All posts by csb10.top

Yorkshire 409 for 7 (Rudolph 146) lead Kent 227 by 182 runs
ScorecardEverything went Yorkshire’s way on the second day of the Scarborough Festival – and in truth they deserved it, because they played much the better cricket. They batted well, led by a fine century from Jacques Rudolph, while Kent will have been disappointed by their mediocre bowling and fielding. Somebody will have to turn in a sterling performance for Kent if they are to escape this match with a draw.The day opened in bright sunshine and continued that way almost throughout, giving rise to veiled sniggers from the locals pretending sympathy for ‘poor old Blackpool’. With the pitch, as expected, now a beauty, it was to be a day of unremitting toil for the visitors. Anthony McGrath set the pattern with two of his favourite cover-driven boundaries in the third over, off the pacy, promising but erratic Robbie Joseph.His partner Rudolph took longer to get going, until after 15 minutes he got under way for the day with a perfectly timed straight drive for four off Ryan McLaren. He soon completed his 1000 championship runs for the season, in the course of taking two leg-side fours off Joseph, and ran to his fifty off 103 balls, leaving McGrath virtually becalmed in his wake. In fact McGrath was still only on 44 when his partner brought up three figures with a dab for two to third man; next ball Rudolph offered a fairly straightforward return catch – which was floored by the unfortunate James Tredwell.McGrath just reached his fifty by lunch, taking 165 balls over it. Afterwards he appeared to lose concentration, caught at second slip off McLaren with a loose shot for 52. It was a strangely laborious innings after such a good start to the day, but fortunately for Yorkshire it was not a serious problem with Rudolph going like a train at the other end.In the 76th over another fine cover-drive by Rudolph took Yorkshire into the lead, with seven wickets in hand. His new partner, Adam Lyth, was very wary at the start, but then two off-side boundaries finally got him going, and from then on he blossomed. He too is very strong through the covers, a favourite left-hander’s stroke. He finally lost Rudolph for 146, to a rather undignified dismissal: Joseph bowled a ball almost a yard outside the off stump, but Rudolph went for it and somehow still managed to drag it on to his stumps. Rarely is a batsman dismissed ‘bowled’ by a delivery that would almost have been called a wide! Still, he left Yorkshire at 273 for 4, a great deal better placed than he had found them.Gerard Brophy came and went, caught at second slip off the medium-paced Darren Stevens for 14, while Lyth continued to prosper. Unfortunately he has a habit that hopefully he will outgrow, that of throwing his wicket away when seemingly well set, and a wild slash off Martin Saggers to the keeper did for him when he had 68. His cover drive can bring back memories of David Gower; so too can some of his dismissals.Another to play a magnificent cover drive was Rana Naved, but he only managed one before, with 10 to his credit, he slashed at a ball from Amjad Khan and was superbly caught by Tredwell at first slip. This brought Darren Gough to the wicket, and was the signal for Adil Rashid to open up, with two quality boundaries off Tredwell. It appeared a good policy, as Gough was in all sorts of trouble against Khan, the best but least-used of Kent’s rather erratic seam attack, and twice offered difficult slip chances that went down. But he survived to the close with 12, Rashid on a precocious 43, and Kent still have three wickets to remove in the morning.Kent’s seam attack, generally speaking, was innocuous and often inaccurate, and the best bowling was done by Tredwell, who found little in the pitch to help him but kept the scoring in check by line, length and skill. Stevens, another bowler of no great speed, conceded just 16 runs off 10 overs, perhaps an indication of how this pitch is playing.

After efforts to keep Bob Woolmer as their director of coaching came to nothing, Warwickshire have appointed former Australian Test batsman John Inverarity to the post on a two-year contract. Inverarity has had experience of English cricket before, making a good impression when he has helped Kent in the past. Woolmer is to return to his home in South Africa on a permanent basis.Meanwhile Warwickshire have offered a contract to New Zealand opening bowler Shane Bond to become one of their two overseas players next season. Bond took the place of Shaun Pollock earlier in the season when the South African went on international duty, taking 12 wickets in three matches. Warwickshire are also hoping that Jonathan Trott, the Boland opening batsman with English qualifications, will accept a contract to play at Edgbaston next season.Gloucestershire are pursuing Mohammad Akram, the Pakistani Test pace bowler, but not as an overseas player. Akram is married to an English girl and hopes to have a passport in time for next season. He played for Northamptonshire in 1997. Ian Harvey has ended speculatikon that he would not continue as one of the overseas players next season by signing a new contract. Harvey was influential in Gloucestershire’s run of success in one-day cricket.

