On getting to the milestone of 500 wickets It’s a great feeling to reach a milestone like this. What makes it more special is the fact that only four other bowlers have got to the 500-mark and I am the first Indian to do so.On how he’d sum up his journey in cricket in 16 years I’d say I’ve persevered. When I began people questioned my kind of bowling and even now people do. I guess after 16 years that has still not been answered and I find that strange. I’ve just gone into every game thinking I need to perform, to contribute something to the team.On what has kept him going all these years I’ve always had the self-belief that I can perform at this level. There have been doubts created by other people over my ability to perform. When you play for 16 years people are bound to create such doubts. But I have never doubted myself. And nor have my team-mates and my family. Coming back from my shoulder injury [in 2000-01] was crucial.On what the next target is Already the tally is 501. How many more wickets depends on my body and the schedule, so I can’t really say what the target is. Warne has 659, Murali just got to 600 yesterday, hopefully I’ll also scale those heights some day.On setting up batsmen When I bowl I believe every ball can get a wicket. That’s my attitude. Obviously you try and set up a batsman, get him to play a few shots. Some days it works and some days it doesn’t. You’re always trying to play a mental game with the batsman. If you consistently ask questions of the batsmen you are bound to be successful.On how he continues to strive to improve after 16 years in international cricket You need to constantly evolve and bring up some variations because these days even before you step out, the opposition knows everything about you. I still try to bowl the classical legspinner, the classical flipper and the classical googly. That’s the only way to enjoy yourself. The day I think I’ve had enough of trying out new things, I won’t be playing the game.On whether he had fears that he may never bowl again after his shoulder injury There were fears that I may not bowl again, when I had the surgery. It took two months to just lift my hand. Playing cricket at the international level was a distant thought. That’s when my wife, Andrew Leipus, Omkar [yoga expert in Bangalore] and Ramakant [Karnataka team physiotherapist] constantly motivated me and helped me in my rehabilitation. Also the thought that one day when I bowl there would be no pain was enough motivation. Srinath’s coming back to international cricket after a similar surgery also gave me lot of strength.On how he seems to be bowling at his best in the recent past The last couple of years have been good. The experience that I’ve gained over the years and the way the ball is coming out of the hand has been good. The number of overs I have bowled over the last 16 years have helped me in understanding what needs to be done. The last three years have been really good.On the memorable wickets along the way The first wicket of Allan Lamb, which was where it all started. The 10-wicket haul against Pakistan in Delhi was special. Also the performance against Australia at Sydney [in early 2005] … There have been many special moments. When we won against Australia at Adelaide … the series win in Pakistan in 2004.On whom he dedicates reaching this milestone to I dedicate this to all those players who have played with me. To the fielders who took the catches, the fellow bowlers who applied pressure from the other end, to batsmen who put runs on the board … I would not have got 500 wickets if they had not played their part.On what Matthew Hoggard, Kumble’s 300th victim, had to say when the wicket of Harmison fell He suggested that I might have been more happy if I’d picked up the wicket of a batsman as my 500th.
Ravi Rampaul, the promising West Indian seamer, returned to competitive cricket last weekend in the Carib Beer League limited-overs competition after being out for almost six months due to shin splints. Rampaul, who was forced out of last year’s summer tour to England, resumed training only in December and is slowly getting back to full fitness.Anthony Gray, the coach of Rampaul’s club CLICO Preysal, told CMC Sports that Rampaul is primarily being played as a batsman in the one-day series, following the advice of Dr Terry Ali, the West Indian board’s physiotherapist. “We are using him in short spells. He bowled okay, but we are a bit concerned as his landing foot is twisting. We are awaiting an innersole from England for his bowling boots, before any more corrective measures are taken.”Rangy Nanan, the cricket manager at Preysal Sports Club, indicated that the support staff was careful not to rush his recovery process. “Ravi is working hard to come back at 100% full fitness. He is eager for action, he wants to be back on the T&T and West Indies teams. But his training programme is fully set out and monitored by Dr Terry Ali.” Nanan also stated that while his progress was encouraging, a more clear picture would only emerge in about four weeks.Rampaul played the last of his 17 one-dayers against England in the Natwest series in 2004, and has captured 11 wickets at an average of 49. He was forced to miss out on Trinidad and Tobago’s triumph in last year’s President Cup in Guyana and Barbados, and has already missed out on the first five matches in the 2005 Carib Beer Regional Series.West Indies have a packed season ahead of them, with two home series, against South Africa and Pakistan. The South African series, consisting of four Tests and five one-dayers, begins in March, while Pakistan will tour immediately after, for two Tests and three ODIs.
