Category Uncategorized

Paul Andrew Strang – born Bulawayo, 28 July 1970
Right-handed batsman, leg-break and googly bowler
Career: 1992/93-2001/02

Abbreviations: Capital letters for team names denotes a Test match.Man – ManicalandMash – Mashonaland * indicates not out inningsMat – Matabeleland + indicates wicket-keeperMCD – Mashonaland Country Districts *+ retired hurt/illMid – Midlands # batted firstZim – Zimbabwe/ZimbabweansGrounds:Alex – Alexandra Sports Club OG – Old Georgians Sports ClubBAC – Bulawayo Athletic Club OH – Old Hararians Sports ClubHSC – Harare Sports ClubNo. Own Team Ct No. O M R W Opp.1992/93 (Zimbabwe) bat Score Total bowl Total1 Zimbabwe A v Kent (9) 6 194 1 (5) 10 1 40 1 #323/5d(HSC, 30 Mar-1 Apr – drawn) — 101/5 – –1992/93 (ZIMBABWE) SEASON TOTALM I NO Runs HS Av. 100 50 Ct O M R W Av. BB 5wI 10wM1 1 0 6 6 6.00 – – 1 10 1 40 1 40.00 1/40 – -No. Own Team Ct No. O M R W Opp.1993/94 (Zimbabwe) bat Score Total bowl Total2 Zim Board XI v Free State B (8) 1 #275/9d – (3) 28 5 93 4 343(HSC, 29 Oct-1 Nov – drawn) (8) 31 331/9d – (3) 17 1 55 0 101/13 Zim Board XI v Border B (4) 35 #294 – (3) 2.1 1 5 0 21/0(BAC, 25-27 Nov – drawn)4 MCD v Mashonaland (9) 1 #210 1 (4) 19 4 45 4 140(Harare South, 14-16 Jan – D) — 203/65 Zim Board XI v Transvaal B (8) 45 #167 1 (5) 16 5 40 0 387/5d(Johannesburg, 21-23 Jan – D) (8) 2 163/86 Zim Board XI v Natal B (8) 45 #329 2 (3) 42 6 144 3 360(Durban, 27-29 Jan – D) — 236/37 MCD v Matabeleland — 220/7d – (4) 44 14 145 1 #433(BAC, 11-13 Feb – L) (10) 6 1798 MCD v Mashonaland Under-24 (8) 14 249 2 (5) 30 7 80 3 #283(Alex, 4-6 March – D) (8) 16 296/8 2 (5) 27.5 7 97 4 2929 Zimbabwe B v Worcestershire (8) 2 187 1 (5) 21 5 55 2 #279/6d(HSC, 6-8 Apr – L) (8) 21 152 – (4) 3 0 16 0 169/4d1993/94 (ZIMBABWE) SEASON TOTALM I NO Runs HS Av. 100 50 Ct O M R W Av. BB 5wI 10wM8 12 0 219 45 18.25 – – 9 250 55 775 21 36.90 4/45 – -Career 9 13 0 225 45 17.30 – – 10 260 56 815 22 37.04 4/45 – -No. Own Team Ct No. O M R W Opp.1994/95 (Zimbabwe) bat Score Total bowl TotalPaul made his Test debut in the Third Test against Sri Lanka, after fine bowling performances in the Logan Cup and against South Africa A.10 MCD v Mashonaland Under-24 — #347/4d – (4) 26 3 75 7 259(Harare South, 16-18 Sept – L) (11) 29* 160 1 (4) 21 4 86 2 250/411 Mash XI v South Africa A (9) 4 #271 – (3) 45 14 137 5 499(OH, 20-23 Sept – L) (9) 4 15812 Zimbabwe A v South Africa A (8) 7 #87 1 (3) 28 4 104 1 409(Alex, 4-6 Oct – L) (8) 12* 14313 ZIMBABWE v SRI LANKA (3rd) (10) 6 375 – (5) 25 6 65 3 #402(HSC, 26-31 Oct – D) — 89/314 Zim Board XI v Griqualand West (9) 4 #423/9d 2 (3) 12 2 39 3 121(Kimberley, 4-6 Nov – W) — (3) 35.2 17 77 5 283M I NO Runs HS Av. 100 50 Ct St O M R W Av. BB 5wI 10wMCareer 14 20 2 291 45 16.16 – – 14 452.2 106 1398 48 29.12 7/75 3 -No. Own Team Ct No. O M R W Opp.1994/95 (Australia) bat Score Total bowl Total15 Zimbabweans v Tasmania — 141/3d – (7) 3 1 19 0 #257/5d(Devonport, 18-20 Dec – D) (7) 1* 156/5 – 136/3d16 Zimbabweans v Queensland (8) 37* #294/6d – (3) 11 2 45 1 223/5d(Maryborough, 29-31 Dec – L) (8) 29* 129 – (4) 18.4 0 73 0 201/61994/95 (AUSTRALIA) SEASON TOTALM I NO Runs HS Av. 100 50 Ct O M R W Av. BB 5wI 10wM2 3 3 67 37* — – – – 32.4 3 137 1 137.00 1/45 – -Career 16 23 5 358 45 19.88 – – 14 485 109 1535 49 31.32 7/75 3 -No. Own Team Ct No. O M R W Opp.1994/95 (Zimbabwe, cont.) bat Score Total bowl Total17 MCD v Matabeleland (8) 0 #123 1 (4) 8.3 2 24 3 127(Harare South, 20-22 Jan – L) (9) 97 336 – (3) 35 6 117 1 335/318 Zim Board XI v Western Prov B (9) 16 260 1 (4) 19 5 39 1 #284/8d(Cape Town, 26-28 Jan – D) — 86/4 – (4) 30 10 88 5 25719 ZIMBABWE v PAKISTAN (1st) — #544/4d – (5) 15 5 45 0 322(HSC, 31 Jan-4 Feb – W) – (3) 19 3 35 1 15820 ZIMBABWE v PAKISTAN (2nd) (8) 32 #174 – (5) 15 4 48 0 260(Queens, 7-9 Feb – L) (8) 3 146 – — 61/221 ZIMBABWE v PAKISTAN (3rd) (8) 28 243 3 — #231(HSC, 15-19 Feb – L) (8) 5 139 – (5) 13 3 41 0 25022 MCD v Mashonaland (6) 8 182 1 (4) 19 3 53 1 #188(HSC, 10-12 March – L) (8) 51 161 1 (4) 30 5 104 2 4211994/95 (ZIMBABWE) SEASON TOTALM I NO Runs HS Av. 100 50 Ct O M R W Av. BB 5wI 10wM11 16 2 306 97 21.85 – 2 12 395.5 96 1177 40 29.42 7/75 4 -Career 22 32 5 598 97 22.14 – 2 22 688.3 155 2129 63 33.79 7/75 4 -No. Own Team Ct No. O M R W Opp.1995/96 (Zimbabwe) bat Score Total bowl Total23 MCD v Young Mashonaland (6) 63 #309 1 (4) 27.4 7 53 3 182(Alex, 15-17 Sept – W) – 264/2d 1 (5) 21.1 4 74 2 168M I NO Runs HS Av. 100 50 Ct St O M R W Av. BB 5wI 10wMCareer 23 33 5 661 97 23.60 – 3 24 737.2 166 2256 68 33.17 7/75 4 -No. Own Team Ct No. O M R W Opp.1995/96 (South Africa) bat Score Total bowl Total24 Zimbabwe A v Transvaal (10) 2 #264 – (3) 32 4 109 5 509(Johannesburg, 21-24 Sept – L) (10) 0 312 – — 70/125 Zimbabwe A v Eastern Province (9) 3* #112 – (4) 21 6 59 1 313(Pt Elizabeth, 28-30 Sept – L) (9) 20 14426 Zimbabwe A v South Africa A (9) 36* #221 1 (6) 22 5 69 5 310(Durban, 6-9 Oct – D) (9) 9* 256/81995/96 (SOUTH AFRICA) SEASON TOTALM I NO Runs HS Av. 100 50 Ct O M R W Av. BB 5wI 10wM3 6 3 70 36* 23.33 – – 1 75 15 237 11 21.63 5/69 2 -Career 26 39 8 731 97 23.58 – 3 25 812.2 181 2493 79 31.55 7/75 6 -No. Own Team Ct No. O M R W Opp.1995/96 (Zimbabwe, cont.) bat Score Total bowl Total27 ZIMBABWE v SOUTH AFRICA (Only) (8) 0 #170 – (4) 23 2 58 0 346(HSC, 13-16 Oct – L) (8) 37 283 – (4) 4 0 27 0 108/328 MCD v Matabeleland (7) 9 209 – — #152(BAC, 17-19 Nov – L) (7) 18 283 – (4) 26 4 70 2 34429 MCD v Mashonaland (6) 61 279 – — #133(Harare South, 8-10 Dec – W) (6) 56* 207/8 1 (7) 9 3 37 0 3521995/96 (ZIMBABWE) SEASON TOTALM I NO Runs HS Av. 100 50 Ct O M R W Av. BB 5wI 10wM4 7 1 244 61 40.66 – 3 3 110.5 20 319 7 45.57 3/53 – -Career 29 45 9 912 97 25.33 – 5 26 874.2 190 2685 81 33.14 7/75 6 -No. Own Team Ct No. O M R W Opp.1995/96 (New Zealand) bat Score Total bowl Total30 Zim v NZ Academy XI (9) 9* #274/7d – (3) 13 3 45 0 213/1d(Whangarei, 6-8 Jan – D) — 207/4d – (3) 12 3 25 0 109/131 ZIMBABWE v NEW ZEALAND (1st) (8) 49 196 – (5) 2 1 1 1 #230/8d(Hamilton, 13-17 Jan – D) (8) 0* 208/6 – (4) 24 7 57 1 222/5d32 ZIMBABWE v NEW ZEALAND (2nd) (9) 44 326 