Tino Best zipped through Marcus Trescothick’s defences with a ripper in his second over at Lord’s today, and followed up with an appropriate sendoff. He gestured at the back of his shirt and pointed to the fact that he was the "Best" in the business. Now there may be bowlers around the world who can replicate that delivery, but how many of them can enact the same celebration? Well, looking back over the years there’s quite a handy XI of cricketers who could have used their names to good effect.Imagine David Boon pointing to his surname every time a fielder grassed a chance, or David Hookes turning around after heaving one over midwicket. Unfortunately for Mark Butcher, his Headingley heroics against Australia came in a Test match, otherwise Adam Gilchrist and co. might have had a constant reminder of his name … and his trade that day.Sanjay Bangar, for all his dour defensive mindset, has a mighty name to live up to, while Paul Wiseman would definitely be expected to come up with some shrewd field changes and crafty spin variations. Bruce French could have easily exasperated bowlers all around the world with his streaky cut, and then driven them to despair by pointing to his back. But French has some competition when it comes to the wicketkeeping slot – Kiran More runs him close.And how can we leave out the original Close fielder? Brian Close could have repeated this shirt-tapping act many times in a day – when the ball just missed the edge of the bat, at the end of the day’s play, or even when boasting of his ability at short leg. Dwayne Bravo doesn’t need to do too much congratulating – just a reminder of his surname would do, although it was England who were applauding his none-for-80 bowling today – but Brad Hogg will have to realise that there is some merit in rotating the strike.Sadly for the grand old doctor, WG Grace, he played in an era when names were restricted to the scoreboard, and couldn’t turn around after every beautiful cover-drive.My Aptly Named XI 1 David Boon, 2 WG Grace, 3 Mark Butcher, 4 Brian Close, 5 David Hookes, 6 Dwayne Bravo, 7 Sanjay Bangar, 8 Bruce French, 9 Brad Hogg, 10 Paul Wiseman, 11 Tino Best.
Fidel Edwards Being selected for West Indies actually changed my life. I have been nervous the whole week… but when I got on the field and I got the ball in my hand I just wanted to bowl. I went out there and bowled on a line and put the ball in the right areas.Brian Lara We weren’t expecting something like that from him (Fidel Edwards). It’s nice to see someone come out on his debut and join the record books and a very elite crowd. I hope he goes on from strength to strength. I am sure he knows this is the start of something. He’s got to work hard and he’s got to maintain his fitness.The Jamaica Observer When the news came through earlier this week that Fidel Edwards had been selected in a West Indies Test squad, the most asked question was “Fidel who?” Yesterday, the Caribbean and the cricketing world got their answer. And while West Indies captain Brian Lara wasn’t saying it, he and his fellow selectors must have felt like geniuses, and totally vindicated.Edwards whose slinging, back-wrenching action consistently raised a buzz … became the most successful West Indies bowling debutant since Nehemiah Perry took 5-70 in his first Test against Australia at Sabina Park in 1999.Tony Becca, in The Jamaica Gleaner Edwards, the 21-year-old inexperienced, unknown newcomer who became only the eighth West Indian to take five or wickets on debut, impressed with his pace, swing, bounce, aggressiveness and composure.
Australian speedster Jason Gillespie has been selected to spearhead South Australia’s attack when it opens its ING Cup season in Perth next week.International commitments limited Gillespie, 26, to a total of just six matches with the Redbacks last summer.But, with a successful Ashes tour of England behind him and with five weeks still remaining before the First Test against New Zealand, he becomes a welcome re-inclusion for the day-night match against Western Australia on 12 October.Gillespie heads a strong pace attack that also includes Paul Wilson, Brett Swain, Mark Harrity and Paul Rofe, while the slow bowling options will be led by left arm orthodox bowler Brad Young, another player making a return after a long absence.Young, the state’s premier spinner, was sidelined in November last year when he sustained ligament damage to his knee during training. He underwent a full knee reconstruction immediately, before returning to play Lancashire League cricket in the Australian off-season.The South Australians have named a balanced squad, continuing to show faith in many of the players who took the state within a whisker of a finals appearance last season. Back from successful county seasons with Yorkshire and Nottinghamshire respectively, Darren Lehmann and Greg Blewett will again fill the side’s leadership positions.The Redbacks’ pre-season has included a two-day stopover in the Victorian country town of Mildura as well as the start of a series of intrastate league fixtures. Two matches against Tasmania were also scheduled, but the first of those – which was due to be played today – was abandoned because of a wet outfield at Adelaide’s Park 25.The full South Australian side is: Darren Lehmann (c), Greg Blewett (v/c), David Fitzgerald, Jason Gillespie, Ryan Harris, Mark Harrity, Ben Johnson, Graham Manou, Paul Rofe, Brett Swain, Jeff Vaughan, Paul Wilson, Brad Young.
