All posts by csb10.top

Somerset chief executive Peter Anderson has written to all 7000 of the club’s members `to apologise for the poor display by our players this season.’In the letter that dropped onto every members doorstep over the weekend the Somerset boss says that despite the C and G Final appearance at Lord’s `too many of our performances seemed to lack enthusiasm, urgency, and the requisite application expected of professional players.’Mr Anderson refers to the meeting that Cricket Chairman Vic Marks is going to have with the coaches and senior staff to `assess what went wrong and what is needed to rectify the situation’ and goes onto say that the club are making financial provision to sign three new players including an additional overseas player.The Somerset chief promises ` each and every coach and player will be interviewed and left in no uncertain terms what is expected of them in 2003. For most of them the message is quite simpleyou got us down, you get us up.’However Mr Anderson reassures the supporters when he says `The ground, facilties, youth development, training and finacial structure are the envy of many’ and concludes by saying `What has happened has depressed us all but it is not the end of the world; nor is it the end of Somerset County Cricket Club.Certainly if the players can carry on with the kind of spirit and application that they demonstrated in the last NUL game against Durham Dynamos they will be a force to be reckoned with in 2003 and will be promotion contenders in division two.

Lack of competition. That’s all you hear when people are talking about theAshes. It’s true. Where has the bark of the British bulldog gone?Why is it Australia can produce world-class cricketers while Englandstruggles to assemble 11 to put on the field?Casting an eye down the Australian team list reveals some names who historywill record with reverence. Names like Steve Waugh, Adam Gilchrist, Shane Warne, Glenn McGrath,Matthew Hayden and Ricky Ponting.Not one player in the English side fills you with confidence. For somereason, the English system has stopped producing world-class cricketers.From 1959 to 1971, Australia held the Ashes. But it wasn’t like it is now.The 1958/9 series was won 4-0, 1961 2-1, 1962/3 was a 1-1 draw. Australiawon 1964 1-0 and the next two series were 1-1 draws.Australia had to fight and scrap to keep hold of the most famous prize inworld cricket. The players England had playing for them in that era willstand the test of time. Players such as Trevor Bailey, Colin Cowdrey, Ted Dexter, Godfrey Evans,Jim Laker, Frank Tyson, Fred Trueman, Brian Statham, Ray Illingworth, John Edrich, Ken Barrington and Peter May.Contrast to this esteemed list not so well known names like Alan Igglesden,Tim Curtis, Kim Barnett, Mark Lathwell, Martin Bicknell, Steve Watkin and John Stephenson. Players Englandtried to take on Australia with.If a World XI was picked today and tried to select at least one player fromevery Test nation, you would be hard pressed to choose an Englishman. Theircurrent crop of cricketers pale into insignificance when compared to theirpredecessors like Alan Knott, Geoff Boycott, Allan Lamb, David Gower, Bob Willis or Derek Randall.With so much interest in the current series, imagine how much more therewould be if the cricket was close?

