HOME   
   NEWS   
   BUSINESS   
   CRICKET   
   SPORTS   
   MOVIES   
   NET GUIDE   
   SHOPPING   
   BLOGS  
   ASTROLOGY  
   MATCHMAKER  


Search:



The Web

Rediff








World Cup 2003
News
Schedule
Match Reports
Scorecards
Graphical Analysis
Squads
Venues
WC Format
Columns
Interviews
Specials
Gallery
Audio
Fantasy Cricket
Discussion Groups



Home > Cricket > World Cup 2003 > News > Report



February 27, 2003 15:07 IST

Nasser Hussain admitted his side had been well beaten after lady luck turned her back on England in Durban.

Hussain's men were condemned to bat second under lights after losing the toss and they never looked like getting close to a target of 251 as India's seamers bowled superbly.

England's had exploited helpful conditions in their previous game against Pakistan, also a day-night affair. But there was no such advantage in Durban on Wednesday.

"It was our turn to be on the other side of the equation tonight," Hussain said after the 82-run loss to India.

"Batting under lights is very difficult but all credit to India. They bowled well and hit the deck hard, but everything seemed a lot quicker under lights.

"The ball was zipping around, they got it right and played very well."

All-rounder Chris Cairns and Brendon McCullum have been fined by Cricket New Zealand for their behaviour in a Durban nightclub last week.

The two were among a group of 11 Blacks Caps involved in a brawl, which was sparked by a rendition of the haka war cry.

NZC chief executive Martin Snedden said in a statement that team protocols and procedures were inadequate.

"Behaviour exhibited by some of the players at the Tiger Tiger nightclub was unacceptable and should not be allowed either by the players or team management to reoccur."

Snedden said Cairns and McCullum admitted misconduct and have apologised.

They have each been fined NZ$500 (£178). The other players at the club, including captain Stephen Fleming, were reprimanded

"The players as a whole have been reminded of their responsibilities to act professionally off the field," Snedden added.

South Africa's veteran fast bowler Allan Donald has admitted his international career could be over unless he performs well against Canada on Thursday.

"I know if I have a bad game against Canada then I'm history," he said.

"I need to bowl 10 overs for 26 and get three wickets, get my confidence back to hang onto my place in the side."

Donald, who took a single wicket for 106 runs in the two matches, was heavily criticised in the South African media.

Several former international team-mates have suggested he should be dropped from the side in favour of all-rounder Andrew Hall.

Dick Pound, head of the World Anti-Doping Agency, has again attacked Australian cricketers, describing as ridiculous claims that drug information sessions are too difficult to absorb.

Pound said the drug education program for elite athletes does not need to be changed despite claims by banned spinner Shane Warne and Test captain Steve Waugh that the information is too complicated.

"It's not rocket science to be perfectly candid, you know if you're an elite athlete you've got to be careful with what you take and you know that diuretics are one of the things about which you've got to be careful," Pound said.

Pound also said Warne's decision not to appeal was the right one, saying the Australian Cricket Board's anti-doping committee would certainly have increased his suspension to two years if he had.

Zimbabwean batsman Andy Flower says he is continuing his protest against President Robert Mugabe, despite being under enormous pressure to abandon it.

Flower and Henry Olonga wore black armbands at their side's opening match against Namibia to mark what they described as the death of democracy in Zimbabwe. They also lashed out over the violence and famine ravaging the country.

"We have had meetings, been spoken to often by cricket authorities and received letters," Flower said on Wednesday. "But we are not going to back down. How can we?"

The pair were called before the Zimbabwe Cricket Union and warned to drop their protest or lose their places in the team.

Olonga was dropped for the games against Australia and India and sacked by his club. Flower, one of the world's top batsmen, was to be dropped for the game against Australia, but remained in the side after senior players said they would not play if the threat was carried out.

His protest would be represented by white armbands, he said.

Seventeen officials from eight Caribbean countries and the West Indies Cricket Board are in South Africa as part of a delegation organised by Windies World Cup 2007 to observe the operations of the Cricket World Cup South Africa and meet with key organisers.

On Wednesday the delegates, who arrived on Tuesday, met with Gerald Majola, CEO of the UCBSA, several officials of the Cricket World Cup organization and the Guarteng Cricket Board. They will also have workshops and meetings later on with Malcolm Speed and other representatives of the ICC, the legal consultants to CWC 2003 as well as companies such as sports management specialists IMG/TWI, and many others.

The delegates are also touring various World Cup playing and practice facilities and will have an opportunity to visit the West Indies team during one of their practice sessions.

"We are very pleased to have so many high-level officials participating and really appreciate the willingness of the ICC and the South African organisers to facilitate us at this time," said Chris Dehring, Managing Director (designate) of WWC 2007 who heads the delegation.



Article Tools

Email this Article

Printer-Friendly Format

Letter to the Editor



Related Stories


Andy Flower may play in Australia

Sadness beneath the smiles

No action for wider bats



People Who Read This Also Read


The secret of Nehra's pace

'We could not sleep last night'

Aussies rout Namibia







HOME   
   NEWS   
   BUSINESS   
   CRICKET   
   SPORTS   
   MOVIES   
   NET GUIDE   
   SHOPPING   
   BLOGS  
   ASTROLOGY  
   MATCHMAKER  
Copyright © 2003 rediff.com India Limited. All Rights Reserved.