SPORTSMANIA

Chennai Super Kings vs Central Districts Champions League T20

2010-09-11T21:21:00.000+05:30

Dhoni Won the toss and elected bat first. But Hyden and Suresh Raina got out early in the innings now chennai is struggling to get the rid in the match.

Kulatunga helps as Vayamba sets 154 runs targer for Warriors

2010-09-11T18:42:00.000+05:30

Wayamba 153/9 (20.0/20 ov)

Warriors

Wayamba won the toss and elected to bat

Innings break


Wayamba innings (20 overs maximum)		R	B	4s	6s	SR
DPMD Jayawardene	c Kreusch b Theron	0	2	0	0	0.00
0.2 Got em! Rusty has picked a huge wicket early, Jayawardene is gone! Another away swinger coming from that nagging angle, wide of the crease, Mahela throws his bat at it, but the away movement does him in. The thick edge flies into the slip cordon and it is snaffled by Kreusch at second slip. Well done! 0/1
HGJM Kulatunga	c Kreusch b Tsotsobe	59	44	6	3	134.09
14.1 aaaand gone! Tsosobe landed that on a length outside off and Kulatunga tried to do what he has been doing all day - looks to loft it straight, but for a change, it misses the middle and hits low down on the bat. He ends up spooning it straight up and Kreusch settles down under it. Important wicket. 110/4
ML Udawatte	c Boje b Theron	2	4	0	0	50.00
0.6 another one bites the dust! Theron has removed two in his opening over and Wayamba are reeling here! Short ball, but not short enough to pull, Udawatte decides to take the challenge, but it was quicker on him and gets a top edge as his top hand comes off. As ungainly as they come! It balloons easily towards mid on, where the fielder tumbles across to take a good catch 2/2
J Mubarak*	c Prince b Boje	9	16	1	0	56.25
8.2 Eid Mubarak to Jehan Mubarak, but the party is over! Tossed up on off stump, he pranced out of his crease and looked to loft it over long off, but he got too close to it and hence could not get the elevation. Straight into long off's lap 50/3
MDKJ Perera†	c Prince b Theron	39	24	1	3	162.50
16.3 Gone! The frustration gets to Perera, who has not been given much to drive.. He backs away to the leg side this time, to make some room, but this one was short and outside off.. He went for the lofted drive, but could not clear long off. The canny Theron strikes again. 126/5
KS Lokuarachchi	c Boje b Botha	14	11	0	1	127.27
17.1 Another one bites the dust, Loku is gone looking to smash one straight.. He is down the track and Botha smartly pulls the length back and Loku can't get into any position. Still goes through with th4e shot and offers a dolly to short cover 133/6
NLTC Perera	c Botha b Ntini	11	8	1	1	137.50
19.1 WHOA! As I collect my breath, let me describe what happened there: It was a length ball on middle and leg, Thisara got under it and hoisted it high and it seemed headed for the long on stands.. Boucher behind the stands had his hand out to protect his eyes from the sun as he sought to trace the path of that ball... and somehow, Botha at long off, on the edge of the playing area, hauled it in. Thisara is distraught, and Ntini breaks into a smile! 144/7
MF Maharoof	c Tsotsobe b Ntini	5	7	0	0	71.42
19.2 two in two, again holes out in the deep! Length ball on middle and leg, Maharoof looks to send this into another planet, but gravity brings it back down to the lap of deepmidwicket. Can he get a hat-trick? 144/8
HMRKB Herath	run out (Botha/†Boucher)	8	3	0	1	266.66
19.6 from Ntini, and a run-out to finish, bizarre I must say. Herath stayed in the crease and swung it to deep wicket, picked a single, and then seemed to take for ever to turn back and go for the second.. Seemed like a relay race where he was waiting for his partner to come over and pass on the baton. The throw was smartly sent to the striker's end and Boucher removed the bails before Herath could dive in. 153/9
BAW Mendis	not out	1	1	0	0	100.00

Extras	(lb 3, w 2)	5

Total	(9 wickets; 20 overs)	153	(7.65 runs per over)

To bat UWMBCA Welegedara

Fall of wickets1-0 (Jayawardene, 0.2 ov), 2-2 (Udawatte, 0.6 ov), 3-50 (Mubarak, 8.2 ov), 4-110 (Kulatunga, 14.1 ov), 5-126 (MDKJ Perera, 16.3 ov), 6-133 (Lokuarachchi, 17.1 ov), 7-144 (NLTC Perera, 19.1 ov), 8-144 (Maharoof, 19.2 ov), 9-153 (Herath, 19.6 ov)


Bowling	O	M	R	W	Econ
J Theron	4	0	23	3	5.75	(1w)
0.2 to Jayawardene, Got em! Rusty has picked a huge wicket early, Jayawardene is gone! Another away swinger coming from that nagging angle, wide of the crease, Mahela throws his bat at it, but the away movement does him in. The thick edge flies into the slip cordon and it is snaffled by Kreusch at second slip. Well done! 0/1 0.6 to Udawatte, another one bites the dust! Theron has removed two in his opening over and Wayamba are reeling here! Short ball, but not short enough to pull, Udawatte decides to take the challenge, but it was quicker on him and gets a top edge as his top hand comes off. As ungainly as they come! It balloons easily towards mid on, where the fielder tumbles across to take a good catch 2/2 16.3 to MDKJ Perera, Gone! The frustration gets to Perera, who has not been given much to drive.. He backs away to the leg side this time, to make some room, but this one was short and outside off.. He went for the lofted drive, but could not clear long off. The canny Theron strikes again. 126/5
LL Tsotsobe	4	0	31	1	7.75	(1w)
14.1 to Kulatunga, aaaand gone! Tsosobe landed that on a length outside off and Kulatunga tried to do what he has been doing all day - looks to loft it straight, but for a change, it misses the middle and hits low down on the bat. He ends up spooning it straight up and Kreusch settles down under it. Important wicket. 110/4
M Ntini	4	0	34	2	8.50
19.1 to NLTC Perera, WHOA! As I collect my breath, let me describe what happened there: It was a length ball on middle and leg, Thisara got under it and hoisted it high and it seemed headed for the long on stands.. Boucher behind the stands had his hand out to protect his eyes from the sun as he sought to trace the path of that ball... and somehow, Botha at long off, on the edge of the playing area, hauled it in. Thisara is distraught, and Ntini breaks into a smile! 144/7 19.2 to Maharoof, two in two, again holes out in the deep! Length ball on middle and leg, Maharoof looks to send this into another planet, but gravity brings it back down to the lap of deepmidwicket. Can he get a hat-trick? 144/8
J Botha	4	0	21	1	5.25
17.1 to Lokuarachchi, Another one bites the dust, Loku is gone looking to smash one straight.. He is down the track and Botha smartly pulls the length back and Loku can't get into any position. Still goes through with th4e shot and offers a dolly to short cover 133/6
N Boje	2	0	22	1	11.00
8.2 to Mubarak, Eid Mubarak to Jehan Mubarak, but the party is over! Tossed up on off stump, he pranced out of his crease and looked to loft it over long off, but he got too close to it and hence could not get the elevation. Straight into long off's lap 50/3
JP Kreusch	2	0	19	0	9.50