Australian authorities will continue to monitor events in the region but this year’s Test and one-day international tours of Pakistan appear in grave doubt after today’s fatal bomb blast in Karachi.In the wake of the explosion that led to the deaths of at least 13 people outside the touring New Zealand team’s hotel in the city, the Australian Cricket Board (ACB) confirmed in a statement that it would continue to observe a time-honoured process in assessing safety conditions in foreign destinations ahead of its players’ scheduled departure in August.”With some months to go before we travel to Pakistan the situation is clearly quite fluid,” said ACB Chief Executive, James Sutherland.”Given the time frame it would be inappropriate to lock into a position today.”The ACB will continue to receive advice from the relevant experts to help the Board make a proper judgement on the situation in Pakistan.”I am also conscious of recent events that have affected international cricket in this region, and I will be speaking to the Pakistan Cricket Board as soon as possible about how Australia can help them in managing this situation,” he said.Sutherland also conceded, however, that New Zealand Cricket’s decision today to immediately cancel its team’s tour of the country fuelled his organisation with heightened concerns over Australia’s potential visit.”What has happened today in Pakistan has obviously caused significant concern to us,” he said in an interview with Channel Ten.”We have a pretty good process we work through ahead of tours and we’re in the midst of that at the moment. But what has happened today obviously adds a layer of concern to that,” he added, clarifying that while the ACB was keen for the tour to proceed, the security of its players remained paramount.A withdrawal from the tour would make it Australia’s second such decision within the space of six months, after it opted to cancel a trip to Zimbabwe as a result of political turmoil in that country. It also forfeited matches in Sri Lanka in the 1996 World Cup because of civil unrest.Dates and venues for Australia’s tour of Pakistan have yet to be finalised but it is likely that any such visit would be split into separate one-day international and Test campaigns on either side of September’s ICC Champions Trophy tournament in Sri Lanka.Speculation in both nations has centred on the possibility of either a two or three-Test series being held in the opening weeks of October, though neither of the two countries’ Boards has been drawn into public comment on either the likely timing or number of games.The one-day leg of the tour is due to involve a triangular series of matches staged as part of the Pakistan Cricket Board’s Golden Jubilee Celebrations in early September.The third country scheduled to compete in that series was New Zealand.

A superb exhibition of swing bowling on a blameless pitch, reduced Warwickshire to 16-6 wickets off 15 overs. The catalyst to this collapse was the smart run out of Mohamed Sheikh, off a mis-field, by Chris Brown.Cornwall’s Justin Stephens (2-23 off 10 overs) and Devon’s Ian Bishop (3-13 off 10 overs) did the early damage. Chris Brown and Martyn Dobson followed up with 20 overs of immaculate offspin to keep the pressure on the lower order batsmen.A couple of chances went begging as Nick Warren (64 not out) batted resolutely to save the situation. Even so, at 81-9 it looked all over, but a last wicket stand between Tom Mees and Warren added 51 in 16 overs, before Warren was run out for 20 in the 48th over.A target of 133 should have been comfortable, but it was not to be. Fine seam bowling from Mohamed Sheikh and Tom Mees reduced the Minor Counties to 56-6.Richard Howitt produced a magnificent innings and turned the game on its head in an 8th wicket stand of 49 with Justin Stephens, before Howitt was bowled for 69 with 4 runs still required. In tense finish, Stephens batted admirably to hit the winning runs with just three balls to spare.

