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Hampshire Cricket’s appeal against the eight points deducted from their Frizzell Championship tally, following a poor pitch report against Lancashire last week, will be heard at 10:30 am tommorrow (Thursday 1st August).The ECB panel will be chaired by Gerard Elias QC, and include former Middlesex chairman Alan Moss and ECB representative John Pickup.Hampshire will be represented by Chairman Rod Bransgrove, Director of Cricket Tim Tremlett and Head Groundsman Nigel Gray.The decision will not be announced immediately, and Hampshire have to receive it by post.

India have a habit, for some reason, of choosing Port of Spain as theground to set many of their records, and Sourav Ganguly’s teamcontinued that tradition this time around. The Queen’s Park Oval sawtwo individuals garner two important records, making for an unusuallystatistics-heavy Test.Ganguly himself was one of those individuals, notching up his fourthTest win overseas to pass MAK Pataudi and Bishan Singh Bedi for mostvictories abroad. Bedi and Ganguly have comparable records; theyregistered their away wins in 22 and 20 Tests respectively. Pataudi,however, posted his wins even though he was skipper for a whopping 40Tests.Interestingly enough, Ganguly and Bedi are two of the three Indian captains to win a Test in the Caribbean, with Ajit Wadekar being the third. All of India’s three wins in the West Indies, moreover, have come at Port of Spain.

In passing, the comparison of each captain’s performance in his awaywins proves extremely flattering to Ganguly. The current Indianskipper averages 76.25 in those four Tests; Pataudi, in contrast,averages a measly 24.40, while Bedi took 16 wickets in the threeTests.The other notable statistic from Port of Spain, of course, was SachinTendulkar drawing level with Don Bradman. While 29 centuries is stillan achievement, and nothing should detract from Tendulkar’sperformances thus far, the difference in speed is staggering enough tofurther burnish the glow on the Don’s halo.Tendulkar took 93 matches and 148 innings for his centuries – ahundred every 5.1 innings. Tendulkar’s Mumbai predecessor, SunilGavaskar, played 95 matches and 166 innings – a hundred every 5.72innings. Bradman played 52 Tests and 80 innings – a hundred every2.76 innings, or almost twice as often as Tendulkar. So if one thinksTendulkar prolific, the imagination boggles further at Bradman.One reason for Bradman’s superior record could have been his rate ofconversion. He finished his career with 29 hundreds but only 13fifties. Tendulkar has 31 fifties to his 29 centuries. Gavaskarhad made 35 fifties when he made his 29th century.

Bangladesh’s batting woes have been well documented but their main fast bowler Mashrafe Mortaza said the attack must also lift if the team is to avoid another drubbing on Wednesday. They lost the opening ODI against Australia by 180 runs after falling for their lowest one-day international score but Mortaza knows the bowlers need to help out by restricting Australia more.Early in the innings Shahadat Hossain could not keep the openers tied down and then through the middle overs Shaun Marsh and Michael Hussey easily picked off ones and twos while taking few risks. It let Australia build a solid platform that in turn allowed Hussey to pick up his rate in the final overs and guide Australia to 254.”In the last game I was bowling tight from one end but Rajib (Shahadat Hossain) was leaking runs,” Mortaza said. “Against Australia it is mighty important to bowl a high percentage of good balls. We had a chat with the AIS bowling coach Damien Fleming during our warm-ups and he also stressed on making scoring difficult and said that you win yourself a point with every dot ball you bowl against Australia.”But even if the bowlers do their job on Wednesday, the batsmen must also show far more concentration to challenge Australia. In the opening game they were bundled out for 74 with nearly half their overs still available and Mortaza hopes the top order can show more confidence the second time around.”I personally thought that two or three of our top-order batters did not look confident in that game,” Mortaza said. “I am not giving excuses but the drop-in track was difficult for run-scoring and we did not look like working our way out of pressure at any time.”We have to be more than twice as good, play our natural game and get near 220 or 230. That’s the only way we can get over Saturday’s poor show.”

