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NEWS UPDATE : Asian Cricket Third Sri Lanka-Pakistan ODI abandoned due to rain COLOMBO: The third One-day International between Sri Lanka and Pakistan was abandoned due to rain here at the R Premadasa Stadium on Wednesday. The umpires made this decision after consulting ... Australia want to master all forms of game: Clarke SYDNEY: Australia's limited-overs tour of England and Ireland represents the start of a two-year campaign to make them the top nation in all three forms of the game, captain Michael Clarke said ... Bopara glad to be back for England SOUTHAMPTON, England: Ravi Bopara is eager to make up for lost times as he tries to revive his ... South Africa name unchanged squad for England series JOHANNESBURG: South Africa have kept faith with a winning formula by naming an unchanged squad for the three-Test series in England starting next month, Cricket South Africa (CSA) announced on ...


Tuesday, August 02, 2011

Sehwag to bolster Indian squad in England

Virender Sehwag will be leaving for England Wednesday morning to join the struggling Indian team which is 0-2 down in the four-match Test series.India got a 319-run hammering by England in the second Test at Trent Bridge after losing the first Test at Lord's by 196 runs.Sehwag's presence will certainly bolster the team grappling with injuries to its senior players. Sehwag missed the first two Tests because he had to undergo a shoulder surgery while pace spearhead and experienced batsman Gautam Gambhir suffered hamstring injuries during the first Test at Lord's.'Virender Sehwag will fly to England early tomorrow morning to join the Indian cricket team,' said BCCI secretary N. Srinivasan in a statement Tuesday.India next play a two-day tour game against Northants from Friday, followed by the third Test starting at Edgbaston Wednesday

Kenya names squad for friendly fixture

The Cricket Kenya selection panel has named a 16-man squad to play Indian Ranji Trophy team Andhra in the first four matches of their three week tour to Kenya The matches include two three day games and two Twenty 20 matches starting at Simba Union on Wednesday 3rd August.
Chairman of Selectors Alpesh Vader said: 'We have a lot of cricket over the next three weeks against Andhra which is a great opportunity for new coach Mike Hesson and the new selection panel to have a look at a variety of players in the coming weeks.'This squad will take part in the first four games and we will review the squad as the matches progress and look at giving other players, including some of our Under 19 squad, an opportunity in the later fixtures.'Already last week we have seen some new players come in and do very well and we are looking to build a wider group of players that compete for places in the national squad.
The squad is as follows:
Collins Obuya (captain)
Rakep Patel
Alex Obanda
Runish Gudhka
Hiren Varaiya
Lucas Oluoch
Dominic Wesonga
Karen Kaul
David Obuya
Morris Ouma
Nehemiah Odhiambo
Nelson Odhiambo
James Ngoche
Shem Obado
Elijah Otieno
Alfred Luseno

