All posts by csb10.top

Match facts

Friday May 23 to Tuesday May 27, 2008 Start time 11.00 (10.00GMT)

Big Picture

There is nothing to split these two teams after a truncated opening Test at Lord’s, but New Zealand will have travelled north to Old Trafford heartened by their performance. They batted when conditions were best for bowling and restricted England to 319 when the sun came out. For all England’s talk about positive cricket there wasn’t an awful lot of it on show as the middle order failed to build on a century opening stand and the bowlers struggled for breakthroughs with the older ball. However, they have positive memories of Old Trafford having won three of their last four Tests on the ground and drawn the other with Australia nine wickets down. But New Zealand have shown they are up for a fight and with three of their big guns – Jacob Oram, Daniel Vettori and Brendon McCullum – finding form it should be another compelling contest.

Form guide

England DLWWD
New Zealand WWLLD

Watch out for…

Monty Panesar Match-winning performances at Old Trafford against Pakistan and West Indies have brought 18 wickets in two Tests. He bowled well at Lord’s without always getting the rub of the green, but is back on a happy hunting ground where he enjoys the extra bounce as much as the quick bowlers. He needs six wickets for 100 in Tests.
Daniel Vettori It could become a battle of the left-arm spinners. Vettori had an outstanding Test at Lord’s and if the pitch turns he will come to the fore again. Even if the surface remains flat, Vettori is New Zealand’s key weapon because he can both keep the scoring rate down and trouble England’s batsmen. Is also proving to be an astute captain.

Team news

England have named an unchanged team for the fourth Test in a row. James Anderson did enough at Lord’s to be given a chance on his home ground, although the temptation will have been there to utilise Chris Tremlett’s extra bounce. The middle order is again under pressure after a below-par effort in the first Test, especially Paul Collingwood who has shown precious little form this season.England Alastair Cook, Andrew Strauss, Michael Vaughan (capt), Kevin Pietersen, Ian Bell, Paul Collingwood, Tim Ambrose (wk), Stuart Broad, Ryan Sidebottom, Monty Panesar, James AndersonNew Zealand could be forced into a change after Tim Southee picked up a stomach bug between Tests. He has been laid low for two days and if he doesn’t recover Iain O’Brien and Michael Mason would be the favourites to come in, although don’t rule out Jeetan Patel as a second spinner. The main concern remains the top order, but the other options in the squad – Peter Fulton and reserve wicketkeeper Gareth Hopkins – have had little cricket in recent weeks. Daniel Flynn showed huge promise on the final day at Lord’s, while the success of McCullum at No. 5 and the return to form of Oram means the batting line-up is deep.New Zealand (probable) Jamie How, Aaron Redmond, James Marshall, Ross Taylor, Brendon McCullum (wk), Daniel Flynn, Jacob Oram, Daniel Vettori (capt), Kyle Mills, Tim Southee/Iain O’Brien, Chris MartinUmpires: Simon Taufel, Darrell Hair

Pitch and conditions

Old Trafford could argue that it now has the quickest pitch in the world and this surface is expected to be another with something for everyone. The batsmen will enjoy the ball coming onto the bat, the quicks know they’ll get reward for bending their backs and the spinners can expect some turn later in the game. On the weather front it looks like typical Manchester. There is a forecast for showers on Friday, Saturday looks the best day at the moment with some uncertainty over rest.

Stats and Trivia

A late run of form in the Norwich Union League might have come too late to save them from relegation, but Durham Dynamos have recorded their second win this week, beating Nottinghamshire Outlaws by seven wickets at Trent Bridge.The Outlaws, who themselves are already relegated, began well enough with Darren Bicknell (64) and Usman Afzaal (75) putting on 145 for the first wicket. But then it all went wrong and the later batsmen failed to capitalise on that good start and the Outlaws were restricted to 229 for six in their 45 overs.It was the Australian pairing of Ashley Thorpe with 53 and Brad Hodge who made 91 that got the Dynamos purring along towards victory by seven wickets with three overs and a ball to spare.

