The three Somerset players, Ian Blackwell, Andy Caddick and Marcus Trescothick who are part of the England camp `down under’ have sent a Christmas message back to all of their loyal fans back at home.Ian Blackwell told me: "Please you can wish all of our supporters back in the west country a very Happy Christmas and a Prosperous New Year from the Somerset trio."Whilst the two senior England players were preparing for the Melbourne Test that starts on Boxing Day, `Blackie’ has a few days away from the spotlight before the next international against the old enemy in Hobart on January 13th.Reflecting on the situation in the VB One Day series he told me: " Well, four games gone for us `Poms’ and a place in the finals beckons. I have been very pleased with my performance and contributions considering I have been carrying a couple of painful niggles, a dodgy knee, a slightly pulled achilles and sore heel which have both come from over bowling in the nets."With regard to his own selection for the World Cup he said: " Lets hope the press are right and that I have done enough to secure a spot for South Africa.I would be very disappointed not to be going. Lets hope these next few weeks before the next one dayer will enable my body to heal and also relax whilst watching someone else put in the hard yards!"Closer to home Somerset chief executive Peter Anderson and new chairman Giles Clarke also had seasonal messages for all Cidermen fans across the region.Peter Anderson told me: "This is the time of year when we should all have huge smiles on our faces, because this is a time to celebrate all the good things about being decent human beings."The Somerset boss continued: "Whilst our members and supporters were disappointed last season we are grateful for the generous attitude that they displayed to both the club and the players. We all need to look ahead and smile at the expectation of better things to come."He concluded: "I would like to wish all Somerset supporters and their families a very Happy and Peaceful Christmas."Newly appointed chairman Giles Clarke told me: "I must be the luckiest person in the world to have received the best Christmas present ever. To be appointed as chairman of a great club like Somerset is clearly a tremendous honour."The new chairman concluded: "I hope to serve you all with distinction and in thanking you for your confidence I would like to wish you and your families a meaningful Christmas and a very successful New Year."

During the last few days the Centre of Excellence at the County Ground in Taunton has played host to coaching courses that are being attended by over seventy of the most talented young players in the region.The three courses for young cricketers in the Under 13, 14 and 15 age groups were run by Keith Tomlins the former Middlesex player who is now the ECB coach for the Wales and West region of the country.The ECB regional coach told me: "These are the best young players in each of the age groups and will be coming to Taunton from places as far afield as Cornwall and North Wales."He continued: "During their time here they received coaching from a number of people including Trevor Penney of Warwickshire who dealt with fielding and Kevin Shine and Mark Garaway who looked at the link between player performance and practice."Another of the coaches involved in the courses was former Somerset favourite Tom Cartwright who even at the age of sixty seven is still heavily involved in developing young cricketers.Tom enjoyed a long playing career with Warwickshire before joining the Cidermen in 1970. During his six year stint at the County Ground he played in over 100 championship games and took 408 wickets as well as influencing a number of the younger players on the staff.The former all rounder who now lives in Neath is still employed by the Wales Cricket Board to work with young players up to the age of sixteen.Keith Tomlins told me: "Tom is an amazing character and even though he has passed retirement age he is still working as hard as ever in Wales with young players. His knowledge of the players he works with is quite phenomenal."As I stood and watched in the Centre of Excellence the Somerset `old boy’ was quietly sharing his expertise with a group in Under 14 age group that included Jack Cooper of Taunton CC, Ben Rudge of Ashcott and Shapwick and Jonathan Todd of Taunton School.

