The Christchurch Junior Cricket Association Draw for Saturday, November 8All matches to start at 9amSenior Traditional Two-day2-day MatchSection1Es1 v Bwu1 Burn10,Med1 v Stac1 Med1,Nb1 v Hals1 Halsd1,Oc1 v Es2 Burw3.Section 2Cagr1 v Hare1 Cagr1,Hals2 v Stac2 Stac2,Hh1 v Es3 Cla1,Oc2 v Syd1 Elm4.Senior Traditional One-daySection 1Bwu2 v Hals3 Halsd2,Es5 v Es4 Clare2,Bwu3 v Sum1 Bar1,Oc3 v Hsob1 Mal1,Oc4 v Med2 Mal2Horn1 v Syd5 Cash1.Section 2Bwu4 v Cagr2 Burn5,Syd7 v Lpw2 Syd2,Med3 v Syd6 Syd3a,Nb2 v Stac3 Stac3,Stc1 v Syd2 Beck2,Sum2 v Horn2 Ilam3,Pk4 v Sum3 Bar2.Section 3Bwu5 v Bwu7 Burn7,Lpw4 v Stc2 Ens2,Upr1 v Med4 Ilam,Mp1 v Bwu6 Emc1,Oc5 v Med6 Ilam1,Oc6 v Med5 Ilam2,Es6 v Oc8 Por1,Oc7 v Syd8 Cash2a.Junior Traditional One-daySection 1Es11 v Syd14 ChSouth1a,Med7 v Oc11 Ilam4,Es10 v Oc15 Ilam5,Pk5 v Oc10 Ilam6.Section 2Bwu9 v Cagr3 Cagr3,Syd15 v Hals4 Halsd3,Hals5 v Sum4 Halsd4,Horn3 v Oc12 Dent1,Oc13 v Nb3 Raw1,Es12 v Syd17 Por2,Hare2 v Lpw5 Red1.Section 3Heath1 v Hals6 Hd1,Oc14 v Stac4 Stac4a,Upr2 v Oc16 Rd1,Syd18 v Bwu8 Burn8,Lpw6 v Pk6 Ens3,Upr3 v Nb4 Southbd1a.Junior ModifiedZone 1Bwu10 v Hals8 West1a,Hals7 v Bwu11 Oak1a,Hsob3 v Oc20 Kirk1a,Oc21 v Oc24 Polo1a,Sum5 v Med8 Polo2a,Oc23 v Oc22 Fns1a.Zone 2Es14 v Es15 Sis1a,Es16 v Syd22 Thor1a,Mp2 v Mp3 Polo4a,Syd21 v Syd20 Polo3a.Junior AverageZone 1Sum7 v Hals12 Brgn1,Lpw9 v Hals10 Brgn4,Hals9 v Heath2 Brgn5,Hals11 v Lpw8 Walt5,Syd30 v Sum6 Walt6,Syd31 v Syd34 Brgn6,Syd32 v Syd35 Brgn7,Hh2 v Syd33 Brgn8.Zone2Stac5 v Es23 BurwN3,Nb6 v Cagr5 Walt4,Cagr4 v Stac6 Walt7,Pk7 v Nb5 Walt8,Es24 v Oc35 BurwN1,Es25 v Oc34 BurwN2,Syd37 v Hare3 Brgn2,Oc36 v Syd36 Brgn3.Zone3Med10 v Ricc1 Jel2,Horn4 v Hsob4 Jel3,Mp4 v Med9 Jel4,Oc30 v Oc32 Jel5,Oc33 v Mp5 Jel6,Oc31 v Oc37 Jel7.KiwiZone1Lpw10 v Syd42 Brad6,Syd41 v Syd40 Brad5,Syd43 v Heath3 Brad4,Sum9 v Hals14 Brad3,Hh3 v Sum8 Brad2Syd44 v Hals13 Brad1.Zone 2Cagr6 v Nb7 Walt1,Nb8 v Med11 Walt2,Cagr7 v Stac7 Walt3.Zone 3Pk8 v Oc43 Elm5,Horn5 v Upr4 Jel9,Oc40 v Horn6 Elm9,Ricc2 v Pk9 Jel8,Oc41 v Oc44 Elm6,Oc42 v Oc45 Elm7,Oc46 v Mp7 Elm8,Mp6 v Tait1 Jel1.

