India won their second match of the Under-19 World Cup with what was, in the end, a comfortable 69-run win against New Zealand. Sunny Singh kept India A on track after a shaky start to help them post 215 before New Zealand slumped to 146 all out in their doomed run chase.The New Zealand bowlers began brightly as Brent Findlay ripped away India’s top-middle order to reduce them to 86 for 5. But Singh, who was dropped three times, came to India’s rescue with a well-paced 68 not out, including seven fours. He added 66 with Gaurav Dhiman, who made a brisk 38.New Zealand’s reply never got going, despite a steady 55 from the captain Bradley-John Watling. Wickets were shared around by the Indian bowlers, and as the batsmen fell at regular intervals, the New Zealand lower order failed to cope with the pressure. The last six wickets fell for only 14 runs as India went top of Group C.Robin Singh, India’s coach, said afterwards that he believes his side can still improve. “The team could have scored 260 to 270 runs. The pitch was a good batting strip but the batsmen played too many loose shots,” he said. “The bowlers bowled well, but there is still scope for improvement – the spinners bowled too fast.”Singh, who was named Man of the Match, said, “I was lucky, I was given two or three lives. I capitalized on the dropped chances and initially concentrated on taking singles. I was pleased with the final result.”
Bryan Colin Strang – born Bulawayo, 9 June 1972 Right-handed batsman, left-arm medium-pace bowler Career: 1993/94-2000/01
Abbreviations: Capital letters for team names denotes a Test match.Man – ManicalandMash – Mashonaland * indicates not out inningsMat – Matabeleland + indicates wicket-keeperMCD – Mashonaland Country Districts *+ retired hurt/illMid – Midlands # batted firstZim – Zimbabwe/ZimbabweansGrounds:Alex – Alexandra Sports Club OG – Old Georgians Sports ClubBAC – Bulawayo Athletic Club OH – Old Hararians Sports ClubHSC – Harare Sports ClubNo. Own Team Ct No. O M R W Opp.1994/95 (Zimbabwe) bat Score Total bowl TotalBryan burst into Zimbabwean cricket after being unavailable early while at university in South Africa. He is one of the few cricketers to play Test cricket during their maiden first-class season, and to take 50 wickets in their maiden season, especially outside England.1 Zimbabwe A v South Africa A (10) 9 #87 – (4) 33 7 95 5 409(Alex, 4 Oct – Lost) (9) 0 1432 Zim Board XI v Griqualand West (10) 12 #423/9d – (4) 9 4 17 0 121(Kimberley, 4 Nov – Won) – (4) 21 9 52 0 2833 Zim Board XI v Western Transvaal — 400/7d 1 (3) 26.1 11 59 2 #248(BAC, 1 Dec – Drawn) (3) 22 10 48 1 279/74 Zim Board XI v Natal B (11) 7 #317 – (3) 20 3 76 2 265(HSC, 15 Dec – Drawn) (11) 0* 169 – (3) 21 5 45 3 136/55 Zim Board XI v Northern Tvl B (8) 27 205 – (4) 27.5 11 59 4 #276/9d(HSC, 5 Jan – Lost) (8) 0 117 – (4) 18 6 38 2 227/7d6 MCD v Matabeleland (11) 1 #123 – (1) 12 4 34 2 127(Harare South, 20 Jan – L) (3) 1 336 – (1) 23 3 72 2 335/37 Zim Board XI v Western Prov B (10) 9 260 – (2) 30 9 73 4 #284/8d(Cape Town, 26 Jan – D) — 86/4 – (2) 19 2 58 1 2578 ZIMBABWE v PAKISTAN (2nd) (11) 0* #174 1 (3) 23 10 44 3 260(Queens, 7 Feb – L) (11) 0 146 – (3) 3.4 2 6 2 61/29 ZIMBABWE v PAKISTAN (3rd) (11) 6 243 – (3) 32 15 43 3 #231(HSC, 15 Feb – L) (11) 0 139 – (4) 26 16 27 1 25010 MCD v Mashonaland (9) 1 182 – (1) 24.3 7 64 7 #188(HSC, 10 March – L) (2) 11 161 – (1) 17.4 1 92 2 42111 Mash Select v Northamptonshire (9) 4 83 1 (1) 28 7 59 1 #276/7d(HSC, 4 April – W) — 417/4 – (1) 27 9 83 4 2231994/95 (ZIMBABWE) SEASON TOTALM I NO Runs HS Av. 100 50 Ct O M R W Av. BB 5wI 10wM11 17 2 88 27 5.86 – – 3 463.5 151 1144 51 22.43 7/64 2 -No. Own Team Ct No. O M R W Opp.1995/96 (Zimbabwe) bat Score Total bowl Total12 MCD v Young Mashonaland (10) 0 #309 – (2) 21 6 61 3 182(Alex, 15 Sept – W) — 264/2d – (2) 14 3 35 1 168M I NO Runs HS Av. 100 50 Ct O M R W Av. BB 5wI 10wMCareer 12 18 2 88 27 5.50 – – 3 498.5 160 1240 55 22.54 7/64 2 -No. Own Team Ct No. O M R W Opp.1995/96 (South Africa) bat Score Total bowl Total13 Zimbabwe A v Transvaal (11) 1* #264 – (2) 31 11 104 1 509(Johannesburg, 21 Sept – L) (11) 29 312 – (1) 9.2 5 13 1 70/114 Zimbabwe A v Eastern Province (10) 0 #112 – (2) 26 10 57 3 313Port Elizabeth, 28 Sept – L) (10) 8 14415 Zimbabwe A v South Africa A (10) 2 #221 – (4) 14.5 5 42 1 310(Durban, 6 Oct – D) (10) 27* 256/81995/96 (SOUTH AFRICA) SEASON TOTALM I NO Runs HS Av. 100 50 Ct O M R W Av. BB 5wI 10wM3 6 2 67 29 16.75 – – – 81.1 31 216 6 36.00 3/57 – -Career 15 24 4 155 29 7.75 – – 3 580 191 1456 61 23.86 7/64 2 -No. Own Team Ct No. O M R W Opp.1995/96 (Zimbabwe, cont.) bat Score Total bowl Total16 ZIMBABWE v SOUTH AFRICA (Only) (10) 0 #170 1 (3) 32 4 101 5 346(HSC, 13 Oct – L) (10) 25* 283 1 (3) 12 6 18 0 108/317 MCD v Matabeleland (9) 0 209 – (1) 22.4 6 41 5 #152(BAC, 17 Nov – L) (9) 8 283 – (1) 25.4 3 92 2 34418 Zim Board XI v Northern Tvl B (10) 0* 334/9d – (2) 33 11 69 5 #339(Centurion, 24 Nov – D) — 131/7 – (2) 29 4 106 2 244/8d19 MCD v Mashonaland (10) 25* 279 1 (1) 10 0 45 3 #133(Harare South, 8 Dec – W) (10) 26* 207/8 – (1) 29.2 8 96 6 35220 Zim Board XI v Griqualand West (8) 0 153 1 (3) 26 10 63 3 #290/9d(Harare South, 15 Dec – D) (8) 44 258/9 – (1) 18 4 65 3 183/9d1995/96 (ZIMBABWE) SEASON TOTALM I NO Runs HS Av. 100 50 Ct O M R W Av. BB 5wI 10wMCareer 20 33 8 283 44 11.32 – – 7 817.4 247 2152 95 22.65 7/64 6 -No. Own Team Ct No. O M R W Opp.1995/96 (New Zealand) bat Score Total bowl TotalBryan made a notable debut on his first Test-playing tour for the national side, taking 12 wickets for just 59 runs in his opening first-class match.21 Zimbabweans v New Zealand XI (9) 14 #172 – (2) 18 10 20 6 111(Wanganui, 2 Jan – W) — 154/3 – (2) 27.4 15 39 6 21222 ZIMBABWE v NEW ZEALAND (1st) (11) 4 196 – (2) 24 11 51 0 #230/8d(Hamilton, 13 Jan – D) — 208/6 – (3) 5 1 19 1 222/5d23 ZIMBABWE v NEW ZEALAND (2nd) (11) 14* 326 1 (3) 31.3 8 64 3 #251(Auckland, 20 Jan – D) — 246/4 – (3) 27 8 64 0 441/5d1995/96 (NEW ZEALAND) SEASON TOTALM I NO Runs HS Av. 100 50 Ct O M R W Av. BB 5wI 10wM3 3 