A four-member anti-corruption unit of the ICC arrived in Nagpur today to conduct a probe into the allegations of match-fixing involving Marlon Samuels, the West Indian allrounder, and bookie Mukesh Kochar.The Nagpur Police revealed last week that they had taped four telephone conversations between Samuels and Kochar on the eve of the first ODI between India and West Indies in Nagpur on January 21.The team, headed by N S Virk, regional security manager of the ICC’s Anti-Corruption Unit, met SPS Yadav, Nagpur’s Police Commissioner, who contacted the Indian board (BCCI) with the initial details.Brian Murgatroyd, an ICC spokesman, told reporters in Nagpur that the ICC’s anti-corruption unit was speaking to the police and cricket officials in Nagpur after being given the details by the Indian board: “The unit will extract more details and all possible angles from the police. We will leave no stone unturned in the investigation”. He said no timeframe had been fixed by the ICC in which to complete the probe.Later, Yadav told reporters he’d passed on to the ICC officials the information that, because of a delayed flight, the West Indies team received their playing kit after the toss for the match in question had taken place. This, he said, could have been the reason why Brian Lara, who had won the toss, decided to field first.
One big defeat at Karachi was all it took for the critics to sharpen their knives but Rahul Dravid, the India captain, has insisted that the players are capable of brushing it all aside and concentrating on the five-match one-day series. He was confident of Sachin Tendulkar “bouncing back” to form.
Dravid wasn’t too perturbed by the media backlash after the 341-run defeat in the third Test and said they had come to expect such “extreme reactions”. Asked about cheeky headlines like “Endulkar?” and “Goneguly?”, he spoke about the on-field pressures cricketers regularly endure:”Players like Tendulkar and [Sourav] Ganguly have achieved so much because they have handled the pressures both on and off the field.”It’s not only about scoring runs or getting wickets, but also about how you react to criticism and come out stronger. I think Tendulkar and Ganguly are masters at it. We hope Tendulkar will bounce back here. Thankfully we haven’t been reading much of the criticism or seeing much ofit on television. Having played for so long, one expects it and gets used to it.”The addition of four new players to the squad, Dravid felt, would pep up the rest of the side, with fresh legs adding a bit of sting to the fielding. “They’ve been playing domestic cricket and are keen and excited. They’ve done well before and a couple [Mohammad Kaif and Murali Kartik]have tasted success in Pakistan.”With the pitch expected to suit the batsmen, Dravid, like he had done during the first two Tests, repeated that bowlers needed to set “realistic goals” and learn something from bowling on these wickets. “It’s hard on the bowlers,” he continued, “but it’s usually the team that bowls betterin these conditions that does better. We need to learn from it.”Dravid admitted that the Supersub rule tended to favour the team winning the toss, but was quick to add that it was an innovation that was worth trying out. “The ICC have decided to try it out for 10 months and we probably need to try some different things with it.”
Let the contest resume. In an era of Australian domination any chink or blink is gleefully greeted, and New Zealand carried the necessary tools in December. The world wants them toppled by any teams or means – but at the very least under the gazes of stress-free umpires – and privately many Down Under agree. Cheering steamrollers has become tiring. There is a bump of hope in the Land of the Long White Cloud.Australia have wandered lonely on top over two World Cups, but New Zealand have always rumbled them. A day of Brisbane showers drained a thrilling conclusion to the inaugural Chappell-Hadlee Trophy after the opening two matches were shared, and Australia were under as much pressure as they apparently give the on-field officials. The washout heightened expectations for the five-match series against the world’s top-ranked teams starting at Wellington tomorrow.The two countries share much besides enthusiasm for this rivalry, and both understood Stephen Fleming when he succinctly predicted a “ripper”. When Australia’s players haven’t been talking about the Ashes they have discussed their prospects carefully. Ricky Ponting used “big” and “vital” in between mentions of England before jetting to Auckland. Perhaps looking ahead is easier than contemplating a tribe of Kiwis even though Australia haven’t lost a one-day series across the ditch.Before Australia ran over Pakistan – umpiring not-outs permitting – in the VB Series, Fleming’s side was a chance of overtaking their Trans-Tasman neighbours for three matches against the Rest of