Category Uncategorized

England’s new recruit, Ed Smith, has credited his excellent form this season to Australia’s captain, Steve Waugh, who played for Kent for the last six weeks of the 2002 season.”I think watching Steve Waugh from the other end last season definitely helped me,” said Smith. “We batted together. He was out of nick until the last innings when he scored a hundred – which led to him having an amazing spell back in Australian domestic cricket. But what he taught me, through me watching rather than listening to him, was bringing a positive mental attitude to every ball.””I scored a hundred in each innings against Nottinghamshire at Maidstone recently," said Smith. “The test for me was going out after the first one and finding that extra bit of hunger to get the second. The important thing for me is keeping that hunger. I have been mad at myself for not having made my case more strongly in the past, and a little bit of that anger is now manifesting itself.””This season I have been batting with those five years of frustration in me," added Smith. "I know I could have been better, freer, more positive." He was certainly a carefree strokemaker in his early days, as demonstrated by a century on his first-class debut for Cambridge against Glamorgan. But eventually, being asked to open the innings took its toll on Smith’s approach. "I found the demands of opening the batting curbed my natural inclination to hit the ball and I was more inhibited in my strokeplay.”In 2000 Smith moved down the order to No. 3, and has profited from some minor adjustments to his game. “I have not started playing differently – even if perhaps I am now more prepared to play bigger shots, which is helping me to convert fifties into hundreds. Last summer I had a string of fifties. I was in great nick, but there were only two hundreds. But now I am definitely playing more freely.”

Gloucestershire have given their squad a major boost with the signing of New Zealand opening batsman Craig Spearman on a two-year contract.Spearman, 29, has played in 19 Tests and 51 one-day internationals. He will be able to play alongside Australian all-rounder Ian Harvey at Gloucestershire since he holds a British passport, courtesy of his Welsh mother.Gloucestershire have been chasing a proven top-order batsman for some while and they can thank a change in the eligibility rules for Spearman’s arrival in Bristol.Auckland-born Spearman, who has spent the past five years playing for Central Districts, explained: “I came to England in July with the intention of starting a career outside cricket.”I recently completed a degree in business studies and finance, but the events of September 11 have meant that the banking industry is a little gloomy at the moment.”I found out that the eligibility rules have changed for me to play cricket over here and I have qualified quite fortuitously.”The rules state that I must not have played international or first-class cricket in the 12 months before the English season starts next April and my last game was in March.”I told New Zealand officials earlier this year that I was going to the UK and not coming back. I wasn’t sure I would be playing any cricket, so this will be like starting my career over again.”One of the major reasons for Spearman’s arrival at Gloucestershire is the presence of John Bracewell, the county’s director of cricket and former New Zealand Test spinner.Spearman said: “When John finished playing, he started coaching in Auckland. I played in the 16, 18 and 20 age group sides under him and then I was part of the Auckland team when he took charge of that.”I know John quite well and I know his style and desire to succeed. I have a background of some experience and I’m looking forward to helping Gloucestershire.”Spearman has a first-class average of 36 and, in Test cricket, has scored 923 runs at just over 26 per innings. His one century came against Zimbabwe.Gloucestershire captain Mark Alleyne said: “We want Craig as an opener and he will fit in well with what we want to achieve. Anyone who has played 70 times for their country will bring with him a wealth of experience.”He is pretty much in our mould. He hits the ball well and is not scared to get on with it when needs be.”

Michael Holding has described Brian Close, who died on Sunday, as one of the “toughest people in the game”. Holding was one of the West Indies bowlers who peppered Close in his final series in 1976, when the Yorkshireman was recalled by England at the age of 45.Close stood up to Holding, Andy Roberts and Wayne Daniel, often taking the ball on the body and all without a helmet. The Old Trafford Test, Close’s last, left him covered in bruises but the lasting result was a close friendship with Holding.”His toughness was legendary,” Holding said. “The mere fact that England thought that Brian Close at the age of 45 was the right man to be coming back to face the West Indies in 1976, with their four-pronged pace attack, just shows what they thought of him.”But even before that time, everyone knew of his toughness. There were famous pictures of him with all those bruises on his body when he batted against Wes Hall, when he just stood there and took the blows.”He was never one to shirk an issue, he was never one to back down, when they called him back at 45 to face West Indies he didn’t say to anyone ‘No, I am too old’, he went out there and tried to do his best, and gave everything for his country.”Not just the toughest batsman, he was one of the toughest people around in the game.”Tales of Close’s courage are commonplace and Holding described him as “hard but fair”. They went on to become good friends, although their discussions in later life tended to be more about horse racing than cricket.”I heard a story, in same Test match, to get rid of Alvin Kallicharran, who loved to sweep, Pat Pocock was told to bowl on leg stump, ‘I’ll field at short leg, I’ll block the shot with my chest and Knotty you take the catch.’ He played hard but fair. Never gave an inch and was a very fair man.”Closey and myself were very good friends throughout. We never spoke much cricket, Closey and myself are big fans of horse racing so spoke a lot about that, and on the phone. I went to benefit functions at Yorkshire, that sort of thing, and we got on well.”His wife Viv called me when we went up to the Test at Leeds and said, ‘Come and see Closey, not sure how much longer he is going to be with us’. I went and visited him during the New Zealand Test and I am glad I did because now he is gone.”

