All posts by csb10.top

The ICC was meant to be a regulatory body, the game’s supremo. It was never intended that it should itself go into marketing. It is, as if, a civil aviation authority decides to float its own commercial airline.It was bad enough that the ICC should have set up a private detective agency by way of an Anti-Corruption Unit to combat match-fixing, a vote of no-confidence in the police of the respective cricket playing nations, will it be long before the ICC goes into the business of manufacturing cricket equipment?I recall, with some horror, ICC’s plans to take cricket to Disneyland. Mr Jagmohan Dalmiya was then at the helm of the ICC and there was much talk of the globalization of the game. Globalization was not then the ‘dirty’ word it has now become. The world may have become a global-village but the heads of the village are the same, old multinationals and the villagers themselves the cheap-labour work-force.It is necessary to provide this background so that the contract row can be put into perspective. However, it is resolved, one fact has emerged that the cricket world is a shadowy one and the cricket boards have been less than open with the players. The contracts that they have been asked to sign and which affect their livelihood were sprung on the players and there was an innuendo of coercion.When the cricket boards signed on board the merchant-ship of the ICC, were they unaware that many of the players would be affected by the ‘ambush’ marketing clause? It is no secret that the players have sponsors of their own and, of all persons, Mr Dalmiya who now heads the BCCI, should have known this and being a businessman, should have seen that there would have been a conflict of interest in the ICC contracts. Good management is about preventing fires and not about putting them out when they have started.Sunil Gavaskar said on ESPN that the main problem was that the Indian players did not have an Association and in his loud-thinking recommended that the subcontinent players should get together and form a collective-bargaining association. This is all very well but in the impasse created by the Indian government in not allowing the Indian team to play against Pakistan, the Indian players have remained silent.Not a word of support for the Pakistan players who have been financially affected because there is no cricket between the two countries. On the contrary, people like Kapil Dev have been at the forefront of backing the Indian government’s boycott of cricket with Pakistan nor have they said a word about the refusal of countries like Australia to tour Pakistan.All this has seriously hurt the finances of the PCB and is bound to affect the earnings of the Pakistan players. Some show of solidarity with Pakistan cricket would have been welcome. But this is a different matter but it does create road-blocks in finding a common cause.But it is a matter of principle and I have backed the players in the present row. There is one aspect that I find intriguing. There seems to be some resentment in our psyche that cricket stars should be making so much money, as if, by doing so they are defiling the game and are being unpatriotic in the bargain. We don’t seem to resent lawyers and doctors and accountants making money. Somehow, we feel that because cricketers represent the country that should be honour enough. In our heart of hearts, we have not accepted that cricket is a profession.When the question of paying Test cricketers match fees first came up in Pakistan, this was many many years ago, the then Pakistan cricket board was headed by a civil servant and in a column I had asked him whether as a civil servant he drew a salary? If Sachin Tendulkar has become a very rich man, it is because he has cashed in on his talent, he hasn’t robbed a bank or received back-handers for awarding government contracts.While making money, Tendulkar gives the cricket public a great deal of joy. I know of many who make fortunes but give no joy at all to anybody except themselves. The cricket boards should back their players against the ICC’s bid to go into business for itself. The ICC contract is bad in law and is a violation of the right of players to earn a living. The ICC is not a business concern.The Australians have named a full strength team for the Test series against Pakistan to be played at, not one, but two neutral venues, Colombo and Sharjah. The Waugh brothers are included and Steve Waugh retains the captaincy. On paper, it is a terrific side and it should be a very good series.Obviously, we are disappointed that the home series will be played away from home and we will have to watch it on television. One way of compensating the cricket public in Pakistan is for Pakistan to win the series. But in order to do so, Pakistan will have to match Australia in mental toughness.The Australians play their cricket hard and they play to win. But before Pakistan takes on Australia in a Test series, there is the triangular in Nairobi and Pakistan will be up against Australia. All one can say is that Pakistan will have to raise their game several notches.The way that Pakistan played at Morocco will not do. Pakistan will be strengthened by the return of Shoaib Akhtar but it was not Pakistan’s bowling that was wanting in Morocco. It was the batting and the key, one feels, will be Inzamam-ul-Haq. It is important that big man runs into form. And one hopes that this time Saeed Anwar will not be dropped to make way for Shoaib Malik.The Australians will not allow Imran Nazir the freedom he needs and he will have to devise means to break free. It will be a supreme Test for him, a choice between abandon and a more circumspect shot selection. No one questions his talent.

