All posts by csb10.top

The new one-day rule where the old ball is replaced for the 35th over is not making Brett Lee happy. Lee believes the change to a harder, shiny ball gives batsmen an advantage towards the end of an innings and says he is “not a massive fan” of the ICC regulation.Previously balls were switched when they became soft and pitch-coloured, but in the current series in India one in significantly better condition has appeared. “The newer balls we’ve been using have been pretty shiny and still have the Kookaburra writing on them,” Lee said in the Australian. “It makes it harder for the bowlers because you’re trying to work with a ball that is as old as possible and you come on at the 34th over and you’re bowling with a new ball again.”Tim Nielsen, Australia’s coach, has noticed a change in scoring rates after the change. “After the 34th over our run rate’s escalated quite a bit,” he told the paper. “We’ve been going on at four or five an over and it’s got up to seven or eight a couple of times. The different ball is harder and comes on to the bat better.”Lee has been tried with a soft ball during the series to see if he can get reverse-swing and he has also been employed with the replacement. “It depends on the position of the game,” Nielsen said. “If you’ve got a new batsman you might bring on the fast bowlers. If you’ve got two batsmen in you might try and batten down the hatches a bit until the ball gets softer.”

New Zealand fast bowler Kyle Mills and allrounder Jacob Oram have been declared fit and will be available to participate in the Indian Premier League, which begins on April 18.Mills and Oram had missed the third Test of the home series against England because of a knee and hip injury respectively but both players passed fitness tests in Christchurch on Tuesday.”We both passed with flying colours so we’re getting packed and getting ready to go to India,” Mills told Radio Sport. “I have the feeling it’s [IPL] going to be a really intense competition. It’s all the best players in world cricket coming together. They’re not going to slacken off. We get the feeling it’s going to be around a long time and that it is going to expand.”Mills will fly to India on Friday to join the Mohali team while Oram will head to Chennai where he will play alongside his former captain Stephen Fleming. The other New Zealand players involved in the IPL are Daniel Vettori (Delhi), Scott Styris (Hyderabad), Ross Taylor (Bangalore) and Brendon McCullum (Kolkata).Vettori, Oram, McCullum, Mills and Taylor will play four Twenty20 games for their franchises before joining the New Zealand squad on their tour of England on May 1.

Australia’s tour to Pakistan, scheduled for March and April, is looking increasingly doubtfulfollowing last week’s meeting between the chairmen of both boards in Dubai. Following that discussion, Creagh O’Connor, Cricket Australia’s chairman, sent a letter to the Pakistan board expressing reservations about the security situation inside Pakistan.”We received a letter yesterday from CA following our meeting and, though they reiterated their commitment to supporting Pakistan cricket, they said security briefings they have received in Australia are advising them against touring,” Nasim Ashraf, the PCB chairman, told .A Cricket Australia security delegation is due to visit the country in the aftermath of the general elections due to be on February 18. But a report in the Urdu daily said Cricket Australia was unsure whether sending experts would serve any purpose now, indicating perhaps that a decision not to tour had already been made.”They have asked us whether we still want a security delegation sent here and if so when,” Ashraf said. “In response to this, we have told CA that we still firmly believe that the environment for cricket and cricketers is still safe here. We have also said that the security team should visit Pakistan from February 25, exactly one week after the elections.”Ashraf is also concerned that Australia’s decision could set a precedent. “It would be very damaging to Pakistan cricket and it is not just Pakistan-specific, because no country in the world issafe from terrorist acts,” he told the . “If we start letting this dictate our sports events, then I am afraid the whole world of cricket could be turned upside down and it could have serious repercussions financially and [for] the very existence of the Future Tours Programme.”He also didn’t rule out the possibility of Pakistan boycotting their tour to Australia in 2009. “This is a premature question, but we will keep all our options open. We are still very hopeful thatCricket Australia will make the right decision.”Australian players have expressed concerns about touring Pakistan for what would be their first visit in a decade, following a year of increasing violence and instability through the country. Despite this South Africa and Zimbabwe have both completed tours in recent months without any glitches.But privately, board officials now concede that the trip is becoming an unlikely prospect and the PCB has already insured the series against cancellation. “Certainly public utterances coming from Australia seem quite indicative of them not wanting to tour Pakistan so it wouldn’t be a surprise if they pulled out,” one official told Cricinfo.The official also said that alternative options and opponents in case Australia do pull out are being examined. “Nothing has materialised so far, but after the next meeting things will become clearer. We are trying to get other options here, but our priority is to get Australia here.”Pakistan will, however, continue to press for the visit to go ahead. Shafqat Naghmi, the PCB’s chief operating officer, is scheduled to meet James Sutherland, Cricket Australia’s chief executive, in Kuala Lumpur and discuss security arrangements further. “We stress that incidents couldhappen anywhere in the world,” Ashraf said. “They happen in Sri Lanka, they happened in Glasgow last year when we were there for an ODI and bombs went off in England in 2005 when Australia were there. We have to make decisions not just on perceptions, but ground realities.”We are making every effort to ensure the tour goes ahead. It would be a big loss to Pakistan cricket if they didn’t tour.”

