Australia’s concern over Andrew Symonds continues to ease after he began throwing for the first time since tearing a biceps in Sydney last month. Symonds’ mood-lifting week of activities started with hitting tennis balls and he got through another examination with some fielding drills while Australia beat Zimbabwe by 106 runs in St Vincent.Symonds used a cricket ball for 12 light throws, according to The Australian, and he appears to be on track to fulfil his goal of playing in the group game against South Africa in St Kitts on March 24. The rehabilitation will continue as the team prepares to face England in their final warm-up game on Friday.Matthew Hayden, who is recovering from a broken toe, will miss the match but is still confident of returning for Australia’s opening contest of the World Cup against Scotland on Wednesday. “Symonds and Hayden have been doing their fair share of training over the last week,” Ricky Ponting said in The Australian. “They have both had bats in their hand. Matty has had a couple of really good hits the last couple of days.”
South Africa have recalled Nicky Boje, Boeta Dippenaar and Andrew Hall to their 14-man squad for the first two Tests against Australia. Shaun Pollock and Andre Nel have both been included despite missing the final one-day international, but Garnett Kruger has been named as cover.Boje was dropped following the Boxing Day Test against Australia, at Melbourne, but has made an irresistible case for a recall with a brilliant domestic season, which has included a career-best 8 for 93. Even if Johan Botha, who can’t bowl because of a suspect action, had been available Boje would have been in the frame to return.Dippenaar has been rewarded for impressive one-day form – he scored 101 in the fourth ODI against Australia – with a return to the Test side for the first Time since the tour of West Indies last May. Hall, too, has not played a Test since the West Indies trip and will add some much needed experience to the bowling attack.Makhaya Ntini, who missed the final Test against Australia at Sydney in January, is back in the side after recovering from a knee injury, while Charl Langeveldt, who played at Sydney, was not considered because of a broken finger.South Africa squad Graeme Smith (capt), Boeta Dippenaar, Herschelle Gibbs, AB de Villiers, Jacques Kallis, Jacques Rudolph, Ashwell Prince, Mark Boucher (wk), Shaun Pollock, Andrew Hall, Nicky Boje, Makhaya Ntini, Andre Nel, Garnett Kruger.
The success of England’s Test cricket team has been recognised by one of their major sponsors, the national energy provider, npower, who today announced a two-year extension to their title sponsorship of home Test matches. The current deal, which was due to expire at the end of this year’s Ashes series, has now been extended to 2007.”Cricket has been a fantastic vehicle for gaining new customers and increasing customer loyalty to the npower brand over the last four seasons,” said Kevin Miles, npower’s managing director residential. “We are delighted to extend our agreement for a further two years – especially given the buoyant state of the current English cricket team.The new deal includes a marketing fund of £300,000 each year, which will be directly spent on giving greater access to the sport for fans. In recent years, npower has sponsored cricket’s feline mascots, The Pride Side, which has encouraged children between the ages of 5 to 11 to experience a day at a Test. Npower are also major sponsors of the Twenty20 Cup, women’s domestic Test series, and the npower Village Cup.”Once the new television agreement was signed with Sky and Channel 5, we had no hesitation in agreeing our continued backing of the sport but it was important to us that we ensured that a substantial portion of our money would go directly into giving fans greater access to the sport.”England might regard the company as something of a lucky charm – they won seven npower Tests out of seven in the 2004 season – and David Collier, the chief executive of the England & Wales Cricket Board, was delighted at the news.”With the England team having enjoyed four successive Test series wins, Test cricket is proving to be a more attractive vehicle than ever for sponsors and business partners,” said Collier. “npower has made a significant investment in our game since 2001 and I am delighted that our partnership with them is to continue for a further two years.”Michael Vaughan, the England captain, added: “npower have been strong supporters of English cricket and the England team and we welcome the renewal of their sponsorship. It’s excellent news.”
