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Aug 10, 2001
Cricket |
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India in Sri Lanka
After the openers Shiv Sunder Das (72) and Sadagoppan Ramesh (63) put on 135 for the first wicket the middle order collapsed and it was left to wicket-keeper Sameer Dighe (25 not out) and Ganguly to do the repair. At stumps on the second day the Indians were 281-5, still 45 runs behind the Board President's XI total. The Sri Lankan Cricket Board today announced that former cricketer Asoka De Silva (1st and Third Test) along with West Indian Steve Bucknor (1st and 2nd Test) will officiate in the Tests against India while TB Wijewardena will officiate as home umpire in the second Test. Dave Orchard will be the ICC appointed umpire for the third Test. The first Test begins at Galle on 14 August. Peter Manuel, Gamini Silva and TB Wijewardena will be the third umpires. The chairman of selectors Chandu Borde yesterday opined that Sachin Tendulkar should go to Sri Lanka only if he is a hundred percent fit. Borde felt that Tendulkar's presence on the tour of South Africa when India tour in October/November was vital and that he should not risk aggravating the injury by playing in Sri Lanka. 
The Ashes series Rain disrupted play on the second day of the Australians tour match against Sussex at Hove. In reply to the home team's total of 355-4 decl, the Australians were tottering at 19-2 at close of the first day. However due to rain only 13 overs were possible, as the visitors took the score to 86 without further loss. Former Australian fast bowler Jeff Thomson said England were performing badly in the Ashes series because they had got all the basics wrong. He felt both the bowlers and batsmen were doing all the wrong things and the fielding too was poor. He remarked that it was the duty of the coach to set these things right saying that many of the current coaches were doing all the wrong things. He lauded the idea of the opening of the national academy in England that is to be run by his former teammate saying he was sure Rodney Marsh would do a good job.
As England look to all the possible ways to avert a 5-0 whitewash, chairman of selectors David Graveney indicated there could be large-scale changes in the team composition and batting orders. Wicket keeper Alec Stewart may bat down the order to support the tail. Nottinghamshire's Usman Afzaal and even Kent's David Fulton are likely to be brought into the team. Alex Tudor after a good performance in the third Test is likely to hold his place with Chris Silverwood and Alan Mullally waiting in the wings.
Miscellaneous As an incentive to its players Himachal Pradesh Cricket Association has decided to increase the daily allowance of its cricketers representing the state at national level tournaments during the next season. The daily allowance of Ranji Trophy cricketers has been hiked by 50 percent and that of junior players 30 percent. If the team qualifies for the knockout stage the senior team would get Rs 1 lakh and the junior team Rs 50,000. An outright win would also fetch a senior player Rs 1000 and a junior player Rs 500.
The first batch of 23 students between the ages of 18 and 23, have successfully graduated from the new West Indies cricket academy at St George's University. Their course included studying technique, strategy, mental skills and good attitude. Former fast bowler Wes Hall, now the new West Indies Cricket Board president said he hoped most of these graduates would play in the senior national side. Dr. P. Ramanujam, Secretary, Ministry of Tourism and Sports who was a member of the Sri Lankan Cricket Board Interim Committee has resigned from the Committee. The reason given was that as the Secretary to the Ministry of Tourism and Sports Dr Ramanujam has to occasionally supervise the work of the Interim Committee and being a party to it leads to a situation of conflict of interest. Further the present crisis facing the country and the tourist trade also requires his regular attention.
SCORES AT A GLANCE
INDIA IN SRI LANKA
SL Board XI: 326 (M Vandort 116, T Samaraweera 76; J Srinath 3-68, RL Sanghvi 3-143)
AUSTRALIA IN ENGLAND
Sussex: 355-4 decl (M Goodwin 105, RR Montogmerie 157CJ Adams 66 not out) Yesterday's News ......................... News Roll archive |
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Skipper Sourav Ganguly's unbeaten 74 saved India from embarrassment as the middle order once again crumbled in a heap on a pitch that was not really to the satisfaction of the tourists. The uneven bounce at the P Saravanamuttu stadium had the Indian batsmen hopping and at one stage the skipper threw his bat away in disgust after being hit on the fingers. Obviously he was unhappy and didn't want further injuries to his already injury struck team.
Injured England skipper Nasser Hussain appeared in a comeback match for an Essex second XI against Nottinghamshire for the first time since he broke his finger after a delivery from Glenn McGrath struck him in the first Test of the Ashes series. At the end of the day Hussain said he had a useful day with a good opportunity to brush up on his game after being out of action for almost 4 weeks. He said he felt no uneasiness post injury and hopes to make a comeback to the English side soon.
The BCCI secretary JY Lele recently visited the Lal Bahadur Shastri Stadium at Fateh Maiden in Hyderabad to check on the facilities available there. The ICC match referee Sri Lankan Ranjan Madugalle had sent an adverse report to the ICC on the poor facilities available at this international venue during the New Zealand tour of India in November 1999. It seems the BCCI secretary is satisfied with facilities now provided at the venue. The fifth and final ODI against England in February next year is slated to be played here.