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As the dust settles on an epic Test series, Andrew Miller looks back at the moments that turned the 2005 Ashes into the greatest sporting contest of the 21st Century

Batting performance of the series
Kevin Pietersen’s blistering denouement will linger long in the memory, but by that stage of the series, the dream was there to be grasped. It took instead a similar feat of inspiration on the upward journey to set up England’s shot of glory. Freddie Flintoff’s devastating, last-ditch 73 at Edgbaston was the moment the series was transformed, as he and Simon Jones added 51 for the final wicket to revive an Ashes challenge that was sinking back to its knees.Bowling performance of the series
Warne at Edgbaston, Warne at Trent Bridge, in fact, Warne throughout the summer. His contributions were the single greatest reason why this series will echo through the ages. Without his 40 wickets (not to mention his 249 runs), Australia would have been rolled over after Edgbaston, quite possibly by the sort of margin that the Aussies themselves had envisaged. Instead, they came within an ace of plucking both defeats out of the fire, and could even have squared the series if they’d held their catches at The Oval. How the side will fare in Warne’s absence doesn’t bear thinking about.Shot of the series
“Helloooo … Massive!” Mark Nicholas had no doubt about this one. Flintoff’s humongous heave into the TV gantries at Edgbaston, with the entire Australian team set back for the shot, could one day rival Ian Botham’s swat off the eyebrows at Old Trafford in 1981 as the most replayed six in history. But for sheer pain relief, Matthew Hoggard’s extraordinary cover-drive off Brett Lee, with eight needed for victory at Trent Bridge, was an improbable second-place.Ball of the series
Two. For sheer significance, Harmison’s branding of the Australian captain on the first morning at Lord’s. The message was clear – England would not be cowed, in spite of the mixed messages they transmitted for the remainder of the Test. But for sheer eye-popping magnificence, Warne’s ripper to Strauss at Edgbaston brooks no argument. With five balls of the day remaining, the seam gripped the rough like a tank track and rumbled into the stumps, leaving England in no doubt as to the contest that lay ahead.Catch of the series
This is case of style versus significance. The photographers’ vote goes unequivocally to Andrew Strauss, whose horizontal extraction of Adam Gilchrist at Trent Bridge was not only a seminal moment, but a collector’s item that Mark Waugh would have been proud to pull off. But, in a summer when Geraint Jones turned every edge into a heart-in-the-mouth moment, he chose the perfect moment at Edgbaston to get everything right, by completing the catch that changed a world order.Drop of the series
For the entire time that England’s Ashes dream remained in the balance, there could only be one contender. Pietersen’s agonising spill at cover, that allowed Michael Clarke to gallop to a matchwinning 91 at Lord’s. It was the sort of fractional error on which this series has balanced, and sure enough, Pietersen’s crown was claimed at the very last by none other than Warne, who dropped his Hampshire team-mate when he made just 15 of his 158 series-sealing runs.Turning point of the series
A seismic double-whammy at Edgbaston. First Glenn McGrath, fresh from nine wickets at Lord’s, steps on a cricket ball during pre-match practice and is stretchered off to hospital. Then, Ricky Ponting wins the toss and neuters his one remaining champion, Warne, by choosing to bowl first. England rampage to 407 on the first day and the momentum of the series has been seized.

