Brett Lee is confident Cricket Australia and the Australian Cricketers’ Association will work out their sponsorship problems with the BCCI so their players can appear in the Indian Premier League if the tour of Pakistan is called off. CA has raised objections about its contract holders endorsing products that clash with the home board’s deals and Lalit Modi, the IPL chairman, has said he will not budge on CA’s demands about global protection of its partners.”We will listen closely to what CA and the ACA are saying,” Lee said in Melbourne. “It’s a matter now of waiting and seeing. They are confident of coming up with a plan which will make everybody happy”.The Pakistan tour is due to start next month but the Australians are waiting on a security visit to determine whether it goes ahead. If not, the players could be free to travel to India for the IPL before the tour of the West Indies in May.”It’s very hard for us because we are so focussed on what’s happening here in Australia, which is good,” Lee said. “We don’t have to focus on what is happening elsewhere, we have people who are doing it for us.”If the opportunity comes up, then great. The IPL poses a brilliant opportunity for Australian and other world cricketers to go out there and play in the Twenty20 format. I am sure it will all work out and people will be happy with the outcome.”
An Adam Voges century was unable to cover up a horrible start as Western Australia failed in their bid to reach the Pura Cup final. The Warriors had to beat South Australia, who recorded their first win with their last ball of the season, and they were given a strong chance when set a generous 292 by Darren Lehmann in 78 overs.However, their hopes quickly faded when they lost 4 for 14 before lunch and were terrorised by Ryan Harris and Jason Gillespie. Harris, who was swinging the ball menacingly, bowled Justin Langer and Marcus North and had Shaun Marsh caught behind while Gillespie chipped in with the wicket of Chris Rogers.Voges and David Bandy avoided further damage during a century partnership that re-floated the Warriors, but Gillespie swiftly regained the momentum for the Redbacks. Bandy had reached 58 when he edged trying to cut Gillespie and next ball the dangerous Luke Ronchi lost his off stump.Voges, who struck seven fours and a six in his unbeaten 103, was unaffected, but he was unable to drag the Warriors on his own and the spinners Cullen Bailey and Dan Cullen made sure Lehmann’s gamble was successful. Lehmann had declared at 7 for 366 after Mark Cosgrove reached his half-century and Voges picked up personal-best figures of 4 for 92.
Scorecard and ball-by-ball detailsOn the first day of the SAA Provincial Challenge final, Western Province dismissed Northerns for 267 before reaching six without loss. Province’s bowlers worked tirelessly throughout the day to restrict Northerns to what was only a par score.After choosing to bat, Northerns were soon in trouble at 24 for 2 thanks to a spell of controlled and hostile bowling from Western Province’s bowlers. Francois du Plessis was the first man out when he fended Quinton Friend to short-leg, before Johan Myburgh played onto his stumps off the same bowler.Maurice Aronstam and Allahudien Paleker set about rebuilding Northerns’ innings with a steady partnership of 104. However Palekar, settled on 48, misread Siraaj Conrad’s offspin and was bowled for 48. Aronstam brought up his 50 from from 136 balls, but he too failed to capitalise on a good start and was trapped in front by Vernon Philander.Gerald Dros dropped anchor to play a vital innings of 59 but lacked support from the lower-order who succumbed to Conrad and Philander. Conrad was particularly impressive, picking up 3 for 78 and bowling unchanged after lunch.Province moved to six without loss when bad light brought an end to the day’s pla
Western Australia have nominated Tom Hogan, the former left-arm spinner, for the national selection panel following Allan Border’s departure. Hogan, 48, played seven Tests and 16 ODIs before joining Trevor Hohns on a South Africa rebel tour in 1985-86, and became a Warriors selector in 2003.Hogan told ABC Online he was thrilled to be given a chance to giveWestern Australia a voice on the panel. “The age of the Australian team is obviously getting up to that degree you would imagine that in the future there would be a changing of the guard, so there will be interesting times on selection,” Hogan said.Ray Bright, another Test spinner, is hopeful of getting Victoria’s nomination. “There’s a position up for grabs so I’d be only too happy to be the Victorian representative, if they see fit,” Bright, who played 25 Tests from 1977 to 1986, said. Border resigned from his position of seven years on Wednesday.