The Junior Sabres first ever website auction is just going from strength to strength and by the time that the office closed at Somerset CCC on Friday the bids received so far amounted to more than £400, with more expected next week.Junior Sabres coordinator Jo Arnold who is running the auction told me: "This is absolutely fantastic. When we launched at the start of the month I would have been happy if we had made £100 so this far exceeds my expectation, and all the money raised of course goes directly to the Junior Sabres in the club which is just great."Jo continued: "All of the players have been really good about donating items of their kit for such a good cause, and this afternoon Keith Dutch has given me a pair of his batting gloves which will become Lot number 12 in the auction."The best bid for any of the lots that has been received so far is for Mike Burns Gunn and Moore bat which currently stands at £120, followed by Peter Bowler’s bat which stands at £85.On Friday evening the best bid for each of the items was: Lot number 1-£20, Lot number 2-£35, Lot number 3-£25, Lot number 4-£40, Lot number 5-£25, Lot number 6-£30, Lot number 7-£30, Lot number 8-£15, Lot number 9-£120, Lot number 10-£85, Lot number 11-£15 and Lot number 12-£15.Please remember that all items are genuine and that the auction will close on November 30th with the lot being sold to the highest bidder.All the lots are listed on the features section of the title page of the website.To register a bid for any of the lots please send an email to [email protected] PRESS.The new Stumpy mugs featuring a cartoon of Somerset’s friendly mascot in full colour have just been received in the office at the County Ground and are currently on sale priced at £3 each or £10 for four.The mugs will make an ideal Christmas present for Junior Sabres of any age. As supplies are limited if you would like to purchase a Stumpy mug call into the office at the County Ground or contact Jo Arnold on 01823 272946.

The ECB will meet today to discuss proposals for an English version of the IPL as it considers broadcast tenders for the 2010 season.A number of proposals have been floated in the last fortnight, but the one which is based on three seven-team regional leagues appears to be the one with the broadest support.The idea of ditching the existing county structure altogether seems to have been sidelined, despite the backing of some senior county chairmen. Last week Giles Clarke, the ECB chairman, said that city-based teams were not something that would work in England.”I always thought city cricket was the future,” Lancashire’s Jim Cumbes told The Times. “It’s more identifiable, it’s new and it gives an opportunity in the future for there to be other city franchises.”Clarke, who is already risking a showdown with leading players over his unequivocal stance on their participation in the IPL, is also at odds with some of the chairman. One is quoted in today’s Guardian as saying: “We yearned for strong leadership for years and now Giles has come along and we are terrified.”The need for a review of the existing Twenty20 structure, to capitalise on the success of the format without necessarily aping the IPL, has, in turn, led to discussions about the future of the County Championship, and that has not gone down well in all quarters either.There have been suggestions of three-day Championship matches, which Leicestershire’s chief executive David Smith rejected outright. “The old system was workable on uncovered pitches,” Smith told the , “but as soon as the pitches were covered, the cricket was awful to watch. To put it simply, three-day cricket won’t produce Test players.”

Somerset’s vital championship match against Kent was evenly poised at the end of the third day’s play at Taunton where the Cidermen were 325 runs ahead with seven wickets remaining.Resuming on 300 for 3 this morning the Kent overnight batsmen Ed Smith and Paul Nixon took their side safely past the follow on total, and then the 350 mark before both became victims of Matt Bulbeck.Wicket-keeper Nixon was caught by Mike Burns for 88 and Smith edged a chance to wicket-keeper Rob Turner after scoring an impressive 154.The visitors lost a further wicket when Ian Blackwell trapped Geraint Jones LBW, before declaring on 400 for 6.In the four overs that were possible before lunch Somerset openers Matt Wood and Jamie Cox had taken the score onto 8 without loss.After the break the opening pair took the score past 50 until Wood was caught by David Fulton off the bowling of James Tredwell for 21, and Somerset were 64 for 1.Mike Burns joined Cox and seemed to be progressing well until with the score on 98 he gave a very sharp caught and bowled chance that was gratefully accepted by Tredwell.Cox was timing the ball sweetly and brought up the hundred in the thirtieth over, and then moved past his fifty four overs later.Peter Bowler was also finding the middle of the bat and hit successive boundaries off Tredwell. By the tea interval Somerset had moved onto 144 for 2.Shortly after the break Cox was out LBW to Patel for 79, and the Cidermen had moved onto 186 for 3. Bowler was joined by Keith Parsons and the pair enjoyed a 55 run partnership before Parsons became another of Tredwell’s victims.Bowler and Blackwell stayed together at the wicket until the close by which time Somerset had moved onto 265 for 4, with the prospect of a very interesting day’s play tomorrow.At the end of the day Kevin Shine told me: "Kent made a good declaration this morning with a view to setting up a good game. We both need a result, they are trying for second place and of course we need a victory to help in our fight to stave of relegation. Peter Bowler then had a good knock and Jamie Cox also played really really well, they are both playing back into form which is pleasing."What happens next I asked. He told me: "We’re not quite sure yet how we are going to play it tomorrow, and this evening we will be discussing the situation."

