Redbacks squads announced for first matches of 2002/03

The South Australian Cricket Association (SACA) has named a fourteen-mansquad for the first cricket matches of the season to be held at AdelaideOval.The squad, for both the first Pura Cup and ING Cup matches, sees newcomersMark Higgs and John Davison named in the line-up, with Greg Blewett ascaptain.Completing the squad are Nathan Adcock, Chris Davies, Shane Deitz, DavidFitzgerald, Ryan Harris, Mark Harrity, Ben Johnson, Graham Manou, MichaelMiller, Paul Rofe and Michael Smith.The fourteen-man squad will be narrowed to twelve, subject to matchconditions.SACA’s Cricket Operations Manager, Mr Harvey Jolly, said the squad is thestrongest in South Australia for some time and is confident the team willopen the season on a positive note.”The State squad has had an excellent pre-season, with many of the playersgetting in valuable practice during Grade games last weekend. The playersare looking fit and sharp, and we are confident of a positive start to thenew season.”The first Pura Cup match, against the Victorian Bushrangers, runs fromTuesday, October 15 to October 18, with the ING Cup match, also against theBushrangers, on Saturday, October 19.The Pura Cup games starts at 10.30am, with gates opening at 9.30am, ticketsare $6 for adults and $2 for children.The ING Cup match is a day game, with play starting at 9.30am and gatesopening at 8.30am. Tickets are $8 for adults and $2 for children.Tickets can be purchased at the gates.

Darren Gough to continue rehab at ECB National Academy

The England team management today announced that Darren Gough is to fly tothe ECB National Academy in Adelaide tonight to continue his rehabilitationfrom a long-term knee injury.Gough will undergo intensive treatment at the Academy and also see a kneespecialist later this week for a further assessment of the injury that haskept him out of competitive cricket since mid-July.The 32-year-old Yorkshire pace-bowler reported swelling and discomfort inhis knee yesterday after bowling two separate spells in the nets at BorderField on Saturday.With the Durham pace bowler, Stephen Harmison, also suffering fromshin-splints, England have decided to call-up Surrey’s Alex Tudor from theECB National Academy Squad and he will join up with the Test Squad inBrisbane later tonight.England Coach, Duncan Fletcher, said: “Darren had been making good progressin his recovery from injury and it’s very frustrating for him and the teamthat he should suffer a setback at this stage.”He has done everything that we have asked in terms of conditioning andstrengthening work and we were hoping that he could play grade cricket thisweekend. But our priority now is to ensure that he gets intensive 1-1treatment for his injury and expert medical advice.”At this stage, we can’t put a time-frame on Darren’s recovery and we willhave to wait for further guidance from the specialist as to the extent ofhis involvement in the rest of the winter tour programme.”Darren Gough said: “It’s very disappointing as I felt that I was nearlythere with my recovery and ready to start playing again. What I want to donow is work hard at the Academy and give myself the best possible chance ofgetting myself fit again for the remainder of the winter.”

Cidermen slip further into the relegation zone after innings defeat by Sussex

Somerset slipped further into the Division One relegation zone at Taunton today when they were beaten by Sussex by an innings, with one day to spare.The overnight pair on Robin Martin Jenkins and Mark Davis took the Sussex overnight score of 522 for 7 onto 642 before Davis was dismissed, and 2 runs later they were all out.Facing the daunting challenge of needing to score 374 to make Sussex bat again, the Cidermen got off to the worst possible of starts, losing Jamie Cox without a run on the board.Matt Wood followed with the score on 23, and by lunch Somerset had reached 63 for 2, with Mike Burns not out 26 and Peter Bowler unbeaten on 20.Immediately after the break Somerset lost Bowler for 20, and Keith Parsons without scoring, and at 64 for 4 appeared to be in trouble.Burns and Blackwell came together and seemed to recover the situation, but on 98 Burns was unlucky to miss out on his century when he was caught off the bowling of Davis, and Somerset were 191 for 5.After the tea interval Blackwell became the dominating force in the Somerset innings but despite his 114, and another rearguard action from the lower order batsmen,Matt Bulbeck (22) and Steffan Jones, who ended unbeaten on 37 they were eventually all out for 373, to give Sussex victory by an innings and one run.At the end of the day Somerset coach Kevin Shine told me: "We are very disappointed with this result and all round this was a poor team display. To get bowled out for 270 we needed to claw it back but it just didn’t happen and we didn’t bowl in the right spot.If we had batted as well as we have been then we thought that we could make it safe , but after being 64 for 4 we were always struggling."He continued: "All credit to them they stuck to their game plan and were very disciplined, and deserve to get their 20 points."

