All posts by csb10.top

Brian Luckhurst, the former Kent and England batsman, has been appointed Kent’s president for 2004. Luckhurst, 64, scored more than 22,000 first-class runs for the club between 1959 to 1985.He played 21 Tests for England between 1970 and 1975, and averaged just over 36, scoring four centuries including a top score of 131 against Australia at Perth in only his second Test.Robert Neame, the current club president, said, “He has been a great ambassador for the club. I wish him every success in the year ahead."

Victoria have recalled Peter Siddle to their one-day squad to take on Tasmania at the MCG on Friday. The Bushrangers are fresh from winning their third consecutive Twenty20 title and will use the same 12-man squad in the FR Cup game with the exception of Siddle, who replaces Clint McKay.Despite their success in the shortest form of the game, Victoria are second-last on the FR Cup table. However, they have played two fewer matches than any other side and can gain on the first-placed Tigers with a win in Melbourne.Tasmania have made one change to the squad that last turned out for the state in an FR Cup match, before Christmas, including Jason Krejza at the expense of Luke Butterworth. The Tigers appeared to carry their strong 50-over form into the KFC Twenty20 but a couple of stumbles late in the tournament denied them a spot in the final.Victoria squad Michael Klinger, Aiden Blizzard, Brad Hodge, David Hussey, Cameron White (capt), Rob Quiney, Andrew McDonald, Adam Crosthwaite (wk), John Hastings, Shane Harwood, Peter Siddle, Bryce McGain, Dirk Nannes.Tasmania squad Michael Dighton, Travis Birt, Dane Anderson, George Bailey, Daniel Marsh (capt), Tim Paine (wk), Jason Krejza, Mark Divin, Xavier Doherty, Brett Geeves, Brendan Drew, Ben Hilfenhaus.

Scorecard and ball-by-ball details

Torrential rain limited the first day of India’s warm-up match against Victoria to one session, in which Sourav Ganguly survived some early wobbles to score a half-century and Rahul Dravid settled into the opening role. The rest of India’s top order struggled against Victoria’s fringe fast bowler Allan Wise before the Junction Oval was flooded by a sudden downpour that started as the players left the ground for tea.The rain was so heavy that the ground began to resemble a rice paddy, then as the showers became heavier it was more like a small lake. The groundstaff will face a major battle to have the field ready for play on Friday and, with further thunderstorms predicted for the next two days, India will have limited preparation in their only practice match ahead of the Boxing Day Test.At the close the Indians were 3 for 110 with Dravid grafting a typically determined 33 and Ganguly on 51. The pair added an unbeaten 72 for the fourth wicket in the two-and-a-half hour post-lunch period after the first session had also been lost to rain.Wise, Victoria’s tall left-arm fast bowler, did the damage with all three wickets, continuing his strong record against visiting international teams. Wise collected 5 for 25 in a one-day warm-up game against Sri Lanka in 2005-06, but has been overlooked for all but two of Victoria’s Pura Cup matches this season.He frustrated the vocal contingent of Melbourne-based Indian fans that dominated the crowd by removing Sachin Tendulkar, who hinted at a special innings but delivered only a cameo. A couple of well-timed drives against Peter Siddle failed to reach the boundary due to the slow outfield before Tendulkar gently leaned on a cover drive that went for four off Wise.The highlight was when the 200-centimetre Wise banged in a shortish ball that might have tickled the ribcage of a lesser batsman, but Tendulkar quickly positioned himself to lift it high over midwicket for six. Wise’s revenge came as Tendulkar tried to cut and inside-edged the ball – it should have been called a no-ball for over-stepping – onto his stumps for 19.That was the major reward for Wise in an effective opening spell that netted 3 for 20. In Wise’s first over, Wasim Jaffer miscued an attempted pull and was caught at mid-off for 0 by Victoria’s debutant Aaron Finch. Wise extracted some good seam movement and in his next over had VVS Laxman caught behind down the leg side for 1.India were 3 for 38 and it could have been 4 for 39 when Ganguly got a thick edge off Siddle that flew marginally wide of the gully fielder. Ganguly was tentative early but gradually adjusted to the conditions and struck consecutive fours off Bryce McGain’s legspin, the first lifted over midwicket and the second cut hard forward of square.Ganguly reached his half-century from 86 balls just before tea. Dravid was watchful early as his partners struggled, cutting and cover driving his only two boundaries off Siddle, who bowled a mixed spell.India’s innings did not begin swimmingly but their players nearly ended up swimming, as the rain bucketed down on the Junction Oval with Melbourne enduring a heavy thunderstorm in the morning. The start was delayed by two-and-a-half hours and when Mahendra Singh Dhoni went out for the late toss it became apparent India had sprung a surprise.For all the talk of Australia perhaps using a four-man pace attack in the first Test, it was India who decided to leave out their spinners for the warm-up game. Anil Kumble was rested and Dhoni duly won the toss and chose to bat when the umpires eventually determined play could get under way. The second day is scheduled to begin half an hour early, if the weather turns favourable.

