Marcus Trescothick hoped that the subcontinent would not be serving up anymore surprises for England’s cricketers, after an eventful second day’splay in the second Test at Faisalabad. By the close, England had inchedalong to 113 for 3 in reply to Pakistan’s first-innings total of 462, buttheir struggles had been overshadowed by controversy – involving bothumpires and players – and moreover, by a large explosion on the boundary’sedge.”You don’t expect things like that when you’re out in the middle,” saidTrescothick, who was on 41 when a blast ripped out the advertisinghoardings at midwicket and held up play for five minutes while England’ssecurity team ascertained that a gas cylinder had exploded. “My instantreaction was that it was something quite serious, and we were a bitworried for a while.”Trescothick, who was on 41 at the time, is no stranger to suchdistractions. At Rawalpindi on England’s last tour of Pakistan in 2000-01,he and Alec Stewart were affected by tear gas that had been fired onrioting fans outside the stadium. “Hopefully this is as bad as it gets,”he said. “It was a bit of a shock to the system, but fingers crossed thatnothing else bad happens.”England were already in some difficulty when the incident occurred, withTrescothick and Ian Bell regrouping after the loss of two early wickets.”We talked for a while afterwards and just took time to switch back on,”he explained. “It’s just like you would after a drinks break or interval.As much as you can, you’ve got to get your focus back as quickly aspossible, and get back into a routine at the crease.”England’s distractions didn’t end there, however, for no sooner had theyresumed than they were talking to the umpires about some mysterious damagesuffered by the bowlers’ footmarks. TV replays showed that Shahid Afridihad used the distraction to twist his studs into the pitch.”I can’t really judge on it too much at the moment,” said Trescothick,”but we showed the umpires straight away because they were on a goodlength, and it was up to them to judge it from there on. I have a goodidea how they might have been caused, and I think most people have seen iton camera.”Trescothick was eventually dismissed on 48, caught behind by Kamran Akmalwho swooped to complete the latest of a series of debatable low catchesthat have been a feature of this Test. But Trescothick, who himselfclaimed a similar catch to end Afridi’s innings earlier in the day, had noqualms about the decision.”With low catches you instantly have an idea about whether you’ve caughtit,” he said. “With mine, I got it in my fingers, and generally speaking,if you feel you’ve caught it, that’s fair enough. It’s all a part of thegame.”A less common part of the game, however, was the controversial run-outthat ended Inzamam-ul-Haq’s magnificent innings. Steve Harmison shied atthe stumps in his followthrough, Inzamam seemed to take evasive action,and after viewing the incident from several angles, the third umpire,Nadeem Ghauri, gave him out.”It’s an instant reaction from the bowler,” said Trescothick, “but sometimesthe batsman has taken a few steps down the pitch. I spoke to Darrell [Hair] andhe said he thought he might just have lifted his foot, but it’s the firsttime I’ve seen it referred to the third umpire while we’ve been fielding.”Amid all the excitement of the day, Trescothick’s thoughts while off thefield remain with his family, after his father-in-law was hospitalisedfollowing a fall from a ladder last Saturday. “I’ve got to remain focusedon my cricket,” he said. “Things aren’t too good at home but they areimproving which is good news. I’ve been in good form, so I can’t afford todwell on what’s happened. I’m obviously concerned and get regular updates,but once I step over the rope, just got to focus as much as I can.”
