Gayle quits as West Indies captain, Board in turmoil

Gayle quits as West Indies captain, Board in turmoil

Chris Gayle resigned as captain of West Indies cricket team, according to WICB CEO Donald Peters, who is also speculated to be sent on leave, indicating uncertain times for Board ahead of Champions Trophy in Pakistan in September next.

"CEO Dr Donald Peters confirmed West Indies captain Chris Gayle had indeed formally tendered his resignation as skipper on Saturday night by letter," a newspaper reported. "He, however, did not give details as to Gayle`s reasons," it added.

Gayle was reportedly unhappy with West Indies Cricket Board's (WICB) selection policy and voiced concerns over regional selectors choices in recent ODI series against Australia after Windies had surrendered decisive third match.

Meanwhile, Caribbean Media Corporation claimed Peters had been "sent on unspecified, administrative leave immediately", and corporate secretary Tony Deyal, was said to be dismissed as outcome of an "emergency internal investigation" into information leaks from within Board concerning funding for WICB president Julian Hunte`s office.

But Peters said he had no communication in this regard. "We have been hearing that. But no, that has not been communicated to me, and there is no reason to believe that there is any such (decision)," he was quoted as saying by the paper.

Deyal, on his part, said "I have asked the Board to clarify it, and Board hasn't said anything. Nobody confirmed or denied it. There is no reason (given for dismissal). One would think there must be, but I was never asked to respond (to any such issue)”.

Shoaib and 25 others clear dope tests

Pakistani Cricket Board (PCB) officials expressed relief Wednesday after paceman Shoaib Akhtar and 25 other players cleared dope tests conducted ahead of September's Champions Trophy.

"The tests were conducted on 26 of the 30 players in the preliminary squad for the Champions Trophy and I can say that it's a great relief that all the tests are negative," PCB chief operating officer Shafqat Naghmi told AFP.

Three players missed the tests carried out last week as they were playing league cricket in England, while Younis Khan was in Saudi Arabia and their tests will be conducted later, said Naghmi. Pakistan has been embroiled in recent doping controversies.

Asif did not feature in the latest tests as he is fighting to clear his name after he tested positive for nandrolone during the Indian Premier League earlier this month.

Shoaib was named in Pakistan's provisional squad earlier this month after Lahore High Court suspended a separate 18-month ban for indiscipline.

Pakistan hosts the biennial Champions Trophy from September 11-28, amid fears of a boycott by leading teams, including defending champions Australia, for security reasons.

India elect to bat in second Sri Lanka Test

India captain Anil Kumble elected to bat after winning the toss against Sri Lanka in the second Test at the Galle International Stadium here on Thursday.

Sri Lanka lead 1-0 in the three-Test series after winning the opening match in Colombo by an innings and 239 runs.

India and Sri Lanka retained the teams that played in Colombo.

India : Anil Kumble (capt), Virender Sehwag, Gautam Gambhir, Rahul Dravid, Sachin Tendulkar, Sourav Ganguly, Venkatsai Laxman, Dinesh Karthik, Harbhajan Singh, Zaheer Khan, Ishant Sharma.

Sri Lanka : Mahela Jayawardene (capt), Michael Vandort, Malinda Warnapura, Kumar Sangakkara, Thilan Samaraweera, Tillakaratne Dilshan, Prasanna Jayawardene, Chaminda Vaas, Muttiah Muralitharan, Ajantha Mendis, Nuwan Kulasekera.

Umpires: Billy Doctrove (WIS) and Rudi Koertzen (RSA)

TV umpire: Mark Benson (ENG)

Match referee: Alan Hurst (AUS)

Champions League dates set

India, Australia and South Africa will go ahead with a $6 million Champions Twenty20 League despite objections from the International Cricket Council (ICC).

The boards met on Wednesday to announce the Sept. 29-Oct. 8 event, starting just a day after the Champions Trophy final in Pakistan despite ICC rules requiring a week's gap after its tournaments.

The league organisers said the rule applied only for international cricket and Cricket Australia chief executive James Sutherland said the league would essentially be a domestic tournament.

"I think the critical thing with all of this that needs to be understood, and is well understood, is that this is a domestic competition that distinguishes itself quite significantly from international events and ICC events," he said.

"The ICC agreement that we have all signed is based upon member countries' national teams, that we will not play within seven days of an international tournament ending," Board of Control for Cricket in India vice-president Lalit Modi said.

The league will feature the top two teams from the domestic competitions of Australia and South Africa, the Indian Premier League as well as Pakistan champions Sialkot.

Modi said he hoped England champions Middlesex would also join in, although the Indian board is at loggerheads with their English counterparts over players belonging to the unofficial Indian Cricket League (ICL) who have featured in some of the county teams.

England implode at Edgbaston

Talismanic all-rounder Andrew Flintoff was left stranded as some farcical dismissals resulted in England being shot out for 231 on the opening day of the third Test at Edgbaston.

The big all-rounder then took the wicket of South Africa captain Graeme Smith with just his second ball as the tourists reached 38-1 in 11 overs of their first innings before the close of play.

Flintoff showed signs of his very best in hitting an unbeaten 36 only for two inept run-outs in consecutive balls to terminate the innings.

England's attempts to level the npower series, which South Africa currently lead 1-0, began positively after captain Michael Vaughan won the toss.

But once the opening stand of 68 was severed by Andrew Strauss' stray boot - which contributed in a hit wicket dismissal - England lost regular wickets in worrying echoes from the loss in Leeds.

Flintoff, featuring in only his second Test match since returning from an 18-month lay-off, was forced into a repair job with Tim Ambrose after six wickets tumbled inside the first two sessions.

Both Flintoff and Ambrose played with restraint in the circumstances, although an apologetic defensive push from the latter saw them separated following a 19-over alliance.

Although opener Alastair Cook and Ian Bell, on his home ground, struck half-centuries, England's batsmen once again folded after the first half-dozen overs tumbled for 138 and 152 in the 10-wicket defeat at Headingley.

Left with only the tail for company, Flintoff cracked a four and a six off consecutive Makhaya Ntini deliveries but the innings ended in the same over.

Flintoff's call for a sharp single led to the sacrifice of James Anderson before Monty Panesar inexplicably called for two, after turning to long leg, and was a yard short when wicketkeeper Mark Boucher confirmed his demise from Hashim Amla's throw.

Wednesday, July 30, 2008

Cricket Australia defends decision to tour India

As concerns of players' safety take centrestage, Cricket Australia has denied it would be hypocritical to tour India in October despite the recent bomb blasts in Bangalore and Ahmedabad while not touring Pakistan for the Champions Trophy in September.

'We only go where security advice tells us is safe. The same question was asked about the London bombings during the 2005 Ashes tour when we did not go to Pakistan in March,' Cricket Australia's general manager of public affairs Peter Young told The Australian newspaper.

'As far as London was concerned, we kept the team out of there until security advice was emphatic that it was safe. We go through the same process every tour. It's as simple as that,' Young added.

The first Test in October between Australia and India is scheduled to be played in Bangalore, which was rocked by nine explosions Friday that killed one woman and injured seven people. A day later, there were 21 serial blasts in Ahmedabad, killing at least 50 and injuring about 200.

In late September, the state of Victoria and Western Australia teams will also be in India for the Champions League, which includes the top two domestic Twenty20 teams from India, Australia, South Africa and England.

The Victorian cricket team will be based in Jaipur, which was hit by eight blasts in May - when the Indian Premier League (IPL) tournament was on.

'I don't think the fact that that happened there (Jaipur) will lead us down another path. It's not something that I've discussed with Cricket Victoria or our team at this stage. Obviously if there was an escalation, we'd change our view but at this stage we intend to compete in the tournament,' Victoria's coach Greg Shipperd, who coached the Delhi Daredevils team during the IPL, told The Australian newspaper.

The Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade travel advisory has not upgraded the overall advice for India, urging travellers to exercise "a high degree of caution" whereas for Pakistan it says "reconsider your need to travel".

'Pakistan has a longer history of incidents than most other places. We'll follow similar guidelines to Cricket Australia,' Western Australia coach Tom Moody, who coached the Mohali team during IPL, told the newspaper.

Expressing concern over the bomb attacks in India, Australian Cricketers Association chief executive Paul Marsh told The Australian, "The ACA would continue to go through the security processes with Cricket Australia, as we always do.'

Nel ready to unleash alter ego 'Gunther' on England

South African fast bowler Andre Nel, who has been drafted into the squad as a replacement for the injured Dale Steyn, has warned Michael Vaughan's team that they will not only have to contend with his desire to re-establish himself as a Test match bowler, but also with an alter ego so potent in his imagination that he has even given it a name.

Nel, the 31-year-old fast bowler from Transvaal with a reputation for snarling and for his foul-mouthed aggression, blames his status as cricket's favourite villain on a mythical character called Gunther.

Nel has confirmed that he fully expects his other half to make an appearance in the third Test as soon as the contest demands it.

"Oh yes he will definitely come out - there's no doubts about that," Nel said, explaining that he decided his split personality merited two names after a conversation with one of South Africa's technical analysts.

"One of our computer guys said I was a bit like those little guys in Germany who live half way up a mountain and have a lack of oxygen to the brain that makes them crazy. Sometimes that happens to me, it seems.

"Gunther seemed a good name for him. I talk to him on the way to my mark. Andre has to keep Gunther in line sometimes but the aggression is part of my armoury.

"When I used to play with Polly [Shaun Pollock), he was a big help to me. It was amazing sometimes. One part of the attack would be quiet and calm and Gunther would be at the other end."

But Nel, who took six for 81 at Centurion Park in 2005 in his only previous Test against England, insists he has matured as a bowler and that England will discover there is more to his game than posturing, even though he expects the abrasive side of his game to be visible.

"It's unfortunate for Dale that he has picked up this injury but I am excited and looking forward to the challenge. It will be my first Test here. It has been frustrating waiting [for a chance] but we have a good squad and the guys have been playing well. You just have to wait."

The South Africa coach, Mickey Arthur, feels Nel, who played his last Test match in January before being controversially omitted from South Africa's tour to India, is the perfect man to replace Steyn.

Harmison, Broad overlooked

Steve Harmison and Stuart Broad have been overlooked by England for the third Test against South Africa at Edgebaston.

But Ryan Sidebottom and Paul Collingwood were included in the starting line-up for the crunch match which starts in Birmingham on Wednesday.

England need to win the match to keep their series hopes alive. They are 1-0 down with two games to play following last week's 10-wicket defeat at Headingley.

Paceman Harmison had been recalled to the squad and was hoping to earn his first cap since being axed seven Tests ago in New Zealand.

But concerns over the lack of bounce in the Edgbaston pitch led to his exclusion from the side.

Sidebottom missed the last Test with a back problem and his return will add some much-needed control and firepower to an attack, which has twice struggled to bowl out the Proteas during the current series.