Pakistan’s national selection committee have named 28 players for the two-day high-performance camp to be held in Karachi from January 12. The camp consists of players who have impressed during the Quaid-e-Azam Trophy this season and will allow selectors to gauge the level of backup they have ahead of a heavy season.The players chosen include Sohail Khan, the right-arm fast-medium bowler, who, while grabbing 65 wickets in his debut season, broke Fazal Mahmood’s record of the best bowling figures in a Pakistani first-class match with figures of 16 for 189 against Water and Power Development Authority. Wahab Riaz, Rauf Akbar and Junaid Zia, the other top wicket-takers of the season have also been invited to the camp.The camp also features the 17-year-old Umar Akmal, the younger brother of Pakistan wicketkeeper Kamran. He has amassed 849 runs in eight matches in his debut season, including scores of 248 and an unbeaten 186. Khurram Manzoor, the only player to cross 1000-run mark this season, Naumanullah and Shoaib Khan, the other notable scorers of the season, will also get a chance to impress the selectors.The two-day camp precedes two tour matches against the visiting Zimbabwe side before the five-match ODI series.Camp attendees
Nasir Jamshed, Khurram Manzoor, Afaq Raheem, Shoaib Khan, Usman Tariq, Umar Akmal, Asad Shafiq, Shahdab Kabir, Naumanullah, Asif Zakir, Kamran Hussain, Yasir Shah, Rizwan Ahmed, Salman Ahmed, Zulfiqar Jan, Sohail Khan, Wahab Riaz, Juniad Zia, Rauf Akbar, Azharullah, Samiullah Niazi, Fahad Masood, Tanvir Ahmed, Azaz Cheema, Mohammad Aslam, Imad Wasim, Ahmed Shahzad, Umar Amin

Glamorgan officials have acted quickly to try and play down suggestions that Simon Jones is on the move following recent comments hinting that he is considering his options.”We spoke to Simon on Friday and we’ll have a big chat with him when he comes back in January,” Mike Fatkin, the county’s chief executive, told the Western Mail. “Any issues he has he can air them then.”On Wednesday, Jones told reporters that there was “a little bit of doubt in my mind” over his plans. He continued: “I cannot be approached by another county because I am not out of contract, but there are options open. I am not saying I am going and I am not saying I am staying. I am just thinking about it and trying to do what is best for me.”Fatkin said that he was “sympathetic about his [Jones’s] position” but added that “he could have worded things a bit differently than he did.”Jones’s main gripe appeared to be that he was not a part of Glamorgan’s one-day side, with just 10 appearances in six seasons. “He obviously wants to play more one-day cricket,” admitted Fatkin, “but there has to be a balance struck between his personal ambitions and the success of the Glamorgan side in one-day cricket. You have to remember that we won the national league without him.”We have to understand Simon’s career development path,” Fatkin told the Western Mail, “but we want him to remain here. He’s Welsh and I’m sure deep down he would prefer to be with us. We would like to sign him for another two years.”

