Somerset fans could be in for a year to remember in 2003 if the New Year wishes made by their captain Mike Burns come true.The thirty three year old all rounder, who was the only Somerset player to reach 1000 runs in championship matches last season told me: "We want to get back to winning ways in 2003 and get promotion. We must learn from our mistakes last year and come back fighting like wounded animals this season."He continued: "Our new signings will make a considerable impact and create fierce competition for places in the side. Having Aaron Laraman, who is a genuine strike bowler, as a fourth seamer will make a big difference and will mean that I have to bowl less overs, and with Nixon McLean in the side we will certainly be able to bowl sides out."What did he hope for himself I asked. He told me: "I seem to be getting better with every season, so I hope to score more runs this coming season. As captain I want to be in charge of a happy winning side who play to their potential and play with pride in 2003."Looking forward to the new year Somerset head coach Kevin Shine told me: "We have to draw a line under last season and look forward to 2003. We have acted upon what we feel were our weaknesses and made three very good signings."He continued: " We know that we have to get back up to the top flights and we are all geared up and ready to go. It’s a crime that with the talent that we have got we are playing in the second division."Chief executive Peter Anderson told me: "My wish is that the club is like the proverbial phoenix in 2003 and rises from the ashes, rekindling the spirit and the enthusiasm of members and supporters and feed that as an inspiration to the players to deliver exciting cricket for us all to watch."The Somerset boss concluded: "Win or lose we need to play with passion, enthusiasm and chivalry because teams that adopt those qualities invariably win."

SYDNEY, Jan 3 AAP – A bout of chicken pox failed to prevent veteran Alec Stewart from pressing on with England’s strong start in the fifth Ashes Test against Australia at the Sydney Cricket Ground today.At lunch on the second day, the tourists were 7-341 on the back of Stewart’s impressive 71 from 86 deliveries after he was diagnosed with the illness yesterday.He took to the depleted Australian attack, hitting 11 fours today, giving him a total of 15 for the innings after he resumed on a score of 20.In contrast, John Crawley made slow progress, taking 40 minutes to move off his overnight score of six.He was 22 not out at lunch with Andy Caddick unbeaten on four.Andy Bichel made the break through for Australia when he bowled Stewart shortly before lunch.Ahead of the break, Bichel also squeezed in the wicket of Richard Dawson, caught behind by Adam Gilchrist for just two.Stewart’s knock drove him past Geoff Boycott as England’s third highest Test run scorer with 8,149 runs behind Graham Gooch (8,900) and David Gower (8,231).

