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Greg Shipperd, the Delhi Daredevils coach, and Virender Sehwag, the captain, have singled out the Wankhede pitch as the deciding factor on the result of the first semi-final. Shipperd also felt the par score would be “anywhere above 150″ and had no doubt, just like the majority of the IPL games during the league phase, the semis too will go to the wire.”From what we have seen of the Mumbai pitch, it does a bit, especially in the first half,” Sehwag said. “Teams would like to win the toss and field first to give their bowlers a chance to exploit the condition.”Delhi’s chances of qualifying for the semis hung in the balance after they had completed their allotted 14 games, leaving them to fight it out with Mumbai Indians and Chennai Super Kings for a place in the final four. Chennai’s victory over the Deccan Chargers proved the most decisive result in the final stages of the tournament as it cleared the path for Chennai and Delhi to go through.Sehwag conceded that Delhi “needed some luck at the end to get through” and Shipperd felt, keeping the contrasting ways in which both Delhi and Rajasthan had arrived to the knockout stage, that both teams were evenly poised.”It’s 50-50″, Shipperd said. “The wicket will play a major role in how the game unfolds. We have fought hard and have been competitive throughout our 14 games and made sure our losses were tight ones”.Commenting on the quality of the opposition, Shipperd said Rajasthan were no “one-man band”, but pointed out that Shane Warne would surely try to create hazards.”As far as Rajasthan goes Shane Warne will once again be a big factor,” Shipperd said. “He can create a contest out of each ball, the talking, the rearrangement of the field and that’s something we need to adapt to quickly. Most teams have a defined sort of strategies at the end of the day and it’s not just a one-man band. There are other internationals in that side like Graeme Smith, Sohail Tanvir and Shane Watson who have all done an outstanding job in addition to the impressive local boys. That’s why they are on top of the table.”To counter the strong opposition, Shipperd said his team had enough arsenal of their own, with the opening pair of Sehwag and Gautam Gambhir capable of destroying the best bowling attacks and thought the highlight of the game would be the head-to-head battle between the pair and Sohail Tanvir, the leading wicket-taker of the tournament with 21 wickets. Gambhir, incidentally, is the second highest run-getter with 523 runs. The other positives have been their brilliant fielding and the bowling, led by the inimitable Glenn McGrath.”Our opening partnerships have brought us a long way and also our bowling has performed as a group,” Shipperd said. “If they have Warne we have McGrath and it is a big game and he will play a big hand surely tomorrow. As far as fielding goes we have been one of the better sides with our players setting very, very high standards in catching and in the outfield. If you put all of this together it has been an incredible effort to reach so far.”He said Delhi’s priority would be to attack as a group to outdo the winning unit that Warne has assembled. “We need to put as much pressure on Rajasthan, let it batting, bowling or fielding and find the weakness in their group then we can capitalise which will play to our advantage.”

Medbury School of Christchurch, have today beaten John McGlashan of Dunedin in the South Island final of the 35-over Milo Cup cricket competition.Playing their second game in as many days, Medbury ended the game strongly to take the final seven John McGlashan wickets for 24 runs, winning the game by 14 runs.Batting first on a low, slow pitch Medbury started well and after 10 overs had reached 40/1. Sam Deans (14) and Christopher McGoldrick (22) put on a solid partnership for the second wicket and then Matthew Groom (18) combined with McGoldrick to push the score on towards 60.John McGlashan came back well with the ball, mainly thanks to an inspired spell of three wickets for one run by Ben Qau Qau. He was well supported by James Ross who took two for seven. Medbury were eventually bowled out for 105 in the 31st over.In reply, John McGlashan started well and after 16 overs were 55/3. Angus Taylor batted solidly for 22 and was well supported by Jesse Simpson who made 19. Wickets then fell regularly and John McGlashan were eventually bowled out for 91 in the 32nd over. Patrick Ryan was the pick of bowlers, who polished off the tale and ended with three for 10. Nick Rennie also bowled well at the death, picking up two for 16.Medbury coach Duncan Trafford was ecstatic with the win and commented: “Although we won the game by 14 runs it could have gone either way. Our tactic of getting runs on the board and defending a score has been successful in the past and has worked again today. The boys have worked extremely hard and will continue to do so between now and the final.”Medbury will now go on to play in the National Final to be held in Palmerston North on Thursday, December 12.

