Tim May, the chief executive of FICA, the body which represents the international players’ associations, has attacked the way the Harbhajan Singh issue was handled by the two boards and called on the ICC to investigate their conduct.”Cricket has had three attempts to deal with alleged racial abuse of the same player and has failed on every occasion,” he told Cricinfo. “In the latest instance a player held an honest and reasonable belief that he had been racially abused. It does not matter if he may have been mistaken, the fact is, he held an honest and reasonable belief that he had been racially abused. For this, he has been portrayed as a villain.”The priorities of each board have been misdirected at best – one hell bent on protecting its image and the other hell bent on protecting its revenues. Allegations of intimidation, interference and some good old ‘backroom bullying’ have unfortunately been all too prevalent in this issue and other issues.”Racism is a sensitive and very serious issue within our respective communities. The boards have failed in their responsibility to uphold their respect for this issue. They have failed the players, they have failed both the ICC’s Code of Conduct and the ICC’s Anti Racism Code, and they have failed the communities where racism is a real, live issue.”After this latest episode and seeing how cricket handles this type of issue, why would any player possibly think about reporting any further instances of racism?” May asked. “You will be hounded by the press, you will be directly or indirectly will be intimidated by cricket officials and you will be hung out there to dry and be painted as the bad guy. Players should be approaching such matters with confidence that the system will support and protect you, not decimate and discredit you.”It’s the ICC’s duty to protect the integrity of their Code. I am confident that the ICC will launch a thorough investigation into the alleged actions of both boards and key officials – there are serious allegations of intimidation and interference of those involved in this hearing -and such allegations must be dealt with swiftly and decisively.”Cricket cannot have a repeat of this type of behavior. Boards and officials have a responsibility to the ICC, the game and the community. They must be held to these responsibilities and, just like the players, they must be held accountable for their actions.”
It hasn’t been an auspicious start.The hotel housing four of the teams in Port of Spain had to be cleared because of a teargas attack, an embarrassing breach for the combined law enforcement services involved. The Barbados police chief rightly blew his top over the frisking of his officers by overzealous security staff at the Three Ws Oval. One match in Trinidad was in jeopardy when the teams complained about the state of the pitch.The company that manufactured the seats for the new stands at Sabina Park was sacked a week before the opening match, a seemingly unnecessary step given the empty spaces during the warm-ups at Trelawney, the other Jamaican venue. The bumped-up prices, for everything from peanuts to patties, from beer to burgers, and the ever-present annoyance of ambush marketing were soon to the fore. Not surprisingly, the clash involved the two telecommunications companies whose wrangle so divided West Indies cricket in recent times.Such setbacks over the first week of the Caribbean’s first World Cup, and others besides, have been moderated by the welcoming efficiency of the hundreds of gaily-bedecked volunteers, certainly at Trelawney and, from all reports, at the three other venues so far used. And, as the organisers are quick to point out, the warm-ups were not designed for the teams alone but also for the purpose of eliminating the inevitable glitches prior to the tournament proper that swings into full gear at Sabina Park on Tuesday.We are assured, as we have been all along, that all will be well but it is not undue cynicism to concede that we will continue to keep fingers firmly crossed over the coming six weeks. Nor, after the West Indies’ abject capitulation to India in their last preparatory match on Friday, is it pessimistic to fear for what is to come on the field. It was, it is true, an unofficial, 13-a-side contest. The 85 all-out was the type of double-digit total that has become as familiar a feature of West Indies teams as designer sunglasses and glittering gold chains. In this form of the game, they do not necessarily lead to disaster.Was the West Indies’ most ignominious defeat, when dismissed for 93 by Kenya in the 1996 World Cup, not followed by victory over Australia the next match and a spot in the semi-final? More recently, the all-out 86 and a nine-wicket loss to Sri Lanka in the qualifying round of the Champions Trophy counted for nothing as they advanced to the final. And so on and so forth. It is tempting to clutch at such straws for the impact on a floundering sport of a West Indies’ triumph in the game’s most prestigious tournament on home territory is obvious. Sadly, the