South Africa will be forced to confront their ongoing allrounder issue in the remaining ODIs against India, which they will have to play without JP Duminy. The left-handed batsman, who also offers an offspin option, was ruled out of the rest of the series with a hand injury and his replacement, Dean Elgar, only arrives at 2am on Wednesday morning. This means South Africa’s strategy of seven specialist batsmen, three seamers and a spinner could change in Chennai.”Under these conditions, JP fits the allrounder role well because he is able to bowl a good number of overs,” South Africa coach Russell Domingo explained. “We have been grappling with that allrounder spot and under these conditions he is the perfect guy for us, so that’s a big loss for us.”Elgar could do a similar job, as a batsman who can bowl a bit, but may not be in a position to play the fourth match given the time of his touchdown in India. He will train with the squad but Domingo said he would have to consult the selectors about the team composition.It is likely that South Africa would turn to Chris Morris, the only seam-bowling allrounder in the squad to slot in at No.7. Morris has not played an ODI in this series but played in both T20s and was one of South Africa’s successful bowlers in the second T20 in Cuttack. South Africa have steered away from using him in the 50-over format in a bid to lengthen their line-up, and have relied upon Duminy and Farhaan Behardien to make up the fifth bowler.Behardien’s responsibility will now be considerably higher even if Elgar, who once called himself a “pie-chucker,” plays because Elgar will likely bowl less than Duminy did. South Africa may also consider shortening their batting line-up, bringing left-arm spinner Aaron Phangiso into the XI if they are convinced with their batsmen’s form.So far, Quinton de Kock and AB de Villiers have scored centuries, while Faf du Plessis has contributed a half-century in every game but Hashim Amla and David Miller have not quite come off. Domingo explained that sustaining form has proven difficult in the conditions. “Both the heat and the wickets makes big run-scoring a little bit harder than in other conditions,” he said. “It’s important when someone gets a start that they can kick on.”Despite the challenges of adapting to conditions, South Africa have not lagged behind on the tour so far. They led the T20 series, which they won 2-0, from the get-go and have regained the lead in the ODI series after India drew level in the second match. They couldn’t have asked for much more. “If someone said to us we’d be 2-1 up with two games to play and had already won the T20, we would have jumped at it,” Domingo said. “But we know India are a world-class side. They could rock up tomorrow and give us a hiding.”

Tom Graveney, the former England batsman, has died aged 88 after a long fight against Parkinson’s disease.Graveney gained a reputation as one of the most elegant batsmen in world cricket in the post-war years. But he proved there was substance behind his style in becoming the 15th of the 25 men to reach 100 first-class centuries – he was the first to do so since the Second World War – with 11 of them coming in his 79-Test career. 21 times he made 1,000 runs in a season – twice on tour – six times he passed 2,000 and four times he made a century in each innings of a match. 4,882 Test runs at an average of 44.38 tell their own story.He was almost lost to the game. He had decided upon a life in the military – he had been an army captain at the age of just 20 – but was introduced to Gloucestershire while on leave by his brother (“I can’t get one past him,” the swing-bowling Ken told the club by way of recommendation), who was already in the team, and went on to enjoy a quarter-of-a-century in the county game.While he was initially seen, at Gloucestershire at least, as a replacement for Wally Hammond, Graveney was never going to be to be that sort of player. He was more artist than accountant – ironic as accountancy had been his targeted profession while at grammar school – and too easy natured and full of fun to compare with the man he rated as the best batsman – Bradman included – on all types of wickets he ever saw.For a while the reputation – a largely unfair reputation – as something of a dilettante counted against him. He was viewed, by the England selectors at least, as somewhat brittle under pressure and it is true that his front foot technique – “I even hooked off the front foot,” he said, “I don’t know how I wasn’t killed,” – did not always look ideal on the quickest pitches. Only one of his Test centuries – a two-hour innings of 111 at Sydney in 1954 as makeshift opener – came in or against Australia.But against other opposition – including the fast bowlers of the West Indies (Wes Hall and Charlie Griffith) – he proved his class and his