The Nottinghamshire bowler should also find conditions favourable to swing bowling in Birmingham.

Collingwood was obviously upset when left out of the starting XI at Headingley and his recall will have to give a better balance to the side.

The Durham all-rounder will bat at number six with Andrew Flintoff at seven and Tim Ambrose at eight - two places lower than in the second Test.

Broad has shown great potential with the bat and scored an unbeaten half century in the second innings of the second Test.

But his seven-Test run, which began when he replaced Harmison in New Zealand, has been brought to an end because of his lack of success with the ball.

Harmison, Broad overlooked

Steve Harmison and Stuart Broad have been overlooked by England for the third Test against South Africa at Edgebaston.

But Ryan Sidebottom and Paul Collingwood were included in the starting line-up for the crunch match which starts in Birmingham on Wednesday.

England need to win the match to keep their series hopes alive. They are 1-0 down with two games to play following last week's 10-wicket defeat at Headingley.

Paceman Harmison had been recalled to the squad and was hoping to earn his first cap since being axed seven Tests ago in New Zealand.

But concerns over the lack of bounce in the Edgbaston pitch led to his exclusion from the side.

Sidebottom missed the last Test with a back problem and his return will add some much-needed control and firepower to an attack, which has twice struggled to bowl out the Proteas during the current series.

The Nottinghamshire bowler should also find conditions favourable to swing bowling in Birmingham.

Collingwood was obviously upset when left out of the starting XI at Headingley and his recall will have to give a better balance to the side.

The Durham all-rounder will bat at number six with Andrew Flintoff at seven and Tim Ambrose at eight - two places lower than in the second Test.

Broad has shown great potential with the bat and scored an unbeaten half century in the second innings of the second Test.

But his seven-Test run, which began when he replaced Harmison in New Zealand, has been brought to an end because of his lack of success with the ball.

Smith facing test on back injury

South Africa captain Graeme Smith will test his back injury before the third Test against England on Wednesday and said his team will look to pressurise the hosts after detecting vulnerabilities.

Smith hurt his back playing against Bangladesh A at the weekend. He did not take any part in practice on Monday and said he would not be batting on Tuesday either. If his condition does not improve adequately Jean-Paul Duminy will play.

"I have a bit of back problem that's been niggling me since the Bangladesh game," Smith told reporters ahead of the test at Edgbaston.

"I won't bat today because I don't want to do anything today that will affect tomorrow but I am taking treatment and it is improving. I will come early tomorrow and try it out. I like to think I will be fit enough to play"

Smith was not surprised by England's decision to omit Steve Harmison from the team for the third Test but said he was taken aback by their indecision on selection for the second Test when little-known seamer Darren Pattinson was given a debut.

That was followed by a 10-wicket win for South Africa that gave them a 1-0 lead in the four-match series and a public spat between England captain Michael Vaughan and national selector Geoff Miller.

Smith, who indicated his team will target some of England's out-of-form players, also said he was surprised that nobody took responsibility for the controversial selection.

England have recalled all rounder Paul Collingwood, who has not scored a Test century in more than a year and who has also not made 100 first-class runs this season. Wicketkeeper Tim Ambrose and skipper Vaughan are also short of runs.

"As an opposition when you see the other team is under pressure it does benefit you," Smith said.

"We know that if we can play really good cricket for the first couple of days maybe we can open up some wounds and put certain players under a lot of pressure in this test match

"(But) England are a competitive team and have bounced back many times and have the players to do that so we have respect for that and we know we have to play well to make these things count for us."

Tuesday, July 29, 2008

Hussey up to second in rankings

Australian batsman Michael Hussey has climbed to second in the latest ICC Test Player Rankings.

Hussey moved up a rung from third when previous leader Kumar Sangakkara lost points after a failure in Sri Lanka's most recent Test against India.

That allowed West Indies left-hander Shivnarine Chanderpaul to move to the No.1 position, though a strong showing by Sangakkara in the second Test against India will see him regain first place.

Australian captain Ricky Ponting remained in fourth, while Matthew Hayden dropped a rung to seventh, Michael Clarke retained 11th place and Andrew Symonds moved up two to 14th.

While there was no change to the bowling rankings, Sri Lankan off-spinner Muttiah Muralidaran again pushed through the 900-point mark.

Only 19 players have scored 900 points or more in Test history.

South African speedster was second ahead of Australian pair Stuart Clark and Brett Lee and English paceman Ryan Sidebottom.

CA keeping close watch on India after blasts

Cricket Australia (CA) is keeping a close watch on the developments in India after serial bomb blasts rocked Bangalore and Ahmedabad as its team is scheduled to play four Tests in September-October.

The first Test is scheduled to be played in Bangalore. The other three venues are Delhi, Mohali and Nagpur.

CA general manager of public affairs, Peter Young, was to discuss the latest bombings with chief executive James Sutherland.

Representatives from CA and the Australian Cricketers Association (ACA) are due to leave for India on August 10 for the latest inspection, and now a security consultant may also join them.

'We have a principle which supports a consistent process of having a pre-tour inspection and assessment before every tour,' Young was quoted as saying in The Australian.

Security has been a major concern for teams participating in the Champions Trophy in Pakistan and several players have openly said they will back out of the tournament if International Cricket Council persists with the venue.

The dominant Asia bloc of India, Pakistan, Sri Lanka and Bangladesh backed Pakistan to host the tournament. They voted Thursday night's ICC telephone hook-up to keep the tournament in Pakistan.

There was fear of setting a precedent, moving a tournament which involves the top eight cricket nations over safety and security issues, when all four countries are jointly hosting the next World Cup in 2011.

England focus on their own Champions League plans

English cricket officials are to continue work on their plans for the inaugural Champions League later this year and have no plans to attend Wednesday's meeting to discuss Indian plans for the event.

As things stand, the tournament which features the leading domestic Twenty20 teams from India, England, Australia and South Africa, is due to take place in India from September 29 to October 8.

However, Indian officials and their English counterparts have yet to reach agreement over a series of issues regarding the tournament.

But the England and Wales Cricket Board (ECB) are reportedly planning to stage the event in the United Arab Emirates capital of Abu Dhabi, following talks with the Gulf state's royal family who could fund the tournament. "At the moment we are progressing with our plans and we have no plans to travel to Mumbai and attend Wednesday's meeting," an ECB spokesman said Monday.

Talks between the Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI) and the ECB have failed to resolve the issues of tournament rights and the availability of players who have played in the 'rebel' Indian Cricket League (ICL).

Under the Indian proposal, the BCCI would retain 50 percent of the rights to the tournament and will not sanction any players from the ICL or teams who have used them to qualify.

The ECB are suggesting a more equal share of the tournament among the different boards and an amnesty over ICL players from last year.

Twenty20 Cup winners Middlesex and Kent, their beaten opponents in last weekend's final, are set to represent England in the Champions League, where the winners could take home a cheque for five million dollars.

Nel promises to keep 'Gunther' in check

South Africa quick Andre Nel has insisted he will keep ‘Gunther’, the nickname for his aggressive on-field personality, under control in the third Test against England here at Edgbaston.

Fast bowler Nel is renowned for his verbal spats with opposition batsmen although it has often seemed he is revelling in the role of 'pantomime villain' rather than bearing any sense of genuine grievance.

A much calmer figure beyond the boundary, Nel was dubbed 'Gunther' by his team-mates after former South Africa fast bowler Allan Donald first used the term to describe how his personality changed when he was playing cricket.

But the 31-year-old Nel, who replaces injured fellow quick Dale Steyn in what is likely to be the only change to the South Africa team that won the second Test by 10 wickets at Headingley, is adamant he can now channel his aggressive instincts.

"Gunther will make an appearance in the middle," Nel said ahead of Wednesday's start. "He will definitely come up. There is no doubt about that. He will definitely sneak out somewhere along the line.

"I was messing around with our computer guy one day and he said sometimes when I go onto the field I'm like those guys who live up in the mountains and have a lack of oxygen to the brain.

"Gunther has a lack of oxygen to the brain and sometimes it happens to me.

"I'll be pumped up but I'll be a smarter pumped up. I don't think I'll be overboard any more. I've got smarter with time so I am looking forward to it."

Nel, who has taken 119 wickets in 34 Tests at an average of just over 31 apiece, added: "I have calmed down a bit. There will still be 'white line fever' but just a bit tamer.

"The older you get, the smarter you become and maybe you use that aggression in better ways and better energy and that's what I'm trying to do. I have worked on that for the past couple of years.

"The aggression I use makes me the bowler I am. Without it, I am half the bowler so I've got to use that but in the right way so it works in my favour."

Nel last played Test cricket in January and is determined to make up for lost time after Steyn was ruled out with a thumb injury.

And he hopes his experience of English conditions will work to his advantage in a match where a victory will see the Proteas go an unbeatable 2-0 up in the four-match campaign and win their first Test series in England for 43 years.

"It has been frustrating but we have a good squad and only 11 guys can play. Dale and all the guys have been bowling well so you have to wait and take your chance - and hopefully I can take my chance here.

"I've been fortunate to play four seasons in a row with Essex. I think it has helped to make me smarter. I've played everywhere around England so I'm used to bowling in English conditions. Hopefully that will help me.

"I've only played the one one-day international at Edgbaston. I bowled a bouncer and Freddie (Flintoff) fell on his back the last time I played here.

"You've got to go out and give it your best. You never know. It might be the last chance."

Monday, July 28, 2008

Sri Lanka add Prasad to Galle Test squad

Sri Lanka have called up uncapped paceman Dammika Prasad as an additional bowling option for the second Test against India in Galle starting on Thursday.

The 25-year-old played three one-day internationals in 2006 before suffering a series of injuries but has since impressed with the A team and recently against the Indians, claiming 4-58 in a warm-up game.

Prasad, however, is unlikely to play with Sri Lanka expected to retain the same side that won the first Test by an innings and 239 runs.

Sri Lanka squad: Mahela Jayawardene (captain), Michael Vandort, Malinda Warnapura, Kumar Sangakkara, Thilan Samaraweera, Tillakaratne Dilshan, Prasanna Jayawardene, Chaminda Vaas, Muttiah Muralitharan, Ajantha Mendis, Nuwan Kulasekera, Chamara Silva, Thilan Thushara, Chamara Kapugedera, Dammika Prasad.

ICC accused of downplaying terror risks

The International Cricket Council has come under heavy criticism from Oz media and players association for ‘stage-managing’ its campaign to keep the Champions Trophy in Pakistan, putting life and safety of teams and support staff under serious risks and downplaying the risk of terrorist attacks in the country; Australia’s widely read newspaper Sydney Morning Herald reported.

