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WEST INDIES "B" may be languishing rock bottom of the Carib Beer Series standings, but team coach Roddy Estwick is heartened by some of the emerging talent among the region’s territorial reserves.As the competition enters the final round of preliminary matches, the West Indies Under-23s have no chance of reaching the semifinals of the International Challenge, even if they beat newly-crowed Cup champions Barbados.They have lost three matches and drawn the other two but their six points might not be an accurate reflection of the quality of cricket they have displayed."There are a lot of encouraging signs. Most of the players have made contributions," Estwick told WEEKENDSPORT yesterday. "They are working hard, and the experience of having played first-class cricket is going to serve them in good stead."His major disappointment was the inability of the youngsters to press for victories when they were in positions to do so."I don’t think the boys are strong enough to bowl consistently well for two innings. That has been a disappointment, but hopefully, they can learn from this," he said. "They can go back to the drawing board and work on the areas of trying to get fitter and stronger."Estwick, a first-time West Indies "B" coach who is cricket master at Combermere School, identified Trinidad batsman Aneil Kanhai, Guyanese Narsingh Deonarine, Jamaican Carlton Baugh and Barbadian Jason Bennett as the players who have made the most strides."They performed well, but we didn’t perform well as a unit," the coach said. "We had good individual performances. We are working on it. We are trying to get them to be consistent; but at that age, consistency is the biggest problem."Kanhai, a tall, left-handed attacking batsman, has scored 397 runs (ave. 44.11) and is one of only two players in the competition with two centuries, while Deonarine, another left-hander who captained the West Indies Under-19 team at last year’s Youth World Cup in New Zealand, has 328 runs (ave. 36.44).Wicket-keeper Baugh has commanded the most attention because of his consistency in front of the stumps. He has five half-centuries in an aggregate of 370 runs (ave. 41.11) and some are even labelling him as a contender for imminent West Indies selection."I’m not prepared to go that far, but from what I’ve seen, he looks to be one of the better ‘keepers in the Caribbean," Estwick said. "If he keeps improving on his batting, I don’t see why in the near future he shouldn’t be playing."This is the third season the West Indies "B" have been playing at this level, but it is the first time one of the Under-23s has been asked to captain the side with a view to developing leaders for the future and the job was given to Kittitian opening batsman Shane Jeffers."He is doing a good job. He is making one or two mistakes, but we sit down after the game and we have a chat with him. We try to discuss the areas that he can improve on," Estwick said."We are allowing him to have his head and go out there and make decisions. All the time, you can see improvements."Bennett has been the most impressive of the three Barbadians, capturing 17 wickets in four matches after missing the team’s first game."He’s been a success. He has probably been our best bowler in the last three or four games," Estwick said. "He has bowled with a lot of control and he is moving the old ball around."Fellow Barbadians, Patrick Browne and Martin Nurse have had mixed returns.Teenager Nurse, who played two matches for Barbados last season, was dropped from the West Indies "B" after three matches in which he managed only 83 runs (ave. 13.83)."Martin has been a little disappointing. He is working hard at his game," Estwick said. "He is trying to improve all the time. People tend to forget he is only 17. He’s still learning the art of first-class cricket."Since replacing Nurse at the top of the order, Browne has had a few useful scores on the way to 251 runs (ave. 25.10) in his second successive season in West Indies "B".