determination. He recovered from a serious bout of dysentery – he spent a week in hospital – to register his maiden Test century in his second Test – and his first overseas – in Bombay in 1951.The affable manner hid an inner steel. Dropped for the tour of South Africa despite enjoying a prolific 1956 season – he scored well over 2,000 runs – he made his point in eloquent style by stroking a sublime 258 in his second game back, against West Indies at Trent Bridge in 1957, and followed it with 164 in the next Test at The Oval.Then, after an absence of almost three years, he was recalled by England in 1962 to face Pakistan, against whom he made scores of 97, 153, 37 and 114 in consecutive Tests.He captained Gloucestershire in 1959 and 1960 but, after losing the captaincy, he decided to leave the club. Having turned down Leicestershire – he said he suffered splinters from the dilapidated pavilion every time he had a shower – he signed for Worcestershire and, having served the necessary qualification period – proved himself as good a batsman as any in the land. Twice (in 1964 and 1965) the club won the County Championship – the first time they had so in their existence – and Graveney was recalled to the England team, aged 39, in 1966. 24 more Tests – and four more centuries – ensued.”I was the best batsman in the country between 1963 and 1966,” he later said. “I just didn’t get picked. And then to be brought back after my 39th birthday was a bit ridiculous.”He captained England once. With Colin Cowdrey injured, Graveney took charge for the Ashes Test at Leeds in 1968 which ended in a draw, but he was rarely a favourite of the England hierarchy.He could at times be a forceful personality, a fact not always welcomed – and ce complained bitterly about safety on a tour of Pakistan in 1969. The previous year he lobbied hard for the inclusion of Basil D’Oliveira for the 1968 tour of South Africa, expressing his fury when D’Oliveira, a Cape Coloured, was initially omitted because of pressure from the apartheid regime.Eventually he went too far. He disobeyed the orders of the chairman of selectors, Alec Bedser, and travelled to Luton on the rest day of the Manchester Test to take part in a game organised as part of his benefit season. The match raised £1,000 – a huge sum to a man who complained that players were treated like “serfs” at the time and who later revealed he was earning £850 a year from Worcestershire at the time – and Graveney later admitted he had no real choice but to take part in it. His final two Test innings had brought scores of 105 and 75 but, hit with a three-Test ban at the age of 42, there was no way back.He briefly played and then coached Queensland before returning to England. For a while he ran a pub in Cheltenham – a natural home for a fellow with a friendly smile for all and who once remarked that beer was his “staple diet” during his playing days – but he then became a regular commentator with the BBC and was appointed MCC president – the first professional cricketer appointed to the position – in 2004.He would often bemoan the increase in the weight of bats, believing it reduced the ability to stroke the ball in the stylish way he had demonstrated, and he never accepted the end of the days of ‘walking’ when edging the ball (“In my day,” he said, “there were five people who didn’t walk and everyone knew who they were. Now there are only five who walk), but he was not out of touch. He celebrated the birth of T20 cricket and improved remuneration for players. He never fell out of love with the game.Instilled with a love of sport by a father who died when he was just six, he also retained a love of golf to the end – he used to say he had a single figure handicap for 57 years – and with a once beat a pair including Nick Faldo in a televised pro-celebrity event at Turnberry with a round of two under.”I count myself privileged to have seen Tom Graveney bat,” ECB Chairman Colin Graves said. “He was one of the game’s great stylists; a batsman whose name became synonymous with elegance and whose perfectly executed cover drive will live long in the memory of those who saw it.”He was also a true gentleman; someone who served our county game with distinction and who, later in life, gave back much to the game he so dearly loved by becoming MCC President.”Worcestershire chief executive David Leatherdale said: “Tom has been a major figure in Worcestershire’s history and everyone at the club is saddened by today’s news and our thoughts go out to the Graveney family at this sad time.”He was one of the stalwarts of our first two Championship triumphs and will be hugely missed by everyone at Worcestershire CCC and by cricket as a whole.”Tom’s brother, Ken Graveney, who also captained Gloucestershire and later became the club’s chairman and president, died aged 90 on October 26.

