South African Schools teams announced

At the conclusion of the 2003 Coca-Cola Khaya Majola U/19 Week a group of twenty-four players was named by the U/19 Selection panel to represent South African Schools and South African School Colts.The following twelve players will represent South African Schools in a match against a KwaZulu-Natal Invitation XI at Chatsworth Oval.

Colin Ingram (cp) Woodridge HS Eastern ProvinceKeegan Africa Hilton College KwaZulu-NatalCraig Alexander Bellville Tech Western ProvinceAndrew Birch St Andrews Eastern ProvinceClint Bowyer Maritzburg College KwaZulu-NatalDarren Govender Durban HS KwaZulu-NatalVernon Philander Ravenshead SS Western ProvinceWaylin September New Orleans SS BolandMpumelelo Slwana (wk) Grey High Eastern ProvinceBlake Snijman King Edward VII GautengVaughn van Jaarsveld King Edward VII GautengDivan van Wyk Grey College Free State

KwaZulu-Natal Invitation XI will feature South Africa and Western Province left-arm wrist spinner Paul Adams who is recovering from a hand injury.The following twelve players will represent South African Colts in a match against Premier League Delta Club at Tills. The Colts team is made up of players who may still be eligible to return to the Coca-Cola Khaya Majola Week in 2004.

Andrew Russell (cp) St Stithians GautengDean Elgar St Dominics Free StateRemano Esau Newton Tech Eastern ProvinceQuintin Kruger Volkskool Potch North WestSithembile Makongolo Dale College BorderLwando Manase Forbes Grant BorderKobus Pienaar Waterkloof HS NorthernsChristo Ritter Paarl Gimnasium BolandAshley Schultz Br Block Free StateMafinky Serame Milner HS North WestGodfrey Stevens New Orleans SS BolandWilhelmus v d Schyff Grey College Free State

Shaun Udal's Benefit year winds down at the Cafe Royal

Shaun Udal’s 2002 benefit season winds down with lunch at the Cafe Royal in London on Tuesday, where some 550 guests will be entertained by impressionist and Hampshire supporter Rory Bremner.”The benefit season has been a real success.” said Shaun. “I am so grateful to all those that have helped over the year.”With the benefit, and playing some of the best cricket of his career culminating in him winning both the Hampshire and the Hampshire Cricket Societies award, Shaun added: “It has been quite a year, and one I will never forget”.Take a look at some of the highlights of the year in the functions page on his web site:shaunudal-benefit.cricket.org

Sachdev's heroics in vain as Tripura go down to Assam

A fighting 76 by C Sachdev could not prevent Tripura from going downto a 35-run defeat to Assam in the East Zone Ranji Trophy one daymatch at the Calcutta Cricket and Football ground on Saturday.Put in to bat, Assam were restricted to 216 for nine in 50 overs. Theywere given a good start by openers PJ Das (33) and SB Saikia (38) whoput on 60 runs off 13 overs. Thereafter, they lost wickets at regularintervals until S Ghosh (26) and Sukhbinder Singh (41) added 58 runsfor the seventh wicket off 9.5 overs. Sukhbinder, who came in at No 8,top scored with a breezy 41 off 38 balls with two fours and two sixes.Tripura were never really in the hunt after a poor start (32 forthree) and it was only Sachdev’s defiance that saw them get 181 beforethey were all out in 47.1 overs. Sachdev, who came in at the fall ofthe third wicket in the 13th over, was eighth out at 171 in the 46thover. Sachdev faced 98 balls and hit six fours and three sixes.

Kalvin Phillips could be temped by Villa

Former Premier League Golden Boot winner Kevin Phillips believes that Leeds United colossus Kalvin Phillips could be temped by a move to Aston Villa in the summer transfer window.

The Lowdown: Phillips on the move?

The 26-year-old has been one of the poster boys of the modern era at Elland Road, blossoming into arguably one of the best midfielders in the Premier League.

Given Phillips’ current stature in the game – he is England’s reigning Player of the Year – it could be that he looks for a new challenge at the end of the season.

He has been linked with a move away from his boyhood club already, and former Sunderland striker Phillips believes that the Leeds midfielder could be enticed away from Elland Road by Steven Gerrard and co.

[freshpress-quiz id=“383507″]

The Latest: Phillips could be tempted by Villa

Speaking to Football Insider, the 48-year-old claimed that he could see a move to Villa materialising for Leeds’ Phillips this summer, saying:

“He’s very capable of playing for those big six clubs, there’s no doubt about it. He’s a superb player but he’s struggled with injury this season – which could be a concern for any interested club.

