The CFX Academy this week intensified their preparations for the three-day warm-up match against India starting on Saturday at the Academy by training with the senior national team on Tuesday and Wednesday at the match venue.The Academy coach Dave Houghton was pleased with the way preparations had gone. “Preparations have been very good. We have been practising every day, which is part of our normal proceedings, and on Tuesday and Wednesday we trained with the Zimbabwe squad to give them a bit of practise as well as ourselves,” he said. “On Friday we’ll just have the morning session. We normally practise all day, as the India squad will be here in the afternoon for their practice.”The former national team coach said that he did not expect much from the tour match, the Academy’s first international match of more than one day. “I don’t expect a great deal from the Academy. They are only youngsters and for them to take on India is tough work. But it is a learning process first and it’s great experience.””I will expect the lads to go out there and give it 100 percent and get as much match experience as they can. This is how they learn what it is going to be like when they play international cricket.””I will be fielding three non Academy players. Mluleki Nkala is going to come in and captain the side. He is from last year’s Academy. Gary Brent from the first year’s Academy player is going to play and also Dion Ebrahim. Just to give us a little bit more strength because, otherwise, I don’t think we have enough strength to take on an international side. So we are only going to play eight of our squad of 15 here.”Houghton believes that the Academy is now much better than they were a couple of months ago when they participated in the expanded three-day inter-provincial first-class tournament, the Logan Cup. The Academy lost all its five matches against champions Mashonaland, Mashonaland A, Midlands, Manicaland and Matabeleland. They also played Bangladesh in a one-day tour match at Alexandra Sports Club on April 7 and lost by seven wickets.”We didn’t do well in the Logan Cup and we lost the game to Bangladesh. This was not unexpected. It’s very much a learning curve. We take guys from school and we try and grow them up, teach them about cricket. So the Logan Cup, in particular, came before we even had time to practise because of a lot of rain around. But we are a better unit now than we were a few months ago. So results are not what counts here because it’s about experience and they are getting good experience.”On who had impressed him so far this season, Houghton had four players for special mention.”We have the most up and coming players like Campbell MacMillan, our opening bowler. Sean Ervine is a great all-rounder who I think will soon be making his way to the ODI side. Barney Rogers is probably our best batsman. Blessing Mahwire I am hoping will be fit for the weekend match as he is suffering from a knee problem. He is one of our best all-rounders.”The rest of them are good players who are likely to be playing first-class cricket soon. I hope they will get a lot experience from the game against India. They are very excited about the game,” Houghton said.The Academy team is as follows, in probable batting order: Terry Duffin, Wisdom Siziba, Dion Ebrahim, Barney Rogers, Sean Ervine, Guy Croxford, Mluleki Nkala (capt), Gary Brent, Campbell McMillan, Leon Soma, Ian Coulson.Indian team (from): Sourav Ganguly (captain), SS Das, SR Tendulkar, RS Dravid, J Srinath, A Nehra, DS Mohanty, S Ramesh, SS Dighe, Harbhajan Singh, AB Agarkar, Zaheer Khan, VVS Laxman and HK Badani.

My previous article on pitch invasions was mainly on incursions during the NatWest Series in England. As this is a very serious subject I feel it needs to be discussed in a wider perspective and dealt with in a positive and practical manner. Ground invasions coupled with various types hooliganism by spectators are an international phenomenon, which apart from cricket jeopardise other sports activities too.Soccer matches are perhaps the biggest venues of hooliganism. There have been many incidents where some players and referees were trapped in a stampede and mauled to the point of death. There are common instances of `outside the ground’ rowdyism too when fans from one country go abroad.In cricket, at least so far, it is fortunate we have not experienced such a mad frenzy leading to serious injuries or death in any of the matches.The standard of spectators’ discipline in Asia being much lower than other countries the strikes, protests and agitations are a regular feature of daily life. The law-enforcing agencies are powerful, well trained and better equipped to deal with bitter situations than their European counterparts.I was surprised that in England, there is no law to control mob violence on a cricket field. According to a news item, the England Cricket Board (ECB) is `pursuing the line of trying to get legislation to make it an offence to run on to the pitch’. After the new legislation is drafted, it will need various parliamentary approvals before it can take effect. According to an ECB spokesman, the legislation is likely to be in place before the summer season next year.Asian countries like India, Pakistan, Sri Lanka and Bangladesh already have their procedures in place. The stadiums are in full control of the Cricket Boards or affiliated bodies while the civil administration joins in to help the organisers in the maintenance of law and order during international matches or whenever required.There are no special rules to deal with pitch invasion. The laws governing mob violence, causing disturbance, creating lawlessness or other problems of this nature are applied judiciously to deal with the situation. Sometimes, rather novel steps are taken that may make English cricket administrators shudder to even think about!

