Greg Blewett, who was a semi-regular member of the Australia team during the late 1990s, has retired from first-class cricket. Blewett, 35, will stay at South Australia as a high-performance batting coach while also pursuing his commentating career.Blewett’s run-scoring gradually declined over the last few years and his axing from the South Australia one-day team in December signalled the end of his 16-year state career. He had already lost his place in the Pura Cup side in 2005-06 as the Redbacks decided to blood some younger batsmen. Late last year, he vented his anger at being dumped from the side, calling the state’s selectors “clowns”.Although he regrets that comment, Blewett said he would continue to “have issues” with certain individuals at the SACA. “I think ideally I could still play for a couple of years, physically,” Blewett told . “I don’t necessarily agree with a lot of things that have happened in the past 12 months but I accept them.”Despite playing 46 Tests and 32 ODIs from 1994-95 to 1999-2000, Blewett never quite cemented his spot in the national line-up. Nor could Australia decide exactly how to use him; he started his Test career at No. 6, had a moderately successful switch to No. 3, dropped back down to No. 6 and finished as an opener.He did, however, write his name into the record books as soon as he burst onto the international scene aged 23 in the 1994-95 Ashes series. Blewett made 102 not out on debut at his home ground at Adelaide and followed up in the next Test with 115 at Perth, making him only the third Australian – the others were Bill Ponsford and Doug Walters – to score a century in each of his first two Tests.Blewett established a reputation as a reliable member of the middle-order and entertained crowds with his fluent cuts and cover drives, and his dangerous hooks and pulls. There were a few too many unfulfilled starts from Blewett, but he certainly got it right at Johannesburg in 1996-97, when he and Steve Waugh together added 385.It was the second-highest fifth-wicket partnership ever in Tests, falling just short of Don Bradman and Sid Barnes’s 405-run effort. Blewett and Waugh batted right through the third day, which was the first time any pair had achieved the feat against South Africa. Blewett finished with 214, which was easily the high point of a Test career that yielded only four centuries.
There were times when Blewett struggled to keep out fast balls cutting in towards his stumps; that was evident when he was bowled for 99 twice in the 1997 calendar year. High-class spin bowling also caused him problems.A string of low scores in India in 1997-98 lost him his Test place but he returned a year later and reinvented himself as an opening partner for Michael Slater after Mark Taylor’s retirement. There were moments of success and a 269-run stand against Pakistan at Brisbane was the highlight. Although some commentators believed the pair would be Australia’s openers for many years, Blewett did not reach triple-figures in the role and was replaced by Matthew Hayden on the 1999-2000 tour of New Zealand.Blewett’s Test career ended at the age of 28, and his 46 Tests brought him 2552 runs at 34.02. Surprisingly for a batsman who was such an excellent fieldsman and a better-than-average part-time medium-pace bowler, Blewett could not hold down a place in the Australia limited-overs team and from his 32 ODIs he averaged only 20.4 with the bat.His failure to convert his starts at Test level frustrated Blewett. “I probably underachieved a bit for Australia,” he said. “I think I was good enough to average 40 but didn’t so that is a regret. It was something that frustrated me throughout my career. I got a lot of fifties.”Blewett, who spent time with Kent, Nottinghamshire and Yorkshire, made his first-class debut at the age of 20 in 1991-92, in a South Australia-Queensland clash that was also the first match for Hayden. He was part of the Redbacks’ 1995-96 Sheffield Shield-winning side, scoring 72 in the final, and was a consistent accumulator for his state.In 2000-01, he compiled 1162 Pura Cup runs at 68.35 as he tried in vain to work his way back into the Test side. He retained his national contract for one more season but his best years were behind him. Back, hand and thigh injuries limited his output in recent seasons and Blewett’s first-class career ended on 232 matches, with 17,352 runs at 44.49.
Spectators in New York will get a chance to see Twenty20 cricket in the flesh when two teams of former West Indies greats go head to head as part of the city’s Caribbean Week.The match takes place on Saturday, June 10 at Idlewild Park on 223rd St. and 148th Ave. in Queens, New York, a popular venue that accommodates 2,000.Some of the players who have agreed to take part include Andy Roberts, Joel Garner, Irving Shillingford, Rawle Lewis, Omari Banks and Cameron Cuffy.
