Andrew Symonds has described playing in India as “hostile” and says Sreesanth and Harbhajan Singh have been the major instigators of on-field conflicts between the two sides. However, Symonds seemed less concerned by the off-field dramas at Vadodara on Thursday, where he was reportedly subjected to racial taunts in the form of monkey chants from the crowd.”You have to be pretty thick-skinned to survive in the Australian dressing room, let alone out on the paddock,” Symonds wrote in his column in newspapers. “It is a sensitive issue and guys have been made an example of in the past, but what do you do in this instance if it’s coming from the crowd? I’m not allowed to comment on exactly what went on, but I’m not the most deadly serious bloke. Life goes on.”While Symonds appeared to brush off the spectators’ behaviour, he was less inclined to forgive Sreesanth for his repeated clashes with the Australian players this series. Symonds said Sreesanth had crossed the line of acceptable on-field conduct and had acted “like a goose”.”I get on well with most of them. Sachin Tendulkar is a gentleman and I have played in England with Murali Kartik, he’s a good guy,” Symonds said. “There are just a couple of them who seem to spark things. Sreesanth and Harbhajan Singh are the ones we are clashing with most.”The thing that annoys us the most is when they are going well, they will have a shot at you. But when they aren’t going well, they forget to shake hands at the end of the game. That’s not on in my opinion. If you play the game properly, shake hands, get over it, and move on to the next game.”Relations between Symonds and Sreesanth have become strained several times, notably during the fourth match at Chandigarh when Sreesanth, the 12th man, reportedly taunted Symonds after he was dismissed for 75. “I was wild. I was really angry when I got out and then for him to run past and say things I didn’t think were right,” Symonds said. “I thought: ‘Right, I’ve had enough of this bloke’.”His carry-on in this series has been way over the top. We don’t mind blokes having a go and standing up for themselves, but he has gone above and beyond what’s acceptable. Information in this game travels and people remember when someone is carrying on like a goose.”Symonds said such incidents, combined with the major celebrations in India following their ICC World Twenty20 triumph, had made Australia even more desperate to win the series. After the first five games in the seven-match tour Australia held an unbeatable 3-1 lead.
When Brian Lara dropped down the order in the tournament, several eyebrowswere raised. He was, after all, far and away the best batsman in theline-up, and the others had not really proved themselves consistently -Ramnaresh Sarwan aside – to hold places in the middle-order ahead of him.But now, looking back with the ample benefit of hindsight, it has proved amaster-stroke. His controlled 71 against Australia, which set up a win,was the proof that his thinking had worked.Come final, though, there’s a chance that Lara could come up the order -not because the West Indians are trying to pull a fast one, but becausethey have been playing according to the situation all tournament, and thishas been integral to their success. With pitches and conditions varyingfrom venue to venue adaptation has been the key to success, and WestIndies have done that so far.And Ricky Ponting will, by no means, be surprised if Lara reverses thetrend and comes out to bat early in the do-or-die final. “If they loseearly wickets, I don’t think he’ll come in that early. But if they get offto a good start, I think he’ll come higher up the order,” said Ponting.”We saw the game against India when he probably regretted the way in whichhe came so low because the game nearly got away from them. I don’t thinkthey will do that again.”It’s always dangerous to say that a team has turned a corner, or come ofage, because these days it takes just one bad tournament to undo all thegood work done before. But there have been times in the past when WestIndies have been over dependent on Lara, and collapsed in a heap once theopposition got him out of the way. It has not been the case here. DwayneBravo has scored his first ODI hundred, Runako Morton has gone fromlongest duck to unbeaten near-hundred against world champions, IanBradshaw is on the verge of toppling Brett Lee as the No. 1 bowler in theICC rankings . Lara admitted that this team’s resurgence was well oncourse. “It’s been tremendous. All the guys have been supportive,” hesaid. “Some have played 50 Tests and 100 ODIs. There can only be onecaptain at any time, but there must be a group of leaders within any team.It’s not just on the field, but in practice, in team meetings, you have tobe able to see all of that to realise the contribution some of these guysmake. I’m happy with the way the nucleus of this team is coming together.I’m very confident of the immediate future of West Indian cricket. I justhope it does not break down at any point.”
