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Junior cricketers from India and Pakistan are likely to be at the forefront of a thawing in the relationship between the two countries as early as February. Annual triangular one-day tournaments between Under-19 teams, Academy sides and A teams from the two countries, and Sri Lanka, are being planned, with the first possibly in February.The heads of the two boards, Jagmohan Dalmiya and Lieutenant-General Tauqir Zia, met in London during the Asian Cricket Council meeting at Lord’s to discuss ways to resume cricketing relations. Zia said that regular competition at lower levels would break the ice and help resume cricket between the two countries on a regular basis.Both India and Sri Lanka have their academies operative while the firstentrants in Pakistan’s National Cricket Academy are expected within the next few weeks.Zia added: “The PCB chief executive and Secretary of Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI) are discussing the modalities of the tournaments that will soon be implemented.”Zia also said that Dalmiya had updated him on the possibility of India touring Pakistan early next year for three Tests and as many one-day internationals. “Mr Dalmiya has informed me that although the Indian government is very keen to resume bilateral tours between the two countries, the BCCI is still awaiting official clearance from New Delhi for next year’s tour," said Zia. "But Mr Dalmiya is optimistic that BCCI would get the go-ahead and India will tour Pakistan."

ADELAIDE, Jan 7 AAP – The lights were hours from being turned on and those planning to head to the cricket after work were still at their desks when Australia A defeated Sri Lanka at Adelaide Oval today.The match was over by 5.16pm (AEDT), just three hours and one minute after it started, including a 10-minute break between innings, as Australia’s second-string side humiliated a self-destructing Sri Lanka by 10 wickets.The tourists’ inability to cope with a bouncy, but true, Adelaide pitch was exposed as they were skittled for 65 in just 25 overs, with veteran Hashan Tillakaratne (11) the only Sri Lankan batsman to reach double figures.All-rounder Ian Harvey took the stunning figures of 3-2 from four overs, after opening bowlers Brad Williams and Nathan Bracken took two wickets each to lead the destruction.In reply, Australia A openers Greg Blewett and Jimmy Maher both made 28 not out as their side reached the target in 11.5 overs and less than an hour, in one of the most emphatic victories imaginable.Only an Australian Cricket Board (ACB) decision to stage a second, 25-overs-a-side exhibition match gave the 10,224-strong crowd and television viewers the chance to see cricket under lights.Unfortunately for Sri Lanka, it also gave them a chance to record another loss.In the second match, Australia made 171, Andrew Symonds starring with 81 from 59 balls, before Sri Lanka made 8-146 in reply.Sri Lanka’s performance provided little hope it could improve its winless record so far in the tri-series against Australia and England, when the competition resumes with Sri Lanka meeting Australia at the SCG on Thursday.Australia A captain Darren Lehmann said he was surprised at how difficult Sri Lanka found batting on what he thought was a good pitch.”Adelaide Oval’s not traditionally a fast wicket, when we get on some fast wickets obviously we play really well against them, but they didn’t play well at all today,” Lehmann said.Sri Lankan captain Sanath Jayasuriya was also baffled.”It was very disappointing, especially the batting, nobody seemed to occupy the crease today, it was a big problem,” Jayasuriya said.”We need some confidence in our batting, we need the batsmen to get some runs.”Remarkably, Sri Lanka’s total could easily have been far lower, if not for some wayward bowling in the early overs by Williams and Bracken, with several wides which went to the boundary contributing to the 26 extras, by far the biggest component of the meagre total.That saved Sri Lanka from recording its lowest ever limited overs score, which was 55 against the West Indies in Sharjah in 1986/87.In some positive news, star off-spinner Muttiah Muralitharan is expected to play on Thursday, after recovering from a hernia operation.But Lehmann, who is recovering from a bacterial infection, said he was very tired after the match and not sure whether he would return to the Australian side on Thursday.”We’ll just have to wait and see really, see what the doctors say,” he said.”I had some more blood tests today … I won’t know until the team’s announced on Thursday, I suppose.”

CricInfo has recorded an outstanding week of Internet traffic during the first National Bank Series Test match between New Zealand and India at Wellington.According to Hitwise, which measures Internet usage, CricInfo achieved a 92% share of visits to all cricket sites by New Zealand users between December 7-14.Paul Hashfield from Hitwise said: “The site showed a massive increase in category share in the global Sports parent category in the days leading up to the National Bank Tests, and it has now been consistently placed at No 1 for several months.CricInfo commanded more than 15% of all New Zealand visits to the global sports category on Saturday, December 14. This category covers over 1400 sport sites monitored by Hitwise.CricInfo’s own traffic reports show that on the first day in Wellington there were 4.2 million page impressions made, which was more than for all of the second or third Tests against England earlier this year.Preliminary internal CricInfo figures show that there 1.2 million page impressions for the Super Max International, 3.4 million impressions for the Central Districts tour match and 10.2 million for the first Test.