1 (4) 12 2 29 1 #251(Auckland, 20-24 Jan – D) — 246/4 – (5) 43 7 142 0 441/5d1995/96 (NEW ZEALAND) SEASON TOTALM I NO Runs HS Av. 100 50 Ct O M R W Av. BB 5wI 10wM3 4 2 102 49 51.00 – – 1 106 23 299 3 99.66 1/1 – -Career 32 49 11 1014 97 26.68 – 5 27 980.2 213 2984 84 36.09 7/75 6 -No. Own Team Ct No. O M R W Opp.1996 (England) bat Score Total bowl Total33 MCC v South Africa A (9) 13* #391/7d 1 (6) 11.3 3 17 1 204(Shenley, 10-12 July – D) – (5) 35 7 117 1 490/4d1996 (ENGLAND) SEASON TOTALM I NO Runs HS Av. 100 50 Ct O M R W Av. BB 5wI 10wM1 1 1 13 13* — – – 1 46.3 10 134 2 67.00 1/17 – -Career 33 50 12 1027 97 27.02 – 5 28 1026.5 223 3118 85 36.68 7/75 6 -No. Own Team Ct No. O M R W Opp.1996/97 (Sri Lanka) bat Score Total bowl Total34 ZIMBABWE v SRI LANKA (1st) (9) 6 145 1 (4) 34.3 3 106 5 #349(Colombo Pre, 11-14 Sept – L) (8) 8 12735 ZIMBABWE v SRI LANKA (2nd) (8) 2* #141 1 (4) 38 11 66 4 350/8d(Colombo SSC, 18-21 Sept – L) (9) 50 235 – (2) 3 0 13 0 30/01996/97 (SRI LANKA) SEASON TOTALM I NO Runs HS Av. 100 50 Ct O M R W Av. BB 5wI 10wM2 4 1 66 50 22.00 – 1 2 75.3 14 185 9 20.55 5/106 1 -Career 35 54 13 1093 97 26.65 – 6 30 1102.2 237 3303 94 35.13 7/75 7 -No. Own Team Ct No. O M R W Opp.1996/97 (Zimbabwe) bat Score Total bowl TotalPaul took ten wickets in a match for the first time in the Logan Cup match against Mashonaland.36 Mash XI v Western Province (8) 13 276/8d – (4) 30 4 111 4 #303(Alex, 26-28 Sept – D) — 74/4 1 (3) 33 7 110 4 237/9d37 Mashonaland v Matabeleland (8) 10 314 – (4) 20.4 8 45 5 #118(BAC, 4-6 Oct – W) — 85/2 2 (3) 39 10 103 5 279M I NO Runs HS Av. 100 50 Ct O M R W Av. BB 5wI 10wMCareer 37 56 13 1116 97 25.95 – 6 33 1225 266 3672 112 32.78 7/75 9 1No. Own Team Ct No. O M R W Opp.1996/97 (Pakistan) bat Score Total bowl TotalPaul recorded his maiden first-class century in the First Test match against Pakistan, and went on to record a rare match double for Test cricket of a century and five wickets in an innings.38 ZIMBABWE v PAKISTAN (1st) (8) 106* #375 – (4) 69 12 212 5 553(Sheikhapura, 17-21 Oct – D) (8) 13* 241/739 ZIMBABWE v PAKISTAN (2nd) (8) 3 #133 – (5) 24.1 8 66 1 267(Faisalabad, 24-26 Oct – L) (8) 9 200 – (4) 2 0 8 0 69/01996/97 (PAKISTAN) SEASON TOTALM I NO Runs HS Av. 100 50 Ct O M R W Av. BB 5wI 10wM2 4 2 131 106* 65.50 1 – – 95.1 20 286 6 47.66 5/212 1 -Career 39 60 15 1247 106* 27.71 1 6 33 1320.1 286 3958 118 33.54 5/45 10 1No. Own Team Ct No. O M R W Opp.1996/97 (Zimbabwe, cont.) bat Score Total bowl Total40 Mashonaland v Matabeleland — #503/4d – (4) 53 12 130 2 448(Alex, 15-17 Nov – D)41 Mashonaland v Matabeleland (8) 103* 477/6d – (3) 9 6 13 0 69/4d(BAC, 22-24 Nov – W) — forfeit – (4) 25 7 49 2 19542 Mashonaland v England XI (6) 6 280 – (4) 16 5 30 0 #197(HSC, 3-6 Dec – W) — 98/3 – (4) 23.1 6 56 4 95/343 ZIMBABWE v ENGLAND (1st) (8) 38 #376 – (3) 58.4 14 123 5 406(Queens, 18-22 Dec – D) (9) 19 234 – (3) 14 0 63 2 204/644 ZIMBABWE v ENGLAND (2nd) (8) 47* 215 – (5) 18 7 31 1 #156(HSC, 26-30 Dec – D) – (5) 26 6 42 2 195/31996/97 (ZIMBABWE) SEASON TOTALM I NO Runs HS Av. 100 50 Ct O M R W Av. BB 5wI 10wM7 7 2 236 103* 47.20 1 – 3 365.3 92 906 36 25.16 5/43 3 1Career 44 65 17 1460 106* 30.41 2 6 33 1563 349 4495 137 32.81 7/75 11 1No. Own Team Ct No. O M R W Opp.1997 (England) bat Score Total bowl TotalPaul’s exploits in the Test arena earned him a contract for the English season with Kent, replacing regular overseas professional Carl Hooper who was unavailable due to international commitments. He made an excellent impression at the county club.45 Kent v Derbyshire (7) 0 #251 – (4) 15 7 37 0 248(Canterbury, 23-26 Apr – D) (7) 69 333 – (4) 11 0 50 0 248/346 Kent v Glamorgan (8) 1 154 2 (4) 21 6 51 1 #279(Canterbury, 14-17 May – L) (9) 3 231 – (4) 23.5 5 59 4 19347 Kent v Sussex (10) 1 #245 – (4) 32 9 91 3 264(Horsham, 21-24 May – W) (10) 17 440 1 (3) 42 14 102 2 31748 Kent v Nottinghamshire (10) 73 440 – (5) 14 4 33 0 #216(Nottingham, 29-31 May – W) – (5) 21 11 21 2 11949 Kent v Warwickshire (7) 12 379 – (4) 34 11 65 1 #314(Tunbridge Wells, 4-7 June – W) (7) 1 216/6 1 (4) 38.2 10 109 3 28050 Kent v Lancashire (8) 43 #373 – (4) 37 12 118 7 285(Manchester, 12-16 June – W) (7) 25 217/9d – (5) 17 6 68 4 24751 Kent v Durham (8) 5 167 2 (5) 31 10 48 2 #251(Darlington, 18-21 June – L) (7) 47 132 – (5) 24 11 45 2 183/8d52 Kent v Northamptonshire (7) 55 #306 – (3) 3 1 11 0 84/0d(Maidstone, 2-5 July – L) — 99/2d 1 (5) 36 9 84 3 322/953 Kent v Leicestershire (8) 82 #498/9d 1 (4) 3 1 16 0 160/4d(Canterbury, 16-19 July – L) — 26/0d – (4) 39 9 103 1 367/454 Kent v Middlesex (7) 12 #208 3 (4) 6 2 8 0 105(Lord’s, 23-25 July – W) (7) 17 157 2 (4) 27.2 2 88 6 25655 Kent v Worcestershire (7) 0 276 – (3) 22 6 63 1 #422(Worcester, 31 July-4 Aug – D) — 158/4 – — 174/3d56 Kent v Essex (9) 55 525/9d 1 (4) 11 2 32 0 156(Canterbury, 6-9 Aug – W) 1 (4) 36 13 119 5 36157 Kent v Australians (9) 0 #201 – (5) 20.1 4 44 1 315(Canterbury, 16-18 Aug – L) (9) 2 343 – (6) 10 0 42 1 231/458 Kent v Somerset (9) 24 449 – (5) 26 8 78 0 #375(Taunton, 20-23 Aug – D) (7) 3* 160/6 – (3) 28.3 9 72 6 23459 Kent v Hampshire (9) 0 350/8d 1 (5) 22 4 82 0 #406(Portsmouth, 27-30 Aug – D)60 Kent v Gloucestershire (9) 14 #305 – (2) 25.2 6 50 2 256(Canterbury, 2-5 Sept – W) — 432/4d 1 (3) 28 14 40 3 20961 Kent v Yorkshire (10) 29* 374 – (3) 12 2 45 0 #312(Leeds, 10-13 Sept – D) — 147/5 – (5) 16.4 3 55 3 3011997 (ENGLAND) SEASON TOTALM I NO Runs HS Av. 100 50 Ct O M R W Av. BB 5wI 10wM17 26 2 590 82 24.58 – 5 17 733.1 211 1929 63 30.61 7/118 4 1Career 61 91 19 2050 106* 28.47 2 11 50 2296.1 560 6424 200 32.12 7/75 15 2No. Own Team Ct No. O M R W Opp.1997/98 (Zimbabwe) bat Score Total bowl Total62 ZIMBABWE v NEW ZEALAND (1st) (7) 42 #298 – (4) 15 2 31 2 207(HSC, 18-22 Sept – D) (7) 17 311/9d – (4) 42 17 76 1 304/863 ZIMBABWE v NEW ZEALAND (2nd) (7) 5 #461 1 (3) 47 18 110 3 403(Queens, 25-29 Sept – D) (7) 2 227/8d 1 (4) 23 1 81 1 275/8M I NO Runs HS Av. 100 50 Ct O M R W Av. BB 5wI 10wMCareer 63 95 19 2116 106* 27.84 2 11 52 2423.1 598 6722 207 32.47 7/75 15 2No. Own Team Ct No. O M R W Opp.1997/98 (Sri Lanka) bat Score