All posts by csb10.top

At the County Ground this morning Peter Anderson the Somerset chief executive talked about several current issues.With regard to the second overseas player for 2003 the chief executive told me: "We have been talking to three overseas bowlers and at the moment West Indian Nixon McLean is favourite."He continued: "However he has been playing for Natal in the winter and the West Indies have had a rule which has been that if players didn’t play in the Red Stripe competition they couldn’t play for their country. This has now been rescinded and if he plays well for Natal he could be picked for the West Indies. We expect to confirm the situation next month."Regarding the issue of captaincy the chief told me that Mike Burns, who was the only Ciderman to score 1000 runs in the championship this season was the likely replacement for Jamie Cox for 2003, but this would not be confirmed until early October.With regard to the reported resignation of Phil Frost, Mr Anderson told me: "Verbally he has told me that he is leaving, but he has not confirmed this in writing so at present he still remains the head groundsman at the County Ground."

Zimbabwe’s Captain Cool, the unassuming Stuart Carlisle, comes across as being an open and candid individual who learns with every match that he plays and knows that cricket is the teacher in his life.Captaincy came upon him all of a sudden, as he was asked to lead the side when Brian Murphy was headed homewards. At a time when the question of captaincy was more like a joke – "So who is the captain this time around?" – Stuart Carlisle made a bold decision and took the reins of his team in his hands. Self-set goals had to be readjusted, and new avenues opened. But the journey had to continue, and the man has walked well.In a free-wheeling conversation he reveals his thoughts on the team, on the future, on captaincy and a lot more. So get that cup of coffee, sit back and let this captain take you through the thoughts in his mind.Trishna Bose: Stuart. thanks for your time. First tell me about the Indian experience. How has it been for you?Stuart Carlisle: It has been very good. There are lots of pros and cons but obviously when you lose a Test series 2-0 it is not so nice. I thought that in the Second Test the guys fought very well and I also thought that we should have won that Tes. There is no doubt in my mind that we should have won it. There were a couple of instances that went against us that I would rather not talk about. It is a bit sad that we tried so hard and the fact is that we could not finish it off, but it was a good Test.In the First Test we definitely lacked runs in the first innings, and in Test cricket you can always say that you were 30 to 40 runs short, or your tail should have added on, or the top order should have got a certain amount of run. There are lots of excuses, but at the end of the day this has been a good experience and a couple of young guys have done well.TB: This is your third series as captain. How has captaincy suited you?SC: I think that it was a big decision and I took a while to decide on [accepting] the captaincy . Eventually in Bangladesh when Brian Murphy got sent home I decided to take it on and I was not sure if I was going to be on; in fact I am still not sure if I am going to be on permanently. So I have decided to go tour by tour and do my best that I can. I have enjoyed the challenge and the team meetings and being part of the management team and in a sense preparing strategies. You learn a lot even by just talking to media and dealing with the press. You mature a lot over the years.TB: Captaining in the tests and in the one-dayers must be two totally different challenges?SC: Test cricket is slightly easier than one-dayers. It is slower and therefore you can readjust ever so often. But one-day cricket is a lot more tense and you have to make quick decisions and there is a lot more pressure. Trying to open the batting in Tests and captaining the side I find rather tough and immensely draining, but I have to get on and lead from the front because it can work for you and against you. All in all it is a big challenge.But I would not say that captaincy is easy at all. It is pretty difficult and there is a lot of stress because you have to deal with individual players. There are always different characters. You have guys that are behind you sometimes and others who have problems, and you have to deal with them. You are always involved and never seem to rest. There are pros and cons all the time – right?!TB: With ex-captains in the side and senior players too, one notices that you consulted Andy Flower and Heath Streak on more that one occasion.SC: I think you should communicate with the seniors all the time and especially with the bowlers. I don’t think you should be stubborn as a captain and I don’t think you should make all the decisions. You have to work with the team and that would help. In captaincy there are two or three theories – but you have to decide to go with one theory; that is why you are captain of the side. It is a learning curve for me at the moment and I have already learnt so much on the field settings and just from thoughts from the other guys.TB: One department that the Zimbabweans scored over the Indians was that of fielding. In the other department there is room for improvement; would you agree?SC: The