Karachi, July 25: Sri Lanka, displaying brilliant all-roundperformance, outplayed Pakistan by 57 runs to clinch the inauguralUnder-17 Asia Cup Cricket Tournament at the National Stadium here onTuesday.The islanders, after winning the toss and electing to bat first on aplacid pitch, rattled up 230 in 44.3 overs.The hosts, in reply, were bowled out for a disappointing 173 in 40overs.Sri Lankan captain Jehan Jayasuriya received the glittering winnerstrophy from the chairman of the Pakistan Cricket Board, Lt Gen TauqirZia, who was the chief guest at the final. The visiting team were alsoawarded a cash award of Rs25,000, put up by Habib Oil Mills, who werepart sponsors of the 11-day tournament.Pakistan skipper Salman Butt had to be content with the runners-uptrophy and received a cash prize of Rs15,000.Openers Haresh Ratnayake and wicket-keeper Ishan Mutalip laid thefoundation with a magnificent partnership of 149 in 29 overs.Both batsmen capitalized on shoddy Pakistan fielding. The left-handedRatnayake was given two `lives’ on 36 and 51 as Suleman Qadir (caughtand bowled) and substitute Mian Adnan (at square-leg) floored simplecatches.Mutalip, the right-hander, was let off when he had made just eight inthe fourth over of the innings. Munir Ansari was the culprit atsquare-leg as Mutalip spooned the ball high while attempting to pullleft-arm pacer Najaf Shah.To add to the woes, Pakistani fielders missed several run outopportunities as time and again they either fumbled or over ran theball.However, despite their shortcomings in the field, Pakistan staged adramatic but belated fight back with all Sri Lankan wickets going downfor 81 runs once the opening stand was broken at the start of the 30thover.Mutalip was the first to go for a 97-ball 72 which was studded withsix fours and a six when he charged at part-time off-spinner FaisalKhan and was stumped by Adnan Akmal.Ratnayake followed shortly afterwards for making 80 off 102deliveries. His sparkling knock was laced with six fours and a six.Off-spinner Munir Ansari, who has modelled his action on Sri Lankanspin maestro Muttiah Muralitharan, claimed four wickets for 54 runs totake his tally to 19 in the tournament – a feat which earned him thebest bowler award.But the pick of the bowlers were Faisal Khan, who took three for 33 in8.3 overs and off-spinner Suleman Qadir, son of former leg-spin Testgreat Abdul Qadir. Suleman, though failed to take a wicket, concededonly 27 runs in his quota of nine overs.Pakistan emulated the Sri Lankan openers as Salman Butt and KhalidLatif played some lovely drives and cuts during their partnership of86 in 17 overs.Ratnayake took a fine, well-judged catch on the deep square-leg fencewhen Khalid mistimed a pull off off-spinner Jayasuriya. The openerscored 39 off 48 balls with four fours and a six.Wickets then fell at regular intervals as the Sri Lankan spinnersbowled to a tight line and length. Slow left-armer Ishara Dilshan, whowas later adjudged Man-of-the-Match, claimed three for 25.Salman Butt played a lone hand for a gallant 73 off 101 balls beforehe was run out by a superb direct hit by a a diving Jeewan Mendis,racing in from short cover.Salman, who was fifth out, stroked nine boundaries.Jayasuriya, leading with example, took two excellent catches but hewas upstaged by Eashan Abeysinghe’s stunning effort at mid-wicket toget rid of Adnan Akmal.Jeewan Mendis was declared the Player-of-the-Tournament whileBangladesh’s Mohammad Ashraful was named the best batsman for scoringthe competition’s only century.

Tamil Nadu snatched a two run first innings lead over Goa on a rainaffected second day’s play in their South Zone (under-19) Cooch BeharTrophy game at the Rajendra Prasad stadium in Margao on Tuesday.Resuming at 62 for three in reply to Tamil Nadu’s first innings totalof 125, Goa lost wickets at regular intervals to G Vignesh and skipperVidyuth Sivaramakrishnan. While Vignesh took three for 15, Vidyuthcaptured four for 33 as Goa lost seven wickets for 61 runs on thesecond day.Goa however came back late in the game when Tamil Nadu lost threewickets for 33 in 14 overs in the second innings. Due to rain, theday’s play commenced only at 1.15 pm.