England stars enjoy rankings rise after Trent Bridge victory

England's Ian Bell has broken into the top five in the Reliance ICC Test Rankings after recording a career-high batting rating following his brilliant 159 against India at Trent Bridge.And Stuart Broad's all-round heroics have seen him climb to third in the all-rounder rankings, while he has also jumped to seventh place in the bowling table following match figures of 8-76.Bell, who recorded his fourth century in the space of six Test Matches, has recorded a new career-high rating and is just 16 rating points behind England and county teammate Jonathan Trott, who has slipped two places in the rankings to fourth position Matt Prior (21st), Stuart Broad (44th) and Tim Bresnan (joint 75th) have also achieved new career-high ratings following England's 319-run victory which gave it a 2-0 lead in the four-match series.However, it is not all good news for England's batters, as Alastair Cook has slipped six places to 11th position following a disappointing series in which he has made just 20 runs in four innings.Rahul Dravid, who made his second consecutive Test match hundred of the series, has continued his climb up the rankings, rising four places to joint 11th, and is on the verge of breaking back into the top 10, with his best batting rating since India's last Test series in England in 2007. There are already three India batters in the top 10, with Sachin Tendulkar (third), VVS Laxman (ninth) and Virender Sehwag (10th) just ahead of Dravid.Tim Bresnan has risen 14 places in the bowling rankings, following his first five-wicket Test haul, to put him 25th on the list, while his innings of 90 in the second innings has helped him rise to 13th in the all-rounder standings.England is now on course to take top spot on the Reliance ICC Test Championship table. A series win of two clear Tests in the four-match series (2-0 or 3-1) will see Andrew Strauss's men topple India as the number-one Test side in the world. The table is updated only at the end of each series.Elsewhere, some of Bangladesh's star players will be eyeing the opportunity to climb the rankings when they face Zimbabwe in the one-off Test match which begins in Harare on Thursday.Shakib Al Hasan will be looking to regain ground on Stuart Broad in the all-rounder rankings, having lost his third position as a result of the Trent Bridge Test, and he will also be looking to improve his ninth-place bowling ranking and close the 12-point rating gap on eighth ranked Ishant Sharma.Bangladesh's top-ranked batsman is Tamim Iqbal in 19th position and, with just 44 points separating the 10th-placed and 20th-placed players, this is a clear opportunity for him to improve his position

ICC joins forces with broadcasters to hold third-umpire technology training

The International Cricket Council is partnering with Ten Sports and Sri Lanka Cricket to deliver the first simulated TV umpire technology training course at Galle, Sri Lanka, on 30 August 2011The course will be run by the highly respected Australian umpire and member of the Emirates ICC Elite Umpires panel Simon Taufel, who has been named Umpire of the Year at the LG ICC Awards on five occasions.Mr Taufel said: "This is a great initiative which will benefit the elite panel umpires and also the international panel umpires from Sri Lanka. The decision-making module will involve training on run out, stumping, clean catches, bump ball, lbw (Decision Review System), caught (DRS), boundaries and front-foot no-balls. While working through the various decision-making elements, there will also be a focus on effective communication skills.ICC Referees' and Umpires' Manager Vince van der Bijl said: "We would like to thank our partners, Sri Lanka Cricket and Ten Sports, in helping us develop this TV umpire simulation programme, that will be run by Simon. This is the first simulated training course we have run and we are delighted with the extension of our training programme aimed at developing the world's best match officials.Chief Executive of Taj TV Ten Sports Atul Pande added: "Taj TV (Ten Sports) is delighted to partner with the ICC for the launch of this third-umpire technology simulation training programme with the aim of developing world-class umpires."The occasion is all the more significant for us as this pilot program involves Sri Lanka Cricket – a long standing partner of Ten Sports. We have no doubt that this project will be a great success and will pave the way for both the ICC and Ten Sports to work in close partnership to replicate projects of this nature in other member countries in the near future. We wish everyone involved in this project the very best.Chairman of the interim committee of Sri Lanka Cricket Upali Dharmadasa added: "Sri Lanka Cricket is grateful to both ICC and Ten Sports for taking the initiative and developing this unique training programme. We are confident that the local umpires will benefit from this programme and we are grateful to ICC for choosing Sri Lanka as the location to run the pilot programme just prior to the first Test between Sri Lanka and Australia. SLC is committed to work with ICC and Ten Sports to find ways to improve the quality of umpiring among the local umpires by encouraging such programmes and trying to make it a regular feature.

