Disregarding strong West Indies Cricket Board (WICB) advice, Marlon Samuels journeyed to Anguilla yesterday with the Jamaica team for the opening match of the Carib Beer Series against the Leeward Islands, starting tomorrow.At the same time, Jamaica Cricket Association (JCA) president Jackie Hendriks said in Kingston that Samuels had asked to have his injured left knee examined by his own specialist in Washington with whom he "would feel more comfortable"."That seems a perfectly reasonable request and, as I understand it, an appointment has been firmed up for sometime next week," he added.It conflicted with WICB president Wes Hall’s announcement Tuesday that an appointment had been made tomorrow for Samuels to see Dr Ainsworth Allen, the New York orthopaedic surgeon who has treated several West Indian players.Samuels was withdrawn from the West Indies squad for the forthcoming World Cup in South Africa last Sunday following a report to the selectors of an MRI scan on his knee by Dr Akshai Mansingh, a member of the WICB’s medical panel.But Samuels said in Kingston he felt "100 per cent fit", although acknowledging that intermittent pains in his knee during the West Indies’ training camp in Antigua last week prompted him to consult Mansingh.Both Hall and WICB acting chief executive Roger Brathwaite were adamant that Samuels should not play in the Anguilla match.They fear further damage to the knee that was operated on during the West Indies series against Pakistan in Sharjah a year ago and, according to Mansingh’s report, will require further surgery that would put him out of action for up to a year.Hall said Tuesday it would be "the quintessence of cricket stupidness" for the classy 22-year-old batsman to play with his injury.Brathwaite issued a statement Wednesday night supporting the selectors’ decision and setting out the WICB’s position."The WICB feels strongly that it is not in Marlon’s best interest for him to play in the upcoming Carib Beer series," Brathwaite said."While we are advising him not to play while carrying this injury, we do not have the authority to prevent him from playing and will not be responsible for any injury he may suffer as a result."Hendriks said he could not comment on Brathwaite’s statement as he had not seen it.The decision to replace Samuels, with left-handed all-rounder Ryan Hinds for the World Cup, has generated heated protests in Jamaica. He was one of the stars of the West Indies batting on the tours of India and Bangladesh late last year on his return after a seven-months layoff following his earlier knee operation.There have been accusations of unfairness and insularity on radio call-in programmes and from Jamaica coach Robert Haynes."It’s not cricket. We as Jamaican and West Indies supporters should do something about it," Haynes said.He claimed captain Carl Hooper, who had surgery on both knees in early December, and fast bowler Merv Dillon, who returned from the tour of India in November with a back injury, had been asked to carry lighter workloads at the Antigua camp than Samuels and said their fitness could also be questioned."The way things have transpired have left room for a lot of suspicion," Samuels’ agent, John Pinnock, told the Jamaica Observer.

In response to enquiries from the public regarding live television coverage of matches on SABC3, Dr Ali Bacher, Executive Director of CWC 2003, today issued the following statement:”Live television coverage in South Africa of CWC 2003 matches is carried out through an agreement between the SABC and Supersport.”From Day One, we at the organising committee of CWC 2003 have been absolutely consistent in our request to the SABC that they show every match live. However, the agreement between SABC and Supersport is that SABC3 televise 27 of the 52 matches.”We at CWC 2003 are not at all happy that the SABC is televising live only five of the nine Super Six matches.”

