With six weeks left for the World Cup, the South Africans are bracing themselves to the fact that the big event will be upon them soon and they have a job in hand to show to the world and prove that this was the best that ever was.Fifty-four matches are to be played starting from Feb 9 at various centres which include already established venues and the one’s which are still in the process of being rebuilt and renovated.The one-day series against Bangladesh, Sri Lanka and the Tests against them were taken as a dress rehearsal and experiment to assess the security arrangements and crowd management. The series against Pakistan isalso being treated as such. But there is a lot to be desired. Nearer to the event, the organisers say that all things will be in order to make it a success.In the one-day games that Pakistan played recently, strict security was in evidence. Security guards, stewards, metal detectors, searching of bags, all seemed to be in order. And plains-clothed policemen mingled with the crowd to make sure that banned substances like sharp objects, whether metal, wooden or glass bottles and alcohol were not smuggled in.Like at Sharjah, there were also guard dogs with their handlers posted round the ground at Port Elizabeth where Pakistan had their only victory in the five match one-day series. The organisers say the experiment could be repeated for the safety of the crowd and players.The ICC sleuths were also seen hanging around having their lunches and drinks hoping that there presence will be a deterrent for the wheelers and dealers. Whether they will ever succeed in that will always remain a matter of speculation.The worrying thing however for some of the visiting journalists is the lack of communication facilities in the press boxes at the venues where Pakistan has recently played matches and where World Cup games are due to be played.There were no internet or phone facilities available at any media box unless one had his own dedicated phone line. Not even a coin-box or card operated phone line as was provided in India, Pakistan, Sri Lanka and also for the first time in England during the 1999 World Cup.A great majority of scorers in the box seemed untrained and agency men struggled at times to wire a correct scorecard in time to meet their deadlines.Organizers claim that when the big event comes nearer things may start to look right and a lot better than it is at the moment. The management of the World Cup led by Dr Ali Bacher is racing against time but they promise a problem free World Cup and the best that has ever been organised. Only time will tell if they are right.

Former Somerset paceman Ken Biddulph has died suddenly at his home in Amberley near Stroud in Gloucestershire at the age of seventy.Ken, who was born at Chingford in Essex joined Somerset in 1955 and played in 91 first class matches before he left the staff in 1961. During his years with the Cidermen he took 270 wickets at an average of 27.62,his best year being 1960 when he accounted for 83 batsmen.After leaving Somerset Ken Biddulph played minor county cricket for Durham for eight seasons with considerable success, and in 1963 he topped the county averages by taking 61 wickets at a cost of just under 14 runs each.Former Somerset all rounder Ken Palmer who played alongside Ken Bidddulph during his years at the County Ground told me: "Ken was a big tall guy. He was a nice lad who was great company to be with and he was always willing to help anybody.He continued: "He used to bowl massive inswingers and when I first came to Taunton I couldn’t bowl that ball so during one winter he showed me how and I really appreciated that."Right up to the end of his life Ken was involved in coaching cricket. He was still bowling in the nets just before Christmas 2002 and had planned a weeks coaching course in April 2003.His funeral will take place at the parish church in Amberley on Thursday January 16th.

Sri Lanka captain Sanath Jayasuriya will urge his players to be on guardagainst complacency before their fourth Pool B match against Kenya inNairobi on Monday, warning that one false step could shatter their World Cupdreams.Despite easy wins against Bangladesh and Canada, Jayasuriya will make itclear that it is essential to claim maximum points in their final low-keygame.

Moreover, the skipper will stress the need to further enhance an alreadyimpressive net run rate (NRR), a potential buffer against failure in theirfinal group matches.”One wrong move and the World Cup could be over for us,” Jayasuriya told AFPnews agency before the team’s flight to Nairobi.”The situation in our group is such that we need to win well and improveour net run rate,” added Jayasuriya.”With four teams in the fray, it could boil down to who has a betterrun-rate. We were aware of that when we went into the game against Canada.”In fact, barring a shock loss against the Kenyans, who will now be eyinga place in the Super Sixes having claimed four points against New Zealand,Sri Lanka’s progression to the second round appears assured.

Their massive 3.17 net run rate is the best in the tournament and fargreater than the other Pool B contenders, providing a safe cushion shouldany banana skins lie ahead.Two months ago Jayasuriya might have jumped at a second or third place spotin Pool B but expectations have risen so much that he’s now eyeing a cleansweep.”We want the top the group and take forward as many points into the SuperSix,” he said. “Which means it is important to beat both the West Indies andSouth Africa.”We should not be concerned at what is happening to other teams. The aim isto win all our games.”Jayasuriya – one of the key reasons behind Sri Lanka’s unexpected New Yearresurgence having smashing three hundreds and two fifties in his last seveninnings – maintains that his side are now comfortable playing in previouslyalien conditions.

