Taylor's future in the balance and other news (8 April 1998)

8 April 1998

Taylor's future in the balance

By Nelson Clare in Kanpur

MARK TAYLOR will not play one-day cricket for Australia again and could lose the captaincy of the Test side next year, according to team coach Geoff Marsh.

Australia are playing a limited-overs tournament here in India under Steve Waugh's leadership, and the coach is not keen on having two captains. "We have to sort that out, because he [Taylor] won't play one-day cricket again," said Marsh.

"Mark's obviously disappointed, and feels as though he's lost the ownership of the team. He's been a fantastic captain for us," Marsh said. "But an era has finished. We've got to move on and find the right captain, if we are going to have one captain."

Without Taylor, Australia's one-day side continued to struggle in Kanpur yesterday, losing to India for the second time. Sachin Tendulkar hit 100 off 89 balls to take India to a six-wicket win in the triangular tournament match.

Saurav Ganguly, with a patient 72, and Tendulkar shared a record one-day opening stand for India against Australia of 175.

Tendulkar, who also hit an Indian-record seven sixes, and Ganguly gave the hosts a flying start by reaching 100 in 14.2 overs as India, chasing Australia's modest 222 for nine in their 50 overs, strolled to victory in 44.3 overs.

Australia, who have beaten only Zimbabwe, must win their next game against the Zimbabweans on Saturday to qualify for the final.

Mohammad Azharuddin has been retained as India's captain for the Sharjah tournament and the ICC Trophy.

Tendulkar and Sri Lanka's Arjuna Ranatunga are being sued over the cancellation of a one-day match on Christmas Day. A court in the central Indian city of Indore, where the match was called off after just 18 balls, by when several batsmen had been hit by rising deliveries, yesterday issued bailable warrants against both captains, the match referee, the chief organiser and the groundsman.

Lawyer Shailendra Dwivedi, filing the suit, argued that the teams and officials had "cheated" spectators at the Nehru stadium.

In Kimberley, South Africa, Inzamam-ul-Haq returned to form with a hard-hitting century as Pakistan pulled off a thrilling win over Sri Lanka in their triangular series.

Inzamam hit an undefeated 116 off 110 balls as Pakistan made 300 for six in 48 overs to achieve their highest winning second-innings total. Sri Lanka had made a seemingly safe 295 for seven, with Ranatunga making 86 off 82 balls.

Source :: Electronic Telegraph (https://www.telegraph.co.uk)