All posts by csb10.top

The Western Australian Cricket Association selectors today announced the Western Warriors team to play Tasmania in a Pura Cup match in Hobart on February 5-8.The team is:Justin Langer (Captain), Mike Hussey (vice-captain), Jo Angel, Ryan Campbell, Beau Casson, Michael Clark, Murray Goodwin, Shaun Marsh, Marcus North, Chris Rogers, Callum Thorp and Brad Williams.The Warriors are in Adelaide this weekend for a crucial ING Cup limited-overs match against the Southern Redbacks on Saturday, February 1.This entire match will be televised live on Channel Nine, from 7am (Perth time) on Saturday.The team travels to Hobart on Sunday morning, February 2, to prepare for the four-day Pura Cup encounter with the Tigers.

The South Australian Cricket Association (SACA) has named a thirteen-man squad for the ING Cup clash against the Queensland Bulls to be played this Saturday, February 8 at Adelaide Oval.The game will see Callum Ferguson and Lachlan Stevens make their debut for the Redbacks.Ferguson, 18, is a Commonwealth Bank Cricket Academy graduate and a member of the South Australian Under-19 squad. The stylish right-handed batsman already has scored 451 at an average of 41 for Prospect this season, including 151 against West Torrens in round two.Ferguson’s figures in the second XI (ACB Cup) competition this season include a 108 not out against the Western Australian second XI in October.Stevens, a left-handed batsman and slow left-arm orthodox spinner, captains the Adelaide Cricket Club and has amassed 541 runs at an average of 45, and has taken 30 wickets in the Grade competition so far this season.The 24-year-old last year made the move from Queensland to South Australia to continue pursuing his first-class career. He has represented Australia in the Under-19s and is a graduate of the Queensland Academy of Sport.Bowling all-rounder Mick Miller returns to the one-day side, following the departure of Mark Harrity from the State competition.

Greg Blewett (c)	Mick Miller
Mark Cleary	Paul Rofe
Mark Cosgrove	Mike Smith
Callum Ferguson	Lachlan Stevens
Mark Higgs	Shaun Tait
Ben Johnson	Brad Young
Graham Manou

A 13th man will be named on the morning of the match.The ING Cup game starts at 9.30am, with gates opening at 8.30am. Tickets are available from the Adelaide Oval gates.

Wednesday 12 MarchThe Australian squad will travel from Port Elizabeth to Durban, ahead of its third and final Super Six match against Kenya on Saturday 15 March. The squad departs Port Elizabeth on South African Airways flight SA 676 at 0815, arriving into Durban at approximately 1000. Vision only is available of the side upon arrival in Durban. There is no practice scheduled following the squad’s arrival. Media access will be co-ordinated upon request.Thursday 13 MarchThe squad will train at Kingsmead, Durban from 1200. A media opportunity will follow practice at approximately 1500.Friday 14 MarchThe squad will undertake an optional practice session at Kingsmead from 0900.A pre-match media conference will take place following the session.Saturday 15 MarchAustralia takes on Kenya at Kingsmead, Durban in its third and final Super Six match of the tournament. The match is a day / night fixture, commencing at 1430.For further information please contact (in South Africa): Jonathan Rose, ACB Media Manager, on +27 (0) 833 107 662.

The new Twenty20 Cup competition will see the Glamorgan players take to thefield as the ‘Leeks’ in 2003.A new green and white playing kit, in keeping with the ‘Leek’ nickname, willbe worn for the Twenty20 Cup and replica shirts will be available from theClub Shop by the end of May.A Glamorgan Spokesperson confirmed that the County wanted to move away fromthe more aggressive nicknames of old and hoped that the ‘Glamorgan Leeks’would convey a softer side to the game, which would prove attractive to awider audience, particularly women.Breaking from tradition, the Club also plan to introduce a female mascot.’Lynwen Leek’ will debut at the County’s first home Twenty20 match againstNorthants on Monday, 16th June.Chief Executive Mike Fatkin said:
“It took us a long time to come up with a name for the team for the Twenty20Cup and we just thought that the ‘Glamorgan Leeks’ sat well with our othertwo recognisable welsh emblems of Daffodils and Dragons.”Club Captain Steve James added:
“I can’t say that the players were over keen with the name, after all, itdoesn’t exactly strike the fear of God into the opposition when you run onas Leeks. But we accept that in the current climate, organic food has animportant role to play in day-to-day life”.With three home Twenty20 fixtures being played within the space of 8 days inmid-June, the county hope to continue the theme by offering leek based foodproducts only in each of their catering outlets.Catering Manager Anthony Quilter said:
“We’re looking to offer a complete Twenty20 experience – which will differfrom what we offer on other matchdays. Health foods will take the place ofpies and chips and we’re also looking at the possibility of a low-fat, leekice-cream”.Mark Hodgson of the England and Wales Cricket Board said:
“We applaud Glamorgan’s initiative in the Twenty20 Cup and are looking atthe possibility of each of the counties linking in with a vegetable of somedescription. I certainly feel that this approach could attract a whole newgeneration of health conscious cricket spectators”.

