Friday, February 14, 2003:::
“It just requires a few deliveries for a bloke like Tendulkar to get into the groove and we have played him enough in the past to know what a great player he is. We are most worried about him.” Ricky Ponting, ahead of the Australia-India clash
Source: Mid-Day, India”It has been a difficult period of my life and again I can only apologise. I don’t want to be branded a racist and those people who know me know I’m not. All I can say is that it won’t happen again, I can promise you that.” Darren Lehmann
Source: The Star, South Africa”Everybody is here to win the cup, Kenya included. Our main aim was to try and get into the Super Six and that is still our aim.” Kenyan captain Steve Tikolo, after his side’s drubbing by South Africa
Source: Allafrica.comTuesday, February 11, 2003:::
“I still can’t believe that we qualified. In Guyana, I had to go on five or six television programs just to let people know where Canada stood as a cricket nation because nobody could believe that Canada made the World Cup.” Canadian cricketer Nicholas Degroot
Source: The Globe and Mail, Canada”For us, things are clear on the Zimbabwe issue: unless we are told otherwise by the Australian Cricket Board (ACB) or the International Cricket Council (ICC), we are expecting to go to Bulawayo for our match and that is all there is to it.” Matthew Hayden
Source: The Daily Telegraph, UK”I have never taken any performance-enhancing drugs or intend to do so. I am sorry this had to happen, but I wish the team all the best. I was shocked because I’ve never taken performance-enhancing drugs. I am proud to be in the shape I’m now but that’s nothing to do with drugs. It’s all due to my own hard work.” Shane Warne, in a press conference, after pulling out of the World Cup following a positive drug test
Source: Rediff.com

India v Namibia:Dinesh Mongia (IND) needs 128 runs to complete 1000 ODI runs
Javagal Srinath (IND) needs 118 runs to complete 1000 ODI runs
Anil Kumble (IND) needs 158 runs to complete 1000 ODI runsSaurav Ganguly (IND) 80 runs to complete 500 World Cup runsWest Indies v Canada:Carl Hooper (WI) needs 8 wickets to join the 200 ODI-wickets clubBrian Lara (WI) needs 128 runs to complete 1000 World Cup runs
Shivnarine Chanderpaul (WI) needs 90 runs to complete 500 World Cup runsCarl Hooper (WI) needs 8 wickets to join the 25 World Cup wicket-club

Zimbabwe cricket continues to struggle for survival at the top level. The retirement of Andy Flower decimates the team for a start, while Henry Olonga and Guy Whittall were both forced to retire for various reasons. Since our last issue Alistair Campbell has also announced his retirement.CONTENTS

• Sharjah: Zimbabwe v Pakistan – scorecard and assessment
• Guy Whittall: interview, part 2
• Andy Flower – biography, first-class record, Test record, ODI record
• National League semi-finals
• PG Timbers Vigne Cup semi-final
• Letters

Campbell explained that his hand had been forced by the selectors, having been told that he would not be considered for either Sharjah or the England tour. The convener of selectors, Ali Shah, said that the reason was the player’s attitude, that he had failed to attend practices or excuse himself both during and after the World Cup.Campbell promised us an interview before departing with Guy Whittall to take part in the double-wicket competition in the West Indies, as replacements for Heath Streak and Grant Flower who were called up to Sharjah at short notice. Unfortunately, phone calls made at the appropriate time received no answer, so that has not been possible. It is disappointing that both he and Shah should blame each other for lack of communication about the matter. Zimbabwe cricket needs players and administrators to take the initiative in solving problems.On Thursday Zimbabwe played a new-look Pakistan side in Sharjah. They lost convincingly but at least were not humiliated, except perhaps when Pakistan hit 70 runs off the final four overs of their innings. Perhaps it was as good as could be expected. It was mainly the experienced Pakistani players – Rashid Latif, Abdur Razzaq and Younis Khan – who did the damage. The best performances for Zimbabwe were a fifty from Doug Marillier, opening the innings, and good bowling by Heath Streak, who however did his team no favours by refusing to bat himself until victory was impossible. An assessment of that match is included.This week we pay tribute to the great career of Andy Flower. His biography has been updated, as have his detailed career records in first-class, Test and one-day cricket.Next week the Logan Cup starts up again, suspended since October. Matches begin next Friday, and we include news from the four provinces ahead of those games. There are three more rounds, which will take us to the end of April and the tour to England.

