Chris Dehring, the World Cup managing director, has called on Caribbean nationals in the United States to fully support the region in hosting international cricket’s global event next year. “There’s no need to hold back support,” he told reporters during a promotion event in New York. “The rest of the world is seeing an incredible event taking shape in the Caribbean, and we want them [Caribbean nationals in the United States] to be part of it too. Therefore, please make your plans to come to the Caribbean or to watch what we’re doing in 2007.”Apart from requesting unconditional support from his countrymen, Dehring thanked CARICOM (Caribbean Community) leaders for their support in hosting the World Cup. “They have come together because they want to make sure that we shine when 2007 comes,” he said. “And it has been fantastic to see that type of cooperation, perhaps unprecedented in the history of the Caribbean.”Dehring added that skepticism about the region’s ability to host the event had been dispelled by the strong organization and managerial proficiency shown at home.”As we’ve seen concrete and steel come out of the ground, stadia construction schedule being met on time, operational plans being developed and rolled out and information provided to various stakeholders, I think that scepticism has started to dissipate,” he said. “And people are looking on with a certain amount of admiration for these little countries in the Caribbean coming together and taking on Goliath. The point is, this Cricket World Cup train is gathering a tremendous head of steam, and is very much on track.”
“Giles has to get through the second Test to get to the third.” This was John Buchanan’s verdict on Ashley Giles when he outlined Australia’s tactics of targeting Giles at Edgbaston, as reported by newspaper on Friday. “We understand his role,” continued Australia’s coach Buchanan, “so if we can erode that, it’s pretty important in the context of the whole series.”He’s a key part of [England’s] strategy for containing and also resting their impact bowlers. Therefore, if he’s not allowed to do the containment work, then it’s unlikely he can stay at the crease and then they will need to bring back their impact bowlers.”Australia have already successfully employed this strategy in the first Test at Lord’s, where their batsmen attacked Giles, hitting out against him for more than five an over for the duration of his 11 overs, in which he failed to pick up a wicket. And now they are determined to do the same next week.
Bangladesh have taken the most significant step yet in their coming-of-age as a Test nation, as the West Indian bowlers were first beaten back and then brushed aside on the final day in St Lucia. Their hero was Khaled Mashud – also known as Pilot – who steered Bangladesh to safety and beyond with his maiden Test century.Mashud’s efforts secured a lead of 336, which enabled Habibul Bashar, Bangladesh’s captain, to declare for the first time in his country’s history. As the West Indians wandered off the field like zombies, Mashud was cheered from the pitch by his team-mates, and slapped on the back by well-wishers. With 29 overs remaining, they were never going to force the victory that the country so craves, but they did everything that could possibly have been asked of them. It was a victory in all but name.In any ordinary circumstances, the finale of this match would have been pretty dull, regardless of Chris Gayle and Devon Smith’s piquant response, in which they clubbed 113 unbeaten runs as the match drifted to its conclusion. But the context alone ensured that could not be the case.Bangladesh had previously avoided defeat in just two of their 28 matches, and both of those owed everything to the weather. But here, in the Caribbean of all places, they not only defied all precedents, but mocked them as well. At one point in the overs leading up to tea, Habibul made as if to declare, but was dragged back into his seat by his team-mates, who were happy just to drink in the moment and wait for Mashud to reach his hundred.Mashud and the Bangladeshi tail batted with such consummate ease in the afternoon session that it was difficult to recall quite how perilous their position had been at the start of play. For the record, they had resumed on 94 for 6, with a fragile lead of 158, and had been four quick wickets away from conceding the advantage in a match that had they had dominated since the second day. But Rajin Saleh produced a fighting 51, before Mashud and Mohammad Rafique carried the team to lunch with an unbeaten 52-run stand for the eighth wicket.Eighty-one runs were added in that first session, and it was a measure of the spirit in the Bangladeshi camp that West Indies did not bowl especially badly. Tino Best, who had prompted last night’s collapse, resumed first thing and immediately found his range in a hostile spell, but was repeatedly beaten back by Saleh and Mashud, who both needed treatment after being rapped on the gloves and forearms in a bruising passage of play.At the other end, Pedro Collins kept the score in check with an immaculate line and gently outswinging length, and