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The West Indies Cricket Board (WICB) is saying that recent reports of its bankruptcy are overstated.Reacting to last week’s CMC Sports report that implied the WICB was putting all its eggs in one basket and hoping for the windfall of the 2007 World Cup to bail it out of debt, the board responded: “The board is currently investing in preparations for hosting World Cup 2007, which is the third largest global sporting event after FIFA’s World Cup and the Olympic Games and on which US$22.0 million was invested as at September 30, 2005.”Adding that the consolidated financial statements used in the CMC report included the results of both the WICB Inc and the ICC Cricket World Cup West Indies 2007 (its 100 per cent owned subsidiary), the WICB said accounting standards require that the $22 million is not reflected as an investment in the balance sheet to be offset against the revenues from the event.”Without these amounts,” the WICB report stated, “the accumulated deficit in the consolidated accounts would reflect US$15 million, which has been fairly constant over the past four years and which is not going to increase in the current financial year.”It went on: “The board also wishes to draw attention to its improved performance in the current financial year which is expected to show a break-even position at year-end September 30, 2006, compared with a loss of US$6.5 million in the prior year.”Additionally, the board said steps have been taken by the WICB to reduce costs and to identify new lines of revenue, including the Windies Superball Lottery game to be launched in August 2006; the WICB Co-branded Credit Card; the ODIs to be held in conjunction with the Board of Control for Cricket in India; and the licencing and merchandising programme promoted in connection with the 2007 World Cup.According to the CMC Sports report, the financial statements indicated that the WICB and its World Cup subsidiary had incurred a net loss of US$19 million, during the year ended September 30, 2005.”And as of that date, it had accumulated a deficit of US$34 milion and the group’s current liability exceeded its current assets,” the report stated.

David Hussey has bounced back after being dropped by Victoria last summer © Getty Images

With the Test top order faltering, the Australian batsmen in the county ranks sent a host of reminders to the selectors during a round of big scoring in the County Championship. The Hussey brothers led the charge at Nottingham and Chester-le-Street with a double-century for David and a hundred and a half-century for Michael.David Hussey, the younger sibling, hit a career-best 232 to jump to third in the averages – his mark is the best of players with more than three games – with 1062 runs at 75.85 as Nottinghamshire thrashed Warwickshire by an innings and 151 runs on Tuesday. Hussey launched Notts’ 514 at Trent Bridge with a display of 22 fours and six sixes that was easily the highlight of a prolific season already including a century and seven fifties.Dropped by Victoria last summer, Hussey has hit back strongly in England and is one of the reasons his side hold a single-point advantage over Kent at the top of the Division One. However, he picked up only 9 in the wet draw against Middlesex at Trent Bridge, which finished on Saturday, and will be happy for a rest after back-to-back matches.Playing at Durham, Michael Hussey may be in a different class of competition, but he has been in equally good form and his side is also top of the table. In nine matches, three fewer than his brother, Hussey has 982 runs at an eerily similar average of 75.53. His haul was boosted by a first-innings 146 in the rain-affected draw against Leicestershire and another 61 in the second. Mick Lewis grabbed three wickets as Durham gave up a 128-run first-innings deficit.Andy Bichel’s blazing batting continued with 87 from No. 9 in the first innings of Hampshire’s tight Division One draw with Kent at Southampton. After making a century in the last match, Bichel swiped nine fours and two sixes in his 90-ball innings, and added seven wickets for the game. He was dismissed for 2 as Hampshire finished at 8 for 241 chasing 307. It was a quieter match for Shane Watson, who added 16 and 30 to two second-innings victims, and Hampshire are now third.Phil Jaques’s summer of plunder showed no signs of stopping with 106 in Yorkshire’s rainy Division Two draw with Somerset at Taunton. But Jaques was overshadowed by Somerset’s Matthew Wood, who made 297 in a total of 581. In the second innings Jaques reached only 14, which was his lowest score in 10 innings, but Yorkshire are still second in the push for promotion.At Northampton, Martin Love followed an opening 2 with 177 as Northamptonshire swept past Derbyshire by 182 runs. Forty-five behind Jaques, the division’s leading scorer, on 1114 runs, Love picked up his fourth hundred of the season while Damien Wright scored 22 and 43 and delivered three wickets. The horrible run for Derbyshire, who are 40 points adrift of the field, gathered another loss as Jon Moss struggled for 0 and 6 and Michael Di Venuto picked up 43 and 47. However, Di Venuto scored 129 from 131 balls the next day to set up a three-run win over the leaders Sussex in the National League Division Two.

