SUPPORT FROM THE UKGood luck to the Zimbabwe Cricket Team in the forthcoming World Cup.You have the support of many people in Zimbabwe and abroad who believe that Zimbabwe sport is multiracial and unifying and very different from South Africa during the apartheid era when the boycott there had to do with the way in which sport was organized around racial lines.I hope you play well and I am sure the events will bring much needed profit for Zimbabwe’s tourism industry and moments of joy for everyone despite people’s political differences.George Shire (London, UK)THE ONE-DAY COMPETITIONAnother excellent and informative edition of ZCO, well done.The Faithwear one-day tournament seems to be a hit this season which can only be good for Zim cricket. Again, as in the Logan Cup, Mashonaland look certain to dominate. Do you think this is a good thing, or maybe next season should the ZCU look at equalling the teams, as any team in the world with the Flower brothers and Blignaut in would be a handful! Is ZBC showing live coverage of this competition in Zim? Seems a shame if they are not!Just a quick query on the CFX academy selection. I think it would do Masakadza good to play a season with them even though he is competent player already. It would perhaps iron out a few of his weaknesses that exist in his game and showed in the Pakistan series. Does his University holiday allow him this or is the timing wrong?Being a proud Zim in England, does Faithwear sell replica Matabeleland coloured tops!!?Nick Byas (Zim in England)Reply: I think the Mashonaland domination is unfortunate, but difficult to avoid. Already the other provincial sides have several Mashonaland players in their ranks who have no connection with the province they are representing (such as Alistair Campbell, Gavin Rennie and Henry Olonga), but Mashonaland have kept their strongest players, and perhaps that needs to be looked at.No, ZBC have no interest in live coverage of these matches, but I suppose it is hardly possible considering the expense involved and the economic situation. Hamilton Masakadza would rarely be available for the CFX Academy, but may perhaps attend once he graduates. Concerning Matabeleland coloured tops, perhaps contact the Matabeleland board at [email protected] and see what they can suggest.

In a major development for the 2003 season the Premier League teams will each play one Sunday match against the Sussex County CC `Academy/ Development XI’. The team will be an Under 23 side and the County Club will select from its registered Academy players as well as others with `development’ potential. League points will be awarded for these matches.Keith Greenfield, the Academy Director, said: “This is a major step forward for the development of our most young talented players. The Academy has been a very individually based programme and this now introduces the vital team element."Sussex CCC and the League executive have been in discussions on this subject for the last six months and we thank the League for their continued support in trying to help develop its young players. It also gives us an opportunity to forge excellent links with the league and its clubs.”

Sunday May 11th Chichester v Development XISunday May 25th Brighton and Hove v Development XISunday June 1st East Grinstead v Development XISunday June 15th Horsham v Development XISunday June 29th Three Bridges v Development XISunday July 6th Hastings v Development XISunday July 20th Stirlands v Development XISunday Aug 3rd Steyning v Development XISunday Aug 10th Worthing v Development XISunday Aug 17th Eastbourne v Development XI (12.00 start)

Following the Super Sixes, the 2003 World Cup says goodbye to two of its stars. Andy Flower, who has announced his international retirement, exits at 10th place in the PwC one-day ratings. Fittingly, this is the best one-day rating he ever achieved (though he did, of course, briefly top the PwC Test Ratings back in 2001).Also leaving the tournament is Shane Bond, who has been the PwC rising star of the tournament. Like Flower, Bond climbed to 10th place in the current world list after the Super Sixes, a personal best.Twelve of the top 20 players in the PwC lists will be appearing in the semi-finals (seven of them Australian).

