POTCHEFSTROOM, South Africa – Australia’s players were so tense duringthe early stages of the 1999 World Cup they couldn’t breathe … orplay.It was pure torture. The harder they tried, the worse they got, losingto Pakistan and New Zealand and struggling against a bunch ofmodestly-talented bravehearts from Scotland.It’s history, and something of a miracle, that Australia won the title.Those first few games were such an ordeal that Ricky Ponting’s sidevowed to avoid a repeat this time.They wanted to hit the ground running in South Africa, win the first twogames against Pakistan and India to blow off the cobwebs, then enjoythemselves.Mission accomplished.The Australians aren’t living and breathing the World Cup over here. Farfrom it. In fact, when they aren’t playing, or when they are about toface weak opposition like Holland on Thursday, they are being encouragedto let their hair down.Australia’s team hotel in Potchefstroom the last two days has beennoticeable for how many players have been absent.A large gang went to R&R heaven: Sun City. Others went back to thecapital, Johannesburg.Those who did stay in Potchefstroom did laps of the local golf course,swam, played table tennis, played pool, sipped the odd beer – anythingthat didn’t involve cricket, anything that would help clear their heads.It’s all part of a plan to keep the players fresh over a long two-monthtournament, enabling them them to peak at the right times. There’s noneed to be peaking now.The time will come soon enough when the Super Sixes, the semi-final andfinal roll around. There’s an energetic vibe in the camp that wasmissing at the same stage of the Cup four years ago.”I remember us having a very, very tough and hard meeting a couple ofgames in,” said Ponting.”We sat down in Headingley and locked all the doors and just tried toreally get to the bottom of why things were not happening for us.”It was a really open and honest meeting for us, we got everything outbut we haven’t had to do too much of that this time.”Things are going really well and I probably think part of that is thechance we’ve had to – not do our own thing all the time – but we haven’tplaced too much emphasis on this being a big tournament and a World Cup.”We’ve tried to make it a little bit the other way if anything, be alittle bit more low key and just go about our business day in and dayout. The guys are probably responding pretty well to that.”It was built up big-time in ’99 and that’s what we’ve tried to stayaway from. There’s going to be enough excitement and pressure around ongame day anyway to get the guys pumped up, so we’ve deliberately triedto make it as low key as we can.”Australia returned to the nets on the eve of the Holland game withbatteries fully charged.

Beleaguered Pakistan skipper Waqar Younis on Monday refused to quit following his side’s unceremonious World Cup exit while seeking the nation’s pardon.However, Inzamam-ul-Haq, after a wretched run with the bat during the tournament in southern Africa, stepped down as vice-captain.Waqar, while announcing his decision, told a crowded press conference at Gaddafi Stadium that he will continue to play on because he deemed himself quite fit.The fast bowler is following in the footsteps of Pakistan Cricket Board chairman Lt Gen Tauqir Zia and chief selector Wasim Bari who are keen to carry on.Waqar said, “at the moment I am not opting for retirement,but I can’t say any thing about tomorrow.”I want to repair the damage that has been done to Pakistan cricket in the World Cup by us,” Waqar said.Waqar refused to discuss the reasons behind team’s debacle. “There was no mystery and the case is simple we did not play to our potential.”.Waqar did not agree that his captaincy played a part in the downfall of Pakistan side. “It is not true, but we batted and bowled badly which led to poor results.”The 31-year-old pacer said changes in the batting order for every match was done by the tour selection committee, which also included the team manager Mr Shaharyar Khan.Waqar conceded that the team had been facing problems of placing suitable batsmen for the first three positions. “In the past Pakistan had a good opening pair in Saeed Anwar and Aamir Sohail but after that it becomes a chronic problem.”Waqar negated the impression that the team had not learnt lessons from the sequence of defeats that started from the Morocco Cup last August.”We learnt from the defeats, but could not perform in the World Cup,” he said.Waqar agreed with manager Mr Shaharyar’s point of viewthat holding of the send-off ceremony before the team’s departure only served to mount further pressure on the players,who were already fighting with the pressure of the World Cup.Commenting on the statement of coach Richard Pybus that the seniors of Pakistan team were not willing to learn more, Waqar said that it was a totally wrong perception of the coach.He, however, defended Pybus to an extent and added that the coach was not responsible alone for the defeats.Waqar admitted that the bowling let down the team in the crunch match against India. “I dismissed two Indian batsmen in one over, but overall, the performance of the bowlers at both ends was very bad.”When asked why he resorted to bowl two beamers at Australian batsman Andrew Symonds in the opening match, Waqar admitted that he was unaware of the beamer rules and that’s why umpire David Shepherd prevented him from bowling again.Inzamam too sounded apologetic about the team’s pathetic showing and like Waqar sought the nation’s pardon.The burly batsman, who made just 19 runs in six matches, conceded the added burden of vice-captaincy was the reason of his poor form.Mr Shaharyar, meanwhile, very diplomatically pointed out that the seniors were not capable of delivering the goods.”Top players are aging now and they can’t deliver the same that they had been producing in 90s. While the rising stars like Yousuf Youhana, Younis Khan, Abdul Razzaq and others proved they still lack in countering pressure of the mega event,” the manager noted.Mr Shaharyar confessed that he had no justification todefend the regrettable performance of the team. “Neither the team faced any injury problems nor any decision of the umpireswent against them.”The former diplomat also remarked that Pakistan playerswere not disciplined enough in terms of cricketing language. “We have learnt these basics about cricket at school level which is the right platform to polish cricketers from their teenage years.”Mr Shaharyar dispelled the impression of grouping between Wasim Akram and Waqar. “It is totally baseless. Both Wasim and Waqar had been addressing the team’s meetings before and after every match which shows unity between them.”He said that people had great expectations from this team. “The public during the send-off ceremony were saying with confidence we can win the World Cup and wewill bring the cup home.”Former captain Wasim Akram was also officially called up by the PCB to attend the press conference, but for some reasons, he failed to show up.