1 32 14* 16.00 – – 1 133.1 53 257 16 16.06 6/20 2 1Career 23 36 9 315 44 11.66 – – 8 950.5 300 2409 111 21.70 7/64 8 1No. Own Team Ct No. O M R W Opp.1997/98 (Zimbabwe, cont.) bat Score Total bowl TotalBryan was surprisingly chosen to play against Yorkshire when not fully fit.24 Mash Invitation XI v Yorkshire (10) 0 273/9d – (7) 5 0 26 0 #267/6d(HSC, 1 April – L) (9) 0 156 – (6) 7 2 13 0 215/7d25 MCD v Matabeleland (9) 66 #265 – (1) 26 8 69 4 220(BAC, 19 April – L) (9) 19 128 – (1) 12 3 46 1 176/41997/98 (ZIMBABWE) SEASON TOTALM I NO Runs HS Av. 100 50 Ct O M R W Av. BB 5wI 10wM8 14 4 213 66 21.30 – 1 4 322.4 78 946 43 22.00 6/96 4 -Career 25 40 9 400 66 12.90 – 1 8 1000.5 313 2563 116 22.09 7/64 8 1No. Own Team Ct No. O M R W Opp.1996/97 (Sri Lanka) bat Score Total bowl TotalBryan suffered a broken jaw in an incident off the field and returned home, missing the tour of New Zealand that followed.26 ZIMBABWE v SRI LANKA (2nd)(Colombo SSC, 18 Sept – L)1996/97 (SRI LANKA) SEASON TOTALM I NO Runs HS Av. 100 50 Ct O M R W Av. BB 5wI 10wMCareerNo. Own Team Ct No. O M R W Opp.1996/97 (Pakistan) bat Score Total bowl Total1996/97 (PAKISTAN) SEASON TOTALM I NO Runs HS Av. 100 50 Ct O M R W Av. BB 5wI 10wMCareerNo. Own Team Ct No. O M R W Opp.1996/97 (Zimbabwe) bat Score Total bowl Total1996/97 (ZIMBABWE) SEASON TOTALM I NO Runs HS Av. 100 50 Ct O M R W Av. BB 5wI 10wMCareerNo. Own Team Ct No. O M R W Opp.1997/98 (Zimbabwe) bat Score Total bowl TotalM I NO Runs HS Av. 100 50 Ct O M R W Av. BB 5wI 10wMCareerNo. Own Team Ct No. O M R W Opp.1997/98 (Sri Lanka) bat Score Total bowl Total1997/98 (SRI LANKA) SEASON TOTALM I NO Runs HS Av. 100 50 Ct O M R W Av. BB 5wI 10wMCareerNo. Own Team Ct No. O M R W Opp.1997/98 (New Zealand) bat Score Total bowl Total1997/98 (NEW ZEALAND) SEASON TOTALM I NO Runs HS Av. 100 50 Ct O M R W Av. BB 5wI 10wMCareerNo. Own Team Ct No. O M R W Opp.1997/98 (Zimbabwe, cont.) bat Score Total bowl Total1997/98 (ZIMBABWE) SEASON TOTALM I NO Runs HS Av. 100 50 Ct O M R W Av. BB 5wI 10wMCareerNo. Own Team Ct No. O M R W Opp.1998/99 (Zimbabwe) bat Score Total bowl TotalM I NO Runs HS Av. 100 50 Ct O M R W Av. BB 5wI 10wMCareerNo. Own Team Ct No. O M R W Opp.1998/99 (Pakistan) bat Score Total bowl Total1998/99 (PAKISTAN) SEASON TOTALM I NO Runs HS Av. 100 50 Ct O M R W Av. BB 5wI 10wMCareerNo. Own Team Ct No. O M R W Opp.1998/99 (Zimbabwe, cont.) bat Score Total bowl Total1998/99 (ZIMBABWE) SEASON TOTALM I NO Runs HS Av. 100 50 Ct O M R W Av. BB 5wI 10wMCareerNo. Own Team Ct No. O M R W Opp.1999/2000 (Zimbabwe) bat Score Total bowl TotalM I NO Runs HS Av. 100 50 Ct O M R W Av. BB 5wI 10wMCareerNo. Own Team Ct No. O M R W Opp.1999/2000 (South Africa) bat Score Total bowl Total1999/2000 (SOUTH AFRICA) SEASON TOTALM I NO Runs HS Av. 100 50 Ct O M R W Av. BB 5wI 10wMCareerNo. Own Team Ct No. O M R W Opp.1999/2000 (Zimbabwe, cont.) bat Score Total bowl Total1999/2000 (ZIMBABWE) SEASON TOTALM I NO Runs HS Av. 100 50 Ct O M R W Av. BB 5wI 10wMCareerNo. Own Team Ct No. O M R W