EPT: AIS with battle ahead

The Australian Institute of Sport must fight to save their Emerging Players Tournament match as they trail India by 236 runs going into the final day.After bowling the AIS all out for 205 on Thursday, India resumed 1-191 at Endeavour Park, before pushing on to reach 534 all out.In response, the AIS made 2-93 by close of play in Townsville, a deficit of 236 runs, and must now aim to bat out the last day if they are to avoid defeat.India boasted three centurions on their way to the commanding haul.Ajinkya Rahane (100) and Ashok Menaria (112) both made a ton, but the most impressive knock came from Saurabh Tiwary, who notched 151 runs from just 148 balls.Mitchell Starc was the leading wicket-taker for the AIS, finishing with three wickets for 70 runs.Matthew Dixon, Sean Abbott and Glenn Maxwell all had two scalps apiece.Facing a determined India line-up on a flat pitch, paceman Abbott acknowledged the AIS suffered an onslaught early in the session.They come out at us pretty hard early," he said."Last night when Matthew Dixon was bowling I could see the difference from attacking the batsmen and giving them a few shorter balls that acted a bit differently."I tried to that a bit this morning and not really give them anything. I got one early luckily enough, took it away from the left hander, just tried to dot 'em up.The AIS suffered early blows in their run chase, with Nic Maddinson out for a duck and Alex Keath following for eight.Captain Ryan Carters, opening the batting, and second drop Maxwell will resume on Saturday, charged with remaining at the crease for as long as possible as the AIS attempts to salvage the match.Despite their precarious position, Abbott believes the team will have a straightforward mindset when they take to the field."Just get out and bat, play the ball as you see it, respect the good ball and try and save the match really," Abbott said."It's a very flat wicket, so I'm sure the guys are keen to get out there and get some batting time in and some practice under their belts.Also on Friday, South Africa reached 3-374 in their first innings, chasing New Zealand's total of 7-382 (declared).Farhaan Behardien made a century off 116 balls for South Africa before he was bowled by Brent Arnel, while Reeza Hendricks fared even better, finishing unbeaten on 184 by stumps on day two.Hendricks will resume alongside Richard Levi (17) on Saturday, with South Africa eight runs behind New Zealand.

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Unburdened Ricky revelling

Former Australian skipper Ricky Ponting said his batting has improved as a result of handing over the captaincy to incumbent Michael Clarke

Ponting made an unbeaten 90 from 106 balls in Australia's eightwicket win over Sri Lanka in Hambantota on Sunday  helping the tourists to a 2-0 lead in the five-match one-day international series -and the Tasmanian said his form, and his attitude at training, has changed for the better post-captaincy The World Cup on the sub-continent) didn't go to plan as I would have wanted, (but) the one-day series in Bangladesh that we had when I wasn't captain I felt like I played really well there, and I started this series really well," Ponting said."There's no doubt that for me to be able to turn up to training and focus on my batting and fielding only has been nice, I've been able to be that little bit fresher I think and I've felt in control in the two games I've played here so far, so hopefully that continues for the rest of the tour.The 36-year-old Ponting also quashed any doubts he would not continue playing for Australia having surrendered the captaincy, stating that he intended on not only batting for as long as possible, but also playing a major part in helping the side maintain the number one ranking in ODIs."I thought long and hard about the decision I made obviously, but once I'd come to the conclusion that I wasn't captain of the side anymore, it was up to me to be the best batsman I could be for the side, and another pair of ears for Michael if he wanted them," Ponting said."I've never put a finish line on my career at all. I'm still enjoying the game as much as ever, and the last few series' that I've played I've actually started to get back into a bit of touch again with the bat which is nice. I'll just enjoy it for what it is now, and as I said, the number three batsman in the side, the most experienced player, it's up to me to do what I can to win games for the team.Current skipper Clarke praised his bowling attack for setting up the two victories so far this series"I think our fast bowlers have done a really good job, they've executed their plans well, they've used the conditions, they've used reverse swing, they've bowled pretty straight when they've had to at the stumps," he said."I still think Sri Lanka have some very good spinners, they probably haven't put enough runs on the board to put us under pressure, or enough pressure."It helps when you've got two good opening batters as well that have got us off to pretty good starts. Brad (Haddin) missed out today, but Ricky come in and did a great job. I think credit where credit's due, I think our bowlers have done a great job, and we've played pretty well with the bat as well

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ODI Preview: Sri Lanka v Australia

Australia can seal a series victory in Tuesday's third ODI against Sri Lanka at Hambantota.The visitors took a decisive 2-0 lead in the best of five-match contest with an authoritative eight-wicket win on Sunday.The success was built on yet another fine, disciplined bowling performance by Australia, who skittled Sri Lanka for a moderate 208.

