Not too long ago, it was a well known fact that the team most likely to challenge Mumbai – the dominant force in domestic cricket – was Tamil Nadu. The two faced off in consecutive Ranji Trophy finals, in 2002-03 and the following season. Though Mumbai won both, it was a testimony to their respective strengths – Mumbai the nursery of Indian cricket and Tamil Nadu, with its competitive league in Chennai.The story today reflects a change in fortune for one team. While Mumbai still boast of a handful of internationals in their current set-up, the seismic changes in Tamil Nadu cannot be understated, with the nucleus of the side that finished runners-up shifting allegiances either to other states or to the Indian Cricket League. As both teams practised on Wednesday at the Guru Nanak College Ground in Chennai, the question uppermost on everybody’s mind was whether a young Tamil Nadu side could hold its own against the defending champions.”Man-to-man we are just as strong as them,” a confident Tamil Nadu coach, WV Raman, said when asked if Mumbai were the stronger team on paper. “We have challenged them several times in the past and it’s up to the players to go out there and execute all the plans.”Currently, the only player in the squad with international experience is Dinesh Karthik, ready for domestic duties after being left out of the Indian one-day squad. It must be emphasised here that Karthik was one of the success stories in England, establishing himself as a technically adept opener at the Test level. Despite those credentials, Raman said the opening combination of M Vijay and S Anirudha would not be disturbed, leaving Karthik to bolster the middle order.With Tamil Nadu set to retain the same XI that took on Maharashtra in the previous match, promising Under-19 batsman Abhinav Mukund will have to wait a little longer to play his maiden first-class match at home. Mukund, a left-handed opening batsman, was one of the batting stars of the U-19 tour to Sri Lanka, finishing as the top scorer with a double-century and a century to boot.”Abhinav has been named in the squad primarily on the back of his performances there [in Sri Lanka] and he will get his chance soon,” Raman said. “With Karthik filling in as the back-up opener, we don’t feel the need to have four openers in the line-up.”The bowling combination, Raman said, didn’t need any changes yet. “The surface we played on at Chepauk [against Maharashtra] had nothing in it for the seamers, so it wasn’t ideal to analyse their performance. R Ashwin [the off spinner] bowled well so that was a plus point.”While Tamil Nadu have their line-up intact, injury permitting, Mumbai will pick theirs on the morning of the match. Pravin Amre, the Mumbai coach, was non-committal about team changes, though he indicated they would continue with the policy of playing two specialist spinners in Ramesh Powar and Iqbal Abdulla.”Our combination will depend on the state of the wicket in the morning,” Amre said. “It looks a good wicket to bat on as of now, and our practice session today was primarily on the batting and we talked about piling up a good score first up.”Raman, more familiar with the conditions, agreed it appeared a good wicket but said it would be interesting to see if it held up for four full days. The pitch has a layer of grass on it and Amre expected a considerable portion of that to be shaved off.If the batsmen do rule on this surface, it could be the continuation of the trend of drawn games which marked the first round. Being a college ground, there’s just a thin boundary rope separating the on-field players from the spectators so the media persons in the makeshift enclosure could have some additional responsibilities each time the ball heads there.
James Franklin’s dismissal of Jamie How just before stumps gave Wellington an impetus to overcome an inconsistent batting display against Central Districts on day one at the Basin Reserve. Michael Parlane, Jesse Ryder and Franklin each hit 60s, but the inability of the other batsmen to come good against a good fast bowling attack left the hosts with a substandard first-innings total of 296.Michael Mason, the fast bowler with national experience, and Lance Hamilton put pressure on Wellington’s top order while Ewen Thompson seized four wickets. Mason and Hamilton were economical, but Hamilton – even though he went for 77 from just shy of 12 overs – damaged the middle order and effected a swift sweep of the tail. Parlane and Ryder fought well to resist, but failed to turn their half-centuries into hundreds, while Franklin’s composed 64 proved a bonus in the middle order. He then removed How, caught by Jeetan Patel, to leave CD on 42 for 1 after 10 overs.
