England cruise to 9-wicket win CANTERBURY, May 18 — Hosts England crushed minnows Kenya by nine wickets with full 11 overs to spare to score their second straight victory in a World Cup group ‘A’ tie and maintain the momentum for a place in the second stage of the championship today. India gear up to face Zimbabwe LEICESTER, May 18 — Former champions India gear up to put their World Cup campaign on the right track when they take on the tricky Zimbabwe in their second group ‘A’ league clash at the Grace Road ground here tomorrow. India, keen to bounce back from their four-wicket defeat to hot favourites South Africa in their aim to sweep the remaining four matches for a place in the super six stage.

CANTERBURY : Kenya's Ravindu Shah (left) walks off after being caught behind by England's Alec Stweart off the bowling of Darren Gough during the group A World Cup cricket match between England and Kenya at Canterbury, England, on Tuesday. Shah made 71 runs — AP/PTI Perform or perish: Mendis NORTHAMPTON, (England) May 18 — Sri Lanka manager Duleep Mendis launched a scathing attack on his batsmen on the eve of Sri Lanka’s must-win game against South Africa and said unless they improved, disgrace was around the corner.

England's Darren Gouch (C) looks upbeat passing the entertainment as he checks the wicket while waiting for the rain covers to come off prior to their World Cup cricket match against Kenya at the St. Lawrence group in Canterbury on Tuesday — APF

We’ve a specific plan for Sachin: Houghton LEICESTER, May 18 — Zimbabwe coach David Houghton today warned his team had a specific strategy to counter Indian batting sensation Sachin Tendulkar and promised "no easy time" for the world’s best bat. India should not be too defensive: Imran LONDON, May 18 — Former Pakistan captain Imran Khan yesterday advised the Indians not to adopt too much defensive tactics in the World Cup.

Short-pitched deliveries cost India dear
LONDON, May 18 — The Indian bowlers will have to hit an English length. They were pitching the older ball far too short against the South Africans in the opening game and that is the reason why they were punished by Jonty Rhodes and Lance Klusener.

Kallis ready for new Murali showdown
NORTHAMPTON (England), May 18 — The last time Jacques Kallis came up against Sri Lanka’s spin king Muttiah Muralitharan, the South African all-rounder almost gave his coach a heart-attack.

Radio links not to be allowed: ICC
LONDON, May 18 — Radio links, on field disciplinary matters, drunken supporters, strakers on the ground and leggie Shane Warne’s suspended ban on his jibes at Sri Lankan skipper Arjuna Ranatunga have given a lively start to the seventh edition of the World Cup cricket.

Visa tests: Britain denies racism
LONDON, May 18 — Britain today denied a report suggesting it had subjected cricket fans from Asia to racist screening methods when they applied for travel visas to watch the World Cup being played in England.

Better security for India tie promised
LEICESTER, May 18 — Improved security measures have been promised by organisers of tomorrow’s India-Zimbabwe World Cup tie at the Grace Road Ground here to bring good news for Indian skipper Mohd Azharuddin and his men.

1 shot as Pak youths celebrate win
MULTAN (Pakistan), May 18 — A 14-year-old boy was shot dead yesterday as paramilitary troops opened fire on students celebrating the Pakistan team’s victory against the West Indies in the cricket World Cup, the police said.

England cruise to 9-wicket win

CANTERBURY, May 18 (PTI) — Hosts England crushed minnows Kenya by nine wickets with full 11 overs to spare to score their second straight victory in a World Cup group ‘A’ tie and maintain the momentum for a place in the second stage of the championship today.

Opener Nasser Hussain made a splendid unbeaten 88 and piled up an unfinished 159-run second wicket stand with in-form Graeme Hick, who cracked a fluent 61 not out as England coasted to 204 for one wicket in 39 overs after bowling out the spirited Kenyans for 203 in 49.4 overs.

In a match played under thickly overcast skies throughout and interrupted by rain during England’s chase after a delayed start, the hosts kept up the same efficiency that marked their convincing eight-wicket win over defending champions Sri Lanka in the opening game at the Lord’s on May 14.

Hussain struck 11 fours and a huge six while Hick helped himself to nine boundaries as the two pulled England home with the heavens threatening to open up any moment.

England gained full four points from two matches to go on top of the group ahead of their tough outing against South Africa on May 22 at the Oval while Kenya suffered their second straight defeat to virtually end their hopes of an improbable place in the Super Six.

Kenya showed good fight as Steve Tikolo hammered 71 and raised an exact 100-run stand with opener Ravindu Shah (46) for the second wicket, followed by a late-order innings of 34 from Odoyo.

But Darren Gough struck at vital moments to capture 4 for 34 with fellow paceman Mark Ealham (2/49) providing excellent support to curtail the innings.

England had cause for some worry during the stand between Tikolo and Shah, but their main concern was the weather. Start of play was delayed for nearly an hour due to overnight and early morning rain.

