Kent are to replace the famous lime tree within the playing area at their ground in Canterbury, after the original blew down in strong winds last week. The short ceremony will take place at 11am on Tuesday, March 8.Carl Openshaw, Kent’s chairman, said: “There has been a lime tree on the boundary’s edge for as long as cricket has been played on the St Lawrence Ground. In 1999, when the future of the original tree was first in doubt, it was decided to plant a replacement tree so that this tradition could be preserved. We have received overwhelming support and interest from within Kent and from far afield, and we propose to stage a formal planting ceremony in March.”Kent are also hoping to make a range of mementos from the wood of the original tree, which was over 200 years old.
If ever there was a good time to be a first-class cricketer in India, itis now. In a mood to do the right things for the game, the Indian board summoned up 36 probables to train together at Bangalore. Almost everyone who was anyone rubbed shoulders with the big names, and trained under John Wright. From the training camp on to the real show. The four-match Challenger Series kicks off at Bangalore tomorrow, amid expectations that several promising cricketers will get a chance to showcase their talent.Sourav Ganguly, leading the India Seniors team, has a talented lot athis disposal, retaining VVS Laxman, Sanjay Bangar, Parthiv Patel andZaheer Khan from the national side. Ambati Rayudu has made waves with his batting over the last year and he will be watched closely. In addition, Ganguly also has the best spin attack in the tournament – Murali Kartik, Amit Mishra and Harbhajan Singh. Harbhajan was earlier being rested so as to give him time to recover from his finger injury, but he was so keen to play that the selectors had to induct him. Sarandeep Singh was shifted to India B to accomodate him.For India A, Anil Kumble will bank on Sachin Tendulkar to do the bulk of thescoring. Mohammad Kaif is the other member from the Indian team to makethe side. Mithun Manhas, a dangerous striker of the ball, and RameshPowar, who played a big role in Mumbai’s Ranji Trophy success, will aimto catch the eye of the national selectors.Without doubt, India B are the weakest of the three teams. Rahul Dravidleads a side short on stars – Yuvraj Singh is the only other big name in the squad. In Shiv Sunder Das and Satyajit Parab the batting has solidity if notstyle. The bowling looks sharp with Aavishkar Salvi and Irfan Pathancompeting to make an impact, and Sarandeep yearning to prove a point or two.It’s going to be hard for the players to make a big impression over justfour days. Yet, the Challenger series has always evoked plenty ofexcitement. After all, it’s not every day that the cream of the talentin the country is on display. Under lights, competing for the few slotsvacant in the Indian team, there just might be a few standoutperformances.India Seniors Sourav Ganguly (capt), VVS Laxman, Hemang Badani, Ambati Rayudu, SanjayBangar, Parthiv Patel (wk), Amit Mishra, Murali Kartik, Harbhajan Singh,Zaheer Khan, L Balaji, Reetinder Sodhi, Akash Chopra.India A Anil Kumble (capt), Sachin Tendulkar, Gautam Gambhir, Rohan Gavaskar,Mohammad Kaif, Wasim Jaffer, Sridharan Sriram, Ajay Ratra (wk), IrfanPathan, Ajit Agarkar, Mithun Manhas, Ramesh Powar.India B Rahul Dravid (capt), Shiv Sunder Das, Satyajit Parab, Vijay Bharadwaj,Yuvraj Singh, Dinesh Mongia, Thilak Naidu (wk), Jai P Yadav, AavishkarSalvi, Siddharth Trivedi, Sairaj Bahutule, Amit Bhandari, Sarandeep Singh.Schedule September 10 India Sr v India A September 11 India Sr v India B September 13 India A v India B September 14 Final
West Indies finally had cause for some celebration in Sri Lanka with theirfirst win of the tour at Premadasa International Stadium on Tuesday nightwhen they defeated Sri Lanka by 49 runs.It was a victory greeted with more relief than elation and whilst the champagne corks were not whizzing around the dressing, the win has certainly boosted their flagging morale.Their hard-earned victory was founded upon a solid top order battingperformance that saw them post a competitive 251 target and an especiallyspirited effort in the field, led by man of the match Corey Collymore whopicked up five wickets and career best figures.The slightly built fast bowler, called onto the tour for the one-daymatches, ripped through the Sri Lankan middle and lower order, as the homeside lost their last six wickets for 17 runs and were eventually bowled outfor 201.Sri Lanka had been cruising towards the West Indies total after theircavalier openers, Sanath Jayasuriya and Avishka Gunawardene, had smashed 82runs off the first 15 overs.But West Indies players, so uninspiring in the field against Zimbabwe onSunday when they looked like they had