The Hampshire County Cricket Club undergoes a major change today (1 November 2001), becoming the first county club to change to a Limited Company. With effect the new board of Directors will take control of the business, Hampshire County Cricket and Sports Club Limited, with a new Chief Executive Officer taking over the running of the business.A new corporate structure has been put into place, but the interest of members is still preserved. The Board will consist of Rod Bransgrove (Chairman), Graham Walker (Chief Executive Officer), Tim Tremlett (Director of Cricket), and three Non-Executive Directors: Mark Nicholas, Feroze (“Jan”) Janmohamed and Nick Pike.As a result of the new corporate structure a newly constituted Members Club will operate on behalf of the members.Much work needs to be done in the completion of the Hampshire Rose Bowl, particularly the opening of the main pavilion, and all being well it is hoped that this will be complete for the start of the next (2002) cricket season.More news on this, and future plans both on the cricket front and the stadium will be published soon.

Playing Gujarat in their Ranji Trophy quarter-final match at the Eden Gardens, Kolkata, Bengal, riding on a Sanjib Sanyal century, played slowly if steadily to obtain a slight upper hand at the end of the first day’s play.Winning the toss, skipper Rohan Gavaskar had no hesitation in opting to bat. The Bengal top-order, however, was blown away by Lalit Patel, who scalped three wickets in the first 13 overs and four during the day. Gavaskar himself made 24 off 53 balls, sharing a minor stand with Sourav Ganguly, in the side to play himself into form ahead of forthcoming international engagements.Ganguly made only 36 off 76 balls before falling to Bhavin Mehta, as did his skipper. The sixth wicket, however, yielded 176 runs off 279 balls, as Subhomoy Das and Sanjib Sanyal played with refreshing verve to notch up quick runs.Das made 77 off 173 balls, but the real star was Sanyal. Scoring 109 off 152 deliveries, he hit 16 fours in his unbeaten knock, lending impetus to a run rate that was, for the large part of the Bengal innings, in the doldrums.More wickets, including Das’, fell before the close of play, and Bengal found themselves on 277/7 when play ended. Sanyal was still at the crease, and the home side will look to him to add as many runs as possible in their first essay before taking the field to dominate Gujarat with the ball.

Anderson Sealy yesterday made an immediate impression on his return todomestic cricket following a professional stint in England.The left-arm spinner took six wickets – a feat duplicated later byanother left-arm spinner, Ryan Hinds, just back from the Shell CricketAcademy of the St George’s University.But, it was Sealy’s performance which made more impact on a day inwhich Banks made all the running against ESA Field Pickwick.Pickwick, sent in on a pitch that posed no problems, were undone byhis flighted spin and were dismissed just before lunch in 29.1 overs.Sealy’s remarkable figures of 9.1-4-12-6 flattered him."I figured that with covered wickets that batsmen would applythemselves a bit more. They didn’t, so I took advantage of that," hesaid.Sealy only returned to Barbados on Tuesday after representing theBarbados Overseas Cricket Association in London where he took morethan 40 wickets and made 900-odd runs in 24 matches."I’ve been working a lot on my bowling. It just shows that hard workpays off."With the exception of captain Mike Matthews, who made 26, no Pickwickbatsman looked comfortable.Banks responded aggressively, the enterprise coming from the bats ofbeefy Barry Callender (53 off 59 balls) and Richard Carter (33 off 26balls).They smacked five sixes between them, but Banks fell away afterreaching 165 for five and the last five wickets fell for 25. Hindsclaimed six for 67.Still, a lead of 127 was a useful one and by the close, Pickwick hadalready lost both openers to trail by 99 runs.Prediction: Victory for Banks.

