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Michael Vaughan and Graeme Hick ensured England’s eventual lead would be substantial Photos © CricInfo

This was as euphoric a day for England cricketers as they could have dreamedof. For West Indies it was humiliation heaped upon disaster throughout thesecond day as they surrendered in the most ignominious fashion to go down byan innings and 39 runs in the fourth Test.To be one up in the series with just one Test to come, is a great position tobe in. What is important for England is to maintain the momentum gained inthis Test. They showed all the right qualities, there was application when itwas required at the start of the day, a determination to win and aggressionall through the latter half of the day when West Indies’ batsmen werestruggling to survive.That inability to despatch an apparently stricken opponent that has prevailedso often, with England, in similar circumstances in the recent past, was notthere this time as they, ruthlessly demolished the West Indies innings.With the match much in the balance at the start of the day, after thetourists had dismissed half the England side for 96 on the previous eveningand then removed the nightwatchman, England batsmen applied themselves totheir task with diligence, realising the importance of a first innings lead.The one advantage they had was that they batted practically all the way downthe order.Man-of-the-match Michael Vaughan and Graeme Hick ensured that their side’seventual lead would be substantial, with an invaluable stand which ended justtwo short of a century.After Curtly Ambrose and Courtney Walsh had produced their customary spell offine bowling, Vaughan and Hick took runs more freely from the others,although the two veteran fast bowlers also received some punishment in alater spell. West Indies fielding became ragged and catches went down,particularly an easy one from Dominic Cork that Wavell Hinds dropped and theground fielding was appalling at times.England were well in the lead – by fifty runs – by the time Hick, havingreached his eighteenth Test century was dismissed. Vaughan’s was thepenultimate wicket to fall, his 76 was the result of a determined effort thatimmensly helped England to a vitally important hundred-run lead in such a lowscoring match.From half-way through the second session of play, it was the story ofEngland’s bowlers. Their ascendency was from the outset as they totallydominated the afternoon. Darren Gough struck two early blows, withconsecutive balls he removed Adrian Griffith and Wavell Hinds, both withoutscoring. Then in his next over he had Brian Lara padding up to a ball for thesecond time in the match, to be dismissed for two.Gough finally completed his haul of four wickets, having Sherwin Campbellcaught at slip and West Indies, on 21 for 4, looked a beaten, thoroughlyoutplayed team and looked subdued. Jimmy Adams resisted for a brief period,taking the score to 49 before falling to Dominic Cork.Therafter, it was Andy Caddick’s turn to be in the limelight for the rest ofthe innings as he finished off, taking all the remaining five wickets. In aninspired fifteen ball-spell he took those five for five runs. It wasremarkable bowling and England were unstoppable.This was an extraordinary victory and the first time since 1912 that Englandhad won a Test match in this country inside two days. It remains to be seenif West Indies have the strength to bounce back to square the series at theOval.

Aston Villa are on the road again this evening with a Premier League clash against relegation strugglers Leeds United at Elland Road.

In terms of recent form, Steven Gerrard’s side are in much better shape than their upcoming opponents with six goals and none conceded in their past two games. Whereas the Whites have lost six of their seven previous league outings, conceding 22 goals in the process.

As well as this, it seems as though the Villans have been handed a major boost in terms of their player options for the midweek clash.

What’s the news?

According to a recent Twitter post from journalist Gregg Evans, the Midlands club will have defenders Lucas Digne and Ezri Konsa back available after the duo missed the 4-0 win against Southampton.

Evans also revealed that midfielder Carney Chukwuemeka is “fit again” and will be available for selection.

Gerrard surely delighted

Digne’s return specifically will represent a seismic boost to Villa’s chances of taking all three points today.

After all, he will give the Villans a lot more in the final third compared to his competitors at left-back. He has racked up an average of 1.8 key passes per game which shows just what he could offer his side this evening should Gerrard decide to put him back in the starting XI ahead of Ashley Young who started against the Saints last weekend.

With Konsa having started 22 of Villa’s 26 league games so far this season, it’s safe to say that he is seen as an important player for the club and will therefore be a massive boost for his manager to have back.

Only last week Gerrard lavished praise on the defender, saying: “He’s been outstanding for me, obviously the red card [against Leeds] was frustrating for him and us because he is an important players.

