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Former New Zealand soccer and cricket vice-captain and deputy head of Christchurch’s Middleton Grange School Vic Pollard has a new supporting role.Pollard, 57, is the new Christian Heritage Party deputy leader, replacing Merepeka Raukawa-Tait, who resigned from the party in November.Party leader Graham Capill said the CHP is “privileged” to have Pollard in the position, which is a temporary one and will be reassessed at August’s party convention in Nelson, when a new leader will be selected and a committee will report on the CHP’s future direction.Leadership nominations run from Christmas to May, but Capill said only one man, not Pollard, has applied. Capill expects further applications by May, but did not want to pre-empt the decision on a new leader.Vice-captain to Canterbury’s Graham Dowling in the New Zealand cricket team to England in 1969, Pollard would probably have led his country in the West Indies in 1971/72 when Dowling withdrew with a back injury.However, his Christian beliefs prevented him from playing on Sundays and he did not tour.Pollard also led Central Districts to two Plunket Shields and later led Canterbury for a season.At Middleton Grange since 1980, Pollard said he hopes he may enhance the CHP’s chance of gaining representation in Parliament.The father of five said there was a great need for Christians to take a lead in local and national Government in New Zealand society, “which is rapidly moving away from its Christian heritage.”Pollard said he was 100% behind Capill and the party’s policies of family, justice and choice and would need some persuading to apply to be leader and did not want to speculate on his interest in leading the CHP.”At this stage I don’t want to say if I will or I won’t (apply),” he said.”I’m biding my time. It’s a big job. It’s tough in politics generally and particularly with the last couple of years the party’s had.”Pollard, No 3 on the party list at the last election behind Capill and Raukawa-Tait, said he did not seek leadership, but “if it comes my way in my career or sport or politics probably less so and others see I’ve got giftings … I’m not one personally who strives for that because I come from a Christian position. But if it comes my way I’d make that personal sacrifice.”

When I was in Kenya in 2001, at the then end of a West Indian tour of Zimbabwe, Maurice Odumbe and Steve Tikolo, the former and present captains of Kenya, made it a point to tell me, friend to friend, that, like Muhammad Ali when he beat George Foreman, “We are going to shock the world again.”

That first shock referred to, of course, was their win over the West Indies in the 1996 World Cup, and although that line was again remembered when Kenya beat Sri Lanka, I believed more shocks were in store. It seemed, like Odumbe and Tikolo, I was correct, and Zimbabwe and the rest of the cricketing world got another surprise as Kenya qualified for the semi-finals of the 2003 World Cup.Friend or not, these Kenyans undoubtedly play cricket as the West Indians did in the 70s and 80s, with tremendous passion, even though they may be more limited in ability. They play to their full potential and enjoy it thoroughly. In most cases, they have nothing to lose, but now, they may have the World Cup to win.Zimbabwe were already shaken up with internal wrangling; a selector quit, their best batsman, Andy Flower, announced retirement, and Henry Olonga was selected only to prove that he was not cast into the cold after his political statement. Zimbabwe, consequently, were as unprepared as could be, and that Flower made 63 out of 133 all out tells a sorry tale. Being the veteran and professional that he is, Andy Flower would have known the importance of the game, both to himself and to his team, and it was not a happy exit from the national side for a man who always gave 200 percent on the field.The find of this World Cup, though, is leg-spinner Collins Otieno Obuya. To date, he has bamboozled two Test-level teams – Sri Lanka and then Zimbabwe – with figures of five for 24 and three for 32. Eight wickets for 56 from 20 overs for a leg-spinner from a non-Test side – amazing! Shane Warne, look out! To be very honest, the world seems to be this chap’s oyster.The Kenyan fielding also reminds me of the Clive Lloyd-led sides of the late 70s and 80s. It is not that they do not have the occasional misfield or dropped catch; every team does. But Kenya does not fear anybody any team. They are as enthusiastic when playing against the big boys of Sri Lanka and South Africa as against Canada and Bangladesh. They play as if every game is their next shot at greatness, and perhaps their last. What a refreshing cricket team!Whatever happens from here, the Kenyans have already almost progressed to cricketing immortality. The games against Australia and then the semi-final against India notwithstanding, Kenya will be world-famous and as well known as Cameroon was in the 1990 soccer World Cup. Cameroon has since been dubbed the “Indomitable Lions,” and the Kenyans play cricket like unconquerable lions!

