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MELBOURNE – The Melbourne Cricket Ground is rated as one of the world’sworst three venues for crowd trouble and this shameful standing hasjeopardised future one-day matches there.But Shane Warne – the MCG’s favourite son – believes the Melbourne crowdsupports Australia with gusto and is far from the world’s worst.Australian Cricket Board (ACB) chief executive James Sutherland todaysaid the MCG was rated by the International Cricket Council (ICC) as oneof the worst three for interruptions in play, trespassing and poor crowdbehaviour.The ACB, police and the Melbourne Cricket Club (MCC) have urged fans tobehave at Sunday’s tri-series match between Australia and England aftermore than 30 fans were arrested and almost 500 ejected from matchesthere last summer.But Warne, who in 1999 walked onto the arena in thongs and shorts tourge fans to stop pelting English fielders with missiles, said the MCGmasses would be fine.”I don’t think the Victorian crowds are the worst in the world,definitely not,” Warne said.”I think the Victorian crowd and the MCG crowd are absolutelysensational. I think they get right behind Australia.”I think there’s one or two people all over the world, let alone inMelbourne, who take it over the top but as far as we’re concerned wejust want to worry about playing cricket on the field and hopefully thespectators come to watch some entertaining cricket.”The latest plea for good behaviour comes as the ICC considers banningtroublesome grounds from hosting one-dayers.”It’s pretty clear from the International Cricket Council’s point ofview that the MCG is in the worst three grounds in the world for crowdbehaviour based on the record in the last few years,” Sutherland said.”There is no doubt that the ICC have taken a much stronger view of poorcrowd behaviour and they will shortly be introducing the powers to bangrounds where they don’t meet the standards or they have a record thathas been inferior to the required standards in the past.”Hooligans will be on notice on Sunday with an increased police presenceearlier than on previous match-days.Patrons can expect thorough bag searches, tougher alcohol restrictionsand more dry areas and automatic ejection for throwing missiles.Warne said the MCG’s size meant there was a greater chance ofmisbehaviour, but he was confident of a good show on Sunday.”I am sure they will be fine,” he said.”One or two occasions, you look around the world, the West Indies have(people) running on the field.”In Australia, one or two people in the crowd, hopefully they don’tspoil it for everyone.”Cricket Victoria chief executive Ken Jacobs said stripping Melbourne ofits one-day internationals would have a disastrous affect on cricket’sgrassroots.”To lose the revenue streams obviously would have a big impact on thegame,” Jacobs said.Sutherland said the ICC’s list of troublesome grounds also included twoin India, where the recent India-West Indies series was marred bymissile-throwing, with one match in Rajkot abandoned after West Indianfielders were pelted with plastic water bottles.

Darren Gough could be included in the England line-up to meet Queensland in their last warm-up match before the first Test of the Ashes series. The Yorkshire fast bowler’s recovery from injury has gone more quickly than expected since England’s arrival in Australia, and he has bowled several sessions in spikes in the nets without any reaction from his troublesome knee.Gough fielded for part of the final day of the drawn match against Western Australia in Perth and will have another workout tomorrow before England decide whether he will face Queensland.”He’s improving every day,” said the England coach, Duncan Fletcher. “We put him on the field in the last match for a bit of fielding just to get some mileage into his legs, but we’ll make a decision on Friday after he’s had another good bowl.”Gough’s Yorkshire teammate Michael Vaughan is also expected to make his comeback from recent knee surgery against Queensland, so there are several dilemmas over the exact composition of the side.”The selection of this next three-day game is going to be very difficult,”Fletcher admitted. “Nasser (Hussain) and I have got quite a difficult job trying to get the balance right.”Who do we give a game to and get mileage into their legs, or do we pick theTest side? There are a lot of questions that need to be asked and we have to come up with some answers over the next few days.”People say (Andrew) Caddick likes to bowl overs, but he bowled a lot in Perth and you have to be careful because he’s our senior bowler at the moment. Those are the sort of decisions we have to make and we have to come up with an answer which hopefully will be the right answer, but we’ll be hoping to play as close to the Test side as we can.”Meanwhile Andrew Flintoff, who joined up with the Academy in Adelaide to speed up his recovery from a double hernia operation, will also face a fitness test before a decision is made about whether he is fit enough for a three-day match.Fast bowler Simon Jones is keen to play against Queensland after impressing with a five-wicket second innings haul against Western Australia.”He’s slowly building up his confidence within himself, he looks more confident,” said Fletcher. “He’s been concerned about his line and length, but he’s bowled with a lot of control since he’s been here which is very encouraging.”He’s slowly built up his pace, but we don’t want to rush these guys intothings. We could have come out here and told him to bowl flat out and lost hisline and length and it’s very hard to get that back again.”We’ve just tried to control him and just gradually build him up a little bit. He might get a game next week and hopefully he will be able to bowl a little bit quicker for longer spells which is important.”