It is a sign of the times that of the twenty names put forward as aprovisional list for the ECB National Academy to go to Australia at the endof the current season, two of them are from the British Asian community. Itwas not so very long ago that Asians did not feature on county staffs. Nowthere are only two or three that do not have representatives from withinthat community.Looking further afield, it is not only in England that Asians are playing aprominent role in cricket development. In the emerging nations of theEuropean Cricket Council, the game is being nurtured throughout theassociate and affiliate members of ICC by Asians. They are at the heart ofdevelopment programmes right across Europe and now the process has gone fullcircle in that Kent have recruited Amjad Khan, a fast-medium bowler andright hand batsman who is not of Anglo-Asian descent at all. He is Danishand first came to the county’s attention when playing for Denmark againstthe Kent Cricket Board in the NatWest Trophy of 1999.He has not yet been selected for the Academy – though many more performanceslike those he has been putting in of late and he could be there one day -but there is delight in Worcestershire and Northamptonshire that Kabir Aliand Monty Panesar respectively have been included on the shortlist.

Kabir Ali is a right-arm fast-medium bowler who hails from Birmingham. Hisearly cricket was in club cricket in Warwickshire where his father ShabirAli played club cricket, and he was then picked up by Worcestershire. Herepresented England Under 19s in both “Test” and one-day cricket and, stillonly 21 years of age, he has been making quite a name for himself by virtueof the best possible reason, namely taking wickets.It was a process that started last season when he only played in fourfirst-class matches but in that time took 14 wickets at 18.07 each,including five for 22 against Gloucestershire. That was the cheapest maidenfive-wicket return for Worcestershire, and he seems to specialise in makingan immediate impact. He took four for 29 on his Benson and Hedges Cup debutagainst Glamorgan in 2000 and took the gold award, in the same season thathe recorded his maiden first-class fifty against Nottinghamshire.He actually made his debut in 1999 with a single first-class match, playedten further games in 2000 when he appeared no more than a youngster whomight or might not make it. Then he made definite progress in 2001 beforehis form and performances this season have marked him out as a definiteprospect.He has extended his best bowling figures to seven for 43 and has contributedwith the bat as well, with his highest innings now standing at 51 not out.These are encouraging signs, for it is easy for a player to make an earlyimpression and then fade. Kabir Ali, rather than fading, has made steadyprogress and has impressed as good a judge as Rod Marsh, the Head Coach ofthe National Academy.If he does gain selection to party that eventually goes to Adelaide for thewinter, his other career will have to be put on hold. In his spare time, andto boost his income, Kabir Ali works as a male model. Now there have beenquite a few posers in the game, but Kabir Ali’s posing is done strictly forthe camera. When he gets his cricket kit on, he has consistently producedthe goods to show that he has a genuine future in the game.

Northamptonshire’s left-arm spinner Mudhsuden Singh Panesar (or “Monty” ashe is known throughout the game) does not have any pretensions as a fashionmodel, but he has the potential to develop as a model for other left-armorthodox spinners to follow.He learned his cricket in Bedfordshire, having been born in Luton and goingto Bedford Modern School. From there he went on to Loughborough Universityand with the close links between Bedfordshire and Northamptonshire, he madehis first-class county debut last season having played a couple of years ofminor county cricket. Again, he made an immediate impact with match figuresof eight for 131 on his debut against Leicestershire with four for 11 in thesecond innings from 20 overs.In the first innings of that match he had to bowl at Shahid Afridi as hereached a century off 74 balls and went on to 164. Panesar did not suffertoo badly, for although his four wickets cost 120 runs, they were scored off35 overs.This was all part of the learning process that saw him feature in theEngland Under 19 side for two seasons. His has not been a rapid rise to thetop, for by the start of this season he had bowled just over 100 overs inhis two first-class matches. He has played in one more so far this season,taking his workload to 117.3 overs in three first-class matches, with 13wickets at 31.53 each.Those might not appear to spectacular figures, but there is a classical,timeless quality about his bowling action that suggests he might not go theway of so many of his type and suffer an attack of the ‘yips’. Certainly hehas done enough to impress the selectors and if he does make it to Adelaidefor the winter, watch out for the name of Monty Panesar establishing himselfas one of the best spin bowling prospects in English cricket.

