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Stanford Twenty20, bankrolled by Allen Stanford, the Antigua-based billionaire, has resumed developmental funding for regional cricket boards in the West Indies. Funding had stopped earlier this year, after Stanford wasn’t impressed with the accountability of the respective boards.After meeting with the chief executives of the regional boards, it was decided that the sum of $15000 would be paid per month for development purposes. Forbes Persaud, the Trinidad & Tobago Cricket Board (TTCB) chief executive, said he was happy that funding had resumed and stressed the TTCB intended to make full use of what was on offer.”We at the TTCB are very happy for whatever funding we receive to assist with our running of the cricket. To run cricket is very expensive and we are very grateful for the help from Stanford,” Persaud told . “We have a number of development programmes that we think are essential to our cricketers and which have been working for us and we intend to use this contribution to assist in that way.”Stanford Twenty20 also indicated that the US$15,000 sum needed to be used up each month, as there would be no rolling over to the next month.This has brought some concerns from the boards, as some indicated that in certain months of the year their development programmes would carry them over the prescribed mark while in other months, the cost would be less.

Otago Cricket’s batting stocks will be boosted this season by the appearance of former Pakistan Test player Mohammad Wasim.The 25-year-old will arrive in Dunedin in early-October and will play club cricket before being available for all of the State Otago Volts’ matches this summer.Wasim scored a Test century as a 19-year-old on debut against New Zealand in Lahore during the 1996/97 Black Caps’ tour, becoming the fourth Pakistani player to register a century in his first Test. Having been bowled for a duck by Simon Doull in the first innings, Wasim held the middle-order together in the second innings but couldn’t prevent a Kiwi victory, the first by a New Zealand team in Pakistan since 1969/70.Wasim’s second Test century was a massive 192 against Zimbabwe in Harare in 1997/98.In total he played 18 Tests between 1996/97 and 1999/00, scoring 783 runs at an average of 30.11, he has played 25 One-Day Internationals, harvesting 543 runs at 23.60 and is also a useful part-time wicket-keeper.His 4,624 first-class runs, in 98 games, have come at an average of 31.24, including 12 centuries. Wasim is also an occasional right-arm leg-spinner.Described as stylish, if a little slow in the early stages of his innings, Wasim will provide much-needed stability to Otago’s batting, an area where the Volts have struggled in recent seasons.

PERTH, Nov 6 AAP – South Australian captain Greg Blewett’s unbeaten century guided the Redbacks to their opening domestic one-day win of the season against Western Australia at the WACA ground tonight.But not before hard-hitting allrounder Kade Harvey (53 from 51 balls) led a late Warriors revival which put the home side within sight of an unlikely victory before losing by 11 runs.It was a vital win for SA after dropping their opening two matches of the one-day interstate competition to Victoria and NSW.But for the Warriors losing at home in their opening interstate encounter of the season was a disappointing start.After winning the toss, former international batsman Blewett started enterprisingly before a more measured approach as the Redbacks stalled mid-innings.His 109 not out off 137 balls included eight fours and a six and helped the SA total to 5-233 from its 50 overs before WA replied with 222 from 49 overs.The Redbacks’ pace attack struck quickly and Blewett kept the pressure on WA by having opening bowler Paul Rofe deliver his ten overs straight for the enviable figures of 1-18 with five maidens.WA’s innings started disastrously losing openers Chris Rogers and Murray Goodwin for ducks in the first two overs to be 2-0.The Warriors struggled to score taking 27 deliveries to register a run off the bat with Marcus North struggling against former Victorian bowler Damien Fleming.And young SA quick Ryan Harris (4-43) deepened the home team’s woes removing Michael Hussey (11) and Ryan Campbell (2) in his second over to have them at 4-34 after 15 overs.North (26) eventually fell chasing a wide delivery off Michael Miller (1-41) to have WA struggling at 5-50.Promising teenager Shaun Marsh, son of coach and former Australian vice captain Geoff, showed his wares chipping in with 42 in his national one-day debut and Brad Hogg (49) also provided substance.Harvey started chancing his arm late in the innings and put the home team within sight of victory needing 14 runs off the last two overs with one wicket in hand.But after living dangerously for so much of his knock, Harvey was finally caught on the deep mid-on boundary by David Fitzgerald for Damien Fleming’s (2-37) second scalp.Earlier the visitors should have put up a larger total after openers Blewett and David Fitzgerald (49) put on 111.Besides former Redbacks quick Paul Wilson (0-16 off eight overs), all the WA pacemen were harshly dealt with before Fitzgerald fell one short of a half century in the 26th over after pulling a Jo Angel (1-50) delivery.The Redbacks’ progress was hindered when Chris Davies (13) and Ben Johnson (10) fell in quick succession.Brad Williams then removed allrounder Mark Higgs (2) to finish with 2-45 off his 10 overs.Brad Hogg (1-37) bowled Michael Miller (12) with a full toss before Brad Young’s (21no) quickfire knock alongside Blewett lifted SA to a competitive total.

