Rumours that Shane Bond is set to retire from international cricket have been floating around ever since he recently said that it was “frustrating” to keep getting injured.But Heath Mills, the New Zealand Cricket Players Association chief, tried to quash such rumours, insisting Bond was available for New Zealand. “At this stage Shane Bond is certainly available to play Test and one-day cricket, but I’m not in position to make any other comment at this stage,” Mills told the .Bond was unavailable for the Chappell-Hadlee Series and will also miss the entire series against Bangladesh due to an abdominal tear he suffered during New Zealand’s tour to South Africa. He hopes to recover in time for England’s visit in February.Reports hinting at his retirement were also fuelled by offers that Bond had received from the Indian Cricket League, which he decided not to join, and the Indian Premier League, which he expressed an interest in. Leanne McGoldrick, Bond’s agent, said he was in regular contact with Justin Vaughan, New Zealand Cricket’s chief executive. “When he [Shane] is ready to let everyone know what he is doing, then he will,” she said.
Australia will attempt to exploit Michael Vaughan’s lack of match fitness during the tri-series starting on Friday, according to the coach John Buchanan. Vaughan was confirmed as England’s captain for the competition on Sunday, taking over from Andrew Flintoff, who was in charge when the tourists lost the Ashes 5-0.Buchanan wants his team to keep the heat on England during the one-day series, which begins on Friday at the MCG. The teams will also appear in a warm-up for the competition also involving New Zealand when they contest a Twenty20 game at the SCG on Tuesday.”We try to exploit any deficiency, whether it’s technical, physical, mental or tactical,” Buchanan said. “If we understand that Michael’s struggling physically, then that will be one area we will like to target.”That will be the same with anybody. If we can detect weaknesses in their armoury, that will be an area we’ll try to exploit.”It has been 18 months since Vaughan last played a one-day international and 13 months since he appeared in a Test. Although he has recovered from knee surgery, he is yet to prove his effectiveness in the field and with running between wickets. Vaughan averages only 28 in ODIs and has not scored a century despite playing most of his 74 matches in the top order.Australia will use the tri-series as a chance to create a buffer between themselves and England and New Zealand ahead of the World Cup in March. “Once we get to the West Indies [for the World Cup] we would have liked to have set a gap between us and two of the teams we’ll face over there,” Buchanan said. “We’d like to have them in some form of disarray before they got there.”
Kevin Curran, Zimbabwe’s coach, has been accused of trying to persuade some of the country’s striking players to sign the controversial new contracts offered to them by the board.Curran replaced Phil Simmons last August, but he was not a popular choice among the players who felt he was too close to the board, and in October all the national squad signed a letter to Zimbabwe Cricket demanding Simmons’s reinstatement.Curran’s appointment was reconfirmed by the new interim executive last month, but it is claimed that last week he attempted to convince some players that the deal on offer was a good one, despite their stated reluctance to agree to the terms on offer.”All Kevin seems to be concerned about is that he has a team so that he can keep his job,” a source told Cricinfo. “The feeling among the players is that he will use them to keep his position. They don’t feel he has the same approach to them as Simmons did. Kevin sees the players as a product while Phil used to see them as individuals.”Curran is believed to have told ZC officials that he has to have a squad to train by the start of the week or he will not be able to get them ready in time to play Kenya or Bangladesh. Not only does that seem highly unlikely, but this latest news shows that the rift between players and board – and players and coach – is widening all the time.
Cricinfo has learned that the stories claiming the players had all signed new contracts came from a senior board official who briefed local journalists on Friday.
Haroon Rashid, the Pakistan team manager, has denied reports of being sacked before the Indian tour, and has clearly stated that his contract with the Pakistan Cricket Board will end only in July this year. Earlier, the board had indicated that it needed to replace Rashid due to the sensitivities attached with the Indian tour. He has held this position since April 2003.”The board has given me a contract for one year until July 2005 and I have a clear conscience that I have done my job with commitment, honesty and dedication,” Rashid told , a Pakistan daily. “I think my performance should be judged by what the other members of the team have to say about me. But if the board has planned something else it is their decision and I will not protest. I have always been available for Pakistan cricket and have done my duty properly. But yes, if anyone questions my competency as a manager I think it is unfair because throughout my tenure there has not been a single instance where anyone can say I have not fulfilled my responsibilities.”Rasheed received support from a senior board official, who clarified the PCB’s stand on the issue. “The board was looking to appoint a new manager to handle the diplomatic and political aspects of the Indian tour which has its own sensitivities. We will be sending two managers to India. It is not right to say we have decided to remove Haroon.”Rashid, who has also been the coach and national selector of Pakistan, also suggested that more was being made of Shoaib Akhtar’s disciplinary problems than was necessary. “Shoaib has a problem with his cricketing discipline. He is inconsistent in his commitment to the game and as a player. But overall his behaviour has never been offensive and there is no doubt when he is giving 100% he is a major asset for the team.”Rashid felt that Shoaib was perhaps influenced by constant media attention. “No other player including the Australian and West Indians even came close to the popularity and media attention he got in Australia. At times I thought he could not handle it. But overall he remained on good behaviour and the only problem arose on cricketing grounds. But even before he returned home he made it clear to Bob Woolmer that he was totally committed to the team and would do as advised by the team management to be at his best in future matches.”
