All Today’s Yesterdays – September 27 down the years

September 26 | September 28

1948
The birth of England’s talisman. On becoming England’s first overseascoach in 1999 Duncan Fletcher took possession of a team rated the worstin the world, but he turned things round quicker than anyone couldpossibly have expected. With sensible man-management, the ability tolook beyond county statistics – best evidenced by the success of CraigWhite and Marcus Trescothick – and no little skill, he helped England tofour consecutive Test-series victories, including an unprecedenteddouble on the subcontinent. Fletcher was also a doughty allrounder whomade 69 not out and took 4 for 42 as Zimbabwe pulled off a stunningvictory over Australia – Border, Lillee, Marsh, Thomson and all – intheir first ever official one-day international, at Trent Bridge in the1983 World Cup.

1957
Having been hyped as the natural successor to Hutton, Sutcliffe andBoycott, the career of Bill Athey who was born today, was always indanger of being one of underachievement. A stately performer who madehis debut in the Centenary Test in 1980, Athey averaged a disappointing22.98 from 23 Tests. His opening partnership with Chris Broad wascentral to England’s Ashes triumph of 1986-87, but after a sparkling 123at Lord’s against Pakistan the following summer Athey failed to pass 50in eight Tests. He was dropped for the final time after the defeat byWest Indies at Headingley in 1988, but continued to be prolific atcounty level, having moved from Yorkshire to Gloucestershire in 1984 andto Sussex in 1993. He had made over 25,000 first-class runs when heretired in 1997.

1982
In Kingston, Eddie Hemmings became the first person to take tenwickets in a first-class innings for 13 years, returning figures of49.3-14-175-10 while playing for an International XI. It broke a numberof records: it is the only time one bowler has taken ten wickets in afirst-class innings in the West Indies; it is the most-expensive “allten” in any innings, and the West Indies XI’s 419 is the highest totalto include one.

1962
It would be no surprise if the birth of Gavin Larsen in Wellington todaywent largely unnoticed; he is that sort of character. Despite playing121 ODIs for New Zealand between 1990 and 1999 Larsen’s gentle mediumpace was consistently underrated, and though he took only 113 wicketshis outstanding economy rate of 3.76 runs per over underlined his valueto the team. He is best remembered for the 1991-92 World Cup when he waspart of the thriftiest of triumvirates (Larsen, Chris Harris and RodLatham were called “Dibbly, Dobbly and Wobbly”) that tortured even thebest batsmen on the anaesthetised home surfaces. Firmly typecast as apyjama performer, Larsen played just eight Tests despite a perfectlyacceptable record in the longer game (24 wickets at 28.71).

1982
Pakistan eased to a nine-wicket victory in the first Test againstAustralia at Karachi. The tourists began the final day on 138 for 7 intheir second innings, a deficit of 10, and were quickly finished offwith Abdul Qadir (5 for 76) the pick of the bowlers.

1998
In the second one-day international at Bulawayo, Sourav Ganguly’s fifthone-day hundred helped India to an eight-wicket victory over Zimbabweand an unassailable 2-0 lead in the three-match series. Ganguly added153 for the second wicket with Mohammed Azharuddin, his captain, asIndia, chasing 236 from 45 overs, eased home with 19 balls to spare.

Other birthdays
1974 Pankaj Dharmani (India)

Australia 225 for 7 (Bevan 84*, Ponting 52) beat New Zealand 181 (Styris 54, Bracken 3-34) by 44 runs
Scorecard