Leicestershire have signed Paul Nixon on a three-year contract with the 32-year-old wicket-keeper returning to Grace Road after a three-year spell at Kent.Leicestershire general manager Kevin Hill said: “I’m delighted that we have won the chase for Paul’s signature.I believe his considerable experience, ability and enthusiasm will help the club achieve continued success in the future.”This is the first of what we hope will be a number of signings that will be announced that will put together a squad for 2003 and beyond, that will challenge for all four domestic competitions.”Nixon who first played for Leicestershire from 1989 to 1999 said:”I am very excited and thrilled to be rejoining Leicestershire. I am confident I will be able to play my part in helping to achieve the success that everyone at the club is striving for.”It was a big shock to be told that Kent were not renewing my contract, but it is great to get back to my roots. I spoke to a few other counties but, in the end, returning to Leicestershire was a family decision. It will be lovely to be back.”

Purbrook’s bid for the Southern Electric Premier League, Division 3 crown has been knocked off course by consecutive – and somewhat surprising – defeats by Bashley (Rydal) and Paultons.The unexpected double setback has cost Purbrook top spot, with Alton leapfrogging to the front after beating St Cross Symondians by 57 runs.A run of four successive wins has lifted Flamingo into third place, marginally ahead of St Cross, whom they visit next week.Paultons seem to have the Indian Sign over Purbrook, whom they beat in a run-laden 265-233 affair at The Heath last season.This time Paultons chased, with Ian Hunter’s 94 for Purbrook being rendered purely academic as Purbrook’s daunting 274-7 was overhauled by six wickets … with three overs to spare !Colin James (54), Andy Darnton (46), Duncan Park (36) and Andrew Collins (33) did the spadework before Tony Richman (34) and John Robinson (29) swept Paultons to a glorious victory.It was a much needed win for Paultons, who were languishing in the lower reaches of the table after winning only one of their previous five games."Ironically, we’ve been struggling to score runs all season – then we get 275 all in one go," smiled experienced Paultons all-rounder Steve Mitchell.Beaten by Flamingo and knocked out of the SEC Cup by Rowledge in the space of four days, Alton badly needed a positive performance against St Cross Symondians to get their season back on track.And how they achieved it, with Julian Ballinger’s side pulling out all the stops to notch an important 57-run win at the Royal Green Jackets ground.Michael Heffernan (82) and Bruce Oliphant, with a breezy pre-tea 51, swept Alton to 252-5.Mark Parker (56) steered St Cross to 106-1, but the Winchester side were never able to dictate the pace and finished well short at 196 all out, with Howard Gadsby (4-46) and Oliphant (3-22) taking a lion’s share of the wickets.Not content with upsetting the Purbrook bandwagon, Bashley II struck again – derailing New Milton’s climb towards the Premier 3 stardom.Bashley recovered from Andy Snellgrove’s spell of 4-29 – and an uncertain 42-4 – to post 156 through Graham Pardey (39) and Neil Sexton (33).They were on the back foot as Steve Watts (45) and Dean Miller (39) guided New Milton to 92-1, but a mass collapse, initiated by the crafty left-arm spin of Bob Paul (3-23), sent wickets tumbling and Milton to 144 all out."I think we caught that collapsing bug that seems to be doing the rounds at Bashley," quipped New Milton’s Steve Taylor.Creeping into third place, almost unnoticed, are Flamingo, who are casting serious doubts upon their chairman’s pre-season prediction of a probable summer-long struggle against relegation for the little Corhampton club."He puts it down to reverse physiology," said Flamingo skipper Stuart Shapland, after hitting an undefeated 83 to set up a fourth win in a row against Hambledon.Half-centuries by Mark le Clerq (62) and Matt Jones (55) took Hambledon to 219-6.Even though Flamingo’s suffered their customary top-order wobble, Shapland’s timely 83, coupled with a fine 56 from Tim Richman, made it a fairly comfortable run chase.Chris Westbrook (3-22) and Andy Marks (3-23) did the damage as fifth-placed Hursley Park bowled struggling Redlynch & Hale out for 101 to win by four wickets.Hursley lost five wickets to Matt Truckle’s spin after John Harris, who carried his bat for a patient 39, and Paul Edwards (34) had taken the visitors to 79-1.Havant II are climbing the log – big hitting left-hander Matt Ward cracking 90 in the six-wicket win over Waterlooville, whose 199-6 included Chris Baumann (55) and Dave Howe (49).Improving too are Gosport Borough, who heightened Hook & Newnham’s problems at the bottom, with Mike Rees (60) and departing Wyvern sports master Stewart Magee (53) setting up a comfortable six-wicket win.Leckford left-hander Martyn Isherwood is recognised as one of the classiest players in the Test Valley – and how well he batted in an elegant 106 against Hartley Wintney.Isherwood and Mark Tomlinson (60) put on a Leckford-best 164 before flying Scotsman Mike Howard punched a splendid 85 as the Bakers Farm boys rattled up 333-4.Tristan Gregory (57 not out) top scored for Hartley Wintney, but any prospect of the visitors making a match of it ended when Matt Digweed had to retire hurt. HW closed at 166-6, with Andy Cattle taking another three wickets to take his tally for the season to 18 victims.Neil Dodds (5-22) got among the Portsmouth batsmen, but was unable to prevent Ventnor (133) slipping to a four-wicket defeat at St Helen’s.Ventnor’s home match against Redlynch & Hale at Steephill this weekend could have a vital bearing on the situation at the foot of the table.