In this day and age certainly – perhaps it’s been the same all along -cricketers are sensitive to criticism, and calling a team unpredictable isnot always taken well. But Lara certainly didn’t seem to mind the factthat his team were tagged thus. “I love the tag unpredictable, which meansthat no opposition, no matter how strong they are can think that they’regoing to roll us over,” he said. “Of course Australia are the favourites.They’re world champions, No. 1 in the world, going into the match you’d beunwise to think otherwise. We’re looking to excel and carry that throughto the final. The two games where we’ve had hiccups in this tournamenthave both been after we’ve qualified for the next phase.”The Australians, especially in big matches of this kind, have a tendencyof turning up the aggro a notch or two, Batsmen go after bowlers early on,not allowing them to settle. Bowlers get under the skin of batsmen with achirp or two. But Lara did not thinking it was wise to try and fight firewith fire. “I just think you need to play sensible cricket. TheAustralians come and try to impose themselves on any opposition theyplay,” he said. “You have to play intelligent cricket, match them at alltimes, and take that extra step when the right time comes. Playing withflair or attacking cricket is not going to scare the Australians. You haveto play sensibly, put in a good team effort. The smarter team is going towin.”Very early in the tournament, a senior journalist who has watched Lara play overthe years, suggested that there was something different about him when headdressed a press conference. He suggested that the arrogance that camewith youth and stardom had given way to something more mellow. And themanner in which he answered a question on the Ashes – a fairly absurd onegiven he was playing in a big final the next day – saying, “I have a finalto play tomorrow, sorry,” showed that this was certainly a different Larafrom the one of a few years ago, when he might lost his cool a touch. Thebeauty about Lara, though, is that the slowing of reflexes thatinevitably accompanies aging has more than been compensated by thegaining of experience. He can still bat with the same authority andfearless power that he showed all those years ago.The one thing that underscores the change in Lara as a man, though, isthat he talks so little of himself and so much of the team, and even afterattending approaching a dozen press conferences of his this tournament,you don’t get the feeling that it is purely management-speak, like you dowith some other international captains or coaches. “We have grown as ateam, there’s a lot more self belief in this camp,” he said. “Clive Lloydhas come in and we have some good coaching staff but the ultimate thing is- the fact of the matter is – that the guys are believing in themselves alot more and they want to prove themselves as worthy contenders ofretaining the trophy.”
Points TableHampshire completed a slightly hollow 75-run win over Glamorgan, the day after Nottinghamshire sealed the Championship. Sean Ervine was the star with the ball taking 5 for 60, his best figures of the season, after Shane Warne had set Glamorgan 320. James Bruce did the early damage with the new ball before Ervine took over the demolition job but Hampshire are now fighting it out for second place.
Division Two
Points TableYorkshire’s victory charge against Derbyshire was held up by some stubborn lower order resistance from Ant Botha and Tom Lungley. The pair have added an unbeaten 133 with Botha just two shy of his first ton of the season. Steve Stubbings earlier made a typically dogged 91 while Mark Lawson, the young legspinner, impressed with three wickets. If Yorkshire can complete the win tomorrow it will seal their promotion to division one.
South Africa’s captain, Graeme Smith, has undergone a minor operation in Cape Town to reconstruct a stomach valve.The surgical procedure, known as Nissen Fundoplication, was carried out at the Kingsbury Hospital on Monday. The chronic condition, while not debilitating in any way, had been causing Smith severe discomfort for a number of years.According to staff at the hospital, the procedure was uneventful and a success, and Smith is now recuperating at home. He intends to resume training in mid-June, before leading South Africa on a five-week tour of Sri Lanka in late July.Smith had some cause for celebration, however, when it was announced that his girlfriend, Minki van der Westhuizen, was named the sexiest woman in South Africa by the men’s magazine FHM.
A limited number of tickets will be available to the public for the Semifinals and Final of the ICC Cricket World Cup 2003. Tickets are limited to four per purchaser.The likely semifinal lineup is Australia versus either Sri Lanka or New Zealand in Port Elizabeth on Tuesday 18 March, and India versus Kenya (day/night) in Durban on Thursday March 20.The public is advised to check ticket availability on the three ticketing channels i.e. at the CWC 2003 Stadiums, via the ticketing hotline on +27 (0) 83 123 2003 or on the ‘ticketing’ link on the official website at www.cricketworldcup.com
The Essex squad for the Cricinfo Championship matchv Northamptonshire at Northampton, commencing Friday 27th July is:A P Grayson, R S Clinton, D D J Robinson, S G Law, P M Such, R C Irani (Captain), S D Peters, J S Foster (Wicket-keeper), G R Napier, T J Phillips, A P Cowan, J E Bishop.Scorer: D J Norris
Newcastle United’s Jekyll and Hyde performance against Chelsea in the Premier League typified their season, with a ferocious start succumbing to Blue pressure after the break.
