Australian squad named for Test series in South Africa

SYDNEY  : Teenage quick Patrick Cummins could become Australia's youngest Test player in nearly 60 years after being called up Monday for their two-Test series in South Africa.The explosive 18-year-old has played just three first-class matches for New South Wales, taking nine wickets, but has impressed for Australia against South Africa in the current Twenty20 series.He replaces James Pattinson in the only change to the squad that defeated Sri Lanka 1-0 in their three-Test battle last month and if he makes his debut will become the youngest Australian to play a Test since Ian Craig in 1952-53Craig was 17 years and 293 days on debut, with Cummins to be 18 years and 185 days when the Test series against South Africa starts.The next youngest was Tom Garrett, who was 18 years and 232 days when he played in Australia's first Test match in 1877.Australia play two Tests in South Africa, the first on November 9 in Cape Town and the second in Johannesburg from November 17.The explosive Cummins took 2-27 off four overs in Australia's second Twenty20 international against South Africa on Sunday, opening the bowling and taking two for three in a two-over burst.For Hilditch, Monday's announcement is likely his last as chairman of selectors with Cricket Australia set to appoint a full-time selection chairman and new panel as part of a review earlier this year.Squad: Michael Clarke (captain), Shane Watson (vice-capt), Michael Beer, Trent Copeland, Patrick Cummins, Brad Haddin, Ryan Harris, Phil Hughes, Mike Hussey, Mitchell Johnson, Usman Khawaja, Nathan Lyon, Shaun Marsh, Ricky Ponting, Peter Siddle.

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Team morale high for Sri Lanka series: Misbah

ABU DHABI : Pakistan skipper Misbahul Haq says "morale of his players is very good as we have been playing very good Test cricket for the last year.Everyone knows their role. We are playing on a consistent basis," he said before the start of a three-Test series against Sri Lanka from Tuesday in Abu Dhabi. Pakistan host three-Test matches in the UAE. "Sri Lanka is one of best teams in the world and especially in these conditions" Misbah said. On the subcontinent, they are a tough side. We really have to play well. It doesn't matter if Sri Lanka have not been winning as they were playing in England, different conditions," Misbah said.Mohammad Hafeez, emerged as a quality all-rounder with his top-order batting in all formats as has his off spin bowling. Batting will revolve around Hafeez, Misbah, Younus Khan while Shoaib Malik likely to get another chance to resurrect his career.Pakistan's bowling attack is on full strength with fast bowlers Umar Gul & Wahab Riaz expected to return to side. Spin spearhead is Saeed Ajmal with Hafeez lending support and Abdur Rehman offering variety. (PPI)

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Vinay shines as India bowl out England for 237

NEW DELHI : India bowled England out for a modest 237 in good batting conditions in the second one-day international at the Ferozeshah Kotla ground in New Delhi on Monday.Kevin Pietersen's 46 was the top score as wickets tumbled at regular intervals after England captain Alastair Cook won the toss and elected to bat in the day-night match.Vinay Kumar returned with his best one-day figures of four for 30, and fellow-seamer Umesh Yadav picked up two wickets in an impressive display by the under-strength hosts.India, missing seven World Cup stars due to injury or poor form, will chase a target of less than five runs an over for a 2-0 lead in the five-match series.The hosts had won the first game in Hyderabad by 126 runs last Friday.England made a disastrous start, losing openers Cook and Craig Kieswetter before a run had been scored.Cook slashed the fifth ball from Praveen Kumar to point, while Kieswetter edged Vinay to Virat Kohli at slip in the second over.The shackles were broken when Praveen conceded 17 runs in his third over as Jonathan Trott smashed three consecutive fours and Pietersen also helped himself to a boundary.Trott made a fluent 34 with seven fours when he was caught behind off Vinay to reduce England to 48-3 by the 10th over.Ravi Bopara helped Pietersen add 73 for the fourth wicket before India hit back by removing both batsmen in the space of four deliveries.Bopara was leg-before to off-spinner Ravichandran Ashwin for 36 and Pietersen was caught behind chasing a wide ball from Yadav.Samit Patel and Jonathan Bairstow carried the total past the 200-run mark from a shaky 121-5, adding 86 for the sixth wicket before both fell in quick succession.Patel (42) was trapped leg-before by Yadav and Bairstow holed out in the deep off Ravindra Jadeja after making 35

