South Africa and West Indies will kick off their five-match one-day series with only two points separating them in the LG ICC ODI Championship. This means that the winner of the series will almost certainly finish as the higher ranked side.South Africa are currently fifth in the rankings with a rating of 107 and will climb above Pakistan to fourth if they win the series 4-1 or 5-0. A 3-2 win for South Africa will ensure that they hold on to fifth spot.West Indies, currently sixth, need a whitewash if they harbour thoughts of moving higher than South Africa and Pakistan in the table. If they claim the series 4-1, they will overtake South Africa while a 3-2 win could also be enough for to move into the fifth spot if the order of the victories go their way.As far as individual rankings go, Ramnaresh Sarwan, currently second, gets a chance to close in on Ricky Ponting, the leader, while Jacques Kallis, Graeme Smith and Brian Lara will also be looking to consolidate their positions in the top 10. Shaun Pollock is the only player from the two teams currently in the top ten of the bowlers’ list but Makhaya Ntini, at 11th place, could well change that over the course of the series.
Jacques Kallis and Gary Kirsten rattled along to the highest fourth-wicket partnership in South Africa’s Test history, as West Indies were torn limb from limb on the third day at Durban. By the time Graeme Smith eventually took mercy and declared with 10 overs of the day remaining, South Africa had compiled a humungous first-innings total of 658 for 9. It was the highest total ever recorded at Kingsmead, and South Africa’s second-best score – second only to the 682 for 6 dec. with which they thumped England at Lord’s last summer.After Herschelle Gibbs’s mighty performance on Saturday, Kirsten and Kallis were the mainstays of today’s effort. Their eventual stand of 249 was 35 more than the previous record for South Africa’s fourth wicket, set by Herbie Taylor and Nummie Deane against England at The Oval in 1929. When Kallis eventually fell, moments before tea, for a superb 177, the final session was a joyous romp for the likes of Neil McKenzie, Shaun Pollock and Andrew Hall.Kallis recorded his 13th and second-highest Test century, and it was a fine follow-up to his matchwinning 158 in the first Test at Johannesburg. But it was Kirsten who really made the dents in the record-books, as he joined the elite band of cricketers who have scored 20 Test hundreds. He followed hot on the heels of Ricky Ponting, who yesterday became the 21st member of the club, and by the time he was caught at midwicket by Vasbert Drakes, he had also become the first South African to reach 7000 runs.It was another ragged day’s cricket from West Indies, who missed three catches in the first hour of play, and thereafter it was merely a case of shutting the stable door. The first life came in the fifth over of the morning, when Brian Lara fluffed a head-high chance at first slip, as Kirsten carved at Merv Dillon. He had made 22 at the time, and had progressed to 41 by the time Drakes in the gully failed to cling onto a fierce cut.The ball very nearly rebounded to Carlton Baugh, but it was clearly wasn’t West Indies’s morning – moments earlier, Kallis had pulled loosely at Fidel Edwards, only for Drakes again to be left sprawling as the ball evaded his grasp.After this flurry of let-offs, the rest of the morning was a breeze for South Africa. Kirsten celebrated his survival by smacking Edwards for consecutive fours, and by the drinks interval, Ramnaresh Sarwan had been drilled past point for Kallis to bring up his hundred from 205 balls.Drakes’s woes were compounded when Kirsten crashed him for four fours in consecutive balls – a cut, a pull and two sweetly timed drives – and Kirsten’s only other moment of good fortune came when he under-edged Wavell Hinds past his stumps for four. It was a sign, however, that the pitch is starting to behave mischievously.The mid-afternoon drinks break eventually did for Kirsten – two balls later he miscued Sarwan to Drakes at midwicket. In any ordinary circumstances, the incoming batsman McKenzie would have been on a hiding to nothing, but after taking a moment or two to get his eye in, he launched into the bowling, and clubbed three fours and a six in eight deliveries.Kallis then fell in the penultimate over before tea, cutting Dillon straight to Ganga at point, but McKenzie signed off the session by slapping Fidel Edwards for another six over fine leg, as South Africa marched past their highest-ever total against West Indies – beating the record they set at Johannesburg earlier in the month. McKenzie fell soon afterwards, swishing at Drakes outside off stump, who followed up by trapping Boucher lbw for 12. But Pollock and Hall unfurled some fine declaration-hastening strokes, with Adam Sanford (3 for 170) taking a particular battering.Daren Ganga and Hinds limped to the close without too many alarms, but with two days of this match remaining, there is little prospect of salvation for the West Indians, not even with Lara itching to celebrate his 100th Test in style.
