All posts by h716a5.icu

A 4-0 whitewash isn’t being discussed in the Australian change-room just yet, Michael Hussey has said

Sidharth Monga in Perth09-Jan-2012The rest of the world has been talking about it ever since India were bowled out for 191 on the first day of the SCG Test, but a 4-0 whitewash isn’t being discussed in the Australian change-room just yet, Michael Hussey has said. “We haven’t spoken about that at all,” Hussey said. “In Sydney we just tried to enjoy that amazing Test match and then, basically, close the door on that one and start afresh.”We start nil-all again here in Perth. We haven’t thought about those results too much, but we’re confident. We’re playing a good brand of cricket at the moment. We’ve just got to keep improving a little bit from every game.”Making it 3-nil in Perth is a better goal, though, and a tangible thought at the moment. “That’s obviously the goal,” Hussey said. “That would be an awesome achievement from the team.”Hussey didn’t want to sound overconfident, though. “It’s going to be a tough Test match,” he said. “India has got some great players, a lot of experience and a lot of pride. I’m expecting them to bounce back quite hard in this Test match.”The last time Hussey came to Perth for a Test match, Australia were down 1-0 in the Ashes. Australia would go on to lose the series, but at his home ground Hussey scored 61 and 116 to help Australia level the rubber. He is happy to be back, and happy that the circumstances are different. “It [that Ashes] feels a fair time ago, but it still hurts when it keeps getting brought up,” Hussey said. “It was a tough time last year for the team to go through, for everyone who was involved, but it can make you stronger by going through tough times like that as a team. We’re certainly trying to learn the lessons from those tough times, but we’re [also] trying to think positively and look forward to the way the team wants to go in the future rather than looking at the negative times.”We think it [the team] is a work in progress and we think we can improve a fair bit but it’s been an enjoyable ride so far. I’m glad I’ve had the chance to be a part of it so far and I’d like to be part of it in the future too.”Hussey said he was looking forward to perform in front of his home fans. “I love the Perth Test match,” he said. “The crowd here give unbelievable support. The roar you get as a local player when you come out to bat or take a catch is 10 times louder than for any other player. We’re a very parochial mob over here. I know the conditions extremely well as well, so that’s an advantage over other players from around the country and around the world. It is a great place to play cricket. Once you get in on this pitch, it’s fantastic for batting.”The last time Australia played India here, they lost. That Test followed a particularly bitter SCG Test, and Hussey feels the controversy might have galvanised the Indian team then. “They came to Perth with a real determination to do well after all the controversy of that [SCG] match. I didn’t feel at the time that it affected our team, but maybe it did a bit with all the controversy going on outside of the game.”And there were some real outstanding performances in that game. It was probably the birth of Ishant Sharma, who bowled unbelievably well in that Test match. I remember a spell to Ricky Ponting, which was just phenomenal bowling and the Indians played a great brand of cricket in that particular Test match and were too good in those five days.”They are a very proud bunch of cricketers, a very experienced bunch of cricketers, and I’m expecting them to bounce back extremely hard. They will take some confidence out of winning the last Test match between the two sides at this ground. But looking at our camp, we’re an extremely determined camp as well, we’re trying to go in a direction under Michael Clarke, who’s done a great job as captain since he’s taken over from Ricky. So we’re a very determined bunch of cricketers as well.”

Alistair Cook scored the first hundred of England’s UAE tour making 133 before England declared on the first day of their second warm-up match against a Pakistan Board X1.