Somerset County Cricket Club have just started their new 2003 membership drive, and even before details have been sent out there has been considerable interest from both exisiting and potential members.This morning at the county ground membership secretary Jo Arnold told me: “Since the end of the 2002 season we have already received dozens of letters from people asking how they can become members of the club which is a really promising sign for the 2003 season.”Jo continued: ” No doubt as soon as the new arrangements are sent out the telephones will start to ring and the letters will start to flood in, which is very good news given the disappointing season that we have just had. Already people are looking forward to the 2003 season.”MEMBERSHIP 2003Somerset County Cricket Club where your expectations will be exceeded.Anyone can join and help to become the Force behind Somerset CricketCatch the Action and help the team to bounce back!Get real value for money as a member of Somerset County Cricket Club this summer and watch cricket in probably one of the most idyllic settings in England because 2003 promises to be an exciting year.Here at Somerset we pride ourselves in having one of the most picturesque and friendly grounds in the Country.We can provide you with the drama and fast action of one-day cricket, the 20 over competition begins this summer or if you prefer the tactical battle of 4-day cricket, we can offer you 32 days of action.The new Somerset Captain Michael Burns has a good blend of experience and youth throughout the ranks, including the returning established Australian batting star, Jamie Cox, hoping that without the burden of captaincy he will be back to his best.Whilst the bowling department should have a more cutting edge with the signing of the West Indian fast bowler, Nixon McLean.”We need to play positive cricket in 2003 to ensure a quick return to the First Divisions of both competitions,” says skipper Mike Burns.We know you won’t be disappointed, because membership is excellent value for money, so why not join in and ‘Become the Force’ behind Somerset Cricket.Not to missed in 2003-One of the annual highlights of the season will be the return of the ever-popular floodlit cricket and the family entertainment that it now brings with it in an electric atmosphere – an evening that the whole family will enjoy.FIRST EVER! 20-cricket competition begins-For those that like their cricket fast and furious – this is for you!In June, Somerset will play against Warwickshire and Gloucestershire at TauntonBath Cricket Festival-
Once again, Somerset will play at their Festival venue with an attractive fixture against Worcestershire and in the Sunday League, we face new opposition, Northamptonshire.The South African Test Team will be in Taunton for a 3-day match in July and will play against the Cidermen for the first time in over 40 years.There is also an exciting one day fixture against the full Zimbabwean side at Taunton in June.Scotland join the National Cricket League Competition for the first time and play against Somerset at Taunton in June.This is your invitation to join – there’s something for everyoneAdmission Privileges
Free admission to all home:
4-day County Championship matches,
National League matches (including floodlit)
NEW! 20 over competition
Tourist games – versus South Africa and ZimbabweLunches and Teas
All members are permitted to use the bars and catering facilities in the Colin Atkinson Pavilion, Ian Botham Stand and Old Pavilion on match days. Members & their guests are entitled to book lunch & a temptingly delicious afternoon tea in the Colin Atkinson Pavilion Restaurant. Advanced booking advised.Members Guests
The right to bring a guest in to the Members’ Enclosure during County Championship matches (on payment of £2 per guest ticket; the guest having already paid the ground entrance charge).Get the latest News and Information
Members receive FREE regular editions of the `From the Pavilion’ Club Newsletter and receive various other general mailings throughout the year.International Ticket Applications
Preferential ticket applications for international matches staged at any groundVoting Rights
Have your say! All members have the right to vote at the annual AGM.The Reciprocal Admission deal to Away Matches
Somerset members are entitled to FREE admission to County Championship matches at Glamorgan, Gloucestershire & Worcestershire for 2003 – when Somerset are not the opponents.Exclusive – Taunton Racecourse Reciprocal Deal
Somerset members can enjoy admission discounts and use of members facilitiesConcessions Booklets to Members
