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“The more I get to bowl, the more excited I get.”That’s New Zealand left-arm fast-medium bowler Shayne O’Connor’s summation of where he is at in his recovery from a debilitating knee injury.The 28-year-old is working out regularly at Dunedin’s Edgar Indoor Centre to get himself back into shape for what he hopes will be a season to make up for the last two injury-plagued years.”It seems to be going well,” he said of his knee.”The last two sessions of bowling have been as encouraging as any that I’ve ever had.”While not off his full run yet, he is building towards it.The injury, which was in his landing leg, was thought to have been a slight tear in his patella tendon which had become inflamed. However, surgery showed no tear.It was more of an over-use injury and because there was so little blood flowing through the tendon it was necessary to cut the tendon and create an injury to stimulate blood flow to help the recovery.”The good thing was that when they operated they found there was no dead tissue in my knee. Apparently that is what they have found when others have had knee problems,” he said.O’Connor’s injury stemmed from damage done while in Africa at the end of 2000. It involved four and a half months of continuous cricket – the perfect recipe for over-use injuries, especially when all the other members of the attack had fallen over beforehand.The time between then and now had proven very frustrating and there were times when he wondered whether he might get back.But then he countered that with how much more he wanted to achieve in cricket.”It did make me spare thoughts for guys like Geoff Allott, Dion Nash and Chris Cairns. You felt so sorry for them at times that you wondered why they didn’t just give up. But now I understand where they came from.”And giving up is not an option. You want to keep on.”Little setbacks also became much bigger than they actually were and O’Connor said the last period of his life had been the toughest he had experienced mentally.Seeing the New Zealand side doing so well also got him revved up.”I know what it was like having the feeling of winning a series away, especially after you have been grafting towards it.”If you have been dropped by the selectors you can feel disappointed in yourself that you are not there but if it is due to injury it does make it more frustrating.”The fact that more players had taken the chance and come into consideration did not worry O’Connor as he contemplates his comeback.A player like fast bowler Shane Bond was in the freakish category, like Daniel Vettori, and would have emerged no matter who was playing, although he admitted it was his injury that gave Bond his chance.”But there is competition around for places and that is good. Now I’ll just have to believe in myself and use my experience,” he said.In analysing his injury O’Connor didn’t think it was in anyway attributable to the slight change in action that resulted in him gaining more speed.At the time of the change he said it was more like the way he used to bowl at school anyway.It is all down to his timing and that is what he is working towards regaining.”I have some huge desires still. I want to work towards the Indian series here. So far in my career my best form has been away from home and I would love to have the chance to show people here who have supported me what I can achieve,” he said.Making the World Cup side is another goal and while it was a cliche, he said, it was a huge desire for all players to play in the World Cup.”I’ve got work to do. But if I keep believing and use my head then who knows?”In his career to date, O’Connor has played 19 Tests and taken 53 wickets at 32.52 while in his 38 One-Day Internationals he has 46 wickets at 30.34. In first-class play he has taken 234 wickets at 24.22.

Pakistan Whites pair of Imran Nazir and Shoaib Malik won the fourthInternational Double Wicket Cricket Championship, stunning thefavourites Pakistan Blues duo of Wasim Akram and Yasir Arafat in thefinal by two runs at Gaddafi Stadium Wednesday night.Earlier, both the semi-finals were played. In a most thrilling game,Pakistan Whites beating the strong Pakistan Greens pair of AbdurRazzaq and Azhar Mahmood on the spin of coin. Both teams scored 80runs each.Chasing a target of 81, Pakistan Whites were cruising comfortably at78 without any loss with just three balls left. However, the matchtook a turn when Shoaib was caught off the fourth ball, which reducedthe total to 68. On the next two deliveries Shoaib Malik struck twosixes to level the scores.Shoaib scored 53 off 24 balls. Imran Nazir made 39 off 26balls.Earlier, Azhar Mahmood blasted 73 off 33 balls while Abdur Razzaqscored 20.Wasim Akram and Yasir Arafat defeated New Zealand pair of CraigMcMillan and Chris Harris by four runs in the other semi-final.Batting first, New Zealand made a net score of 36. McMillan scored 35off 26 balls while Chris Harris hit 28 without being dismissed.Wasim Akram conceded only 15 runs in four overs to claim two wickets.Chasing 37 for victory, Pakistan Blues made a bad start when Akram wasdismissed twice which reduced the total to -2. Akram and Yasir Arafateventually reached their target, scoring 40 for two dismissals. Akramscored 40 off 31 balls.In the final, the Pakistan Blues piled up 87 without any loss in theirallotted eight overs. Akram scored an unbeaten 44 off 27 balls whileYasir hit 42 off 21 overs.Imran Nazir and Shoaib Malik, who lost the group match to the samepair, rose to the occasion by striking 89 without any dismissal.Imran Nazir hammered 45 off 26 balls while Shoaib Malik contributed 37off 22 balls.The Pakistan Whites won a prize of US$6,000 while the runners-up,Pakistan Blues, received $4,000.