The fixture list for the 2004 Twenty20 Cup was announced by the ECB today. After the success of this year’s inaugural competition, the format has been expanded to include quarter-finals. There is also a designated “Derby Day” – when several local derby matches will be played – and the list also includes the first Twenty20 match at Lord’s (Middlesex v Surrey on July 15), and the first Twenty20 international, between the England and New Zealand women’s teams (at Hove on August 5).The main county competition will again start with three regional preliminary groups of six. The first matches are on Friday, July 2. Next year the top two counties in each of the three groups will progress to the quarter-finals, along with the two best-performed third-place teams. The semi-finals and finals will be played at Edgbaston on Saturday, August 7.The new “Derby Day”, on the evening of Friday, July 9, will feature five of English cricket’s major derby fixtures: Gloucestershire v Somerset, Nottinghamshire v Derbyshire, Surrey v Kent, Sussex v Hampshire, and Warwickshire v Worcestershire.The ECB undertook extensive research during the Twenty20 Cup in 2003. This suggested that the aim of reaching a new and younger audience was realised: 62% of the audience was under 34, and 23% were female, compared to 16% and 15% respectively at a typical Frizzell County Championship match. The research also showed that 32% of females were watching a cricket match for the first time. In addition, 36% of men, 58% of women, and 47% of under-25s stated that their image of cricket had changed in a positive way as a result of their Twenty20 Cup experiences.

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.

Close of 3rd day West Zone 163 for 1 (Kanitkar 78*, Jadhav 64*) trail Central Zone 549 (Khoda 156, Yadav 80) by 386 runs
ScorecardHrishikesh Kanitkar anchored a dreary effort by West Zone, who began their reply to Central Zone’s 549 intent on securing the first-innings lead without taking any risks whatsoever. Kanitkar made 78 not out as West Zone crawled to 163 for 1 off 82 overs, with Dhiraj Jadhav unbeaten on a Boycottesque 64 off 259 balls.Earlier in the day, Central Zone added just 17 runs to their overnight total, as Munaf Patel, who had been wicketless on the first two days of the match, cleaned up the tail to finish with 3 for 82. Vinayak Mane was out early in the West Zone innings, making 10 off 11 balls, with two fours, an innings that seemed like a thunderous cameo compared to the dour defence that followed.Close of 3rd day South Zone 304 for 8 (Ramesh 57, Joshi 51) trail East Zone 388 by 84 runs
ScorecardEast Zone took the upper hand against the more fancied South Zone, at Dharmasala, as South Zone ended the third day on 304 for 8, still a daunting 84 runs behind their opponents’ total. It representated a comeback of sorts, though. At one stage, they had been 159 for 6, before a 90-run partnership between S Sharath (48) and Sunil Joshi (51) brought them back into the game. Both batsmen were out with more than an hour left in the day’s play, but R Ramkumar (19 not out) and NP Singh (29 not out) kept their hopes alive with an unbeaten 46-run partnership.

Muttiah Muralitharan, Sri Lanka’s controversial offspinner, has eased fearsthat he will withdraw from Sri Lanka’s two-Test tour of Australia inJune-July this year after Australian newspapers claimed he had threatened topull out because of constant verbal abuse from Australian crowds.”I did not threaten to pull out of the tour,” Muralitharan told Wisden Cricinfo. “I just said I was not sure about the tour yet.” Muralitharantoured Australia in 2003 and a tour pullout is extremely unlikely, especially with the two matches expected to be played in Darwin and Cairns.Muralitharan was quoted as saying: “I will think very carefully when it [thenew contract] comes because we have an Australian and a Zimbabwe tour. Lasttime, I had a lot of bad feelings [playing in Australia] but I don’t know what will happen in the future and how the public will react.”The crowd is the main problem, not officials or players,” he said. “You can’t keep bringing up the past and accusing someone. The evidence is there. I have a deformity on the elbow. I can’t straighten it. Before I bowl, they are calling ‘no-ball’. It’s ok once or twice, but not if you are going on and on about it,” he added.Meanwhile, Muralitharan has urged Australia’s selectors to name Shane Warnein their Test squad on Friday. With both spinners now within striking distance of 500 Test wickets, Muralitharan would like the challenge of racing Warne to Courtney Walsh’s 519-wicket world record.”I am looking forward to the challenge and I definitely want him to come toSri Lanka,” said Muralitharan. “He has been a great bowler and someone who Ihave always greatly admired. I have learnt from his patience and character.”Muralitharan [485 wickets] expects Warne [491 wickets] to reach the world record first: “He his a great bowler and is six wickets ahead and should getthere first. He has done cricket proud in the last decade so if he does reach it first, good on him. But I do have time on my side with three or four years left to play.”

