Amit Varma and S Rajesh discuss the fourth day of the Antigua Test Download MP3 (right click and select “save target as”) Streaming Audio: Real :: WMAThe Antigua Test is now open to all four results: West Indies, set 392 to win, reached 13 for no loss at the end of the fourth day. Amit Varma and S Rajesh, who wrote the bulletin for the match, discuss the day’s play: the indecisive umpiring of Asad Rauf, the big-innings temperament of Wasim Jaffer and India’s tactics in the second half of the day. They also look ahead to the fifth day, and while Amit picks Chris Gayle and Anil Kumble as the two men who could make decisive contributions, Rajesh thinks West Indies should punt with sending Dwayne Bravo up the order.Listen in.Download MP3 (right click and select “save target as”) Streaming Audio: Real :: WMA
An exhilarating display of power hitting from Virender Sehwag and a stylish century from Yuvraj Singh propelled India Seniors to a convincing five-wicket victory over India A in a warm-up match in which they had been comprehensively outplayed for the first three days.Needing a further 352 to overhaul an imposing target of 387 when they resumed in the morning, Sehwag and Yuvraj played with such flair and assurance that the A team couldn’t even entertain daydreams of success. The highlight of the day was undoubtedly an unforgettable over in which Sehwag – who had reached his century with a straight six – smashed Murali Kartik for 35 runs, including five sixes in an arc between midwicket and extra-cover.It was devastating stuff, and was just the tonic that Sehwag needed after his ten previous knocks in all forms of the game had realised a paltry 60 runs. At the other end, Yuvraj – who had himself been going through a fallow run – was a touch more circumspect, but drove and pulled with panache whenever the opportunity presented itself.John Wright, India’s coach, spoke afterwards of how chuffed he was that both Sehwag and Yuvraj had spent such quality time in the middle ahead of the searching examination that awaits in less than a week’s time. The opening partnership of 279 came at more than five an over, against an attack that was nothing like as potent as it had been in the first innings. Amit Bhandari and Shib Sankar Paul bowled only 11 overs between them in the day, while Kartik – his blonde-highlighted hair perhaps turned grey by the intensity of Sehwag’s blitz – was savaged to the tune of 129 from his 26 overs.Sehwag (146) was dropped once, on 103, but that was a minor quibble about a gloriously entertaining innings that featured 13 fours and nine sixes. Yuvraj’s 115 was no tortoise-like effort either, with 15 fours and a six in a chanceless 170-ball effort.With victory inevitable, the Seniors could even allow themselves a mid-afternoon wobble, with Dinesh Mongia’s innocuous left-arm spin accounting for three of the wickets to fall. Rahul Dravid and VVS Laxman both failed, and Aakash Chopra – retained to face the Aussies – made just 25, but a brisk unbeaten 44 from Parthiv Patel ensured that the target would be overhauled with 13.1 overs still left to be bowled in the day.
With Sourav Ganguly away consulting with the selectors on the composition of the national squad, it was Dravid who had consoling handshakes for the A team players as they trooped back in, a touch deflated. For men like Sridharan Sriram and Dheeraj Jadhav, both so assured against the acme of India’s bowling talent, it’s surely a case of when, not if, while for Mohammad Kaif and Kartik, it’s time to make the most of the chance that has come their way.Both Dravid and Ganguly had kept enquiring about the Mumbai-Australians match yesterday, and the Amol Mazumdar-led defiance at the Brabourne Stadium this afternoon would undoubtedly have put a smile on a few faces that have become more accustomed to frowns in the past two months. After a poor lead-up to the first Test at Brisbane last December, India were reckoned to be fair-weather batting aristocrats sent to the Australian bowling guillotine. Instead, Ganguly’s magnificent century set the tone for a series in which the Indians more than held their own.It will take something similarly inspirational to tackle a much-improved Australian side, but with Sehwag once again belting the ball with free-spirited abandon, there’ll be a spring in the step on Wednesday morning. Of course, a certain Mumbai gentleman’s inclusion in the 15-man squad doesn’t hurt morale either.
