Sukhvinder Singh hit a sparkling century to give Assam the decisive upper hand in their Ranji Trophy league match against Tripura at Guwahati on Wednesday.Unbeaten on 65 overnight, Sukhvinder converted his fifty into a responsible hundred. Putting on 180 runs for the sixth wicket with SR Das (67, 174 balls), Sukhvinder hit 15 fours in his knock of 118 off 199 balls. He was the seventh wicket to fall, with the score on 325.A fifty (52 off 65 balls) from J Gokulakrishnan and some spirited cameos from the tail saw Assam past the 400-run mark. The home side were bowled out for 411 in 136.2 overs, with J Debnath taking 5-79 for Tripura.In their second innings, Tripura were 80/1 at the close of play. Opener Rasudeb Dutta was unbeaten on 27, while SD Chowdhury was not out on 4. The lone wicket to fall was that of skipper S Dasgupta, who made 41 off 91 balls.
Another dreadful batting performance from the West Indies will see them lookingdown the barrel of a possible, but by no means certain, defeat againstGlamorgan. The WIndies were skittled for 97 on a turning pitch, leavingGlamorgan 134 runs to win the match tomorrow.Hansie Cronje believes he was led by Satan when he accepted money from an Indianbookmaker. Quite what Brian Lara is being led by at the moment is much morepuzzling. Lara appeared to have left his white stick and guide dog at homeyesterday, beginning his knock with a perfectly timed cover drive. He sauntereddown the wicket and over the top, two flashes of genius, but this was not theLara we have got to know. He laboured somewhat over his 11 runs, lasting out 32balls, before Croft nabbed him for the second time in the game, padding up to aball which, on reflection, would have probably passed by the off-stump.Lara may have been unfortunate, but the rest of the West Indians were lazy, apoor attempt to combat a difficult pitch. Sherwin Campbell was well caught byWharf, from his own bowling, after the right-hander mis-judged a pull, the ballnot coming quickly onto the bat. Hinds miscued a slash, caught at mid-on. ChrisGayle was trapped plumb in front by Wharf, his bat some way behind his pad, apoor judgement.With Lara gone, the score was 20-4, and some direct action was needed. It came,albeit too briefly, in the form of Ridley Jacobs, who crashed six boundaries inhis 43. Adams long vigil was ended by Wharf, who also picked up the wicket ofNagamootoo, for a less than elegant duck. The end came fairly swiftly, despitesome clean hitting from McLean. Wayne Phillip was well held at silly point, areaction catch from Mike Powell, who had replaced Wayne Law close in on the offside. Whilst Powell looked ready for a catch, Law cowered comically every timethe striker raised his blade. With Parkin and Croft picking up three a piece andWharf four, it was a fine performance by Glamorgan.The Welshmen too batted dreadfully earlier in the day. The pitches at SophiaGardens turn square, but there was no excuse for night-watchman Dean Cosker’sdismissal, bowled off stump, leaving one from McLean. The only real resistancecame from James, who battled for 39. Today looks set to be an interesting one,particularly as the ball is likely to be in the hands of leg-spinner Nagamootoo- who claimed four victims in Glamorgans first effort – very early on.
Southampton are reportedly now in ‘advanced talks’ to sign Shakhtar Donetsk attacking midfielder Tete as a free agent.
The Lowdown: Contract uncertainty
It has been reported that Brazilian players at Ukrainian club Shakhtar Donetsk, including Tete, are now potentially looking to terminate their contracts, following Russia’s invasion of the country.
It means that Tete would become a free agent, and so could be signed by clubs from the Premier League, although he would not be able to play until next season.
The Latest: Tete talks
As per talkSPORT journalist Alex Crook, the St. Mary’s faithful are one of a number of teams to have held ‘advanced talks’ over Tete.
However, Leicester City and Brentford are also ‘keen’ on his signature, and he also has ‘offers’ from AC Milan, Atalanta and Benfica.
The Verdict: Bargain
If Ralph Hasenhuttl’s side could sign Tete as a free agent, it would certainly represent a bargain.
Currently rated at £18m, the Brazilian has managed to score ten goals and make two assists in total over all competitions so far this term, including a goal and an assist to help Shakhtar qualify for the UEFA Champions League (Transfermarkt).
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At just 22 years of age, Tete still has a high ceiling as well, and even if things did not quite work out at the Saints, they could still sell him on for a tidy profit.
In other news, find out which position is now a priority for Southampton to sign here!