ESPNcricinfo staff11-Jan-2012
ScorecardAlastair Cook continued his form of last year into 2012 with 133 before England declared on day one•Getty ImagesAlastair Cook carried his form of last year into 2012 with the first century of England’s UAE tour. Cook’s 133 was a vital knock as five wickets for Yasir Shah restricted England on the opening day of their final warm-up match in Dubai.Shah’s legspin removed England’s middle order as Ian Bell and Eoin Morgan recorded further low scores. England were reduced to 121 for 5 before Matt Prior made 46 from 57 balls. Graeme Swann’s 24 also helped England to a competitive total.But England were indebted to Cook’s 36th first-class hundred. In 2011 he scored 927 Test runs at 84.27 and, after 76 in the first-innings against an ICC Combined XI, he continued in that vein, marshalling England after Mohammad Talha had reduced them to 14 for 2. Captain Andrew Strauss was caught behind for 3 before Jonathan Trott fell leg before for a third-ball duck. Ian Bell was also dismissed for a duck – part of Shah’s haul of 5 for 76.The legspin of Shah removed England’s middle order. Kevin Pietersen, who took 10 balls to get off the mark, had got England moving with five fours in his 38 but he was bowled in the first over after lunch having shared a stand of 83 with Cook. Bell was then trapped leg before second ball and Shah also removed Morgan, whose 11 was his third failure of the tour after 1 and 3 against the ICC XI.With England in trouble, Prior got a partnership going with Cook and the pair added 90. Cook, who was dropped twice in the second half of his innings, went past 50 from 92 balls while Prior was his breezy self, striking seven fours before Tahla returned to have him caught behind.Swann, who underwent a scan on his quadriceps after the first warm-up match, played a useful part in making 24 as he and Cook put on 46. But when Swann fell caught behind off Shah, England’s innings came swiftly to an end. Shah completed his five-for by having Graham Onions caught before Cook edged behind off Tahla and England declared.There was time for eight overs of the PCB XI innings and Onions, playing the first time for England since January 2010 against South Africa, took the new ball. He conceded 13 in his three overs. Chris Tremlett, having recovered from his eye infection, sent down two overs and there was also time for a brief appearance from Swann and Monty Panesar.

Pakistan duly completed their first clean sweep against England in a Test series, an extraordinary achievement for a side with no home to call its own, a side that lives out of a suitcase