DEVONPORT, Dec 5 AAP – In a tumultuous finish, Nathan Bracken was run out off the last ball of the day as New South Wales and Tasmania tied their ING Cup cricket here today.Bracken’s desperate lunge for the crease just failed and a match fascinating in its fluctuations ended in a rare but just result.Bracken’s dismissal left the Blues all out for 228 and level with Tasmania’s 8-228 from its 50 overs.The final over, bowled by the inexperienced Brett Geeves, was hectic.Only six was needed, eight wickets were down and wicketkeeper Brad Haddin, who almost stole the match, was in full flight. Tasmania’s brave effort to defend what had seemed an inadequate total looked like failing.Haddin mishit the first ball for two, two singles followed and then Haddin scooped a catch to mid-on and was out for 70 off 48 balls.A single came from the penultimate ball to level the scores and then, with the field up, Bracken made his unavailing attempt to win the game.The climax was played out in unrelenting din as the northwest Tasmanian crowd, celebrating their one representative game of the season, roared and beat on the oval’s metal surrounds.It was the perfect end to a pulsating game in which the batsmen had unexpected trouble maintaining dominance, given the wicket was true and the ground small and fast.Tasmania, led by opener Michael Dighton’s 64 from 82 balls, got off to a flyer and the Tigers were soon into three figures with one wicket down.But they then lost six wickets for 52 runs and were in danger of not seeing out their 50 overs.Captain Jamie Cox (37) and allrounder Scott Kremerskothen (38 not out) first grafted and finally sprinted to ensure Tasmania’s total was respectable.The Blues started slowly in reply, mainly because of an immaculate opening 10 overs from Damien Wright, who conceded only 17 runs.While he took no wickets, his stranglehold made it easier for others to succeed and after 25 overs the Blues were 3-84 and struggling.Captain Simon Katich and Haddin picked up the scoring and victory looked on track until Shane Watson bowled Katich for 45.That set the stage for the final mad overs, with Haddin — whose 70 came off only 48 balls and included eight fours and a mighty six – almost getting the Blues home.Tasmania owed a lot to its fielders, who stopped everything in reach and completed four run outs.Watson, the Australian one-day allrounder who’s been so under the microscope, had a respectable day.Batting at number three, he made 25 from 34 balls and then took three prime wickets – Mark Waugh, Michael Bevan and Katich. But he also conceded 65 runs, making him Tasmania’s most expensive bowler.

It is difficult to find suitable words to describe Pakistan’s dismal performance in the opening encounter against Australia. A match so eagerly awaited by the whole nation, ended in thorough disappointment. The Australians showed the mental strength they are so well known for, bouncing back so professionally after injury setbacks and the Shane Warne affair which would have set any other team back.Waqar Younis’ decision to put the opposition in after winning the toss was a complete shocker. Pakistan’s inability as far as chasing totals is concerned, is one that has been talked of for ages, and surely the team management must have been well aware of it too? The pitch may have had some early life but not enough to warrant the decision of fielding first. Pakistan in the past has folded up while chasing meagre totals let alone the mammoth 311 set by the Aussies this time.While half of the battle may have been lost at the toss, the Pakistanis also lost the initiative they had gained early on through some mediocre captaincy. When Shoaib Akhtar got rid of Ponting, Australia were in a vulnerable position, and it was the ideal time to go in for the kill by employing Wasim Akram. Instead, Waqar opted to stick with Afridi and later on, even introduced Younis Khan. While it is obvious Younis Khan was brought on to improve the appalling over rate but had the lower order been cleaned up it may not have been a factor. It would have been better chasing a total like 250 in 45 overs had a few overs been docked, rather than a massive 310. By letting the Aussies off the hook, he allowed Andrew Symonds to put the match out of reach and that he did in no uncertain fashion.To top it all off, Waqar was even disallowed from completing his final over after producing two beamers, certainly not acceptable at this level of the game. Andrew Symonds was quite justified in being furious, and umpire Shepherd had really no other option but calling Waqar off.Even the most optimistic of Pakistan supporters would find it hard to pick positives out of the game, but its time for the team to sit down