Keith Piper, the Warwickshire wicketkeeper, has been sacked by the county after he failed a drugs test and was ruled out of the rest of the season by being banned for four months. Piper’s position will be reviewed at the end of this season, but in the meantime the club will help him through a rehabilitation programme, including counselling, as recommended by the ECB panel which banned him last month.Last month Piper, 35, pleaded guilty to a doping offence involving cannabis after the first county match of the season, where Warwickshire played Glamorgan. Dennis Amiss, Warwickshire’s chief executive, said: “In the light of Keith Piper’s positive test for cannabis and the decision of the ECB disciplinary committee to ban him from professional cricket for four months until the end of September 2005, Warwickshire have terminated Keith’s playing contract for 2005 with immediate effect.”The focus now is on Keith’s rehabilitation programme to which Keith and the county club are fully committed,” Amiss added. “In that we will be supported by the ECB and the Professional Cricketers’ Association. We are aware of Keith’s positive response to a difficult situation and we are confident that the rehabilitation will be successful.”The ECB panel which banned him said at the time that if Piper wanted to return to county cricket he should also undergo drug counselling and undertake a drug test before September 30, which would be administered under the auspices of the ECB. The panel also added that Piper would “thereafter be target-tested six times in the following 18 months”. Piper, who had been playing mainly one-day cricket of late, was ordered to pay £250 (US$455) towards the costs of the hearing.In 1997, Piper failed an in-house drugs test for which he served a one-match ban. His fellow Warwickshire players Paul Smith, now retired, and Graham Wagg have also served drugs-related bans. Last season Wagg was given a 15-month ban by the ECB after testing positive for cocaine and, as a consequence, saw Warwickshire terminate his contract. On Sunday, Piper’s former Warwickshire captain Dermot Reeve, the retired England international, admitted that he was fighting cocaine addiction.
Chris Cairns has been ruled out of New Zealand’s crucial TVS Cup match against India at Cuttack. Cairns failed to recover from a hamstring injury which forced him to leave the field midway during their match against Australia at Pune on November 3. “Cairns hasn’t come through,” confirmed Ashley Ross, the New Zealand coach, after Cairns failed a fitness test.Meanwhile, Rahul Dravid has asked for an improved performance from the Indian middle order. Speaking to reporters on the eve of their match against New Zealand, Dravid said: “The middle-order batting is an area that needs work. We have to do better while batting second. I don’t know of any plans to change the batting order, but we have to be as flexible as possible.”He also called for a better display from Zaheer Khan, especially with the new ball. “Our bowlers are capable of doing better, particularly Zaheer. He did well in Gwalior, but something went wrong in Mumbai. He is working hard and should do better in the first 15 overs, because that is a key time.”The Indian team will be without Anil Kumble, who opted out of the match due to his father’s death. Sairaj Bahutule has been included in the squad, but Ashish Nehra – who has recovered from his ankle surgery – or Murali Kartik are the frontrunners to replace Kumble.
The last week has been a turbulent one to say the least. We started with a loss to the Northern Knights in our first warm up game, convincingly won our second and then lost our way in the series opener with New Zealand.
UnderIndian lights Photo Gloucs
One thing which has been obvious is the huge change in playing conditions. It is amazing how your reflexes become tuned to playing in India, and it has taken a few days to revert to home-style conditions again. The seam bowlers appear a lot chirpier now as they see some movement off the wickets, a rare sight on the sun-baked wickets of the sub-continent.So chirpy in Caddy’s case that he decided to invite everyone around to his Christchurch home for a celebratory `Barby’. All the team enjoyed the relaxing evening as we were treated to roast beef, lamb and of course prawns!! It was interesting to see a few of the senior players browsing through the local property supplement the following day! New Zealand really is a great country, and in Christchurch, we saw its most English element.The day before the opening game, we attended the official series launch hosted by the New Zealand team sponsors. On arrival at this formal occasion, we were greeted by a lady in a particularly scruffy grass skirt, which we thought was strange? It was soon explained that she was the leader of the local Maori group who were going to `welcome’ us.The welcome consisted of 20-odd grown men and women, face painted and scantily clad charging at us, screaming and sticking their tongues out in unison! We had to hold back a couple of the `Yorkies’ from retaliating and explain that it was just a ceremonial dance!! We then had to accept the welcome by calmly rubbing noses with the Maori group who performed the traditional display brilliantly. Later, we had a more conventional welcome by our hosts and enjoyed another great `summer’ buffet.
