Not Decided My Future as Indian Team Captain - MS Dhoni - Interview...Must Watch
MS Dhoni on His Future as India Captain, His future in Test Cricket & the Pressure of Playing all Three Formats
31st Jan 2012
Tuesday, 31 January 2012
Australia and India will Face Each Other in 1st T20 Tomorrow at Sydney
The Preview by Brydon Coverdale
January 31, 2012
Match facts
February 1, Stadium Australia, Sydney
Start time 19:35 (08:35 GMT)
Big Picture
Nobody is more desperate to move on from the last six weeks than India's cricketers. Here is their perfect opportunity to do so. The first T20 not only pits two very different sides against each other, compared to those that played in the Tests, it also takes India and Australia to an entirely new venue for international cricket: Stadium Australia. The stadium, at Homebush in Sydney's west, was built for the 2000 Olympics and has a far greater capacity than the SCG. It will become the 19th ground in the country to host international cricket.
Appropriately enough it will host a new-look Australia team under the captaincy of debutant George Bailey. The 40-year-old spinner Brad Hogg will make his comeback after a vintage campaign from him in the Big Bash League, while the fast bowler James Faulkner could be in line for his debut. David Warner and Shaun Marsh are the only men in the squad who took part in the Tests against India.
The visitors have more of a crossover from the Test series, but there has still been plenty of new blood injected into the group. A 17-strong party has assembled for the T20s and the triangular one-day series that follows, including relatively inexperienced men like Rahul Sharma and Manoj Tiwary, but who will get the nod for the first match remains a mystery. Both sides are also hoping to use the series to narrow down their list of potential players for the World T20, to be held in Sri Lanka in September.
Form guide
(Most recent first)
Australia LWLLW
India LLWWW
In the spotlight
Who else but George Bailey? Not since Dave Gregory in the very first Test match has a man made his international debut for Australia as captain. And with plenty of attention having been paid to Bailey's record in the shortest format, he will be hoping to show what he can offer at No.5, while also marshalling his troops in the field.
India always appear a more dynamic outfit when Suresh Raina is present, and he will provide spark not only in the batting line-up but also in the field. Spark is precisely what India need to rediscover after their Test slump.
Team news
Australia have named a 14-man squad and as the selectors cast an eye to the World Twenty20 they are likely to give each player an opportunity in at least one of these two games. Shaun Marsh is in the group despite having been dropped from the upcoming ODIs, and this could be a chance for him to free his mind and play naturally. Daniel Christian and Mitchell Marsh could be battling for one spot, while Xavier Doherty and Hogg are the two slow-bowling options. The selectors will probably want to see what the uncapped Faulkner can deliver, while Clint McKay is also in the squad.
Australia (possible) 1 David Warner, 2 Shaun Marsh, 3 Aaron Finch, 4 David Hussey, 5 George Bailey (capt), 6 Travis Birt, 7 Mitchell Marsh / Daniel Christian, 8 Matthew Wade (wk), 9 Brad Hogg, 10 Brett Lee, 11 James Faulkner.
India have a big group to choose from, and the make-up of their attack is not yet clear. Ravindra Jadeja and Irfan Pathan might be competing for the same spot, and the extra spinner could be desirable if the drop-in pitch proves slow.
India (possible) 1 Virender Sehwag, 2 Gautam Gambhir, 3 Virat Kohli, 4 Suresh Raina, 5 Rohit Sharma, 6 MS Dhoni (capt, wk), 7 Ravindra Jadeja / Irfan Pathan, 8 R Ashwin, 9 Praveen Kumar, 10 Vinay Kumar, 11 Umesh Yadav.
Pitch and conditions
As a new international venue, it will be interesting to see what the Stadium Australia pitch offers. The former Adelaide Oval curator Les Burdett has been brought in to prepare surface. Like most drop-in pitches, it is unlikely to have much in the way of pace and bounce.
Stats and trivia
At 40, Hogg will be the third-oldest man to play a T20 international. He played two T20s for Australia back in 2006 and 2007, but didn't take a wicket.
Australia and India have met in four T20s for two wins each - the first two went India's way and Australia won the second two
Quotes
"I'm nervous about both [captaincy and debut], from the playing aspect you're anxious to get out there and perform really well, and the captaining side of things I'm really comfortable with that, it's more getting to know the players as quickly as I can."
Australia's new captain George Bailey
If There is a Better Man,Give Him the Job - Dhoni
MS Dhoni isn't making any predictions about giving up Test cricket or any other format after 2013. But his matter-of-fact statements are open to interpretation
Sidharth Monga in Sydney
January 31, 2012
"I just said my statement. The best thing about statements is, you can assume it the way you want to."
That was MS Dhoni's response when told how his statement that he might have to give up Test cricket at the end of 2013 if he is to captain India to their World Cup defence was seen by many as a general disinterest in Test cricket.
"Maybe by 2013 I'll have to," Dhoni said. "It is two years away, and the kind of cricket we are playing - IPL, 45 days; Champions League; and back-to-back series; lots of games. We have to see where we last. It's not a calendar year where you get a lot of rest, and you get away with small niggles during that rest period."
Dhoni then sought to clarify his thought process. "I said end of 2013," he said. "Now it's the start of 2012, 2013 is two years. I don't know whether I will be alive in two years. That's a long time. What I said was, by the end of 2013, I will have to see whether I can play the World Cup. It wasn't about one format, it was about cricket. I can't play till 2014 and say I am not fit enough to survive till the next World Cup. And you'll have a player coming in who has played just 25 games."
When pointedly asked if he was as interested in Tests as he was in other formats, and whether Test cricket was as important in his mind, Dhoni's response was emphatic. "Of course. Test cricket is the real cricket." However, he went on to say he wasn't running down the other formats either.
"Every form of cricket has its own challenges," Dhoni said. "You have the Test format, the longer version. You have ODI cricket where you can see glimpses of Test cricket and Twenty20s, especially with two balls getting used. And all of a sudden a team loses three or four wickets, and you go and do the consolidating job and then go on with the slog. And then there is the shortest format where you lose five wickets, you go in and the longest consolidating period you get is one over and you start hitting again. All of them are very interesting, and as long as I am able to, I will play all the three formats."
Dhoni was then asked where he felt he was on his Test journey. "I am still on my way. I have not reached any place," he said, suggesting there might finally be something in a Dhoni press conference that might reveal his inner feelings, before going on to show it was just a tease. "If I remember, the thing I said was 2013, which is two years from now on. I don't know if you will be covering cricket or not. I don't know if I will be playing cricket or not. That's a long time."
That's the thing with Dhoni. You never know. If you haven't been to a match, you won't be able to tell from Dhoni's face if he has won it or lost it. There is a sense of detachment, whether real or rehearsed, that has worked for Dhoni, ridding him of the pressures Indian captaincy brings. It has consumed the best of them, even the best tactical captain India has had, Rahul Dravid.
Dhoni has fought it by not acknowledging it, but over the last 12 months, especially after India won the World Cup, you wonder if he has been too detached when India needed a more involved leader to oversee the transition to the next phase. In Australia, loss after loss brought the same combination, same strategy, same faces, same answers. You didn't get a feeling somebody was taking charge. You didn't see Dhoni change his tactics on the field. You can't blame the thinkers for thinking he didn't care. Dhoni, though, will tell you only he knows how much he cares. However, people who wanted to see a sign didn't get to see one.
Then there was intrigue off the field. There were reports of Virender Sehwag wanting the captaincy, and that he was not very appreciative of Dhoni's work. Not to forget that Sehwag can't be very appreciative of his own work, either as batsman or captain at this stage. Sehwag, of course, denied all that. Now that the series is gone, though, rumour mills are abuzz again. Dhoni's captaincy in Tests away from subcontinent is bound to come under scrutiny.
When asked where he saw himself vis-Ã -vis the captaincy issue, Dhoni said: "It's an added role and responsibility for me. It's not a position that belongs to anyone. That responsibility was given to me three-and-a-half years back. I have been trying to do well, get along with the team, perform well wherever we play.
"It's just a position I hold. It's something I'll always look to do well till I am in the job. It's not something I want to hold on to or stick on to. If there's a better replacement, it's a very open thing. He can come in. At the end of the day you want India to perform. If there is someone who can do a better job, then it's a place that should be given to him. It's not something you have to cling on to."