What Chris Martin started with two quick Central Districts wickets on day two of their two-day match against the New Zealand Academy Selection at Bert Sutcliffe Oval yesterday, Aaron Redmond finished off.Martin, bowling with a brisk nor-easterly at his back removed Peter Ingram and Greg Todd both when the score was on three. He finished the match with 2 for 54 from 12 overs. Jamie How (41) and Glen Sulzberger (42) led the recovery, but once How played a ball from Richard Sherlock onto his stumps, the way was clear for Redmond, the legspinner, to began to weave his particular form of magic.Redmond only needed to bowl 16.4 overs in finishing with 6 for 16, the last seven CD wickets falling for 58 runs. It was a quality performance with some fine use of flight in a performance that augurs well for the forthcoming domestic season from Redmond.The Academy Selection batted again, losing Mark Richardson’s wicket for 12 runs while Mark Orchard was unbeaten on 26 and Peter Fulton on 14 not out when play ended.Brief scoreboard:New Zealand Academy Selection 264-9d (J Ryder 51, M Orchard 38, S Allen 32, J Hill 31, N Broom 28, R Taylor 28, E Thompson 5-48, J How 2-44) and 52-1 (M Orchard 26*, E Thompson 1-17) met Central Districts 171 (G Sulzberger 42, J How 41, J Englefield 33, B Griggs 26, A Redmond 6-16, C Martin 2-54).
Where in the world is there a museum where you can watch a Test match?At the National Cricket Museum at the Basin Reserve in Wellington you can. And big plans are about to be realised to make New Zealand’s only cricket museum an up to date interactive experience.The chairman of the Board of Trustees, Don Neely sees the institution, which was opened on November 29, 1987, “developing into quite a sizeable museum.”Neely said: “It will never match the MCG, or be as steeped in history as Lord’s, but we have a mission statement to look after everything. We archive and preserve everything. It’s all tissue paper and waxed boxes. After all, we only get one chance.”Under the old Grandstand lies acres of unused space that the $220,000 needed for the expansion will develop before England play in the Test in March.Many years ago New Zealand Cricket Almanack Editor Arthur Carman showed Neely, then Wellington captain around the dungeons, of the 1920s building, which had fallen largely out of use even then.”Water was up to here,” Neely recalled, pointing to his knees. “Wisdens were floating, ruined.”This is why I will never leave anything to Wellington cricket,” said Carman, whose memory is perpetuated with the Arthur Carman Press Box at the ground.It has all changed now at the Museum. Curator Stan Cowman, archivist Donal Duthie, enthusiast Adrienne Simpson, and many more volunteers have struggled for years to keep the under-funded house of treasures afloat.In the last 10 years alone 285 boxes and suitcases of artefacts, including John Reid’s entire collection of albums, clothes and trophies have been catalogued, preserved and displayed when space allows.Now the money required to make a large safe storage area, a theatrette, an interactive room and a display of cricket clothing in the old function rooms beneath the long-abandoned marble staircase that visiting dignitaries were guided up to the best seats before the war.In the style of those pre-war days Martin Donnelly’s book collection will be displayed in the style of an English gentleman’s library, alongside the museum’s own collection of volumes.And that’s just the start. In a city that boasts Te Papa, the main drive of the National Cricket Museum will be similar to that great attraction – for educational purposes. Computer terminals designed for school groups to research recent events in cricket history.”Too many museums round the world stop in 1949.” Neely is referring to Bowral, where the Bradman Museum halts after the Don retired.”What happened here two years ago when [Mathew] Sinclair got his 214 on debut – that’s history. CricInfo is writing history everyday,” says Neely, author of Men in White, the history of international cricket in New Zealand.Work started before the Boxing Day Bangladesh Test. It will be unveiled in front of an audience of well-known players and the international media during the England Test.
