IMG wins contract for ICC's weekly flagship show

IMG Media, part of IMG Worldwide, the global sports, fashion and media company, have been contracted through to the end of 2015 to produce and distribute the International Cricket Council's (ICC) flagship weekly programme, ICC Cricket 360°™.

The weekly half-hour programme is scheduled to begin in June 2012 and will be produced out of IMG Sports Media's Singapore's production base and will draw heavily on IMG's production experience around the world.

The programme will cover news from the full spectrum of world cricket with features and action from the very best of the top cricketing countries through to the 95 ICC Associate and Affiliate Members where the game is growing in popularity.

The half-hour programme will include features such as star interviews with leading international players, the A-Z of Cricket and Featured Club of the Week, as well as news, reviews and previews from all levels of the game. There will be regular updates on the ICC Cricket World Cup, ICC World Twenty20, ICC Champions Trophy and the ICC U-19 World Cup as well as Test cricket. The continued success of women's cricket, including the ICC Women's World Cup, the ICC's successful Pepsi ICC Development Programme and a weekly update on the latest Reliance ICC Rankings will also feature prominently.

Among the leading players expected to feature in the opening editions of the show are Yuvraj Singh, Shane Watson and Kevin O'Brien.

ICC Cricket 360°™ will also allow supporters to engage with the show through the use of different Twitter hashtags for each edition's main feature stories, while additional material not featured in the television programme will also be available on social media platforms, including the ICC's official Twitter and Facebook page.

Haroon Lorgat, the ICC Chief Executive, said: "Our partnership with IMG and the launch of ICC Cricket 360 is fitting as it will showcase the splendour of cricket, including the three vibrant formats and the captivating ICC global events. Promoting the ICC World Twenty20 in Sri Lanka and the U/19 Cricket World Cup in Australia this year and the Champions Trophy in England next year will be an exciting start.

"The show will also be an excellent platform to present the growing success of our Pepsi ICC Development Programme and the rewarding strides achieved in women's cricket. The weekly programme will be valuable to promote cricket both in traditional and new audience markets over the next three years."

Executive producer, Andy Tait, said: "Our aim will be to give viewers and cricket fans a unique behind-the-scenes view. We will show how the game is growing in different parts of the world due to the ICC's initiatives and competitions, especially at youth and grassroots level in the different regions."

He added: "We will unearth truly amazing stories that will show the role cricket is playing in different parts of the world and in all walks of life. It is a truly global game and our objective is to demonstrate how far and wide cricket's message is being heard as well as talking to some of the top players past and present and delving into the rich cricketing archives for historical elements to the show. The cricket fan is in for a real treat!"

About IMG Media

IMG Media is the world's largest independent distributor of sports programming, distributing over 20,000 hours of content to major global broadcasters annually and producing 6000 hours of original programming in over 200 projects in locations around the world. Broadcast Magazine announced IMG were the No 1 independent production company in the UK in March 2012 based on hours and turnover. Content includes AELTC (Wimbledon), Tennis Australia (The Australian Open), TPL (ATP Masters 1000s), The R&A (The Open Championship), International Rugby Board (Rugby World Cup), Dorna (Moto GP), National Football League (NFL) and International Volleyball Federation (FIVB). IMG Media operates from over 30 offices worldwide and has daily exchanges with over 4,000 key media contacts. IMG Media distributes across all forms of media including TV, Audio, Fixed Media, Inflight and Closed Circuit, Broadband and Mobile. IMG Media also maintains the world's largest sports archive with more than 250,000 hours of footage.

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Australia praised for its dominance in World Cup format

ICC Chief Executive Haroon Lorgat today presented Cricket Australia's Chief Executive James Sutherland with the Reliance ICC ODI Shield at the Melbourne Cricket Ground in recognition of Australia being ranked the number one team in the World Cup format of 50-over cricket.

Mr Sutherland also received the prize-money cheque of US$175,000 from Tim Sullivan, Managing Director Australia NZ for Reliance Globalcom.

