West Indies hardly needed any more distractions. A bitter player dispute with the West Indies cricket Board over personal sponsorships, a dispute that has created rancour between those now in the squad and those who refused to sign tour contracts, already provides a large enough distraction. But as they prepare for the second and crucial Test, a dark cloud hovers over their star bowler of the opening match.Jermaine Lawson’s 8 for 102 appeared to be a triumphant return to the Test arena after two years of controversy and injury. His express pace and hostility rocked the Sri Lankans in both innings at the Sinhalese Sports Club and created an opportunity for a famous victory. Ultimately, it was a chance squandered, as Sri Lanka’s tail wagged stubbornly on the second afternoon, exposing the West Indies’ inexperience, but Lawson had identified himself as a match-winner and in the present scenario, there are precious few of those.West Indies players have rallied around Lawson, according to Shivnarine Chanderpaul, their captain and solitary batting pillar. They appear almost certain to pick him too, although he will face the world’s scrutiny every time he runs into bowl. It will be a mountainous test of character for a 23-year-old man. Chanderpaul will ask him before the start to focus only onthe game but conquering all the demons that must surely be running through his mind will be easier said than done.West Indies’ only hope is that his team-mates rally with deeds as well as kind words. His fellow fast bowlers, especially Tino Best and Daren Powell, need to raise their games and carry some of Lawson’s burden. The batsman, pathetically weak in the second innings last weekend – five of the top six contributing just 11 runs – must quickly work out survival strategies against Sri Lanka’s premier bowlers, Chaminda Vaas and Muttiah Muralitharan.The tourist’s cause has not been helped by the unsettled weather in the hill country leading up to the game. The wet weather prevented the curator from producing proper practice nets and batting practice has been limited to a few minutes on the eve of the match. Fortunately, according to the locals, the weather is now set to clear after Thursday’s Poya Day (Full Moon) holiday.West Indies main selection quandary is whether to include Ryan Ramdass for his debut. The opener, who scored heavily in the A team series that preceded this tour, would probably have played in Colombo were it not for a shoulder injury but he has now been passed fit. Xavier Marshall, a double failure in the first Test, may be the player to make way should Ramdass get the nod, although he too impressed with the A team.Sri Lanka’s preparations have not been trouble-free either, and for the third consecutive training session, Muttiah Muralitharan was confined to his bed trying to shake off the flu. The other flu-ridden players – Mahela Jayawardene, Thilan Samaraweera, Chaminda Vaas and Sanath Jayasuriya (tonsilitis) – looked perkier than the previous day but hardly pictures of good health as they worked out gently in the morning.All the players are set to play, according to Marvan Atapattu, and the only hope is that no -one else succumbs to a virus that started from the top, the manager and captain, before spreading like wildfire. Aside from the flu, all the niggles and minor injuries appear to be under control and Sri Lanka will be picking from a full squad.Sri Lanka could make changes, and both the captain and coach hinted at this. “We will play the best team to win in the conditions,” said Tom Moody, adding, “and the conditions appear to be different.” Although there has been rain, the pitch is brown and grassless and expected to take turn. This means that Sri Lanka are likely to retain two spinners, with Upul Chandana possibly coming in for Rangana Herath. Nuwan Zoysa is also pushing hard forGayan Wijekoon’s place.Considering that Sri Lanka have a 1-0 lead and struggled mainly with their batting in the first Test, an extra batsman, the in-form Russel Arnold, may be discussed at No 7 when the management meets in the evening. But this defensive move would leave them with just two quick bowlers, a gamble if the unsettled weather does not clear away with the full moon as anticipated.Likely teams:Sri Lanka 1 Marvan Atapattu, 2 Sanath Jayasuriya, 3 Kumar Sangakkara, 4 MahelaJayawardene, 5 Thilan Samaweera, 6 Tillakaratne Dilshan, 7 Chaminda Vaas, 8 Upul Chandana, 9 Nuwan Zoysa, 10 Muttiah Muralitharan, 11 Lasith Malinga.West Indies 1 Ryan Ramdass, 2 Sylvester Joseph, 3 Runako Morton, 4 Narsingh Deonarine, 5 Shivnarine Chanderpaul, 6 Dwaine Smith, 7 Denesh Ramdin, 8 Omari Banks, 9 Tino Best, 10 Daren Powell, 11 Jermaine Lawson.
