The Tasmanian selectors have today named an unchanged Cascade Tasmanian Tigers team to play the Redbacks in the ING Cup match to be played at Bellerive Oval on Saturday 1st November 2003.
| CASCADE TASMANIAN TIGERS |
|---|
| Daniel MARSH (Captain) |
| Shane WATSON |
| Jamie COX |
| Michael DiVENUTO |
| Michael DIGHTON |
| Scott KREMERSKOTHEN |
| Sean CLINGELEFFER |
| Damien WRIGHT |
| Xavier DOHERTY |
| Brett GEEVES |
| Adam GRIFFITH |
| Andrew DOWNTON |
The Indian board has decided to name 25 probables for the preparatory camp before New Zealand’s tour to India. According to the Press Trust of India, SK Nair, the board secretary, stated that the camp would be held in Bangalore from August 12-26, while the probables would be named in the first week of August.Nair added: "The Indian cricket team will have another one-week camp from September 1-6 before the New Zealanders arrive on September 23 for a two-Test series and a triangular one-day tournament later with the Aussies as the third team.”Nair also stated that he wasn’t aware of the move to rope in Greg Chappell to assist John Wright, the Indian coach, during the preparatory camp. Reports in certain sections of the Indian media indicated that Chappell had been asked to help out, a claim which was refuted by Sourav Ganguly.Nair also informed that the board’s Marketing Committee would meet on July 23, while the Working Committee meeting would be held next month. In both meets, the details of the corporate cricket tournament are expected to be discussed.
Liphook & Ripsley v Hampshire AcademyThe boot was on the other foot this week as Hampshire this time were on the right end of a rain-affected game in which they came out as rather undeserving winners, a point not lost to acting captain Tony Middleton.In identical fashion to Hampshire’s previous and only game, the side batting first scored 190-9.Overseas opener Alistair Gray got Liphook off to a flier, racing to 56 in 67 balls with a six and 8 fours. Former skipper Duncan Berry bludgeoned 49 in just 46 balls, including four big leg-side sixes to go with 2 fours, but from a position of strength at 144-2 in the 33rd over, Liphook crashed to 160-7 at the first of two rain delays. Eventually. Liphook limped to 190-9 in their allocated 50 overs.Requiring a reduced target of 130 in 34 overs, the Academy made rather heavy work of it. After Kevin Latouf had struck a confident 26 in 33 balls, Tim Wheatley (2-28) and in particular Andy Crawford with his off spin had Hampshire in tatters at 58-5. But then in strode the confident Mitchell Stokes. Typically, the 16-year-old all-rounder went for his shots, admirably supported by wicket-keeper Tom Burrows; the pair putting on 41 runs in 27 minutes, before the former departed for a very well made 29 in 28 balls (1 six, 2 fours). Another collapse followed, and when Burrows (21) departed 9 wickets were down with 11 still needed. But Middleton joined former Liphook old boy Charlie van der Gucht, who struck a vital four, to ease Hampshire over the line in scenes of chaotic excitement as the winning runs came in the fortuitous form of four byes.