Dr Ali Bacher, executive director of the ICC Cricket World Cup 2003, addressed the media today at a scheduled press conference between the conclusion of the preliminary round of CWC 2003 and the start on Friday of the Super Sixes.Dr Bacher addressed the following issues:The competing teams:I wish to congratulate the six teams who have qualified, and wish them every success in the matches ahead. I would also like to pay tribute to the Associate Member Countries teams that competed with such commitment and a sense of fun. They have been like a breath of fresh air.The exit of the South African team: We are all very disappointed, and we share the disappointment of the nation and the players. But what we have been able to do is to show the world that we have the capacity to manage a global sporting event of this nature. What we need is the people of South Africa to continue to buy into the importance of this tournament, and to continue supporting it the way they have done. The South African team might be out of the World Cup, but South Africa is still in it.Crowd attendance and gate receipts:For the 34 preliminary round games in South Africa some 400 000 people have attended, representing some 70% of capacity. It is estimated that a further 200 000-250 000 will attend the 12 remaining games of the tournament giving a grand total (including the Opening Ceremony) of 675 000 out of the 825 000 total capacity.I am very heartened by these figures. We have now banked R80 million from ticket sales and our initial budget was R25 million.Attendances have shown how the South African public have embraced the tournament as a great cricketing occasion. For example, attendance for the Kenya-Bangladesh match at the Wanderers on 1 March was 17 897, Bangladesh-Canada at Kingsmead on 11 February was 10 482, and Canada-Kenya at Newlands on 15 February was 12 590. In addition, for the six matches in Zimbabwe and Kenya, total attendance was 29 549.Security at the grounds in South Africa:I would like to thank the South African and international supporters for their exemplary behaviour and good spirit.The worst crowd incidents reported were three minor scuffles, each lasting about 30 seconds, at the India-Pakistan game at Supersport Park. They were quickly stifled and 6 people were ejected from the ground. I am pleased to say that no one has been injured at any game, there have been no pitch invasions and no attacks on players.It is clear to me that the policies of our Security Directorate have worked.I wish also to make special mention of the SA Police Service for its unstinting commitment and support for CWC 2003.The ‘look’ of the CWC 2003 stadiums:The clean consistency of the blue, gold, black and white ‘look’ of the stadiums has been remarked upon very favourably by many knowledgeable people. I would like to think that we have now launched an ICC Cricket World Cup brand that will be used again and again, not necessarily in the same colours but with the same consistency. I would be bold enough to suggest that, having attended two Olympic Games, the CWC branding is as good, if not better, than the Olympics.The pitches and playing areas:These have truly done credit to an event of this magnitude. Our pitch consultants, groundsmen and curators must be congratulated on producing playing surfaces of the highest standard.In addition, the upgrades at all the stadiums are truly fantastic and I have been very impressed with the new scoreboards and replay screens.The CWC 2003 Ticketing System:This is one of the unsung success stories of the tournament, a fully computerized system that provides absolute security and crowd control. It is interesting to note that, through the security built into the turnstiles and tickets, 12 870 people have tried unsuccessfully to gain access to grounds without valid tickets. Without this ticketing system, they would have gained entry undetected.Volunteers 2003:This has been another success story of the tournament. Wherever I go, volunteers are friendly and helpful. I get so many good reports about them and the country is truly proud of them. This is a legacy that we will leave South African sport.Marketing, PR and Communications:One of our main objectives at the outset was to rally the country behind this event. I believe that this has been achieved and that these campaigns have resulted in South Africans embracing the event.We have always said that, even if South Africa doesn’t win the World Cup, we want this to be a very special event for South Africa, Africa and the International Cricket Council. It’s time … now for the country to continue to show its support for the important matches that lie ahead.Availability of tickets for the Super Sixes:The public are reminded that, in keeping with an assurance made earlier this year, a limited number of tickets will become available in the ticketing system for the nine upcoming Super Six matches. People wishing to attend these matches should keep a check on the CWC ticket sales channels by either visiting their local CWC stadium ticket office, calling the ticket hotline on 083 123 2003 or logging onto the website www.cricketworldcup .Tickets now on sale will be limited to four per person.