It's Depends on Players to Stop Spread Of Corruption - Dhoni

2010-09-08T18:13:00.000+05:30

Cricketers must take more responsibility for their actions to prevent the spread of corruption, India captain Mahendra Singh Dhoni said Tuesday.

He was speaking in the light of the suspension last week of Pakistan players Salman Butt, Mohammad Amir and Mohammad Asif following spot-fixing allegations levelled against them in Britain's News of the World newspaper. "It is crucial to keep the game clean," Dhoni told a news conference in Durban.

"Personally I think it is up to the individual. You don't need someone to guide you or restrict you. If you are playing for, or representing, your country you should feel pride in doing that."

In the wake of the allegations against the Pakistan trio the International Cricket Council's (ICC) Anti-Corruption and Security Unit (ACSU) has come under fire for not doing enough to prevent the spread of corruption in cricket.

But Dhoni, who is in South Africa with the Chennai Super Kings to play in the Champions League Twenty20 which starts on Friday, believes that the ACSU is doing a decent job.

"As far as the corruption unit and their functioning are concerned I think that they are doing a good job," he said, adding that if the ACSU was given more power it could infringe on players' human rights.

"I think that if they (ACSU) become stricter they will start intruding on the privacy of players."

England vital victory over Pakistan in 2nd T20

2010-09-08T16:53:00.000+05:30

World champions England profited from an abject batting display by Pakistan on Tuesday to win the second Twenty20 international in Cardiff by six wickets. After Pakistan had collapsed to 89 all out from 18.4 overs, England romped to 90 for four with six overs to spare to win the series 2-0. The teams will now meet in a five-match 50 overs series.

Pakistan could not cope with either a barrage of short-pitched bowling from the England pacemen or the slow bowling of Graeme Swann and Michael Yardy.

Umar Akmal hit Swann for two straight sixes into the sightscreen but was bowled for 17 when the England off-spinner kept his nerve and floated up another tempting delivery. Yardy was again economical, conceding 10 runs from his four overs.

An early wicket to Shoaib Akhtar and a brilliant run-out by Umar Akmal who hit the stumps at the bowler's end to account for Craig Kieswetter for 16 temporarily lifted Pakistan's morale.

But Paul Collingwood, who led England to victory in the Twenty20 World Cup in the Caribbean this year, scored 21 from 25 deliveries and Eion Morgan made 18 not out from 14 balls.

Pakistan are playing without test captain Salman Butt and pace bowlers Mohammad Amir and Mohammad Asif who have been suspended from all cricket by the International Cricket Council under its anti-corruption code after an investigation into incidents in the fourth test at Lord's.

England were exceptional bowling attack in T20: Collingwood

2010-09-08T16:34:00.000+05:30

The Twenty20 world champions completed an emphatic 2-0 series triumph against Pakistan in Cardiff, dismissing the visitors for just 89 and then reaching their target with six wickets and six overs in hand.

It was Pakistan's lowest total in Twenty20 cricket, and they now head to Durham for the start of a one-day, 50-over series against England which has further humiliation stamped all over it.

England though, are in no mood to start offering sympathy for Pakistan's plight as the tourists continue playing like a team haunted by the spot-fixing crisis that has crippled international cricket.

"In this form of the game it can be tough to win consecutively," said Collingwood, who top-scored with 21 as England cruised home in front of a two-thirds' empty SWALEC Stadium.

"To have that 'World Cup', you can have added pressure on you as well. But the way we've played over the last two games, the boys are enjoying that added pressure.

"It's a special achievement, and we obviously did it during the best time - which was during the World Cup. "To continue with that form, even though we've lost a couple of players, I'm delighted in the response of the dressing room - and the bowlers as a unit are doing fantastically well.

"I think in the last seven games they haven't conceded more than 148 runs, which is fantastic in the Twenty20 format. "It was exceptional again. I'm absolutely delighted with what was another strong performance. "I'm going to sound like a broken record, but the bowlers again adapted to the conditions very well."

Pakistan never recovered from slumping to 22 for four after winning the toss and batting, as seamers Tim Bresnan (three for 10) and Stuart Broad (two for 18) did much of the damage before some typically tight bowling by England's immaculate spinners Graeme Swann and Michael Yardy.

It all left Pakistan skipper Shahid Afridi in no mood to offer excuses.

"We were very bad, inexperienced and immature. I thought we played very bad cricket," he said.

"We are not enjoying ourselves in the field - we need to forget everything, I know it's difficult, but we should be professional cricketers and focus on cricket. "I said England are united because they are winning continually, and victory brings unity to the team.

"At this stage I know our morale is very down, but one victory and it will be very high. We are just trying to find victory at this stage. "It will be a big challenge to compete in the one-dayers, but we have some time, and me, my coach and the team, we will sit together and talk."

Pietersen out for a duck for Surrey

2010-09-08T16:29:00.000+05:30

Any qualms Glamorgan might have had that Surrey’s new star signing would provide an unforeseen obstacle in their promotion challenge were dispelled within two balls.

That was the limit of Kevin Pietersen’s contribution to the day, as the England batsman made a duck in his first championship appearance for the county.

Surprise, surprise, it was a left-arm spinner who did for him. Dean Cosker managed to skid one on as Pietersen lurched forward shortly before three o’clock. The ball thudded into the pad, and after a period of contemplation, the finger was raised by umpire Nick Cook — another slow-left-armer.

Pietersen cannot seem to shake the pesky things off at the moment.

There was disgruntlement aplenty in the members’ stand, but with a superb one-day hundred on Saturday in the bag, and a second innings to come here, there is no need to sound the alarm yet.

