All posts by csb10.top

Scottish Cricket is happy to announce that it has finalised a deal with The Grange Club, Edinburgh which will give Scottish Cricket a national `Home’ for its first year in the National Cricket League (formerly NUL). The deal is initially for one year with a further option on both sides for a further two years.The Grange Club was chosen as Scotland’s first official `home’ after almost a year of consultancy in association with sportscotland, and final pitch evaluations by the ECB.The initial 8 clubs who noted interest in becoming Scotland’s `Home of Cricket’ where whittled down to 4 using 2 main criteria: Quality of Pitch and Quality/Potential of Facilities. The final four grounds (Ayr, Heriot’s, Uddingston and The Grange) were then further assessed on the original criteria with the addition of a third factor; Event/ Marketing potential.Scottish Cricket Director of Operations, Euan McIntyre, concluded:“This has been an incredibly intense and time consuming process, but if Scotland are to compete at a `first-class’ level it was essential that we were meticulous in our assessment of the possible venues. The Grange have been chosen primarily because of their superb playing facilities, but their city centre location and excellent transport links will also be vitally important in the Marketing and Branding of Scotland’s premier summer sporting event”All 9 home games of the 2003 Norwich Union League plus the C&G Trophy 3rd round match will be played at Raeburn place, home of the historic Edinburgh club, founded in 1832, meaning the likes of Somerset, Middlesex, Lancashire and Derbyshire will all be sampling the capital’s hospitality.On being chosen as the home of Scottish Cricket Gordon Tolland, Honorary Secretary of The Grange Club, said:“We are very proud to be chosen as Scotland’s home venue for the National League. This is the most exciting and important development in Scottish Cricket for many years and The Grange Club looks forward to playing an integral part in its success.”He added:“The Grange has hosted major cricketing events at Raeburn Place for over 100 years and, as acknowledged at the 1999 World Cup, our ground offers a wicket and backdrop second to none.”The Grange Club have also hosted the majority of International test sides: Australia 15 times, South Africa 5 times and in recent years the West Indies, Pakistan and New Zealand have all visited the clubs famous ground. It was also the venue of Scotland’s most famous victory against Worcestershire in the Nat West Trophy in June 1998.For More information please contact either Sara Maclean 0131 313 7422 or Euan McIntyre 0131 313 7424

A disciplined bowling performance from Mumbai saw Delhi dismissed for 251 in their second innings, leaving the hosts to get only 73 runs for a victory. Resuming on 52 for no loss, Delhi were looking in a strong position as first Akash Chopra (63, 166b, 7×4) and then Mithun Manhas (83, 124b, 9×4) looked to dominate. But the middle-order caved nevertheless, and Mumbai’s openers made merry. The hosts cantered to a nine-wicket win and gained two points from the encounter. Vinayak Mane ended on an unbeaten 45 off 53 balls (eight fours) while Wasim Jaffer, the only casualty, made 28 off 40.At Secunderabad, Andhra Pradesh resumed on 274 for five and ultimately reached 352. Skipper MSK Prasad duly completed his century, going on to 130 off 202 balls (19 fours) before he fell to JS Yadav. Yadav picked five wickets for 87 runs and was the chief destroyer for Hyderabad on the third day. Hyderabad in their second innings reached 240 for three off 61 overs by the close of play, with Ambati Rayudu picking up where he left off in the first innings, making an unbeaten 70 off just 96 balls (nine fours, one six). He was accompanied by D Vinay Kumar (52, 110b, 11×4) at stumps.In their encounter against Himachal Pradesh at Kolkata, Bengal continued their first-innings slide, dismissed for 171, with skipper Rohan Gavaskar ending on an obdurately unbeaten 58 (137b, 6×4). Offie Aashish Kapoor ended with five for 25. Himachal’s second innings reached 208 for five by the close of play, with Vikram Rathour making 91 (194b, 11×4, 1×6) of those runs before being caught and bowled by Gavaskar.At Jaipur, Rajasthan were still in the midst of their first innings by the close of the third day, ending on 282 for six. Rohit Jhalani was the only batsman to make a fifty (52 not out, 109b, 7×4), but a string of forties from the top-order batsmen kept the hosts in the hunt. Harvinder Singh and Kulamani Parida took two wickets each for Railways.At Chennai, Tamil Nadu reached a daunting 427 all out, courtesy some