CricBuzzFan

Afridi ready to be recalled to Pak Test side

noreply@blogger.com (CricBuzzFan) — Sat, 02 Jan 2010 05:01:00 +0000

All-rounder Afridi, who bowled South Australia to victory in their Twenty20 opener in Perth on Tuesday, is willing to front for Pakistan in the second Test starting in Sydney on Sunday or the third Test in Hobart.

"If they need me, I can''t say no to them," Fox Sports quoted Afridi, as saying.

"Definitely I do not want to say no if they need me so definitely I will be able to play for them," he added.

Afridi''s vicious leg spin, super-charged faster balls and genuine off-break variation still confounds limited-overs rivals and would prove a handful for Australia at the spin-friendly SCG.

Afridi''s vastly improved leg spin is now his priority and would prove invaluable in a deadly tandem with off-spinner Saeed Ajmal or champion leggie Danish Kaneria.

Pakistan manager Abdul Raqeeb did not rule out Afridi making a stunning return.

"It is up to the selection committee who take all the decisions. They must decide what to do," Raqeeb said.

'Fit again' Kaneria eager to shine for Pak in Sydney

noreply@blogger.com (CricBuzzFan) — Sat, 02 Jan 2010 05:00:00 +0000

Pakistan leg spinner Danish Kaneria is eager to play the second Test match against Australia at Syndey after missing the first match due to a finger injury.

Declaring himself fully fit, Kaneria said he will give his best to help Pakistan level the three match series 1-1.

“I injured my right ring finger 18 months ago in England, I fractured it, and playing a domestic game in Pakistan once more I got hit on it. And then in the practice I got badly hit taking a catch. But now its okay and I'm ready to play in the Test and hopefully I’ll give my best and will help my team win it,” The News quoted Kaneria, as saying.

The wicket at the Sydney Cricket Ground (SCG) is generally helps spinners, which is probably why Kaneria is fancying his chances.

Gayle flies early in West Indies' reply against Australia in 1st Test

noreply@blogger.com (CricBuzzFan) — Fri, 27 Nov 2009 05:00:00 +0000

Chris Gayle showed some serious intent as West Indies raced to 0 for 41 at tea following Ricky Ponting's declaration at 8 for 480. The captain Gayle arrived in Brisbane the day before the game and quickly shook off any batting rust with four boundaries in his 27 during a six-over surge.
Ponting surprised with his closure 35 minutes before tea after Marcus North and Nathan Hauritz added to the clump of local half-centuries. But it was West Indies who sparked a sleepy day into action.

Full Scorecard

Pakistani Pace Bowler threaten to run through New Zealand

noreply@blogger.com (CricBuzzFan) — Fri, 27 Nov 2009 04:52:00 +0000

Rousing spells from Mohammad Aamer and Mohammad Asif evoked New Zealand's famous second-innings collapses against Pakistan, and the visitors held the momentum going into the final four sessions of the Test. Aamer bowled two superb spells of swing bowling, the conventional variety leaving New Zealand at 0 for 2, and the reverse leaving the middle order befuddled even if it didn't get him a wicket. Asif took 2 for 2 in his spell before tea, which very nearly could have been three. When rain forced an early break New Zealand led by 212 with four wickets in hand.

Scorecard Here

Sri Lanka struggling against India

noreply@blogger.com (CricBuzzFan) — Fri, 27 Nov 2009 04:47:00 +0000

Sri Lanka were struggling at 57 for four in the second innings, after being asked to follow on, against India at the end of the third day's play in the second cricket Test at the Green Park stadium here Thursday.
At stumps, Thilan Samaraweera was batting on one and Angelo Matthews on two. Sri Lanka were asked to follow on after they were bowled out for 229 in the first innings in reply to India's 642.
Shanthakumaran Sreesanth celebrated his international comeback with a sensational five-wicket burst and India were on track to victory over Sri Lanka in the second cricket Test at Green Park Stadium here Thursday.

Full Scorecard Here

India set target 642/10 after Tea in 2nd test Kanpur

noreply@blogger.com (CricBuzzFan) — Wed, 25 Nov 2009 09:31:00 +0000

India 642 (Gambhir 167, Dravid 144, Sehwag 137) v Sri Lanka 2nd Day after tea in 2nd Test.Rahul Dravid laid the platform with a serene, yet commanding, 144 before Yuvraj Singh and VVS Laxman hit fluent fifties to lead India to a position of immense strength in Kanpur. Rangana Herath bagged a five-for and brought some joy to the Sri Lankan camp by hastening the end of the Indian innings just after tea but the hosts were firmly in control of the Test and, with over three days to go, the result of the game will now depend on how the pitch behaves.