fielding was much approved, definitely. We are getting the energy levels up and the urgency on the field too. The boys are encouraging each other on the field, and they are getting more and more confident. We fielded really well this series so I am happy with that.At Test level what we need to work on is our top six batsmen. They need to get one or two hundreds going and we have to get big scores. We have to be more ruthless and more positive. What happens sometimes is that we get negative and tire ourselves down a bit, so we have to learn to keep the ball rolling and keep the pace throughout the entire innings. The tail has been relatively good, so no complaints there.In the bowling, Travis Friend in particular did not bowl to his potential, as he has bowled a lot better before. Brighton Watambwa is a good prospect for the future; this was his first tour to India and I think he learnt very quickly how to bowl on these pitches. It is tough for a seamer to get the right length on these pitches. But Heath Streak I think did a fantastic job again; he has really carried this team for a long time now. It is good that Friend and Brighton have learnt to bowl on these pitches, and they should be able to take more responsibility and bowl a few more overs, and take the pressure of Heath a bit. Consistency then is the answer in both the bowling and the batting.TB: Colour suddenly seems to be a big issue in Zimbabwean cricket. The goal is to get more coloured cricketers involved. How do you view this?SC: The future, we are all aware, relies on the young black kids coming through. We have known that for a long time and we have had development programmes. In the last eight to ten years we have had at least ten international black players. But what the public don’t understand is that in Test cricket and one-day cricket – but Test cricket specifically – it takes a long time to get to the top. It has taken Andy Flower 14 years to get to number one in the world. It is probably unlike other sports where it takes three to four years to get to the top.This is a sport where you never stop learning or growing. I know that is true for most sports, but cricket in particular is very technical and experience is a massive thing in cricket. I won’t say anything further, as I am not supposed to say more. But there is not one senior guy in the side who has not tried to help any young player, whether white, Indian or black, and colour has never been a big issue in our teams in the past. But now I feel it is certainly being used as a weapon by certain individuals. But I rather not comment any more on this. Has this affected relations within the team at all? How united in the Zimbabwean team?SC: We all get along very well, but we go through transitional phases and our team is changing very rapidly, too quickly. One understands the need for change, but they have to be careful what they do, because they could scare away a lot of players and Zimbabwe cannot afford that. It is as simple as that. The camaraderie in the team in the past couple of years has been tremendous. All players get along regardless of colour, creed or whatever; this has never been a problem. With World Cup 2003 less than a year away, has Zimbabwe started rebuilding the team towards that goal?SC: The biggest thing for us before the World Cup is for our country to get sorted out, so that all our families back home are more relaxed, and we will not be required to talk about politics. The other thing is that I would like to see a lot more of the experienced players involved in the one-day set-up because the World Cup will be a very massive occasion and it is very demanding and pressurizing event. I think we lack a bit in experience at the moment but it would be fantastic to see some of the younger players come through. So I would like to see more experienced players in the World Cup squad and with Geoff Marsh our coach working on them. We need more all-rounders, for that is the way one-day cricket is going. It is vital that we have a combination of these factors and I am certain we can make it to the top six again in World Cup 2003. Finally Stuart, how much have you changed as a person with all the experiences that you have had over the past few months?SC: I am very fortunate, I have a degree in marketing and I went to university for four or five years, and I think that broadened my mind totally as marketing is what makes the world go around. So that has helped with my job, dealing with press and media. Just being able to talk naturally, for talking can be a nerve-racking experience for most individuals (smiles). All this talking and interviewing, etc., is making me become a better person who can talk more freely.Captaincy certainly matures you and before I became captain one of my goals was to better my batting averages, both in Tests and one-dayers and get them into the mid-thirties. I did not know that I would get captaincy so soon; I thought it would eventually happen, but it all happened so suddenly, and then I decided to do the best I can as a captain. I have reset my goals and now they are even higher. I just have to see that I do not crack under pressure and that I move in the right direction.Stuart Carlisle is moving all right, and for the moment he is heading in the right direction. With an uncertain future and fledgling dreams, being positive is the next best thing.