Enjoy a range of discounts and offers to various local attractionsAlthough it is disappointing for the team to be in Division 2, it will be pleasing to see Somerset renewing their acquaintances with local rivals, Gloucestershire and Glamorgan in the County Championship competition. Which also means that in 2003 there will be more opportunities to watch your team play in the SouthWest.As a rural First Class team, we are lucky to call upon support from all of our West Country neighbours in Devon, Dorset, Wiltshire and the farthest Southwest County, Cornwall.We need everyone’s support, why not encourage a friend to join you.MEMBERSHIP rates for 2003Choose which membership suits you best from the following categories.Each membership provides a personal admission swipe card for individual useDiscounted prices are in brackets and apply if membership is bought before March 2003)

Vice President £113.00 (£103.00)2nd Vice President £101.00 (£91.00)Vice President Family £226.00 (£206.00)Full Member £102.00 (£92.00)2nd Full Member £92.00 (£82.00)Full Family Membership £204.00 (£184.00)Country Member £80.00 (£70.00)Junior Sabre (Date of birth……..) £29.00 (£25.00)Company Patron + VAT £250.00 (no discounted rate)(additional ticket)Executive Business Club + VAT £565.00 (no discounted rate)

Five South Africans, two Australians and an American/Pakistani form an intriguing overseas contingent who will be taking their bow in the opening round of ECB Southern Electric Premier League 50-over matches on Saturday afternoon.Andover, Calmore Sports, Liphook & Ripsley, Portsmouth and South Wilts have recruited from South Africa.And Burridge to Atlanta Georgia, on the USA’s east coast for overseas support.But it’s odds-on that the two Aussies – Bashley’s Luke Ronchi, and BAT Sports bound Michael Watson – will make the biggest impact.Both are highly respected A-Grade batsmen in their respective Perth and Sydney competitions, and could have a significant influence on the Premier scene in the coming four months.Ronchi, 21, needs little or no introduction.He spent two previous summers with Bashley, in 1999 and 2000, scoring over 1,200 runs … as a highly rated teenager !Now he’s back after spending a year in Rod Marsh’s renowned Australian Cricket Academy and a run strewn winter back home in the demanding arena of Western Australia Pennant Grade competition.”He’s had a phenomenal winter playing for his club side Perth,” revealed former Hampshire opening batsman Paul Terry, who coaches rival WA club Melville. “Luke is one of the most talented batsman/wicketkeepers I have seen.”He has the lovely ability to time the ball sweetly in the mould of his mentor, Adam Gilchrist – and I don’t say that lightly.”He is a really fantastic timer of the ball for one so sleight of build and but for Gilchrist and Ryan Campbell being part of the WA scene, he would be playing Pura Cup (Sheffield Shield) cricket by now.”Terry watched Ronchi score 173 off his own Melville attack – an innings which catapulted the Perth prospect straight into the Western Australia side for a day-night game against Victoria at the WACA earlier this year.”He got a double hundred in a Sunday League game and ended up with over 750 runs in the A-Grade, which is no mean feat,” said Terry.The prospect of watching Ronchi bat alongside former Hampshire left-hander Andy Sexton has Bashley skipper Neil Taylor drooling.But Bashley’s ability to launch a challenge on champions BAT Sports could hinge on whether top 2001 wicket-taker Matt King is fit. King, who grabbed 35 wickets last season, is suffering from chest and rib injuries and doubtful for Saturday’s opener at Calmore.BAT swept to the championship on the strength of 11 successive wins during the second-half of last season.Michael Watson, a hard-hitting left-hander from the University of New South Wales Grade side, replaces team-mate Dave Carson as BAT’s overseas player. Teenager Damian Shirazi returned from a winter in NSW with rave reports about Watson’s batting prowess and expects the Sydney Customs man to be among the leading SPL run scorers this summer.BAT have bolstered their seam attack by recruiting Kirk Stewart, from Andover.Havant, the inaugural Premier League champions in 2000, have decided to run without any overseas support this summer. Their bowling armoury will be weakened by the departure of the economical Richard Lewis (who has been transferred in the banking world).But fitness instructor Bevis Moynhan has arrived from the Huddersfield League and Mackey Hobson from nearby Hambledon.Hampshire Under-19 captain Steve Snell, who has just joined the Lord’s groundstaff, will command a top six berth in a powerful Havant top-order.Off-spinning South African Gareth