Frustration with the rain, admiration for Chris Cairns’ approach, a welcome return from Brett Lee and the slight possibility of some remarkable Australian cricket still producing a result were offered in newspaper assessment of the fourth day of the first Test.The Sydney Morning Herald: “Things were just getting interesting at the Gabba yesterday when the dominant player of the first Test blew in for another spell and ruined everything.”Some time today, the weather should be declared the winner.”Australia start the final day an improbable 15 wickets short of victory. The first five of them must fall before New Zealand score the further 101 runs required to avoid the follow-on and effectively kill the contest, a weighty task in itself given the positive manner in which Chris Cairns and Nathan Astle were batting when a storm arrived after 50.2 overs had been bowled on day four.”Before any of the above can happen, it must first stop raining. Miracles aside, Australia are about to draw a Test match for the first time in 26 months.”Yesterday was at least more rewarding than the previous two. The highlights were a wonderful opening spell from Jason Gillespie, Brett Lee bowling better than he had all series in England, and more cricket being played than on Friday and Saturday combined, when 132.2 overs were lost to the weather.”SMH on Cairns: “In the past this lofty all-rounder has been inhibited by his responsibilities. Ever since he first put on pads the expectations have been high because he was a natural. For years they weighed him down. By way of self-preservation he adopted a happy-go-lucky outlook, an approach that hid inner fears. He had the frame of a big man and the abilities of a top class player but not the state of mind needed to let them loose. Complications in his background did not help. Always he seemed to be searching for stability.”Inevitably the Australians sensed vulnerability and called his bluff. It took Cairns a long time to come to terms with his talent. He needed to settle before he could release his gift. Whenever the screws were turned he retreated or else put on a show of bluster. Not until these teams met in New Zealand a couple of years ago did Cairns start turning the tables. Suddenly the Australians were confronted by a forthright cricketer bent upon wickets and boundaries.”The Daily Telegraph: “Australia will press the pedal to the floor in an attempt to nail the Kiwis beneath the follow-on, 100 away.”The wicket is still yielding seam and bounce and will be fresh this morning after the ground was lashed last night by rain as hard as many locals had seen.”At 7pm last night the covered wicket block was surrounded by 20m puddles fuelled by rain so heavy it looked as if the world was ending.”Australia’s run of 12 successive Test wins on home soil and 23 matches without a draw is likely to end today.”The Australian: “With more than 10 hours of play lost over the past three days in Brisbane, it will take something spectacular, even by Australia’s high standards, to claim a victory and continue a sequence of 23 successive results – 20 wins and three losses.”New Zealand will resume its first innings on 5-186, needing exactly 100 runs to avoid the follow-on to ensure no chance of Australian success.”But with 105 overs available on an extended day and the weather forecast finally declared fine, the world’s best Test team believes it is capable of claiming the necessary 15 wickets.”Certainly pace bowler Brett Lee, who made an encouraging if not triumphant return to Test cricket in Australia yesterday, is seriously entertaining the prospect.”A naturally exciting player, Lee was bowling when the most exhilarating moment of a frustrating day look place – but it was all down to Ricky Ponting’s fielding.”In his first ball of the match, Lee delivered short and wide – a scenario seen too often on a personally poor Ashes tour – and Mathew Sinclair, on three, threw his bat wildly at the ball in the hope of some cheap runs when previously there had been none.”Ponting, charging in panther-like at point, dived instinctively to his left and took the ball with both hands as he twisted in the air.”There may be another five Tests to play this summer, but Classic Catches has surely already been decided.”The New Zealand Herald: “Entering the fray after [Craig] McMillan had been caught at the wicket off the excited Brett Lee; [Chris] Cairns looked comfortable against the express pace and was quickly into his stride, picking up 10 runs off six Lee deliveries.”He then turned his attention to [Shane] Warne, striking him for two of the sweetest off-drives as he and Astle carried the attack to the Australians, together adding 39 runs in 7.1 overs.”While the lost time and the mixed overall performance in Brisbane will frustrate New Zealand, the return of Cairns in such form will be of no small delight, as he rates as one of the most influential players in the world and arguably the best all-rounder.”As far as the tourists are concerned, he is effectively worth two players, which is why their line-up struggled so badly for balance when he was out of action.”

