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Justin Langer and Matthew Hayden went on a roaring rampage of revenge. And Murali Kartik came in for some very special attention. By the time Anil Kumble dismissed both openers, Kartik had given away 64 runs in eight overs.In the end it came unstuck, but Australia had a plan for the spinners. It involved using the sweep, and if the ball was flighted, using their feet to get to the ball. Both tactics were used to good effect. Kartik was not allowed to settle down, with 39 deliveries to the openers resulting in 57 runs. Fifty-four of those runs came in 24 balls, as the batsmen swept and used their feet to drive the spinners. Even Kumble, who later dried up the runs, had a hard time containing the openers.

Stopping the flow of runsWhile Kartik went for runs, Kumble kept his end under some semblance of control, picking up both openers, and then getting rid of Ricky Ponting and Damien Martyn. By dismissing the top two, Kumble stopped the torrent of runs that threatened India’s aspirations for victory.Australia’s openers scored 184 runs between them to lead the assault. It wasn’t the volume as much as the manner in which they collected the runs that pushed India back for a while. Runs came at a strike rate of 77.3, that’s nearly five an over. Almost 70% of these runs came in boundaries.However, after Hayden and Langer were dismissed, the next six batsmen scored 129 runs between them in 261 deliveries, at 2.9 runs an over, with the help of 16 hits to the fence. And Irfan Pathan’s late strikes, which gave the Indians access to Australia’s tail, pushed the run rate down even further.

Northamptonshire have signed Davey Jacobs, the South African batsman, as a temporary replacement for Chris Rogers, one of their overseas players. Rogers is out for at least a month after breaking his left thumb in the Friends Provident Trophy match against Nottinghamshire last week.Jacobs, 24, is a team-mate of Johan van der Wath with the Eagles, who are based in Blomfontein. In 44 first-class matches to date he has scored 3,229 runs at 41.39 including a career-best 218 in 2005. In 2006 he toured Australia with South Africa’s Emerging Players team.”We looked at a lot of options and now we’re very pleased to have Davey with us until Chris is fit again,” said David Capel, Northants’ head coach. “I’m sure he can do a job for us, and at the same time it’s a good showcasefor him in county cricket.”Jacobs is expected to make his Championship debut this Tuesday, in the home match against Somerset.

One issue shadows Muttiah Muralitharan every time he visits Australia and no amount of goodwill, outstanding sportsmanship or law changes can stop it. While the rest of the cricket world adores Murali, some Australians have taken his action as a personal insult since Darrell Hair called him for throwing on Boxing Day 1995.They will be the ones in the crowd shouting no-ball each time he delivers from his mesmerising armoury. Sadly, they will never appreciate him. The taunts and criticism hurt Murali but he does a wonderful job of smiling it away. He is an amazing man and a treasured bowler.The treatment has led to him playing only two Tests for Sri Lanka in Australia and is one reason why he desperately wants to prove himself during the series beginning in Brisbane on Thursday. Murali boycotted his country’s previous Test tour in 2004 after John Howard, Australia’s prime minister, copied the view of many of his subjects by questioning the action.Wild cheering and support for Murali in the tsunami charity match in 2005 softened the bowler’s view on the country but unfortunately the lingering distaste remains. At a pre-Test lunch in Brisbane Murali was greeted warmly by a crowd of more than 600, but a call of no-ball still came when he was introduced.Asked about his experiences in Australia he said: “I had a bad tour in 1995 and I want to forget that because that was the start of everything,” he said. “I’ve gone past that.”In three Tests in Australia Murali has eight wickets at 63.12, which is more than 40 runs above his career mark, and he wants to prove himself to the Down Under sceptics. “I want to play in Australia and show myself,” he said. “Hopefully this time, before I retire, I can do something.”The home players are determined to counter Murali and have the added incentive of delaying the nine wickets he needs to move past Shane Warne’s Test record of 708. Murali knows the Australians play him best and Matthew Hayden was confident they could diffuse the threat.”We’ve faced him in pretty much all the conditions in the world and we’ve handled him pretty well,” Hayden said. “In a situation where he’s got a lot of incentive, our job is to keep him out of play and we’ve definitely got the skills to do that.”Murali has never appeared in a Test at the Gabba and will rely on his experience from five one-day internationals at the ground. Hayden expects the extra bounce to suit Murali. “He’ll exploit that nicely.”On stage Murali was in a bright mood, remembering the first time he bowled to Allan Border, who thought he was a legspinner and could not work out why he was playing and missing. Murali also said the Sri Lankan team would not copy the on-field verbal tactics tried by India during the one-day series last month.”We want to play decent cricket … not like the Indians,” he said before laughing. “We want to play our game, try to challenge Australia and have a good game.”Chaminda Vaas, the opening bowler, agreed with his team-mate. “We’re not Indians, we’re not going to play like the Indians,” he said. “But when it comes to cricket you have to play aggressive cricket and we are here to play good and smart cricket.”Sri Lanka did not use Murali during the tour game against Queensland but he spent a lot of time in the nets and drew a crowd whenever he bowled. His name (even if there isn’t universal agreement on how to spell it) deserves to be on the trophy Australia and Sri Lanka will battle for over the next two Tests.

