Monday, December 19, 2011
Warner has qualities to be next Australian captain: Cooley
Warner was named vice-captain for an Australia A game last month and this week he will lead a Chairman's XI against India.
"Michael's [Clarke] doing a fantastic job at the moment, but you're always looking for leaders within your group and it would be lovely to have 11 people that took leadership qualities on and I think Davey Warner's one of those and that's why he's been given the role to lead this squad," the Sydney Morning Herald quoted Cooley, as saying.
"Dave is really keen, he knows the game, he plays it in an exciting way so I'll be very interested in watching him over the next few days lead this team. I think he's an exciting prospect and he hasn't led teams often, but he has a lot of input into the leadership around the group so it'll be interesting to see how he goes," he added.
Bangladesh will tour Pakistan, hopes PCB chief
"It`s a great news and we hope that Bangladesh tour us in April next year after getting security clearance from their government," said Ashraf, chairman of the Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB). He added that "we will provide them with foolproof (security) arrangements."
International cricket has been suspended in Pakistan since March 2009 when attacks on the Sri Lankan national team bus in Lahore left eight people dead and wounded seven visiting players and their assistant coach.
Foreign teams have stayed away from touring Pakistan citing security fears, with Bangladesh becoming the first Test nation to play cricket in the troubled country in three years should the visit materialise.
Ashraf, who took over as Pakistan`s top cricket official in October, said the proposed visit would pave the way for more teams to play in Pakistan.
"I am sure after a successful tour by the Bangladesh team we will be able to convince more teams to tour Pakistan," he said. Ashraf also said the country was more stable now, declaring its turbulent period "over."
"All those things that you must have seen, they are over now. That`s why we want to reorganise cricket and bring back it to Pakistan. Fans are also being deprived of this game," he said.
Pakistan`s Ashraf also announced the endorsement of Mustafa Kamal, president of the Bangladesh Cricket Board, as the two countries` joint nominee for the vice president`s post at the International Cricket Council (ICC).
If approved by the ICC`s executive board, Kamal would take over as the international body`s vice president in 2012 and, under rotation rules, its president in 2014.
Mustafa Kamal, the president of the Bangladesh Cricket Board (BCB), has said a security committee will visit Pakistan in January with a view to fulfilling a tour of the country in April 2012.
Pakistan last hosted a Test match at home in March 2009, since when security issues have meant playing ‘home’ series in neutral venues.
Kamal revealed the news in a statement issued by the BCB following a meeting in Dhaka with Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) officials Mr. M. Zaka Ashraf, Chairman and Mr. Subhan Ahmad, COO.
He said: “(Over the last) year, I have been discussing with some of the cricket boards on how to bring back international cricket in Pakistan and to demonstrate that we are genuinely taking steps in this direction my Board today agreed to form a security committee to visit Pakistan in January 2012 to review their security measures so as to ensure proper security arrangements are in place prior to arrival of the Bangladesh team in Pakistan. My board further agreed that Bangladesh cricket team will visit Pakistan in April 2012 as per ICC’s Future Tours Programme. I hope this way slowly and gradually international cricket will come back to Pakistan.”
The prospect of Bangladesh’s proposed tour of Pakistan will delight fans starved of international cricket. The BCB and PCB have brokered a deal whereby Bangladesh’s Academy players will receive assistance and reciprocal tours involving the ‘A’, Academy, Under-19 and women’s teams will be undertaken.
End.
Pakistan resume batting after match delayed by fog
Pakistan are 87-1 in their first innings in reply to Bangladesh's 338, with Taufeeq Umar unbeaten on 44 and Azhar Ali 26 not out.
Pakistan lost in-form Mohammad Hafeez before Umar and Azhar put on 64 runs for the unbroken second-wicket stand, with Umar hitting eight fours in his 79-ball knock so far.
Bangladesh paceman Nazmul Hossain, returning to the Test side after seven years, struck with his first delivery when he had Hafeez caught behind for only 14, a stark contrast to the opener’s 143 in the last Test.
Saturday, December 17, 2011
Afghanistan in debut one-day against Pakistan
It will be Afghanistan's first one-day against a top international team, taking place in the United Arab Emirates (UAE) on February 10, shortly before Pakistan begins a one-day series against England, the PCB said.
