Daniel Vettori has been named New Zealand’s player of the year at their annual awards ceremony. He has been fighting a lone battle over the winter, as New Zealand’s bowling attack has fallen to pieces, but has managed to emerge from the wreckage with 42 wickets at 27 apiece in Tests, and 22 at 20 apiece in ODI’s.During the recent carnage caused by Adam Gilchrist, Vettori has been the only bowler Stephen Fleming has shown any confidence in. It was the same situation in the two Tests played in Australia during November. Martin Sneddon, chief executive of New Zealand cricket said: “His bowling has been superb and he has also continued to show real ability with the bat and has emerged as a leader both on and off the field."Vettori’s successful year comes despite a poor Test series in England, when he only managed four wickets in two matches, before missing the third Test with injury. His figures where boosted by 20 wickets against Bangladesh, including his best haul for the period, 6 for 28 at Dhaka. But it is not just the wickets he brings to Fleming, but the control. He rarely concedes more than 2.5 runs per over in Tests and is also miserly in ODI’s. In the Natwest Series final against West Indies he took five for 30, as New Zealand registered their high point of the year.His batting continues to grow in stature, to the extent that he often proves more troublesome to remove than the top-order, and he proved an able captain when he stood in for Fleming during the one-day series in Bangladesh – if Fleming’s trials and tribulations continue a permanent elevation may not be far away.The other bright spot for New Zealand has been the rise of Hamish Marshall, and his batting success, cumulating in a maiden Test century against Australia at Christchurch, has been recognised with the batting award, while Craig Cumming was named State player of the year.Awards Daniel Vettori Hamish Marshall Craig Cumming Nic Browne Haidee Tiffen Rebecca Steele Merv Wallace
The former Australian batsman David Hookes, who is now Victoria’s coach, launched a stinging attack on Sourav Ganguly after the Indians’ tour opener against Victoria at the MCG petered out in stalemate.Hookes blamed Ganguly for the dullness of the game, claiming that a pre-match agreement between the two sides was ignored by Ganguly once he had won the toss. According to Hookes, the two sides had agreed to bat 70 overs each in their first innings.But after the toss, Hookes said that Ganguly told him: "It’s our first day on the tour, we should just bat." Hookes went on: “So once he went well past that and his tailenders didn’t bat properly, I thought ‘bugger it’ – we were pretty annoyed."They didn’t learn to play cricket. It was a staggering approach. They treated the game as a net session." He added that if the Indians adopted the same approach in their next warm-up match – against Queensland – then they would go into the first Test short on meaningful practice.”You need that game of cricket leading into a Test and they have not had a game of cricket – they’ve had an extended, glorified centre-wicket practice,” he said. “If they treat the Queensland game like a glorified centre-wicket game, then they are, in the words of Brad Hodge, ‘nowhere’.”Ganguly refused to be drawn into a row, saying that it was "up to Victoria" how they played the match. “Obviously Brad [Hodge] is trying to find a place in the Test side," he explained. "I believe they were playing a bit for him, that’s how it goes. That’s what you get these days because the itinerary is so tight. You’ve got to make the most of what you get.”
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.
Desperately wanted – an all rounder.This is the kind of an advertisement Indian cricket coach John Wright would love to put in newspapers as his search for a genuine all rounder continues. But he knows all rounders cannot be located that easily. The genial New Zealander, now with the Indian team in Mutare, says, “We are desperately needing someone who is an all rounder, someone who can be a genuine number six..we do need a balance”.Wright believes a couple of players in the team could turn the course of a match but the need was to have more of them. “I think the captain (Sourav Ganguly) is in a better position in this area. He probably has to bowl a bit more, he is a very capable bowler. We need people like that. Even Sachin (Tendulkar). These two players, the main batsmen on their day, can turn a cricket game. If they can expand their roles, they can help us to become a better cricket team,” the coach said in an interview to PTI.In fact, Wright believes the present players have got it all in them and he was trying to extract more out of them. “Zaheer Khan can become a better batsman. Harbhajan can become a better batsman. Ajit Agarkar is capable of lot more with the bat. And that’s my objective – to get more out of them,” the former New Zealand opener and captain said.Juggling the batting order to suit various situations can also bring about good results, feels the coach, as it happened in the Kolkata Test against Australia when VVS Laxman was sent in to bat at number three. “You have to be a bit flexible. I think we have learnt that from the last series. Changing Laxman to number three made all the difference. We may have to look at moving Dravid or one of them up again if we find the team needs it.”I know psychologically Laxman doesn’t want to open. I think that is the question you always ask yourself as a captain or