New Zealand’s women cricketers will start their annual State League competition on December 27 with the final scheduled for January 31, at the home ground of the top qualifying team. The start to the series has been delayed in order to allow players to return from the tour of India.Catherine Campbell, New Zealand Cricket’s manager of women’s cricket, said: “It’s important that we have our best players competing in the State League as it lifts the standard of play considerably.” She expects the prospect of positions in the White Ferns and the New Zealand A team to provide an extra edge to the competition this year.”The White Ferns team to contest next year’s six-match home and away Rosebowl Series with Australia will be chosen at the conclusion of the State League. Players who miss out on the upcoming tour of India will therefore have an opportunity to press for a place in that side. There is also the opportunity to gain selection for the New Zealand A team which will play matches against Australia and the White Ferns before the start of the Rosebowl,” Campbell said.As well as those incentives, there is also the chance for the five other teams to try to topple the State Auckland Hearts who have dominated the finals in recent seasons with four successive victories.

Queensland all-rounder Chris Simpson crashed Victorian captain Cameron White’s party on the opening day of the Pura Cup cricket match between the Bulls and Bushrangers at the Gabba today.Up until the last hour of play, everything White touched turned to gold but a superb 83 from 21-year-old Simpson in only his second match for the Bulls stole Victoria’s thunder.At stumps, the Bushrangers were one for 31 in reply to Queensland’s total of 277 but the Victorians could have been in a far more dominant position if not for Simpson’s lower order heroics.Simpson – who made his first-class debut last season against a star-studded NSW at the SCG – was called into the Queensland side as a replacement for offspinner Nathan Hauritz who suffered a hamstring injury in Friday night’s ING Cup loss to Victoria.He smashed nine fours and five sixes in his innings which started slowly as he and left-arm paceman Mitchell Johnson came together with the Bulls in dire straits at 7-154.Their slow and steady 52-run stand gave Queensland some respectability but Simpson continued the salvage operation in spectacular style when he and Joe Dawes put on 65 runs for the tenth wicket.Their entertaining partnership equalled a 70-year-old record for Queensland against Victoria and featured some lusty hitting to all parts of the Gabba outfield.The late Bulls charge was no fault of the Victorian skipper who led by example all day in his first appearance as Bushrangers captain in the first-class arena.The 20-year-old leg-spinner won the toss and sent Queensland in on a typically lively Gabba strip.The Victorian attack made the most of the conditions and the Bulls were struggling at three for 51 with White taking a superb diving catch at first slip off the bowling of Allan Wise to remove Bulls captain Martin Love for 11.Debutant Steve Farrell joined forces with veteran Bull Stuart Law for a 78-run partnership but when White took another screamer at first slip off the bowling of Mathew Inness to send Law back to the pavillion, the rot set in for Queensland.The Bulls lost four wickets for 25 runs with White trapping Farrell then dangerman Wade Seccombe in front of their stumps as the Queensland middle order crumbled.He also claimed the wickets of Johnson and Shane Jurgensen to finish with the impressive figures of 4-27 off 17 overs.But he could not stop Simpson who said he was not overloaded with instructions before his innings and had a simple game plan when he was in the middle.”Watch the ball and hit it,” Simpson revealed.”Absolutely nothing was said to me which I think is a sign of the trust that these guys have in us and that probably made me feel better than anything because I knew there was no dramas.Simpson was a specialist batsman and only started his offspin bowling 15 months ago at the direction of AIS coach and former Bulls boss Bennett King.

