – padded up to one that pitched in line and straightened.

The procession continued after the interval, as Harbhajan, Kartik and Zaheer managed just two runs between them to leave Clarke with the astonishing figures of 6 for 9 from 6.2 overs. For a while in the morning, it had seemed that the likes of Clarke wouldn’t be needed, with McGrath sorting out both openers. Gautam Gambhir edged one to slip, and Virender Sehwag inexplicably shouldered arms to one that nipped back as India slumped to 14 for 2.That brought McGrath and Tendulkar face to face in a Test for the final time. Laxman was already in the middle, promoted to the No. 3 slot from which he had scripted his Kolkata magnum opus, and after the first 11 overs of the innings produced just 15, the next three went for 30 with both men uncorking some champagne strokes.Ponting then called on Hauritz, but there was to be no repeat of yesterday’s dream spell. Tendulkar stroked one through cover and then slammed one into the stand bearing his name as he raced to a 62-ball half-century. For the first time in a fair while, there was a real urgency to Tendulkar’s method. When he not stroking boundaries with a flourish, he worked the ball into the gaps and scampered singles and twos that often had the leaden-footed Laxman struggling. He batted with the panache and fluency of old for his 55, before an attempt to fetch the ball to leg only resulted in a top-edged skyer that was beautifully caught on the run by Clarke.Dravid was never fluent, save for a brief phase after lunch when he drove Hauritz with a flourish through midwicket and cover, but his presence allowed Laxman freedom to go for his shots. But the attacking intent, especially against Hauritz, was to be his undoing. After bisecting the leg-side field with a pull and piercing the off side with a fabulous cover-drive, he smashed the next ball in the direction of long-off, only to watch in amazement as Hauritz dived to his left to snaffle the chance (153 for 4).By then, Laxman had sauntered to 69, and in the final analysis, it – and Tendulkar’s gorgeous cameo – made all the difference, as Australia’s dream of a 3-0 series win went up in huge puffs of Mumbai dust.

It’s been a long time coming – 36 years to be precise, in case anyone has failed to notice – but England are finally within touching distance of their first series win in the Caribbean since 1968. Another dominant bowling performance has left England in command of the third Test, and judging by the morning papers, it was not just superlatives that were flowing in Barbados last night.For yesterday’s main man was the people’s favourite, Andrew Flintoff, whose quest for a maiden Test "Michelle [five-for]" has finally come to fruition. "Flint Stoned" proclaimed a worryingly ambiguous headline in The Sun, although the potential misinterpretation was quickly cleared up by the sub-heading: "Fired-up Freddie skittles Windies with five-star show."As The Mirror’s Mike Walters pointed out, Flintoff is soon to become a father for the first time, and with 12,000 of his most ardent supporters in Barbados to celebrate on his behalf, there was plenty of wetting of the baby’s head going on last night. "As the Barmy Army spilled into Bridgetown’s beach bars last night," enthused Walters, "everyone agreed: Flintoff is Daddy Cool."Angus Fraser in The Independent joined in the chorus of approval. "The bars of Bridgetown will reap the benefits of Flintoff’s toil," he declared, "even if Brian Lara’s side do not." The Daily Mail’s Mike Dickson, on the other hand, predicted the opposite effect – at least by day. "Flintoff’s batting has for some time emptied the bars," he wrote, "but his bowling has never been quite so dramatic. Until yesterday, that is."Even Christopher Martin-Jenkins was going with the flow, although his focus was on a less hedonistic aspect of the day’s play. Seizing on Michael Vaughan’s "bold, if unnecessary" decision to field first on winning the toss, CMJ wrote in The Times: "It was akin to the Boat Race captain choosing the Middlesex bend in the hope of getting a commanding advantage early in the contest."Settling into a steady rhythm, CMJ’s metaphor raced past Craven Cottage and down towards Hammersmith Bridge. "If, on this occasion, England were ahead by rather more than a canvas after the early clash of blades, West Indies held on past Harrods to leave everyone guessing about which crew would be ahead when Chiswick Bridge hove into view."What happened here was simply a mirror image of West Indies versus England in the 1980s," added CMJ. "It is exactly what Clive Lloyd or Viv Richards would have done when 2-0 up in a series and armed with four strong and confident fast bowlers." And even if The Daily Telegraph’s Derek Pringle remained unconvinced by the wisdom of the decision, thanks to Freddie, he could hardly carp about its success: "It was made to look like divine inspiration rather than a reckless gamble."”Rampaging in from the Southern End and hammering the ball into a pitch offering some life, the Lancastrian’s bullish fast bowling blew the stuffing out of the West Indies innings,” wrote Mike Selvey in The Guardian, adding that the key moment of the day was his dismissal of Lara, just as he was looking set for his first big innings of the series. “Lara stood in the crease,” added Selvey, “and pushed his helmet to the back of his head in disbelief." As well he might, for at that moment England had seized control of the game.But, as Marcus Trescothick’s late wicket demonstrated, all hope has not yet been abandoned by the Caribbean’s commentators. Tony Cozier, a vociferous critic of West Indies’ performances in the first two Tests, was as overjoyed as the eight fast bowlers in this match to see a nice, bouncy, green-tinged pitch that reminded him of years gone by. Writing in The Independent, he went out of his way to praise the new head groundsman at Bridgetown, Richard Applewaite."What [Applewaite] presented at Kensington yesterday was not a lawn," said Cozier, "but in appearance at least, it is the kind of surface on which Michael Holding, Andy Roberts, Malcolm Marshall, Joel Garner, Colin Croft, Curtly Ambrose, Courtney Walsh and their accomplices ensured 11 successive West Indies victories on the ground between 1978 and 1994."And Tony Becca, writing in the Jamaica Gleaner, predicted that this Test would be "short and spicy", even if he lamented the lack of home support. "[Although] surrounded in their own backyard by an army of British fans, this match could still be close and exciting." We await West Indies’ response with interest.