Northamptonshire will offer a new contract to Australian opener Mike Hussey in the wake of the left-hander’s stunning debut season in county cricket.The 26-year-old from Perth scored 2,055 first-class runs at 79.04, including a record-breaking 329 not out against Essex at Northampton, and finished just short of 3,000 runs in all cricket.He was named as Northants’ Weetabix Player of the Year after carrying off the monthly awards for both June and July.Matthew Hayden, who captained the county in 1999 and 2000, has confirmed that he will not be available in 2002, prompting Northants to try and extend Hussey’s stay at Wantage Road.Director of Cricket Bob Carter said: “Matt has informed us that he won’t be able to play next summer because of his international commitments.””Mike has done a brilliant job for us this year, we will be offering him fresh terms and we very much hope he’ll accept.”Hussey received his award on Tuesday from Jerry Higgins of Weetabix, while Dennis Brookes presented 21-year-old all-rounder Robert White with the Frank Rudd Trophy as the club’s top young cricketer of the year.Meanwhile, Northants have confirmed the offer of a two-year contract to the 25-year-old former Gauteng and Free State wicketkeeper/batsman Gerard Brophy, whose Irish passport prevents him being regarded as an overseas player.

Gloucestershire County Cricket Club is delighted to announce the re-launch of Junior Gladiator Membership.Young supporters, who are under 16, can join the club for season 2003 for only £12.Their membership will entitle them to

• Free entry to all Frizzell County Championship home fixtures
• Free entry to all one day National League home games
• Free entry to all Twenty20 home matches
• An autographed team photo
• Birthday and Christmas cards signed by the players
• Free family ticket for the all new an exciting Twenty20 competition
• A unique Junior Gladiator cap for season 2003.

Tom Richardson, Chief Executive saysFor more details please contact Peter Hall on 0117 9108007.

South African Cricket has announced a unique homegrown ticketing system that is considered good enough to be used at future international showpieces including Olympic Games.The ICB-Didate Ticketing System has been designed specifically for the eighth Cricket World Cup to be staged in South Africa in February-March 2003. The system will, however, be used in future for all international and inter-provincial cricket matches in South Africa and will be “Live” in time for the tour early next year by Australia.For the past year, 19 full-time staff at information technology company Dimension Data (Didata) have been working under project manager Graham Cook on a system master-minded on behalf of the United Cricket board of South Africa (UCB) by Ian Smith, commercial director of the 2003 Cricket World Cup (2003 CWC).Ticket packages for 2003 CWC will go on sale to the general public on July 1, 2002, via the Internet, Call Centre and at the 12 World Cup venues in South Africa.In keeping with current international ticketing practice, tickets will be sold in packages. There will be Two basic varieties viz. Stadium Packages for all the games at particular venue, excluding matches hosting by Zimbabwe, and Follow-the Team Packages for all Pool games involving a particular team.Dr. Ali Bacher, executive director of 2003 CWC, said today”. “It is projected that at least 800000 tickets will be sold for the 54 matches of the tournament. To achieve that objective in accordance with worldwide trends, it has been decided to offer tickets for the sale in packages. On the basis that ticket prices will be affordable, I anticipate that the South African public across the broadest spectrum will enthusiastically support the concept and the tournament”.Dr. Bacher said the system has been highly commended by Michael Eyers, deputy CEO of the 2000 Sydney Olympic Games, who said it was far more efficient than that in place for the last year’s Olympic games. “Mr. Eyers has informed me that what we have is a system that can support the largest and most complex of events – and that includes the Olympic Games.”The ticketing system is a generic one that can be used by all forms of entertainment.For the first time is South African sport, all tickets will be barcoded. They will be scanned and verified through a sophisticated venue access control system, which will also generate a customer database holding valuable information on all tickets purchases.The system is designed to ensure maximum security and stadium safety for the paying customer.The system has already been installed at Super sport Park Centurion, the North West Stadium in Potchefstroom and at Kings mead in Durban and will go “Live” at these venues for all matches from the start of the coming season. By the time of the Australian tour to South Africa in April next year, all of South Africa’s World Cup venues will be “Live”.How 2003 CWC ticketing process will work:

• Ticket prices will be finalized by the end of December 2001 after proposals have been received from the UCB affiliates hosting World Cup matches and these have been considered by the respective finance committees of 2003 CWC and the International Cricket Council (ICC).
• By mid-January 2002, letters will be sent to (a) SA cricket’s current national and provincial sponsors, (b) season ticket holders, (c) suite owners, (d) the cricket boards of the 14 participating countries and (e) the official suppliers to the UCB for 2003 CWC in order to establish their requirements for the purchases of tickets for the tournament.

These requests must be submitted by the end of February 2002 after which, by the end of March 2002, the above parties will be notifies as to what extent their ticket purchase requirements can be met.