Tate is among five newcomers introduced to Andover by Roger Miller, who has succeeded Jerry Hayward as captain. Former Sussex and Middlesex opener Toby Radford has switched from relegated Hungerford, leg-spinning all-rounder Martin Docis joins from Cove, and wicket-keeper Lee Wateridge from Gosport.Richard Taylor, who exited BAT’s title tilt in a hurry last summer, will significantly strengthen Andover’s batting and medium-pace bowling divisions.South Wilts will boast an unusual but highly potent left-arm pace attack – Natal prospect Shane Adam sharing the new ball with Hampshire’s James Tomlinson, who has been creating a few wicket-taking waves in his first summer term at Cardiff UCCE.Adam has already represented Natal in South Africa’s 4-day SuperSport competition and is strongly tipped by Bemerton skipper Russell Rowe to be among the top wicket takers this summer.With all-rounder Paul Draper arriving from Calmore Sports and John Nash back from university, South Wilts could be a surprise packet in the SPL this term.Former SA Academy player Christoff Bothma, from the Free State, has joined Calmore Sports, whose strength has been seriously sapped by the departures of Martin Kellaway and now Draper in successive years.Another South African youngster Ryan Swan, from Johannesburg, has the unenviable prospect of filling the shoes of Stephen Cook at newly promoted Portsmouth.Cook, eldest son of Hampshire coach Jimmy, scored over 730 runs in Portsmouth’s Division 2 championship campaign last summer. Swan, who is coaching at Portsmouth Grammar School, played for Gauteng U19s this winter.Paul Dew and Pete Hayward are both expected to miss the first half of the season.Hampshire’s Lawrie Prittipaul is expected to play for Tony Middleton’s Academy XI – or Southsea, in the Hampshire League.Liphook & Ripsley, who narrowly avoided relegation last season, have recruited Cove’s Neil Randall and bring in Western Province Under-19 player Alistair Gray, from Cape Town.Hampshire YCs starlet Chris Wright remains at Liphook after turning down a possible move to Havant.Perhaps the most intriguing of the foreign imports is Moeen Cheema, who will be the first American/Pakistani to ever play in Hampshire recreational cricket when he dons the colours of Burridge in Saturday’s opener against Bashley (Rydal).A law graduate from Harvard University, Cheema is a right-arm pace bowler, who plays for Atlanta Gymkhana on America’s eastern seaboard.Bournemouth welcome back Richard Scott, the former Hampshire left-hander, as Director of Cricket.But with teenage wicketkeeping prospect Chris Park joining the Northants Academy and Peter Waite not returning from Western Australia, Bournemouth may lack strength in depth to push for the honours.

With a superbly crafted maiden first-class century, opening batsman Greg Mail has left the door open for an outright victory for New South Wales after three days ofthe Pura Cup match against Tasmania here at the Sydney Cricket Ground. Mail’s ascent to a score of 176 was the defining individual performance of the third day andhas left only Tasmania’s ten second innings wickets standing between the home team and success.Albeit that it was compiled on a pitch that still remains well in favour of the batsmen, Mail’s stout innings compelled him to ally enormous powers of concentration withhis neat, compact technique. But, over more than eight hours at the crease, he performed the job brilliantly to pilot his team to a first innings score of 530 and a lead of161 runs. The Tasmanians made their way to a mark of 0/33 by stumps but will need to bat well throughout tomorrow’s play to avert defeat.If maximum points are to be secured, though, then the Blues will need to display considerably more imagination in the field and with the ball than either side has doneto this stage of the match. Again today, the weather was gloomy and the outlook equally so for the bowlers. Because not only was the batting sound but the pitch wason the docile side again at best.Resuming with his score at 87, Mail was not necessarily the only batsman who looked in command. In fact, for much of the early part of the day, it was young tyroMichael Clarke (41) who stole the show with the series of accomplished off side drives that he added to his solidity in defence.After a watchful start, Mail capped a dogged and resolute innings by reaching the landmark of three figures for the first time at this level forty-eight minutes into theday. His was a painstaking knock – it took him 309 minutes and 268 deliveries to reach his hundred – but wonderfully effective against an attack that battled to breachhis defences throughout.”I haven’t batted