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Lalchand Rajput, the former Indian opener who recently coached the Under-19 side on their successful England tour, was pleased with the way some young players developed and was optimistic of a few of them stepping up to the higher grade.”It was a very good trip and a successful one too as we won both the series,” Rajput told the Press Trust of India. “We should have won the first Test too after having swept the one-day series, but England managed to bat out the final day and earn a draw.”Singling out a few players as the most impressive ones on the trip, Rajput said they all needed to keep working hard on their game. “The batsmen to impress the most were Delhi’s Viraj Kohli, captain Tanmay Srivastava of Uttar Pradesh, opener Parvez Aziz of Assam and Bodapati Sumanth of Andhra. In bowling, the medium-pace trio of Vijaykumar Yo Mahesh (TN), Abu Nacheem (Assam) and Ishan Sharma (Delhi), along with left-arm spinner Shahbaz Nadeem caught the eye.”Rajput, 44, who played two Tests and four ODIs for India in the mid-eighties, spoke about the strengths of some of the young batsmen on tour. He described Aziz as an attacking opening batsman who provided the team with brisk starts. “He used to stroke his way to quick 60s and 70s and batted aggressively in the Tests too,” he added. “Kohli showed strong technical skills against both pace and spin while captain Srivastava impressed with his sound temperament and willingness to play long innings. Sumanth could hit the spinners out of the attack easily and showed fine finishing instincts in the one dayers by making a very impressive 97 not out in the last match.”He had special praise for his medium-pacers. “I was very impressed with medium pacer Ishant Sharma who, at 17, worked up good pace in excess of 135 kph. I see him improving much more in two years’ time,” he continued. “Both Yo Mahesh, who got a hat-trick in one of the one-dayers, and Nacheem also bowled well, keeping a good line and length.”The Under-19 side are scheduled to tour Pakistan next month. They are also set to visit New Zealand in the end of the year.

England’s squad for the controversial tour of Zimbabwe in November will be revealed this afternoon, and it is likely that the names of several senior players will be absent, some for political reasons, others because they need their batteries recharging. But the announcement follows a day of heated telephone discussions.On one side was Duncan Fletcher, England’s coach, who has been arguing that some of his big-name players need to take time off, and missing a five-match series against a dire Zimbabwe side would provide just that break. On the other hand, the officials of the ECB, who suddenly became involved in the selection of the squad and, if reports are to be believed, attempted to force Fletcher’s hand.It appears that Fletcher’s arguments were challenged by the ECB’s management, including David Morgan, the chairman, and Tim Lamb, the outgoing chief executive, who wanted a full-strength squad chosen. Morgan came under pressure to compromise, but it is thought that he demanded that Michael Vaughan lead the side in return for allowing some senior players to stay at home.Forgetting the political background, Fletcher is reported to have argued that after a gruelling six months in which England have played 11 Tests and numerous one-dayers with little respite, some key players were jaded. Steve Harmison said last week that he would not be touring for moral reasons, and Fletcher named Vaughan, Marcus Trescothick, Andrew Flintoff and Ashley Giles as others who needed a rest.The financial penalties facing England were they not to tour made the trip inevitable. But the make-up of the squad should have been left to the selectors. The ECB will probably argue that had it sent a weakened side then it would have faced punishment, but that it highly unlikely. Given the increasingly punishing schedules of international cricket, the resting of exhausted players for series against weaker opponents will become more common. But the ECB is running scared.There were further complications with the final selection as David Graveney, the chairman of selectors, scrambled to ensure that those picked were actually willing to go.