The showers began as England reached 98 for one in 20 overs. But the hosts were relieved as play began after a 20-minute stoppage.

Hussain, fighting with left-hander Nick Knight for the opener’s slot, sealed his place at least for a while as he tackled the Kenyan attack before dominating with Hick as the pair raced to pull off the win before further weather trouble.

The in-form Hick, who struck an unbeaten 73 in England’s win over Sri Lanka, hit typically powerful shots to be unbeaten on 61 when Hussain struck the winning run.

Earlier, rank outsiders Kenya looked set to pile up a bigger total when the 27-year-old Tikolo went after the England attack with gusto with sweety timed shots both sides of the wicket as well as lofted ones over the in-field.

But Stewart brought back Gough who struck with the third delivery by having Shah caught behind from where the Kenyan innings went on a slide. Gough completed his 100th wicket in one-dayers during his fine haul.

Only three batsmen managed to reach double figures as Gough and Ealham did the damage and the English fielders effected two smart run outs.

Kenya, who toppled the West Indies at Pune in the 1996 edition, looked impressive in patches but their lack of big match experience showed. Kenya went down by five wickets in their opening tie against Zimbabwe at Taunton on may 15.

Kenya next meet India at Bristol on may 23.

Alec Stewart, who struck a fine 88 against Sri Lanka, and Hussain began cautiously but the English skipper opened out to crack some superb fours through the cover region of paceman Thomas Suji.

But first change Tomas Odoyo, who showed good control and movement, bowled Stewart through the gate as the England skipper prodded from the crease.

But Hussain and Hick moved the score briskly as the lack of depth in the Kenyan attack began to get quickly exposed.

The two stepped up the pace of scoring and really went after the bowling once rain abated and play resumed.

Hussain, who was at times troubled by off-spinner Maurice Odumbe and the left-arm slow stuff of skipper Asif Karim, however, hit some powerful drives and pulls to accelerate England’s race to the finish.

He superbly pulled Odumbe for his only six at the fag end of the innings to enable England to complete the victory with minimum fuss.

England:
Hussain not out 88
Stewart b Odoyo 23
Hick not out 61
Extras (b-5, lb-6, w-13, nb-8) 32
Total (for one wkt, 39 overs) 204
Fall of wickets: 1-45.

Bowling: M Suji 9-0-46-0, A Suji 3-0-6-0, Odoyo 10-0-65-1, Karim 8-0-39-0, Odumbe 6-1-23-0, Sheikh 3-0-14-0.

India gear up to face Zimbabwe

LEICESTER, May 18 (PTI) — Former champions India gear up to put their World Cup campaign on the right track when they take on the tricky Zimbabwe in their second group ‘A’ league clash at the Grace Road ground here tomorrow.

India, keen to bounce back from their four-wicket defeat to hot favourites South Africa in their aim to sweep the remaining four matches for a place in the super six stage, have an injury worry to contend with besides sorting out problems with their bowling attack.

Left-handed opener Saurav Ganguly, who struck a classy 97 at Hove, is struggling to regain full fitness after a ball from paceman Javagal Srinath at the nets struck him on his right knee on Sunday.

The team management was confident he would be fit to play, but reserve opener S Ramesh was provided extended nets to leave a question mark over Ganguly’s fitness.

India will be wary of the African side who have always troubled them in World Cup. Zimbabwe, who beat Kenya by five wickets in their opener, arrive with their morale high and backed by the record of having beaten India four times since the 1996 cup competition.

The Indian think tank will also debate on the loose bowling which helped the Proteas recover to win comfortably at Hove.

If they decide to omit young paceman Ajit Agarkar, who proved expensive conceding 59 runs in nine overs on Saturday, they have the option of bringing in swing bowler Debashish Mohanty, or even try out off-spinner Nikhil Chopra if pitch conditions warrant.

India gave a composed batting display against formidable Proteas which should augur well against the lesser sides in the group. But Indian batsmen will have to show more urgency in accelerating towards the final stages of their innings and Zimbabwe, with their sharp fielding, will offer a challenge.

India, who did everything right except for poor running between the wickets and sloppy bowling towards the end, may not try much to experiment and will be focused on first getting a win under their belt before they take on holders Sri Lanka and hosts England.

Zimbabwe, who rode on a fine allround performance by Neil Johnson, to register a five-wicket win over Kenya in their opener have a team to trouble India. Johnson first took four for 42 with his medium-pacers and then top-scored with 59 in the win at Taunton.

India will be wary of Cup history and the ability of their rivals to rattle them. In 1983 at Turnbridge Wells, it required a herculean unbeaten 175 by Kapil Dev to pull India to victory after they were left tottering at 17 for five. The Zimbabweans had already upset Australia in a league game before taking on India.

Extreme cold is being experienced at Leicester with strong winds blowing and the sun making only rare appearances, pointing to conditions more bowler-friendly than at Hove.

