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He said it in a very soft tone, but the serious look on theface of Brian Charles Lara confirmed his intent.I’ll be back. My career is far from over. I’ll be back inthe runs soon, the region’s master batsman told the SUNDAYSUN yesterday evening, minutes after returning to theCaribbean from another failed team tour, this one of SriLanka.Wincing occasionally and rubbing the sides of the soft castwhich protects the hairline fracture of the best left elbowin Test cricket, Lara refused to think negatively about thefreak accident last week with Marvan Atapattu that will keephim out of the game for at least six weeks, and aforthcoming tour of Pakistan.It was an accident. Accidents happen in sport, so you can’tthink about it any other way. I don’t remember much of whathappened, but in the hospital I did say at one stage: Whyme?I’m over that now, because this injury is just anothersetback. It could have happened earlier in my career when Iwas doing well, but it chose to happen now, Lara said.I know it’s going to take some time, but with my approach tothe game, I know I’ll be back to where I was when the injuryhappened. I expect some stiffness soon after the cast comesoff, but I already have a format in mind about how I plan towork before I can play again.I’m focused mentally even though I’m out of the game, andthis rest will also be the perfect opportunity for myhamstring to get the required rest it really needs to heal.The Trinidadian said it was sad that another West Indiesoverseas tour had ended in a Test series defeat, but somepositive signs were still seen, apart from his return toscintillating form.We can’t just worry about the bad things all the time. Wehave to take whatever we can from the good, and improve onthat. That’s the only way West Indies cricket can move outof this phase of losing overseas, Lara added.He noted that each player should use his experience oflosing as a measuring stick of his individual performance.I’ve learnt over my career it makes absolutely no sense todwell on the past, Lara said as he sat a couple feet awayfrom his British model girlfriend Lynnsey Ward at theAirport en route to Trinidad and Tobago.

ScorecardFile photo: Shivnarine Chanderpaul had to resurrect another batting wobble, and did so with 65 off 210 balls for Guyana•PA Photos

Vishaul Singh struck a career-best 150 to set the stage up for 20-year old left-arm spinner Gudakesh Motie, who galloped to 6 for 20 in the first innings to bowl Leeward Islands out for 85 in the first innings and then come back to finish the job in the follow-on with 5 for 85. It was only Motie’s second first-class match and he led Guyana to an innings and 35-run win at Providence Stadium.Bowlers running rampant may have turned out to the be theme of the match after Leeward Islands decided to bowl and got rid of the top three Guyana batsmen for single-figures, including captain Leon Johnson for a duck. Then came the resistance from Singh and the ever reliable Shivnarine Chanderpaul, who made 65 off 210 balls. They put on 171 runs for the fourth wicket. That partnership became the example for the lower order to rally around as No. 7 Christopher Barnwell (48 off 67), wicketkeeper Anthony Bramble (42 off 72) and No. 9 Steven Jacobs (63 off 87, with nine fours) took Guyana’s total to 419 for 9 when Johnson declared the innings.Then came the wreckage. It was almost like Guyana had given away the first few runs as seamers Ronsford Beaton and Barnwell combined to take the score from 25 for 0 to 26 for 4. Then on came Motie, the fifth bowler introduced, and in 13.2 overs, he had whisked six wickets for only 20 runs to rout Leeward Islands for 85, which was 269 runs short of the follow-on target. Guyana enforced it, and although the visitors were a bit more dogged – Nkrumah Bonner made 89 off 168 and Daron Cruickshank added 57 off 83 – and hauled themselves to 299, the first-innings damage had been too steep. Motie snagged 5 for 85 and basically shut down the middle order before they could make the massive scores that were needed.
ScorecardBarbados and Trinidad & Tobdago played out a tight draw at Kensington Oval. Both teams had won their opening match of the season and did try to up that tally to two-in-two – Barbados set a target of 298 in 68 overs and T&T were brisk in their chase of it, until a few wickets started falling, especially Evin Lewis for 41 off 55. Narsingh Deonarine dropped anchor with 38 off 103 and had Yannick Cariah was unbeaten on 37 off 114 when the match came to a close.Barbados took eight points, two clear of their opponents on the points table, courtesy Sharmarh Brooks’ third first-class century. Roston Chase (59) and Kyle Corbin (46) and wicketkeeper Shane Dowrich (48) lent good support but they were still all out for 300 because the rest of the line-up could not score more than 18. T&T Legspinner Imran Khan picked up 4 for 75 and fast bowler Shannon Gabriel chipped in with 3 for 49. Their batsmen, however, could not muster any score substantial enough to challenge Barbados’ total. Only the 22-year old wicketkeeper Steven Katwaroo, batting at No. 7, could make a half-century. He was ninth man out, bowled by Kevin Stout who took 4 for 54. Fellow seamer Miguel Cummins claimed three wickets as T&T were knocked over for 246.Barbados’ top order was formidable again with captain Kraigg Brathwaite holding one end with a 151-ball 72, then Brooks scored a brisk 55 off 84 and Dowrich hit 40 off 31 balls to provide a target of 298, which was just large enough for the hosts to be safe. And it was.

