Narendra Hirwani, the former India legspinner, is set to retire from first-class cricket after 23 years in the game.”I am retiring from first-class cricket. I am specially thankful to Sanjay Jagdale, the national selector, my parents, my wife and to the people of Indore for their support and encouragement, which I have received during my nearly 23 years of career in first-class, Tests and one-day international matches,” Hirwani told PTI in Indore.Hirwani, 37, burst onto the international scene with a record 16 wickets in his first match, against West Indies at Chennai in 1987-88, and after four Tests he had taken 36 wickets, the most by any bowler at this stage of their career. A string of overseas tours followed, but Hirwani was unable to repeat that success in unfamiliar conditions. With the success of a certain Anil Kumble, Hirwani found it hard to sustain a place in the Indian side.In 17 Tests for India – the last of which came against South Africa at Kolkata in 1996-97 – Hirwani picked up 66 wickets, while in the one-day format he took a modest 23 from 18 matches. However, in domestic games he was a stalwart, finishing with 723 wickets from 167 matches, over 400 of which came for his home state of Madhya Pradesh. In the 1996-97 season he played for Bengal, taking 29 wickets at 23.13.Hirwani said he plans to set up an academy in Indore exclusively for grooming legspinners, adding that he has urged the MP government to provide assistance.
Andrew Symonds and James Hopes passed fitness tests for the one-day tour of New Zealand today while Matthew Hayden will have his immediate future sealed tomorrow. Hayden continues to recover from pneumonitis, a swelling condition of the lungs, and Trevor Hohns, the chairman of selectors, has left the decision on whether he will join the squad until the last minute.”Matthew’s condition has improved and we will give him every chance to be fit by waiting until tomorrow,” Hohns said. The team leaves for the five-match tour on Wednesday and both Symonds and Hopes were assessed in Brisbane today.Symonds, who injured his Achilles tendon in the first VB Series final against Pakistan, was the greater concern while Hopes, the new Australia allrounder, complained of hamstring tightness during Queensland’s ING Cup loss to Western Australia on Friday. “Symonds and Hopes have been declared fit to travel to New Zealand after passing rigorous tests,” Hohns said.Australia play a Twenty20 international against New Zealand at Auckland on Thursday before the first 50-over match at Wellington on Saturday. The series concludes at Napier on March 5.
In our new series, My Australia tour, Indian cricketers of the past describe their experiences while touring Australia. In our first instalment, Karsan Ghavri speaks to Samanth Subramanian about the 1977-78 and the 1980-81 tours.
There’s so much to see in Australia, so many places to visit, that thetourism alone makes playing cricket there a unique experience. The wildlife was a big draw for me; to go to their well-maintained national parks and wildlife sanctuaries was a once-in-a-lifetime experience. It’s also interesting for the way the Australians play the game on their own turf. They’re always very aggressive and in-your-face, although, as is well known, they never hesitate to be chummy off the field.In 1980-81, we were all – the Indians and the Australians – invited by Sir Don Bradman to his house for dinner. We sat at a huge oval table for dinner, and Dennis Lillee and Kapil Dev happened to be sitting next to each other. So Kapil just asked Lillee: “Dennis, why, every time you bowl, do you swear at the batsmen?”Lillee said: “Kapil, I’m steaming when I bowl express, and I look for a wicket with every delivery.”Kapil: “But I don’t swear at the batsmen, and I look for a wicket with every delivery too.”Lillee: “You’re not an express bowler. You’re just a medium-fast bowler. With express bowlers, the frustration comes out more. When you become an express bowler, you will do the same thing as I do now.”Ironically, Kapil went on to win the match for India at Melbourne. On the fourth day, he did not come on the field because he was injured. But in the last innings, Australia were three down, and I’d picked up two wickets in consecutive deliveries. So on the next day, Kapil came in on painkillers and ran through the side on a pitch of uneven bounce.The 1977-78 series was a very interesting one, because they won the first two Tests and we won the next two, and the fifth one involved us chasing a big target, which we lost by 40-odd runs.During that tour, Ashok Mankad was a member of the Indian team. He and Jeff Thomson were very good friends, always having a glass of beer after the game. Thomson used to give Ashok quite a few gifts, because Ashok was very fond of western music, and Thommo used to provide him with all the latest songs in the evening.On the field, however, the first thing he bowled to Ashok was a bouncer, followed by some colourful swearing. Ashok went down the wicket, tapping the pitch and meeting Thommo on his follow-through. He asked him: “Thommo, we’re friends, man!”Thommo said: “We are friends … but not on the field.”The Australians are aggressive cricketers, and they play hard and fight it out. But off the field, they’re nice guys, friendly and easy-going.
