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ADELAIDE, Oct 19 AAP – A suicide run by South Australian opener David Fitzgerald and three quick wickets to Mathew Inness sparked a stunning collapse by the Redbacks in their ING Cup match against Victoria at Adelaide Oval today.SA was dismissed for 192 in 44 overs, after looking likely to amass a huge total earlier in the innings.SA, sent in to bat, looked on track for a total near 300 when openers Fitzgerald and Greg Blewett comfortably put on a free-scoring partnership of 107 inside the first 20 overs.But the openers then strangely attempted several foolish singles and both were fortunate to survive near misses before Fitzgerald was run out for 54.That started an amazing turnaround, with SA losing 10-85 in 24 overs.Inness had Ben Johnson caught behind for 16 in his fifth over, bowled Blewett for 67 in his sixth, and had Mark Higgs caught for one in his seventh over, to take the score to 4-155 in the 31st over.Michael Miller was run out for five in the 37th over.Then Ian Hewett further compounded SA’s problems in the 38th over, his 10th, trapping Nathan Adcock and Graham Manou lbw in successive balls, both for golden ducks, to make the score 7-172.In the following over, Hewett took a miraculous low left-handed catch at point to dismiss Ryan Harris for a duck, off a slashing Harris drive from Andrew McDonald’s bowling, before Shane Harwood bowled tailenders John Davison (eight) and Paul Rofe (none) to complete the rout.

Canterbury have named four new caps in their side to compete in the State League programme this season.Newcomers to the side include former Otago representative Rowan Milburn, who has played international cricket for the Netherlands, leading England batsman Claire Taylor, 16-year-old Tekapo cricketer Tamara Gould and Kirsty Craig.Gould, a promising batsman, has had reward after her weekly trips for Tekapo to play and for her good form in games for Lancaster Park-Woolston this season while Craig has gained her place after serving as the non-travelling 13th man last summer.The full side named by selectors Jennifer Logan (convener), Lisa Astle and Vicki Burtt, is: Haidee Tiffen (captain), Nicola Payne (vice-captain), Sarah Burke, Selena Charteris, Kirsty Craig, Helen Daly, Rowan Milburn, Tamara Gould, Maria Fahey, Beth McNeill, Hannah Rae, Rebecca Steele, Claire Taylor.The side is coached by Burtt and its manager is Kay Gilray.

A lot will be expected of the Somerset batsmen when they resume their innings in the morningThe first target for the not out batsmen Mike Burns (51) and Keith Parsons (13)will be 458 to avoid the follow on, but knowing that they will be without the services of paceman Simon Francis for the Surrey second innings they will be hoping for a lot more.Early on this morning Mark Ramprakash brought up his double century, before he was out to Steffan Jones after giving an impressive demonstration of his batting talents, that had spread over four sessions of play.Ricky Clarke and Ed Giddins then took the Surrey score onto 608 for 6 until just before lunchtime, skipper Adam Hollioake called it a day to post a massive challenge to the Somerset batsmen. At the declaration Clarke had made an unbeaten 153, his maiden century in the championship.During the morning Somerset had lost the services of paceman Simon Francis, who damaged a finger fielding a shot from Ricky Clarke off his own bowling. Anx-ray of his injury has revealed that he has broken his finger and will be out for three weeks.In reply the Cidermen’s openers Piran Holloway and Matthew Wood made a superb start and put on 202 for the first wicket, with the Devon youngster scoring the second championship century of his career, before being bowled by Jimmy Ormond for 106.The opening partnership was a new Somerset record against Surrey at the County Ground beating the previous record of 184 that was set in 1925 by Jack MacBryan (109) and Tom Young (71).The diminutive Cornishman Holloway also demonstrated an array of attacking shots to announce his arrival back on the first class scene this season, before he too became another victim of Ormond’s when with the score on 271 he was caught at slip by Hollioake for 77.By the close of play the ever dependable pairing of Mike Burns and Keith Parsons had taken Somerset onto 304 for 3 wickets, but there is still a lot of hard work needed from them on Friday.After the game Kevin Shine told me: “I’m very pleased with the way that things went for us today.We made a great fightback. Going in on a good wicket chasing a big total I’ve seen it all go downhill, but we batted very professionally.”He continued: “Piran Holloway and Matthew Wood set us off really well, and Woody’s century was excellent. He seems to bat better everytime that he goes to the wicket.”Regarding Simon Francis he told me: “He is incredibly unlucky to get an injury. Even this morning he was still beating Mark Ramprakash and was showing his real potential. He is the real thing, and then this happens, we don’t need that kind of luck.”

