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John Wright, the former president and secretary of the Irish Cricket Union, has died aged 65 following a short illness.Wright was involved with Irish cricket for over 30 years, both with the ICU and Leinster and only stepped down as secretary at the last AGM as the ICU was restructured into Cricket Ireland.Wright also made significant contributions by working on European cricket and also had a spell on the ICC’s chief executives committee. He was a recipient of an ICC global lifetime service award, which he collected at Lord’s last month.”John was a wonderful servant and ambassador for Irish cricket throughout the world,” said Tom Prior, the former ICU president. “His dedication and professionalism were major factors in the tremendous success that Irish cricket has experienced at all levels of the game. It was a great honour and joy to be with him during Ireland’s magnificent World Cup campaign in the West Indies.”Cricket Ireland chairman David Williams said: “It was a very great privilege to have John not only as a colleague in cricket, but also as a valued friend. John’s cheery disposition, and wonderful sense of humour was always an inspiration to his friends, and no problem ever arose that John’s sharp mind was unequal to.”Senior ICC figures also offered their condolences. “This is sad loss for cricket,” said Ray Mali, the ICC president. “John’s influence and hard work benefited the game beyond Ireland’s shores and he is going to be greatly missed.”John leaves behind a great legacy – the work he was involved in has helped to put Irish cricket at the forefront of the Associate game and his contribution as a member of ICC committees made sure that his expertise had a global effect.

Sourav Ganguly refuses to get overly excited about the final of the ICC Champions Trophy 2002. He knows that the weight of a nation’s expectations rests on his shoulders. He also knows that India have had one of their better years in recent times and wants to cap it with a big win. The infusion of youth, the clever adjustment of roles, the well thought out inputs of coach John Wright and the hard work of Andrew Leipus and Adrian le Roux have made India a fighting unit. Yet Ganguly knows that all this can be undone if Sri Lanka have one excellent day at home.”They’re a different side at home and that is the key to this game. We’ve had a good record against them in the last seven matches or so. Tomorrow is the key game,” said Ganguly after a practice session at the R Premadasa stadium here in Colombo. He quickly added, “It’s another game for us. We’ve played well so far and we’ll try to keep the momentum going.”Sri Lanka’s massive home advantage was well exhibited in their semifinal against Australia. With precise field settings and controlled spin bowling that sustained a particular line, the Lankans extracted the most of a slow, low wicket. And the wickets have been a source of much discussion. Ricky Ponting, after Australia’s loss, said simply, “The wicket was too slow and turned too much for a one-day wicket.”Ganguly, however, showed no surprise at the way the wicket had behaved in the semifinal. “We all knew that ball would turn early against Australia and weren’t surprised at all. It was the only chance of winning for Sri Lanka. I think it’s going to be a different story tomorrow,” he said. When pressed about the kind of wicket he expected to be playing on, Ganguly said, “I think it will be a good batting wicket.”And you can bet it will be a belter. Perhaps a touch on the slower side, but certainly not one that turns so much early on. The Indians are far better players of spin than the Aussies and do have in their bowling ranks the likes of Harbhajan Singh, who would be more than a handful on a wicket that helps spinners.This is likely to bring the game back to the batting spectacle that many matches in the subcontinent end up being. The Indians will not mind that at all. Ganguly was clear in his mind that India had the upper hand when it came to batting.”I don’t agree with the statement that the batting of both sides is the same. Bowling might be the same but definitely not the batting. We’ll find out tomorrow which team is superior. In this game there’s no point talking too much. We score runs in all conditions and that’s an important thing,” said Ganguly.As before the semifinal, the main worry for the Indians remains the bowling department. Some might say, however, that the injury to Ashish Nehra is a blessing in disguise as it opens up a spot for Javagal Srinath. “Sri is coming in this afternoon and is very much in contention,” said Ganguly.The skipper was quick to add that Srinath’s call up did not mean that the team lacked faith in Ajit Agarkar’s ability. “It’s not a question of a