The ICC board has sent a list of 20 questions and answers to its board members to use during press conferences about the Champions Trophy, according to cricket website.
“ICC`s - fact sheets are irresponsible because they compare Pakistan`s security to India`s and Spain`s," The newspaper quoted Tim May; Chief of Australian Players Association.
"In Jaipur [in India], there was no intelligence of further attacks. In this case there is a well-documented history against Westerners in most cities of Pakistan.”
"Ultimately, the man on the street is smart enough to see through this. We can bicker about this, but there is a difference between reality and perception. But the reference to Jaipur was irresponsible."
"We must remember the players they listed [as missing] were all Test players and who are not in the scheme of things when it comes to Twenty20 cricket," May said. "This attempt to dress up the whole thing is ridiculous."
May will still go to Pakistan as part of ICC`s task force on security in Pakistan.
"We would have made significant progress if the players are comfortable with what we see in Pakistan. All the stakeholders need to be satisfied," he said.

Kallis over injury scare as Proteas pound Bangladesh A

Jacques Kallis gave South Africa an injury scare before helping the Proteas continue to pulverise Bangladesh A in their tour match in Worcester on Saturday.

South Africa, who had already had to rule Dale Steyn out of next week's third Test against England at Edgbaston after the fast bowler broke his thumb on Friday, had another worrying moment when Kallis sustained a finger injury while taking a catch at New Road on the second day of this three-day game.

He left the field for an X-ray at a nearby hospital but then allayed any fears regarding his fitness by finishing the day 55 not out in a second innings total of 145 for one.

The Proteas, who'd piled up 429 for three declared in their first innings, opted against enforcing the follow-on after veteran quick Makhaya Ntini took four for 32 as Bangladesh A were bowled out for 121.

Kallis, who made 70 not out in that first innings, reached stumps Saturday in the company of AB de Villiers, unbeaten on 79 after scoring a pivotal hundred in South Africa's 10-wicket second Test win at Headingley - a result that left them 1-0 up in the four-match series with two to play.

Earlier fast bowler Andre Nel, the leading candidate to replace Steyn at Edgbaston, took three for 25 in 12 overs against a youthful Bangladesh A team.

Atherton blasts Harmison recall

Former England captain Michael Atherton has hit out at the England selectors for their decision to recall fast bowler Steve Harmison.

The Durham paceman was dropped following the first Test defeat in New Zealand in March but has returned in place of Darren Pattinson for this week's third Test against South Africa at Edgbaston.

Harmison has displayed improved form for Durham this season and has been picked ahead of fellow 2005 Ashes heroes Matthew Hoggard and Simon Jones.

Atherton wrote in his column in the Times: "His selection is as uninspiring as his recent record in international cricket and his attitude and, surely, it sends a terrible message: that it does not matter if, time and again, you do not so much cherish and nurture your talent as abuse it; and that it does not matter if, time and again, you turn up unprepared, there will always be another chance.

"Nor does his record against South Africa (18 wickets at 59.55) or his record at Edgbaston (five wickets at 68.20) inspire confidence.

"It is a puzzling selection, too, because it is difficult to see how he will make the final XI, unless Ryan Sidebottom suffers a recurrence of his back stiffness or he has suddenly leapfrogged Sidebottom, James Anderson or Andrew Flintoff in the pecking order.

"Excuse the cynicism, but what Harmison's selection does is allow the selection panel to vaporise Chris Tremlett and Darren Pattinson with the minimum of fuss."

Saturday, July 26, 2008

Asif submits statement before fact-finding committee

Muhammad Asif submitted a written statement to the fact finding committee of Pakistan Cricket Board which met at Gaddafi Stadium on Friday , said PCB media manager Raza Rashid.

Rashid also said that the fact-finding committee is likely to meet next week to discuss future course of action.

Earlier, the committee, headed by PCB chief operating Officer Shafqat Nagmi, in its first meeting on Thursday reviewed the reports received from Dubai and had asked Mohammad Asif to appear before the committee.

The other members of the 3-member committee are Director HR Nadeem Akram and Director Cricket operations Zakir Khan.

Asif spent 19 days in detention in the United Arab Emirates last month for carrying contraband substance on his return from the Indian Premier League.

Steyn out of third Test

South Africa fast bowler Dale Steyn, who has a broken left thumb, will miss the third Test and is doubtful for the fourth Test against England.

Steyn sustained the injury while fielding a ball that was driven back to him off his own bowling during the second Test at Headingley on Monday. The injury was only x-rayed on Thursday.

Team manager Mohammed Moosajee said: "Dale has sustained a fracture on the base of his left thumb and will see an orthopaedic surgeon to have a cast put on and it will be on for between two and three weeks, then we will take another x-ray and take a decision from there.

"If it doesn't heal in time he may [miss the fourth Test at The Oval starting August 7] but we are giving ourselves a window for him to be re-assessed in two weeks.

"The risk for Edgbaston was that if he played he might have done further damage and then needed surgery."

Andre Nel or Monde Zondeki will come in for Steyn, who claimed seven wickets in the second Test. Coach Mickey Arthur said he was confident that the strength in depth in the squad would allow South Africa to adequately replace Steyn.

"Missing a player of Dale's calibre is a huge blow," Arthur said, "but I feel we have such good depth with the likes of Andre Nel and Monde.

"Nel is probably next in the queue. That was why I was strong on wanting good reserve strength with experienced players who know about the intensity of Test cricket."

Spinner Paul Harris was cleared to play in the match at Worcester after he had an x-ray on an elbow injury after slipping in the bathroom in his hotel room. He suffered minor ligament damage but not enough to prevent him bowling.

South Africa lead the four-match series 1-0. The third Test starts on Wednesday.

Muralitharan has India on the ropes

Sri Lanka's Muttiah Muralitharan snared four wickets to leave India struggling on 159 for six when bad light ended play early on the third day of the first Test in Colombo.

Muralitharan claimed the wickets of Gautam Gambhir, Sachin Tendulkar, Saurav Ganguly and Dinesh Karthik to leave the tourists with a tough fight to save the follow-on in reply to Sri Lanka's 600 for six declared.

At stumps VVS Laxman was 19 not out and captain Anil Kumble was on one.

India coach Gary Kirsten said Sri Lanka had dominated the match so far.

"It has been a really disappointing test match," Kirsten said .

"We didn't play well yesterday and some poor shot-making today mean everyone has got reason to be disappointed.

"We are fully aware of the way we played and we need to accept the responsibilities for the way we played. We have got a lot of hard work to do to save this Test match."

Earlier, Tillakaratne Dilshan stroked 125 not out to become the fourth Sri Lankan batsman to hit a century in the innings.

Sri Lanka, resuming the day on 422-4, added 130 runs during an extended morning and a further 48 after lunch before making their declaration.

The Indian openers Sehwag (25) and Gambhir (39) started the innings positively, adding 36 in just five overs.

However, Sehwag then top-edged a hook off a well-directed bouncer from Nuwan Kulasekera as Sri Lanka set a leg-side trap.

After tea Sri Lanka seized the upper-hand with Gambhir, defeated by Muralitharan's flight, mistiming a drive to short cover.

In the next over Ajantha Mendis, Sri Lanka's new unorthodox finger spinner, bowled Rahul Dravid (14) with a perfectly pitched leg break that clipped his off stump.

Tendulkar, who started the series needing to score 172 runs to become the highest run scorer in test history, steadied the innings for a while.

However, he lost an intriguing duel with Muralitharan as he opted to leave the ball too late and chopped the ball onto his stumps having made 27.

After a 21-minute break for bad light, Muralitharan then dismissed Ganguly for 23 courtesy of a fine running catch from Kulasekera off a top-edged sweep.

Wicketkeeper Karthik finished the day badly for India being caught and bowled by Muralitharan off a wild slog-sweep.

ICC powerless to prevent Pakistan boycott, says Lorgat

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

Pietersen urges ECB to resolve Champions Trophy debate

Kevin Pietersen has called on the England and Wales Cricket Board (ECB) to decide whether to enter the ICC Champions Trophy in Pakistan rather than force individual players to decide if they want to take part.

The ECB have held extensive discussions with senior players following the announcement on Thursday that the tournament would go ahead in Pakistan despite ongoing fears over security in the region.

A spate of bombings, the most recent coming in June when a suicide bomber killed 15 people in Islamabad, has led players from England and Australia to consider pulling out.

Pietersen said: "The ECB are coming together on - I think - August 3 or 4, having spoken to (chief executive) David Collier this morning, and he reassured me that the decision will probably be taken out of the players' hands, which is great.

"I really hope the players don't have to take the lead, to be totally honest. But I don't know, we'll see the outcome of that meeting, whatever the decision is.

"If it's taken out of the players' hands then great. If not, then I'll certainly make a decision."

Pietersen admitted he had sympathy for Nottinghamshire bowler Darren Pattinson, whose surprise call-up for the second Test against South Africa was blamed for England's crushing defeat at Headingley.

"First of all I'm not a selector so I'm not going to stand and talk about the selectors or the selection," Pietersen said.

"I know as an Englishman going across to Australia playing club cricket, I did that for a couple of years, and your first week you really feel like an outsider. The first game, you don't feel that you can express yourself.

"It was one of those situations where I totally feel sorry for the lad. He did his best, he is a lovely guy. I just feel sorry for him, that's the way it is."

Thursday, July 24, 2008

Explanations demanded after England cricketers derailed

England selector Geoff Miller demanded an explanation from skipper Michael Vaughan, who described selection for the disastrous second Test against South Africa as "confused" as a trio of former captains Wednesday spoke out.

The selectors have come in for criticism, most particularly over the late call-up of Nottinghamshire debutant seamer Darren Pattinson, who had made just 11 previous first-class appearances.

Following the 10-wicket thrashing which put South Africa 1-0 up in the four-Test series Miller told the Daily Telegraph: "The selectors are not here to make Michael`s job harder, which is why I`d like him to clarify his comments.

"It`s been made into a massive issue by the media and I want to hear his side of the story."

Miller also told The Sun: "I`m the national selector, Michael is the captain - we`re both in this together."

Three former England captains added their voices to the debate amid doubts as to who had the final say on the selection of 29-year-old Pattinson. Ian Botham said in his column for the Daily Mirror that the selectors had made "appalling, embarrassing and downright wrong" decisions.

Botham said: "The England team selection on Friday knocked me sideways.

"I feel very sorry for Darren Pattinson, but I don`t have any sympathy for the selectors who lost all sense of perspective and embarrassed English cricket.

"It was the most illogical, pathetic and diabolical piece of selecting I`ve seen.

Pattinson was the first new cap awarded since Geoff Miller, James Whitaker and Ashley Giles took over on the selection panel.

Geoff Boycott said it would be unfair to blame Pattinson for the debacle.

Boycott wrote in the Daily Telegraph: "He bowled steadily and didn`t let anyone down.

"But this was one of the first big decisions taken by England`s new selection panel, and they got it badly wrong.

