LUKE Ronchi was born to play cricket. One of the most exciting youngcricketers in Australia, the 21-year-old wicketkeeper-batsman is a giftednatural athlete capable of playing every shot in the book.He underlined this by making 90 and 33 for Western Australia in hisAustralian Domestic First Class (Pura Cup) debut against Tasmania at theWACA Ground in December.His 90 in over three hours at the crease rescuing WA after a middle ordercollapse and underlined his growing maturity”I was pretty nervous sitting around in the change-rooms but as soon asI went out to bat and faced a few balls I was pretty relaxed,” the right-hander said.”I just tried to have fun and it went from there.”Ronchi handled the extra pressure like a consummate professional.”There was just constant pressure the whole way through the game, youdon’t get any let offs and you have to concentrate through four days ofcricket,” he said.”It was more disciplined than I’d faced before but the pace wasn’t aproblem.”His state is already home to the nation’s two best keeper-batsmen,Adam Gilchrist and Ryan Campbell. Ronchi said it can be frustratinghaving to wait in line but it also has its advantages.”It is also good in a way having those two in front of you as they canpass on a lot information, I’ve learnt a lot from Gilly and Cambo.”Ronchi expected to make his first-class debut this season”I knew Ryan Campbell was going to play a lot for Australia A and I’dalready worked out at the start of the season which games he was away forand I was aiming to play in those,” he said.According to Ronchi he has not had any offers, categorically denying hehad been approached by any other states seeking his services. With suchpotential the WACA will have to be on its guard if it is to secure Ronchifor the future. Gilchrist and Campbell are likely to play on for a numberof years and the talented right-hander may find his opportunities limitedin his home state.Ronchi debuted for WA in January 2002 against Victoria in an AustralianDomestic Limitted Overs (ING Cup) game at the WACA. But it was when hewent to England that Ronchi found the form that has catapulted him ontothe national scene.Ronchi played for Hampshire in the Southern Electric Premier League, oneof England’s third tier cricket competions behind County and Minor-Countycricket.”I played for three seasons and it really improved my game,” he said.”One year all of a sudden I just scored a whole heap of runs and it justsort of kept going from there.”One particular one-day game in England highlights why Ronchi isconsidered such an explosive batsman. Producing a hundred in 31 balls,including 12 towering sixes.Though Ronchi was born in New Zealand there is no question to where hisloyalties lie. The full-time professional cricketer is adamant that hisonly intention is to play for Australia, “definitely not” New Zealand.The gifted young man has a mature head on his shoulders and a work ethicthat will help him reach the lofty goals he has set himself. “Idefinitely want to play test and one-day cricket,” he said.There are a growing number of cricket fans who think Ronchi might justget his wish.

During the ICC Board of Directors’ teleconference this morning, David Morgan, the ECB Chairman, did not put forward a formal resolution to the ICC Board to move England’s match against Zimbabwe from Harare. He did, however, make strong remarks to the Board about the broader issue of safety and security at all matches:”I want to put the broader issue of the possibility of civil unrest and thethreat of terrorism into very stark perspective.”If there are demonstrations and rioting in Harare during the England versusZimbabwe match this is not just an issue for the two countries directlyconcerned it is an issue for all the countries taking part in the World Cup.”We should all be concerned about this matter, just as we should all beconcerned about any safety and security concerns in Kenya affecting New Zealand, Kenya and Sri Lanka.”The security risk at all matches will, of course, vary according to where the match is being played and which countries are taking part in the match. In that sense, the risk factor at each match must be individually assessed and evaluated.If there are significant security and safety problems, it will blight the whole 2003 World Cup with an indelible stain. It will reflect very badly on cricket and, indeed, everyone associated with the World Cup. No one will escape blame. We will all have to bear collective responsibility.”If, in the next few days/weeks, there is a discernible deterioration in safety and security surrounding particular matches then decisions must be urgently reviewed and, if necessary, matches moved. We must all reserve our right for this to happen.”The Kroll Report, which was discussed at length, was categorical in itsultimate assessment that it is safe and secure for all six matches in Zimbabwe to proceed as planned. It was clear from the mood of the teleconference that there was an implacable and overwhelming feeling that the recommendations of the Report should be accepted.David Morgan had, only last night, fully briefed Nasser Hussain about theposition ECB would be taking at today’s ICC Teleconference. David is fullyaware and understanding of the England Team’s concerns about the match inHarare on February 13th, and will continue vigorously to ensure ICC reviews all safety and security aspects relating to this, and other, matches.