Former Tasmanian Tigers Coach, Greg Shipperd was today named as the new High Performance Coordinator / Assistant Coach of the Victorian Bushrangers.Shipperd, who had coached Tasmania since the 1991/92 season, was delighted with his appointment. "I see the move as a new and exciting challenge for not only myself, but my family. I’m really looking forward to working closely with David Hookes and the players to ensure the Bushrangers are a respected and successful team within Australian cricket".Victorian Cricket Association (VCA) Chief Executive Officer, Ken Jacobs said the appointment was a positive one for Victorian cricket. "The VCA is extremely fortunate to now have a person with the experience and skills of Greg Shipperd within our structure. His legacy on Tasmanian cricket is well respected and he will have a major influence not only on the Bushrangers, but all our elite cricket programs".Shipperd 45, played 112 first-class matches for his native Western Australia and Tasmania in a career spanning 15 seasons, also touring South Africa with the rebel Australian sides between 1985-87. He will commence employment at the VCA on Monday, June 17, 2002.

BRISBANE, July 31 AAP – Bill Brown has turned 90 and Australia’s oldest living Test cricketer still loves the sport, even though he’s not taken with sledging or one-day matches.Brown celebrated his birthday in Brisbane today with family and friends, including Walter Hadlee, who led New Zealand against Brown’s Australians in 1946.It was the only time Brown captained Australia but he packed plenty into his 22-Test career, including two centuries at Lord’s and hundreds of days alongside some of the game’s greatest names.He played through most of the Don Bradman era, played against English stars such as Len Hutton and Walter Hammond, and finished his career as part of the Invincibles tour of England in 1948.Brown still follows cricket closely from his Brisbane home, with a vivid memory of his playing days, and today repeated his admiration for Australian Test captain Steve Waugh.But he wasn’t speaking in the same glowing terms of sledging and match-fixing, while admitting he didn’t follow one-day matches closely, preferring the “cut-and-thrust” of Tests.”I obviously find match-fixing abhorrent,” Brown said.”And one of the key things which has crept into the game which I’m not keen about would be the sledging.”I don’t like any form of sledging, that’s it.”We asked Sir Donald Bradman once about sledging and what he would do and he said `I would give them one warning and if they didn’t stop it they wouldn’t be in the side anymore’.”We had a far better accord with the opposition players than they do now although no longer being a player I can’t say too much.”It’s hard to imagine Brown being anything but pleasant during his long life and marriage to Barbara.Brown said he didn’t know much about life aged in the nineties, except that he would use the same formula which he used while bating in the nervous nineties.”Plenty of short, sharp singles,” Brown said.”With anything, you need a bit of luck and I’ve been fortunate to have a wonderful life.”According to cricket statistician Ross Dundas, Brown becomes the seventh Australian Test player to live into his nineties.Australia’s oldest Test cricketer was Ken Burn, who died in 1956 aged 93 years and 307 days.