the World in October. With the Chappell-Hadlee Trophy safely stored in neutral territory until the end of the year, this series has been stripped of its glitter. The glitz came and went in a couple of hours of Twenty20; the serious glares begin at Westpac Stadium in search of top-table glory.New Zealand’s recent home one-day record is as proud as the All Blacks’ tight five. Their rise to No. 2 was as calculated as Fleming’s rotation of his side’s mid-over bowling and late-order hitting. Since Pakistan toured in 2000-01, New Zealand have lost only eight matches in their green fields and claimed six series in a row if the abbreviated one against Sri Lanka, disrupted after a match by the Boxing Day tsunami, is included. Australia must adjust quickly to the conditions and rectangular grounds or face a recovery more difficult than the middle-order collapses of 4 for 10 at Telstra Stadium and 5 for 21 at the SCG against them in December.Both times Darren Lehmann was the saviour with half-centuries, but he did not stay afloat after the VB Series. Lehmann was not alone as the battling wobbled – only Michael Clarke (68.5) and Damien Martyn (60) averaged more than 30 in the tournament – while Brett Lee and Glenn McGrath heaved them to victory. Matthew Hayden, who was dropped for the finals, and Andrew Symonds have form to re-find quickly against the niggly Kyle Mills, Daryl Tuffey and Jeff Wilson.Wilson, the former All Black, knows about opposing great Australia teams, having lined up against the Wallabies in 14 Tests between 1994 and 2001, winning eight and losing six. Four ODIs in 1992-93 sit on his round-ball resume, but the born-again Black Cap has done something seemingly impossible by overshadowing the opening round of the Super 12 rugby competition. Marketing and novelty may have been behind his selection for the FICA World XI matches, but any chance against Australia will be deserved, and his performances will be scrutinised to a similar degree as Twenty20.The flexing of Chris Cairns has scared Australia for more than a decade and Fleming’s improved batting at the head of the order also worries Ponting. For the rest of the world it gives hope for another thrilling contest, and one that leads to a cut-and-dry conclusion.Peter English is Australasian editor of Cricinfo.
Graeme Swann has ended speculation that he is leaving Northamptonshire by signing a new one-year contract.Swann admitted that he had received offers from other counties, but said he was keen to stay at Northants despite Kepler Wessels, the coach, questioning his attitude last season.Talking to the Swann, 23, said: “It’s nice to have all the negotiations finally sorted and I’m now looking forward to playing another season with Northants back where we belong in the first division.”I don’t think things were ever that bad between myself and Kepler. He was probably a bit frustrated with me at the time, but judging by how things went at the end of the season I think that is all in the past now and we’ve moved on.”Swann was offered a new contract at the beginning of August, but preferred to wait until now to commit. “It was more a case of wanting to finish the season first and leave all the negotiations till then," he said. “Although leaving was an option, and there was quite a bit of interest from other counties, the thought of moving was never really there. I wanted to leave it till the end of the season and not have my mind clouded with contract negotiations.”I finished the season really well and it wouldn’t be the best idea to move when we have got back into the first division and with the way we play with spinning wickets here. I want to start next year where I left off last season.”Swann also predicted big things from the two new signings, Usman Afzaal and Steffan Jones and insisted Northants have a great chance of doing more than just avoiding relegation next season.”They are both players with immense experience,” he said. “I toured with Usman with England Under-19s. He is a very good player and will do well. I don’t know so much about Steffan, but he is the kind of player that will improve the team. With the players we have already got, to add these two is a real bonus and hopefully means we will be challenging for silverware.”
Mark Bruyns, who had to left Natal during the off-season in search of a regular game, guided Border to a comprehensive nine-wicket victory over Boland in a Standard Bank Cup match at Buffalo Park in East London Sunday.Bruyns batted all 36 overs of the Border innings for his unbeaten 89 as the home team made light work of Boland’s modest 169 all out. Bruyns shared a 101-run opening stand with Craig Sugden (45) and then, in harness with Stephen Pope (25 not out), saw Border home with something to spare.Earlier, Benjamin Hector had top-scored for Boland with 59 while Monde Zondeki returned his best limited overs figures of four for 32.