The Report by David Hopps06-Feb-2012
Scorecard and ball-by-ball detailsAlong with the socks and the toothpaste, Pakistan certainly unpacked quite a shock for the No. 1 ranked side•Getty ImagesPakistan duly completed their first clean sweep against England in a Test series, an extraordinary achievement for a side with no home to call its own, a side that lives out of a suitcase and does it rather well. Along with the socks and the toothpaste they certainly unpacked quite a shock for the No. 1 ranked side.Twice in a few months, the leading Test side in the world has been found wanting. India were whitewashed in England last summer and now England have suffered a similar humiliation. Test cricket in Asia, described by England’s captain, Andrew Strauss, as “the final frontier,” has proved as unconquerable as ever.The sunny disposition of Saeed Ajmal, the Man of the Series, and the stiff-limbed tenacity of Abdur Rehman tormented England to the end. They shared 43 wickets between them in a three-Test series and England barely played a shot in anger. Even after dismissing Pakistan for 99 in their first innings, they could not summon either the method or confidence to prevail. Only when the game was as good as lost did Matt Prior, who has looked likelier than most throughout the series, play with gusto in making an unbeaten 49.There was plentiful spin for Pakistan’s spinners, not quick turn but leaping turn at times when the ball struck the rough. Fittingly, the match finished on an lbw referral as Monty Panesar swept at Rehman, only to find that his retro scoop bat had no magical qualities. DRS upheld the umpire’s decision and the all-time record of 43 lbw decisions in a series was equalled.Until then, Rehman had counted Strauss as his sole success as he bowled unchanged for two sessions, 30 overs sent down with unerring accuracy. He is the sort of spin bowler who looks slightly weary from the outset, but never noticeably tires after that.The emphasis has been upon spin, but Umar Gul reminded England that the quicker bowlers carried their own threat. His four wickets set the course of the Test unquestionably towards Pakistan. Ian Bell averaged more than 100 last summer, less than 10 in this series and when he slapped a long hop wide of point it summed up his state of mind. Reverse swing accounted for Eoin Morgan, whose dance down the pitch was nothing compared to the merry jig from the wicketkeeper Adnan Akmal, after he had caught it. If Pakistan had doubts about taking the new ball, Gul allayed them as Stuart Broad and Graeme Swann risked all-out attack and got out almost immediately.Cook had put up statuesque resistance, 187 balls for 49. Along the way he became the second youngest person, at 27 years and 43 days, to reach 6,000 Test runs. Only Sachin Tendulkar has reached the landmark at a younger age. His most attacking shot of the morning, a loft into the leg side against Rehman, caused the bowler to taunt him with applause. He lived on scraps, combating the turning ball with thoughtful defence and numerous works to the leg side and that proved his undoing as a leading edge was brilliantly held by Younis Khan, diving to his left at first slip.England, 36 runs banked the previous evening, needed a further 288 at start of play. Strauss fell in the sixth over of the morning, lbw on the back foot once more. He reviewed it, although he would have been better advised to head smartly for the dressing room. When it comes to captain’s reviews Strauss cannot match Misbah-ul-Haq. Misbah was lbw on five occasions in this series and took a review every time. It must be a captain’s prerogative.Without lapses in the field, Pakistan might have won sooner. They had dropped Cook the previous evening, a relatively simple chance to Taufeeq Umar at third slip and Gul’s drop in the shadows of the stand at deep square gave him another reprieve as Pakistan lost the efficiency that has characterised their cricket throughout this series. Rehman made his frustration clear when he caught Jonathan Trott at deep square and flung the ball into the turf with feeling at the errors that had gone before.Kevin Pietersen was bent upon playing enterprisingly. The first ball of the afternoon provided a reminder of his vulnerability when a bat-pad against Rehman flew high past short leg, but he had the fleeting satisfaction of striking him straight for six before Ajmal, from around the wicket, spun one through the gate and beamed at further bounty.Adnan Akmal’s fumble behind the stumps to reprieve Strauss, although not costly as the England captain was out in the next over, was the worst miss of all. Adnan has had a good series behind the stumps and has the opportunity to be Pakistan’s first-choice keeper for many years to come but his excitable chatter was at times counterproductive. Strauss’ edge flew to him at comfortable height but he put it down. For a few minutes he was quiet and you could hear your ears ringing.Adnan’s cacophony of cries often rent the air for inexplicable reasons. As do parrots, Adnan vocalises for many reasons. He may be excitedly greeting the day or summoning his family at sunset. He may be screeching when he is excited or when he is merely trying it on. He may screech when he thinks things have got too quiet or when he thinks it is his duty to scream. He just likes screeching. At one point he burst out coughing as if in sore need of a lozenge and Trott looked at him in deadpan fashion.Adnan is also incorrigibly optimistic about reviewing umpiring decisions. “Do it, do it, yes, yes, all good,” you could sense him saying from first moment to last. Misbah learned not to take his evidence into consideration and looked askance at him. He will not be looking askance tonight – every Pakistan player will share Adnan’s excitement.

Shaun Marsh’s 79 in the Shield game against Queensland has pleased national coach Mickey Arthur, but Marsh will need sustained performance in first-class cricket if he is to make it to the West Indies trip

