Andrew Hall will appeal against the ECB’s decision to decline his registration for the 2008 season. The board refused to use its discretion to allow him to turn out for Northamptonshire as he had played for South Africa A in August.Andrew Fitch-Holland, who represents Hall, told Cricinfo that the appeal would be lodged after the weekend. The hearing, which will be in front of a three-man panel, has to take place within 28 days, during which time Hall will not be allowed to play.A lawyer representing the ICL, Jeremy Roberts, told the BBC that the players whose registrations had been declined would appeal to the ECB, and if their appeals were unsuccessful then court action was inevitable.Fitch-Holland added that the ECB had been unable to give any clarification whether the same issues of registration would again arise in 2009 with players who turned out for the ICL after the end of the current season.
Scorecard and ball-by-ball details Australia put the seal on the most dominant campaign in World Cup history, securing their fourth title and their third in a row since 1999 thanks to Adam Gilchrist’s scintillating 149 from 104 balls. But that, sadly, is not what the final of the ICC World Cup West Indies 2007 (to give it its full and fully deserved title) will be remembered for. In a display of cack-handedness that heaped new levels of farce upon a farcical seven weeks, the final overs of a broken contest were played out in near-darkness, penetrated only by the glow of the pavilion lights and the bewildered blinking of 20,000 flash bulbs.Whatever went on in those overs is anyone’s guess. It was too dark for the fielders to see anything, let alone any of the fans in the stadium or the press in the gantry, and besides, the Australians had already celebrated their moment of victory. That came after the sixth ball of the 33rd over, when the Sri Lankans – to all intents and purposes – accepted an offer for bad light, and appeared to have conceded the game with an improbable requirement of 63 from 18 balls.What happened next will doubtless be the subject of blame-games, buck-passing and recriminations. Australia’s celebratory huddle was broken up by a tap on the shoulder from the umpire Aleem Dar; the groundstaff who had been unpegging the onfield logos were told to nail them back down and reposition the pitch markers, and out trooped the players to block their way into the twilight. It was asinine, undignified, and entirely appropriate for a tournament that long since detached itself from the origins of sporting contests.But let’s concentrate on the onfield action, because – surprising as it may seem amid such a torrent of embarrassment – there was some pretty good cricket on display until officialdom stepped in to wreck everyone’s memories. For all the romantic notions that Sri Lanka brought to their second final appearance in four tournaments – the mysteries of their bowling attack and the impishness of their batsmen – Australia’s ruthlessness was absolute, as they extended their unbeaten run in World Cup matches to 29 since May 1999.And it was Gilchrist who stormed to the fore, demonstrating an eye for the big occasion that is the preserve of few. This was his third scene-stealer in consecutive World Cup finals. Against Pakistan at Lord’s in 1999, he cracked 54 from 36 balls; four years later against India at Johannesburg, he made 57 from 48. But nothing quite compared to this. Once the sun had come out and Gilchrist had gauged the pace and bounce of a rock-hard and true surface, there was no reining him – or Australia – in.Gilchrist’s innings was the highest ever made in a World Cup final, beating the mark of 140 set by his captain, Ricky Ponting, four years ago, and it was launched in a stand of 172 for the first wicket with Matthew Hayden, who made 38 from 55 balls before picking out Mahela Jayawardene in the covers.Hayden’s innings took his tournament tally to an incredible 659 runs at 73.22 – second only to Sachin Tendulkar’s 671 in the 2003 World Cup – but today he was as anonymous as at any time in the past seven weeks. It did not matter a jot, for his performance as a quick-sprinting second fiddle was second-to-none. By the time of Hayden’s dismissal, Gilchrist was already sitting pretty on 119, having faced almost five more overs than his partner.Adam Gilchrist might have had a quiet tournament until the final, but when it really mattered he smoked 149 of the best runs•Getty Images
Though Jayawardene had prevaricated at the toss, admitting he had been in two minds as to what he’d have done if he had won, Australia were in no doubt whatsoever. Five times in this tournament they had batted first and posted scores in excess of 300, and that would have been six in a row in a full-length contest. Gilchrist set the tone by clubbing Chaminda Vaas for four and six in the second over, while Lasith Malinga – the deadliest weapon in the Sri Lankan armoury – opted for accuracy over explosiveness.Malinga went for just six runs in his first spell of four overs, but he was clocking an average of 84 mph, a good 10mph slower than in his devastating semi-final performance. It meant that the early breakthrough Sri Lanka so needed never materialised, especially when Dilhara Fernando – who began tidily enough from round the wicket – dropped a sharp return chance down by his shins when Gilchrist had made a run-a-ball 31.The moment was lost and with it went Sri Lanka’s best hope of controlling the tempo of the match that had been reduced to 38 overs by early rain. Fernando was a broken man after that – his next three deliveries were clubbed for four, four and six, the last of which very nearly took out the