New Zealand Cricket is experimenting with couch-grass as a prospective grass for its pitches.High Performance Centre turf manager, Karl Johnson said an experiment will be done on one of the recently-built practice strips at Bert Sutcliffe Oval at New Zealand Cricket’s complex at Lincoln University.”We had some couch-grass loaded on a train from Auckland for a three-day trip to put down on the practice pitches to see how it will handle our winter,” he said.The appeal of couch-grass is its durability and the fact that because it is such an aggressive grass, it can allow the re-use of pitches within a month. That makes it of particular significance to Lincoln because of the volume of cricket played there.”It does take different management, but it is used right around Australia and former Auckland groundsman Richard Winter, who now works at the WACA in Perth, believes it should be able to be used in New Zealand.”The Legend variety of couch is used at the Melbourne Cricket Ground and Melbourne has reasonably similar weather to us,” Johnson said.”The benefit to us at Lincoln is also that we don’t have winter sport on the ground,” he said.

It took 54 matches to do so, but the World Cup has eventually confirmed that Australia are the best team on the planet, and by a distance. The great thing for cricket was that the title was decided on the field of play and nowhere else. It would have been a tragedy had the rush to get the game decided to fit in with the world’s television schedules forced Duckworth/Lewis to be applied when there were spare days available. So much else was controlled by such factors and had more to do with business and politics than cricket.So what will be the abiding memories of this World Cup? There were some thrilling performances, individual excellence and yet a catalogue of blunders that will leave a slightly unsatisfactory after-taste.There was the brilliance of Sachin Tendulkar who confirmed himself as the best batsman around, the fast bowling of Brett Lee throughout and the historic 100 mph ball by Shoaib Akhtar.Not all the outstanding moments were provided by the big boys though. Remember that innings by John Davison of Canada against the West Indies. And Asif Karim being congratulated by umpire Steve Bucknor on a miserly and skilful spell against the Australians. The Kenyans reaching the semi-final gave hope to underdogs everywhere, the Namibians had their moments and the Dutch radiated good fellowship as their orange kit radiated sunshine.One of the great comments of the tournament came from the Dutch captain Roland Lefebvre who could justifiably deemed conditions unsuitable to play at a sodden Potchefstroom. But, he said, his boys would learn nothing for the future sitting in the pavilion and so went out to face the might of Australia.If that action brought out the spirit of the World Cup, there was the sadness of seeing Jonty Rhodes being forced into premature retirement through injury. There was sadness too at the absence of Shane Warne when the results of a dope test revealed that he had been just that – a dope.There was Adam Gilchrist walking in the semi-final, and Ricky Ponting claiming that he had not really walked but had failed to hear the umpire say not out. To do otherwise might have had Gilchrist on a charge of betraying the carefully honed image of Australian cricket.How sad that Sourav Ganguly chose Gilchrist in the final to display a woeful ineptitude when it comes to judging the path of a ball from bat to hand. When a ball from Harbhajan Singh went off Gilchrist’s thigh-pad onto the ground some inches short of Ganguly’s hand at slip, he claimed a catch. If he was not inept, believing the ball had gone from the edge of the bat straight into his hand, he was guilty of cheating and thoroughly deserved the crowd’s derision when the incident, including the appeal and celebration, was shown on the big screen.When it comes to cheating and replays, it would seem that the technology is available to determine the legality of a bowling action, even if the will to use it is not. It is an emotive issue, but the use of baggy three-quarter length sleeves and claims of congenital deformities to mask actions that are questionable at best cannot be good for the long-term health of the game.Then there was the political posturing without which no major sporting event can take place nowadays. For all their effervescent joy, it is unlikely that Kenya would have got as far as they did had New Zealand been prepared to go to play in Nairobi. Similarly, there is little doubt that Zimbabwe are not one of the top six sides in the world, but they were projected there by England’s refusal to play in Harare and the rain in Bulawayo.New Zealand had genuine fears about going to Nairobi. England knew that their presence in Harare would have sparked off more serious demonstrations than had any other side been due to travel there. The credibility of the World Cup organisers was dented when, shortly after Deputy Commissioner of Police Andre Pruis went on television to dismiss the letter from the "Sons and Daughters of Zimbabwe" as no more than a hoax, Interpol reported that they considered the organisation to be a serious threat.It was the same unsophisticated mentality that put the heavy hand of the law on an innocent spectator found drinking a can of Coca Cola and charged with "ambush marketing" when the official sponsor was Pepsi. He was not so much guilty as thirsty.The most uplifting aspect of the whole Zimbabwe affair was the bravery of Andy Flower and Henry Olonga in their much-publicised protest against the regime in their country. A simple act of courage that put other protests and political stances in deep shade.On the field too there was much about which to enthuse. Brian Lara came back to something near his best while the West Indies have started on the long road back to becoming a cricketing force. Shane Bond spearheading New Zealand’s continuing ability to punch above their weight – a campaign superbly orchestrated by Stephen Fleming. Aravinda de Silva still showing class and giving hope to the over-35s. England could take solace from being the only side to run Australia close.But, at the end of a long tournament, there can only be one abiding memory. It is of the players in the green and gold around their captain Ricky Ponting holding the World Cup. Those Australians look invincible. They were invincible.