Clare Connor, the England women’s cricket captain and Channel 4 cricket presenter, will lead her team The Braves in defence of their Super Fours title in Oxford on Saturday 17th May.Clare is one of forty-eight elite female players, selected for four teams: The Braves, The Knight Riders, The Super Strikers and The V Team. Opening matches will be played at The Parks and Marston University grounds, Oxford.Super Fours was devised to ensure that the country’s leading players faced each other in regular competition before the international season, and was implemented by the England and Wales Cricket Board (ECB) to bridge the gap between the domestic game and international arena.England selectors will attend the matches and players know they are competing for a place in the England squad to face South Africa in August.England’s vice-captain, Charlotte Edwards, will lead The Knight Riders who include England’s phenomenal bowler Lucy Pearson. Lucy took a world-record eleven wicket haul in the recent Ashes Test Match against Australia in Sydney; including a career best 7-51 in the first innings. The record had stood for 46 years.The four teams compete in a round-robin basis, playing matches over five weekends between 17th May, before returning to Oxford for the concluding matches on Saturday 21st June.Last year’s competition was decided on the last day, and Clare Connor thinks it will be as close this year, Last year, two young players Isa Guha and Lydia Greenway, both performed exceptionally well in the competition and earnt England call-ups in 2002/3.Isa Guha went on to take the BBC Asian Network Sports Personality of the Year award for 2002 and was described as ‘the girl who bowls it like Botham’.Super Fours fixtures:

The Braves v Super Strikers The Parks, Oxford 12 noon Saturday 17th MayThe V Team v Knight Riders Marston, Oxford 12 noon Saturday 17th MayThe Braves V Knight Riders King’s College, Taunton 12 noon Sunday 25th MaySuper Strikers v The V Team King’s College, Taunton 12 noon Sunday 25th MaySuper Strikers v Knight Riders King’s College, Taunton 10.30am Monday 26th MayThe Braves v The V Team King’s College, Taunton 10.30am Monday 26th MaySuper Strikers v Knight Riders Reading Cricket Club 12 noon Sunday 1st JuneThe Braves v The V Team Reading Cricket Club 12 noon Sunday 1st JuneThe Braves v Super Strikers Worksop College 12 noon Sunday 15th JuneThe V Team v Knight Riders Worksop College 12 noon Sunday 15th JuneThe V Team v Super Strikers Radley College, Oxford 12 noon Saturday 21st JuneThe Braves v Knight Riders The Parks, Oxford 12 noon Saturday 21st June

Super Fours Teams:

THE KNIGHT RIDERSCoach: Neil RiderCharlotte Edwards – Captain (Kent)Kathryn Doherty (Yks)Jenny Gunn (Notts)Jane Cassar (Notts)Lyndsey Askew (Kent)Helen Wardlaw (Yorks)Lucy Pearson (Staffordshire)Lydia Greenway (Kent)Caroline Atkins (Sussex)Raddi Nannalal (Berkshire)Sarah Collyer (Somerset)Rosale Birch (Sussex)THE SUPER STRIKERSCoach: Duncan MartindaleClaire Taylor – Captain (Berkshire)Sarah Clarke (Surrey)Jan Godman (Somerset)Laura Newton (Lancashire)Laura Spragg (Yorks)Alexia Walker (Sussex)Beth Wild (Essex)Penny Arnold (Kent)Hannah Lloyd (Somerset)Sallyann Briggs (Yorks)THE V TEAMCoach: Richard NewtonClare Taylor – Captain (Yorks)Laura Joyce (Surrey)Kathryn Leng (Yks)Clare Atkinson (Yks)Arran Thompson (Lancs)Jackie Hawker (Somerset)Kelly Evenson (Staffs)Alexis Mannion (Essex)Dawn Prestige (Durham)Gill Richards (Staffs)Leanne Davies (Lancs)THE BRAVESCoach: Charlotte DickensonClare Connor – Captain (Sussex)Isa Guha (Berkshire)Natalie Lane (Kent)Beth Morgan (Middx)Laura Harper (Somerset)Mandie Godliman (Sussex)Ebony Rainford-Brent (Surrey)Steph Davies (Somerset)Sue Redfern (Derbyshire)Melissa Reynard (Yorks)Yvonne Craven (Berkshire)