Opp.1999/2000 (West Indies) bat Score Total bowl Total1999/2000 (WEST INDIES) SEASON TOTALM I NO Runs HS Av. 100 50 Ct O M R W Av. BB 5wI 10wMCareerNo. Own Team Ct No. O M R W Opp.2000 (England) bat Score Total bowl Total2000 (ENGLAND) SEASON TOTALM I NO Runs HS Av. 100 50 Ct O M R W Av. BB 5wI 10wMCareerNo. Own Team Ct No. O M R W Opp.2000/01 (Zimbabwe) bat Score Total bowl TotalM I NO Runs HS Av. 100 50 Ct O M R W Av. BB 5wI 10wMCareerNo. Own Team Ct No. O M R W Opp.2000/01 (India) bat Score Total bowl Total2000/01 (INDIA) SEASON TOTALM I NO Runs HS Av. 100 50 Ct O M R W Av. BB 5wI 10wMCareerNo. Own Team Ct No. O M R W Opp.2000/01 (New Zealand) bat Score Total bowl Total2000/01 (NEW ZEALAND) SEASON TOTALM I NO Runs HS Av. 100 50 Ct O M R W Av. BB 5wI 10wMCareerNo. Own Team Ct No. O M R W Opp.2000/01 (Zimbabwe, cont.) bat Score Total bowl Total2000/01 (ZIMBABWE) SEASON TOTALM I NO Runs HS Av. 100 50 Ct O M R W Av. BB 5wI 10wMCareerNo. Own Team Ct No. O M R W Opp.2001/02 (Zimbabwe) bat Score Total bowl TotalM I NO Runs HS Av. 100 50 Ct O M R W Av. BB 5wI 10wMCareerNo. Own Team Ct No. O M R W Opp.2001/02 (Bangladesh) bat Score Total bowl Total2001/02 (BANGLADESH) SEASON TOTALM I NO Runs HS Av. 100 50 Ct O M R W Av. BB 5wI 10wMCareerNo. Own Team Ct No. O M R W Opp.2001/02 (Sri Lanka) bat Score Total bowl Total2001/02 (SRI LANKA) SEASON TOTALM I NO Runs HS Av. 100 50 Ct O M R W Av. BB 5wI 10wMCareerNo. Own Team Ct No. O M R W Opp.2001/02 (India) bat Score Total bowl Total2001/02 (INDIA) SEASON TOTALM I NO Runs HS Av. 100 50 Ct O M R W Av. BB 5wI 10wMCareerNo. Own Team Ct No. O M R W Opp.2001/02 (Zimbabwe, cont.) bat Score Total bowl Total2001/02 (ZIMBABWE) SEASON TOTALM I NO Runs HS Av. 100 50 Ct O M R W Av. BB 5wI 10wMCareer*****LAST*****No. Own Team Ct No. O M R W Opp.2002/03 (Zimbabwe) bat Score Total bowl Total2002/03 (ZIMBABWE) SEASON TOTALM I NO Runs HS Av. 100 50 Ct O M R W Av. BB 5wI 10wMCareerRECORD SEASON BY SEASONM I NO Runs HS Av. 100 50 Ct O M R W Av. BB 5wI 10wM1989/90xxxxxxx 4 7 0 54 15 7.71 – – 6 39 4 133 6 22.16 2/6 – -1990/911991/921992/93(Z)1992/93(I)1993 (E)1993/94(P)1993/94(Z)1994/95(A)1994/95(Z)1995/96(NZ)1995/96(Z)1996/97(SL)1996/97(P)1996/97(Z)1997/98(SL)1997/98(NZ)1997/98(Z)1998/99(P)1998/99(Z)1999/00(SA)1999/00(Z)1999/00(WI)2000 (E)2000/01(I)2000/01(NZ)2000/01(Z)2001/02(B)2001/02(K)2001/02(SL)2001/02(I)2001/02(Z)RECORD IN EACH COUNTRYM I NO Runs HS Av. 100 50 Ct O M R W Av. BB 5wI 10wMZimbabweEngland 1 1 0 0 0 0.00 – – – 27 6 76 2 38.00 2/58 – -EnglandAustraliaSouth AfricaWest IndiesNew ZealandIndiaPakistanSri LankaBangladeshKenyaRECORD ON ZIMBABWEAN GROUNDSM I NO Runs HS Av. 100 50 Ct O M R W Av. BB 5wI 10wMAlexandraBulawayo ACCountry ClubHarare Southxxxxxxxxxxxx 3 3 0 126 70 42.00 – 1 1 66 18 154 5 30.80 2/18 – -Harare SouthHarare SCKwekweMutareOld HarariansQueens SCSunriseLOGAN CUP RECORD (FOR MASHONALAND)M I NO Runs HS Av. 100 50 Ct O M R W Av. BB 5wI 10wM1993/94xxxxxxx 3 3 0 126 70 42.00 – 1 1 66 18 154 5 30.80 2/18 – -1994/951995/961996/971997/981998/991999/20002000/012001/02RECORD