for eight hours before; it was certainly my longest innings,” said Mail after play.A university student in the third year of a physiotherapy course, Mail believed that the task of resisting the Tigers’ attack for eight hours was possibly more difficult thanexams he undertook earlier in the week. He stated that his concentration levels certainly “came and went a bit” during his vigil.”There were periods where I felt I was concentrating pretty well and then it sort of waned for a few overs. But I managed not to get myself out in those times,” he said.He enjoyed a life at 108 when second slip fieldsman Michael DiVenuto was unable to grasp a hot chance to his right from the bowling of paceman Shane Jurgensen(4/113). He also played and missed occasionally outside the line of off stump, especially in the period which followed the Tasmanians’ decision to take the second newball after eighty-six overs. Otherwise, he was formidable in defence, patient in waiting for bad balls, and discreet in his selection of strokes.It was not long after Mail surpassed his previous best first-class score of 97 that the Tasmanian bowlers seemed to become resigned to their fate. Captain Jamie Coxpersisted with his pacemen and seamers in the main but it wasn’t until after sweeping showers had forced a sixty-six minute interruption on either side of lunch thatwickets finally arrived. To make the predicament worse, dashing batsmen Shane Lee (25), Brad Haddin (56) and Don Nash (22) were literally in full swing andbuilding on an already imposing lead by the time that spinners Daniel Marsh (1/104) and Shannon Tubb (0/70) were introduced.Of the Tasmanian bowlers, only Jurgensen and Shane Watson (2/63) were genuinely impressive. On his first-class debut for Tasmania, Jurgensen overcame hisnervous start of yesterday to produce two fine afternoon spells in which he beat the bat consistently. Four wickets, including the prize scalp of Mail with a lovely offcutter through the gate, were due reward for his accuracy and wholehearted approach. Watson, who continues to add to the fine early reputation that he is establishingfor himself, also battled away vigilantly with his sharp medium pace. Otherwise, it was another mostly unflattering exhibition, although Mail did pay tribute to Tubb, revealing that the youngster’s variety had made him difficult to counter.New South Wales captain Lee strangely opted not to effect a declaration as things transpired. This guaranteed that the last half hour of his team’s display with the batseemed to do little more than simply reduce the time available to it to lay waste to the Tasmanian second innings. The Tigers’ openers, Cox (16*) and Dene Hills(15*), underlined the point that they may have been left with too few overs to face, safely negotiating the fourteen that they were required to see out at the end of theday.Nonetheless, needing as they do another 128 runs to even wipe out their deficit, matters will still not be straightforward for the visitors on the final morning. They willneed particularly to guard against any form of collapse to match the one that scuttled their first innings yesterday morning. In hindsight, it was that crash that cruelledtheir victory aspirations in this contest; another might well dash any hopes of a draw.

Premier Division OneAndover 181-6 (M Miller 81, R Miller 43, Hayward 24, Jenkins 4-43)
Burridge 182-1 (Jackson 91, Cunningham 59)BAT Sports 204-7 (Sharizi 63, Kenway 62, Banks 31, King 3-41)
Bashley (Rydal) 182 (Thurgood 46, Neal 38, Goldstraw 3-19)Liphook & Ripsley 136-8 (Berry 34, Tyler 29, J Wilson 3-18)
Bournemouth 137-3 (Swarbrick 68)Hungerford 101 (Radford 29, Hindley 4-22)
Havant 102-3 (Carson 40)Match postponed : Calmore Sports v South WiltsPremier Division TwoOld Tauntonians & Romsey 193 (Forward 43, Stothart 36, Rapley 27, Shotton 4-51, Turner 3-28)
Hambledon 146 (Norris 39,Burdekin 28, Wood 5-32)Lymington 268-8 (Trestrail 60, Craft 58, Clemow 33, Young 31, Griffiths 25, Oldcorn 4-49)
Old Basing 103 (Summers 39, Quantock 23, Smith 5-21, Phillips 3-15).Matches postponed : Cove v Sparsholt, Trojans v Easton & Martyr Worthy, United Services v Portsmouth.Premier Division ThreeWaterlooville 103 (Baumann 27, Shephard 20, Ballinger 7-19)
Alton 107-7 (M Heffernan 33, Rudder 4-19)Bashley (Rydal) II 141 (N Sexton 51, S Latimore 42)
Gosport Borough 84 (Grierson 3-10)Portsmouth II 185-9 (Ali Mohamed 49, Moon 29, Limb 28, Smith 5-50)
United Services II 107 (Norwood 21, Nolan 3-16, Limb 3-16).Matches postponed : Hook & Newnham Basics v Rowledge, Leckford v St Cross Symondians, Lymington II v Havant II, New Milton v Purbrook, Paultons v Hursley Park, Winchester KS v Flamingos.