When asked if, given his workload, he had enough left to go on and lead India's attempt at rebuilding from the defeats, Dhoni said: "It's not an individual who decides whether he is good enough or not. It's others who decide if you are good enough or not. When it comes to effort, I am still giving my 100%."
To paraphrase Dhoni himself, the beauty of statements is, they are open to interpretations. As are the last two. Is he resigned to losing his Test captaincy? Is he so detached he won't fight if it is taken away? Will he not be desperate to correct the lasting memory of his captaincy - back-to-back whitewashes? Or - and this is interesting - is he daring the powers to find a man better suited to the job because there isn't anybody in sight at the moment?
Youngsters will Raise Our Fielding - Dhoni
Sidharth Monga in Sydney
January 31, 2012
Twenty20 internationals often go through an identity crisis. They are neither World Twenty20, nor leagues like IPL and BBL where every game takes you towards a larger goal. On international tours, Twenty20s - often one or two in number - run the risk of being seen as just exhibition games.
Not for India this time. MS Dhoni has said that the two Twenty20 internationals against Australia will not be used as glorified nets for the bigger triangular ODI series that follows. He said the presence of youngsters will make the team more energetic on the field.
These might be India's last two Twenty20 internationals before they split up to play for their respective IPL teams and go into September's World Twenty20 in Sri Lanka, an event where they have been knocked out in the first round in their last two attempts.
"We don't get to play too many T20 international games," Dhoni said. "Usually it's one match on a tour. It's good we have two games. We'll try to make the most out of it. We'll look to play the XI best suited for that particular occasion, not thinking about the ODIs."
The first occasion for India will be at Sydney's Stadium Australia, a multi-purpose venue originally built for the Olympics. India have no clue what to expect from the ground. They practised there yesterday, but could only do fielding drills because the practice pitches - in a corner, almost under the roof - were damp. Today India, like Australia, shifted base to the more traditional SCG. Dhoni said that shouldn't be much of a handicap because Australia too haven't played much at the venue.
"I don't think there are many who have played there," Dhoni said. "It remains quite the same for the home team as well as the touring team. That's something pretty even. Of course we would like to spend a bit of time there. We had to shift the practice session because the wickets were damp there, and we weren't able to practise. We will see exactly how it is. The outfield will be important. It is not a cricket ground, which means the sand content is more. Hopefully it goes out well."
Dhoni, though, is looking forward to what the fresh faces will bring to the team. "Our one-day side looks very different from our Test side," Dhoni said. "The new boys who have come in are a lot more noisy, which really helps lift the dressing-room atmosphere. They love to pull each other's leg, which means it gets more and more lively. I don't think it's very difficult [to stay positive despite a disastrous tour so far]." He likened the difference they brought to shifting from Kishore Kumar to Sean Paul.
When asked who he would rather work with, the Bollywood legend of the old or the new-age Jamaican rapper, Dhoni picked the middle path. "I am someone who keeps adjusting. That's one good thing. A mix of everything is good. From classical to rap music. Good to have these boys around."
However, Dhoni spoke of the importance of having young legs in the side. "We have really improved as a fielding side, especially in the ODIs where we have seen a mix of players who are experienced and the youngsters coming in. So on an average out of four fielders three of them can really stop the batsmen from taking a quick single. And the opportunity of getting a batsman run out is very critical in an ODI or a T20.
"When it's needed at the slog overs, they can field at the boundary without much hassle. It really helps me in the sense that I don't have to be too worried about placing the right fielders at the right position. They do it amongst themselves. They are very good. They know where they need to be at the right time. It helps me think on the right things, where I can put emphasis."
Dhoni said it wasn't going to be easy to forget how the first half of the tour has gone down. "It's not easy," he said. "We play with a lot of emotion. Indians are known to be emotional people. But it's not something we haven't done in the past. We have been able to do this. In England when we went into the ODIs I felt the boys performed really well apart from the rain that affected our bowling performance because of the wet ball. Apart from that the fight was good over there. Not really worried. Hopefully it will go our way."
Phil Jaques Retires From International Cricket
Brydon Coverdale
January 31, 2012
The opening batsman Phil Jaques, who played 11 Tests for Australia before a serious back injury ended his international career, will retire from first-class cricket in Australia at the end of this summer. Jaques, 32, will continue his career with Yorkshire, where he will be classified as a local player due to his British passport.
His decision will mean the end of a career spanning 12 seasons with New South Wales, for whom he scored 5659 first-class runs at an average of 41.30. He was even more successful in Test cricket, where he made 902 runs at 47.47. Jaques scored three Test centuries, including one in his last innings for Australia, in Barbados in 2008.
Jaques had been given the opening role after the retirement of Justin Langer, and he looked set for a long career in the baggy green. However, he was ruled out of the 2008 tour of India due to a long-standing back injury that required surgery, and he never quite returned to his peak form - or to the Australia side. In the past three seasons in Australia, he has averaged 35.17 in first-class cricket.
"I have made this decision with my family in mind and I'm looking forward to the next chapter of my career," Jaques said. "I've thoroughly enjoyed my time playing cricket for New South Wales and Australia and have always considered it a privilege. I have also made plenty of great friends along the way.
"I hope to remain involved with Cricket NSW in some capacity in the future. My years playing for NSW have helped me to grow as a player and person and I appreciate all of their support I have received over the years. I walk away with no regrets knowing that I have given 100% every time I have walked onto the ground and I will continue to do this until the end of the season."
Jaques played in two successful Pura Cup finals for New South Wales, in 2004-05 and 2007-08, as well as the state's 2005-06 one-day triumph. He scored 2340 one-day runs for the Blues at 39.66, and at one stage held the state record for the highest one-day score, with his unbeaten 171 against Queensland in February 2010.
A regular in the county competition, he has spent time with Yorkshire, Worcestershire and Northamptonshire, but this will be his first season playing as a local player. Jaques was born in Wollongong in New South Wales to English parents, which allowed him to acquire a British passport.
Monday, 30 January 2012
Australia Announced Squad For ODI Tri-Series Haddin and Marsh Dropped
Brydon Coverdale
January 30, 2012
Shaun Marsh has been told to return to the Sheffield Shield to regain his form after being dropped from Australia's ODI squad. The Queensland batsman Peter Forrest has received his first call-up and Ryan Harris will resume his one-day international career after both were named in Australia's 14-man squad for the first three games of the tri-series with India and Sri Lanka.
As reported by ESPNcricinfo, Brad Haddin has been rested from the start of the series, his place taken by the Victoria gloveman Matthew Wade. And there was no place for the allrounder Steve Smith, who the national selector John Inverarity said "needs to do more" to establish himself.
The squad includes four men aged over 34 - Ricky Ponting, Michael Hussey, Brett Lee and David Hussey - and Inverarity said it was vital for the development of newer players that they had the chance to play alongside such experienced men. He said next year the focus would shift more towards developing a squad for the 2015 World Cup, but for now including a few younger players was adequate.
One of those was Forrest, 26, who is leading the Sheffield Shield run tally this summer with 581 at an average of 58.10, justifying his decision last year to head north from New South Wales for greater opportunities. His Ryobi Cup form this season has been less impressive, with 176 runs at 29.33, but Inverarity said it was a matter of giving Forrest a taste of the top level.
"With Peter Forrest, we've been looking and saying there will be some time in, say, the next three years when we're going to be without Ricky Ponting and Mike Hussey," Inverarity said. "So we're looking to develop three or four or five young batsmen and invest some opportunity there. Peter Forrest has had a very good Sheffield Shield season thus far, I think it's three centuries that he's made. He's certainly a player at the moment who we're looking for all-round development."
Mitchell Marsh, Clint McKay and Daniel Christian were among the other players who will be given an opportunity, but others weren't so lucky. Shaun Marsh is coming off a horror Test series against India and Inverarity made it clear Marsh had not simply been rested, but needed to go back to Western Australia and prove himself again.
"Shaun as we've all seen is a very talented player," he said. "At the moment he's in a difficult period. We've all seen that. We think the best way that he can recover his form is out of the spotlight in Shield cricket. We look forward to him doing well in that and coming again."
Nor was there room for Smith, who was ranked highly in Cricket Australia's contract list last year but now finds himself out of the team in all three formats. And the South Australia batsman Callum Ferguson was not included, his strong early-season form in the Ryobi Cup seemingly having been overshadowed in the selectors' minds by a disappointing Big Bash League.
