14 Tuesday 10th January, 2006

who are ageing a little bit,” Hohns said. his availability only to be overlooked.” His desire to leave the game a hero “At the same time their performances Warne’s last one-day game for and his love of adulation from large have to warrant them being included.” Australia was in early 2003, when he crowds has left him unhappy and unful- Warne has a brilliant one-day record, announced he would retire after the filled about his departure from the limit- with 293 at 25.74 from 194 World Cup that followed in South Africa. ed-overs format. Warne’s matches (including two for the World Instead of going out in a blaze of glory He has now been out of the one-day XI in the tsunami benefit match early he left prematurely in shame after failing arena too long to have many credits with last year) and remains a clear second a drugs test. the selectors: Hohns, David Boon, on the Australian -taking list Andrew Hilditch and Merv Hughes. behind McGrath (326 wickets at 22.17 “The past for Shane was a long time in 215 matches). ago in one-day ,” Hohns said. Certainly Ricky Ponting has “It’s a difficult one to gauge secret not given up on Warne returning to one- given the time that has elapsed.” day cricket for the 2007 World Cup. Hohns also made it clear “I know he was upset and frustrat- that with its more aggres- ed at the way he left sive and running the one-day arena between wickets, one-day in 2003, and I got cricket was a younger the impression man’s game. World Cup over the past “It does take its year he would toll. Leg-spin is not like to play that that easy,” Hohns form of the said. game again,” “There are vari- Ponting wrote ous parts of your in his Ashes body that do suffer talks Diary. and as you get “During the tsunami older you feel the by Malcolm Conn match in Melbourne in pinch a little bit January (2005) he revelled more and he’s hairman of selectors Trevor in a return to the day-night done a lot of Hohns believes that one-day crick- atmosphere of coloured .” Cet’s super-sub rule may be a way - The for to make a return to Australian one-day cricket, but stressed that any comeback must be unconditional. Warne and his management have held private talks with Hohns to explore the possibility of the champion leg-spinner are a little being part of next year’s World Cup in bit diffi- the Caribbean. cult.” However, Hohns made it clear that Hohns rehearsals for cricket’s biggest tourna- agreed that the ment will begin from this Friday night’s super-sub rule, to opening VB Series match against Sri be used in Lanka at Melbourne’s Telstra Dome. Australia’s annual VB If Warne, 36, wants to be involved in Series for the first time the World Cup he must decide quickly this summer, might make it a but is reluctant to make himself avail- more attractive option for Warne to able because Hohns refuses to assure the return to one-day cricket. ageing star that the four-man selection It would allow Warne to field at slip cloth- panel will include him. during the early overs, bowl his 10 overs ing, and I “At the moment he’s still retired and and be subbed out before the game think it we can’t guarantee that we’ll pick him,” reached its frantic conclusion, thus got his Hohns told The Australian yesterday. reducing the toll that hectic ground field- competitive “Obviously if he makes himself avail- ing in the limited-overs format would juices flowing able it just can’t be for the World Cup. have on his body. again. “We’ve had a couple of chats about it Hohns also agreed that it could help a “The trouble is I do not think and it’s been very, very general, nothing player such as Glenn McGrath to prolong he will make himself available specific at all. his one-day career. McGrath, 36 next unless he gets an assurance “He’s got to make himself available month, could simply bowl his 10 overs at from the selectors that they will before the World Cup because we’re try- the start of a match then be subbed out. pick him; he will not want to go ing to put together a squad with a view “The super-sub rule, if that stays in, to the trouble and possible to the World Cup. Last-minute inclusions could be an advantage to these players embarrassment of announcing Henin-Hardenne IRB rejects World Cup vote re- Umesh Karunaratna chopped again The International Rugby Board will not hold a re-run of the vote which awarded the 2011 Rugby World Cup to New beats Hingis in by Reemus Fernando who was consistent right throughout In the on-going Elephant Lemonade Zealand ahead of both Japan and South Africa. The Asian Rugby Football Union, of which Japan is a Thurstan College