Haroon Lorgat, while congratulating Michael Clarke and his team for retaining the number one ranking, said: "In the past twenty years the Australian team has maintained an amazing grip on the Reliance ICC ODI Shield. They have simply dominated the 50 over format and show no signs of relinquishing their crown.

"This is the third successive year that Australia has been the top ODI side and indeed their dominance stretches back to 2002. Only in 2008 and 2009, when South Africa pushed them into second place, has Australia not been the number one side at the 1 April cut-off date.

"The importance of the Reliance ICC ODI Shield should be celebrated as this is the ICC Cricket World Cup format. It is no coincidence that Australia won successive World Cups in 2003 and 2007 during a period when they virtually owned the Shield.

"With the next ICC Cricket World Cup being hosted in Australia and New Zealand, I'm sure that Michael and his team will be looking forward to maintaining their rank at the top of this format.

"The last ICC Cricket World Cup showed the fantastic support and enthusiasm for this format of the game – the 50-over World Cup format. I am positive that the recent ICC Cricket Committee suggested changes will make this format even more attractive."

Australia captain Michael Clarke said ahead of his team's departure for a One-Day International series in England: "We've been ranked number one in ODI cricket for some time now and have a well-balanced side that competes in any conditions.

"We are always looking to improve and we head to the UK tomorrow to take on England and Ireland in this form of the game. The series against England will be a great challenge for us – the number one ranked ODI team against the number one ranked Test team in English conditions."

Cricket Australia's James Sutherland added his congratulations to Michael Clarke's team saying: "In three years Australia and New Zealand will host the ICC Cricket World Cup and I'm delighted that it is in this form of the game Australia is again ranked number one in the world.

"Our research tells us Australian fans love ODI cricket and we have some exciting, young talent that will ensure the ICC Cricket World Cup 2015 will inspire a generation of cricket fans across the world."

Sanjay Behl, Group Head – Brand & Marketing, Reliance Communications, said: "We at Reliance Communications congratulate the Australia skipper Michael Clarke and the Australian team on regaining the top spot in the Reliance ICC ODI Team Rankings. It is remarkable that they have consistently retained the Reliance ICC ODI Championship Shield since 2009.

"We are privileged to be associated with the Reliance ICC ODI Rankings. These rankings drive teams to constantly push themselves to deliver top notch performances. Fans all over the world can also keep track on the performances of their favourite teams and players across all series.

"Through the rankings system, we believe that Reliance Mobile can play an important role in recognizing the pool of the superb cricketing talent that exists, give them the deserved prominence and thus contribute to the development of the overall sport," he added.

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ICC World Twenty20 trophies on parade at world-famous MCG

George Bailey, Australia's Twenty20 captain, and Australia women's team players Jess Cameron and Meg Lanning of the Southern Stars were at the world famous Melbourne Cricket Ground on Wednesday (13 June) when Haroon Lorgat, the ICC Chief Executive, showcased the ICC World Twenty20 trophies.

Bailey, 29, who led Tasmania to the Sheffield Shield and One Day finals in Australian domestic cricket, expressed his excitement at the prospect of leading Australia in the ICC World Twenty20 Sri Lanka 2012 to be held from 18 September to 7 October.

He conceded as well that the tournament will be difficult to predict: "There will be eight or nine teams arriving in Sri Lanka who will think they have a serious chance of making an impact in this event in Sri Lanka.

"We know that we are in a dangerous group alongside the West Indies and Ireland and so we will have to be prepared and hit the ground running."

Bailey, who was part of the Chennai Super Kings squad in the recent Indian Premier League (IPL), admitted that although an opportunity to play failed to materialise, he was able to spend a lot of time practicing. He said: "The trend is for spinners to have an ever increasing impact in Twenty20 cricket and I am sure that, given the conditions in Sri Lanka that influence will certainly not diminish."

