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Newlands season ticket renewals commence at the offices of the WPCA on Monday and continue till 21 September 2001.New sales commence on Tuesday 25 September 2001 when a restricted number of tickets go on sale to the general public. Comprehensive season tickets cost R725. Ground admission tickets cost R525. Tickets are available from the offices of the WPCA during the hours of 09H00 Monday to Thursdays and from 09H00 to 12noon on Friday during September. Season tickets sales to the general public close on 5 October 2001. Further information available from Otto or wendy at the WPCA’s offices on telephone number 6836420.General ticket sales commence on 11 October 2001 at any branch of Computicket.

Ricky Ponting says Stuart MacGill is the obvious choice to step into Shane Warne’s shoes for the first Test against Sri Lanka. MacGill is due to have a fitness check before New South Wales play Queensland in the Pura Cup on Friday, which is his last opportunity to prove he is ready after a pre-season knee operation.Australia open their Test season at the Gabba on November 8 and Ponting expects MacGill to be there if he completes the four-day fixture. “He’s the obvious choice to take over from Shane, he’s on 198 Test wickets now, and he’s got them as quickly [in 40 Tests] as anyone in the history of the game,” Ponting told AAP.”If Warne hadn’t been around Stuart would have taken a lot of wickets. And if you look at him, he probably would have fitted in to most other Test teams around the world over the last eight or 10 years.” If MacGill doesn’t make it to Brisbane Australia will have to look at the merits of Dan Cullen, Brad Hogg or a four-man pace attack.The opening batting spot is also being strongly contested and Justin Langer believes Brad Hodge’s only chance of making the team is at the top of the order. “Brad Hodge is too good a player not to be playing Test cricket,” Langer said in the Age. “He has never opened [in Tests] before but he would have to open against us if he is to be any chance.”Australia’s middle order of Michael Hussey, Michael Clarke, Andrew Symonds and Adam Gilchrist is settled and Hodge has had to consider a promotion. “I’ll be trying my best to get my hands on it,” Hodge said, “but if I don’t, then back to the drawing board and we’ll see what happens from there.”Hodge, who struggled in the one-day series in India, has one major opponent in Phil Jaques, who has started the season in excellent form. Jaques has already played two Tests in the position and Langer said he had an edge. “Talent is about making runs,” Langer said, “and he knows how to do that.”

First Division

Nottinghamshire wrapped up a seven-wicket win against Lancashire at Trent Bridge as Adam Voges and Mark Wagh steadied them following an early wobble against Sajid Mahmood in his first over of the day. Mahmood trapped Paul Franks lbw with a marginal decision then demolished Matthew Wood’s stumps to give Lancashire a sniff at 36 for 3. But Voges shut the door on them with 14 boundaries in his 60-ball innings alongside the composed Wagh. The 18-point victory consolidates Nottinghamshire’s position at the top of the table, an unlikely situation given the pre-season talk of them being likely relegation candidates. Stuart Law, the Lancashire captain, wasn’t impressed with the pitch which saw 20 wickets fall on the opening day. “I wouldn’t mind playing on a wicket that doesn’t go up and down and round corners on day one,” he told “It sort of makes batting quite difficult, we probably didn’t bat well enough but things lead to our demise.”Hampshire have given themselves a chance of victory against Surrey at The Rose Bowl despite being a bowler down due to Chris Tremlett suffered from back spasms. He was unable to bat as Hampshire added a 23 more runs to trail by 51 on first innings, but the remaining bowlers made swift inroads to leave Surrey 202 ahead with three wickets in hand. Dimitri Mascarenhas took two, including Mark Ramprakash for 9, before Sean Ervine claimed three middle-order scalps. Mark Butcher played round a straight ball while Usman Afzaal was well caught by Tim Burrows, the second-team keeper standing in for the injured Nic Pothas. However, from 74 for 7 Surrey were given a lifeline as Jimmy Ormond and Matt Nicholson added 76 to frustrate Hampshire’s ambitions of an early run chase.Sussex, the reigning champions, were forced to follow on at Taunton, and an early loss in their second innings left them facing a major task to avoid defeat against Somerset. Michael Yardy made 57 and Chris Adams scored 52 as Sussex struggled to 203 – they trailed by 354 on the first innings – but neither of their half-centuries was overly convincing. Adams was dropped three times and Yardy once on a rain-affected third day. They had lost Chris Nash fourth ball late on the second day but recovered to reach 100 for 1, before slumping to lose their next four for 18 runs. Ben Phillips (3 for 34) did for the top order, including Adams who was finally snared at square leg, and Peter Trego grabbed the last three wickets to finish with 3 for 49. Remarkably Sussex’s second effort started in even worse fashion than their first, with Nash bagging a pair after he was lbw to Charl Willoughby from the first delivery. Yardy finished unbeaten on 14 and Carl Hopkinson had 16 as Sussex reached 36 for 1, but there is plenty of work ahead of them on the final day.Click here for John Ward’s report of Durham‘s victory over Yorkshire inside three days at Chester-le-Street.