Phil Jaques struck a fine century for New South Wales as they continued their good start to the ING Cup and cemented their place at the top of the table. Jaques’ 100 powered NSW to a commanding total at the WACA and, despite the best efforts of Damien Martyn, Western Australia could not sustain the asking rate.NSW were given the perfect platform for a large total through an opening stand of 122 between Craig Simmons and Jaques, whose hundred came up from 109 balls. Corey Richards provided the other substantial score of the innings with a 61-ball 62, while Brad Haddin clubbed an aggressive 43 at better than a run a ball.Brad Williams’ 4 for 57 prevented even more damage being done at the end of the innings, while Darren Wates returned commendable figures considering the total. However, Michael Clark had a day to forgot as his 10 overs went for 83.Chris Rogers gave WA the start they needed after the early loss of Scott Meuleman while Martyn continued his impressive start to the one-day season. Martyn and Adam Voges, the promising young allrounder, carried the score to 3 for 200 and gave WA the chance to have a crack at the target.But Matthew Nicholson came back from receiving some punishment by taking three wickets against his former team, including Martyn and Voges to put NSW back in control. Aaron Bird also chipped in with three and only a last-wicket stand of 33 made the result appear closer than it was.
England are refusing to pay Zimbabwe Cricket any compensation as a result of the decision not to reschedule the first one-day international of the current series, which was due to have been played at Harare last Friday (November 26).The match was cancelled because of the dispute over journalists’ accreditation which meant that England arrived in Zimbabwe two days later than scheduled. ZC tried to shift the match back 24 hours to the Saturday, but England refused, arguing that it would have meant them playing less than a day after arriving in the country.The Zimbabwe board claims that the cancellation has cost it US$600,000 in lost gate receipts as well as proceeds from sponsors and TV coverage. The English board dispute this, believing the figure to be closer to US$50,000.”Zimbabwe Cricket has indicated it has suffered a significant financial penalty as a result of there being one fewer match,” said David Morgan, the ECB’s chairman. “We’ve made it clear we don’t think the ECB are liable for that loss and that it’s a direct result of the delay in media accreditation.”Andrew Walpole, England’s media-relations manager, endorsed that stance: “We continue to attribute any loss to the delay in accrediting the 13 UK journalists. The figure quoted is incorrect and a far smaller sum is at issue.”
Percept D’Mark, the event and celebrity management company, has withdrawn its breach-of-contract suit against Sourav Ganguly after the two parties settled out of court.”We have withdrawn the suit as our rights have been given to us and there is nothing left to follow up,” Satish Kishinchandani, counsel for Percept, said. “Whatever information we needed has been given to us and we are satisfied. Hence the decision to withdraw the suit.”Percept had filed the suit following reports that Ganguly had signed up with another player management agency. Ganguly’s contract with Percept states that the first right of refusal at the time of renewal and the right to match any offer made to Ganguly were vested with Percept.
