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Three days of exciting cricket and all of them belonged to India.What else could one have asked for? It was the rare case of theIndian batting and bowling complementing each other.At 15 for one, things may not have looked bright for thetourists, but Rahul Dravid’s class and Sanjay Bangar’sdetermination saw the pair put on a record second wicket standagainst England in England. This provided the right platform forSachin Tendulkar and Sourav Ganguly to change gears and achievethe record score of 628/ 8 declared.Hats off to the team and Ganguly, especially, for sticking to hisdecision to play Bangar and also the two spinners – Anil Kumbleand Harbhajan Singh. For once, the bowlers, Kumble and Harbhajanincluded, also did their job and at the end of the third day, theEnglishmen were reeling at 264/9, facing a follow-on and mostlikely a defeat at the hands of their till then unfancied IndianopponentsI have never before witnessed such solidarity in an Indian team,both on and off the field. Dravid’s second consecutive century ofthe series and Sachin’s special effort – his 30th century whichsaw him go past the Don in the list of century-makers in Tests -could not have come at a more appropriate time. It then is hightime that the critics find something positive to write aboutthese players rather than trying to find faults which seldomexist.Ganguly, the as he is fondly called, tooneeds to be praised whole-heartedly, as he led from the frontshowing calmness and extraordinary concentration to carve out awell-made century.The most incandescent moments of the Sachin-Ganguly partnershipcame when they refused the umpires offer of light to them andproceeded to massacre the English bowling. It rained fours andsixes and 89 runs were scored of eight overs.The contrastingcenturies from the Indian trinity on a pitch which was tipped byobserves, yours truly included, to favour the English bowlers,put the home team on the back foot for the first time in theseries. A rousing display from the Indian bowlers followed andthis has firmly tilted the match in India’s favour with Englandstill trailing by 364 runs with two days to play.Talking about the team, the Indians are gradually making peoplerealise that they can play well in the longer version of the gametoo. It has been a rare case of focused cricket over 21 hoursspread over 9 sessions. This is what Test cricket is all about,winning session after session, thereby throttling the opposition.Ganguly’s men have indeed worked hard and put on a display thatwill rank as probably their best in an away Test in recenttimes. Now it is up to them to continue their good work and crowntheir unstinting efforts with victory. Should India go on to win,it will definitely be one of their most famous wins and breathelife back into what was threatening to turn into a dead series.

Glamorgan could have two representatives at the first Test against Pakistan, starting at Lord`s next Thursday – spinner Robert Croft and scorer Byron Denning.Byron Denning has already accepted an invitation to act as England`s scorer in the opening Test of the 2001 series. The long serving Glamorgan scorer will be in the scorer`s box alongside Tony Kingston of Northamptonshire as the two teams take the field, and after the announcement this morning of the England squad, it is not inconceivable that `Dasher` will be recording the efforts of spinner Robert Croft.Croft is one of thirteen names in the England squad, which includes uncapped Surrey batsman Ian Ward and Yorkshire`s Ryan Sidebottom. Croft is the only full time spinner in the squad, with Ashley Giles still recovering from a Achilles tendon strain.Many pundits are suggesting that Ward will get the nod in the final eleven, rather than the Glamorgan off-spinner, but Chairman of Selectors David Graveney has not discounted the fact that Croft could figure in the match. “Everyone seems to think Crofty is simply coming along to make up thenumbers, but with the weather being so unpredictable, we believespin could still play a part in this Test.”

Rahul Dravid will play for Karnataka in the Buchi Babu All-India invitation tournament to be held in Chennai from September 2 to 19. The tournament, Tamil Nadu Cricket Association’s curtain-raiser to 2008-09, will enter its 99th year this season.It is likely the Buchi Babu tournament, which consists of three-day games, will see more national players this year since the postponement of the Champions Trophy has left a gap in the international calendar. Also, the Indian board wanted its top players to play in key domestic tournaments and participate in a preparatory camp ahead of the four-Test series against Australia starting in Bangalore on October 9.C Raghu, the offspinning allrounder, who scored 359 and picked up nine wickets from seven Ranji matches last season, will lead the Karnataka side in the tournament that will also include an Andhra Cricket Association side captained by Gnaneswara Rao.Karnataka squad Rahul Dravid, KB Pawan (wk), CB Karthik, V Cheluvaraj, Deepak Chougule, Amit Verma, Sunil Raju, Udit Patel, Ryan Ninan, NC Aiyappa, KP Appanna, S Aravind, Raju Bhatkal, Devraj Patil, Akshay.Andhra Cricket Association Gnaneswara Rao, AG Pradeep, Prasad Reddy, V Manoj Sai, DR Chowdary, Dasi Prabhu Kiran, ASK Varma, Bodapati Sumanth, Sameer Ali Khan, M Dinesh Kumar, P Vijay Kumar, D Kalyankrishna, GV Sharath Babu, YL Kishore, M Suresh, K Ravi Shankar.