“His level of consistency has been really high, whether that be on the training pitch or in a match situation.”

As for Chukwuemeka, even though he has only started one league game for the Villans in this campaign, the fact that he has made eight substitute appearances since Gerrard took over back in mid-November shows just how much of a useful squad option he is for the team and how much the manager trusts him.

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As a result, the Villa boss will surely be delighted to have these three players back available to take on Leeds this evening. However, it could give him a pretty big headache when it comes to selecting his starting XI considering how well his players did last weekend in their very convincing thumping of Ralph Hasenhuttl’s side.

If all three end up being included in the team from the start tonight, this will be a big clue as to how much the 41-year-old rates them.

In other news: Gerrard must now ruthlessly axe AVFC’s “serious problem” tonight, Leeds could ruin him – opinion

Martin Crowe: He [Vettori] has to get up to speed ASAP and remind us every day why the selectors felt he’s a better option than Fleming © AFP

Martin Crowe, the former New Zealand captain, has launched a stinging attack on the current leadership of New Zealand cricket. Unimpressed by Daniel Vettori’s captaincy Crowe, arguably his country’s greatest batsman ever, says it’s high time the left-arm spinner showed why he was selected to lead in place of Stephen Fleming.”Daniel Vettori, Jacob Oram, Brendon McCullum and Scott Styris have all got to put their big money where their busy mouths are – Vettori in particular,” Crowe told stuff.co.nz. “He [Vettori] has to get up to speed ASAP and remind us every day why the selectors felt he’s a better option than Fleming.After inspiring New Zealand to the semi-finals of the ICC World Twenty20, Vettori has had a torrid time at the helm, his side losing both the Test and ODI series away in South Africa, and relinquishing the Chappell-Hadlee Trophy after a 2-0 loss to Australia.Crowe also targeted coach John Bracewell, though he suggested that criticism needs to focus on the players as Bracewell, with renewed backing from the New Zealand board, is not going anywhere.Crowe had called for Bracewell to step down right after the World Cup in April, following New Zealand’s exit at the semi-final stage. He now says that he is tired of Bracewell’s astounding interviews and selections during the short tour to Australia. “Braces this, Braces that – I’m sick of the talk and the headlines about the coach which have dominated for weeks and weeks,” he said. “When I was asked what I thought after we lost the World Cup semi, I said ‘it’s time for a change to keep evolving’ but now we need to forget it.””(NZ Cricket CEO) Justin Vaughan has made his call – his first big one. So have the players. Braces is very lucky to have two years to show NZ he can coach. Not be a smart arse, but be a very good coach.”During the winter all but one player wanted Braces to continue, so the onus is now on them.”They are the ones under pressure. They have what they wanted so now it’s all their heads on the line, series in-series out. Braces isn’t going anywhere I promise you.”Bracewell was handed a two-year extension in July this year, and has been in charge of the side since 2003. And despite the recent losses against South Africa and Australia, Vaughan believes the right man is in charge.”He’s under no more pressure than when he started [four years ago],” Vaughan told the Dominion Post. “But we’ve just played two difficult sides. The results were disappointing but we expect that to improve now. He’s got two home series against Bangladesh and England now, which we should win.”

Tino Best celebrates another wicket as Barbados sealed the regional title © The Nation