India’s worry has been lack of bowling discipline, with pace spearhead Javagal Srinath getting punished as against South Africa. Robin Singh, Ganguly and Sachin Tendulkar did an adequate job in the fifth bowler slot, but the option of bowling Ajay Jadeja would also have to be studied.

The Indian camp is aware it cannot afford to lose against Zimbabwe which will leave it having to win all the remaining three ties to make it to the super six stage.

Coach Anshuman Gaekwad was confident India would make the next stage and said “the mistake we made against South Africa was slowing down between the 25th and 32nd overs. It cost us at least 20 extra runs. We must make up when the main bowlers are off. The lesson was learnt well,” he said.

India did not panic despite star batsman Sachin Tendulkar falling early. The master bat will be keen to make amends, which the new found confidence should augur well for the team.

Zimbabwe are yet to lose a one-day tie this year, though their wins have come against the likes of Bangladesh and Kenya. But what has given the team much confidence is beating Sri Lanka twice in succession at Sharjah last year.

Skipper Alistair Campbell, is however, concerned his team was much short of match practice. “We can’t afford to give too many runs to India as we did against Kenya,” he said. Kenya made 229 for seven in 50 overs and Zimbabwe reached 231 for five in 41 overs.

One advantage for India will be that they were based in Leicester during their acclimatisation phase. Though Zimbabwe pacemen Heath Streak, Henry Olonga and Johnson might gain help from the blistery conditions, India have the batting depth to counter that while setting a target or chasing one.

Johnson, who showed virtues of playing for Natal in South Africa in his team’s win over Kenya, however has turned out for Leicestershire two years ago and will hope to cash in on that experience against the superior rivals.

India should not be too defensive: Imran

LONDON, May 18 (UNI) — Former Pakistan captain Imran Khan yesterday advised the Indians not to adopt too much defensive tactics in the World Cup.

Imran said the defensive tactics of packing a team with lot of batsmen, a couple of strike bowlers and medium pace bits and pieces men could win one-day matches but it would not give the consistent success necessary to win this World Cup.

"India have some wonderful batsmen in their side, but relying on the bowling of Saurav Ganguly and Sachin Tendulkar will be too much of a burden", Imran opined.

"India, like England and Lara's West Indian team, look to be a bowler or two short to become champions," he said.

The defensive tactics known as 'English' way is also being followed by the West Indians along with the Indians and the hosts. "I was surprised to see Lara's side field only three frontline bowlers against Pakistan," he added.

He said: "I favour a real attacking style, style trying to take wickets with top class bowlers. Pakistan and South Africa are in this camp".

Imran said so far there had been wins for both the strategies and if the conditions stay cloudy and damp then either philosophy may help to win the World Cup. But problem with India or the West Indies or England is that their attack cooks thin.

"If the sun comes out in force, then only the attacking style is likely to prove successful. Pakistan took the gamble when Wasim Akram opted to bat first despite helpful conditions for bowling and came out victorious. The West Indians had only three frontline bowlers and when they were rested the pressure was off."

"If Lara had allowed himself at least one more genuine bowler, then Pakistan would never have reached 200 and the game might have been much easier," he said.

Instead the contrast made for a fascinating encounter just like India against South Africa and Imran predicted that there were many more to come as this tournament goes on.

He opined that India should keep reviewing their tactics. Any team getting bogged down with one set of tactics would be in trouble.

"Tendulkar makes money faster
than runs"

LONDON, May 18 (PTI) — Sachin Tendulkar is a combination of Britain’s top soccer stars without their weaknesses and the country’s Prime Minister Tony Blair with "humility", according to the prestigious London Times.

"Tendulkar is David Beckham (without the petulance), Robbie Williams (without sex and drugs), Ewan McGregor (without taking his kit off) and Tony Blair (with humility)," it said in a reference to three top soccer players and the British premier.

He is the world’s best one-day batsman and makes money faster than he scores runs, the magazine said in a four-page special supplement on what it called the "diminutive big-hitter of world cricket".

"He has more fans than England World Cup soccer wonder-kid Michael Owen and possesses the talent to even now win the World Cup for India," it said.

At 26, Tendulkar is the "highest paid cricketer," the supplement said. "He is five million pounds (about Rs 35 crore) and yet not out."

But unlike sports super stars, the magazine noted, Tendulkar is embarrassed when asked about his healthy bank account, but not coy.

"It is very simple. What matters for me is my cricket and nothing else. Doing all these personal ads does not make me the most successful cricketer. All it matters is what I do on the field. It all happens because of that. Winning matches for India is what I want to stick to," he says.

Asked how he copes with expectations of 900 million Indians, he says: "The moment you think of what people are expecting of you, it is very hard to live up to their expectations. If I score 110, they expect 130, the day after they expect 150."

