IV Wednesday 14th February, 2006 Sir Viv slams Lara’s absence England PORT OF SPAIN, Trinidad (CMC): Former West Indies cricket captain Sir Vivian Richards is questioning Brian Lara’s absence from the forthcoming one-day international series in New Zealand. In a clear reference to the triple world record win USA holder being allowed to bypass the limited overs series in New Zealand, Sir Vivian told reporters at the Piarco International Airport where the Stanford Twenty/20 “Cheque Presentation Ceremony” was held Friday, that the West Indies should roster its best available team at all times. Sevens “I would like to have seen the best team in New Zealand, because presently we have not been hitting that note that we have been accus- tomed to hitting over the years, I am not going to single out anyone but you know what I am talk- ing about,” Sir Vivian said. Lighter workload The 36-year-old Lara is being given a lighter workload these days to preserve his career but Sir Vivian believes a New Zealand trip that usu- ally proves difficult for the Caribbean side requires the strongest team. “I would have really loved to see our best team in that part of the world, because we need our best players at this time,” Sir Vivian stated. The 53-year-old Antiguan, who captained a powerful and all-conquering West Indies team during the 1980s, also slammed the West Indies Cricket Board (WICB) for what he described as the inefficient manner in which they have carried out their administrative duties over the years. He urged the current executive of the regional board to get their act together to help restore the lost pride that had once been asso- ciated with regional cricket. Richards, appointed by Twenty/20 investor Allen Stan-ford as one of the “Legends” execut- ing plans and development strategies for his inaugural series this summer, is in charge of developing the sport in Guyana and Montserrat. Focused And he told CMC Sport he strongly believes that the Stanford Twenty/20 initiative will assist in keeping a generation of young cricketers focused and that with this type of assistance available to them, many will use the opportunity for advancement. Carson, California UNITED STATES : Andrew Vilk (L) of England carries the ball to score against Dale Tonawai of in the cup final during IRB Sevens Rugby 12 February 2006 at “This Twenty/20 will be good for the region, Home Depot Center in Carson, California. England won 38-5. Photo by Lisa Blumenfeld/Getty Images/AFP because what we are going to highlight in 2007 (Cricket World Cup), this basically, will be a prel- LOS ANGELES, Feb 13, 2006 (AFP) - sonal points-fest with a try of his own without controversy. Nabuliwaqa was therefore banned ude to what is going to take place, and the England won the USA Sevens title on with moments to spare. Waisale Serevi and Ryder sparkled until midnight on 13 March, making Twenty/20 also will create the kind of excite- Sunday, posting a convincing 38-5 victo- England had earlier produced a in the second half, both running in him available for selection at the ments and energies, that were missing around ry over Fiji in the final of the fourth superb display to reach the last match tries in the 29-5 win, but Lepani . the Caribbean for a long time,” Richards said. leg of the IRB series. of the piece, Vilk scoring a hat trick Nabuliwaqa was lucky to stay on the Argentina recovered from a disap- As in their semi-final, England were Another former captain, Richie Richardson as Mike Friday’s men blitzed South pitch. pointing tight loss to England in the quickest off the mark against Fiji, and Africa 40-0, Tait, Strettle and Gollings Nabuliwaqa was cited by indepen- said the Twenty/20 competition will be an ideal quarter-finals to beat France 21-5 in David Strettle and Andrew Vilk pow- also touching down. dant Citing Officer John West the final of the Plate and capture opportunity for the players to get in shape for ered them to an early 14-0 lead before Fiji had broken New Zealand (Ireland) and Judicial Officer Chris eight points for the season’s standings next year’s World Cup in the Caribbean. Timoci Volavola’s try cut the half time hearts in the other semi-final, Morrison (New Zealand) for a ‘danger- table. “Certainly, the Twenty/20 tournament will deficit to 14-5. William Ryder scoring a sudden death ous tackle’ in the match. Scotland beat Tonga 26-21 to win give the guys the opportunity to get into intense After the break, England used an extra time try for a 22-17 win after As a result of the hearing, held at their second Bowl final in two weeks. training for the shorter version of the game. attacking defence