New-Look Australia Ready To Face New Zealand

Australia v New Zealand, 1st Test, Brisbane

The Preview by Brydon Coverdale

November 30, 2011

Match facts
December 1-5, Brisbane
Start time 10:00 (00:00 GMT, 11:00 EDT)

Big Picture

First things first: Australia are still favourites in this Test and should win the series. But New Zealand have a sniff. They haven't won a Test in Australia in 26 years, back when Richard Hadlee was at his peak and Allan Border's Australians were struggling at the start of their rebuilding phase. New Zealand are far from their peak right now - they nearly lost to Zimbabwe a month ago and sit eighth on the Test rankings - but Australia are not far from their mid 1980s position. They are coming off a fine victory in Johannesburg less than a fortnight ago, but at least three of the men who played in that win are out of this Test, including the Man of the Match Pat Cummins.

Australia will play at least three debutants at the Gabba. David Warner will open in the absence of Shane Watson; James Pattinson is expected to share the new ball with Peter Siddle; and either Mitchell Starc or Ben Cutting will come on at first change. The captain Michael Clarke even hinted that there was a chance all four fast men might play if the pitch looked as "green and juicy" on the morning of the match as it did two days before. That could mean a rest for the offspinner Nathan Lyon, who before this week had never even visited the Gabba, let alone played there. There is also a new coach, Mickey Arthur, who has spent barely a week in the job and is still finding his feet.

Not that New Zealand are much more settled. This will be the second Test for the fast bowler Doug Bracewell and the batsman Dean Brownlie, while the wicketkeeper Reece Young is also in his first year of Test cricket. Like Australia, New Zealand have a new selection panel, installed by their director of cricket, John Buchanan, a man who coached four of the opposition players during his time in charge of Australia. Their bowling coach Damien Wright is also Australian, and the players will look for advice from him on working at the Gabba, which is expected to have extra bounce compared to Allan Border Field, where three of their batsmen scored centuries during the tour match.

Yes, New Zealand have a chance, perhaps the best chance they've had in Australia for a decade, since Stephen Fleming led them to a 0-0 draw in 2001. But Ross Taylor's side is still learning how to win - they have won only four of their past 28 Tests - and they need everything to go right to upset the hosts.

Form guide
(most recent first)

Australia: WLDDW
New Zealand: WDLLD

In the spotlight

Two years ago, the thought of David Warner in a baggy green cap seemed as far-fetched as Australia appointing a foreign coach. How times change. Warner will make his Test debut with less than 1000 first-class runs to his name, but importantly he is in form. All three of his first-class hundreds have come this calendar year and if he stays at the crease for a session, New Zealand's bowlers will see the total tick over at a rapid rate. Significantly, if Warner succeeds in this series, he could contribute to squeezing Ricky Ponting out of the Test line-up when Shane Watson returns from injury.

On the subject of powerful left-hand batsman, the inclusion of Jesse Ryder is a major boost to New Zealand. Ryder missed the Test against Zimbabwe due to a calf strain but showed his class in the warm-up match against Australia A in Brisbane, where he was one of three centurions. New Zealand look a much more dangerous side when Ryder is fit, and having scored three hundreds, all against India, in his past ten Tests, he will be keen to prove he can have the same impact against Australia.

Pitch and conditions

Even in last year's disastrous Ashes campaign, the Gabba remained impenetrable for Australia's opponents. The hosts have not lost a Test in Brisbane since 1988, when Malcolm Marshall, Curtly Ambrose, Courtney Walsh and Patrick Patterson bowled West Indies to victory. There is always plenty of seam and bounce at the Gabba, and captains can be tempted to send the opposition in. The forecast is for thunder and rain on the opening day, while showers could also fall on the final two days.

Team news

Australia's only decision surrounds the make-up of their attack. Siddle will lead the pace group and is expected to be joined by the outswing bowler Pattinson and one of Cutting and Starc. However, on the day before the Test, Clarke wrote in his newspaper column that leaving out the offspinner Nathan Lyon in favour of a four-man pace attack was also a possibility. "I prefer playing a spinner and I like to bat first," Clarke wrote, "but if conditions remain as they are, we will think very seriously about playing all four fast bowlers."

Australia (probable) 1 David Warner, 2 Phillip Hughes, 3 Usman Khawaja, 4 Ricky Ponting, 5 Michael Clarke (capt), 6 Michael Hussey, 7 Brad Haddin (wk), 8 Peter Siddle, 9 James Pattinson, 10 Nathan Lyon, 11 Mitchell Starc / Ben Cutting.

New Zealand are likely to make just one change from the side that played in the tour match, with Daniel Vettori set to come in for Trent Boult.

New Zealand (probable) 1 Martin Guptill, 2 Brendon McCullum, 3 Kane Williamson, 4 Ross Taylor (capt), 5 Jesse Ryder, 6 Dean Brownlie, 7 Daniel Vettori, 8 Reece Young (wk), 9 Doug Bracewell, 10 Tim Southee, 11 Chris Martin.

Stats & trivia

Australia will have at least three Test debutants, bringing to at least nine the number of baggy greens handed out in 2011. The last time so many debutants played in a calendar year was during the World Series Cricket days, in 1978.

If Pattinson debuts, he and his brother Darren, who represented England, will become the first siblings to play Test cricket for different nations in 112 years

New Zealand's tense recent win against Zimbabwe was their fourth victory in 28 Tests. The other wins in that time have come against Bangladesh (twice) and Pakistan.

In their past four series against Ausralia, New Zealand have lost eight Tests and drawn one. Their last win against Australia came in 1993.

Quotes

"The extra pace, bounce and movement the Gabba can generate will give our fast bowlers every chance of making a significant impression"
Michael Clarke believes New Zealand will find it hard to score as freely as they did in the warm-up match at Allan Border Field

"We're just building quietly. I feel we've gathered a little bit of confidence from that first trip to Zimbabwe, when we were together nearly a month, then coming here after some good performances in first-class cricket at home."
New Zealand's coach, John Wright

Read More

Bangladesh Up Against High and Superior Pakistan

Bangladesh v Pakistan, 1st ODI, Mirpur

The Preview by Siddhartha Talya

November 29, 2011

Match facts
Thursday, December 1
Start time 13:30 (07:30 GMT)

Big Picture

Bangladesh's ODI record has improved steadily over the years - the 4-0 drubbing of New Zealand and the win against England at the 2011 World Cup being some recent notable achievements. Both those wins came at home, and it's at home that their spin-strong attack can challenge their opponents seriously, if not necessarily win.

This time, Bangladesh's opponents are a team on a high and significantly superior to those they played in the lead-up to this bilateral series. Bangladesh claimed wins in dead rubbers against Zimbabwe and West Indies - not a great consolation since they were expected to do much better - and caught a glimpse of what they might be up against during their big defeat in the Twenty20 international at the start of this tour.

Though Bangladesh's bowlers were largely economical, Pakistan's batsmen gave their own bowling attack enough runs to defend on a tricky pitch in Mirpur. In their chase, Bangladesh stagnated, losing wickets early, hitting their first boundary as late as the ninth over and showing little resistance against the variations of Pakistan's bowlers, including Mohammad Hafeez, Shahid Afridi, Saeed Ajmal and Shoaib Malik. Not only do Pakistan have quicker bowlers, their spinners can be just as effective in Bangladeshi conditions. It's a tall order for the hosts to spring a surprise in the three one-day games but they are playing where they play best, and it remains to be seen how strong a challenge they present.

Form guide

Bangladesh: WLLWW (most recent first)
Pakistan: WWWLW

In the spotlight...

While Bangladesh's heavy reliability on Shakib Al Hasan is likely to continue, Bangladesh's vice-captain Mahmudullah will also be expected to play a significant role. An offspinner and a middle-order batsman, Mahmudullah has played several handy knocks, bowled tight spells and cleared the boundary at the death. He's part of a core of senior players that includes Shakib, Mushfiqur Rahim and Tamim Iqbal, and his all-round ability is a big asset.

Shoaib Malik will be under pressure. He's not been in great touch since his return to international cricket, after being cleared by the PCB's integrity committee. His scores in his last six international innings read: 7, 11, 2, 0, 2* and 2. While part of a team on the upswing, his own form has been on the decline and another couple of failures won't augur well for his selection prospects.