Pinnacles and troughs featured heavily on the West Indian cricket landscape in 2004. Two home series against England and then Bangladesh produced spectacular steeples and mortifying challenges. England’s long tour, from March to May, started with crushing win in the first Test at Sabina Park where Steve Harmison announced his arrival with 7 for 12 as West Indies crashed to a demoralising 47.The second Test at Queen’s Park Oval in Trinidad ended with team manager, Ricky Skerritt, quitting in despair and calls for captain Brian Lara’s resignation. The third Test at Barbados saw England replanting its flag amidst a Matthew Hoggard hat-trick. Only two runs separated the teams in the first innings but West Indies were bowled out for 94 in the second and England reached the target with the loss of two wickets. Antigua provided magic turf for the retrieval of the world record from the beleaguered Lara as he constructed an incredible innings of 400 not out to repeat his feat of ten years before at the same ground. It went a long way to restoring some face to West Indians apprehending a whitewash on home turf.The seven one-dayers to follow were reduced to four after unseasonal rains washed out game after game, leaving the West Indies Cricket Board more than US$1million short of gate receipts and the scores tied at 2-2.By the time Bangladesh arrived in June, there were complaints of weariness, which may have contributed to the lacklustre performance at Beausejour Stadium in St Lucia that saw Bangladesh pile up a first innings total of 416to the West Indian 352 and left the match drawn, despite Chris Gayle’s 141 and 66 not out. Lara was criticised for doggedly persisting with spinners on the fast track, although it was felt he was protesting the selectors’ choice of a spin-oriented attack. The Windies won the second Test at Sabina Park, after scoring 559 for 4 declared, and Pedro Collins taking six for 53.But a depressing whitewash followed during the long and arduous tour to England. The batting continued to cave in and Engalnd needed only a run in their last innings to notch up their seventh straight Test win.That humiliation complete, the West Indies moved on to the NatWest series with England and New Zealand, after twice beating England with Ramnaresh Sarwan scoring 89 and Gayle 132 not out to take them to meet the winners, New Zealand in the finals, which they lost.
All the while, the cacophony of West Indian voices quarrelling and venting solutions to the zigzags of the team filled the air. It took the ICC Champions Trophy to distil some harmony. A team more carefully blended withexperience and youthful potential came together to work its way steadfastly into a final showdown with England. During a thrilling encounter with Pakistan Lara was floored by a Shoaib Akhtar neck jab that left him frighteningly stillon the ground for long moments, Wavell Hinds took two wickets in four balls and Sarwan carried the team home with a beautifully played unbeaten half century.The September 25th final was intense and unpredictable, teetering this way and that until it all seemed decided with West Indies at 147 for 8 chasing 218. Under gloomy skies like hangovers from the hurricanes that had devastatedGrenada and other parts of the Caribbean, the last, improbable stance was taken by the ninth-wicket partnership of Courtney Browne and Ian Bradshaw who put on 71 runs to lift the trophy to an astonished world.As the year looked to end on a high note, another snag hit the fan. This time it was off the field as preparations for the 2005 VB series in Australia began. The West Indies Cricket Board changed its major sponsors from its long time partner, telecoms giant, Cable & Wireless, to its newestCaribbean rival, Digicel. New contracts provided the ammunition for a battle between the WICB and the players’ association, WIPA, as the two sides squared off over contentious clauses relating to endorsement agreements andindividual deals with the former sponsor C&W. The matter was eventually put into the hands of an arbitrator, who has somewhat smoothed the situation but not enough to make it clear if the tour to Australia is on or not.In April it was heavy rains and brilliant sunshine, and September was certainly one to remember, but 2004 will go down in memory like the hurricane season, full of extremes.Top performers:Chris Gayle dominated matches with powerful strokes and exciting batting, while his bowling was tidy and effective, making him a thrilling and consistent performer.Ramnaresh Sarwan has tempered some of his recklessness and is playing with more consistency and class, carrying responsibility with more aplomb and ease.
