Paul Johnson may have switched to a coaching role at Trent Bridge this summer but his cavalier batting feats will be affectionately remembered for a very long time.Notts members and supporters will have the ideal opportunity to pay tribute to ‘Johno’ next year because he has been awarded a testimonial season by the Club for 2004.Johnson said: “It’s a very nice acknowledgement at the end of my career and I’m very thankful for the opportunity Notts have given me.”Next season will be my 24th at Notts and in that time I’ve been lucky enough to play with some great cricketers and at one of the best grounds in the world.”I thought Trent Bridge was a fantastic ground when I first joined the club as a 16-year-old and to see us win the Championship that year was a wonderful inspiration for me even though I wasn’t involved myself.”From that stage things have moved a long way and the reception I received from the Trent Bridge crowd at my last home game will always be with me.”Now I hope I can provide Notts supporters with some great memories in the future as a coach.”Johnson, who made his Championship debut in 1982, currently occupies 10th place in the all-time Notts batting list with 20,256 runs, including 40 centuries.Said Notts Chairman Albert Bocking: “Paul was an outstanding player who provided great entertainment for our members and supporters for more than 20 years.”The Club is pleased to award him a well-deserved testimonial in recognition of his efforts and we hope he will have a most successful year in 2004.”

Saeed Anwar’s announcement of retirement, when it came, did not surprise many. He had been, through either injury or otherwise, relegated to the fringes of selection for almost two years, and being dropped after the World Cup seemed to be the final straw.In an interview with , Anwar said that the main reason for confirming his retirement was that he was not selected. “I thought it was no use hanging around. For someone closing in on 35, it was pointless waiting for six to eight months,” he said. “I have already lost two, three years due to injury. I thought the team did not want me.”The selectors, Anwar said, had only informed him that they were resting him and giving youngsters a chance in a one-day tournament in Sharjah. “I said fair enough. But rest is for one series, not for one year. You don’t rest a player for one year,” said Anwar. “And anyway, since the World Cup, what have I been doing but resting? Why do they want me to rest so much?”Anwar also stated that he had no regrets, although his dream of scoring a Test triple hundred remained unrealised. He also mentioned that his turning to Islam late in his career had helped him to focus on his game and fitness. “Sometimes you can be in your worst form and yet get a century and other days when you are playing well, one single edge ends your innings,” he said. “It used to be very frustrating. Now it isn’t. I have understood that the result is with that man upstairs.”

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.

Stephen Harmison will be fit to rejoin the England squad for the Test series against Sri Lanka, it was confirmed today by the ECB.Harmison underwent a series of scans which later revealed no major damage in his back, a problem which forced him to fly home early from Bangladesh. After taking a Test-best 9 for 79 in the first Test at Dhaka, he missed the second match at Chittagong because of his dodgy back, but he should now be raring to go at Galle next month and further impress the selectors, and maybe even win a central contract.Dr Peter Gregory, England’s chief medical officer, confirmed the good news for Harmison and England. “Scans suggest there is no serious cause for the painStephen felt in his lower back during the first Test match againstBangladesh," Gregory said. "Stephen will continue to undergo treatment and strengthening work for his back at the ECB National Academy and I am very optimistic that he will rejoin the England Test squad in Sri Lanka."The first Test against Sri Lanka starts on December 2, after a three one-day international series in November.

West Indies 197 for 2 (Gayle 112*, Lara 41) beat Zimbabwe 196 (Vermeulen 36, Gayle 4-24) by 8 wickets, and won series 3-2
Scorecard