SYDNEY, March 6 AAP – Stuart MacGill’s spin almost cancelled out Ashley Noffke’s pace as NSW and Queensland found contrasting ways to humiliate each other on the opening day of their Pura Cup match at the Sydney Cricket Ground.On a day in which 20 wickets fell for less than 300 runs, Queensland led by 88 after dismissing NSW for 102 only to be bowled out for 190 in turn, with MacGill taking 5-52.While NSW was well behind, Steve Waugh’s men were not totally out of a contest which should end in a positive result one way or the other.NSW, searching for a place in the Cup final against the Bulls starting next week in Brisbane, looked like they’d lost the map this morning as Noffke scythed through the world-class line-up.Removing Michael Slater, Steve Waugh and Michael Clarke for ducks inside the first half-hour with a series of deliveries which swung and cut off the seam, Noffke finished with 6-24.It was his best bowling for Queensland but not quite as good as hauls of seven and eight wickets for Middlesex in English county cricket.He expected things to be tougher tomorrow when NSW bats to save its season.”Tomorrow’s probably going to the most important day of the year for them,” Noffke said.”Their future’s going to be determined by how they play tomorrow.”Having ripped through NSW so easily, Noffke wasn’t keen to nominate NSW as his preferred opponent for the final.”We’re not too worried about who we play. If we play good cricket we’re going to be pretty hard to beat.”Queensland did just that today but Noffke said the Bulls were disappointed they “took their foot off the throat a bit” to allow NSW a glimmer of hope with three days to play.Queensland attained first innings points about midway through the opening day and at 2-105 shortly after tea, the Bulls were well on their way to an outright victory.However, MacGill and fellow wrist-spinner Simon Katich (3-55) soon brought their side back into the contest.MacGill, on a hat-trick at one stage, also took two wickets in his final over of the day to wrap up Queensland’s innings, the Bulls losing their last nine wickets for 95 runs.While Noffke was happy with his own haul he put some blame on the batsmen from both sides for the day’s proceedings.”It wasn’t a 20-wickets-in-a-day pitch,” Noffke confessed.”Play from both sides was a little bit poor at times.”It was a timely effort from Noffke after Queensland suffered a tough blow on the morning of the match with pace bowler Joe Dawes ruled out with a back strain.Dawes, the second-leading wicket-taker in the competition, flew home for scans while the Bulls sent down Damien MacKenzie to act as 12th man.Dawes’ absence left the Bulls with only two specialist pace bowlers – Noffke and Michael Kasprowicz – and with two spinners, including debutant Chris Simpson.

After the third day’s play in the match between Manicaland and Matabelelandat Mutare Sports Club, Manicaland found themselves on the back foot afterhaving taken a first-innings lead of 149. A greatly improved second-inningsby Matabeleland left Manicaland with a target of 268, but negative battingsaw them lose three wickets for only 45 runs by the close.The overnight Matabeleland pair of Mark Vermeulen and Gavin Rennie battedwith great responsibility to add 143 altogether. Manicaland hopes wereraised when three wickets fell with the total on 260, two of them to AlecTaylor, but Andre Hoffman, positive as ever, and Mluleki Nkala, playing aresponsible innings, led a recovery that took Matabeleland to a total of416. Gary Brent as usual was the most consistent of the bowlers, whileRichie Sims took three wickets but was expensive.With 26 overs to be bowled until the close, Manicaland decided to play forthe next day, and lived to regret it. This enabled the visitors to controlthe proceedings and snatch three wickets before the close. Manicaland wentinto the final day facing an uphill task.

Sri Lanka’s awesome one-day record at home over the last five years has taken a beating. Worse, for the first time ever, Sri Lanka have failed to qualify for a tri-series final on home soil.They came agonisingly close to making it – just nine runs – but the line between success and failure in sport is narrow. They failed.Unlike at Sharjah, where they were handicapped by an unbalanced side and missed several key players, there are no easy reasons for their failure.On paper the side was strong, experienced and well-balanced: six batsmen, two allrounders and three frontline bowlers.But Sri Lanka lacked confidence. They thought failure first, success second.The thinking was betrayed by their actions.The first indication came when a nervous top order failed to grasp a bonuspoint against New Zealand in their second game when they were chasing only139.

