As the group stages of the Under-15 Challenge got underway, West Indies, who had been beaten in the knockout final on Thursday, beat Bangladesh by 37 runs in Trinidad. In overcast conditions where the ball moved considerably, West Indies recovered from a shaky start to make 237, John Campbell anchoring the innings with 112. Bangladesh struggled despite a battling 80 from Ahamedul Kabir.Ireland had no problems in beating a poor Kenya side by seven wickets as once again the Kenyan batting proved feeble. A score of 110 was never remotely challenging.
Pakistan enjoyed easy pickings when they batted against Netherlands, running up 332 for 5 with Muhammad Naeem making 90 and Mohammad Babar, Ahsan Ali and Zafar Gohar chipping in with fifties. Netherlands were blown away for 102 to give Pakistan a massive 230-run win.The two outsiders produced the closest game as Malaysia edged out ICC Americas by two wickets. Abhijit Joshi led the way for ICC Americas with 64 but there were no other significant contributions as they made 156. Malaysia squeezed home with 20 balls in hand.
The two clubs involved in the ugly fracas at Queen’s Park have publicly apologised for the onfield brawl that sullied domestic cricket last weekend.Additionally, Super Centre Spartan and ICBL Empire will conduct internal investigations before determining if they will take disciplinary action against the players involved.In reacting to a confrontation that involved Spartan’s Sulieman Benn and Empire’s Robin Parris last week Saturday, the two clubs yesterday said they regretted the incident in a joint statement just prior to the start of the second day of the Banks Division 1 match.”As two respected clubs, we strive at all times for the highest standard of behaviour and sportsmanship from our players and will not compromise the very high standards which both clubs have exemplified at all times,” the clubs said in a statement that was signed by Empire’s secretary Michael Phillips and Spartan secretary Vincent Bullen.”We wish to assure the Barbados Cricket Association, Barbados Cricket Umpires Association, members, supporters and the public of Barbados, that we will individually carry out our investigation into this matter to prevent any recurrence.”The furore developed after left-arm spinner Benn delivered a beamer to Parris just prior to the tea interval. When Parris was attempting to run a single off the next ball, television cameras captured Benn gently kicking him. Parris showed his frustration by walking past the stumps at the bowler’s end and approached Benn in a face-to-face, glove-pointing, remonstration.Asked by the Sunday Sun if either club was considering taking any action against the players involved, both parties said it was too premature to make any announcement at this stage.”It is a case where an investigation would have to be done. All the facts would have to come before our committee of management and then a decision would be made,” Phillips said. “It would be premature of me to say anything about disciplinary action at this stage because the evidence has not fully come out. We’ve only seen footage. We have to get all parties involved.”Spartan manager Harold Eastmond followed a similar line. “Our committee of management has requested that the manager, the captain Corey Yearwood and the coach Dave Marshall send in reports,” Eastmond said. “A decision will be made based on those reports if it is to go before the disciplinary committee.”On Friday the Barbados Cricket Association (BCA) indicated its intention to investigate the reports of indiscipline, and placed all clubs and schools on notice that the BCA would hold them responsible for the actions and behaviour of their members, players and spectators.
The squad to participate in the European 2nd Division Championships in Glasgow next month was anounced yesterday evening. The team has been grouped together with Jersey, Norway and France in Group 1, whilst Group 2 includes teams from Guernsey, Germany, Gibraltar and Greece.Hillel Awaskar (captain) – Ashdod A Isaac Massil (vice captain) – Lions Lod Raymond Aston – Young Ashdod Shai Bangerra – Lions Lod Sanjay Gupta – Tel Aviv Shai Hayun – Ra’anana Danny Hotz – Ra’anana Perreira Lushenko – Tel Aviv David Massil – Lions Lod Dovi Myers – Tel Aviv Yaniv Razpurker – Neve Yonatan Eshkol Solomon – Lions Lod Isaac Talkar – Ramle Adrian Vard – Ra’ananaManager: George Sheader Coach: Chris EllisonThe team was unanimously selected by the ICA selectors:Stanley Perlman Ezra Ben Yehuda Avner Wasker
Kevin Pietersen has been cleared of any serious injury after a scan on his groin revealed only a minor strain. He was forced to sit out most of Australia’s innings during England’s loss in the third game of the NatWest Challenge, but has now been cleared and is available for selection for the first Test of the Ashes. The squad will be named on Thursday morning at Lord’s.Pietersen is fighting for a place with Graham Thorpe, and David Graveney, the chairman of selectors, told the BBC Today show that picking the squad would pose some problems. “I’m a big fan of both of them,” said Graveney, “It’s the young emerging player against the seasoned player who’s had a lot of experience.”Thorpe, who recently recovered from a back injury, staked his claim by scoring 73 for Surrey against Gloucestershire, on his return to county cricket. Pietersen replied with a defiant 74 against Australia at the Oval.Pietersen is hopeful that the innings will find him a place in the Test squad: “I think I have done enough and hopefully it goes my way when they pick the team,” he told AFP, “I just think I’ve ticked enough boxes in terms of what I had to do. I knew that this was a massive game at The Oval. I’ll be very disappointed if I’m not selected. I was disappointed to miss out against Bangladesh, but I knew these one-dayers would be instrumental in getting me involved in the squad that’s picked this week.And he says he has been given a taste of the sledging he will face if he does make the Test squad: “There were a lot of shouts from the fielders saying, ‘This is Test match cricket, can you hack it? Hopefully, I proved to them I’ll be a difficult wicket to get if selected.”Michael Vaughan, the England captain, welcomed the dilemma facing the selectors. “You want as many players as possible to pick from, and we are quite fortunate we have plenty to pick from for Test match cricket,” said Vaughan “I think Kevin has given the selectors a big headache, and that is all you can ever ask as selectors and a management team.”
