He may only have been deputising, and it may be a while before there’s another opportunity to do it, but Marcus Trescothick’s debut as England captain could hardly have gone better. The toss won, a typically positive half century to give England a flying start, and a comprehensive, 70-run win.If anyone had put put it to the Somerset left-hander, 18 months or so ago, that he would spend today captaining England, he might well have doubted their sanity. But such has been the impression Trescothick has made on the team, that he was being touted for the role after the first Ashes Test last summer, less than a year after his first England appearance.In those daunting circumstances (England were already one down against the best side in the world) the selectors were right to opt for the experience of Michael Atherton. Here, though, the situation could hardly have been more different. A series won, weakened opponents, and seniority among the squad’s fully fit members. It was the right time to give it a go, and it worked out handsomely. So after such an encouraging start, does Trescothick want to do it again?”Somewhere down the line I may possibly be interested,” he said. “People have been tipping me for a while that I might take over when Nasser’s gone, but this was just an opportunity to gain experience.”If Nasser is going to carry on for a few years then someone behind him hasto come along and fill the job — but who knows who that is going to be?”It was pretty tough and I didn’t get much sleep last night because I wasgoing over things in my head about how I was going to operate.”But it was good to get the first toss out of the way because we’ve had anightmare with tosses.”Trescothick was also enthusiastic about the performances of some of the younger mebers of the team.”It’s a good time for a few of the younger guys to express themselves,” he said.”That was the whole point of this tour, to give experience to the guys whohave been playing for a bit and also for the young guys who haven’t reallyplayed to get that experience in.”There are pressures in international cricket and you never quite know what’sgoing to come around the corner and we were tested at various points, but therewere some key performances in that.”To win 5-0 is important. We set our stall out to win the series when we camehere but now we’re 4-0 up we’re gunning to win 5-0.”They’re obviously quite down at the moment after losing 11 on the bounce andwe’re on a winning streak and that’s when you have to nail it.”It will be a great encouragement to the England camp that should anyone need to deputise for Nasser Hussain again, they now have someone in the ranks with an emphatic win under his belt.

Western Australian tradesman Justin Langer rolled up his sleeves today and dismantled Tasmania’s first innings lead brick by brick with a century in the Pura Cup match at the WACA.At stumps, WA was 2-226 in reply to Tasmania’s 337.In a day of milestones, Jo Angel claimed his 350th Sheffield Shield-Pura Cup wicket in the morning and then sat back to enjoy Langer’s 50th first class ton.Langer was prepared to be patient, reaching 133 off 247 deliveries before he was trapped LBW by David Saker in the 84th over.He joined fellow Ashes tourist Simon Katich (75 not out) in a 193-run stand that laid the platform for WA to overtake Tasmania’s first innings total before lunchtomorrow.With Australian selector Andrew Hilditch looking on, Langer erased any questions about who would partner Queensland’s Matthew Hayden at the top of the orderin the first Test at the Gabba.He gave away just one chance, while on 103, when Daniel Marsh grassed a sharp catch off Shane Watson.Marsh’s agony continued when Katich also received a life, on 36, when he edged an attempted cut shot off the spinner to an unsuspecting Dene Hills at second slip.Katich appeared determined to bat his way out of a worrying early season form slump through time in the middle and he succeeded, facing 218 deliveries for his 75.Mike Hussey (nine) was the other man out when he edged Damien Wright to Marsh in the slips.The Tigers resumed this morning at 8-316, and were all out 7.1 overs and 21 runs later when Angel (4-53) removed Saker for 28.In doing so, he became just the seventh man to reach the 350 milestone and is now within striking distance of overtaking former team-mate Terry Alderman as WA’s leading wicket taker.Victorian and South Australian legspinner Clarrie Grimmett appears untouchable at the head of the list with 513 wickets from 79 matches, while Alderman is nextwith 384 from 95 matches.But Angel’s 350 came in just his 86th match and, if he has a season like last year when he took 37 wickets from eight games, he is not without hope of toppling Alderman’s mark from less appearances.Carl Rackemann (383), Geoff Lawson (367), Jeff Thomson and Greg Matthews (353) all stand between Angel and Alderman, but only Thomson played less than100 matches.The Queensland paceman, who holds the world record for the the fastest delivery at 160.45kph, claimed 355 wickets in 85 matches.Langer said he had treated every innings since his 102 in the final Ashes Test as a warm-up for the upcoming series.”I’ve felt really relaxed with my cricket, batting well and scoring a lot of runs,” he said.”I’ve always maintained scoring runs is a habit. It doesn’t matter where you get them, in club cricket, Pura Cup or Test cricket.”You get in the habit of making runs and it augurs well for your next innings.”