New Zealand lifted their one-day performance levels this season and just about broke even in terms of results.In 15 games played they won seven, which is one of the better winning ratios in recent years. It is still well below the level that will indicate the side has been winning consistently but it is a step in the right direction, especially with the World Cup looming next year.Several of New Zealand’s players are moving into the prime years of their careers and their performances in the year or two ahead should be reflective as the most settled of their careers.A CricInfo review of New Zealand’s players used this year follows:NATHAN ASTLE:
Mat I NO Runs HS Ave SR 100 50 Ct StBatting 11 11 2 343 122* 38.11 65.96 1 2 7 -Mat O M R W Ave Best 4w 5w SR EconBowling 11 19.2 0 93 3 31.00 3-4 – – 38.6 4.81
Outstanding as Astle’s season finale was in Dunedin when he produced one of his most significant ODI centuries to set up a series win over England, the Astle strike rate in the statistics above better reflects his season. He did have a 95 in his first innings in Australia, and he did also receive what he politely called “rough calls” in the England series. But he lacked for the sort of consistency New Zealand require of him if they are to be a formidable consideration for the World Cup. He doesn’t have that on his own. But that last innings will linger long in the memory and he is clearly our best-performing one-day batsman.CHRIS NEVIN:
Mat I NO Runs HS Ave SR 100 50 Ct StBatting 5 5 0 120 55 24.00 88.23 – 1 3 1
Nevin had cause to feel a little confused with his status this season. The preferred option for the first one-day series in Pakistan which never happened, he was then over-looked for the VB Series in Australia as Adam Parore’s ‘keeping form could not be denied. So he was called in for the England series where he generally succeeded in seeing New Zealand off to the sort of starts wanted. Starts of 99, 25, 10, 9 and 55, make a darned sight better reading than New Zealand managed in Australia. And Nevin’s strike rate is the most interesting reading with 88.23! Some remedial work over winter on his ‘keeping and he looks World Cup bound.BRENDON McCULLUM:
Mat I NO Runs HS Ave SR 100 50 Ct StBatting 7 7 0 92 37 13.14 56.44 – – 2 –
The real shot in the dark of all the New Zealand selections this year, McCullum did not produce instant results. But this is a player who, in a year or two, has the potential to set about challenging the record Astle has developed. His selection has not been wasted and he has a huge future in the New Zealand game. He has hard work to do in terms of his own disciplines, but this is a batsman who will be capable to taking the best attacks apart.STEPHEN FLEMING:
Mat I NO Runs HS Ave SR 100 50 Ct StBatting 14 14 1 444 85 34.15 65.10 – 4 8 –
Fleming has been a fascinating study in style this year. Having overcome the Test match bogey of not being able to convert 50s into centuries, he has developed his captaincy very well and his tactic immediately preceding Graham Thorpe’s dismissal in Dunedin was a classic example of his innovation for effect in ODIs. But he is also working on developing his batting style to cope with the new bouncer law. That has not made for pretty watching at times, but if the longer term benefit of it is that he emerges as a better-equipped batsmen in ODIs then that has to have made it all worthwhile. His strike rate for the summer is too low for a player of his quality and reflects the season he has had. He looks like he needs a good, long match-winning innings to restore his quality to its highest level. But let no-one doubt the quality of his leadership in this side.CRAIG McMILLAN:
Mat I NO Runs HS Ave SR 100 50 Ct StBatting 15 15 0 427 73 28.46 72.86 – 2 2 -Mat O M R W Ave Best 4w 5w SR EconBowling 15 7 0 39 0 – – – – – 5.57
For the type of player he is, McMillan must feel some frustration with his results this year. They are not bad, but they are not at the dominating level he achieved last summer. His strike rate this year of 72.86 compares with the 85.07 of last year and the average has dropped from 37.90 last summer to 28.46 this year. Perhaps, he too is having to come to grips with the bouncer law. His role in the middle-order is vital to the side’s future, and his commitment during the 100-run stand with Astle in Dunedin was a classic example of his ability to fill that demand. McMillan will come back stronger, he has too, and World Cup year might represent perfect timing.LOU VINCENT:
Mat I NO Runs HS Ave SR 100 50 Ct StBatting 15 15 1 317 55 22.64 58.05 – 1 8 –
It is not until you do this sort of exercise that you realise just how light Vincent’s contribution has been with the bat this year. Admittedly part of that is due to the requirement to use him as an opener for a while. His place is in the middle-order and hopefully that fact has been established now. The innings he played in Wellington with McMillan during an 84-run stand was pivotal to New Zealand’s success. But much more of the same is needed from him, at an even faster clip. There’s no doubting the lift he gives New Zealand in the field and a key player in future scheme of things.CHRIS CAIRNS:
Mat I NO Runs HS Ave SR 100 50 Ct StBatting 14 14 2 398 102* 33.16 94.08 1 3 5 -Mat O M R W Ave Best 4w 5w SR EconBowling 14 111 8 495 23 21.52 3-32 – – 28.9 4.45
Cairns not only advanced his batting strike rate on last summer, he vastly reduced his bowling economy rate, no doubt benefiting from the knee surgery he underwent. Now that the is not required to open the bowling, Cairns has become a much more influential figure with the ball. And his bowling in Dunedin which was his best of the summer, is an indication that he is right back in his stride. There were times during the England series when he failed with the bat, although the threat was always lurking as England found out as he almost defied Duckworth/Lewis in Auckland. However, the innings in Brisbane to beat South Africa was a graphic representation of his class. Everyone would like Cairns to be more consistent but that is largely in his own hands.CHRIS HARRIS:
Mat I NO Runs HS Ave SR 100 50 Ct StBatting 15 14 4 280 63* 28.00 63.06 – 1 11 -Mat O M R W Ave Best 4w 5w SR EconBowling 15 115.3 2 487 12 40.58 3-37 – – 57.7 4.21
New Zealand are never beaten until Harris has been taken out of the picture. His fighting qualities have been revealed time and again. Despite the best efforts of batsmen everywhere to get on top of him, his economy rate is down again on last year, and this on better quality wickets in Australia and New Zealand. His batting too, remains consistent and his status is undiminished, the genuine team man who doesn’t know when to quit.ANDRE ADAMS:
Mat I NO Runs HS Ave SR 100 50 Ct StBatting 9 8 4 118 28* 29.50 126.88 – – 2 -Mat O M R W Ave Best 4w 5w SR EconBowling 9 76.2 3 347 12 28.91 3-13 – – 38.1 4.54
Someone soon on the world cricket scene is going to suffer at Andre Adams’ hands. His best score is not going to remain 28 not out for long. He’s had sufficient taste of international play this summer to pause and reflect on what more he must do, but there is no doubt he has made his mark. He offers New Zealand greater strength with his batting, while his sheer speed in bowling makes him far more valuable than your regular old New Zealand medium-pacer. However, he cannot rest on his laurels, players like Jacob Oram have to be competing with the likes of Adams and McCullum for places and it is the player performing the most consistently who will be selected most times.SCOTT STYRIS:
Mat I NO Runs HS Ave SR 100 50 Ct StBatting 4 4 0 64 23 16.00 64.00 – – 1 -Mat O M R W Ave Best 4w 5w SR EconBowling 4 13 0 74 0 – – – – – 5.69
Styris is unlikely to feature in the immediate future with the one-day side. His bowling is too expensive while his batting strike rate is not sufficiently high enough to push him ahead of Adams and Oram, who ended last summer with a batting strike rate of 91.46 and a bowling economy rate of 4.89.ADAM PARORE:
Mat I NO Runs HS Ave SR 100 50 Ct StBatting 10 9 3 109 36* 18.16 64.11 – – 16 –
A future in One-Day Internationals looks unlikely for Parore. Nevin is doing the job at the top of the order that is required by New Zealand while the hope has to be that McCullum’s knee problem can be solved so that he can be groomed to assume Parore’s wicket-keeping mantle in the longer term picture of New Zealand’s cricket. Parore could not offer the batting scope that Nevin provides and while there was no doubt about Parore’s sheer ‘keeping quality, Nevin best fits the bill at the moment.SHANE BOND:
Mat I NO Runs HS Ave SR 100 50 Ct StBatting 9 4 2 32 17* 16.00 76.19 – – 2 -Mat O M R W Ave Best 4w 5w SR EconBowling 9 82.2 10 344 21 16.38 5-25 2 1 23.5 4.17
Bond’s arrival on the scene has given New Zealand an extra weapon with his pace bowling, all the more important now the bouncer law is in vogue. Injury preventing him playing against England was a disappointment but with a full programme in the month’s ahead, he still has plenty of time to be exposed to top quality play before the World Cup where his role is assuming significant proportions. An exciting prospect in all respects, and he can fling a bat as well.DION NASH:
Mat I NO Runs HS Ave SR 100 50 Ct StBatting 4 3 0 45 24 15.00 78.94 – – 1 -Mat O M R W Ave Best 4w 5w SR EconBowling 4 28 1 124 6 20.66 3-37 – – 28.0 4.42
Nash’s contribution was nowhere near as much as everyone would have wanted of him. The injury problems flared again and it has to be wondered where his future lies. At least there are players emerging who are capable of filling his role in the side. But he still had something to offer when he was used, and his ability to snap up key wickets has not been lost. The last may not yet have been heard of Nash.DANIEL VETTORI:
Mat I NO Runs HS Ave SR 100 50 Ct StBatting 15 11 4 74 30 10.57 54.81 – – 2 -Mat O M R W Ave Best 4w 5w SR EconBowling 15 125.1 2 531 10 53.10 3-17 – – 75.1 4.24
It probably wasn’t the most successful of Vettori’s one-day summers although in terms of economy his runs per over was sound. He was hunted by the Australians and South Africans, much moreso than the English, but, typically, he never lost his cool. While the Test match arena appeals as the area in which he can cause most havoc, he is still a doughty one-day player with the ability to tie down opposing sides when the need requires. His batting has been found out in some respects but anyone who frees him up can expect to suffer the consequences.MARK RICHARDSON:
Mat I NO Runs HS Ave SR 100 50 Ct StBatting 4 4 0 42 26 10.50 43.29 – – 1 –
The experiment of the year but one that failed. Richardson had pushed a compelling case for inclusion in the one-day side, in the public’s mind at least and if the selectors had any doubts they decided to find out for themselves. Richardson did not come off. Chasing runs in a Test match setting is a different proposition to getting the innings underway and while he would get a place fielding in the England side, he does not fit in the New Zealand plan. Test matches only will be his label in the future one suspects.JAMES FRANKLIN:
Mat I NO Runs HS Ave SR 100 50 Ct StBatting 7 5 1 18 9* 4.50 45.00 – – 3 -Mat O M R W Ave Best 4w 5w SR EconBowling 7 54 0 289 6 48.16 2-41 – – 54.0 5.35
It was a harsh season for Franklin, especially after the highly-encouraging start he made last year. But it will not be the end of him. Out of the ashes of the fire Shaun Pollock lit at Perth will emerge a better player and it will be all the more impressive when he adds his impressive batting talent to his CV.DARYL TUFFEY:
Mat I NO Runs HS Ave SR 100 50 Ct StBatting 5 2 0 6 5 3.00 35.29 – – 1 -Mat O M R W Ave Best 4w 5w SR EconBowling 5 43 5 184 6 30.66 3-42 – – 43.0 4.27
Disappointment must have entered Tuffey’s thinking when he failed to make the VB Series squad but if he let that upset him it has not been obvious. His bowling against England has been tremendous. In Wellington and Dunedin he bowled outstandingly, and he has gained a degree of control that makes him unrelenting. His is an important role in the side and he looks set for a long stay as a journeyman in the traditional New Zealand Bob Cunis/Ewen Chatfield mould.IAN BUTLER:
Mat I NO Runs HS Ave SR 100 50 Ct StBatting 2 1 0 3 3 3.00 50.00 – – – -Mat O M R W Ave Best 4w 5w SR EconBowling 2 9 0 58 1 58.00 1-37 – – 54.0 6.44
Success doesn’t come as quickly as Butler’s first ODI wicket did. Called in as a speed option replacement for Bond, Butler always had to be kept in cotton wool. He is a fine, long-term prospect, and the thought of he and Bond at opposite ends in an ODI is a thrilling one. But more work needs to be done on him. He may well get a winter tour but investment is the word that best sums up his summer.
