All Today’s Yesterdays – July 24 down the years

July 23| July 25

1947
That classical strokemaker Zaheer Abbas was born. Playing in glasses formuch of his career, he scored 5062 Test runs for Pakistan (1969-70 to1985-86) and is the only batsman to hit two separate hundreds in afirst-class match eight times. He twice made a Test double hundred inEngland: 274 at Edgbaston in 1971 and 240 at The Oval in 1974.

1958
A distinguished trio made their Test debuts for England against NewZealand at Old Trafford: Ted Dexter hit 52 and Ray Illingworth tookthree wickets in 45 economical overs. The third newcomer, Raman SubbaRow, made only 9, but it scarcely mattered: England won by an inningsand 13 runs, and became the first side to win the opening four Tests ofa series in England.

1931
Brilliant little George Gunnwas 52 years old when he completed aninnings of 183 for Notts against Warwickshire. His son George Vernon Gunnscored 100 not out in the same innings.

1902
A typically dazzling hundred before lunch by Victor Trumper helped Australia beat England by 3runs at Old Trafford (see Fred Tate below).

1867
The immortal Fred Tate was born. In contrast with his sonMaurice, who took 155 wickets for England, poor Fred played in only oneTest, but he put his name on it – and not just because it began on hisbirthday. After dropping a vital catch at Old Trafford in 1902, he wasthe last man out at the end of the match, which Australia won by justthree runs. By winning ‘Tate’s Match’, Australia retained the Ashes.

1917
Australian opening batsman Jack Moroney was born. After making aduck in his first Test knock, against South Africa at Johannesburg in1949-50, he returned to the same ground later in the series to score ahundred in each innings.

1996
Death of Alphonso (Alfie) Roberts. When he appeared in his onlyTest, against New Zealand at Auckland in 1955-56, he became the firstcricketer from the `small islands’ (in his case St Vincent) to play forWest Indies.

Other birthdays
1888 Arthur Richardson (Australia)
1929 Alfred Binns (West Indies)
1935 George Varnals (South Africa)
1938 John Sparling (New Zealand)
1974 Andrew Penn (New Zealand)