"But if I live upto my goals then I am sure I am doing a decent job for the country," the diminutive, yet the tallest cricketer says of his mission.

The prolific batsman with 21 one-day centuries and 19 Test hundreds, who has shown more consistency than his immediate rival for the best world’s best batsman tag West Indies captain Brian Lara and is as merciless as Lara’s predecessor Vivian Richards, matches the millions earned by soccer’s super stars, said the London Times.

Unlike in cricket, where he made quick strides, Tendulkar’s forays into big-money started slowly, it said. "Till as recently as 1996, he was in drags being paid by Action shoes a lowly contract of 1,650 pound sterling (a little over Rs one lakh) a year."

Tendulkar’s money transformation was brought about by Connecticut-based non-resident Indian Mark Mascarenhas, head of the communications company WorldTel, the magazine said.

"From a pittance of £ 1,650, Sachin was transformed by a guarantee of about £ 5 million by WorldTel for the rights to exploit his name for five years."

London Times quoted Mascarenhas as saying: "Earlier, it was the case of not marketing him properly. We raised the stakes".

They certainly did, the magazine noted, as in less than three years WorldTel had already raised double the amount on five million pounds paid for advertising fees to Tendulkar.

Now there was a beeline to catch the cricket star and he had signed new sponsorship deals with Philips, Colgate, Visa and Pepsi Cola.

Sports goods giant Adidas had signed Tendulkar for a sportswear deal of estimated £ 300.000 per annum for a period of six years for marketing his signature brand of T-shirts and shorts, it said. "Tobacco and alcohol companies have been courting him, but he refuses to sign."

Tendulkar’s earnings from the sport itself were not insubstantial, the London Times said.

In 1997 he earned more than £ 82,500 by playing in India’s all 12 Test matches (£ 2,000 per appearance) and 39 one-day internationals (£ 1,500 per match).

Tendulkar also bagged individual prize money in most of the matches. In the 1997 series against Australia, he earned total prize money worth £ 3,750 and a further £ 5,900 and a car in the Sharjah Coca-Cola Cup and to top it all Pepsi pays him £ 10,000 for every century he makes, the Times said.

We’ve a specific plan for Sachin: Houghton

LEICESTER, May 18 (PTI) — Zimbabwe coach David Houghton today warned his team had a specific strategy to counter Indian batting sensation Sachin Tendulkar and promised "no easy time" for the world’s best bat.

Houghton, who pinned faith on his battery of seamers for tomorrow’s crucial clash against India told PTI that Zimbabwe would opt to put in the opposition if skipper Alistair Campbell won the toss at the Grace Road venue.

"These are conditions in which when the ball in new and fresh and the seam is hard and protruding, it would offer both movement and bounce. Tendulkar might succeed when the field is up but might also fail and we have a specific plan for him tomorrow," Houghton said at his team’s nets.

The former wicket-keeper batsman, who was part of the side which India beat by five wickets in 1983 in the only previous one-day international tie held here, said he would not term a Zimbabwe victory as an upset.

"Upset? I would not term it if we beat India tomorrow," he said.

But Houghton marvelled at the abilities of Tendulkar. "He is a genius. I have no doubt on that. He probably is the best batsman I have seen in the past 30 years. But if he is opening the innings, it is an advantage for us."

Zimbabwe are without much match practice this year, but Houghton commented: "It is still better to peak in May than in March," referring to the overdose of cricket other teams had played coming into the World Cup.

Asked whether Zimbabwe would bring in paceman Henry Olonga to combat Tendulkar’s rampaging blade, Houghton said "I am not even sure if Olonga would be playing tomorrow. We have come here with six fast bowlers and we would decide on the line-up only tomorrow."

The African side might call up 36-year-old paceman Eddo Brandes, who did not play the first tie against Kenya which Zimbabwe won comfortably.

Houghton was confident about the all-round strength of his team and warned that Neil Johnson could emerge as the trump card against India.

"He is very good", he said about Johnson, who picked four wickets and top-scored with 59 against Kenya. "He looked brilliant against Kenya. At Leicester here he knows the conditions pretty well since he played as a pro here in 1997. He is the one to watch out tomorrow," he said.

Houghton, who scored 141 against New Zealand in the 1987 World Cup, said the cold and damp conditions here were ideal for chasing a target. "That’s what I think. Batting first you are confronted with damp, moist conditions, greyish sky and sometime you are lost what would be the ideal target. It does get a little warmer in the afternoon and so chasing is a better option," he added.

Chopra may play

LEICESTER: The Indian camp had good news ahead of their tricky second World Cup tie against Zimbabwe with opener Saurav Ganguly declared fully fit to play while the team management was considering the inclusion of off-spinner Nikhil Chopra for paceman Ajit Agarkar tomorrow.

Indian coach Anshuman Gaekwad announced that "Saurav is fit, there is nothing wrong with him, and he will play tomorrow." The left-hander was struck on his knee facing a delivery from fast bowler Javagal Srinath at nets on Sunday.