Somerset County Cricket Club claimed another first when the Playing for Success Study Support Centre that is based at the County Ground was officially opened by Mr Michael Phipps, Divisional Manager from the Department of Education and Skills.In his opening speech Mr Phipps told the large group of representatives from the education and sporting world who gathered in the Centre of Execellence for the occasion that whilst three other first class counties, Durham, Leicestershire and Northants also have Playing for Success Centres, Somerset were the first Centre to be officially opened.The state-of-the-art ICT centre, which wasinitially launched at the ground in June, has already provided learning opportunities in literacy, numeracy and ICT for more than 100 young people.The students, aged from ten to 14 years, also benefit from the development of their personal and social education.A summer school was held during the summer holidays and regular sessions are held for up to 20 students at the end of the school day. The star pupil on each course is rewarded by a free membership to Somerset Cricket Club.Somerset chief executive Peter Anderson told those present: “It’s very pleasing that we have been able to put these facilities to good community use, and it is a delight to see the young people here at the County Ground.”The Somerset boss also paid tribute to Simon Lowe who is the Playing for Success Study Support Centre Manager. He said: “With all good ideas you need someone to put them into practice and Simon Lowe has done a superb job. He is very enthusiatic and a great ambassador for the Centre.”.Simon Lowe, a lifelong cricket enthusiast who taught PE and maths at Ladymead School in Taunton for 12 years before taking on his new job told me: “The centre is a fantastic place for young people to come and learn. The County Ground is a great setting for a classroom. Having the players as an integral part of the young people’s learning experiences and the environment of a professional sports club inspires them to attain higher levels than perhaps they are used to at school.”The Playing for Success Study Support Centre is open on four evenings a week, and at present is attended by students from four primary and four secondary schools in the Taunton area.

David Morgan, the ICC president-elect, has said he hopes new spectators, drawn to the game by Twenty20, will come to love the other formats as well.”I’m proud that Twenty20, a format first developed by the England and Wales Cricket Board, had such a widespread appeal, bringing in new, wider and young audience, which ICC welcomes,” Morgan said at the closing ceremony for the Indian Premier League.Morgan felt cricket was fortunate to possess three formats. “[That is] Twenty20, which thrilled so many people, one-day cricket which is equally thrilling and Test cricket, the pinnacle. In fact, last week all three formats were evident with two great Test matches in Kingston and Manchester.”Congratulating the Indian board and Lalit Modi, the IPL commissioner, for the tournament’s success, Morgan said it had changed the face of domestic cricket around the world. “It has provided opportunities for other cricket playing nations [to take it forward]. It has got widespread appeal and has attracted new audiences to the game.”There are plans to organise a Champions League – a tournament involving the top two domestic Twenty20 teams from various countries – in England in October this year, following the Champions Trophy.

Scorecard

India A’s seamers, led by Dhawal Kulkarni, made steady inroads to leave Australia A at an unsatisfactory 82 for 3 in a truncated day in Hyderabad. Poor weather continued to take the sheen off the series as play started five hours late due to a wet outfield. The umpires played it by the hour, and after periodic inspections, tried to get in three hours of play. Though the rain stayed away, bad light forced the players off the field with an hour of play still left.A grassy pitch – unaffected by the weather – didn’t deter Simon Katich from opting to bat but his choice wasn’t entirely surprising. Australia’s batsmen recovered well after being asked to follow-on in Bangalore and his decision was probably intended to carry on the momentum.Australia’s opening pair added 88 in the second innings in Bangalore but failed to replicate that effort. Phillip Hughes and Katich saw off the first few overs comfortably, but a lapse in concentration cost Hughes his wicket. Kulkarni, who opened the bowling ahead of Sudeep Tyagi, preferred bowling over the wicket to the left-handers and an away swinger induced an outside edge into the safe hands of Mohammad Kaif at second slip.Kulkarni, however, failed to trouble Katich and was guilty of feeding too many deliveries close to his pads. Katich, a strong on side player, regularly shuffled across his stumps and flicked and glanced Kulkarni for four boundaries down to the region between fine leg and deep square-leg. The Indians continued to attack, packing the inner ring with fielders.Katich’s partner Adam Voges looked to get on top of the seamers, dispatching two half-volleys over square leg. He failed to push on as Kulkarni got one to kick up off a good length, feathering a thick edge to Parthiv Patel. The wicket went against the run of play, just as the Australians were progressing smoothly with a stand of 44. Tyagi, the UP seamer then opened his tally when Katich slashed at a delivery close to his body, with Mohnish Parmar at gully taking a sharp catch. Marcus North and George Bailey were at the crease for a short while before the light deteriorated.The forecast is for more rains in the evenings, thereby diminishing any chance of a result after the draw in Bangalore.