The National cricket selectors have named the following South African squadfor the first Castle Lager/MTN Test match against Sri Lanka at the Wanderersfrom the 8th to the 12th of November.Shaun Pollock – Captain, Mark Boucher – Vice-captain, Steve Elworthy, Herschelle Gibbs, Andrew Hall, Mornantau Hayward, Claude Henderson, Jacques Kallis, Gary Kirsten, Neil McKenzie, Makhaya Ntini, Ashwell Prince, Graeme Smith.Coach: Eric Simons
Assistant Coach: Corrie van Zyl
Physiotherapist: Shane Jabbar
Fitness Trainer: Andrew Gray
Manager: Goolam Rajah
National selection convener Omar Henry said the final eleven will be namedon the morning of the Test. He added: “Neil McKenzie has shown good formlately, and his century in Kimberley for the A side last weekend wasimpressive”.McKenzie’s Titans teammate, fast bowler Steve Elworthy, is recalled, havingalso impressed the selectors for the A side. His last of two Test matcheswas at the Basin Reserve in Wellington, New Zealand in 1999.In form Easterns all rounder Andrew Hall, who like Elworthy was named one ofSouth Africa’s Mutual and Federal Five Cricketers of the year last month,has been rewarded for his consistent performances with both bat and ballthis season.

In the recent poll conducted on the Southern Electric Premier League web-site, it has become obvious that the original format of playing regular 50 over cricket is still favourite.Asked their views on which format of the game – either all-day or 50 overs or a combination of both – they preferred if it covered all three divisions, 36 of the 82 voters (43.9%) felt the tried-and-tested formula was best.Only 5 people voted (6.1%) for a complete overhaul to a full programme of all-day matches while 17 (20.7%) felt the current playing conditions for Division One suited.Interestingly, while the number of votes for a full all-day list was minimal, the choice of having more all-day than 50 over games received 22 votes (26.8%).The other alternative, having more 50 over games than all-day raised just two votes (2.4%).An interesting poll which has guaged the feelings of the league’s web site visitors on their feeling about the ECB accreditation rulings.

Somerset Sabres were beaten by the umpires decision at the County Ground today, where they lost to Glamorgan in the NUL by one wicket.Batting first the Sabres had slipped to 40 for 4 before Mike Burns (51) and Matthew Wood (58) rescued the innings.Graham Rose scored an invaluable unbeaten 20, including a six off the final ball to help the Sabres reach a respectable 220 for 9.Rose then got Somerset off to a good start by removing Steve James in the first over, and then Steffan Jones removed Robert Croft and David Hemp in quick succession as the Dragons slumped to 20 for 3.Matthew Maynard then hit some expansive shots to make a quick 36, and Adrian Dale(63) and Michael Powell (32) added 75 for the 5th wicket to put Glamorgan back into the game.During the Glamorgan innings there were two interruptions for rain , which had reduced the target to 209 from 39 overs.Over the last ten overs the game fluctuated in favour of both teams, but the visitors went into the last over requiring 12 runs with their last pair at the wicket.However unknown to spectators the umpires had penalised Somerset six runs because of a slow over rate and the final pair saw Glamorgan home of the penultimate ball of the match.After the game Kevin Shine told me: "I was dumbstruck, this is an unbelievable situation. I never thought that we were bowling slowly at any time. In fact Simon Francis was running back to his mark."He continued: "A silly rule has brought about a sad finish to the game today. There were some excellent performances from some of our players, but that decision just tarnishes the outcome. Cricket was not allowed to run its course today and we are as sick as parrots."

As to when Shoaib Akhtar will be given the all clear to board the plane for England and join the Pakistan squad was still not clear. This correspondent, however, has learnt that Akhtar is in training and has been put through some medical tests on Thursday and Friday. The results of these tests were likely to be known on Saturday (May 5), said a PCB spokesman. Only after the result of these tests is in, the date of his departure will be decided, added the spokesman. “These tests were carried out to determine his complete medical fitness for the tour, and these could not be held earlier as he was down with stomach ailment and fever”, said the spokesman.Akhtar believes that the result of the medical reports would give him a clean bill of health. In the meanwhile, Akhtar is back in training and has bowled almost an entire session here at a prestigious local club’s (the Lahore Gymkhana) famed Bagh-e-Jinnah nets. He played a minor friendly game in which he bowled six overs at red hot pace but did not take a wicket. That augurs well for the Pakistan team, which had pinned a lot of hopes on Akhtar’s inspiring fear and awe in the England line-up and displays the same wicket-taking skills that he had during the 1999 World Cup.Akhtar for his part was quite emphatic that he had already regained a great deal in terms of fitness. “I am eager to join the team in England, and hopefully would be able to do so shortly, after I get an all-clear from the medical tests”, said he.