Usman Khawaja believes Sydney Thunder are reaping the rewards of the work of Michael Hussey and general manager Nick Cummins, following his quickfire hundred in the semi-final against Adelaide Strikers. After a horror run in the early years of the BBL, Thunder made their first final, and Khawaja admitted he had once considered his future with the franchise.”It was tough because you play cricket to win and you’re trying your best and that’s still not happening,” Khawaja said. “It was a bit of a helpless feeling and there were times when I thought ‘do I want to be in this team still?’ But when Huss came on board I thought we had a really good chance of picking the team up from the bottom. I talked to Huss when he first came on, and I said the Thunder was close to my heart, having grown up in Western Sydney and that we could do this, but it might take a bit of time.”I think the overall roster has seen a big change and is a lot more balanced now. We have hitters, batsman, pace and spin. A lot has gone on behind the scenes too – Nick Cummins, our GM – has done a lot over the last three years, hiring good people, and there’s a good vibe. That’s helped the guys on the field – there are a lot of hidden heroes behind the scenes who don’t get the congratulations that we do.”Saturday’s final, against either Melbourne Stars or Perth Scorchers, will be Hussey’s final game in Australia.

Lancashire‘s hopes of their first outright Championship title since 1934 are fading with every passing day at The Oval. Surrey declined to enforce the follow-on after dismissing them for 234 before extending their lead to 214.Surrey bowled tidily as a collective, with Matt Nicholson and Chris Jordan particularly impressing. Nicholson exploited the early swinging conditions, and a lifting pitch, to remove Steven Croft for a duck and to trap Mark Chilton for 4. Stuart Law and Paul Horton rallied with 45 and 48 respectively, and it was left to VVS Laxman (53) and latterly Dominic Cork (46 not out) to limit the first-innings deficit.Laxman batted with his customary authority until he fell, pulling hard to long leg off the rapidly emerging talent Jordan, who has slotted right into first-team cricket. Those in the know are already tipping him as Young Cricketer of the Year for 2008.Like Nicholson, Jordan used the conditions to bowl with pace and hostility; his last two victims – Oliver Newby (0) and Gary Keedy (2) – were both beaten for pace and fended through to the keeper, although replays showed the ball had brushed Newby’s arm. Cork was the lone battler and he enjoyed the challenge, even smacking an audacious six for good measure. But not for fun: Lancashire badly want this title.It’s not of their reach yet, however, although if they do prosper it will be in spite of Mark Ramprakash’s gleaming best efforts. He fell short of his double-hundred, making 196. Still, it could prove ultimately costly, given he could have been run out on nought, and was also dropped on 4.Sussex had another excellent day against Worcestershire at Hove as they continued to press their own title claims. They gained maximum batting points thanks to Robin Martin-Jenkins, who will at once rue, and be delighted with, his 99 and Chris Liddle, who demonstrated an eye for the big occasion with his maiden first-class half-century.Following Mushtaq Ahmed’s dismissal (382 for 8), Sussex needed a further 118 for five points; Martin-Jenkins and Liddle duly delivered, with a ninth-wicket partnership of 120. Worcestershire showed heart with an opening stand of 79 and they had reached 93 for 2 by stumps; Moeen Ali (1) soon following Stephen Moore (48) to the hutch.Michael Carberry’s unbeaten century for Hampshire was the highlight against Yorkshire on day two at Headingley. After finishing off Yorkshire’s first innings for 195, Hampshire drew level with four wickets down. John Crawley also contributed a fifty.Dale Benkenstein struck a century to hand Durham the lead following another tidy day against Kent at Canterbury. By the close, Kent had come close to erasing the deficit in their second innings; they now trail by ten with seven wickets left.