disunity and the absence of proper preparation within the team has become even more obvious.The lack of intensity in Friday’s effort was one symptom. The pre-match routine was so laughable that John Wright, the former New Zealand opener and India’s immediate past coach, believed at first glance they were the day’s ball boys tossing tennis balls to each other. The batting that followed might well have been by the ball boys as well. The contrast with India’s purposeful approach was distressing for the sizeable crowd that had never before witnessed such a high-profile international fixture on the north coast.The evidence of internal divisions was just as clear-cut, as it has been for some time. Interviewed by Jeffrey Dujon prior to the toss, head coach Bennett King offered the opinion that, since they had batted first in the previous match against Kenya, West Indies should bowl if the captain won the toss. Lara chose to do the opposite. It reflected the earlier difference of opinion between King and convener of selectors, Gordon Greenidge, over the choice of Dwayne Smith in the squad of 15.It might explain why the West Indies Cricket Board (WICB) is not sending its three appointed selectors, Greenidge, Clyde Butts and Andy Roberts, to any of the World Cup matches. Greenidge and Roberts will be at Sabina on Tuesday to be honoured along with others from the 1975 and 1979 World Cup champion teams, Roberts at other venues as an official World Cup pitch inspector. Had they had any input into proceedings, it was unlikely there would be as much messing around with the batting order as there was.
After his hundred against Kenya on Tuesday, Marlon Samuels had restated his preference for batting at No.4. Informed he was in the 13 only on the morning of the match against India, he was then slotted in at No.8. That placed him one down from Denesh Ramdin, the wicketkeeper who, in his diary on the internet, revealed that he was “a bit surprised by not being selected” for the opening match. Manager Clive Lloyd, never one to stand for nonsense during his time as the longest-serving and most successful captain, might have taken him aside and explained the meaning of team unity and the need for players to accept selections, far less airing their “surprise” globally.Such players’ diaries and newspaper columns are now common place. Almost every member of the England team in Australia recently enunciated his thoughts to a national newspaper, mostly through his “ghost” writer. It is a dicey practice. Either the player is cagey about what he puts to print, wary of upsetting captain and management, or is utterly frank. In the first case, the readers are not getting full value, in the latter the team’s dirty linen gets washed in public.Chris Gayle, for instance, let it be known in his diary on the same website in December that “I am not a scapegoat bowler to be used only when things are difficult”. It was an interesting insight into his feelings but hardly likely to endear him to captain or coach. And, like Ramdin’s “surprise”, it provided convenient sledging ammunition for opponents (“Hey Chris, Brian not bowling you today?” or “Denesh, I don’t think the captain and coach like you”).That the relevant website happens to be run by Digicel during a tournament of which Cable & Wireless is one of the sponsors adds a complicated twist to the tale. More will undoubtedly follow in several other areas before the finalists-India and Australia once more meet in the final at Kensington Oval on April 28.
Zimbabwe’s Stuart Matsikenyeri has said he did not sign a new contact with the Zimbabwe Cricket interim board because he is “looking at other things”, but says he is not certain about his future.Matsikenyeri was one of the few remaining experienced yet still young players left in the Zimbabwe team after endless disputes cost the country many of its senior players.”There are other things that I’m looking at, some cricket .. some not,” said Matsikenyeri, who was too demoralised to speak about crisis that has took ruined cricket in the country “A lot of things have happened in the past 11 months, haven’t they?”Things that are out of my control. At this stage I don’t know what I will be doing. What I can only say is that I will be playing club cricket for my club [Old Hararians].”It is also being suggested that Matsikenyeri’s decision was partly because of his close friendship with former captain Tatenda Taibu, who quit international cricket to draw attention to the players’ plight. Many feel that Taibu, who is now back in the country but refusing to have anything to do with the game there, has been abandoned by his former team-mates.There is also confusion over the position of Andy Blignaut. Although ZC claim he has signed his new contract before he returned to play franchise cricket in South Africa, a source said that the player was livid that his name had been included on the list issued by the board. He added that Blignaut would not play for Zimbabwe until all the outstanding matters, including backpay, had been resolved.
