The Ashes Test series
Mark Ramprakash and Graham Thorpe come into the 14 member English squad announced for the Lord's Test beginning on Thursday, 19 July. Thorpe comes back after a 6 week lay-off caused by a damaged calf and is desperately working towards getting match fit. Yorkshire's Chris Silverwood will replace Mathew Hoggard who has a suspected stress fracture on his left foot. The team is as follows:
MA Atherton (Capt) M Tresscothick, MA Butcher, MR Ramprakash, IJ Ward, AJ Stewart (wk), U Afzaal, GP Thorpe, C White, DG Cork, D Gough, AR Caddick, CEW Silverwood, AF Giles.
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The disappointed England skipper Nasser Hussain said he was worried about the recurring injuries striking his hand. Hussain was hit on the finger by Gillespie in the first Test and earlier by Shoaib Akhtar. He also suffered hand injuries in the Tests he played against New Zealand and West Indies last year. He expressed the fear that more hand injuries could mean the end of his career. Hussain had consulted a specialist to find out if the frequent fractures to his fingers were caused by any brittleness in his bones.
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Reacting to Hussain's fears that frequency of finger injuries could mean the end of his career the chairman of selectors David Graveny said he felt the whole incident was being blown out of proportion by the skipper. He said the comments were just precipitated by the anxiety caused to him and his team due to his frequent absence due to injury.
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Australia's Damien Martyn helped himself to an unbeaten 176 in an Australian total of 335-4 declared as the tourists left the visitors and improbable target of 417 for victory with a day to go in the match. The home side were 52-1 at close. The Australian total was also supported by a neatly compiled 76 from keeper Wade Seccombe who put on 156 for the third wicket with Martyn.
India touring Sri Lanka
Sourav Ganguly and his team will leave for Sri Lanka from Chennai on the 16th July. The tri series featuring the hosts and New Zealand will be played in Sri Lanka from 18 July to 4 August. A few changes will be made for the team that stays back to play three Tests at Galle, Kandy and Colombo between 14 August and 2 September.
West Indies to Zimbabwe
Resuming at 26-0 on the second day after West Indies had made 374 in the first innings Zimbabwe A made 345, thanks largely to a patiently compiled 140 from opener Alistair Campbell. All the rest of the Zimbabwe A made insignificant contributions except for a last minute resistance from Brian Strang who remained unbeaten on 50 made of just 34 balls which included 10 hits to the fence. West Indies 29 runs ahead on the first innings were 29-0 at stumps on the 2nd day.
ICC Trophy
Netherlands won the ICC Trophy grabbing a 2-wicket win of the last delivery of the match in a climactic final. Namibia euphoric after their entry into the final, and thus the World Cup 2003 lost their way completely after having things under control. Batting first the Namibians scored 195-9 in the 50 overs and struck early blows to have Netherlands tottering at 98-5. But useful half centuries from KJJ van Noortwijk (50) and JJ Esmeijer (58 not out) saw them through. The latter was named man of the match. Bangladesh were the winners of the 1997 ICC Trophy held at Kuala Lumpur, Malasiya.
Miscellaneous :
Banned former South African skipper Hansie Cronje will in all probability make a come back to first class cricket either as a player or a coach. Cronje's legal team are preparing to battle the South African Board on the life ban slapped on Cronje without a hearing. Cronje has been barred from even playing beach cricket in South Africa and speaking at any cricket related functions. His lawyers are now adopting an aggressive approach to the ban alleging the South Africa Board of exceeding the limits of the things they can control in Hansie's life.
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Pakistan are looking to former South African skipper Kepler Wessels to coach of the national team leading up to the 2003 World Cup. Surrey's coach and former first class cricketer Keith Medlycott has also been named as another contender for the hot post.
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