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Hyderabad, thanks to valuable contributions from most of theirfrontline batsmen, made a fitting reply to Andhra’s first inningstotal of 386 at stumps on the third day of their South Zone RanjiTrophy league match at Kurnool on Friday. Resuming the day at 87 forno loss, they ended the day at 310 for six wickets.Openers Daniel Manohar (56) and Nanda Kishore (53) put on 115 runs off37.4 overs. Then there was a mini collapse as Hyderabad slid to 128for three. Vanka Pratap (26) and Vinay Kumar initiated a recoveryprocess with a fourth wicket partnership of 67 runs off 14 overs. ThenVinay Kumar and Vijaya Kumar (29) continued the rally with a sixthwicket stand of 54 runs off 19 overs. And finally, Vinay Kumar andShivaji Yadav (21) continued the good work by adding 47 runs for theunbroken seventh wicket off 10.2 overs. At close, Vinay Kumar wasbatting with an invaluable 83. He faced 194 balls and had nineboundary hits. Bad light stopped play at 3.55 and the umpires calledoff play at 4.40.

David Moyes has claimed that West Ham were “very serious” about bringing players to the club in January but admitted that his squad is short of where he wants it to be ahead of the summer window.

The Lowdown: January’s failed window

Transfer rumours were flying for the Hammers in January as the east London club were linked with a myriad of stars across Europe.

West Ham reportedly attempted to break their club transfer record fee with three different players, sadly to no avail. This included bids in excess of £50 million for Leeds United duo Kalvin Philipps and Raphinha, and also a sensational £60 million deadline day move for Benfica striker Darwin Nunez.

Over the past month, claims have been made about the squad’s fitness, suggesting that fatigue is a huge issue for Moyes’ players after failing to secure any of their winter window targets.

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The Latest: Moyes’ comments

In Moyes’ recent press conference held ahead of West Ham’s FA Cup clash against Southampton, the Scotsman seemed to admit that his squad is suffering due to a lack of depth.

However, he claims that it wasn’t for a lack of trying. As quoted by football.london, he said:

“It would be unfair [just to mention West Ham] I think a lot of clubs did not buy players in January. We were very serious about trying to bring players to the club in January but for different reasons, it did not happen. 

“We know we are a little bit short of where we would like to be, the squad I have at the moment have done a brilliant job over the last two years and I have no reason to think they will not do a brilliant job in the coming three months between now and the end of the season.”

The Verdict: Finally admitted…

Recently it has seemed like Moyes has actively tried to avoid talking about the January window, presumably in an attempt to evade criticism of the club’s transfer activity.

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Therefore, his admission that they are indeed short will come as a very thin silver lining for fans, who were left deflated with the failed attempts made to rectify the club’s issues.

Moyes’ comments could be seen as artificial, given how late the club’s moves were made with last-ditch bids, but either way it is clear to see that the players are indeed fatigued and these ‘serious’ transfer moves must become reality in the summer.

In other news: BBC Radio pundit drops Hammers FA Cup claim

Bangladesh have trimmed their original 17-man squad for the two-Test series against South Africa to 14.Allrounder Farhad Reza, left-arm spinner Enamul Haque jnr and Syed Rasel, the left-arm medium pacer who dislocated his collar bone during a tour game and missed out the series against New Zealand, were the players to be axed. The trio shared eight wickets in the South Africans’ ongoing tour match against a Bangladesh Cricket Board XI but the selectors have opted for Sajidul Islam, Mashrafe Mortaza and Shahadat Hossain as the three primary bowlers.There was some concern over Habibul Bashar, who skipped the three-day practice match due to a thumb injury, but he has been retained.The first Test begins on February 22 at the Sher-e-Bangla Stadium.Bangladesh squad: Mohammad Ashraful (capt), Mashrafe Mortaza, Abdur Razzak, Aftab Ahmed, Habibul Bashar, Junaid Siddique, Mohammad Rafique, Mushfiqur Rahim (wk), Rajin Saleh, Sajidul Islam, Shahadat Hossain, Shahriar Nafees, Shakib Al Hasan, Tamim Iqbal

Loots Bosman could open the batting, with AB de Villiers batting in the middle order © Getty Images

