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2009-07-28T22:25:00.000-07:00

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We still have to lift ourselves - Jayawardene

2009-07-18T00:16:00.000-07:00

Pakistan in Sri Lanka 2009

Despite a series win, Mahela Jayawardene has said Sri Lanka still need to go a fair distance to hit peak form. Jayawardene, who gave up the captaincy after Sri Lanka's aborted tour to Pakistan in March, felt Kumar Sangakkara was playing the right cards as leader of a somewhat inexperienced side.

"Winning the second Test was a fantastic achievement and a great effort from all the guys in the team," he wrote on his website. "So to play below par and take a 2-0 lead is really pleasing. [But] the fact is that we are not playing brilliant Test cricket right now and there is some way for us to get to our best. As Sanga [Sangakkara] said afterwards, it reflects well on the teamwork and the fact that when we needed something special someone put their hand up.

"The thing is with captaincy is that you need to make bold decisions and you need to think out of the box," he said. "Sanga has been doing that. Sometimes it will work and he'll be applauded. Other times it may backfire and he'll be heavily criticised. That's life, sadly. Sanga knows it too and he has a tough skin so it will be fine for him."

Jayawardene's assessment of what the home needed to do for a clean sweep was simple: "We searched for scoring opportunities and we punished the bad ball. We have to continue that in the final Test."

Having already squandered the series, Pakistan captain Younis Khan was hopeful his side could salvage a face-saving win in the final Test, starting in Colombo July 20. "We have to win this game," he told AFP. "There is a one-day series after this, and if we finish the Test well it will boost our confidence for those matches."

"The batting has let us down badly, but we can't afford another failure," said Pakistan coach Intikhab Alam. "There is a lot of pride to play for in the third Test."

England will want to win Ashes for Flintoff

2009-07-17T03:39:00.000-07:00

With Andrew Flintoff set to hang up his Test boots after the ongoing Ashes, his English teammates would do everything to win the series as a farewell gift to the burly all-rounder, believes former Australia wicket keeper Adam Gilchrist.

Gilchrist paid glowing tribute to Flintoff and felt it would inspire England to put their best foot forward in the ongoing Ashes.

"I don't think the Aussies will be affected but it can be a boost for the English players," Gilchrist said.

"I know from my time that a when a great player retired, you did everything you could to see them off with a series win. So England will be up for this Ashes series even more," said the Australian.

Gilchrist had no qualms admitting that Flintoff, as an opponent, often made life difficult for him.

"Freddie announcing his retirement means there will be a lot of Test cricketers sleeping easy now.

"He definitely terrorised me and my team-mates on many occasions," he said.

Gilchrist was of the view that Flintoff, as the premier all-rounder of his era, shouldered more responsibility than his body could endure and paid the price with a premature retirement.

"It's always sad when a player of that calibre retires but his body clearly couldn't cope with the demands. I think Freddie is a victim of his own abilities and skill he happily took on huge responsibility with the bat and ball," he said.

Even though Flintoff's contract with the Chennai Super Kings in the Indian Premier League added to the workload, Gilchrist did not see anything wrong in it.

"That brings physical stress but there is a lot of cricket around too and it's hard not to be drawn to financially rewarding competitions. You have to maximise your earnings in the small window of playing time you have in a career," said Gilchrist, who led Deccan Chargers to a fairytale triumph in the second edition of the IPL in South Africa.

Yuvraj jumps to No.2 after WI series

2009-07-16T21:26:00.001-07:00

India News

It was an Indian one-two in the ICC ODI Rankings as dashing left-hander Yuvraj Singh zoomed to a career best second place, in the table topped by his captain Mahendra Singh Dhoni.

Despite winning the four-match series against the West Indies, there was, however, no such good news for India as Dhoni's men missed a chance to reclaim the second spot in the ICC ODI Championship and remained third.

India needed to win all their matches against the West Indies but they went down in the second tie at Sabina Park even though it could not deny them a 2-1 series win in the Caribbeans.

Yuvraj made scores of 131, 35 and 2 in the three matches against the West Indies while the fourth ODI in St Lucia was washed out yesterday. His series contribution helped him jump two places and he now sits behind Dhoni who has consolidated his number one position.

Dhoni, whose place was under threat from Chris Gayle, Shivnarine Chanderpaul and Yuvraj, produced a consistent performance to strengthen his position at the top.

The wicketkeeper-batsman made scores of 41, 95 and 46 not out to walk away with the player of the series award.

Dhoni now leads Yuvraj by a comfortable 44-point margin.

The team-mates are likely to resume their battle for the top spot in September when India plays Sri Lanka and New Zealand in a proposed tri-series in Sri Lanka.

Yuvraj's leap by two places means Chanderpaul and Gayle have dropped one place each to the third and fourth places respectively.

There was bad news for India opener Gautam Gambhir, who has slipped four places to share 20th spot with New Zealands Ross Taylor. Gambhir scored 57 runs in the series with his highest score being 44 in the third ODI at St Lucia.

Yuvraj, meanwhile, has fallen out of the top five of the ICC Player Rankings for all-rounders.

The left-arm spinner remained wicketless while conceding 53 runs off six overs in the series and his failure to pick up a few wickets means he has slipped five places to eighth position.

Yuvraj's fall has benefitted the Pakistan duo of Shoaib Malik and Shahid Afridi, who have risen to joint-third spot, and the fifth placed Jacob Oram.

In the bowlers' charts, Indian off-spinner Harbhajan Singh lost three places to 26th while Praveen Kumar dropped six places to 33rd.

Ishant Sharma, however, managed to move up two rungs to 39th.

Strauss ton holds England together

2009-07-16T21:10:00.000-07:00

England v Australia, 2nd npower Test, Lord's, 1st day

England 364 for 6 (Strauss 161*, Broad 7*) v Australia

Scorecard and ball-by-ball details

Andrew Strauss launched a stirring riposte to Ricky Ponting's 150 in Cardiff, carrying his bat through the first day to hand England the early ascendancy in the second Test. Strong off his pads, and stronger through the point region, Strauss (161 not out) moved within 16 runs of his highest ever Test score and beyond the 5,000-run career barrier. But the significance of this innings lay not in personal milestones but in its impact on an England team which, after the tea break, looked decided shaky against the enigmatic Mitchell Johnson and the consistent Ben Hilfenhaus.

Profligate in the first session, potent in the last, Johnson personified a day of fluctuating fortunes at Lord's. The foundations built by Strauss and Alastair Cook during an historic 196-run opening stand were eroded by a middle order stumble that drew Australia back into the contest. And, in both cases, Johnson was the pivotal figure.

Through his first 11 overs Johnson conceded 77 runs, including 15 boundaries, to allow England the opportunity to build on the bonhomie of their Cardiff escape. Whether overawed by the occasion of his first Lord's Test, upset by the ground's pronounced slope or just shy of form and confidence, Australia's spearhead appeared decidedly blunt in his exchanges with Strauss and Cook, guilty of straying both sides of the wicket and failing to find a consistent length in the period before tea.

But with a change of session came a change of fortune. The ball, which stubbornly refused to swing while still coated in lacquer, suddenly found its arc, with Johnson its pilot. His reverse swing slowed a scoring rate that had threatened to spiral out of control, and eventually accounted for the wicket of Matt Prior, bowled to a beautiful, tailing delivery.

Were it not for the stoic batting of Strauss, who ground his way to his highest Test score on home soil, Johnson, Hilfenhaus and Peter Siddle may well have seized back all the initiative surrendered in the earlier sessions. As it was, England headed to stumps in a position of strength, though perhaps not quite as strong as they might have hoped, after a final session in which four wickets fell for the addition of 109 runs.

Together with Cook, Strauss forged the highest first wicket partnership by an England combination at Lord's (196) in an Ashes Test, bettering by 14 runs the 83-year-old record held by Jack Hobbs and Herbert Sutcliffe. Though Cook fell just five runs short of his century, becoming Johnson's 100th Test scalp in the process, Strauss thrust forth into the evening, denying the probing offerings of Johnson and Hilfenhaus with both old and new balls

Prior to the final session, England's cause had been helped no end by an Australian attack that lurched from the lamentable to the horrendous, and one temporarily without the services of Nathan Hauritz. Hauritz, in dropping a powerfully struck return catch by Strauss, dislocated the middle finger on his bowling hand and was immediately taken from the field for treatment. So savage was the force of Strauss's drive that Hauritz, upon viewing his contorted finger, immediately signalled to the dressing room in distress and almost vomited on the pristine playing surface.

Scans cleared Hauritz of a fracture, and the off-spinner resumed his place in the field in the final session. But the Australians will nonetheless harbour significant concerns over Hauritz's effectiveness over the final four days - both for variation, and also the workload of their fast bowlers, who are playing the second of back-to-back Test matches.

Extras, misfields and overthrows all blighted Australia's morning effort, but by far the biggest disappointment was Johnson, who arrived on these shores trumpeted as the best paceman in international cricket. In a portent of what was to come, Johnson began the day with a full, leg-side delivery that Cook duly clipped to the square-leg boundary. His errant ways continued in the first half-hour, at one stage conceding four boundaries in six deliveries to Strauss, prompting Ponting to replace him with Siddle after four expensive (26 runs) overs.

Siddle, too, was awry, failing to contend with the slope of the Lord's pitch and making life difficult for Brad Haddin. Australia's only saving grace was Hilfenhaus, who began the match with three consecutive maidens and was rewarded after lunch with the wicket of Ravi Bopara. He might also have had Strauss earlier in the second session, if not for the small detail of his no-ball and Haddin's turfed catch. Strauss went onto raise his 18th Test century moments before tea. It was that kind of day for the Australians.

The confidence of England's openers visibly lifted over the course of the first session. Cook, the chief aggressor, enthralled the capacity Lord's crowd in the lead-up to lunch by pulling Johnson at every opportunity - not all of them from bad deliveries - en route to a half-century raised from just 73 deliveries. Strauss, save for a bright flurry against Johnson, was happy to steadily accumulate as part of a partnership that rocketed along to 125 by the lunch break.

Eight minutes prior to lunch, Cook and Strauss bettered their highest ever opening partnership against Australia, eclipsing their stand of 116 from the Perth Test two years ago. They advanced that total to 196 - England's highest opening stand in an Ashes Test since 1956 - before Cook fell in the 48th over to a fuller, straighter Johnson delivery that rapped him on the back pad.

England's day tapered thereafter. Bopara's cheap dismissal was compounded by that of Kevin Pietersen, whose aura is dimming with each innings at present. The prodigiously talented batsmen tried mightily to surrender his wicket before the tea break, and succeeded just after by playing inside a shorter Siddle delivery. Paul Collingwood, the rock of Cardiff, then fell to the loosest of strokes off the bowling of Michael Clarke, and was soon followed by Andrew Flintoff, the departing hero, who edged a Hilfenhaus offering to Ponting at second slip.

The onus fell to Strauss to save the day for England, and the captain duly obliged. He saw off both the reverse-swinging old ball, and the harder new one to ensure advantage remained with the hosts heading into the second day.

Ponting sees 'circus' in Flintoff farewell

2009-07-15T22:02:00.000-07:00

The Ashes 2009

Australia captain Ricky Ponting believes England all-rounder Andrew Flintoff announcing his Test exit during the Ashes could create an unwanted 'circus' for the home side in the rest of the series.

Flintoff, whose career has been blighted by injury, chose the eve of the second Test here at Lord's to announce he would quit the five-day game at the end of the Ashes, which conclude in August across London at the Oval.

Ponting, speaking at Lord's after Flintoff had confirmed his Test retirement, told reporters: "I think we were all a little bit surprised with it to tell you the truth.

"If he ends up playing the remainder of the series I'm sure there'll be some outside distractions for the England team to deal with no matter if Andrew wanted it that way or not.

"I've been in teams where it's happened in Australia as well and it can be distracting, not just for the person involved but for the captain as well."

Ponting said the situation England found themselves in now was similar to the one confronting Australia when Steve Waugh, his predecessor as captain, made it clear the 2003/04 series at home to India would be his last in Tests.

"They were probably similar sort of figures in either side and either country. Everyone in Australia loved everything about Steve Waugh, the way he played, the way he led the side.

"We talked long and hard before the first Test of that series and making sure it didn't turn out to be a farewell tour for Steve.

"But as hard as we tried and as hard as he tried not to make it that way, sure enough it became very much heavily focused on everything he did."

He added: "We can't say yet if this will turn into a farewell tour but knowing the stature he (Flintoff) has in the game in England I can see it turning out like that.

"The fans here are very passionate about seeing Andrew Flintoff play so if they know it's the last chance to see him play here and last chance to play at Edgbaston and Headingley then there could be a circus around the ground."

Ponting, asked to assess Flintoff's worth as a player, said: "If you look at his bare statistics, they probably don't rate that flatteringly.

"But as far as someone that has an impact on the way a team plays and performs then he seems to be right up there.

"He just seems to be a guy that everyone would enjoy playing with. He's played the game in great spirit, everything he does, he's always got a smile on his face."

Last week's drawn first Ashes Test in Cardiff was Flintoff's first England appearance of the season following a knee injury. "You couldn't fault the effort he put in last week," Ponting said. "You wouldn't know he was injured."

Asked if Flintoff's decision to quit Tests was a sign that the fast-bowling all-rounder was an endangered species at the highest level given the volume of international cricket, Ponting said South Africa's Jacques Kallis was the exception that proved the rule.

"Jacques Kallis has done it pretty well, he's probably the only one that has got through. There's no doubt we are playing a lot at the moment.

"Andrew has been a superstar player for England. When they're in the middle of those glory years you have to manage them as well as you'd like and get a couple more years out of their career rather than grinding them into the ground too soon."

Focus required amid distractions

2009-07-15T21:16:00.000-07:00

England v Australia, 2nd npower Test, Lord's

Match facts
Thursday, July 16 - Monday, July 20 2009
Start time 11.00 (10.00 GMT)

The series resumes after a nail-biting final hour in Cardiff in which England clung to the mightiest of draws after being dominated for most of the match. Since then time wasting and Andrew Flintoff's retirement have become the big issues, but the teams will not be focussing on the pre-match hype when the first ball is delivered.

They will be more intent on a brisk start and continuing their on-field battles in a contest that has already provided more heat than the St John's Wood tube station in summer. Australia enter the match disappointed they are not leading 1-0, while England are buoyant to be level. The visiting batsmen fired at Sophia Gardens, roaring to 674 for 6 before declaring, and their bowlers fell one wicket short of victory. The bowlers on both sides will be more excited by the conditions on offer in this game.

Nothing gets an Australian's neck prickling like the sight of Lord's and the players' baggy greens gain extra power whenever they bob through the Long Room. England's leaders can't understand why their team hasn't beaten their Ashes rivals in 75 years here. Another chapter will be added to the dusty pages of history this week.

Watch out for ...

Lord's is a place for the captains to star. Andrew Strauss missed out twice in the first Test, scoring 30 and 17, and needs to inspire his batting team-mates after they all gave away reasonable starts last week. The home of cricket is also Strauss's county ground for Middlesex, so he knows everything about the revered address. He has not scored a century here since 2006, but has reached triple figures three times on the way to averaging 58.17 in 11 matches.

Ricky Ponting, who has made 27 runs in three Test innings at Lord's, must stand up if his side is to maintain its intimidating batting intensity. In Cardiff Ponting breezed to 150, becoming one of four Australian century-makers, but the second Test will be played in different conditions and against a team that now remembers the last hour of batting, not the 181 overs of bowling.

Team news

Strauss wants to go with five bowlers - Ian Bell has been released from the squad - but his biggest worry is Flintoff's injured knee. Flintoff is bowing out of Tests at the end of the series and will be desperate to play while Steve Harmison is acting as his cover. Graham Onions was in the squad in Cardiff but didn't get a game, increasing his chances of appearing at Lord's, where two spinners are not a viable option.

England (possible) 1 Andrew Strauss (capt), 2 Alastair Cook, 3 Ravi Bopara, 4 Kevin Pietersen, 5 Paul Collingwood, 6 Matt Prior (wk), 7 Andrew Flintoff, 8 Stuart Broad, 9 Graeme Swann, 10 James Anderson, 11 Graham Onions.

Stuart Clark will be talked about but don't expect any changes to Australia's XI. Ponting should confirm the side later on Wednesday and it would be a shock if any of the players who pushed England last week are omitted. Brett Lee remains out with a stomach problem.

Australia (probable) 1 Simon Katich, 2 Phillip Hughes, 3 Ricky Ponting (capt), 4 Michael Hussey, 5 Michael Clarke, 6 Marcus North, 7 Brad Haddin (wk), 8 Mitchell Johnson, 9 Nathan Hauritz, 10 Peter Siddle, 11 Ben Hilfenhaus.

Pitch and conditions

Draws have been common recently at Lord's, but all the bowlers will feel this pitch is a raging seamer compared to the block of cement offered in Cardiff. There was an attractive green tinge on the surface on Tuesday and even though the grass was cut shorter on Wednesday, there is sure to be some life in it for the fast men. The same strip was used in 2005, although nobody is expecting a repeat of the 17 wickets that dropped on the opening day. The forecast is for sunny intervals on Thursday, rain on Friday and some showers over the weekend.

Flintoff to retire from Test cricket

2009-07-15T21:10:00.000-07:00

The Ashes 2009

Andrew Flintoff has announced that he will retire from Test cricket at the end of this Ashes summer, although he still intends to make himself available for Twenty20 and ODI cricket, and is expected to be fit for tomorrow's second Test against Australia.
Flintoff, who has missed 25 of England's last 48 Tests through a variety of injuries, suffered another fitness scare on the eve of the Lord's Test, when he reported soreness and swelling in the same right knee that required surgery back in April, after he tore his meniscus while playing in the IPL.

"It's not something I have just thought of overnight, it's something that's been on my mind for a while regarding this series," said Flintoff. "With the knee flaring up again and getting the injections on Monday, now is a time I felt comfortable with doing it. There's been a lot of speculation over my future for the past few weeks, so I wanted to get it out there, and concentrate on playing cricket.

"I've had four ankle operations and knee surgery, so my body is telling me things, and I'm actually starting to listen. I can't just play games here and there while waiting to be fit. For my own sanity, and for my family's, I've got to draw a line under it. I've been going through two years of rehab in the past four, which is not ideal."

Prior to England's practice session on Wednesday morning, Flintoff gave the team talk in a sombre atmosphere, and afterwards Paul Collingwood immediately came up and shook him by the hand. "Freddie simply said that these four Tests would be his last in Test cricket," a team insider told Cricinfo. Andrew Strauss, the England captain, said the team were saddened, though not surprised, about Flintoff's decision to stand down from Test cricket.

"As players we've had a feeling this would come sooner rather than later," Strauss said. "We feel sad he's had to make this decision at his age, but we're sure it will motivate him even more for this series."

The knee injury that has threatened his participation at Lord's followed a spirited performance in the first Test at Cardiff, in which Flintoff bowled 35 overs but was once again under-rewarded with figures of 1 for 128. Strauss was optimistic on Wednesday that Flintoff will come through a fitness test and make himself available for selection, and he was seen skipping during England's warm-up in the indoor nets, before padding up for batting practice, then sending down a few pacey overs on the outdoor nets.

"The indications are that he's going to be fine," Strauss said. "He had a good bowl today, we just need to see how he reacts to what he did today before we can be 100% sure. At this stage we are hopeful but we can't be sure.

"When you go in with three seamers, you've got to expect all three to bowl a lot of overs. Fred understands that, but this week in all likelihood there will be four seamers and maybe [they] won't have quite as big a workload. We'd never play any bowler in a Test match who we didn't think could contribute as fully as anyone else."

Though he acknowledged that Flintoff's overall statistics do not bear greatness, Strauss lauded Flintoff's effect on the modern game.

"He's had a dramatic impact in English cricket over the past few years, in the style with which he's batted, and for a long period he's been one of the bowlers in world cricket that batters least like facing, although the figures maybe don't show that," Strauss said. "And also as a personality, he's done a huge amount for cricket in the way he's played with a smile on his face. Test cricket will miss him, there's no doubt about that. I'm sure he'll go out in a style that befits his quality, with a bang, with big performances, and with some stories to tell at the end."

Regardless of his immense stature in the England dressing-room, the statistics of Flintoff's recent form and impact on the Test side are not flattering. Since the 2005 Ashes, he has averaged 28.25 with the bat and 34.68 with the ball in 23 Tests (both figures down on his overall Test record of 31.69 and 32.51), and he has not managed a century or five wickets in an innings in any series since then.

Moreover, he has been unable to impose himself on matches in the same way that he did in his 2005 pomp. Although some leeway has to be made for the quality of the opponents he has faced - Flintoff has often been recuperating during low-key series in preparation for the marquee events - the statistics paint a sorry tale. In the 25 matches that Flintoff has missed since 2005, England have won 12, drawn 10 and lost on only three occasions. In the 23 matches in which he has been present, those numbers are almost exactly reversed - won 3, drawn 7, lost 13.

"Being part of an Ashes-winning team was very special, and so was beating everyone in the world for a period of time, and playing a major part in that," said Flintoff. "I'd have liked my career to kick on after that, but being a professional rehabber for two years makes it pretty difficult to do that. It would have been nice if it had carried on a bit longer, but I've no regrets. I'm happy."

Flintoff received a cortisone injection on Monday, and is sure to play through the pain if he has to. "For the next four Test matches I'll do everything I need to do to get on a cricket field and I'm desperate to make my mark," he said. "I want to finish playing for England on a high and if you look at the fixtures going forward, the way my body is suggests I won't be able to get through that."

Gambhir ranked No. 1 in Tests

2009-07-15T21:01:00.000-07:00

Indian News

Gautam Gambhir became the number one batsman, replacing Pakistani run-machine Mohammad Yousuf in the latest ICC Test Player rankings issued today.

Incidentally, Gambhir reached the top when the ODI batting chart is also led by an Indian, Mahendra Singh Dhoni.

Yousuf, who had returned to the batting table last week in number one position after his century in the first Test at Galle, flopped in the second Test to drop to fifth position.

Accordingly, Gambhir became the sixth India batsman to lead the batting table in this version of the game.

The 27-year-old left-handed opener is the first Indian batsman after former captain Rahul Dravid to top the batting chart. Dravid had briefly become the number-one batsman after hitting centuries in each innings (110 and 135) of the Kolkata Test against Pakistan in March 2005. Dravid had first achieved the top batting ranking in January 1999 and has been number-one for 36 Tests between 1999 and 2005.

Sachin Tendulkar is the other India batsman in the last 15 years who has topped the batting chart. He first led the table in November 1994 while last time he occupied the number-one position was in August 2002 after the Leeds Test against England. Overall, Tendulkar has been the number-one batsman for 125 Tests between 1994 and 2002.

The other India batsmen to have achieved number-one positions in their careers are Gundappa Viswanath (seven matches in 1975), Sunil Gavaskar (46 matches between 1978-80) and Dilip Vengsarkar (17 matches between 1987-88).

Pakistan captain Younus Khan was able to retain his second position in the Test batting rankings but fell nine points behind Gambhir who, without hitting a ball, has gone ahead of both the Pakistan batsmen for the first time in his 25-Test career in which he has scored 2,271 runs at an average of over 54.

Gambhir's 847 points is relatively low for a number-one position in modern times as usually a batsman nearer to the 900-point mark goes to the top, which reflects that he has benefited from some of the other top batsman being off their peaks.

With only 10 points separating Gambhir from third-placed Kumar Sangakkara of Sri Lanka, the top order is expected to change again, of course depending how the Pakistan and Sri Lanka captains perform in the third and final Test which starts in Colombo from July 20.

The only big movers in the latest rankings are Pakistan opener Fawad Alam, who has entered the table in 52nd position after his 168 on his Test debut, and Bangladesh's Tamim Iqbal whose century in the second innings has helped him rocket 22 places to 62nd spot.

There is also a change at the top of the bowlers' chart for the first time in more than three years with Muttiah Muralitharan handing over the baton to South Africa fast bowler Dale Steyn.

Steyn had briefly joined Muralitharan in number-one position after the second Test against India in Ahmedabad in April 2008. However, Steyn had failed to go top of the table on his own after a disappointing third Test in Kanpur.

For Muralitharan, it is the first time that he has dropped to second position since February 2006. This is because he missed both the Tests of the ongoing series due to injury and a player loses one per cent of his ratings for every match he misses.

World Cup 2011 launched in Mumbai

2009-07-15T02:18:00.001-07:00

The 2011 World Cup, to be hosted in the sub-continent, was launched with all the fanfare by the International Cricket Council with a member each from most of the previous winners present along with ICC vice-president Sharad Pawar and Chief Executive Haroon Lorgat.

Clive Lloyd, the captain of the West Indies sides that won in 1975 and 1979 in England, India's 1983 winning-team members Balwinder Sandhu and Dilip Vengsarkar, Sri Lanka's Aravinda D'Silva who played a major role in the 1996 Cup winning squad and Michael Bevan of Australia who was part of the team that won the crown in 1999 and 2003 were those present.

The sound and laser show that showcased the key moments of all the previous World Cups was a breathtaking affair.

Lorgat sought to dispel fears of one-day format being overtaken by the huge popularity of the Twenty20 version saying that the limited overs World Cup continued to be ICC's showpiece event.

"The (50-over) World Cup is the flagship event of the ICC. What we have will hold up in the future," he announced to the audience which had several former Mumbai-based Test cricketers including Ajit Wadekar, Bapu Nadkarni and Umesh Kulkarni.

Lorgat also said that the 2011 World Cup would be over in 40-plus dates and would involve 14 teams.

Pawar, the chairman of the 2011 World Cup Organising Committee, announced that the Indian board has decided to keep the ticket prices at affordable rates to encourage the student community to witness the matches and reiterated that Mumbai's Wankhede Stadium would host the final.

"The Indian board has decided to keep the rates of the tickets low to encourage the student community. We don't want to make too much money out of gates. This has come after what we saw in the West Indies (during the 2007 World Cup)," he added.

The last World Cup was played in front of a lot of empty seats.

Pawar also said that Pakistan, which would not hold any matches, would continue to be part of the organizational set-up.

"I'm upset that a major partner Pakistan is not organising a match due to unfortunate circumstances. They will be very much part of the organising committee and would help organize the World Cup in a dignified manner," he said.

Pakistan's representative - PCB's cricket operations manager -- Zakir Khan took part in the ceremony though he did not attend the meeting of the World Cup Central Organising Committee which preceded it.

Recalling the first two World Cups that he guided the West Indies to victory as captain, Lloyd said in 1975 the limited overs game was in its infancy and to that extent his team can be considered as the pioneers of driving it forward.

"The West Indies has a population of only five million people and to be crowned the best in the world was an achievement," he said.

Sandhu brought the roof down with his comments that the biggest mistake that Lloyd and his men made while playing against India in the final at the Lord's in June 1983 was to hit him on the head with a bouncer.

"The biggest mistake that the West Indies made was to hit a 'Sardar' on the head with a bouncer. Now we have two Sardars in the Indian team, Yuvraj Singh (who was part of the audience) and Harbhajan Singh. And Sachin Tendulkar wants to be part of a World Cup winning squad. If he remains fit India will win the next World Cup," he said.

Sandhu said that the 1983 title triumph was a turning point in Indian cricket as it gave the players the confidence that they can beat the best in the world.

"We then went on to win the Benson and Hedges World Championships in Australia in 1985 and the Twenty20 World Championship (in 2007)," he recollected.

He also said that he has kept the winners' medal in his safe. "It's a very precious thing for me," he pointed out.

Aravinda, who played a match-winning knock of 100 besides taking three wickets in the 1996 final at Lahore against Australia, considered both the feats with the bat and ball as important and complimented the entire team led by Arjuna Ranatunga for the triumph.

"It was a great team effort. We had a strong batting line up with the openers (Sanath Jayasuriya and Romesh Kaluwitharana) followed by Roshan (Mahanama), Asanka (Gurusinha) and Arjuna which gave me the opportunity to play my natural game," he said.

Bevan, considered among the finest finishers the one-day game has seen, said that though he batted at number six like Yuvraj Singh had done for India earlier, their batting styles were different.

"We had to win seven games in a row and we treated every game as a final," he recalled about Australia's performance in the 1999 World Cup held in England.

He also remembered the sad part of losing seven shirts with the autographs of players when he returned home. "I had kept the coffin (kit bag) outside as I did not want to spoil the new white carpet at my home. When I returned to pick it up it had been stolen," he said.

Asked about the winners' medal, Bevan said it was in his garage.

Addressing the media after the formal launch of the 2011 World Cup, Lorgat ruled out any further possibility of Pakistan still hosting any matches but re-iterated that the PCB will get the hosting fees.

"No possibility (of hosting any match). Pakistan can choose to hold the World Cup with the other three hosting boards," Lorgat said.

"The decision (to pay Pakistan hosting fees) was taken by all the four co-hosts and even the Pakistan representative was present. They will get three quarter million USD per match for 14 matches," he said.

On Pakistan going to court after it was stripped of 2011 WC hosting rights, Lorgat said, "I think perhaps they are not that well advised. They should be engaged in dialogue to sort out the issues and not get into legal issues."

The ICC CEO said the Champions Trophy will be held every four years after this year's edition in September and the Twenty20 World Championship will be held in April 2010 to get the scheduling right.

He said Twenty20 World Cup will not overshadow limited overs World Cup. "You cannot compare the World Cup with the T20 World Cup," he said.

Prof Shetty said Wankhede Stadium renovation work will be completed by October 2010 and it will start hosting matches in December 2010-January 2011.

Flintoff fitness is England's key Ashes problem

2009-07-14T21:25:00.000-07:00

England head into the second Test against Australia as yet uncertain over whether all-rounder Andrew Flintoff will feature in their bid for a first Ashes win here at Lord's in 75 years.

The 31-year-old injured his right knee while fielding in last week's drawn first Test in Cardiff, having had an operation on after tearing the meniscus in April while playing in the Indian Premier League.

So vital to the balance of England's side, injuries have meant Flintoff has rarely hit the same heights as he did when starring during the team's 2005 Ashes-winning series.

But he still looked the only England pace bowler able to combat a slow surface at Sophia Gardens where Australia were only denied a victory by a last-wicket stand lasting 40 minutes between James Anderson and Monty Panesar.

It was somewhat overshadowed by a 'time-wasting' row revolving around the home team's questionable use of the 12th man late on the final day.

England have called up in-form fast bowler Stephen Harmison, who in 2005 at Lord's struck Australia captain Ricky Ponting a fearful blow on the cheek, ostensibly as cover for Flintoff.

But Harmison, who could be competing with fellow Durham paceman Graham Onions for a place in a re-shaped attack, may yet find himself playing alongside Flintoff if his friend proves his bowling fitness on Wednesday and suffers no ill-effects before Thursday's start.