The Australian cricket team has been winning almost every match over the last four years and came to the 8th World Cup in southern Africa as pre-tournament favourites. At the end of it they went home with the trophy, retaining it without losing a single match.Ricky Ponting, who took over captaincy from legendary Steve Waugh last year, led his team from the front in an attacking and inspirational manner, as his team became the first in history to win the World Cup for the third time.They outplayed every opposition they came up against and in every department of the game too, certainly the deserved winners. No matter the toss was won or lost, no matter batted first or bowled first – whatever they did was to perfection and not left to chance. They approached every game with a gung-ho attitude and reaped the harvest.The Australians started off their World Cup campaign under the most trying conditions – just before their first game against Pakistan, champion spinner Shane Warne was sent back home after failing a drug test. Most other teams would not have coped and probably faltered but not the Aussies. They showed tremendous mental strength as they came into the Pakistan game as if nothing had happened, it was `business as usual’ for them.Even when they were in a spot of bother, reduced to 146-5 in the 30th over they never gave up. Andrew Symonds, lucky to be at the Aussie squad in first place, stood up and scored a magnificent 143 not out to lead the charge as Australia accumulated a mammoth 310-8. Next their bowlers got into the act and despite a late Pakistan assault bowled them out for 228 to win by 82 runs.Similarly, in the final against India, they lost both openers after a good start and could have lost more wickets but skipper Ponting and batsman Damien Martyn first made sure there were no further losses. After playing themselves in, both went on a rampage and belted the Indian bowling to every nook and cranny of the Wanderers to pile up a monstrous 359-2, Ponting ending with 140 and Martyn on 88. In every time of trouble, one or other Australian player stood tall to help his team in the most appropriate manner.Another aspect of Australian victories was they excelled in both batting and bowling rather than depending on just one department. Batters did their job and the bowlers did their job. The latter proved, once again, to be the best in the business. Even after losing two main weapons in Shane Warne and Jason Gillespie they never showed the smallest chink in their armour as solace to oppositions.It is often said a genuine fast bowling attack can make captaincy so much easier and Ricky Ponting will be the first one to agree with this. Both Glenn McGrath and Brett Lee were simply brilliant and Andy Bichel, coming in for Gillespie, took wickets in a heap and never let the team feel his absence. Most impressive was Brett Lee, the New South Welshman, in the best form of his life to take 22 wickets bowling with utmost fire and pace.All critics agree Australia is indeed one of the best if not the best team in history. The outstanding successes achieved recently suggest that Ricky Ponting is a marvellously astute captain. I would stress this side is so good it really does not need a captain at all!Nearly all players are thinking cricketers; they foresee every move to be made and where to field, how to bat and where to bowl according to the situation. They have gelled well as cohesive unit, which makes them an even stronger opposition. There were so signs of rivalry or tension in them unlike some other teams and each player backed the other as if they were brothers.The Aussies also figured out their opposition players extremely well by focusing on a batsman’s weakness or targeting a weak fielder, extracting mistakes through the added pressure. Their other philosophy was ‘attack being the best form of defence’. Even if the chips were down like in the Super Six match against New Zealand and in the semi-final against Sri Lanka when bowled out for comparatively low scores, they came out to bowl all guns blazing and blasted them with an attacking and positive game plan.The merit of any teams performance must be judged against the strengths and weaknesses of the opposition. This applies to players as well when assessing their records, be they batsmen, bowlers or wicketkeepers. Many a false reputation has been achieved against weaker opponents!The acid test of greatness comes when a team must face awkward situations, strong opposition, and especially if a team has some precious players missing.Thus, this Australian team has every right in the world to be called great. Indeed, they are a cut above the rest and are in a league of their own.This World Cup was just a start and as their coach John Buchanan has said ‘we can still improve’; they surely will make life for others more difficult. So it may be best to wish the best of luck to the others in coming years.