On the back of a five-wicket haul from off-spinner Glen Sulzburger(5/73) New Zealand ‘A’ brushed aside MRF and entered the semi-final ofthe MRF Buchi Babu Tournament. They now play Ranji finalists IndianRailways.On a day where the heat was intense in Chennai, the visitors heldtheir nerve as MRF set about chasing an improbable score of 473 forthe first innings lead. In doing so, the home side capitulated to 318all out off 99 overs.Starting the day on 113/2, the MRF side needed over 300 runs tooverhaul the New Zealand ‘A’ score. Unbeaten on 45 overnight, skipperS Sriram managed to add just 10 runs before he became the firstcasualty of the third and final day. Former India one-day cricketerHrishikesh Kanitkar troubled the scorers very briefly, before beingdismissed for 1. At this stage MRF were struggling at 128/4.Nightwatchman T Kumaran (11) fell soon after, becoming Sulzberger’ssecond scalp of the day.Rashmi Ranjan Parida provided the visitors with a scare, scoring apatient 106, but even his knock failed to take MRF close to the NewZealand ‘A’ first innings score. The 27-year old Orissa right handbatsman struck 12 boundaries and a six in his 273 minute stay at thecrease. He remained not out till the end of the day but alas, ran outof partners.Central Districts offie Glen Sulzberger mopped up the tail, claimingthe last three wickets to fall and was easily the pick of the bowlerswith 5/73 from his 25 overs. In all, 99 overs were faced by MRF, whowere knocked out of the tournament they sponsor.* Railways enter semifinals on first innings leadA better performance in the second innings did not help NationalCricket Academy much. And Indian Railways, by virtue of their hugefirst innings lead of 348 runs entered the semifinals of the MRF BuchiBabu invitation cricket tournament at the Southern Railway stadium inChennai on Wednesday.Resuming at 451 for nine, Indian Railways were all out for 506following a last wicket partnership of 68 runs off 22 overs betweenPrahlad Rawat and SD Kannan (28). Rawat remained unbeaten with 135. Hefaced 249 balls and hit 20 fours.With the result of the match a foregone conclusion, the NCA ladsbatted freely in the second innings and when the match ended, theywere 342 for five off 76 overs. Openers Vinayak Mane (80) and GautamGambhir (19) put on 43 runs off 11 overs. Mane and Gaganinder Singh(27) added 58 runs for the second wicket off 16.1 overs. Mane wasfourth out at 169 after facing 140 balls and hitting ten fours and asix. At this stage, NCA were in some danger of losing the matchoutright. But Deep Das Gupta (57 not out) and Ajay Ratra (78) with afifth wicket partnership of 129 runs off 23.5 overs made the issuesafe. Ratra faced just 92 balls and hit eleven fours while Das Guptafaced 75 balls and hit two fours and a six. In the closing stages,left hander Vidyut Sivaramakrishnan slammed an unbeaten 37 off only 19balls with three fours and two sixes.* CAB book berth in last fourCricket Association of Bengal (CAB) booked their berth in the MRFBuchi Babu invitation tournament semi-final after putting it acrossthe Karnataka State Cricket Asssociation XI at the Guru Nanak groundsin Chennai on Wednesday.The Bengal team who were 339 for 8 on Tuesday, lasted another 4.3overs in the morning before being bowled out for 355. NC Iyappa, thepromising Karnataka fast bowler, claimed one of the two wickets tofall to end up with a five-wicket haul. The first-innings lead of 123runs that they gained was what secured CAB the match at the end of theday.KSCA decided to bat out the rest of the day making 245 for 7 in 74overs before the two captains agreed to end play at the start of themandatory overs. Opener Mithun Beerala made an attacking 63 off 87balls with eight fours and one six. Sunil Joshi, the former Indianleft-arm spinner, also had fun while making 65 off 72 balls with fourfours and three sixes. No.7 Shyam Ponnappa was the other batsman whowas among the runs, making 54 off 115 balls. For Bengal, veteran leftarm spinner Utpal Chatterjee, was the most successful bowler, claimingfour for 51 in his 16 overs.* Jolly Rovers to meet CABThe All India Associate Banks batsmen dominated the final day’s playin the MRF Buchi Babu tournament quarter-final at the IIT-Chemplastgrounds on Wednesday but it was Jolly Rovers who made it to thesemifinal by virtue of their first innings lead. Rovers will now takeon CAB at IIT-Chemplast from August 24-26.In the morning, the Rovers last wicket pair of L Balaji (34) and JSathish (15) added 35 runs as their team, 269 for nine overnight,reached 304 before being all out, a first-innings lead of 57. Thebankmen decided to bat out the day rather than going for an improbablewin. No.4 Pankaj Dharmani made an attacking hundred, his unbeaten 111coming off 151 balls with fifteen fours and one six. This wasDharmani’s second hundred in the tournament. He had earlier made acentury against the Tamil Nadu Districts XI in their first roundmatch. Opener JP Yadav too was among the runs, his 71 off 88 ballsincluding ten fours and one six. S Mohan was not out on 42 off 102balls with four fours at the other end at close. AIAB at the end ofthe match were 281 for three in 71 overs in their second innings.