Second Division

Bottom-of-the-table Gloucestershire took control on the third day at New Road, where their under-strength attack troubled Worcestershire, who struggled to 189 for 9, still trailing by 255. Things started badly for the hosts when Daryl Mitchell retired hurt at the end of the fourth over after copping a bad bruise to the left elbow thanks to a rising ball from Will Rudge. That sparked a mini-collapse as Worcestershire wobbled to 52 for 3, despite facing a Gloucestershire line-up without Jon Lewis and Steve Kirby. Graeme Hick, who was returning from an elbow operation, did his bit to keep the score ticking over on the two-paced pitch with 60 from 62 balls. He dispatched a long-hop from the erratic Rudge over the boundary and managed another six off Anthony Ireland before falling to the medium pace of Alex Gidman, who had him caught at short midwicket. Steven Davies (32) resisted for a while but the lower order struggled and Rudge improved his ugly analysis with a pair of late wickets to finish with 3 for 67 from 12 overs. At 184 for 9 the follow-on was looming when Mitchell returned, but bad light ensured he would have a night’s rest before his sore elbow was truly tested.Charl Langeveldt sparked a Derbyshire fightback against Glamorgan with a spell of 5 for 22 in 6.5 overs on a day when only 30 overs were possible at Sophia Gardens. Langeveldt’s burst with the second new ball reduced Glamorgan from 345 for 4 to 384 all out. Langeveldt began by beating Mark Wallace’s defences and quickly worked his way through the tail. David Hemp had only added one to his overnight 103 before falling to Nayan Doshi, but rain arrived early in the afternoon session and didn’t relent.4th dayOnly 30 minutes play was possible on the final day at Grace Road, but it gave Leicestershire the chance to save themselves from a three-point over-rate penalty and for Northamptonshire to earn a third batting point. Claude Henderson and Jacques du Toit raced through 14.2 overs in the half hour of play as David Sales and Rob White took their stand to 145.

Scorecard
Centuries by captain Tillakaratne Dilshan and Malinda Warnapura helped Sri Lanka A to a 56-run win over Zimbabwe Select in the first one-dayer in Bulawayo.Chasing 320 to win, Zimbabwe lost Vusi Sibanda in the fourth over, caught behind by Kaushal Silva off Nuwan Kulasekara. Brendan Taylor and Chamu Chibhabha kept their team in the hunt, putting on 91 runs for the second wicket before Chibhabha was run out. Taylor fell soon after, bowled by Dammika Prasad. Tatenda Taibu, on whom a lot of Zimbabwe’s hopes rested, started off in an aggressive vein, smashing two sixes and a four, before falling to the left-arm spin of Rangana Herath for 31.Zimbabwe lost their way, the batsman failing to build on their starts – all except Timycen Maruma and Blessing Mahwire, who did not bat, reached double figures – as wickets fell in regular intervals. Stuart Matsinkeyeri’s 43 was in vain as the target proved to be beyond their means. Prasad was the stand-out bowler, taking 3 for 36, and Sri Lanka claimed a convincing win.Earlier, Sri Lanka lost an early wicket after being sent in, Perera nicking Mahwire to Taibu. But Mahela Udawatte and Warnapura added 64 runs for the second wicket at almost a run a ball to help Sri Lanka gain momentum. Udawatte fell for 43 when he edged Chibhabha to the wicketkeeper. Dilshan’s arrival at the crease upped the rate, as he and Warnapura went on to add 175 runs off 166 balls.Warnapura fell immediately after reaching his century, which came off 102 balls, when he was stumped off the part-time bowling of Taibu, who had given his gloves to Taylor. Dilshan was there to see his team past the 300-run mark, before he was caught by Maruma off Gary Brent for a 104-ball 111, which included two sixes and seven fours.