It was the levelheaded approach of Ramnaresh Sarwan that helpedthe West Indies to a thrilling win at Jamshedpur. I mustcongratulate the tourists team for the resilience they haveshown. After losing the first two Test matches, they have shown apositive approach to their game, and that has patently manifesteditself in a marked improvement in their fielding standards.The signs of improvement started showing even during the KolkataTest, and there is a very definite air of positive confidence totheir body language now. After the Jamshedpur one-dayer, the teamwill now be boosted even more by the performances of their toporder batsmen like Wavell Hinds and Marlon Samuels. And eventhough the experienced Carl Hooper may have failed, Sarwanrefused to throw away his wicket and, ignoring the mountingpressure, sealed a scintillating win.For India, promoting Ajit Agarkar to number three must be ratedas a big gamble. Fortunately for the team management, the gamblepaid off. Agarkar played very well for his 95 runs, and it wasgood to see him involved in two big partnerships, with VVS Laxmanand then with Rahul Dravid.Mohammad Kaif played yet another brilliant cameo towards the end.Surely India have now found their own version of Michael Bevan, alate-order player who can hit up quick runs, consolidate whenneeded, and pace a one-day chase well. Kaif has shown glimpses ofall three skills, and the first of the three helped India to tatotal of 283 – a good score, especially in the absence of aninjured Sachin Tendulkar.But Agarkar’s success with the bat may pose a few problems. WithKaif then coming in at number eight, the batting line-up looksrather over-crowded, and when Tendulkar returns, either Agarkarwill have to move back to his slot in the tail or one of theregular batsmen will have to make way.

Then again, going by their display at Jamshedpur, the surfeit ofriches in the batting department is the least of India’s worriesin one-day cricket. The fact that they failed to defend a scoreof 283, on a placid Indian pitch, must be a worrying factor forthe team management. As the tour progresses, the West Indians arealso getting used to Anil Kumble and Harbhajan Singh; notably,Samuels, Hinds and Sarwan are finding their feet against bothspinners. The pitch was a touch on the slower side and shouldhave helped Kumble and Harbhajan, yet both were completelyoutplayed.Virender Sehwag was the onlybowler to create an impact on the West Indies. I thought hebowled intelligently and was crucial in the Windies almostchoking towards the end. It is this lack of depth in the Indianbowling that causes worry.The two teams look very evenly matched at the moment, and theremaining games of this one-day series might continue in the samepattern. It is the change in batting fortunes of the West Indiesthat has made all the difference, and the likes of Sarwan,Samuels and Hinds have the right attitude towards the game. Ifthey can concentrate on the job a touch harder and score heavily,the West Indies might give this experienced Indian team a realscare.

Virat Kohli, the captain of the India under-19s, and team-mates Pradeep Sangwan and Tanmay Srivastava, have been awarded the Border-Gavaskar scholarship for 2008. The scholarship will enable them to train for six weeks at Cricket Australia’s Centre of Excellence in Brisbane.”It’s really good to receive the scholarship. I think my performance in the [U-19] World Cup has been taken into consideration for this” Sangwan told the . Sangwan, a left-arm seamer who is Kohli’s team-mate in Delhi’s Ranji squad, was one of the stand-out performers in India’s victorious U-19 World Cup campaign, taking eight wickets from six matches at 20.75.Meanwhile, Srivastava, who was the top-scorer in the tournament with 262 runs at 52.40, felt it was an “honour” to be a recipient of the scholarship. “This is the most sought-after scholarship and I am really lucky to get this. I am looking forward to further working on my skills and improving my game while we are trained in Australia.”Kohli also had a good run in the U-19 World Cup, scoring 235 runs to finish as the third-highest run-getter, and was one of only three batsmen to score a century in the tournament, which was held in Malaysia.The trio will be joined on their Australian stint by Mumbai seamer Dhawal Kulkarni, whose trip has been sponsored under the Dilip Sardesai Scholarship, which has been newly constituted by the Mumbai Cricket Association. They will leave for Brisbane on Saturday.