Northerns’ win over Boland at Paarl took them well clear at the top of the Shield table:Shield – 4th day:Northerns 451 for 7 dec and 173 for 6 dec beat Boland 259and 218 (Strydom 52, Dros 5-17) by 147 runs
ScorecardBoland’s target of 366 proved to be far too high, as they were bowled out for 218 at Paarl. The last five wickets tumbled for 27, to spoil any cghance Boland might have had to force a draw. Gerald Dros, Northerns’ captain, who had bowled only 22 previous overs this season, brought himself on in the 69th over, and produced career-best figures of 5 for 17 in 4.1 overs as he ripped through the Boland tail. Gerard Strydom again top-scored for Boland, with 52.Gauteng 34 for 1 v Eastern Province
ScorecardFor the third day running no play was possible at the Wanderers. After just half-an-hour’s play on the first day neither team scored any points and had to be content with a soggy draw.

The history of Tamil Nadu, or Madras as it was formerly known, in the Ranji Trophy has been one of underachievement. For a state that has been a nursery of talent over the decades to have won just two titles, in 1955 and 1988, is an aberration. Whatever the reasons, there has been one prominent hurdle that has perennially cropped up. Over the years Mumbai – or Bombay as they were before – have been a thorn that has pricked them at crucial stages. And recently, that thorn has become a dagger that has really hurt.In the semi-final in April 2000, they were thwarted by the genius of one man. After posting 485, Tamil Nadu reduced Mumbai to 266 for 5. That was when Sachin Tendulkar made time stand still, and stabbed them with a breathtaking 233. In last season’s final, in May, they went one step further and gained a first-innings lead. But they allowed Mumbai to pile on 387 in the second innings, and the eventual target proved beyond their reach.Tomorrow, Tamil Nadu and Mumbai will meet again in this year’s Ranji Trophy final. Unlike the matches above, they will have home advantage this time. Chandrakant Pandit, Mumbai’s coach, expects it to be a "heat struggle". Speaking to Wisden Cricinfo he said: "We have to cope with the hot conditions. Tamil Nadu will be used to playing in that weather. We have to match them in that aspect as well."Mumbai’s bowlers will need to adapt quickly, as they hold a distinct edge in this department. Munaf Patel and Avishkar Salvi have regularly dented top orders this season, Sairaj Bahutule has been a model of consistency all year with his legspin, and Nilesh Kulkarni’s slow left-armers will provide the variety.But Tamil Nadu’s batting is just as formidable. Sadagoppan Ramesh, Sridharan Sriram, Sreedharan Sharath and Hemang Badani comprise arguably the best batting line-up in the country. Add to that Subramanium Badrinath, one of the highest run-getters this season, their captain Somsetty Suresh, and Dinesh Karthik, their young wicketkeeper who cracked 122 in the semi-final, and you have a glittering array of batting talent.The bowling, though, lacks the bite of Mumbai’s, and the effectiveness of Tamil Nadu’s bowlers will have a significant effect on the final result. With the first Test of the India-Pakistan series starting on March 28, there will be no bubbling enthusiasm for this match. But neither team will be too concerned about that – they have more pressing matters on their mind.Siddhartha Vaidyanathan is on the staff of Wisden Cricinfo in India.

Australia’s captain, Ricky Ponting, has been named as the Leading Cricketer in the World by Wisden Cricketers’ Almanack, whose 141st edition is published on Thursday, April 8.Ponting is the first recipient of the new Wisden accolade, started as a counterpart to the traditional Five Cricketers of the Year award, which dates back to 1889. This year’s Five Cricketers include two Englishmen – Andrew Flintoff of Lancashire and England, and Chris Adams, the Sussex captain – two South Africans – Graeme Smith and Gary Kirsten – and the Australian Ian Harvey.No-one can be among the Five more than once and, with the arrival of the new honour, the Five are once again being chosen on the time-honoured criterion “influence on the English season”.But the Leading Cricketer award can be won an unlimited number of times. The almanack has also named The Wisden Forty, including Ponting and his 39 nearest rivals, based on their form in 2003. The list includes 14 Australians, seven South Africans, five Indians, four Pakistanis, three Englishmen – Flintoff, Marcus Trescothick and Michael Vaughan – three Sri Lankans, two New Zealanders and one each from West Indies (Brian Lara) and Zimbabwe (Heath Streak).Ponting shares the cover with his predecessor as Australian captain, Steve Waugh. This follows Wisden’s first-ever pictorial cover in 2003, which featured Michael Vaughan. This year, the front has been redesigned to re-incorporate the famous woodcut by Eric Ravilious. Readers who object to pictures on the cover (or to Australians) can write off to Wisden for a picture-free version.The Notes
Wisden’s Notes by the Editor, cricket’s traditional fire-and-brimstone annual sermon, breaks with precedent by praising the game’s administrators. Matthew Engel – returning as editor after three years’ absence, spent mainly in the US – says “the game has been better run for the past few years than at any time in history”.But Engel then attacks both the International Cricket Council (ICC) and the England & Wales Cricket Board (ECB) over the current crisis involving Zimbabwe and the Champions Trophy tournament, scheduled to be held in England in September.Describing Zimbabwe as a “wretched tyranny”, he says the majority of cricketing countries will earn “the contempt of thoughtful individuals across the globe” if sanctions are invoked against England for refusing to tour there. But he adds that the English position has been “incoherent and inconsistent” and says the ECB’s plans for the Champions Trophy look like producing something “between a squandered opportunity and a total fiasco”.