Team news

Trouble with his knee forced Tamim to be rested in the Twenty20 international and he hoped to return for the limited-overs games.

Bangladesh (possible) 1 Tamim Iqbal, 2 Imrul Kayes, 3 Shahriar Nafees/Alok Kapali, 4 Shakib Al Hasan, 5 Mushfiqur Rahim (capt & wk), 6 Mahmudullah, 7 Naeem Islam, 8 Nasir Hossain, 9 Abdur Razzak, 10 Shafiul Islam, 11 Rubel Hossain.

Malik's troubles might begin with the return of Younis Khan, who didn't play the Twenty20 game.

Pakistan (possible) 1 Mohammad Hafeez, 2 Imran Farhat, 3 Younis Khan, 4 Asad Shafiq, 5 Umar Akmal (wk), 6 Misbah-ul-Haq (capt), 7 Shahid Afridi, 8 Abdul Razzaq/Sohail Tanvir, 9 Umar Gul, 10 Saeed Ajmal, 11 Aizaz Cheema.

Stats and trivia

Pakistan and Bangladesh will be playing each other in an ODI for the first time since June 2010, when the teams met in the Asia Cup in Dambulla. Of the 26 games the teams have played, Bangladesh have lost 25 but their only win is a famous one.
Misbah-ul-Haq has an impressive record in ODIs, averaging 42.42 in 86 matches. He has 18 half-centuries in the format, but no hundreds.

Quotes

"Pakistan are playing very consistent cricket and it'll be tough to beat them, but if are boys are up for it, we should be able to do it."
Mushfiqur Rahim, Bangladesh's captain

"If it's a spinning wicket we have spinners, if it's not then we also have good fast bowlers."
Pakistan batsman Younis Khan

Read More

Ponting Should Step Down From Cricket Now - Chris Cairns

Former New Zealand captain Chris Cairns has urged the Australian batsman, Ricky Ponting, to announce retirement from International cricket after participating in the upcoming 2-match Test series against New Zealand.

“There’s an elephant in the room at the moment in Ricky Ponting that nobody is really addressing,” Cairns declared.

“I’ve got the utmost respect for Ricky Ponting but there’s a time and a place and for me his time and place is Hobart and the second Test against New Zealand just to say ‘thanks very much’.”

“They’ve allowed Ricky to keep going because of his stature in the game.”

“But why should he have to make the call? Australia has always been about the team and what’s best.”

“When you look at the likes of Mark Taylor, (Ian) Healy, Mark Waugh – they were told it was their time.”

“Australia for me was an uncompromising cricketing nation but I felt there have been decisions that they made that have been compromising.”

Ponting has not been very good with his recital for a year, as he was striving to regain his form, which led to critics saying that Ponting should step down from national duty.

The right-handed batman’s last impressive innings came against Pakistan at Bellerive Oval in Hobart, in January, 2010, scoring an outstanding double century, since than he has never been consistent with his batting performance in Test cricket.

In the meantime, he failed to show his presence during the recently finished 2-match Test series against South Africa, except scoring 62 runs in the 2nd innings of the last Test at New Wanderers Stadium in Johannesburg.

Cairns warned Australia the Ponting distraction and the loss of so many frontline players to injury has left them vulnerable.

“Whilst that (the Ponting speculation) continues on, the media circus will go with it and the guys will be surrounded by that talk instead of getting on with playing cricket,” he said.

“We’re languishing and it’s disappointing but you guys (Australia) are fourth (in the world rankings) and have got some rebuilding to do.”

“They (New Zealand) are aware this is a great opportunity. They are not going to get another opportunity like this for some time.”

“This Kiwi side won’t be overawed at all.”

But Cairns concedes the New Zealand top order has to fire if the visitors are to be any chance.

“Runs are going to be the key. If we can put 450-500 on the board we’re a definite chance – the best chance since ’85,” he said.

“Batting’s always (the problem). Bowling wise we’ve generally been okay through the years but batting has hindered us.”

On the other hand, Australia’s former batman, Mark Waugh, stated that if Ponting manages to score consistently, he should play for the country till he can.

”I think he’s invaluable with his experience for the other guys in the team, I think Michael Clarke has said that. But his bottom line is, his job is to score runs. The experience he brings, you can’t really count that. He’s got to score runs,” Waugh said.

Read More

Johnson Ruled out For Five Months Due To Foot injury

Australia news

ESPNcricinfo staff

November 30, 2011

Mitchell Johnson's season is almost certainly over as he faces the likely prospect of an operation on his left foot. Johnson could be out for up to five months, which would also rule him out of Australia's next overseas tour to the West Indies next March and April, and the long lay-off will make it hard for him to force his way back into the Test side in the foreseeable future.

At 30, Johnson was already under pressure to hold his place after a disappointing tour of South Africa, where he took 3 for 255 during the two Tests, and in the past 18 months he has taken 35 Test wickets at 45.71. Younger fast men like James Pattinson and Mitchell Starc are now set for a summer of opportunities, along with the teenager Pat Cummins.

Johnson flew to Melbourne on Wednesday to have the injury assessed by a surgical team and Cricket Australia's doctor, Trefor James, and if they determine that surgery is required he will have the operation within a day. Johnson has had a series of investigations and specialist consultations over the past week, after he returned from the tour of South Africa with the problem.

Before he left Perth, Johnson said he was not going to let the injury end his career.

"I'm definitely going to be back," Johnson said. "I've heard a few reports that my career's over due to form - not because of this injury ... I just laugh at it. I'm only 30 years old and I've got plenty of cricket left in me. I'm going to take a lot of positives out of this [injury layoff]."

In a statement, Cricket Australia confirmed that the initial specialist advice was that Johnson would require surgery to repair damaged soft-tissue structures around his left big toe.

"Mitchell will travel to Melbourne ... to be reviewed by specialist doctors and will most likely need surgery, which is expected to keep him out of cricket for four to five months," the team physio Alex Kountouris said. "The program for his recovery will be assessed following any surgery."

Australia's captain Michael Clarke said in Brisbane that Johnson may be able to make the time off work for him, allowing him to clear his head and work out how to be a more consistent cricketer in the future.

"It's obviously disappointing to lose Mitchell for such a long period of time, because I've always said he is a wonderful talent and someone I love having around the group in all three forms of the game," Clarke said. "I think it could have a good impact to be honest. It will give him more time away from the game to clear his head and get himself fit and strong.

"Injuries I've seen in the past with a few of our players, that time off has helped them come back bigger and better. I don't see it as that big a deal with Mitch. It's disappointing on behalf of the team that he's not going to be around and available for selection, but in regards to his own individual career I see no reason why he can't get back to his best if not better after the operation."

It was during the Australia's series-levelling victory at the Wanderers that Johnson's foot problem became apparent, when he stumbled while taking off for a run during Australia's chase. Johnson was hobbling for the rest of the innings but stayed at the crease until the target was reached.

Read More

Tamim Should be Fit To Play First ODI - Stuart Law

Bangladesh v Pakistan, 1st ODI, Mirpur

ESPNcricinfo staff

November 30, 2011

Bangladesh opener Tamim Iqbal should be fit to play in the first ODI against Pakistan, team coach Stuart Law has said. Tamim was forced out of the only T20 game between the sides at the last minute because of a knee injury, but Law said the knee had "responded well to the treatment and at this point it looks that he [Tamim] can take his place in the top order".

Tamim's absence for the T20 meant Naeem Islam opened alongside Imrul Kayes, while Alok Kapali batted at No.3, where he made a three-ball duck. Law admitted that last-minute changes in the batting line-up tended to destablise a side, but said rather than seeing it as a negative that Kapali had to be pushed up the order, it was more of a "positive because it's an opportunity for him to play in the side and get a opportunity to bat and its unfortunate the way it worked out last night".

Law did not blame the wicket for Bangladesh's poor batting performance, saying that while it wasn't what they expected, it was understandable given how much cricket had been played at Mirpur over the last three weeks.

"There has to be some self blame in there as well," Law said. "We have to be able to score runs under difficult conditions to be able to beat good teams around the world."

Bangladesh lost the T20 by 50 runs and Law said it would be tough to beat a Pakistan team that was coming off a confidence-boosting tour against Sri Lanka in the UAE, where Pakistan claimed series wins in all three formats. At the same time, he said Bangladesh was not there simply to make up the numbers.

