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In 121 years of Test cricket played on English soil since 1880, spanning 394 Test matches, the England-Pakistan Test match at Lord's which begins today, will have the earliest start to a Test series in England. Last season Zimbabwe played its first Test at Lord's, which began on May 18. Prior to this, the earliest start was May 27 - in 1909, 1912 and 1965. Test matches that began in the month of May in England are listed below. Interestingly India and Sri Lanka are the only teams who have not played a Test match in the month of May in England.
Pakistan will be looking to tame the English lion in its own den after their shocking loss to the English in Karachi last year. The first Test that begins today will also launch officially the beginning of the ICC's World Test Championships. The championships pioneered by Wisden would calculate points and positions on the table based on winning and losing at home and away for all Test playing countries beginning today's Test match. When all teams have played each other by 2005 the leading side will hold the ICC Test championship Trophy in silver & gold produced by Asprey & Garrard and valued at $30,000.
The West Indies at last won a match against the South Africans when it took the seventh and final match by six wickets at Kingstown, St Vincent. However, the visitors won the one-day series 5-2. South Africa had also won the Test series 2-1. Restricted to 163-7 in 50 overs, South Africa could not prevent the home team from cruising to a win by six wickets. South African skipper Shaun Pollock was named the man of the series. In this match Jonty Rhodes became the first South African to appear in 200 ODI matches.
It seems the President of the South African Cricket Board (UCBSA) Percy Sonn and Chief Executive Gerald Majola, were both aware of the marijuana smoking incident that took place in the West Indies as soon as it happened last month. There is outrage in South Africa following the attempts of the two senior officials to cover up the incident as it was made public nearly one month after it happened. South Africa have been in the thick of undesirable publicity ever since the betting scandal involving Hansie Cronje broke out last year. Incidentally, one of the latest offenders Herschelle Gibbs already has a suspended sentence of a three-match ban and a Rand 10,000 fine.
The Indian team for the 51-day tour of Zimbabwe will be announced today from the 26 probables who attended the six-day camp at Bangalore. Meanwhile, former Indian wicket-keeper Nayan Mongia will be arriving in Bangalore to plead his case to the selectors and include him in the squad to Zimbabwe. If he eventually does get a hearing it will be the first time a player audaciously pleads his case for selection. Mongia has been meeting with senior Board officials to find out the reasons why he was dropped despite a decent domestic season.
With the ticklish question of playing cricket against Pakistan yet to be sorted out, the BCCI on Wednesday said it was "not very keen" to host the ICC Knockout Tournament next year. "We have asked the ICC (International Cricket Council) to come out with the details." said secretary Jaywant Lele during a visit to the North Zone Cricket Academy in Delhi. He further added "we don't know the terms and conditions, particularly revenue sharing, offered to Bangladesh and Kenya for hosting the previous editions. The whole matter will be discussed at ICC's annual meeting in London in June. Till then we are not necessarily keen to host the tournament". While Lele did not mention the issue of Pakistan's participation, sports minister Ms Uma Bharti is on record saying that the ban on playing cricket was on bilateral series between India and its neighbour and there was no hitch about participating in multi-lateral tournaments. The BCCI secretary also confirmed that India would be going to Australia in September this year to participate in a three-match one-day series against the host country. The first two matches, to be played on September 14 and 16, would be indoors in Melbourne while the final game on September 18, would be played outdoors in Brisbane. "The arrangement for the series is on a reciprocal basis and in return, Australia will play three one-dayers in India next year," Lele said. Australian coach John Buchanan has warned his batsmen ahead of the England tour. He said the batsmen will need to get to grips with English conditions where in swing and seem will prevail. He warned the batsmen to make sure they had their techniques perfected before the tour. The jewel in India's cricket crown Sachin Tendulkar has just signed up a staggering 800 million rupee (US$ 17 million) contract with World Tel a sports management company. The company will handle all Tendulkar's commercial endorsements and marketing activities for the next five years. This is against the five-year deal he had signed for the same company in 1995 that was then worth 300 million rupees (US$ 8 million). The Punjab Cricket Association (PCA) is paying the price for having a president who is on the wrong side of the BCCI. IS Bindra who has been at loggerheads with the officialdom is the only reason why the PCA ground at Mohali (one of the best grounds in the country) has been overlooked again for a Test during the England home series. A strange new policy saw Mohali being overlooked for the Zimbabwe and Australian tours and now it is reported that Delhi and Ahmedabad and Bangalore will be the three Test venues, when England tours this year end, while Mohali will be left with hosting weddings and receptions to make ends meet.
Championship (1st day) Essex v Yorkshire at Chelmsford No play due to rain
Lancashire v Glamorgan at Manchester
Kent 312-5 (DP Fulton 138 not out) v Somerset at Taunton
Surrey v Leicestershire at The Oval
Championship (1st day) Middlesex 182-2 (OA Shah 86 not out, SP Fleming 63 not out) v Durham at Chester-le-Street Shah and Fleming put on an unbeaten 133 before rain stopped play early.
Hampshire 122-2 (DA Kenway 55 not out) v Gloucestershire at Rose Bowl
Nottinghamshire 41-1 v Warwickshire at Nottingham
Worcestershire v Derbyshire at Worcester
South Africa:
Result: South Africa won by 53 runs. (South Africa won the seven-match series 5-1)
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Compiled by: Mohandas Menon
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