Engel points out that the competition is due to go on almost until October – far later than any major cricket has ever been staged in England – and that the final will be at The Oval rather than Lord’s. Even The Oval will not be properly ready: it is being rebuilt for the 2005 Ashes. He adds that the England team will be “knackered” after a non-stop six-month programme, thus endangering any prospect of a home win to build popular support for the game.Engel also criticises the ECB’s domestic opponents, the Cricket Reform Group, headed by the former England captains Mike Atherton and Bob Willis. After analysing their manifesto, which proposes a greater emphasis on club rather than county cricket to produce England cricketers, he concludes: “I am gobsmacked that Mike and Bob expect English cricket to be more competitive by becoming more amateur.”The Articles
The lead article of Wisden 2004 is a graceful tribute to Steve Waugh, the most successful Test captain of all time, by the former England captain Nasser Hussain. Another ex-captain, Mike Atherton, profiles Graeme Smith as one of the Cricketers of the Year.The other articles all add to the long tradition of Wisden as a repository for some of the best writing in sport. They cover such subjects as the future of wicketkeeping, Over-Forties in Test cricket, the role of players’ agents and a comparison of the lives of footballers and cricketers. (“I reckon the only advantage they have over us is that their game lasts 90 minutes not five days,” says Graham Thorpe, the former England Schools midfielder and current Test batsman.)There is a tribute to Sussex, the county champions, by their former captain, and trenchant journalist, Robin Marlar. The weatherman Philip Eden shows that 2003 was not quite such a long, hot summer as people believe. This year’s book reviewer is Barry Norman, who chooses No Coward Soul, the biography of Bob Appleyard, by Stephen Chalke and Derek Hodgson, as his book of the year.The Round the World section includes reports from inside one of Saddam Hussain’s palaces on the Baghdad Ashes (four for the first landing of the marble staircase, six for the second landing), from the salt plains of East Timor and the lava fields of Rwanda, where the players learned about volcanic bounce the hard way. The Chronicle section reports on Darren Gough’s debut in The Beano and on the player who missed most of the season after breaking his collarbone – in the fathers’ sack race.And Wisden also attempts to answer the one cricketing question the book has never tackled before: What

Abhijit Kale, the Maharashtra cricketer accused of trying to bribe his way into the Indian team, might learn about his fate in the next couple of days. Jagmohan Dalmiya, the president of the Indian board, said in Kolkata that a final verdict on the Kale controversy was likely over the next few days. The decision has been pending the arrival of Kamal Morarka, one of the disciplinary committee members, from a personal trip abroad.Morarka missed the final hearing, which was held on May 15, but has now returned to India. “I’ll have to see if he is free,” Dalmiya told Press Trust of India. “If he has the time, then all three of us (including the third member Ranbir Singh Mahendra) will discuss the matter and try to arrive at a final decision in the next couple of days.”Dalmiya was unsure if another meeting of the three members was required, and suggested that a teleconference might suffice. The final hearing on May 15 went on for over eight hours and gave both sides had a chance to present evidence.The controversy surrounding Kale emerged earlier this year when two national selectors, Kiran More and Pranab Roy, alleged that Kale had repeatedly telephoned them and later met them in person in an attempt to pay them each Rs. 1,000,000 (approx US$ 21,750) in exchange for a place in the Indian team.

Bangladesh are planning to play two one-matches against Ireland as part of their preparations for the ICC Champions Trophy in September. The matches are scheduled for August 29 at Stormont in Belfast, and August 30 at Limavady.Earlier this week, Ireland beat Holland by an innings and 141 runs in their Intercontinental Cup match at Deventer in Holland, their 12th win in their last 15 matches. In June they pulled off a famous victory over West Indies in a one-day match at Stormont. On that day, three players scored half-centuries as Ireland chased West Indies’ 292, winning with more than three overs to spare.Ireland play their first match of the ECC European Championship on Sunday, against an England & Wales Cricket Board XI. Jason Molins, Ireland’s captain, missed the intercontinental cup win over Holland with a hamstring injury, but it is hoped he will be fit in time to play in the championship.