The P Ramachandra Trophy Under-22 match involving Tamil Nadu andAndhra at the AC Tech College Ground in Chennai on Friday meandered toan inconclusive draw. Tamil Nadu who declared having scored 438 fornine, earned five points by virtue of the first innings lead while Andhrahad to be content with three. So far, from two matches Tamil Nadu has goteight points and Andhra six.Andhra, who were tottering at 100 for 7 at the end of the second day,managed to add a further 64 runs to their first innings total. The Andhraskipper IG Srinivas (53) was the topscorer while Y Venugopal Rao (37) andGyneshwara Rao (21) chipped in with useful contributions. The Andhra lowerorder succumbed to the slow leftarmers of R Ramkumar (5 for 28).Following on 274 runs behind, and with a draw their only hope, Andhramanaged to hold the fort for 43 overs while scoring 128 for 2 when stumpswere finally drawn. Ram Kumar was again among the wickets as he dismissedboth openers Taher Hussain (7) and Anil Kumar (37). However Gyaneshwar Rao(41) and NM Khan (35) remained unbeaten while sharing a 58-run third wicketstand.Earlier on the second day, Tamil Nadu continued from where they leftoff to pile up a huge total. Skipper SV Saravanan (86) and SS Viswanathan(30) added 89 runs for the fourth wicket in 21.5 overs.With the score at 331, Viswanathan was caught by Khan off Faiq. Three ballslater, Saravanan departed, caught by Taher Hussain off Srinivas.R Satish (63) and K Manoharan put on 89 runs for the sixth wicket in 17.2overs. Thereafter three more wickets fell for the addition of 13 runs whenthe Tamil Nadu skipper declared the innings.In reply, Andhra were off to a bad start losing both the openers withineight balls. Taher Hussain was the first to go caught by Hemanth Kumar offShrinivas off the second ball of the innings. Then off the fourth ball ofthe second over Anil Kumar was caught bu Ram Kumar off Balaji. GyneshwarRao (21) and Venugopal Rao (37) however added 64 runs for the third wicketin 17.5 overs.At 66, Venugopal Rao was dismissed, caught by Manoharan off Bhatia. Thenext over was the exit of Gyneshwar Rao, caught by Vidyuth off RamKumar. Thereafter Andhra struggled to reach the 100-run mark whilelosing three more wickets at stumps.

Riding on a fine unbeaten 158 by the in form opener Jai P Yadav,Central Zone ended with 342 for three at stumps on the opening day oftheir Duleep Trophy match against West Zone at the VCA stadium inNagpur on Thursday.It was a good toss to win for Central Zone skipper Amay Khurasiya andYadav and Amit Pagnis (62) gave their side a splendid start by puttingon 131 runs off 29.2 overs. Pagnis was then out to Hrishikesh Kanitkarafter facing 92 balls and hitting eleven fours. Kanitkar struck againin his next over when he bowled the dangerous Khurasiya for just one.But Yadav and Md Kaif prevented a collapse by some confident batting.After scoring 46 however, Kaif retired hurt, He faced 89 balls and hitfive fours. The experienced Gagan Khoda was out quickly, leg before toZaheer Khan for four. But Yadav continued to bat with ease and he andRaja Ali took the score from 244 to 342 off 25.4 overs. By close,Yadav had faced 272 balls and hit 22 fours and a six. Raja Ali, whohad dominated the unbroken fourth wicket partnership, was on 54 atstumps. He has so far faced 93 balls and hit six fours and a six.Kanitkar picked up two wickets but was expensive, conceding 70 runs inhis 13 overs.