Andrew Hall picked up four cheap wickets as Worcestershire ran through Leicestershire to win by 124 runs at Oakham School. Earlier, Vikram Solanki scored 101 to lift Worcestershire to an imposing total of 261 for 8. Glamorgan further cemented their position at the top of Division One with a 33-run win over Gloucestershire at Swansea. Robert Croft lead the way with a blazing 68 off only 45 balls opening the innings, and he then picked up two wickets as Gloucestershire were bowled out for 217. An outstanding knock of 146 from Andrew Symonds had Lancashire chasing 301 at Tunbridge Wells. They fought all the way, but with only Stuart Law passing 50, were bowled out for 245. Elsewhere, there were wins for Northamptonshire and Middlesex. An unbeaten 96 from Martin van Jaarsveld helped Northants to an easy win over Essex, and Ed Joyce scored 74 to sink Derbyshire. Neil Killeen took 4 for 24 for Durham as they beat Scotland by 25 runs at Chester-le-Street, while Nick Knight failed to take his Championship form into Warwickshire’s game against Hampshire at The Rose Bowl. He scored 27 before being caught and bowled by Shaun Udal as his team fell 28 runs short, chasing 241. Somerset went down by just six runs against Sussex at Hove. A tight final over from James Kirtley restricted Somerset to 224 for 7 after Murray Goodwin helped Sussex to 230 with 81.

National League Division One

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Glamorgan maintain momentum – The Telegraph
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Mascarenhas makes his case – The Telegraph
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Symonds rocks to raw power – The Guardian
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Essex made to suffer by van Jaarsveld – The Times

National League Division Two

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Shoaib struggles for allrounder status – The Times
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Sixth defeat leaves Derbyshire gloomy – The Times
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Daring Solanki puts Foxes off the scent – The Times
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Calamitous Somerset hand Sussex victory – The Times

New Zealand’s tour of Sri Lanka is all go at this stage and it appears it would take a severe downturn in the SARS situation to stop it.New Zealand Cricket’s chief executive Martin Snedden, whose time at the helm has been tumultuous to say the least with his start occurring only a month before the September 11 attacks on New York, Washington and Pennsylvania with his team en route to a tour of Pakistan, has taken expert advice on the SARS threat.The situation was being treated seriously by New Zealand Cricket and players are to be briefed before leaving New Zealand next week.”At the moment Sri Lanka is SARS free.”The only possible risk to the team is in transit or at Singapore Airport where the team will stop over for four hours. We have received advice on sensible precautions to take during the stopover and aboard the plane,” he said.”According to expert advice there is little risk of contact with an infected person during the short stop over or on the flight.”We will continue to monitor the situation and to take appropriate precautions,” he said.

Rev. Wes Hall Photo © WICB

The Rev. Wesley (Wes) Hall, 67, and Valentine (Val) Banks, 51, were today confirmed as the new president and vice president of the West Indies Cricket Board (WICB). Hall and Banks who were the only nominees for the two top jobs in West Indies cricket, received their confirmation during a meeting of the WICB directors at the Savannah Hotel in Barbados.During a press conference which followed their confirmation, Hall said that he “understands the concerns about the diminishing fortunes of the West Indies team,” and promised that under his watch the WICB would be “more responsive to its 6 million constituents in the West Indies.”In outlining his vision for the future of West Indies cricket, Hall said that he did not intend to implement wholesale changes to the Rousseau regime’s strategic plan for the WICB. Instead, he said that he would like to improve on them in the best interest of West Indies cricket. The new president also said that he would be “reaching out to (Pat) Rousseau and (Clarvis) Joseph” in an effort to start the healing process.The new president also spoke about creating a “cricket friendly climate” in the West Indies cricket, and believes that the WICB should be able to stand up to the “glare and scrutiny of the West Indies people.” He further stated that the WICB would be “more transparent as unpalatable as it may be at times”. Hall said that he would like to see the game “returned to the people.”Speaking on the WICB’s plans for the 2007 World Cup, Hall said that he hoped that Chris Dehring, CEO of WWC 2007 – a wholly owned company of the WICB – could be released as soon as possible, which will allow him to concentrate fully on those preparations. Hall said that the WICB is aware of the enormity of the task.