On Sunday 8th September the final Norwich Union League game of the season starts at 12:00pm. Both teams are leading the charge for the Division title and promotion.If The Gladiators win then they are guaranteed promotion to the first division as Champions. If the Scorpions win, then they are well on course for promotion and would be very close to winning the title as well. There is obviously a lot at stake and will therefore make for a great game to come along and support. As a special offer for this game, children under 16, if accompanied by an adult, will come in for free.With a host of entertainment from The King Edmond Club Gymnasts to the exotic animals of Bristol Zoo, it will be a day to remember.Hopefully you will be able to tell your children about the day, The Gladiators won the second division title.

Winchester’s Paul Marks faces a late check on a back injury before the Hampshire Cricket Board’s 50-over warm-up match against Hampshire 2nd XI at the Rose Bowl Nursery ground on Sunday, 11am.Marks injured his back playing soccer last weekend and did not play in Sunday’s HCB indoor finals.County 2nd XI coach Tony Middleton is expected to field several of his prospective Academy XI in the match.Hampshire Board XI: Paul Gover (Havant – captain), Paul Marks, Dave Greatham (Winchester KS), Daniel Peacock (Lymington), David Banks, Damian Shirazi, Kirk Stewart (BAT Sports), Neil Randall, Chris Wright (Liphook & Ripsley), Roger Miller, Matt Hooper (Andover).

The English cricket season starts in early April and ends in late September and does not really coincide or clash with seasons of other cricket playing countries. The Pakistan cricket season starts after the monsoons in September and ends in late April when it’s too hot to play.

