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GUYANA CHRONICLE Monday June 27, 2016
Game-changing week looms for ICC THE future of international cricket could be transformed this week, as the most significant ICC annual conference in recent years gets underway in Edinburgh today. Delegates from more than 50 cricket nations will arrive in Scotland for six days of talks, with topics to be covered including a revamping of the world Test championship, changes to one-day international cricket, the use of technology and changes to the scheduling of World T20 tournaments. Here are four of the hot topics which will be covered over the next six days: A two-tier Test system A revamp of Test cricket could see the top seven Test nations competing in division one for the title of world Test champion. The second tier would be expanded to five teams (with inclusion in that division earned by the best performed associate nations) with promotion and relegation opportunities being decided across the concept’s two-year playing cycle. It could be played over two or four years, with a final to possibly be held at Lord’s.
Test series could still be scheduled outside of mandatory league fixtures, meaning the Ashes would still be possible should England and Australia end up in different divisions. A major revamp for oneday cricket One-day international
2019, each of the 13 teams would play a three-match series, either home or away, against every other country over a three-year period. At the end of the championship, the top two teams could play off in a final. Should the proposal go ahead, it could see Australia
side could be determined by the outcome of the 201517 World Cricket League Championship - the second tier of one-day cricket – a competition currently led by the Netherlands, while other teams include Scotland, Nepal, Hong Kong and Papua New Guinea.
month, including key changes to the decision review system. They are recommending the benefit of the doubt given to the batsman be reduced by half. Currently, 50 per cent of the ball has to be striking the stumps for a batsman to be given out lbw and overturn a
cricket could be completely revamped under a proposal from the ICC, which would see a new league of 13 teams introduced to give greater context and relevance to 50over contests. Under the proposal, which could begin as soon as
play more regular matches against associate nations including Afghanistan and Ireland. The current ICC oneday rankings table features 12 teams – the 10 full member nations plus Ireland and Afghanistan. The 13th
The league would also be used to determine qualification for the World Cup, as well as the seedings of teams. The team finishing on the bottom of the table could also face relegation to the WCLC. Changes to playing regulations, including DRS The ICC cricket committee have put forward a number of proposals from their meeting at Lord’s earlier this
not-out verdict by the on-field umpire. Under the new rules, only 25 per cent of the ball would need to be hitting the stump for a decision to be overturned. Research conducted by the ICC has shown that by changing it to 25 per cent, 80 per cent more batsmen would be given out on review. It was an issue that raised
‘Pressure? What pressure?,’ asks Williams at Wimbledon (REUTERS)-Serena Williams gave little away yesterday as she assessed her chances of retaining her Wimbledon title -- and dismissed suggestions that she is under any pressure. The 34-year-old American has not struck a ball competitively since losing to Spain’s Garbine Muguruza in the French Open final on June 4 - a defeat that frustrated her hopes of matching Steffi Graf’s professional era record of 22 grand slam titles. Considering she also fell at the final hurdle in Australia against Angelique Kerber and went out of the U.S. Open semi-finals last year when two wins away from a calendar grand slam, Williams would be forgiven for feeling a little edgy. But she was hiding any tension well to the world’s media on the eve of the tournament. “I don’t feel any pressure. I feel good and confident,” she said at the All England Club where she has won six singles titles, one more than her older sister Venus.
Williams never feels the need to play grasscourt warm-up tournaments, preferring instead to hit on the hardcourts back home before arriving in the week before the tournament. It is a tried and tested formula. “I got here, I think, on Monday. So I’ve had a lot
SERENA WILLIAMS of time on the grass. I did the same preparation, and it seems to work,” said Williams, who starts her campaign on Tuesday against 148th ranked Swiss qualifier Amra Sadikovic. Asked if she has found out anything about Sadikovic, she said: “Not yet.
But normally, my coach obviously does a lot of research, or the most that he can, then we go from there. “Honestly, it doesn’t matter who I play. It doesn’t matter to me.” While her approach is nonchalant, there are some who feel Williams’ struggle to match Graf’s record is playing on her mind. “It’s not easy to try to do what she’s doing, to make history at this stage,” threetimes Wimbledon champion John McEnroe said in the build-up. Another former champion Chris Evert reckons Williams is still the favourite but says other players are seeing a chink in her armour as she gets older. “In the last few years, she’s been good enough at 60 percent to 70 percent to win matches,” said the American, who will be commentating for the ESPN network along with McEnroe. “Now I don’t think it’s going to win matches for her. The competition has gotten better. They’re less intimidated by her. They know she’s human. They’ve seen a couple of bad losses.”
its head again at Lord’s earlier this month, when Sri Lanka legend Kumar Sangakkara vented his frustration after England batsman Jonny Bairstow survived a review by the narrowest of margins in the third Test. Extra World Twenty20 tournaments The popularity of the recent World T20 tournament in India is likely to result in the ICC continuing to hold the event every two years, as opposed to the scheduled four. Australia is set to host the next World T20 event in 2020, however the ICC is considering extra tournaments in 2018 and 2022, continuing the recent biennial trend. The locations and dates for the additional tournaments are yet to be determined, but South Africa, the West Indies and the United Arab Emirates are thought to be in the running. Such a move would also mean the ICC continue hosting a global cricket tournament each year, with the 2017 Champions Trophy and the 2019 World Cup – both 50over showpiece events – to each be staged in England. T h e 2 0 1 8 w o m e n ’s World T20 is already set to be hosted in the Caribbean, and the 2022 tournament in South Africa.
Thompson claims men’s 100m title TRINIDAD and Tobago sprinter Richard Thompson claimed the men’s 100m title at Saturday’s National Association for
Rondell Sorrillo who clocked 9.99, while dethroned national champions Keston Bledman was third in 10.10. Emmanuel Callender finished in fourth place and just outside the Olympic places in 10.19. In the women’s equivalent Michelle Lee-Ahye turned the table on Kelly-Ann Baptiste. Lee-Ahye clocked 11 seconds flat to claim the title, with Kelly-Ann Baptiste and Semoy Hackett, who
were given the same time of 11.07, nipping at her heels. Eighteen-year-old Khalifa St Fort set a new national record after finishing fourth in 11.16. Mikel Thomas successfully defended his men’s 110m hurdles title, clocking a time of 13.67 in a negative 1.0 wind, to beat Ruebin Walters of to the line in 13.70. Third was Aarmis Massenburg in 13.88. (Sportsmax.com)
CRICKET QUIZ CORNER (Monday June 27, 2016) TT sprinter Richard Thompson Athletic Administrations (NAAA) National Sagicor Senior Championships. Returning to his best after an injury plagued year, Thompson clocked 9.97s to claim the sprint crown in a blanket finish. In second spot was
COMPLIMENTS OF THE TROPHY STALL-Bourda Market & The City Mall (Tel: 225-9230) &AUDREY’S TASTY SNACKETTE-176 Charlotte Street, Georgetown (Tel: 226-4512)
Answers to yesterday’s quiz:
(1) Johnson Charles, Darren Bravo & Dinesh Ramdin (2) WI vs NZ, 1985
Today’s Quiz:
(1) Who was declared ‘Player of the Match’ in the first game of the just-concluded Tri-Nations series? (2) How many fours and sixes Marlon Samuels struck in his innings of 125 against Australia in Match #8 of the Tri-Nations series?
Answers in tomorrow’s issue