Central Districts fast-medium bowler Michael Mason and Auckland one-day specialist Paul Hitchcock are the big winners in the New Zealand cricket teams to tour India and Pakistan named today.Mason, who twice served as 12th man for New Zealand last summer, wins his place as the result of the unavailability of fast bowler Shane Bond, who has still not recovered from injury to his back, and Chris Cairns whose partner is due to have a second child during the Test portion of the tour. Mason will have a head start in Indian conditions by flying to Chennai to take part in a Dennis Lillee-bowling clinic there. He will be accompanied by New Zealand Academy bowler Richard Sherlock.Also missing from the Test side are Matt Horne and Mathew Sinclair.Selection manager Sir Richard Hadlee said of Mason: “Michael has been a consistent performer in the State Championship and State Shield for several seasons and has earned his call up.”He has the ability to bowl long spells of consistent line and length which will be useful on pitches that may not offer a lot of assistance. Over the next two weeks Michael will be attending the Dennis Lilliee, Chennai-based, bowling clinic which should be of benefit to him.”Richard Jones, the Wellington batsman taken to Sri Lanka at the end of last season, has been included again in the side that was wholly predictable in all other respects.”Through circumstances beyond his control Richard was not given an opportunity when he was selected for the tour of Sri Lanka,” Hadlee said. “We still feel he has something to offer the team at the top of the order particularly in the conditions we expect to face in India.”It is anticipated that Jones and Lou Vincent will be considered to open the Test innings. Acting team coach Ashley Ross said Vincent had shown by scoring his Test century on debut that he had the capability to handle the job. “Role clarity” was what Vincent required after having been used as something of a spare part in the last two years.”By knowing where he is playing we hope that he can flourish to become the world-class player we believe he can be,” Ross said. Hadlee admitted the selectors had not been consistent with Vincent. He also added that Vincent, in extreme situations, also offered wicketkeeping back-up.Nathan Astle has recovered from knee surgery while Craig McMillan has also regained selection favour. Hadlee said McMillan had been left out of the Sri Lankan tour for form reasons and he had had time out to reflect. He had also been playing, albeit at only a club standard, over the winter with Lashings in England and he had a lot to offer still.”Craig is very keen to re-establish himself in the team as a senior player and to contribute again as he has in the past. His experience will be vital in India and the opportunity is now there for him to perform and reclaim his place long-term,” Hadlee said.The Test side is: Stephen Fleming (captain), Nathan Astle, Ian Butler, Robbie Hart, Richard Jones, Craig McMillan, Michael Mason, Jacob Oram, Mark Richardson, Scott Styris, Daryl Tuffey, Daniel Vettori, Lou Vincent, Paul Wiseman.Hitchcock gets his chance again after being overlooked for the World Cup last season. His place is at the expense of Andre Adams. Hadlee said Adams’ World Cup performances had been disappointing and while there was no doubt he was a potential matchwinner with both bat and ball the selectors had some concerns about him at the moment.Ross said the selectors would be working with Auckland coach Mark O’Donnell to look at Adams’ training methods to ensure he was getting the most out of the work he was putting in.The one-day side to play in the tri-series against India and Australia is: Stephen Fleming (captain), Nathan Astle, Ian Butler, Chris Cairns, Chris Harris, Paul Hitchcock, Brendon McCullum, Craig McMillan, Kyle Mills, Jacob Oram, Scott Styris, Daryl Tuffey, Daniel Vettori, Lou Vincent.Hadlee said the selectors have reserved the right to review the one-day selections before the Pakistan leg of the tour. He said that Cairns had been included in the one-day side as an allrounder which was what he wanted and the bowling he had been doing recently in the English county cricket in recent weeks had been encouraging.Still unresolved is the opening batting question. It is likely that Astle will remain at No 3. A statistical analysis of his performance had shown that whenever Astle survived the first five overs of the 50 overs he made a significant difference to New Zealand’s winning prospects and the selectors were keen to ensure that continued.That leaves Vincent as a possible opener although Hadlee said it could also be an opening for Brendon McCullum. He had shown his ability to bat up the order in the past.Ross said that McCullum was keen to assist in whatever role he could and wherever he could maximise his opportunities. While Chris Nevin’s performances had not been at the level the selectors wanted to see and he needed to show them more, Hadlee said.”With Andre Adams omitted from the side Paul will probably be required to bowl at the death where he will utilise his good change of pace. Paul also tends to skid the ball through which could make him very effective on the dry, low bouncing wickets that the team is likely to encounter.”Hadlee said Butler had been recalled to the one-day squad in the absence of Bond.”With Shane unavailable Ian will give Stephen Fleming a pace bowling option. He is maturing gradually as a pace bowler and he will gain more valuable experience on this tour.”The selection of the side with Jones, Mason and Hitchcock all not on New Zealand contracts showed that the selectors were prepared to look outside the selection system.

Colin Graves, Yorkshire’s chief executive, promised a major shake-up after a disappointing season – and the first round of changes were announced yesterday. Darren Lehmann will return as an overseas player next summer while Darren Gough will remain at the club. But Ryan Sidebottom and Gavin Hamilton, who both won one England cap, are leaving.Lehmann was a key figure in Yorkshire’s Championship win in 2001, and he led the side the following year when they were relegated to Division Two. No decision has yet been taken on whether he will be given the captaincy again, but Graves confirmed that his return was “sorted out, agreed and signed”.Gough has a year left on his contract and will be staying to fulfil that. Graves said: “I want people who will run through a wall for us. I had long discussions with Darren last week and I’ve got his commitment that that is what he wants to do.”Meanwhile Sidebottom, who played one Test for England against Pakistan in 2001, has asked to leave and has already started talks with other clubs. In a statement, he said it was a real wrench to be leaving, adding: “It is my aspiration to build on the success I have had with Yorkshire and to win back my place in the England Test team.”But while Sidebottom can look forward to a new challenge, the future isn’t so bright for Hamilton, another one-Test wonder. Hamilton, who had an attack of the bowling yips, has been struggling for form recently and has played only three Championship matches in the last two seasons. He was the star of Scotland’s World Cup campaign in 1999 – he scored more runs than any England batsman managed in the tournament – and toured South Africa with England that winter, winning his one and only Test cap at Johannesburg, where he bagged a pair and failed to take a wicket.