With the England cricket team creating waves in the West Indies, Warwickshire joined forces with England’s main sponsors, Vodafone, to create an indoor beach cricket event for local primary schools.The aim was to bring a little bit of the Caribbean to Edgbaston Cricket ground. The indoor school was filled with 10 tonnes of sand, palm trees, surfboards and deck chairs, and the atmosphere was provided by a steel band and an barbecque.Two local Birmingham schools attended – Montgomery Primary and Prince Albert Juniors. They were coached by Warwickshire’s development coaches for the day and given tours of the ground as well. After a barbecque lunch, the children then got the opportunity to have a question and answer session with three England and Warwickshire players – the captain Nick Knight, Jim Troughton and Dougie Brown.The event was attended by 80 children, as a little taste of the Caribbean was brought to Birmingham on a cold March day.
South African middle-order batsman Jonty Rhodes has undergone surgery on the broken hand he sustained whilst fielding in the World Cup match against Kenya in Potchefstroom yesterday.Rhodes injured his right hand when trying to catch Maurice Odumbe in the 31st over of the Kenyan innings.An X-ray in Potchefstroom revealed a break of the fifth metacarpal bone on his right hand.Rhodes was taken through to Johannesburg yesterday afternoon to see a hand specialist who, under local anesthetic, reduced the fracture and inserted two pins to hold the bone together and facilitate union at the fracture site by immobilisation.He then rejoined the team in Potchefstroom.South African team physiotherapist Shane Jabaar said,” the specialist felt that Jonty would have the pins in for about 3 weeks to allow for the bones to knit together and the fracture to heal. Thereafter there would be some pain, but that could be managed.”Jabaar added,” during the period of recuperation Jonty will continue to train and exercise in order to strengthen and constantly improve the functional use of his right hand.”Rhodes himself said it was an awkward time for it to happen, but remains positive.” I suppose if I was going to break something during the World Cup then now is as good a time as any, at least we have got three weeks before the Super Sixes. Its not the end of the world, I have played with pain before.”Rhodes broke the same bone but in his left hand in Australia on the 1992/93 tour.As to his further participation in the World Cup, Rhodes said ” I have no idea what the selectors plans are for me, I will just have to wait and see.”Selection convener Omar Henry said that he will be speaking with his fellow selectors and the team management through the day and would hope to make an announcement regarding Rhodes’s further participation in the tournament by late Thursday afternoon.
After three days of the Second Test at Harare Sports Club, the matchwas still in the balance by the close, although solid batting secondtime round had perhaps given India a slight advantage. At 197 forfour, they were 119 runs ahead with six wickets left and threateningto leave the home side a difficult target.Zimbabwe began the day with a lead of 64 runs on first innings and twowickets left. Brian Murphy did not add to his overnight 17, drivingirresponsibly at a full-length ball from Harbhajan Singh in his firstover, when all that was required of him was support for Grant Flower,and lost his off stump.Brighton Watambwa came in with a runner, after his hamstring strain,and held firm, but Flower fell for 86, well caught low down by VVSLaxman at slip off Javagal Srinath. Zimbabwe totalled 315, a lead of78. With the strength of the Indian batting, this could be describedas no better than `useful’.Samir Dighe opened with Shiv Sunder Das for India second time round,but at first Zimbabwe’s opening bowlers wasted the new ball, failingto make the batsmen play all too often. Then Dighe (4) followed aball from Andy Blignaut outside the off stump and edged a catch towicket-keeper Andy Flower.Laxman did not look very comfortable at first and had a lucky escapewhen a miscued pull off Travis Friend lobbed high into a vacant areatowards fine leg. He immediately celebrated with two magnificentcover-driven boundaries, followed by a fierce pull for four and anoff-drive for three, all off Blignaut’s next over. Then he lashedFriend square and Murphy picked up a sharp ground-level catch atpoint. The umpire did not refer the decision to the third umpire; areferral under existing technology could not have given a decision intime, and umpire Asoka de Silva is to be congratulated on having thecourage of his convictions. Laxman was out for 20 and India were 32for two.Das and Tendulkar continued watchfully after lunch, steering Indiacautiously into the lead again and taking no chances. Zimbabwe bowledaccurately to an off-side field, finding quite a bit of swing, andscoring opportunities were not frequent as each side strove to weardown the other. Zimbabwe, one seam bowler short with Watambwainjured, were at a disadvantage here over the long term, and thedecision was taken to risk Guy Whittall’s dodgy knee by giving him aspell.Das has plenty of patience but Tendulkar restrained himself admirably,until in the thirties he felt settled enough to pull and cut Friendtwice for four in an over. He reached his fifty just before tea.Zimbabwe had little for which to reprove themselves during theafternoon session, except possibly some lack of imagination, but werenevertheless helpless as the balance of the match swung slowly butsteadily in India’s favour. Their approach seemed to be simply tobowl tightly just outside off stump and wait for the batsmen to make amistake, and India were batting with plenty of patience.In the final session some poorer bowling enabled India to restart withconfidence and the century partnership was reached. Das reached hisfifty with a neat cut for four through the slips, but then Tendulkar(69) chopped at a ball from Streak outside off stump, for it to flyhard and straight to Grant Flower in the gully.Thereafter the cricket slowed right down, as Zimbabwe continued toplay a come-and-get-me policy, using mainly their seamers and givingleg-spinner Murphy little work. Das came almost to a standstill,while Rahul Dravid played the odd exquisite stroke to the odd looseball. Had they stayed to the close, Zimbabwe would indeed have beenstruggling, but Andy Blignaut took the second new ball, due for thefinal over of the day, and had Dravid caught at the wicket for 26, amajor blow for Zimbabwe. Das finished unbeaten with 68.