Zimbabwe enjoyed much the best day of the First Test against India atthe Queen’s Sports Club in Bulawayo, batting throughout the third dayto finish on 303 for seven. The main contributors, as so often forZimbabwe, were the Flower brothers, Andy and Grant, who both scoreddetermined fifties, as did Stuart Carlisle.Night-watchman Brian Murphy did not last long into the morningsession, out to a fine diving catch by Shiv Sunder Das at short legfor his overnight 10 off Zahir Khan, who had just received his secondwarning for running on the danger area of the pitch. Ashish Nehra,another left-armer, bowling over the wicket, was also to receive asecond warning later.Carlisle, although beaten occasionally, played some good strokes,especially drives and cuts, and it was a fine drive through extracover that brought him his fourth Test fifty. His highest is 58, andonce again he failed to reach 60. When 52, he played back loosely toNehra and was caught at second slip. Zimbabwe were still 21 behindwith half their wickets gone.Once again the Flower brothers were together with almost everythingdepending on them. Andy Flower was playing far more typically than hedid in the first innings, choosing his deliveries carefully andwaiting for the bad ball to put it away unerringly. At lunch Zimbabwewere 143 for five, still two runs in arrears.A reverse sweep for four by Andy Flower off Harbhajan Singh in thelatter’s first over after lunch took Zimbabwe into the lead. It wasnot long before a similar stroke brought up his ninth fifty in tenTest innings. It was the ninth time in 12 Test innings against Indiathat Andy has passed 50. Only once have India been able to dismiss himfor less (when he made 30) as on the other two occasions he was notout.India strove in vain to break the fraternal partnership until thesecond new ball was due in the last over before tea. Once again thebrothers proved how they have been the backbone of Zimbabwe’s battingduring the country’s nine-year Test history. At the interval Zimbabwewere 230 for five, 85 runs ahead.Andy Flower disappointed in the first over after tea. He slashed atNehra and the thick edge just cleared the slips and went to theboundary. Off the very next ball, he failed to profit from the warningand sliced a hard catch into the slips where Sadagoppan Ramesh took itvery well. He scored 83, another fine innings, but must have beendisappointed to give his wicket away through the basic error offailing to play himself in again after an interval, and immediatelyafter receiving a warning the previous ball. He also missed the chanceof recording his tenth Test century. The brothers had put on 101 runstogether, and neutralized the threat of Harbhajan very effectively.Heath Streak almost immediately had the benefit of a very close lbwappeal against Nehra, but survived to fight again. Grant Flowerreached his fifty, a fine effort after some trouble early on. Streak(14) played inside a ball from Zahir Khan to be out lbw; at thispoint, with only the inexperienced Andy Blignaut and two tail-endersto partner Flower, Zimbabwe were only 128 ahead.Shortly afterwards umpire Harper bit the bullet and removed Nehra fromthe attack, after two previous warnings from umpire Tiffin at theother end for persistently running on the danger area of the pitch.Blignaut, initially very nervous, gradually settled in and gaveoccasional evidence of the powerful hits for which he is renowned indomestic cricket. Flower seemed to go into his shell, playing for theclose, which ended due to bad light `only’ 30 minutes after thescheduled close with two overs unbowled. Flower had 67 and Blignaut11.

The next 14 months would keep the Indian cricketers busy as the teamis scheduled to play as many as 22 Tests and over 40 One-dayInternationals during the period.After returning from the on-going tour of Zimbabwe, the Indians willplay three Tests each against Sri Lanka, South Africa and England, allbefore the end of this year.The team will also play a minimum of three matches (and a maximum offour should they qualify for the final) in the Asia Test championship,two against Zimbabwe in India and four each in West Indies and Englandnext year, a BCCI source said in Mumbai on Thursday.During this period, the team is also expected to turn out in a maximumnumber of 41 ODIs which means the players are expected to be on thefield once every 72 hours on an average which makes for a hecticschedule, the sources added.Added to this hectic playing schedule is the amount of air travelwhich, put together with the time spent on the field, can be reallytiring.In case the BCCI approves the three-match one-day series in Melbourneand Brisbane, the team may have to travel to the African continentstraight from Australia for the gruelling tour to South Africacommencing on October 2 and featuring three Tests and a triangularseries with Kenya as the third team.Earlier, the Indians will take on Sri Lanka in a three-Test series inJuly-August to be followed by a triangular event also involving NewZealand which is scheduled to end on September 2.Then comes the Asian Test Championship match with Pakistan before theIndians travel to Australia for the three-match Super Challenge 2001and from there on to South Africa.The Indians are scheduled to come back from South Africa only towardsthe end of November and are slated to play a three-match series inDecember against England. The Englishmen are to return home in timefor Christmas before coming back for a five-match limited over seriesagainst India in January, 2002.Zimbabwe would arrive next in February-March for a two-Test seriesrubber followed by either a five-match bilateral series (between Indiaand Zimbabwe) or a 13-match quadrangular event featuring these twoteams along with Pakistan and the West Indies which is at a planningstage now.Two more Tests, against Sri Lanka and Bangladesh, need to be played bythe team as part of the ATC during this period before the team leavesin April for the West Indies.The team will return towards the end of May before embarking toEngland for a tri-series involving Sri Lanka as the third side,followed by the Test series.