AGAINST OTHER LOGAN CUP TEAMSM I NO Runs HS Av. 100 50 Ct O M R W Av. BB 5wI 10wMFor Matabeleland:Mash Under-24 2 3 0 91 73 30.33 – – 1 76.5 22 145 10 14.50 6/34 1 -CENTURIES1 101 Mashonaland A v Mashonaland Harare South Country Club 1997/98TWO CENTURIES IN A MATCH104 and 151 ZIMBABWE v NEW ZEALAND (Harare Sports Club) 1997/98CENTURY AND FIFTY IN THE SAME MATCHTWO FIFTIES IN A MATCH200 OR MORE RUNS IN A MATCH`PAIRS’FIVE WICKETS IN AN INNINGS1 5/56 Zimbabwe v Pakistan (Second Test, Rawalpindi) 1993/94BEST MATCH FIGURESMATCH DOUBLE OF 100 RUNS AND FIVE WICKETS131; 1/60 and 7/69 Matabeleland v Mashonaland Country Districts (Bulawayo AC) 1995/96MOST OVERS BOWLED IN AN INNINGSMOST OVERS BOWLED IN A MATCHMOST RUNS CONCEDED IN AN INNINGSMOST RUNS CONCEDED IN A MATCHMOST MAIDEN OVERS BOWLED IN AN INNINGSDETAILS OF DISMISSALS AS A BATSMANbowledlbw 22 17.89caughtcaught by wicketkeepercaught and bowledstumpedrun outTOTAL 123 100.00%DETAILS OF DISMISSALS AS A BOWLERbowledlbw 61 20.07caughtcaught by wicket-keepercaught and bowledstumpedTOTAL 304 100.00%THREE OR MORE CATCHES IN AN INNINGS3 Matabeleland v Glamorgan (Bulawayo Athletic Club) 1994/95FOUR OR MORE CATCHES IN A MATCH4 Matabeleland v Glamorgan (Bulawayo Athletic Club) 1994/95MOST CATCHES IN AN INNINGSMOST CATCHES IN A MATCH
Player potential can be both prosperous and dangerous.
On one hand, if a player is to reach their maximum skill evolvement, their club can benefit no-end, financially speaking.
Though, if a player fails to hit the heights that their hype holds them accountable to, it can be a damaging affair for their employers.
Wolves are unique in the fact that their saga with former Portuguese and now Angolan footballer, Helder Costa leant more towards the former and more prosperous scenario, rather than the latter.
Costa profit
Costa emerged from the high profile Benfica youth system at the age of 18, in the same age group as Ivan Cavaleiro and Bernardo Silva.
After making his debut for the Lisbon side’s B-team in 2012, he would go onto represent them 72 times, scoring 15 goals. Ultimately, he failed to make the grade for the Benfica first-team, making just one appearance.
After a failed loan-spell at La Liga side Deportivo de La Coruna, he made the brave switch to pastures new to link-up with fellow Benfica graduates Silva and Cavaleiro at Monaco.
Despite teeing up a young Kylian Mbappe for the Frenchman’s first-ever league goal, Costa would go on to play a total of 28 games for the Ligue 1 side, scoring five goals, with Monaco loaded with depth options in Kylian Mbappe, Thomas Lemar and Bernardo Silva.
It wasn’t all bad though as Helder Costa moved on a season-long loan to Championship side at the time Wolverhampton Wanderers in what was his best season ever in terms of end product, with a total of 18 goal contributions in 35 appearances.
Wolves made the transfer permanent, with the Old Gold side splashing out £13m for Costa’s services to break their club-record transfer fee at the time in January 2017.