If Australia are to achieve their coveted five-nil Ashes whitewash by winning the fifth Test in Sydney, they need to score 363 runs on the final day with seven wickets in hand. England declared on 452 for nine in their second innings after Michael Vaughan had taken his score on to 183 and Nasser Hussain reached another valuable seventy to set the home side what would be a record total to win. Before the close, England took the wickets of Matthew Hayden, Justin Langer and Ricky Ponting to give themselves every chance of pulling off a win.The need to break the record for the highest number of runs in the fourth innings to win a Test would not have daunted the Australians as they set out seeking 452 to win. However, the loss of both openers inside the first three overs put a new slant on the equation.First to go was Langer. He was on the receiving end of a shocking decision from umpire Russell Tiffin as he was adjudged lbw to a ball from Andrew Caddick that pitched clearly outside leg stump. Two balls later, Hayden fell lbw to Matthew Hoggard – a decision that did not please Hayden who reached the sanctity of the dressing room before expressing his feelings. Or perhaps the shattering of a window shortly after his arrival there was a pure coincidence. The ICC match referee, Wasim Raja, thought not and fined Hayden 20% of his match fee and gave him a reprimand. Adam Gilchrist was later given a warning about swearing when an appeal was turned down.Hoggard might have felt like swearing when he dropped a relatively simple caught and bowled chance offered by Ponting next ball. That error did not prove too costly, however, as Ponting became the third batsman in the innings to be given out leg before. He had scored 11 when he went to Caddick who leapfrogged his old new ball partner Darren Gough to seventh place in England’s list of Test wicket-takers.Australia were 25 for three from six overs at this point, but Damien Martyn joined night watchman Andy Bichel to hold firm until the close. Indeed, Bichel did a bit more than just stay there, going to 49 from 54 balls with eight boundaries to set up what is sure to be a fascinating final day’s play in the series.Earlier in the day, Vaughan and Hussain picked up the momentum of England’s innings from the off. Having come together with the total on 124, they advanced it to 313 before they were parted. They had put on 95 runs in the morning session when Hussain edged the penultimate ball before lunch from Brett Lee to Adam Gilchrist to fall for 73.It appeared as if this wicket might have signalled the start of a terminal collapse, for Lee struck again soon after lunch to have Robert Key caught by Hayden at mid-wicket before, in the next over, Australia got the wicket they wanted when Vaughan was adjudged lbw.The Yorkshireman appeared destined to turn his third century of the series into a double but, when he was just 17 runs short of that landmark, the combination of a ball from Bichel and umpire Tiffin’s ever-alert finger saw Vaughan making his way back to the pavilion. Replays suggested the ball that ended Vaughan’s six and a half hour innings containing 27 fours and a six would have passed some way over the stumps.John Crawley was also lbw, this time to Jason Gillespie, who later left the field in mid-over when he fell awkwardly in his follow through and landed on his left elbow. Richard Dawson was caught and bowled by Bichel while Caddick and Hoggard succumbed to leg-spinner Stuart MacGill to leave England on 409 for nine. It was already a substantial lead, but Hussain wanted more and got them from an unlikely source.Steve Harmison has never been in danger of being labelled an all-rounder, but he joined Alec Stewart in the middle to flay 20 from 23 balls and Stewart was 38 not out when the captain had the unexpected pleasure of declaring.The three wickets in the 20 overs before the close have certainly put England in a very strong position, but it would be folly to write off this Australian side yet. It is highly unlikely that Australia will reach their target and almost as unlikely that they can survive with only seven wickets intact on a pitch that will probably deteriorate on the final day. However, this is a remarkable bunch of cricketers and nothing is beyond them. England should be chilling the champagne but would be advised not to open it until the job is done.

The International Cricket Council (ICC) has opened the door to rescheduling New Zealand’s World Cup game in Nairobi outside Kenya.The ICC says New Zealand can seek a review of the ICC’s decision to reject its application for the game to be moved because of security concerns.The ICC made the announcement after New Zealand Cricket (NZC) today said it was considering taking its dispute with the ICC to the Court of Arbitration for Sport (CAS) in Switzerland.It was revealed last night the Black Caps would forfeit their points by refusing to play Kenya in Nairobi on February 21, the tournament’s chief organiser Ali Bacher confirmed.NZC decided yesterday the safety of its players was at risk by playing and said the team would not play.NZC chief executive Martin Snedden said last night NZC believed the decision made by the ICC executive board hours earlier was unreasonable and that it would seek to have the dispute resolved and the match rescheduled outside Kenya.”We will be getting some legal advice over the next few days about what procedures can be used to have this issue resolved,” Mr Snedden told The Press newspaper.”Going to the CAS (based in Lusanne) is one avenue we might be able to go down.”Then this morning (Australian time), ICC chief executive Malcolm Speed said he recognised New Zealand’s concerns and that he would be working to “see if there was any prospect of the match proceeding or being rescheduled”.”The issue of safety and security is clearly the main concern of both the ICC and New Zealand Cricket and, at present, NZC is not satisfied that it is safe to play in Kenya,” said Speed.”We will make available our intelligence and security advisers to provide a detailed briefing on the advice that we have received in relation to this game.”There are also independent processes available to the NZC through which it can seek a review of the ICC’s judgement and decision. NZC is entitled to seek this review.”The United States embassy in Nairobi said yesterday it gave a routine security briefing to New Zealand cricket officials before their decision not to play their Kenyan World Cup match but did not warn them to stay away.”At the request of the British High Commission in Nairobi an (US) embassy security officer gave New Zealand (officials) a standard security briefing,” embassy spokesman Peter Clausen said.Nairobi British High Commission spokesman Mark Norton said his mission had not advised the Kiwis to stay away.”Our position (on security in Kenya) is encapsulated in our travel advisory … We advise British nationals to exercise vigilance in public places. We do not advise, I repeat, we do not advise people not to come to Kenya,” Norton added.Kenya was urging the New Zealand cricket team to reconsider its decision.But Al-Qaeda stands accused of engineering two deadly terrorist attacks in Kenya, last year and in 1998.Meanwhile, it’s been revealed Zimbabwe was home to an active Al-Qaeda cell planning attacks on Westerners.Sydney’s The Daily Telegraph today said a US Government report detailed a plan by Tablik Ja’maat, an Al-Qaeda-linked group of militant extremists, to attack US targets in Zimbabwe if war is declared on Iraq.Australian Defence Minister Robert Hill announced today 450 members of the Royal Australian Air Force would be deployed to the Middle East within weeks to prepare for the potential war on Iraq.Earlier this month, HMAS Kanimbla, with about 350 personnel aboard, left Sydney for the Persian Gulf.Australia is set to play in Bulawayo against Zimbabwe on February 24.