International off-spinner Shoaib Malik’s bowling action looks suspectonly for one particular delivery otherwise his action has no fault noragainst the ICC rules.This is the finding of two-man PCB Group of Bowling Advisors formerTest off-spinner Ijaz Fakih and fast bowler Mohsin Kamal.Malik wasreported for suspect bowling action during last Sharjah Cup.The Bowling Advisors, examined the video footage of Malik on Thursdayat the Gaddafi Stadium and gave their ruling on Friday. The footagewas received from the ICC. The advisors observed that Shoaib Malik’sarm for one particular delivery which goes the other way for the offspinner, apparently seems to deviate from the ICC rules otherwise hisaction was faultlessIt was decided by the PCB that Malik would be trained by the formerTest off-spinner and now an umpire, Mohammad Nazir Junior, in thePakistan National Academy which would start at the Gaddafi Stadiumfrom May 14, to remove technical flaws with his action. Earlier,Malik’s bowling action was physically examined by the Advisors onApril 26.The third member of Advisors Iqbal Sikandar could not attend themeeting as he is presently in England and attending coaching course.

In the absence of Ajit Agarkar, Sairaj Bahutule and Nilesh Kulkarni,Punjab took advantage of the depleted Mumbai attack to post 244 forfour at stumps on the opening day of the Ranji Trophy quarterfinalmatch at the Wankhede Stadium in Mumbai on Tuesday. Punjab stumperPankaj Dharmani (68) and Indian one day batsman Yuvraj Singh heldcentre stage as Mumbai were made to toil all day.Mumbai’s stand in skipper Amol Mazumdar won the toss and opted to putthe opposition in. Punjab openers Vikram Rathour (14) and RavneetRicky (24) put up 32 runs on the board in 8.4 overs. But theexperience of Paras Mhambrey prevailed and Rathour was bowled. AnkurKakkar, playing just his second Ranji match, made his way to thecrease. But just when a good partnership was developing between Kakkarand Ricky, left arm spinner Rajesh Powar trapped the Punjab opener legbefore with the score at 58 in the 26th over.Dharmani joined Kakkar and forged a sedate 78-run partnership for thethird wicket on either side of the lunch break. Kakkar was unfortunateto miss out on his second half century in as many matches and wasstumped by Amol Rane off Ramesh Powar in the 45th over. Kakkar (46)who was at the centre for 157 minutes faced 117 balls and fourboundaries while managing to send one over the ropes.Yuvraj Singh walked out to join Dharmani and before long took controlof the proceedings. The two added 100 runs for the fourth wicket in 26overs. The Mumbaikars sorely missed the experience of their front linebowlers on a day when the Punjab middle order was toying with theattack. During the course of the partnership, Dharmani reached hishalf-century, needing 97 balls to reach the mark. After toiling allthrough the afternoon, Mumbai were finally rewarded with the wicket ofDharmani. Mhambrey, who came back into the attack, trapped Dharmanileg before in the 72nd over of the innings. During a 179-minute stayat the crease, Dharmani faced 130 balls and hit eight fours and a sixin his 68.Punjab, who have been in such ominous form this season – they won alltheir five league games – were now helped along by Yuvraj Singh andReetinder Sodhi (35 not out). Yuvraj Singh reached his fifty in duecourse, requiring just 73 balls. The two who have put on 63 runs forthe fifth wicket so far ensured that Punjab suffered no furthercasualities. By close, Yuvraj was unbeaten on 86 (131 balls, 11 fours,one six).