Ultimately, the attacker was not able replicate his ten goals and eight assists that he showed the season prior, but still chipped in with a solid five goals and six assists to help Wolves top the Championship and gain promotion to the Premier League.
After one season in the Premier League, Costa joined Leeds United on loan in the Championship and after helping them to promotion, made the deal permanent with Leeds forking out £16m but he was soon dubbed a “massive flop” by pundit Noel Whelan.
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He featured 22 times in the Premier League for Bielsa’s side the following season (2020/2021) yet Leeds offloaded him to Valencia the following campaign after just one appearance, in what was a strange deal at the time.
With 28-year-old Costa fighting to turn his loan move at Valencia into a permanent deal, he is now valued at just £7.2m, with Wolves’ decision to sell in 2019 looking ingenious.
In other news – Wolves eyeing “all-round” 26y/o regarded as “most complete ever” with fans buzzing…
It’s not a tag you would want to hand any young cricketer, but Stuart Broad’s success in the early days of his international career is already getting him dubbed as Andrew Flintoff’s successor. Although he has some way to go to match the all-round performances of Flintoff, it is Broad’s efforts with the ball that are raising expectations.He has claimed six wickets in the first three ODIs against New Zealand; he was the one shining light in the opening six-wicket defeat in Wellington and played a key role in the comeback win in Auckland with 3 for 32. His first spell in that match was an outstanding 7-1-12-2 and helped set the tone for England’s victory.After 24 matches Broad has 36 wickets despite taking just five in his first six matches. Among England bowlers with at least 30 ODI scalps, Broad’s strike-rate of 33.8 puts him second behind Flintoff by just one decimal point. However, the most important thing for Broad is that he is continuing to learn and develop his bowling.”At first, I barely picked up a wicket and I wondered where one was coming from,” he told . “I think the more you play, the more you learn how to take wickets in different scenarios. I feel I’m learning when to bowl balls and when to bowl a bouncer a bit better, but it does depend on which role you’re doing.”Coming on first change, when Jimmy [James Anderson] and Ryan [Sidebottom] have bowled well up front, it’s a lot easier to come on when the pressure is on the batsman and get some wickets so that has helped me out massively.”Broad didn’t escape the hammering that England’s attack received during the second ODI in Hamilton when Jesse Ryder and Brendon McCullum slammed 165 in little more than 18 overs. His three overs went for 32, but it isn’t the first time Broad has had to come back from some severe punishment. During the ICC World Twenty20 he was clubbed for six sixes in an over by Yuvraj Singh and quickly pushed it to the back of his mind.”International cricket is a fantastic place to play because you know that if you’re not at the top of your game, you get punished and it makes you keep your standards high,” he said “You learn from your mistakes and you learn quickest if you bounce back. County cricket is still a very good standard but you can still get away with a few things.”International cricket really makes you nail your variations. I’ve come in and worked on different cutters and slower balls and not running up and bowling at the same pace with the stock ball – little things like that really help and hopefully when I go back to county cricket, I will implement them there as well.”
To select your XI click here Games of football were one of the ways Bob Woolmer liked to break down barriers based on age and experience. With the ball at their feet, there were no juniors and seniors, just team-mates having a good time and aware that the goal couldn’t be reached without everyone doing their bit. So it was poignant that Pakistan started their pre-match preparation for Wednesday’s game against Zimbabwe with a game of football.Mushtaq Ahmed, Woolmer’s assistant, took charge of proceedings, and played himself, as did Inzamam-ul-Haq, who will captain Pakistan for the last time against Zimbabwe. Many in the team were absolutely devastated by Woolmer’s death, but back on the grass and with a ball to kick around, the smiles started to return to faces. There was even some of the banter that typifies these sessions, and it was only once the boys were sufficiently relaxed that Mushtaq took them across for nets.Pakistan have never departed a World Cup without winning a game, a fate that befell neighbours India in 1979, but Zimbabwe – who could still qualify for the Super Eights with a win – will pose a stern test. Mushtaq acknowledged that rousing the team for one last push would take quite some effort.”The worst news was Bob’s death,” he said. “For many of the boys, it was like a father passing away. And quite a few were also depressed