Pushing togain place Photo Gloucs
Wednesday saw us at Jade Stadium for the opening game of the series. We had discussed the importance of the first game in our meetings and were keen to get off to a good start. After 25 overs of the reduced 42-over game, the England camp was relaxed and confident, but an hour later the mood had changed dramatically. A combination of great fielding and a lack of batting partnerships meant that we fell short of the 250, which we looked at one stage like posting.As in India, we managed to get back into the game and looked like having another tense finish, but the Kiwi batsmen scraped home to take the lead in the series. Obviously we were disappointed with the game especially after we had such a commanding start, but lessons were learnt and we have four games ahead to win.The next stop for the one-day road show is Wellington and many of us breathed a sigh of relief as the plane sidled up to the Wellington airport terminal buildings. Locally known as the Windy City, our turbulent descent resembled a mosquito approaching a desk fan! Thankfully we arrived safely, and I now have a chance to reminisce over the two seasons spent playing and coaching in here during the mid-90s.Our second game is being played at the new stadium here, which again, hosts huge rugby games as well as cricket matches. Sharing resources like this means that the stadiums can be perfectly equipped but whether this time-share philosophy could work in England is open to debate.With only 2 weeks of the tour remaining, the work is still going on behind the scenes for me as I push to develop my game further and seize a regular position in this developing squad. There is a great deal to play for and we have our sights set high on winning this series, Saturday’s game will be a crucial for us and we relish the next challenge.
Bengal virtually assured themselves of a place in the knock out stageof the Ranji Trophy at the Eden Gardens today. Rohan Gavaskar’s sixthRanji Trophy hundred and his 197-run partnership for the fifth wicketwith Deep Dasgupta took Bengal past the 600-mark for the first timethis season. The home team declared their innings closed at 608 forthe loss of five wickets half an hour after lunch. In reply, Biharwere 107 for three wickets at close.Bihar have been having a poor season and today they did not fare anybetter. The bowling lacked sting and the batting was devoid oftemperament. It will be very difficult for them to save the matchunless they really apply themselves. They however, started the daywell getting rid of the Bengal skipper Devang Gandhi after only 21balls had been bowled. India under-19 all-rounder Mihir Diwakar movedone away from Gandhi and the batsman snicked it to the keeper.Then it was the younger Gavaskar all the way. Playing with a lot ofassurance, Gavaskar stroked the ball to all parts of the field. Hedecided to stick to the basics and played some lovely drives withinthe ‘V’. A straight drive of Dhiraj Kumar was a treat to watch. DeepDasgupta, however, was a bit lucky. There were a number of times whenhe flashed hard and was lucky to see the ball going wide of thefielders behind the wicket. However, both scored at more than a run aminute against the insipid attack. Rohan reached his 100 in 227minutes, cutting Tariqur Rahman to the point boundary. Dasguptahowever was to be denied a century. When he was 89 (134 balls, 11×4)he flashed hard at Dheeraj Kumar only to be caught by Kunjan Sharan atpoint. Gavaskar however, remained unbeaten on 121 (257 m, 174 balls11x4) when the declaration was made.When Bihar batted, the Bengal bowling also lacked penetration.However, bad batting resulted in the loss of three wickets. SkipperRajiv Kumar symbolised this. With about 15 minutes left for thescheduled close, he tried to lift Utpal Chatterjee over mid on only tolob a simple catch to Gavaskar. Earlier, Shib Shankar Pal had givenBengal the breakthrough, dismissing Zeeshan Yaquin after the openershad put on 59. The batsmen played down the wrong line and his middlestump went cartwheeling.With the Trinamul Congress having called for a bandh tomorrow, therewere doubts as to whether the third day’s play would be possible.However, it was decided that the entire Bengal team would stay in ahotel close to the ground so that if necessary they could even walk into the stadium.