and think about what they can do in the future matches. Firstly, putting the opposition in after winning the toss would be a dangerous move if it is repeated, especially against the stronger teams.Secondly, the team structure needs analysis, as that might have cost us the game. I think its wrong to go in with five bowlers, two of them being Razzaq and Afridi who are virtually incapable of completing their quota of 10 efficiently. Saqlain’s exclusion was unjustified, and one hopes to see him in the line-up in future games. Afridi unfortunately is contributing neither with bat nor ball, so it is pointless to include him as an all-rounder.Saleem Elahi looked to be in good touch, so he deserves to be retained, to open with Saeed Anwar, who is expected to be fit for the next match. Taufeeq Umar on the other hand looked too unsettled in his brief knock. He may have brilliant technique, but in one-days he fails to rotate the strike which builds pressure, causing him to play some wild strokes. The number three position needs to be filled by Youhana, as he is the best batsman in the side on current form, and sending him in at five is wasting his potential.The practice of hiding the best batsman from the new ball is a poor one. If anyone can be expected to deal with the early pace onslaught, its got to be Youhana and Inzamam, so they must be put in at number three and four respectively.Another matter that needs attention is who should take the new ball? Shoaib Akhtar looked good at the start, but the problem is that with Waqar and Razzaq bowling first and second change there is no pressure in the middle overs. Shoaib Akhtar is far more effective in the middle overs as the pressure exerted by him helps the bowler at the other end and in picking up a few key wickets. Waqar in the middle overs is not as consistent as he was in line at length and with Razzaq not bowling as well these days, the batsmen can cash in.Another important issue that needs to be addressed is the poor over rate. The Pakistani fielders are very casual in the early overs, strolling between their field positions at the change of overs. The excessive extras do not help matters either. The bowlers can’t be expected to cut down their run ups on such short notice, so the captain must try and make sure the fielders hustle through in the change between overs, something the Australians do very well.All in all, there needs to be a lot more thinking in future matches if the team are to progress in the tournament. The team was not short of spirit and enthusiasm, as was evident early on, but that alone is not going to win us games. The captain must put in more thought, and be a little more aggressive rather than sit back and wait for the opportunities to present themselves.Ed: If readers wish to correspond with the author, please email Taha Noor

FULL NAME: Arnoldus Mauritius Blignaut
BORN: 1 August 1978, at Harare
MAJOR TEAMS: Mashonaland (1997/98- ). Present club team: Alexandra SportsClub
KNOWN AS: Andy Blignaut (pronounced “Blih-nout”. Nicknames: Blidge, Bloodclot(from Brian Lara at Warwickshire, who thought he had one on the brain!)
BATTING STYLE: Left Hand Bat
BOWLING STYLE: Right Arm Fast Medium
OCCUPATION: Professional cricketer
FIRST-CLASS DEBUT: 28 August 1997, Mashonaland A v Mashonaland, at HarareSouth Country Club
TEST DEBUT: 19-22 April 2001, Zimbabwe v Bangladesh, at Queens Sports Club
ODI DEBUT: 2 September 1999, Zimbabwe v West Indies, at Singapore
BIOGRAPHY (updated February 2003)"In my opinion he’s the most exciting prospect to come out of Zimbabwe cricket: he’s such a talented guy, with bat, with ball and in the field, and can turn a game in either discipline. If we can get him fit and playing properly, he’s going to be a real asset for Zimbabwe cricket in the years to come."This is the assessment of former national captain Alistair Campbell about Andy Blignaut, and it is shared by many others in Zimbabwe cricket. Andy Blignaut has an outstanding natural talent with bat or ball and could be a major force in international cricket during the next few years.Andy sees himself as playing a role similar to that of Lance Klusener for the South African team, when Klusener was at the height of his powers: an aggressive batsman in the lower middle-order and perhaps a first-change shock seam bowler. With the more limited talent in Zimbabwe, though, Andy was soon taking the new ball for his country.Like Klusener, Andy (as he is known rather than by his given name of Arnoldus) grew up on a farm. The Blignaut family has had a beef cattle farm near Chivhu since 1920 and Andy’s birthplace of Harare only happened because his parents drove into the capital to take advantage of the better facilities there