Trinidad and Tobago (T&T) enter this season’s Carib Beer Series as defending champions, but coach Kelvin Williams does not feel the pressure of expectations.”I just want to continue the success of the team,” he said, noting that there will be big gaps to fill in the squad.T&T will be without the services of Daren Ganga, Dwayne Bravo and Denesh Ramdin, all on tour with the West Indies in South Africa, and Williams believes that “We will have to use what we have.”Yes we will be missing these guys but the players coming in to replace them have to realise the role they have to play,” said Williams, who is filling in for David Williams, appointed West Indies’ assistant coach.”Everyone plays important roles in the squad and I think the senior guys will have to encourage the younger ones to perform and bring their game to the level required.”Bad weather has hampered T&T’s preparations for their first match against Guyana on January 4 Williams thinks, “because of the nature of training indoors” the guys have not adjusted well to outdoor conditions.”T&T is in an enviable position with the talent we have. It is up to them to continue to play the way they normally play as a team together, with pride and passion. If they continue to play like that then we will be able to successfully defend our championship.”A core of players have been training for the last eight weeks or so and I don’t think it will be a problem for the final squad to gel together.”
Nathan Bracken is getting ready for the World Cup knowing his mother-in-law – the left-arm bowler’s strong supporter and critic – will be keeping a keen eye on his progress. Lenore Rich, who had noticed Bracken seemed more relaxed during domestic games than internationals, had been predicting for several months beforehand that he would be involved in a record to do with “four runs and bowling.”On the morning of New South Wales’ Pura Cup match against South Australia in 2004-05 she told Bracken’s wife Haley she ought to go to the ground. Bracken then took 7 for 4 as South Australia fell for 29.”I’m hoping she rings me up and goes ‘you are going to get this and that’. There’s nothing as yet,” Bracken told reporters during Australia’s final net session before Friday’s warm-up against England. “She tells me the same thing she always does, to back my ability. It’s the same thing [Australia bowling coach] Troy Cooley says to us every day: go out there, back yourself and back the decisions you make.”When you always hear it from coaches you start taking it for granted. When you hear it from somebody different it tends to sink in.”Bracken has become a regular in Australia’s one-day line-up since being recalled in 2005 and he has taken 96 wickets in 57 matches at 22.23. He said support from Ricky Ponting had helped him find his form since his international return.”Ricky backs me 100% in that and so does the team,” he said. “That’s the difference when we are on form, the guys are backing their ability and judgments.” The bowling outfit has struggled over the past month during a five-match losing streak, which included allowing New Zealand to score 340 and 350 to take the Chappell-Hadlee Trophy.Australia are without Brett Lee, who has an ankle injury, but Bracken believes Shaun Tait, who has played only four ODIs, can fill the gap. “For South Australia he’s bowled tremendously well and taken plenty of wickets,” he said. “We are hoping he can slot in here and be a wicket-taker and can take that strike role when needed.”Sometimes I think ‘if that was me I’d break my back in half’. He’s unique in what he does and he can change a game. It doesn’t matter how many times you’ve seen him or played him, the first few balls are hard to pick up because the action is slightly different and it does skid through at pace.”
9.5 Younis Khan If it’s India, it must be Younis. Over 500 runs again, two big hundreds, two fifties and captained his side astutely for the Karachi win. Loses a half a point for dropping a catch and getting out first ball on a seaming pitch but otherwise, more than anyone else, Younis demoralised the Indians with his running (and clapping) and hardly looked like relenting.9 Mohammad Asif In Karachi, Asif produced as incisive a spell of seam bowling as has been seen in Pakistan for some time, moving the ball in, out, up, down and working out the cream of the Indian top-order. Additionally, he bowled long spells and rarely flagged for pace and, crucially, his accuracy, which helped in Faisalabad. It’s been said for two months that he is the most improved pace bowler in Pakistan; we know it now.9 Kamran Akmal If his centuries against England and India at Lahore (incidentally, the fastest by a wicketkeeper batsman) were special then how do we classify his epic at Karachi? Simply, it will rank as one of the best seen in this country. Dropped a catch but was more than efficient otherwise and did also open and score a fifty. Seriously, seriously special.8.5 Abdul Razzaq He gave, in Karachi, the most influential Test performance of his career, reminding everyone that some time ago, he was one the most promising allrounders on the scene. He took big wickets, scored runs when they were really needed and was a strong claimant for the match award. After a couple of indifferent