• Season ticket holders for this season (2001/2002) and next (2002/2003) and owners of suites covering the 2003 CWC lease period will all be entitled to purchase seats.
• Packages to the general public will go on sale on July 1, 2002, and these tickets will be available from November 1, 2002 for either collection at the World Cup venues or by door-to-door courier delivery. Purchasers of tickets via the Internet and Call Centre will be given a reference number for collection/delivery purposes.
• Of the packages available to the general public on July 1, 2002, 60% will go on sale at the venues and 20% each via the Internet and Call Centre. This is being done in order to allow as many local supporters as possible to attend World Cup games at their home venues.
• Follow-the-Team packages will only be available for the Pool or first round matches. Followers of team reaching the Super 6s, Semi-finals and Final will be able to purchase a limited number of tickets prior to those matches on a first-come-first-served basis.
• In addition, those supporters who have purchases a Stadium package (where the stadium hosts three or more games or a Follow-the-Team Package will have the opportunity on a first-come-first-served basis to purchase a limit number of tickets – which number has still to be determined – for the four prime games of the tournament viz) the opening Game, the two Semi-finals and the Final.
• In order to accommodate as many spectators as possible at World Cup games, a maximum of five packages per person may be purchased from July 1, 2002.
• The Opening Ceremony in Cape Town on Wednesday, February 5, 2003, will be treated as a separate event and not part of a package.
• On December 1, 2002, individual match tickets will go on sale depending on availability.
• In Zimbabwe, from July 1, tickets for the games in Zimbabwe will go on sale at their two venues – Harare and Bulawayo.

For further information contact:

Ian Smith, Commercial Director, 2003 Cricket World Cup
Phone #: 0027-11-4463600
Fax #: 0027-11-4463600

Issued by Rodney Hartman
Communications Manager, 2003 World Cup
Phone #: 0027-11-4463604
Fax #: 0027-11-4463622
Mobile: 083-389-0904

India had set their eyes on a big score against the comparatively weakNetherlands. They eventually ended batting first after being put in by theopposition which very much suited them as I guess they would have battedfirst even if they had won the toss.Indian openers Anju Jain and Anjum Chopra began on a sedate note. WhileJain was more open to the idea of scoring runs, Chopra appeared to getherself tied down with her attempt to play, more often than not, square onboth sides of the wickets. She appeared more cramped for space in theprocess but played a determined innings. Anju Jain appeared to be a victimof a leg before decision, bringing Mithali Raj to the middle.The entry of Raj accelerated the scoring rate to an extent especially onaccount of some very good running between the wickets by Chopra. The101-run partnership for the second wicket between these two laid thefoundation for an onslaught later on. Chopra’s attempt to play in front ofthe wicket came rather late in the innings but she eventually fell in theprocess of lofting one over extra cover.The run rate was none too impressive even after Raj fell but the fourthwicket pair of Hemalatha Kala and Chandrakantha Kaul smashed the Dutchattack to smithereens and when the Indian innings ended, the score read ahealthy 275 for 4 with 75 runs coming in quick time from this partnership.Kala’s innings stood out as a shining example with her 56 runs coming offjust 40 balls. It was not just her score but the authentic andauthoritative manner in which she got those runs that warmed the handful ofspectators watching the match.Kaul (39 off 37 balls), who has been out of touch with the game after hersojourn in England, returned unbeaten, obviously happy with her formalthough it was against one of the babes of the women’s cricket arena. Itis interesting that Netherlands are playing in their fourth World Cup butthe difference in standard between the top five teams and the rest israther vast.Set target of 276, Netherlands never seemed to be in the run. SunitaKanojia, who opened the attack, bowled against the breeze but appeared tobe the best medium pacer insight with her ability to swing the ball awayfrom a right hander which pays better dividends against the moreaccomplished batsmen. But she was decisively unlucky not to be amongst thewickets though she bowled economically.In the end the Netherlands team managed to score 121 for 6 resulting in anIndian victory by a huge margin of 154 runs. But what has been disturbingout here has been the inability of the Indian team to get any team all outin the competition and in the two warm up games prior to it. This is inspite of the fact that all the teams respect the Indian spin attack and themedium pacers have made the initial breakthroughs. May be the think thankof the team needs to address this issue and sort out the strategicallyproblematic areas that may have crept into their game plan.But the defeat of England at the hands of South Africa has made it easierfor India even though it has thrown open the competition and made it harderfor England to qualify for the semi-final. But then it is early days yetand one can’t write away the tenacious England team at this stage.