In a positive sign, all six Aussie bowlers used by captain Michael Clarke enjoyed success, headlined by 3-35 from Doug Bollinger.

Bollinger bowled with genuine pace and control, rattling the Sri Lankans middle-order in the process.That was best evidenced by the bouncer that found out rising star Dinesh Chandimal.Evergreen spearhead Brett Lee claimed the key wicket of Sri Lankan captain Tillakaratne Dilshan on his way to 2-50, while Mitchell Johnson followed up his game one heroics with 2-34.Johnson and Bollinger have exploited a weakness by the home side's batsmen against quality left-arm pace bowling.Twice Dilshan has won the toss and batted in this series with disappointing results, so it will be interesting to see what decision the skipper makes if he calls correctly.Shane Watson chipped in with the final wicket of the home side's innings, while there were again encouraging results for Australia's spinners.David Hussey's off-breaks conjured the figures of 1-15 from five overs, but more importantly the key wicket of Kumar Sangakkara.Xavier Doherty also caught the eye with a spell of 1-43, highlighted by the wicket of Mahela Jayawardene.Australia's good work with the ball translated in its batting as they chased down the target with 70 balls in hand.Sadly Brad Haddin missed out again, but Shane Watson (43) played a good hand and shared a 94-run stand with a rejuvenated Ricky Ponting, who hit an unbeaten 90 to guide Australia home.Ponting says he is enjoying life post-captaincy."There's no doubt that for me to be able to turn up to training and focus on my batting and fielding has been nice," Ponting said."I've been able to be that little bit fresher I think and I've felt in control in the two games I've played here so far, so hopefully that continues for the rest of the tour.New captain Clarke is also in good touch, hitting his second unbeaten half-century of the series.But he expects the home side to fight back in game three, again being played in the southern coastal city of Hambantota."I still think Sri Lanka have some very good spinners, they probably haven't put enough runs on the board to put us under pressure, or enough pressure," Clarke said."Our fast bowlers have done a really good job, they've executed their plans well and used the conditions."They've used reverse swing and bowled pretty straight when they've had to at the stumps.

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Misbah urges new players to take advantage of Zimbabwe tour

LAHORE: Pakistan cricket captain Misbah-ul-Haq on Monday urged his team's new talent to take advantage of the tour of Zimbabwe to rebuild the crisis-hit national side.A new-look Pakistan play a two-day practice match in Bulawayo from August 28, then a Test at the same venue from September 1. They also play three one-day internationals and two Twenty20s on the tour.Misbah will lead Pakistan in all three formats of the game after Shahid Afridi retired when he was dumped as one-day captain two months ago. Misbah said the new players must take their chances."All the new players who have taken the place of the seniors have performed at domestic level and this tour of Zimbabwe will give them a chance to show their ability at an international level," Misbah told a press conference.Pakistan have surprisingly rested frontline pacemen Wahab Riaz and Umar Gul, and dropped Tanveer Ahmed. The selectors recalled Sohail Tanveer and Sohail Khan, and included new fast bowlers Junaid Khan and uncapped Aizaz Cheema.Left-arm spinner Abdur Rehman, Pakistan's successful bowler in the West Indies on their last tour, is also rested in favour of uncapped leg-spinner Yasir Shah."After a long time a number of seniors have left together, so every team comes across such times and then replacements are found by trying out some new players who can play like those seniors," said Misbah.Besides Afridi, Pakistan have lost three key players in opener Salman Butt and pacemen Mohammad Asif and Mohammad Aamer banned this year in a spot-fixing scandal.The trio face criminal charges in Britain over charges stemming from Pakistan's tour of England last year.Senior batsman Mohammad Yousuf lost favour with the selectors, while wicketkeeper-batsman Kamran Akmal, former captain Shoaib Malik and seasoned leg-spinner Danish Kaneria were left out over fixing suspicions.Misbah denied Pakistan were not taking Zimbabwe seriously."We are not taking any team lightly," said the 36-year-old."If we relax then we are in trouble and by giving chances to youngsters we are not experimenting because all these young players have come into the team on merit.Pakistan fly out to Zimbabwe on August 25.On their return to Test cricket after five years, Zimbabwe beat Bangladesh in the only Test and are 2-0 ahead in the ongoing five-match one-day series.After Zimbabwe, Pakistan play Sri Lanka in three Tests, five one-dayers and one Twenty20 match in the United Arab Emirates in October and November

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Malik, Kaneria appear in career revival bid

