The Headlines for Jan 97

DEC96 news items moved to ARCHIVE/CRICKET_NEWS/DEC96

29th January

Australia has announced the squad to tour South Africa.

28th January

Bevan picked his maiden ten wicket haul to bowl Australia to an innings win over West Indies in the 4th Test. With this win, Australia retains the Frank Worrell Trophy.

New Zealand's last wicket pair defied England's bowlers with a record 106 run partnership to draw the 1st Test. Nathan Astle scored a century and was named joint men of the match with Alec Stewart.

27th January

In a spectacular last over drama, India tied with Zimbabwe with a ball to spare in the SBI ODI series. Robin Singh's late assault kept India in the game after Zimbabwe's chicken farmer Eddo Brandes destroyed the Indian top order. Both were named joint men of the match.

Blewett missed his third century by 1 run and Bevan ran out of partners as Australia finished their innings with a huge lead over West Indies. In their second innings, only Lara stood watching as wickets fell in regular intervals. Australia are all set to wrap up the 4th Test match.

Thorpe scores a century and England bowlers restrict New Zealand as England are looking for a win in the 1st Test.

26th January

Matthew Hayden scored his maiden Test century and Blewett neared his as Australia consolidated their position in the 4th Test.

Alec Stewart scored a record breaking century to power England to a very strong position in the 1st Test against New Zealand.

25th January

Cullinan and Cronje took South Africa to yet another win over Zimbabwe in the SBI OD series. Grant Flower batted well for Zimbabwe.

Australian spinners Warne and Bevan skittled out West Indies for a paltry score and were thoroughly on top at the end of the first day of the 4th Test in Adelaide. Bevan picked up his best figures in Test cricket.

Fleming of New Zealand scored a century to bring them to a good position. But a defiant batting display by Atherton has kept England in contention.

24th January

Honours were even on the opening day of the first Test match between England and New Zealand. Pocock and Fleming scored half centuries for New Zealand.

23rd January

South Africa trounced India as Jonty Rhodes came back to the International scene with a spectacular display of batting and fielding. Klusener shined with the ball, picking 5 wickets. For India, debutant Saba Karim top scored and Azharuddin chipped in with a useful fifty.

22nd January

South African cricket board admitted that Brian McMillan was not considered for the SBI ODI series because he had a fight with a spectator.

21st January

Brian McMillan is out of the Standard Bank International One Day Series due to injury and has been replaced by Matthews. Fanie de Villiers was earlier injured in a freak accident.

Pankaj Dharmani and Saurav Ganguly were docked 25% of their match fees after Umpire Peter Willey reported them for intimidating him during the third test. Both the fielders were appealing for bat-pad catch of Adam Bacher by running down the pitch and demonstrating in front of Willey.

Australian squad for the fourth test has been announced.

20th January

South African Cullinan scores his maiden century in South Africa and aided by Klusener keeps India in abeyance. A sudden torrential downpour interrupts the game when India is on top. At one stage South Africa were 95 for 7 but Cullinan and Klusener add 127 runs for the 8th wicket. Dravid was declared man of the match and Donald, the man of the series.

Pakistan defeated West Indies in the second of the Carlton and United One Day Series to win the series. Akram and Shahid Nazir bowled well for Pakistan. Shahid Afridi was declared man of the Finals and Brian Lara man of the tournament.

Andrew Hudson's house was burgled and completely cleaned out.

England defeat Northern Districts comprehensively.

19th January

Dravid and Ganguly bat well for India as India set a target of 356 runs for South Africa in the third Test. Kumble dismisses Hudson in the last ball of the day as India is well on top.

Azharuddin reprimanded by the ICC match referee Barry Jarman after he was reported by the Umpires for showing dissent. He was not fined however considering his exemplary cnduct on the field for the last 13 years.

South Africa and Zimbabwe announce their squads for the Standard Bank International One Day Series. Symcox, Rhodes and Kallis join the current Test squad.

Pankaj Dharmani stays back with the Indian squad as the injured Laxman goes back to India.

England on top aganst Northern Districts.

18th January

Srinath picks up five wickets as India take a lead of 89 runs in the 3rd Test. Pollock top scores for South Africa with his highest test score.