India have included Chopra to the 11 that played against South Africa while announcing the 12-man side, but said they would still field an extra seamer if conditions warranted.

"We must not forget there has been no sunshine here for sometime and the wicket has been covered for the last few days," Gaekwad said.

"If the wicket is damp and moisture is there, which I think it will be there, we might opt for a pace bowler," he said.

The weather has been cold with strong winds blowing and there was rain this afternoon, but a fine weather has been forecast for tomorrow.

Meanwhile, Gaekwad has dismissed his counterpart Dave Houghton’s comment that they stood a good chance to dismiss star batsman Sachin Tendulkar if he opened the innings.

Skipper Mohd Azharuddin was more concerned with his bowlers going into the match. "We did not bowl particularly well against South Africa. We kept bowling short and on the middle and leg stump."

Azhar, however, denied Indian batsmen’s running between the wickets was not good. "I think we ran really well, especially in the early part of the innings."

Kallis ready for new Murali showdown

NORTHAMPTON (England), May 18 (AFP) — The last time Jacques Kallis came up against Sri Lanka’s spin king Muttiah Muralitharan, the South African all-rounder almost gave his coach a heart-attack.

Instead of seeing off Sri Lanka’s dangerman with prudent pushes and prods, as instructed, Kallis hit him out of the ground on the way to a century in the ‘mini World Cup’ semifinal in Dhaka last October.

"The idea was to try to score four runs an over against Muralitharan and attack the other bowlers," said coach Bob Woolmer. "But Jacques played superbly and took the attack to him so effectively that he went for eight an over."

In a rain-reduced match, Muralitharan bowled only six of his quota of eight overs and cost 48 runs.

Kallis - nicknamed "Dozy" because he often seems to drift off into his own world and not listen to his team-mates or coach - slammed 113 not out off 100 balls, with three of five sixes coming off the linch-pin of the Sri Lankan attack.

Kallis was named 'Man-of-the Match', then scooped the award in the final as well, this time with his swing bowling as he took five for 30 against the West Indies.

Kallis started the 1999 World Cup in a fine style on Saturday, taking yet another Man-of-the-Match award as he scored 96 in the four-wicket win against India in Hove.

Kallis (23) is rapidly becoming an all-round star.

His sound technique and unflappable temperament make him a valuable top-order batsman, able to play the anchor man or the destroyer.

He said: "On Saturday we lost a few wickets so my job was to hold up an end rather than take risks. With guys like Lance (Klusener) down at the end of the order, I knew we could lift the scoring rate when we had to."

In addition, Kallis has become an increasingly important bowler since a back injury caused him to miss half the 1996-97 season. He opened the bowling against India, allowing Allan Donald to come on in his favourite slot as first change.

The strongly-built Kallis generates high pace and swing. His stock ball leaves the right-hander but he is able to produce a sharp in-ducker.

He plays down any talk of rivalry with Shaun Pollock and Lance Klusener for the unofficial title of the team’s — and perhaps the world’s — best all-rounder.

"It doesn’t matter who scores the runs or takes the wickets as long as we are all putting the team first," he says. "I regard myself as a batter who bowls a bit."

He’s slowly revising this view, however, conceding: "the bowling is becoming more and more important."

Radio links not to be allowed: ICC
From Harpal Singh Bedi

LONDON, May 18 — Radio links, on field disciplinary matters, drunken supporters, strakers on the ground and leggie Shane Warne’s suspended ban on his jibes at Sri Lankan skipper Arjuna Ranatunga have given a lively start to the seventh edition of the World Cup cricket.

There seems to be no let up in controversies surrounding Shane Warne. On Sunday he was again in the limelight.

The Australian spinner risked the wrath of the International Cricket Council after an insulting gesture to taunting Scotland fans. Warne aimed a vulgar signal at the boisterous supporters on the day his skipper made the appeal for better security after players were jostled and two steakers invaded the pitch at Worcester.

What started as a good natured banter during the six wicket victory over Scotland took a serious turn, when after Warne bowled an expensive over, a Scottish fan shouted "you’re having a nightmare chubby’’. Warne responded by raising his middle finger. He had already forfeited half his match fee by attacking Ranatunga in a newspaper article.

The ICC had already slapped a two match suspended ban on him.

Steve Waugh was very angry with the crowd’s behaviour. "We had been assured that security would be tighter, now how many times do I have to do it.’’

"What does it take to get something done. I keep getting ignored. I will make an official complaint, but where will it get me. We can’t wait until a player is injured’’, Waugh said.

Worcestershire said that there were 16 policemen and 50 stewards on duty. World Cup event manager Michael Browning said "we will ask the counties to review their stewarding’’.