An unbroken third wicket partnership of 61 runs off 17.3 overs between S Badrinath and Dinesh Mongia has given Jolly Rovers more than a ray of hope in their Buchi Babu all India invitation tournament pre quarterfinal against Kerala Cricket Association XI at the IIT-Chemplast ground in Chennai. At stumps on the second day on Monday, Jolly Rovers were 95 for two in reply to KCA’s first innings total of 299.Because of overnight rain which rendered the playing conditions unfit, play started only at 2 pm. The Kerala tail did not wag for long and about the only defiance was shown by skipper KN Ananthapadmanabhan who was last out for 48. Ganesh Kumar, who took two of the three wickets to fall on Monday (Kerala resumed at 275 for seven) finished the most successful bowler with four for 64.When Jolly Rovers batted, experienced campaigner Sunil Oasis removed both openers J Joseph (20) and skipper Sujith Somasundar (10) with only 34 runs on the board. But Badrinath and Mongia weathered the storm and came through unbeaten at stumps. By close, the watchful Badrinath had faced 83 balls for his 28 and had hit only one boundary but the more enterprising Mongia hit three fours while facing 55 balls for his 32. The stage is set for a keen tussle for the vital first innings lead on Tuesday.
Leeds United have only had one game with their new manager Jesse Marsch in charge, which saw the Yorkshire club lose 1-0 against Leicester City at the weekend.
Even though the Whites still have a challenge on their hands to stay in the Premier League before the end of the season, it seems as though some signs have emerged regarding what the club could look to do once the upcoming summer transfer window opens.
What’s the latest?
Speaking to GIVEMESPORT, journalist Pete O’Rourke had this to say about the possibility of the Elland Road outfit making a move to sign Liverpool attacker Takumi Minamino, who they have been linked with in the past, during the upcoming summer transfer window.
He said: “Yeah, I still think it’s a position that Leeds need to strengthen.
“They’ve been so badly hit by Patrick Bamford’s absences this season through injury; they haven’t got much up there. Jesse Marsch knows all about him from his time at RB Salzburg.”
It was thought the player could cost as much as £20m as recently as January.
Dream deal for Leeds
Since joining the Merseyside club back in the 2020 January transfer window from Salzburg, the Japanese international has not found regular game time particularly easy to come by. However, he has managed to make himself a useful attacking presence when he has played, scoring 13 goals and providing three assists in 53 appearances.
Having been praised for his “complete” performances in the past by Jurgen Klopp, the 27-year-old had made 22 appearances under Marsch during their time together in Austria where the attacker racked up nine goals and 11 assists.
Taking this into account, it would be safe to assume that the 48-year-old would be delighted if he were able to reunite with Minamino at Leeds, sealing a dream first deal during his stint at Elland Road.
Minamino would undoubtedly add an extra attacking dynamic to his team, which is something that they have needed throughout this season with just 29 goals scored in 27 played league games compared to the 43 they had netted at this stage in their previous campaign.
With a significant amount of experience playing in Europe and winning trophies with Liverpool and Salzburg, securing the winger’s signature in the summer could be a dream deal for Victor Orta to complete too, handing the new manager at Thorp Arch a good start in building the team to how he would want it to be.
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Furthermore, he’s been in good form too with his brace against Norwich last week drawing comparisons to one of Liverpool’s finest, as Ian Doyle claimed he was the “new Luis Suarez.” That might be a stretch too far but it shows how appreciated he is at Anfield.
With that in mind, if the Whites were to drop back down to the Championship, this would surely make it a lot harder for them to convince the Reds attacker to swap Merseyside for Yorkshire.