All rather quietly, Zimbabwe’s national league started last week, overshadowed by the board’s secret annual general meeting.The national league is now being played under a new two-day format though it has done little to spice up the image of the flagging tournament. Although all the national sides are taking part, matches have been so one-sided that they have offered little of real value to the selectors.Despite some obvious talent in clubs, most of the participants in the league are very young and in need of guidance from more experienced players: the average age of players is 20. Except for a few older players, such as Gary Brent and the returning Ray Price, there is almost nobody over 25 in Zimbabwe domestic cricket, a state of affairs reflected in the national side.Sources says the national league is likely to act as a feeder for the Logan Cup, the country’s first-class competition, which itself has been hit by falling standards and may also undergo an overhaul.The Logan Cup was put on hold as Zimbabwe was preparing to play in South Africa’s SuperSport Series, a plan which fell through because of the reluctance of the franchises to take time to play an additional fixture in Harare. However, the Zimbabwe board has been assured by their South African counterparts that they will “definitely play” in the domestic limited-overs and Twenty20 events.

Old Tauntonians & Romsey have one hand on the Southern Electric Premier League, Division 2 championship trophy after beating St Cross Symondians by 20 runs in their top of the table clash at Romsey.The victory means OT’s are within six points of the title, which they ought to wrap up at Gosport – who are still in deep relegation trouble – on Saturday.OT’s recovered from the shock of losing Charles Forward, their prolific left-hand opener, to Stuart Charman’s first ball and went on to post 222-7.Raj Niak (86), who scored eight boundaries and a plethora of one’s and two’s, shared a significant second-wicket partnership with Jodey Brown (49), and added useful runs with Max Smith (20) and Ian Tulk, who hit a quick-fire 18.Will Mariner (4-36) bowled St Cross back into the frame – only for a top-order batting failure to cost the visitors dear.The combination of Jeremy Ord (5-28 and wicketkeeper Keith Trodd, who snapped up four victims, had St Cross rocking at 23-3, and later 99-7.But Marc Rees (48) and Stu Charman (51) almost turned the match on its head, adding 73 for the eighth wicket as OT’s were forced on to the back foot.But the return of Ord, who celebrated his first SPL five-wicket haul, reduced St Cross from a threatening 172-7 to 185 all out.Sparsholt threw themselves a lifeline in the danger zone with a 30-run win at now-relegated Purbrook – but they still need to beat Burridge on Saturday to make sure of safety.The win lifted Sparsholt above Gosport Borough and United Services, who were both beaten.Sparsholt’s positive 53-0 became an uncertain 62-3 after a miserly 3-19 new ball spell by Wayne Musselwhite.Nick Boxall (50) did much to boost Sparsholt’s prospects and received useful lower-order support from Jez Lawson, Ollie Kelly and Andy Lang (20 not out) before the visitors were dismissed for 192.Lang, who finished with 4-33, made his mark with a couple of early blows – Purbrook slipping to 47-4 before Mike Hennessy (51 not out) gave the innings some substance.But last year’s Premier 3 champions continued to lose wickets regularly and were dismissed for 162, Lawson finishing with 3-45.Lymngton’s 54-run win at United Services – created by a superb individual performance by Glyn Treagus – certainly helped Sparsholt’s cause.Treagus, who hit 152 for Dorset against Wiltshire the previous weekend, hit 100 and took 3-32 for Lymington.He shared a 151-run second-wicket stand with Danny Peacock (84) before Ben Craft’s unbeaten 61 helped Lymington post a formidable 288-6.Pete Andrew, playing his first match of the season after returning from Royal Navy duties in the Gulf, held US together with a battling 76, scored out of 114-6.Only Paul Barsby (67) made much of a fight of it thereafter as US closed at 234-9.Neil Cunningham hit an unbeaten 113 and enjoyed a 162-run second-wicket romp with Dave Jackson (70) as Burridge piled up 268-4 (Paul Friedrich 44) against Gosport Borough.Only Andrew Watkins (69) and Stewart Magee (45) responded as Friedrich (3-36) and Andy Ford (3-66) kept Gosport to 217-8.Easton & Martyr Worthy’s top three ran amok at The Quarters, where Hursley Park finished 16 runs short chasing a formidable 266-9.Shaun Green (70), Francis Gill (64) and Ashley Spencer (51) had 215-2 on the board before Hursley’s bowlers started making any inroads.Spinner Sandip Halder (3-60) did his bit before helping Adrian Aymes (84) put Hursley in a decent position at 171-3.The Park needed 110 off the last 20 overs and appeared on course until Halder (51) was run out at 229-8.Ross Cambray hit out before Hursley were dismissed for 250 with ten balls still remaining.