The XXXX Queensland Bulls will stick with an unchanged line-up for Friday night’s ING Cup clash with Victoria at the Gabba following their opening win of the season against Tasmania.The Queensland selectors have also shown faith in the one-day line-up by naming the same twelve players for the Bulls opening Pura Cup match against the Bushrangers starting on Sunday at the Gabba.The Pura Cup selection means that former Tasmanian and Western Australian representative Shane Jurgensen is set to make his first class debut for his home state.If Jurgensen plays, he will become the 13th player to represent three States in Australian first class cricket.University of Queensland batsman Steve Farrell, who was 12th man in the four-wicket win over the Tigers, is also a chance to making his first class debut while left-arm paceman Mitchell Johnson is in line to play his first Pura Cup match since 2001.The Bulls players will take to the field against Victoria in their opening first class match of the summer with their initials and their order of selection for Queensland featured on their playing shirts.Friday’s ING Cup match starts at 2.30pm, with gates opening at 1.30pm.A crowd in excess of 10,000 is expected, with the game being promoted as Volunteers’ Day.This is the third season in a row that Queensland Cricket, Volunteering Queensland and the Brisbane City Council have combined for a “thank-you” to the hard-working volunteers and voluntary organisations of Queensland.Volunteering Queensland have provided complimentary tickets to their registered volunteers and organisations, with the BCC providing free Council buses to the game.ING Cup, Friday, October 31 (D/N).
XXXX Queensland Bulls v Victorian Bushrangers: Stuart Law, Daniel Payne, Martin Love (c), Clinton Perren, Lee Carseldine, James Hopes, Wade Seccombe, Nathan Hauritz, Mitchell Johnson, Joe Dawes, Shane Jurgensen, Steve Farrell (12th man to be named).Pura Cup, Sun Nov 2 – Wed Nov 5:
XXXX Queensland Bulls v Victorian Bushrangers: Stuart Law, Daniel Payne, Martin Love (c), Clinton Perren, Lee Carseldine, James Hopes, Wade Seccombe, Nathan Hauritz, Mitchell Johnson, Joe Dawes, Shane Jurgensen, Steve Farrell (12th man to be named).

Dinusha Fernando selected for 1st Test © Getty Images

Sri Lanka’s selectors have included Dinusha and Dilhara Fernando in a 15-man squad for the opening Test against England, which starts next week.The two pace bowlers will be competing for one place as Sri Lanka are set to play only two quicks on a surface that is expected to offer bountiful assistance to the slow bowlers.Sri Lanka included three specialist spinners – Muttiah Muralitharan, Upul Chandana and Kumar Dharmasena – in the squad, as well as offspinning allrounder Thilan Samaraweera.Chandana is tipped to edge out Dharmasena and play his first Test for 16 months, although Sri Lanka also have the option of playing all three spinners and batting Romesh Kaluwitharana at number six.That appears unlikely though considering Sri Lanka’s recent vulnerability in the middle order so Tillakaratne Dilshan, Michael Vandort and Thilan Samaraweera are effectively competing for the final batting slot.Russel Arnold, who captains a Board President’s XI against England on Wednesday, misses out on a recall, as does Nuwan Zoysa, who was pushing for a return to the squad.Sri Lanka, now captained by Hashan Tillakaratne, have not won their last three series but have fond memories of Galle, where they trounced England by an innings when the two sides last met in 2001. They have won six out of the eight Tests played at the south coast venue, losing only to Pakistan in 2000.Squad Hashan Tillakaratne (capt), Marvan Atapattu, Sanath Jayasuriya, Kumar Sangakkara, Mahela Jayawardene, Thilan Samaraweera, Kumar Dharmasena, Upul Chandan, Chaminda Vaas, Dinusha Fernando, Muttiah Muralitharan, Dilhara Fernando, Tillakaratne Dilshan, Romesh Kaluwitharana (wk), Michael Vandort