Everton fell to another Premier League defeat on Sunday afternoon, losing 1-0 at home to Wolves.
Conor Coady was the matchwinner for the visitors early in the second half, with Jonjoe Kenny seeing red late on after two quick bookings.
The Transfer Tavern have used statistical experts SofaScore to analyse who the three worst outfield performers were for the home side at Goodison Park, with these three players losing possession on 31 occasions, losing 13 duels and failing to have a shot on goal.
Jonjoe Kenny – 6.6/10
Kenny, who was sent off for two yellow cards late on, struggled throughout at Goodison Park. The defender lost the ball on 11 occasions, was second-best in five of his 10 duels and was unsuccessful with four of his six attempted long balls.
He committed four fouls and was comfortably the worst of the three centre-backs with a match rating of 6.6/10.
Seamus Coleman – 6.6/10
Next up is Coleman, who also ended with a match rating of 6.6/10. The experienced right-back didn’t attempt a cross all afternoon and gave the ball away on 12 occasions.
He was also second-best in one of his three duels and made just one tackle all afternoon, failing to record any interceptions.
Abdoulaye Doucoure – 6.6/10
Last up, also with a match rating of 6.6/10, was Doucoure, with the midfielder failing to make an interception or clearance all afternoon while committing three fouls.
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Doucoure also lost the ball eight times, lost seven duels and was unsuccessful with all of his attempted crosses and long balls.
In other news, talks over this Everton transfer will take place in the next few weeks
Scorecard The Under-19 World Cup will be formally opened tomorrow and the first round of matches kick off on Sunday. But Thursday’s warm-up fixtures offered a preview of the talent on display: Sri Lanka were playing South Africa, Bermuda with Namibia, and Zimbabwe against Nepal.The pick, though, was Australia versus West Indies. One could watch Philip Hughes, the batsman who’s already played for New South Wales, perhaps spot a future West Indian tearaway fast bowler, and check out if the Australian U-19 outfit was as clinical, relatively speaking, as their national side.The weather in Kuala Lumpur is more humid than hot and the conditions are quite sapping, especially since the tournament’s schedule allows little time for rest. As it turned out, Hughes was given the day off so Australia opened with Marcus Stoinis and Kumar Sarna, the Delhi-born batsman who plays his cricket in Victoria. The openers were patient and after a slow start – 16 came off the first six overs – they had added 63 by the 15th. Sarna made 32 off 65 balls and Stoinis 22 off 48. They were the only batsmen to pass 20 as Australia collapsed and lost ten wickets for 96 to finish on 159.So which fast-bowler wrecked Australia? Larry Gomes, the coach, had said that all the three quicks had the attributes necessary to grow into good fast bowlers. Jason Dawes wasn’t express pace but bowled a testing line and length, as did Dawnley Grant. And when you look at Delorn Johnson, his tall physique and long arms give away what he offers to the side. So which of the three was it? Was there an individual that stood out or was it a pack-attack?There was a stand-out performance but it came from a spinner- the West Indies captain Sharmarh Brooks – who picked up 5 for 25 off 9.2 overs with his legbreaks. Brooks, who plays for Barbados, varied his flight and pace cleverly and several Australian batsmen holed out as they tired to clear the boundaries. Brooks received solid support from left-arm orthodox bowler Veerasammy Permaul and the offspinner Steven Jacobs, who is his deputy. Permaul took 2 for 18 off his seven overs while Jacobs had 1 for 29 off his ten, giving the spinners a total of eight wickets to the fast bowlers’ one (one batsman was run out).Adrian Barath, who plays for Trinidad and Tobago, was another batsman towatch. Gomes said he’s not been in the best of form of late and wasn’t feeling 100% fit either. However, it was Kieran Powell who impressedthe most today. Powell is a tall left-hand opening batsman who hits the ball powerfully. One shot stood out: Powell drove the ball straight and so hard that the sound of the ball hitting bat made heads turn. Most were too late for the ball was already nearing the boundary ropes. Powell finished with 51 and his attacking start had set the platform for a successful run chase.Australia opened their bowling with a four-pronged pace attack: Jeremy Smith and James Pattinson shared the new ball while David King and James Faulkner came on first and second change. The first spinner on display for Australia was the left-arm orthodox bowler from Victoria, Clive Rose, who had Powell caught at mid-on in his second over. West Indies then lost a few batsmen in quick time but chased down the target with five wickets in hand.Beating Australia, albeit in a practice match, was a huge boost to West Indies, who also beat Sri Lanka in their first warm-up fixture. “It will be difficult to pick a final XI,” said Gomes. “I prefer to be in that position.”
