Mohammad Ashraful has been omitted from a Bangladesh training camp, and is likely to miss the series against England.Ashraful shot to fame in 2001 aged just 17, when he became the youngest player to score a century on his Test debut. His subsequent scores, however, have been patchy, although he showed signs of a return to form with a gutsy 77 in the second Test against Peshawar last month.But he has been left out of a squad of 20 that began training on Wednesday, along with his fellow batsman Sanwar Hossain and the pace bowler Manjurul Islam. Fahim Muntasir, an offspinner, has been recalled after nearly a year while the slow left-armer Musaddeq Hossain is called up for the first time.”Our target is to improve individual performance,” said coach Dav Whatmore, who has overseen an impressive upturn in fortunes since taking over after the World Cup. In their most recent Test, against Pakistan at Multan, Bangladesh came within one wicket of their maiden victory.England arrive in Bangladesh on October 8 for two Tests and three one-day internationals.Bangladesh squad Khaled Mahmud (captain), Hannan Sarkar, Javed Omar, Habibul Bashar, Rajin Saleh, Alok Kapali, Mohammad Rafique, Khaled Mashud, Tapash Baisya, Mashrafe Mortaza, Alamgir Kabir, Hasibul Hossain, Fahim Muntasir, Musaddeq Hossain, Tushar Imran, Mushfiqur Rahman.
Sri Lanka’s five-man selection panel has picked two uncapped players in a14-man squad for the Janashakthi National Test series against Zimbabwestarting next Thursday.Matara born fast bowler Prabath Nissanka, 21, who made his limited oversdebut in Sharjah in October and played in one game during the recentlycompleted LG Abans tri-series, comes into squad in place of fast bowlingall-rounder Suresh Perera.Middle order batsman Chamara Silva is introduced into the squad afterMichael Vandort broke a finger in his left hand whilst training with hisclub. Vandort is expected to be available for selection in time for thesecond Test in Kandy.The 22-year-old right-hander, who has played eight One-Day Internationals,celebrated his call-up with a brilliant century (127 from 118 balls) againstthe Zimbabweans in their three day warm-up game, but will only play in thefirst Test if there is an injury to one of the established top six.Leggie Upul Chandana is left out, partly because he failed to impress duringthe LG Abans series, but also because the selectors, with one eye on theupcoming overseas tours, are keen to return to a fast bowler focusedstrategy during this series.So, left-arm spinner Niroshan Bandaratillake, who remains in the squaddespite claiming just four wickets in the West Indies series, is unlikely toplay.Nissanka and Charitha Buddika will compete for the third fast bowlers slot,but Buddika, who made his Test debut against West Indies in Galle, remainsthe leading contender with his recent good form and greater reliability.Sri Lanka:Sanath Jayasuriya (capt), Marvan Atapattu, Mahela Jayawardene, RusselArnold, Kumar Sangakkara, Hashan Tillakaratne, Chamara Silva, ThilanSamaraweera, Muttiah Muralitharan, Chaminda Vaas, Nuwan Zoysa, CharithaBuddika Fernando, Prabath Nissanka, Niroshan Bandaratillake
The Haryana-Orissa tie at Cuttack ended in a draw at the end of the lastday. The low scoring game finished just before the scheduled close.Having secured a first innings lead, Haryana were in a strong position. Atthe end of the third day, Haryana were 279/8. They added just 9 runs totheir overnight score and took the field on the morning of the last day.Orissa were set a stiff target of 340 off 82 overs. They did not attemptto go after the score at any point. Losing wickets at regular intervals,Orissa somehow managed to stave off the Haryana bowlers. The fact that thetop score was 49 from RR Parida shows clearly that none of the batsmencould get going.Sonu Sharma who picked up seven wickets in the first innings could notrepeat his performance. Sharma, Jain and Dalal picked up two wickets eachas Orissa slumped to 210 for 6.Both Orissa and Haryana had no chance of qualifying for the next phase ofthe tournament. At the end of the match, Haryana had 8 points and Orissafinished on 14, well short of the leaders in the their group.