"We are not here to lose and not here to go into the series thinking that we can't compete. We are into the series putting our plans together and if we can stick to the plans and play good cricket, anything is possible.

"It's going to be tough. They had a very good series win against Sri Lanka and the Sri Lankans have got some great players in their line up. We know that we have to play very good cricket to beat Pakistan. But we can't think this way. We should be thinking that we should put scores up in the board and defend totals and fight them the way we really need to. Pakistan are a world-class team. If we can start emulating them then that would be really good."

Pakistan are riding a rich vein of form at the moment, and Younis Khan said that if the batting keeps clicking alongside the bowling, then they could win every series they play.

"The good thing about these youngsters is that they want to learn," Younis said. "Guys like Azhar Ali and Asad Shafiq, they've already performed in the top level so I think our future in batting looks very bright at the moment.

"I think we have a good combination of young and old. Especially in the bowling, the bowling wins you matches. We have a lot of quality spinners now in [Saeed] Ajmal, [Shoaib] Malik, [Mohammad] Hafeez, and [Shahid] Afridi. And also a very good pace attack with Aizaz Cheema, Umar Gul and Sohail Tanveer. So that's why I think we are winning matches consistently now."

Still, he was not prepared to completely write-off Bangladesh's chances in the series. "In international games you have to take the opposition seriously. After the series you can say weather it was an easy series or a hard one. I think it will be a good one."

Read More

Tax Exemptions For 2011 ICC World Cup Unjustified

India news

Tariq Engineer

November 30, 2011

India's Parliamentary Standing Committee on Finance has called the tax exemption of Rs 45 crore (approximately US$8.67 million) granted to the ICC for the 2011 World Cup "unjustified and devoid of merit", and recommended that the Department of Revenue review the exemption.

In a report tabled in India's Parliament on Tuesday, the committee said, "regarding tax exemption of about Rs 45.00 crore granted to International Cricket Council (ICC) on the revenue generated from the recently concluded World Cup cricket tournament, the Committee are not convinced about the tenability of the tax exemptions given to the ICC, as the World Cup received huge sponsorships and was patronised by the corporate sector in a big way.

"Therefore, the Committee are of the considered view that the tax exemption granted to ICC using discretionary powers under the provisions of general exemption for international sporting events was unjustified and devoid of merit. The Committee recommend that the tax exemption granted to ICC be reviewed by the Department of Revenue."

The recommendation was one of several recommendations/observations contained in the committee report, which was tabled by sports minister Ajay Maken in response to a question about the inquiries into the various allegations against the BCCI, most of them over the running of the IPL.

The committee was also scathing in its criticism of the Income Tax Department, saying it had been inconsistent in taxing the BCCI and called for a probe of the department. "The inordinate delay and gross inaction in finalising assessment cannot but reinforce the Committee's desire seeking a thorough probe into the whole gamut of this issue, bringing out clearly the culpability of the tax officials concerned with granting exemptions and finalising assessments in this case."

The BCCI was not spared either. The committee stated that the Indian board needs to improve its functioning so that it can preempt the kind of controversies and allegations that have arisen out of the IPL, and recommended that an investigation into the awarding of media rights for the tournament be instituted.

"With regard to reported irregularities in award of media rights and commercial contracts executed in the course of the IPL, considering the serious irregularities and offences, the Committee would like the investigating agencies to look into all matters relating to breach of law, and identify and punish all those persons responsible for the same without further loss of time."

The board has already been sent 19 show-cause notices over foreign exchange violations involving amounts totalling approximately Rs 1077.43 crore, and been asked to pay Income Tax aggregating Rs 375.16 crore. Service tax show-cause notices totalling Rs. 159.12 crore have also been sent to a number of stakeholders and service providers of the IPL.

Read More

Saggers Promoted To Full Umpires List

England news

ESPNcricinfo staff

November 30, 2011

Martin Saggers, the former England bowler, has been added to the full list of first-class umpires for 2012, replacing John Steele who retired at the end of last season.

Saggers, 39, was capped three times by England in 2003 and 2004 and has been on the reserve umpires list since 2010. He took 415 wickets in a first-class career for Durham and Kent between 1996 and 2009. He made his Test debut against Bangladesh, at Chittagong, and also claimed a wicket - Mark Richardson of New Zealand - with his first ball in Test cricket in England.

"We would like to congratulate Martin on his promotion to the full list," said the ECB umpires' manager Chris Kelly. "This has been the result of some outstanding performances in matches over the last couple of seasons. His commitment and attitude on the reserve list has been exemplary and his promotion is thoroughly deserved."

Three other umpires have been added to the reserve list: Paul Pollard, who scored almost 10,000 first-class runs for Nottinghamshire and Worcestershire; Mike Burns, the former Warwickshire and Somerset all-rounder; and Ben Debenham

ECB full list 2012

Rob Bailey, Neil Bainton, Mark Benson, Martin Bodenham, Nick Cook, Nigel Cowley, Jeff Evans, Steve Gale, Steve Garratt, Michael Gough, Ian Gould, Peter Hartley, Richard Illingworth, Trevor Jesty, Richard Kettleborough, Nigel Llong, Jeremy Lloyds, Neil Mallender, David Millns, Steve O'Shaughnessy, Tim Robinson, Martin Saggers, George Sharp, Peter Willey.

ECB reserve list 2012

Paul Baldwin, Mike Burns, Ismail Dawood, Ben Debenham, Mark Eggleston, Russell Evans, Graham Lloyd, Paul Pollard, Billy Taylor, Alex Wharf.

Read More

Ireland U-19s To Meet England Next Year

Ireland news

ESPNcricinfo staff

November 30, 2011

Ireland Under-19s will attempt to emulate the senior team in two ODIs against England next year. The games will be part of both teams' preparation for the U-19 World Cup next August in Australia.

Ireland produced the shock of the 2011 World Cup with a three-wicket win in Bangalore, largely thanks to Kevin O'Brien who struck the fastest-ever World Cup hundred.

The U-19 ODIs will both be played at Grace Road on July 18 and 20 and will see the Ireland youngsters returning to Leicester for the first time since 2007 when the senior side beat Canada in an Intercontinental Cup match.

The fixtures will act as a warm-up ahead of the teams' meeting at the U-19 World Cup in Brisbane. Ireland and England have been drawn in the same group, alongside the hosts and Nepal.

The teams last met in 2008 in Malaysia when an England side, including Steven Finn, Chris Woakes and James Taylor, comfortably won by 10 wickets. England also won their 2006 U-19 World Cup meeting when Ireland were captained by Eoin Morgan.

Ireland U-19s are also scheduled to play Scotland U-19s in three ODIs in July.

Read More

Morgan itching To Return From Injury

England news

Andrew Miller

November 30, 2011

Eoin Morgan's rehabilitation from shoulder surgery will begin in earnest this week when he heads for India to take part in a nine-day batting camp with the England performance programme. The trip, which will be overseen by the ECB's lead batting coach, Graham Thorpe, will also involve the Test captain Andrew Strauss and wicketkeeper Matt Prior, neither of whom took part in the 5-0 ODI series defeat in India last month.

Morgan would have been involved in that campaign had it not been for the need to undergo surgery in September, after he was diagnosed with a chronic SLAP lesion in his right shoulder. He missed ten consecutive ODIs against India - five at home, five away - as well as a trio of Twenty20s against West Indies and India that he might well have captained in the absence of Stuart Broad. Now, however, he is itching to get back involved with the England set-up, as they step up their preparations ahead of the Test series against Pakistan in the UAE in January.

"The shoulder's good, and I've been back training about three weeks now with Middlesex," Morgan told ESPNcricinfo's Switch Hit podcast. "I've been doing my rehab work with it, so I'm hoping to be fit in three or four weeks' time, which then allows us a three-week cushion over Christmas and New Year ahead of the Pakistan series. I've been out for nearly three months, so I've got that cricket bug back now."

Morgan expects to be fit enough to play a full part in the training camp, which is set to concentrate largely on improving England's footwork against spin bowling. Among the ideas that Thorpe intends to put into practice will be batting without pads and using reduced-width bats, so that the onus is on putting bat to ball with decisive movements around the crease, a factor that was visibly lacking during some ponderous performances in the recent whitewash.

"Thorpey always has new and inventive things to work on," said Morgan. "I did a bit of work with him with the Lions last year, and as a left-handed batter in the middle order, I can really relate to him, and enjoy working with him. He has a hell of a lot of experience I can pick on, and that's very valuable."