Three days ago, South Africa were ranked No.1 in the world, the Guyanesesky was largely cloudless, and two points were expected to be there forthe taking against Bangladesh. Fast forward to Grenada though, and thepicture couldn’t be more different. The dismal 67-run defeat to Bangladeshhas not only cost them the top ranking – some would argue that they werenever as good as Australia anyway – but also made far more difficult their task of qualifying for the semi-finals.On paper, they can lose to West Indies and win against New Zealand andEngland to progress, but few South Africans will want to leave it to thelast, especially with New Zealand in such good form and Kevin Pietersencertain to up his game against former .There’s also the small matter of South Africa’s record in the big eventsand in pressure situations. The head-to-head statistics are strongly infavour of a South African win – 26 wins against 12 losses in 39 games -but it’s a different story in the matches that matter. West Indies havewon both their last two World Cup games, the 1996 quarter-final and theopening encounter of the 2003 competition, and also meted out punishmentsin recent Champions Trophy games [2004 and ’06].The last meeting was a drubbing in the Jaipur semi-final, with ChrisGayle’s magnificent strokeplay at the top of the order reducing achallenging pursuit to walk-in-the-park proportions. Shaun Pollock andMakhaya Ntini got a pasting that day, and will be wary, even though Gaylehas yet to find his bat’s sweet spot in this tournament.After strolling through their group games, West Indies have fallen awaydramatically, with the batsmen inconsistent and the support bowlers unableto replicate the sterling efforts of Daren Powell with the new ball. Evenmore damaging has been the failure of Gayle and Marlon Samuels to providethe offspin tourniquet that was such a part of their recent one-daysuccess.Some of the players went home after Sri Lanka handed down a third-successive Super Eights defeat more than a week ago, and the attitude ofthe team has come in for scathing criticism from some of the legends ofthe Caribbean game. “Even before that fatal game against Sri Lanka, theWest Indies’ practice session was something to behold, or perhaps not to,”said Colin Croft in a newspaper column. “It was lacklustre as ever, withplayers even complaining that the sun was hot. Are these people for real?”Criticism is something that South Africa took with them to Grenada after afrankly abysmal showing against Bangladesh. One minute, Andrew Hall beingstood down from the XI was a “tactical decision”, the next minute he wassuffering from a quadriceps problem – more spin than a White House mediarelease. With Herschelle Gibbs almost certain to miss out with a calfstrain, there are selection issues to ponder as well.The most likely scenario should see Loots Bosman opening with GraemeSmith, and AB de Villiers dropping into the middle order. Hall must be ashoo-in as well, with the run-less and wicket-less Justin Kemp making wayso that Andrè Nel’s pace and aggression can be unleashed for a secondmatch in succession.Mickey Arthur, the South African coach, spoke candidly about the loss to Bangladesh, but insisted that the pressure was on West Indies to deliver. “After the game the boyshurt a lot, which is a good thing,” he said, echoing what Smith had saidabout “taking our pain”. “We had a good chat about it and we’ve closed thedoor on Bangladesh. We realise that we still hold the key to our destinyin this competition. The pressure is going to be more on the West Indiesthan us.”No matches have been played at the National Cricket stadium in Grenada, and both camps expect a fair bit of assistance from a damp pitch in the morning. Winningthe toss and bowling will again be the mantra, and West Indies could lookto a three-pronged seam attack of Powell, Jerome Taylor and Ian Bradshaw.What is certain is that it’s last orders time at Last Chance Saloon. Thesituation isn’t quite as desperate yet for South Africa, though there willbe few tears shed in these parts if the hosts take a big step towardsknocking out one of the favourites. “South Africa can lose all theirremaining games and go home, complaining as they always do when theylose,” wrote Croft, perhaps irked by frankly ridiculous suggestions that’cabin fever’ had contributed to the Bangladesh loss.Ecclesiastes talks of “a time to heal” and “a time tobuild up”. Two teams for whom this appears to be a time to whinge would dowell to consider the resonance of those words.

Sourav Ganguly – Victim of a conspiracy? © AFP

“Circumstantial evidence shows that Bengal is not getting proper treatment. If they (the selectors) have dropped him now, then why did they include him in the Indian squad for Pakistan? Where is the logic?”
“Please spare me. I am terribly upset and am not in a position to comment. All I can say it was totally unexpected.”
“The selectors are claiming that they want to look forward. Then why why have they taken Anil Kumble and VVS Laxman? I don’t understand whether they are looking forward or backward. His experience to the Indian middle order. They are maintaining double standards towards Sourav Ganguly.”
“It’s a shocking news. It seems a conspiracy, especially when Yuvraj Singh is not in the team”
“I was sure that he (Ganguly) will be in the squad. How can they ignore his experience?”
“Ganguly’s return may seem possible but is highly improbable.”
“I think it was coming and the decision has made it clear that the selectors have already made their mind to keep Sourav out. If they are talking about the future by infusing young blood, then why single out only Sourav? Since Yuvraj was ruled out, Sourav should have made the squad and I cannot blame the selectors alone for the decision, I think it’s also the management’s move to shut the door on the former skipper. It seems Sourav’s fate is quite clear.”
“This is a good forward-looking move. And if Saurav is not picked now, definitely there is a still slimmer chance for him in the future.”