In other news: Huge boost: Phil Hay drops teasing 9-word Leeds update that will have fans elated – opinion
Look at the third day’s play in isolation and you have an interesting contest:Australia 351 for 7, a good score but not necessarily a match-winning one. It wouldstill be Australia’s day but India would end it upbeat, hoping to mop up the tail inthe first hour tomorrow. They would have taken heart from their effort and looked tosustain the fight on the next day.Test matches mean nothing without context. A tepid crowd watched a game being setup, fully aware of the possibilities ahead. There was no guesswork going on. Almostdouble the number turned up for the opening day, one where Australia managed 337 for9. Only 14 more runs were scored today for two less wickets but the day but therewas hardly any buzz; just 35,000-odd people waiting for the declaration.It may sound preposterous to praise the Indian bowlers on such a day but they showedthe stomach for a fight, a quality that had served them well on the opening day.Zaheer Khan ran in with purpose, RP Singh came with a bit more fire, Harbhajan Singhslowed it down a bit and Anil Kumble refused to waver. On the hottest day of theirtrip, after their batsmen had let them down, they showed the sort of defiance thebatsmen could have done with.Zaheer’s run to the wicket has rarely been quicker. It was clear that he wasdesperate to make a point, so eager that he overstepped once too often. The in-cutterto castle Andrew Symonds was a cracker – he had almost finished his celebrationbefore he realised it was a no-ball – and the intensity of his appealing told youabout a strike bowler wanting to create inroads. He generated some lethalreverse-swing and changed his angle often enough to keep the batsmen guessing. Hehad displayed a similar zeal in the second innings at Nottingham, a match that heturned with a couple of fiery spells.What hurt India, for the second time in three days, was Australia’s urge to get amove on. It’s not only the strength they summoned to smash fours and sixes but alsothe stealth to grab quick runs. They have been stronger and faster than theIndians. Nowhere were their batsmen’s approach more evident than when Symonds wasbowled. Turning back to see his stumps shattered, he seemed to be heading towardsthe pavilion before realising it was a no-ball. One would have expected him to lookup at the heavens, instead he was furiously calling his partner for a run. Scorefirst, thank later.India’s sloppy fielding wasn’t going to help – they were always going to struggle insuch big arenas – but they would be heartened by Harbhajan Singh’s improvement. Hedidn’t extract much spin from the surface but slowed his pace and worked his angles.He is still far from being a threatening force but will take a few positives toSydney, where the surface might suit him more.He also reminded everyone about this being only his second Test in Australia. “Ittakes time to adjust to the conditions in Australia,” Harbhajan said of his poorfirst-innings effort. “These pitches have some extra bounce, something we’re notused to in India. I think we bowled well today. As a bowling unit, we’ve beenbowling well.”Harbhajan’s responses to a few critical questions summed up the bowlers’ day. “We’rehere to win the series and are not going to try and draw the game.” When provoked -“Don’t you think the series might be gone before India acclimatise to theconditions?” – he turned combative: “We won’t lose the series. Bythe time we return to India, let me show you we’re here to win.”It is a stubbornness that will serve India’s batsmen well. The Test may be gone butthere’s plenty to be gained over the next couple of days.
Mohammad Yousuf, the man who last year scored a world-record 1788 Test runs, has described Ricky Ponting as the world’s best player because of his ability to destroy any bowling attack. Yousuf said Ponting was every bit as good as modern batting legends like Viv Richards and Brian Lara and named the Australia captain as the man most likely to break his record for most runs in a calendar year.Yousuf said Ponting’s ability to score heavily in all types of conditions all over the world was one of his greatest assets. “[Ponting] is the best player by quite a long way,” Yousuf said in an interview with the . “Everywhere he goes in the world it is the same.”Sometimes we struggle in parts of the world where wickets favour the bowlers, but that does not happen to him. He used to have a little bit of trouble in places like India or Sri Lanka, but he has shown in the last few years that he now plays very well there. He is very strong, mentally and physically.”Yousuf, who made 455 more runs than Ponting in 2006, said he would like to pick Ponting’s brain in an effort to improve even further. “I think if there is somebody who will break the record, it will be Ponting,” he said. “He has scored 1500 runs in a year twice and he went very close this time as well. If I see him at the World Cup, it would be good to talk. Maybe I can learn from him.”The best batsmen I have seen in my lifetime are Viv [Richards] and [Brian] Lara, and they are some of the best in history. I think Ricky is as good as any of them. I have never seen anything like him. I have seen Ponting in a lot of matches, and he is the best player in the world at the moment. He can beat any bowler.”