Till Herath introduced some drama into the game, it was a classic yawn-inducing Test afternoon: The pitch was benign, the sun was out, Sri Lanka were flattened and India were almost on auto-pilot with VVS Laxman and Yuvraj Singh cruising to half-centuries without breaking a sweat.

Live Scorecard Here

New Zealand Vettori, McCullum to 404 for 8

noreply@blogger.com (CricBuzzFan) — Wed, 25 Nov 2009 09:25:00 +0000

Daniel Vettori displayed immense character and courage in his innings of 99, as he took New Zealand to a competitive 404 for 8 at the end of a rain-marred day-two of the Dunedin Test.

The resolute Kiwi captain walked in to bat when the scorecard read 211 for 6 and along with Brendon McCullum, forged a resolute fight despite struggling with niggles in his left shoulder and right elbow. The pair added a determined 164 for the seventh wicket before the stumper was cleaned up by an Umer Gul yorker for 78 at the stroke of lunch.

But Vettori carried on his resolve and took the Black Caps to 402, before getting caught behind and presenting Gul with his second success of the innings.

The skipper was unfortunate to fall just one short of an extremely deserved fifth Test century. He lost his wicket in what turned out to be the last over of the day owing to the fading lights. Vettori’s fluent 133-ball knock was punctuated with 14 sparkling hits to the fence.

The post-lunch period was hit by rain which resulted in the loss of three hours of play. The match did resume after the rain-interval but only to be stopped prematurely again by bad lights after six overs.

Pakistan bowling was a mixed-bag, as after the Vettori-McCullum duo survived the early string of bouncers thrown in by Mohammad Asif and Mohammad Aamer, there was no bite in the attack to hurt the Kiwis. Pakistan skipper Mohammad Yousuf missed a trick or two by resorting to a defensive field when the skipper-stumper pair was forging a calm fight-back.

Live Scorecard Here

Pakistan Won the Toss Elect to Filed 1st Test Against New Zea Land

noreply@blogger.com (CricBuzzFan) — Wed, 25 Nov 2009 09:19:00 +0000

Pakistan skipper Mohammad Yousuf won the toss and elected to bowl in the opening Test of the three-match series against New Zealand here Tuesday.

The University Oval wicket has a reputation for favouring the quick bowlers and Yousuf had no hesitation in confirming he would bowl first.

Teams:

New Zealand: Daniel Vettori (captain), Tim McIntosh, Martin Guptill, Daniel Flynn, Ross Taylor, Peter Fulton, Grant Elliott, Brendon McCullum, Shane Bond, Iain O'Brien, Chris Martin.

Pakistan: Khurram Manzoor, Imran Farhat, Fawad Alam, Mohammad Yousuf (captain), Umar Akmal, Shoaib Malik, Kamran Akmal, Mohammad Aamer, Umar Gul, Mohammad Asif, Saeed Ajmal.

Live Scorecard Here

India Won the Toss Elect to Bat First in 2nd Test Kanpur

noreply@blogger.com (CricBuzzFan) — Wed, 25 Nov 2009 09:04:00 +0000

Indian captain Mahendra Singh Dhoni won the toss and elected to bat in the second cricket Test against Sri Lanka at the Green Park stadium here on Tuesday.

India made two changes from the side that drew the first Test in Ahmedabad, bringing in paceman S Sreesanth in place of Ishant Sharma and left-arm spinner Pragyan Ojha replaced Amit Mishra.

For Sri Lanka, unorthodox spinner Ajantha Mendis joined Rangana Herath and Muttiah Muralitharan in a three-man spin attack.

India: Mahendra Singh Dhoni (capt), Virender Sehwag, Gautam Gambhir, Rahul Dravid, Sachin Tendulkar, Venkatsai Laxman, Yuvraj Singh, Harbhajan Singh, Pragyan Ojha, Zaheer Khan, Shanthakumaran Sreesanth.

