Southern Rocks remained rooted to the bottom of the Logan Cup table after slumping to a 98-run loss against Mid West Rhinos at the Kwekwe Sports Club

ESPNcricinfo staff17-Feb-2011
ScorecardVusi Sibanda’s second-innings century proved the difference between the teams•CricInfo

Southern Rocks remained rooted to the bottom of the Logan Cup table after slumping to a 98-run loss against Mid West Rhinos at the Kwekwe Sports Club.It’s their fourth defeat in 10 matches and means the Rocks continue to be winless in the tournament. They were well in the game after bowling the Rhinos out for 181 but Justin Lewis’ seven wickets restricted their first-innings lead to just 18. Vusi Sibanda’s second-innings 104 took the Rhinos 309 runs clear and it proved too tough a chase for Rocks to pull off, despite a heroic 324-ball 93 from Rocks captain Stuart Matsikenyeri.Rocks final-innings chase did not get off to the best start, with three wickets – two more for Lewis – falling in the first 14 overs. Matsikenyeri desperately held up one end but was powerless to intervene at the other as wickets continued to tumble. Offspinner Simon Mugava, removed Sikandar Raza and wicketkeeper Robertson Mutumbami until Matsikenyeri finally found some support in Chinyengetere again. In 50 overs the pair added 105, dragging their team towards safety until Roland Benade snared Chinyengetere three short of a well-deserved half-century. His dismissal signalled the slide and Rocks fell 98 runs short.It had all looked so optimistic for Rocks after being asked to bowl first. Rhinos were soon struggling at 88 for 5 before Remembrance Nyathi built some resistance with the lower order. Nyathi hung around for 136 deliveries, striking five boundaries to reach a valuable half-century and help hoist the total up to 181. Though hardly imposing, Lewis’ heroics stormed Rhinos right back into the match. He took six of the first seven wickets to fall, leaving Rocks tottering at 71 for 6, before Robertson Chinyengetere’s painful resistance stopped the rot alongside Blessing Mahwire. The pair built an impressive 119-run stand, with Mahwire hitting two sixes and five fours in his 66. At the other end Chinyengetere was a picture of stoicism, striking a solitary boundary in an epic 194-ball 46. It was enough to earn his side a slender lead.The response from Rhinos top order was imposing and proved the decisive move in the game. Gary Ballance and Friday Kasteni put on a careful century opening stand before Sibanda stroked his way to fluent century. Ballance hit nine fours before becoming Hilary Matanga’s second wicket. He captain, Sibanda, was then supported by the middle order as Rhinos pressed ahead. He struck nine fours and a six before edging behind to Matanga for 104. He had laid the foundation for the 309-run lead which proved enough for his team.

Zimbabwe’s coach, Alan Butcher, thinks it’s unlikely his team will beat the defending champions on Monday. The captain of Australia, Ricky Ponting, is not expecting a surprise loss

Brydon Coverdale in Ahmedabad20-Feb-2011Zimbabwe’s coach, Alan Butcher, thinks it’s unlikely his team will beat the defending champions on Monday. The captain of Australia, Ricky Ponting, is not expecting a surprise loss. The bookmakers have Australia as almost unbackable favourites. But somewhere in the back of the minds of this Zimbabwe group is a sliver of hope, the knowledge that upsets can happen.And that if their three spinners can make use of an Ahmedabad pitch that could provide assistance, it might be just enough to bring Australia back down to a more even footing. Of course, everything must go right for Zimbabwe, who have not beaten Australia in an ODI since their shock win at the 1983 World Cup. Everything would also need to go wrong for Australia, who have not lost a World Cup match since 1999, back in the era of Steve Waugh and Alistair Campbell.”The longer a winning run goes, the closer it must be to coming to an end,” Butcher said on Sunday. “It may not be us that ends it but someone has got to. All we’ve done is tried to prepare as well as we can, on the basis that if we play as well as we can in six matches during this World Cup, we can’t do any more than that. If on the way one or two of the big sides have a bad day and slip up, hopefully we will take advantage of that.”If we play confidently, play our best cricket and Australia don’t, then we may have a chance. Let’s be honest, if both sides play their best cricket, it’s very likely that we’ll lose.”Butcher is nothing if not a realist. But the Zimbabweans have kept an eye on Australia’s performance during the warm-up matches, when they struggled against top-quality spin. Ray Price, Prosper Utseya and Graeme Cremer are not quite the same as Harbhajan Singh, but spin is the strength of Zimbabwe and Australia will need to force the pace for much of their innings.It’s nearly seven years since the teams have met in a one-day international, although the Australians will remember with frustration being upset by Zimbabwe at the 2007 World Twenty20. In the past year, Zimbabwe have had ODI wins against India, Sri Lanka, West Indies and Bangladesh, so they know how to beat good teams, but Ponting is confident his side will have their measure.”We had a good team meeting last night and talked about all their players, individually, and went through batters and bowlers,” Ponting said. “They’ve got a lot of spin options, even a couple of part-time spinners and a quality left-arm offspinner and a legspinner as well, that I wouldn’t be surprised if they play.”We’ve had a good look at them. We know what their strengths and weaknesses are. We’ve also seen their record, and their record is not that strong either, and that’s against some of the smaller nations. We’d expect to play well tomorrow and hopefully get the tournament off on the right note.”And after powerful performances from India, New Zealand and Sri Lanka against weaker sides in the opening matches of the tournament, it seems likely Australia will continue the trend. Zimbabwe’s most ardent fans might say that it means a surprise is due.