Surrey have confirmed two star-studded teams for the Twenty20 tsunami fundraising match at The Oval on June 20, between an International XI and an Asian XI.The International XI will be led by Brian Lara while Rahul Dravid will captain the Asian side. There is still one place to be filled in both teams and the final name will be announced shortly.Shane Warne will line-up for the International XI, while the two finest offspinners in the world, Harbhajan Singh and Muttiah Muralitharan, are both in the Asian XI.Eight of the 10 Test nations are represented – Graham Thorpe is the England player making an appearance – while Alec Stewart will manage the International XI and Wasim Raja, the former Pakistan batsman and match referee, is in charge of the Asian team.The Surrey chief executive Paul Sheldon said: “This special game promises a feast of entertainment from many of the world’s greatest international stars in front of a newly developed ground. It is a privilege to be hosting the match for such a worthwhile cause.”The match is raising money for the Oval Cricket Relief Turst, which has been set up with the intention of donating money to the rebuilding of a Sri Lanka village after the tsunami in December 2004.Tickets are still available online at www.surreycricket.com for £20.International XI (one to be added) Graeme Smith, Brian Lara (capt), Stephen Fleming, Andy Flower (wkt), Graham Thorpe, Chris Cairns, Shaun Pollock, Heath Streak, Shane Warne, Makhaya Ntini Alec StewartAsia XI (one to be added) Marvan Atapattu, Sanath Jayasuriya, Rahul Dravid (capt), Mahela Jayawardene, Mohammed Kaif, Kumar Sangakkara (wkt), Irfan Pathan, Chaminda Vass, Harbhajan Singh, Muttiah Muralitharan Wasim Raja
Surrey have signed a new sponsorship deal which could be worth as much as £2.5m to the club.Brit Insurance Holdings have agreed to back the club for three years, with the option for a further two, at an annual cost of £500,000. In addition, Surrey are all set to begin work on their £24m redevelopment of their ground, which will be re-named The Brit Oval.”This new partnership could not have come at a better time,” said Paul Sheldon, the club’s chief executive. “The support we will now receive will ensure that The Brit Oval maintains its pre-eminence as one of the world’s leading Test venues.”The redevelopment work will be concentrated at the Vauxhall End of the ground, where a new stand will increase the overall capacity by 4000 seats, to 23000.
The West Indies Cricket Board (WICB) will monitor events in Guyana on a daily basis before making any decision on the first Cable & Wireless Test between West Indies and Australia.In response to concerns by the Australia Cricket Board (ACB) over the increased crime and violence in the South American country in recent weeks, WICB president Wes Hall said the board would be considering input from its two Guyana directors ahead of the April 10 to 14 Test at Bourda."We just don’t want to count our chickens before they hatch. The WICB will look at it realistically," Hall said. "We have board members in Guyana who will apprise us of the situation. When that happens, we will deal with it."We don’t know what is going to happen from day to day. We have able administrators in Guyana and they will let us know what the position is."In a letter faxed to the WICB on January 13, ACB international cricket manager Richard Watson said his board was seeking guidance on the "reported deterioration in the security situation in and around Georgetown, which is of high concern to the ACB".The letter has been passed to Guyana’s Minister of Home Affairs, Ronald Gajraj.When asked if the WICB would be prepared to switch the venue of the match if the ACB’s concerns remained, Hall said: "It’s not a matter of being prepared to switch matches."What we will do is try and have a helicopter view of the situation. We will look and see what is happening. We will not be party to exposing anybody to violence."Hall, who is also chairman of the International Cricket Council’s steering group for safety, said the issue of violence and security was of paramount importance to the game’s governing body."I am very cognisant of the fact that violence is not necessarily gunplay and the things they are talking about," he said. "It is also inside the cricket ground. We have been looking at many areas where we can minimise any disturbances."Violence and security are buzzwords in world cricket. I am not minimising the whole aspect of violence, but as we look around in that corridor in Pakistan, India, Zimbabwe and Kenya, we’ve had some violence. It is very important that you look at security."