ScorecardMark Footitt picked up three wickets on day two•PA Photos
Glamorgan took a strong grip over Derbyshire at Chesterfield despite another four wicket haul from England fast bowling hopeful Mark Footitt. National Selector James Whitaker was at Queen’s Park for the second day running to watch the left-arm paceman but it was Glamorgan’s batsmen who caught the eye as they scored more than 66% of their 410 for 9 declared in boundaries with former Derbyshire allrounder Graham Wagg making 62 from 64 balls.Wagg was one of four Glamorgan batsmen to pass 50 but Derbyshire responded well to reach 122 for 2 at the close, 288 runs behind with Billy Godleman unbeaten on 49 from 119 balls.Derbyshire needed a response after bowling poorly on the first evening but Colin Ingram was the only wicket to fall in a morning session reduced to 45 minutes by rain. The South African looked set for his maiden Championship century for Glamorgan until he tried to cut Footitt for his 20th boundary but carved the ball into the hands of deep-backward point.Craig Meschede passed 50 in the Championship for the fourth time this season and Derbyshire added to their problems when they dropped catches off consecutive balls. Shiv Thakor spilled a return chance when Meschede was on 60 and Godleman failed to hold on when Wagg edged Footitt to third slip when he had scored only 7.Dropping a player who had scored a double century and 94 in his previous two Championship games was always likely to prove costly and Wagg duly enjoyed himself again, driving Wes Durston’s offspin for successive sixes to reach 50 from 62 balls. Tom Taylor defeated another drive to uproot his off stump but Wagg and Lloyd had put on 87 in only 14 overs and Glamorgan continued to prosper from too many “four” balls to the extent that maximum batting points arrived in the 78th over.The declaration came nine balls after tea leaving Derbyshire with 40 overs to negotiate before the close and Godleman and Hamish Rutherford looked comfortable until a run out lifted Glamorgan. Godleman turned the ball into the leg side and called Rutherford through for a single but Ruaidhri Smith swooped on the ball in his follow through and hit the stumps with the New Zealander short of his ground.When Chesney Hughes played across one in Smith’s next over, Derbyshire were wobbling but skipper Wayne Madsen survived a dropped catch on 17 to help steer his side to within 139 runs of the follow-on target of 261 although Glamorgan are well placed to push for what would be a record fifth consecutive championship victory.”I think we are still on top, unfortunately we put down a chance tonight and there is a lot of work to be done,” Wagg said. “But there’s a lot still in the wicket so if we put the ball in the right areas we should pick up some wickets in the morning.”Rutherford added: “The first hour is key tomorrow and if we can get through the first 30 overs and only lose one that would be ideal to get back into it the game.”
With things having turned around considerably for Newcastle United in recent weeks, some of the focus from those behind the scenes at the club will surely be focused on enjoying a summer overhaul in the transfer window.
The Magpies embarked on an impressive spending spree in January, bringing in the likes of Bruno Guimaraes and Kieran Trippier, among others, and there will be a genuine hope among the club’s fan-base that they can take that next step come the summer.
But while new signings will grab all the attention, Eddie Howe will also be keen to streamline his squad, and one player who he must finally permanently offload, is Dwight Gayle.
The striker has been very much a bit-part player for the Tyneside club this season both under Howe and predecessor Steve Bruce, playing just five games of Premier League football and totalling a measly 27 minutes of action.
Despite the lack of game-time, Howe has been quick to praise Gayle for his work off the pitch, and insisted he still has a big part to play in the remainder of this season.
Speaking just last month, the Magpies boss said: “Dwight is another player who has shown a great attitude behind the scenes, with his work. He has a big role to play in the team. He’s a very experienced player.
“You know if Dwight gets one chance, that could be the key moment in our season to keep us in the Premier League. Dwight could be that player who delivers in the crucial moment so he needs to be ready for his chance.”
While Howe does a fine job there of keeping one of his fringe players on side, Gayle certainly isn’t a player who the Magpies should be hanging their hat on as a front-line option going into next season.
The likes of Chris Wood and Callum Wilson are proven Premier League options, but you would feel the Tyneside club could offload Gayle and bring in a far more exciting, and younger, talent to supplement what they already have – talks of course were held with Stade Reims sensation Hugo Ekitike back in the January transfer window for example.
And, over his numerous years at the club – excluding his loan spell at West Brom – the £40k-a-week earning striker has cost Newcastle over £10m in wages.
When you then add in his £10m transfer fee, Gayle’s time at St James’ Park has been somewhat of an expensive nightmare, while eyebrows were raised last year when it was revealed the club had handed him a new three-year deal to keep him until 2024.
Former Leeds man Noel Whelan said: “I’m shocked to hear he’s been given a new deal, because I do not think Steve Bruce will be there until the end of the year.
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“Newcastle are deep in a relegation battle so to hand out contracts now, when everything is up in the air, I find that pretty bewildering. It is not as if he has been given much game time. How can you hand out a three-year contract to a player who has barely played, under a manager who might not be there?”
This summer has to be one where Newcastle try and bridge the gap to the Premier League’s elite, and getting rid of a wildly under-performing and rarely-used Gayle has to be on the agenda too.
