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At the club’s Annual General Meeting last week, Tim Tremlett, Hampshire’s Director of Cricket addressed members on the activities of the teams players during the winter months.All players who were offered contracts at the end of the 2001 season, or who were already under contract have now agreed terms for the new season.Neil Johnson has signed a further one-year contract as our Overseas player.You may have read in the press or on this web site, that Nic Pothas who is presently the overseas player for Gauteng in South Africa has signed a two year contract with the club.A batsman/wicket-keeper, Nic comes highly recommended by Jimmy Cook. He has represented South Africa three times in one-day internationals but qualifies as a non-overseas player as he has a Greek passport.The vast majority of the playing staff are spending the winter abroad.Iain Brunnschweiler, James Hamblin, James Schofield and Irfan Shah are all in Perth under the guidance of Paul Terry.Also based in Perth are Dimitri Mascarenhas, who is recovering from an ankle operation and Alan Mullally. Both are in full training.Lawrence Prittipaul is now in South Africa. Based in Johannesburg, Laurie will be practicing and training under the watchful eye of Jimmy Cook.Derek Kenway and Chris Tremlett are based in Adelaide with the England National Academy. They were introduced to an intensive and strict fitness regime before Christmas and have now embarked on a tour of Australia playing mainly against State 2nd XIs.Will Kendall, who was recently reappointed Hampshire’s vice-captain is to lead an MCC touring party to Kenya in late February and will be joined on the trip by Giles White.We currently have five of our contracted players at University. Charlie van der Gucht, who is making steady progress following his accident, John Francis, James Adams, Chris Benham and James Tomlinson.With the exception of Charlie, along with the other players who have remained in this country, they have been training and practising hard during the holiday period under the watchful eye of Tony Middleton.Tony has also supervised the five students we have in our Academy and assisted Raj Maru who is now responsible for the organisation of our School of Excellence, which is held in our new and very impressive Indoor School.

Odd things have happened to touring teams who visit Paarl. Ken Rutherford’s 1994 tourists found themselves with a couple of days on their hands after their match against Boland was abandoned because the pitch was too dangerous. A local drug dealer helped fill in that spare time.A year later Michael Atherton’s England team found themselves playing a one-day game against Boland on the fourth day after the two teams had agreed that a result in a first-class game was unlikely however long they played.The pitch has been sorted out since Andre Bruyns took over two years ago, but the curse of the Winelands struck Stephen Fleming’s tourists on Tuesday morning when offspinner Paul Wiseman sprained an ankle playing Frisbee before the start of the three-day match against Boland.Whether Wiseman will be fit for the first Test starting on November 17 is not known. If there is ligament damage this will only be established once the swelling has subsided. But Wiseman could put no weight on his left foot on Tuesday, hopping up to get his lunch-time fish and chips and hopping back to his table again.It rather took the gloss off Mark Richardson’s unbeaten 118 on the first day as New Zealand put together 273 for five. Not, it should be added, that there was that much sparkle on his century in the first place.Richardson batted all of 395 minutes for his runs after a bright start in his opening partnership, this after he had been the dominant partner in an opening stand of 39 in 12 overs with Craig Spearman.Once Spearman had flapped at Neil Carter to be caught at the wicket, Richardson dug himself so deep during a second-wicket partnership of 113 with Mathew Sinclair that he all but disappeared.Sinclair contributed 86 to the stand, scoring happily all around the wicket, as Richardson tucked himself in behind his bat.From New Zealand’s point of view, Richardson did a job and did it well (apart from being missed by Henry Williams at wide mid on when he had 33). But it was grim to watch at times until he started to open up and play some shots after tea.He was the senior partner in a 94-run fourth wicket stand with Hamish Marshall and was still there at the end. No doubt, considering his 14-hour 306 against Zimbabwe A in September, he probably sees his job only half done.Boland were missing their form bowler, Charl Langeveldt, and on a flat pitch Williams was unable to offer any particular reason why his international career should be resumed when his ban ends at the end of the year.Neil Carter, who has signed for Warwickshire and is regarded as Boland’s overseas professional, was the pick of the attack, left-arm over the wicket with enough bounce to account for both Spearman and Marshall. James Henderson also picked up a couple of wickets with his off breaks, but it was generally a subdued day.Which is what New Zealand might have wanted after the traumas of the one-day series.

Aston Villa have seen many players come in and out of the club since they got promoted back to the Premier League after beating Derby County in the 2019 Championship Play-Off final.