when he was born. Their surname had its origins with the French Huguenots who mixed with the Afrikaners in South Africa over the years.Andy was a natural ball player since his earliest days, and as far back as he can remember he used to spend hours playing with a ball, whether cricket, soccer or rugby. He was born during the war years in Zimbabwe and so was assigned a slightly older black boy from the farm who looked after him when his parents were otherwise occupied. They became fast friends and grew up doing everything together, including playing ball games – only the friend’s cricket career did not develop! The cricket ball was not actually as much in evidence as the larger variety.Living on a farm as he did, Andy had to attend boarding school and Ruzawi, near Marondera, with its strong cricketing traditions, was an excellent choice. He was introduced formally to cricket when in Grade 3, and his obvious ability meant that he spent most of his time playing with an older age group. He was primarily a batsman until the age of 16, making a reputation for himself from the start as a slogger with a good eye for the ball who could hammer the inaccurate schoolboy bowling all over the field. At first his big hits were mostly on the leg side, but he later learnt to play straighter, as the original Klusener does.He scored his first fifty in Grade 4 and his first century in Grade 7 in the national primary schools cricket week, playing for Eastern Districts against Matabeleland. It was scored in very quick time and he already had a reputation for hitting sixes. He duly won a place in the national primary schools side that year; he also made the primary schools rugby team as a hooker.He did bowl as well, always at pace. In Grade 3 he remembers running up and throwing as hard as he could, until he was taught to keep his arm straight. In Grade 4 he had developed enough to take a hat-trick in a school match. Although he is over six foot tall now, he was small and light until he achieved a sudden growth spurt at the age of 17, which made his early hitting feats and fast bowling more remarkable.He spent his first three years at high school at Falcon College, near Esigodeni in Matabeleland, the nursery of so many of Zimbabwe’s Test cricketers. He found more intensive coaching there and continued to play as an all-rounder, batting at number three, his regular position until he played first-team cricket at the age of 16, and opening the bowling. He has no great memory for his performances, but can recall some feats.At the age of 14 he hit five sixes in an over, slogged on the leg side, against St John’s College, before trying to hit the final ball straight and being caught on the boundary. The previous year he had taken his best-ever bowling return of seven for seven against the same opposition. He was also 14 when he recorded the highest score of his career to date, 146 against Plumtree School.Andy also gained selection for the national Under-15 team, as well as playing national rugby and hockey. Earlier he had made his first cricket tour, for a Mashonaland Districts Under-13 team that toured England and Wales. He remembers scoring 82 not out in one match and taking seven wickets, including a hat-trick, in a match against a team from Hastings.In Form 4 he moved to Eaglesvale School in Harare, which was nearer home, and soon after that started growing rapidly. He was wisely advised to abandon his pace bowling temporarily for fear that his body might not be able to handle the strain at this stage, and so took to bowling leg-spin for a year. He had considerable success in his new style, and when his body filled out some people advised him to stick with leg-breaks. His heart was in pace bowling, however, and he soon returned to his old style. Bowling for him has always come naturally and he received little coaching in his early years, although he has picked up tips from others.He was by now playing for the school first team in cricket, hockey (his favourite sport in those years), tennis and squash, only missing out on rugby because he was too small — that came later as well. He admits he did not find much time for schoolwork in those years; he had very little academic interests, although he did pass his O-levels.He continued to win selection for national age-group cricket teams, touring South Africa with the Under-18 team and being in the squad, although ultimately not travelling, for the Under-19 tour of England in 1997. He left school at the end of 1996 and spent most of the following year coaching at Ruzawi, having kept in touch with his old school. He also played club cricket for the first time, joining Harare Sports Club for whom he played until leaving to join Alexandra