a coach. What is the best the team members have to do which does not really suit them but is in the interest of the team. You have got to do that,” the coach said.To work out a strategy for India, eyeing an elusive away win since the last decade and a half, is what keeps the coach pre-occupied in this African country. Having guided the Indians to a great Test series win against Australia, he knows expectations from him have increased to break the jinx this time.Wright is hoping for a lot from the seamers, who he feels, have a “a good opportunity to keep the ball up, make the batsmen come on the front foot when the ball is moving around a bit”.The seamers’ inability to bowl longer spells, of course, is a point ofworry. “At present stamina is quite a problem. They probably need a bit more strength. They need to be fit after bowling long spells or coming back after lunch or tea. That’s the area we need to develop.”Wright knows that to do well in international cricket India needs at least two quality strike bowlers. “We can’t expect Harbhajan knocking over the sides on the first day of a Test when we are touring abroad. So we have got to work hard on that”.The coach expects the cricket academies would help spot fast bowlers “who are different from batsmen in the sense that while batsmen take time to mature, fast bowlers just turn up one fine day.”So, next on Wright’s priority list, after all rounders, are fast bowlers.”There is some promise but we need performance. We need to be on the look out for fast bowlers. Javagal Srinath at the moment is looking sharp. And there is quite a bit of battle for the other two medium pacers’ slot”.No team is perfect but Wright asserts the team he handles comprises a bunch of players who are “hungry” and willing to work very hard. “They are great boys to work with. They want to work hard. I don’t think they are afraid of hard work. Sometimes, with some of the blokes, you have to use a word or two but they work hard and they want to learn, that’s the big thing. If we can learn, we will be a formidable team,” he said.A lot also depends on the hunger of the boys to excel, said Wright. “Away from home a lot depends on hunger. I have this funny feeling that their best is yet to come..I hope their best is yet to come”.The gruelling international schedule ahead for India will also work in favour of the team in that it will help it develop as one family and unit. “The coming six months will be good for us because we will be away from home and will develop as a unit. We have to keep it tight together in victory or defeat,” Wright said.”It is a young side. And I can tell one or two older players that if they want to be great individual players, they would become one. But also, wouldn’t it be great if they could be a part of the great Indian team,” he asked.On suggestions that players tend to group on regional lines, Wright said, “It is natural for players to move with those they know but if these barriers are broken down, it would be better. I don’t belive in distinction. I am not too big on seniors and juniors and where you come from. The team is a team. There is no ‘I’ in the word ‘team'”.This should be a big boost for a side that now has a coach unaffected by regional affiliations and not having any prejudice.All said about the team, does the coach himself get weighed down by the heat, dust, expectations and crisscross travelling? “I don’t feel weighed down. I believe in the process of working. Win or loss does not matter. As long as you keep doing things you believe in, hopefully things would go your way.”
When Celtic spent £2m on the signing of Marian Shved back in January 2019, it would be fair to say that many at Parkhead were not overly convinced about the winger’s suitability for the club.
Indeed, shortly after the 21-year-old’s arrival in Glasgow, Brendan Rodgers appeared less than enthused about the capture of the Ukraine international, stating: “I can’t say I know a great deal about him but what I have seen he is a talent and something that will probably benefit the club in the future.
“We’ve got about a million wingers and don’t need another one but he’s a talent and in the summer we’ll probably lose wingers and he’ll look to come in. It’s an opportunity for the club to sign a young talented player but not one that will probably help us now.
“The club have been in contact with his representatives and he is a player for the future. I haven’t seen a great deal of him to be honest. It is something that has come to the club through circumstance and he has been watched. I think that they will look to get the deal done on him and he will probably be out on loan.”
As the Northern Irishman suggested, Shved did indeed depart Celtic Park on a temporary basis shortly after his arrival in Glasgow, returning to Karpaty Lviv for the remainder of the 2018/19 campaign.
However, what Rodgers did not predict was that the forward would also spend the vast majority of 2019/20 away from Parkhead, with the £810k-rated winger linking up with Belgian side KV Mechelen in August 2020 after making just three appearances for Celtic – once in Champions League qualifying, once in the Premiership and once in the Scottish Cup.
After Mechelen made the 24-year-old – who Wouter Vrancken dubbed a “loner” and suggested should “play billiards for the rest of his life” rather than football – a permanent signing for an unspecified amount last summer, the £7.9k-per-week Shved’s status as a Celtic flop was confirmed.