England coach Andy Flower was cautiously upbeat about Flintoff's chances, saying Tuesday: "He saw the surgeon that operated on his knee recently and he was quite optimistic about him playing in this game.

"The suggestion is that he should be okay but I think with Fred and his injury record we're always concerned, to be honest," said Flower of Flintoff, who has had a cortisone injection.

"His body's in that sort of state at this time of his career when he seems vulnerable a lot of the time and we can't get away from that but he's a hell of a player and we want him in our side when he's fit."

Harmison took six wickets for England Lions during their tour match against Australia and twice dismissed fledgling opener Phillip Hughes with short balls in the process.

An inconsistent performer, Harmison was dropped during this year's tour of the West Indies and has not played for England since.

However, Flower stressed: "I never drew any line under Steve, that was never the case at all.

"Steve was always in the frame, he's a very good fast bowler and has a very good record for England, so he was always in the frame in our minds."

England captain Andrew Strauss is known to favour a five-man attack and, having seen his bowlers manage just six wickets between them as Australia piled up 674 in Cardiff, will not want to lack for options in the field.

But if Flintoff is ruled out and replaced by a bowler that would mean England had lengthened their tail.

Alternatively, they could bring back batsman Ian Bell.

But after a first Test where three England batsmen got to fifty but did not go on to a century in a match where Australia scored four hundreds, Flower and the selectors may give the top order a collective chance to redeem themselves.

"Certainly, batting-wise we didn't cash in when we had the opportunities and bowling-wise we found it hard to put them under pressure," Flower said

But he took some heart from England's rearguard action, saying: "We were outplayed but we take a bit of confidence from the fight we showed."

Star batsman Kevin Pietersen, who top-scored for England with 69, was widely criticised for getting out sweeping to Australia off-spinner Nathan Hauritz but Flower said the South Africa-born shotmaker should not carry the can for the side's lack of runs.

"I don't think you can just isolate him even though I know he's the most high-profile batsman."

Australia, who saw Ponting lead from the front in Wales with a superb 150, have not lost a Test at Lord's since 1934.

They are again set to be without fast bowler Brett Lee, ruled out in Cariff because of a rib injury.

The Ashes holders may well stick with the same side although seam bowler Stuart Clark could come into contention.

Form and history favour Australia and, as their similarly defiant last-wicket stand at Old Trafford four years ago, which was followed by an England win, showed, a battling draw is no guarantee of future success.

"We played exceptionally well throughout the first Test," said Hauritz.

"The batting was outstanding and we took 19 wickets."

How England would like to be able to say the same.

Herath and Kulasekara were marvellous - Sangakkara

2009-07-14T21:19:00.000-07:00

Sri Lanka v Pakistan, 2nd Test, Colombo, 3rd day

Sri Lankan captain Kumar Sangakkara has said his team had expected Pakistan to crack as long as they remained focused on staying in the game, something they hadn't done on the second day. Sangakkara termed his team's seven-wicket win at the P Sara Oval, against the odds, a great achievement and credited his bowlers - Rangana Herath and Nuwan Kulasekara - for out-thinking the opposition.

"From where we were yesterday and at lunch today to be here with a match won, I think it's a great achievement," Sangakkara said. "We should be mindful of the fact that we should have batted them out of the game in the first innings and never put ourselves in a position to have turned the match miraculously.

"We've always known that about Pakistan. It's just the case of how long we can continuously exert pressure on them. The key is not to give them too many runs but hold them in as much as possible until that one crack appears and then try and dominate. We were a bit loose yesterday in a couple of sessions, giving away too many singles and boundaries. Today, after a few discussions last evening, we managed to get the field a bit better for the day that helped the bowlers as well."

Sangakkara revealed that on Monday evening he had a chat with his father at home trying to find a way for his team to achieve a breakthrough.

"Pakistan was in such a strong position where they could have gone on to dominate. But a false stroke let us into the middle order with two bowlers doing a fantastic job," Sangakkara said. "Today it was a case where everything went our way. It would have been nice to win a Test match which sees absorbing cricket."

It was the second new ball, taken straight after lunch, that did the trick for Sri Lanka. At that stage Pakistan had lost their captain Younis Khan for 82 but were still strongly placed at 294 for 2 at lunch with Fawad Alam batting on 164. However, the entire complexion of the game changed when Sangakkara tossed the new ball to Herath, who trapped Mohammad Yousuf with his second delivery. From there onwards it was a downward slide for Pakistan.

"We expected the spinners to get some bite off the new ball. If it lands on the shiny side it would slip through and hopefully hit the pads," Sangakkara said. "We walked onto the ground thinking maybe having the two fast bowlers from both ends, but I tossed the ball to Rangana who came up with a wicket in his first over. No matter who bowled we needed someone to stand up and do something special for us. Luckily we had two people today, [Nuwan] Kulasekara and Herath, who bowled marvelously in partnership.

"Rangana's had a lot of success against Pakistan in Pakistan. It just goes to show it doesn't matter whether you are a freak or an unorthodox bowler if you are patient and you bowl a good line and length. Trust yourself to do well, you can do wonders and win matches. Rangana not only bowled a very good line and length, but a lot of revolutions on the ball and put the ball in the right place.

"For the amount of cricket that Rangana has played at home and abroad, he's matured very well. I remember when I was playing my first years of Test cricket it took me a while to understand how I played and what my game was. Once you understand that things become a bit easier and you can do a lot more of what you have. Rangana's really learnt those lessons well. The other thing is he is just hungry. He's been in the wings and unfortunately fighting against two of the best spinners in the world, one of them the best ever. It's unfair in one way."

Praising the bowling of joint Man of the Match, Kulasekara, Sangakkara said: "Nuwan is a bowler whose strength is accuracy and movement. [Chaminda] Vaas is very much the same. Nuwan has worked his butt off the last year and a half and he's got to No. 1 in the world in ODIs so he can't be a bad bowler if that's the case. We picked him looking at the Galle wicket and you can't do anything more than that to impress and press for selection. It's tough for everyone sitting out, especially guys like Vaas who've played years and years and done wonders. The three guys who were picked in the two Tests really deserve their places and they've done a lot of good work."

Having won his first Test series as captain after taking over from his predecessor Mahela Jayawardene, he was wary of the obstacles that lie ahead of him.

"When you are winning you've got to be very careful of the fact that you've got to enjoy the good times but also make sure that you are prepared and the team is prepared that when a bad time comes it doesn't last long and we can bounce straight out of those. It's going to get a lot tougher as the years go by but I think we have the depth and the ability to meet all those challenges."

Kulasekara and Herath set up series win

2009-07-14T21:09:00.000-07:00

Sri Lanka v Pakistan, 2nd Test, Colombo, 3rd day

Sri Lanka 240 (Sangakkara 87, Gul 4-43, Ajmal 4-87) and 171 for 3 (Warnapura 54) beat Pakistan 90 (Kulasekara 4-21) and 320 (Fawad 168, Younis 82, Herath 5-99, Kulasekara 4-37) by seven wickets

Scorecard and ball-by-ball details

A match in which fortunes swung wildly finally ended in an emphatic seven-wicket win for Sri Lanka, as they sealed their first home series win against Pakistan with a convincing performance at the P Sara Oval. Pakistan were left to rue another batting collapse of monumental proportions, one in which they lost nine wickets for 35 to go from a commanding 285 for 1 to 320 all out. That left Sri Lanka with a target of just 171, which they knocked off in a mere 32 overs to ensure a three-day result.

That had seemed a remote possibility when play started this morning, and seemed even less likely when Fawad Alam and Younis Khan were motoring along during their 200-run second-wicket partnership in the morning. Pakistan had wiped off the 150-run deficit with aplomb, and were building a substantial lead of their own; the pitch was flat, offering little assistance for pace or spin, and the Sri Lankans appeared completely deflated. Sri Lanka got a very small glimmer when Younis gifted his wicket away, attempting a reverse sweep against the part-time offspin of Tharanga Paranavitana with the second new ball just two overs away, and from there it went horribly wrong for Pakistan.

Surprisingly, it was Rangana Herath who took the new ball, and equally surprisingly, he struck immediately, removing Mohammad Yousuf with his second ball. That triggered a spectacular collapse, as seven more wickets fell in the next 92 deliveries. Pakistan had recovered brilliantly from their first-innings debacle, but there was no escape route this time around.

Nuwan Kulasekara had struggled for seam and swing in the first 80 overs, but armed with the new ball in overcast conditions, he suddenly found exaggerated inswing, trapping four batsmen lbw. Misbah-ul-Haq, Kamran Akmal, Abdur Rauf and Saeed Ajmal all got their front foot too far across, though Misbah was unlucky as the ball seemed to be missing leg stump.

Herath, meanwhile, was as effective with the straighter one as he was with the one which turned. The lack of turn accounted for Yousuf, Shoaib Malik and Umar Gul, while turn and bounce ended Fawad's outstanding innings of 168, the second-highest by a Pakistan debutant. His four wickets with the new ball gave him figures of 5 for 99, his first five-for in Tests, and a series which had already seen several twists had another monumental, and decisive, one.

At lunch, though, no one could have seen the end coming, as Fawad and Younis reduced Sri Lanka's bowlers and fielders to a completely dispirited lot, adding 116 in 28 overs for the loss of just one wicket. More than the runs themselves, it was the ease with which Fawad and Younis batted that would have worried Kumar Sangakkara. Fawad, especially, showed excellent concentration, knocking the ball in the gaps, driving fluently through the covers, and cutting and pulling whenever the bowlers pitched it marginally short.

Sangakkara's tactics were perplexing - the second over of the day was bowled by Paranavitana - and when he did turn to his main bowlers, the results weren't much better. Ajantha Mendis had a shocker, either dragging the balls too short or serving half-volleys, and leaked 38 in six overs, including five fours.

As the runs piled up, so did the records: Fawad became only the fourth Pakistan batsman to score 150 on debut, while the partnership was the highest for the second wicket at this ground, and for Pakistan against Sri Lanka in Tests.

It was all going exactly as Pakistan would have wanted it to, till Sangakkara gave the second new ball to Herath. The collapse that followed seemed to completely take the fight out of Pakistan, for when they took the field to defend 170, they were flat and uninspired. Gul and Mohammad Aamer bowled on both sides of the wicket and got none of the movement that Kulasekara had managed earlier in the afternoon. The aggressive Malinda Warnapura cashed in, getting a flurry of boundaries with pulls and flicks to ensure that Sri Lanka never felt the pressure of chasing an uncomfortable target against an attack known to trigger collapses.

The opening partnership added 60 in a mere ten overs, and even when that pair was separated, with Paranavitana playing a careless sweep, Pakistan were never in the contest as Sangakkara carried on from where he had left off in the first innings. Younis brought back Gul for a late spell, hoping for some reverse swing and inspiration, but Gul managed neither. A lofted six by Sangakkara off Malik brought down the target to just 11, but he wasn't in the middle to celebrate his first series win as captain, falling off the next delivery. With Mahela Jayawardene and Thilan Samaraweera around, though, that hardly mattered.

Broad not intimidated by Siddle

2009-07-13T21:13:00.001-07:00

England v Australia, 2nd npower Test, Lord's

Stuart Broad has sought to douse the flames of his physical confrontation with Peter Siddle during the fractious final session of the first Ashes Test, but admitted the unrelenting intensity of Ashes combat was unlike anything he had previously experienced in his fledgling international career.

Broad and Siddle twice bumped shoulders at the conclusion of the 64th over of England's second innings at a time when Australia were in desperate pursuit of an innings victory; one of several heated confrontations between players on Sunday.

"He was obviously up for the challenge," Broad told Cricinfo. "I was trying to block as many balls as I could and I just managed to edge one for four which is frustrating for any bowler. I was looking to third man and he was looking to third man and we just brushed shoulders. That's all that was in it really. Every time you step onto a cricket field, especially in such a big series like the Ashes, you expect it to have a bit of needle. It was thoroughly exciting out there. There were two teams desperate to get the result they wanted and that's what you play the game for. It was a great thrill."

Asked whether he had experienced intensity to rival the final day of the Cardiff Test, Broad was unequivocal. "Never," he said. "I wasn't nervous or concerned when I was out there because you're just concentrating on every ball and focussing. But once I was out and there was nothing I could do any more the nerves really got to me. The last hour was the most painful hour I've ever been through. It was hard work and emotionally very tiring."

Broad was largely underwhelming in Cardiff, returning figures of 1 for 129 from 32 overs and compiling modest totals of 19 and 14 from No. 8. His lack of impact with the new ball was particularly concerning for Andrew Strauss, and the emerging all-rounder may well have faced demotion ahead of the Lord's Test if not for Andrew Flintoff's injury scare and the unwillingness of selectors to make wholesale changes in the middle of important series.

If, as is now expected, he retains his place in the England XI for the second Test, Broad will be hoping for a pitch livelier than that which yielded just six Australian wickets in as many sessions in Cardiff. "Hoping and praying - it was a bowlers graveyard really," he said of the Sophia Gardens surface. "You hope to see not too many wickets like that around the world, but hopefully Lord's will give us a bit more assistance and the bowlers can use their skills and get the ball swinging and take more wickets than we took in Cardiff.

"It was a little bit too slow for the seam bowlers to have too much effect. People want to see slip catches and a bit of excitement in the wicket. Hopefully they'll be a little bit quicker throughout the series. I think every bowler would be on my side with that."

Broad's returns on his Ashes debut may not have flattered, but his willingness to take the fight to the Australians will undoubtedly have impressed his captain. Pitted against an opponent renowned for intimidation, Broad bowled with aggression, if not variation, to the Australian top-order and showed no fear when facing up to a snarling Siddle in the second innings.

"We were obviously delighted as a team to have got that result yesterday because it shows the fight and character we've got in the side," he said. "Paul Collingwood was absolutely fantastic - his patience and determination not to get out. We can take that into Lord's, that momentum we gained and hopefully we can put in a strong performance."

Spinners seal historic Bangladesh win

2009-07-13T21:09:00.001-07:00

West Indies v Bangladesh, 1st Test, Kingstown, 5th day

Bangladesh 238 (Mortaza 39, Roach 3-46) and 345 (Tamim 128, Sammy 5-70) beat West Indies 307 (Phillips 94, Bernard 53, Mahmudullah 3-59) and 181 (Bernard 52, Mahmudullah 5-51, Shakib 3-39) by 95 runs

Scorecard and ball-by-ball details

Four years and six months after their solitary Test win, Bangladesh sealed a historic second victory when they beat West Indies by 95 runs in St Vincent. Bangladesh's spin twins Shakib Al Hasan and Mahmudullah weaved a tantalising web to shove West Indies to defeat. Spare a thought, though, for David Bernard who thwarted everything thrown at him for 134 balls to remain unbeaten on a fine 52. The win, as special it was, would come with an asterisk that this was a second-string West Indies team.

The champagne moment arrived at 4.40 pm local time when the stand-in captain Shakib nailed last man Tino Best in front with a dipping full toss with only ten overs left in the day. Best put up his bat as if to suggest he had edged it but the finger was up and the Bangladeshi fielders moved into a huddle of joy. A limping Mashrafe Mortaza hobbled to the middle to join in the celebrations.

It was an enthralling last couple of sessions in the beautiful Kingstown stadium ringed by sea. The cricket in nature was almost sub-continental in its elements. Spinners operated with several close-in men prowling near the batsmen waiting for a mistake, and an over-excited chirpy wicketkeeper, Mushfiqur Rahim, applying immense pressure on the batsmen and the umpires with his appeals and adding drama with his oohs and aahs. And when the seamers came on, it wasn't seam but reverse swing on view with the slinging Rubel Hossain and the grunting Shahadat Hossain trying their best to break through.

And the plot thickened in the last session, as Bernard found a willing partner in Nikita Miller, taking the minds back to Cardiff where England pulled off a great escape yesterday. But Mohammad Ashraful, who failed in both innings with the bat, stamped his presence in the game by removing Miller, who hung on his backfoot to defend stoutly for 54 balls, with one that straightened to get the edge. Mahmudullah returned to trap Ryan Austin and take out Kemar Roach before Shakib sealed the finish.

Until then, Bernard had proved to be a huge headache to the visitors as he stood solidly between them and history. His CV describes him as a stylish batsman but today he added grit to the existing grace. Even under tremendous pressure, he managed to bat almost elegantly, using his wrists skillfully to ride the turn and the bounce on the final-day's wicket. While the rest around him pushed hard at the ball, he played with soft hands and defended confidently. The contest between Shakib and him was high-quality, with the bowler shifting angles and trying everything in his arsenal - the left-arm breaks, the straighter one, the arm-ball, the round-arm delivery, over and round-the-wicket - but he was in a zone of his own. He moved forward or back, as the length demanded of him, using his wrists to drop the ball down short of the fielders. When the spin strangle got tighter, he had the courage to play the pressure-relieving strokes like the lofted drives and the cuts. He survived a close lbw shout in the 44th over against Shakib when a ball straightened to hit the pad in front of the stumps but that blemish apart, he was pretty solid.

However, Shakib and Mahmudullah ensured no other batsmen would deny them a slice of history. Shakib, hailed by the former Australian spinner Kerry O' Keefe as the "best finger spinner in the world", turned in a suffocating spell of left-arm spin to relentlessly force the pressure on West Indies. Shakib was slightly slow through the air in the first innings and couldn't pose too many problems on a slow track. However, today, he ripped it slightly quicker and immediately looked threatening. He varied his pace, even his angle, by lowering the arm on occasions, and, unsurprisingly, was the better of the two spinners, despite finishing with fewer wickets. He occasionally got the ball to straighten and slipped in a few with the arm.

In his first over Shakib harassed Omar Phillips before going past an attempted sweep to trap the batsman. Later, when Darren Sammy and Bernard added 37 in 11.3 overs, he struck, removing Sammy with a little bit of help from the batsman. Suddenly, against the run of play and just before tea, Sammy jumped out and sliced an ambitious square drive straight to point.

Even when he was not taking wickets, Shakib kept the pressure on and by keeping the batsmen on a leash, allowed Mahmudullah the space to wreak some damage. At one point in the chase Rahim shouted out to Mahmudullah: "Just keep hitting the right areas; the pitch would take care of the rest buddy". Mahmudullah did exactly that to pick up three quick wickets after lunch before he returned to take another two in the last session. He tightened the stranglehold by being accurate and making the batsmen play at every ball. It paid off and how.

Floyd Reifer, who was tormented by Shakib, showed himself to be a prime lbw candidate. Time and again, that front leg was pressed dangerously across but he managed to stab and jab his way out against Shakib. But Mahmudullah broke through finally with one that landed and straightened to strike that front leg. His next victim was Travis Dowlin, inducing a nervous prod straight to short-leg. Chadwick Walton walked in and started off with a second-ball six but was done in by one that kept low from Mahmudullah and was struck in front of the leg stump.

The slide had started with a moment of madness from the opener Dale Richards who added 20 runs in two overs before he had a brain freeze. He ambled out of the crease after being hit on the pad by Shahadat Hossain, all the while looking anxiously at the umpire for the verdict on the lbw appeal, which went in his favour, but was run out by a direct hit. That allowed Bangladesh the opening and they stormed through.

When the day started, it looked as if Bangladesh were dawdling with the bat and not showing enough urgency to either go for quick runs or leave many overs as possible to bowl out West Indies. However, Darren Sammy took a five-for to bowl them out and that proved a blessing in hindsight as it allowed their spinners enough time to bowl them to a euphoric triumph.

Pakistan wrest back initiative with all-round show

2009-07-13T21:05:00.001-07:00

Sri Lanka v Pakistan, 2nd Test, Colombo, 2nd day

Pakistan 90 and 178 for 1 (Fawad 102*) lead Sri Lanka 240 (Sangakkara 87, Gul 4-43) by 28 runs

Scorecard and ball-by-ball details

Fawad Alam, Umar Gul and Saeed Ajmal fashioned an extraordinary turnaround on the second day at the P Sara Oval, with Pakistan dominating as completely as they had been dominated on the opening day. Led by superb spells from Gul and an outstanding century on debut from Fawad, Pakistan recovered from a disastrous first innings, limited their deficit to 150, and, by the end of the day two, had wiped off the arrears and moved ahead, losing only one wicket in the process.

When the day began, Sri Lanka were so far ahead it seemed almost inevitable they would rectify their record of never having won a home series against Pakistan. However, so thoroughly did Pakistan control all three sessions that Sri Lanka will have uncomfortable thoughts about chasing a stiff fourth-innings target on a wearing pitch. So far Pakistan had set all the wrong records in this series, but they got it right here: Fawad's tenacious yet fluent effort made him the 10th Pakistan batsman to score a century on debut, but the first to do so overseas. Thanks to that effort and the amazing bowling display, Pakistan can dream about chasing another record: only once have they won a Test after conceding a larger first-innings deficit - against New Zealand in Wellington in 2003, when they trailed by 170 but eventually won by seven wickets.

There were question marks being raised about Pakistan's commitment after there capitulation in the series so far, but as is their wont, they hit back just when their chances had been written off. The pitch remained a pretty good one for batting, though the bounce had diminished, but Pakistan relied on lethal spells of reverse swing, aided by steady spin and an inspirational bit of fielding, to launch an astonishing revival, and then continued it with an utterly disciplined and purposeful batting display.

The morning session belonged to Gul. He was completely lacklustre in Galle, but here was back near his best, reverting to his original action instead of trying to hide the ball with both hands. He generated late swing, bowled at a brisk pace, and maintained excellent control over length and line. He also bowled the ball that announced Pakistan's comeback, slipping in a quick delivery from round the wicket that crashed through Kumar Sangakkara's defences. Sangakkara had progressed serenely to 87 and looked good for many more, but that delivery was an emphatic declaration of the fact that Pakistan were back in business. That's exactly how it turned out, as Sri Lanka lost five wickets after that for just 52.

Gul received plenty of support from Ajmal, who bowled unchanged through the day and finished with deserving figures of 4 for 87. The pitch didn't offer much, but Ajmal maintained excellent control, seldom giving the batsmen easy scoring opportunities. He also had some help from umpire Daryl Harper, who adjudged Tillakaratne Dilshan caught behind though ball made no contact with bat.

It was a day when almost everything went right for Pakistan, with even the fielding getting better. The day started with a superb direct throw from Mohammad Aamer that found Thilan Samaraweera short of his crease. And when Gul returned for a second spell before lunch, Sri Lanka's misery exacerbated, as he struck twice in successive balls. Nuwan Kulasekara drove hard to slip, while Rangana Herath was caught-and-bowled as he tried to check a drive, thus improving Gul's morning figures to 3 for 15 from eight overs.

Angelo Mathews offered some resistance after being reprieved in the slips on 4, but that was hardly enough to stop the rampaging Pakistanis. With the deficit controlled to manageable proportions, their batsmen then set about making further inroads into Sri Lanka's hold on the game.

Khurram Manzoor and Fawad did that by adding 85 for the first wicket, looking untroubled at most times on a pitch that had lost most of its pace. Kulasekara, the first-innings destroyer, didn't get much swing, while the lack of pace meant both batsmen had enough time to adjust their strokes.

Fawad's tendency to shuffle had been his downfall in the first innings, and while he continued to use that technique in the second innings, he was quick enough to work the ball on the leg side every time the bowlers targeted his pads. The most impressive aspect of his batting, though, was his temperament. He was assured in defence, never looked flustered or bogged down by the huge deficit, and worked the ball away impressively against both pace and spin. Nothing demonstrated his temperament better than the way he tackled the 90s - on 92, he stepped back and pulled Rangana Herath high over midwicket for six; then he stepped back and worked the ball behind point for a couple of runs to get to his century.

It contained only six fours and a six, but yet came off just 151 balls, indicating just how well he worked the ball around. His staple run-scoring was the arc between backward point and mid-off, as he drove the ball fluently off both front and back foot, picking the gaps and ensuring that there were never long scoreless periods.

Younis had a close shave for lbw when on 4 - replays showed the ball had hit pad before hitting bat - but he slowly got into his groove, timing the ball sweetly down the ground and giving the bowlers no chance. By the time the last ball of the day was bowled, the Sri Lankans were more than ready to walk off, and the hopes of a series win was suddenly much farther away than it had been eight hours earlier.

Ponting left fuming at England 'sportsmanship'

2009-07-13T12:10:00.000-07:00

Australia captain Ricky Ponting slammed England for a lack of sportsmanship after a controversial conclusion to a dramatic drawn first Test here at Sophia Gardens.

Ashes-holders Australia were poised to go 1-0 up in the five-Test series before England's last-wicket duo James Anderson (21 not out) and Monty Panesar (seven not out) held out for the final 40 minutes to salvage an unlikely draw.

But twice during the 10th wicket pair's 69-ball stand, England 12th man Bilal Shafayat ran onto the field to offer Anderson batting gloves while physio Steve McCaig was eventually ordered off by the umpires after making it to the middle on the second occasion.

During the last Ashes series in Britain in 2005, which England won 2-1, Ponting became incensed at the hosts tactic of bringing on a 12th man just to give their fast bowlers a breather.

And he let fly on his way back into the pavilion at then England coach Duncan Fletcher after he was run out by substitute fielder Gary Pratt during Australia's fourth Test loss at Trent Bridge even though, on that occasion, fast bowler Simon Jones was off the field with a genuine injury.

Ponting kept his anger in check this time around but made his feelings plain to reporters after stumps.

"I don't think it was required. He (Anderson) changed (gloves) the over before," Ponting said. "I don't think they'd be too sweaty in one over.

"I'm not sure what the physio was doing, I didn't see anyone call for the physio, as far as I'm concerned, it was pretty ordinary really.

"But they can play whatever way they want to play. We came to play by the rules and the spirit of the game, it's up to them to do what they want to do."

"I was unhappy with it," Ponting, man-of-the-match for his 150 in Australia's only innings of 674 for six declared, said. "I don't want to make that big a deal of it. It's not the reason we didn't win."

There had been two flashpoints earlier in the day which suggested tempers were fraying.

Before play got underway, England batsman Kevin Pietersen and Australia quick Mitchell Johnson clashed while both teams were warming up on the outfield and during the match itself Stuart Broad and Victoria pace bowler Peter Siddle appeared to be involved in a shoulder-barging incident.

But Ponting played down the impact of both dust-ups, saying of the former: "It was a case of a few guys on the ground taking each others' space."

And, as for the second, which was dealt with by umpire Billy Doctrove, Ponting said: "He handled it and got on top of it pretty quickly.

"It was probably accidental. Move on. It was a great game of cricket and we should be remembering that."

Ponting also defended his decision to bowl part-time spinner Marcus North in the closing stages, rather than fast bowler Mitchell Johnson - Australia's spearhead in the absence of the injured Brett Lee - on the grounds he wanted to get in as many deliveries as he could at the 10th wicket pair.

England, who needed 239 to make Australia bat again, finished on 252 for nine at stumps and Ponting said: "We were running a bit short on time, once they got ahead.

Australia were the dominant side for most of this contest, the first Test ever staged in Wales.

Ponting led from the front in a batting display where further hundreds from North (125 not out), Simon Katich (122) and Brad Haddin (121) saw four Australians score centuries in the same Test innings against England for the first time.

England were clearly buoyed by coming away with a draw that owed plenty to Paul Collingwood's painstaking innings of 74, which spanned nearly six hours after he'd come in with his side in desperate trouble Sunday at 46 for four.

Back in 2005, Australia saw last wicket duo Lee and Glenn McGrath save the Old Trafford Test only for their team to ultimately lose the series.

Ponting warned England against getting carried away ahead of the second Test which starts on Thursday at Lord's - a ground where Australia haven't lost a Test since 1934.

"I'm not sure if they look at it like a win, they're not 1-0 up, they've been outplayed for four days," Ponting said.

"They'll have more soul-searching and selection issues than we will. We know what we've done so well here and we can take a lot of confidence from that.

"All the batsmen looked exceptionally good and the bowlers toiled hard on a surface that offered nothing. We've got to realise how well we've played."

Strauss tells England top-order to shape up

2009-07-12T23:15:00.000-07:00

England captain Andrew Strauss told his batsmen to raise their game after his side just did enough to hang on for a draw in the first Test against Australia here at Sophia Gardens.

Last-wicket duo James Anderson and Monty Panesar saw out the final 40 minutes here Sunday during a 69-ball stand that took England to safety and left the five-match Ashes series all square at 0-0 ahead of the second Test, which starts at Strauss's Lord's home ground on Thursday.

Their efforts built on the foundation laid by Paul Collingwood's patient last-day innings of 74 which spanned nearly six hours.

But when Collingwood came to the crease England had collapsed to 46 for four and it was not long before they were 70 for five.

Apart from Collingwood, no England top-order batsman managed more in their second innings than Strauss's 17.

And the Middlesex left-handed opener admitted that simply wasn't good enough on a pitch where, only the day before, Australia had piled up 674 for six declared featuring hundreds from captain Ricky Ponting (150), Marcus North (125 not out), Simon Katich (122) and Brad Haddin (121).

"The top order didn't perform well enough," said Strauss.

"We all had a part to play in our own downfall, there were a lot of ways of staying in there and we didn't find them."

Strauss could only watch as Anderson and Panesar showed England's premier batsmen how to keep Australia at bay.

"I was on the edge of my seat," Strauss, who was seen holding his head in his hands during England's last-wicket stand, said.

"It was horrible to watch. As a batsman, to watch Nos 10 and 11 do your job for you is not a place you want to be. There's a huge amount of relief."

He too praised Collingwood's application, saying: "He's a tenacious little red-head. He never takes a backward step.

"That was his route into the Test team and it's kind of the only way he knows. In circumstances like that you almost expect him to do something along those lines and it just underlines his value to the side."

But there was controversy during the closing overs when England twice sent on 12th man Bilal Shafayat, once even accompanied by the team physiotherapist, in what appeared to be clear attempts at time-wasting.

A somewhat sheepish Strauss said: "Our intentions were good. We weren't out there to waste a huge amount of time.

"We first of all sent out the 12th man to let Jimmy and Monty know that there was time left rather than just the overs.

"And then a drink spilled on his (Anderson's) glove. There was a lot of confusion to be honest."

Australia captain Ricky Ponting was clearly unimpressed with what he labelled England's "ordinary" tactics but Strauss said: "I personally thought the game was played in a pretty good spirit the whole way through."

Meanwhile Collingwood, speaking ahead of England's second Test squad announcement on Monday, said: "We showed great character and heart, there is a lot of passion in that dressing room so we can take a lot from this."

Anderson, who batted for 72 minutes Sunday, said he sensed the game was going England's way when Ponting brought on part-time spinner North in an ultimately futile attempt to get through more than the statutory 15 overs in the final hour.

