Hooper ready for comeback

Hooper, 34, quit the international game during the One-Day series against Australia last year, although he has played grade cricket for Carlton in Australia.

He returned to the region last week to represent Guyana in the Red Stripe limited overs tournament, but missed the four-day Busta Cup earlier this year which makes him ineligible for the Test squad for the tour of Australia next month.

But having played in the bowl he could still make the One-Day squad.Hooper is a stylish middle-order batsman and an off-spinner more effective in One-Day cricket than Tests.

Former West Indies coach Viv Richards has called for Hooper’s return. Some pundits have even suggested he could come back as captain.

Lankan’s arrive
SHARJAH: The Sri Lankans will like to forget their performance in the ICC Knock-out tournament at Nairobi and take on India with a new determination in the opening encounter of the Coca Cola Cup cricket tournament, beginning here on October 20.

The Sri Lankan team, led by Sanath Jayasuriya, arrived here on Sunday and did some practice at the Sharjah cricket Stadium.

NZ in high spirit
AUCKLAND: New Zealand celebrated a rare sporting victory on Monday with their cricketers’ triumph over India in the ICC Knock-out Trophy in Kenya making headline news.

After a lean medal haul at the Sydney Olympics and the loss of Rugby’s Bledisloe Cup and Tri-Nations Cup by the all blacks, the sporting public was hungry for success.

News of the team’s upset victory was the lead story on local radio, television and news websites.

All-rounder Chris cairns, who hit the winning runs, rated the victory as a highlight of his cricket career.

“I’ve been playing for a few years now, I’m getting pretty old and this is by far and away the greatest moment of my career,” Cairns told Radio New Zealand.

“New Zealand’s never got to a final before, let alone win it, so this is just the best.”

New Zealand will face South Africa in six One-Day internationals followed by three Tests, starting on Friday.