It may not have healed the scars of their battering in England, but SriLanka will be hoping that normal service has resumed after an emphaticinnings and 196 run victory against Bangladesh, the largest ever win in their 126 Test history.Unfortunately, as captain Sanath Jayasuriya admitted afterwards, the hardtruth is that the win only glosses over the side’s current problems. Despitewinning within three days and scoring a record 509 runs on the second day,Sri Lanka can take few positives out of a game they were expected to win bya country mile.The fast bowlers were poor in both innings: Dilhara Fernando and hisnamesake Buddika were short and erratic; debutante left-armer Sujeewa deSilva swung the odd ball, but did little to suggest he would prosper againstone of the major Test nations.The normally mild mannered Jayasuriya was scathing afterwards: “It was goodto see us winning a Test match again but I am not happy with the bowlers.They failed to bowl a consistent line and length and there were too many noballs. We bowled poorly in England and again here. It’s a problem – we havegot to sort it out as soon as possible.”And the batting coughed and spluttered against teenage medium pacers untilAravinda de Silva pulled on his 19 years of experience to rescue the hostsfrom severe embarrassment. Sanath Jayasuriya’s tenth Test century, asentertaining as it was, meant little against such a flimsy attack, even ifit was made in the middle order, his new home.The fact that it was the experience players that dug Sri Lanka out of a holeearly on the second day was not lost on Jayasuriya, who is unhappy that theselectors have decided to rest five more players for the second Test matchstarting Sunday, including vice captain Marvan Atapattu, star batsman MahelaJayawardene, Russel Arnold, Kumar Sangakkara and Muttiah Muralitharan.”You need some experience,” he argued. “Yesterday we were 56 for three andit was only because of the experience in the middle order that we managed toget the runs. Next game there will only be Hashan Tillakaratne and ThilanSamaraweera with me.”He wants Muralitharan to play: “He’s naturally disappointed, as anyone wouldbe to miss a game. If Murali is fit we should go with him. But the selectorshave picked the side and I have to go with it. I don’t know anything aboutmost of the youngsters, as I have not played with them.”Muralitharan was man of the match here. Playing on his home ground for thefirst time in his Test career, the off-spinner spun out the middle order toclaim his 36th five-for, equally Sir Richard Hadlee’s world record. Hefinished with ten for 98 in the match, his 11th tenth wicket haul.Bangladesh’s Pakistan coach, Mohsin Kamal, in charge for the first time,identified Muralitharan as the major factor: “It was only Muralitharan, whogets wickets against the bigger teams as well. Him taking five is not a bigdeal against us, but we have to make sure he conceded more runs. We have tominimise our mistakes against him.”It was, however, Sri Lanka’s new ball bowlers that made the early inroads,reducing Bangladesh to 14 for two before a 77 run stand between top scorerAl Sahariar (67) and the experienced Habibul Bashar (34).Eventually, Jayasuriya’s exasperation with his aerosol attack forced him toturn to spin at both ends. Muralitharan struck in his sixth over, cleanbowling Bashar as the right-hander tried to force through the off-side. 22minutes later he was left on a hat-trick as both Akram Khan (5) and AminulIslam (0) popped up bat-pad catches.When Muralitharan dismissed Al Sahariar in a similar manner, straight afterthe luncheon interval, Bangladesh knew they could not last into the fourthday, despite a brave two-hour 26 from captain Khaled Mashud. When he topedged a sweep of Aravinda de Silva, the tourists were all out for 184.For Bangladesh, the greatest positive, apart from the news that they don’thave to face Muralitharan next game, was the performance of their teenagemedium pacers. Khan, a fast bowler himself, praised their effortsafterwards: “They bowled according to the conditions, keeping their line,and got the results. The rest of the day they were on and off, but they areyoung and have shown good improvement in the last month.”

