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Graham Thorpe is at the centre of a police investigation after a row with his ex-wife Nicola and her new partner, at a house in Epsom, Surrey. Thorpe, who returned from England’s winter tour of Sri Lanka on Tuesday morning, was involved in a high-profile separation from his wife last year, and has only recently returned to international cricket.”Surrey Police were called to a domestic dispute at a house in Epsom at about lunchtime on December 26,” said a police spokeswoman. They added that nobody had been arrested, but an allegation of common assault was made and was being investigated.In 2002, the couple issued a joint statement appealing for privacy, following weeks of media speculation, asking that they should be allowed to “move on” with their lives. Thorpe, who was visibly affected by his off-field problems, pulled out of England’s tour of Australia, claiming he was finding it “difficult to consistently concentrate on cricket”.

Day 3 of 4
ScorecardMluleki Nkala cracked an unbeaten century, his second in first-class cricket, and Heath Streak scored his fourth first-class hundred as Matabeleland raced to a commanding total on the third day of their Logan Cup clash against Midlands at Queens Sports Club.Nkala, batting at No. 8, made an unbeaten 124 while Streak top-scored with 131 as Matabeleland piled on 479 in their second innings. Midlands closed on 45 for 2, still needing 326 to pull off an unlikely win.Matabeleland resumed on 190 for 5 and soon lost Strydom caught at midwicket by Conan Brewer for 20. Nkala then joined Streak and the two accelerated the scoring with some aggressive strokes. Midlands used eight bowlers but Streak went on to reach his hundred after batting for 169 minutes, facing 220 balls and dispatching 11 fours.Craig Wishart, bowling spin, finally removed Streak to a catch close-in by Terrence Duffin for 131. With Nkala he added 153 for the seventh wicket. Dabengwa joined Nkala and the two put on 50 for the eighth wicket before Dabengwa, on 39 fell to Raymond Price, caught by Duffin.Nkala reached his century from 169 balls with eight fours and a six, but the last two men failed to score leaving him stranded. Price finished with 5 for 148 runs from 60 overs, there were two wickets for Ervine, while Friend and Wishart took one apiece.Midlands’ chase started badly when Vusumuzi Sibanda was clean bowled by Heath Streak with the second ball of the innings. Duffin and Wishart put on 45 for the second wicket before Duffin was caught by wicketkeeper Wisdom Siziba off Andre Hoffman for 23 off the last ball of the day.

SK Nair, the BCCI secretary, has denied reports of the Indian government refusing permission for the under-19 team’s tour to Pakistan. Speaking to Wisden CricInfo, Nair said that the board was awaiting the government’s sanction for the tour. “We are following it up with the Indian government at various levels.”Nair also said that the dates given in the news report in question were incorrect. He said that the Asian Cricket Council had proposed to hold four tournaments for junior, academy and A teams from India, Pakistan and Sri Lanka. The tournament for the National Cricket Academy teams was proposed to be held in Sri Lanka in September, followed by an under-19 event in Pakistan in November. India were scheduled to host the last two tournaments – the A-team competition in December and the under-17 Asia Cup in January 2004.

ADELAIDE, March 6 AAP – South Australian opener David Fitzgerald batted throughout the opening day to put the Redbacks in firm command of their Pura Cup match at Adelaide Oval today.At stumps, SA was 1-266 after winning the toss, Fitzgerald unbeaten on 127 from 283 balls for his third century of the season and skipper Greg Blewett on 61.Fitzgerald shared an opening stand of 137 with Shane Deitz, who was bowled by paceman Damien Wright for 57 late in the second session when he played an attempted pull shot onto his stumps.The openers scored only 60 from 29 overs in the opening session on a flat pitch, but it laid a solid platform from which SA was able to launch an assault in the final two sessions.An increasingly confident and free-scoring Fitzgerald and Blewett put on an unbroken 129-run second-wicket stand, including 106 in the final session.”We’ve had a tendency to get one little partnership and then lose a few quick wickets, so it was important to just keep building and building and play to our strengths,” Fitzgerald told reporters.The SA batsmen were helped when Tigers paceman Adam Griffith suffered a strain to his right hamstring in the second session and he did not bowl in the final session.Tasmanian coach Brian McFadyen said Griffith was to receive an ultrasound tonight and depending on the result of that test, might not bowl again tomorrow.The young paceman had already missed last week’s match against SA in Hobart with thigh and calf injuries.Should he be unavailable, it would leave the Tigers with a very thin pace attack of Gerard Denton and Wright, himself returning from injury.Left-arm orthodox spinners Daniel Marsh and Xavier Doherty both had little impact today, Doherty in particular with 0-81 from 22 overs, tiring late in the day and conceding 14 runs from his final over.With SA having no chance to make the Cup final after last week’s outright loss in Hobart, Fitzgerald said the team had been intent simply on getting the best out of each discipline in this match.He said his century gave him something positive to take away from the summer.”It’s been a funny season, this is my third century, but I’ve had quite a few starts and probably haven’t gone on, so that’s been disappointing, but to get another century is very pleasing,” he said.