Sussex put in to bat hit 399-3 by close

At 10:00 am when the captains went out to the middle to toss, the weather was overcast and a little muggy. Robin Smith chose correctly and taking the conditions into account decided to bat. By 10:30 am, the clouds had cleared and the sun shone brightly. At 399-3, Robin now wonders why the gods have it in for him.Hampshire welcomed back Alan Mullally and Nic Pothas after injury, and gave a Hampshire first class debut to Jimmy Adams.To be fair to the Sussex weather, the Hampshire bowlers did not bowl very well in the morning session, and Zimbabwean Murray Goodwin and Richard Montgomerie took advantage of that and the improved conditions.Goodwin in particular was in top form, taking advantage of the short boundary at the members side he pulled and cut his way to a century just after lunch before finally Dimitri Mascarenhas caught him lbw.Montgomerie who was battling against a bad run of form, scratched around at the start, but he was there at the end 168 not out, his confidence improved especially after his century, striking 9 fours in a row.Tony Cottey sayed with Montgomerie for a 71 run partnership, before he edged Johnson to wicket-keeper Pothas, he was given out after the umpires consulted over whether the ball carried.The Hampshire bowlers toiled, but got their third wicket (and their first bonus point) when the dangerous looking Chris Adams was superbly caught by Shaun Udal off his own bowling.All in all a bad day at the office for Hampshire, and puts them even more unlikely to avoid the relegation bottom three.

Kent, Glamorgan and Essex enjoy Championship victories

In Division One of the Frizzell County Championship, there was just an outside chance that Yorkshire, having been forced to play second fiddle to Kent throughout the match, might just have been able to conjure up a result against the run of play. That would have needed Richard Blakey to press on beyond his century, but he fell for 90 and Yorkshire could only add 23 to their overnight total. There were five wickets for Martin Saggers. Even so, set 168 to win, Kent lost six wickets in reaching their target.Only 11 overs were possible at Old Trafford in the match between Lancashire and Sussex which was therefore consigned to a draw. It was the same story at Taunton where the players did not even manage to get on the field.At Edgbaston, Hampshire batted out time for a draw. Neil Johnson was 74 not out at the close as Warwickshire’s bowlers failed to break through to achieve the win that looked likely when Hampshire were forced to follow on.In Division Two, Glamorgan completed a five-wicket win over Durham at Cardiff. Set 201 to win, captain Steve James led them home with 121 before his was fifth out when his side was just two runs short of their target.John Stephenson, who only played for Essex because of injuries to other bowlers, took seven for 44 as Worcestershire were bowled out for 140 in their second innings. That left Essex 135 to win and, despite one or two scares along the way, they got home with five wickets in hand.

Lincolnshire on top after day 1 at Grantham

Lincolnshire won the toss & batted. Jason Harrison & Richard Howitt made asolid start before the first wicket fell at 39, Harrison trying to pull wascaught by Amin off the bowling of Stanway for 19.Howitt was joined by Dobson & a partnership of 148 saw Lincolnshire in a dominating position when Dobson was run out for a fine 87. Wickets continued to fall until Howitt was joined by skipper Mark Fell producing a partnership of 90 runs with Fell scoring 62 off 40 balls.Lincolnshire declared in the 97th over with the score on 373 for 7 withHowitt undefeated on 153.Buckinghamshire had ten overs to face & lost 2 early wicket before raininterrupted procedures with 3 overs remaining in the day leaving Bucks on 8for 2 wickets.