Total bowl Total64 ZIMBABWE v SRI LANKA (1st) (7) 35 140 – (3) 35.3 10 123 3 #469/9d(Kandy, 7-11 Jan – L) (8) 33 338 – — 10/265 ZIMBABWE v SRI LANKA (2nd) (8) 5 #251 – (4) 19.5 2 77 4 225(Colombo SSC, 14-18 Jan – L) (9) 3 299 – (4) 24 4 75 0 326/51997/98 (SRI LANKA) SEASON TOTALM I NO Runs HS Av. 100 50 Ct O M R W Av. BB 5wI 10wM2 4 0 76 35 19.00 – – – 79.2 16 275 7 39.28 4/77 – -Career 65 99 19 2192 106* 27.40 2 11 52 2502.3 614 6997 214 32.69 7/75 15 2No. Own Team Ct No. O M R W Opp.1997/98 (New Zealand) bat Score Total bowl Total66 Zimbabweans v Canterbury (8) 93 422/8d – (4) 22 12 20 4 #100(Timaru, 13-16 Feb – W) – (3) 27 15 38 3 26667 ZIMBABWE v NEW ZEALAND (1st) (7) 1 #180 1 (3) 49.1 13 126 3 411(Wellington, 19-22 Feb – L) (8) 0 250 – — 20/068 ZIMBABWE v NEW ZEALAND (2nd) (8) 30* #170 1 (4) 18.1 0 54 4 460(Auckland, 26-28 Feb – L) (8) 67* 2771997/98 (NEW ZEALAND) SEASON TOTALM I NO Runs HS Av. 100 50 Ct O M R W Av. BB 5wI 10wM3 5 2 191 93 63.66 – 2 2 116.2 40 238 14 17.00 4/20 – -Career 68 104 21 2383 106* 28.71 2 13 54 2618.5 654 7235 228 31.73 7/75 15 2No. Own Team Ct No. O M R W Opp.1997/98 (Zimbabwe, cont.) bat Score Total bowl Total69 ZIMBABWE v PAKISTAN (1st) (9) 2 #321 2 (5) 26.1 8 54 3 256(Queens, 14-18 March – D) — 302/4d – (3) 27 5 69 1 258/61997/98 (ZIMBABWE) SEASON TOTALM I NO Runs HS Av. 100 50 Ct O M R W Av. BB 5wI 10wM3 5 0 68 42 13.60 – – 4 180.1 51 421 11 38.27 3/54 – -Career 69 105 21 2385 106* 28.39 2 13 56 2672 667 7358 232 31.71 7/75 15 2No. Own Team Ct No. O M R W Opp.1998 (England) bat Score Total bowl TotalPaul secured a two-year contract with Nottinghamshire, but his bowling was frustrated by home pitches prepared to suit the seamers, and his batting by their wasting him in the lower order. At the end of the season the county’s new management decided to replace him with West Indian seamer Vasbert Drakes, and paid Paul out his contract.70 Nottinghamshire v Somerset — 16/2 – (4) 8 3 20 0 #255(Taunton, 23-27 Apr – D)71 Nottinghamshire v Sussex (8) 48 #275 – (4) 29.3 10 74 2 324(Nottingham, 13-15 May – L) (8) 48 122 – (3) 10 2 26 3 74/672 Nottinghamshire v Warwickshire (9) 18* 218 2 (5) 2 1 1 0 #130(Birmingham, 21-24 May – W) — 193/4 – (6) 3 1 11 0 28073 Nottinghamshire v Durham (9) 13 #211 – (6) 7.3 3 17 2 269(Nottingham, 29-31 May – L) (10) 10 224 – (4) 13.2 4 37 1 167/274 Nottinghamshire v Essex (9) 30 #342 1 (4) 36 13 84 1 322(Ilford, 3-6 June – D) (9) 14 279/9d 1 (3) 28 14 41 3 198/875 Nottinghamshire v Kent (9) 23* 309 1 (5) 25 13 30 1 283(Canterbury, 17-20 June – L) — 307/5d 2 (3) 23 1 166 5 334/776 Nottinghamshire v Middlesex (10) 40 413 – (5) 7.2 3 15 2 #198(Nottingham, 1-3 July – W) 1 (5) 1 0 6 0 12377 Nottinghamshire v Yorkshire (9) 2* #234 – (4) 32 6 84 0 160/6(Scarborough, 15-18 July – D) — 160/678 Nottinghamshire v Hampshire (9) 4 #128 – (4) 16.2 6 41 2 301(Portsmouth, 22-24 July – L) (8) 0 243 – (3) 3 1 6 0 73/379 Nottinghamsh. v Northamptonshire — 380/5 4 (4) 30.5 4 92 4 #346(Nottingham, 30 July-3 Aug – D)80 Nottinghamshire v Worcestershire (9) 11 #164 3 (5) 16 4 56 1 289(Kidderminster, 5-8 Aug – W) (9) 0 401 2 (3) 8 3 19 0 18681 Nottinghamshire v Surrey (9) 18 #213 1 (5) 17 7 38 0 270(Nottingham, 19-21 Aug – L) (9) 5 125 1 (4) 3.4 0 15 1 72/382 Nottinghamshire v Leicestershire (9) 8 #61 – (4) 33 6 104 2 505/6d(Worksop, 26-29 Aug – L) (9) 8 2211998 (ENGLAND) SEASON TOTALM I NO Runs HS Av. 100 50 Ct O M R W Av. BB 5wI 10wM13 18 3 300 48 20.00 – – 19 353.3 105 983 30 32.76 5/166 1 -Career 82 123 24 2685 106* 27.12 2 13 75 3025.3 772 8341 262 31.83 7/75 16 2No. Own Team Ct No. O M R W Opp.1998/99 (Zimbabwe) bat Score Total bowl TotalPaul suffered an injury during the visit by India, preventing him from playing in the one-off Test match, and then another injury during the tour to Pakistan.83 Mashonaland v Matabeleland (8) 70 #243 1 (3) 35 9 58 2 232(BAC, 5-7 Jan – D) — 333/2d – (3) 27 7 84 3 278/6M I NO Runs HS Av. 100 50 Ct O M R W Av. BB 5wI 10wM1 1 0 70 70 70.00 – 1 1 62 16 142 5 28.40 3/84 – -Career 83 124 24 2755 106* 27.55 2 14 76 3087.3 788 8483 267 31.77 7/75 16 2No. Own Team Ct No. O M R W Opp.1999 (England) bat Score Total bowl Total84 MCC v Sri Lanka A (6) 8* 102/4d 1 (5) 10 1 20 1 #188/9d(Shenley, 17-20 Aug – D) (4) 30 201/8 1 (6) 2 0 11 0 169/9dM I NO Runs HS Av. 100 50 Ct O M R W Av. BB 5wI 10wM1 2 1 38 30 38.00 – – 2 12 1 31 1 31.00 1/20 – -Career 84 126 25 2793 106* 27.65 2 14 78 3099.3 789 8514 268 31.76 7/75 16 2No. Own Team Ct No. O M R W Opp.1999/2000 (Zimbabwe) bat Score Total bowl TotalAn arm injury prevented Paul from bowling for most of the season. In the Logan Cup competition he was invited to captain the young CFX Academy team.85 CFX Academy v Mashonaland (7) 72 #245 – — 272(Country Club, 3-5 March – D) (9) 4* 221/7d86 CFX Academy v Manicaland (7) 0 #191 1 (5) 22 6 34 1 288(Mutare, 24-26 March – D) (6) 74* 250/587 CFX Academy v Matabeleland (7) 37 316 1 (5) 12.3 4 21 2 #176(Country Club, 31Mar-2 Apr – D) 1 (4) 16 6 28 0 207/2M I NO Runs HS Av. 100 50 Ct O M R W Av. BB 5wI 10wM3 5 2 187 74* 62.33 – 2 3 50.3 16 83 3 27.66 2/21 – -Career 87 131 27 2980 106* 28.65 2 16 81 3150 805 8597 271 31.72 7/75 16 2No. Own Team Ct No. O M R W Opp.2000 (England) bat Score Total bowl TotalPaul’s arm injury caused him to miss Zimbabwe’s tour of the West Indies, but he was able to join the tour of England after the Test matches were over, to play in the triangular tournament that also included West Indies.88 Zimbabweans v West Indians (8) 12 275/8d – (5) 22 3 77 1 #407(Arundel, 10-12 June – D) — 108/1 – (5) 10 2 38 1 200/5d89 Zimbabweans v Gloucestershire (9) 36 #568 1 (3) 11 2 27 1 167(Gloucester, 16-19 June – W) — 258/2d – (5) 5 2 11 1 13590 Zimbabweans v British Univs — 441/6d – (5) 19 8 31 1 #261/8d(Cambridge, 21-23 June – D)2000 (ENGLAND) SEASON TOTALM I NO Runs HS Av. 100 50 Ct O M R W Av. BB 5wI 10wM3 2 0 48 36 24.00 – – 1 67 17 184 5 36.80 1/11 – -Career 90 133 27 3028 106* 28.56 2 16 82 3217 822 8781 276 31.81 7/75 16 2No. Own Team Ct No. O M R W Opp.2000/01 (Zimbabwe) bat Score Total bowl TotalBack in the Test team, Paul became the first Zimbabwean