By Dave Buxton
December 7 2002

England and Essex captain Ronnie Irani was the star again for England today in their first one-day warm-up match before the start of the VB Series next Friday, but despite his knock, England were beaten yet again, this time vs a New South Wales team at The SCG packed full of Aussie Test players.

Ronnie Stars In England Loss

Ronnie batted number 3 and hit 81 off 120 balls with 11 fours. He added stands of 79 with fellow Essex man and England captain Nasser Hussain (who second top scored with 34 off 57 balls, 2 fours) and 49 with Owais Shah.

However, no one else scored many of any note and England were all out for just 206 in 49.2 overs.

Ronnie was sixth out as Brett Lee had him caught by Michael Slater with the score on 188 and left England well placed to push on in the remaining 5.4 overs, but the all too often collapse occured and the rest is history.

In reply, Slater's 115 (this coming from a man who only played because Essex's ex-overseas star Mark Waugh was injured) meant New South Wales cruised home with 8 wickets and 8 overs to spare.

Ronnie bowled 7 overs, 1 maiden, but was wicketless at 0-32, though his figures were spoilt as Steve Waugh hit 20 off Ronnie's 7th over, including 3 sixes.

Nevertheless, an excellent day for Essex's two England men, with another reminder as to why Ronnie should be an England one-day regular and perhaps given a go for the remaining two Ashes Tests, proving his status as England's second best all-rounder, only behind Andrew Flintoff, a man he's quickly catching up on.

After the game, Ronnie on himself said: "I'll bat anywhere for England - I'll do whatever I can to stay in that side. If I do bat three, I'll be up for it. It's nice to be given the responsibility, especially against a world class bowling outfit with McGrath, Brett Lee - MacGill, as well, is no mug. I enjoyed it."

"Every game is important for me. I just want to improve as a player and make sure I'm performing at the highest level", Ronnie continued. "I under-achieved for a few seasons and it was simply just trying too hard. I felt the need to score quicker in the one-day format than I did in the longer version of the game, which was really taking me out of the natural way I play.

He also added: "It's funny how at 32 you're still learning in this game."

The next game is on Sunday, vs Australia 'A' also at The Sydney Cricket Ground and also a day/night match. England will hope to at last win a match on this disastrous tour.

A bit of other news, is that both Nasser and Irani have been named in England's 30 man provisional World Cup Squad, though Chris Read has been preferred to our own James Foster as the back-up wicketkeeper. Some might think by the time the World Cup starts, Stewart (the main keeper in the squad) might consider hanging up his boots, with Fossy and Read the keepers and surely younger blood needed in there

Here are a couple of pictures from the match (Hover over the pics for a caption):

     

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Date: 6/12/02

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