Sidharth Monga08-Feb-2012Shaun Marsh’s 79 in the Shield game against Queensland has pleased national coach Mickey Arthur, but Marsh will need sustained performance in first-class cricket if he is to make it to the West Indies trip, Arthur said. At the same time, the national team is keen to give Peter Forrest a few games in the triangular ODI series to test another option. Also, Shane Watson begins playing grade cricket this week, and if he recovers well he could provide more competition for Marsh’s slot as there is a fair chance Watson might be allowed to bat lower down the order when does come back.”I was very pleased for Shaun,” Arthur said. “Shaun has been through some really tough times over the last two months. His confidence took a little bit of a knock. I spoke to him last night and it’s really good to hear that he was a lot chirpier and a lot more upbeat. Amazing what a couple of runs do for you.”Arthur said Marsh’s way back was through Shield cricket and not ODIs. “That would be his path for the West Indies,” Arthur said. “He will have to keep knocking the door with the weight of shield runs. Confident he is going to do that, and I am hoping he does.”Shield is a really good breeding ground for young players. And Shaun needs to get his runs and get his form and his confidence back in the Shield. We will see how things unfolds later in the one-day series, but for now we are content to see him get runs in the Shield consistently and doing it day after day and putting himself in the frame for West Indies.”Arthur also wants to have a look at Forrest before West Indies. “We do need to see Peter Forrest at some stage,” he said. “We haven’t given it too much thought; that’s tomorrow’s problem. Likely Peter Forrest might get a go. We still got to have a lot of discussion around that. I am not sure where he fits in, but we will have some discussion leading up to the game.”It is heartening for Australia that Watson is making a comeback to fitness. “It’s been frustrating for us and frustrating for Shane, it really has,” Arthur said. “I speak to Shane weekly and just keep track of where he is, and I guess it would be true to say that we thought we would have Shane back a lot earlier. We haven’t. But it’s really good because he has built his body up to where it needs to be, and hopefully we can get sustainable performance from Shane once he gets back in. So hope it goes well for him in grade cricket this week, and we can reassess where we think he is and hopefully we can get him back into the one-day competition.”Australia are happy to wait for Watson to get back to full fitness, to a stage where he can both bowl and bat. “I don’t think we can put a timeframe on that [comeback],” Arthur said. “We’ve got to be happy, and he’s got to be happy. He’s got to be happy that his body can sustain batting and bowling. I’m not sure. As long as we’re all happy and he fits the bill, then I’m sure we’ll consider bringing him back in.”Arthur indicated Watson might not be needed to open in Tests again once he does come back. “He can bat anywhere,” Arthur said. “I think ultimately he’ll bat down the order and bowl at some stage. We need to have that discussion. We’ve broached it once or twice before but [there’s been] nothing definite. It’s where best he fits for us and where best it fits for him. He’s going to be doing some bowling and Michael [Clarke] has used him wisely through the period that he had him before this summer. It’s how he can sustain that bowling and open the batting that’s going to be the question.”Fitness-wise, Australia have more good news around the corner. They are expecting James Pattinson back towards the final stage of the ODI triangular, and Pat Cummins is on his way back too. “Pattinson bowled at us [in the nets] in Melbourne, so he’s coming back,” Arthur said. “Pattinson we could see at the back end of the one-day series. Cummins we probably won’t see until West Indies time. If we’re comfortable that he’s done everything possible, we’re comfortable to select him…”Arthur didn’t rule out Brad Haddin’s comeback into the side despite Matthew Wade’s promising start to his international career. Haddin could possibly play a few ODIs in the middle stages of the ODI series. “I couldn’t commit to that just yet,” Arthur said. “There’s been talk for it, yes, but again it will be results-driven and how everyone’s going at that time. Brad is certainly nowhere near out of the equation. We still regard Brad very highly.”I thought he was okay, he did the job through the Indian series. He would have liked a little bit more runs but didn’t get that much opportunity to get massive scores because our top order generally did the job. Good to see Wadey pushing him. It’s likely we’ll take two keepers to the West Indies anyway, so it will be a nice little internal battle going on and I look forward to seeing who comes up trumps out of that.”