‘It all goes pretty quickly’ © Getty Images

Despite the result being a foregone conclusion, 29,262 turned up at the MCG to show their appreciation of one of Australian cricket’s most beloved sons. “This is one Waugh we won’t forget,” said one banner, while another simply said, “Tugga, Our Hero”. Steve Waugh was certainly moved by it, as he trooped around the crowd, soaking up the acclaim. “It all goes pretty quickly,” he said afterwards. “But the crowd was outstanding and they showed why it’s one of the great sporting venues.”Waugh admitted that the stage was set for a fitting finale in Sydney, with the series so beautifully poised. “I’m really looking forward to it,” he said. “But I want to think about the side and concentrate on the job that I have to do, both as a captain and as a batsman.”He said that there was a brief period following the blow on the elbow from Ajit Agarkar when he feared that Sydney would prove one hurdle too many. “I thought I’d broken my arm,” he said. “And I thought this might be it … but the X-rays didn’t show anything and I’ll definitely play in Sydney.” He said it was a struggle to get any sort of momentum going with the bat. “I couldn’t hit through the off side, but it was mainly a case of getting a partnership going.”According to Waugh, the game tilted decisively in Australia’s favour on the second morning, when they ripped out the last six Indian wickets for just 16. “We were desperate on the first day because I was bowling,” he said with a laugh. “But I got a lucky wicket. The crucial session though was the first one on day two. I think India realised, too, that it had slipped out of reach after that.”Waugh refused to compare the emotions centred around the upcoming Sydney Test to those that had propelled him to an epic century against England last year. “While there’s a lot happening around me and the team, I think it’s positive. Last year, there were a lot of negative emotions leading up to the Test, because I thought that might be it if I failed.”He promised that neither he nor his team would be fazed by the occasion. “You want pressure,” he said with a hint of a smile. “The best teams and the best players lift themselves for the big occasion.” There was also no question of ruling India out of contention, despite the fact that the momentum may have shifted in Melbourne. “Against most sides, barring India, you might think that. But they have a great batting side, a world-class spinner in Kumble, and three guys who can swing the ball. They’re very hard to get out, and just tougher mentally than they were in previous years. Not many teams have lasted five days against us.”Waugh refused to be drawn on Sachin Tendulkar’s recent travails, saying, “Dravid, Laxman, Ganguly and Sehwag have covered for him. I think instead of being concerned about him not making runs, they should be proud of how the other guys have stepped up. That’s the beauty of team sport.”

Matthew Hayden and Ricky Ponting: starting a contagion © AFP

He paid fulsome tribute to his own bowlers, and admitted that it would be difficult to leave out anyone if Jason Gillespie was indeed fit to play in Sydney. There were also encomiums for Ricky Ponting and Matthew Hayden, who both continued to pile on the runs without pause. “It’s hard to say who’s batting better,” he said. I’m just happy that I’m playing in a team where I can watch them both. If I wasn’t playing, I’d be turning the TV on to watch. They’ve made people watch Test cricket again.” Waugh suggested that Australia’s aggressive approach had rubbed off on other teams, saying, “I think it’s contagious. Kallis, Gibbs, Kirsten, Lara … all these guys are doing it because they’ve seen the Australian guys do it.”The applause that rang around the stands at the end, from spectators on both sides, will linger long in the Waugh memory, but for the moment, the blinkers are on for Sydney. “I don’t want to go out as a losing captain,” he said with extra emphasis. “It happened to me in my last series as one-day captain, and I don’t want to leave Tests that way.” And unless India find large doses of the Eden Gardens-Adelaide elixir, not to mention a couple of bowlers to support the lion-hearted Kumble, he won’t.

The Tasmanian Selectors have today announced the Cascade Tasmanian Tigers squad selected to play the Western Warriors in the ING Cup Twighlight match at Launceston Oval on Sunday, 1st February 2004.

CASCADE TASMANIAN TIGERS
Daniel MARSH (Captain)
Shane WATSON (Vice-Captain)
Xavier DOHERTY
George BAILEY
Michael DIGHTON
Michael Di VENUTO
Andrew DOWNTON
Sean CLINGELEFFER
Damien WRIGHT
Shannon TUBB
Adam GRIFFITH
Luke BUTTERWORTH
Scott KREMERSKOTHEN

The eleven to play in the match will be named on the morning of the game.Damien Wright returns from injury to make up the squad of thirteen. The twelve players who were selected for the last ING Cup match against Queensland have been retained in the squad.The Tasmanian Cricket Association would like to remind Patrons and Media this will be a twighlight match and play will commence at 12 noon, with gates open at 10.30 am.During the match patrons will have the chance to win a set of keys to the Ford Focus competition by supporting the Tigers and bringing their entry form from the Mercury Newspaper and placing it in the entry box provided at the ground.