James Hibberd is keeping his fingers firmly crossed that a match winning performance for Calmore Sports against Hampshire’s newly promoted Academy side will boost his prospects of further trials with Kent.The 21-year old all-rounder took three wickets and struck a decisive half-century as Calmore sent the Young Hawks spinning to a seven-wicket ECB Southern Electric Premier League, Division 1 debut defeat at Loperwood Park.But since producing an impressive two-wicket display with the ball in Kent’s Second XI Trophy final success against Hampshire II at the Rose Bowl last September, the Canterbury trail appears to have gone cold for Hibberd."I packed up my full-time job in order to try and make it in the pro game," Hibberd said."But I’ve heard nothing from Kent since going down to Canterbury for practice in late March and don’t really know where I stand at the moment."I’d like to give it a crack and play some more Second XI games down there (Kent) and I’m just waiting, hopefully, on the end of the phone."Hibberd, who carried off the Premier League’s prestigious Young Cricketer award last summer, certainly looked a class act as Calmore got the better of the weather to see off the young Hampshire hopefuls.He struck two early blows after Academy captain Tony Middleton had surprisingly chosen to bat under threatening, rain-leaden skies.He darted the first ball of the match back to pin Martin Bushell leg before and then snapped up a return catch to remove Kevin Latouf.But promising King Edward VI School batsman Alex Richardson (32) and Peter Hammond wrested the initiative away from Calmore, easing the Academy to 52-2 after 11.1 overs when heavy rain forced a near 90 minute delay.Umpires Mike Izzard and Dave Kirk were within five minutes or so of calling the match off due to the wet and greasy conditions.Many captains would have called it a day but, to his credit Middleton, wanted to his youngsters to play saying: "They won’t learn a lot from sitting on their backsides in the dressing room. "This is all about development and I wanted them back out on the pitch."Richardson (32) and Hammond promptly took 24 runs off two overs immediately after the resumption – only for the KES youngster to have his stumps flattened by Paul Cass, who made steady inroads into the heart of the Academy middle-order.The Bramshaw-based all-rounder quickly whipped out Tom Burrows, and was on a hat-trick after removing Mitchel Stokes (16) and leg before victim Ian Hilsum in consecutive deliveries.His spell of 4-40 left the Young Hawks in some disarray at 117-7, but Hammond, albeit restrained, kept the score ticking along, bringing up a well deserved fifty before being stumped by the quick hands of Stuart Bailey at 144-8.Left-hander David Griffiths (24 not out) assumed Hammond’s mantle, playing some crisp shots in a late partnership with Loperwood favourite Matt Metcalfe (16) as the Academy moved on to 190-9.But the loss of 23 overs playing time carved into the Hampshire innings, leaving Calmore with a relatively straight-forward ask of 103 off 27 overs.Initially, it proved anything but academic – Griffiths, the Shanklin-based teenager with a wealth of talent, quickly accounting for Cass and James Rose.But the loss of those two early wickets simply set the stage for Hibberd to play the role of match winner.He went for his shots, playing several sumptuous shots through the mid-on and mid-off `V’ as the Academy youngsters were pushed on to the back foot.Hibberd’s batting certainly impressed Middleton, who might even be tempted to give the Kent hopeful another crack in Hampshire’s colours in this week’s Second XI Rose Bowl friendlies.The Sholing all-rounder hit 53, totally dominating the 62-run third-wicket partnership with the unflappable Mark Boston, whose 26 not out steered Calmore to a crucial victory.Middleton, though disappointed with the result, drew a lot of satisfaction from the match. "I learned quite a lot about my players on Saturday," he said."The challenges Premier One cricket will bring is going to be a big test for these young cricketers."They are going to be playing against some very good club cricketers – and a few class ones from overseas – and it’s going to be an interesting season for them."Calmore, meanwhile, were delighted.A homely club, they have not replaced some of the top players (like Martin Kellaway) they have lost in recent seasons.They are expected to struggle this season, but a win against the Academy has given the Loperwood Park club a timely fillip before daunting tests against South Wilts and Havant in the next fortnight.