After their bowlers did the trick on the first day, Karnataka’s batsmen continued to grind Kerala mercilessly into the dust in their Ranji Trophy Plate Final encounter at the M Chinnaswamy Stadium, Bangalore, on Wednesday.Kerala could not make a breakthrough on the second morning until J Arunkumar and Barrington Rowland had added 68 more runs for the first wicket. Rowland was the first to fall, struggling to 22 off 94 balls and 153 minutes before becoming leggie KN Ananthapadmanabhan’s first scalp of the day.Karnataka then enjoyed a prosperous run, with Arunkumar and Sudhindra Shinde batting fluently at either end, putting together 55 runs for the second wicket. When Arunkumar fell as the second wicket after making 84 (174b, 12×4), Karnataka were 154 for two.Shinde also made 84, off just 136 balls with 12 fours and a six, before he was dismissed by Ananthapadmanabhan, the only Kerala bowler who looked dangerous on the day. He had little support, however, and only M Suresh Kumar could back him up by taking a wicket – that of Deepak Chougule.At stumps at the end of the second day, Karnataka were well-placed at 293 for five, with Sunil Joshi (0 not out) and Thilak Naidu (35 not out) at the crease. The hosts led by 103 runs with five wickets in hand, and for Kerala, Ananthapadmanabhan scalped four for 98 off 31 overs of leg-spin.

Everybody at Somerset County Cricket Club is reeling at the news of the sudden death of Captain Martin Nestor O.B.E. at the age of 63.Captain Nestor was the first secretary of the Tony Coles Trust for Young Cricketers and was responsible for the successful establishment of the fund.Chief Executive Peter Anderson said: "We are all saddened by the news of Martin’s death. He was much loved within the club, and was a very stylish, responsible and respected man who will be a great loss to us all. Our thoughts are with his family at this sad time."Captain Nestor who died suddenly over the weekend in France where he had moved to recently with his wife after selling their house in North Curry, near Taunton. The funeral service will be held in Somerset.