New Zealand’s failure to live up to the promise seen in its early rounds of the VB Series has been the biggest disappointment of their loss in the first final in Melbourne last night.New Zealand had its chances but a poor batting effort and the relentlessness of the South African batting ground New Zealand into the dirt, with the prospect that they may have had their last chance this time to achieve a second New Zealand victory in the history of finals of the tri-series.Newspaper comment in New Zealand, Australia and South Africa is included below:The New Zealand Herald: “A day which started reasonably brightly for Stephen Fleming’s side – with all team members reporting fit and well, clear skies and the coin falling in his favour – slowly turned into the match from hell, as the batting line-up short-circuited, leaving him with little hope of restricting the South Africans.”Fleming and Craig McMillan helped to partly rescue their side with a 109-run third wicket partnership.”But New Zealand folded in the second half of the innings and were all out with 2.1 overs unbowled.”McMillan patched together his most meaningful contribution of the series, striking 73 off 99 balls.”Fleming played an equally important hand with 50 off 79 balls.”But as well as the pair batted, they were possibly as much of the problem as the solution.”Their painstaking work averted immediate collapse, but by meandering along at a leisurely four an over, they consumed half the overs at their side’s disposal as they concentrated on establishing themselves and getting the total past 100.”The Sydney Morning Herald: “The Xhosa man from Alice, Makhaya Ntini, and his pace bowling partner, Lance “Zulu” Klusener, cut down New Zealand’s batsmen to pave the way for an overwhelming first final success by South Africa at the MCG last night.”The 24-year-old Ntini claimed 5-31, his finest return in a career of 37 limited-over internationals, while Klusener captured the crucial wickets of Stephen Fleming (50) and Chris Cairns (0) within five deliveries.”Capitalising on the foundations laid by their bowlers, Boeta Dippenaar (79no) and Jacques Kallis (59no) produced a record third-wicket partnership of 139 runs from 183 balls to complete the victory.”Deluge in Sydney permitting, the teams are scheduled to meet in the second final tomorrow.”New Zealand captain Fleming praised Ntini, saying: ‘He’s pretty slippery. He’s doing damage at the top with his variation and bounce. And he’s very accurate.'”Winning captain Shaun Pollock said: ‘We have started to play the way we know we can.'”As they led the South Africans from the MCG at the dinner break, man-of-the-match Ntini and Klusener (2-27) must have wondered at the extraordinary fortunes of a fickle game. The agony of their team’s 3-0 Test match losing series to Australia in December-January seemed an eternity ago.”Ntini was dropped after going wicketless in the Adelaide Test, while Klusener’s performances indicated he would have been omitted from the Sydney Test. He returned home to be with his pregnant wife.”New Zealand’s misfortunes escalated when paceman Dion Nash walked off after his first over, having aggravated an abdominal strain sustained when he fell heavily while batting.”The Australian: “South Africa placed a stranglehold on this summer’s tri-series title with a comfortable eight-wicket win over New Zealand in last night’s opening final at the MCG.”With Sydney’s wet weather threatening the remaining two matches, a one-nil lead could be enough to land the Proteas the $50,000 for the winner.”With no reserve days scheduled, matches cancelled due to rain can’t be replayed, which meant yesterday’s fixture carried even greater significance as it was the only one guaranteed of producing an outcome.”Sunday’s match, if required, has already been changed from a day-night fixture to a day game following a suggestion from the Nine network, which was eagerly agreed to by both teams.”Despite its significance, only 20,671 people bothered to turn up