Close India A 216 for 4 (Ramesh 110, Chopra 66) trail New Zealand 375 for 7 dec (Richardson 128, Oram 101*, Munaf 3-83) by 159 runs
ScorecardSadagoppan Ramesh staked a strong claim for a national team recall with a fluentcentury as India A progressed to 216 for 4 at stumps on the second day against the New Zealanders at Rajkot. Stephen Fleming had earlier declared the NewZealander’s innings at 375 for 7, once Jacob Oram had completed a power-packed and entertaining hundred.Akash Chopra (66) gave Ramesh solid support, with a dogged display that combined long periods of calm with several glides and drives. The New Zealanders, after a lukewarm second session, were rewarded with four wickets in the last hour of play, when they stuck to a consistent plan.It was a day when the run-feast continued, with Oram bludgeoning the jaded India A bowlers, and Ramesh and Chopra – with contrasting styles – laying the foundation for an effective riposte.Oram made full use of a dried-up pitch and a disinterested bowling attack,muscling away the full-pitched balls, which were available aplenty. Oram reverse-swept Kartik twice and reached his hundred, at which point Fleming called them in.The second session was similarly uneventful, and Chopra’s vigil and Ramesh’sfinesse ensured that a rock-solid foundation was laid. Chopra was initially uncomfortable against every bowler, survived a huge lbw appeal against DarylTuffey and was foxed a couple of times by Daniel Vettori. He not only survived the test but also managed to get on top of each bowler as the day wore on.Ramesh showed flourish right through his innings, and a keen eye assisted inpendulum-smooth drives and punched square cuts. He left the short balls for Robbie Hart, flashed rarely at the wide ones, but always cashed in on the loose deliveries. At the fag end of the day, it was Tuffey’s excellent short one that finally undid him, cannoning high into the bat before lobbing up to Fleming.Connor Williams and Mohammad Kaif were both dismissed rather tamely, a result ofthe New Zealanders sticking to their task while the batsmen lost concentration at the end of the day. In the absence of Bond’s incisiveness and Cairns’ experience, the New Zealanders will have to rely hugely on their planning and consistency. Neither Vettori nor Paul Wiseman got any purchase from the pitch, and on this display they will hold few fears for the Indian batsmen. Tuffey, Oram and Styris stuck to a definite plan but its execution over two Tests will take a lot of doing.When Chopra and Ramesh were going strong, Fleming might have remembered the lastTest he played at Ahmedabad, when Ramesh, Sachin Tendulkar and Sourav Ganguly enjoyed a sumptuous feast of runs. He has tomorrow, and then four more days, to chalk out a masterplan that will avert a repeat of the same story at the Motera.Day 1 Bulletin

Close Pakistan 348 and 8 for 0 (Taufeeq 6*, Farhat 1*) need 294 runs ro beat South Africa 278 and 371 for 8 dec (Kirsten 118, Smith 65, Razzaq 3-70)
Scorecard

Pakistan survived a tense 20 minutes at the end of the day after South Africa declared 301 ahead, leaving 100 overs in the game. Gary Kirsten was the star of the day, making a pugnacious 118 – his 19th Test century – to play his team into a position of strength. Pakistan’s bowlers struggled all day to make any breakthroughs, and most of their wickets came in the second half of the day, when South Africa tried to up the momentum.The South African innings revolved around two partnerships that Kirsten put together – of 85 with Neil McKenzie and 90 with Jacques Kallis. The theme of the day was patience. Long spells by the slower bowlers came to nought as the batsmen played with great application, determined to claw one back in this series.McKenzie batted with impressive restraint in the morning, watching the ball carefully, playing late, and letting everything outside off pass by uninterrupted. The only moments of aggression he showed were when he swept Danish Kaneria. He had scored a patient six off 65 when he slog-swept Kaneria twice, to pick up a four and a six.