In terms of some of the players that the Midlands club have signed in recent years, one that particularly sticks out for all the wrong reasons for being a waste of time and money is striker Mbwana Samatta.

The Midlands club spent a fee of £8.5m back in the 2020 January transfer window to bring the striker to Villa Park from Belgian club Genk, after Wesley picked up a serious knee injury just a couple of weeks prior that ruled him out for the remainder of that season.

Having made 14 Premier League appearances, the Tanzanian, who was picking up a weekly wage of £40k-per-week according to Spotrac, could only find the back of the net once which came in a 2-1 defeat against AFC Bournemouth, which is less than the five league goals Wesley managed to score before picking up his injury.

As well as a lack of goals, the 29-year-old’s overall performances in the league didn’t live up to much either with WhoScored giving him an uninspiring overall rating of 6.42, making him one of the lowest-rated players to start more than two league games for the Villans, highlighting just how badly suited he was playing in the Premier League.

In September 2020, the striker joined Turkish club Fenerbahce on loan before signing on a permanent deal in July 2021, 75 weeks after his uneventful move to England with Villa.

Rather unsurprisingly, the centre-forward described his time at the Midlands club and his eventual lack of regular game time there as “painful.”

Taking all of this into account, there’s no denying the fact that Samatta was just not right for Villa at that time and the club’s owners Wes Edens and Nassef Sawiris have ended up wasting a combined total of £11.5m on him from his transfer fee and weekly wages.

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Having been brought in as an unexpected replacement for Wesley that may not have been on the club’s radar otherwise, perhaps this could be a factor as to why things weren’t right for all parties at the time.

In other news: Gerrard heading for first AVFC mistake as insider claim emerges from Bodymoor Heath

	Richie Benaud meets Richie Benaud – marvellous effort, that © Getty Images

Richie Benaud became the first of ten Australian sporting greats to have sculptures of themselves unveiled at the SCG. Benaud was at the informal but intimate gathering behind the Ladies Stand and the audience included the Invincibles Arthur Morris and Neil Harvey and the former Australia captains Steve Waugh and Ian Craig.”The first thing I want to say is that I like it,” Benaud said. In the sculpture a relaxed Benaud, the bowler, is calling for a change in the field and his shirt has a couple of buttons undone in the tradition of the day.Dressed in a blue jacket, grey pants with a pink shirt and mauve tie, Benaud was his usual effusive self, throwing out nuggets of information that have helped make him such an endearing personality. “I don’t how they did it, but the positioning of the sculpture could hardly be better,” he said. “I would think that if they went back to people I played with, people who knew me well, that is the spot that I used to park the car. It’s a very nice gesture.”Benaud made his debut for New South Wales in 1948 and recalled the cherished moment. “I love this ground for a lot of reasons, but the main one is I started and finished my career here,” he said. “I started my first-class career on New Year’s Eve and Arthur Morris was my captain. It was one of those days where it rained from the start of the day till the finish and we had no play.”We played against Queensland and I was something of a surprise choice. I’m not sure I was precisely what Arthur wanted because the pitch out there was green. It was very low-scoring game and in fact there were only 160 overs bowled.”New South Wales were behind in the first innings and won the game, with Morris spanking 108 not out of 143 before lunch on the last day. It was a terrific game. Of those 160 overs I’d like to tell you I was a star. However, Arthur came up to me and said: “Son, I’m sorry I couldn’t get you to bowl.”The moment that became the fist turning point of Benaud’s cricketing life came in 1940 when he came to the SCG for the first time with his father, who took him by steam train and tram to watch New South Wales play South Australia. “It was at about the moment when they were about to abandon the Sheffield Shield due to the war,” he said. “New South Wales were captained by Stan McCabe and South Australia captained by Don Bradman.”Clarrie Grimmett was in the South Australian side and Bill O’Reilly in the New South Wales side. I sat with my father in the old Sheridan Stand with a little pack of sandwiches and a bottle of blue currant orange juice. I saw Grimmett’s 6 for 118 and next morning I was out bowling leg breaks against the wall.”Part of the Basil Sellers Sports Sculpture Project, Benaud’s life-size sculpture was inaugurated by professor Marie Bashir, the New South Wales governor. The ten subjects will include four cricketers, two rugby union players, two rugby league representatives and two Australian rules competitors. “It is worth remembering,” Benaud said, “that when I’m standing here what I’m really doing is representing all those players who played for New South Wales and had the honour to be at the SCG and be part of the a lovely atmosphere that has been at the ground ever since I saw it for the first time.”