to take eight wickets in an innings in a Test match.91 Zimbabwe A v New Zealanders (8) 26 168 1 (4) 40 8 77 3 #677/7d(Kwekwe, 7-9 Sept – D) — 72/3 – — 137/392 ZIMBABWE v NEW ZEALAND (1st) (8) 0 #350 1 (3) 51.5 12 109 8 338(Queens, 12-16 Sept – L) (9) 8* 119 – (3) 20.4 3 49 2 132/393 ZIMBABWE v NEW ZEALAND (2nd) (9) 5 166 – (5) 38 11 80 2 #465(HSC, 19-23 Sept – L) (9) 8 370 – — 74/2M I NO Runs HS Av. 100 50 Ct O M R W Av. BB 5wI 10wMCareer 93 138 28 3075 106* 27.95 2 16 84 3367.3 856 9096 291 31.25 8/109 17 3No. Own Team Ct No. O M R W Opp.2000/01 (India) bat Score Total bowl TotalPaul’s tour of India was cut short by a recurrence of his arm injury during the First Test.94 Zim v National Cricket Academy (8) 22* #322/6d 1 (4) 15 1 82 3 323/6d(Indore, 8-10 Nov – D) — 320/5d – — 42/195 Zim v Board President’s XI — 236/5d 1 (4) 20 4 59 3 314/5d(Faridabad, 13-15 Nov – W) (8) 4* 262/6 1 (6) 4 0 44 0 183/2d96 ZIMBABWE v INDIA (1st) (8) 19 422/9d 1 (5) 15 1 52 0 458/4d(Delhi, 18-22 Nov – L) (9) 14* 225 1 (5) 4.2 0 26 1 190/32000/01 (INDIA) SEASON TOTALM I NO Runs HS Av. 100 50 Ct O M R W Av. BB 5wI 10wM3 4 3 59 22* 59.00 – – 5 58.2 6 263 7 37.57 3/59 – -Career 96 142 31 3134 106* 28.23 2 16 89 3425.5 862 9359 298 31.40 8/109 17 3No. Own Team Ct No. O M R W Opp.2000/01 (Zimbabwe, cont.) bat Score Total bowl Total97 Mashonaland v CFX Academy — #253/3d – — forfeit(HSC, 16-18 Feb – W) forfeit – (5) 16 2 55 1 18898 Mashonaland v Mashonaland A (7) 48 #171 – — forfeit(HSC, 2-4 March – W) — 66/5d – (5) 8.5 0 36 4 12299 Mashonaland v Manicaland (8) 16 205 – (3) 21 6 56 3 #205(HSC, 9-11 March – W) (8) 22* 115/8 1 (4) 19.5 3 42 3 114100 Mashonaland v Matabeleland (7) 2 #194 1 (4) 4.2 2 5 2 115(HSC, 23-25 March – W) (7) 0* 225/5d – — 19101 Mashonaland v Midlands (7) 5 #357/7d – (3) 11.3 2 30 2 92(Kwekwe, 30 March-1 Apr – W) 1 (5) 20 6 31 0 222102 Zimbabwe A v Bangladeshis (8) 22* 222/8d – (5) 10.1 1 30 0 #333(BAC, 13-15 April – D) — 205/3 1 (6) 2.5 0 6 2 166103 President’s XI v West Indians (9) 17 128/9d – (6) 8 2 19 1 191(Country Club, 9-11 July – L) (9) 81* 306 – (5) 15 2 73 2 457/5d2000/01 (ZIMBABWE) SEASON TOTALM I NO Runs HS Av. 100 50 Ct O M R W Av. BB 5wI 10wM10 14 5 260 81* 28.88 – 1 6 288 60 698 35 19.94 8/109 1 1Career 103 151 35 3347 106* 28.85 2 17 93 3563.2 888 9742 318 30.63 8/109 17 3No. Own Team Ct No. O M R W Opp.2001/02 (Zimbabwe) bat Score Total bowl TotalPaul made a brief return to Test cricket; this time a finger injury trying to hold a fierce drive off his own bowling put an end to his comeback. Due to his continuing injuries he successfully asked ZCU to release him from his contract, but he remained available to play in Zimbabwe and was invited to play for Manicaland in the Logan Cup after doing a spell in television commentary on the Zimbabwe tour of India. He responded with his highest first-class score.104 ZIMBABWE v SOUTH AFRICA (Only) (9) 38* #419/9d – (3) 14.2 2 52 0 519/8d(Queens, 14-18 Sept – D) — 96/3105 Manicaland v Matabeleland (7) 154 #574 – (3) 16 2 61 2 244(Mutare, 12-15 April – D) – (7) 8 2 14 1 206/3M I NO Runs HS Av. 100 50 Ct O M R W Av. BB 5wI 10wM2 2 1 192 154 192.00 1 – – 38.2 6 127 3 42.33 2/61 – -Career 105 153 36 3539 154 30.24 3 17 93 3601.4 894 9869 321 30.74 7/75 17 3RECORD SEASON BY SEASONM I NO Runs HS Av. 100 50 Ct O M R W Av. BB 5wI 10wM1992/93(Z) 1 1 0 6 6 6.00 – – 1 10 1 40 1 40.00 1/40 – -1993/94(Z)* 8 12 0 219 45 18.25 – – 9 250 55 775 21 36.90 4/45 – -1994/95(A) 2 3 3 67 37* — – – – 32.4 3 137 1 137.00 1/45 – -1994/95(Z)* 11 16 2 306 97 21.85 – 2 12 395.5 96 1177 40 29.42 7/75 4 -1995/96(SA) 3 6 3 70 36* 23.33 – – 1 75 15 237 11 21.63 5/69 2 -1995/96(Z) 4 7 1 244 61 40.66 – 3 3 110.5 20 319 7 45.57 3/53 – -1995/96(NZ) 3 4 2 102 49 51.00 – – 1 106 23 299 3 99.66 1/1 – -1996 (E) 1 1 1 13 13* — – – 1 46.3 10 134 2 67.00 1/17 – -1996/97(SL) 2 4 1 66 50 22.00 – 1 2 75.3 14 185 9 20.55 5/106 1 -1996/97(P) 2 4 2 131 106* 65.50 1 – – 95.1 20 286 6 47.66 5/212 1 -1996/97(Z) 7 7 2 236 103* 47.20 1 – 3 365.3 92 906 36 25.16 5/43 3 11997 (E) 17 26 2 590 82 24.58 – 5 17 733.1 211 1929 63 30.61 7/118 4 11997/98(SL) 2 4 0 76 35 19.00 – – – 79.2 16 275 7 39.28 4/77 – -1997/98(NZ) 3 5 2 191 93 63.66 – 2 2 116.2 40 238 14 17.00 4/20 – -1997/98(Z) 3 5 0 68 42 13.60 – – 4 180.1 51 421 11 38.27 3/54 – -1998 (E) 13 18 3 300 48 20.00 – – 19 353.3 105 983 30 32.76 5/166 1 -1998/99(Z) 1 1 0 70 70 70.00 – 1 1 62 16 142 5 28.40 3/84 – -1999 (E) 1 2 1 38 30 38.00 – – 2 12 1 31 1 31.00 1/20 – -1999/00(Z) 3 5 2 187 74* 62.33 – 2 3 50.3 16 83 3 27.66 2/21 – -2000 (E) 3 2 0 48 36 24.00 – – 1 67 17 184 5 36.80 1/11 – -2000/01(I) 3 4 3 59 22* 59.00 – – 5 58.2 6 263 7 37.57 3/59 – -2000/01(Z) 10 14 5 260 81* 28.88 – 1 6 288 60 698 35 19.94 8/109 1 12001/02(Z) 2 2 1 192 154 192.00 1 – – 38.2 6 127 3 42.33 2/61 – -105 153 36 3539 154 30.24 3 17 93 3601.4 894 9869 321 30.74 7/75 17 3* including three Zimbabwe Board XI matches played in South AfricaRECORD IN EACH COUNTRYM I NO Runs HS Av. 100 50 Ct O M R W Av. BB 5wI 10wMZimbabwe 46 65 13 1676 154 32.23 2 9 35 1596.5 368 4261 145 29.38 7/75 7 2England 35 49 7 989 82 23.54 – 5 40 1212.1 344 3261 101 32.28 7/118 5 1Australia 2 3 3 67 37* — – – – 32.4 3 137 1 137.00 1/45 – -South Africa 7 11 3 182 45 22.75 – – 8 229.2 60 664 28 23.71 5/69 3 -West Indies -New Zealand 6 9 4 293 93 58.60 – 2 3 222.2 63 537 17 31.58 4/20 – -India 3 4 3 59 22* 59.00 – – 5 58.2 6 263 7 37.57 3/59 – -Pakistan 2 4 2 131 106* 65.50 1 – – 95.1 20 286 6 47.66 5/212 1 -Sri Lanka 4 8 1 142 50 20.28 – 1 2 154.5 30 460 16 28.75 5/106 1 -Bangladesh -Kenya -105 153 36 3539 154 30.24 3 17 93 3601.4 894 9869 321 30.74 7/75 17 3RECORD ON ZIMBABWEAN GROUNDSM I NO Runs HS Av. 100 50 Ct O M R W Av. BB 5wI 10wMAlexandra 5 6 1 125 63 25.00 – 1 8 250.4 52 759 23 33.00 4/97 – -Bulawayo AC 7 8 2 273 103* 45.50 1 1 4 240.5 67 608 22 27.63 5/45 2 1Country Club 3 5 2 211 81* 70.33 – 2 2 51.3 14 141 5 28.20 2/21 – -Harare South 4 6 2 244 97 61.00 – 3 4 118.3 22 384 17 22.58 7/75 1 -Harare SC 15 22 3 403 51 21.21 – 1 8 465.1 105 1187 38 31.23 4/36 – -Kwekwe 2 2 0 31 26 15.50 – – 2 71.3 16 138 5 