New Zealand once again had to overcome poor umpiring during a tough third day of their cricket Test with India’s women at Vapi. India have a 76-run lead on the first innings with New Zealand 9 for 1 in their second innings.The New Zealanders have been upset by the decisions of one umpire who has twice given Kate Pulford, the opening batsman, out caught behind when her bat has been nowhere near the ball. The fact the game is being televised and the evidence can be seen back in the dressing room has done nothing to impress the mood of the New Zealanders. They have not been helped either by several decisions against Indian batsmen going against them.New Zealand started the day looking to make a breakthrough when the new ball became available after eight overs. But nightwatchman Jhulan Goswami hanging around for 98 balls. She helped Hemlata Kala, the star batsman in the Indian innings, wrest the initiative from New Zealand. Kala went on to score 110 off 280 balls. While there were frustrations with the umpiring, the New Zealanders did not help themselves by dropping catches.Maia Lewis, the New Zealand captain, rotated the bowlers during the day, but the bulk of the bowling fell to Rebecca Steele, the highly-promising left-arm spinner who bowled 42 overs and ended with 5 for 79. Pulford also picked up two wickets. Unfortunately, Louise Milliken suffered a groin strain before lunch and did not bowl again in the day. New Zealand face a tough day to bat out for safety to save the match.
Hampshire County Cricket Club has recently appointed a new Cricket Development Office, Neil Rider, to replace Mark Garaway. He will take up his new position on 4 February 2002.Neil lives in Reading and has been the CDO for the Berkshire Cricket Board since July 2000 where, among his achievements, was the designing and implementing a Primary Schools Roadshow which led to over 10,000 boys and girls playing cricket.Initially from Suffolk, Neil has a degree in Recreation Management from Loughborough University. He is a Level III Coach and has been involved in coaching the Berkshire Minor Counties team, County youth squads in Berkshire, Leicestershire and Suffolk and the England Women and South West Region Womens teams.Neil played Minor Counties cricket for Suffolk and Berkshire and, last season, played for Hungerford in the Southern Electric Premier League.
Karachi, March 15: Pakistan crushed Sri Lanka by 222 runs with a dayto spare to win the third cricket Test here at the National Stadium onWednesday. Sri Lanka, who clinched the series 2-1, found themselveshapless against the charged-up Pakistanis and were dismissed in just46 overs while scoring 228 in pursuit of a record 451-run victorytarget.Earlier, Pakistan were bowled out for 421 after resuming their secondinnings on Wednesday morning at 375 for seven.Pakistan’s excellent and convincing victory not only helped them toboost their morale after a spate of losses but also maintain theirremarkable 45-year unbeaten record at the National Stadium. They nowhave 17 victories and 17 draws.The victory also ended a five-match win drought after beingwhitewashed in Australia and then losing back-to-back Tests to SriLanka in Rawalpindi and Peshawar.The combination of coach Javed Miandad and skipper Moin Khan turnedthe fortunes of Pakistan cricket. The team which looked disjointed inthe last five months, is gradually regrouping into a winning unit.The batsmen occupied the crease and put decent score on the boardwhich helped the bowlers to fire on all cylinders without fearing thatthey had to defend a small total besides taking wickets.The fielders backed their bowlers by holding catches and in themeantime producing three run-outs, including two in Sri Lanka’s secondinnings, which speaks of their agility and alertness.The star performer of the penultimate day’s play was speedster WaqarYounis who bowled at a sizzling pace to virtually break the back ofthe Sri Lankan batting. He utilized all his experience when heproduced speed and swing from the pitch which looked to have easeddown.It was after a long time when Waqar was seen in full cry. He seemed tohave regained his customary rhythm of old. The way he shattered RusselArnold’s confidence, after trapping Sanath Jayasuriya with aninswinger which deceived the left-hander, was in a class of his