Dinesh Karthik, the wicketkeeper-batsman who was, to the surprise of many, chosen to replace the injured Yuvraj Singh, a pure batsman, for the tour party to South Africa, has said that he had volunteered to open in the Duleep Trophy in order to get an opportunity to play the new ball.In an interview to Cricinfo just prior to his departure to South Africa, Karthik said that he had asked VVS Laxman, the South Zone captain, if he could open. “I wanted to face the new ball because batting at No.7, I wasn’t getting enough opportunities,” he said, “and it clicked in the second game against Sri Lanka A”.Batting in an unaccustomed position, Karthik took time to settle, without troubling the scorers too much in South Zone’s first match at Indore. He failed in the first innings of the second game against Sri Lanka A, scoring just 5, but his fluent 95 in the second compensated for his failures. His confidence reflected in his wicketkeeping as well, taking four catches in Sri Lanka’s second innings.Prior to that, his 85 off 68 balls in the Challenger Series in front of his home crowd in Chennai was timely, as the tournament was a virtual try-out for India’s tour of South Africa. Particularly impressive were his innovative strokes, scooping the fast bowlers over the wicketkeeper for boundaries in the slog overs, proving his worth as a finisher.”It was definitely a great experience for me, playing in front of my home crowd and it was a good feeling getting runs there. Some things are very instinctive and sometimes you get these [scoop] shots. It’s not something that I had planned on while at practice.”More importantly, it has been Karthik’s wicketkeeping which has improved by leaps and bounds, and his acrobatic catch to dismiss Geraint Jones in his last one-day international would have made Adam Gilchrist proud.”Diving is something that has come really naturally to me,” he continued. “There is always the risk of serious injury but touchwood, it hasn’t happened yet. I have got feedback that my diving technique has been pretty good.”Pressure is nothing new to Karthik, and he has often been in situations where he was given just a game or two to perform, since the arrival of Dhoni. When asked how he motivated himself, Karthik said that the thrill of playing for India is enough to keep anyone going. His interaction with senior players, like Anil Kumble and Harbhajan Singh too helped him get through testing situations.”No matter who your competitors are you have to keep improving your game. The most important aspect is how hard you work at your game and also how you enjoy the game. In the end of the day, you must have fun.”And how is his relationship with Dhoni? “Fantastic,” he exclaimed. “He is a very nice person and I have often gone to him for help. I wouldn’t describe it as a big-time rivalry. It comes down to who performs more consistently. It’s important that we have a healthy competition. At the same time, we are good buddies.”Karthik may have played only three one-dayers in his short career, but his comeback is an indication that he is by no means a forgotten man and just a Test match specialist.