ScorecardEngland women finally got the result they were looking for, beating Australia Under-21s by 75 runs in what could be the boost to kick-start their Australasian tour which had started with two heavy defeats. Charlotte Edwards had promised they would be bounce back, and they did, with their batting finally firing to add 9 for 249 against the Shooting Stars who had beaten them earlier this week.Beth Morgan, who had started with two failures, came good with a fifty, as did fellow opener Sarah Taylor, the pair lifting England with a 134-run stand. Morgan employed the sweep to good effect while Taylor thrilled the crowd with her customary over-the-top hitting.It was the platform they needed, with the smooth Edwards, timing the ball as well as ever, and Lydia Greenway then each adding 31. A bizarre hat-trick of run-outs followed in a frenetic last over yielding four runs and four run-outs as England lost six wickets in the last four overs.The Shooting Stars were up with the run-rate until Rosalie Birch dismissed opener Rachael Haynes for 37 and struck again through Claire Taylor’s catch at mid-on. Birch went on to claim 3 for 21 from her 10 overs.Laura Marsh also bowled tightly to restrict the U21s in an eight-over spell worth 23. Isa Guha and captain Edwards chipped in to take two wickets apiece while their were two fantastic run-outs which helped dismiss them for 174.”I’m really pleased with how the girls responded,” said a beaming Edwards. “Our batting was positive and we’re back to somewhere near our best.” Head coach Mark Dobson added: “At various stages throughout the three matches we have either batted, bowled or fielded well. Now we need to combine each of these disciplines consistently throughout the forthcoming series.”This is England’s third match outside since September and so they will be pleased with their progress so far, with the crucial time in the middle.

The second day of the Trinidad Test between West Indies and Sri Lanka turned tragic for the Hosam family as West Indian supporter Michael Hosam, 66, died after being taken ill while watching the game.Hosam was at the Queen’s Park Oval for the match when other fans noticed he looked unwell. He received medical attention at the ground and was taken to the Port of Spain General Hospital where family said he was pronounced dead.The West Indies board and the Trinidad and Tobago board offered their condolences to Hosam’s family and friends. “We in West Indies Cricket know we have people out there who are loyal and dedicated in their support and we wish his family all the best at this time,” Julian Hunte, the WICB president, said.Ikin Williams, Hosam’s bother-in-law, said he was a West Indies supporter for decades and always wore his maroon shirt when he came to watch matches at Queen’s Park Oval.”He was a true West Indies fan and he loved the team. He loved West Indies cricket.”

Chris Adams, the Sussex captain, has applied for the position of England’s national selector, according to the .At the end of the season Adams, 37, extended his contract with Sussex until 2009. But it is believed there is a get-out clause which would enable him to cut his career short to pursue his ambition of managing and coaching the best cricketers in the country.At the recommendation of the Schofield Report, the ECB have advertised for a full-time selector’s role which will involve travelling with England on all tours. At the moment David Graveney, the chairman of selectors for the past decade, has stayed in England while the team toured abroad.Last week, Graham Gooch also threw his hat into the ring. Applications for the position close on Monday and interviews are due to start on January 7.

Shoaib Akhtar’s troubled career has taken yet another twist following a decision by the Pakistan board to send him back from Pakistan’s 15-man squad for the ICC World Twenty20 after a dressing-room scuffle in which he was alleged to have hit fellow fast bowler Mohammad Asif with a bat.The Pakistan Cricket Board has responded by handing Shoaib an indefinite ban, pending a disciplinary hearing that will be conducted once the team returns from South Africa.”Shoaib’s ban is an indefinite suspension,” Nasim Ashraf, the board chairman, told Cricinfo. “There is no question of Shoaib returning to South Africa for the latter half of the tournament [in the event of Pakistan playing more than five matches].””When the team management returns [from the tournament], the board will launch a full investigation and disciplinary hearing into the matter. Further action based on that is likely,” Ashraf said.A press release issued on Friday by team manager Talat Ali in Johannesburg said, “The decision [to send him home] has been taken on an incident that took place yesterday [6th September] afternoon at the Centurion Park after the practice session of the Pakistan team. It was reported to us by Asif that Shoaib had hit him on his leg with a bat and abused him.”The bowler was already on six weeks’ probation following a breach of discipline last month after he left a training camp in Karachi without informing officials. Two hearings were held, after which it was decided that a monetary fine would be suspended pending his behaviour. Ashraf indicated that action would be likely.The sorry development means that Pakistan finds itself in the spotlight at a major international tournament once again for all the wrong reasons. Shoaib and Asif were sent back on the eve of their opening match at the Champions Trophy last year, after they had tested positive for banned anabolic steroids. During the World Cup in March, Pakistan’s disastrous performance took backstage to the death of Bob Woolmer.The decision will be a blow to the team’s chances at the tournament, as Pakistan’s strength was widely considered to lie in a pace attack that included Umar Gul and Rao Iftikhar Anjum. AFP, citing team sources, reported the PCB has picked Sohail Tanvir, an allrounder, as Shoaib’s replacement.In any case, a replacement will also depend on approval from the ICC’s technical committee. The Participating Nations’ Agreement, which every team signs when taking part in ICC tournaments, refers to the replacement of players and there is provision for a player to be replaced for reasons other than injury: “Except for medical grounds, players may only be replaced in exceptional circumstances such as family bereavement or where a player is suspended and such suspension relates to an incident which is unrelated to the event.”