Sourav Ganguly steered clear of the Shoaib Akhtar controversy, but still gave the press something to chew on on the eve of the fourth one-day international at Lahore. In the Peshawar one-dayer, Yuvraj Singh had pulled the fifth ball of a Mohammad Sami over to the fence. At the end of the over, Sami had a few heated words with Yuvraj. Asked about this, Ganguly said: “It’s a stray incident, and those things happen on a cricket field. It’s not much of an incident. You expect those from a fast bowler and I think it’s good for the game. You cannot have people just running up and down and doing their job and being like stereotypes. These sort of things attract people to the game.”The ICC, however, probably won’t approve of Ganguly’s endorsement of incidents of this kind. The rest of the press conference, however, focussed on the forthcoming one-dayer.On the coming match Every match is crucial. So far every match in this series has been crucial for both teams.On whether the influx of Indian fans will put his team under even more pressure We won’t be under any extra pressure. People want to come and watch India-Pakistan matches, so it will be good for both teams.On whether losing the toss lost India the match at Peshawar The toss was crucial, considering the wicket. We came back into the game well when we had them at 170 for 6, but [Abdul] Razzaq and Moin [Khan] took the game away.On whether India missed a fourth fast bowler at Peshawar To be honest I missed a spinner yesterday. We normally don’t play four fast bowlers, the only time we did was in Perth. We have two of the best spinners in the world in Harbhajan Singh and Anil Kumble. They have been an integral part of our success in Test and one-day cricket so we didn’t play four fast bowlers. Having both of them out at the same time is a bit difficult for the team.On whether India are finding it difficult to finish games off Yes we are, but at the same time we are hampered by injuries to our key bowlers, especially [Anil] Kumble and Harbhajan [Singh]. They have been an integral part of our success. When you miss your key bowlers, it is going to be difficult, but obviously that’s not an excuse. We should have still won the game yesterday after having them at 170 for 6.On the Lahore pitch It’s a good wicket, it’s got a bit of grass on it.On the fact that this Indian team has responded well in tight situations Yes, that’s been the trend in the last two to three years. I hope we can continue that tomorrow.On his conversation with Javed Miandad Nothing special. I was just asking him how it was coaching this side, and about his playing days. It was just a casual conversation, nothing special.On how playing Pakistan in Pakistan compares with playing Australia in Australia Australia in Australia is harder. They’re still the best side in the world.Pakistan also have played well against us in the last few one-dayers.The series was billed as India’s batsmen v Pakistan’s bowlers. Is that accurate? I think everybody has contributed in this series. The Pakistani batters have batted well, the bowlers have bowled OK, and it’s the same for both sides.On Zaheer Khan’s form He’s coming back from injury. I’ve seen him do a much better job in the past. He’s been a matchwinner for the Indian team in the past. We understand that he’s coming back from injury and just settling into a groove.
XXXX Queensland Bulls pace bowler Ashley Noffke will miss Friday’s INGCup day/nighter against the Southern Redbacks, but remains in contentionfor Sunday’s Pura Cup match at the Gabba.Noffke was ruled out this morning after the Bulls medical and coachingstaff elected not to rush him back from a fractured right index fingerfor the one-day match at the Gabba.However they will assess him again on Saturday morning to see whether hemight be fit to take his place for the Pura Cup clash against theRedbacks that starts Sunday.The Queensland selectors have named a 13-man squad for the Pura Cup gameto cover if Noffke is unable to take his place.Queensland lead the Pura Cup competition and are in second spot on theING Cup ladder.Former Bulls captain Stuart Law has recovered from a dislocated fingerand retains his place in the ING Cup team after making his return to thelimited overs side in the win over the Western Warriors in Perth earlierthis month.XXXX Queensland Bulls v South Australia, ING Cup, Friday (D/N): MartinLove (c), Daniel Payne, Lee Carseldine, Clinton Perren, Stuart Law,Brendan Nash, James Hopes, Wade Seccombe, Nathan Hauritz, MichaelKasprowicz, Scott Brant, Damien MacKenzie (all twelve to play).XXXX Queensland Bulls v South Australia, Pura Cup, Sunday – Wednesday:Martin Love (c), Brendan Nash, Daniel Payne, Clinton Perren, Stuart Law,Lee Carseldine, James Hopes, Wade Seccombe, Nathan Hauritz, AshleyNoffke, Michael Kasprowicz, Adam Dale, Joe Dawes (one to be omitted).