"They were putting a part-time spinner on and Monty was playing it very well," explained Anderson, who finished on 21 not out after resisting Australia for 53 balls.

Panesar, who like Anderson is also a left-handed batsman, thanked his "cricket buddy" Collingwood for helping him improve his game.

"I was pretty nervous when I got out there," said Panesar, who faced 35 balls for his unbeaten seven.

"But I'd been doing some work with Colly and Jimmy and I played straight, watched the ball hard and, thankfully, we are sitting here with a draw."

Pietersen in a heated argument with Johnson

2009-07-12T23:11:00.001-07:00

Kevin Pietersen got into a heated argument with Australia pacer Mitchell Johnson before the start of the final day's play in the first Ashes Test that clearly rattled the right-hander while he went into bat in England's second innings, here today.

The tension boiled over when Pietersen struck a ball that went close to hitting Johnson, who was warming up with his teammates before the start of the day's play.

The Australian pacer was not amused and confronted Pietersen and the pair was captured by TV cameras standing chest to chest, exchanging words and eyeballing each other until Johnson was pulled away by fellow pacer Stuart Clark.

The incident completely agitated Pietersen and it was clearly visible during his 16 minutes stay at the crease.

Pietersen edged an aggressive Johnson just short of second slip and also survived a close lbw appeal from Peter Siddle. He was finally cleaned up by Ben Hilfenhaus for eight runs.

Sangakkara leads Sri Lanka's dominance

2009-07-12T20:54:00.001-07:00

Sri Lanka v Pakistan, 2nd Test, Colombo, 1st day

Sri Lanka 164 for 3 (Sangakkara 81*) lead Pakistan 90 (Malik 39*, Kulasekara 4-21) by 74 runs

Scorecard and ball-by-ball details

Sri Lanka have never won a home series against Pakistan, but they took huge strides towards rectifying that statistic with an utterly dominant performance with ball and bat on the first day at the P Sara Oval. Pakistan were coming off an abject batting display in Galle, but they sunk even lower here, being bundled out for an embarrassing 90 after winning the toss. Sri Lanka's batsmen, led by captain Kumar Sangakkara, then gave them a batting lesson, easing to 164 for 3, already 74 in front.

The pitch at the P Sara Oval offered some assistance for the bowlers, with the ball doing a bit in the air and off the seam on the first morning, but by no means was batting as difficult as the Pakistan batsmen made it out to be. Sri Lanka's bowlers, though, made the most of the conditions: Nuwan Kulasekara, Thilan Thushara and Angelo Mathews pitched it in the corridor, got movement in the air and off the pitch, and that combination was far too lethal for Pakistan's diffident top order. Kulasekara was the pick of the lot, wrecking the top order and finishing with well-deserved figures of 4 for 21, while the rest offered excellent support.

Kulasekara made up for his lack of pace with control and movement, shaping the ball both ways and giving the batsmen few scoring opportunities. He started by setting up Khurram Manzoor with a couple that moved in, before slipping in one which held its line and took a thin edge on the way to Tillakaratne Dilshan, the wicketkeeper. Pakistan's 38th opening combination in 136 innings had been separated after only 14 deliveries.

Worse was to follow as the experienced middle-order trio of Younis Khan, Mohammad Yousuf and Misbah-ul-Haq followed in quick succession, with two of them failing to score. The two Ys both fell to shots which were avoidable - Younis chopped it on to his stumps when trying to cut one from Thushara that was too full for the stroke, while Yousuf, after getting two fours in his first three balls, drove Kulasekara lazily to point. Misbah was kept on nought for ten deliveries, before Kulasekara nailed him with a superb delivery which nipped back and took the inside edge. In only 35 minutes of play, Pakistan had slumped to 19 for 4.

Ironically, the batsman who survived this opening onslaught was a debutant, opening the innings for the first time in first-class cricket. Fawad Alam came into the team for Salman Butt, and quite surprisingly, walked out to bat first up after Younis won the toss. His pronounced shuffle ultimately cost him his wicket, but there were still positives for him from his debut innings - he played straight, and he left deliveries well outside off. He played only 19 deliveries in the first 11 overs of the innings, but he was patient, and finally got his first four in Tests with a superb back-foot punch off Mathews. That was as good as it got, unfortunately - noticing Fawad's big shuffle, Mathews cleverly nipped one back into the left-hander, and trapped him plumb in front.

The 32-run partnership between Fawad and Shoaib Malik was the longest of the innings, and once Fawad left, there was little resistance from anyone except Malik, who played with a poise that was sadly not emulated by the others. He struck the ball crisply down the ground when the bowlers pitched it up, and was excellent with his judgment of deliveries outside off stump. Abdur Rauf offered him company for more than nine overs but didn't get a run in 34 balls, while the rest didn't even bother to spend time at the crease. After the seamers had done the early damage, Ajantha Mendis hastened the end with wickets off successive balls as Pakistan's innings folded in 36 overs.

They spent the rest of the day toiling in the field, ending with only three wickets to show for their efforts as Sangakkara gave them a lesson in batsmanship. He was fluent right from the start, clipping Mohammad Aamer for a couple of delightful fours through mid-on. He was equally decisive against the spin of Saeed Ajmal, twice cutting gloriously when offered the width. He became more circumspect towards close of play, but still latched on to scoring opportunities, ending the day with a glorious pull in the last over of the day from Gul, and finishing just nine short of Pakistan's first-innings total.

To their credit, Pakistan didn't lose the plot in the field, taking three wickets and creating more opportunities. Malinda Warnapura fell to a rough lbw decision, Tharanga Paranavitana got an under edge after looking solid for his 26, while an out-of-sorts Mahela Jayawardene was trapped by a superb delivery which spun and bounced.

Pakistan's fast bowlers ran in tirelessly, but the one who looked most likely to take wickets was Ajmal, the offspinner. On a dry pitch where the odd ball was already showing signs of misbehaving, Ajmal had most of the Sri Lankan batsmen in a spot of bother. He spun a couple past Sangakkara's bat, had Jayawardene miscuing more than once, and had a close lbw appeal turned down against Thilan Samaraweera. Unfortunately for Pakistan, they gave away so much ground in the first three hours of play that it'll require a Herculean effort for them to stay in this match, and the series.

England pull off great escape

2009-07-12T20:49:00.000-07:00

England v Australia, 1st npower Test, Cardiff, 5th day

England 435 (Pietersen 69, Collingwood 64, Prior 56) and 252 for 9 (Collingwood 74, Hilfenhaus 3-37) drew with Australia 674 for 6 dec (Ponting 150, Katich 122, North 125*, Haddin 121, Clarke 81)

Scorecard and ball-by-ball details

James Anderson and Monty Panesar produced the most important innings of their lives as England's final pair survived 11.3 overs to pull off a thrilling escape at Cardiff. When Paul Collingwood fell for a monumental 245-ball 74 England still trailed by six, but once Australia had to bat again, valuable time was taken out of the game leaving Andrew Strauss and a packed Cardiff nervously clock-watching. The Australians threw everything into the final hour in an electric atmosphere with the crowd cheering the two unlikely batting heroes as though the Ashes had been won.

A vital moment came when Anderson collected consecutive boundaries off Peter Siddle to finally erase the deficit. It meant that two further overs would be lost from the remaining allocation, but there was yet another twist. Australia had bowled their overs quickly during the final hour, which meant it came down to a clock-watch situation for the batsmen. The crucial mark was 6.40pm: at that point it meant there was no time for Australia to start a run chase.

The closing overs were in the hands of Nathan Hauritz - who rose above all the pre-match concern over his quality to claim three final-day wickets and six in the match - and Marcus North. Anderson, outwardly calm while inside he must have been churning, blocked confidently but also picked up vital runs to just edge the lead ahead further. Meanwhile, Panesar, the most unlikely of batting saviours, watched the ball like a hawk. Having left expertly against the quicks he played with soft hands against the spinners, and one of the biggest cheers of the day came when he square cut North for a boundary.

However, while Anderson and Panesar were there at the end to soak up the acclaim the escape wouldn't have been possible without one of Collingwood's most determined innings for his country. He came in early after Kevin Pietersen lost his off stump, shouldering arms to Ben Hilfenhaus, and soon faced an England card that read 70 for 5. He found vital support from Andrew Flintoff, Stuart Broad and particularly Graeme Swann, who overcame a peppering from Siddle, to share a 20-over stand.

Collingwood fought with very ounce of the grit that makes him such a valuable player. He survived some early scares against Hauritz when an inside edge fell just short of Simon Katich at short leg and another delivery almost rolled back onto the stumps until Collingwood stepped on it. He went 31 deliveries after lunch without scoring, but unlike some of England's other batsman he isn't someone who gets overly twitchy when his own score his moving along.

Collingwood's fifty came off 167 balls, the slowest by an England batsman since Nasser Hussain against West Indies in Port of Spain during the 2004 tour, but the pace of his innings mattered not a jot. His only mistake proved his downfall as he chased some width from Siddle and Mike Hussey took a juggling catch in the gully. He could hardly believe what he had done and couldn't even bring himself to remove his pads as he watched the two tailenders defy Australia. Collingwood isn't a superstar; he doesn't fit into the hero mould, but here he was both.

Ponting admitted it was a tough result to take and Australia were ahead of the game virtually throughout the final day. Pietersen, who had an early-morning confrontation with Mitchell Johnson during the warm-ups, never settled against the swinging ball as the quicks probed away on the full length that causes him problems. His troubles ended when he completely misjudged the line from Hilfenhaus and didn't offer a shot. It was excellent bowling from Hilfenhaus, who had been shaping the ball away and made one hold its line, but Pietersen's back lift and footwork are currently not in sync.

In the eighth over of the session it was time for Hauritz and he was in the wonderful position of being able to bowl with men around the bat. He immediately found more turn, and posed a greater threat than England's spinner managed over two days, and made one bounce a touch more against Andrew Strauss as he tried to cut.

While the England captain can perhaps be partly excused his shot as the cut is a legitimate option against the offspinner, the same can't be said for Matt Prior. He had already flirted with danger by dabbing Hauritz through short third man and had also been beaten twice outside off stump by clever changes of pace and flight. Trying to go through the off side again he was undone by extra bounce and gloved a chance to slip.

Flintoff fought against his natural inclination to attack, playing watchfully against Hauritz as he accompanied Collingwood for 23 overs. The out-of-sorts Johnson, who was later horribly wayward with the second new ball, broke through when Flintoff pushed at one going across him and before tea Broad had also gone, trapped leg before playing back at Hauritz.

For Hauritz it appeared he would provide the ultimate response to his critics by securing a Test victory until he tired slightly in the tension-filled closing stages. Collingwood and Swann took a large chunk out of the evening session, with Swann completing an impressive match with the bat. Shortly before tea he was given a peppering from Siddle who sent down a violent over that struck three painful blows - two on the glove and one on the elbow - which required the physio to come out twice in three deliveries.

His runs were also crucial as England ate away into Australia's lead before he went for a pull against the impressive Hilfenhaus and was palpably leg before. Collingwood now had just two bowlers for company and when he departed an Australian victory looked assured. England, though, dug deep, deeper perhaps than many thought Anderson and Panesar could.

However, despite the scoreline still reading nil-nil the reality is that England were a distance second-best for much of the match. Australia have shown that, despite the loss of many greats, they are a unit of huge desire who will take some beating. At least this time, though, it won't be a whitewash.

England stumble after Australia onslaught

2009-07-12T20:43:00.000-07:00

England v Australia, 1st npower Test, Cardiff, 4th day

England 435 and 20 for 2 (Strauss 6*, Pietersen 3*) trail Australia 674 for 6 (Ponting 150, North 125*, Katich 122, Haddin 121) by 219 runs

Live scorecard and ball-by-ball details

Australia are scenting victory in the opening Ashes Test as England stumbled to 20 for 2 in the face of a daunting total on the fourth day at Cardiff. Mitchell Johnson and Ben Hilfenhaus both struck early after Marcus North and Brad Haddin, who added 200 for the sixth wicket, completed a crushing batting performance with Australia registering four hundreds in an Ashes innings for the first time as they finally closed on a massive 674 for 6.

After England's bowlers toiled through 181 overs for six wickets the Australians made two breakthroughs inside seven overs when Ricky Ponting declared with 45 minutes of the afternoon session remaining and a 239-run lead in the bag. Alastair Cook played round a straight ball from Johnson and Ravi Bopara was given out leg-before to Hilfenhaus, although he could probably feel slightly aggrieved as the ball looked high.

There would also have been a huge shout against Andrew Strauss had it not been for a no-ball from Hilfenhaus and both Strauss and Kevin Pietersen couldn't get to the dressing room quick enough. The weather closed in as tea arrived, but such were the strides made by Australia during the shortened day that they still have plenty of time to force a series lead.

Although the fast bowlers have done early damage this match could still bring a glorious twist with Nathan Hauritz, so derided before the game, having a potentially crucial role to play. England's spinners returned the combined figures of 1 for 246 from 73 overs and Hauritz has been the pick of the slow bowlers on show.

After the dire forecasts, the rain held off for two sessions and instead the deluge of runs continued. North reached his hundred before lunch off 206 balls - the second of an young three-match career - while Haddin needed 138 deliveries, and 48 to go from 50 to 100, as he produced a fine impression of Adam Gilchrist by tearing into the bowling. In 15 overs after lunch Australia smashed 97 runs with Haddin responsible for 71 of them.

The daunting total of 674 for 6 was Australia's fourth highest against England and sixth best overall, while five England bowlers conceded centuries for just the second time following the 1973 Test against West Indies at Lord's.

From the start this was a disporting day for England and the early-series optimism has rapidly vanished. Australia's lead was 44 at the start of play and could have been limited to manageable levels, but the home side were well off the pace throughout. The early fielding was sloppy as Paul Collingwood let one through his legs at cover, Pietersen almost hurled four overthrows past the wicketkeeper and James Anderson didn't position himself behind the stumps for a run out opportunity. The pace attack again looked impotent although the spinners found more turn, but with England now in match-saving mode that won't necessarily have pleased the home dressing room.

Neither North or Haddin were in a particular hurry and they were content to wait for the loose deliveries to put away. Haddin glanced Broad's first ball of the day to fine leg and later drove Andrew Flintoff imperiously through the covers although could have been caught short on 19 if England's fielding had been sharper.

Strauss eventually turned to his spinners and Graeme Swann caused more problems than at any previous stage in the game. Bowling a more attacking line outside off, he troubled Haddin and almost had him caught at short leg but the edge went safely out of reach. Hauritz and Australia's part-time spinners will have watched with interest.

Shortly before lunch the third new-ball was taken, but that only served to increase Australia's tempo when Haddin gave himself room to carve Flintoff over backward point. The aggression continued after the break as Haddin took three consecutive boundaries off Anderson, pulled Swann for six over square leg and effortlessly drove Panesar for six more over long-on.

England's bowlers were powerless to stop the onslaught. When Haddin finally picked out deep midwicket Ponting decided it was time let his bowlers loose and the early exchanges showed they mean business. With a full day, Australia will fancy their chances.

Clarke and North push Australia ahead

2009-07-10T22:22:00.000-07:00

England v Australia, 1st npower Test, Cardiff, 3rd day

Australia 479 for 5 (North 54*, Haddin 4*) lead England 435 by 44 runs

Scorecard and ball-by-ball details

Michael Clarke is destined to follow Ricky Ponting as captain of Australia and he took the lead of the current skipper on the third day in Cardiff to guide the visitors ahead by 44 runs. Clarke and Marcus North added 143 for the fifth wicket after England had threatened a fightback during the morning session, but any hope the home side had of remaining on level terms was remorselessly pounded into the Welsh dust.

Clarke appeared set to become the third century-maker of the innings before gloving a pull off Stuart Broad, during the first period of Test cricket in England and Wales played under floodlights, after the players returned following a two-hour rain break. More wet weather is forecast for Saturday and could yet have a major say in the route and outcome of this match. However, the more time that is lost means makes Australia the only side that can take a positive result from this opening encounter.

Ponting and Katich carried their second-wicket partnership to 239 before Katich fell for 122 and when Ponting dragged Monty Panesar into his stumps for 150 Australia were still more than 100 behind. England harboured hopes of first-innings parity, but they couldn't break through during the afternoon session as the attack laboured on a surface that made the five-man unit appear unthreatening.

Clarke is Ponting's heir apparent in so many ways and his innings bore many similarities with that of his captain. There was a swiftness of footwork against the spinners and conviction of strokeplay especially with his driving. He lofted Panesar straight over long-off for six and brought up his half century from 100 balls when he drove the Graeme Swann past mid-off before repeating the dose from the next delivery.

North settled into his first Ashes innings and the talk of his uncertain early-tour form now seems a long time ago. Buoyed by the 191 he made against England Lions last week he watchfully negotiated the early part of his stay before expanding his range. He slog-swept the spinners through and over the leg side and when they tried to go wider outside off he cut through the covers.

Clarke took Australia into the lead with a meaty pull off Flintoff and North reached his half-century from 107 balls. Apart from when the ball was new England's attack posed little threat with Broad leaking runs at more than four-an-over and the spinners unable to build sustained pressure. At least Broad's mood brighten in the evening gloom when he enticed Clarke into a pull that brushed the glove, two overs before the players were off again, but it was another concerning day of hard toil for the home attack.

There were nine overs until the second new ball when play began and if Andrew Strauss was in any doubt whether to take it his mind was soon made up as Panesar and Swann leaked boundaries. Ponting's swift footwork created scoring opportunities against Panesar who had a tendency to bowl too short, while Swann continued to pitch too full with two full tosses racing to the boundary.

The harder ball immediately provided more of a threat although it also raced off the bat as Ponting drove supremely through cover. Finally, after 70 overs, England found a way through as Anderson speared in a yorker at Katich and most importantly for the bowler the ball swung late to end a superb display of concentration and application.

The intensity lifted as Flintoff steamed in and struck Michael Hussey on the helmet, while Anderson was now moving the ball in both directions. Anderson's second scalp came with another full delivery which lured Hussey into a flat-footed drive and Matt Prior took a low catch. England now had the advantage of bowling at two right-handers and Anderson gave Clarke's technique an early probing, but until the 2005 version he withstood the test impressively.

Ponting was continuing along his classy path, only occasionally being discomforted by Anderson's late swing and a beauty from Flintoff that beat the outside edge, although he did top-edge a six over Panesar at long-leg as went to 150 from 221 deliveries.

With the ball still hard Panesar was recalled for another spell and the move paid off handsomely when Ponting got a bottom edge into the stumps. He had played so solidly that it was almost a shock to see him walking back, but it was far from the end of England's problems.

Harper backs umpire referral system

2009-07-10T03:57:00.000-07:00

ICC's elite panel umpire Daryl Harper has supported the Umpire Decision Referral System, to be rolled-out in Tests from October, saying it had increased their percentage of correct decisions to 98 per cent during the trial series.

"It did have a few problems associated with it but generally speaking when we look at the bigger picture our percentages of correct decisions did increase during the series," said Harper, currently on duty in Sri Lanka for the series against Pakistan.

"In fact, in each series when there was a trial, and there were a number of them, the umpires' (correct) decisions went from roughly 93 to 94 per cent up to 98 per cent after using the reviews," he said in an ICC press release.

Umar century sets up huge Pakistan A win

2009-07-10T03:52:00.001-07:00

Australia A v Pakistan A, 1st unofficial ODI, Brisbane

Pakistan A 339 (Umar Akmal 104, Sheharyar Ghani 93, Fahad Iqbal 52, Geeves 3-46) beat Australia A 193 (White 42, Wahab Riaz 4-37) by 146 runs

Scorecard

A breathtaking century from Umar Akmal set up an enormous victory for Pakistan A in the first unofficial ODI against Australia A in Brisbane. Umar's 104 from 70 deliveries helped Pakistan set up an imposing total of 339 and their bowlers, led by Wahab Riaz, completed the 146-run win.

Their hefty score was all the more impressive because they had been sent in and were reduced to 3 for 28 in the fifth over after Doug Bollinger and Shaun Tait made early breakthroughs. But Umar and Sheharyar Ghani (93) revived the innings with help from Fahad Iqbal, who made 52.

Umar's hundred was his first in List A matches and it featured five sixes and ten fours. Bollinger (3 for 53) and Brett Geeves (3 for 46) were the only Australian bowlers to concede less than seven an over and the visitors took a particular liking to the spin of Jason Krejza and Jon Holland, whose combined 12 overs cost 98.

Australia's top order couldn't muster the special effort required to set up a successful chase and Wahab Riaz, who also performed strongly in the four-day games, finished with 4 for 37. Cameron White top scored with 42 and Tim Paine and Krejza each chipped in with 40.

"It was obviously a disappointing day for us, both in the field and with the bat," Australia A's coach Mark Sorell said. "We'll just put this one behind us and look ahead to Sunday and I'm sure the players are thinking the same.

"All credit to Pakistan today, they played extremely well. Sheharyar and Akmal were terrific with the bat and really set up that big score for them and that was always going to be a challenge for us to chase."

Australia won the two-match series of unofficial Tests 1-0 but they now face an uphill battle to take out the three-game limited-overs series. The second match at Allan Border Field is on Sunday, followed by the final 50-over game on Thursday.

Tendulkar and Dravid are T20 misfits - Buchanan

2009-07-09T22:05:00.001-07:00

India news

John Buchanan, the former Australia coach, has said India's 'Fab Four" batsmen - Sachin Tendulkar, Rahul Dravid, Sourav Ganguly and VVS Laxman - are not suited to Twenty20 cricket. Buchanan, who worked closely with several Indian players during his stint with the Kolkata Knight Riders in the IPL, made these and other observations in his new book, The Future of Cricket: The Rise of Twenty20.

Buchanan was otherwise in praise of Tendulkar - who has opted out of Twenty20 internationals but not the IPL. "Tendulkar has been lauded, and rightly so, as one of the very top batsmen in the history of cricket," he wrote. "But is he an effective T20 player at this stage of his career?

"In the position he plays - as an opener or No. 3 - the T20 game requires not only the finesse and skills he has, but also the power and domination, an ability to take the bowlers on while being creative. You have to be inventive and fearless. And I don't see those qualities as part of Sachin's makeup at this stage of his career. Sachin Tendulkar is still a great player but not in this arena of T20."

Buchanan had similar views on Tendulkar's contemporaries, none of whom featured in the ICC World Twenty20 in England.

"Homegrown heroes such as Sachin Tendulkar, Rahul Dravid, Harbhajan Singh and VVS Laxman, were expected to influence, and on some occasions single-handedly win IPL matches," Buchanan said. "Yet their subdued performances highlight that Test match temperament does not necessarily ensure prolonged success in the T20 game.

"The same could be said about Rahul Dravid. Dravid is a great representative of Indian cricket, a team man, humble, a well-spoken gentleman. But unfortunately he could not score a single run in the early rounds of the IPL, and in my opinion, is not suited to this form of the game. I am certain Dravid's performances were also affected by the off-field drama created by his franchise owner Vijay Mallya."

His opinions weren't restricted to India's ageing stars. He went on to question Yuvraj Singh's attitude, though he later clarified that there was no malice involved in his comments.

"Yuvraj Singh in a sense tries to be a modern-day Sourav Ganguly, but I don't think he has the charisma or the dignity with which Ganguly carries himself," he said.

However, Buchanan was full of praise for Ganguly, though the pair didn't have the best of times with Kolkata during the IPL. Buchanan's multiple-captain theory didn't go down well with the team at the start of the tournament and a host of off-field and selection issues saw the team finish at the bottom. It also cost Buchanan his job as coach.

"Ganguly was the model for the new breed of confident and combative Indian cricketers. Ganguly showed that Indian cricket could stand up for itself. He is similar in that way to Ian Chappell who stood up for what he believed and was not afraid to take on the administration."

Katich and Ponting take control with tons

2009-07-09T21:57:00.000-07:00

England v Australia, 1st npower Test, Cardiff, 2nd day

Australia 249 for 1 (Katich 104*, Ponting 100*) trail England 435 (Pietersen 69, Collingwood 64, Prior 56, Johnson 3-87, Hauritz 3-95) by 186 runs

Scorecard and ball-by-ball details

Australia's bowling has lost its aura in recent times, but the batting order remains a powerful line-up led by one of the greatest to play the game. Ricky Ponting continued his prolific Ashes record with his 38th Test century, passing 11,000 runs in the process, while Simon Katich continued his rebirth as an opener with his first ton against England to lead Australia to an impressive 249 for 1 in reply to the home side's 435 on the second day in Cardiff.

If it was honours even at the end of the opening exchanges, it is now Australia who hold the advantage and will have designs on batting well past England's total to remove the danger of batting last. It was quite a turnaround for the tourists, who were given the run-around during the first session with England adding 99 in 16.5 overs of sparkling batting from the lower order, in particular Graeme Swann.

However, Australia's progress from the moment Ponting and Katich joined forces was methodical, attritional and thoroughly professional as they added 189. It was a lesson to England's batsmen who, despite collectively managing a very respectable total, individually wasted numerous starts. The pitch held few demons for batsmen who were set, which highlighted the value of Australia's two top-order players building on their foundations.

Katich could have departed for 10 when Andrew Flintoff, in the middle of a hostile spell that accounted for Phillip Hughes, couldn't hold a low return chance but Ponting didn't offer a chance in his 155-ball hundred that arrived off the penultimate ball of the day. Katich had brought up his own century moments earlier from 214 balls when he pulled Flintoff to fine leg. He is far removed from the batsman who was bemused by reverse swing in 2005 and it's one of cricket's great comeback stories.

Ponting already has a record that stands up with the legends and became the fourth batsman to pass 11,000 Test runs when he moved to 41, joining Sachin Tendulkar, Brian Lara and Allan Border with enough time in his career to finish top of the pile. He has also scored hundreds in four Ashes series, a record matched by only Don Bradman and Steve Waugh.

And he'll have his mind set on doubling this innings before he's finished on a surface that may yet make the fourth innings a testing proposition. There was turn for Swann and Monty Panesar, especially from the footmarks, but it was slow and the batsmen had time to adjust. Katich often waited on the back foot to clip Panesar with the spin through the leg side, while Ponting cashed in whenever Swann over pitched. Swann sent down six maidens in his first 11 overs, ripped a couple past Katich's outside edge and could have had him leg before on 56, but when he started to force the issue there were more loose deliveries to be picked off.

Andrew Strauss tried various combinations, but found it difficult to build pressure as the batsmen found release through well-run singles and deft placement. James Anderson wasn't at his best while Stuart Broad was forced to leave the field for some treatment on his calf during the final session. As Ravi Bopara found yesterday success against a poor West Indies team needs to be put into context.

It was no surprise that the most hostile pace force was Flintoff, playing his first Test since Antigua in February, and as with his brief innings his first spell rekindled memories of Ashes contests past. He'd been held back from the attack during the half hour Australia batted before lunch and Hughes raced into his innings with a series of crisp off-side boundaries.

There was a plan to target Hughes with the short ball, but both Anderson and Broad offered too much width and allowed Hughes to free his arms. After the interval, though, the challenge went up a few levels as Flintoff was immediately thrown the ball. He began with three rapid bouncers to Hughes from around the wicket, probing the middle-and-leg line that Steve Harmison utilised for England Lions, throwing in a few verbals for good measure, then beat the left-hander with one that cut away off the seam.

It was a marvellous duel between a seasoned campaigner and a young, cocky batsman with Flintoff coming out on top. Switching to over the wicket he cramped Hughes for room as he tried another cut and Matt Prior held a sharp, low chance to his right as Flintoff stood in the middle of the pitch, arms aloft in celebration but it proved England's only moment of joy.

Australia began the day hoping to restrict England to well below 400 and that looked on the cards when Mitchell Johnson removed Broad with the aid of some thigh pad. However, Swann was immediately at his busy, cheeky best and the fifty stand with Anderson came up off 38 balls.

The introduction of Nathan Hauritz brought even greater acceleration as Swann immediately made a statement against his fellow offspinner. He lofted him over wide mid-on then slammed him straight down the ground for another boundary as Peter Siddle lost sight of the ball on the rope. The best of the lot, however, was his impish reverse sweep to complete an over that left the crowd in raptures. By the close, though, the English fans were more subdued and it was the Australians waving their flags.

Murali doubtful for second Test

2009-07-08T20:55:00.001-07:00

Pakistan in Sri Lanka 2009

Muttiah Muralitharan is unlikely to be available for the second Test against Pakistan in Colombo starting this weekend as he has not fully recovered from a minor knee injury. "I have not yet recovered from the injury," Murali told DNA. "I don't think it will happen before the second Test, so I won't be available.

Murali was ruled out of the series opener in Galle after he hurt his patella tendon while training on the eve of the game and advised rest. Left-arm spinner Rangana Herath replaced Murali in Galle and went on to become the Man of the Match after taking 4 for 15 in Pakistan's second innings.

"It's a terrific win and a superb team performance," said Murali of Sri Lanka's improbable 50-run win in Galle. "Herath's performance was particularly very good. He is an experienced bowler and I'm very happy he has done well. I didn't give him any advice. He has been around for many years."

The second Test starts at the Premadasa on July 12.

Honours even in see-saw battle

2009-07-08T20:47:00.000-07:00

England v Australia, 1st npower Test, Cardiff, 1st day

England 336 for 7 (Pietersen 69, Collingwood 64, Prior 56) v Australia

Scorecard and ball-by-ball details

There was little to choose between these two teams in the lead-up to this eagerly anticipated Ashes series and hardly anything to split them at the end of an engrossing opening day at Cardiff. England were twice pulling away from Australia, but a hard-working attack grabbed wickets at crucial times. Kevin Pietersen gave his innings away for 69 and Peter Siddle took a vital brace with the second new ball, after Matt Prior and Andrew Flintoff had launched a stirring sixth-wicket partnership, as the hosts ended on 336 for 7.

That final scoreline gives a fair reflection of the entertainment on offer. The early exchanges had the sense of two slightly uncertain sides sizing each other up, but soon the blows were being traded. It was the Australian quicks who settled first with Mitchell Johnson striking twice before lunch, however as Pietersen - who passed 1000 runs against Australia - and Paul Collingwood added 138 in 41 overs there was a window in Ricky Ponting's new world minus the great bowlers of the past.

However, the final session showed that this current Australian team will fight for everything when firstly Ben Hilfenhaus and Nathan Hauritz made their mark before Siddle's late intervention after Prior and Flintoff added 86. In 31 overs 144 runs flowed and four wickets fell during a spell of Test cricket near its best.

Most frustrating from the England batting perspective was that the top order had done the hard work. Three thirties, a fifty and two in the sixties smacked of a wasted opportunity to make a strong statement. Especially galling was Pietersen's x-rated sweep against Hauritz which looped to short leg, five runs after Michael Clarke dropped a stinging catch at short cover, and it continued the trait of him falling to spinners who are not perceived a major threat.