It could be said that England are getting better. Not getting the better of Australia, for they are still facing defeat, but they have at least managed to take this fourth Test into the fifth day. Having been bowled out for 387 in their second innings, largely thanks to an innings of 145 from Michael Vaughan, they set Australia 107 to win. By stumps, eight runs had been knocked off that target without mishap.With Vaughan on his way to his second hundred of the series and passing Sachin Tendulkar’s aggregate number of Test runs in 2002 (the Yorkshireman now has 1481), England enjoyed a good morning. Nasser Hussain was in obdurate mood. Raising English hopes of an epic rearguard action to force a draw, he displayed impressive resolve while his partner scored more freely.Vaughan was the dominant partner during an 80-run partnership for the third wicket. He opened his account for the fourth morning by driving leg-spinner Stuart MacGill for a straight four – one of nine he stroked in the session as he reached his sixth hundred of the year from 153 balls. MacGill’s bowling appeared to be entirely to Vaughan’s liking as he helped England add 63 runs in the first hour of something that has been all too lacking in this series – a genuine contest of Test match cricket.Hussain’s defiant innings of an hour and a half came to an end when he was out-thought by Glenn MacGrath. Failing to spot the slower ball, he pushed it straight back to the bowler to be caught and bowled for 23.Vaughan found a new ally in Robert Key who again showed that he has the temperament for Test cricket. This pair kept the momentum going by adding 67 before Vaughan’s splendid innings came to an end. AfterFinding little difficulty with MacGill in his four and a half hour stay at the crease, he tried to late cut and steered the ball straight to Martin Love at slip to be out for 145.Key reached his first fifty in Test cricket, but having done so fell to the seventh delivery with the new ball as he edged Jason Gillespie to Ricky Ponting at slip.John Crawley and Craig White continued to offer resistance, adding 55 for the sixth wicket before a resolute innings from Crawley ended when he played on to Brett Lee for 33. That was the signal for the Australian attack to pour through the breach as England suffered their customary collapse by losing their last five wickets for the addition of 45 runs in 16 overs.In the next over, White was caught behind cutting MacGill. James Foster went in similar fashion, except that he was superbly caught by Martin Love at slip. MacGill claimed his fifth wicket when Andrew Caddick drove him straight to Steve Waugh in the covers before Steve Harmison was bowled by Gillespie to bring the innings to a close on 387, their highest total of the series, leaving Richard Dawson not out on a valuable 15.The target of 107 is no more than nominal for such a strong batting line-up. Had England managed to have taken a couple of wickets in the two overs before the close, a few feathers might have been ruffled but they did not and now only a day’s rain or the most unimaginable turn of events can prevent Australia taking a four-nil lead into the final Test.
Australia are set to launch their Ashes tour with a crushing win overWorcestershire at New Road. By the close they led by 424 runs with six second innings wickets remaining.The rampant tourists continued their total domination after piling up a188-run first innings lead and opting to gain further batting practice bynot enforcing the follow-on.Ricky Ponting, Matthew Hayden, Mark Waugh and Michael Bevan all tookadvantage of their chances against a largely second-string Worcestershireattack.Hayden and Ponting both made 65 with Waugh cracking 48 and Bevan 34.Hayden and Waugh set the scene for the run bonanza with an openingpartnership which yielded 103 in 19 overs.It finally came to an end when Hayden was bowled by Mathew Rawnsley after stroking ten fours off 63 deliveries. When Ponting finally fell he had blasted one six and 11 fours off 62 balls.Earlier, six of Worcestershire’s wickets had been shared by pacemen NathanBracken (3-29) and Glenn McGrath. He picked up 3-31 against his formerteam-mates who were removed in 63.4 overs for 163.Worcestershire were particularly grateful to opener Anurag Singh for giving an air of respectability to their score after they had resumed on 50-1.The 25-year-old made an accomplished 62 to register his maiden first-classhalf-century for Worcestershire following his winter move from rivalsWarwickshire.Along the way he put on 42 in 14 overs for the fourth wicket with David Leatherdale (22).