Morgan himself is one of the few England batsmen whose footwork against spin is rarely called into question, and his absence in the middle-order was cited as a major reason for the team's meltdown during that series.

"I certainly don't think I leave that big a hole in the side, but it's nice to be missed at certain stages," he said. "We were really tested while we were away, and from the outside looking in I felt we lacked a bit of composure and experience at certain times during the innings, and throughout the games. But we've got a young side looking to build on a successful summer, and one series defeat isn't going to peg us back too far, I don't think.

"When you're doing badly you can take any part of your game and over-analysis it," he added. "The important part [in India] was that we didn't get enough runs, and didn't bowl well in certain parts. So it's a broader range of cricket that we'll be looking to develop on this trip. And for myself, having been out of cricket for a while, it's all about hitting volumes of balls. I'm really looking forward to it."

While England as a team was frustrated to lose in India, Morgan conceded that the setback did not resonate quite so much with their own fans as a Test series defeat would have done. "There's a mentality in the public that a lot of our success is viewed if we do well in Test cricket, and that's fair enough because it's the pinnacle for us," he said. "But we play a World Cup every four years and we have aspirations to win that. And that means prioritising one-day cricket as we have done with Tests over the years. In both formats, we're striving to be No. 1 in the world."

Morgan's team-mate, Graeme Swann, isn't so sold on 50-over cricket, having recently called for its abolition, while he also told ESPNcricinfo that he learnt next to nothing from his recent series in India that he would be carrying over into England's subcontinental Test series in the coming 12-18 months.

Morgan, however, didn't quite see the two formats in such black and white terms. "You gain confidence from spending time at the crease in Tests, whereas in one-day cricket you need to have all these shots, and be quite decisive in playing off the front foot or going all the way back," he said. "But you can use some of that in Test cricket so it's important to take on board all the lessons learnt, especially when you've been beaten quite convincingly.

"A lot of the guys out in Australia who had played in the previous Ashes when we got drubbed [in 2006-07] said it had been quite demoralising, but they learnt a hell of a lot. So they took on board what a better team had to offer, and used it to their advantage.

"The crucial part of my game that I take into the Test match arena is the positive way that I go about playing," he added. "I find it kickstarts me, and makes me think in a different way as opposed to batting time, and playing with a positive frame of mind can be very valuable."

Whereas he is established as one of England's most important limited-overs players, Morgan is still - by his own admission - finding his feet at Test level. However, he believes he is in the best possible company to hone his allround game, as he looks to the likes of Alastair Cook, Jonathan Trott, Kevin Pietersen and Ian Bell, whose appetites for runs have helped to carry England to the No. 1 ranking.

"I feel as if I'm always learning in Test cricket, but I feel as if the guys I'm playing with are the best in the world," he said. "I am learning from all these guys who are having a hell of a time, and that can only help me develop."

Eoin Morgan endorses Slazenger V Series equipment. For more information, visit www.slazenger.com/cricket

Read More

Federation of International Cricketers Associations (FICA) To Look into Sri Lanka's Salary Delays

Sri Lanka news

Kanishkaa Balachandran

November 30, 2011

The Sri Lankan Cricketers' Association (SLCA) has contacted the Federation of International Cricketers' Associations (FICA) seeking assistance over the delay in the cricketers' salaries for series following the World Cup this year.

Sri Lanka have played three series since the end of the World Cup in April and the players are still awaiting payment, including match fees and contract payments. Tim May, the FICA chief executive, stated in a release that the association had been contacted to ensure the payments were made as soon as possible.

"We are aware that Sri Lanka Cricket (SLC) is undergoing some cash flow difficulties at present as it awaits its final payment from the ICC for World Cup hosting fees," May said. "But SLCA and FICA will be looking at possible ways of ensuring the monies owed by the ICC, which are due to be paid in late December 2011 or January 2012, are released with urgency, and on condition it is used to pay the players forthwith."

SLC is expecting to receive payments from the ICC to the tune of US$4.3million for co-hosting the World Cup.

May also expressed concern that the long wait for payments could lure players towards lucrative options such as playing in global Twenty20 tournaments, at the expense of playing for the country. "With the IPL and other Twenty20 competitions emerging as a realistic alternative to international cricket for players, the SLC urgently needs to address this situation with its players," May said.

"The players have been incredibly patient to date and continued to play in the interests of their country, but this is now reaching a critical point."

The ICC is expected to disburse payments only after they complete the World Cup audit. "This is a matter for SLC, not for the ICC. In terms of standard policy, the final payments due from the World Cup is only paid on completion of the audits, which is expected to be signed off at the next ICC Board meeting," an ICC spokesperson told ESPNcricinfo.

An SLC official said the board is aware of these concerns and that steps are being taken to ensure the situation is under control. "The sports ministry is making arrangements to resolve this issue," the source told ESPNcricinfo. "The players will be paid very soon. They need not worry."

SLC has been in a financial crisis in recent months following the construction of new stadiums in Hambantota and Pallekele, and the renovation of the R Premadasa Stadium in Colombo for the World Cup.

Upali Dharmadasa, the chairman of SLC's interim committee, was critical of the previous administration for spending expansively on those stadiums. All three were handed over to the military earlier this month because the board was struggling to maintain them. The World Cup had left SLC in debt to the tune of $23 million and the board had to ask for a grant from the Sri Lanka government.

The payments crisis has coincided with team's plunge in form - since August, they have failed to beat Australia at home and Pakistan in the UAE. The team heads to South Africa next month for three Tests and five ODIs.

Read More

Andy Flower Named coach of the Year

England news

ESPNcricinfo staff

November 30, 2011

England team director Andy Flower has been named UK Coach of the Year at the 2011 UK coaching awards.

Flower, 37, was also named UK High Performance Coach of the Year in recognition of his role in helping England to a first series win in Australia for 23 years and becoming the No. 1 Test side in the world.

Having taken over from Peter Moores in January 2009 - initially on an interim basis after Moores and Kevin Pietersen, the then captain, lost their jobs on the same day - Flower has also guided England to become World Twenty20 champions and the ECB chief executive, David Collier, lauded his contribution.

"Andy has been an outstanding coach to the England cricket team and I am delighted that his dedication, knowledge and all-round leadership skills have been recognised within the wider sporting world," said Collier.

"The last twelve months have been momentous ones for England and this is in no small part due to Andy's personal drive and determination to bring the best out of his players and ensure that our preparation and performance are second to none."

A special lifetime achievement award was also presented in honour of the former England fast bowler Graham Dilley, who died in October. The presentation was made to Dilley's son, Chris Pennell, in recognition of Dilley's work as a bowling coach with Surrey, Scotland and England, and most recently as head coach of Loughborough University.

"Graham made a very significant contribution to our game as a coach," said Hugh Morris, the managing director of England cricket. "This award is a fitting tribute to the role he played in enabling so many players to realise their full potential at both domestic and international level."

Read More

Clarke Has a chance To Prove Himself at Home

Australia v New Zealand, 1st Test, Brisbane

Daniel Brettig in Brisbane

November 30, 2011

Michael Clarke has led Australia to a Test series victory in Sri Lanka. He has since ushered the side through a tumultuous South African tour that plunged to rare depths but ended in a result that Peter Siddle has instructively termed a "good one-all series win". Yet Clarke and his team are still to register as an emerging unit with the Australian public, burdened as it is with memories of a humiliating Ashes defeat last summer. A modest but settled New Zealand side provides the first chance for Clarke's XI to prove itself worthy in the eyes of a country that has been losing interest in what is meant to be Australia's favourite sport.

Though many of Australian cricket's greatest exploits have taken place overseas, it is at home that reputations are made and broken. Kim Hughes' tear-stained exit was that much more painful for taking place in Brisbane rather than Barbados, Steve Waugh's most indelible innings was made that way by a teeming SCG as much as its last-gasp circumstances. Mark Taylor lost his first series as captain to Pakistan, but had the advantage of doing so on the subcontinent without any television coverage back home. Michael Bevan was a most accomplished debutant then, but later in 1994 against England's bowlers his mistakes were magnified by Channel Nine and he soon fell out of the team. Clarke has judged the network's audience so important he is speaking separately to Nine on match eve to preview each Test of the summer.