It’s the start of greatest sporting event in Sri Lanka’s history. We’ve beenpromised Kandyan dancers, colourful flag bearers, rock bands and nimbleacrobats. Prime minister Ranil Wickramasinghe is gracing the occasion aschief guest and thousands will flock through the turnstiles. By right itshould be a triumph for Sri Lanka, but Sanath Jayasuriya’s side will be onlytoo aware that a Pakistan victory will quickly sour the mood of the nation.The format of this 12-team tournament may have changed but, barring an earlymonsoon, it remains a virtual knockout. Should Sri Lanka lose on Thursdaynight at Premadasa International Stadium they will not qualify for thesemi-final, missing out on a chance to win a portion of the USD 1.15 millionprize money.Waqar Younis hopes the high expectation will weigh heavily on the Sri Lankanplayers’ shoulders: “They have also been playing some very good cricket atthe moment but I think, as hosts, they will be under the most pressure inthe opening game of the tournament.”Jayasuriya, though, who has recovered from his dislocated shoulder and willplay as a batsman only, claimed that his team were looking forward toplaying in front of a capacity home crowd. "We don’t feel under any pressurehome or away," he claimed. "The morale is very good after Morocco. The boysare confident and everyone is getting behind us.""We are treating this game as a final," he added. "Every department has toclick. With the knockout format it’s a case of who plays best on the day andwe have to make sure we produce a brilliant all-round performance againstPakistan, who we play so often that we know inside out."Coach Dav Whatomore was delighted by Jayasuriya’s remarkable rehabilitation:"He’s very important to the team. His ability to score quick runs cannot besubstituted – it’s a hell of an advantage."Not only will they be reassured by Jayasuriya participation, but they willtake comfort from the fact they are playing at Premadasa, a notoriously slowpitch perfectly suited to the host’s spin-based attack – Sri Lanka have won30 of the 42 matches they have played at the venue.Although the square has been primed for months, Whatmore expects fewsurprises: "It looks like a typical Premadasa pitch to me. It’s going to bedifficult for the bowlers." The toss he claims will be of littlesignificance, but the side winning is almost certain to bat first.The Sri Lankan selectors have picked the same team that won the Morocco Cupfinal. They would have been discussion about recalling off-spinner KumarDharmasena in place of the third seamer but newcomer Pulasthi Gunaratne hasperformed well under pressure, especially in the latter overs when ChamindaVaas and Dilhara Fernando can be expensive.Pakistan, meanwhile, are hoping that they can recover the blistering formthat saw them demolish the Australians in June. “We are starting afresh,”said Waqar. ” We started to play better during the last match of thetournament in Kenya and we now have to try to maintain that form here.”But there are problems. Firstly, the form of veteran fast bowler WasimAkram, who struggled with his direction during the tri-series at Nairobi.And, secondly, there is the dilemma over the best opening combination withboth Imran Nazir and Saaed Anwaar not at their best. On the slow-pacedsurface expected, however, Pakistan will probably risk opening the inningswith Shahid Alfridi.Barring one of his infamous niggles, Shoaib Akhtar will be the starentertainment with the ball, although he claims that he will trade speed forcontrol in the interests of the side: "I’ll still be fast and furious but mymain aim is to take wickets for the Pakistan."Tomorrow’s winner, assuming both teams win against Holland, will play NewZealand or Australia in the semi-final on Sept 25.Sri Lanka:Sanath Jayasuriya (Capt), Marvan Atapattu, Kumar Sangakkara, MahelaJaywardene, Russel Arnold, Aravinda de Silva, Tillakaratne Dilshan, UpulChandana, Hasantha Fernando, Chaminda Vaas, Kumar Dharmasena, DilharaFernando, Muttiah Muralitharan, Pulasthi GunaratnePakistan:Waqar Younis (Capt), Inzamam-ul-Haq, Abdul Razzaq, Imran Nazir,Misbah-ul-Haq, Mohammad Sami, Rashid Latif, Saeed Anwar, Shoaib Malik,Shahid Alfridi, Wasim Akram, Younis Khan, Yousuf Youhana, Shoaib Akhtar