New Zealand’s harder attitude is proving the key difference in the National Bank One-Day International Series with India and their five-wicket win in Christchurch today has given them a 3-0 lead in the seven-match series.Again the pitch at Jade Stadium, proved like all but Napier’s in New Zealand this summer, to be what New Zealand captain Stephen Fleming described as “challenging”, although there was nothing to suggest that more batsmanship could not have netted India far more than 108 in their innings.New Zealand showed in their chase, which took only 26.5 overs, that sometimes a positive approach can work wonders and that is what has helped this side into the rare position of being 3-0 up against a top-level rival.One over of attack from Nathan Astle demonstrated the difference in attitude. He took 22 from Javagal Srinath’s third over, with five fours and a two. Astle had told skipper Fleming over the lunch break that he was going to have a dip and Fleming was delighted.It certainly left no chance for the sort of capitulation that saw New Zealand lose seven wickets when chasing the same total in the first match of the series in Auckland.Astle’s assault wasn’t the New Zealand record for hitting, that is held by Lance Cairns who took 26 off an over bowled by Vinod John in Colombo in 1983/84, but it is thought to be the second best by a New Zealand batsman.There was some encouragement for New Zealand in Astle’s hitting and also the lengthy stay in the middle by Craig McMillan.McMillan has scratched around the practice nets and match strips throughout New Zealand this summer in a bid to find something approaching form.Signs were in Christchurch tonight that he might have found the missing link. Not that it was a situation resolved with an innings of earth-shattering brilliance. Rather it was an innings where a few boundaries hit around cricket’s compass lightened the load that is borne with repetitious failure.It was an innings where the sure knowledge that he was on top of his problems would have seen him unbeaten at the end. That wasn’t to be as he drove a ball from Ajit Agarkar to Mohammad Kaif in the covers to be too easily dismissed to leave New Zealand 92 for five wickets. He had scored 22 off 45 balls, but probably most important of all, he spent 76 minutes in the middle.India’s batting, by comparison, is crumbling in a heap. This pitch was not one responsible for a score of 108.This was an innings played out by batsmen lacking not only form, but also substance. The Indian confidence has clearly evaporated and it is difficult to wonder how they can possibly regain it before they head for home.New Zealand’s bowling was accurate but it was not menacing. Daryl Tuffey was treated to the respect to which he is now entitled. He became the best New Zealand performer against India with his performance of two for 11 from his 10 overs while Paul Hitchcock achieved his best figures in an ODI with three wickets for 30 runs.The danger for New Zealand, as they look to the World Cup is that they figures they are achieving are being inflated by the lack of application of Indian batsmen who seem more intent on surviving this tour with body and soul intact and ensuring their passage to South Africa.There can surely be no other reason for the inability to at least work the ball around for at least a score of 180.In the history of one-day contests in New Zealand there has never been such a poor run of results by one side. The previous one was the 1993/94 series when New Zealand were mesmerised by Wasim Akram and Waqar Younis when they were in their prime, but even they managed scores higher than what India are achieving.Another problem for India is that with the low scores, it’s bowlers are not getting an opportunity for consistent bowling under pressure. In this game Srinath bowled eight overs, Zaheer Khan bowled nine and Ajit Agarkar 8.5, but that was about all. They are forced into more defensive mode without the opportunity for bowling at a large total.At least one thing working in India’s favour was an improved fielding performance, although anything would have to be better than the Napier episode.It was yet another disappointing match in a series which is failing to live up to the expectations of entertainment, and the hope has to be that India can find suitable inspiration from the surroundings they will find in Queenstown to keep this series alive until at least a little further down the road.

Andrew Hall’s contract has not been renewed by the Titans Cricket Franchise, meaning that he is now a free agent in South African cricket.Hall, 28, has played 10 Tests and 43 one-day internationals since 1998-99, and was one of South Africa’s stars on their tour to England last year, when he took 16 wickets with his medium-paced bowling and contributed a Test-best 99 not out to their victory at Headingley. He is currently plying his trade with Worcestershire, the county that has become his second home.”It is most unfortunate that we have not been able to agree terms with Andrew Hall and his agent,” said Brandon Foot, the chairman of the Titans’ board of directors. “We have been in protracted, but inconclusive, negotiations for a sustained period of time.Hall is perhaps the only cricketer to have been shot at point-blank range during a mugging, and lived to tell the tale. “Andrew is a wonderfully courageous cricketer who performed admirably for the Titans during the recent Pro-20 Series,” added Foot. “We wish him everything of the best in his future endeavours.”