Rangers slipped up again in the Premiership on Sunday, surrendering a two-goal lead in a 2-2 draw at Ibrox. 

Quickfire goals from Alfredo Morelos and Fashion Sakala seemed to put the Gers in command, but second-half strikes from Motherwell’s Jordan Roberts and Kaiyne Woolery saw the home side miss the chance to close within a point of the league leaders, who had dropped two points earlier in the afternoon.

It was the fifth time in eight league matches in 2022 that Giovanni van Bronckhorst’s team had failed to win.

Here at The Transfer Tavern, we look into the three worst-rated starters for the Light Blues as per statistical specialists SofaScore, with players required to feature for at least 45 minutes for ranking.

Allan McGregor – 6.2

McGregor appeared to have made the number one spot his own at Ibrox, with this his 17th straight league start after rotation between the sticks earlier in the season, but could this shaky performance lead to questions about his place in the team?

While the 40-year-old completed all of his 18 passes, he conceded two goals from just three shots on target.

Scott Arfield – 6.6

Arfield is also enjoying a prolonged run in the team, making six consecutive league starts, but you could argue that he failed to repay Van Bronckhorst’s faith on Sunday.

The Canadian misplaced 11 of his 51 passes (22%) and lost possession 15 times overall. He also won only just three of his eight duels on the ground and in the air, while none of his four shots hit the target.

Joe Aribo – 6.9

Aribo is one of the first names on the team sheet at Ibrox, having been selected for 25 out of 28 league matches so far this season, but this was one of the Nigerian’s more difficult outings.

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He came off second best in four duels and surrendered the ball 10 times in total. Also, while he has been averaging 1.8 key passes per game over the season as a whole, he wasn’t able to create a chance against Motherwell yesterday.

In other news, this blogger fumed over one moment from Sunday’s match

	Vikram Solanki: ‘I’m no expert on legal matters but it seems like restraint of trade’ © Getty Images

Former England batsman Vikram Solanki, who was in effect forced to withdraw from the Indian Cricket League or risk being barred from playing in England, has warned that such sanctions constitute a restraint of trade.Joining in the escalating debate on English cricketers’ role in the two leagues, Solanki also called on the Professional Cricketers’ Association to demand clarification from the England board as to why players are being prevented from playing in India when it does not conflict with existing contracts.”Sport in general is a short career for most people and you must take opportunities to maximise your earning potential,” Solanki told PA Sport. “I haven’t spoken to anyone in the England camp recently but I can see no reason why they wouldn’t be tempted by the sums of money that are being offered.”It’s unreasonable to place sanctions, restrictions, rules without giving good reason. I’m baffled by the reasoning offered sometimes for some of the sanctions and us as a group of players and the PCA should demand some clarity on the matter definitely. I’m no expert on legal matters but it seems like restraint of trade.”It remains to be seen what happens but in the next year or so, the face of cricket could change totally. People will find it hard to resist the money and that might be the big point that makes the changes to the traditional formats and seasons that we’ve grown accustomed to.”As for his own career, Solanki told PA Sport that he hoped his ICL involvement would not mean the end of his England chances. “I’d like to think if I had a reasonable year I’d have as good a chance as anyone of playing for England. This is what I mean about there being some reasoning behind if myself playing in the ICL should hinder my opportunities to play for England. If that is the case, then I haven’t quite figured that out yet.”