Sports Club for the current season.His promise as a club player was clear enough to win him quick promotion. He made his first-class debut at the start of the 1997/98 season for Mashonaland A in their Logan Cup match against the full Mashonaland side and took three expensive wickets, those of Test players Grant Flower, Andy Flower (after scoring 201) and Glenn Bruk-Jackson. He then went straight into the Mashonaland team to play the New Zealand tourists; he did not get too much bowling to do but did take two wickets.Andy’s bowling was progressing faster at this stage than his batting, which was still struggling to adjust. He also played several matches for the Zimbabwe Board XI in the UCBSA Bowl competition under the captaincy of Trevor Penney, but his only performances of note were innings of 31 and 47 not out against Free State B.He spent the year of 1998 working on the family farm, apart from the winter when he played for Solihull in the English West Midlands and trained with the Warwickshire county team, Trevor Penney being his contact. He enjoyed a successful season there, mostly with the bat, scoring several centuries and a total of about 900 runs, but doing less bowling; he rates the league as being about second-league standard in Harare.He performed twelfth-man duties at times for the county side, and particularly remembers being called on to field at Lord’s against Middlesex and taking a good catch as substitute. Another important experience was being called on to bowl in the nets at Edgbaston before the Test match between England and South Africa, when he realized for the first time that he had the ability to get Test batsmen out.During the 1998/99 season he won a place in the Zimbabwe Cricket Academy, which took care of his immediate future. On the field of play he played first-class cricket for Zimbabwe A and Mashonaland without distinguishing himself and had a little more success for the Board XI, which won the UCBSA Division 2 competition that year, scoring useful runs and taking five for 70 against Gauteng B. He also had a spell of coaching with Dennis Lillee at the MRF Pace Foundation in Madras; Lillee assured him that he had the right action for a bowler of genuine pace, but he himself feels that to accomplish this he needs more coaching and much hard work in the gym. In the national club league he took 14 wickets for Harare Sports Club, although getting little opportunity with the bat, and it was perhaps this factor more than any other which led to his selection for national duties at the start of the 1999/2000 season.He began this season by touring with the national side to Singapore and Kenya for two one-day tournaments, mainly for the experience, but he also played in three of the five matches. He had what he called a `baptism of fire’ against the West Indies in Singapore. He was kept back until the match was almost over, being Zimbabwe’s seventh bowler used, but felt he was bowling well until Ricardo Powell came in and got after him, hitting him for two sixes. He had a better chance against India, coming on as first change and taking two wickets, including that of Rahul Dravid.He found Singapore very humid and had difficulty in adjusting to the environment there. The West Indian match was the first he had played in front of a large crowd, and he felt spurred on by the noise and excitement.In Kenya he had less opportunity, with the conditions there tending to favour batsmen on flat pitches, and spin bowlers rather than pace. He played in only the first match, against Kenya, and bowled only a single over. In his three one-day innings he scored only one run, had clearly not adjusted yet, and so was omitted from the following two matches.This was only a temporary setback, though, and he returned to enjoy great success in domestic cricket, especially with the bat. He scored three centuries in quick succession, 130 against North-West in the Bowl competition, and for his new club Alexandra against Manicaland and Winstonians. He was then selected for all three one-day internationals against the touring Australians.He took only two wickets in the matches, but no bowler enjoyed much success in a Zimbabwean attack weakened by injury and loss of form to key players. His bowling was no more than adequate, and at times he needed to learn how to bowl better to his field. He found his confidence with the bat, hitting two useful twenties of contrasting character. In the first match he showed a willingness to attack the renowned Australian bowlers, hitting three sixes at Bulawayo in his 27, and in the second match he batted very responsibly as Zimbabwe struggled and sank on a pitch overly helpful to seam bowlers. He found playing against the Australians