Cricket was made popular in Afghanistan by refugees who spent years living in Pakistan when Soviet troops invaded their country in 1979.
Since then, Afghanistan has made lightning progress in the sport, finishing fifth in the World Cup qualifiers in 2009 and earning one-day status the same year.
The run of positive results has continued, as they won the World Twenty20 qualifiers, which allowed them to play top teams in the WorldTwenty20 in the West Indies last year.
Afghanistan are now placed ninth in the International Cricket Council
Twenty20 rankings.
The PCB also announced the venues and dates of England's two side games
ahead of the three-Test series against Pakistan.
Pakistan and England also play four one-day and three Twenty20s in the UAE.
"From January 7-9, England will play an ICC combined associate and
affiliate members XI while on 11-13 January, a PCB XI will take on England both the matches in Dubai," the PCB said.
"England will also play a warm up one-day game against the England Lions on February 10 in Abu Dhabi."
The three-Test series between Pakistan and England starts in Dubai on
January 17.
South African pacers plunge Sri Lanka into deep trouble
CENTURION : South Africa's fast bowlers plunged Sri Lanka into deep trouble on the third day of the first Test against Sri Lanka at SuperSport Park here on Saturday.
Sri Lanka were 38 for four in their second innings at lunch, still needing 193 to avoid an innings defeat in the first match of a three-Test series.
South Africa's fast bowling discovery, Vernon Philander, took two wickets and Dale Steyn one before Sri Lanka lost Mahela Jayawardene to a needless run out when he was one run short of becoming the first Sri Lankan to score 10 000 runs in Tests.
Philander made the first breakthrough when he had Sri Lankan captain Tillekeratne Dilshan caught behind by Mark Boucher for six in the fourth over, with Dilshan forced to play a ball close to his off stump which moved away off a pitch which has helped the fast bowlers throughout the match.
Tharanga Paranavitana was caught behind for four off Dale Steyn in the fifth over and Kumar Sangakkara followed two overs later when he edged a superb delivery from Philander to Boucher, the ball swinging in to the left-hander and then nipping away off the pitch.
Paranavitana survived two television reviews and was struck on the knee and right elbow during his brief innings.
Steyn, on a hat-trick after finishing off the Sri Lankan first innings, appealed for leg before wicket when he beat Paranavitana with the first ball of the innings.
Umpire Rod Tucker gave the batsman not out and his decision was shown to be correct when the South Africans asked for a review, with the ball missing the left-hander's leg stump.
Paranavitana was then given out lbw to Philander by umpire Steve Davis and successfully sought a review which showed the ball pitched outside leg stump.
Jayawardene, needing 16 to reach 10 000 Test runs, took his score to 15 with two boundaries in an over off Jacques Kallis.
He then pushed a ball from Kallis to the off side and was called through for a run by batting partner Thilan Samaraweera. Kallis reacted quickly, picked up the ball, turned and threw down the stumps at the bowler's end with Jayawardene well short.
South Africa were bowled out earlier for 411 with last wicket pair Mark Boucher and Imran Tahir adding 22 runs in four overs to extend their last wicket stand to 61, a record against Sri Lanka.
Boucher added four boundaries to his overnight 49 before chasing a wide ball from Chanaka Welegedera to be caught behind by Kaushal Silva for 65. Tahir was unbeaten on 29
PCB bars players from Dhaka Premier League
LAHORE : The Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) has barred national players from taking part in the Dhaka Premier League, Geo News reported.
Nine Pakistan cricketers were scheduled to take part in the league, but according to the PCB they have been barred from taking part due to the upcoming series against England.
Prominent cricketers such as Younis Khan, Muhammed hafeez, Abdul Rehman, Shoaib Malik and Imran Farhat were to take part in the league.
William Porterfield to lead ICC Combined Associate and Affiliate XI against England in Dubai
Three-day warm-up fixture to be played at the ICC Global Cricket Academy from 7 - 9 January 2012
The International Cricket Council (ICC) today announced its Combined Associate and Affiliate (AM) XI which will take on England in a three-day practice match at the ICC Global Cricket Academy in Dubai from 7 to 9 January 2012.