Players arriving at the Basin Reserve today for the first day of the State Championship match between Wellington and Central Districts were surprised to find a number of large gaps, like conspicuous missing teeth, in the ground’s usually pristine picket fence.Several separated sections of palings in front of the terraces on the eastern side of the ground had been driven down during Friday night and lay, alternately, inside and outside the remaining fence which marks the Basin Reserve’s perimeter.Over a space of some 30 yards there remained a few standing sections of fence and between them, a number of wide and surprising openings.During Friday night a group of mischief makers who had been apparently undeterred by rain and cold temperatures had managed to start the Basin Reserve’s heavy roller by connecting the wires of its ignition and had driven it slalom fashion down a long section of the low, white fencing. They had veered first one way then the other through the picket fence, knocking down intermittent sections and leaving palings strewn this way and that.The roller was then left, wedged behind an advertising hoarding, in front of the embankment at the northern end of the ground.The broadcasting box in the RA Vance stand had been broken into, though nothing of value was taken. Storerooms in the old grandstand were broken open and attempts had been made to remove some of the ground’s sound system.

The Australian influence in Otago cricket continues to grow with the inclusion of ‘sandgroper’ Nick Morrison in the association’s Under-19 squad.The Western Australian was born in New Zealand but has lived most of his life in Perth. He intends to study at Otago University next year.Standing at almost two metres tall, Morrison is a left-handed top-order batsman and right-arm part-time bowler with the ability to generate significant pace. He played for the Western Australian Under-17 team last summer and at just 17 himself has another season at Under-19 level.Four of last year’s team return with Jordan Sheed, Matt Adair, Alistair Collie and Jarrad Waldron back in harness. And there is also a good representation from last summer’s Otago Under-17 team with Henry Bates, Stephen Brown, Eric Standfield and Nic Turner making the step up.The squad will be trimmed by one after the mid-December match against the Otago Under-22 selection with the three-day match against Canterbury in Oamaru just before Christmas signalling the beginning of the tournament.Otago then plays Auckland in Auckland in another three-dayer starting on December 27 with one-day games against Central Districts, Wellington and Northern Districts rounding out the series.The squad is: Jordan Sheed (captain, Dunedin), Matt Adair (Central Otago), Henry Bates (Dunedin), Stephen Brown (Dunedin), Alistair Collie (Dunedin), Mathew Harvie (Dunedin), Simon Murley (Dunedin), Michael Ross (Dunedin), Eric Standfield (Central Otago), Nic Turner (Southland), Jarrad Waldron (Dunedin), Nick Morrison (Western Australia), Tim Geeves (North Otago). Coach: Mike Hesson, manager: George Morris.

Bangladesh-A is going to take on mighty Pakistan for a 3-day match in BKSP starting from January 5. The hosts have declared their 14-member squad and it is not surprising to see the name of Tareq Aziz there.Tareq, the right arm medium fast bowler, has pulled off with 10 wickets against Dhaka Division very recently in National league 2001-2002. Despite his gallant effort in both innings when he took 5 wickets from each, Chittagong Division had to accept a 24-run defeat. But the remarkable part is Tareq’s bowling – particularly in Dhaka’s second innings when he alone caused the mayhem.Tareq Aziz is bowling brilliantly for last six months. The National Squad was taking the service of two pace bowlers from Bangladesh-A for their net sessions in BKSP and Dhaka before they were heading off for Multan to play for Asian Test Championship in August 2001. One of them was Tareq Aziz who was pretty impressive in the net.He played the practice matches against the National team before Bangladesh faced Zimbabwe in home ground. Those matches were eventful for him too as he saw a total of 20 wickets beside his name when those matches were over.All credits have gone to coach Sarwar Imran whose professional guidance has brought him this far – he acknowledges. This prominent coach has left his vast role in modifying Tareq’s bowling action. While he started following those instructions he began to carry off.Being a new ball operator he played the exhibition match against the Zimbabweans in December this year. The venue was Chittagong and Tareq finished his spell claiming 3 wickets in his tight spell. It is worth mentioning that batsman like Andy Flower saw his middle stump uprooted by a vicious Tareq delivery when he was 3. That was not a wicket he met by chance – the ball curved a bit after it had pitched and fooled the famous Zimbabwean.He started from Nirman School Cricket as a kid pace bowler for Fulkuri cricket Club and removed seven batsmen in his debut match. Those were the earlier days in his career in Rajbari, his hometown.He hoping for a break against Pakistan for Bangladesh-A in that 3-day, which would be the biggest match in his career.