Ireland, who have been controversially excluded from the next World Cup, could still play up to 15 one-day internationals against Full Members each year between now and 2015

ESPNcricinfo staff11-Apr-2011Ireland, who have been controversially excluded from the next World Cup, could still play up to 15 one-day internationals against Full Members each year between now and 2015. Cricket Ireland chairman David Williams, who visited India last week and met with BCCI chairman Shashank Manohar, confirmed that he had received support from several of the ICC’s Full Members willing to accommodate Ireland.”One of our ambitions is to increase our ODI exposure against full members to between 10 to 15 per annum, and we received some support from Full Members to accommodate us,” Williams said. “There is, without question, among all the Full Members chairmen I spoke to, considered to be very clear water between us and the rest of the Associates.”Both South Africa and Bangladesh reportedly lent support to Ireland’s push for more games against Full Members, but chances of a bilateral series against world champions India remain slim, and Zimbabwe have withdrawn an invitation for a repeat of Ireland’s trip to the country in September last year. Zimbabwe cited the lack of a gap in their programme due to playing commitments as the reason for the cancellation, although the ICC’s Future Tours Programme does show that they have no international cricket scheduled between the end of October and the beginning of December.”We had hoped to play a four-day game – an unofficial Test match – against Zimbabwe and three ODIs. That would have been a very nice tour. But that tour will not take place,” Williams confirmed.However, Ozias Bvute, ZC’s managing director, insisted that Zimbabwe’s priority in that period was their domestic programme, rather than furthering their international commitments.”We have taken a deliberate decision to try and ensure that all our players turn out for the respective franchises, we have thus tried to separate our international calendar with our domestic fixturing on that basis,” Bvute told ESPNcricinfo. “Our strategy moving forward is to grow our domestic cricket to a point where in itself it becomes financially viable and sustainable. To attract the crowds and sponsors we need all our players in attendance.”Williams, who was re-elected as chairman for a fourth year at Cricket Ireland’s annual meeting, had travelled to India with the intention of securing a qualifying tournament for the next World Cup, ensuring a promotion and relegation system in ODI leagues and canvassing for support for more ODIs for Ireland. “I didn’t get the first, but the second was delivered and I am hopeful that the last will happen,” he said.”Mr Manohar was charming, as expected, but he said he felt the Full Members did not have time to adjust to a qualifying tournament for the 2015 World Cup and it would disrupt the Future Tours Programme. But I don’t think they are arguments which could not be overcome.”There will be qualifying for the 2019 tournament but that is six years away, but the promotion and relegation between ODI leagues is a very significant step for us as well. In the meantime, though, you are handing an opportunity for our best players to go to England because they have no alternative [if they want to play in the next World Cup].”We have all gone into print expressing our disgust but now we must move on and, in association with our Associate friends, we will leave no stone unturned in seeing what our options are in having this iniquitous decision overturned.”Cricket Ireland chief executive Warren Deutrom believes any action to get the decision overturned will have to be inclusive of all the Associate nations and multi-lateral if it is to be successful. “We need to work with the other 94 Associate countries,” Deutrom said at Cricket Ireland’s annual meeting.”They feel disenfranchised and it is not just the High Performance countries that have been in touch. Sports lawyers have also been in contact with me but that will be the last resort. All other remedies must be exhausted first and the first opportunity to challenge the decision is at the annual conference in June.”