Hot on the heels of felling Alex Tudor with a nasty bouncer in the third Ashes Test, the Australian tearaway has knocked Jeremy Snape out of the international limited overs series with a short ball that broke the England offspinner’s right thumb.Snape was struck by Lee from the first ball he faced in last night’s eight-wicket win by NSW at the SCG. It was also the first ball Snape faced in Australia.Right-arm Test offspinner Richard Dawson is likely to be drafted into the England squad, but he won’t arrive before tomorrow’s day-night match against England at the SCG.England’s so-far winless tour has been ravaged by injury to leading players and Snape’s sudden exit adds to coach Duncan Fletcher’s already throbbing headache.”The injuries we’ve had on tour have all ben real freak accidents,” said Fletcher.”I don’t think there’s one where we could say that could have been prevented. You just have to be philosophical about it and try to move on.”At the end of the day it’s like anything. If you sit there and get down on yourself you start spiralling down. You’ve got to try to be positive.”What alternative is there?”None.Tomorrow’s match starts at 2.15pm.

Andrew Flintoff might be the one name whose return English cricket is desperate for, but his looming presence isn’t wavering James Anderson’s focus ahead of the first Test against South Africa.Flintoff hasn’t played for England since the Sydney Test in 2007, but has bowled himself into terrific form for Lancashire this summer after recovering from an ankle surgery in the winter. He was not picked for the first Test at Lord’s, though few doubt the selectors will resist the urge to call him up at some point this summer. For Anderson, however, Flintoff’s return is regarded “as an extra incentive”.”There’s not just Fred [Flintoff] knocking on the door but there’s also Steve Harmison, Matthew Hoggard and Simon Jones now back bowling well and players like Sajid (Mahmood) and Liam Plunkett desperate to get back into the side,” he said.”You’ve got all these guys taking wickets regularly so you know you’ve got to keep doing the same if you’re going to keep your place. It’s not just Fred we’re looking over our shoulders at, although he’s obviously the biggest of the lot trying to get back. We know he’s there but he’s a completely different bowler to me so I’m just going to have to continue what I’m doing and if they pick him ahead of me then that’s out of my hands.”Though the return of Flintoff is hotly anticipated, sneaking up on the inside is Jones. After moving from Glamorgan to Worcestershire in the winter, he has taken 26 wickets in five Championship games, nudging 90mph. He hasn’t played since his key role in the 2005 Ashes and Anderson admitted that he and his colleagues have been keeping a keen eye on the performances of former England bowlers.”When we’re in the dressing room we all look at each other’s counties to see how they’re getting on so we all know who’s doing well and what other people are doing,” he said. “I’ve been in the same situation as them when I’ve gone back to Lancashire and I had to bowl well and take wickets consistently for my county to try and get myself back in the team. I’ve been in their position and I know how they’re feeling and how frustrating it is when you can’t get back into the team, but all of them who are trying to get back into the team are my mates, I’ve been on tours and played with them so I hope they do well – I just hope I do better than them to keep my place.”He added: “We were talking the other day about how the four pace bowlers from the 2005 Ashes are now all back bowling again, fit and taking wickets.”From mine, Stuart Broad and Ryan Sidebottom’s points of view, we’re hoping they don’t get the chance to bowl again together for England – if we do keep them out of the team that obviously means we’re doing well which has to be a good thing.”

