All posts by csb10.top

Scorecard

	Peter Trego on his way to a battling 81 © PA Photos

For Somerset, events 150 miles north at Trent Bridge are more important than their own, but all they can do is try and win their final match against Lancashire to keep in the Championship race. When they were 72 for 5 before lunch, on a green seamer hard to distinguish from the outfield, their prospects were fading fast, however Peter Trego hauled them over 200 with 81 before Andrew Caddick and Charl Willoughby ripped out Lancashire’s top order.To have any chance of claiming the title Somerset need victory so couldn’t afford a bland surface. It left Justin Langer a hostage to the toss. He lost it, then had to watch his main batsmen fall apart to a mixture of seam movement and poor shot selection. But it isn’t the first time this season a match has looked like a low-scoring affair early on, only for the surface to quieten down. Peter Walker, the pitch inspector, said he was perfectly happy with the surface and Somerset will hope it remains lively enough to make it a one-innings contest. So far, they have pulled it around admirably.To still be reasonably placed, though, they have to thank Trego who passed 800 runs for the season. Coming in at No. 6, after Somerset opted to strengthen their bowling by replacing Arul Suppiah with Steffan Jones, he played in an uncomplicated manner, adding 41 with Jones and 51 with Caddick, who clubbed 24 to warm-up for his main duties. Trego was dropped at slip, by Paul Horton, on 27, but his driving was strong, while his defence was solid – something not always the case with the top five.The redevelopment of the county ground is rapidly taking shape and the day before this game one of the new stands was named after Marcus Trescothick – who celebrated with a third ball duck. However, while Trescothick is clearly worthy of the honour, so too is Caddick after years of pounding in on some of best batting surfaces in the country.

	Tom Smith dismisses Ian Blackwell during the morning session, but Somerset fought back impressively © PA Photos

Presented with a pitch offering plenty of encouragement, Caddick took out Paul Horton and Karl Brown with lifting deliveries outside off stump. He was far from impressed about being left out last week against Yorkshire, and won’t have been shy about saying as much. There are still a number of stands to be named; if Caddick doesn’t get one he will surely let people know what he thinks.To cap Somerset’s fight back Willoughby pushed one across Stuart Law to have him taken at second slip, then removed Mark Chilton’s off stump. Lancashire are by no means safe, yet. Seven points is their magical mark and it will take some batting to reach that in bonuses, but for them events at Hove are important so Yorkshire’s late collapse will have eased a few concerns.Both innings have so far followed similar paths with the top-order struggling. Trescothick paid the price for trying to work through midwicket, making his last three innings scores of 0, 1 and 0. Langer was caught behind when Glen Chapple found his outside edge and any hope Somerset had that the pitch would offer less than it appeared vanished. When Oliver Newby jagged a ball back at James Hildreth, to brush the edge as he tried to leave, Somerset’s batting line-up was starting to look very short.Tom Smith claimed two in the middle order before lunch and after the break, in the same over that Trego was handed is costly left-off, Craig Kieswetter got a top edge to a rash pull off Newby. Alfonso Thomas was trapped lbw by Chapple, who gave him a little send-off after having a previous appeal turned down, but there were signs that conditions were easing.The seam movement was less extravagant, allowing Trego and Jones to get onto the front foot during their stand of 41. Trego went to his half-century off 76 balls before Jones drove to cover as the ball again stopped in the surface. It was Newby’s fourth wicket, due reward for hard-working spells from the Old Pavilion End. But he couldn’t quite claim his first five-wicket haul for Lancashire as Gary Keedy removed Trego to claim his first Championship wicket since August 22. Trego, though, has given his team a chance even if the final outcome is still out of their hands.