sturdy batting displays from southpaws S Sharath and S Sriram. At one-drop, Sriram made 128 off 207 balls (15 fours), while Sharath became most prolific Ranji centurion for Tamil Nadu – overtaking Robin Singh – by making 101 off 204 balls (12 fours). A quickfire 50 (68b, 8×4) from J Gokulakrishnan enabled Tamil Nadu to breach the 400-run barrier by the close of the third day’s play.Punjab, at Cuttack, recovered from a precarious 141 for four to take the first-innings lead against Orissa, reaching 381 before being bowled out. Pankaj Dharmani made 81 (250b, 11×4, 1×6) Harminder Singh hit 87 (135b, 14×4, 1×6), and some welcome cameos from the lower order took Punjab to their total. Debashish Mohanty, for Orissa, ended with four wickets for 37 runs off just 26.5 overs. Orissa played out 3.5 overs to reach four for no loss by stumps.Khurasiya makes sparkling double-centuryAt Indore, Madhya Pradesh were bowled out for 379 – a lead of 45 over Maharashtra – with skipper Amay Khurasiya making 237 (299b, 31×4). His was the final wicket to fall, and the next highest score in the innings was that of D Bundela, who hit a painstaking 75 off 226 balls. Maharashtra had almost erased the deficit by the close of play, but at a price; three wickets had fallen for 42 runs when stumps were called.Haryana cantered to a seven-wicket win at Jammu over the hosts, experiencing no further hiccups in their chase of 82. Ajay Ratra and Shafiq Khan made 33 not out and 22 not out respectively as Haryana took only 9.2 overs on the third day to register their two points from the match.

Following their convincing win over Hampshire yesterday, Somerset look forward to another big match tomorrow when they entertain Sri Lanka at the County Ground in the Patron’s Salver Challenge match.The 50 over match, that gets underway at 10.45 am, is being sponsored by the club’s patron Christopher Ondaatje, who was born in Sri Lanka.Mr Ondaatje is presenting a silver salver, and three Queens Golden Jubilee goblets to the winners, and the losers will also be presented with a replica set to mark this special occasion.Somerset boss Peter Anderson said: "This is a prestigious 1 day match against a top international side and we are hoping that a large number of supporters will come along to watch the match. With this in mind members have free entry, paying spectators will be charged £10, but youngsters up to the age of 16 will be admitted free."Mr Anderson continued: "As well as funding the magnificent salver,our patron is picking up the bill for staging the match which is very generous gesture on his part. Mr Ondaatje is very interested in the affairs of the club and is continually analysing what we have to do to remain on our present site."Mr Ondaajte told me: "I think that this is a fantastic privilege for me to host this match against Sri Lanka, the country of my birth. I am more than pleased to do it, especially in the Queens Golden Jubilee year."Mr Anderson concluded: " Mr Ondaajte is our patron and is a very keen supporter of England and of Somerset County Cricket Club and the County Ground, but when we entertain Sri Lanka on Friday, I’m looking forward to seeing where his loyalties are!

Australian Captain, Steve Waugh, commented: “The squad selected is as expected with no real surprises. I feel it is a well balanced squad with plenty of experience and this is shown by the number of test caps already achieved. On paper, this looks like a very competitive squad, but the only real surprise is that the selectors have not chosen a young batsman.”

Somerset Chief Executive Peter Anderson returned to the issue of centrally contracted England players when I spoke to him at the County Ground on Thursday morning.He told me,” We are watching very carefully the proposal to increase the number of centrally contracted England players, which is inevitably linked to the numbers of overseas players who can be registered with each county.”The Chief Executive continued,” Somerset County Cricket Club assume that there will be an increase in the number of England contracts. With that in mind we have put on the table for the next meeting of the First Class Forum meeting a proposal, seconded by Lancashire, that each county should be able to employ up to three overseas players for 2003, 2004 and 2005.”He continued, “Somerset will back a proposal to increase the number of centrally contracted players, provided that we are happy with the management of the players who are not playing for England at the time.”He added,” For example it would be totally nonsensical if Steffan Jones instead of playing for Somerset was used as a net bowler in a Test Match.”