HARARE, Feb 17 AFP – Beleaguered India are once again planning to drop star batsman Sachin Tendulkar down the order for Wednesday’s crunch game against Zimbabwe in a bid to resurrect their World Cup campaign.Sourav Ganguly’s team need a win to stay in contention for a place in the Super Six, and the desperate situation is beginning to create confusion and uncertainty in the ranks.Tendulkar, one-day cricket’s leading batsman who was shuffled up and down the order over the last 12 months to create the ideal balance, once again finds himself facing a change.Demoted last year as opener, where he has scored all but one of his record 33 one-day centuries, Tendulkar was given back his opening berth for the World Cup and responded with top scores of 52 and 36 in the first two games.But with the rest of the batting falling apart – India failed to last 50 overs against the Netherlands and were shot out for 125 by Australia – team sources told AFP a reshuffle was once again being considered.Tendulkar could drop down to number four while Ganguly, who has scored just 75 runs in his last nine innings, could also abandon his opening slot to bat at number five, the sources said.It appears certain that hard-hitting batsman Virender Sehwag will open the innings, probably with Dinesh Mongia, with Rahul Dravid expected to take the number three slot.”It’s all a bit uncertain at the moment,” the sources said. “The think-tank is working hard to find the right combination.”Ganguly, who admitted after Saturday’s defeat against Australia that he had no clue how to revive the team, would not comment on the proposed reshuffle.”What needs to be done in the team’s interest will be done,” he told reporters.There is, however, no move yet to play all-rounder Sanjay Bangar in place of Mohammad Kaif, the hero of India’s one day final victory over England last year who has a best of 31 in his last 15 innings.India will name their playing eleven just before the toss on Wednesday, the only change being considered is Ajit Agarkar coming in place of one of the spinners if the wicket at the Harare Sports Club favours seam bowling.India can ill-afford another poor display against Zimbabwe who beat them at the last World Cup when Henry Olonga took three wickets in the final over to fashion a dramatic three-run victory.Left-hander Andy Flower alone is enough to give the Indians nightmares.The 34-year-old loves India’s bowlers against whom he averages a phenomenal 94.93 in Test matches and 41.16 in one-day internationals.When India last played Zimbabwe at the Champions Trophy in Sri Lanka in September, Flower hit a superb 145 before Ganguly’s team won by 14 runs.Heath Streak’s home team thrashed newcomers Namibia in their first World Cup match before earning four bonus points when England decided to forfeit their game here for security reasons.Teams:Zimbabwe (from):Heath Streak (capt), Andy Blignaut, Dion Ebrahim, Sean Ervine, Andy Flower, Grant Flower, Travis Friend, Douglas Hondo, Douglas Marillier, Brian Murphy, Henry Olonga, Tatenda Taibu, Mark Vermeulen, Guy Whittall, Craig Wishart.India (from):Sourav Ganguly (capt), Rahul Dravid, Virender Sehwag, Sachin Tendulkar, Anil Kumble, Harbhajan Singh, Javagal Srinath, Zaheer Khan, Ashish Nehra, Dinesh Mongia, Parthiv Patel, Sanjay Bangar, Ajit Agarkar, Yuvraj Singh, Mohammad Kaif.