The Victorian Selectors have named an unchanged line up from the team which defeated the Western Fury in Perth two weeks ago. The Victorian Spirit team to take on the NSWIS Blues at Hurstville, Sydney on Saturday December 7 & Sunday December 8 is as follows:

Belinda Clark (c)
Cathryn Fitzpatrick (vc)
Clea Smith (vc)
Kelly Applebee
Louise Broadfoot
Jodi Dean
Jane Franklin
Amelie Hunter
Melanie Jones
Brooke McFarlane
Ingrid Noack
Shannon Young
Coach – Ken Davis
Assistant Coach – Nicole Taylor
Manager – Pam Allen

Victorian Spirit currently heads the WNCL Points Table with 14 points from 2 matches, followed by the Southern Scorpions who have 13 points from 4 matches. The NSWIS Blues are sitting third with 6 points from 2 matches.

Border B put their disappointing performance in the the Bowl match behind them to squeeze out the hosts in a thrilling finale in the one day match. Tight bowling at the death saw the visitors to a narrow 9 run victory.After winning the toss, the Border batsmen all chipped in towards a useful but not necessarily intimidating total. Several batsmen got going, but were thwarted by some good catching in the outfield, particularly by Andrew Puttick, normally at home in the slips, and Ryan Bailey.Needing to bat at 4.5 to the over, the WP openers Derrin Bassage and Rashaad Magiet got off to a slow start only to be undone by some well directed bowling from Andrew Pringle. Puttick was then happy to play second fiddle to the aggressive Jonno McLean in a partnership of 100 for the third wicket. But disaster waited with the score on the dreaded Nelson, as both were dismissed on that total. The run out of Puttick was comical, with both batsmen running towards the same end after a major misunderstanding.The middle order faltered thereafter, with 4 wickets falling for 17 runs. Wesley Euley then combined with William Hantam to add 55 for the 8th wicket in double quick time. Hantam was particularly enterprising, his clean hitting being rewarded with four sparkling boundaries. This partnership swung the balance in the home team’s favour, bringing back the asking rate to a run a ball. Border’s cause was not helped when Pringle returned for his closing spell and promptly conceded 10 runs in his first over.Pringle had the last laugh when he bowled Hantam, trying to play a straight delivery to the leg side. At the other end, Euley went through a dry patch as he failed to score off nine successive deliveries. This swung the pendulum back in Border’s favour. Although Euley then started to find the gaps again, he was undone by a fine catch on the boundary by Michael Matika.The final over began with WP needing 10 for victory. Rory Kleinveldt played and missed at the first delivery, but connected with a powerful cross batted hit straight down the pitch off the second. He was left open-mouthed as Pringle dropped to the ground to take a stunning return catch. Lelethu Ntontela, who had earlier bowled impressively with the new ball, gallantly went for the big hit but was caught in the deep to give Border their triumph.

Another cricket writer of note in New Zealand has died this week.Alex Veysey, for several years the cricket writer for the Dominion newspaper in Wellington and the man who penned John Reid’s autobiography Sword of Willow, died in Wellington Hospital yesterday after a heart attack.Veysey, 74, was part of a triumvirate of writers from New Zealand’s leading morning newspapers of the time, Dick Brittenden of The Christchurch Press, who pre-deceased him by two days, and Don Cameron of The New Zealand Herald, who kept cricket to the fore during some lean years.However, it is for his contribution to rugby writing that Veysey made his greatest mark. He served as The Dominion’s rugby writer for many years and was seconded by the New Zealand Press Association to cover several tours, most notably the 1963/64 All Black tour of Great Britain and France.He wrote All Black colossus Colin Meads’ autobiography and it became the biggest-selling sports book in New Zealand. But he also worked with several other players, including Brian Lochore, Grant Fox and Stu Wilson and Bernie Fraser.It was Veysey’s scoop of sitting in on a pre-Test team talk by probably the finest of all All Black coaches Fred Allen, that resulted in Allen standing down from the position because of the stance of administrators who felt Allen had gone too far in allowing a journalist to sit in on what had been a sacrosanct tradition in All Black rugby. But he retired from the job an unbeaten coach with what is still regarded as one of the finest of rugby teams the world had seen.In his last years in journalism Veysey transferred from the Dominion to the Evening Post where he served as a columnist. It was during this time that his extensive contacts in the rugby world resulted in Veysey making a Saturday morning phone call to the sports department that he had received word from a very reliable source that the player just named the world rugby player of the year, John Gallagher, a much-loved fullback in Wellington where the Evening Post was published, was about to do the unbelievable and switch rugby codes from union to league.Reporters went to work to sift out more information and two days later the story broke, with a sensational lead for the newspaper that was unrivalled by any other news media outlet. Initial comment in other media outlets was scorn for the Evening Post, but Veysey’s contacts, and those tested further by Post staff, proved totally reliable.Veysey was the consummate newsman who moved easily into other areas of journalism, notably political writing, although he drew little joy from it. His ability to use his contacts, and retain their respect, was a superb asset and is a sadly declining skill in New Zealand journalism.He is survived by his wife and a son and daughter.