about Inzamam deciding to retire [from one-day cricket]. I went to each and every room to comfort them. Some of them were in tears [after Woolmer’s death]. It’s the biggest blow in the history of Pakistan cricket.”As a player, Mushtaq had a reputation of being a bit of a practical joker, but he admitted that coaxing a laugh or smile out of his wards was difficult. “Whenever we lost badly, I’d do my best to cheer the boys up. But this is not a game of cricket that we’ve lost. It’s a life. I can’t even begin to explain how much passion Bob had for our country’s cricket, and how much he’ll be missed.”As for Inzamam, Mushtaq reckoned that history would view his time in charge with kind eyes. “He took charge at a time when many of the boys had no experience,” he said. “Some of them didn’t even think maturely. He helped to nurture them. At times, he would even forego his own practice to take care of them. He always thought first of the team.”He was a very good captain and role model for the boys. After he announced his retirement, they all went to talk to him. Some of them even told me: ‘We need another man like that to captain us’.”Mushtaq also said that nothing would change on the field against Zimbabwe. “The one thing Bob taught us was that you have to be professional,” he said. “My job is to organise things, Inzamam’s job is to captain them. Before and during the match, each person has a role to play, and we’ll all concentrate on that.”According to Pervez Mir, Pakistan’s media manager, the team would have a remembrance meeting for Woolmer after the Zimbabwe game. “Tomorrow evening after the game, the boys will come out and pay their respects. And some of them may speak about what he meant to them.”Those words may be of solace to the Woolmer family, but the best possible homage to the man who spent three years with them will be a victory, with some of the men whose careers he resurrected delivering keynote performances.To select your XI click here
Rahul Dravid slipped right back into the thick of the action in Indore, the city of his birth, after a well-deserved two match break and was at once stoutly defending two of his team mates, the out-of-form Virender Sehwag and Mohammad Kaif.”They are both proven performers and both have done really well for India in the past,” he said the day before the final ODI against England. “You just have to look at their records to see what they bring to the side. Our aim is to try and get the best out of players, irrespective of whether it is Sehwag or Kaif or VRV Singh. The aim is try and build a good side. We will do whatever it takes to achieve our goal of trying and picking a good team that we think will take us forwards.”In a team situation, it is not always possible to say that everyone will get the same number of opportunities. We all know what Sehwag is capable of doing at the top of the order when he is at his best. Some players will get more chances than others, who may not be lucky enough to get the same number of opportunities. That’s the way international cricket goes, it is part and parcel of international cricket.”Dravid said that while his team was very keen to end the series on a winning note, they were not viewing the match in isolation, and would use chance to give some of the younger cricketers a chance to put their hands up. “It’s a good opportunity for the young guys to show what they are capable of,” he said. “There are a few areas that we need to address. We have a bunch of good young fast bowlers, and we need to identify the best prospects, we must find out who is the best of the lot. Sometimes, you can make the mistake of looking at it as just one match, but we must look ahead. Now that the opportunity presents itself, we must give them a chance.”Dravid also lavished praise on Ramesh Powar, whose stocky build has been a talking point despite some skilful bowling and determined batting. “Sometimes, size can be a bit misleading,” he said. “Ramesh is working very hard on his fitness, he understands that he needs to be fitter. He batted very well in the last one-dayer, and his bowling has been exceptional right through this series. He is a very good and handy cricketer to have. It’s very heartening to see his development; when you have a player like him who can contribute with the bat and with the ball, it mades a difference to the combination of the side. We need to develop players like that.”While conceding that he had watched parts of the last ODI on television Dravid said he had not seen much of Robin Uthappa, the young batsman from his own state of Karnataka. “To be honest, I have not seen too much of him myself. But the selectors have seen something in him, they believe he has the potential. Even without playing a game, it is a very good learning experience for him. He will also be playing in the `A’ team’s outings in Abu Dhabi. It’s like an apprenticeship period for a lot of the young boys, and they can benefit in the future from just being with the Indian team now.”