Nevertheless, Pietersen’s failure raised the interesting question of what would transpire should he end the season without another substantial score.

By dispatching him to the half-empty arenas of the county circuit, the Englandselectors have concluded that they would rather an affronted Pietersen than an out-of-form one. You wonder whether it has occurred to them that after the next two matches, he may well be both.

But while Pietersen himself spent an unhappy minute in the limelight, his influence was everywhere. The run rate pushed five an over at certain points, as Glamorgan pushed for a first promotion in six years and Surrey strove to avoid a first ever wooden spoon.

Frustrated by an early shower that kept the players off the field until half past one, Glamorgan bowled poorly to an opening partnership of Tom Lancefield and Jason Roy.

The supremely talented 20 year-old Roy, in only his second first-class innings, brought to mind nothing less than a youthful Pietersen with his carefree power hitting. He raced to fifty off 47 balls before giving it away in consummate KP fashion, dancing down the pitch to Cosker and getting bowled. He even has a South African birth certificate.

The real Pietersen failed to trouble the photographers, and when Cosker produced some considerable turn to sneak past Mark Ramprakash’s defences, he was sitting on very handy figures of three for five.

Rory Hamilton-Brown and Gary Wilson wrested back the initiative with a partnership of 127 in 128 balls. Hamilton-Brown hit all four main bowlers for six in a thrilling 96, but he attempted to smite Cosker into Camberwell and was stumped all over the place. A brainless dismissal in the 90s — another very KP trait.

Wilson had gone just four balls earlier, bowled playing down the wrong line, but Chris Schofield and Gareth Batty saw Surrey to a third bonus point and set up an absorbing second day. Glamorgan could seal promotion with a win, but they will have Pietersen to negotiate once more first.

PIETERSEN BLASTING CENTURY FOR SURREY

2010-09-08T16:22:00.000+05:30

KEVIN PIETERSEN roared back to form by blazing a century for Surrey on Saturday.

The axed England batsman put the fact he has been charged for his foul-mouthed Twitter rant behind him with his most fluent innings for some time.

As he's been dropped from the one-day internationals with Pakistan, KP was able to come in at number three in the clash with Sussex to wow the Hove crowd.

A single off Yasir Arafat ended a seven-year wait for a domestic one-day ton and he went on to smash 116 from 105 balls in the tied 40-over match.

James Kirtley eventually clean bowled Pietersen after eight fours and six sixes to spark his own celebrations as the paceman is due to retire knowing he has a prize scalp to enjoy.

BUTT IS A LIAR: LEGEND RAJA

2010-09-08T15:46:00.000+05:30

The star at the centre of the spot-fixing scandal sought to hide behind the Pakistan High Commissioner's barmy claims that the News of the World fabricated evidence against him. Test captain Butt appeared at last Sunday's post-match press conference and tried to distance himself from the allegations he is involved in an illegal gambling syndicate.

But former skipper Raja said: "Salman Butt's claims are a joke, a big joke. "If you are implicated, you've got to come out straight away and say, 'I've not done this, I don't care what the allegations are, I'm not involved and that is the truth'.

"He has not done that, he has come across as a big liar. I am so heavily and thoroughly disappointed by Pakistan's captain.

"You look at match-fixing and the captain has to be crooked, they've got to be involved, along with some of the major players in the team, for it to happen.

"It all depends on the captain. The way it was told in the paper '10th over, sixth ball' it actually did happen. It's up to the captain to ensure the bowler is still operating in the 10th over.

"I thought Butt was intelligent enough to understand the importance of leading Pakistan and setting an example.

"This is going to hurt Pakistan cricket. We have become a laughing stock. These players have brought shame on Pakistan's history. They have been caught in the act. Nothing can detract from that fact."

It is alleged Butt coerced 18-year-old Mohammad Amir into bowling two no-balls during the Fourth Test with England. Mohammad Asif is also accused of intentionally over-stepping.

Afridi commented Hameed's word can't be trusted

2010-09-07T09:30:00.000+05:30

PAKISTAN batsman Yasir Hameed faces being interviewed by the ICC's anti-corruption unit as part of its match-fixing investigation, but his reliability as a witness has been called into question by his teammates.

The ACU detectives will be free to speak with Hameed as he is not part of the criminal investigation being carried out by Scotland Yard and it is likely he will be asked to explain comments made on film to an undercover reporter at the weekend during which he stated Pakistan were ''fixing almost every match''.

Hameed's comments added to the pressure around Pakistan, who are facing the prospect of another player being charged by the ICC.

''We want to be prompt and decisive on this matter,'' said Haroon Lorgat, the chief executive of the ICC. ''It is not something we want to drag our heels on and as soon as we are in a position to make charges and disclosures we will do so.''

Hameed's nickname within the Pakistan team is ''Bacha'', which means ''child'' in Urdu, and his naivety in talking with such openness to a complete stranger just days after the story of spot fixing during the Lord's Test broke is startling.

''He [Hameed] is 30-31 but mentally he is 15-16,'' said Shahid Afridi, the Pakistan one-day captain. ''I don't know who he was sitting with or in what situation he gave this message but we have known him for a long time. We know we can expect anything from him and he does this kind of thing. People know what type of character he is.''

Hameed was summoned to the Pakistan High Commission in London on Sunday for a meeting with Ijaz Butt, the chairman of the Pakistan Cricket Board.

Hameed later issued an affidavit through the commission claiming his comments to the News of the World were simply a repeat of the allegations made against Salman Butt, Mohammad Amir, and Mohammad Asif that had already been reported by the media. He claims he was duped into talking with the newspaper's investigative journalist Mazher Mahmood, believing him to be a sponsor offering a £50,000 ($84,000) deal.

He said two days later the same man called him and offered £25,000 to give a statement against the three players under investigation, which he refused. Hameed then claimed to have received a text threatening to expose him drinking wine during the interview, a potentially damaging allegation against a Muslim during Ramadan.

Meanwhile, the idea of a match-fixing amnesty has been put forward by the Professional Cricketers' Association.

Lorgat later suggested pace sensation Amir's tender age of 18 may help him escape stringent punishment, such as a life ban, in case he is found guilty of spot-fixing allegations.

Australia, New Zealand exchange cricket umpires

2010-09-07T09:25:00.000+05:30

Australia and New Zealand have introduced an international exchange program for their senior cricket umpires.