The new Somerset `Hero of the Week’ is Matthew Wood, who scored a century in each innings of the championship match against Surrey at the County Ground last week. Congratulations to Matt on scoring his two hundreds, and also on being named as the new hero.Chief executive Peter Anderson and coach Kevin Shine were unanimous about their choice of the new hero.Mr Anderson told me: "It has to be Matthew Wood as the new hero. It’s so nice to see a young player come through the ranks and grab his chance when it comes along at first class level."Kevin Shine told me: "After his two hundreds against Surrey last week, there can only be one choice for the new hero, and that is Matthew Wood. He is a very talented young player."Matthew, who hails from Exmouth in Devon, has been on the Somerset scene for a number of years, and made his second eleven debut when he was just sixteen. He made his first team debut in June 2001 against Yorkshire at Bath scoring 71 in his first innings for the county.Later in 2001 Matthew scored his maiden first class century when he made 122 against Northamptonshire at Taunton.This season Matt made a quiet start, but over the last few innings has looked better and better each time that he has gone out to bat. He has also become a regular member of the one day side, where he has made some very useful contributions.I caught up with Matt just before he set off on the long journey to Scarborough, when he gave me the following answers to the Thomas and George’s hero questions.Q1 What sports do you enjoy, apart from cricket?
A I enjoy playing both golf and football. I have a golf handicap of sixteen, which is about right, I’m not a bandit like Blackie and Bully! I play football, but because I have been out to Australia for the last couple of winters I don’t have a regular team. I support Liverpool.Q2 Who was your idol when you were young?
A Locally my hero was Nick Folland who played for Somerset but also played for Exmouth where my Dad played. He influenced me a lot. Nationally I suppose my idols were Brian Lara and Sachin Tendulkar.Q3 Who is your favourite pop star or band?
A I don’t really have a favourite.Q4 What do you do in your spare time?
A I relax in any spare time that I get. I enjoy going out with my friends, playing golf, and watching all sports.Q5 Where did you go to school, and when did you start to play cricket?
A I went to school at St Joseph’s Primary in Exmouth and then onto Exmouth Community College. I started to play cricket when I was about six years old, with my Dad, who played for Exmouth at that time. He is still very involved with the club.Q6 What is your favourite food?
A I enjoy eating anything apart from Chinese.Q7 How much training do you do every week, are there any special exercises?
A Off season I train nearly every day, but during the season I train on days that we are not playing.Q8 What has been your most memorable match for Somerset?
A After my two hundreds last week’s against Surrey last week, that has to be my most memorable match for Somerset, so far!Q9 Apart from the County Ground at Taunton, which is your favourite cricket ground and why?
A I don’t really have another favourite ground, apart from here at Taunton, where I have scored all three of my first class centuries.Q10 What are your cricketing ambitions?
A My cricketing ambition is to play cricket at the highest level that I possibly can.Thank you very much Matt for the answers to our questions.I’m sure that everybody who has watched your career develop over the years is delighted at your success and offer their congratulations to you on scoring two centuries against Surrey.

Nashua WP all-rounder Neil Johnson will miss WP’s opening Supersport Series match against Free State starting in Bloemfontein on Friday. Johnson plays his last county match for Hampshire on Saturday before returning to Cape Town.The WP selectors have included two spinners, Claude Henderson ans Paul Adams in their 13 man squad. Lloyd Ferreira returns to the four day game after missing last season’s Supersport Series due to work commitments. SA under 19 player Rory Kleinveldt could earn his first senior cap while Roger Telemachus is fully fit. The full squad is;NASHUA WESTERN PROVINCEVS FREE STATE EAGLESSUPERSPORT SERIESGoodyear Park20,21,22,23 September 20021)Gary Kirsten2)Andrew Puttick3)Ashwell Prince4)Hylton Ackerman (C )5)Lloyd Ferreira6)Renier Munnik7)Thami Tsolekile8)Claude Henderson9)Paul Adams10)Roger Telemachus11)Charl Willoughby12)Quinton Friend13)Rory KleinveldtCricket Manager:Peter Kirsten

The England selectors’ plans for the coming three-Test series against Sri Lanka have been disrupted after wicket-keeper James Foster sustained a broken arm in practice.Foster was one of 11 players to win a central contract with the England and Wales Cricket Board (ECB) last month, and would therefore have been confident of selection for the first Test, which starts at Lord’s on May 16th. He sustained the injury while batting in the nets with his Essex colleagues at his home ground of Chelmsford. He now appears certain to miss the first two Tests of the series. The second Test at Edgbaston starts on May 30th.”He has undergone an x-ray and the arm has been put in plaster and he is expected to be out for four weeks,” said ECB spokesman Andrew Walpole.Foster, 22, made his international debut for England on the tour of India last year and kept wicket throughout the recent Test series in New Zealand.His injury could pave the way for a return to the senior wicket-keeping role for Test veteran Alec Stewart, although Chris Read of Nottinghamshire and Lancashire’s Warren Hegg, who toured with England over the winter, are also likely to be contenders. However Stewart’s excellent batting form (he scored 99 and 96 in his first two Championship innings for Surrey) could well present a compelling case for a recall.Stewart, now 39, last played for England against Australia at The Oval last August. His decision to miss the tour of India (and consequential non-selection for New Zealand) led to speculation that his 115-Test career could be over. However he has made clear his intention to reclaim his place, and shown the form to demand consideration.