During the last Asian Test Cricket Championship, a crucial match between India and Pakistan at Eden Gardens, a violent crowd disturbance erupted. Repeated requests by the organisers had no salutary effects on the unruly spectators. Play was stopped for a while and the teams called back to the dressing rooms. Then, with the help of security forces, the administration cleared the stadium of a massive crowd of around 100,000 people. Play was resumed with no spectators at all and the match completed with Pakistan emerging victorious. This is what we call, the control of a situation `Asian style’.In Asia too, there were no fears of ground invasion till the mid-70s and the fences used to be only 3-ft high. But in the 1978-79 season, when Pakistan – India cricket relations were restored after a lapse of 17 years and India visited Pakistan, the fences were raised to 8-ft. Huge crowds were expected since the two teams had not faced each other for so many years. With unprecedented enthusiasm among the fans, the chances of untoward incidents were there. The raising of fences was thus a step in the right direction, one that has worked magnificently till today, relieving the organisers of big headaches.With the erection of high fences the problem of ground invasion has been solved but still a few high-spirited daredevils jump over the fence to be promptly hauled up by the stewards. Local cricket fans being somewhat entertainment starved, come to enjoy cricket matches fully prepared. They carry flags, banners, crackers, drums, horns and radios to express their enthusiasm. Taking their pleasure away by subjecting them to unnecessary restrictions may amount to buying trouble.Chandigarh (India) has solved the problem in a very novel manner. In one of the most modern cricket stadiums, built under the personal supervision of IS Bindra, former President of BCCI, there are no high fences. To prevent ground invasion they have dug a 6-ft deep trench (moat) all around except the authorized places of entry. The method allows the fans a clear view of the game and at the same time prevents them running on.In the final analysis, I feel Asian methods of crowd control are practical, acceptable and easy to implement. The power available to the ground authorities and civil administration to control the situation is also legitimate.Even the new habit of hurling fruit or other missiles onto the ground or aimed at a fielder has now been curtailed by not allowing them to bring such items in. One still sees the odd young cricket fan somehow evade all these measures, and run on to pat his hero on the back, chased by a policeman. Laughter erupts when he, for being sprightlier, eventually manages to evade the constable.