Apart from the fixture between Glamorgan Dragons and Kent Spitfires who managed to get a truncated game played, the entire Norwich Union League programme fell foul of the weather. In the 23 over match that was played in Cardiff, the excitement made up for the lack of action elsewhere as it ended in a tie.Elsewhere, they made a start at Oakham School where Leicestershire Foxes reached 11 without loss in three overs before the contest with Worcestershire Royals was abandoned. They got 5.2 overs in at Lord’s where Sussex Sharks made 25 for one against Middlesex Crusaders before they had so much rain that the Sharks could probably have swum back to Hove.And that was it. All the other matches were washed out without the players even taking to the field on soggy Sunday.

In what was a widely expected move by the Directors of the West Indies Cricket Board (WICB), former West Indies captain Sir Vivian Richards was today named to the chairmanship of the West Indies senior selection panel.This is one of the several decisions coming out of this weekend’s Directors’ Meeting of the WICB which concluded today. The board of directors also named former West Indies opening batsman Gordon Greenidge to the panel, while Michael “Joey” Carew — a member of the previous selection committee and himself a former West Indies opening batsman, was retained.President of the WICB, Rev. Wes Hall welcomed the new selection panel and thanked the outgoing selectors – Chairman Michael Findlay and Joel “Big Bird” Garner for their service to West Indies cricket. Findlay served on the senior selection panel for six years, while Garner was a selector for four years.”Being a selector is a thankless job, but all West Indians owe a debt of gratitude to these gentlemen who commit so much of their time to monitoring the performance of our players and choosing West Indies teams,” noted Rev. Hall.On the new panel, Rev. Hall added: “The WICB is privileged to welcome outstanding former West Indies cricketers such as Sir Vivian and Gordon Greenidge as new members of the panel along with the experienced selector ‘Joey’ Carew.”Other appointments announced following the board of directors’ meeting were ther re-appointment of outgoing chairman Clyde Butts and member Ezra Moseley to the new junior selection committee, along with new appointee, former West Indies spin bowler Derek Parry of Nevis. This panel will select West Indies Under-19 and Under-15 teams.

Australian teams had made nine trips to England in the 19th Century in1880,1882,1884,1886,1888,1890,1896 and1899. England overwhelmingly dominated this era by winning seven Test Series and Four Test Matches.The home team won the First Test Match in England played at the Oval from 6-8 September 1880 by 5 wickets. Dr WG Grace whose influence on the game is proverbial, scored the first century for England (152). Two summers later a seven-run victory by the Australians at the Oval in August 1882 helped originate the ‘Ashes’. England convincingly won the series in 1884, 1886, 1880, 1890, and 1893. The low scoring Test Series in 1896 was closely fought but England prevailed 2-1. JT Hearne (5/76) claimed the first ever hat-trick for England in the Ashes. Australia won the first 5-Test Series, the last of the 19th Century, by a 1-0 margin.The interesting highlight of the 3-Test rubber in 1888 was that the series produced only 1111 runs by both teams, Australia contributing only 507 in six completed innings. At Lords, during the series, 40 wickets fell for an all time low aggregate of 291 runs. 27 of these 40 wickets fell on a single day, 17th July, the 2nd day of the Test Match. Six weeks later the shortest complete ‘Ashes’ took place at Old Trafford involving only 6 hours and 34 minutes of batting time with Australia’s second innings of 70 lasting just 69 minutes.During this era England were led by Lord Harries, A Shaw, AN Hornby, AG Steel, WG Grace and AE Stoddart. WL Murdoch, HJH Scott, PS McDonnell, JM Blackham, G Giffen, GHS Trott and J Darling captained the visiting Australian teams.Notable performers on both sides during the Australian tours of England in 19th Century were:
For Australia: WL Murdoch, FR Spofforth, GHS Trott, JJ Lyons and H Trumble
For England: WG Grace, AG Steel, KS Ranjitsinghji, HGraham, T Richardson, GA Lohman, R Peel and J Briggs.