The Australians showed that losing the toss and batting first in a daytime one-dayer in India need not be an insurmountable barrier, as they overcame the early perils of tackling the moving ball to eke out a comfortable 44-run win at Guwahati. Michael Bevan lifted the Australians to 225 with a typically efficient and well-paced unbeaten 84, and thereafter, the Aussies kept up the pressure in the field, as New Zealand folded for 181. That total was enough, though, to prevent Australia from getting a bonus point.As in the earlier day games in this tournament, the team batting first lost quick wickets at the start: Australia were 34 for 3 and 61 for 4. Unlike New Zealand in the two earlier matches, though, the Australians – who rested Adam Gilchrist, Matthew Hayden and Brad Williams from this inconsequential game for them – ensured a healthy run-rate from the start, so that despite being choked in the middle overs by Daniel Vettori (10-0-20-2), they were still able to post a competitive total.The New Zealand reply was characterised by plenty of starts and mini-partnerships, but apart from Scott Styris’s 54, none of the batsmen got a score of any substance. The top order, as usual, fell away without making a significant contribution. Chris Nevin notched up his third failure in four games, edging a full-length ball from Nathan Bracken to Ricky Ponting in the slips (7 for 1). Bracken constantly troubled both batsmen with his swing and seam, and soon tasted further success when Lou Vincent shaped to play to leg and got a leading edge to point (38 for 2).Stephen Fleming showed glimpses of his class, punching a couple of elegant fours down the ground and through the off side. His partnership with Styris was looking increasingly dangerous, when Ian Harvey produced the breakthrough with a superb slower ball. Fleming went for the drive, then checked his stroke and only managed to scoop it back to the bowler (66 for 3). For Fleming, who made 29, it was another start squandered.A comfortable situation suddenly became a tricky one for New Zealand when Craig McMillan – New Zealand’s hero in the previous match – was given out caught behind down the leg side for 0, although the replays suggested that the ball might only have clipped his trousers (68 for 4).Brad Hogg then got into the act, trapping Jacob Oram in front with a quicker ball (88 for 5), and then nabbing the crucial wicket of Styris, who chipped a catch to Ponting at midwicket, ending a 55-run partnership with Chris Harris (143 for 6). The lower order has often bailed out New Zealand, but here it fell away without trace, and only just managed to pass the target of 180 needed to avoid conceding the bonus point.Earlier, the Australian innings was characterised by a frenetic start, a mid-innings stutter, and a strong finish. They were 102 for 2 after 20, added just 54 in the next 20 overs, and needed a strong finishing act by Bevan to reach a respectable total.

The innings began with a flurry of runs, as Ian Harvey demonstrated the skills which allowed him to score the only century of the Twenty20 Cup in the English season. The early moisture gave the New Zealand bowlers some encouragement, but it mattered little to Harvey, who took a special liking for Daryl Tuffey, whose first 15 balls went for 24.After the rash of runs came the rash of wickets. Tuffey started the slide with two wickets from consecutive deliveries: Harvey skewed a catch to Nevin at cover (33 for 1), and next ball, Jimmy Maher was trapped plumb in front. Kyle Mills then joined in the act, dismissing Damien Martyn (0) and Andrew Symonds (18).Ponting (52) and Bevan began the recovery process, with generous assistance from New Zealand’s seamers, who insisted on serving up plenty of four-balls. A total in the region of 250 was a distinct possibility, before Vettori came on to bowl and changed the complexion of the innings. Exhibiting all the tricks in the bag – variations in flight, turn and pace were all on show, with exceptional control – he first frustrated the batsmen by denying the runs, then reaped the rewards.Ponting was his first victim of the match – and his 100th in all ODIs – as he lofted a catch to McMillan at long-off (139 for 5). Michael Clarke fell soon after in similar fashion as the Australian innings came apart as Styris and Oram provided excellent support to Vettori.Through this middle-innings slump, Bevan continued to nurdle the singles, leaving all the risk-taking to the rest of the batsmen. With the overs running out, though, Bevan upped the tempo with a spate of fours towards the end to lift the Australians to a total, which, in the end, proved to be more than enough.

