T20 can’t be in the Olympics: Buchanan

BY Our Correspondent

Mumbai

Aug. 26: Former Australian coach John Buchanan has rubbished the referral system and believes T20 can never be a part of the Olympics since the referral system is against the spirit of Olympics.

Buchanan is in town to conduct a two-day selection trial for the Kolkata Knight Riders, of whom he is the head coach.

"Cricket ought to initially clean its own backyard and then strive to secure a place in the Olympics. I consider it miserable that the decisions of the authorities are questioned. I’m totally against the referral system and T20 cannot be a part of the Olympics as the referral system is against the spirit of the Games."

Admiring the performance of Sri Lanka’s new spin whiz Ajantha Mendis, Buchanan said the youngster should be judged on a long-term basis. "It’s a testing time for Mendis. His action has not been studied in detail," he said.

***

Broad takes five in England win

Nottingham, Aug. 26: Stuart Broad took a career-best five wickets on Tuesday to lead England to a resounding 10-wicket win over South Africa in the second one-day international at Trent Bridge.

The tourists crumbled to 83 all out, their second lowest one-day total, as Broad’s pace and control brought him 5/23 at his home ground.

England openers Ian Bell and Matt Prior, who had earlier taken six catches behind the stumps, then knocked off the winning runs in just 14.1 overs to give England a 2-0 series lead with three matches to play.

But it was Broad’s performance that dominated the day, although his figures could have been even better until Andre Nel hit three boundaries off his 10th and final over. Even so, Broad’s bowling performance was the fifth best ever by an Englishman in one-dayers.

Nel was South Africa’s leading scorer with a quick-fire 13 from seven balls after coming in at No. 9, showing how close South Africa came to falling short of their lowest ever one-day total. That was the 69 they managed against Australia in 1993.

Prior took four of his six catches off Broad’s bowling, while Andrew Flintoff continued his return to bowling form with 3/29. Steve Harmison bowled just one over, but still took 2/4.

— AP