Players from West Indies and Australia have another major incentive to do well in the Cable & Wireless 2003 Cricket Series.For the second year running, Suzuki will provide the Cable & Wireless Man-of-the-Series winner of with a brand new Suzuki XL7 four-wheel drive vehicle."All Suzuki dealers in the Caribbean are extremely happy to be associated once again with the Caribbean’s most important sport — cricket," remarked Debbie Simpson, General Manager of Simpson Motors Ltd., the dealer for Suzuki in Barbados."We are very committed to the advancement of cricket in our region and wish the teams and Cable & Wireless 2003 Cricket Series every success," she added.Simpson noted that the Suzuki family was delighted to provide the XL7, the flagship of the Grand Vitara range, and believes it is fitting prize to the Cable & Wireless Man of the Series, given the heightened interest in the upcoming matches against Australia.Darren Millien, Marketing Manager of the West Indies Cricket Board, thanked Simpson Motors and Suzuki for their commitment to West Indies cricket."We ve enjoyed a wonderful partnership with Suzuki over the years and we are very pleased that they have agreed once more to provide a Suzuki XL7 for the Man-of-the-Series award," Millien said.Suzuki has the distinction of being the first motor company to provide the Man-of-the-Series award for Tests and limited-overs internationals in the Caribbean when they provided a Suzuki Baleno to the winner 1995, 1996 and a Vitara in 1997.Suzuki returned last year to provide the Cable & Wireless Man-of-the-Series prize – a Suzuki XL7.

Western Australian Cricket’s high performance general manager Rob Langer has been appointed to the Association’s position of general manager cricket operations.Western Australian Cricket Association (WACA) chief executive Kath White announced his changed role today. The appointment will have immediate effect and he will assist White in the restructure of the WACA cricket department.White said she was delighted to have a former state batsman in such an important position.An uncle of Australian Test batsman Justin Langer, Rob Langer, 54, played 44 first-class matches and scored 2756 runs at 43.06 in a career spanning 1973/74-1981/82.Langer, who has held positions as chief executive officer for the Western Australian Speedway Commission and the Associated and Catholic Colleges of Western Australia, joined the WACA in July last year in the high performance role. A former Australian serviceman, he reached the rank of Second-Lieutenant in the Army.

The Southern Electric Premier League have launched their “get tough” crackdown on bad on-the-field behaviour by banning Hungerford bowler Jason Williams.The Berkshire-based paceman has been suspended for 2 matches, for abusing a match official at the New Milton-Hungerford Premier Division 3 game on May 24.An additional two week ban has been suspended until August 2004.Williams, who has also been reprimanded by his own club, was withdrawn from the Hungerford attack after conceding 47 runs in eight overs at Fernhill.The immediate action taken by the Club was endorsed by the discilinary committee and as a consequence the ban of 3 weeks plus I week suspended was reduced to a 2 weeks ban plus 2 weeks suspendedNew Milton went on to pile up 279-8 before heavy rain saved the day with Hungerford reeling at 59-6.The three-match ban slapped on Williams comes hard on the heels of a stern behaviour warning sent out to clubs by the Premier League at the start of the season.”Everyone has been told that we will not tolerate bad behaviour, particularly verbal abuse directed at umpires,” emphasised SPL chairman Alan Bundy.”Umpires are there to enjoy the game as much as the players and one of the reasons for the present shortage of officials is because of the excessive appealing and questioning of decisions that goes on.”Williams missed Hungerford’s win over South Wilts II last week and will sit out today’s game at Ventnor and that against Havant II next week before being eligible to play against Winchester KS.Hungerford, who lie second in Premier 3, subsequently suffered a second severe blow when skipper Owen Dawkins broke his wrist while bowling for Wales MC in last weekend’s Minor Counties Championship innings defeat against Wiltshire at Pontypridd.Dawkins, who was on the Lord’s Groundstaff several seasons ago, was unable to get out of the way of a blistering return drive, which broke his wrist.The gallant Hungerford captain, who has recruited Wales MC colleague Dai Lloyd to the Berkshire club, came out to bat with his wrist plastered but was unable to save the Welshmen from defeat.Russell Rowe, out of touch with the bat so far for South Wilts this season, hit 128 of Wiltshire’s massive 434-7.