years, this could be the boost his career needs.8 Mohammad Yousuf Scored runs for fun at most times and was as responsible as Younis for deflating the Indians. His form here, and against England, suggests the impending responsibility of being the team’s most senior batsman is sinking in.8 Shahid Afridi Mr. Consistency? As scary as it sounds Afridi, with over 300 runs, two centuries and a fifty, was a model of efficiency. Naturally, with a strike rate of 121, his efficiency inhabited a different plane to the rest of the world.7.5 Inzamam-ul-HaqA low-key series as dead pitches and a bad back confined his role and influence. A typically controlled century at Faisalabad, notable for his battle with his own fitness rather than the Indian bowlers in the second half of it. But his back will be closely monitored from now till the World Cup in 2007.7.5 Faisal Iqbal The third coming and, hopefully, one that will seal his place in the squad. He was talented we knew and all the beauty of his backfoot game was on display in his important maiden Test century at Karachi. The timing of his knock, with Inzamam’s back trouble likely to leave a middle-order gap often enough, is pretty good too.6 Shoaib Akhtar Will curse the wickets he was given but still managed to put in a couple of vicious spells. Didn’t have the results to show but at key moments, as in Faisalabad and the start of both Indian innings at Karachi, he rattled the Indians. And, whisper it, but he’s now played six Tests in a row without breaking down.5.5 Imran FarhatWorked his way back into national reckoning as an opener after a year out, and managed to impress with a fifty in the second innings at Karachi. But his dismissal to loose shots in both knocks also highlights why he was dropped in the first place.5 Shoaib Malik Truncated series leaves the question of his potential as opener still unanswered. Scored a fifty at Lahore where others hammered hundreds but, with Farhat back on the scene, competition is heating up.4.5 Salman Butt Hugely disappointing series on such flat tracks, with one fifty, an average of 24 and numerous loose dismissals. Sri Lanka will be an important series for him.4.5 Danish Kaneria The first series in a year and a half where Kaneria hasn’t played a major part. Bowled a tight spell to Dravid and Laxman in Faisalabad, and wasn’t needed in Karachi.3 Mohammad Sami and Rana Naved-ul-Hasan To differing extents both men have been overshadowed by Asif. While Sami’s dropping may be longer-term Rana, on the back of the England series, is still likely to play as a third seamer when needed. But that both men are on the sidelines highlights just how rich Pakistan’s pace-bowling resources are at the moment.
The Supreme Court has dismissed a petition filed by Zee Telefilms contesting the manner in which the Indian board cancelled the telecast rights after awarding them to Zee. In its verdict, the court announced that the BCCI could not be called a state, according to the definition of the term in the Indian constitution, nor could a writ petition be filed against it for violation of fundamental rights.According to a report by the Press Trust of India, the court ruled that while some element of public duty was involved in selecting the Indian team, it wasn’t enough make the BCCI a state. “The Indian government had failed to prove that it has given de facto recognition to the cricket board for discharging these functions. In the absence of any such authorisation, if a private board discharges these functions, it would be not be proper for the court to hold the same body as an instrumentality of the state.”The court also pointed out that if the cricket board was termed a state, then all other sports bodies would need to be declared states too. “The board cannot be singly identified as a state for the purpose of Article 12,” the bench observed, saying that it would be in violation of the right to equality. The five-member bench passed its verdict by a 3-2 majority.A five-judge constitution bench – Justices N Santosh Hegde, SN Variava, BP Singh, HK Sema and SB Sinha – handed down the ruling. While Justices Hegde, Singh and Sema contended that the BCCI was not a state, Justices Variava and Sinha were of the view that the board could be considered one under the ambit of article 12 of the Indian constitution.Explaining the majority view, Justice Hegde noted that the Indian government had not passed any laws or statutes vesting authority in the BCCI to select the Indian team. According to him, the control exercised by the government over the BCCI could best be termed “regulatory”, not enough to have the organisation declared as a state.However, the court also stated that any complaints against the BCCI could still be made to the High Court under article 226, which had a much wider scope and wasn’t restricted only to bodies which could be classified states.The BCCI had earlier agreed to a US$308 million, four-year deal with Zee for the telecast of all cricket matches in India, but it reversed its decision after being challenged in court by ESPN-Star, who had bid unsuccessfully for the rights. The BCCI then went on to grant the telecast rights for the India-Australia series to Sony. Zee had contested both these decisions in the Supreme Court.