This match is part of England's preparation for the series against Pakistan which starts on 17 January with the first Test at the Dubai International Cricket Stadium in the Dubai Sports City.
Ireland's William Porterfield has been named captain of the side which is made up of players selected from ICC Intercontinental Cup, five of those countries, Ireland, Scotland, Namibia, UAE and Afghanistan are represented. While the Netherlands players were unavailable due to other commitments, players from Canada and Kenya failed to make the final squad.
The ICC Combined AM XI has been selected after a nominations process which involved coaches of the eight sides. The list was then shortlisted to 24 players before a 12-member squad was finalized by the eight ICC Intercontinental Cup coaches, the two ICC Global Cricket Academy coaches – Mudassar Nazar and Dayle Hadlee – and ICC's High Performance Manager Richard Done.
27-year-old Porterfield, who won the ICC Associate ODI Player of the Year award at the LG ICC Awards in Bengaluru in 2009, has played 60 first-class matches, 56 ODIs and 17 T20Is.
On his appointment as captain, Porterfield said: "It will be a great honour for me to lead out the Associate and Affiliate team against the number one team in the longer format of the game.
"If you look through their squad they are full of world class cricketers and it will be a great test for us against whatever eleven they put out. Another challenge we face is coming together as a group ourselves, we have played against each other a few times but we will have to gel pretty quickly in the few days' preparation we have in order to put in a good performance.
"As this is such a great chance for all the individuals to showcase their talent against the number one Test team in the world, I do not see this being an issue at all."
England Director of Cricket, Andy Flower added: "We are delighted to be playing a warm-up fixture against the ICC Combined AM XI in Dubai at the ICC's Global Cricket Academy.
"I'm sure that the match will not only provide the England squad a challenging first warm-up ahead of the Pakistan series but it will also give the AM XI players, many of whom are part of the extremely successful Gatorade ICC High Performance Programme an opportunity to play a three-day fixture at the highest level. I am sure this match it will aid the current players to improve and provide a motivation for future players."
Combined AM XI - William Porterfield (captain, Ireland), Saqib Ali (UAE), Kyle Coetzer (Scotland), George Dockrell (Ireland), Majid Haq (Scotland), Hamid Hassan (Afghanistan), Mohammed Nabi (Afghanistan), Boyd Rankin (Ireland), Mohammed Shahzad (Afghanistan), Paul Stirling (Ireland), Christi Viljoen (Namibia) and Craig Williams (Namibia)
Coaching staff
Mudassar Nazar (head coach), Dayle Hadlee (bowling coach)
Nafees and Shakib revive Bangladesh fortunes
Bangladesh's Shahriar Nafees (97) and Shakib Al Hasan (108 not out) put on a record fifth-wicket stand for their country against Pakistan on day one of the second Test in Dhaka.
The pair added 180 after Aizaz Cheema had given Pakistan the upper hand during the first session.
Following a delayed start, due to fog, Cheema picked up three wickets to reduce the hosts to 43-4.
Cheema and opening partner Umar Gul took full advantage of the new ball with three wickets in the first eight overs of the Bangladesh innings.
Nazimuddin (0) fell at the end of Cheema's first over when the quick bowler swung a delivery back into the right-hander, who was trapped lbw not offering a shot.
Fellow opener Tamim Iqbal (14) played in a typically aggressive manner that would ultimately prove his undoing. The left-hander struck successive boundaries off Gul before he pulled the same bowler to long-leg.
Mahmudullah was cleaned up by Cheema first ball to a delivery that shot through low as Bangladesh slid to 21-3.
Nafees looked solid but he lost his fourth-wicket partner, Nasir Hossain (7), after they added 22 runs, when the youngster got a thin edge to a ball that left him off the pitch.
Bangladesh found themselves in a parlous position at lunch on 49-4 but Nafees and Shakib batted all the way through the middle session as they advanced their partnership by 103 runs.
Shakib got the partnership flowing with three fours in four balls off Cheema as batting conditions eased.
