Cricket Headlines:
December 1997

Wednesday, 31 December 1997

• England's oldest living ex-Test cricketer, Alf Gover, is awarded the MBE in the New Years Honours List for services to cricket.
• Reports in the Mumbai evening newspaper Afternoon Despatch claim that Sachin Tendulkar has informed Indian selectors of his intention to resign as captain. These claims are denied by chairman of selectors Ramakant Desai. Tendulkar is unavailable for comment.
• Darren Gough withdraws from the England team to tour the West Indies after failing to recover from a hamstring injury. Chris Silverwood is called into the touring party. Dougie Brown takes Silverwood's place in the England A squad in Kenya, while Peter Martin is placed on standby.

Tuesday, 30 December 1997

• Century to Jacques Kallis ensures a drawn First Test at the MCG.
• Dion Nash and Craig Spearman are included in New Zealand's squad for the second half of the Carlton & United Series in Australia.
• Michael Bevan recalled to Australia's squad for the Second Test at Sydney, starting January 2. He replaces Andy Bichel.
• An Indian XI defeats an International XI by 124 runs in a one-day benefit match at Puttaparthi, Andhra Pradesh, in a new stadium built by local religious identity Satya Sai Baba. The day was marred by a crowd stampede outside the ground before the game in which 42 people were injured.
• Results in the Quaid-e-Azam matches concluded today: Rawalpindi and Bahawalpur drew; Karachi Blues beat Multan.

Monday, 29 December 1997

• Australia are the World Champions of women's cricket after defeating New Zealand by five wickets in the World Cup Final in front of a record crowd for a women's match, at Eden Gardens.
• Paul Reiffel leads the way with the bat as Australia set South Africa 381 to win the first Test at the MCG. Allan Donald becomes South Africa's leading Test wicket-taker, passing Hugh Tayfield's 170.
• West Indies A fall short of their target to lose to South Africa A in the third and final unofficial test.

Sunday, 28 December 1997

• A tight struggle after three days of a low-scoring First Test between Australia and South Africa.
• Sri Lanka end the ODI year with a victory over India at Goa.
• Questions being asked about the aborted Christmas one-dayer at Indore, as the BCCI establishes an inquiry and the ICC demands a report.

Saturday, 27 December 1997

• Ricky Ponting scores a century for Australia on Day two of the First Test against South Africa.

Friday, 26 December 1997

• Steve Waugh leads an Australian fight back after a tense first day of the First Test against South Africa.
• New Zealand defeat England and will face Australia in Monday's Women's World Cup final.
• Rashid Latif named captain of Pakistan's squad for January's Silver Jubilee Independence Cup in Bangladesh.

Thursday, 25 December 1997

• A sub-standard pitch results in the abandonment of the second one-dayer between India and Sri Lanka at Indore after just three overs. The teams stage an exhibition match instead.

Wednesday, 24 December 1997

• Australia beats India by 19 runs to reach the final of the Hero Honda Women's World Cup.

Tuesday, 23 December 1997

• New Zealand trounces Ireland by 139 runs to set up a meeting with England in the Semi-finals of the Hero Honda Women's World Cup.

Monday, 22 December 1997

• A new look India defeats Sri Lanka comfortably by 7 wickets in the first one-day International at Guwahati.
• India reach the Semi-finals of the Hero Honda Women's World Cup by beating South Africa by 5 wickets.
• South Africa draw their tour match against Australia 'A'
• Sheffield Shield: Tasmania defeat Victoria by seven wickets after being set 399 for victory. New South Wales defeat South Australia in Monday's other result.

Sunday, 21 December 1997

• England defeat Sri Lanka by nine wickets in the second quarter-final of the Womens World Cup.
• West Zone and Central Zone share the Duleep Trophy after a rain-ruined final at Chennai.
• West Indies A follow on to South Africa A on the third day of the second "Test" at East London.
• The third and final Under-19 Test between Australia and Pakistan finishes in a draw, the series ending 0-0.
• Queensland defeat Western Australia in three days in the day/night Sheffield Shield match at the WACA.
• Former England wicketkeeper Dick Spooner dies aged 77.

Saturday, 20 December 1997

• Australia defeat the Netherlands in the first quarter-final of the Womens World Cup.
• Century to Cronje on the second day of South Africa's match against Australia 'A'
• Warwickshire formally announce their appointment of Brian Lara as team captain for 1998.

Friday, 19 December 1997

• England defeat the West Indies to lift the Akai-Singer Champions Trophy.

Thursday, 18 December 1997

• Australia finish top of Group A in the Womens World Cup following their crushing victory over England. South Africa and Ireland the other winners Thursday.
• Six changes to India's one-day squad to face Sri Lanka following their winless series in Sharjah.
• Another century to Hasan Raza on the opening day of the third Under-19 Test between Pakistan and Australia.
• Denmark admitted to the NatWest Trophy competition from 1999.