"They need to admit their mistake and realise that wild hunches are no way to build an international cricket team."

Nasser Hussain told the Daily Mail the players, and Vaughan especially, had to look at themselves.

"Geoff Miller is in charge of selection but there has to be collective responsibility and we can`t forget that it was the players who lost the match.

"The bottom line is that the selectors chose to bring Darren Pattinson into the squad but it was Michael Vaughan, as captain, and coach Peter Moores who decided he should be included in the side."

And Hussain concluded: "Ultimately, as captain, you have to take the blame."

BCCI backs Pakistan as Champions Trophy venue

India is likely to resist any move to change Pakistan as the venue for Champions Trophy amidst fears that top players from non-Asian countries pulling out.

The Indian board sees "no harm" in Pakistan hosting the tournament in September, BCCI secretary Niranjan Shah said on Wednesday. "We are supporting Pakistan as the venue of the Champions Trophy," Shah said. "Our Indian team had taken part in the Asia Cup without any incident. Besides, the report of the ICC`s security consultants, which was presented during the briefing in Dubai was positive. So the BCCI sees no harm in Pakistan hosting the tournament."

Besides the Asian bloc, Pakistan also got words of support from Cricket South Africa. "We must give Pakistan every opportunity to host the tournament to the best of their ability," Norman Arendse, the president of Cricket South Africa (CSA) told Independent Online. "I`m inclined to support Pakistan`s hosting of the tournament. I know it might sound easy for us as administrators to make such decisions as we stay home while the players go to Pakistan, but I assure you it is not so."

However, the chief executive of the South Africa Cricketers` Association, Tony Irish, said that there was a possibility of top players from his country pulling out of the tournament if it went ahead as scheduled in Pakistan.

Meanwhile, the BCCI president-elect, Shashank Manohar, will be attending the tele-conference conducted by the International Cricket Conference (ICC) to decide about the venue for the forthcoming Champions Trophy.

Manohar said that Sharad Pawar has become a vice-president of the ICC and therefore cannot attend the tele-conference as a director. "My name has been sent by the BCCI secretary and I will be on tele-conference with ICC`s other board members," confirmed Manohar from Nagpur.

The ICC will take a final decision which, if it cannot be reached via consensus, needs a 7-3 vote.

Rain halts Warnapura in Colombo

Opener Malinda Warnapura scored 50 not out as Sri Lanka reached 85-2 at stumps after a rain-interrupted first day of the first Test against India.

India's new ball bowlers Ishant Sharma and Zaheer Khan claimed a wicket apiece during a single 22-over evening session after rain and a wet outfield delayed the start of play until 1530 local time.

Sri Lanka captain Mahela Jayawardene was unbeaten on 16 when bad light stopped play for the day having added 28 runs for the third wicket with Warnapura.

Warnapura started shakily but scored quickly after playing himself in, hitting six boundaries in his 74-ball innings.

Sharma struck first for India with a lively delivery that bounced steeply and Michael Vandort (three) edged to wicket-keeper Dinesh Karthik.

Kumar Sangakkara (12), the world's number one batsman coming into this test series, edged a swinging delivery from left-armer Zaheer Khan to Rahul Dravid at slip.

Both teams went into the game with two spinners including unorthodox Sri Lanka debutant Ajantha Mendis who destroyed India with a haul of six wickets for 13 in the final of the Asia Cup one-day competition earlier this month.

However, the overcast conditions did not aid the dry pitch expected to favour spin, instead helping India's fast bowlers in the short evening session after Sri Lanka had won the toss and decided to bat.

Shoaib Akhtar may tour Canada for T20 tourney

Reliable sources in the PCB have disclosed that the Board was mulling over including fast bowler Shoaib Akhtar in the team as 16th member for next month’s Twenty20 quadrangular in Toronto.

Shoaib was not among the probables who were selected last week, as he has not paid the Rs 70-lakh fine imposed by a tribunal.

According to the PCB sources, the step could help the injury-prone fast bowler to regain his match fitness faster than if he stayed away from the Pakistan team.

Pakistan feature in a four-nation T20 contest in Toronto from August 14-17 alongside the West Indies, Bangladesh and hosts Canada.

Shoaib (32) last played for Pakistan in their third Test against India in Bangalore in December 2007. Since then he has been out of international action either due to injury or suspension owing to his bad behaviour.

He was picked in Pakistan’s 30-man preliminary squad for September’s ICC Champions Trophy, but there were doubts whether he would be able get back in shape ahead of the eight-nation tournament.

The Board’s fitness trainers have given Shoaib a training regime to follow and the pacer, who is working out at Lahore’s National Cricket Academy, is confident that he could be fit for the match within the next six weeks.

However, some senior officials in the PCB believe that Shoaib could attain fitness faster if he was made a part of the Pakistan team as soon as possible.

The proponents of this idea are of the view that the player would be able to focus more on his fitness if he trains alongside his team-mates. More than the fitness angle, Shoaib (who doesn’t enjoy very good relationship with some of his colleagues) should make a return to the Pakistan dressing room much before the start of the Champions Trophy. They believe that Shoaib has spent a lot of time away from his team-mates and will need some time to re-adjust, reported a newspaper.

“We believe that Shoaib should be included in the Pakistan team as a non-playing 16th member. Such a step will help Shoaib to regain his fitness and to get back in the groove,” the paper quoted an unidentified Board official as saying.

He added: “It will also help other players to fully accept his return. Shoaib has been a controversial character in recent times and isn’t exactly very popular among his most of his fellow players. They will all need some time to come to terms with his return. That is why there is a feeling among some officials of the Board that he should be brought in the team for the Toronto event.”

I’m focusing on fitness and form: Irfan Pathan

India’s fast bowler Irfan Pathan said that he is presently giving full attention on his fitness and form and he is now very much fresh due to getting regular breaks from cricket.

Indian team is currently on tour of Sri Lanka for playing Test series but Irfan Pathan is not included in the team as he is being given rest.

Irfan is getting practice at the National Cricket Academy in Bangalore and is working hard for improving his form.

He said that he is much glad for getting break from cricket and meanwhile wants to improve his fitness.

On not being included in the team, Irfan said that inclusion in the team is not a problem. If fitness and form are not good than it is better not to be included in the team. However, he is confident that he would make his come back in the Indian team.

Wednesday, July 23, 2008

Boycott hails Broad performance

Former England opener Geoffrey Boycott has hailed Stuart Broad's batting performance in England's 10-wicket second Test defeat to South Africa.

The 22-year-old scored an unbeaten 67 in a defiant last wicket stand to help England avoid an innings defeat in an otherwise below-par England display.

And Boycott even compared the Nottinghamshire all-rounder to West Indies great Sir Garry Sobers.

"He's a wonderful player. There's a little bit of Sobers in him," he said.

"I've said that right from the word go.

"He stands up tall, he has a flowing backlift and he plays the ball off the back foot on the offside and on the leg side with a straight bat as good as anybody I've seen since Sobers.

"It helps to be tall, but there a lot of tall players around who can't play like that, he played fantasically.

"One of these days he's going to realise he has fantastic ability to be a genuine all-rounder and go and get hundreds."

English teenager hits 11 sixes in 12 balls

Teenager Jamie Lee smashed an incredible 11 sixes in two overs, making himself a big hit with his cricket team.

In the first over, 18-year-old Jamie hit all six deliveries from a spin bowler over the boundary. For the next over, Jamie again faced a spin bowler. But this time he swiped at the first ball - and missed.

But he middled the next five, chalking up 66 runs in just 12 balls.

Jamie, who scored a further five sixes in his 132 not out, said: "I smashed most of the sixes straight over the bowler`s head. It was a brilliant feeling."

"There were some polite claps when I got my first six and then the excitement mounted. People were cheering on the boundary and when I got my sixth six in a row, they just went mental," he added.

Jamie admitted that he got carried away as the second spinner came up to test him.

The Mirror quoted Jamie as saying that spinner`s first ball came down to the leg side he went forward to whack it, but missed the delivery. "I just decided to carry on hitting and I knocked the next five for six," he said.

His batting led the second XI of Suffolk`s Mildenhall cricket club to a swift victory when they scored the 208 runs made by Walsham-le-Willows in a mere 13 overs.

Jamie usually turns out for the First XI as a bowler but was supposed to be taking it easy because he had a shoulder injury.

Tendulkar slips to 14th in ICC Test rankings

Sachin Tendulkar slipped a rung to 14th but continued to be the highest ranked Indian in the ICC Test rankings for batsmen while his skipper Anil Kumble was the best-placed Indian bowler in the latest list.

Among the other Indians in the batting chart, former skipper Rahul Dravid and opener Virender Sehwag remained steady at 15th and 18th respectively.

However, Sourav Ganguly was down a spot to 20th. In the bowling list, the next best placed Indian after Kumble is Zaheer Khan at the 14th, which he shares with controversial Pakistan pacer Mohammad Asif

Further down the list, off-spinner Harbhajan Singh climbed a rung to 17th.

Meanwhile, Ashwell Prince and AB de Villiers have stormed into the top 20 among batsmen after outstanding performances against England in the second Test, which ended on Monday.

Prince has climbed eight places to 13th spot in the rankings and now has 12th-placed Graeme Smith firmly in his sights while de Villiers has jumped six places to 19th position. The batting list is still headed by Kumar Sangakkara of Sri Lanka, ahead of the West Indies` Shivnarine Chanderpaul, Mike Hussey of Australia and his captain Ricky Ponting, along with Mohammad Yousuf of Pakistan, the latter two sharing fourth place

Hayden to quit before 2011 World Cup

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

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

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

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

Plagued by tendon injuries over the past 12 months, there have been growing calls for the broad-shouldered opener to step down from One-day cricket and concentrate on Tests but Hayden insisted he wasn`t ready to give up the limited-overs game so soon.

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

"It is a tendon that has just been worked. It`s a deteriorating injury. It doesn`t mean it gets any worse. I`ve had it in my knees for nine years. Some days they are sore but you play. Other days they hurt badly," said Hayden, who had to miss the Caribbean tour recently due to the injury.

Tuesday, July 22, 2008

Hayden uneasy over Pakistan security for Trophy

Senior Australian opening batsman Matthew Hayden said Monday he wants to play in September's Champions Trophy, but not if his safety is compromised in host nation Pakistan.

The year's biggest one-day tournament, featuring the top eight Test nations, is due to be held from September 11 to 28, but Australia, England and New Zealand have raised fears about playing in Pakistan.

International Cricket Council chief executive Haroon Lorgat said Monday the ICC would soon decide whether to go ahead with the tournament in Pakistan, or move it elsewhere.

Hayden said he is backing Cricket Australia and the Australian Cricketers' Association to make the correct call -- in the same manner they did when they opted against touring Pakistan in March-April this year.

