The honours board, the Long Room, the pavilion, the atmosphere, the food, the tradition and history all add to the aura of playing a Test at Lord’s. Seven of India’s 16-member squad have experienced the feeling, and one even has his name on the honours board. Thursday can’t come soon enough for the other nine.Sachin Tendulkar first saw Lord’s on television, the day India won the 1983 World Cup final. Four years later, he got his first real sighting while touring with the Star Cricket team, a side comprising promising junior cricketers. And in 1990, he played his first Lord’s Test and took a spectacular catch to dismiss Allan Lamb. He sprinted from long-off and, with his right hand outstretched, pulled off a low running catch in front of the sight-screen while running at top speed.When asked how special it was to play here Tendulkar said: “In 1983 I was only 10 and didn’t know what was happening. I joined the celebration and those fond memories are there. I remember visiting this ground as a 14-year old kid – we’d travelled with the Star Cricket Team. That time we’d sat next to the sight-screen and took a photo. You have big dreams and one of them was to be out there and play at Lord’s.”In 1990 [Graham] Gooch, [Robin] Smith and [Mohammad] Azharuddin got brilliant hundreds. I had one good catch and nothing else. Having heard and seen the ground so much on TV, one would like to be out there and score runs. I think it’s extremely special to be out there in the middle and I think one would want to make the most of it.Dinesh Karthik’s Lord’s debut was similar, although it was a one-dayer. He was out of place against Steve Harmison and scored 1 off 12 balls but left his mark in the field with a one-handed leg-side stumping to dismiss Michael Vaughan at a crucial juncture. “It’s a fantastic feeling to be at Lord’s and it wasgreat just to practise in the side grounds,” Karthik said. “Playing out in the centre willbe like a dream.”Sourav Ganguly arrived here in 1996 with most of India questioning his place in the side but left triumphant after a sensational hundred on debut. “The frame of mind I had in that Test, I could never have it after,” he said about the innings that launched his career. “Probably the best frame of mind I’ve had in my career. There was no nervousness, no fear of failure.”It’s an age factor. When you’re young you don’t worry about a lot of things. When you’re older, you do. I was more carefree and enjoyed the full five days of the Test match. Those five days were different. Sometimes when you’re playing well you’re happy, sometimes when you’re not playing well, you’re worried. That Test, I was not worried.”Sreesanth has been waiting for this moment since 1999, when he was here with an Under-16 side but wasn’t allowed into the ground. “I was the only person standing out that day,” he said. “I didn’t come into the field. I got to know that even if you’re a visitor you can’t go into the ground. I was standing outside the gate for nearly one-and-a-half hours when the team was inside. From that day I have been hoping to play here.”The moment I came out of the hotel, I was just waiting for the ground. The moment we reached the gate, I was waiting to see the pavilion. Then I wanted to enter the ground, then to see the pitch, to practice, to bowl. Every step has been a dream. I never thought I’ll get here. So many greats have played here. It’s very emotional. It will be nice to getthe name on the honours board.”Yet it was Mahendra Singh Dhoni, one of the nine players yet to play at this ground, who seemed to be enjoying himself the most. “A lot has been said about Lord’s from a historical point of view. I should be saying something else. I think the food is amazing and the desserts are excellent. Look, I am enjoying my ice cream. And after this discussion I am going back [for some more].”
Shoaib Malik, the Pakistan allrounder, is set to undergo a shoulder operation in South Africa next week to try to improve his suspect bowling action.”Malik’s problem is that due to those two accidents his arm tendons have become loose,” Shaharyar Khan, the chairman of the Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) told Reuters. “So when he bowls one gets the impression there is a problem with his action. The operation is being carried out to loosen his tendons so that his arm extension improves and he faces no more problems with his action.”Malik, 24, has been reported twice owing to problems caused by the after-effects of two road accidents which have limited the mobility of his arm extension. Malik was reported for his suspect action during the Paktel Cup one-day tournament in October 2004 but the Pakistan board suggested that the kink was the result of an accident which Malik suffered a year before that. Malik’s action was cleared last May after he went to South Africa to have his action tested.