Winchester K.S. will face a re-run of the 1998 National Indoor Clubs final in this season’s competition semi-final as they have been drawn to face Kent champions Broadstairs at Lord’s on Sunday, March 17.

The Hammonds Jewellers South Hampshire Indoor League title holders and former National and European champs have a 12noon start in the ECB Indoor Six-a-Side Club Championship National Finals last four clash, where they will be hoping to re-enact their success from six years ago.

If they are successful, Jimmy Taylor’s Hampshire side will meet either the 1993 winners, Durham University or Madisons from Northamptonshire, who triumphed at cricket’s headquarters two years ago in a 3pm grand final.ENGLAND & WALES CRICKET BOARD
INDOOR SIX-A-SIDE CLUB CHAMPIONSHIP
NATIONAL FINALS

at the M.C.C. INDOOR SCHOOL, LORD’S CRICKET GROUND
on SUNDAY, 17th MARCH 2002

12noon – Broadstairs (Kent) v Winchester K.S. (Hampshire)
1.15pm – Durham University (Durham) v Madisons (Northamptonshire)
3.00pm – FINAL
4.30pm – Presentations

Somerset’s new mascot `Stumpy’ was the hero of the day at the County Ground on Sunday when he stepped into repair a damaged water pipe.Ground safety officer Peter Robinson told me: "During the afternoon we discovered that we had a serious leak in one of the pipes in the Ondaatje Pavilion and it was in danger of causing major damage to the hospitality boxes. `Stumpy’ was circulating and meeting the crowd nearby at the time, and after hearing about the problem came to our rescue by repairing the leak."`Robbo’ continued: "Lucky for us ‘Stumpy’ had his dragon toolkit with him and after he had sorted out our problem he put his pads back on and went out to meet his fans again. It’s really quite amazing what a dragon can do. `Stumpy’ might not have brought good luck to the players on the field on Sunday, but it was certainly lucky for us that he was around when he was!"`Stumpy’ will be at the ground this coming Sunday, July 7th, when during the tea interval his many fans will have the chance to bowl at him!

Peshawar suffered their third consecutive defeat in the One-day tournament (Associations), losing by 8-wickets to Karachi Whites after posting the lowest total so far in the tournament.Batting first after winning the toss, Peshawar were skittered out inside 40 overs, as 9 of their batsmen failed to achieve double figures. This is the worst batting performance by any team in a tournament, which hitherto had seen some very daring deeds with the bat.Ironically, their were only two ducks in this sorry looking batting line up, the first being Mian Adnan run out by Adnan Malik and the second Mohammad Asif, the last man, lbw by the same player.Adnan Malik bowled superbly for the home side, giving away just 18 runs in 7.5 overs and grabbing three wickets. However, the main damage was inflicted by Imran Javed. The pace man bowled tidily for his ten overs, taking 4 for 22.For Peshawar, skipper Sajjad Ahmed top scored with 42 off 94 balls and opener Javed Iqbal made 11 of 24. Apart from these two, no other batsman could take his personal score past double figures.Karachi opened their innings with skipper Shadab Kabir and the former Pakistan captain Moin Khan. These two added 64 in about 7 overs, before getting out on the same score. Moin Khan batted aggressively for his 47 (29 balls, 7 fours, 2 sixes), whereas Shadab got 14 off 13.Zafar Jadoon and Saeed Bin Nasir took just around 6 more overs to knock of the required 101 runs. Zafar remained not out on 21 (24 balls, 4 fours) and Saeed made an unbeaten 16 (10 balls, 3 fours).After this loss and with only two more Pool matches to be played, Peshawar’s chances of reaching the semi-finals have almost faded out. Karachi Whites, on the other hand, are well on their way to the knock out stage, after winning two out of their three encounters.