Defending champions Barbados take on Windward Islands on the opening day of the West Indian cricket season, which gets underway on January 7. In the two other matches on the first day of the Carib Beer League Cup, Guyana visit Trinidad & Tobago while Jamaica host Leeward Islands at home.This year the tournament will be played on a home and away basis and the Carib Beer League is scheduled to be completed on March 14. The two top teams in the League will meet in the Carib Beer Challenge over five days beginning on March 18. The runner-up must defeat the League champions outright to win the Challenge Trophy.The League winner will receive the Carib Beer Cup and US$12,500 with the Man of the Match for each game receiving US$150 and a medallion. The winner of the Challenge will earn the Carib Beer Challenge Champion Trophy and US$5,000.There are also individual prizes – named after West Indian legends – to be won with the top batsman, bowler, fielder, allrounder and wicketkeeper each collecting US$1500.
Hashan Tillakaratme, Sri Lanka’s 35-year-old Test captain, has vowed to makeup for lost time and continue to play Test cricket for Sri Lanka as long aspossible. Claiming he’s fit, healthy and, most importantly, still hungry forsuccess, Tillakaratne has made it clear that he has no retirement plans.
“After two years out of the team I have a lot of catching up to do,” writesTillakaratne in the official England tour souvenir for Sri Lanka Cricket. “Imay be 35-years-old but I am fit, agile and hungry for success. I want toplay many more Test matches for Sri Lanka.”Tillakaratne had spent two years in the wilderness after the 1999 World Cup,a disastrous tournament for Sri Lanka that precipitated the implementationof a radical youth policy by the selectors. When he finally returned, aftertwo seasons of heavy scoring in the domestic competition, he scored a stackof runs, claiming back a regular place.Then, when Sanath Jayasuriya stepped down as Sri Lanka captain earlier thisyear, Tillakaratne assumed the captaincy – a surprise choice from theselectors. But now, after a drawn home series against New Zealand and a 1-0defeat in the Caribbean, Tillakaratne is under pressure to perform. Defeatagainst England would almost certainly end his tenure.
But Tillakaratne, an adhesive player who clearly revels in adversity,rejects criticism that his captaincy has been too negative thus far, arguingthat with greater luck Sri Lanka could have bagged their last two Testseries against New Zealand and West Indies.”We failed to win my first two Tests series in charge, against New Zealandand West Indies, but the margin between success and failure is small and,with some more luck and a bit more application, we could have won both,” hesays in his column.”Against New Zealand, we were let down by our catching in the first Test. Wespilled an unacceptable number of chances. Then, in the second Test, we wereunfortunate to lose so much time to the poor weather. In the end we wereleft with too few overs to chase a modest victory target.”The first Test in the West Indies was rain-affected and drawn. We playedcreditably. In the second Test we were in the hunt for a series win.However, we batted badly in the second innings. Had we dismissed Brian Laraearlier in the final run chase – which we so nearly did – it could so easilyhave been a different result.”
He’s looking forward to taking on the challenge of facing the English, and achance of securing some payback from two heavy defeats in the last twoseries between the sides, particularly the painful 2-1 loss at home in 2001.”This series, against a newish-looking English outfit, we need to pulltogether all departments of our game,” he says. “Although I didn’t play inthe last home series against England, my assessment was that we did more tolose the series than England did to win it. We must be tougher and play toour potential.”England have a sturdy top five that is stacked full of experience,” hesays. “One of the keys will be to make early inroads into this powerful toporder and put pressure on a lower middle order weakened by the absence ofAlec Stewart.”We have the bowlers to do that, especially the hard-working Chaminda Vaaswith his skilful swing bowling and Muttiah Muralitharan, a bowler who issurely destined to become the highest wicket-taker in Test history.”But we cannot rely solely on this pair. We have done so too much in thepast and that has held back our development. We need the bowlers to click asa unit. The support bowlers must maintain the pressure created by Murali andChaminda.”Once again our batsmen must be on guard. Our batting, especially the middleorder, has not lived up to expectations during the past year. It’s essentialthat we knuckle down to play with discipline and determination. The goodnews is that most of the top order has found good form in the currentdomestic tournament.Tillakaratne hopes that an extended four-month break for the players sincethe last tour will have a positive effect: “We are fortunate to have had aproper break. After nearly two years of non-stop cricket everyone needed tospend time with their families to refresh the mind and body. We should nowbe hungry and sharp.”