Chaminda Vaas and Chamara Silva are notable absentees from Sri Lanka’s squad for the Canada Cup Four Nation Twenty20 tournament to be played in Toronto next month, while Dilhara Lokuhettige, Jeevantha Kulatunga and Thilina Kandamby have been rewarded for consistent first-class contributions.Kumar Sangakkara, who underwent a surgery on the index finger of his right hand last week in Australia, and Muttiah Muralitharan, also nursing an injury, were not considered for selection. Farveez Maharoof makes a comeback after an eight-month injury lay-off.Vaas, who recently became the fourth bowler to take 400 one-day international wickets, was replaced by the 28-year-old Lokuhettige, an allrounder who played eight ODIs in 2005.Silva, who scored 878 runs at 46.21 in 2007, has been dropped after failing to score more than one fifty in his last 11 ODI innings; his last three scores, all against India, read 0, 0, 1.He was dropped in place of Kandamby, who top scored with 463 runs at 77.16 in Sri Lanka A’s tour of South Africa. Captain of the A side, Kandamby was among the probables for the Champions Trophy. He is seen as primarily a one-day specialist and played four ODIs in 2004.Kulatunga, 34, has been called up for the first time in an 18-year first-class career. He has been a prolific scorer in domestic cricket and in May steered his club Wayamba to a 31-run victory in the inaugural inter-provincial Twenty20 final against Ruhuna.Otherwise there are no major changes to the ODI squad that lost 3-2 to India at home last month. With Sangakkara ruled out due to a finger injury, Tillakaratne Dilshan will keep wickets.The four-nation Twenty20 tournament, also involving Pakistan, Zimbabwe and hosts Canada, was scheduled to be held between August 14-17, but was postponed due to sponsorship issues. Bangladesh were slated to feature in the tournament, but the revised dates clash with their home series against New Zealand.Sri Lanka Squad: Mahela Jayawardene (capt), Sanath Jayasuriya, Mahela Udawatte, Chamara Kapugedera, Jehan Mubarak, Tillakaratne Dilshan (wk), Jeevantha Kulatunga, Farveez Maharoof, Nuwan Kulasekara, Thilina Thushara, Ajantha Mendis, Thilina Kandamby, Dilhara Fernando, Dilhara Lokuhettige, Kaushalya Weeraratne.

Jai P Yadav has made a strong case for his inclusion in the India one-day eleven with his fine all-round showing in the Irani Trophy. After compiling 104 on the second and third days, the 26-year-old decided to make an impression with the ball on the fourth day. Bowling his medium-pace trundlers, he devastated the Rest of India batting, claiming six wickets and paving the way for their being dismissed for 292 in the second essay. This left Railways needing just 243 on the final day for sealing an outright win.The stunning Rest of India collapse came after a 123-run opening stand between Wasim Jaffer and Akash Chopra. Chopra was the first to fall after his second fifty of the match, a 59 off 116 balls. Rest of India skipper Yuvraj Singh, who followed, helped Jaffer add 47 for the second wicket before he too was forced to make his way back to the pavilion after scoring 26.Yadav, who claimed Yuvraj’s wicket, went to add another five more scalps, as the Rest were reduced to 235-7. At the same score, Jaffer, who had stood firm till then to make 116 off 321 balls, too departed, falling to medium-pacer Harvinder Singh. Irfan Pathan (29), Timil Patel (11) and Tinu Yohannan (16), then, cobbled together 57 runs for the last two wickets, as Rest got to within eight runs of 300.But with 90 overs of play remaining on the last day, it is the Railways who hold the whiphand in this contest. If they play to potential, they should run out winners and have the joy of adding the Irani Trophy to the Ranji Trophy they have already won.

There’s a familiar pattern developing at the top of the ECB Southern Electric Premier League, with Havant and BAT Sports contesting pole position.The two past Division 1 champions both won again – Havant recovering from early setbacks to beat Burridge by six wickets and BAT Sports skittling early season pacesetters Andover for 90 before claiming an 11th successive all-day win.Moeen Cheema (2-68) had Havant rocking at 39-3, in reply to an all-out Burridge total of 190, before Paul Gover (71 not out) and Andy Perry (69) turned the tide with a match-winning century partnership.Burridge, struggling themselves at 89-6 (Cheema 35), owed much to Jo Dixon (40) and Matt Godwin (37) for their eventual 190 all out.Andover‘s golden start has begun to lose some of its early season gilt – Richard Dibden (5-21) and Dan Goldstraw (4-38) skittling a weakened town side for a disappointing 90 at London Road.Only Roger Miller (27) and in-form Lee Wateridge (21) made reasonable contributions as Australian wicket keeper Michael Watson snapped up the first three victims.Andover lurched from 64-3 to 90 all out, but then had BAT on the hop, with three wickets falling for just five runs after the defending champions had moved to 31 without loss.Dependable Damien Shirazi kept his cool, hitting a decisive 47 as BAT got home, somewhat unconvincing five-wicket winners.James Hibberd hit an undefeated 87 as Calmore‘s match against Portsmouth at Loperwood Park petered out into a tame draw.But the ever improving Wiltshire all-rounder lacked any real support as Calmore closed on 177-8, well adrift of Portsmouth’s 226-9 off the full 66 overs.Portsmouth batted themselves into a strong position, with top