Gloucestershire clinched their second win in three County Championship Division Two games with a 45-run success over Kent at Canterbury

29-Apr-2011
ScorecardGloucestershire clinched their second win in three County Championship Division Two games with a 45-run success over Kent at Canterbury.Will Gidman proved the West Country hero with a return of three for 37 including the scalp of Azhar Mahmood, who had looked capable of seeing Kent home to an unlikely victory target of 291.Mahmood, the former Pakistan Test all-rounder, hit 10 boundaries in a 119-ball innings of 70 as injury-hit Kent made a brave tilt at their target. Number 10 Robbie Joseph, hampered by a thigh strain, came out with a runner to help the cause and then last man Joe Denly, who broke his thumb in the field on Tuesday, emerged to try to help Azhar to the winning line.With 45 needed Azhar worked across a good length ball from Gidman only to be given out leg before and give Gloucestershire their 21-point win. Resuming on their overnight total of 52 for 2, Kent appeared to be set for the long haul as Martin van Jaarsveld and Geraint Jones dug in, adding only 49 in the opening hour.In all, the third-wicket partners added 64 in just under 19 overs before Kent’s run chase quickly unravelled with the loss of four wickets for seven runs in the space of 16 balls. Jones (40) missed an expansive drive to be bowled by promising left-arm seamer David Payne then Darren Stevens (three) was squared up on the back foot by Hamish Marshall to spoon a catch to short extra cover via a leading edge.Van Jaarsveld’s 89-minute stay for 32 ended when he opened the face and attempted a run-down to third man against Payne, only to be superbly caught one-handed at second slip by Ian Cockbain to make it 124 for five.After a change of ends, Cockbain was in action again to catch the very next ball at slip, this time at the second attempt, after James Tredwell’s firm-handed push at a Marshall leg-cutter. Azhar and Adam Ball (13) survived until lunch but soon after the resumption Ball’s audacious attempt to pull through mid-wicket against Ian Saxelby ended up in the hands of Jon Lewis at mid-on.Simon Cook then joined forces with Azhar to add an entertaining 70 in 20.4 overs for the eighth wicket but, with 69 still needed to win, Cook got an inside edge to a Gidman delivery that jagged back off the seam and Jonathan Batty pulled off a sharp catch.Batty was again at his best to hold on to a thin edge off Gidman from Joseph, then opening bat Denly emerged as an emergency number 11 despite his fractured thumb as Kent pushed all the way. But it proved in vain as the hosts ended up with just four points from the match.

Australian cricket’s marketing experiment with split innings limited overs matches has been thrown out.