Another good sized crowd were treated to another fascinating days play’s in the England v India Women’s Test Match at the County Ground in Taunton today.Resuming on 280 for 7, England were eventually bowled out for 329. After struggling early on against some tight England bowling, by close of play India had taken their score onto 156 for 3.Once again the match has attracted a substantial number of girls who have all enjoyed a free coaching session during the day that has been arranged at the centre of Excellence.Many of the younger girls once again took part in a Kwik Cricket match at lunchtime out on the pitch.One group of girls who are making the most of the week are the fourteen pupils from Bishop Foxes who are taking part in a summer school that is being run at the County Ground by the Somerset Playing for Success manager Simon Lowe.During the week the youngsters have focussed all of their activities on the England v India Test Match, and have interviewed the players, and a number of the other staff at the ground, they have produced a video diary of the match and have produced player profiles on both teams.In addition the girls have also enjoyed the two hour free coaching sessions that have been available to all girls who have attended the game.Earlier today Simon Lowe told me: “This has been one of the most rewarding activities that I have ever been involved in professionally, The girls have worked very hard on a wide range of tasks that have all been focussed on the Test Match.”This afternoon I asked Somerset chief executive Peter Anderson for the club’s perspective on the match. He told me: “Somerset County Cricket Club regard it as an honour to stage a women’s international cricket match between England and India at the County Ground, and we hope that the players from both sides are enjoying their time in Taunton.”He concluded : "I have been impressed with the high level of skills that have been demonstrated by both groups of players.”With another good day forecast, tomorrow promises to be another interesting day’s play for all of those who go along.

One month gone already! I can’t believe how fast the time is going. My weekly schedule is now fairly stable with training sessions every day; seven fitness sessions and two technical sessions. As each week goes by, the fitness work gets harder and more specific to the type of activity that I’ll be facing on the upcoming tour.There are exercises designed to strengthen the throwing arm, increase the power in shot play and sprint drills focused on turning and fielding in the ring. Add to this the Canterbury speed and fielding training – I’m certainly keeping busy!After the match against Riccarton, I got the opportunity to borrow Haidee’s car for the week. Early one morning I drove up into the plains north of Christchurch to take photos of the sunrise over the coast and at the mouth of the Huruni River. Once back in Christchurch there was some bad news… England had put the Aussies into bat in the first Test. That night was spent drinking raspberry and lemonade in our local watching Hayden hit our boys around the park.Towards the end of the week, I umpired some Milo cricket. This game is aimed at 10 to 11 year olds and is much like the softball pairs cricket that I played as a child. Each school is able to enter a mixed 10-person team into the competition and once local leagues have been decided there are area and province rounds to play in.Development in general in New Zealand matches that of England, though the sight of Hagley Oval on a Saturday morning where all the kids go to play ‘Have a go Cricket’ is amazing.The next club league match was against East Shirley, another home match and this time we elected to field first. East Shirley’s batting is their weak point and they once again bowed to some good bowling on quite a good track. After bowling them out for 104, we looked to attack their bowling and had a goal of reaching the total in 25 overs. The game was over in the 22nd over when Maria Fahey (one of the New Zealand Academy players) hit the winning runs. Still top of the league!Having agreed with the saying that playing golf ruins a good walk, I have lately been convinced to give the game a go. A session at a driving range was the start; this more entertaining for those watching than for me but I sure did get good value for money – on average 1.6 swings per ball hit! After a good showing on the crazy golf circuit it was decided that putting wasn’t the problem!My first real game of golf happened the next weekend down in Queenstown. Our league had no matches scheduled so off we went on a weekend away via the lakes. On Friday I played a round of nine twilight holes with Anna Wilkins (a Riccarton and Northern Districts player) and Owen Harrison (Events Manager for NZ Cricket); all the way round the course I was accompanied by a friendly leprechaun who threw my ball back onto the fairway when it landed in the rough (or even worse on the wrong fairway entirely!) A round of 59 on a par 34 course – perhaps next time will be better.On Monday I was named in the State Canterbury Magicians squad for the State Insurance League. Excellent news! The squad is training well and we’re off on a team-building trip next weekend. Tuesday was fitness test day; 11.2 on the beep test for me and some good sprint times means that the training must be going well.The third round of club cricket matches starts this weekend – here’s hoping that the weather holds out so that we can get some cricket in. After four days of rain pitches are wet and with the threat of more rain, play is doubtful.