Trent Bridge’s Weekend of Legends ended with a thrilling contest between the England Masters and their Australian counterparts. Set 249 for victory Australia were dismissed in the final over for 215, giving England the win by 33 runs.After the mid-session break England struck an early blow by dismissing Geoff Marsh for just one, Chris Lewis clean bowling him in the fourth over.The ex-Durham pairing of Dean Jones and David Boon then combined to nurse the Australians up to 58 by the end of the 15th over. Boon, in particular, looked to punish anything loose and it was with great relief that skipper Graham Gooch could relax the fielding restrictions.Gooch dropped Boon on 39 at midwicket and shortly afterwards the unfortunate bowler Peter Hartley (ex Yorks and Hants) was slogged for six by Jones.Jones reached a deserved 50 (61 mins 51 balls 8×4) with a clip to leg which also brought up the 100. His partner, on 44, tried to reach the same landmark in one go but skied Hartley to deep extra cover where Alan Wells scooped to take a low catch on the run.Dermot Reeve’s introduction to the attack met with immediate reward when he nipped one back to bowl Jones for a splendid 65.Aussies skipper Allan Border got off the mark with a trademark clip through the leg side but fell on eight when he pulled a Reeve full toss straight to Wells.Reeve, looking like Spiderman in his red and blue kit, turned Superhero when he then picked up the wickets of Tom Moody, smartly stumped by Bruce French, and clean bowled both Simon O’Donnell and Kim Hughes. Reeve’s seven overs had brought him 5-26.With 84 needed from eight overs Mike Gatting and then Derek Randall were given a bowl and Tony Dodemaide (ex Victoria and Sussex) helped himself with sixes off each of them.Captain Gooch then brought himself on and his day turned for the better when he cleaned up Ian Healy for nine and after Dodemaide hit another six he hoisted to long on where Neil Foster took the catch.In a frenzied finale Randall and then Bruce French bowled some gentle lobs but were rewarded with the wickets of Geoff Lawson and Jeff Thomson to give England victory in the last over.Earlier England overcame the loss of Graham Gooch for a duck in the first over to post 248-8, with Derek Randall top scoring with 54 and other notable contributions coming from Chris Lewis with 41, Tim Robinson (38) and Dermot Reeve (35). For the Aussies Dean Jones had most success with the ball, picking up 3-41, although both Jeff Thomson and Geoff Lawson bowled impressive spells.

The first ever ZEE International Double Wicket Cricket Championshipwas held at Lincoln Park West, in Jersey City, New Jersey, from July13 to 15. Sixteen players from six countries – India, Pakistan, SriLanka, Bangladesh, England and the West Indies participated in thethree-day tournament.India and Pakistan fielded two teams – India Reds (Robin Singh andVinod Kambli) and Indian Blues (Sunil Joshi and Hrishikesh Kanitkar)and Pakistan Blues (Wasim Akram and Shahid Afridi) and Pakistan Greens(Saeed Anwar and Azhar Mahmood). Arjuna Ranatunga and Aravinda deSilva (Sri Lanka); Aminul Islam and Akram Khan (Bangladesh); JimmyAdams and Phil Simmons (West Indies) and Chris Lewis and David Capel(England) were the other participants.Pakistan’s Rashid Latif and a local player kept wickets during thetournament. Former West Indian left-handed batsman Larry Gomes was thetournament referee, who also acted as the TV umpire. India’s SK Bansaland Pakistan’s Mian Muhammad Aslam officiated as umpires. Localplayers, led by Derek Kallicharran, younger brother of former WestIndian captain and batsman Alvin, fielded for the various teams duringthe tournament.The competition was played at a baseball park. A synthetic wicket,which was imported from South Africa, was laid out for the event.Since the wicket had unpredictable bounce and pace, the bowlers usedshorter run-ups and bowled slow stuff. All matches were televised liveon Zee UK, Zee Africa and Zee USA. Pakistan TV also took a live feed.Although the crowd was disappointing on the first day, the last twodays saw a fairly decent flag-waving crowd, mostly from the subcontinent.Pakistan Blues, represented by Wasim Akram and Shahid Afridi, won thecompetition defeating the Bangladeshi pair of Akram Khan and AminulIslam in the final. India Blues and the West Indies were losing semifinalists. The winners took US$ 20,000, while the runners-up won halfthat amount. Afridi won US$ 1000 for hitting the maximum sixes, whileDerek Kalllicharran was adjudged the best fielder with maximumcatches. The mayor of Jersey City gave away the prizes.Brief scores:July 13: Match No 1 (Group A): Pakistan Blues 82-2 in 8 overs beatIndia Reds 65-2 in 8 overs. Match No 2 (Group A): England 59-5 in 8overs lost to West Indies 70-3 in 8 overs. Match No 3 (Group B):Pakistan Greens 50-5 in 8 overs lost to Sri Lanka 61-2 in 8 overs.Match No 4 (Group B): India Blues 44-3 in 8 overs lost to Bangladesh47-1 in 8 overs. Match No 5 (Group A): Pakistan Blues 69-5 in 8 oversbeat West Indies 34-4 in 8 overs.July 14: Match No 6 (Group A): West Indies 69-1 in 8 overs beat IndiaReds 32-9 in 8 overs. Match No 7 (Group A): England 41-7 in 8 oversbeat India Reds 4-0 in 1.5 overs (India Reds conceded the match whenKambli was injured). Match No 8 (Group B): Pakistan Greens 41-5 in 8overs lost to India Blues 44-2 in 8 overs Match No 9 (Group A):Pakistan Blues 88-3 in 8 overs beat England 75-2 in 8 overs Match No10 (Group B): Sri Lanka 5-9 in 8 overs lost to Bangladesh 21-3 in 8oversJuly 15: Match No 11 (Group B): India Blues 54-2 in 8 overs beat SriLanka 27-8 in 8 overs. Match No 12 (Group B): Bangladesh 68-2 in 8overs beat Pakistan Greens 43-7 in 8 overs.

