THE Western Australian Cricket Association selectors today announced the Western Warriors team to play the Southern Redbacks in an ING Cup match in Adelaide on Saturday, February 1, 2003.The team is:Justin Langer (Captain), Mike Hussey (vice-captain), Jo Angel, Ryan Campbell, Beau Casson, Murray Goodwin, Kade Harvey, Shaun Marsh, Chris Rogers, Callum Thorp, Brad Williams and Paul Wilson.Brad Williams, who was a member of Australia’s triumphant VB Series team last weekend, returns to the Warriors line-up. He replaces left-arm paceman Michael Clark.

The West Indies brought joy to the hearts of over 500 budding cricketers and supporters when they visited the Actonville townships, outside Johannesburg yesterday.Starry-eyed children and adoring adults were captivated by the presence of Carl Hooper’s team as the Windies took the day off to conduct a coaching clinic at the small field in the rural district.Batsmen Brian Lara and Shivnarine Chanderpaul were the main attractions for the fans in the area, which is a mile from the Willonmore Oval, the venue for the side’s match against Bangladesh tomorrow.The event was organised by the World Cup Committee and the Easterns Cricket Board, and the ground is said to be the main venue used by black players during the apartheid era.From the moment the West Indies players emerged from the bus at 2 p.m. they were mobbed by the fans, many of whom see them as greater heroes than members of the South African side."The West Indies players of the past are my real heroes," said Cynthia Constantine, who made the hour-long trip from Johannesburg."The West Indies have showed that black people can dominate at the highest level and I’m proud of `my’ team."Dudu Hlophe, 16, and ten teammates from her school’s girls’ team, made a 90-minute trip to be part of the clinic."I’m just so happy to be here and meet the West Indies," she said with a smile that rivalled the afternoon sun."I just wanted to meet Lara and I got a chance to bowl at him. He’s a nice man and the others are very cool."Tommy Padotan, a lifelong supporter, brought along his wife, son and four daughters to meet the team. He also had Press clippings from the West Indies’ heroics as far back as the 1970s."This is a real chance to meet the team I love so much. We would not have missed it for the world," he said.But it was not just an event for the fans.Sky Sports, the British-based television network; SuperSports, one of South Africa’s leading networks, and several other sections of the media were there.West Indies captain Carl Hooper praised the authorities for putting on the event and acknowledged that his players had a tremendous impact on the youth."It was great to interact with the youngsters today and impart some our knowledge," he said."They see us on television and this allowed the youngsters to realise that the players in the World Cup are not far removed from them."

Consistent individual displays of batting from Plate A’s willow-wielders gave their side the slight edge in their drawn encounter against Elite A in the Duleep Trophy match at the MA Chidambaram Stadium, Chennai.Winning the toss, Plate A skipper Hrishikesh Kanitkar opted to bat first, but he himself could make only six. But batsmen across the line-up did enough to get their side to a formidable 373 midway through the second day’s play. Opening the batting, R Jaiswal and Barrington Rowland made 80 and 75 respectively, putting together a first-wicket stand of 147.Plate A then experienced some hiccups in the middle-order before lower-oder bats Sunil Joshi and Dodda Ganesh added 117 runs for the eighth wicket. Joshi made a sedate 73 off 167 balls, with eight fours and two sixes, while Ganesh hit up a relatively rapid 72 off 112, striking eight fours and four sixes. For Elite A, left-arm pacer Irfan Pathan took five wickets for 88 runs.Elite A responded with 281, 92 runs in deficit and thereby ceding first-innings points to Plate A. The final score of 281, too, was based largely on Sridharan Sriram’s hundred. Playing on his home ground, Sriram made 119 off 240 balls, with 11 fours, but he found little support from his team-mates; the next highest scorer was Y Venugopal Rao, who scored 30.Plate A continued to impress, and in their second innings, recovered from a precarious 78 for six to hit up 342 runs. Joshi and Ganesh did well again, making 66 (78, 9×4, 2×6) and 63 (96b, 8×4, 2×6), but it was stumper Thilak Naidu who top-scored this time, scoring 83 off 151 balls, with 11 fours and a six.The target of 435 was clearly beyond Elite A on the final day of the contest, and the match was declared a draw when Elite A were 102 for three. Plate A took away five points from the game, while Elite A took three.