lack of faith in Ajit. If you’re a 14-member squad and one of the guys is injured you would call a replacement. It would be the same if I or another batsman was injured. You never know what’s going to happen. If you have only two fast bowlers and one falls ill on the morning of the match you’re stuck,” explained Ganguly.The other aspect of India’s game that is perpetually a source of debate is that little man Sachin Tendulkar and where he should bat. Should he open and plunder the bowling? Or stay at number four and shoulder more responsibility? From waiters to tri-shaw drivers to strangers on the street – everyone asks you that here in Colomb.”Sachin will play at four. Unnecessarily we put pressure on him. He’s the best player in the world. He’s scored 63 international hundreds. Every time he fails in two games people say he is out of form which I think is ridiculous,” said Ganguly, ending all debate for the moment.The Indian skipper was relaxed and totally at ease on the eve of the sold-out, blockbuster final. It was clear that he had come to grips with handling the constant pressure that he as the skipper is under. He knows you can not win all the time and savours what success has come his way.”Getting to the final is an achievement. Of the last seven Champions Trophy games, we’ve won six. This is the second time we’re reaching the final of this tournament and that in itself is a good achievement. What happens tomorrow is part and parcel of life,” he observed.The last time India played a one-day tournament here they were defeated in the final by Sri Lanka. When asked whether memories of that game still haunted him, Ganguly could not suppress a laugh: “Let me put it this way. The NatWest final haunts me more!”Now you know for sure that the Indians are relaxed, well prepared and confident. All they need to do is execute, and the Champions Trophy could be theirs.India (from):Sourav Ganguly (Captain), Virender Sehwag, Rahul Dravid, Sachin Tendulkar, Mohammad Kaif, VVS Laxman, Yuvraj Singh, Anil Kumble, Harbhajan Singh, Zaheer Khan, Javagal Srinath.

Australian skipper Ricky Ponting praised his players for battling back into the the VB series opener at the SCG to beat England comfortably by seven wickets after a slow start.”We were probably a bit disappointed that England made as many as they did,” Ponting reflected. “They batted well at the start of their innings, our bowlers clawed it back through the middle and then our batsmen went out and did a fantastic job and reeled in the runs.”England’s total under lights of 251 for eight from their 50 overs soon looked inadequate as Australian openers Adam Gilchrist and Matthew Hayden rattled off a century stand before the first wicket fell for 101 after 13.5 overs. Man-of-the-Match Hayden was dismissed just two runs short of his century.”The way that we came out today was terrific,” Hayden enthused. “We really wanted to chase runs and were off to a flying start. Then it was a terrific innings by Damien Martyn in difficult conditions. I guess we are at a stage with our batting where we are showing good experience throughout the innings.”England captain Nasser Hussain admitted England needed to reassess their strategy. Nick Knight hit an unbeaten 111 for the tourists, but their batting challenge faded in the closing overs.”We played some better cricket today,” said the England captain. “It’s pleasing to see the boys go out there and put on a show in front of a big crowd. The three games before I thought we were below par but today the big crowd and the big occasion lifted us a little, bit but it wasn’t enough.”The last 10 overs of our batting and their first 15 probably made the difference in the end, but we were a little bit better.”Hussain hopes that Nick Knight, who was unable to field during Australia’s reply having been struck by cramp towards the end of his century innings, will be fit for England’s second game of the triangular series against Australia in Melbourne on Sunday.”Nick was struggling with cramping all over the body and not just in one specific area, and the combination of that with new batters trying to get used to the pace of the wicket kept us down to 20 or 30 less than we should have got,” added Hussain.”When we went out to field he was shivering a little bit which tends to suggest dehydration, but he’s OK and we just have to get him right for Sunday now. He’s a fit lad but it was hot out there today and there were lots of ones or twos because of the nature of the wicket.”We are really going to have to work out some better plans for the first 15 overs. Hayden and Gilchrist did exceptionally well and you can’t let a side get away. The Sri Lankans will be exactly the same, they will come at you and for those first 15 overs, we are going to have to rethink our plans.”