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Indeed, with the attacker setting Celtic back around £1m in wages over his 129 weeks at Parkhead, in addition to his £2m transfer fee, it is clear that the Bhoys had a shocker when signing the Ukrainian, who well and truly rinsed Dermot Desmond.
AND in other news: Ange can axe “infectious” ace as Celtic become “serious contenders” for “massive” deal
No more Plate finals The Ranji Trophy Plate League will have semi-finals and a final for the last time this season. Under the new system, ratified by the BCCI Working Committee last week, the leaders of the two groups in the Plate League will qualify for the Super League quarterfinals along with the three top teams from each Super League group.This means a team from the Plate League could end up winning the Ranji Trophy if it is on the favourable side of three draws. The positive of the move, though, is that the teams get rewarded immediately for a good performance in the Plate League, as opposed to a promotion to the Super League the following season. But it’s open to debate if the best team in the Plate League group is better than the fourth-placed team in a Super League group.This year’s points standing provides an immediate case study. If rain severely affects the match between Delhi and Tamil Nadu in Chennai, Delhi could finish fourth in Group A of the Super League, even though they are a strong team and have done well. If the ruling were to be enforced this year, they could have lost a quarter-final spot to Railways, who are leading Group B in the Plate League.This move doesn’t really remove the original problem of too many teams diluting the competition in the Super League.Long arm of the law When given out lbw off Praveen Kumar at Kolkata, Manoj Tiwary stood aghast – bat slightly pointing towards umpire, words on his lips, and anger in his eyes – and walked off reluctantly. PTI reported he had words with both umpires on his way back and more when the umpires were headed in for lunch.Chhota dada lost 50% of his match fee for his antics but there seems to be some previous between him and Ranade. cricketnext.com reports that it was the latest in a string of contentious decisions by Ranade involving Tiwary. Earlier this season, when India A played South Africa A in a one-day match at Rajkot, Tiwary was given out caught – though apparently off the helmet – by Ranade. Last year in Hyderabad, Ranade declared Tiwary out lbw while there seemed to be a deflection, the website reported.Elsewhere Aakash Chopra was sawn off for the second time in two matches, adding to his woes a week after Delhi team-mate Virender Sehwag made it to the squad ahead of him for the Test series in Australia. While Chopra sought to be philosophical and saw it as just another occupational hazard, Pravin Amre, Mumbai’s coach, lashed out at the umpires. After Mumbai failed to bowl Himachal Pradesh out in their second innings, Amre was quoted as saying in the Times of India: “[Abhishek] Nayar and Ramesh Powar had both got [Ashok] Thakur early on – lbw and caught behind respectively — but they were denied. Earlier, Rohit Sharma, Amol Muzumdar and Ajit Agarkar were incorrectly given out. This is the sixth match and I have not spoken against the standard of umpiring so far. But it has hurt us badly in every game. We are having to take 15 wickets in every innings.”While the umpiring standards are not surprising, it is surprising that only Tiwary has been fined for showing dissent. It could have to do with that being the only match being shown live on TV.What’s in a name Over the last week or two, Ranadeb Bose has been compared to Sourav Ganguly in terms of pace by a national selector, omitted from the invitees’ list for the BCCI awards night where he was an winner, and his second name was changed on the team list in the match against Uttar Pradesh.He was called Ranadeb Mondal on the official list given by Bengal, which could have resulted in a protest by the UP team. On the first afternoon, the Bengal officials desperately went about trying to get the mistake corrected by the match referee Inderjit Singh Sachdeva, the Indian Express reported. In case of a factual error on the team list, the team at fault has to play without that particular player. In an earlier game, against Punjab at Siliguri, Bengal had failed to mention Bose’s name in the team-list, the paper reported. The mistake was rectified during the match.Hat-trick season VRV Singh became the third bowler to take a hat-trick in two rounds of Ranji Trophy matches. And like the previous two – by Sony Cheruvathur and Parvinder Awana – this one too set up a win and also helped Punjab avoid relegation. VRV dismissed Niranjan Behera off the last ball of his fifth over and Rashmi Parida and Rashmi Das with the first two of his sixth, as Orissa collapsed from 24 for 0 to 76 all out in the second innings.Quotehanger “To be honest, it wouldn’t have been as bad had Gautam [Gambhir] made it ahead of me.”: Aakash Chopra told Mid-Day about his exclusion from the squad for the Tests in Australia. “But Viru [Sehwag] – although he is a very good friend of mine – being picked ahead of both of us is a bit shocking. He was not even named in the provisional squad. In that sense, I have every right to be disappointed.”