fire engine next to the 3Ws stand at long-on. It can only have been there to douse the ardour of Australia’s batsmen, because Gilchrist was absolutely smoking. He brought up his 15th ODI hundred from just 72 balls with a drilled four over long-off, and thereafter heaved through the line with impunity, trusting his eye, the surface and the fact that the fight had gone out of his opponents.Sri Lanka’s batsmen did their best in the face of a spiralling run-rate, swinging the blade with gusto even as the cameras in the crowd betrayed the fading of both the light and their hopes. While Kumar Sangakkara and Sanath Jayasuriya were adding 116 for the second wicket, the contest was alive, but Sangakkara miscued Brad Hogg to Ponting at midwicket, before Jayasuriya, in the final appearance of a competition he has graced since 1992, was bowled by a flatter, faster delivery from the part-time spin of Michael Clarke.Glenn McGrath, another man making his final bow, then seized another segment of the limelight by striking with his penultimate delivery in international cricket. It was not his greatest ball by any means – a legside full-toss that Russel Arnold (another retiree) popped off his hip to a diving Gilchrist. But it took his tournament tally to 26 wickets – a record – and his overall World Cup tally to 71 – another record.Australia were the deserved winners of this contest, and in truth Sri Lanka were worthy runners-up – they plugged away with composure in the face of overwhelming odds, and the margin of Australia’s victory was their slimmest in both the tournament and in their three latest World Cup wins. But the manner in which the victory was signed and sealed will continue to grate long after the teams have flown home. Such is the nature of the modern-day game of cricket.
Mahela Jayawardene, Sri Lanka’s captain for the tour of England, has expressed his pleasure at his side’s impressive start to the English summer. Though Sri Lanka failed to press for a win against the British Universities at Fenner’s yesterday, Jayawardene said he was determined to build on the experience later this week.Speaking to PA Sport, he said he expected his young side to benefit from their early exposure to English conditions. “Two guys got hundreds, and the bowlers all had a decent outing and kept asking questions by putting it in the right place. A couple of the other guys got starts and didn’t finish off,” he said. “But that is the main thing you must do in England, because you definitely can get a good ball any time. The guys learned that here, and it was a good lesson for them. It was seaming, and the weather was typically English – so it was the best practice we could get.”Jayawardene, who failed to get going in the match, said he would put in the hard yards. “I was feeling pretty good out there in the middle when I went in, but it was one of those things – sometimes you get a really good ball. If it gets you out you just have to forget about it and make sure you do the hard work out there next time you get in.”He also hoped that Muttiah Muralitharan, one of a few key players to be rationed ahead of the bigger games, would play in Sri Lanka’s next match against Derbyshire, beginning on Saturday. “Guys like Murali have been playing a lot of cricket, so it is always good to give them a break,” Jayawardene said. “We just need to be very sensible in how we manage the players.”Sri Lanka play three Tests and five one-day internationals against England.
Pakistan are likely to appoint two neutral umpires for their one-day series at home against England later this year. According to ICC rules, only one third-country umpire is required to stand for a one-dayer, with the other umpire being from the home country, but Shaharyar Khan, the chairman of the Pakistan board, said that they planned to go one step further.”Making errors is a human trait. But when a home umpire gets it wrong, it might ignite strong reactions. This situation is least likely to happen in case of neutral umpires,” Shaharyar told the BBC Sport website. “When we play against India, the struggle can be felt everywhere in the two nations. Any mistake by a home umpire may cause resentment not only among fans but teams as well.”The ICC rules currently state that while one neutral umpire is mandatory for ODIs, the home board can appoint two third-country umpires if both teams agree. “The ICC said if a member country wants to introduce neutral umpires, it will have to consult the visiting team,” Shaharyar said. “We have to consult England, but I don’t think they would disagree.”I am to meet ECB people on Friday. I will also write them officially in this regard and we hope to reach to a decision very soon. At least three months are needed for the appointment of neutral umpires by the ICC. Fortunately, we have this time for the England home series.”Pakistan have long been advocates of neutral umpires in international cricket. They were the first nation to appoint third-country umpires for a Test, when VK Ramaswamy and Piloo Reporter officiated in two Tests between Pakistan and West Indies in 1986-87, long before the ICC regulations came into place. More recently, Pakistan were also miffed at a few close decisions going against them in the VB Series in Australia earlier this year. That prompted them to table a proposal before the ICC executive committee asking for two neutral umpires in all ODIs as well. The committee rejected the proposal, but allowed individual countries the flexibility to appoint two neutral umpires if the countries so desired.England are scheduled to play three Tests and five one-day internationals in Pakistan in November-December 2005.