Ricky Ponting has said that the result of the NatWest Series final at Lord’s has whetted his side’s appetite for the three-match NatWest Challenge one-day series, which starts on July 7. England fought back magnificently to force a tie on Saturday after being reduced to 33 for 5 while chasing 197, and Ponting claimed that his team was now eager to win back the upper hand over the next week.”With there being no result in this series, it will make us even keener to perform better in the next one,” he said. “It’s probably going to be good for the next series that this one has finished the way it has. We’ve got three games against England without Bangladesh and we’re looking forward to them.”Looking back at Saturday’s game, Ponting reckoned that a total of 196 should have been enough on a pitch where the ball bounced and seamed all day. “I felt it was a game we should have won. It was a very difficult wicket to bat on and close to 200 was a good score. I don’t think too much went wrong. We beat the bat I don’t know how many times early on when Jones and Collingwood were first in there but I thought their partnership was very good.”To have a tie in the final is a pretty fair reflection of the series. I’m disappointed we didn’t win but that’s one of the best games of one-day cricket you’ll ever see.”Michael Vaughan, meanwhile, was all praise for the sixth-wicket pair of Paul Collingwood and Geraint Jones, who put together 116 and brought England back into the game when all seemed lost. “Geraint played beautifully and Colly really hung in there. It just gave us a chance of getting close to their target. That was the pleasing thing, that we showed a lot of character when we looked like we were down and out.”For Jones, it was a return to form after a lean run with the bat – his four previous innings in the tournament had only fetched him 27 runs. “I needed some time in the middle, it was nice to spend a bit of time out there and get some runs,” he said after the match. “I knew I had to hang in there and be as patient as I could and get as close to the end with Colly as I could. That was the mindset there. It was quite an important innings in the situation of the game. We were in trouble early on but Paul and I had a great partnership there to get the team close. I’m more happy with that than anything personal.” With five catches to go with his 71 – the highest score of the match – Jones was the obvious choice for the Man-of-the-Match award.
The Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) is reportedly upset that Jagmohan Dalmiya, the president of the Indian board, held his press conference to announce the itinerary of India’s tour to Pakistan earlier than scheduled. The schedule for the tour was to be announced simultaneously by the two boards, with Dalmiya holding a press conference at 5pm IST, and Rameez Raja, PCB’s CEO, holding it at the same time, at 4.30 pm Pakistan time. (Pakistan is half-an-hour behind India.) However, Dalmiya’s press conference began at 4.40pm IST. The tour schedule was later touted in the media as a victory of the BCCI over the PCB.Speaking to the Indian Express, Rameez said: “We [Dalmiya and he] had agreed that we announce it at a promised time. But the BCCI gave out the details half-an-hour before us. I will certainly speak to Mr Dalmiya about it.”Dalmiya refused to be drawn into the matter, saying that it was a controversy created by the media. The puzzling aspect of the story, however, was that journalists in India knew a day in advance that Dalmiya’s press conference would be at 4.30pm the next day, which makes it all the more curious that the PCB did not know. The PCB, in fact, seems to have panicked to try to make their announcements before the Indian one. Agha Akbar Khan, the sports editor of the Lahore newspaper, The Nation, told The Indian Express about the confusion: “The whole event was so hurriedly organised that everything happened at the last minute. The PCB was not aware of Dalmiya’s announcements and when they got to know they sent out invites to one and all. Luckily, one of my reporters was around and could attend the briefing.”Dalmiya announcing the itinerary is a minor issue,” he concluded, “but the whole thing gives me a feeling that Indians want to show that they are in charge.”