Simon Fry, a member of Cricket Australia's international panel, and Barry Frost, a member of New Zealand Cricket's international panel, will be the first umpires to benefit from the program, which is designed to provide senior umpires with potential to officiate at international level the opportunity of experiencing foreign conditions.

Fry will officiate in a Plunket Shield first class match in Auckland, starting on November 23, while Frost will officiate in a Sheffield Shield first class match in Melbourne, starting three days later.

Both countries already have a similar relationship in place with Cricket South Africa.

Pietersen fined over Twitter rant

2010-09-07T09:23:00.000+05:30

Kevin Pietersen was fined an "undisclosed amount" by the England and Wales Cricket Board yesterday for his foul-mouthed Twitter tirade after being dropped from the England squad.

Pietersen, never before axed when fit from England duty in a four-year international career, pre-empted last Tuesday's announcement by several hours that he'd been left out for the upcoming Twenty20 and limited overs matches against Pakistan with a post on social networking site Twitter.

The South Africa-born batsman would have been in trouble for that act alone.

But the 30-year-old Pietersen, man of the tournament during England's victorious World Twenty20 campaign in the Caribbean earlier this year, told his followers: "Done for rest of summer!! Man of the World Cup T20 and dropped from the T20 side too.

"It's a f up."

England coach Andy Flower had to leave the national side in Cardiff, where the World Twenty20 title holders won the first of two Twenty20 internationals against Pakistan on Sunday, to travel to a disciplinary hearing at Lord's on Monday ahead of the second and final T20 in the Welsh capital on Tuesday.

An ECB statement said: "ECB has announced that Kevin Pietersen today (Monday) attended a disciplinary hearing at Lord's convened by Hugh Morris, Managing Director - England Cricket, and Andy Flower, England Team Director.

"Pietersen proffered an unreserved apology to ECB and the England team management for his actions."

"The hearing considered his comments to be prejudicial to the interests of Team England," the statement added.

"He has been fined an undisclosed sum in accordance with the terms and conditions of his England central contract."

Pietersen, struggling for runs at international level, was released back to on-loan county Surrey in a bid to regain form ahead of England's defence of the Ashes in Australia later this year.

It looked a good move as he hit a century for Surrey on Saturday in a 40-over match against Sussex.

Record ICC rap for spot 'fix' trio

2010-09-07T09:14:00.000+05:30

THE three Pakistan players in the dock for spot-fixing have been hit with a staggering 23 charges after a News of the World undercover investigation.

Skipper Salman Butt and bowlers Mohammad Asif and Mohammad Amir stand accused of involvement in a multi-million pound betting scam organised by 'fixer' Mazhar Majeed.

And the International Cricket Council charges run to a massive SIX pages per player. We have also learned Butt had previously been warned FIVE times about his duty to report illegal approaches before the latest betting scandal.

The three players and Majeed are the subject of a Scotland Yard investigation, with the Pakistan stars also facing the wrath of an ICC desperate to save their sport's battered reputation.

Test captain Butt and veteran bowler Asif both face life bans, although there is a growing sense among ICC top brass that 18-year-old Amir should be dealt with more leniently.

They have all been charged under Article 2 of the ICC's anti-corruption code, with Butt's charge sheet the longest of the three. In total, the charges run to 18 pages which were handed to the players on Thursday night after the ICC's Anti-Corruption and Security Unit swooped.

Pakistan's one-day skipper Shahid Afridi yesterday apologised for the conduct of his former team-mates on the eve of Sunday's Twenty20 clash in Cardiff. But his apology is unlikely to save the career of Butt.

Pakistan insist NOTHING will stop them completing their tour, while England bosses will take a final decision this morning on the wisdom of carrying on.

England's T20 skipper Paul Collingwood said: "If I was approached by anybody, I would certainly tell somebody about it."

Pakistani star Yasir Hameed blows lid off cricket corruption

2010-09-07T09:11:00.000+05:30

A PAKISTAN cricketer who played in the rigged Lord's Test has sensationally confirmed that there WERE cheats in his team.

Respected opening batsman Yasir Hameed claims bent teammates were fixing "almost every match".

And he provided a devastating insight into the shady world of betting scams, telling how he:

REFUSED bribes of up to £150,000 from a corrupt bookmaker to throw matches.
LOST his own place in the squad and saw his career damaged as a result.
WATCHED as crooked colleagues splashed out on plush properties and expensive sports cars funded by their illicit activities.
LEARNED that shameless players pocketed an astonishing £1.8million for rigging a Test match against Australia earlier this year.

Hameed, once rated amongst the world's finest batsmen, said of his scandal-struck colleagues: "They've been caught. Only the ones that get caught are branded crooks.

Now, captaincy is big challenge, says Afridi

2010-09-04T13:34:00.000+05:30

Shahid Afridi Friday said that leading the side in the upcoming one-day International series, against England, would be the biggest challenge of his career in the wake of spot-fixing allegations against the three of their top players.

Afridi, who has played 27 Tests, 296 ODIs and 35 T20 matches, also said that Pakistan players were feeling the heat after the allegations surfaced.

“It has not been easy for the players. But I think the team management took the right decision to release these players even before they were suspended.

“Because not only were Salman (Butt), (Mohammed) Aamer and (Mohammed) Asif under pressure, but also the rest of the team were also feeling the heat of the allegations,” he said.

Afridi said the players were making an effort to avoid discussing the issue during training or in the dressing room and were trying to just focus on the cricket.

“The players are avoiding talking about it because they know that the best thing they can do right now is to focus on the upcoming matches and try to do well in them,” he said.

“For me, personally, it is a big challenge to lead the team in the existing conditions… But I have tried my best to relax the players and insist they just concentrate on cricket.”

The Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) announced two youngsters — batsman Asad Shafiq and left-arm pace bowler Mohammed Irfan — as replacements for the suspended trio, for the ODI series.

Afridi, however, said that he was consulted before the finalisation of the replacements.

“I know they have lot of talent and it is a challenge for me to try to get this team to fight hard. Obviously, we will miss the three (players), but we have good back-up talent and we have to manage with it,” he said.

Afridi also said that he hoped that the three players would eventually be cleared of any wrongdoing.

“I feel sad at the current situation and I hope it turns out well for Pakistan cricket. But for the time being, we just need to show the world that we are a top cricket nation,” he said.

Pakistan team manager Yawar Saeed, too, urged the squad to stay strong and “ride the pressure” for the remainder of the tour.

“We are human beings. Everybody has pressures in life — we have to ride the pressure, not give in to the pressure,” Saeed said.