Celtic have seen numerous players leave the Parkhead club for substantial amounts of money over the past few years such as Odsonne Edouard, Kristoffer Ajer, Jeremie Frimpong and Kieran Tierney to name a few.
Also, the club have seen several players leave on free transfers after running their contracts down, namely Oliver Ntcham and Scott Brown from the previous summer window.
In terms of their current players, it seems as though the Hoops could be in danger of losing one figure, in particular, as a free agent this summer which would surely be a massive blow for the club.
According to a recent article from the Daily Record, Celtic’s 19-year-old winger Karamoko Dembele could be in danger of leaving the club at the end of the season when his current contract runs out.
They said: “Out of sight, out of mind? That could be the case for Karamoko Dembele. The highly-rated winger has been expected to enjoy a breakout campaign this season but has been plagued by injuries as he enters the final months of his contract.
“We are in the final run-in and it’s the last chance for Dembele to catch the eye of Ange Postecoglou. However, he has spent most of the season with the B team.
However, the following 11 words seemed to imply that the teenager is doomed: “It could be time up for the forward at Celtic Park.”
As a product of Celtic’s youth system, the winger has only made ten senior appearances for the Hoops, the first of which came back in May 2019.
Praised for being “exceptional at every age group he’s played in” by journalist Alison McConnell, Dembele may not have had the easiest of seasons this time around due to an ankle injury that has kept him out of action for the majority of it.
However, given his young age and the previous experience he has of working his way through the youth ranks at Celtic, the club should definitely try and tie the attacker down to a new contract and keep developing him into a potential regular first-team star for Ange Postecoglou.
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After all, this is someone who is one of the most vibrant young graduates the club have ever had; to see him leave for nothing would be an unforgivable sequence of events given the way he’s been talked about since bursting onto the scene.
If the Hoops were to see the young winger leave as a free agent in the summer and then see him really blossom into a senior superstar at another club, the club and Postecoglou would have shot themselves in the foot and very much live to regret not offering him a new deal.
In other news: Celtic now handed major boost ahead of Old Firm clash, Postecoglou surely buzzing…
Claire Taylor has fought off stiff competition to scoop England women’s Player of the Year courtesy of strong batting performances in all forms of the game. In an unprecedented winter of success in Australasia, the team retained the Ashes and drew 2-2 in the one-dayers against the world champions Australia, while thumping New Zealand 4-0.Taylor, who topped the Most Valuable Player (MVP) rankings, hit half-centuries both innings of the one-off Ashes Test, while scoring two centuries and two fifties in ODIs in the voting period. She also narrowly missed out on the ICC Player of the Year award last September – which was won by India’s Jhulan Goswami – but said she was “honoured” to have been chosen for the England title.”I’m really looking forward to the next eighteen months,” said Taylor, “with two very exciting competitions in the World Cup and the World Twenty20 as well as the prospect of more Test cricket with the Ashes in 2009.”She has previously attributed her continued success over the last four years to off-field activities such as working as a management consultant and taking up the violin again which has allowed a work-life balance and taken the intensity away from constant cricket.The allrounder Jenny Gunn was second in the rankings, picking up consistent wickets although she missed out on the Ashes Test through injury.England captain Charlotte Edwards was another strong contender, having helped reverse the side’s fortunes in a home defeat against New Zealand to lead them in their campaign abroad amid off-field disruptions in which they lost their coach Mark Dobson and their most experienced player Jane Smit.Edwards also contributed four unbeaten fifties in ODIs, while making 94 in the Ashes, and she took valuable late wickets in the limited-overs format.