Meanwhile, the ICC sources said it would not allow any more radio link by players with coaches. This follows an appeal by the South Africans that they be allowed to have radio link ups. Although there are no specific rules covering the issue, the governing body, consisting of nine full members and three associates, would have to sanction this quantum leap in the operation of game’s strategy. That is unlikely to happen quickly.

South African coach Bob Woolmer admitted that he had experimented with the technology, having looked into putting receivers into batsmen’s helmets. But their use on Saturday’s game against India came as a surprise.

England manager David Graveney said "we assume that’s the end of the matter for now. But this is really something that is solely a matter between South Africa and the ICC.

He also confirmed that the issue of Adam Hollioake’s gesture at the Essex crowd a week ago was closed and pointed to correspondence to show that there was never any intention of covering the matter up. — UNI

AP adds: The kilted clan repeatedly displayed an inflatable whale and "shouted save the whale’’ every time Warne turned around.

But Warne’s finger went up when the gang repeated "he ate all the pies’’, in reference to Warne’s physique.

The 29-year-old bowler appears to have gained weight since corrective surgery to his bowling shoulder, which kept him out of the game for several months.

Match referee Ranjan Madugalle, while admitting that Warne’s behaviour constituted a breach of ICC’s player code of conduct, put the matter to rest because there was no official complaint.

"No complaint was lodged with me by any source,’’ Madugalle told the associated press yesterday.

Madugalle, one of the most senior and respected members on the six-man ICC panel, said a complaint had to be lodged within an hour of the cessation of the game.

The Australian team manager Steve Bernard refused to comment on the matter saying he had not seen Warne’s provocative gesture.

Perform or perish: Mendis

NORTHAMPTON, (England) May 18 (AP)— Sri Lanka manager Duleep Mendis launched a scathing attack on his batsmen on the eve of Sri Lanka’s must-win game against South Africa and said unless they improved, disgrace was around the corner.

The defending titlists suffered an eight-wicket loss to England at Lord’s in the World Cup opener last Friday after being sent into bat and managing just 204 runs. A defeat here by the tough and ruthless South Africans will virtually put an end to Sri Lanka’s hopes of qualifying for the super six phase two of the tournament.

Mendis outlined the importance of big innings from master blaster Sanath Jayasuriya and the experienced Aravinda De Silva to topple favorites South Africa on Wednesday.

It was Sri Lanka’s innovative batting and pioneering use of the pinch hitter that won it the 1996 World Cup but the tactic is now its bane.

If you can’t bat then you will have to forget about cricket,’’ former skipper Mendis said After Sri Lanka’s top order failure against England.

“It’s absurd, you can’t expect the bowlers to bat. You don’t expect no. 8 to get runs.’’

“It was pathetic to see them batting,’’ Mendis added. Unless we pull our socks up, the ultimate disgrace will be in store for us.’’

Mendis was heavily critical of shot selection by the top order batsmen as Sri Lanka capitulated from a well placed 42 without loss to 65 for five after being sent in.

“Before Roshan (Mahanama) went and played the idiotic shot the stage was well set,’’ he said.

Sri Lanka will not change their experimental batting order opening with Mahanama and Jayasuriya because Mendis said the plan should work.

Sri Lanka have had a horror run leading into the tournament, winning just four of its 20 games.

“Our biggest problem right now, starting from (the tour of) Australia, is our batting,’’ Mendis said. We’re not putting enough runs on the board for the bowlers to bowl at.’’

Sri Lanka are expected to replace the experienced left hander Hashan Tillekeratne with the talented Mahela Jayawardene.

Visa tests: Britain denies racism

LONDON, May 18 (Reuters) — Britain today denied a report suggesting it had subjected cricket fans from Asia to racist screening methods when they applied for travel visas to watch the World Cup being played in England.

The Guardian newspaper said British diplomatic missions had grilled hundreds of fans from India, Pakistan, Bangladesh and Sri Lanka with questions such as "who is the captain of Sri Lanka?" and "who is India’s leading batsman?" as part of the vetting process.

The British foreign office said nothing racial was involved.

"(They) may well have been asked questions. The reason people from places like South Africa were not asked is because they don’t need visas," a foreign office spokesman said.

"Any applicant has to satisfy the entry clearance requirements. If they do not, then we conduct interviews because certain people need to amplify reasons for their visas.

"In the past people have used important public events claiming to be followers of the event and, when interviewed, admitted that they know nothing about it."

The Guardian said about 5,000 Indians were believed to have travelled to England for the World Cup but hundreds more had been refused visas.

Some Sri Lankan fans contacted lawyers in Britain to complain about the screening methods, the newspaper said.

One unidentified Colombo businessman was quoted as saying: "It was a totally humiliating experience."

Short-pitched deliveries cost India dear
From R. Mohan

LONDON, May 18 — The Indian bowlers will have to hit an English length. They were pitching the older ball far too short against the South Africans in the opening game and that is the reason why they were punished by Jonty Rhodes and Lance Klusener.

