Cricket My Life

Laxman's English deal falls through

2008-07-26T16:33:00.001+06:00

India batsman VVS Laxman's planned move to Nottinghamshire has fallen through after the deal was vetoed by the India Board of Control for Cricket (BCCI), the English county said.

The 33-year-old had been expected to arrive at Trent Bridge in August after Nottinghamshire had received a No Objection Certificate (NOC) from the BCCI two weeks ago.

However, the BCCI have subsequently withdrawn the NOC by e-mail and Nottinghamshire director of cricket Mick Newell said the county will now search for a replacement player.

"We followed correct procedures to complete the deal with the approval of the BCCI and it is extremely disappointing that they have reversed their stance," Newell said.

"We were very surprised to learn about the possibility of the deal collapsing in the media in the first instance.

"The players, management and supporters were looking forward to VVS joining Notts and now we have to pursue alternative players."

ICC powerless to prevent Pakistan boycott, says Lorgat

2008-07-26T16:32:00.001+06:00

International cricket chiefs admitted on Friday that they would be powerless to prevent any mass pullout from September's Champions Trophy in Pakistan.

Responding to suggestions that players and even teams may skip the event because of security fears, International Cricket Council (ICC) chief executive Haroon Lorgat said: "We cannot force players to attend. All we can do is make them confident about the measures taken in regard to safety and security and on that basis hope they participate."

Holders Australia, who are also world champions, and other key nations could refuse to play in the tournament after the ICC decided Thursday to go ahead with the event in Pakistan.

The Australian and New Zealand players' associations have called on their country's governing bodies not to send teams, while England players will be asked if they want to travel.

The ICC will appoint a commission to look into ensuring security at the September 11-28 showpiece, but it was not enough to ease fears about the threat of militant attacks.

Lorgat said the objective of setting up a task force was to ensure the interests of all the stakeholders involved. "That is the reason we are putting together a task team inviting all the main stakeholders including FICA (Federation of International Cricketers' Associations), so the process is inclusive," said Lorgat.

"We won't speculate on teams not taking part or any action if that did occur. There was no indication that would happen during the telephone hook-up of ICC Directors on Thursday."

Murali, Mendis put India in spin

2008-07-26T16:29:00.002+06:00

Muttiah Muralitharan and Ajantha Mendis shared nine wickets in the first innings to put Sri Lanka in a winning position on the fourth day of the opening Test against India here on Saturday.

Off-spinner Muralitharan finished with 5-84 -- his 64th haul of five or more wickets in a Test innings -- as Sri Lanka dismissed India for 223 in the first innings after posting a mammoth 600-6 declared.

Debutant spinner Mendis also applied pressure from the other end of the crease with his shrewd variations, finishing with 4-74 to help his side enforce the follow-on.

India lost Virender Sehwag early in their second innings before reaching 25-1 at lunch. Gautam Gambhir was unbeaten on 12 at the break.

Sehwag (13) was initially given not out by umpire Mark Benson of England following a leg-before appeal off Muralitharan.

But Sri Lanka captain Mahela Jayawardene requested the official to review the decision under the experimental rule. Benson consulted TV umpire Rudi Koertzen of South Africa before changing his decision.

Earlier, Venkatsai Laxman was the lone Indian batsman to keep the Sri Lankan spin duo at bay, making a solid 56 for his 34th Test half-century. He was the last man out, failing to read a Mendis googly.

Laxman had only tail-enders to give him company after India lost six wickets for a meagre 159 on Friday. But only last-man Ishant Sharma stayed with him for more than an hour in the morning session.

Sharma faced 54 balls for his unbeaten 13 after the fall of skipper Anil Kumble (one), Harbhajan Singh (nine) and Zaheer Khan (five) in the space of 18 runs. He helped Laxman add 35 for the last wicket.

India lost their first wicket in the fourth over when Kumble was adjudged leg-before off Mendis by umpire Billy Doctrove of the West Indies.

Kumble asked the official to review the decision, but Doctrove was proved right after consulting the TV umpire.

Muralitharan, who took four wickets on Friday, added one more to his tally when he had Harbhajan caught by Malinda Warnapura at short-leg. Mendis then trapped Zaheer leg-before before dismissing Laxman.

England recall Harmison for third Test

2008-07-26T16:26:00.002+06:00

England have recalled Stephen Harmison to their 13-man squad announced on Saturday for the third Test against South Africa starting at Edgbaston on Wednesday.

The Durham fast bowler has not played for England since being dropped along with new-ball colleague Matthew Hoggard following the first Test defeat away to New Zealand at Hamilton in March.

But he has looked back to somewhere near his best during county cricket this season and now the 29-year-old has been recalled to add extra pace to an attack that has taken just 13 wickets in the last 344.3 overs bowled at South Africa during the series.

Australia-raised seamer Darren Pattinson, controversially awarded a Test debut in the second Test at Headingley, where the Proteas won by 10 wickets to go 1-0 up in the four-match series, and squad member Chris Tremlett have both been dropped.

England have also recalled Harmison's county colleague Paul Collingwood, dropped at Headingley where England's top five batsmen managed just one fifty between them in the whole match.

Left-arm quick Ryan Sidebottom, a Nottinghamshire team-mate of Pattinson, returns to the squad after missing the second Test because of a back injury.

But it is the recall of Harmison which was the eye-catching move and England national selector Geoff Miller said: "Steve Harmison has been bowling well for Durham this season and his inclusion in the Test squad gives us another option in terms of our bowling attack for the Edgbaston Test.

Turning to Sidebottom, Miller added: "Ryan Sidebottom has been progressing well with his back injury over the past week and we're confident he'll be fit for selection but obviously he'll be monitored closely in the lead up to next Wednesday."

Collingwood, who had played 33 consecutive Tests until being dropped, could now return if England decide to bolster their batting by opting for a four-man, rather than five-man, attack at Edgbaston.

"Paul Collingwood was unlucky to miss out on a place in the team for the second npower Test match but this decision was based on a number of factors," said Miller.

"He has shown what a true professional he is by returning to Durham over the past week and playing well for his county."

Victory for South Africa at Edgbaston would give them an unbeatable 2-0 lead and see them win a Test series in England for the first time since 1965.

N Zealand Players Association opposes Champions Trophy decision

2008-07-26T16:25:00.001+06:00

New Zealand cricketers will be urged not to travel to Pakistan for September's Champions Trophy after the International Cricket Council ruled the tournament would go ahead there.

The New Zealand Cricket Players Association said Friday it was disappointed with the ICC's decision not to move the tournament from Pakistan, and was still recommending that players not travel there.

"We're very disappointed by the decision out of the ICC overnight," New Zealand association president Heath Mills told local radio.

"There's been a strong view that we don't think Pakistan is a safe work place for the players and our position hasn't changed," Mills said.

"It's our strong recommendation to the players that they don't travel to Pakistan at this point in time."

Mills said all of the players that he had spoken to were uncomfortable about travelling to Pakistan.

PCB Still Confident Ahead Of Ruling

2008-07-23T16:56:00.001+06:00

The Pakistan Cricket Board chairman Nasim Ashraf is confident the Champions Trophy will be held in Pakistan ahead of an International Cricket Council meeting on Thursday to decide the issue.

The Champions Trophy is scheduled to be held in Pakistan from September 11 to 28, but doubts have persisted over security.

Players from Australia, New Zealand, South Africa and England have said they would opt out of the tournament if it was held in Pakistan

ICC officials, members of the participating boards and representatives of broadcast channel ESPN-Star reviewed security arrangements for the tournament on Sunday, but no final decision on the venue was taken.

The ICC will now take that decision on Thursday.

"The ICC will have a teleconference meeting on Thursday to take a final decision," Ashraf said.

"We are confident that the ICC will take the right decision and keep the tournament in Pakistan. It is very important for Pakistan cricket.

"We are in touch with all the participating boards and we are trying to assure them that all possible security precautions are being put into place for the Champions Trophy and it is safe to play in Pakistan."

The ICC, however, has stated that safety and security of players would be paramount and would not be compromised.

"We have maintained, we would not compromise on safety and security of players," ICC chief executive Haroon Lorgat said in a statement.

"We are trying our best to hold the tournament as per schedule and hope that it is not postponed."

Lorgat said while every precaution was being taken to ensure the safety of players, no guarantees could be given.

"There have been concerns because no guarantees, as far as safety and security are concerned, can be given by the PCB, the ICC or security consultants.

"We need to do everything in our power to secure and safeguard officials, but we can never issue guarantees."

The ICC said it would need the votes of seven full members to move the tournament away from Pakistan.

Proteas To Pick Up Their Pace

2008-07-23T16:50:00.004+06:00

Even though legendary paceman Shaun Pollock might have retired from international cricket he is still getting his bite of the cherry, even if it is from his commentator's chair.

Pollock spotted a technical problem in Makhaya Ntini's bowling during the first Test at Lord's and informed bowling coach Vinnie Barnes about his observation.

"I had an interesting discussion with Shaun," Barnes said on Tuesday.

"He and Makhaya played in the same teams for years and he knows Makhaya's bowling almost better than I do."

Pollock said the seam of the ball was pointing too straight when Ntini bowled.

"This resulted in him getting hardly any swing. The ball just went straight on," Barnes explained.

Barnes expects his formidable pace-quartet consisting of Dale Steyn, Morne Morkel, Jacques Kallis and Ntini to improve even more before the third Test at Edgbaston.

"I was not completely satisfied. They were much better than in the first test but they can do even better." Barnes said.

Barnes spent a great deal of time before the second Test observing Ntini's techniques which clearly bared it's fruits as the Proteas managed to dismiss England twice at Headingley, claiming a ten-wicket victory and heading up the series 1-0.

"I looked (on video footage) at the seam when Makhaya bowled against the West Indies. He bowled brilliantly; he was too good for Darren Ganga." Barnes said.

"I then used a split screen and showed Makhaya the difference in the angle of his wrist between that Test and now.

"He almost had an away-swing action (at Lord's) instead of an in-swing action, making it easy to play him, especially for right-handers."

Barnes added that he was however satisfied with the way Ntini bowled at Headingley.

"It was good to see Makhaya running in quite hard again. That's what I want to see from him."

There is no doubt that much work and fine-tuning will be done during the nets as well as during the tour match against Bangladesh A at Worcester on Friday.

Pacers Morkel and Steyn and openers Neil McKenzie and Graeme Smith are likely to be rested in order for Andre Nel and Monde Zondeki as well as Robin Peterson and JP Duminy to get some practice ahead of the ODI series, which gets going on August 7.

Kiwis Want Safety First Policy

2008-07-23T16:48:00.001+06:00

New Zealand Cricket Players' Association boss Heath Mills has urged the International Cricket Council to change the venue for September's Champions Trophy.

Pakistan are due to host the one-day tournament but concerns about security issues following a spate of bombings in recent months have been raised by several countries, including New Zealand, who believe the tournament should not go ahead in the strife-torn country.

The ICC board are due to make a decision on Thursday and Mills has called for player safety to be the determining factor.

"I'm hoping the right decision is made by the ICC board and that commercial considerations or politics don't get in the way of player safety when they make that decision." Mills told Radio Sport.

Mills attended a meeting in Dubai at the weekend where he was able to raise his concerns directly with the ICC and the various national boards as well as question security consultants and the Pakistani authorities.

But he said he had heard nothing that would alleviate concerns about the Black Caps travelling to Pakistan.

"We're not in a position where we could support players going to the Champions Trophy at the moment.

"We appreciate the position of the Pakistan Cricket Board and we feel somewhat sorry for them.

"What's going on in Pakistan is not of their making and they are working hard and are desperate to hold the tournament.

"But the fact is, their country is very fluid in terms of political violence at the moment and we have genuine concerns about our players safety while they would be there. We just can't support the team going at this point in time."

He added: "Certainly the English, Australia, South African and New Zealand players' associations are of the same mind on this. And to be fair, the various boards of those countries also share our concerns.

"It's all just a wait-and-see situation at the moment."

Some members of the current New Zealand side - Daniel Vettori, Scott Styris and Chris Martin - were part of the Black Caps side that were touring Pakistan in 2002 when a bomb exploded outside the team's hotel in Karachi, killing 15 people.

'Bucknor removed due to BCCI pressure'

2008-07-23T16:32:00.003+06:00

Indirect criticism emerged on Wednesday of the way the Board of Control for Cricket in India handled the issue of West Indian umpire Steve Bucknor.

Dave Richardson, former South African wicketkeeper, now General Manager - Cricket of the International Cricket Council, said the pressure put on veteran umpire Bucknor in the controversial Sydney Test over the New Year was one of the reasons why the referral system was being put in place.

Explaining the ICC's view, Richardson clearly spelt out reasons why the referral system was being introduced at Test level. It wasn't just the Sydney Test but other Tests where the view was that it was time to give the referral system a trial. It is why the series involving India and Sri Lanka was being used as an experiment.

"People will say that referring a decision to the third umpire (at a player's request) is against the spirit of the game,' he told a media conference on Wednesday before the start of the rain-delayed first Test at the Sinhalese Sports Club.

"What we (the ICC) are saying is that if you feel a mistake has been made, then make a polite request to the umpire to refer the decision to the third umpire.

"It is felt that it is challenging the umpire's decision (is not the way to go). The way we look at it is, what is best or worst for the game? Is it the umpires making mistakes and being accused of cheating? Or Steve Bucknor being burnt in effigy and threatening to leave the country and fly home.

"Or to criticising umpires on one hand or a system where the umpire has been given an opportunity to review his own decision and make a final decision for himself. Our thoughts are that this latter course would be preferable.

"Let's face it; the umpires are under intense scrutiny from television replays. Every mistake that is made is emphasised and they are not allowed to forget it," Richardson said. "That being the case, allow then the opportunity to use the technology."

Richardson clarified the point over the ICC's views over the Sydney Test fracas, saying that the "ICC stood firmly behind" the Jamaican.

"There were calls for Steve to be fired permanently and obviously we resisted that (pressure). He's a good umpire, he's had a long career and the reason for taking him out of the next Test match was the hype.

"The media hype and the behaviour of the Indian board in that particular instance, created a situation that made it impossible for him to stand in the next Test. The first little error he would have made would have been blown out of proportion.

"We decided that it was best for him and his colleagues in that next Test that he rather take a back seat for a while and so defuse the situation. That was the reason," he commented.

"Darrel Hair is a difficult case. It is a once off and I hope that we never confronted by such circumstances again."

Richardson was the Proteas wicketkeeper in the first Test of the historic 1992/93 South Africa friendship series with India. The first TV technology line referral was made at Kingsmead Durban and a decision had to be made with a Jonty Rhodes return to Richardson that ran out Sachin Tendulkar.

Karl Liebenberg, the third umpire making the decision, said he felt "like a hangman" as he pressed the button that signalled the end of the Mumbai maestro's innings.

"In those days there were only twelve cameras on site," Richardson said. "Today there are twenty-six cameras and technology has come a very long way since then."

Hayden to quit before 2011 World Cup

2008-07-23T16:18:00.002+06:00

Bowlers the world over who have suffered at the hands of Matthew Hayden will heave a sigh of relief with the Australian opener announcing to call it quits before the 2011 World Cup in the Indian sub-continent.

Aware that he would have to pave way for the next generation Australians to play for the country just as Mark Waugh had done to make room for him, 36-year-old Hayden has earmarked a ‘transitional period’ after which he will step down from one-day cricket.

"I appreciated what Mark Waugh enabled me to do prior to my first World Cup (in 2003) and that was I had about 50 games under my belt to get well settled and well prepared for the World Cup," Hayden said.

"I've got no intention to go on to the next World Cup (in 2011). There will be a transition period between now and that World Cup. From there I'd like to think I can step aside in a manner which is very unselfish to the preparation of the team moving forward to the next World Cup," he was quoted as saying by the Herald Sun.

Plagued by tendon injuries over the past 12 months, there have been growing calls for the broad-shouldered opener to step down from one-day cricket and concentrate on Tests but Hayden insisted he wasn't ready to give up the limited-overs game so soon.

Hayden said his tendon problems had caused him great frustration but it had been like that for almost a decade.

"It is a tendon that has just been worked. It's a deteriorating injury. It doesn't mean it gets any worse. I've had it in my knees for nine years. Some days they are sore but you play. Other days they hurt badly," said Hayden, who had to miss the Caribbean tour recently due to the injury.

England could send second string team to Champions Trophy

2008-07-22T16:46:00.002+06:00

The England and Wales Cricket Board (ECB) has said that it cannot guarantee the participation of all its players in the Champions Trophy unless the tournament is shifted from Pakistan.

England is the fourth country to give such a warning after Australia, New Zealand and South Africa shared their concerns over security in Pakistan. A final decision on the venue is scheduled to be made by tele- conference this week.

According to The Times, advice from the British Foreign Office about Pakistan, which is displayed on its website, reads: "There is a high threat from terrorism and sectarian violence throughout Pakistan." Among the cities with a "heightened threat to Westerners" are the venues of Rawalpindi, Karachi and Lahore.

England players will be briefed by the Professional Cricketers' Association (PCA) before the start of the third Test against South Africa at Edgbaston Wednesday.

Sri Lanka is the designated back-up venue, but switching to Colombo, where there are also security concerns, may create apprehension and South Africa and England have been mooted as potential alternatives.

Reports from India say that the ICC is aware of a "credible external threat" to the competition and an ICC statement acknowledged that, while the Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) provided a high level of security during the Asia Cup, which finished this month, concerns have been expressed about "potential for threats beyond the PCB's control".

If one of the concerned boards calls for a vote, seven of the ten full members -- including Bangladesh and Zimbabwe, who are not involved in the eight-team event -- must back a switch. As ever in the world of ICC politics, the position of the Asian bloc will be central to the outcome.

Hayden not keen to 'walk away' from Champions Trophy

2008-07-22T16:42:00.001+06:00

Australian opening batsman Matthew Hayden says he would love to help Australia secure the Champions Trophy if it is safe for the team to play.

Billed as the second World Cup, the International Cricket Council (ICC) is expected to decide this week whether to move the tournament from Pakistan for security reasons.

Australia, England and New Zealand sent security consultant Reg Dickason on an inspection tour after players raised concerns over travelling to the troubled country.

But Hayden says Cricket Australia and the players will be well informed before they make a decision and the motivation is there for Australia to claim its maiden title.

"We're on the eve of competing in what is known as the second World Cup," he said.

"We don't want to walk away, it's a tournament that we've never won.

"We've always come close but never achieved that and it's certainly one that I want to be involved in if it means that my safety is not compromised."

Hayden also weighed into the debate over potential changes to the Gabba's centre wicket amid ongoing concerns about AFL player welfare.

The Brisbane Lions have continued to call for a softer centre wicket, but Hayden said while he understands the Lions' point of view, the switch to a placid drop-in wicket would devalue cricket in the long-term.

"The benign drop-in wickets don't promote a particularly entertaining form of cricket," he said.

"It's very much a grafting style of cricket. Here [at the Gabba] you can come as a spectator and I'm one of those whenever I'm out sitting up in that box watching the competition between bat and ball and I can tell you I don't think there's a better place on earth to play."

SA beat England by 10 wkts

2008-07-22T16:10:00.003+06:00

Stuart Broad’s defiant batting ensured that England make South Africa bat in fourth innings. However, the third Test fifty from Broad, failed to stop Proteas victory as they romped home with 10 wickets in hand.

England, who made 203 on Friday, were dismissed for 327 in their second innings shortly before the close on the fourth day, leaving South Africa needing only nine runs to win.

South Africa`s winning performance was dominated by centuries from AB de Villiers (174) and Ashwell Prince (149) as they set up their team`s imposing first innings total of 522. De Villiers revealed he was motivated by boos from the crowd and abuse from England players after he claimed a catch on Friday that was shown to have bounced first.

Andrew Flintoff, in his first Test for 18 months, resisted South Africa`s victory charge in an unusually slow innings of 38 from 95 balls before he was caught at second slip off Morne Morkel. The time in the middle should at least be some consolation for him and England.

The day started well for England as night-watchman James Anderson took some painful blows to the body from Dale Steyn while making a Test best 34.

South Africa attempted to unsettle the stubborn Anderson and in the 45th over Steyn struck him between the arm guard and glove on his facing right arm and he required immediate medical attention to check there was no damage.

After a five-minute delay, Steyn bowled Anderson another spiteful short ball that crashed into the grill of his helmet in front of his right cheekbone.

FRUSTRATING CAMEO

Anderson fell to the ground instantly and an 11-minute delay separated the third and fourth balls to demonstrate the seriousness of the blow.

He was eventually trapped lbw in front of middle stump and received a standing ovation for his 111-minute resistance that spanned 80 deliveries. It was Steyn`s 50th Test wicket of the year.