Essex won the Triangular Tournament Final yesterday, beating Lancashire by 3wickets at Newlands. Lancashire won the toss and batted first, but couldonly reach 142 off 44 overs on a slow, low wicket being used for the fourthconsecutive time. Iain Sutcliffe made some welcome runs and was thetop-scorer with a solid innings of 45. The only other batsmen to reachdouble figures were Mark Currie with 29 and Gary Yates who finished 21 notout. James Middlebrook and Paul Grayson once again tied the batsmen down,Middlebrook taking 4 for 19.In the Essex reply, Will Jefferson hit 61, which an innings watchingLancashire Manager Mike Watkinson described as "brilliant". The rest of theEssex batsmen struggled with the conditions and a mid-innings collapseinitiated by Gary Yates with 4 for 39 and Peter Martin (3 for 32) meantEssex still required 30 runs with only 4 wickets left. Wicket-keeper JamesFoster and the experienced John Stephenson then combined to steer their sideto the victory target with nearly 8 overs to spare.Mike Watkinson while disappointed with the defeat, was pleased with thefight back in the Essex innings. "You would like to win, of course," hesaid, "but these games are all about time in the middle, and we will beusing the remaining games to give everyone as much practise as possible."Scores:Lancashire innings: 142 all out (44 overs)Mark Chilton 2, Iain Sutcliffe 45, Mal Loye 9, Alec Swann 0, Mark Currie 29,Glen Chapple 3, Warren Hegg 4, Peter Martin 2, Gary Yates 21*, John Wood 8,Steven Crook 4.Bowling figures:Jon Dakin 0-24 (5), Justin Bishop 1-28 (7), Andy Clarke 2-22 (8), JohnStephenson 1-21 (6), James Middlebrook 4-19 (9), Paul Grayson 1-24 (9).Essex innings: 144-7 (37.1 overs)Will Jefferson 61, Darren Robinson 16, Aftab Habib 6, Paul Grayson 9, JamesFoster 27*, Ravinder Bopara 0, Jon Dakin 3, James Middlebrook 3, JohnStephenson 10*. Did not bat: Justin Bishop, Andy Clarke.Bowling figures:Peter Martin 3-32 (9), Glen Chapple 0-24 (7), Gary Yates 4-39 (8), John Wood0-27 (7), Steven Crook 0-20 (6.1).
Fine weather in Christchurch yesterday and today has provided some breathing space for ground staff attempting to get grounds ready for the start of the ICC Under-19 World Cup on Saturday.Marquees have been placed over both the wickets on the Bert Sutcliffe Oval and the No 3 ground at Lincoln University where pitches are being prepared for the early round games.Weather concerns have also affected the grounds being used in Auckland and Dunedin for pool games.Colin Maiden Park in Auckland and Carisbrook in Dunedin are the other venues being used for the tournament.The weather is still unsettled over New Zealand and most forecasts are predicting more rain before the weekend.If there is fine weather for a lengthy period of time, NZC High Performance Centre turf manager Karl Johnson said the grounds at Lincoln should be at their optimum for the all important Super Six stage of the tournament starting on Sunday, January 27.What the recent sunshine has allowed ground staff at Lincoln to do is prepare one pitch under the marquee and one outside of it.Under the marquee, Johnson has been rolling and using heaters to dry off the surface.”No 3 ground is the wettest of the three but apart from that it has come up really well, especially considering it is only six months old,” he said.Johnson has been in touch with the groundsmen in the other centres and said they were all agreed that if they got good weather from now on it wouldn’t take them long to get back into the swing of things.”But another problem is that when you have had rain on 13 of the last 14 days with the covers on pitches you get a lot of disease among the grass. It is young grass and it becomes unhealthy and when you roll it, it can kill it,” he said.By comparison, the outfields were in outstanding shape.”There has been a lot of moisture for the outfields and they are looking great,” he said.One of the problems usually associated with cricket grounds in Canterbury in January is drypatch and Argentine stem weevil but the rain has eliminated that concern.Most encouraging for the teams taking part is Johnson’s claim that all concerned with the ground were “still really positive.”Teams in Auckland and Christchurch did get practice matches today, while those in Dunedin will play tomorrow and Friday.The Australian side will travel to Oamaru tomorrow, about 120km north of Dunedin and will play on an artificial pitch in Dunedin on Friday, while the West Indies will reverse the procedure. Kenya and Scotland did not want to play on artificial pitches and they will have a game in Oamaru on Friday as their only preparation for the tournament.