all-rounder Umesh has been cold shouldered by the nation- Trophy tournament, the youngster has member, was threatening legal action unless a new vote took Karunaratna, who is excelling in the al selectors, a source close to the School scored 180 runs in four outings and cap- straight sets current school cricket season, has been Cricket Association revealed. tured 17 wickets in four matches. place before 31 March. excluded from the 20 member Under-19 Karunaratne was in fine form during His consistency in is a talk- But the IRB has rejected claims the vote went against the SYDNEY (Reuters) - World Cup squad which was announced the recently concluded Under-17 tour- ing point even in rival camps, but sadly its constitution because it lacked transparency. Justine Henin-Hardenne last weekend. nament, where the right hander accu- the selectors do not seem to have recog- “There will be no-re-vote for Rugby World Cup 2011,” said eased past Martina Hingis 6- Karunaratne faced the test in eight mulated almost 500 runs and bagged 33 nised his talent. a statement. 3 6-3 in the opening round of trial matches where he scored over 200 wickets with his right arm off spinners. Umesh received the same treatment “The IRB takes exception to any suggestion the vote was the Sydney International on runs. He retired on two occasions when His aggregate included two unbeaten a few months back when School Cricket not carried out in a proper and professional manner.” Monday to hand the former he was in top form and was given only centuries and three half centuries. officials sidelined him for the Under-17 The IRB were responding to a letter sent by English law world number one her sec- one trial after his return to the island While he scored 125 against S. tri-nation tourney held in Malaysia. firm Addleshaw Goddard on behalf of the ARFU. ond straight defeat since after the Bangladesh tour. While some Thomas’ College he notched up 120 runs The Thurstanite found a place in the The IRB said the letter contained “various unsubstantiated announcing her comeback. players who had not done well even at against D. S. Senanayake College in the Under-19 squad which toured and unfounded allegations”. The Belgian made light school level have received a place in the quarter final match of the Under-17 Bangladesh recently, but was a mere The governing body added that the ARFU had told it that work of their anticipated twenty member squad, Karunaratne tournament. spectator, in most of the matches. the letter should not have been sent. “It does not represent clash, cruising to victory in the views of ARFU and the person who it seems engaged the a little over an hour to safely solicitors did not have the constitutional authority to do so,” advance to the second said the IRB. round. “The Secretary General of ARFU has written to the solici- Hingis, who was knocked Farhat recalled for first Test IndiaIndia drawdraw withwith tors stating that they must cease and desist purporting to act out of last week’s Australian January 9, 2006: Farhat’s 107 for and on behalf of the ARFU.” women’s hardcourt champi- for A against The IRB insisted that suggestions there was a problem onship last week by Flavia PakistanPakistan AA inin has earned him an expected Pennetta in her first serious with the original vote were totally unfounded. return to Pakistan’s squad for “The vote itself was verified by independent auditors from tournament in over three the first Test against India. In a years, showed some fleeting Price Waterhouse Coopers who informed the IRB on the day, tourtour openeropener 15-man squad relatively free of ued exclusion from the glimpses of her old form but as reported to the council at the time, that the vote took place , Pakistan, Jan 9 Test hopeful Asim Kamal for surprises, Pakistan have Pakistan side last year were struggled to produce the correctly and professionally,” said the IRB. – BBC Sports (AFP) - India’s openers the addition of just 14 runs. included four fast bowlers as overlooked. A timely century same standards that saw her showed their class Monday as Kamal, who was not includ- well as who has against India in the warm-up dominate the sport in the they drew with Pakistan A in ed in the 15-man Pakistan only recently recovered from game sealed his return. late 1990s. typhoid. Razzaq missed the their only practice match squad announced for the first Although his inclusion - Srinath The Swiss had not Tests against England with an Pakistan tough to beat before Friday’s first Test Test on Monday, mistimed a means Pakistan now has two Former India pace bowler Javagal Srinath believes Pakistan