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Scott Newman is imperious on his way to an unbeaten 65 on the first day © Jenny Thompson

Rain and bad light were the only things that could stop Surrey’s openers today. Scott Newman and Jon Batty moved their side to 126 without loss when inclement weather put paid to proceedings; bottom-placed Worcestershire were delighted to go off.Newman, the man they nickname Ronaldo, showed skills every bit as silky as the footballer en route to a chanceless fifty. More than once did the left-handed Newman open his shoulders and dispatch the wayward stuff, not to mention the better stuff, too. He particularly favoured the offside and was brutal around the coverpoint area. He and Batty strolled steadily at three an over.The battle of the Battys was bossed by the batsman, Jon, who refused to succumb to any of the tantalizing stuff offered by Gareth as Worcestershire searched in vain for the sniff of a chance. Batty and Kabir Ali put the most pressure on the batsmen when they were bowling in tandem, shortly before lunch, yet all they could elicit was the odd edge which fell short – there were sniffs, but no chances.Just after the resumption Vikram Solanki turned to Zaheer Khan and Matt Mason, but again to no avail. Then rain had the final say – and, with more bad weather due to follow, this could be Worcestershire’s hope of their first draw this season.In fact, across the country it was much the same story – a good day for batsmen and good weather for ducks.In the other second division match, Michael di Venuto was well in sight of his 34th first-class hundred when rain put paid to proceedings for the day at Derby. Steve Stubbings was on course for his fifty, he had made 38 of an unbeaten opening stand of 130 as Derbyshire bossed proceedings against Leicestershire.In division one, Durham‘s Jimmy Maher was the only faller in the 37.5 overs that were possible at Trent Bridge. Paul Franks claimed the wicket for Notts, caught by Jason Gallian after Maher had made 33 in a solid opening stand of 62. His partner was John Lewis, who reached 36 not out before play was called off, with Durham 88 for 1.
Headingley was the only venue where at least two full sessions of play were possible. Lancashire piled up 417 for 9 on what is the second day of their match, before making a tea-time declaration against Yorkshire – which proved the end of the day as stumps were called early. Stuart Law joined Mal Loye as Lancashire’s second centurion, romping to 101 from 144 balls. His knock included 17 fours. Loye added 25 to his overnight score before falling for 138, Tim Bresnan’s third victim.

Darren Lehmann: ‘I’m 33 and I’m not getting younger’ © Getty Images

Not so long ago, it wasn’t unusual to find international cricketers still playing as they neared 40, and in several instances well into their forties. Less than a decade ago, Graham Gooch was still England’s No. 1 opener at the age of 41, and last month Alec Stewart played his last match as England’s first-choice keeper at 40.But top-flight cricket is increasingly seen as a young man’s game – well, at least it is by selectors. Whereas the early thirties used to be viewed as being near a player’s peak (often later for spin bowlers), now they are almost on the scrapheap when they turn 30.Against that backdrop, Darren Lehmann admitted to reporters that he feared that by missing the second Test against Zimbabwe and the forthcoming one-day series in India because of an Achilles tendon injury, he might be considered too old to persevere with by the selectors. Lehmann is 33.He had hoped to play in the Test – he admitted that he was not up to the demands of a one-day match – before an MRI scan revealed that he had a tear in the tendon that he risked rupturing were he to put any stress on it. “As the doctor said, if it did rupture that is probably it,” Lehmann shrugged. “No play again.” He now faces six weeks in a plastic boot and an enforced lay-off until the end of November.It is perhaps ironic for a man with no reputation as a keep-fit fanatic that Lehmann’s injury came not on the cricket field but on the running track. “I just had too much exercise for my frame,” he admitted. “I should’ve stayed how I was for the last 15 years instead of doing the right thing for a change.” The pressure to maintain fitness increases with each birthday.Lehmann’s form of late has been excellent, with three centuries in his last six Tests, but he is aware that the vultures are circling in the form of talented – and crucially younger – batsmen. Martin Love, who was dropped recently following the return of Damien Martyn, is 29 and highly rated. Michael Clarke is 22 and ever more highly regarded. Lehmann is a worried man. “Yeah, you would be, too,” he said. “I’m 33 and I’m not getting younger.”All Lehmann can do is hobble round and wait. If one of his replacements plays well, then it will be increasingly hard for him to force his way back into the side, especially when the team contains Steve Waugh, another geriatric who is subjected to endless questions about his age and appetite for the game as if anyone over 35 had no right to be walking, let alone playing sport.”Obviously things had been going really well over the last two years and now it’s back to square one,” Lehmann said. The reality is that it could be worse than just being back to square one.