On the field, they might be an unpredictable bunch, but speaking to the media in a formal meet, the Indian cricketers almost always say the same things. A portion of the blame for this goes, undoubtedly, to the press personnel, who often insist on asking the most banal questions. The Taj Samudra today, however, wore an even more tired look than usual as the Indians, weary after a long tour of England as well as numerous flights, met the press.Sourav Ganguly, always a mixed bag with a microphone in hand, began on a positive note. “We’re a much improved side. Over the last one and a half years, we’ve played really good cricket. We’re still so close and yet so far from winning a Test series overseas, but our one-day performances have been very good. We’ve won 80 percent of our one-day tournaments in the last year or so,” said the Indian skipper.Not wanting to make excuses for his team before the tournament had even started, Ganguly went on to add, “I think we’re okay physically. I’ve recovered, I know we have a game tomorrow, and I’m up for it. Most of the boys will also be ready in time for the game. That’s what international cricket is about. I know it’s hard, but we have to concentrate on our game. We like being in Sri Lanka and that helps.” With the smooth easiness of a PR man for a tour company, the skipper stressed, “We like the place, we like playing here, we like the people, we like the hotel – it’s like being at home for us.”Following up his statement that the team was tired but would recover well in time for the first match against Zimbabwe, Ganguly explained why he believed that there was not too much cricket being played. “We’ve played a lot of cricket, but I think that’s okay. Our careers are only 10-12 years long, and our families understand that we have to play a lot. We’re backed by our families, and that is very important,” he said.For weeks before the start of the tournament, the players, the Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI) and the International Cricket Council (ICC) were deadlocked on the issue of contracts and sponsorship. Many commentators have called the final compromise a major victory for the players over the Board. But Ganguly disagreed.”I think the Board has heard the players’ voice,” said Ganguly. “There’s a lot of talk and reports in the papers that the players have won and the Board has lost in this issue. I don’t think that’s right. They are our parent body, the body we all report to. When we have suggestions to offer or some problems, we go to them. I’m very happy with the way the Board responded and sorted our problems out. There’s no question of anyone winning.”Understandably the Indian captain wants to leave all that behind and focus on the cricket ahead. He appeared comfortable with being in perhaps the toughest pool of the tournament. “If you’re looking to win this tournament, you have to beat the best of sides. We take it as it comes and get on with the game,” said Ganguly.

A security delegation of the ICC has begun its inspection of grounds in Pakistan ahead of the Champions Trophy, to be held in September this year. The four-man delegation, consisting of two ICC officials and two from their security consultants, arrived in Karachi yesterday morning and then visited three stadiums today.Speaking to reporters at the National Bank of Pakistan stadium – which will host some practice matches – Campbell Jamieson, the ICC’s general manager-commercial, said that this was a routine visit, in line with protocol for all ICC events.”We will go to Lahore and Rawalpindi after this to review the security arrangements. This is part of normal ICC protocol. It happens at all our events,” Jamieson said. No questions were taken from journalists, Jamieson only adding that the delegation had enjoyed their time in the country so far.The team was accompanied by PCB officials Zakir Khan and Nadeem Akram and was due to meet the home secretary after the stadium visit. They then head off to Lahore in the evening to carry out further inspections tomorrow before going to Rawalpindi. Along the way, the team is expected to be briefed by various government and local security officials about arrangements for the tournament.The delegation’s findings will then be presented to the ICC for discussion at their next annual meeting on June 29th, at which a final decision will be made on whether or not to go ahead with the event in Pakistan.Though generally such inspections are routine procedures, this trip will be closely monitored because of recent upheaval in Pakistan. Last year was a particularly turbulent one, with a series of suicide bombings through the country, culminating with the assassination of former premier Benazir Bhutto in December. This year began in similar vein, but since general elections in February and the arrival of a new government, the violence has lessened considerably. It still wasn’t enough, however, to prevent Australia from postponing their trip for a full series in March-April.Before the Champions Trophy, however, Pakistan will also host the Asia Cup in June-July and it is thought that if that event goes off without a hitch, the chances of the Champions Trophy going ahead will also become brighter. The ICC has announced Sri Lanka as an alternate venue in case it is not deemed safe to host the tournament in Pakistan.