Reported Manchester United target Sergej Milinkovic-Savic scored a brace for Lazio in their 3-0 win against Sassuolo in Serie A on Sunday, and Red Devils fans have urged their club to sign the talented 22-year-old this summer.
The Mirror reported over the weekend that United are lining up an £80m bid for the Serbia international at the end of the season with Michael Carrick retiring and Marouane Fellaini expected to leave at the expiry of his contract, and the midfielder would certainly have impressed Jose Mourinho and any watching scouts with his latest display in the Italian top flight.
The versatile player, who can feature in a central or attacking midfield role, found the net twice on Sunday, including a brilliant curling finish from just outside of the penalty area, to take his tally for the season to 11 in 33 appearances in all competitions.
Man United supporters were quick to have their say on his latest showing via social media, and while one said “I don’t care how much it costs” about a prospective deal, another said “this man and two new full-backs would transform our team”.
Here is just a selection of the Twitter reaction…
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West Indies captain Ramnaresh Sarwan called on his team to be more consistent after they crashed out of the ICC World Twenty20 in the first round.”One of the things I’ve stressed on since I became captain is consistency and that is something we need to focus on,” Sarwan said. “It is a matter of us going back and working hard. I know we’ve been saying this for the longest while about our fielding and bowling and sometimes our batting.”Sarwan was critical of his team’s fielding and bowling in the tournament. “I don’t think we executed our plans very well, we didn’t bowl well and you saw how we fielded,” he said. “We bowled wides today [Thursday] again and dropped a vital catch. Nevertheless it’s important that we work on our game because we have a tour coming up to South Africa.”Sarwan said his side lost against Bangladesh because of a poor start and that the toss wasn’t a crucial factor in the match. “I don’t want to blame anything on the toss. I think we should have played better in the first six overs [of our innings] although Chris [Gayle] got out.”We didn’t set a momentum there in the first six overs and that set us back and I thought they [Bangladesh] bowled really well. They utilised the surface really well. When I went in the ball was still gripping from the left arm spinner but apart from that the opening batsmen said there wasn’t much movement.”Sarwan had words of praise for Dwayne Smith and Marlon Samuels, whose cameos lent respectability to the West Indian score. “Both Dwayne and Marlon played well in the end but it was asking a bit too much of them at the end. We lost out on a few runs at the start of the innings and in the middle overs as well.”West Indies’ next international assignment is a full tour of South Africa which starts in December.
Kamran Akmal scored a quickfire 69 off 49 balls to guide Pakistan to an easy six-wicket win in their second practice match against Rajasthan Cricket Association (RCA) President’s XI in Jaipur.Chasing 199, Akmal opened the innings with Mohammad Hafeez and the pair put on 86, scoring at a quick clip. An occasional opener, Akmal scored 58 of his runs in boundaries, including three sixes. All the Pakistan batsmen had a good hit in the middle, including Shahid Afridi, who also tonked three sixes in his 28. Faisal Iqbal and Shoaib Malik coasted past the target in the 33rd over.The Pakistan bowlers however failed to role over the opposition, as RCA XI chose to get bat out the 50 overs, losing only four wickets in the process. Choosing to bat first, the RCA openers, Mumbai’s Rohit Sharma, and S Vijay got off to a good start, adding 54 in just over ten overs till Umar Gul got the first breakthrough.Rahul Kanwat and Nikhil Doru both scored half centuries and looked at ease against the Pakistan attack. Doru remained unbeaten on 51 at the close, with captain Ajay Jadeja.
Points TableAlex Loudon claimed 6 for 66 to highlight the promise that England’s selectors have picked out, as Warwickshire finished the Championship season in style with a 181-run with over Gloucestershire. Matt Windows provided the only substantial resistance with a 176-ball 65 but Loudon ran through the tail and took his wicket tally for the summer to 34.Surrey managed a belated innings and 39-run win against Middlesex but it was a hollow success, with their relegation confirmed two days ago. Azhar Mahmood reached his maiden double century before the Middlesex batting folded – their intensity having slipped after securing the bonus they required on the second day. Saqlain Mushtaq and Ian Salisbury spun out six wickets between them as Jamie Dalrymple (75) produced the only meaningful batting.