The Melbourne bouncer charged over the death of David Hookes will face a ten-daypreliminary hearing in November. Zdravko Micevic, 21, who has previously indicated he will plead not guilty to manslaughter, appeared briefly before the Melbourne Magistrates Court today.His bail was extended until November by Duncan Reynolds, the magistrate, andhe then left the court, hiding his face under a black jumper as he walkedpast the media. Hookes was allegedly knocked to the ground during a scuffle outside St Kilda’s Beaconsfield Hotel on January 18. He died soon after from his injuries, aged only 48.Hookes played 23 Tests and 39 one-day internationals for Australia, and wasfamed throughout the cricket fraternity for slamming England’s captainTony Greig for five fours in five balls on his debut in the 1976-77 Centenary Test at Melbourne.

All Today’s Yesterdays -May 29 down the years 2000
A thrilling finish to a series decider in Antigua. West Indies needed 216 to beat Pakistan, but looked dead in the water at 197 for 9 as Courtney Walsh strode out twirling his arms. But his captain Jimmy Adams was still there, and drip by drip (Adams’s 48 not out came in almost six hours, with not a single boundary) they saw West Indies to the ninth one-wicket win in Test history. It shouldn’t have been so: replays showed Walsh was caught via bat and pad off Saqlain Mushtaq, who then missed two clear run-out chances, one of them a sitter when Adams and Walsh ended up at the same end. Wasim Akram, who had put the burgeoning match-fixing scandal aside to bowl heroically for figures of 11 for 110, was the unluckiest of losers.1902
The beginning of the inaugural Test at Edgbaston, and England picked an XI who all had first-class centuries to their name. It was also, according to some very good judges including Frank Keating, the greatest team they’ve ever picked: Archie MacLaren, CB Fry, Ranji, FS Jackson, Johnny Tyldesley, Dick Lilley, George Hirst, Gilbert Jessop, Len Braund, Bill Lockwood and Wilfred Rhodes. Rhodes – a man who scored almost 40,000 first-class runs – was some No. 11. He made 38 not out, and with Tyldesley cracking 138, England made 376 for 9 declared. That was worth plenty more on a pitch so poor that Australia were then skittled for 36, their lowest Test score. Rhodes took 7 for 17, but as England moved in for a quick second-innings kill, rain ruined the last day and the match was drawn.1999
Having already qualified for the Super Six stage by demolishing all comers, South Africa were probably not overly concerned when they lost their final group game against Zimbabwe at Chelmsford. But the repercussions were considerable: as well as knocking England out, it meant that South Africa carried two fewer points to the Super Six stage. With those two points, they’d have finished above Australia in the Super Sixes; had they done that, it would have been the Australians in tears after that fateful tie in the semi-final.1950
Talat Ali, who was born today, played ten Tests for Pakistan in the 1970s, but he is better known as a match referee: he was in charge for the 2001 Ashes series in England. Talat was a dogged opener whose Test career got off to a traumatic start when he fractured his thumb on debut, facing Dennis Lillee at Adelaide in 1972-73. Pakistan won only one of his 10 matches, when he made 40 and a Test-best 61 at Christchurch in 1978-79.1839
Birth of the first man to be dismissed in a Test. Australian allrounder Nat Thomson was bowled by Yorkshire’s Allen Hill for 1 at the MCG in the inaugural Test in 1876-77, but within three weeks his Test career was over. Thomson was dropped after the second Test, despite making 41 in the second-innings of a match where no Australian reached 50. He died in his native Sydney in 1896.1839
On the same day that Thomson was born, so was Edward James “Ned” Gregory. He also played in that first Test, and became the first batsman to fall for a duck in a Test. It was his only appearance. His son Syd, who was born on the sight of the SCG, later captained Australia. Ned was curator at the SCG for 30 years, where he died in 1899.Other birthdays
1953 Rangy Nanan (West Indies)

Somerset members turned out in large numbers at the County Ground today to queue for tickets for the Cheltenham and Gloucester Final at Lord’s.Chief Executive Peter Anderson told me this morning: “Interest in the club is very high and I am delighted for the players. We are now in two cup finals, against Leicestershire on September 1st, and the second team play Surrey at Taunton on Monday September 10th.”Anderson continued: “At 7.30 this morning there were 150 members queued up outside waiting for the office to open, plus the phones haven’t stopped ringing all morning.”Somerset have been allocated 4,500 tickets for the final, which are on sale to members initially. If there are any remaining unsold by the end of this week they are likely to be available to the general public as from next week.Tickets are also available to members and the general public direct from Lord’s on telephone number 0207 4321066, or through their website – linked below.Entry to the Second X1 final on September 10th, which Somerset have reached for the first time in 10 years, and which has never been staged at The County Ground is free to members and £3 to non members.