LAHORE: Former Pakistan captain Shoaib Malik and discarded leg-spinner Danish Kaneria appeared before a former judge Monday in a last-ditch effort to revive their international careers.Malik, 29, and Kaneria 30, have not been cleared for selection since last year, reportedly failing to convince an integrity committee that they were not involved in alleged fixing cases.Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) chairman Ijaz Butt accused Malik and Kaneria last month of not telling the truth to the committee, headed by former supreme court judge Jamshed Ali Shah.Kaneria was arrested by British police last year over allegations of spot-fixing when his county, Essex, played against Durham in 2009, but he was released without charge.His colleague Mervyn Westfield, however, was charged and faces criminal proceedings.Kaneria has sought legal action over his non-clearance with the court due to reconvene on Thursday.PCB spokesman Nadeem Sarwar said both players appeared before the committee but that a decision is pending.Both Malik and Kaneria appeared before the committee but the committee has taken no decision," Sawrar told Malik said he did everything he could I have given to the committee whatever I was asked to submit and it's up to them to clear me," Malik told reporters. He has reportedly failed to justify 90,000 pounds sterling in his bank account."If I am included in the team, then I am sure I will give a good performance as I believe I have a lot to offer to Pakistan cricket," said Malik, who was included in the tour to Zimbabwe subject to clearance.Pakistan plays one Test, three one-day internationals, two Twenty20 matches and a practice match on their tour of Zimbabwe starting later this month.Malik was appointed captain after Pakistan's first-round exit from the 2007 World Cup in the West Indies, but was dumped in January 2009 after losing a one-day series against Sri Lanka.He has not played for Pakistan since last year's tour of England.There was no immediate comment from Kaneria.The International Cricket Council forced the PCB to form an integrity committee after a spot-fixing scandal in England last year resulted in lengthy bans for Salman Butt, Mohammad Asif and Mohammad Aamer.

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PCB to decide on Malik, Kaneria today

LAHORE: Uncertainty still looms large over former captain Shoaib Malik and leg-spinner Danish Kaneria's future ahead of the Pakistan Cricket Board's integrity committee meeting here on Monday.Former judge of the Supreme Court, Justice (retd) Jamshed Ali Shah would chair the meeting. Chairman PCB Ijaz Butt and Chief Operating Officer Subhan Ahmed are also among the committee members.According to sources in the PCB, Malik has confirmed that he would be appearing before the integrity committee today while the board was still awaiting a response from Kaneria.Malik would have to satisfy the committee with his explanation on the 95,000 pounds found in one of his bank accounts.However, going by recent indications Malik is expected to be cleared by the committee on Monday and could be included in the squad that leaves for Zimbabwe later this month.The selectors have even named the right-handed batsman among the reserves for the tour.Referring to Kaneria, the source said he had filed a petition in the Sindh High Court, which in turn had directed the leg-spinner to submit documents before the PCB to prove his claim that the Essex police have given him a clean chit on a spot-fixing charge in England last year.The next hearing of the court is also scheduled for August 18.The court had ordered Kaneria and his lawyer to submit details of the interview the Essex police conducted with the leg-spinner during the course of the investigations in England.Kaneria has already sent a clearance letter from the Essex police, which has cleared the leg-spinner due to lack of evidence.

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England to reset goals for 'constant self-improvement', says Flower

England coach Andy Flower has said that his world No.1 ranked Test team will set fresh goals in an attempt to continue their upward curve.Flower said that the team has always had a goal of constant self-improvement, and insisted that it won't change because of their ranking points change.We used the goal to be No.1 as a motivational tool, but now we have achieved that what Strauss and I don't want to do is just to hang on to No.1 status," the Telegraph quoted Flower, as saying."That's not a very exciting way to go about our business. We are going to have to reset our goals and I'd like to do that not only with the captains, but with the team," he added. Flower further said that the new goals would include winning away against Pakistan (in the UAE), Sri Lanka and India, and targeting the World Test Championship in 2013."We've got the individual Test series which are very important in their own right. This winter we go to play Pakistan and Sri Lanka, two sides England lost to when they last toured those countries. Then we'll have the World Test Championship for the first time in 2013, which is in England," the coach said."That is certainly something we are striving for - we have to be in the top four to get into the semi finals - and we are going to be working hard between now and then to ensure that we are a strong unit ready for that semi-final," he added.England claimed the number-one Test ranking for the first time in 32 years after winning the Edgbaston Test against India by an innings and 242 runs, which has also given it an impregnable 3-0 lead in the four-Test series.To top the championship table for the first time under the current ranking system, which was introduced in June 2003, Flower's side needed to win the series by a 2-0 margin or better

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