Lou Vincent, the New Zealand batsman, is undergoing treatment to recover from depression, a report in the revealed. The news comes on the heels of Shaun Tait announcing his indefinite break from the game, citing physical and emotional exhaustion.Vincent confirmed to the newspaper he was on anti-depressants and taking the help of a clinical psychologist. He had been dropped for the home series against Bangladesh following a string of poor scores during New Zealand’s tour to South Africa and the Chappell-Hadlee Trophy in Australia.”For as long as I can remember I’ve been riddled with self-doubt, I’ve had no self-belief, and I’ve just been hating the guy I’ve seen in the mirror,” he told the Sunday Star-Times. “I remember so many days that should have been great days when I’ve gone home, slumped over a chair and thought `I just hate this and I hate myself’.”The Herald reported the depression took a heavy toll on Vincent and his family, and he didn’t feature in the domestic fixtures for Auckland for more than a month after returning from Australia. However, he seems to be coping better, having scored fifties in two Twenty20s and a one-dayer since his comeback.Dion Nash, a selector and former player, said the panel was aware of Vincent’s problem and he had spoken to him often. “From what we can see, he’s dealt with it, and seeing the right specialists and getting back on track, which is good for everyone,” he said. “I feel for the guy. Lou’s a great guy – we really wish him all the best, we value him very highly.”Nash said cricket was a tough game mentally, especially when touring overseas, and said he had seen similar cases. “If they weren’t [diagnosed],” he said, “I have known a few guys who should have been, including myself at times.”
India and Pakistan have been drawn together in the group stage of the inaugural Twenty20 World Championship while England and Australia will also face each other in South Africa during September.Cricket South Africa have confirmed the four groups, although the fixtures still have to be ratified by ICC and the final list is not expected until the end of the month. The groups have South Africa, West Indies and Bangladesh in Group A, England, Zimbabwe and Australia in Group B, New Zealand, Sri Lanka and Kenya in Group C and Pakistan, India and Scotland in Group D.The tournament is due to run from September 11 to 24, although there seems to be confusion over the dates. Roweda Kandan, who is overseeing the preparations for CSA, confirmed the schedule while an ICC spokesman told Cricinfo said they had still to be finalised.Warm-up matches are slated for September 8 and 9, yet England and India don’t complete their one-day series until September 8 at Lord’s. “England and India will arrive late and might just have one warm-up game,” Kandan told Cricinfo.
Western Australia were in control at the end of the third day at St Kilda and have a chance of sealing a berth in the Pura Cup final. However, Victoria, set a stiff target of 361, began their chase confidently, ending on 0 for 43.Building on their slender first-innings lead of 21, the Warriors were well placed through the day thanks to half-centuries by Chris Rogers and Marcus North. Rogers played positively for his 66, hitting eight boundaries before edging to Nathan Pillon, the wicketkeeper, off Shane Harwood. His dismissal ended a 110-run partnership with Shaun Marsh (37) and North and Adam Voges followed by adding 91 for the fourth wicket. North made up for his first-innings duck with a fluent 63 that gave Western Australia the advantage.After North’s dismissal, with the score on 5 for 232, a spirited display by the lower order took the initiative further away from the Bushrangers. Brett Dorey, following his six-wicket haul in the first innings, scored 36, as the last three batsmen added 65 and pushed the lead past 350. Harwood, who was recently recommended by his team-mate Shane Warne for a place in the national side, was the pick of the Victoria bowlers, taking 3 for 45.Lloyd Mash and Jason Arnberger, the Victoria openers, played out 15 overs without losing a wicket, and they need a further 318 on the final day if they are to qualify for the final against Queensland.