Sri Lanka’s world class spinner Muttiah Muralitharan’s chances of playing against England in the second cricket Test commencing at Edgbaston 11 days from today was put down as 60 percent by team physio Alex Kountouri, who will begin a period of rehabilitation with the bowler to get him back on the road again.For the past four weeks since he fell on his left arm and injured it in the one-day final at Sharjah against Pakistan, Muralitharan’s had his arm in a sling almost up against his chest.The sling came off after he arrived here on Saturday and Kountouri who examined him said: “He is better than I expected him to be. He’s got a fairly good movement of his arm and he’s got very little pain. For the moment his arm is still stiff because he hasn’t moved it for four weeks. We have got to get him working and hopefully, get some of the strength and movement back very quickly”.For the four weeks of recuperation, Muralitharan was treated by a specialist in Melbourne.Kountouri said Muralitharan did other work for his leg and stuff like that in Australia although his arm remained immobile. He said that Muralitharan would train three times a day to hopefully speed things up.”He will be doing basically strengthening exercises for his shoulder. He still can’t get his arm above his head. He will be undergoing hydrotherapy treatment trying to accelerate things. It depends how quickly he improves. I can’t see him bowling for another four to five days. He is not going to play in the next game before the next Test. It is going to be touch and go,” said Kountouri. “If he feels okay he will definitely play in the second Test. But at this stage it’s a bit too premature to say anything. I would say he’s got a sixty percent chance of playing. There is definitely and element of risk playing him without match practice. It all depends on how much pain he has.”We got him over here to give us an option to play him. As we get closer we’ll have a serious discussion with him, the coach, manager before taking af final decision. He’s a human being and he’s got a career ahead of him. If we can play him we will. if we can’t that’s it. The final decision is partly upto him and partly upto us,” he saidKountouri said Muralitharan was very positive and was keen to play. “He was very optimistic. It is a little bit of unknown quantity what he needs to do with his left arm. It all depends on how much of strain goes through when he bowls. We’ll find out very soon,” said Kountouri.

West Indies A began their tour to England with a convincing victory over British Universities in the delightfully scenic setting of the Parks in Oxford today. The visitors were not particularly tested as they cantered to an 85 run victory.Jamie Dalrymple, a former England Under 19 representative, won the toss and sent the West Indies A side into bat. Despite the early loss of Devon Smith, skipper Darren Ganga and Donovan Pagon punished loose bowling from the student seamers. Spinners Dalrymple, Monty Panesar and Robert Ferley – all with first-class experience – bought some control, Pansesar bowling Ganga while Pagon offered a return catch to Ferley.Panesar struck the stumps a second time to account for Dwayne Bravo, while Lendl Simmons was well held by Matthew Banes to give Dalrymple a deserved wicket.Excellent knocks at the death ensured the West Indies’s innings did notstagnate, Keith Hibbert and Runako Morton batting with an encouragingfreedom. Morton hit three fours and a six in his 57, while Hibbert’s 39 was a more workmanlike innings, coming from 48 balls. A total of 225 looked a par score on a slow outfield, with a wicket which helped the spinners.The Universities were unimpressive in response. A stream of early wickets reduced them to 64 for 5, Jermaine Lawson picking up three scalps. Michael Brown and John Francis were stubborn, while Banes tried desperately to come to terms with the track during a painstaking 11. A late flourish from Tim Murtagh and Tom Mees, who put on 38 for the ninth wicket, helped restore some pride for the students, who were finally bowled out for 140 in the 45th over.The West Indies are on a six week tour to Britain, playing four first-class matches and a host of one-dayers. The highlight is a three day match with India at Arundel. The next match they play is against the Sri Lankans, under lights at Hove, on Wednesday. That will be a much sterner examination than offered by the students under the dreaming spires of Oxford today.