Sri Lanka: Kumar Sangakkara (capt), Muttiah Muralitharan, Mahela Jayawardene, Tillakaratne Dilshan, Tharanga Paranavitana, Thilan Samaraweera, Angelo Mathews, Prasanna Jayawardene, Chanaka Welegedara, Ajantha Mendis, Rangana Herath.

Scorecard Here

India sucess for ist test Draw

noreply@blogger.com (CricBuzzFan) — Wed, 25 Nov 2009 08:57:00 +0000

The first Test between India and Sri Lanka ended in a draw on the final day at the Sardar Patel stadium on Friday.

Resuming the final day on 190 for two wickets, still 144 runs behind Sri Lanka''s first-innings total of 760 for seven wickets, opener Gautam Gambhir (114) and Sachin Tendulkar (100 not out) helped India up to 412-4 before both teams called it a day with no result possible.

The Test also saw master blaster Sachin Tendulkar achieve another milestone by becoming the first batsman to complete 30,000 international runs.

The 36-year-old reached the milestone when he scored his 35th run in the second innings, where he went onto score his 43rd Test century.

Tendulkar now has 17,178 runs in ODI cricket, 12,877 runs in Test cricket and 10 runs in the lone T20 International he has played.

Scorecard Here

India won the toss 1st test against Sri Lanka

noreply@blogger.com (CricBuzzFan) — Mon, 16 Nov 2009 04:39:00 +0000

MS Dhoni won the toss and chose to bat on a good, hard Ahmedabad pitch, The last Test that Dhoni referred to was the one against South Africa, when India were shot out for 76 on the first morning.

Dhoni also suggested his team would have to change the mental approach to batting, this Test coming after 17 continuous ODIs and five Twenty20s for them. The India XI, though, wore a settled look; Sreesanth and Pragyan Ojha sitting out, and as expected the two Tamil Nadu back-up batsmen not getting a look in.

Sri Lanka, even though they have played regular Test matches and risen to No. 2 in the rankings, were looking to win a Test in India for the first time. They started off on an unfortunate note: Nuwan Kulasekara and Thilan Thushara, their two successful fast bowlers, picked niggles and were not on the final list, neither was Ajantha Mendis. Dammika Prasad and Chanaka Welegedara, total experience of four Tests between them, were to take the new ball, and left-arm spinner Rangana Herath playing in place of Mendis.

India 1 Gautam Gambhir, 2 Virender Sehwag, 3 Rahul Dravid, 4 Sachin Tendulkar, 5 VVS Laxman, 6 Yuvraj Singh, 7 MS Dhoni (capt/wk), 8 Harbhajan Singh, 9 Zaheer Khan, 10 Ishant Sharma, 11 Amit Mishra.

Sri Lanka 1 Tharanga Paranavitana, 2 Tillakaratne Dilshan, 3 Kumar Sangakkara (capt), 4 Mahela Jayawardene, 5 Thilan Samaraweera, 6 Angelo Mathews, 7 Prasanna Jayawardene (wk), 8 Dammika Prasad, 9 Chanaka Welegedara, 10 Muttiah Muralitharan, 11 Rangana Herath.

McCullum hopes Vettori gets fit for Pakistan Test

noreply@blogger.com (CricBuzzFan) — Mon, 16 Nov 2009 04:20:00 +0000

New Zealand's captain Brendon McCullum hoped Daniel Vettori regains full fitness to lead the team in the first Test against Pakistan starting later this month.

McCullum hope Daniel gets fit to lead the team in the Tests, McCullum said of the regular captain who missed team's two Twenty20 matches which finished in Pakistan's 2-0 win here on Friday.

Vettori felt concussion after being hit on the grille of his helmet during the third one-day match at Abu Dhabi last week. He vomitted before CT scans revealed no injury, but doctors advised him two-weeks rest.

That put Vettori in doubt for the first Test against Pakistan starting at Dunedin from November 25.

McCullum reckoned both teams were evenly balanced.

McCullum think that Pakistani spinners Danish Kaneria and Saeed Ajmal are danger bowling hand.

Pakistan has been a dangerous side for a number of years and we have to be at our best to beat them. Pakistan, at times, can do amazing things in batting, bowling and fielding.

New Zealand had to tour Pakistan for three one-day, two Twenty20 and three Test matches but the limited over series was shifted to United Arab Emirates (UAE) and Tests to New Zealand over security fears in Pakistan.