Wednesday, 17 December 1997

• An easy win to Australia over New Zealand in their day-nighter at the MCG.
• Group B in the Womens World Cup is finalised after A tie between India and New Zealand, and a win to the Netherlands over Sri Lanka.
• Northern win the inaugural Shell Conference final in New Zealand after a draw with Southern.
• Western Province defeat Boland in a day/night Standard Bank League match at Newlands.

Tuesday, 16 December 1997

• Belinda Clark scores a world record 229 not out as Australia annihilate Denmark in the Women's World Cup. Charlotte Edwards also breaks the old world record as England demolish Ireland. South Africa defeat Pakistan in Wednesday's other result.
• The West Indies to face England in Friday's Champions Trophy final after after defeating India.
• South Africa's tour match against Tasmania finishes in a tame draw.
• Hansie Cronje denies video allegations raised on Channel Nine that he tampered with the ball by rubbing it under his foot during a break in play during the opening one-dayer between South Africa and Australia on December 4. ICC match referee Cammie Smith says no investigation can be made as the incident was not reported while the match was in progress. South African coach Bob Woolmer describes the episode as an Australian conspiracy to unsettle the South African team before the first Test.
• Shane Warne storms out of a publicity appearance in Melbourne after a media reporter asks a question about his weight. (Story)

Monday, 15 December 1997

• England defeat Pakistan by eight runs to qualify for Friday's Champions Trophy final in Sharjah.
• Women's World Cup: India defeated the Netherlands and New Zealand beat the West Indies.
• Cronje's first century in over two years as South Africa avoid the follow-on on day three of their tour match against Tasmania.
• The second Under-19 Test between Australia and Pakistan at Newcastle finishes in a draw.
• Gauteng defeat Border by 163 runs and Boland defeat Western Province by 67 runs in the Supersport series. Free State lead the competition table.
• BCCI Secretary Lele announces Bob Simpson's appointment as technical consultant to the Indian team... but Simpson knows nothing about it.

Sunday, 14 December 1997

• Saeed Anwar scores an unbeaten century as Pakistan defeat India in the Sharjah Champions Trophy.
• Australia, England, and South Africa are all easy winners in Sunday's Women's World Cup matches.
• South Africa in trouble after the second day of their tour match against Tasmania.
• The first Under-19 Test between South Africa and England finishes in a draw.
• Australia defeat Australia "A" by three wickets in a day/night non-competition match at the Sydney Cricket Ground.
• New South Wales defeat the Canberra Comets in the Mercantile Mutual Cup match at Manuka Oval, Canberra.

Saturday, 13 December 1997

• A Hooper hundred fails to halt England's victory over the West Indies in game three of the Champions Trophy in Sharjah.
• India defeat the West Indies and New Zealand defeat Sri Lanka in the Women's World Cup.
• New Zealand's day/night match against Queensland finishes in a controversial tie.
• A hat-trick to Abdul Razzaq and a dramatic fightback by Australia on the second day of the second Under-19 Test between Australia and Pakistan.
• England follow on against South Africa on the third day of the Under-19 Test at Newlands.

Friday, 12 December 1997

• Lara leads the way in the West Indies' win over Pakistan in the second match of the Champions Trophy.
• A world record innings total as England destroy Pakistan on day four of the Women's World Cup. Friday's other winners: Australia over Pakistan, and Ireland over Denmark.
• Double century to Grant Elliott for South Africa Under-19's in the second day of the Youth Test against England.
• Century to Hasan Raza on the opening day of the second youth Test between Pakistan against Australia.
• Western Australia easy winners over South Australia in the day/night Mercantile Mutual Cup game at the WACA. Tom Moody pulls a hamstring which forces him to withdraw from Sunday's Australia-Australia A match.

Thursday, 11 December 1997

• England defeat India by seven runs in the opening match of the Champions Trophy - Sharjah's first day/night international cricket match.
• South Africa defeat New Zealand by one run in the one-day international at Hobart.
• Sri Lanka defeat the West Indies and New Zealand defeat the Netherlands on day three of the Women's World Cup.
• Bangladesh lose by an innings against the New Zealand Academy XI in their final New Zealand tour match.

Wednesday, 10 December 1997

• England defeat South Africa, and Denmark defeat Pakistan on day two of the Women's World Cup while Australia v Ireland is washed out.

Tuesday, 9 December 1997

• Pakistan defeat the West Indies by ten wickets to complete a historic 3-0 series win.
• Rain hits the opening day of the Women's World Cup with both scheduled games between India and Sri Lanka, and the West Indies and the Netherlands, being washed out.
• South Africa defeat Australia in a low-scoring one-day international at the MCG.
• Sharjah wins the right to host the "mini-World Cup", now known under the working title of ICC Knockout Tournament in September/October 1998.
• Australian selectors announce the teams for Sunday's one-off Australia v Australia "A" fixture.
• The first youth test between Australia and Pakistan Under-19's finishes in a draw in Canberra.
• Curtly Ambrose withdraws from the West Indies squad to tour Sharjah because of injury.