“Playing in these conditions for three months, both here and in Australia,we have got used to them and know what to expect.”Everyone in the side knows the conditions. That’s a big help and that’s whywe are playing such good cricket.”The entire team is focused on the job at hand. We help each other out bothon and off the field. The batsmen and bowlers have stuck to the task, that’swhy we have been able to make a winning start.”

Daryl Tuffey hasn’t played since the first match of New Zealand’s World Cup campaign against Sri Lanka but has been recalled for today’s winner-take-all Super Six match against India at Centurion.New Zealand is in a must-win situation and Tuffey’s revival in the selection favour stakes is almost certainly attributable to the dominance he achieved over the Indians during the recent series in New Zealand.It is a big gamble by the selection panel given Tuffey’s lack of matches and also the different conditions in South Africa.Selection chairman Sir Richard Hadlee said today: “Daryl Tuffey had an outstanding home series against the Indians recently and he has been bowling very well in the nets over the last few weeks pushing to regain his place.”We hope the dominance he had over the Indian batsman during the home series will continue in to tomorrow’s game.”Tuffey comes in at the expense of Andre Adams.”Andre has not been showing the discipline and control required when bowling at the death and as a result he has been very expensive,” Hadlee said.Also back is Craig McMillan who supplants Lou Vincent.Vincent came in for the match against Australia after recovering from a finger injury but was among several front-line batsmen who failed. With that in mind, his lack of form is clearly regarded as being worse than the lack of form which caused McMillan to be dropped for the Australian match.”Unfortunately, Lou has not been able to produce the form and consistency we expected of him during this World Cup and this has cost him his position for tomorrow’s game,” Hadlee said.”For tomorrow’s crucial match we have opted for Craig’s experience.”We have asked him to show some responsibility by playing himself in before taking the high-risk options that come with playing the big shots.”The New Zealand team is: Stephen Fleming (captain), Nathan Astle, Shane Bond, Chris Cairns, Chris Harris, Brendon McCullum, Craig McMillan, Jacob Oram, Scott Styris, Daryl Tuffey, Daniel Vettori.

New Milton realise a ten-year dream this season with a move to their new ground at Fernhill to the north of the town.The development is the first phase of an ambitious long term strategy to co-locate a number of sports onto the attractive parkland setting.The ground is in a quiet, secluded area, providing two cricket pitches and a modern, well equipped clubhouse. The main ground has been prepared to a high specification, and the Club is now able to offer facilities for representative and festival matches, as well as league cricket.Net practice facilities have been laid on, with New Milton-based Academy all-rounder David Wheeler passing on a few tips to local youngsters.Captain Steve Watts, paying tribute to the New Milton Town Council, said: "I cannot believe that there is another Council which provides so well for its sports community."In addition to the new cricket ground they have built a superb football stadium, supported the Bowls Club, and redeveloped our former ground at Ashley as a centre for rugby."They consulted us at every stage of the development. In return we have been able to make a major contribution towards the Clubhouse and the ancillary cricket facilities through grants and fundraising."The ground was formally opened by Ian Wooldridge, the highly acclaimed Daily Mail sports writer, on July 24, 2002.