Shine, Anderson react to Benson and Hedges exit

The Benson and Hedges quarter final defeat at the hands of Yorkshire was a "massive disappointment to all of the players" Somerset coach Kevin Shine said. "With no cricket for the next few days the players have got time off to go away and relax." He went on: "over the next few weeks Somerset have a huge schedule of matches, all of which are away from Taunton."During June Somerset play four vitally important County Championship matches and four National League matches. If the Cidermen are to retain their high-flying position at the top of the CricInfo Championship they will be hoping to gain substantial points from the match at Leicester starting on May 30th, whilst they will be looking to kick start their Norwich Union challenge by gaining revenge for the defeat they suffered at the hands of Kent when the travel to Tunbridge Wells on June 3rd.”It’s most important that the players put their disappointment aside and focus on the next series of matches. It’s crucial that we get back to our winning ways" said Kevin. "The return to fitness of Matt Bulbeck and Richard Johnson are huge plusses for the team, and will enable us to choose from almost our full strength squad. We will be looking to put out our best side for each game. Richard Johnson is likely to have final tests before the Leicester game on Wednesday and if he comes through then he will play. If not he will wait another game, he’s too valuable to risk."Regarding Matt Bulbeck he said: "Matt is a first class bowler and we should be getting him playing first class cricket. He’s performed well for the Seconds and in the Academy games but he’s a first team player. He’s fit for selection and has the quality that we would like to add to the attack. Now it’s up to Jamie."Two other players who are also back in contention for the team on Wednesday are teenager Peter Trego and Mark Lathwell who both performed well in the 4 day Championship match against Kent. "Both Trego and Lathwell will be in the "shake up" for the Leicester game," the coach added.Meanwhile after a few days of reflection, during which time he had spoken to Captain Jamie Cox, Coach Kevin Shine and Chairman of Cricket Vic Marks, Chief Executive Peter Anderson said: "Once again in front of a full house at Taunton we gave an uninspired performance. Did we play poorly or did Yorkshire play brilliantly? The truth lies somewhere between the two."He went on: "For Yorkshire Michael Vaughan and Darren Lehmann were brilliant, whilst collectively and individually nobody from Somerset stood up to be counted when it mattered. All we can do now is to continue to prepare in the way that we have done, which is professional."Were there going to be any changes? "Both the captain and the coach are reassessing their selection policy and the way we line up the batting side,"he said.He pointed out however: "All is not lost. It must be remembered that we finished top of our Bensons group, and this year qualified for the quarter final stages whereas last year we didn’t even qualify, and we are currently top of the County Championship table."Mr Anderson concluded: "Unfortunately we haven’t performed well at home, which is disappointing. I have every sympathy with our loyal home supporters who have not seen Somerset at their best this season."Meanwhile, after reading and reflecting upon the recently-published Condon Report into corruption in cricket, Peter Anderson made the following comments."As Lord Condon says in his report he hasn’t got any powers to investigate offences that have taken place in any other country. All he can do is liaise with them and try to assess how widespread the process is in that particular country. His report shows that in each and every country allegations have been made about the influence of bookmakers trying to fix cricket matches. The conclusions in the Condon report contain common sense interim measures aimed at helping cricket todeal with the situation.”There is no escaping the responsibility of those who play international cricket. They only have one question to ask themselves , "Am I bent or not?” It’s that simple. What people have to do is to stop thinking of being "Jack the Lad" and that I’m only committing a disciplinary offence. What they are involved in is a crime, a conspiracy to cheat, with cheat being the operative word.I’ve been at Somerset since 1989 and as far as domestic English cricket is concerned I haven’t seen any sign of this either on or off the field, or any disproportionate wealth to suggest that bookmakers are having an undue influence on the game."