"Callum's form this year has not been convincing," Inverarity said. "In terms of his general batsmanship and being in good nick, he's not. I don't think it's wise selecting somebody when they're actually not playing well.
"Steve Smith is a very promising player, with his potential for batting and fielding and bowling, we really hope he will develop in the future. But I think he needs to do more. He needs to do more with his batting and his bowling to establish himself."
The only specialist spinner in the squad is Xavier Doherty, which could mean a greater bowling workload for David Hussey. And in the pace attack, Harris will play his first ODIs since 2010. At the top of the order, Michael Clarke will need to decide who opens with David Warner, with no obvious opening partner named. One possibility is Wade, who will make his ODI debut with Haddin resting for the first three games - and possibly more.
"We've got an open mind about that," Inverarity said when asked if Haddin would return later in the series. "Brad has had a pretty gruelling time, being a wicketkeeper-batsman. He had the Test matches in Sri Lanka and South Africa, against New Zealand, against India, and Brad is due for a bit of a lighter load."
No vice-captain was named with Haddin rested and Shane Watson still unavailable due to injury, and a decision on Clarke's deputy was likely to be made once the squad assembled. Initially the squad won't include Mitchell Marsh, who is joining the group ahead of the third match in order to allow him to play Western Australia's next Shield fixture. The ODI series starts on Sunday at the MCG when Australia take on India.
Australia ODI Squad: Michael Clarke (capt), David Warner, Ricky Ponting, Peter Forrest, Daniel Christian, David Hussey, Michael Hussey, Matthew Wade, Brett Lee, Ryan Harris, Mitchell Starc, Xavier Doherty, Clint McKay, Mitchell Marsh
We will Play Different Cricket During ODIs - Raina
Sidharth Monga in Sydney
January 30, 2012
Suresh Raina, who has been branded a limited-over specialist but wants to add significantly to his 15 Test caps, does not want to talk about what went down, and what went wrong in the Test series that India lost 0-4 in Australia. Raina says the limited-overs leg of India's tour will be different, and there is a josh [passion] to do well. The limited-overs leg begins with a series of two Twenty20s against Australia, the first of which will be played in Sydney's Stadium Australia on Wednesday.
Raina, who was not part of the Test squad, was asked to describe the mood in the dressing-room. "The motivation is good," he said. "The new boys [who have joined the team for the limited-overs leg] saw the matches. We haven't done well in the Tests, but there is a passion inside to do well. Andar kuch karne ki tamanna hai [There's a desire inside to achieve something].
"We have worked hard. The new boys have been playing a lot of first-class cricket and we have done well in internationals too. It will be a good challenge for the youngsters and we are ready."
Raina promised a better performance from the side. "Definitely. The one-dayers and Twenty20 games will go differently to how the Tests went. Hopefully we will give you positive results. In the World Cup we beat Australia in the quarter-final and hopefully we will do well against Australia again."
The week before India arrived in Sydney was a wet one and, though it was hot when India went out to train on Monday, the practice pitches at Stadium Australia, nestled in a corner under the roof, were still damp. All the Indians really managed on Monday was a long fielding session. Raina said fielding would be important over the next month and a half, over which India will compete with Australia and Sri Lanka in the Commonwealth Bank Series.
"Fielding is going to be a big factor. We have to take brilliant catches, affect brilliant run-outs. We have to bat till the end and we have good allrounders. They can hit the ball as well as take wickets. We have good variation bowlers like Irfan [Pathan], Vinay [Kumar] and PK [Praveen Kumar]. They have been bowling really well. Hopefully you'll see good performances from them."
Raina was part of the squad that won the Commonwealth Bank Series in Australia four years ago, but didn't play a single game. He said he has been working hard in preparation for his first international matches in Australia. "I went to the NCA [National Cricket Academy in Bangalore], then practised in Bombay. I am working on my wrist position and have been practising on bouncy wickets."
With the seniors under pressure, it is inevitable that Raina will get his third chance in Tests at some stage. Raina said it was important for him to show the world he can play Tests. "I have done well in the West Indies. I played three or four games in the domestic season, got a double hundred, and I am working on my batting. I can play Test cricket and I know that. I didn't do well in the England series, but I know I can play more and more Test matches. I do believe in my hard work, and whenever I get a chance I will prove myself again."
Australia to Take Two Keepers to West Indies
Brydon Coverdale
January 30, 2012
Matthew Wade is expected to earn a Test call-up for the tour of the West Indies in April after the national selector John Inverarity expressed his desire to have two wicketkeepers in the squad. Wade has been named in Australia's side for the first three ODIs of the upcoming tri-series while Brad Haddin rests following a long period of cricket.
Strong performances from Wade in those matches could build pressure on Haddin, 34, who has had a difficult few months with the bat and behind the stumps. The coach Mickey Arthur wants Haddin to still be around for the 2013 Ashes but Wade, 24, is also viewed as a potential Test player and averages 40.16 in first-class cricket.
Last time the Australians played Tests in the West Indies they were forced to fly Luke Ronchi in mid-tour as a standby player for Haddin, who in his debut Test series broke a finger, but battled on and played all three Tests. Inverarity said a backup gloveman was desirable for this year's Caribbean trip, which included three Tests in April.
"The West Indies is a pretty difficult place to get to from Australia, so at this stage and it will depend on the budget, but we're keen to have two keepers there throughout the West Indies tour," Inverarity said. "If a keeper breaks his hand it would probably be five days to a week before a replacement could get organised, get there, recover from jetlag and be ready to play.
"If you've got one wicketkeeper in the West Indies and two days before a Test he breaks his hand and cannot keep, what do you do?"
With Tim Paine still out due to a long-term finger injury, Wade is the logical choice as the next in line behind Haddin, although Peter Nevill of New South Wales is also pushing his case. Wade might even open the batting in the ODIs in February, as no obvious opening partner for David Warner was named in the squad with Shane Watson still injured and Shaun Marsh dropped.
Inverarity said it remained to be seen whether Haddin would return for the later stages of the one-day series against Sri Lanka and India or whether he would be better off taking a longer break. He said it was up to Haddin, who will captain the Prime Minister's XI against Sri Lanka this Friday, whether he would play any Sheffield Shield cricket in the meantime, after a lean few months with the bat in Test cricket.
"That's up to Brad. He won't be playing the next Shield match because being a Canberra lad he's captaining the side for the Prime Minister's XI," Inverarity said. "The Shield match starts the next day. I think that's a good opportunity for Brad to be able to put his feet up for a bit. I think an essential part of preparation is refreshment and the opportunity to take it easy for a time and get mentally refreshed.
"It provides a terrific opportunity for Matthew Wade. We hope Matthew Wade keeps and bats brilliantly and then we have two keepers at the level, because you never know when a wicketkeeper is going to break down. We're all for developing Matthew Wade and Brad Haddin both together."
Injured Lyon Out For Two to Three Weeks
Brydon Coverdale
January 30, 2012
The offspinner Nathan Lyon is expected to miss at least the next two Sheffield Shield matches for South Australia due to a thigh injury. Lyon carried the problem through the Test series against India and he was still able to perform well enough to take four wickets in the final innings in Adelaide, but Cricket Australia's medical staff want him to rest and allow the injury to heal.
"Nathan Lyon has been carrying a right thigh muscle strain for the majority of the Test series against India," Australia's physio Alex Kountouris said. "This injury has gradually become worse throughout the course of the series and has come to a point where he needs a break to allow it to heal. He will undergo a rehabilitation program and we anticipate his return to cricket in the next two to three weeks."
Lyon took seven wickets - five of which came in the last Test - at an average of 41.57 against India and he is expected to play an important role in April's Test tour of the Caribbean, where the wickets are often slow. The injury meant he was unavailable for selection in Australia's one-day squad, but he was unlikely to be chosen anyway, with Xavier Doherty the preferred spinner in the short format.
He was also ruled out of Friday's Prime Minister's XI match against Sri Lanka in Canberra, where he was replaced by the Queensland legspinner Cameron Boyce. He would have missed the Redbacks next Shield match due to the PM's XI contest, but is now likely to miss the following Shield match as well, against Victoria starting on February 13.
Bailey Defends His T20 Record
Brydon Coverdale
January 30, 2012
George Bailey has conceded he will only win respect as Australia's new Twenty20 captain if he scores runs himself, regardless of how the side performs. Bailey's highest score in the shortest format is 60 and he has made only one T20 half-century in the past three seasons, but he said batting at No.5 opportunities were often limited and his record "stands up against anyone".
