All posts by csb10.top

South Africa’s coach, Mickey Arthur, has hinted that some of his senior members may have played their last one-day internationals following the 4-0 one-day series defeat by England.England completely dominated the one-day series after losing the Tests 2-1 in August. Bad weather in Cardiff on Wednesday denied them the chance to claim a historic 5-0 series win, as rain allowed just three overs of play.Three of South Africa’s most experienced cricketers – Jacques Kallis, Herschelle Gibbs and Makhaya Ntini – all endured a difficult limited-overs series. Gibbs did manage 74 from 75 balls at Lord’s on Sunday, but he was the only batsman to lose his wicket on Wednesday, falling for just 3 to complete a disappointing series.Arthur conceded it may be time for a change of direction in one-day cricket. “I’m going to take a couple of weeks to go away and reflect and then come to those selection decisions,” he said. “We’ve got five one-dayers at the end of October and early November against Kenya and Bangladesh, which will give us a good base to start from with a young new side.”One possible route is for South Africa to try and encourage some of the Kolpak players in county cricket back to their home country. Arthur has been keeping tabs on their performances while he was on tour, with the likes of Ryan McLaren at Kent catching his eye.”We’ll look at the squad composition closer to the time,” he said. “We were missing some key personnel and we are trying to identify a brand of cricket to play in one-day cricket and then identify players to pick to play that kind of brand.”In the past we have been lucky to have a lot of multi-skilled players which has made it seem that we had 12 or even 13 players on the field at the same time,” Arthur said. “This is what England had in the recent series with Andrew Flintoff giving them two players in one.”We will now have to decide whether we can continue to follow the multi-skilled route or whether we need to go for pure specialists.” Arthur’s thoughts came after captain Graeme Smith admitted that South Africa’s ODI team had failed to fill the void created by Shaun Pollock’s retirement.South Africa’s lacklustre conclusion took some of the gloss off their first Test series win in England since 1965, and Arthur admitted he had put too much emphasis on winning the Tests, although he denied the one-day series had deflated his squad.”We compartmentalised the two series which were played by slightly different sides,” he said. “We had goals and objectives set for our Test team which I think we conquered. The one-day series we always knew was going to be a bit of a struggle.”We’re disappointed about the one day series but very excited about what we achieved in the Tests. The one thing I would criticise myself about on this tour was putting too much emphasis on winning the Test series. When we won it we felt we had achieved our goal.”

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.

England’s Professional Cricketers’ Association (PCA) backed the Federation of International Cricketers’ Associations’ (FICA) concern over security measures in Pakistan for the Champions Trophy.Sean Morris, the PCA chief executive, agreed with FICA chief Tim May’s assessment that “absolutely nothing had changed in the three months since Australia postponed their Pakistan tour after safety concerns. “We will await the ECB response with interest and once we have it the PCA will advise the players on our position and then take the players’ views back to the ECB,” Morris told the .However the ICC declared itself happy with the Pakistan board’s security arrangements for the tournament scheduled in September. The ICC’s executive board will be meeting in Dubai later this month and Richardson said the Full Member countries will discuss the security situation in Pakistan.

Nasir Aziz hit up his second century in the National Junior (Under-19) Grade-I Cricket Championship Thursday as Karachi Blues made steady progress on day two of their match against Islamabad at Shalimar Ground.On a day when play began as late as 4.30pm with only 23 overs possible, Karachi were 222 for four at the close after resuming their first innings at 146 for one.Nasir, 63 not out overnight, struck 13 fours in his total of 110 that came off 136 deliveries. The youngster had scored an unbeaten 147 in his side’s opening game against Fata in Rawalpindi.Along with Naveed Khan who collected 83, Nasir punished the Islamabad pacemen who toiled in vain before spinners Usman Nabi and Sajid Ali were brought in to check the flow of runs.Both bowlers made their mark immediately, Sajid snapping up two wickets for just six runs, including the prize scalp of a well-set Naveed and Usman picking up one for 36.Our Sports Correspondent adds from Lahore: Excellent batting by Khalil Ahmed (123) and fine bowling by leg-spinner Ali Aslam (five for 57) guided Sheikhupura to an innings and 82-run victoryagainst Kohat inside two days at Sheikhupura Stadium.Lahore Blues, meanwhile, were in a commanding position against Fata after taking an overall lead of 262 with foursecond innings wickets intact at Muridke.Summarized scores: *At Shalimar Ground, Islamabad:KARACHI BLUES 222-4 in 48 overs (Nasir Aziz 110 not out, Naveed Khan 83) v ISLAMABAD*At Sheikhupura Stadium, Sheikhupura:Sheikhupura beat Kohat by an innings and 82 runs.SHEIKHUPURA 396 in 79.4 overs (Khalil Ahmed 123, Shahid Siddique 86 not out, Salman Ali 45; Abid Iqbal 4-99, Waqar Ali 5-112);KOHAT 132 in 46 overs (Umair Khan 45; Nasir Malik 6-47, Nawaz Sardar 3-20) and 182 (Habib Rasool 40; Faisal Rasheed 4-52, Ali Aslam 5-57).*At Lahore Country Club, Muridke:LAHORE BLUES 208 in 71.5 overs (Mohammad Saeed 63, Azhar Ali 46, Adnan Butt 43; Riaz Afridi 3-70) and 223-6 (Fahad-ul-Haq 48, Adnan Atif Ijaz 44; Yasir Shah 4-60);FATA 169 in 49.4 overs (Riaz Afridi 66; Zeeshan Safeer 6-40).*At Bahawalpur Stadium, Bahawalpur:BAHAWALPUR 213 in 79.1 overs (Asif Iqbal 72; Asim Naseer 7-61) and 37-3 (Imran Siddique 3-12);LAHORE WHITES: 284-8 in 80 overs (Farrukh Shafiq 67, Salman Qadir 44, Kashif Mahmood 40; Muhammad Adnan 3-47).*At National Stadium, Karachi:KARACHI WHITES 313 in 79.2 overs (Faraz Patel 116, Mubashir Ahmed 90; Sajid Saeed 3-89) and 228-5 (Khalid Latif 104, Mubashir Ahmed 71);PESHAWAR 186 in 65.2 overs (Abdul Nasir 50; Aftab Ahmed 7-44).*At PCB Regional Academy Ground, Rawalpindi:RAWALPINDI 241 in 75.1 overs (Usama Shabbir 68; Arun Lal 4-44, Abdul Hameed 3-54) and 113-5 (Umar Ali 3-28);QUETTA 135 in 66.4 overs (Afzal Javed 3-24, Shahid Mahmood 3-31).