Shabbir Ahmed’s rectified bowling action has been found to be within the current parameters set by the ICC, following extensive tests conducted at the University of Western Australia.Saleem Altaf, Director Operations Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB), told Cricinfo that he had received communication from officials at the university who said they were satisfied Shabbir’s action, as it stands, is within the ICC tolerance level, which allows for bowlers to flex their arms up to 15 degrees from the elbow.Altaf said, “We received communication today stating that, as per the tests they conducted, Shabbir’s action is within the tolerance level. The next step is now for the university to use the results of their tests and send it as a report to the ICC. They plan to do this during the middle of next week.”The ICC will then decide on a course of action, in consultation with the PCB, once they receive the report. Altaf added, “Once they have received the report we will be in touch with them to see what the next step is. They can read the report and clear him or they can call him up before their bowling action review committee for one final clearance. In this case, an official will travel with him to that meeting. We would ideally like this whole procedure to be over before the England series so he is cleared to play.”Shabbir was reported for a suspect action for the third time in his career against the West Indies in May this year. He chose to work with Bob Woolmer, the Pakistan coach, instead of seeking help outside the country from specialists to rectify his faults. Under current regulations, if he is reported twice within two years, he faces a suspension from all forms of cricket.The ICC, however, is keen to stress that no bowler is permanently cleared. Dave Richardson, general manager ICC, said earlier this month, “All bowlers are subject to further reporting if the match officials are of the view that they have concerns about whether a delivery or deliveries conform to the laws of cricket when observed with the naked eye.”

Scorecard

A contented crowd basked in a day’s cricket at Arundel Castle that smacked distinctly of country-house knockabouts of the golden age. The sun shone almost all day (as it did in any golden age worth the name). The crowd happily succumbed to the charm of the ancient trees, the pristine marquees and the cool drinks at a beautiful ground, a picture in green and white. Sussex’s bowling, Mushtaq Ahmed aside, was on the gentle side of threatening. And in the afternoon Gloucestershire, in the very best tradition of country-house games, decided that to grind the other chap into the ground when he’s down, is, well, not quite the done thing, and allowed Sussex to keep alive a slim hope of avoiding defeat. Sussex finished the day 8 for 0 in their second innings, still 186 behind.A day of relentless Gloucestershire accumulation might not have suited the lazy mood, but it would certainly have boosted their own healthy chances of winning the Championship. They could have ground Sussex under the millstone today and started with intent. After resuming with 63 for 0, the regular tap-tap of the bat made a soothing accompaniment appropriate to the gracious ground. Only Sussex’s bowlers and their frustrated captain, Chris Adams, failed to enjoy the mellow morning sunshine: they had to fathom how to drag ten recalcitrant wickets out of a slow but true pitch, on which 300 was par. Yesterday Adams’s side had managed 106.Before a passing shower sent players and a healthy crowd scurrying for an early lunch at 1pm, Gloucestershire added 92 unhurried runs, for the loss of two wickets. In the sunshine Philip Weston rekindled memories of less careworn days in 1992 when English cricket seemed at his feet and he was voted the Cricket Society’s most promising player. He reached 81, authoritative but never dominant, before top-edging a hook and taking his leave shortly before the showers arrived.No-one thought it would matter: Gloucestershire had got bat over ball comfortably enough, any spin for Mushtaq seemed to die in the pitch and Gloucestershire, at 172 for 2, looked set for an intimidating total. They got a useful one – 300 exactly. For keeping it to that, Sussex could thank Mushtaq. At 12.20pm he stripped off two of his many layers of sweatshirts and began at the Park End. When he finally got to rest his spinning fingers at 6.05, after a marathon spell, he had the remarkable figures of 30-10-58-5. Throughout he bounded in like a well-fed young pup.At first he struggled to find his line, then he slowed the runs and then, before tea, the wickets came: Chris Taylor edged a legbreak, Matt Windows swept and missed and suddenly Gloucestershire were 177 for 4 and beginning to worry about their long tail.Sussex had the batsmen trapped in a ring of iron, with the scoring dribbling down to less than two an over. Mark Alleyne and Alex Gidman, neither looking comfortable, both fell to the seamers, and after tea Mushtaq bamboozled two more with the googly. Late slogging allowed Gloucestershire to add 65 for the last two wickets.What a man this Mushtaq is. Almost 34 years old, and with 50 Test caps for Pakistan in the past, he could be forgiven for coming to the relative backwater of the Championship, turning his arm over, taking the money and running. Instead, he has come to Sussex, the most English of English counties, taken 103 wickets to end a 113-year wait for a first Championship, and become a folk hero. Seldom have such deadly wicket-taking skills and such thoroughgoing congeniality been seen in one man.

