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Dale Steyn has been ruled out of the third Test against England, at Edgbaston, after fracturing his thumb. He will need two to three weeks recovery time, but has a chance of being fit for the final Test at The Oval.Initially it had been thought the injury wasn’t severe enough to put his place in doubt, but subsequent x-rays revealed the extent of the problem. He has had the thumb put in a cast to speed the recovery process.Andre Nel is the most likely replacement at Edgbaston although Monde Zondeki, who made his Test debut on the 2003 tour of England, is also in the squad.”Missing a player of Dale’s calibre is a huge blow, but I feel we have such good depth with the likes of Andre and Monde,” said coach Mickey Arthur. “Nel is probably next in the queue. That was why I was strong on wanting good reserve strength with experienced players who know about the intensity of Test cricket.”Steyn took seven wickets in South Africa’s ten-wicket win over England in Headingley after a sluggish start in the opening Test at Lord’s. He has risen rapidly up the world rankings over the last 12 months and has become the spearhead of South Africa’s attack.There were also injury concerns over Paul Harris, who hurt his right wrist after slipping in his hotel bathroom. However, he was passed fit for the three-day game against Bangladesh A as he aims to maintain his place in the Test eleven. He claimed three wickets at Lord’s, but didn’t make an impression at Headingley as the quick bowlers did the damage.

The Somerset Cricket Board has been asked by the ECB to pilot the emerging Club Accreditation Scheme, known as `Clubmark’.Sport England is promoting this scheme in partnership with the ECB to recognise and accredit clubs that are committed to providing a safe, effective and child friendly environment for children and young people.To gain the `Clubmark’ the core criteria that has to be met covers the duty of care and child protection, coaching and competition , sports equity and ethics and club management.Once clubs have gained the `Clubmark’ there will be some clubs in the county who will want to go onto the next level of the scheme and these will then strive to meet the criteria laid down for the `Community Mark’.Beyond the `Community Mark’ there will be a few clubs who may aspire to the `Performance Mark’ with the ultimate level being the `Excellence Mark’ that is likely to be attained by a very small number of clubs in the county.Somerset Cricket Development Officer Andrew Moulding told me: "Gaining accreditation will be challenging for many clubs. Some will already operate to standards set by the ECB, but others will need to undergo a considerable amount of development work."Mr Moulding continued: "In order to pilot the scheme, Somerset has selected a team of SCB officials to act as club assessors who will assist clubs to gain accreditation. The team members have already received training from the ECB and have made a start on the process."The Development Officer continued: "Bath Cricket Club, Taunton Cricket Club and Weston super Mare have all been selected to pilot the scheme, along with village club Broadway and Horton from South Somerset, to demonstrate that it is not just the big clubs who can gain accreditation."He concluded: "We feel that this is an excellent scheme and will give all clubs the probability of demonstrating their commitment to good practice whilst providing opportunities for young people."

The new spirit of the West Indies team, so encouragingly confirmed over the first two and a half days of the most daunting challenge in international cricket, was, yet again, squandered by individual rashness. One man stood above the negligence that led to the collapse of four wickets for eight runs just before tea that suddenly transformed a promising position into potential disaster.One man restored West Indies’ hope and stimulated a sensational fightback in the closing overs of an engrossing day. No one has epitomised the new attitude more starkly than Shivnarine Chanderpaul whose fighting qualities have been so well established that he has long since been dubbed “Tiger”.Throughout the 13 years since he entered the West Indies team as a fragile 19-year-old, he has set an example for every batsman, present team-mates and those to follow, that an innings is to be treasured almost as dearly as life itself. It was a credo ignored by his early partners yesterday.Runako Morton has never played with more maturity than for his 67 but he wasted three hours of diligence with an unbecoming heave at Stuart MacGill, a waste compounded by the fact that it came minutes before lunch. Dwayne Bravo’s typically bold attack included three sixes in his 46 off 60 balls but was ended by an expansive drive off a wide ball from Brett Lee. Denesh Ramdin and Daren Sammy soon went to equally loose strokes.It left them to observe Chanderpaul’s courage and determination from beyond the boundary in awe and embarrassment. In the midst of the breakdown, he took a shattering blow on the back of the helmet from a bouncer from Lee.The contact reverberated around Sabina Park like a gunshot, a familiar sound in these parts. He instantly fell to the ground. The thousands in the stands watched in hushed anxiety. His wife, Amy, following the remarkable battle from the stands, shed emotional and understandable tears.