Bangladesh needed a considerable amount of luck to keep him at bay. Saleh edged him through gully for four and was then dropped next ball by Chris Gayle to move sheepishly to his half-century, and Mashud later fished a brace of fours through the cordon as well.West Indies made a solitary breakthrough, courtesy of the drinks break, as Fidel Edwards trapped Saleh lbw with his third delivery after the resumption. At 122 for 7, with more than 90 overs left to be bowled, West Indies were back in the hunt, but Mashud and Rafique carried the lead beyond 200 with a resolute partnership, and by lunch, Brian Lara had turned to his part-time spinners, Ramnaresh Sarwan and Gayle, in a vain pursuit of a breakthrough.That marked the end of the West Indian resistance. They were a broken team in the second session, as Lara persisted with the spinners, quite probably in a pointed gesture to the selectors who sent him into the game with four seamers on a featherbed of a track. Not that Rafique and Mashud minded – Mashud in particular had been uncomfortable against the short ball after Best’s barrage, but he gritted his teeth and battled his way to his century.Rafique was eventually caught behind off Sarwan for an invaluable 29, whereupon Tapash Baisya took up the mantle, only to fall on the stroke of tea. But, for the second time in his debut Test, Tareq Aziz rose above his No. 11 status to help out his team-mate. In the first innings he had seen Rafique to his century, this time Mashud was the beneficiary of his watchful approach.At the start of play, Bangladesh’s primary aim had been to keep West Indies in the field until lunch at the very least, thereby insuring against defeat. Now, however, they had earned themselves 29 overs to inflict some psychological scars ahead of the second Test. However, West Indies avoided humiliation, with Gayle in full flow as he flogged the ball to all parts. It was, however, a very hollow and all-too-late riposte.All of this was achieved without the presence of Bangladesh’s inspirational coach, Dav Whatmore. He flew home to attend the funeral of his brother-in-law, and is unlikely to return for the second Test. West Indies might have thought that would be a factor in their favour. They won’t be so sure now.
Hampshire v Glamorgan, Rose BowlGlamorgan have been shorn of half their seam attack for their second matchof the championship, and with Michael Kasprowicz ruled out, they have optedfor two spinners. Dean Cosker comes in to join Robert Croft, who bowled morethan 80 overs in the first game of the season. Hampshire are boosted by thereturn of Chris Tremlett, after the shin problems which kept him out of thedraw with Worcestershire.Northamptonshire v Gloucestershire, Wantage RoadDavid Paynter and Ricky Anderson have been added to the Northamptonshiresquad for their home match against Gloucestershire. Rob White and CarlGreenidge make way after last week’s innings-and-343-run defeat byYorkshire. Gloucestershire’s James Averis comes in for Jon Lewis, whosustained a groin injury in their narrow victory over Somerset, and MartynBall may return as a second spinner alongside Ian Fisher.Somerset v Durham, TauntonSomerset’s allrounder Ian Blackwell faces a fortnight on the sidelines aftersplitting the webbing on a hand, with Keith Dutch and Keith Parsons added tothe squad that slumped to an eight-run defeat against Gloucestershire lastweek. Durham are missing Paul Collingwood (shoulder), Mark Davies (lung) andtheir overseas player, Dewald Pretorius, who is on international duty.Kent v Leicestershire, CanterburyAfter a fraught winter of discontent, Leicestershire get their seasonunderway with a new-look team, led by Phil DeFreitas. Paul Nixon, a Kentplayer last season, will have much to prove on his return to his old club,while Jeremy Snape, David Masters and Rupesh Amin are set to feature afterjoining from Gloucestershire. David Fulton and Min Patel, who have recentlyundergone eye and back surgery respectively, are the most notable absenteesfrom the Kent squad.Lancashire v Nottinghamshire, Old TraffordLancashire welcome back Peter Martin after a family bereavement kept him outof the drawn match against Surrey. He is expected to return at the expenseof Kyle Hogg, while Andrew Flintoff will feature after receiving permissionto play by the England and Wales CricketBoard. Nottinghamshire are likely to keep faith with the side that beatWarwickshire by three wickets.Middlesex v Sussex, Lord’sMiddlesex coach John Emburey has named an unchanged squad for the visit ofSussex, with Tim Bloomfield again likely to be named 12th man. Ed Joyce’scentury staved off defeat against Essex last week, and Middlesex will hopeto build on that moral victory. Sussex have their entire first-choice squadto choose from, with James Kirtley back after turning out for the second XIlast week.Warwickshire v Essex, EdgbastonWarwickshire will be without their Australian left-arm seamer, MichaelClark, who sustained a groin injury in the defeat against Nottinghamshire.Essex’s Andrew McGarry has a side strain, and is replaced by Graham Napier,while John Stephenson is also included in the 12-man squad.