"It's certainly one I want to be involved in if my safety is not compromised," Hayden told reporters.

"I think the process is an important one in this.

"Like the last time we went there, we had a full security briefing independent of all parties and we at that point decided it wasn't safe to travel there and Cricket Australia and the ACA supported the players on that so the tour didn't proceed."

But Hayden said he hoped it wouldn't come to that, adding: "It's going to be disappointing if the tournament gets wiped all together."

Fears about security in Pakistan were raised earlier this month when a suicide bomb blast in the capital Islamabad killed 19 people. The next day, a

series of small bombings rocked the port city of Karachi.

Sri Lanka is a stand-by venue if Pakistan is considered unsafe, but the ongoing civil war between government forces and Tamil separatist rebels has raised concerns as well.

The 36-year-old Hayden missed the entire recent West Indies tour with an Achilles problem, and said he is not sure to be ready for Australia's three one-dayers against Bangladesh in Darwin from August 30 to September 6.

Hayden hinted he would be prepared to miss the Darwin series in order to make the Champions Trophy, but said: "Both of those tournaments are a target for me. I would have to say I am on track for both of those tournaments."

Mendis set for Sri Lanka Test debut

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

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

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

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

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

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

ECB threatens to send second-string team

England has threatened to send a second-string team for the Champions Trophy if the tournament is not shifted from Pakistan.

According to `The Times`, ECB will not force its players to travel to Pakistan because of the security situation there.

"England are among four countries to give warning that weakened teams may be sent to the ICC Champions Trophy in September unless the tournament is shifted from Pakistan," a report in the newspaper said.

The report said, "ECB would not guarantee participation of all its players in the tournament after recent bombings in Karachi and Islamabad".

The report also quoted British Foreign Office`s Advice about Pakistan: "There is a high threat from terrorism and sectarian violence throughout Pakistan.”

"Among the cities with a `heightened threat to Westerners` are the venues of Rawalpindi, Karachi and Lahore," the Advisory read.

England is the fourth country to have strongly pitched for change of venue after Australia, New Zealand and South Africa.
A final decision on the venue will be made by the ICC Board this week.

Pakistan to open Toronto T20 campaign against Canada

Pakistan will be looking to win a four-nation Twenty20 tournament in Canada next month to boost their morale ahead of September's ICC Champions Trophy.

The Pakistanis will begin their campaign in the Toronto quadrangular with a opening day clash against hosts Canada on Aug 14. West Indies and Bangladesh -- the other two teams in the contest -- will play in the tournament opener earlier in the day.

The four-nation event will be played from Aug 14-17. Canada have confirmed they will take part in the event which is being held in their country after finally signing the Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) with the tournament sponsors, Sports International Marketing of Pakistan.

The Bangladesh Cricket Board confirmed the dates of the competition last week, but the host country were waiting for the MOU to be signed by the marketing company.

Pakistan, whose board are organising the competition, are also participating, while West Indies are still to confirm.

There had been question marks over the tournament coming off when the original organisers backed out, but a new company came to the rescue. Each team will play the other once, meaning three matches, ahead of a final and a third-place play-off, both matches on Aug 17.

A PCB official said Monday that since the Canadians have confirmed the tournament, Pakistan will announce their 15-member squad for the event within the next few days.

England hammered at Headingley

South Africa defeated England by 10 wickets in the second test at Headingley to take a 1-0 lead in the four-match series with a day to spare.

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

Monday, July 21, 2008

Watson to raise funds for Jaipur street children

Moved by the plight of Jaipur`s street children, Australian all-rounder Shane Watson has associated himself with a Sydney-based charity `I-India` to raise funds for their rehabilitation.

The 27-year-old, who with his all-round performance helped Rajasthan Royals to the inaugural Indian Premier League title, came up with the initiative after he was shocked to learn that the city has 500,000 street children.

To initiate the process, Watson and his girlfriend Lee Furlong, a sports-reader for Fox, has decided to host a fund-raising dinner - A Night in Rajasthan - on August 2 at Sydney`s Shangri-La Hotel, where he will share his experiences of his stay in Jaipur.

"I realised the kids over there don`t have much of an opportunity. When some bombs went off in Jaipur it brought a lot of things close to home. I wanted to help the kids as much as I could, and I realised one way to do that was to support `I-India`," Watson was quoted as saying in the ` Sydney Morning Herald `. `I-India` has already started its initiative in Jaipur and helps 3000 destitute children of the city every day.

Watson said though he would love to see immediate changes and he is aware of the hardships the charity is facing.

"It won`t happen immediately. I-India is doing a lot of good work. They might allow kids to shower twice a week and while that might not seem much to some people I think it`s better they get that chance rather than none at all.

"The children are also doing things such as jewelery courses, so they are at least getting skills to help them break out of the poverty cycle," he said.

Pakistan cricketers line up for dope tests

Pakistan's star cricketers lined up at the National Cricket Academy (NCA) in Lahore Sunday to undergo dope tests two months before the Champions Trophy.

Two years ago, Pakistan conducted similar, out-of-competition dope tests ahead of the 2006 Champions Trophy in India. That exercise ended on an explosive note when key pacers Shoaib Akhtar and Mohammad Asif tested positive for banned anabolic steroid nandrolone but by that time the competition had already begun and Pakistan had to pull the pacers out of their squad. Just days later, their team was bundled out of the first round.

This time the Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) is hoping to avoid a repeat of that embarrassing episode. The Board is conducting the dope tests two months before the Champions Trophy and will receive its results much before the deadline for the announcement of the 15-man squad for the tournament.

On Sunday, 26 of the thirty players named in Pakistan's preliminary squad underwent the doping procedure at the NCA.

Shoaib Akhtar, the controversial pacer who failed a dope test in 2006, was among the players who gave away urine samples for dope testing. The samples were collected under the supervision of a World Anti-Doping Agency's (WADA) representative. Anti-doping experts of PCB and the Pakistan Sports Board (PSB) were also present on the occasion.

The biggest name missing from the exercise was that of master batsman Younis Khan, who is in Saudi Arabia to perform Umrah. Three more cricketers - Yasir Arafat, Bazid Khan, and Azhar Ali - are playing professional cricket in England. A PCB official said anti-doping professionals accredited by WADA will collect urine samples from those players in England within the next few days.

Doping is a major issue in Pakistan's sporting circles these days after their leading pacer Mohammad Asif failed a dope test conducted during the Indian Premier League. Two of the country's Olympic-bound athletes also recently failed dope tests.

ICC to decide on Champions Trophy

The International Cricket Council will decide this week whether September's Champions Trophy can take place in Pakistan.

Representatives of the eight nations due to take part in the tournament, including England, were briefed on the security situation in Dubai today by the ICC's own security consultants and the Pakistan Cricket Board.

The PCB highlighted the successful recent staging of the Asia Cup as a reason for optimism but concerns remain over the ability to guarantee the safety of the teams involved.

The ICC board will consider those fears this week before making a final decision on whether or not the tournament must be moved.

Several Australia and New Zealand cricketers have said previously they would not play in the tournament, although security experts who visited the venues declared them safe.

"We have assured fool-proof security measures for the Champions Trophy," PCB chief operating officer Shafqat Naghmi said earlier this week.

"There is no reason for us to believe that the tournament will be relocated from Pakistan.

"Everything that needs to be done has been done to ensure that the Champions Trophy is held here smoothly and safely.

"We've informed the ICC, the security experts and the competing nations about it and now hope that all the stakeholders will consider it objectively."

England face uphill battle

England's unlikely bid to save the second Test at Headingley got off to a poor start as they closed the third day on 50-2, still 269 runs behind South Africa.

Needing 319 to make South Africa bat again and therefore stand any chance of avoiding going 1-0 down in this four-match npower series, the hosts were minus Andrew Strauss almost immediately.

On a pitch which has largely favoured the batsmen, Makhaya Ntini found extra bounce from a dangerous line round the wicket with the new ball to have Strauss edging behind.

Skipper Michael Vaughan teamed up with Alastair Cook and it looked like the pair would see the home side through to the close without any further loss.

However, Ntini then had Vaughan caught behind in the penultimate over of the day as the batsmen shuffled back and got an outside edge through to Boucher to leave England really up against it.

A record fifth-wicket stand of 212 between AB de Villiers (174) and Ashwell Prince (149) had carried South Africa to 522 all out.

Fresh conditions accompanied by regular cloud cover were no bar through the first two sessions to more unhurried but relentless South African consolidation of an already dominant position.

De Villiers forced a four past cover in Stuart Broad's first over of the day, to take him and Prince beyond their country's previous best for the fifth wicket against England - Gary Kirsten and Mark Boucher's 192 at Durban in 1999.

Prince needed 13 deliveries to add to his overnight 134 but eventually reached his Test best, and brought up the 200 stand for good measure, with a cover-drive on the up for four off Broad.

There was to be no maiden 150, though, because debutant Darren Pattinson - again the last member of England's four-strong seam attack to be used by Vaughan - got one to keep its line from round the wicket and have the left-hander caught behind, giving his team their first wicket for 75 overs.

De Villiers, joined by Boucher, completed his sixth Test century shortly before lunch when he pushed a single off Andrew Flintoff into the off-side - having spent 13 balls on 99.

De Villiers' hundred took 264 balls and contained 11 fours.

He was in no rush after the resumption either, on his way to 150 - adding four more boundaries in another 91 deliveries.

Boucher, still more cautious, helped to add 67 for the sixth wicket before dragging an attempted pull at James Anderson on to his stumps - and Monty Panesar (three for 65) then ended a personal barren spell stretching back to the first Test at Lord's 82 overs ago when he bowled Morne Morkel through the gate for a conspicuous duck.

De Villiers eventually went after more than eight-and-a-half hours - to Flintoff's outstanding, one-handed catch away to his left at first slip off an edged drive at Broad.

Sunday, July 20, 2008

Shoaib Akhtar happy to take dope tests

Shoaib Akhtar on Saturday moved to dispel any suggestion he was running away from dope tests ahead of the Champions Trophy, saying he will be the first to give a sample.

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

Akhtar, who tested positive for nandrolone in October 2006, said he has no fears ahead of the September Trophy, scheduled to be held in Pakistan.

"I will be the first to give dope test on Sunday because I have no fears and will also give fitness test once I gain rhythm," said Akhtar, who was banned for two years for the positive test.

He and fellow paceman Asif tested positive in tests conducted internally by Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB). Asif was banned for one year but the bans were overturned on appeals.

Akhtar and Asif cleared tests ahead of last year's World Cup in the West Indies before they pulled out due to injuries.

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

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

"We don't know how much Akhtar is fit. We feared he might breakdown as it will be a strenuous training camp and that's why we have dropped him from the training camp," PCB chief operating officer Shafqat Naghmi said.

Akhtar admitted he will take two to three weeks to get full fitness.