BRISBANE, Nov 7 AAP – England fast bowler Simon Jones will be out for at least six months after injuring his knee in the first Test against Australia at the Gabba today.Jones ruptured the anterior cruciate ligament in his right knee during a fielding mishap early in the second session of the Test.The 23-year-old requires reconstructive surgery at home but doctors do not want him to undertake the long flight for at least two weeks.But Jones is allowed to fly to Adelaide, where he will be based at England’s cricket academy for treatment designed to reduce the swelling.Jones was injured when attempting to make a sliding save near the long-on boundary.

Somerset Under 17’s got their season off to a winning start when they beat Bath Cricket Club recently.Batting first at North Parade, Bath made 222 for 4 from their 50 overs.The Somerset reply was built around a fine 84 from Steve Davis, who hit 84 off 64 balls, and Andrew Hallaran who hit 62 from 67 balls to help their side to 222 for 4, and a comfortable six wicket victory.

Somerset Seconds recorded a remarkable two-day victory over Kent at Beckenham today to end their season on a high point.Resuming on 120 for 6 this morning Somerset were eventually dismissed for 149, with their former player Ben Trott ending with 6 for 45.Batting for a second time Kent were all out for just 79, with Pete Trego ending with 3 for 45, Phil Lewis 3 for 19 and Graham Rose 4 for 12.Veteran all rounder Rose ended with match figures of 7 for 13 which may well be one of his best ever returns.Needing 81 for victory Somerset cruised to their target with Piran Holloway leading the way with an unbeaten 62 which included 4 x 6’s and 6 x 4’s supported by Matt Gitsham who ended with 23 off 22 balls.From this match Somerset take 16 points and Kent take 5.

The Somerset players were out on the grass at the County Ground today for the first time this season, and as an added bonus the sun shone for them.One of the players who was getting back into the swing of things in the outdoor nets was Richard Johnson who last year enjoyed a very successful season with the Cidermen after joining them from Middlesex the previous winter.At the end of the day Richard told me: “It made a very pleasant change to be out there on the grass. It’s always very different to be outside for the first time every season, but everyone enjoyed it.”On the back of his success for Somerset in the 2001 season, Richard was called up as a late replacement to join the England tour party to India before Christmas, but despite performing well in one of the early tour matches was not selected in any of the Test Matches, much to his disappointment.After returning to England just before Christmas, Richard spent some time at home before going out to Perth in Western Australia, where he worked hard at his fitness regime, but had a break from cricket.Looking ahead to the new season I asked Richard if he had any thoughts on playing for England at the moment. He told me: “I’m not really looking at that at all at the moment. What happened out in India is behind me and all I want to do is to get out there and play for Somerset. If all goes well and I take wickets then who knows what might happen.”?What did he think that Somerset might achieve in the coming season I asked. Richard told me: “I think that we can win one of the one day competitions. Look what I predicted last season and I was right! It will be tough again in the County Championship, because there are several good sides. If we work hard we will do well again, but we will definitely win one of the one day competitions this year.”Richard, along with all of the Somerset squad faces a very busy programme during the days ahead, which has been devised by coach Kevin Shine along with his assistant Mark Garaway, aimed at ensuring that the players are in peak condition ready for the first match of the season.