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.

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."

It was a crumb of comfort after a largely one-sided series, but it will havetasted no less sweet to Carl Hooper’s men as the West Indies turned in afine all-round performance to win the seventh and final one-dayinternational by six wickets at Arnos Vale. South Africa win the series 5-2.Chasing a modest 164 for victory on a pitch that flattened out in theafternoon sun but which still offered the bowlers plenty of help, MarlonSamuels (54 not out) and Shivnarine Chanderpaul (32 not out) ensured therewere no repeats of earlier collapses, seeing the West Indies home with fiveovers and four balls to spare.Samuels again proved why he is rated so highly with a languidly elegantknock which included seven fours. Chanderpaul provided sensible support atthe other end, striking three boundaries of his own – two in one over fromJustin Ontong.The innings was given a decent foundation by an opening partnership of40 between Daren Ganga and Chris Gayle before Ganga (15) was run out after adreadful mix-up, wicket-keeper Mark Boucher doing well to gather ShaunPollock’s return and throw down the stumps as Ganga clattered into him.Gayle (28) was bowled by Jacques Kallis and when Justin Kemp and HerschelleGibbs combined for the wickets of Brian Lara (18) and Carl Hooper (5), therewas just a sense that the wheels might be about to come off.Earlier, Cameron Cuffy tore through the South African top order, pickingup 3-24 as he bowled his 10 overs straight through from the start in asuperb exhibition of pace bowling. Fast and accurate and with useful supportfrom Corey Collymore at the other end, Cuffy reduced South Africa to adisastrous 40-4, a position from which they never properly recovered.Only a resolute 69 from 147 balls from Kallis held the SouthAfrican innings together and saved his side from complete embarrasment.After seeing out the first over, Gibbs (1) went intogun-slinging mood but lost a game of Russian roulette with Cuffy, top-edginga hook towrds fine leg where Collymore took a fine catch in the swirlingbreeze.Three overs later opening partner Gary Kirsten was gone, brilliantlycaught by Ganga at square-leg. Kirsten (6) pulled Collymore firmlybut turned to see Ganga fly full length to his right and pluck the ballone-handed from the sky.The 21-year-old Justin Ontong (2) received the chance he has been waitingfor with a promotion up the order to number four – but he also received abeauty from Cuffy which he edged into the safe hands of Chris Gayle atsecond slip. Neil McKenzie (13) was Cuffy’s third victim, looking to driveover the top but just failing to clear Ganga at mid-off.Jonty Rhodes also struggled to make an impression in his 200th one-daygame for South Africa, restricted to 16 off 33 balls before he looked toforce left-arm spinner Neil McGarrell through the off side and edged theball onto his stumps.The consolidation continued with the arrival of Boucher to joinKallis, but runs continued to come intermittently as neither batsman wasable to wrest the initiative away from the West Indian bowlers. Thefrustration eventually told, as Boucher (25) swung Samuels straight downMcGarrell’s throat on the mid-wicket boundary.Kallis fell as the final slog struggled to materialise, heaving Samuelsto Brian Lara at midwicket, Kemp (12 not out) and Pollock (7not out) unable to find the boundary even once as the overs ran out.

ScorecardA century from Ambati Rayudu, combined with a strong bowling effort from Vinay Kumar and Shami Ahmed helped India A take control of the first unofficial Test against New Zealand A in Lincoln.After New Zealand seized the initiative towards the end of a rain-affected first day, India started the second day strongly with a half-century stand between overnight batsmen Rayudu and Ashok Menaria. Menaria was dismissed by Neil Wagner for 30, but Rayudu held firm to consolidate India’s position with a century stand with Naman Ojha that lifted India to 300 for 5 before Ojha was dismissed for 41. Rayudu fell soon after reaching his century; his 105 included 15 fours and one six. Neil Wagner and Andy McKay made short work of India’s tail as the last four wickets fell for 12 runs, India ending up on 339.New Zealand started poorly as George Worker was dismissed by Vinay Kumar of the first ball of their innings. Neil Broom fell with the score on 30 to Shami Ahmed and with Kumar and Ahmed picking up another wicket each, New Zealand looked in trouble at 52 for 4. However opener Tom Latham finally got some support from No. 6 Reece Young. The duo put on an unbroken 53-run stand for the fifth wicket to guide New Zealand past 100 before bad light brought an early end to the day’s play. Latham was unbeaten on 54 and New Zealand will look to him and Reece (28*) to get closer to India’s first-innings total.