Kevin Pietersen lasted five balls for his 13 in a frustrating cameo. The post-lunch session featured Ian Bell`s dismissal when his square cut to a short and wide delivery was brilliantly caught by de Villiers in the gully, clutching the ball one-handed after diving to his right.

After an animated celebration he gestured, in good nature, to the crowd who had booed him when he went out to bat on Saturday.

Top scorer Alastair Cook was caught off a leading edge by Hashim Amla at cover from the bowling of Jacques Kallis for 60 after batting for almost five hours.

Tim Ambrose was caught behind off Steyn for 36 from 94 balls after he abandoned his patient approach. He may be under pressure to retain his place after one half-century in his last nine Test innings.

Stuart Broad hit an unbeaten 67 at the end of the innings with 11 cleanly struck boundaries. He added 61 for the last wicket with debutant Darren Pattinson (13).

South Africa are seeking their first series win in England since their return from international isolation. They last won in 1965.

Mendis set for test debut against India

2008-07-22T16:09:00.001+06:00

Unorthodox spin bowler Ajantha Mendis is set to make his test debut for Sri Lanka against India this week after he was included in a 14-man squad named for the opener of a three-match series on Monday.

The 23-year-old Mendis is expected to be promoted to the test side after his spectacular performance in the Asia Cup final in Pakistan on July 6, where he claimed six wickets for 13 runs to help Sri Lanka overcome India.

The finger spinner, who bowls a mixture of off breaks, leg breaks, googlies and top spinners, is likely to form an intimidating partnership with world record wicket taker Muttiah Muralitharan.

In the opening test, starting in Colombo on Wednesday, Sri Lanka should line up with just two fast bowlers with either left-armer Thilan Thushara or right-arm seamer Nuwan Kulasekera taking the new ball with Chaminda Vaas.

Fast bowler Dilhara Fernando was ruled out after suffering knee pain during a three-day practice game against India over the weekend.

SRI LANKA SQUAD: Mahela Jayawardene (captain), Kumar Sangakkara, Malinda Warnapura, Thilan Samaweera, Michael Vandort, Tillakaratne Dilshan, Chamara Silva, Chamara Kapugedera, Thilan Thushara, Chaminda Vaas, Prasanna Jayawardene, Muttiah Muralitharan, Ajantha Mendis, Nuwan Kulasekera.

ICC board to decide Champions Trophy fate on Thursday

2008-07-22T16:05:00.001+06:00

The International Cricket Council (ICC) will decide on Thursday whether Pakistan can host the Champions Trophy in September amid security fears in the country.

A teleconference of the ICC executive board "will take place on Thursday to take a decision on Champions Trophy," an ICC spokesman told AFP on Tuesday.

The year's biggest one-day tournament features the top eight Test nations -- Australia, South Africa, England, India, Pakistan, Sri Lanka, New Zealand and the West Indies. It is scheduled to be held in Pakistan September 11-28.

But Australia, England and New Zealand have raised concerns about security in Pakistan, which is battling militants in tribal areas.

The ICC held a meeting on Sunday at its Dubai headquarters to inform the teams of the security arrangements made by Pakistan in the Asia Cup in June-July and its plans for the Champions Trophy.

Pakistan held a peaceful six-nation Asian event from June 24 to July 6.

However, a suicide bomb blast in capital Islamabad earlier this month killed 19 people and a series of small bombings rocked the port city of Karachi, which renewed security fears.

Karachi, Lahore and Rawalpindi are home to the three Trophy venues.

Sri Lanka, the designated alternative venue for the tournament, is also facing renewed violence between Tamil Tiger rebels and government troops.

South Africa and England have been tipped as potential alternate locations for the event.

Kapil Dev lashes out at Yuvraj for bad performance

2008-07-21T16:03:00.002+06:00

Former Indian captain and ace-all rounder Kapil Dev has advised India's One-Day specialist batsman Yuvraj Singh to concentrate more on the game and improve his performance.

Kapil also advised Singh who has been dropped out of the Indian team for the three test away series against Sri Lanka starting on July 23, to be focused. Sachin has never been thrown out of the team because of the immense capability he has displayed all the time. Yuvraj should also show that much capability. Everybody says and even I acknowledge that the amount of talent he has is rare. He should make use of his talent at the right place. Sometimes, I feel he does not make use of his talent at the right place," he said.

Drawing parallels between Yuvraj and his father Yograj Singh, a former Test cricketer, Dev said that if Yuvraj devoted even 50 per cent of the hard work that his father put in, no one could stop him from remaining in the Test team.

Kapil also praised Sri Lankan spinner Ajantha Mendis for his innovative bowling, and said that he introduced a new style to the cricketing world.

AB Sets The Record Straight On `Catch`

2008-07-21T16:01:00.002+06:00

AB de Villiers has sought to set the record straight over his first-day slip 'catch' in the second Test against England at Headingley.

The South African claimed to have caught Andrew Strauss but replays showed the ball to have hit the ground and the batsman was given not out by the third umpire.

Speaking at tonight's press conference, De Villiers said: "This is the truth and nothing but the truth.

"The ball hit my right hand and went straight into my left - and I was pretty sure that I took the catch.

"But I went straight to my captain and told him, 'Listen, I'm not 100% sure. What shall we do about this?'

"I saw a bit of grass on my left 'pinky'. He said, 'No worries, we don't have to go anywhere. The umpires are better referring it to the third umpire'.

"There was no way in this world I was going to let Straussy walk off the field without telling the umpires I wasn't sure.

"The captain said, 'It's no bother - there's nothing you can do'.

"I'm not a guy who could go to bed at night knowing a batsman wasn't out and had to walk off the field."

England aim to defy South Africa

2008-07-21T15:53:00.002+06:00

England will need to show the same defiance South Africa did at Lord's if they are to save the second Test.

England will resume on 50-2, still 269 runs behind at Headingley, after South Africa were all out for 522.

Bowler James Anderson said: "They're going to come out all guns blazing and we're going to battle hard and put in a similar performance to what they did.

"Obviously a couple of guys are going to need to get big hundreds," the nightwatchman added.

South Africa were staring down the barrel at Lord's after being forced to follow-on in the first Test but on a flat pitch they managed to bat out the match to salvage a draw.

They are on top in the second of the four-match series, thanks to a second successive century by Ashwell Prince and 174 by AB De Villiers.

De Villiers said the abuse he suffered from England fans spurred him on to hit his big century.

He told BBC Radio 5 Live: "It's the first time in my life I've been booed onto the field which was disappointing.

"I rate myself as a gentleman of the game but (the abuse) motivated me. It was my most disciplined innings."

De Villiers had claimed a catch on the first morning of the Test, which replays showed had clearly been dropped by the fielder before he caught it on the first bounce.

Though Andrew Strauss had waited for the third umpire to make the correct ruling on the decision, England had been so angry at the time that captain Michael Vaughan walked into the South African dressing room at lunch to complain.

De Villiers said of the incident: "I was never 100% sure and I told my captain straight away. He said there's nothing to worry about because they'll be referring it to the third umpire.

"It was disappointing to see how everyone handled it but that's life."

Tendulkar set to hijack Sri Lanka series

2008-07-21T15:51:00.001+06:00

Indian batsman Sachin Tendulkar's bid to become the world's leading scorer will dominate the three-Test series against Sri Lanka starting here on Wednesday.

Tendulkar is just 172 runs away from surpassing the 11,953 clocked up by retired West Indies captain Brian Lara -- a task within the reach of the Indian batsman who likes Sri Lankan pitches.

The star averages 111.66 from six Tests in Sri Lanka with four centuries. His last Test in the country was in 1999 when he cracked a half-century and a hundred in the Asian Test championships.

The 35-year-old already holds three major batting records -- the highest number of centuries in Tests (39), and the most runs (16,361) and hundreds (42) in one-day internationals.

Australia captain Ricky Ponting (10,099 runs) and India's Rahul Dravid (10,098) are the only active members of the elite 10,000 club.

Tendulkar, known for his flair and flamboyance at the crease, returns to Test cricket after four months due to a groin injury.

"He (Tendulkar) is too good," said Sri Lanka's senior wicketkeeper-batsman Kumar Sangakkara. "We know for sure that he is going to come hard at us at some point in the series and our bowlers will have to get him early.

"I know it's not going to be easy, but we have to hit the right areas to apply constant pressure on the Indians. And Sachin's wicket is a prized possession."

Tendulkar is one of the five veterans returning to Test cricket to boost India's chances of avenging their 2-1 defeat on the last tour of Sri Lanka in 2001. The others are Test captain Anil Kumble, Dravid, Sourav Ganguly and Venkatsai Laxman.

India will pin hopes on experienced players to win the first away Test series under Kumble, whose side has so far lost in Australia, but won at home against Pakistan and South Africa.

Off-spinner Harbhajan Singh returns to the side after a five-match ban for slapping team-mate Shanthakumaran Sreesanth during a domestic Twenty20 match in April.

The tourists' pace attack also looks sharp with the presence of Zaheer Khan, coming back after a spate of injuries, and the fast-improving 19-year-old Ishant Sharma.

Dinesh Karthick looks set to pip Parthiv Patel for the wicketkeeper's job left vacant by Mahendra Singh Dhoni, who has opted out of the Test tour due to fatigue.

Sri Lanka, always formidable at home, go into the series after beating South Africa, England and the West Indies in the past four years.

Sri Lanka captain Mahela Jayawardene said the series would be closely contested as both sides had "quality players".

"We enjoy playing India at home or away. It's always been a tough challenge. There is good rivalry with our neighbours," he said.

Off-spinner Muttiah Muralitharan, Test cricket's leading bowler with 735 wickets, is prepared to unsettle the Indians on his country's low, slow pitches.

The hosts have another surprise weapon in Ajantha Mendis, a spinner with clever variations who could make his Test debut after proving his credentials in one-day internationals.

India have already failed once against Mendis, who grabbed 6-13 to script Sri Lanka's victory in the Asia Cup final in Pakistan earlier this month.

Teams get 'unmatched' security: Shoaib Malik

2008-07-21T15:49:00.001+06:00

Pakistan cricket captain Shoaib Malik has reportedly urged the international teams showing reluctance to playing in Champions Trophy in Pakistan to shun their fear, saying that the kind security that foreign teams get in Pakistan was unmatched.

Players from Australia and England teams have been expressing fears about playing in the tournament, particularly the recent spate of violence in the country including bombings in Karachi and Islamabad.

Malik urged these teams to dispel their concerns about security in Pakistan ahead of tournament in September.

'I have been to most of the Test playing nations and other countries where cricket is played and the security foreign teams get in Pakistan is unmatched. I request all teams to visit Pakistan for the Champions Trophy as the event is very important for us and our people,' Malik said

He added “South Africa, England, India, Sri Lanka, Zimbabwe they all have toured Pakistan in the last few years without any problems. We also hosted the Asia Cup just now without any problems.”

Malik said he had no doubt the Champions Trophy in Pakistan would the best since its inception in 1998.

Harmison bitter over Pattinson

2008-07-20T15:43:00.002+06:00

Steve Harmison said England's decision to select Victoria's Darren Pattinson for the second Test against South Africa betrayed a lack of confidence in the country's young quicks.

Ashes-winning fast bowler Harmison, currently out of the England side after being dropped following the first Test in New Zealand earlier this year, was one of several seasoned bowlers overlooked when Ryan Sidebottom became doubtful with a back strain.

Instead, the selectors opted to hand a debut to Australian-raised but Grimsby-born Pattinson, 29, a Nottinghamshire colleague of left-arm seamer Sidebottom who only began his Trent Bridge career at the start of the season.

Harmison's fellow 2005 Ashes-winning quicks Matthew Hoggard and Simon Jones also had reason to feel hard done by as did longstanding reserve Chris Tremlett, not to mention a crop of promising pace bowlers.

"The amount of money the ECB (England and Wales Cricket Board) have pushed into young bowlers, taking them to Chennai and the Academy - are we saying the young bowlers aren't good enough?'' Harmison said.

"I haven't seen him (Pattinson) bowl - I was asleep when we played them. But good luck to him, he has taken his chance. If he deserves it I'm not sure, but good luck to him.''

Pattinson, a product of Melbourne club side Dandenong who has played five games for Victoria, was plucked from obscurity having only played 11 first-class matches in his career and taken 29 wickets in six matches for Nottinghamshire this season.

He did, however, go some way to answering his critics by taking the only wicket to fall, before bad light and rain stopped play, on the second day at Headingley.

Harmison's Durham teammate Paul Collingwood was dropped from the England side at Yorkshire's headquarters after a run of low scores but Harmison was confident the all-rounder would not be in the Test match wilderness for long.

"The best thing for 'Colly' now is to come down here and score some runs, that's the best way to answer somebody,'' Harmison said.

"If he scores some runs he is back in the spotlight and the next man back in if the batters are struggling for form.''

Cricket star gets female guard

2008-07-20T15:37:00.001+06:00

Indian cricketing hero Mahendra Singh Dhoni has been provided an all-female police force to protect him from his female fans, police say.

Dhoni recently opted out of playing a series in Sri Lanka because of fatigue.

But ever since he landed in his home town of Ranchi, in the eastern Jharkhand state, to get some rest, his fans have refused to leave him alone.

Dhoni is the captain of India's one-day cricket team and has cult following in a nation crazy about the sport.

His good looks and powerful performance on the field have earned him many fans, including a lot of young women who regularly mob him for autographs.

Last year, at Calcutta's Eden Gardens, an 18-year-old girl broke through the security cordon, ran out into the field and hugged him.

The cricketer's close friends say Dhoni is yet to get over the embarrassment.

'Difficult'

"Dhoni has a Z-plus security cover [the highest level provided by the state]. Yet it is difficult to keep the female fans away," senior police officer Manvinder Singh Bhatia told the BBC.

"So we decided to deploy women commandos for his security as they can do the job with ease," he said.

Another police officer said, "The next three weeks that he is here we will ensure that he does not have to face any kind of embarrassment like the one in Calcutta."

For the 15-odd women commandos from the Jharkhand Armed Police constabulary who have been entrusted with the task of keeping Dhoni's boisterous female fans away, this is an unusual posting.

Trained rigorously in warfare and ambush techniques, they say they never thought they would be deployed to keep an eye on the state's most eligible and sought-after bachelor.

Ask one of the commandoes, Seema Toppo, a tribal, about her new assignment and she blushes.

"I watched him play on television and never thought I would see him from such close quarters," she giggles.

"It is good to be deployed for his security," says another.

Dhoni arrived in Ranchi recently to rest and recharge his batteries after a hectic schedule playing the Indian Premier League, the triangular series in Bangladesh and the Asia cup in Pakistan over a period of three and a half months.

But in his home town, he is a celebrity whose every move is followed closely by his fans and the media.

Even a routine trip to the doctor or dentist results in fans making a beeline for him wherever he goes.

I’ll gain rhythm within two weeks: Shoaib Akhtar

2008-07-20T15:33:00.001+06:00

Fast bowler Shoaib Akhtar said that he needs two to three weeks for fitness and he would begin physical training from Sunday.

Talking with media after bowling practice at the National Cricket Academy, Shoaib Akhtar said that he would give dope test on Sunday because he has no fears and would also give fitness test once he gains rhythm.

He said that he moved to dispel any suggestion he was running away from dope tests
ahead of the Champions Trophy, saying he would be the first to give a sample.

The PCB will conduct dope tests on its 30-man preliminary Champions Trophy squad on Sunday to avoid any further embarrassment following paceman Mohammad Asif's failed test in the Indian Premier League (IPL).

The 32-year-old Shoaib Akhtar was named in Pakistan's provisional squad earlier this month after Lahore High Court suspended a separate 18-month ban for ill-discipline.

The PCB on Friday left out Akhtar from a 24-member training camp starting later this month on fitness grounds, saying the paceman has asked for time to gain full fitness.

Pakistan feature in a proposed four-nation Twenty20 event in Canada to be held from August 14-17 before hosting New Zealand for a three-match one-day series in late August.

Asif lawyer wants extension in 'B' Sample testing

2008-07-20T15:31:00.001+06:00

The Lawyer of beleaguered Mohammad Asif is seeking adjournment of Asif's 'B' sample testing in Switzerland.

Shahid Karim advocate said "I am making a request to the Indian Premier League (IPL) officials that since Swiss Embassy in Islamabad takes 3-4 weeks to process Visa, it will not be possible for Mohammad Asif and his Lawyer to reach Switzerland on 28th, July to be present in the concerned LAB at the time of examination of Mohammad Asif's "B" Sample."

Shahid Karim said that "I am requesting the IPL to mover forward the B testing date after Mid-August so that we can acquire Swiss Visa."

Asif is accused to have failed the dope test during IPL in May. His test shows traces of Nandrolone to the quantum of 6 nenograms that is beyond the accepted limit of 2 nenograms.

South Africa Surge To Sizeable Lead

2008-07-20T15:24:00.001+06:00

Ashwell Prince tormented England with another hundred as South Africa took a firm grip on the second npower Test at Headingley.

Left-hander Prince, 31, extended his tendency to convert half-centuries into three figures with an unbeaten 129, the ninth time he has done so in 16 attempts during his Test career.

His latest effort, following his 101 in the draw at Lord's last week, meant the South Africans closed a second day shorn of 14 overs by bad light and rain, 119 runs ahead with six wickets intact.

And with three days still remaining in Leeds, all the series momentum, which was English for the first three days of the draw at Lord's, is now with the tourists.

Even the British weather has been favourable to their cause, and they have made the most of their advantage.

Having won the toss under heavy cloud cover yesterday morning, it dissipated to provide better batting conditions for the first day's final session and the majority of today.

Prince celebrated his latest landmark moments before tea when he tucked a James Anderson off his hip for a single.

His ability to rotate the strike, allied to excellent running between the wickets with fifth-wicket partner AB de Villiers, further strained England limbs, following their three days in the field during the first Test.

They have already shared 179 runs of South Africa's 322 for four and threaten to carry their side out of range of Michael Vaughan's men.

To compound English misery, their only success of the second day came via a dubious leg before wicket decision, which provided a maiden international success for surprise debutant Darren Pattinson.

Apparently intent on preventing England's slow left-armer from settling - after a belated introduction in the 59th over - Prince twice struck Panesar for six.

The first, after he dashed up the wicket, completed a 120-ball 50 which also contained seven fours.

He hit the next one from the crease, to wider long-on as the South Africans calmly crept into credit.

In spite of those two maximums, the general scoring rate for the day remained below three per over.

However, England did not create a chance despite the best efforts of Anderson and Andrew Flintoff, Vaughan's go-to bowlers, both at the start of the day and again with the new ball before the second interval.

Their one breakthrough came in the morning session when 29-year-old Pattinson won a fortuitous lbw decision against Hashim Amla.

There was little obvious help for England's four-strong seam attack, with minimal swing available to them and nothing notable in terms of sideways movement or unpredictable bounce.

But Pattinson deemed that irrelevant when he persuaded Australian umpire Daryl Harper to raise the finger after hitting Amla on the pads with a full toss angled down the leg-side, which appeared to be sliding wide of its target.

England, of course, thought they had Amla on nine last night - before controversy kicked in and Michael Vaughan's 'catch' at mid-off was scrubbed out.

Instead the number three stayed to share a 67-run stand with Prince, and there must have been added frustration among the hosts' ranks as Amla began to time the ball sweetly for boundaries square on either side of the wicket.

Vaughan had opened up with Flintoff and Anderson this morning, and summoned Stuart Broad as his first change before allowing Pattinson an opportunity - in the 38th over of the innings - to try again down the hill after his new-ball spell of 3-0-16-0 from the Kirkstall Lane end.

Prince pulled Pattinson's sixth ball of his second burst for four, however, after a period of circumspection.

Although the left-hander found the rope with a square drive from the second ball of the day from Anderson only 10 runs came from the opening seven overs.

Confronted with sunshine following early morning showers today, Amla then took his toll on youngster Broad in particular.

He greeted him with a flash to the backward point boundary and then struck the same bowler for two fours in his next over, another cut followed by a handsome clip through midwicket.

Batting conditions were certainly an improvement on the slate grey of day one but although sunshine bathed the ground at the scheduled start time of 11am, the showers earlier this morning meant a 15-minute delay.

PCB not sure which drug Mohammad Asif consumed

2008-07-19T17:00:00.001+06:00

The PCB has said that it was not sure about the drug which fast bowler Mohammad Asif had consumed while playing in the IPL.

A PCB spokesman said here last evening that they had not received any information from the IPL officials or any other body about the substance Asif had consumed.

“The mail sent to us by the IPL only informed us that Asif had tested positive that is all. It does not mention which substance he tested positive for. And I don’t think they will declare the substance until his ‘B’ sample test is conducted and a conclusive report comes,” the Daily Times quoted the spokesman as saying.