Wicket of the series
Kasprowicz at Edgbaston is the runaway winner, naturally, although Harmison’s slower ball to Clarke the previous evening was perhaps even more invaluable. As the tail so amply demonstrated on that fourth morning, the pitch was good and England were fearful. Half a session of brilliance from Clarke, and it could have been all over.Over of the series
Edgbaston again, and that man Flintoff again. At 47 for 0 needing 282, Australia were flying and England needed a shot in the arm. Enter Freddie, bundling in from around the wicket. His second delivery bludgeons through bat and pad, and onto Langer’s off stump. His third, fourth and fifth deliveries curve into Ponting and torment his off stump. A tactical no-ball sets up a seventh stab of inspiration, and a wicked outswinger skims off the edge to cue pandemonium.Letdown of the series
Jason Gillespie’s demise was tragic – a likeable man, his tour had been over ever since Aftab Ahmed smacked him for six at Sophia Gardens, but the Australians were too bound up in their team ethic to spot how costly his demise was becoming. But the biggest disappointment was Simon Katich. His classy guidance of the tail at Lord’s should have been a springboard to greater feats, but instead he floundered against England’s reverse swing, and ultimately imploded with an out-of-character tirade at Trent Bridge.Stat of the series
For the first time since the 1978-79 Ashes – a series blighted by Packer defections – Australia failed to muster 400 in any of their innings. This, beyond all else, was the difference between the sides. As Adam Gilchrist graciously admitted, England’s attack was the best he had ever encountered in his career. The fortunes of Gilchrist and Matthew Hayden, two of the most aggressive batsmen in Test history, epitomised a side that had turned from hunters to hunted.Best moment of the series
At Edgbaston, Flintoff’s consoling of Lee at the moment of victory was beautiful, a revival of the sort of chivalry that was supposed to be anathema to modern-day sport – just imagine Wayne Rooney producing a moment like that. But what preceded it was all the more important. If Harmison had not conjured that last-ditch dismissal, if Jones had not taken the tumbling chance, England would have lost an unloseable game, Australia would be 2-0 up with the Ashes in the bag, and a generation would be lost to the game forever.Worst moment of the series
Flintoff’s apparent dislocated shoulder at Edgbaston. Not here, not now, not in this way. All the while that he struggled to regain his timing and nerve-endings, a sense of dread permeated every stakeholder in the game. England’s wipeout at Lord’s was none too clever either, and nor was the bungling bureaucratic idiocy that turned England’s moment of glory at The Oval into a confused melee of umpire meetings and tannoy announcements.Blinkered selection of the series
Australia’s insistence on turning to Stuart Clark (who?) whenever Glenn McGrath’s place was in doubt. A) He was never going to play, and B) Andrew Symonds or Shane Watson would have given a stricken side so many more options.

In today’s round of National League matches, Graham Napier picked up four quick wickets to send Kent crashing to a 35-run defeat to Essex at Colchester. Set 268 to win after 97 from the in-form Will Jefferson and 98 from Ronnie Irani, Kent were restricted to 232 for 7 despite half-centuries from Alex Loudon and Michael Bevan. Robert Croft powered Glamorgan to a 5-wicket win over Lancashire at Colwyn Bay with 106, and Northants slumped to 171 all out in pursuit of Hampshire’s 238 for 9.In Division Two, Scotland fell agonisingly short of Somerset’s 253 for 8 at Taunton. Scotland were bowled out for 246 with four balls still to be bowled in the last over despite an unbeaten 55 off just 40 balls from Yasir Arafat.National League Division One

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National League Division Two

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Zimbabwe were dealt a major blow with the news that Stuart Carlisle has been ruled out of the whole of the NatWest Series. Carlisle dislocated his right thumb while fielding against Somerset and an x-ray later confirmed a break. The bone has since been screwed together and will take between three and six weeks to heal, effectively ruling him out of the remainder of the tour.Carlisle, who has scored three centuries on the tour so far, had originally hoped to play a part in the tournament after breaking his thumb, but that is now out of the equation.Heath Streak, the Zimbabwe captain, said: “Stuart has been our most prolific batsman and is probably playing as well as at any time in his career. He was looking forward to carrying that form into the one day series and his loss is a blow to the side and obviously a major disappointment for him personally.”He added: “His departure opens the way for other batsmen to stake a claim in the one day team, such as Stuart Matsikenyeri who has impressed with two fifties so far in the lead up games.”However, no replacement for Carlisle will be called up as the Zimbabwe squad already consists of 16 players, one more than was originally planned for this leg of the tour.Zimbabwe’s last game before the NatWest Series is against Essex at Chelmsford on June 22.

Leicestershire were on course for victory after forcing Glamorgan to follow-on on the second day of their CricInfo Championship Division One match at Grace Road.Replying to Leicestershire’s first innings of 372 all out Glamorgan were tamely dismissed for just 146, leaving the visitors needing 227 second time around to make Vince Wells’ side bat again.Only skipper Steve James, who carried his bat for 61, presented any real first innings resistance as Glamorgan lost their last eight wickets for 108 to all but confirm relegation to Division Two.Following-on James was one of two wickets to fall before the close, along with Matthew Maynard who registered a pair – dismissed twice in the day to James Ormond. By the end of day two Glamorgan had reached 126-2 still 100 adrift with Jimmy Maher going well on 78.James Ormond did the main damage in the first innings bagging four Glamorgan wickets in what could be his last championship match for Leicestershire.The new England cap claimed the wickets of Maher and Maynard in the space of four balls to instigate the Glamorgan collapse.Wells chipped in to claim the wickets of Adrian Dale and Robert Croft – his fifth duck on the trot – with consecutive balls after Mike Powell had surrendered tamely to Devon Malcolm.Ormond struck twice more at the start of his second spell to dismiss Mark Wallace and Andrew Davies.Neil Burns capped a good couple of day following his 111 by taking six catches in the innings to equal a Leicestershire record.The wicketkeeper resumed today on 66 with his county 274-7 but went on to score a 112-ball century with 18 fours.Leicestershire were eventually bowled out for 372 having added 98 in 75 minutes which was an impressive score considering they were 26-3 and then 93-5 either side of lunch yesterday.It took Leicestershire until just the sixth over of the morning to reach 300 and their third batting point.Ormond was the first wicket to fall bowled by Darren Thomas from a delivery that kept low and Burn’s innings – five minutes short of three hours – came to an end when he had his stumps rearranged by Andrew Davies’s first ball.Devon Malcolm spanked Thomas for a six before Carl Crowe was caught at silly mid-off.