LOOKING FORWARD TO ZIMBABWE’S VISITI would just like to make a few comments regarding Zimbabwe cricket.Firstly, well done to the team for making the Super Six stage! It’s a shame they couldn’t progress further. Hopefully in the Caribbean in 2007!!!Also congratulations on hosting such a great tournament!!! It was excellently done, and has clearly got to be the best for organisation, entertainment, etc. . . All three hosts did great and Africa should be proud!Next, in regards to the Zimbabwe Cricket Website, I was just wondering why there is no section for contacting, mailing or supporting players and the team. Both the Australian and Sri Lankan sites have these sections for fans! I only say this as I have been trying in a variety of ways to contact a player (Brain Murphy), but have been unsuccessful and had no response. Which in comparison to the Aussies and Lankan players is very disappointing. My main aim was to send support messages amongst other things.Finally, I noticed under the ICC Test Championship that Zimbabwe is scheduled to tour Australia later this year. I was wondering if any games will be played in Melbourne, as I’m looking forward to see the team play. To meet my favourite player(s) would be an added bonus.I have been very honoured and fortunate to have met and even hosted my favourite player(s) from West Indies, England, Pakistan, India, and of course especially Australia and Sri Lanka. (About which I’m happy to go into details if needed). I’d love to be able to do the same with Zimbabwe (but as in each case I seek approval from the appropriate authorities).By the way, what is the chances of getting a autograph photo/picture from a Zimbabwe player? (I know it varies from nation to nation).Delan Adikari (Melbourne, Australia)Reply: You write about ideas that actually haven’t reached Zimbabwe cricket yet. I thought that Zimbabwe players would not appreciate having their e-mail addresses made widely available, as they can so easily be abused, but I will see what their thinking is. And I’m afraid autographed photos or pictures are not yet part of Zimbabwe cricket either!Regarding Zimbabwe’s tour of Australia, I have had provisional news of the venues for the two Tests we will be playing there, but cannot release them yet as they are still unofficial.

THE CUP; the Challenge; the Bowl. What next?With the clinical efficiency that has been the hallmark of their cricket all season, Barbados hastily demolished Jamaica yesterday to complete an unprecedented double by adding the Carib Beer International Challenge to the Carib Beer Cup they secured three weeks ago."It is a great feeling. This is tremendous," victorious captain Courtney Browne said amidst excited celebrations among teammates in the Garfield Sobers Pavilion."The old saying that hard work pays off really caps it off here for us. Hard work is what this was all about."It was reflected in the presentation ceremony when Barbados copped most of the awards named after illustrious former West Indies players.And there was warm applause in front of the pavilion when Browne accepted the Challenge and the US$10 000 that accompanied it, along with the Cup and the US$7 500 that came with it.Sunday morning collapses at Kensington Oval have become common this season and yesterday was no different.Barbados, winners of last September’s Red Stripe Bowl final against the same opponents, wasted no time in wrapping up a Jamaica second innings that offered some promise on the third evening.For the second time in the match, the Jamaicans tamely folded after building an encouraging platform. In the first innings, their last nine wickets fell for 68 and yesterday, their last seven second innings wickets went for 32 to transform their overnight 166 for three to 219 all out.As a result, Barbados’ seven-wicket victory was achieved as early as 1:01 p.m. after they were set a small target of 35.In the process, they lost three wickets, one of which was Philo Wallace, who left the field raising his bat and helmet after he went for a duck. There was speculation that Wallace might have been hinting this was the end of his first-class career, but he indicated afterwards it was not.In the end, the Challenge final was a one-sided match and not the type of contest many expected against a team that featured eight players with international experience."I never thought it would have been a challenge. I know the Jamaican team. I never thought it would have been close," Browne said."They are still a young team and they were coming into the match with a bowling department that was not really good."In terms of their batting, I have some bowlers who bowl the ball in the right areas and guys who swing the ball. Once the ball is swinging the Jamaican batsmen don’t play it well. They always edge it."Since the first-class championship was expanded to feature two segments in 2001 following the inclusion of international opposition, no side has won both titles and Browne praised not only the effort of his players but the support of fans and those working behind the scenes.They included Barbados Cricket Association president Stephen Alleyne, the Barbados Defence Force team trainer Wayne Griffith, along with technical assistance from former West Indies opener Desmond Haynes and seasoned overseas professional Hendy Wallace.Needing to score briskly in an effort to set Barbados some kind of a workable target, Jamaica resumed the final day 19 runs in deficit with aggressive intentions that never worked.They scored at almost a run a minute in the first 35 minutes but were set back by the loss of their most consistent batsman this season and their most potentially explosive, both falling to left-arm pacer Pedro Collins.Dave Bernard Jr., the new West Indies selectee, drove a catch to cover and hard-hitting Ricardo Powell edged his fifth ball low to first slip where Floyd Reifer took a neat catch.It completed a double failure in the match for Powell. But he was not alone.Three of those who followed him also endured a match they would quickly want to forget.Vasbert Drakes, who came on after an hour, gave away precious little after he was knocked around the previous evening when he conceded 40 runs from his six overs. He delivered another six overs yesterday, gave up only four runs and collected three wickets.The first was Leon Garrick, who carried his overnight 56 to 75 before Drakes deceived him with his sixth ball of the day.With Garrick gone, there was still plenty of batting with captain Robert Samuels, Gareth Breese and Keith Hibbert capable of offering resistance. None of them did.Samuels and Breese succumbed to Drakes and Hibbert gave Tino Best his only wicket of the match.Reifer again took another low catch at first slip to account for Breese and Samuels’ cut was smartly held by Kurt Wilkinson at second slip.