a big learning experience, and saw from them how professional and mentally tough he would have to become to win success in international cricket.Injuries delayed his development for a while in international cricket. He did not actually play any first-class cricket in Zimbabwe during the 1999/2000 season, although he went to West Indies without playing any international matches, and then to Sri Lanka with Zimbabwe A, but he was able to do little bowling and failed to take a wicket in three first-class matches there.He was not fully fit again until halfway through the following season. He played in all five of Mashonaland A’s matches in the Logan Cup, but managed only 135 runs and 12 wickets, not a great return for one of his talents. However the selectors in this case showed their belief that form is temporary but class permanent, and the Bangladesh tourists provided the ideal opportunity for him to make his Test debut.He was an instant success against weak opposition, taking eight wickets in his first match. Since then he has been an automatic selection for Zimbabwe’s Test side, as well as the one-day side, when available. One of his most memorable moments was in one of the one-day internationals against Bangladesh, at Queens Sports Club, when he took a brilliant catch near the boundary with a flying leap to dismiss Khaled Mashud.He took longer to find his nerve with the bat than with the ball in both forms of international cricket, but when the results came they were worth waiting for. His first fifty came in the Second Test against West Indies at Harare Sports Club later that season. Zimbabwe faced a big first-innings deficit of 216, but fought back with 563 to draw the match and possibly win it had rain not ruined the final day. Andy played a major part with 92, adding 154 for the seventh wicket with Heath Streak, and looking set for a maiden century before he appeared to lose his nerve, took a wild swipe across the line and was bowled.That was actually his last match for over a year. The following season he had some niggling injuries, but the main reason was, according to others, that he temporarily became too self-important. He antagonized his team-mates and administrators with his demands and played little cricket during 2001/02, and none above club level. Instead he got involved in polocrosse and some business ventures, but received the most attention for some male modelling he did. However, he insists that this was just a bit of fun and not serious.Fortunately his hunger for the game returned, and with a bit more wisdom he returned to cricket at the start of the 2002/03 season, to be welcomed back. He opened the club season by taking eight wickets for just 23 runs for his club side, Alexandra, against Old Georgians Sports Club, and in the Logan Cup scored his maiden first-class century against Midlands, an innings that typically included nine sixes.Back in the Test team, he took ten wickets in the two-match series against Pakistan and scored a fifty. He also scored a fifty in the opening one-day international, but injured his leg and missed the rest of the series. In the Faithwear inter-provincial one-day series he did well with bat and ball for Mashonaland and scored 58 not out to win the match against Matabeleland by two wickets, when all seemed lost. Unfortunately during that innings he broke a finger fending off a high full toss from Heath Streak, and was out of cricket for a month, delaying his entry into the World Cup.Andy pays tribute to his father for all the encouragement he has received from him over the years, and to Trevor Penney, who helped him with his batting and on the mental side of the game; he also found Penney an inspiration for his fielding, a department of the game in which he takes great pride, particularly at cover and point.Barry Lake at Eaglesvale School and Dave Houghton for batting are two others who played an important part in his development. Dennis Lillee and Robin Jackman have both helped him with his bowling, in particular modifying his action so as to avoid twisting his back as he bowled and putting too much strain on it. Ironically, though, it was a muscle spasm in his back that possibly delayed his Test debut, as he was named in the squad to go to Bloemfontein for the one-off Test against South Africa, but had to withdraw. Other injuries have at times also handicapped his career, but to date he has suffered nothing very serious or prolonged.Andy sees his future in the game, all things being equal, as playing a Lance Klusener role for Zimbabwe, attacking with the bat in the lower middle order and coming on as firstor second-change bowler. It is early days yet, but Zimbabwe will be delighted if he can do so.