Asif’s first urine sample came up positive for a banned substance during tests conducted by a World Anti-Doping Agency (WADA) accredited laboratory and the pacer has now asked for a test of his ‘B’ sample.

Asif’s lawyer Shahid Kazmi reportedly told an Indian TV channel that the embattled pacer had tested positive for nandrolone during the IPL. However, when contacted he denied making such a comment. “I have not mentioned nandrolone or any other substance because we have still not got a detailed report from the IPL about the first test,” he claimed. Kazmi said the IPL committee had already sent them a reply to the request for the ‘B’ sample test that would be carried out on July 28.

SA on top after England collapse

2008-07-19T16:54:00.002+06:00

South Africa took the upper hand on day one of the second Test, bowling England out for 203 before replying with 101-3.

England took two big gambles, making a shock selection in Darren Pattinson and asking Tim Ambrose to bat at six.

They were then bowled out in 53 overs, as the ball swung for Morne Morkel (4-52) and Dale Steyn, who took 4-76.

Kevin Pietersen top-scored with 45 but too many batsmen were out edging drives when they should have been playing more cautiously on the Headingley wicket.

England's total was less than half the average first innings score at Leeds in the last 10 years, a sorry indictment of how they had attempted to hit their way out of trouble - and paid the penalty.

They then saw the clouds lift after tea - at a time when they should still have been batting. Instead, South Africa came out to start their innings, and batting was a less taxing proposition.

But after the openers had cruised to 51-0, James Anderson and Andrew Flintoff, in his first Test for 18 months, got stuck in late in the day to leave the tourists with some thinking to do.

Unlike four of the five days of the Lord's Test, which finished in a sterile draw on Monday, this was a genuine contest between bat and ball.

The combination of thick cloud cover and a fresh wicket normally has seam bowlers champing at the bit in Leeds.

So it was no surprise that when Graeme Smith called correctly at the toss he chose to invite England to bat first.

But the big talking-point for much of the morning remained the selection of swing bowler Pattinson. Born in Grimsby, he grew up in Australia where he worked as a roof tiler while playing grade cricket for Dandenong in the outskirts of Melbourne.

At the age of 28, he made his first-class debut for Victoria and barely a year later he had been signed by Nottinghamshire.

A return of 29 wickets at an average of 20.86 saw him elevated not just above England's regular reserve bowler, Chris Tremlett, but also above three of the 2005 Ashes heroes - Simon Jones, Matthew Hoggard and Steve Harmison.

He replaced Ryan Sidebottom, laid low with back trouble, while Paul Collingwood was dropped to accommodate the fit-again Flintoff.

Play began 10 minutes late after a shower and openers Alastair Cook and Andrew Strauss weathered the early examination.

It took a poor decision from umpire Billy Bowden to separate the pair in the 12th over, Mark Boucher - who went on to take five catches - claiming a leg-side catch off Morkel.

The unlucky victim was Cook, who looked aghast to be given out, and the television technology suggested the ball had flicked his thigh and nothing else.

In the next over, Michael Vaughan edged his seventh delivery straight to Smith at first slip to give Steyn his first wicket - and England were in trouble at 27-2.

Strauss and Pietersen had rebuilding to do, and they had to overcome a moment of controversy when South Africa claimed a catch after AB de Villiers had clearly dropped a chance in the slip cordon, before scooping the ball off the turf.

Strauss, who nicked the delivery in question, could not last until lunch, as a thinner edge off Morkel was safely pouched by Boucher and at the interval England were 70-0.

The early afternoon exchanges featured a barrage of boundaries from Pietersen, who hit three fours off Steyn, including a thumped drive off the back foot through the covers.

But there was something too frenetic about the cricket, and Pietersen drove Steyn once too often, edging an easy catch to an ecstatic Smith.

Ambrose, with a Test match average of barely 30, struggled to cope with the demands placed on a Test match number six, and soon edged Makhaya Ntini behind.

Everything seemed to depend on Bell, who played some beautiful drives before failing to get to the pitch of a tempting delivery from Jacques Kallis, which he edged into his stumps.

Flintoff and Stuart Broad both produced breezy scores of 17 before edging drives - like so many of the previous batsmen had done - and Monty Panesar and last man Pattinson quickly departed

After the last seven wickets had fallen in a single, extended session it was Pattinson who shared the new ball with Anderson.

Dispiritingly for the hosts, they could barely get the ball to deviate off the wicket or move sideways in the air.

Pattinson was hauled off after just three overs and only in Anderson's second spell was a wicket finally taken, Neil McKenzie edging a ball that did very little to Flintoff at second slip.

By then, Flintoff was working up a head of steam himself with the ball, and had Smith (44) caught by Strauss at first slip from a ball that bounced a bit extra from round the wicket.

Anderson caught the out-of-form Kallis on the crease, the ball crashing into the stumps from a crooked inside edge, and it was nearly 76-4 when Vaughan dived forward from mid-off to catch Hashim Amla off Flintoff.

But South Africa's coach Mickey Arthur urged Amla not to cross the boundary rope and the umpires referred the decision to the TV official. With just enough doubt about whether the catch was cleanly taken, Amla lived to fight another day.

Ishant is a real threat, feels Vaas

2008-07-19T16:38:00.002+06:00

India’s latest pace sensation Ishant Sharma seems to have won over a yet another admirer. The latest addition to his ever-growing fan-list is none another than Sri Lankan new ball spearhead Chaminda Vaas. Vaas even considers Ishant ‘a real threat’ for his batsmen in the forthcoming Test series starting from July 23.

"I am really impressed with Ishant’s progress in international cricket. He is the bowler to watch out for. He is tall and has a top-arm action, which makes it difficult for the batsmen to judge length perfectly. He is also very fast," Vaas said.

As far as the Lankan bowling attack was concerned, Vaas insisted that Muttiah Muralitharan, world’s highest Test wicket-taker, would be the main threat to the visiting Indians, Ajantha Mendis’s presence notwithstanding. "Don’t discount Murali. He is the main threat to the Indians, despite Mendis making rapid progress during the Asia Cup” he said.

The tussle between their spinners and Indian renowned batting line-up would be the one to watch-out for.
“Mendis will be playing Test cricket for the first time and that too against quality batsmen like Virender Sehwag, Rahul Dravid, Sachin Tendulkar, Sourav Ganguly and V V S Laxman, who are excellent against spin bowlers. It will be a great contest to watch," Vaas said.

On his own bowling, 35-year-old Vaas admitted, that he never had great pace and was more of a swing bowler. "I don’t know why people refer to my pace all the time. In fact I never had express pace. When I started off, I used to bowl at 137 kph to 140 kph. Right now, I am bowling at 130 kph. It’s more important to swing the ball and pitch it in the right areas," he observed.

Shoaib left out of training squad over fine dispute

2008-07-19T16:35:00.001+06:00

Shoaib Akhtar has been left out of a Champions Trophy training camp after the Pakistan Cricket Board blocked his attendance over an unpaid fine.

Chief selector Salahuddin Ahmed told Reuters the board had not cleared Shoaib to be among the 24-man party despite being named in the initial preliminary squad for the Sept 11-28 tournament.

"We will call him for the camp once the board gives us the clearance," Ahmed said.

Shoaib had been asked to pay a fine of seven million Pakistan rupees ($98,660) by July 14 to be considered for selection.

The fine was imposed on him by an appeals tribunal that last month cut from five years to 18 months the ban that was handed down after various acts of indiscipline by the pace bowler.

However, Shoaib's lawyer informed the board he would only consider paying the fine when the High Court took a final decision on his petition against both the ban and fine.

The court had suspended the ban but not the fine.

"We had to give his name because of the ICC deadline. But now until this fine issue is cleared we are not considering him for selection," Ahmed added.

Pakistan is due to play a Twenty20 four-nation tournament in Toronto from Aug 17 and then host New Zealand for three one-dayers before the Champions Trophy.

TRAINING SQUAD:

Shoaib Malik (capt), Misbah-ul-Haq, Younis Khan, Salman Butt, Nasir Jamshed, Khalid Latif, Ahmed Shehzad, Yasir Shah, Shahid Afridi, Sohail Tanvir, Fawad Alam, Abdul Rehman, Mansoor Amjad, Umar Gul, Mohammad Ali, Rao Iftikhar, Sohail Khan, Abdur Rauf, Mohammad Aamer, Kamran Akmal, Sarfraz Ahmed, Saeed Ajmal, Wahab Riaz, Anwar Ali.

Aussies in shock over Pattinson's England call-up

2008-07-19T16:07:00.003+06:00

The Australian cricket community was caught by surprise on Saturday at Australia-raised paceman Darren Pattinson's bolt from obscurity to the England Test team.

The 29-year-old Nottinghamshire bowler was a surprise choice to replace his injured county colleague Ryan Sidebottom in the England side for the second Test against South Africa at Headingley on Friday.

Although born in Grimsby, northern England, Pattinson grew up in Melbourne and his Australia-born younger brother, James, has represented the Australia Under-19 team.

Cricket officials from his home state Victoria admitted surprise that Pattinson, who is contracted with Cricket Victoria, was not an Australian citizen and even eligible to play for England.

"We didn't realise he wasn't an Australian citizen and didn't have an Australian passport," Victorian general manager of cricket operations Shaun Graf said.

"He actually only had a British passport and hence when he came home from playing overseas a couple of times he needed to get a visa which is a little bit strange."

Pattinson's opportunity only evolved when Cricket Victoria received an offer to play with Nottinghamshire, Graf said.

Former Australian swing bowler Damien Fleming said he was shocked when he heard that Pattinson, a roof-tiler by trade, was making his debut for England two seasons after playing his first match for Victoria.

"It's unbelievable. I don't reckon he'll be doing any roof-tiling for a while," Fleming told The Age newspaper.

"He's got good attributes. He's a pretty strong fellow, he's nice and tall, and he gets really good bounce.

"He has a pretty uncomplicated action, so not much can go wrong, and he's a ripping bloke, so I don't think temperament would be an issue either."

Former Victorian all-rounder Brendan McArdle, who helped set Pattinson up initially with clubs in Yorkshire, was another surprised by his sudden elevation.

"It was in his mind to play county cricket, but we never thought England," McArdle said.

"He's so Australian in his ways you would never believe it. He's a competitive bugger."

If Pattinson kept his English origins quiet while he was playing in Australia, it wasn't for fear of being sledged.

"People wouldn't have a go at Darren," his former Dandenong club coach Warren Ayres said. "He's pretty big and pretty wild."

Asif demands B sample test from IPL

2008-07-17T16:05:00.002+06:00

Fast bowler Mohammad Asif has formally contacted the Indian Premier League for getting a ‘B sample’ test after testing positive for a banned substance during play in the IPL.

His lawyer Shahid Karim told that he has held a detailed meeting with Mohammad Asif in which it was decided to make an immediate contact with the IPL and demand for a ‘B sample’ test.

The IPL management has been mailed and asked that Asif wants a ‘B sample’ and seeks guidance in this regard.

The IPL has also been asked that what the procedure was adopted for the first sample test.

Shahid Karim told that no letter regarding suspension has so far been received from the Pakistan Cricket Board and the future strategy would be decided after receiving the letter.

Lee salutes Flintoff's return

2008-07-17T16:02:00.001+06:00

Australia pace bowler Brett Lee has saluted England all-rounder Andrew Flintoff's long-awaited return to Test action.

Flintoff is due to play for England in the second Test against South Africa at Headingley on Friday after finally recovering from a series of ankle problems and a side strain.

Lee knows it has been a long and painful journey through rehabilitation for Flintoff and was quick to express his admiration for a rival who became a close friend during the 2005 Ashes series.

"Flintoff is a once-in-a-generation player," Lee said. "I liken him to the great Ian Botham. They are guys who can change a game at the drop of a hat with bat and ball and also field.

"He was the standout in the '05 Ashes over there, he's also a very close friend of mine but a magnificent player on and off the field.

"He's a great guy and the type of guy who can change the game. I am looking forward to having him back definitely."

Lee, 31, has been keeping a close eye on the series between England and South Africa as he prepares for a forthcoming series against the Springboks and next year's Ashes clash in England.

"I'd be lying if I say I haven't been doing a bit of homework on the series that is happening now because we have got South Africa and England coming up shortly," he said.

"I have been doing a bit of homework and watching their players. They have got a lot of young guys coming through who have been very impressive so I am looking forward to playing against both of those sides."

After helping Australia to a 2-0 Test series win over West Indies, Lee has taken some time off with his family but the Ashes are never far from his thoughts.

"I have actually tried to get away from cricket for a short period of time," he said.

"It's really good to refresh the batteries and get ready to go for what is going to be a massive summer and even a big 18 months.

"We've got the Ashes coming up as well which we are not directly looking forward to right now because we have a few things in place that we have to take care of first.

"I would be lying if I didn't say I was looking forward to the Ashes next year."

English cricket set for Twenty20 double

2008-07-17T16:00:00.001+06:00

English cricket is to feature two Twenty20 competitions as part of a new structure for the domestic game starting in 2010, the England and Wales Cricket Board (ECB) announced on Wednesday.

The new English Premier League (EPL) will feature two, as yet unnamed, overseas teams, in addition to England's 18 first-class counties, playing in two divisions of 10.

The existing Pro-40 competition, a 40 overs per side event, will end in 2009 and be replaced in 2010 by a Twenty20 League which will incorporate all 18 counties. This competition will be played primarily on Friday nights in July and August.

Plans were agreed at a board meeting on Tuesday.

An ECB statement added the Twenty20 League would be the qualifying tournament for the multi-million dollar Champions League, the inaugural edition of which takes place later this year and features the world's leading domestic Twenty20 sides.

The board's announcement put paid to the proposal put forward by MCC chief executive Keith Bradshaw and Surrey chairman David Stewart which envisaged a nine-team tournament similar to the lucrative Indian Premier League.

However, the ECB said the EPL would incorporate "elements" of the duo's plans, which did feature Friday night matches.

The board also agreed the 2010 season would, as happens at present, include a 50 over competition and aimed at a schedule which allowed for 16 County Championship matches to be played in a two division structure.

The EPL will be staged in June with the Twenty20 League being played in July, August and September.

ECB chairman Giles Clarke said: "I am delighted the board unanimously supported these creative proposals... we have already received enormous broadcast and sponsor interest from around the world which was reported to the board by the chief executive, David Collier."

Bradman bats stolen from Australian sports shop

2008-07-17T15:58:00.002+06:00

Four valuable cricket bats signed by Australian batting legend Sir Donald Bradman have been stolen from a sports shop, police said on Thursday.

The bats, together valued at 40,000 Australian dollars (39,050 US), were taken from a shop in the northern city of Darwin. Thieves smashed in a front window, police said.

Shop manager Graeme Flesfadar told AFP the bats were part of a rare set of memorabilia and were irreplaceable. Thieves had clearly targeted them specially.

"They knew exactly what they were after. They didn't touch the till," he said, saying the set was being kept for his children.

"It was being put aside for my kids. I just want it back. Money is not going to replace it."

Darwin police official Gavin Kennedy said it would be hard to sell the items within Australia without being caught and expressed optimism the thieves would be tracked down.

Bradman, who died in 2001 at the age of 92, is regarded as the greatest batsman of all time. He achieved a Test average of 99.94 in his 20 years of playing international cricket for Australia between 1928 and 1948.

New Zealand launches worldwide search for coach

2008-07-17T15:56:00.001+06:00

New Zealand Cricket (NZC) on Thursday launched a worldwide search for a new national coach to replace John Bracewell who is returning to England.

Bracewell has said he will not look to renew his New Zealand contract when it expires in nine months but will instead begin a second stint in charge at English county Gloucestershire.

NZC chief executive Justin Vaughan said in a statement he wanted to hear from "suitably qualified candidates from throughout the world".

"We are looking for candidates who have the experience and drive to both improve the Black Caps in both forms of the game," Vaughan said.

The 50-year-old Bracewell, who played 41 Tests and 53 one-day internationals for New Zealand, coached Gloucestershire for five years before taking over the New Zealand team in 2003.

'England making big issue out of nothing'

2008-07-15T16:58:00.002+06:00

The Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI) has defended the venues selected for the home series against England saying it was a part of its rotation policy.

"We have many associate members, who have international standard venues and it is our duty to give them all a chance to host an international match. Hence, we stick to the rotation policy, which we are following for a long time, and I don’t know why the England Board is complaining about it," Niranjan Shah told Cricketnext.com on Tuesday.

"Even when India toured England last time around, the matches were held in far off venues but we never complained. Unfortunately the ECB is making a big issue out of nothing," he added.

The England and Wales Cricket Board (ECB) have shown disappointment after receiving the proposed itinerary for the tour as no major venues like Kolkata, Bangalore and Chennai feature in the itinerary and have decided to hold back its approval.

"ECB are disappointed that, despite their representations, the itinerary doesn't offer the thousands of supporters who follow the England team abroad, the opportunity to experience more of the great cricket grounds of India," the Board said in a statement on Monday.

"As far as the ECB are concerned the acceptance of the itinerary remains subject to acceptable logistical arrangements and an acceptable security environment and security arrangements being in place at each of the venues," it added.

Bell Shoots Up The Rankings

2008-07-15T16:55:00.000+06:00

Ian Bell may have fallen one run short of his maiden Test double century at Lord's, but his 199 against South Africa was enough to catapult him to a career-high 13th place in the Reliance Mobile ICC rankings.

The Warwickshire batsman, who averages over 44 in Tests, has risen nine places and now ranks alongside Indian great Sachin Tendulkar in equal 13th.

Despite failing to beat the tourists, other Englishmen profited from their performance in the first Test.

Kevin Pietersen's 152 against his native country has seen him rise three places to seventh, his highest position in the rankings this year.

Andrew Strauss completes the trio of England batsmen now in the top 20, although his 44 was not enough to prevent the opener sliding one place to 17th in the list.

Ryan Sidebottom's three wickets in the match ensured that he leapfrogged South Africa seamer Makhaya Ntini, who failed to strike at Lord's, into a career-best fifth place.

Monty Panesar's four-wicket haul ensured he retains his place at 11th in the rankings.

Andrew Flintoff will be hoping to be recalled to the England XI for the second test at Headingley on Friday in order to improve on the 19th place he currently holds in the bowling standings.

The Lancashire star - who has not played a Test in 19 months - still lies well behind Jacques Kallis and Daniel Vettori in the all-rounder rankings in third.

England's James Anderson continues to climb, up four places to 22nd while further down the list, South Africa seamer Morne Morkel has broken into the top 50 for the first time to 46th after taking 4-121.

England still occupy fourth place in the overall Test rankings, but a series victory by a two-Test margin would see them move up to third with India remaining second and the Proteas slipping to fourth.

Asif should be ready for two-year ban

2008-07-15T16:52:00.002+06:00

Mohammad Asif may have confirmed his status as the 'bad boy of world cricket', but it will be officials of the Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI) and the Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) who will stand a test of character in the coming days.

The IPL may have hurried in naming the cricketer who tested positive for a banned substance during their inaugural tournament, but one will have to wait and see whether the officials follow their enthusiasm with the stern decisions that such a situation warrants.

For all the talk of a life ban on Asif, he might just escape with a warning if officials are not strict.

Since the IPL can only ban a player from its own tournaments, the ball will eventually be in the PCB's court. Though the International Cricket Council (ICC) expects the BCCI to come down strictly on the player, it's only as the organiser of the IPL that it can do anything and a lot would depend on how the three-member panel comprising Dr. Ravi Bapat, Sunil Gavaskar and Shirish Gupte tackles the matter.

The IPL can slap a ban of two years on Asif, that too only from its own tournaments. Even in case of a confirmation after a test of the 'B' sample, which is nothing but a part of the sample taken during the dope tests but secured in a different bottle to be opened in the presence of the sportsperson for a confirmation test, the athlete has the right to appeal citing 'accidental' use, for which he gets just a one-year ban or can even be let off with a warning.

The IPL's intent would matter more than anything else since its tournament is considered a domestic one and is not directly answerable to the ICC, which is a signer with the World Anti-Doping Agency (WADA). After deciding on what ban it deems right on Asif, it can only forward its findings to the PCB for it to act further in the matter.

According to WADA rules, a first-time offender gets a two-year ban while a repeat offender faces a life ban. Even if these rules were to be followed, Asif would count as a first-time offender because he was exonerated by an appeals panel when he tested positive along with Shoaib Akhtar, just before the Champions Trophy in 2006. As for his being caught with a recreational drug in Dubai recently, that does not count as an offence since it was out of competition.

Senior journalist KP Mohan of 'The Hindu' felt a ban of two years could be expected in this case.