Pakistan’s start in the Bank Alfalah Cup could best be described as absolute brilliance one day then a shoddy performance the next. Back-to-back matches against two quality oppositions are never easy, but it was really some masterful swing bowling by the Kiwis in helpful conditions that undid them on Sunday.Against Sri Lanka the Pakistan young guns proved their victory in Sharjah was not merely good luck but they had the capability to pulverize the full strength hosts in their own backyard. A cautious start laid the platform for a decent score, which in the end proved to be more than enough under the conditions.The Rangiri Dambulla ground was certainly not up to par for ODI cricket, with conditions tilted towards the bowlers, and shot-making rather difficult. Even though Hafeez and Faisal Iqbal weathered the early storm, their performance in the middle overs left a lot to be desired. Caution is understandable against the swinging new ball, but both showed little intent even against the second string Sri Lankan spinners. A lot of work is still needed to perfect the art of rotating strike, to make sure they don’t pressurize the likes of Youhana and Younis Khan when they come in after.Pakistan’s bowling and fielding in the opening match could be called brilliant, with Shoaib Akhtar proving he isn’t a spent force by any means. However, I believe they are committing a tactical blunder, when it comes to handing Shoaib the new ball, and bringing Umar Gul in as first change. Umar is a seam bowler very much in the mould of the great McGrath, and is not as potent when he operates first change. The seam is worn by then and since he lacks pace, gets taken for runs as was the case against New Zealand.With Umar and Razzaq operating in the middle overs there is very little pressure on opposition batsmen and they can stabilize the innings. Pakistan would do better to let Umar partner Sami with the new ball and have Shoaib come in to attack on one end, while Razzaq does the hold up job.If they do want to persist with Shoaib Akhtar opening, then it is better to drop Umar Gul for Kaneria, to provide greater variety. The pitches in the second round in Colombo are likely to be slow turners, unlike the moist ‘seamers’ at Dambulla, so Kaneria could prove very useful.The Pakistan batting may have done reasonably against the Sri Lankan attack, but failed when they encountered New Zealand’s top quality pace attack under similar conditions. For the first time the youngsters were up against a quality attack and wilted under some trying conditions unable to cope with swing and seam. I shudder to think what will happen during their England tour unless they learn to cope with such wickets.Problems exposed need to be addressed immediately, they could not handle the swing of Shane Bond who beat them on almost every ball of his opening spell. Only Younis Khan displayed an adequate technique in countering his sharp inswing.Faisal Iqbal looked quite ordinary, and it may be time for either Faisal Athar or Yasir Hameed to get a chance in the next match.Youhana got out to very loose shots in both matches, and must be made to realize he is the cornerstone of Pakistan’s batting line-up, and must cut down on some of the flair he is so well known for.Taufeeq Umar was a little disappointing, after having done all the hard work weathering the new ball attack he got out to a very loose shot. Taufeeq looks in reasonable form but has a terrible habit of giving it away when well set. He is a naturally defensive player who takes his time, and must realize that playing aggressive shots is not his job. He needs to stay out there, rotate strike and allow the stroke makers in the line-up to play around him. Instead, he seems to suddenly feel pressure when the going is tough and in trying to emulate a Saeed Anwar, starts playing risky shots.The defeat to New Zealand should not lead to wholesale changes, or cries to bring back more experienced players, but does offer the team a chance to reflect on their mistakes and strategy. Young players will only learn if they get a chance to play the best bowlers in the world, and cannot be expected to massacre them at first sight, especially when conditions are as difficult as in Dambulla.Hopefully, we will see a much improved effort under the batsmen friendly conditions in Colombo.Ed: If readers wish to correspond with the author, please email Taha Noor