Monday, 8 December 1997

• West Indies heading for another defeat in the third day of the Third Test against Pakistan at Karachi, but not before an 80-ball century from Carl Hooper.
• Western Australia defeat Tasmania by 185 runs in the Sheffield Shield match at Perth.

Sunday, 7 December 1997

• The Third Test between India and Sri Lanka finishes in a draw.
• Aamer Sohail and Ijaz Ahmed place Pakistan in a strong position after the second day of the Third Test against Pakistan at Karachi.
• Australia defeat New Zealand in the one-dayer at Adelaide.
• Bangladesh win the Youth Asia Cup at Kowloon, Hong Kong, with a 256-run victory over Papua New Guinea. Hong Kong defeat Nepal t take the Plate final.
• England complete their round of warmup matches for Sharjah with another win under lights at Lahore.
• South Africa A defeat West Indies A by six wickets in the first unofficial test at Bloemfontein.
• Bangladesh lose their one-day tour match to Canterbury.
• Northern defeat Central in the inaugural Shell Shield conference final.

Saturday, 6 December 1997

• New Zealand defeats South Africa in Adelaide's first day-night international.
• West Indies middle-order collapse on the opening day of the Third Test against Pakistan at Karachi. They were dismissed for 211, Pakistan 34 for 0 in reply at stumps.
• Sri Lanka set 333 for victory after an eventful fourth day of the third and final test at Mumbai.
• Jimmy Adams leads a third day fightback by West Indies A against South Africa A.
• Inzamam ul-Haq replaces Steve Waugh as the world's number one batsman on the Coopers & Lybrand ratings.

Friday, 5 December 1997

• Atapattu out for 98 on the third day of the third and final test at Mumbai.
• Indian and Pakistani team selections finalise the lineup for Sharjah.
• England warm up for Sharjah with a victory in a practice one-dayer under the lights at Lahore.
• Indian and Pakistani team selections finalise the lineup for Sharjah.
• South Africa A build a sizable innings lead over West Indies A on the second day of their first unofficial Test of the series.
• Devon Malcolm signs with Northamptonshire for 1998.
• England Under-19's draw their opening tour match against a Western Province Academy XI.
• Queensland defeat Victoria in a day/night Mercantile Mutual Cup match at the Gabba. Ian Healy takes three catches in his first match since being excluded from Australia's one-day squad.
• East Zone defeated North Zone by five wickets in the Duleep Trophy match at Hyderabad. East will meet Central in the semifinal at Bangalore commencing December 7.

Thursday, 4 December 1997

• Australia spun out by South Africa in the opening one-day match at the Sydney Cricket Ground. The match was marred by crowd disturbances during the Australian innings.
• Centuries to Ganguly and Tendulkar on the second day of the third and final test at Mumbai.
• West Indies A dismissed cheaply on the opening day of the first unofficial Test against South Africa A.

Wednesday, 3 December 1997

• Another innings loss to the West Indies as Pakistan win the Test series at Rawalpindi.
• Dravid out in the nineties again on the opening day of the third and final test at Mumbai.
• Justice Chandrachud rejects Prabhakar's bribery allegations.
• Century to Hasan Raza in the final under-19 one-dayer between Pakistan and Australia, but Australia win the series.
• Bangladesh lose their final New Zealand Conference match by seven wickets. The final of the Shell Conference series is now set for Southern v Northern.
• Gavin Larsen replaces Heath Davis in the New Zealand squad for the Australian one-day series.

Tuesday, 2 December 1997

• West Indies face likely innings defeat on the fourth day of the Second Test at Rawalpindi
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• Victory to South Africa in their one-day match against the Prime Minister's XI in Canberra.
• Sri Lankan Test bowler Nuwan Soysa receives an award as School Sportsman of the Year at a presentation ceremony conducted by the Sri Lankan Schools Sports Council.

Monday, 1 December 1997

• New Zealand tailenders hang on for a tense draw in the third Test at Hobart.
• Centuries to Aamer Sohail and Inzamam ul-Haq as Pakistan take a first innings lead on the third day of the second Test at Rawalpindi. Their 323-run partnership for the 3rd wicket is a Pakistan record for all wickets against West Indies, and a 3rd wicket record by all countries against WI.
• Taylor and Healy out of Australia's one-day squad.
• Boland lead the Supersport Series ladder after this weekend's matches. In matches finalised on Monday, Free State defeated Gauteng by eight wickets, Eastern Province and Natal played a draw.
• West Indies A defeat Western Province by 23 runs in the tour match at Newlands.
• Netherlands Womens team defeat Sri Lanka by ten wickets in the third and final one-day international at Kandy to win the series 2-1. Sri Lanka 65 all out in 23.1 overs, Netherlands 66 for 0 in 21.5 overs.
• Al Sahariar Rokon is the first player to score a first-class century for Bangladesh in their final Conference game in New Zealand.