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Home > Cricket > World Cup 2003 > News > Report



March 02, 2003 13:45 IST

West Indies captain Carl Hooper is contemplating retirement from international cricket.

The 36-year-old took over from Jimmy Adams in 2001 with the team at a low ebb following a series of disappointing results, especially away from the Caribbean.

He helped rebuild confidence and has overseen the development of a number of talented young batsmen including Ramnaresh Sarwan, Chris Gayle and Marlon Samuels.

But their six-run defeat by Sri Lanka on Friday means they are unlikely to make the Super Six phase of the World Cup.

"I will definitely be looking at my future with the team and re-thinking my role as captain," said Hooper.

"I will sleep on some of the things that are going through my mind and make a decision on my future after that. I have to take it each game at a time. It really depends on how I feel in my body and how much more I can contribute to West Indies cricket."

 

New Zealand suffered two injury scares on Saturday as they prepare for their final group game against Canada on Monday.

Lou Vincent will definitely miss the match after injuring a finger, and fast bowler Kyle Mills is struggling with a hamstring problem.

"Lou Vincent dislocated his left thumb during fielding practice and was taken to a hand specialist who has reduced the dislocation," said New Zealand Cricket medical co-ordinator Warren Frost.

"He should make a full recovery in five to ten days, while Kyle strained his hamstring while diving full stretch to field a ball.

"We will be able to give a clearer diagnosis as to how severe the strain is in the next 24-36 hours."

 

Australia coach John Buchanan would prefer to avoid a day-night semi-final in Durban if his side progress from the World Cup Super Sixes, because he believes the toss would be too much of a factor.

But, although many commentators say that evening conditions and dew can offer bowlers more seam and swing movement, Buchanan argues that history indicates sides batting second in Durban win the majority of games.

"From my knowledge of the facts, when we came here last year, about 70 percent of international matches in Durban are won by sides batting second," Buchanan said.

"That is generally because the ball seems to do a bit more during the day then at night. If it is still and the weather conditions are normal, dew can settle.

"That means the ball moves around less and spinners become less effective so it is easier to bat second."

Cricket-crazy fans danced on the streets in New Delhi but were plunged into gloom in Islamabad after India beat bitter foes Pakistan in what was billed as the "Clash of the Centurion".

The Indian team cruised to a six-wicket win in a World Cup match between players of the two hostile neighbours at Centurion in South Africa that had deep political undertones.

"We won the war without any bloodshed!" said Rahul Rathi, a 28-year-old businessman in India's eastern city of Calcutta.

"It's a really big disappointment for all of us, especially because it was a match against India," said Islamabad resident Fahmina Tariq.

In the heart of the Indian capital, fans erupted with joy, dancing in the streets to throbbing music. Millions elsewhere in India also took to the streets, setting off firecrackers, beating drums and chanting, "Long live India, we're the champs!"

"This is what we wanted to see -- India playing Pakistan and walloping them. My friends and I screamed ourselves hoarse," New Delhi cricket fan Samir Rai said.

Zimbabwe police detained 42 people during a World Cup match in the second city of Bulawayo after they displayed posters critical of President Robert Mugabe, one of their lawyers said on Saturday.

Police also detained 19 clergymen for eight hours on Friday in the capital Harare as authorities made good on a pledge to crack down on protests during the World Cup matches.

"We've got about 42 people detained from yesterday and as at nine o'clock today only one juvenile had been released. There's been talk of posters at the cricket match but as far as I am aware they have not been charged," the lawyer from Zimbabwe Lawyers for Human Rights told Reuters.

Witnesses said one poster held up during Zimbabwe's match with the Netherlands on Friday equated Mugabe to Adolf Hitler, but police soon removed it.

Bulawayo police could not be reached for comment.



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