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John Davison, Canada’s captain, has called for higher standards in the country’s domestic game if the side are to be truly competitive.”Canada’s domestic league needs to be semi-professional at least, if not professional if you have to compete at this level,” Davison said in the aftermath of the country’s elimination from the World Cup. “We need the infrastructure in place as there are definitely talented players in the country.”There are a few talented youngsters around,” he continued. “But the most important thing is we get some sort of infrastructure in place. The Canadian Cricket Association doesn’t have anyone who is employed by the association. It’s basically on a voluntary basis and if we want to compete at this level we will have to be semi-professional at least, if not professional.”There are definitely talented players in the country and we need them to be brought through a system.”The call for increasing professionalism is likely to fall on deaf ears, however. Canada, like most of the Associates, relies heavy on the ICC for funding and there is not sufficient cash to enable anything more than a hand-to-mouth existence.

Scorecard and ball-by-ball details
How they were out

The advantage swung back and forth on a fascinating second day at Auckland, at the end of which the game was balanced on a knife edge with neither New Zealand nor West Indies being able to capitalise when they held the upper hand. West Indies stemmed an early-morning collapse and looked set to surge ahead but frittered away the chance to consolidate, conceding an 18-run first-innings lead. New Zealand rebuilt after an early loss in the second innings but gave it away with some indiscrete strokeplay, ending the day 116 ahead with six wickets in hand.West Indies however might feel that they ended the day on a high. They had one bowler, Jerome Taylor, struggling with a hamstring, and another, Ian Bradshaw, warned for running on to the danger area on the pitch. After the loss of an early wicket, New Zealand had strung together a 56-run partnership. But just when the tide seemed to be turning other way, Bradshaw and Fidel Edwards produced a three-wicket burst, with generous assistance from the New Zealand batsmen of course.Jamie How, who had played aggressively for his 37, latching on to anything loose on his pads and once flat-batting Edwards down the ground, top-edged a hook, which Denesh Ramdin caught, sprinting behind, ten yards from the fine-leg boundary. Edwards then struck twice, inducing Peter Fulton to inside-edge on to his stumps and Scott Styris, the first-innings centurion, to pull straight to Bradshaw at deep fine-leg. New Zealand could have been in deeper trouble hadn’t Ramdin dropped a straightforward leg-side chance off Stephen Fleming on zero. Fleming edged and prodded his way to 19.Earlier, Ramnaresh Sarwan and Dwyane Bravo had bailed West Indies out with contrasting fifties after New Zealand had dismissed Brian Lara and Shivnarine Chanderpaul, cheaply. The much-touted battle between Shane Bond and Lara lasted just one ball. Lara was early on the pull shot and toe-ended it to Carl Cachopa, the substitute fielder, at square leg. Shivnarine Chanderpaul, with his square-on stance, was troubled as the bowlers kept the ball full to him. He steered three fours through gully and point but was out to a needless shot – nicking one down leg side from Franklin.

Despite the precarious position, Sarwan rode his luck on any width outside off stump and was severe on Chris Martin. New Zealand had an opportunity to set West Indies back further but Martin fluffed a return catch off Sarwan when he was on 42. Sarwan had chanced his arm against Franklin and Bond and collected risky fours overs gully and slips, but he was more assured against Martin, who offered him free hits. While Sarwan was playing his shots, Bravo nudged, pushed and rotated strike. Once settled, he cashed in with consecutive fours off Martin and two lucky ones through slip off Bond.Bravo started the second session with two boundaries but thereafter New Zealand slowed down the pace. Franklin bowled a testing spell during which he had Bravo repeatedly wafting outside off stump. When Sarwan fell to a top-edged hook to fine leg while trying to force the pace, West Indies were still 94 runs short of New Zealand’s score. Dwayne Smith came in with a reputation to live up to and started in belligerent fashion. He flayed and missed outside the off stump and biffed fours down the ground before Martin ended his joy ride with one that took the edge after rising steeply.Daniel Vettori had inexplicably bowled just two overs in the first 60 and he wrapped up the tail in his second spell to end with figures of 2 of 7 from 7.2 overs. Vettori’s frugality forced Bravo to seek runs at the other end and he perished while doing so as West Indies folded for 257.