On a day for cricket masochists, a delayed declaration, rain and two limpet-like openers gave Victoria a realistic chance of saving its Pura Cup match against Tasmania today.With a day to go, Victoria was still 350 runs behind after Tasmania batted until lunch, amassing a record 9-527 before declaring.In the 110 minutes of play possible from that point, Jason Arnberger (19) and Matthew Elliott (17) whittled 38 runs off the deficit.Rain permitting, the Victorians will still have to bat throughout tomorrow to deny Tasmania its first win of the season.Given the way the Bellerive Oval wicket is playing and the ease with which Arnberger and Elliott survived, there’s no reason why they shouldn’t.Tasmania resumed at 6-435 and its innings meandered on for another two hours.In that time, wicketkeeper Sean Clingeleffer reached 112, his second century in successive matches, and fast bowler Damien Wright failed by a run to record histhird half century of the season.By lunch, Tasmania was well beyond its previous highest score against Victoria, 8-481 at Bellerive in 1996-97.Why Tasmanian captain Jamie Cox kept going so long, especially when the scoring rate was only moderate, is mysterious.The ease with which Clingeleffer and Wright batted on a wicket that had lost all its first day juice suggested that Victoria, which was mopped up for 139 in the first innings, would be a much tougher proposition second time around.Moreover, it was obvious from the clouds gathering around the ground that a full day’s play was unlikely.And so it proved.Arnberger and Elliott saw off five overs before light rain sent them off.Back they came after 37 minutes to resume their vigil.Everything that could be left – and there was plenty – was left and most of the rest was played with great care until, just before a delayed tea, heavier rain ended the day’s proceedings.The rain also gave the Victorians more time to rest from their labours in the field.With Damien Fleming out with a hamstring tear, the other bowlers carried a huge burden, none more so than Ian Harvey who took 3-136 from a marathon 47 overs.Captain Paul Reiffel, who dismissed Clingeleffer and Wright with the third new ball, finished with 4-71.It was a miserable day all round. The main interest was provided by a plover family, parents and two fragile chicks, who spent the morning browsing in the lush outfield, in grave danger of death from an off drive from the River end.Happily they survived.
On the first day of the Logan Cup match between Manicaland andMatabeleland, the interest and excitement tended to outstrip thequality of the cricket. Two fine batting performances dominated,from the former Academy players Dion Ebrahim and Neil Ferreira.Otherwise the rest of the batting was pretty feeble, the bowlingwas sometimes good but basically erratic, the ground fieldingoften poor, but the catching frequently superb. Both teamscompleted an innings, with Matabeleland taking a lead of 59 runs.This match, by mutual agreement, was played at a neutral venue inHarare Sports Club due to the distance between the two centres,although Matabeleland probably had second thoughts after a longairport delay saw them arrive in Harare after 2am on the morningof the match. Their captain for the match was former Academyplayer and Under-19 captain Mark Vermeulen, with Mark Abramsunavailable for family reasons. Also missing were Ross Craig andJohn Rennie for business reasons, while Manicaland had the sametwelve as in their first match. The weather was hot andgenerally sunny, although there was some rain about. The pitchwas inevitably a little slow and giving some movement to seamers,and with a little uneven bounce the batsmen did not find it easyto play their strokes.Matabeleland decided to bat on winning the toss, and pace bowlerLeon Soma soon struck for Manicaland with two quick wickets for19 runs. Charles Coventry, now 17 but in the record books as thecountry’s youngest ever first-class player at 15, fell in thethird over without a run on the board. Perhaps with a touch ofdesperation at failing to get the board moving, he drove unwiselyand skyed a catch to extra cover. Vermeulen came in and playedsome effortless strokes, apparently back to his best form after alean period. The other opener, development player Wisdom Siziba,struggled for runs and eventually flashed at a ball outside offstump, and the resultant thick edge was well caught low down bykeeper Neil Ferreira for 3.Soma had opened the bowling with former national all-rounder MarkBurmester, who bowled well, moving the ball away from theright-hander. First-change Gary Brent had a terrible first twoovers, bowling several wides. The only way he could resolve thisinexplicable problem, he found, was to bowl with his fingersacross the seam. Vermeulen enjoyed an escape