A superb 93 by left-hander JP Duminy secured a Pro 20 semi-final place for the Cape Cobras when they beat the Titans by 38 runs at Newlands. Duminy caressed and bludgeoned the ball to all parts of the ground on his way to the second highest total in the competition’s history. Duminy scored his runs off only 57 balls with seven boundaries and four sixes. Duminy, opening the innings with Adam Bacher, put on a season-best 129 for the first wicket to lead the Cobras to a total of 212, which the Titans never came close to matching. They scored 174 for eight in their allotted 20 overs, Victory moved the Cobras to an unassailable position in a race for the semi-finals although the Titans denied them a vital bonus point that would have ensured a home semi, by scoring in excess of 170. It was the second highest total in the history of the competition.Craig RayThe Dolphins triumphed by one run over the Cape Cobras in another nailbiting Pro20 match at Durban. The Cobras needed 11 runs off the final over and four off the last ball, but young spinner Morne van Vuuren stood up to the pressure and clinched a vital victory for the Dolphins. The visitors were initially chasing 178 to win, but rain kept them off the field for 45 minutes when they were well set on 47 for one after 4.1 overs. They returned after the delay with a revised Duckworth/Lewis target of 146 in 16 overs, meaning they needed 99 more runs in 11.5 overs. But their innings quickly took a turn for the worse as Robbie Frylinck bowled a rare maiden over and then removed JP Duminy (22) and Henry Davids (6) in successive deliveries. He then dismissed Wesley Euley (9) to finish with remarkable figures of three for 18.Ken BorlandBlake Snijman and Vaughn van Jaarsveld guided the Lions to a seven-wicket victory over the Titans at the Wanderers. The pair put on 89 for the third wicket, with Snijman scoring 68 not out and Van Jaarsveld 51 to the delight of the sell-out 21,000 crowd, a Pro 20 record, which steered their side to victory with 14 balls to spare. After winning the toss the Lions chose to field. The Titans scored a mediocre 174 for five despite a belligerent 68 from Heino Kuhn. But it was the two Lions youngsters who stole the show. They upped the pace of scoring when needed, to secure the Lions a home semi-final. It was the fourth successive win for the Lions, who remain the only unbeaten team in the competition.Craig RayThe Eagles kept their Pro20 hopes alive with a superb display in the field as they beat the Dolphins by 15 runs at Bloemfontein. The Eagles, playing their last round-robin match, had to win to stay in with a chance of reaching the semi-finals, and defeat for the Dolphins means they now have to beat the Titans at Benoni on Friday to be sure of their place in the last four. The Eagles were defending just 159 for eight, but a brilliant spell of fast bowling up front by Johan van der Wath put the Dolphins under immediate pressure. van der Wath bowled with fire and extracted extra bounce as he had Imraan Khan (14) and Ahmed Amla (0) caught in the space of three balls either side of a short rain delay, and van der Wath finished with outstanding figures of two for eight in four overs, with a maiden, to equal the records of Tyron Henderson and Charl Willoughby for the best bowling figures in Pro20.Ken Borland
Sri Lanka, thrust by an immense 185 from Kumar Sangakkara and a twirling late afternoon special from Muttiah Muralitharan, edged closer to a memorable victory against Pakistan at the SSC in Colombo. Sangakkara’s ninth Test hundred, third against Pakistan and second in successive Tests against them, had earlier helped Sri Lanka set Pakistan a target of 458. Having tiptoed to 59 without loss, Pakistan lost two quick wickets to Muralitharan to end the day a little forlorn at 89 for 2.The enormity of Pakistan’s task – both in terms of time and runs – was mostly the result of Sangakkara’s hundred, one which contained enough struggle, changes in tempo and pure strokeplay to warrant consideration for epic status. Certainly, it encompassed a vast enough span of play – 109 overs – for it to be considered and relative to yesterday, his touch was gold from the very start.The first two balls of the day were effortlessly thwacked straight to cover for no run, evidence of what was to come. Pakistan’s opening bowlers carried the flatness of souls waiting for a new ball, though when it came, Sangakkara, rather than the bowlers, was revitalised. The fourth over of the new ball, 11th of the day, from Razzaq brought an edged boundary through the slips, sandwiched by easy, fluid drives through mid-on and wide mid-off, the latter on left knee. That brought him to 99 and though he lost Mahela Jayawardene and a 158-run partnership in the next over – yet another top-edged hook dismissal- he brought up his hundred soon after.The real blitz arrived after lunch. Four overs into the