Sharad Diwadkar has resigned from his post as executive secretary to the Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI), citing ill-health as the reason for his withdrawal.Diwadkar, a former Bombay allrounder, replaced Polly Umrigar as executive secretary in 1997 after Umrigar resigned due to dissatisfaction with the Board’s functioning.”I will continue to function till the Working Committee meeting, in Delhi on July 2 and 3, where they will decide when to relieve me,” said Diwadkar, who has been advised rest by his doctors.

All Today’s Yesterdays – June 29 down the years1950
A landmark day for West Indian cricket. West Indies won their first Test in England, a 326-run thrashing at Lord’s, led by a mystifying display from their young spin twins Sonny Ramadhin and Alf Valentine. They were both playing their second Tests, having each only played two first-class matches before the tour. Valentine’s match figures were 116-75-127-7 (the 75 maidens are still a Test record), and Ramadhin’s 115-70-152-11; it was the slowest torture imaginable. They were abetted by 168 from Clyde Walcott, an innings that John Arlott described as being "of thunder, of almost biblical intensity". England never recovered, and lost 3-1 a series they had expected to win comfortably. Maybe hubris set in. A crowd full of West Indian fans didn’t care as they celebrated joyously, and a famous Calypso song – "With those little pals of mine, Ramadhin and Valentine" – was born.1939
Birth of the gangling Victorian seamer Alan Connolly, a bit of an unsung hero for Australia in the sixties. He finished with 102 wickets, and four five-fors – none of which came in Aussie victories. His best figures were 6 for 47 against South Africa at Port Elizabeth … when Australia were routed by 323 runs. Unusually, Connolly excelled overseas, with 66 in 16 Tests. At home he took only 36 in 13. He also played county cricket for Middlesex.1965
Whatever happened to Paul Jarvis, the England pace bowler who was born today? When he became Yorkshire’s youngest-ever player – at just 16 years 75 days – he was burdened with a "new Fred Trueman" tag, but he never got close, taking only 21 wickets in nine Tests. Injuries didn’t help, nor did the selectors’ penchant for shunting him in and out of them (those nine Tests came in five instalments, either side of Jarvis’s ban for going on the South African rebel tour of 1989-90). Jarvis later played for Sussex and Somerset, but got nowhere near leaving the legacy people expected, although he has taken almost twice as many one-day wickets in India than any other Englishman. It’s not much consolation.2000
The fifth-highest opening partnership in Test history – and Sri Lanka’s highest by almost 150 runs. In a dead rubber against Pakistan at Kandy, Sanath Jayasuriya and Marvan Atapattu put on 335, with Atapattu making his third Test double-hundred. In a match of only 155.4 overs, Atapattu was still there at the bitter end, 207 not out and having dead-batted allcomers into submission.1931
Another weighty partnership, this one for the eighth wicket. Les Ames and Gubby Allen got England out of a hole by adding 246 against New Zealand at Lord’s, with Allen making his only Test hundred and Ames his first in England. At the time it was the highest for the eighth-wicket in Test history, but it’s been passed twice in the last six years, by Wasim Akram and Saqlain Mushtaq at Sheikupura in 1996-97, and by Nathan Astle and Adam Parore at Perth in 2001-02.1939
Birth of the link in the only three-generation Test-playing family. West Indian opener Ron Headley was the son of the great George and father of England seamer Dean. He played just two Tests, both in England in 1973. Headley played much of his cricket in England, for Worcestershire and Derbyshire.1911
Long before speed-guns inflated Shoaib Akhtar’s ego further, Worcestershire’s Robert Burrows bowled Lancashire’s William Huddleston in a County Championship match at Old Trafford – and sent the bail flying 67 yards. It’s a record that even Shoaib hasn’t broken.Other birthdays
1947 Jeff Moss (Australia)1969 Simon Brown (England)