Strauss expects more from England after India rout

England captain Andrew Strauss insisted his team could become a better side after thrashing India by the huge margin of 319 runs in the second Test at Trent Bridge. Victory, achieved with more than a day to spare, was a record in terms of runs in all 101 England-India Tests and left Strauss's side 2-0 up in this four-match series It also left England on course to replace India at the top of the ICC's Test Championship table - something they will achieve if they win the third Test at Edgbaston starting on August 10. England, however, did not have things all their own way after losing the toss at Trent Bridge and being inserted in seamer-friendly conditionsThey were 124 for eight in their first innings before man-of-the-match Stuart Broad made 64 to boost the total to 221. And with India threatening a big first innings lead fast-medium bowler Broad, on his Nottinghamshire home ground, took a hat-trick on his way to Test-best figures of six for 46.Ian Bell then produced a sublime 159, an innings whose quality threatened to be overshadowed by a lapse of concentration that saw him run out, then sportingly reinstated by India captain Mahendra Singh Dhoni, after he carelessly left his crease off the last ball before tea on Sunday.England's imposing second innings 544 also saw Tim Bresnan, in for the injured Chris Tremlett, contribute 90 down the order before the seamer took a Test-best five for 48 as India, chasing a record 478 to win, were skittled out for 158 on Monday.We had to dig very deep - we were twice in a position where India looked very much like favourites to win the game - and we dragged it round," Strauss said.There were some outstanding individual performances. "There was Stuart, both with the ball and the bat in the first innings - to rescue our innings, and then turn the match on its head with the second new ball. But also Ian Bell and Tim Bresnan with the second-innings batting gave us breathing space. One of the real measures of a good side is whether they are able to come back from difficult circumstances.In the last two Test matches we've had to dig pretty deep, and it gives me a lot of pride to see guys putting their hands up and delivering when it matters," said Strauss, who also led England to a 196-run series-opening win at his Lord's home ground. It also fills me with a lot of confidence for the future that we can go on and become a better side said the Ashes-winning skipper.Meanwhile an elated Broad, whose place had been called into question before the first Test, said: "It helps getting a hat-trick on your home ground which is something I will look back on with a lot of pleasure.""I have looked to bowl a fuller length and the ball has swung for me. It's nice when cricket is going your way for a little while but it makes it even more special when you have had a pretty tough time over the last couple of months.Broad, the son of ex-England opener Chris, added: "We try to take the game by the scruff of the neck and we'll be looking to do the same at Edgbaston."As well as Tremlett (hamstring), England also have fitness concerns over batsman Jonathan Trott, who injured his shoulder fielding at Trent Bridge."We are not too sure on the injuries to both Trott and Tremlett at this stage but it's fantastic to see Stuart scoring runs as well as taking wickets and Tim Bresnan showing his all-round capabilities as well,said Strauss.

New manager to be appointed for Zimbabwe series

LAHORE: The Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) will appoint a new manager for the national cricket team and Intikhab Alam has been dropped as the manager for the upcoming tour of Zimbabwe According to sources, Naveed Akram Cheema is the frontrunner to replace Alam as team manager. Cheema is currently a member of the PCB governing board.