Bailey will make his T20 international debut on Wednesday against India in Sydney, and he will do it as captain after Australia's selectors axed Cameron White from the T20 leadership. A successful state captain with Tasmania, Bailey, 29, is seen by John Inverarity's panel as the man who has the best chance of steering Australia to success in the ICC World Twenty20 in September.
However, he will need to ensure he doesn't succumb to the same fate as Michael Clarke, who was viewed as a tactically shrewd T20 captain but whose own batting skills were not suited to the game. Bailey is a more powerful striker than Clarke and has a T20 strike-rate of 132, but it remains to be seen whether he can turn himself from a good domestic batsman into an international one.
"You are captain but first and foremost you're in there to perform," Bailey told ESPNcricinfo. "That dictates a hell of a lot of the respect that you have. Part of my performance will be my captaincy but the majority of it will be with the bat. I have to perform. I certainly would have liked a few more runs in the Big Bash but since Twenty20 started being played I certainly think my record stands up against anyone, particularly for someone who has batted for the majority in that middle order."
Bailey scored 114 runs at an average of 19 for the Melbourne Stars in the Big Bash League, where he was captained by White, the man he has succeeded as national skipper. But as a man who often bats in the lower middle order, Bailey believes his average is less relevant than it would be in one-day or first-class cricket, because his opportunities are fewer.
He is part of a squad that Australia's selectors hope can form the core of the side that will challenge for the World T20 title in Sri Lanka later this year, and Inverarity has spoken of the importance of building a group that works well together. Bailey echoed those thoughts and said it was vital the squad was well-balanced.
"I think there are a lot of facets of Twenty20 cricket that we're still working out how we measure whether someone has been successful," Bailey said. "Part of naming a squad and starting to work out who's going to fit into the jigsaw puzzle of September is exactly that, what will be a group that harmonises well together.
"You could pick the top six or seven run scorers from the Big Bash and the top five leading wicket takers, but in terms of getting a team together it's about melding all those skills of being able to score quickly and being able to score consistently, keeping runs down and taking wickets and putting all of those things together into a team.
"We're getting closer and closer and we have more data on T20 cricket but certainly batting in the middle order it's always going to be a challenge, compared to a Test cricketer where you get to the end of your career and you say well you averaged this and it gives you some indication. I think in T20 you look at whether people are contributing in partnerships, or what stage they come in, or when they hit their boundaries and their sixes, to be an effective cricketer."
Some Australian fans might judge whether Bailey is an effective cricket based on his first two T20 outings this week, if they have not already seen him play. While the pressure of performing as the national captain cannot completely be avoided, Bailey is confident that he shut out any such distractions against India on Wednesday and Friday.
"It's not something I'll be feeling in the group," he said. "Cricketers are aware that we play in a performance-based game and the pressure sometimes of what other people are thinking, that's often built up in the media. Once you're out there performing, you're just out there doing your job to the best of your ability."
Omari Banks Announces Retirement
ESPNcricinfo staff
January 30, 2012
Omari Banks, the former West Indies allrounder, has announced his retirement from cricket. Banks, 29, was the first Test cricketer from the island of Anguilla, and represented West Indies in ten Tests and five ODIs between 2003 and 2005. He continued to play for Leeward Islands till 2010-11, after a three-season spell with Somerset ended in 2009.
One of the highlights of Banks' international career was his unbeaten 47 against Australia in 2003 when West Indies famously hunted down 418, still the largest successful chase in Test history. He also captained Leeward Islands on the domestic circuit, and played 80 first-class matches after making his debut in 2000-01.
Banks currently works as a physical education teacher in Anguilla, and has also been trying to build a career in music. He is the son of reggae musician Bankie Banx, and his first single 'Move On', will be part of his father's upcoming album, 'Just Cool', due to be released on March 6.
Sunday, 29 January 2012
Pakistan can Become the No. 1 Team in the World - Mohsin Khan
George Dobell in Abu Dhabi
January 29, 2012
Mohsin Khan, Pakistan's interim coach, believes Misbah-ul-Haq's side has the ability to become the best team in the world following its second successive Test victory over England.
Pakistan's 72-run win in Abu Dhabi gave them an unassailable 2-0 lead in the three-match series over the No.1 Test side. It also meant that Pakistan had won four series in a row. Mohsin did warn, however, that England's struggles on Asian pitches illustrated how hard it can be for teams to adapt to a foreign environment and said Pakistan had "a lot to prove" in overseas conditions.
"I think this team has the capacity to become the world's best team," Mohsin said. "Our target should be to gradually come in the top three in both Tests and one-day cricket, and then gradually go to world number one.
"Now we have to perform when we play in other parts of the world. We have a lot to prove. When we go to England, our batsmen struggle against swing and seam bowling just as England struggle against spin. But give our bowlers credit: it needs skill to exploit rivals' weaknesses. Our spinners bowled well."
Mohsin also praised Misbah's leadership and credited the warm relationship between captain and coach as a key ingredient in Pakistan's success. "He is a very good captain," Mohsin said, "and I have a wonderful rapport with him. He gives me respect as coach and as his senior and I give him respect as captain, so it is a mutual thing.
"We make a game plan and take inputs from senior and junior players. Maybe a junior player has something good and wise to tell us. Misbah respects my experience and as coach it is my duty to support him as he is to make the team fight. He is doing that.
"When I became coach I knew that this team had talent in abundance. My first priority was to make them mentally and physically strong and that was on display when Azhar Ali and Asad Shafiq batted. We won a lost match on Saturday and the kind of belief and self confidence this team has shown is great."
Mohsin's own future remains unclear. He was only appointed as interim coach after Waqar Younis stepped down in September 2011 and it is still anticipated that Dav Whatmore will win the position on a full time basis after the limited-overs section of the series against England is completed. The manner in which the Pakistan players lifted Mohsin upon their shoulders in the immediate aftermath of the victory in Abu Dhabi, however, spoke volumes for the high regard in which he is held by them.
"I am proud of my team and the moment when we won and then the players lifted me and celebrated the win, that was a joy to behold," Mohsin said. "It showed team spirit and the unity in joy. That was the biggest gift I can have from my players. Our actions are louder than words and I hope that this good work goes on and on."
We want to Make Winning a Habit - Southee
ESPNcricinfo staff
January 29, 2012
In Hobart last December, after winning a Test in Australia for the first time in 26 years, New Zealand celebrated their achievement in a new way. The players strolled out to the pitch in their whites, sang a team song, and settled down to enjoy a few drinks to mark the moment. They did it again in Napier after hammering Zimbabwe. Tim Southee said the acting-captain Brendon McCullum was the brains behind the celebration and that New Zealand wanted to make it an often-repeated ritual.
"It's a pledge which has been around a long time," Southee said. "Brendon McCullum has been driving it. It's something we will make a tradition as Test wins keep coming."
Of their four Tests this summer, New Zealand have won three, and Southee hoped victory would become a habit for this team. "It's a great thing to win Test matches. It's an amazing feeling and we are slowly making a bit of a habit of it. Hopefully we can have this group of guys together for a long time and keep that winning feeling."
In each of those victories, New Zealand displayed a different aspect of their recent development: strong temperament in tight game in Bulawayo, the ability to beat some of the best in Hobart and ruthlessness in Napier. The innings-and-301-run victory at McLean Park could have been more emphatic if most of the second day had not been washed out.
"If the rain hadn't come it could have been all over in two days or two and a half days," Southee said. "It was a dream day. Days like that are what you play Test cricket for. It was a great to have a win, and to win so convincingly and build on that game from Hobart."
Like they did at Bellerive Oval, New Zealand played four fast bowlers in Napier, on a pitch that assisted the quicks. Seventeen wickets fell to pace, eight of them to Chris Martin, as Zimbabwe were dismissed twice in a day. "We went with the four-seamer attack again. In the first innings everyone chipped in," Southee said. "But, in the second innings, it was just an outstanding individual performance by Chris. The way he bowled showed there's still a bit of kick in the old boy yet."
With Martin guiding the young bowlers such as Southee, Trent Boult and Doug Bracewell, Southee said New Zealand had a good balance. "The experience of the older guys and the excitement of the young guys mixed in is great. We are very excited about what the future holds."