The Pub Charity CCA Club Cricket Draw – November 8 2003MEN’S CRICKET:1st Grade Men:R3 – 1 & 8 Nov (2 Day)2nd day of 22nd Grade Men:R3 – 1 & 8 Nov (2 Day)2nd day of 23rd Grade Gold Men:R3 – 1 & 8 Nov (2 Day)2nd day if 23rd Grade Red:R3 – 8 Oct & 15 Nov (2-day)Christs College v Burnside HS CC 1,STAC v St. Thom STAC 1,St. Bedes v TBHS TBHS 1,SBHS v CBHS SBHS 1.3rd Grade Black (Grade has been redrawn):R3 – 25 Oct & 1 Nov (2-day)CBHS Blue v CC Straven 2,CBHS Red v STAC STAC 2,SBHS v CBHS Black Straven 1,Burn HS v St Bedes Burn HS 1,Ricc HS Bye.4th Grade Men:St.A A v BWU HC 3,LPW Yabbage v Mar Ensors 3,OC Cavs v Syd Muppets Elm 4,St.A B v ES Hooters Clare 1.5th Grade Men:Ricc Gold v LPW Yaks Wool 1,Ricc Hogs v BWU Gold HC 8,OC Gold v BWU Blue Ilam 1,Mar Green v St.A Ilam 2,BWU Maroon v BWU SNCC Burn 2.6th Grade Men:Mar Fozzie B’s v Pk Ilam 5,OC SGC v Syd Red Syd 4a,LPW v Mar Gold Ilam 6,St. A v Syd Blue HC 7,OC Tan v BWU Burn 3.President’s Men:Ricc+ v St. A Blue HC 9,Mar v St.A Gold Ilam 3,HSOB Gold v Syd Syd 3,LPW Red v ES Blue Burw 3,ES Gold v OC Elm 3,Hospital v BWU Ilam 4,LPW Gladiators v Sum Misfits Ensors 2.(+ Indicates G. Frampton Challenge Trophy holder)WOMEN’S CRICKET1st Grade Women:R4 – 8 Nov (1-day Cup)ES v OC-Country Burw 2,ST A v LPW Gar 2.1st Reserve Grade Women:R2 – 8 Nov (1-day)Ricc v BWU Burn 4,ES v St.A Avondale 1,OC-Country v Syd Malvern 1.2nd Grade Women:LPW v Syd Wool 2,Hare v OC-Country Red 2,St.A Bye.3rd Grade:St.A v BWU HSC,Horn v LPW Hansen Pk 1a,Syd v Ricc Polo 1a.4th Grade Primary Girls:Senior Trad:St A Grammar v OC Country Cath Grammar 2 (Nancy’s Corner),LPW v ES HC 3,Horn v St.A Gold HC 8.Junior Trad:St A v Nb HC 9.Junior Average:LPW v Cath Grammar HC 4,Syd v St.A HC 5,HSOB v Syd Selwyn House HC 6.
Rawalpindi registered a crushing 453-run victory over Lahore Blues in the Quaid Trophy Grade-I match inside days at Gaddafi Stadium Wednesday.Young opener Babar Naeem stroked a magnificent 227 and superb swing bowling by Naeem Akhtar, who claimed a match bag of 10 for 106 played significant roles in Rawalpindi’s big win.Rawalpindi, who earned a 130-run lead on first innings, setthe home side a massive target of 599 after amassing 468 for five declared with Babar Naeem making 227 off 251 deliveries, including 26 fours and five sixes. Test discard Naveed Ashraf also shone with 91 off 154 balls with 11 boundaries. Babar and Naveed added 186 for the fourth wicket in 187 minutes.Lahore Blues, last season’s champions, were sent crashing to 145 all out with Naeem Akhtar taking four for 53 to follow his six for 53 in the first innings. Yasir Arafat was the other main destroyer with figures of five for 53.