Points table:Group A P W L Pts Group B P W L PtsPakistan Blues 3 3 0 6 Bangladesh 3 3 0 6India Blues 3 2 1 4 England 3 1 2 2India Reds 3 0 3 0 Pak Greens 3 0 3 0West Indies 3 2 1 4 Sri Lanka 3 1 2 2

Semi-finals: Bangladesh 58-5 in 8 overs: Akram Khan (60 runs with 2outs) & Aminul Islam (18 – 3) beat West Indies 55-3 in 8 overs: (PhilSimmons 27 – 1) & Jimmy Adams (36-2) Pakistan Blues 118-4 in 8 overs:Shahid Afridi (63 – 3) & Wasim Akram (69 – 1) beat India Blues 77-4 in8 overs: Hrishikesh Kanitkar (33-2) & Maninder Singh (49-2) (ManinderSingh replaced the injured Sunil JoshiFinal: Pakistan Blues 81-9 in 8 overs: Shahid Afridi (79 runs, with 7outs) & Wasim Akram (43 – 2) beat Bangladesh 58-2 in 8 overs: AkramKhan (40 – 1) & Aminul Islam (20-1)

Ian Bell and Michael Powell engineered a Warwickshire recovery at the Rose Bowl with an unbroken stand of 151 for the fourth wicket after Hampshire captain Robin Smith had chosen to field first in conditions which helped his array of seam and pace bowlers.Rain knocked 40 overs from the day’s allocation and Alan Mullally soon made his presence felt with two early wickets. England hopeful Mullally removed Nick Knight and Mark Wagh in his first five overs and then Chris Tremlett sent back David Hemp with the fifth ball of his first over.Knight edged into the slips where Neil Johnson failed to hold the catch above his head but Alex Morris held the rebound. Wagh was caught at the wicket, also for four, and Hemp offered no shot to be lbw.But from 41 for three Warwickshire, unsteadily at first, began a recovery with the precocious Bell, aged 19, soon outscoring his captain. After a run of poor scores, Powell reached his half-century in three hours and Bell was not far behind, straight driving Johnson to reach his 50 and bringing up the century partnership at the same time.As cloud gave way to sunshine Hampshire ran out of ideas and at the close Warwickshire’s revival was near completion at 192 for three from 64 overs.Bell’s 88 not out came off 160 balls and included 13 fours while the more circumspect Powell was 67 not out in a stolid innings which included only six boundaries but was just as valuable to his team’s cause.

Just minutes after leaving the field at Taunton, unbeaten after scoring his maiden century, Somerset opening batsman Matthew Wood told me, “I’m very happy to have scored my first century. It was a good wicket out there, and I felt comfortable after we had seen off the new ball.”What was it like batting with Jamie Cox I asked. Matthew told me, “Coxy was great to bat with. He was a great help to me. He carried me through and kept me going.”The twenty year old from Exmouth told me, “It was nice to get a ton against Northants, particularly after getting 90 odd up there earlier in the season.”What did he plan to do during the winter I asked. “I plan to go to Perth for some of the time, and will also go back to Exeter University to do another semester for my degree course.”