Pakistan cricket team captain Waqar Younis claimed that seniors and juniors, both have disappointed the nation by losing all three Tests against Australia by humiliating margins especially in the second and third Tests at Sharjah.Addressing a press conference Friday, Waqar said that Pakistan lost the series because it inducted several young players, however, he admitted the failure of the seniors also, including himself who failed to perform up to the expectations.Waqar, while accepting the team’s dismal performance pointed out that their opponents were the best team in the world.Waqar explained that personally his morale was high and he hoped the induction of Inzamamul Haq, Yousuf Youhana and more senior players would strengthen the team for its tour of Zimbabwe, starting from Nov 1.Asked as to why he did not follow PCB chief’s example by resigning, Waqar countered that he was not a “coward” and as a cricketer he would fight against reverses.He did not agree with a questioner that Pakistan cricket was passing through its darkest era. “Bad patches are the part of the game and I still believe the Pakistan team will again show better performance in near future”, he said.While elaborating at length on the series, he stated that the juniors performed well in the opening Test in Colombo which raised the expectations of the nation. But the Australians did their home work in the next two Test to emerge worthy winners.When asked if he would find a place in the One-day side as PCB is contemplating to make Test and One-day teams, separately, Waqar said “let the time come”.Regarding team selection, he claimed that the decision nottoinclude leg-spinner Danish Kaneria in the team for the first Test in Colombo was taken after inspecting the pitch. However, the journalists were not satisfied with the response, as they contended with the response that spinners of either side had performed superbly, citing the example of Australian leg-spinner Shane Warne who took 11wickets in that Test (seven for 94 in the first innings and four for94 in the second knock) and Pakistan’s Saqlain Mushtaq capturing eight wickets (four for 136 in the first innings and four for 46 in the second).Similarly questioned about the exclusion of Mohammad Zahid and Rana Naveed-ul- Hassan throughout the series, Waqar said that he had the policy to provide proper chances to every player. For that he could not drop Mohammad Sami who was with the teamforthelast18 months and now he should get regular chances.He was optimistic that a strong team would be fielded for the next year World Cup to be held in South Africa, and explained that young players would get an opportunity to prove their mettle as there was a lot of cricket to be played before the mega event.He dispelled the impression that the players could face burn out because the national side had to play four Tests and 10 One-day matches before the World Cup.Waqar avoided a direct reply about the incident concerning Yousuf Youhana in Kenya, as a result of which the batsman was sent home by Waqar. “I have informed the PCB about that incident and I am not in a position to explain it before the press”, Waqar said,He admitted that the decision of sending back Youhana was made in haste and the matter could have been resolved there, but added it was an unanimous decision of the team management. He promised that no such incident would be happened in future. He denied that any grouping existed in the team.Waqar was all praise for new coach Richard Pybus and deemed him as suitable for the job than the sacked Mudassar Nazar.

Leckford all rounder Andy Cattle’s excellent start to the season has been rewarded with him receiving the player of the month award for May in Division 3 of the Southern Electric Premier League.Cattle’s left arm spin has propelled him to the top of the league’s leading wicket takers table with 14 victims to date, including a spell of 6 for 28 at Portsmouth.”I’m delighted that Andy has picked up this well deserved award”, said Leckford captain/secretary Simon Reeves, pictured presenting Cattle with the gong.”Everyone at Leckford is chuffed to bits that a ‘local lad’ has had his efforts recognised. I’m sure that if this form continues Andy will be looking to finish the season near the top of the bowling charts in the SPL.”I just hope that his batting average becomes higher than his bowling average soon!”