when a thick edgejust cleared gully, but then ran himself out unnecessarily. DionEbrahim off-drove a ball and called for a second, but Vermeulen(29) was unprepared and narrowly run out after quick fielding byTerry Denyer.Manicaland completed a good morning’s work with the wicket of theexperienced Neil van Rensburg (14) on the stroke of lunch, as hehelped a full toss from Denyer straight down the throat of longleg Soma. Matabeleland thus finished the morning on 93 for four,with the busy-looking Dion Ebrahim still there on 30.After lunch for a while there was the rare sight of two spinners,Lawson (off) and Denyer (leg) who both toss the ball up and relymuch on flight. They were not quite accurate enough to botherthe patient batsman, although Denyer picked up another scalp whenShaun Commerford (6) was well caught at first slip by DionYatras, the ball coming off the keeper’s gloves. Wicket-keeperWarren Gilmour (8) was bowled by a beauty from Brent that cameback enough to uproot the off stump as the batsman tried to padup, and Matabeleland were reduced to 120 for six.Ian Engelbrecht then gave Ebrahim sound support for a while in auseful partnership of 44 for the seventh wicket. Ebrahim oftenstruggled with his timing on this pitch but hung on and picked uphis runs mainly in ones and twos. He reached his fifty withoutit being recognised for several minutes due to the lack of anadequate scoreboard. He had reached 70 when Engelbrecht (19)finally steered a ball from Brent to Burmester in the gully, andthis was almost the end of the resistance. The last threebatsman never looked like staying long, and Matabeleland were allout eleven minutes short of the official tea-time for 175.Ebrahim, unable to push the score along with the tail, wasunbeaten with 76.Manicaland suffered the same sort of start to their innings asthey had inflicted on Matabeleland. Opener Patrick Gada wasbeaten and in all sorts of trouble several times before beingcaught by Vermeulen in the gully off Commerford without scoring.Mark Burmester (5) was then brilliantly caught at short leg byCoventry, diving full length at short leg to pull down a ballthat was going past him, off Matthew Townshend, and Manicalandwere 18 for two.But there was to be no real relief for Manicaland. For a shortwhile Steve Lawson stayed with Neil Ferreira, but after scoring 5he followed a ball from Hitz outside the off stump and was caughtat the wicket by Gilmour. Brent enjoyed a full toss from thesame bowler, which he hammered through midwicket for four; thenext ball was another full toss, but a well-disguised slower ballwhich beat the bat and bowled him, much to his embarrassment.The 16-year-old Stuart Matsikenyeri played soundly for 13 but,just when a recovery looked possible, he was brilliantly caughtat forward short leg by Mark Vermeulen off a firm hit. Yatrasand Denyer did not last long, and Manicaland were in real troubleat 77 for seven. Ferreira was still there, playing asheet-anchor role but unable to dominate. Soma decided the bestpolicy was to attack, and he played some fine strokes in hisbrisk 24, including a pull for six off Commerford. But then heswung at the off-breaks of Brown and dragged a ball on to his legstump, at 110 for eight.The last two Manicaland players are really only there to make upnumbers: Brian James, dismissed lbw to a ball pitching outsideleg stump, and Jason Sparrow looked quite out of their depth, andFerreira nobly sacrificed his opportunity to carry his batthrough the innings in the interests of the team. Hitting out,he was caught at mid-on by Siziba off Engelbrecht for 31, justfailing to match the effort of top-scorer Extras who made 33.The match may well be over in two days.
Southampton boss Ralph Hasenhuttl has shared the latest team and injury news ahead of their crunch FA Cup clash with West Ham United this afternoon.
The Lowdown: Saints without trio…
The Saints, going on a brilliant six-game unbeaten run since late January, have picked up head-turning results against members of the traditional Premier League top teams in that time.
Hasenhuttl’s side bravely held English champions Man City, ran out victorious away to Tottenham and snatched a 1-1 draw against Man United at Old Trafford.
More recently, they’ve had to maintain this imperious form without the trio of Nathan Tella, Alex McCarthy and Lyanco – with it now confirmed that Southampton are still without the latter man also.
The Latest: Hasenhuttl confirms Lyanco out…
Indeed, Hasenhuttl will be without the Brazilian for tonight’s FA Cup clash with West Ham.
Speaking to the press, when asked if Lyanco, Tella and McCarthy remained the only Saints men sidelined, the Danish boss replied: “That’s right.”
The Verdict: Blow for Ralph…
Not having Lyanco back in time for this evening comes as a blow.