Tom Moody, the former Australian allrounder, has revealed that John Wright contacted him to ask if he was intrested in taking over as the coach of the Indian side. Moody is one of the several candidates tipped to be appointed as the next Indian coach after Wright’s departure at the end of the Pakistan series.”John called me two weeks ago and told me that there was a position open for the coach’s job, and asked if I was interested in it”, Moody told . “I haven’t been formally approached yet but if there was an offer I would be interested in taking up the challenge”.Meanwhile Dav Whatmore, currently coaching Bangladesh, has said that he was open to offers from India and added that coaching the team would excite him. “They’d (Indians) better make up their minds soon — my contract [with Bangladesh] expires on April 30,” Whatmore was quoted as saying by the Press Trust of India. “I’m a professional — of course I’d be interested in talking to the Indians.”Moody, who is currently the director of cricket with Worcestershire, termed the Indian side as “exceptionally talented” and singled out Wright’s contribution as a significant factor. “I must say that it has come up brilliantly with the hard work John Wright has put in.” He also added that spending time away from his family, one of the main reasons for Wright’s departure, would not be such a major factor. “I’ve discussed the issue with my family and am sure it won’t come in the way of my time away from home.”Earlier this week Greg Chappell had indicated that he was open to coaching the Indian side.
India’s tour of Pakistan appears increasingly likely to be postponed until after the national elections. On a day dominated rumour and speculation, the odds shifted towards a postponement as India’s politicians appeared to grow more uneasy about the risk of the tour taking place in the run-up to April’s elections.The day began with Indian newspapers quoting unidentified sources in the Home Ministry who suggested that players might not be safe in Pakistan because of increased militant activity. The underlying reason, most pundits seemed to agree, was nervousness that the matches might affect voting.The confusion inside the government was then highlighted when an official of the External Affairs Ministry told reporters that it was not for politicians to make the final decision but was “for each sporting association or Board to take.”Then Swamy Chinmayanand, a junior government minister, told the BBC in London that the government was rethinking the tour. “We want relations with Pakistan to improve but cannot endanger players’ lives,” he said. “Our players’ security is more important than cricket.”The remarks hit home, and Sourav Ganguly, who had publicly expressed concerns over the past week, reacted. “We are not worried about the Pakistan tour, but we are worried about the security in Pakistan,” he told the Press Trust of India. “We are concerned because we have families at home and it is not going to be easy. We have to go back and talk to our board and then get a clearer picture.”Ganguly and his players would hardly have been calmed by comments from Raj Thackeray, leader of the Hindu radical Shiv Sena party. “Terrorism has torn Pakistan asunder,” he said. “Their president is not safe. Our cricketers will have to play under unprecedented duress. They all have families and fabulous fan followings. I am given to understand that some of our cricketers face grave security threat from Pakistani/Talibani terrorists.”The Indian cricket board (BCCI), meanwhile, continued to maintain an official stance of not making any firm comment until the return of its delegation from Pakistan over the weekend.But yet another unnamed government source told NDTV that Jagmohan Dalmiya, the BCCI’s president, was already moving behind the scenes with possible alternative plans to try and salvage the tour. One deal would be to hold the Tests in March – with all three Tests completed before the end of the month – and the delaying the ODIs until after the election. The other option would be for a shortened trip, but financially this would seem to be a virtual non-starter.The only certainty at the moment is that this affair has a long way to go – and that even more unnamed government sources are likely to be quoted in the coming days.