Every year, the English cricket season provides opportunities to Pakistani cricketers to go there, travel around, and take in the sight of cricket being played in lush greenery all over the country, meet different people, enjoy the hospitality and even play professional cricket. This is an experience in itself for any serious cricketer apart from the opportunity to play league, club and for some, even top class county cricket.But, at the same time, every English cricket season brings with it a few problems for the Pakistan Cricket Board. These stem from commitments and contracts made by Pakistani cricketers for playing professional cricket there or more aptly, referred as ‘proing’ in England.Cricketing activity through an approved ICC policy called ‘globalization of cricket’ has increased all over the world and thus it’s cricket season the whole year round.In certain situations, a Pakistani cricketer and the PCB have to decide individually and jointly whether the player should play for his country or his county. The absence of any clear-cut policy by the PCB and the lure of attractive professional fee complicate the issue. In some cases a player ends up playing for neither of the two.One cannot deny the fact that no country in the world matches the splendour of cricket in an English summer. It is just great to be a young cricketer and pro in a county or a league team.A recent PCB press release has made it known to all and sundry, Shoaib Akhtar, the fastest bowler in the world, will not be going to play in the Morocco Cup this August. It further clarifies that Shoaib Akhtar is carrying an injury that needs to be treated in England. Strangely enough and very recently, millions saw Shoaib Akhtar bowling thunderbolts at the Australians. He appeared absolutely fit and surely no further proof of his fitness is required.The fact of the matter is that Shoaib Akhtar is irked with PCB because he was denied permission to play in England for the remainder of the English season for a county or club. One can pose the question, had he been allowed, like fellow cricketers Abdul Razzaq, Saqlain Mushtaq and Azhar Mahmood, would he have reported unfit in defiance and disgust?All cricketers love to spend summer in England and Shoaib is no exception. It is a way of relaxing and recharging one’s batteries.Shoaib, besides, being the current hottest property in cricket circles, is probably worth at least UKP 100,000 per season. This is the kind of money Wasim Akram used to make playing for Lancashire in his prime years and why should Shoaib be denied this or more?Looking at the problem from another angle, one can infer that the three young cricketers named above, signed contracts with their respective counties some time ago and that too with the permission of PCB. On the other hand, the counties as per previous practice must have agreed to release them for the Tangier tournament in August and ICC trophy in Sri Lanka in September but not for the recently concluded ODI tour to Australia. Shoaib Akhtar’s desire to sign up with an English club is perhaps an afterthought and a bit too late in the day, having no real parallel with the case of the three cricketers already playing in England. It seems to be PCB’s own method of drawing parallels.Some may conjecture, the PCB administration does not want Shoaib Akhtar to over exert in county cricket lest he expose himself to injury or extreme fatigue prior to more important assignments than Morocco. Others may think the PCB wants to look after the fastest bowler on the planet like a prize horse.The other aspect of the matter, which is correlated to his desire to play as a professional in England this summer, is fee and remuneration he receives from PCB. So far, he has shown extreme restraint over the fee he has been receiving which is reportedly roughly equivalent to that of Azhar Mahmood.Shoaib Akhtar although a man of few words, temperamentally responds to various situations created by himself, the PCB or natural circumstances in his own peculiar manner. He is neither aggressive nor unreasonable.Those who know him since the beginning of his first-class cricket career may well recall, he started as a professional with PIA at a meager thousand rupees or about $17 per month. He then moved on to ADBP.In 1997-98 Shoaib Akhtar toured South Africa under Rashid Latif’s captaincy. His selection for the tour was opposed tooth and nail by a senior selector because Shoaib in the selector’s opinion had no idea about swing bowling. On top of it, as soon as the team landed in South Africa Rashid Latif decided to send him back due to some undisclosed injury and requested Basit Ali as the replacement. Of course at that point in time, Shoaib Akhtar was oblivious to happenings around him. When contacted by the PCB he exhibited a remarkably cool temperament and the sagacity to analyze and react to a complex and somewhat political situation. As a young player he confronted his captain and assured him that he was fit to take on the South Africans and in the second Test took 5 for 43 to secure himself a permanent place in the team. He has not looked back since.More fuel is added by the PCB’s pay structure for Test players which is based on ‘seniority’. This means a player who has played more matches will get more money compared to one who has played fewer. It’s a difficult formula and incorporates a slab system. More variables are added in the equation for matches played abroad, however, the basis remains seniority. Unfortunately, more often than not, the pay structure formula seems unfair and unjust in the case of a junior but high achiever. For example, Aaqib Javed was a junior player when he established a bowling ODI world record by taking seven wickets in a match in Sharjah that Pakistan won. The poor chap ended up receiving the smallest cheque, not enough to buy a return ticket from Sharjah to Lahore!Shoaib Akhtar as he gets older and because of his hurricane like bowling approach is not likely to remain on top as the fastest bowler for a very long time. One can safely presume that after the World Cup 2003 he will turn into a fast swing bowler at speeds around 138-142 kph. His control and swing will increase and the ability to reverse swing in the late overs of an ODI or as the ball wears, in a test match, will also increase. Perhaps he will no longer be able to electrify a stadium full of people with his frightening speed but will be able to achieve far better figures than he has so far.All said and done, it does seem unjust to pay him on the basis of a junior cricketer, according to the present pay structure formula.Cricket is a highly commercialized game today and is crossing over into new countries. One feels, we may soon see the Chinese and the Japanese wielding the ‘willow’. Cricket has taken on soccer in roping in advertisement revenues from multinational conglomerates and soon cricket might even have the upper hand.PCB also needs to wake up to the immense opportunities and challenges provided by the modern commercial world of sports, advertisement and broadcasting. PCB is a rich institution and should remain one. All of Pakistan’s sports bodies look up to PCB as a role model and trendsetter. It is disturbing when PCB officials moan and groan over India’s refusal to play against Pakistan and the resultant imaginary loss of income. There are nine other test-playing countries, dozens of venues and hundreds of sponsors in the world, so why harp on missing out with India.Coming back to the topic, the standoff between Shoaib Akhtar and PCB must come to an end. PCB should do away with its age-old unjust seniority based formula and look for a new more equitable formula on the basis of both, seniority and performance. High achievers should be placed in a higher bracket with lots of perks and benefits commensurate with remunerations that other countries are paying. Shoaib Akhtar or other stars should be allowed to play in England.We can only wish Shoaib Akhtar good luck and hope that he enjoys the English summer while it lasts.