Nafees brought up his 50 off 85 balls (7 x 4) before he was followed soon after by Shakib (off 87 balls, 9 x 4).
Pakistan endured their most frustrating session of a two-Test series that has otherwise gone entirely according to plan.
After the resumption, Shakib hit two fours in a Gul over to get to 99 and then steered to point for a single to reach his ton.
The former skipper recorded his second Test century off 159 balls (14 x 4).
Nafees was then out three short of his century when he gloved a lifting Gul delivery to wicketkeeper Adnan Akmal.
The left-hander narrowly missed out on what would have been a deserved second Test century on a day that ended much better than it had started for the home team.
Bangladesh captain Mushfiqur Rahim (5 not out) helped Shakib get to the close without further loss before bad light finished the day early.
Friday, December 16, 2011
TEST PLAYER RANKING
ALL-ROUNDER | ICC BATSMAN | ICC BOWLER | T20
ALL-ROUNDER | ICC BATSMAN | ICC BOWLER | ODI
TEST BATSMAN RANKING
| ID | Rat | Name | Nat. | Career Best Rating |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 01 | 880 | K.C. Sangakkara |  |
938 v England, 01/12/2007 |
| 02 | 851 | J.H. Kallis |  |
935 v New Zealand, 18/11/2007 |
| 03 | 823 | A.N. Cook |  |
836 v India, 10/08/2011 |
| 04 | 822 | I.R. Bell | |
822 v India, 18/08/2011 |
| 05 | 787 | H.M. Amla | |
842 v India, 14/02/2010 |
| 05 | 787 | Younus Khan |  |
880 v Sri Lanka, 21/02/2009 |
| 07 | 785 | S.R. Tendulkar |  |
898 v Zimbabwe, 21/02/2002 |
| 08 | 776 | I.J.L. Trott | |
856 v Sri Lanka, 26/05/2011 |
| 09 | 773 | R. Dravid | |
892 v Pakistan, 16/03/2005 |
| 10 | 770 | K.P. Pietersen | |
909 v West Indies, 28/05/2007 |
TEST BOWLER RANKING
| ID | Rat | Name | Nat. | Career Best Rating |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 01 | 898 | D.W. Steyn | |
902 v Australia, 09/11/2011 |
| 02 | 811 | J.M. Anderson | |
813 v India, 10/08/2011 |
| 03 | 760 | M. Morkel | |
776 v Australia, 09/11/2011 |
| 04 | 755 | G.P. Swann | |
858 v Pakistan, 26/08/2010 |
| 05 | 744 | S.C.J. Broad | |
744 v India, 18/08/2011 |
| 06 | 692 | Zaheer Khan | |
752 v South Africa, 26/12/2010 |
| 07 | 654 | D.L. Vettori |  |
681 v Australia, 11/03/2000 |
| 08 | 651 | Saeed Ajmal | |
651 v Bangladesh, 09/12/2011 |
| 09 | 629 | Shakib Al Hasan |  |
680 v West Indies, 29/10/2011 |
| 10 | 626 | H.M.R.K.B. Herath | |
626 v Pakistan, 03/11/2011 |
TEST ALL ROUNDER RANKING
| ID | Rat | Name | Nat. | Career Best Rating |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 01 | 414 | J.H. Kallis | |
616 v Pakistan, 26/12/2002 |
| 02 | 385 | D.L. Vettori | |
412 v Pakistan, 11/12/2009 |
| 03 | 379 | S.R. Watson |  |
394 v South Africa, 17/11/2011 |
| 04 | 376 | S.C.J. Broad | |
376 v India, 18/08/2011 |
| 05 | 345 | Shakib Al Hasan | |
375 v West Indies, 29/10/2011 |
| 06 | 255 | G.P. Swann | |
327 v Bangladesh, 12/03/2010 |
| 07 | 238 | T.T. Bresnan | |
238 v India, 18/08/2011 |
| 08 | 207 | D.W. Steyn | |
207 v Australia, 17/11/2011 |
| 09 | 206 | D.J.J. Bravo |  |
295 v Australia, 12/06/2008 |
| 10 | 201 | M.G. Johnson | |
384 v England, 08/07/2009 |
South Africa dominate on day one
South Africa reached 90-1 after bowling Sri Lanka out for 180 on the first day of the Test series at Centurion.