ClosePakistan 134 for 2 (Taufeeq 60*) trail Bangladesh 361 (Omar 119, Bashar 97, Ashraful 77, Shoaib 6-49) by 227 runs Scorecard Day 1 Bulletin
Javed Omar: a maiden Test century
A devastating spell of fast bowling by Shoaib Akhtar brought Pakistan back into the game on the second day of the second Test, at Peshawar. Shoaib’s returns of 6 for 49 – which included a five-over spell where he took 5 for 9 – was largely instrumental in restricting Bangladesh to 361 in their first innings, despite a gritty 119 by Javed Omar. By close of play, Pakistan had progressed to 134 for 2.Shoaib’s inspirational spell came early in the afternoon session, after Omar and Mohammad Ashraful (77) had negotiated the first two hours of play with scarcely a worry. Undettered by the hot mid-day sun or the placid pitch, Shoaib ripped apart Bangladesh’s line-up with a scorching burst of inswinging yorkers and short deliveries – all bowled at a furious pace.Omar had fought on to his first century, becoming only the fourth Bangladesh batsman to reach that landmark in Tests, but he had no answer to a full-length delivery which swung in late and crashed into middle-and-leg stumps, ending a 130-run third-wicket stand with Mohammad Ashraful (310 for 3).Ashraful, who had stroked his way to a fluent 77, was Shoaib’s next victim, attempting an injudicious pull to a short ball which was wide outside off stump. The top edge presented Rashid Latif with a simple catch (315 for 5). Three balls later, Khaled Mashud shouldered arms to an inswinging delivery which was spearing in towards middle stump and was trapped plumb in front.Shoaib wasn’t done, though. Next over, he had two more scalps to celebrate: Alok Kapali inside-edged to Latif, while Mohammad Rafique was cleaned up by another speedy yorker (320 for 8). Danish Kaneria chipped in with a fortuitous wicket, when Rajin Saleh (3) was adjudged to have nicked a catch to Latif, and Bangladesh had lost six wickets for 10 runs.Khaled Mahmud led a rearguard fightback, adding 41 for the last two wickets, but Shoaib returned to finish off Bangladesh’s innings when Mahmud hoicked a short ball straight to Shabbir Ahmed at fine leg. Pakistan, who had toiled 121 overs to pick up the first two wickets, needed only 16 more to grab the remaining eight. The action proved too much for umpire Russel Tiffin too, who was forced off the field with stomach cramps. Asad Rauf, the third umpire, rushed out to do the on-field duties.Pakistan’s batsmen then continued the good work, with Taufeeq Umar stroking an elegant half-century. He was helped in large measure by Bangladesh’s feeble bowling attack – apart from Mashrafe Mortaza and Mohammad Rafique, none of the bowlers looked the part.Alamgir Kabir, included in the team at the expense of Tapash Baisya, was the worst of the lot. In the only other Test match he played – against Sri Lanka in 2002 – he went for 82 in 15 overs as Sri Lanka amassed a record 509 runs in a single day. He was equally abysmal here, serving up generous helpings of half-volleys at little more than medium pace. Umar took a special liking for him, creaming four fours in one over.Pakistan did lose two wickets, but both were the result of shoddy batting: Mohammad Hafeez (21) nicked a wide ball off Mahmud, giving him his third Test wicket, while Yasir Hameed, the hero of the first Test, played across the line and was bowled by Rafique for 23 (84 for 2). Inzamam-ul-Haq and Taufeeq ensured that Pakistan ended the day no more than two down.Dav Whatmore would have hoped for more, but it was still a reasonable day’s work for Bangladesh. They registered their second-highest total in Tests, and batted through an entire session without losing a wicket for only the second time ever – the first was in the afternoon session on the first day. This afternoon, though, Shoaib Akhtar stepped it up a gear, and Bangladesh had no response.