A brief history compiled by Dr. Andrew Hignell (Hon. Statistician and Historian to Glamorgan CCC)Abergavenny is widely regarded by players, the Press and thegeneral public as one of the most picturesque grounds on thefirst-class circuit. Its intimate atmosphere and rural location,nestling amongst the tree-topped hills on the Welsh border, amile or so to the north of a small and friendly market town, tosay nothing of its quaint pavilion and irregular boundary, allprovide a tranquil atmosphere. The annual fixture at the groundprovides a healthy reminder of what cricket must have been likein the pre-commercial era, and for those who play, work or watchat vast, anonymous concrete stadiums, visiting the Avenue Roadground must be a godsend and a breath of fresh air. The wickethas been of the highest standard, and a host of batting recordshave been established at the pretty ground, most recently in 1995when Gloucestershire`s Anglo-Australian, hit a world record 20sixes during the Championship match with Gloucestershire.The Abergavenny club is amongst one of the oldest in South Wales.Formed in 1834, the club first played in the lush fieldsalongside the Rivers Usk or Gavenny, and during most of the 19thcentury their games were held at a variety of locations on thesegreen meadows against teams of gentlemen or traders from towns inthe neighbouring English counties. In 1884 they acquired aregular home on land owned by the industrialist Crawshay Bailey,but over time the wicket became rather poor, and the club lostfixtures as a result. A solution was found in 1896 when anapproach to the Marquess of Abergavenny, resulted in a move to afour and a half acre field off Avenue Road, called Pen-y-Pound.The Marquess was a great supporter of cricket, having beenPresident of Kent C.C.C. in 1878, and although spending littletime in the market town, he was a kindly benefactor to itsinhabitants.The club went from strength to strength after the move, so muchso, that the Marquess generously financed an enlarged pavilion.The new, improved wicket was also widely admired and in 1910Monmouthshire staged their Minor County fixture game withCarmarthenshire at Avenue Road. In 1915 the Marquess ofAbergavenny died, and much of his estate was sold for buildingland. However, Major J.R.Jacob, the Chairman and former captainof the club, helped to secure the freehold of the Pen-y-Poundground for the cricket club.Glamorgan`s amalgamation with Monmouthshire in 1935 led to theWelsh county staging second eleven, plus club and ground,fixtures at Abergavenny, and some of the club`s players were alsochosen by the Glamorgan selectors. In 1948 the ground hosted theMinor County fixture with Devon, and with Glamorgan pledging tostage first-class matches in Monmouthshire, the Abergavennyofficials hoped that their attractive home would be lucky enoughto host a Championship fixture.The superior facilities and larger pavilion at Ebbw Vale won theday, but even so, the Abergavenny club didn`t lose heart andcontinued to be the host of special Benefit matches, both forGlamorgan players as well as those from neighbouringWorcestershire, Gloucestershire and Warwickshire. However, bythe mid 1960`s, Glamorgan were starting to cut back on the numberof venues they played at, and for all of its charms, thelikelihood of Avenue Road staging county cricket looked slim, andthe club had to content itself with games in the Gwent Premierand Severn Counties League.Disaster appeared to strike in 1977 as a fire severely damagedthe pavilion and completely destroyed the adjoining tea room.But as it turned out, the fire proved to be a turning point inthe history of the club as a generous grant from the Welsh SportsCouncil helped to pay for renovations and much larger facilities.These extensions happened at a lucky time, as in the 1980`s,Glamorgan also began to take cricket around the region again.Abergavenny made a formal request to stage a Sunday League game,and in 1981 the county committee allocated the match withWorcestershire to the Gwent ground.The Glamorgan officials were suitably impressed by the hard work,both on and of the field by the Abergavenny folk, and in 1982their efforts were rewarded with the Sunday match withNorthamptonshire. Local businesses also offered generoussponsorship and in May 1983 Worcestershire visited Abergavennyonce again as the ground staged its inaugural County Championshipfixture.Worcestershire and Gloucestershire have been regular vistors tothe ground, and their batsmen, as well as the Glamorgan players,have enjoyed taking advantage of the placid wicket and smallboundaries. One of the best examples was the 1990 fixture withWorcestershire. After Graeme Hick had recorded a superb 252* ,Phil Neale set Glamorgan a target of 495 to win on the final day.They ended on 493-6, and came agonisingly close to setting a newchampionship record. However, the most famous game in theground`s short Championship history came in August 1995 as AndrewSymonds hit 254 and smashed the world six hitting record, byhitting 16 sixes in his double-century, followed by four more inthe second innings. Almost unnoticed Indian all-rounder JavagalSrinath claimed 13-150 and his supreme efforts, on a groundregarded as a bowlers graveyard, were in keeping with the almostunreal atmosphere which is generated by this most idiosyncratic,and charming, of county cricket venues.For further information about the history of this, and othergrounds used by Glamorgan, you may be interested in purchasing”The Cricket Grounds of Glamorgan”, written by Andrew Hignell andpublished in 1985 by the Association of Cricket Statisticians andHistorians. For further details, please consult the A.C.S.homepage on CricInfo, send e-mail to [email protected] or write toPeter Wynne-Thomas at 3, Radcliffe Road, Nottingham.