In the maroon corner, the man with centuries in each of his last five home Tests against Australia. In the baggy green, the man who has dismissed his opponent on 13 occasions in Test cricket, almost twice as often as any other player. Without question, the third Test between West Indies and Australia will be dominated by the contest between two men, Brian Lara and Glenn McGrath.It would be stretching credulity to suggest that Australia have missed McGrath, who flew home ahead of the series after his wife fell ill, and returned midway through the second Test. With the Frank Worrell Trophy in the bag, a series whitewash is looming large against a team that fielded only three frontline bowlers in Trinidad and has seemingly abandoned the art of wicket-taking.But in the absence of his nemesis, Lara has run amok, scoring 349 runs in four innings with inimitable panache. While he and Ramnaresh Sarwan were chiselling towards their final-day target at Port-of-Spain, Australia’s 2003 Test record was in danger of reading: played three, lost two.The Lara factor is the one reason why Australia are taking nothing for granted in the bowling department. For the first time since the Perth Test of 1991-92, when Shane Warne was an international toddler, they are set to take the field with four seamers, which means a reprieve for the usual fall-guy in such situations, Andy Bichel, whose superlative year continued with three important wickets in the afternoon session in Trinidad.Stuart MacGill is certain to be retained, after picking up ten wickets in the recent match against the University of West Indies, so Australia will once again rely on the six batsmen who have rustled up the small matter of 1264 runs for the loss of 14 wickets so far this series. Steve Waugh, who wasn’t even required to bat in the last match, has probably relished Lara’s challenge more than anyone. As he said after the Ashes, "It’s all a bit easy these days".All the same, there were some concerns about McGrath’s lack of match fitness after he picked up three wickets in a gentle warm-up against the University XI. "He’s a fair way behind where he would like to be," said Waugh. "He’s gradually getting better, but he’s still short of a bowl, there’s no doubt about that. He’s got to trust himself and we’ve got to trust him that he’s bowled the right amount of overs. But he’s a great performer and he’ll lift for the Test match.”It may be a sign of the times, but Waugh’s greatest concerns were reserved for the state of the opposition, in particular their lack of bowling penetration. “The wickets have been really slow and it’s a major problem over here for cricket in the Caribbean," said Waugh. "They’re not going to produce any quick bowlers if they keep putting pitches out like that. There’s no encouragement for them; it’s too much hard work."The trio of Merv Dillon, Pedro Collins and Vasbert Drakes, backed up by David Bernard’s ineffectual seamers, were roundly criticised for their lack of incisiveness at Trinidad, and it seems certain that Jermaine Lawson, who missed that match with chickenpox, will be drafted in to give the attack a little more oomph. Tino Best, on his home ground, will make his debut, as will 21-year-old offspinner Omari Banks. Carlton Baugh is also retained after Ridley Jacobs failed to recover from the groin strain he picked up in the first Test. But cosmetic changes will have little impact on Australia’s relentless run machines.As always, West Indies’ best chance of avoiding defeat will come from Australia’s eagerness to force victory – it is 18 months and 16 Tests since Australia were last involved in a draw. In an age where the follow-on has been put out to pasture, Lara and Sarwan – and the sturdy Daren Ganga – will await the size of their fourth-innings run-chase with interest.TeamsWest Indies 1 Chris Gayle, 2 Daren Ganga, 3 Ramnaresh Sarwan, 4 Brian Lara (capt), 5 Shivnarine Chanderpaul, 6 Marlon Samuels, 7 Omari Banks, 8 Carlton Baugh, 9 Vasbert Drakes, 10 Jermaine Lawson, 11 Tino Best.Australia (probable) 1 Matthew Hayden, 2 Justin Langer, 3 Ricky Ponting, 4 Darren Lehmann, 5 Steve Waugh (capt), 6 Adam Gilchrist (wk), 7 Andy Bichel, 8 Brett Lee, 9 Jason Gillespie, 10 Stuart MacGill, 11 Glenn McGrath.

Hampshire Hawks retain the same 12 that lost at Beckenham on Monday evening when they meet the Essex Eagles at The Rose Bowl on Wednesday (5.30pm).”We are in a very strong group” said Paul Terry, “we need to win these next three matches to reach the Semi Final, so tonights game is vital”.Hawks team: James Hamblin, Derek Kenway, Simon Katich, Dimitri Mascarenhas, John Crawley, Will Kendall, Wasim Akram, Shaun Udal, Nic Pothas, Alan Mullally, Ed Giddins, Lawrence Prittipaul

The Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) has pardoned Rashid Latif after he wrote a letter to the ICC complaining about "fancy fixing", a form of matchfixing that he implied still goes on. Latif has met Tauqir Zia, PCB’s president, and Rameez Raja, their chief executive, and has apologised for bypassing their authority in writing to the ICC.At a press conference in Lahore on Monday, Rameez said: "The PCB is right behind Rashid Latif about his meeting with ICC Anti-Corruption Unit … We know that Rashid was the [original] whistle-blower and has never kept quiet or minced words when it came to corruption in the sport. So on that part we are satisfied and have no problems because he has only aired his views without accusing any player or citing any specific match."But, Rameez added, "the other problem is that he has gone public. Now that is a clear violation of his contractual obligations. He wrote to us last week in which he has apologised and promised that he would never make public statements."Rameez went on to clarify that "Rashid Latif is and will remain Pakistan captain and there is no change in his status."