He then went back into his shell, where he should have remained. After a slog-sweep off Shoaib Malik for a four to midwicket, he went down on his knee to Kaneria to repeat the shot, but the premeditation failed. The ball turned away from him – as it had been doing for much of the morning – and hit the toe of the bat, looping up behind the wicket. Taufeeq Umar at slip, who had taken four catches in the first innings, took his first of the second (213 for 4). McKenzie had 35 off 120 balls. Was this where things would unravel?Not if Kirsten could help it. Batting with his customary ungainly efficiency, Kirsten frustrated Kaneria and Malik, who did the bulk of the bowling in the session, by refusing to be drawn into the slightest indiscretion. Most of the time he was shuffling slightly across or playing back, eyes on the ball till it was past him, or onto his bat. He nurdled more than he drove, and most of his runs came square of the wicket and behind. His resolve was impressive, and Kallis took a cue from him, blocking everything that came his way – except the ones he let sail harmlessly by.Kirsten stepped out a couple of times against the slower bowlers, but was otherwise content to play the role of an anchor – until he reached his century. With the South African lead past 200, and five-and-a-half sessions left in the match, there was a need to accelerate, and Kirsten celebrated his 19th Test century by stepping out and tonking Mushtaq Ahmed over long-on for six. But he was out shortly after, trying to cut Abdul Razzaq and edging to Taufeeq at slip. Taufeeq fumbled with the ball once before holding on to his sixth catch of the Test – a Pakistan record (303 for 5).Razzaq had bowled Mark Boucher in the first innings, and déjà vu struck. Boucher played across the line on the first ball he faced, missed and had his leg stump uprooted. Shaun Pollock kept out the hat-trick ball, and added 22 with Kallis, before Razzaq struck again. A low inswinger trapped Kallis plumb in front, and South Africa were 325 for 7. Kallis had made 43 invaluable runs, off 113 balls.Pollock then kept one end up, and Robin Peterson and Paul Adams, with some lusty hits, brought up the lead of 300. Graeme Smith declared, leaving Pakistan a sporting target – they would need to bat for a day and a bit at three an over. They played out the bit – but the day still remained, and it promised to be quite a contest.

Pakistan’s batsmen will be hoping that Inzamam-ul-Haq wins the toss at Hamilton’s Westpac Park for the first Test against New Zealand which starts tomorrow (2200 GMT on Thursday). Two recent matches will leave them nervous as they contemplate batting on what, at its best, can be the finest Test pitch in New Zealand.Last year, India’s total of 99 was sufficient to gain them a first-innings lead. Wet weather in the lead-up to the match prevented the groundstaff from completing their preparation of the pitch, which continued to provide alarming assistance to seam bowlers throughout the match. Pakistan have had problems at Hamilton too: in their last Test here, three seasons ago, they failed to cope with the extra bounce on the surface and were bundled out for 104 and 118. New Zealand declared at 407 for 4 to win by a whopping margin of an innings and 185 runs, their greatest margin of victory in Test cricket.However, the pace and bounce also makes it an excellent pitch if the weather remains dry: on the last occasion Australia played there, Steve Waugh rated it one of the finest tracks outside Australia. Fine weather over the last few days has given Karl Johnson, the new groundsman, the time he needs to ensure that a quality pitch is available. Both Johnson and Stephen Fleming believe that the pitch will provide the expected early life during the first session but should then settle down to ensure an even contest.New Zealand may have thrashed them the last time they played here, but the current Pakistan unit has a far more cohesive feel to it. This squad also has significant firepower that wasn’t available last time around – Shoaib Akhtar and Mohammad Sami missed that Hamilton Test with injuries. With both being available this time, New Zealand’s opening batsmen will await the result of the toss quite anxiously as well.In fact, Sami had wrecked New Zealand in the first Test of that series – also his debut match – taking 5 for 36 in the second innings as New Zealand lost nine wickets for 26 runs. Shoaib and Sami will be working in tandem should Inzamam bowl first, and it promises to be one of the better shows in town since Waqar Younis and Wasim Akram bowled their side to victory here in 1993.Speaking to the media before the match, Inzamam said that while Pakistan were confident after their easy win against New Zealand in the home series, they also realised that the team which Chris Cairns captained was without several top players. “I am hoping the momentum can continue but every match is a new one.”Fleming has said that it will come down to a battle between Pakistan’s fast bowlers and New Zealand’s comparatively slower medium-pace line-up. “We will have to be very disciplined. It is a battle of two very different bowling attacks.” He also added that the pitch appeared a lot dryer than it was before last year’s Test against India. Talking about his own fitness, Fleming said that he had recovered completely from the abdominal strain which had forced him to miss the tour of Pakistan.New Zealand (probable): 1 Mark Richardson, 2 Lou Vincent, 3 Stephen Fleming (capt), 4 Scott Styris, 5 Craig McMillan, 6 Chris Cairns, 7 Jacob Oram, 8 Robbie Hart (wk), 9 Daniel Vettori, 10 Daryl Tuffey, 11 Ian Butler.Pakistan (probable): 1 Taufeeq Umar, 2 Imran Farhat, 3 Yasir Hameed, 4 Inzamam-ul-Haq (capt), 5 Yousuf Youhana, 6 Younis Khan, 7 Moin Khan (wk), 8 Abdul Razzaq, 9 Danish Kaneria, 10 Shoaib Akhtar, 11 Mohammad Sami.