AND in other news – Sold for £36.9m, now worth £720k: Newcastle enjoyed a blinder with “unplayable” flop
South Australia have called on the former New South Wales batsman Daniel Christian in a bid to shore up their batting and he is expected to play in the next match. Christian, 24, was out of contract after New South Wales surprisingly chose not to offer him a deal for this season, although he played every one-dayer and Twenty20 match last season.His move to Adelaide will boost the Redbacks’ struggling top order. The side has lost all three of its Pura Cup matches, and won just one of its FR Cup matches this year, against New South Wales where the batsmen squeezed a last-ball victory.Rod Marsh, SACA’s high performance manager, told that he hopes Christian’s arrival can begin a turnaround for South Australia. “I’m very excited about it. He’s a lovely young man and I think he’s got a lot to offer South Australian cricket,” Marsh said. “He’s a kid with good talent, he’s been a very good junior player.”He was at the Academy with Callum Ferguson and Shaun Tait and I think he will fit in very well. I think he’s a bit unlucky not to be in the New South Wales contract list, they just couldn’t fit him in.”I’ve had my eye on him for a couple of years now. He offers a bit of everything. He can bat anywhere in the top seven or eight. He bowls quicker than a lot of people give him credit for. So, without being too harsh, I think that we can do with a player of that quality in the squad. We’ve got to start getting a winning culture happening.”Christian had a promising first season in the FR Cup last year, finishing the limited-overs season with 256 runs, second only to Brad Haddin for New South Wales. “[I’ve] just come down here to work on my own game and hopefully get some runs on the board and perform well,” Christian told . “I dive around the field and things like that and just try to enjoy it as much as I can.”A member of the victorious Australia Under-19 World Cup-winning squad in 2001-02, alongside new team-mate Mark Cosgrove, he also offers sharp bowling and was an Academy graduate in 2003. But it’s his batting that is badly needed with several Redbacks batsmen either injured or out of form.”It puts more pressure on those playing to make sure they play well,” Marsh said. “All good cricket teams have pressure put on them by those outside the team. Look at the Australian team. As a batsman you wouldn’t want to fail with [Simon] Katich playing so well. [Nathan] Bracken’s taking wickets, Tait is coming back from injury. As a consequence you see Mitchell Johnson bowling well on debut.”Although Christian has not been signed to South Australia’s contract list, Marsh said he could soon feature in first-class games as well as one-dayers. Christian has not yet chosen a club to play for but is expected to do so by this Sunday to give him a run ahead of the Redbacks’ next game, which is against Western Australia next Wednesday.Marsh doesn’t rule out chasing other players to boost South Australia’s stocks either. “We are always on the lookout for good cricketers and it’s always been a firm belief of mine that you want the best 66 players in the premier competition,” he said. “South Australia over the years have had a history of recruiting some outstanding players – Bradman, Sobers, Gibbs, Garner – some not as good. If we have to go outside the state, then we have to go outside the state.”
Defending Carib Beer Series champions Trinidad and Tobago will be the team to beat when the 2007 regional cricket series bowls off on January 4.Carib chief executive officer Andrew Sabga, speaking at the launch of the tournament at Crowne Plaza Hotel on Wrightson Road, Port of Spain, congratulated Trinidad and Tobago on achieving the double in 2006, but warned the champions that the other countries will come out stronger in 2007 as they face-off for the championship.Sabga was excited to be part of what he calls “the premier event of the Caribbean”. He said: “The Carib Beer Series, which dates back to the 1960s, has produced some of the greatest cricketers the world has ever seen, from legendary Sir Garry Sobers to the Prince of Port of Spain, Brian Lara.”The prestigious event, according to Sabga, “Allows young cricketers to showcase their talents regionally, while demonstrating to the world that the West Indies still has an abundance of talent that simply needs nurturing.”Through their five years of sponsorship of the regional tournament, Carib have invested more than US$3 million and Sabga stated the rewards have been most visible in the past year. “Coming through the ranks of the Carib Beer Series, Dinesh Ramdhin, Carlton Bough, Renako Morton, Lendl Simmons and Jerome Taylor have been selected to the West Indies team and it rests on them now to take West Indies cricket back to the glory days of the 1970s and 1980s.”The Carib Beer Series represents the climax of the cricketing calendar and all efforts throughout the year in each of the participating territories are geared towards preparing the best team for the regional tournament.According to Colin Murray, Sponsorship and Events manager of Carib Brewery, “2007 is a critical year for the region as a whole as it will be hosting the Cricket World Cup for the first time. The Carib Beer Series now takes on an additional role-the preparation of the regional team for the World Cup. “The Carib Beer Series is a stepping-stone in the process of rebuilding West Indies cricket,” Murray declared.Six teams will be participating in the tournament: defending champions Trinidad and Tobago, runners-up Barbados, Jamaica, Guyana, the Leeward Islands and the Windward Islands. The competition will be played on a round-robin basis, with each team playing each other once in a four-day match. The two teams with the most points will advance to the final of the Carib Beer Series, a five-day match, which will be played at Guaracara Park, Pointe-a-Pierre.