The level of celebration at Kensington Oval yesterday was not in keeping with the margin of victory.With almost every single team member parading his blue national cap for most of the day, Barbados completed the most crushing win in this season’s Busta Series, inside three days against West Indies ‘B’.Happenings at other grounds around the Caribbean, however, ensured the dethroned Cup champions would not advance to the semifinals of the International Shield.Barbados’ emphatic triumph, their third win of the season, carried them to 39 points, but they would have needed the Windward Islands to pick up first innings points against Trinidad and Tobago in a drawn match at Guaracara Park.The Windwards, in pursuit of an imposing 380, fought gallantly but were dismissed for 342 about an hour before Barbados recorded their victory. However, Barbados skipper Sherwin Campbell and the rest of the management team could take some satisfaction from the development of some of their newer players.Among them was fast bowler Tino Best, whose five-wicket haul rocked the West Indies ‘B’ team’s batting after lunch and paved the way for the win that was completed 27 minutes after tea.We didn’t win the tournament, but a number of the guys have come on. It is a good learning experience for the youngsters and I hope they can benefit from it, Campbell said.He identifed Best, Sulieman Benn, Kurt Wilkinson and Dwayne Smith among those who made strides. The last two, along with vice-captain Ryan Hinds, scored maiden first-class centuries in the last two matches.This is a good sign for Barbados’ cricket, Campbell said.Kurt has been knocking at the door for a hundred for a while. It is good to see that he ended the season with a hundred.Ryan Hinds has been playing for a while and it’s also good that he got a hundred at the end of the tournament.Having enforced the follow-on in the morning after gaining a massive first innings lead of 364, Barbados were just as efficient in rolling over the West Indies ‘B’ in their second innings in spite of a couple of missed chance towards the end.I am happy we have won the game. The guys played very well today. We came out and we bowled well, Campbell said.Best’s omission from the team for the previous two matches had triggered a huge outcry in certain quarters, largely because of the favourable impression he created in the early part of the season.Given his chance here only because of injury to Ian Bradshaw, he worked up a storm after lunch with an inspired spell in which he claimed five wickets in the space of 24 balls.He was, as usual, full of zest, constantly bounding in with purpose. He conceded 12 runs in the first over after lunch, but it made no difference to his spirit. Once he claimed his first scalp, Shane Jeffers, by way of a juggled return catch, there was no stopping the 20-year-old.Best was typically pacy, but, more importantly, his direction was impeccable and his length was mainly a fullish one. This led to the three successive lbw verdicts. Donovan Pagon gave the impression he might have snicked a ball which cannoned onto his boot, but there was no doubt about Patrick Browne and Roland Holder.Browne, a promising wicket-keeper/batsman, completed a miserable match with the bat when a break-back pinned him on the back foot, while Holder, for the second time in successive days, was victim to a cross-batted stroke.The West Indies ‘B’ team captain seemed stunned at umpire Billy Doctrove’s decision before walking off the ground for what might have been his last first-class innings.Holder went for a duck, the same score he made on his first-class debut at the ground 16 years ago.A fired-up Best then induced Vishal Arjune into snicking a low catch to the ‘keeper to leave the West Indies ‘B’ 58 for six. Half-hour earlier, they were 43 for one.There was brief resistance in a seventh-wicket stand that lasted an hour, but by then, it was obvious the match would end with ample time remaining on the penultimate day.Earlier, West Indies ‘B’ managed to prolong their first innings after resuming on 150 for nine, thanks to some aggression from Callitos Lopez and defiance from Reon Griffith.They survived for just under an hour and Barbados needed a direct throw from Best at mid-off to break the best partnership (43) of the innings.

