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The League urgently needs help to ensure that it continues to run effectively.Firstly, we are looking for a League Secretary. Colin Savage fills this post as part of his role as Hampshire Cricket Board Administrator. However, increasing demands on the HCB post, which is intended to be part-time, mean that this arrangement is not working and cannot continue beyond the League AGM.As no volunteer has come forward since we highlighted this problem in the 2001 Annual Report, the League is therefore seeking a Secretary with an Honorarium of £1,000 per year, plus reimbursement of expenses.This is also the last year of Alan Bundy’s three-year tenure as Chairman,the League has not had a Vice Chairman for four years, and the Treasurer, Brian Funnell, made it clear at the 2002 AGM that he will also be standing down at the end of this year.This means that the following posts will need to be filled at the 2003 AGM to ensure the continued administration of the League:Chairman
Vice Chairman
League Secretary
Treasurer
The posts of Chairman, Vice Chairman, and Treasurer are voluntary but travelling and other legitimate expenses can be claimed.Applications for the post of Secretary should be sent to Alan Bundy by 130 September, and nominations for Chairman, Vice Chairman and Treasurer to the League Secretary by 15th September 2003.

Zimbabwe captain Heath Streak has welcomed his side’s win in its tour opener against the British Universities at Edgbaston.”It’s a very positive opening for us and gets the tour off to a good start,”said Streak after Monday’s 10-wicket win, achieved on day three of thescheduled four-day match.”Our last international cricket was in Sharjah, so there is a great contrastin the conditions we played in over there compared to here, in an Englishspring. We only have three first-class games before the Lord’s Test, so itwas important to get off the mark with a win and to see good performancesfrom a number of players throughout the team,” said Streak.Coach, Geoff Marsh, said it was an encouraging team performance, highlightedby a number of strong individual contributions.”Having arrived in the country on Thursday, we have acclimatised quickly toplay well and wrap up the match in three days. We’ll be looking to build onthat in our next game against Worcester on Friday, which will provide uswith the sterner test we need as we approach the Test.”Among the batsmen, several of the guys have spent valuable time in themiddle. Grant Flower will be pleased to have started off with a solid hundred and Carlisle, Vermuelen, Streak and Blignaut backed him up with runs. Those that missed out here will be looking to make up with strong form at Worcester.”Bowling wise, Hondo did very well for a player making his debut in Englandand is improving fast. It was a pretty flat wicket so we did well to bowlthem out twice in three days,” Marsh added.

Somerset will have been heartened by the teams batting display at the Hampshire Rosebowl today, where they were 368 for 8, when the match ended in a draw.Resuming on 39 for 1, Piran Holloway was the first wicket to fall after the Cornishman had scored 48.Coming in at number four new signing James Bryant gave an impressive display, putting on 80 for the third wicket with Matt Wood before the opener was out for 57.Bryant played a patient innings before he was next man out for 78, which contained 3 x 6’s and 10 x 4’s, putting on 72 for the fourth wicket with Ian Blackwell.Playing his first innings for the county since returning from World Cup duty, `Blackie’ scored 69 runs from 81 deliveries, which included 2 x 6’s and 8 x 4’s.West Indian pacemen Nixon McLean came in towards the end of the innings and enjoyed himself at the crease against many of his former team mates hitting 16 runs from 15 balls, which included 1 x 6 and 1 x 4.Following the close of play Somerset coach Kevin Shine told me: “I set the team the challenge of batting through the day and they have met that well. There were some decent runs from Matt Wood and James Bryant, who is really starting to be comfortable in English conditions and looks a quality bat .Ian Blackwell also had his first innings in six weeks and it looked like he had never been away judging by the way that he batted today.He continued: “It’s our target to bat on wickets like the Rosebowl, that is very different to Taunton, so what has happened today has been a good preparation and I am very pleased with the way that things have gone for us.”