McCullum said The conditions here in the UAE suited Pakistan but back home they will be in our advantage. The real thing is how you play in Tests, which is very different to limited over matches.

New Zealand will also hope opener Jesse Ryder, paceman Daryl Tuffey and all-rounder Grant Elliott, who all missed the UAE tour due to injuries -- get fit for the Tests.

McCullum said New Zealand players have learnt a lot during the UAE tour.

Sauth Africa crush by 212 runs to Zimbabwe in 2nd ODI

noreply@blogger.com (CricBuzzFan) — Wed, 11 Nov 2009 06:08:00 +0000

Zimbabwe win the toss in 2nd ODI and elect to field first.
South Africa scored 331-5 off 50 overs against Zimbabwe after being put into bat in the second and final one-day international on Tuesday at SuperSport Park.JP Cuminy 25-year-old left-hand batsman from Cape Town came in at number four and tormented the visiting bowlers to finish unbeaten on 111 after facing 87 balls in 126 minutes.
South African bowlers are wickets taking continue . Tatenda Taibu 52 (71) only one bat made fifty in this match.
Result: South Africa win by 212 runs in 2nd ODI against Zimbabwe

Scorecard Here

New Zealand Win the Series 2-1 against Pakistan

noreply@blogger.com (CricBuzzFan) — Tue, 10 Nov 2009 05:05:00 +0000

New Zealand survived Mohammad Aamir's explosive half-century to clinch the series against Pakistan with a narrow seven-run victory in the third one-day international here on Monday.
Aamir, 17, hit an unbeaten 73 for his maiden half-century -- the highest score by a number ten batsman in a one-day international -- to bring Pakistan, chasing 212, close to an unexpected victory after they were 101-9.
Pakistan were bowled out for 204, giving New Zealand a sensational 2-1 victory in the three-match series.

Styris wants to carry on in ODIs

noreply@blogger.com (CricBuzzFan) — Mon, 09 Nov 2009 05:32:00 +0000

New Zealand all-rounder Scott Styris Sunday said he wanted to play limited overs cricket as long as possible as his desire for improvement is still alive.
"I want to play as long as I can and trying to improve so that I can be in the team and having achieved what I wanted to achieve it's important to strive," Styris said ahead of Monday's series deciding third match against Pakistan.
Styris dismissed Younus Khan (19), Shahid Afridi (nought) and Kamran Akmal (four) in the space of just ten balls to help New Zealand beat Pakistan by 64 runs in the second match on Friday.
Pakistan won the first match by 138 runs on Tuesday.
The 34-year-old retired from the five-day Tests in February last year in a bid to prolong his ODI and Twenty20 career but said he still seeks improvement.
"I wasn't expecting (to bowl), it surprised me but I have always loved bowling and have been an allrounder throughout my career, so I loved bowling and when it helped my team win, its pleasing," said Styris.
Styris was not part of New Zealand's ICC Champions Trophy squad last month but was later called in as cover after injuries depleted the team in South Africa.
He earned a place after fast-rising all-rounder Grant Elliott, opener Jesse Ryder and fast bowler Daryl Tuffey failed to make the UAE trip due to injuries.
Styris said he has been enjoying the Indian Premier League (IPL), which provided him a chance to share thoughts with players from other countries.
"IPL is fantastic, great to enjoy and gives an opportunity to talk cricket with a lot of other players, like Deccan Charges had Shahid Afridi from Pakistan and Australia's Adam Gilchrist and Andrew Symonds."
Styris hoped Test cricket will survive Twenty20 cricket's popularity.
"Twenty20 is getting very popular and IPL can also be part of the landscape of cricket, but I sincerely hope Test cricket and one-day cricket will survive," said Styris.