ScorecardAs expected, Mashonaland used the third day to recover from a regular first-innings aberration and turn the screws on the hapless Matabeleland team. The feature of the day was a monumental unbeaten 181 from Stuart Carlisle, his fourth century of the year out of seven in his 11 years in first-class cricket. Matabeleland, set 424 to win, struggled to 82 for three at the close.From 134 for one overnight, Mashonaland ground their way to 442 for six, built around Carlisle’s 6½ innings, before declaring. Matabeleland seemed resigned to defeat from the start, bowling a negative line outside off stump from the start and after tea putting nine fielders on the boundary to their spinners.Carlisle’s innings included 15 fours and 7 sixes. Dion Ebrahim made 70 before edging one of Mbangwa’s width balls to the keeper, while there were useful contributions from Tatenda Taibu (31), Elton Chigumbura (32), Andy Blignaut (45) and Ryan Butterworth (29 not out).There was time before the close for Mluleki Nkala to show real class with the bat, finishing unbeaten on 28, but his team faces a virtually hopeless task.Day 2 Bulletin

Imagine that you’re president of the United Cricket Board of South Africa (UCBSA). You need a communications director who can successfully guide the team over potential public relations hurdles. Who are you going to call? The best man for the job, of course, even if that’s a woman.

Enter Bronwyn Wilkinson, the 35-year-old mother of one who took up the post in March 2000. When Wilkinson first began at the UCBSA, she feared the onset of boredom. Six weeks after her appointment the Cronjegate scandal erupted, and in the two years since, that pesky “b” word has kept a low profile.

As the liaison between the players and the press, Wilkinson has steered the South African team through controversies that would have made lesser mortals crumble. Recent media challenges finding their way into the in-tray include the unofficial-Test debacle between South Africa and India, the ensuing furore over Mike Denness, poor Test performances, and squabbles over selection procedures, including the sensitive quota issue. It’s a big song-sheet for a one-woman band.

“I’m the only person in the department,” she explains. “The pressure is unbelievable, but my background stands me in good stead.” Starting as a crime reporter, Wilkinson moved through the journalistic ranks, eventually becoming the editor of the Saturday Star sports newspaper. The UCBSA gig seemed the perfect career opportunity.

“I’d always loved sport,” she says. “I knew I could mix it with the guys as I’d spent much of my working life in sports departments.” And the reaction to a woman wielding power in the press gallery? “It took a while to earn the respect of journalists,” she says. “They tested me out, waited to see how much I knew about cricket. Some of the guys were patronising, but the way to handle it is to be myself, do my job and if people feel that I’m not doing it effectively they must tell me.”

As far as the team is concerned, Wilkinson believes that being a woman makes her job easier. “I think I have more sensitivity towards the players, because it’s part of being female,” she says. “I try not to police press conferences, but feel comfortable teaching the guys about the importance of the media and the techniques involved.”

Combining the duties of motherhood with touring, however, has not been so enjoyable. “I have a seven-year-old son and I can’t see myself doing this forever. I can’t understand how the guys on tour can sit in their hotel rooms and watch television. I literally drop my bags and go walking.”

For Bronwyn Wilkinson the challenges of the job aren’t likely to stop any time soon. “There are obstacles for women in this industry and for South African cricket as a whole,” she adds. “Sport and politics are so interwoven in this country and the public demands a lot from the players. But I’d rather be run off my feet than sitting idle.” As communications director for one of the most controversial teams in the game, Wilkinson may as well remove the word boredom from her dictionary forever.