Wales have taken a further step towards being recognised as an international side in their own right. With just three days to go until their unofficial ODI against England at Sophia Gardens, Cardiff, they have run into an injury crisis.Wales won last year’s inaugural fixture by a massive eight wickets, but this time around they will be without the man who carried them to victory. Glamorgan’s captain Steve James, who top-scored with an undefeated 83, has been ruled out by a knee injury.Tony Cottey has damaged his back and will miss out as well, while Andrew Davies broke a thumb during a Second XI Trophy match at Neath on Monday and he will be out for four to six weeks. Jonathan Hughes also sustained a hand injury but the extent of that is not known at present, though his participation is in doubt.There is some good news for Wales. Steffan Jones had been released by Somerset and will be available to play, while the captaincy has been passed to that most passionate of Welshmen, Robert Croft, who took 2 for 36 and lamped a rapid 30 in last year’s match. Mike Kasprowicz, Glamorgan’s overseas player, follows in the footsteps of Jacques Kallis as an honourary Taff.Wales squad Ian Thomas, Robert Croft (capt), Mike Powell, Matthew Maynard, David Hemp, Adrian Dale, Jonathan Hughes, Mark Wallace (wk), Michael Kasprowicz, Alex Wharf, David Harrison, Darren Thomas, Steffan Jones, Dean Cosker.

Hampshire Hawks will be flying high and fast tonight (Wednesday 18th June) to outwit and outplay the Essex Eagles in their next Twenty20 match at The Rose Bowl.Following the roaring success of Friday’s sell-out inaugural match, the non-stop action and carnival atmosphere will return as feathers fly on the pitch and fireworks light up the sky over the cricket and Westlife’s tribute concert by Westlives.Gates will be opening at 2.30pm for a 5.30pm match start. Tickets covering the cricket, concert and fireworks are £10 for adults and £5 for under sixteens and parking is available at The Rose Bowl for £5 but get there early to avoid the rush."This is an important match for the Hawks with everything still to play for in qualification for the Twenty20 Cup finals" says Nick Pike, Managing Director of The Rose Bowl. "We’re definitely setting our sights on a fast and furious win."It looks like being another great night at The Rose Bowl – one not to be missed!EndsPress Contact: Katie Hall 023 8047 2009 / 07900 433242Jane Kerr 07976 549705

Gareth Batty: released from the England squad

England this morning released Gareth Batty ahead of tomorrow’s third npower Test against South Africa at Trent Bridge. Batty was one of four uncapped players announced in the squad last weekend as England looked to change things round after their innings defeat at Lord’s.After examining the Trent Bridge pitch this morning, the England management let Batty return to Worcestershire, leaving Ashley Giles as the sole spinner in the squad. Michael Vaughan said: “We will look at the conditions in the morning and decide which four seamers will be best to help us win the Test.” James Kirtley and Glen Chapple will contest the final bowling spot between them, with Kirtley expected to play after being named in all four Test squads this summer.