England will ponder their batting options with Ian Bell in doubt © Getty Images

A groin injury has sidelined Ian Bell ahead of England’s upcoming Twenty20 internationals against West Indies starting Thursday. Bell picked up the injury during fielding practice on Monday and will continue to be assessed.”Ian Bell underwent an ultrasound scan today [Tuesday] and has a minor grade one tear to his left groin following fielding practice,” the England Cricket Board (ECB) announced. “He’ll continue to be assessed.”Meanwhile batsman Jonathan Trott, one of the new faces in the squad, too suffered an injury scare when he hurt his left hand while batting in the nets. The ECB added that the results of the X-ray would be announced on Wednesday.England play two back-to-back Twenty20 games at the Oval starting Thursday, followed by three one-day internationals against West Indies beginning July 1 at Lord’s.

The players depart after the day-night match at Derby was delayed by sunset earlier this month © Getty Images

Derbyshire have submitted an extremely unusual request to the ECB to try to get round the problems with conditions at their ground which led to a day-night match earlier this month being delayed because of the setting sun. They have asked for permission to bowl all their overs from one end of the pitch.The square at the County Ground faces east-west, meaning that on sunny evenings the sun is almost directly behind one end of the pitch as it nears dusk. When Derbyshire played Nottinghamshire in a day-night match in the first week of June, the umpires suspended the game because bowlers were blinded as they ran in.Another less-than-acceptable alternative appears to be for play to be suspended for up to an hour while the sun sets, or for matches to be shortened.”When you have your biggest crowds of the season and people here who don’t normally watch cricket, you don’t want to have to explain to people why you aren’t playing on a lovely summer’s night,” Tom Sears, Derbyshire’s chief executive, explained to PA. “It seems a simple solution to a potential problem. As long as the boundaries are the same and the opposition are in agreement we can’t see a problem with it. There is a potential loss of six or seven overs. The same overs can be bowled at the same end in the second innings to make sure it’s fair.”The matter has been referred to the ECB with a decision set for Wednesday, which is too late for Derbyshire’s first Twenty20 contest of the summer on Tuesday. For once, county executives will be hoping that the weather then is anything but bright and sunny.

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Ashley Giles: took 3 for 47 as England pressed for victory © Getty Images

England completed a highly satisfying warm-up match – one that had seemed anunlikely starter after the torrential rains that greeted their arrival – asGareth Batty and Ashley Giles picked up six wickets between them in theirfirst outing of the tour. They couldn’t quite polish off an obdurate tail,as the BCB President’s XI reached the close on 143 for 9, but for Englandthe result mattered less than the practice.For the young Bangladeshi side, however – eight of whom are members of theU19 squad that will play in the World Cup here next March – survival was animpressive accomplishment, albeit aided by the weather on the first day. Ithad not seemed likely when seven wickets fell in rapid succession after tea,but Nadif Chowdhury and Gazi Alamgir gritted their teeth to carry the matchinto the final over of the day. A late twist seemed on the cards when SteveHarmison yorked Chowdhury for 26 with two balls remaining, but Enamul Haqueheld fast to deny England victory.Such resistance was unexpected after the Bangladeshi efforts in the firstinnings. They had teetered to 46 for 6 overnight, and England required justsix overs to wrap up proceedings for a paltry 57. Matthew Hoggard once againdisplayed the sort of form that he had consistently shown in Pakistan andSri Lanka three winters ago. He added three more wickets to his overnighthaul, to finish with 6 for 13 from 9.3 overs.In theory, the President’s XI had avoided the follow-on by four runs, butthere would never have been any intention of enforcing it, especially afterEngland had lost four wickets for no runs on the second afternoon. Insteadit was left to two of those victims, Graham Thorpe and Rikki Clarke, to getsome much-needed time in the middle. Thorpe was in supreme touch for his 47,but Clarke – whose place remains under threat from Paul Collingwood – wasless able to settle. He found the spinners particularly tricky to handle,and when he was finally bowled by Enamul for 19, England declared on 69 for1, and lunch was taken.Martin Saggers made England’s first breakthrough in the tenth over of theresumption, when Chris Read pulled off a fine one-handed catch in front offirst slip to remove Nadif Iqbal for 20 (36 for 1). But Aftab Ahmed, verymuch a candidate for next week’s first Test, lead the resistance with asparkling 45 that included four fours and a mighty pulled six off Clarke.But Clarke had his revenge in his very next over, when Aftab was trappedlbw, and the innings frittered away. Hannan Sarkar’s patient 16 soon came toan end as Giles won his first lbw appeal of the day, and Batty entered theattack from the opposite end to provide the final touch to England’spreparations.The spinners wheeled away, with great accuracy but no spectacular turn, andseven wickets tumbled for 37 as the inexperience of the Bangladeshisthreatened to be their undoing. But Chowdhury and Alamgir rallied the tailto ensure that first blood in this tour has yet to be drawn.