His departure left England on 241 for 5, yet 16 overs later the momentum was back with the home side as Flintoff revived memories of his 2005 alliance with Geraint Jones alongside England's latest wicketkeeper. It was a thrilling stand, but Siddle had kept pounding in all day and was rewarded with Flintoff's inside edge and a fine inswinger to castle Prior.

Still, the sight of Hauritz turning a couple off straight during the second session won't have gone unnoticed in the England dressing room and if the lower order can edge the total towards 400 the spinners will have something to work with. The management clearly rate the batting skills of Stuart Broad and Graeme Swann because they sent in James Anderson as a nightwatchman at No. 8.

Australia sprang something of a surprise when they named Hilfenhaus and Hauritz in their eleven ahead of Stuart Clark. Hilfenhaus justified his inclusion with the first wicket of the series when he drew Alastair Cook into a loose prod outside off and Mike Hussey held a blinding catch at gully. Andrew Strauss played compactly for 30 but got into a tangle against a sharp bouncer from Johnson and gloved in the slips, unsure whether to attack to leave the short ball.

Ravi Bopara was given a working over at No. 3 - reminding him this is a significant step up from helping himself against West Indies earlier in the summer - and was twice hit, firstly in the throat by Siddle, and later on the shoulder by Johnson. He also kept the slips interested with a few flashy drives and, although he also pulled out a few elegant shots, there was no sense of permanency. He fell to a clever piece of deception by Johnson who used the slower ball to good effect and Bopara spooned a catch to cover. Johnson, as against England Lions, didn't find much swing but showed he had more tricks up his sleeve

England lunched on an uneasy 97 for 3 but a steady afternoon of accumulation ensured Ponting had plenty to ponder as he tried to juggle his bowling options. Pietersen made a nervy start, and moved with a limp that was blamed on his calf rather than achilles, but after the interval he twice drove full out-swingers from Hilfenhaus through the covers. When Haurtiz was introduced early in the session the temptation will have been huge to dominate the under-pressure offspinner, but instead Pietersen opted for dabbed sweeps and gentle nudges during a 20-over period where there wasn't a boundary off the bat.

The shackles were cast off when Collingwood twice cut Hauritz to the cover boundary before Pietersen danced down the pitch and drove Clarke sweetly wide of mid-off. Australia came hard at the start of the final session and Collingwood edged behind where Brad Haddin took a fine catch to his right, an important moment for the keeper who had dropped two similar chances against England Lions. Then, with Pietersen set for something substantial, he went to sweep a delivery from Hauritz wide outside off to leave the innings in the balance.

England have picked Prior on the strength of his batting and he showed his class through the off side, while Flintoff looked as comfortable in the middle than at any time in recent memory. Both were helped by some overs from Hauritz and Simon Katich which meant their eye was in before the second new ball. Runs came quickly - some off the middle and some the edge - as Prior went to a 54-ball half-century, but back came Australia again. If the rest of the series can match the opening this will be a fascinating contest.

Ponting promises no repeat of 2005 Ashes

2009-07-08T02:58:00.000-07:00

Australia captain Ricky Ponting said his current side were well-placed to avoid the errors that saw them lose the Ashes in England in 2005 as he prepared to lead them into this year's edition.

"Where we were deficient in 2005 was not winning the crucial moments in that series," Ponting, who oversaw Australia's 5-0 Ashes series win on home soil in 2006/07, told reporters at Sophia Gardens, where the first Test starts on Wednesday.

"We made enough mistakes to give England an opportunity to win some of those games," the star batsman also told reporters Tuesday.

He added: "We also saw from 2005 you can have a couple of stand-out players but still lose the series.

"Where we are at at the moment, the way we've prepared, the feel around the group, I am just sure we won't make those mistakes again. I've got a really good feeling we are good enough."

Ponting has yet to win an Ashes series in England as captain but he stressed it would be no more special for him to win them as skipper than as a player.

"It would be great for me, great for everyone in our squad."

Australia will be without Brett Lee after the fast bowler was forced to withdraw Monday after damaging an abdominal muscle in his left side.

Now the 32-year-old, who has taken 310 wickets in 76 Tests, could be out until at least the third match of the series at Edgbaston.

However, Australia know about life without Lee, who missed their series win in South Africa earlier this year following foot and ankle injuries, with left-armer Mitchell Johnson and Peter Siddle sharing the new ball.

Ponting insisted the remaining competition for a spot in Australia's attack had not come down to a straight choice between paceman Ben Hilfenhaus and off-spinner Nathan Hauritz, whose two wickets on this tour have cost 260 runs.

"We've got a number of different ways we can go. Do you play four quicks, three quicks and a medium-pacer (Andrew McDonald or Shane Watson), or three quicks and a spinner. All those things are right in the equation for us."

This will be Australia's first match in Cardiff since their shock loss here to Bangladesh in a one-day international in 2005, where controversial all-rounder Andrew Symonds was dropped from the side on the morning of the game after a late night out in Cardiff.

"I don't remember the Bangladesh game to tell the truth," said Ponting, There's a completely different feel around the ground."

This will be the first Test ever played in Cardiff and Ponting, jokingly, said: "I'm expecting a lot of support down here, considering we are in Wales.

"The fans in England really appreciate good cricket. Yeah, we'll kop a bit through the next couple of months but at the end of the day it's generally pretty light-hearted and can help you get through a day's play.

"The guys know the intensity in this series will lift from anything they have played in the past."

Ponting added he first became aware of the importance of the Ashes as a teenager in Tasmania when his uncle, Greg Campbell, was selected for the 1989 squad that toured England.

"It goes back a long time for me. My uncle was selected in the 1989 Ashes touring squad. I remember going down to his house just after his kit arrived, with his baggy green (cap), his jumper and his playing shirts.

"To go through that and touch the baggy green cap was where the dream of playing Ashes cricket really all started."

Aussies need to win to remain No.1

2009-07-08T02:54:00.001-07:00

Australia's numero uno status in ICC Test rankings is at stake during the Ashes and Ricky Ponting's men would drop to the second spot for the first time if England manage to even draw the series.

England could also overtake Australia at the end of the series, but to make that happen they will have to script history and win every Test, something which no English side has done in a series of five or more Tests since the start of the Ashes over a century ago.

Moreover, Australia's lead over second-placed South Africa will also be trimmed down from nine points to just two points when the annual update is carried out on August 1 and all series completed before August 2006 fall off the table.

These results include Australia's back to back 2-0 and 3-0 wins over South Africa in 2005-06, hence reducing the gap significantly.

After the annual update, Australia (128), will drop four points to 124 ratings points while South Africa will gain three points to rise to 122. England, which currently sits on 101 ratings points, will slip to 99 ratings points.

Meanwhile, India are at third spot with 117 points, two points adrift of South Africa and nine more than Sri Lanka (108).

In Test batsmen rankings headed by Pakistan captain Younis Khan (880), Gautam Gambhir is the highest-ranked Indian at third with 847 points, seven rating points adrift of Sri Lanka skipper Kumar Sangakkara (854).

The next best Indian batsman is Sachin Tendulkar at 13th, followed by VVS Laxman (15th) and Virender Sehwag (20th).

Among the bowlers, Harbhajan Singh is the top Indian at sixth with 735 points. Zaheer Khan (11th) and Ishant Sharma (20th) are the other two Indians in the top 20.

South Africa's Jacques Kallis leads the Reliance Mobile ICC Player Rankings for Test all-rounders.

Flintoff is ready - Strauss

2009-07-07T22:41:00.000-07:00

England v Australia, 1st npower Test, Cardiff

Andrew Flintoff's body has been letting him down along with his alarm clock and over the next two months he should discover how much time he has left in the Test arena. Flintoff is only 31 but has lived a hard life and rehabilitation has been such a central part of it that it would border on a miracle if he played all five Ashes matches.

Back in 2005 Flintoff was the main character in the drought-breaking success, but during the following series in Australia he was more of a sideshow, being warned about his drinking and leading the team to a 5-0 defeat. His last Test came against West Indies in February and was followed by knee surgery after he joined the IPL, an operation which threatened his Ashes campaign.

He has made it and impressed Andrew Strauss, who last week was disappointed his allrounder missed the bus for a team bonding trip to Belgium, with his work in the warm-up game against Warwickshire and his effort during training over the past two days. "He's very motivated because he's been away for a while," Strauss said. "All those hours and days and months of rehab, you do it with one goal in mind.

"That was to get back and play in this Ashes series. Focus isn't going to be a problem for him. He's going to come and roar in and make life difficult for them."

A side strain forced Flintoff home from the Test series in the Caribbean at the start of the year and he has also had regular problems with his ankle. "A number of injuries, one after another, can really eat away at your motivation and you start wondering, am I ever going to be back to my best," Strauss said. "From the way he bowled against Warwickshire and the way he's bowled in the nets, he's very close at the moment. He's hugely motivated to play well."

While Flintoff is a certainty, Monty Panesar must edge out Graham Onions for a spot in the side. He had a long workout at training on Wednesday while Onions' session was light, a potential pointer to England employing two spinners. Strauss knows the side he wants but will wait until before the toss to reveal it.

Panesar, who has appeared in 38 Tests, has had a horrible time with Northamptonshire this season, taking six Championship wickets at 86.66. "He's put in a lot of hard work in and maybe some of the stuff that he's gone through at Northants has been a real benefit for him," Strauss said. "There's some more variation there and in the nets he's bowled accurately with good turn and bounce."

Panesar was not picked to play in the home series against West Indies and has fallen behind the offspinner Graeme Swann as the first-choice slow bowler. The pitch, which is expected to turn, will be a significant factor in England's decision-making and Strauss backed Panesar to perform if picked.

"Monty is a very good Test player, he's proved that a number of times," he said. "He hasn't had the best of seasons but there's something about being back in the England fold that turns on a light for him. It helps him reconnect with his past success.

"He's got his own unique role in the side off the field and he feels comfortable in that environment, that will bring out the best in him. It only takes one wicket early and any bad form you've had previously goes out the window."

Test of character for both teams

2009-07-07T22:35:00.000-07:00

Match facts
Wednesday, July 8, 2009
Start time 11.00am (10.00 GMT)

England's turn to host the Ashes always results in an extended build-up and after 31 months the talk stops on Wednesday and a pair of teams with many fresh faces continue a 122-year rivalry. Both sides have changed line-ups considerably since the past two series and the chest injury to Brett Lee, who is out of the Cardiff and Lord's games, takes further experience away from Australia while increasing the comfort of the local batsmen.

The home side has a new Ashes captain in Andrew Strauss and two match-winners in Kevin Pietersen and Andrew Flintoff. All three have beaten Australia and lost heavily to them. In the baggy green corner sits Ricky Ponting, a leader on his fourth tour of England, and he is in charge of an outfit that can no longer rely on Shane Warne, Glenn McGrath, Adam Gilchrist et al. After losing to India and South Africa, they crossed the Indian Ocean and beat the Proteas to retain the game's top spot earlier this year, but doubt remains over their status.

On the rankings page this is a battle between No. 1 and No. 5, but for Australia and England it is much more than that. The history of the competition is so detailed that the players will be told to break it down to a simple, clutter-free contest. It will be impossible for the Ashes debutants and how they cope with the initial stages could determine the result of the first Test.

Instead of Lord's or Edgbaston or Old Trafford staging the opening game, the players have stepped into Wales for the series welcome in Cardiff. It is the city's first Test match and there are still rumblings that it has been given a chapter of Ashes history. Australian supporters have tried to move on from the gripping 2005 defeat and England fans seem to have slept through the 2006-07 whitewash. Both sides want this version to be unforgettable.

Watch out for ...

Kevin Pietersen is the player Australia feared most when they had Warne and McGrath, a world-beating pair which could not stop him from taking 963 runs at 53.50 in the two previous series. An Achilles injury threatens to be Pietersen's Achilles and he has only started running in the past week. A hobbling Pietersen could derail England's hopes, but his swagger is the most pronounced during the biggest contests and he will do anything to make it through to The Oval.
In South Africa Mitchell Johnson turned from a sometimes meek and wayward operator into the most frightening bowler in the game. He forced Graeme Smith and Jacques Kallis to retire hurt while taking two wickets in the same opening spell in Durban, his potent short deliveries backed up by a new-found ability to swing the ball in as well as moving it away. Throw in his silky yet powerful batting and his performances could determine the series.

Team news..

All of England's players are fit so they have to trim two men from their squad. Ian Bell has returned to play for Warwickshire so the final choice will be between Monty Panesar and Graham Onions. Panesar had a much longer workout in the nets than Onions on Tuesday.
England (possible) 1 Andrew Strauss (capt), 2 Alastair Cook, 3 Ravi Bopara, 4 Kevin Pietersen, 5 Paul Collingwood, 6 Matt Prior (wk), 7 Andrew Flintoff, 8 Stuart Broad, 9 Graeme Swann, 10 James Anderson, 11 Graham Onions.

England (possible) 1 Andrew Strauss (capt), 2 Alastair Cook, 3 Ravi Bopara, 4 Kevin Pietersen, 5 Paul Collingwood, 6 Matt Prior (wk), 7 Andrew Flintoff, 8 Stuart Broad, 9 Graeme Swann, 10 James Anderson, 11 Graham Onions.

Lee's stomach injury has seriously disrupted Australia's plans and leaves a delicate choice for the tourists. Picking Nathan Hauritz alongside Johnson, Siddle and Clark is the most orthodox option, even though the offspinner has found county batsmen a challenge in the two warm-ups. Ben Hilfenhaus and Andrew McDonald will also have their cases pushed and all the combinations carry an element of risk.

Lee's stomach injury has seriously disrupted Australia's plans and leaves a delicate choice for the tourists. Picking Nathan Hauritz alongside Johnson, Siddle and Clark is the most orthodox option, even though the offspinner has found county batsmen a challenge in the two warm-ups. Ben Hilfenhaus and Andrew McDonald will also have their cases pushed and all the combinations carry an element of risk.

Australia (possible) 1 Simon Katich, 2 Phillip Hughes, 3 Ricky Ponting (capt), 4 Michael Hussey, 5 Michael Clarke, 6 Marcus North, 7 Brad Haddin (wk), 8 Mitchell Johnson, 9 Nathan Hauritz, 10 Stuart Clark, 11 Peter Siddle.

Pitch and conditions

Ponting expects the pitch to have some moisture at the start, providing "slow-ish seam and trampoline" bounce, but he believes it will turn. The pitch spent most of Monday morning under the covers and when it was revealed in the afternoon there was not much green on the strip. Less colour was on show on Tuesday.
Andrew Strauss said it looked like a good pitch, but one that would not offer much pace or bounce. "There will be a little bit in it for everyone," he said, "and that's the sort of wicket we were hoping to see." The weather has been unpredictable, with rain and sun fighting for attention, and more wet conditions are predicted for the end of the week.

Sri Lanka bowlers pull off improbable win

2009-07-07T22:30:00.000-07:00

Sri Lanka v Pakistan, 1st Test, Galle, 4th day

Sri Lanka 292 (Paranavitana 72, Aamer 3-74, Younis 2-23) and 217 (Ajmal 3-34, Aamer 3-38, Younis 2-27) beat Pakistan 342 (Yousuf 112, Misbah 56, Kulasekara 4-71) and 117 (Herath 4-15, Thushara 2-21, Mendis 2-27) by 50 runs

Scorecard and ball-by-ball details

A collapse of Pakistani proportions led to a complete U-turn in the fate of the incredible Galle Test, the match eventually decisively going Sri Lanka's way. Pakistan started the day needing 97 with eight wickets in hand, and Salman Butt and first-innings centurion Mohammad Yousuf resuming after comfortably negotiating the last half hour yesterday. But Thilan Thushara and Rangana Herath bowled exceptional spells of varied left-arm bowling to help Sri Lanka take the last eight wickets for just 46.

Pakistan's trouble against left-arm spinners are well documented - Herath's previous best bowling in Tests had also come against Pakistan - and he started the slide with his first ball of the day. Yousuf pretended to play a shot but the ball went straight on to get the lbw. A brain freeze followed from Butt, who holed out to long leg. No run added, two wickets taken, game on.

Though he got just two wickets today, Thushara's was the main job. Not a single loose delivery was offered in an eight-over spell during which he beat the batsmen so often that a ball hitting the middle of the bat could make it to a highlights package. He got the ball to move both ways, seaming it away and swinging it in. Kumar Sangakkara read the situation perfectly, employing in-and-out fields, not giving easy release through boundaries or singles without an element of maneuvering. With Thushara bowling as he was, maneuvering was not going to come easy.

Thushara got Shoaib Malik with one that moved away, bringing in the last capable batsman, Kamran Akmal. Akmal is quite capable of running away with small chases with fluent doubt-free batting, but nothing loose was on offer. Even when Akmal managed a square-cut the result was just a single because of the field. Nervously Misbah-ul-Haq and Akmal survived 21 deliveries, adding just eight, that too thanks to a misfield that went for four.

Thushara struck again at that time, getting the ball to tail in and trap Akmal lbw. Misbah didn't feel too comfortable either and fell trying to steal a leg-bye off a big lbw appeal. It was the fifth ball of the Thushara over, and he could have been trying to retain the strike, but there was never a run in it.

By the time Thushara and Herath were done with their first spells, Pakistan had lost five wickets for 20 runs in 15 overs. There was no conceivable way then for the tail to get the remaining 77. Especially with Ajantha Mendis yet to bowl, who ended with his first ball a 10-run stand between Abdur Rauf and Umar Gul. The accurate carrom ball was just too good for Gul.

Mohammad Aamer hung around for a bit but Herath came back to finish the match minutes before lunch, ensuring Galle's reputation of being a tough venue to bat last at remained intact.

Injured Lee in doubt for Ashes

2009-07-06T21:37:00.001-07:00

England v Australia, 1st Test, Cardiff

Brett Lee has been ruled out of the first two Tests of the Ashes series with a low-grade abdominal tear and is no guarantee to play thereafter. As revealed by Cricinfo, the Australian fast bowler experienced pain down his left side following last week's tour game against England Lions in Worcester, and will be sidelined for the Cardiff and Lord's Tests at the very least.

Lee was absent from Australia's training session at Sophia Gardens on Monday after being sent to London for scans, which revealed a small tear in an abdominal muscle. His absence has thrown Australia's planning into disarray ahead of the first Test, which begins on Wednesday, and will deny the tourists the services of their most decorated bowler.

"There probably is a bit more disappointment that it is an Ashes Test," Lee said. "I'm extremely disappointed. I'm gutted that I won't be there for that first Test match. But I'll find a way to bounce back. I've gotten back from five ankle surgeries so I'm sure one little muscle strain won't keep me out for too long.

"I still see myself hopefully playing a major role for Australia through the end part of the series, whether that's the second, third, fourth or fifth Test match, depending on how things go. I'm very disappointed but it's not the end of the world. I've got a couple of weeks now to get it right. I'll be hopefully running in a couple of days if [the physio Alex Kountouris] lets me. I'll be working on my fitness ... and hopefully I'll be back shortly."

Lee was comfortably Australia's best bowler in the tour match in Worcester, claiming 6 for 76 in the first innings and displaying a mastery of reverse-swing, but his 35 overs have come at an immense cost.

Prior to the injury, Lee seemed certain to partner Mitchell Johnson and Peter Siddle in Australia's pace attack in Cardiff, with Stuart Clark and Nathan Hauritz duelling for the final bowling position. Precisely how the Australians will compensate for his absence remains uncertain, but Lee insisted the lessons from South Africa - in which Australia swept to a 2-1 series victory with a relatively untried pace line-up - would serve them well in the Ashes.

"I was going pretty much as hard as I possibly could [in Worcester]," Lee said. "I suppose I had to prove to myself that I can do it again. I never doubted in my own mind but it was more me going out there and showing that I can get close to the 100 mile an hour mark again and take wickets, which I've done. I'm proud about that and obviously I have sustained a small muscle tear which has ruled me out of the first Test match. Yes, I'm disappointed, but it's not the end of the world.

"It gives somebody else in our team an opportunity. We've got a very strong bowling attack here. The guys did the job in South Africa while I wasn't there. We've got a great bunch of guys, guys who are willing to go out there and do the hard work. I've got the utmost confidence in the guys that they can do the job out there."

Lee, Australia's most senior bowler with 310 wickets from 76 Tests, only recently returned to action after undergoing foot and ankle surgery following the Boxing Day Test against South Africa. The tour matches against Sussex and England Lions were his first outings outside of Twenty20 competition this year, and his display in Worcester last week had prompted many to feel that he was nearing peak form.

Kountouris said Lee could have faced 10 weeks on the sidelines had the injury not been detected so early. "We're pretty thankful it's not the more severe side of things," Kountouris said. "It is a relatively good outcome. We got it pretty early. Brett's pretty sensitive with his body and knows when things aren't quite right. We got it nice and early I think."

Kevin Pietersen resisted the temptation of indulging in a spot of pre-Ashes schadenfreude by expressing sadness for Lee. "It's a huge, huge loss for Australia," Pietersen said. "Who knows with the Australian team? It could be cat and mouse... [but] it's sad for [Lee] if it's true. We keep in touch and are pretty good mates.

"He's a fantastic competitor and an amazing bowler. We've all seen how he's bowled in the last couple of games. He's a huge, huge, huge player for Australia. There's his experience in the dressing room and also the intimidation he has on batsmen around the world, because he's the fastest bowler in the world."

Michael Clarke, Lee's Australian team-mate, expressed sympathy for his colleague. "He's worked really hard over the last 12 months to get back," he said. "I only found out this morning that he was having the scans, so it came as a bit of a surprise to me. The most important thing is to get Brett as fit as possible."

Aaamer and Younis put Pakistan in sight of win

2009-07-06T21:32:00.001-07:00

Sri Lanka v Pakistan, 1st Test, Galle, 3rd day

Pakistan 342 and 71 for 2 (Butt 28*) need 97 to beat Sri Lanka 292 and 217 (Ajmal 3-34, Aamer 3-38, Younis 2-27)

Scorecard and ball-by-ball details

A fiery mid-afternoon spell from Mohammad Aamer and stable stock bowling from Younis Khan (yes, Younis Khan) rattled Sri Lanka's second innings, setting themselves 168 to win the Galle Test, in which pace bowlers had taken 23 of the 32 wickets to fall.

History is on Sri Lanka's side (no team has scored more than 6 runs in the fourth innings to win a Galle Test and, if achieved, 168 would be the third-highest total in fourth innings here), but the nature of the pitch and the contest is on Pakistan's. During the early stages of the hour-and-a-half Pakistan batted, a record-making win seemed inevitable, but two quick wickets late in the day meant the fourth, and most likely final, day won't be purely academic.

While Aamer has been the revelation of this match, Younis' bowling proved to be the wild card yet again - after he had broken two vital partnerships in the first innings. Pakistan started the first two sessions on a high - Umar Gul taking a wicket in the first over of the day and Aamer taking three post-lunch - but were thwarted for some time by two partnerships, both ended by Younis.

Aamer's spell was the highlight, with swing both ways at good pace, and featuring the big wickets of Kumar Sangakkara and Mahela Jaywardene. His third victim was Tharanga Paranavitana, the first-innings half-centurion, who fell for 49 this time.

The action started late - after a 30-minute rain delay - but with immediate returns for Pakistan. Malinda Warnapura had a poor effort again, poking at the second delivery of the day, without moving his feet.

Nightwatchman Rangana Herath, though, proceeded to frustrate them almost till lunch, playing and missing regularly as is the nightwatchman's wont. It didn't help that Gul lost his rhythm fairly early, bowling four no-balls in a three-over spell. Paranavitana cashed in on that blip, and punished fully every poor delivery. Those three overs went for 22, and Sri Lanka were on their way.

Younis stemmed the flow of runs, through Abdur Rauf and himself. Both were unlucky that they didn't get Herath in the next nine overs. A plumb lbw off Rauf was missed by the umpire, and Younis kept beating him outside the off stump.

With two overs to go for lunch, Younis went for the pads as opposed to the outside edge, and ended the frustrating 68-run stand. Sri Lanka went in to lunch with the score effectively on 20 for 2. Paranavitana, who had been kept off strike for most of the last hour, moved to 42 in only 50 deliveries.

Post lunch, though, Aamer made the ball sing - and it wasn't music to the batsmen's ears. In the fourth over after the interval, Paranavitana got one that moved away from him and took the edge. Jayawardene, for the second time, got a good delivery, in Aamer's next over. The ball pitched in front of stumps, and moved away sharply, kissing the hanging bat on the way. In his next over, Sangakkara edged another swinging delivery, and 86 for 2 had become 101 for 5, a lead of just 51 runs.

Thilan Samaraweera counterattacked, so did Tillakaratne Dilshan. A flurry of boundaries, mostly drives down the ground, eased the slip cordon, and brought a mid-off in. In no time the two added 37 runs, but the captain returned to put the lid on. He didn't get as much movement as in the first spell, but went for only two in his two overs. Then he changed ends, and in his second over of the new spell got Dilshan. It was not the best of shots, though, chasing a wide and full delivery and guiding it to second slip.

For good measure Saeed Ajmal, who had Dilshan dropped off his bowling earlier, came back and got Samaraweera with a doosra. The eight-wicket partnership between Angelo Mathews and Nuwan Kulasekara had added by 35, but a slash outside off just after tea ended Mathews' 27. A quick 20-run partnership between Kulasekara and Thilan Thushara carried the target past 150, but Ajmal made sure it didn't go too far.

Salman Butt and Khurram Manzoor were conspicuously more watchful than they were in the first innings. Against the new and moving ball, they tried to play as few shots as possible, and kept Sri Lanka at a distance, also adding 36 in that period. At the end of the 11th over, an out-of-shape ball was changed, and the new ball got the breakthrough right away, with Manzoor edging Ajantha Mendis outside off. Younis the batsman failed where Younis the bowler succeeded, and got beaten by a sharp inswinger by Mathews.

From 39 for 2, though, Butt and Mohammad Yousuf played out the nervous period till stumps. Butt, especially, wasn't bogged down, and a late-cut from Yousuf in the last over before bad light stopped play brought the target inside 100.

Bowlers the key to success - Dhoni

2009-07-05T22:59:00.000-07:00

India clinched their fifth straight ODI series when rain forced the abandonment of the final match against West Indies in St Lucia, and the captain MS Dhoni believes it is tribute to his core unit.

"I think we really have a very good side," said Dhoni after India won the series 2-1. "It's a pleasure to win series out of the country. The bowlers took the initiative, we have a very good bowling attack and the youngsters who came in and got a chance have proved himself."

Dhoni's pace spearhead in the absence of Zaheer Khan, the young Ishant Sharma, struggled during the series - he took a pasting from Chris Gayle in the third ODI - but bounced back well to get Gayle for a second-ball duck in the final game. Dhoni credited a disciplined approach as key to Ishant's rejuvenated spell in the washed-out affair.

"He [Ishant] was concentrating more on what he needs to do rather than looking at the batsman. Today he was bowling in the right areas and there was a bit help in the pitch for the fast bowlers," said Dhoni. "In the earlier matches he was bowling one change but today he looked a totally different bowler with the new ball. Throughout the series if you see we batted first because there was something on offer for the fast bowlers."

Second to Dhoni's series-topping 182 runs was his deputy, Yuvraj Singh, with 168 including the sole century of the truncated series. Yuvraj, said, Dhoni was the backbone of India's batting order. "Coming in at No. 4 he always takes up the responsibility and sets up the platform for the batsmen down the order to contribute. When he sets himself up, you can rest assure he is in for a big score."

Gayle rued the fact West Indies did not have a chance to square the series. "You can't really do anything in such weather conditions," he said. "We are looking forward to Bangladesh right now. We need to go back to the drawing board ahead of that series. [Runako] Morton's return to form and Darren Bravo's introduction to international cricket were the positives that have come out of the series."

Rain ensures series win for India

2009-07-05T22:53:00.000-07:00

West Indies v India, 4th ODI, St Lucia

7.3 overs West Indies 27 for 1 v India Match abandoned

Scorecard and ball-by-ball details

India won the series 2-1 after torrential downpour terminated the fourth ODI. With this victory, India have won their fifth straight ODI series.

The game got off to a delayed start and Dhoni made the obvious decision to bowl on a damp pitch that offered some help to the seamers. Ishant Sharma, bowling a fuller length here, removed Chris Gayle and along with Ashish Nehra, didn't allow West Indies to get off to a breezy start. Ishant hit the good length and pinged the off-stump line and Nehra got some seam movement into the right-handed batsmen. Sarwan hit a gorgeous on-the-up square drive against Ishant in the sixth over to break free but just as he started to find his rhythm, the rains came down again to kill the contest.

Yousuf century gives Pakistan lead

2009-07-05T22:15:00.000-07:00

Sri Lanka v Pakistan, 1st Test, Galle, 2nd day

Sri Lanka 292 and 0 for 0 trail Pakistan 342 (Yousuf 112, Misbah 56, Kulasekara 4-71) by 50 runs

Live scorecard and ball-by-ball details

Mohammad Yousuf marked his return to official cricket with his first century in Sri Lanka, a serene innings that lifted Pakistan from a precarious 80 for 4, and put them two runs ahead of Sri Lanka's total by the time he finally got out. Consequently Pakistan were in considerable control of a match that see-sawed for the first four sessions, with neither team claiming clear ascendance.

Yousuf got solid support from Misbah-ul-Haq and Shoaib Malik, with whom he added 139 and 75 respectively. Those partnerships were the first time in the match that batsmen played with assurance for long periods. To be fair to Sri Lanka, the pitch had eased a bit from yesterday, but the wicketless Ajantha Mendis proved to be a crucial factor on the second day.

As they are so far reputed to, Pakistan negotiated Mendis well, reading him early on most occasions and taking 89 runs from his 25 overs, which meant Mendis couldn't create enough pressure with scoreless periods.

It wasn't always that easy, though. When Yousuf came in to bat, Pakistan had just lost nightwatchman Abdur Rauf for a nightwatchman-like 31, and were about to lose captain Younis Khan, who had never looked comfortable, soon.

Nevertheless the overnight batsmen had managed to frustrate Sri Lanka for one hour. Playing and missing, prodding and nudging, they survived and put together a 50-run partnership, 31 of which Rauf contributed. Their wickets were the last bit of joy Sri Lanka were to have in a long time.

Both Yousuf and Misbah calmly blunted the attack. Yousuf took the lead in scoring runs, although Misbah looked the more solid partner. Yousuf had three shouts against him early in the innings, but none of them looked decidedly out. Thilan Thushara troubled him with the inwards movement, but he countered it by getting outside the line of the off. A couple of flashy shots there got Yousuf boundaries too.