St Cross Symondians, edged into third place last season, are favourites to top Southern Electric Premier League Division 3 this summer.With the prolific Steve Shaw joining from Hook & Newnham Basics and left-arm spinner Will Marriner moving in from nearby Sparsholt, Symondians – on paper at any rate – look to have assembled a title winning squad at their Royal Green Jackets headquarters.Kiwi Mark Parker, who chalked up 465 runs last summer, has returned from his native New Zealand. But left top 2001 wicket-taker Bryan Lipscombe bag-packing in the Far East for most of the summer.”If we play to our potential, then we should be around somewhere near the top,” said St Cross captain Matt Perry-Lewis.Today’s opponents, Gosport Borough are among the other clubs expected to do well, probably alongside Paultons, Purbrook and Havant, who look the strongest of the three 2nd XI sides in Division 3.Paultons, in particular, could take some stopping, especially if 20-year old West Indian quick Randy Davis, from Guyana, starts to get amongst the wickets.Davis, who joined Paultons after putting his CV on the Premier League’s website, plays alongside West Indies star Ramnaresh Sarwan for the famous Georgetown club.”He played a friendly match for us on a slow track last week and was decidedly quick,” warned Paultons fit-again skipper Duncan Park, who expects to have Bashley footballer Andy Darnton available all season.Here’s a club-by-club review of prospects for the coming season –Alton (Captain: Julian Ballinger)
Got away to a flying start last season, but tailed off badly to finish a disappointing midway ninth. Matt Ireson’s return from a sabbatical will strengthen Alton, but Magnus van Rooyen’s departure back to Stellenbosch University has left a hole in the side. Veteran Paddy Heffernan, with 359 runs, and 24-wicket skipper Julian Ballinger did well last season and will expect to be among the shining lights again.
Prospects: Top halfBashley (Rydal) II (Captain: Steve Lattimore)
Maintaining SPL3 status and blooding potential first teamers is Steve Lattimore’s primary objective, both of which should be fulfilled. Players like Jo Hall and Rob Paul should continue to do well, but Lattimore will need a clean bill of health from an injury-stricken 1st XI bowling squad if the side is to hold its own, without alarms.
Prospects: Bottom half.Flamingo (Captain: Stuart Shapland)
The departure of leading 2001 run getters Gary Fenigan and Shane Merkel to Australia has left a massive void, but skipper Stuart Shapland, who wears his heart on his sleeve, has made a good start with the bat. A shock Village Championship win at Easton boosted spirits no end, but Flamingo’s will be happy if they stay up.
Prospects: Survival is top priority.Gosport Borough (Captain: Tony Stares, Overseas : Nathan Collins (Queensland)
Gosport faded badly to finish a disappointing tenth last term. The arrival of Paul Jenkins, from Burridge, to link up with 41-wicket Aussie Nathan Collins, will give Borough’s bowling a distinct edge. But with John Adams set to miss a chunk of the season and 409-run Lee Wateridge gone to Andover, Gosport will have to rely on Tony Stares, Gary Juryeff and the richly talented Stewart Magee for their runs.
Prospects: Should be in the top six.Hambledon (Captain: Simon James, Overseas : Lee Burns (Australia)
Players tend to leave clubs who are relegated and that’s just what has happened at Hambledon, where the retired Gary Shotton will be badly missed. Simon Barnard has joined Harting in the l’Anson Competition and Adrian Magrath has called it a day. Simon James takes over the captaincy and will rely heavily on Mark le Clerq, Ian Turner, Rob Norris and Australian Lee Burns to achieve consolidation.
Prospects: Mid-table.Hartley Wintney (Captain: Tristan Gregory, Overseas : Jimmy Castrisis (Australia)
Runners-up to Ventnor in the Hampshire League last season, Hartley Wintney made their SPL debut against Paultons today. They maintained consistency throughout last season, with Dave Almond and Tristan Gregory in good nick. Neil Willis, the former Army off-spinner, will relish playing on a higher plain.
Prospects: Consolidation essential.Havant II (Captain: Matt Gover)
Of the three 2nd XIs, Havant have the best chance of success, though first team calls will obviously dictate Matt Gover’s strength. Newcomers Mike Morris and Martin Schmidt will boost a pretty strong batting line-up but Gover is the only recognised spinner.