The final Test in Antigua set a record or two – never before have eight individual hundreds been scored in one match, and that’s not counting the six bowlers who conceded three figures – but it was over as a contest and as meaningful entertainment long before the end of the fifth day.The problem was the pitch, which was as flat as a freshly-tarmaced road but one which offered marginally less reward to bowlers. The same could be said of the Antigua Test last year. The two most recent Tests at the Recreation Ground have produced 2720 runs and 37 wickets; this year, there were 1462 runs and 17 wickets.And spare a thought for Makhaya Ntini, who slogged away for 33 overs for his one wicket, and then watched as two wicketkeepers with no pretentions to being bowlers took three between them. AB de Villiers grabbed 2 for 49 as even West Indies grew weary of batting, and then Mark Boucher took his first wicket with his eighth ball in Test cricket.Andy Roberts, Antigua’s first Test player and someone who has been involved in pitch preparation at St John’s for more than a decade, said the two games were played on different tracks. “This particular pitch has not been used for a couple of years now,” he admitted. “In fact, I have been told the last time it was used was when Brian Lara scored his 375 against England in 1994.”Five-day matches need to offer something to both batsman and bowler. This strip of concrete was so unchanging that the match could have been extended to 10 days and a result would probably have still not been forthcoming.The authorities, in a bid to placate television companies, are looking to come up with pitches which will last. While low-scoring matches are often high on drama, they leave TV executives with too many hours of empty space to fill and rob the grounds of valuable income.Roberts said that his hands were tied and that as the West Indies board only allowed that strip to be used once a year, he could do little to improve its pace and bounce. His frustration was evident before the game. When asked by a reporter how he expected the pitch to play, he replied: “It is very difficult to make a prediction … as we haven’t played cricket here in Antigua for the year, so I have nothing to judge how it will play on.”Whatever the reasons, something needs to be done to redress the balance at St John’s, otherwise even the cricket-mad Antiguans will start to stay away from matches which are anything but contests.
Wavell Hinds’s groin injury, which cut short his tour of South Africa, may force him to miss the forthcoming Test series against England as well.Hinds picked up the injury during the third Test at Cape Town, and wassent home with orders to rest it for 6-12 weeks. But, talking to the last night following his return from South Africa, Hinds wasn’t very optimistic. He said: “After six weeks we will assess it because at that point in time it will be better to say if I will be ready for the English tour.”Hinds insisted, however, that his groin problem did not contribute to his poor form in the South Africa series. Hinds mustered only 59 runs in six innings, and was moved down to No. 5 for the third Test. “I was out of sorts – I wouldn’t put it down to the injury,” he said. “I have played on those wickets before. I’ve played in Australia, which is just as bouncy, or even bouncier. It was just a matter of not moving accordingly and being out of co-ordination. I think that’s something I have to adjust in the near future.”The opening Test of the England tour starts in Jamaica on March 11.
Justin Kemp and Robin Peterson are included in the SA “A” team and GarnettKruger has been called up as 12th man for the 4-day game against Australia,starting on Friday at St. George’s Park.Adi Birrell, EP Coach, says he is extremely pleased about their inclusion.”It is a great opportunity for them to play against the best side in theworld. A good showing during the match can enhance their careerssubstantially. Kemp, Peterson and Kruger has worked very hard and we areextremely excited to see these three in action on their home ground.”The performance consultant to EP Cricket, Kepler Wessels, says they areobviously elated that the players now receive recognition for theirperformance. “We just wish them all the luck and hope everything goes well.”Now that EP has three players in the SA “A” team, there is no reason why youshould stay home and NOT support Kemp, Peterson and Kruger. There is stilltime to enter for the World Record Attempt that will be hosted by EP Cricketin conjunction with the Knysna Oyster Co. and Protem Agencies.The current World Record is held by James Arney. He devoured 64 oysters in2.5 minutes at Bentley’s Restaurant in London on 1 September 2000.A tasty thing to remember is Sunday – which is a family day, but what betterway for the family to spend it than at St. George’s Park. Lunch is availablefor families at the Bojangles Club. Bookings can be made with Katherine Longof Megapro on041-5851646.During the four match days there will be many Castle Lager and MTNgive-aways in Castle Corner. On Sunday, SAB will give away Castle Hampersand there will also be a chance to win a ticket to the World Cup and”Beer-for-a-Year”.Spec-Savers will give away thousands of Rands worth of sunglasses at thegame. EP Cricket’s coaching department will also provide exciting on-fieldentertainment during the lunch break.Ticket prices are as follows:Adults (unreserved) – All 4 days R30Adults (unreserved) – Per day R10Scholars (unreserved) – All 4 days R10Scholars (unreserved) – Per day R5Terrace Level (unreserved) – All 4 days R30Terrace Level (unreserved) – All 4 days R10Executive Seating (Reserved) – All 4 days R60Executive Seating (Reserved) – Per day R20Gates open at 8:30 for patrons and at 9:00 for the general public. The matchwill start at 10:00 every day.