Barbados’ cricket selectors faced their sternest test of the season last night.They met at Kensington Oval to pick a squad for the final preliminary match of the Carib Beer Series against West Indies "B" starting Friday at Kensington Oval.The selectors’ dilemma stemmed from finding places for three West Indies players – Vasbert Drakes, Pedro Collins and Corey Collymore – following their return to the Caribbean after World Cup duties in South Africa.The cream of the national team – especially the bowlers – which just won the Cup segment of the competition, have performed commendably for six matches and it would be a tough blow if some of them were omitted.It is unthinkable to play as many as five specialist fast bowlers, and once the West Indies trio is available, it means that either Ian Bradshaw or Tino Best will have to watch from the sidelines this weekend.Both have impressive credentials this season.The 21-year-old Best, arguably the fastest bowler on show this season, is the competition’s leading wicket-taker with 28 scalps at 16.17 apiece and must be considered a genuine contender for an international call-up.Left-armer Bradshaw, 28, has bowled well all season, and his 25 wickets (ave. 20.08) place him joint fourth in the competition. His solid left-handed batting that has brought him a half-century in the lower order adds to his value.It is a difficult call for the selectors.The one player certain to be dropped from the eleven that played in the last match against the Leeward Islands is Randy Thomas, the BCL captain who made 17 and one on his debut at No. 3.Dwayne Smith, the promising 20-year-old, could also give way. For all his potential, Smith failed to score a half-century in any of his nine innings for an aggregate of 201 runs (ave. 28.71).If both Thomas and Smith are omitted, it means that captain Courtney Browne might have to move up to No. 5, an indication that the balance of the line-up will have a bias slightly towards bowling.If Smith is retained in the eleven, then one of the slow bowlers will miss out.Tall left-arm spinner Sulieman Benn is level with Bradshaw on 25 wickets and surely deserves another chance.So does Ryan Hurley. On his return to the Barbados team for the first time since 2000, the under-bowled Hurley has not done much with the ball, but has played two vital innings – one that produced a century in the opening match and the other a half-century last weekend.There has been some talk about resting a few of the leading players for the match against bottom-of-the-table West Indies "B" before fielding the strongest possible team for the semifinals of the International Challenge. That seems unlikely, however.The likely 13: Courtney Browne (captain), Philo Wallace, Sherwin Campbell, Ryan Hinds, Floyd Reifer, Dwayne Smith, Ryan Hurley, Vasbert Drakes, Ian Bradshaw, Sulieman Benn, Pedro Collins, Corey Collymore, Tino Best

Australia inflicted a World Cup record lowest score of 112 on New Zealand when fast bowler Brett Lee ripped out five batsmen for three runs to give the defending world champions a 96-run win in their Super Six match at Port Elizabeth today.Lee was outstanding when feasting on New Zealand’s under-employed middle and lower-order at the tournament.He took five wickets for 42 in his 9.1 over spell which proved far more decisive than the New Zealand record-breaking effort of six for 23 by Shane Bond earlier in Australia’s innings of 208 for nine wickets.Brought back for a second spell, Lee achieved the desired goal in removing New Zealand’s best batsman at this World Cup Stephen Fleming when Fleming gloved a rising ball going down the leg side to wicket-keeper Adam Gilchrist.Fleming scored 48, the only innings of substance in a disappointing effort that the New Zealanders will reflect on as a match they could have won.That might seem strange given the margin of victory.But at 84 for seven wickets, as Australia were when batting first, New Zealand looked to have given themselves a great chance.Fleming said the side was feeling pretty good at that stage but had been there before against Australia.”We just ran out of juice,” he said.”When we batted we knew we needed a partnership but it didn’t happen for us.”Lee, who hit two big sixes off the last two balls of the Australian innings earlier in the game, said that when they had been in so much trouble the plan had been to hang in for as long as they could and hopefully the runs would come.That demand suited Michael Bevan and Andy Bichel who played out a tradesman-like, and Australian record, eighth-wicket partnership against New Zealand worth 97-runs before Jacob Oram picked both of them up at the end of the innings.Bichel scored his maiden half century on the same ground as his previous highest score, 34 not out against England last week. He finished on 64 scored off 83 balls while Bevan scored his 41st One-Day International half-century with 56 off 94 balls.Australian captain Ricky Ponting said the side’s bowling had been outstanding, not only because of Lee’s great display of yorker bowling, but also due to Glenn McGrath who made the early breakthrough by picking up Daniel Vettori, who was used as an opener, Nathan Astle and Scott Styris.Ponting said on the slow Port Elizabeth wicket it was always going to be tough for any side trying to chase runs.In the meantime the Australians would need to identify the best way to play in the first 15 overs at the ground where they have twice been hard hit in the early overs in matches. They will now play their semi-final at Port Elizabeth next week.Asked what his instruction had been when Bichel went out to join Bevan he said it was: “Try and bat out the 50 overs to give ourselves a chance to stay in the game.”And so they did.Bond had been devastating while taking six of the first seven wickets to fall. He removed both openers early which was just what the side needed as he further revealed his appetite for Australian wickets.Of the 47 ODI wickets he has taken in his 25 matches, 22 have come against Australia at an average of 10.45 with an economy rate of 4.04 and a strike rate of 15.5. These are opposed to his career average of 19.97, economy of 4.36 and strike rate of 27.4.They represent an impressive ability to perform against quality players.Matthew Hayden’s wicket was the first, as he edged a ball behind to wicket-keeper Brendon McCullum, while Gilchrist was given out leg before wicket, to a ball which barely landed on leg stump, although it was full.With both back in the pavilion with 24 runs on the board, New Zealand had made significant inroads which went even deeper after Ponting joined them when trying to drive a rising ball which he edged to Fleming at first slip.Bond took a break after six overs and three wickets.But when Fleming brought him back for the 23rd over, not even the skipper could have expected the results that were achieved.In his last four overs, Bond took three more wickets for three runs, adding Damien Martyn, Brad Hogg and Ian Harvey to his list of victims.His haul surpassed the six for 25 Styris took against the West Indies at Port of Spain last year.However, his completion of his overs by the 29th over, meant the pressure went on the rest of the attack.Chris Harris bowled tightly again in conditions he has utilised so often in New Zealand and took none for 24 by the time he was finished in the 40th over while Vettori bowled out his 10, for 40 runs, by the 35th over.Oram took two for 48 from his seven overs, his figures suffering as a result of the successive sixes hit by Lee off the penultimate and last balls of the innings.While Lee enjoyed his hit out, McGrath had more satisfaction by scoring his first World Cup runs in his third tournament.But in 25 World Cup games he has only batted four times, testimony to the outstanding record the Australians have achieved in recent times.A record that was extended in outstanding fashion today.