Shaharyar Khan, the new chairman of the Pakistan Cricket Board, has admitted that one of his key aims is to clean up the image of Pakistan cricket. The final months of the reign of his predecessor, Lt-Gen. Tauqir Zia, were marred by accusations of nepotism, selection irregularities and financial mismanagement.”Cricket nowadays has loads of money and it is essential that the affairs of the administration are transparent and clean,” Shaharyar told the BBC in an exclusive interview. “Officials have been under pressure for selecting favourite players. People have been trying to influence their decisions and the cricket administration has also been suffering from grouping.”This is not acceptable. We need a clean administration to make it efficient as well. I won’t allow anyone to pressurise me or other cricket officials. If I won’t take any pressure, the same thing will go down to the bottom.”An immediate problem facing Shaharyar is to intervene in the increasingly hostile clash between Aamer Sohail, the chief selector, and Javed Miandad, Pakistan’s coach. The pair have been at loggerheads, with Miandad claiming that decisions regarding teams have not been run past him or Inzamam-ul-Haq, the captain. “This is not the biggest or the only issue,” Shaharyar explained. “There are a lot of other issues which need attention. I won’t be bringing in wholesale changes at once. I will talk to former administrators, cricketers and former players before introducing reforms.”He is also keen to ensure that funds find their way down to the grass roots. “The game needs investment on the lowest level as people don’t have grounds or playing facilities. This is essential to maintain the influx of good cricketers.”Shaharyar later expanded on his comments in an official press release. “I have been overwhelmed by the welcome that I have received on my appointment as chairman of the PCB,” he said. “I feel deeply privileged and humbled at this honour bestowed on me by the President, and I am grateful for all the messages of goodwill.”While I shall make a full statement to the media after formally taking over the post, I would like to respond briefly to the numerous questions that have been posed to me, as follows.”I shall carry out a round of consultations with leading cricketers, administrators and commentators after taking over. I hope in this way to learn from their experience before outlining the board’s policies.”I shall insist on transparency, financial probity and public accountability of the board’s action and finance.”Merit alone will be the criterion of the board’s policies relating to selection, appointments and other related matters. Justice will not only be done but will be see to be done.”I shall insist on upholding the noble and sporting traditions of cricket and will expect the highest standards of behaviour and sportsmanship, especially from players who are given the honour of wearing the national colours.”My special focus will be to tap the vast enthusiasm for the game with the underprivileged by providing them with grounds, equipment, coaching facilities etc that are not currently available to them. A strong base of the pyramid will ensure sustained cricketing excellence at the top.”I shall also focus on reviving our internal first-class programme so that public support for our local teams strengthens the competitive fabric of our players.”

Statement by Victorian Bushrangers stand in coach Greg Shipperd."David Hookes had a dream for his playing group to bring back to Victorians an increased interest in the cricketing exploits of the Bushrangers."He wanted them to play in a way that reflected the "Aussie way" and, if I might say, "his way" – positive, aggressive, attacking, combative, fun cricket."He set about creating an environment that would allow his players to shine – to challenge for Australian selection, to win titles and very importantly for him, help grow young men as people."He was well on his way to realising that vision."Our task now is amongst the incredibly sad recognition of his loss, to continue the job of walking the path he had so cleverly constructed."The Board of Cricket Victoria has confirmed that Greg Shipperd will act as Victorian Bushrangers senior coach for the remainder of season 2003/2004.

Former NSW team mates Greg Matthews and Adrian Tucker will compete in this weekends one-day final when Sydney University clash with Eastern Suburbs. It will be a different scenario for both men, who are more adept to bowling in tandem with each other. Mathews and Tucker were both members of the 1989/90 NSW Sheffield Shield sides victory mesmerizing opposition teams with their off spin and leg breaks. They will use all their experience in helping their respective teams when the Dolphins host the Student’s this Sunday at Waverly Oval.Adrian Tucker returned to Eastern Suburb’s Cricket Club after a two-year absence working the futures market in Hong Kong. The 34 year-old’s return has helped a revamped Dolphin’s team to the one-day final. In a twist of fate, former Dolphin and NSW teammate Greg Matthews will oppose Tucker when he takes the field for Sydney University. "Greg was the reason I originally came to East’s, back in 94. He never let up and convinced me to join the Club after we bowled so well in tandem for the Blues" Tucker said. "I learnt a lot of my trade off Greg and it will be different lining up against him this weekend."Eastern Suburbs earnt a place in the final after a crushing victory over competition leader’s Bankstown last weekend. Unfortunately they will miss Brad Haddin as he flies out to Sri Lanka with the Australian team tomorrow. Haddin scored a scintillating century against the Bulldogs and will be difficult to replace. Fortunately the Dolphin’s top batsmen are in devastating form, as Jeff Cook (201), Andrew Jeffrey and Mark Patterson have all scored recent centuries.Sydney University will be looking to add the one-day competition trophy to their cabinet, after securing last season’s premiership. The Student’s lose Matthew Phelps who has been recalled to the Speedblitz Blues team. They will look to the consistent form of Ed Cowan and the experience of Test Veteran Greg Matthews this weekend. Matthews has made an immense psychological impact on his young side, providing a newfound belief and determination that was evident in last season’s premiership success. He will no doubt get a different response from his former teammates when he walks through the gates at Waverly Oval this Sunday.