Prospects: Will be disappointed to finish out of top five.Hook & Newnham Basics (Captain : Keith Lovelock. Overseas : Lloyd Moore (South Africa)
Keith Lovelock, last season’s leading SPL3 batsman, takes charge of a side weakened by the loss of prolific left-hander Steve Shaw to St Cross Symondians and big hitting Janusz Kaminski, who is at Camberley. Lloyd Moore, from the Western Province Academy, is the teenage overseas recruit. Basics had hoped to recruit Burridge-bound left-hander Ben Thane. It’s burdened Lovelock with not only skippering the side, but also being the prime run scorer.
Prospects: Another consolidation season.Hursley Park (Captain : Rob Lowe)
The club with the best ground in the SEPL really didn’t ought to be playing in Premier 3, but if they can get to mid-June relatively unscathed, the Park could offer a promotion challenge. The mid-summer return of several promising students will make Hursley a useful outfit. Until then John Harris, who enjoyed a golden 2001 season, will again have to shoulder the run scoring responsibilities. The regular availability of Paul Edwards will boost the batting department, but the pace bowling department isn’t strong.But who wants to bowl on a batting shirt-front at The Quarters ?
Prospects: Pretty good.Leckford (Captain : Simon Reeves)
Mark Costin, from Stevenage, has arrived at Bakers Farm to bolster Leckford, who will be looking for more consistency after blowing hot and cold last term. Mike Howard’s irregular availability is a big worry for new skipper Simon Reeves, as is Martyn Isherwood’s nagging back problem. The club is hoping to persuade Aussie Glenn Richmond back for another summer but, as yet, there is no sign of any assistance from overseas.
Prospects: Bottom half.New Milton (Captain: Steve Watts, Overseas : Peter Anderson (South Perth)
Losing David Wheeler to the Hampshire Academy team and then seeing Lee Beck (broken foot) and Steve Taylor (fractured wrist) pitch up at Ashley in plaster wasn’t the best pre-season news for New Milton. Ryan Beck has returned from a South Perth winter a much bigger and better player, and brought with him Aussie all-rounder Peter Anderson (26), from the same Richardson Park club.
Prospects: Happy to finish in mid-table.Paultons (Captain: Duncan Park, Overseas : Randy Davis (Guyana)
Should improve on last season’s eighth spot and be in the frame. Randy Davis, a 20-year old all-rounder from the famous Georgetown club in Guyana, plans to make life hot for opposing batsmen. Colin James (502 runs) cracked three centuries last season and will play a key role alongside the potentially explosive Tony Richman and Andrew Darnton, who plans to be available regularly. Duncan Park is fit again, while Peter Lamb will be looking to build on last summer’s 24-wicket haul.
Prospects: Pretty goodPortsmouth II (Captain: Andy Pitts)
Will seek to emulate last season’s satisfactory final 12th placement. Andy Pitts has plenty of all-round options, but the retirement of opener Barry Stares leaves a significant gap to be filled. University players often provide more than useful inclusions.
Prospects: Comfortable.Purbrook (Captain: Andy Mengham, Overseas: Tokkie Prozesky (South Africa)
Will look to improve on finishing fifth for the past two seasons and, under new skipper Andy Mengham, push hard for promotion. Colin Pay’s departure to Harting is a blow, but is cushioned by the arrival of US batsman Craig Williams.If South African Tokkie Prozesky (20) does well, Purbrook, with Graham McCoy a potential match winner, could be a major promotion threat.
Prospects: Likely contenders.Redlynch & Hale (Captain : Iain Souter)
The world has turned upside down for newly promoted Redlynch & Hale. On July 1 2000, they were fastened to the Hampshire League basement. On May 5 last year, Ventnor hit their attack for 314, yet they ended up third … and promoted into SPL3. Ian Bryan and Mark Elkins will need to reproduce last season’s run-scoring and Steve Moody build on his 20 wicket haul if Redlynch are to come to terms with life on a higher plain.
Prospects: Survival is the aim.St Cross Symondians (Captain: Matt Perry-Lewis, Overseas : Mark Parker (New Zealand)
Bryan Lipscombe, last season’s top wicket-taker, is spending most of the summer abroad, but St Cross start as a strong tip for the title. Left-hander Steve Shaw, whose 507 runs for Hook & Newnham last season includedtwo centuries, will strengthen the top order. Will Marriner joins from Sparsholt and Mark Parker has returned for a second season from his native Onslow club in New Zealand. When Jimmy Adams returns from Loughborough, St Cross ought to be too strong for the remainder of the field. But consistency is paramount; St Cross were vulnerable to the odd hiccup in 2001.