The Matabeleland selectors have finalized the side to play Mashonaland this weekend, leaving Jason Hitz out of the named 13 with Munir Makadam as 12th man. The team has not as yet been announced. The decision to omit Jason Hitz from the 13 is rather harsh as he was twelfth man for the whole of last season and attended every practice; his batting has improved through the current season beyond all recognition, anda better team man is hard to find.It is always pleasing to see new caps and youngsters being given a chance but it may well prove costly in the batting, with new cap Norman Mukondiwa having not only to prove his bowling skills but also to show he is capable of batting and seeing his team through to a good score which is of utmost importance in the four-day game. Matabeleland have a reasonable bowling line up and, should the bowlers perform to standard, be capable of holding their own against a weakenedMashonaland side.Townshend, who has been bowling well recently will share the new ball with new cap Mupariwa, with Mukondiwa, McKillop and Strydom providing the seam attack and the spinners, Ewing and Mercury, doing most of the bowling if Matabeleland are unable to dismiss the opposition for a reasonable score.It has been very hot in Bulawayo for this time of the year, temperatures being far higher than normal, 32-36 degrees and no rain, so a fast outfield and a batting-friendly wicket could well be the order of the day. Following a further practice, and discussions on the composition of the team, it was decided to change the lineup and include Jason Hitz, omitting Norman Mukandiwa, which adds some batting strength to the tail.Player profilesTawanda Mupariwa – born 16/4/85, Bulawayo. RAFM. BAC.Michael Grant McKillop – born 24/4/81, Bulawayo. RHB/RM. BAC. Zimbabwe HockeyMunir Mukadam – born 15/2/1983, Bulawayo. RHB/RHM. CrescentsCollin Ray (Porgie) Williams – born Bulawayo. RHB. BAC. Has played Matabeleland prior to first class status for Matabeleland. Zimbabwe Hockey and National Coach.Gavin Mackie Ewing – born 21/01/81, Harare. RAOS/RHB. Queens. Zimbabwe U19, Liverpool Comp UK.
India A tours are a superb stepping stone for a place in the national side – the likes of Rahul Dravid and Sourav Ganguly owed their big breakthroughs to India A performances. The latest India A tour, to England, was a perfect stage for fringe players to make a case for higher honours. There have perhaps never been as many A team players in serious contention for national selection; Aavishkar Salvi, the medium-pacer from Mumbai known for his Glenn McGrath-esque action and accuracy, Wasim Jaffer, the elegant opening batsman who has already enjoyed a stint in the Test team, and Sridharan Sriram, the doughty top-order batsman, were three of the players to impress. They spoke to Wisden CricInfo about what this tour meant for them.Aavishkar Salvi
I was very eager to get started as I was injured for the first five games of the tour. Even before going to England I had a right-hand webbing injury, but the selectors gave me the green signal as the injury was a minor one and would heal soon. With the stitches removed on the morning of the first game, I took the ball to test myself during warm-up, only to cut the webbing again and get three stitches. It was frustrating to have to wait in the sidelines, but I had to be patient till the sixth match, which took 15 days.The English conditions were good for swing bowling and the wickets were true – good for both batting and bowling. All the fast bowlers in the squad performed well, taking advantage of the movement in theair. I picked up three wickets in my first game and was happy to contribute with the bat, scoring 20 runs and taking part in a crucial last-wicket partnership of 46 with Irfan Pathan, which enabled us to scrape past Lancashire.My best came against the South Africans, who had fielded a full-strength batting line-up in preparation for the first Test against England. I was delighted to keep them at bay and pick up four wickets. Madan Lal, who was the bowling coach at the preparatory camp at the NCA in Bangalore, had told me that my strength was to pitch short of length, whereas in England it was important to pitch it fuller. I kept that in mind and it worked wonderfully. But I ended on a bad note: my leading arm was dropping and I was just bowling on one side of the wicketthe off side. I came back well on the second day but it was not enough to erase the disappointment of the first day.After each game Wasim [Jaffer] – who was my roommate – and I used to discuss the game for ten minutes. We would then do the gym workouts before returning to the room after dinner. With all our time going in traveling, we had hardly any time to chill out.There are always lessons to learn from such tours. I have always taken each selection as a stepping stone for further success and having done fairly well during this tour, I think I have a good chance to be picked for the national squad. However, having said that, I have learnt another important thing: to play at the Test level, one needs to be super-fit. I am working seriously on my fitness, with the help of the programme that Adrian Le Roux [former trainer of the Indian team] had given me.Wasim JafferAt the start of the tour I knew that if I did well, I would be a favourite for an opening slot in the Indian team. With John Wright himself present at the NCA camp in Bangalore, all the players knew that this was an important chance to prove themselves.During India’s tour of England last year I performed miserably – I made just one fifty in four innings, and at the international level you need to be more consistent and. It was playing on my mind before this tour, and I had no excuse – like the conditions and the wickets – having played here for nearly five years now.My aim for this series was to occupy the crease for as long as I could. As an opener I wanted to tighten my defence, play the new ball well, and not do anything silly in the first hour – I have got out too often within the first ten overs. A number of people have helped me improve this area of the game: John Wright, Dilip Vengsarkar and Sunil Gavaskar among them. All of them gave me the same advice: “Stay at the crease, get your eye in and the runs will come automatically.”I was especially keen on doing well in the game against South Africa, and I ended up making 90 and 54 against their full-strength bowling attack. That match, and the 67 I made against Yorkshire in a one-dayer, gave me the confidence that I could score my runs at a quick pace. That was important for me, as I am not an automatic inclusion in the shorter version of the game.We wanted to keep a clean slate and finish the tour without losing a game. We followed on in our last match, against Warwickshire, but recovered well, and I made a double-century to end the tour on a good note. I hadn’t begun the tour too well, but once I got into my groove, things got better for me.