South Australia 129 (Flower 44,Nicholson 5-36) and 3 for 339 (Lehmann 149*, Manou 130) trail New South Wales 9 for 350 decl. and 4 for 299 dec. (Mail 152*, Phelps 62) by 182 runs Scorecard
Darren Lehmann returned to his cavalier best at the expense of Stuart MacGill as South Australia launched an audacious bid for a history-defying outright win over New South Wales in the Pura Cup match at the Sydney Cricket Ground on Thursday.Lehmann, anxiously awaiting the naming of the squad to tour Sri Lanka tomorrow, belted 28 runs from eight MacGill deliveries – and kept dishing out the punishment thereafter – to help himself to a timely 149 not out.Set a seemingly impossible 521 runs for victory after New South Wales declared their second innings on 4 for 299 – and falling to 1 for 7 almost immediately – South Australia somehow conjured up a serious challenge to be 3 for 339 at stumps – just 182 runs shy of snatching an incredible result. No Australian domestic side has ever chased so many runs and won a Sheffield Shield or Pura Cup match, the existing record being South Australia’s 6 for 506 to beat Queensland in 1991-92.Lehmann’s 210-run partnership from 223 balls with Graham Manou (130), including 174 runs in a frantic middle session, turned the game on its head and ruined MacGill’s figures, leaving him with an unflattering 0 for 118 from 18 overs. It got worse for him, when Shane Warne, his rival for a Test spot, took 4 for 51 in Victoria’s outright defeat of Tasmania.MacGill dismissed Lehmann twice in three balls earlier in the week with long hops, but had no such luck today as Lehmann and Manou caned him all over the park. Lehmann hit MacGill for two sixes and four fours in eight balls to virtually seal his selection for Sri Lanka. MacGill and Warne too should be in the squad, setting up an intriguing battle to make the Test XI.New South Wales paid dearly for MacGill dropping Manou on 4, and Mark Waugh spilling a chance from Lehmann on 90. Andy Flower (21 not out) was also given a life just before stumps.Earlier, Greg Mail finished 152 not out – following up his 128 in the first innings – to become only the third NSW player to score a hundred and a 150 in the same Shield or Pura Cup game. Monty Noble did it in 1907/08, and Mark Taylor in 1988-89.Matthew Nicholson also continued to impress, picking up a quick wicket in the SA second innings, having Ben Cameron caught by Mark Waugh at second slip. An outright win for NSW appeared at that stage to be a fait accompli. But by stumps, the tables were turned.
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
Pakistan A fast bowler, Irfan Fazil, who destroyed the Sri Lankan A batting line up today with a six wicket haul to put his side in a winning position, claimed that this was his most memorable bowling performance ever at the end of first day’s play of the final unofficial ‘Test’ against Sri Lanka in Galle.The slightly built pace bowler from Lahore destroyed Sri Lanka’s batting line up in three spells, the last two of which were quite devastating, from the Old Dutch Fort End, enabling his side to restrict Sri Lanka to a paltry 141 in their first innings.The 19-year-old, who participated in the Under-19 World Cup in Sri Lanka last year, reflected afterwards on his bowling performance, in which he claimed six wickets for 38 runs in just 12 overs.”This is very important day for me,” he said. “It is my most memorable feat because this will help me get back into the senior side, which is my dream.”However, Irfan, who is a great fan of the Pakistani pace duo of Waqar Younis and Wasim Akram, is also aware of the fact that it’s going to be an extremely hard slog with so much competition amongst the fast bowlers.Irfan, who has played in a Test against Sri Lanka last year in Karachi and in a One-Day International in the Caribbean, spoke about the chances his side has got to win the game: “We’ve got a good chance now to win this game, but our batsmen still have to bat well. If they put up a good score we can put them under pressure.”The Sri Lankan batsmen will have to watch out again in the second innings, even if they bowl out the Pakistanis cheaply tomorrow and restrict their lead; Irfan could easily create havoc again.Irfan believes that though he got six wickets, the wicket suited the batsmen: “It was a good one to bat on, as the ball was coming onto the bat.”Four of his six victims were clean bowled, two of which were perfect reverse swinging yorkers. His last three wickets came after tea, all bowled to wrap up the Sri Lankan innings. “After tea, I bowled with a certain plan and luckily for me it worked,” he said. “I also got ample support from the other end and my team mates.”