order quartet Warren Swan (43), Geoff Pike (37), Lee Savident (32) and Matt Keech (30) all making their mark.Promising teenager Matt Metcalfe (4-46) and Allan Hurst (3-31) created inroads as Portsmouth slipped from 163-3 to 196-8 (Matt Scott 24), but a timely 24 by tailender Pete Hayward wrested the initiative from Calmore.Any prospect of a Calmore success effectively disappeared at 38-3, leaving Hibberd with the task of holding the innings together – one he performed admirably.Shaun Lilley’s undefeated 47, coupled with four-wicket hauls by Kevin Nash and John Whiting, ended Bashley-Rydal‘s three-match losing sequence and set up a much needed victory over South Wilts at Lower Bemerton.They reduced South Wilts to 33-5 in the morning session, but lost six wickets chasing South Wilts’ eventual 165 all out before match winner Lilley steadied the visitors’ nerves.John Whiting (4-71) struck the first two blows, removing Paul Draper and top Premier run scorer Russell Rowe before Kevin Nash (4-34) nailed Tom Caines and Jamie Glasson in quick succession to leave South Wilts floundering at 22-4.When Nash had Jo Cranch caught behind at 33-5, it looked as though the Salisbury club might collapse completely.But Jon Nash (no relation) led a courageous fightback as South Wilts rallied from an equally desperate 67-7 to reach 151 before Whiting returned to dismiss South African Shaun Adam (31).The pair added 84, with Nash going on to hit a season’s best 79 before South Wilts, after a late flurry by Chris Steedon, were finally dismissed for 165.Bashley’s recent lean form with the bat suggested the victory chase would be anything but straightforward – and so it proved.Former Salisbury Wanderers medium-paceman Adam Smith (3-66), extracting considerable movement off the surface, had Bashley wobbling at 56-3 (Luke Ronchi (33) and tottering again at 101-5 after Chris Sketchley had been needlessly run out.Lilley, arguably the guilty party in the run out, spared his own blushes with an unbeaten 47 which, supported by Dale Middleton and skipper Taylor, eased the nerves and guided Bashley to a four-wicket win."I had visions of another batting collapse," Taylor admitted. "But it was pay-back time for Shaun. He ran Sketch out, but went on, got his head down and won us the game."Bournemouth came within four runs of losing to bottom club Liphook & Ripsley at Ripsley Park.They totalled 218-4 off 64 overs, with Liphook closing at 215-8 after facing two overs less.Matt Swarbrick (52) and Tom Webley (35) provided Bournemouth with a 71-run start, which Dan Jackson (53 not out), Julian Cassell (26) and Alex Allum (32 not out) subsequently improved.But Liphook, with only one previous win, battled to the end, with South African youngster Alistair Gray (57) piloting his side to within a boundary of the Bournemouth total.Left-arm seamer Mark Mixer (3-34) and Kristian Wilson (2-31) bowled well for the visitors, with Tom Webley sending down an economical spell of left-arm spin.

There is a busy time ahead in the Norwich Union League, with matches coming up on Saturday, Sunday, Monday, Tuesday and Wednesday when the lights will be burning brightly.The feature match is on Sunday when leaders Worcestershire Royals take on second-placed Glamorgan Dragons at New Road. The Royals have an eight-point lead, but the Dragons have two games in hand, so the Welsh will be arriving breathing fire and hoping to narrow the gap.The Dragons will be in action on Saturday, at home to Somerset Sabres. With games in hand, the Sabres will be hoping to cut back on the deficit that leaves them struggling in the relegation zone. Also on Saturday in Division One, Durham Dynamos, who have been charging up the table, meet Kent Spitfires while Yorkshire Phoenix must be looking to rise to the occasion against Nottinghamshire Outlaws. It is a pity this game could not have been scheduled for Scarborough – so close to Robin Hood’s Bay.In Division Two on Saturday, leaders Gloucestershire Gladiators entertain Lancashire Lightning at Bristol, with the visitors trying to strike a blow for the chasing pack. Surrey Lions head that group in second place and they go into the second half of their term against third-placed Northamptonshire Steelbacks at Whitgift School. Derbyshire Scorpions and Hampshire Hawks both have 14 points from eight matches and they meet at Derby.Apart from the match of the day at Worcester on Sunday, the fur could fly at Edgbaston where third-placed Warwickshire Bears play Leicestershire Foxes, who are fourth. In Division Two, the Hampshire Hawks fly straight from their encounter at Derby on Saturday to meet Northamptonshire Steelbacks in Northampton on Sunday. Meanwhile, Middlesex Crusaders will be defending their own castle at Lord’s with Essex Eagles the visitors.Monday sees two floodlit matches with, appropriately, Durham Dynamos the visitors at Headingley against Yorkshire Phoenix and Gloucestershire Gladiators on a sortie to Hove to meet Sussex Sharks.The lights will be on at Old Trafford on Tuesday when Lancashire Lightning play Hampshire Hawks, while Surrey Lions will learn more about their promotion prospects against Middlesex Crusaders in their second match at Whitgift School.Surrey Lions move south to Hove on Wednesday with teeth bared to meet Sussex Sharks while interest will be focused on top and bottom of Division One as Worcestershire Royals play Nottinghamshire Outlaws in another floodlit match that should draw a big crowd.