Ajinkya Rahane’s blistering century brought up the first century of IPL 2012, and delivered a big win for Rajasthan Royals

The Report by Kanishkaa Balachandran15-Apr-2012
Scorecard and ball-by-ball detailsAjinkya Rahane bettered his previous-best of 98 against Kings XI Punjab•AFPThe game was effectively over when the players walked off for the innings break. Ajinkya Rahane’s blistering, unbeaten 103 brought up the first century of IPL 2012, propelling Rajasthan Royals to 195 against an already battered Royal Challengers Bangalore. Assisted by Owais Shah’s equally intimidating 60, the Royals piled on a score way beyond reach for the hosts and such was the dominance that the chase turned out to be a tepid affair.Rahane also smashed six consecutive fours off an over – the first in Twenty20 history, S Aravind being the unfortunate bowler. Rahane and Shah – ten years apart – didn’t just deliver for the team’s cause but also nudged their respective national team selectors ahead of the World Twenty20, each getting two big scores so far this IPL. Their bowlers – led by Siddharth Trivedi – backed them up, hitting their targets like efficient salesmen, getting six batsmen bowled.Ironically, the losing side had the bigger names. With the likes of Daniel Vettori, Muttiah Muralitharan and Zaheer Khan to contend with, it appeared as if the Royals worked to the plan of exploiting the less-experienced Indian bowlers. It was an extension of Royal Challengers’ affliction from the match against Chennai Super Kings, when Virat Kohli leaked 28 off the penultimate over of the game.At one stage, Aravind conceded 48 off three overs, almost the same number given away by Zaheer, Vettori and Murali off ten combined overs. A less-than-fit Chris Gayle, recovering from a groin injury, came on in the 16th over more as an act of desperation by Vettori and didn’t fare any better than the other weak links, leaking 21.The hammering Rahane dished out was reminiscent of Brendon McCullum’s butchering at the same venue in the IPL’s opening game in 2008. He began by splitting the gap past cover and backward point for two fours off Aravind in the second over. The onslaught that followed was so brutal that it’s easy to forget Zaheer bowled a maiden over to Rahane, the third of the innings. Rahane showed no such respect for Aravind the following over, taking 15 off it, including a massive hit over long-on.Vettori and Murali then pulled things back with five relatively quiet overs, going for 23. Vettori’s spell only widened the gap between him and the rest. He varied his pace and flight, fired in the quicker ones to keep the batsmen guessing.Rahane’s merciless approach was best illustrated in the 14th over, which produced six fours. He drove Aravind forcefully down the ground off the first two balls, scooped the third to fine leg, pulled the fourth to midwicket, drove the fifth past cover and delicately dabbed the six to third man. Aravind varied his pace and length, AB de Villiers came up to the stumps but nothing deterred Rahane.Shah began his party with a top-edged six over long leg, before ripping into Gayle. Vinay Kumar aimed for the blockhole, but somehow Shah found a way to get under the bounce and slam sixes down the ground. He brought up his fifty off just 19 balls before launching into Murali. He tried the same against a slower Zaheer delivery but was caught at long-on.At the other end, Rahane started the final over needing seven for his century and he required just three balls to get there. After driving Vinay past mid-off, he flat-batted the third ball just past long-on’s grasp to bring up the landmark. The Royals hammered 113 off the last seven overs, the third-best in IPL history.Royal Challengers began the chase in enterprising manner, with Mayank Agarwal pulling the first ball for six over fine leg. But a double-strike by Pankaj Singh in the fifth over derailed the chase and took the fight out of the hosts. Agarwal was caught off a top-edge and two balls later, Gayle dragged one onto his stumps.That followed a period of prolonged struggle for Royal Challengers, stumbling against the asking rate, compounded by the steady fall of wickets. The boundary drought lasted an unforgivable 37 deliveries and that was thanks largely to Trivedi’s nagging line and slower deliveries bowled from back of a length, assisted by the slow pitch. De Villiers played on to one that kept low, Kohli and Saurabh perished swinging across the line, before Vettori lost his leg stump giving the bowler the charge. Trivedi’s 4 for 23 was his personal best in the IPL and the combined efforts launched the Royals to the top of the table.

