Heath Streak has fired a parting shot at the Zimbabwe Cricket Union, calling in today’s Daily Telegraph for Zimbabwe to be banned from all international cricket pending an investigation by the ICC.Streak, who arrived in England yesterday to take up his position as one of Warwickshire’s overseas players, claimed that the Zimbabwe board discriminated against players on race grounds.”I don’t think that other countries should be playing Test or one-day cricket against Zimbabwe, home or away, until the current crisis has been resolved,” Streak told the newspaper. He went on to say that it was the responsibility of the ICC to try and come up with a solution.”I hope that things are redeemable and that the damage can be repaired. But there is increasing polarisation between the two parties, and the longer the dispute goes on, the more difficult it’s going to be to get an agreement.”Players are being discriminated against because they are white, which is the main problem. But it isn’t purely a black and white thing. There’s also regional discrimination as well.”Streak added that he still harboured hopes of playing for Zimbabwe again, but admitted that without intervention from the ICC, the chances were slim. “The more players that leave, the more difficult it is going to be for Zimbabwe to be competitive again. I have to think about my family and my future. If I wait for the problems in Zimbabwe to be resolved and nothing has happened in six months’ time, then I may have missed the opportunity.”Streak also mentioned that he had received offers from New South Wales and Tasmania.
SYDNEY – NSW will wait until the morning of the ING Cup cricket final onSunday to make a call on the fitness of Brad Haddin and spearhead SteveWaugh.An MRI scan today revealed Waugh’s hamstring injury, suffered whilebatting in yesterday’s crucial win over South Australia, was low gradewith an expected recovery time of seven to 10 days.Similarly, Haddin was expected to take a similar amount of time torecover after straining his right hip flexor muscle while fieldingagainst the Redbacks.Both will travel to Perth with their team on Friday but a decision won’tbe made until Sunday morning on whether they can play.NSW takes on Western Australia in the final at the WACA Ground.
It’s all a numbers game, really. Following four years of preparation, it comes down to just 100 overs between two teams for one World Cup berth – the fourteenth, and last, on offer for entry into the 2003 version of the event in South Africa.Scotland and Canada have each played in a World Cup before but barely will there have been more important matches of cricket in their respective histories than the one they will contest tomorrow at the Toronto Cricket Skating and Curling Club. So high are the stakes in the World Cup Qualifying Final of this 2001 ICC Trophy tournament that the difference between the impact of a win and a loss is almost beyond even so much as contemplation.For the winner, it’s not only that berth in world cricket’s ultimate tournament that awaits but also the chance to harness all of the benefits that participation at the elite level delivers. For the loser, it’s precisely the same opportunity gone begging; the chance to accelerate the sport’s growth within its borders during the next two years and beyond seriously diminished.All associated with Scottish cricket well know the rigours, the emotions and the pressures of this day. They were in the same position four years ago in Kuala Lumpur when they dodged teeming rain and stifling tension to prevail over near-neighbour Ireland by 51 runs in what still ranks as their country’s greatest ever cricketing victory.This time, they come to the TCSCC with the adornment of seven players with experience from the last World Cup and a record that includes just two losses in Toronto. They also bring to the match a reputation as a side that has learned much in the way of professionalism and preparation during the last four years. A reputation that they will hope will be worth its weight in gold out on the field now.Wicketkeeper-batsman Colin Smith has clearly been one of the stars of the tournament; fast bowler James Brinkley and spinners Keith Sheridan and Gregor Maiden have led a consistent attack; and youngster Drew Parsons has given many indications that he is an exciting player on the rise. Where the side has not done so well is in providing batting support for Smith and in fully taking its opportunities in its biggest games.In Canada, they will find a team that will quickly expose any such weaknesses. This is the first time in six attempts that they have reached the last four of an ICC Trophy competition but the Canadians have tangible crowd support; a well-balanced team, the batting of Joe Harris; and the spin bowling talents of John Davison and Barry Seebaran to bolster them on this occasion.By necessity, the hosts’ game plan will hinge around resisting the Scottish bowlers and crashing through their opponents’ batting. Against arguably the most evenly balanced attack in the tournament, the Canadian batsmen might well face their sternest examination of the competition and any exercise in leaving the bulk of the scoring responsibilities to Harris, as has been done more than once already over the last three weeks, would be fraught with risk. The makeup of their upper order batting has undergone several changes of face already in this tournament; there is no better time than now to have it click.How much of a factor the crowd will play in the match is anyone’s guess. The game will be contested on a work day in Toronto but it’s likely that more than just the odd alteration will be made to employment schedules around the city. Support for the Canadians has been strong throughout the event and the momentum created by the side’s Super League successes has only added to the numbers of wellwishers uniting forces behind them.Conversely, there will be no Tartan Army here to support the Scots; moreover, the players will be lucky if they see any Tartan soldier at all straying so far from home. Instead, it will need to be eleven men banding together to produce a collective, committed performance. Albeit that they are light on for numbers, they simply have to win this one.