Prospects: They start as favourites.Ventnor (Captain: Mark Whyte, Overseas: (South Africa)
It must be heartbreaking for the Islanders that, after seven years hard labour climbing through the Hampshire League pyramid, they lose the bulk of their team by the time they reach the promised Premier land. Mark Garaway (Somerset), Ian Hilsum, Mark Mitchell (Academy) Steve Snell (Havant), and Andy Whyte (injured) will all be permanent absentees this summer, with Alex Baker due back from University in mid-June. Although Neil Westhorpe has joined from Northwood, it’s left Mark Fletcher and skipper Mark Whyte with significant voids to fill. Expect a return for the fiery Jeff Hose.
Prospects: Will comfortably hold their own.Waterlooville (Captain/overseas: Chris Baumann (Queensland)
Came precariously close to relegation last year and, with few new faces, are likely to struggle again. Australian all-rounder Chris Baumann, with 423 runs and 21 wickets last term, now takes on the captaincy as well. Stan Rudder, edging ever closer to 70 years of age, will have a key new-ball role to play, and Martin Shephard with his batting and off-spin bowling.
Prospects: A struggle.

In January, this year, I asked Wayne Philips, the former test cricketer and the present coach of CBCA cricket academy, to comment on Bangladesh’s getting the test status. The question was critical in a single point of view for Australia was one of the countries who was against it once and gave a delayed support lastly. Philips’s remark let drop one thing very lucidly; Bangladesh will improve but it would take time, nothing spectacular would happen all on a sudden-so, the expectation ought to endure the vicissitudes of this greenhorn test playing nation. Well, that is okay with us; we are not expecting Bangladesh to defeat Zimbabwe; we are not still expecting they must have the ability to level up the series; finally we don’t wait for a drastic change in favor of Bangladesh that will turn over all calculations. But what we wanted from them is to play test cricketof course in a sensible way, with the least application of cricketing knowledge.In the second innings Aminul Islam’s wayward shot proved to be the prime cause of the debacle and Akram Khan only strengthen it baited by the leg-side flick. Naimur Rahman is currently struggling with his form, therefore, he fell a quick prey to the Zimbabwean seamers. At that stage much was expected from Mushfiqur Rahman who has a fair standing to select which ball should be spared and which should be punished according to the merit. But he failed in both innings trying to play ambitious shot in one of them at a period when it was expected that he stayed as long as possible. The tails could provide some handy assistance to Javed Omar if they could just hang on; instead they flaunted their ability to play power shots and eventually were cut off like some novice schoolboys. What Manjurul could do was not trying to lift the ball repeatedly; had he have some patience, Javed Omar might have reached the three-figure landmark.Yet, now-a-days, we see most of the decisive test matches do not run up to the fifth day; if we consider that Bangladesh did not exhibit that badand above all the records are still accompanying them alike the inaugural test. Javed Omar’s accomplishment is something we can boast about and obviously Manjurul’s bowling that had drawn the unleashing compliment of Carl Rackemann, the coach of Zimbabwe.

