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  Aug 4, 2001 Cricket | Feedback




The Ashes Test series

Shane Warne Australia are close to retain the Ashes, as leg-spinner Shane Warne claimed five quick wickets by close on the second day of the third Ashes Test match at Trent Bridge, Nottingham. England from 115-2 slumped to 144-6, with skipper Mike Atherton (51) top-scoring. Earlier Australia overnight 107-7 took their score to 190, thanks to Adam Gilchrist's 59-ball 54. Recalled to the side after two years pace bowler Alex Tudor claimed 5-44.

Brief Scores | Detailed Scores

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On the second day, Marcus Trescothick was dismissed in a freakish manner when Adam Gilchrist dived forward to take a catch that had ricocheted off Matthew Hayden's (at forward short-leg) shin guard, when the batsman attempted a sweep. However, when Indian umpire S Venkataraghavan called for the third umpire to check if the catch was taken clean, the replays clearly showed bowler Warne had overstepped the crease while delivering the ball.

This is yet another case of a batsman being dismissed off a no-ball in England this summer. Unfortunately, most of such unfortunate dismissals involved batsmen from the home side. Interestingly, although the third umpire David Constant saw in the replay that Warne had overstepped he could not adjudicate on this one, since Venkataraghavan had called him to determine as to whether the batsman has been caught cleanly, and not whether the bowler had overstepped while delivering the ball.

Indian News

The Indian minister of State for Youth Affairs and Sports P Radhakrishnan informed the parliament yesterday that the government was not aware of Pakistan having urged the International Cricket Council (ICC) to meet both Indian and Pakistan authorities and force them to play with each other. It seems the Pakistan Cricket Board are pressurising the ICC to talk to the Indian government to sanction cricket tours between the two countries.

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For the first time the BCCI has decided to involved former and current Test players in its technical committee meetings. Sachin Tendulkar and Anil Kumble, along with Kris Srikanth and Arun Lal have been invited to attend the Board of Control for Cricket in India's (BCCI) technical committee meeting at Baroda on August 11.

Sunil Gavaskar The meeting will be chaired by former Indian skipper Sunil Gavaskar, who wants to involve past and present cricketers, while discussing the new format of Ranji Trophy and Duleep Trophy tournaments. The meeting will also be attended by its other members including former BCCI president Raj Singh Dungarpur, who is also the chairman of the National Cricket Academy (NCA), MP Pandove (Punjab), Dr MK Bharghava (Madhya Pradesh), former Test umpire Prof RS Rathore (Rajasthan) and former India wicket-keeper Kiran More (Baroda).

News from England

Former British Prime Minister John Major who was to inaugurate a new West Stand and Sir Leonard Hutton gates at Headingley, Leeds in Yorkshire on August 15 has withdrawn from doing so. The decision to invite him was criticised by former Yorkshire cricketers Geoff Boycott, Ray Illingworth and Fred Trueman, as they feel that a Yorkshireman should be given the honour instead.

They all have also threatened to stay away from the function if the former British PM, who is also the president of the Surrey Cricket Club, is given the honour of opening the stand and the gate. In a statement John Major said: "The opening of the West Stand and Sir Leonard Hutton Gates should be a very happy occasion and I do not wish to see it spoiled in any way. Nor do I wish - albeit unwittingly - to be the cause of controversy".

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Meanwhile, former Yorkshire players have also criticised the memorial at the gates at the Headingley Cricket Ground which depicts Sir Len Hutton wielding his bat and in the background the memorial also features a group of Asian women in saris watching from the stands. Many feel that such design is not correct since Sir Len's career was over much before Britain became a truly multi-racial country. Former Yorkshire and England all-rounder Brian Close has called the design as "stupid".

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South African cricketers, fast bowler Allan Donald and opening batsman Herschelle Gibbs, have been included in the Lashings World XI to play Kent on August 6 here at the St Lawrence Ground in Canterbury in England. Matthew Fleming will captain the Kent side while former West Indian skipper Richie Richardson will lead the World XI. The 40-over challenge match will be played under floodlights. Wasim Akram, the former Pakistan skipper will represent the World XI. The World XI team is as follows:
Herschelle Gibbs (SA), Stuart Williams (WI), Jimmy Adams (WI), Richie Richardson (WI), Junior Murray (WI), Sir Vivian Richards (WI), Wasim Akram (PAK), Shoaib Akhtar (PAK), Allan Donald (SA), Franklyn Rose (WI).

Match fixing

Mohd Azharuddin Although Indian bookie Mukesh Gupta's refusal to appear before the ICC's Anti Corruption Unit may have helped to clear England's Alec Stewart, Sri Lankans Arjuna Ranatunga and Aravinda deSilva and New Zealander Martin Crowe, from their alleged match-fixing involvement, it has not brought any cheers to former India skipper Mohammed Azharuddin or Ajay Jadeja. It seems the BCCI under no circumstances will revoke its stand on the tainted cricketers. The Board will continue its ban on these cricketers, who seems to have ample evidence against these cricketers and are confident that the tainted cricketers appeals are also not likely to be considered by courts.

The Betting Scandal home page

News from South Africa

South African fast bowler Mfuneko Ngam, nicknamed 'Black Thunder' who has been out of action with back and shoulder injuries since making his international debut last season while taking 11 wickets at 17.18 in his first three Test matches is on his way to full fitness. The fast bowler, who resumed bowling this week, said that he started bowling in the nets and is ready for the coming season. The Indians better watch out!

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The organising committee for the 2003 Cricket World Cup in South Africa hopes to raise at least one million rand from the auction of several valuable items bearing the name of Sir Donald Bradman. The money will be used to help establish turf cricket ovals in previously disadvantaged areas, which will be known as the Bradman Ovals.

ICC Test Championships

The West Indies, thanks to its one-nil Test win in Zimbabwe is now in the joint fourth place, along with Sri Lanka in the latest ICC Test Championship table.
View the complete table

SCORES AT A GLANCE

The 3rd Ashes Test match
ENGLAND v AUSTRALIA (2nd day)
At Trent Bridge, Nottingham

Toss:England
England: 185 (M Trescothick 69, A Stewart 46; G McGrath 5-49)
144-6 (M Atherton 52, M Trescothick 31; S Warne 5-25)

Australia : 190 (M Hayden 33, A Gilchrist 54; A Caddick 3-70, A Tudor 5-44)

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   Compiled by: Mohandas Menon        Design: Imran Shaikh
Compiled by: Mohandas Menon