Sridharan SriramI had gone to England with an open mind for two reasons. Firstly, I saw it as a great opportunity to I’d never been to England as a batsman before. I’d been there with Sandeep Patil as a bowler in 1994, when I played for India under-19s. I didn’t really know what to expect of the wickets and the conditions, as a batsman. Before I left, I’d spoken to John Wright at the camp and he told me how important it was to be tight outside the off stump as the ball moves around a great deal more. “Play long,” that was my motto on the tour.I should be thankful to Sandeep Patil and the captain for making me stay back. I was injured early on and we didn’t know how long I would take to recover. But Patil made me stay back and that was a very good gesture on his part. I got a chance to play against Surrey at the Oval and I had not practiced for a long time before that. I wasn’t in good touch at all. When I began my innings I was struggling a bit and not really timing the ball well. I then decided that the best thing to do was to hang around. Gradually things worked out for me, I started hitting the ball well and I got my rhythm back. From then on, I think I was quite consistent.This tour’s given me the confidence that I can do well in the international arena. I have not had a great start to my international career, I’m aware of that, but getting runs abroad, in alien conditions, always gives you a lot of satisfaction. The most important thing this tour has done for me is that it’s given me great self-belief.
BenHollioake Photo CricInfo |
Warwickshire have accepted that they have not been able to draw the Surrey and England all-rounder Ben Hollioake to Edgbaston.Warwickshire had offered Hollioake a lucrative three-year contract, but he has said that he plans to sign a new one-year deal with Surrey.”We are disappointed to miss out because we thought Ben would be a valuableaddition to our squad for our first season in the First Division of the (county)championship,” said Warwickshire’s director of coaching Bob Woolmer.”It looks like he has decided against joining us. But he has to make the right decision for his career.”I hope for Ben’s sake that he has done that. But even without him I stillbelieve that we have got a squad capable of challenging for trophies.”Hollioake’s agent, David Ligertwood, said: “This was a difficult decision forBen to make, and there were good reasons to go with either option.”Hollioake, 24, is expected to sign his contract with Surrey over the next week.