Division OneMiddlesex 214 and 495 drew with Essex 402 and 40 for 1 at Chelmsford ScorecardA fifth-wicket stand of 151 between Ed Joyce, who batted more than sixhours for his 117, and Abdul Razzaq (81) took Middlesex to safety atChelmsford. James Middlebrook, the former Yorkshire offspinner nowwith Essex, took 5 for 172, but they came too slowly to give his side achance of victory.Nottinghamshire 348 and 264 for 7 beat Warwickshire 222 and 390 by3 wickets at Trent Bridge ScorecardNottis pulled off an exciting home win, creeping to their target of 264with only three wickets to spare. When Darren Bicknell (81) and KevinPietersen were putting on 99 it looked simple, but suddenly Mel Bettstook four wickets in 15 balls and Notts slumped from 209 for 3 to 219for 7. But the eighth-wicket pair of Chris Read (20*) and Paul Franks(25*) inched Notts home with no further loss. Betts finished with 4 for49.Surrey 280 and 379 for 6 drew with Lancashire 599 at The Oval ScorecardSome sort of order was restored at The Oval, where Surrey werefollowing on for the first time in five years. When Ally Brown was run outfor 0 and Adam Hollioake managed just 10, Surrey were staring atdefeat at 150 for 5: but then the precocious Rikki Clarke joined IanWard and calmly saved the match. They put on 144 for the sixth wicketbefore Ward was out for 158, the fifth century in his last sevenChampionship innings. Clarke went on to 127 not out by the close.Division TwoDerbyshire 420 and 245 for 6 dec drew with Glamorgan 352 and 253 for 7 at Derby ScorecardA target of 314 in a minimum of 63 overs proved a little too steep forGlamorgan. Despite Adrian Dale’s 92, Glamorgan lost too manywickets to mount a sustained challenge, and finished 60 short withthree wickets intact.Gloucestershire 203 and 368 beat Somerset 289 and 274 by 8 runs atBristol ScorecardThe west-country derby threw up a thriller: set 283, Somerset seemedto be cruising at 204 for 3 after Peter Bowler made 50 and Jamie Cox67. But then Mark Alleyne took three quick wickets, Mike Smith andRoger Sillence also finished with three, and Somerset’s last sevenwickets tumbled for 70 runs. The last pair – first-innings centurymakerRichard Johnson and Simon Francis – needed to make 12 to win … butmanaged only three.Worcestershire 396 and 264 for 9 dec drew with Hampshire 347 and276 for 9 at Worcester ScorecardAlan Mullally and Ed Giddins – not most people’s picks to save matcheswith the bat – somehow survived as Worcestershire pushed for victoryat New Road. Set 314 in 74 overs, Hants made a decent start, withJohn Crawley making 67 and Robin Smith 77. Nic Pothas chipped inwith 48, but with Nantie Hayward taking regular wickets (he ended upwith 5 for 70) Hampshire ended up defending desperately.

Manicaland enjoyed a good day against Mashonaland at Harare Sports Club,amassing a total of 397, although only three batsmen made significantcontributions. There was no time for the Mashonaland reply before theclose.Gus Mackay captained the Mashonaland team after the withdrawal of BrianMurphy, still not match-fit. With so many absentees, especially with thenational side in Sharjah, there were many changes and a long tail. Mackaywon the toss and put Manicaland in to bat on a pitch he expected to help theseamers a great deal, which did not prove to be the case.There was a little early movement and Mashonaland took two quick wickets.Manicaland lost debutant Dion de Beer (8) and Richie Sims (0) with only nineon the board, but as usual in Logan Cup cricket Neil Ferreira hung in withhis dogged style. He found an able partner in Guy Croxford, and the pairadded 135 together for the third wicket, with Croxford (80) the mainaggressor. He looked less confident against spin, though, and it wasoff-spinner Trevor Gripper who took his wicket for 80.Gary Brent proved an able replacement, though, and finally his real battingtalent came to life. He and Ferreira added 158 for the fourth wicket beforeFerreira finally fell for 120. This began a minor collapse, Manicalandsliding from the heights of 302 for three to 316 for seven. Alex Taylorsupported Brent while the latter reached his maiden first-class century,punishing the wayward bowling with due discretion, but the second new ballaccounted for both of them.The innings closed for 397, with Mackay taking three for 57. He did notbowl particularly well, especially in his opening spell, but took threevital wickets in the middle order. Amos Maungwa took two for 33 in 14overs, the most economical of the Mashonaland bowlers thanks to hisconsistent line and length. Gripper took three for 83 in 24 overs, the mostused of the bowlers.