With the demise of Rangers, Celtic have quietly gone about their business dominating Scotland’s top flight.
They failed to return to the ‘big time’ last season, which means Celtic are favourites once again for a domestic clean sweep of silverware this season.
Most football fans would like to see Rangers back in the top flight, contrary to the feelings of most Celtic fans. The Old Firm derby has always been the highlight of Scottish football, so the quicker they return to the Premiership, the better.
But while Rangers continue to struggle to get out of Scotland’s second tier, what do the Celtic faithful expect to see under Ronny Deila this season?
We asked the experts for their season predictions and stuck them all in one place for you to enjoy.
Here’s what Celtic fans expect from their club this season…
The Celtic Blog – James Forrest
What the fans expect: Goals. Guts. Passion. And trophies. Last season, once the team started to motor, most of us thought the treble dream might be alive. But domestic trebles are incredibly tough to win, even in Scotland, and it takes an exceptional side, having an exceptional season, to actually scale that particular height. Whilst we dreamed about it, I don’t know that many Celtic fans actually expected to see us triumph and win it.
We came mighty close. The semi-final against Inverness, which ultimately ended the run, was one of those games we ought to have put out of sight before the wheels came off and things started to go wrong. We were also denied a stonewall penalty, in a travesty of a decision which haunted Scottish football for weeks and ought to have seen heads roll.
(I blogged extensively on the bizarre aftermath of that decision, and the ensuing mess the governing bodies got into in relation to it.)
Since then the team has really clicked under Ronny and the fans will be expecting us to go one better this year and seal the deal, making everyone involved part of something special.
In European terms the troops will be expecting qualification to the Group stages of the Champions League. It might be a big ask to go much further than that though.
What they’ll actually get: I’m going to be brazen and say that we’ll do the clean sweep in Scotland this year. The team is hungry for this, and with Gary Mackay Steven, Nadir Cifcti and Stuart Armstrong complimenting what was already a damned good side (GMS and Stuart were ineligible for the latter stages of the cup competitions last year and Nadir is a new signing) we’re in good shape domestically.
Europe is a tougher call. I think we’ll make the Groups but doing anything major in them is going to be a Herculian task. At best we can hope for a third place finish, giving us a Europa League berth, which in itself would be nice. Qualifying outright? Man oh man … if wishing made it so … I just don’t see it this time around. A year too early maybe, and we still lack that one qualify finisher who can take chances at that level and propel you onward.
One to Watch: Oh that’s easy. We have some extremely strong players in the midfield, guys who could go and play anywhere. (No joke, I really think they’re special.) Aside from our captain, Scott Brown, the others are really coming into their own. Nir Biton has blossomed into the kind of guy who was attracting Man City a few years ago, and he will be hugely important. Stefan Johansen is one of my favourite players at Celtic Park, a consummate passer of the ball, who gets forward but can do a defensive job as well. He is going to be a huge star.
But it’s Stuart Armstrong who excites me the most. He’s 23, he’s got a tremendous work ethic and he is classy. He can pass a ball, shoot from distance, he moves across the pitch almost effortlessly. His signing, late last year, was the one a lot of the bloggers had lobbied for on and off for a few years and we were delighted that the club made its move.
He is well worth keeping an eye on.
Predictions: A domestic treble, the Group stages of the Champions League … ending up in the Europa League quarter finals. That’ll be a success story beyond what most Celtic fans hope for … but I think it’s achievable, especially depending on what happens in January. If we get to the Groups and find a way to stay in Europe with the current squad there’s no excuse for not breaking out the cheque book.
Visit: The Celtic Blog
Video Celts – @VideoCelts
What the fans expect: Winning the treble and reaching the group stage of the Champions League
What they’ll actually get: Win the Premiership and Scottish Cup, reach group stage of Champions League
One to Watch: On loan Luke Donnelly
Predictions: Donnelly will be Championship Player of the Year
Visit VideoCelts.com
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On Fields Of Green – @LaytonBhoy
What the fans expect: Last season the club’s supporters had no great expectations; we were watching a team in transition and we knew that. As the season wore on we started to dream about a domestic treble though and that, I think, is what the supporters will be expecting this year.
We also failed to progress in the Champions League, suffering those two calamitous knockouts, one after being reinstated in the competition. The supporters expect progress on that front too, provided we get through tomorrow night in Azerbaijan.