"I will train under Pakistan trainer Greg Dwyer and it will take me two to three weeks to get full fitness and get in full bowling rhythm, and after that I will give a fitness test.

"I am keen to play the Champions Trophy so I am ready to do whatever is required to play for Pakistan," said Akhtar, who last played for Pakistan on the team's tour of India in December last year.

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

Pakistan host the biennial Champions Trophy from September 11-28.

Indians struggle despite Tendulkar's half-ton

Sachin Tendulkar marked his return from injury with a well-made 69 but the rest of the Indian batsmen struggled in a three-day tour match against a Sri Lanka Board XI here on Saturday.

In reply to the hosts' first-innings score of 224, the visitors were 196-8 at stumps on the second day of their warm-up tie at the Nondescripts Cricket Club.

Tendulkar, making a return to international cricket after more than three months, proved his match fitness with the 76-ball knock that included eight fours and a six.

The star batsman is just 172 runs short of surpassing West Indies' Brian Lara as the world's highest Test run getter.

Tendulkar added 62 runs for the sixth wicket with wicket-keeper Dinesh Karthik who looked all set for a Test recall after remaining unbeaten on a patient 58 that came off 105 balls.

But other top-rated Test batsmen including Rahul Dravid (five) and Venkatsai Laxman (zero) flopped against the second-string attack of the hosts who had the Indians on the mat at 80-5 at one stage.

Former captain Sourav Ganguly also failed to get any batting practice, making 14 before being caught by Mahela Udawatte off medium pacer Dammika Prasad who impressed with a haul of 3-30 off his eight overs.

Fast bowler Dilhara Fernando finished with 2-27 while also effecting the run out of former India skipper Dravid to underline a spirited effort by the hosts.

This is the only warm-up game between the sides ahead of the start of the three-Test series on July 23.

India have not won a series in this island nation in 15 years.

Harmison pans Pattinson choice

Steve Harmison has suggested England's decision to select Darren Pattinson for the second Test against South Africa shows a lack of faith in the country's youngsters.

The Ashes-winning paceman was one of several fringe seamers overlooked as England brought in Nottinghamshire's inexperienced 29-year-old as cover on the eve of the Headingley match.

Chris Tremlett, Matthew Hoggard and Simon Jones might also have been in contention to replace Ryan Sidebottom, while Harmison feels there are also some good youngsters on the county circuit.

Durham spearhead Harmison told Sky Sports News: "The amount of money the ECB have pushed into young bowlers, taking them to Chennai and the Academy - are we saying the young bowlers aren't good enough?

"I haven't seen him [Pattinson] bowl - I was asleep when we played them. But good luck to him, he has taken his chance.

"If he deserves it I'm not sure, but good luck to him."

Pattinson was plucked from obscurity having only played 11 first-class matches in his career.

The Grimsby-born, but Australian-raised, player has only come to attention this season having taken 29 wickets for Notts.

Out-of-form all-rounder Paul Collingwood was also left out for the Headingley match but Harmison has backed his Durham team-mate to bounce back.

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

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

Prince bats England into submission

Ashwell Prince's second hundred in successive Tests condemned England to a major first-innings deficit on day two at Headingley.

Prince (134 not out) augmented his hundred at Lord's last week, sharing an unbroken stand of 179 with AB de Villiers (70no) as South Africa reached 32 for four at stumps - having bowled England out for 203 on Friday.

Only a maiden wicket for debutant Darren Pattinson briefly interrupted South Africa's progress - before Prince upped the ante in early afternoon with two straight sixes in consecutive overs off Monty Panesar as the tourists took control of the second Test.

Apparently intent on preventing England's slow left-armer from settling - after a belated introduction in the 59th over - Prince went up the wicket for his first maximum to complete his 50.

He hit the next one from the crease, and before tea he had 100 to his name - with 11 fours to go with those two sixes from 194 balls.

The nuggety left-hander restricted himself largely to a 'percentage' innings, built on knowing deflections and sound timing - as well as the occasional more expansive shot - on his way to his ninth Test hundred.

De Villiers' 126-ball half-century contained five fours, a significant personal contribution after he had reportedly found himself on the end of Michael Vaughan's lunchtime tirade because of the slip catch the South African claimed in error before a third-umpire referral reprieved Andrew Strauss.

Pattinson raised England's hopes only momentarily when he won an lbw decision against Hashim Amla, after South Africa resumed on 101 for three in bright and breezy conditions.

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

Amla and Prince were in no hurry as they trained their sights on disciplined consolidation, in a stand of 67.

For Pattinson, though - and the England selectors - there was at least a transitory vindication of his surprise elevation to the Test ranks, after just 11 first-class games and around two weeks before his 30th birthday.

The Grimsby-born, Australian-raised seamer had luck on his side when Daryl Harper raised his finger after Amla missed a slower ball, a low full toss, and was hit in line with leg stump by a delivery which would probably have swung to safety. England, of course, thought they had Amla on nine last night - before controversy kicked in and Vaughan's 'catch' at mid-off was disallowed.

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

Saturday, July 19, 2008

Mohammad Asif summoned for B test

Pakistan pacer Mohammad Asif has been summoned for a B sample test after he was found guilty of doping during the Indian Premier League and was also caught with some alleged contrabrand drugs in the Dubai airport earlier. The test of the B sample will be conducted in WADA laboratories in Switzerland.

The Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) has suspended Asif from all the board’s cricket activities till the charges are not proved wrong. The date for the B sample tests is fixed tentatively for 28th of July.

Asif had tested positive for the banned substance nandrolone, his lawyer disclosed to reporters yesterday.

Traces of nandrolone, an anabolic steroid, was found in Asif`s sample when he first tested positive just before the Champions Trophy in 2006 and was subsequently sent back home from India.

This is the second time that he has tested positive for nandrolone and now faces the possibility of being banned for a minimum of two years as per WADA regulations.

Akhtar left out of Pakistan squad

The Pakistan Cricket Board has left Shoaib Akhtar out of its 24-member training camp, saying the paceman lacks fitness.

"We feared he might break down as it will be a strenuous training camp," PCB Chief Operating Officer Shafqat Naghmi said

Akhtar made the provisional list of 30 players for this September's Champions Trophy after a court in Lahore last month suspended his 18-month ban for a disciplinary breach.

The 30 players will undergo a doping test at Lahore on Saturday and Sunday under PCB regulations.

"We will be much clearer on Akhtar's fitness when the trainers physically see him," Naghmi said. "After that we will see whether some sort of a training program could be devised for him."

Champions Trophy to be confirmed

Pakistan face an agonising wait until Sunday to know if they will host the International Cricket Council's Champions Trophy in September amid security concerns in the country.

The ICC said representatives of all eight participating teams in the year's biggest one-day tournament will receive a security briefing at the governing body's headquarters in Dubai over the weekend.

“The timing of the briefing was agreed upon during the ICC's annual conference in early July to allow the ICC's security consultants to provide a comprehensive report,” it said in a statement.

“Prior to the meeting, the ICC will not indulge in speculation and, at this stage, the tournament will proceed in Pakistan, as scheduled.”

Officials from the ICC's broadcast partners, ESPN-STAR Sports, and the Federation of International Cricketers' Associations (FICA) have also been invited to attend, the ICC said.

The meeting comes amid renewed fears about security in Pakistan following a suicide blast in the capital Islamabad earlier this month that killed 19 people and a series of small bombings in the port city of Karachi a day later.

Players from Australia, New Zealand and England have expressed concerns over playing in Pakistan. India, South Africa, Sri Lanka, the West Indies and the hosts are the other teams in the fray.

The tournament is due to be held in Karachi, Rawalpindi - which adjoins Islamabad - and Lahore from September 11-28.

The ICC has said it could pull the tournament out of Pakistan if there were any threat of violence.

Pakistan, who hosted the six-nation Asia Cup without incident from June 24-July 6, are confident the Champions Trophy too would go off peacefully.

“We have assured fool-proof security measures for the Champions Trophy,” Pakistan Cricket Board's (PCB) chief operating officer Shafqat Naghmi said.

“There is no reason for us to believe that the tournament will be relocated from Pakistan.

“Everything that needs to be done has been done to ensure that the Champions Trophy is held smoothly and safely.

“We've informed the ICC, the security experts and the competing nations about it and now hope that all the stakeholders will consider it objectively.”

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

Media reports have mentioned South Africa and England as possible hosts

Flintoff strikes but Proteas on top

Pace bowlers Morris Morkel and Dale Steyn claimed four wickets apiece to help dismiss England for 203 on the first day of the second Test at Headingley, but Andrew Flintoff returned to Test cricket with a wicket to leave South Africa on 101-3 at the close.

Morkel took four for 52 and Steyn four for 76 before the home team hit back in the final session.

Flintoff (pictured), in the thick of the action on his Test comeback after 18 months, took a catch and a wicket.

Hashim Amla (18) and Ashwell Prince (9) were the not out batsmen as South Africa trailed England by 102 runs. The first match in the four-match series at Lord's was drawn.

Amla was almost the fourth man out when his leading edge was caught by a diving Michael Vaughan at mid-off off Flintoff. But after reaching the end of his walk back to the pavilion he was instructed by captain Graeme Smith to wait for the third umpire's decision which gave him a reprieve.

It was the second such instance after South Africa's AB de Villiers earlier claimed a catch at third slip off the bat of Andrew Strauss. Replays showed the ball had clearly been grounded.

The South African bowlers vindicated Smith's decision to bowl first in dull and humid conditions after he admitted he wrongly chose to bowl first at Lord's. England were 70 for three at lunch and all out by tea.

England started confidently by reaching 26 for no loss before Alastair Cook was given out caught down the leg side off Morkel for 18 by umpire Billy Bowden, even though replays clearly showed the ball brushing his leg.

Kevin Pietersen top scored for England with an exhilarating 45 off 46 balls. He was threatening the tourists with some majestic stroke-play, in particular a drive through extra-cover for four off the back foot from Steyn, the ball before he was dismissed.

Pietersen, attempting another boundary, edged the ball to Smith at first slip.

The most interesting sequence of the afternoon session came with the arrival of former skipper Flintoff, who came to the crease at number seven with the score on 123 for five.

He was unable to stop the slide, lasting 28 deliveries and striking four boundaries in his 17.

South Africa were given a solid start of 51 by Smith and Neil McKenzie, before the latter edged James Anderson to Flintoff at second slip and was out for 15.

Smith's innings of 44 was ended by Flintoff, whose short-pitched ball was caught by Strauss at first slip. Anderson then bowled Jacques Kallis for four, bottom edging a short ball angled into him.

Earlier, England gave a debut to swing bowler Darren Pattinson after Ryan Sidebottom failed a fitness test. Flintoff came in for Paul Collingwood.