Thomas Odoyo, one of Kenya’s successes in international cricket, has been ruled out of their side for the 2004 West Indies Carib Beer Series with a knee injury. Odoyo had an operation on his left knee last Saturday, and will be sidelined for two months.Steve Tikolo leads a squad that features most of the members of the side that stunned the cricket world by reaching the semi-finals of the World Cup in March.Among them is the legspinner Collins Obuya, whose five-wicket haul lifted Kenya to a shock victory against Sri Lanka. Obuya later played a first-class match in Barbados against the touring Australians before a stint with Warwickshire in English county cricket.The Kenya selectors have also called up Under-19 players Maurice Ouma, Alfred Luseno and Rageb Aga.Kenya play their first match of the Carib Beer Series against WestIndies B from January 9 to 12. Their other opponents are Leeward Islands, Trinidad & Tobago, Jamaica, Barbados, Windward Islands, and Guyana. They are using the series as a developmental exercise as they continue to press for Test status.Kenya squad Steve Tikolo (capt), Martin Suji, Peter Ongondo, Maurice Odumbe, Hitesh Modi, Brijal Patel, Lameck Onyango, Alfred Luseno, Kennedy Obuya, Maurice Ouma, Francis Otieno, Collins Obuya, Ravindu Shah, Rageb Aga.
WELL, it’s back to the sun, and back to `work’ out in Perth, as I flew back with the newest local recruit for the Auscricket Management scheme, James Hamblin.It is the first time that `Hambo’ has travelled to Australia, although he spent last winter in Johannesburg, South Africa, with Hampshire coach Jimmy Cook.After last season’s success with the first team, particularly in the one-day game, Hambo is looking to get stronger and fitter than before.Hopefully a bit of extra strength and flexibility will add a touch more pace to a man with a prodigious ability to swing the ball, and a fantastic eye when batting.His three innings opening the batting last season really showed his potential as an all-rounder, and three months under the watchful eye of Paul Terry will surely be of huge benefit.During my time back in the England, I caught up with a few of the other Hampshire players.Both Derek Kenway and Chris Tremlett are looking fit, and if they carry on at their current rate with the National Academy, then they can both be confident of bumper seasons.Jimmy Adams and John Francis are attending Loughborough University, a fine institution with an excellent reputation for cricket.In fact, the university has recently become one of the six `Centre’s of Excellence’ for student cricketer’s, so the boys will be starting their own regimes, in between studies, to prepare for the upcoming season.Giles White and Will Kendall are both working away from the game of cricket, but will get a bit of pre-season practise when they go to Kenya on the MCC Tour in a couple of months.This tour is being captained by Will, and will no doubt be a fantastic experience, and a great deal of fun.So, back in Perth, the numbers on the scheme are up even further as we embark on our second term. Several lads have come out for a three-month period, and this takes our `Aus-Team’ total to 16.Joe Tucker and Matthew Bulbeck are here from Somerset, and `Tucks’ is playing with me at Perth CC.Ian Painter and David Coverdale are from Northants, Andy McGarry from Essex, and Kabir Ali from Worcestershire.With this amount of players, we could almost field an Aussie Rules Football side!This may not be particularly beneficial to our health, though, having seen a couple of the local games live, there are some big blokes kicking around in a game which looks half the time like an all-in ruck!If we get a bit of practise in, though, we might offer them a game a bit later in the season – but probably a non-contact version!