He also insisted that in spite of the spot-fixing allegations, he never thought about cancelling the tour.

Meanwhile, England team director Andy Flower thinks that the game will “survive” inspite of the recent controversies.

“It’s not great discussing these topics and nobody wants that sort of news on the front or back page. We’ve got to see the outcome of these investigations first. Obviously it’s a not a very healthy position that we seem to be finding ourselves in right now,” Flower said.

“But the game will survive, there’s no doubt about that. It’s a great game, people love playing it, people love watching it and that’s why it will survive.

Sachin Commented on Fixing allegations Play for spirit, not money

2010-09-04T13:28:00.000+05:30

Money is not necessarily a bad thing but youngsters should not fall for its lure and, instead, should play the game in the cleanest possible way, Sachin Tendulkar said on Friday.

The batting maestro, who was conferred the rank of honorary Group Captain by the Indian Air Force at a function in the capital on Friday, said that playing the game in the right spirit was of utmost importance.

“If there is more money in cricket, there is no harm… But you also have to keep in mind that the priority has to be to play cricket in the cleanest way and in the right spirit,” said Tendulkar.

Asked how youngsters can resist the lure of money, Tendulkar said: “When I started playing cricket, I did not think of making money. I started playing cricket because I loved it and even today, that is the case.

“It’s not about money. If I make more money than the runs I score, I would not be able to sleep at night. When I score runs, I sleep well at night,” he said.

According to Tendulkar, representing the nation remained his biggest passion. “It has been my passion to play cricket for India and do well. I can stick my neck out and tell you that players who play for India are committed, determined and always waiting to go out and give their best,” he said.

“When we play, we always play to win, whether it’s the first match or the final. Our motto has always remained the same,” he added.

Tendulkar strongly backed the youngsters saying that they are a wonderful lot with a bright future. “In Sri Lanka, we made the final with some wonderful youngsters. We played good in patches and, sometimes, we were not up to the mark.

“May be we had committed some mistakes… But such things do happen in cricket and we have to correct them,” said Tendulkar.

“Sometime we react (too much). We will have to make sure that the players get all the confidence. And when we will have identified who will play in the World Cup, they will have to be given a reasonable role so that they feel confident and up for the contest,” he said.

Asked whether he was expecting the Bharat Ratna, Tendulkar smiled and said: “Which Indian does not want Bharat Ratna? It’s a great honour… in fact, it is the country’s greatest honour.”

On his association with the Indian Air Force, Tendulkar said: “Only time in my life I got into a fighter plane was in South Africa, in 1996... It was very scary. This is a special day and I will cherish this moment for the rest of my life... Whenever we are in Mohali (for matches), we would see fighter planes passing by. It is a very fascinating sight.”

In 2008, India’s World Cup winning captain Kapil Dev had received the honorary rank of Lieutenant Colonel of the Territorial Army.

Ban Match Fixers for life: Shane Warne

2010-09-03T11:16:00.000+05:30

Shane Warne says Pakistan captain Salman Butt should face a life ban if found guilty of being involved in a cricket betting scam.

Butt and bowlers Mohammad Aamer and Mohammad Asif have been summoned to London to meet Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) chairman Ijaz Butt and Wajid Shamsul Hasan, Pakistan's high commissioner to Britain.

It's unclear if they'll be available for forthcoming matches but Ijaz Butt says he'll fight calls for the trio to be barred from appearing while the allegations are still being probed.

''If it is true and they have been found (guilty of) match-fixing and throwing games and spot betting with the no-balls and stuff, if that's the case they should be thrown out,'' Warne told reporters in Melbourne on Thursday.

''It's as simple as that. I don't think there should be any other way to do it.''

"If it's fixed by players, they should be banned for life. Anyone who's involved should be thrown out.''

The International Cricket Council has promised ''prompt and decisive action'' if the ''spot-fixing'' allegations linked to betting rings made by Britain's biggest-selling newspaper are proven.

On Sunday The News of the World alleged Mazhar Majeed, a 35-year-old agent for several Pakistan players, took 230,000 US dollars to arrange for deliberate no-balls to be bowled at precise points in last week's Test match against England.

Leg-spinning great Warne said he was a TV commentator for the Sydney Test in January 2010 when Pakistan's bizarre field placings and batting collapse helped Australia score an unlikely come-from-behind victory.

''They are only allegations at the moment so I suppose you have to say innocent until proven guilty,'' Warne said.

''But looking back at the (Sydney) Test match, if it was fixed, you could understand how it was fixed by the way they were captaining the side and their tactics.''It would make sense -- if it was true.''

Ricky Ponting admits Australia's tour to India is not good preparation for the Ashes

2010-09-03T11:07:00.000+05:30

When it was announced that Australia would play a mini Test and one-day series in India in October, the news was met with anger in England because it meant the counties would not be able to play in the lucrative Champions League.

The bigger picture could, however, be a little more fulfilling for English cricket, with the tour denying Australia an ideal warm-up for the Ashes series.

Australia’s batsmen will be denied a prolonged period in home conditions before the Ashes starts after their board agreed to replace a seven-match one-day series in India with Tests in Mohali and Bangalore as well as three 50-over matches, which adds up to a challenging and potentially draining month in India.

he tour to India is due to begin on Sept 25 and end on Oct 24, leaving less than a month for the Australians to settle back into home conditions before the first Ashes Test in Brisbane on Nov 25.

“If you were trying to set down and map your perfect preparation for an Ashes series or a home series, it probably wouldn’t be playing two Test matches in India,” said Ricky Ponting, the Australia captain. “But you don’t live in an ideal world. That’s the way international cricket is these days.

“We’ll wait and see who we’ve got that’s fit and ready to go for that tour and pick a squad of players we think can win a Test series over there, and then worry about the start of the Ashes after that.”

Many of the Australian players left Headingley on Saturday for holidays in the UK before returning home later this month, while the Pakistanis moved south for this week’s first Test at Trent Bridge where, despite their win at the weekend, they are still underdogs to beat England.

Ponting said he expects England to win the series and even Salman Butt, the Pakistan captain, admitted he was unsure how his team would react to beating Australia.

“I hope they continue to learn and that this win doesn’t get into their heads,” said Butt. “We have to work harder because we know we will make mistakes. They are pretty young, they are raw.”

Teen bolter in squad to tour India

2010-09-03T10:59:00.000+05:30

Phillip Hughes has been recalled to the Australian team after
missing the series against Pakistan due to injury

Phillip Hughes and Josh Hazlewood picked for tour of India, while Brad Haddin has been ruled out with an elbow injury.