What will they actually get?: Odd as it may seem, this season they actually stand a chance of hitting those targets. It’s no longer a team in transition for one, and the manager appears to have learned from the mistakes me made last season. In spite of all the changes at the club in the 2014-15 campaign, we actually did come exceedingly close to doing the clean sweep in Scotland; losing in the cup semi-final to Inverness prevented us going all the way.
Europe will be the tougher campaign, but even there I see signs of progress.
One to Watch: Easy one. Stuart Armstrong. A fantastic signing, with all the talent in the world. He compliments what was already a very strong Celtic midfield. I’m really excited about this guy and can’t wait to see him when he’s fully up to speed with the demands of the club.
Predictions: The treble will be wrapped up nicely. We’ll still be in Europe by Xmas… and we’ll still be waiting on the club spending more than £3 million on a player when this season is over. Forgive me for that cynicism, but I’ve been here too often before to doubt it.
David Lloyd, the former England batsman and coach turned TV commentator, made 15 on his return for Accrington against Haslingden in the Lancashire League but couldn’t help his team to victory. His comeback was delayed by rain last week.However, Lloyd managed to hold a sharp catch to remove David Bandy, the Western Australian batsman, for 60. He then walked to the crease after two wickets had gone in two balls, but was unable to haul his team across the line when he fell sweeping for 15. “It was a good 15,” he said during a commentary stint on .”It was a good pitch and a great atmosphere,” he told the . “The fans who came to watch saw two good teams and a lot of runs, it’s just a shame we couldn’t edge it.”Lloyd’s son, Graham, who played one-day internationals for England made a rapid 78.
The Dolphins have contracted Quinton Friend for the 2007-08 season after Duncan Brown’s retirement last season to pursue business interests.Friend, who took 95 wickets in 32 first-class matches at 23.89, was acquired by the Dolphins after he was released by the Cape Cobras.Cassim Docrat, the Dolphins chief executive, told Supercricket that they were still negotiating with Jon Kent. The Dolphins would be led by Ahmed Amla next summer and would have the experience of players like Dale Benkenstein, Lance Klusener and Doug Watson. Hashim Amla, Andrew Hall and Shaun Pollock would also play for the Dolphins when available.Dolphins squad: Ahmed Amla (capt), Yusuf Abdullah, Dale Benkenstein, Quinton Friend, Robert Frylinck, Ugasen Govender, Imraan Khan, Lance Klusener, Johann Louw, Saidi Mhlongo, Tyron Pillay, Darryn Smit, Kyle Smit, Morne van Vuuren, Doug Watson. Cricket South Africa contracted players: Hashim Amla, Andrew Hall, Shaun Pollock.
The first step in Andrew Flintoff’s currently hypothetical plan to play Australian club cricket in preparation for the Ashes has been cleared with Cricket Australia saying there are no rules to prevent the move. David Graveney, the England chairman of selectors, “mischievously” suggested the scenario in a bid to help Flintoff recover from ankle surgery that is expected to rule him out for the next three months.The upshot of the injury is Flintoff would have minimal match practice before England’s defence of the Ashes starting on November 23, and team management is considering more lead-up games as well as the club option. Three state associations – Queensland, New South Wales and South Australia – would not stop Flintoff or any other returning England player from appearing in their grade competitions.”Having Flintoff and those blokes play would certainly give club-land a massive boost,” Graham Dixon, the Queensland Cricket chief executive, said in . “It would toughen up the competition and give grade players exposure against the best in the world.”While many Australian supporters would feel the situation unbelievable despite the English county system assisting their players for decades, David Gilbert warned against critics getting “too precious”. “At the end of the day we are in the entertainment business and people have paid good money to see the best players,” he said.A Cricket Australia spokesman told the situation was still hypothetical. “We haven’t been approached and it’s an area that would be looked at by the state associations,” he told the agency. “There are no statutes that we are aware of that would prevent it from being possible.” Craig White, the former England allrounder, used the Adelaide grade competition to warm-up for the 2002-03 Ashes.
Mark Ealham’s 34 not out gave Nottinghamshire the edge by the end of a manic day at Trent Bridge on which 18 wickets fell. After winning the toss and batting, Surrey were skittled by Greg Smith, who claimed three wickets for four runs, including Rikki Clarke and Jon Batty for ducks. Mark Ramprakash retaliated with a gutsy 42, but Surrey’s total of 136 seemed inadequate, until it came to their turn to bowl. Martin Bicknell bagged his brother Darren for a second-ball duck, and had taken 4 for 42 by the close as Notts limped to 185 for 8.Only 30 overs were possible on the first day of Sussex’s match against Gloucestershire at Hove. Sussex won the toss and batted first, and were indebted to a solid opening knock from Richard Montgomerie, who clung on in difficult conditions as four wickets fell at the other end. Steve Kirby took the notable scalps of Matt Prior and Chris Adams, as Sussex closed on 97 for 4.