27.60 3/77 – -Mutare 2 3 1 228 154 114.00 1 1 1 46 10 109 4 27.25 2/61 – -Old Hararians 2 3 0 14 6 4.66 – – 1 55 15 177 6 29.50 5/137 1 -Queens SC 6 10 2 147 38* 18.37 – – 5 297.4 67 758 25 30.32 8/109 2 146 65 13 1676 154 32.23 2 9 35 1596.5 368 4261 145 29.38 7/75 7 2LOGAN CUP RECORDM I NO Runs HS Av. 100 50 Ct O M R W Av. BB 5wI 10wMFor Mashonaland Country Districts:1993/94 3 4 0 37 16 9.25 – – 5 120.5 32 367 12 30.58 4/45 – -1994/95 3 5 1 185 97 46.25 – 2 4 139.3 23 459 16 28.68 7/75 1 -1995/96 3 5 1 207 63 51.75 – 3 3 83.5 18 234 7 33.42 3/53 – -9 14 2 429 97 35.75 – 5 12 344.1 73 1060 35 30.28 7/75 1 -For Mashonaland:1996/97 3 2 1 113 103* 113.00 1 – 2 146.4 43 340 14 24.28 5/45 2 11997/98 -1998/99 1 1 0 70 70 70.00 – 1 1 62 16 142 5 28.40 3/84 – -For CFX Academy:1999/2000 3 5 2 187 74* 62.33 – 2 3 50.3 16 83 3 27.66 2/21 – -For Mashonaland (continued)2000/01 5 6 2 93 48 23.25 – – 3 101.3 21 255 15 17.00 4/36 – -9 9 3 276 103* 46.00 1 1 6 310.1 80 737 34 21.67 5/45 2 1For Manicaland:2001/02 1 1 0 154 154 154.00 1 – – 24 4 75 3 25.00 2/61 – -22 29 7 1046 154 47.54 2 8 21 728.5 173 1955 75 26.06 7/75 3 1RECORD AGAINST OTHER LOGAN CUP TEAMSM I NO Runs HS Av. 100 50 Ct O M R W Av. BB 5wI 10wMFor Mashonaland Country Districts:Mashonaland 3 5 1 177 61 44.25 – 3 4 77 15 239 7 34.14 4/45 – -Mash Under-24 3 4 1 122 63 40.66 – 1 7 153.4 32 465 21 22.14 7/75 1 -Matabeleland 3 5 0 130 97 26.00 – 1 1 113.3 26 356 7 50.85 3/24 – -9 14 2 429 97 35.75 – 5 12 344.1 73 1060 35 30.28 7/75 1 -For Mashonaland:CFX Academy 1 – – — — — – – – 16 2 55 1 55.00 1/55 – -Manicaland 1 2 1 38 22* 38.00 – – 1 40.5 9 98 6 16.33 3/42 – -Mashonaland A 1 1 0 48 48 48.00 – – – 8.5 0 36 4 9.00 4/36 – -Matabeleland 5 5 2 185 103* 61.66 1 1 4 213 61 487 21 23.19 5/45 2 1Midlands 1 1 0 5 5 5.00 – – 1 31.3 8 61 2 30.50 2/30 – -9 9 3 276 103* 46.00 1 1 6 310.1 80 737 34 21.67 5/45 2 1For CFX Academy:Manicaland 1 2 1 74 74* 74.00 – 1 1 22 6 34 1 34.00 1/34 – -Mashonaland 1 2 1 76 72 76.00 – 1 – –Matabeleland 1 1 0 37 37 37.00 – – 2 28.3 10 49 2 24.50 2/21 – -3 5 2 187 74* 62.33 – 2 3 50.3 16 83 3 27.66 2/21 – -For Manicaland:Matabeleland 1 1 0 154 154 154.00 1 – – 24 4 75 3 25.00 2/61 – -For any team:CFX Academy 1 – – — — — – – – 16 2 55 1 55.00 1/55 – -Manicaland 2 4 2 112 74* 56.00 – 1 2 62.5 15 132 7 18.85 3/42 – -Mashonaland 4 7 2 253 72 50.60 – 4 4 77 15 239 7 34.14 4/45 – -Mashonaland A 1 1 0 48 48 48.00 – – – 8.5 0 36 4 9.00 4/36 – -Mash Under-24 3 4 1 122 63 40.66 – 1 7 153.4 32 465 21 22.14 7/75 1 -Matabeleland 10 12 2 506 154 50.60 2 2 7 379 101 967 33 29.30 5/45 2 1Midlands 1 1 0 5 5 5.00 – – 1 31.3 8 61 2 30.50 2/30 – -22 29 7 1046 154 47.54 2 8 21 728.5 173 1955 75 26.06 7/75 3 1CENTURIES1 106* ZIMBABWE v PAKISTAN (First Test), at Sheikhapura 1996/972 103* Mashonaland v Matabeleland, at Bulawayo Athletic Club 1996/973 154 Manicaland v Matabeleland, at Mutare Sports Club 2000/01TWO FIFTIES IN A MATCH61 and 56* Mash Country Districts v Mashonaland Harare South Country Club 1995/96MOST RUNS IN A MATCH154 (154) Manicaland v Matabeleland (LC) Mutare Sports Club 2001/02`PAIRS’No instancesFIVE WICKETS IN AN INNINGS1 7/75 Mashonaland Country Districts v Mashonaland Under-24, at Harare South 1994/952 5/137 Mashonaland XI v South Africa A, at Old Hararians 1994/953 5/77 Zimbabwe Board XI v Griqualand West, at Kimberley 1994/954 5/88 Zimbabwe Board XI v Western Province B, at Cape Town 1994/955 5/109 Zimbabwe A v Transvaal, at Johannesburg 1995/966 5/69 Zimbabwe A v South Africa A, at Durban 1995/967 5/106 ZIMBABWE v SRI LANKA, at Colombo (Sinhalese Sports Club) 1996/978 5/45 ) Mashonaland v Matabeleland, at Bulawayo Athletic Club 1996/979 5/10310 5/212 ZIMBABWE v PAKISTAN (First Test), at Sheikhapura 1996/9711 5/123 ZIMBABWE v ENGLAND (First Test), at Queens Sports Club 1996/9712 7/118 Kent v Lancashire, at Old Trafford (Manchester) 199713 6/88 Kent v Middlesex, at Lord’s (London) 199714 5/119 Kent v Essex, at Canterbury 199715 6/72 Kent v Somerset, at Taunton 199716 5/166 Nottinghamshire v Kent, at Canterbury 199817 8/109 ZIMBABWE v NEW ZEALAND (First Test), at Queens Sports Club 2000/01TEN WICKETS IN A MATCH1 10/148 (5/45 & 5/103) Mashonaland v Matabeleland, at Bulawayo Athletic Club 1996/972 11/186 (7/118 & 4/68) Kent v Lancashire, at Old Trafford (Manchester) 19973 10/158 (8/109 & 2/49) ZIMBABWE v NEW ZEALAND (First Test), at Queens Sports Club 2000/01MOST OVERS BOWLED IN AN INNINGS69 (69-12-212-5) ZIMBABWE v PAKISTAN (1st Test) Sheikhapura 1996/9758.4 (58.4-14-123-5) ZIMBABWE v ENGLAND (1st Test) Queens Sports Club 1996/9753 (53-12-130-2) Mashonaland v Matabeleland (LC) Alexandra Sports Club 1996/9751.5 (51.5-12-109-8) ZIMBABWE v NEW ZEALAND (1st Test) Queens Sports Club 2000/01MOST OVERS BOWLED IN A MATCH74 (74-23-193-5) Kent v Sussex Horsham 1997MOST RUNS CONCEDED IN AN INNINGS212 (69-12-212-5) ZIMBABWE v PAKISTAN (1st Test) Sheikhapura 1996/97166 (23-1-166-5) Nottinghamshire v Kent Canterbury 1998MOST RUNS CONCEDED IN A MATCH221 (63-11-221-8) Mashonaland XI v Western Province Alexandra Sports Club 1996/97212 (69-12-212-5) ZIMBABWE v PAKISTAN (1st Test) Sheikhapura 1996/97MOST MAIDEN OVERS BOWLED IN AN INNINGS18 (47-18-110-3) ZIMBABWE v NEW ZEALAND (2nd Test) Queens Sports Club 1997/98MATCH DOUBLE OF 100 RUNS AND FIVE WICKETS106* & 13*; 5/212 ZIMBABWE v PAKISTAN (First Test), at Sheikhapura 1996/97DETAILS OF DISMISSALS AS A BATSMANbowled 23 19.66lbw 6 5.13caught 66 56.41caught by wicketkeeper 16 13.68caught and bowled 4 3.42stumped 1 0.85run out 1 0.85TOTAL 117 100.00%DETAILS OF DISMISSALS AS A BOWLERbowled 54 16.82lbw 53 16.51caught 155 48.29caught by wicket-keeper 25 7.79caught and bowled 23 7.16stumped 11 3.43TOTAL 321 100.00%THREE OR MORE CATCHES IN AN INNINGS4 Nottinghamshire v Northamptonshire, at Trent Bridge (Nottingham) 19983 ZIMBABWE v PAKISTAN (Third Test), at Harare Sports Club 1994/95FOUR OR MORE CATCHES IN A MATCH5 Kent v Middlesex, at Lord’s (London) 19974 Mashonaland Country Districts v Mashonaland Under-24, at Alexandra Sports Club 1993/944 Nottinghamshire v Northamptonshire, at Trent Bridge (Nottingham) 1998