Liverpool have reportedly agreed a deal in principle to sign exciting young Fulham midfielder Fabio Carvalho in the summer transfer window.
The Lowdown: Carvalho linked with January move to Liverpool
The Reds brought in Luis Diaz in January, a transfer which has already proven to be a masterstroke, but they were also strongly linked with a mid-season move for Carvalho.
In the end, the 19-year-old stayed put at Fulham, and he has thrived for the Championship leaders this season, scoring seven goals and adding six assists for good measure.
Liverpool’s interest in the teenager was expected to be revived in the summer, and that looks highly likely to be the case.
The Latest: Transfer reportedly agreed
According to Football Insider, a recruitment source has informed them that Liverpool have an ‘agreement in principle’ with Carvalho over a summer switch to Anfield.
The Reds will sign the youngster on a free transfer when his current Fulham deal expires at the end of June.
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The Verdict: One for the future
It is vital that Liverpool continue to build towards the future, and Carvalho is an exceptional talent who could be a great signing, having last year been hailed as ‘fantastic’ by Fulham manager Marco Silva.
The forward’s seemingly imminent move to Anfield would have echoes of the Reds’ 2019 signing of Harvey Elliott, who also swapped Fulham for Liverpool as a teenage starlet; and the pair could prove to be two of the Reds’ creative forces for many years to come, dovetailing to devastating effect.
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Carvalho would likely come in as a squad player for starters given his tender age, but he could mature into a key figure at Anfield as some current Liverpool stars pass their peak and wane, wreaking havoc in a number eight role.
In other news, Liverpool are one of the clubs to ‘position themselves’ for this player. Read more here.
Lalchand Rajput, who was part of the Indian thinktank till recently, is disappointed that the BCCI did not engage him for a long-term contract but hoped Gary Kirsten, the new coach, would take the team to the next level.”The team has performed well in the hard tours like Australia and now we have set the platform,” Rajput told Cricinfo. “Kirsten’s challenge is now to take the team to the next level.”Rajput, who worked as coach from the ICC World Twenty20 till the Australia tour, said Kirsten has begun well by acquainting himself with the team before he actually took over in Chennai this week for the South Africa series. “[Now] he needs to set both long-term and short-term goals to work out his plans,” Rajput said.With Kirsten firm on assembling his own bench, Rajput lost the assistant coach’s seat to Paddy Upton, who brings extra dimensions to the job as mental conditioning coach and trainer. “Once the coach comes into play, it’s his decision,” Rajput said. “Along with a bowling coach he [Kirsten] also has Paddy Upton as trainer-cum-assistant then it might be difficult to fit me in.Asked about his stint with the Indian team, Rajput said one of his key contributions was in the area of man-management, especially during the controversial period after the Perth Test when seniors like Sourav Ganguly and Rahul Dravid were dropped for the subsequent CB Series.”It was a critical moment in the [Test] series when the team was announced in the immediate aftermath of the Test victory in Perth. Again it was man-management, and I went to Sourav who was disappointed at having been dropped. I told him there’s lot of cricket ahead in the season and that he should be hopeful and can come back as he’d done very well at home in 2007.”Crucial moments like those where he had understood his role make him hopeful, Rajput said. For the moment, though, his focus on the IPL where he is the coach of the Mumbai Indians. “I’m a very positive person. For now I’ll be concentrating on the IPL with the Mumbai team. Then we just have to wait and see.”
Andrew Symonds is not guaranteed to play in the game against South Africa on Saturday, which he has targeted since tearing his right biceps in February. Despite a strong recovery that is ahead of schedule, there are doubts he will be ready for the final Group A game at St Kitts.Symonds said he was getting stronger every day but was only hopeful of appearing. “The shoulder’s all right,” he told AAP. “The workload has gone up over the last five or six days and it seems to be handling it all right. I’m not a million miles off getting out there, hopefully, pulling the colours on and having a crack.”Alex Kountouris, the physiotherapist, said Symonds had not been confirmed to play and the major doubt was over his throwing, which is limited to about 30 metres. If Symonds is picked Brad Hodge is likely to be the unlucky batsman after posting 123 against The Netherlands on Sunday.”I really have to go day by day and see what’s required of me from the selectors’ point of view and what the physio wants,” Symonds said. “It depends what they want me to be able to do at 100%, or whether 90% [is acceptable]. So I don’t know exactly what will happen.”