second session, Mohammad Asif was pulled, driven and pulled again in successive balls. As Pakistan meandered, Sangakkara brought up his 150; his century had come in 209 balls and he needed only 71 more for the next 50.It wasn’t in isolation as Thilan Samaraweera offered robust support in a 144-run partnership. He quickly settled after a cautious start in the face of spirited bowling from Mohammad Asif, but a square drive brought up 300 halfway through the morning and some comfort. When the spinners arrived, he unveiled a succession of cover drives and after lunch, he harried bowlers, late cutting Danish Kaneria and then gliding down the pitch to drive him straight down the ground. That was his seventh four and his fifty – off 104 balls – came a few overs later. By this time, bowling had become a token form of protest against the bat.In search of quicker runs, Sangakkara went sweeping and Samaraweera driving, a futile confirmation that when one wicket in a big partnership falls, another does soon after. Predictably, Pakistan’s attack suffered; Asif and Danish Kaneria had willed themselves through the morning, but as the afternoon wore on, were understandably spent. Kaneria, in particular, bowled without luck, a situation that warrants calling up Harbhajan Singh, if only to ask how to deal with a situation where good bowling brings no luck. The others were jaded and a pitch, quickly easing up, made them seem more so, reliant on the smaller victories of a maiden over here and there.The turn and bounce that Kaneria got, Muralitharan also enjoyed later. Imran Farhat’s contribution to Pakistan’s controlled start, was partly some pleasant drives and partly in a mental note to himself that balls a foot outside off-stump don’t always have to be chased. Farveez Maharoof did his post-cricket credentials as a police interrogator no harm, relentlessly probing away outside his off-stump, but with little success. It was finally the master interrogator, Muralitharan who lured Farhat forward with some dip before sharp spin away caught his edge and gave Jayawardene his 100th catch.Shoaib Malik, unbeaten on a precarious 31, must have felt that the requisite quota of fortune any individual requires in an endeavour as massive as this, has probably been used up. Sangakkara’s only blemish was to drop him off Lasith Malinga when he was on 14, another edge fell just short and two leg-before appeals appeared more out than not. He did survive Muralitharan and all the mischievous changes in flight, pace, angle and degrees of spin that brings for over two hours, which in itself is some achievement. It was an examination that Younis Khan didn’t survive. Tomorrow a day of trial by Muralitharan and a gaggle of cackling close fielders – Sri Lankan cricket’s enduring image of the age – awaits Pakistan. Not many have passed it.How they were outSri LankaMahela Jayawardene c Razzaq b Asif 82 (285 for 3) Kumar Sangakkara c Inzamam b Malik 185 (433-3) Thilan Samaraweera c Farhat b Afridi 64 (438-5) PakistanImran Farhat c Jayawardene b Muralitharan 34 (59 for 1) Younis Khan b Muralitharan 8 (71 for 2)
Bangladesh enjoyed a third consecutive day of ideal acclimatization at Fenner’s. First, their 18-year-old seamer, Shahadat Hossain, bowled himself into contention for the first Test at Lord’s with figures of 4 for 33, and then, with a lead of 143, all five of Bangladesh’s top-order enjoyed valuable time in the middle, as the match petered out to a draw.After resuming on their overnight 190 for 5, Luke Parker and Josh Knappett extended their sixth-wicket stand to 134, before Parker was caught behind for 65 off Mashrafe Mortaza. That signalled the end of British Universities’ resistance, as Shadahat – the quickest of Bangladesh’s bowlers – got stuck into the tail. The final five wickets tumbled for 22, with Shahadat removing both Amit Suman and Monty Panesar for ducks.With more than two sessions of the day still remaining, the Bangladeshis could have contemplated a shot at a morale-boosting victory, but that was never in their gameplan. Javed Omar, fresh from a career-best 167 in the first innings, put his head down for a solid 39 and Nafees Iqbal chipped in with 46 – a breezier innings from a flashier player, but a mature performance nonetheless.Shahriar Nafees, the young left-handed opener who is seen as an outside bet for the Tests, then made an important half-century to atone for his first-innings duck, and shared in an 80-run stand with his captain, Habibul Bashar, whose 75 from 86 balls was the most authoritative innings of the day.Shahriar was run out shortly after completing his fifty, but before the close, there was just time for Rajin Saleh to familiarise himself with the conditions, as he finished unbeaten on 30. Bangladesh now travel down to Hove for the second of their three three-day warm-ups, with their spirits high and runs and wickets in the bank.