Andhra Pradesh successfully chased a target of 89 to win their Ranji Trophy league match over Goa at Vijayawada on Wednesday.Reeling at 57/6 overnight, Goa found a rescuer in Kiran Powar, who scored his second century in as many Tests. Remaining unbeaten on 104, Powar saw his side through to a total of 191, avoiding an innings defeat if not giving his side a shot at victory. He was supported only by HAS Khalid, who made 52 lower down the order.Set a target of 89, Andhra Pradesh shrugged off the early loss of openers and went on to win after the loss of only three wickets. They pick up eight points from this win, while Goa gain none.
ScorecardEngland’s bowlers enjoyed a productive work-out on the second day at Senwes Park but Alex Hales missed a second opportunity to make his case at opener. Hales, who is at the head of the queue to become Alastair Cook’s eighth Test opening partner since the retirement of Andrew Strauss, made another underwhelming contribution, although the stand did reach double figures on this occasion.Hales was uncharacteristically subdued in grafting for 8 off 42 balls – the same number of runs he made in the first innings – before playing on to his stumps trying to defend off the back foot. Cook was far more fluent during a partnership of 46 but he followed Hales back to the dressing room an over later, for 37 off 47 balls with seven fours, after playing around a straight delivery from Andile Phehlukwayo.Cook would doubtless have preferred a longer stint in the middle but he could reflect with satisfaction on England’s earlier efforts with the ball. Stuart Broad took 3 for 18 and all of the seamers bar James Anderson – who only bowled four overs during the afternoon – were among the wickets as the SA Invitational XI were dismissed for 188.Mark Footitt was a touch wild and woolly on his first appearance in an England shirt, taking 2 for 52 from 12 overs. Ben Stokes also picked up two wickets as his comeback from injury continued to go well, and Moeen Ali produced tidy figures with his offspin, while also accounting for SA XI top-scorer, Heinrich Klaasen.Centuries from Stokes and James Taylor on the first day had already put England in charge and they opted for further batting practice during the final session.Nick Compton followed up his first-innings half-century at No. 3 by making 15 before chipping to long-off and his dismissal allowed Gary Ballance – another batsman returning to the England fold – some time at the crease. Alongside Joe Root, he helped the tourists to 99 for 3 and a lead of 381 with one day left in the game.Stuart Broad claimed two wickets with the new ball•Getty Images
After Cook had declared England’s first innings on their overnight score of 470 for 5, Broad struck with the fourth ball of the morning, Aiden Markram edging to first slip. Broad also removed Luthando Mnyanda in his fourth over, a thick inside edge helping to uproot off stump, and was then given a rest until just before tea, when he returned to end a last-wicket stand of 51 between Thandolwethu Mnyaka and Johannes Diseko.Left-armer Footitt is generally regarded as one of the fastest bowlers around the county circuit and he began at full tilt. SA XI opener Simon Khomari, also a lefty, found the pace to his liking and struck a boundary in each of Footitt’s first three overs; when the bowler responded with a bouncer, it flew high and wide of wicketkeeper Jonny Bairstow for four byes.Despite the heat pushing up towards 35C, Cook kept Footitt on for a six-over spell and he finally hit his mark with the penultimate ball before the drinks break, sliding a delivery across the right-handed Zubayr Hamza to take the edge, Bairstow completing a low catch to his right. In Footitt’s second spell, Klaasen took him for three fours in an over, as runs continued to flow, but another breakthrough followed soon after as Qaasim Adams was adjudged lbw.Klaasen and Adams had helped repair some of the damage done during the morning session, after the SA XI had slipped to 56 for 5. Chris Woakes, seemingly contesting the third seamer slot for the Durban Test with Footitt, removed Khomari with a back-of-a-length delivery that was quicker than it looked and Stokes had Somila Seyibokwe caught behind off the glove, also trying to pull.Klaasen was the more aggressive during a 62-run stand but, after Adams’ dismissal by Footitt, he fell two runs short of a half-century, edging a drive off Moeen to slip. Stokes picked up his second wicket, Phehlukwayo bowled attempting to leave, and Moeen deflected a shot from Mnyaka into the stumps at the non-striker’s end to run out Ruben Claassen and leave the SA XI 137 for 9.