Vernon Philander claimed his third five-wicket haul in just his third Test appearance as the tourists struggled to get to grips with difficult early batting conditions.
South Africa captain Graeme Smith had no hesitation putting Sri Lanka into bat on a pitch that contained more than a tinge of green.
Dale Steyn was responsible for the first dismissal of the morning but not in the circumstances anticipated.
On a wicket conducive to seam bowling, Sri Lanka captain Tillakaratne Dilshan attempted a hoik to the leg-side more akin to Twenty20 cricket.
Philander took a simple catch at mid-on to put the tourists on the back-foot.
That wicket gave Steyn 250 Test victims in just his 48th match – only Australian legend Dennis Lillee has achieved the feat in less games.
Philander then struck in the next over when an awkward lifting delivery was fended to Jacques Kallis at second slip by Kumar Sangakkara.
Tharanga Paranavitana (32) and Mahela Jayawardene (30) then batted sensibly in a third-wicket stand of 54 before the former was bowled through the gate by a Philander delivery that swung back into the left-hander.
Jayawardene went soon into the middle session when he played a loose shot away from his body and edged to Smith at first slip.
Morne Morkel thought he had struck in the next over but video replays showed he had bowled a no ball when Thilan Samaraweera edged to third slip on 13.
That let-off allowed Samaraweera (36) to continue a flourishing stand with Angelo Mathews (38) in the most fluent passage of batting in the innings.
Only the use of technology split the pair after a sixth-wicket partnership of 65.
Hot Spot decreed that Samaraweera got a thin edge off Philander after umpire Rod Tucker had turned down the original appeal.
Incredibly, Kaushal Silva was dismissed in the very same manner off the next delivery when Hot Spot detected he gloved a catch down the leg-side.
Imran Tahir continued the clatter of wickets in the next over when Thisara Perera edged onto Mark Boucher's leg and Kallis took a fine one-handed catch at slip off the rebound.
Philander got his fifth wicket when Mathews showed his attacking intentions by advancing down the wicket but could only fend a lifting delivery to second slip.
Steyn then cleaned up the remaining two wickets off successive deliveries to finish with 4-18.
Philander's 5-53 means he has now taken 19 victims at 13.05 in his fledgling Test career.
Smith took the lead role in the South African response as he raced to his 50 off 80 balls, clipping the ball to long-on to reach the landmark.
The left-hander fell just before the close when a Dilhara Fernando inswinger hit the batsman on the back-pad in front of middle stump.
Nightwatchman Steyn (0 not out) helped Jacques Rudolph (27 not out) see their side to the close without further mishap.
Thursday, December 15, 2011
Canada end Barbados tour in better spirits
After three heavy defeats to Barbados, the tourists rallied to beat the same opposition fourth time around. Canada had earlier beaten Combined Campuses & Colleges to gain their first victory of the tour. They finished the 10-day visit with a highly competitive final game with Barbados, losing out in a close battle by five runs.
Canada came to the island for a period of training and matches ahead of their participation in the Caribbean T20 tournament in January.
After a slow start they will feel heartened by their performances ahead of the greater tests that lie ahead.
Harvir Baidwan (2-20) was the pick of the bowlers as Canada restricted Combined Campuses & Colleges to 92 from their 20 overs. Canada reached their target with five wickets and eight balls in hand. Raza Rehman top-scored with 20.
That confidence boost set Canada up nicely for their next match against a Barbados team packed with internationals.
Rizwan Cheema made 51 not out from just 26 balls in the tourists' 158-6.
Baidwan then continued his fine wicket-taking form with 3-32 as Barbados could only make 145-7 in reply.
Barbados exacted revenge in the final match but not without discomfort.
Baidwin took another two wickets to go with similar success for Junaid Siddiqui and Rehman as Barbados laboured to 139-8.
Canada remained in with a shout for as long as Jimmy Hansra was at the crease. The right-hander was run out with four balls to spare as he attempted to keep the strike with deliveries running out.
Another run out followed off the next ball as Canada ended on 134-7.