‘I know I have a short fuse. I know I have to focus and concentrate’ – Tino Best © Getty Images

Focus is the buzzword for Tino Best during the 2007 season. The West Indies fast bowler has bounced back with an impressive start to the new regional season after the disappointment of last year.”The selectors gave me the confidence. I just need to focus,” he told . “As long as the Lord gives me the strength to focus and I don’t get into any foolish trouble … I know I have a short fuse. I know I have to focus and concentrate.”Best, 25, has quickly made up for lost time after spending most of last season on the sidelines. His four-wicket haul, generated with genuine pace that caused Trinidad and Tobago’s batsmen discomfort in the Carib Beer Series match at the North Stars Club last weekend, went a long way in helping Barbados to a come-from-behind victory.It was his first game for Barbados since he was dropped after his only match last season, and his performance won him many admirers. There are some who still aren’t impressed, but Best isn’t bothered by his detractors.”They don’t get to me. Some people tell me I am a Ferrari without control. If they tell me I am a Ferrari, that is a top car. If I am a Ferrari without control, all I need is a steering wheel.”This game has shown me again how to get wickets. It slipped a bit, doubting yourself but the confidence is back there. I’ve got to remain humble. That is the most important thing for any sportsman, just remain humble, do the right things, keep it simple.”Best concedes that he was under some pressure in the second innings after he was wicketless on the opening day. But the advice of Wayne Daniel, the former West Indies fast bowler, helped put him on the right path.”I was under a bit of pressure,” he added. “Barbados has got a lot of quality bowlers. I don’t mean bowlers who are just bowling. We’ve got guys who are wicket-takers. I must commend Wayne Daniel. After the first innings, he called me. He even came into the dressing-room and spoke to me for about 45 minutes. He spoke to me about my action. Once I got my action in place properly, things worked out for me.”After losing his place in the Barbados team, Best was in and out of the West Indies A squad, but he never gave up hope of returning to the regional arena. His goals for the remainder of the season are simple – to bowl fast and put the ball in the right areas.”Once I bowl well, I think my team will win,” he said. “I know I am a wicket-taker. Once I get one, I know I have the ability to bowl out a side by myself. I’ve just turned 25. When you have something like 170 odd first-class wickets in about 50 games, I don’t think anything is slipping by.”

Michael Vaughan is expected to receive an OBE © Getty Images

England’s Ashes winning squad are all set to be named in the New Year’s Honours List when it is announced tomorrow. It is expected that Michael Vaughan and Duncan Fletcher will receive OBEs while the rest of the squad will get MBEs.This would follow a similar pattern to the rugby World Cup winning squad from 2003, when the whole team was honoured including a knighthood for Clive Woodward. This latest recognition would continue the stream of accolades which have come the way of the team since they regained the Ashes at The Oval in September.Andrew Flintoff was named Sports Personality of the Year while England took the team award. Duncan Fletcher has also been previously honoured for his coaching efforts.

Despite the chaos inside Kenyan cricket, the International Cricket Council has refused an application from the Kenyan Cricket Association to postpone the country’s ICC Intercontinental Cup tie against Namibia schedule to take place at Windhoek between February 25 and 27.Sharad Ghai, the embattled chairman of the KCA, made the approach to the ICC against a backdrop of total confusion inside Kenya. Out of the squad of 31 named for the match, 14 remain on strike, others have yet to be officially told of their selection, and training has ground to a halt as there is no money to pay coaches or for facilities to enable the few players that are around to train. Despite claims from the KCA that the squad is training, Cricinfo knows that the remaining players have yet to all assemble.”We feel that we need to field our strongest team for this championship and that is why we sought to have the game postponed,” Ghai told The Nation. “The ICC has said no and even the Namibians are not willing to consider it.”The newspaper report adds that a senior KCA offical described the ICC as “an organisation which preaches water and drinks wine … the leaders of world cricket prescribe for others medicine that they themselves find too bitter to swallow.”Ghai, who has been indirectly criticised by the ICC, hit back in the light of the publication of a letter from Malcolm Speed which appeared to encourage Ochillo Ayacko, the sports minister, to take action against the KCA.”It is convenient for the ICC to have Kenya in crisis so that they don’t have to worry about what to do with our attempts to gain Test status,” Ghai said. “The issues which the minister is reported to have raised with the ICC in those letters last year have been raised so many times in the past and we have always responded to them and asked anyone with evidence of wrongdoing, including the ICC, to produce it.”When one looks at FIFA’s governance, it is based on the system of one country one vote. It could be argued that the ICC structure is not democratic. However, as that is what the constitution states, all members are bound by the terms thereof.”