After their nightmare at Wanderers and a week marred by injury concerns, SriLanka rediscovered some batting form on the opening day of the second CastleLager/MTN Test at SuperSport Park on Friday.The game is evenly poised with Sri Lanka on 263 for six after being asked to bat first by South Africa captain Shaun Pollock under overcast skies.Pollock’s brave decision on a pitch that lacked the thick grass cover seenat Wanderers was influenced by the policy of fielding five fast bowlers as the home side resisted the temptation to play left-arm spinner Claude Henderson. Whether that will prove to be an error of judgment depends on how the South African bowlers perform tomorrow morning. They need to mop up the tail quickly.Their most pressing concern will be removal of the obdurate HashanTillakaratne, who reacted to the disappointment of being left out from theone-day squad with a fine unbeaten 82. The 35-year-old left-hander was dropped once on 35, but otherwise played impeccably in a four-hour vigil that has so far produced 15 boundaries.Had Sri Lanka won the toss they would have batted, according to coach DavWhatmore, who was pleased to see his top order fight-back after their woefuldisplay in the opening Test. Nevertheless, he was disappointed by the fact that his top four all failed to capitalise on good starts.”I was pleased with the amount of runs that we scored in the day but wasdisappointed by those who got starts and didn’t go on,” Whatmore said.”The game is fairly evenly poised now and we have to carry on and get as many runs as possible tomorrow – this could be a very interesting game.”South Africa admitted afterwards that they would have preferred to have bowled out Sri Lanka in a day. They may now be ruing their decision to bowl first.However, if their bowlers had shown the discipline that they displayed atWanderers then the plan could have worked again. As it was they bowled too many loose deliveries, a fact illustrated by the 42 boundaries scored in the day.Having inserted the opposition they needed to make early inroads, however, Sri Lankan openers Marvan Atapattu and Jehan Mubarak weathered the first hour of the morning, playing and missing on occasion but looking increasingly comfortable as the session progressed.However, soon after the drinks break the in-form Atapattu – captaining the side for the first time in a Test – was caught off his glove for 17 as he tried to pull a short ball from Jacques Kallis.Jehan Mubarak, drafted into the side after Sanath Jayasuriya damaged his right ankle during a game of football on Tuesday, and number three batsman Kumar Sangakkara reacted positively to the dismissal, adding 56 in 73 balls.Mubarak, playing in his first game of the tour and only his second Test, wasparticularly impressive. The 21-year-old has a poor first class record,averaging just 28.01 after 29 games, and was a surprise choice for this tour, but he showed sufficient class during his innings to suggest he does have a Test future.Born in Washington and the son of a highly regarded scientist, he lookedcomposed and comfortable at the crease. The feature of his innings was themanner in which he left the ball expertly, but he was also quick to seize onany opportunity to score, especially when the South African bowlers erred on to his pads or dropped short.Sangakkara was the more aggressive of the pair and especially strong off theback foot as he raced to 35 from just 38 balls with five fours. However, just when Sri Lanka looked like they would survive the first session with the loss of just one wicket, Sangakkara was caught at first slip trying to force a short delivery from Andrew hall through the off-side.After the interval, Mubarak moved to within two runs of a deserved maiden fifty, but perished when Pollock – the pick of the South African bowlers -produced a well-directed outswinger that caught the edge of the left-handersbat.With Sri Lanka on 108 for three another middle-order collapse appeared possible, but Mahela Jayawardene (44) and Hashan Tillakaratne (82*) played themselves in watchfully and gradually built a crucial 81 partnership.As the pair raised the tempo