Bob Simpson, the team’s technical consultant, has been talking to the bowlers at length. At Hove he also supervised their light training during the break, when the fast bowlers came out to warm up before the South African innings. They did not, however, carry out what Simpson may have had in mind.

It is apparent that Simpson is in complete charge of the technical aspects of the game. Anshuman Gaekwad is the cricket coach but he has been adopting a low profile while the former Australian skipper who played a major role along with Allan Border in restoring the pride in his nation’s cricket in the 80’s has taken complete charge.

The Indians are responding to Simpson’s methods as seen in the greater coordination and aggression in running between the wickets during the long stand between Saurav Ganguly and Rahul Dravid. There has also been some improvement in the way the fielders throw the ball as seen in the smart run out they effected to deny Jacques Kallis his century.

The Simpson method may not have reached the bowling yet. Javagal Srinath was brilliant with the new ball. He had a vice-like grip on the batsmen when the ball was moving around but once it got older, Srinath began pitching shorter than the ideal fuller length that bowling in England calls for.

Bowlers know instinctively what length to pitch in what conditions. But, sometimes, they tend to get carried away, particularly when they start believing more in their speed than in the cleverness of variations of length and line that more often brings success in the one-day game. Early summer in England generally belongs to the clever fast medium seam bowler than the pure fast bowler.

England demands a fuller length because the pitches are slower than the ones in Australia and South Africa. The faster bowlers will be at a disadvantage if the pitch is dry and slow as it was in Hove. With the exception of Allan Donald, the South African fast bowlers also suffered from not being able to hit upon what is called the English length.

Young Ajit Agarkar had a poor opening game. In thinking like a fast bowler he may have erred in his basic length which was too short. English conditions may allow the ball to move around in the air and off the seam but the pitches are not going to offer too much additional bounce. The delivery of genuine pace with slower ones will here to be mixed. Agarkar will learn quickly and the team would be committing a mistake if it casts him out after one bad game.

The great success of Indian medium pacers in the World Cup of 1983 lay in the fullish length which they bowled. Roger Binny never pitched the ball too short thus giving it the maximum possible time to swing late.

Binny was like a cat among the pigeons when he rattled the Australians at Chelmsford in the vital game India had to win in order to qualify for the semifinals. He was particularly brilliant at bowling at left handers, many of whom he had edging to the keeper or bowled through late movement in the air.

Madan Lal too rarely erred in thinking like a big fast bowler and trying to blast the batsmen out. He bowled the ‘English length’. By 1983, Kapil Dev had settled to being a fast medium bowler. His best bowling figures in terms of wicket-taking success came in the World Cup of ’83, when he took five for 43 in 12 overs in an Australian total of 320 in 60 overs in their first meeting at Trent Bridge.

Kapil’s strategic use of Mohinder Amarnath as a fifth bowler who made the ball woble in the air off a deceptively lazy run up, was a major coup of India’s winning campaign. Until the World Cup, Mohinder had hardly bowled in his one-day international career and he was handling 12 overs in a match with aplomb.

The current crop of bowlers would certainly benefit if they watch the highlights of the matches of 1983 in which India turned the cricket world upside down. Between 1983 and now, batting methods have become far more positive and these modern bats are also helping batsmen thump the ball more than stroke it.

Still, India’s bowlers have a lot to learn from the seasoned masters who bowled India to a comprehensive victory in a total of 183, which was all that the batting could offer in the final. It is a pity then that the Indian board, which has a coach and a consultant as well as a former Test batsman as the tour manager, did not think of adding a fast bowler of the 1983 winning team to the army of technical personnel, appointing him as consultant to the seam bowlers in this squad. UNI

Better security for India tie promised

LEICESTER, May 18 (PTI) — Improved security measures have been promised by organisers of tomorrow’s India-Zimbabwe World Cup tie at the Grace Road Ground here to bring good news for Indian skipper Mohd Azharuddin and his men.

After serious security breaches which saw Azhar and Rahul Dravid jostled by a drunken fan of Asian origin at Hove after their four-wicket defeat to South Africa on Saturday and complaints from Aussie skipper Steve Waugh, authorities are finally trying to take more precautions.

Though bars at the ground will not be closed — one of the demands made to prevent drunken behaviour by fans — organisers will follow the advice of event manager Michael Browning to ensure there are enough Stewards present to guide players and officials to an exit point at the end of the match.

The security concern at Leicester has been heightened as the town has a large population of Indian origin and many more fans have already arrived to watch their favourite stars in action. All tickets for the match have already been sold out.

"We know what we are up against," said an official. "But we will do everything in our capacity to stop any ugly happening."

Still the organisers are a bit nervous as they have only once before hosted an international tie - the 1983 league tie between India and Zimbabwe which the former won by five wickets.

A strict parking regulation has also been enforced and the police is gearing up to check "suspect" vehicles to prevent any untoward incident.