We announce that there are still corporate entertainment vacancies available on the following days:

18 July Gloucestershire v Hampshire24 July Gloucestershire v Middlesex25 July Gloucestershire v Middlesex26 July Gloucestershire v Middlesex

An ideal opportunity to entertain your clients at the longest runningCricket Festival with its own unique atmosphere. The corporate packagewhich includes ticket, morning coffee, lunch and tea starts at £70 plusVAT per head.To enjoy this special experience please contact Gloucestershire CountyCricket Club on 01242 514420.

Hashan Tillakaratne, 33, has been recalled into a 22-man Sri Lankan nationaltraining squad for the forthcoming One-International Triangular tournamentagainst India and New Zealand in July and the three-match Test seriesagainst India in August.The newly appointed selection committee added seven names to the 15-mansquad that participated in Sharjah last month during a long discussion lastnight. The other players added to the squad were Aravinda de Silva, SureshPerera, Dulip Liyanage, and three left arm spinners: Dinuk Hettiarachchi,Niroshan Bandaratillake, and Sanjeewa Weerakoon.The Chairman of the five-man Selection Committee, Tikiri Banda Kehelgamuwa,said that he expected that the 15-man one-day squad to form the rump of thesquad for the triangular series. Aravinda de Silva and Hashan Tillakaratneand the other five players are in contention for the Indian Test series.Nevertheless, Kehegamuwa, refused to rule out the possibility of changes,handing out an olive branch to members of the A team, who will take onPakistan A in a three-Test/ODI series in June.Hashan Tillakaratne was dropped from both the one-day and Test nationalsquads after the 1999 World Cup in England, when the selectors embarked upona youth policy. The selectors reiterated their commitment towards youthagain this week, but the could not ignore Tillakaratne, who impressedthroughout the domestic season, scoring three centuries and 665 runs at anaverage of 110.It is, however, unlikely that both Aravinda de Silva and Hashan Tillakaratnewill both find a place in the final Test team.Sanjeewa Weerakoon, 21, an accurate left arm spinner, is the only player tohave not played a Test or ODI for Sri Lanka in the 22-man squad. He gets hischance after topping the bowling averages this year, having taken 79 wicketsfor Burgher Recreation Club, including three ten-wicket match hauls. He willface tough competition, however, for a place, with both Hettiarachchi andBanadaratillake in the squad too.The two fast bowlers, Dulip Liyanage and Suresh Perera, are recalledafter a period of absence precipitated through injury. Liyanage, a sharpoperator who swings the ball away from the right handers, suffered an ankleinjury after playing in eight Test matches in the mid 1990’s, but was backto his best this year, taking 66 wickets in 11 games.Suresh Perera suffered from a stress fracture of his back after impressingon his debut against England at the Oval in 1998 and has struggled to regainhis form and confidence since. He is though valued highly by the management,despite only taking 19 wickets this season.Both players are useful with the bat – Liyange averaged 22 this season forColts CC and Perera averaged 31 for the Sinhalese Sports Club – and wouldstrengthen the lower order, making them ideal candidates for the one-dayside.The squad have already commenced training in Colombo.

Following their challenging first week back for pre-season training, the Somerset players face an even more gruelling week ahead.On Monday and Tuesday the squad of eighteen will spend time at Centre Parcs which is at Longleat in Wiltshire.Whilst they are there they will be taking part in the new Company Action Challenge, which will include rock climbing and a rope challenge.Head of injury prevention Darren Veness told me: “On the first day they will be challenged by an obstacle course which will be very testing for them all, and then on the second day they will be spend a little time relaxing before preparing for the next day.”On Wednesday the Somerset squad will be spending all day at the Royal Marine Commando Training Centre at Lympstone in Devon.Fitness instructor Andy Hurry, himself a former Royal Marine told me: “The whole day is targetted at team building. First thing in the morning they will all undertake the assault course working as teams taking a telegraph pole round the course, which will be interesting to say the least!”Later in the morning they will go down to the River Exe estuary and work on the beach in the mud, with activities like touch rugby, and then after lunch they will go out on the water in small craft.”On Thursday the Somerset players return to Millfield School where they will be continuing with their specific sprint training out on the tartan track, and then in the afternoon there will be a pairs badminton competition.The players will then have the Easter break before reporting back on Tuesday to step their training up another gear when they focus more upon their technical ability under the supervision of Coach Kevin Shine and his assistant Mark Garaway.