Northerns Cricket Union have announced that Gerald Dros has again been appointed as the Titan’s Captain for the forthcoming 2001/2002 cricket season.Gerald, in his first full season as Captain last year, made great strides with a young team and managed to pull off numerous very encouraging results. From a personal point of view, Gerald was able to average above forty in all forms of the game with the bat, and below thirty with the ball in hand – which according to Dave Nosworthy, the Titan’s Coach, “Is a brilliant performance from a captain who has led from the front and instilled a winning attitude amongst his troops!The reappointment of “Drossie” is in line with our policy of continuity and there is no doubt in my mind that he will again fulfill an important role within the team’s objectives and goals.”

Greg Blewett thrust his name before national selectors with an unbeaten half century for South Australia against an impressive Victorian attack in the Pura Cup cricket match at Adelaide Oval today.At stumps on day two, the Redbacks finished at 2-139 in reply to the Bushrangers’ first-innings total of 334.With a top order Test spot up for grabs following the recent axing of Michael Slater from the Australian team, Blewett came in at No.3 for SA and notched ninefours on his way to 78 not out from 129 deliveries.He was joined by Darren Lehmann (17 not out) in a battle with Victoria’s Test stars Shane Warne and Colin Miller, who claimed one wicket each, while DamienFleming, Paul Reiffel and Ian Harvey bowled economically.Blewett’s knock came on the back of an impressive English county season for Nottinghamshire and 1,162 first-class runs at an average of 68.35 for SA in 2000-01, which included a brilliant 260 not out against Queensland in Brisbane.Miller made the early breakthrough for the Bushrangers on the final ball of his first over when he dismissed SA opener Shane Deitz (five), caught superbly by veteran Victorian wicketkeeper Darren Berry at full stretch diving low to his left.Blewett and David Fitzgerald settled into a 71-run partnership before Warne had Fitzgerald caught behind for 34.After the Bushrangers resumed at 4-228 this morning, with Brad Hodge on 100, Ian Harvey let loose.Having faced 60 balls for his 29 the day before, he added another 33 from 46 deliveries, putting on a 104-run stand with Hodge.But Harvey’s knock ended on 62 when he lofted spinner Brad Young straight down the ground to be caught by Fitzgerald midway through the first session.Berry (five) followed a short time later, thanks to a sharp Blewett catch at first slip off the bowling of Mark Harrity.Test paceman Jason Gillespie then claimed his first wicket for the match when he bowled Warne (four) with a ball that ripped off stump out of the ground.Reiffel followed and Victoria went to lunch at 8-321.Hodge went on to reach his best first-class score of 140 before he was caught by Blewett off the bowling of Young in the second over after the break.Three overs later, Gillespie had Fleming caught by Fitzgerald in front of square leg for seven, leaving Miller the not out batsman on three.Young finished with 3-70 for the Redbacks while Gillespie, Harrity and Paul Rofe took two wickets each.

The United Cricket Board of South Africa has been placed in an extremely difficult position regarding the staging of the third Castle Lager/MTN Test match at SuperSport Park, Centurion, from tomorrow.”We were informed this morning by the President of the Board of Control for Cricket in India, Mr Jagmohan Dalmiya, that the Indian team will not take the field if Mike Denness is acting as Match Referee,” said UCBSA Chief Executive Officer Gerald Majola.South African cricket and the South African public in general cannot afford the cancellation of this Test match. Although the crisis has not been of our making, we have received reports of protests at South African embassies in India and our country has been caught up in this issue. The South African Government, through Sports Minister Ngconde Balfour, has instructed the UCBSA to take whatever action is necessary to ensure that the Test match goes ahead.In view of these issues, the UCBSA has asked Mike Denness to stand down asMatch Referee in the interests of cricket.However, Mr Denness indicated that he was a properly appointed ICC Match Referee who was in South Africa to act as such and he could not step down from that position.United Cricket Board Chief Executive Officer Gerald Majola telephoned ICC CEO Malcolm Speed to inform him that the UCBSA had no alternative but to ask Mr Denness to recuse himself and, facing his refusal to do so, had indicated that the UCBSA was unable to allow him access to the Match Referee’s position at the ground for the Test Match.Under the circumstances, South African Denis Lindsay, who serves on the ICC Match Referees Panel, has agreed to be available to stand in as Match Referee and the BCCI has agreed to him replacing Mr Denness.”We sincerely regret that the matter has come to this, however we are pleased to announce that the third Castle Lager / MTN Test match will go ahead as planned. We are certain it will be a thrilling contest and we hope the South African public will give their full support to their team as they go all out to play for their country,” concluded Mr Majola.