Pakistan’s preparations for the final ODI against South Africa at Johannesburg have been hampered by the disappearance of key analytical equipment en route from Cape Town.Medical and video analysis material went missing after the fourth match at Newlands, in which Pakistan were crushed by ten wickets to trail 2-1 in the series. “Two cricket coffins with computers, a TV monitor, a video recorder, a DVD player and various other pieces of equipment have disappeared,” Bob Woolmer told Cricinfo.”The physiotherapist’s ultra-sound equipment along with other medical supplies have also disappeared,” Woolmer added. “We have no idea what has happened. We can claim it all on insurance but that’s not the point. The bags and equipment were all checked in when we left Cape Town and we have the relevant baggage tags for it. We all saw the bags being checked in so they must have disappeared somewhere during the journey, or on arrival. It’s valuable equipment too, worth somewhere between US$15,000-20,000.”I hate to think ‘typical Johannesburg airport’ but there is a bit of history. We’re still hoping the stuff will turn up but time is running out and we need the equipment to have any hope of being prepared,” Woolmer said.
As the senior sides from England and India prepare to face each other in amuch anticipated series, the Under-19 versions offer an enticing prospectin the first of the day/night World Cup semi-finals at the PremadasaStadium. The two teams have arrived at the last four in contrastingstyles; India have had few problems winning four out of four in the pastweek, whereas England were tested by Ireland, and lost to Zimbabwe, beforepulling out all the stops against Bangladesh.That win against Bangladesh was a vital result for a side that was stilltrying to bury the memories of their horror tour before Christmas, wherethey lost every match. The team had been far from convincing, finishingsecond in Group D, and the two-wicket defeat against Zimbabwe suggestedthey hadn’t conquered their demons against spin. However, the batsmensuccessfully combated the Bangladesh attack – consisting of four left-armspinners – to chase down 155.It is the England spinners who have been their trump cards. Theleft-armers, Graeme White and Nick James, have been a revelation withWhite completing figures of 10-5-11-1 against Bangladesh. With Moeen Aliproviding a useful option with his offspin, and the medium pace of StevenMullaney having been a vital source of wickets, batsmen can’t takeliberties.In their first warm-up match in Sri Lanka, England bowled out India for158. But with the World Cup now at stake, and India in their stride, it isa very different challenge. How they perform against the powerful line-up,that can bat against spin in their sleep, will be a major factor. ButMullaney believes they are now a match for anyone: “We were saying afterthe Bangladesh win that if we bowl like that again there aren’t many sideswho could touch us.”However, India’s top order has been in fine form, especially Gaurav Dhimanand Cheteshwar Pujara. Dhiman has produced some of the most flamboyantbatting of the tournament – including a 71-ball 90 against Namibia and 74off 56 balls against West Indies in the quarter-final. It was also againstWest Indies that Pujara came to the fore with 97. But the downside of theprolific form from the openers means the middle order has had limited timeat the crease. This was evident in the quarter-final when Dhiman, Pujaraand Rohit Sharma carried the score to 209 for 1 after 35 overs, only forthe remaining batsmen to struggle with India finishing on 284 for 9.Batting has become harder as the ball has grown softer, so the lesson forboth teams will be to make the most of the fielding restrictions, asforcing the pace in the closing overs is not an easy task. However, evenrestricting India to a getable total is no guarantee of success.They have a balanced attack, Dhiman also staring with the ballagainst West Indies, while Piyush Chawla is a highly promising legspinner;picking holes in this line-up is difficult. India will also be familiarwith conditions at the Premadasa, having played all their group matches,and the quarter-final, at the ground. But this is the first day/nightmatch for any team so they will need to adapt to playing under the lightsDespite their impressive form Venkatesh Prasad, India’s coach, has calledon his team to be even more ruthless. “What we are saying is why give theopposition a chance. We don’t want even the thought of coming back intothe match to cross the opposition’s minds.” England played one of theirbest matches of recent times to beat Bangladesh, but are going to have toproduce the same again to stop a red-hot India.