The ICC has announced that an enhanced version of the Duckworth/Lewis system for rain-affected one-day internationals will be introduced from October 3, when South Africa begin their five-match series against Pakistan. Called the Professional Edition, the system has specifically been introduced to ensure fair computation of the target when the team batting first makes an exceptionally high score.”We have always been aware that when the total set by the team batting first is much greater than average, the revised targets and par scores can sometimes seem unrealistic,” said Frank Duckworth, one of the inventors of the method.The D/L rule almost spoilt Australia’s party in the final of the 2003 World Cup: requiring 360 to win, India were struggling at 145 for 3 after 23 overs when rain threatened, but the D/L charts indicated that India needed only 12 more from the next two overs to be ahead of the target.”We have had the answer to this problem available for use for several years,” explained Tony Lewis, the co-inventor. “Using the Professional Edition of the D/L method, India would have been 20 runs behind par – a much fairer reflection of the state of the game. With this system a team aiming at a very high total has to score at much closer to the required rate for most of the chase. This means the tables have to be adjusted to suit the target.”The catch is that this adjustment cannot be done manually, and hence the new edition is entirely computerised. The ICC had earlier insisted on a method which could be computed manually, which is why the computerised version could not be introduced earlier.David Richardson, the ICC’s General Manager – Cricket, indicated his satisfaction with the improved version: “The ICC believes that this change ensures that the system is now more accurate in setting targets in high-scoring matches. Teams and media will still receive sheets outlining the par score at the interval and after any subsequent rain delays and, where the facilities permit, scoreboards will also show the par score.”
Recalled New Zealand batsman Matthew Horne admitted to being pretty happy to finally get the chance to play Test cricket again, after he was called into the New Zealand team today in place of the injured Nathan Astle.Astle had a cracked bone in the back of his right hand after batting in New Zealand’s innings and was forced to miss the second National Bank Test against Bangladesh in Wellington, starting on Wednesday.The worst case scenario with the injury is that he could miss the tri-series in Australia starting in January.”Overall I’m pretty happy with where I am at, at the moment,” Horne told CricInfo today.Having returned to his home town of Auckland from Otago this summer, Horne has scored 307 runs in the State Championship so far at an average of 102.33 and included among the runs are two centuries.He scored 108 in the opening game against Central Districts and, most recently, 127 against Otago during a 240-run opening partnership with Tim McIntosh.”I’ll look to carry on from where I am at present,” he said.Horne had been philosophical about having to wait so long to get his place back in the CLEAR Black Caps. He last played a Test in the Boxing Day match against Zimbabwe last year.”I can’t control these things and guys took chances at different times to get selected,” he said.He was happy with how he had been going so far this summer and was just looking at taking each little step as it came.”I’m delighted to get back in,” he said.Where he will bat is still to be decided.New Zealand captain Stephen Fleming said today there were three or four combinations that could be used and they were undecided about what might happen.The most expected option would be for Horne to slip into the opening role which would allow Lou Vincent to move into Astle’s place in the middle-order.Fleming had said earlier in the Test that it was good to see players like Horne and Auckland bowler Chris Drum putting pressure on incumbent players to keep them up to the mark, while also providing an incentive for other prospective players to appreciate the chances they had.”I have said all along the strength of this side is what is behind us,” he said.Horne said his place in the order was really for the selectors to decide.”I still see myself as an opening bat but it depends what sort of combination they are looking at. I have developed my game in the last four or five years to open the batting and that is what I set myself for, but if that is not what is wanted then I will have to change,” he said.Horne has played 29 Tests and scored 1608 runs at 30.92 in his career. He has scored four Test centuries.
Karachi, July 22: Sri Lanka scored a relatively easy win overBangladesh to cruise into the final of the Under-17 Asia Cup CricketTournament at the National Stadium here on Saturday.The islanders’ opponents for Tuesday’s final will be decided tomorrowwhen hosts Pakistan face the Emirates Cricket Board (ECB) in thesecond semi-final.Sri Lanka, who were sent in by Bangladesh skipper Nafees Iqbal, builttheir score of 214 around a solid opening stand of 71 between IshanMutalip (36 off 82 balls with four fours) and the left-handed HareshRatnayake (32 off 60 balls with two fours).The impetus to the Sri Lankan innings was provided by Man-of-the-MatchJeewan Mendis, who made 42 off 41 deliveries with four boundaries.Mendis and all-rounder Prasad Ranawaka (28 off 21 balls with threefours) were involved in a sixth-wicket partnership of 50 in 36 ballsas the final 10 overs of the innings realized 87 runs.Bangladesh, in reply, made a decent start as they reached 113 forthree in the 29th over. However, fine bowling by Sri Lankan skipperJehan Jayasiriya, who captured three for 36 with his off-spinners, anda spate of run outs resulted in Bangladesh losing their last sixwickets for 49 runs.Diminutive opener Mohammad Ashraful was impressive as he stroked hisway to 48 off 88 balls before he was fourth out. His knock includedjust one boundary.Ashraful and Nasiruddin Faruque (30 off 55 balls with four fours) puton 61 for the third wicket.The only other notable scorer for the losers was all-rounder SharifulIslam with 32 off 40 balls
Indeed, Bentancur had started every single Premier League game since his arrival before sustaining a nasty-looking ankle injury mid-way through Tottenham’s disappointing loss to Burnley last week.