Val Banks Photo © WICB

On the question of putting a retainer system in place for West Indies players, Hall said that in as much as this is desirable, the lack of funds has been the main reason for this system not being implemented by the WICB. He however expressed his hope that it (retainer system) could become a reality in the future.Hall confirmed that the WICB was in a transition period, with several key persons at the board’s secretariat either resigning or whose positions have been made redundant. He said that he expected that the WICB would be out of this transition period within a month’s time.Hall and Banks filled the two top positions in West Indies, which became vacant after former president and vice presidnet – Pat Rousseau and Clarvis Joseph – resigned in acrimonious circumstances on 2nd June, following a decision to reinstate the then fired West Indies team manager, Ricky Skerritt.Hall was a former West Indies fast bowler, chairman of selectors and team manager of the West Indies team. While Banks, who is the current president of the Leeward Islands Cricket Association (LICA), is expected to relinquish that position ahead of LICA’s annual general meeting in November.

Despite being lauded as one of the signings of the season and an example of transfer genius by Tottenham manager Harry Redknapp, the press have already begun to speculate about Rafael van van der Vaart’s long term future at White Hart Lane.

The Dutchman has proved a talismanic figure scoring 14 goals in 34 appearances and been instrumental in Tottenham’s run to the Quarter Finals of the Champions League. Whilst he has been quieter of late, he is still a crucial figure as Tottenham rebuild their squad next season and look to qualify for Champions League football once more.

Redknapp’s method of playing van der Vaart has only allowed the side to field one striker for much of the season. With Tottenham clearly on the hunt for a World Class forward capable of delivering 20-plus goals a season, certain journalists have begun to speculate that such a striker would be incompatible with the former Real Madrid man and that his days at Spurs could be numbered. But this is a player with vast experience who has galvanised an otherwise youthful side. Could this speculation simply be attributed to idle journalists looking for headlines?

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Admittedly English football is lacking in groundbreaking headlines at the time of writing. With the title all but won by Manchester United following their defeat of Chelsea, the only other shock on the pitch this weekend was Arsenal’s defeat by Stoke. With the Alejandro Faurlín saga at QPR seemingly settled and their promotion to the Premier League confirmed, it is only natural that the tabloids look for outlandish stories to fill their pages.

The speculation regarding van der Vaart might well have no substance to it at all, but in drawing a response and reaction from readers, whether positive or negative, the tabloids have succeeded in their writing. In today’s press environment heavily populated with tabloids and various forms of new media, it is those publications that go against the tide of public opinion and question the norm that draw more attention and, with it, more readers.

Unfortunately, however, speculation can have an adverse affect on players and clubs alike. Even the most professional individuals can have their heads turned by transfer speculation and become unsettled, whilst it can also be used as a bargaining tool by agents hoping to negotiate pay rises for their clients.

In this case, however, Tottenham fans will surely be hoping that it is a case of smoke without fire and that van der Vaart is merely another victim of headline generation. A class performer following his last-minute switch last summer, Spurs fans warmed quickly to the Dutchman. Whilst the side are not without other star players he would be a huge loss to Tottenham. Admittedly the side do need new star striker, but Redknapp would surely look to one that could play alongside the likes of van der Vaart, Gareth Bale and Luka Modric.

And what of the press speculators? With the summer transfer window fast approaching and many sides looking to overhaul their playing staff, expect to see the press take advantage of this fantastic opportunity to generate headlines as players across the country are repeatedly linked with new clubs. Whether there is any major news elsewhere in the World of football will surely define how active the speculators are and whether any of these rumours actually have any substance to them.

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FootballFanCast.com WORLD Exclusive, Robbie Savage Face in a baby Scan