Send us your feedbackCricket Kenya is on the verge of offering its leading players one-year contracts.The board has agreed terms with the players, Roger Harper, the coach, hasgiven his views and the national selectors are now drawing up a final listof between 18 and 20 names who will be invited to sign the contracts. Theselectors also need to divide the players into three categories, based onseniority and ability, which will determine how much they get paid.”They will be offered one-year deals,” Samir Inamdar, the board’s chairman,told Cricinfo. “This has been made possible by the money we received fromwinning the World Cricket League and also from the Nimbus TV deal.”Those chosen will receive a regular monthly salary as well as appearancefees for ODIs. For four-day Intercontinental Cup games they will get theequivalent fee for three ODIs.”The board has also offered to share a third of prize-money and appearancemoney with squad players. And people can still be picked from outside those oncentral contracts, but they will be paid on a match-by-match basis.A few leading Kenya players have contracts overseas and Inamdar stressedthat these could continue subject to the prior agreement of the board.Their central contracts will be suspended for the period they are employedplaying cricket elsewhere.Inamdar said that at the moment the contracts were for one years and thesituation would be reviewed after that. Much depends on whether theboard is able to attract new sponsors and also how much the board’sshare of the new ICC media deal with ESPN brings in.
A new state-of-the-art stadium in New Delhi will host the final of the 2011 World Cup, the Indian cricket board (BCCI) announced. This will be the first stadium owned entirely by the board, said Lalit Modi, vice-president of the BCCI.The BCCI stadium will be situated in south New Delhi, in a 70-acre area alloted by the authorities between the Maharani Bagh area and the banks of the Yamuna river. Modi stated that it was still very early to give out details regarding the cost of the stadium, but gave a glimpse of the proposed facilities. He added that construction work would begin later this year.”We are going to pull out all stops to make sure that by 2011 World Cup final, which will be hosted in this new stadium in Delhi and which has already been decided by the ICC and the four members (India, Pakistan, Sri Lanka and Bangladesh), the stadium is ready,” Modi told Indo Asian News Service. “It’s too premature to talk in detail because at this stage we are only looking at it with a vision to make a world-class facility. There will be accommodation, club houses, floodlights, academies.”The project was conceived in 2001 but slowed down because of renovation work at the Feroz Shah Kotla, the regular venue which has hosted international matches. Eden Gardens in Kolkata is the only other ground in India which has hosted a World Cup final (1987).India was awarded the 2011 World Cup finals after a meeting in London by representatives from the four host nations. It was also decided that The Gadaffi Stadium in Lahore and the R Premadasa Stadium in Colombo would host the semi-finals.
Bob Merriman, the Australian board’s chairman, has said that Kenyan cricket should look at what happened in Zimbabwe and use it as impetus for sorting out its own internal problems.Merriman arrived in Nairobi on Monday from the ICC’s board meeting in Lahore to join a nine-man committee charged with examining the Kenyan board’s constitution.The KCA has been dogged by in-fighting and accusations for several years, and last month that spilt over into a dispute with players over back-pay and contracts, which resulted in more than a dozen of them going on strike.”It is important that we have an idea of where we are going by January, when the report is presented to the ICC for the purpose of development,” Merriman told reporters.But the committee has already come under fire from the KCA’s opponents. They argue that the majority of those chosen have ties to the board, and that those on it should have been picked through consultation with all parties to the dispute.However, Sharad Ghai, the beleaguered KCA chairman, gave the committee his full support. “This is an effort to truly review the constitution, especially on matters to do with the electoral college, and the KCA is fully behind it,” he said. “All the stakeholders have been informed well in advance to bring in their views and I sincerely hope they will participate.”
Ticket sales for the opening ODI of the five-match series between Pakistan and India at Karachi had to be suspended when fans broke through security cordons causing mayhem, and ending with police having to restore order.The number of people trying to buy tickets caught the authorities by surprise, and the situation became more serious when frustrated fans started throwing stones at the police, who in turn retaliated by using batons to disperse the crowd. Several people were hurt, none seriously.Onlookers blamed the Pakistan Cricket Board’s handling of the sales, pointing out that it only opened three sales booths – with a total of eight windows – despite the massive demand which should have been forseen. The PCB has previously used a variety of outlets, including banks, to sell tickets but opted to restrict sales to the stadium box office on this occasion.”We will resume the ticket sale from Monday and in an orderly manner by increasing the number of booths and will have outlets other than the National Stadium,” Rameez Raja, the PCB’s chief executive, told reporters. “We have only 20,000 tickets for sale after 20 percent have already been sold on the internet and in a city of 140 million people such minor incidents take place due to over-demand."
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