Neither of the batsmen looked hurried, they felt no need to hit the bowlers off the rhythm. Instead they played normal cricketing shots, kept rotating the strike, and it was always going to be tough for the bowlers in hot and humid conditions.

Which is what made Mendis' role even more crucial. He didn't look like he had settled into any sort of rhythm, also bowling four no-balls. He was hit for back-to-back boundaries to usher in Yousuf's fifty. By then Misbah had reached just 26 off 83. A crucial moment followed when Rangana Herath finally came on to bowl in the 48th over of the innings. In his second over, a bat-pad escaped the umpire's eye, and Yousuf was let off on 57. Quite similar to how Tharanga Paranavitana got a life when on 60, but it was clear as to which team accepted the gift better.

Misbah, who had looked the most comfortable batsman on this pitch, was slow nonetheless. Post a 38-minute rain break in the middle session, though, he targeted Herath, lofting him twice to cow corner. A swivel pull off the same bowler brought Misbah his half-century, but Herath got his aggressor seven minutes before tea, making sure Pakistan still had some way to go before they could impose themselves.

Yousuf, though, looked set to take Pakistan there, getting his second fifty as calmly as he got his first. The late-cuts, the drives, the pulls were all back. So was the sajda, when he cut Mendis past cover in the 74th over to get to his century. Yousuf might have been on his knees then, metaphorically, though, the bowlers would have felt the same.

Sangakkara took the new ball as soon as it became due, and two overs later Yousuf get out in the only matter that seemed possible, especially if umpires missed the rare edge. Caught in two minds, whether to cover his stumps, or whether to run when he had dabbed a Nuwan Kulasekara delivery, he started off too late and was beaten by a direct-hit from Tillakaratne Dilshan.

Kulasekara had been the pick of the bowlers, and with the new ball he got his movement back. A set Malik was beaten by one that pitched on middle and off, and moved away just enough to beat the bat but not enough to miss the off stump. Sri Lanka were clawing their way back again, and Pakistan needed a sizeable lead, considering they were to bat last.

Akmal rose to the occasion, playing some gorgeous cover-drives in his 35-ball 31. Despite Umar Gul'as falling in a similar fashion as Malik to the same bowler, Akmal was fast taking the game away from Sri Lanka. But there was another final twist left, in the penultimate over of the day: Mathews' fast, flat, direct-hit from fine leg to run Akmal out. Pakistan's last four added 48, the corresponding figure for Sri Lanka was 98.

India snatch lead with last-over win

2009-07-04T22:43:00.000-07:00

West Indies v India, 3rd ODI, St Lucia

India 159 for 4 (Karthik 47, Dhoni 46*, Gambhir 44) beat West Indies 185 for 7 (Sarwan 62, Nehra 3-21) by six wickets (D/L method)

Scorecard and ball-by-ball details

MS Dhoni and India kept their nerve on a frustrating day of rain delays to take a 2-1 series lead in St Lucia. It was still anybody's game when India needed 11 off the final over, but Dhoni slammed the second ball over deep midwicket to put the visitors on course for victory.

India threatened to lose their way in the chase after a solid start provided by Dinesh Karthik before Dhoni hauled them past the line. The rain-breaks initially readjusted their target to 195 in 27 overs before a further shower reduced it to 159 in 22 overs.

When Karthik fell after a fine 47 India needed a relatively comfortable 111 from 89 balls, and at the next rain-break they needed 64 from 51 balls with nine wickets in hand, but a succession of wickets left India requiring 34 in four overs. It came down to the last over. Curiously, Chris Gayle turned to Jerome Taylor, who had a poor game, instead of Ravi Rampaul, who had bowled a pretty decent 20th over. Dhoni killed the contest in the second ball with a six over deep midwicket. He picked the slower one and used his bottom-hand to swipe it with the wind over midwicket boundary. Dhoni and Yusuf Pathan got the remaining four runs with a ball to spare.

Dhoni had shepherded the tail end of the chase calmly, taking care to preserve his wicket even as his partners deserted him. Yuvraj Singh holed out to long-on and Rohit Sharma swung to deep midwicket but Dhoni hung around, hitting the occasional four to make sure the game didn't get away from India. And he effectively finished the game with that six in the last over. However, it was Karthik who set the platform with a fine knock, with a little bit of help from West Indies.

On this soft track, West Indies erred by bowling short to Karthik, who, unlike a few of his team-mates, likes playing the pull shot. It was slightly surprising that Jerome Taylor didn't repeat his first delivery - a gem that was full and shaped away late past the outside edge - to Karthik again during his opening spell. It was that delivery that had got Karthik in the previous game too but that length was rarely seen today.

Karthik looked in fine touch, unfurling several spanking pulls and cuts. He started with a pull, followed it with a caressed extra-cover drive before playing a fierce upper cut over backward point for three consecutive boundaries against Taylor. Karthik never let the momentum slip after that. Even Dwayne Bravo bowled short at him and Karthik pulled him for a four and a stunning six. In between, he kept the singles and twos coming. It was a polished performance which was cut short by an unnecessary scramble for a single after Gambhir had cut straight to Rampaul at backward point.

Gambhir played a sedate hand today. He didn't look too comfortable at the start, almost ran himself out on three occasions, and hit his first boundary only in the 12th over. However, unlike in the recent past, he didn't try to hit his way out of trouble; he was willing to look ugly. He eventually fell, edging behind an attempted cut Sulieman Benn but Dhoni made sure India won the game.

Just as they tried gamely in the end of the chase to create a flutter, West Indies had earlier batted well to post a competitive total despite the frequent rain breaks. Dhoni won a crucial toss and made the obvious decision to bowl as no one knew how many overs the team batting first will get to play on a rainy day at St Lucia. West Indies rallied through a frenetic start provided by Gayle and a composed knock by Ramnaresh Sarwan to reach 185 for 7 at the end of their allotted 27 overs.

Gayle started like a runaway train, putting immense pressure on Ishant Sharma and Ashish Nehra. Time and again, Gayle thrust his back foot back and across, opened his stance and depending on the line, hit to the on or off side. The stand-out shot, though, was when he disregarded the line and swat-pulled an Ishant delivery from well outside off to deep midwicket. Gayle didn't spare Nehra too, lashing him through covers before unfurling a delicate flick shot. However, Gayle fell to Nehra first ball after a break for rain, edging a cut against a short and wide delivery.

Sarwan, though, kept the scorecard moving along by maneuvering the ball into the gaps for singles and twos. In between, he whipped and pulled Yuvraj to boundaries but ran himself out, turning back for the second run after tapping to square leg. He kept his cool and tried gamely to adjust to the new scenario provided by the frequent interruptions.

Sarwan was helped by a lovely cameo by Darren Bravo. His innings was filled with several delicious strokes that had a touch of Brian Lara. There were two fine sashays down the track against Yusuf Pathan for lofted boundaries but his best shot, and the shot of the day that evoked memories of that great left-hander, was a fabulous cover drive off RP Singh. Up went the bat as he crouched on his knees before swinging through the line of the length delivery up and over covers. Denesh Ramdin swung his bat in the end to finish the innings with a flourish but it was to prove insufficient in the end.

Revived Lee stakes Ashes claim

2009-07-04T12:15:00.000-07:00

The Ashes 2009

Australia quick Brett Lee made a statement of intent here Thursday by taking five wickets against the England Lions and followed up with an equally blunt message to the selectors.

Lee, who registered deliveries at speeds in the mid-90s on the way to single-handedly reducing the Lions from 172 without loss to 209 for five, then said afterwards: "I haven't trained for 25 weeks to sit on the sideline."

The 32-year-old, who has taken 310 Test wickets, is not guaranteed a place in Australia's attack for the Ashes series opener in Cardiff starting Wednesday after several months out of the side following foot and ankle surgery.

He played the last of his 76 Tests in December, missing the majority of the double-header against South Africa and his place in the side following such serious surgery has been questioned.

But any doubts about his ability to generate late swing at express pace were blown away at New Road in a spell of bowling which yielded five wickets for just 26 runs after switching ends.

England's Stephen Moore, who top-scored with 120 in the Lions' 302 for six before exiting at the hands of Lee, conceded he'd not seen bowling of that calibre anywhere on the county scene.

It was indeed a typically whole-hearted effort which lived up to Lee's pre-match prediction that he'd be solely concentrating on bowling fast.

Lee showed aggression by striking opener Joe Denly (66) when he ducked into a rising delivery and experience in trapping Ian Bell in front of his stumps first ball with a fuller delivery on his way to five wickets for 53 runs.

He also outbowled his supposed opponent for the final quick berth in the first Test line-up, Stuart Clark, and overshadowed Mitchell Johnson, who was down on pace as he returned figures of no wickets for 101 runs in 20 overs.

"People say I'm under pressure but I don't look at it like that," smiled Lee, who toured England in 2001 and 2005 but averages over 45 with the ball in 10 Ashes Tests here.

"It wasn't great getting injured and I didn't have the best time in India.

"But if you haven't taken anything out of the last 10 years of playing then you're not a smart cricketer.

"Over the past two or three years I've become a smarter bowler and I cherish the fact that I'm playing a new role now."

He admitted his position as the touring party's senior bowler encompassed mentoring the young pace brigade of Johnson, Peter Siddle and Ben Hilfenhaus.

But he might also need to offer support to the under-fire Nathan Hauritz, who found the New Road pitch unconducive to his off spinners.

Australia captain Ricky Ponting even turned to part-timer Michael Clarke during Moore and Denly's 172-run partnership at the top of the innings.

Meanwhile Marcus North's occasional tweakers dismissed Steven Davies for 53 towards the end of the day's play.

Hauritz's Test place now appears in doubt, with the South African-born Moore admitting the Lions had made a priority of targeting him.

"We went out with a game plan to make sure we made life difficult for him," said Moore. "He's a nice bowler ... but without that X-factor Shane Warne had you've got an area there that you can try and attack.

"We definitely made it a focus."

Ponting in search of missing Ashes triumph

2009-07-03T20:00:00.000-07:00

The Ashes 2009

Australia captain Ricky Ponting heads into the upcoming Ashes series against England looking to erase the one blot on a CV filled with outstanding achievements.

Ponting, one of the most talented batsmen of his and many another generation, has yet to captain his country to Ashes glory in England.

He was in charge when Australia lost their first Ashes series in nearly 20 years when England won 2-1 on home soil four years ago.

"I was disappointed to lose the Ashes in 2005 as the entire touring group were," said Ponting. "I've been lucky to play in an era of Australian cricket that's been very dominant.

"One thing I haven't been able to achieve as captain is to win an Ashes series in England and I'll make sure that I get that point across to the rest of the guys."

Will he ever.

The fact the Tasmanian was in charge when Australia regained the Ashes 5-0 'Down Under' in 2006/07 won't lessen his determination to do well now.

His captaincy skills have been repeatedly 'bagged' with former Australia fast bowler Jeff Thomson stinging in his criticisms again this week.

But Thomson also said Australia had the better line-up and that may yet prove to be true even though they are now without retired stars Shane Warne, Glenn McGrath, Justin Langer, Matthew Hayden and Adam Gilchrist.

The loss of leg-spin great Warne and accurate paceman McGrath, who between them took 49 wickets in the last Ashes series, has made life harder for Ponting in the field, as it would for any captain.

Even so he still led Australia to a Test series win in South Africa after the Proteas had had to perform brilliantly to win the preceding series in Australia.

They don't have those legends they had but the guys that have come in have done a good job and they will be determined to make their own mark in Australian cricket," said England captain Andrew Strauss.

In left-arm quick Mitchell Johnson and the emerging Peter Siddle, Australia have a lively pair of fast bowlers.

Meanwhile the way veteran quick Brett Lee reverse-swung the ball to take five wickets against England Lions at Worcester on Thursday suggested a skill that proved their undoing in 2005 has been mastered by at least one Australian.

But the question is have Australia's batsmen got better at playing it? Left-hander Gilchrist was driven to distraction by Andrew Flintoff's bowling in 2005 and Australia's top order contains several of his fellow southpaws.

However, taking 20 wickets in a Test has proved a problem for England in recent times.

Flintoff, England's hero four years ago, is coming back from a knee injury while star batsman Kevin Pietersen heads into the Ashes under the cloud of an Achilles problem.

England do at least appear to have more and better spin options than Australia although it will be up to the home side's batsmen to give the likes of Graeme Swann and Monty Panesar something to bowl at, even on a Cardiff pitch for next week's Ashes opener which has a reputation for taking turn.

Off-spinner Nathan Hauritz, an unusually conservative selection by Australian standards, has rarely looked like taking a wicket so far on tour, a vindication of the damning assessment of former Australia captain Ian Chappell that containers should remain the preserve of the shipping industry.

"One of the great strengths of Australian cricket has been how adaptable we've been over a long period of time," said Ponting.

"Yes Swann has done a good job in the games he's played but I see him as being fairly similar to Nathan Hauritz. They are not overly big spinners."

If Australia do leave Hauritz out, it will mean Ponting having to fiddle overs from the likes of Michael Clarke and Marcus North if his quicks are not to run the risk of burnout.

Australia opener Phillip Hughes burst on the scene in South Africa with back-to-back hundreds in only his second Test but the unorthodox left-hander was roughed up by fast bowler Stephen Harmison against the Lions.

Having said that Harmison, equally capable of sending the ball to second slip as he is of sending down a blistering bouncer, is currently out of the England side and may not feature in the Ashes at all.

In Strauss, England have a captain who helped unify the side after the fall-out from Pietersen's enforced resignation from the post.

A sound opener it will be up to him and fellow left-hander Alastair Cook to give England a solid platform at the top of the order.

New England No 3 Ravi Bopara looked good against a lacklustre West Indies but how he goes during the Ashes remains to be seen - as indeed does the latest chapter in cricket's oldest international rivalry.

Asif might play for Pak in Champions Trophy

2009-07-03T19:00:00.000-07:00

Controversial Pakistani pacer Mohammad Asif is set to return to national duty.

The Pakistan Cricket Board has fined him Rs 1 million for the drug scandal at the Dubai airport last year. The PCB says the fine was imposed due to misconduct and possession of hashish (opium).

Asif will also be eligible for selection for the Pakistan team after his one-year ban for doping expires on September 22.

The PCB will send his name in a provisional list to the ICC for the Champions Trophy which begins on Septemeber 24.

Twenty20 is 'fast food' and a bad habit

2009-07-03T12:03:00.000-07:00

Twenty20 is 'fast food', a bad habit and is posing a major threat to Test cricket in the sub-continent, feels former Pakistan Test skipper Javed Miandad.

Miandad expressed concerns over suggestions from the International cricket Council to reduce Test cricket matches to four-days and introduce colored balls and colored clothing under lights in the traditional format of the sport.

"There is no doubt that T20 cricket is undermining Test cricket and they are many reasons for this.

"Take India's example. Players like Yousuf Pathan are more popular than most of his more illustrious teammates because T20 cricket is in these days. It is just like fast food, a bad habit," Miandad said.

Miandad, however, felt that the future of Test cricket faced no threat in countries like England, South Africa, Australia where it was still popular.

"It is in countries like Pakistan and India where it is under threat. One reason for this is also economic conditions of the people. Everything is so expensive for our masses," he said.

There have been suggestions from the ICC President, David Morgan about reducing Tests to four day matches instead of the traditional five days.

Morgan has said that Test cricket faces a challenge from the growing popularity of twenty20 cricket and there is a need to look at revamping the traditional format of the game.

However, Miandad cautioned the ICC against trying to change the traditional format of the game.

"Any moves to reduce the number of days in a Test or introduce night matches and colored balls will only prove counter-productive," he said.

The former Test captain said instead of taking measures that can threaten the spirit of the game the ICC should be looking at other ways to ensure all forms of the game survive together properly.

"The ICC should involve more former players in consultations and find ways to keep interest in Test cricket alive. As it is now Test cricket is about 90 overs a day you can't do more to get results," he said.

"Test cricket must remain the way it is or else cricket will lose its special appeal to the people as well. Cricket lovers want to see Test matches," he said.

Gambhir, Bhajji top Indians in ICC Test rankings

2009-07-03T04:08:00.000-07:00

Gautam Gambhir is the country's highest ranked Test batsman at number three and off-spinner Harbhajan Singh, at sixth, is the highest placed Indian bowler in the latest ICC rankings issued today.

Gambhir, the Delhi left-hander with 847 rating points, is the only Indian to figure in the top 10 batsmen's chart, followed by Sachin Tendulkar (13th), VVS Laxman (15th) and Virender Sehwag (20th).

In the bowlers' chart, Harbhajan is the lone Indian in top 10, followed by Zaheer Khan (11th) and Ishant Sharma (20th).

In the team ranking, India (117 points) are placed third behind top ranked Australia (128) and South Africa (119).

Meanwhile Pakistan, currently sixth, will go into their three-Test series against Sri Lanka starting at Galle on Saturday targetting the fourth place, replacing the Lankans.

A 1-0 or 2-1 series win for Younis Khan's side will be enough to put it on 105 ratings points alongside Sri Lanka but ahead of Kumar Sangakkara's side when the ratings are calculated beyond the decimal point.

Personally, Younis, currently the number one batsman in this format, will be aiming to become the 25th batsman in history to reach the 900-point mark.

The 31-year-old right-handed batsman is just 20 points short of becoming the second Pakistan batsman after Mohammad Yousuf to achieve the rare distinction.

Injured Murali out of Pakistan Test

2009-07-03T03:48:00.000-07:00

Muttiah Muralitharan was on Friday ruled out of the first Test against Pakistan with a knee injury, dealing a huge blow to Sri Lanka's bid to win the emotionally-charged series.

The spin wizard hurt his patella tendon during training on Thursday and will sit out of the opening game of the three-Test series starting at the Galle International Stadium on Saturday.

The series opener will be the first Test match between the two nations since gunmen fired on the Sri Lankan team bus during a visit to Pakistan on March 3.

Sri Lankan captain Kumar Sangakkara said he was hopeful that Muralitharan, who boasts world records for his 770 Test and 505 one-day wickets, will be available for the second match from July 12.

"He was doing his warm-ups and he suddenly felt a bit of discomfort in his right knee," said Sangakkara. "The scan report showed a slight tear.

"The risk of him tearing his tendon in the first Test is very high. I don't think we want to risk him getting injured for a long time just for the sake of one Test. Hopefully he will be fit by the second Test."

Seven Sri Lankan cricketers were injured and eight local securitymen were killed in the March attack in the city of Lahore that forced the cricket world to abandon Pakistan as a venue for international cricket.

The series starts just 13 days after Pakistan defeated Sri Lanka in the final of the World Twenty20 at Lord's in London on June 21.

The Sri Lankan selectors have summoned left-arm spinner Rangana Herath and rookie off-spinner Suraj Mohamed to join the squad in Muralitharan's absence.

Herath last played a Test for Sri Lanka in December against Bangladesh, while Mohamed claimed four Pakistani wickets in the three-day tour opener in Colombo which ended in a draw on Wednesday.

One of the two is expected to partner prolific wicket-taker Ajantha Mendis for the first Test on a wicket that has traditionally favoured spin.

Muralitharan's absence will hurt Sri Lanka, who have never beaten Pakistan in a home Test series and are hoping to avenge their defeat in last month's World Twenty20 final.

Of their five series in Sri Lanka so far, Pakistan have won three -- including the last two in 2000 and 2006 -- and drawn the other two.

Its an extraordinary achievement considering that Sri Lanka, led by Muralitharan's amazing bowling feats, have proved almost unbeatable at home in recent times.

Of the 19 home Tests Sri Lanka have played in the last five years, they have won 13, drawn four and lost just two -- one of them to Pakistan by eight wickets in Kandy in April 2006.

However, Younus Khan's Pakistan have not experienced the rigours of a Test match on foreign soil since a two-match series in India in December 2007.

Even at home, Pakistan have played just one series over the last two years due to security concerns in the volatile nation, and that too had to be abandoned after the attack on the Sri Lankan team.

After the Galle Test, the teams move to Colombo where the second Test will be played at the P. Sara stadium from July 12-16 and the third at the Sinhalese sports club from July 20-24.

The rivals are also scheduled to play five one-day internationals and a Twenty20 match after the Tests.

McGrath passes on tips to Aussie pacemen

2009-07-03T03:44:00.000-07:00

Glenn McGrath has passed on his assessment of England players to Australia's new bunch of pace bowlers to help them wrest an edge in the Ashes series beginning next week.

McGrath, who has an outstanding record against England with 157 wickets taken at an average of 20.92, met the current Australian fast bowlers in Worcester.

"I was just passing through town and Truck (Australian bowling coach Troy Cooley) said, 'Do you want to just come along and say something to the boys?'" McGrath said, adding: "We had a bowlers' meeting and I just sat in there and offered my US$ 5 worth. I passed on some of my thoughts about the series and about some of the England players," he was quoted as saying by the Herald Sun.

McGrath, the highest wicket-taker among pace bowlers with 563 Test scalps, however, said he had no wish to make a comeback. "It's good to catch up with the boys and if I can help out in some small way then - happy days. It's good value to be in the team atmosphere again -- but I don't want to play again."

How the Ashes got their name

2009-07-02T23:45:00.000-07:00

Mention the word 'Ashes' to any cricket fan and they know you are talking about a Test contest between England and Australia.

But cricket's oldest rivals had been playing each other for five years before the idea of the Ashes was born.

It happened in 1882 when, in a one-off Test at The Oval, Australia inspired by figures of 14 for 90 from Fred Spofforth, 'The Demon', fought back to win a thrilling match by seven runs.

The Sporting Times reacted to Australia's first win on English soil with a mock obituary written by Reginald Shirley Brooks.

It read: "In affectionate remembrance of English cricket which died at The Oval, 29th August 1882. Deeply lamented by a large circle of sorrowing friends and acquaintances. R.I.P. N.B. The body will be cremated and the Ashes taken to Australia."

Ivo Bligh, later Lord Darnley, captained England to a 2-1 victory in the subsequent series in Australia and, according to many cricket histories, he was presented with an urn containing the Ashes of a bail used in the third Test by a group of Melbourne women.

However, it was subsequently suggested that the Ashes were those of a ball and in 1998 Lord Darnley's daughter-in-law said they were the remains of her mother-in-law's veil.

The urn itself was bequeathed to Lord's owners Marylebone Cricket Club (MCC) on Darnley's death in 1927 and became an exhibit in the ground's museum.

Regardless of the result of the Ashes, the urn -- which stands just four inches high -- has remained at Lord's.

The justification has been that the ashes were a private gift to MCC and not a sporting trophy.

But in order to remedy this perceived unfairness MCC commissioned an Ashes-shaped crystal trophy which was first presented to Australia captain Mark Taylor after the 1998/99 series.

Australia hold the Ashes following their 5-0 whitewash of England in 2006/07 which followed England's 2-1 series win on home soil in 2005.

The urn has only been to Australia on a couple of occasions, the first in 1988 for the country's bicentennial celebrations.

MCC had hoped the urn could return to Australia in 2003 but an X-ray taken at the time revealed several serious cracks, notably in the stem.

But, following repair work, it was taken on a tour of Australia to coincide with the 2006/07 series.

Put India cap before IPL: Gavaskar

2009-07-02T23:43:00.000-07:00

With increasing worries that young players getting into the game, might be swayed by the lure of the IPL, Sunil Gavaskar has said that the main aim for a young player ought to be the India cap, and not a spot in an IPL franchisee.

While delivering the Dilip Sardesai memorial lecture in Mumbai, the legendary opener said, "Today, parents are encouraging their children to take up cricket as a career option because of the IPL and the amount of money it provides. But the worrying factor is far too many youngsters see IPL as the be all and end all. The be all and end all of any player should be to get the national cap. That's the way it was in our days. I sometimes get the feeling that is no longer the case. The be all and end all is now to get into the IPL and that's it. Now that is something we have to guard against. There are dangerous signs like of a lot players missing out on domestic cricket ahead of the IPL so that they don't get injured."

Gavaskar, who is a member of the IPL governing council, also advised cricket authorities to guard the youngsters against the unbelievable amount of money being paid to even inexperienced players in the IPL. "The other thing to guard against is players in the age group of 19-22 going the wrong way [because of the money factor]. Younger players get carried away by fame, publicity and success," Gavaskar said.

He also refused to blame the IPL for India's poor show at the ICC World Twenty20. "I don't think IPL can be conceived in any other way," he said. "The home and away concept is so essential to it. This time it was played in South Africa, even there this (concept) worked. Our team got outplayed (in the World T20). I would not look too much into it."

India's batsmen had their weakness against the short ball exposed in England, and in the ongoing ODI series in West Indies, but Gavaskar felt this was not a long-term problem. "There's a lot of cricket (that has) been played where there were not many short balls, and so the balance tends to be on the front foot," he said. "Then when suddenly there are short pitched deliveries, you couldn't adjust to it. I think that's what happened (to the Indian team). I think there need not be too much concern about it."

On the domestic front, the 2009-10 season will not include the Deodhar Trophy, a 50-over competition played between the five zones, as it was scrapped by the BCCI owing to a crammed domestic schedule. Again, Gavaskar said the IPL had nothing to do with the decision. "I don't think its due to the IPL. There is so much of international cricket -- the Champions League, Sri Lanka's visit and the tour of Bangladesh. I am sure it will be there (in the coming seasons)," he said.

Martyn lashes out at Buchanan over 2005 Ashes

2009-07-02T04:15:00.000-07:00

The Ashes 2009

Damien Martyn has slammed his former coach John Buchanan over what he believes was poor preparation for the 2005 Ashes series and said England would never again play as well as they had that year. Martyn's criticism of Buchanan, who has taken on a consultancy role with the ECB, echoes the thoughts of Shane Warne and Stuart MacGill, who have never hidden their contempt for Australia's ex-coach.

"All comments by Warne and MacGill are right and you'd find that 99% of the group from that era would agree," Martyn said in an interview with the Wisden Cricketer. "They're just the only guys who've got [the courage] to say it. The management team didn't plan right, we had a not-very-good, quick preparation in Brisbane and then we landed and away we went.

"We played a Twenty20 against England, which England still talk about, flogging us down in Hampshire. Buck was saying, 'It's only a muck-around game, don't worry about it' and we trained for four hours on the morning. So we went from the nets next door, busting a gut, into a T20 game where they rolled up playing it like a Test match and flogged us. There were a lot of mistakes made and a lot will never come out."

Martyn has largely shunned the media spotlight since his surprise retirement midway through the 2006-07 Ashes campaign. However, he is set to take on a studio co-hosting role with MacGill and Greg Matthews in what promises to be a fascinating special comments team for the free-to-air TV coverage of the Ashes in Australia on the SBS network.

His memories of Australia's previous tour of England are not happy; he received a string of tough umpiring decisions - he believes Australia would have retained the urn had umpiring reviews been in use - and was axed for the Australian summer that followed. Martyn said Australia's preparation for the tour had been poor, which was one of "a million behind-the-scenes reasons" for the series defeat.

"We got slack, everything clicked for them, they haven't played that well since then and they won't ever again," Martyn said. "They built themselves up so much for the Ashes when the Ashes for us had dropped off because we'd won it so many times.

"For us it was conquering all things, World Cups, Champions Trophy, the subcontinent. The Ashes was just another series but for England it was their pinnacle and we just went underprepared."

Martyn has also warned about overburdening young stars like Phillip Hughes and David Warner with unrealistic expectations. Martyn himself was once viewed as a cricket wunderkind and debuted for Australia at 21 but soon faced a six-year absence from the Test team when he failed to live up to the early hype.

"It's what Cricket Australia does, they beef people up," he said. "You see it happening now with Phillip Hughes, you saw it with Dave Warner - no one knows about Warner any more - you've got to be very careful because it doesn't always go rosy. There is a responsibility for Cricket Australia."

Aussies bank on Johnson to counter Flintoff

2009-07-01T21:47:00.000-07:00

The Ashes 2009

Australia's long search for a match-winning all-rounder to counter the feats of England's Andrew Flintoff may finally be over.

Mitchell Johnson has not only established himself as the new leader of Australia's bowling attack but has also emerged as a devastating lower-order batsman.

His batting average of 34.70 and bowling average of 28.01 are both better than Flintoff's and the lanky Australian has reached the best form of his career heading into the Ashes.

Johnson took career-best figures of eight for 61 against South Africa in Perth in December then followed it up with his maiden test century against the same opponents in Cape Town in March. Johnson's impressive statistics are only part of the reason why he is suddenly looming as Australia's trump card for the Ashes.

A naturally shy man, the 27-year-old Johnson has taken it upon himself to assume the role of the team's aggressor.

The ability to intimidate opposing batsmen is a vital weapon in the arsenal of any fast bowler and Johnson showed why he is one of the most fearsome pacemen in the world during one destructive day in Durban.

The left-hander captured three wickets, including two in his first over, with his blistering pace and also put two South African batsmen in hospital.

He broke a bone in the hand of Graeme Smith for the second time in two months with a delivery that leapt off the pitch and caught the South African skipper unawares.

Then he split the chin of Jacques Kallis with a vicious bouncer that left South Africa's most experienced batsman dazed, bloodied and needing three stitches.

Johnson finished off by bowling Mark Boucher with an inswinging yorker that he has been working on in preparation for England.

The inability of Australia's pacemen to swing the ball played a part in their downfall in the 2005 Ashes series but Johnson's success has given them confidence that they will match the England seamers in that department this time.

As a left-armer himself he has unsurprisingly had a lot of success against left-handed batsmen and already has his sights set on England captain Andrew Strauss.

"Over in South Africa I started to swing the ball and (Strauss) being a left-handed batsman, it will go away from him," Johnson told the Australian Associated Press during a recent brief visit to his home in Perth.

"I like bowling to lefties so that's something that I'm looking forward to. It's going to be a great challenge and he's been scoring a few runs but hopefully we can put a bit of pressure on him and maybe their side will follow."

Johnson's rise to become Australia's premier fast bowler has been steady rather than meteoric. He had been earmarked for greatness since he was a teenager but his progress was delayed by injuries and problems getting into an Australian side already packed with great pacemen.

He spent five seasons in Australia's first-class domestic competition before he was called into the national side for his first one-day international appearance against New Zealand in 2005, but took none for 64 from nine overs as the Kiwis overhauled Australia's total of 331-7 to win by two wickets.

Johnson made another 17 one-day international appearances for Australia over the next 14 months and was picked for the 2007 World Cup in West Indies but did not play a match as Australia won the title for the third time in a row.

The retirement of Glenn McGrath opened the way for Johnson to push his claim for inclusion in the Test side and he finally got his chance in November 2007 when he was selected to play against Sri Lanka in Brisbane aged 26.

He made a bright enough start, snaring eight wickets in the two-test series against Sri Lanka, then bagging 16 wickets and scoring his first test half-century in the four-match series at home against India to cement his place in the side.