Andrew Caddick has announced that he will play no more one-day international cricket. The 34-year-old Somerset opening bowler, who led England’s attack in the World Cup, intends to concentrate on Test cricket this season.Caddick’s four-wicket haul against Australia enabled England to come closer than anyone else to beating the eventual champions, in a match that has turned out to be his swansong in limited-overs internationals.”It’s always difficult to make a decision like this, especially when you’ve had a long career,” Caddick said today. “I’m still involved in the Test side – but as far as one-day cricket is concerned it’s time to call it a day.”Playing for England in the World Cup in South Africa was a high point in my career, but I will not be around for the next one and my stepping down will create an opportunity for a younger bowler to cement his place in the one-day side.”I’ve had some great moments. Coming through to beat Pakistan at Cape Town was probably a highlight – but unfortunately the game against Australia didn’t go our way. But that’s one-day cricket – nothing is decided until the final ball is bowled.”Caddick has played in 54 one-day internationals in a career spanning almost exactly ten years. He ended with 69 wickets and an economy rate of a shade over four runs an over. His retirement will certainly be welcomed at Taunton, as Somerset’s chief executive Peter Anderson has already made clear.”Somerset will back any decision Andy makes,” Anderson said today. “He has been a fantastic cricketer for England and still has a lot to offer in Test Match cricket. Somerset will obviously benefit from his decision and I am sure that Andy would wish to add to his already impressive figures for Somerset before he retires from the game fully.”Caddick also offered his thoughts on the likely candidates to fill another vacancy in England’s one-day set-up.”There are players in the form of Michael Vaughan and Marcus Trescothick – and there’s even talk of Adam Hollioake coming in. All three are capable of taking on the captaincy. I’m glad Nasser hasn’t thrown away the Test captaincy, because I think he’s one of the best to take on the job for England.”Caddick’s retirement comes at the end of an exhausting winter with England, whose World Cup campaign followed their defeat in the Ashes series in Australia.”It’s been solid for the last 12 months, he said. “International teams are playing a lot more cricket, and so winters will be a lot longer for the players. I’ve done nothing for three weeks – which is nice – but I start training again on Monday, so it’s back into the old grind and slogging away.”England will now go into their next one-day international against Pakistan in mid-June with a different lead fast bowler as well as a new captain.

Ridley Jacobs has been omitted from the West Indian one-day squad for theforthcoming seven-match series against Australia, which begins at SabinaPark in Jamaica on Saturday.Sir Viv Richards, chairman of the West Indian selection committee, said thatJacobs was being given extra time to recover from the groin injury thatcaused him to miss the second and third Tests in Trinidad and Barbados. Hisplace will be taken by Carlton Baugh jr, who stood in for him in thosematches.Baugh is one of five new caps in the West Indian one-day squad. Omari Banks,the hero of Tuesday’s thrilling victory in Antigua, is in line for hisdebut, as are Devon Smith, Dave Bernard jr, and Ryan Hurley, an offspinningallrounder from Barbados.

The Board of Control for Cricket in Sri Lanka (BCCSL) has revamped the paystructure of the national team, slashing player contract salaries andintroducing performance-related incentives for the national team.Player contracts have been cut by 30% compared to the previous year contractfee, but the blow has been sweetened by an additional US$500 for each winas well as a match fee bonus.The match fee for Tests (US$1750) and one-day internationals (US$1250)will be increased by 50% for a win against one of the top four ranked sidesin the world and 25% against the fifth to eighth best teams.”This incentive-based remuneration package is equitable and was acceptableto the players," said BCCSL chairman Hemaka Amarasuriya. "They know that ifthey have a successful season they can earn more than the 30 percent whichhas been taken off their previous contract."The move follows the announcement earlier in the week of a US$2.7 millionloss in 2002 by the BCCSL. The players have also faced widespread criticismin the local media after their prolonged player contracts dispute prior tothe World Cup.The BCCSL also reduced the number of central contracts handed out in 2003 to12 compared to the 15 awarded the previous year, after advice from the newlyappointed selection panel."When we sat down to discuss the players to be given the contracts therewere some who hadn’t played that much in the previous year so we decided tocut down to 12," explained Lalith Kaluperuma, the chairman of selectors.”But if players work hard, we can add them later on."Contracted players Marvan Atapattu, Hashan Tillakaratne, Sanath Jayasuriya, Muttiah Muralitharan, Chaminda Vaas, Mahela Jayawardene, Kumar Sangakkara, Russel Arnold, Dilhara Fernando, Kumar Dharmasena, Prabath Nissanka, Thilan Samaraweera.