Having put the Governor’s XI into bat, England did well in taking five wickets for 113 until an unbroken sixth wicket stand of 60 revived the innings in the last session of the day.In conditions more akin to England than to the North-West Frontier Province of Pakistan (the cool day was shortened by a rain-delayed start and bad light after 56 overs), a partnership between Yasir Hameed and Mohammad Hussain took the Governor’s XI to 173 for 5 when stumps were drawn early.From 21 without loss at lunch after only a thirty-minute morning session, the Governor’s XI total had advanced to 101 for two at tea.Both wickets fell to catches behind the stumps. Craig White struck first dismissing Imran Farhat for 42 with the total on 58, and two runs later Andy Caddick found the outside edge of Taufeeq Umer’s bat.Wajahatullah Wasti, who got married yesterday and is having a local, traditional reception tonight, would not have taken too kindly to Darren Gough for striking him on the left hand and breaking a finger. He did not resume his innings after lunch.Farhat had provided some entertaining batting in his 54-ball innings of 42 but was given a ‘ life ‘ when Graham Thorpe, at third slip, failed to hold onto a straightforward catch off Caddick with the total on 17.The bowler would have been more than a little disappointed. He had been hit for two boundaries by Farhat at that stage. The first was a pull and then, two balls before the dropped catch, Farhat played a beautiful square cut.England made an excellent start after tea with Ashley Giles taking two wickets in three balls in the first over, without addition to the tea total.Twelve runs later Gough had the captain, Rashid Latif, caught at third slip. But then followed an attacking partnership during which Yasir Hameed reached his half-century from 107 balls, and hit five boundaries in his unbeaten 34.Both batted with confidence, with Yasir Hameed fluent in his stroke-play, and Mohammad Hussain hitting the ball hard.England used six bowlers of whom the two spinners, Ian Salisbury and Giles got a little turn from the grassy pitch, but the pace bowlers found plenty of early life and bounce.The England bowling coach, Bob Cottam, declared himself satisfied with the English bowling performance.”It was the first time the opening bowlers had bowled in the middle for a while and they were a little bit rusty,” Cottam admitted. “Goughie ran in a little bit quickly to begin with because he hasn’t had a new ball in his hand for a while.”As the day went on, they settled in and did well and I talked to all the bowlers at the end, and they are all happy with what they’ve put in, and that’s all you can really ask for.”As we know, fast bowlers hunt in pairs and both the spinners like having another spinner at the other end, it’s good for them. They have got to get over some of their rustiness, and they feel it is coming out nicely, and they’re happy.”
Everton are in a very vulnerable position in their Premier League campaign at this point of the season just one point off the relegation zone, so a win over Wolverhampton Wanderers at Goodison Park is essential for Frank Lampard’s side to secure some safety in the league this afternoon.
And now, a huge double injury boost has emerged that could put the Toffees in their best position to achieve this.
What’s the word?
The Toffees boss took to his pre-match press conference to confirm that both Demarai Gray and Ben Godfrey have returned to training and full fitness putting themselves in contention for selection against Bruno Lage’s side this weekend.
Speaking to the press, Lampard confirmed;
“Ben Godfrey is a big player for us and so is Demarai Gray. They are both fit.
“I haven’t really been able to call on them but now I can, and we need our big players.”
Lampard will be buzzing
As the 43-year-old manager touched on in his press conference, Gray and Godfrey are big players for the Everton team and both offer experience in the team, with Gray in particular having a hugely positive impact on the side since he joined the club last summer.
The 25 year old winger is the second highest-scoring player in the squad this season with six goals so far, and considering Dominic Calvert-Lewin and Richarlison are struggling to find the back of the net since they have returned from injury, the return of Gray will be highly anticipated by the manager as he looks for a fresh perspective in front of goal to offer an attacking threat that delivers.
As for Godfrey, he could really make the impact that the defensive line desperately needs following the 5-0 defeat on Monday night against Tottenham Hotspur, in which we saw the Everton defence completely fall apart throughout.
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Lampard will surely be buzzing that he can add a fresh pair of legs into the back line, especially when you look at the 24-year -ld’s defensive attributes this season so far.
According to SofaScore, Godfrey has won the majority of both his ground and aerial duels combined (55%), has been successful in the majority of his dribbles (70%), making 2.1 tackles and 3.5 clearances on average per game, proving that he could make a positive impact against Wolves.