Another disastrous top order collapse ruined any hope Western Province had of chasing down a mountainous target on the final day of this SuperSport Series Super Six match.Despite dismissing the visitors quickly on the final morning, the target of 372 in a minimum of 97 overs was always going to be a tough ask. Eventually, despite some brave batting from Andrew Puttick and Alan Dawson, KwaZulu-Natal ran out comfortable winners by 159 runs.Strangely, and in contradiction to the playing conditions, the seven overs lost to bad light the previous evening were not made up. However, Roger Telemachus and Alan Dawson soon compensated for that by dismissing the last three batsmen in the space of less than five overs. Nixon McLean was visibly disappointed when he was adjudged lbw despite playing far forward, the fifth batsman to be dismissed in this manner in the innings. The free-scoring Goolam Bodi faced just three balls in 22 minutes before being last man out.The WP openers made a confident start, with Andrew Puttick looking impressive. A confident lbw appeal by Lance Klusener against Rashaad Magiet failed, prompting the fast bowler to come all the way down the pitch to have a quiet word with Magiet. This did the trick for KZN, as Klusener’s next delivery uprooted the middle stump, prompting a collaps which saw the next three batsmen out for ducks as WP slumped from 24/0 to 25/4 in the space of 21 balls, and the match was all but lost.Puttick and Jonathan McLean weathered the storm until lunch, aided by a hamstring injury which forced Nixon McLean to leave the field after bowling just eight overs. He did not return, nor indeed did he need to. After lunch, they extended their partnership to 72 before being well caught in the covers by Doug Watson. Thami Tsolekile batted with some spirit before going the same way.Still needing 249 in 42 overs after tea, Dawson and Puttick both started hitting out in a desperate charge. Puttick was fortunate to be dropped twice by the inappropriately named substitute, Lucky Dladla, hooking Klusener. It was third time lucky for KZN as Puttick took on Dladla, fielding on the mid wicket boundary this time, to end a useful partnership of 68 from just 73 balls. Claude Henderson perished driving uppishly, but Telemachus hooked well for two boundaries before Dawson plucky innings of 48 from 49 balls, which included 4 fours and two sixes, came to an end.Charl Willoughby was unable to bat due to his injury sustained the previous day, and KZN won by 159 runs to ensure themselves a home final against Northerns. Jon Kent’s consistent all round play, twice making important contributions with the bat and picking up some vital wickets, earned him the Man of the Match award. Andrew Puttick, already assuming the veteran tag in the WP team at the tender age of 21, was named Recruit of the Match.

Former West Indies captain and Antiguan cricketing hero, Richie Richardson, has decided to enter party politics. The announcement came in a press release — jointly issued by the Prime Minister of Antigua & Barbuda (Lester Bird), and Richardson.Richardson said that he was “proud to join the (Antigua) Labour Party team under the leadership of Lester Bird. I intend to bat for the Labour Party with the same diligence and fervour with which I served the Antigua and West Indies cricket teams.”PM Bird revealed that he intends to appoint Richardson to the Senate immediately. Bird said: “Richie will be made a Senator in the Upper House within the next few days, and he will be a Labour Party candidate in the next elections.”Bird, the Antigua Labour Party (ALP) leader remarked, “I am delighted that Richie has joined our team and I look forward to the contribution I know he can make to our work for the people of Antigua and Barbuda. Just as he has filled us with joy on the cricket field, I expect to see him make us proud in the cause of our country’s development.”The release however, did not give a clue as to which constituency the former West Indies batsman will be contesting. PM Bird however conceded that “Certain procedures have to be satisfied within the Labour Party before a decision is made on a constituency for Richie. An announcement will be made when consultations have been held and the procedures met.”Richardson becomes the latest ex-West Indies player to aspire to high office in the land of his birth. Other past West Indies players who have gone on to such high office include current WICB president, Rev. Wes Hall who was a senator then a parliamentary representative for the Democratic Labour Party (DLP), Desmond Haynes, a current Barbados Labour Party (BLP) senator and the late Roy Fredericks who served as Minister of Sports in his native Guyana.