Simon Katich has said he would not have gained “any satisfaction” from playing a weakened Zimbabwe side, but Justin Langer is “very disappointed” about the cancellation of Australia’s two-Test series.The pair, both Test specialists, arrived home on Sunday with quite different feelings about the whole experience. “Personally, I’m very disappointed because I went there to play cricket,” said Langer.He did not accept the theory that Test cricket’s standards would have been sullied had the series gone ahead. “There’s been a lot of Test cricket played … and not all of it has been against Curtly Ambrose and Courtney Walsh and Wasim Akram.”There’s been a lot of cricket over time that’s been against lesser oppositions, so I think you’ve still got to make runs. I don’t think you can ever say they’re cheapened runs in Test cricket.”Katich thought otherwise. “I don’t think I would have got any satisfaction out of playing a second-string side,” he said. “If their best players aren’t playing the meaning of Test cricket is reduced. You want to be challenged and, judging by the way the games went against Sri Lanka, it was pretty obvious that it was going to be a lopsided affair.”Cameron White, who described his maiden Test tour as a “bizarre stay” and an “eye-opening experience”, saw it as an opportunity lost.”I probably wouldn’t have played anyway because of Warnie,” he said. “But it would have been good for me to see how everything went and how an international Test match is played, even though the opposition mightn’t have been the best … I just wanted to learn as much as I could.”The non-one-day-playing trio all returned to Australia on Sunday, while Shane Warne was back playing for English county side Hampshire, thus ignoring the former England captain Tony Greig’s plea for them to hang around in Zimbabwe and help out.”Their threat to come straight home shouldn’t implemented,” Greig had said on Friday night. “Australian cricketers have a responsibility to make sure Zimbabwe cricket doesn’t disappear off the face of the earth. If they really do care about Zimbabwe cricket, as they say they do, they should take time out to stay there and see what they can do to help these younger cricketers get the idea of what the big time’s all about.”
Gloucestershire County Cricket Club will be holding a Press Call to welcomeJonty Rhodes to the Club at The County Ground in Bristol on Wednesday 9 April 2003 at 12.00pmIf you wish to interview Jonty please contact: Jon Fletcher, Gloucestershire County Cricket Club, The Royal & Sunalliance County Ground, Nevil Road, Bristol. BS7 9EJTel: 0117 910 8046 Fax: 0117 924 1193Email: [email protected]
Surrey appear to be heading for an early return to the Second Division in the Norwich Union League after suffering a fifth consecutive defeat in their Edgbaston meeting with Warwickshire.Last year’s promotion winners endured another batting slump and an injury scare for England batsman Mark Butcher in struggling to 136 despite an unbeaten 52 by Ben Hollioake.Warwickshire also had problems at 55 for 4 but all-rounder Dougie Brown set up a three-wicket win with more than seven overs to spare by scoring 63 after a bowling stint of 3 for 14.The only good news for Surrey – and for England – was that a hospital scan revealed no serious damage to Butcher when he was struck on the left earguard by a short ball from Neil Carter.The left-hander retired after making three and his Test team-mates, Ian Ward and Alec Stewart, were quickly cleaned up in three deliveries from South African-born Carter.Mark Ramprakash did a little better by making 20 until edging Vasbert Drakes (3 for 35) high to Keith Piper’s right for the best of the wicket-keeper’s four catches in his benefit match.Saqlain Mushtaq held up Warwickshire in a stand of 49 with top scorer Hollioake, but Brown then applied a swift closure by taking the last two wickets.Recalled England paceman Alex Tudor landed an early blow for Surrey and Ed Giddins dismissed David Hemp and Michael Powell to quell the jeers from the crowd on his return to a former county.Brown negotiated these setbacks with a rapid 50 in 59 balls and Surrey were out of contention when the Scot was caught at mid-on after a partnership of 73 with Trevor Penney. The consolation wicket went to Adam Hollioake but the Surrey captain joined the injury list after bowling only one ball in his second over.Cricket manager Keith Medlycott came on as substitute and promptly held a slip catch from Penney as Ben Hollioake took two wickets in successive balls.