Sri Lanka’s selectors have announced a 25-man pool for the forthcoming ODI series against Australia. The training squad included six specialist spinners, including Kaushal Lokuarachchi, a young legspinner who returns after a disciplinary ban.The selectors also included Rangana Herath, a slow left-arm spinner who last played international cricket in June 2000 against Pakistan, and Dinuka Hettiarachchi, another left-arm spinner, who has impressed during the ongoing provincial tournament.Sri Lanka are expected to load their team with spinners against Australia and are likely to play only two quick bowlers — probably Chaminda Vaas and Nuwan Kulasekera — during the ODI series.Dilhara Fernando, Sri Lanka’s quickest bowler, has been ruled out of the series with a stress fracture of the lower back. Ruchira Perera comes back into the reckoning for the first since being reported for having a suspect bowling action.Sri Lanka A players Russel Arnold, Saman Jayantha, Avishka Gunawardana,Chamara Silva and Thilina Kandamby have also been included in the pool and will have a chance to press their selection case during a warm-up match on February 17.Australia are due to play five ODIs and three Test matches during a six-week tour that starts on February 16. The first ODI will be played on February 20 in Dambulla.The squad has been sent to the Sports Ministry for ratification.Squad Marvan Atapattu (capt), Sanath Jayasuriya, Romesh Kaluwitharana, Kumar Sangakkara, Mahela Jayawardene, Tillakaratne Dilshan, Upul Chandana, Chaminda Vaas, Muttiah Muralitharan, Kumar Dharmasena, Nuwan Kulasekara, Saman Jayantha, Avishka Gunawardana, Russel Arnold, Chamara Silva, Kaushal Lokuarachchi, Rangana Herath, Nuwan Zoysa, Dinusha Fernando, Chamila Gamage, Charitha Buddhika Fernando, Dinuka Hettiarachchi, Thilina Kandamby, DarshanaGamage, Ruchira Perera.

Australia Women 197 for 6 (Jones 54, Cunneen 39) beat New Zealand Women 196 for 6 (Tiffen 60*, Fahey 41) by four wickets
ScorecardAustralia easily won the final game of the Rose Bowl, beating New Zealand by four wickets to complete a comprehensive 5-1 series win.Set a modest target of 197, Australia achieved their target in the 49th over, with Alexandra Blackwell unbeaten at the end on 22. The chase had been set up by a 63-run second-wicket partnership between Shannon Cuneen (39) and Karen Rolton (31). Mavis Jones, with a fluent 54 off 55 balls, then made sure that nothing further went wrong.New Zealand’s innings began with a doughty innings of 41, off 81 balls, by Maria Fahey, who held one end up but could never quite get the momentum going. Haidee Tiffen made 60 off 83 balls to propel them to 196, but in the end, it wasn’t enough.Rolton was named player of the series, finishing with a total of 394 runs – including one century and three fifties.

The Sri Lankan board has denied receiving an official report on Muttiah Muralitharan’s bowling action, and officials said that the results of the analysis would not be published until the receipt of an official report from Professor Bruce Elliott.The news followed suggestions that the results had been verbally communicated to board officials over the weekend and that an announcement was imminent. “We have not yet received an official report,” said Duleep Mendis, Sri Lanka Cricket’s chief executive. “We cannot make public announcements on the basis of informal or private conversations prior to the submission of an official report.”Contrary to earlier media reports, according to Mendis, a fullanalysis of Muralitharan’s controversial doosra had not yet been completed, and Murali, who is expected back in Colombo by Friday, was continuing the assessments with Elliott in Perth.Once an official report has been received, a bowling review group, convened by the board, will discuss the conclusions. If necessary, remedial action will be undertaken before the submission of a full report to the ICC within the stipulated six-week period.The board has indicated that a public announcement may be delayeduntil the ICC has received this report and has given the go-ahead for thedetails to be released.