“I think when he’s fully fit, he could slot into any of those top sides, and Leeds United are going to have a real battle on their hands to keep him around.

“The only saving grace is that he loves the club, and you’d think that he would want to help them stay in the Premier League. I think there’ll be bids flying in for him. There’s no surprise that Villa with Steven Gerrard are in for him.

“It could be a very tempting move for him. He’d be playing under one of the Premier League’s best midfielders.”

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The Verdict: Leeds must stay up to keep Phillips

For Leeds to have any realistic chance of keeping hold of Phillips beyond this season, they simply have to retain their Premier League status between now and May.

For all of his admirable loyalty to Leeds, he surely wouldn’t accept playing Championship football again, considering that he is arguably good enough to be playing for a Champions League club given reported interest from the likes of Liverpool.

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Should the Whites preserve their top-flight status, the possibility of Phillips staying put certainly shouldn’t be ruled out, but it would be hard to begrudge him a transfer elsewhere as he may look to kick on in his career.

In other news, Phil Hay has provided an injury update on one Leeds player. Find out who it is here.

Shahadat and Siddique help hosts seize momentum

Scorecard and ball-by-ball details
How they were out

Shahadat Hossain was sensational on his way to career-best figures of 6 for 27 © AFP
 

Shahadat Hossain and Junaid Siddique were the heroes as Bangladesh had thebetter of the second day of the opening Test in Mirpur. Having establisheda 22-run first-innings lead, they were then indebted to Siddique for astodgy unbeaten 64 that stretched it to 147 by stumps. Dale Steynproduced another superb new-ball spell as Bangladesh slumped to 29 for 3before tea, but a 56-run partnership between Siddique and MohammadAshraful thwarted South Africa for a fair while in the final session.Shahadat, who bowled at a lively pace and with tremendous control forcareer-best figures of 6 for 27, may have been the main man but thetalking point of the day was provided by Ashraful. By the time he broughthimself on shortly before lunch, the momentum had swung towards SouthAfrica, with AB de Villiers riding his luck to 46 and Johan Botha offeringstout resistance.But it all changed in the space of one ball. And what a ball it was.Ashraful is no Shane Warne, and after the ball left his fingers, itbounced twice before reaching de Villiers. He chose to play it from thecrease, but could only top-edge it back to the bowler. Cue massivecelebrations from Bangladesh and no movement from de Villiers, who wasconvinced that it was a dead ball. Steve Bucknor finally sent him on hisway though, much to the dismay of the South African dressing room.Botha’s 91-ball vigil ended soon after, trapped lbw by Shahadat, and whenMornè Morkel followed on the stroke of lunch, Bangladesh were poised totake a slender lead. They did too, with Shahadat trapping Mark Boucher infront and then bowling Makhaya Ntini to complete an impressive spell.Bangladesh weren’t in the ascendancy when de Villiers was going strong.Coming to the crease after a shambolic mix-up sent Ashwell Prince on hisway in the second over of the day, he quickly signalled his intent withdrives, cuts and powerful pulls through midwicket. There was an element ofgood fortune too, with Ashraful, running back from mid-off, dropping acatch off Mohammad Rafique when de Villiers was on 30.On a pitch where the odd ball stayed exceptionally low, concentration wascrucial, and Botha played his part in a partnership that got South Africaback into the contest. He let de Villiers do the bulk of the scoring, butthere was also a lovely on-drive off Rafique and an impudent reverse-sweepoff Shakib Al Hasan in his innings of 25.There was a phase in the session where the South Africans were becalmedfor more than five overs, but once de Villiers smacked Shakib for a bigsix over midwicket and then took him for two fours in an over, the tideappeared to be turning. A bizarre dismissal though put paid to that.South Africa needed breakthroughs quickly and Steyn provided them. TamimIqbal was cleaned up by a quick one, and after Shahriar Nafees had playeda couple of lovely strokes square of the wicket, Steyn got one to shapeback and catch him in front. Habibul Bashar, whose career is in free fall,followed soon after in similar fashion and Bangladesh were once again indanger of squandering a promising position, as they had in Multan againstPakistan in 2003 and later in 2006, against Australia in Fatullah.But Ashraful and Siddique eschewed flamboyance for the most part to put onsome crucial runs. Ashraful, who was in one-day mode in the first innings,was remarkably controlled, showing his big-hitting prowess only with ahuge six over midwicket off a listless Botha.Ntini finally picked up his first wicket of the match, getting Ashraful toedge one behind, but Aftab Ahmed and Siddique saw it through to stumpswith a few dollops of luck. Edges fell short of slip and flashy drivesevaded fielders as Graeme Smith was reduced to trying out even NeilMcKenzie’s innocuous medium pace. It wasn’t South Africa’s day and unlessthey improve dramatically on Sunday, the cream of the Bangladeshi crop mayjust reprise their Under-19 team’s heroics in Malaysia.