A most accomplished batting performance by Middlesex, led by a splendidinnings from their captain Justin Langer, set a target which appeared far toodaunting for Nottinghamshire in this third round NatWest Trophy clash whichgave Middlesex an effortless victory by 128 runs.Langer, who has hit two centuries and had a score of 96 in the countychampionship this season, scored his first hundred in limited-overs matchesand was supported superbly along the way by the elegant Owais Shah and AndrewStrauss who chose to hit his highest score in One-Day cricket on his debutNatWest match.The three batsmen dominated the game during their time at the crease and madethe Nottinghamshire bowling look quite innocuous.At no stage during their brief reply, which lasted as few as 37 overs, didNottinghamshire’ s batsmen appear to be in control of the task that lay aheador, indeed, even look comfortable against an attack that gave very littleaway.Veteran pace bowler, Angus Fraser, who struck the early blows for Middlesex,finished his first spell of seven overs with 2 for 19 and was not required tocontinue with his good work later as Aaron Laraman with his medium pace hadaccounted for four wickets for 39.Nottinghamshire’s innings, which totalled only 146, never appeared to stage arecovery after losing 4 for 48 and whatever little hope they might have heldof putting up a reasonable reply, disappeared after the 31 run stand betweenChris Read and Usman Afzaal who were both run out in succession, Afzaal topscoring with 31. Read had gone first with 13 and having dropped two catchesearlier, in Middlesex’s innings, did not have a good match. It will not havebeen a good week for him, having also been excluded from the England One-Daysquad in the forthcoming International series.Earlier, Langer seemed to have done everything right to give his side a greatstart. Having called correctly at the toss, he decided to make first use of afine batting pitch and then featured in two excellent partnerships.Having lost Mark Ramprakash in only the third over, Langer and Strauss begana stand which dominated the Nottinghamshire bowling from the start. Langergot off the mark with a boundary to fine leg and Strauss pulled Paul Franksfor four, having also opened his account earlier with a boundary, off AndrewHarris.Despite the overcast conditions which prevailed for most of the morningsession, Nottinghamshire’s pace bowlers were unable to get any significantball movement that would cause much concern to either batsman. Harris hadconceded 25 runs in his first four overs and Chris Tolley who replaced himwas unfortunate to have Langer, on 15, dropped by Read behind the stumps offhis first ball.That was the only chance that the left-handed Australian was to give in hisentire innings during which he faced 126 balls. Runs came quickly, theyreached 53 from as many balls. The first ten overs had gone for 57 and atthat point the second bowling change took place. Paul Reiffel, who arrived inthe country two days ago from Australia as a replacement for the county’sinjured fast bowler, Shoaib Akhtar, was brought on for his first bowl forNottinghamshire.During his spell of ten overs for 52, without a wicket, there were signs thathe will take, not surprisingly, a little time to acclimatize and settle. Hisfirst spell of five overs had conceded 21, the same as Paul Franks whom, hehad replaced.Meanwhile runs were coming freely to Middlesex. Strauss reached 40 with apull off Reiffel after Langer had driven him to the extra-cover boundary. Thehundred was up from 126 balls and Strauss reached his first fifty inlimited-overs cricket for his county, from 73 balls.Langer reached his fifty in style, lifting Harris for six over mid-on andflicking the next delivery to the fine-leg boundary. The scoring rate rapidlyincreased with both batsmen going neck and neck, on 56, when Strauss fell toa catch at backward point off left-arm spinner Richard Stemp.The next partnership between Langer and Shah proved even more damaging toNottinghamshire with Shah forming an excellent understanding with Langer forrunning between the wickets. The two hundred of the innings came in the 39th.over, it’s the first time this season that Middlesex has reached this figurein One-Day matches.It took only 101 balls for the hundred of the partnership to come up andLanger’s century had taken 128 balls. He had hit six boundaries and a six offHarris who had later been hit for two more sixes by Keith Dutch.Finally, with the total on 235, Langer was run out, going for a second run,to the non-strikers end. One run later Shah, was stumped, just one short ofhis fifty which came from only 53 balls and was another entertaining knock inthe Middlesex innings of 274.
According to the Daily Mail, West Ham United are interested in signing Everton striker Dominic Calvert-Lewin.
The Lowdown: Quiet season for DCL
The 25-year-old has had a season to forget so far. He has only made 10 Premier League appearances and has scored just three league goals to date, adding to Everton’s attacking woes.
At the end of August, the England international suffered a fractured toe. Unbelievably, this injury kept him out of action for 125 days, missing a total of 16 games.
In addition to that setback, Calvert-Lewin has recently suffered from illness. As a result, he has struggled to maintain fitness for a decent string of games this season.
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The Latest: West Ham interested in Calvert-Lewin
As per the Daily Mail, Everton are now prepared to sell Calvert-Lewin in the summer transfer window. Furthermore, it is reported that the Toffees could be willing to accept a lower fee than their previous £60m valuation.
As a result, West Ham and Arsenal have both declared their interest in the England international.
The Verdict: Would be a fantastic signing
With Michail Antonio being West Ham’s only out-and-out senior striker, David Moyes could seriously do with bolstering his options up front. Whilst the 32-year-old had a flying start to the Premier League season, he has now failed to score in his last 10 top-flight games.
