Report
Zimbabwe bat first
Heath Streak decided to bat first after winning the toss in the second Test at Sydney
The Wisden Bulletin by Lynn McConnell
07-Jul-2005
Toss Zimbabwe elected to bat
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Heath Streak decided to bat first after winning the toss in the second Test at Sydney. Zimbabwe suffered a blow to their hopes, though, when Sean Ervine, their best performer in the first Test, was forced out of the match with a twisted knee. He injured the knee in a warm-up game of soccer. His place in the side was taken by Gavin Ewing, while Blessing Mawhire, who came on tour more as an observer to work with Bruce Reid, the Zimbabwe bowling coach, got his second Test cap. Douglas Hondo was left out of the line-up.
The Australians made three changes, all forced upon them through injuries. Brad Williams - who will take the new ball on his debut Test - replaced Jason Gillespie - while Simon Katich and Brad Hogg got their first opportunities to play a Test on Australian soil. Steve Waugh said at the toss that while the injuries in Perth were of concern, the positive was that it gave other players a chance.
Streak indicated that the pitch looked like it would be on the slower side, and the challenge was to get through the first morning, especially since there was some moisture in the track. Weather conditions in Sydney were overcast at the time of the toss: showers had already fallen in Sydney but the forecast suggested that the skies would clear up later in the day. The temperature was expected to get to 17 degrees.
Full postNew Zealand control proceedings on second day
India had more success on the second day than on the first, but not necessarily more joy, as New Zealand ground their way to a mammoth 536 for 5.
The Wisden Bulletin by Anand Vasu
07-Jul-2005
Close New Zealand 536 for 5 (Richardson 145, Styris 119)
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Scott Styris became New Zealand's third centurion of the innings © AFP |
The best part of the day was dogged, turgid cricket. New Zealand applied themselves in a manner more expected while batting on a greentop under overcast skies at Headingley, or if the ball was spitting and fizzing on a rank turner. But on a wicket that was nice and easy to bat on, with true bounce and pace, against a tiring attack that could only be called an attack because of Anil Kumble, it seemed rather strange. But Stephen Fleming is no fool. The Indians will know that he must have had firm plans in his mind when he instructed his team to play the way it did.
Of all the batsmen, Richardson's plans were easily the best-laid. He puts a high price on his wicket, tries nothing foolish and is utterly predictable in the best sort of way. There was no unseemly haste to score quick runs, and today Richardson dug deep into a seemingly endless well of concentration and accumulated runs, unmindful of whatever little commotion there was at the other end.
Full postThe two Shoaibs restrict South Africa to 320
The two Shoaib's - Malik and Akhtar - revived Pakistan and restricted South Africa to 320 for 9 on the opening day of the first Test at Lahore.
Close South Africa 320 (Boucher 72, Kirsten 53 retd hurt, Malik 4 - 42)
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Mark Boucher played a plucky rebuilding knock © AFP |
Yousuf Youhana made his captaincy debut, but lost both the toss and the morning session. His counterpart, Graeme Smith, literally bullied the inconsistent Akhtar in his first four overs when he clattered him with bludgeoning venom. Mohammad Sami was the antithesis of his partner. He bowled a teasing spell, restricting the flow of runs and occasionally flirting with batsmen's edge. He was rewarded when he pitched a rare one short and wide, and Smith got a top edge while trying to pull him over midwicket (52 for 1).
Kirsten then joined Herschelle Gibbs, and the pair continued the swift pace of scoring until Gibbs edged a full ball from Danish Kaneria to Taufeeq Umar at first slip (84 for 2). Kirsten showed his experience, forcing the bowlers to pitch it up as he paddle-swept everything in sight. But as soon as the ball was tossed up, he came down the track and lofted it over the infield, disturbing the bowlers' rhythm and ensured that his side's runaway start didn't fritter away.
Full postSehwag and Yuvraj propel seniors to victory
Power hitting from Sehwag and Yuvraj lead India Seniors to a convincing five wicket victory over India A
India Seniors 213 and 387 for 5 (Sehwag 146, Yuvraj 115, Mongia 3-39) beat India A 302 and 297 for 5 dec by 5 wickets
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An exhilarating display of power hitting from Virender Sehwag and a stylish century from Yuvraj Singh propelled India Seniors to a convincing five-wicket victory over India A in a warm-up match in which they had been comprehensively outplayed for the first three days.