Selection of the two players to join the New Zealand team for the one-day series with Pakistan will be delayed, possibly until the middle of next week.New Zealand selector and manager of the NZ A team in India for the Buchi Babu tournament Ross Dykes has had to return home following the death of his brother. Dykes will rejoin the A team in India early next week and only after that will the selectors be able to make the announcement.That extra time could prove handy for potential wicket-keeper Chris Nevin who has still to produce an innings of substance in India.Selection committee chairman Sir Richard Hadlee told CricInfo today the impressive performances of players in India was only making the choice of the two players harder, but he welcomed that.”It’s definitely not a problem to us. That’s what we want. We are going to have to make some tough decisions.”In the meantime our player base is being extended,” he said.The players in India were on an edge knowing there was a chance of higher selection.”They have a tremendous incentive to perform well and their play is lifting as a result.”The tour to India had been most worthwhile as the side was playing some “pretty good opposition and they were being tested in a different environment,” Hadlee said.The batting in the top order with captain Matthew Bell, Matt Horne and Mark Richardson all having significant innings was of benefit before the Pakistan Test selection while the emergence of Shane Bond as a pace bowling option and the continued development of Lou Vincent were other significant factors on the tour.”Shane’s selection turned out to be a good decision. He has added more firepower and grunt to the attack and his effort when taking seven wickets in the semi-final was a magnificent performance.”He has given us another pace bowling option. He is arguably the fastest bowler around in New Zealand and while injury, and establishing a career in the police force, has inhibited his cricket in the past, he is now clearly focused and has a desire to play for New Zealand.”He has a good work ethic and has worked hard. He’s been given an opportunity and boy, has he cashed in on it,” he said.Bond adds to his appeal with his ability with the bat which is another factor for the selectors to consider when looking at their one-day options.”He’s featured in two crucial partnerships in the tournament so far,” Hadlee said.Vincent’s play was also encouraging.”He is an enormous talent and is starting to mature. There is still a wee way to go for him but he is very keen and lifts the side in the field. He has a lot of the qualities that we are seeking to promote in our players,” Hadlee said.Wary of the way that debilitating injuries cut into expectations of New Zealand’s performances last summer, Hadlee is not thinking any further ahead than the Pakistan tour.Some of the selection committee’s policies were starting to come to fruition but it was a case of wanting to get through the Pakistan series before thinking about the Australian series, and what it might mean for New Zealand with England deciding not to select Darren Gough and Alec Stewart for their Test side next year in New Zealand.His attitude was positive towards the new season and he was looking forward to New Zealand getting some results this year.The side was a competitive unit, capable of competing with most sides in the world, and beating most of them, but with increasing playing depth there was the chance that New Zealand was now in a position to get more results on the board, Hadlee said.