Imran Khan Sunday said next year’s World Cup was an open tournamentdespite the fact that Australia remained firm favourites.”History tells that except in 1979, never a favourite team has won.That means the tournament is wide open and any team can win it,” Imrantold Dawn as Pakistan prepared to remember its decade of World Cupglory.Exactly 10 years ago on March 25, 1992 in Melbourne, Imran’s ‘corneredtigers’ returned from the grave to win five matches on a trot to sendthe country into jubilation. The country hailed Imran and his team andshowered them with praise, rewards and honour.The Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) on March 30 is celebrating thatunforgettable success and is expected to launch its countdown for theWorld Cup in South Africa.Imran, who battled a troublesome right shoulder in the tournament 10years ago, also believed that there was a big difference betweenAustralia and rest of the team.”The standard is not the same as it was in 1992. Australia is farahead of rest of the present teams,” the 49-year-old legend said.Imran, whose team included half the members who were playing inAustralia for the first time, believed the key to success would bemotivation and conviction.”We lost three of the first five matches but I was not ready to acceptdefeat. I always had the confidence and therefore it was easy for meto motivate myself and the boys. “I feel that motivation and selfbelief will be the key to success next year,” he said. He, however,said the present Pakistan team lacks fighting spirit and blamed recentresults and continuous changes in the team for the current turmoil.The team is not winning enough. It is not consistant and therefore itlacks fighting spirit. There has been continuous changes in the teamand the captaincy. “I feel that it is time to put a stop toexperimentation. The selectors need to finalize the 15 and keep themtogether till the tournament,” he said.He said he had prepared for the 1992 World Cup in advance and thoughthere were a couple of injuries, he remained focused on what he had todo.”Captains have been changed too frequently. But I think Waqar is nowsettling down.”Imran said he still remembered World Cup success as his one of hisfinest hours. “I still remember how delighted the country was. It mademe even more prouder. I had never seen the country so united andexcited.”World Cup success was also important to me because it was my lasttournament in Pakistan colours and I was desperate to end it on a highnote. In addition to this, the victory was also crucial to ShaukatKhanum Memorial Cancer Hospital,” Imran said.Imran had announced his retirement after the 1987 World Cup. But cameout of retirement after mounting pressure from the then President, thelate General Zia-ul-Haq.Imran, who now heads a political party, said he would be more thandelighted to help Pakistan reclaim the title. He said in the recentpast, Javed Miandad and Mudassar Nazar invited him to pass on tips tofast bowlers and other cricketers.”I am ready to contribute in any way I can which can help Pakistan winthe tournament. But of course, I can’t work full-time.”The legend Sunday advised Pakistan cricketers to start believing inthemselves which he believed was the key to his success in the 1992,exactly a decade ago.”I never accept defeat. (In 1992) I was confident that we will windespite that fact that we lost three of the first five games. I hadthe conviction so it was easy for me to motivate myself and my team,”Imran said.Javed Miandad, who was the vice-captain, believed an unseen force wassupporting the team.”It was not like the infamous Maradona’s Hand of God. But there wascertainly a force that was helping us,” Miandad said. He said he stillremembers World Cup victory as his greatest achievement. “The hopeshad ended in tears in 1987. But in 1992, we avenged that loss andthere was is still no great feeling than remembering that I was partof the World Cup victory.”Miandad, who was initially dropped from the squad, said he was not fitto play in the competition. “But I was forced to jet out and join theteam. I sometimes wonder how I played the tournament,” he said.Miandad supported PCB’s decision to celebrate the success. “Historicvictories like these should be celebrated as it also boosts theconfidence of the present team.”

North Zone inflicted a crushing 237 run defeat inside three days overEast Zone in their Duleep Trophy clash at Guwahati’s North-EastFrontier Railway Stadium on Saturday. Chasing 394 for victory, Eastcrumbled for the second time in the match, submitting meekly for 156in just three hours. The victory, worth eight points, kept North Zoneat the head of the pack with 18 points from three games.After Aashish Nehra, first innings wrecker-in-chief, dismissed NikhilHaldipur in the third over, Shiv Sunder Das and Rashmi Parida compiledthe highest stand of the innings. Their 49 run association was brokenwhen Reetinder Sodhi sent back Das for 27, which turned out to be thetop score. Parida and Sanjay Raul fell soon after to leave East at71/4. The left arm spin of Rahul Sanghvi then took out Rohan Gavaskarand Sukhbinder Singh in the space of five balls.Wicket keeper Deep Dasgupta, who struck a bright 25 in 32 ballsinclusive of four boundaries, was ejected by Nehra to leave East at106/7. Utpal Chatterjee and Mihir Diwakar added 44 for the ninthwicket in a last flicker of resistance before both fell in successiveballs.Sanghvi polished off the match, packing off Mohanty for a fifth ballduck. East’s second innings had lasted all of 40.2 overs. Sanghvifinished with 4/17, the off spinner Sharandeep not being used at all.Nehra scalped three for a costly 76 runs in 15 overs, collecting matchfigures of 10/90. East stay at a lowly five points from two games.

Promoted Essex bowled themselves within sight of an innings victory in their opening CricInfo Championship game of the season against Leicestershire at Grace Road.Left-arm paceman Mark Ilott and Ricky Anderson both took four wickets as Leicestershire were bowled out for 104 in their first innings and followed-on 214 behind.The homeside’s problems continued second time around and by the close they had struggled to 62-2 off 32 overs – still trailing by 152 runs.It was a superb effort from Ilott and Anderson on a pitch that always gave them some assistance. The ball swung and seamed for much of the day but Leicestershire contributed to their own downfall with some poor shots.Iain Sutcliffe top scored with 21 but the home side lost their last eight wickets for 44 runs with Ilott taking 4-27 and Anderson 4-21.Then Ilott had Vince Wells taken by Stuart Law at slip in the fourth over of the second innings and Darren Maddy was trapped lbw by Ronnie Irani.At the start of the day Essex also suffered a batting slump, losing their last five wickets for 42 runs in 19.1 overs to be dismissed for 318. James Ormond claimed 5-71 and Devon Malcolm, on his debut, 3-54.