Just how close are India and Pakistan to playing each other in bilateral international cricket at the senior level? Not too close, if one goes by a statement yesterday from Yashwant Sinha, India’s foreign minister. Speaking to the Press Trust of India, Sinha said that the time hadn’t yet come for cricketing relations between the two countries to be fully restored.”We will resume sporting ties on a bilateral basis only when the time is right,” said Sinha. “Cricket will form part of the normalisation process.”When it comes to Pakistan, the Indian government has long linked cricket with politics. The recent thaw in relations at the political level led to resumption of cricketing ties being planned at the junior and A-team levels. India’s sports ministry green-lighted the BCCI’s request to send its junior team to Pakistan; meanwhile, Pakistan is organising a tournament in December with the A teams of the two countries, as well as Sri Lanka.But Indo-Pak relations have since deteriorated, with talks of peace giving way to the political rhetoric that has been standard fare for the last few years. That does not augur well for cricket fans.

The England coach, Duncan Fletcher, was quick to defend captain Nasser Hussain after he was criticised by Australia’s Justin Langer for standing his ground after Jason Gillespie had apparently caught him at mid-on off Stuart MacGill.As at Adelaide, when Langer himself believed he had caught Michael Vaughan during his innings of 177, the matter was referred to the third umpire. Hussain was ruled in when television replays did not show whether Gillespie had controlled the ball before it hit the turf.”It was within the rules, but in an ideal world I would like to see if a player says he’s out, he’s out,” Langer said. “It’s something we have got to look at. As it is now it takes a bit of the integrity out of the game. Jason was sure he caught him and I guess it’s disappointing the decision didn’t go his way.”But Fletcher insisted that Hussain was perfectly within his rights to stand, given the availability of television to prompt a firm ruling.”It’s very, very difficult,” Fletcher told Sky Sports. “With those decisions you don’t really know if you have caught it or not. It’s very difficult to see if the ball has touched the ground.”I think it should just be left to the third umpire. The technology is there so why not use it? It has proved he did the right thing by standing his ground.””I think there was a lot of intensity at the back end of today’s play,” Fletcher added. “The batsmen were put under a lot of pressure from some quality bowling.”Hopefully we can go into tomorrow and withstand some more. It’s going to be a huge battle and hopefully we can get that 350. The first morning session is going to be important.”It’s a difficult job – there are some really good bowlers there. They don’t seem to have any weakness – they have a good batting line-up and a good bowling line-up.”Langer scored a career-best 250 as Australia declared on 551 for six before taking three key England wickets before the close.We are in a great position,” said the Australian opener. “It looks like the pitch in going to spin a bit. England are in for a tough game from here on in. Hopefully we can put enough pressure on England and win the game.”Of his own innings, Langer said: “It was probably not the best I have ever hit them. I am thrilled. It was nice to capitalise and get the opportunity to get a really big score. I really wanted to take the opportunity to nail a big one.”It gets easier because the ball gets older and it loses a bit of extra bounce and pace but you are still facing world-class bowling. You can never afford to think it’s getting easier, otherwise you end up back in the changing rooms.Langer was also thrilled by Martin Love’s 62 on Test debut, adding: “He’s a very classy player. I haven’t seen him bat much before. He’s certainly in the mould of Mark Waugh in the way he bats and I’m sure he will be delighted with the way he played.”Love, 28, has already scored two double centuries against the England touring team. He said he would like to play against England every week.”It would be nice. I guess I’m seeing the ball pretty well against England at the moment. I’ve spent a fair bit of time facing their bowlers. I’ve certainly had a good run against them so far this year. Unfortunately you can’t keep following England around all the time.”Langer was also outspoken in his criticism of England’s Barmy Army, who picked up on suggestions about the legality of Brett Lee’s action, which was cleared by the International Cricket Council two years ago, to shout “No Ball” every time he ran into bowl.”I thought they were a disgrace – there’s no better sight on a cricket fieldthan Brett Lee or any fast bowler running in like that, it’s a magnificent sightand if it did help fire Brett up then all the better for us,” claimed Langer.”These people stand behind a fence drinking beer with most of them 50 kilos overweight making ridiculous comments. It’s easy for someone to say that frombehind a fence, they’re within their rights because they’ve paid their money,but there’s still some integrity in life, I think.”Barmy Army spokesman Paul Burnham said the chants were meant as a joke.”Watching the guys’ faces while they were no-balling Lee, you could tell they were smiling,” he said.”From what I saw it was in very good humour and if they can’t take a joke then shouldn’t be dishing it out so readily – we’ve taken abuse from the moment we arrived in the country about the performances and injuries England have suffered.”