Among those few fans who give a toss, all eyes will be on the toss when Australia play Zimbabwe in Harare this evening. If Australia bat first no record looks safe; if they bowl it should make for swift and excruciating viewing.Much will depend on the zest of Australia’s captain Ricky Ponting. On the eve of his team’s departure for Zimbabwe 12 days ago, he made ruthlessness his motto. “One thing I’ll stress to the players,” he said back then, “is that we’re there to play the best cricket we possibly can. If that means the games are over pretty quickly then so be it.”Since then, the two scheduled Tests have been abandoned – due to fears of a mismatch, not a miscarriage of justice – and the Australians have appeared increasingly queasy about playing against what amounts to a fourth-string Zimbabwe XI. Ponting, in particular, has softened his take-no-prisoners stance, suggesting that slaughtering minnows is not such wonderful sport after all and that teams such as Zimbabwe should be rubbed out of mainstream international cricket. Several players are reportedly irritated that the three one-dayers were not scrapped too.”The ICC has drawn a line between Test cricket and one-day cricket to maintain the value of Test cricket,” said Tim May, chief executive of the Australian Cricketers Association. “The players’ association does not see or agree with the ICC view.”Still, from disagreement may well come dismantlement, disdain, disaster. Should Australia bat first and heed Ponting’s instructions to play their best possible cricket, the worst possible carnage seems inevitable. Highest team total in a one-day international is up for grabs; Sri Lanka’s 5 for 398 against Kenya in 1995-96 is the present record, while Australia’s personal best is the 2 for 359 they helter-skeltered against India in the last World Cup final.And Zimbabwe’s weakest link, despite the fact they were skedaddled for 35 against Sri Lanka on this same ground one month ago, would seem to be their attack. In five matches they dismissed only 22 Sri Lankan batsmen. For the Australian series they have brought in two 19-year-old quicks: Waddington Mwayenga, who has one previous ODI (figures 9-0-74-0) to his name, and the left-armer Ed Rainsford, who has none. Both were left out of today’s game and a largely unchanged side retained.The chances of Australia becoming the first side to crack the 400-run barrier do not seem altogether remote. Manage that and the heftiest ever victory margin – currently the 256 runs by which Ponting’s men knocked off Namibia in the last World Cup – looks a formality.The one great unknown is how quickly the Australians can click into top gear after nearly two weeks of fishing, trekking around game parks and watching TV. But as Adam Gilchrist joked in his newspaper column this morning: “To be honest, the boys shouldn’t find the adjustment too hard as it feels as if white balls are about all we’ve seen this trip – golf balls.”Australia plan to rotate all 14 players during the three matches. They will name their first-up XI just before the start of today’s game.For those interested, Fox Sports 2 will broadcast the wreckage live from 5.20pm (AEST). For everyone else, as they say in the trade, please look away now.

The Somerset Cricket Board in conjunction with Somerset Active Sports have issued an invitation to all young cricketers, both boys and girls, between the ages of nine and fourteen years old to go along and take part in one of their coaching courses.The courses that last for ten weeks have just got underway and are taking place at centres right across the county.An open invitation to all says: "If you’re keen on cricket, thanks to Sport England Active Sports and the Stroud and West Building Society West Of England Premier League, you can be part of a comprehensive cricket coaching programme designed to give young cricketers like yourself the chance to be best you can beright up to junior county level."Somerset Cricket Board Development Officer Andrew Moulding told me: "These courses are proving to be very popular with both boys and girls. We are hoping that once the young cricketers have completed their ten week course that they will go along and join a local club and take part in one of the junior competitions that we run across the county."The course are being held at Bridgwater, Burnham on Sea, Chard, Glastonbury, Langport, Minehead, Shepton Mallet, Taunton,Wells and Yeovil, and cost £20 for the ten sessions. Any young cricketer who wants to find out more about the scheme should contact Mr Moulding on 01823 352266.