Cricket Wellington is attempt to rebuild its women’s cricket to the levels reached during the late-1980s and early-1990s when it regularly vied with Canterbury for top honours in New Zealand.A women’s forum group was formed two years ago with the aim of trying to build the base of numbers playing the game, both at girls’ and women’s level.There are signs of developing momentum and Cricket Wellington is keen to rebuild its base of elite team to get them back into their rightful position at, or near the top of the tables in national competitions.Two recent additions to the TelstraClear White Ferns in Anna Corbin and Frances King from Wellington are a signal of the talent in Wellington.The Blaze this year are determined to challenge for a finals position in the National State League competition.A larger squad is training this year, and their will be strong competition for a number of places, a luxury we have not had for a number of years. The team still has a strong base of experienced players in Maia Lewis, King, Corbin, and promising youngsters in Amanda Green and Amanda Cooper.Several players who have been unavailable in recent seasons due to injury and other commitments have returned to the squad and will bring some valuable experience with them. Although we have lost Anna O’Leary who has retired, she will be ably replaced by the very talented international Fiona Fraser who returns to her home town of Wellington.In terms of club cricket, there will be a Senior and Senior Reserve and Super 8 Grade. Cricket Wellington are focusing this year on building up the number of club teams, particularly in the new Super 8 Grade.This may suit individuals or groups of friends, it is a purely social, participation-based grade based around everyone having fun and features the following:

• Eight players per team
• Mid-afternoon start
• Game time about three hours
• Everyone participates in all facets of the game
• Grade winner will win a night out – dinner and drinks for the team

These shorter version, more participation grades have also been introduced at primary school level. Recently a girls-only grade was introduced at Intermediate School level, and with the success of this, two further grades have been introduced, more at a participation, first time playing grades.These will be:

• Super 8 Intermediate Age Grade
• 16-over innings, soft ball, full participation – batting in pairs and bowling two overs each. This will also be introduced.

Cricket Wellington really want to build on the base of players this year and introduce girls and women to the game to show that participation in this team game is a lot of fun, and with changes in rules, the time commitment is less than the previous requirement.If you require further information on local clubs, please call Cricket Wellington on (04) 384 3171.

Wales have inflicted an eight-wicket defeat on England at Sophia Gardens in their one warm-up match before the NatWest triangular series. Set 190 to win, Wales reached the target with nine overs and three balls to spare.Wales coasted to victory after the Glamorgan off-spinner Robert Croft smashed 30 off just 26 balls as he opened the Welsh innings. He was particularly severe on Matthew Hoggard, who struggled for rhythm and ended with figures of nought for 63 off seven overs. Croft’s captain and opening partner Steve James batted throughout the innings, finishing on 83 not out.James Kirtley celebrated his return to England colours by bowling Croft, but James and David Hemp then added 122 for the second wicket to put England effectively out of the game. Hemp was bowled by Kirtley for 57, but Jacques Kallis then stayed with James until the job was done.England struggled to 189 for nine in their 50 overs after James put them in to bat, never fully recovering from the loss of their top four batsmen in the first 14 overs. Warwickshire left-hander Nick Knight fell in the seventh when he hit Kallis to Hemp at backward point.Marcus Trescothick, captaining England to allow Nasser Hussain a break, followed three overs later when he was caught by Steffan Jones at third man off Andrew Davies. Trescothick had made 38 from only 31 balls. Michael Vaughan followed two overs later, driving Darren Thomas’s second ball loosely to cover, where Croft took a fine catch. In his next over Thomas removed Graham Thorpe, cutting to Adrian Dale at point.Paul Collingwood, playing his first innings for a month after a knee injury, made a steady 22 off 47 balls, adding 32 runs with Ronnie Irani. But Collingwood was then yorked by Croft, whom Irani then drove straight to mid-on. Croft finished with the excellent figures of two for 36 from his 10 overs.Alec Stewart and Andrew Flintoff then shared a 58-run partnership which enabled a limited recovery. Scoring mainly in ones and twos, the pair were promising a more substantial revival when Flintoff holed out to Matthew Maynard at long-on off Jones for 29. Stewart (39) was then brilliantly run out by a direct hit from Hemp as he tried to regain his ground at the non-striker’s end.After Kirtley was run out for one, Jeremy Snape and Hoggard batted sensibly to add 23 runs for the last wicket and ensure that England used up their full quota of overs. But as Wales were shortly to prove, it was a far from adequate total.