Scorecard and ball-by-ball details
Lasith Malinga was taken for 16 runs in his first over; he returned to pick 5-16 in his next three•AFP

Around 5pm on an overcast evening, an enthusiastic crowd at the Wanderers were faced with the prospect of a washout. This, after what was supposed to be the marquee Saturday night match involving teams featuring some of the world’s biggest Twenty20 stars turned into a dead rubber as Lions qualified for the semi-finals earlier in the day, knocking out both Mumbai Indians and Chennai Super Kings. They were glad they stayed behind, though, as the widely predicted thunderstorm stayed away paving the way for a last-ball finish in one of the highest scoring matches of the tournament with Super Kings walking away victors.It was hard to believe that the match was so closely contested given the stark difference in the starts the two teams had to their innings: Super Kings motored to 86 for 0 in eight overs, while Mumbai had stumbled to 38 for 2 after eight.The contrast was mainly due to the different stages in which the teams used their best fast bowlers. Lasith Malinga took two key wickets in the 11th over – of the fluent Faf du Plessis and the dangerous Suresh Raina – and two more crucial ones in the 17th – of MS Dhoni, who was showing glimpses of the big-hitting that first made him a star, and of the renowned finisher Albie Morkel. After being caned for 16 in his first over, Malinga took 5 for 16 in his remaining three to rob the second half of Super Kings’ innings of momentum.Super Kings, instead, gave their most potent quicks the new ball. Ben Hilfenhaus and Doug Bollinger justified the strategy of using two of their overseas slots on specialist fast bowlers, as the pair smothered the Mumbai openers. Despite Dinesh Karthik slog-sweeping Ravindra Jadeja for 19 in the 11th over, the Super Kings’ bowlers seemed to have done enough early on to secure a comfortable victory.It certainly seemed that way when Ambati Rayudu swiped a long hop from du Plessis straight to deep square leg in the 14th, but the contest was back on after Karthik and Kieron Pollard lashed 24 in the 18th over, leaving 27 to get in the final two overs. Dhoni stuck to the policy of giving the side’s best bowler the 19th over, and Hilfenhaus delivered by removing the rampaging Karthik.With 19 required for Mumbai in the final over, Super Kings shone again in the one department in which they were clearly ahead of the rest in the IPL – the fielding. While there had been several notable efforts earlier in the innings, the best were saved for the final over. Pollard had pummelled the first ball from Jadeja for six, before he fell to a face-forward diving catch by Raina at long-on. Two balls later, Harbhajan Singh hammered a four through extra cover with as much power as any Pollard shot, before he was dismissed by a well-judged clasp by Wriddhiman Saha, arching his body backwards at deep square leg to hold an overhead chance.It left Mitchell Johnson needing to hit a six off the final delivery to tie the game, which could only be thumped towards long-off to confirm Super Kings’ first victory of the tournament.

The Punjab Government has honoured one of its most famous sportingsons, Harbhajan Singh with a cash award of Rs 5 lakhs, a plot of landand offered him a job in the State Police in recognition of hisoutstanding performance in the recent Test series against Australia.At a function in Chandigarh on Wednesday night, Chief Minister PrakashSingh Badal handed over to Harbhajan Singh a draft for Rs 5 lakhs andan allotment letter for a 500 square yard plot of land in his hometown Jalandhar and offered him a job as Deputy Superintendant inPunjab Police.The appointment of Harbhajan Singh as DSP will be taken up and clearedin the next cabinet meeting after a consent in this regard wasreceived from him, according to an official press release here today.The off spinner is already an employee of Indian Airlines for which heturns out in various tournaments.