ECB Premier Division 1BAT Sports 156-3 (37.1 overs) (Carson 53 n.o.) v Havant
Match abandoned as a drawBurridge 198-7 (21pts) (Hawkins 51, Jackson 41, Francis 39, Wheatley 2-34)
Liphook & Ripsley (rain reduced target 155 off 28) 102-9 (6pts) (Jansen 25, Wright 21, Godwin 4-29, Ancell 3-22)
Burridge won by 57 runsSouth Wilts 82-8 (36 overs)(Caines 21 n.o., Woodhouse 21, Warren 3-18) v Bournemouth
Match abandoned as a drawMatches postponed: Bashley (Rydal) v Hungerford, Calmore Sports v AndoverPremier Division 2OT & Romsey 172-7 (22pts) (Smith 49, Rapley 25, K Trodd 22, Ball 3-39, Mariner 3-48)
Sparsholt 81 (5pts) (target 124 off 25) (Richings 35, Ord 6-33, Wood 4-18)
Old Tauntonians & Romsey won by 48 runsMatches postponed: Easton and Martyr Worthy v Lymington, Portsmouth v Cove, Trojans v Old Basing, U.S.Portsmouth v HambledonPremier Division 3All matches postponed
Flamingo v Bashley (Rydal) II, Havant II v New Milton, Hursley Park v Portsmouth II, Leckford v Alton, Lymington II v Winchester K.S., Paultons v Hook and Newnham Basics, Rowledge v Gosport Borough, St.Cross Symondians v U.S.Portsmouth II, Waterlooville v Purbrook

Celtic manager Wilfried Nancy is very quickly learning about the intense pressure that comes with managing the Scottish Premiership giants after losing his first four matches.

The Hoops board, however, have put their support behind the new head coach, despite an unprecedentedly poor start to his reign, and are not looking to sack him already.

Nancy is the first manager in Celtic’s history to lose his first four games as a manager, just as he was the first manager to lose his first three games in charge, but he has the support of those above him.

Why Celtic should consider sacking Wilfried Nancy

If the Hoops do not produce a positive result against Aberdeen at Parkhead on Sunday, the Scottish giants should seriously consider ending his time at the club already.

His attempts to implement a 3-4-2-1 system have been dismal, as evidenced by the results, and the second half against Dundee United could be used as evidence for why it is not a formation that suits Celtic’s domestic standing.

The system worked early on when Dundee United pressed high, providing the wing-backs with space in behind to stretch the game, and they created chances, including the goal scored by Daizen Maeda, as a result of that.

However, when Jim Goodwin tightened his defence up and United dropped into a low-block, especially after they went 2-1 up, Celtic found it hard to break them down and create chances.

In a 4-3-3 or 4-2-3-1 formation, you can push both full-backs on and create overloads centrally and out wide to break down a low block, moving them side to side, but that is not as easy in a 3-4-2-1 because of the back three. Instead of having two centre-backs distributing the ball to break down that block, Celtic had Liam Scales, Auston Trusty, and Anthony Ralston passing to each other across the halfway line.

When one of those did move forward to help the attack, it meant that the Hoops were relying on central defender Liam Scales’ crossing ability to find an equaliser, which did not work out.

With Nancy’s system seemingly being unsuited to what Celtic need domestically, it may already be time to end his reign to appoint Kjetil Knutsen instead.

Why Celtic should appoint Kjetil Knutsen

The Bodo/Glimt boss was reportedly one of the frontrunners to replace Brendan Rodgers before the job eventually went to Nancy, and they should revisit that interest if they decide to part ways with the Frenchman.

Knutsen, who favours a 4-3-3 formation (Transfermarkt), just finished second in the Eliteserien with Bodo/Glimt, missing out by just one point in the 2025 campaign.