The Cricket Australia Chairman's XI piled up 398-6 at the close of day one of the tour match with India in Canberra.
Wes Robinson (143) and Tom Cooper (182 not out) added 226 for the third wicket on a day when the Indian bowlers struggled to make an impact.
Pace man Ishant Sharma only bowled 5.3 overs before he left the field but it is understood his early withdrawal was merely precautionary to monitor the left ankle problem that hampered his tour of England.
Umesh Yadav was the pick of the Indian bowlers with 3-39 off 15 overs while left-arm spinner Pragyan Ojha picked up two wickets, at the more expensive cost of 149 runs.
Robinson swung Ojha to the leg-side boundary for six on five occasions before he fell attempting a sixth maximum off the slow bowler.
Robinson only made his state debut at the age of 27 but has made solid strides since, culminating in his century today. The left-hander moved to his ton first before his younger third-wicket partner dominated in the final session.
Cooper has been representing the Netherlands at international level but will hope performances like this further alert the Australian selectors.
The Chairman's XI declared at the close, meaning India's much-vaunted batting line-up take centre stage on day two.
India have one further warm-up match ahead of the first Test at Melbourne, starting on Boxing Day.
Bollinger hopeful of Test recall
The larrikin left-armer has not played a Test for more than 12 months, watching on as rookies Pat Cummins, James Pattinson and Mitchell Starc all got the jump on him.
But with injury and inconsistent form putting clouds over several candidates, Bollinger is hoping to remind national selectors he is still around as he makes his way back from a hamstring tear.
He will use Sydney Thunder's opening Big Bash match against Shane Warne's Melbourne Stars on Saturday night as the springboard before taking the red ball for the second of the Chairman's XI matches against India in Canberra next week.
"I'm getting back to where I want to be. I feel fit and ready to go," Bollinger told Sportal.
"Test cricket hasn't left my mind and I'm ready to go if they want me."
"I still think I've got heaps to give."
"I will do anything I can do to get back in the team. I'd love to be there for the Boxing Day Test."
"It'd be good to get some India wickets under my belt."
Bollinger hasn't played a Test for Australia since early December 2010, banished amid reported concerns over his fitness and durability.
The 30-year-old admits he may have been slight 'under-done' but has worked hard with noted Sydney fitness guru Kevin Chevell to improve his endurance.
"I feel really good and before I got injured (last month) I felt like I was bowling well," Bollinger said.
"I can't change people's perceptions (over his fitness) but there are no worries in my mind."
"They (the national selectors) know what I can do and I know I've been bowling well."
"I don't feel like they have forgotten me. I'll be ready to go whenever they need me."
Harbhajan backs Ponting
Former captain Ponting, 36, has struggled with the bat, having hit a barren patch after making 209 in January 2010, and several former cricketers believe the right-hander is past his prime.
Since that game, Ponting has played 16 Tests and scored 797 runs at an average of 27.48, with a top score of 78.
But India spinner Harbhajan, who has been involved in many battles with Ponting over the years, believes the Australian will be back among the runs.
"I do not think Ponting is finished and I think people are making a big mistake by writing him off," said Harbhajan, who has dismissed Ponting more than any other bowler.
"Two years ago, people were saying the same things about Rahul Dravid (who averages 60 from 11 Tests this year) as what they are saying about Ponting now."
"Look what Dravid has done. I am sure Ponting will do the same."
Harbhajan, struggling with form himself and out of the India team for the tour to Australia, also said great players should never be questioned.
"Guys like Ponting, Dravid and (Sachin) Tendulkar know what they are doing and people should stop questioning them. They should respect them for what they have done for the game and they should respect them if they think they can bat on and contribute to cricket," he said.
"The fans in Australia should not put pressure on Ponting, they should just accept he has been given a chance to keep playing and they should get right behind him and support him. Ponting is only one innings away from finding his top form."
Harbhajan believes India have a chance to claim their first series win in Australia: "This Australian side is a lot weaker than sides of the past. There is no Adam Gilchrist or Shane Warne or Glenn McGrath."
"India have definitely got a very good chance to beat them on their home soil. I don't want to predict a scoreline, but I am sure India will do very well."