Capitulation under pressure: it was a familiar old story for Zimbabwe, whohave done much to regain international respect during this series, except in this one area. First the West Indian spinners cut through the middleorder like a knife through butter, and then their batsmen hammered their way to victory with almost half their overs to spare. The dominant figure for West Indies was once again Chris Gayle, the Man of the Series, who took 4 for 24 and then blasted yet another century off his favourite opponents. West Indies thus took the series by three victories to two.After Zimbabwe were shot out for an under-par 196, West Indies’ policy was to reach their target by dominating rather than accumulating. Gayle and Wavell Hinds survived a couple of good overs from Heath Streak and Andy Blignaut before going into overdrive. Lady Luck was with them, presumably having turned her back on Zimbabwe in disgust: Hinds, when 11, survived a high catch that Tatenda Taibu was too short to pull in, and several other lofted shots just evaded the fielders. Hinds’s luck eventually ran out as a shorter, faster ball from Blignaut took him by surprise and he skyed a catch to mid-on for 13 (43 for 1).But by now Zimbabwe’s bowlers had lost their control, and Gayle raced to another fifty in just 39 balls. He then speeded up, and reached his second century of this series off just 69 deliveries. Meanwhile Brian Lara targeted Ray Price again, driving his second and third balls for six. It became a massacre, in which even Lara was overshadowed by the rampant Gayle.Zimbabwe’s fielders were mere bystanders against such brilliance, and itcame as a shock when Sean Ervine surprised Lara with a yorker and extracted his leg stump for 41 (180 for 2). If Lara has a weakness, this is it – but he does score a few runs in between. It took Gayle and Ricardo Powell only two more overs to finish the match, and the series, in a flurry of boundaries.It had been an overcast morning in Harare and much rain was predicted for later in the day – but in the event it held off until the match was over. Streak won the toss again and decided to bat, no doubt wary of fielding again after the events of the previous day. West Indies fielded an unchanged team, but Zimbabwe gave a debut to Alester Maregwede, a batsman, in place of Stuart Matsikenyeri.The left-handed Barney Rogers, tall with bushy fair hair, played a handsome innings, standing tall and driving with authority, while Edwards was scarcely recognisable as the same bowler who had caused such havoc the day before, and bowled five early overs for 37. The openers put on 39, and enjoyed some of the luck that had helped West Indies 24 hours earlier, with Vusi Sibanda dropped off a straightforward chance to second slip when 5. But Sibanda ran himself out for 8, calling for a riskyleg-bye.Rogers made 34 before Mervyn Dillon returned for a second spell and had him caught at the wicket off a ball moving away off the pitch (57 for 2). But generally the bowlers found little swing or seam, and the inexperienced Ravi Rampaul, apart from the occasional wide, was the most consistent of the seamers.It was when the spinners came on that Zimbabwe fell over themselves to give it away. Craig Wishart played what many might term a typical innings,playing some class strokes, including a six off Rampaul into the westernstand, but he had made only 16 when he cut Gayle and was caught off a thick edge by Ridley Jacobs (107 for 3). Gayle struck twice more in the next two overs, removing the debutant Maregwede without scoring and Vermeulen for 36, both caught at midwicket, and both soft dismissals (111 for 5).Yet again Zimbabwe were proving that they cannot handle pressure, especially when batting. Streak never looked in touch during his laborious 30, but Taibu and Blignaut both looked briefly capable of sharing a rescuing partnership, only to surrender their wickets weakly after doing the hard work. Powell took two wickets and three catches, including a brilliant one to remove Ervine. Zimbabwe’s 196 was never likely to be enough in good batting conditions, and so it proved.West Indies thus move on to South Africa with their tails up after narrow victories in both the Test (1-0) and one-day (3-2) series. There have been many encouraging signs for Zimbabwe, too – but their batsmen have to learn how to handle the pressure-cooker of international cricket better.

South Africa have named an unchanged 13-man squad for their fourth Test against West Indies, which starts on January 16 at Supersport Park in Centurion. Announcing the squad, Omar Henry, convenor of selectors, said: “There was little need for change, the squad has been working very well together over the last month. The performances in the series so far have been very impressive, both individually and as a unit. We are aware of certain areas that need attention and feel that the positive, confident environment of this squad will benefit those needing to work on their games.”South Africa are assured of a series win, having already won the first two Tests. The third match, at Cape Town, ended in a draw.Squad Graeme Smith (capt), Herschelle Gibbs, Jacques Rudolph, Jacques Kallis, Gary Kirsten, Neil McKenzie, Martin van Jaarsveld, Mark Boucher (wk), Andrew Hall, Shaun Pollock, Andre Nel, Paul Adams, Makhaya Ntini

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.

Michael Kasprowicz has been drafted into the Australian squad in place of Andy Bichel for the best-of-three finals of the VB Series. Michael Hussey, who played in Australia’s last match, against India at Perth, has been left out of the 13-man squad.Commenting on the decision to drop Bichel, Trevor Hohns, the chairman of selectors, said: “It is fair to say that Andy Bichel has not been bowling as well as we would like, and we feel that a spell at state level might help him recapture his form. Michael Kasprowicz deserves this opportunity. We were impressed with his work on the recent one-day tour of India, and his performances for Queensland over a long period of time have been first-class. The decision to leave Andy out of the side was a judgement call that we had to make.”Kasprowicz has taken 11 wickets in the ING Cup – the domestic one-day competition – this season at an average of 15.81. Bichel, on the other hand, has struggled with the Australian team all season. After less-than-impressive performances in the Tests, he has only managed three wickets in six matches in the VB Series at an average of over 65 and an economy rate of nearly five-and-a-half.The first of the three finals – for which Australia and India have already qualified – will be held on February 6 at Melbourne.Squad
Ricky Ponting (capt), Matthew Hayden, Adam Gilchrist (wk), Damien Martyn, Michael Clarke, Simon Katich, Andrew Symonds, Ian Harvey, Brad Hogg, Brett Lee, Michael Kasprowicz, Jason Gillespie, Brad Williams.

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.