Speaking to GiveMeSport, reliable journalist Michael Bridge of Sky Sports has made an interesting Tottenham player claim as he names two Lilywhites disliked on a personal level at N17.

The Lowdown: Conte begins revamp…

In the January transfer window, Spurs boss Antonio Conte got his first chance to rebuild the club and ship out some of the deadwood.

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Former Lilywhites sensation Dele Alli completed a permanent move to Everton with promising Spanish starlet Bryan Gil leaving Spurs on loan to link up with Valencia.

Another Tottenham duo in club-record signing Tanguy Ndombele and Argentina international Giovani Lo Celso are also currently out on temporary spells.

Bridge, making a claim on the latter pair, has shared an interesting statement.

The Latest: Ndombele and Lo Celso disliked as people…

Speaking to GMS, the Sky reporter says Ndombele and Lo Celso aren’t ‘massively liked as people’ as well as players at Tottenham.

He explained: “Lo Celso and Ndombele, they aren’t massively liked as people, as well as players at Tottenham.” 

The Verdict: Interesting claim…

Lo Celso, who was often criticised for some of his displays at club level for Spurs, had been called a ‘passenger’ at points this season while there have also been repeated question marks surrounding Ndombele’s application.

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News that both men were not particularly loved as characters could come as evidence towards their debatable attitudes at Spurs and why Conte perhaps wanted to see them leave.

Of course, with both players only out on loan, it remains to be seen whether they could still have a future at the club.

In other news: ‘More on that’…The Athletic reporter drops ‘£2.3 billion’ Tottenham claim on Twitter, find out more here.

On past record and present form, the two crucial criteria on the eveof any contest, it is tempting to place Zimbabwe as no-hopers in thefive-match one-day series against India. But in reality, the scenariois not as simple as that.

Even Indian coach John Wright conceded that the absence of Tendulkarand Sehwag will be felt, although he is hoping to build on theconfidence that the Indians would have gained after winning bothTests. While expressing the view that India will win the series,Wright admitted that Zimbabwe are a better limited-overs side than aTest team.

It is true that Zimbabwe lost all three one-day games in 1992-93 andwent down by four matches to one on the next tour of this country just15 months ago. Also, India got the better of New Zealand and SouthAfrica at home during the 1999-2000 season and lost only to worldchampions Australia by one match a year ago in a stirring contest thatwent down to the wire. The squared verdict against England a few weeksago is neither here nor there.India’s dominance at home is not as pronounced in the one-day game asit is in Test cricket. But the track record is still very impressive.But India would do well to not take the Zimbabweans too lightly. Onlylast year, they won home and away contests against New Zealand.Although their steadily improving record was tarnished by 3-0 and 5-0defeats to South Africa and England at home earlier this season, it isobvious that Zimbabwe are not the team that once had an unenviablerecord of having lost seven out of eight games played in two bilateralcontests in this country.Having acclimatised themselves to Indian conditions and after sizingup the opposition ­ even if limited-overs cricket is different fromthe longer version of the game ­ the Zimbabweans will fancy theirchances of challenging the home side. But the fact is that the Indianshave been considerably weakened by the non-availability, due tovarious reasons, of Javagal Srinath, Sachin Tendulkar and VirenderSehwag.The withdrawal of these key players immediately throws doubt over thetop order, the middle order and the opening bowling. Zimbabwe’sexperienced all-rounder Heath Streak has been quick and accurate inhis assessment of the situation. He feels the absence of Tendulkar andSehwag will greatly reduce the firepower of the Indians and “we hopeto cash in on that.” That is a true professional speaking.Even Indian coach John Wright conceded that the absence of Tendulkarand Sehwag will be felt, although he is hoping to build on theconfidence that the Indians would have gained after winning bothTests. While expressing the view that India will win the series,Wright admitted that Zimbabwe are a better limited-overs side than aTest team. Whatever their batting and bowling limitations ­ ascompared to the Indians on paper ­ they proved in the Test matchesthat they were far superior in fielding, and this aspect gains inimportance in the one-day game.Zimbabwe’s batting will again revolve around the Flower brothers, theexperienced Alistair Campbell, skipper Stuart Carlisle, Craig Wishart,the solid Dion Ebrahim and Douglas Marillier. Streak of course can bedepended on to strike a few lusty blows in the end overs, and theburly, experienced all-rounder will also spearhead the bowling attack,manned by Travis Friend, Gary Brent and Pommie Mbangwa.For India, Ajit Agarkar and Zaheer Khan will be in charge of the newball in the absence of Srinath, while Anil Kumble and Harbhajan Singhwill complete the quartet of main bowlers. Sanjay Bangar and SouravGanguly, as back-up bowlers, look pretty modest, and it is here thatthe absence of Tendulkar and Sehwag will be felt, for the two, besidestheir expertise with the bat, can always be counted upon to eitherrestrict the scoring or break a troublesome partnership. Thus theresponsibilities on the four main bowlers will be that much greater.While the non-availability of Tendulkar and Sehwag will obviously befelt, the batting still looks quite strong. A line up of Ganguly,Bangar, Dinesh Mongia, VVS Laxman, Rahul Dravid, Mohammad Kaif andAgarkar does inspire confidence. I have never been happy with theselection of Shiv Sunder Das for the one-day squad. He is blessed witha technique ideally suited to Test cricket, and it would be better ifthis precious gift were restricted to the longer game instead of theslam-bang variety. In the long run, the exposure to limited-overscricket might harm his technique, and Indian cricket certainly can dowithout such damage. Ajay Ratra, on the other hand, is a welcomechoice, and it is to be hoped that he grabs this opportunity with bothgloves and cements his place in the squad.