The 25-year-old had started to edge his way into the Southampton’s starting eleven since late November, with Hasenhuttl giving Lyanco the nod in five of his last eight Premier League games before the player was sidelined.
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The Saints boss has been very impressed with his 2021 summer signing in recent months, showering praise on the South American he is in ‘love’ with and a character who ‘fits perfectly’ at St. Mary’s (Yahoo Sport).
He’s also been called an ‘incredible’ player by sports journalist Josh Stewart and one who could help to guide Southampton back to Europe, so Hasenhuttl will want him back as soon as possible.
In other news: Journalist: Southampton now ‘trying to poach’ versatile in-demand ace from European giants! Find out more here.
India will remain without a coach for some time longer as the scheduled meeting of the committee appointed to select the next coach, has been postponed indefinitely.The committee, comprising three former captains in Sunil Gavaskar, S Venkataraghavan and Ravi Shastri, and other board functionaries, was to meet in Mumbai on November 3. This is the second time the coach committee meeting had to be deferred after they failed to convene in Bangalore on September 28 when they were originally schedule to discuss the applications.However, as Gavaskar is unavailable on the day, the board will now look for a convenient date for the committee to meet. “Sunil [Gavaskar] is not available on that day and we had to postpone the meeting until further notice,” said Niranjan Shah, secretary of the Indian board.In any case it was unclear exactly what the committee would achieve in its proposed meeting as the BCCI is yet to receive any applications that it considers “suitable”. “We’ve received about 20 applications but the committee is not completely happy.” Shah said it was possible the board would wait for more applications. He was also confident that the team would have a coach for the tour to Australia in December. “We should be meeting in the next two weeks and since it’s an important tour there could be a name picked up.”The Indian board has been on the lookout for a coach ever since Greg Chappell, the last coach of the Indian team, did not seek to extend his contract after India’s dismal showing in the World Cup in March 2007. The closest they came to appointing a coach was in June just before India’s tour of England when Graham Ford, the former South Africa coach, was selected for the job. However Ford turned down the offer, deciding to stay with Kent, where he was the director of cricket.Shah confirmed that the National Cricket Academy (NCA) committee meeting to chart out a new structure for the academy, also scheduled for November 3 in Mumbai, will go on as planned. “We will be looking at the new structure that the director [Dav Whatmore] has in mind.”One important point on the agenda is the approval of the support staff for Whatmore who is likely to pick a physiotherapist and a physical trainer to assist him at the NCA.
Adam Gilchrist expects England’s fast bowlers to come hard at him again in the forthcoming Ashes. He also stated that the Australians will have their task cut out trying to tackle the ball swinging into the left-handers, which the England bowlers exploited to the hilt in last year’s Ashes.”It’s going to be a tactic of theirs,” Gilchrist told . “Like any tactic that an opponent has, you have to be prepared for it and plan how you are going to counter it.”They used it to good effect against a couple of our left-handers in England last year with the reverse-swinging ball. I’m sure they will try to expose that again. We’ve thought long and hard about it. We’ve chatted about it to try to come up with plans.”In the pre-Ashes clash in the Champions Trophy at Jaipur, fast bowler Sajid Mahmood dismissed Gilchrist by getting one to swing in from around the wicket, cramping him for room and forcing an inside edge which crashed onto his off stump. Gilchrist had a similar predicament in last year’s Ashes series in England, during which he aggregated a disappointing 181 runs in five matches, failing to score a half century. Andrew Flintoff exploited the weakness in Gilchrist’s technique, dismissing him five times in the series. Besides Gilchrist, several Australian batsmen were caught off guard with the reverse swing, which had a telling effect on the result of the series.Fresh from his 92 against West Indies in the previous match, Gilchrist gave full credit to Mahmood for outfoxing him at Jaipur, and expected other teams to adopt the same strategy against him.”Mahmood bowled a really nice delivery from around there the other night,” he continued. “But there’s no denying that teams will target that area of my game. I’m well aware of that so I’ll be doing all I can to try to counter that.”