Damien Martyn, the former batsman, played many of his most outstanding innings on foreign soil, and endured some higher profile struggles at home. For this he felt under-appreciated, and is adamant that while there is greater cricketing difficulty in making runs overseas, an Australian cricketer's reputation must be made at home.

"Definitely [runs mean more at home], because people watch it at home in the summer," Martyn said in a 2009 interview. "If you make runs on primetime Channel Nine it's just more in people's faces. That's just the way it is, touring is much harder than playing in your home country. Every professional side loves playing at home. As individuals and groups we enjoy going away and playing well, whereas we feel some comfy at home and know all the wickets. It just worked out for me that way that I made most of those hundreds when I was away."

Clarke knows the importance of establishing his captaincy via success in Australia, not least to vindicate the many changes made to the structure around the team in the wake of the Argus review. Pat Howard, John Inverarity, Rod Marsh, Andy Bichel and Mickey Arthur all need time to settle into newly-minted roles, and further wins for Clarke against New Zealand would offer it to them. Given all the newness that surrounds him, Clarke must be grateful that Ricky Ponting stepped aside from the captaincy in April, allowing the new man time to get himself established - so few others are this week.

"I've been hearing it's the start of a new era for eight months now," Clarke said. "To me it will be no different, my captaincy will be no different to what it's been since I've taken over for the Bangladesh one-day tour. My goal is to win every game we play no matter what form of the game it is, at times the way I captain, I like to be attacking and positive but there's time throughout the game where you have to pull the reins in so I will do that to the best of my ability.

"I think I have to use the talent we have around the group in regards to our bowlers and our batting as well. We have a really good mix here of youth and experience and the experienced guys will need to stand up, me included, and make sure we lead from the front. The advice of some of the senior players is going to be very helpful throughout this Australian summer, as it has been in my brief captaincy stint. I'm looking forward to starting the summer, I'd love to get off to a flyer against the Kiwis and build this momentum we have since Bangladesh."

Since Bangladesh, Clarke's natural aptitude for tactical decisions has become clear. He wrong-footed Tillakaratne Dilshan plenty of times in Sri Lanka, and emerged with plenty of credit next to the more sturdy leadership of Graeme Smith in South Africa. Adept at managing a bowling attack, Clarke will have his hands full at the Gabba to extract the best from his country's least accomplished ensemble for 23 years. While Peter Siddle and Nathan Lyon provide a modicum of experience and skill, half Clarke's attack will be lacking entirely in Test match pedigree, and there will be no Shane Watson to plug whatever gaps develop.

"That's something we have had to think about as a selection panel as well, without Watto, we lose his bowling, so the bowlers have a big job to do," Clarke said. "They all have their individual roles, and like I've said before I don't expect them to do anything more than what they've done for their states. The key to having success in these conditions against good opposition is discipline and execution.

"We as an attack need to have that, as a batting unit exactly the same, if our shot selection is not spot on, if we're not disciplined, we've seen in the past what can happen. Our training and preparation has been outstanding and I'm confident we will have the discipline throughout this Test match to win the game."

Ultimately Australia's best attribute in Brisbane may not be any one bowler or batsman but the Gabba itself. The hosts have not lost a Test at the ground since 1988 against the West Indies, and have been promised a pitch far livelier than the surface that died a slow and painful death at the hands of Alastair Cook during the first Ashes Test last summer.

"The reason we've had so much success is because we know the conditions and know how different the Gabba is to anywhere in Australia," Clarke said. "In times gone by, probably even before my time, the Gabba and WACA were the two standout wickets that had a lot of pace and bounce but in my time it's been the Gabba that does have good pace and bounce and it's quite a tough place to start your innings on."

So far under Clarke, Australia have yet to lose a series of any kind. He will not want to do so against New Zealand, at a time when the nation cannot help but take notice.

Read More

Bracewell can become Great - Taylor

Australia v New Zealand, 1st Test, Brisbane

Daniel Brettig in Brisbane

November 30, 2011

New Zealand captain Ross Taylor expects great things of Doug Bracewell, declaring the young allrounder capable of growing into one of the best in the world. As his team rounded out its preparations for the first Test against Australia in Brisbane, Taylor said Bracewell, who made his debut in Zimbabwe earlier this month, would be capable of startling the hosts with his thoughtful bowling.

"Doug Bracewell is a player the Australian public haven't seen a lot of. He's an exciting young talent who can not only bowl fast but is also a handy allrounder, and he's only 21," Taylor said. "I'm sure in years to come he'll be one of the best allrounders in the world.

"It's nice to see him grow as a person. He thinks a lot more about his bowling than I thought he did a couple of years ago, and that's impressive for a youngster. He had success in his debut against Zimbabwe but I'm sure he's looking forward to bouncier conditions here than a low, slow Bulawayo wicket."

Unlike Australia, New Zealand have a more settled XI going into the match. In Bracewell, Tim Southee, Chris Martin and Daniel Vettori, Taylor can say his bowling attack is more accomplished than Michael Clarke's. The New Zealand quartet is mentored by former Tasmania and Victoria swing bowler, Damien Wright, who has passed on plenty of England's expertise via his friend and ECB bowling coach David Saker.

"He's [Wright] played a lot of first-class cricket here, and he's mates with David Saker the England bowling coach," Taylor said. "He's given us some nice information from the Ashes series here on how they went about it, and Damien as a character is getting the best out of the bowlers."

Running his eye down Australia's battery of young quicks, Taylor said their inexperience would help New Zealand, but there would also be plenty of speed, enthusiasm and energy to counter with patience and application.

"Experience-wise it is one of the weakest [Australian attacks], but they know the conditions better than we do," Taylor said. "We've had a look at them on a flat Allan Border wicket, but I'm sure they'll come at us hard but we'll expect that. We're confident, we've scored runs in the last two first-class games, we just need to take that confidence out onto the wicket.

"I thought [James] Pattinson bowled very well, he was one of the most consistent, he bowled a good line and length, plus I'd played with him at Victoria and watched him develop there as well. I'd never seen Starc before. Cutting bowled a lot of short balls and tried to get people with the fuller delivery. So they all bowled reasonably well on a very flat wicket."

Taylor doubted Australia would play all four fast bowlers - Vettori is a certainty for New Zealand - and expressed the locally held view that the character of the sky was just as important as that of the pitch.

"That is an option for them, to play four quicks, but I'm not sure how many overs Clarkey wants to bowl out there if he doesn't play a spinner," Taylor said. "The overhead conditions are the biggest part.

"On that wicket you'd always want to bat first, but the overhead conditions can change your mind. We'll just have to see what the weather turns up with. If there's a little cloud around you'd bat, but if there's a lot of cloud around you might change your decision."

Read More

No Excuse For Not scoring Runs - Sehwag

India v West Indies, 1st ODI, Cuttack

ESPNcricinfo staff

November 30, 2011


Virender Sehwag was not happy with his team's batting performance
Related Links
Report : India take low-scoring humdinger
Players/Officials: Virender Sehwag
Matches: India v West Indies at Cuttack
Series/Tournaments: West Indies tour of India
Teams: India

Virender Sehwag, India's stand-in captain, has said there was "no excuse for anybody not scoring runs" after his side limped to a one-wicket win in the first ODI against West Indies in Cuttack. Chasing 212, India's batting order collapsed before and after Rohit Sharma, who made 72, and the hosts needed the last pair of Varun Aaron and Umesh Yadav to secure victory.

"In India you hardly see the team tottering at 59 for 5. Hopefully we will come up with strong batting performances in the next games," Sehwag said after the match. "We have to learn from our mistakes. There were two good balls. The ball came in and we [Virat Kohli and I] played early and made mistakes."

Sehwag was critical of the "soft dismissals" of Parthiv Patel, Gautam Gambhir and Suresh Raina, which left India on 59 for 5 in the 12th over. "There were three soft dismissals of Parthiv Patel, Gautam Gambhir and Suresh Raina. There is no excuse for anybody not scoring runs. We have to back our batting. We have some exciting youngsters playing for last three four years. But I am happy with bowling and fielding."

Rohit anchored the chase by scoring 72 off 99 balls and was praised by Sehwag for winning the game for India. "Rohit is one of the talented batsmen. He is improving match by match. He is proving himself. He is one of the best. Full credit to Rohit Sharma, [Ravindra] Jadeja and Vinay Kumar. One by one they did it for us.