The England Coach Duncan Fletcher has made the following decision regarding the availability of England’s contracted players to their Counties ahead of the 1st npower Test Match at Edgbaston on July 24th.Ashley Giles will be able to play for Warwickshire against Middlesex in a four-day game starting on Tuesday and Stephen Harmison will be available to Durham for their four-day game against Yorkshire, also starting on Tuesday.But England have asked Warwickshire to rest Giles from tomorrow’s NCL match against Surrey and next Saturday’s Twenty/20 Cup Final at Trent Bridge. Harmison will also be rested from Durham’s NCL match against Northamptonshire tomorrow.Four other members of England’s NatWest Series squad, James Anderson, Andrew Flintoff, Marcus Trescothick and Michael Vaughan will be rested from all County fixtures ahead of the 1st npower Test.Nasser Hussain will be available to Essex for their NCL fixtures this week against Glamorgan tomorrow and Gloucestershire on Thursday. Mark Butcher and Alec Stewart will be rested from Saturday’s Twenty/20 Cup Final at Trent Bridge but available to Surrey for their NCL match against Warwickshire tomorrow and three-day game against India ‘A’ starting on Tuesday.All of England’s non-contracted players who featured in the NatWest Series will be available to their Counties for tomorrow’s NCL matches – subject to fitness.

In 1983, the Old County Ground at Northlands Road hosted its first One-Day International, a World Cup match between Australia and Zimbabwe. The official scorers for that match were Victor Isaacs and Tony Weld.Since then Victor Isaacs has become the longest serving scorer in Hampshire’s history, and Tony Weld has remained the 2nd XI’s scribe, that is, when he was not away scoring with visiting International teams.This Thursday the 10th July, the Rose Bowl hosts the Nat West series One Day International when South Africa meet Zimbabwe. The official scorers for that match will be Victor Isaacs and Tony Weld. 20 years on, Vic will be scoring his 13th International (1 test and 12 ODIs) and Tony his 100th.Tony Weld who keeps his age a secret for fear of being retired prematurely, is one of the countries leading scorers. Treasurer of the Association of County Cricket Scorers, he puts his life and soul into the task which he still enjoys to the full.Tony is also a useful replacement when Vic, recently troubled by diabetic foot problems is absent, not only does he perform the computer duties, he scores in the main scorebook and also performs Vic’s Public Address announcements.It is Tony’s International duties that has been his forte over the years. He has joined the Australians, The West Indies, Pakistan, New Zealand to name but a few, and has been highly respected figure with all he has toured with.Tony is a man that does not push himself forward in the public eye, slightly shy but very friendly and a delight to share a scorers box with.He is to be congratulated on the 100th Milestone a magnificent achievement, but we have not seen the last of him for some time yet, whatever his age!

Bangladesh 97 and 178 (Bashar 54, Al Sahariar 36; MacGill 5-65) lost to Australia 407 for 7 dec
Scorecard
Day 2 Bulletin