BRISBANE – Ricky Ponting and Adam Gilchrist expect some tough questionsto be answered during a busy nine-month examination of Australia’s Testand one-day cricket sides.One-day captain Ponting, who will interchange the leadership with Testskipper Steve Waugh, was buoyant about Australia’s long-term future onthe eve of his team’s departure for the triangular series with Pakistanand host Kenya and next month’s 12-nation ICC Champions Trophy in SriLanka.Coming off its longest break from international cricket in almost adecade, Australia will be keen to avoid a repeat its only previous visitto Kenya when it was knocked out in its first match of the ChampionsTrophy by India.During the next nine months Australia will also play three Tests againstPakistan, host an Ashes series with England and a triangular one-dayseries against England and Sri Lanka before defending its World Cuptitle in South Africa in February and touring the West Indies.For the one-day side, Ponting would love to see youngster Shane Watsonclaim the all-rounder’s cap as his own and he believes 20-year-oldQueensland spinner Nathan Hauritz can confirm his arrival, not just as along-term Test player, but also a valuable one-day performer.It is also a chance for speedster Brett Lee to show he can not only bowllike lightning but can also bowl in miserly fashion when required.And it is a chance for Matthew Hayden to cement a one-day opening roleby showing he can score and score quickly in the limited overs game.Ponting said it was difficult to say whether Australia’s one-day battingor bowling had been stronger during the previous 12 months.”But it’s up to all of us to improve as individuals to make sure whenthe bigger tournaments come round that we are playing well andperforming at our best,” said Ponting.The skipper said Hauritz had been “unbelievably cool” when bowling tosome world-class players whyen called up in South Africa earlier in theyear.”I think he has a very big future for us, not only in one day cricketbut he’s also named in the Test squad which is great for him,” saidPonting.”I think we’re looking for Shane [Watson] to do a little more.”It could just take a game where he goes out and backs himself and itall comes off for him where he gets some runs and take some wickets andhe starts believing in himself at the highest level.”Gilchrist agreed there would be plenty of opportunities for new playersto make statements to selectors.”There’s no hiding that some careers are coming towards an end,” saidthe Test vice-captain.”It starts with a bit of revenge against Pakistan I guess and thenthere’s the Champions Trophy which Australia has never won which is highon the agenda.”Then there’s the obvious ones like Ashes and World Cups and a tour ofthe West Indies.””It’s an exciting time with plenty up for grabs.

India did here yesterday what the West Indies couldn’t do eight days earlier.They limited South Africa to ten runs from the last over of their semifinal in the ICC Champions Trophy under the lights at the Premadasa Stadiuum to claim a remarkable victory by ten runs.They pocketed US$125 000 for the victory and stand to earn another US$300 000 if they win the final against the winners of tomorrow’s match between World Cup champions Australia and hosts Sri Lanka.As they watched the drama unfold on television at the Taj Sumudra Hotel across town, it was not difficult to imagine the emotions of the West Indies players.They were effectively eliminated when Merv Dillon delivered his infamous wide off what was to be the last ball of their opening match with South Africa needing three for victory. The resulting bye brought scores level and an edged boundary off the additional delivery formalised the defeat by two wickets.On the contrary, the Indians, catching and fielding brilliantly, kept their nerve to seize their chance amidst noisy celebrations on the field and among a crowd of around 10000 clearly partial to the team from their neighbour to the north.The outcome hinged on cramps and dehydration that forced South African opener Herschelle Gibbs to retire, distinctly ill, after 37 overs when he had compiled 116 flawless runs from 119 balls with 16 fours.He and Jacques Kallis had shared a second wicket partnership of 180 in 34 overs and, at 192 for one with 72 needed for the ticket to the final and as many 13 overs remaining, South Africa were all but home.But, just as they were at a critical stage against the West Indies, Jonty Rhodes and Boeta Dippenaar were out in the same over. Both fell to off-spinner Harbhajan Singh and South Africa suddenly found themselves effectively 194 for four with only Kallis and a cluster