Hampshire gave first-class debuts to three young cricketers Dominic Clapp a trialist who had been on the Sussex books, James Bruce and Mark Thorburn (who had previously played the standard for Durham UCCE) for the visit to the Parks. The Drawn 3 day match against Oxford Universities Cricket Center of Excellence was finally finished when heavy rain led to an earlier abandonement.Chosing to bat first the Oxford captain Joe Sayers took advantage to post a five and three quarter hour century. The opening bowlers Bruce and Thorburn showed some pace with the new ball, and all the seam bowlers shared the spoils as the home side made a credidable 281. The oldest man in the Hampshire side showd his experience, Shaun Udal finally dismissing the Yorkshire born Sayers, then polishing off the tail for figures of 4-50.Will Kendall emulated his opposite number when he batted for Hampshire with a splandit 114, the former Oxford Blue smiting 16 fours in the process. he shared a 161 run partnership with Lawrence Prittipaul, then after his dismissal declared 19 runs behind.Australian Ed Cowan gave the Oxford second innings imputus, and was very unfortunate to receive a ball that hardly lifted off the ground from Udal to be adjudged LBW on 99. Stuart Airey with a late burst enabled Oxford to set a target of 290 in approximately 50 overs. Udal again finished with 4 wickets.For just a few minutes in the Oxford 2nd Innings, an up and coming young player took the field as 12th man for Hampshire, one Robin Smith.Despite a good start from Derek Kenway and James Hamblin posting a century partnership in 14 overs. Both were dismissed in quick time however and the task against the spinners on a slow low wicket was never going to be on, so the rain came as a sort of relief to both sides.

Otago cricket has suffered another body blow with Brendon McCullum’s decision to base himself in Canterbury next summer. McCullum, the New Zealand one-day wicketkeeper, will be available for selection for the State Canterbury Wizards in the coming season.A born-and-bred Otago player, McCullum has played all his representative cricket for Otago through the age groups. His departure follows on the heels of internationals Mark Richardson, Matt Horne and Paul Wiseman two seasons ago, and the allrounder Craig Pryor last summer.McCullum’s parents now live in the Canterbury area, although his father – batsman Stu McCullum – had had a long career with Otago. “My fiancee and I feel the time has come for a change of environment and I am excited about moving to Christchurch and looking forward to playing cricket for Canterbury,” McCullum said today. “I have enjoyed playing cricket in Dunedin and I am extremely grateful to Otago Cricket for the support it has shown me and contribution it has made towards my cricketing development.”Canterbury Cricket’s chief executive Richard Reid said he was delighted that McCullum would be available to play for the Canterbury side. “Brendon is a very talented cricketer and I am sure he will make a significant contribution to Canterbury cricket and the State Canterbury Wizards.”I am also confident we have the structure and support systems in place to help Brendon with his continued development as both a domestic and international player.”Otago Cricket’s chief executive Graeme Elliott said he was not surprised by the announcement, but he was disappointed. “Brendon has been a product of our coaching and development system and we are very proud that he got through to Black Cap status. We are disappointed that he has so quickly moved on to bigger and better things, in his eyes, in Canterbury,” he said.However, Otago are looking forward to the continued development of Craig Cumming, who was on the verge of New Zealand selection last season, the return of Mohammad Wasim, and the continued involvement of Jeff Wilson and Warren McSkimming in the forthcoming season.

Teenage Portsmouth batsman Michael Barnes has joined the growing list of cricketers who have been ruled out of action for the remainder of the season.Barnes was to have been behind the stumps in both Hampshire’s Under-17 and ECB Under-21 Championship side in the next few weeks.But he has been diagnosed with a form of Hepatitis for which he is having hospital treatment.In-form 2nd XI all-rounder Dean Oliffe replaced Barnes in Portsmouth’s thumping nine-wicket defeat by Havant last week and will play at Liphook & Ripsley on Saturday.A broken collar bone has put Rob Wade on the sidelines – just as the South Wilts captain was enjoying his best season for some time – while highly promising Academy all-rounder David Wheeler underwent a back operation in a London hospital last week and will not play again until next season.It appears the operation went well, though, with the powerful New Milton teenager up on his feet in the hospital ward barely an hour after being under the surgeon’s knife.Also struggling for fitness is Sparsholt captain Ian Stuart, who broke a thumb earlier in the season.