Channel4 have sparked controversy by suggesting that Pakistan may have tampered with the ball during the dramatic English batting collapse on the last day at Old Trafford.”If the match referee had been watching on television, one wonders what he would have made of those pictures,” presenter Mark Nicholas commented, after showing inconclusive pictures of Pakistan captain Waqar Younis with the ball.The Pakistan camp have strenuously denied the allegations and have pointed out that neither the umpires or match-referee have spoken to them on the matter. “No one spoke to me about the ball,” Waqar Younis said.”If there was any ball tampering I would have known about it,” Yawar Saeed, the tour manager said. “There was absolutely nothing wrong. We won the match fair and square and people should be happy with that.”Most people in the game will be saddened to hear that such allegations have been levelled again. The last series between these sides in England was marred by accusations of ball tampering, but the relationship between the England and Pakistan teams has improved greatly in recent months. Attention should really be on the wonderful game the two sides have just contested, and some great last day bowling. No doubt such comments will be derided as further evidence of “whinging poms” from the Australian tourists. They may have a point.But not about the England team, who have had no complaints after falling victim to the mercurial talents of this Pakistan team.England captain Alec Stewart has been keen to play down the controversy over no-balls too. Several wickets went down to deliveries that television replays suggest should have been called as the bowler over stepped, but Stewart insisted that it made no difference to the result.”The fact is Pakistan beat us,” he admitted. “With people like Wasim, Waqar and Saqlain they are capable of knocking over sides in a session. Credit to Pakistan.””I’m not going to start moaning, saying umpires’ decisions cost us the game,” he continued. “They are there to do a job to the best of their ability. Like batsmen, bowlers, fielders, everyone makes mistakes. As players we take it on the chin and carry on.”Twenty years ago when the BBC had only two cameras, things like that weren’t picked up. Now there’s 10, 12, 15 cameras anything and everything can be seen.”