yesterday, which was 5000 less than the conservative figure Australian officials had predicted when they foreshadowed a financial shortfall of about $1 million.”The win was set up by Makhaya Ntini, who fortunately proved a final lacking in atmosphere and devoid of local interest does not have to do without a star.”His career-best one-day return of 5-31 not only won him the plaudits of his team-mates but earned him the adoration of the MCG outer to which he doffed his cap as he retired to the outfield after his 10th over.”It was a justified return for the 24-year-old from the Eastern Cape, who initially won fame as South Africa’s first black African Test player.”The Daily Telegraph: ” Australia, you’ve got a lot to answer for. Yesterday’s day-night ‘mockbuster’ final between South Africa and New Zealand was even duller than the most bitter Aussie fan could have predicted. Just 20,671 turned up at a strangely quiet MCG to watch the South Africans cruise to victory with ridiculous ease.”The Proteas, chasing 191 on a dream batting deck, took a 1-0 lead in the one-day finals series with 29 balls to spare.”It’s a pity the bonus point system didn’t extend to the finals, giving South Africa incentive to win inside 40 overs. We all would have been put out of our misery a bit earlier.”Full credit to South Africa for making it 16 wins from its past 17 against the Kiwis, but this will not be one for their greatest hits video collection.”Rapidly improving South African quick Makhaya Ntini produced the best one-day performance of his career to set up the win. It was shame the mood was so flat as he wreaked havoc.”Ntini took 5-31 off his 10 overs, striking twice early and then returning with a savage knockout blow.”The Mercury (Durban): “It is always possible to imagine a reversal in Sydney – scene of South Africa’s most humiliating one-day defeat this summer at the hands of the Aussies – but the Kiwis will have to do an awful lot better to make it happen.”On Wednesday, everything went right for the Proteas, even those little bits of luck that are often necessary for victory in limited-overs cricket.”Nevertheless, it is extraordinary that the recent record between two such evenly matched teams is so lopsided in favour of South Africa.”The Proteas’ sixth consecutive victory at the MCG rewrote that record to read 17 matches, one defeat, 15 wins and a washout (which would have been an SA win).”The Black Caps seem to have been far more aggressive against the Australians, and their 3-1 record in this series against the world champions bears testimony to that. But against South Africa they have been conservative, as if fearful of risking anything.”It was only when their one genuine match-breaker, Chris Cairns, took control in Brisbane, that the New Zealanders eventually broke their log-jam of defeats. But it took one of the best one-day centuries in years – from a starting point of 98-5 – to get them through to an unlikely win.”
Durham flattered to deceive in their championship match against FirstDivision front-runners Yorkshire at Leeds. A total 253-8 at the end of the day was a disappointment – to say the least – after Simon Katich (55) and Jon Lewis (66 with eight boundaries) had shared a 107 runs second-wicket partnership in 39 overs.Ryan Sidebottom (4-51) brought about the decline from a 192-3 position at tea. He had already bowled Michael Gough to end the 60 runs first-wicket stand. Yet the manner in which Lewis and Katich handled the bowling gave no indication that Durham had been put in to bat. Both fell to catches within three overs.After tea Sidebottom took the wickets of Paul Collingwood and Muazam Ali with two consecutive deliveries. Martin Speight, too, was out after being ill at ease for just over three-quarters of an hour. Durham’s hopes of tomorrow depend on Nick Speak (37 n.o.) who has been at the wicket for 150 minutes. So far Yorkshire have not suffered too much from Gavin Hamilton leaving the field with an injury after having bowled less than five overs.