It was not as crucial as it could have been but it did prompt some navel-gazing in the dressing room – are we not good enough to chase 140 in 40 overs?Sri Lanka had been ticking along after a solid start from Sanath Jayasuriyaand Romesh Kaluwitharana, but a double strike by New Zealand changed themindset.Fear of failure stalled the innings, paralysing the middle order until Tillakaratne Dilshan was bold enough – and fortunate enough – to make adash for victory.Stephen Fleming couldn’t believe his luck when he walked off with a bonuspoint. “For the second time in a week Sri Lanka have let us off the hook,”he said, refering back to the final Test in Kandy.Dilshan also impressed in the third match, Sri Lanka’s best game of the tournament, top-scoring with 46 from 93 balls after having come to the creasewith Sri Lanka on 48 for 4.He was the major positive to come out from the tournament. Dilshan had always been a gutsy cricketer – unflinching close to the bat, safe hands under pressure – but doubts had persisted over his mental resilience with the bat.But two years kicking his heels on the sidelines has toughened his innercore. If he can iron out a few technical kinks against fast bowling,Dilshan may be the middle-order batsman that Sri Lanka so desperately need.Sri Lanka then held their nerve in the field against Pakistan, with MuttiahMuralitharan starring with the ball, taking 5 for 23.

But it all went awry against New Zealand from the time Atapattu had won thetoss and decided to bowl first – the decision made no sense.It would have been a brave decision to bat first, considering that everyoneelse had elected to bowl, but it suited Sri Lanka to do so considering that their strength lay in spin bowling.The bone-dry pitch was always going to crumble after the curator, followinga request from the Sri Lankan team, did not water it properly the night before.Atapattu had intimated earlier that he was going to bat, but in the morning he hesitated. He said there was more moisture than had been expected.He talked about Sri Lanka playing to their strengths, but what hemeant was that Sri Lanka were playing to their fears – they were scaredof handing New Zealand’s fast bowlers an advantage early on.If the batsmen had knuckled down to make a reasonable score, Muralitharan and Co would have been virtually unplayable on what Daniel Vettori called “a dirty Bunsen.”

In the end, Brendon McCullum took the match away from Sri Lanka, creaming 40runs from the final four overs.Chasing 157 for victory was never going to be easy. Mahela Jayawardenedid well to take it to the last over. On another day his reverse-sweep – ajustified gamble considering his restricted scoring options and the need tocollect a boundary – would have sped to the boundary and taken Sri Lanka to thefinal.The selectors – who have organised a three-match trial series before picking the squad for the West Indies – will now have to mull over potential changes to the line-up for that tour. Few changes are expected, for the problem was not personnel but approach.Nevertheless, the sooner the selectors can clean up the ambiguity created bythe spilt captaincy, and the cricket board can appoint a full-time coach,the better. Sri Lankan cricket needs someone to lead it forward. At themoment it’s stuck at the crossroads.

Minor Counties failed to take advantage of first use of a wicket offering the bowlers variable bounce and were bowled out for 130 in just 42.5 overs, thanks to some poor shot selection and fine pace bowling by Sri Lankan overseas player Mohamed Maharoof. Howitt (27) and Trower (39) showed some of their true form but there was only one decent partnership – 39 – between Trower and Mann.Kidner got an early breakthrough, bowling the dangerous Alleyne for 1. Brown bowled an immaculate 10 overs of off-spin taking 1-18 and Dawson bowled 5 tight overs of seam, but the target was reached comfortably, giving Middlesex victory by 7 wickets with 11 overs to spare.

Harbhajan Singh will return home from Australia without having undergone surgery on his injured finger. Initial tests at a Melbourne hospital had indicated that he needed an operation immediately, but an official of the BCCI told the Times of India that Harbhajan would “undergo the surgery only if pain recurs.”This is the latest twist to a story which started a month ago when Harbhajan was reported to be about to travel to America to be operated on by the same surgeon who treated Sachin Tendulkar. Within days the destination had switched to Melbourne after Harbhajan spoke to Shane Warne.Harbhajan, with the consent of the BCCI, travelled to Australia and was preparing for surgery when his doctor changed his mind after physiotherapy began to show some positive results. At the weekend Harbhajan bowled in the nets for almost an hour and he came through the session with little discomfort.It is expected that Harbhajan will return to India later in the week.