Somerset County Cricket Club are inviting all girls in the south west region to go along to the County Ground in Taunton next week to watch the England Women play and at the same time enjoy some free coaching.Somerset host the four day Women’s Test Match against India starting at the County Ground next Wednesday, and all youngsters, both boys and girls up to the age of sixteen will get free admission.In addition all girls who attend on the first three days of the match will have the opportunity to enjoy a free coaching session, and those up to the age of twelve will be able to take part in a Kwik Cricket competition out on the pitch at lunchtime.Somerset Cricket Development Officer Andrew Moulding told me: "We are already doing good development work with women’s cricket in the county, and this year we have had an Under11’s Girls Kwik Cricket competition and our newly formed Under 15’s side has done very well reaching the final stages of the ECB national competition. We have also got Somerset player Laura Harper in the England squad, and it is likely that she will play in the match next week."Mr Moulding continued: "This is an opportunity for more girls to get involved, to watch top level cricket and get a taster of the game for themselves."He concluded: "Jackie Summers, who is the Women’s Cricket Development Officer for the south west region will also be present on the first three days actively encouraging the girls who are here to take join in."There has already been a good response to the invitation from girls across the region, but Mr Moulding would like to hear from any individual girl or groups who are intending to come along to the match so that he knows how many to expect, and how many coaches to organise. The Centre of Excellence telephone number is 01823 352266.Play gets underway on each of the days at 11am, and entry is free to Somerset members and £3 to all other adults who attend.

“Viv Richards was dead right when he said that this generation of West Indian cricketers do not play for the West Indies, would not put their lives at stake for the islands. That is why he does not want to give any importance to these cricketers. The passion is not there any more,” said an old supporter of Caribbean cricket.”Brian – he let us down in the Test,” added another, pronouncing, as the Trinidadians do, Lara’s first name “Brion.” He was not happy at the way the prince of Trinidad got himself out in the second innings. The internal politics of the islands’ cricket came to the front once again when the gallery commented, “Who told Hooper to play such a rash stroke at that crucial juncture of the match? Was the pull needed then?”The West Indies are now trying to find reasons for the defeat. But after failing often in many of their recent matches, they are now a frustrated lot, and that was evident when the public implored Wes Hall, the president of the West Indies Cricket Board, to do something. “Last year the South Africans came and defeated us. Now it is India. Even in our country, we are no longer a winning team. Every country is beating us in our own backyard. When we will start winning at home again, can you tell us?” went the crowd’s shouted remarks to Hall.The legendary West Indian fast bowler could not reply. Later, he told this correspondent, “I really didn’t expect the match to be so interesting. Congratulations to your team. They kept their nerve during the moments that mattered.”Hall may not have poured out his heart’s tribulations, but as Board president, he is not allowed to do so either. The Trini Posse stand was more eloquent in its silence. They had come to the ground with the hope that Lara, Hooper and Shivnarine Chanderpaul would give them a memorable victory, and they had to return home dejected.Mervyn Dillon, the West Indian bowling spearhead, was quoted as saying, in a Trinidad daily on the fifth morning of the Test, that he would not have to come out and bat, and that Lara and Hooper would win the match for them. But he did have to pad up and bat, although Javagal Srinath had him off his very first delivery. He was not to be found in the dressing rooms after Zaheer Khan dismissed Cameron Cuffy.All of Queen’s Park Oval wore a disappointed look. They were unwilling to leave the stadium even after late into the evening. When we were coming out of the Park Oval, much of the outside area was covered in broken glass. No more solid evidence of the shattered hopes of the Caribbean people can be found.

Sri Lanka’s Sports Minister, Johnston Fernando, has decided to revoke hisdecision to nominate former cricket board president Thilanga Sumathipala asthe Sri Lanka’s main representative at the forthcoming International CricketCouncil (ICC) Executive Board meeting in June.The minister backed down after four members of the 10-member interimcommittee currently managing the affairs of the Board of Control for Cricketin Sri Lanka (BCCSL) threatened to resign if protocol was broken andSumathipala, a non board member, was asked to attend the high profilemeeting.Speaking to CricInfo, the minister, who maintains that Sumathipala wastreated unfairly by the previous PA government, which dissolved hisadministration in March 2001, said that Hemaka Amarasuriya, the recentlyappointed chairman of the interim committee, will represent Sri Lanka at themeeting, but Sumathipala will be his standby.Before minister’s decision, the secretary of the interim committee, KushilGunasekera, treasurer Tryphon Mirando, chairman of selectors Michael Tisseraand former Test batsman Sidath Wettimuny confirmed that they were willing toresign over the issue as a matter of principal.But although Fernando backed down, the decision to appoint Sumathipala asstandby has still irked the four, who believe that an interim committeemember should be appointed. They are now waiting on the minister to confirmhis decision before considering what action to take.But the minister’s request had received some support in the interimcommittee at an emergency meeting on Thursday night. Lawrence Amarasena, amember of Sumathipala’s previous executive committee, along with newappointees Ajith Jayasekara and Lucian Merrinnage are believed to havesupported the proposed appointment.Nalin Ladduwahetty said he would support the view of Interim Committeechairman Hemaka Amarasuriya whilst Roshan Mahanama did not attend themeeting.The chairman did not call for a vote on the issue, deciding instead to handover the decision to the minister.