Brian Lara c (sub) Cachopa b Bond 5 (60 for 3)
Shivnarine Chanderpaul c McCullum b Franklin 13 (90 for 5)
Ramnaresh Sarwan c Franklin b Bond 62 (179 for 6)
Dwayne Smith c McCullum b Martin 38 (238 for 7)
Dwayne Bravo c Bond b Martin 58 (247 for 8)
Denesh Ramdin c & b Vettori (252 for 9)
Fidel Edwards c McCullum b Vettori 4 (257 for 10)
New ZealandHamish Marshall c Ganga b Bradshaw 1 (11 for 1)
Jamie How c Ramdin b Bradshaw 37 (66 for 2)
Peter Fulton d Edwards 28 (73 for 3)

Barbados 224 and 248 for 6 (Campbell 70, Browne 50*) lead Guyana 249 by 223 runs
ScorecardThe Carib Beer Cup match between Barbados and Guyana was intriguingly poised after three days – Barbados were 223 in front with four wickets in hand, and Guyana were likely to have an interesting run-chase ahead of them on the final day at Bridgetown. Trailing by 25 in the first innings, Barbados were bolstered by half-centuries from Sherwin Campbell and Patrick Browne, and ended the day on 248 for 6. Campbell, the captain, scored 70, while Browne was unbeaten on 50 at the close. Guyana took only six wickets in the day, but throughout they kept a check on the runs, conceding only 244 from 107 overs. Mahendra Nagamootoo was primarily responsible for Barbados’ poor scoring rate – he wheeled down 40 overs and took 3 for 75, in the process becoming the leading wicket-taker for Guyana with 271 scalps.Leeward Islands 262 and 87 for 5 (Williams 60*) trail Winward Islands 417 for 9 dec (Smith 142, Murray 66) by 68 runs
Scorecard
Windward Islands took charge of their match against Leewards Islands at St Thomas. At close of play on the third day, Leewards were struggling at 87 for 5, needing a further 68 to avoid an innings defeat. Resuming at 279 for 3, Windwards stretched their first innings to 417 for 9. Devon Smith and Junior Murray were the stars, adding 143 for the fourth wicket – Smith made 142, while Murray scored 66. Trailing by 155, Leewards made a horrendous start to their second innings, losing both openers for ducks. Stuart Williams then led the counterattack, and was unbeaten on 60 at close, but with wickets continually falling at the other end, Winwards were well on top.

Somerset eased the disappointment of a poor season on the pitch with better news of it, as they announced an annual profit of £247,848.Peter Anderson, the chief executive, said, "The turnover was up by £399,820 to £3,532,919 and this large surplus was achieved in part by fundraising for the club appeal year".Somerset, supporters of the old format of all eighteen counties in one division, pointed out that professional cricket isn’t just a £60 million business, as suggested by the ECB."Each and every county provides a boost to their geographical area local economies and of course there are employment advantages over and above just employing players," Anderson said. "The Cricket Reform Group and their supporters, who plainly cannot or will not give recognition to these issues – not to mention the development role of first-class and minor counties – do the game a great disservice serving selfishly their own agenda and profile".