Division Two
Darren Gough cemented his side’s advantage with two wickets in his first four overs, as Leicestershire closed on 12 for 2 in reply to Essex’s Ronnie Irani-inspired 297. Irani top-scored with 97, falling three short of his second hundred of the season and the 24th of his career, one of David Masters’ four wickets in the innings. His efforts lifted Essex from an early rut – they had at one stage been 57 for 3 after Andy Flower had become the first of Ryan Cummins’ three wickets. Alistair Cook contributed a solid 62 at the top of the order, while Andre Adams’ hard-hitting 32 from 40 balls lifted them from a dicey 213 for 6. But once Gough had made his mark on the top of Leicestershire’s batting, Essex’s position was looking much healthier.Paul Collingwood chose the ideal moment to stake his claim for an England Test recall, by carting a Somerset attack including Andy Caddick all around the ground at Taunton in front of David Graveney, the chairman of selectors. With speculation surrounding the make-up of England’s second-Test squad, Collingwood finished unbeaten on 181 from 268 balls, with 24 fours and a six, as Durham closed on a hefty 345 for 3. He dominated both of the big stands of which he was a part, 142 for the second wicket with Mike Hussey (63), and 152 for the third with Gordon Muchall (57), to put pressure on the England batting line-up that crumbled so feebly at Lord’s this week. Somerset stuck to their task, with Caddick taking two wickets, but Durham have their sights firmly fixed on first division action.Phil Jaques and Anthony McGrath put Derbyshire’s bowlers to the sword at Headingley, adding 310 for the third wicket to leave Yorkshire on a commanding 419 for 3 at stumps. McGrath made 134 but the star of the show was Jaques, who finished unbeaten on 217, and needs another 27 runs tomorrow to pass his career-best. The pair came together at a wobbly 29 for 2, after Matthew Wood and Joe Sayers had fallen cheaply, but that was as good as Derbyshire’s day got.
Hampshire’s National League match against Worcestershire at The Rose Bowl was abandoned without a ball being bowled, thus denying the home crowd a chance to see Kevin Pietersen in action. Both teams now have 14 points.
The Sir Vivian Richards Foundation was launched in Viv’s native Antigua on Saturday night (April 10), with a gala dinner at the Crystal Palace Ballroom at the Royal Antiguan Hotel.More than 300 guests attended the launch, with the proceeds going to theFoundation. There was also a raffle and a memorabilia auction – with a bat signed by the West Indian and England players from the current series – which helped ensure that the Foundation got off to a healthy start.The Foundation, which is licensed in Antigua & Barbuda, will promote self-awareness among the youth and will help young people, particularly among theunder-privileged, achieve their goals. Sir Vivian said that assistance would not be limited to the youth of Antigua& Barbuda.Sir Vivian, one of cricket’s all-time greats and now the chairman of the West Indies selectors, was on hand at the function, which was billed as "An Evening with Sir Vivian Richards and Other Cricketing Greats". One of the highlights was a question-and-answer session involving Viv and his great friend and former Somerset team-mate Ian Botham.
St.Kilda batsman Michael Klinger has been recalled to the Victorian Bushrangers side to take on the Tasmanian Tigers in tomorrow’s Pura Cup clash in Hobart. Prahran legspinner Bryce McGain makes way for Klinger in the only change to the side that defeated NSW in December.Klinger is second to Prahran’s David Hussey among all runscorers in VictorianPremier Cricket this season at an average of over 80 and according to David Hookes, has earned his recall. "He’s played some very consistent cricket this season and has scored heavily in both the Premier and ACB Cup competitions. The selectors believe he’s ready to transfer that form into first-class ranks".Bushrangers captain Shane Warne was not considered for selection, Hookes sayingthe match did not fit into Warne’s recovery plans. "Shane’s recovery from Friday’s ING Cup match was very encouraging, however both the medical staff and state selectors felt a four day match would place too much workload on Shane’s shoulder at this stage of his rehabilitation".Details for the match are as follows:TASMANIAN TIGERS v VICTORIAN BUSHRANGERS Wednesday, January 15 – Saturday, January 18 Bellerive Oval, HobartBushrangers Darren Berry (c), Jason Arnberger, Matthew Elliott, Ian Harvey, Shane Harwood,Brad Hodge, Mathew Inness, Michael Klinger, Michael Lewis, Jon Moss, GraemeRummans, Cameron WhiteTigers Jamie Cox (c), Sean Clingeleffer, Michael Dighton, Michael DiVenuto, XavierDoherty, Andrew Downton, Adam Griffith, Scott Kremerskothen, Daniel Marsh,Scott Mason, Ben Oliver, Damien Wright