own.In his sixth over, Waqar mixed his deliveries with inswingers andshort-pitched stuff before delivering an almost unplayable outswingerfrom the spot when the batsmen hate. Russel could do nothing but edgeit and Moin Khan did the rest by grabbing a fine catch just in frontof Inzamam-ul-Haq in the first slip.The crucial wicket which all but ended Sri Lanka’s hopes of stretchingthe match into the final day was of anchorman Marvan Atapattu whoperished behind the wickets by playing a reckless shot off a wilddelivery from Mohammad Akram.Atapattu’s dismissal opened gates for Pakistan from both the ends andthough Romesh Kaluwitharana and Ravindra Pushpakumara scored 33 and 44runs respectively, it was just a delay of the inevitable.While Waqar finished as the most impressive bowler with two for 32,while Shahid Afridipicking up three wickets conceding 50 runs. Shahidnow has 10 wickets here in two matches, besides a half century.Earlier, Pakistan added 46 runs in 60 minutes to prosper to 421. MoinKhan was the first man out when he holed out to PramodiyaWickremasinghe off Pushpakumara who finished with four for66. Moin’s105-ball 70 spiced seven boundaries.He was associated in a 88-run eighth wicket partnership with WaqarYounis who clobbered four fours and a six before falling to MuttiahMuralitharan for the fifth time in the series.The spin king ended up with four for 107 to take his tally of wicketsto 26 which earned him the Man-of-the-Series award. Waqar, for his 13wickets, edge out Inzamam-ul-Haq with 355 runs to bag theMan-of-the-Series award from Pakistan. Inzamam, however, had thesatisfaction of being adjudged Man-of-the-Match.
Wolves are looking at the possibility of taking a player from Barcelona this summer with a new face touted with a move to Molineux in the next few months.
What’s the news?
Spanish midfielder Riqui Puig, once heralded as the “next Iniesta” could now be included in the permanent sale of forward Adama Traore to the Catalan club according to the Birmingham Mail.
With his contract expiring in a year and having had little playing time this season, Puig is one of the players Barcelona will be hoping to offload from their wage bill, particularly with the likes of homegrown trio Nico, Pedri and Gavi all moving ahead in the pecking order.
Moutinho successor
Joao Moutinho’s contract at Wolves is set to expire at the end of the season, but there is still a possibility that it will be extended due to manager Bruno Lage’s fondness of the player – which he expressed in a recent interview.
“I hope so,” Lage replied after being asked whether the midfielder would sign a new deal.
“Yesterday in training he scored an amazing goal and I said to him, ‘If you score a goal like that on Saturday you will be my assistant! Don’t go anywhere, you will be my assistant!’
“As his manager, I’m really happy with him, with his performances and the way he works every day.”
However, should the Portuguese maestro turn down a new contract extension offer, Wolves reportedly may look to Puig, who has started just one La Liga game this season.
Although the La Masia graduate would likely be used as not much more than a sweetener in the Adama deal, it would likely represent great value for money upon arrival – as he is currently rated at just £8.1m by Transfermarkt.
With that in mind, then, he’d be an incredibly cost-effective way of eventually replacing Moutinho.
With a passing accuracy of 94% as well as a long pass accuracy of 91% this season in the Spanish top flight, it’s clear to see that Puig is a midfielder who is comfortable in possession and able to dictate the tempo of play.
That’s an area of the game that the 35-year-old Wolves veteran thrives in too, successfully completing 85.9% of his own passes in 2021/22. That means the Barca youngster would surely be an excellent heir to the Portugal international’s midfield throne, despite needing to improve offensively.
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He has scored just one senior goal and contributed zero assists for the first team, showing he has plenty of work to do on the attacking end if he is to become an immediate success in the Midlands.
The potential Puig possesses is high, however, and with the signing being low-risk, Wolves could reap the rewards for years to come should they give him a chance.