Resurgent Canterbury swing bowler Warren Wisneski is delighted with the new pitch at Village Green, and in the new confidence within the team.The 32-year-old, who played twice for the CLEAR Black Caps against the then mighty Australians in February 1999, did not begin playing cricket seriously until he was 19. Not surprisingly, given the former Central Districts player’s physique, he was a rugby player before that.Wisneski’s new found wisdom this year contrasts to a difficult time for himself and Canterbury last summer, when he was dropped for the latter part of the season.But all this is behind the big-hearted into-the-wind bowler now, who said, “I’m back in the fold. It was a bit of a strange year last year. There were a lot of things wrong with Canterbury cricket on the playing side and off the field, but they’re being addressed now. The players are concentrating on doing their job and working hard for each other.”Of his role later in the derby game at QEII with Otago, Wisneski will be required as a batsman. In 54 first-class games he has scored 1520 runs at an average of 23.38. The big hitter has been concentrating on this side of his game whilst overseas this winter, but sees his Canterbury role differently.”I can bat but my job is to knock sides over. I’m an opening bowler and that’s what I do, so that’s what I concentrate on more.”During the first game of 2001/02, against Wellington at Rangiora, young fast bowler Wade Cornelius, who took a career best of 7-53, acknowledged the support of the experienced Wisneski at the other end.Whilst abroad during the winter Wisneski was tempted back by newly-appointed Canterbury coach Michael Sharpe.Sharpe said, “I had a talk with Warren who was overseas. I told him our plans and what structure we wanted to set up and what I thought his role would be. He had a few weeks to think about that, and he’s come on board and he’s really excited. I think he’s slipped in very well.”Wisneski was a late starter in cricket and only began to play seriously aged 19, encouraged by Taranaki captain Brian Richards.”He took me under his wing and allowed me to express myself,” said Wisneski. “I was also lucky enough to play for Taranaki with Alistar Jordan who played until he was 42 when I was just starting. If things were not going well he would make things happen. Alistar had a massive influence on my career with the way the game should be played from a bowling point of view.”Breaking into a Taranaki team that featured Jordan, Gary Robertson, Wayne Martin and Karl O’Dowda was not easy, but when Robertson and Martin went to play for Central Districts he got his chance.He gained much experience in the UK preferring out of the way places ranging from Scotland to Land’s End at opposite ends of the British Isles. In 2000 and 2001 he played for the Furness club in Barrow, a backwater in the far north West of England. He had succeeded Shane Bond there, after the future Test player gave up cricket temporarily to join the police force.His first overseas experience was for Cheam in the Surrey League in 1992, where he played alongside future England players Mark Butcher and Ally Brown.On his return Wisneski was asked to play for Central Districts. He made his debut against Otago late that year.His cricketing philosophy has always been “You’ve got to want to play at the highest level you can.” Partly for this reason, partly because of dissatisfaction with CD, and with the wish to find a base, Wisneski moved to Christchurch in 1994.”CD gave me the opportunity. I’ll always be grateful for that. But if you’re going to progress as a player you need to train and that was not always possible with CD as it is so spread out.”Ben Harris, then a Canterbury selector, was “the big one behind the move,” while Denis Aberhart was also an influence in Wisneski’s shift south. “They heard I wasn’t happy at CD and I wouldn’t mind moving, but it was a bit of both because with Stu Roberts and Chris Flanagan retiring they needed a swing bowler.”Now approaching 200 first-class wickets, Wisneski seems in better form than ever this year and is ready to play a major part in the revitalised Canterbury team of 2001/02.