Christine Davey is a freelance cricket writer from Winchelsea, Victoria. She intends retiring to the West Indies to watch cricket and snooze in the sun. Until that plan is financially possible, she writes sports stories and arts reviews.

The trial of Thilanga Sumathipala, the president of the Sri Lankan cricket board, began on February 10. Sumathipala, held in police custody since Jan 19, has been charged under the Immigration and Emmigration Act after allegations that he helped Amarasinghe, a known underworld gangster, travel to England to watch the 1999 World Cup on a false passport.The opening day of the case centered on the medical state of Sumthaipala. He missed two earlier court appointments before being taken into custody on Jan 19, and was then held at National Hospital Merchant’s Ward rather than Welikada Prison because of kidney problems and a spinal condition. Sumathipala appeared in court in a wheelchair.The Chief Magistrate, Kusala Sarojini Weerawardena, ordered a full report from the Prison’s Chief on February 12, when the case resumes, explaining why Sumathipala had not been remanded according to the terms of the initial court order. Weerawardena also ordered a further examination of Sumathipala’s health from a judicial medical officer.Dammika Ranatunga, the former chief executive of the cricket board and the brother of Arjuna Ranatunga, an outspoken critic of Sumathipala, and K Rajasingham, a former administrations officer at the board, were called to appear before the court on February 12 to give evidence in the case as the prosecution attempts to prove that Sumathipala knew Amarasinghe.Sumathipala, now 40, coming to the end of his third term as board president, has already announced that he will not be standing for re-election when the board elections are held on March 28. A director of the International Cricket Council, he also pulled out of the next ICC Executive meeting in New Zealand.

England v Zimbabwe, 2nd Test, Chester-le-Street, Day 3

And so ends one of the more pointless Test series of recent times. Zimbabwe lived down to most expectations, give or take Doug Hondo’s three-wicket burst and some welcome defiance from Dion Ebrahim and Travis Friend, while England’s bowlers did precisely what was asked of them. On a more positive note, Chester-le-Street proved itself a worthy Test venue, even if a three-day finish was not quite what the treasurer would have had in mind.To be fair, Zimbabwe have given England about as many problems in this series as England themselves gave Australia in the first two Tests of last winter, although faint praise has rarely been so damning. The discipline shown by Zimbabwe’s seamers – both here and at Lord’s – has taken several of England’s finest by surprise (not least Michael Vaughan and Nasser Hussain), and if they had taken some crucial catches on the first afternoon, England might have faced a minor embarrassment. Zimbabwe’s batting, sadly, has been another story entirely.In two days, Zimbabwe lost 18 wickets to a seam attack boasting seven caps between them (never have the three suffixes “-son” been so appropriate). As was the case with James Anderson at Lord’s, Richard Johnson struggled to repeat his magic of the first innings, but Anderson himself has demonstrated he has the stamina to perform throughout a Test – not that Zimbabwe’s first innings was especially draining. Steve Harmison, meanwhile, continued his happy knack of random wickets at random moments. His scattergun style has yet to run through a side, but only once in 12 innings has he failed to take a wicket.There is little point in criticising Zimbabwe for their lack of competitiveness – any side that is forced to push the admirable Tatenda Taibu up to No. 5 deserves sympathy rather than condemnation. Politics and protests have dogged the team throughout, and Grant Flower, Zimbabwe’s most-capped player and the only man in the team with a Test century, has cut a mournful figure. It would surprise no-one if he calls it quits at the end of the one-day series.England now shelve their whites to begin a six-week spree of one-day matches, and by the time they reconvene at Edgbaston for the first Test against South Africa, this blip of a series will have been forgotten. In the circumstances, therefore, a touch of altruism would not have gone amiss from the tour organisers. If the ECB erred in allowing this tour to go ahead in the first place, then they compounded that mistake by affording Zimbabwe such inadequate preparation for the Tests.Zimbabwe have been overawed in three consecutive Test innings, before more-or-less knuckling down at the final attempt. It is not a coincidence. This team, a pair of old sweats apart, are on the steepest of learning curves, and three warm-up matches against half-cocked county opposition is cruelly misleading. After a ten-wicket victory over British Universities, Zimbabwe faced Worcestershire, Sussex and Middlesex, all of whom were shorn of a glut of their finest players.Old lags such as Graeme Hick, Steve Rhodes and Chris Adams all opted out of the warm-up games. The only players of Test experience who chose to face Zimbabwe were Andrew Hall of South Africa and, ironically, their very own Murray Goodwin, who scored a Test century on Zimbabwe’s last tour in 2000, but has since retired because of the political situation.Bangladesh are due in England in 2005, and a similarly pointless series beckons. It is in England’s best interests to provide worthy opposition – England A teams, U19 teams, county select XIs – both for the future of the game, and for the coffers of the counties.Click here for the Bulletin