Whilst missing out on a title may not scream ‘perfect Celtic manager’, the Norwegian head coach’s overall career with Bodo/Glimt shows that he has the coaching nous to be an excellent appointment.

Nancy had only won the MLS Cup once in his managerial career, which came in 2023 with Columbus Crew, who had previously won the title in 2020 and 2008 under different managers, per Transfermarkt.

Knutsen, however, took over a Bodo/Glimt side that had never been champions of Norway and has won four Eliteserien titles in his time in charge of the club.

Season

Knutsen (Eliteserien)

Nancy (MLS)

2025

2nd

7th

2024

1st

2nd

2023

1st

3rd (MLS Cup winners)

2022

2nd

2nd

2021

1st

10th

2020

1st

N/A

Stats via Transfermarkt

As you can see in the table above, the Norwegian boss has been far more successful in domestic football as a manager, with a club, in Bodo/Glimt, that had less success than Columbus Crew had before their respective managers took over.

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Knutsen, whose former captain Bodo/Glimt Ulrik Saltnes described his playing style as “kamikaze”, also plays attacking football with a 4-3-3 system, as his team scored 85 goals in 30 league games in 2025, per Sofascore.

He could also be an upgrade on Nancy because of his experience in Europe. The Bodo/Glimt tactician reached the semi-finals of the Europa League last season and qualified for the league phase of the Champions League this term, something Celtic failed to do under Rodgers.

Whereas Nancy’s only match in European football to date was the 3-0 loss to Roma in his second match in charge of the Scottish giants last week.

Related Celtic now making enquiries for new manager in the hours since Lawwell exit

Nancy’s disastrous start became even worse in midweek.

Posts 1 ByTom Cunningham

Therefore, Knutsen could come in as an immediate upgrade on the current Celtic boss because of his style, playing a four-defender system that is better suited to breaking down low blocks, his history of winning league titles, and his experience in Europe.

	Shane Watson: the new Flintoff? (file photo) © Getty Images

Hero to zero: A huge cheer greets Rahul Dravid before he faced hisfirst ball. It turned out to be the only delivery he faced too, as hismiscued pull went straight to deep square leg. His international record inBangalore is a wretched one, and there’s been no reversal of fortune inthe IPL either.No pulling power: The Bangalore boys were on the pull as eagerly asbachelors on a Friday night, and most of them met the same fate -dejection. Dravid was followed by Jacques Kallis and Ross Taylor inperishing to the cross-bat swish across the line. No, those pristinecheerleaders weren’t impressed either.Six or out?: In backyard games, six-and-out is a popular form ofdismissal, and the source of much argument. There was a similar situation atthe Chinnaswamy Stadium after Virat Kohli walloped a delivery fromSiddharth Trivedi to deep midwicket. His Under-19 team-mate, RavindraJadeja, made ground to his left before a big leap, grab and acrobaticroll near the boundary. Though he made the catch his handjust brushed the plastic that covered the rope. After all that effort, it was a six.Praveen the spoiler: Shane Warne had immaculate figures of 2-1-2-1at one stage, but a streaky straight six and a huge biff over midwicketruined them somewhat. But for Praveen’s big hitting, the RoyalChallengers’ embarrassment would have been as acute as it was on theopening day.Home leggie turns it on: After missing the first two games, AnilKumble finally played his first IPL game. A huge roar went up when Dravidgave him the ball after the seventh over, and though Shane Watson clubbedhis first two balls for four, what followed was typical Kumble. Accurateand persistent, he was the only consolation in another poor effort fromthe home side.Is Manpower the new Flintoff?: In Kuala Lampur 18 months ago,Matthew Hayden jokingly suggested that Watson could be part of Manpower.It appears though that the man himself as loftier ambitions. “I’d love tobe the next Flintoff,” he said before his last injury crisis and a superbunbeaten 61 to follow a tidy spell of 2 for 20 was a good way to reinforcehis status as the IPL’s bargain of the season ($125,000).