Thursday, July 17, 2008

Shoaib gets Champions Trophy nod

The Pakistan Cricket Board has included fast bowler Shoaib Akhtar in the provisional 30-man squad for the Champions Trophy, but dropped Mohammad Asif amid new drugs allegations.

A Pakistani court earlier this month said the 32-year-old Akhtar was free to play cricket again after suspending an 18-month ban imposed on him by the PCB for indiscipline.

"We have shown a big heart by including Akhtar as it is in the larger interest of the game,'' said the PCB's chief operating officer while announcing the squad in a press conference.

Pakistan had to delay the announcement after Akhtar was asked to pay a US$162,000 (A$166,000) fine, which was imposed by an appellate tribunal last month along with the ban - that replaced an original five-year ban imposed earlier this year.

Akhtar's lawyer assured the paceman would pay the fine once his appeal against his latest ban is decided.

Akhtar was in April banned for five years over a series of discipline violations, including public criticism of the PCB on excluding him from a list of 15 contracted players.

He was already on two years' probation for hitting Asif with a bat days before the World Twenty20 in South Africa last September.

Asif was in the preliminary squad until his name was announced by the Indian Premier League as dope offender on Monday.

He also faces an internal PCB inquiry after he was seized at Dubai airport last month on charges of possessing opium. He was detained for 19 days before the Gulf police said the quantity of drug was "insignificant'' and deported him.

Akhtar and Asif missed the last Champions Trophy held in India in 2006 after they were withdrawn from the team following positive dope tests.

A PCB doping tribunal banned Akhtar for two years and Asif for one year. However, the bans were overturned on appeals.

Besides losing Asif, Pakistan also suffered a crucial blow when ace batsman Mohammad Yousuf pulled out of the Champions Trophy, saying he would not play any cricket in the holy month of Ramadan to focus on prayers.

Naghmi said all the 30 players will undergo dope tests on July 19 and 20 to avoid any further doping controversy.

Pakistan host the biennial Champions Trophy from September 11-28 but the event will be played under a cloud after players from Australia, New Zealand and England raised safety concerns.

Last week's blasts in the capital Islamabad and Karachi further endangered Pakistan's chances of hosting the event.

The International Cricket Council (ICC) is awaiting a security assessment of Pakistan during the Asia Cup, which finished in Lahore on Sunday. The ICC categorically said it is following a security process and will not compromise on it.

In case Pakistan is not found fit to host the Trophy, Sri Lanka has been chosen the alternate venue.

Pakistan greats blame Asif, PCB for doping scandal

Former Pakistani players have blamed fast bowler Mohammad Asif and the Pakistan Cricket Board for the latest doping breach.

"I blame both Asif and the PCB," said former Pakistan Captain Zaheer Abbas.

Speaking about Asif's detention in the Gulf, Abbas said, "He is a hugely talented player, but seems so ignorant that he kept an illegal drug in his pocket."

"The PCB should have properly educated Asif and it seems that a good talent is spoiled now. I see a dark future for Asif who himself was not serious about his game," Abbas added.

Another former captain, Ramiz Raja, said, "It is a very unfortunate situation and Pakistan cricket is in the headlines for the wrong reasons. Asif should not have been that careless and the PCB should have nipped the evil in the bud when it happened in 2006."

The Board of Control for Cricket in India on Monday announced that Asif tested positive for a banned substance during random testing at the Indian Premier League (IPL).

The Indian Cricket Board has confirmed the player who was under the drug scanner during the IPL, is Mohammad Asif.

Asif, 25, played for the Delhi Daredevils team in the IPL, a lucrative Twenty20 tournament that ran from April 18-June 1 and featured the world's top players.

The PCB had been informed of Asif's positive test and it depended on the player if he wanted his 'B' sample to be tested, the statement said.

If Asif takes up the offer, the case will be referred to the IPL's three-member Drugs Tribunal that includes former India captain Sunil Gavaskar, once the results of the 'B' sample are known.

Asif was detained at Dubai airport for three weeks for possessing opium while returning from the IPL in June. But Dubai public prosecutors dropped the case citing "insignificance" and deported him to Pakistan.

Meanwhile, the International Cricket Council (ICC) has put the onus of taking action against Asif on the BCCI.

The ICC said it had been informed of the positive dope test, speculated to be of a sub-continental fast bowler, by the World Anti-Doping Agency (WADA) accredited laboratory where the randomly collected samples were tested.

English Premier League to start in 2010

A new English Premier League (EPL) cricket competition involving all 18 counties, two overseas teams and international players will start in 2010, the England and Wales Cricket Board (ECB) announced on Wednesday.

The proposed EPL, which will be staged in June, follows the multi-million dollar launch of the Indian Premier League which started in April.

There will also be a new Twenty20 League played on Friday and Saturday nights in July and August to replace the current Pro40 competition played on a Sunday.

The new domestic Twenty20 competition will only comprise the 18 counties and not feature any additional overseas players but will serve as the qualifying competition for cricket`s Champions League involving top teams from around the world.

Board chairman Giles Clarke told that it had not yet been decided which overseas teams would be involved, but that it was unlikely they would be either Indian or Pakistani teams as they compete in the Indian Premier League. "We do not expect the other teams to be Indian or Pakistani. They could be Australia, New Zealand, Sri Lanka, West Indies, who knows?

"The important thing is, it`s going to be a very high standard competition, a very exciting competition.

"There is no doubt from all the detailed, exhaustive research we have done, we will provide what the spectators want, when they want it.

"We have sat down with broadcasters around the world to see what they would pay the most money for. We have looked at the right thing for our game in this country and we move forward on that basis."

In a statement, the ECB said the timetable and the format of the competition had been agreed by the board after detailed market research which clearly "demonstrated a spectator desire to watch more Twenty20 cricket in July and August.

"The EPL will be staged in June with the Twenty20 League being played in July, August and September and involving five home matches for each team."

Although the ECB rejected a controversial plan by Surrey county chairman David Stewart and Marylebone Cricket Club chairman Keith Bradshaw to have a competition which did not include all the counties, it did incorporate some of their funding proposals.

Stewart said in the ECB statement: "These are extremely exciting and satisfying proposals for the future of domestic cricket in England and Wales. I am delighted to support them.

The board also agreed the 2010 season would include a 50-over competition and 16 County Championship matches in a two-division structure.

Best is yet to come: Andrew Flintoff

Andrew Flintoff, set to play his first Test in 18 months on Friday when England face South Africa in the second Test at Headingley, is relishing a new beginning and believes his best years are still ahead of him.

Flintoff, 30, last played a Test in January 2007 when he was captain of England as they lost the Ashes 5-0.

After that he experienced more ankle pain and had to undergo a fourth operation last October before a side strain delayed his comeback this season.

The all-rounder, who has been England`s most influential cricketer of the past decade, will add firepower to a bowling attack that failed to force a win at Lord`s in the first Test, which was drawn.

"For me it is almost a fresh start," Flintoff, expected to earn a 68th Test appearance, told reporters on Wednesday.

"A few years ago I was out for a while and then came back with some success - hopefully I can do that again."

"I was pleased, ecstatic almost, just to get the call back in the England squad. If you have ever pulled on an England shirt it is enough to get you back out playing one-day internationals, or Test cricket." Flintoff has proved his fitness after two four-day matches for county side Lancashire and he is now likely to replace out-of-form Paul Collingwood in his regular number six position.

The man known as "Freddie" has been written off several times because of the history with his ankle, but he is putting that behind him and thinking positively about his future.

"I still feel the best years are ahead of me - I didn`t start bowling properly until I was probably 24 or 25," he said. "So on that front I am pretty new to it all and I feel I have got a better grasp of things."

He added: "You see batsmen in their early 30s reach their peak, so hopefully for me it is just around the corner."

South Africa, who followed on at Lord`s before three batsmen made centuries in the second innings to earn a draw on a flat pitch, will be hoping their fast bowlers are more disciplined this week.

"We have spoken to the bowlers, and they have sat and really analysed their performance - as I hoped," South Africa coach Mickey Arthur told reporters. "I`m very, very confident you will see a totally different bowling unit come out here."

Opener Neil McKenzie, who batted for over nine hours in the second innings at Lord`s where his 138 helped thwart England, hopes to overcome a groin injury in time.

Probable teams:

England: Michael Vaughan (captain), Andrew Strauss, Alastair Cook, Kevin Pietersen, Ian Bell, Andrew Flintoff, Tim Ambrose, Stuart Broad, Ryan Sidebottom, Monty Panesar, James Anderson.

South Africa: Graeme Smith (captain), Neil McKenzie, Hashim Amla, Jacques Kallis, Ashwell Prince, AB de Villiers, Mark Boucher, Paul Harris, Morne Morkel, Dale Steyn, Makhaya Ntini.

Umpires: Daryl Harper and Billy Bowden.

Referee: Jeff Crowe.

New Zealand starts search for a coach

New Zealand started the search for a new national cricket coach on Thursday, saying it was offering an opportunity of a lifetime to a world class candidate with a proven track record.

The search follows the decision of John Bracewell to return to coaching English country side Gloucestershire next season.

"New Zealand Cricket seeks an experienced, passionate, outstanding leader to build on the team's solid foundation and take the Blackcaps to the next level of achievement," NZ Cricket said in the advertisement for job on its website.

Applications close on August 4.

NZ Cricket said it wants someone who has coached at an elite level in the past 12 months; has a proven track record as a world class coach, outstanding leadership, communication and people management skills; and a willingness to be judged on results.

"NZ Cricket's stated strategic goal is for the Blackcaps to be sustainably number one or two in the world in both forms of the game and to regularly win world tournaments and series," it said.

New Zealand, ranked third in the world in the one day game and seventh in test matches, recently toured England where it lost the test series 2-0, but took the one-day series 3-1.

Former India coach John Wright has been mentioned in media reports as a favourite to replace Bracewell.

Tuesday, July 15, 2008

Collingwood likely to lose out as Flintoff earns a Test recall

Michael Vaughan last night warned England fans not to expect too much from Andrew Flintoff when he returns to the England side. Flintoff is set to gain a much awaited England recall against South Africa at Headingley on Friday after being named in a 12-man squad for the second Test. Flintoff's summons comes in the wake of the drawn first Test against South Africa at Lord's, a match in which England's bowlers spent two days attempting to dismiss Graeme Smith's defiant side. It was an endeavour that ultimately failed.

South Africa lost just two wickets on the final day of the Test and had reached 393 for 3 in their second innings when the two captains, Michael Vaughan and Smith, accepted that there was no possibility of a result. The teams will now travel up to Leeds with the bowlers, Flintoff included, hoping to find more favourable conditions.