The immediate future holds three ODIs and two Twenty20s against Zimbabwe before the series against South Africa, which Southee calls "the key of the summer," starting with three T20s and three ODIs. The glut of limited-overs cricket means New Zealand will have to make a speedy adjustment to the format, and Southee was confident they would. "It wasn't that long ago that we had a white ball in our hands and it shouldn't take too long to adapt back to that," he said. "It will just be a narrowing down of skills and practicing death and slower balls, change of pace and things like that."
New Zealand's first ODI against Zimbabwe is in Dunedin on February 3.
The Wake-Up Call No One Wanted - Flower
George Dobell in Abu Dhabi
January 29, 2012
Andy Flower, condemned to his first Test series defeat since he took up the England coaching job on a permanent basis, has described their loss to Pakistan in the UAE as "the wake-up call no one wanted to get."
Flower laid the responsibility for the two heavy defeats in Dubai and Abu Dhabi squarely at the feet of England's batsmen and urged them to "face up to facts" and show "courage" in confronting their issues with high-quality spin bowling.
England's dramatic collapse in the second Test, when they were dismissed for 72 in pursuit of a target of 145, leaves them in danger of conceding their No. 1 Test ranking to South Africa if they do not win the final Test in Dubai. A 2-0 or 3-0 defeat, coupled with a 3-0 win for South Africa in New Zealand in March, would be enough for South Africa to take the top spot.
Their long-standing reputation as strugglers in Asian conditions has also been painfully confirmed. In 19 Tests in India, Pakistan, Sri lanka and now the Gulf since winning in Sri Lanka in 2001, England have lost nine, drawn nine and won one - and a sixth series defeat in seven is now inevitable.
"This is a great challenge for all of us," Flower said. "We've got another Test, a one-day series, a couple of Twenty20 games and then we've also got Test series in Sri Lanka and India before the year is out. So these issues will not disappear and we've got to face them with skill and a bit of courage. We've got to be a lot better than we were yesterday. Each individual will have to work very hard in working out his method of scoring.
"Yesterday was tough watching for anyone who loves England cricket. The guys played some really good cricket to get us into that position to chase a total of 145 to win a Test. It is exactly the sort of position you want to be in. But then we weren't good enough to deal with their spinners; we weren't skilful enough and we didn't deal with the pressure well enough. We have to face up to those facts.
Chasing a target of just 145, England's passive approach - Andrew Strauss and Alastair Cook laboured for 15 overs in scoring 21 - allowed Pakistan's spin bowlers to build pressure on the batsmen and rendered them close to strokeless at times.
"They made familiar mistakes," Flower said. "We need our batsmen to learn. We didn't put any pressure on their bowlers in the second innings. We allowed them to bowl and create pressure. The conditions to play against quality spinners were difficult and we weren't good enough. We realise that we haven't been very skilful in dealing with that type of cricket.
As demands sounded for changes in the third Test, with the Essex batsman Ravi Bopara looking certain to be given an opportunity, Flower said that he would not be afraid to drop players if necessary.
"Continuity of selection has been part of our strength but very obviously we have to pick players who are most adept at dealing with these conditions," Flower said. "That is what we tried to do. We have lost the series now and of course we have to go into this third Test and pick what we think is the best XI to try and win the game. If that means making a change here and there, then we won't be afraid to do that."
Flower was keen to credit those England players who had enjoyed a good game and the excellent performance of the Pakistan team.
"Maybe we dropped a couple of catches in that first innings that were quite important, but other than that the bowlers and fielders were outstanding and Monty Panesar was great in his comeback game. Jonathan Trott and Alastair Cook were outstanding in that partnership of 139. Stuart Broad was outstanding; he played an aggressive, courageous knock to give us the lead - that was a match-turning performance from him both with ball and bat.
"It's also right to praise the Pakistan team for what they have done. They beat us fair and square. They have beaten us properly in two matches. They have fought hard and worked hard at their game and in a way I'm very happy for them. It's good for their cricket and it's good for their country."
With all the attention falling on an underperforming batting line-up, England have decided not to send for a replacement for the injured seam bowler, Chris Tremlett. Instead the England management have reasoned that the Lions players in contention will gain more benefit from match practice on their tour of Sri Lanka and that, with the likes of Steven Finn and Graham Onions already with the senior squad, England have most bases covered.
England have delayed the announcement of their squad for the limited-overs section of this tour until the end of the third Test. It remains unclear whether Tim Bresnan, who has returned to bowling in England, will have sufficiently recovered from his elbow surgery to warrant selection.
Saturday, 28 January 2012
One of the Most Painful Defeats of my Career - Strauss
George Dobell in Abu Dhabi
January 28, 2012
Andrew Strauss has described England's defeat against Pakistan in Abu Dhabi as among the most painful of his career.
Strauss, the England captain, top scored with 32 as his side was dismissed for 72 in pursuit of a target of 145. It was England's lowest total against Pakistan and only the second time they failed to chase a target of under 150 in the fourth innings in more than a century. The result condemned them to their first series defeat since losing in the West Indies in 2009 and jeopardised their reign as the world's No. 1 Test team. If England fail to win the final Test and South Africa inflict a 3-0 defeat upon New Zealand, then South Africa will usurp England.
To make the defeat all the more galling, England had several opportunities to win. Not only was their target modest but, had Kevin Pietersen hit the stumps with a simple throw on day three to run out Asad Shafiq, Pakistan's key second-innings partnership would have been ended. In the context of a low-scoring game, the extra 49 runs the pair added were vital.
"It is a struggle to think of a loss that has hurt more than this," Strauss said. "It's bitterly disappointing to lose a game you should have won. These are the games that hurt the most, because you feel like you've done everything you can to win the game - and then you aren't able to nail the final nail in the coffin.
Strauss' disappointment was increased by the sense that England had failed a significant challenge. Winning in Asian conditions remains the Holy Grail for England and, after the success of the last couple of years, they felt they had an excellent opportunity on this tour. He was, however, frank when assessing where England had gone wrong.
"I said at the start of this tour, this is the final frontier," Strauss said. "England teams haven't done very well out here [in Asia] in the past. We felt like we had a great chance to win this series, but I think the fact that we got rolled over twice in Dubai meant that there was some baggage there going into this final innings. Test cricket is hard and it exposes any vulnerability or weaknesses you have.
"As a batting unit we have to hold our hands up and say we haven't done well enough. We have been rolled over three times in four innings this series. There are no excuses - we need to be better than that.
"We just didn't play well enough, individually or collectively. Individually we've not been clear enough in our game plans against spin, we've not been clear enough in our methods of where our scoring areas are, and we've allowed pressure to build."
Strauss admitted that England's cautious approach might have contributed to the defeat. England were almost strokeless at times, with Alastair Cook labouring for 15 overs for his seven runs.
"It is easy to get caught between two stools," Strauss said. "You don't know whether to be patient or to take the bull by the horns. There is always a balance to strike between attack and defence and ultimately we didn't do it right. I'm a strong believer that players should play their natural game in positions like this, but it was a bit unfortunate that our attacking players were out very quickly."
Strauss was also keen to credit Pakistan for their performance. "It's very important in circumstances like this, and particularly after this game, to give a lot of credit to Pakistan," he said. "They were outstanding. They've been a good, close-knit unit - and they've got some very good spin bowlers. Ultimately, they've played better cricket than we did."
Pakistan vs England 2nd Test Day 4 Highlights - 28th Jan 2012
Pakistan vs England 2nd Test Day 4 Highlights
Part 1
Part 2
Part 3
Part 4
Presentation
Was Strauss Out Or Not ? Worst Decision Ever ?
England Bowled Out For 72 vs Pakistan in 2nd Test-2012
Match Info:Squads
England Squad: 1 Andrew Strauss (C), 2 Alistair Cook, 3 Ian Trott, 4 Kevin Pietersen, 5 Ian Bell, 6 Eoin Morgan, 7 Matt Prior (WK), 8 Stuart Broad, 9 Graeme Swann, 10 James Anderson, 11 Chris Tremlett.
Pakistan Squad: 1 Mohammed Hafeez, 2 Taufeeq Umar, 3 Azhar Ali, 4 Younis Khan, 5 Misbah-ul-Haq (C), 6 Asad Shafiq, 7 Adnan Akmal (WK), 8 Abdur Rehman, 9 Umar Gul, 10 Saeed Ajmal,
11 Aizaz Cheema.
Australia vs India 4th Test Day 5 Highlights - 28th Jan 2012
Australia vs India 4th Test Day 5 Highlights
Part 1
Part 2
Match Info:Squads
Australia Squad: 1 David Warner, 2 Ed Cowan, 3 Shaun Marsh, 4 Ricky Ponting, 5 Michael Clarke (capt), 6 Michael Hussey, 7 Brad Haddin (wk), 8 Peter Siddle, 9 Ryan Harris, 10 Ben Hilfenhaus, 11 Nathan Lyon.