Bob Woolmer, Pakistan’s coach, believes they do not take any psychological advantage from the Test series win over England into the one-day series. Speaking to reporters at Gaddafi Stadium after a strenuous practice session, Woolmer said: “I don’t believe in psychological advantages. This is a new series, a new situation and one-day cricket is very different from Test cricket.”But Woolmer admitted that the team was in buoyant mood after the Test series and looking forward to extending an impressive ODI winning streak of seven matches. “The confidence is there because the team is winning and winning breeds confidence. This is a new tournament and we have to put the Test matches to bed briefly before India come. Although we have won our last seven matches, we haven’t played for three and a half months. This is the first ODI, it’s a new cricket game. In sport if you leave something and then come back to it you have to relearn it a bit. We start the series knowing it is 50-50 between us and England.”Over the last year, with the absence at various times of key players, Pakistan have developed a large ODI squad and further enhanced their strength in depth. Their problem, therefore, during the ODI series is likely to be one of too many options and finding the right balance. As Woolmer admitted, it is a pleasant dilemma.”Too many players is a good problem to have. There are players not in the squad at the moment like Bazid Khan who did really well against England in the last match. There are people on the periphery who are fighting to get in and we have to recognise that those players are there. The most important thing though is to keep the team spirit, keep everyone fit and firing. The longer we can keep a team together the more you can get them into form, the more experience you have on the field the better that team will do.”The final playing XI is likely to be a fluid one during this series; Woolmer said after the Test series that he was planning to experiment with players’ roles in the ODIs. Shoaib Malik is unlikely to play the first match as he only arrives back from Australia on Friday after undergoing biomechanical analysis of his action. This increases the possibility that Kamran Akmal will be given a chance as opener again, with Younis Khan batting higher up the order than he generally does in ODIs. Akmal scored a century as opener against the West Indies in Australia in January this year.The experimentation is part of a long-term strategy for the World Cup in the West Indies in 2007. With the improvement they have shown in the shortened game since Woolmer took over, Pakistan are likely to be one of the contenders in 15 months’ time. Woolmer said: “I definitely think we are on the right track for the World Cup. It’s a long way to go, it’s a long railroad. We have to make sure we keep the team on the track. We have to make sure we have plenty of people in reserve, we have to make sure we keep people as fit as we can. There will be injuries along the way and we have to look after them. We have to be on the ball all the time.”Inzamam-ul-Haq, the Pakistan captain, meanwhile, has asked for as many people as possible to come to the first ODI at Gaddafi Stadium on Saturday. The gate receipts from the match are to be donated to relief efforts for survivors of the devastating earthquake that struck northern Pakistan on October 8 and has so far claimed an estimated 80,000 lives. “My request is that people come and watch the match. The winter has set in there and conditions will get worse so we need to help our people as much as possible. We should help them in any way possible and one way is to come to watch the match.” The official capacity of the ground is 25,000 and tickets have been sold out.Inzamam also said that although Pakistan will be confident going into the first game, they will not underestimate England. “The boys are very confident after the Test series, but this is a different ball game altogether and we will have to plan differently for it. England is a strong team who can fight back at any given stage. We will not be taking them lightly at all and there will be no overconfidence on our part.”
For Australia 2004 was a year of sad goodbyes, glorious hellos, welcome returns and another batch of envious records. There was also time for stirringcomebacks from a side that has grown used to beingworld champions, and often needs challenges to wakethem. Three times they faced first-innings deficits ofmore than 90 in Sri Lanka that were merely detours onthe way to a sweaty whitewash. Someone always came tothe rescue.Unfortunately, nothing could save David Hookes. Hissad, violent and needless death on January 18 broughtgloom and a respect for his career that would havebeen missing if he had passed away in a retirement home.Two weeks earlier the whole of Australia felt like part of thelounge-room furniture was going to be missing whenSteve Waugh whirled 80 against India at the SCG in hisfinal innings. Waugh enjoyed a countrywide farewelltour while Hookes was remembered through traingraffiti, newspaper tributes and a court case inNovember against the bouncer accused of hismanslaughter.Keith Miller, the former Invincible, also passed away inOctober, and new generations learned about the manytreasured deeds of Australia’s greatest allrounder.Typically for a man with film-star aura, Miller’sMelbourne funeral drew an A-list congregation, andleft only six survivors from the 1948 tour.
