Phil Jaques’ rollicking 61 propelled New South Wales into the final as Tasmania were bashed big-style, losing by a whopping 69 runs. The visitors made hay, galloping to 6 for 188 although Adam Polkinghorne did manage to puncture NSW’s middle order, taking 3 for 31.But by then the visitors were well on their way after Jaques and Daniel Smith put on 90 for the first wicket. Tasmania’s start contrasted a touch – their opening pair, Travis Birt and Michael di Venuto both made ducks.Such a setback in the confined sphere of Twenty20 is hard to recover from and so it proved, with Tasmania quickly folding to 119 all out. NSW will now face Victoria in the inaugural final on Saturday.If that win was straightforward, another contest at the same ground was less so. Controversy reigned in the mascot race as Tyro Tiger crossed the line despite appearing to have made a false start. Tully Tiger certainly thought he had – believing that his fellow beast hadn’t fairly earned his stripes, Tully took a full-on swipe at the victor. But perhaps Tully was just a paw loser.Meanwhile, another mauling was taking place in Adelaide – this time, Western Australia consigned South Australia to a 54-run defeat.The storyline was broadly similar to that which was played out at Hobart, with the side batting first piling up the runs – WA made 174 for 6 largely thanks to Ryan Campbell’s 55 – then both openers falling cheaply in reply – Darren Lehmann made 1, Graham Manou a duck – to leave another insurmountable run chase. SA, always up against it, were eventually bowled out for 120.
The decision to launch ProCricket in America last year was a bold and commendable move, given that US audiences already have a glut of options: there are World Series in baseball, basketball and football. To say that ProCricket was an instant success would be a bit premature but, on the other hand, it can’t be written off as a total failure. These are early days.The game has had to be modified for American audiences. Innings are 100 balls long (comprising 20 five-ball overs), which makes matches last three hours, in line with the duration for all major American sports. Matches start at 7:00pm, so it is easier to draw audiences after work. Two professionals play in each side, which certainly lifted the standard and encouraged the local players to step up to the plate.The international players who added a lot of excitement in 2004 included six West Indies players: Wavell Hinds, Corey Collymore, Mervyn Dillon, Franklyn Rose, Ricardo Powell, Marlon Samuels. Robin Singh from India, and Colin Miller and Richard Che Que from Australia also participated. The allround capabilities of Marlon Samuels made him stand out among all players, with his hard-hitting batting, he became the first player to score a century in ProCricket.Amongst the locals, Nadeem Younis, a former first-class cricketer from Pakistan, toyed with all bowlers and scored a century in less than 45 deliveries. He was particularly severe on the former Windies pacer, Franklyn Rose: smashing him for one of the longest straight sixes I have ever witnessed. However, it was sad to see former Indian captain Ajay Jadeja and the off-spinner Nikhil Chopra sitting on the sidelines without taking part because of the Indian Cricket Board’s reluctance to grant them permission to play in ProCricket.For me, personally, ProCricket produced both bitter and sweet memories. Bitter, because I was dropped from the USA team that played in the ICC Trophy in England, supposedly because of my participation in ProCricket. Sweet, because I had the privilege of representing and captaining one of the eight teams in the first ever ProCricket competition in America.Under my captaincy, New York Storm did well to win two, lose two and tie one. The New York Storm failed to reach the semi-final in the Eastern Conference because of a misunderstanding between the New York Storm management and ProCricket people. As a result, New York Storm ended up conceding their last game against the Florida Thunder, a victory in which would have given us a berth in the semis.However – more than winning – just participating in the ProCricket competition in 2004 was enough to make me look forward to another exciting and productive season in 2005. It’s a tremendous experience to play in such fast-paced games where results were decided off the last ball in two of the five games I participated in. I also played in the first ever tied game in ProCricket when New York Storm ended DC Forward’s challenge off the last ball; one of the most exciting games in the competition.I invited a few of my co-workers – typical white Americans – to watch the first game between New York Storm and New Jersey Fire in the New York Yankees minor league stadium on Staten Island. They were thrilled, and one said he would come back to see it again in a heart beat. Another remarked that he ‘just loved it’ and that the entire experience was ‘awesome’. I already have requests from