A two-Test series is the equivalent of grabbing a quick snack. It willdo for the purpose of providing immediate sustenance but as a regulardiet it falls far short of a regular meal. Pakistan has had so manychanges of guard in the cricket set-up that one doesn’t really knowwho actually agreed to this daft programme of two-Test series, rightlydescribed as neither here nor there. What were the compulsions on usthat we allowed ourselves to be downgraded and brought on par withZimbabwe?In Pakistan’s last three tours of England in 1987, 1992 and 1996,England was no match and lost all the three series. For England, itmakes sense to have Pakistan in the early part of the summer. Itprovides an excellent opportunity to prepare for the Ashes series andget their team sorted out. It is infinitely better than a conditioningcamp or net practice. From England’s point of view, it was a masterstroke to have got a team like Pakistan to help them get their acttogether ahead of the Test matches against Australia.What does Pakistan get in return? I haven’t been able to work that outas yet. I remember than even though Pakistan had levelled the serieson its inaugural tour of England in 1954, England, by way ofreciprocity, had sent a MCC ‘A’ team in 1956. I wrote then that thiswas the Colombo Plan in reverse, a developed country asking anunderdeveloped one for aid.I join the chorus of those who have spoken out against the two-Testseries and I would like to add that it is insulting as well,particularly to be asked to play a Test match in the month of May foron a single day, you can get all the four seasons. It may be cricketweather but it is not Test match weather but then who cares? It’s onlyPakistan that England is playing against!Shoaib Akhtar should be in England by the time this column appears inprint unless there is a slip between cup and lip. The drama around hisdeparture has become like a soap-opera. I am not sure whether he isenjoying all the publicity and he may well be doing so given that heis a showman, which on its own, is not a bad thing. But, as each daypasses and we read the latest bulletin on him, the expectations aregetting higher that he will demolish England and there has never beena fast bowler like him. He will become aware that great things areexpected from him.I have known and seen the world’s greatest fast bowlers, Ray Lindwalland Keith Miller, Dennis Lillie and Jeff Thomson, Michael Holding,Andy Roberts, Malcolm Marshall and of course Courtney Walsh and CurtlyAmbrose, Fred Trueman and Frank Tyson and our own Imran Khan, WasimAkram and Waqar Younis. They were a wonderous sight in action asindeed is Shoaib Akhtar. But there was a reticence about them off-thefield and they were almost media shy. When Imran Khan broke down witha stress fracture, he spent two quiet years getting himself fit.Shoaib must count himself very fortunate that there is a sympatheticPCB that has taken great pains to look after him and got him fit. Theonly way he can pay them back is by delivering on the field and bybeing a team man. Whether he should be played in the first Test matchis a decision that is upto the team management. It would be somethingof a gamble for he is short of match practice but it might be worththe gamble. He could bowl in short bursts but I feel the advice ofRichard Pybus should be sought. We are sitting too far away to knowwhat is the reality on the ground.I think Pakistan needed stiffer opposition than the BritishUniversities if the idea of side matches is to allow the Pakistanplayers to get used to playing conditions. It is the batsmen who needto be spending time in the middle for they are the ones who will haveto adjust to green wickets and the swinging ball. Too bad that bothInzamam-ul-Haq and Yousuf Youhana missed out particularly Youhanawhose foot has been in plaster.Anyhow Pakistan has made a good start and it was great to see WasimAkram bang on target, setting to rest, one hopes, the doubts of thosewho were disinclined to include him in the touring squad and good toread the remarks of Waqar that he and Wasim had buried the hatchet.Judging from the fact that he is making so many statements, all ofthem upbeat, it would appear that Richard Pybus is enjoying himselfand has fitted in well with the team.Fast asleep for so many years, the ICC is making up for lost time withits probe Committee on a globe-trotting mission. I am all in favour ifthey can uncover all those guilty of match-fixing. It would be a hugebonus if it could uncover also all those whistle-blowers who have madeaccusations and when the chips have been down, claimed that they don’thave solid proof.Chief among these would be Ali Bacher who seemed to have gingerlystepped aside after making scandalous allegations. At least, in thecase of Javed Akhtar, the ICC must demand proof from Ali Bacher,failing which, recommend his removal from any cricket post he may beholding. It’s not the players alone who bring the game into disrepute.