Yorkshire have today in which to decide whether to lodge an appeal at the ECB pitches panel’s decision last night to dock them eight points because of ‘poor’ pitch preparation for the current match with county champions and leaders Surrey at Scarborough.Although Yorkshire’s chances of winning the Division One title have now virtually disappeared the loss of eight points could go on to cost them second place in the table which brings with it £50,000 in prizemoney.And there was another shock for Yorkshire fans at North Marine Road today when no play was possible during the morning session because of a wet run-up at the pavilion end. The square had been kept dry after several hours of heavy rain last night but water had seeped under the plastic sheeting covering the run-up, causing muddy conditions.Surrey, who did not enforce the follow-on yesterday, despite enjoying a first innings lead of 198, are due to resume on 53 for two, 251 runs in front.

Ehsan Mani has warned that the ICC could lose credibility as a result of the “disgraceful” handling of the Malcolm Speed affair. Speed was placed on gardening leave until the end of his contract in July after reportedly falling out with some of the executive board.Mani, who was president of the ICC between 2003 and 2006, said that he was disappointed with the way the matter had been dealt with. “He [Speed] has served the ICC with loyalty and a huge amount of distinction and I would have expected that if there were differences they could have been handled privately,” Mani told the .”The way the board has handled this has been disgraceful. If they do not pull their act together they will lose credibility.” Mani’s comments come in the wake of similar remarks by his predecessor, Malcolm Gray, who said that things had got out of control and that differences “should be handled better”.The current executive will also be uneasy with Mani’s comments about the independent forensic audit into Zimbabwe Cricket. It voted to keep the report secret, a decision which was the catalyst for Speed’s departure as he made it clear he did not agree with the move.”The ICC must always be transparent,” Mani said. “Ideally the report should have been made public. Nothing ever stays private. But I am hopeful that with David Morgan taking over [in July] the ICC will come through this.”

Division One

Graeme Hick has become the 16th player to reach 40,000 first-class runs, passing the landmark during his 49 against Warwickshire. Hick adds another accolade to his career – and he is the first man to pass the milestone since Graham Gooch 13 years ago. “For someone who has achieved as much as he has in the game, to still have the drive, work ethic and hunger is great,” said his captain Vikram Solanki. “It takes a particular type of character and personality to be able to do it. As a player, he is the ultimate professional. He is still in fine shape. He has always looked after himself, he is still fit, still works hard, probably harder than anyone else now. He is an amazing guy.” Maybe the moment got to him, but Hick fell as soon as he had reached the landmark when he was caught behind off Dale Steyn. Nevertheless, Worcestershire moved to a 56-run lead when they were all out on the stroke of stumps at Edgbaston- thanks largely to Stephen Moore’s 112 – as the game heads towards a draw.Despite the best efforts of Mark Davies – who took 4 for 48 – Durham are now looking at a victory target of more than 250 on the final day after Hampshire recovered from 124 for 6 to make 309 for 9 by stumps. Durham were only able to add 24 to their overnight score at the Rose Bowl thanks to Shane Warne polishing off the tail to finish the innings with6 for 83, leaving Hampshire 56 behind at the turnaround. And this difference was looking crucial with the early collapse, but Dimitri Mascarenhas and Warne added 45 for the 8th wicket before Chris Tremlett gave further reminder of his allround skills by frustrating Durham’s bid for the top with a vital 62 not out from 81 balls, including three sixes to help Hampshire’s resurgence. But Hampshire suffered the minor indignity of having five runs deducted from their total because of their batsmen running on the pitch.Despite an impressive knock of 77 from Joe Denly, Kent were forced tofollow-on at Old Trafford after Lancashire bowled them out for272. Kent failed to put together any meaningful partnerships aside from an opening stand of 83, and Muttiah Muralitharan grabbed four middle-order wickets as they slumped from 160 for 4 to 210 for 8. England outcast Geraint Jones continued his recent return to form with the bat by making 70, adding 34 with Ryan McLaren, the second highest partnership of the innings. Denly and Key survived the two overs before the close and will have to bat out tomorrow to prevent Lancashire from earning their second win of the season.The clash between Yorkshire and Sussex at Headingley is fast turning into Ajmal Shahzal’s match. After scoring valuable runs yesterday he picked up four wickets today to help dismiss Sussex for 141 in what continues to be a very low, and slow-scoring game. With a deficit of two on first innings, Yorkshire were looking comfortable second time round at 112 for 1 before Jason Lewry made Craig White his second victim of the innings and Anthony McGrath was needlessly run-out for 59 to leave Yorkshire 129 for 3 at the close. With seven wickets in hand, they are likely to try to make the game safe rather than allow Sussex the opportunity to leapfrog them to the top of the table.