Haryana clinched their place in the Cooch BeharTrophy final thanks to the huge first innings leadthey had over Bengal in the semi final at theJawaharlal Nehru Stadium, Pune. On Monday Haryanadeclared at their overnight score of 615/4 givingthemselves the lead of 547 runs and a full day tobowl out Bengal.Bengal who were dismissed for a paltry 68 in thefirst dig didn’t start any better in the second,losing two wickets to N Agarwal with just six onthe board. Soon A Mishra removed Arindam das for 8reducing Bengal to 26/3 in the 13th over of theday. Haryana had their sights on an early outrightvictory but Bengal batsmen had other ideas. Therefollowed a 94 run partnership between ManavandraYadav and A Sarkar that came to an end withSarkar’s runout for 34 in the 53rd over. Yadav wasthe next to be dismissed for 79 falling to D Joonin the 62nd over leaving Bengal at 152/5. Yadav’svigil at the crease lasted 165 balls and included11 boundaries and a six. In the very next overJhunjhunwala was dismissed by Ishan Ganda pushinBengal to a miserable 154/6. A 59 run partnershipbetween by R Jaiswal and S Lahiri who made 29each. Bengal were 213 for 7 at the fall of Jaiswalwho was caught and bowled by Agarwal. At 227Bengal lost S Lahiri to the bowling of J Sharma inthe 86th over. Agarwal dismissed G Sharma for 18in the 92nd over of the day leaving the last pairof S Ali and S Akthar to survive the last 15 ballsof the match, which they did admirably. Bengalwere 240/9 at the close of play. Though the matchcame to end as a draw, Haryana can go into thefinal against Madhya Pradesh feeling stronger. NAgarwal was again successful with the ball pickingup four wickets in the Bengal second innings.
Crystal Palace are now “interested” in signing an “incredible” Premier League forward, with his club “willing” to sanction a departure.
Palace looking to upgrade attacking options
Despite Palace suffering a setback against Manchester City on Sunday, falling to a 3-0 home defeat against the title contenders, they remain in a very strong position as we approach the half-way stage of the season, currently sitting in fifth place.
If Oliver Glasner’s side are going to sustain their push for Europe, however, they may need to improve their attacking options, having scored 20 Premier League goals this season, only one more than 18th-placed West Ham United.
Yeremy Pino was one of the Eagles’ key summer signings, but the 23-year-old hasn’t exactly been prolific in the Premier League thus far, registering just two goal contributions in 14 games.
The goalscoring burden has largely been placed on Jean-Philippe Mateta, with the Frenchman already finding the back of the net nine times in all competitions this season, but the South Londoners are now keen to provide him with some additional support in attack.
That is according to former scout Mick Brown, who recently told Football Insider that Crystal Palace are now keen on Manchester City forward Oscar Bobb, saying: “They’ve been keeping tabs on him and he’s certainty somebody they’re interested in, because I believe Man City would be willing to let him go.”
Brown also suggested the Norwegian could be an ideal signing for Palace, saying: “Oscar Bobb is a very talented player, that’s obvious,
“So it’s no surprise when you hear there is interest from a team like Crystal Palace, where they’ve got a reputation for developing young talents into better players.
“In that respect it might be a perfect move for him and for Palace.”
Bobb could be "incredible" signing for the Eagles
Lauded as “incredible” by former footballer Jan Aage Fjortoft, the 22-year-old made his breakthrough at Man City in the 2023-24 campaign, and he has since gone on to make 46 appearances for Pep Guardiola’s side, chipping in with three goals and four assists.
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The Oslo-born ace, who is represented by the same agent as Pino, is also an extremely impressive dribbler, averaging 3.39 successful take-ons per 90 over the past year, and 3.71 progressive carries, which places him in the top 1%, when compared to his positional peers.
Crystal Palace make approach to sign "superb" £11m ace, he's open to the move
Palace have made contact over a deal for a new defender.