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.

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.”

Chris Adams, Sussex captain
“It is the biggest day of my cricket career. I was lucky enough to play for England, which was very special. But the stress we have gone through over the past two or three weeks makes this something else. It has been a long journey over the past six years, and we have worked very hard for it.”This caps everything. It has been an outstanding season. A lot of the core membership have been coming for years. We have given them lots of great times before, but I am sure every one of them will remember this day and treasure it forever. At a time when everyone is having a go at the county game, this club has stayed strong and stuck to its guns. We are the underdogs – but we have gunned down the big teams in Surrey and Lancashire.”Peter Moores, Sussex’s director of cricket
“There’s been a lot of pressure on us but the lads have come through and I’m just really, really pleased. I think we have been the best team without a shadow of a doubt – what a fantastic achievement. It’s great for us to finish on top but all credit to all those who took part.”We were writing down some of the outstanding performers the other day and there’s too many to list. The bowlers have done well. They’ve all done it when it counted. Chris Adams has been a fantastic captain, he has matured every year. When it really counts he has played beautifully. All credit to the team – they’ve grown as the season’s gone on. Now we’ve got to defend it.”James Kirtley, Sussex vice-captain and England bowler
“Words can’t describe it. It’s not just been a year’s work – it has been years and years. People have huge ambitions at this club and to secure the title is a special day for Sussex County Cricket Club. Peter Moores has brought ambition and the will and desire to improve and in Chris Adams I have never met a bigger winner in my life. I think we’ve got a fantastic unit but I think we’d be naïve not to think we could have improvement in certain areas. We’ve already started to talk about where changes can be made.”Imran Khan, Sussex player from 1977 to 1988
“I am delighted. Since I am so actively involved in politics I never get to know what’s happening in international cricket, although occasionally I get to talk to John Barclay, who was our captain in 1981. When we came second to Nottinghamshire that season, it was because they had Eddie Hemmings supporting [Richard] Hadlee and [Clive] Rice. I tried to bring in Abdul Qadir but somehow it did not materialise.”Former Sussex captain Ted Dexter
“We had our old boys’ reunion the Saturday before last when they were playing Middlesex and they played so fantastically well – they were in a huge hole, but they climbed out of it and won the game. Little Mush [Mushtaq Ahmed] has made a huge difference, but they’ve got a good allround side. When the big names fail, then somebody chips in.”Alan Wells, Sussex captain from 1992 to 1996
“It’s been a fantastic team effort. Mushtaq’s taken 100 wickets and he’ll probably take most of the accolades but Andrew Caddick took 100 wickets for Somerset [in 1998], and they never won anything. It’s not just about taking wickets, it’s about scoring runs and the top order, the middle and lower-middle order have at some stage during the season scored some vital runs.”I played for Sussex Schools from the age of 15 onwards and had 16 years as a professional at Sussex. Although I had five fantastic years at Kent, which I thoroughly enjoyed, my heart remained with Sussex despite trying to do a professional job for them.”Tony Pigott, a Sussex player for 18 years, and a former chief executive
“When I took over we lost six capped players that winter – James Kirtley was on the verge of leaving – and the first thing we had to do was address that, stabliise the club and build for the future. The thing I wanted to do was to get everybody to work together as a unit – the players, the admin staff, the members, the committee, the sponsors, club cricketers – and buy into the vision.One part of the vision was the win the Championship in five years. At the time, people thought I was completely mad. But this is the sixth year – so I was a year out.”Mike Watkinson, coach of second-placed Lancashire
“Being realistic, all the talk about [Lancashire winning] the title was a bit over the top. We came here knowing that Sussex would have to play very badly and Leicestershire to play very well in the Hove match for us to even have a glimmer of hope. It was never really on but full credit to Sussex for their success.”