Everton have had their fair share of injury problems this season which has ultimately led to a disappointing and stressful season for the Toffees, with the side now engaged in a relegation battle in the remaining months of the season, however some good news has emerged from Finch Farm this week.

What’s the word?

The Merseyside club’s official Twitter account has confirmed the return of Fabian Delph to full training following a lengthy injury spell, with the club’s social media platform simply captioning a tweet “Fabian Delph: back in full training” alongside some images of the 32-year-old back in action.

The central midfielder has been plagued with a number of injury problems this season, with two periods of absence due to a shoulder injury back in August that side-lined the player until October, and then sustained another injury to his thigh in late January that has left him on the recovery table ever since.

Lampard will be delighted

Adding depth to the team when they are in the vulnerable position that Everton have found themselves in is always a huge boost for Frank Lampard, especially a player full of experience and understanding of what the club and the fans expect from the team as Delph has been with the squad since 2019.

Despite being out of the team for a large chunk of the season only making six appearances so far, the 32 year old can offer a number of attributes to the team, as not only is he effective in central midfield, he can also make an impact on the left side and even in the left back position if Lampard feels that he needs to deploy him there over the last games of the season.

His return has also come at a good time from a midfield perspective for the Toffees, as Allan was red carded in the victory over Newcastle United, in a controversial VAR decision that was unsuccessfully appealed by the club, meaning the Brazilian will miss three Premier League games when fixtures return next weekend, and Delph’s return will be a relief to Lampard giving him more options to replace the suspended player in the centre of the pitch.

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Everton’s win in the Premier League last week has put them three points clear of the relegation zone, but has not secured their safety to remain in the league next season as of yet, so Lampard and the team still have work to do to make sure they can avoid the club’s first relegation from the top flight in 71 years, and Delph’s return will certainly be a positive boost.

In other news: Lampard must ruthlessly axe Everton’s “lazy” £22.5m-rated flop, he’s stunk up Goodison

	John Buchanan and Ricky Ponting will be working together once again for the Kolkata franchise © Getty

John Buchanan, the former Australia coach, will take charge of the Kolkata side in the Indian Premier League, has reported.Buchanan will join fellow Australians Tom Moody and Greg Shipperd in coaching IPL sides. The Mohali franchise has signed on Moody, the former Sri Lanka coach, while Greg Shipperd, the Victoria coach, will join the Delhi team. This is Buchanan’s first serious coaching role since stepping down after Australia’s victorious World Cup campaign in 2007.Buchanan dismissed suggestions that having players from different countries in the same team will be a hurdle. “I don’t ever see that as a problem, once players merge together as a side you are actually trying to achieve a result,” Buchanan said. “What will be interesting is that you will have Australian players, Indian players, New Zealand players, Sri Lankan players, Pakistani players … and they could all end up in the one franchise.”Besides ‘icon’ player Sourav Ganguly, the Kolkata franchise includes Shoaib Akhtar, Ricky Ponting, Brendon McCullum, Chris Gayle, Ishant Sharma, Ajit Agarkar, David Hussey, Murali Kartik and Tatenda Taibu – who came on board following Wednesday’s player auction.”That will make for an interesting cultural exchange no doubt … and that will be one of the exciting parts, bringing together cultural differences in a very short period of time,” he said.Although the ICC has ruled out any special window in the international cricket calendar for the IPL, Buchanan had a different viewpoint. “It has the potential to revolutionise the game, at least in the way of delivery and to take it globally,” Buchanan said. “I think that [a scheduling window] is what will happen in the next 12 months, and it does have the potential to be damaging either way if it is not worked out properly.”