Alastair Cook has expressed support for the authorities’ growing willingness to use floodlights in Test cricket

David Hopps23-May-2012Alastair Cook, the batsman at the centre of England’s successful run chase against West Indies at Lord’s, has expressed support for the authorities’ growing willingness to use floodlights in Test cricket.The ECB has traditionally been ultra-cautious in advocating the use of floodlights outside the one-day game but that suspicion has been markedly reduced this summer with England and West Indies both committed to using artificial light throughout the three-Test series whenever the occasion demands. The ruling came from the ICC’s match referee, Roshan Mahanama, during a pre-series briefing and neither board took up their right to appeal against floodlights being used at any of the three grounds hosting a Test in the series – Lord’s, Trent Bridge or Edgbaston.There has been no change in the ICC regulations governing use of floodlights, but there has been a shift in interpretation. Mahanama stressed that players would only leave the field if conditions were regarded as unsafe and expressed a stronger commitment to the regulation which states: “If in the opinion of the umpires, natural light is deteriorating to an unfit level, they shall authorize the ground authorities to use the available artificial lighting so that the match can continue in acceptable conditions.”Cook, whose opinion as England’s Test vice-captain and captain in 50-over cricket is significant, has no complaints and he indicated that the rest of the side were comfortable about a shift in policy that puts the entertainment of the public first. He experienced first-hand the difficulties of batting under lights when England collapsed to 10 for 2 in four hostile overs at the end of the fourth day but he survived to make 79 in England’s five-wicket win.”I think that fourth day was a prime example of why lights should be used in Test cricket,” he said. “There are occasions when it works to your disadvantage like when it’s pretty dark, such as the last 15 to 20 minutes on that day when we had to go and face it.”But we were talking about it in the dressing-room and if those lights weren’t on we probably wouldn’t have played much that day and I think for the crowd and the entertainment we’ve got to try and get as much play as we can. It will work in your favour one day and others you’ll have to go and face four overs in not ideal conditions but hopefully we’ll benefit from that situation at some stage as well.”The MCC has been as a champion of floodlit Tests at night and, in common with the ICC, it has conducted research into pink and orange balls that might be more suited to night Tests. But when it comes to poor light in the day time, the common-or-garden red ball does not seem to have outlived its usefulness.”It feels quite strange,” said Cook, who was one of four England captains gathered in Nottingham in support of the latest scheme to bring cricket to the inner cities. “It’s just different because we are exploring new ground but I think it worked really well. Because Test cricket is over five days, if one side are bowling under lights and then the other has to bat in those conditions all the time you might be able to change the game too much but at Lord’s because of the nature of the wicket, it was fine. There’s a good case for using them now.”We were saying we don’t think we’d have got much play, certainly not the 80 or 90-odd overs we got, and it probably would’ve been hard to get a result. We wouldn’t have got more than 30 or 40 overs. We wouldn’t have won that game without those lights.”We need a bit more experience of playing with them but at lord’s when the wicket was good it didn’t seem to affect what the ball did.”Without the willingness of England and West Indies to resort to floodlights, the scourge of bad light would have severely disrupted the Lord’s Test, frustrating spectators and potentially costing the ECB revenue when many counties are under severe financial pressure. Test cricket has benefited significantly from the investment in faster-draining outfields and it is logical to hope that floodlights, better quality on most English Test grounds these days, can bring similar dividends.It remains to be seen whether England and South Africa will remain so committed to floodlights later this summer in a series that could decide the No. 1 Test ranking. Nothing in ICC regulations is ever entirely clear: the use of floodlights is subject to the interpretation of clause 16 on playing which allows for additional playing time at the end of regulation hours to recover time lost to the weather.Cook, though, spoke for many who tire of interminable late finishes because of weather-interrupted days, a common feature of Test cricket in England, when he stated: “Of course common sense always has to be used at certain stages. But in an ideal world eleven ’til six is best.”Denesh Ramdin, West Indies’ vice-captain, did not sound quite as enthusiastic. He not only had to bat under floodlights, but keep wicket as well and he took several painful blows on the hands during the Test. “It was a bit difficult with the pavilion in the background,” he said. “It was difficult and it was challenging.”Shivnarine Chanderpaul had also expressed surprise at use of floodlights at the end of two prolonged innings in which he batted nearly ten-and-a-half hours in the match. “He didn’t seem to have any problems, he batted long enough I think,” Cook joked. “Like always in cricket, and any sport, sometimes when you go into the unknown it’s different.”