Everton have now set their sights on signing a midfield star who could replace James Garner if he leaves as a free agent in the summer, according to reports.
Man Utd and Newcastle interested in James Garner
Whilst much of the plaudits have been sent the way of Jack Grealish and Kiernan Dewsbury-Hall, Garner has quietly been enjoying his best season yet in an Everton shirt. Unfortunately for the Toffees, however, that form is set to coincide with the end of his current contract in the summer.
The Friedkin Group should be desperate to agree fresh terms with their midfielder, but reported interest from former club Manchester United and Newcastle United may yet put a pin in those plans.
Having his say on Garner’s future, David Moyes claimed that the club will be doing everything to keep hold of Garner beyond this season and if it was up to him, he would not be heading for the exit door.
The one-year extension option should hand the Toffees the advantage in talks, but they’re not without a back-up plan if Garner does depart in the summer. According to TeamTalk, Everton have set their sights on signing Middlesbrough’s Hayden Hackney.
Everton now eyeing Hayden Hackney move
The young midfielder has looked destined for the Premier League for some time now, even if that does not come courtesy of Championship promotion at Middlesbrough.
In previous years, he’s been content with staying put in Teesside, but reports are now claiming that Hackney is switching agents when January arrives in what could be a major hint about his club future.
League stats 25/26
Garner
Hackney
Minutes
1,433
1,821
Goals
1
3
Tackles Won
23
29
Ball Recoveries
66
124
Out of possession, Hackney is one of the best midfielders that the Championship has to offer. The 23-year-old is tireless off the ball and even has a knack for goals when given the chance. If anyone is ready for the Premier League in England’s second tier, it is the Middlesbrough star.
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New Boro boss Kim Hellberg knows the extent of the talent that he has on his hands too, telling reporters: “Hayden is a fantastic player. He’s good at everything. He could play in every position there is on the pitch and do it brilliantly.
Everton join race to sign a "generational" talent in Jack Grealish repeat
The Toffees are eyeing a six-month loan deal…
ByTom Cunningham
“He has all of that, but then he has also been the captain in these last two games and has been leading the squad so well. You could see his happiness when everyone else scored [at Hull].”
Everton line up move to sign "future £100m+" KDH replacement on loan
Sri Lanka will have no practice game ahead of the second Test in Port of Spain from April 3 after the cancellation of their scheduled fixture against West Indies A in Tobago. The match was to be a three-day affair, starting on March 29, but the West Indies board said “flight problems” had led to it being scrapped. The visitors will instead practice in the nets at Tobago’s Shaw Park.Sri Lanka lead the two-match series 1-0 after securing their first Test win in the West Indies at the Providence Stadium in Guyana on Wednesday. It has been a disrupted trip for Sri Lanka after heavy rain led to the tourists’ opening practice game, against a Guyana President’s Select XI, being shifted from Bourda to the Providence Stadium.
Rosalie Birch has been named as England’s captain in their Twenty20 curtain raisers later this month. The women will play an Invitational XI ahead of men’s domestic Twenty20s at Taunton on June 24, and then Taunton two days later. Charlotte Edwards, the usual captain, has been ruled out following a knee operation.It’s the second lead role Birch has taken in the last few weeks, after also being promoted to Super 4s captain of the Sapphires, replacing the retired Laura Newton. Is this a hint from the England selectors that she could be considered for the vice-captain vacancy, a position vacated by Newton?She certainly hopes so – and her goals stretch even further. “To lead my country is my greatest ambition,” she told Cricinfo, “and I hope to impress for the future.”The matches, then, are a big opportunity for her. “To be asked to captain the England side in our showcase Twenty 20 matches is a great honour.”It should be awesome to be part of a men’s Twenty20 day and I am very much looking forward to the challenge of captaincy. I am very excited to be skippering such a talented side in what should be two high profile games.”The other Super 4s captains are Gill Richards, a fringe England player, Nicki Shaw and Alexia Walker. Caroline Atkins was the England captain in their match against Hoddesdon men – and she rose to the occasion with a topscore of 53 in a losing cause.”I have captained The Braves (who became the Rubies) at Super 4s when Connie (Clare Connor) was injured, and I am currently Brighton and Hove captain,” Birch added. “Unfortunately in recent years I haven’t had a look in what with being in the same team as the captain Connor, but I have learnt a lot from her and Lottie (Edwards).”