PERTH, March 21 AAP – West Australian cricket coach Mike Veletta has been axed following his team’s disappointing finish to the summer.The former Test batsman is understood to have lost the confidence of his players.WA’s results reflected the camp’s discontent with a second-last placing in the Pura Cup this season, and a humiliating home loss in the ING Cup final to NSW.Veletta had two seasons in charge of the Warriors and will be paid out for the third and final year of his contract.Senior players Michael Hussey, Ryan Campbell and Matthew Nicholson are all considering moving interstate for next season.The decision to fire Veletta was taken following a recommendation from the WACA’s international and interstate committee.”The I&I committee has made an extremely tough decision not to continue with Michael Veletta as our state coach,” WACA chief executive Kath White said in a statement.”This decision was not taken lightly. But it has been made in the best interests of Western Australian cricket.”White said the WACA will immediately start looking for a new coach.There was no obvious successor to Veletta although speculation has surrounded former Tasmanian coach Greg Shipperd and former WA coach Wayne Clark.However Clark, whose son Michael plays for WA, is understood to be eyeing off a more lucrative offer in England after being sacked from Yorkshire last year.Current Zimbabwean and former Australian coach Geoff Marsh is also a name being thrown up and his son Shaun also plays for the Warriors.

All day two of fourCounty Championship Division OneMiddlesex v Lancashire, Lord’s
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Andrew Flintoff smashed a run-a-ball 111 in Lancashire’s imposing total of 565 for 7 declared against Middlesex at Lord’s. The overnight centurions Mark Chilton and Stuart Law also piled on more runs, Chilton made 119 and Law fell an agonising two runs short of 200. Jimmy Anderson then warmed up for England’s first Test by taking two wickets as Middlesex finished on 163 for 4, still 402 behind.Nottinghamshire v Surrey, Trent Bridge
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Azhar Mahmood’s blistering 98 put Surrey on course for a comfortable win over Notts at Trent Bridge. Taking a leaf out of Alec Stewart’s book, Mahmood hit 12 fours and four sixes, to help Surrey to a first-innings lead of 182. Martin Bicknell trapped his brother, Darren, lbw for 0 in the second ball of Nottinghamshire’s second innings, and soon added the scalp of Jason Gallian. Then James Ormond followed up his five first-innings wickets with three more – including Usman Afzaal for a second-ball duck – as Notts ended on 94 for 6.Warwickshire v Sussex, Edgbaston
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Mo Sheikh (57*) had a day to remember against Sussex at Edgbaston. With the help of No. 11 Alan Richardson (47), Sheikh added a valuable 74 runs for the last wicket as Warwickshire were all out for 422. Richard Montgomerie and Murray Goodwin made a steady start to Sussex’s reply, but both they, and Chris Adams, fell to Sheikh’s medium pace as he finished with the sparkling figures of 3 for 16 off 17 overs, including 10 maidens. Sussex trail by 306 runs with seven wickets remaining.Division TwoGlamorgan v Gloucestershire, Cardiff
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Heavy showers meant that only five overs and one ball were possible at Cardiff. Gloucestershire advanced their total by 15 runs, but lost Jonty Rhodes, lbw to David Harrison for 47.Yorkshire v Derbyshire, Headingley
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Dominic Cork played a captain’s innings of 92 as Derbyshire finished the day in a strong position. Luke Sutton top-scored for Derbyshire with 127, as he and Cork shared a sixth-wicket stand of 159. Worryingly for the England selectors, Matthew Hoggard, Chris Silverwood and Richard Dawson failed to take any wickets, but Ryan Sidebottom took 7 for 97. Better news was Michael Vaughan’s return to runs with his 47, as Yorkshire ended on 203 for 4.Worcestershire v Zimbabweans, Worcester
