 | ||
July 7, 2001
Cricket |
Feedback | ||
|
Coca-Cola Triangular in Zimbabwe :
India goes into the final of the Coca-Cola tri series in Zimbabwe with their tails up and confidence sky high having won all the matches in the league phase. However given India's not so consistent record in the "finals" of many a tournament, the West Indies skipper Carl Hooper is likely to have a feeling that he could pull of a win with a little bit of luck. VVS Laxman is fit To avoid players from succumbing to the rigours of international cricket (India has a jam-packed match schedule ahead), skipper Sourav Ganguly is looking to press for the rotation system pioneered by the Australians for his team as well. Ganguly is of the opinion that rotation of players is the only way to ease the pressure on them and preserve their fitness at least until the 2003 World Cup. More over the policy is also a good way of unearthing and testing new talent. The selectors are likely to discuss Ganguly's point of view on the matter when they meet in Mumbai to select the team to tour Sri Lanka. In the next fourteen months India will play 22 Tests and a maximum of 41 one-dayers. The Indian team prepared for the final of the Coca-Cola triangular against West Indies trying to shrug off the allegations of drug use by the some members of the team. The team physio Andrew Leipus was hurt the most by the allegations. He felt extremely let down by the story and felt that all the work he has put in, to make the players a fitter lot was undone by the article. A Zimbabwe President's XI led by Mluleki Nkala will play the West Indies at the CFX Academy ground from July 9-11. The other team members are Gary Brent, Donald Campbell, Sean Ervine, Douglas Hondo, Hamilton Masakadza, David Mutendra, Paul Strang, Dirk Viljoen, Guy Whittall and Gavin Rennie. West Indies are to stay on in Zimbabwe after the one-day series to play two Tests against the hosts. 
The Ashes Tour :
It was a day of records for the Waugh brothers. Mark Waugh (when on 30) went past Greg Chappell's run tally of 7,110 to become the fifth highest run scorer for his country. Mark's tally now stands at 7130 in 112 matches. His elder twin Steve on the other hand went past 9,000 runs in to become the third highest run scorer in Test history only behind Sunil Gavaskar (10,122) and Alan Border (11,174). Steve Waugh's current run tally stands at 9066 in 136 matches. England's premier batsman Graham Thorpe is likely to be back in the side for the second Test against Australia after his injury was finally diagnosed. Thorpe is believed to be suffering from bleeding in the muscles that has been causing him regular cramps. A minor surgery may be done to correct the condition if it does not respond to the medication satisfactorily. He hopes to be fit to play in about two weeks time. If Thorpe does eventually play the second Test he runs the risk of going straight into Test match after a six-week break. Not the ideal scenario really, leading up to facing Lee, McGrath and company. New Zealand match referee Brain Hastings returned home after officiating the NatWest one-day series in England. In a tournament that was ridden by crowd troubles he said major changes will have to be made to the cricket grounds in England. He said the English officials ignored the warnings of many match referees during the 1999 World Cup on the crowd invasion situation. Hastings who by the end of the tournament had made himself unpopular with all the teams said (referring to the game at Edgbaston, where a steward was crushed by the crowd) he should have stopped the game the moment he saw trouble brewing.
Miscellaneous :
The Wills Trophy, India's premier one-day domestic tournament since 1977, will have a new name. Now called the Sponsors Trophy the tournament will be played in various West Zone centers beginning April 18, 2002. Apart from the Sponsors XI and the Board President's XI, Mumbai, Karnataka, Railways, Punjab and Orissa will also feature in the weeklong tournament. The final will be played at Baroda on April 24. The Wills Trophy was not played during the 2000-01 season since the sponsors, the Indian Tobacco Company (ITC) withdrew from the sponsorship due the Indian government's ban on advertising tobacco products.
In a lighter vein An old man once asked George Bernard Shaw, "What do u think of this Test". A puzzled Shaw asked "What are they testing?"
SCORES AT A GLANCE
England vs Australia (1st Test) |
|
and should be playing after missing out on the last two games. West Indies will be hampered without the services of Cameron Cuffy who has looked the most impressive bowler of the side. However the batsmen in the side seem to have a more settled look. The toss has played such a crucial role in all the matches of the tournament and it remains to be seen how India would react to batting first. All in all an interesting days cricket is in store.
Australian skipper Steve Waugh efficient as ever, compiled the 26th Test century of his career on the second day of the first Test against England at Edgbaston. The Waugh brothers were involved in a 133 run partnership for the fourth wicket with the younger Waugh however looking scratchy and lucky to survive as long as he did. Bad light stopped play earlier than schedule time with the tourists sitting pretty at 332-4. Gough (2-90) was the most successful of the England bowlers.
Hansie Cronje said he has become increasingly frustrated by the ban imposed on him that does not allow him to contribute to cricket development in any way. Cronje said he had wanted to help out with coaching in local schools but has been denied the permission. Cronje hopes that the decision against him will be reversed soon once the South African Cricket Board see that his intentions are honourable. Cronje is looking to challenge his ban in a Pretoria court in September. The former South African skipper has been spending his time since the ban acquiring a degree at university, helping his wife out with a club for disabled athletes and playing golf.