'There's no drinking culture' – Vaughan

The late-night actions of Andrew Flintoff and several other players were a one-off, according to Michael Vaughan © Getty Images

Michael Vaughan insisted England did not have a drinking culture, despite the late-night incidents that led to the fining of six players and Andrew Flintoff’s dumping from the side. Flintoff was also stripped of the vice-captaincy for the World Cup after allegedly capsizing a pedalo at 4am on Saturday in the hours following England’s six-wicket loss to New Zealand.James Anderson, Ian Bell, Jon Lewis, Paul Nixon and Liam Plunkett were fined by team management for drinking into the early hours of the same morning, while Flintoff was fined and dropped for England’s match against Canada, which they won by 51 runs. Nasser Hussain, Vaughan’s predecessor as captain, hinted at a drinking problem within the squad but Vaughan said the episode was a one-off.”I don’t see a drinking culture within this England team,” Vaughan told . “I see a little bit of immaturity on Friday night and a little bit of a lack of common sense. It was a big mistake and a bad mistake but I don’t see any drinking culture within the England cricket team.”We knew we lost the big game against New Zealand, we knew we were playing Canada on Sunday. We know how hard it is to play two games in three days in this kind of heat and we just didn’t use common sense.”Vaughan said Flintoff’s actions were unfortunate. “He’s angry with himself for what he did,” Vaughan said. “He and I want him playing cricket for England. I wanted him out there entertaining the crowd today. The World Cup wants to see the best players.”Flintoff will be available for England’s final group match against Kenya on Saturday and Vaughan hoped the side could give some joy to the England fans. “There’s nothing that can repay what they did but hopefully a victory today, and us winning next Saturday and a decent run in the World Cup will be the only way we can say sorry to the supporters,” Vaughan said.”The supporters have been let down. They want to see the England cricket team focused on what is a massive tournament.”Vaughan said England’s inability to bowl Canada out was not a serious concern and their focus was now on beating Kenya. “We are the first to admit that there’s areas of the batting we need to improve, areas of fielding, and some of our bowling was a bit erratic at times” he said.”But the most important thing today was about winning. It’s going to be a hard game [on Saturday]. We want to be in the World Cup for a few weeks yet. We have to make sure we unite as a team and work hard this week leading into that Kenya game.”

Australia wait on Ponting and Symonds

Phil Jaques is currently filling in for Ricky Ponting at the No. 3 position © Getty Images

Australia are still unsure whether they will have the services of Ricky Ponting and Andrew Symonds for the third one-day international against South Africa, at Port Elizabeth, on Sunday. The pair have undergone a vigorous workout in the nets, but a decision on their availability won’t be made until the morning as Australia aim for a win to keep themselves in the series.Ponting is recovering from the stomach muscle injury he sustained before the opening match, while Symonds has been troubled by a hip problem since arriving in South Africa. However, according to Errol Alcott, the Australia physio, both are making encouraging progress.The absence of the star pair has given Australia a number of problems in the opening two matches, both of which have been lost convincingly. Filling the No. 3 position is proving tough, with Phil Jaques falling for a duck at Cape Town on Friday night.Meanwhile, Symonds is leaving a hole in both the batting and bowling departments, while the team has missed the buzz he creates in the field. Adam Gilchrist has found filling gap as the fifth and sixth bowler a difficult task, especially with the back-up seamers not providing control.

Sehwag – 'My aim is to play full day tomorrow'

With Virender Sehwag it’s the bat that does the most talking© Getty Images

On the team’s strategy tomorrow
My aim is to play full day tomorrow, which will put the team in a good position. Already we lost an opportunity to win a match against Australia last season in Chennai owing to bad weather. So our priority will be to get back the field early and capitalise on today’s work.On his slowing-down after tea
The Melbourne episode, in the 2003-04 series Down Under, taught me a lesson, where I got out on 195 and the team got all out for 366. I didn’t want that to happen this time, and that’s why I reined myself in after the tea interval.On the wicket
The wicket is good and at the end of the day bowlers were getting purchase.On whether he has found a permanent opening partner in Gautam Gambhir now that they had recorded their second century-plus partnership
We will have to wait and see and give him [Gambhir] more time to prove himself further, as in the past, too, I have had century partnerships with Aakash Chopra and Sanjay Bangar.On whether the Pakistan bowling was weak
Their bowling is not weak. It’s just that they didn’t bowl in the right spots.