Ex-Western Warrior Rob Baker smashed the innings of a life-time as Scarborough steamrolled Melville in the Don’t Drink and Drive Shield final.Baker struck a majestic 132 not out to take Scarborough to a comfortable seven wicket victory.Baker’s ton was all the more courageous as he has been struck down by chronic fatigue syndrome in recent times.He plays rarely for Scarborough as extended physical activity can bring on bouts of exhaustion.The day-night match was played at the WACA Ground before nearly 1000 loyal supporters.Melville captain Adam Voges won the toss and batted on a rock-hard wicket. Warrior’s one-day specialist Kade Harvey destroyed Melville’s top-order, taking 3-16 from his first six overs.Voges strode to the crease with the Storm at 3-59 in the 17th over and calmly set about saving the innings.The elegant right-hander showed why he is rated so highly by WACA selectors.Voges produced a sparkling 102 not out from 104 balls with 13 fours and a mammoth six off Kade Harvey.He shared a 65 run seventh-wicket stand with Shawn Gillies (21) that added respectability to Melville’s score.Scarborough got off to a disastrous start in their chase of 222.Paul Wilson removed the inform Clint Heron then produced the evenings biggest shock when he dismissed Test batsman Justin Langer for four.Wilson buttered up Langer with a series of wide balls before bowling a perfectly pitched delivery that saw Langer edge to keeper Andy Greig.When Harvey fell the Seagulls were 3-41 and the Storm were in with a chance.Scarborough’s keeper David Bandy had other ideas. He combined with Baker in a match-winning fourth-wicket partnership of 182.Baker carried his bat in his 138 ball innings with 19 sweetly timed boundaries.Bandy chimed in with a typically busy 73 from 102 balls.Baker was Man of the Match and thanked the Scarborough Cricket Club for supporting him through some tough times.In 27 Sheffield Shield-Pura Cup matches for WA Baker made 1168 runs at 28.49 and took 18 wickets at 42.89.In 27 domestic limited-overs matches Baker made 360 runs at 20.00 before his career was curtailed by illness.
MultiChoice Zimbabwe has just been notified that Sony will not be screeninglive coverage of the Zimbabwe v West Indies Test Cricket being played in Bulawayo from 19th to 23rd July and from the 26th to 30th July.Sony was not reachable for comment.
Tottenham find themselves navigating a challenging period as the north Londoners sit 14th in the Premier League table after an uninspiring run of form.
Manager Thomas Frank is also facing mounting scrutiny over results that have left supporters questioning whether the Danish tactician is the right man to turn things around.
The 2-1 loss against Liverpool represented Tottenham’s fifth defeat in eight Premier League matches under Frank. The contest was decisively tilted in the visitors’ favour after Xavi Simons received a first-half red card for a reckless studs-up challenge on Virgil van Dijk, which left Spurs battling for over an hour with 10 men.
The match was further marred by Cristian Romero’s stoppage-time dismissal for kicking out at Liverpool defender Ibrahima Konate.
As a result, both Simons and the Spurs captain will now miss crucial upcoming fixtures through suspension amid a congested festive fixture list.
Attention now turns to the January transfer window as Tottenham’s hierarchy prepare to back Frank, with the manager confirming they ‘will’ be in the market next month.
Unfortunately for the Lilywhites, recent developments have forced the recruitment team to reassess their primary targets following disappointment in their pursuit of Bournemouth’s Antoine Semenyo.
Tottenham officials sent to club as Spurs eye Hazard-like 'magician' after Semenyo snub
Spurs are craving a new left-winger.
ByEmilio Galantini
Media sources confirm that Tottenham have withdrawn from the race to sign Semenyo, with the 25-year-old making clear his preference to join Man City.
The Premier League title contenders are emerging as frontrunners to trigger the winger’s £65 million release clause that becomes active on January 1, with the race intensifying as clubs have just 10 days to activate it next month.
The north Londoners are identifying alternatives to Semenyo, including some left-field names like Ajax sensation Mika Godts, but the list could include Man City’s Savinho or Omar Marmoush.
Amid these evolving transfer plans and the scramble to identify suitable plan Bs to Semenyo, Tottenham must now address an internal situation too.
Tottenham defender Radu Dragusin set for January exit talks
Radu Dragusin reportedly wants to discuss his role at N17, with interest in the centre-back heating up ahead of January.
The 23-year-old has not featured for Spurs since suffering a serious anterior cruciate ligament injury back in January, which ruled him out for the remainder of last season.
In Dragusin’s period of rehab, 2025 signing Kevin Danso has impressed as a backup to first-choice partnership Romero and Micky van de Ven, with questions now surrounding his role in the team.
The Romanian made his first appearance in a matchday squad for 11 months against Liverpool, with Frank naming him on the bench to face Arne Slot’s side, but following his long-awaited return from injury, Italy could be beckoning.
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According to reporter Alessio Lento, Dragusin is attracting serious January interest from two unnamed Serie A clubs, and the former Genoa star is poised to hold showdown talks with Spurs over his future.