For a few minutes, that seemed an eternity, Chanderpaul lay still on the pitch, immediately surrounded by concerned opponents of whom Lee was the first on the scene. Dr Akshai Mansingh, the assigned West Indies Cricket Board doctor, and team physio CJ Clark rushed to the middle. A stretcher appeared.The consensus among all except Chanderpaul was that he surely could not continue. He was on 86 and his faltering team needed him. It would take something more serious than a stunning blow to the cranium to extract him from the middle.He got to his feet, shook his head and satisfied the good doctor that he was ready to continue. Right away he was again middling the ball, nudging and pushing, manipulating the strike away from Fidel Edwards, the No. 10. A crowd shocked into silence by the upsetting events of the previous hour again rediscovered its voice.Every Chanderpaul run was cheered as if it was winning the match. So was every block by Edwards. When, finally, a straight drive off Stuart Clark carried Chanderpaul past his 18th Test hundred, every man, woman and child rose to acclaim a sporting performance they will remember for as long as their memories do. Amy was not the only one shedding tears. So were big men, without a hint of embarrassment.Nor were the tears, and cheers, over. Chanderpaul’s heroics had clearly inspired his team as much as it re-energised their fellow West Indians in the ground. As Edwards and Daren Powell swept aside Australia’s vaunted top order with their searing pace and swing in the final half hour, the depression of the recent years of decline seemed in the distant past. It might or might not be a fleeting wonder. But, my goodness, it was spine tingling.

CHELTENHAM & GLOUCESTER TROPHY
SEMI-FINALSOMERSET V KENTAT THE COUNTY GROUND, TAUNTON1 AUGUST 2002
(RESERVE DAY 2 AUGUST)Gates open 8.30 a.m.
Play starts 10.30 a.m.Ticket prices for the above match are as follows:

Adult £18.00Junior (under 16) £13.00

Tickets will be available to Somerset County Cricket Club Members on a first come first served basis until Friday 26 July and thereafter available to the general public. TWO PER MEMBER.All postal applications made by Members must be accompanied by the appropriate slip in the membership book and a SAE.All postal applications made by non-members must be accompanied by a SAE.Telephone orders with a credit card will have a handling charge of £1.50 per application added. For telephone orders please call 01823 272946.

Graham Thorpe missed a big score in his first appearance in first-class cricket for more than six weeks, but otherwise new county champions Surrey looked worthy of the accolade at The Rose Bowl. Ian Ward hit a century against relegated Hampshire in Surrey’s first match since they clinched the title at the weekend. Ward (112) shared a second-wicket partnership of 197 with Nadeem Shahid (82). Thorpe made 19 before he was bowled by Shaun Udal, who added two more wickets as the middle order showed uncharacteristic frailty. Ali Brown (49*) steadied the ship, helming his side to the calmer waters of 348 for seven at stumps.Robert Key didn’t let his England omission get him down, opening up with 75 against Lancashire at Canterbury. Key shared an opening stand of 148 with his captain, David Fulton, who was still there on 137 as the hosts closed on an imposing 286 for two. After Glen Chapple bowled Key, Ed Smith (68) added another 138 with Fulton before being stumped off Gary Keedy.In Division Two, Kevin Dean did Derbyshire’s outside chances of promotion no harm, with four wickets to peg back leaders Middlesex’s push for the title. Sven Koenig (72) and Paul Weekes (88) were the visitors’ weightiest contributors at Derby, but no one else got beyond 33 as Middlesex finished on 291 for eight.Mark Waugh provided plenty of entertainment at Chester-le-Street, but unfortunately at the expense of the hosts. The Australian Test veteran made 117, adding 218 with Aftab Habib (123) after Essex, hot on Middlesex’s heels at the head of the table, were teetering after losing their first three wickets at 83. It was pretty much one-way traffic after that, with Essex on 368 for five at stumps.Robert White didn’t mess about on his way to his maiden first-class century. He got it before lunch and finished with a magnificent 277 (325 balls) as Northants racked up a daunting 417 for four against Gloucestershire at Northampton. It may be a meaningless match, but it wasn’t short of entertainment as White and Mark Powell (107) put on 375 before the visitors took a wicket. When they finally did there was almost a clatter, but the damage had already been done.Nottinghamshire compiled a respectable 344 for seven against promotion rivals Worcestershire at Trent Bridge. It was built around 112 from Darren Bicknell, whose innings included 20 boundaries. Bicknell added 102 with Jason Gallian (62) and Chris Read, picked for the England academy this winter, made 50. There were three wickets for another academy selection, off-spinner Gareth Batty.