A statistics student with an interest in demography could have taken it on as a case study. What percentage of Nagpur-ites, with India in a strong position and Sachin Tendulkar undoubtedly looking for quick runs on a Sunday morning, cancelled plans of going boating or amateur orange picking and instead packed picnic lunches before making a beeline for the Vidarbha Cricket Association stadium?A less exhaustive prospect for research would be to ask what percentage of the stadium crowd was disappointed that Sanjay Bangar acted as understudy for Tendulkar on the fourth morning. After three days of batsmen grinding out runs reluctantly, Bangar’s stroke-play could not have been more welcomed than five-star A-grade manna to a famished Moses.Tendulkar scored only 39 runs on the day, and it is not often that he contributes as many out of a stand of 110. More credit, then, to a man whose selection ahead of Virender Sehwag expended much newsprint across the country. Fresh from a double century on the domestic circuit, Bangar made his maiden Test hundred in only his second match, batting with a quietude that many hardened veterans would find tough to match.The century almost did not come, however, as India lost both Tendulkar (176, 316b, 23×4) and Zaheer Khan (0, 2b) with the score on 547, Ray Price scalping the little master to get his second five-wicket haul in Tests. Anil Kumble, however, hung around for 15 balls and added 13 runs, enabling Bangar to get to three figures. Sourav Ganguly declared on 570/7 as soon as Bangar hit his 100th run off his 155th ball; his knock featured 12 boundaries, many of them just chipped cleverly over the infield, and two sixes.Zimbabwe faced a deficit of 283 runs, a situation that shut out any thoughts of victory from their minds. Their openers, then, played accordingly; Stuart Carlisle, in fact, looked positively dashing in comparison to Trevor Gripper, who seemed to have decided that it was time for all stolid men to come to the aid of the party. Carlisle’s innings, however, ended just after lunch when a Zaheer Khan delivery pitched outside leg and rapped him on the pads. Umpire Venkataraghavan upheld the loud appeal, and India had gotten rid of their first-innings thorn in the side.Gripper and Alistair Campbell almost saw their side through to tea safely, Campbell in particular looking comfortable against spin and rapidly outpacing his companion. In the last over before tea, however, he failed to get to the pitch of a Kumble delivery; the ball struck the shoulder of his bat and VVS Laxman completed an easy catch at first slip.Andy Flower’s tenure at the crease in the second innings was less momentary that the first, but he always looked shaky and vulnerable, his confidence dented by his recent lean patch. His dismissal loomed not too far on the horizon, and when he was caught by Rahul Dravid at short leg off Kumble, he had made 8 off 41.With Gripper still propping up one end, Gavin Rennie played with some elan, pulling out the sweep shot to good effect against Kumble and Tendulkar. He struck three fours, all swept to square leg or mid-wicket, and rotated the strike nicely otherwise. But just when it looked like the pair would walk out the next morning unscathed, Kumble struck again, having Rennie caught by substitute Virender Sehwag at short leg.India could not get rid of night-watchman Price before the close of play, even though Ganguly stationed, at one point, seven men around the bat. Or perhaps he reasoned that close-in fielders had a chance of taking any catches that Deep Dasgupta grassed; three chances went down today behind the stumps.Zimbabwe start the final day precariously perched on 152/4. They can still pull off a draw in this match, and that will be a creditable achievement indeed. Gripper looks in the mood to bat implacably for another day, and Price, Grant Flower, Heath Streak and Travis Friend can hardly be called mugs with the bat. But India hold two aces Kumble and the unlucky Harbhajan on a pitch that is increasingly lending itself to turn.

One of English cricket’s leading marketing executives is to become the first chief executive of the Irish Cricket Union.Thirty two year-old Peter Thompson will take up the post in May after almost four years as head of marketing of Warwickshire County Cricket Club atEdgbaston in Birmingham.Mr. Thompson has been responsible for all commercial income at Warwickshire and it will be one of his priorities within the ICU.He said to-day : "I have been impressed by the forward-looking attitude of the Irish Cricket Union and as the first chief executive in its history, Iwill be very conscious of the many challenges which lie ahead."The future well being of the game in Ireland of course depends on what happenson the field at all levels of representative cricket and I hope my experience, not least in the commercial sector, will add a beneficial dimension."I am well aware of the success of the international sides at youth leveland, of course, the major challenge for the men’s senior side is to qualify for the next World Cup in the West Indies in 2007. The fact that the ICCqualifying competition is to be staged in Ireland in two years’ time is a tremendous bonus and I look forward to working with the ICU Executive and thenational coach, Adrian Birrell, to ensure its success."Mr. Thompson has spent most of his career at Warwickshire since taking an honours degree in leisure – including business management and IT – justover 10 years ago.He has specalised in administration and marketing and since his appointment as head of marketing in 1999 his responsibilities have included sponsorship,advertising rights at the Edgbaston Test ground, membership and a range of other commercial activities.Mr. Thompson has also been responsible for the operational management of international cricket at Edgbaston and was Warwickshire’s coordinator for the1999 World Cup in England. He’s also represented the club on the England and Wales Cricket Board as well as Birmingham City Council’s Events Advisory Committee.The appointment of a professional chief executive was part of a ICU development strategy led by the outgoing chairman of the Union, John Caldwell.Caldwell said to-day : "I’m delighted at Peter Thompson’s appointment, bringing as it does a professional business acumen to the Union’s activities. In to-day’s sporting world, success on the field needs a strong commercial and administrative backbone and I have no doubt Peter will providethat."The chairman of the ICU, Derek Brennan, described the appointment of a chief executive as "an historic step forward" for the Union.He added : "The ICU was recently nominated as the best administered body within the European Cricket Council and Peter’s appointment can only add to thatreputation. I look forward to working closely with him for the betterment of cricket throughout Ireland."