Wolves are back in Premier League action this afternoon with a clash against Crystal Palace at Molineux in their latest attempt at moving closer to securing European football for next season.
Having lost their two previous league games against Arsenal and West Ham United, both in London, the Old Gold will be doing all they can to pick up all three points in front of their home fans today against team from the capital in Patrick Vieira’s side, who are currently three places and 10 points behind the Midlanders in the league table.
On the chalkboard
In regards to which players Bruno Lage could pick in his starting XI to take on the Eagles, one man who started last weekend against West Ham but we think should be taken out of the team on this occasion is Fabio Silva.
Since arriving at Molineux in September 2020 from FC Porto for a club-record fee of £35.6m, the 19-year-old has only netted four goals in 54 appearances across all competitions, showing that he hasn’t been particularly reliable when it comes to finding the back of the net.
Furthermore, the £19.8m-rated striker’s performance against the Hammers last weekend showed why he may not be suited to start this time around either, having had just one clear shot at goal throughout the entire 90 minutes at the London Stadium, and that was off-target.
The youngster also made just 14 accurate passes and won only one of his six duels, ultimately earning himself a disappointing overall match rating of 6.1/10. That made him the lowest-rated player from either team according to SofaScore, even lower than Francisco Trincao, who only played 60 minutes and came in for criticism from some journalists for his performance.
Labelled a potential “hindrance” for the club as a result of his poor performances in the past by Liam Keen, that is exactly what he was for Lage last time out and why he shouldn’t be given the opportunity to start again this time around, with Wolves in need for a victory to reignite their push for Europe.
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With that in mind, now could be the right time for the Wolves boss to bring Raul Jimenez back into the team this afternoon and hope that he can do the business for them in front of goal.
In other news: John Percy shares worrying Wolves update, it’s a “big blow” for Lage
Victoria have called on Clint McKay and Darren Pattinson as they face a familiar problem with several of their frontline fast bowlers missing through injury. The pair has been included in the Bushrangers’ 12-man squad for their FR Cup match against South Australia in the Gippsland city of Traralgon on Sunday.They were already missing Dirk Nannes with a foot injury and Gerard Denton with an ankle problem, but now Shane Harwood and John Hastings have been added to the casualty list. Harwood has a groin injury after playing in the Pura Cup win over the Redbacks this week, while Hastings had surgery earlier this week to have a pin inserted in a fractured finger.The veteran Mick Lewis also cut their pace options by one when he announced his retirement from state cricket on Wednesday. It leaves Peter Siddle to spearhead a less experienced attack, bringing back memories of last summer when all of Victoria’s contracted fast bowlers were injured at one point.The limited-overs clash will be the closest thing to a genuine home game for Siddle, who was born in Traralgon and was raised in the nearby town of Morwell. A win for the second-placed Redbacks would give them a strong chance of reaching the FR Cup final, while the bottom-of-the-table Bushrangers could jump as high as third with a victory.Victoria squad Aiden Blizzard, Michael Klinger, Brad Hodge, David Hussey, Cameron White (capt), Rob Quiney, Andrew McDonald, Adam Crosthwaite (wk), Peter Siddle, Clint McKay, Bryce McGain, Darren Pattinson.South Australia squad Matthew Elliott, Daniel Harris, Mark Cosgrove, Callum Ferguson, Nathan Adcock (capt), Daniel Christian, Graham Manou (wk), Mark Cleary, Ryan Harris, Jason Gillespie, Dan Cullen, Paul Rofe.