Already overburdened by the perennial controversies that have become as attached as a Siamese twin, West Indian cricket was thrown into further confusion Monday, three days before the first Test of the Cable & Wireless Series against Australia.Not for the first time, surely for the last, Carl Hooper has withdrawn from a West Indies squad.His decision to pull out of the 14 announced last Saturday was not unexpected, as it came after his dismissal as captain last week, after two years in the post and following the West Indies’ first-round elimination from the World Cup in South Africa.Although he did not go so far in a brief statement, Hooper has effectively ended his 16 enigmatic largely unfulfilled years in international cricket, in which he played 102 Tests, 22 as captain, and 227 One-Day Internationals as a stylish batsman and steady off-spin bowler.In spite of a Test batting average in the mid-30s and a bowling average just a few points below 50, he is the only player in the game to score over 5 000 runs, claim more than 100 wickets and snare over 100 catches in both forms of the game.Apart from the frustration of having to hand over a basically young team that he feels, with some justification, has gradually developed under him, Hooper is now 36 and his knees required surgery last December."After giving my selection in the West Indies team for the first Test careful consideration, I have decided to inform the selectors and the West Indies Cricket Board of my decision to make myself unavailable," Hooper said in his statement, issued in St Lucia where he participated in the Double Wicket World Cup tournament last weekend."This has been a difficult decision but is one I feel must be made, given the recent developments over the last few weeks and the new direction in which the team will now head."Though [it is] tempting to play, it would curtail the development of a younger player, and I see it also as a backward step for West Indies cricket. I take this opportunity to wish the team well into the upcoming series and urge the Caribbean public to continue with their support for the West Indies team."Hooper reportedly had lengthy discussions with West Indies greats Sir Everton Weekes and Lance Gibbs in St Lucia.His wife Connie, a solid supporter who has been constantly by his side since he came out of two years’ retirement in 2001 to immediately take over as captain from Jimmy Adams, would have helped influence his decision."We are disappointed and we’re now thinking of a replacement" was chief selector Sir Viv Richards’ reaction. Sir Viv, the only West Indies captain never to have lost a Test series, strongly and publicly supported Hooper’s retention as captain but was outvoted by his two colleagues on the panel, Joey Carew and Gordon Greenidge, and ultimately by the board."We were hoping for him to play because he would have filled a certain role such as being a spinner," Sir Viv said. "As to who will replace Hooper, our options are still open."The clearest choice would be the 27-year-old Jamaican Gareth Breese, who had one Test in India last October and has had a good allround Carib Beer tournament (335 runs, average 37.22, 28 wickets, average 22.85). But he lacks Hooper’s vast experience andbatting class.The more likely scenario is that all four chosen fast bowlers – Merv Dillon, Pedro Collins, Vasbert Drakes and Jermaine Lawson – will start with Marlon Samuels to fill in with occasional off-spin.Hooper’s loss as a batsman comes after the enforced absence of Ramnaresh Sarwan, the appointed vice-captain, with a finger injury and the pointed omission of left-handed opener Chris Gayle, and throws the batting order out of balance.Since Gayle has presumably paid the price for preferring profit in the Double Wicket tournament to playing for Jamaica in the Carib Beer Series final against Barbados last weekend, it means a probable debut for 21-year-old left-handed opener Devon Smith and the return as his partner of Daren Ganga after a year out of the team.The upheavals place even heavier responsibility than usual on Lara and Shivnarine Chanderpaul, the only two batsmen with over 50 Tests.West Indies were in similar disarray when the Australians last came to the Caribbean, yet shared the series 2-2.Thrashed in all five Tests and six of seven One-Day Internationals in South Africa a few weeks earlier, West Indies were without Hooper for the first two Tests and Chanderpaul for all four. Lara was placed on probation for two matches and told to improve his leadership.West Indies were bowled out for 51, their lowest ever total, in the first Test in Trinidad, losing by 351 runs, yet rallied behind Lara’s brilliant batting to win the next two before losing the last.Australia have key absentees of their own. Fast bowler Glenn McGrath and leg-spinner Shane Warne, both with over 400 Test wickets, are missing for contrasting reasons, and batsman Damien Martyn is out of the series through injury.But the Australians have shown great depth among their reserves. West Indies are now about to have theirs tested.