India Squad: 1 Virender Sehwag (capt), 2 Gautam Gambhir, 3 Rahul Dravid, 4 Sachin Tendulkar, 5 VVS Laxman, 6 Virat Kohli, 7 Wriddhiman Saha (wk), 8 R Ashwin, 9 Zaheer Khan, 10 Ishant Sharma, 11 Umesh Yadav.
Pakistan Clinch a Historical Victory against England in 2nd Test and win the Test Series 2-0
The Report by David Hopps
January 28, 2012
Pakistan 257 (Misbah 84, Shafiq 58, Broad 4-47) and 214 (Azhar 68, Shafiq 43, Panesar 6-62) beat England 327 (Cook 94, Broad 58*, Ajmal 4-108) and 72 (Rehman 6-25, Ajmal 3-22) by 72 runs
England suffered one of their most disastrous batting collapses in Test history as they disintegrated against Pakistan's spinners to lose the second Test in Abu Dhabi and with it the series. Pakistan went 2-0 up with one to play as Abdur Rehman, their left-arm spinner, took most of the plaudits with a Test-best 6 for 25.
England had only lost on four occasions in Test history when presented with a victory target of 145 or fewer, evoking memories of when they were run ragged by Richard Hadlee and made 64 against New Zealand in Wellington.
They did not even get halfway, dismissed for 72 in only 36.1 overs, their lowest total since the debacle against West Indies in Kingston three years ago which became the catalyst for their transformation under the stewardship of the coach, Andy Flower, and captain, Andrew Strauss.
England were never in the hunt at the Sheikh Zayed stadium after Monty Panesar's triumphant return to Test cricket - 6 for 62, the second best figures of his Test career -- left them chasing only 145 for victory. The pitch offered prodigious turn at times but it was England's inability to read the length of Pakistan's spinners that cost them just as dearly.
Rehman fell to his knees and kissed the turf after taking five wickets in a Test innings for the first time. England had come to Dubai fearing Saeed Ajmal's devilish mix of offspinners and doosras and they had fallen instead to one of the most unsung spinners in the international game.
Not that Ajmal could be entirely excluded. He became the quickest Pakistan player to reach 100 Test wickets when Matt Prior became the ninth England batsman to fall, and his serene presence was a counterpoint to the excitability all around him.
For a Pakistan side that was so recently embroiled in controversy after three players were jailed for their part in the spot-fixing scandal, this was a striking restatement of their talent. The captain, Misbah-ul-Haq, has brought stability where too often there has been near anarchy and more and more people will look upon Mohsin Khan's position as interim coach and wonder why the word "interim" still remains.
England's horrors in Asia go on, their status as the No. 1 team in the Test rankings already under threat. Another calamitous top-order collapse saw them lose four wickets for 16 runs in 37 balls as what little confidence they had was shaken by a debilitating stomach bug for Jonathan Trott, the bedrock of their batting, who came in at No. 7.
England, as if shaken by Trott's illness, crawled to 21 in nearly 15 overs before Alastair Cook tried to work Mohammad Hafeez into the legside against the spin and chipped a gentle return catch off a leading edge. It was the least that Pakistan deserved because he should have been out leg before three balls earlier. Only Adnan Akmal, the wicketkeeper, was convinced that it was out and by then his incessant appealing had started to wash over everybody, his team-mates included.
Ian Bell's woes against Ajmal's doosra have wrecked his series. This time he got out to a trick shot, trying to dead bat a doosra but contriving to pop it through his own legs onto the stumps. He left looking to the heavens, an accomplished batsman suddenly Little Boy Lost again.
Aficionados of Kevin Pietersen's supposed fallibility against left-arm spin of any quality will find fresh evidence in the way he played outside Rehman's arm ball. Pietersen's recourse to DRS was overturned, the ball shown to be clipping the top of middle, and he trudged off with the air of a man about to fashion an excuse first and a technique later.
That left Eoin Morgan, reputedly one of England's best players of spin, a reputation that owes everything to adventurous innings in one-day cricket. The pressure of Test cricket demanded a reassessment as he edged onto the back foot as Rehman turned one back slightly and was bowled past a horribly angled blade.
England's plight could have been worse if Strauss had been given out caught off bat and pad at short leg by Azhar Ali off Rehman. Strauss, on 16, was blessed as the umpires turned to the third umpire, Billy Bowden, to check if the ball had carried and Bowden, in a pernickety decision that defied common sense, responded that he could not be certain. It was impossible to see where his doubt had arisen.
But Strauss was unable to organise prolonged resistance. He made 32, more than half England's runs, produced virtually England's only moment of authority when he swept Rehman for four and then fell to the next ball as he was lbw, caught on the back foot. England challenged the decision and lost their second review.
If Trott had produced heroics, the Test would have forever been dubbed Trott's Trots. Perhaps it was just as well he did not. He might have been run out on nought when he angled Rehman to backward point and was late setting off for a run and soon fell to one from Rehman that straightened, another England batsman pinned on the back foot.
Rehman bowled Broad through the gate two balls later to quell thoughts that he might repeat his first-innings adventure and the mopping up of the England tail was a formality.
Panesar had promised so much more. He has watched Graeme Swann's reputation grow apace in his two-and-a-half year absence but England's decision to field both of them for the first time since they faced Australia in Cardiff in the 2009 Ashes series has brought his Test career out of hibernation in style.
He took three wickets on the fourth day as Pakistan, who resumed on 125 for 4, were dismissed 25 minutes into the afternoon session. Asad Shafiq, who had resisted so determinedly alongside Azhar on the previous day, was well caught low at first slip by James Anderson as Panesar found sharp turn. He completed the job after lunch, Ajmal edging another turning ball to slip and Junaid Khan slogging recklessly. Panesar's 6 for 62 was outdone only by his 6 for 37 against New Zealand at Old Trafford three years ago. Azhar fell to the second new ball, failing to withdraw from a lifting delivery from Anderson. His 68 had spanned four-and-a-quarter hours and had served Pakistan proud.
A cool and misty morning in Abu Dhabi was more akin to Manchester in October and, although such climatic conditions are not universally hailed as salubrious, they perked up England's bowlers. But for England's batsmen the demands of Asia were soon all too apparent.
Third Test Between Pakistan and England will Begin on Feb 3 at Dubai
Australia Thrash India By 298-Runs to Complete 4-0 Whitewash in Test Series
The Report by Brydon Coverdale
January 28, 2012
Australia 7 for 604 dec and 5 for 167 dec beat India 272 and 201 (Sehwag 62, Lyon 4-63, Harris 3-41) by 298 runs
Before the Sydney Test, Glenn McGrath gave his typical prediction that Australia would win the series 4-0. Few people truly expected it to happen. But such has been the gulf between the two sides that four weeks later, Australia wrapped up a whitewash within 59 minutes on the last day at Adelaide Oval, the only Test in the series that India managed to take to a fifth day.
Australia's 298-run victory was finalised when Nathan Lyon found the edge of Umesh Yadav's bat and Brad Haddin gloved the ball cleanly, which led to celebrations from the Australians. Not wild celebrations, though. The restrained type of self-congratulation that follows a long period of work, with the knowledge that even more toil remains ahead.
That the 4-0 series win was not enough to lift Australia out of fourth position on the ICC rankings is an indication of how far the side had fallen, and how much work remains for Michael Clarke and his men. But they are the on the way up. Their next Test tour is to the West Indies in April, and there they can move up the rankings list, closer to their goal of regaining the No.1 spot.
For India, this was the culmination of a miserable year away from home. They remain in third spot on the rankings, but only just. They began the day at 6 for 166, with no hope of chasing the target of 500 or batting all day to play out the draw. The first wicket came when Ishant Sharma edged behind off Ryan Harris for 2, and that was closely followed by Wriddhiman Saha (3) also edging behind off Peter Siddle.
R Ashwin and Zaheer Khan stole a few boundaries but it was only ever a question of which bowlers would get the wickets. Zaheer skied a catch off Ben Hilfenhaus for 15 and the final wicket came when Yadav edged behind with the total on 201. That gave Lyon 4 for 63, an encouraging end to a series in which he was the least effective of Australia's four main bowlers, against batsmen adept at handling spin.