thrown in the white towel, firstfought themselves back into the game thanks to the efforts of their slowbowlers.Carl Hooper came into the attack in the eighth over and gradually pulledback the initiative in a crucial five over spell that yielded just sevenruns.Left-arm spinner Neil McGarrell then replaced his captain and dismissedGunwardene fourth ball. The broad-shouldered left-hander shuffled down thewicket and was stumped for 38 (92 for one).Jayasuriya was still going strong though at the other end, reaching his 46thone-day fifty off 60 balls and then hoisting McGarrel for four boundariesand one six over wide mid-on.But Jayasuriya, playing in his 248th one-day game, made a crucial mistakewhen he tried to scramble a quick single and left Atapattu yards short ofhis crease (119 for two).Thirteen minutes later West Indian’s now burgeoning self-belief wasbolstered further when Mahela Jawardene slashed wildly at a delivery fromPedro Collins to be caught behind for two and Jayasuriya top-edged a sweepto be caught at short fine leg for 83 (138 for four).Kumar Sangakkara and Russel Arnold, needing a further 113 runs in 22.4overs, steadied the innings with a 46 run stand in 52 balls and were oncourse for victory when Sangakkara smeared unnecessarily across the line andwas caught behind to give Colleymore the first of his five wickets (184 forfive).Sri Lanka then crumbled as Colleymore, bowling with an energetic re-modeledopen-chested action, tore into the lower order.Suresh Perera was brilliantly caught behind by Jacobs for four as he aimedan extravagant cover drive and Kumar Dharmasena prodded diffidently to bedismissed in a similar manner two balls later.In the next over Russel Arnold was adjudged lbw, harshly, as he tried tosweep a delivery from Chris Gayle. Chaminda Vaas and Nuwan Zoysa werequickly mopped up by Colleymore to give him his first five-wicket haul andJacobs a world record equaling six victims behind the stumps.Earlier in the day West Indies had won the toss and batted on a surface thattraditional favours the side batting first – the highest score successfullychased in 46 one-day matches here is just 243.Nevertheless, the Sri Lanka bowlers helped the West Indian cause evenfurther by starting poorly, even Vaas who uncharacteristically bowled twowides in his opening spell.Gayle made a quickfire 21, his first runs in five innings, but it was BrianLara with a serene 44-ball half century and Daren Ganga with a fluent 58 who laid the foundations for a large score.The pair added 74 in 72 balls for the second wicket before Ganga, who hadbeen dropped earlier in the slips and given not out after walking for acatch behind, was run out.Ramnaresh Sarwan, though, gave Lara solid support and at one stage WestIndies, on 151 for two with 23 overs remaining and then 209 for three withten overs to spare, looked set for a score in excess of 270.But Sri Lanka’s slow bowlers pulled the West Indies back in the final tenovers, taking six wickets and conceding just 41 runs. In the event, itproved immaterial.
Michael Bevan (166) and Richard Montgomerie (133), hitting respectivelytheir highest scores for the county, put Sussex in a strong position againstNottinghamshire at Hove.In spite of being put in to bat the hosts made 404-5 in their Division Two championship match. The visiting bowlers got none of the expected help from the green-tinged pitch on a fine summer’s day. Bevan and Montgomerie came together when Toby Peirce was out at 45 off an inside-edge to Andrew Harris. They put on 292 runs in 68 overs before getting out in consecutive overs.After 213 balls with 20 boundaries in some 300 minutes batting Bevan was bowled by David Millns: his season’s total in all competitions is 1493 with 533 in his last seven innings. His second successive century came on the heels of his 151 n.o. against Essex last week.Unfortunately for Sussex the Australian will be away for ten days in August playing for his country in three one-day internationals against South Africa in Melbourne. Montgomerie had made only three half-centuries this summer, and batted almost flawlessly before he was caught at slip off Richard Stemp.His innings of some 390 minutes contained 19 fours. From that platform Chris Adams (35 n.o.) continued the attack on the bowling with 63 runs for the fourth wicket. Paul Reiffel had Cottey play on, and two balls later had nightwatchman James Kirtley out without scoring. Nottinghamshire missed Paul Franks who is in the England squad, and Reiffel’s 23 overs cost 2-63.
Celtic took advantage in the title race again on Sunday afternoon as the Hoops managed to put their poor recent record at Almondvale to bed.
The Hoops are now three points clear of their fierce rivals in the race to win the Premiership and it came about courtesy of a 3-1 win over Livingston.