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Surrey have been rebuffed in their approach to appoint Paul Farbrace, England’s assistant coach, as successor to Graham Ford*. Ford has agreed a second spell in charge of Sri Lanka but ESPNcricinfo understands that Farbrace has turned down the chance to join Surrey.After the departure of Ford – a move that was flagged last summer – Surrey’s loss could have become England’s loss. Farbrace emerged as the top target to take over at Surrey and was contacted with a view to discussing the role. Instead, he has signed a new contract with the ECB.Farbrace has been a key figure in the England revival. It was during his interim period in charge that the England limited-overs squad reinvented themselves after a wretched World Cup performance and, with his relaxed yet high-energy approach, he has played a huge role in improving the environment around the squad. Liked, trusted and respected by the players, Farbrace is the dominant figure in training sessions and has been credited with creating a dressing room environment that is relaxed but focused. His departure would have been a considerable loss.But, like many of the England backroom staff, Farbrace has wearied of the relentless schedule that sees them spend more than 300 days each year in hotels. The offer may have come a little early – the England camp are quietly excited about the possibilities this side has of rising up the Test rankings and competing in global events such as the 2017 Champions Trophy and the 2019 World Cup – but the prospect of working at a large club with a group of highly talented young players and having the opportunity to spend far more of the year in one place would have been tempting. Surrey are also one of very few clubs who could exceed the salary offered by England.Farbrace joined the England set-up in 2014, as assistant to Peter Moores, after briefly coaching Sri Lanka. His stock has continued to grow alongside Trevor Bayliss, England’s current head coach, and it is understood he was on Sri Lanka’s short list before the re-appointment of Ford.With Farbrace declining Surrey’s interest, Graham Thorpe is among those likely to be targeted. Thorpe, a former Surrey player and currently the ECB’s lead batting coach, is another who has tired of touring. Though his current role allows him to remain in England for much of the year, a chance to return to The Oval might prove hard to refuse.Meanwhile, Ottis Gibson, England’s bowling coach, was informally approached by Glamorgan with a view to applying for the coaching role vacated by Toby Radford, but is understood to have declined.2pm GMT – This story was updated after Farbrace declined Surrey’s approach

The Pakistan Cricket Board has switched the venues for two of the ODIs against South Africa, citing a lack of cricket facilities in Peshawar and Rawalpindi as reason for the change. However, sources close to the PCB said the fragile security situation in both cities was behind the decision.The match previously fixed for Peshawar will now be played at Lahore, while the game scheduled to take place at Rawalpindi will take place at Karachi.While Zakir Khan, the PCB’s director of operations, insisted there as no issue with security, it is widely reported that the South Africans had expressed concern. Peshawar has been a security concern for foreigners with its close proximity to Afghan border, while a spate of suicide bomb attacks have targeted security forces in the north west since the government raided a radical mosque in Islamabad, which is close to Rawalpindi, last month.Khan maintained the stadium at Peshawar lacked international-level facilities. “A PCB official has ascertained facilities in Peshawar which were not as per the international standards and that’s why we shifted the match. As far as the Rawalpindi match was concerned, the stadium there too needs some refurbishment and we hope to get it ready for next year’s Champions Trophy.”

Division One

Darren Lehmann cracked a fine century as the honours were shared between Yorkshire and Lancashire on the opening day of the Roses clash at Old Trafford. Mark Chilton made the surprising decision to bowl first and Yorkshire were just one wicket down at lunch. However, Glen Chapple and Tom Smith fought back after the break as Yorkshire slipped to 164 for 5, although no one could shift Lehmann. He added 103 with his South Australia team-mate, Jason Gillespie, and support from the lower order helped him push the total past 300 as he reached his fourth Championship century of the season.Three half-centuries ensured Middlesex formed a useful first-innings total against Hampshire at Lord’s. Owais Shah led the way with 91 before he became one of Shane Warne’s three victims. Dimitri Mascarenhas had struck twice with the new ball, leaving Shah and Ed Joyce to steady the innings with a stand of 103. Jamie Dalrymple struck an aggressive 40 then Scott Styris took over with 63 off 104 balls. Warne used seven bowlers and ended the day with the best figures, but Hampshire really need to force a win in this match to stay in touch with Lancashire and Sussex at the top of the table.Luke Parker hit his first Championship half-century of the season as Warwickshire fought back against Nottinghamshire at Edgbaston. Despite 81 from Ian Westwood, Warwickshire slipped from 142 for to 180 for 5 with Mark Ealham and Ryan Sidebottom in the wickets. But Parker and Tim Ambrose joined forces to lead the fightback as they added 106 for the sixth wicket. Parker missed the chance to convert his 73 into a century when he was trapped lbw by Graeme Swann shortly before the close.