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ABU DHABI : Pakistan captain Misbah-ul Haq is hoping his team can build on their recent good performance while Sri Lanka are looking to end their drought when the two sides meet here in the first of three Tests from Tuesday.The 37-year-old Misbah took over as Test captain following a spot-fixing scandal in England last year and has since batted superbly to help Pakistan draw series against a formidable South Africa and the West Indies.He also lifted Pakistan to away wins over New Zealand and Zimbabwe and hopes to carry on the good work against Sri Lanka, who have lost their last two series against England and Australia  both 1-0  since Tillakaratne Dilshan took over earlier this year.Misbah hopes his team will continue their recent winning streak."The morale is good, and everyone knows his role," Misbah said on Sunday."Cricket is a team game and since everyone knows his role we have been consistent in Tests and building on."Misbah leads a batting line-up which is a mixture of youth and experience with veteran Younis Khan and talented players like Mohammad Hafeez, Azhar Ali and Asad Shafiq.Since taking over as captain Misbah has scored 704 in eight Tests at 78.22 and will be Pakistan's mainstay against the Sri Lankan spin duo of Rangana Herath and Suraj Randiv -- both trying to overcome the loss of legendary off-spinner Muttiah Muralitharan.Sri Lanka have not won a Test, losing three and drawing eight Tests, since Muralitharan bade farewell to Test cricket after taking a world record of 800 wickets.But Misbah said Sri Lanka were still a good team."Sri Lanka no doubt is one of the best teams, especially in these conditions so we have to play well to beat them," said Misbah.Dilshan, 34, is looking to improve his captaincy as well as his batting form after contributing just one half-century against Australia, an 83 in the final Test at Colombo last month."We have a very young bowling unit and I think they are getting experience, so I hope they are now ready to do their job and establish the team in the Tests," said Dilshan.Apart from Dilshan, Sri Lanka have the experience of Mahela Jayawardene and Kumar Sangakkara -- both in the twilight of their careers and all-rounders Angelo Mathews, Tharanga Paranavitana and Prasanna Jayawardene to put solid totals on the board.Ironically, bowlers from the both the sides will have to toil hard as wickets in the United Arab Emirates (UAE) have been on the slower side, but could help spinners on the final two days.Pakistan have a better pace attack with Umar Gul (125 wickets) boosting the department after being rested in the one-off Test against Zimbabwe, with left-arm pacemen Wahab Riaz and Junaid Khan, and Aizaz Cheema in support.Pakistan will also look to Saeed Ajmal in the spin department.The remaining two Tests will be played in Dubai (October 26-30) and Sharjah (November 3-7). The Test series will be followed by five one-day internationals and one Twenty20 match.Pakistan had hoped to host Sri Lanka but an attack on a Karachi military base forced the Islanders to turn down the invitation in May this year and the series was shifted to UAE.International cricket has been suspended in Pakistan since a militant attack on the Sri Lankan team in Lahore in March 2009

Test squads:
Pakistan: Mohammad Hafeez, Taufiq Umar, Imran Farhat, Younis Khan, Misbah-ul-Haq (captain), Azhar Ali, Asad Shafiq, Shoaib Malik, Adnan Akmal, Saeed Ajmal, Abdul Rehman, Umar Gul, Wahab Riaz, Aizaz Cheema, Junaid Khan.
Sri Lanka: Tillakaratne Dilshan (capt), Angelo Mathews, Tharanga Paranavitana, Lahiru Thirimanne, Kumar Sangakkara, Mahela Jayawardene, Prasanna Jayawardene, Dinesh Chandimal, Rangana Herath, Suraj Randiv, Chanaka Welegedara, Suranga Lakmal, Kosala Kulasekara, Dhammika Prasad, Nuwan Pradeep, Kaushal Silva.
Umpires: Tony Hill (NZL) and Rodney Tucker (AUS)
Tv umpire: Ahsan Raza (PAK)
Match referee: David Boon (AUS)

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Rugby Union legend Jeremy Guscott hails "spectacular" Dubai Sports City

England and British and Irish Lions rugby union legend Jeremy Guscott hailed Dubai Sports City (DSC) as spectacular after taking a tour last week.Guscott, in the United Arab Emirates as a media pundit during the ongoing rugby world cup in New Zealand, used the gap between the quarter- and semi-finals to visit DSC, which includes the 25,000-seater Dubai International Cricket Stadium, the 18-hole Ernie Els-designed championship golf course, the ICC Global Cricket Academy, Dubai Sports City Hockey and Athletics Stadium and artificial and natural turf rugby and football pitches, as well as a thriving residential community at Victory Heights and the Bradenton Preparatory Academy.And the man who won 65 caps for his country, a further eight Lions caps during three tours, and was one of the most gifted backs of his generation, was impressed by what he saw."It's an amazing place," he said. "The facilities already completed are spectacular and once the remaining ones, like the indoor pitch and academies, are ready then it will be even more impressive, if that's possible."The vision behind this project is remarkable and I can see Dubai Sports City being a place where people at all levels of sport, from the elite right through to recreational players, are going to want to come again and again.Guscott received a guided tour of the venues at DSC and was also shown the plans for the completion of the project by the General Manager Sports Business Macky Dudhia, plans that include a rugby academy.Mr Dudhia said afterwards: "We are delighted that Jeremy was able to take the time to visit Dubai Sports City and see for himself the world-class facilities we have here."It is also gratifying to get an endorsement of what we are doing at Dubai Sports City from a sportsman of Jeremy's stature."We already have a series of outstanding, world-class facilities in operation, including the Dubai International Cricket Stadium, the Ernie Els-designed championship golf course, the ICC Global Cricket Academy and a field hockey and athletics stadium.These facilities are already attracting sports stars and professionals from all over the world and that process will only continue and increase as Dubai Sports City develops further in the weeks and months to come.