Day 2 Close South Africans 342 for 5 (Rudolph 83, Gibbs 79, Smith 79, Kirsten 75) lead India A 319 (Jaffer 90, Gambhir 64) by 23 runsThe South African top order made ideal use of the superb batting conditions at Arundel, amassing 342 for 5 at close of play on the second day, a first-innings lead of 23. The first four batsmen all got starts, but like the Indians, failed to notch a hundred, falling between scores of 75 and 83. Aavishkar Salvi’s two wickets in the last 20 minutes of play gave the India A team some cause for cheer, but the day belonged to the South Africans.The biggest beneficiary from this outing was Herschelle Gibbs, who returned to form after struggling through the NatWest Series and the earlier tour matches. He put on 150 for the first wicket with Graeme Smith, giving the South Africans the early initiative.Both openers were circumspect against India’s new-ball duo of Salvi and Amit Bhandari, but the introduction of Murali Kartik eased the pressure. Gibbs tonked Kartik for two sixes in three balls, while Smith helped himself to one as well, as the scoreboard rattled along.Kartik’s first spell of five overs went for 30, but he was far more effective in his second stint, getting rid of Gibbs for 79 and keeping the batsmen in check. With Irfan Pathan – the most economical bowler on view – trapping Smith in front 14 runs later, a quiet period of play ensued. However, the Indian hopes of further breakthroughs were scotched as Gary Kirsten and Jacques Rudolph stitched together 171 for the third wicket. Both batsmen were severe on Amit Mishra, the legspinner. So impressive in the earlier matches, Mishra was plundered for 88 runs from 16 overs.Kirsten was run-out late in the day for 75, and as had happened earlier, a wicket after a long partnership quickly resulted in another, as Salvi had Rudolph caught by Parthiv Patel for 83, an innings which took Rudolph past 3000 first-class runs. Salvi then bowled Mark Boucher for a third-ball duck to ensure that India A finished the day on a buoyant note.Day 1 Bulletin

The uncertainty regarding the venue for the first Test between Pakistan and Bangladesh ended after a Pakistan court allowed the board to host the match at Karachi.The Test was in jeopardy when the Karachi City Cricket Association (KCCA) filed a petition in the Sindh High Court after the Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) announced that it would set up provincial cricket associations to organise matches. According to that decision, the Test at Karachi would have been staged by the newly formed Sindh Cricket Association (SCA) instead of the KCCA. However, Ataur Rehman, a Sindh High Court judge, ordered the parties to “maintain a status quo", and said that the petition would be heard on August 28. The first Test starts on August 20.The KCCA had taken exception to the Pakistan board’s decision to form the new association. Arshad Tayyab Ali, the KCCA’s lawyer, called the move “unconstitutional”, saying that it was “an unjust action against the KCCA”. “We had no other option but to go to the court as our last resort and would still not want to disrupt the Test match,” Sirajul Islam Bukhari, the KCCA secretary, told AFP. But the PCB’s spokesman Samiul Hasan expressed dismay over the action: “It is disappointing, and on the eve of a hectic home season we should have spent our energies on organising the Test.”Bangladesh will play three Tests and five one-day internationals in Pakistan, after which South Africa will tour Pakistan for three Tests and three ODIs.

Day 1 Close England Women 189 for 3 (Claire Taylor 78*) lead South Africa Women 130 (Pearson 4-25) by 69 runs
Scorecard

South Africa’s women performed a vanishing act that their Indian counterparts would have been proud of, as England took control on the opening day of the second and final Test at Taunton. South Africa were bowled out inside two sessions for 130, and by the close England built a lead of 69 with seven wickets in hand.South Africa won the toss and took first use of a good batting track, but never got going, losing four wickets before lunch as England’s seamers took control. It was after the break that the collapse really took hold, four wickets tumbling for two runs in 28 balls. Lucy Pearson plugged away in an immaculate 16-over spell, finishing with the fine figures of 4 for 25, and Helen Wardlaw’s offspinners wrapped up the tail, as South Africa were bowled out for 130.England lost the wickets of Charlotte Edwards, Laura Newton and Clare Connor before wiping out the deficit, but all three dismissals owed more to mistakes than penetrative bowling. The in-form Claire Taylor reached 78 not out at the close, 22 runs shy of becoming only the third Englishwoman to score back-to-back Test hundreds. With Lydia Greenway, she compiled an unbroken fourth-wicket partnership of 82. South Africa face another hard day in the field tomorrow.