All Today’s Yesterdays – May 20 down the years 1944
The Gnome is born. The popular Keith Fletcher was a fine batsman and captain of Essex, and though his Test career was a success, he sometimes struggled to impose himself at the top level. He averaged only 19 after 17 Tests, but then came a steady stream of matchsaving, and occasionally matchwinning, centuries, including 146 at Melbourne as the fraught 1974-75 Ashes tour ended on a high note. The Centenary Test two years later seemed to be Fletcher’s last, but he returned to captain England in India in 1981-82. England lost the first Test and players and spectators were bored to tears as the remaining five snoozed to draws. Fletcher was captain in Sri Lanka’s inaugural Test straight after, but was then dumped, this time for good. India wasn’t a happy place for Fletcher: he began his career as England coach there in 1992-93, and after dismissing the threat of Anil Kumble – "I didn’t see him turn a single ball from leg to off. I don’t believe we will have much problem with him" – saw England spinwashed, the beginning of a difficult two-year reign.1943
In Trinidad, one of West Indies’ finest wicketkeepers is born. Deryck Murray was a soothing presence behind the stumps in 62 Tests between 1963 – when he made his debut at Old Trafford aged 20, and snared 24 scalps in the series – and 1980. When he was left out of the Trinidad Test the following winter, locals boycotted the match and the pitch was vandalised. As well as being undemonstrative, efficient, and totally reliable with the gloves on, the boyish Murray turned himself into a useful batsman. Though he never managed a Test hundred, he made 11 fifties, four of them in Australia in 1975-76 when more illustrious batsmen were being blown away by Lillee and Thomson. He later became a significant administrative figure.1965
A shock for the members at Middlesbrough, as Yorkshire were skittled for their lowest-ever total, a pathetic 23, by Hampshire. The side included some big names: Boycott, Hampshire, Close, Sharpe, Illingworth and Trueman, but after a sound start Yorkshire tumbled from 7 for 0 to 13 for 8. Yorkshire had also been 47 for 7 in their first innings, and only a rumbustious 55 from Trueman got them anywhere near eventual first-innings parity. Hampshire needed just 20 to win; they scraped home in eight overs with 10 wickets to spare.1911
A remarkable day at Hove, where Ted Alletson and William Riley added 152 for Nottinghamshire’s tenth wicket against Sussex. That only tells half the story, though, because when the carnage ended Riley was left on 10 not out. Alleston smeared 189 – his only first-class hundred – in 90 minutes of mayhem.1956
Birth of the Australian opener Andrew Hilditch, a qualified solicitor but one who lacked the IQ to cut out the hook, a stroke that consistently brought about his downfall. Both his Test centuries came in the space of three innings, against West Indies and England in a purple patch in 1984-85, but his penchant for the fatal hook shot soon became a standing joke on that England tour of 1985. He played only one Test after that – and he was out twice hooking Richard Hadlee. Hilditch had no reasonable defence, and was dumped for good as Australia turned to Geoff Marsh and David Boon. It was strangely out of character: Hilditch was generally a composed batsman, and a responsible character – he was made captain of New South Wales after only two first-class games. He was also Test cricket’s second handled-the-ball victim: at Perth in 1978-79, Hilditch was the non-striker when he returned a loose throw to the bowler, Sarfraz Nawaz. Sarfraz appealed and Hilditch was given out.2000
Nineteen-year-old Ramnaresh Sarwan’s classy 84 not out, made in his first Test innings against Pakistan at Bridgetown, led Ted Dexter to predict that he would end up with a Test average of 50.Other birthdays
1947 Gopal Bose (India)
1963 Dipak Chudasama (Kenya)
1974 Sajjad Ahmed (Bangladesh)
1982 Imran Farhat (Pakistan)

The Pakistani fast bowler, Mohammad Sami, has signed as Kent’s second overseas player on a two-month contract. Sami, 22, will replace the Australian batsman Greg Blewett when Pakistan complete their three-match NatWest Challenge series against England later this month.Blewett, who has been standing in for his compatriot Andrew Symonds during Australia’s tour of the Caribbean, will continue to deputise for Sami in the short term.Pakistan’s international schedule has enabled Sami to join Kent on aneight-week deal – after which the club will review their overseas player policy for the rest of the season.

Hampshire’s bid to find an immediate replacement for Wasim Akram suffered a setback yesterday after they failed to sign Heath Streak as their second overseas player.Streak played for Hampshire in 1995 and scored 378 runs at an average of 15 and took 53 wickets at just under 31, but made a good impression with his positive attitude.Tim Tremlett, Hampshire’s director of cricket, said: “We have just talked to Heath but he can’t help. He has just completed a hard tour and has holiday plans before taking on Australia.”Streak’s refusal follows a succession of unlucky breaks concerning Hampshire and overseas players. Before Wasim’s departure, Shoaib Akhtar – now playing for Durham – turned them down for international commitments, and Shane Warne was unable to fulfil his captaincy role due to a one-year ban.And just to make matters worse, they have got problems with their English players. Ed Giddins, out of form and favour, has only played only three Championship matches and will today have talks with county officials to discuss his future. Add to that an injury list including Alan Mullally, Robin Smith, Shuan Udal and Alex Morris and all’s not rosy in Hampshire’s garden.