It is important that the performance of the Indian team in their ICCChampions Trophy opening game against Zimbabwe be viewed withsympathy. This was obviously a weary touring side – incessant cricketfor months in various lands followed by a long drawn out row overcontracts is enough to affect even the fittest of players. They thenhad to make a long trip from London to Mumbai, then on to Chennai andfinally to Colombo – a delayed flight on the last leg to boot.Consequently, there was no mistaking the fatigue of the team memberswho took the field against opponents who on the other hand were freshand had not played competitive cricket for some months.Zimbabwe have almost always been tough opposition for India. In thehead-to-head record, India are way ahead but what this simple factwill not convey is the numerous occasions on which the Indians havehad to sweat it out before securing victory. In sub-continentalconditions, the Indians’ superiority is much more marked and in normalcircumstances, India should have won with some deal of comfort. Butagainst the background I have already described, the narrow margin ofvictory perhaps was not surprising.The batting did not exactly cover itself with glory. If the recoverywas strong – 87 for five to a final total of 288 for six – questionsmight well be asked as to why there was a crisis in the first place.Some complacency, a few faulty shot selections and yes, a bit ofstaleness were evident.One may be tempted to say all is well that ends well. But there islittle doubt that the famed Indian batting will have to perform up toreputation in the game against England. It is not a healthydevelopment if there are to be retrieving partnerships for the sixthand seventh wickets every time.Rahul Dravid is perhaps enjoying the finest phase in his outstandingcareer. He is right now at a stage when little is going wrong for him.His timing and shot selection is impeccable and it matters littlewhether he is playing in the West Indies, England or Sri Lanka orwhether it is Test cricket or the limited overs game.

For that matter, Mohammad Kaif also seemed to be carrying on fromwhere he left off at Lord’s on that memorable day a couple of monthsago. The young man represents the new face of Indian cricket. I alwaysthought his style and approach and technique was more suited to Testcricket and while that view remains, the manner in which he hasadapted himself to the quicker tempo of the limited overs game hasbeen admirable. He has obviously worked hard on his game and it isabout time he is given the opportunity to cement his place in the Testside too.Unfortunately, the bowling problems remain, whether it is Test cricketor the shorter version. While the four main bowlers more or less didtheir job creditably, the problem lies with the ten overs to be sentdown by non-regular bowlers. In 12 overs on Saturday, Tendulkar,Ganguly and Yuvraj gave away 78 runs. With the team management firmlybent on playing seven batsmen, there is tremendous pressure on thefour bowlers to come good and if any of them fail, the back-upstrength just does not inspire confidence.But there is no need for the Indians to press any panic buttons evenif they are in the proverbial group of death. The victory overZimbabwe does not guarantee the runners-up of the 2000 tournament aplace in the semifinals. A crucial match against England remains to beplayed.Perhaps VVS Laxman can replace Dinesh Mongia and Ajit Agarkar can takeAshish Nehra’s place. That could strengthen the team even if it doesnot solve the problem of the lack of a fifth main bowler. But with thepolicy of playing seven batsmen firmly in place, there is very littlethat can be done in this regard except to hope that the main bowlersare niggardly and that the remaining ten overs are not very expensive.The Indians have a few days to work out the necessary tactics andthere is no doubt that the team members will welcome the rest andrelaxation. Somehow one senses the players will rise to the occasionagainst England.

Colts Cricket Club tightened their grip on the Premier League championshiptrophy on Saturday, first building an imposing lead and then chiseling outvital second innings wickets in afternoon, to leave Sinhalese Sports Clubapparently on the brink of defeat.With two days still to spare, SSC’s hopes rest firmly in the hands of MahelaJaywardene, who was once again in prime form during the evening, left on 32not out at the close, having hit two fours and a six.SSC finished the day on 96 for four, still trailing by 99 runs after Coltshad extended their overnight score of 183 for three to 411 after furtherhalf centuries from Jevantha Kulatunga (50 from 70 balls) and MuthumudaligePushpakumara (81 from 97 balls).It’s turning out to be a fine all-round performance from Pushpakumara, whopicked up four wickets in the first innings, and his omission from the Ateam squad to Namibia, despite the presence of another off-spinningall-rounder as captain – Thilan Samaraweera – is surprising.In the morning, Kaushalya Weeraratne fell early on but Romesh Kaluwitharanacontinued in the same breezy fashion to the previous night, quickly movingto 72 before feathering a catch to the wicket-keeper.Chaminda Vaas scored just 12 before being dismissed by Nuwan Zoysa, hisfellow new ball partner in the national side, and SSC looked to be inchingtheir way back into the game (255 for six).But Pushpakumara and Kulatunga added 79 for the sixth wicket and then, whenKulatunga was dismissed moments after reaching his fifty, Pushpakumara addeda further 59 with Eric Upashantha, who celebrated his recall to the one-daysquad with a stubborn 27 from 54 balls.SSC were soon in trouble when starting their second innings, sliding to 38for four before being rescued by Jayawardene – a now familiar tale – andThilan Samaraweera, who was left unbeaten on 23 at the close.Avishka Gunawardene (4) continued his poor form, edging a catch behind inthe third over, and WSMM Perera followed four overs later as Vaas grabbedhis second wicket. Dulip Liyanage also chipped in, accounting for MarvanAtapattu (17) and NT Paranavitana for a second ball duck.