ByDominic Lund
Not only does the Norway international pose an attacking threat, but he is also willing to pitch in at the opposite end of the pitch, according to Pep, who said earlier this season: “Oscar defensively is a machine, he helped us a lot and in the final third.”
Given the number of attackers Pep has at his disposal, Bobb’s game time has been limited this season, often only being used as a substitute, so the £50k-a-week winger may need to leave Man City for the good of his career, and it is exciting news that Palace are interested.
Western Australia are in danger of losing their star opening batsman Chris Rogers, who is meeting with the state’s officials to decide his future. Rogers is reportedly unhappy with his continued omission from the state’s one-day side, which he believes is limiting his chances of further international call-ups.He has attracted interest from South Australia and Queensland, while Tasmania’s captain Daniel Marsh also said the Tigers would love to have him. Rogers is speaking to the Western Australian Cricket Association’s chief executive Graeme Wood, the coach Tom Moody and the state match committee chairman Tom Hogan to assess his options.”There is no way we would like to see him go, he is a critical part of our future,” Moody told AAP. “He is highly regarded in this state, his record speaks for itself. Hopefully after those discussions with him he will be with us and looking forward.”Rogers, who holds a Cricket Australia contract, was named State Player of the Year in 2006-07 and made his Test debut at home in Perth this season. However, despite another solid Pura Cup season in which he made 744 runs at 43.76, Rogers is continually overlooked for limited-overs games and made only two FR Cup appearances this summer.A move to Adelaide would be a major coup for South Australia, whose top order has struggled severely since Darren Lehmann’s retirement. Queensland have also lost an experienced key batsman in Jimmy Maher, while Rogers could be a direct replacement for Tasmania’s departing opener Michael Di Venuto.Western Australia have also lost a top-order veteran with the retirement of Justin Langer, who was a regular one-day player for the state, and his absence might open a door for Rogers in the shorter format. Langer hopes whatever Rogers decides he does not let the matter drag on for too long.”It will be good for him to move on and the WACA to move on, whichever way he chooses to go,” Langer said. “If he wants to stay – and I would like to see him stay – then that is great, but if he decided he is not going to then he should make his decision.”
Having been banished from the world cricket community by the ICC, US cricket has returned, literally and figuratively, to its grass roots. It is doing what it does best – opening up its far frontiers to an exciting brand of cricket, and breaking many records in the process.Not that too many people, even in the Pacific Northwest, were paying much attention. Most Northwest cricketers were glued to their newly acquired broadband TV receivers as they followed the World Cup. Those who could afford it had made the 6000-mile flight to Jamaica and Barbados, and were sending back “wish-you-were-here” e-mails to folks back home.Those who did descend on the Kirigin Cellars in Morgan County, CA found themselves in an idyllic setting for cricket. Here are two first-class cricket grounds, not one; being built to professional standards by the wealthy owner of the Kirigin Cellars, one of the largest distributors of fine wines in Northern California. Here also is a major sponsor for the Northern California Cricket Association who is committed to the long-term development of cricket in this unlikely part of the world, called “Cricket’s Northwest Passage” by Chris Sandford in Cricketer International. Only the Woodley Park grounds in Los Angeles can claim to have similar facilities for staging major national tournaments and exhibition matches. And for a place that is closer to Japan and Hong Kong than to New York or Miami, this has to be a major achievement.The Northern California Cricket Association (NCCA), hosts of the tournament, made a risky decision–they chose to hold the InterLeague Tournament early in 2007, not late August or September.The “later” months are favoured by most US leagues, when their “regular” seasons have been completed. Playing early puts a great deal of pressure on the leagues, who have to select promising talent to be supported in the season ahead.The weather, too, could have proved to be the tournament’s undoing. There were brief showers and overcast skies through much of the tournament, and a bone-chilling breeze even in bright afternoon sunlight made spectators and reporters huddle underneath procured blankets, warmed by some very spicy curry served by the hosts during innings breaks. But it worked out for the best, and a good time was had by all.Below, in Rohan Chandran’s words, is a match-by-match commentary as our selected eyewitness to the InterLeagueTournament. We hope folks will find it almost as enjoyable as if they were at the new Kirigin Cellars cricket complex in the first place.