UCB suspends EP board member

The United Cricket Board of South Africa received yesterday (Friday 19 April2002) a report from Michael Kuper, SC, on a disciplinary hearing which hechaired on 10 April 2002 to hear a charge of misconduct against EasternProvince Cricket Board board member Rajan Moodaley.Mr Moodalay has been found guilty of contravening clauses 1.5.1 and 1.5.2 ofthe Rules and Code of Conduct of the United Cricket Board of South Africa.Those clauses state:”PARTICIPANTS shall not engage in -1.5.1 Acts of misconduct, or unruly behaviour or commitany criminal offence whilst participating in or about to or havingparticipated in a REGULATED MATCH and whilst within the precincts of theground at which the REGULATED MATCH is played, or1.5.2 Unbecoming or detrimental conduct which could bringthem, the BOARD or the game of cricket into disrepute.”The charges arose from a claim by Mr Moodaley, who is the chairman of theEastern Province Scorers Association, for a fee for acting as a scorer inthe One-Day International at St George’s Park on 17 October 2001 and as amedia scorer for the 2nd Test match between India and South Africa at StGeorge’s Park from 16-20 November 2001. Mr Moodaley was paid an amount ofR4 800.00 by the South African Cricket Scorers Association (SACSA) inrespect of emails received from Mr Moodaley in which he set out the list ofscorers who had officiated in the respective matches for the purpose ofobtaining payment for those scorers. In those emails, Mr Moodaley hadincluded himself as a scorer, although this was subsequently found not to bethe case as he had not officiated as a scorer at either match.Mr Moodaley was found guilty of contravening both clauses of the Code ofConduct.”This conduct is a serious lapse in the integrity of a person occupying avery senior position in cricket administration. It compromises the financialprobity of the UCB and puts the administration of cricket in a poor light.As such, it cannot be condoned and it is important that the UCB is seen totake a strong stand in cases like this,” said Mr Kuper in his report.Mr Moodaley has been disqualified from holding any office in cricketadministration including umpiring and scoring for a period of one year fromthe date of the report, after which time he may, if he wishes, apply forreinstatement to the Eastern Province Cricket Union, which will then decidein consultation with the UCB the terms and conditions which are to apply toany such reinstatement.In addition, Mr Moodaley is to repay SACSA the amount of R4 800.00 withinthree months, failing which the disqualification referred to above willendure for three years. (This does not prejudice the right of SACSA or theUCB to sue for the money if it is not paid.)Media EnquiriesBronwyn WilkinsonCommunications Director083-212-8255

Mark Waugh ton scripts Aussie victory

The fact that anything can happen at any time is both the greatness and drawback of limited overs cricket. There is little weightage for form, for confidence or for the past. What happens on the day is the only thing that decides the outcome. The second limited overs international between India and Australia played at the Jawaharlal Nehru Stadium in Pune on Wednesday saw the visitors completely outplay India and coast to an eight wicket victory.The ever so elegant Mark Waugh, who signaled his return to form with two half centuries in the final Test at Chennai made an impeccable unbeaten 133, taking Australia to a comfortable victory. Notching up his 18th one-day century, Mark Waugh is now behind only Saeed Anwar (19) and Sachin Tendulkar (26) in the all time list of century makers. There are few people as unfussy and elegant when in form as Mark Waugh. Tendulkar gives the ball a hard thump, Brian Lara shuffles a lot in his crease but Mark Waugh is simple, precise and a treat towatch. Even the New South Welshman’s detractors would have to grant that. Scoring 133 of the finest runs, Mark Waugh struck the ball to the fence 15 times and cleared the ropes once.But it was not all Mark Waugh. Matthew Hayden, still hungry for runs, continued to milk India at the top of the order. Despite coming out to the crease with a target of 249, Hayden was calm as ever and went about his task of gathering runs with consummate ease. In the company of Mark Waugh, Hayden made 57 (116 mins, 81 balls, 5 fours, 1 six) and put on 143 for the opening wicket. Despite a mix up and run out of Darren Lehmann just 20 runs later, Australia made it home with almost five overs to spare. Michael Bevan, not out on 33 was at the crease when the winning runs were scored.Earlier in the day, when Sourav Ganguly won the toss he had no doubt in his mind that batting first was the right thing to do. Even the fact that the wicket appeared to be dry and looked like it had spots on it did not deter the Indian skipper. Hemang Badani, batting at number five, relished the captain’s decision. Helping himself to his maiden one-day international century, Badani scored at better than run a ball and held the Indian innings together.Then again, the Tamil Nadu southpaw had to produce a big innings. Involved in two run outs, Badani would have been keen to push the Indian score on. Stroking the ball around the park in characteristic fashion, Badani looked calm and composed even as things fell to pieces around him. Ganguly’s woeful form with the bat continued into the second limited overs game. Spending half an hour at the wicket, Ganguly made just 4 before dragging a ball from Glenn McGrath backonto his wicket. Sachin Tendulkar, in aggressive form once more, made a quick 32 (35 mins, 29 balls, 6 fours, 1 six) before mistiming a short ball from Damien Fleming to be caught by Darren Lehmann in the midwicket region.VVS Laxman and Rahul Dravid then attempted to replicate their joint efforts, employed so successfully in the past in this series but failed. In the first of three mix ups in the innings, Dravid (13) was run out. Laxman then settled into a good rhythm and in the company of the fluent Badani went about the task of rebuilding the innings. The pair managed to add 93 for the fourth wicket before Laxman was run out by Steve Waugh in another mix up. When Badani played the ball to Steve Waugh in the 35th over, Laxman (51, 86 balls, 3 fours) set off for a single without waiting for a call. Scrambling to get back home, Laxmanwas found short by Steve Waugh’s throw. Dinesh Mongia making his debut in one-day cricket did not last long, making just two before finding himself at the wrong end of yet another run out.At the fall of Mongia’s wicket, India were 157/5 off 36.1 overs and a score of around 220 looked likely. Showing great maturity, Badani raised the bar. After seeing that 200 was a reality, Badani went on to tame the bowling, although his innings was not excessively dominant. Badani’s innings seldom are, the manner in which he held out against both pace and spin made him a thorn in Australia’s flesh. When he finally holed out to Lehmann in the deep, Badani had made exactly 100 (142 mins, 98 balls, 10 fours, 2 sixes). India ended with 248/9 offtheir 50 overs, much more than what looked likely halfway through the innings.