dropped a set in her two pre- elbow injury and was consid- specialist openers in the squad - against Pakistan. hook off paceman Pratap have a slight edge ahead of the Test series between the two vious matches with Henin- ered doubtful for the first Test is the other - the Openers Gautum Gambhir Singh and was caught behind sides. Hardenne in 2000 but her after he was admitted to hospi- mood within the camp suggests (28) and Waseem Jaffer (35) by Mahendra Dhoni for 14. They recently defeated England 2-0 and again have home lack of match practice was tal. he is unlikely to find a place in remained unbeaten as India Allrounder Mansoor Farhat’s recall is notable; he advantage, while India beat Sri Lanka by the same margin. evident on Monday as the scored 72 without loss after Amjad fell leg before to left- the starting line-up. As was dropped in December 2004 Pakistan continue their search “There are a few positives that have come up (for India), but Belgian ran her ragged on Pakistan A put up 358-9 arm paceman after the Melbourne Test for a settled opening pair, it nothing like beating England, who had beaten Australia to win the Sydney International declared in their first innings without scoring, leaving the against Australia. At that time, seems likely the the Ashes. Pakistan’s win was far, far better,” Srinath told the tennis centre’s centre court. on the third and last day at home team at 227-6. Henin-Hardenne, also on he had played in 11 consecutive experiment as opener will con- BBC. Bagh-e-Jinnah stadium on Faisal Iqbal, 13 overnight, Tests as the first-choice opener the comeback trail after tinue for the time being. He said, however, that managing to beat Sri Lanka convinc- Monday. hit some well timed strokes in for Pakistan, an extended run being plagued by injuries Woolmer is thought to be keen ingly against a background of “mayhem” off the field, much of it The tourists, who have had his 87 and added 88 for the sev- that few openers have been and illness since for the past on giving Malik another oppor- surrounding former skipper , was a reason for problems with their top order enth wicket with wicket-keep- granted in the recent past. “But tunity while, according to optimism. two years, used her superior in recent matches, saw er Zulqarnain Haider, who I was never disappointed dur- speed and flashy ground- , the chief selector, Ganguly was skipper when India won the Test series 2-1 on Gambhir and Jaffer follow made 35. ing the last year because such Inzamam prefers Malik for the strokes to expose problems their last tour to Pakistan two years ago, and Srinath backs him their 81-run stand in the first Iqbal, a nephew of former up and downs come in your balance he provides with his with the Hingis serve. for a place in the Test XI in Lahore next Friday. innings with another sedate Pakistan batting great Javed career,” said Farhat of his offspin. Former Pakistan captain shares Srinath’s view Henin-Hardenne broke partnership of 72. Miandad, hit 15 fours before exclusion to AFP.He spent most PAKISTAN about the current form of the two sides. But he believes Hingis three times to snatch Gambhir, who looks the he mistimed a drive off Ajit of the year performing solidly Salman Butt, Imran Farhat, Younis must produce more wickets to support fellow the opening set in 37 min- favourite to retain his spot Agarkar and was caught at on the domestic circuit, where paceman . utes, then once more to add with the more experienced point by Harbhajan Singh. in eight matches this season, he Khan (vice-capt), Inzamam-ul-Haq Imran said: “Akhtar has been a transformed bowler and won the second set in 32 minutes. in the first then trapped averages over 60. His perform- (capt), Mohammad Yousuf , Shahid Pakistan the series against England. If he gets conducive hard The 23-year-old won the Test, hit five boundaries while Haider to finish with 3-82. ance ensured that rumours of Afridi, (wk), Abdul tracks he can come good again because there will be a lot of French Open last year after a confident-looking Jaffer hit India made 414-7 declared an alleged bust-up between Razzaq, Shoaib Malik, Mohammad moisture for fast bowlers on the pitch. returning from injury but six. in their first innings with six Farhat’s father-in-law, Sami, Shoaib Akhtar, Rana Naved- “If Sami bowls well with Akhtar then I think Pakistan have a was hurt again late in the Pakistan A resumed their batsmen hitting half cen- Mohammad Ilyas, and Bob ul-Hasan, , Arshad good chance to beat India.” - BBC Sports season. first innings at 212-4 but lost turies. Woolmer over Farhat’s contin- Khan, Mohammad Asif.