Rohit added 83 for the sixth wicket with Jadeja, who made 38, and then 42 with Vinay Kumar for the eighth. "When you lose five quick wickets, it's difficult to come back. I praise Rohit Sharma and Jadeja as their partnership took us there. After that Vinay and Rohit had a good partnerships. The way Rohit, Jadeja and Vinay batted was great to see."

The previous ODI series in India, against England, had poor attendances at the grounds but the match at the Barabati Stadium had a strong crowd. "It feels great when people come to watch a game. We hope people will come and support us in the next matches," Sehwag said. "I love to play in smaller towns. People give so much respect and love. They bring all kinds of food and stuff to you to make sure you are happy."

The second ODI between India and West Indies is in Visakhapatnam on December 2.

Read More

Injured Suranga Lakmal out of Test series against South Africa

Sri Lanka in South Africa 2011-12

ESPNcricinfo staff

November 30, 2011

Suranga Lakmal, the Sri Lanka fast bowler, has been ruled out of the Test series in South Africa because of an ankle injury. He joins Shaminda Eranga, Nuwan Kulasekara and Dhammika Prasad, who were not considered for the tour, on the list of injured fast bowlers.

Sri Lanka's chairman of selectors, Duleep Mendis, said a replacement was not named for Lakmal. "We are hopeful that by the time the first Test ends at Centurion on December 19, one of the inured fast bowlers would be fit to fly to South Africa and replace Lakmal," Mendis said.

Sri Lanka play three Tests in South Africa, where they have never won a Test, followed by a five-ODI series. The first Test starts at SuperSport Park on December 15.

Sri Lanka squad: Tillakaratne Dilshan (capt), Angelo Mathews (vice-capt), Tharanga Paranavitana, Kumar Sangakkara, Mahela Jayawardene, Dinesh Chandimal, Kaushal Silva (wk), Lahiru Thirimanne, Dimuth Karunaratne, Chanaka Welegedara, Dilhara Fernando, Nuwan Pradeep, Thisara Perera, Ajantha Mendis, Rangana Herath, Thilan Samaraweera.

Read More

Cameron White Nearly Killed Tim Southee - Video...Must Watch

Cameron White Nearly Killed Tim Southee

Read More

Copeland stars in New South Wales win

New South Wales v Western Australia, Ryobi Cup, Sydney

ESPNcricinfo staff

November 30, 2011

New South Wales 5 for 198 (S Smith 57*, Nevill 55*) beat Western Australia 199 (Robinson 87, Copeland 5-44) by 5 wickets (D/L method)

Trent Copeland reminded Australia's selectors of his credentials with a five-wicket haul that set up victory for New South Wales in Sydney. Copeland was axed from the Test squad for the series against New Zealand, having toured in South Africa and Sri Lanka, and in his second match back for the Blues he picked up 5 for 44 to help restrict Western Australia to 199.

Copeland struck three times in his first three overs and the Warriors never fully recovered from their shaky start of 4 for 14. The opener Wes Robinson steadied things somewhat with 87 but his only serious support came from the fast bowler Nathan Rimmington, who was coming off his maiden first class hundred and scored 46 in an 89-run stand with Robinson.

The visitors were all out in their 49th over and didn't crack the 200 mark, hardly what the stand-in captain Luke Ronchi wanted when he chose to bat. The New South Wales chase was reduced to 198 from 46 overs due to rain and when they stumbled to 5 for 103 the hosts looked in danger.

But half-centuries to Steven Smith (57 not out) and Peter Nevill (55 not out) got the hosts home with 16 balls to spare.

Read More

Zaheer backs Agarkar but draws selector's Flak

India domestic news

Nagraj Gollapudi

November 30, 2011

Ajit Agarkar's decision to return home from Cuttack after being dropped by Mumbai for the Ranji Trophy match against Orissa has spun off a separate controversy, with his team-mate Zaheer Khan defending him and in turn being criticised by Milind Rege, Mumbai's chairman of selectors.

Zaheer had said Rege and Sulakshan Kulkarni, the Mumbai coach, could have handled the situation with better "communication" and that there was no need to "humiliate" Agarkar.

"I am not the kind of person to say all this, but I just feel that people like Rege and Sulakshan are actually pulling Mumbai cricket back," Zaheer had told Mid-Day. "This is an utter disgrace. I am very disappointed and hurt by the way the whole situation has been handled. It is high time things get sorted out."

A disappointed Agarkar left Cuttack on the morning of the match despite Rege and Nitin Dalal, Mumbai Cricket Association (MCA) secretary, asking him to stay with the team.

"I am very hurt," Rege told ESPNcricinfo, when asked about Zaheer's reaction. "Because if anybody questions my ability to select or my judgment, it is an opinion of the other person. But if anybody questions my integrity, I will not accept it."

Rege, a former Mumbai captain, said Zaheer should not have made a "personal attack" on him. "He is a very mild guy and I do not know what provoked him to say something so harsh. It is not fair on his part."

Agarkar said he was upset that he hadn't been informed of the team management's decision to drop him earlier, and was told of it only on the eve of the match. Zaheer supported Agarkar's decision. "A player who has done so much for the country and state, has taken over 300 international wickets, has been consistent performer and a certainty in the team at least deserves better communication and respect. There is no reason to humiliate someone who has done great service to your team."

Explaining his decision to leave the squad, Agarkar said what hurt him most was that Rege, who had helped him play for the Tatas, did not inform him in advance. Rege disagreed, saying the policy of the selection panel was clear: select the 15 and then let the captain and coach pick the final XI. "The selection committee feels the coach and the captain are the people on the job on the ground, so how can we select the team five days prior to match. The strategies are discussed in the selection committee but the final decision of whom to take or whom not to take in the XI depends on the wicket and the conditions."

Rege he had spoken to Agarkar on the morning of the game. "He was extremely upset. He was not in a frame of mind to listen. I pleaded with him, literally, to not come back and we would sort out the issue. Even Nitin Dalal tried to convince him. But he was not prepared not to listen."

Rege, however, was confident the issue could be resolved. "I will sit with Ajit and try and defuse the situation." He said Agarkar would be considered during their next selection committee meeting on Saturday to pick the squad for Mumbai's match against Saurashtra in Rajkot from December 6.

Read More

Kallis to make season debut for Cobras

South Africa domestic news

Firdose Moonda

November 30, 2011

Jacques Kallis is expected to play his first franchise game of the season when Cape Cobras host Dolphins in the Franchise 1-Day Cup today. Kallis moved back to his home franchise after three seasons at the Eastern Cape-based Warriors, but he has not had the opportunity to play domestic cricket this year because of international and IPL commitments.

After returning from the Champions League Twenty20, where he played for Kolkata Knight Riders, Kallis played the home series against Australia. He scored two half-centuries in three ODIs but managed only 58 runs in four innings during the Tests. Given the domestic schedule, Kallis will be able to play for Cobras only in the one-dayers. Richard Pybus, the Cobras coach, said he will do whatever he can to give Kallis the necessary match practice.

"From a big picture perspective, it's critical that national players are playing domestic cricket whenever they can," Pybus told ESPNCricinfo. " There is a lot of cricket for them coming up, so we have to be able to manage guys like Jacques over a long season and make informed, judicious decisions about how much they should be playing."

For Pybus, Kallis' return to Cobras is an advantage because many of the young players look up to him as a local hero. "We win all-round because the youngsters want to play alongside him, the standard of cricket is lifted when the national players are involved and it becomes more attractive for the public to watch," Pybus said. "It's his cricketing home. He is playing for a team that he has an emotional connection with."

Although Kallis' Test performances, particularly with the bat, were not a reason for major concern, there were aspects of his game that could do with polishing. Kallis was roughed up by 18-year old fast bowler, Pat Cummins, who used his pace and the short ball effectively. He was also ineffective with the ball against Australia, taking one wicket in 28 overs at an average of 121 in the Tests.

Pybus said he had offered Kallis assistance if the allrounder wanted it ahead of the Tests against Sri Lanka, which begin on December 15. "I have asked him if there is anything he would like me to have a look at, but Jacques knows his game," Pybus said. "He knows what he is doing."

Cobras are on top the Franchise 1-Day Cup table and victory against Dolphins on Wednesday will guarantee them a home final. The second and third placed teams will square off in the only semi-final to determine the other finalist.