Mohammedan Sporting, the last year champions, secured the place next to Victoria Sporting in GrameenPhone Premier League 2001-2002 today. The renowned club from Motijhil outplayed Bangladesh Biman convincingly in a reduced over match held in BNS ground today. Chasing Mohammedan’s total of 226 for 9 in 43 overs Biman was restricted to 188 in the 38th over.Faruk Ahmed, the Biman skipper won the toss alike yesterday and sent Mohammedan to bat first in a moist wicket conductive to lateral movements. Al-Amin triggered a collapse in Mohammedan top order in similar fashion as he did yesterday. The successful due Ehsanul Haq and Steve Tikolo fell cheaply. The club lost their third wicket on 13, but Sanwar Hossain and Habibul Bashar added 75 valuable runs in the fourth wicket.Bashar made a swashbuckling 40 before making that shot imprudently that got him out at the hands of Sajjad Kadir. Sanwar joined him soon making 46. Mohammed Rafique (44), the leftie promoted to the middle order, scored off some very quick runs, hammered two massive sixes in his innings. Captain Minhajul Abedin put a brave show under pressure to notch up a brilliant 56 at the crucial point and Shabbir Khan also chipped in with 15. With their efforts Mohammedan amassed 226 for 9 after 43 overs. It is noticeable that 7 overs have been reduced due to unplayable ground condition early in the morning.Biman, though made a flying start heralded by Imran Farhat, lost some wickets in quick succession. Farhat, the left handed attacking batsman from Pakistan, quick fired 44 off just 32 deliveries with the help of 4 boundaries and a six. He was put away by Taposh Kumar and Biman’s run rate started to decline.After the departure of Hasanuzzaman (12) and Aminul Islam (26) Biman’s chances fell away, but Khaled Mahmud, the diminitive all rounder made Mohammedan’s task a bit difficult. He was the danger man at those moments, picking up the odd ball to slam boundaries. At the other end his pa,rtners were leaving in regular interval.Mahmud made 42 off 45 balls and with his dismissal Biman’s innings saw its finish with the score on 188. Taposh Kumar, though got some earlier punishments from Farhat, ended up with 3 for 50. Minhajul Abedin, at the age of 38 playing so nicely, were rightly declared as the man-of-the-match.

Mr. Bob Woolmer and Mr. Michael Holding have written to the International Cricket Council and the Board of Control for Cricket in Sri Lanka, to say that their alleged comments regarding Muttiah Muralitharan’s bowling action were misquoted by Wisden Cricket Asia magazine.In a letter to ICC General Manager David Richardson, Mr. Woolmer says: "I would like to pass on my unreserved apologies to the Sri Lanka Cricket Board if I have in any way upset them… Indeed I am a great admirer of Murali’s ability… Muralitharan is a unique spinner and his action and ability are and always will be of great interest to me."Mr. Holding said that his “quotes were skillfully used by a journalist trying to create some sensationalism… helped by a just as zealous sub-editor with the headline used for the article ‘Holding says Murali doubtful’.”The BCCSL is happy to hear that Mr. Woolmer and Mr. Holding did not make the comments, and trusts that a correction will be published by Wisden Cricket Asia magazine, since the comments had upset the cricket-loving public in Sri Lanka.