Glamorgan 271 for 8 (Salter 73*, Rudolph 68) v Gloucestershire
ScorecardJacques Rudolph scored a half-century to keep Glamorgan in the hunt•Getty Images

Half centuries from Jacques Rudolph and Andrew Salter rescued Glamorgan from trouble on the first day of their Championship Division Two encounter against Gloucestershire at Swansea.Glamorgan choose to bat after winning the toss but were soon in dire straits on 41 for 3 as Gloucestershire’s opening bowlers David Payne and Liam Norwell accounted for three of their top four inside the first 14 overs. But former South Africa international Rudolph gave some respectability to Glamorgan’s score with a knock of 68 before No. 9 Salter ensured their tail wagged with an innings of 73 as they reached 271 for 8 at the close.The match was just six balls old when Payne dismissed Will Bragg, who found a leading edge and was caught at mid-off, with just one run on the scoreboard. Rudolph and Colin Ingram added 40 for the second wicket but Gloucestershire were celebrating when Norwell removed Ingram and Aneurin Donald in the space of four balls – with both batsmen caught by Will Tavare at third slip.Shortly before lunch, Chris Cooke shouldered arms and was bowled by Benny Howell and when Graham Wagg drove Payne loosely to cover after the interval Glamorgan had stumbled to 106 for 5.Rudolph, however, remained steadfast, playing every ball on its merit and had scored his runs from 149 balls with 11 fours before nudging Jack Taylor’s offspin to slip, where Hamish Marshall held a sharp catch.Not for the first time this season, Glamorgan’s late order batsmen rallied to the cause with Salter and Mark Wallace adding 40 for the eighth wicket, before Salter found an unlikely ally in Kieran Bull, whose previous highest score was 12. The two youngsters, with a combined age of just 42, not only achieved career-best scores but also shared in the highest partnership of the innings as they put on an invaluable unbeaten 85 for the ninth wicket.The new ball came and went as Salter played some handsome strokes either side of the wicket and, as Glamorgan’s leading spinner, he would have been encouraged to see the ball turn more towards the end of the day.He has already struck eight fours, and when the second day gets under way his first objective will be to guide his team to a total in excess of 300 and score the 27 runs he requires for a maiden Championship century.