during the second hour before tea the SouthAfricans slipped back onto the defensive, testing the batsmen’s patience bybowling a large percentage of deliveries wide of the off-stump.After tea Pollock made the breakthrough, dismissing Jayawardene with a goodlength delivery that the right-hander dragged on to his stumps to leave the Sri Lankans on 189 for four.Russel Arnold, moved back down into the middle order after bagging a pair atWanderers, once again looked out of form before being caught at the wicket after 28 unconvincing minutes at the crease.With Sri Lanka’s fragile lower order now exposed, Tillakaratne correctlyjudged that the time had come to take the initiative – too often in his second coming he has failed to take responsibility when batting with the tail.Hitting three boundaries in an over off Kallis and keeping the scoreboard moving he took the pressure off a nervous Hasantha Fernando (24) who had started his Test career with a pair at the Wanderers. The pair added 54 valuable runs before Pollock took the second new ball and Fernando was caught off the shoulder of his bat.

The hype which surrounds a budding fast bowler’s pace is often just that, namely hype.Countless articles have been written about England’s new kid on the block, Simon Jones. And he’s now been called into the England squad. But is he the real deal, or a pretender in disguise?Of the many so called 100mph men we have seen grace the international arena in recent years, only Brett Lee’s proven speed has immediately lived up to the hype surrounding his debut. Lee was touted as being every bit as fast as Shoaib Akhtar back in December 1999 and his speeds proved so. In Lee’s first Test match he notched up a 154.1kph (95.75mph) delivery and bowled some 60 or more deliveries above 150kph (93.2mph) throughout that Australian summer.Pakistan’s Mohammad Sami was seen to be a genuine threat to both Shoaib and Lee in the pace stakes. This skinny kid from Karachi made his Test debut against New Zealand in March 2001 and was described as “very fast and very hostile”. Late in 2000, about the then 18-year-old, Wasim Akram was quoted as saying that he is at least as fast as Shoaib and that he was happy for him to play Test cricket.Sami did not prove nearly as fast as Shoaib in his first couple of tests, however in his first One-Day International on April 8, 2001, he did push the gun past the 145kph (90.1mph) mark with a 147.5kph delivery. Sami has been as high as 149.7kph in his most recent one-dayer but is yet to join the elite in the 150kph range.The debut of Mfuneko Ngam had earlier been given all the hype of Sami’s and more, one report stated that “Ngam has been timed at around 100mph in domestic matches”. While Ngam proved to be fast, he was by no means around 161kph as was quoted and his fastest was a more docile but very respectable 148.4kph against Sri Lanka in Durban.New Zealander Shane Bond’s debut was a little more subdued. Bond was known to be pacy but his speed was somewhat under-hyped. He replaced an injured Dion Nash during the tour of Australia and although his first Test match returned the modest top speed of 142.3kph, he was soon up and around the world’s fastest with many balls above 148kph at a peak of 151.2kph.The aforementioned bowlers have proved to be the cream of the crop amongst the world’s emerging speedsters. Yet despite the hype, none of these youngsters have seriously challenged Shoaib or Lee as the ‘world’s fastest bowler’.Of recent articles regarding Jones, one particular article contained two remarkable quotes, both by Australians. Fast bowler and team-mate of Jones’ Michael Kasprowicz said: “He certainly rates up there with Brett Lee, and compares favourably with him,” and Australian legend and head of the ECB academy Rod Marsh was quoted as saying “the Morriston-born speedster had the ability to bowl as quick as the legendary Jeff Thomson”. But will he sizzle or will he fizzle?If Jones’ debut pace is anywhere near Lee’s (154.1kph), then this young man could find himself fast-tracked to stardom. He may well become “as quick as the legendary Jeff Thomson”.Or perhaps it is all just hype.