In other news: Wolves could have their new Jimenez in rarely-seen 17 y/o who scores “poacher’s goals”
With the cricket world’s attention on sledging after the controversial Sydney Test, former Australian captain Ian Chappell, Sri Lankan wicketkeeper-batsman Kumar Sangakkara and former Indian batsman Sanjay Manjrekar said the problem could be tackled if more power was given to on-field umpires, and called for players to act with more responsibility.”If you have a CEO who is not even in the country and not even in the ground trying to call in and say, ‘Well I saw this’, that is never going to work,” Sangakkara said during Cricinfo’s Round Table, a fortnightly audio show. “Even a match referee is quite far removed from where the action is. The two guys who are in charge are the umpires and they should be allowed to handle it as they see fit.”Chappell was critical of the ICC for undermining the authority of the on-field umpires. “[The ICC have] diluted the decision-making process of the umpires on the field and in doing that, they have diluted the authority of the umpires on the field. They have also put layers of officials between the umpires and the players.”The three thought that while banter on the field was always going to be present, there are lines which should not be crossed. Sangakkara said a player’s colour, race, country or family should not be dragged into the debate. Chappell agreed, “There is gamesmanship, which has always been around and there’s always place in the game for that. But there’s no path for personal abuse or inane chatter.”Sangakkara also stressed that incidents should be left on the field. “Players have to be very honest with themselves that if they do engage in gamesmanship and banter, that is always something you can leave on the field. You should not go running around and complaining to the media or to the match referees.”Manjrekar was of the opinion that television was also a contributing factor to players displaying more aggression on the field. “Some players have realised that if they behaved in a certain manner, if they said some things or glared at the opposition, they would get a lot of attention via the television cameras,” he said. “Obviously, this is the cricketer who perhaps doesn’t get enough wickets or runs to get the attention. So he realises: ‘If I behave in a certain fashion that is slightly over the top, I tend to get lot of attention’.” (Click here to listen to the show or read the transcript.)
Liam Plunkett, the England fast bowler, hopes the use of modern technology can help his team-mates prepare for their World Cup opener against New Zealand on March 16 in St. Lucia. Mark Garraway, England’s team analyst, has ensured footage of practice and matches, including that of opponents, were transferred onto players’ iPods and games consoles, a decision fully endorsed by Plunkett.”When we are batting I can go on the computer and have a look at the wickets I’ve taken and the way I’ve bowled,” he said. “The good thing about Mark Garraway is that he’s put a lot of the video footage onto our iPods and our games consoles.”Plunkett said the technology was beneficial for batsmen and bowlers alike, but that not everyone would need the boost of watching themselves play. “That’s obviously a good thing before you go in for a bat and you want a confidence boost,” he said. “KP [Kevin Pietersen] might want to have a look at himself scoring a hundred or a fifty to give him that bit of confidence, not that he needs it.””If Belly [Ian Bell] wants to have a look at how [Daniel[ Vettori grips the ball or how Shane Bond is running in or mixing his slower balls up, he can do that.”While players from all leading teams have long been able to sit at a computer and study footage, Plunkett said the iPod transfer had “only happened in the last week”.New Zealand aside, England will play Canada and Kenya in Group C, but Plunkett chose to focus on what he termed “a massive game”. “It will set the standard for the way we play in the rest of the tournament. We beat them and been through lots of plans against them so we know what each player does. They’ve got two good spinners who will play a massive part [Vettori and Jeetan Patel] and Shane Bond bowls plenty of slow balls so he’ll be useful on these wickets.” The winner of the England-New Zealand match will carry two points through to the Super Eights.England are expected to rest at least one fast bowler from Plunkett, Sajid Mahmood, Jon Lewis and James Anderson for that game. “I finished well [in Australia] but Jimmy and Lewy bowled really well at the start of the one-day series,” Plunkett said. “It’s good for the team but I want to play every game, especially in a World Cup. We’ve been getting together and chatting about the wickets. It’s been really valuable having people like Lewy around who has played county cricket for a long time and knows a lot about his game.”