Australia A 327 for 6 (North 115, Clarke 93) beat Zimbabweans 208 (Flower 67, Ervine 51) by 119 runs at Adelaide
Scorecard

In an ominous premonition of what lies in store in the VB Series later this month, Zimbabwe were overwhelmed by 119 runs at Adelaide, as Marcus North’s century guided Australia A to an impregnable total of 327 for 6.To make matters worse for Zimbabwe, they lost the services of Stuart Carlisle, who sustained a hand injury while fielding and was unable to bat. With Craig Wishart already laid up with a knee injury, it was the last thing that an inexperienced squad needed.The toss was won by Michael Clarke, captaining Australia A for the day, although he is certain to feature in the senior squad, especially after lamping a whirlwind 93 from just 71 balls. His innings included 11 fours and a six, and put the icing on the cake after North, Brad Haddin and Shane Watson had carried Australia A to 177 for 2 by the 30th over.North’s innings hardly paled in comparison. He needed just 109 balls for his 115, and none of Zimbabwe’s bowlers escaped his wrath – none of them went for less than five an over.Mark Vermeulen and Vusi Sibanda launched an optimistic reply, but both fell in the space of two overs, whereupon Tatenda Taibu went for a duck. It was left to Grant Flower and Sean Ervine to patch the innings back together with a 122-run partnership for the fourth wicket, which ended with an untimely run-out. There was little resistance thereafter, especially with Carlisle on the sidelines, and Australia A wrapped up victory with six overs to spare.

Cricket NSW Chief Executive David Gilbert has announced the SpeedBlitz Blues team to play the Queensland Bulls in an ING Cup Match in Brisbane on Friday January 30th, 2004.

Steve Waugh (c)
Brad Haddin
Dominic Thornely
Simon Katich
Phil Jaques
Mark Waugh
Grant Lambert
Stuart Clark
Nathan Bracken
Matthew Nicholson
Stuart MacGill
Aaron O’Brien

Queensland 4 for 285 (Maher 116) v New South Wales
ScorecardJimmy Maher put Queensland in control against their arch-rivals New South Wales with a finely-crafted century on an uncharacteristically low, slow Gabba wicket. Mixing patience with slick strokemaking, Maher grafted his way to 116 to provide the backbone of Queensland’s first-day total of 4 for 285.New South Wales need maximum points from this match to keep their Pura Cup hopes alive, and the y toiled manfully, using eight bowlers in the energy-sapping conditions. But Steve Waugh let slip NSW’s best chance of taking control when he dropped Maher at midwicket on 39.Maher admitted he expected Waugh to snaffle the overhead chance. “Having said that I would have been pretty angry had he caught it because I couldn’t have hit it any harder,” he said after recording his 13th century for Queensland. It was a fine riposte to the Australian selectors, after he was overlooked as Michael Bevan’s replacement for the VB Series.But Maher denied that he was fuelled by his omission. “As far as I’m concerned today was just about playing well for Queensland,” he said. “You don’t have to answer questions from anyone, just those from yourself. I’m very happy, it was a tough day. The runs never came easy at any stage.”Stuart Clark, with 2 for 39 from 19 overs, was the pick of NSW’s attack, and it was he who ended Maher’s five-hour stay by inducing an edge behind from a widish leg-cutter. Maher received great support from Martin Love (68) and Stuart Law (67 not out) in two key partnerships.Two late wickets renewed NSW’s hopes, but Law, who belted eight fours and a six in 119 balls, remains a huge obstacle as he searches for his first Pura Cup century in three years. On 49, he became Queensland’s highest first-class run-scorer when he pulled Stuart MacGill to the square-leg boundary, passing Sam Trimble’s mark of 9465 runs.

New Zealand v South Africa – play abandoned due to rain
ScorecardThe storms that had been scheduled to hit North Island duly did, and the fifth one-day international between New Zealand and South Africa, at Auckland, was rescheduled for tomorrow.New Zealand lead the series 3-1, and South Africa desperately need to win this match if they are to have any chance of drawing level in the six-match series. The rescheduled match is to be a day game, not a day-nighter.