Moeen Ali scored 99 as Worcestershire easily overhauled Essex’s 190 for 9 to win by seven wickets

13-May-2012
ScorecardWorcestershire carved out an emphatic seven-wicket victory against Essex in their CB40 match at Chelmsford. Replying to a total of 190 for 9, they reached the winning post with 6.1 overs to spare, as Moeen Ali followed up an economical spell of bowling with a magnificent 99 before he was dismissed with the visitors just eight runs from their target.Sharing the batting limelight with him was Vikram Solanki, the pair putting together an opening century partnership without looking in the slightest trouble. Indeed, they looked so comfortable it came as something of a surprise when Solanki was bowled by left-arm spinner Tim Phillips with the total on 104 in the 17th over. Solanki had struck seven fours when he was dismissed three short of his half-century.But Ali went on to underline his class before pulling Alviro Petersen into the hands of Greg Smith at deep midwicket.Earlier, Essex failed to make use of the solid foundations laid by openers Alastair Cook and Mark Pettini. They had put on 84 when, in the 17th over, Cook was run out after being called through for a single. Daryl Mitchell threw down the stumps from midwicket to bring the England opener’s innings of 47 to an end.Pettini went on to make 64 from 76 deliveries with the help of two sixes and two fours, at which point he was caught in the deep attacking off-spinner Ali to leave Essex 143 for 5. But either side of Pettini’s departure, the batsmen struggled to come to terms with some accurate bowling backed up by fine work in the field.David Lucas, James Cameron and Ali each displayed safe hands in the deep as Essex perished in an attempt to break free, with slow left-armer Shaaiq Choudhry being largely responsible for the decline of the innings. Medium-pacer Shantry picked up 2 for 48 in his eight overs, while Choudhry claimed 2 for 37. But it was Ali who proved the most economical, with Pettini’s wicket at a cost of 27 runs from his full allocation.

For the first time India have had a significant break between the IPL and their subsequent international series, and all their first-choice players are expected to be available for the Sri Lanka trip when the selectors meets in Mumbai

Abhishek Purohit03-Jul-2012For the first time since the IPL was inaugurated, India have had a significant break between the tournament and their subsequent international series. They will have had a break exactly as long as IPL 2012 before they play the first of five ODIs against Sri Lanka on July 21, and this has ensured players like Zaheer Khan and Virender Sehwag, who are prone to injury, have had sufficient time to rest and recover. All India’s first-choice players are expected to be available for the Sri Lanka trip when the selection committee meets in Mumbai on Wednesday.Member of Parliament Sachin Tendulkar’s case has become different from those of the rest in recent years, and having played only two ODI series since 2011 World Cup, he could decide to skip this one as well. Till Tuesday evening though, reports said he hadn’t ruled himself out.If Tendulkar does opt out, it would do away with the controversial rotation policy followed in the CB Series in Australia, when only two of Tendulkar, Sehwag and Gautam Gambhir were chosen in the XI. Sehwag’s absence had taken care of the same during the Asia Cup. If Tendulkar makes the trip, Manoj Tiwary, who has travelled half the world with the side without getting a game, could miss out after a lukewarm A team tour of the West Indies.The India quicks had a disappointing Asia Cup, but the availability of Zaheer and Umesh Yadav makes the weakest link appear far less so. Ashok Dinda could keep his place after a decent show in the West Indies with the A team and in the IPL.Whether the selectors persist with Rahul Sharma as the second specialist spinner, alongside R Ashwin, remains to be seen, given his unspectacular returns in the West Indies and the presence of an army of part-timers. Whether the selectors bring back Harbhajan Singh, who has been sidelined for almost a year and has just signed with England county Essex, also remains to be seen. The county contract, though, sends out a signal that they might have already made up their mind.The contest for the No. 7 spot began afresh in the Asia Cup, with Yusuf Pathan returning even as Ravindra Jadeja continued to retain his place in the squad after a poor CB Series. Yusuf featured in only one game in the series and didn’t get a chance to bat, so it is fair to assume that this round of the battle has only started. Yusuf, though, did have a woeful IPL, even more so than Jadeja. There is also the case for Irfan Pathan, who is nowhere near the bowler he once was, but did better than Jadeja both in the CB Series and in the Asia Cup.Team combinations apart, another thing to watch out for is the choice of vice-captain for this series, after the position was taken from Gambhir and given to Virat Kohli for the Asia Cup.A little over a month separates the Sri Lanka tour and the World Twenty20, which will be played in the same country. Given the disasters the last two editions of that tournament held for India, this series and the experience the combination that is picked gets could prove useful come September.