several co-workers to invite them to the 2005 games.I believe that the short, sharp 20-over format adopted by ProCricket is the best way to introduce cricket to Americans, who regularly complain about baseball lasting too long. The non-stop excitement in the 20-over format is overwhelming, since there is no consolidation period. Also, the innovative field restrictions – only two fielders can be placed outside the 30-yard circle during the last six overs – creates more opportunities for run scoring.But, having played the game, here are some thoughts I have to make ProCricket more attractive and viable event:Media coverage Media will need to play a very crucial role. According to ProCricket folks, a South Asian channel, American Desi will be launched in the US shortly which will carry ProCricket games live. In addition, other channels (Sony, Zee TV, PTV, Geo, BBC, etc.) will need to step up as well.Playing Facilities One of the main complaints from the players revolved around the pitches and the grounds. Given that the games were played in minor league baseball stadiums, the pitches were definitely not up to standard, with make-shift matting wickets being placed over wooden planks or dirt. To improve standard and to encourage strokeplay, hard and true pitches are a pre-requisite.Professional Player Assignment Some players ended up playing for different sides to bridge the shortfall after certain cricket boards were reluctant to release their players. One day Marlon Samuels would be playing for New York Storm against New Jersey Fire, the next he would turn up for New Jersey Fire against Florida Thunder. I would like to see each professional assigned to a specific team – so that there is a sense of loyalty.Higher Incentives There was a huge disparity between the match fees paid to local players compared with the international players. Local players should receive more money to incentivise them. Handing out Man of the Match awards at the end of each game and an MVP at the end of the tournament will generate higher interest amongst the players and bring out the best in them.Sign-off from USACA/ICC If USACA and/or the ICC embrace ProCricket, they would give a big boost to cricket in America. Not only would it lend legitimacy to the event, but it will also allow bigger stars from leading nations to take part in the competition. Everyone’s goal should be to advance cricket in America and not work to individual agendas.All Star Game Based on individual performances, an All Star US ProCricket XI should be selected to play against, for example, a West Indies `A’ or England `A’ team. This would give global media coverage to the games and enhance the popularity of the game.
The second day at Harare was arguably the best one Zimbabwe have enjoyed in Test cricket for some years. The allrounders more than made up for the failure of the top order with some superb batting, with Heath Streak’s first Test century the highlight of an imposing total of 507 for 9 declared. West Indies only had time for 2.4 overs, in which they reduced the deficit by 11 runs, before bad light brought an early close.The highlight of the day was a national-record stand of 168 for the eighth wicket between Streak, Zimbabwe’s captain, and Andy Blignaut. Streak reached his maiden Test century in the last over before tea.Streak began the day with 16 and did most of the early scoring, with Tatenda Taibu, who started with 75, perhaps a little overawed at the prospect of his first Test century. Taibu added only three to his overnight score in 40 minutes, before finally driving Fidel Edwards square for four.But it was not to be Taibu’s day. He had reached 83, from 186 balls, when Edwards deceived him with a full-length slower one, which he inside-edged into his stumps (314 for 7). Taibu departed, distraught, after a stand of 81 with his captain.In came Andy Blignaut, who immediately laid into the West Indian bowlers. He has not always played his natural big-hitting game in Test cricket, but now he scored his first 12 runs off seven balls, and also missed another boundary when a powerful straight-drive cannoned into the stumps at the bowler’s end. Brian Lara suddenly began to readjust his field with a vengeance, much as opposing captains have to do when Adam Gilchrist arrives at the crease. But Blignaut suddenly decided to back off and slow down, and the element of hot-blooded challenge faded from the game.After lunch it seemed that both sides had decided to adopt a wait-and-see approach. Lara set defensive fields, while Streak and Blignaut were content to push for ones and twos instead of trying to take the initiative – an uncharacteristic approach for both these normally aggressive batsmen. However, this time the end justified the means.The most threatening action came from the sky, as there were occasional flashes of lightning and rumblings of thunder in the distance. Just before drinks some light rain drove the players off, and 24 minutes were lost.