Surrey captain Adam Hollioake, who has not appeared for the county this season following the death of his brother Ben in a car crash in Australia in March, has become a father.His wife, Sherryn, has given birth to a girl weighing 7 lb 10 oz in Perth, where the family stayed following the accident. The latest addition to the Hollioake family has been named Bennaya, in memory of Ben and his girlfriend Janaya who was seriously injured in the crash.Mother and baby are reported to be doing well and it is expected that they and Adam will return to England in the near future.

The ECB pitch inspectors were in evidence at the Rose Bowl at the close of a second day’s play which had seen 22 wickets fall and edged Hampshire towards an early defeat, still requiring 184 to win but with only six wickets in hand.ECB Cricket chief Alan Fordham and pitch guru Tony Brown were both looking attentively at the surface shortly after Shaun Udal was up-ended and bowled by a shooter from paceman James Anderson with the final ball of the day. But the wicket could not be totally blamed for the day’s carnage, but it will depend on their take on events whether any penalty may be incurred.Only two runs had been added to the overnight tally when Shaun Udal became wicket one to open the wicket-taking barricades, led by the 19-year-old Anderson playing just his sixth first-class game.Helped by his captain and wicket-keeper Warren Hegg, who took five catches, Anderson collected a career-best 6-23 and he undermined the Hampshire innings to great effect. Only Will Kendall standing tall and recording a score of over 20 – his 54 a study of concentration and resilience that was barely seen by his teammates.Still conceding a lead of 51, Hampshire made an excellent start in whipping out Alec Swann and David Byas with only two on the board. A partnership between Mark Chilton and Stuart Law eased the fears before they both went to leave the visitors 61-4.However, veteran Neil Fairbrother, with a Championship average of just 16, recorded his best score of the season (39) and with Glen Chapple (31) quickly posted 70 for the fifth wicket.On his dismissal to the outstanding Shaun Udal, Lancashire collapsed with only Warren Hegg (23) and Gary Keedy (16) hanging around – but it was enough to take the lead past 200 and beyond, finally being bowled out for 239.It could have been more but for Udal, who bowled unbroken from the Northern End, and closed with his third five-wicket haul of the season (5-59 from 23 overs).What was required in Hampshire’s chase was not to lose too many wickets in the 12 overs remaining and have a solid building block from which to stage a charge towards 239 in the morning.What they did not require was to lose four wickets, including both openers and skipper Robin Smith in reaching 54-4 when Udal had his off-stump removed by the pacy Anderson, who also tempted Smith into an edge to Fairbrother at slip.Kendall and White both went to John Wood to leave Hampshire tottering and looking at their second defeat of the Championship campaign.But, whatever happens tomorrow may be undermined by the men in ties who were in consultations with groundsman Nigel Gray at 7.15pm tonight.

David James, who played for Glamorgan in their Championship winning year in 1948, has died at Margam on February 22nd, nine days short of his 81st birthday.Born in Briton Ferry, James had an illustrious career in club cricket in the Neath area. He played with distinction both for Briton Ferry Town and Briton Ferry Steel, but like so many of his generation, his best years as a young cricketer were lost to the War. Under different circumstances, the young all-rounder might have won a place on the county`s staff.However, in 1948 the right handed batsman and seam bowler was called into the county side for the match with Nottinghamshire at Trent Bridge, and he marked his one and only first-class appearance by scoring 17 and taking 1-59.Despite an outstanding record in the local leagues, James was never called up again by the county`s selectors, but he remained very proud of his achievement – especially as 1948 was the year that Glamorgan became County Champions for the first time in their history – and he was a regular attender at the county`s Former Players meeting.His father, Edward Hugh James, had also played for Glamorgan in their earliest years in Championship cricket, with the left-arm spinner appearing in seven games between 1920 and 1922.