England crush India by 319 runs within four days

NOTTINGHAM: Tim Bresnan shone with both bat and ball as England crushed India by 319 runs at Trent Bridge here on Monday to win the second Test with more than a day to spare.England's victory, achieved despite Sachin Tendulkar's fifty, gave them a 2-0 lead in this four-match series as they looked to knock India off top spot in the ICC's Test Championship table.Andrew Strauss's side will replace India at the summit if they maintain or better their lead in the remaining two Tests.India set a record victory target of 478, were bowled out for 158 with Tendulkar top-scoring with 56 but still left searching for an unprecedented and elusive 100th international hundred.Bresnan, who earlier made 90 batting at number eight in England's second innings 544, did the bulk of the damage with a maiden Test five wicket haul of five wickets for 48 runs in 12 overs including two in two balls before tea.Only three India batsmen made double figure scores on Monday's fourth day, with Tendulkar the lone member of their powerful top order to achieve the feat.No team has made more in the fourth innings to win a Test than the 418 for seven posted by the West Indies against Australia at St John's, Antigua, in 2002/03.Before lunch England, who won the first Test at Lord's by 196 runs, saw off Rahul Dravid, who made 117 in India's first innings, for just six when he was caught behind off a lifting delivery from man of the match Stuart Broad.Venkatsai Laxman, another of India's star batsmen, was then clean bowled by a superb James Anderson delivery for four.Opener Abhinav Mukund, dropped on nought, struggled to three off 41 balls before falling to Bresnan's fifth ball, a bouncer he gloved to first slip Strauss.And Bresnan succeeded with the short ball again when Suresh Raina hit a hook straight to substitute Scott Elstone at long leg.Tendulkar had struck some typically sublime straight drives off Anderson but he could do nothing as Bresnan, only playing in this match after fast bowler Chris Tremlett was injured, took two wickets in two balls.First Yuvraj Singh gloved a rising delivery to Alastair Cook at backward silly point and was out for eight.Next ball India captain Mahendra Singh Dhoni, inexplicably playing no shot, was lbw for a golden duck to leave the tourists 55 for six and Bresnan on a hat-trick at the start of his next over, which Harbhajan Singh survived.Tendulkar square-cut Bresnan for four to complete his first fifty of the series with his eighth four before Harbhajan slogged opposing off-spinner Graeme Swann for six.But Tendulkar fell when he was undone by a good length inswinger from Anderson, taking his wicket for the seventh time in eight Tests. Harbhajan exited for 46 when a hook off Bresnan was caught by Elstone.That wicket gave 26-year-old Yorkshire seamer Bresnan, in his eighth match at this level, a new Test-best, surpassing his four for 50 against Australia in Melbourne in December.Broad ended the match by bowling last man Shanthakumaran Sreesanth for nought.England resumed Monday on 441 for six with Ian Bell having made 159 after being sportingly reprieved by Dhoni following his run out for 137 on Sunday when incorrectly assuming the ball had gone dead.Matt Prior, again frustrating India, was 64 not out and Bresnan 47 not out.Wicketkeeper Prior was out for 73 to end a seventh-wicket stand of 119 at nearly a run-a-ball when he was caught behind off Praveen Kumar, who led India's attack with four for 124.Broad, who'd top-scored with 64 in England's first innings 221 and had then taken a hat-trick on his way to Test-best figures of six for 46 in India's 288, followed up with 44 on his Nottinghamshire home ground.But a ball after Broad was run out, Bresnan's quest for a maiden Test hundred ended when he fended Kumar to Dravid in the gully Bresnan, whose Test-best score remains the 91 he made against Bangladesh in Dhaka last year, faced 118 balls with 17 fours.The third Test starts at Edgbaston on August 10.

England win second Test against India

NOTTINGHAM: England beat India by 319 runs to win the second Test at Trent Bridge with more than a day to spare here on Monday and go 2-0 up in the four-match series.Brief scores:England 221 (S Broad 64; P Kumar 3-45, I Sharma 3-66, S Sreesanth 3-77) and 544 (I Bell 159, T Bresnan 90, M Prior 73, E Morgan 70, K Pietersen 63; P Kumar 4-124) v India 288 (R Dravid 117, Yuvraj Singh 62, V Laxman 54; S Broad 6-46) and 158 (S Tendulkar 56; T Bresnan 5-48, J Anderson 3-51)Result: England won by 319 runs

India set 478 to win second Test against England

NOTTINGHAM: India were set what would be a record total of 478 to win the second Test after England were dismissed for 544 in their second innings on the fourth day at Trent Bridge here on Monday No side has scored more runs to win in the fourth innings of a Test than the 418 for seven made by the West Indies against Australia at St John's, Antigua, in 2002/03.India's target was also well in excess of the corresponding Trent Bridge Test record of 284 for six set by England against New Zealand in 2004.Ian Bell, dramatically reprieved by India on 137 when the visitors withdrew a run out appeal after the batsman mistakenly thought the ball was dead, batted superbly for 159 before he was dismissed on Sunday's third day Tim Bresnan, recalled for this match in place of injured Surrey fast bowler Chris Tremlett, made 90 batting at number eight on Monday after Matt Prior (73), Eoin Morgan (70) and Kevin Pietersen (63) had also posted fifties. Medium-pacer Praveen Kumar led India's attack with four for 124 in 36 overs.England lead the series 1-0 after a 196-run first Test victory at Lord's.If they win this four-match contest by a margin of 2-0 or better, they will replace India at the top of the ICC's Test Championship table

