With Yorkshire the favourites to secure their first Championship title since 1967, tension is rising in the white rose county.”Naturally when it gets to this stage of the season they are all massive games,” coach Arnie Sidebottom reasoned. “But we are top of the league and playing well so we’ve got a chance.”Sidebottom credits Yorkshire’s strength in depth for their success this season. They will need that strength once again as several players are doubtful for their trip to old rivals Lancashire at Old Trafford.Ryan Sidebottom has a groin strain, Matthew Hoggard is still recovering from a side strain and Chris Silverwood has a sore back. But Craig White and Paul Hutchison are available.”We’ve not been able to send out a consistent team because of injuries and international call-ups but we have strength in depth and a strong squad has helped keep us at the top,” Sidebottom said.With Yorkshire winning the first of the CricInfo Championship Roses games, Lancashire are particularly keen to gain revenge when they meet at Old Trafford from tomorrow.Lancashire coach, Bobby Simpson, who today announced his departure from Lancashire at the end of the season, nominates the prolific Darren Lehmann as a particular threat.”Lehmann is in the middle of a terrific run at the moment and we must take our chances against him,” Simpson stressed.Neil Fairbrother (calf) and Peter Martin (shin) are injury worries for Lancashire but Simpson’s other concern is the weather. “It would be nice to get a couple of dry days,” he reasoned. “It should be a terrific match and I just hope the weather allows us to have four days of good cricket.Leicestershire travel to Taunton to play second-placed Somerset. James Ormond returns, but Dakin (side strain) Phil DeFreitas (foot) are ruled out.Matthew Wood is called into the Somerset side at the expense of out of form opener Piran Holloway, and captain, Jamie Cox is looking for a top performance against a side he rates highly.”They are a good, well-balanced side,” Cox said. “I think they are one of the best teams around so it will be tough.”In Division Two Warwickshire, buoyed by their dramatic victory over Nottinghamshire, will have to endure the long journey to Southampton, where they clash with Hampshire.Robin Smith and Dimitri Mascarenhas return to boost the host’s side.

No play was possible in the Norwich Union second division match between Sussex and Durham at Hove on Sunday, leaving both teams with two points from the fixture.

David Fulton was voted the Fleming Premier Banking PCA Player of the Year last night at The PCA Awards Dinner at the Royal Albert Hall.The Kent batsman has had a fabulous season and joins a distinguished list who has won the PCA Player of the Year Award including Sir Richard Hadlee, Malcolm Marshall, Courtney Walsh, Graham Gooch, Brian Lara, Mike Proctor and Marcus Trescothick.This season in 27 innings David scored 1892 runs at an average of 75.68 including 9 centuries and 3 half centuries with a highest score of 208 not out. He also took 27 catches.Other contenders for 2001 player of the year were Darren Lehmann, Martin Bicknell and Richard Montgomerie.Nicky Peng (Durham) received the Costcutter PCA Young Player of the Year Award. In 23 innings he scored 551 runs at an average of 26.23 with a highest score of 101.Other 2001 contenders for young player of the year were Owais Shah, Richard Dawson and Kevin Pietersen.The Royal Albert Hall played host to the PCA Awards Dinner for the Third consecutive year and over 1,800 guests enjoyed a spectacular event billed as a true celebration of cricket.

Matthew Fleming, Chairman of the Professional Cricketers’ Association, said:”Our Annual Awards and Dinner has developed to a stage where the PCA and its members should be justifiably proud. With the invaluable support of Fleming Premier Banking and other Business Partners the occasion is our showpiece and is indicative of all we are striving to achieve.”Paul Medlicott, Commercial Director of Fleming Premier Banking said:”It has been a mixed year for cricket on a domestic and international level, marked by fantastic performances from a number of individual players, notably David Fulton. We are delighted to help promote cricket by our support of the PCA as a whole and sponsorship of the awards for the third consecutive year.”Musical entertainment was provided by Tony Hadley, the former Spandau Ballet star, followed by The Mark Butcher Bunbury band, re-formed due to popular demand for the third year, including:

From November 1st 2001, Graham Walker takes over as Chief Executive of Hampshire County Cricket Club now a Limited Company. During his career in sports management he was the Football League’s first marketing manager, introducing commercial sponsorship into the world of football, and more recently, was commercial and marketing director of the Millennium Stadium in Cardiff.Graham takes over from Tony Baker, who has stepped down after 15 years in the post – a period of great change which culminated in the move to West End, a project with which he has been closely involved from the outset. However, Tony will continue to advise the club on cricketing issues in a part-time role.Remarkably, Graham is only the fourth head of Hampshire cricket since 1946, following Desmond Eagar, Jimmy James and Tony Baker.

Nottinghamshire’s Trent Bridge ground will have a new stand to accommodate 2,500 people in time for the NatWest one-day international between England and Sri Lanka next June.Planning permission for the development, which will cost £1.9 million, was granted last night, and work will begin at once.Notts chief executive David Collier said: “We are delighted about the outcome. The new stand will increase the seating capacity 15,400.

Still smarting from the nine-wicket loss at Bloemfontein, the Indian team will take the field at Buffalo Park, East London, on Saturday hoping to iron out some glaring flaws in a first-class match against South Africa A.Deprived by rain of their earlier preparatory fixture at Chatsworth before the first Test, the visitors sorely lack match practice, especially in the longer version of the game. Barring Sachin Tendulkar and Virender Sehwag, the Indian batting creaked with rust, as did much of the bowling attack.Sourav Ganguly, lambasted in recent times for his weakness against the short ball, has opted to place work above family. With his wife Dona giving birth to the couple’s first child, Ganguly initially was to have flown home for a brief visit. The Test loss, however, has forced a change of plans; maybe an opportune one, for the skipper now has a valuable chance to sort out his technique ahead of facing Shaun Pollock and Nantie Hayward at Port Elizabeth.The East London match will also give off-spinner Harbhajan Singh a chance to test his fitness in a match situation. A groin infection forced him to glumly watch the equally glum Bloemfontein proceedings from the pavilion, and there is no doubt that, as India’s intended trump card, Harbhajan will be raring to confirm his participation in the second Test.One player who will not be putting on his whites at Port Elizabeth is Sameer Dighe. It seems now that the selectors’ decision to pick two wicket-keepers, which appeared foolish and unwarranted initially, has paid unexpected dividends. Dighe’s back spasms, which were to have kept him out of just the first Test, have now been diagnosed as more serious, with doctors stating that he would not regain match fitness before the start of the third Test.There has, meanwhile, been no call for a replacement to fly out from India. In the words of Board for Control of Cricket in India (BCCI) secretary Niranjan Shah to PTI, “The team management in South Africa has not asked for any replacement for Dighe, who will be flying back home soon, and as of now we will not be sending any player.”The retention of Deep Dasgupta for the Test series has now proved fortunate, especially from the point of view of the young Bengal ‘keeper. Although he showed some nerves behind the stumps on Test debut, he also displayed pluck and sense in his first-innings knock of 34, giving fellow rookie Virender Sehwag the needed support to reach his century.South Africa, meanwhile, have named an impressive-looking second-string team in spite of some players dropping out with injuries. Captained by Dale Benkenstein, the side includes Jacques Rudolph, mightily successful against the Indians in earlier tour matches, contortionist chinaman Paul Adams, all-rounder Justin Kemp, and tearaway Andre Nel.The most significant name in the line-up, however, is that of Daryll Cullinan. Returning to first-class cricket last weekend after a several-month hiatus due to knee surgery, Cullinan is pushing for a Test berth ahead of relative newcomer Boeta Dippenaar. If included, he will only strengthen a South African batting line-up that displayed clinical efficiency in demolishing India earlier this week.India: Sourav Ganguly (captain), Rahul Dravid, Shiv Sunder Das, Connor Williams, VVS Laxman, Sachin Tendulkar, Virender Sehwag, Deep Dasgupta (wicket-keeper), Anil Kumble, Javagal Srinath, Harbhajan Singh, Venkatesh Prasad, Ajit Agarkar, Zaheer Khan, Ashish NehraSouth Africa A: Dale Benkenstein (captain), Jacques Rudolph, Graeme Smith, Martin van Jaarsveld, Daryll Cullinan, Justin Kemp, Kruger van Wyk (wicket-keeper), Paul Adams, Charl Langeveldt, Andre Nel, Garnett Kruger, Gulam Bodi