"I expect the IPL to follow rules very strictly and impose a two-year ban on Asif from its tournaments. The IPL is a new tournament and its officials would be keen to implement the rules. The ICC has been wanting the BCCI to adhere to WADA rules but the Board has been moving slowly on that and is expected to have everything in place only by 2009. But they would like to be seen as proactive and they have nothing to hide here," said Mohan.

"However, the PCB does not have a history of sticking by rules. In fact, their history is laughable. One panel found Asif and Akhtar guilty of doping and the other let them off. You can't say things like a player has a rural background and took something by mistake. You can't condone an offence in a court of law citing ignorance of laws, can you?

"But the PCB could be more vigorous now because the international spotlight is already on them and their officials might be getting sick of Asif. So, a two-year ban it is likely to be," he added.

Dr PSM Chandran of the Sports Authority of India (SAI) had a different perspective.

"A player has tested positive for dope and the law will take its normal course. A lot depends on the interpretation of rules in such cases and how the sports bodies look into cases. Since Asif had tested positive two years ago and only the decision was reversed, that can still be considered as the first offence," said Dr Chandran.

"However, let us not rush to conclusions before the procedure is completed. Let us not make a Dr. Rajesh Talwar out of Mohammad Asif."

Dr. Chandran was referring to Dr. Talwar, a dentist, who was suspected of murdering his daughter in Noida near Delhi, a case which was given wide coverage by the Indian media after investigating agencies claimed to have nailed him. However, no evidence was found against him and he was released after spending 50 days in prison.

Lord’s test ends in draw

2008-07-15T16:50:00.001+06:00

The first Test at Lord's between England and South Africa ended in a draw. Hashim Amla became the third centurion of the South Africa. Amla shared 152 with Neil McKenzie, who spent more than nine dogged hours at the crease for his 138 before edging a wide delivery shortly after lunch.

Ryan Sidebottom bowled the ball of the match, a magical yorker to bowl Jacques Kallis, but it was a rare highlight.

Amla's fine display of application resulted in his fifth Test ton as the tourists closed on 393-3, 47 ahead.

With South Africa resuming 104 runs behind and nine wickets intact, it was either going to be a classic final day of intriguing action, or it was going to meander in rather turgid fashion.

In the final stages of Sunday's play, James Anderson produced an intrepid spell with the new ball that removed Graeme Smith and caused new batsman Amla serious problems.

In the end, it will be South Africa, who were made to follow on 346 behind in the closing stages of day three, who will take any psychological advantages into the second Test, starting at Headingley on Friday.

Pakistan to name 30 probable for ICC Champions Trophy today

2008-07-15T16:45:00.002+06:00

Pakistan Cricket Board is expected to name the preliminary squad comprising 30 probable for the ICC Champions Trophy today.

According to PCB sources, National Selection Committee headed by Salahuddin Sallu has finalized the list of preliminary squad, which could be announced any time today.

Shoaib Akhtar, Muhammad Asif and Umer Gull are also among the squad however their final selection in final 15 would depend on their fitness level. Asif will have to clear Board’s inquiry also, it said.

Wicketkeeper batsman Kamran Akmal dropped from Asia Cup is likely to be named in the squad.

The PCB’s selection committee has also completed its necessary homework for four-nation Twenty20 tournament to be played in Canada.

Smith, McKenzie lead Proteas fightback

2008-07-14T15:18:00.002+06:00

South Africa captain Graeme Smith came to his side`s rescue on Sunday with a fighting 107 which may help salvage a draw in the first test against England at Lord`s.

Smith added 204 for the first wicket with Neil McKenzie, who was still at the crease on 102 after South Africa had been asked to follow on Saturday 346 runs in arrears.

At the close, South Africa were 242 for one, needing 104 to make England bat again with a day`s play remaining.

Smith, who was out for eight in the first innings, was unable to capitalise on a huge slice of good fortune after reaching his century in the final session.

An edge off Kevin Pietersen`s occasional off-spin, which seemed destined for Paul Collingwood at first slip, went through Tim Ambrose`s gloves as the wicketkeeper lunged to his left.

However, he was out without adding a run when a skied pull shot off James Anderson was taken safely by Pietersen running in from backward point.

The England team and a near-capacity crowd gathered on a fine, sunny morning started the day with high hopes that England were about to end a sequence of five successive test draws at cricket`s world headquarters.
Instead the South African openers, resuming on 13 for no wicket, gradually took command on a pitch offering nothing to the bowlers except for some slow spin for Monty Panesar, who took four for 74 in the first innings.

Panesar was introduced into the attack 48 minutes after the start of play and captain Michael Vaughan placed close fielders on both sides of the pitch.

Faint Edge

The left-arm spinner made the occasional delivery deviate from the bowlers` footmarks into the left-handed Smith and away from McKenzie but the only semblance of a chance in the opening session was a faint inside edge from Smith which hit the unfortunate Ambrose`s pads.

South Africa, who lunched at 67 without loss, carried on where they had left off after the interval, playing straight and running swiftly between the wickets. Smith reached his 23rd test fifty in 10 minutes short of three hours and brought up the 100 partnership with a controlled glide for four to third man.

McKenzie completed his 15th test half-century in 234 minutes from 190 balls.

Smith, using his height to drive confidently through the off-side, went on after tea to compile his 15th test century with 11 fours from 186 balls followed shortly by the 200 partnership.

It was South Africa`s 10th opening partnership of 200 or more in test cricket and Smith, who scored 259 in his only previous test at Lord`s, has been involved in seven.

McKenzie, who had played an excellent supporting role, reached his fifth test century with a scampered single just before the close. It was his first ton against England and came in 307 balls.

Vaughan kept attacking and innovative fields in place and rotated his bowlers constantly in an attempt to conjure a wicket.

Nobody bowled badly but the continued excellence of a pitch, on which England compiled 593 for eight declared in their first innings, neutralised his pace bowlers who were unable to get any significant movement England are due to announce on Monday their team for the second test at Headingley in Leeds starting on Friday.

If South Africa do scrape a draw after being thoroughly outplayed for the first three days, the case for the recall of fast bowling all-rounder Andrew Flintoff will be overwhelming.

Fit-again Tendulkar gunning for glory in SL

2008-07-14T15:12:00.002+06:00

After missing two ODI tournaments because of an injury, master blaster Sachin Tendulkar on Sunday said he is fully fit and raring to do well in the Test series against Sri Lanka starting this month.

Tendulkar missed last month's Bangladesh tri-series and the Asia Cup in Pakistan due to a groin injury. He was, however, included in the 16-member Test squad for the three-match series against the Lankans from July 23 to August 12.

"I am fully fit and eager to give my best in the Sri Lanka series," Tendulkar told reporters here after joining the team. The Anil Kumble-led side is scheduled to leave for Colombo Tuesday afternoon.

Tendulkar also expressed optimism over the team's chances in the upcoming series.

"The team is in good form and would like to maintain it to win the series," he said.

Asked about mystery spinner Ajantha Mendis, who created a sensation during the Asia Cup with his 'carrom ball' delivery, Tendulkar said, "I have not played him so I won't comment anything. I will go there and see."

IPL to disclose player's name today

2008-07-14T15:09:00.002+06:00

The Indian Premier League continues to be mired in controversy even though it was over a month ago.

An unnamed cricketer has tested positive for drugs in the random tests conducted during the inaugural season of the IPL that ended on June 1.

World Anti-Doping Agency (WADA) officials had taken random samples during the tournament, and it has confirmed that one player failed the test.

The identity of the player is not clear but it is believed that it is a pace bowler from the sub-continent.

IPL Chairman and Commissioner Lalit Modi confirmed that there was indeed a positive dope test. "We have been conveyed by WADA. One player has tested positive, according to random tests conducted by a Swiss lab. We do not know who he is."

Fourteen players were tested in all during the tests which got underway one month after the IPL began. "Two days ago the IPL received a letter from a Swiss agency, mandated by WADA, which said one sample had tested positive. The IPL will follow set procedures from now on," Modi said.

Modi said that once the player is identified, he would have to produce a prescription to justify the use of the drug.

"The testing is done in two stages. If the player has a prescription, it’s okay and the process gets over in stage one. But if the first stage fails and the player does not have a prescription for the drug, he has to be present at the lab with an IPL official to authenticate. If result is positive, then the matter goes to the drug tribunal of IPL that includes lawyer Shishir Gupte, and Sunil Gavaskar," Modi added.

In case that does not happen, the player is informed and a 'B' sample is sent for testing. If that, too, is positive the matter will be taken up by the IPL's drugs tribunal.

The IPL Chairman explained that the results of the dope tests took time to come out because there isn't a WADA-accredited laboratory in India. "The results take six weeks to come as there’s no WADA-authenticated lab in India. The samples are sent to Malaysia or Switzerland," he said, adding: "I am not worried, we will stick to the procedure."

The IPL sprang into action when reports from Pakistan suggested that fast bowler Shoaib Akhtar was found carrying syringes in bulk on his way to India to participate in the competition to play for Kolkata Knight Riders. Organisers promptly announced random dope tests a month into the tournament.

Mohammad Asif, who along with Shoaib were ejected from the 2006 Champions Trophy after testing positive for a banned substance, was later detained at the Dubai airport for 19 days for alleged possession of opium while he was returning from India en route to Pakistan. Asif had played a pivotal part in Delhi's run to the semi-finals of the inaugural competition.

Asif was released by the authorities in Dubai, but a PCB-appointed tribunal will soon begin its own inquiry into the matter.

England Have Flintoff-Sized Hole

2008-07-14T15:02:00.001+06:00

For an England fan, the first three days of this Test were a delight: probably the best we have played since the first three days against Sri Lanka at the same venue in 2006.

However, the memories of that match are all too fresh in the mind: after scoring 550 and skittling Sri Lanka, England then spent days four and five toiling in vain for second innings victory.

Andrew Flintoff bowled himself into the ground that day, with 51 overs in the second innings, a superhuman effort which, it is now clear, did him serious long-term damage.

In this match, Ryan Sidebottom looks like he is carrying an injury, and while that may not be so disastrous in the long-term, England's bowlers are going to be a very weary bunch on Friday, at Headingley.

If South Africa escape with a draw here, they will take a significant physical advantage up to Leeds, one which can only be offset by the introduction of new blood for England.

I personally do not believe that Andrew Flintoff is a Test match number six, and statistics would bear that out. However, he should be brought into the team there at the expense of Paul Collingwood, as day four at Lord's has rammed home the point that everyone feared: England's attack lacks that one ace who can get good players out on unhelpful pitches.

England's pace trio have done extremely well in this match, but there is a desperate need for a genuine fast-and-nasty, or for someone who can reverse the ball at 90mph. Flintoff is both of those things, and must be started now.

It may very well be that he breaks down again under the physical strain. But this can be mitigated by rationing his overs, something Michael Vaughan has the control and judgement to do, which Fred himself did not.

His batting should be treated as a bonus and nothing more. Not to be unkind to Paul Collingwood, but Flintoff could hardly be much worse than the Durham scratcher. The presence of Stuart Broad at eight and, to a lesser extent, Tim Ambrose at seven, offset the disadvantage of having a substandard number six. Between the three of them, they ought to be able to bolster a top five who all look decent value to make a score - with the obvious exception of Brears at number three.

The calls for Simon Jones are getting louder by the day, but let's take one injury-prone gamble at a time, no? At the risk of sounding heartless, if Flintoff - 31 next birthday - breaks down again and has to miss another 18 months, maybe it is time to start moving on.

I hope very much that this doesn't happen, but I believe that some of the pressure on him can be managed by using him only for, say, three six-over bursts a day - and by telling him not to worry too much about the batting.

Cold war between Shoaib Akhtar and PCB on peak again

2008-07-14T14:58:00.005+06:00

Cold war between fast bowler Shoaib Akhtar and the Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) once again is being seen on the peak.

The PCB will not include Shoaib Akhtar into the preliminary list of the players for the Champions Trophy unless he pays the fine while the fast bowler is not ready to pay.

Shoaib Akhtar will submit his written reply against the notice by the PCB for payment of the fine of Rs 7 million.

Lawyer of Shoaib, Abid Minto said that he made contact with him after receiving the notice for the payment of the fine and the board in this regard would be informed in writing.

Sources said that an assurance would be given from Shoaib Akhtar to the board that this case is in the court which has issued an stay-order against his ban and he would pay the fine on the final verdict of the case.

Legal advisor to PCB Tafazzul Rizvi said that chief justice Syed Zahid Hussain has maintained in his verdict that would have to pay the fine. Therefore, if he is included in the team without paying the fine it would be considered as the contempt of the court, so this is inevitable for Shoaib Akhtar to pay the fine if he wants to play for Pakistan.

Prince apologises despite Lord's debut ton

2008-07-13T16:03:00.001+06:00

South Africa vice-captain Ashwell Prince apologised to his team-mates despite a gutsy century in his maiden Test innings against England and on his first visit to Lord's here on Saturday.

Sadly for Prince, his 101 couldn't prevent England bowling out South Africa for 247 and enforcing the follow-on after the home side had piled up an imposing 593 for eight declared in the first of this four-Test series.

Left-arm spinner Monty Panesar did the bulk of the damage with four for 74 and South Africa, at stumps on the third day, were 13 without loss - still needing a further 333 runs to make England bat again.

The Proteas were in a parlous position when Prince came in at 47 for three but the 31-year-old left-hander fought hard, and played some fine shots too, in a near five-hour innings featuring one six and 13 fours. Prince, whose wife and baby son were among the crowd, was hard on himself for being dismissed shortly before the close.

"I thought I let the team down, getting out just a few overs before the end of the day's play," he said.

"The last thing I wanted was to have the captain and Neil McKenzie go out again tonight and face a few overs.

He added: "It's a proud moment for me - but having said that, it would have meant a lot more if it was more meaningful for the team."

Prince, often regarded as a blocker, showed intelligent judgment while making his eighth hundred in his 42nd Test.

"People call me 'obdurate' but I just played the ball," he explained.

"I try to do that every time. If it's a good ball, respect it, and if it's there to hit, hit it."

Ten sports issue will be settled: Dharmadasa

2008-07-13T15:54:00.002+06:00

In a bid to avoid a legal battle with Ten Sports, Sri Lanka Cricket is now trying to save the multi-million dollar domestic telecast rights deal with the sports channel ahead of the lucrative series against India.

Ten sports has already warned that it was open to all options, including legal action, if the SLC goes ahead with the decision to terminate the new deal that was valid from 2009-12.

The man at the center of the controversy, business tycoon and former SLC interim committee chairman Jayantha Dharmadasa, under whose regime the deal was signed, has expressed confidence that the issue would be sorted out through discussion.

"We undertook the deal in a transparent way and I am looking forward to meeting the Sports Minister Gamini Lokuge to find an amicable solution to the whole unfortunate issue," Dharmadasa told PTI on Sunday.

The deal was cancelled following the findings of a special three-member committee headed by the Secretary to the Sri Lankan Ministry of Sports and Public Recreation S Liyanagama.

"I have instructed SLC to cancel the television contract after receiving the finding of a special three-member committee," Sri Lankan Sports Minister Gamini Lokuge had said last week.

Dharmadasa said the deal was reasonable considering there were only two confirmed home series - against West Indies and Pakistan -- till 2012 at that point of time.

"They have said that the whole deal was not transparent and we have not obtained the minister's (Lokuge) approval to sign it. The reality is that we did get the Interim Committee approval and there was no requirement of getting get the minister's approval," Dharmadasa said.

"This is because the Interim Committee was given full authority on a gazette notification to take all necessary decisions for the smooth flow of the running of the organisation," he said.

Meanwhile, Ten Sports Chief executive Chris McDonald has reportedly written a letter to SLC Chief Executive Duleep Mendis on the issue.

"The way to mitigate this problem is for SLC and Taj Television Ltd (which operates sports channel Ten sports) to sit down and amicably discuss potential solutions - not for SLC to unlawfully and wrongly terminate our contract based on the siren song of other broadcasters.

"Any such termination would have severe legal repercussions," McDonald said in the letter.

Dharmadasa also pointed out that SLC would be faced with litigation problems from Taj TV Ltd. If the deal is cancelled.

The decision by SLC calls for terminating the deal involving two new agreements signed with Ten Sports for providing TV rights for home matches from 2009 to 2012.

The Review Committee was asked to probe circumstances in which the agreements for the new contract deal were signed.

Taj Television is, however, entitled to participate in any tender that would be floated by the SLC for future TV rights.

CA not worried about players pullout

2008-07-13T15:51:00.002+06:00

The reluctance of players like Andrew Symonds to tour Pakistan for the Champions Trophy is not an immediate concern for Cricket Australia, which said it's more worried about whether the tournament can actually go ahead in the trouble-torn country.

"We're just not at that stage yet of considering that issue," CA chief James Sutherland on the possibility of a pull-out by players.

"We're more interested in ... Understanding the security issues and concerns and about whether the tournament will go ahead. Then we get down to the decision for us as to whether we're comfortable," Sutherland was quoted as saying by The Age.

CA is particularly concerned about congested roads leading to the tournament venues, lack of thorough checking for women besides the prevalent threat of suicide bombings that have rocked Karachi and Islamabad in the past couple of weeks.

Sutherland said CA was banking on its security experts in Pakistan to give it a clearer picture of the situation.

"We have a high level of confidence in the consultants that have been engaged to work with ICC and the authorities in Pakistan.

"Now it is a matter of getting a better understanding in the coming couple of weeks from those consultants of how successful that implementation has been," said Sutherland.

Australian skipper Ricky Ponting, his deputy Michael Clarke and Symonds are some of the top players reluctant to go to Pakistan due to security issues.

BCCI's reaction to Dhoni's decision mature: Gavaskar

2008-07-13T15:40:00.003+06:00

India’s One-Day captain Mahendra Singh Dhoni’s pullout from the Test series in Sri Lanka has been hot topic of late and former India skipper Sunil Gavaskar and batting legend has made an interesting comparison of how such a pullout in the 70s would have been condemned by one and all while now it is termed 'a mature decision'.

"Dhoni’s decision to skip the forthcoming Test series had the backing of the selection committee, who had called it a mature one, and it marks a change in attitude over the years. Way back in the 70s if a player made himself unavailable to play for the country, he was looked down as a traitor of sorts and got pilloried by everybody," Gavaskar wrote in his column on Sunday.

"Dhoni’s decision to rest is a brave decision indeed. Not many players would risk the possibility of the replacement cementing a permanent place in the team while they are away and it speaks volumes of Dhoni’s self-confidence that he has opted out. Having said, it takes a man of real conviction that he is no good if he is mentally and physically unable to give off his hundred per cent to the team," he adds.

Giving his own example in the late 1970s and of another Indian skipper Tiger Pataudi, when the nawab was not very popular after skipping the 1971 twin tour to the West Indies and England, the change was a welcome one from the powers that be.

"Pataudi not making himself available for the tours of the West Indies and England in 1971 did not top the popularity list of decisions though a section of the media supported him because they thought he was unfairly removed as captain of the team and Ajit Wadekar was elevated to lead the national team," he wrote.

"Even in the late 1970, where India virtually played Test cricket non-stop from September 1978, starting with a series against Pakistan after 18 years, followed by the home series against the West Indies (six Tests) and another long tour to England after resting for a month, which also included the 1979 World Cup, and six Test matches against Australia, followed by Pakistan’s tour of India (another six Tests) and the Golden Jubilee Test against England, India was to fly to the West Indies for a five-match Test series," he explained.

"The Indian team knew the Pakistan series was going to drain them physically and mentally so wanted the tour to the West Indies postponed by a week or so to be able to recharge their batteries to take on the world champions but the request was denied by the board and I refused to be part of the touring side.

"There was a huge furor and plenty of criticism including from guys who were defending Pataudi’s pullout a few years ago before the West Indies board themselves cancelled the 1980 tour after Kapil Dev also pulled out with a knee injury," he wrote.

"The reaction to Dhoni’s decision looks a lot more mature. They seem to have appreciated Dhoni’s honesty in not playing on if he was mentally and physically tired," he added.

Sri Lanka yet to resolve England tour crisis

2008-07-13T15:36:00.002+06:00

Sri Lankan cricket's governing body has yet to resolve the crisis over next year's England tour that clashes with a more financially lucrative tournament in India, officials said on Saturday.

A source at Sri Lanka Cricket dismissed local media reports indicating the board had agreed to allow players to take part in the Indian Premier League despite the clash with the England tour scheduled for April and May.

"The issue is yet to be finalised and very much at a discussion stage," the source said, asking to remain anonymous. He said they were awaiting a response from the England and Wales Cricket Board (ECB).

Some 13 Sri Lankan cricketers, including star players Mahela Jayawardene, Sanath Jayasuriya, Muttiah Muralitharan and Kumar Sangakkara, have signed three-year contracts to play in the IPL.