The forgotten princes In many ways, Rajkot is the unlikeliest city to have a thriving cricket culture. It is prohibitively hot throughout the year, boasts no thriving tourist attractions and is pretty much a dustbowl. In many ways, though, the city has been linked with cricket in the most curious ways.Not a long way from the Madhavrao Scindia Stadium is the little-known Rajkumar College. A misnomer to start off, for it is a school, the college was once the exclusive domain of the princes. The most famous of them all, Kumar Shri Ranjitsinhji, Ranji to the cricket-viewing public, studied here. More recently, Ajay Jadeja, a descendant of the big man, has been linked with the college.If too many people are not aware of the cricket history of Rajkot, the Saurashtra Cricket Association must shoulder some of the blame. There lives in the city Vijay Singh Nakum, son of the once-feared fast bowler Amar Singh. Famous for his exploits bowling alongside Mohammad Nissar in the 1932-33 tour of England, Amar Singh has since passed away. His son, hale and hearty, is very much around. Sadly, though, the Saurashtra Cricket Association seems to have forgotten about his existence. Every time a match comes to Rajkot, Vijay waits for tickets, complimentary passes or some gesture from the association.It came as a pleasant surprise when Raj Singh Dungarpur sent Vijay an invitation to attend a felicitation function at Mumbai. The Cricket Club of India is honouring Indian cricketers who have taken five wickets or scored hundred runs at Lord’s. Vijay will be in Mumbai on September 19, accepting a piece of Lord’s turf on behalf of his father. Small compensation, but something is certainly better than nothing, and perhaps this will serve as a wake-up call to associations who forget people who have rendered yeoman service to state or country.Rajkot meets Bradman One person who has put Rajkot on the Indian-cricket map, and retains a solid sense of history is Niranjan Rasiklal Shah. Most people know him as the former secretary of the Board of Control for Cricket in India, but he has worn many more hats. A first-class cricketer himself, Shah was a batsman and former captain of Saurashtra.The fact that he played just 12 first-class matches hardly rankles him. “At that time the selection process was not so organized. We had to also think about academics and a career outside cricket. You hardly got three or four matches a year,” he began. “I have no regrets at all about how much I played. That time we were just playing for the fun of it. We wanted to enjoy ourselves. That was a different time. I had played with Sunil Gavaskar, Farrukh Engineer, Chandu Borde and other greats from West Zone. At that time West Zone was ruling Indian cricket. So I have no regrets at all.”When you go to Shah’s office, though, you realize immediately that this is a man who knows his history. Behind his desk is a large framed photo of himself with Sir Don Bradman. Meeting Bradman is an experience Shah can never forget. “He is a legend. I had heard and read so much about him. At that time there was no television so you read a lot more in newspapers and things like that. You hardly got a glimpse of what great cricketers were like. It was the second or third day of the Test match at Adelaide. We were all sitting around a lunch table and I had the chance to ask him some questions.”One wonders what the two spoke about, but Shah prefers to keep that memory to himself. “Oh, this and that,” he says, with a twinkle in his eye.More Roving Reporter From a watery mess to dry heat