of unpredictable batsmen to come.Rhodes, topedging a sweep, was out to the second breathtaking catch of the innings by Yuvraj Singh, flying through the air to clutch the ball with his right hand inches from the ground.A couple of hours earlier, he lept high to his right at point to haul in left-handed opener Graeme Smith’s fierce cut shot. Such brilliant pieces of cricket inspire a team and turn a match, as Rhodes’ dismissal did.With Gibbs unlikely to return, Rhodes and Dippenaar gone and Kallis unable to club the ball with his usual force on a sluggish pitch, India sensed their chance.Their problem was selection that left them short of one front-line bowler. In the circumstances, captain Saurav Ganguly turned to opening batsman Virender Sehwag’s off-spin for five of the last ten overs when South Africa’s magic number was 64.He obliged with three wickets for 25. When he began the last over, after left-arm fast bowler Zaheer Khan had conceded a mere four from the 49th, South Africa needed another 19.Kallis hoisted his first ball into the stand at midwicket for only the second six of the match to reach 97 from 133 balls, but Sewag got him next ball to a skied catch to the keeper.He fittingly rounded things off when a strangely feeble Lance Klusener (14 off 21 balls without a boundary) skied a catch to long-off with the result already settled.Set alongside his blistering, run-a-ball 59 with ten fours that set South Africa back on their heels in the earlier sunlight, it was enough to earn Sehwag, the Tendulkar look-alike, play-alike, the Man-Of-The-Match award.India raced to 118 for three off 20 overs like a ZR van on a mission. But once Sehwag miscued a hook to midon off Kallis and Tendulkar was run out by a swift pickup and return from cover by, who else, Jonty Rhodes, the Indian innings became stalled as if it had run into rush hour traffic.Yuvraj, a tall, 20-year-old left-hander of whom plenty will be heard and written over the coming years, gave it some momentum with 62 off 67 balls with six fours, but 262 didn’t seem enough on a fair pitch and a dry, lightning-fast outfield.It looked even less so as Gibbs and Kallis set the foundation for a South African victory. Then Gibbs had to quit, South Africa went into reverse and India surged ahead.

The West Indies left the Antigua Recreation Ground (ARG) yesterday evening with as many worries as a long-standing Caribbean prime minister.There was non-stop partying in two of the most popular stands on the ground after the second day of the important fourth Cable & Wireless Test against India, but the mood in the West Indies’ dressing room might well have been sombre.After staging a partial fightback in the morning, their efforts were thwarted initially by dogged resistance and later by confident strokeplay by two batsmen firmly entrenched in a record partnership.Vangipurappu Ventata Sai (V.V.S.) Laxman, whose initials have been affectionately amended to Very Very Special following two remarkable innings against world champions Australia, once more produced something of that calibre at a time when India were desperately in need of a revival.His unbeaten 124, which started half-hour into the morning, might not rank with his 167 in Sydney or his 281 in Calcutta, but in the context of the series, it was just as vital for India, who have almost certainly put themselves in a position where they cannot lose the match.Any century is very important and this, being my third, is also important. It was always a dream of mine to score a century in the West Indies and I am really thrilled, Laxman said.In the first two games I was getting into the 60s and 70s and not converting big scores. I thought I would just hang in there, added the 27-year-old right-hander who has often been criticised for not doing justice to his immense talent.It is a great honour playing for my country. It’s always been my dream to score consistently and I am really hoping to improve on my consistency in the future.In his company for almost five hours was the little wicket-keeper Ajay Ratra, who appeared to be a genuine tail-ender in his previous two Tests.This time, he was unruffled by nothing the West Indies bowlers sent his way, and he resumes this morning seven short of a hundred with India on an impregnable 462 for six.Bland statistics will reveal that India added another 236 runs and the West Indies managed only three wickets as was the case on the opening day, but to the purists, it might have been another day of absorbing Test cricket.The first session yielded a mere 46 runs when India were on the ropes; the second brought 65 when they were trying to regain their