A new regional season of first-class cricket is under way, bringing with it all of the customary expectations: who will win the championship? Who are the stars that will emerge?These are the kinds of question the average pundit turns over in his or her mind. The answers should be provided in the next seven weeks.Last year belonged primarily to batsmen like Carl Hooper and Chris Gayle, both of whom hit over 900 runs, and Leon Garrick who got over 800. Who will cause the buzz this year?Beyond factors of this type, I think we should continue to monitor the overall standard of the Busta Cup rather than dwell too much on individual glory.After a humiliating whitewash in Sri Lanka there were management concerns that the standards in regional cricket are very low.Thus, we can’t really tell if we’re coming or going even when batsmen can make tons of runs and bowlers take plenty of wickets.The acid test of achievement and the real proof of merit and class come when successful regional players move up to Test cricket.This level tends to separate the wheat from the chaff, as we have seen in recent times.But the regional competition is where we are supposed to assess our players. So quite naturally the selectors, in particular, find themselves in a quandary.They probably have one of the most difficult non-paying jobs in the Caribbean.Imagine they are forced to include so-called specialist batsmen in the West Indies team with averages below or just above 20 and bowlers averaging almost 30 per wicket. This is where we are today.The fact that Barbados won the Busta title last year when they didn’t play at their best consistently told us a lot about the state of West Indies cricket.Still, as eternal optimists, as the overseers of a proud legacy, we have to pray and keep faith in the process while imploring players to take greater responsibility for their approach to the game.Attitude and character are on par with runs and wickets. The latter won’t be achieved without the former.Of course, the ultimate aim is to put out a product that’s world class, that can hold its own in any company.As far as I know there’s no law which says that we should not be seeing some signs of this in the Busta Cup.Therefore, as a matter of policy this is where our focus should be this season, every season. Everything else will fall into place.

Spring is most certainly in the air at the County Ground in Taunton. With the new cricket season just around the corner Gordon the Goose and his two companions Donald and Daffy the mallard ducks are back on the scene.During the early part of last season Gordon became quite a favourite with the crowds and players alike, and during one game almost became the target of a ball that was destined for the mid-on boundary, much to the amusement to all concerned.Whether or not it is the same Gordon as last season or one of his offspring it is difficult to tell, but he is back, along with his web-footed companions as bold as ever and reluctant to step aside for either people or vehicles!Given that the ground is bounded by the River Tone to the north it is hardly surprising that there are ducks and geese.However I am reliably informed that when Peter Robinson first made the journey down the A38 from Worcestershire to join the Cidermen in 1965 there were many more around the ground.’Robbo’ told me: “When I first came to join Somerset there used to be an open ditch which ran along behind the benches which were on the east side of the ground in front of the old organ works.”In those days the ball would often go in the ditch and had to be retrieved by the spectators or players, as many of the older members will no doubt remember,” said the former Somerset coach.”I’ve just discovered it is known as the Stockwell Stream, and flows down under Canon Street before entering the County Ground site under the Jack White Gates. It then flows in front of the cricket shop and then across the car park, and that’s why there are so many manhole covers along that section, before it enters the River Tone behind the Colin Atkinson Pavilion.”In those days there also used to be a well that stored water behind the pavilion, which was used by the greyhound people to water the track. That’s why in the 1970s, when we had the drought, the dog track always used to look so green.”

Australia’s Test players have promised to shut out emotion surroundingthe one-day squad revamp as they attempt to clinch a series victory inCape Town.The second Test, starting on Friday, has an obvious storyline with ShaneWarne playing his 100th Test and coming up against his favouritebatsman, the recalled Daryll Cullinan.But Mark Waugh’s performance will also attract plenty of attention as heenters the last phase of his international career.He’s must prove to selectors he has some years left at Test level afterbeing dumped from the one-day squad yesterday.Brother Steve has been running the same campaign since he was axed fromthe one-day team three weeks ago, with a score of 32 against SouthAfrica in his only Test knock since.But the plight of the 36-year-old Waughs won’t be discussed in thedressing rooms with the team determined to seal back-to-back series winsover the Proteas this summer.”We had a little bit of a talk when Mark found out he wasn’t in thesquad and decided that’s where it finished, there would be no more talkabout the one-day stuff until it comes around,” said batsman RickyPonting, the new one-day captain.”It was (emotional) because you spend so much time with them and theyend up being really good mates of yours. When they get left out you dofeel for them.”I’ve been great mates with Steve and Mark for the last six or sevenyears. Now for me not to be playing in one form of the game with eitherof those guys is a bit difficult … but life goes on and you’ve got toget on with things.”The Waughs have told their teammates they won’t dwell on their one-daysackings, and the Test players insist they have had minimal discussionabout the changes since arriving in South Africa.However, the selectors’ actions are a clear sign to the twins,particularly Mark, that their days as automatic selections are over andthey must perform or be replaced if suitable successors are found.Former team leaders Mark Taylor and Ian Healy faced the same pressureswhen they were ushered out of one-day cricket during the Ashes tour in1997.Taylor played another 23 Tests before retiring, averaging 46.65 with thebat in that time, while Healy played 31 Tests before receiving a tap onthe shoulder to make way for explosive wicketkeeper-batsman AdamGilchrist.But both Healy and Taylor were younger than the Waughs when they retiredfrom all international cricket, leaving a question over how long theWaughs can remain driving forces in the Australian team.Both have appeared relaxed on the South African tour, with Markinsisting there was no point worrying about his one-day future becausethe decision was out of his hands.Meanwhile, Warne’s future in both forms of the game seems certain forthe immediate future after national selector Trevor Hohns gave somebacking to the leg-spinner.Warne will enter his 100th Test ranked the second-highest wicket-takerin the game, itching for another shot at Cullinan.The Victorian has bamboozled the 35-year-old in the past but Cullinanhasn’t backed away from another confrontation since his 86 for SouthAfrica A against Australia last Friday.Cullinan was among four changes to the Proteas, included along withdebutant quick Dewald Pretorius and left-arm wrist spinner Paul Adamswhile captain Shaun Pollock is listed to return from a side strain.Pollock will bowl at full speed in the nets on Wednesday with a finaldecision on his fitness on Thursday.