The South American subsequently missed Spurs’ 4-0 win away to Leeds and 1-0 FA Cup defeat at the hands of Middlesbrough, with Conte fairly optimistic he can make Everton on Monday.
The Latest: Dinnery hints at big Bentancur boost…
Hinting at a major boost, Dinnery backs that his return is certainly more than likely and may well re-join the group for training this weekend.
“Spurs don’t play until Monday, so that gives them plenty of time to get him up and running,” he explained to FI.
“That would tally up with what we’ve heard from Antonio Conte about Rodrigo Bentancur and that little bit of an ankle problem.
“He may rejoin the group in training over the weekend, which would put him in contention for that Monday game.”
The Verdict: Get him back in…
After midfielder Harry Winks arguably suffered an afternoon to forget against Boro in mid-week, news of Bentancur’s likely return to the fold could be music to the ears of Spurs fans.
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The 47-cap Uruguay star has already been praised for some of his performances since arriving in north London and arguably offers a real presence in Conte’s midfield.
Standing at 6 foot 1, Bentancur certainly has the physicality to succeed in Premier League football and his return will inject some strength in front of Spurs’ back four.
In other news: Conte green-lights move for new top target as Spurs hierarchy pressured to seal deal, find out more here.
ScorecardFile photo – George Worker smashed 12 fours and seven sixes in his 151-ball 159•Getty Images
Central Districts comfortably defended the Ford Trophy after crushing Canterbury by 156 runs in the final in New Plymouth. Central Districts piled on 405 for 6, equalling the highest List A score at Pukekura Park, on the back of a 159 from George Worker and Tom Bruce’s 23-ball 71 – the fastest fifty in New Zealand List A history – which included six fours and seven sixes. Jesse Ryder (62 off 50) and Will Young (51 off 32) also contributed with brisk fifties.Worker, who surpassed 3000 List A runs during the innings, forged stand of 80, 109, 92 and 63 for the first four wickets to decisively turn the match in Central Districts’ favour. However, Bruce helped put it beyond Canterbury by helping put on 61 off the last 20 balls.Captain Andrew Ellis picked up two wickets but went for 97 in his 10 overs. Ed Nuttall was the most economical of the bowlers with figures of 0 for 44 off his eight overs.Canterbury were never in the chase from the start after losing their openers within the first eight balls. Todd Astle (65) and Ellis combined to put on 121, but it was a task too far. Ellis went on to make his maiden List A century (101 off 76 balls), but Canterbury were bowled out for 249 in the 38th over. Bevan Small claimed three victims whereas Seth Rance, who finished as the tournament’s leading wicket-taker with 19 wickets, returned 2 for 17.