Twenty-eight students have been officially welcomed to the 2002programme of the Shell Cricket Academy of St. George’s University.President of the West Indies Cricket Board (WICB), Reverend Wes Hallwas among those who participated in the welcome ceremony on Thursday(May 16) at the True Blue campus of St. Georges University, Grenada.He told the young cricketers from the Caribbean and the Americas thathard work and not talent would determine how successful they were.Grenada’s Minister of Tourism Hon. Brenda Hood who also joined inwelcoming the students, pledged the full support of her government,and noted that her ministry is on a mission to form more strategiclinks between sport and tourism.External Affairs Manager of Shell, Roger Brathwaite, and St. George’sUniversity Dean, Dr. Allen Pensick also addressed the new recruits tothe prestigious three-month programme that is a joint venture by theWest Indies Cricket Board, Shell Antilles and Guianas Ltd and St.Georges University.Following the ceremony, Director of the Shell Cricket Academy, Dr.Rudi Webster gave the students an outline of the programme and Rev.Wes Hall gave a master class on fast bowling and West Indies crickethistory.The members of the 2002 class come from a number of different parts ofthe Caribbean and the Americas. The nations represented includeAnguilla, Antigua and Barbuda, Barbados, Bermuda, Canada, Grenada,Guyana, Jamaica, St. Kitts and Nevis, St. Lucia, St. Vincent and theGrenadines, Trinidad and Tobago and the United States of America. TheAcademy runs from May 16th to August 8th.

The South Africans are playing their only warm-up ahead of the Test series against Australia, during which their No. 1 ranking is at stake, on a pitch that is unlikely to resemble anything that their title defence will start on. Yet, Hashim Amla managed to find positives in the ongoing run-fest against Australia A.The SCG surface is slow with no assistance for the bowlers, while the Gabba pitch is expected to have pace, bounce and carry. South Africa tried to move the warm-up match to Brisbane, because they feared they would not have much to gain in Sydney, but their request was denied. So, Amla chose to look on the bright side.”It’s good preparation anyway. Time in the middle no matter what the wicket is invaluable,” Amla said after the South Africans ended the second day on 128 for 1. “I’m sure if you had to ask Graeme [Smith], Alviro [Petersen] or myself whether we would prefer a net session or a hit in the middle in a practice match, we’d take the match.”Amla also elaborated on the benefits for the bowlers. “All our seamers got a bowl and Imran [Tahir] managed to have a really long spell, which is what we wanted,” he said. Tahir bowled 40 of the 135 overs that the South Africans spent in the field and took two wickets with an economy of less than four runs an over, despite being expensive to start with.Tahir was used as early as the tenth over on the first day, with Smith looking to give the Test bowlers sufficient match practice. Once it was decided that Dale Steyn, Vernon Philander and Rory Kleinveldt had bowled enough, the part-timers were also given a chance, something Amla, in particular, enjoyed.”It also gave the part-timers like JP [Duminy], Faf [du Plessis] and myself a few overs,” he joked. While Duminy and du Plessis are genuine options for South Africa, Amla has not bowled since, “I can’t remember,” but he did get four overs as Smith looked to wind down the clock. “I really enjoyed those four overs,” he said. “I have been in the captain’s ear a few times about giving me a go and I finally got a chance to show my skills.”Amla has bowled a little in the past and even has a first-class wicket. “It was Parthiv Patel. I got him during a South Africa A game when I was still bowling seamers,” he said. If anything, Smith may have been hoping that bringing Amla on again would be a signal to Australia A to declare so the South Africa batsmen could have as much time as the bowlers did.Time was the one advantage Amla said South Africa would really take from the practice game. “It’s not really about the stats or the results in a game like this. In these warm-up games, we wanted to bat for a period of time. We also needed time on our legs, because some of us have been off for three weeks.”Amla is among the nine members of the squad who have not played any first-class cricket since August but have been involved in a glut of 20-over fixtures. Spending four-and-a-half sessions in the field was also important, according to Amla, to ready themselves for the rigours of Test cricket. “During Tests, you may field for a whole day and you need to get used to that fatigue you may get in the legs,” he said.He conceded the intensity of the South Africans was not quite what it will be in a Test match. “In a Test match, where you are playing for your country, you still get those butterflies. In these matches, there are patches where you try to up the pace …”It was for that reason that Smith retired on 60 after he had found the boundary 11 times, most of those coming towards the end of his innings. “He gave me a good hour to bat,” Amla said. More of the same can be expected on the final day, when the rest of South Africa’s line-up will want a hit before the first Test starts next Friday.