Crystal Palace target Boubacar Kamara is not interested in a move to Selhurst Park, Jeunes Footeux report.
The Lowdown: Kamara links
Reliable journalist Alan Nixon revealed at the weekend that Palace backer John Textor is ready to splash the cash in the summer to back Patrick Vieira and name-checked Kamara as a target.
The 22-year-old is into the final four months of his Marseille contract, with his huge contract demands now not appearing to be a problem for the Eagles ahead of a possible free transfer.
Palace joined the likes of Manchester United, Newcastle United and West Ham United in the race for Kamara’s services, but it seems as if their interest may well be short-lived.
The Latest: Not keen
French outlet Jeunes Footeux shared a story regarding Kamara on Tuesday morning and cited Palace’s interest.
However, they said the chances of the midfielder linking up with Vieira are ‘close to zero’ and he is not keen on a move to the club.
The Verdict: Always ambitious…
Kamara appears to be a player in demand due to his ability, age and contract situation, with Jeunes Footeux also claiming Barcelona, Borussia Dortmund, AC Milan, AS Roma, Juventus and Arsenal are tracking the player.
On that basis, a move to Selhurst Park was always unlikely, but it’s good to know that Textor is willing to back Vieira in his second season in charge.
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Yes, this update on Kamara is a blow, however, the Eagles can now waste no time in turning to look elsewhere when it comes to midfield reinforcements ahead of the summer window.
In other news: ‘I’m told…’ – Journalist drops big Palace transfer claim as Parish prepares big-money offer.
Michael Dighton completed a brilliant week with his second one-day century as Tasmania overcame Western Australia by three wickets in Hobart. Having slammed an unbeaten 146 against New South Wales on Sunday, Dighton backed up with a smooth 106 as he steered the successful chase of Western Australia’s 6 for 227 and extended the Tigers’ FR Cup lead to 10 points.Dighton drove the ball strongly down the ground and was powerful off the back foot during his 119-ball innings that included 13 fours, including a pull off Brad Hogg to bring up three figures. The Tigers needed his mature display as they threatened to slip up on a two-paced pitch.Travis Birt (18) and Ricky Ponting (10) went early in the chase and there were further stumbles when Dan Marsh, George Bailey – he fell to a stunning outfield catch by Ben Edmondson – and Tim Paine departed. Dighton look relaxed throughout and he almost sealed the win, exiting 18 runs short when he was caught trying to loft over mid-off. He became the third of Danny McLauchlan’s four wickets and left Luke Butterworth to secure the result with 32 not out.The pitch looked made for runs, but both teams had to fight on the surface after Western Australia won the toss and batted. They were rescued by their captain Adam Voges and Darren Wates after slumping to 6 for 129 when Hogg miscued a full-toss on 33.Western Australia had Adam Gilchrist and Michael Hussey in their ranks, but both international players went quickly and when Sean Ervine was bowled trying to sweep Xavier Doherty they had lost half their batsmen for 75. Brendan Drew bowled both Hussey and Shaun Marsh while Ben Hilfenhaus and Brett Geeves also made early marks.Voges remained calm and shelved his aggressive shots as he plotted a way out of the damage. It took him 118 balls to reach an unbeaten 88, which included two sixes as he accelerated, while Wates picked up 44 not out. The 98-run stand pushed the visitors to a useful total, but it was not enough.
Injured fast bowlers Shoaib Akhtar and Umar Gul have been asked to appear before a Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) medical commission soon after their arrival from South Africa later this week.A PCB official said that both Shoaib and Gul would be examined by the board’s doctors who would later decide on a rehabilitation plan for both.”Since the World Cup is less than two months away, we would not be wasting time and plan to put the two bowlers on a rehabilitation programme right away,” said Dr Ahsan Malik, PCB’s director of communications. “They are two of our main bowlers and we would try all measures to assure they are fit in time for the World Cup.”Shoaib withdrew midway through the second Test against South Africa in Port Elizabeth with a hamstring injury after taking four vital wickets in the first innings. He is also said to be carrying a knee injury and his availability for the World Cup in the West Indies is not guaranteed.Gul, Pakistan’s most successful fast bowler in 2006, was ruled out of the series after suffering an ankle injury in the lead up to the first Test at Centurion.