to neutralise much of Tafai Ioasa’s fine effort had drawn the Home Depot Center Sunday, England are now closing in on Fiji in They will have skill trainers and dieticians to Fiji’s enterprise as Mathew Tait, Vilk Gordon Tietjens’ young side back Nabuliwaqa received a six-week ban, the overall standings, each with two monitor all the players in the competition, and again and Nils Mordt stetched out the level at the death. including Fiji’s two remaining match- wins in four events. The fifth leg of the certainly it adds for the guys preparing for CWC lead to an unassailable 33-5, before Fiji had booked their place in the es here, both of which count for one eight-tournament series starts in Hong 2007,” Richardson said. capped off another per- semi-finals by beating France, but not week. Kong on March 31. Vaughan wants to put Ashes to bed by Adam Hathaway Vaughan’s admits his effort to in Nagpur which starts LONDON, Feb 13, 2006 (AFP) - sweep the Ashes under the carpet on 1 March by which time they will England captain Michael Vaughan may be in vain. have a better idea whether spinner urged his side to put last year’s He added: “Before we played Australia Ashley Giles, who has a hip injury, Ashes triumph to the back of their the talk for a year before was all will be able to join the tour. minds as they headed to India on about the series. This year the talk The entire squad will be involved in the Sunday. will be about what we would have first game in Mumbai, starting on England’s first win over Australia in 18 done against Australia but the team Saturday, before the first class years saw wild celebrations last have been very good at focusing on match against a President’s XI in September and the team visited Borda and Vaughan is hoping they Buckingham Palace on Thursday to more use of their preparatory receive honours from the Queen. games than they did in Pakistan. Vaughan, coach Duncan Fletcher, We need to start the tour “We will give Ashley as much time as chairman of selectors David well. We need things to he needs as it is important he Graveney and manager Phil Neale get off to a better start comes back fit,” said Vaughan. “He received OBEs whilst the rest of the could miss the tour or he could be squad were given MBEs in the New and to start playing well as with us in three weeks time. Year’s Honours List. “We need to start the tour well. We Since last summer they have lost a a team. In Pakistan it was need things to get off to a better series in Pakistan and Vaughan a bit different - the wick- start and to start playing well as a insists it is time to put the Ashes to ets in the warm-up games team. In Pakistan it was a bit differ- bed as England bid to win a series ent - the wickets in the warm-up in India for the first time since David were totally different to games were totally different to what Gower’s team won in 1984-85. what we played on in the Vaughan said: “It was good to pick up we played on in the Test matches. the awards on Thursday and now Test matches. “But Indian pitches are good pitches we can draw a line through it. and this week we have got to get “I’ve still got some great memories but used to the conditions. This is a real now we have got to get into 2006 India and we’ve got to make sure good challenge for the team to go and look forward. We have got to we start the series well. to India and play some great crick- “We’ve just got to focus on working et. WAGAH BORDER, - INDIA: Indian cricket fans struggle to cross the Wagah Border, on Sunday, a play some good cricket in India, very hard on our preparation and “It is a really good country to visit - they day after three people were injured when thousands of people rushed to cross over from India to have a good summer and then we have a big challenge at the end of putting a lot into our first two are fanatical about their cricket.” Pakistan for a cricket match between the two South Asian rivals, officials said. Around 3,000 peo- the year.” games.” After the two warm-up games England ple had lined up since dawn at the border post, 25 kilometres (15 miles), from Amritsar to cross by That challenge is a series in Australia England have two games in which to will play three Test matches and foot into Pakistan and then on to Lahore, a distance of about 20 kilometers, for the third one-day starting in November and sort out their selection for the first seven one-day internationals. international between the two teams on Monday. – Pic. Narinder Nanu, AFP.

Published by Upali Newspapers Ltd, 223, Bloemendhal Road, Colombo 13. and Printed at 195/187, High Level Road, Homagama on Wednesday 14th February, 2006