The manner in which Barbados captured the 2007 Carib Beer Cup was an example of a team in a class of their own.Ruthless fast bowling by Tino Best and crafty left-arm spin by Ryan Hinds spectacularly turned an evenly poised match into a stunning collapse and a win over Guyana at Bourda that guaranteed them the island’s 20th first-class title. In less than two hours Guyana were swept aside for 90 in only 30 overs. It turned the match on its head and set up Barbados’ first victory in a first-class match in Guyana in 27 years.It left Barbados with a modest target of 108 to achieve their fourth victory in five matches and even though they lost five wickets, the result, completed at 3:53 p.m. on the penultimate day, was never in doubt because of the outstanding work of Best and Hinds. On a strip which fast bowlers have long complained is too much in favour of batsmen, Best generated lively pace and disconcerting bounce to break the backbone of Guyana’s batting inside the first hour.Already set back by the unavailability of captain Ramnaresh Sarwan with a chipped bone in the right thumb, Guyana were virtually beaten from the time Best knocked over three wickets with fast bowling of awesome quality. The fear he put into batsmen at one end allowed Hinds to benefit with a five-wicket haul in which a few of his victims were dislodged when they tried to go after him.It was Barbados’ third successive win that was won in less than three days’ playing time and emphasised the wide gulf between themselves and the opposition. It pushed them to 54 points from a maximum 60 and they can now sit back to find out who will be their opponents in the Challenge final in Trinidad from February 22 to 26.Skipper Hinds described the season’s performance as a big team effort, pointing to “hard work, unity, consistent performances and believing in everyone”. He also spoke of an informal session among the players the previous night that had a big impact on what transpired yesterday. After the start was delayed by half-hour because of seepage from overnight rain, there was a steady flow of wickets. Guyana, who took a first innings lead of 17 runs, wobbled from 22 for 1 at the start of the day to 63 for 6 a quarter-hour before lunch. By then, it was obvious Barbados would not be denied.”It was a total team effort. The bowlers really stuck it out. The fast bowlers really bowled well and allowed me to come in and bowl well,” Hinds said. “We had a lengthy discussion – not a team meeting. The guys were on the balcony just talking cricket. We worked out that their batting was a bit inexperienced without Sarwan, Chanderpaul and Deonarine.”Hinds also dedicated the victory to last season’s manager Lawrence Maxwell and birthday boy Fidel Edwards who turned 24 on Tuesday. It was Edwards’ fellow fast bowler Best who worked up a storm with the key wickets of stand-in captain Travis Dowlin, Assad Fudadin, Azeemul Haniff and Royston Crandon.”The inspiration came from God, my teammates, my coach. Last [Tuesday] night I asked God to give me the strength to work hard and bowl quickly,” Best said.His removal of Crandon and Haniff was a spectator’s joy. Both were tested with lifting balls. The former ended up giving a catch to second- slip off the shoulder of the bat and the latter, in self-preservation, gloved a catch to first slip.”Bourda is a hard, flat, placid surface. Wayne Daniel always says that if you bowl fast in the good areas, sometimes you get bounce,” Best said. “Corey Collymore always tells me about hitting the ball on the seam. That is what happened. I just bent my back and everything worked out fantastically.” Only three Guyana batsmen reached double-digits.After the match, coach Vasbert Drakes lauded the quality of his attack. “The bowlers have been taking wickets consistently and quickly. They’ve been creating quite a bit of pressure,” Drakes said. “The guys are happy with each other. They are playing ‘team cricket’. The guys have been bowling in partnerships. We have some good quality bowlers. They are setting some high standards for themselves.”