Rajshahi, who had already secured the National League one-day title, finished their campaign with a 51-run defeat by Dhaka at the Mirpur Sher-e-Bangla National Stadium. It was a low-key end to their season and followed on from their collapse against the same opponents the previous day which cost them the first-class crown. The win gave Dhaka second place.Dhaka made a wobbly start before Anwar Hossain and Mahmudullah, who both hit fifties, started a recovery which enabled them to post 254 for 8. Hossain, who went on to win the man-of-the-Match award hit 65 off 91 balls. In reply, Rajshahi limped to 203 in 48.5 overs.Khulna finished on level points with Dhaka thanks to their seven-wicket victory against Barisal at the Birshreshtha Shaheed Flight Lieutenant Matiur Rahman Stadium but were edged into third on net run-rate. Imrul Kayash made 133 off 151 balls to lead Khulna’s reply to Barisal’s 265 for 6, and they eased past the target with 14 balls to spare. Earlier, Raqibul Hasan scored his maiden one-day hundred, hitting 133 off 131 deliveries.Chittagong still finished bottom despite a consolation seven-wicket win over Sylhet at the Fatullah Cricket Stadium. Their victory was based on a 133-run fourth-wicket stand between Faisal Hossain and Dhiman Ghosh as they eased past Sylhet’s 198 with almost 20 overs in hand.

Jamaica coach Junior Bennett has said he is satisfied with his team’s five-wicket in their opening match of the Carib Beer series against Leeward Islands, but expressed concern over his team’s batting after they slumped to 20 for 4 chasing 115 before staging a recovery.”I’m not too pleased with our batting in both innings,” Bennett told the . “But we are extremely pleased to get off to a positive start. We will definitely have to look at the batsmen and talk to them before our next game. I think both our openers got out the same way twice [hooking] in both innings, which is not good.”But Bennett praised his spinners, Odean Brown, who claimed the Man-of-the-Match award for his 10 wickets and Nikita Miller, who took seven wickets. “There are some aspects of our cricket that we are extremely proud of. I think we bowled extremely well. Brown and Miller bowled well, supported by [Andre] Russell and [David] Bernard.”We took some good catches and our ground fielding was also good,” he said. Jamaica will need to sort out their batting before their next match against a Combined Campuses and Colleges team starting at Kensington Park on Friday, January 11.Meanwhile, Leeward Islands’ coach, John Archibald, said his side had positives to take from the match despite their low scores of 155 and 183 in the two innings. “Even in losing you can take away the good things. We saw some fight, some resilience. But the most important thing is that the guys didn’t hang their heads.”Anthony Martin, the legspinner, bowled very economically. The batting of young Montcin Hodge, who showed a lot of character, was also good, and it was also nice to see Javier Liburd finding his footing.”Martin took four wickets, including figures of 3 for 31 in the first innings, Hodge scored a patient 64 gathered over five hours, and Liburd scored 43 in the first innings. Leewards will be looking to gain their first points of the season when they take on Windward Islands in Grenada on Friday.

The ICC has engaged a top firm of management consultants in its bid to find a successor to Malcolm Speed who steps down as chief executive in July.Egon Zehnder International were appointed after six companies were interviewed by senior ICC officials. An ICC recruitment committee, made up of Ray Mali, David Morgan, Sharad Pawar and Creagh O’Connor, Cricket Australia’s chairman, will oversee the process.That process will see the recruitment committee make a recommendation to the ICC board for approval, and it is envisaged the successful candidate will take up the role vacated by Speed at the conclusion of ICC annual conference.”Malcolm Speed has helped spearhead the growth of the organisation to the point where we can now boast 101 members with the game buttressed by a long-term broadcasting agreement covering our major events,” said Morgan. “Now, with Malcolm stepping down after seven years in the role, we need a person to continue cricket’s positive momentum in what will be an exciting and challenging future.”We are looking for a candidate who can continue to help us deliver on the objectives of the ICC’s strategic plan, someone who understands the major issues confronting the game, and someone who can ensure continued unity among our diverse membership to help our strong sport grow even stronger in the years to come.”