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Richard Johnson was absolutely delighted after hearing the news that he had been selected for the England squad that will take part in the Triangular One Day series later this summer.The Somerset bowler who is currently near the top of the first class bowling averages after capturing 23 wickets at a cost of just over 18 runs each has yet to make his One Day International debut for his country.The twenty eight year old paceman who joined the Cidermen in 2001 from Middlesex has proved himself to be a good signing and topped the Somerset bowling averages last season and the previous year was the leading wicket taker for the county.He said: "Obviously to play for your country is everyone’s ambition and one of the reasons why you play cricket and I am very pleased to be given my chance.""I heard the news on Thursday morning when David Graveney telephoned me at home to tell me. I thought that I might be in with a shout after doing well this season, and I’d had heard rumours but it still came as a bit of a shock when he called," he said.The Triangular One Day series that involves England, South Africa and Zimbabwe starts on June 17th and culminates in a final at Lords on July 12th.Meanwhile earlier in the day chief executive Peter Anderson reflected on Somerset’s exit from this year’s Cheltenham and Gloucester Trophy on Wednesday at the hands of Surrey."After the game the dressing room was a desolate place to be, and the players were pretty despondent. However to try to put the result into perspective Surrey are currently unbeaten and at the top of National Cricket League Division One whereas we are in the lower reaches of Division Two and yet they only managed to beat us by six runs."He continued: "What we have to do now is to keep up our challenge for promotion back to Division One in the county championship, and with Richard Johnson being in the England One Day squad and likely to be called up and Andy Caddick injured, the coach and the players will have their work cut out to meet this challenge.""As a result of our defeat on Wednesday the coach and the captain know that we have to do some rethinking regarding the National Cricket League which has now become a priority," he added.Somerset are without a game in the round of championship matches that get underway today, but are next in action when they take on Worcestershire in the first game of the Bath Festival that starts next Wednesday.The county boss said: "We have our next crucial championship match at Bath on Wednesday, and the good news for those people who travel to the ground by car is that this year there will be no problem with parking on the Bath Rugby Ground, whatever the weather!"

Steve Waugh has said that he would like to retire at the end of Australia’s tour of India in 2004. He then intends to devote more time to Udayan, the Kolkata home for children of leprosy patients which he supports.According to a report by The Press Trust of India, Waugh said in an interview in Sydney: “I would like to end my career in India.” He has long described India as the “final frontier” for the Australian team to conquer, and swore after Australia’s defeat in 2001 that he would be back to set the record straight.That is not, however, reason for Khaled Mahmud and his boys to relax – Waugh has not forgotten Bangladesh. “The India series is still a long way off,” Waugh said, “and I am focussing on Bangladesh at the moment.” One can imagine him rubbing his hands in glee as he says this.For all the brutality Waugh inflicts on the cricket field, though, at heart he remains a softie. His support – monetary and otherwise – for Udayan has earned him immense respect in India. Waugh does not stop at charitable donations – the girls’ wing at Udayan was funded by him – but visits the home regularly. He explained his commitment thus: “Udayan is my pursuit for life. It is not something you start and give up. I am committed to continued support to Udayan.”We are soon going to start another school for 200 needy children,” Waugh added. He admitted that despite being a celebrity, raising funds was a difficult matter, and said that “it would be good to get some funding from businesses in Australia and India”.Waugh had recently announced his plans to make a film based on Udayan, which has already been scripted, though, as of now, there is no director or producer. Waugh did not clarify rumours as to whether he would act in the film, but merely said, pithily, “I am a cricketer”.Until next year, when Australia come to India, he certainly is.

The venue for Glamorgan`s Second XI Trophy fixture against Gloucestershire on 30th June has changed. The match will now be played at Bristol West Indies Cricket Club, and not Bristol University as previously advertised.Glamorgan`s U-21 fixture scheduled for July 3rd against Lambeth Academy at Maesteg has also been cancelled because the visitors have been unable to raise a team.