An easy win for Pakistan in the first CUODS final. Brilliant batting from Shahid Afridi enables Pakistan to win by 3 wickets. Earlier, West Indies collapsed after an opening wicket stand of 99 runs due to excellent bowling from Waqar Younis and Shahid Afridi.

Northern Districts dismissed for 69 by England's pace bowlers.

17th January

Dravid scores his maiden Test century as India cross 400 against South Africa in the 3rd Test after rain delays the start of Day 2. Dravid stayed for more than 9 hours to score 148 runs. VVS Laxman was injured on his index finger in the same match and will be out of cricket for 3 weeks.

New Zealand's squad for the 1st Test is announced.

West Indies have recalled all-rounder Phil Simmons to bolster their injury hit squad. Paceman Cameron Cuffy is also expected join the squad as a cover for the injured Benjamin and McLean.

Australian Cricket Board's CEO Graham Halbish has been sacked by the cricket board.

16th January

Resolute batting by Dravid and Ganguly provides a good start for India on the first day of the third test against South Africa.

Australian Anthony Stuart gets a hat-trick as Australia get a consolation win against Pakistan in the final CUODS league encounter. Bevan shines with the bat for Australia while Inzamam-ul-Haq does so for Pakistan.

Pakistan's Aamir Sohail was suspended for a single International match by the match Referee Raman Subba Row after he was reported by the Umpires Hair and Parker for showing dissent on the field at his dismissal.

Tufnell spins England to an innings victory over New Zealand Select XI.

15th January

Jadeja, Joshi, Ankola and Robin Singh will replace Raman, Raju, Johnson and Dharmani for triangular One-day series in South Africa.

Canterbury win the Shell Cup.

Stewart and Hussain score centuries as England reach a strong position in their tour match.

14th January

Most of the second day of England's tour match is washed out.

Pakistan defeat a depleted West Indies side by 8 wickets.

13th January

Australia are eliminated from the CUODS tournament, as Lara's 90 sends them to defeat.

England make a good start in their tour game, dismissing a Selects XI containing 8 test players for 138.

India struggle in drawing their tour game against Free State.

12th January

Rathour's century takes India to a declaration against Free State.

11th January

Indian bowler David Johnson picks up 5 wickets but the Free State batsmen score over 300 runs in the first innings of the tour match.

South Australian Lehmann scores a career best 255 against Queensland in the Sheffield Shield encounter.

10th January

Lara scores second successive century and powers West Indies to a victory over Pakistan, assuring West Indies a place in the finals of the Carlton and United One-day Series.

The opening tour match for England against the New Zealand Academy XI was washed out due to rain.

9th January

India beat Griqualand West by 7 wickets, as Ganguly scores a quick century, and skipper Tendulkar scores a fifty.

Lancashire cricket club beat India-A narrowly by two wickets, thanks to a good knock from Man of the match Neil Fairbrother and an useful supporting innings from wicket keeper Heggs, in the Wills-CII Cup exhibition match. Kambli and Robin Singh made runs for India-A. British prime minister John Major watched the match for about half an hour.

Srinath expected to be fit for 3rd Test

8th January

South Africa name an unchanged squad for the 3rd Test against India.

England hit by injuries at start of New Zealand tour, with Croft and Thorpe expected to miss the first game

7th January

Australia's poor form continues as they lose the 8th CUODS matchto an injury weakened Pakistan.

6th January

India capitulate as South Africa take the 2nd test and thus the series.

5th January

Centuries from Mark Waugh, Lara, and Hooper as the West Indies win to top the CUODS table.

South Africa declare to set India a stiff target in the 2nd Test in Cape Town.

4th January

Scintillating centuries by Tendulkar and Azharuddin lead India's fightback in the Second Test.

3rd January

Pakistan lose to the West Indies in CUODS ODI6.

South Africa build a record total in the Second Test as McMillan and Klusener complete centuries.

England "murdered" as Zimbabwe sweep the series after Brandes' hat trick.

Surrey 'keeper Kersey (25) dies in car accident.

2nd January

Kirsten makes the 1st test century and Prasad takes the 1st test wicket of 1997 as the Second Test starts in Cape Town.

1st January

Fine bowling by Warne fails to prevent Pakistan winning the first international game of 1997.

Zimbabwe win their first ever ODI series by narrowly defeating England to take a 2-0 lead.