India A 276 for 8 (Gavaskar 79* Sriram 77, Balaji 5-50) beat India Seniors 249 for 8 (Badani 73, Bangar 66) by 27 runs
ScorecardThe Challenger Series for the 2003-04 season got off to an entertaining start when India A pulled off a 27-run upset victory over the Seniors at the Chinnaswamy Stadium in Bangalore. Opting to bat first on a belter, India A shrugged off the loss of early wickets to score 276, and then restricted the Seniors to 249.If the idea of the tournament was to pit the probables for the Indian team together and judge their performances, then today’s match should have given the selectors plenty to ponder over. The most impressive displays were from those on the fringes of the national team, while the certainties put in tepid performances. The lack of match-play for many of the top players was evident too. In fact, of the five star-rated performances today, four came from players who had toured with the A team to England recently. For India A, Sridharan Sriram (77) and Rohan Gavaskar (79 not out) were the heroes, while Hemang Badani (73) and Sanjay Bangar (66) contributed most of the runs for India Seniors. L Balaji had reason to celebrate too, bowling with control and consistency to pick up a five-for.Both innings were dominated by fifth-wicket partnerships: Sriram and Gavaskar revived India A’s innings with a 126-run stand, while Badani and Bangar added 114 to put the India Seniors’ run-chase back on track after they had slumped to 86 for 4.On an excellent batting strip, a target of 277 wasn’t insurmountable, but India Seniors erred in sending Parthiv Patel to open, while Sourav Ganguly dropped down to No. 3. The move flopped, as Parthiv edged the fourth ball of the innings to Mohammad Kaif at gully. Rayudu was secure in defence, but got himself run out after a misunderstanding with Ganguly (7 for 2). Ganguly himself started nervously, then showed signs of getting back in form with a couple of rasping square-drives, before top-edging a pull off Pathan (39 for 3).When Tendulkar – in the middle of an inspired spell – trapped VVS Laxman (30) in front to end a promising 47-run stand with Badani, India A seemed to have wrapped up the match. However, Badani and Bangar then proceeded to pull the innings out of the rut. Badani used the sweep to good effect, and drove in the V to anything which was pitched up. Bangar, once again, impressed with his cricketing sense, chipping over the infield intelligently and running hard.Salvi ended the partnership when Badani – after having scored 13 from that over – attempted a pull and top-edged to Ajay Ratra (200 for 5). Bangar was stumped off Anil Kumble soon after, as India Seniors’ hopes faded away.Earlier, Balaji was the chief wrecker as India A stuttered at the start. Keeping an excellent control over his length and pitching it consistently in the corridor, Balaji struck three times in his first six overs, and almost got a fourth. Gautam Gambhir succumbed to an old weakness, driving on the up at a widish ball, straight to Ambati Rayudu at backward point (20 for 1). Balaji then bowled Tendulkar with a no-ball, but television replays suggested that the call was a harsh one.Wasim Jaffer’s played three gorgeous drives on either side of the wicket, and then fell attempting another one, nicking to VVS Laxman at slip (43 for 2), while Kaif gave more catching practice to Laxman (66 for 3). With Zaheer Khan showing signs of early season rustiness – he bowled four no-balls and as many wides in his first five overs, which went for 38 – Balaji’s incisiveness and control was vital in keeping the senior side in the match.On 7 when given the reprieve, Tendulkar struggled for fluency throughout, striking just four fours in his 66-ball effort. His subdued innings finally ended courtesy a clever piece of bowling by Harbhajan, who enticed Tendulkar down the pitch and then held on to a sharp return catch.Sriram and Gavaskar led the recovery with a carefully constructed partnership. Both batsmen were circumspect at the start, nurdling the ball in the gaps and sprinting hard, and then slowly upped the tempo. Sriram’s sweep stroke was especially effective, while Gavaskar played some spanking shots down the ground, especially memorable being a straight six off Harbhajan and a straight-drive off Zaheer. The stand finally ended when Sriram skied an attempted flick to Ganguly at mid-on (237 for 5), but Gavaskar kept the innings going. In the end, a total of 276 turned out to be more than enough.

Nathan Astle’s 103 off 207 balls enabled New Zealand to save some face on the third day of the first Test between India and New Zealand, even if it didn’t quite take New Zealand to safety. Here is what he had to say:On his innings
Well, I was going to play my game, right from themorning, and I think I did that pretty well. I got outto a reckless shot. I had wanted to be more assertive,and I just picked the wrong ball to do it. Everybodyin the New Zealand middle order plays shots, and Ithink we did that today. Craig McMillan took thepressure off me and played well, and we were able tokeep the runs ticking along.On the wicket
It is a good wicket, although the heat is getting tous a little bit. We have to keep up our water intake,and it has become a mental game more than anythingelse. The wicket is getting a little turn, and it willturn more as the game goes on. Zaheer Khan’sfootmarks are also creating a rough for the Indianspinners, so if we do have to follow on, that willhelp them quite a bit.On being the first New Zealander since 1976-77 toscore a Test century in India
Yes, actually I was aware of that. Before playstarted, we had a few facts put before us, and thiswas one of them. So it was actually good motivation.On the Ahmedabad ground
It’s always nice to come back to a ground with goodmemories. [Astle scored a World Cup century againstEngland here in 1996.] It becomes easier to go outthere and bat, your mind is at ease a lot more.On New Zealand’s strategy for the remainder of thegame
Well, we’re going to try to get to 300 first, and thenmaybe get a few more past it. If we do that, we’ll bea lot happier. We’ll have a shot at drawing this game,and can then go on to Mohali. If we are made to followon, however, it will be tough to last two days.