South African allrounder Albie Morkel has been withdrawn from the South Africa A squad for the tour match against the New Zealanders in Potchefstroom after sustaining a minor injury during the tour of Pakistan.Morkel has been replaced by Cape Cobras allrounder Rory Kleinveldt. The selection committee made another change, drafting in allrounder Blake Snijman for fellow Highveld Lions team-mate Werner Coetsee.”Werner hasn’t played any first-class cricket for four weeks and in the circumstances he has been granted permission to play in the amateur competition for North West this weekend,” said Joubert Strydom, the chief selector.The four-day match begins on November 1 at Sedgars Park.South Africa A (revised): Boeta Dippenaar (capt), Morne van Wyk (wk), Alviro Petersen, Neil McKenzie, Jean-Paul Duminy, Gulam Bodi, Rory Kleinveldt, Thandi Tshabalala, Lonwabo Tsotsobe, Friedel de Wet, Charl Langeveldt. 12th man: Blake Snijman

Stuart Broad: slight changes in his action suggested © Getty Images

Former England batsman turned ICC match referee Chris Broad has laid into Kevin Shine, England’s bowling coach, accusing him of trying to turn his son Stuart into a “bowling clone”.Speaking to BBC Leicester, Broad lambasted Shine after suggestions were made to Stuart Broad that he should make some changes to his action.The aim was to try to lessen the chances of injury, but Broad senior was unimpressed. “I don’t believe you should have a whole host of clones playing in an England side so that they don’t get injured.”I can understand where Kevin Shine is coming from in that biomechanics are saying as far as injuries go you have to open up a little bit more save your back,” he continued. “But Stuart’s is a very natural action, it’s a very easy action and it’s a wicket-taking action. Injury is part and parcel of any game. A coach should work with the talent they have got in front of them, not change them into something that we see in a coaching manual.”I hope Stuart sticks to his guns and I hope the England set-up realise the talent they have and work with it.”

Ashley Giles hopes to be fit in time to tour India in March 2006 © Getty Images

Ashley Giles, the England spinner, will miss the five-match one-day series against Pakistan, after it was confirmed that he would be flying home to undergo surgery on a long-standing hip-cartilage problem.Giles, who looked in some discomfort during an ineffective bowling performance in the second Test at Faisalabad, has not yet been ruled out of next week’s series-decider in Lahore, but England’s aim is to have him back to full fitness in time for the tour of India that gets underway next spring.His place in the one-day side will be taken by, Ian Blackwell, the Somerset allrounder, who has played in 23 previous ODIs, but none since the NatWest Series against New Zealand and West Indies in 2004.A fierce striker of the ball, and an increasingly effective left-arm spinner, Blackwell has struggled with a questionable attitude towards his fitness in the past, although at the age of 27, and now captain at Somerset, his time may finally have come.”Blackwell has had opportunities with the one-day squad before,” said David Graveney, England’s chairman of selectors. “Since his appointment as Somerset captain he has had to take on extra responsibility, and we believe he is now better equipped to fulfil his undoubted potential at international level.”The selectors have already decided that Ian Bell will be on stand-by to join the one-day squad should Michael Vaughan miss the series due to injury. Marcus Trescothick will continue to deputise as captain if Vaughan is unavailable.