Blignaut’s fifty came up from 86 balls, which indicates great restraint by his standards, but after reaching the landmark he began to open out again, although he still did not unleash the full devastation of which he is capable. Soon he and Streak had sailed past Zimbabwe’s eighth-wicket record partnership in all Tests, the 111 of Guy Whittall and Bryan Strang against Pakistan at Harare in 1997-98. There was great tension as Streak, faced the last over before tea, from Edwards, on 99 – but he steered the fifth ball to third man to reach the magical three figures for the first time in Tests.After tea Zimbabwe continued to accumulate, making it obvious that Streak had nointention of making an early declaration. Blignaut was soon approaching his own century, and it took a brilliant catch to bring the stand to an end. Blignaut cut Vasbert Drakes hard, only for Chris Gayle at deep gully to throw himself to his right and cling on to a superb catch (482 for 8). Blignaut was out for 91, one run short of his career-best, which came against the same opposition on the same ground just over two years ago.Raymond Price came and went for 2, adjudged lbw by umpire Billy Bowden even though the ball seemed to be slipping down leg (495 for 9), but Streak just kept going. Then suddenly he declared in the middle of an over by Edwards, who had toiled long and hard to take 5 for 133 runs. Streak remained unbeaten on 127, just four runs short of his career-best in first-class cricket. He faced 264 balls and hit 12 fours.As it turned out, he might as well have batted on. The light deterioratedrapidly, and only 16 balls were bowled in the West Indian innings beforethey came off for bad light. West Indies have their backs to the wall, butgiven Zimbabwe’s limited bowling attack there is no reason why they shouldnot at least match Zimbabwe’s big total on what is a good batting pitch.
England’s players to join the core group of cricketers in New Zealand for the Test leg of the tour arrive in Auckland while their one-day compatriots are playing fourth National Bank Series One-Day International at Eden Park.Usman Afzaal, Mark Butcher, Richard Dawson, Warren Hegg, James Ormond, Mark Ramprakash and assistant coach Graham Dilley are scheduled to arrive at 4.15pm.However, they won’t be dropping in to watch as they are scheduled to go straight to Dunedin in order to get some practice before the team travels to Queenstown after the last ODI at Carisbrook on Tuesday to prepare for the first three-day match of the tour against Otago.
Melbourne – Another day, another city, another collapse, anotherhumbling defeat.In what captain Jimmy Adams acknowledged is now a habit, the WestIndies succumbed to a below-strength Victoria team by an innings and63 runs with more than a day remaining at the Melbourne Cricket Ground(MCG) yesterday.Their all-out second innings 114 was their lowest total againstVictoria (known in domestic competition as the Bushrangers) on their12 tours of this vast country and their first loss to the state sincethe inaugural trip in 70 years ago, in 1930-31.It followed defeat in the opening first-class match against WesternAustralia and came three days before the first Test at Brisbane thatlooms with under-standable foreboding.A minimum of 157 overs and maximum ten-and-a-quarter hours remained inthe match when Victoria declared with a lead of 177 just before lunch.The sun shone from a cloudless sky, the pitch had shed most of itsdemons of the first day, the outfield became faster by the over andthe opportunity existed for the West Indies batsmen to spend meaningful preparation time in the middle.None did.It was all over in three hours and 46.3 overs, leaving another 18.3 onthe day and 90 on the morrow unused.The embarrassing reality is that it would have been even shorter butfor off-spinner Colin Miller’s missed return catch off Ridley Jacobsbefore he had got off the mark on his way to the topscore of 25.The ball did deviate occasionally off the seam and the probingVictorian bowlers were supported by flawless catching and by umpiringthat brought an end to proceedings by giving Merv Dillon and Jacobscaught at gully and slip off the boot.DebaclesBut it was another in the continuing succession of West Indies battingdebacles. Only Jacobs stayed longer than an hour as wickets tumbled tothe varied bowling through a combination of un-warranted strokes andno strokes at all.The senior batsmen – Sherwin Campbell, Brian Lara, Shivnarine Chanderpaul and Adams – all batted for more than three-quarters of an hourbut none for more than an hour.More distressingly, Daren Ganga and Ram-naresh Sarwan were des-patchedwithout scoring, Sarwan’s second duck of the match.Their deportment revealed that both prom-ising young batsmen had beenshorn of their self-belief in the two weeks since they joined the teamfrom a stint with the Australian Academy in Adelaide.Ganga got through two anxious overs before lunch, following thedeclaration, but had not scored from 18 balls when, bat well away frombody, he sliced a square-drive off the left-arm fast bowler MatthewInness high to gully.Sarwan arrived at 58 for three after Campbell had edged DamienFleming’s outswinger to wicket-keeper Darren Berry and Lara had pulledan innocuous short ball from medium-pacer Ben Oliver straight to widemid-on.The young Guyanese was a first-ball victim in the first innings andapproached the five balls he faced as if they were terrorist bombsguaran-teed to explode on impact.As he withdrew his bat out of the line of one on off-stump fromOliver, the ball deflected off the back of the bat and flew into thesafe hands of second slip.When Shivnarine Chanderpaul’s loose drive off Miller found cover’swaiting clutches, the West Indies were 72 for five and depending oncaptain Adams, Jacobs and the fast bowlers to at least mount a fight.They never came close.