Looking to finish on top of the Group A table, Habib Bank batted strongly to reach 328 for 4, on the opening day of their four-day, fifth and final round Patron’s Trophy Cricket Championship match against Pakistan Customs at the Karachi on Monday.Habib Bank’s happy position was mainly due to a brilliant unbeaten century by Younis Khan, the captain, and equally splendid batting by almost whoever came to the crease. Shahid Afridi let loose a run-blitz, as he hit 48 off a mere 47 balls with two fours and four sixes in a matter of just over an hour. Younis, 28, reached the 21st century of his first-class career in 91 matches. He was still at the crease at stumps with 115 runs to his name, scored off 180 deliveries in four minutes short of four and a half hours and sent the ball past the ropes 15 times.Electing to bat after Younis won the toss, Habib Bank were off to a useful start of 61 runs. Imran Farhat, the left-hand opener, contributed a quick 36 off 47 balls with eight fours. Taufeeq Umar, also a left-hander, faced 131 balls while scoring 60 runs that included seven boundaries. Taufeeq’s second-wicket stand with his captain produced 71 runs. Younis then went on to add 104 runs for the third-wicket partnership with Hasan Raza. Hasan made 46 runs, off 81 balls in just short of two hours with five fours and a six. Shahid Afridi was the dominant partner in the 81 runs stand for the fourth wicket with Younis. For Customs, Murtaza Hussain, the offspinner, and Jalat Khan, the left-arm spinner, equally shared the four Habib Bank wickets to fall.The two top teams from either group are looking for qualification to the tournament’s Quadrangular Stage round, that gets underway from January 15. Habib Bank, the record seven-time winners of the Patron’s Trophy, are currently placed second behind Pakistan International Airlines (PIA). They need a win in this match to stay as one of the two teams in their group. Customs are faced with the real danger of being demoted to next season’s non-first-class Patron’s Trophy Grade-II circuit. They have collected only six points from their three previous matches and find themselves placed at the bottom of the five-team points table.A fighting partnership for the sixth wicket lifted top-of-the-table Pakistan International Airlines(PIA) out of the doldrums, on the opening day of their crucial four-day, Group A, fifth and final round Patron’s Trophy Cricket Championship match against Sui Northern Gas Pipeline Limited (SNGPL) at Karachi on Monday.PIA had recovered by the day’s close, but their stumps score was a rather modest 226 for 6. At one stage, they were 125 for 5 on the board, following a useful start in the morning. Veteran Mahmood Hamid, fresh from an unbeaten 124 in PIA’s innings victory over Pakistan Customs in the previous round, came to his team’s rescue after half the side had returned to the pavilion. The 37-year-old got involved in a 98 run partnership for the sixth wicket with Ahmed Zeeshan Malik, the wicketkeeper. Malik made 40 runs off 141 balls in just short of two and three-quarter hours. Mahmood is still at the crease with 56 not out to his name, scored off 127 balls in a little over three hours with five fours. PIA were strengthened by the inclusion of Shoaib Malik, the Pakistan allrounder, who is playing his first match after an operation on his heels. He batted one-down and scored 34 runs off 50 balls with four fours and a six, in a 51-run third-wicket stand with Bazid Khan (28).PIA have been left fighting to retain their first position in the five-team Group A. The two top teams from either group will qualify for the Patron’s Trophy Quadrangular Stage round, that starts from January 15. SNGPL find themselves in an interesting situation. With nine points from their three previous matches, they need to win here to take their tally of 18, something which could even take them into the Quadrangular Stage ahead of PIA. PIA, who have never won the Patron’s Trophy but shared the title last season with Habib Bank after the final was rained off; currently have a total of 15 points. They too need an outright win to stay in contention for the next round.Rain played spoilsport, washing out the entire first day’s play between National Bank of Pakistan and Zarai Taraqiati Bank LimitedRain at Sheikhupura washed out the first day’s play between Pakistan Telecommunication Company Limited and Water and Power Development Authority

Injury forced James Hopes from the field yesterday, but the team’s medical staff were pleased with his overnight progress© Getty Images

James Hopes, the Australia one-day allrounder, has been included in Queensland’s Pura Cup final side after being cleared of a hamstring injury suffered in yesterday’s draw with Western Australia. The Bulls named the same 12 that claimed first-innings points in the match and will attempt to beat New South Wales for the first time in a final at the Gabba from Friday.Hopes was examined by the Bulls medical staff this morning and was given a positive report on the complaint that caused him to leave the field late in the game yesterday. A Queensland Cricket spokesman said he was expected to train with the team as normal later this week.New South Wales have cut Jason Krejza , the offspinner, for the match on the usually seam-friendly Gabba and recalled the batsman Ed Cowan and the fast bowler Doug Bollinger in an extended 13-man squad. The Blues sealed their place in the final by finishing second after securing an outright victory against Victoria at the SCG yesterday.Queensland Jimmy Maher (capt), Clinton Perren, Martin Love, Shane Watson, Andrew Symonds, Craig Philipson, James Hopes, Wade Seccombe (wk), Andy Bichel, Ashley Noffke, Joe Dawes, Mitchell Johnson.New South Wales Phil Jaques, Greg Mail, Matthew Phelps, Dominic Thornely, James Packman, Ed Cowan, Brad Haddin (capt, wk), Doug Bollinger, Grant Lambert, Matthew Nicholson, Nathan Bracken, Stuart Clark, Stuart MacGill.