Needing a further 352 to overhaul an imposing target of 387 when they resumed in the morning, Sehwag and Yuvraj played with such flair and assurance that the A team couldn't even entertain daydreams of success. The highlight of the day was undoubtedly an unforgettable over in which Sehwag - who had reached his century with a straight six - smashed Murali Kartik for 35 runs, including five sixes in an arc between midwicket and extra-cover.
Full postTrescothick leads the recovery before Read and Batty shine
Marcus Trescothick led England's recovery against Bangladesh A before Chris Read and Gareth Batty added 116 for the seventh wicket
The Wisden Bulletin by Andrew Miller
07-Jul-2005
Close Bangladesh A 242 (Nafis 118) and 6 for 0 trail England 333 (Trescothick 96, Read 82, Batty 50) by 85 runs
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Chris Read cuts during his valuable 82 |
It was a tale of two tails at the BKSP sports academy. One version was low-lying, slithering and poisonous, and met a very sticky end at the hands of two spectators and a pair of deck-chairs. But the other - that belonging to England's batting order - had a rather more successful day, as Gareth Batty and Chris Read both recorded their maiden half-centuries in representative cricket. Their efforts ensured that England recovered from another top-order wobble to take a handy 91-run lead on the second day against Bangladesh A.
On the first day of last week's match at the National Stadium, England had lost four wickets for no runs in a frantic post-lunch spell. Today's effort began with a similar attack of the vapours, as Michael Vaughan and Paul Collingwood were both dismissed in the third over by Alamgir Kabir. Vaughan, who has now passed fifty just once in 19 innings as captain, was trapped lbw by one that kept low, and three balls later, Collingwood was comprehensively yorked for a duck.
Full postTrescothick carries England to victory
Marcus Trescothick guided England to a convincing nine-wicket win in the opening match of the NatWest Challenge with his first century against Australia.
The Bulletin by Andrew McGlashan
07-Jul-2005
50 overs England 221 for 1 (Trescothick 104*, Vaughan 59*) beat Australia 219 for 7 (Hussey 48*, Collingwood 4-34) by nine wickets
Scorecard and ball-by-ball details
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Marcus Trescothick scored his first century against Australia to guide England to a convincing nine-wicket win in the opening match of the NatWest Challenge. He and Andrew Strauss added 101 for the first wicket to lay the foundations, and Michael Vaughan completed the finishing touches with an aggressive half-century. England's batting may have been impressive, but the bowlers wasted perfect conditions in the morning.
Both openers rode their luck considerably in the opening exchanges as Glenn McGrath and Brett Lee produced probing spells. Trescothick was given a reprieve when he was caught at third man by McGrath off Lee, only to see the umpire calling no-ball.
Full postSouth Africa A clinch series win
South Africa A's decision to bowl first, prompted by the evening dew, came good as New Zealand A batted poorly and were rolled out for 125
Wisden Cricinfo staff
07-Jul-2005
South Africa A 126 for 1 (van Wyk 59*, McKenzie 57*) beat New Zealand A 125 (Franklin 36*, Willoughby 3-35, Kemp 3-18) by 9 wickets.
South Africa A's decision to bowl first, prompted by the evening dew, came
good as New Zealand A batted poorly and were rolled out for 125 on a
good pitch at Sedgars Park in Potchefstroom. South Africa A made easy work of
the target, sealing the match, and with it the series, in 25.2 overs.
Five batsmen failed to trouble the scorers. Matthew Bell, Gareth Hopkins,
Paul Wiseman, Kerry Walmsley and Jeetan Patel all made ducks, while Matthew Sinclair could only manage 5. Playing across the line cost batsmen dear, while James Franklin was left to show the others how it should have been done. Playing down the line and down the ground, he topscored with 36 not out. Richard Sherlock (15) aided Franklin in the biggest partnership of the innings -32 for the 10th wicket.
There were flashes of determination from Jamie How (20), Ross Taylor (22) and Lou Vincent (16) but on the whole nothing that would have raised any eyebrows.