Close, Day 2 Zimbabweans 330 (Wishart 100) lead Western Australia 207 for 6 (North 59, Streak 3-35) by 123 runs

Craig Wishart on his way to 100 © Getty Images

Heath Streak’s value to the Zimbabweans was superbly demonstrated when he took three wickets in the opening spell of his side’s defence of their total of 330 against Western Australia at Perth. Then to add to that he produced a fine throw, with one stump to aim at, to get a timely run-out as WA struggled to 207 for 6 by stumps.It was a competitive showing by the Zimbabweans, who gave their innings a boost earlier after Craig Wishart had achieved his century, although he was dismissed almost as soon as he had reached the mark. Streak wasn’t able to add to his overnight 45, although he took some time attempting to, in what was a slow first hour. Paul Wilson was in fine touch for WA, picking up both wickets in a nine-over spell that included seven maidens and brought him 2 for 5.However, Andy Blignaut breathed life and action into the innings by hitting 57 off 78 balls, and putting on 63 for the last wicket, of which Ray Price contributed only 8 before the innings ended just before lunch.WA had reached 21 before Streak managed to trap his rival captain Mike Hussey leg-before for 15. Chris Rogers and Marcus North continued to attack and by the 14th over they had added 60. But Streak had Rogers caught for 20, and eight runs later added Shaun Marsh’s scalp to his belt. By the end of an enjoyable day on the field, Streak had 3 for 35. But off the field the news wasn’t so good, as left-arm spinner Price injured himself in the showers during the tea break and was unable to field during the last session. No details have yet emerged about the extent of his injury.Out in the middle, North was joined by Scott Meuleman, and they combined in a fine recovery stand of 88. And that was where the Zimbabweans were exposed: while Streak was most effective, he lacked support. Blignaut could not find his rhythm at all and overstepped the mark nine times. With more consistency he could be a genuine menace on this WACA pitch, but he couldn’t harness his best today. Despite that, he did break the partnership when North edged an attempted slash through to Tatenda Taibu, the wicketkeeper, when he had made 59.Taibu struck again two balls later when Ryan Campbell tried to blast one through the off side but only managed a thick edge. When, 12 runs later, Streak’s throw found Meuleman short of his ground, WA were struggling at 168 for 6. But Peter Worthington and Beau Casson survived the last 12 overs of the day to take them to 207, by which time Worthington had 30 not out.

Swashbuckling knocks from Abdur Razzaq and Rashid Latif put Pakistan in a commanding position, and Bangladesh effectively out of the game, on the second day of the Coca Cola Test series at Dhaka on Thursday. Resuming the game on their overnight total of 126/3, Pakistan batted patiently in the opening session and aggressively for the rest of day. At the close, the visitors had amassed 436/6, with centurion Razzaq and Inzamam-ul-Haq at the crease.The morning started inauspiciously for Bangladesh and Manjurul Islam, the left-arm seamer, when Habibul Bashar floored a simple chance at third slip off a mistimed Yousuf Youhana slash outside the off-stump. Youhana celebrated his luck by cutting the bowler to the deep point fence for four off the fifth ball.Left-arm spinner Enamul Haque got rid of night-watchman Saqlain Mushtaq, trapping him lbw for nine with the score on 162. Youhana continued to wax eloquent at the other end, treating each delivery on its merit and refusing to be drawn into unnecessarily risky shots. Fahim Muntasir and Enamul Haque got some early help from the pitch; their tight bowling, combined with a perky performance in the field, made for a not unsatisfactory morning session for Bangladesh.Youhana, who did not look like getting out through any indiscretion of his own, was the victim of an unfortunate run out on the way to his ninth Test ton. As he dashed down the pitch for a single, he was sent back just a tad too late by Razzaq; Mohammed Sharif, the bowler, clipped the bails off as Youhana was scurrying back to reach his own crease. The television replay sealed Youhana’s dismissal for 72, 28 runs short of what would have been a fine century.Inzamam, suffering from a severe cold, was pushed down the order, but Pakistan hardly noticed his absence as Rashid Latif took his place. The 32-year-old wicket-keeper, after some quiet moments initially, started to punish erratic bowling, lashing it to all parts of the field. Latif got his fifty off 67 balls, a knock studded with eight fours and a six.Inspired by his partner, Razzaq also exploded into action and struck two sixes. Both Enamul and Fahim were at the receiving end of belligerent strokeplay. Pakistan went in to tea at 346 for the loss of five wickets, with Razzaq on 77 and Latif 66. The last nine overs before tea had conceded 77 runs, a torrent even by one-day international standards.Without Mashrafe, the home side’s most successful strike bowler, the Bangladesh attack turned out to be toothless. None of the bowlers could make any impact on Pakistan until, after 116 overs, Bangladesh opted for the second new ball; soon after, they got the breakthrough at 396, after a 175-run stand for the sixth wicket.Mohammed Sharif, the least erratic bowler for Bangladesh on the day, finally removed Latif six short of his maiden Test hundred. He was beaten by a slower ball, skying it to Al-Sahariar at mid-on.Razzaq reached his third Test hundred by gently pushing Manjural Islam to short cover; his century featured 10 fours and two sixes. The burly Inzamam joined in with an entertaining cameo, and the fantastic reception from the crowd confirmed his popularity in Bangladesh.At stumps Pakistan were 436/6, with Razzaq on 114 and Inzamam on 22. Bangladesh face a deficit of 276 runs already, and they will have to fight long and valiantly to save this match, let alone win it.