Division Two

While one old timer was making records with the bat at Worcestershire, another was making the ball sing down at Bristol. Andrew Caddick took his second five-wicket haul of the match to bowl Somerset to a crushing victory against Gloucestershire – defeating them by an innings and 151 runs. Caddick ended with match figures of 12 for 71. It’s the 17th time in first-class matches he’s taken ten wickets in a match. Charl Willoughby took the other five wickets – and he ended with seven. The win came within three days, but could have been shorter had rain not affected the early days. To add insult, Gloucestershire were deducted one point for a slow over rate.In a desperate attempt to force a result and drag themselves away from thebottom two of Division Two, Leicestershire declared their first innings at 131 for 4, still 120 behind Northants in what was looking like a rain-ruined contest at at Northampton. The home side closed on 99 for 4 with Lance Klusener dangerously poised having hit 22 from 18 deliveries in the evening. Earlier, Northants were indebted to David Sales 92, and late-order runs from David Lucas and the Australian Steven Crook, who boosted them to 251. Another David, Masters this time, claimed the seventh five-wicket haul of his career.Essex made Middlesex follow on at Lord’s, rolling them for 177 in their first innings. Martin Saggers, on loan from Kent, was the destroyer-in-chief with an impressive 5 for 39. He struck again as Middlesex resumed 199 runs adrift, removing Nick Compton lbw before Billy Godleman and Owais Shah helped the home side recover with a stand of 125. Godleman was trapped in front by Danish Kaneria, but Shah and Ed Joyce pulled Middlesex up to 198 for 2 by the close. Shah has been the epitome of patience so far forhis unbeaten 80, and will need to keep that up on Monday if Middlesex are to prevent the top three in the table putting distance between them.After more than two days of waiting to get underway, Nottinghamshire wastedno time putting Derbyshire to the sword at Nottingham, bowling them out for 108. Charlie Shreck made the Derbyshire scorecard look rather pitiful as he returned figures of 7 for 35 to add to his burgeoning reputation, and then Mark Wagh compounded the misery with a run-a-ball 88. Former captain Jason Gallian also made a handy 62 and withHussey, Read and Ealham still to come, expect some rapid scoring tomorrow asNotts look to declare and keep pressure on leaders Somerset.