Titans 178 (Myburgh 60, du Preez 4-46) lead Eagles 82 for 3 (Jacobs 48*, Steyn 3-34) by 96 runs ScorecardAfter a break of a month, the SuperSport series resumed with the Eagles bowling the Titans out for 178 in 61 overs after winning the toss at Goodyear Park in Bloemfontein. When bad light ended play early on the first day, the Eagles had moved along to 82 for the loss of three wickets.Johannes van der Wath and Dillon du Preez, making his first-class debut for the Eagles, caused the early damage as the Titans struggled to recover from a weak start. Wickets fell at regular intervals with Johann Myburgh, 60, and Andre Nel, 36 not out, the only two batsmen able to contain the rampant Eagles bowlers. They added 49 for the eighth wicket while du Preez finished with 4 for 46.Jonathan Beukus and Davey Jacobs gave the Eagles innings a brisk start by putting on 53 in 13 overs before Dale Steyn bowled Beukes for 21. Jacobs continued with his normal aggression, but Steyn’s fiery spell grabbed him two more wickets, those of Boeta Dippenaar and Ryan Bailey.With Jacobs having just struck two consecutive boundaries, it was something of a surprise when the umpires offered the light to the Eagles. But Morne van Wyk had only just arrived at the crease so they accepted, finishing on 82 for 3 with Jacobs not out on 48.Lions 300 for 2 (Bacher 140*, Motaung 80) v Dolphins ScorecardAdam Bacher made light of his one-day disappointment against Zimbabwe to continue his fine domestic form, as the Lions took full advantage of winning the toss on a batting paradise at the Wanderers. They closed on 300 for 2 after the first day of their match against the Dolphins, with Bacher himself unbeaten on 140.He added 178 with William Motaung as the Dolphins bowlers struggled on a lifeless pitch. Motaung was first to go as he edged to the keeper Duncan Brown for 80 off the bowling of Ugasen Govender, who was making his first appearance for the Dolphins. The same pair then got rid of Justin Ontong for 41 after a second-wicket partnership of 93.Bacher, on 140, and Neil McKenzie, on 14, will continue for the Lions when play starts on day two.Western Province Boland 305 for 5 (Puttick 141*, Tsolekile 72) v Warriors ScorecardThe Warriors will regret asking Western Province Boland to bat first on a good-looking pitch at Mercedes Park in East London, as WPBOL closed on 305 for 5.Derrin Bassage and Andrew Puttick started the proceedings with an opening partnership of 64, which was eventually broken by Tyron Henderson, who had Bassage caught behind for 31. Two more wickets fell in quick succession to bring Thami Tsolekile out to join Puttick, who took the score to 213 before Brent Kops trapped Tsolekile lbw for an excellent 72.The day belonged to Puttick as he batted through to the close for a magnificent 141 that included 19 fours and a six. He will start day two alongside Vernon Philander, who was not out on 24.
Queensland wicketkeeper Wade Seccombe justified a joke on team-mates as he lifted the Bulls to a four-wicket victory over Tasmania in the ING Cup one-day match at the Gabba today.The Tigers set Queensland a target of 220 and looked like upsetting the home side when the Bulls slumped to 5-125 but thanks to the heroics of their gloveman, they reached 6-221.Seccombe joined Clinton Perren at the crease with the game in the balance and played a gem of an innings, reaching his half-century off just 43 balls including seven beautifully struck boundaries.The 31-year-old Ashes tourist finished undefeated on 67 off 57 balls to complete his highest score in the domestic one-day competition.Nathan Hauritz hit the winning runs with two overs to spare.In the Bulls’ media guide, more than half the Queensland players nominated Seccombe as their most admired player.However, it was Seccombe who filled out most of the profiles as his Bulls team-mates were overseas at the time.The Bulls players won’t be asking for amendments after Seccombe played with poise and controlled aggression and dominated the match-winning 81-run stand with Clinton Perren, who made 60.Seccombe said he had not done any extra work on his batting in the off-season and was surprised at how well he struck the ball.”My aim was to be positive, I probably haven’t been as positive as I could have been in situations like that in the past,” he said.”If I could bottle that I would.”Seccombe also took three catches in Tasmania’s innings including a superb diving effort to his right to remove the dangerous Michael DiVenuto off the bowling of young left-armer Mitchell Johnson.The injury-plagued Johnson displayed an all-too-rare glimpse of his cricketing ability with an eye-catching spell of 4-37.Johnson, who suffered a stress fracture in his back last season, made the initial breakthrough when he had DiVenuto caught behind.Johnson completed his four-wicket haul when he had Damien Wright caught behind by Seccombe to break their promising partnership.Johnson did not bowl for 12 months and wore a back brace to overcome his injury and only played club cricket as a batsman last season.