Was it the finest one-day win by New Zealand? Was it the finest individual innings by a New Zealander in a One-Day International? Was it a sign of greater consistency to come in the one-day game?All are questions that could rightfully be asked after New Zealand’s nine-wicket win over South Africa at the World Cup at the Wanderers’ Stadium in Johannesburg yesterday.Was it the finest one-day win?It was certainly an outstanding win, achieved under some pressure with the refusal to go to Kenya the main reason.But the finest?It was an early game in the competition. It was a rain-affected result, and yes, New Zealand were right up and over the Duckworth/Lewis requirement. But the fact remains that scoring 307 to win would have been the real icing on the cake.So far, the victory in the ICC KnockOut at Nairobi in 2000 still ranks above it. That too, was achieved under pressure from the first time New Zealand had been in a major international tournament final.Yesterday is up there, but is one of a cluster of matches of impact: the 1992 World Cup opener against Australia, the victory over South Africa in Brisbane last summer, Jeff Wilson’s victory over Australia at Hamilton in 1992/93, the win over England at Adelaide in 1982/83 when scoring 297 to win, the victory over Australia at the 1999 World Cup and so on.As for the finest individual innings?Again, it is a matter of situations. Certainly, it was a vital innings for New Zealand, a World Cup-saver. History may judge it more significantly in the context of the tournament.But there is still the feeling that Chris Cairns’ effort in Nairobi still edges it out.It was great to see Stephen Fleming finally realise his potential, and it may be the forerunner of things to come. However, it too must rest among a clutch of innings in more recent times at least that include Cairns’ effort against South Africa in the afore-mentioned match at Brisbane, Nathan Astle at Carisbrook in the last two summers against Pakistan and England respectively where his centuries won both series.Whatever the call on great innings, it is to be hoped that with this team now playing as a side that could almost last through until the next World Cup, that some consistency can develop in the New Zealand game.That has been sadly lacking in recent times, to the eternal frustration of supporters.But knowing they can compete, away from home, against the best in the game, has to be a big boost to New Zealand.They did it at the 1999 World Cup, but didn’t kick on, largely as the result of injuries.This time they have a great opportunity. Even if injuries should occur over the next season or two, there is a core of players developed and more waiting in the wings to at last allow New Zealand supporters to believe that they might reasonably expect their side to win more often than they lose.

Cricket NSW Chief Executive David Gilbert has announced the SpeedBlitz Blues team to play Western Australia in a Pura Cup match at the SCG from Tuesday November 4th to Friday November 7th, 2003.

Stephen Waugh (C)
Michael Slater
Greg Mail
Simon Katich
Phil Jaques
Mark Waugh
Brad Haddin
Stuart MacGill
Matthew Nicholson
Stuart Clark
Don Nash
Grant Lambert

12th man to be named on the morning of the match.There are three changes from the side which beat Queensland in the 2002-03 Pura Cup final in Brisbane. Michael Clarke (India), Doug Bollinger (injured) and Shawn Bradstreet (injured) were not available for selection. Jaques, Nicholson and Lambert come into the 12.