Shane Bond, the New Zealand fast bowler, has been ruled out of his team’s opening match of the Champions Trophy, against South Africa, in Mumbai on Monday with a “stiffness and restriction” in the back. This is the latest setback in a long line of back trouble that Bond has suffered.”Shane Bond won’t be considered for tomorrow’s match,” said Linsay Crocker, the New Zealand manager, at a pre-match press conference. “Shane suffered some stiffness and restriction of movement in his back in the warm-up match against Baroda at MIG Club on Friday.”He was keen to bowl today in preparation for tomorrow but we’ve taken a long-term view with Shane and decided it’s best he doesn’t bowl today or tomorrow and begins preparations for the next match on Tuesday.”The news came as a blow to New Zealand ahead of their crucial match against South Africa, but Stephen Fleming, the captain, was as unruffled as ever, and took the news in his stride. “It’s disappointing. It’s not good news before a big game, but it’s news we’ve had in the pastand we’ve been able to deal with before,” said Fleming. “While the team is extremely disappointed for Shane, we still think that, given the nature of the pitch, we have opportunities with our bowlers to still be competitive.”Fleming underscored the need to take a long-term view in the case of recurring injuries with key players, and explained New Zealand’s stance on Bond. “When you have a player who has long-term back problems it is always a concern when that back problem gives restrictions. What we’ve tried to do with Shane is be conservative,” he said. “We’re not looking at just this tournament, we’re looking at ones after this, especially the World Cup. If we can get him through to that, that would be nice. That is the long-term aim which is part of the reason why we’re not playing him tomorrow.”With Scott Styris also not 100 % fit – he suffered a hamstring twinge during a warm-up match – New Zealand have not got off to the start they wanted off the field. However, Styris was still in contention for a place in the final eleven, and depending on how his fitness held up in practiceon the day before the match, he could still make the cut and play a part.

Football heartthrob David Beckham and rugby hunk Jonny Wilkinson have been caught out this summer by England’s cricket team whose skill against Australia and good looks have won a bevy of female fans. The whole country has gone cricket mad over the past few weeks as England battles to beat Australia in an Ashes series for the first time in nearly 20 years, with a nail biting climax set for the final Test.For a sport that is traditionally worshipped by men, cricket is also attracting more women thanks to the success of the England team and the appeal of certain members, such as charming allrounder Andrew Flintoff, chiselled fast bowler Simon Jones and cheeky blue-haired batsman Kevin Pietersen. “The players look good and they are charismatic, which is partly why the game is spreading to new audiences,” said Clare Connor, captain of the England women’s cricket team, which won its own Ashes against Australia last month. “Everyone male or female gets interested as soon as the team starts doing really well against the top side which is Australia,” she told AFP.England will go into the final Test 2-1 up and needing just a draw to win the overall contest – a feat that will turn the squad into national heroes. “Everyone is talking about cricket,” said a spokesman for the England and Wales Cricket Board. “The fact that the team is potentially in line for an Ashes victory is something that has swept the country.” Asked how the players were handling their heightened fame and adoring throng of female fans, the spokesman said: “They are coping very well. Essentially they don’t have time to do much else other than concentrate on the job at hand – and that is trying to win the Ashes.”Despite their gruelling training regime, some of the team have found time to pose for photo-shoots and give interviews. Their pictures dominate the sports sections of newspapers and also appear increasingly in glossy men’s magazines. They even feature as pin-ups inside women’s monthly magazines. Cosmopolitan magazine sent female hearts racing when it published a naked, smouldering photograph of 26-year-old Jones, who will miss the last Test with an ankle injury, in its August edition. “We were the first people to identify the sexual appeal of the England cricket players,” said a spokeswoman for the magazine. “Suddenly cricket is sexy for young women,” she told AFP, noting that the picture of Jones – which is part of a monthly feature to raise awareness about male cancer – triggered a flood of emails and phone calls from readers wanting a poster-size copy of the tanned, muscle-bound cricketer.The Barmy Army, a colourful group of cricket fans who typically wear fancy dress and sing funny songs at matches, said they welcomed the influx of women who were travelling to the games or watching them on television. “I think the girls like coming along now that there are a few sex symbols on the pitch,” said Paul Burnham, one of the founders of the fan club. “The more girls who get into it the better for cricket,” he said, adding: “The more girls who like cricket, the more times their husbands and boyfriends will be allowed to play or go and watch it.”Highlighting the sport’s popularity, Channel 4, which broadcasts live coverage of cricket in Britain, enjoyed a 21% share of the country’s television audience on August 28 when England clinched the fourth Test at Trent Bridge. The figure was more than double its normal rating and higher than the other stations – ironically it comes in the last season that terrestrial television broadcasts home test matches after the ECB judged it better to move it to BSkyB who offered a lot more money.In addition, one supermarket chain is selling more replica England cricket shirts than football shirts, according to the series sponsor. England captain Michael Vaughan said last month: “We can’t go anywhere without people wishing us luck. It’s great to know that the nation will be right behind us when we take on the Aussies.”With the football and rugby seasons up and running, however, the sponsor’s spokeswoman Sue Newton said it would be naive to think cricket’s new-found popularity will last throughout the winter months when the sport is not played in Britain. At the same time, she hoped enough momentum had been generated to see cricket once more in the headlines when the new season starts next year. As for the female fans, their passion for the game – and in particular the players – shows no sign of fading. “I like the appeal of the characters and personalities who are playing, and the fact that they are doing well,” said Hannah Mervis, 25, a policewoman who lives in a flat overlooking The Oval.