ScorecardNiall O’Brien secured a rare Leicestershire Championship win•Getty Images
A fine 87 from Niall O’Brien, and a four-hour feat of concentration from 20-year-old batsman Aadil Ali, helped Leicestershire complete their first county championship victory at Grace Road since 2012.After going into the season without a win for more than two years, they have now pulled off two this season although they remain rooted to the foot of the Second Division.Needing an unlikely 217 more runs to win at the start of the day, with just six wickets remaining, O’Brien and Ali batted through the entire morning session without being parted.Ali, playing just his third first-class match, and the more experienced O’Brien, quickly found the pitch, on which several deliveries had kept markedly low the previous evening, was now playing well, and with time very much on their side, they applied themselves admirably against an attack led by Mark Footitt.Ali did have one escape, when Footitt, generating sharp pace down the hill from the Bennett End, did get one delivery to rise sharply and take the glove. The ball flew high to the right of Harvey Hosein behind the stumps, but the reaching wicketkeeper could only deflect the ball down to the third man boundary.O’Brien, scoring more freely, also had a moment of fortune, slicing a drive at Ben Cotton over gully in the course of going to his second half-century of the match, but he did not give a chance in going to 65 at the break.After taking the partnership on to 118, however, O’Brien was pinned leg before by Footitt, the delivery keeping slightly low. Andrea Agathangelou maintained the momentum before becoming the sixth leg before victim, this time to Tony Palladino, and when Ali’s mammoth effort was ended by Ben Cotton on 42, a well-pitched up delivery clipping the off-stump, with the Foxes still needing 35 to win, nerves around Grace Road were jangling.They were quickly soothed, however, as Ben Raine and Clint McKay saw the Foxes home in some style. There was one piece of nonsense, when the umpires, having delayed tea for the regulation 15 minutes, then took the players off for the break with just five runs needed to win, but Raine hit the first ball after tea for four – albeit through the hands of Cotton at gully – and completed the victory off the next.Leicestershire head coach Andrew MacDonald said he was proud of his players. “They showed great belief, which is something we spoke of throughout the game,” he said.”It’s amazing when you get a couple of partneships how quickly things can change. Niall O’Brien batted outstandingly well, and to have a youngster apply himself in the way Aadil Ali did for 198 deliveries was something he will only grow from. We never lost back to back wickets, and we came away with the points.”Derbyshire director of cricket Graeme Welch, facing up to a jolting loss as a supposed promotion campaign has long turned sour, said Derbyshire were “3 or 4% short” of where they should be.
Leeds United have plans to sign a new centre-forward in the upcoming summer transfer window according to the latest reports…
What’s the story?
Jesse Marsch’s side of course suffered a huge blow earlier this month when it was confirmed that their one senior option up front in Patrick Bamford has been ruled out yet again with an injury, this time for a minimum of six weeks.