This time he is ready to hang on to the England gauntlets, writes Peter English in the July issue of Wisden Cricket Monthly

Chris Read’s hands look small and delicate. When he sits he rests them on the table, one protecting the other. He knows safe hands are mandatory and is aware of the dangers of waiting for a chance, whether it is a caught-behind or a call from David Graveney. “It’s possible you won’t get an [England] opportunity for three or four years, so when you get one you’ve got to take it,” he says.Read has a beaming smile and since the start of the season there has been a lot to be happy about. Alec Stewart challenged the selectors to choose a young keeper for England’s ODIs and Read was suddenly in a two-man tussle with James Foster. Then the ECB Academy director Rod Marsh, who rates Read as one of the best young players he has seen, was named as the fourth England selector. “It goes without saying that it was good news,” Read says. “But it’s up to me to prove I’m good enough to be given a chance and to prove I can play at that level.”At the end of May Read’s smile briefly disappeared when he broke a thumb playing for Nottinghamshire in a National League game against Sussex at Horsham. International wicketkeeping dreams begin and end with shattered bones. Ian Healy has Ian Botham to thank for launching his record-breaking 119-Test career. Botham broke the finger of the Queensland incumbent Peter Anderson in 1987-88 and four first-class games later Healy was playing for Australia.Standing up to the medium-pacer Gareth Clough, Read was struck on his right thumb and suffered a hairline fracture, potentially a three-week injury. The selectors stuck to their guns and picked him in the one-day squad, with Foster on standby.Read knows about big breaks. He was picked on an England A tour before playing a first-class game and when he moved from Gloucestershire, where he was stuck behind Jack Russell, to Nottinghamshire, Wayne Noon was injured early in the season. Read stepped up, was picked for a second England A tour and in 1999 made his Test debut at 20.It is difficult to talk to Read without looking back. He sits in the Horsham pavilion looking out at a portable practice net six days before suffering the injury. No one stops for autographs and only his county coach Mick Newell interrupts to leave a map to the hotel and a key to lock up the dressing room. He is not Alec Stewart.Read has been forgotten for a long time but is honest about the past and realistic about the future. “Looking at my record, three Tests and five innings, to score 38 runs is not really good enough,” he says.The three Tests were against New Zealand but his eight dismissals on debut at Edgbaston were swiftly overshadowed by the footage of his embarrassing misjudgement of a Chris Cairns slower ball that bowled him at Lord’s.He still went to South Africa as cover for Stewart and was pleased with his returns in nine ODIs. “But I probably had my worst season after that. Since then I’ve been making improvements and my game has been on the up.”A winter at the Academy under Marsh put more polish on his glovework and after a National League century in the opening match against Northamptonshire he was under most microscopes as ODI replacements were canvassed following World Cup retirements. “Second time round it’s a lot easier because I’m three or four years wiser,” he says of the pressure. “The first time it was a bit of a shock and I wasn’t quite prepared. Now I have experience and know what to expect.”Marsh and Read clicked in Adelaide. Read was impressed by Marsh’s positive attitude and his work ethic. The feeling was mutual. “Rod said in his last season he didn’t miss a chance and that’s my aspiration,” he says. “I remember missing two chances last season. There was a catch against Gloucestershire, diving low to my right and I couldn’t get my hand underneath it, and I missed a stumping off MacGill that spun a mile.”Read’s spin is that he does not want to be pigeon-holed as a limited-overs player and his wicketkeeping voice, slightly squeaky but very clear, would suit the longer game if only to annoy the batsmen with his constant chatter. He believes England’s transition towards the 2007 World Cup is natural and it will be up to the new players to “get on with it and make the best of it”. “Knight, Caddick, Stewart, Hussain, they are big names,” he says, as if suddenly realising that they are all missing. “It gives guys opportunities. There are young guys all over the country who are desperate for a chance to perform.” He now has a second one.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.