A draw was the end result after Eddie Howe’s side blew their two-goal advantage. However, decisions not to award the St. James’ park side a penalty after Wesley Fofana handled in the box and Trevoh Chalobah’s shove on Anthony Gordon were inexplicable, and it cost Newcastle a precious win.
It also might have cost Nick Woltemade an emphatic hat-trick, with the German striker having fired a brace past Robert Sanchez inside 20 minutes. What a signing he has been for the Magpies.
Nick Woltemade's performance vs Chelsea
The 23-year-old Woltemade has enjoyed a fast start to life in Newcastle, scoring nine times across 23 appearances in all competitions. He was left nursing a bruise after his headed clearance careened into United’s net to seal victory for Sunderland last week, but he redeemed himself with a reminder of his talent against Chelsea.
With a long, loping frame and a natural instinct for scoring goals, Woltemade is proving himself to be a winner of a signing for Newcastle, replacing Alexander Isak for half the price and currently outshining the Liverpool man.
Combining with Gordon for the second, Howe will be delighted to see the technically shar pfrontman deepening his connection with his fellow forwards.
Could Woltemade trump Isak and become the Toon’s finest centre-forward since the days of Alan Shearer? Perhaps he could, but it was actually one of the 23-year-old’s teammates who proved he is Newcastle’s new version of the club legend against Chelsea.
Newcastle's new version of Alan Shearer
Newcastle are a deeply emotional club, and the club-city connection with Shearer was one that remains as strong as ever, with the Premier League’s record goalscorer having posted 206 goals and 58 assists across 405 appearances for his boyhood club.
Woltemade may be a striker with the skills to become an elite player, but it is Lewis Miley who proved against Chelsea that he could be the new homegrown icon.
Miley, 19, has already made 66 senior appearances for Newcastle after being reared in the club’s academy. In this he differs from Shearer, who wended his way down south to Southampton in the formative years of his career.
Praised for his incredible effort in an unnatural full-back role, reporter Andy Sixsmith said he “looked like he’s played there all his career”, stepping up amid injury issues to Kieran Trippier and Tino Livramento.
He completed his one attempted dribble and won his one tackle, but the stats don’t paint the full picture here, with Alejandro Garnacho silenced by the younger man.
Lewis Miley vs Chelsea
Stats (* per game)
#
Minutes played
90′
Touches
61
Shots (on target)
1 (0)
Accurate passes
30/38 (79%)
Possession lost
10x
Chances created
0
Dribbles
1/1
Ball recoveries
9
Tackles won
1/1
Interceptions
3
Clearances
3
Duels won
4/7
Data via Sofascore
Here’s the thing: Miley has proven himself capable of standing out in a Newcastle team awash with elite quality. He could develop into the city’s greatest native since Shearer plied his craft at number nine in black and white.
Subscribe for deeper Newcastle analysis and profiles Explore fuller analysis by subscribing to the newsletter: follow Newcastle’s rising stars, tactical shifts, and player profiles like Woltemade and Miley, with clear breakdowns that deepen your Premier League understanding. Subscribe for deeper Newcastle analysis and profiles Explore fuller analysis by subscribing to the newsletter: follow Newcastle’s rising stars, tactical shifts, and player profiles like Woltemade and Miley, with clear breakdowns that deepen your Premier League understanding.
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Chronicle Live even handed the Geordie a 9/10 match rating for his effort against the Londoners, thriving in his moonlit right-back berth.
Miley oozes confidence and maturity. He is shaping into a special player, a homegrown talent who can allay the frustrations around selling Elliot Anderson to Nottingham Forest last year.
Could he become the new Shearer? Certainly, the teenager has endeared himself to the Toon supporters, and he’s only going to get better over the years.