Scott Newman clips a boundary during his 89 but Surrey fell to a crushing defeat at The Oval © Martin Williamson

Steve Harmison completed an eight-wicket match haul as Durham made short work of Worcestershire on the final day at New Road. With just four wickets left, it was only a matter of time before the home side folded. When Gareth Batty fell to the brotherly combination of the Harmison’s – Steve’s fifth wicket – the tail didn’t hang around long. Callum Thorp wrapped up the innings with three wickets and Durham bagged 20 points.It took Sussex less than 19 overs to knock off the 56 runs they needed to comprehensively beat Kent at Hove and open their Championship defence with a 22-point win. Richard Montgomerie completed an outstanding match, finishing undefeated on 33.Yorkshire showed their winter problems are well behind them with a crushing 346-run win over Surrey at The Oval. Scott Newman offered the lone resistance, falling 11 short of his second century of the match, although he benefited from the attacking fields as plenty of his runs came down to third man. When Newman was seventh out the other batsmen had contributed just 36 runs. Darren Gough took another three wickets, including Rikki Clarke who shouldered arms, but the leading performer was Matthew Hoggard as he found movement to remove the middle order. A decent crowd had turned out, but the Surrey fans among them will have left disappointed. Life back in the top flight hasn’t started well. “We could surprise a few teams this year along the way if we play this sort of cricket,” Gough said. “The body language was excellent throughout. I’m not saying we’ll play like that every game. We’re going to lose games but hopefully we’ll win games also.”Mal Loye’s century ensured Lancashire left Edgbaston with draw despite Warwickshire‘s dominance of more than half the match. After not enforcing the follow on yesterday Gary Keedy had opened up the chance of a turnaround, but Warwickshire’s lower order extended the lead on the final morning before setting a target of 347 with Tim Ambrose’s half century. Alex Loudon struck early with his off spin, but a stand of 91 between Loye and Stuart Law guided Lancashire through the final session.

Nottinghamshire, the division two favourites, laid down an early marker with a nine-wicket win against Leicestershire at Trent Bridge. The visitors led by 67 with five wickets remaining at the start of the final day, but any hopes of building a significant lead vanished when Tom New fell to the fifth ball of the day. The wicketkeeper hadn’t added to his 57 when he edged Mark Ealham low to second slip where David Hussey took a fine catch. Ryan Sidebottom then wrapped up the tail with 3 for 18 in five overs, leaving a target of 111. Although Jason Gallian fell for 37, top-edging Claude Henderson, Bilal Shafayat and Mark Wagh completed the formalities.A match dominated by the bat ended with more records as Somerset and Middlesex completed a run-feast at Taunton. Justin Langer was finally yorked for 315, 27 short of the Somerset record that he holds, but the home side set a new record for the highest score on the ground. Their 850 beat Lancashire’s 810 set in 1895 and was also the highest total in any match involving Somerset. Peter Trego helped boost the total with a run-a-ball 130, his fifth first-class ton. Middlesex, 250 behind despite scoring 600, needed to bat out just over two sessions and Ed Smith’s 103 ended the match in fitting style.Essex comfortably survived two sessions to share the spoils with Derbyshire at Chelmsford. After the visitors batted on for 20 overs, Essex were set 376 but there was never any chance of them attempting the chase. Varun Chopra batted for two-and-half hours after both openers fell to leave Essex 36 for 2.