The scoreline reflects that of a comfortable victory for Ange Postecoglou’s side but it could have gone very differently if they hadn’t responded to an early penalty miss.
They were perhaps fortunate to have been awarded one for an apparent handball and Livi may well have felt justice was served when Callum McGregor struck the post and the ball bounced to safety.
It was a poor penalty and not even Sky Sports’ excuse that his mask may have got in the way was viable here.
Indeed, it may be somewhat offputting for the Celtic skipper but beyond the penalty miss, he also let his teammates and manager down in other areas too, missing a glorious chance with a header minutes after his missed spot-kick as well.
Usually so comfortable and calm in possession of the ball, it was a rare off day in that department for McGregor.
According to SofaScore, he did complete 90% of his passes but at points, he could be found guilty of trying too much.
After all, he gave away the ball on nine occasions, meaning he ceded possession once every five touches. Furthermore, he gave away two fouls and failed with every single one of his dribble and cross attempts during the course of the match.
What made matters worse is that next to Nir Bitton, his physical presence was very limited.
The bullish Scot won just four of his 11 duels – a win percentage of 36% – and as a result, he was hauled off with seven minutes remaining.
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Considering he has the captaincy duties, it feels unlikely that Postecoglou will ever consider axing him from the starting XI.
However, with plenty of options in that area of the pitch now – both Reo Hatate and Matt O’Riley were on the bench – he will have to be wary of those behind him in the pecking order.
AND in other news, Sold for £2.1m, now worth 224% more: Celtic may rue call on 26-cap “laughing stock”…
The local knowledge of the Australia squad’s two Tasmanians will be tapped by Mitchell Johnson as he looks to build on his impressive debut. Johnson has risen swiftly to international honours – the Brisbane Test was his 23rd first-class game – and his experience at Bellerive Oval is limited to a handful of domestic contests for Queensland.Fortunately Ricky Ponting will be on hand to offer advice in the lead-up to Friday’s second Test and Ben Hilfenhaus, the swing bowler, is also in the squad. “He’s a good one to speak too, playing there all the time, so I’ll have a chat with him,” Johnson said as he prepared to leave Brisbane. “The bowling group will also probably get together and ask him a few questions.”The ball did not swing when Ponting played a Pura Cup match there two weeks ago, but there is hope from the fast men of obtaining some reverse late in the innings. Johnson remembers getting early movement in the air and off the surface, which will be analysed closely over the next couple of days.Bellerive Oval has regularly been referred to as a “road” over the past decade, but the production of the pitch has changed since the curator Cameron Hodgkins took over. Following discussions with the Tasmania team management, Hodgkins began cultivating surfaces that did not result in regular bowling mutilation and they helped the Tigers record enough outright victories to host – and win – the 2006-07 Pura Cup final.Hilfenhaus also benefited, picking up 60 wickets in last season’s competition, but he will need an injury to a fast-bowling team-mate to match Johnson’s debut. Australia have no plans to change the starting XI following the comprehensive innings-and-40-run victory over Sri Lanka at the Gabba on Monday.Johnson was pleased with his returns of 2 for 49 and 2 for 47 and rated his first-up dismissal of Thilan Samaraweera as his favourite. “It moved away and got the edge,” he said. “And I nearly got him in the second innings the same way.”At the end of the match the bowlers put their arms around each other and collected a stump to remember the strong team performance. “It was a pretty proud moment for us all,” he said. Now Johnson is aiming to improve his consistency for Hobart.”At times I was too short and a bit wide [in Brisbane],” he said. “But it was my first game and I’m pretty happy with the way things went.”Johnson opened the bowling on Friday but it looks as though he will share the new-ball duties with Stuart Clark. Ponting gave Clark, who also earned four wickets for the match, first use of the second one with Lee on Monday morning as Sri Lanka were dismissed for 300.”Whoever gets the new ball deserves it at that time,” Johnson said. “I probably wasn’t swinging the ball as much as Ricky would have liked and I would have liked. Stuart was the man for the job at that stage.”Stuart gets the ball to move around a little bit and he was even swinging the ball yesterday, which was a good sign. I’d love to get the new ball when I can, but it’s not a bad thing if we share it around.”Sri Lanka are desperate for Kumar Sangakkara to return in Hobart from a hamstring tear and Johnson expects the batsman’s inclusion to strengthen the side. However, the tourists will have to lift as a group if they are to have any chance of levelling the two-game series.”We want to try to beat them again convincingly and comprehensively, and drive it into them,” Johnson said. “We’re on a high at the moment so we’re going to keep going strong.”