At the end of the second day of the Ranji Trophy final Mumbai were right on top thanks mainly to a penetrative spell from Zaheer Khan, who picked up five wickets and skittled Bengal over for only 143 in response to the hosts’ 320. Bengal’s tail was good enough to avert a follow-on that seemed likely at one stage, but when Mumbai ended the day on 113 for 2, an overall lead of 290, one team held all the aces, with three days to play.When the day began with Mumbai on 281 for 5, there was still hope that they would post a score tall enough to allow them to bat just once in this game. But Abhishek Nair (15) copped an unlucky break, and was given out caught behind off Sourav Sarkar when the bat appeared to miss ball and strike the floor. With just 17 added to the overnight score of 281, the door opened for Bengal.Sarkar was in the action again as Rohit Sharma was sent back by Vinayak Samant after setting off for a single, and run out for 15. At 298 for 7, all that was left to do, with no recognised batsmen left at the crease, was scramble a few runs. But Ranadeb Bose, who bowled well without much luck on the first day, had other plans; he removed Samant (0) and Zaheer in the space of 15 runs. Ramesh Powar, usually good for a few runs, tried to disrupt the bowlers’ rhythm by stepping out or making room, but he failed in his quest, and was bowled by Sarkar, ending the Mumbai innings on 320.If Bengal felt any sense of relief it evaporated soon enough. The superior bowling firepower of Mumbai set to work immediately, and Ajit Agarkar produced a brute of a delivery that got big on Deep Dasgupta, who could only fend awkwardly to Sharma at short-leg. Bengal had lost their captain for a duck in the first over, and worse was to follow. Zaheer angled the ball nicely across Abhishek Jhunjhunwala and when the batsman prodded without much foot movement the result was a nick that Samant snapped up behind the stumps.A partnership of sorts built between Arindam Das and Manoj Tiwary, but Zaheer made his Mumbai debut memorable by hurrying Das for pace and having him caught behind with the score on 28. Then the excitement built to a fever pitch as Sourav Ganguly walked slowly out to the middle and took his time marking his guard as the crowd cheered his name.The hype was deflated instantly as Zaheer punched through Ganguly’s defences with a quick delivery that slanted back in and beat the stroke for pace. The ball took the inside edge and uprooted the middle stump, and Mumbai were over the moon, celebrating in a huddle as Ganguly was sent back for a first-ball duck. At 28 for 4, with their premier batsman gone, Bengal were in dire straits.For Zaheer, though, this was business as usual – he has now dismissed Ganguly for three ducks in the last three times the two have come up against each other. The last occasion was the Duleep Trophy final in the previous season when two screaming yorkers sent Ganguly back without troubling the scorers. Tiwari’s attractive strokeplay saved Bengal from further embarrassment as he who took the score from 28 for 4 till 72 before the next cluster of wickets fell.
Zaheer struck again, having Rohan Gavaskar caught behind. Two more wickets fell on the same score, as Zaheer and Samant combined again to remove Laxmi Ratan Shukla. The real big blow came soon after, though, when Tiwary was slow in moving his feet to a well-pitched up delivery from Wilkin Mota and was trapped lbw for 42.At 72 for 7 the follow-on target of 120 looked miles away. However, Mumbai’s intensity flagged and the tailenders made the most of this, swatting the ball for runs. Saurashish Lahiri (22), Sarkar (25) and later Ashok Dinda (22 not out), took Bengal to relative safety at 143 all out. Zaheer had picked up 5 for 40, and Mumbai had a more-than-handy 177-run first-innings lead.Sahul Kukreja went early once more, and then an hour of attractive strokeplay followed as Wasim Jaffer and Sharma put on 107 for the second wicket, making the most of good batting conditions against Bengal’s tiring bowlers. There was little in the pitch, and the runs flowed easily, till Sharma (57) was slightly late on a ball from Dinda and was bowled. Jaffer was unbeaten on 50 as Mumbai went off at stumps on 113 for 2.