Glenn McGrath has been given the ultimate accolade as he prepares for his return to international cricket. None other than the legendary Dennis Lillee reckons he is possibly the greatest fast bowler in history.McGrath, who has been out of action all season with an ankle injury, asked Lillee to oversee his final preparations. Lillee approved of what he saw, and even believes that McGrath’s best years could be ahead of him. “He is probably the best quick we’ve seen for a long time – if not the best ever,” Lillee told Australia’s Sunday Telegraph.” You can’t write anyone off who has been that good over the years. You’d be stupid to. I have absolutely no doubt he’ll be back – and he’ll be as good, if not better.”Even before his injury crept in, McGrath had been aware of a flaw that was creeping into his effortlessly smooth action, and under the supervision of Lillee, he has made best use of his time off the treadmill of international cricket. “Glenn has never really had any problems with his action,”said Lillee, “but a couple of times over the years he has had a minor glitch which we have discussed and straight away he fixes it. He is very aware of what works for him and what doesn’t.”McGrath, for his part, has scotched all talks that his career is drawing to a close. “I’ve looked at all my goals and I want to play the 2007 World Cup,” he said. “I’ll be 37 then and I believe right at my peak as a fast bowler. I’m definitely not thinking retirement. Combined with my strength and increased fitness levels, I reckon I’ve added 10km of pace, and I’m confident I can go around 140kph consistently now. It is all just coming together for me.””You can never write anyone like Glenn off. There is more than just an injury there, it’s what goes on in here,” added Lillee, pointing to his heart. “You can lose fitness, you can lose confidence, but you don’t lose a talent – and he has a talent. Like Imran Khan, there is no reason why Glenn can’t go on until he is 39 or 40. “

Essex 400 for 9 (Middlebrook 115, Caddick 6-80) and 52 for 2 lead Somerset 339 (Cox 86) by 113 runs
ScorecardThe view from the old pavilion at Taunton – proudly misspelled as “The Old Pavillion” (with two Ls) on a new banner – is one of the county circuit’s lovelier vistas. When the air is clear, as it was this glorious afternoon, the Quantock Hills seem to lie in Arlottesque splendour just yards behind the (new) pavilion.Somerset have recently announced a £20million plan to redevelop the ground, but when the cricket on offer is as compelling as this, with the initiative batted back and forth, you wouldn’t complain if you sat on a broken bench with a backdrop of slagheaps and motorway flyovers.For the second day on the trot it was the unfashionable that shone. And that was just as well for Essex, since the celebrities are thin on the ground in the bowling department just now. Darren Gough, after just 88 overs for Essex (two Championship games and two one-day games) is being rested and Danish Kaneria, on the celebrity B-list after picking up bucketloads of Test wickets for Pakistan against Bangladesh, has a sore finger. Essex’s other overseas player, Scott Brant, was off-colour, so it was down to Andy Clarke, who a couple of seasons ago was playing most of his cricket for Hutton CC in Essex’s Shepherd Neame League.In a mature post-lunch spell he showed great control to return figures of 2 for 29 from 12 overs, bowled off the reel. He consistently beat the bat of Jamie Cox, the one Somerset batsman who really dug in. Cox’s gritty 86, made largely under the morning’s louring grey clouds, kept Somerset in a match they seemed to be crashing out of at 147 for 5. Things got worse as the lower-middle order chucked away promising starts. And when Cox at last fell, Somerset had sagged to a sorry 198 for 8 – still 53 from escaping the follow-on.But yesterday, Essex had recovered from an unhealthy 210 for 6, and now there was another Lazarus-like recuperation. The sun was smiling, and the home bowlers decided to have fun with the bat. Over the next 16 overs, the three Somerset Test players – batting nine, ten and jack – produced the most joyous cricket of the match so far.This is what Championship fare should be like: Richard Johnson seemed to middle everything, even conjuring two glorious Caribbean swivel-pulls. His carefree fifty came off only 34 balls, and when he went, two balls later, he had larruped 58, with four huge sixes and six fours. Twenty-two came from one Adrian McCoubrey over – though Clarke might have held on to a skyer as the boundaries rained from Johnson’s bat.Andrew Caddick put aside his inhibitions too, and with full-blooded assistance from Nixon McLean – sixes clattered into the sightscreens at either end – those last 16 overs of the Somerset innings tossed in a cracking 141. Far from following on, they cut Essex’s lead to 61: useful, but not dominant.McLean then produced a couple of beauties to sweep away the Essex openers on an evening suffused with golden light, and with the lead extended to 113, this match remains intriguingly poised. It could go all the way. Let’s hope it does.Hugh Chevallier is deputy editor of Wisden Cricketers’ Almanack.