Johnson toured West Indies and India in 2008 but it was not until the most recent Australian summer that he really started to make his mark in the international arena. He took nine for 36, including his first five-wicket haul in an innings against New Zealand, then claimed 33 wickets in six tests, three on home soil and three away, against the South Africans.

Batting at number eight, he had always been a consistent and valuable run-scorer but as his confidence with the ball grew so too did his batting and he began turning his potential with the bat into higher scores.

He made 64 in Sydney, 96 not out in Johannesburg when he cruelly ran out of partners, then an unconquered 123 in Cape Town to make himself indispensable, though he remains uncomfortable about his sudden role as the spearhead of the attack

India look to take advantage against WI

2009-07-01T21:43:00.001-07:00

India in West Indies 2009

India will be looking to edge closer to a rare One-day International series victory against the West Indies in the Caribbean before embarking on a well-earned break from the game.

They face West Indies in the last two ODIs of four this coming Friday and Sunday at the Beausejour Cricket Ground here.

India and West Indies shared the first two ODIs last Friday and Sunday at Sabina Park in Jamaica.

The visitors won the opening fixture by 20 runs, and the home team rebounded two days later to secure the second ODI by eight wickets.

On their five previous trips to the Caribbean in bilateral ODI series, India have only once overcome West Indies, and this was 2-1 in a three-match contest seven years ago.

But Mahendra Singh Dhoni's side has a couple of other reasons why they will feel the pressure in the next few days.

Their early exit from the Twenty20 World Cup in England a few weeks ago is still uppermost in their minds, as well as their fans who can be quite demanding, and do not take losing easily.

Dhoni has also identified banishing the demons of India's early exit from the 2007 World Cup in the Caribbean as another objective that will motivate his side.

In both matches, India have looked a below-par version of the side that before coming to the Caribbean had lost only three of their previous 18 matches, and had climbed to No.3 in the ODI World rankings.

They allowed West Indies to get within sight of a challenging victory target of 340 in the first ODI, and then suffered a batting meltdown in the second ODI as their age-old susceptibility to short-pitched and swing bowling were again exposed.

Yuvraj Singh looks to be the only batsman in touch as was evident from his 131 in the first ODI, and some of the strokes he played in his all-too-brief 35 in the second ODI.

Dhoni made 95 in the second match, but he too, has not cut the picture of the commanding figure at the crease that he is known to be.

Questions about fatigue will continue to preoccupy the discussions about India's performance, but they can silence all of the debate with two commanding victories in the next few days.

West Indies will look to repeat their show of force from Sunday at Kingston in the last two matches.

They have named an unchanged squad for the two matches, much to the disappointment of St. Lucians, who were hoping to catch a glimpse of local cricket hero Darren Sammy.

West Indies have won five of the 10 matches they have contested at the ground, and one has finished in a no-result, but they'll be hoping to improve this record.

They would also hope that the Beausejour pitch is not typically easy-paced, so they can again exploit India's meekness against pace, bounce and movement.

West Indies (from): Chris Gayle (capt), Denesh Ramdin, Lionel Baker, Sulieman Benn, David Bernard Jr, Darren Bravo, Dwayne Bravo, Shivnarine Chanderpaul, Narsingh Deonarine, Runako Morton, Ravi Rampaul, Ramnaresh Sarwan, Jerome Taylor

India (from): Mahendra Singh Dhoni (capt), Subramaniam Badrinath, Gautam Gambhir, Ravindra Jadeja, Dinesh Karthik, Praveen Kumar, Abhishek Nayar, Ashish Nehra, Pragyan Ojha, Yusuf Pathan, Ishant Sharma, Rohit Sharma, Harbhajan Singh, Rudra Pratap Singh, Yuvraj Singh, Murali Vijay

WI looking to replicate success against India

2009-07-01T21:37:00.000-07:00

India v West Indies 3rd One Day 2009

In-form West Indies opener Runako Morton said the hosts will look to replicate their series-levelling show of Sabina Park when they take on India in the third ODI at the Beausejour Stadium here on Friday.

Aware that whoever wins the third ODI would be spared the ignominy of a series defeat, Morton said he personally would settle for nothing less than a win.

"The series is level 1-1. As always I will be looking to win," he said.

For that, Morton said, his teammates would hope to display the same zeal that helped them crush the visitors by eight wickets in the second ODI last week.

"We will be looking to put in another good team effort as we showed in Jamaica. Players are putting their hands up and putting in good performances and we are confident," said the right-hander.

Morton himself has been in great form since returning to the side for the four-match ODI series against India.

In the opening match, Morton hit 42 from 51 balls and did even better in the second, hammering unbeaten 85 from 102 balls at Sabina Park.

Morton credited his recent good show with the bat to his positive outlook.

"I always like to think positive and since I came back into the team I have been looking to put my best foot forward for the team," he said.

"I don't want to get too much ahead of myself. I am taking the positives from those two knocks. From the start of the year I have been feeling quite relaxed at the crease and I am getting the results," he said.

Otherwise a number three batsman, Morton has effortlessly adjusted to the opener's role in the series and he seemed enjoying the job.

"Being a No. 3 throughout my career there was not much of an adjustment to move up to open the batting with the captain," Morton explained.

"It is all about dedication and application and backing myself to do the job. I aim to stay positive," he added.

Harmison detects lack of Aussie confidence

2009-07-01T21:34:00.001-07:00

The Ashes 2009

Stephen Harmison believes Australia are short on confidence with the first Ashes Test in Cardiff just a week away.

The 30-year-old fast bowler, bidding to regain his England place, showed signs of his old form in taking three wickets for 67 runs for the England Lions against the tourists at New Road here on Wednesday in their final warm-up match.

In particular he gave novice Australian opener Phillip Hughes a thorough working over with the short ball before the left-hander fended a rising delivery to Joe Denly in the gully after making just seven.

Harmison said Australia now without retired stars Matthew Hayden, Justin Lager, Adam Gilchrist, Shane Warne and Glenn McGrath, were missing much of their old swagger on Wednesday.

"This is my fourth time against Australia and the one thing I picked up ... is that they are not as brash and confident as they normally are.

"I can't put my finger on it. Maybe it is to do with the side gelling together or whether they don't have the big players of recent years, and the confidence you get from that.

"But they don't seem to be the confident Australia I've known. I think there is only Ricky Ponting and Brett Lee who have played more Ashes tests than myself in the two squads.

"There are things you pick up on like body language. I've seen a little chink there. It is understandable because there are not the players in their side from bygone years.

"There is definitely something to work on for England and, if we can bat well, we have half a chance to win the Ashes back."

Harmison has experienced both the highs and lows of Ashes cricket: on the first morning of England's eventual 2-1 triumph in 2005 he set the tone by hitting Ponting on the cheek at Lord's.

But in the 2006/07 return series, Harmison's first ball in Brisbane - which ended up in the hands of Andrew Flintoff at second slip - proved equally indicative of things to come. with Australia romping to a 5-0 whitewash.

At his best, the 6ft 4in Harmison can make the ball rear steeply at pace.

And having seen the way in which left-hander Hughes struggled against the well-directed short ball, Harmison believes he may have found a weakness in the game of the 20-year-old batting sensation, who averages nearly 70 in Tests.

"The only one I hadn't played against in their line-up was Phillip Hughes and I was interested to see how he went," explained the veteran of 61 Tests.

"He is a very good player. I've seen him on television, he is 20 and he is no mug.

"If you put the short ball in the right area, he will belt it. But he is susceptible to any ball coming anywhere around his hip and armpit area.

"That has given him an eye opener for what is to come because we have got some tall bowlers in the England team and they might target that area."

Cook stars but England stutter

2009-07-01T21:29:00.000-07:00

England XI v Warwickshire, Edgbaston, 1st day

Warwickshire 31 for 1 (Frost 3*, Trott 18*) trail England XI 290 for 8 declared (Cook 124, Tahir 3-54) by 259 runs

Scorecard

After a month on the sidelines during the World Twenty20, Alastair Cook slipped back into the England set-up at Edgbaston, and announced his readiness for next week's first Test with a dour and diligent 124. But the rest of England's anticipated Ashes line-up produced a performance as lop-sided as the chosen field of play, as they failed to capitalise on a 48-yard leg-side boundary, and skidded unceremoniously from 162 for 1 to 290 for 8 declared.

By the close of the first day, James Anderson had extracted Ian Westwood for 2 to leave a second-string Warwickshire on 31 for 1 after 10 overs, but the declared intention of England's captain, Andrew Strauss, to "hit the ground running" had developed something of a stumble after a confident first few strides.

Aside from Cook, the only batsman who really got going was Ravi Bopara, who top-edged a pull to midwicket for 43 to end a second-wicket stand of 101. Thereafter England lost their next six wickets for 93, including the miscreant of the moment, Andrew Flintoff, who managed a frantic 19 from 17 balls before poking limply to second slip.

Nevertheless, as far as Cook was concerned, the mere exercise of gathering the team together in the week building up to Cardiff was the most important aspect of a match he regarded as a friendly. "For the lads who've been playing a lot of Twenty20 cricket, it's just nice to get the rhythm back for the four-day stuff," he said. "You don't feel guilty for leaving a ball, or for blocking an over or two. It's nice just to relax and get into that change of mindset."

Even Cook himself had to do that. For a long time, his lack of muscle had been a source of much ribbing in the England dressing-room, with his only international six prior to this season coming from a top-edged pull in Wellington two winters ago. Last week for Essex, however, he cracked a 57-ball hundred against Surrey in the Twenty20 Cup, and the confidence that instilled in his cricket was fully on display today.

"Runs are runs, but [that innings] proved to a few people, and to myself, that I can hit a few sixes," he said. "I really enjoyed it, because although we were desperate to win, you have to be free to play like that." Today, he wasn't exactly cracking along at two runs a ball, but there was a surety to his stroke play that had been missing even during his last innings for England, his career-best 160 against West Indies at Chester-le-Street in May.

"That day we beat the West Indies, everyone else was staying together and I was leaving that night to play for Essex," Cook recalled. "It was a bit strange, and I didn't like it to be honest. When you score 160 you want to carry on playing for England, but it seems a long time ago that I was [involved]."

Warwickshire's attack comprised an off-colour new-ball pairing of Chris Woakes and Boyd Rankin, and was backed up by the varying talents of Naqaash Tahir, who has yet to play a Championship fixture this season, and the former Rochdale striker Keith Barker, who switched to cricket last season having never scored a league goal, and finally gave his illustrious godfather, Clive Lloyd, something to be proud of when he bowled Paul Collingwood for his maiden first-class wicket.

Brett Lee and Mitchell Johnson this was not. Nor indeed was it the pumped-up combo of Steve Harmison and Graham Onions that the Aussies had to face 40 miles down the road at Worcester. And yet, when England's wickets started to tumble, it might as well have been. After Andrew Strauss's pre-lunch dismissal, caught on the drive for 31 having been dropped on 20 at third slip, Bopara sparked a mini-collapse when he under-estimated the leaping bounce that Rankin can get from the wicket, and spooned a simple catch to the 17-year-old Ateeq Javid, standing roughly where the Test pitch will be in a month's time.

Four overs later, and Kevin Pietersen had been and gone as well. His was a brief and fitful innings, eight balls long and one run deep, and it ended with a flat-footed poke to first slip. Cook was the next to go, well caught by Tim Ambrose, standing up to the medium pace of Jonathan Trott after picking off 21 fours from 190 balls, and when Collingwood was deceived on the back foot by one that kept a fraction low, England were 229 for 5, and starting to flounder.

Flintoff emerged to the loudest cheer of the day from a 2000-strong crowd, and got off the mark with an unintentional steer for four through third man. He belted three more fours in an innings brimful with intent, and was also dropped at midwicket as he climbed into a ferocious heave through the leg-side. Before he had added to his 19 runs, however, he fell to an angled steer to give Tahir a deserved third wicket in the innings.

Flintoff was not called upon to bowl in the ten overs before the close, as Strauss decided to leave Anderson and Stuart Broad to work off their red-ball rust in tandem. Long after the close, however, he was still out in the middle with Ottis Gibson, the bowling coach, working on his run-up and generally being seen to be putting in the hard yards.

"He made a mistake, he said he's sorry, we have to move on," said Cook, after Flintoff was called upon to make a public apology to the team for his bus-missing gaffe in Ypres. "It was nice that he was honest, we could see the regret in his face for what he's caused." England as a collective, however, didn't quite get their timekeeping up to scratch today.

Hussey ton holds Australians together

2009-07-01T21:24:00.000-07:00

England Lions v Australians, Worcester, 1st day

Australians 337 for 8 (Hussey 143*, Katich 95) v England Lions

Scorecard

All the discussion over Australia's team for Cardiff surrounds the make-up of the bowling, but the batsmen are trying hard to gain some attention despite Michael Hussey and Simon Katich covering for their rusty team-mates in Worcester. While nothing looks wrong with the tourists' 337 for 8 on the first day against the England Lions, five of the top seven combined for 20 runs, leaving Hussey's 143 not out and Katich's 95 to stand as tall as the nearby Cathedral spires.

Hussey's 221-ball stay was a relief for the squad, proving his return to form against a well-qualified pace attack, and Katich also cruised before a lapse to the uncomfortable Steve Harmison. There was little steel from the rest of the specialists, with Phillip Hughes (7), Ricky Ponting (1), Michael Clarke (4) and Marcus North (1) failing on a surface offering some low bounce.

Following their first-innings slip to 114 for 5 in Hove last week, the Australians wanted to shine against England's 2nd XI, but after being surprised to lose two early wickets, they wasted the 141-run recovery of Hussey and Katich to be 197 for 6 before tea. Although Hussey and the free-swinging Mitchell Johnson, who launched the legspinner Adil Rashid out of the ground at midwicket during a breezy 47, pushed their side to end-of-day comfort, the rest of the batsmen have one innings to polish ahead of the first Test on Wednesday.

After Ponting won the toss in cloudy conditions, Hughes was unconvincing in dealing with some sharp short balls from Harmison. With Hughes and Katich entrenched in the Test team, Harmison was trying to unseat them to remind England's decision makers that he still has enough energy to be an international force.

In his first spell there was plenty of spice, starting with a bouncer which a fidgety Hughes failed to duck under, and the ball rebounded from his helmet to third slip. Hughes has so many movements that it was hard to tell whether he was shaken, but he was unable to cope with a similar delivery on 7. Fending and turning his head, he felt the ball lob from his glove to Joe Denly at third slip. Following the early-season surge at Middlesex, when he flooded three Championship hundreds, he has suddenly given England something to aim at.

Like most of the Australians, Ponting was uncertain early, hitting his first ball while trying to leave, and after pulling Harmison to get off the mark his feet stayed set when he tried to drive Graham Onions off the back foot. The edge was taken by Vikram Solanki at first slip and Australia were stuttering at 24 for 2 in the 11th over. Whispers of an England Ashes success started to float across the ground.

The Hussey and Katich combination stopped them, but further frailty was shown in the second session. Harmison, who gave away only six runs in his opening six overs, bowled another eight straight after lunch, displaying his lethal and lethargic faces. He returned to bowl Brett Lee with the second new ball, finishing with 3 for 67 off 22 overs, while Onions (2 for 66) and Tim Bresnan (3 for 46) also created problems.

After Katich collected two boundaries in one Harmison over, including a fierce cover drive, he pulled a long hop to Onions at fine leg. Both the batsman and bowler looked a touch embarrassed and, once Clarke had driven Bresnan loosely to gully, it was North wishing he was somewhere else.

North, the incumbent No. 6, has experienced hot and cold flushes throughout his career and was left feeling the most uncomfortable in the steamy conditions. His single came from a squeezed French cut and he was bowled by Onions, playing back and playing on, from his next delivery.

North now has 12 runs in three innings on tour and if Shane Watson's thigh injury hadn't restricted the allrounder to more laps of the oval on Wednesday, the left-hander's spot could have been in serious trouble. Andrew McDonald is another option, although he hasn't been picked in the opening tour matches and is not yet considered a top-grade batsman.

Haddin was unhappy to fall lbw trying to whip Bresnan in front of square - the ball was heading towards the leg side - and it was left to Hussey to engineer a second fightback. He did it and showed himself as the batsman from 2006 and 2007, instead of the cluttered operator of the past year.

Hussey started slowly and gained confidence with each clip and off drive, bringing up his half-century after lunch before flexing with two fours through cover in an Onions over. A back-foot force off Rashid earned his hundred, his first for Australia since the opening Test of the India tour 10 months ago, and he began to pull strongly after the milestone. It was only a tour game, and the England Lions could not sustain their intensity throughout the day, but it was a satisfying performance from a man who may need to hold Australia's middle order together in more important engagements over the next two months.

Ponting noncommittal on pace spots

2009-07-01T01:03:00.000-07:00

The Ashes 2009

Ricky Ponting briefly broke from his cheery demeanour on the eve of Australia's final warm-up before the first Test to insist there were no bowling certainties for Cardiff. The statement was unfair on Mitchell Johnson, the side's No.1 bowler, and could cause slight angst for Peter Siddle, who will rest this week in preparation for Sophia Gardens, but it reminded the contenders of the prize if they dethrone enough England Lions over the next four days.

Brett Lee, Stuart Clark and Nathan Hauritz are fighting to join Johnson and Siddle on July 8 in a battle that is intense and unfamiliar. Ponting sees the situation differently despite Johnson's status and Siddle's strong support from the coach Tim Nielsen after the opening tour game in Hove last week.

"The important thing right now is that there are no certainties for the first Test," Ponting said after the squad's training was cut short by light rain. "Although we're happy with where [Siddle] is at and we've decided to give him a game off, right now the spots are still up for grabs as far as I'm concerned."

The only man who can be ruled out is the swing bowler Ben Hilfenhaus, who will not play in Worcester and was overlooked in Hove. Everyone else is under scrutiny from Ponting, the coaching staff, Andrew Hilditch, the chairman of selectors, and their team-mates.

Rather than build gradually towards the main event like they would on previous tours, Lee and Clark have found themselves in the strange situation of wanting to push for wickets every ball in an attempt to regain their spots. All the bowlers felt the internal pressure in Hove - Johnson didn't play - and Siddle left with the highest rating.

"We were very happy with what he did last week," Ponting said. "We're happy with where he is at and the workload he's got under his belt. He's got a few days off and we will have a closer look at a couple of other guys."

There was not much chance for bowling in the Worcester nets on Tuesday, with rain cutting down the optional session. Lee was the only Australian not to train, preferring the hotel gym to the mizzle, and Clark had a short, sweaty spell from an abbreviated run-up. The weather also delayed Shane Watson's return to batting and he completed more laps of a training oval.

Clark is returning from elbow surgery while Lee, who bowled 14 no-balls against Sussex, is back after ankle and foot operations in January. Ponting will consider Lee's form, fitness and 310 Test wickets alongside the surface in Cardiff.

"His record speaks for itself and he's a great bowler, no doubt about that," Ponting said. "It's another good opportunity to have a look at him up close and he can build on last week."

There is also a concern over Nathan Hauritz, especially as Ponting is certain the Cardiff pitch will offer turn. He has been trawling through the statistics of county spin bowlers at the ground, ignoring Monty Panesar's 2 for 149 to focus on the work of Danish Kaneria, the Pakistan and Essex legspinner. "[Hauritz] is playing again here, that was the plan right from the start, to make sure we gave him two games and for him to get some good quality bowling under his belt against good players in these conditions."

He battled against Sussex, returning 1 for 158, and his offspin will be challenged again by the lift in competition provided by the England Lions. "Last week was a good blowout, his first time back playing four-day cricket for a while," Ponting said. "He's been starved of four- or five-day cricket for a while and that game should have done him the world of good."

For a man who has already been away from home for five weeks, Ponting was fresh, calm and not weighed down by the decisions ahead. There were some jokey responses to questions - he thinks he might need a wheelchair if he comes back in 2013 - but whenever he thought about the make-up of the attack he became more direct.

"We've got three bowlers in our side bowling 90mph, and Hilfy who can push that," he said. "When you've got that sort of speed and reverse-swing, I don't care who is batting, it's going to be difficult."

Australia's top seven is settled but will face some difficulties against an England Lions squad that includes Steve Harmison, Sajid Mahmood, Graham Onions and Tim Bresnan. "It's good to have that calibre of opposition as our last game," Ponting said. "Their quicks have all played international cricket, so it will be good preparation for us." More rain, which is predicted, would add to the dangers for the visiting batsmen, but assist their twitching fast men.

Australia squad: 1 Simon Katich, 2 Phillip Hughes, 3 Ricky Ponting (capt), 4 Michael Hussey, 5 Michael Clarke, 6 Marcus North, 7 Brad Haddin (wk), 8 Mitchell Johnson, 9 Brett Lee, 10 Nathan Hauritz, 11 Stuart Clark.

England Lions squad: Ian Bell (capt), Tim Bresnan, Joe Denly, Steven Davies (wk), Steve Harmison, Sajid Mahmood, Stephen Moore, Eoin Morgan, Graham Onions, Adil Rashid, Vikram Solanki.

Vaughan confirms immediate retirement

2009-06-30T06:00:00.000-07:00

England news

Michael Vaughan has confirmed at a repeat conference fix Edgbaston that he is to retire from thorough forms of acknowledged cricket with immediate spin-off. He departs the international scene as England ' s most wealthy Test captain of all pace - with 26 wins from his 51 matches in charge.

His achievements also include leading England to their first Ashes laugher against Australia whereas 18 caducity control 2005; a first Investigation uniformity win in South Africa now forty years - also magnetism 2005 - and ruling over eight consecutive Check wins in 2004.

As a batsman, he scored 18 Test hundreds seeing England following his debut grease 1999 further was ranked the number one batsman guidance the world following the 2002 - 03 Ashes in Australia in which he made 633 runs including three centuries.

Vaughan said: " After a grievous going of consideration, I ' ve decided that immediately is the wash go to retire from cricket. It has been an enormous privilege to have played due to again captained my country and this is single of the hardest decisions I hold had to make.

Vaughan more that he reached his decision two weeks ago during Yorkshire ' s County Championship fixture against Worcestershire at New Road, when he realised that he was first to hold back the younger players dominion the Yorkshire relish - room. " Supreme players have to be delighted again I wasn ' t that passing on, " he said. " I want to give them the happen to range first - class cricket again pep on to abandonment for their country. "

" Playing cricket has been my life now 16 - 17 years, so to hand positive being irrevocable a arise to play further is hard, " he said. " I ' ve given it my highest shot, I wanted to give it one ride hard effort to get concern the Ashes outfit, but I temple ' t been playing well enough and my constitution hasn ' t been booty adulthood. But this is where my get-up-and-go starts, so it ' s an exciting time for me. "

" I ' d approximative to record my sincere thanks to the England fans and the ECB and the members besides supporters of Yorkshire County Cricket Category since their considerate support throughout my career as well as my wife Nicola again the last of my central who have been equally favorable. "

" I ' m again too grateful to thoroughgoing of the players, managers, coaches, media and administrators I ' ve worked suppress, who have exhaustive contributed to making my occupation inasmuch as appetizing besides fulfilling.

" I ' d and like to inclination Andrew Strauss and the conventional England band accomplishment in this Ashes series. I know they have the violation, ambition again abilities to repeat the good luck from 2005. Winning that cast was most definitely the highpoint of my career, because we not only won the series, but captured the nation, which cricket hasn ' t done for a long, long time. "

" I fancy to be remembered as a cordial performer on the eye to watch, and in that someone who gave my all. I leave veil no regrets. I captained hide an instinctive nature also I was accommodating to lead a intent team that played mask an vital style. "

Commenting on his decision, ECB chief obligated David Collier said: " Everyone associated with cricket significance England again Wales cede be forever grateful to Michael Vaughan for his immense contribution to the England team ' s strike. His achievement in sans pareil England to victory rail the digit alone ranked team significance the world, Australia in 2005, was arguably the finest by any England captain in the modern era. "

Hugh Morris, the managing exemplar of England cricket, said: " As an international captain Michael ranks among the very best again the street in which he and Duncan Fletcher forged a company capable of pleasurable six consecutive Test adjustment stands as testament to his faculty to move and prompt those around him.

" He was also a marvellous ambassador since England cricket off - the - field as fresh as on it and someone who genuinely high-priced the generous underpinning he received from the thousands of England supporters who proceed from the team at home also abroad. No - one who proverb his magnificent hundreds in Australia imprint 2002 - 03 cede forget the contribution he trumped-up to the band as a batsman either - he cede be rightly remembered as a player of the highest class. "

England ' s captain, Andrew Strauss said: " I count Michael now a good friend as bushy-tailed as a team - mate and I know what a tough agreement this will have been due to him being he took ergo much pleasure and asset notoriety representing his country.

" I learned a ample enterprise from watching him captain the side for five years at close hand and his ability to identify a youthful proposal for outwitting the anomaly or bring the prime out of his grant players was a desirable asset.

" But more than anything we considering players will miss the enormous sense of fun and enjoyment that Michael brought to the dressing room. He will be missed by everyone connected blot out the troupe also we intention him every fruition in his budgeted calling. "

Yorkshire ' s chief executive, Stewart Regan, said: " Michael Vaughan is a class act and cede typify remembered by Yorkshire members besides supporters around the world for his well-formed strike rampancy and of course his success in leading England to Ashes glory in 2005.

" Absolute has been a pleasure and a own accord for me to get to understand Michael over the foregone three years and his presence around the club has been markedly motivational, particularly the younger players.

" I wish him every success in the booked and hope that he continues to take more than a passing preoccupation in the fortunes of Yorkshire CCC. On behalf of the Board of Directors, I would equaling to personally thank him being his magnificent relief not unparalleled to Yorkshire but to the game of cricket considering a whole. "

Buchanan meets with Flower

2009-06-30T05:30:00.000-07:00

The Ashes 2009

John Buchanan, who guided Australia to a whitewash in the last Ashes has arrived here after agreeing to an England and Wales Cricket Board (ECB) deal to work as a coaching consultant.

He met with England coach Andy Flower and is reported to have revealed some of the secrets after his long association with Ricky Ponting's side.

"I provided (Flower) with some of my thoughts. I've been keeping a bit of a gaze on the Ashes build-up from a far and passed on a few things I've picked up as an observer now removed from the team," Buchanan said.

"We also talked about England's trip to Belgium, which was something I took a fair bit of interest in. It was good to catch up with him briefly, and was just one of quite a few things I am looking to accomplish on this trip," he added.

Buchanan earlier caused flutter in the Australian cricket fraternity by giving his consent to work with the ECB during the Ashes as sections of media even accused him of committing "an act of treachery".

The former coach also gave his thoughts on how Australia should go about in the series, saying the selectors should opt for a right fusion of spin and pace attacks in the first Test in Cardiff.

"I guess the salient point here is what strategy do the Australians want to take? Do they want to utilise their fast men as the main thrust to their attack, and use (Marcus) North, (Simon) Katich and (Michael) Clarke for their spin, or do they want to take a less hostile approach and take a spinner that would allow them to adapt to more than one kind of strategy or surface?

"I suspect they will be leaning towards the former. They will have to be confident in North, not only as a spinning option but also his batting. If (Shane) Watson returns from injury that could give the selectors a little more to think about, but unless (North) has a woeful game against the Lions, I think he would be pretty close," Buchanan said.

Buchanan, as part of ECB's fact-finding mission, will travel across England over the next week and interact with the coaches from country's elite cricket programmes as well as some of the county mentors.

"I think we all will have a better idea after this week, but I don't think (a full-time position) would be the best way to utilise my time or knowledge," he said.

Vaughan 'born to be England captain' Flintoff

2009-06-30T04:16:00.000-07:00

England News

Michael Vaughan was lauded by Andrew Flintoff as someone "born to be England captain" as the former skipper prepared to announce his retirement from senior cricket.

Vaughan, 34, is to hold a news conference here at Edgbaston later on Tuesday where it is anticpiated he will call time on his career after struggling for several years with a persistent knee injury and failing to win a place in England's squad for the Ashes series which starts next week in Cardiff.

England's 2005 Ashes was the high point of Vaughan's time in charge of England, with his knee problem leaving him sidelined for months at a time.

Unsurprisingly, his form as a batsman - which had seen him touch the realms of greatness during the 2002/03 tour of Australia when he made three hundreds - also began to decline.

He resigned the England captaincy in tears in August last year after the home series against South Africa was lost and has not played for England since.

Vaughan was England's most successful Test captain in terms of overall wins, with 26 victories, 11 defeats and 14 draws in his five-year spell in charge after he replaced Nasser Hussain at the helm in 2003.

All-rounder Flintoff, the star of England's Ashes triumph four years ago told reporters on Monday at Edgbaston - where the team face Warwickshire in an Ashes warm-up match starting on Wednesday - that Vaughan had been a class act.

"Playing under 'Vaughanie', I probably had the best moments of my career so far," Flintoff said.

"He got the best out of me. As a captain, he was someone you obviously admire and respect. He's England's best ever captain statistically and not a bad batter as well.

"All these things make 'Vaughanie' one of the greats of our game."

Flintoff added composure was key to the Yorkshire batsman's captaincy.

"As a captain he was unflappable. He stood at mid-off and whether the opposition were 500 for none or 90 for nine, there could be mayhem ensuing around him but 'Vaughanie' would just be stood there as always.

"I think that rubbed off on the rest of the team and we played our best cricket under him."

When Vaughan was ruled out of the 2006/07 tour of Australia, Flintoff replaced him as captain in an Ashes series where England were whitewashed 5-0.

Flintoff admitted he'd lacked Vaughan's temperament, saying: "It's hard to remain like that when things aren't going your way. It's something I struggled with but Vaughanie was born to be England captain."

Kevin Pietersen, recalling one of his earliest England appearances in 2004 when he found himself facing a hostile crowd in Johannesburg during a one-day international against his native South Africa, said Vaughan had given him valuable advice.

"Michael Vaughan was huge to me. I remember one of the first things he said to me, coming in at The Wanderers to play South Africa in that huge series when 60,000 people were looking as if they were going to kill me," Pietersen said.

"He walked up to me in the middle of the wicket and said 'The ball is white; the ball is round, you know what you've done to get here, just watch it as hard as you can'.

"That calmed me right down, from being a gibbering wreck walking on to that field to the player that I am now because that's all I do now, watch the ball."

Australia vice-captain Michael Clarke said Vaughan was as admired by his opponents as he was by his team-mates.

"He was a wonderful cricketer, a wonderful captain for England for a long time. I know all the guys in our changing room certainly respect him."

Desperate for one last series against Australia, Vaughan vowed to regain his place through sheer weight of runs but so far this season he has managed just 147 runs in seven County Championship innings for Yorkshire.