Ian Bell, England’s designated No. 3 batsman, is expected to be passed fit for the first Test at Brisbane tomorrow, after coming through a practice session 24 hours after being struck a painful blow on the left wrist. An ECB statement said that a final decision would be made on the morning of the match.Bell, who had been batting in the nets against James Anderson, was given ice treatment and taken away for a precautionary X-ray, which revealed heavy bruising but no fracture.England had been optimistic all along that the injury was nothing serious. “It would be a blow [if he missed out],” admitted Andrew Strauss yesterday, “but we are talking about hypotheticals. From what I’ve seen it won’t prevent him playing. The nets had a little bit of extra bounce, but they are very, very good, probably the best we’ve seen this tour.”If Bell was to be ruled out, then Strauss’s Middlesex team-mate, Ed Joyce, would be thrust into the starting line-up, just days since arriving in the country as a replacement for Marcus Trescothick.”For me, Ed’s greatest strength is his ability to keep a cool head under pressure,” said Strauss. “So, if there’s any guy I know who’ll be well set to make a debut, it’s him. It’s a big ask, but everyone know’s he’s a quality player. Even so, we’re very hopeful that Ian’s going to play.”
Mamta Maben will lead the Indian Women team in the forthcoming series against New Zealand.The New Zealand Women team, known as the Silver Ferns, will play a one-off Test and five one-day Internationals in India. The tour begins on November 23rd with a warm up match at Mumbai.Indian Squad 1 Mamta Maben (capt), 2 Anju Jain (wk), 3 Mithali Raj, 4 Jaya Sharma, 5 Hemlata Kala, 6 Neetu David, 7 Anjum Chopra, 8 Deepa Kulkarni, 9 Jhulan Goswami, 10 Amita Sharma, 11 Sunetra Paranjpe, 12 Karuna Jain, 13 Nooshin al Kadeer, 14 Diana David, 15 Babusha Singh
You can see tomorrow’s headlines already – “Former screw turns the screw”.Charl Langeveldt, a former prison officer from Boland, defied the pain ofa broken hand to grab five wickets on debut as England crashed to 163 allout in a calamitous morning session.”I’m in a lot of pain,” admitted Langeveldt, who is receiving twoanaesthetic injections a day, one at 3am in the morning, another at 6pmafter play has finished. “But I try not to think about it. My adrenalinwas pumping and I was confident of bowling in the right areas. When theblood’s warm, it’s warm!”But the pun will only run so far because Langeveldt, understandably, doesnot much fancy having any screws inserted into his hand in the event offurther injury, and has more or less ruled himself out of the remainder ofthe series. “Ideally I would have liked to play,” he said, “but I’mthinking long-term, and it would be stupid to risk getting hit and beingout for probably six months. I’m seeing a specialist tomorrow, and I’llmake a decision from there.”Langeveldt, who switched to full-time cricket four years ago, has playedsix one-day internationals, but had to wait a long time for his Testdebut. “You get labelled in South Africa as a one-day bowler,” heexplained, “and with the likes of Allan Donald, Shaun Pollock and MakhayaNtini, it is difficult to get into the Test squad. But it’s awesome totake five wickets on my debut. Any cricketer would want that, and it’shappy days today.”Langeveldt burst into contention for this series with his seven-wickethaul at Potchefstroom, where South Africa A shocked England in theiropening tour match. It was no coincidence, for he is well acquainted withall things English. His wife is from the Isle of Wight (they met on a tourto Barbados), while he has played several seasons in the LancashireLeague, most recently for Morecambe.”I just try to bowl as full as possible, and swing it,” he explained. “Itdid more late in the innings, and there was hardly any wind as well whichhelped. It was the same in Potch, because [the English] like to get bat onball, and with the extra bounce the ball carried to the slips and keeper.”A simple philosophy, but it has left England deep in the porridge.
The Rose Bowl will host the final of the ECB 2nd XI Trophy on Monday 8th September (reserve day 9th September) where Hampshire 2nd XI will play Warwickshire 2nd XI starting at 11:00 am.The match is a 50 overs a side contest, played under similar rules to the Cheltenham & Gloucester Trophy.Admission is free and the club hope that as many spectators as possible will be there to support the future of the club.Hampshire qualified by winning all their eight qualifying group matches then defeating Sussex in the semi-final at The Rose Bowl.Warwickshire reached the semi-final after winning 5 out of 6 matches, with two rain abandoned. They then defeated Derbyshire in the knock-out stage.