The past week has already seen a three-day Test match with Pakistan swamping New Zealand at Lahore. India managed to put on a better show in their second innings, taking the match into the fourth day. If you have tickets for the fifth day though, one would recommend planning alternate entertainment. With two days to play, India trail by 123 with six second innings wickets in hand.The day began with a typical West Indian lower order performance. Carl Hooper (115) blazed a flamboyant trail, scoring two centuries in a series for the first time in his career. The workmanlike Shivnarine Chanderpaul (101 not out) too chipped in but then the tail collapsed spectacularly. The last six wickets fell for 18 runs, ending the West Indian innings on 394, a lead of 292.Resuming in their seventies, both Chanderpaul and Hooper marched on to centuries. Talented and yet never quite doing justice until recently, Hooper was a different man on the day. Confidence personified, the West Indian skipper thrashed the bowling to all parts, scoring boundaries at will before one hoick took the edge. Tendulkar got under a steepler and Hooper’s 115 (235 balls, 18 boundaries) came to an end.Ridley Jacobs, into the team to bolster the batting, fell for a duck, edging Nehra through to the ‘keeper.Next man, Merv Dillon made 6 before a short pitched ball from Nehra proved to be too hot to handle. Fending the ball away, Dillon found Das under the helmet on the leg side.Pedro Collins and Adam Sanford both perished for ducks to Harbhajan Singh and a comedy of errors saw last man Cameron Cuffy run out.Chanderpaul was left high and dry on 101 (231 balls, 13 boundaries) as West Indies ended with a healthy lead of 292.A sincere lad of humble beginnings is Wasim Jaffer. And one is always glad to see someone like that doing well. Looking completely the part as an opener, Jaffer partnered a nervous Das well.A West Indian lead of 312 was always going to be daunting. India needed a good start and Jaffer seemed to realise that. The Mumbai opener put his head down and played the bowling on its merit. There weren’t too many loose balls on offer, but Jaffer made every single one that came his way count.Standing tall and driving well off the back foot, Jaffer concentrated on the cover-point region. Although not attempting to thrash the ball, Jaffer had the touch and the timing to beat the fence with ease. Pedro Collins came in for severe treatment, his bowling ideal for Jaffer to thump away. Short of a length and outside the off, going away with the arm, the angle and pace was ideal for Jaffer to score off. The fact that the offside field was packed did nothing to deter Jaffer.In the 23rd over of the innings, however, there was a flutter. A fierce chop from Jaffer went straight towards Ramnaresh Sarwan at cover. The West Indian dived forward and collected the ball. Unsure, umpire Asoka de Silva referred the matter to the third umpire. After seeing replays from several angles, Billy Doctrove was unable to say for sure that Sarwan had caught it cleanly. The batsman was, rightly, given the benefit of doubt.Soon after, however, Jaffer fell against the grain of play. Das tapped a Cuffy delivery slowly towards point and set off for a quick single. Chanderpaul swooped in, scored a direct hit underarm and Jaffer (51, 75 balls, 10 fours) was short of his crease.As is so often the case, the final session of the day proved to be the hardest to bat out. After tea, India went from 80/1 to 169/4. Barring major miracles, this match is now well and truly in West Indies’ lap. In the final session, 41 overs were bowled, 89 runs scored and three crucial wickets lost.It was Shiv Sunder Das who fell first. Although not terribly convincing at the wicket, Das battled it out to see off 138 balls for his 35 before a hard flick to the onside found Sarwan. Fielding close, Sarwan grabbed the chance, a sharp one.The fall of Das’ wicket brought Dravid and Sachin Tendulkar together. The partnership did not last as long as India would have liked. In the 48th over of the innings Dravid (14) nicked Sanford through to Jacobs behind the stumps.And then came the big wicket of the day. Merv Dillon bowling wicket to wicket got Tendulkar to play down the wrong line to a delivery slanting in, the appeal was spontaneous and umpire Asoka de Silva upheld it. Tendulkar was gone for just 8. Replays suggested the ball might have sailed over the stumps. Tendulkar will certainly consider himself a touch unlucky.Laxman knows these positions where India is in deep trouble. It is after all in such a state that he made a name for himself with his epic 281 against Australia. The same Laxman, however, is too much of a stroke player to be rock solid. Driving and pushing away from his body, Laxman tends to give the bowlers a chance.The Hyderabadi stylist was caught behind once off the bowling of Pedro Collins. Fortunately for Laxman a no-ball was called and he batted through to stumps with 30 against his name. Ganguly, finding the going tough under constantly fading light, was on 15 when bad light was offered and the players left the field.Spare a thought at the end of the day for Cameron Cuffy, the unsung hero of the West Indies team. Contrary to everything Caribbean fast bowlers have been in recent times, Cuffy bowled with unnerving accuracy, sending down 18 overs for just 3 runs. The 15 maiden overs he bowled were the kind that we’re used to seeing Glenn McGrath bowl, and certainly heaped the pressure on the Indians.