Mashonaland got off to a flying start in the Castle Lager Logan Cup competition when they beat Matabeleland by eight wickets on the final day at Bulawayo Athletic Club yesterday.The holders of the four-day competition scored 83 for two in 23 overs to romp to a comfortable victory. The home side produced a gallant batting performance, with most of their batsman scoring double figures to avoid aninnings defeat. The most outstanding batsman was Gavin Ewing, who achieveda rare feat in scoring his maiden first-class century on debut.The home side resumed their second innings at 109 for four, with night-watchman Norman Mukondiwa and Greg Strydom putting together a fifth-wicket stand of 103. Mukondiwa was first to depart when he was trapped leg before wicket by Blessing Mahwire for 13. Mike McKillop joined in the hunt for the runs but he did not last as he failed to settle in, being caught and bowled by Patrick Gada to depart without scoring.Ewing joined Strydom and the two took the innings to a respectable score with some outstanding batting. They put on 104 runs for the sixth wicket and seemed set to bat the whole day. It was not to be, as Strydom departed after reaching his century, caught behind by wicketkeeper Donald Campbell off the bowling of Angus Mackay for 109 off 170 balls, an innings that included 15 fours.Ewing continued his heroics with the home side going to lunch at 273 for eight. They lost Colin Williams three overs after lunch when the veteran was caught by Ryan Butterworth at first slip off the bowling of Mackay for 10 runs. Matthew Townshend went out the same way to the same bowler when Barney Rogers caught him at slip for seven runs.The tail-end batsman offered some resistance but eventually gave in whenMahwire dismissed Tawanda Mupariwa for seven. He nicked a delivery from themedium-pacer to the slips where Campbell took a diving catch to end the innings. Ewing was left unbeaten with 106 runs, which included 17 fours anda six as the home side were all out for 333 in 95.3 overs, giving them an 82-run lead. Mahwire finished with four for 40 off 20.3 overs, with Mackaytaking tow for 53 off 13 overs. Simon Seager, Darlington Matambanadzo andGada took a wicket apiece.Mashonaland lost openers Lance Malloch-Brown and Ryan Butterworth on theirway to victory. Matabeleland’s key strike bowler, Townshend, took his firstand only wicket of the match when he took a catch off his own bowling tosend back Malloch-Brown for eight runs in the ninth over. Mashonaland losttheir second and last wicket when Butterworth was caught behind by wicketkeeper Warren Gilmour off the bowling of Mukondiwa for 26.Kudzai Taibu, the young brother of national team player Tatenda, was left unbeaten with 40 runs off 43 balls, together with Gada who had two runs.Townshend finished with one for 32 off seven overs with two maidens, whileMukondiwa took a single wicket and conceded 23 runs off five overs.
It took Mashonaland until just after tea to wrap up the Logan Cupfinal, winning by 257 runs, after some spirited resistance attimes from Manicaland, who played the game in fine spiritthroughout, as indeed they have done all season. Neil Ferreiraand Stuart Matsikenyeri scored determined fifties, while GavinRennie, who has been bowling regularly again this season aftervirtually giving up his left-arm spin due to back trouble, tookseven wickets.Mashonaland declared overnight, setting Manicaland a mere 498 towin. Manicaland were determined not to give in weakly, but theodds were stacked against them, despite Mashonaland’s ratherapathetic attitude in the field at times. Steve Lawson this timeopened with Neil Ferreira, but had scored only 7 before poppingup a ball from Gus Mackay backward of square on the leg side, forEverton Matambanadzo to dive and catch.Then came a determined stand between Ferreira and Patrick Gada,both looking secure and playing each ball on its merits until,with the total on 51, Gada thrust his pad at a straight ball fromGavin Rennie, misreading the arm ball completely, to be given outlbw for 18. In the same over Hamilton Masakadza, in contrast tohis fine first-innings effort, appeared to give it away; he hitan uppish four that just cleared short mid-on, and then pushed alow return catch that Rennie dived to take.Mark Burmester looked aggressive and hit some firm boundaries,only to be given out caught off bat and pad by Mackay off Renniefor 20. Ferreira once again held out gallantly, and just beforethe interval Strang bowled to him with all nine of his fielderson the off side. Ferreira waited for the right ball and thentapped it away wide of mid-on and ran three.At lunch Manicaland were 94 for four (Ferreira 33, Matsikenyeri7). This proved to be another useful partnership as they carriedon for almost an hour after lunch, with Matsikenyeri lookingincreasingly confident and playing some fine drives, especiallyoff the back foot. Finally Ferreira, driving at Hoffman, wascaught at mid-on for 55, another gritty innings.Dion Yatras announced his presence with a straight six and mixedsome powerful attacking strokes with some rather ungainly defenceat times. Slow spin did for him in the end, though, caught atsilly point by Darlington Matambanadzo off a flighted ball fromRennie. This made the score 207 for six, and it was thebeginning of the end for Manicaland, apart from some spiritedbatting from Matsikenyeri. Terry Denyer (0) was another lbwvictim, Gripper being the bowler, while Leon Soma (7) was out toa well-judged catch by Craig Evans on the long-on boundary offRennie. The teams went in to tea with the score on 238 for eight(Matsikenyeri 73, Brian James 3).The match ended only minutes after tea. James hit back a returncatch, then Jason Sparrow, amid great appreciation from theManicaland contingent, recorded his first runs in first-classcricket with a nudge past the slips for two, but chopped the nextball on to his stumps to end the innings for 240. Mashonalandhave not always played cricket in the best spirit this year, butthey were warmly congratulated by the good-humoured Manicaplayers, who may not have won the Logan Cup – they never expectedto – but did win friends all over the country with theirrefreshing attitude and fine efforts in the best traditions ofthe game.