Having shown glimpses of fine form in his previous match, Jammu &Kashmir batsman Kavaljit Singh translated it into a big knock againstServices on Day One of their Ranji Trophy league match at Delhi.Winning the toss, Jammu & Kashmir opted to bat, a departure from thepolicy they have being following of late. They were rewarded for thisexperiment, however, as Sabir Kanth and Kavaljit batted resolutely toreach a score of 237/1 by stumps.Although opener Raju Sharma departed early, Kanth and Kavaljit put on217 runs for the second wicket. Kanth, the slower of the two, wasunbeaten n 69 off 268 balls, while Kavaljit had made more than doublethat score. He was on 148 off 254 balls at the close of play.

A brave fight-back by Zimbabwe’s adhesive openers on the third day of thefinal Janashakthi National Test match saved the visitors the ignominy offollowing on and sent Muttiah Muralitharan to bed still dreaming of his400th wicket.Stand-in opener Stuart Carlisle and Trevor Gripper had frustrated Sri Lankafor three and a half hours as they posted a record 153 first wicket stand.However, on the brink of tea, Sri Lankan skipper Sanath Jayasuriya luredTrevor Gripper out of his crease for a stumping that triggered an all toofamiliar collapse. Five wickets fell for 18 runs and suddenly Zimbabwe,still 47 runs adrift, looked unlikely to avert the follow-on.But the experienced pair of Grant Flower and Heath Streak then batted outthe remaining 84 minutes before the close, saving the follow-on in theprocess, to leave the visitors on 230 for five with their best chance of adraw so far in the series.Indeed, Zimbabwean captain was bullish afterwards: “Who knows, we might beable to get in front of them and then the whole pressure will reverse. Wewill be hoping for a big partnership from Heath (Streak) and Grant (Flower)and than have Dion Ebrahim and Douglas Marillier still to come.”He was delighted with the spirit displayed by his side during the firstthree days: “It was very clear in our minds that we had to come out here inthe third Test meaning business so that we could finish going in the rightdirection. There was plenty to gain with the forthcoming tour of Indiaaround the corner.”The key to the opening pair’s success was twofold. First, the pitch may havepowdered, but it was so slow and low that it was rarely dangerous,especially during the first half of the day after the deadening effect ofthe heavy roller before play.Second, they learned from their early encounters against Muralitharan andemployed a simple but effective strategy against the off-spinner. Rarely didthey go back and only reluctantly was a big shot aimed. Patience was the keyand they didn’t give two hoots for the miserly run-rate.Nevertheless, Muralitharan, wheeled away almost without a break as his team,the crowd and the sponsors, who had bedecked the stadium with celebratoryballoons, willed him on to the 400 mark.He bowled an exhausting 47 overs in the day with up to six squawky closefielders breathing down on the batsman’s toes. He beat the bat frequentlyand greatly impressed umpire David Sheperd, who looked on eagerly like achild at his first magicians show, but increasingly looked unlikely tobreakthrough.At the other end Jayasuriya relied mainly on his pace bowlers, but theyfailed to swerve the old ball as dangerously as had been hoped and theZimbabwean pair crawled onwards.Zimbabwe scored 73 runs in the morning and then raised the tempo slightly inthe afternoon, as they passed the previous best opening partnership of 113against Sri Lankan compiled by Grant Flower and M.H. Dekker in 1994/5.Zimbabwe’s all-country first-wicket record (164 by Dion Ebrahim and AlaisterCampbell against West Indies last year) also looked in danger as Carlislemoved past his previous Test best (62 not out) and Gripper plodded towardshis second Test century.But, belatedly, Jayasuriya decided the time had come for his skidding,low-armed darts. Gripper greeted him with a lofted drive before beingstumped for 83 minutes before tea.Suddenly, fresh life was breathed into the previously despondent Sri Lankansand Craig Wishart (1) succumbed when he shouldered arms to a straight ballfrom Jayasuriya.After tea the slide continued. Carlisle was finally pinned to his backfootby Muralitharan to be adjudged lbw for 64 and Jayasuriya had Gavin Rennie(7) snapped up at short led.Five minutes later Andy Flower had edged Muralitharan to second slip -wicket number 397 – and supporters started preparations for the 400celebrations. But, as Carlisle said afterwards: “They will have to put awaytheir balloons for another day.”