"Parking restrictions, to say the least, are necessary to make sure emergency vehicles and other moving traffic can get through," sergeant Andy Chapman from Wigston police station under whose jurisdiction falls the venue, said.

Temporary traffic orders banning parking on streets near Leicestershire’s County Cricket Club’s ground will also be in operation for the match.

Carlos Moya suffers setback

DUESSELDORF (Germany), May 18 (Reuters) — Carlos Moya suffered a setback in his preparations for the defence of his French Open title when he was beaten 3-6, 6-1, 6-3 by Swede Thomas Enqvist at the World Team Cup yesterday.

Australian Open finalist Enqvist recovered from a sluggish start to record his third victory over the Spaniard in as many encounters.

Moya, who had already worried his fans in Rome last week when he lost to Argentine Franco Squillari in the third round of the Italian Open, was only a shadow of the man who triumphed on the Paris clay last spring.

Alex Corretja, who lost to Moya in last year’s French Open final, looked a lot fresher just a week before the start of the highlight of the clay-court season.

World number six Corretja, who lost to eventual winner Gustavo Kuerten of Brazil in the semifinals in Rome, beat Thomas Johansson 7-6, 6-1 to put Spain 1-0 up.

After needing a tie-break to win the first set, he broke Johansson in the opening game of the second set and cruised to victory.

Corretja, who took a break before the Italian Open, said he had been tired of tennis and needed a rest.

In the day’s other tie in the Duesseldorf tournament, which features eight top tennis nations, Mark Philippoussis gave Australia a 1-0 lead over Slovakia by beating Dominik Hrbaty 4-6, 7-6, 6-4.

World number 10 Philippoussis alternated clumsy errors and brilliant winners, booming aces and double faults before sealing victory.

He wasted two set points in the tie-break which ended the second set before taking it 8-6, with Hrbaty hitting a forehand into the net.

Both players held serve in the decisive set until Philippoussis managed the telling break to go 5-4 up and serve to wrap up the match.

1 shot as Pak youths celebrate win

MULTAN (Pakistan), May 18 (AFP) — A 14-year-old boy was shot dead yesterday as paramilitary troops opened fire on students celebrating the Pakistan team’s victory against the West Indies in the cricket World Cup, the police said.

The police said around 60 school students chanting "long live Pakistan" marched in Karor Pacca town, some 60 km south of the central Pakistani city of Multan.

When they reached a Shiite mosque soldiers of the Frontier Constabulary (FC) prevented them from chanting slogans leading to a scuffle during which one trooper opened fire hitting Nayyar Abbas in the chest, they said.

Officials said the soldier had been arrested.

The authorities have posted special guards outside the majority Sunni and minority Shiite community mosques at several places in Punjab where sectarian violence over the past two years has claimed more than 200 lives.

Hockey trials

JALANDHAR, May 18 (FOSR) — Trials to select the junior Haryana team will be held at the GMN College, Ambala Cantonment, on May 23 at 3 pm for the junior national hockey slated to be held at Pune from June 11 to 25, according to Olympian Sanjeev Kumar, joint secretary, Haryana Hockey Association.

Players born on or after January 1, 1979, are eligible to take part in the trials. Interested players may report to Mr Ram Gopal Singh, secretary of the association, with their date of birth certificates before the trials.

16 probables for coaching camp

HISAR, May 18 (FOSR) — The Haryana State Wrestling Association (HSWA) has selected 16 probables for coaching camp to train the state team for the third National Sub-Junior Freestyle Wrestling Championship for girls to be held at Nidani in Jind district of Haryana from June 3 to 7, according to a spokesman of the association here yesterday.

The trials were held at the local Mahabir Stadium on Sunday. The 15-days coaching camp will be held here from May 19.

The probables are 30kg Neetu and Rachna (Hisar); 40 kg-Meena (Bhiwani), Suman (Hisar); 43kg- Veena and Manju (Hisar); 46-kg-Sheel Jain and Seema Devi (Kurukshetra); 49 kg-Sunita and Neetu (Hisar); 52 kg-Kiran Jangrea and Asha (Hisar); 56 kg-Sunita and Praveen Kumar and 60 kg-Talwinder Kaur and Rajni (Hisar).

Patiala, Sangrur to clash in finals

SANGRUR, May 18 (FOSR) — Sangrur and Patiala will clash in the girls final in the Punjab State junior Kho-Kho Championships being hold at Mirheri, about 20 km from here. In the boys section Patiala will take on Ludhiana in the finals.

Holders Sangrur thrashed Ludhiana in the first semifinals in the girls section. Sangrur, who won 6-2 dominated through out and faced on resistance from Ludhiana. But the second semifinal between Patiala and Ropar was well contested. Patiala won 8-7. In the boys semifinals Ludhiana edged out Hoshiarpur 8-5 and Patiala defeated Sangrur 6-5.