Surrey County Cricket Club is delighted to announce that James Ormond has signed a three-year contract. Ormond made his Test debut at the AMP Oval this year against Australia and is currently with the England team in India and will be an invaluable addition to the squad. The 24-year-old bowler left Leicestershire at the end of the 2001 season after seven years at the Club, where he took 225 wickets at an average of 25.67 in first-class cricket and 101 wickets at 22.57 in limited overs cricket.Paul Sheldon, Chief Executive Surrey County Cricket Club, stated: “This is a tremendous signing for the Club and will give us the strength in depth to challenge for all four major competitions next season.”James Ormond added: “I am extremely excited about signing for such an ambitious Club. To be playing in a side with so many talented and experienced players I hope that I can improve my game as well as help Surrey win more silverware in the future.”Surrey have won six trophies in the last six seasons and the current squad now includes 15 players who have played international cricket.

THE INTERNATIONAL CRICKET COUNCIL
is seeking to employ a suitable person to become its

The international cricket council is the world governing body for international Test and One Day cricket. As part of a dynamic restructuring and expansion program a General Manager – Communications is required to join the senior management team, based at Lord’s Cricket Ground, LondonCommunications has been identified as a priority area for the ICC, as cricket continues to attract enormous public and media interest across the world. Working to the Chief Executive Officer, the successful candidate will be responsible for a challenging brief, including:

• Building and leading a small team of communications professionals
• Developing and maintaining an effective ICC communications strategy
• Implementing an issues and crisis management program
• Establishing a strong internal communication network between the ICC and its international membership
• Maximizing the communications potential of the internet and a family of publications
• Meeting the insatiable demands of the world’s cricket and sports media
• Managing the communications budget
• Contributing as part of the ICC senior management team.

Suitable candidates for this rare opportunity to work in the front line of a major sporting organization. Your background will be in national or international media or the professional communications industry. Clear decision making under pressure and the ability to predict and react to the unexpected will be important qualities. A detailed knowledge of international cricket would be a considerable advantage.The role will involve some travel and close liaison with International cricket boards around the world.

Applications should be marked General Manager – Communications and sent to:

The Chief Executive
ICC
The Clock Tower
Lord’s Cricket Ground
London NW8 8QN
Email: [email protected]
Fax: +44 20 7266 1771
Phone: +44 20 7266 1818