******************************************************************************************The NorthWest InterLeague Cup tournament was held at Kirigin Cellars winery, in Morgan Hill, CA. It featured representative sides of the Northern California Cricket Association (NCCA), Bay Area Cricket Alliance (BACA), California Cricket League (CCL), and the North West Cricket League representing Washington State, Oregon and Idaho (NWCL).The host team, NCCA, ultimately prevailed, beating all three of their opponents, but it was a success that was threatened several times along the way. Particularly promising for all concerned was the fact that the architects of the triumph were two young cricketers just starting out on what will hopefully become long and fruitful careers.Medium-pacer Sunny Singh Baidwan was, along with BACA’s U-19 off-spinner, Saad Khan, the pick of the bowlers on display; whilst 18 year old Shoaib Saleem displayed a maturity beyond his years with match-winning knocks in both his trips to the middle.Game 1: NCCA vs. BACA After winning the toss and electing to bat, BACA got off to a flier, thanks to an aggressive display from Iftikhar Khan, and a generous helping of extras from the NCCA opening bowlers. Wickets kept falling however, and at 74 for 6, BACA looked down and out. However, some selective counter-attacking by another Under-19 player, Randhir Kalsi, coming in at number seven, helped his side eke out a total of 146 before he was trapped by the offspin of Nirav Shah. That the entire innings lasted just 29 overs paints a clear picture of the tactics adopted, unsuccessfully, by the BACA batsmen. The NCCA reply began in the best possible fashion, with Rohan Dutt pulling the first ball of the innings high over mid-wicket for six. His 66, in an opening partnership of 95 with skipper Arjun Thyagarajan, laid a solid platform as the medium pacers were easily dispatched to all corners of the field. Some injudicious strokeplay from the middle order gave BACA a glimmer of hope, but 146 was never going to be enough, and NCCA emerged victorious by five wickets with 19 overs to spare.Game 2: NWCL vs. CCL In contrast to that one-sided affair, NWCL needed all their mental strength to see off CCL by just one run on the adjacent field. Half-centuries for Srikanth Sundaragopalan and pugnacious legspinning allrounder Saurabh Verma led NWCL to a defensible total of 239 for 7. Having elected to field first, CCL let themselves down with a poor catching display, and the concession of 24 wides. They then lost three early wickets before the scoreboard had really got moving, leaving NWCL scenting victory. Former NCCA skipper Nauman Mustafa then took charge, driving his way to 70 runs in a century partnership with Saad Hasan. A mini-collapse left CCL needing 68 in 9 overs with four wickets in hand. USA national squad member Fauad Hasan, the CCL captain, batted with the clear intent of finishing the game off as quickly as possible. With 16 needed in 18 balls, with three wickets in hand. A tame caught and bowled saw the end of Hasan. At this stage 12 balls remained, two runs were needed to win, one run to tie. But a slight hesitation over a tight single was pounced upon by NWCL, and they stole back a game they had once dominated and then nearly thrown away at the death.Game 3: NCCA vs. CCL Having been sent in to bat, NCCA got off to a terrible start, losing Rohan Dutt for a duck, and finding themselves 54 for 4 with the last recognized batsmen at the crease. Fortunately for them, Jay Kashalikar and the youngster, Shoaib Saleem, on debut, forged a partnership that was an object lesson in batting at this level. NCCA’s innings evolved into a series of very smartly taken singles and twos. Just when things looked to be getting back under control, Fauad Hasan induced a leading edge to send Kashalikar back to the pavilion, and the innings teetered on the brink at 143 for 9. That was the moment that Saleem chose to show everyone watching just how to play the game. Number eleven Sandeep contributed just one run to a last wicket partnership of 48, which was only ended by a needless run-out off the final delivery of the innings. The CCL reply never really got off the ground once Sunny Singh Baidwan had struck twice in two overs early in the innings. Ayan Banerjee fought hard for his 42, but none of the other batsmen got going against a disciplined attack, and they could only muster 131 in their reply, despite some poor catching by the NCCA fielders.Game 4: NWCL