Daniel Brettig01-Jun-2011Australian cricket’s marketing experiment with split innings limited overs matches, and a bevy of exotic proposed rules for next summer’s expanded Twenty20 competition, have been thrown out by the Cricket Australia playing conditions committee.The committee, which serves a similar function to the ICC’s cricket committee by deliberating on issues within the game, will forward these conclusions to the CA board for final approval at its next meeting. Committee members observed that the global body’s commitment to 50-over cricket for the 2015 World Cup, and the success of the 2011 tournament on the subcontinent, made further split innings experimentation redundant.Paul Marsh, the chief executive of the Australian Cricketers Association, sat on the committee alongside the CA chairman Jack Clarke, Greg Chappell and Mark Taylor – Matthew Hayden and Shane Warne were absent – and said that no other decision could have been made.”It was really the only decision the committee could take from our perspective given that the ICC have now elected to push forward with the 50-over format towards the next World Cup,” Marsh told . “It wouldn’t have made sense to have our players playing a different format domestically, heading into the next World Cup, so it was a sensible decision.”The remit of the playing conditions committee, there’s various things we look at but one of them is that it has to be a realistic chance of getting up at international level, but there’s a time to trial things, and last year was that time. While we [the ACA] didn’t think it should’ve been trialled, it was and now we’ve got to go back to keeping ourselves in-line with what the international format is.”Clarke noted that other elements of the domestic competition, “such as using two balls, one from each end, reducing restrictions on the number of overs bowlers can deliver or increasing the number of bouncers allowed”, had been accepted as possible innovations by the ICC.However a raft of outlandish proposed rules for next summer’s T20 competition, presented to the public via a survey, were given short shrift by committee members, who reasoned that gambits like letting the crowd keep the ball or overs worth double runs were simply unnecessary.”Common sense prevailed there,” Marsh said. “The committee I know from the ACA’s perspective we’re supportive of initiatives that will promote the Big Bash and get the most people through the ground, and we’ve talked through a few alternative things there to help achieve that.”The matter of domestic playing surfaces was also addressed, and while general assessments of pitch conditions last summer were favourable, often achieving scores of 4.33/5 or better, groundsmen will be reminded of the need to prepare surfaces that reflect the challenges of Test cricket. Numerous players, coaches and the CA chief executive James Sutherland, have all pondered whether or not last summer’s pitches did not help to equip Australia’s players for the Ashes, where England’s batsmen repeatedly ran up tall scores.”The focus should most certainly be on trying to have wickets or pitches around the country that are as close to international pitches as you can get, that’s the best preparation for players,” said Marsh. “But there’s no doubt the weather played a part in it last year, we’ve thought in some cases that states are prioritising result pitches over preparation for international cricket.”

Kumar Dharmasena and Richard Kettleborough have been promoted to the Elite Panel of ICC Umpires, replacing Daryl Harper and Asoka de Silva

ESPNcricinfo staff25-May-2011Kumar Dharmasena and Richard Kettleborough have been promoted to the Elite Panel of ICC Umpires, replacing Daryl Harper and Asoka de Silva. Dharmasena and Kettleborough, who had been serving on the International Panel of ICC Umpires, were chosen by the ICC Umpires Selection Panel as part of their annual review and selection process.Harper and de Silva, both of whom have controversial umpiring histories and, it would seem, particular troubles with the Decision Review System, have come in for some criticism over their decisions in recent times, in the light of which their demotions are hardly surprising.Harper was one of the umpires to officiate on England’s trip to the Caribbean during the trialling stages of the DRS in early 2009 and soon ran into strife. His problems came to a head during England’s South Africa tour the following winter when, as third umpire, he turned down a caught-behind appeal against Graeme Smith that had been referred to him. Harper upheld the on-field umpire Tony Hill’s decision because he could not hear a sound on the replay and it was suggested that he had not increased the volume setting on his monitor which would have made the edge evident. However, after an inquiry following a complaint by England coach Andy Flower the ICC said the lapse was caused by “technical failure”.A couple of months later Harper was left out of the World Twenty20 in West Indies, reportedly for “general performance reasons”.De Silva’s most recent, and controversial, gaffe came during the World Cup in India when he gave Ireland’s Gary Wilson out despite replays showing the batsman had offered a shot to a delivery that replays clearly indicated had hit him outside the line. The decision came in for some intense criticism, particularly from Ireland captain Will Porterfield, and it was decided that de Silva would not officiate in a couple of key group games that he was originally marked for. At the time, he was the only umpire among the 18 deployed whose success percentage in reviewed decisions was less than 50% during the tournament.As it is the prerogative of the relevant home boards to nominate replacements on the international panel, de Silva could well move to fill the vacancy left by Dharmasena’s promotion as the decision would rest with Sri Lanka Cricket. Harper’s situation is a touch more uncertain. His existing contract expires in July and as it will be the England and Wales Cricket Board, rather than Cricket Australia, nominating a replacement for Kettleborough, Harper could well be out of a job.At 38, Kettleborough is now the youngest umpire on the Elite panel. The Yorkshireman played 33 first-class matches from 1994 to 1999 for Middlesex and Yorkshire before he was included in the ECB panel of umpires in 2006. He made his international umpiring debut in the Twenty20 between England and Australia at Old Trafford in 2009 and to date has umpired in two Tests, 16 ODIs and two international Twenty20s. Like Dharmasena, Kettleborough was also in the panel of 18 umpires for the World Cup earlier this year.The 40-year-old Dharmasena made his international umpiring debut in 2009 and has since umpired in two Tests, 25 ODIs and three T20Is. As a cricketer, he played 31 Tests and 141 ODIs for Sri Lanka between 1993 and 2004 and was part of Sri Lanka’s World Cup-winning squad in 1996.”I am honoured and delighted to have been selected,” Dharmasena said. “To umpire alongside the most respected names in this noble profession and be included on the elite panel is something I wanted to achieve ever since I started umpiring. My next target is to continue to work hard, make good decisions and justify my inclusion.””Their promotions are a result of hard work and impressive performances and will act as an inspiration to other umpires,” added Dave Richardson, ICC’s general manager – cricket and convener of selection panel.Elite Panel of ICC Umpires: Billy Bowden, Aleem Dar, Steve Davis, Kumar Dharmasena, Billy Doctrove, Marais Erasmus, Ian Gould, Tony Hill, Richard Kettleborough, Asad Rauf, Simon Taufel, Rod Tucker