After Glamorgan had set Somerset a victory target of 424 intheir Championship match at Cardiff, the visitors ended the third day on 129/3,with Glamorgan`s bowlers needing to take a further seven wickets on the final dayto record their third Championship win of the season.As in their first innings, the Somerset batsmen struggled against Glamorgan`s seamattack, although it was off-spinner Robert Croft who made the early breakthrough,trapping Matthew Wood leg before with the Somerset score on 44/1. James Bryant then madea painstaking 7 from 50 balls before he was bowled by Michael Kasprowicz, and then in thefinal hour Darren Thomas removed the obdurate Peter Bowler one short of his half-century.In the morning session, Matthew Maynard compiled his 49th first-class century for Glamorgan,and the 55th of his career, reaching 100 from 106 balls with 13 fours and two sixes. The 37 yearold shared a productive 96 run partnership for the fourth wicket with Jimmy Maher who made 62 before becomingKeith Dutch`s third victim of the innings.Maynard then added a breezy 59 for the fifth wicket with Mark Wallace, before Maynard wasl.b.w. to Michael Burns for 101. West Indian Nixon McLean then took four wickets in succession,before Alex Wharf smashed 39 runs from 38 balls. The burly Yorkshireman had struck 4 foursand a six until he was the last wicket to fall, leg before to Aaron Laraman as Glamorgan were dismissedfor 307.Somerset need a further 294 runs to win on the final day with 7 wickets in hand, and much willdepend on their overnight pair of Australian Jamie Cox and captain Michael Burns. Glamorgan knowthat if they can remove these two experienced players in the first hour on Saturday, they willstand a good chance of maintaining their quest for promotion from Division Two.

Nashua WP selectors have named a fifteen man squad to play the Titans and Boland in Standard Bank matches this week.

MEDIA RELEASE:NASHUA Western Province Squad Vs Northern TitansNewlands 26th December 2001ANDNASHUA Western Province Squad Vs BolandB.O.E. Park 28th December 2001STANDARD BANK CUP:NASHUA Western Province Squad:1) Graeme Smith2) Neil Johnson3) Andrew Puttick4) Hylton Ackerman ( C )5) Ashwell Prince6) Jonathan Trott7) Lloyd Ferreira8) Alan Dawson9) Thami Tsolekile10) Renier Munnik11) Roger Telemachus12) Charl  Willoughby13) Paul Adams14) Quentin Friend15) Paul HarrisCricket Manager:  Vincent Barnes: Eric SimonsARTHUR TURNERCEO – WPCA

The Somerset Seconds one day final against Surrey at The County Ground on Monday will be the last match that coach Julian Wyatt will take charge of.Shortly after the end of the season Julian, who played for Somerset between 1983 and 1989, and who has been in charge of the Second Eleven since 1999, will set off on his travels.Initially he will spend sometime in Ireland, before going round the world, with a stop scheduled for New Zealand after Christmas where he plans to link up with former players Ricky Bartlett and Richard Harden, and England players Andy Caddick and Marcus Trescothick during the Test series.Meanwhile Julian Wyatt has named the following team to face Surrey at Taunton in the final of the Second Eleven One Day Competition:- Keith Parsons, captain, Matthew Wood, Pete Trego, Jason Kerr, Matt Bulbeck, Wes Durston, Arul Suppiah, Joe Tucker, Jamie Grove, Ian Jones and Tim Burt.Speaking earlier in the day the coach told me,” We are going into the match with the intention of winning. We have done well to get to the final and hope that we can take confidence from the example set by the first team at Lord’s on Saturday. We’ve got a lot of young players who can hopefully take inspiration from that victory.”Chief Executive Peter Anderson said, “This is a big occasion for the club, and the first time that this final has been played at The County Ground. We are expecting a large crowd to turn up, and catering facilities will be available all day. The match gets underway at 10.30am, with entry being free to Somerset and Surrey members, and £3 to non members.”