South Africa’s cricket authorities have appealed to the Board of Control for Cricket in India to go ahead with the third Test match which is due to start at SuperSport Park on Friday.The appeal comes after the ICC’s refusal to replace Mike Denness as match referee for the third Test and in response to the Indian threat to boycott the match if Denness is not withdrawn. At the same time, however, United Cricket Board chief executive Gerald Majola has urged the ICC to implement an appeal process for all disciplinary hearings."The disciplinary procedures with regard to cricket matches are one of thefew instances in world sport in which there is no recourse to appeal foraffected players or officials," said Majola.The UCB has found itself caught in the middle of the crisis that erupted in Port Elizabeth on Tuesday after Denness imposed a variety of penalties on six Indian players.A statement issued on Wednesday night points out that while the UCB is sympathetic to the Indian position, it is bound by ICC regulations. Majola also claimed that South African cricket would suffer substantial financial losses if the third Test was cancelled.”These losses would severely hamper our efforts to bring cricket to thewhole nation. In the interests of the South African and Indian public whostand to lose the most if the third Test match is not played, we appeal tothe BCCI and the Indian team to take the field on Friday and to play thiscrucial Test,” said Majola.

FIRST LEAGUEP W L NR Points Net Run RateMutare 9 5 1 3 19.5Universals 9 5 2 2 18Takashinga 9 5 3 1 16.5 0.67Kwekwe 9 5 3 1 16.5 0.48Old Georgians 9 4 3 2 15 -0.05Old Hararians 9 5 4 – 15 -0.45Harare Sports Club 9 4 4 1 13.5Alexandra 9 3 4 2 12Bulawayo Athletic Club 9 1 6 2 6Queens 9 0 7 2 3SECOND LEAGUEP W L T NR Points Net Run RateTakashinga II 11 10 – – 1 31.5Universals II 11 4 2 – 5 19.5 -0.01MacDonald Club 11 5 3 – 3 19.5 -0.05Uprising 11 4 4 – 3 16.5 0.55Kwekwe II 11 4 4 – 3 16.5 -1.28Queens II 11 3 4 1 3 15 -0.01Bulawayo Sports Club 11 2 3 1 5 13.5 -0.95Mutare II 11 2 4 – 5 13.5 0.08Masvingo 11 2 4 – 5 13.5 -0.55Harare SC II 11 3 5 – 3 13.5 -0.93Crescent 11 3 6 – 2 12 0.12Alexandra II 11 3 6 – 2 12 -0.60NATIONAL RESERVE LEAGUE – NORTH ZONEP W L NR Points Net Run RateShamva 11 9 2 – 27Millennium 11 7 3 1 22.5Old Hararians II 11 6 3 2 21Alexandra III 11 6 4 1 19.5Mabvuku 11 6 5 – 18Uprising II 11 5 5 1 16.5 -0.14Glenshire 11 4 4 3 16.5 -0.20Northwinds 11 4 5 2 15Country Club 11 4 6 1 13.5Sunrise 11 3 6 2 12 -0.52Old Georgians II 11 3 6 2 12 -0.57Lords 11 1 9 1 4.5NATIONAL RESERVE LEAGUE – SOUTH ZONEP W L T NR Points Net Run RateByo Athletic Club II 7 4 1 – 2 15 1.72Kwekwe Queens 7 4 1 1 1 15 1.32Bulawayo Development 7 3 1 – 3 13.5Crescent II 7 2 1 1 3 12Gweru 7 2 3 – 2 9Kwekwe III 7 1 3 – 3 7.5 -0.44Masvingo II 7 – 2 – 5 7.5 -3.14King 7 – 4 – 3 4.5