The process of naming an Indian umpire in the ICC’s Elite Panel has been pushed back by at least a year, after the Indian board requested more time for settling on likely candidates.The board faced criticism in the recent past for the fact that not a single Indian umpire is represented in the Panel, with the ICC urging the BCCI to raise the quality of umpiring in the country. This prompted the board to take assistance from Microsoft to provide software solutions and device effective methods of judging the umpires’ decisions starting from the Indian domestic season this October.A three-member sub-committee, which was formed to nominate the umpires for the Panel, too requested more time saying that the domestic season will be crucial in their decision. Niranjan Shah, the BCCI secretary, was hopeful of nominating at least one umpire by early next year.”Right now we are continuing with what we have”, Shah told . “We scrapped the system of 13 elite domestic umpires, and the overhaul being planned by the BCCI’s umpiring committee means we might need even more time. But hopefully, we will have an umpire in the Elite Panel by early next year.”The ICC’s International Panel currently has three Indians – AV Jayaprakash, I Shivram and K Hariharan, who are unlikely to make it to the Elite Panel as the ICC hasn’t promised any big assignments for them. The board is now considering giving more opportunities to young umpires, provided they prove their worth in the examination for the Ranji Trophy panel on August 20. “The board might even fast-track a young umpire from the Ranji panel to the All India Panel if they feel he is top grade”, said MP Pandove, the BCCI joint secretary.S Venkataraghavan, who retired from umpiring in March 2004, is the only Indian umpire to have made it to the Elite Panel.

The ECB have confirmed this week’s worst-kept secret – David Collier, who is currently in charge at Nottinghamshire, is Tim Lamb’s replacement as its chief executive.Collier, 49, has considerable domestic experience, having worked at four counties – Essex, Gloucestershire and Leicestershire – before moving to Trent Bridge. He also has worked in sports marketing, and the leisure industry for Sema, a Cheshire-based computer-systems company..He’s also a hockey referee, and in 2002 played an important part in organising a rescue package which bailed out the England Hockey Association.”I am delighted to have been offered the wonderful opportunity to lead the ECB into what I hope will be an era that’s always recognised as one of the most successful in the game’s history,” said a visibly nervous Collier in front of a packed press conference at Lord’s today. “I look forward to working with my colleagues to complete a full review and strategic plan for the game before the start of next season and to build upon the positive changes which the ECB has implemented during the past year.”But he recognised that taking over at the ECB would not be without its inherited problems. “I am fully aware there are still a number of issues to address,” he said. Collier was asked his opinion of the abundance of non-English-qualified county players. “I wouldn’t say there were too many. What I would say is that we have to get the balance right. We are concerned about the profileration of certain unqualified players. Clearly, we have to operate within the law, within EC law. So we are hamstrung by one or two guidelines. But, as part of our strategic plan, we will find the best way of engaging the maximum number of English-qualified players.”Collier was also asked if he thought there would be a long-term future for 18 first-class counties. “Yes. There is a very strong marketing arm of the game. The fact that English cricket has one of the most vibrant international audiences is no coincidence.”Turning to England’s tour of Zimbabwe, Collier said he believed that England should go ahead with the planned five one-day games. “The board took the best possible legal advice over the Zimbabwe situation,” he stated. “There were only two forms of acceptable non-compliance – safety and security, and the board will look at these in great depth before we do go.”Collier’s starting date at Lord’s has yet to be worked out, although he indicated it is likely to be at the end of the year. Meanwhile, Hugh Morris will continue in the role of acting chief executive.David Morgan, the ECB chairman, explained the thinking behind the appointment: “We were looking for someone with a strong business background coupled with a knowledge and love of cricket. David has both qualities. Not only has he successfully led Nottinghamshire for the past five years, continuing to develop the ground into one of the most attractive cricket venues in the country, but he also has significant business experience both within and outside of cricket.”The search for the new chief executive was an extensive and competitiveone. The recruitment consultants, Norman Broadbent, received a hugenumber of CVs and they subsequently interviewed close to 40 candidatesbefore drawing up a short-list of eight highly qualified people. I amdelighted that David has accepted the role, and I look forward to workingwith him as we continue to develop ECB and the game as a whole.”