French invented cricket

A former president of the French cricket federation has revived claims that his country invented a sport widely regarded as the embodiment of Englishness. Didier Marchois, who plays for Chauny, northern France, told Britain's Sunday Express newspaper that medieval documents referred to matches near the battlefields of Crecy and Agincourt during the Hundred Years War. "They leave no room for doubt," Marchois said. "Cricket was born in the north of France and taken across the Channel by English soldiers who picked it up from us during truce periods in the Hundred Years War." Other evidence cited by proponents of cricket's French origins is a 13th century manuscrpit from St Omer near Calais which purports to show a batsman defending his wicket. However, making a definite claim for the sport's origins is a tricky business as so many cultures have created games which involve hitting a ball with a stick, a skill that is at the heart of cricket. Meanwhile turning to the present Marchois, who was proud of the fact that France now boasted 50 cricket clubs, said he had a simple explanation for England's defeat by arch-rival Australia in the first Test in Brisbane earlier this month. "British kids are soccer crazy and it has undermined your keenness for cricket," he maintained.

Domestic news

Winter is here, but the Mumbai sun continues its strokeplay unabated. And as if the 35 degree mid-November temperature was not worry enough for the visitors, the added heat provided by Mumbai speedsters Ajit Agarkar and Avishkar Salvi proved too much for Delhi to handle at the Wankhede yesterday. Sent back to the domestic grind by the Indian selectors, ironically, to celebrate his coming of age as an all-rounder, the Mumbai speedster tore the visitors apart on day one of the Elite Division Ranji Trophy tie, his five for 40 from 16 overs leaving them shaken, if not shell-shocked. Going into the match, Agarkar's intentions, obviously, were clear - send a message or two to the selectors, who have wielded the axe on him after he got the stick in the second and third one-dayers against West Indies. But that was not on his mind, claimed the soft-spoken India all-rounder who, the pundits reckon, was primarily responsible for changing the mindset of his colleagues in England with his heroic second innings hundred at Lord's in the first Test.

Miscellaneous

Sachin Tendulkar said on Sunday he would start regular practice in the next ten days as he was recovering well from a hamstring injury that forced him to take a break from the game. Tendulkar, who is holidaying here with his family, told reporters his stay in Shimla had helped in a quick recovery and he should be fully fit in the next ten days. "I am recovering well and will resume practice in about ten days," he said. Answering a volley of questions from eager reporters, Tendulkar, who had to miss the ongoing one-day series against West Indies due to the injury, said India stood a very good chance of winning the World Cup in South Africa next year. "I think we have a pretty good chance. We need to stick to the basics of the game and peak at the right time," he said. Tendulkar was not too worried about the performance of the bowlers in the one-day series. Pakistan wicket-keeper Rashid Latif will have to appear before a medical panel to get clearance to play in South Africa next month. Latif pulled out of Pakistan's current tour of Zimbabwe after suffering a neck vertebrae injury that was thought at first to be career threatening. Doctors in South Africa said he could continue playing if he receives regular physiotherapy, but the Pakistan Cricket Board are insisting that he has further medical Tests in Lahore. "I will be going to Lahore in two days and they will examine me physically as well as the reports from Johannesburg," Latif said. "Once the medical panel is satisfied that the injury is not a major problem, I am supposed to fly to South Africa and join the team there. "I am disappointed to have missed the series against Zimbabwe. But at one stage I was told my injury was a career threatening one." The 34-year-old is seen as crucial to Pakistan's World Cup bid next year. England fast bowler Darren Gough may never play competitive cricket again, according to Lord MacLaurin, the outgoing chairman of the England and Wales Cricket Board. MacLaurin said the future for Gough, who was forced to fly home from the Australian tour without playing a game, looked bleak. Gough has not played a Test since August 2001. He has had three failed operations to try to rectify a knee injury he sustained in a one-day international in New Zealand in February. MacLaurin said: "Darren fit and well would be a great plus for us but it looks like it could be the end for him now. "Bad legs for fast bowlers are not good news I suspect it could well be the end for him and it would be very sad if that is the case."

England in Australia

Fast bowler Jason Gillespie must again prove his fitness to the Australian selectors before he can be certain of starting in the second Ashes Test on Thursday. Gillespie is still troubled by the calf muscle problems which have dogged him for the past month. But he is more likely than not to take his place in the side to face England on his home groound, the Adelaide Oval. Gillespie took three wickets in the crushing 384-run first Test victory in Brisbane last weekend.

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