Harris ended up with 3 for 41 but it was appropriate that all four frontline bowlers, including Man of the Match Siddle, picked up at least one wicket. It has been their constant pressure throughout the summer that has kept India's powerful batting line-up in check. Significantly, it was not until the final Test of the series that India found a centurion, and then it was the newest member of the top six, Virat Kohli.
VVS Laxman averaged 19.37 for the series, Virender Sehwag averaged 24.75, Rahul Dravid 24.25, Gautam Gambhir 22.62, MS Dhoni 20.40 and Sachin Tendulkar 35.87. None of them scored as many runs as Kohli, whose 300 came at 37.50, and such results should encourage the selectors to give more opportunities to fresh batsmen.
The Indian bowlers were also below-par. Zaheer finished with 15 wickets at 31.80, a decent result and an indication that he keeps working hard even in trying circumstances, and Yadav showed promise with his 14 wickets at 39.35. But Ishant's five wickets at 90.20, Ashwin's nine victims at 62.77, and the folly of picking Vinay Kumar at the WACA all stood out as disappointments.
Hilfenhaus and Siddle headed the Australian attack throughout the series, and they were wonderful. Clarke and Ricky Ponting were outstanding with the bat. It was a complete display from an Australian unit that heading in the right direction. And a squad that can always look back on this 4-0 result with pride.
New Zealand Bowl Out Zimbabwe Twice in a Day and win the Only Test
The Report by Andrew Fernando
January 28, 2012
New Zealand 495 for 7 dec (Taylor 122, Watling 102*) beat Zimbabwe 51 (Waller 23) and 143 (Chakabva 63, Martin 6-26) by an innings and 301 runs
Zimbabwe fans waking up to check on the cricket might wonder if they slept through the entire weekend, after a rolling Zimbabwe collapse spanning sixteen wickets and 43 overs brought the one-off Test in Napier hurtling to an early close. The innings-and-301-run defeat is their worst ever, eclipsing the loss they suffered to the same opposition in 2005 by seven runs. And though Regis Chakabva resisted valiantly with a 63 from 119 balls towards the end, it was little compensation for a catastrophic first innings in response to New Zealand's 495 for 7 declared.
Chris Martin finished with 8 for 31 for the day, bringing the top order to its knees in both innings before his team-mates smelled easy blood and continued the mauling. Sharp and disciplined, the New Zealand attack made the most of uncomfortable bounce and modest movement available, on a day where they only had to keep putting the ball just short of a length and await the bounty.
Zimbabwe had succumbed for 54 against South Africa on their last away Test tour six years ago, but they trumped even that ignominy at McLean Park, with a 51 all out in the first innings that lasted a shade under 29 overs. Tino Mawoyo and Forster Mutizwa were the first dominoes to fall, flailing wildly at Martin indippers that went on to disturb their stumps. Hamilton Masakadza, Brendan Taylor and Tatenda Taibu continued the spectacular surrender, pushing hard outside off stump to provide the slips with a supply of edges.
The visitors might have hoped to breach the follow-on target of 295, but not only did that seem a fanciful pipe dream at lunch, the rate of implosion suggested they wouldn't even manage 40. New Zealand's stand-in captain, Brendon McCullum, employed no fewer than seven catching men in addition to the keeper at one stage, to ensure each gift Zimbabwe bestowed could be happily accepted.
Malcolm Waller offered the only resistance, when he managed 23 before edging Tim Southee to the slips. At least he made a double figure score - something that evaded each of his team-mates, who between them recorded three ducks, two twos and three threes. After Waller's demise, the tail bowed as meekly as those who had gone before them at the top of the innings, who in turn padded up again for the second time in two hours.
They were all heading back to the changing room soon after though, as the Zimbabwe batting conveyor belt resumed either side of tea. Martin snared both Zimbabwe openers and captain Taylor, before two wickets to Doug Bracewell in the first over after the afternoon break reduced Zimbabwe to 12 for 5, with the day's running total at 63 for 15.
Chakabva and Graeme Cremer came together for the seventh wicket, with the total at 37 and their side facing the heaviest Test loss since 1938. But the pair finally found the application that had evaded Zimbabwe for 40 overs and prevented further infamy with a 63-run association. Both men were understandably reticent to begin with, but began to score runs off loose deliveries eventually, with Chakabva even venturing two cleanly struck boundaries off a Trent Boult over that eased the nerves. The pair survived the seamers, who had reaped 14 wickets between them in two sessions and had McCullum turning to his part-timers before Cremer abandoned judgement and his wicket, chipping a Kane Williamson full toss lamely to mid-off.
Chakabva continued his defiance in the company of a more aggressive minded Shingi Masakadza, completing a dogged first Test fifty from 82 deliveries to force New Zealand to call on the extra half hour to complete the win. When at one stage it seemed Zimbabwe would not eclipse BJ Watling's first innings 102 with both team totals combined, Zimbabwe's lower order restored a modicum of credibility, but fell short of the 151 that would have ensured Harare, 2005 would remain their worst loss.
The third morning had begun well enough for the visitors when Brian Vitori found late swing to dislodge Bracewell off the third ball of the day. But their start would have been yet brighter had Shingi Masakadza not overstepped two balls later. Watling was given out lbw to a delivery angling in to him, but was handed his first life upon review - one of many costly misses for Zimbabwe in the field.
Tim Southee, on orders to partner Watling for as long as possible rather than wield his characteristic long handle, ended up doing both. He battled out the first twenty minutes risk-free before two straight fours off Kyle Jarvis signaled intentions to propel New Zealand towards 500. Greed ended his enterprising innings at 44, as he looked to slam a third consecutive boundary off Cremer over midwicket only for Waller to swallow his mis-hit.
Boult saw Watling through to his ton, which didn't come without drama. He was dropped in the gully off Jarvis at 90, and at 94, was hurried-up by the dressing room who granted one more over to reach three figures before the declaration would come. A slog to midwicket off the next ball he faced brought him four, and he was almost run out attempting an ambitious two to get his century, with Watling only able to celebrate the milestone after the third umpire ruled him home by a whisker.
No Decision about Retiring - Dravid
ESPNcricinfo staff
January 28, 2012
Rahul Dravid has said that he has not made a decision on whether to retire or not. There had been reports in the media about Dravid's imminent retirement after the defeat in Adelaide, which prompted the Indian team management to issue a statement saying that none of the senior players were about to quit. That point was reiterated by the acting captain Virender Sehwag, and now Dravid has said there was no need to make decisions immediately.
"I am definitely nearer the end than the beginning, there is no doubt about that," Dravid told Channel Nine. "I haven't made any decision and there is no need to make any decisions now, we're not playing another Test match for seven to eight months so we'll see how it pans out. At my stage in my career it's always about taking it a series at a time and not looking too far ahead, so we'll see what happens."
Dravid was in bad form during India's 0-4 whitewash in Australia, scoring only 194 runs at an average of 24. His failure came after good performances in his previous two series - 319 runs at an average of 64 against West Indies at home, and 461 runs at an average of 77 in England.
None of the other India batsmen averaged over 40 either in Australia and their collective failure led to India's second consecutive 0-4 overseas whitewash. Dravid said it was important that India try and regain ground as a Test team.
"We haven't done so well abroad over the last couple of series but I'm hopeful that some of the young kids will come through. It might take a bit of time but we'll build up a strong base.
"India needs to be a strong Test-playing nation, there are not too many countries playing cricket and I think if India is competitive in Test cricket it does make a difference."
India now play a tri-series in Australia, against the hosts and Sri Lanka, after which they travel to Bangladesh for the Asia Cup in March. The Indian Premier League is scheduled for April and May, after which India will play more limited-overs cricket. Their next Test series is only in August, at home against New Zealand.
Mohsin Khan wants to Coach Pakistan Full Time
David Hopps
January 28, 2012
Mohsin Khan, Pakistan's interim coach, has dropped a veiled hint that he would like to be formally considered for the coaching job on a permanent basis after Pakistan beat England by 72 runs in Abu Dhabi and took an unassailable 2-0 lead in the three-Test series.
Moshin and his captain, Misbah-ul-Haq, have been widely acclaimed for bringing stability and contentment to a Pakistan dressing room so often riven by conflict, but while Pakistan have added England to their list of scalps in their adopted home in the UAE, the PCB has been openly engaged in finding Mohsin's successor.