Holders Rest of India would have been reasonably satisfied by the events that unfolded on the opening day of their Irani Trophy clash with hosts Mumbai at the Wankhede Stadium in Mumbai. Murali Kartik and Sharandeep Singh held sway for the better part of the day with some teasing spin bowling but Rest allowed their opponents to claw their way back in the last hour and quarter. First a pesky last wicket pair added 42 to give the Mumbai total a modicum of respectability at 260. Then two late strikes by the Mumbai pace duo saw Rest totter to 23/2 in six overs batting and pave the way for an interesting contest tomorrow against the host team’s own three man spin attack.Mumbai began the morning watchfully against the new ball with first class debutant, Vinayak Mane, being entrusted with the job of opening with Wasim Jaffer. This was after Amit Pagnis had announced on the eve of the match that he had switched affiliation to Railways this season. Mane was in a spot of bother against Ashish Nehra twice edging just short or wide of the slip cordon. The seamers were getting good carry with keeper Ajay Ratra routinely collecting the ball at shoulder level. The introduction of Murali Kartik in the 16th over altered the tone of the game. In Kartik’s first over Mane gave him the charge hoisting one over long on for six. When Mane rashly went for a walk again to a well tossed up delivery, the bounce defeated him and he was stranded down the wicket as Ratra took the bails off.Jaffer was stroking the ball with assurance and a square cut off Shukla, his seventh boundary, brought up his fifty off 66 balls. Lefthander Kiran Powar did not keep him company for long. Kartik crowded him with four fielders around the bat rightaway and soon enough Powar was snapped up at slip by Laxman, driving away from his body. Kartik had his tail up now but was unlucky to have Jaffer dropped at the same position by Laxman off the last ball before lunch.The hundred of the Mumbai innings came up shortly into the second session but Kartik’s stranglehold over the batsmen continued. Jaffer was bowled off his legs for 56 while launching into a sweep and Kartik almost had two in two balls when Nishit Shetty turned one through Ramesh’s legs at leg slip for what would have been a sharp chance.Dodda Ganesh struck in the next over bringing one back sharply off the seam as Majumdar played back to win a leg before decision from umpire Jayaprakash and Mumbai were in a pickle at 114/4. Laxman rotated the seamers for a while at the pavilion end before belatedly turning to off spinner Sharandeep Singh in the 47th over. The proceedings had become quite soporific as Dighe and Shetty cautiously strove to earn the innings a semblance of respectability. Finally Dighe decided to throw caution to the winds, hoisting Sharandeep over long on for six in the off spinner’s second over.As if waiting for the cue from his skipper, Shetty went down on one knee and flatbatted Kartik over midwicket in the next over. But two balls later Kartik surprised him with a quicker delivery outside off stump which got the edge as it zipped through to Ratra. He finally came off after a splendid unchanged spell of 19-5-36-4. At the other end Sharandeep was finally getting into his rhythm and delivered a major blow to Mumbai with the first ball after lunch. Skipper Samir Dighe, having played an uncharacteristically subdued knock of 13 from 55 balls, got a tickle through to Ratra as he played forward. A handy bat in the lower order, Ramesh Powar immediately gave Laxmi Ratan Shukla some rough treatment, driving him for successive boundaries.At the other end Mhambrey took up the cudgels against Sharandeep, swinging him into the Sunil Gavaskar stand at midwicket. But Sharandeep was rewarded for his persistence, having the batsman caught one handed by an agile Laxman, diving to his right at first slip. Pawar and Powar chanced their arm with a six apiece but neither showed the resolve to stay at the wicket for long.Powar spliced Sharandeep to Kartik at midon after making a breezy 43 off 36 balls, inclusive of five boundaries and a six. Beanpole Nilesh Kulkarni made a strange contrast with pint sized Rajesh Pawar but they did not keep company for long. Pawar top edged an intended sweep which lobbed up for a simple catch to the keeper, giving both Ratra and Sharandeep their fourth victims of the day.At 218/9 in the 73rd over, Rest of India would have been looking forward to retiring quickly to the dressing room only to be frustrated by Kulkarni amd Santosh Saxena who added 42 in 9.3 overs. Saxena who was bowled by Kartik noball helped himself to a six and two fours off a Sharandeep over to spoil the off spinner’s figures. Finally Asish Nehra was recalled and he trapped Saxena leg before with a straight full toss for 27 (26 balls, 4 fours, 1 six), Mumbai finishing on 260 from 81.5 overs. Kartik with 4/73 and Sharandeep with 4/55 had done the bulk of the damage for Rest which would not have disappointed Mumbai and more particularly Messrs. Kulkarni, Pawar and Powar.It was the Mumbai pace duo however which drew first blood as Rest faced the difficult task of negotiating six overs before close. After flicking Saxena for a boundary, Ramesh was adjudged caught by keeper Dighe. But he made his displeasure known in no uncertain terms, indicating to umpire Bansal that the ball had gone off his thigh.In the third over Shiv Sunder Das was caught at slip by Wasim Jaffer off Mhambrey for a ten ball duck to leave Rest gasping at 8/2. Nightwatchman Murali Kartik (16 not out) eased the pressure, stroking three consecutive boundaries off Mhambrey, all delightfully timed as he played out time in the company of skipper Laxman on whose shoulders much will rest tomorrow.