It’s an injury that has once again raised questions about the Whites’ lack of depth in that number nine role, and TEAMtalk’s James Marshment has indicated it’s an issue that will look to be addressed come the summer.
In replying to a fan about the need for a new striker, Marshment noted: “It’s on the agenda this summer.”
Much-needed for Marsch
Speaking earlier this month, former Leeds goalkeeper Paddy Kenny delivered his verdict on the need for a new centre-forward this summer.
He said: “Why didn’t they sign a striker in January? We have been saying this since before January. Even if Bamford is fit he’s the only one who looks like scoring regularly.
“They need to put this right because another injury to Bamford is a big blow to them. They need to go out and spend £20million or something like that on a striker as soon as the window opens. This can’t happen again next season. If they stay up then they have to inevest in a new striker.”
In Bamford’s absence, Leeds’ attack has pretty much failed to click all season, bagging just 34 goals in their 30 Premier League games thus far – to put that into context, last year in their debut campaign back in the top-flight under Marcelo Bielsa, they managed a whopping 62, even above the likes of Arsenal and Chelsea.
While the Whites will be hoping the worst of Bamford’s injury woes will be behind him come the start of the new season in the summer, it is absolutely imperative that they bring in some genuine cover and competition for the England international.
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It would be a tragic mistake on the part of Victor Orta to once again go a transfer window without signing a new number nine, and one could that have disastrous consequences.
But, the fact it’s “on the agenda” and the club are seemingly actively on the look-out for a striker, is sure to have Marsch excited heading into the transfer window.
AND in other news – Sold at £8m, now worth triple: Leeds had a nightmare over “fearless” 5 ft 9 magician
Search for Tom Parker on the internet and you get 17,100 results, most of which involve Elvis Presley’s manager. The Tom Parker that you will encounter at the Sydney Cricket Ground, though, is more focussed on a rock and roll of a different kind: hammering in the rocky surface before rolling it evenly.The 22-yards that Parker tends has been making a bit of news of late. It’s excited Brett Lee and prompted Brad Hogg to let out a grimace. Words like abrasive and rough are being replaced by lively and green. Both captains thought it was a “good wicket”, suggesting that there could be a bit in there for everyone. When a batsman and bowler call a pitch “good” you have something exciting brewing.”I tend to leave a bit more grass on the pitches these days than years gone by,” said Parker, who’s been the head groundsman here for close to a decade. “This pitch has probably got a bit more grass on it than we had in 2004. I feel it will probably have a bit more bounce in it. I’m just trying to keep a bit of pace in the pitch, trying to get a bit more carry to the keeper, and more consistent bounce throughout the match.”In years gone by, it has probably played a little slow and a little low. It’s going to seam around a bit on day one and on day two it should flatten out a bit more. By day four and five it starts to turn. To me that’s a cricket pitch. It should be changing every day.”India wouldn’t mind a surface that’s tending towards the bowlers. Look back at India’s overseas wins in the recent past – in Nottingham, Johannesburg and Kingston – and you have triumphs being engineered on lively surfaces. Rahul Dravid made an interesting point after the victory in Trent Bridge. “I’ve always felt we’ve done well when we’ve had the opportunity to take 20 wickets – we might lose the odd game but we also win games … Sometimes we’re put on the back foot early on good pitches, when we struggle to take 20 wickets.”While the batsmen thrive on flat pitches at home, they’ve not able to capitalise on hard surfaces abroad. Cape Town last year, when they collapsed for 169 in the second innings, was a classic instance of imploding on a benign track but there have been other instances of botching up chances in Lord’s and Melbourne as well. Given a choice, India might just prefer life on the pitch; not only will it enhance their bowlers chances but also offer their strokeplayers some pace to play with.Kumble, in his first press conference as captain, had made it clear that he wanted to “take the pitch and conditions out of the equation”. He reiterated the point here, adding that he “doesn’t want to worry too much about that”. The quick outfield will bring a smile. It means India’s batsmen can manage fours instead of having to rely on twos and threes. It may also mean a slightly better fielding effort, an area of their cricket which was exposed at the MCG.”It’s more to do with thinking and being a bit positive,” Kumble said. “If the mind is thinking positive, running between the wickets and fielding will be different.”