Division Two

Chris Rogers struck an electric career-best double-century as Northamptonshire flayed the Gloucestershire attack all over Northampton. He and Stephen Peters added 179 for the first wicket but that was only the start of the carnage. With Usman Afzaal playing the anchor role, he and Rogers then added 203, with Rogers sailing past the 200 mark. The Gloucestershire bowlers had a day to forget, especially Will Rudge who went at nearly seven-an-over, although at least he picked up one of the rare wickets on offer.Anil Kumble followed his eleven wickets against Northamptonshire last week with another bag of five as Surrey bowled Worcestershire out for 304 at Worcester. The home side were well placed at 138 for 1, with Phil Jaques in typically flamboyant form, when Kumble removed Vikram Solanki. His leg-spinning partner, Ian Salisbury, then removed Jaques and Worcestershire stumbled 192 for 5. Daryl Mitchell held the lower order together with a fighting half-century, but given Surrey’s batting power they will expect to overhaul the total.Steve Stubbings held Derbyshire together on the first day against Somerset at Derby but fell three runs short of a century. Travis Birt also hit a 63-ball 50 and the home side were well placed on 222 for 3. However, Cameron White and Charl Willoughby cut through the middle and lower order as Derbyshire fell to 316 all out. But after a brief stoppage for bad light, Steffan Jones hit back to remove Matthew Wood and leave the match interestingly poised.

Opener Trevor Gripper hit a century and Grant Flower scored an unbeaten half-century as Mashonaland launched a resilient comeback on the second day of their Logan Cup inter-provincial cricket tournament against Matabeleland at Queens Sports Club on Saturday.Gripper scored 104 with Flower 89 not out as Mashonaland, in reply to Matabeleland’s first-innings score of 411, closed the day on 335 for the loss of four wickets. The two were complemented by Dion Ebrahim and captain Tatenda Taibu who scored half-centuries each.Earlier in the morning, Matabeleland could only add 21 runs to their overnight score of 391 for six wickets. Mluleki Nkala, yet to open his account, was back in the pavilion in the first over of the day, when he nicked a Douglas Hondo delivery to be caught behind by Tatenda Taibu. Hondo took another wicket in the same over, trapping left-handed Keith Dabengwa lbw for a duck.Barney Rogers added ten runs to his overnight score of 133 before he was dismissed by Hondo when he played a powerful square drive off the pace bowler. Grant Flower tried to get his hands on it and the ball slipped through but Dion Ebrahim was there to take the catch to get rid of Rogers for 143.Last man in Jordane Nicolle did not last either, falling to Trevor Gripper when he skied a delivery from the spinner, which presented Elton Chigumbura, fielding at silly mid-on, with an easy catch and Nicolle was out for a duck. Wisdom Siziba was left unbeaten with 12 runs as Matabeleland were shot out for 411 from 104 overs.Hondo was the pick of the Mashonaland bowlers with a haul of four wickets at the cost of 94 runs from 27 overs, with four maidens. Waddington Mwayenga, Amos Maungwa, Craig Evans and Trevor Gripper grabbed one wicket apiece.In reply, Mashonaland opened with Stuart Carlisle and Trevor Gripper, with skipper Heath Streak and Mluleki Nkala taking the new ball for Matabeleland. At first they wasted it with inaccurate bowling.The Mashonaland opening partnership yielded only 36 runs when Heath Streak clean bowled Carlisle for nine runs, with the ball hitting the off stump and breaking it in the process.Dion Ebrahim joined Gripper and the score started ticking along as the twotook advantage of some loose bowling from Nkala, while Streak kept it tight on the other end. The Matabeleland skipper proved inexpensive, despite spraying the balls all over the show like confetti at a party.Gripper went on to get his half-century from 51 balls after staying at the crease for 87 minutes and dispatching ten fours in the process. The tall opener reached his century after 181 minutes at the crease, facing 119 balls and scoring 18 fours. However he could add only four runs to his ton as he was dismissed by left arm spinner Keith Dabengwa, caught at first slip by Mark Vermeulen for 104, which came off 122 balls.Grant Flower joined Ebrahim as the bid to avoid a follow-on continued and the two put on 23 for the third wicket before Ebrahim was run out for 59 attempting a quick single. Ebrahim called but Flower remained rooted to his crease with Ebrahim already half-way down the track. Streak threw the ball in for wicketkeeper Wisdom Siziba to finish off the run out before Ebrahim could make his ground.Skipper Tatenda Taibu joined Flower and the two restored the Mashonaland innings, putting on 189 runs for the fourth wicket, which is the highest partnership so far in the match. Flower reached the half-century mark after facing o 60 balls with six fours and two sixes in 66 minutes. Taibu achieved the same feat after 119 minutes at the crease, facing 114 balls and smashing six fours and a six.Streak grabbed his second wicket when he had Taibu given out leg before wicket for 65. The Matabeleland skipper was the pick of the bowlers with two wickets, conceding 47 runs with five maidens from 16 overs.