For South Africa Charl Willoughby pocketed three wickets while Justin Kemp deceived with his slower ball and was gifted three wickets. In addition, five leg-before decisions were given and perhaps Sherlock was unlucky.
Full postSmith and Kirsten make Banglas toil
Graeme Smith converted his maiden Test century to a superb 200, and Gary Kirsten became the first man to score centuries against all nine Test-playing opponents, as South Africa christened Buffalo Park, the 85th and newest Test venue, with a feast of
Cricinfo staff
07-Jul-2005
Close South Africa 369 for 2 (Smith 200, Kirsten 113*)
scorecard![]("https://a1061.g.akamai.net/7/1061/3557/643559c5bf2765/www.wisden.com/images/bluearrow.gif")
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Graeme Smith converted his maiden Test century to a superb 200, and Gary Kirsten became the first man to score centuries against all nine Test-playing opponents, as South Africa christened Buffalo Park, the 85th and newest Test venue, with a feast of runs. The pair added 272 for the second wicket, as Bangladesh, who won the toss and chose to field, suffered a long and fruitless day in the sun.
Kirsten had a point to prove after his omission from South Africa's one-day side, and after making a rare appearance at No. 3, he peppered the arc between point and long-off with exquisitely timed drives. He quickly celebrated his return to international cricket with a 58-ball half-century, and took no time to settle into a rhythm, opening his account with three boundaries in an over off Tapash Baisya - one of which was a slightly fortuitous under-edged cut to fine leg.
At the other end, Kirsten's doppelganger Smith was in equally commanding form. Both men are left-handed, with a tendency to drive away from the body, and such was the frequency with which the ball clattered over the ropes at extra-cover, that it was hard to distinguish the two. Smith, though, was the only man to give a chance, when on 111, he edged Alok Kapali between keeper and slip for four. On reaching three figures, he looked slightly sheepish to have fulfilled a lifelong ambition in such hollow circumstances, but there was no disguising his glee when he posted his double century. Sure enough, the surfeit of emotion did for him, and within two balls he had lofted Sanwar Hossain to mid-on (359 for 2).
Full postMechanical McGrath melts Mumbai
Glenn McGrath produced an immaculate spell of fast bowling as the Australians dismissed Mumbai for 255
Australians 302 for 7 dec and 207 for 1 (Langer 108 retired, Clarke 52) drew with Mumbai 255 (Muzumdar 52)
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Glenn McGrath produced an immaculate spell of fast bowling as the Australians completed a satisfying workout ahead of the first Test, which starts in Bangalore in four days' time. McGrath engineered the Mumbai collapse, as they were dismissed for 255. Justin Langer and Michael Clarke then enjoyed some good batting practice in the final two sessions for Australia, Langer helping himself to a confidence-boosting hundred as the match petered out in to a draw.
McGrath bowled like a robot which had been programmed to track a line a few inches outside off stump. He repeated the sequence mechanically for 21.2 overs, more than any other bowler. He dismissed the two top-scorers with dart-straight incutters, and he also had some very confident appeals turned down.
Full postIqbal century holds up England's progress
A hundred partnership between Nafis Iqbal and Rajin Saleh prolonged a hot day in the field for England against Bangladesh A at Dhaka
The Wisden Bulletin by Andrew Miller
07-Jul-2005
Close Bangladesh A 242 (Iqbal 118) v England
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One for the future: Nafees Iqbal cuts one of his 14 boundaries |
The last time England ventured north to the BKSP sports academy, it was to take shelter from the torrential rains and get some much-needed batting practice in Bangladesh's only indoor nets facility. Today, however, the absolute opposite applied - it was their bowlers who were given the once-over, on one of the hottest days of the tour so far. After winning a good toss, Bangladesh A progressed to 242 all out, with their final wicket falling in the penultimate over of the day.
As was the case earlier in the week, England's opposition consisted of eight members of the U19 squad, and the main cause of England's toiling was the newly appointed U19 captain, Nafees Iqbal. He opened the innings and survived the loss of two early wickets to crack a wonderful 118 from 168 balls, with 14 fours and a flogged six over Gareth Batty's head.
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