South African umpire Rudi Koertzen has received the ultimate accolade from the world's cricketers. In a questionnaire completed by all the players in the recent ICC Champions Trophy Koertzen was voted the best umpire in the world (28% of the votes).
High praise indeed for the 54-year-old from Despatch who is one of two South Africans on the ICC Elite Umpires panel, (the other is Dave Orchard). England's David Shepherd was second (25%).
The players also cast their votes for the world's best batsmen, bowler and fielder, and in the latter category Jonty Rhodes polled the second highest vote in the entire survey (75%). Australian Rick Ponting was second (20%) and Herschelle Gibbs third (2%).
Amongst the bowlers, Australian Glenn McGrath (46%) and off-spinner Muttiah Muralitharan (39%) received top billing, ahead of South African skipper Shaun Pollock who was voted third best ODI bowler with 7 percent of the vote. The Australian and the Sri Lankan were also the top two bowlers in the Test match vote.
Predictably India's Sachin Tendulkar dominated the batting vote; in Test cricket he polled 78% to second-placed Australian Steve Waugh (6%), and in ODI cricket the margin was a little closer - Tendulkar polling 51% to Adam Gilchrist's 16%.
Cape Town's Newlands ground was voted the third best ground in the world by the players (15%) with Lord's in London leading (27%) and Melbourne's MCG second (24%).
Darren Lehmann’s call-up to the Australian Test squad could have far reaching implications for Yorkshire who may loose the Baggy Green batsman for the 2003 season if he shines as Mark Waugh’s replacement in the Ashes.
Australia follow up the Ashes with a ODI series down under and the World Cup in South Africa. Thereafter its tours to Bangladesh and the West Indies which could make Lehmann a very busy man.
His country chairman Geoff Cope said, "If Darren is selected for the series against the West Indies and Bangladesh then we won't see him next season.
"He did ask if, under those circumstances, he could have a break and we agreed.
West Indies in India
BCCI president Jagmohan Dalmiya said Monday it would take time to realise the "fruits" of the Board’s move to lay new strips in ten centres in a move to produce sporting pitches.
"One should not expect immediate results regarding the (new) pitches. They will take time, may be a year. We’re confident about the fruits of our scheme," Dalmiya said.
The BCCI formed a pitch committee to relay new tracks, but the move came in for criticism when the touring West Indians caved in within four days in the first two Tests in Mumbai and Chennai, which were played on such virgin strips.
Dalmiya, however, hoped the Eden pitch, another virgin one, for the third and final Test, would be dry enough in time to behave sportingly. "Let’s hope so. But you should not be judgmental on this too soon."
West Indies seamer Merv Dillon expressed satisfaction with his performance during the ongoing trip to India, saying he had achieved his target of being consistent in the two Tests.
"On the personal front, I have achieved targets which I had set for myself by being consistent. However, I'm looking forward to improving," said Dillon.
The 28-year old Trinidadian has captured six wickets -- three each in the first innings of the Mumbai and Chennai Tests. He did not get a chance to bowl in the second innings of the first Test as his side suffered an innings defeat, while at Chennai India needed only 81 runs in the second innings to win.
Asked to spell out his side's strategy for the Eden Test, the right arm medium pacer said, "Our only strategy is to play better."
England in Australia
Australian Test great Ian Healy has described injury-hit England's Ashes tour preparations so far as "embarrassing".
The former wicket-keeper, who holds the Test record for dismissals with 395, said England have so far been unable to back up their ambitious talk ahead of the tour.
"I'm not reading anything into the on-field performances so far - they've been bad enough," Healy told BBC Radio Five Live's Sportsweek programme.
"But the atmosphere around the touring party has been terrible."
"If they were really ready for a big Ashes tour, they wouldn't have four players not ready to play."
Fast bowler Steve Harmison says England played the best cricket of their Ashes tour so far after finishing well on top after the first day of their third warm-up match.
The Durham paceman said England are growing in confidence after a shaky start.
"We played by far our best cricket since we arrived. We got wickets by pressuring them. We attacked them and it was good to watch," he said.
"What all our team needs is confidence, and once we get that we will do alright."
But the 24-year-old refused to get too excited by the news that England's bowlers will not be facing Mark Waugh.
Sri Lanka in South Africa
Tour match, Kimberley:
Sri Lanka (272-9 dec & 239-4) drew with South Africa A (483-8 dec & 220-9 dec)
Sri Lanka ended their opening tour match on a positive note, batting out a draw with South Africa A at Kimberley.
Set a near-impossible 432 to win with just 70 overs available, the tourists were 239 for four when bad light brought an early end to the final day.
First innings centurion Marvan Atapattu again top-scored with 88, the bulk of his runs coming in a 96-run partnership with Kumar Sangakkara.
The wicket-keeper took just 105 deliveries over his 70, with 11 boundaries, before he was caught off the bowling of Robin Peterson