Applications close on 31st January 2002

Roland Holder’s first-class cricket career isn’t over yet. Theexperienced middle-order batsman, who has been discarded by theBarbados selectors, was yesterday appointed captain of the West Indies’B’ team for the forthcoming Busta Series.I was surprised at the offer. It was very late in coming,Holder saidon Voice of Barbados’ Tell It Like It Is Programme minutes last nightafter his appointment was announced by West Indies Cricket Board(WICB) chief cricket operations officer Michael Hall.Perhaps I was caught a little bit off-guard. I had to give it someconsideration, Holder added. They actually approached me yesterday, soit took a while for me to make up my mind and decide on it.The West Indies ‘B’ team, participating in the championship for thesecond successive year, are a development side for Under-23 playersaround the region who are unable to make their national sides. But theWICB has once more opted for a seasoned player as captain. Former WestIndies captain Richie Richardson led the team last year.In this capacity, I’d be more there to advise granted that I’m goingto have to field, bat and do whatever else, Holder said.I wouldn’t want to play the leading role. The tournament is more forthe Under-23 people. I’m hopeful that I’ll be able to guide them,hopefully along the same sort of lines that I’ve tried to do forEmpire and the youth we have there.Against the background that he has not been in serious training inrecent weeks, his fitness may be tested. But at least he comes intothe competition with the benefit of the full Division 1 season behindhim in which he snared the most dismissals as a wicket-keeper.I don’t think I’ve been doing too much work, Holder admitted.Initially, it may be a bit of a problem. I’ll just have to pacemyself.Holder, who made his first-class debut in 1986 while still a schoolboyat Combermere, was a seasoned Barbados player and national captainbetween 1992 and 1994 and again in 1999.His appointment as West Indies ‘B’ captain presents him with thechance to achieve the landmark of playing 100 first-class matches. Hegoes into the tournament with 98 matches in which he has scored 5 550runs (average 38.27), including 16 centuries and 23 half-centuries.The Busta Series opens next week Friday, but the selection of the WestIndies ‘B’ team has been delayed for various reasons. Their firstmatch is against Bangladesh ‘A’, who arrive in Antigua on January 20.

Australia is set to shelve its controversial player rotation policy and field its strongest possible side for Thursday’s tri-series cricket match against New Zealand in Sydney.But the Aussies will be without vice-captain Adam Gilchrist, who pulled out of the team tonight for personal reasons.Gilchrist will be replaced by West Australian wicketkeeper Ryan Campbell.All eyes will be on the XI named to play the Kiwis after chairman of selectors Trevor Hohns today indicated rotation of the 14-squad members was likely to be set aside as the world champions attempt to get its spluttering tri-series campaign back on track.Opening losses to New Zealand and South Africa at the MCG have left little other option – it’s the first time Australia has lost its first two games since the series began in 1979-80.Hohns said he would speak to skipper Steve Waugh and coach John Buchanan about team selection and player rotation tomorrow.”We’ve got to try to put a winning team on the park,” Hohns said.”I’ll be speaking to the captain and coach once I arrive in Sydney.”It’s fair to say we’ll be certainly trying to put on the park the best side we can.”Hohns defended the rotation policy, designed to keep all squad members match-fit and in form, and said it was likely to be retained in the longer term with nextyear’s World Cup in mind.He reminded doubters of its success last season when Australia went through the home tri-series undefeated against the West Indies and Zimbabwe.”It’s something we did last year, so it’s not new,” Hohns said.”Last year it was very successful in the one-day games and we had our most successful series ever.”It’s early days in this tournament, but obviously as soon as there’s a couple of losses, people start asking questions.”There were four team changes – two forced by the suspension of Glenn McGrath and injury to fellow paceman Brad Williams – for the second clash which SouthAfrica won yesterday, leaving the world champions languishing in last place in the series.McGrath backed the rotation policy today even though the lack of Ian Harvey’s tight bowling at the death appeared to leave the attack somewhat thin in his ownabsence yesterday.”You look at the squad we’ve got. I think it doesn’t matter which 11 we put on the field,” McGrath said.”I think it’s equally as strong so it’s good to give everyone a go and get them playing at full match fitness and ready for the next game.”McGrath said there were positive signs in yesterday’s loss after a disappointing first match against New Zealand.”We haven’t really sort of clicked, batting or bowling, but there’s good signs there, we’re improving every game,” he said.”It’s a bit like the (1999) World Cup. We started off very slowly but we got better every game, so if we continue to do that then we will be pretty happy.”Another big plus for Australia was the form of speedster Jason Gillespie who made a strong case for his retention with 2-28 off his 10 overs on return from injury last night.Australia’s usually reliable and high-scoring batting spluttered in both tri-series to date, mustering modest totals after failing to kick on in the closing stages.”The batsmen haven’t given our bowlers a great deal to bowl at, so we’ve got to bat better and then I think it will turn around,” opener Matthew Hayden said.