West Bromwich Albion have seen numerous players from their youth ranks leave the Midlands club over the past few years such as Tyler Roberts, Finley Thorndike and Tim Iroegbunam among others.
Looking ahead to the upcoming summer transfer window, it seems as though the Baggies could once again be in danger of seeing one of their youth prospects make a move away from the Hawthorns, which would surely upset a lot of supporters.
What’s the news?
According to a recent report from The Athletic, 17-year-old striker Reyes Cleary is yet to sign the professional deal offered to him by the club.
As a result, he is currently “wanted by a number of clubs on the continent as well as plenty in the Premier League.”
Disaster on the cards?
As a product of the Baggies’ youth academy, the teenager has made 42 appearances across their U18 and U23 side, scoring a combined total of 30 goals with four assists provided along the way.
This highlights not just how much of an exciting attacking prospect but also why the club have offered him a professional deal in order to deter other clubs reportedly after him.
Labelled as a “powerful” player by U18s boss Peter Gilbert, Cleary has only made one senior appearance for the Midlands club, which came during their third-round FA Cup defeat against Brighton & Hove Albion back in January.
In terms of his first-team opportunities this season in the Championship, the youngster has only been involved in one matchday squad which saw him remain as an unused substitute in the Baggies’ 1-0 win over Reading at the Hawthorns.
Taking into account Cleary’s obvious attacking talent and the potential he has ahead of him to become a long-term superstar for the Midlands club, it would be a significant disaster from the hierarchy at the Hawthorns to see their young talent not sign the deal they’ve offered him and instead join another club.
It would also presumably have a lot of supporters fuming if the attacker were to follow in the footsteps of some of the previous youngsters to have played in West Brom’s youth ranks only to move on elsewhere.
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Having been described as being an “uncut diamond” by U23s boss Richard Beale, Cleary could possibly be persuaded to sign the professional deal offered to him if current Baggies boss Steve Bruce were to give him some minutes in the first team before the end of the current season.
This could be a good step towards convincing the youngster that he has a promising future at the Hawthorns in the first team.
In other news: WBA could face disaster on “accomplished” 28 y/o who’s “getting better all the time”
Mark Taylor has joined Stuart Clark, the Australia fast bowler, in saying the game could become boring if measures are taken to ban sledging and confrontation during matches. The ICC has asked teams to improve their behaviour through a “zero-tolerance policy” over verbal abuse.”How are we going to remove something that has been so much part of the game?” Clark told Sydney radio station . “Put it this way – it’s going to be very boring for six hours if you can’t talk to one another and can’t do anything like that. What is a sledge and what’s not a sledge is my big question there.”Cricket Australia says the ICC’s code of conduct already covers the issue and said a total ban on sledging, which was raised during an ICC meeting in Kuala Lumpur last month, had not been supported. The behaviour reminder comes after Australia’s often heated series with India over the past four months.Taylor, a member of the ICC cricket committee, said it was important not to go “over the top” with the regulations. “When you get a close series like we had this year with Australia and India you are going to get confrontation,” he said in the Courier-Mail. “Provided it’s kept in reasonable check it is all good.”That’s the kind of competition people want to see. We can’t go over the top, make the players the same and the game very boring.”Clark, who appears to be one of the more quiet members of the Australia squad, said removing sledging would be “detrimental to the game”, but he supported eliminating racial and political barbs. “It’s going to be a hard one to police because there are going to be times where people are going to be talking and it’s going to be misconstrued or taken the wrong way,” he said. “I can’t say what they [the ICC] are thinking but the removing of sledging completely from the game of cricket … I think it’s going to be detrimental to the game.”