In other news: Lampard must do everything to keep Richarlison
Ricky Ponting believes he can overcome the persistent threat of Harbhajan Singh despite falling early to the offspinner in the second innings in Melbourne. Harbhajan has dismissed Ponting six times in seven Tests and will play a crucial role alongside Anil Kumble as India attempt to level the series in Sydney.Harbhajan joked at the MCG he hadn’t seen enough of Ponting to have a plan for him on this tour, but it is a serious matter for Australia’s captain. “He’s got a great record in Tests against me,” Ponting said of Harbhajan. “He got me first ball last week.”The 2001 contest, when Ponting scored 17 runs and slipped five times against Harbhajan in three Tests, is one of his few international scars, but he is not bothered by the problems against offspin. “It’s a long time from that series in India six years ago, where he had the measure of me,” Ponting said. “But it could be my turn here. It’s just a matter of time before I get some runs.”Ponting picked up two half-centuries against Sri Lanka in November, but was the only Australian batsman to miss out in Melbourne, scoring 4 and 3. “I have got a good record here, I’ve made five hundreds on this ground,” he said. “Hopefully that can be the case this week. It was lean last week, I had almost as many catches as runs. But I had a good net, I’m coming off a couple of hundreds in the ODIs [against New Zealand] and I’m feeling good to go.”The slow start has not convinced India to downgrade the Ponting threat and Kumble remains wary. Kumble knows how potent Harbhajan is against Ponting, but will wait to decide whether to bring him on as soon as the captain enters.”It all depends on what’s happening at that stage,” Kumble said. “We understand that Ricky is the key and it’s important we get him early.”Harbhajan also has a strong record against Matthew Hayden and Adam Gilchrist, who have been dismissed seven times in eight Tests, but he had less impact in Melbourne, taking three wickets to Kumble’s seven. The visiting spinners will have a huge say in whether Australia can equal the world record of 16 consecutive wins, which was set by Steve Waugh and ended by India in 2001.”The only thing wrong with discussing it is that it takes the focus away from the game,” Ponting, who has tried to avoid talk of the achievement, said. “When you’re facing a ball, or starting to bowl, you need a nice clear mind. I don’t mind a bit of talk about it, but if it gets too much, I would like to put it down.”
Bedfordshire’s Alex Wakely starred with bat and ball as England U19s overwhelmed their hosts, Malaysia, by nine wickets at Kuala Lumpur. On a rain-interrupted day, England won the toss and bowled first but were forced to withdraw their seamers early because of heavy cloud cover and bad light.And so it was over to the spinners, who took seven of the ten wickets to fall, with Wakely taking 3 for 20 in nine probing overs. Malaysia were bowled out for 104 with more than eight overs to spare, with Liam Dawson also starring with 2 for 21.Heavy rain in the interval meant that England’s target was adjusted to 100 in 43 overs, but opening the batting with Billy Godleman, Wakely made short work of the requirement, rattling along to 54 from 47 balls with eight fours and a six.Wakely would have been on hand to see his side to the finish but for a controversial run-out. With just 12 runs required, Malaysia’s wicketkeeper broke the stumps without the ball in his hands, but the umpire mistakenly upheld the appeal. It mattered not, however, as Godleman finished unbeaten on 32 as England eased home in just 18.1 overs.England’s next match is against India on Wednesday, a dress rehearsal for the Tri-series final on Friday.
Sport England today announced a major investment in grass roots and community cricket with confirmation of a three-year funding award to the England & Wales Cricket Board (ECB).The ECB will receive a total of £10.7 million in Lottery funding through Sport England to support the objectives contained in its Building Partnerships business plan. The award is effective from April this year and will run through to the end of March 2009.Roger Draper, Chief Executive of Sport England, said that the award recognised the substantial progress made by the ECB in modernising its management and governance structures and its ambitious vision for the grass roots development of the game.”Cricket is currently on a huge high following last summer’s Ashes successes and has a fantastic opportunity to capitalise and build on unprecedented levels of public popularity,” Draper said “The £10.7 million we are investing in the sport over the next three years will contribute towards achieving the goals we share with the ECB of getting more people from all backgrounds involved in the game at all levels.”Welcoming today’s announcement, David Collier, the ECB’s chief executive, said: “The ECB warmly welcomes the three-year commitment to the funding of cricket by Sport England. It has been ECB’s desire for a number of years to move towards a multi-year commitment of public funding, in order that our clubs and county boards can provide sustainable programmes. This funding is an important start in an increased involvement and commitment from Government and the National Lottery, which cricket needs to provide facilities to sustain the long-term expansion of the game.”A further £4.75 million has already been committed by Sport England into a Community Club Development Programme (CCDP), which invests in local cricket club improvement and development projects. CCDP funding covers the financial years 2006-07 and 2007-08 and is in addition to today’s £10.7 million announcement.This confirmed investment in cricket comes on top of Sport England’s recent financial support for the Cricket Foundation’s Chance to shine campaign, which will receive £2 million up to March 2007 to help reinvigorate cricket in state schools.More than £103 million of Lottery funds have been invested in cricket since 1994, supporting over 3,000 individual projects. These range from high profile facilities such as the ECB National Cricket Centre in Loughborough and Hampshire County Cricket Club’s Rose Bowl stadium, through to individual club awards to improve playing and practice facilities in the community.