Younus under pressure in Pakistan-NZealand decider

noreply@blogger.com (CricBuzzFan) — Mon, 09 Nov 2009 05:19:00 +0000

Pakistan captain Younus Khan finds himself under pressure as his team heads into the series-deciding third and final one-day against New Zealand here on Monday.
Pakistan, who have not won a one-day series since beating the West Indies here last year, achieved a thumping 138-run win in the first match on Tuesday before New Zealand hit back with a 64-run win in the second on Friday.
Moreover, Younis is having a lean patch with the bat, scoring nought and 19 in the two matches -- but coach Intikhab Alam backed his captain to come good when it matters.
"It can happen to any player," said Alam of Younus's wretched form which saw him scoring only two half-centuries in the last 18 matches. "I am sure that he can come good anytime, maybe in this crucial, must-win game."
The 31-year-old replaced Shoaib Malik as captain after Pakistan lost a one-day series against Sri Lanka at home in Januray last year.
Under Younus, Pakistan lost one-day series against Australia in the United Arab Emirates and against Sri Lanka (on tour) earlier this year.
Although Pakistan won the World Twenty20 in England in June and then reached the semi-final of the Champions Trophy, Younus had to offer his resignation over unproven match-fixing allegations last month and questions on his form.
Pakistan Cricket Board rejected his resignation, saying that Younus, if fit and performing, can continue as captain until the 2011 World Cup.
Alam said both Pakistan and New Zealand will be under pressure in the final match.
"Since it's a must win game for both the teams, whoever wins takes the series so both teams will be keen to perform and I hope my players raise their confidence and win this series, it's very important for us."
New Zealand captain Daniel Vettori said he would try to put more pressure on Pakistan.
"We look for more improvement and make sure that we head into this final game with more confidence and put more pressure on Pakistan," said Vettori, whose team finished runners-up to Australia in the Champions Trophy last month.
"We did well throughout the Champions Trophy as most of the games we played were must win games and we stepped up, so I hope the team does it one more time."
Vettori feared Pakistan can hit back after the loss.
"Pakistan can come back hard on us, so we must be ready for that, but I think there's something left for us as lot of guys who, I suppose, need to perform on this tour and those who have performed need to do that once more."
Middle-order batsman Ross Taylor, who failed to score in both the matches, faces one more test.
After the one-day series both teams move to Dubai where they play two Twenty20 matches on November 12 and 13.

Australia Crucial win of sixth ODI

noreply@blogger.com (CricBuzzFan) — Mon, 09 Nov 2009 05:10:00 +0000

All odds seemed against them - four key players were missing before the trip and they lost four more during the series - but Australia showed admirable spirit and skill to clinch the series with a game to spare. On a slightly damp pitch in Guwahati, Mitchell Johnson found his mojo and combined with Doug Bollinger to bundle out India for 170 before Shane Watson gave a solid start to the chase to ensure Australia cantered to a series win.
Bollinger was at the top of his game today on a track conducive to his style and found his mark immediately, nipping out two wickets early and snapping twin dangerous partnerships later en route to 5 for 35. Johnson - back in the side after missing the last game - scythed through the top order to leave India, who chose to bat, tottering at 27 for 5 before Ravindra Jadeja featured in two fighting partnerships. First was a slow repairing job with MS Dhoni, then a violent one with Praveen Kumar to raise hopes of a revival, but Bollinger returned to remove both batsmen to ensure that Australia wouldn't have too many to chase.
Were the conditions so English that the ball was swinging wildly? No. Was the pitch aiding alarming movement? No. There was just a bit of movement, in the air and off the pitch, and Australia exploited it superbly to bundle India out.
Johnson, whose inability to swing the ball into the right-handers had blunted his threat in the recent times, found that inswing today and immediately looked a different bowler. With a slightly round-armish action which helped him to tilt the ball back in, Johnson gnawed away at the batsmen at disconcerting pace.
The start wasn't flattering - his second delivery was whiplashed for six over point by Virender Sehwag - but Johnson bounced back in the same over to start the demolition job. It was a full delivery, Sehwag shaped for his big drive but the ball curved in to thread the gap and splayed the stumps.
Egged on, Johnson went from strength to strength and unfurled his full repertoire: rapid pace, extra bounce, a slinging round-arm, and consistent line and length. He removed Gautam Gambhir with a delivery on middle and off, to which the batsman shaped to work it to the on side as if he expected it to angle in to his pads. But, to his horror, the ball straightened to hit off stump.
Johnson went on to trouble Yuvraj Singh in the corridor before he dismissed Suresh Raina after harassing him with his bounce. The set-up was obvious - bowl a few short balls and push him back before slipping in that fatal full delivery - but Raina fell for it again. Perhaps the ball stopped on him a bit, but he was late in getting forward to a full delivery and ended up flicking it straight to short mid-on.
If Johnson created an opening with his incisive bowling, Bollinger ensured India didn't come back into the game with consistent seam bowling. There is nothing flashy about Bollinger and you know what you will get from him: a steady line and length, changes in pace, and an ability to bowl to his fields. Today it was enough to get him the big wickets of Sachin Tendulkar, Yuvraj and Dhoni.
He induced Tendulkar into pushing one straight back to him and bowled Yuvraj with a slightly freaky dismissal. The ball ricocheted off Yuvraj's pad over his right shoulder and as Yuvraj, clueless about where the ball went, turned behind to place the bat back inside the crease he pushed it back to the stumps. Then he returned for a second spell and got Dhoni and Harbhajan in one over, before terminating Jadeja's resistance with the first ball of a third spell.
Dhoni, who was fortunate to survive a caught-behind decision against Bollinger when he was 0, was given out lbw to the same bowler to a delivery that was missing off stump. The final margin would have been far bigger as India were wobbling at 75 for 7 but Jadeja and Praveen, who caned Clint McKay for 28 runs with several audacious hits over mid-off and mid-on, played the best knocks of their respective careers to increase the target. Ultimately, however, they could only save India from total embarrassment.
The chase could have been tricky on a pitch that was increasingly aiding turn but Watson stole the show with positive batting. He stretched forward to the spinners, ensured he kept his pads away from the line and played several skillful shots. There were two fours in particular that stood out, both against Jadeja. They were arm-balls, fizzing towards the top of off, and Watson brought his bat down at the last minute to crunch them past first slip.
Harbhajan created a minor scare by removing both Watson and Ricky Ponting in quick succession but in the absence of a big target and with India possessing only one quality spinner, Mike Hussey and Cameron White slowly but surely pushed Australia to a worthy series win.