The players argued they received permission to play in the IPL before the ECB came up with the idea of replacing Zimbabwe with Sri Lanka for the early part of the summer 2009.

Sri Lankan players earlier this week asked President Mahinda Rajapakse to persuade Sri Lanka Cricket to re-schedule the England tour.

The ECB has already released the itinerary for Sri Lanka's tour between April 21 and May 30, which will include three Test matches and three one-day internationals.

The next season's IPL is due to take place between April 10 to May 29. Sri Lanka's apparent readiness to consider putting the IPL over the tour of England has drawn a tough reaction from the International Cricket Council.

MCC to challenge ICC decision declaring forfeited Pak-England Test a draw

2008-07-12T15:22:00.001+06:00

The Melbourne Cricket Club (MCC), the body which governs the laws of cricket, has decided to challenge the ICC's last week's decision to change the result of the Test match between England and Pakistan, at the Brit Oval in 2006, to a draw. Initially the match was decided as 'forfeited' after Pakistan refused to play against England after a ball-tampering row.

MCC Secretary Keith Bradshaw said the ICC verdict (to alter the match result) "contravened the spirit of the game as well as the Laws".

The Club's world committee is also opposed to any alteration to Law 21, which states that the result should not be changed, Keith said and added: "Cricket is the worse for this decision and it was opposed unanimously by the ICC's cricket committee, on which I sit."

New ICC president David Morgan also said that he had also opposed the ICC decision, which overruled its cricket committee.

In addition, Robert Griffiths, QC, who represented Darrell Hair, the umpire who accused Pakistan of ball-tampering, at his tribunal hearing against the ICC, claimed that the ruling was "unprecedented and dangerous". The ICC had no power to change the result, he added. "It is historical revisionism of the worst kind. It was plainly connected to the negotiations over Zimbabwe. I have been emasculated so as to appease Zimbabwe and its allies and for the questionable purpose of ensuring that the ICC World Twenty20 comes to England next year," timesonline.com quoted Griffiths as saying.

He added: "Law 21(10) is unequivocal: once the umpires have agreed with the scorers the correctness of the scores, the result cannot be changed. The reasoning is vacuous. It was, officially, 'based on the view that in light of the unique set of circumstances, the original result was felt to be inappropriate'. This is even though ICC board member witnesses admitted under oath at Hair's tribunal that the umpires' decisions were in accordance with the Laws."

Symonds happy after rugby fan banned for hurling racial abuse

2008-07-12T15:18:00.002+06:00

Australian all rounder Andrew Symonds has hailed National Rugby League`s decision to ban a fan, who hurled racist abuse against Penrinth`s captain Petero Civoniceva, saying it was satisfying to see someone being penalised for wrongdoing.

Symonds himself was involved in cricket`s most talked about alleged racist slur when he had accused Indian off-spinner Harbhajan Singh of abusing him racially.

Symonds said rugby league`s governing body should be praised for their swift action.

"It`s great to know it`s been dealt with and someone`s been penalised for it. The system in place seems to be a good one, it`s been dealt with," Symonds said.

The Australian star said though he was not aware of the real incident, still he appreciates the NRL action.

"Five years is a long time. I don`t know the full story but it`s a fairly harsh penalty, whether or not it (should have been) longer, I wouldn`t know," he said.

NRL on Wednesday had banned an Eels fan Sper Vega from NRL games for five years after finding him guilty of abusing racially during a match on Sunday at Parramatta Stadium.

Sri Lanka yet to resolve tour crisis

2008-07-12T15:15:00.001+06:00

Sri Lankan cricket's governing body has yet to resolve the crisis over next year's England tour that clashes with a more financially lucrative tournament in India, officials said.

A source at Sri Lanka Cricket dismissed local media reports indicating the board had agreed to allow players to take part in the Indian Premier League despite the clash with the England tour scheduled for April and May.

“The issue is yet to be finalised and very much at a discussion stage,'' the source said, asking to remain anonymous. He said they were awaiting a response from the England and Wales Cricket Board (ECB).

Some 13 Sri Lankan cricketers, including star players Mahela Jayawardene, Sanath Jayasuriya, Muttiah Muralitharan and Kumar Sangakkara, have signed three-year contracts to play in the IPL.

The players argued they received permission to play in the IPL before the ECB came up with the idea of replacing Zimbabwe with Sri Lanka for the early part of the summer 2009.

Sri Lankan players earlier this week asked President Mahinda Rajapakse to persuade Sri Lanka Cricket to re-schedule the England tour.

The ECB has already released the itinerary for Sri Lanka's tour between April 21 and May 30, which will include three Test matches and three one-day internationals.

The next season's IPL is due to take place between April 10 to May 29.

Sri Lanka's apparent readiness to consider putting the IPL over the tour of England has drawn a tough reaction from the International Cricket Council.

Akhtar Debate Holds Up Pakistan Squad

2008-07-12T15:13:00.001+06:00

The Pakistan Cricket Board has postponed the announcement of the probable squad for the Champions Trophy due to a dispute over Shoaib Akhtar's status.

The Lahore High Court last week suspended the 18-month ban on Shoaib - already reduced from a career-threatening five-year suspension - until a final decision can be reached in September.

That leaves him free to play at present and he was included on the unsubmitted 30-man list of probables picked for the Champions Trophy. However, it is understood that the PCB is demanding that the player pay a seven million rupee fine before they approve his inclusion.

A PCB spokesman told reporters that the PCB had obtained permission from the ICC to delay the announcement of the team.

Today was the deadline for teams to formally announce their probables list, but Pakistan will now name their squad on Monday.

PCB chief operating officer Shafqat Naghmi declined to comment on the Shoaib issue except to say more would be known on the issue when the team is announced.

"The selectors have picked the team," Naghmi said.

"Now it has to be approved by the governing body as per PCB rules. We have permission to name the team by July 15, but we could name the team earlier too."

Reacting to news reports, Shoaib's lawyer Abid Hasan Minto said Shoaib had not been asked to pay the fine until now.

"Unless they tell him to pay the fine how can he move forward because the case is still under consideration of the court," he said.

Minto also said the court had not said if Shoaib did not pay the fine he cannot be considered for Pakistan duty.

Brilliant Bell Misses Out On Double

2008-07-12T15:07:00.001+06:00

Ian Bell silenced his critics with a stunning display to spearhead England's most dominant batting performance for five years in the opening npower Test against South Africa.

The Warwickshire batsman has been one of a number of names mentioned as possible candidates to make way when key all-rounder Andrew Flintoff is regarded as fit enough to make his Test comeback.

Having scored only 45 runs in four innings against New Zealand, he knew the time was ripe to deliver in the opening Test at Lord's and returned to county cricket last week in a desperate attempt to rediscover his form.

It was the perfect fillip, with Bell making 215 against Gloucestershire and falling only one run short of claiming successive double centuries to help England declare on 593 for eight before South Africa ended the second day at Lord's on seven without loss.

Bell's stunning display in over eight hours at the crease included a six and 20 fours - easily eclipsing his previous best Test score of 162 against the less taxing opposition of Bangladesh three years ago - and helped England record their highest total since declaring on 604 for nine against the same opposition at the Oval in 2003.

But his performance was worth far more than mere statistics and by the time South Africa trooped off following 156.2 taxing overs, he had made a major statement of intent both for himself and for a top six who had previously gone 12 Tests without scoring a first-innings total in excess of 400.

Resuming overnight on 75 with England on an already-commanding 309 for three, Bell knew today was a massive chance to emerge from a reputation as a highly-talented player who failed to make his mark when it really counted.

That accusation could not be levelled at him today, however, after he shared two major stands with Kevin Pietersen and Stuart Broad to thoroughly demoralise a South African side who had high hopes of rattling England after winning the toss in favourable conditions on day one.

From the very first ball, Bell looked composed, while Pietersen was reckless at times and was fortunate to survive on 121 when he gloved an attempted hook off Makhaya Ntini only for the ball to drop out of wicketkeeper Mark Boucher's despairing reach down the leg side.

He was also given another reprieve on 133 when he drove all-rounder Jacques Kallis back down the pitch but he was unable to take the smart return catch.

His luck failed to last, however, and after progressing to an outstanding 152, he was dismissed with a lifting delivery from Morne Morkel, which this time he gloved down the leg-side to give Boucher a more comfortable catch.

Bell had already reached three figures when his 286-run stand with Pietersen was finally broken, but England and a Lord's crowd were demanding a major innings from him to finally break away from a reputation as an under-achiever.

Joined at the crease by Paul Collingwood - another player desperately under pressure for his place after a barren run with the bat - their stand was broken almost immediately when even luck deserted the Durham all-rounder.

Pushing forward defensively to left-arm spinner Paul Harris just two balls after a rain break, South Africa appealed for a catch at short leg which was wrongly upheld by umpire Billy Bowden.

Collingwood did well to contain his frustration as he made his way back to the pavilion having scored just seven, particularly when television replays proved conclusively that the ball had missed his bat and bounced off his pad.

Tim Ambrose was also unable to keep Bell company during his marathon shift and edged Morkel to slip shortly after lunch but once again Broad demonstrated his growing reputation as a high-class all-rounder.

Having hit a career-best 64 in his previous Test against New Zealand at Trent Bridge, Broad picked up where he left off and contributed fully to a 152-run stand which must have driven South Africa's highly-rated attack to distraction.

This time, Broad reached 76 and perhaps had his eyes set on his maiden Test century before he was bowled attempting to slog Harris and captain Michael Vaughan called a halt to the innings by summoning the declaration.

The same misfortune befell Bell six overs later when he needed just one run to reach his maiden Test double-hundred knowing Vaughan was ready to halt the innings at any minute.

Attempting to force Harris down the ground, Bell mistimed his shot and gave the spinner a sharp return catch which he took, prompting the immediate declaration.

Facing a testing final part of the day when they began their reply, South Africa only faced 3.2 overs before rain and bad light halted play to give them a welcome reprieve from England's dominance.

Simpy Bomb Scare in Lords Test in 1973

2008-07-12T14:33:00.000+06:00

Bomb Scare in Lords Test in 1973

India World Cup Cricket Record 413 Runs

2008-07-12T14:31:00.000+06:00

India World Cup Cricket Record 413 Runs

Dean Jones' comment on Amla

2008-07-12T14:28:00.000+06:00

Dean Jones' comment on Amla called him a terrorist

Saeed Anwar's 194 vs India

2008-07-12T14:22:00.000+06:00

aeed Anwar is a former Pakistani cricketer, who was an opening batsman. He made 194 runs against India in Chennai, Pepsi Independence Cup, the highest score in any One Day International.
Fabulous innings with 22 fours and 5 sixes ONLY 146 balls !!!

Yuvraj Singh Six Sixes Twenty 20

2008-07-12T14:20:00.000+06:00

Yuvraj six sxies in Stuart Broad Over.Twenty20 world cup 2007..Yuvraj Singh hits a record 6 Sixes vs England in the Super 8's clash of the Twenty20 world Cup (2007). This is a video from the Live telecast..ball-by-ball.

Shahid Afridi : Fastest ODI Hundred

2008-07-12T14:15:00.000+06:00

Highlights of shahid's fastest ODI hundred, off 37 balls, in his debut match.

PCB want compensation if venue is shifted

2008-07-10T16:18:00.001+06:00

In case the ICC shifts the Champions Trophy, which is scheduled to be played in Pakistan from September 11-28, the PCB will demand a substantial compensation from the international cricket body, board sources have said.

Reports during past few days have suggested that the ICC was mulling over shifting the tournament to Sri Lanka or South Africa, in the wake of recent terror attacks in Islamabad and Karachi.

Pakistan will not take any negative ICC decision on the Champions Trophy just lying down and will seek compensation in case the tournament is taken out of the country, The News quoted well placed PCB sources as saying.

The ICC is under considerable pressure from a few competing nations to take away the Champions Trophy from Pakistan because of security concerns. Several players from Australia , England and New Zealand have openly raised doubts about their participation in the tournament.

The PCB sources said that in case Pakistan was deprived of the Champions Trophy, the PCBs primary demand will be to get a three million dollar hosting fee from the ICC. As the host country of the Champions Trophy, Pakistan is to receive that amount from ICC - the games governing body. But they could be deprived of the fee if the tournament is relocated from Pakistan .

Besides, said the sources, the Board is also considering demanding the hosting rights of the next edition of the ICC Champions Trophy. The 2010 tournament has been awarded to the West Indies, but the PCB will ask the ICC to reconsider that decision in case this years Champions Trophy is taken away from Pakistan .

Clarke has faith in CA

2008-07-10T16:16:00.001+06:00

Acting Australian captain Michael Clarke will place his trust in Cricket Australia and security experts as a decision on whether the world champions should visit strife-torn Pakistan looms.

Pakistan is due to host the ICC Champions Trophy tournament in September amid grave fears over player safety after another spate of violence in the troubled republic.

New Zealand and England have joined with Australia in voicing their concerns.

Australia pulled out of its planned tour to Pakistan earlier this year following several suicide bombings.

A cautious Clarke, who replaced the injured Ricky Ponting and led Australia to victory in its final two limited overs matches on the tour of West Indies, will await further advice before committing to Pakistan.

"I think there will be (a bit of talk) over the next few weeks but we'll wait and see what the ICC, Cricket Australia and the ACA (Australian Cricketers' Association) come up with it and we'll go from there," Clarke said upon arrival in Sydney on Thursday.

"We've got six weeks off now and I'll spend that time listening to the ACA, Cricket Australia and the ICC and then I'll make my own decision."

"I think the right thing is happening. We're sending (security) people that actually have knowledge and understanding of what's happening in Pakistan."

"For me to sit here and make a decision is like you walking out and opening the batting for Australia."

"I'm not qualified to do that. I think we have to believe in the ACA, Cricket Australia and the ICC (and) their decision."

"We're putting in process all the right steps to make the right decision for cricket in general."

Should Australia participate, the Champions Trophy begins a hectic and testing 15-month schedule.

The Aussies host South Africa and New Zealand this summer before embarking on tours to India and finally the Ashes defence in England.

"I think it's a huge 15 months for Australian cricket," Clarke said.

"It's what we all want to play international cricket for - to play against the best."

"South Africa are playing really good cricket at the moment. India in India is always very tough and then the Ashes."

"The next 15 months we have some really tough cricket in both forms of the game coming up so we're going to find out where we sit in both forms."

"I believe we're off to a great start with this new generation, new era."

"It's going to be great for the game and the boys are looking forward to it."

As for captaining Australia in Ponting's absence, Clarke said: "I've obviously enjoyed the last couple of games."

"I am very lucky - I'm captaining a great team."

"It's been a fantastic opportunity for me but I think everybody in this room plus the whole of Australia knows who our skipper is."

South Africa ready to host Champions Trophy

2008-07-10T16:07:00.002+06:00

South African cricket officials say their board is ready to host the Champions Trophy if Pakistan is declared unsafe by the International Cricket Council (ICC) for going ahead with the biennial event.

Cricket South Africa chief executive Gerald Majola said his country can stage the event, scheduled to begin September 11, because they have enough time to prepare. Johannesburg, Centurion and Potchefstroom are considered the likely venues for the tournament.

'If requested by the International Cricket Council (ICC), and we agree on the terms and conditions of hosting the tournament, we will. ICC host agreements are very onerous, so you don't want to accept certain terms if you don't have time to do everything they ask for. We have to sit down with them and go through everything, and negotiate new terms. We have only one or two months to prepare,' Majola was quoted as saying by The Age.

'We have the ability to do it ... I can't say we are applying for it, we're not. We will wait for the ICC to approach us.'

The ICC is yet to take a final decision but after Monday's serial blasts in Karachi, Pakistan's chances of hosting the Champions Trophy look bleak.

With players in Australia, New Zealand and England making their reservations clear on touring Pakistan, the ICC is under immense pressure to make a decision.

Sri Lanka has also volunteered as an alternative venue, but again the island nation is also not a safe place due to the long standing ethnic conflict, which has claimed many lives over a decade.

The chief executive of the Sri Lankan board, Duleep Mendis, insisted Sri Lanka was well-placed as an alternative host, and pointed to the imminent tour by India as evidence the country was safe.

'The venues are ready because we are going to stage the Indian tour as well here, it is just a matter of putting things together. ICC will give sufficient time, if, by some chance, things are not going to happen in Pakistan,' Mendis said.

Bad-boys Shoaib and Asif recalled to preliminary Champions Trophy squad

2008-07-10T16:04:00.002+06:00

Pace pair Shoaib Akhtar and Mohammad Asif have been included in Pakistan's preliminary Champions Trophy squad, according to chief selector Salahuddin Ahmed.

Shoaib is available after an 18-month ban for indiscipline imposed by the Pakistan Cricket Board was temporarily lifted by the Lahore High Court last week.

Asif was detained in Dubai for nearly three weeks last month under suspicion of carrying drugs. His availability for the tournament in Pakistan in September will depend on the report from the PCB investigation into the issue.

Another seamer, Umar Gul, also features despite suffering a rib injury in the recent Asia Cup.

"We have included Shoaib Akhtar's name in the list of 30 probables for the ICC Champions Trophy along with Mohammad Asif and Umar Gul," said Salahuddin.

"But, while Shoaib and Umar have to prove their fitness, Asif's selection will largely depend on the report of PCB's fact-finding committee."

Sri Lanka players want England tour rescheduled

2008-07-10T16:02:00.002+06:00

Sri Lanka's cricketers want next year's hastily arranged Test tour of England to be rescheduled as the dates clash with the lucrative Indian Premier League, sources close to the team said Thursday.

"The players met Sri Lankan President Mahinda Rajapakse and urged him to get the tour postponed or played after the IPL," one source told AFP.

"The president was very sympathetic towards the players and agreed to look into their request."

The tour, arranged earlier this month after England suspended bilateral cricket relations with Zimbabwe, includes two Tests, three one-dayers and four warm-up games and runs from April 21 to May 30.

The IPL, which features at least 13 top Sri Lankans including captain Mahela Jayawardene and star spinner Muttiah Muralitharan, is due to be played between April 10 and May 25.

One top player, who declined to be named, told AFP the cricketers had handed the president a letter when they met him on Wednesday to celebrate their victory in the recent Asia Cup in Pakistan.

"We wrote a letter, signed by all of us, appealing to the president to either call off the tour or push back the dates," he said.

Rajapakse's spokesman said the president had instructed Sri Lanka's sports minister Gamini Lokuge to raise this issue when Sri Lanka Cricket's interim committee meets later on Thursday.

"The president promised to look into the players' grievances and instructed the sports minister to ask the interim committee to draw up alternative proposals," spokesman Lucien Rajakarunanayake told AFP.

The tour was formalised between the England and Wales Cricket Board and Sri Lanka Cricket chief Arjuna Ranatunga on the sidelines of the International Cricket Council meetings in Dubai earlier this month.

This is not the first time Sri Lankan players have demanded an international series be scrapped so they could play in the IPL.

Sri Lanka's limited-overs tour of Pakistan was cancelled in April-May this year because the dates clashed with the IPL's inaugural tournament.

Bracken on top of the world

2008-07-09T17:15:00.001+06:00

Australia's cricketers return home from their successful Caribbean crusade boasting the world's top-ranked one-day international bowler ... and it's not Brett Lee.

Nathan Bracken has snuck under the guard to take over from New Zealand spinner Daniel Vettori as the top ODI bowler in world cricket.

Bracken may not get the headlines of Lee or the rest of the world's bowling king-pins but it is hard to argue with his new No.1 ranking.

The left-armer heads the list of ODI wicket-takers in 2008 (29 at 17.41) and returned from knee surgery to be Australia's leading bowler in their 5-0 demolition of West Indies.

"A clean sweep of the series was the key objective, but to hit the top of the ODI bowler rankings in the process was a real bonus," Bracken said.

"I'm feeling good. I was able to spend a lot of time with the family over the past couple of months and was really keen to get stuck into some hard work."

Fellow Australia fast bowler Mitchell Johnson, who took 5-29 in the final one-dayer, also moved up the ODI bowling rankings to a career-high seventh spot.

Meanwhile, Test skipper Ricky Ponting is recuperating after surgery for a tendon injury in his right wrist.

Ponting is unlikely to be on deck for Australia's ODI series against Bangladesh in Darwin next month but is hoping to be fit for September's Champions Trophy in Pakistan.

Australia have several other injury worries, including Matthew Hayden (ankle tendon) and wicketkeeper Brad Haddin (broken finger), but Ponting insists Shane Watson, David Hussey and Luke Ronchi will continue to pick up the slack.

"We haven't got the old, wise heads to call on all the time but the blokes we're bringing in are certainly getting the job done," Ponting said.

"And that's exciting for Australia."

BCCI announces squad for Sri Lanka Test series

2008-07-09T17:12:00.001+06:00

The Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI) has today announced the 16-member squad for the Test series in Sri Lanka.