Carlton Baugh returns to the one-day team after two years © Getty Images

Carlton Baugh, the Jamaica wicketkeeper, replaces Denesh Ramdin in the West Indies team for the last two one-day internationals against Zimbabwe in Trinidad over the weekend. Ramdin is being rested ahead of the series against India starting May 18 in Jamaica.Baugh, 23, has played five Tests and six ODIs for West Indies. His last appearance in a one-day match was in July 2004 in the NatWest series against New Zealand at Cardiff, scoring 7 in a five-wicket defeat.But his recent performances include a series-clinching match for West Indies A against England A in March 2006. He scored 71 of 73 balls hitting four sixes, coming into bat at 50 for 5.Ian Bradshaw, the left-arm seamer is back in the team after sitting out the three ODIs played in Guyana and St Lucia. He played in the first two matches in Antigua which West Indies won easily.Sewnarine Chattergoon, the West Indies opening batsman was dropped to include Bradshaw in the team. West Indies have already won the seven-match series, leading 4-0.Brian Lara, the West Indies captain is looking for more convincing victories in the last two ODIs. “Hopefully, these matches will be the start of something to come. We have a very important series, starting next Thursday against India, and the next 200 overs of ODIs against Zimbabwe, we must execute pretty well.”I told the guys from the beginning that if we were batting second in any of the matches, we should try to achieve our target in less than 35 overs, and if we are bowling second, we should try to win the games by 100 runs.”Lara felt that West Indies had played good cricket though they had been slow in the field. “I think [Chris] Gayle and [Sewnarine] Chattergoon batted really well in that game, especially Chris who seems to be coming into some form. Others like [Ramnaresh] Sarwan, and myself, have not got a chance yet to make a big score. Hopefully, we will get big scores this weekend, and enter the ODI series against India with some confidence under our belts.”I think the guys know that we can compete and beat India because we have done it in the past in India and the West Indies, so it is just a matter of getting mentally and physically ready and getting the confidence up.”Terrence Duffin, the Zimbabwe captain said that the idea was to keep trying to do the basics and then hope for a win. Duffin feels the team, which will play World Cup qualifiers Bermuda and Canada in a triangular series in Trinidad from May 16 to May 20, will gain experience from the current series. “This series will be a big help for us and, hopefully, we can prove something there.”Squads:West IndiesBrian Lara (captain), Christopher Gayle, Runako Morton, Ramnaresh Sarwan, ShivnarineChanderpaul, Marlon Samuels, Dwayne Smith, Carlton Baugh Jr, Corey Collymore, FidelEdwards, Jerome Taylor, Ian Bradshaw, Dwayne Bravo and Dave Mohammed.ZimbabweTerrence Duffin (captain), Piet Rinke, Brendan Taylor, Vusimuzi Sibanda, Justice Chibhabha, Charles Coventry, Elton Chigumbura, Gregory Strydom, Keith Dabengwa, Ryan Higgins, Keegan Meth, Blessing Mahwire, Tawanda Mupariwa, Prosper Utseya, Anthony Ireland

Mushtaq Ali: the original dasher

Syed Mushtaq Ali, one of Indian’s early cavaliers and the first Indian batsman to score a Test century away from home, in 1936 at Old Trafford, has died in his sleep early this morning. Ali, 90, who was the oldest living Indian cricketer, is survived by two sons and two daughters.Ali, born on December 17, 1914 in Indore, began his Test career as a left-arm spinner against Douglas Jardine’s English team at Eden Gardens in 1933-34, but quickly made his mark as a dashing batsman with little regard for the reputation of bowlers.Although he batted at No.7 in his first Test, he was promoted to open the innings with Naoomal Jeoomal. But his definitive match came three years later when he set Old Trafford alight with a hundred scored in just under a session. He put on 190 with Vijay Merchant in the last session of the second day against a bowling attack that comprised Gubby Allen, Alf Gover, Walter Hammond and Hedley Verity. This hundred was voted as 18th in the list of all-time greatest hundreds by cricketers and cricket writers in a poll conducted by Wisden Asia Cricket last December.

Ali walks out to bat

His batting style was unorthodox and he was never afraid of using his feet. During the Old Trafford innings, he repeatedly stepped out against the quick bowlers to upset their rhythm. He opened with Merchant ten years later in England and they put on 124 at Old Trafford and 94 at The Oval. Their association lasted just four Tests and seven innings but they averaged 83.4 as an opening pair.But cricket administrators were not kind to him and he was overlooked for the subsequent tour to Australia, for which he made himself available after initially withdrawing because of his brother’s death. He came back strongly in the next season, making 54 and 106 against the West Indies at Eden Gardens. But he played only one more Test, against England at home.Ali also played 226 first-class games where he managed to score more than 13000 runs and picked up 162 wickets with his left-arm spin. He was awarded Padma Shri by the Indian government for his contribution to cricket in 1964. His son and grandson – Gulrez Ali and Abbas Ali – also played first-class cricket, and created a unique distinction of three generations of Indian cricketers playing first-class cricket.