A humdrum one-day jamboree has already been lost, but Zimbabwe wouldwillingly trade that for a successful Test series. But, to do so against aresurgent Sri Lankan side, the tourists quickly need to find their feet intheir solitary practice game before the first Test at P.SaravanamuttuStadium in Colombo on Friday.During the one-day series the Zimbabwean top order looked chronically shortof confidence. With Andy Flower’s batting form have dipped below itssuperhuman norm, the onus has fallen on the others, with some playerslooking out of their depth.Their failure so far in Sri Lanka (six games, five losses) makes the absenceof experienced players such as Alistair Campbell and Andy Whittallperplexing. Campbell may only average 26 in Test cricket, but such a modestaverage is not be scoffed at when the pool of talent is limited. Whittallhas scored two double centuries in Test cricket and suggestions that he istoo old at 29 are simply absurd.No, these are not easy days to be a Zimbabwean cricketer. Strangeselections, made worse by an informal but official racial quota system thatno matter how well meaning, is a burden for both black and white and asource of unnecessary friction in the team. A meritocracy seems the onlyrealistic long-term solution, but the crude quota system has some strongsupporters.One only had to watch Tatenda Taibu during the one-day series to realise thedangers of pushing someone above their station. The 18-year-old is a nimbleand very promising wicket-keeper, but the presence of Andy Flower, the bestwicket-keeper all-rounder in the world, obviously restricts hisopportunities. But Taibu is black, so he had to play, and was selected as abatsman instead. Three games later his confidence is in tatters after threeconsecutive ducks.But the present team, currently being led by Stuart Carlisle, are powerlessto change off-field policies and during the next fours weeks they have totry to push such disruptive influences to the back of their minds, as theywork out how to keep Sri Lanka’s spinners at bay on slow turning wickets.Work starts on Friday, as Zimbabwe takes on a talented Sri Lankan Board XI,which includes six players with international experience, including both thespinners, left-arm spinner Rangana Herath and leg-spinner Malinga Bandara.On a traditionally lively pitch, that used to be by far the quickest in SriLanka, the tourists will also have to contend with a strong pace attack,including the experienced Ravindra Pushpakumara, Dinusha Fernando, apromising swing bowl who uprooted Mike Atherton’s stumps on three separateoccasions during the England tour earlier this year, and Prabath Nissanka, apotentially lethal fast bowler if he manages to locate his radar early on.The Board XI batting, led by the prolific opener Pradeep Hewage, who hasbeen repeatedly written off by the selectors despite scoring a mountain ofruns in domestic cricket each year, is though inexperienced.Zimbabwe will be looking to play as close to their Test side as possiblewith leg-spinner Brian Murphy and teenage star Hamilton Masakadza, who wereadded to the squad this week, both likely to play.Zimbabwe:Stuart Carlisle (Capt), Heath Streak, Grant Flower, Andy Flower, DionEbrahim, Trevor Gripper, Hamilton Masakadza, Craig Wishart, DouglasMarillier, Tatenda Taibu, Mluleki Nkala, Gary Brent, Travis Friend, BrianMurphy, Henry OlongaBoard XI:Pradeep Hewage (Captain), Ian Daniel, Chamara Silva, Anushka Polonnowita,Jeevantha Mendis, Prasanna Jayawardene, Malinga Bandara, Rangana Herath,Ravindra Pushpakumara, Prabath Nissanka, Dinusha Fernando (Reserves: M.PushpakumaraGayan Wijekoon)
Easter Sunday, retirement from first class cricket and a Ranji Trophytriumph. Abey Kuruvilla was a picture of contentment as he led theside off the field after they beat Hyderabad by the thumping margin of297 runs. The scenes out in the middle that followed the fall of thelast wicket were made especially emotional by the events that led upto this victory. Mumbai had a very bad season last time around and didnot even qualify for the Ranji Super League. Sachin Tendulkar handedthe captaincy of the Mumbai team to stumper Sameer Dighe and stillpulled off a spectacular win against Tamil Nadu in the semifinal.Mumbai needed just 33 minutes on the final day to knock off the lastthree Hyderabad wickets. Rajesh Pawar helped himself to career bestfigures of 7/103 on what was supposed to be a green top. Mumbai wentinto the match with four seamers and ironically it was the slow leftarm spinner who had the best returns.A disappointed Mohammed Azharuddin admitted that they were outplayedin all departments. “We batted badly, fielded badly and bowledbadly. On the first day we really should have bowled Mumbai out forabout 350.” When he was asked if travelling by train all the way toMumbai from Hyderabad made a difference he said “The boys were verytired after that journey. It was almost 12 hours long and at the endof a season it would have made sense to fly. The team has been workingvery hard all season and has been doing well. It would have been agood gesture on the part of the board to fly the players for thefinal. That’s the kind of support we expect from the board.”The contrast was obvious for all to see when an overjoyed Dighe metthe press. “We’ve played very well all season and I’m very happy thatwe won.” He was full of praise for all his teammates but reserved thebest for Tendulkar, “Sachin was a great motivating factor. What can Isay about his commitment, dedication and approach to the game?”The coach of the Mumbai team Ashok Mankad was proud of his boys. “Iam so filled with different emotions. Contentment, fulfillment and asense of redeeming ourselves for last year’s performance fills menow.”The last match of the domestic season ended on a high note for thehome team. As one journalist whispered, the Ranji Trophy has come backhome.