Football.London reporter Alasdair Gold has delivered an exciting claim involving Spurs striker Kion Etete.
What’s the story?
During a Q&A on Reddit, Gold said: “There are huge hopes for Scarlett as long as he keeps his head down and keeps working hard. Parrott is having a really good season of development at MK Dons and keep an eye on Kion Etete, who is tearing it up at Cheltenham.
“I think Spurs will buy a striker though this summer to support Kane and it’s down to those three to fight it out to provide another option.”
Could be Spurs’ future
After clinching Etete’s signing on loan, Cheltenham manager Michael Duff said: “He has been out on a successful loan (with Northampton Town). He’s 6 foot 4 inches, runs in behind, can hold it up, we think he’s a good young player, so we’re delighted to have him. He came on the radar in the summer but we weren’t quite sure he was ready for League One.”
When you look at the 20-year-old’s start for the Robins, it’s clear to see that he hasbags of ability and potential.
In just eight games in League One, he has come up with five goal contributions (two goals and three assists) and started seven times, clearly earning the trust of his manager very quickly after his debut.
Indeed, Gold has even previously hinted about Etete potentially becoming an option who Antonio Conte considers back at Spurs when he returns from his loan spell in the summer.
The journalist said: “He’s one who’s maybe going under the radar slightly, but I think I’ve always kind of felt with him – that his physical build, his stature, he’s a big guy – if he comes back and he’s had a cracking second half of the season at Cheltenham, Conte might have a little look at him in the summer. And he might think, you know what, he’s a different kind of option.”
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Either way, Etete appears to be a very exciting prospect for the future.
AND in other news – Sold for £18m, now worth under £1m: Levy played a blinder with shocking Spurs disaster
Scorecard South Africa’s Under-19s suffered their second straight loss in the tri-nation tournament largely because of Tanmay Srivastava’s unbeaten 105 in Pretoria. Set to chase 266 by India U-19s, South Africa regularly lost wickets and eventually fell 62 runs short.India lost their first wicket for 39 and it was Srivastava’s 190-run partnership with Shreevats Goswami that anchored their innings. South Africa used eight bowlers in their attempt to break the stand and it was Wayne Parnell, replacing Kelly Smuts in the side, who eventually trapped Goswami leg before for 97.South Africa’s other changes in the squad, Clayton August and Sybrand Engelbrecht, in place of Dwaine Pretorius and Audrey Swanepoel, went wicketless.Opener Pieter Malan made up for his poor show against Bangladesh with a half-century. He added 68 with Riley Rossouw before D Shivkumar had Rossouw caught for 17. South Africa were unable to forge any more useful partnerships. Pradeep Sangwan took four wickets, while Srivastava chipped in with two.
Ryan ten Doeschate has set his sights on achieving success with the Netherlands in the World Cricket League.ten Doeschate has been one of the leading batsmen outside Test cricket in the last year, averaging over fifty in Netherlands’ six ODIs in 2006 and scoring 686 runs at 228.66 in the Intercontinental Cup. His continuing good form will be crucial if his side is to reach the final and so qualify for the inaugural Twenty20 World Championships in South Africa in September.”We have been working very hard to get the formula right,” he explained. “We were on a recent tour to Pretoria and we devised a formula for one-day cricket that we think is going to work for us.”I think we learned a lot from the ICC Trophy. Ireland and Scotland had obviously moved ahead and we had started to stagnate a little bit. Now I think we are back on track and we have been putting in some strong performances.”We certainly want to get to the final – that may sound optimistic because the favourites will probably be Kenya, Scotland and Ireland for the two final spots, but we think we have what it takes to get there.”