The Indian team probables for the Test series against Australia limbered up at the opening session of their five-day conditioning camp in Chennai, minus skipper Sourav Ganguly and eight others. The nine arrived from Bangalore this morning after playing a benefit match and will join the camp from Thursday. Indian coach John Wright and BCCI consultant Geoff Marsh oversaw the nets and fielding practice following which the team adjourned in the afternoon to the beach resort at Fisherman’s Cove for lunch and a team meeting.Wright had agreed to speak to reporters only on Thursday after Ganguly’s arrival but later relented briefly. Asked about the focus of the camp, Wright said, “We’re just doing a lot of the basics, particularly fielding. It’s a chance for all of us to see these 25 players who have a good opportunity to play in the series against Australia. We’ll see how they approach their training.”Wright praised the facilities at the IIT-Chemplast ground as ‘fantastic’. “The greenery is beautiful and it’s a little bit cooler than other places in Chennai.” He also spoke on the purpose of practice, as he saw it. “I’m just bringing my coaching exposure and maybe a different perspective. The main thing about practice is to practice the way you play. You need to put yourself under pressure whilst training. If you go through the motions, there’s no point being here.”Ace leg-spinner Anil Kumble, who showed up with his right arm in a sling, confirmed that he would attend the entire duration of the camp. Kumble said “The most important reason I’m here is for the physiotherapy on my shoulder with Andrew (Leipus, the team’s physical trainer) and also in whatever way I can contribute. It’s good that John Wright has asked me to help the boys.”Kumble expressed frustration at being forced onto the sidelines. “It’s really disappointing to miss a big series. Having said that, the good thing is that in four months time, I’ll be back and the shoulder will be pain-free”, he said.But Kumble was optimistic about India’s young pretenders in the spin department. I’ve always believed that once you’ve got the runs on the board, without me it shouldn’t be a problem. We’ve got some good young spinners coming through, this is a good opportunity for them, Harbhajan, Sharandeep, Kartik, Joshi and I’m happy they’ve considered Raju, his experience will be very helpful.” Asked inevitably about fellow legspinner Balaji Rao, whose name seems to be bobbing up everywhere, Kumble said he hadn’t seen him bowl lately. “The last I saw him was while playing for Karnataka against Tamil Nadu in 1995-96 but I’ve been hearing a lot of good things about him.”Wright watched over his wards with eagle eyes, quick to pull up players who tarried awhile in changing their gear. All the players, including the bowlers, tested out their batting at the three practice wickets. Harbhajan Singh in particular seemed to take his batting very seriously. Sachin Tendulkar was the cynosure of most eyes, immersing himself totally in his chosen activity, either with bat or ball. Simple gestures told the tale, really. Like when bowling to Zaheer Khan with an imaginary slip and silly point, Tendulkar induced an edge towards silly point and let out a whoop of exultation.But for the most part, the emphasis was on fielding routines, as Wright had noted. Marsh took the lead in organising catching practice in batches and the program was rounded off with a throwing drill with each player running from one base to another, baseball style. Since there was no fitness regimen on the first day, Leipus spent over an hour giving a reclining Kumble’s shoulder muscles a workout. It was not a pleasant sight to see Kumble wince in pain and he later indicated that he would not hurry his return into international cricket. “It’s too early for me to say anything, it’s just two weeks since the surgery. It’ll take a while. I’m not really desperate to come back fast.”