Pakistan “A” has replied with 192 for 8 on the second day of 4-day unofficial test against Sri Lanka “A” at Rangiri Dambulla International Stadium on Thursday.Hasan Raza, with fighting unbeaten knock of 89, kept the visitors’ innings together. Misbah scored 40 and Yasir Arafat with 17, who was last man out, Paskistan was struggling to avert the first innings lead to home team.
You would think a manger as experienced and as wily as Redknapp would know that it is a sin to change a winning formula; however Harry felt the need to change personnel and formation, largely down to one unhappy Dutchman. Van der Vaart seemingly has a hold over his manager and what he wants he generally gets.
I’m not going to criticise Van der Vaart as a player, but his off field outbursts are starting to grate. In the wake of beating Arsenal he bemoaned how effective he could really be in the team when he is playing out on the right of midfield. Rafa clearly feels he deserves the freedom of the park and despite the team looking settled in their run of wins with Modric and Parker orchestrating the midfield and Defoe and Adebayor’s strike partnership blossoming, Van der Vaart appears left out and wanted to make his feelings known. You would think if Redknapp had any backbone about him he would have put the Dutchman in his place, but instead he totally unbalances the line up with Bale on the right, Modric on the left, just so Van der Vaart can play alongside Adebayor. Needless to say Tottenham look disjointed and out of sorts for the large part at St James’ Park; however at least Van der Vaart is happy.
I think I should make it clear that I am not questioning the ability of Van der Vaart as a player, the guy has bundles of it, but I do feel his presence in the team can be detrimental to the way we play. I mean if playing him means that Bale and Modric (arguably two of our biggest attacking threats) have to move out of their natural positions to accommodate him then something isn’t right surely. Unlike a lot of Tottenham fans I didn’t think we played well at all last season, apart from the odd European trip, and the team lacked any real cohesion as Redknapp continued to adopt this 4-5-1 system. I thought he’d woken up and seen the light when Adebayor arrived and he adopted a 4-4-2, but one major outburst in the press later and Harry has fallen back into his old ways as he looks give Rafa what he wants.
One comment Redknapp made in his post match comments at Newcastle was that he was unhappy with the way we passed the ball and how Spurs never had any control in the game in terms of possession. Funny that isn’t it Harry – I wonder if that has anything to do with Modric being out on the wing? It is like he has a blind spot with anything that Van der Vaart does, best highlighted by the way he continually allows him to take set-pieces despite how continually bad he is at them. No team last season had as many corners or freekicks around the box than we did – I’ll leave you to count how many goals actually came from them.
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Maybe I am being harsh on Van der Vaart, but I see a player who believes he is bigger than the football club and his teammates. Using the media to vent his unhappiness is very unprofessional, but he never gets penalised or criticised by his manager for doing it and worryingly it seems to get the desired results. I can’t help but feel if a Gareth Bale or Jermain Defoe adopted a similar stance then Redknapp would jump on them and condemn them for their outbursts, but with Rafa it is totally different. Harry should put the team first always, rather than to pander to the prima donnas of this world.
Wellington eased to an innings and 95-run victory over Auckland that was set up by the 246-run stand of Neal Parlane and Grant Elliott on the second and third days at Eden Park Outer Oval. Parlane’s career-best 165 and Elliott’s 108 pushed the visitors to a first-innings total of 524 for 6 declared and Auckland were able to scramble only 132 to add to their opening 297.Luke Woodcock, Wellington’s left-arm spinner, captured 4 for 24 and Mark Gillespie chipped in with three wickets while Charlie Shreck finished with six for the game. The England bowler James Anderson’s first experience with Auckland included 38 overs and two wickets in a losing cause. Wellington’s victory moves them to the top of the State Championship table, six points ahead of Auckland and Canterbury.Centuries to Johann Myburgh and Michael Papps drove Canterbury to a satisfying nine-wicket win as they posted an incredible 344 for 1 in 76 overs on the final day in Napier. Central Districts declared after Peter Ingram’s 79 and Greg Hay’s 127 got them to 347 for 6 shortly before lunch, but they were unable to make any breakthroughs after Todd Astle fell for 41. Myburgh completed an excellent game with his 148 from 154 balls, which included 16 fours and four sixes, complementing his opening 62, while Papps struck 134 to secure the victory.In the first innings Canterbury, who needed the contributions of Shanan Stewart (87) and Iain Robertson (85), looked in danger at 326 for 8 trying to overhaul their opponents’ 376, but Brandon Hiini (28) and Leighton Burtt (28) earned a small lead and the declaration came at 380. Central Districts were in big trouble on the first day at 122 for 6 and 158 for 7 before a 159-run partnership between Brendon Diamanti and Richard Sherlock. Diamanti, the No. 8, finished with 136, his maiden first-class century, while Sherlock picked up 64 in the recovery.Northern Districts had to settle for first-innings points when the rain-hit match against Otago in Invercargill ended in a draw. Brad Wilson reached his maiden first-class century to put Northern Districts, who also benefited from half-century help from James Marshall and Peter McGlashan, on track for 410 for 9 declared and the bonus for passing the home team’s 305.However, any outside hopes of a result were ended when the final day was delayed by the weather, which also stole time from the match on days two and three. Brent Arnel collected 5 for 80, his first five-wicket haul, as Otago fought their way from the struggles of 58 for 4 after being sent in on Thursday. Craig Cumming, the opener, collected 62 while Nathan McCullum and Brad Scott picked up fifties, but the top score went to the wicketkeeper Derek de Boorder with 74. In their second innings Otago reached 115 for 2 before time was called.