Read More

West Indies vs India 1st ODI Highlights - 29th Nov 2011

West Indies vs India 1st ODI Highlights

Highlights

Match Info:Teams

India (Playing XI): Virender Sehwag (c), Gautam Gambhir, Virat Kohli, Ajinkya Rahane, Suresh Raina, Ravindra Jadeja, Parthiv Patel (wk), R Ashwin, Praveen Kumar, Umesh Yadav, Varun Aaron.

West Indies (Playing XI): Lendl Simmons, Adrian Barath, Marlon Samuels, Darren Bravo, Denesh Ramdin (wk), Kieron Pollard, Anthony Martin, Andre Russell, Darren Sammy (c), Ravi Rampaul, Kemar Roach.

Read More

We missed Tamim - Mushfiqur Rahim

Bangladesh v Pakistan, only Twenty20, Mirpur

Mohammad Isam

November 29, 2011

Reflecting on his team's disappointing showing in the one-off Twenty20, Bangladesh captain Mushfiqur Rahim has said that they were missing Tamim Iqbal at the top of the order. Tamim had to pull out due to a knee injury and that led to Naeem Islam's promotion as the makeshift opener. The reshuffle impacted the team's performance in their chase of 136.

"Obviously we missed Tamim. When you see one of your best players are not playing before the match, you have to reshuffle your batting order," Mushfiqur said. "The player who usually bats at No.5 has to open so that becomes difficult. So that was a negative for us that Tamim did not play."

A victory margin of 50 runs in a Twenty20 game indicates that the bowling unit had a stranglehold over the batsmen in the second innings. In front of a large crowd and a wide-eyed media, after a bowling performance that aroused hope, not many escape, especially in Bangladesh.

The meek surrender - 85 for 9 in 20 overs - wasn't Bangladesh's lowest total in Twenty20s. It was disappointing to see a batting line-up time and again play in two-gears: if they don't find boundaries, they go into a shell. Today, they suffered the ignominy of treating a capacity crowd to just four boundary hits, and one that came off the hip.

"I think the batsmen should have taken more responsibility but they (Pakistan) bowled really well. We lost four wickets early which I wouldn't say were necessarily to poor shots. So after that we couldn't really go after the bowling," Mushfiqur said.

"Had we done so, we might have lost more wickets and been all out for 50-odd. They are one of the best sides in the world currently and they utilized the conditions here better than we did."

The start provided by Naeem and Imrul Kayes gave very little confidence to those who watched the game. Soon after Naeem exited for 3, Alok Kapali joined him in the dugout. What also hurt Bangladesh were the two run-outs. Imrul Kayes probably forgot to drag his bat into the crease as Mohammad Hafeez's throw came in from the inner ring. later, Mushfiqur was stranded mid-pitch after Nasir Hossain refused his single to short third-man.

Despite the poor outing, Mushfiqur was positive that a turnaround was possible, if the batsmen are ready to be patient.

"They had three of their batsmen scoring around 20. So it goes to show that if you go out there and stay at the crease and apply yourself then things could have been different for us," Mushfiqur said.

"We can definitely compete with them in the series. Even after batting so poorly we managed 80 (sic. 85) so if we had a top-order partnership then probably we would have needed 50 or 60 runs in the last seven or eight overs which wouldn't have been impossible."

It is back to basics for Bangladesh, for they will find boundaries hard to come by over the next three weeks in all formats.

Read More

Rohit and Tail-Enders clinch Nail-Biting win For India in 1st ODI

India v West Indies, 1st ODI, Cuttack

The Report by Siddarth Ravindran

November 29, 2011

India 213 for 9 (Rohit 72, Roach 3-46) beat West Indies 211 for 9 (Bravo 60) by one wicket

For the second time in four days, India and West Indies showed that big hits aren't crucial ingredients in absorbing cricket. As in the Mumbai Test, the final delivery of the match was punched to long-on, but this time there were no tears for the cheering home fans as last man Umesh Yadav's drive went for four to end a pulsating match.

It wasn't the highest quality of cricket, but there was no shortage of entertainment for a voluble Cuttack crowd watching its first international match in two years. Rohit Sharma seemed to have sealed the game with a mostly level-headed half-century after India slipped to 59 for 5, but his dismissal 11 runs short of the target provided an extra dollop of suspense to an already tumultuous match.

Watching tailenders bat ranks high among the enjoyable sidelights in cricket, and watching a panicky No. 10 Varun Aaron and Umesh, with all of 10 ODI caps between them, negotiate the final passage was a heart-warmer. The two came together after Vinay Kumar, a relatively more skilled batsman, lost his head and his wicket by charging out and holing out to mid-off, and that five deliveries after Rohit's dismissal.

Eleven runs were needed from the final pair, off 23 deliveries. It was to be expected that the predominant mood in the middle wouldn't be calm-and-collected, but it was still hard to explain the thinking behind Aaron declining a single off the fifth delivery of the 47th, so that he could take strike in the next over. A visibly stricken Rohit couldn't believe that decision, and substitute Ajinkya Rahane muttered under his breath.

A spell of 15 dot balls was finally ended by Aaron thumping the ball to long-off for a single. More headless-chicken stuff followed as Umesh nurdled the fifth ball of the 48th, with Aaron this time desperately wanting a non-existent second in another attempt to face the start of the next over.

In Aaron's defence, Umesh wasn't exactly the most confidence-inspiring of batsmen, regularly planting his front foot across the stumps and poking at the ball. Umesh managed to sneak a single towards square leg off the first delivery of the penultimate over, for which the pacy Andre Russell might have been a better choice than the innocuous Darren Sammy. An on-target yorker at Russell's pace could have been the game, but Sammy perhaps feared the edged boundary to third man or fine leg.

In any case, Sammy's second delivery was a hit-me short-and-wide delivery that was dispatched for four by Aaron, to bring India within four of victory. He guided the next ball towards point for a single, and in his enthusiasm to look for yet another unlikely second, he slipped and had to settle for one. Umesh coolly shouldered arms to the next delivery, before punching a length ball past mid-on for the boundary that extended India's winning streak in home ODIs to ten. It also ended Aaron's mad scramble for the second run, something he famously did, without delivering victory, off the final delivery in the Mumbai Test.

At the other extreme when it comes to taking the second is R Ashwin, who was mildly criticised after delaying setting off for the potentially winning-run in Mumbai. This time he will receive a lot more criticism, after staying put for too long though his senior partner Rohit was running to the danger end, and was confident of making it.

Before that run-out, India were 54 away with plenty of overs to go, with Rohit and Ashwin - fresh from a Test century - in the middle. A fairly comfortable state, which India reached due to a 83-run stand for the sixth wicket between Rohit and Ravindra Jadeja. That stand administered CPR to a chase that was fast fading at 59 for 5.

Rohit played the more expansive strokes - a stylish six over the bowler, a textbook cover drive for four off Russell, followed by a controlled pull for another boundary. Jadeja was more content playing the no-frills role, picking up several of his boundaries through glides behind point. It was crucial innings for both players - Rohit returning after several months out due to a finger injury is looking to secure a spot in the crowded middle order, while Jadeja is still to emphatically prove he deserves a spot as high as No. 7.

All the drama seemed unlikely when India's openers galloped to 37 four overs into the chase. The dew was expected to play a huge role in the evening, and a chock-a-block crowd was probably one of the biggest many of the West Indians had played in front of. Kemar Roach didn't let any of that affect him as he pulled West Indies back into the match by removing Parthiv Patel and Gautam Gambhir in the fifth over, and adding the scalp of Virat Kohli soon after.

When Russell snuck one past Virender Sehwag's bat, and Suresh Raina chipped a catch to mid-off, it was West Indies who were in control, particularly as India's most reliable middle-order finishers, MS Dhoni and Yuvraj Singh, were absent.

Rohit and the bowlers clinched it for India at the end, but the inexperienced attack had been hugely impressively in the afternoon as well. India had none of the regular members of their World Cup-winning line-up but that didn't prevent them from limiting the visitors to a small total. Yadav and Varun showed off the pace for which they have made a name, Vinay 's patented away-swinger was on display, and the spinners continued to give the selectors no reason to think of Harbhajan Singh.