Andrew Flintoff linked up with England’s one-day squad in Adelaide in the hope and belief that his recent fitness problems are behind him.Flintoff has been undergoing extensive rehabilitation in England since before Christmas, when he was sent home after making a slower-than-expected recovery from a double hernia operation in September.”I have just been on an intense four-week programme under the guidance of (ECB medical officer) Dr Peter Gregory and I spent anything from three to six hours a day training,” Flintoff said.”A range of building up the groin area, a lot of leg weights, a lot of running, rowing, cycling, cross training and running around hills in Bolton. It’s been a hard few weeks but I am probably as fit as I have ever been.””The time-spans we were talking about meant I should have been fit, it was just unfortunate that I took a bit longer to heal. I did all the rehab that was asked of me before I came out and I have done rehab since then. I just needed time to get fully fit.”I have worked hard since I had the operation and looking forward now, everything else is behind me. I am probably as fit now as I have been for 12 months.””My weight is the same I have just lost body fat. I have not put a pound on since the tour of New Zealand last year. A lot of it was to do with the series in India and New Zealand, bowling long spells.”Before that I had never bowled those type of overs before. Also my diet is probably better and I have spent a lot more time down the gym. There was a spell when I was younger, between the age of 14 and 22 where my back was playing up so I didn’t do a great deal of running because of that.”Now I am on the treadmill, running outside and the back has been good for two years, touch wood.”Flintoff confessed to extreme frustration at missing the Ashes series, but now feels fit to challenge for a position in England’s World Cup team after securing a place in England’s 15-man squad.”Before it was a case of being in pain and there wasn’t a lot of confidence in my groin because of it, it was nowhere near the level it is now. I feel fully fit, have every confidence the groin is going to hold up and I am pain free.”Bowling is such an unnatural action; if you talk to bowlers a lot of them have had hernias and I think with the amount of cricket played that it’s inevitable from time to time that you are going to pick up injuries and hernia is quite a common one.”I was obviously disappointed and frustrated not to be involved in the Ashes. But there was not a great deal I could do, I had to look forward and look at the World Cup and get fit for that.”I have not played international cricket now since the Headingley Test match so that’s four months gone and I am definitely fresh and raring to go.”

The Executive Committee of the United Cricket Board of South Africa met inJohannesburg today to discuss issues surrounding the current tour by thenational cricket team in Australia. Contrary to interpretations in themedia, the meeting was not in any way a “disciplinary hearing”, nor wasUCBSA President Percy Sonn called in to face the Executive Committee.The meeting was addressed by the Minister of Sport and Recreation, NgcondeBalfour, who expressed his support for the UCBSA, the national team and forthe process of transformation in South African cricket.The UCBSA acknowledges that it has not always made its policies clear to thepublic and regrets if this interfered in any way with the national team’spreparation or performance during their tour to Australia. All policies andprocedures are currently being outlined in full for the use of everyone inSouth African cricket. In September 2001, the UCBSA began the process ofapplying for an ISO 9002 certification, which involves full annual audits ofall policies and procedures by the SABS.Further issues which were discussed at the meeting and which the ExecutiveCommittee would like to clarify to the media and the public are:* The UCBSA would like to reiterate its position that formercaptain Hansie Cronje has been banned for life by the General Council of theUCBSA. This decision has been upheld by the High Court of South Africa andendorsed by the International Cricket Council. There is no intention toreverse this decision and the UCBSA now considers the matter closed.* The process of selecting the national team includes theendorsement of the team by the President and no team selection is completeuntil it has been endorsed by the President. The Executive Committeeexpressed its concern that the team that was initially under considerationfor the Third Test in Sydney as well as the discussions leading to the finalselection were leaked. The Executive Committee will call for reports on thematter from the Convenor of the national selection committee and the matterwill be discussed by the General Council of the UCBSA at its meeting on 19January. The policy regarding selection of the national team – and accordingto which the President acted – is that where there is an opportunity to doso, young black players who are on the fringes of the team must be given thechance to play for their country.* The UCBSA would like to express its support for andconfidence in the coaching team of Graham Ford and Corrie van Zyl, as wellas in captain Shaun Pollock. All three have contracts with the UCBSA untilafter the 2003 Cricket World Cup in South Africa and the UCB is satisfiedthat they are performing according to those contracts.* The UCBSA understands that some former players may feelneglected by the system of cricket administration in South Africa. The UCBwould like to reassure former players who feel they have South Africancricket at heart that the UCB values their expertise and experience andinvites them to make a contribution to South African cricket in a positivemanner. If there are issues – particularly around transformation – thatthese former players do not fully understand, the UCB would be happy toengage them in discussions.* At the same time, the UCB urges all South Africans to getbehind their national cricket team and to give them their full supportduring the rest of their tour to Australia and in particular the home seriesin South Africa against Australia.Executive CommitteeUnited Cricket Board of South AfricaMedia Inquiries:Bronwyn WilkinsonCommunications Director+27-83-212-8255