The Tasmanian Cricket Association Board of Directors, Members, Staff, Players and supporters were greatly saddened when informed of the death of David Hookes.Australian cricket has lost an outstanding former player, coach and commentator whose thoughtful insights into the game and all that surrounds it were appreciated and acknowledged by people associated with cricket. He was a player of exceptional talent.Our thoughts and sympathy are with his family and friends during their time of grief.The Tasmanian players will wear a black arm band and observe a period of silence before the start of the Pura Cup game against Queensland beginning this Wednesday.

VIGNE CUP: ROUND 4, 24 NOVEMBER 2002ALEXANDRA SPORTS CLUB V OLD GEORGIANS SPORTS CLUBAt Alexandra Sports Club. Alexandra won by two wickets (Duckworth-Lewis).OLD GEORGIANS**L S Malloch-Brown b du Plessis 8C B Wishart b Rennie 35T J Friend c Anticevich b D A Marillier 32A J C Neethling run out (Anticevich) 1A J Mackay c and b D A Marillier 87R de Sousa c and b D A Marillier 0S Jones run out (Rennie) 7J Biggs not out 16R J Bennett lbw b Rennie 0I M Coulson b D A Marillier 3M Steel b Rennie 9Extras (lb 1 w 9) 10(54.3 overs) 208du Plessis 6 3 9 1Vaughan-Davies 11 1 47 0 (3w)Rennie 21.3 1 58 5 (5w)Anticevich 6 0 34 0D A Marillier 10 0 59 2ALEXANDRAD de Beer c Wishart b Friend 4B Benhura run out (Jones) 11M J Vaughan-Davies c Malloch-Brown b Friend 11D A Marillier c Wishart b Coulson 61*G J Rennie c Malloch-Brown b Mackay 19+G C Goosen c Steel b Coulson 9S J Marillier st Malloch-Brown b Coulson 8A R G Gilmour lbw b Mackay 8J Cameron not out 2C M Anticevich not out 7G du PlessisExtras (b 21 lb 1 w 9 nb 3) 34(8 wkts; 37 overs) 174Friend 6 0 48 2 (8w 1nb)Mackay 15 3 47 2 (1w 2nb)Bennett 2 0 21 0Coulson 14 3 36 3OLD HARARIANS SPORTS CLUB v UNIVERSALS SPORTS CLUBAt Old Hararians Sports Club. Old Hararians gained a winning draw.OLD HARARIANSR W Price c Murphy b Mahwire 8R E Butterworth c Chouhan b Mahwire 15C H Brewer c Chouhan b Murphy 15D P Viljoen not out 74*P A Strang c Hondo b Murphy 55G B Brent c Chouhan b Murphy 13H P Rinke not out 18+S Khan lbw b Murphy 8T Benade b Ebrahim 1M Ehsitere run out (?) 1T Dzvairo not out 0Extras (w 16 nb 22) 38(8 wkts; 53? overs) 246Murphy 20 2 80 4 (7w 14nb)Mahwire 9 1 33 2 (4w 2nb)Hondo 6 0 26 0 (1w 1nb)Croxford 9 2 33 0 (3w)Matambanadzo 2 0 18 0 (2nb)Ebrahim 10 0 36 1Adds to 56 overs; only 55 permitted. Runs 20 short.UNIVERSALSD D Ebrahim st Khan b Strang 39*B A Murphy b Price 37G M Croxford b Strang 25N B Mahwire c Butterworth b Price 21D R Matambanadzo not out 25I Meman lbw b Strang 6N Chouhan lbw b Price 5H Adam not out 4D T HondoJ S NicolleB SanyikaExtras (b 1 lb 3 w 2 nb 1) 7(6 wkts, 41 overs) 179Total adds up 10 runs short.Brent 9 1 30 0 (1nb)Price 20 2 80 3Rinke 2 0 21 0 (1w)Strang 10 2 44 3 (1w)UPRISING v HARARE SPORTS CLUBAt Prince Edward School. Match abandoned as a draw.UPRISINGI M Chinyoka c Carlisle b Bala 30T Madhiri lbw b Durham 4L K Mutyambizi c Brous b Bala 5I Senzere b Gripper 42A Tichara b Gripper 1C Mukandiwa c Ferreira b Bala 1A Chitare c Gripper b Bala 16T Katomeni lbw b Gripper 5*G Chiposi b Gripper 0I Chemhuru run out (Durham/Ferreira) 0J Muteerwa not out 6Extras (b 9 lb 2 w 5 nb 1) 17(42.2 overs) 127Durham 5 0 23 1 (2w)Mhandu 2 0 14 0 (1nb)Bala 19 6 31 4 (1w)Gripper 16.2 6 48 4 (2w)HARARE SPORTS CLUBS V Carlisle lbw b Muteerwa 9*T R Gripper not out 13+N R Ferreira not out 12R CroxfordJ M CornfordD J R CampbellK P R WentA M DurhamP BrousS BalaA MhanduExtras (lb 1 w 3 nb 4) 8(1 wicket; 10 overs) 42Muteerwa 5 0 27 1 (1w)Chinyoka 4 1 11 0 (1w 4nb)Mukandiwa 1 0 3 0 (1w)