A soggy draw in Swansea

The final day of Glamorgan`s Championship match with Kent at Swanseaeventually began at 3.50pm after another morning of continuous rain and apersistant sea fret. Both teams had patiently waited in the Swanseapavilion, hoping that the mizzle would lift in mid-afternoon, and with bonuspoints at a premium, both captains were eager for the chance to secure afurther point.As on the previous three days, the shroud of mist slowly lifted as the tidewent out in Swansea Bay, and in the 16 overs that were possible, both teamswere duly rewarded for their patience, each picking up a further batting andbowling point.Glamorgan resumed on 177-8, with Darren Thomas and Dean Cosker initiallythwarting Kent`s hopes of a third bowling point. Their partnership hadreached 36 as Darren Thomas guided Ben Trott to the third man boundary toput the Welsh county in sight of their first batting point. But in the nextover, Cosker was bowled off his thigh pad as he tried to fend off a shortball from Saggers.Eight balls later, Darren Thomas saw the Welsh county to their first battingpoint with a pull for two off Trott, and then with the doughty support oflast man Steve Watkin, Thomas then set about seeing the Welshmen to what hadseemed at first the unlikely prospect of a second batting point.Thomas duly became the top scorer in the Glamorgan innings when he straightdrove Trott to the sightscreen, before Watkin guided the ball to theunguarded third man boundary. Watkin repeated the stroke on two otheroccasions to take their partnership to 40, but then Thomas chipped Flemingto backward square leg where Robert Key took a chest high catch.There were 13 overs remaining as the players took to the field again, butbefore another ball could be bowled, the rain and mist descended again, andthe game ended in a soggy draw.In all, over 200 overs were lost in this, the first of three games whichform this year`s Swansea Festival. The loss of so much play was a hugedisappointment for the cricketing folk of south-west Wales, and inparticular the St.Helen’s Balconiers who have worked so hard over thewinter months to organise the Festival.After three days of thick low cloud, steady drizzle and a dank sea fret,there was hardly anything festive about the conditions at the historicSt.Helen`s ground. However, the weather forecasters are more optimistic aboutconditions for the rest of the week, so hopefully the loyal supporters willbe rewarded for their hard work with a prompt start to the Championshipmatch against Yorkshire at this ground on Wednesday.After so many blank days, they will be eager to get back out into themiddle, none more so than captain Steve James, who missed the openingfortnight of the season after a knee operation. So far in 2001, theGlamorgan opener has had just one Championship innings, in which he scored asingle, and he will be hoping to take his seasonal aggregate into threefigures with a more lengthy stay at the crease against Yorkshire.It was not that long ago that county batsmen at the start of each seasonaimed to join the small and illustrious group of players who had scored1 000 runs in first-class cricket by the start of June. Graeme Hick was thelast batsman to reach this landmark, back in 1988, but if the weatherpatterns of the past fortnight are repeated in the years to come, there is achance that no other county batsman will ever reach this milestone again.