Aston Villa will host Ralph Hasenhuttl’s side this afternoon, and Steven Gerrard will be hoping to end Southampton’s seven-match unbeaten run by securing all three points at Villa Park.
However, a fresh injury update has emerged which could set Villa back in their pursuit of a second consecutive win.
What’s the word?
The Villa manager took to his pre-match press conference on Friday to confirm that Carney Chukwuemeka will not be available for the clash with Southampton this afternoon.
Gerrard told the press: “Carney will miss tomorrow’s game, he’s got an outside chance of being involved against Leeds. He’s back out on the pitch, clearing one or two things before he comes back into full training, hopefully on Monday.”
Gerrard will be gutted
Aston Villa have the opportunity to climb the Premier League table as they are currently level on points with Leicester City and Crystal Palace, whilst only three points away from breaking into the top half.
The former Rangers boss will surely be gutted to have his squad weakened during these important last few months of the season, and he will want to have all of his best options available, with Chukwuemeka a reliable member of the squad and a hot prospect on whom Gerrard will definitely have his eye.
The 18-year-old has been impressing in Premier League 2 this season with two goals and two assists in just six appearances, as well as being rewarded with nine senior appearances, with one assist already in Gerrard’s side despite only being in the starting line-up once. [Transfermarkt]
The teenager has earned the public praise of his manager, who said in December: “We believe in him and we trust him”, in addition to calling the young midfielder a “fantastic talent”.
The youngster could be in contention to gain another appearance against Leeds during their midweek fixture, as he is expected to be back in training ahead of that match in good time.
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However, not having him as an option off the bench against Southampton today will definitely be a big blow for a clear admirer in Gerrard, especially with Hasenhuttl’s side in such impressive form over the last month.
In other news: Steven Gerrard must axe this Villa player today
Singapore defeated Kuwait by six wickets to win the ACC Under-15 Elite Cup in Bhaktapur, Nepal. It was, however, a slightly hollow victory, as eight of the ten competing sides had earlier been disqualified for fielding over-age players, and so Singapore and Kuwait contested the final as they were the only teams remaining in the competition.The Asian Cricket Council had taken drastic action on Saturday and kicked out hosts and defending champions Nepal as well as Afghanistan, Hong Kong, Kuwait, Malaysia, Oman, Saudi Arabia and Thailand after its medical board reported that all the squads from those countries contained players over the stipulated age limit. Sunday’s semi-finals – Nepal v Singapore and Afghanistan v Hong Kong – were scrapped.”In instances where more than two players in each 14-man squad have been found to be over-aged, the teams have been disqualified from the competition,” an ACC media spokesman explained. He added that some teams contained as many as nine over-age players. “One hundred and forty radiology examinations have been conducted in Nepal since the team’s arrival with all the players from the ten participating teams,” he added.Ashraful Haq, the ACC’s chief executive, met team managers to explain the decision. “Our age-verification protocols have been tested and proven to work,” he said. “We stand by the results found. In the long-run, cricket in Asia will benefit. Results such as this should act an eye-opener to all our members.”The tournament had already got off to a bad start when UAE were sent home as their squad did not contain any UAE passport-holders.An ACC spokesman explained that age verification was not easy in some areas. “All countries were asked to provide the appropriate medical data on each of their players before the tournament started. They did not comply.”
Scorecard Day 2 Bulletin – Munaf stands out in drawn encounter Day 1 Bulletin – Gambhir fifty powers Indians Preview package Preview – Munaf’s chance to stake a claim Chappell quotes – ‘Opening is a specialist job’ News – ‘I am working hard to earn a recall in the team’ – Gambhir News – India look to erase bad Durban memories News – Gobind to lead KZN XI against Indians