Having come off defeats in spin-friendly conditions, both South Africa and England will feel more comfortable in surroundings where their quick bowlers should prosper. The head-to-head between the two pace attacks will be one of the fascinating contests of the next month but, unsurprisingly, Allan Donald, South Africa’s former bowling coach, is clear which pack he is backing.For Donald, it is the support that South Africa have available to Dale Steyn and Morne Morkel which gives them the upper hand. They are missing Vernon Philander due to injury, but England are also likely to have their depth tested early in the series with James Anderson unlikely to be fit for Durban and Donald believes South Africa have greater firepower below the new-ball pair.”In their own conditions and when they are firing as a unit, the South African attack is the best out there,” Donald told ESPNcricinfo. “It’s not just about what we know, that Dale Steyn and Morne Morkel and James Anderson and Stuart Broad are world-class bowlers, it also about the rest of the attack. Steven Finn, Ben Stokes and Chris Woakes have not played Test cricket in South Africa and so it will be up to them to show what they are capable of in these conditions.”Contrastingly, South Africa’s supporting seamers, Kyle Abbott and Kagiso Rabada have enjoyed significant success in their own conditions. Abbott racked up figures only his franchise coach Lance Klusener has bettered on Test debut when he took 7 for 29 in his first match against Pakistan while Rabada broke the first-class record last season for the best match figures when he took 14 for 105 for Lions against Dolphins.Although Rabada and Abbott have just eight Test caps between them, Donald believes South Africa’s depth will help them dominate. “They will definitely miss Vernon because in home conditions, when there is something in the wicket, he will find it and exploit it but Kyle Abbott has been consistent and applied pressure every time he has played and Rabada looks better every time we see him.”Even outside of the current squad, there are guys putting their hands up. Chris Morris has been good and we should not forget about Hardus Viljoen. He has pace and he a is a big, aggressive boy. There’s a lot of talent in the tank.”But Donald is under no illusions that the bowlers are not the only ones responsible for South Africa’s ability to compete in the series. After the way they were defeated in India, Donald knows that the onus will be on the batsmen to start the redemption. “Whatever England brings, South Africa must respond with the bat,” he said. “We’ve got to score big runs and make England work for every wicket.”That sounds similar to what South Africa did in 2012, when Donald was part of the coaching staff that oversaw the team’s rise to No.1. He revealed that then the idea was to target England’s premier pacemen. “We said we want Anderson and Broad to bowl a lot of overs,” Donald explained. “We want to wear the rest down so that they have to keep bringing their main bowlers back.”England would be wise to adopt a similar mindset in this series, trying to make sure that Hashim Amla has to keep returning to Steyn – who may still have to shake off rush post-injury – and Morkel. Steyn has not bowled competitively since the first week of November, when he sustained groin injury in the Mohali Test. That was the eighth injury Steyn has suffered since June 2013 and the second groin strain and there are fears he may be in decline but Donald does not think so.”I’ve heard some things about how it could be the start of the end and I don’t think that’s true. I think you will write him off at your peril. He will bounce back hard,” Donald said. “As much as South Africa missed him in India, I think it was a blessing in disguise because he is really fresh and hungry now I spoke to him a few days ago and he wants to make this series a big one.”Donald admitted Steyn’s inactivity over the last few weeks is not ideal but said quality would trump quantity of balls bowled. “It is a concern that he has not bowled in a while because you want overs under the belt and miles in the leg but a champion is always a champion.”And that is exactly why Donald thinks the South African team will be formidable foes for England over the next six weeks. “It’s not nice getting thumped 3-nil and they will be carrying scars,” Donald said “That makes it very important how they start because if they start badly it could be a long series but this team is too good not to stand up.”