Bresnan stars as England thrash India

Tim Bresnan shone with both bat and ball as England crushed India by 319 runs at Trent Bridge here on Monday to win the second Test with more than a day to spare England's victory, achieved despite Sachin Tendulkar's fifty, gave them a 2-0 lead in this four-match series as they looked to knock India off top spot in the ICC's Test Championship table.Andrew Strauss's side will replace India at the summit if they maintain or better their lead in the remaining two Tests.India set a record victory target of 478, were bowled out for 158 with Tendulkar top-scoring with 56 but still left searching for an unprecedented and elusive 100th international hundredBresnan, who earlier made 90 batting at number eight in England's second innings 544, did the bulk of the damage with a maiden Test five wicket haul of five wickets for 48 runs in 12 overs including two in two balls before tea Only three India batsmen made double figure scores on Monday's fourth day, with Tendulkar the lone member of their powerful top order to achieve the feat No team has made more in the fourth innings to win a Test than the 418 for seven posted by the West Indies against Australia at St John's, Antigua, in 2002/03 Before lunch England, who won the first Test at Lord's by 196 runs, saw off Rahul Dravid, who made 117 in India's first innings, for just six when he was caught behind off a lifting delivery from man of the match Stuart Broad.Venkatsai Laxman, another of India's star batsmen, was then clean bowled by a superb James Anderson delivery for four Opener Abhinav Mukund, dropped on nought, struggled to three off 41 balls before falling to Bresnan's fifth ball, a bouncer he gloved to first slip StraussAnd Bresnan succeeded with the short ball again when Suresh Raina hit a hook straight to substitute Scott Elstone at long legTendulkar had struck some typically sublime straight drives off Anderson but he could do nothing as Bresnan, only playing in this match after fast bowler Chris Tremlett was injured, took two wickets in two balls First Yuvraj Singh gloved a rising delivery to Alastair Cook at backward silly point and was out for eight Next ball India captain Mahendra Singh Dhoni, inexplicably playing no shot, was lbw for a golden duck to leave the tourists 55 for six and Bresnan on a hat-trick at the start of his next over, which Harbhajan Singh survived.Tendulkar square-cut Bresnan for four to complete his first fifty of the series with his eighth four before Harbhajan slogged opposing off-spinner Graeme Swann for six.But Tendulkar fell when he was undone by a good length inswinger from Anderson, taking his wicket for the seventh time in eight Tests.Harbhajan exited for 46 when a hook off Bresnan was caught by Elstone.That wicket gave 26 year old Yorkshire seamer Bresnan, in his eighth match at this level, a new Test-best, surpassing his four for 50 against Australia in Melbourne in December.Broad ended the match by bowling last man Shanthakumaran Sreesanth for nought.England resumed Monday on 441 for six with Ian Bell having made 159 after being sportingly reprieved by Dhoni following his run out for 137 on Sunday when incorrectly assuming the ball had gone dead.Matt Prior, again frustrating India, was 64 not out and Bresnan 47 not out.Wicketkeeper Prior was out for 73 to end a seventh-wicket stand of 119 at nearly a run-a-ball when he was caught behind off Praveen Kumar, who led India's attack with four for 124Broad, who'd top-scored with 64 in England's first innings 221 and had then taken a hat-trick on his way to Test-best figures of six for 46 in India's 288, followed up with 44 on his Nottinghamshire home ground.But a ball after Broad was run out, Bresnan's quest for a maiden Test hundred ended when he fended Kumar to Dravid in the gully.Bresnan, whose Test-best score remains the 91 he made against Bangladesh in Dhaka last year, faced 118 balls with 17 fours