Phil Tufnell, the winner of the reality TV show, I’m a Celebrity … Get Me out of Here, is set to follow in the footsteps of the former England captain, David Gower, by becoming a team captain on the BBC One sports quiz They Think It’s All Over. Tufnell is currently negotiating a number of media offers after being crowned king of the jungle, and They Think It’s All Over would suit his laconic style. The quiz is now in its eighth year, and the departing captains Gower and the former England football captain, Gary Lineker, were routinely made the butt of jokes by the comedians Lee Hurst, Rory McGrath and Jonathan Ross.Ross, who hosts a chat show on BBC One (Tufnell is lined up as one of next week’s guests), is to stay as one of the panellists, along with the host of the show, Nick Hancock. Contenders to be Tufnell’s opposite number include Steve Davis, the snooker player, and the former Olympic swimmer Sharron Davies.

It’s far too early in the season to talk about championships, but there’s no doubt tomorrow’s Havant-BAT Sports clash at Havant Park, 11.30am, will provide a significant pointer to the outcome of the latest ECB Southern Electric Premier League title tussle.Havant, the reigning champions, have twice lifted the Premier crown in three seasons, BAT Sports sandwiching their success in between, winning it in 2001.BAT are the masters of all-day cricket, having won a staggering 16 out of their last 17 `time’ matches in the past three seasons – their latest win a massive 210-run demolition of Calmore Sports last weekend.The result put BAT, the only unbeaten side, on top and clear of Havant, who came unstuck in a penultimate ball thriller at South Wilts a fortnight ago.A thumb injury rules out Hampshire Under-17 all-rounder Ricky Rawlins, whose place is expected to go to seamer Mark Page.Havant, knocked out of the ECB Club Championship at Basingstoke & North Hants on Sunday, are weakened by the absence of in-form batsman Luke Sears and influential South African Mackie Hobson, who has yet to play in the SPL this summer.The defending champions line up with a three-pronged spin attack of Matt Cox, Richard Hindley and Phil Loat – all seasoned wicket takers – which suggests Havant will not use one of their harder, newly laid strips."It will be a terrific game," forecasts Havant skipper Paul Gover. "Both teams are laced with top club players who will bring out the best in each other."Having taken a career-best 8-29 against Calmore, BAT left-arm pace bowler Dan Goldstraw is relishing the duel."This is a totally different ball game. There’s some pretty decent Havant batsmen about and I’ll be happy with a few scalsp, so long as we win," he smiled.Calmore Sports, who sank to the Premier 1 basement after the BAT humiliation, are determined to bounce back quickly against Bournemouth at Loperwood Park, 11.30am.Skipper Tom Pegler, boosted by Mark Boston’s return, wants his side to show plenty of character tomorrow."Dan Goldstraw destroyed us with that 8-29 spell last week, but that’s gone now and we need to get back to believing in ourselves and scoring runs," he said."We’ve got some young, inexperienced players – but they can play and I’m looking to them to come back hard."We’re not a 53 all out side. We showed what we can do by beating the Academy lads a few weeks ago and I want us to apply the same approach tomorrow."Bournemouth also lost last week by 83 runs to the Academy – the outcome largely influenced by a sparkling performance by Hampshire’s Lawrie Prittipaul, who hit 81 before bowling a miserly