Western Australia lost a cricketing icon when Ken Meuleman passed away on Friday night at Hollywood Private Hospital in Perth after a battle with bone cancer.Meuleman, who turned 81 last Sunday, is synonymous with Western Australian cricket as three generations of Meulemans represented the state. Ken, his son Robert and grandson Scott all played for them over seven decades.Ken Meuleman began his cricketing career in Victoria where he played six seasons of first-class cricket and one Test match, against New Zealand in 1946 where he made a duck in his only innings.He moved to Western Australia in 1952 and immediately became a star in the team. In 48 matches, he made 3398 runs at an average of 51.48 with 11 centuries, 13 half-centuries and a top score of 234 not out.Meuleman was a strong supporter of grass roots cricket and coached for many years after his retirement. He had a direct hand in the development in many of Western Australia’s finest Test cricketers including current Australian opener Justin Langer.

Abdul Razzaq has joined Shoaib Akhtar in skipping the home series against Bangladesh next month, said Aamir Sohail, Pakistan’s chief selector.”Shoaib Akhtar has already been given permission by the Board to skip the Bangladesh series. And Razzaq will also not be available,” said Aamir.He also said that the two vacancies would give Pakistan a chance to try out some new cricketers. “The series against Bangladesh will give us a good opportunity to try out some young and new players in our rebuilding process,” Aamir said. “We are planning to rest some senior players and try out the fringe players.”Pakistan, however, will field its strongest squad in the home series against South Africa, which starts in September.The series, beginning on August 20, consists of three Tests and five one-day internationals.

Australian captain Steve Waugh has today defended match referee Mike Denness’ decision to fine and place a suspended Test ban on Indian star Sachin Tendulkar.Speaking on the eve of the Second Test against New Zealand in Hobart, Waugh declared his support for all initiatives aimed at freeing the sport from on-field misconduct. Misconduct, he said, which clearly extended to include altering the condition of the ball.”If he’s picked the seam, then he’s got to pay the penalty just like everyone else,” said Waugh of Tendulkar’s appearance before Denness during this week’s highly-charged Second Test between South Africa and India in Port Elizabeth.”There shouldn’t be any favours just because of your reputation or the way you play the game.”If you do something wrong then you’ve got to get pulled up for it.”After viewing footage of an incident on the third day of play in the Port Elizabeth Test, Denness imposed a one-match ban on Tendulkar – suspending the penalty until the end of the year – and also fined the star Indian batsman 75% of his match fee.Five other Indian players – including captain Sourav Ganguly and star spin bowler Harbhajan Singh – were also heavily punished for other breaches of the code of conduct, primarily for excessive appealing.They were decisions which sparked outrage among officials, commentators and fans across India, as well as a number of the country’s past and present players.But Waugh vowed that stricter sanctions for such practices were long overdue.”I think it’s been going on too long,” he said, in reference to ball tampering.”It’s about time people started paying the penalty.”More consistency is what we’re after, and that’s what (the International Cricket Council) is trying to do. If someone does something wrong, they’re going to be penalised.”We’re looking for consistency … and if they give you that, then you know where you stand. If you go the wrong side of the line, you know you’re going to get penalised. As long as they’re consistent, then that’s fine by the players.”Waugh conceded that it was his own players’ custom not to walk after knowingly being dismissed, but claimed a “tough but fair” approach should prevail among all teams.”We made a conscious effort from last year to accept every decision. If you’re given out when it’s not out, then bad luck. If you’re given not out when it’s out, then it’s your good luck.”But you accept all decisions.”Asked to clarify the reason why altering the state of the ball should be seen as such a sin, Waugh was quickly on to the front foot.”I wouldn’t mind my bat being a bit wider as well,” he quipped.”There’s a ball and a bat there and it’s a contest. If you alter either of those, then you shouldn’t be playing.”