Meanwhile the emergence of Ravi Bopara, who this year has made hundreds in three successive Tests against the West Indies, at No 3, also dented Vaughan's hopes of a recall.

Vaughan scored 5,719 Test runs in 82 matches at an average of 41.44 with 18 hundreds and a best of 197 against India at Trent Bridge in 2002.

Pietersen lauds Vaughan's timing

2009-06-30T03:42:00.001-07:00

The Ashes 2009

As Michael Vaughan, a major pillar of England ' s 2005 Ashes prosperity, prepares to term time on his career, the wearisome group of players idealistic to replicate his feat of four oldness ago have been hasty to laud his contribution.

True is apt that Vaughan makes his to come press conference at Edgbaston - the scene of two of his highly enormously individual days as England captain. The ground brought lone of his finest moments, when he outwardly kept his cool instance churning inside seeing Australia were thwarted, two runs from fortune, in 2005, and it also brought his lowest moment when he trudged assassinate the biz last year having been defeated by South Africa. It was his final Test as captain, and - as it turned independent - his final Test.

Vaughan desperately wanted to be sliver of this summer ' s Ashes, but the body just wasn ' t willing. His destined Test appearance lambaste Australia will remain that Ashes - clinching match at The Oval four oldness ago. It ' s not a bad memory to have, but few would have imagined at the time that he would never obtain another crack at the Aussies.

Looking around the squad which assembled at Edgbaston to complete their Ashes preparations with a three - day strife lambaste Warwickshire, Vaughan ' s stamp is still there to act as heuristic and his influence may not quite have ended. " Michael Vaughan was massive to me, " spoken Kevin Pietersen. " He is a protracted leader of manliness and you matriculate a party from guys congenerous him. A lot of the senior players mild communicate stow away him on a buddy-buddy basis. "

On the timing of his announcement, Pietersen was effusive in his praise. " Sound shows the great comrade he is, " he said. " He always knew the just bit to take on existence. To sublet Straussy know that he can pursue leading the team and let Ravi [Bopara] know he onus continue at No. 3, the timing is brilliant. "

Pietersen, who fabricated his Test debut importance the 2005 Ashes, and last season took over the captaincy ( albeit briefly ), standstill remembers the advice Vaughan handed extraneous during a daunting ODI against South Africa at Johannesburg the previous winter.

" I remember one of the first things he said to me - coming connections at The Wanderers to scope South Africa in that super colossal series when 60, 000 people were looking as if they were vim to immolate me. He walked spreading to me in the middle of the wicket and said ' The orgy is silvery; the ball is round, you know what you ' ve done to get here, just watch it for oppressive due to you can '.

" To symbolize honest, that calmed me right rejected, from being a gibbering liquidate mobile on to that field to the player that I am now because that ' s all I prepare now. I impartial ticker the ball. That ' s why when people state effect series where the opposition is right at you I normally succeed because undocked I do is ticker the cricket ball. I don ' t think about any hogwash. I rightful watch the cricket shag. "

Andrew Flintoff was Vaughan ' s key man during the 2005 Ashes, producing according to fuss - gracious performances for his captain. " Forasmuch as far I ' ve played my boss years of cricket under him, " he verbal. " He gave confidence to the team, I can imagine from experience on that matchless, and he is a mate as well. "

Flintoff again followed Vaughan significance the captaincy, origin in India on the 2006 tour and ending with the Ashes whitewash the following winter, so he knows at first cooperation how tough the job is. " He has been England ' s sans pareil - ever captain statistically, " he said. " He was unflappable. There could be mayhem stir on around him but he always looked pretty poker - faced. He ' ll activity down because a great of the English game. "

Ponting to bat for charity during the Ashes

2009-06-30T03:10:00.000-07:00

The Ashes 2009

Following in the footsteps of former teammates Steve Waugh and Glenn McGrath, Australia skipper Ricky Ponting has volunteered for charity and will be batting for cancer-stricken children during the Ashes campaign against England.

As part of "Run Ricky Run", a new anti-cancer initiative by the Ponting Foundation in collaboration with Fox Sports, cricket lovers can sponsor every run scored by the Australian captain in the five-Test series against England and the money would go to charities fighting childhood cancer.

"One purpose is to obviously raise much-needed funds for childhood cancer, but I think it has another effect," Ponting was quoted as saying by 'Herald Sun'.

"It will keep a lot of people interested in the cricket while we are away - it's another way for kids in particular to stay in touch and in tune with what the team is doing and how many runs I am scoring," he added.

Ponting and his wife Rianna have been taking a lot of interest in the issue and the Australian captain said this is one of the many initiatives he has in his mind.

"The work Rianna and I have done for children's cancer and trying to find a cure for childhood cancer has been pretty well known around Australia.

"This is one of the new initiatives that we have come up with," Ponting added.

Ponting's former captain Steve Waugh supports Udayan, a house for children of lepers in a Kolkata suburb, while McGrath has been championing breast cancer awareness for quite a while.

Retired Aussie stumper Adam Gilchrist too have donated generously for physically-challenged kids, For every six he hit in the Indian Premier League II, a physically-challenged kid got a modified bike.

Australia sending spy to assess Cardiff pitch

2009-06-30T02:50:00.000-07:00

The Ashes 2009

Suspicious of an England design in choosing Cardiff for first Test of the Ashes, Australia is sending a spy to the virgin venue to check on the state of pitch there.

Australia captain Ricky Ponting believes Cardiff, which has never hosted a Test, has been deliberately chosen ahead of traditional grounds like Old Trafford and Trent Bridge because England want maximum advantage out of the "dry" pitch knowing that Australia lack a front-line spinner.

"Historically, Cardiff has been one wicket around the country that has spun (in county cricket). It's been one of the driest wickets in England. They've probably got a bigger advantage there than anywhere else in the country.

"They know that we haven't got (Shane) Warne any more. They know that spin side of Australian cricket at the moment is probably not what it used to be," Ponting said.

"We've been talking about trying to send someone down to Cardiff this week so we can have a look at what the wicket preparation looks like. That way we can get it into our own minds a little bit earlier as to what to expect," he was quoted as saying by 'The Australian'.

Australia's confusion has been compounded by the contradictory reports about how the new strip will play in the first Test, beginning on July 8.

"Since we've been here we've heard lots of stories about how dry it's going to be and how much it's going to spin.

There was even talk a month ago about the Test not going ahead there because of problems with the pitch," Ponting said.

Ponting's concerns were magnified after he spoke to umpire George Sharp, who officiated in Australia's opening tour match in Hove and also umpired an early season one-day county match between Essex and Glamorgan in Cardiff on May 12.

In that county match, Pakistani leg-spinner Danish Kaneria claimed 4-16 from 10 overs for Essex to rout home team Glamorgan.

"George Sharp said that Kaneria was unplayable. He was turning them square," Ponting said.

So concerned was the England and Wales Cricket Board about the state of the pitch that a disciplinary committee penalised Glamorgan for the state of the wicket.

However, the county's cricket manager, Matthew Maynard, said it was an aberration, with the new groundsmen letting the pitch dry out too quickly.

Jayasuriya sets his sights on 2011 World Cup

2009-06-30T02:40:00.000-07:00

Sri Lanka news

Sri Lankan batsman Sanath Jayasuriya, who turned 40 on Tuesday, has said he wants to carry on until the 2011 World Cup. "I would love to. I am taking each series at a time. Hopefully I will get there. Age is not a problem, it is how you stay mentally and physically fit to remain on top of the game, to try out new variations in the bat and ball," Jayasuriya told AFP.

The hard-hitting batsman, who also bowls left-arm spin, made his one-day debut against Australia in Melbourne in 1989 and was impressive as an allrounder during Sri Lanka's victorious World Cup campaign in 1996. He is the second batsman after India's Sachin Tendulkar to pass 13,000 runs in ODIs and also holds the record for being the oldest batsman to score a one-day century, at 39 years and 212 days against India in Colombo.

"I don't really worry about records any more these days," Jayasuriya said. "I focus on putting runs on the board, to help the team win matches."

Jayasuriya retired from Tests in 2007, but continues to shine in the shorter versions of the game. He scored freely during the recent World Twenty20 in England where Sri Lanka finished runners-up, and ended as their joint second-highest run-getter with 177 at 25.28.

He said the emergence of talented young players meant he could never take his place for granted in the national team. "Playing with youngsters is extra hard these days," Jayasuriya said. "There is an abundance of raw talent constantly knocking at the door for a berth in the team. And that puts pressure on me. I have to perform to retain my place."

Jayasuriya, who captained Sri Lanka from 1999 to April 2003, knows that life is not easy for youngsters either. "They also need to live up to expectations, sometimes the pressure on them is much more than what it was when I was starting out."

Jayasuriya announced his retirement in 2006, but made a comeback during Sri Lanka's tour of England in the same year. His next outing will be the home series against world Twenty20 champions Pakistan, who will play five ODIs and a Twenty20 game after the three-Test series that begins on July 4.

"Pakistan has variety in batting and bowling and we are also working on a few things. Let's see, it should be an interesting contest," Jayasuriya said.

Sri Lanka name squad for first Test against Pak

2009-06-29T22:59:00.000-07:00

Sri Lanka news

Sri Lanka on Monday named a 15-man squad for the first of the three Test matches against Pakistan.

Anjelo Mathews earning a test recall, came into the squad replacing the veteran paceman Chaminda Vaas. Fast bowler Suranga Lakman and wicket-keeper batsman Kaushal Silva were also included in the squad.

The three match Test series is scheduled to begin from the 4th of July with the first match being played at the Galle International Stadium

The squad: Kumar Sangakkara (Captain), Muttiah Muralitharan, Malintha Warnapura, Tharanga Paranavithana, Mahela Jayawardena, Thilan Samaraweera, Tilakaratne Dilshan, Angelo Matthews, Chamara Kapugedara, Ajantha Mendis, Thilina Thushara, Nuwan Kulasekera, Dhammika Prasad, Kaushal Silva and Suranga Lakmal.

England women thrash Australia

2009-06-29T22:05:00.000-07:00

England's women's side hammered Australia by nine wickets at Chelmsford in the first of five one-day internationals.

World Cup and World Twenty20 champions England, beaten by their arch-rivals in a one-off Twenty20 match last week, dismissed Australia for just 133 on Monday in the opening match of this 50 overs per side series.

England fast bowler Katherine Brunt took a wicket first ball at the headquarters ground of English county side Essex to spark a top-order collapse that saw Australia slump to 34 for five.

But the lower order rallied, with contributions from Lauren Ebsary (23) and Rene Farrell (39) helping take Australia past 100.

In reply Sarah Taylor, who kept wicket impressively, made 68 while fellow opener Caroline Atkins (48 not out) offered sound support in a first-wicket stand of 119 that all but saw England to victory.

Star batter Claire Taylor (eight not out) hit the winning runs as England won with a massive 23 overs to spare.

The teams return to Chelmsford on Tuesday for the second match which, unlike the first, will be a day/night fixture.

Reverse-swing could decide Ashes - Pietersen

2009-06-29T21:55:00.000-07:00

The Ashes 2009

England is currently on a heatwave alert, but far from making the Australians endure at home Kevin Pietersen believes essential amenability help the internal side conquest the Ashes. The predicted hot, dry summer would aid the bowlers in getting the ball to reverse swing, a consideration that proved formidable during the 2005 Ashes structure, and Pietersen oral it can job again.

Four second childhood ago England ' s four quicks - Steve Harmison, Matthew Hoggard, Simon Jones and Andrew Flintoff - caused no end of problems veil reverse facility, generation the Australian bowlers found little in return. Of that advance only Flintoff remains from the current generation, but James Anderson and Stuart Abysmal hold developed rapidly seeing the last 12 months.

There has been largely thought around the make - up of England ' s five - pronged attack for the series. A balance of three quicks and two spinners is looking increasingly likely, but while England ' s advantage connections the slow - bowling section is being stoked advancement Pietersen reckons the fast bowlers guilt also posses a earnest effect.

" I ' m indubitable the Australians are probably hoping that the weather doesn ' t promote cognate this, for Anderson, Broad, Flintoff bowling reverse swing - I wouldn ' t want to be facing that, " he vocal. " We ' re going to be really tough to laxity against. If batters do crush our inconsistent - immunity, I look forward to watching them. Positive will take some resolute batting against those bowlers, all at 90mph, irreconcilable - swinging it both ways. "

Anderson is especially parlous with the older luncheon and Pietersen believes he leave be a huge handful seeing the visitors. " When I saw Anderson skill unaffected at Durham against the West Indies, I said ' how do you guise that? ' I know whereas a batsman who goes okay against prerogative bowling, to face that is the biggest test of all. "

Pietersen has been doing plenty of homework on the Australians ahead of the series with regular phone calls to his friends in the South Africa team who faced them earlier this year. Jacques Kallis and Mark Boucher, who Pietersen played alongside for Royal Challengers Bangalore at the IPL, have been on speed dial pressure recent weeks due to Pietersen builds up his dossier on the distinction.

" I have had a lot of copy with [Jacques] Kallis also [Mark] Boucher. A lot of it was very, very useful, " Pietersen verbal. " They told me about the new bowlers we haven ' t seen much of, like [Peter] Siddle, also how to dismiss fairly a few of their top batsmen. I speak to Kallis also Boucher almost frequent about stuff. "

Intrinsic will be a very different Australia particle that faces England on July 8 than the matchless that completed the 5 - 0 Ashes whitewash in Sydney in virgin 2007. Abashed are Justin Langer, Matthew Hayden, Glenn McGrath, Shane Warne further, the partner Pietersen is most glad to see the back of, Adam Gilchrist.

" The substantial one shot that we don ' t see is Gilchrist gate in at seven, " he said. " In Perth [during the 06 - 07 series] when he came in and hit lone of the quickest hundreds in history, that was just demoralising. That ' s one of the guys we ' re very, especial gleeful not to see.

" We ' ve got to make sure we capitalise on whatever weaknesses we think they ' ve got. "

Pietersen was less impending about the absence of Warne who, as expected, has had plenty to recite in recent days including challenge that strayed Pietersen England would have no chance in the Ashes. " He ' ll be in the commentary box, thus leave certainly still be there. That ' s Warney, I ' m not activity to prompt anything, " he said, but couldn ' t help having a little revel in back. " We are certainly not a one - man team.

" We ' ve got Strauss who scored so many hundreds recently; Alastair Cook has also scored hundreds influence the outlive six months, Collingwood the same and Bopara three in his rest three Test innings. I ' ve scored a few, Flintoff has come tote into the team and Matty Prior ' s batting has been outstanding further that ' s before we prompt to our bowlers. "

Authentic is clear that Pietersen isn ' t going to take a backward action over the nearest six weeks. Any concerns about his Achilles are now brushed aside and he said that a player can ' t enter a weigh condemn Australia with a inconsistent negative thought.

" Thanks to these days as you fling to play against Australia thinking you ' re injured that ' s when they ' ll pounce on you and crucify you. You posses to go alien there in a herculean create. That ' s how I like to play - and that ' s what I will equate caution. " This summer is heating up in more ways than one.

Fit Flintoff desperate for the Ashes

2009-06-29T21:52:00.000-07:00

The Ashes 2009

Andrew Flintoff 's abide Ashes experience was the lowest point of his career, but he insists memories of those dark days in Australia have long due to been banished as he prepares for another crack at the urn. The wretchedness of the 5 - 0 whitewash during 2006 - 07 was in stark contrast to the sensational highs of do importance 2005, but as the 2009 sojourn draws closer Flintoff wants to start afresh.

He is dangerous to make the incredibly of the next two months of Ashes pipeline subsequent winning his latest fitness battle ensuing knee surgery. For a while concrete looked as though it would act for a close race to sell for fit, but he has had three weeks with Lancashire and is now looking forward to facing Australia again, impatient to wangle every opportunity that comes his way.

" The last Ashes was the low boundary of my career. Probably the last series emotionally was the stronger of the two, " he spoken. " But all that is behind us. We have got a very new bunch besides, quite than dining foreign on 2005 or habitat on 2006 - 2007, substantial is all about what happens over the beside six weeks. It is the biggest contrivance owing to an Englishman to play in. I don ' t need any extra incentive. I just yearning to perform. "

" As owing to any kooky scars, I wouldn ' t pronounce crack are a big league hoopla there. There are a lot of things that have happened prominence my life since then. I am just looking valorous to playing. The particular apparatus due to me is when you play, keep vie, but more importantly enjoying authentic. Vitality into this series, I am going to enjoy playing. "

The timing of Flintoff ' s injury fundamental in the IPL caused totally of controversy with an Ashes summer looming, but the allrounder is appreciative it happened when it did. " Tangible was a degenerative dilemma. It was untimely that actual came up grease the IPL, but I ' m sportive it did unlike I ' d have been struggling for this computation. "

It ' s the motivation of recipient back to the peak of his powers as he showed in 2005 that has helped Flintoff through his seemingly gigantic rehabilitation programmes. Often perceptible has been his ankle - which has fundamental four operations - but the latest injury to his knee was a new one to comprehend to the catalogue. And each time Flintoff has been laid low it has reminded him of what he was missing.

" From my point of view, on ice unabbreviated the injuries I had, if I didn ' t think I could clock in back and play the cricket I played importance the past or be better, I don ' t surmise I would hold done it. I ' ve worked hard to amuse here.

" You miss England more as you get older. When you have missed as much cricket as me of journey you do, " he added. " It ' s been taken at once from me at changing points importance my career and it ' s about making the most of it every chance you get. I ' m not far away from that now but, as you get older, you don ' t want to miss much cricket because you don ' t know how mightily you ' ve got in you. "

Flintoff ' s form notoriety his comeback games for Lancashire has been high as wickets were followed by some welcome runs. His bowling always takes care of itself, so it was the while in the middle - with a half - century in the Championship again a blistering 93 off 41 balls at Derby in the Twenty20 Cup - which will body most heartening.

The 93 was Flintoff ' s highest innings in an official engagement being his 102 at Trent Bridge during the 2005 Ashes again he has decided to force back to a the book of batting that works for him. " The way I ' ve played over the last few weeks I ' m manly of scoring runs, " he uttered. " A few years ago I honorable to get bigger because a batsman which I thought meant technically exceptional further playing perfect shots which I ' ll never make. Instead I ' ve mixed up back to the method I confidence and playing aggressively. "

Still, he is pacific violative a demotion in the order keep from No. 7 his likely ascertain when the series starts. It ' s direction he began his Assessment career again where he has always looked best workaday despite his golden 18 - month spell from 2004 to 2005 when he contributed the runs of a mechanical batsman.

Attack Australia through Flintoff - Arthur

2009-06-29T21:48:00.000-07:00

The Ashes 2009

Mickey Arthur, South Africa's coach, believes England need to get the attacking best out of Andrew Flintoff in this summer's Ashes. Arthur, who coached South Africa to a Test series victory over England last year, said Flintoff's approach toward the side then was not aggressive enough.

"We felt Andrew Flintoff bowled too negatively against South Africa last summer. I'd like to see him used as a more attacking option because he has the ability to do that," he told the Wisden Cricketer. "I would like to see Flintoff given the licence to attack along with James Anderson, whom we rated very highly when we faced him last year, while Stuart Broad is used as more of a control bowler, who will make the batsmen play and probe away around off stump."

Another bowler who Arthur singled out was Graeme Swann, expected to be England's first-choice spinner in Cardiff on July 8. "I've been very impressed with Graeme Swann, who has convinced me there can be a future for the orthodox offspinner in Test cricket, contrary to popular belief (and mine)," said Arthur. "He likes to bowl an attacking line which means he might go for more runs but he will take wickets, especially against the left-handers in Australia's top order. At the moment he is a better option than Monty Panesar, who had no variation against us in 2008."

While he commended the selectors' decision to bat Ravi Bopara at No. 3, Arthur was wary of how well Bopara would handle the pressure, and how England's batting would cope against Australia's pace attack. "England have been bold and made some proper decisions with selection: bringing in Ravi Bopara at No.3 and deciding on a five-man bowling attack with Matt Prior batting at six. There has been total clarity and no room for confusion," he said. "Players cannot say they don't know where they stand. My concern, though, is that in their quest to take 20 wickets they have put a huge amount of pressure on their five main batters.

"I was impressed with what I saw of Bopara against West Indies but he's still relatively untried and there is a huge amount of pressure on Kevin Pietersen. If Australia use the new ball well, then they could put the England top order under a lot of pressure. For me the key to the series is how well England's top five do as a unit. It's a really tough series to call."

Arthur felt the bowling attacks were fairly even, with England having a clear advantage with spin, but said Australia's batting had more depth.

Sehwag reports to NCA for rehab

2009-06-29T21:41:00.000-07:00

Indian cricket

Virender Sehwag, who is recovering from a shoulder injury that ruled him out of the World Twenty20 earlier this month, reported at the NCA in Bangalore on Monday as part of his rehabilitation. Paul Close, the NCA physiotherapist at the NCA, will assess Sehwag's recovery and the batsman will return tonight.

Sehwag had to undergo surgery for a lesion on his right shoulder on June 11 and was expected to be out of action for around 12 to 16 weeks. News of the injury set off a controversy, following reports that Sehwag had carried the injury from the IPL and the Indian team had risked taking him, hoping he would recover by the time they got to the more important matches in the tournament.

Sehwag didn't recover, the team management couldn't offer a convincing or conclusive explanation of the nature and the extent of the injury, and the net result was a lot of speculation ahead of and during the tournament.

India's next international assignment after the four-ODI tour of the West Indies is a short tri-series in Sri Lanka, tentatively scheduled just before the Champions Trophy, which will be played in South Africa in September.

Vaughan was excellent behind the scenes - Trescothick

2009-06-29T04:26:00.000-07:00

Marcus Trescothick, the former England batsman, has said England cede sorely miss Michael Vaughan's presence as they look to regain the Ashes this summer. Trescothick spoken that Vaughan, who is expected to announce his retirement from the sport on Tuesday, was a natural superior of men not just on the field but off true as well.

Vaughan captained the team to Ashes deification in 2005, ending a wait of nearly 20 caducity. Trescothick also Vaughan forged a very successful opening combination through avenue together in 2000 besides Trescothick said it was a full swing thanks to associated with him.

" His doing within this year ' s Ashes side would retain been really important, " Trescothick told Sky Sports. " Obviously we worked closely together for a clamp of years and had a great season, finest in us winning the Ashes.

" To trial with him, experience him and talk to him was a key moment for all of us. True was great to retain that kinship lie low him. "

Vaughan took over the reins in 2004 following the gang had moulded into a fighting unit below Nasser Hussain. He carried on the positive work also led his team to more Evaluation victories than any peculiar English captain. After his tearful resignation last while, his place in the gang wasn ' t guaranteed due to his indifferent batting form, which wasn ' t enough to earn him a place in the Ashes probables squad.

" When Nasser Hussain finished the team needed to move forward also Michael was the right chap at the time, " Trescothick said. " He ' s a ruler of men who has the ability - unpunctual the scenes as bushy-tailed - to keep people going. People see what he does on the game but they don ' t spy the off - the - field Michael.

" He was brilliant at keeping you going to the adjoining sport, the after innings, or the next day. That ' s what he was mammoth at. "

Vaughan ' s company - mate and bowling spearhead during the 2005 Ashes, Steve Harmison, also praised his leadership skills and spoke of how the players respected playing under him.

NSW eye Sangakkara for T20 series

2009-06-29T04:23:00.000-07:00

New South Wales have Sri Lankan captain Kumar Sangakkara in their sights to play in Australia's domestic Twenty20 competition early next year, officials said on Monday.

Cricket NSW is yet to finalise its playing roster for the Champions League Twenty20 tournament in India in October and the domestic T20 competition in the new year.

Two NSW players, opening batsman David Warner and paceman Nathan Bracken, have the option of playing for NSW or Delhi Daredevils and Bangalore Royal Challengers respectively in the Champions League tournament.

Cricket NSW chief executive David Gilbert said if Warner opted for Delhi, the Blues could look to re-sign New Zealander Brendon McCullum for the domestic T20 competition after he played for NSW in last year's final.

However, complicating matters is the addition of McCullum's Otago team to the Champions League field, which could make him unavailable.

Gilbert said in that eventuality Sangakkara was their chief target.

"He (Sangakkara) is certainly top of our hit list, but it all depends on his availability," Gilbert said.

"At the moment Sri Lanka are scheduled to be playing in a one-day Tri-Series in Bangladesh, so if that's the case then that would definitely rule him out.

"But from what we're hearing that Tri-Series is not set in stone."

Gilbert indicated that if Sangakkara was not available, NSW could then use the Champions League as an opportunity to scout for alternative overseas player options.

Umar shines with century in draw

2009-06-29T02:33:00.001-07:00

Australia A 399 and 5 for 256 (White 77, Paine 54*) drew with Pakistan A 338 and 5 for 207 (Umar Akmal 100*, Sarfraz Ahmed 50*)

Scorecard

Umar Akmal scored his fourth first-class century as the match between Pakistan A and Australia A petered out to a draw in Townsville. Chasing an unlikely 318 for victory, Pakistan finished on 5 for 207 with Umar unbeaten on 100 and Sarfraz Ahmed on 50.

Umar, the younger brother of the Pakistan wicketkeeper Kamran Akmal, struck 11 fours and two sixes in his 110-ball innings but despite his speed the target was too great. Clint McKay added two second-innings wickets to his six from the first innings, while the spinners Jason Krejza and Jon Holland were both expensive.

Australia's second innings was anchored by the captain Cameron White, who made 77. He was assisted by the wicketkeeper Tim Paine, who finished on 54 not out when the Australians declared at 5 for 256.

The teams remain in Townsville for a second four-day match, which begins on Friday. They then head to Brisbane for three one-day matches and a Twenty20 game.

Symonds reveals reasons for T20 WC axe

2009-06-29T00:19:00.000-07:00

Catching a rugby league game at a pub with just pints of beer for company was the reason Andrew Symonds was dumped from Australia's Twenty20 World Cup squad, the troubled all-rounder has revealed.

Symonds was sent home from the event held in England after breaking an alcohol-related team agreement, Cricket Australia had said at that time.

Opening up about the episode that also cost him his central contract with CA, Symonds said he went out to watch a rugby league match between NSW and Queensland at a pub after the practice match against Bangladesh and returned late, that too drunk.

"I love Origin football and for me, with Origin football comes a few beers. I was wrapped up in watching football and then when I got back (from the pub) I knew then (my career was over)," Symonds revealed in an interview to Channel Nine's '60 Minutes' programme.

The 34-year-old said he felt "caged-in" and feared a mental breakdown due to his inability to cope with the pressure of being an international cricketer.

Collingwood and co prepared for sledges

2009-06-29T00:01:00.000-07:00

Paul Collingwood has warned Australia that attempts to expose any chinks in England's psychological armour will prove futile.

Collingwood believes the Australians are masters at sledging, since it is ingrained into their culture from an early age, and they pounce as soon as they detect any weakness.

Collingwood himself famously came off second best in a verbal clash with Shane Warne in 2007 after deciding to target the spin great on his final Test.

The move backfired spectacularly, as Warne was instrumental in Australia completing a 5-0 series whitewash.

Now, two and a half years later, Collingwood insists England will not succumb to 'mental disintegration' during their campaign to reclaim the Ashes.

"Sometimes they can really come hard at you as a team - usually when they sniff a moment where we have to get right on top," he said.

"Sometimes during the Adelaide Test in 2006 they had gone very quiet like any team when you get on top of them. It depends what the situation is.

"As a team England can stand up to sledging. If the opportunity comes around, if something needs to be said, then we'll back each other up.

"We won't go looking for it, we just want to perform well.

"Australia are very good at it. I played a lot of cricket out there as a youngster, initially in 1996, and they come hard at you.

"It's in their culture from a very early age. The youngsters do it. You feel that as a player, as an individual going out to bat in their country.

"It's very much a part of their culture but we have some strong characters who can deal with it should it come along."

Collingwood and Warne have continued to exchange verbal blows since their face-off in '07, when the now-retired Warne recently claimed England's World Twenty20 captain lacked imagination.

"Shane has gone but I'm sure there will be someone else for me," he said.

"In Sydney in 2007 we were just two players wanting to win games for their countries. But he's in the commentary box now so I can't really say too much."

Collingwood made an impressive start to the last Ashes series, hitting 96 in Brisbane and a double century in Adelaide.

"That was down to believing in myself. You have to go out there from ball one and give it a good go, especially against Australia," he said.

"We all know they are a very good side and you have to get your technique in place.

"But it's the mental side against Australia that's the main thing and that's an area where it's going to be new for quite a lot of the players on both sides.

"It's a totally different series altogether with the media hype and atmosphere, so you need to get your head around the job in hand.

"We know when we played in Australia we didn't get a chance to breathe because the teams you play against are very strong."

Shane Watson named in NSW squad

2009-06-28T23:56:00.000-07:00

Australian allrounder Shane Watson has been named in the New South Wales squad for the 2009/10 season, Cricket NSW said on Monday.

Watson, who is struggling with a knee problem ahead of Australia's Ashes series opener in England next week, has switched states from Queensland and is one of 10 NSW players contracted by Cricket Australia.

With many players likely to be on international duty the next Australian summer, NSW will again look to its younger players, who gained valuable 1st XI experience last season.

"Having 10 players contracted to Cricket Australia will test the squad's depth however I am delighted that we are still able to name such a talented contract list," Cricket NSW chief executive David Gilbert said.

Among the NSW players with Cricket Australia contracts are: Doug Bollinger, Nathan Bracken, Stuart Clark, Michael Clarke, Brad Haddin, Nathan Hauritz, Phillip Hughes, Simon Katich, Brett Lee and Watson.

'The best I have bowled for a long time' - Rampaul

2009-06-28T22:15:00.000-07:00

West Indies fast bowler Ravi Rampaul has said he is delighted with his superb bowling display in the second ODI against India. He struck at either end of the Indian innings, to finish with 4 for 37, and was largely responsible for containing India to a below-par 188.

The 24-year-old picked up the Man-of-the-Match award as West Indies drew level in the four-match series, storming to a eight-wicket win in Jamaica. "It was the best I have bowled for a long time. I was playing four-day cricket and coming back to one-day, my rhythm and everything went well - today I bowled really well," Rampaul said.

Rampaul, who replaced Lionel Baker from the first ODI at the same venue, said he was a little surprised with the loose shots that the Indian batsmen played, but he was more concerned about ensuring that he maintained an immaculate line and intelligently utilising the swing he managed to extract from the pitch. "I was getting a little swing with the ball so I was just waiting for them to play the rash shots," he said.

He said he had also noticed that since the ICC World Twenty20 the Indians were averse to short-pitched deliveries but contained himself to use it sparingly. "They weren't too comfortable with the short balls so I used it as a surprise delivery," Rampaul said.