Cameron White has been dropped from Australia’s ODI squad but remains captain of the Twenty20 side for the upcoming tour of Sri Lanka

Daniel Brettig and Brydon Coverdale06-Jul-2011Cameron White has described his demotion from Australia’s ODI squad as a “kick in the guts”, but he remains captain of the Twenty20 side for the upcoming tour of Sri Lanka. Australia have named the players for the one-day and T20 part of the trip, with Shaun Marsh back in the one-day side alongside the fast bowler Doug Bollinger.The major omission from the one-day outfit was that of White, who lost form across the last home summer, struggled at the World Cup and was dropped midway through the Bangladesh series. For all that, he did not expect to be missing when the ODI squad was announced.”Obviously disappointing but the situation’s been known and there’s not much you can do about it, other than go back, get better and hope to get another opportunity at some stage,” White said. “It is no secret I haven’t been in the best of form of late but I was hopeful I would still be in the squad. It’s definitely a kick in the guts.”Now faced with the possibility of becoming a T20 specialist, white said he would be working doubly hard to return to the ODI arena.”I don’t have a lot of cricket for a little while now,” he said. “Outside of a couple of T20 games I will be back playing for Victoria and scoring as many runs as I can. I just have to go back and get better and hopefully get another opportunity at some stage.”T20 is such a different game and moving towards having specialist players, [but] I am not saying I am in that boat,”Andrew Hilditch, the chairman of selectors, said he was confident White could force his way back into the side.”Cameron White is unlucky to be omitted from the one-day squad having been a regular and successful member of the squad for the last few series,” Hilditch said. “Cameron lost his position in the side during the recent one-day tour of Bangladesh but the national selection panel is confident that he will force his way back into the team through weight of runs.”The one-day squad sees the return of Shaun Marsh who was unavailable for the ICC Cricket World Cup through injury. Shaun can open the batting but also provides flexibility throughout the order and gives the squad great balance.”James Pattinson’s inclusion was despite Ryan Harris’ return to fitness following injury, flagging the older fast man’s likely role as a Test match specialist this summer. The Australian captain Michael Clarke said Pattinson had improved his strength and fitness over the off-season.”He looks much fitter and stronger even than he was in Bangladesh and he did pretty well over there, so he’s got a big future,” Clarke said. “He bowls high 140s, his control’s going to get better with experience and plenty of practice, I see a bright future for him. To be around experienced bowlers like Brett [Lee], no doubt he can learn a lot from him.”Shaun Tait has lost his place after retiring from 50-over duty following the World Cup, and was not picked for T20 duty though he remains available for matches in the shortest format. David Hussey returns to the squads after missing Bangladesh to be home for the birth of his first child, leaving no room for Callum Ferguson.The Twenty20 squad has a slightly youthful feel, with the Victoria batsman Aaron Finch in alongside the left-arm spinner Steve O’Keefe and Pattinson.Australia will play two T20s, five ODIs and three Test during the tour of Sri Lanka. The Twenty20 players fly out on July 30 and the remaining one-day squad members depart on August 5. The Test squad will be announced later in July. Meanwhile, Phillip Hughes and Jason Krejza have flown to Zimbabwe early to join the Australia squad, to replace Nic Maddinson (calf strain) and Matthew Wade (back) ahead of Friday’s final one-day game.Twenty20 squad Shane Watson, David Warner, Brad Haddin, Shaun Marsh, David Hussey, Cameron White (capt), Aaron Finch, Steven Smith, Steve O’Keefe, John Hastings, Mitchell Johnson, Brett Lee, James Pattinson.ODI squad Shane Watson, Brad Haddin, Ricky Ponting, Michael Clarke (capt), Michael Hussey, David Hussey, Shaun Marsh, Steven Smith, John Hastings, Mitchell Johnson, Brett Lee, Xavier Doherty, James Pattinson, Doug Bollinger.