As Bailey was preparing to leave with Australia for an ODI tour of the UK and Ireland, the Australian women's team are contemplating an acclimatisation trip to Sri Lanka. Meg Lanning said: "This pre-tournament trip will give the team some great experience of the conditions we can expect to confront in the ICC World Twenty20."

Jess Cameron will be hoping that the intense preparation will lead to the first back-to-back success in ICC World Twenty20 history. She said: "I would love to again experience the excitement of our triumph in Barbados two years ago.

"Our victory over New Zealand came in an outstanding game of cricket and the atmosphere on the night in Bridgetown was fantastic as many of the crowd who had come to see the men's match stayed on to see our victory."

As has been the case with the last two ICC World Twenty20s (2009 and 2010), the women's final will be played on the same day, on the same ground, in front of the same crowd, as the men's final. In the case of the ICC World Twenty20 Sri Lanka 2012 this will be in Colombo on 7 October.

ICC Chief Executive, Haroon Lorgat, said: "This is one of the great innovations of ICC World Twenty20 which continues to stand apart from all other Twenty20 cricket.

"We know that there is nothing that appeals to the public and the players in the same way as nation versus nation Twenty20 cricket. National pride will be on the line in Sri Lanka and no one can deny that this makes it a special tournament.

"I wish George well in leading Australia's men who are seeking to win the one ICC trophy that has eluded them and Jess and Meg the best of luck as they seek to defend the women's trophy. I have been to Sri Lanka recently and felt the buzz and excitement that will greet the players when they arrive in September. It will be a special event that is for sure."

The men's competition will be staged in Hambantota, Pallekelle, which staged the recent 100 days to go celebrations last weekend, and Colombo. The women's group stages will be in Galle

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Australia want to master all forms of game - Clarke

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 on Thursday.

Australia head the one-day ratings, but are third in the Test standings and sixth in the T20 format.

"We've been the number one ODI team in the world for a while now but we need to continue to raise the bar," Clarke said before the one-day international squad's departure on Thursday.

"I think our cricket of late in the shorter form hasn't been as consistent as we would like.

"I think once we get on the plane it's probably the start of a two-year journey for this Australian team, whether it be the one-day team, the Test team or the Twenty20 team, to have a lot of success and get back to being the number one in all forms of the game."

Australia will play two English county teams and a one-day international against Ireland before facing fourth-ranked England in five ODIs.

Clarke said he had been surprised by England batsman Kevin Pietersen's recent retirement from ODIs.

"I'm thrilled I don't have to play against him in one-day cricket because he's such a good player and he's had a lot of success and he's a natural in it," Clarke said.

"But England have a lot of good players in their team."

Clarke nominated David Hussey to fill the batting role of innings closer and pacer of run-chases in the absence of his elder brother Michael, who withdrew from the tour for family reasons following the premature birth of his fourth child.

Clarke said he was confident that a pay dispute between Cricket Australia and the players would be resolved this month and said the last thing he wanted to do would be to go on strike.

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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 England career in the forthcoming one-day international series against the West Indies.
The 27-year-old all-rounder, a middle-order batsman and medium-pace bowler, was in line to bat at number six during England's 2-1 win over the West Indies in a three-Test series wrapped up earlier this week.
Instead Bopara's calf injury paved the way for Jonathan Bairstow to make his Test debut in the opener at Lord's and retain the number six position for the remainder of the series.
However, Bopara -- a veteran of 72 ODIs -- is set to bat at number four against the West Indies in the first of three ODIs at Southampton on Saturday.
"I'm really looking forward to it," Bopara said Thursday.
"I haven't played a lot of cricket for England recently because of injuries.
"So it's exciting for me, and I'm in good form."
Bopara returned at the start of this month with a 50-over century, and then one in four-day cricket too, for Essex.
As for his injury problems Bopara, who has played 12 Tests, said: "It's very frustrating. It's only recently I've started to get a few injuries.
"Before that, I very rarely missed games through injury ... it's probably a sign of me getting old. "It is annoying. It is frustrating. But whatever's meant to be is meant to be."
He added: "I guess what it does is it gives someone else an opportunity to cement their place, and that's not ideal.
"But it means when I get my opportunity, I've got to cement my place. Let's hope I get it soon.