Bert Sutcliffe, one of the most successful New Zealand First Class and Test Cricket batsmen, died after a prolonged illness on Friday, 20 April 2001. He was 77.He was regarded as one of best left-handed batsmen of the post-WWII era. In fact, his individual score (385) for Otago against Canterbury at Lancaster Part, Christchurch in 1952 is not only the highest individual First Class score in New Zealand to-date but it also long stood as the highest individual First Class score by a left handed batsman. Until Brian Lara scored 501 not out for Warwickshire against Durham in 1994.In a brilliant career spanning from 1941 to 1966, he scored 26 First Class centuries in New Zealand. He also scored three other mammoth knocks of 355, 275 and 264 for Otago in Plunket Shield matches. During his innings of 275 versus Auckland he was associated with L Watt (96) to yield a record first wicket partnership of 373 runs in 1950-51.Sutcliffe came into the limelight immediately after World War II when the MCC team visited New Zealand in 1946-47. Sutcliffe scored a century in each innings (197 and 128) for Otago against the tourists. He made 58 in the first innings of the drawn Christchurch Test.More accolades awaited him during New Zealand’s tour of England in 1949. He scored 2627 (Average 59.70), a feat only exceeded by Sir Donald Bradman for a touring side in England. The tests, all 3-day matches, were drawn. Bert Sutcliffe’s own performance in the series was remarkably consistent. He played a string of good knocks – 82 (Leeds), 57 (Lords), 101 (Old Trafford) and 88 & 34 (The Oval).In the following season in New Zealand in 1950-51, he scored 116 against England in the First Test Match at Christchurch, which ended in a draw. Later he captained New Zealand in their first ever test series against the West Indies, in New Zealand in 1951-52.New Zealand batting revolved around him during that era. Some indication of that may be had from his scores of 62 out of 172 v South Africa (Wellington, 1952-53), 80 out of 187 v South Africa (Johannesburg, 1953-54), and 74 out of 125 v England (Dunedin, 1954-55). Bert Sutcliffe once blasted 46 in 13 minutes for the New Zealanders versus Hampshire at Southampton in 1949.His best Test series was against India in 1955-56, when he amassed 611 runs (Avg 87.28). The prolific batsman scored 13 not out at Hyderabad, 73 at Bombay and his highest Test cricket score of 230 not out during this series.Returning after a five year absence from International Cricket, at the age of 49, he represented New Zealand on the tour of India and Pakistan in 1964-65. He was again successful on the Indian leg of the tour, where he scored 56 at Madras, 151 not out at Calcutta and 54 at New Delhi.In 42 Test Matches he aggregated 2727 runs (Avg 40.70) and scored 5 centuries and 15 fifties.Alas, the Cricket World has lost another legend!