In his report to the PCB on Pakistan’s tour of the West Indies, Waqar Younis, the Pakistan coach, has praised captain Misbah-ul-Haq for stabilising the Pakistan team

ESPNcricinfo staff10-Jul-2011Waqar Younis, the Pakistan coach, has praised captain Misbah-ul-Haq for stabilising the national team, in his report to the PCB on Pakistan’s tour of the West Indies. However, Waqar wrote that since Misbah was already 37 years old, Pakistan needed to start grooming a young captain for the 2015 World Cup.”I have to give full credit to Misbah as he has stabilised the team and leads from the front,” Waqar wrote in his report, excerpts of which have been published in . “His performance is also outstanding. He makes the boys feel comfortable and relaxed so they actually enjoy their cricket. He is mature and willing to listen.”The only unfortunate thing is the age factor which is not in Misbah’s favour. On that account, I don’t think he will be able to lead the side in the next World Cup [2015], and therefore I would advise that we should start grooming a young captain from now.”In excerpts of the same report published earlier, Waqar had described Shahid Afridi, who captained Pakistan for limited-overs leg of the Caribbean tour, as immature and undisciplined. After his return from the West Indies, Afridi hinted at differences with Waqar, and team manager Intikhab Alam’s report on the tour suggested a rift between the two. Afridi was removed as ODI captain and replaced by Misbah.While Waqar’s criticism of Afridi was severe, the rest of the report had a distinctly positive tone. He mentioned the growth of Mohammad Hafeez, who has backed up his impressive bowling performances with three half-centuries and a hundred in his last seven ODI innings. “Hafeez has been exceptional, both with the ball and the bat. He was timing the ball sweetly and worked with the game plan when bowling. He is now taking responsibility as a senior member of the team.”Also in line for praise were Saeed Ajmal and Abdur Rehman, who Waqar said were developing into match-winners. Waqar backed the younger players as well, saying Asad Shafiq, Wahab Riaz, Umar Akmal and Azhar Ali were all improving. Mohammad Salman, he said, was a good wicketkeeper but needed to get rid of his nerves.Waqar also noted that senior batsman Younis Khan, who missed the tour of the West Indies, was still an important part of the side. “It was quite unfortunate that he had to leave the squad on the West Indies tour and returned home due to his brother’s death. He was missed on the tour because he is one of the key players in the batting line-up.”

England’s spinner Graeme Swann is confident that his team-mate James Anderson will be passed fit in time to face India in the fourth and final Test