Sticking to a plan


Andy Bichel: tried his hardest … as usual
© Getty Images

Andy Bichel thanked the selectors for their faith, and said that sticking to a plan had helped him achieve breakthroughs against India, as they set off in pursuit of a mammoth Australian total of 556. He said it would have been harsh had he been dropped after one bad game – on his home ground in Brisbane, he finished with figures of 1 for 142."I wasn’t too clear on the plans at Brisbane," he said. "There were things off the field concerning me, which I’d rather not discuss … was a bit anxious at the start and they got the momentum on me. Here I was clearer about the plans and how I had to go about executing them. Brisbane was also my first outing against India in five-day cricket, and obviously the plans you make for that are very different from that for the one-day game."India got off to a blistering start today, and it was Bichel’s spell that pulled it back, reducing them from 66 for 0 to 85 for 4. "They put us on the back foot early, coming at us hard. It was rewarding to make the breakthrough, and then to get two more."Of the ball that got Sachin Tendulkar, he said, "I was a little bit lucky to get a nibble, but teams have had success bowling there to him in the past."Ricky Ponting, 176 overnight, progressed to a personal best score of 242, and he elaborated later on the blown kiss to his wife midway through the morning. "It was a bit of celebration," he said. "She had been thinking of going back home yesterday, and I just told her to hang around. There was the possibility that something special might happen."Ponting said that he didn’t want to think about what transpired in Kolkata two and a half years ago when Rahul Dravid and VVS Laxman were putting together another sizeable partnership in the final session. "They played really well," he said, "but we hung in there. It’s important to restrict these guys tomorrow because they’re free-flowing players when they get going."He conceded that there was very little chance of Australia enforcing the follow-on even in the event of India failing to make 356. "There’s plenty of time left to win this match." he said. "It’s never easy batting last here, no matter how small the target. If the sun shines, you’ll get variable bounce, and that’ll make batting very hard."The last word, though, should go to Bichel, whose ability to hit the deck ball after ball could conceivably be the difference between the two sides. "I tried my hardest in Brisbane, but it just didn’t work for me," he said. "I tried my hardest here, and I picked up three. That’s how it goes. That’s how I’ve always played my cricket. And that’s how I’ll play right up until my last game."

Captaincy a fast track for Ponting

When then Tasmanian captain Jamie Cox announced in October that he was stepping aside to allow Ricky Ponting to inherit his job, scarcely anyone could have foreseen that the move would have had such far-reaching implications in such a short space of time.Sure enough, Ponting’s graduation to the position was aimed at enhancing his chances of ultimately becoming thenational skipper.Yet there must have been precious few people either in Australia or beyond its shores who could have imagined that hewould be anointed just six games into his career as his state’s new leader.Not even Cox himself, who admitted to a hint of surprise upon hearing the news along with his Tasmanian teammatesin Melbourne yesterday.”It was a bit of a surprise, I thought,” said Cox of the news that Ponting had won nomination for the top national jobahead of Adam Gilchrist and Shane Warne.”But I think he’ll do a fantastic job (nonetheless).A precociously gifted player who rose to prominence after a brilliant underage career, Ponting made his debut for Tasmania at 17. His first appearance for Australia arrived at the age of 20 and he has been a near-permanent fixture in its Test and one-day international teams ever since.His hold on a berth in the top flight loosened briefly following his involvement in two off field incidents – the first at anightclub in Calcutta in 1998 and the other at a bar in Sydney in early 1999. He also endured a period on the sidelinesafter he crashed into a boundary hoarding at the SCG in February 1999, seriously injuring his ankle.But his potential suitability for a role at Australia’s helm has continued to be touted strongly.Aside from being one of the few players in recent years to graduate to the national team at a young age, the27-year-old is widely regarded as possessing one of the better cricket-brains in the current Australian squad. He’s alsoperceived to carry the air of dynamism and flair that often marks the sport’s great captains.Though his captaincy resume contains only a limited number of entries to date, and notwithstanding the fact that hisnew appointment ensures that he will be the first Tasmanian representative to hold the Australian team’s seniorleadership position, confidence in his capacities has duly been quick to emerge.”He’s shown good leadership skills with us in the few games we’ve had under him so far, and I think he’ll do really wellat international level too. Particularly with an even more talented group of individuals playing under him,” said Cox.”It was obviously a major part of our thinking in wanting him to do the (Tasmanian) job.”Basically because we thought that, one day, he’d be able to step in to the national duties and to do them really well.”

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