Leg-spinner Anil Kumble will lead the Indian team, while Virender Sehwag will be his deputy.

The BCCI has rested One Day International (ODI) captain Mahendra Singh Dhoni, while Yuvraj Singh and S. Sreesanth have also been left out of the 16-member squad.

Earlier, on Monday Dhoni had pulled out of the series, citing exhaustion due to too much cricket.

Besides Anil Kumble and Virender Sehwag, the 16-member squad for the Test series includes Gautam Gambhir, Sourav Ganguly, Rahul Dravid, V.V.S. Laxman, Sachin Tendulkar, Rohit Sharma, Dinesh Karthik, Parthiv Patel, Harbhajan Singh, Ishant Sharma, Zaheer Khan, RP Singh, Munaf Patel and Pragyan Ojha.

India's first Test against Sri Lanka begins on July 23 in Colombo.

Pakistan Selector: Afridi`s Career Not Done For

2008-07-09T17:09:00.001+06:00

Chief selector Salahuddin Ahmed has rubbished reports Shahid Afridi is on the verge of being dropped from Pakistan's Twenty20 side.

Pakistan are expected to finalise arrangements this week for a tournament in Toronto with West Indies and Bangladesh, which is pencilled in for August 13 to 16.

Reports in Pakistan suggest skipper Shoaib Malik and coach Geoff Lawson are keen to leave Afridi, who has had a poor run with the bat, out of their squad for the trip to Canada.

But Salahuddin said: "Afridi is one of our best Twenty20 players and there is no way we are going to overlook him for the Toronto event.

"The players and officials are backing Afridi and believe that he will soon return to form."

One player likely to miss out is controversial speedster Shoaib Akhtar.

Shoaib had an 18-month ban imposed by the Pakistan Cricket Court provisionally lifted by the Lahore High Court last week, but he is expected to be told he must prove his fitness before rejoining the national team.

Flintoff casts shadow over England

2008-07-09T16:54:00.001+06:00

England may well set a new record by fielding the same side for the sixth successive Test when they face South Africa in Thursday's series opener at Lord's. But with Andrew Flintoff set to return for the second match at Headingley their unchanged streak may be nearing its end.

And South Africa coach Mickey Arthur believes the star all-rounder's looming presence is something his side can utilise to their advantage.

Flintoff hasn't played a Test for over a year because of a combination of ankle and side injuries.

However, the pace bowler is nearing full fitness and, significantly, England - whose captain Michael Vaughan comes into this game under an injury cloud after a recurrence of a longstanding knee problem - have named a squad for the first of this four-match series only.

Initial indications were that an England pace bowler would be under the spotlight at Lord's.

But against South Africa's strong batting line-up, England may want to move to a five-man attack as soon as .

"The 'Freddie' Flintoff factor lingers over England - because he's too good a player not to be picked," said Arthur. "If you've got a class performer, a fantastic cricketer like him available to you, I think you'd be silly not to select him.

"He's got to come back. Somebody will be unlucky. "Within the whole pressure cooker of Test cricket, there might be one or two little personal contests going on in the England side."

Turning to middle-order duo Bell and Collingwood, Arthur added: "I think it is obvious that at five and six, those two players will be under pressure.

"If we can get into five and six when the ball is pretty new, that will be pretty good - and I think there will be one bowler bowling with a cloud over him, knowing that Flintoff is probably going to be fit for the second Test."

Much of the pre-series talk has focused on Kevin Pietersen, who turned his back on his native South Africa to play for England because he felt a racial quota system in domestic cricket was hampering his progress.

Pietersen's very public criticisms of the South African set-up have angered many wthin the Proteas' set-up, notably captain Graeme Smith, who was described as a "muppet" in the England star's autobiography.

South Africa boast a potent pace attack, led by the in-form Dale Steyn, but Arthur insisted Tuesday they would not be targeting Pietersen just for the sake of settling old scores.

"We're not going to get involved in any sideshows," he said. "Graeme is pretty adamant he's not going to get involved, and I don't think any of our players will either. In fact, there is a lot of respect for Kevin in our dressing room."

As well as Steyn, South Africa also have another genuinely fast bowler in Morne Morkel.

England, in the absence of Flintoff and the dropped Stephen Harmison have no similar firepower.

Tests are often won by the side with the better fast bowlers and Arthur said: "When I was doing my planning for the series, what I thought England lack is an out-and-out 'quick' - someone like a guy like Flintoff or Harmison.

"I know any captain wants an out-and-out quick in their set-up. I thought the England attack were very steady, could do a really good job as a unit, but might have lacked genuine pace."

However, England seamer Stuart Broad said 'better' was not always a matter of 'quicker'. And with England having won their last two series, both against New Zealand, Broad reckoned they did not need a drastic change of plan. "We've got two world class swing-bowlers (Ryan Sidebottom and James Anderson) with the new ball so obviously we'll be hoping it swings.

"I think we all bowl above 85mph which is useful, but we look to do things with the ball."

Broad added: "The key for us, which we've talked about, is not to try and match pace and bounce and not be something we're not."

South Africa, who've yet to win a Test series in England since the end of their apartheid-enforced isolation despite twice coming close, have often been labelled "chokers", a team that snatches defeat from the jaws of victory.

Defeating England over the course of this four-match campaign would go some way to ridding themselves of that unwanted tag and Arthur said: "England are a very good team who are incredibly hard to beat at home.

"We haven't won a series here since unity. A series win in England is huge for us, right up there on our priority list."

Army promotion for Mendis after Asia Cup victory

2008-07-09T16:17:00.000+06:00

Sri Lanka's new spin sensation Ajantha Mendis has been given a double promotion in the army after his exploits in the Asia Cup final, officials said on Wednesday.

Mendis, 23, a gunner, was promoted to 2nd lieutenant by President Mahinda Rajapakse, who is also commander-in-chief of the armed forces.

Mendis destroyed India with record-breaking figures of 6-13 as Sri Lanka won Sunday's Asia Cup final in Karachi by 100 runs.

It was the best bowling performance in the continental tournament, surpassing Pakistani Aaqib Javed's 5-19 against India in Sharjah in 1995.

Mendis, who hails from the Colombo suburb of Moratuwa, finished with 17 wickets in the tournament.

"I am delighted to have played a part in Sri Lanka's victory," Mendis said after returning from Pakistan.

"I just want to bowl as best as I can every time I come to the bowling crease. I did that on Sunday."

The young Mendis uses an unusual grip in which he appears to squeeze the ball out of his fingers, bowling off-spin, leg-spin, googly, the top-spinner and the flipper.

India captain Mahendra Singh Dhoni was the first to concede that Mendis was simply unplayable.

"We just could not read him and we knew he was a surprise bowler," he said.

"You need to be there in the middle to understand what he bowls. It was tough to pick his deliveries. It is not that the batsmen played badly, they played expecting something and the ball did something else."

India will face Mendis again when they tour Sri Lanka from next week for three Tests and five one-day internationals.

Chappell blasts ICC for letting Zim stay on

2008-07-08T16:55:00.000+06:00

Former Australian skipper Ian Chappell has lashed out at the ICC for adding yet another "ignominious" chapter in its "chequered history" by allowing Zimbabwe to stay on board and bending rules to placate Pakistan.

In a bitter outburst, Chappell said the Zimbabwe issue has become a "raging bushfire" because of the ICC's inaction and the same holds true for the Oval Test, the result of which was changed from a forfeit win for England to a draw in the ICC executive meeting last week.

Zimbabwe was allowed to keep its full membership on the ICC Board in lieu of opting out of the Twenty20 World Championship in England.

The decision means that the strife-torn African country's board will continue to get the ICC's financial aid despite audit reports giving damning evidence of bungling in Zimbabwe Cricket's accounts. And Chappell said he was livid with the way ICC has dealt with the matter.

"The ICC's structure means it often doesn't react quickly to issues, and smouldering embers regularly turn into raging bushfires," Chappell was quoted as saying by The Daily Telegraph.

"The structure also encourages board executives to think of their country first and the game last and consequently the ICC has had a number of ignominious days in its chequered history," he added.

"However, this latest meeting surpassed all their previous efforts and it now seems as though the only ones they are fooling are themselves."

Chappell also took a dig at ZC chief Peter Chingoka's claim that Zimbabwe pulled out of the Twenty20 World Cup in the larger interest of the game.

"More like they pulled out of the tournament to keep everyone happy on a board renowned for its politicking and power-broking, and in return ZC retained all its perks," Chappell said.

The former Aussie captain was no less annoyed with the decision to change the result of Oval Test, which was deemed forfeited after Pakistan refused to take the field in protest of accusations of ball-tampering.

"Throughout the 129 years of Test cricket prior to the Oval, many teams have been wronged. In the end common sense always prevailed - until all sanity flew out of the Pakistan dressing room window at The Oval and they refused to play on," Chappell said.

"A forfeit was the only conclusion to be drawn from Pakistan's actions and only the ICC could come to any other decision," he added.

T20 match postponed due to ineligible player

2008-07-08T16:50:00.000+06:00

A Twenty20 Cup quarter-final was postponed around an hour before its start on Monday when the England and Wales Cricket Board (ECB) received claims that one of the teams had fielded an ineligible player in an earlier round.

Hundreds of fans had arrived at the Riverside ground expecting to see Durham entertain Yorkshire when the ECB revealed an earlier match between the visitors and Nottinghamshire on June 27 was under investigation.

Reports in the British media on Tuesday said 6,000 tickets had been sold for the match.

"Yorkshire fielded Azeem Rafiq who is alleged to be an unqualified cricketer," an ECB statement said.

"After investigation this morning (Monday) the board`s legal advisers confirmed that the player was not eligible to be registered as a qualified cricketer."

"ECB made it clear to both counties that ...the panel could order the replay of any match or matches which could affect any quarter-final."

Rafiq, a 17-year-old off-spinner, made his debut for Yorkshire in the match, taking 0-18 in two overs and he did not bat. The ECB said its disciplinary panel would meet on Thursday to discuss the issue, so any relevant matches could be played before Twenty20 finals day on July 26.

Australian skipper Ponting has wrist surgery

2008-07-08T16:46:00.000+06:00

Australian captain Ricky Ponting returned home Monday from the West Indies tour and underwent immediate wrist surgery, Cricket Australia said.

Ponting, who left the Caribbean with two one-day internationals to play against the West Indies to seek treatment, had an assessment with Cricket Australia medical officer Trefor James and wrist specialist Greg Hoy.

He then had surgery to repair the tissues that hold a tendon in place in his right wrist, which he injured in the third one-day international against the West Indies in Grenada last week, CA said.

Ponting had the surgery to give him extra recovery time ahead of Australia's three one-dayers against Bangladesh in Darwin next month and September.

The Bangladesh series will serve as a warm-up to the Champions Trophy tournament in Pakistan.

"We're not sure at this stage," a CA spokesman said of the skipper's availability for the Darwin series.

"We'll have to assess him as we go along. But that's why they got him in for assessment so quickly, so they could decide on a course of action rather than him leaving it for a week. This way it gives him more time to recover."

Michael Clarke captained the one-day side for the first time in Ponting's absence, leading them to a 5-0 series whitewash of the West Indies in St Kitts on Sunday.

Australia is expected to name a provisional 30-player squad for the Champions Trophy later this week.

ICC ready to shift Champions Trophy: chief

2008-07-08T16:44:00.000+06:00

World cricket Chief Haroon Logart on Monday promised to pull the Champions Trophy out of Pakistan if there was any threat of violence, after a deadly suicide blast on the night of the Asia Cup final.

The International Cricket Council (ICC) chief executive vowed no compromise on safety after 19 were killed in the capital Islamabad.

"The ICC will not compromise the safety and security of any individual at one of its tournaments and if it is not appropriate to play in any country then we will not do so," Logart said in a statement.

Players from Australia, New Zealand and England have expressed concern over playing in Pakistan, which is due to hold the prestigious Champions Trophy from September 11-28.

Rawalpindi, one of three venues for the tournament, adjoins Islamabad where 14 policemen and five civilians were killed and scores injured in Sunday's attack.

Sri Lanka is the designated alternative venue but is also facing renewed violence between Tamil Tiger rebels and government troops, with South Africa mentioned as a possible replacement.

Lorgat said security was monitored during the Asia Cup while an ICC executive board meeting last week discussed an independent assessment. A security process had also been agreed ahead of the tournament, he said.

"Our consultants on security have been working with the Pakistan authorities during the Asia Cup and will report back to us as soon as possible with their views," he said.

A private security expert, hired by Australia, New Zealand and England has said there was work to be done ahead of the Champions Trophy.

"Some fine-tuning needs to be done and everyone acknowledges that," Reg Dickason said last week.

Pakistan Cricket Board chairman Nasim Ashraf, who attended the ICC meeting, said he was confident the biennial 'mini-World Cup' will be held in Pakistan.

Sri Lanka won the Asia Cup final in Karachi, beating India by 100 runs.

Tired Dhoni opts out of Sri Lanka Tests

2008-07-08T16:42:00.000+06:00

India's Mahendra Singh Dhoni took the rare step of pulling out of a Test tour because of fatigue on Tuesday, saying he wanted to miss the upcoming series against Sri Lanka.

The wicketkeeper-batsman told officials he was not available for the three Tests starting in Colombo on July 23, but would be open for selection for the subsequent five-match one-day series.

"Dhoni has informed us he is tired and wants to sit out of the Sri Lanka Test series," Indian cricket board chief administrative official Ratnakar Shetty told reporters here.

"We respect his decision and encourage players to opt out if they are tired because of the non-stop cricket these days."

The selectors will meet later on Tuesday to pick the Test squad for their first full tour of Sri Lanka since 2001.

While Anil Kumble captains India in Tests, Dhoni, who turned 27 on Monday, is the limited-overs skipper and has been a regular in the national side in all three forms of the game.

Since January 2007, Dhoni has played 14 Tests, 56 one-day internationals and nine Twenty20 matches across the world as well as taking part in a domestic competition earlier this year.

The supremely-fit Dhoni had complained of a hectic schedule during the recent Asia Cup in Pakistan after India played their first three games in four days in stifling heat and humidity.

India went on to reach Sunday's final in Karachi where they lost to Sri Lanka.

Indian board official Rajiv Shukla had reacted to Dhoni's Asia Cup comment by saying players were free to opt out of a series if they did not want to play.

Leading players' associations have warned of burn-out due to the backbreaking modern schedules, but the International Cricket Council said it will not alter the Future Tours Programme before 2012.

Australia secure series whitewash

2008-07-07T16:49:00.000+06:00

West Indies suffered a one-day series whitewash as Australia completed a 169-run victory in the fifth and final match at Warner Park.

Luke Ronchi hit 64 off 28 balls, while David Hussey scored a 19-ball half century to steer the tourists to 341-8.

Shawn Findlay (59 not out) was the only player to pass 50 for the hosts as they were all out for 172.

Australian bowler Mitchell Johnson took 5-29 to tear through the hosts, who only completed 39.5 of their 50 overs.

Chasing a challenging target, West Indies made a dreadful start, losing Marcus Gayle (five), Ramnaresh Sarwan (seven) and Xavier Marshall (17) to leave the innings teetering on 56-3

Shivnarine Chanderpaul injected some much-needed life into their effort before skying Michael Clarke to Brett Lee at long-off.

Findlay steadied the ship but Dwayne Bravo's dismissal - caught by David Hussey at long-on off Andrew Symonds - sparked a collapse.

Andre Fletcher and Denesh Ramdin soon followed but Findlay continued to push on and made his second one-day 50 with a single, though it became a one-man effort as the wickets tumbled.

Johnson picked up his third and fourth wickets, bowling Daren Powell comprehensively in the 36th over, and then having Nikita Miller caught by Shane Watson.

The bowler wrapped up the comfortable win - and his five-wicket haul - by taking the wicket of Fidel Edwards.

Earlier, Watson (29) and Shaun Marsh (49) put on 70 for the first wicket before Ronchi accelerated the innings, hitting six sixes in his maiden one-day international half century.

Australia then lost two wickets for as many runs when Ronchi and then Clarke went before Symonds (66) and Michael Hussey (51) put on 113 for the fifth wicket.

Edwards removed both Symonds and Hussey before Sarwan matched his three-wicket haul by snaffling David Hussey (52) and James Hopes with the last two balls of the innings.

Australia captain Michael Clarke: "Full credit goes to the whole Australian team. Our goal was to come over to the Caribbean and win 5-0 in the one-day series and we've done that. It's great for Australian cricket. We have a lot of depth back at home."

West Indies coach John Dyson: "We have to accept that we need to change our approach to various things. The potential is there, we have some very talented players, but to compete with teams at the top of the table there are some changes that they need to accept they need to make to their game."

Ponting Doubtful For Champions Trophy

2008-07-07T16:46:00.000+06:00

Australia skipper Ricky Ponting is a doubt for the upcoming series against Bangladesh and the ICC Champions Trophy after undergoing wrist surgery in Melbourne.

Ponting, who returned early from the tour of the West Indies, consulted a specialist in Melbourne yesterday.

He immediately had an operation on the injury which he suffered in the third one-day international against the Windies.

Cricket Australia medical officer Trefor James said the surgery was fairly minor, but a better idea of Ponting's fitness would not be known until a later date.

"Ricky has sustained a tendon injury that requires repair of tissues that hold the tendon in place. This surgery was performed today," Dr James said.

"Ponting's recovery will be monitored in the coming weeks and a decision regarding his fitness for the upcoming series against Bangladesh and then the Champions Trophy will be made in due course."

Ponting was the third Australia player to return home injured during the series in the Caribbean, with Brad Haddin (finger) coming back during the one-day series and Matthew Hayden (Achilles) returning before the Test series got under way.

Champions Trophy may be moved: ICC

2008-07-07T16:43:00.000+06:00

WORLD cricket chief Haroon Logart promised to pull the Champions Trophy out of Pakistan if there was any threat of violence, after a deadly suicide blast on the night of the Asia Cup final.

The International Cricket Council (ICC) chief executive vowed no compromise on safety after 19 were killed in the capital Islamabad.

"The ICC will not compromise the safety and security of any individual at one of its tournaments and if it is not appropriate to play in any country then we will not do so," Logart said in a statement.

Players from Australia, New Zealand and England have expressed concern over playing in Pakistan, which is due to hold the prestigious Champions Trophy from September 11-28.

Rawalpindi, one of three venues for the tournament, adjoins Islamabad where 14 policemen and five civilians were killed and scores injured in Sunday's attack.

Sri Lanka is the designated alternative venue but is also facing renewed violence between Tamil Tiger rebels and government troops, with South Africa mentioned as a possible replacement.

Logart said security was monitored during the Asia Cup while an ICC executive board meeting last week discussed an independent assessment. A security process had also been agreed ahead of the tournament, he said.

"Our consultants on security have been working with the Pakistan authorities during the Asia Cup and will report back to us as soon as possible with their views," he said.

A private security expert, hired by Australia, New Zealand and England has said there was work to be done ahead of the Champions Trophy.

"Some fine-tuning needs to be done and everyone acknowledges that," Reg Dickason said last week.

Pakistan Cricket Board chairman Nasim Ashraf, who attended the ICC meeting, said he was confident the biennial 'mini-World Cup' will be held in Pakistan.

Sri Lanka won the Asia Cup final in Karachi, beating India by 100 runs.

Why Pietersen Was Right To Leave SA

2008-07-07T16:38:00.000+06:00

Kevin Pietersen has copped a lot of flak in the past from South Africans angry at his decision to represent England, but it's time they stopped their whining and applaud the man for making the right move.

I first saw Kevin Pietersen play in a domestic 50-over match during the 1998/99 season and oh boy was he rubbish - he looked like a part-time bowler marauding as a genuine spinner. And for the most part that is what Pietersen's career in South African cricket was about; trying to fit into a role that wasn't his strength. Whether he or the selectors knew that at the time is debatable.

In Pietersen's final season playing top-tier domestic cricket in South Africa he represented his province, the Kwa-Zulu Natal Dolphins, three times in the 50-over competition and four times in the four-day competition. In the one-day form of the game he came in to bat at either seven or eight in the order, and in the longer version of the game he came in at ten - not exactly supreme utilization of a talent that would go on to become one of the world's top batsmen.

During the South African off-season Pietersen made his first foray into English cricket with a spell at the Cannock Cricket Club in the Birmingham League, an experience that Pietersen found difficult but that would ultimately shape his cricketing career. Having arrived at the club as a bowler who batted a bit, he found himself up against the captain of the team who was also a slow bowler. The result was that Pietersen didn't do much bowling and was instead forced to work on his batting.