The West Indies has traditionally been regarded as the cradle of fearsome fast bowling, and each of the four speedsters picked by the Indian selectors for the upcoming tour will be relishing his prospects of bowling there. Particularly active in licking his lips will be Ashish Nehra, one of two left-arm seamers in the squad.Coming back into the side after an injury, Nehra will be looking to establish himself as the premier exponent of swing bowling in the country. A few days before the squad’s departure, Nehra spent an hour chatting with fans on , fielding their questions about his career, plans and thoughts.”Our Test side has been performing quite well in the recent past,” said Nehra about the current crop of Test cricketers. “During the Zimbabwe and England tours, the team played quite well.”This observation naturally prompted a query on India’s poor record in series away from home. Nehra answered the question diplomatically. “Overseas our players have performed well, but at times have lost by a close margin,” he said. “But we are in high spirits and give in our best at all times.”Nehra took some questions on his teammates for the upcoming tour as well. “Everyone knows his potential, and we hope that he does well,” he said of VVS Laxman. He also had words of praise for Dinesh Mongia. “He is a very promising cricketer and is currently in a very good knick.”Virender Sehwag, sidelined with a shoulder injury sustained during the India-Zimbabwe one-day series, is Nehra’s teammate and close friend at ONGC, and the lanky fast-bowler was quite sure they would miss him. “Sehwag has been ruled out of selection because he has not fully recovered from his injury. He is a great player, and I hope that he is back in the side for the one-dayers.”Questioned about his compatriots in the bowling department, Nehra delivered fulsome praise. “It is good to see Anil Kumble back in the side. He is one of the best spinners in the world,” he said. Shifting his focus for a moment to the one-day arena, Nehra added, “I think Zaheer Khan and Ajit Agarkar are two of the best bowlers in the slog overs. Javagal Srinath is also very experienced.”The tour of the West Indies is one of India’s best chances to win a series abroad, coming as it does against a weak opposition and at a time when almost all of India’s stars are fit. Nehra recognised this and said, “I think we should do well in this series. We have a good side.” He was certainly unequivocal about his own role in the mission. “I will give my best to do well in the West Indies. It feels great to play for my country again, and I hope I can live up to everyone’s expectations.”

James Foster, Essex’s wicketkeeper and captain, and Steven Croft, the Lancashire allrounder, have agreed to play in New Zealand’s Twenty20 competition with the Northern Knights. Foster will replace Peter McGlashan, who announced his retirement in July, behind the stumps for the Knights’ 2012-13 HRV Cup campaign.Both Foster, who played for England during the 2009 World Twenty20, and Croft, named in England’s provisional 30-man squad for the ongoing tournament in Sri Lanka, are experienced T20 performers. Scott Styris, the Knights captain, played alongside Foster at Essex between 2010 and 2011 and welcomed his arrival.”He’s a tremendous signing for us,” Styris said. “He topped the MVP table after the group stages of the UK T20 competition and was called the best wicketkeeper-batsman in the world by Essex coach, Paul Grayson, such is the high regard in which he is held in the United Kingdom. He’s also a like-for-like replacement for Peter McGlashan, which is ideal from our perspective.”Styris has also been a team-mate of Croft’s, during the Lancashire man’s spell at Auckland Aces in 2008-09. Croft said: “I loved playing in New Zealand the last time I was there so I’m really looking forward to coming to Northern Districts and playing some T20 cricket. I want to continue developing my game and hopefully push my way into the England T20 side.”Foster was Essex’s leading T20 run-scorer on their way to a quarter-final defeat last season, scoring 270 runs at a strike-rate of 165.64. His record of 15 sixes in the competition was only bettered by Yorkshire’s David Miller, who hit 21. Croft hit 313 runs at a strike-rate of 129.33 and an average of 62.60, putting him fourth on the Friends Life t20 runs list despite Lancashire not making it to the knockout stages.Grant Bradburn hoped the additions would boost his side’s HRV Cup chances. “We’re the Plunket Shield champions, we’ve won the one-day title in recent years and even won the Cricket Max trophy when it was played,” Northern Districts’ head coach said. “But Twenty20 honours have steadfastly eluded us and we’re very determined to set that right.”Northern Districts CEO, David Cooper, said: “Filling the sudden void left by Peter McGlashan’s pre-season retirement was obviously of some urgency for us and we are very pleased to have been able to attract such a highly experienced, competitive player as James Foster so quickly. Steven Croft’s Twenty20 nous and experience was likewise very attractive as we look to succeed in the only format in which silverware has eluded us.”While Foster and Croft will join the Knights towards the end of October, ahead of their HRV Cup opener against Otago Volts on November 2, Northern Districts will be without the services of Hamish Marshall this season. Marshall, 33, who is based in the UK where he plays for Gloucestershire, will remain at home to be with his wife for the birth of their second child, due in January.”I’m spending the winter here training with the Gloucester squad and doing my level 3 coaching certificate,” Marshall said. “Surviving the English winter will be a challenge and I wish the lads all the best over the season.”