"I've always had it in my mind to get him back in the team and he is now ready," Vaughan said. "I think he is being built up a bit too much and that is unfair on him because he has had 18 months out of the team. He is not a wizard. He is not going to come and sprinkle dust. He is just going to come and perform the best he can. There is no pressure on him. He needs to come and bowl as he can and whack it like he does and try to get his level of performance to what it was before, but it might take a bit of time. He has that bit of X-Factor. You know when you give him the ball he can create something, make things happen when he bats and take wonderful catches. His stature in the dressing room is important and I'm sure teams around the world would rather play England without Freddie in the team."

Flintoff's last Test appearance for England came as captain, and was one he would rather forget. Defeat in the fifth Test in Sydney took England to an embarrassing 5-0 Ashes defeat. No player would want to finish his career on such a note but there were many who thought he would as he struggled to overcome a chronic ankle injury, a problem that has required four operations. But Flintoff has worked tirelessly to get fit and return to the stage he loves.

A side strain kept him out of the New Zealand Test series and Vaughan will be hoping his return provides his tired and dispirited side with the fillip they require. Flintoff replaces Chris Tremlett in the squad, but it will be Ryan Sidebottom or Paul Collingwood who makes way for him in the starting XI. Sidebottom complained of a sore back towards the end of the Test but Collingwood looks set to be the unlucky man. Omitting Collingwood, a player who continues to give so much to the team, will be a tough decision for the selectors, especially after the poor umpiring decision that prevented him from impressing here at Lord's, but it is the correct one.

Collingwood has been in poor form for England this summer, scoring only 39 runs at an average of 9.75 in four Tests. It is 14 matches since his last Test hundred. Replacing him with Flintoff would be a tactical as much as a form decision. England needed a fifth bowler at Lord's, especially one capable of hurling the ball at more than 90mph with a bit of reverse swing. Collingwood could receive a stay of execution if Sidebottom's back remains a problem.

Headingley is a ground where four bowlers have won Tests, but it would be a cautious option. Test teams are always concerned about the depth of their batting and Flintoff's form with the willow this summer has been poor. But, after England played the better cricket in the first Test, such an approach would be a backward step. South Africa will perform better at Headingley and England should continue to attack if they want to retain control of the series.

England unhappy with India itinerary

England cricket chiefs reacted with "disappointment" after receiving the proposed itinerary for England's tour of India later this year, warning they were yet to accept it fully.

What particularly upset officials at the England and Wales Cricket Board (ECB) was the lack of international matches at India's major grounds such as Calcutta's Eden Gardens, Bangalore and Chennai, while neither of the scheduled two Tests is being played in Delhi, which they said represented a snub to fans.

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

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

England's tour, which begins in November, also features seven one-day internationals.

That follows an agreement the ECB reached with the Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI) about the tour series to India in 2008 and the reciprocal tour to England in 2011.

The BCCI preferred England play two Test matches and seven one-day internationals rather than three Tests and five one-day internationals.

In 2011 the ECB's preference was for four Test matches, five one-day Internationals and an international Twenty20 on India's tour of England.

Asif refutes IPL drug accusations

Pakistan bowler Mohammad Asif has protested his innocence after it was confirmed he had failed a dope test during the Indian Premier League earlier this year.

"I have taken no banned substances or drugs and I am innocent," Asif said.

"I am hoping the board will support me and help me clear my name. I will take a decision on having the sample 'B" tested after consulting with the board," Asif said.

"I just don't know how this has happened because I have been very careful with the medicines I use," he said.

The 25-year-old was left out of Pakistan's Champions Trophy preliminary squad once the positive was confirmed by the organisers of the Indian Premier League.

"Obviously in these circumstances he can't be considered for selection. The board has officially informed him of his positive test," Zakir Khan, the PCB's director of cricket operations, said.

Khan said Asif had the right to appeal and ask for B sample test, but the board would be discussing the issue with him soon.

"We have been told his test was conducted on May 30 and has come back as positive. We are disappointed and shocked at this development," he said.

Asif, who has played 11 tests and 31 one-day internationals, was last month detained in Dubai for 19 days for alleged possession of a banned substance.

He was released by the authorities without being charged but a Pakistan board committee is probing the incident to see if he violated its anti-doping regulations.

After his detention, Asif claimed the substance found on him was an ayurvedic medicine he was prescribed by a local "Hakeem" [ ayurvedic practitioner] for his elbow injury.

A board official said it would investigate the issue of Asif using ayurvedic medicine and speak to the person who prescribed it to the player.

"We have to see now what substance exactly has been found in his tests," the official said on condition of anonymity.

The 25-year-old Asif returned a positive sample in random tests undertaken by a World Anti-Doping Agency accredited laboratory.

"The Indian Premier League compared the result from the WADA-approved laboratory in Switzerland with the data collected by IDTM, the Sweden-based independent agency which organised the anti-doping testing in accordance with WADA standards, to confirm the player in violation is Mohammad Asif," said the IPL in a statement.

The lucrative league was organised in April and May.

The second doping controversy involving Asif could seriously jeopardise the international career of the talented bowler.

In 2006, Asif and fellow strike bowler Shoaib Akhtar tested positive for the banned steroid nandrolone when the PCB held tests before the ICC Champions Trophy in India.

They were initially handed one and two-year bans respectively by the PCB's anti-doping commission until the suspension was controversially lifted on appeal.

The International Cricket Council tightened its doping laws after WADA made an unsuccessful appeal against the reprieve to the Court of Arbitration for Sport in July.

CAS said it was forced to dismiss the appeal because the PCB did not recognise the court in its regulations.

Amla hundred seals draw for South Africa

Hashim Amla became the sixth batsman in the match to score a century as he saw South Africa to the safety of a draw against England in the first Test at Lord's here on Monday.

The Proteas, following-on, were 393 for three, a lead of 47, when captain Graeme Smith and England counterpart Michael Vaughan agreed a draw with a minimum of 19 overs left in the opening match of this four-Test series.

Amla was 104 not out and first innings centurion Ashwell Prince nine not out as, for the sixth successive match since Australia's victory in 2005, a Lord's Test ended in stalemate.

South Africa kept England in the field for nearly 11-and-a-half hours in their second innings alone and several members of the hosts' attack looked tired men come the finish - a concerning sight with just a three-day break before the second Test starts at Headingley on Friday.

There was also a worrying moment for England when paceman Stuart Broad appeared to turn his ankle in a foothold after tea.

Proteas opener Neil McKenzie was the biggest thorn in England's side on Monday while making 138 in nine hours and 14 minutes at the crease which saw him face 446 balls with 16 boundaries.

Monty Panesar had taken four for 74 as South Africa were bowled out for 247 in their first innings. But it was a different story for the left-arm spinner second time around as his 60 overs, the most he'd ever bowled in a Test innings, failed to yield a wicket. Amla, 88 not out at tea, completed his fifth hundred in 26 Tests and first against England with his 14th boundary, an elegant late-cut four off medium-pacer Paul Collingwood, in 231 balls.

It was also the 25-year-old's third hundred in three first-class matches this tour after his 172 and 161 in warm-up fixtures against Somerset and Middlesex respectively. The 32-year-old McKenzie, who batted after lunch with a runner because of a groin strain, had added just seven runs to his score when he flat-footedly cut at James Anderson and edged through to wicket-keeper Tim Ambrose.

However, a South Africa spokesman said an intial assessment by the medical staff was that McKenzie would be fit to play at Headingley.

McKenzie, having shared a double century stand with Smith, who made 107 on Sunday, added 125 for the second wicket with Amla.

Left-arm quick Ryan Sidebottom, bowling despite a stiff back, gave home fans another moment to cheer when he clean bowled the experienced Jacques Kallis for 13 with an excellent yorker - a delivery, which curiously, England rarely used.

New batsman Prince, who made 101 in the first innings was given a reprieve when his flashing drive off Broad was put down by Alastair Cook, diving to his left at a wide second slip.

South Africa resumed Monday on 242 for one after Smith was the only batsman dismissed during the whole of Sunday's play.

They were still well adrift of England's first innings total of 593 for eight declared, which featured Ian Bell's Test-best 199 and South Africa-born Kevin Pietersen's 152 in his first Test innings against the Proteas.

Both McKenzie and Amla were bombarded by a succession of short-pitched deliveries from the seamers, with Vaughan deploying a leg-slip and leg-gully, but all to no avail.

And with every wicketless over on a batting-friendly pitch, the case for the recall of fit-again all-rounder Andrew Flintoff, a genuine quick grew stronger and he was named after play in a 12-man squad for Headingley with reserve quick Chris Tremlett, who didn't play at Lord's, left out.

Monday, July 14, 2008

Smith leaves England frustrated

Shoaib Akhtar's chances of being named in Pakistan's preliminary squad for the Champions Trophy have receded after his lawyer said he would not pay a fine in time to be considered for selection.

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

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

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

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

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

The England team and a near-capacity crowd gathered on a fine, sunny morning started the day with high hopes that England were about to end a sequence of five successive test draws at cricket's world headquarters.

Instead the South African openers, resuming on 13 for no wicket, gradually took command on a pitch offering nothing to the bowlers except for some slow spin for Monty Panesar, who took four for 74 in the first innings.

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

Nobody bowled badly but the continued excellence of a pitch, on which England compiled 593 for eight declared in their first innings, neutralised his pace bowlers who were unable to get any significant movement.

"We still feel in the dressing room that we in a great position to win this match," England bowling coach Otis Gibson said afterwards. "South Africa faced 90 overs and they are still 100 behind."

Smith, whose match preparation has been hampered by an injured hamstring, said his innings had been one of his best considering the pressure his team were under.

"It was nice to show a bit of good cricket today," he said.

"The morning session is going to be crucial for us."

England are due to announce their team for the second Test at Headingley in Leeds.

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

Shoaib Champions Trophy hopes recede

Shoaib Akhtar's chances of being named in Pakistan's preliminary squad for the Champions Trophy have receded after his lawyer said he would not pay a fine in time to be considered for selection.

The Pakistan Cricket Board postponed the announcement of its preliminary squad until Tuesday and sent a notice to paceman Shoaib asking him to pay the seven million rupees (approximately £130,000) fine imposed on him by an appeals tribunal in June.

A PCB spokesman said: "Shoaib's name would only be considered for selection if he clears the fine first."

However, the player's lawyer, Abid Hasan Minto, said: "Shoaib will pay the fine as soon as the High Court decides the matter [in September].

"If they think the fine payment is a norm for inclusion in the squad, it is up to them. If they want to deny the national team his presence and keep someone like him away from the team... then it is their decision," he added.

Pakistan host the Champions Trophy in September.

Shoaib was banned for five years by the board in March for various acts of indiscipline.

He appealed against the ban to an appeals tribunal which reduced it to 18 months but imposed the fine on him.

The fast bowler then filed a petition to the Lahore High Court against the ban and fine last month.

The court suspended the ban but refused to clear the fine until the case is taken up for regular hearing in September.

Minto said a reply will be sent to the board on Monday regarding the fine.