On his return to South Africa for the coming season he found he no longer had a place in the Natal team. Pietersen has said that it was racial quotas and non-merit selections that limited his opportunities in South Africa, but perhaps the reality is that he simply wasn't performing well enough to merit a place in the team. A wannabe allrounder with a bowling average of 59 in the 50-over game and 37.50 in the four-day game is not going to get you a place in the starting eleven of too many teams, while his batting average was more Chris Martin than Chris Cairns - 7.66 in 50-over competitions and 10.75 in the four-day game.

As the English would say, he was pants.

Of the three players selected ahead of Pietersen in the Natal team only one was a player of colour, so blaming quotas for his non-selection is perhaps an inaccurate account of events. Pietersen had however felt the sting of racial quotas earlier in his cricket career.

During his time at school Pietersen failed to make the South African schools team; the spinner chosen for that side was a man by the name of Tulani Ngxoweni. Ngxoweni never made it past age group cricket, and it would be fair to assume that Pietersen felt he should have been selected ahead of Ngxoweni (whether Pietersen deserved his place is another matter). This could easily have been viewed as an example of racial quotas and non-merit selections at work, which stood as another hurdle Pietersen would have to negotiate if he was to make it in South African cricket.

As stated, it's open to conjecture whether Pietersen didn't make sides due to his ability or whether it was down to quotas, but what's not in doubt is that he is a self confident and determined individual who never doubted his ability to succeed at the highest level. His non-selection at provincial level and for South African Schools may have seemed to him to be a signal that the cricket hierarchy did not share the same belief in his ability.

In Clive Rice and Nottinghamshire he found people who did believe in him and were willing to put this belief into the tangible form of a three-year contract (in comparison to the one-year contract he had with Natal). And so he left the shores of the nation of his birth to forge a life and a career in greener pastures.

The point to remember is that Kevin Pietersen left South Africa as a mis-used, under-played average cricketer. What he became after his departure is well known, and as much as it may irk South Africans to admit it, one can only congratulate the man for making the best out of the hand that he was dealt.

Dhoni wary of Mendis threat for Sri Lanka tour

2008-07-07T16:35:00.000+06:00

India's limited-overs skipper Mahendra Singh Dhoni believes Sri Lanka's new bowling weapon, unorthodox spinner Ajantha Mendis, will provide the sternest of tests for his side on their impending tour of the island.

Playing in just his eighth international, Mendis used a dizzying array of deliveries to rip through the Indian batting order with figures of 6-13 as Sri Lanka eased to a 100-run victory in the Asia Cup final in Pakistan on Sunday.

The 23-year-old was recognised as the man of the tournament for his 17-wicket contribution and his impact was highlighted by India's explosive wicketkeeper-batsman.

"He is a difficult bowler and we will have to prepare ourselves for him in the coming series," Dhoni said after the final.

"The good thing is that we will be playing the test matches first and we have experienced batsmen in the test side," he added.

"The burden of scoring off him quickly will not be there and we will get time to get used to him."

India open a three-match tour of Sri Lanka with the first test in Colombo on July 23 before embarking on a five-match one-day international series.

New Zealand cricket says Zim tour still on

2008-07-06T16:04:00.000+06:00

The New Zealand cricket team will tour Zimbabwe next year unless ordered not to by the government, NZ Cricket chief executive Justin Vaughan was reported as saying Sunday.

Prime Minister Helen Clark has made it clear she is opposed to the tour but has so far refused to stop the New Zealand team travelling to Zimbabwe, where President Robert Mugabe was controversially re-elected last month. All national teams are bound by the International Cricket Council's future-tours programme, and face severe financial penalties starting at two million US dollars for refusing to tour.

No national cricket team has rejected a foreign tour without political intervention, and New Zealand was not going to be the first, Vaughan said.

"It's a political question and requires a political solution, it's not a decision NZC should have to make," he told New Zealand's Sunday Star-Times newspaper.

"We are a group of cricket administrators. We might have strong feelings about the situation in Zimbabwe but judging international politics is not what we're about. There are other, far more qualified people to do that job -- politicians for example."

Vaughan said the tour was still a year away and the situation could change before then. The International Cricket Council (ICC) declined to suspend Zimbabwe at its meeting this week in Dubai.

"There'll be another ICC conference before then; undoubtedly, a lot will change in Zimbabwe in the next year, and by that time the ICC sub-committee appointed to investigate Zimbabwe Cricket will have reported back, and we'll have a clearer idea of the situation," he said.

"You never know, we might not have to make a decision. Time is on our side at the moment."

Sri Lanka pin Cup final hopes on Mendis

2008-07-06T16:00:00.000+06:00

Sri Lanka will look to their new spinning sensation Ajantha Mendis to defend their Asia Cup title against batting juggernauts India when the two teams meet in the final here on Sunday.

The 23-year-old from Moratuwa has bowled impressively in a tournament dominated by batsmen, and after going wicketless in the first match took 5-22 against United Arab Emirates and 4-47 against Pakistan to lead his team into the final.

Sri Lanka rested him in the Super League match against India on Thursday after they had already qualified for the final.

Captain Mahela Jayawardene played down the hype around his unorthodox spinner, who has six different deliveries in his armoury.

"We are not going to put lot of pressure on the guy," said Jayawardene of Mendis, who has been in the limelight since making his debut against the West Indies earlier this year.

"He (Mendis) has done what he is capable of doing, we are just going to give him the freedom to go out there and enjoy his first final playing for his country, that's how we are going to treat him," said Jayawardene.

Spinners Upul Chandana and Sanath Jayasuriya contributed to Sri Lanka's 25-run win over India in the 2004 Asia Cup final in Colombo.

Jayawradene said resting Mendis and spearhead Chaminda Vaas in Thursday's game against Pakistan was part of the plan.

"We rested them because we wanted to rest them. It's about executing your game plan," said Jayawardene, whose team are trying to overcome poor form since finishing runners-up to Australia in the 2007 World Cup in the Caribbean.

Sri Lanka won only eight of their last 22 one-day internationals before this tournament.

"We set ourselves a goal to get into the finals, we now need to focus hard. After trying a few things, which we wanted to try (against India), we have an idea of exactly how we want to go about in the final," said Jayawardene.

The pitch at National Stadium will help his spinners, Mendis and off-spinner Muttiah Muralitharan, he added.

"We now have played six-seven matches on the squares, which are bound to deteriorate, and the spinners are getting enough spin on the ball. We've been very successful batting first, putting runs on board and defending."

Indian captain Mahendra Singh Dhoni admitted it would be a tough final.

"We are playing Sri Lanka, a very good team, so we expect it to be tough, but we are ready for all kinds of challenges in this final," said Dhoni, whose team lost to Pakistan in the final of the tri-series in Dhaka last month.

Dhoni hoped his openers would once again set the pace.

"Our openers have given us good starts and if they continue to do so it would keep pressure off the middle order and set the foundation," said Dhoni.

TEAMS :

SRI LANKA: Mahela Jayawardene (captain), Kumar Sangakkara, Sanath Jayasuriya, Mahela Udawatte, Tillakaratne Dilshan, Chamara Silva, Chamara Kapugedera, Kaushal Weeraratne, Thilan Thushara, Chaminda Vaas, Dilhara Fernando, Muttiah Muralitharan, Ajantha Mendis, Jehan Mubarak, Nuwan Kulasekera

INDIA: Mahendra Singh Dhoni (captain), Virender Sehwag, Gautam Gambhir, Robin Uthappa, Yuvraj Singh, Rohit Sharma, Suresh Raina, Irfan Pathan, Yusuf Pathan, Piyush Chawla, Pragyan Ojha, Manpreet Gony, Rudra Pratap Singh, Ishant Sharma, Praveen Kumar

Umpires: Simon Taufel (AUS), Tony Hill (NZL)

Tv umpire: Zameer Haider (PAK)

Match referee: Alan Hurst (AUS)

Vaughan: Knee Not A Problem

2008-07-06T15:58:00.001+06:00

Captain Michael Vaughan is unequivocal in his belief he will not only get through next week's first Test against South Africa but the entire npower series.

Vaughan's perennial soreness in his right knee resurfaced in the past fortnight forcing him to undergo an Ostinol injection last Wednesday night, designed to get him through the four-match campaign.

Alarm bells started ringing earlier this week when the 33-year-old was evidently in discomfort during the County Championship defeat to Durham and sat out the final afternoon to have ice applied to the joint.

But he insists the constant rehabilitation of the knee, operated on four times throughout his career, is now part of his professional life.

"It is nothing new, nothing different, I have just learned how to manage it," Vaughan, who has played 15 Tests in a row since coming back from an 18-month exile last summer, said.

"When you have a chronic knee, there are going to be odd days when it doesn't feel as good as others and the good thing about it is I know how to manage that situation.

"I have no doubt whatsoever I will play a full part in the series and move like I did against New Zealand, which was very, very well.

"The knee is as it has been for the last year, it has obviously been aggravated a bit over the last few weeks but we have had those kind of periods over that last year and I have managed to play all the Test matches.

"I have no fear I won't be able to do the same, starting on Thursday, and then all the Test matches against South Africa.

"Ice packs on the knee is just the norm for me at the minute."

Vaughan first revealed a flaring of the problem on the eve of the third Test against New Zealand at Trent Bridge but was still keen to play in Yorkshire's Twenty20 campaign.

He missed a couple of those matches, however, and then sacrificed the chance of playing in today's Friends Provident semi-final clash against Essex to undergo the latest course of injections, which he had not previously disclosed publicly.

"I have courses of injections in the knee, which aren't cortisone injections, it is just a fluid called Ostinol which lubricates the joint and makes it a bit easier to move around.

"The best way to describe it is it's like oiling your limbs; you have a course of three over six months and you feel fine.

"It is something I have had over the year but not had to talk about it until it has been brought to attention these last few days," said Vaughan, who spent the back end of this week netting at Loughborough with fellow Test specialists, and 2005 Ashes fast-bowling hero Simon Jones.

"It was felt this was a period in which I was going to need one of these injections and also to put myself back into the four and five-day mode.

"I have to manage the knee, which means missing the odd game for Yorkshire, for what is the bigger picture, and that is Test match cricket for me."

Andrew Flintoff, another of England's high-profile players sidelined by long-term injury, was not deemed ready for the step up in intensity following a niggling side strain.

However, the door has been left open for his return at Headingley in less than a fortnight.

With the recall of such a talismanic figure imminent, England might feel compelled to ensure they come out from the Lord's opener, which begins next Thursday, on level terms.

But Vaughan, who is set to create Test history by captaining an unchanged XI for the sixth consecutive match, is adamant the looming figure of Flintoff will have an inspirational rather than detrimental effect on their play.

"It will be a real positive for the team," said Vaughan. "Neither do I think the team needs freshening up whatsoever because they are a really committed bunch.

"But everyone will be playing next week with the knowledge that Andrew Flintoff will have to be fitted into this England team when he's available, fit and ready to play.

"That should drive you on, to make sure you're not that one person who misses out.

"I am delighted that he is back playing, give him at least another week and maybe he will play in the second if not the third game."

England, who despite four wins out of five against New Zealand recently failed to dominate their opponents until the final contest in Nottingham, are braced for a step up in class against Graeme Smith's Proteas' fearsome pace bowling and obdurate batting.

It is, Vaughan reckons, exactly the kind of physical and mental examination required 12 months out from the Ashes.

"I am really looking forward to the challenge because I think it has come at the right time for us to be tested against probably one of the top two teams in the world as we speak," Vaughan said.

"This has not got the little urn to play for but this series is up there with the biggest in the world.

"Australia is just a year away and this is just the kind of side we want to be playing.

"At the moment the Aussies seem a long way away because this series should be special."

Clarke Targets Whitewash

2008-07-06T15:56:00.000+06:00

Stand-in captain Michael Clarke wants Australia to show no mercy in the final one-day international against West Indies in St Kitts.

The tourists lead the series 4-0 having kept alive their hopes of a first-ever one-day series sweep in the Caribbean with a dramatic one-run win in Friday's fourth match.

West Indies required eight off Shane Watson's final over to chase a target of 283, but sixth-wicket pair Denesh Ramdin and Darren Sammy crumbled under the pressure, managing just six singles.

That provided Clarke with a winning start as one-day captain and he will lead the side again on Sunday as regular skipper Ricky Ponting has returned home early due to a wrist injury.

"A victory on Sunday and a 5-0 series sweep will mean a lot to us, since it has been our goal when we arrived in the Caribbean to win every match we play on this tour," said Clarke, who was fined 10 percent of his match fee for Australia's slow over-rate on Friday.

"It would be important to us because the new guys coming into the side would get to be a part of a winning side, and we would get to show them the level of performance we expect from them.

"This series is not over for us just yet. We want to win every match, and the fourth ODI was a good example of this, so we will be out there on Sunday looking to win, and giving our best."

West Indies coach John Dyson is hoping his players can put the disappointment of Friday's defeat behind them and salvage some pride with a victory.

"We are still playing to avoid being beaten 5-0, and the message to the team is that we still have one match to play," said Dyson.

"It would be great to win one match in this series. Australia have said from the start that they wanted to win 5-0, but we do not want to lose 5-0.

"From my point of view, it's much better losing by one run than losing by 100 runs. The fourth ODI could have been decided with one hit. A big hit in the last over, and the game would have been over.

"But I'm never happy that we lose matches. Whether we should have won it or not is a matter of conjecture. Australia got 282 on the board, and that's a reasonable total, and if you look at the run chases we had in this series, we have not made 282 or come close to getting lesser totals than this.

"We were always going to have to bat well, and I think we batted pretty well, but it came down to a one-hit game in the last over, and we just couldn't quite do it."

Strauss Anticipates Major Battle

2008-07-06T15:54:00.000+06:00

Andrew Strauss is relishing the chance to renew his acquaintance with Morne Morkel in his 50th Test next week - despite his failure against South Africa's emerging pace spearhead on Saturday.

Morkel, in whom Strauss has already detected "Harmison-like" qualities, needed just six deliveries to see off the England opener in a Middlesex total of 311 for five in reply to 359 for five declared on day two at Uxbridge.

In the absence of a major contribution from their England opener, the hosts were indebted to Eoin Morgan's unbeaten 109 - a maiden first-class hundred for his county - and Dawid Malan (67), in a match which seems sure to end in a stalemate tomorrow.

Strauss had appeared set to win round one of the summer against South Africa's much-touted pace attack, until first change Morkel's extra pace and bounce had him edging behind down the leg-side.

Strauss had seen enough to conclude Morkel and colleagues such as Dale Steyn are sure serve up plenty of pace in the forthcoming four-Test series - a prospect he believes may favour England.

"They are one of the stronger attacks in world cricket," South Africa-born Strauss told Sky Sports News.

"A lot of our batsmen actually prefer a little bit more pace on the ball.

"Certainly Michael Vaughan always plays well against quick bowling - and I think Cookie [Alastair Cook] is very good against quick bowling."

Strauss concedes the tourists' attack are sure to provide a stern test - although he is confident there will be some leeway for the home batsmen too.

"If it is very quick and accurate and it's swinging, it is going to be hard work," he predicts.

"But we hope there will be more scoring opportunities as well."

While Strauss is excited about a series he expects to be keenly contested, South Africa coach Mickey Arthur is optimistic that his team are shaping up well for the start of the first Test.

"Our bowling has definitely been up a notch here from [South Africa's opening tour match at] Taunton," he said.

"(Makhaya) Ntini and Morkel are in a 'better place' than they were at Taunton.

"We are confident with where we are at and believe we are getting enough out of this match."

Holding Leaves ICC In Protest

2008-07-05T17:03:00.001+06:00

West Indies legend Michael Holding has resigned from the International Cricket Council over their decision to change the result of the controversial 2006 Oval Test between England and Pakistan.

Pakistan were originally deemed to have forfeited the game after they refused to return to the field following an allegation of ball tampering from umpires Darrell Hair and Billy Doctrove.

The tourists were later cleared of the latter offence and Thursday saw the outcome of the match changed from an England win to a draw.

Holding agrees Pakistan were innocent of ball-tampering but insists their refusal to retake the field should have been punished.

"When you take certain actions, you must be quite happy to suffer the consequences," he said.

"That game should never, ever be a draw.

"I have just written my letter of resignation to the ICC Cricket Committee because I cannot agree with what they've done.

"A lot of things that are happening today I don't want to be involved with, so I've moved on."

Aussies Sneak Dramatic Win

2008-07-05T16:55:00.000+06:00

Australia snatched victory from the jaws of defeat with a thrilling one-run triumph in the fourth one-day international against West Indies to remain on course for a series whitewash.

After being put into bat, the tourists were made to work hard to put 282 for eight on the board - all-rounder Andrew Symonds leading the way with 87 from just 78 balls.

Many of his team-mates failed to build on decent starts with the bat at Warner Park, but Symonds' timely knock along with 50 from debutant David Hussey set the Windies a testing total.

The hosts set about chasing their victory target of 283 in fine fashion and looked likely to clinch their first win of the series at 188 for two in the 34th over.

Captain Chris Gayle struck 92 and there were also half-centuries for Ramnaresh Sarwan and Shivnarine Chanderpaul.

But it was not enough and Chanderpaul's dismissal with the final ball of the penultimate over - with eight runs still required - proved costly as the Windies finished their 50 overs on 281 for six.

West Indies' innings could hardly have got off to a worse start with opener Xavier Marshall trapped lbw by only the second ball from Brett Lee.

But Sarwan then came in to join Gayle in the middle and the pair put on 137 for the second wicket before the former became Lee's second victim when he was caught behind by Luke Ronchi for 63.

Gayle's fine run-a-ball 92 ended when he went for one big hit too many and sliced a Shane Watson delivery to backward point where James Hopes took an assured catch.

Hopes accounted for the next wicket to fall - that of Dwayne Bravo, bowled between bat and pad after contributing 31 from 32 balls.

Shawn Findlay put on nine before being caught at mid-wicket by Michael Hussey off Lee in the 48th over and then, with the last ball of the 49th, Nathan Bracken snared the crucial wicket of Chanderpaul for 53.

Denesh Ramdin and Darren Sammy needed to add eight in the final over to win the match but could only manage six as Australia clinched a dramatic triumph to go 4-0 up in the five-match series.

Earlier, man of the match Symonds shared a 127-run fifth-wicket partnership with David Hussey - standing in for injured skipper Ricky Ponting - to rescue the tourists from a tricky position at 129 for four.

Daren Powell pegged Australia back after a promising start by removing Watson - whose century inspired the tourists to victory in the third one-dayer - and fellow opener Shaun Marsh.

Watson made 24 off 22 balls before, having just been softened up by a bouncer, he was tempted into a drive by a Powell inswinger and flicked an inside edge through to wicketkeeper Ramdin.

And the same combination did for Marsh (16) as Australia slipped from 41 without loss to 56 for two.

Michael Hussey and Michael Clarke - captaining Australia in a one-dayer for the first time - put on 60 for third wicket before both fell in the 30s.

Michael Hussey (37) holed out to Bravo at deep mid-wicket off the bowling of Sammy before Clarke (36) went lbw to Nikita Miller after failing to connect with a sweep.

But Symonds and David Hussey piled on the runs later in the innings to get the tourists back on track.

Even a brief rain delay could not disrupt the rhythm of Symonds in particular, who struck 10 fours and two sixes before becoming Fidel Edwards' first victim.

The quick then dismissed Hopes for a duck with the following ball, while David Hussey fell to Gayle as Australia lost three wickets for 10 runs.

Pakistan security chief promises a safe Champions Trophy

2008-07-03T16:17:00.000+06:00

Pakistan's top security official Wednesday announced that adequate measures will be taken in the coming weeks to assuage fears of teams taking part in the ICC Champions Trophy in September.

Rehman Malik, security adviser to the government, told reporters here at the National Stadium on the sidelines of Pakistan's Asia Cup match against India that security arrangements for the Champions Trophy will be made water-tight through a series of concrete measures.

'We are aware that some of the participating team have some concerns,' said Malik.

'We are working on further improving the security blanket in a bid to make those teams feel better,' he added.

Leading players of defending champions Australia, New zealand and England have expressed concerns over security situation in Pakistan and have hinted that they may boycott the Champions Trophy.

Malik pointed out that Pakistan have made excellent security arrangements for the ongoing Asia Cup and would make them even better for the Champions Trophy.

Malik said that on his recent visit to Pakistan, ICC President Ray Mali was also briefed on the security cover for the Champions Trophy. 'He (Mali) was impressed with the arrangements to be made by us for the Champions Trophy.'

Pakistan are to host the ICC Champions Trophy for the first time in September. They have received a boost following a vocal support by the Indian cricket board.

Asia cup: India to face Sri Lanka today

2008-07-03T16:13:00.000+06:00

There's no respite yet for Mahendra Singh Dhoni, and he will have to find a way to beat Sri Lanka in today’s match to seal a place in the final of Asia Cup 2008.