Scorecard

Nathan Adcock made his third half-century for 2006-07 © Getty Images

Nathan Adcock and Jason Borgas frustrated Western Australia’s attempts to make the Pura Cup final, putting up strong resistance and ensuring a tough chase for the Warriors. South Australia reached 5 for 273 at stumps, with an overall lead of 198.Adcock made 95 and Borgas scored 83 as they built an important 147-run third-wicket partnership. Adam Voges’ part-time spin troubled the Redbacks near the end of the day and he finished with his best first-class figures, 3 for 42.Borgas again proved a slow but steady scorer and his 264-ball innings was his fourth half-century in his five-game career. Adcock blasted his runs in more entertaining fashion, smashing four sixes and nine fours from his 136 deliveries.Voges had both batsmen caught at slip shortly before stumps and also removed Darren Lehmann, who made a lively 36. The Warriors added only 12 to their overnight score before Ryan Harris finished the innings with 5 for 92, which was his maiden five-wicket haul in first-class cricket.The Redbacks, searching for their first and only win in a depressing season, have the chance to set Western Australia a challenging final-day target. The Warriors would have nothing to lose in the chase and a victory would likely push them into the Pura Cup final against Tasmania.

Kenya 135 for 5 (Tikolo 50*) trail Netherlands 474 (ten Doeschate 158, van Troost 86, Schiferli 69) by 339 runs
Scorecard

Edgar Schiferli comes in after making 69 © David Waters / Cricinfo

Netherlands ended the second day of their Intercontinental Cup tie against Kenya at Nairobi Gymkhana in a commanding position after scoring 474 and reducing the home side to 135 for 5 at stumps. Only Steve Tikolo, unbeaten on 50 at the close, stands between Netherlands and a large, probably match-winning, first-innings lead.Kenya had fought back well on the first evening, but they failed to make any inroads after showers had delayed the start today. Their only success of the morning came when Jeroen Smits was bowled by the impressive Thomas Odoyo for 8, but runs flowed as Luuk van Troost was cutting loose at the other end.He found a valuable partner in Edgar Schiferli, the pair adding a competition-record 95 for the ninth wicket. Schiferli was far from daunted by a wilting attack, dominating the partnership with a 95-ball 69, while van Trrost, who was dropped by wicketkeeper Maurice Ouma immediately after lunch, began to open up in the afternoon as clouds gathered, eventually holing-out to Odoyo at long-on off Collins Obuya.As he departed for a well-made 86, the rain returned causing another 45-minute delay. Schiferli swatted the first ball after the restart from Tikolo for six over long-on, before finally perishing to a good catch in the deep by Obuya off the persevering Peter Ongondo. Netherlands’ total was the highest in the competition’s history and Kenya were left needing something special to stay in the game.

Maurice Ouma digs out a yorker from Edgar Schiferli © David Waters / Cricinfo

They were already without Hitesh Modi, who broke a finger yesterday, and so their batting line-up looked even more dependant than usual on Tikolo. They needed a good start, but they lost Ouma to the last ball before tea, well caught low down by Jeroen Smits, and never regained the initiative. Brijal Patel, whose recall had raised an eyebrow or two, fell for 22 and in the next over Tony Suji was bowled by Schiferli for 11 to leave them wobbling on 50 for 3.Although Tikolo looked assured, the worry was who would stay with him. The precocious Tanmay Mishra again looked more than capable before he perished for 16, and when the in-form Obuya was cleaned up by Mohammad Kashif shortly before the close, it was hard to see any way back into the match for the Kenyans.

Jenny Gunn was the shining light for England© Getty Images

Rain severely disrupted the opening day of the 2005 World Cup, with all four matches washed out after heavy rain lashed Pretoria. There are no reserve days in the opening group matches and so all teams will receive three points.
ScorecardEngland struggled after choosing to bat at the Technikon Oval, and were indebted to a brisk 40 from 50 balls by Jenny Gunn to give their total some respectability. Charlotte Edwards and Laura Newton gave the innings a steady start, content to see off the new ball threat of Cathryn Fitzpatrick. But Julie Hayes removed both openers, and when Clare Connor fell without scoring England were struggling at 63 for 3.Clare Taylor set about trying to rebuild the innings, as Australia’s seamers proved hard to get away. The middle-order fell trying to up the tempo, and when Rosalie Birch was run out England were in trouble at 102 for 6, leaving them trying to bat out the overs. Gunn played positively, adding 41 with Jane Smit for the eighth wicket, but the rain arrived before England got the chance to see how competitive their total would be.

Washout at Supersport Park: a scene repeated all over Pretoria as the Women’s World Cup got off to a damp start in South Africa© Getty Images

ScorecardSouth Africa were on course to post a decent score at Centurion Park, before rain put paid to their opening match against Ireland. They were made to work for their runs by a determined Irish team, who reduced them to 92 for 5 before the middle-order led a recovery.Barbara McDonald was the pick of the Irish attack, here two early wickets included Johmari Logtenberg, the teenage star who is tipped for an impressive future. Shandre Fritz and Claire Terblanche added 90 for sixth wicket before bad light, and eventually rain, arrived with two overs of their innings remaining.
ScorecardMaia Lewis was the star for New Zealand, the defending champions, making 77 from 148 balls, but the rest of the batting struggled. Nicola Browne offered the only real support, making 25 from 35 balls, while Philippa Thomas and Nelly Williams claimed two wickets each.
ScorecardThe Indian bowlers kept a constant stranglehold on the Sri Lankan batting, never allowing them to gain any momentum. Even Shashikala Siriwardena, the top-score, struggled for 63 balls to make 29. Neetu David was the pick of the attack with 3 for 17, and the Indians would have been highly confident of reaching their target, but only had the chance to face two overs.

South Australia 225 and 2 for 122 drew with Victoria 8 for 331 dec
Scorecard

Matthew Elliott made the best of a drawn match © Getty Images

Victoria had to be content with two points from their Pura Cup match against South Australia after rain washed out the last day’s play and the game ended in a draw. With these points, Victoria moved 12 points clear of second-placed Tasmania. This result also means that they will host the final regardless of the result in their last two matches.The match was called off a little after 2pm local time. This meant that Greg Blewett’s dismissal, LBW to Cameron White for eight, on the third day, ended up being the final ball of the match. In addition to the final day being abandoned due to rain, three hours of play were lost on the third day.The big plus from the match was the form of Matthew Elliott. Even though he recently told an interviewer he thought his days of playing for Australia were well behind him, there must be hope, if he can consistently rattle up big scores. The 154 not out he made in Victoria’s only innings, formed almost half the team’s total and included 15 fours and a six.

The South Australian Cricket Association (SACA) has confirmed that Damien Fleming will undergo surgery during January and be unavailable for the remainder of the season.Fleming has been suffering from anterior instability in his right shoulder and will undergo surgery on January 14 to repair the damage.Fleming is looking forward to having the surgery and commencing his rehabilitation, and to assisting the State team for the remainder of the season.”The shoulder has been giving me problems off and on during the past few months and I’m really looking forward to having it repaired so I can continue playing for South Australia during next season,” he said.”For the rest of this season I’ll work with the Redbacks and coaching staff to help out the boys in any way I can, and hopefully help see them get some wins on the board during the second half of the season.”This follows yesterday’s announcement by the SACA that right-hand batsman, Chris Davies will have surgery to repair a ruptured ligament in his left elbow on January 7 and also be unavailable for the rest of the season.Davies’ elbow injury worsened during the Pura Cup game against the Western Warriors recently, and following that match, Davies and the SACA medical staff decided to proceed with surgery.