Queenslander Martin Love celebrated Valentines Day with a double-century as his state unearthed another pugnacious left hander with a penchant for big scores against South Australia here today.Love compiled 202 before retiring hurt with a groin complaint as the Bulls amassed 5-503 declared in their first innings in the top of the table Pura Cup clash at Adelaide Oval.In reply, the Redbacks were 1-133 at stumps on the second day after entering the encounter two points behind the Bulls on the cup table.Love was superbly supported today by newcomer Brendan Nash, a short, nimble left hander with a yearning for cross bat shots similar to that of the most famous of all Queensland lefties, Allan Border.Nash recorded his maiden first-class century and then flayed a Redbacks bowling attack which wilted in 38 degree heat before finally being dismissed for 157.Love and Nash featured in a 296-run partnership for the third wicket – a record for any Queensland pair against SA – that only ended when Love limped injured from the field.The Bulls veteran came to the crease yesterday after his side lost a wicket on the first ball of the match and departed 521 minutes later with Queensland in complete control at 2-434.Love’s innings was punctuated by majestic strokeplay that returned 21 fours, complemented by some late big hitting from Nash (15 fours, two sixes).The Redbacks replied with haste on a perfect batting pitch, rattling up their initial 50 in just 45 minutes as opener Ben Johnson cut loose.But Johnson lost momentum after reaching his half-century – he was dropped on 50 by acting Bulls skipper Jimmy Maher at first slip from Ashley Noffke’s bowling and then bowled by Joe Dawes two runs later.Johnson’s fellow opener David Fitzgerald posted his half-century late in the day and was not out 59 at stumps, but SA’s hopes again hinge largely on the contribution of acting captain Greg Blewett (17 not out).

How do you fancy controlling the Southern Electric Premier League purse strings and being League Treasurer? It’s an important, enjoyable and rewarding role, but far from time consuming and onerous.What’s involved :-
1) controlling the actual League and Development Fund bank accounts (along with other signatories).
2) accounting for receipts and payments.
3) preparation of Annual Budget for assessment of charges to clubs and arranging them.
4) settlement of League expenses and collection of monies due.
5) preparation of annual accounts for both the League and the Development Fund and submission for audit.
6) presentation of accounts to Annual Meetings and reporting to the monthly Management meetings.
It’s a role that would probably be ideal for a cricketer, or club member, embarking on a career in the banking or accountancy world and who would relish the opportunity of practical experience in treasurership.A responsible approach to handling third party funds is required, but the volume of book-keeping is not onerous.If you are interested, then have a word with our retiring treasurer Brian Funnell (01264 889793) who will be pleased to provide more information.

Ahead of the Old Trafford Test, Michael Vaughan went out on a limb and admitted that he agreed with those who were referring to Andrew Flintoff as the world’s best cricketer. Flintoff has played only one Test on his home ground, and is guaranteed a hero’s welcome when we takes the field against West Indies in the third Test.Vaughan didn’t hold back when asked about the man who has averaged 47 with the bat and 30 with the ball in his last 16 Tests. “At the minute he’s on the crest of a wave, he’s playing exceptionally well,” said Vaughan. “People talk about him being a powerful hitter, but not a lot of people mention what a good technique he has.”The crowd here will obviously go mad when he goes out to the wicket, but he’s got to try to control his emotions and if he can do that, the way he’s playing he’ll get another big score.”Flintoff’s ability to belt the cover off a cricket ball was never in doubt, but in recent times, he has tempered that with commendable discipline. Where he once got out going for one shot too many while playing to the gallery, he now plays himself in before causing the bowlers grief. Evidence of that was served in the second Test at Edgbaston, when he slammed an audacious 167 to inspire another rout of the West Indies.Vaughan was in no doubt that increased restraint had made Flintoff a more lethal proposition. “That’s the progression of Freddie over the last year,” he said. “A year or so ago, he’d be the first to admit when the crowd roared he’d try and hit the first ball out of the ground for six, get 20-odd and then get out.”He’s learned a hell of a lot from that and his experiences. Someone mentioned the other day that he’s the best cricketer in the world at the minute and I’m certainly not going to argue with that.”For Vaughan, the cherry on top has come in the shape of Flintoff’s bowling. With an ankle injury restricting him to short bursts, he has been used as a strike bowler, rather than in the tourniquet role that he used to perform. And at Edgbaston, it paid rich dividends, with Flintoff accounting for both Brian Lara and Ramnaresh Sarwan. Of course, the true test of his calibre will come next summer, when certain visitors arrive wearing baggy green caps.