Dav Whatmore is widely viewed as the favourite for the job. He met with board officials in Lahore a fortnight ago immediately after Mohsin left for the UAE with the Pakistan squad. He was taken to the National Cricket Academy and held talks with the PCB chairman Zaka Ashraf. An appointment is predicted at the end of the one-day series.
Mohsin, asked directly whether he wanted the job full-time after adding a series win against England to successes against Bangladesh and Sri Lanka, gave a cryptic reply. "What Mohsin Khan is today is because of Pakistan and Pakistan cricket," he said. "My services are always there for my country but I don't want anybody to take me for granted.
"People were saying that performing well against Sri Lanka and Bangladesh was nothing great, okay agreed, but to perform against England, whether they are No. 1 or not, is always creditable."
If Mohsin does not gain the job full time, he at least expects his candidature to be taken seriously. He took temporary charge earlier this year after Waqar Younis stood down for health reasons. He was among the 30 people who applied for the job, but Ashraf reportedly said he was not qualified to assume the role on a full-time basis.
Mohsin also said he had been the chief advocate of the selection of Asad Shafiq and Azhar Ali, two young players whose maturity in Pakistan's second innings set up their platform for victory in Abu Dhabi.
"I was the one who selected them because a year and a half back when I became chairman of the selection committee we picked up these two youngsters and I felt they were very talented," he said. "All the credit goes to the boys because they played well under tough conditions.
"We were hoping for a lead around 225 or 230 but we finished up with much less than that. But I have a lot of belief in these players of mine. I said to my boys if we play proper and disciplined cricket we can get them for 100. It was to give a morale-booster to the boys. I think England went a little bit on the defence, though I am not telling them what they should have done."
Pakistan yearn for the time when they can stage home Tests again but in a curious way perhaps neutral territory has suited them. Had they gone 1-0 up in Pakistan the temptation would have been to try and create two dead pitches to escape with draws in the last two Tests. Instead, the Sheikh Zayed pitch provided a compelling contest and Pakistan emerged victorious.
"Whenever you play in conditions you are not used to, you face some difficulties," Misbah said. "When we go to England there are difficulties for us. The confidence our team has gained in the last 18 months is also a big factory. They now believe in themselves.
"Any team batting last on this surface would find it difficult. The way the ball was turning it was hard to play the spinners, so we thought 'we can put pressure on England, let's have a try.' Just bowl wicket to wicket, that is the key here. Some balls were turning, some skidding on and it was really difficult for the batsmen to guess what was happening."
Pakistan used to be forever asked about spot-fixing. Now they are forever asked if it time to stop talking about spot-fixing. Cricket will not forget so easily but Misbah is convinced that it is time to move on. "It should be," he said. "Just concentrate on what is happening now. Both teams are playing good cricket in a good atmosphere. Nothing is happening. That's really good for cricket."
Henriques Helps Sixers to win Big Bash League Title 2011-12
Thr Report by Brydon Coverdale
January 28, 2012
Sydney Sixers 3 for 158 (Henriques 70, O'Keefe 48) beat Perth Scorchers 5 for 156 (Marsh 77*, Lee 2-21) by seven wickets
The Sydney Sixers began the Big Bash League as one of the least fancied sides but they won the tournament after Moises Henriques set up their chase in the final against the Perth Scorchers. In front of a WACA crowd desperate to see the state's first silverware - albeit not for the Warriors - in nearly a decade, the Sixers spoiled the party and won by seven wickets.
Mitchell Marsh had excited the Perth fans with a powerful innings of 77 after Marcus North chose to bat, but Brett Lee helped contain the Scorchers to 5 for 156, which was a gettable, though challenging target. Henriques and Steve O'Keefe put together a 110-run opening stand in the chase and it was a start the home side was unable to pull back.
A pair of wickets from Ben Edmondson late in the game gave the Scorchers a sniff, as the Sixers needed 22 from the final three overs. But the Sixers captain Steven Smith procured three boundaries and 15 in total from the next over, a poor one from Nathan Rimmington, and from there it was all very straightforward for the visitors.
They reached their target with seven balls to spare, Smith striking the winning boundary down the ground off Ben Edmondson to finish unbeaten on 21 with Ben Rohrer on 3. Led by the 40-year-old Stuart MacGill and fellow veteran Brett Lee, the Sixers players streamed on to the field to celebrate their triumph, which came with no international imports in the final.
Instead, it was two local allrounders who set the chase on the right path. O'Keefe struggled early, swinging wildly and missing plenty of deliveries as he battled to find his rhythm, but gradually he started to find the middle of the bat. O'Keefe drew confidence from a flat pull for six off Marsh's medium pace, although he was still well behind the tempo of his partner Henriques, who brought up his half-century when O'Keefe had only 21.
Henriques was especially brutal against the spin of Michael Beer, striking a pair of consecutive sixes over long-on and long-off, and he found gaps all around the ground. On 70 from 41 deliveries, Henriques was tricked by the 40-year-old spinner Brad Hogg, who saw Henriques advancing and sent the ball down the leg side for Luke Ronchi to complete the stumping.
O'Keefe kept the chase going well until, on 48, he scooped a catch to short fine leg off Edmondson, two balls after Nic Maddinson (10) had also skied a catch. But Smith and Rohrer ensured the win for the Sixers, a victory that was also due to the bowling of Lee, whose 2 for 21 from four overs helped restrict the Scorchers to a manageable total.
Lee began in the perfect way, with two wickets from the first over of the match. Herschelle Gibbs pulled the first ball of the game straight into the hands of deep square leg and later in the over, Ronchi took a big swipe and was caught behind to leave the Scorchers at 2 for 2. Marcus North steadied the home side until he top-edged a sweep off MacGill on 22.
However, Marsh and Paul Collingwood formed a useful 62-run partnership, Collingwood paddling sweeps and reverse sweeps to cleverly find the gaps while Marsh used his strength to clear the boundary four times. Marsh took 12 off an Henriques over and launched a monster six over long-on off the bowling of O'Keefe.
O'Keefe gave Marsh a life on 55 when he put down a chance at midwicket and in the next over, Marsh made the Sixers pay with a pair of sixes off Mitchell Starc. But Starc grabbed two wickets, Collingwood for 32 and Simon Katich for 12, and Marsh's 77 not out from 57 deliveries was comfortably the standout performance.
In the end, it wasn't enough, as Henriques and O'Keefe made up for their lapses with the ball and in the field. Henriques was named Man of the Match.
No Need For Anyone to Retire - Sehwag
Sidharth Monga at Adelaide Oval
January 28, 2012
None of the senior players is retiring as of now, the India team has said. There have been reports during the series that VVS Laxman (during Perth) and Rahul Dravid (during Adelaide) might have played their last Test match. After India's 0-4 whitewash, though, the team spokesperson read out a statement saying the reports were rumour and incorrect.
"The team takes note of the stories in the media suggesting the imminent retirement of a member of the Indian team," the spokesperson said. "We would like to clarify the situation by stating categorically that these are not correct and are baseless." The statement didn't name any of the players. "No players from the Indian team will be retiring. It is a rumour. Baseless. Incorrect."
Virender Sehwag, the stand-in captain, said, "I clarify that there is no need for retirement from anybody in this team. And they will take their call when they need it and when they think that their time is up."
The speculation, though, remains rife, especially because India don't play an away Test for the next two years, and it doesn't make sense to carry any player further unless he will be fit and ready for those overseas tours. When asked if he felt the seniors should be phased out, Sehwag said it wasn't his decision. "That's the team management and selectors who will decide," he said. "It is not me or anyone else who will decide. If they think we need something to change, they will do that. If they think we should carry on with the same, and just wait for other players to perform, and if you perform, they will take the call."
Sehwag also supported coach Duncan Fletcher, under whom India have lost eight away Tests in a row. Fletcher's record as a coach in Australia now reads one Test win and 13 losses. "He is a good coach," Sehwag said. "He is talking to a lot of the batsmen and giving his input and making a lot of strategy. When you can't execute your strategy, nothing happens.
"Why should I blame him [Fletcher]? It's the players who let the team down, not the support staff. They are very good. They are giving everything the players ask for. They were throwing to a lot of the batsmen. Thanks to the support staff. They are working hard to make sure the players perform. Make sure they give a good atmosphere for the players to perform."