Rory Kleinveldt starred with bat and ball to lift Cape Cobras to a bonus-point 64-run win over Dolphins in Durban. After Cobras chose to bat, Kleinveldt chipped in with an unbeaten 36 off 23 balls at No. 9 to drag the side to 235 for 8. He then took two of the first five wickets in the chase, with his eight overs going for only 22 as Dolphins were dismissed for 171 in the 46th over.Andrew Puttick made 68 off 104 to revive Cobras from a disastrous start of 6 for 2. He had fifty-plus partnerships with Justin Ontong (45) and Lesiba Ngoepe (39) but Cobras slipped to 196 for 8 in the 45th over, Craig Alexander (3 for 41) and Robbie Frylinck (2 for 41) doing most of the damage. Kleinveldt then hit three sixes and a four to give Cobras a decent finish.Dolphins never got going and were reduced to 44 for 4 in the 21st over. Only four of their batsmen managed double-digit scores, Frylinck top-scoring with 72 off 80 at No. 6. Four Cobras bowlers took two wickets apiece.Rudi Second’s 83 laid the platform for Knights‘ successful chase of 243 against Titans in Kimberley. Second and Diego Rosier (35) put on 70 for the second wicket, while Patrick Botha (31) helped Second add 71 for the fourth. Botha and Second fell within four deliveries but Werner Coetsee swung his way to 34 off 23 to put Knights back on track. Malusi Siboto hit a six and a four to seal the win in 48 overs.Siboto had earlier taken 3 for 43 from nine overs as Titans were bowled out in the 49th over after being asked to bat. There were several starts but only Heino Kuhn (55 off 56) went on to get a half-century. Titans were placed strongly on 105 for 2 in the 24th over but slumped to 179 for 7 in the 41st. Albie Morkel (40 off 29) and Marchant de Lange (21 off 17) produced some late runs but their dismissals off successive balls in the 47th over ended Titans’ chances of pushing past 250. Shadley van Schalkwyk and Coetsee picked up two wickets each for Knights.Warriors and Lions split points after their game was rained out in East London with only 28.3 overs possible. The game was halted first with Warriors on 132 for 3 in the 28th over after choosing to bat. The interruption meant the match was reduced to 33 overs per side but only eight deliveries were sent down after resumption before a washout resulted. Colin Ingram stayed unbeaten on 55 off 52 with six fours and a six.
Making a promising claim, Tottenham Hotspur ‘insider’ John Wenham has shared what Ledley King has told him about youngster Malachi Fagan-Walcott as the Lilywhites enter advanced talks over a new deal for the player.
The Lowdown: Tottenham edge close to ‘breakthrough’…
As per Football Insider, lifting the lid on a major Monday development, Spurs are now in advanced talks over a new deal for Fagan-Walcott.
Indeed, as reported by the outlet, Spurs transfer chief Fabio Paratici is edging closer to a ‘breakthrough’ in talks to tie down the defender.
Fagan-Walcott, it is claimed, is nearer to penning an extension at the Tottenham Hotspur Stadium with Wenham now sharing what he’s been told about the 19-year-old from King.
The Latest: Wenham makes promising claim…
Speaking to Football Insider, the Spurs source says Spurs rate the teenager ‘very highly’ and King ‘made it clear’ he sees ‘a lot of potential’ in Malachi-Walcott.
“He was out at Dundee last year but he got injured very early on in that loan spell,” Wenham said.
“As I say, this season has been a total stagnation of his development and hopefully if he signs this deal that means he can go out on loan for the full season next year.
“I had the pleasure of interviewing Ledley King a few weeks ago and I asked him about our young defenders.
“He made it clear to me that he really rates Malachi and he’s one he sees a lot of potential in him.
“He has made his first-team debut as well in the Champions League under Mourinho.
“The club rate him very highly.”
The Verdict: Another eye-catching talent…
Amid the plethora of youngsters already at Tottenham, with the likes of Dane Scarlett, Oliver Skipp and Ryan Sessegnon springing to mind, news of Spurs nurturing yet another young talent will come as promising.
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As the Lilywhites plan to tie down yet more big prospects in the academy as these advanced talks emerge, it will certainly be interesting to how Fagan-Walcott could evolve in the next few years.
In other news: Conte green-lights move for new top target as Spurs hierarchy pressured to seal deal, find out more here.