Jagmohan Dalmiya, the new President of the Board of Cricket for Control in India (BCCI), held a press conference in Chennai on Sunday. The man, who has been the torchbearer for the globalisation of cricket in his capacity as the president of the ICC, finds his present role an honourable one. He said, “It is an enormous responsibility, a challenging task. I have been asked to arrest the slide Indian cricket is going through. It is not an easy thing but I will try to find out what went wrong and find a cure for it. I don’t believe in blaming the predecessor.”Dalmiya read out the BCCI media release and clarified a few points. About the appointment of Sunil Gavaskar as the Chairman of National Cricket Academy, Dalmiya said, “I had a chat with Gavaskar last evening. Despite his busy schedule he has agreed to accept this assignment. He will be giving the time needed for the NCA. It (Gavaskar’s busy schedule) may be a constraint, but is not an insurmountable one,” said Dalmiya.When asked about the reasons for Raj Singh Dungarpur’s resignation, Dalmiya said, “You’ve to ask Mr Raj Singh about it. My predecessor told me in the morning that he had received Raj Singh’s resignation letter. I didn’t go through the letter.”Dalmiya is the man in full control of the BCCI and made it clear to all and sundry about the same. “Cricket is passing through a crisis that all started with match-fixing. At the moment we are looking at the 2002 Under-19 World Cup and the 2003 World Cup.” He said that in spite of the fact of the best possible facilities, in the form of a foreign coach, sports trainer and consultants from Australia, the team had not delivered the goods.Even though he was not directly critical of John Wright and Andrew Leipus, there were enough signals to suggest that strong actions will be taken to change the fortunes of the Indian cricket team. “Something somewhere is missing… maybe at the administration, coaching or players end. We have not been able to achieve, we are still occupying the eight position in World cricket, just ahead of Zimbabweand Bangladesh.”Dalmiya made a firm statement, which is bound to have repercussions in the coming days, “Everybody has to be made accountable.”When asked about the corrective measures that will be taken to stop the slide, he said, “Only performance can stop this. More time has to be spend on this issue, one has to go to the root of the problem, locate it and take corrective measures.”About the comeback of Shivlal Yadav as a national selector, Dalmiya was quick to clear the air,”it is for the zones to make a choice about the selector.”Dalmiya said that top priority will be given to India ‘A’ tours, which will provide the second string players with enough exposure to the rigours of playing at a higher level.With regard to the domestic cricket, Dalmiya said that the present system will continue for two more seasons. The two-tier system will come into being from the 2003-2004 season, and teams would be classified on the basis of the results of 2002-2003 season. The BCCI President said that the Chairman of the technical committee Sunil Gavaskar had no access to any report by Geoff Marsh, who was hired by the board to look into the domestic structure. “No such report was tabled in the General Body meeting of the BCCI.”Dalmiya said that the Government had only barred the team from playing in Sharjah, Singapore and Toronto. “That is just three countries, if the Government doesn’t want it, we will have to abide, however, that doesn’t stop us from going to other 103 countries.” The new President was getting a bit carried away and was quick to realise that, he added, “globalisation is not the job of the Board, the board has nothing to do with globalisation, Indianisation of the game will happen, we should take the game to north-east… that we will do!”Addressing the most serious issue in front of BCCI, match-fixing, Dalmiya made it clear that the Board would not have any second thoughts on reconsidering the ban imposed on players. He said that the match fixing is a heinous crime and is like betraying one’s country.When asked about his name being linked to reports regarding the TV rights issue, Dalmiya went on the offensive. “In which report my name has come, I have not seen, can you just get me (the report)? It is just in newspapers… couple of newspapers have mentioned, I will sue them. I filed a case one and a half years back but they have not come for the hearing.”There was a quick mention about the PILCOM 1996 issue too, Dalmiya made it clear that it is just a difference of opinion between the board and Tax authorities that this can be sorted out. PILCOM was only a management body of the three boards(Pakistan, India and Sri Lanka) put together and hence should not be taxed for the revenue made out of the World Cup 1996. As a matter of fact the Punjab Cricket Association had moved three motions (PILCOM, Income tax 10 (23) and IS Bindra’ssuspension) and all were withdrawn unconditionally during the AGM on Sunday.As for the issue of the Income Tax exemption [10 (23)] that the BCCI was enjoying in the past being withdrawn with effect from 15th September 2001, Dalmiya said, “We have already got the exemption, it is a question of somebody going back andchanging it. Our contention is that it was a higher official in the Central Revenue Board of Taxation who has granted exemption. Only somebody higher up or at the same level can withdraw it; the exemption that had been granted is under the statute of Government of India that we are entitled to. It is not the BCCI that will suffer if the exemption is withdrawn, all 30 units will suffer, and everybody will suffer.”The Board President said that he would give top priority in having a Media Manager for the BCCI that everybody is kept well informed. Dalmiya has no problems in working with Niranjan Shah, who is loyal to the Muthiah faction. The astute businessman was quick to recall that in 1991 he, as the Board Secretary, got along well with the then President Madhavrao Scindia. Sadly, by the time the press conference came to an end the word slipped through that Madhavrao Scindia had been killed in a tragic air crash.