The Uttar Pradesh (UP) Government has said it would try hard to ensure that the third Test between India and Sri Lanka is not shifted from Kanpur.RK Chaudhary, the state sports minister, said the Uttar Pradesh Cricket Association (UPCA) will be responsible if the match was shifted from Kanpur. “We are ready to sort out the matter. It is sad that none of the UPCA officials have so far approached us. The UPCA will be responsible if the match is shifted from Kanpur.”The third and final Test between India and Sri Lanka was allotted to Kanpur (Dec 18-22) but UPCA officials said they could not host the match as the Green Park stadium had not been released to them by the state municipal corporation. The Indian board will decide on a new venue at a meeting in Mumbai on December 3.When asked about the notice served on UPCA for recovery of dues by the government, Chaudhary said the association should have come to them after receiving the notice, “but it is talking through the media. The onus of holding the match is on the Indian Board, we, on our part are ready to give them the stadium and maintain law and order during the match.”Rajiv Shukla, former vice-president of the Indian Board, who was also present, said time was running out and “if we do not get any firm assurance by tomorrow evening the venue will be shifted elsewhere.” He rubbished the claim of the government that it owed any payment to the UPCA, saying there was no talk of any dues in the last 57 years. He said he had taken up the matter with Chaudhary but he remained non-committal
Michael Vaughan was pleased and frustrated in equal measure by the close of the second day’s play at the Wanderers. He burst back to form with a superb 82 not out, which rescued England from a mid-innings slump of five wickets for 16 runs, but by the close he was scratching his head in bemusement, after play was suspended 13 overs early due to bad light.”All we ask for is consistency, and I don’t think there have been consistent decisions made today," said Vaughan, whose side was asked to bat under heavy cloud cover, reminiscent of his debut here in 1999-2000, when England were reduced to 2 for 4 in their first innings. “It is always tricky in a situation like we had with cloud cover and a little bit of mizzle, but it was still pretty bright out there and we would have liked to have finished off the overs."The umpires have to make a decision," he added, "but at one o’clock, we were batting in indifferent conditions, and then the fielding captain asks for the light when they are in a bit of trouble, and the umpires accept. They just said it was off, and once they tell you, that’s it.”As a Yorkshireman, Vaughan is well used to batting in such dank conditions, and he admitted that the first hour had reminded him of being back at Headingley, not to mention being back where his international career all began, in 1999-2000. "I had a bit of déjà vu," he said. "There were quite a lot of memories to draw on." But, he added, it was definitely England’s day, as they closed on 411 for 8, having added 133 for the eighth and ninth wickets.It was a triumph of will for Vaughan himself, who had been horribly out of nick during the first part of his innings on the first evening. He crawled to 9 from 45 balls, and admitted that he had been working hard on his game overnight. "When I started out today, I wasn’t in any sort of form," he said. "I watched a few videos overnight, and went back into the nets this morning to try to iron out a little flaw which had crept into my technique. I had just been thinking of survival last night."Vaughan has spent the last week undergoing intensive one-on-one coaching with Duncan Fletcher, just as he had done last summer, when he suffered a similar rough patch of form. On that occasion, it paid handsome dividends, with twin hundreds against West Indies at Lord’s, and by the time he was joined by the tail, the benefits of his extra homework were beginning to pay off."A lot of credit has to go to Ash [Giles]," said Vaughan, "because he got our momentum going, particular after the third stoppage, when the sun came out, the wicket calmed, and the bowlers got tired. And when Harmy came out, I knew I had to play more positively. He’s a funny batter – he always says if he gets past the first three balls he is in!"