Phillip Hughes has returned from a dislocated shoulder while Peter George from South Australia and 19-year-old Josh Hazlewood from NSW will add a green tinge to the pace attack for the Australian Test tour of India.

Wicketkeeping duties will again be taken by the young Tasmanian Tim Paine as first-choice gloveman Brad Haddin continues his slow recovery from an elbow tendon injury.

The party of 15 reflected the national selectors' satisfaction with the squad's progress over the past 18 months, despite only mixed results against Pakistan on the recent tour of England.

Chairman of selectors Andrew Hilditch said he believed the group was building nicely towards the home Ashes series this summer, but acknowledged the size of the task on the subcontinent.

"India is ranked number one in Test cricket and there is no harder assignment in Test cricket at the moment than playing India on their home soil," he said.

"While it was disappointing to draw the series in England against Pakistan, the squad reflects the good performances of the team over the last 12 months as we continue to prepare for the Ashes."

Australian physio Alex Kountouris said Haddin would likely be available for the three-match limited-overs series that follows the two Tests in Chandigarh and Bangalore.

"Brad Haddin is making good progress with rehabilitation of his elbow tendon injury," said Kountouris.

"He is due to commence restricted batting in the next few weeks but will not be available to play in the Test component.

"He is on track to be available for club cricket and for New South Wales with the possibility of being available for selection in the India or Sri Lanka one-day international series."

Young batsman Callum Ferguson and pace bowler Ryan Harris are two players who will push for selection in the one-day matches as they return from knee injuries.

Squad: Ricky Ponting (capt), Michael Clarke, Doug Bollinger, Peter George, Nathan Hauritz, Josh Hazlewood, Ben Hilfenhaus, Phillip Hughes, Michael Hussey, Mitchell Johnson, Simon Katich, Marcus North, Tim Paine, Steven Smith, Shane Watson.

Pakistan Defeated Somerset in Practice Match

2010-09-03T10:54:00.000+05:30

Small consolation: Pakistan's one-day captain Shahid Afridi, right, leads his players
off the pitch at the end of the one-day cricket match against Somerset.

lurched from one crisis to another on Thursday although their new problems are far easier to solve than those being explained away on the steps of the High Commission.

What was supposed to be a gentle warm-up match in Taunton turned into a trial of a different sort as Pakistan suffered injuries to key members of a squad already trimmed of its three players accused of spot fixing.

A total of four players left Somerset for Cardiff on Thursday night with wounds of differing levels of severity. Umar Akmal, one of the world’s leading Twenty20 batsmen, had concussion after suffering a blow in the nets before the match while seam bowlers Umar Gul and Wahab Riaz suffered finger injuries and shoulder strains respectively, although both are likely to be fit for Sunday’s first match against England.

But the back strain suffered by all-rounder Abdul Razzaq in the warm-up session between innings looks more serious, and could leave Pakistan without three of their frontline bowlers with Mohammad Asif and Mohammad Amir otherwise engaged meeting Scotland Yard detectives.

Taunton was the perfect refuge for a Pakistan team under siege for the week. A gloriously hot day and lengthy queues at the ice cream van summed up a day far removed from the media glare that has dogged them since the end of the Lord’s Test.

There was a palpable lifting of tension when Salman Butt, Asif and Amir left Taunton on Wednesday and the Pakistan side were focused on Thursday’s match, which ended in a narrow eight-run victory. Somerset had the usual sprinkling of debutants that counties now field against touring sides although one of them, Lewis Gregory, marked the occasion four wickets including a triple wicket maiden as Pakistan threw the bat around in the final powerplay after a hundred by Butt’s replacement, Shahzaib Hasan.

“That team fully firing might have cleaned us up a bit earlier but when you saw the death period and business end of game you could see they were well drilled in what they had to do,” said Peter Trego, standing in as Somerset captain for Marcus Trescothick, who was rested on Thursday.

“If there is any cloud hanging over those guys it needs to be addressed. The shame is it is three exceptionally good players [they have lost] and might detract away from the quality of the series with England. But on the whole with the issues around it is best they are out of the limelight now.”

The Taunton crowd were generously hospitable to Pakistan raising £5,000 through a bucket collection for the Pakistan flood relief fund. There were no abusive shouts directed at the team and even the sarcasm was kept to a low level thanks to the fact Pakistan did not bowl a front foot no ball at any stage of the match.

The only cat call came as Somerset were left chasing 32 off the last three overs. “Let’s have a couple of no balls boys,” shouted one fan. It didn’t work and Zander de Bruyn’s unbeaten hundred was in vain.

England's Onions out of Ashes

2010-09-03T10:47:00.000+05:30

Graham Onions of England will miss this summer's Ashes series

Graham Onions says he is shattered after his slim hopes of featuring in England's defence of the Ashes in Australia later this year were crushed due to injury.

The seam bowler is due to have back surgery next week which will put him out of action for nine months, ruling him out of the Ashes series which begins in Brisbane on November 25.

The 27-year-old Durham paceman, who played the last of his eight Tests against South Africa in Cape Town in January, had been out of action since returning home early from England's tour of Bangladesh in March.

But Onions vowed to fight his way back to form and fitness.

"Obviously I'm shattered to have been ruled out of the Ashes with the prospect of a lengthy recovery period," Onions said in an England and Wales Cricket Board (ECB) statement on Thursday.

"After experiencing the euphoria of being part of an Ashes winning England team last year I was determined to get myself fit for selection ahead of this winter's tour of Australia.

"Unfortunately that's not to be and even though we have tried every possible form of treatment, surgery is the only option left," added Onions, who has taken 28 Test wickets at 31.03 apiece.

"While I'm devastated to be facing such a long lay off from cricket I'm determined to overcome this setback and make sure I get back bowling again next year and work my way back into England calculations.

"It's been a difficult period for me but I realise that I have to have this operation if I want to play cricket again. I want to thank the ECB medical team for all their ongoing hard work and support."

ECB chief medical officer Nick Peirce, said Onions, who played in three Tests against Australia as England regained the Ashes on home soil last year, confirmed the seamer now faced a lengthy lay-off.

"Graham has been suffering from ongoing discomfort due to stress fractures on both sides of his back," Peirce said.

"We have thoroughly exhausted all avenues of conservative treatment and rehabilitation with surgery very much seen as a last resort.