Getting off the plane and stepping straight into English cricket’s Twenty20 Cup did not provide the perfect start for New Zealand captain Stephen Fleming’s season with Yorkshire.Playing against Derbyshire in his first game he was out for a first ball duck, and two days later he scored four off his first ball and was then dismissed off the second.While his New Zealand team-mate Chris Cairns ponders the broken finger keeping him out of action at the moment, he can reflect on 252 runs scored at 42.00 in his four County Championship games to date and 179 runs at 59.66 in his four one-day matches.Ian Butler ended his four-game stint with Gloucestershire with 17 wickets at a cost of 28.11 but his three one-day matches produced only one wicket from 22 overs at a cost of 128 runs.Former New Zealand player Craig Spearman has made a sound start for Gloucestershire with 349 County Championship runs at 38.77, including a century and two half-centuries.In one-dayers he has totalled 504 runs at 56.00, with a highest score of 153, off 123 balls, against Warwickshire.Another New Zealander, Chris Harris made 50 for Lashings in their first game of the season, against Cambridge University. Cambridge scored 209 in 40 overs with Harris contributing 50. Cambridge were unable to do better than 160 for five in their innings.Harris also played for a World XI, along with Andre Adams, in a match against the Netherlands to celebrate HCC’s 125th jubilee. Harris scored 49 not out for the World XI which totalled 225 for nine and then took five for 41 as the home team were all out for 172.Former Canterbury player Darron Reekers was a member of the Netherlands side.Among the New Zealanders playing league cricket in England, Matthew Bell scored 108 for Esher in their winning draw against Regiate Priory in the Surrey Championship premier division.Rob Nicol scored 88 not out and took three for 52 in Rishton’s seven-wicket loss to Haslingden.James Marshall’s 49 wasn’t enough to help Formby who suffered a three-wicket loss to Liverpool in the first division of the Liverpool and District competition, while in the premier division Warren McSkimming scored 27 in Lytham’s one-wicket win over Bootle.Aaron Barnes scored 53 in Colwyn Bay’s six-wicket loss to Southport and Birkdale while Brendon Donkers scored 23 not out in Leigh’s draw with Northern.Reekers’ Quick Haag team suffered a 101-run loss to VCC in the Netherlands league, with Reekers only able to contribute six runs while taking one for 32 from his 10 overs.

New Zealand Cricket today confirmed that star all-rounder Chris Cairns would not be available for selection for the CLEAR Black Caps tour to Pakistan.Cairns is recovering from surgery nearly 6 months ago to the patella tendon of his right knee.New Zealand Cricket Fitness Advisor, Warren Frost, said while Cairns had initially targeted the Pakistan series for a return to international cricket this timeframe was always going to be tight.”Chris’ rehabilitation is progressing well. He has begun running and will soon begin sports specific exercising including bowling.”Had the One Day International series been played after the Test matches there would have been a small chance of him being fit for them. However as the one dayers are first they are too soon for him to target and a Test match loading would not be a sensible way to reintroduce him to the demands of international cricket,” Frost said.After a spell overseas Cairns is now continuing his rehabilitation programme at New Zealand Cricket’s High Performance Centre at Lincoln University.

A brilliant bowling performance by Chamath Perera enabled Panadura S.C. to beat Matara S.C. by 42 runs in their Premier Limited Overs Tournament match played at Panadura Esplanade today.Panadura, who elected to bat first after winning the toss, were bowled out for 212 in the 49th over after a good bowling performance by MatarSC. M. Ramzan and F. Farook captured 7 valuable wickets between them for the south coast side. M. Silva top scored with 38. S. Liyanage (31), D. Perera (28) and C. Silva (27) also chipped in.In reply, Matara S.C. in reply did not have any answer to Chamath Perera, who picked up four wickets for 11 runs in his allotted 10 overs. Matara were bowled out 170 in 48 overs.F. Farook also had an excellent match; he scored a superb 72 in 99 balls, consisting of 9 fours and a six to go along with his bowling performance. All the other batsmen failed to impress with the exception of M. Wickremasekara, who scored 37.