Glamorgan recorded a remarkable 113 run victory over Hampshire in their quarter-final match of the Benson and Hedges Cup. The Welsh county bowled out Hampshire for just 69 to secure a home tie against Surrey in the semi-finals of the competition at Cardiff on May 27th.Earlier in the day, Hampshire appeared to be in the driving seat after putting Glamorgan in to bat in rather sultry and oppressive conditions at Sophia Gardens. Glamorgan`s early batsmen struggled against Hampshire’s veteran seamer Peter Hartley, who dismissed both openers – Croft and Elliott – in an opening spell of 8-4-15-2. When Dimitri Mascarenhas dismissed skipper Matthew Maynard for 6, Glamorgan slumped to 31-3. A partial recovery began with Mike Powell making a composed 29 with 4 fours, before being tempted down the wicket by Shane Warne and being stumped by acting wicket-keeper Derek Kenway. The wily Australian claimed a second scalp when Steve James was caught at slip, and with Glamorgan on 83-5 in the 32nd over, Hampshire seemed to be well on top.But the complexion of the game changed in the next 18 overs, thanks to Adrian Dale and Keith Newell who shared a partnership of 99 for the sixth wicket. Mixing defence with aggression, Dale and Newell transfomed the game, adding 66 runs in the final 10 overs. Dale made a watchful 63* off 90 balls, whilst Newell struck 4 fours and their doughty partnership was only ended when Newell was run out off the last ball of the innings, one short an excellent fifty.Despite their efforts, many in the crowd still fancied Hampshire, especially as the cloud cover had now disappeared over the Cardiff ground. But the slow, low Sophia Gardens wicket is notoriously one where the side batting first has an advantage, and Hampshire were soon in trouble against the accurate seam bowling of Owen Parkin. He took the first three wickets – all leg before – dismissing Kenway for 1 in his second over, Will Kendall for 0 in his third over, and Jason Laney for 5 in his sixth over, to finish with career best figures of 3-16 from 8 overs.Steve Watkin was also in miserly form at the other end, bowling three maiden overs to begin with, before getting the prized wicket of Robin Smith thanks to a fine catch in the gully by Matthew Elliott. Next ball, Watkin dismissed John Stephenson leg before for a duck, and Hampshire had slumped to 16-5 in the 12th over.Giles White survived the hat-trick ball, but he too struggled against the accurate Watkin who completed a remarkable spell with figures of 7-5-3-2. It was then the turn of man-of-the-match Adrian Dale to wreak havoc with the ball, dismissing White leg before and then getting Mascarenhas caught behind by Adrian Shaw after a half hour vigil without scoring a run. AlexWharf then bowled Shane Warne to leave Hampshire on 38-8, and as some home supporters began to sing “Bread of Heaven”, others began thumbing through the record books to find out the lowest total in the competition.Shaun Udal and Alan Mullally guided their side past the previous low of 50, before Keith Newell came on to claim the wicket of Mullally, caught on the square leg boundary by Mike Powell. In his next over, Newell finished the innings by catching Udal off his own bowling, and with Hampshire all out for 69, the Glamorgan team were able to celebrate a place in the semi-finals of the competition for the first time since 1988, and only the second time in the club`s history.

Wolves will find it difficult to keep hold of key midfielder Ruben Neves at the end of the season, according to journalist Pete O’Rourke.

The Lowdown: Neves linked with Wolves exit

The 24-year-old has been superb for Wanderers this season, catching the eye with his influential performances in the middle of the park.

Neves has scored three times and registered one assist in 24 Premier League appearances, also shining off the ball by averaging 2.3 tackles per game as he dominates the midfield and dictates the tempo of the match.

The Portuguese star has been linked with a move away from Molineux, however, as he may be eyeing a move to a team in the top four if Wolves do not pull off their remarkable push for Champions League football.

The Latest: Journalist makes worrying claim

Speaking to Give Me Sport, O’Rourke claimed Neves could well leave Wolves this summer:

“Wolves won’t want to hear this because they would love to keep Ruben Neves, but I think this summer, it could be a hard battle to keep hold of Neves.”

[freshpress-quiz id=“388797″]

The Verdict: Potential big blow

Neves is a hugely influential player, possessing the ability to boss big matches, so the thought of losing him is a worrying one for Wolves supporters.

The Portugal international is a player with lofty ambitions, however, and with Bruno Lage’s side now looking unlikely to finish in the top-four this season, a bid from a Champions League-playing club could turn his head.

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The hope is that Neves remains loyal and stays put for years to come, but it would be hard to begrudge him a move if a European giant came calling.

In other news, Wolves have also suffered another potential transfer blow. Read more here.