Displaying all round efficiency, holders Indian Railways thrashedPunjab by nine wickets in the semifinals of the Cricinfo Trophy SeniorWomen’s National Cricket Championship at the Gymkhana Ground in Jorhaton Wednesday. Railways’ superiority was so marked that they wrapped upthe 90 overs a side two day semifinal on the first day itself.Having to score 85 for an entry into the title round, Railways reachedthe target in 29.2 overs. The only player to be dismissed wasHemalatha Kala who scored eight in a total of 18. But opener RajaniSharma (33 not out off 44 balls) and Rajini Venugopal (39 not out off56 balls) added 67 runs for the unbroken second wicket off 24.2 oversto help Railways reach the target comfortably.Earlier, electing to bat, Punjab were all out for 84 runs in 57.5overs. Punjab started disastrously, losing four of its top orderbatswomen with only 38 runs scored. They then lost wickets at regularintervals. Only Gulshan (25), Anjali Sharma (25) and Rajani Bhalla(12) reached double figures for Punjab. Deepa Kulkarni was quitedevasatating in picking up five wickets for three runs in 8.5 overs asshe wiped out the Punjab tail.

David Moyes’ West Ham United side take a break from their Premier League campaign on Wednesday night, with the Hammers making a trip to the South Coast for their FA Cup fifth-round tie against Southampton.

And, while many supporters would very much appreciate a cup run, with the Irons currently in the thick of a battle for a top-four finish in the league, as well as facing a trip to Sevilla in the Europa League round of 16 next week, the FA Cup is arguably the lowest of the club’s priorities this season.

As such, the fixture at St. Mary’s would appear to present Moyes with the perfect opportunity to rotate his starting XI – awarding a number of his first-team regulars a much-needed break, while also handing some of his peripheral squad members and youth prospects some first-team game time.

Indeed, one such player who it would greatly benefit – both for his personal development and for West Ham – to be handed a start this evening is Sonny Perkins, the 18-year-old centre-forward who has been tearing it up for the U23s this season.

Moyes must unleash Perkins

With Michail Antonio currently being the Hammers’ only recognised striker, handing Perkins a start against Premier League opposition would provide the forward with extremely valuable experience that could well come in extremely useful for Moyes over the remainder of the current campaign – should Antonio pick up an injury, or simply require a rest.

And, considering just how impressive the £720k-rated England U18 international has been for both the club’s U18 and U23 sides so far this season, it would certainly appear as if the youngster is not far off pushing for a regular spot in Moyes’ senior squad.

Indeed, over his four U18 Premier League appearances, Perkins has scored an impressive four goals, while, over his 14 Premier League 2 outings, the 18-year-old has bagged a further six times.

These returns have seen the young hitman earn a considerable amount of praise, with club insider ExWHUemployee stating of Perkins:

“He’s really beginning to stand out now at academy level, really getting rave reviews. Obviously, he’s performing on the international stage as well for his age, and he is one to keep an eye on. From what I’ve heard in the academy circles, he could be the next Declan Rice.”

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As such, with not much to lose in unleashing Perkins this evening, it would appear to be a smart move for Moyes to give the youngster a shot from the off at St. Mary’s, as a solid showing against Southampton could well convince the 58-year-old that the striker is ready for much more regular first-team game time – something that would come as a huge boost to the Scot.

In other news: GSB heading for West Ham catastrophe as deal agreed for “invaluable” £62k-p/w “leader”