Teams will be allowed an additional fielder outside the 30-yard circle during the second or third Powerplay, the International Cricket Council’s Cricket Committee has recommended after their two-day meeting in Dubai.The committee, chaired by former Indian captain Sunil Gavaskar, came up with a number of recommendations on issues related to ODI regulations, ball tampering, glue on pitches, volume of cricket, international umpiring and the role of the television umpire.While they felt that the use of Powerplays should continue they resolved that an additional fielder (making three in total instead of the current limit of two) should be allowed outside the outer ring during either of the last two Powerplays. Also it was decided to try out the idea of the captain of the batting side being able to choose when to take one of the Powerplays. It is set to be trialled in Australia; any other member country wanting try out the new rule was also permitted to do so.The committee came up with a number of recommendations with relation to ball tampering and stated that the following actions shall not be permitted: deliberately throwing the ball into the ground for purposes of roughing it up, applying any artificial substance to the ball and applying any non-artificial substance for any purpose other than to polish the ball, lifting or otherwise interfering with any of the seams of the ball, and scratching the surface of the ball with finger or thumb nails or any implement.The use of adhesives in the preparation of pitches for international matches should be discontinued, the committee ruled. Polyvinyl Acetate adhesives had been used during last year’s Champions Trophy in India for the purpose of holding the pitches together.
Points tableThis was a poor weekend for any office workers looking to spend a relaxing Saturday at the cricket. Only three games limped into a fourth day, and two of those ended before or immediately after lunchtime. Only at Cardiff did a match reach tea.David Alleyne’s defiant 109 not out was not enough to prevent defending champions Nottinghamshire slipping to a 60-run defeat by Warwickshire at Trent Bridge. Notts had seemed down last night when they slid to 77 for 5 chasing 377, but Alleyne and Mark Ealham added 113 by the close. They only put on another 10 this morning when Ealham fell for 56, but Alleyne found support from Graeme Swann (30) and Ryan Sidebottom (26) before running out of partners. Alleyne, who made his first-class debut back in 200, had never made a half-century before his first-innings 57 in this match.Sussex resumed at Hove needing 55 to beat Yorkshire with five wickets in hand, and they cruised home without any alarms thanks to Matt Prior, who scored 43 off those to finish on an unbeaten 55. Robin Martin-Jenkins (17*) was content to play second fiddle as Yorkshire slid to their second defeat of the season.
Division Two
Points tableAn early burst from a Welshman, Steffan Jones, appeared to have put the skids under Glamorgan as they fell to 69 for 7 chasing 213 to beat Derbyshire at Cardiff. Jones took the first five wickets to fall, finishing with 6 for 25. Nicky Peng and Robert Croft then swung the balance of the game again with an eighth-wicket stand of 91 before Ian Hunter removed Peng for 56. Croft kept Glamorgan creeping towards their target, but Jones returned to dismiss Andrew Davies, and Croft was left high and dry when Huw Walters fell to Hunter to give Derbyshire a 38-run win.