Former Test captains Wasim Akram and Jimmy Adams are to play at Nottinghamshire¹s Weekend of Legends after being drafted in as last-minute replacements.The duo will both line up in the Superkings of Cricket clash between the Sir Garfield Sobers XI and the Sir Richard Hadlee XI on Saturday.They will take the places of injured South African batsman Daryll Cullinan and Pakistan’s Ijaz Ahmed, who has been forced to pull out for personal reasons.Event organiser Barbara Quinn said: “You always dread people pulling out of the team at the last minute but to be able to replace them with players of this quality is a real coup.”Jimmy Adams is a proven world-class batsman and will make a very welcome return to Notts, the club he served so well during his time as overseas player.”The other change also means we will now have Wasim Akram, the world’s leading wicket-taker in One-Day International, and Courtney Walsh, the leading Test wicket-taker, playing not only in the same game but in the same team. That’s a remarkable achievement in cricketing terms.”Advance sales for the event have been excellent with almost 10,000 tickets already snapped up for the two games.There are, however, plenty of seats still available with entry for both days from as little as £20 for adults and all proceeds go to the Trent Bridge Pavilion Appeal.Tickets can be bought on the day at the gate but it is still possible to book in advance on the Trent Bridge Hotline 0870 168 8888.

Just as former Central Districts bowler Denis Aberhart followed David Trist as coach of the highly-successful Canterbury team of the 1990s, he will follow him as coach of the CLEAR Black Caps.Aberhart’s appointment was announced today by New Zealand Cricket after a lengthy interview process.Trist leaves for Sri Lanka tomorrow with the New Zealand team for the Coca-Cola Cup tournament with Sri Lanka and India on what will be his last mission with the national side.Aberhart, 48, a Christchurch headmaster at St Pauls Primary School for the last 11 years, he will take over the coaching reins for the September-October tour to Pakistan. He has been given a two-year appointment, beyond the World Cup in South Africa in 2003.He coached Canterbury from 1992/93 until 1996/97, having been a selector before 1992.The Trist-Aberhart era was responsible for bringing through several of the players who have dominated the New Zealand scene in recent years. Black Caps captain Stephen Fleming, Nathan Astle, Craig McMillan, Chris Cairns, who started his first-class career with Northern Districts, Geoff Allott, Chris Harris and Gary Stead are just some of the players who have emerged during their time.Trophies aplenty, especially the Shell Cup, were in almost permanent Canterbury care during the 1990s. Sides he coached completed the Shell Cup/Trophy double twice and won the Cup on another occasion.Once his Canterbury assignment was completed he coached the Central Zone in the two years of Conference cricket and last year he coached the Otago side.Aberhart is a former first-class cricketer.During a 37-game career for Central Districts and one for Canterbury, he took 101 first-class wickets at an average of 23.16.New Zealand Cricket operations manager, John Reid, said the process of appointing the coach had been rigorous and Aberhart had proved at the end of the second interviews to be the unanimous choice of the interviewing panel.”Denis Aberhart has a proven track record of success with each of the teams he has coached, developing individuals and creating strong teams. He was particularly successful with Canterbury in the mid-90s but also last year was given glowing reviews by his many youthful charges at Otago.”He has served a comprehensive apprenticeship within the New Zealand Cricket system and greatly impressed the interviewing panel with his clarity of vision and his professionalism,” Reid said.Reid also clarified the management structure of the New Zealand side.”In essence there has been no change to the structure of the CLEAR Black Caps team management. As has always been the case the Team Manager, as the New Zealand Cricket Board representative, is ultimately the leader of the side. At an operational level the coach and captain are equal partners in the running of the team.”In cricket, more than most other sports, the captain makes a significant contribution to the team strategy and tactics. He is the leader in all decisions relating to on-field play such as bowling rotation, field placements, batting order and the decision whether to bat or field.”The coach’s key areas of responsibility are the technical aspects of individual player performance, the preparation of the team including analysis of the opposition, and Denis will be a member of the selection panel. The coach and captain will together develop the team¹s tactics and the make-up of the final playing XI. The coach, along with the captain and manager, is also responsible for the creation of a successful team culture and team protocols.”It is the intention that the manager, coach and captain will all be equally accessible to the media,” Reid said.