The defender’s situation adds another layer of complexity to Tottenham’s January planning, as they balance the urgent need for attacking reinforcements whilst maintaining adequate depth at the back.
This is particularly pressing given Romero’s suspension and the mounting injury concerns that have left Frank short of options in multiple positions.
Tottenham player could return from injury on Boxing Day after resuming full training
Former international umpire Ram Babu Gupta has died in London, aged 72. He officiated in 11 Tests and 24 ODIs from 1985 to 1990.Conveying his condolences, BCCI president Sharad Pawar said, “He was one of our best umpires ever. It is an irreplaceable loss.” Gupta remains the only Indian to have umpired a World Cup final; he stood in the 1987 final in Kolkata along with Pakistan’s Mahboob Shah.Rajan Mehra, a Test umpire during the mid-eighties, told the , “Gupta made remarkable progress as an umpire. I was his senior but always admired his officiating. He was very popular and quite a competent umpire. He was known to make fewer mistakes.”Gupta also officiated in the famous Chepauk Test in 1988 when legspinner Narendra Hirwani took 16 wickets against West Indies on his debut. Gupta’s last international appearance was in a one-dayer in Sharjah in May 1990.He was also president of the Delhi District Cricket Association for one year and served as its treasurer for eight years.
The tussle for control of the Board of Control for Cricket in India has taken an interesting turn with the possibility of certain north Indian cricket associations nominating Jagmohan Dalmiya for the post of chairman, in case Sharad Pawar, a cabinet minister in the present government, decides to contest.The entire episode reeks of political machination, and the reports that the associations might take the extreme step in order to stymie Pawar and exploit a loophole in the BCCI rules. Though Dalmiya will shortly complete his third term – he has already been elevated to patron-in-chief, even if opponents have taken that to court – which makes him ineligible to stand for election again, the interested associations are planning to make use of a clause which states that he can be nominated from another zone.Thus far, Dalmiya had been east zone nominee. And according to a BCCI executive quoted in the , “This hasn’t been the convention, but there are no rules forbidding Dalmiya from being a north zone nominee.”Pawar, who has served on various sporting bodies over the past three decades, has been consulting his advisors on a course of action, with the BCCI meeting scheduled for September 29 in Kolkata. He is currently president of the Mumbai Cricket Association, and his desire to contest for the top post has been seen in some quarters as an attempt to thwart Arun Jaitley, president of the Delhi and District Cricket Association, who happens to be on the other side of the political divide.Either way, Dalmiya’s influence over Indian cricket is unlikely to wane anytime soon.
Shivnarine Chanderpaul may have stepped down as West Indies captain, but he continues to play a key leadership role. That’s the early assessment from Brian Lara, the new captain, who also feels there are a few players in the team capable to taking over the mantle.”Shiv [Chanderpaul] has come back in a great manner. He is there fully supportive,” Lara said. “Even though he has resigned his position, I still think he is taking on a leadership role, which is great. That itself is a plus for West Indies cricket.”Chanderpaul was appointed captain last year in circumstances that virtually gave him the job by default. On resigning his position last month, he pointed to wanting to concentrate on his batting.While Lara was appointed captain for a third time, the West Indies Cricket Board opted not to name a vice-captain for the one-day against Zimbabwe. In the event that that Lara has to leave the field, he will identify a player to take over, but he reiterates that the matter over an official No. 2 will resolve itself. “I feel there are two or three guys who can actually go out there and do a decent job in case I have to leave the field or in case I am missing a match for whatever reason,” Lara said. “It is not a situation that we should beat over its head. It’s going to handle itself.”What West Indians want is that the next person who takes over this team, be it tomorrow or in a year’s time, is the right person for the job and somebody we can depend on to lead West Indies into a bright future.”Lara also spoke of his relationship with Bennett King, the coach, against the background that Chanderpaul had complained that in his tenure as captain, he was restricted because of “inside” influence.”My short stint with him [King] this time around has been something of all the heads coming together and deciding on how we’ll move forward,” Lara said. “In any committee there is going to be debate and that is always very going to be healthy. He’s been welcome to that.”I think he knows that with the likes of Joey Carew, Gordon Greenidge and Clyde Butts, he has people who know their cricket and knows West Indies cricket, people who he can depend on for sound advice.”