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South Africa level T20 series against Australia

JOHANNESBURG : Tailenders Wayne Parnell and Rusty Theron snatched an improbable three-wicket win for South Africa in the second Twenty20 international against Australia at the Wanderers Stadium on Sunday.Parnell (29 not out) and Theron (31 not out) put on an unbeaten 64 for the eighth wicket off just 27 balls to level a series which Australia had looked almost certain to win.Australia's youth brigade took their side to the brink of victory but in the end a lack of experience proved costly to the tourists. Teenage debutant Mitchell Marsh hit four sixes in the last two overs to give Australia's innings a late boost, taking them to a total of 147 for eight, which seemed more than enough when fellow teenager, fast bowler Pat Cummins, sparked a South African collapse.Marsh, 19, made 36 off 21 balls on the day he joined older brother Shaun and father Geoff as an international cricketer.Cummins, 18, opened the bowling and dismissed Colin Ingram and JP Duminy as he took two for three in a two-over burst. James Pattinson, 21, kept the pressure on, taking two for 17 in four overs.South Africa were reeling at 84 for seven with only 32 balls remaining when Theron joined his franchise teammate Parnell.There were still 37 needed off three overs when Australian captain Cameron White brought left-arm slow bowler Steve O'Keeffe on to bowl. The left-handed Parnell hit him for a four and two sixes in an over which cost 18 runs.Cummins bowled the 19th over and conceded 13 runs, including two wides. Six were needed off the final over and White turned to David Hussey instead of the inexperienced Mitchell Marsh. Theron the off-spinner's first ball high over midwicket to settle the match with five balls to spare.

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Pakistan’ll continue recent winning streak: Misbah

ABU DHABI : Pakistan captain Misbah-ul Haq is hoping his team can build on their recent good performance while Sri Lanka are looking to end their drought when the two sides meet here in the first of three Tests from Tuesday.The 37-year-old Misbah took over as Test captain following a spot-fixing scandal in England last year and has since batted superbly to help Pakistan draw series against a formidable South Africa and the West Indies.He also lifted Pakistan to away wins over New Zealand and Zimbabwe and hopes to carry on the good work against Sri Lanka, who have lost their last two series against England and Australia  both 1-0  since Tillakaratne Dilshan took over earlier this year.Misbah hopes his team will continue their recent winning streak.The morale is good, and everyone knows his role," Misbah said on Sunday"Cricket is a team game and since everyone knows his role we have been consistent in Tests and building on."Misbah leads a batting line-up which is a mixture of youth and experience with veteran Younis Khan and talented players like Mohammad Hafeez, Azhar Ali and Asad Shafiq.Since taking over as captain Misbah has scored 704 in eight Tests at 78.22 and will be Pakistan's mainstay against the Sri Lankan spin duo of Rangana Herath and Suraj Randiv -- both trying to overcome the loss of legendary off-spinner Muttiah Muralitharan.Sri Lanka have not won a Test, losing three and drawing eight Tests, since Muralitharan bade farewell to Test cricket after taking a world record of 800 wickets.But Misbah said Sri Lanka were still a good team."Sri Lanka no doubt is one of the best teams, especially in these conditions so we have to play well to beat them," said Misbah.The remaining two Tests will be played in Dubai (October 26-30) and Sharjah (November 3-7). The Test series will be followed by five one-day internationals and one Twenty20 match.Pakistan had hoped to host Sri Lanka but an attack on a Karachi military base forced the Islanders to turn down the invitation in May this year and the series was shifted to UAE.International cricket has been suspended in Pakistan since a militant attack on the Sri Lankan team in Lahore in March 2009

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Debutant Marsh gives Australia late boost

JOHANNESBURG : Teenage debutant Mitchell Marsh hit four sixes in the last two overs to give Australia's innings a late boost in the second and final Twenty20 international against South Africa at the Wanderers Stadium on Sunday.Australia made 147 for eight in their 20 overs. Marsh hit 36 off 21 balls as the last two overs yielded 35 runs, breaking the shackles imposed by South Africa's bowlers for most of the innings.Marsh, 19, was handed his first cap, joining brother Shaun and father Geoff as Australian international cricketers, because fellow all-rounder Shane Watson was ruled out by what was described as a minor hip injury.Marsh joined skipper Cameron White when Australia were struggling at 87 for five with one ball remaining in the 14th over. He played a supporting role as White batted aggressively before being run out for 39 off 26 balls in the 17th over, then showed his potential as one of Australia's most promising young players.His first six was off Wayne Parnell in an over which brought 15 runs, then he thrashed three more sixes off Morne Morkel before he was bowled off the last ball of the innings.With Australia having won the first match by five wickets in Cape Town on Thursday, South Africa's bowlers dominated the early part of the innings, with Lonwabo Tsotsobe producing his country's most economical four-over spell by taking two for 11, including a first spell of one for six.Morkel and Rusty Theron also took two wickets each on a pitch which looked ideal for batting but which had some uneven bounce.

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