Newcastle's £100k-p/w flop looks like another Michael Owen-style disaster
This Newcastle ace has struggled for his best for this season
Sleepless nights are an integral part of a Ranji Trophy final, and Railways must have had one after their dismal batting performance on the first day at the Karnail Singh Stadium in Delhi. But if a lack of shut-eye truly does inspire Murali Kartik to the heights he achieved on Thursday, Railways skipper Abhay Sharma might consider forcibly keeping his star spinner awake for the remainder of the match.Resuming on 17 for no loss, Baroda had their task laid out before them like an immaculately maintained Japanese garden. All that their batsmen had to do was to notch up a big first-innings score and take the all-important lead. What transpired thereafter was bound to favour Baroda more than Railways.When Connor Williams and Satyajit Parab proceeded to add 63 more runs for the first wicket, therefore, everything seemed to be going according to plan. But Parab, soon after getting to his fifty, was caught by Shreyas Khanolkar, giving Kartik his first scalp. Parab departed for 53 (78b, 8×4) with the score on 80.Seven runs later, Williams, who had agonised 95 balls for 24 runs, was bowled by Kartik. The loss of the openers brought skipper Jacob Martin and Nayan Mongia to the crease, but Martin was just in transit. After making 12 off 36 balls, he fell to Harvinder Singh, leaving his side in choppy waters at 112/3.Mongia then stood mute spectator at the other end as Tushar Arothe and Atul Bedade came and left with startling immediacy. Arothe took 25 balls to score two runs, but Bedade was much swifter, using only five balls to make the same score. Both fell to Kartik, a left-arm spinner on a magnificent roll.Kartik ultimately consumed Mongia as well, having him caught by Khanolkar for 32 off 91 balls. At that juncture, the score was 138/6 off 58.3 overs. Within the next 15.3 overs, Railways took the remaining wickets for the addition of only 31 runs. Ajit Bhoite put up some spirited resistance, scoring 17 (60b, 2×4, 1×6), but the other lower-order bats succumbed tamely to Harvinder Singh or Jai P Yadav.Unexpectedly, Railways had garnered a vital 84-run first-innings lead, and the match had turned on its head. Baroda, sorely missing the services of left-arm seamer Zaheer Khan, managed to capture the wicket of Yadav before the close of play, dismissing him for four (17b) with the score on 13.But further breakthroughs were not so forthcoming. Amit Pagnis, as he had in the first innings, looked in excellent touch, striking the ball to the fence four times before the close of play, hitting up 24 off 58 balls. Tejinder Pal Singh, his companion for the second-wicket stand, was content to let Pagnis hit the runs, making three off 40 balls before stumps.Railways, at the end of the day, led by 121 runs, nine wickets remaining in their second innings. If one batsman from the home side is able to play a responsible, even sedate, knock on the third day, Baroda will have their backs to the wall, visions of retaining the Ranji Trophy fading fast before their eyes.
Shane Warne will not play in the Indian Cricket League (ICL) but has not ruled out taking part in a proposed Twenty20 tournament sanctioned by the game’s governing bodies. Warne sent a letter to the ICL on Wednesday declining its offer – reported to be worth A$900,000 a season – after he decided joining the group could be detrimental to Australian cricket.”Shane had a tremendous send-off last year, Cricket Australia were unbelievable and he feels he has another 30 years with the game and he wants to keep on side with officialdom,” Warne’s manager James Erskine told the . “He wants and needs to protect his standing in the game and the respect for his achievements.”The paper said the Indian board had asked Warne to play in an official Twenty20 league that would have ICC approval, however Erskine did not confirm if Warne intended to take part. Details are being hastily arranged by national boards but the broad idea is for the top Twenty20 sides in domestic competitions to compete in a Champions League-style format. It is likely that teams would be able to recruit international stars to boost their squads.The reported that the top sides would eventually represent regions, such as Australasia, and two New Zealand teams would join Australia’s domestic Twenty20 competition. However, a Cricket Australia spokesman told the paper it was too early to be discussing such details.Victoria are so far undefeated in Australia’s Twenty20 tournament and their coach, Greg Shipperd, said the Champions League concept was an excellent idea. “We’ve been promised that this was going to happen for a couple of years, and we’ve been itching to have a go and get involved from a team perspective,” he said in the . “We would love to be playing at an international level, albeit not for your country.”
It’s hard to know where Tatenda’s Taibu’s future lies at the moment.In the year since he walked away from Zimbabwe cricket he has had spells in Bangladesh and England. A month ago he stated that he would not return to Zimbabwe to play and hinted that his future lay in South Africa. But after being rebuffed there, he returned home, suggested that he had been misquoted and stated he might again be around to play for Zimbabwe. Barely had the ink dried on those reports than he popped up in Namibia at the weekend keeping for them.”I wanted to be away from the politics in Zimbabwean cricket, and at the same time remain active in competitive cricket, so Namibia is good for me at the moment,” Taibu told the BBC in yet another about face. “I’m going through the contract at the moment and should sign it in the next couple of days.”Taibu is only playing for Namibia in South African domestic cricket – it would take him five years to qualify for the national team.There is an strong feeling inside Zimbabwe that as his options run out, he will be back, and most believe that will be as soon as the tour of Bangladesh next month to enable him to reclaim his place ahead of the World Cup.Last week, Themba Mliswa, the man whose alleged threats sent Taibu and his family into exile, claimed the pair had made up. The only remaining obstacle seems to be the presence of Peter Chingoka at the head of the board, but given Taibu’s ever-changing moods, by next week they may well be on speaking terms as well.