In the July issue of Wisden Cricket Monthly Stuart Hess talks to Makhaya Ntini

When Makhaya Ntini stepped on to the international stage, he carried an extra political burden of having to show that black South Africans could live with the likes of Donald, Pollock, Waugh and Warne. As far as South African cricket was concerned he could not afford to fail.”Yes, I was definitely aware there was a lot of talk about transformation,” Ntini says. “But I could not let myself be worried about that. I knew I had to improve as a cricketer. I realised I could also do the things Donald, Pollock and Kallis did and I always believed that if I performed well they could not keep me out of the side.”He had shown plenty of self-belief just to get that far. From humble beginnings tending cattle in his home village of Mdingi in the Eastern Cape, Ntini overcame not only the hardships of rural poverty but also the cultural difficulties of being a black kid, barely able to speak English, entering an environment where he had to build bonds with urban white contemporaries. He had to overcome the doubters, including team-mates.”I realised what a big task it was to play international cricket,” he says. “When I came into the team there were a lot of experienced guys around, big names like Brian McMillan, Shaun Pollock and Allan Donald. I saw it as a learning curve and any time I got the opportunity to learn something from those guys, I took it.”Bowling fast and wide of the crease, angling the ball in to the right-handed batsman, Ntini played only a couple of one-day internationals on his first tour to Australia in 1997-98. A few weeks later, against Sri Lanka, he became the first development player to play in a Test. He toured England later in 1998, playing in the third and fifth Tests, but he faced his greatest test the following year when he was convicted of rape. Though subsequently acquitted he looked as if he might live forever in the shadow of that incident. But he poured everything into his cricket, becoming stronger, fitter and wiser.Ntini’s stamina won particular admiration during the 2000-01 visit from New Zealand, when on a flat-track and a blazing hot day at Bloemfontein he bowled 31 overs and took six wickets for 66 runs. At the start of the summer of 2001-02 he was named one of South Africa’s cricketers of the year, only to suffer such a drop in form that he was excluded from the Test series in Australia. While his team-mates were being pummelled there Ntini regained confidence. “Being dropped wasn’t a big problem for me,” he said at the time. “It forced me to find out where I went wrong. I think I came back a better player.”The return series in South Africa confirmed his status as a senior player. Replacing the injured Shaun Pollock with the new ball in the first Test at Johannesburg Ntini took Matthew Hayden’s edge in his first over, only for Jacques Kallis to drop a simple chance at second slip and Hayden to score 122. But Ntini still finished as the only South African to have enhanced his reputation in a record defeat. With better luck in the second Test at Cape Town he finished the three-match series with 11 wickets and new-found responsibility. “I realise I have to set an example for the younger players. As a senior player you must go out and put the ball in the right areas and be professional,” he says.Ntini, who will have his 26th birthday during the summer series, is one of only six players who toured England in 1998. Since then his angle of delivery has changed, enabling him to straighten the ball off the seam and making him much more dangerous. He also appreciates the significance of this England tour in establishing the direction South African cricket takes.”There are a lot of new guys in the side and it is important we show how good we are as a team. We can’t compare ourselves with teams from the past; the circumstances are different. It’s like people comparing [former South African president] Nelson Mandela and [South African president] Thabo Mbeki. You can’t.”Click here to subscribe to Wisden Cricket Monthly

The July 2003 edition of Wisden Cricket Monthly is on sale at all good newsagents in the UK and Ireland, priced £3.40.