Division Two
Points TableYorkshire succumbed to the twin-spin attack of Jason Brown and Monty Panesar as Northamptonshire completed an innings and 21-run win. Yorkshire’s defeat hands Lancashire the second division title and it was only a matter of time on the final day before the spinners did the job. Brown and Panesar claimed five each for the innings and 10 each for the match. Ian Harvey made a defiant 74 but Yorkshire were already safely promoted regardless of this result.Derbyshire secured their first Championship win since July 23 last season when the wrapped up an innings 18-run against Somerset. Derbyshire were made to work hard for their wickets, but Graeme Welch and Ant Botha ate away at the lower order. Ian Blackwell hit the fastest hundred of the season – off 67 balls – before he fell to Botha and Keith Parsons was left stranded, unbeaten on 93. Luke Sutton pouched the catch that finished the match, in his last Championship appearance for Derbyshire.Graeme Hick overcame a poor run of form to smash 107 from 96 balls, but it wasn’t quite enough to take Worcestershire to victory against Essex. After Essex scored 201 for 1 against some part-time bowling, Worcestershire were set 352 in 60 overs. The top four batsmen all made significant contributions and while Hick and Ben Smith were adding 172 for the third wicket they were on course. However, Tim Phillips, who was brought on late by Ronnie Irani, snapped up three quick wickets – including Hick – and Steven Davies and Gareth Batty couldn’t hit Worcestershire across the line.
The Kenya Cricket Association is planning to initiate a women’s cricket league, and has said that it is currently training women in preparation for the league.Sharad Ghai, the board chairman, said that 40 women were undergoing intensive training at the Simba Union Club to have them match-ready. The progressive step is seen as an attempt to raise awareness and participation in the game in Kenya and is in line with the ICC’s stated goal of helping Kenya rise in the international cricketing hierarchy.
All young cricket fans are invited to the Somerset County Cricket Club Junior Sabres `Bash’ that will take place at the County Ground on the morning of Saturday June 21st starting at 10.00 am.This year’s event promises to be the biggest and best `Bash’ that the club has ever held, and entry for Junior Sabre members is absolutely free. The price for non-members is just £1.Some of the events that have already been booked for the morning include, bowling at a player, face painting and the Coca-Cola inflatable football game.There will also be free samples of vanilla cola, numerous competitions and free goodies and balloons for all of those who attend what promises to be another memorable occasion for the Junior Sabres.One extra special guest who will be appearing at the Bash is the Junior Sabres mascot `Stumpy’ who told me that he has been saving up all of his energy through the winter months so that he can be present on this very special occasion and have the chance to meet all of his friends.Following on from the `Bash’, Somerset will be playing Gloucestershire in a Twenty20 match that gets underway at 12.35pm, so June 21st is a day that all young fans will want to be at the County Ground.In order that the club know how many to expect to the Junior Sabres `Bash’ it would be a great help if those intending to be present could let Jo Arnold know in advance by returning the tear off slip at the bottom of the invitation that was sent out recently.Anyone who wants to find out more about the Junior Sabres Bash or any non members who want to attend the event should contact Jo Arnold on 01823 272946.
Somerset gradually turned the screw on Surrey on the third day at Taunton,building a lead of 360 by the close, with five wickets still in hand.Richard Johnson swung the ball in the opening session to return 5-62 as thevisitors were bowled out for 278 – a deficit of 95 – having begun the day on224-6.Then Mike Burns (70), Jamie Cox (46) and Peter Bowler (34) batted soundly totake Somerset’s second innnings to 265-5, despite a good post-lunch spellfrom Martin Bicknell, who bowled with no luck and beat the outside edgeseveral times.As on the first two days, the humid conditions encouraged the ball to movearound in the air. Johnson capitalised in the morning by removing BenHollioake (56) and Bicknell (34), both to diving catches by wicketkeeper RobTurner, who equaled a Somerset record by catching six victims in theinnings.Steffan Jones wrapped up the Surrey innings by dismissing Ian Salisbury andSaqlain Mushtaq, taking his first class wicket tally for the season to 50 inthe process.Somerset began their second innings looking to bat Surrey out of the game.Matt Wood fell early, but Cox and Burns then put together a watchful standof 75 for the second wicket.Burns reached his half-century of 138 balls, with 5 fours, also receivinggood support from Bowler in a third-wicket partnership of 77.By the time Saqlain removed Burns and Bicknell sent back Bowler for anoverdue success Surrey were looking at the prospect of a formidable last-daytarget, something Mark Lathwell (27) and Ian Blackwell (36 not out) assured.