Nottinghamshire Outlaws went to the top of the Norwich Union National Cricket League Second Division with a hard-fought victory at Trent Bridge. Chasing 178 to win, the Outlaws achieved their target with four wickets and 15 balls to spare.After winning the toss, Essex should have scored more than their eventual 177-9. That they got that respectable a score was due in no small measure to late order hitting from Cowan and Mason, after their batsmen failed to capitalise on a bright start.The Essex openers plundered 30 off the first 5 overs, with Stuart Law in particular profiting from an inconsistent line and length from the Nottinghamshire opening bowlers. However, when Lucas found the right length, it immediately produced dividends – a fine inswinging yorker taking the important wicket of Stuart Law.The arrival of out-of-form England captain Nasser Hussain saw a transformation in the pace of the innings. Hussain, looking for time in the middle prior to the second Test, struggled for timing throughout his innings, scoring just 3 from 28 balls before falling to Paul Franks. The Notts all-rounder showed with his pace and control why is so highly thought of by the England selectors.Irani was the only Essex player to bat with any fluency, consolidating well for 52 as wickets fell regularly at the other end. The Essex captain was finally caught by Harris at deep fine leg skying a Paul Franks delivery. Danny Law chipped in with 22 – including a six over deep fine leg, before falling to David Lucas – Chris Read taking an excellent diving catch.A late flurry of runs from Ashley Cowan and Tim Mason took the score to 177, a total which looked eminently achievable on a sound pitch.The Nottinghamshire batsmen set off purposefully after the early dismissal of Bicknell, caught at square leg off Ilott. Gallian was soon into his stride, striking a eight assertive, and very correct, boundaries in his composed 41.The total was well ahead of the required rate when Gallian fell to Irani. Nottinghamshire then faltered, with an excellent spell from Tim Mason containing the batsmen and forcing them to make mistakes at the other end. Morris looked purposeful, driving powerfully, but fell to Ilott. Afzaal was run out, and Law had Tolley caught behind with one that moved away. Guy Welton’s vigil came to an end when he stepped across his stumps to glance a straight ball from Danny Law, and was ajudged LBW by umpire Jesty.The arrival of Paul Franks, earlier awarded Norwich Union Player of the Month Award, imposed the necessary discipline on the Notts run chase. Pushing quick singles and punishing the bad ball, his partnership with Read seized the initiative for the Outlaws, and rapidly calmed the nerves of the shivering supporters.Man of the Match Read became more confident, reserving particular punishment for Cowan, pulling him powerfully to the mid-wicket boundary as the target decreased. Franks showed what a good selection he could be for England, intelligently marshalling a run chase that was never easy.Nasser Hussain gave the selectors cause for concern, hurting his finger when sticking out a hand in a vain attempt to stop a powerful Read drive when the game was all but lost. The selectors meeting here this evening have enough to discuss – the future of Hick and Ramprakash is certain to be on the agenda, as will the lacklustre performance of Giddins in the last Test. On today’s showing, they could do a lot worse than look to Franks to fill the third seamer spot.