Andrew Miller at The Oval16-Aug-2011James Anderson appears to winning his battle for fitness ahead of the fourth and final Test against India at The Oval on Thursday, after taking a significant part in Wednesday’s practice session. England’s captain, Andrew Strauss, said he was “very optimistic” that Anderson would be available for selection, but said that a final decision on his right quadriceps strain would be taken on the morning of the game.Anderson, who tore through India’s top order with each of the first four wickets to fall in their second innings at Edgbaston, has 18 wickets in the series to date and has risen to No. 2 in the world rankings. However, he complained of stiffness in his thigh after the Edgbaston match, and the Durham paceman, Graham Onions, was called into the squad as cover.Given how valuable Anderson has become as their attack leader, England have already demonstrated a desire to treat him cautiously this summer. He missed the second Test against Sri Lanka earlier in the season as a precaution, having sustained a side strain midway through the opening Test of the summer at Cardiff.This time, however, Strauss seems happier that his star bowler is ready for action. “We are very optimistic he’s fit to play,” he said. “He had a good bowl today, but like all these things we have to check how he comes up tomorrow morning. It just seems nothing more than a little niggle at this stage.”We’ve set a precedent of resting players in the past and I think it’s sensible at times to be able to do that, because of the hectic nature of the international schedule and you don’t want bowlers breaking down for important series,” he added. “But we will only be resting players if we’re absolutely sure they need a rest.”Anderson’s team-mate, Graeme Swann, took a similarly optimistic view when the squad reconvened for practice on Tuesday morning. “I honestly didn’t know he was injured until he told me this morning that he’s not going to play,” said Swann.
“I’m sure once he gets running around, he’ll want to play because I know how well he’s bowling at the minute. I know Jimmy. When he’s doing well, he’s hungry for the ball and he just wants to keep going. It’s when he’s not doing so well, he’s more than happy for a week off.”If Anderson is not passed fit, England will have to choose between Onions and Steven Finn, after Chris Tremlett was once again ruled out by the back injury he sustained prior to the second Test at Trent Bridge. It was notable that England’s bowlers were below-par in the one match that Anderson missed, against Sri Lanka at Lord’s, and Strauss admitted that, even with their current fast-bowling resources, he is one player they would rather not do without.”He’s been very much the leader of our attack for the last couple of years and he’s been outstanding in that role,” said Strauss. “But we’ve had to deal with Stuart Broad being injured, Chris Tremlett being injured and people have come in and done well and that’s always the challenge for you as a side – to make sure you’ve got the strength in depth to be able to mitigate against any sort of injury. If and when we have to deal with that, we’ll deal with it.”He’s very important, not just for the tone he sets but for his relationship with the other bowlers,” Strauss added. “But you can’t rely on one person. That’s one of the things that we’ve been good at: we’ve not relied on one or two people to win us a Test match. We’ve had performances from all 11 and when we’re missing a player it’s important the guy coming in can fill that role.””I think [Jimmy] would be a huge loss, like any of the seamers, but we thought that with Tremlett when he couldn’t play at Trent Bridge,” said Swann. “Up stepped Bressie [Tim Bresnan] and he’s been unbelievable in the two games he’s played. We have got vast stocks of fast bowlers at the minute. I’m not sure where they’ve all come from, but it’s nice for us they have all arrived at the same time, because you can never have enough big fast bowlers.”

Worcestershire gave themselves a chance of claiming their third Championship win of the season after they set Sussex 337 to win at Horsham

12-Aug-2011
Scorecard
Worcestershire gave themselves a chance of claiming their third Championship win of the season after they set Sussex 337 to win at Horsham. It looks a tall order on a dry pitch offering assistance to the spinners and if Worcestershire do get the victory – which would improve their chances of avoiding relegation – they will be indebted to last-wicket pair Ben Scott and Alan Richardson.Wicketkeeper Scott made an unbeaten 36 but the revelation was last man Richardson, who drove the Sussex attack to distraction. Having only made one first-class 50 in a career which began in 1995, the 36-year-old seamer has no pretensions as a batsman but he cut and carved his way to 41 from 31 balls with six fours and two sixes in a stand of 56 from 46 deliveries.Sussex had seven overs to negotiate before stumps and they lost Joe Gatting, whose leg stump was knocked back by a delivery from Ajmal which turned sharply. They closed on 17 for 1 and will need 320 to win on the last day.Sussex plugged away throughout the day and their two most consistent bowlers this season, James Anyon and left-arm spinner Monty Panesar, always offered the biggest threat. Anyon struck in the first over when Daryl Mitchell played on but Sussex had just one more success before lunch when Vikram Solanki misjudged the line of a delivery from Panesar which drifted into his pads and was leg before for 31.After lunch opener Matt Pardoe wasted 45 overs of watchful batting by driving Panesar loosely to mid-on and Worcestershire lost their fifth wicket three overs later when debutant Aneesh Kapil, who was dropped first ball, cut to point in Kirk Wernars’ first over.Gareth Andrew was taken at slip in the last over before tea as offspinner Luke Wells struck before Moeen Ali, who had top scored in Worcestershire’s first innings, became Wells’ second victim when he top-edged having made 68 in two and a half hours off 137 balls. Ali again drove the ball fluently, particularly through the off side, and struck six fours and two sixes.When Anyon took the new ball he immediately had Ajmal lbw to a nip-backer while Jack Shantry became Panesar’s fourth victim and 54th of the season. At that stage the lead was 280 but Richardson and Scott’s counter-attacking partnership for the last wicket gave their side the edge with a day to go.