Charl Langeveldt: another injury in his short Test career© Getty Images

Before the series against Zimbabwe started, Graeme Smith said how his team would be using the two Tests to pick up some momentum ahead of their tour to West Indies, starting at the end of March. After the opening day at Centurion his team have picked up enough injuries to throw the planning into chaos.Shaun Pollock did not even make the Test, given the opportunity to rest the tendonitis in his left ankle, which is becoming an ongoing saga to rival Andrew Flintoff’s. There is talk that he will not make the start of the tour and could miss the opening Test in Guyana, starting March 31, although Gerald de Kock, in his final act as South Africa’s media manager said: “at this stage it is far to early to say he will miss the first Test.” A South African attack without Pollock has a very different, and much less threatening, look.The plan was that Pollock’s rest would allow one of the fringe candidates for the tour to stake their claim. Andre Nel and Monde Zondeki returned to the team, while Charl Langeveldt had another chance to impress. But now Langeveldt is unlikely to bowl again in this Test match, which means he has failed to complete any of his three games. A tour of the Caribbean is not the place for an injury-prone bowler.Andre Nel is the favourite to go to the West Indies, but he suffered a hamstring strain and only got through 12 overs on the first day at Centurion. However, he has a big heart and came back to take the new ball, so his injury does not look tour-threatening. Jacques Kallis carries such a weight for South Africa with the bat that it is questionable why he is playing this match before an important tour. The point was reinforced, after he too went off, needing treatment on his right hip. He did not look entirely comfortable when he returned with the new ball. By the end of the day even Monde Zondeki, who carried the attack, was looking less than sprightly in the outfield.To add to the bowler’s troubles, Graeme Smith is having problems with his ankle and Jacques Rudolph has a long-term back problem that restricts the amount of bowling he can do.

wrote that “Srinath’s vocabulary didn’t include the Fs and Bs when he beat the batsmen or was struck for a boundary. That is the copyright of the modern day fast bowler … yes, he didn’t have the guile of a Richard Hadlee, the persistence of a Glenn McGrath or the incisiveness of an Allan Donald. But underneath the India crest on his shirt, Babu’s [Srinath’s nickname] heart often helped him achieve performances that scripted famous Indian wins. Can a cricket-mad nation ask for more?”Srinath’s former bowling partner and good friend, Venkatesh Prasad, wrote in The Indian Express that “Srinath took his big leap, making the Indian team in 1991, but he would always come back to Bangalore and talk to me and the other youngsters about his experiences. The most painful period was the time when he had to return from the West Indies in 1997 with a shoulder injury. He left such a huge void. I felt I’d lost my left arm. More than just a fellow bowler, he was like an elder brother who repeatedly fought with the team management and argued for my inclusion. Off the field he’s got a great sense of humour. Very dry, so you won’t understand it at first.”The Asian Age carried the views of Rajan Bala, the veteran journalist, who wrote, “It is with deep regret, as a lover of the game and an admirer of the man and the bowler, that one has to accept the retirement of Javagal Srinath. As one who has been privileged to watch and comment upon his best bowling displays at home, in England in 1996 and in South Africa in 1996-97, I can say that he made me feel proud to be an Indian.”The Hindu called Srinath “one of those few pacemen who relished bowling at southpaws, seaming the ball across the blade.” The newspaper also carried the reactions of Sourav Ganguly and Ricky Ponting. Ganguly said that Srinath had been a wonderful team-man and bowler while Ponting called him one of India’s finest pacemen.Rediff.com carried the reactions of the members of the Indian team. Sachin Tendulkar said, “he always gave his best for India, no matter what the match situation. He was a great man in the dressing room. His humour was great and he always made his team-mates feel alive, even after a tough day.” Anil Kumble said, “I will always remember the sight of Javagal Srinath running up fast from his bowling mark and scaring batsmen. He changed Indian cricket in his own way.”