Richie Berrington scored just the seventh Twenty20 international hundred as Scotland secured their first international win against a Full Member with a 34-run victory

ESPNcricinfo staff24-Jul-2012
ScorecardRichie Berrington scored just the seventh Twenty20 international hundred as Scotland secured their first international win against a Full Member with a 34-run victory against Bangladesh in The Hague. Berrington helped set a target of 163 and Bangladesh, who entered the match after a 3-0 series win against Ireland, produced a poor batting display to fall to ninth in the rankings.Berrington stood head and shoulders above the others in the match; Scotland’s next highest score was Calum MacLoed’s 19. The dominance of Berrington was highlighted by the fourth-wicket stand of 64 in seven overs with Preston Mommsen, during which Mommsen contributed 12 off 16 balls.Berrington reached his hundred from 55 balls with a straight six off Shakib Al Hasan, writing himself a little place in the Twenty20 record-books as the first Associate batsman to reach three figures in a Twenty20 international. The previous highest was Hiral Patel’s unbeaten 88 against Ireland in Colombo in February 2010. In total Berrington struck 10 fours and five sixes before picking out cover.A target of 163 should have been within the compass of Bangladesh’s batting line-up, but they could not give themselves a foundation. A crucial blow came in the sixth over when Tamim Iqbal edged a swipe to the wicketkeeper.Wickets continued to fall regularly as the asking rate went into double figures. Gordon Goudie put Scotland within touching distance when he removed Shakib for 31 and then Majid Haq, who produced a fine spell of offspin, put the finishing touches to the performance with two wickets in his final over.

S Badrinath, the Tamil Nadu batsman, has been called up to the India squad for the Tests against New Zealand as a replacement for VVS Laxman

ESPNcricinfo staff19-Aug-2012S Badrinath, the Tamil Nadu batsman, has been called up to the India squad for the Tests against New Zealand as a replacement for VVS Laxman. Laxman, who was in the 15-man squad for the two-Test series, announced his retirement from international cricket with immediate effect on Saturday.Badrinath, 31, has played two Tests for India, the last being in early 2010 in the home series against South Africa. He has a Test best of 56 in his three innings. His most recent international appearance was during the limited-overs leg of India’s tour of the West Indies last summer.A consistent performer on the domestic circuit, Badrinath was the highest run-getter in the 2010-11 Ranji Trophy, where he amassed 922 runs at 131.71. However, he had a middling 2011-12 season: he had picked up a shoulder injury during the Challenger Trophy in October last year and, as a result, missed the first three rounds of the Ranji Trophy. When he returned, he scored 292 runs in nine innings.When Rahul Dravid retired in March, Badrinath’s name floated around as a possible replacement for him in the India Test middle-order. But, at that point, a BCCI official had told ESPNcricinfo that the odds were against Badrinath. “Not only is he 30-plus, but he has been tested already,” the official said. “He is a good player at domestic level but unfortunately does not seem to fit at the highest level.”