As a result, GSB could do with securing a new starting striker; and with the news of Calvert-Lewin’s availability, this could be the perfect transfer for both parties.
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In 157 appearances for the Toffees, the 25-year-old has netted 43 goals. Whilst Antonio has achieved comparable numbers, Calvert-Lewin would be playing in a more potent team if he were to join the Irons, so a huge influx in goals could be expected, with Alan Shearer previously asserting that the 25-year-old is a player who will “keep scoring goals”.
His former Everton boss Carlo Ancelotti also labelled him a “top striker”, so this could be the transfer that West Ham need to prioritise in the summer.
In other news: West Ham have an edge in another transfer pursuit
Yuvraj Singh has been found not guilty of breaching the Code of Conduct during the second day of India’s first Test against Australia in Melbourne.Yuvraj was charged with breaching Level 1.3 of the ICC Code which relates to showing dissent at an umpire’s decision by action or verbal abuse. The charge, laid by the four umpires on duty in the match, related to an incident on the second day when Yuvraj stood his ground after he was given out by Billy Bowden, caught behind off Stuart Clark.The hearing took place after the third day’s play. After considering the evidence, match referee Mike Procter decided Yuvraj had not stood his ground in protest. “It was evident that Yuvraj took more time than normal to leave the crease but it was due to the fact that he was shocked at the decision,” Proctor said. “At no stage he showed displeasure or dissent at the umpire’s decision.”The hearing was attended by the four umpires, India manager Chetan Chauhan, captain Anil Kumble and Yuvraj Singh. Video evidence was used. If found guilty, the penalties for a Level 1 offence range from an official reprimand to a maximum penalty of a 50% fine on match-fee.
Matthew Hayden is in danger of missing Australia’s two World Cup warm-up matches in the Caribbean with a broken toe, but he expects to be fit for the first serious game of the tournament. Hayden had both feet bandaged in Brisbane on Wednesday after being hit twice by Mark Gillespie yorkers during his national-record 181 in the third Chappell-Hadlee Trophy loss at Hamilton.The broken big toe on his right foot was the major worry and it will need up to three weeks to heal. Australia has practice games against Zimbabwe and England in St Kitts on March 6 and 9 before they play Scotland in their first match of the World Cup on March 14.”I’m looking to be right on the money for that game,” Hayden said in The Australian. “There is nothing structurally wrong except for the fracture. We will review things on Monday, but in terms of a break it’s as good as you can have.”The diagnosis is bright news for a squad struggling with injuries ahead of its trophy defence. Brett Lee is in doubt with an ankle injury, Andrew Symonds hopes his arm will heal in time for a mid-series arrival and Michael Clarke has a hip problem.
Inzamam-ul-Haq, the Pakistan captain, has been fined 10% of his match fees for a slow over-rate during the third ODI against India. The rest of the team was fined 5%.Pakistan bowled one over less in the stipulated time during their loss to India at Lahore. The Indians were pulled up for the same offence after the first game at Peshawar that Pakistan won by seven runs.India lead the five-match series 2-1 going into the fourth ODI at Multan on Thursday.
Ehsan Mani, the president of the International Cricket Council, is disappointed with the confusion surrounding the venues for the forthcoming Pakistan tour of India and hopes that the issue gets resolved in an amicable fashion. With little more than a week remaining until Pakistan arrive in India, the two boards have failed to resolve the issue, as Pakistan are unwilling to play in Ahmedabad due to security reasons.Mani, who is here to conduct regular meetings with the Indian Board, told newspaper: "This is not the right time to decide the schedule for the forthcoming India-Pakistan series. It is being done in the eleventh hour, I may say."The BCCI should have sorted out the TV rights and the tour itinerary a long time ago,” he said. “They could not do so because of some legal matters that were pending in the courts. These legal matters have played spoilsport and delayed the work process of the BCCI."Mani denied the presence of any tussle existing between the two boards. "There is absolutely no difference of opinion," he said. "I am told that the BCCI will be announcing the itinerary in the middle of this month. The Indo-Pak series generates tremendous goodwill and both the nations will once again come together to celebrate this great moment. Even I don’t want to miss it!"Not mentioning his favourites for the series, Mani expects the series to be a thrilling contest between the arch-rivals. "It really doesn’t matter who are the winners at the end of the series but cricket will be the ultimate champion. And when this happens, the ICC gets benefitted."With regards to ICC’s plan to shift the headquarters from London to Dubai, Mani noted: “From ICC’s point of view, it is a big move. But we need some time to resolve this issue. In the next four to five months, we will make it happen.”