There are difficult decisions to be made by the Trinidad and Tobago Cricket Board selection panel as they try to put together a formidable team that can successfully defend the regional KFC Cup limited overs title.Although the selectors remain tight-lipped on the final composition of the squad, the chairman of selectors Dudnath Ramkissoon did say that coming up with a final 14 is proving to be quite a challenge.”It will be difficult to make the final decision with all the players getting runs and taking wickets,” Ramkissoon said. “A number of the batsmen are getting some runs which is very encouraging, but the bowling needs to be a little tighter. I think we are in a fortunate position where we have a wide range of players to choose from in terms of performances.”There is only a certain number of people we can carry, and it is unfortunate that some players will have to be left out. It is not that they are not performing well, it is that the other guys are performing better at this point in time.”T&T have been preparing for the KFC Cup since late August. However, they will be without two key players for next month’s tournament. “It is a bit unfortunate for us that two of our young players, Darren Bravo and Adrian Barath, who are performing very well and hitting very good, will not be in the national squad.”Bravo and Barath will be representing the West Indies Under-19 team in the KFC Cup as part of preparation for next year’s ICC Under-19 World Cup.”This will only give an opportunity for other players to come into the squad. All the Test players will be available – Ravi Rampaul, Denesh Ramdin, Dwayne Bravo- and of course they will strengthen the team. These guys will bring their experience not only to the matches, but having them training with the team will encourage the youngsters and will be an inspiration and motivation to them during the practice sessions.”
Simon Taufel was named as Umpire of the Year for the third successive time at the ICC Awards in Mumbai. Taufel, was picked by the ten Test captains as well as the eight-man Elite Panel of ICC Referees.”On behalf of the ICC I would like to congratulate Simon on this award,” said Percy Sonn, the ICC president. “He is a brilliant umpire and it is good to see that he is being recognised as such. It is clear that the players and the referees have enormous confidence in him and rightly so. He has once again had an outstanding year making decisions in pressure situations all over the world and this award reflects the fact he has got the vast majority of those decisions right.”Mind you, it should be pointed out that the competition for this award was very tough because all the members of the Elite Panel of ICC Umpires are excellent decision-makers in both ODIs and in the longer form of the game.”Taufel, 35, made his first-class debut as an umpire in 1994-95 and joined the Elite Panel in 2003.”It is good to win an individual award but really it should be remembered that umpiring is a team sport,” Taufel told the audience. “There are two guys out there in the middle, one in the box and a fourth umpire too so although it’s great to win this, it’s not an individual effort.”Winning this for the third time is possibly even more special for me because it tells me that what I am doing is along the right lines and it inspires me to keep improving in what I am doing. It is also a tribute to my coaches and family who have been supporting to me for so long.”It can be a tough existence at times and it’s not easy to keep at the top of your game but it is events like this that make a difference to us. Perhaps the ICC Awards will inspire other people to choose umpiring as a possible career path and that can only be good for the game.”
Michael Hussey has been thrust into the Australia squad as cover for Justin Langer, who is fighting a fractured rib to prove his fitness for the first Test against West Indies on Thursday. Langer, who was hit while batting for Western Australia in an ING Cup match on Saturday, has not been ruled out of the side, but Trevor Hohns, the chairman of selectors, decided to give Hussey time to adapt in case he was asked to make his debut.”The reports from team medical staff suggest that Justin will aim to practice tomorrow, but in the event that he’s not fit to play, we want to have a player on stand-by in Brisbane,” Hohns said. “Although Justin has signalled his intent to train and make himself available for the Test, we must cover all of our bases.”Hussey will join the team from Perth today and his impressive ODI performances since being recalled in March – he has an average of 119.25 in his past 17 matches – and position as a specialist opener pushed him above Brad Hodge and Phil Jaques. “Hussey has played some fine cricket for Australia in the one-day international arena, so he is familiar with the set-up within the national side,” Hohns said. “He is a quality top-order batsman in first-class cricket and we believe he can fill a role in the Test side if required.” reported today that Langer risked puncturing a lung if hit again, but he was desperate to prove his fitness. “He would almost certainly wear a guard and he risks sustaining further injury, such as a punctured lung,” Dr Trefor James, the team doctor, told the paper. “It’s not a high risk, but the thing about it is it’s quite a serious injury. That will have to be explained to him.”Dr James said if Langer was restricted in any of his batting and fielding movements he would be ruled out. This is the second time in a year Langer has been injured in the lead-up to a Test, but he recovered from a back problem to play at the MCG last Boxing Day.