Sarah Taylor’s unbeaten 52 provided the platform for England’s five-wicket win over New Zealand in the second women’s Twenty20 international at Bath Cricket Club, giving them a 2-0 lead in the three-match series.Taylor’s 50-ball innings was perfectly paced and included a superb six over long-on, and with Claire Taylor giving an early boost with a 13-ball 21, England were always ahead of the asking rate and they eased home with 14 balls to spare.New Zealand, who paid for not using their full allocation over overs, were restricted by tight bowling and impressive fielding which produced three run-outs, including two at the top of the order, to reduce them to 18 for 3. They also struggled with a much slower and lower pitch than had been the case yesterday.The losing captain Haidee Tiffen said: “We just wish it was a better result for us. England had a really really tough winter so to come back is a credit.” Charlotte Edwards, England’s captain, was delighted to take the Twenty20 series but expects a hard time in the one-dayers. “It will be a tightly fought series – the sides are really well matched.”The compact ground was packed, a reward for the decision to play the two matches at a more intimate venue. They enjoyed seeing England seal the series, bouncing right back from their winter of discontent – and their new coach Mark Dobson has now made it two wins in two.The sides meet again in the final Twenty20 international at Taunton on Thursday.
Michael Holding, the former West Indies fast bowler, lent his support to Inzamam-ul-Haq, saying that Darrell Hair was “insensitive” to have penalised Pakistan for ball-tampering.”I have absolute and all sympathy with [Pakistan captain] Inzamam-ul Haq. If you label someone a cheat, please arrive with the evidence,” Holding wrote in , a leading weekly news magazine. Holding felt that most umpires would have said something to the fielding captain and given the offending team a warning of some kind. “Then if the tampering continued, they would have been totally justified in taking action.”There is a double standard at work in cricket and this episode has only highlighted it. When England used reverse-swing to beat the Australians in the 2005 Ashes, everyone said it was great skill. When Pakistan does it, the opposite happens, no one thinks it is great skill. Everyone associates it with skullduggery.”When bombs go off in Karachi and Colombo everyone wants to go home. When bombs go off in London, no one says anything. That is first-world hypocrisy and we have to live with it.”Holding said that seeing the cricketing law as the absolute and final truth was pointless. Every law, he wrote, has room for flexibility. “I read a prime example recently in the British press. It said that by law, you can be fined for parking within the yellow lines in England. If you do that to run into a chemist to buy emergency medicines, a sensible policeman would more than likely tell you about the law but it’s unlikely a ticket would be forthcoming.”The executive board of the ICC is scheduled to meet on September 2 in Dubai to discuss the ball-tampering issue further. Inzamam’s disciplinary hearing for Pakistan’s actions of ball-tampering and bringing the game into disrepute in the fourth Test against England at The Oval will take place around the end of September.
The women did one-day cricket proud at Lord’s yesterday when England gained revenge for Sunday’s defeat by beating Australia by eight wickets – Australia making 161 in 59.4 overs and England 162 for 2 in 56.2 overs.A crowd bigger than for many a mid-week county match applauded enthusiastically, especially towards the end, with England chasing runs against the fast bowling of Sharon Tredrea and the left-arm medium of Anne Gordon.Enid Bakewell and Lynne Thomas had given England a fine start by scoring 85 before a mix-up resulted in Mrs Bakewell being run out. Having bowled her left-arm spinners accurately for two wickets, she made a splendid 50.She was succeeded by Chris Watmough, a left-hander who gave a splendid exhibition of batting, hitting eight fours, including the winning hit. She had the experienced support of her captain, Rachael Flint, in a final partnership of 69.England made an encouraging start when June Stephenson had the formidable Lorraine Hill, century-maker in Sunday’s match, caught at the wicket on the leg side off the second ball. Fifteen runs later, Glynis Hullah, bowled Janette Tredrea, Jan Lumsden was run out through a smart return by Janet Allen and Mrs Gordon was caught at the wicket off the slow left-arm bowling of Mrs Bakewell.So Australia, probably nervous in the Lord’s atmosphere, had a disastrous first hour, but they were rescued by the strong arm of Sharon Tredrea, supported by Wendy Hills. Fortunately for Australia, Miss Tredrea was missed at the wicket when two. Otherwise, the match would have been over much earlier. These two girls changed the shape of the game, Miss Tredrea hitting as powerfully as a man, driving and making one superb square cut.The last Australian pair, Marie Lutschini and Wendy Blunsden, by admirable strokes and good running, added 32 for the last wicket.Both sides fielded and threw athletically and the only difference from a men’s match was the absence of genuine pace bowling and an inability to pierce a close-set field.