Australia in England

Alec Stewart's stroke filled 82 helped England reach 309 in their first innings as well as send out a message loud and clear top all those who had calling for his head.
Stewart strung up useful little partnerships with the tail enders to take the home team to within less than a 150 runs of the Australian total.
During the course of the England innings Glen McGrath (7-76) claimed his 350th wicket With a lead of 138 under their belt the visitors took it easy and were 69-1 at stumps having lost Slater to a rather lazy shot. Australia now lead by 207 runs with 9 wickets in hand.

________________

Veteran England opener Michael Atherton is likely to announce his retirement from international cricket at the end of the fourth Test match being played at Headingly.
The English selectors have reportedly asked him if he was interested in going on the tours to India and New Zealand. Atherton has been plagued by a back injury for a while now and feels his future now is more with the media.

________________

An Englishman named Karl Power has been making mysterious appearances in key English matches in different sports. He was part of a Manchester United football team photo in Munich last year.
On Friday, dressed in complete England cricket gear he made an appearance on the field of play at Headingly just after Marcus Trescothick was dismissed and as Nasser Hussain was coming in to replace him. Officials initially thought it was a runner for Hussain and the joke was revealed only after Power removed his helmet.
The 33-year old unemployed labourer how ever received a spontaneous applause from the crowd. Power had hid in the toilets for two hours and had planned was to go out at the fall of a wicket before the next batsman could walk in.
But just when Trescothick got out his mobile rang and by the time he had finished talking Hussain was already out on the field. Power plans to pull off five world-class stunts and release a video of them all before Christmas this year.

India in Sri Lanka

Sri Lanka have retained same team that won the first Test against India at Galle earlier this week for the second Test that begins in Kandy on the 22nd of this month. However skipper Jayasuriya felt he would decide the final XI only after he had a look at the pitch on the day of the Test match.
The team will be picked from:
Sanath Jayasuriya (Capt), Marvan Atapattu, Kumar Sangakkara, Mahela Jayawardene, Russel Arnold, Hashan Tillakaratne, Chaminda Vaas, Suresh Perera, Ruchira Perera, Dilhara Fernando, Muttiah Muralitharan, Tilan Samaraweera, Avishka Gunawardana, Dulip Liyanage, Romesh Kaluwitharana, Michael Vandort.

________________

Indian pace bowler Javagal Srinath will be returning home, after an X-ray showed a fracture in his left hand. He has been ruled out of the next two matches.
He will be returning to Bangalore from where he will take treatment. Srinath was hit on the hand by a bouncer and had retired hurt in India's first innings and did not bat in the second.

________________

Sri Lankan medium fast bowler and dashing batsman Suresh Perera has been reported to the ICC for a suspect action by the West Indian umpire Steve Bucknor who officiated the first Test between India and Sri Lanka at Galle.
Suresh Perera in his second Test match only bowled 12 overs in India's first innings and did not bowl at all in the second. He is the third Sri Lankan bowler to be reported to the ICC for a suspect action following Muralitharan and Dharmasena.
Perera had already been reported earlier by umpire Asoka DeSilva (who also officiated in the recently concluded Test match) two years ago to the Sri Lankan cricket Board after a domestic match.

West Indies in Kenya

After managing to score only 192 batting first the Kenyans reduced the West Indians to 17-3 before experienced middle order Shivnaraine Chanderpaul (87) and Marlon Samuels (46) helped the visitors overhaul the total with 6 wickets top spare.

Miscellaneous

Sachin Tendulkar is to visit South Africa and consult orthopedic surgeon Mark Fergusson based in Johannesburg for treatment to his right toe. He is to leave for South Africa on August 23.

________________

The BCCI has reacted sharply to reports that appeared in the media issued by the Asian Cricket Council and Asian Cricket Federation, that the Test championships would go on even if India do not participate.
Senior Board officials said the government is in the process of clearing the team but threats from the ACF that the tournament would be held without India, would not be tolerated.
It was felt that if necessary the BCCI would withdraw itself from the ACF as maintaining the country's pride and prestige were of primary importance. The ACF has reportedly not replied to the BCCI letter of June 20 protesting against Bangladesh being the venue of the final saying it should be played in either of the countries taking part in the final.
Meanwhile BCCI members are confident that the government would clear the cricket team's trip to Pakistan.

Brief Scores

ENGLAND v AUSTRALIA (4th Test)
Played at Headingly Leeds (3rd day)
Toss: Australia
Australia: 447 (R Ponting 144, M Waugh 72 D Martyn 118; D Gough 5-103, A Caddick 3-143) 69-1 (M Hayden 12 not out, R Pontiong 30 not out)
England: 309 (M Trescothick 37, M Butcher 47, N Hussain 46, M Ramprakash 30, A Stewart 76 not out; G McGrath 7-76)

________________

WEST INDIES vs KENYA (2nd ODI)
Played at Simba Union Ground, Nairobi
Toss: Kenya
Kenya: 192 in 49.1 overs (P Ochieng 36, J Kamande 32 not out; RD Kind 4-32, )
West Indies: 193-4 in 46 overs (M Samuels 46, S Chanderpaul 87 not out, C Hooper 33 not out; M Suji 3-23).
Result: West Indies won by 6 wickets.

Yesterday's News .........................  News Roll archive