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August 29, 2002
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News Roll
  ICC contract
The ICC has yet to receive any communication from the Indian Board on the suggestion made by Indian players in England that they would play in the Champions Trophy and ask their sponsors to back off for the duration of the event, but would not make any other concessions or sign the ICC players' contracts.

BCCI officials on Wednesday said it would be up to the ICC to make a decision once they put the facts before them. "What we know, we know on the basis of media reports," said ICC spokesman Brendan McClements. "But there are still some days for the weekend and we will have to see what happens."

  India in England
Captain Sourav Ganguly admits it was a risk batting first at Headingley, but explains that it was part of a game plan he intends to use again at the Oval.

"It was a bit of a gamble on the first morning when I decided to bat, knowing full well that the ball would seam, bounce, and go all over the place," said Ganguly.

"But I had a game plan in mind," he added.

"The ball had turned a bit in some of the county games this year and I knew that, if we could get England to chase 300 in the last innings, we would have a game on our hands."


England fast bowler Simon Jones looks likely to miss the fourth Test against India after suffering a recurrence of a side strain.

The 23-year-old bowled just one over on the first day of Glamorgan's County Championship match with Nottinghamshire on Tuesday, but had expected to be fit to bowl on Wednesday.

However, following a brief net session at Colwyn Bay, Jones decided not to risk any further injury, and just took his place in the field.


Tour match, Derby, day one of three: India 300-5 v Derbyshire

VVS Laxman top-scored with 75 and Ajay Ratra stated his Test case on the opening day of India's only tour match prior to the final Test against England.

Laxman hit a patient 75, including 15 fours, against a reserve Derbyshire attack as the tourists amassed a first innings 301 for five by stumps on the first day of three.

Ratra, passed over as wicketkeeper in favour of Parthiv Patel when he injured his toe prior to the second Test, was 50 not out, from 128 balls, at the close.


Skipper Nasser Hussain remains confident that England can beat India in the fourth Test at The Oval - so long as they can field a fit and balanced side.

Despite dominating the first two Tests, England saw their advantage wiped out in style by India at Headingley - a defeat that left the tourists eyeing a first overseas series win in 16 years.

"You are not going to have it all your own way all the time, especially with this Indian batting line-up," Hussain told BBC Sport Online.

"At some point they were going to click and it happened at Headingley.

  Tri-Nation tournament in Kenya
Leg spinner Shane Warne is ready to hit form and "go berserk" according to acting Australia coach Allan Border.

Warne has lost weight, has a new attitude to training and diet and is, says the former Aussie skipper, set to return to his best.

Border is leading the Australian limited-overs squad in the triangular series against Kenya and Pakistan in the absence of regular coach John Buchanan.

He told the Sydney Morning Herald: "I've just got a feeling in my gut that Shane might just surge again and have a period when he goes berserk."


Kenya are realistic about their chances against Pakistan and Australia as the triangular series begins in Nairobi on Thursday.

But the home side see the tournament as an excellent opportunity to gain experience ahead of next month's ICC Champions Trophy, and the World Cup next year.

"It's a godsend for Kenya; we do not get fixtures like this," said coach Sandeep Patil.

"We have been playing against 'A' sides and state sides and have shown considerable improvement.

"This gives us an opportunity to prove ourselves and see where we stand.

  Miscellaneous
Michael Atherton has named Mark Butcher as his surprise choice to succeed Nasser Hussain as England captain.

Opening batsmen Marcus Trescothick and Michael Vaughan are the front-runners to take over from Hussain, who is likely to retire next summer.

"It looks like it is out of those three (Trescothick, Vaughan and Butcher) and I think the bookies' favourite is Trescothick," said Atherton.

"My own personal choice would be Mark Butcher; I just think he has got a good cricket brain.

"He's in prime form, old enough to have seen some of the vagaries of the game and experienced some of the ups and downs.


Australian selector and stand-in coach Allan Border believes that it’s time to move on from the policy of rotating players through the one-day side.

"We should try to get our best side on the field as much as possible," added the former Australian captain, acting coach in the absence of the injured John Buchanan.

"I'm very reluctant to continue with that chopping and changing we've been doing, I'd rather get the right combination together."

Design: Imran Shaikh


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