There have been troubled tours in the history of Indian cricket,but it is safe to assume that when it comes to seamy incidents,internal rivalry, petty jealousy, gross mismanagement and a poorrecord, the 1936 tour of England is the yardstick by whichunhappy tours are judged. Everything that could go wrong with ateam on tour took place, and the largely self-created problemsengulfed the team and affected the morale of the players. Whichwas a pity for, man to man, there is little doubt that the 1936Indian team is one of the strongest to have gone on tour.It would seem unbelievable to today’s generation that a sideincluding the likes of CK Nayudu, Amar Singh, Mohammad Nissar,Wazir Ali, Lala Amarnath, Syed Mushtaq Ali and Vijay Merchantshould end up with a dismal record of having just four victoriesin 28 first-class matches on the tour, losing 12 and drawing 12.Or that the three-match series should have been lost 0-2 with thevisitors going down by nine wickets in both the first and thirdTests, England having the better of the drawn second Test.For starters, the side was badly led by the Maharajah ofVizianagaram and managed by Maj Brittain-Jones. Four years ago,the prince appointed captain had graciously stepped down infavour of CK Nayudu. But ‘Vizzy,’ as he was popularly known,refused to do the same. Not only was he a passenger as a batsmanand fielder ­ his average for the three Tests was 8.25 – he alsohad very strong likes and dislikes, and allowed personal enmityto often get the better of him.Mushtaq Ali being offered a gold watch to run out Merchant, BaqaJilani getting his Test cap because he insulted CK Nayudu at thebreakfast table – these were the kind of incidents that marredthe tour. A bit of a dictator, Vizzy had in Brittain-Jones amartinet sidekick. The two ruled with an iron hand, and themanager was at his worst in the Lala Amarnath incident, when thestar all-rounder was sent packing home midway through the tour asa disciplinary measure.The inquiry that went into the seamy happenings of the tourtermed the action as ‘stern’ and exonerated Amarnath, but thedamage had been done. Under such circumstances, the players couldnot be expected to perform at their best. Also, some of thejealousy and distrust among the players that were evident fouryears ago continued ­ only this time more vehemently.With the atmosphere marred by suspicion, the dice was heavilyloaded against the visitors almost every time they stepped on tothe field ­ and particularly so in the Tests. The batting andbowling came under severe pressure under which both crumbled.England helped themselves to scores of 571 for eight declared inthe second Test at Manchester and 471 for eight declared in thethird Test at the Oval. They also dismissed India for scores of147, 93, 203 and 222. India, thanks to a deadly spell by AmarSingh, who took six for 35, took the first-innings lead in thefirst Test at Lord’s ­ the only time India did so till 1971 ­ butthe second-innings collapse meant that England could coast tovictory.But there were the proverbial silver linings. Predominant amongthese was the record 203-run opening stand between Mushtaq Aliand Merchant at Manchester. India were 368 runs behind on thefirst innings, but in dazzling fashion, they scored the runs injust two-and-a-half hours. It was ethereal batting that had thecritics groping for adjectives. Both openers got hundreds, withMushtaq’s being the first Test hundred by an Indian abroad.Then of course there was Nayudu’s courageous knock of 81 in thethird Test; incidentally it proved to be his last Test innings.Hit on the heart by an ultra-fast ball from the England captain’Gubby’ Allen, Nayudu not only stayed his ground after receivingmedical treatment for a brief while but counter-attacked in amanner that brought back memories of the Golden Age for oldtimers. Amar Singh’s spell of six for 35 that saw Englanddismissed for 134 was another highlight of the tour. Both Nissarand Amar Singh in fact lived up to their reputation, but they hadlittle support. The two shared 22 wickets in the three Tests,while all the other bowlers accounted for just six.Amar Singh had impressed Walter Hammond four years ago, and onthis tour he left a lasting impression on Len Hutton, then anestablished Yorkshire star and on the verge of getting hisEngland cap. Thirty-four years later, in an interview in Madras,Hutton recalled, “There is no better bowler in the world todaythan Amar Singh.”In first-class matches, Merchant was head and shoulders above histeammates. He scored 1,745 runs at an average of 51.32. Thisincluded 282 runs in the Tests. So classy and correct was hisbatting that Neville Cardus hailed him as the “Indians’ goodEuropean” and suggested that to solve their opening battingproblems in Australia during the winter, the England team take aphotograph of Merchant for inspiration. Nayudu (1,102) andMushtaq Ali (1,078) were the others to cross the 1,000-run mark.Among the bowlers, Nissar headed the averages, taking 66 wicketsat 25.13 apiece. Amar Singh by now was a popular and well-paidLancashire league professional and was released only for ahandful of matches, besides the three Tests.But England generally had things their own way. Hammond hadsuccessive knocks of 167 and 217, while Allen picked up 20wickets in the series. On the second day of the second Test, 588runs were scored ­ still the most runs scored in a day of Testcricket. Of these, England scored 398 runs for the loss of sixwickets while India replied with 190 for none.