Hampshire Cricket’s day started badly with the announcement that their Pakistan all-rounder had pulled out of his one season contract due to ill health, and the rumour mill was winding about the future of Ed Giddins, and Shaun Udal pulled out before the start of the Frizzell Championship match against Glamorgan with an ongoing shoulder injury.In Udal’s absence Hampshire gave a debut to 28 year old Richard Hindley, an allrounder who recently scored a century for the 2nd XI, and with Robin Smith and Alan Mullally still injured, John Crawley took a young side out to face the Welsh county.On a hot sunny day, losing the toss did not make the day any better, and despite Glamorgan losing opener Jonathan Hughes early on it was a day of toil in the heat for the youngsters. The term “sticking to their task” would be a good statement as that is what they did.All the bowlers performed admirably, although a couple of fielding blips proved costly. Adrian Dale secured his first century of the season with a patient innings, which included 19 fours. Matthew Maynard’s class showed out as well scoring a superb 129 in which his stroke play was the event of the day. Hitting 18 fours and two hugh sixes, he batted for two and a half hours before Chris Tremlett snared him with the second new ball.Tremlett in fact took three late wickets that allowed Hampshire maximunm bowling points, and at 436 for 9 the home side should feel reasonably satisfied. It could have been worse.Debutant Hindley started well, but Maynard took a liking to his bowling, but much of the spin duties was performed by Simon Katich, he like Tremlett took 3 wickets, with the persevering Mascarenhas stepping in with two.

“Tumultuous times” was how Martin Snedden, the chief executive of New Zealand Cricket, described the last 12 months at today’s annual general meeting of New Zealand Cricket (NZC). From the players’ strike of last October through to the decision not to visit Kenya during the World Cup, NZC has had a few crises to handle during that period of time.But out of those difficult days, especially from the strike, new relationships have developed, and Snedden said he had been heartened by the recovery in the relationship between administrators. The home performance against India last summer had helped with the healing process, he said.”I deal with the Cricket Players’ Association nearly every day, as do many of the staff, while the major associations are also working more closely with them. The end result of it all has been a good player contract system,” said Snedden.The Kenyan issue highlighted how much safety and security issues had become part of modern administration. It was the case that there would be times when New Zealand’s view of security matters would be totally different to other countries, and this would create tensions. That was just a fact of modern life, he told the meeting.Snedden said while the Test performances of the New Zealand team merited their third place in the rankings, there was inconsistency in the one-day arena that needed to be focussed on. There were players of talent and ability, and New Zealand needed consistency of results to move away from the middle of the rankings and launch an attack on the positions occupied by Australia and South Africa.The White Ferns still had a large gap between themselves and Australia at the top of the poll in women’s cricket. Snedden likened the situation to that in netball where, five or six years ago, the two countries were in similar positions. The challenge for New Zealand was to close the gap in the way the netballers did this year, in taking the world title off Australia. It would take time, and the supporters would have to be patient as the gap was narrowed, said Snedden.Snedden said he felt the quality of domestic cricket was improving and the players’ contract system would help this by allowing a larger number of players to commit with confidence to a semi-professional career. There did need to be a stronger focus on playing conditions because if the work was not put in there, then it would be a waste of the good efforts happening in other areas of the game.Coaching had also had a significant boost, and the policy of sending major association coaches away with the national side would be continued, especially in the improved programme for the New Zealand A team.Snedden left no doubt about the commitment of NZC to the development of grassroots cricket through the cricket coordinators’ programme. “This is a long-term project and we can’t expect instant success with it. But I am pleased there has been an almost total buy-in to this programme by the Major and District Associations.”Out of everything we are doing, this is the one in the end that is the most important,” he said. “It is the one that resources must go into. We must get it right because we will get the rewards from this.”Snedden vowed to continue the policy of openness in dealing with the media that marked his tactical approach during the players’ strike. He said that by putting information on issues in front of the public, and letting them see the thinking behind decisions, it was nice to get a boost of confidence from the public understanding and acceptance of decision-making.He also hinted at the direction of the strategic plan, called “Pushing the boundaries”, being enacted within the next month. It was a fact of New Zealand’s geography and small population that it didn’t enjoy the resources of nearly all of its international rivals. In order to compete with those countries, it was vital that New Zealand made every possible use of its own resources.The geography and population barriers should not be an excuse, said Snedden. “We have got to drive ourselves past that. We have to extract the absolute maximum that we can and get ourselves into the mental state where we push ourselves beyond what people reasonably expect and achieve more than what people expect.”We have to push ourselves harder and harder, higher and higher, in all aspects of the game, not only at elite level but through all aspects of the game,” Snedden added. “These are really exciting times for New Zealand Cricket and we are just about there with our release of the plan. We have found through working on these matters at NZC that we are already thinking that way in our decision-making. We can’t settle for the ordinary, we have to push ourselves beyond that.”