The Indian team has landed in Dhaka under moderately heightened security following the death threat from an Islamic militant group. They arrived without fanfare or scares, but to a throng of curious locals who were waiting in the hundreds outside the Zia International Airport. They emerged first from the aircraft and were taken to a VIP room, where the necessary paperwork and formalities were completed. They then boarded a bus through a private exit, and, with police escort, were driven to their hotel.While the security arrangements were slightly more elaborate than those in India, it was not quite to the dramatic scale of India’s recent tour to Pakistan. There, the streets were cleared each time the team ventured from their hotel. In Pakistan the motorcade was an imposing one, with motorcycle outriders, police jeeps and army rangers with mounted submachine guns flanking the team bus. Here, a couple of simple escort vehicles sufficed, and at no point was the normal flow of traffic interrupted by the local police.Sourav Ganguly spent a quick few minutes on arrival, answering questions. “We have just landed and we have no idea about the security situation. We are here to play the game,” he said, when asked what he thought of the security situation.Ganguly also dismissed suggestions that this series would be merely preparation for India’s home series against Pakistan in the beginning of next year. “We have to play to our potential and take it series by series. [Pakistan’s visit] is still a long way off. We have a lot of time to think about it.” This is India’s first full series in Bangladesh, and he added that his team would have no trouble motivating itself even against a relatively weak team like Bangladesh. “Test cricket itself is a motivation for everybody.”

While India seem to have only the security situation to worry about,Bangladesh under no illusions that the Indians have arrived with plenty to achieve. Anil Kumble, equal with Kapil Dev at 434 Test wickets, is certain to make the record his own. Sachin Tendulkar is one century away from drawing level with Sunil Gavaskar, on 34 Test tons. But, as Habibul Bashar, the Bangladesh captain, said recently, Bangladesh have a few kinks to iron out. “[Our] batting is the main worry. The top order have not put up scores when they should have,” he said. “Also, Harbhajan [Singh] and [Anil] Kumble take plenty of wickets in every Test.”This left Bangladesh with a tricky dilemma when it came to the type of pitch they wanted. Mohammad Rafique and Manjural Islam, the two left-arm spinners, have been the most penetrative of Bangladesh’s bowlers. But, with Kumble and Harbhajan in such fine form in the recent past, the Bangladeshis were wary of preparing a track that would turn. To complicate matters further, their batting has struggled so much against swing and seam movement that it would be disastrous to prepare a strip that assisted the seamers. Hence, as local sources suggest, it seems inevitable that the pitch will be a flat, batting beauty.With the Indian team safely tucked away at its hotel, the Bangabandhu stadium wore a desolate look. Groundstaff pottered about attending to the pitch and outfield, and other officials sorted out advertising hoardings, facilities for players and the media, and similar last-minute details. There was no evidence of the massive security presence recently reported in sections of the media.The first Test is scheduled to start at Dhaka on Friday, a day behind the original date.

Colin Miller has been included in Victoria’s team for the Pura Cup cricket match against Western Australia starting in Perth next week.Miller, who has only played three matches for four wickets for the Bushrangers this season, was recalled to cover the loss of promising young leg spinner Cameron White, who is in New Zealand with the national under-19 side.Miller, last season’s Australian Test player of the year, has been included for the match starting on January 18 because of his ability to bowl both medium pace and off spin.Batsman Simon Dart has been included in the 12 and is a chance to make his first-class debut after a couple of promising displays in the ING Cup.Victorian selectors decided not to risk paceman Damien Fleming for the four-day match after just one one-day match back following hamstring troubles.”The selectors felt that with the likely conditions in Perth at this time of the year it would have been a tough ask on Damien, given his limited preparation,” chairman of selectors Shaun Graf said.Fleming has been included in a separate ING Cup team to play the Warriors on Wednesday.Teams:Pura Cup: Paul Reiffel (capt), Matthew Elliott, Jason Arnberger, Darren Berry, Simon Dart, Brad Hodge, Mathew Inness, Michael Klinger, Michael Lewis, JonMoss, Matthew Mott, Colin Miller (12th man to be named).ING Cup: Matthew Elliott (capt), Brad Hodge, Jason Arnberger, Rob Bartlett, Darren Berry, Simon Dart, Shane Harwood, Ian Hewett, Damien Fleming, MichaelKlinger, Michael Lewis, Jon Moss.