"The surgery Graham faces is a relatively significant operation and his rehabilitation will see him ruled out of all cricket for approximately up to nine months."

ICC suspends Butt, Asif and Aamer

2010-09-03T10:44:00.000+05:30

Pakistan High Commissioner Wajid Shamsul Hasan stood by
the players, ominously claiming they had been 'set up'

The International Cricket Council has charged Pakistan's Salman Butt, Mohammad Aamer and Mohammad Asif with various offences under its anti-corruption code.

The players "have been officially notified of the offences they are alleged to have committed and have been provisionally suspended pending a decision on those charges", the ICC said in a statement on its website on Thursday.

"In accordance with the provisions of the code, this means they are immediately barred from participating in all cricket and related activities until the case has been concluded."

Test captain Butt and fast bowlers Aamer and Asif were all named in a News of the World report which alleged they were involved in a "spot-fixing" scam by bowling deliberate no-balls in last week's Test match with England in exchange for cash.

The trio have protested their innocence and the ICC said they have the right to contest their suspension, and have two weeks to request a hearing before anti-corruption tribunal where they can defend themselves.

However, ICC Chief Executive Haroon Lorgat said: "We will not tolerate corruption in cricket - simple as that.

"We must be decisive with such matters and if proven, these offences carry serious penalties up to a life ban.

"The ICC will do everything possible to keep such conduct out of the game and we will stop at nothing to protect the sport's integrity.

"While we believe the problem is not widespread, we must always be vigilant."

Shahid Afridi the warrior entrusted with reviving Pakistan

2010-09-01T09:55:00.000+05:30

How do you solve a problem like Shahid Afridi? On the face of it, the arrival of a fresh captain and five other players for the limited-overs matches is a chance for Pakistan to turn a corner on this tour. But Afridi has a checkered past to match some of his team-mates.

Pakistan cricket's wise heads made him one-day captain for the Australia tour last winter, but by the time they left in February Afridi had made the most astonishing attempt at ball-tampering most of us have seen, biting the ball in a one-day international in Perth. He was banned for two Twenty20 internationals. Those with longer memories tut-tutted and recalled his pitch-scuffing antics at Faisalabad's Iqbal Stadium in 2005, when, after bashing 92 from 85 balls, he tried to improve his team's chances of victory against England by replicating Michael Jackson's moonwalk on a spinner's length.

For all his faults, Afridi has never been shy of holding up his hand when he has stuffed up. Even those left slack-jawed by the irresponsibility of his batting during the Lord's Test defeat against Australia in July warmed to him after the game, when he admitted he was not cut out for the demands of the five-day game.

In retrospect, though, maybe there was more at work than ill-fitting whites. Pakistan's Express Tribune reported on Monday that Afridi had had doubts about the Majeed brothers' activities even before the News of the World's revelations. "Afridi always doubted Mazhar and his brother Azhar Majeed, and that's why he strictly prohibited his entry in the team hotel and asked all the fellow players to stay away from them," a team official told the paper, adding that it was only once Afridi returned home that contact was reestablished.

In a video leaked after the tour of Australia, in which Pakistan lost every single game in all three formats, Afridi was also suspicious of some in the squad. "As far as the fielding is concerned, we do very well in the practice sessions but we have a few players who perform well with the bat and then do not concentrate while fielding," he said. When the inquiry committee then asked if he thought any player deliberately tried to lose a match, he replied: "I have heard from others that such things exist but I do not know of any such player myself."

He has scored as many centuries (five) as Andrew Flintoff in 52 fewer Tests and taken 109 more one-day wickets than England's talismanic all-rounder, yet Afridi's volatile temperament has meant that he could never be considered one of the game's elite performers. Like the big gamblers who either clean up or go bust, there is no middle path with Afridi.

That was best illustrated in the World Twenty20 tournaments of 2007 and 2009. In the first, he was player of the competition, starring with bat and ball, but the sight of Irfan Pathan (who received, at the receiving end of many an Afridi sledge on the tour of Pakistan in 2006) at the top of the bowling mark appeared to unhinge him in the final against India. The first-ball dismissal was crucial in a nail-bitingly close game. Two years later, in England, his form with the bat was so dismal there was talk of his being dumped from the side. But Younis Khan – who, like Afridi, is a Pathan, a people from northern Pakistan – kept faith and was rewarded with two spellbinding performances in the semi-final and final, as South Africa and Sri Lanka were swept aside.

Not since Imran Khan and the two Ws, Wasim Akram and Waqar Younis, has a Pakistan cricketer been so adored. During the World Twenty20 last summer, chants of "Afridi, Afridi" were as common as "Pakistan zindabad", and he has admitted to being affected by the adulation. "While in the dressing room, I try to remain calm and think about building my innings," he said in a TV interview a few years ago. "But when I go out there, it's like hitting a wall of sound and I forget whatever we had discussed minutes earlier. I just try and smash every ball."

The 30-year-old, initially a fast bowler who so idolised Imran he switched to spin because "people told me I was chucking the ball", was born in the Khyber Agency. "My tribe is from the northern areas," he told Spin Cricket last year. "There's no law there, no governmental law, it's our own rules. It's very close to Afghanistan. In the tribe, in the Khyber Agency, no one's interested in cricket. They belong to the army or do business. In my village 12, 13-year-old guys are always walking about with guns." Had Afridi not become the first member of his tribe to play first-class cricket he, too, would have joined the army.

Nearly two decades ago, another Pathan, Imran, led Pakistan cricket to its finest hour. Last year, Younis led them to a second world title. Now, Afridi has the most arduous task of all, to lead a team from darkness without knowing where the light is.

Mohammad Amir removed from Lord's honours board

2010-09-01T09:51:00.000+05:30

Troubled Mohammad Amir could become the first player in history to be scrubbed from the Lord's honours box.

If Amir's complicity in a betting scam is proved, the Pakistan fast bowler faces the shame of his 6-84 in the Tainted Test being airbrushed from the scroll of honour.

Traditionally, players who score a century, take five wickets in an innings or 10 wickets in a Lord's Test match are celebrated in gold-leaf paint on the dressing-room honours board.

Amir was destined for the privilege after taking four wickets in eight balls last Friday. But after damning evidence that the 18-year-old bowled no-balls to order, his place on the scroll is under threat.

The tour must not be abandoned ..it is the ONLY way to save cricket

2010-09-01T09:46:00.000+05:30

England's one-day series with Pakistan must be used to help restore the public's faith in cricket.