vs. BACA In the day’s second game, NWCL collapsed to 117 for 6 after winning the toss, and it was only Saurabh Verma’s 47, following on from his half-century the previous day, that took his team to a respectable 217. The spin attack of Saad Khan and Mayank Pradhan captured three and four wickets respectively for BACA. It was Verma’s day in fact, and in nine overs of legspin he snared 5 for 21, decimating the BACA middle order, and ensuring that Jaswinder Singh’s valiant 46 was in vain. BACA fell 54 runs short, thereby setting up a straight knock-out for the championship between NWCL and NCCA on the final day.Game 5: BACA vs. CCL In what was a fight to not finish last, BACAs spin twins of Saad Khan and Mayank Pradhan were once again amongst the wickets, taking 4 for 19 and 4 for 30 respectively as the CCL top order all failed to capitalize on good starts. A total of 180 seemed eminently reachable, but a very tight spell of spin bowling from Fauad Hasan, and five catches behind the stumps for Nauman Mustafa, put a stranglehold on the batsmen, and once again it was only Jaswinder Singh who resisted, scoring 59 as his team spluttered their way to 147, not once looking like posing a serious threat to CCL.Game 6: NCCA vs. NWCL The hosts were favourites going into this one, and they started out in determined fashion, making the NWCL openers struggle for every run. Wickets fell regularly to the medium pace of Badiwan, Patel and Kashalikar, and it was only some very determined batting by the tail that turned 94 for 6 (with David Hoyle retired hurt as well) into 162. That score was not thought to be sufficient to test the NCCA batting line-up, but when Rohan Dutt fell for his second successive duck, and skipper Arjun Thyagarajan and Jay Kashalikar followed him to leave the home side reeling at 15 for 3, all bets were off. The left-right combination of Sikander Khan and Sunil Chandrupatla steadied the ship, but it was left to young Shoaib Saleem to once again play the winning hand, his undefeated 49 guiding his more experienced colleagues home with six overs to spare.All four teams in the tournament showed the rust-inducing effects of a long winter without cricket, but in the strong performances of several debutant youngsters, the first stones in a foundation for a successful future may well have been laid here.
Lou Vincent, the New Zealand batsman, will replace Phil Jaques at Worcestershire for five weeks when Jaques returns to Australia for the Top End Series which starts at the end of June.Steve Rhodes, Worcestershire’s Director of Cricket, said: “I am delighted that Lou has agreed to play with us. He is the ideal person to substitute for Phil particularly for the Twenty20 Cup competition. He will bring a dynamic style of play and is the type of character we want in the dressing room.”Vincent added: “It didn’t take me long to decide to accept Worcestershire’s offer and I am really looking forward to joining the squad later in June. I hope I can make a substantial contribution during my five weeks with the team, particularly in the Twenty20 Cup which I know has been a huge success in England.”Vincent will arrive on June 21 and play his first game in the C & G Trophy against Yorkshire, at New Road, four days later. He has played 22 Tests and 83 ODI’s for New Zealand.
John Buchanan wants Australia to establish superiority over England’s new players Andrew Strauss, Kevin Pietersen and Andrew Flintoff in the two one-day tournaments before the Ashes series. The three huge talents, who have helped push England to the No. 2 ranking, have never faced the world champions in a Test and will be targets as Australia seek their ninth consecutive win.”We want to create some momentum and establish some sort of superiority at that time,” Buchanan told The Age. “The one-day series give us the opportunity to pit our skills against theirs, and then we would hope that in playing pretty well, we would assert ourselves and provide some sort of statement about the rest of the tour.” Australia’s first match of the NatWest Series, which also includes Bangladesh, is on June 18 and the three-game NatWest Challenge begins on July 7.The Australians, who have a handful of spies playing in the counties, believe they have found weaknesses in the batting of Strauss, who was named England’s Player of the Year after his stunning Test breakthrough. Strauss has already attracted the attention of Glenn McGrath and Shane Warne, who took his wicket in a county match.”We think he can play across his crease early, and therefore a swinging ball is an early option to him,” Buchanan told the paper. “He generally knows where his off stump is, but like all left-handers, he’s susceptible around that corridor area. He enjoys width, and can play spin well, but is probably limited in his shot range against spin.”