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Brian Lara: cometh the hour …© Getty Images

The third day of the third Test at Bridgetown will probably decide the outcome of this match, and much depends on whether Brian Lara can find his touch. After two wretched matches in Jamaica and Trinidad, he looked to be finding his form in the first innings, and was out on the ground early today to familiarise himself with the conditions. He had the look of a man with a point to prove.The first session will be crucial. Neither side’s batsmen – with the marked exception of Graham Thorpe – have managed to really stamp their authority, and runs have been at a premium throughout. Today will probably offer the best conditions for batting, and West Indies must make the most of that and look to set England a target in excess of 250.Another full house – once again predominantly sunburnt and English – packed into Kensington Oval before the start, and there were a few more clouds than there had been on the first two days to give them some relief from the sun.

Following the announcement last week that Sir Vivian Richards would be making an appearance at the County Ground for Lashings C.C. later this summer, Somerset have been inundated with enquiries regarding tickets.The match against Lashings C.C. will take place on Monday July 21st starting at 1pm, and is certain to be one of the highlights of the Somerset County Cricket Club Appeal Year.In response to the early interest in the return of Sir Viv to the club where he started his career, Somerset have announced that the match will be all ticket, and that everybody will pay.Admission for non-members will be £10 for adults and £5 for juniors under the age of 16, whilst admission for members will be £5 and £2 for juniors.Tickets can be purchased on the gate on the day of the match, but they can also be purchased in advance by calling in person at the Main Office in the Colin Atkinson Pavilion at the County Ground which will be open Monday to Friday between 9.00 a.m.and 1.00 p.m. and 2.00 p.m. and 5.00 p.m., or by telephoning on 01823 272946 with a credit card.Tickets purchased in advanced however are non refundable.The Appeal Year Opening Lunch will take place on Friday April 4th at the County Ground when former Somerset player Roy Palmer, who is now a First Class umpire, will be the guest speaker.Tickets for the lunch are priced at £27.50 and are available from Robert Appleyard, telephone number 01225 313906.

It has been drizzling for four days and the BKSP grounds are completely wet. The ground where the National Squad always carry on their net practice is absolutely unworkable. The cricketers are keeping on their net practice sessions in the Indoor of BKSP.For Saturday and Sunday, the team completed its fielding sessions in the rain-drenched ground-1. But it was impossible to run that yesterday. Both fielding and net practice were done in the Indoor." Certainly the rain is hampering the practice. You see it makes a lot of difference between playing in the field and in the Indoor. We hardly practiced in the ground this week, " conceded Habibul Bashar." I am afraid we are not getting enough practice matches this time which is very vital before playing with teams like Pakistan, India or Sri Lanka. And we have to play all those in the overseas grounds. We played a good number of practice matches before the Zimbabwe Tour. Now we are missing it, " said he.Bikash Ranjan Das looked a bit erratic when he was trying to pitch the ball too fast. Trevor Chappell gave him some guidelines quickly. He seemed meditative and was keeping a keen eye on his boys.Mohammad Sharif, one of the youngest members of the side, is missing the practice sessions. This quick bowler got himself hurt in the shoulder while attempting a catch in net sessions a week before. Gavin Benjafield and a local physiotherapist were taking care of a gloomy Sharif who is hopeful about joining the practice soon.The squad is going to attend the Test Cap giving ceremony in Winter Garden at Hotel Sheraton, Dhaka tonight.