Darren Gough is rested for Yorkshire’s CricInfo Championship game against Northamptonshire at Headingley.However, fellow England players Ryan Sidebottom, Michael Vaughan and Matthew Hoggard are included in the squad alongside Scott Richardson, who will hoping to play his second first-class game.Graeme Swann and David Ripley return for Northants and the Yorkshire coach, Arnie Sidebottom, knows it will be a tough encounter.”Things are going well and let’s hope it continues,” Sidebottom said. “They are a good outfit with a strong batting line-up and hopefully it will be a good match.”Elsewhere Jeff Hammond, the Glamorgan coach, dismissed his team’s lowly position in the table as a consequence of the weather more than their ability. “It’s pointless having tables before seven rounds of games have gone as the weather affects a lot of the early matches,” he said.Glamorgan meet Kent at Swansea, with Kent welcoming back Mark Ealham and Matthew Walker, but missing David Masters who has a side strain.Essex look to have the toughest of tasks. They face the might of Champions, Surrey, who will be buoyed by the presence of Thorpe, Stewart and Ward to the ranks that already boost several well-known names.In Division Two, Angus Fraser is unlikely to be available due to a shoulder injury for Middlesex’s clash with Nottinghamshire at Lord’s.Mike Roseberry (rib strain) and Chad Keegan (ankle) are also concerns, but Simon Cook returns.John Emburey, the new coach, credited the middle order as being the strength of his side at present: “Stephen Fleming and Owais Shah are in tremendous form for us and we are happy with our batting while our bowling has been okay but nothing outstanding,” he said.Andrew Harris is hoping to win a place in the Notts side.Lawrence Prittipaul is back in the Hampshire side to play Derbyshire after passing a fitness test on his shoulder injury, and having hit 175 not out for the seconds last week. Former England opener, John Stephenson, looks likely to miss out.Chris Adams should return for Sussex, who meet Warwickshire at Hove. “We are on our own patch and we’ll give them a run for their money,” said Sussex coach Peter Moores.Neil Carter and 21-year-old Jamie Spires come into the Warwickshire squad.Worcestershire travel to play Gloucestershire at Bristol, with Graeme Hick looking for a big score to catch the attention of England selectors needing to find someone to fill in for Nasser Hussain. Matthew Rawnsley is a likely starter for the visitors, while Tim Hancock returns for the hosts.

West Indies tours for Aussie fans are often dream-like. They’re late at night, often look like someone had smeared Vaseline on the lens and have a kicking soundtrack. It also means that more people hear about great deeds by Aussie players in the Caribbean, than actually see them.It also means when something happens in an ODI series as Australia tour the West Indies that no one cares about, few fans notice.Had they stayed awake, looked through the soft-focused Vaselined screen and kept the sound down as not to wake anyone in the house, they would have seen one man tormenting the Australian batsman: Sunil Narine. In a five-match series he took 11 wickets at an average of 14.45 and a scary economy rate of 3.32. He stopped the top order from scoring and dismissed the middle and lower order with ease. Narine was still a mystery to world cricket, his faux-hawk was barely known, his mystery knuckle ball was unplayable and his offspinner gripped and ripped off the dusty surfaces. It was even before he became a cult hero in the IPL.In the oppressive heat of Sri Lanka, Australia will again meet West Indies, a side who have many players who can win a T20 match on their own. Chris Gayle can decapitate a bowling unit, and he’s done that to Australia before. Marlon Samuels can score with ease and make decent bowlers doubt themselves. Dwayne Bravo changes the game with the bat, the ball or with his hands. Kieron Pollard can score at a strike rate that previously never existed. Fidel Edwards bowls swinging yorkers. And even backup players like Andre Russell are capable of amazing destruction.Yet when the West Indies looked like they would lose to New Zealand and fall out of the tournament, it was Sunil Narine who bowled two overs for only five runs in the 17th and 19th of the match. He also took two wickets.Australia have already shown they can beat West Indies at the Premadasa in this tournament. In that match, Narine bowled two overs for 15 before the rain came down before he got to bowl his last two overs, and the Australians played him quite cautiously. If they find themselves in another big chase, with a soaring run rate required, their battle with Narine could be the difference between playing in the final or not.The group game against West Indies was not all smooth sailing for Australia. They punished their bowlers and actually should have made more than the 192 they ended with. No Australian bowler went for less than seven-an-over. The West