ScorecardA magnificent burst of bowling by Warren McSkimming almost set up a win for Otago, but they eventually had to settle for a draw against Sri Lanka A. McSkimming took five wickets for four runs in a seven-over burst in the morning, as Sri Lanka stumbled to 49 for 6. But Pradeep Hewage (67) and Hasantha Fernando (66 not out) then added 121 for the seventh wicket, and the declaration came at 170 for 7. Chasing 233 to win, Otago could only manage 208 for 8, with Craig Cumming smacking 92 off 104 balls.Dinuk Hettiarachchi, the left-arm spinner, followed up his four-for in the first innings with 5 for 74. Otago stood a realistic chance of winning as long as Cumming was at the crease, but they lost their way after he was out.

Chris Rogers, the 26-year-old Western Australia batsman, has joined Derbyshire for the 2004 season, as a replacement for Michael di Venuto, who has had to undergo an operation to cure a troublesome back injury.Rogers, who will join up with the squad in early April, was one of the stars of Western Australia’s recent season, averaging 51.68 in their Pura Cup campaign. “Chris has a proven record in first-class cricket," said David Houghton, Derbyshire’s director of cricket.”I am looking forward to the challenge of playing county cricket for Derbyshire," said Rogers, "and playing on English wickets.”

Zimbabwe’s capitulation in Sunday’s third one-day international against Sri Lanka, in which they were bowled out for a new record-low of 35, could have far-reaching consequences in the corridors of the ICC, according to Mihir Bose, the Daily Telegraph reporter who was deported from Zimbabwe last week.For most of the winter, it has been England, not Zimbabwe, that has been threatened with suspension from the ICC, for their unwillingness to fulfil their tour obligations in October. But, ever since the sacking of 15 white Zimbabwean cricketers – including the captain Heath Streak – the ICC has been concerned about the devaluing of international cricket. If yesterday’s humiliating result is compounded by a farcical first Test in Harare next week, the clamour for their removal will grow ever louder.Meanwhile, the escalating crisis in Zimbabwe cricket is something of a deus ex machine for the England & Wales Cricket Board, which had been bracing itself for an inevitable backlash, whatever the outcome of their deliberations. To tour would have flown in the face of government and public opinion; to stay away would have invited the wrath of the ICC, and might have resulted in a year’s suspension from international cricket, the cancellation of next summer’s Ashes series and up to £50 million losses.Instead, the prospects of an England suspension have receded dramatically. Senior sources within the ICC told the Daily Telegraph that it would require the backing of seven of the ten Test-playing nations to implement such a course of action. If England can present a good case for staying away, they are likely to escape punishment.That outcome, however, cannot be taken for granted, given the clumsiness with which the ECB have so far approached the issue. An emergency meeting of the First-Class Forum has been called in Gloucestershire today, which will be attended by the chairman, Mike Soper, as well as Tim Lamb and David Morgan of the ECB. One of the topics on the agenda is the role of Des Wilson, whose paper arguing for a moral stand against Zimbabwe yesterday received the support from the anti-apartheid campaigner, Archbishop Desmond Tutu. Support has been less apparent on the home front, however, and Wilson is contemplating resignation.

Chris Adams: a full set of centuries© Getty Images

Chris Adams, the Sussex captain, joined an exclusive club today by scoring centuries against all 18 first-class counties.Northamptonshire was the last side on his list, and he ticked them off with his 40th first-class hundred at Hove, as Sussex built a large total in reply to Northants in their Division One match.Adams, 34, began his career with Derbyshire in 1988 and moved to Sussex ten years later. Taking over the captaincy, his ultimate achievement was leading Sussex to their first Championship title last season. Adams joined Mark Ramprakash and Carl Hooper, who both completed their full sets of county centuries last season. Among current players Stuart Law and Graeme Hick have both made centuries against 17 different counties: Hick has never made one against Worcestershire, while Law needs one against his old county Essex, who are not in the same division as his current team, Lancashire.Adams played five Tests and five one-dayers for England between 1998 and 2000, and averages just under 40 in first-class cricket.