West Indies' batting had had a reviving stand of their own between Darren Bravo and Danza Hyatt after the top-order stumbled. Bravo doled out his usual share of easy-on-the-eyes boundaries as he extended his rich form from the Tests to make 60, while Hyatt was more controlled after starting problems, due to which he has reached double-digits only twice in six ODI-innings so far.

Some amateurish running from Hyatt took away any semblance of momentum, and the dismissals of Bravo and Kieron Pollard within a short span, meant the final third of the West Indian innings was slow going.

The 211 they posted seemed far from substantial, especially as the pitch wasn't playing too many tricks - the curator had boldly predicted 300-plus ahead of the match - but they again showed an encouraging ability to fight. That may not have translated into results on this trip so far, but it has resulted in the home side being forced to dig very deep in most of the matches.

Read More

Pakistan vs Bangladesh Only T20 Highlights - 29th Nov 2011

Pakistan vs Bangladesh Only T20 Highlights

Part 1

Part 2

Part 3:Presentation Ceremony

Match Info:Teams

Pakistan (Playing XI): 1 Misbah-ul-Haq (capt), 2 Umar Akmal (wk), 3 Asad Shafiq, 4 Mohammad Hafeez, 5 Imran Farhat, 6 Shoaib Malik, 7 Shahid Afridi, 8 Sohail Tanvir, 9 Aizaz Cheema, 10 Umar Gul, 11 Saeed Ajmal

Bangladesh (Playing XI): 1 Naeem Islam, 2 Imrul Kayes, 3 Alok Kapali, 4 Shakib Al Hasan, 5 Mushfiqur Rahim (capt & wk), 6 Mahmudullah, 7 Nasir Hossain, 8 Naeem Islam, 9 Abdur Razzak, 10 Rubel Hossain, 11 Shafiul Islam

Read More

Misbah Happy with Batting Performance on Difficult Wicket

Bangladesh v Pakistan, only Twenty20, Mirpur

ESPNcricinfo staff

November 29, 2011

Misbah-ul-Haq, the Pakistan captain, has said that 135 was a "good enough" score at Mirpur given the amount of bounce and turn the bowlers were getting. Batting first, Pakistan had struggled against the Bangladesh spinners in getting to that score, but their bowlers made short work of the hosts to give them a 50-run win.

"I think it was a difficult wicket to bat on," Misbah said. "There were some loose patches and the ball was just bouncing and turning and I think scoring 135 runs on this wicket was good enough.

"If you consider the wicket, I think the batsmen did a pretty good job for the way they got the start. There was a little tremble in the middle overs, which cut down the score by 10 to 12 runs. Scoring 140 or 150 would have been a brilliant job."

It was the turn and bounce that encouraged Misbah to hand the new ball to offspinner Mohammad Hafeez, and the decision paid off immediately. Hafeez dismissed Alok Kapali in his first over on the way to figures of 2 for 11.

"We saw patches on the wicket on which the ball was bouncing and turning," Misbah said. "So it was a good idea to start with the spinners, specially Mohammed Hafeez for the way he bowls. He bowls wicket to wicket and gets a bit of bounce and turn."

Having seen first-hand how difficult it was to play spin on this wicket, Hafeez was mentally ready to open the bowling as well. "We had a plan to cut their runs in the first six overs and I have bowled with a new ball before and I am confident in doing so," Hafeez said. "The captain knew that I can be worthy with the new ball for which I was given the job and I tried to give 100%."

Despite their victory, Misbah said that low-scoring T20 games were less exciting than high scoring ones. "I think the game and the crowd demands more batting wickets for the game to become more entertaining. But I think these matters are not under the control of the players. We are professionals and should respect whatever wicket we get."

Read More

All-Round Hafeez Gives Pakistan an Easy win in T20 vs Bangladesh

Pakistan vs Bangladesh Only T20 at Dhaka

Mohammad Hafeez took 2 for 11 to set up Pakistan's comprehensive win against Bangladesh in the Twenty20 in Mirpur
Pakistan vs Bangladesh Only T20 at Mirpur, Dhaka 29th Nov 2011
Pakistan won Toss and bat 1st
Pakistan scored 135/7 in 20 overs
Hafeez scored 25 and Misbah scored 21* For Pakistan
Bangladesh need 136 Runs to win
In reply, Bangladesh just manage to score 85/9 in 20 overs
Shoaib Malik and M.Hafeez took 2 while Gul,Afridi and Cheema Chipped in with 1 wicket each, Ajmal and S.Tanvir was wicket-less Today
Pakistan won by 50 Runs
ODIs and Test Matches will be played between Pakistan and Bangladesh
1st ODI of 3-match series will be played on Dec 1 2011 at Mirpur, Dhaka

Read More

Bowlers Lead Pakistan To Crushing Win

Bangladesh v Pakistan, only Twenty20, Mirpur

The Report by Kanishkaa Balachandran

November 29, 2011

Pakistan 135 for 7 (Hafeez 25, Kapali 2-12) beat Bangladesh 85 for 9 (Nasir 35*, Malik 2-7) by 50 runs

Mushfiqur Rahim said before the match that it was time for Bangladesh to stop aiming for "respectable losses" and show they can compete against the best. By the interval, their spinners had laid the groundwork for a confidence-building win at the start of the series, but those hopes fizzled out as Pakistan's varied attack proved far superior. Barely seven overs into the chase, the result was a foregone conclusion.

Pakistan's ruthlessness wasn't surprising. Their bowlers, especially the spinners, downed Sri Lanka in all three formats in the UAE barely a few days before they landed in Bangladesh. That they conceded their first boundary only in the ninth over was an example of their discipline.

Pakistan had their anxious moments with the bat, struggling to post even 135 despite their brisk start, but with the ball in hand, they never gave the hosts an inch. There was an air of expectation from the packed, weekday crowd at the Shere Bangla Stadium when the Bangladesh openers walked out, but the chase had derailed once Pakistan had them struggling at 15 for 3 at the end of five overs.

Umar Gul started the slide when he trapped Naeem Islam in front in the second over. Mohammad Hafeez then had Alok Kapali chipping to midwicket for a duck, and confusion in the calling led to Imrul Kayes' run-out. Save for a drop at long-off by Umar Gul, Pakistan's fielding was sharp.

The more experienced duo of Shakib Al Hasan and Mushfiqur Rahim had a tougher task than they would have anticipated, but even they couldn't display any resilience to make the chase more competitive. They didn't have the luxury of time - the run-rate inched along at a rate comparable to modern Test cricket.

Shakib lost his offstump trying to cut Hafeez, and that increased the pressure on Mushfiqur, who struggled to combat Saeed Ajmal's parsimonious bowling from round the wicket. Mahmudullah nicked Aizaz Cheema's first ball of the match, and with the required rate crossing 11, Mushfiqur perished trying to be innovative - a reverse paddle landed just short of short third man, but Nasir wasn't interested in the single, leaving his captain stranded.

A flat-batted swat in the ninth over by Nasir off Cheema gave Bangladesh a release, but it was only momentary as Bangladesh had to wait till the 16th over for their next boundary. The result was inevitable, and the only positive for Bangladesh was the fact that they batted out 20 overs.

It wasn't the easiest outing for Pakistan's batsmen either. It was a tough initiation as Bangladesh played to their strength - spin - to restrict the tourists to 135. Pakistan started brightly after winning the toss, but the going got tough once the slower bowlers - five in all - began operating at either end on a typically dark Dhaka pitch.

The captain Mushfiqur Rahim didn't waste any time getting his spinners on, bringing in Abdur Razzak as early as the second over. The in-form Hafeez went on the attack and while he was around, Pakistan were motoring along at eight an over.

The ninth over was significant for Bangladesh as Shakib managed to keep the aggressive Hafeez quiet for five balls. Determined to break the shackles, Hafeez attempted a slog and lost his wicket. Bangladesh took control after that wicket-maiden.

Asad Shafiq and Shahid Afridi both perished in similar fashion, getting caught in the deep. The captain Misbah tried restoring some order but he kept running out of partners.

The procession of wickets continued when Bangladesh went out to bat. With spin expected to dominate this tour, Bangladesh will have to figure out how to tackle Pakistan's slower bowlers on pitches suited to their style.

Match Summary

Innings	Dot Balls	4s  &  6s	Powerplay	16-20 Overs	NB/Wides
Pakistan	60	11       2	51/1	23/1	1/10
Bangladesh	77	3        1	16/3	19/2	0/5

Read More