Simon Jones played his first competitive game of cricket today, some ninemonths after his horrific knee injury in the opening Test of the Ashes seriesin Brisbane.Jones made his comeback in Glamorgan`s 2nd XI match against Lancashire2nd XI at Panteg, with the young pace bowler delivering two four over spellsin which he failed to take a wicket, but did force one of the visiting batsmento retire hurt after being hit a painful blow by one of Jones` deliveries.”I felt good throughout,” said Jones afterwards, “and it`s reallynice to be back on the field.”

Kids. They grow up so quickly these days. One day, you’re holding their hands from mid-off as they toddle into bowl. The next, they’ve dyed their hair red and are schmoozing from one lad’s mag to the next, talking girls and PlayStations, with hardly a backward glance to the crotchety old patriarch who made them the men they are today.This was Nasser Hussain’s dilemma as he was reintroduced to his boys after seven weeks on the sidelines during the NatWest Series. And true to form, his assessment was instinctive and unequivocal. His time had passed. His cajoling, backside-kicking style was out of tune with the spirit of the age. It was time for Michael Vaughan to come to the fore.Hussain, it transpires, broke the news to Vaughan over a bacon sandwich on Monday morning. Whether the sandwich was subsequently dropped in astonishment, we do not know. But, in his inaugural press conference at Lord’s, Vaughan was still wearing the look of a man caught in the midst of a whirlwind. He was lucid and authoritative, as he talked of his desire for a focused but relaxed team, but he couldn’t deny that the captaincy had arrived “sooner than he expected”.”I don’t think Nasser landed me in it at all,” Vaughan insisted. “I feel ready for the job. I feel really excited and I am looking forward to it. I know people will say things, but Nasser has had four years at the top and I am very pleased he has left me with a young and talented team. He turned up this morning with a huge weight taken off his shoulders, and I told him to go out and enjoy his cricket. He is a huge player for England and I expect him to continue in that vein.”Given his supreme self-motivation, it would surprise no-one if Hussain marks his return to the ranks with a century, just as Michael Atherton did against South Africa at Edgbaston back in 1998. But, as Vaughan admitted, this week has been a tale of three captains, not two. England’s main task at Lord’s will be to halt Graeme Smith, whose record-breaking scores of 277 and 85 dispelled all doubts that he lacked the authority to succeed in such a high-profile series.”I definitely think England underestimated us, and wrongly so,” said Smith. “We had them under pressure all the time and that’s a great feeling. While they’re trying to sort out where they went wrong, we are going forward with a lot of positives to take into the rest of the series.”Maybe Nasser was feeling the pressure a bit and just wants to play a bit now,” added Smith. “It definitely puts a bit of pressure on Vaughan again. Maybe it will weigh on his shoulders, who knows? But it could be a breakthrough for us.”But Smith, wary of making Hussain’s mistake and proclaiming that England were “there for the taking”, admitted that they would come out fighting at Lord’s. And, given that Jacques Kallis will once again be missing from South Africa’s team, he has enough selection headaches of his own. Worcestershire’s overseas player, Andrew Hall, has been drafted back into the squad, and is likely to take his place as a bowling allrounder ahead of the ineffective Charl Willoughby. His belligerent batting will strengthen the tail and may enable Paul Adams to take over from Robin Peterson, whose left-arm spin was the weakest link in South Africa’s attack.England, for their part, hope to be unchanged – personnel-wise at least. Sussex’s James Kirtley is on standby in the bowling department, but seems set to miss out for the fourth Test running, while Marcus Trescothick and Alec Stewart are likely to play despite the injuries they picked up at Edgbaston. Vaughan, who wants 11 captains in his team, would probably have them wheeled out in bath-chairs rather than have them miss this vital match.England 1 Marcus Trescothick, 2 Michael Vaughan (capt), 3 Mark Butcher, 4 Nasser Hussain, 5 Anthony McGrath, 6 Alec Stewart (wk), 7 Andrew Flintoff, 8 Ashley Giles, 9 Darren Gough, 10 Steve Harmison, 11 James Anderson.South Africa (probable) 1 Herschelle Gibbs, 2 Graeme Smith (capt), 3 Gary Kirsten, 4 Boeta Dippenaar, 5 Jacques Rudolph, 6 Mark Boucher (wk), 7 Shaun Pollock, 8 Andrew Hall, 9 Dewald Pretorius, 10 Makhaya Ntini, 11 Paul Adams.