Click Here for Scorecard

South Africa beat Zimbabwe by 45 Runs 1st ODI

noreply@blogger.com (CricBuzzFan) — Mon, 09 Nov 2009 04:41:00 +0000

South Africa began their season with a 45-run victory over neighbours, Zimbabwe, at Benoni yet were left with plenty to ponder after a battling century from Tatenda Taibu in a record sixth-wicket stand of 188. The game was done as a contest when Zimbabwe fell to 48 for 5, but Taibu and Stuart Matsikenyeri refused to roll over and plundered the home attack with Taibu reaching his second ODI hundred in the final over.
In their first outing since making an early exit from the Champions Trophy, South Africa's reshaped batting unit produced a solid effort as they piled up 295 for 5 after Hashim Amla top-scored with 80 alongside a fluent run-a-ball 51 from AB de Villiers and a powerful 39-ball fifty by Albie Morkel. With Ryan McLaren striking twice on debut and Dale Steyn claiming two in four balls the game was heading for swift end, but South Africa lost their intensity.

Taibu and Matsikenyeri exposed the bowling attack with Zimbabwe's highest sixth-wicket stand and their second largest partnership in ODIs. South Africa's bowling was a concern for them during the Champions Trophy and this performance will have done little to alleviate those worries ahead of the England series. Wayne Parnell's return can't come soon enough with Dale Steyn still appearing short of a gallop. Lonwabo Tsotsobe and Charl Langeveldt are vying for spots against England, but neither made an outstanding case in this outing while, despite a lively innings, Morkel continued to look unthreatening with the ball at this level. After struggling with the bat in Bangladesh - and slumping for an embarrassing 44 all out on one occasion - Zimbabwe will take great heart from their fighting effort and it could well encourage a shuffle of the order for the next game with Taibu and Matsikenyeri both making strong cases for promotion.