At the end of a day that was restricted because of rain, Sussex had scored 178 for 3 off 42 overs, a lead of 114 over Somerset.When play eventually got underway at 3.15pm Somerset added a further 21 runs to their overnight before losing their final wicket, leaving the injured Steffan Jones as the not out batsman.With an attack that was one bowler short, Keith Parsons came on as first change and disposed of Murray Goodwin, who had scored 162 in the first innings for 29, and added a second wicket before the close of play to end the day with figures of 2 for 34 off 10 overs.After the close Somerset coach Kevin Shine told me: "It’s been another hard fought day for the boys out there. We were a bowler down, and it was very windy so we did well to restrict them to a lead of just over 100. Richard Johnson also had a confident shout at the end against Chris Adams which would have been a very good way to finish the day."How had Keith Parsons coped with being brought on first change I asked? The coach told me: "I’m chuffed to bits the way that Keith bowled. He got rid of Goodwin, and was running in without a limp, and doesn’t seem to have any after affects."Looking forward to tomorrow he told me: "We are still in the box seat and in with a good chance, especially if we can get off to a good start in the morning."

Toby Radford has a back injury and is a major doubt for the Hampshire Board’s opening ECB 38-County Championship group match against the Channel Islands at the Rose Bowl Nursery ground on Sunday, 11am.Radford missed both of Andover’s opening Southern Electric Premier League wins and, having hardly played a competitive match since early last season, seems certain to be sidelined.Either Winchester’s Paul Marks or top Lymington batsman Ben Craft is expected to play.Even without Radford, the HCB should prove too strong for the Channel Islanders, who lost all their group games last season.Hampshire are placed in a demanding south-east counties zone this season, with Kent, Surrey and Sussex the other sides in the five-team group.Hampshire Board: PN Gover, RJE Hindley, AHD Perry (Havant), RTP Miller (Andover), D Banks, DB Goldstraw, RR Dibden, DC Shirazi (BAT Sports), DJ Peacock (Lymington), DJ Greetham (Normandy), PA Marks (Winchester) or B Craft (Lymington).James Hibberd, the in-form Calmore Sports all-rounder, Bashley’s Kevin Nash and prolific South Wilts batsman Russell Rowe are in the Wiltshire side to play Cornwall at St Just.