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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 with the captains and coaches of both teams.
Pakistan were 12-2 off 6.2 overs after electing to bat when play was called off, with Asad Shafiq unbeaten on five and skipper Misbah-ul-Haq yet to open his account.
Pacemen Lasith Malinga and Nuwan Kulasekara each bagged one wicket for Sri Lanka.
The five-match series is currently tied 1-1, with Pakistan winning the opening one-dayer by six wickets and Sri Lanka winning the second game by 76 runs in Pallekele.
Sri Lanka made one change from the team which played the last game as they rested left-arm spinner Rangana Herath and brought in debutant Sajeewa Weerakoon.
Pakistan replaced paceman Rahat Ali with batsman Asad Shafiq.

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Third ODI: Pakistan win toss opts to bat

COLOMBO: Pakistan have won the toss and opted to bat in the third one-day international (ODI) being played against Sri Lanka in the Premadasa Stadium on Wednesday here.
Pakistan has made one change and brought in Asad Shafique in place of Rahat , while Sri Lanka replacing Rangana Herath gave an opportunity to Sajeeva Virakon, who will be playing his first ODI.
The five match series is currently tied at 1-1
Pakistan: Misbah-ul-Haq (capt), Mohammad Hafeez, Azhar Ali, Younis Khan, Umar Akmal, Asad Shafiq, Shahid Afridi, Sarfraz Ahmed, Umar Gul, Saeed Ajmal, Sohail Tanvir.
Sri Lanka: Mahela Jayawardene (capt), Tillakaratne Dilshan, Upul Tharanga, Kumar Sangakkara, Dinesh Chandimal, Angelo Mathews, Lahiru Thirimanne, Thisara Perera, Nuwan Kulasekara, Lasith Malinga, Sajeewa Virakon.
Umpires: Asoka de Silva (SRI) and Paul Reiffel (AUS)TV umpire: Ruchira Palliyaguruge (SRI) Match referee: Chris Broad (ENG)

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Katich announces Australian retirement

SYDNEY: Australian batsman Simon Katich on Tuesday announced his retirement from first-class cricket in Australia, citing family reasons.
Katich, 36, is currently playing with Hampshire in the English county season and is committed to play for the Perth Scorchers in the Champions League Twenty20 in October.
But he was axed from the Australian team after the 2010-2011 home Ashes series defeat to England and was stripped of the New South Wales captaincy last year in the Sheffield Shield competition.
Katich released a statement through Cricket Australia saying personal factors were the main reason for his retirement.
"With a young family and a desire for an extended time at home, Simon has decided it is time to reassess his priorities," the statement said.
Katich, a left-handed top-order batsman, played 56 Tests from 2001 to his last appearance against England in Adelaide in December 2010.
He scored 4,188 Test runs at an average of 45.03 with 10 centuries, and made 44 one-day international appearances for 1,324 runs at 35.78.
His demotion from the Test team was highly controversial and his tense relationship with Australian skipper Michael Clarke was played out heavily in the media.
Katich began his Sheffield Shield career with Western Australia but joined New South Wales in the 2002-03 season and went on to score a total of 8,807 runs for the two states in 104 matches at 55.39, with 26 centuries.
He was at his best during the 2007-2008 domestic season, not only captaining NSW to their 45th Sheffield Shield title but receiving the Player of the Year Award with a record-breaking 1,506 runs at an average of 94.12.
In the same season Katich became the first man since Sir Donald Bradman to score 300 at the Sydney Cricket Ground, making 306 off 461 balls against Queensland.
"Simon Katich retires from Australian first-class cricket as not only one of our great players, but also one of our most respected," Australian Cricketers' Association chief executive Paul Marsh said.
"His on-field achievements speak for themselves and as an ACA executive member, Simon's contribution to the players' collective cause has been outstanding.

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