While Rampaul went on the rampage early on - dismissing Gautam Gambhir and Rohit Sharma for ducks in his first over - he also underlined the importance of bowling miserly spells. "I'm always an attacking bowler and I think the captain knows that I am an attacking bowler, but I can bowl tight as well," Rampaul said.

After his initial double strike, he sent back Ravindra Jadeja and Praveen Kumar as the West Indies stormed to a comprehensive victory. His performance would no doubt have put the selectors on notice over his inclusion in the Test side. "I enjoy all types of matches, I am just waiting for my opportunity to play Test cricket," Rampaul said.

Rampaul, who has played 34 ODIs, said he had been making steady progress in getting back into top shape and thanked former West Indies trainer, Ronald Rogers, for his help. "I have been working hard; apart from cricket I have been doing a lot of physical work and I'm getting better," Rampaul said. "I still need to do a bit more work but I am getting there slowly."

We misread the pitch - Dhoni

2009-06-28T22:13:00.000-07:00

India's poor batting display in their eight-wicket defeat in the second ODI in Kingston owed to a misjudgment on the part of their batsmen about the pitch, MS Dhoni has said. Dhoni played a captain's innings of 95, which rescued his team from a hopeless situation at 82 for 8, but proved woefully inadequate in the face of an attacking opening stand of 101 led by West Indies captain Chris Gayle.

"We should have paid a little more respect to the bowlers," Dhoni said after the game. "The wicket was a bit difficult, it was swinging around a bit. We didn't judge the wicket well and just went around playing our strokes which really brought our downfall."

Dhoni was involved in a 101-run stand for the ninth wicket with RP Singh, who chipped in with a valuable 23. It was the fifth instance of a ninth-wicket pair putting on a century-partnership, and it saved India's blushes after they were in danger of being bowled out for under three figures. "Once you lose too many wickets then the only thing that you are doing is catching up. RP and me had a partnership otherwise it would have been quite embarrassing," he said.

India's top and middle orders were blown away by some disciplined bowling from the West Indian seamers, led by Ravi Rampaul, who finished with a career-best 4 for 37. India were in trouble as early as the second over, when Rampaul dismissed Gautam Gambhir and Rohit Sharma in a space of three deliveries, and West Indies retained the advantage for the remainder of the game.

India's failure at the top, Dhoni believed, was decisive in their inability to post a challenging score, as the pitch had eased out by the time West Indies began their chase. "Later on, the wicket became better for batting," he said. "When you are batting first, initially you expect the wicket to do a bit and it is the first half an hour and after that you can capitalise if you get up a good start."

While Yuvraj Singh was at the crease India were in a position to fight back hard, but Dhoni added that reliance on just one individual - Yuvraj made a century in the series opener - was not going to win them matches. "Yuvraj is the man in form, he is getting the run for us but we can't expect one individual to score in one and every game.

"You can't expect to bowl the opponent out within 180, especially on a wicket like this. We just wanted to make it difficult. As long as we can stay on the wicket and make it difficult for them to score runs, that was the motivation."

His opposing captain Chris Gayle was full of praise for the fast-bowling duo of Rampaul and Jerome Taylor, who set the stage for the series-levelling win.

"It is nice to square the series. There were some good performances from the guys," he said. "Rampaul and Taylor set the game for us and from now we will look to go strength to strength. There was moisture in the wicket and Taylor and Ravi utilised it well, and the catching was also good, so we just need to keep working on our game."

West Indies seamers seal comprehensive win

2009-06-28T21:10:00.000-07:00

West Indies v India, 2nd ODI, Kingston

West Indies 192 for 2 (Morton 85*, Gayle 64) beat India 188 (Dhoni 95, Rampaul 4-37, Taylor 3-35, Bravo 3-26) by eight wickets

Scorecard and ball-by-ball details

The West Indies fast bowlers - even without Fidel Edwards - embarrassed the Indian batting line-up for the second time in three weeks, setting the foundation for a series-levelling win. They bowled aggressively and smartly, reducing India to 82 for 8 before a 101-run ninth-wicket stand between MS Dhoni and RP Singh kept the match alive. Chris Gayle and Runako Morton replied with a 101-run partnership of their own, ensuring there was no late drama in a game that was mostly dominated by West Indies.

Two days ago 658 runs were scored on the same Sabina Park pitch by the same set of batsmen, but the early swing exposed some technical flaws with the Indian line-up. There were personal milestones for Ravi Rampaul and Denesh Ramdin along the way, Rampaul taking career-best figures of 4 for 37 and Ramdin five catches.

Gayle's captaincy stood out early on. He employed two slips as soon as he saw some swing. Jerome Taylor didn't need any of the slips in the first over, when he bowled the perfect outswinger to Dinesh Karthik, shaping in, pitching off, moving away, making the batsman play, and getting the edge through to the keeper.

If Karthik had no option but to play at Taylor, Gautam Gambhir and Rohit Sharma played unnecessary shots to Rampaul in the next over. Bowling to Rohit, Rampaul wanted the second slip out, but Gayle persisted. And how it worked. Rohit chased a wide outswinger, Ramdin went too hard at the catch, but the second slip took the rebound. Seven for 3 in 1.4 overs, and there was still a long queue outside the Sabina Park.

By the time the crowd finally settled, Yuvraj Singh was promising another treat. By the end of 12 overs India seemed to have weathered the storm, only momentarily. Yuvraj had reached 35 off 32, quite a contrast to Dhoni's 11 off 31. It was all fine until then, because the partnership read 47 off 62.

But neither Gayle nor Taylor was done yet. Taylor was asked to bowl his seventh over on the trot, and he got Yuvraj with the first ball. Gayle was not going to wait for mistakes now. Back came Rampaul, in came a leg gully and a slip, and out came the open secret: the bouncers. After an edgy nine-ball stay, Yusuf Pathan edged an accurate bouncer from Dwayne Bravo. Ravindra Jadeja repeated his dismissal from the first match, pushing at a delivery away from his body. After the second slump of the innings, India stood at 70 for 6, and Dhoni looking for some support from the other end.

Harbhajan Singh and Praveen Kumar didn't show any appreciation of the fact that there were close to 30 overs still to go, getting out to flashy shots, and soon India were 82 for 8. But Rampaul's fourth wicket came in his tenth over, a maiden, and Taylor and Bravo were nearing the completion of their quotas as well.

Dhoni took the batting Powerplay in the 23rd over, and farmed strike, even refusing singles to RP. Gayle got through the Powerplay overs without much damage, but had to opt against an all-out attack because Bravo and Taylor had only two overs each to go. He also seemed to have sensed that the pitch had eased out, and was happy to contain. Dhoni and RP, meanwhile, batted sensibly.

Dhoni wasn't in the cleanest of touches, but took charge of the rescue work. RP hung around him, and between them they brought up only the fifth 100-run stand for the ninth wicket in ODI history. RP's 23 was his personal best, and Dhoni looked set for what would have been a fifth century. But Bravo and Taylor came back well, making sure India didn't play their full quota. Dhoni was the last to go, for a responsible 95, to a perfect slower ball from Taylor in the 49th over.

If India thought they were carrying some momentum into the defence, they had another think coming. The maiden bowled at the top of the innings, by Praveen Kumar to Gayle, was a false start too. When Morton stood tall and slapped the first ball he faced for four, it confirmed that the pitch held no horrors, at least not after the first few overs in the morning.

That being the case, Gayle took a liking to the medium-pace of Ashish Nehra, RP and Praveen. In the over after that maiden, Praveen's quick reflexes saved his life: the straight pull from Gayle reached the boundary even before one could say "thank god". Gayle immediately put his hand up to apologise.

There was no sense of apology in the way he took the left-arm medium-pacers for 37 runs in their first five overs, killing the contest right there. When Gayle finally fell for a 46-ball 62, Morton had scored just 30. Morton stayed solid after his captain's fall, getting to his tenth fifty and taking West Indies home with 15.5 overs to spare.

Krejza posts century but struggles with ball

2009-06-27T03:59:00.000-07:00

Australia A v Pakistan A, Townsville, 2nd day

Pakistan A 4 for 202 (Azhar Ali 73*, Umar Akmal 54) trail Australia A 399 (Krejza 101*, Voges 78, Henriques 76, Wahab Riaz 5-98) by 197 runs

Scorecard

Jason Krejza's maiden first-class century set up a strong total for Australia A but Pakistan A's Azhar Ali had led a solid response by the close of the second day. At stumps Pakistan had reached 4 for 202 and trailled by 197 with Azhar unbeaten on 73 and Fahad Iqbal on 23.

Krejza's main aim is to prove that he still has the ability to be a Test-class spinner and while he struggled with that objective - he took 0 for 50 from 13 overs - his hundred was a significant bonus. He and Moises Henriques (76) added 121 for the seventh wicket before Henriques became one of five victims for the fast bowler Wahab Riaz.

Riaz finished with 5 for 98 and cleaned up the tail to leave Krejza, whose previous highest first-class score was 65, unbeaten on 101. He was fortunate to reach triple figures after the No. 11 Jon Holland joined him when Krejza was in the 80s and promptly edged his first two deliveries.

With the ball, it was Holland who outperformed his fellow spinner Krejza and picked up 2 for 39. Azhar guided Pakistan's reply and had good support from Umar Akmal, who posted 54, after the fast bowler Clint McKay reduced the visitors to 2 for 30.

Match was closer than we had thought - Dhoni

2009-06-27T00:57:00.000-07:00

MS Dhoni, the Indian captain, has said the first ODI against West Indies was closer than it looked despite the visitors' 20-run win.

"Most of the guys thought that we have won the game when they were seven wickets down but it was a mistake and hopefully we won't repeat that," Dhoni said. "It was more close than thought." India scored 339, largely owing to Yuvraj Singh's 102-ball 131.

West Indies lost their seventh wicket in the 40th over and needed 88 off the final ten. They scored 43 in the next five overs but lost David Bernard. Denesh Ramdin and Sulieman Benn scored 20 off two overs, which meant West Indies needed 25 off 18 balls to take the series lead. It was when the two batsmen fell within four balls of each other that a win looked highly unlikely. Ashish Nehra, playing his comeback game, took the crucial wickets of Bernard and Ramdin. "It was a gamble. We were thinking of giving that over to an offspinner or a pacer. Finally we chose a pacer as the ball was getting reverse-swing," Dhoni said.

West Indies captain Chris Gayle said his team should have capitalised on the good start. "We came close and the effort can't be faulted for the way we went about it," Gayle said. "We batted well. Darren [Bravo] who was making debut was also impressive. Shiv [Chanderpaul] played a top innings at the top. I think if we had won the toss we would have batted first because it is a flat track and the wicket seemed a bit dry."

Both Dhoni and Gayle gave credit to Yuvraj for India's victory. Dhoni said Yuvraj had matured as a batsman over the last two years. "We rely a lot on him. He gets big runs for us in the middle order," Dhoni said. "Once he sets in, you hope for a big score. That's what he's doing. Once he's set in, he always gives us a good score with a very good strike rate."

Gayle said once Yuvraj could be very dangerous once he was settled. "[Yuvraj] batted really well and set up a good innings for his team - on a small outfield and flat track it was difficult to contain him out there when he was on the go," Gayle said. "You have to give credit to the way Yuvraj batted. He started really slow but that goes to show the power of Yuvraj."

West Indies fined for slow over-rate

2009-06-27T00:12:00.000-07:00

Chris Gayle, the West Indies captain, has been fined 20% of his match fees while the rest of the team were docked 10% each for maintaining a slow over-rate in the first ODI against India at the Sabina Park.

The match referee Chris Broad found West Indies two overs short of their target at the end of the Indian innings after time allowances were taken into consideration.

As per the ICC Code of Conduct guidelines, individual players are fined 5% of their match fee for each over that is bowled beyond the allotted time limit, while the captain is fined double that amount.

West Indies lost the match by 20 runs, chasing 340. Their next game is on Sunday at the same venue.

Trust in 'Comeback' Nehra

2009-06-27T00:09:00.001-07:00

Tense decision of the day
West Indies needed 21 runs off 12 balls with one wicket in hand. India's nerves were fraying. It should have never got this close. A crucial choice lay before India, who should bowl the penultimate over? And the meeting of the minds to make this vital decision took forever. MS Dhoni presided over the assembly while Harbhajan and Yuvraj Singh were the most vocal players to attend, firmly backing Ashish Nehra, who was playing his first ODI in four years. Harbhajan whipped off Nehra's cap and then took his position at mid-off. Harbhajan's confidence in the bowler was repaid moments later when Denesh Ramdin lofted a catch straight to him.

Wardrobe malfunction of the day
David Bernard slipped and fell as he delivered the second ball of the 31st over. As he picked himself off the turf, he realized that his maroon tracks were badly torn near the left knee. Unable to run in with the cloth flapping around, Bernard asked the umpire for help and he resourcefully produced a pair of scissors and cut off the leg of the tracks at the knee. Bernard, to the crowd's delight, was a funny sight, running in to bowl four balls with one leg exposed from the knee and below. He duly trooped off after the end of the over to get a new pair of bottoms.

Controversial moment of the day
Ishant Sharma bowled a high full toss at Dwayne Bravo, whose attempt to smash the ball landed in Rohit Sharma's hands at cover. The batsman was confident that it would be called a no-ball, for it was much too high, and the fielder too seemed to think the same way for Rohit did not celebrate the catch but attempted a run out instead. The umpires, though, did not signal a no-ball and gave a disappointed Dwayne his marching orders.

Debutant of the day
Twenty-year old Darren Bravo, Dwayne's brother, began his ODI career with massive expectations with some people comparing his domestic record and left-hand technique to one Brian Charles Lara before he played the kind of innings that made him the prince of Trinidad. Darren walked out after his brother was dismissed and was credited with runs after his first ball smashed into his boot and went to the fine-leg boundary. His second ball also sped to the boundary but this time off the bat after Darren played a stylish leg glance.

Nostalgic moment of the day
Indians fans have been lamenting the disappearance of the MS Dhoni they know and love in recent months because the nudging and nurdling batsman he has become is a far cry from the flamboyant six-hitter that he was. Those Dhoni fans watching the Sabina Park ODI, however, would have bolted upright after watching the first ball off the 37th over. There was no mistaking that whiplash like scoop. The ball was full, Dhoni had stayed in his crease, got under the ball, and whipped it with tremendous use of his bottom hand over the straight boundary for six. He even allowed himself a smile after the ball cleared the boundary.

Weakness of the day
It might not work in the absence of Fidel Edwards' raw pace, Michael Holding said about the possibility of the West Indian fast bowlers using the short ball to unsettle India's batsmen like they did in the World Twenty20. Perhaps Jerome Taylor was listening because he bowled a hostile first spell, with speeds reaching 92 mph, on a rather unresponsive pitch. The Indian openers hopped around and eventually Gautam Gambhir flailed at a bouncer and top-edged a hook to midwicket. Rohit Sharma, too, perished against a short ball, one delivered at a gentler pace by Lionel Baker.

India snatch high-scoring thriller

2009-06-26T21:10:00.000-07:00

West Indies v India, 1st ODI, Kingston

India 339 for 6 (Yuvraj 131, Karthik 67) beat West Indies 319 (Chanderpaul 63) by 20 runs

Scorecard and ball-by-ball details

It ended dramatically at Sabina Park, with tension contorting the faces of anxious fans, both Indian and West Indian, as the hosts pursued India's massive total of 339 with tenacity. West Indies chased valiantly and stayed in the game throughout despite the regular fall of wickets but, in the end, their challenge lacked an innings combining aggression with longevity, two qualities that Yuvraj Singh blended perfectly during his match-winning 131 off 102 balls.

India were succumbing to their bugbear, having lost early wickets to the short ball, when Yuvraj joined Dinesh Karthik to rebuild the innings from 32 for 2. His approach made up for the absence of Sachin Tendulkar, Virender Sehwag and Suresh Raina and allayed fears of weakness in the batting order. Yuvraj revived the Indian innings by adding 135 with Karthik for the third wicket, a partnership that laid the platform for only the second ODI total in excess of 300 in Jamaica.

That two out of the three 300-plus scores at Sabina Park were made in this match despite a slow pitch and outfield spoke volumes about the mediocrity of the bowling attacks. West Indies' bowling disintegrated after Jerome Taylor's opening spell, losing discipline in line and length as they fed the Indian batsmen a diet of short or full balls. They conceded 22 runs in extras, and bowled three front-foot no-balls resulting in free hits, largesse they could ill afford. India's bowlers were worse, conceding 19 runs through wides, and bowling two no-balls: Chris Gayle deposited one of the free-hits over the long-on boundary. That they defended the target by 20 runs, was more due to the size of the total they were protecting and the West Indies' batsmen's ill-timed dismissals each time they got on a roll.

India seemed unlikely, however, to reach such a large total on evidence of how they batted at the start. Taylor hurried the batsmen with pace and beat them with seam movement during his first spell. He unsettled Gautam Gambhir with a 92mph delivery from round the wicket that hurried the left-hander, whose feeble attempt to hook landed in Dwayne Bravo's hands at midwicket. Unfortunately for West Indies, the pressure Taylor created dissipated because there was none forthcoming from the other end with Lionel Baker, Dwayne Bravo and David Bernard unable to bowl economically for a sustained period.

Even the batsmen who revived India survived nervous starts: Karthik was cut in half by Baker while Yuvraj was constantly beaten by short-of-length deliveries which seamed across him. The moment the length was full, though, the batsmen took advantage: Karthik drove Dwayne Bravo to the extra-cover boundary and Yuvraj was able to put away Baker's full offering to the point fence.

After growing in confidence, Karthik added Twenty20 flavour to the sedate pace of 50-over cricket, reaching his half-century with a scoop that carried for six over fine leg against Bernard. He tried it again, on 67, but this time he was undone by Bernard's slower ball and scooped a catch to the wicketkeeper.

Yuvraj, however, stayed firm and the momentum swung towards India in two phases, the first of which was when the spinners came on after the 20th over. He attacked Suleimann Benn and Gayle, pulling and slog-sweeping thrice over the midwicket boundary and India, largely through Yuvraj scored 70 runs between overs 20 and 27.

The second period of acceleration was during the batting Powerplay, taken in the 34th over. India began the five-over spell on 191 for 3 and Yuvraj set the tone by carving Baker to the cover boundary off the second ball before launching sixes over cover and midwicket to take 16 runs off the over.

Gayle turned to his best bowler but Yuvraj tore into Taylor's second spell, flicking him twice off the pads for four, and hitting him for sixes over cover, midwicket and long-on. MS Dhoni also went after him, shoveling a six down the ground. Taylor's two-over spell cost 37 runs and India scored 62 off the Powerplay. Taylor never recovered from the onslaught and finished with 1 for 74 after conceding only 16 off his first five overs.

West Indies appeared hapless against Yuvraj until Dwayne Bravo found the edge of his bat as he tried to glance towards fine leg. Bravo raised hopes of a fightback by dismissing Ravindra Jadeja first ball but useful innings from Dhoni and Yusuf Pathan steered India past 300, and a six from Harbhajan Singh off the last ball took them to 339.

Chasing 340 needed something special from Gayle and he began to deliver, muscling his way to 37 before top-edging a pull off Ashish Nehra to mid-on. Morton attempted to fill the void left by his opening partner and stepped up after his departure, steering West Indies to 70 for 1 after ten overs before he was unlucky to be given out caught down the leg side for 42. Despite the loss of both set batsmen, Ramnaresh Sarwan ensured West Indies kept abreast with the asking-rate, using his feet nimbly against the spinners to clear the boundary. In fact, Sarwan had just lofted Yuvraj for the most languid of straight sixes when he was run out for 45 the next ball while attempting an unnecessary second run.

It was now down to Shivnarine Chanderpaul and he too stepped up to ensure the equation didn't get out of hand, carting Yuvraj for consecutive sixes and reaching his half-century with two whips to the fine-leg boundary off Ishant Sharma. However, Chanderpaul also fell immediately after hitting a six: he had smacked Yusuf Pathan over the square-leg boundary and was caught repeating the shot the very next ball. Chanderpaul's dismissal for 63 was a crippling blow and appeared to be the end of West Indies chances but they fought on determinedly. Denesh Ramdin threw his bat around, so did Jerome Taylor and David Bernard, fraying India's nerves to the limit. They couldn't quite complete what would have been an astonishing win, though, for they needed one of their more accomplished top-order batsmen to stay to stay a little longer.

I'm doing everything pain-free - Pietersen

2009-06-26T04:11:00.000-07:00

Kevin Pietersen has said he would exhibit fit for the first Test against Australia on July 8 since he was doing entire his exercises " pain - for nothing " and had recovered significantly from the Achilles injury which many feared would rule him out of the entire series.

Pietersen picked up the injury during the prospect of West Indies and was forced independent of the one - occasion series when the same company visited England fix May. He did play four matches in ICC World Twenty20 earlier this month.

" It ' s fantastic I ' m doing everything now pain - complimentary, " Pietersen told journalists during a Vodafone proceeding rule Essex. " The only gadget I ' ve not been able to finish is road run and that ' s something we ' ll talk about in the next few days. Every single morning I ' m waking up absolutely fair.

" Every single instance I ' ve been as professional as I importance factor. I ' ve tried to make sure that animation engrossment an Ashes series I ' m not injured. I ' ve seen too teeming players perk that besides particularly against the Australians - you don ' t tend to last the symmetry. The improvements have been huge, in that me, due to my mental ingredient of things - it is very encouraging. "

Earlier this month Pietersen said the pain was so bad he couldn ' t walk abandoned the stairs of his house. Heartfelt was diagnosed through a ferry hot water that affects the achilles also he was expected to need two to three months of promote. Pietersen then said if required he would use painkillers to get through the Ashes.

England are looking to regain the Ashes that they off-track 5 - 0 grease Australia in 2006 - 07. Pietersen vocal most players who were part of that tour still felt the pain and disapprobation of the extinction. " I don ' t think palpable ' s a case of revenge, I think heartfelt ' s a case of going independent there and playing unmistakable cricket and backing the lads that we ' ve got in the dressing squeak, " Pietersen told Sky Sports. He also said the team had been playing consistently well thanks to the rest six months.

" The vibe in the dressing room is fantastic, the guys obtain played some awesome, marvelous cricket; all the batters are getting hundreds, all the bowlers are getting wickets also we ' re holding our catches. Undocked being blooming it ' s going to hold office a fantastic series besides I ' m not going to get matter segment talk about who ' s going to win, who ' s racket to escape, I just judge that the team that plays the superlative cricket over 25 days is going to win the series and that's it"

Neutral venues ruled out for 2011 World Cup

2009-06-26T03:52:00.000-07:00

The International Cricket Council has ruled out shifting Pakistan's share of the 2011 World Cup matches to a neutral venue, reaffirming that the games taken away from the troubled nation on security grounds will be held in the other three co-host countries.

In a Board meeting being held here, the ICC refused to give back Pakistan its share of 14 matches, besides ruling out the possibility of involving a fifth country for the event to be staged by India, Bangladesh and Sri Lanka now.

"ICC CWC 2011 Central Organising Committee has been asked to meet as soon as possible and recommend to the ICC Board, venues within the other three host countries for the 14 matches originally set for Pakistan," the ICC said in a statement.

ICC's commercial board (IDI) also reiterated that Lahore would no longer be the World Cup administrative headquarter, which has been shifted to Mumbai.

"The IDI Board remains committed to resolve this issue as soon as possible as there is an urgent need to press on with arrangements for the ICC's flagship event, now less than two years away," Morgan stated.

The PCB is currently locked in a legal battle with the ICC on the issue and Morgan said the governing body is trying hard to find an amicable solution to it.

"When two parties are at odds, it is often difficult to reach a settlement. We have not given up hope of reaching a settlement ... the legal action does not help but I don't think it makes it any more difficult," he said.

2009-06-26T03:47:00.000-07:00

Australia A v Pakistan A, Townsville, 1st day

Voges guides steady Australia A innings

Australia A 6 for 280 (Voges 78, Henriques 54*) v Pakistan A

Scorecard

Adam Voges posted a solid half-century to guide Australia A to reasonable score of 6 for 280 at stumps on the first day of their four-day match against Pakistan A in Townsville. Moises Henriques also made a handy contribution and was unbeaten on 54 at the close of play with Jason Krejza on 25.

The home team had been sent in at the Tony Ireland Stadium but Pakistan couldn't make early inroads with the new ball. The openers Ryan Broad and Michael Klinger added 55 before Mohammad Talha picked up the first of his two victims when Broad departed for 19.

Callum Ferguson, who will be one of the men considered if Australia need further batting cover during the Ashes, was caught behind for 12 before Voges and Cameron White (34) put on a 66-run stand. White and Tim Paine both fell to the left-arm spin of Abdur Rehman and it was left to Voges to keep the innings on track.

Fresh from a productive county stint with Nottinghamshire, Voges worked his way to 78 from 148 deliveries before he was the sixth to go. Talha finished the day with 2 for 83 and Rehman collected 2 for 52.

Bond inches closer to a Test return

2009-06-26T03:30:00.000-07:00

Fast bowler Shane Bond moved closer to a test return on Friday when he was included among 20 players awarded contracts by New Zealand Cricket.

While his former test teammates Scott Styris, Jamie How and Peter Fulton were among players to lose contracts, Bond has been included, extending his international comeback after his brief stint in the rebel Indian Cricket League.

New Zealand Cricket has decided to immediately welcome back players who had been involved in the ICL, as long as they have severed all ties with the rebel competition. Other countries have imposed a stand-down period on rebel players, delaying their recalls.

Bond, 34, last played for New Zealand at the 2007 World Cup in the West Indies and could make his test return as early as August, when the Kiwi team begins a tour to Sri Lanka. He has said he hopes to represent New Zealand again in tests, limited-overs and Twenty20 cricket.

Bond has played too rarely recently for his form to be accurately judged but selector Glenn Turner said he was confident the right-armer could still play at international level.

"Shane Bond is confident he can continue to contribute to the Black Caps," Turner said.

"He has performed well in the shorter form of the game at domestic level while his international track record is outstanding."

Turner said Daryl Tuffey, who also played in the rebel league, was close to winning a contract after strong domestic form.

The list of contracted players released Friday includes six first-time recipients -- fast bowlers Brent Arnel and Ian Butler, one-day specialists Grant Elliott and Neil Broom and top order batsmen Martin Guptill and Tim McIntosh.

"Some experienced players have missed out as a result of new players forcing their way into the top 20 and that's a good sign for the game," Turner said.

Other players to miss out after being included on last year's list included fast bowlers Mark Gillespie and Michael Mason and batsmen James Marshall and Aaron Redmond.

Contracted New Zealand players: Brent Arnel, Shane Bond, Neil Broom, Ian Butler, Grant Elliott, James Franklin, Daniel Flynn, Martin Guptill, Gareth Hopkins, Brendon McCullum, Tim McIntosh, Chris Martin, Kyle Mills, Iain O'Brien, Jacob Oram, Jeetan Patel, Jesse Ryder, Tim Southee, Ross Taylor, Daniel Vettori.

Players who did not have their contracts renewed from 2008-09: Peter Fulton, Mark Gillespie, Jamie How, James Marshall, Michael Mason, Aaron Redmond, Scott Styris.

Dhoni to erase troubled Caribbean memories

2009-06-26T03:11:00.000-07:00

The 2007 World Cup humiliation here is still fresh in his mind, says Indian cricket captain Mahendra Singh Dhoni, who wants to get rid of the troubled memories by winning the four-match one-day series against the West Indies.

"Of course, it is not an easy thing to forget, especially that 2007 World Cup. It is always tough to forget that kind of tournament. It will be important for us to do well here," Dhoni said ahead of the first match here later today.

India had crashed out of the World Cup in the first week itself after embarrasing defeats at the hands of Bangladesh and Sri Lanka.

A year before the World Cup debacle, the team was thrashed 4-1 by the hosts in an ODI series.

"Injuries are never good when it comes to your key players. But now that it has happened, the only good thing is it gives a chance to see the bench's strength," Dhoni said.

"When it comes to India, we have plenty of talent, but it's about adaptability. international cricket doesn't have much to do too much with talent. It's how you cope with the pressure and how you deal with the situations, how you react," he added.

The skipper hopes to assess his bench strength during the short series.

"This gives them the opportunity to spend time in the middle, play a few games, get a bit of experience, see what international cricket is all about. It would be good exposure for youngsters who are part of the team right now and who have replaced the key players," he said.

Nielsen backs bowlers after Sussex struggle

2009-06-25T22:44:00.000-07:00

Australia coach Tim Nielsen came to the defence of his bowlers after they needed more than 80 overs to dismiss Sussex in their Ashes tour opener at Hove here on Thursday.

At stumps on the second day of four, Australia were 18 without loss in their second innings - an overall lead of 56 - after the hosts had made 311 in reply to the tourists' first innings 347.

Pacemen Stuart Clark, Brett Lee, Peter Siddle and Ben Hilfenhaus are all battling to join Mitchell Johnson, rested from this match, in Australia's attack for the first Test against England at Cardiff on July 8. Clark took three wickets for 46 runs, with the faster Lee claiming three for 53 although his return included eight no-balls. Siddle had figures of two for 33 and Hilfenhaus one for 31.

Encouragingly for England, off-spinner Nathan Hauritz, the lone specialist slow bowler in Australia's squad and often portrayed as the weakest link in their attack, went wicketless in an 18-over spell that yielded 98 runs on a pitch taking turn.

"Some days if you're not quite on your game and the opposition are playing well then you're certainly going to get hurt, our challenge is to work out why it didn't go quite so well for us today," said Nielsen.

"It was good for us to have to work hard through their lower order and they played pretty well. "As for the no balls, shocking weren't they! We're pulling our hair out about them and it's the only thing I am a bit grumpy about tonight.

"We don't bowl them in Twenty20, maybe because it's a free hit after, but we didn't have a bowler apart from (Simon) Katich who didn't concede a no ball today.

"It's certainly something we've got to fix up and work at. Look, we've had our first roll since March 15 in a four-day game but we're certainly not going to panic because guys have not had the best days.

"When we sat down and tried to organise our tour that was exactly the reasoning behind having two tour games against counties. "We wanted to make sure we had plenty of time to give all the players good quality playing time before the first Test came around to get any kinks out of the system and we started that process here today."

Turning to Hauritz, the coach added: "I thought he was good in patches but didn't bowl as well as he would have liked in other patches, but that was generally the day of all our bowlers I think. He won't be sitting back tonight thinking it's all roses that's for certain.

"More than half the runs Sussex scored were in boundaries and that sums the day up for us, we probably bowled one loose ball an over, be it Nathan or the quicks, and the times we were able to bowl with some control and to our fields were the times we got lots of wickets."