ten-over spell.Fit again Dorset batsman Charlie Holcomb replaces the unavailable Matt Mixer at Calmore.Hampshire’s Lawrie Prittipaul won’t be quite sure which dressing room to use at the Rose Bowl when Portsmouth play the Academy team.Under current SPL regulations, Portsmouth-based Prittipaul is eligible to play for both sides, although rival Premier clubs are certain to ask for the dual-registration rules relating to the Academy’s full-time professionals to be reviewed for next season.Prittipaul, who played his early Southern League cricket for Portsmouth, turned out for the city club in the opening match against Liphook, but turned in a match-winning performance in Academy colours at Bournemouth last week.South Wilts skipper Rob Wade confesses he has no idea who will play for the Salisbury club against Liphook & Ripsley at Bemerton."We should have James Tomlinson back from university, but I’ve got quite a few players nursing injuries and who won’t know until tonight whether they are going to be fit," he said.Russell Rowe (bruised arm), Adie Holewell and Alex Senneck (back), and Adam Smith (ankle) are all on the `doubtful’ list."Senneck is the most worrying. He developed a few problems at Andover last week, but if he plays we’ll have a magnificent pace attack of Seeary, Senneck and Tomlinson."There’s no club that can match that," said Wade, whose South Wilts side lie second behind BAT Sports in the log.Western Australian Brad Thompson has passed himself fit and will strengthen the Bashley (Rydal) line up against Andover at the BCG.The Aussie coach, who is set to succeed Hampshire’s Paul Terry as coaching supremo at the Melville Grade club in Perth this autumn, has been out of action for the past month following a broken finger injury sustained at Havant on May 10.He replaces seasoned campaigner John Whiting, who is recuperating in a health farm after his recent arduous bowling stints."Obviously it’s a great boost to have Brad back and he’ll stiffen the batting," said Bashley skipper Matt King, who is looking to extend his individual 16-wicket haul."Overall, I was pleased with the improved performance when we drew at Portsmouth last Saturday and feel we have started to get ourselves back on track."We took a lot more positives out of that game than negatives and fancy we’ll beat Andover tomorrow," King added.

Boeta Dippenaar has been drafted into South Africa’s one-day squad as a replacement for the injured batsman Neil McKenzie.McKenzie, who damaged a disc in his lower back during South Africa’s victory over Bangladesh last month, has been ruled out of the NatWest Series, but still hopes to recover in time for the first Test at Edgbaston on July 24.”Boeta was the logical choice, he has been in the mix for a number of years and has performed well,” said Omar Henry, South Africa’s chairman of selectors. “This is another opportunity for him to nail down a place in the one-day team.”Dippenaar has made 61 limited-overs appearances, scoring 1,810 runs at an average of 42, and had already been included in the Test squad. “It’s a pleasant surprise," he said. "I know the England tour is a really big one and I was looking forward to the Tests. Now it’s great to be part of the whole trip. It’s going to be very special.”McKenzie was philosophical about his omission. “I have made good progress, but I am probably two weeks short of full fitness,” he said. “If I pushed myself to be ready for the one-dayers I might risk missing out on the whole tour and I’d rather make sure I am 100% for the Test series.”