Saurav Ganguly has been retained as the captain of Indiancricket team for the tour of Zimbabwe from May 27.The selection committee met in Baroda on Saturday under its chairman ChanduBorde and took “two minutes” in arriving at the decision, CricketBoard secretary Jaywant Lele said.”No other name was considered by the selectors,” Lele said,adding that the decision was unanimous. Indian team will play two Testmatches with Zimbabwe followed by a triangular one-day series alsoinvolving West Indies.All national selectors, Madan Lal, Ashok Malhotra, Sanjay Jagdaleand TA Sekhar, were present when the committee took this decision.Ganguly will join the selectors here tomorrow to pick the probablesfor the tour, Lele said.The selection committee will pick 22 probables who will attenda five day conditioning camp beginning at Bangalore from May 13th, hesaid.The final team will be selected on May 18 and it will leave forZimbabwe on May 24. The Indians will also play two side games againstCPX academy at Harare (from May 28 to 30) and Zimbabwe A at Mutare(from June 2-4), Lele said.The first Test will be played in Harare from June 7-11 while thesecond will be played at Bulawayo from June 15-19. The triangularseries would be held from June 23 to July 7.

After scoring his third century in Test cricket and his second against India, Shivnarine Chanderpaul would be an unlikely person to raise an objection if the West Indies were to play India much more often.”I was determined to do well this time. I have had too many 50s and 60s. But I wanted to go on once I was set. Carl (Hooper) was playing superbly at the other end. That boosted my confidence. And it is my home-ground; I had support behind me,” said Chanderpaul.Among the West Indians of Indian descent in Guyana, he is a celebrity. Those who could not get the tickets to enter the ground temporarily stayed in tents outside the Bourda Oval. There, after the third day’s play, Chanderpaul was almost mobbed. He was made to dance to the tune of “Soldier Soldier,” have the compulsory glass of beer and chat with everyone present. His wife, father and friends from the United States were also present.”This is an important hundred for me at a crucial juncture of my international career. I was not getting big scores for so many days. Once you get one, it paves the way for others. Now I have to continue this good work,” he said.The fact that his best effort in Tests came in front of his own crowd, of course, was the most satisfying aspect of his knock for the left-hander.

ScorecardIndia A began their tour of New Zealand on a winning note, beating New Zealand A by three wickets in the first unofficial ODI in Lincoln. India chose to bowl and broke through early, with left-arm pacer Jaydev Unadkat getting opener Hamish Rutherford for a duck. From there on, India struck at short intervals, reducing New Zealand to 54 for 6. It was left to keeper Derek de Boorder and captain Andrew Ellis to rescue them, and they did, putting on 80. De Boorder was the only batsman in the match to score a half-century, making 62 off 85. Unadkat finished with the best figures: 44 for 4.India began their chase decently, with Abhinav Mukund and Unmukt Chand putting on an opening stand of 52 in a little under 15 overs. Once Mitchell McClenaghan had Abhinav though, a mini collapse ensued in which India lost 4 for 26. A 38-run stand between Mandeep Singh and Ambati Rayudu got them briefly back on track, before two more quick wickets courtesy McClenaghan – one of which was a run out – caused another wobble. Rayudu batted through though, and found support from No. 8 Rahul Sharma, to take India home with 16 balls to spare.The match was initially scheduled to be played on Tuesday, but had to be postponed to Wednesday because of an unfit pitch at the Bert Sutcliffe Oval. Only six overs were possible on Tuesday, before the umpires, Phil Jones and Wayne Knights, abandoned the game. Wednesday’s match was at the same venue but on a different track.