The Punjab capital needs a sufficient number of grounds to stagefirst-class cricket. This situation, interestingly, has beenprevailing in a city which happens to be the seat of the PakistanCricket Board (PCB).Lahore, having the a population of about 6.5 millions, is mainlyrelying on the only ground of Lahore City Cricket Association (LCCA)where first-class matches are being held, though it also requiresimproved facilities.The other grounds available for first class cricket belong to LahoreGymkhana, Bagh-i-Jinnah and the Railways Stadium. But the charges forhiring the Lahore Gymkhana are so high that no team can afford it.The Lahore Gymkhana authorities charge Rs 7,000 per day excludingSundays. The Railways Stadium has basic facilities for first classmatches, but the PCB is not using it for reasons best known to them.The Grade-II matches of the domestic cricket are being played at theModel Town Greens and the Punjab University Old Campus grounds whereimprovised tented baths and pavilions are made available for theplayers.Compared with other cities which are smaller in size as that of thePunjab capital, Islamabad, Rawalpindi, Gujranwala and Faisalabad, havedeveloped good infrastructure, but Lahore is facing a dearth in thisvital area of the game.Strangely, the numbers of the domestic cricket matches at Lahore aredecreasing every season due to poor non-availability of grounds.During the 2000-2001 cricket season around 400 matches were played inthe national junior grade-I and II, Quaid-i-Azam Trophy Grade-I andII, Patron’s Trophy Grade-I and II, national one-day tournaments whichwere held separately for departments and associations. But Lahore, dueto lack of grounds got only 29 matches included 22 first class andseven Grade-II.The financially sound departments affiliated with the Pakistan CricketBoard like National Bank, Allied Bank and Habib Bank have so farfailed to have their own grounds in Lahore. Interestingly, the ABL’sRamiz Hasan Raja is holding a key post in the PCB as member of theadvisory council but the bank has no ground yet.To eliminate the dearth of grounds in the city, short and long termplanning is necessary. As a short term planning, those grounds shouldbe renovated where first class matches have been played in the past.In long term planning, new grounds should be laid especially in thenewly developed areas.The grounds where the first-class matches have been held are the D.SWorkshop ground and the Railways Stadium. The PCB should also urge theLahore Gymkhana authorities to make their venue available for firstclass matches at cheaper rates as a national cause.

Tamim Iqbal will play for Wellington Firebirds in this season’s HRV Cup. Tamim will join the New Zealand domestic side after Bangladesh’s series against West Indies, and is expected to play seven games in the Twenty20 competition.Jamie Siddons, the Wellington coach who was in charge of the Bangladesh team between 2007 and 2011, was the key element in the deal as he broached the idea to Tamim a few months ago.”We are excited to have signed Tamim to play in our T20 competition,” Siddons told ESPNcricinfo. “He will be a great addition for the Firebirds. I chose him over the many other overseas candidates because I think he possesses the explosiveness that we need at the top of our batting order. Tamim is yet to take off as a T20 player but I have seen him enough to know that it is going to be very good when he gets it all together in this format. I want my team to benefit from this in our competition this year.”Siddons, however, would have liked to keep the batsman a little while longer, but the start of the Bangladesh Premier League would shorten Tamim’s stay by a few matches. “He will only be available for a possible seven games and the final but the BPL will possibly reduce that to six and no final as the dates suggest he would have to leave early which is disappointing.”Siddons said he would have liked if Shakib Al Hasan also joined Tamim at the Wellington side. “We were interested in Shakib but he declined due to injury at the time,” Siddons said.Tamim said that the BCB has given him the No Objection Certificate, though he is likely to miss some form of domestic cricket in Bangladesh after the West Indies series. He could play first-class cricket in New Zealand though Wellington will be playing only two Plunket Shield matches.”Jamie asked me a few months ago whether I would like to join them,” Tamim said. “At the time I was playing the Sri Lanka Premier League and the World Twenty20 was coming up so I didn’t proceed with the formalities. The board too has given me the NOC so I will be joining Wellington after the West Indies series.”Tamim’s average in Twenty20s is 24.76 and he has played in domestic competitions in Sri Lanka (for Wayamba) and England (Nottinghamshire) with mixed results. Among the other Bangladesh players who have played in domestic first-class tournaments abroad are Shakib (for Worcestershire) and Enamul Haque jnr for Maharashtra.

In the match at the Motibaug Cricket Ground in Baroda, both Baroda andSaurashtra ran up tall scores and the match meandered into a tamedraw. Put in to bat, Baroda amassed 441 thanks to a painstakingcentury by R Solanki (145). Coming in at the fall of the third wicketwith the score on 73, Solanki was the backbone of the innings. He wasthe eighth batsman to be dismissed after helping the score to 356.During a 414-minute stay at the crease, Solanki faced 322 balls andhit 15 boundaries and a six. He was ably supported by opener R Salvi(61) with whom he added 58 runs for the fourth wicket. The score wasthen helped along by some lusty hitting by H Ali (78). In reply,Saurashtra played out the rest of the match by scoring 336. Theinnings was held together by two good knocks by opener K Vaghele (82)and H Jadav (81). The wickets were shared by Hitshu Bachani (5 for 60)and Pathan Junior (4 for 71).