Sorry FICA, but your awards and allocation of places on the International Hall of Fame have to be taken with a hefty helping of cynicism.And yes, it is a pure case of Kiwi whingeing.You award Australian openers Matthew Hayden and Justin Langer the place in history award for four double century opening partnerships.Yet your assessors conveniently forget that Mr Langer was given not out leg before wicket in the second of those opening stands before he had scored a run. A decision for which, now elite panel umpire, Daryl Harper apologised for getting wrong.And yes, you did overlook New Zealander Nathan Astle in the same category.That’s the same Nathan Astle who scored 222 to obliterate the world record set by your international player of the year Adam Gilchrist a few weeks earlier.We’re talking about breaking a record by 59 balls here, not something insignificant.And that innings had an effect on the rest of the series because England were not prepared to let him loose on a reasonable fourth innings target in the second Test. That, of course, rebounded on them when New Zealand won the third Test to tie the series, with the aforementioned Astle playing two key roles, in batting and bowling.While we’re on about it, what more had Astle to do during the year not to be in the running for the international player of the year.Notwithstanding his world record there were other factors.Astle helped ensure New Zealand tied their home Test series with England by scoring vital runs on the dramatic fourth evening in the third Test, before producing a sustained bowling spell to create havoc in the England batting on the last day of the game.His feat in securing his 12th century in One-Day Internationals ensured New Zealand beat England in a one-day series.Then, of course, there was Astle’s share of the four New Zealand centuries scored at Perth in the third Test of the series in which New Zealand was only denied victory by more umpiring controversy.You appointed former England captain Mike Atherton to your Hall of Fame. Nice chap, fine batsman, but worthy of a place ahead of many other claimants?Sorry again. Must disagree.First up, where, for goodness sake is Victor Trumper? Atherton v Trumper.Sorry, can’t agree.Then there’s Doug Walters. Atherton v Walters.Nah, sorry, doesn’t add up.What must poor old Mark Taylor be thinking. How many times did Taylor preside over Atherton’s demise?You’ve got it wrong chaps.And just to make a point for a Kiwi.I wonder if your assessors bothered to contact some of the players on your list still alive whether they might say Bert Sutcliffe might warrant inclusion on that list. If it came down to a choice between Sutcliffe and Atherton, the outcome of a vote would be interesting.But no comparison as far as we are concerned.While we are at, and to show how magnanimous New Zealanders can be, a certain fellow by the name of Clarrie Grimmett doesn’t seem to appear on your list.Yes I know, it is more Kiwi whingeing, after all he was born in New Zealand. But I do think our Australian friends might feel a degree of empathy with us on this point.Or for that matter, were Andy Roberts, Malcolm Marshall, Michael Holding and Courtney Walsh all really that much better than Wes Hall?Dear old Alan Davidson must also wonder when his name is going to be called up.Would it be too much to expect that these players mentioned might make it before Alec Stewart is ushered in? Or is that my cynicism getting the better of me?But then for a list which reveals 23 Englishmen, 14 West Indians, 11 Australians, three Indians, Pakistanis and South Africans and one New Zealander, you would have to think that England had dominated world cricket.Cynicism would seem acceptable on that count.Do you really think your list truly reflects the history of the game?That is what a Hall of Fame should do.

Somerset face Scotland when they start their quest to regain their Cheltenham and Gloucester crown in 2003.Scotland have already beaten the Lancashire Cricket Board XI to reach this stage of the competition and the Cidermen will not relish the prospect of a trip north of the border on May 7th to face what could be a very difficult tie.Over the last two years the C and G has been the only one day competition where the Cidermen have enjoyed success, but facing non first class opposition on their own territory can prove to be difficult as they found in 2001 when they looked to be in danger against Cambridgeshire until they were rescued by Mark Lathwell.The two sides have met just once in this competition previously and on that occasion the Cidermen were victorious.Assuming Somerset are successful against Scotland they will face the winners of the Staffordshire and Surrey tie at the County Ground in Taunton on May 28th 2003 another difficult tie.

The new 2002 Somerset County Cricket Club Yearbook has just been published, and once again editor Michael Hill has produced a tome full of articles and information to keep supporters occupied for many a long hour or wet afternoon.The full colour front cover is dominated by jubilant pictures from the Lord’s Final when Somerset won the Cheltenham and Gloucester trophy, and inside there are several articles relating to that momentous occasion when the Cidermen put an end to the 18-year silverware famine.Richard Johnson and Keith Dutch are the subject of an article by Mark Easterbrook appropriately entitled `Inspired Signings’ whilst Mark Baldwin of The Times writes about Marcus Trescothick describing him as the `ultimate boyhood hero’.Elsewhere there are articles relating to all aspects of Somerset cricket including reports from the Somerset Cricket Board and all the age group teams.There are two sections of colour photographs, and over 30 pages of statistics to gladden the hearts of all those who like to keep a check on the records.Editor Michael Hill has once again provided the club with an excellent yearbook, one that all followers of the county game will want to have on their shelf.The yearbook is available from the Cricket Shop at the County Ground, priced £7.50, with concessions for members, or by post from Somerset CCC Office, St James Street, Taunton, Somerset TA1 1JT (please add £1.50 post and packing.)