composure; and the third produced 125 when they were the ones throwing the punches.By then, a group of Indian supporters, here on a work attachment with the Antigua & Barbuda government and sitting in the Richie Richardson Stand next to the Press Box, were joyously making merriment as if it was a Hindu festival.They repeatedly saluted Laxman and Ratra, whose unbroken stand of 205 surpassed the previous seventh-wicket high against the West Indies of 186 between Dilip Sardesai and Elnath Solkar at Kensington Oval in 1971.Laxman, who spent 22 balls over his first run, was typically classy, his 14 boundaries executed with the timing and class that he displayed during his three previous half-centuries in the series.There were the nice, flowing drives and a rare hook before tea, but he was particularly severe after the day’s second break when he and Ratra tore into the bowling.Ratra, tidy behind the stumps but woeful with the bat in four innings in Trinidad and Barbados when his scores were 0, 2, 1 and 13, batted defiantly before growing in stature to unleash some authentic strokes of his own.His best was probably a hard pull off Pedro Collins, who later induced him into a top-edged hook to a vacant fine-leg.A few minutes before tea, Ratra also pulled Ramnaresh Sarwan just short of mid-on at a time when many felt the part-time leg-spinner should have been long introduced to break the growing partnership.Cameron Cuffy bowled just one over after tea, but there were no injury concerns over him. Nor were there any over Brian Lara who left the field after hitting the turf on his troublesome left elbow while trying to make a diving safe.The first session was especially encouraging for the West Indies, their bowlers showing aggression on a pitch that contained early moisture following heavy rain in the wee hours of the morning that threatened a prompt start.Three wickets went down in the space of an hour, including those of the two key overnight batsmen who were approaching landmarks.Rahul Dravid and captain Sourav Ganguly were hemmed in by tight stuff and eventually something had to give.Ganguly attracted the first real loose ball in the morning, but ended up slapping Cameron Cuffy’s long hop hard but straight to Wavell Hinds at point.Hinds, West Indies’ best fielder over the two days, especially on Day 1 when he made several sprawling saves in the outfield, gleefully accepted the catch with Ganguly five short of his 50.Dravid had attempted nothing rash for the 50 minutes in which he eked out only five runs to add to his overnight 86 until he chopped Dillon into his stumps.He stopped in disbelief, paused for a second and asked himself what he had done wrong, then kicked the turf before walking off with a 90-something next to his name for the fifth time in Test cricket.It was somewhat of a surprise that Anil Kumble emerged from the pavilion to take the No. 7 slot, perhaps two notches higher than he is suited for.Predictably, Dillon peppered him with a few nasty deliveries, one of which crashed into the grill of the helmet after Kumble completely took his eyes off the ball. Clearly stunned, he spat blood, but was brave enough to continue.Kumble lasted 20 minutes before he inevitably fended off another delivery on the body around the corner and into the waiting hands of Shivnarine Chanderpaul at backward short-leg.

Barbados suffered their second successive defeat in the 2002 Regional Under-15 Cricket Competition when they were beaten by the Leeward Islands in a low-scoring match at the Queen’s Park Oval yesterday.It was a game they had to win to remain in contention for the title, but they lost by two wickets in a match that went down to the wire.The Leewards made what seemed to be a small target of 95 look like a mountain but just managed to scrape home.Openers captain Javia Liburd and Delon Skellekie put on 25 for the first wicket but the team slipped to 64 for six and then 91 for eight.Barbados’ bowlers, none moreso than the tireless Javon Searles, fought gallantly.At 84 for six, it seemed all over for Barbados, but Searles, a tall, lively fast bowling all-rounder with a level head and full of enthusiasm, returned to the attack and accounted for two wickets.It was not enough, however.Earlier, Barbados, who won the toss on a good batting pitch, were skittled out for 94 with Searles top-scoring with 24. Kerwin Elias, one of three changes to the team, made 16.Pacer Justin Athanaze, with three for 22, off-spinner Jacques Taylor (three for 27) and fast bowler Shaheed Walwyn (two for 26) did the damage for the Leewards.Barbados will oppose two-time defending champions Trinidad and Tobago today.