Australia just upped the pressure and Bangladesh folded 7.1 overs afterlunch on the third day of their first Test in Darwin today, the home side completing a comprehensive win by an innings and 132 runs.The end came quickly for Bangladesh, who lost their last nine wickets for 89 runs. It was their ninth loss in 20 Tests in under three days, and their 11th innings defeat in the last 13 Tests. Stuart MacGill had a good day on the field and finished with 5 for 65, his seventh five-wicket haul in Tests.Bangladesh paid the price for the loss of three topand middle-order batsmen in the space of eight balls near the end of the morning session. They proved unable to read, or negotiate, MacGill’s wrong ‘un and while some lusty hitting – more desperation than calculated counter-attack – reduced the final margin of defeat, it was still another debilitating loss for the tourists against an Australian side that was still not firing on a full head of steam.The Test was played on a slow wicket, and Australia, at this time of the year, would generally have expected to be relaxing at home, following their favourite football teams during the winter. The early finish today will probably allow them to catch the action on television from the comfort of their hotel suites.Steve Waugh was named man of the match and gained exclusive ownership of the title of the most successful captain in Test cricket history to go alongside the various other records this team has secured under hisleadership. His 37 Test victories were one more than Clive Lloyd enjoyed during his time in charge of West Indies. And there was thesatisfaction, for one who is imbued with the tradition of the game, ofcompleting a century against each of the opposing nine nations – something he shares with South Africa’s Gary Kirsten.For Bangladesh, Habibul Bashar showed why he has to be regarded as their best batsman, and it was significant that after his dismissal for 54, his 12th half-century, the rot set into the innings. Going tolunch at 142 for 6, it was only a matter of time before the end came, aprocess Jason Gillespie sped up when he bowled Khaled Mahmud for five off the last ball of the first over after the break.Moshrafe Mortaza, in typical fast bowler’s style, relished the chance to swing the willow like an axe. He hammered 14 runs from a MacGill over, including a six and two fours, but his six-ball innings was ended when Darren Lehmann ran him out with a direct hit from backward square leg.Al Sahariar dominated the latter part of the innings with some attacking strokeplay, and it was his dismissal for 36, caught and bowled by MacGill running toward the cover region, that ended the match.The off-season cricket roadshow heads across to the east coast for thesecond Test starting in Cairns on Friday but given the continuing incapacity of Bangladesh’s batsmen to build an innings by graft and application it is difficult to see the result being any different.

John Dyson, an Australian opener perhaps best-remembered for his acrobaticcatching, especially a gravity-defying pouch during a Test at Sydney in 1981-82,believes an equally remarkable turnaround in Sri Lanka’s form is possiblewhen he slips into the hot seat as head coach.

Dyson, who starts a 20-month contract on September 1, signalled his loftyambitions during a recent orientation visit to Colombo. A 49-year-old with apassion for positive thinking, Dyson believes Sri Lanka have a chance ofknocking world cricket champs off their top perch.”From a world cricket point of view the first team to extend Australia willbe doing world cricket a favour,” said Dyson at his first media conference.”It’s everybody else’s job to knock them off their perch – that’s thechallenge that faces Sri Lanka.”He claims to be a fan of “the aggressive style of cricket that Sri Lankaplay”, although he admitted during a recent newspaper interview to somesurprise with their uncharacteristically dour approach during the recentTest series against New Zealand – a series he could only follow over theinternet.”You wouldn’t want every team in the world playing exactly the same varietyof cricket. You’ve got to get the team to play to their strengths and theirstyle of cricket. I think the Sri Lankan team has a great deal of depth anda great deal of talent.”He believes that the biggest weakness of the side is “maintaining theconsistency of performance.” So, it seems, his first task as he startsworking with the national squad will be unraveling the reasons for theirunpredictability.Dyson’s appointment was a surprise, announced just hours after the newThilanga Sumathipala led team had won a landslide victory in the cricketboard elections. It followed a depressing two-month period when a host ofleading coaches – including Bob Woolmer, Steve Rixon, John Bracewell, GrahamFord – had knocked back approaches from the board.Dyson, a schoolteacher with a bachelor’s degree in physical education, whichhas given him a grounding in sports psychology, biomechanics and physiology,has not previously taken full charge of a national or first-class side. Hehad been assistant coach while at New South Wales.But he came recommended by Tony Greig, the television commentator and formerEngland captain who has strong links with the new board. Aravinda de Silva,the chairman of the new cricket committee, liked what he saw and amemorandum of understanding was soon signed.Dyson needed no second invitation: “This is an opportunity to achieve one ofmy goals. I am pretty lucky to be offered this opportunity with a side withsuch potential. I am very pleased to be here and I am very excited to beinvolved with the Sri Lanka cricket team – I can see great things ahead forthem.”There’s definitely some areas we can work on and given that we improve inthose areas, we take one step at a time and move forward. What I’ve learntso far is that with a team effort, the BCCSL and the playing staff, we canhave a very good future,” he said.”It is very important at this level the players do receive individualattention on most aspects of the game,” said Dyson. “I will be looking veryclosely to developing personal training sessions in conjunction with theirphysiotherapist, and also personalised skill development sessions forplayers so that their undoubted potential is actually maximised.”Dyson, like Dav Whatmore, will not have a vote on the selection panel, athome or on tour. That had been a source of frustration for Whatmore – whoadmittedly worked with selection committees of varying competency – butDyson doesn’t expect it to be a major hurdle: “There are parameters we haveto work within, and I accept that this is a different system to what I amused to. But I am confident we can still achieve our objectives within thesystem.”