Andrew Strauss has backed Marcus Trescothick to play a full part in the Ashes series despite his withdrawal from the Champions Trophy squad, although he is likely to give up his place against Pakistan. Trescothick pulled out of the India trip to continue treatment for a stress-related illness he has suffered since England’s winter tour.”Australia is going to be a big test for all of us and it’s going to be a big test for Tres as well,” said Strauss as he prepared to lead England in the fourth one-day international against Pakistan. “He hasn’t got to the stage he’s at in his career without being able to overcome tests and I see no reason to see why he can’t do it again.”It’s so hard to put a value on how important Tres is to the team because he does so much off the pitch – he’s always helping out people when he can, he’s always trying to provide a good atmosphere in the dressing room and tries to set an example for other players to follow.”That has never changed and I don’t think it ever will do because it’s such an important part of who he is and the type of cricketer he is, but there are issues he has to address and I have no reason to suspect he won’t make a full recovery and be back for the Ashes and be raring to go.”Trescothick has had a poor summer, following a century in the first Test against Sri Lanka, and fell for a first-ball duck in the third ODI when he was bowled by Shoaib Akhtar. But Strauss says he has noticed very little difference in Trescothick, on the field, throughout the season.”From a personal point of view I haven’t seen any difference in the way he’s batted this summer. I know he hasn’t had the best of summers but in terms of what he’s been like out in the middle, I haven’t seen a problem.”I think it’s very much an off-field thing for him. On the field he can apply himself, but off the field there are problems which he needs to keep working on.”Trescothick is expected to be named in the Ashes squad, when the announcement is made on Tuesday, but Strauss couldn’t guarantee him his place for the remaining two matches against Pakistan.”There is a chance he won’t play, but we haven’t decided that yet. One side of the argument is to give someone else some experience, but Tres is a very experienced player for us and we want to win every game we play.”The selectors are likely to take the chance to have another look at Alastair Cook, who played two matches against Sri Lanka earlier in the summer, or hand Ed Joyce a belated opportunity in the side after his ankle injury during the Twenty20 against Sri Lanka. The other possible change, following the two-wicket defeat at the Rose Bowl, is a debut for Graham Onions in place of the erratic Sajid Mahmood.Pakistan’s problems, on the other hand, are of an altogether more prosaic nature. Inzamam-ul-Haq has urged his side to improve their fielding, which many felt was shambolic in the third ODI at the Rose Bowl, but which many others will recognise was hardly their worst. “We want to win this series comprehensively but to do that our fielding has to improve. We’ve been good with the bat and the ball but the fielding is simply not up to the mark. I’ve told the boys that the only way we can keep on winning ODIs is through better fiedling.”Bob Woolmer has urged his team not to get ahead of themselves despite being 2-0 up in the series. “One-day cricket is a lottery, we all know that,” he said. “England played very well at the Rose Bowl so we will have to be on our mettle if we are to win this game.”We need to lift that intensity level and do better than we did – and I think we can. Particularly in international cricket now any result is possible. We have to play better than we did there, where we were grateful to a fine innings from Younis Khan. But if you can win playing badly it’s not necessarily a bad thing.”England (probable) 1 Andrew Strauss (capt), 2 Alastair Cook, 3 Ian Bell, 4 Kevin Pietersen, 5 Paul Collingwood, 6 Jamie Dalrymple, 7 Rikki Clarke, 8 Chris Read (wk), 9 Jon Lewis, 10 Stuart Broad, 11 Graham OnionsPakistan (probable) 1 Shoaib Malik, 2 Mohammad Hafeez, 3 Younis Khan, 4 Mohammad Yousuf, 5 Inzamam-ul-Haq (capt), 6 Shahid Afridi, 7 Abdul Razzaq, 8 Kamran Akmal (wk), 9 Naved-ul-Hasan, 10 Shoaib Akhtar, 11 Mohammad Asif

Hashan Tillakaratne, the former Sri Lankan Test captain, has claimed to have been humiliated after being suspended from his position as executive director of Cricket Aid pending a disciplinary inquiry.”After sacrificing 18 years of my life for cricket this is the reward I get,” said a furious Tillakaratne while addressing the media. According to a letter sent by Upali Seneviratne, acting Sri Lanka Cricket (SLC) chief executive, Tillakaratne left the island without prior permission between June 13-22 and acted in a manner detrimental to the interests of SLC and the Cricket Aid program with regard to his dealings with Paul Sheldon, Surrey’s chief executive, who was responsible for organising a tsunami fund-raising Twenty20 match.Tillakaratne has denied the charges brought against him and accused the interim committee installed by the government of trying to sabotage the Cricket Aid program begun by Thilanga Sumathipala, former SLC president, which was designed to help tsunami-affected families and orphans around the island. He also accused the interim committee of carrying out a witch hunt on certain employees of the SLC, and claimed that he was now the latest victim.The program ground to a virtual standstill after the government accused the previous cricket board administration of financial mismanagement, scaring potential investors and freezing the flow of foreign funds into the program.

The Irish Cricket Union has refuted allegations, made on a West Indian website and reported here, that the West Indian tourists received a less-than-warm welcome when they arrived in Belfast at the start of their UK tour.Peter Thompson, the Irish board’s chief executive, said: “No fewer than four officials of the Irish Cricket Union greeted our visitors on arrival at Belfast Airport, they left the airport by coach within half-an-hour of touchdown, and were at their city centre hotel 15 minutes later. Skipper Brian Lara and coach Gus Logie conducted a news conference for the Irish media in the hotel, much to the satisfaction of all concerned.”On departure five days later, the party was generous in its praise of Irish hospitality – apart, of course, from the six-wicket defeat in the second of the two Bank of Ireland one-day games.”The original article bemoaned the absence of any ECB officials to greet the tourists, but Andrew Walpole, the ECB’s media-relations officer, said at the time that both boards had jointly agreed there would be no official press conference on the West Indians’ arrival at Belfast, which is why the ECB didn’t send anyone there to meet them.