SYDNEY, Dec 16 AAP – The repercussions of Shane Warne’s shoulder injury will be felt next week, next year and, possibly, by the next generation of Australian spin bowlers.Warne underwent surgery today on his dislocated shoulder and will be out of action for at least four to six weeks, opening a huge hole in the world’s best cricket side.The first job for the national selection panel will be finding a replacement for Warne ahead of the tri series match against Sri Lanka on December 22 in Perth.Then it has to find another spinner for the fourth and fifth Test matches in Melbourne and Sydney.After that it’s the rest of the one-day series which lead to the World Cup.Australian team doctor Trefor James said Warne was a good chance of being fit for the World Cup which starts in seven weeks.But the selectors will have to be prepared for an Australian team without the famous No.23.National selection convenor Trevor Hohns admitted the next few days would be tough for the selectors.”We’ve certainly got a lot of thinking to do,” Hohns said.”We, as a group of selectors, have several options.”Hohns said it was hard to make decisions about Warne’s immediate successor.He emphasised the selectors’ attitude was to pick the best available team each time rather than use upcoming matches to test credentials of those in the queue.”We pick the best team – it’s not a matter of giving someone an opportunity for the sake of it.”We’ll be picking the next best spinner.”Finding a replacement for the Perth match is the least of the worries as the bouncy WACA ground suggests the addition of pace bowler Andy Bichel would be a way around the matter, with Darren Lehmann’s occasional spin as a back-up.For the Test matches, there’s really only one option – Stuart MacGill.MacGill’s Test career has been brilliant with 82 wickets in 17 Tests at an average of 25.Against England he’s been phenomenal with 27 wickets from four Tests at an average of 17.That gets the selectors through to the New Year.But what happens for the World Cup if Warne doesn’t regain full fitness, or reinjures the shoulder?The big problem the selectors face is that MacGill is not in the Australian 30-man World Cup squad.The legspinner included in that squad is Victorian youngster Cameron White.The squad also includes leftarm spin bowlers like Mark Higgs, Brad Hogg and all-rounder Michael Clarke, who is already close to inclusion in the final 15-man squad.White is an ideal one-day prospect, he’s a good bowler, he can bat like a top-order player and he led the Australian under-19 side to victory in the youth World Cup.But he’s only 19.Whether he’s ready for the big stage on the high veldt is a tough question.That’s why the national selectors have been trying to get in touch with the International Cricket Council (ICC).”We’re seeking a bit of clarification from the ICC about bringing in someone from outside that 30-man squad,” Hohns said.And he’s not talking about Steve Waugh.If the Australian Cricket Board gets the green light to bring in a player from outside the 30-man squad, bet on it being MacGill.MacGill is regarded as an expensive one-day bowler because of his attacking style.But in three one-dayers for Australia, he has taken six wickets and conceded only 3.5 runs per over.In one-dayers for NSW and Australia A he’s taken 94 wickets at 21.70 and conceded 4.79 runs per over.

Head Groundsman Chris Plummer is a proud man after having his Bashley-Rydal cricket pitch chosen as the Southern Electric ECB Premier League’s best ground for the second consecutive season.Pictured with the George Winkles Memorial Trophy earlier this year, Plummer once again picked up the top pitch and ground votes from visiting clubs and umpires to the Bashley Cricket Ground this summer.To put the icing on the cake, Plummer and his brother Geoff, who shares the groundwork, even bettered their 2001 season markings."We pride ourselves with the facilities we provide at Bashley and to win the grounds award for the second season running is a testament to the hard work we’ve put in over the years," Plummer beamed.Bournemouth’s Chapel Gate ground finished second in the Division 1 table, with Lymington’s Sports Ground wicket being upgraded to Gold status in 2003.