Australia head to England this winter still marvellingat their predecessors’ unbeaten run. And this is aside familiar with streaks. For the first time a teamwon five series in a calendar year as Australia tickedoff Sri Lanka (twice), India, New Zealand and Pakistan.It was an achievement made possible by programming andan efficient new style under Ricky Ponting’scaptaincy.With Waugh returning to his slippers and home life,Ponting was sitting on the throne tipped for him inhis teens. Despite the overall success, Pontingsuffered an induction of disruption and was aspectator for the year’s biggest thrill – Australia’sfirst series win in India for 35 years. The prizeWaugh wanted most, the Border-Gavaskar Trophy, wassealed under the leadership of Adam Gilchrist.Ponting suffered a broken thumb in the Champions’Trophy semi-final loss to England and it allowedAustralia to prepare for the future. After muchdeliberation the selectors settled on Michael Clarkeinstead of Brad Hodge. It was a magnificent move asClarke, 23, gave a debut performance full of wonder,with hints of Doug Walters. He followed his 151 atBangalore with a home debut century at the Gabba, anda team with an average age in the 30s finally had ayoung pup.While Clarke was the discovery in India, Damien Martynplayed the hero with two centuries and a ninety in thesecond and third Tests. Martyn, Jason Gillespie andrain ensured a fighting draw at Chennai, and Australiasealed the series at Nagpur. The celebrations wereanimated and the hangover lasted through the year’splaying blight, a low-scoring dead-rubber loss on anawful Mumbai pitch.
New Zealand and Pakistan arrived to close the year andwere shut out. Again the cheer was all Australia’s,Justin Langer finishing 2004 with 1481 runs and Martyn with1353, while Shane Warne collected 70 wickets.Warne’s return was spectacular as he chased MuttiahMuralitharan for his world record. Ending his one-yeardrugs ban with 26 wickets in Sri Lanka, Warne equalledMurali in the drawn Test at Cairns, and finally passedhim at Chennai, where he wore red-striped spikes tocolour the moment.Another great also took his first steps after a longlay-off. Ankle operations ruled Glenn McGrath out fora year and he considered retirement before taking fivewickets against Sri Lanka at Darwin. The tentativenessstayed until he reached India but by the end of thetour he was again the attack’s leader, and his 8 for24 against Pakistan at the WACA were the second-bestfigures by an Australian.With Warne and McGrath restored as bowling saviours,Australia’s ageing side was complete. The finalfrontier had been conquered, but in 2005 they mustcover old ground. Finding new motivation may becomethis side’s greatest challenge.Top performersJustin Langer An amazing year for a batsman who can’t lose the tagof gritty grafter. His 1481 runs, including five hundreds and four fifties, were the second-most by an Australian in a calendar year and they amply made up for the relatively lean times that Hayden and Ponting had.Shane Warne A year out of the game at 34 could have forced hisretirement. Instead he landed in Sri Lanka ready tofire and broke the world record in India. His nexttarget is 600 Test wickets; his ability to bamboozleremains untarnished.Peter English is Australasian editor ofCricinfo.
The England team arrived in rain-drenched Bangladesh today for their month-long tour, which includes two Tests and three one-day internationals. Officials of the Bangladesh Cricket Board (BCB) greeted the team at Dhaka’s Zia International Airport upon their arrival aboard an Emirates flight.England, without the injured Lancastrian duo of Andrew Flintoff and James Anderson, will face a Bangladesh team buoyed by an improved display during their recent tour of Pakistan. They put up a tough fight against Pakistan, coming within one wicket of registering their first Test victory in the third Test at Multan.Michael Vaughan, leading England on tour for the first time, told reporters on arrival that he was looking forward to a good series and will not be underestimating the home side. “In their last Tests, Bangladesh played positive cricket against top-class teams like Australia and Pakistan,” he said. “We will not take them lightly.”Bangladesh, who were granted Test status in 2000, have lost 23 of their 24 Tests to date. The only draw came in a rain-hit match against Zimbabwe. They have also gone 44 one-day internationals without recordiung a win, since their surprise victory over Pakistan in the 1999 World Cup.The Test series starts in Dhaka on Oct 21. After the Bangladesh leg of the tour, which ends on Nov 12, England go on to Sri Lanka for three more Tests and three ODIs.