Group A Faisalabad Wolves, one of the favourites for the title, got themselvesup and running in the competition with a 24-run win over Lahore Eagles. And as in their two-run loss in their opening game, it was skipperMisbah-ul-Haq once again leading the way. He followed his 53 withanother cultured innings, an unbeaten 60 that led the Wolves to a parscore of 162. The Eagles never soared, losing Ashfaq Ahmed off thesecond ball of the innings. No one scored more than 29 as Shahid Nazir(two for 26) led a strong Wolves attack to consign the Eagles to theirfirst defeat.Group B Farce, controversy, Duckworth and Lewis conspired to produce a two-runwin for defending champions Sialkot Stallions against the KarachiZebras. Being bundled out for 106 was no way for champions to starttheir defense, with only Rana Naved-ul-Hasan’s 28 denying Malik Aftab (4for 17) and Danish Kaneria (3 for 11). But when the Zebras came out tobat, Mohammad Asif and Naved-ul-Hasan reminded everyone just why theStallions remain favourites this year. Together they reduced the Zebrasto 69 for five, despite a clever partnership between Faisal Iqbal andHasan Raza that ended with both batsmen throwing their wickets away. Atthat stage, 69 for five, the match was wide open but a floodlightfailure meant that no further progress could be made. The umpires chosenot to wait too long for a potentially exciting climax, whereuponentered Duckworth and Lewis.Group C In a match studded with superstar comebacks, it was the unheraldedleg-spin of Imranullah Aslam that led the Multan Tigers to a 21-run winover the Islamabad Leopards. Aslam took five for 17 as the Leopardscrashed chasing 148, only Bazid Khan making an impression, with 53.Shabbir Ahmed did his continuing rehabilitation no harm, supportingAslam with three wickets. But the one player all eyes were on didn’tdistinguish himself: Shoaib Akhtar, leading the Leopards, ended withnone for 30 from his four overs, including 20 off the last. Instead, itwas team-mate Azhar Mahmood, whispered off as a potential returnee forthe World Cup, with three for 17, who did much of the damage.Group D Mohammad Wasim did as all good openers do, carrying his bat through 20overs for Rawalpindi Rams, as he led them to a comfortable 20-run winover Quetta Bears. Wasim, a former Pakistan Test opener, made 86 but itwas only a sixth-wicket partnership with the feisty Yasir Arafat, whomade 43, that led the Rams to 172. No one could replicate Wasim’scontribution for the Bears, a number of batsmen like Shoaib Khan (44)getting off to a good start but not finishing. Emblematic, ultimately,of the Bears finishing close, but not close enough.
Greg Chappell, India’s coach, has once again said that the spat between him and Sourav Ganguly was “blown out of proportion” and added for good measure that the two had “moved on”, suggesting there was no reason why the two could not work together. “The drama that surrounded the episode was much greater than actually was the case,” Chappell said in an interview to . “He almost needed to go through this catharsis for his other side to come out, and for him to take stock of what he needed to do.”The problems he had in Sri Lanka and Zimbabwe were due to the fact that his mind was in the wrong place,” Chappell continued. “Sourav has come back. He has indicated that he understands what he needs to do to be a part of this team, what his role is. One thing I have learnt about life is that forget the past, but do not forget the lesson you learn from it.”Chappell added that both he and Ganguly were professionals, and keen on doing a job for the Indian team. “He wants to play cricket for India. I want to be a good coach. And I want to be the coach of a good Indian team. But for that to happen, you need to have the group that blends well.”Chappell also refused to respond in kind to the allegations made against him by Yashpal Sharma, who was recently removed from the national selection panel. “They don’t know me very well,” he said. “All I can say is that the individual at the moment doesn’t really understand what is going on,” Chappell said. “I don’t want to get sidetracked. I don’t want to get involved in a slanging match. He is frustrated that he lost a job which he obviously wanted to keep. I had no part in him losing his job, but he had to take it out on someone. One thing I have learnt in life is that you cannot please everyone all the time. It’s all a part of the fabric of life.”