Click here Full Scorecard

Former players question Umar Akmal's absence in 2nd ODI Against New Zealand

noreply@blogger.com (CricBuzzFan) — Sat, 07 Nov 2009 07:05:00 +0000

Former Pakistan captains have questioned the manner in which Umar Akmal was omitted from the second ODI against New Zealand, which Pakistan lost to leave the series tied at 1-1. Akmal's name was a surprising omission from the team sheet at the toss - Shoaib Malik took his place - and Younis Khan's explanation for the change was not entirely clear.
Akmal, 19, has had an excellent start to his international career, scoring his maiden ODI century in just his third game and averages 49.83 in the format.
"It can be very discouraging for a young man like Umar since he has been very impressive in recent games for Pakistan and is raring to go against the Kiwis," said Waqar Younis, commentating on the series in the UAE. "It is bound to shake his confidence in the coming games."
Rameez Raja questioned whether the decision was down to Pakistan's rotation policy or something else entirely. "I would like to know the logic behind this and whose decision was it to omit Umar from this game," he said. "This will only hurt Pakistan."
Salahuddin Ahmed, a former national selector, was similarly critical of the decision to drop an in-form player. "I think the ouster will hurt the confidence of Umar to a large extent. This should have not been done with him at this moment," he told the Karachi-based Dawn. "I will also not support the decision of dropping Shoaib Malik from the first ODI, since he is one of the best allrounders for this version of the game. Pakistan should have gone with Kamran Akmal with any of the regular openers to make room for both Shoaib and Umar for all these matches."

England crushing win on Diamond Eagles Warm Up Match

noreply@blogger.com (CricBuzzFan) — Sat, 07 Nov 2009 06:58:00 +0000

England started their tour of South Africa with a crushing 185-run over the Diamond Eagles franchise team in a 50-overs match in Bloemfontein on Friday.
Captain Andrew Strauss hit one of three half-centuries as England piled up 294 for seven, taking advantage of good batting conditions after being sent in to bat.
Stuart Broad struck with the second ball of the Eagles' innings and the home team never recovered, crashing to 109 all out in 26.2 overs. Five England bowlers took two wickets each.
Strauss hit 72 and shared a second wicket stand of 123 with Jonathan Trott (85) before Eoin Morgan slammed a quick 67 not out off 52 balls as the innings ended with a flurry of scoring.
Eagles opening bowler CJ de Villiers took an early wicket when he bowled Joe Denly for three but Strauss and Trott put the tourists in command.
Strauss and Trott were content to play themselves in as they compiled their century partnership before lifting the tempo.
Strauss made his runs off 85 balls with seven fours and a six before holing out to square leg against the medium-paced Ryan Bailey.
Trott took 81 balls to reach his fifty but needed only another 23 deliveries to reach 85, with seven fours, before he was bowled by Bailey when he missed an attempted pull.
Morgan was mainly responsible for England scoring 57 runs in the batting Powerplay, which was taken from the 43rd to the 47th over. But he rode his luck, surviving two dropped catches.
Eagles opening batsman Morne van Wyk edged the second ball of the innings from Broad to Graeme Swann in the slips.
Promising left-hander Rilee Rossouw hit four fours in making 17 off 10 balls but was caught behind off the first ball of Broad's second over.
James Anderson, Sajid Mahmood, Swann and Paul Collingwood also took two wickets each as the Eagles collapsed.
England play a second warm-up match against the Warriors franchise in Kimberley Sunday before returning to Bloemfontein for a Twenty20 match against South Africa A on Tuesday ahead of two Twenty20 internationals and five one-day internationals against South Africa.

Scorecard Here

New Zealand Terrific Win on Pakistan 2nd ODI

noreply@blogger.com (CricBuzzFan) — Sat, 07 Nov 2009 06:41:00 +0000

Brendon McCullum hit a return-to-form hundred and Scott Styris took three wickets in two overs as New Zealand beat Pakistan by 64 runs in the second day-night international here on Friday.
McCullum notched 131 to help the Black Caps post a challenging 303-8 on a flat Abu Dhabi Stadium pitch before Styris (3-23) triggered a middle-order collapse which saw Pakistan bowled out for 239, leaving the three-match series level at 1-1
Chasing a daunting target, Pakistan got off to a solid start of 77 with Khalid Latif (45) and Salman Butt (59) setting the tempo. Even after Latif fell leg-before to New Zealand skipper Daniel Vettori in the 17th over, Pakistan were well on course.
Butt and Younus (19) added another 47 for the second wicket before Styris struck three times in ten balls to turn the match in his team's favour.
Bowling for the first time in 13 months, Styris had Younus smartly caught at short mid-wicket by a diving Ross Taylor and then next ball induced Shahid Afridi (0) to play into the same fielder's hands.
In his next over, Styris had Kamran Akmal (four) caught at short cover before Butt was run out after being sent back by Mohammad Yousuf.Vettori then trapped Yousuf (18) to push Pakistan to the brink of defeat.
Although Shoaib Malik (26) and Abdul Razzaq (35) resisted, it was too little too late against a professional New Zealand.

Scorecard Click Here