Scorecard

Rashid Latif: in the eye of a storm again© AFP

Rashid Latif could face disciplinary action after leading his team off the field in protest of what he termed was “an unfit pitch”. Leading the Karachi Blues in a Quaid-e-Azam Trophy match against Faisalabad, the home side, Latif took the drastic step after Karachi had slumped to 33 for 4, and several of their batsmen had taken blows to the body.”I didn’t want any serious injury to take place,” Latif told The News, a Pakistan daily. “The pitch was not fit for a first-class match and the batsmen were getting bat on ball with difficulty due to the unusual movement and variable bounce.”I asked the players to come off after declaring the innings because the umpires were not allowing them to come off otherwise. Afterwards I gave in writing to the match referee that we could not continue the match on the pitch which was unfit and dangerous for the players.”Shafiq Ahmed, the chairman of the Domestic Tournament Monitoring Committee (DTMC), later announced that match referee Khalid Niazi had awarded the match to Faisalabad since Karachi had refused to carry on.Shafiq also refuted Latif’s claim that the pitch was not fit for a first-class match. “The pitch was not dangerous or unfit for play. It had moisture in it and there was a lot of grass on it but this can be expected in Punjab at this time of the year.” He stated that the Pakistan board would decide if disciplinary action would be taken against Latif and the entire Karachi team. “The umpires Rasheed Bhatti and Mian Aslam and the match referee will now send their report to the DTMC and the Pakistan board on the match and the incident and it will subsequently decide whether there is ground for taking disciplinary action against the Karachi team or its players.”

The Marylebone Cricket Club (MCC) at Lord’s has given Cricket Australia permission to print its official Laws of Cricket (2000 Code – 2nd Edition – 2003) locally in Australia in a deal which will enable a far wider distribution than in previous years.It also means the resource has been produced in a more cost-efficient way by engaging local printers rather than having to import copies from the United Kingdom.Cricket Australia has printed 20,000 copies of the Laws of Cricket to be distributed as part of its National Umpiring Accreditation Scheme, through normal orders by states and territories, and also as part of the spirit of cricket initiative which sees the bulk of copies provided for the first time to coaches, umpires and captains.Cricket Australia Chief Executive Officer James Sutherland said it was important for everyone in Australian cricket to be familiar with the laws of the game, and with the responsibilities that these placed on participants."Umpires, captains and players have specific responsibilities which are spelled out in the laws, particularly for setting the tone for conduct of games," he said."The Laws of Cricket are the foundation on which the game has been built and we are grateful to the MCC for helping us to increase local circulation of this valuable resource."Local printing has allowed Cricket Australia to print a spirit of cricket message from Mr Sutherland on the inside cover of the booklets, reminding coaches, umpires, captains and players that while the laws of cricket are important, the way the game is played is just as significant.The MCC owns the global copyright to the Laws of Cricket and they are available from the MCC’s website, www.lords.org/cricket/laws.asp.

The ICC has appointed former Sri Lanka Cricket Captain and International Match Referee Ranjan Madugalle, to be its Chief Referee. This is a new position within the ICC, which did not previously have a Chief Referee."He is clearly regarded as the outstanding member of the existing panel. His record as a former captain of Sri Lanka and the high regard in which he is held throughout the cricket world make him an ideal appointment for this position," said ICC Chief Executive Malcolm Speed.The ICC recently took a decision to appoint five International Match Referees on contract, departing from the present practice of appointing Match Referees tour by tour. Madugalle is the first of the Match Referees to be appointed.As his first task, Madugalle will identify a panel of potential referees from whom the remaining four referees will be chosen. The final panel will be chosen by the ICC Chief Executive and Sunil Gavaskar, the Chairman of the Cricket Committee Playing.Madugalle played for Sri Lanka in 21 Tests and 65 one-day-internationals between 1979 and 1989, captaining the team from 1987-89. He has served as an ICC Match Referee since 1994, and has officiated in matches involving all Testplaying nations.He had the distinction of serving as the Match Referee in the 1999 World Cup Final in England, and the ICC Knockout Tournament Finals in 1998 and 2000. He served as a Match Referee in the 1996 and 1999 World Cups.Madugalle served on the ICC Panel on Illegal Deliveries from its inception until 2000, and was also a member of the ICC Sub-Committee to Review Umpiring and Refereeing Standards.He was a National Selector from 1990-92 and again from 1992-97. He is currently a Member of the BCCSL’s Cricket Committee.