Sri Lanka has sealed their spot in the final, and has the luxury to rest key players, something Pakistan won't want them to do.

India would have ideally rested some players but their inability to beat Pakistan makes the Sri Lanka game significant. Dhoni suffered from cramps during his 76 and even Gary Kirsten, India's coach, has admitted the ODI captain needs a break.

Dhoni, however, kept wickets during Pakistan's chase, and with no reserve wicketkeeper, he is unlikely to switch fielding positions as he did in the Indian Premier League.

India might also change their bowling combination. Remove his four-wicket haul against Hong Kong, and Piyush Chawla has been listless in the tournament. He could make way for left-arm spinner Pragyan Ojha, who impressed in the game against Bangladesh.

RP Singh could also get a look in, while Yusuf Pathan's role will be under scrutiny after his failure with both bat and ball against Pakistan.

INDIA: 1 Gautam Gambhir, 2 Virender Sehwag, 3 Suresh Raina, 4 Yuvraj Singh, 5 Mahendra Singh Dhoni (capt & wk), 6 Rohit Sharma, 7 Yusuf Pathan, 8 Irfan Pathan, 9 Praveen Kumar, 10 Pragyan Ojha, 11 RP Singh. Sri Lanka, on the other hand, have already qualified for the final and are likely to rest Sanath Jayasuriya, Chaminda Vaas and Muttiah Muralitharan as they did against UAE.

SRI LANKA: 1 Kumar Sangakkara (wk), 2 Mahela Udawatte, 3 Mahela Jayawardene (capt), 4 Chamara Kapugedera, 5 Chamara Silva, 6 Tillakaratne Dilshan, 7 Kaushalya Weeraratne, 8 Thilan Thushara, 9 Nuwan Kulasekara, 10 Ajantha Mendis, 11 Dilhara Fernando.

Younis century drives Pakistan win

2008-07-03T16:03:00.000+06:00

Younis Khan struck his first one-day international century on home soil to take Pakistan to an eight-wicket win over India in a high-scoring Asia Cup super league match at the National Stadium.

Younis's undefeated 123, his fifth one-day century in 174 matches, gave Pakistan their fifth win while chasing 300 or more runs for victory and revived their fading hopes of a place in the final.

Pakistan reached their victory target of 309 for the loss of only two wickets with 4.3 overs to spare after India had compiled 7-308 from their 50 overs.

If Sri Lanka beat India on Thursday, Pakistan have to defeat Bangladesh in the final league match by a big margin to play in the final. Sri Lanka have already qualified.

Younis shared partnerships of 56 with Nasir Jamshed (53), who retired hurt with cramps, and an undefeated 144 from 123 balls with captain Misbah-ul-Haq (70 not out).

Younis also passed 5,000 international one-day runs in his innings of 117 balls which contained 11 fours and one six.

Misbah said Younis's century was one of the best he had seen from him.

"When he plays like this we usually win. We knew we could win this one when we restricted them to 308 after their strong start. The pitch was very good and all credit to our bowlers for bowling aggressively and playing positively," he said.

Captain Mahendra Singh Dhoni (76) and Rohit Sharma (58) provided the basis for India's competitive total.

Dhoni, who came into bat in the 13th over, was out in the penultimate over after hitting four boundaries from 96 balls.

India scored 77 in the final 10 overs with Irfan Pathan hitting an unbeaten 38.

Dhoni said India would now treat Thursday's game against Sri Lanka as a semi-final.

"I don't know what went wrong today but we just have 14 to 15 hours to recover and give our best against Sri Lanka," he said.

Australia keen to send a message

2008-07-03T15:57:00.000+06:00

Michael Clarke has revealed Australia's intention to send a message to world cricket with a 5-0 series sweep of the West Indies.

Already assured of a series victory after three convincing wins, Australia are determined to show the loss of several key players had done nothing to diminish their position as one-day world leaders by closing out their Caribbean tour with a pair of victories in St Kitts.

“With the team we have now, if we can win 5-0 it certainly shows we've stood tall,” said Clarke, who could captain Australia for the first time in an one-day international in game four on Friday (2330 EST) should Ricky Ponting's wrist injury not improve.

“Obviously we've lost a lot of players from both forms of the games, but we won the Test series here, and hopefully if we win this 5-0 it will be a great start to what is a new era.”

Australia are playing their first one-day series since the retirements of Adam Gilchrist and Brad Hogg, with imposing opener Matthew Hayden also absent through injury.

After a competitive Test series, the Windies have been beat down by both Australia and injuries during the one-dayers.

Australia, though, are promising no respite at Warner Park on Friday and Sunday with memories of their 2003 Caribbean tour - where Ponting's side lost their last three ODIs after claiming an unbeatable 4-0 lead - still burning.

“That's actually a priority of ours to make sure that doesn't happen (again),” Clarke said.

“At the start of the series we said we wanted to win 5-0. We've got two games to go and I think we're playing good enough cricket to do that. I'm certain that none of the boys want to go home winning 4-1 or 3-2.”

Ponting was largely a bystander at training after hurting his wrist batting in Grenada on Sunday.

While not considered a serious injury, the skipper remains in doubt for Friday's game, with a decision on his availability not expected until after the team's final training run Friday (local time) at the earliest.

If Ponting was ruled out, Clarke - who captained Australia twice in Twenty20 internationals last summer - would take over the reins for the first time in a ODI with the uncapped David Hussey likely to come into the side.
Hussey, regardless, would appear certain to make his one-day debut this weekend, with both he and pace bowler Stuart Clark yet to feature this series.

The Windies, meanwhile, will make at least one change to their XI, with Nikita Miller replacing the axed Sulieman Benn as the spinner in the squad.

Captain Chris Gayle said his side was desperate to avoid a 5-0 whitewash - not just for pride, but with the Champions Trophy fast approaching in September.

“They got the better of us in the final (of the Champions Trophy) the last time around, so that's another battle we're looking forward to,” Gayle said.

“They are the best team, and you can look to see where your cricket is ... so it would be really disappointing to lose 5-0 and hopefully it doesn't happen.”

Eng-Pak Oval result to be changed

2008-07-03T15:49:00.000+06:00

The International Cricket Council is planning to change the result of the controversial 2006 Test between England and Pakistan.

The match at The Oval was originally given to England after Pakistan were accused of ball-tampering and refused to re-enter the field after tea on the fourth day.

England were 4-293 in their second innings and field umpires Darrell Hair and Billy Doctrove awarded England five penalty runs, ruling the Pakistan team had been guilty of doctoring the ball to help it swing. The game was forfeited, giving England a 3-0 series lead.

Pakistan captain Inzamam-ul-Haq was later cleared of ball-tampering by an ICC tribunal, although he was banned for four matches for bringing the game into disrepute by initially refusing to resume play.

Pakistan blamed Hair for the result and in the aftermath the Australian was dropped from the ICC's elite umpiring panel and took them to an industrial tribunal, alleging racial discrimination. The case eventually collapsed.

The former chairman of the Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) Shaharyar Khan told the BBC he "would welcome any decision to change the result".

A formal announcement of the decision on whether to change the result of the test is expected on Friday (EST).

Freddie Feeling Fit

2008-07-02T16:59:00.000+06:00

Andrew Flintoff is now dodging questions on whether he thinks his form is good enough to warrant an England recall against South Africa a week on Thursday - but there seems little doubt in his mind he is fit enough.

England head coach Peter Moores, who is on the selection panel that will name the next Test squad, has already hinted he believes it may be too early to bring back Flintoff after six weeks out with a side strain.

But after bowling 19 overs with pace and aggression but no luck against Sussex in his continuing LV County Championship comeback on Tuesday, Flintoff insisted: "I feel great, really great."

Then he sprinted off, shrugging off more requests for autographs having already signed a whole raft of them outside the dressing room at Hove and jumped aboard the team bus.

After his longest stint with the ball - in three separate spells - in the entire match he still finished wicketless with figures of none for 43 even though Lancashire continued to control the match.

And he knew his luck was out even before lunch when Sussex captain Chris Adams thick-edged a delivery to Paul Horton at first slip only for the third umpire Richard Illingworth to rule out the 'catch'.

Another Flintoff ball caught Adams on the arm, although he subsequently swatted him away for two successive boundaries.

The England all-rounder then hit both Matt Prior and Ollie Rayner on their helmets but an elusive first wicket eluded him and instead it was Glen Chapple who led the way with an impressive 21 overs, which reaped four for 49.

Out-of-form Adams later played on to Chapple for 22, a similar dismissal to the first innings, and it needed a stand of 61 between Prior and Murray Goodwin to revive Sussex.

Goodwin remained unbeaten after a gutsy 77, with the home side only 84 ahead with four wickets left.

Lancashire, who led by 139 on first innings, are still favourites to inflict a second successive Championship home defeat on Sussex who, until May, had gone nearly four years at Hove unbeaten.

The biggest worry for them may be the forecast of heavy rain for Wednesday's fourth day but captain Stuart Law's outstanding 158 not out in their first innings could still prove a match-winner.

Pakistan faces daunting task against India

2008-07-02T16:56:00.000+06:00

Pakistan team will be playing under dark clouds and facing a daunting task as they take on arch-rival India in Super four round of Cricket Asia Cup at National Stadium in a day/night encounter on Wednesday.

Pakistan's tiny chances of qualifying for next Sunday final depend as they must beat Mahendra Singh Dhoni's Indian side tomorrow and than hoping their rival also loses to Sri Lanka on Thursday.

And there are more calculations that despite this drama practically happening Pakistan team must have better net-run-rate to progress in the final.

Pakistan team is under great stress and pressure and handling the pressure would be key factor in their success. Home team were outplayed both by holders Sri Lanka and India in their previous match in the competition.

However under the current prevailing conditions when form and morale is down, it will be very difficult proposition for the home team to repair their dented pride infront of their home crowd.

Pakistan team is already hit by controversies, injury problems, selection trouble and Coach Geoff Lawson tiff with the media. Lawson has tendered an unconditional apology but it had left the best taste.

Shahid Afridi is struggling both with the bat and ball while team's bowling suffered a blow with muscle rib injury to Umar Gul and team opening batting problems. Afridi is facing the axe after string of failures.

Shoaib Malik almost certain to lead the team against India after getting proper rest after dehydration problem.

Changes are there in offing as there is likelihood that all- rounder Fawad Alam will be returning to the final 11 after dropped in the game against Sri Lanka.

Reserve opener Nasir Jamshed may also get selectors nod after failure of Salman Butt.

Hosts will be heavily banking in batting aces of Muhammad Yousuf and Younis Khan to salvage team's pride in break scenario.

Indian team is good frame of mind with the consistent batting show from their top three Virender Sehwag, Suresh Raina.

PAKISTAN: Salman Butt, Shoaib Malik (Captain), Nasir Jamshed, Younus Khan, Muhammad Yousuf, Misbah-ul-Haq, Shahid Afridi, Sarfraz Ahmed (wicket- keeper), Sohail Tanvir, Rao Iftikhar, Wahab Riaz, Mansoor Amjad, Abdur Rauf and Saeed Ajmal.

INDIA: Gautam Gambhir, Virender Sehwag, Suresh Raina, Yuvraj Singh, Mahendra Singh Dhoni (captain-wicket-keeper), Yousuf Pathan, Irfan Pathan, Pravin Kumar, Rudra Partap Singh, Ishant Sharma, Piyush Chawla, Rohit Sharma, Robin Uthappa, Manpreet Gony, Pragyan Ojha.

Tony Hill (New Zealand) and Ian Gould (England) will be supervising the match. Alan Hurst of Australia will be Match referee.

New Zealand in record one-day win

2008-07-02T16:49:00.000+06:00

New Zealand followed up their 3-1 one-day series win over England with a record-breaking defeat of Ireland here Tuesday in the opening match of a triangular tournament also involving Scotland.

The Black Caps thrashed a makeshift Irish side by 290 runs in what was the biggest margin of victory in the history of one-day international cricket, surpassing India's 257-run defeat of Bermuda at last year's World Cup.

New Zealand's total of 402 for two was also their highest one-day international total and an opening stand of 274 runs between Brendon McCullum and James Marshall was the fifth highest for any wicket.

In reply, Ireland were scuttled out for 112.

McCullum claimed his first ODI century with a knock of 166 from 141 deliveries that featured 11 boundaries and ten sixes.

Marshall took 120 balls to post his hundred but then added a further 61 from only 21 more deliveries.

McCullum finally fell in the 43rd over, holing out to Ryan Haire on the cover boundary off the bowling of Phil Eaglestone.

McCullum's departure brought little respite as Ross Taylor set about a ragged Irish attack with an onslaught which saw him race to an unbeaten 59 from only 24 balls, with one of his four sixes comfortably clearing the pavilion on its way out of the ground.

The second wicket fell when Marshall skied a catch to wicketkeeper Gary Wilson off Reinhardt Strydom in the final over.

Ireland's response started positively enough as openers Strydom and Wilson moved smoothly to 27 without loss off four overs.

Strydom was bowled by Tim Southee in the next over, however, and things fell apart quickly.

Southee and Michael Mason claimed three wickets apiece while only some lusty hitting from tail-ender Peter Connell, who top-scored with 22 not out, ensured Ireland hoisted their tally above the 100 mark.

Nations divided over Zimbabwe issue

2008-07-02T16:44:00.000+06:00

The International Cricket Council's fragile unity looks set to crack if the four-nation Asian bloc, as expected, comes out in support of Zimbabwe retaining full member status at an executive board meeting this week.

Outgoing ICC president Ray Mali placed the issue on the agenda of the two-day ICC meeting scheduled for today and tomorrow as his native South Africa and England severed all cricketing ties with Zimbabwe in protest at what many Western states say was the lack of free and fair elections that allowed Zimbabwe President Robert Mugabe to win a sixth term last week.

Niranjan Shah, the secretary for the Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI), has said that his organization "would like to fully support Zimbabwe Cricket" in its retention of full member status within the ICC.

"We are aware that some member boards want Zimbabwe's membership taken away, but we are with Zimbabwe on this," Shah told the Cricinfo website. "However, we also understand the positions taken by the England and Wales Cricket Board (ECB) and Cricket South Africa (CSA) as they were prompted by the advice of the governments in those countries. We do not blame them as they are bound by what their governments decide.

"But our position is very clear on the issue of full membership, and we would like to totally support Zimbabwe on that."

Pakistan, which is sending its second-string team to tour Zimbabwe in August, has indicated it will support the African country, while Sri Lanka and Bangladesh usually vote the same way as the other two Asian nations.

With a two-thirds majority - or seven votes out of the 10 on the ICC board - required for any resolution to be passed, Zimbabwe is expected to retain its lucrative funding and voting rights.

Zimbabwe was the only non-Asian country to vote for BCCI chairman Sharad Pawar over his ECB counterpart David Morgan to replace Mali at last year's elections. The elections were tied at five votes apiece, and each candidate will serve a two-year term as ICC president instead of the usual four after a negotiated compromise.

Last week, British sports secretary Andy Burnham instructed the ECB to withdraw Zimbabwe's invitation for a one-day tour in May 2009, but failed to extend the ban to the Twenty20 World Cup next June for fear of compromising England's eligibility to host other events, such as the 2012 Olympics and the 2018 World Cup.

Zimbabwe has reportedly been urged to suspend itself from the ICC and save England from having to choose between losing the hosting rights for the Twenty20 World Cup or allowing the team into the country only a month after its ban comes into effect. Conceivably, Zimbabwe would then retain its ICC funding, despite the findings in March from an independent audit into Zimbabwe Cricket's accounts that large amounts of money cannot be accounted for.

Poor Pak show in Asia Cup helping Akhtar's cause

2008-07-02T16:37:00.000+06:00

Pakistan's consistent bad bowling performances in recent times could pave the way for an early return to international cricket of the controversial paceman Shoaib Akhtar.

Shoaib seemed down and out after being banned for five years by the Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) on April 1 over repeated breaching of discipline, but later the punishment was reduced to 18 months and Rs. 70 million fine by an appeals' committee.

But with Pakistan missing him in their pace battery -- something that is glaring in the host team's below-par showing in the ongoing Asia Cup -- seems to be helping Shoaib's cause. Pakistan are on the brink of Asia Cup elimination and experts are convinced that their unimpressive bowling attack has dogged them in the six-nation contest.

The Rawalpindi Express has filed his appeal against the ban in the Lahore High Court. He immediately got a good response when the judge hearing his appeal told him 'all of us want to see you back in action.'

Now High Court Chief Justice Zahid Hussain will be hearing the appeal on Friday and according to sources close to Shoaib, there is a 'big possibility' that the fiery paceman will be given a respite.

Shoaib, 31, has not played for Pakistan for the last seven months after appearing in the fourth one-dayer against India in Gwalior last November. He has been out of action either due to injury or suspension.

The Sources also said that the pacer is working on his fitness in a bid to be fully ready for international duty if his ban is overturned. Another reason for his keenness to remain in shape is the Indian Premier League (IPL) as Shoaib is eager to retain his contract with Kolkata Knight Riders next season.

Watson eyes return to Test side

2008-07-01T14:39:00.000+06:00

SHANE Watson has achieved one of his goals for the year, and now he has set his sights on achieving another.

Following his maiden international hundred in the third one3-dayer against West Indies, the all-rounder said he was looking forward to regaining a place in the Australia Test side in the near future.

Watson played the last of his three Tests against West Indies three years ago at Brisbane, but he has been a regular face in Australia limited-overs teams.

"For me, my goal was to make it back into the ODI team, and to get a belated call to duty has been a lot of fun,'' he said.

"But my goal is to be playing in both forms of the game because I love the longer version of the game, especially for the mental side of it, and I know that to get back into the Test side is to play ODI cricket and perform and to see what happens from there.

"I'll keep my fingers crossed, and if things keep progressing the way they have, this will hopefully happen in the near future.''

Watson hit 126 from 122 balls to earn the man-of-the-match award and power Australia to a seven-wicket victory at the Queen's Park Stadium.

Since playing in the final of the World Cup last year in the Caribbean, Watson made only a solitary appearance for Australia in the ICC World Twenty20 in South Africa before a hamstring injury sidelined him for most of the Aussie summer.

But Watson reminded the national selectors of his effectiveness, when he played injury-free during the inaugural Indian Premier League, and proceeded to win the Most Valuable Player award.

When Matthew Hayden had to return home to seek treatment on his right Achilles heel, Watson was the natural choice for the Australia selectors.

"Fingers crossed, I'm doing everything I possibly can to keep myself injury free,'' Watson said.

"But it's professional sports, and no matter how hard you try, things can sometimes go in a way that you do not want them to. I feel I am on top of my game and I have had some awesome guidance over the last year to improve my game.''

Watson indicated his time away from the game had been spent wisely. He has had strong inputs from Bangladesh coach Jamie Siddons and former Windies coach Bennett King which has helped him to fortify his batting.

"The freedom with which I can score now is the biggest improvement,'' he said.

"Before I was very structured in my batting and I probably couldn't hit certain shots that I can now. I have had some pretty amazing coaches work with me to really free up my game and to let my talent show.''

Australia captain Ricky Ponting also praised Watson for making a strong return to the ODI side and looks forward to more things from him.

"I expect Shane to bat at the top of the order and score a hundred for us, and when he comes on to bowl, to bowl his six or eight overs economically and get wickets,'' Ponting said.

"This is what we expect in the Australian team. It's not just a fluke that we have these guys come in and do well. They all put in hard work to make sure they are able to fulfil whatever role we want them to in the team.''

Express Lee fastest to reach 300 ODI wickets

2008-07-01T14:36:00.000+06:00

Australian speedster Brett Lee became the fastest bowler to claim 300 wickets in one-day international.

Lee accomplished the feat in his 171st game, eclipsing the record of Pakistani bowler Waqar Younis (186 ODIs) by 15 games and some 400 balls (8,733 to Waqar's 9,166) during Australia's series clinching seven-wicket victory over West Indies in the third one-dayer in Grenada Sunday.

Darren Sammy, caught and bowled by Lee for three became his 300th victim with the New South Wales(NSW) paceman joining Glenn McGrath as the second Australian - and 10th cricketer overall - to reach the landmark.

'I am so honoured and so proud. I don't normally fuss over these types of things but to reach 300 is a very special feeling and one I will always cherish,' Lee, who with 289 wickets is also on track to eclipse 300 Test scalps later this year, was quoted as saying in The Courier-Mail.

'You think about times when you get your baggy green cap or your first Test wicket.

'And then you think that only two Australians have now achieved this dream of taking 300, it's very special. I am hoping for a few more. The body's feeling great. I am only 31. We'll see what happens.'

Lee, who became just the 10th bowler to reach 300 wickets, said he only found out after the match that he had been the quickest to 300.