Day 2 Close Queensland Academy of Sport Invitation 201 and 153 for 7 (Payne 52, Kapali 4-24) lead Bangladesh 203 for 9 dec (Kapali 55, Hopes 4-35) by 151 runs
ScorecardAlok Kapali starred with both bat and ball as Bangladesh gained a slight upperhand over Queensland Academy of Sport Invitation at the close of the second day’s play. In a low-scoring match which looks certain to end inside three days, Bangladesh declared their first innings at 203 for 9 – just two runs in the lead – and then restricted the Queensland side to 153 for 7.Kapali top-scored for Bangladesh, hitting six fours and a six in a spunky 55. Then, he caused plenty of damage with his legspinners, running through Queensland ASI’s middle order to return figures of 4 for 24.Resuming their innings at 86 for 3, Bangladesh were quickly reduced to 112 to 6, with James Hopes’s medium-pace doing most of the damage. He snared the first two wickets of the day, dismissing Al Sahariar (4) and Mohammad Ashraful (39). When Damien MacKenzie, right-arm fast-medium bowler, dismissed Sanwar Hossain for 6, a Bangladesh lead looked unlikely, but Kapali and Khaled Masud, the wicketkeeper, stitched together a 60-run partnership for the seventh wicket which put the innings back on track.Kapali was finally dismissed by Hopes, who finished with figures of 4 for 35, but Bangladesh managed to sneak ahead of the Queensland ASI total.The Queensland team’s opening pair saw off Bangladesh’s new-ball attack, adding 54 for the first wicket, but the problems for the home team began soon after. Despite a spirited 52 from Daniel Payne, the right-handed opener, Queensland ASI lost wickets at regular intervals. Kapali ripped through the middle order, and among his victims was Nathan Hauritz (9) and Payne.The eighth-wicket pair of MacKenzie and Lee Carseldine saw off the last six overs, but Bangladesh still had reason to be pleased. If their batsmen keep their wits about them, Bangladesh could well make a winning start to their Australian tour.

Nepal and Malaysia qualified for the Youth Asia Cup final after both Saturday’s semifinals in Karachi were washed out.

The match at Quaid-e-Azam Cricket Park between Malaysia and Qatar was called off without a ball being bowled, and at the National Stadium, only 33 overs were possible – with Nepal reaching 110 for 5 against Kuwait.Nepal and Malaysia were awarded places in the final after securing more victories in the preliminary round matches. The final is slated for Sunday, with Monday being a reserve day.More monsoon rains are forecast for the coming week. If the final too is washed out, then Nepal will be adjudged winners of the competition, having accumulated 21 points to Malaysia’s 20. The winner qualifies for next year’s Youth World Cup to be played in Bangladesh.Scores in brief:
Nepal 110-5 in 33 overs (Yashwant Subedi 42, Manjeet Shreshta 24*; Waqas Jamal 3-26) vs Kuwait. Match washed-out.Malaysia vs Qatar: match washed out.

Robin Smith has announced he will retire from first-class cricket at the end of the season. Smith cited injury problems for his decision to leave Hampshire after 22 years.

He said today: “I feel now is the right time to go although I know I shall miss cricket badly. I find it difficult to get over injuries as quickly as I did and at my age I am not going to get any better.” In his benefit year at Hampshire, Smith has played 10 Championship games this season, scoring 522 runs at an average of 37.28. He added: “I’ve enjoyed every minute of the last 23 years and I thank Hampshire for the support that has enabled me to achieve my ambition to playing till the age of 40.”Rod Bransgrove, Hampshire’s chairman, said: “In my opinion, Robin Smith has been the most influential player in the history of Hampshire cricket. Besides winning many, many matches, he has also won the hearts and minds of Hampshire supporters everywhere. I fully understand and respect Robin’s decision to retire from playing and I look forward to working with him in the second phase of his career with Hampshire Cricket.”Speculation was rife that Smith was going to call it a day after he tore his hamstring two weeks ago. He said: “There is some talking to be done about my future. If one is realistic about me having played my last game then you could think along those lines.” He added that he still hoped to play in Hampshire’s final National League match, against Derbyshire on September 21.Smith, who is 40 on September 13, has scored 18,984 runs for Hampshire and scored 49 first-class hundreds in 307 matches. He played in 62 Tests for England between 1988 and 1996, scoring 4236 runs at 43.67, and 71 ODIs.