Whereas the sweltering heat of May would be a real turn off for cricket fans, the expected participation of superstars or the big names of national cricket would certainly act as a “heat absorber”, attracting the lovers of the game to stadiums, where the thrilling encounters of the last tournament in Pakistan’s domestic arena start from April 29, 2001.Yes, it is expected that the players unfortunately not picked for the England tour would like to grace the cricket stadiums as part of the One-day tournament (Associations), which concludes the 8-month long domestic cricket season of Pakistan. The notable names among these are Moin Khan, Ijaz Ahmed, Humayun Farhat, Wajahatullah Wasti, Ali Naqvi, Danesh Kaneria, Shoaib Malik and others.Currently, cricket teams from 12 cities are associated with Pakistan Cricket Board. After providing absorbing four-day encounters in the Quaid-e-Azam Trophy Grade I, these teams now lock horns in the limited-overs contests, whose final is due to be played on May 12, 2001Unlike the Quaid-e-Azam Trophy, whose matches were played on round robin league basis, the format of the One-day tournament has been changed. Now the 12 participants have been divided into two pools, comprising six teams each.Pool A consists of Lahore Whites, Karachi Whites, Rawalpindi, Islamabad, Bahawalpur, and Peshawar, whereas Pool B is comprised of Lahore Blues, Karachi Blues, Sheikhupura, Gujranwala, Sargodha, and Faisalabad.It is interesting to note that while the teams in Pool B will play their matches at the different venues of the Punjab province, all the matches of Pool A will be played in three stadiums in Karachi, namely National Stadium, UBL Ground No. 1 and Asghar Ali Stadium.The semi-finals of the tournament, due 10th May, would be played at Gaddafi Stadium, Lahore (top team of Pool A v second team of Pool B) and National Stadium, Karachi (top team of Pool B v second team of Pool A). The venue for the final, like most other tournaments, is the Gaddafi Stadium.CricInfo has made arrangements to relay maximum possible matches of the tournament. So log on to the “home of Cricket on the Internet” and enjoy the exclusive coverage of these interesting limited-overs encounters on every alternate day from April 29, 2001.

Purchase “Way to Play” by Chris Cairns

Walking to our net practice yesterday afternoon from the Bert Sutcliffe Oval at Lincoln to the nets on Lincoln Green with Stephen Fleming, we got to talking about how much we are looking forward to getting back into the longer form of the game.The ability to change from one-day cricket to Test cricket is part of the skill of the modern cricketer and it can often be used as an excuse when things go wrong in either form of the game.But not in this case.Both teams have had an excellent lay off. Some have used it as a chance to breathe life back into tired bodies, others have got out and had a hit for their provinces.With the diet of one-day cricket we have just completed I have to say it was tough and I am looking forward to this Test series.In the Tests there are chances to build pressure, for the better player to come out on top because the opportunity to rely on luck is decreased compared to the one-dayers.If you look at both sides, both are missing their in form strike bowlers in Shane Bond and Darren Gough so that cancels each out.We have the better spin bowler and the seamers are pretty evenly matched.The batting is where I believe we will beat England.Firstly we have six specialist batters followed by Nos 7 and 8 who have both scored test hundreds and No 9 who has a Test 90.The tail is an important part of our armoury and this is hopefully where we can beat the English.You still have to take 20 wickets to win a Test but through large scores going on the board, more pressure can be exerted in the middle.Last week I went down to Hagley Park in Christchurch to watch the England v Canterbury match.Firstly, I should have been playing in it but with my back still not quite 100% it was decided I should take the cautious option and get ready for the Test match.How the Canterbury Cricket Association had got the ground looking with the marquees and the picket fence was a real credit to them. With cricket in New Zealand being pushed more to the back in the major stadiums it brought home the need to look for cricket specific grounds for the longer form of the game.While we should still play one-day games at our major grounds, Test matches should start to be played elsewhere.Spare a thought for the Jade groundsman, Chris Lewis, who had a rugby match on Saturday and then has to get the ground ready on Wednesday for the cricket Test!Drop-in pitches are a solution but it is not only the playing pitch that comes into focus, the practice wickets are also not up to international standard because the grounds are not cricket specific and there is not enough room at venues to house a cricket net structure.What we practice on is just as vital as what we play on.