Indies handled the pace of Mitchell Starc and Pat Cummins easily, Johnson Charles aside. Dan Christian just didn’t look like a viable option with the ball. Brad Hogg tried hard, and took one of his two wickets in the tournament. And Glenn Maxwell got Gayled for 17 runs in his one over. But it was a great pitch for batting, as the Australian top order showed when they smacked the West Indian bowlers everywhere.While all of Australia’s matches have been in Colombo, the pitch has changed on Australia. It is no longer the pace-friendly wicket of late September, it’s quickly becoming the spin-happy track of early October. The constant use of this square has brought it back in favour of the spinners and sub-continental batsmen.Starc and Cummins’ pace was a real factor at times early in the tournament. Cummins beat up the Indians and barely went for a run. Starc was almost as good against the Pakistanis and took three wickets. Sohail Tanvir showed that, even though the pitch is spinning more, the fast bowlers could still be important, although their pace will be less so against West Indies.But there is no doubt that spin will play a massive part from here on in. The England v New Zealand women’s match was dominated by the English spinners, and for the first men’s semi-final the ball continued to spin considerably. Xavier Doherty came in for Christian a few matches back and has by far been Australia’s best spin option in this tournament. His early wickets against South Africa set up the game, and against Pakistan he took the wicket of their best batsman Nasir Jamshed.Brad Hogg has struggled far more. It’s not that Hogg has been a catastrophe; he’s just not had the impact he had when he first made his comeback. His economy rate of 7.5 is fairly high – only Cummins is worse for Australia – and Hogg’s batting is now non-existent. At the age of 41 his eyes can no longer allow him to bat like a man with an average of 35. Australia are yet to bat all the way down in this tournament, and they may not, but Hogg is now probably Australia’s No. 11.With the middle order struggling to get a hit, or look good when they do, it seems Glenn Maxwell is the man who may make way for David Hussey. Maxwell has done little wrong, but he is being barely used as a bowler, and has had little chance to perform with the bat, only batting twice in the tournament for one failure. It would also be a panic move from Australia, as Hussey was in terrible form in the UAE, and most of the Australian middle order have had only one chance to bat under pressure.Australia could also drop Hogg for David Hussey. Maxwell and Hussey could combine as the fifth bowler whilst strengthening the batting. When Doherty came in for Christian, Australia lost another batting option, this would fix that problem, and while Hussey’s bowling is not of the standard of Hogg’s in the real world, this is T20, where Hussey’s step, step, sling, offspin can work.On paper the West Indies side looks like a side that should beat Australia, but on the field they seem to be unsure and their decision to bowl Marlon Samuels in the Super Over against New Zealand seemed to stem from the input of too many people apart from Darren Sammy. They are a dangerous opponent, but one that Australia will believe they can beat.

When Northerns captain Martin van Jaarsveld chose not to enforce the follow-on on Friday, you would have been hard-pushed to find anyone at St George’s Park who would take money on this Supersport Series Super Eight match against Eastern Province being decided within three days.That it was can be largely laid at the door of a second seriouslydeficient batting performance from the home side as they were bowled out forjust 149 to lose by a mammoth 368 runs. Yes there was a fine bowlingperformance from Rudi Bryson, who decimated the top order and finished withfiigures of 5/33, but there was also some poor shot selection amid theknowledge that the cause was close to futile.Chasing 517 (surely enough said), EP collapsed to 13/3. From that pointon, it was purely a question of how long they could make the match last.Never accuse a professional sportsman of being anything but fully committed,but it would have been understandable if a day off sounded more attractivethan hanging around fighting a losing cause.Don’t tell that to Carl Bradfield, as the EP captain performed that rarefeat of carrying his bat throughout the entire innings as wickets tumbled atthe other end. Bradfield finished unbeaten on 64, but his was a lonerearguard action and all the more laudable for it.Earlier, Northerns had stretched their advantage beyond 500 with more ofthe same – solid if unspectacular batting. Dirkie de Vos was still there atthe declaration on 60, but Meyrick Pringle’s four wickets were welcome ifnot somewhat late and irrelevant as far as the game itself was concerned.Before this game EP had hopes – admittedly faint ones – of reaching theSupersport Series final. Northerns put them well and truly in their place.