The Asian Cricket Council (ACC) has suggested the inclusion of cricket in the South Asian Federation (SAF) Games as part of a move to end the cricketing deadlock between India and Pakistan. “ACC will officially request the South Asian Sports Federation (SASF) to include cricket in the SAF Games, which we think can be stepping stone for the revival of cricket between India and Pakistan,” ACC development manager Zakir Hussain Syed told AFP.India snapped bilateral cricket links with arch rivals Pakistan over political tension in 2000, but recent efforts to normalise relations between the two nations have raised hopes of ties being revived soon. “We are sure that cricket can increase the appeal of the games to a great extent, and besides Pakistan, India, Sri Lanka and Bangladesh – the four Test playing nations – Nepal can also chip in,” said Syed.Pakistan announced last week that it would stage the biennial SAF Games in January 2004. The games, scheduled to be held in Islamabad in September 2001, were first cancelled following security fears in the wake of the 9/11 terrorists attacks on the United States and the ensuing war in neighbouring Afghanistan. Later, Pakistan was twice forced to cancel the Games, first in March 2002 and then in March this year, after India refused to participate.The SAF Games events include athletics, badminton, boxing, football, volleyball, weightlifting, taekwondo, karate, table tennis, wrestling, shooting and swimming. Hockey was included on expiremental basis in the Games held in India in 1995.”Cricket can have more representation in the Games and even a fledgling nation like Afghanistan can participate in it,” said Syed. The Games were initiated in 1984 under the auspices of South Asian Association for Regional Cooperation (SAARC), and are contested by India, Pakistan, Bangladesh, Bhutan, Sri Lanka, Maldives and Nepal. Afghanistan was also included in the SAF Games fold last year. The last edition of the Games were held in Nepal in 1999.

In odds released today by bet365, South Africa’s captain Graeme Smith is rated 9/4 to beat Don Bradman’s record series aggregate of 974 runs, set back in the 1930 Ashes series. Smith is rated 1/3 to fall short of the mark. In the spread-betting player-index markets Sporting Index are similarly pessimistic about Smith’s chances of overhauling The Don – they expect his series total to fall between 860 and 875 runs.Smith has six possible innings still available to him in this series, and already has 621 runs from his first three – a record for the first two Tests of any series. At the same stage of his all-conquering season in 1930, Bradman had managed only 393 of his record 974 runs – but he did hit 334 in the third Test! Good weather, the traditionally good pitches at Trent Bridge and The Oval, and an England attack in some disarray all count in Smith’s favour.bet365 now rate South Africa hot favourites to win the series at 2/5. England are now rank outsiders at 8/1, with a drawn series 5/2.bet365Sporting IndexIn-depth Graeme Smith statistics