That is the verdict of Surrey chief executive Paul Sheldon, whose club is due to host the third one-dayer between the sides and who is keen to see the game's integrity restored in front of the public gaze.

Sheldon, who watched on four years ago as Pakistan refused to play on his ground over a ball-tampering row, was worried that any cancellation of the matches would have been a disaster and tantamount to giving in to those who are dragging cricket through the mud.

Instead, he is glad that the series appears to be secure and he believes it must be used as a tool to try to begin a rebuilding process with cricket fans saddened by the events of the weekend.

"It is a terrible time for the game," said Sheldon. "And you can't put a gloss on this whole incident at all because it is very damaging and clearly a big dampener has been put on things.

"While one mustn't put the credibility of the game at risk with all the fans who support it and make cricket possible, we need to make sure we host the one-day series and try to make the good things about the game the real focus.

"We have to remember that the game has pulled through similar situations like this before, particularly the Hansie Cronje incident and we came through the other end of that with the game still intact.

"These are only allegations at the moment. They are very serious indeed but, just as the game has done before, I've no doubt we will pull through together in the same way.

"It would be devastating if we didn't have our match at the Brit Insurance Oval. We certainly don't want to punish those fans who want to turn up and watch a decent game of cricket."

Sheldon's views were echoed by ICC president Sharad Pawar, who was locked in conference calls with his counterparts at the ECB and PCB throughout yesterday. He said: "It is the desire of the ICC, England and Pakistan that the game is continued." Despite the tour being kept alive there are huge doubts over whether Salman Butt, Mohammad Asif and Mohammad Amir will take part once investigations are completed.

Former England fast bowler Bob Willis believes the only way the series can have any credibility is for the trio to be suspended pending the full investigation.

Willis, now a Sky Sports commentator, said: "A suspected fraud in a British company would see an executive suspended with or without pay while the investigation took place and that is what the Pakistan Board should do.

"They should suspend the players who have been implicated from the tour and let the matches go ahead.

"This could take the heat out of things and the only course of action if the matches are to go ahead. I can't believe anyone would be happy if they took the field.

"The MCC with their sponsoring of the Spirit of Cricket Test series with Australia and the ECB chairman Giles Clarke have bent over backwards to help Pakistan in difficult times when they can't play at home and this is the thanks they get."

Even if the three players are left out of the Pakistan side to play England on Sunday in Cardiff, it may not be enough to persuade the Pakistani public to support their team.

Around 5,000 tickets remain unsold for the T20 and more than 10,000 for the second match on Tuesday.

Glamorgan chief executive Alan Hamer is worried about the impact the scandal will have.

Hamer said: "We're not sure whether the events of the weekend have spoiled the matches and whether people will be cynical about coming.

"For games against Pakistan, you rely on late purchases from their supporters, but with these allegations against their players we don't know if it will turn them off.

"We hope not and we hope we have two sell-out crowds.

"It was supposed to be about the current T20 world champions against the former champions, but I don't suppose that is going to be the focus now."

COUNTDOWN TO CRISIS: PAKISTAN TIMELINE

January 2010: Australia, just 49 runs ahead with only two second-innings wickets remaining, manage to set Pakistan 176 to win the Sydney Test - aided by Mohammad Yousuf's bizarre field placings and a spate of dropped catches. Nathan Hauritz takes 5-53 as Pakistan fall 36 runs short and the Aussies complete a fightback.

February: Shahid Afridi is banned for two Twenty20 internationals after TV evidence catches him twice biting the ball, ostensibly to engender reverse swing, during a narrow two-wicket defeat by the Aussies in Perth. Pakistan lose the series 5-0.

March: Yousuf and former captain Younis Khan are banned indefinitely after a Pakistan Cricket Board inquiry into the hopeless tour of Australia, where they lost every international fixture. Rana Naved-ul-Hasan and Shoaib Malik are banned for a year and three others, including Afridi, are fined.

July: Afridi, who has taken over as captain for the series against Australia, announces his retirement from Test cricket after Pakistan are well-beaten in the first Test at Lord's. Pakistan level the series with a thrilling threewicket win at Headingley.

August: With Salman Butt now in charge, Pakistan lose the Test series 3-1 after being bowled out for 80, 72 and 74. Yousuf is recalled to shore up their batting at The Oval, where they donate half their 500,000 rupees-a-man win bonus to the flood relief fund back home.

August: The storm breaks - Mohammad Amir, Mohammad Asif, Kamran Akmal and Butt are implicated in the betting scam where Amir and Asif allegedly bowl no-balls to order to help betting syndicates rake in millions of dollars.

England v Pakistan, remaining tour dates

Sep 5 T20, Sophia Gardens

Sep 7 T20, Sophia Gardens

Sep 10 ODI, Riverside

Sep 12 ODI, Headingley

Sep 17 ODI, Oval

Sep 20 ODI, Lord's

Sep 22 ODI, Rose Bowl

Kevin Pietersen reveals one-day drop on Twitter with expletive-peppered Tweet

2010-09-01T09:40:00.000+05:30

A post on Kevin Pietersen's Twitter account has said the England batsman has been dropped from the one-day international squads for the series against Pakistan.

The tweet, which was deleted within minutes, also claimed he had signed for Surrey.

The tweet said: "Done for rest of summer!! Man of the World Cup T20 and dropped from the T20 side too.. Its [sic] a f*** up!! Surrey have signed me for l..."

The England and Wales Cricket Board will name the squads for the Twenty20 and 50-over matches this afternoon but the announcement has been delayed and is now expected around 5.15pm.

After a modest summer against Bangladesh and Pakistan, Pietersen admitted to suffering from a crisis of confidence.

He told Sky Sports 1 his morale had been "hammered" in the last year and a half.

Pietersen has not scored a Test century since March 2009, in a run-fest against the West Indies that saw seven individual hundreds, and the last of his seven ODI tons came in November 2008 against India.

He said: "I'm not one of those guys who likes to say I'm playing well in the nets. Talk is cheap, but I'm trying so, so hard to break this barren run of hundreds.

"It does concern me. I'm always looking to try and improve. I've got to look at the positives and drag my confidence up, which has been hammered in the last 18 months.

"I'm nowhere near the person I used to be but I've got to keep trying to work at it.

"It's purely down to confidence and purely down to what's happened over the last 18 months. I'm trying so hard every day to get back to where I used to be.

"I'll get there."