Australian players Matthew Hayden and Andy Bichel will make their return to the playing field this weekend as part of the XXXX Queensland Bulls pre-season campaign.Hayden will play for a Country XI and Bichel will turn out for a City XI in the intra-squad one-day practice match at Allan Border Field on Sunday.There will also be a two-day practice match at Allan Border Field starting tomorrow, although Hayden and Bichel will not play in that game.Former Tasmanian pace bowler Shane Jurgensen will play in the two-day game after returning home to Brisbane earlier this year after severing ties with the Tigers.The matches, involving Bulls and Queensland Academy of Sport members, will provide the State selectors and Queensland coaching staff with an ideal opportunity to monitor the players’ build-up prior to the start of club cricket later this month.Admission is free for all matches, with play scheduled to start at 10am each day.The Brisbane XXXX Grade one-day competition commences on Sunday September 15 with the First Grade premiership commencing on Saturday September 20.The Bulls opening match is the ING Cup clash with Tasmania on October 25 at the Gabba.City v County, September 5-6, Allan Border Field.Country XI: Brendan Nash, Daniel Payne, James Hopes, Aaron Nye, Wade Seccombe, Nathan Hauritz (c), Mitchell Johnson, Chris Swan, Grant Sullivan, Stephen Farrell, Shane Jurgensen (11 only).
City XI: Jerry Cassell, Duncan Betts, Aaron Maynard, Chris Simpson, Craig Philipson, Chris Hartley (c), Ryan Leloux, Damien Mackenzie, Matthew Petrie, Steve Magoffin, Nathan Rimmington, Peter Reimers (all twelve to play).City v County, September 7, Allan Border Field.County XII: Matthew Hayden, Daniel Payne, Aaron Maynard, James Hopes, Brendan Nash, Stephen Farrell, Wade Seccombe, Nathan Hauritz (c), Mitchell Johnson, Cameron Glass, Grant Sullivan, Aaron Nye. (all 12 toplay)
City XII: Jerry Casssell, Duncan Betts, Lee Carseldine (c), Chris Simpson, Craig Philipson, Peter Reimers, Chris Hartley, Ryan Leloux, Andy Bichel, Damien Mackenzie, Steve Magoffin, Nathan Rimmington. (all 12 to play)

Graeme Smith insisted his team had put security concerns to one side and were mentally ready to take on Pakistan in Friday’s opening one-day international. The five-match series will be played under unprecedented security, with the Pakistani authorities drafting in extra hoards of police and soldiers for each game.Although Smith admitted the ongoing security saga had affected South Africa’s preparations, he was still making the right noises. “I think two weeks of discussing security is definitely going to play on your mind. It definitely plays a role but after our practice and warm-up game we are now focusing on cricket.”Looking ahead to the first ODI at Lahore, which will be patrolled by 2,000 policemen and 150 elite commandoes, Smith said South Africa, like Pakistan, were rebuilding after the World Cup: “I think in many ways both teams are under similar situation, we have had three months in England where we have regrouped and we are here for thefirst time and we are still reorganising ourselves, looking for answers.”He added: “We have come here with a lot of positives after the England tour and we’re looking to improve on a lot of things. We’ve come here to win, definitely, but it’s going to be tough touring conditions so we need to adjust quickly and could be a little under-prepared on Friday.”Inzamam-ul-Haq, Pakistan’s captain, said his team are confident after beating Bangladesh 5-0 in last month’s ODI series. “South Africa are definitely a tougher opponent than Bangladesh, but our boys are very confident and I hope we keep the winning sequence,” he said. “Our bowling is our strength but we need to put runs on the board to supplement our bowling.”Meanwhile, Javed Miandad, Pakistan’s coach, has asked the crowds to be on their best behaviour, saying the country’s image is at stake. “If they protest anything and there is trouble, it would disturb the matchand could harm the image of the country,” he said. “We have suffered a lot because teams were not travelling to Pakistan and fans were deprived. So I would appeal to the fans to enjoy the cricket.”