New Zealand’s Academy side has given itself every chance of wrapping up a victory over the Queensland Academy of Sport just after lunch tomorrow in their game at Bert Sutcliffe Oval.New Zealand’s tail wagged today in a big way as Craig Pryor and Luke Woodcock enjoyed a 125-run partnership for the eighth wicket.Their 100 runs were passed in 118 minutes with Pryor bringing up his half-century in 123 minutes off 121 balls.It was a patient innings by Pryor and a fine scene setter for him with the new domestic season just around the corner.He and Woodcock were able to take advantage of some disappointing Queensland fielding both in the air and along the ground on what was a batsman-friendly pitch.The partnership was finally broken when on 84 Pryor mishit a slog-sweep to square leg to give Matthew Anderson his first wicket in his 31st over. He had seen the New Zealand Academy to a 49-run lead. Woodcock continued to achieve his half-century off 115 balls.Brent Hefford, who was initially missed by Chris Hartley for a stumping opportunity off Scott O’Leary, was run out when the keeper removed the bails from a return by Brendan Nash while Hefford remained stationery with his back foot still out of his crease.New Zealand declared at lunch with the total 382/9 off 122 overs, a lead of 63. Woodcock was unbeaten on 53.Hefford backed up his first innings five wickets by removing Lance Kahler in his second over when he edged to slip. Hefford’s first five overs were again accurate as he finished with one for nine.Worse was to follow as the Queenslanders slumped to 31/3 after 15 overs.Craig Philipson struggled to find his feet before being caught behind off Taraia Robin for a duck. Four batsmen had been dismissed with the total still in arrears by 12 runs.Robin had two for seven off his first five overs.Captain Nash brought some urgency to the Queensland situation by use of deft placement, clever running between the wickets and severe punishment of the loose ball. Woodcock, the left-arm spinner, was punished to the point where he was forced out of the attack after two overs.Nash brought up his entertaining half-century in 81 minutes off 54 balls, with eight fours and one six, just after the tea break. He and Allan Rowe continued to build a sizeable partnership as they wrested the initiative from the New Zealand bowlers. They brought up their century partnership in 101 minutes off 146 balls, with Nash the dominant partner and Rowe providing the ideal support role.Then Woodcock settled into his more productive second spell by disposing of Rowe with the first ball, when he had a catch taken at mid on to a mistimed lofted drive. The pair had added 109 runs.In the next over Nash departed to an edge off Chris Harris to wicket keeper Brendon McCullum, who was deputising for an injured Reece Young. The total suddenly became precarious at 160/6, a lead of 97 with four wickets remaining.All Queensland’s hard work to get back in the game was undone however, when they lost four wickets without adding a run.With the total becalmed on 160 Woodcock bowled Hartley for a duck, when he failed to play a shot.Then in the following over Harris had O’Leary caught under the helmet by a jubilant Nick Horsley.Woodcock dropped a caught and bowled opportunity off Damien Mackenzie with the first ball in his next over and then the batsman defiantly struck the second ball over midwicket for six and he followed this up with two other boundaries in the over.Harris showed his athletic ability when he dived horizontally at cover to catch Boyd Williams off Woodcock. One could not hope to see a better catch. The total had plummeted to 183/9.Harris had Mackenzie caught at deep midwicket to see the conclusion of a major collapse where the last six wickets fell in 32 minutes off 47 balls. Slow bowlers Harris (3-25) and Woodcock (3-29) were the major beneficiaries from a disappointing batting effort from the visitors.New Zealand’s target for the victory was 121. Three of those runs were reduced before stumps with Jamie How and McCullum at the crease.