South Zone clinched the CK Nayudu Under-19 Trophy by virtue of the massive201-run first innings lead over Central Zone at the Barabati stadium inCuttack on Tuesday. Tamil Nadu seamer Lakshmipathy Balaji did the star turnwith a hat-trick early on the final day to help South bundle out Centralfor 176 runs in the first innings.Resuming at 169 for 6, the Central Zone innings lasted just 4.1 overs more.The fourth ball of the third over of the day saw Balaji bowl ChandrashekarAtram for a duck. Sunil Upadhay (0) who replaced Atram was caught behind byTahir Hussain off the next ball. Naveen Choudhury walked in to thwartBalaji’s efforts but he was trapped leg before and Balaji had completed thehat-trick. The innings folded up in Balaji’s next over when he shatteredthe defences of the last batsman H Shitoot (5). Balaji returned figures of6 for 57.South Zone could have enforced the follow on but they opted to bat againand piled up 313 runs before being all out shortly before the final draw ofstumps. Openers T Suman (47) and Tahir Hussain (10) were off to a flyingstart adding 42 runs off just 4.2 overs. Tahir was the first to bedismissed, caught behind by Amit Deshpande off Atram. Suman soon followedhim caught by Atram off Afroj Khan in the seventh over. Suman who played asteller role needed just 29 balls for his 47 with the innings being studdedwith nine boundary hits.Deepak Chougule (38) and Arjun Yadav (26) took the score to 127. Arjundeparted next, caught by substitute fielder Jitender off Naveen Choudhury.With only a single added to the total, Chougule fell to the samecombination in Choudhury’s next over. This brought ASK Verma (18) andStuart Binny (70) together and they forged a 74-run fifth wicket stand.Binny was the sixth batsman to be dismissed, caught behind off SurenderSingh. The South tail wagged considerably to prolong Central’s agony.Surender Singh was the most successful bowler for Central Zone with figuresof 5 for 53.South Zone now take on Rest of India in the three day Vinoo Mankad Trophymatch in Cuttack. The original dates of the match were February 1 to 3 butthe game has since been postponed indefinitely.

Warwickshire narrowly avoided the follow-on before conceding a first innings lead of 124 to Durham on a day which started and finished with career-best performances for the northerners.Paul Collingwood carried his side to a total of 329 with a towering 153 in 385 minutes and Ian Hunter wrapped up the home side’s reply for 205 by taking the last three wickets for figures of 4 for 55. Bad light then ended play with Durham 0 for 0 after 11 balls.Thirteen wickets fell on an all-action second day and Durham retained the initiative after Collingwood had squeezed a further 79 runs from the last three wickets. The all-rounder hit 20 fours and a six before popping up a simple return catch to former team-mate Melvyn Betts.Durham’s bowling was far less impressive, but Warwickshire conspired to get themselves into trouble at 49 for five. It was wasteful that two batsmen ran themselves out, though David Hemp was unlucky to find the bowler, Steve Harmison, in his path as he attempted a single to mid-off.The follow-on figure of 180 was a long way off when Neil Smith (47) and Dougie Brown (45) launched a recovery with a sixth-wicket stand of 78 against more wayward bowling by Durham’s seamers.The appearance of the off spinner, Nicky Phillips, accounted for Smith with a catch at the wicket, but Keith Piper maintained the momentum with 37 until deflecting a lifter from James Brinkley into the gully. Warwickshire then folded up as soon Brown was lbw to one that kept low from Hunter.

Somerset recorded another emphatic victory in their second pre-season warm up at the County Ground against the Somerset Board XI at the County Ground today.Batting first the county side made 363 for 6 from their 50 overs, the feature of which was an opening stand of 178 between Piran Holloway (127) and Matthew Wood (58).Cornishman Holloway, coming back into the side after missing half of last season with a shoulder injury, made an impressive return to the scene and included 5×6’s and 16×4’s in his innings during which he faced 178 balls.Ian Blackwell also looked in good form as he raced to 70 off just 26 balls, and hit 3×6’s and 10×4’s.In reply the Somerset Board XI were not overawed by their task, particularly the openers Tom Webley (69) and Kevin Sedgebeer (71) who put on 155 for the fourth wicket. Young left hander Webley looked particularly comfortable and included 12×4’s in his innings.At the end of their overs the Board XI had moved to 256 for 5 to give the Cidermen victory by 107 runs. By the close skipper Kevin Parsons had moved on to 54 and Arul Suppiah 25, having shared an unbeaten sixth wicket stand of 67.Matt Bulbeck who had figures of 6 overs, 2 maidens 2 wickets for 5 runs was once again the pick of the Somerset bowlers.After the match assistant coach Mark Garaway told me: “This was another professional performance today. It was good practice for all of and they stuck to their task well.”He continued: “It was good to see the staff boys who played for the Board XI all doing so well. Tom Webley and Arul Suppiah both batted well, and Pete Trego and Michael Parsons were the pick of their bowlers.”Tomorrow is press morning at the County Ground after which the Somerset players will listen to Academy Sports Psychologist Will James who will talk on the theme of ‘winning after winning’.