A tight all-round performance from an inexperienced Canterbury team against Otago today showed the missing stars the competitiveness which they seem to lack currently.But it was Andrew Hore who was the outstanding player of the day, hitting a second career hundred. He brought up his century in 141 balls, with 14 fours and two sixes, to make it consecutive tons at Christchurch’s Village Green.He fell seven balls later, without addition, to a spectacular overhead snatch on the third man boundary by Aaron Redmond, which gave Wade Cornelius his maiden Trophy wicket. The personable fast bowler later spoke modestly about the milestone, remarking, “good catch, wasn’t it?”Eager fielding and accurate bowling from the five bowlers used, who are all 23 or under, kept a strong Otago eleven subdued for large parts of a bright and sunny day at the QEII ground.If Matt Horne had been dismissed when on zero, having been caught by Gareth Hopkins off a Ryan Burson no-ball, the day may have been even better for the home team, who were missing at least seven first-choice players.As it was, Hore was the star man, with 100 exactly, helping Otago to a relatively modest 295/9 off 104 overs at stumps.He told CricInfo after his 174 minute stay, “I batted a lot better today. It was one of my better innings. I’m getting better. I’m 32 this year, so I’m getting on a bit, so I’m determined to get a big hundred before I finish.”Regarding the Otago score he was not as pleased. “We’re pretty disappointed with the total. A lot of batsmen got themselves out through not being patient enough.”On his dismissal, he commented, “it’s a shot I need to put away, if I’m going to get that big hundred.”On the pitch, he remarked, “the way it is, if you can deny the batsman you should be in with a chance. There certainly isn’t a lot of assistance. It’s a battle of patience. You get yourself out.”Injuries and Black Cap duty have affected Canterbury more than any other province this season. Unavailabilities have also been a factor, firstly from returning Black Caps, and now from a disgruntled Warren Wisneski, who was dropped after being the bowling workhorse in the dark days of Canterbury’s pre-Christmas campaign.Hore, who scored his sole century on this ground almost a year ago, used his big hitting style to keep Otago heading towards a total with potential. He hit Carl Anderson out of the attack, with two straight sixes, and also drove strongly for 14 other boundaries.Oamaru born Hore, 31, had played just seven first-class games before this season, but has been ever-present this year, despite having scored only 184 runs at 20.44 before today. He increased his season’s highest from 54, but his career-best remains last year’s bludgeoned 102.His innings differed from that knock in that he was more cultured, more assured, and altogether looking more like a first-class player.He certainly has given his batting a rethink, transforming himself from a hitter to a strokemaker over the last two seasons.”It’s just a case of working hard at your game and sorting out what shots to play and what to leave out. I could have left the one that got me out alone. I didn’t take on the field really.”Hore’s day in the sun concluded with him telling CricInfo “I batted with more control today. Tomorrow we’ll be trying to deny the Canterbury batsmen their shots.”It promises to be another intriguing fine weather day tomorrow for this South Island derby, but today belonged to Canterbury’s young attack, and of course to Otago’s late developer, Andrew Hore, the oldest man playing in the match.