Akram Khan, the former Bangladesh captain, has replaced Golam Nowsher Prince as a member of the national selection committee. Prince resigned from the post citing personal reasons.”I played with both the committee members so it is not a big deal to work with them. I am really looking forward to taking the challenge because there is a lot of scope to work in this field,” Akram told .Akram will begin his selector duties on June 1 after completing his commitments with the DOHS Club. Prince’s resignation has been accepted with effect from May 31. The second-term of the current selection panel expires at the end of July and it is unlikely that Faruque Ahmed and Athar Ali Khan, the former opener, will stay for another term.”The fact is that the team is shaping up but still I am personally thinking about whether it would be good to quit the job at the top. But we have still more than two months in our hand,” said Faruque. “It is not only a matter whether board will renew our contract rather it’s also a subject of whether we will be interested to continue the job.”
Ashley Giles, the England spinner, admits he is concerned over his future with the national side.Giles, 33, underwent surgery on a dodgy hip and missed out on England’s tour to India. He has not bowled since the Pakistan tour in late 2005 and said that it is hard to imagine bowling anytime soon.”I have to face the fact that the injury is career-threatening,” Giles told The Mail on Sunday. “If the rehab doesn’t succeed, the alternatives are obvious. The specialist thought the hip would have done most of its healing after three months but that hasn’t happened. Hopefully this will give it an extra nudge to aid the growth of the new cartilage material.”Though the procedure was undertaken to speed up his recovery, Giles believed that it will take a lot of mental strength to gear himself up. “At some stage I am going to have to take a leap of faith and try to bowl again,” he said. “It may even be a case of having to play through a pain threshold to play. But if the pain was anything like it was in Pakistan, or towards the end of the Ashes, which I only managed to get through with a cortisone injection, I really don’t think it will be possible for me to continue.”Giles, with 140 wickets from 52 Tests, has been a key member of the England side for the past few seasons. But with Monty Panesar and Shaun Udal, the frontline spinners on the tour to India, having performed credibly Giles admitted that it increased the odds against him. England’s domestic season is less than a month away and Giles said he was “struggling” to make himself available for a Test series against Sri Lanka beginning early May.”My targets are still the same – to get fit and to play for England again,” he said. “But I’ve missed all the time-lines so far. I missed the Test series in India, I missed the one-day series and now we are approaching the start of the domestic season.”
On the state of the match We are back in the game. From yesterday’s score, to be 150 ahead on the third day with seven wickets still in hand is a great position to be in. We knew that we needed one wicket to break the partnership. We couldn’t get that yesterday. Inzy’s wicket too was crucial. Getting those wickets early was the key to getting the lead.On the Indian strategy We kept the pressure up, didn’t give away a lot of easy boundaries. Yesterday, the wicket was good, the ball was hard and carrying on to the bat. They ran very well and that made the difference. Today we kept the pressure up from both ends and didn’t concede too many boundaries which is why we got the breakthroughs. Bhajji [Harbhajan Singh] got the crucial wicket of Kamran.On the below-par showing on the second day Don’t expect things to happen on a second-day wicket. But it is important for us to bat a long time tomorrow. We need to be more than 300-plus ahead, but it’s not easy to bat on the last day. That’s the game-plan. Hopefully, Rahul [Dravid] and Sourav [Ganguly] will take us ahead tomorrow. We would like to extend our lead and play for as long as we can so that we can be in a position where we can attack all the time in the fourth innings. To have three or four men around the bat at all times will be an ideal situation with two spinners bowling.On whether India were in the driver’s seat It’s too early to decide. A lot depends on how we go to lunch tomorrow.On Dinesh Karthik’s wicketkeeping He did a good job. There was a bit of uneven bounce. The ball was coming off the rough. Mohali is history and it is important for us to do well here.
Former West Indies batsman Runako Morton will not play in the 2004 Carib Beer Series following an negative medical report. Morton, who completed a year-long suspension in September, has not been named in a 22-member Leeward Islands training squad.Carlisle Powell, president of the Leeward Islands Cricket Association, recently disclosed that Morton was given an unfavourable report after an examination by a clinical psychologist.Morton was suspended by the West Indies Cricket Board for misconduct on the A team tour to England. Then, he asked to return home early from the ICC Champions Trophy in Sri Lanka to attend his grandmother’s funeral, a story which later turned out to be untrue.Morton, who has played two ODIs for West Indies, both against Pakistan, and has scored 1,736 runs (ave.33.86) in 34 first-class matches, made a return to the Leewards side for the regional Red Stripe Bowl in October.