CricBlitz

India's pathetic show in Australia , BCCI worried

noreply@blogger.com (crictr) — Fri, 27 Jan 2012 18:30:00 +0000

With India staring at their second consecutive overseas series whitewash, the BCCIon Friday expressed concern at the lacklusture performance of its team in Australia and said corrective measures will be taken after the series.

"Our players have not been able to perform overseas in the last two series, and we are worried about this. Sometimes players do not do well. There is no question of blaming (anyone) but corrective measures will be taken after the tour," BCCI vice president Rajiv Shukla told reporters.

India are on the verge of losing the fourth and final Test in Adelaide, having lost the first three matches in Melbourne, Sydney and Perth.

Before this, India were blanked 4-0 in England. Virat Kohli is the only batsman to have scored a century on this tour and the big guns have failed to fire.
(PTI)

"We will reap the benefits of these changes": SLC President

noreply@blogger.com (crictr) — Fri, 27 Jan 2012 16:07:00 +0000

Sri Lanka's cricket chief on Friday defended the sacking of Australian coach Geoff Marsh and the selection of a new team captain, saying the changes would help usher in a new era of "cricketing excellence".

"We will reap the benefits of these changes in the fullness of time," Sri Lanka Cricket president Upali Dharmadasa said in statement.

The sacking of Marsh on Wednesday - just three months into a two-year contract - was widely criticised, with former team skipper Arjuna Ranatunga calling the move "disgraceful" and "unprofessional".

Marsh was replaced by South African Graham Ford, who becomes Sri Lanka's fourth coach since Australian Trevor Bayliss stepped aside after the World Cup final in April 2011.

While voicing gratitude for Marsh's efforts, Dharmadasa said it was time for Sri Lankan cricket to "move on".

The appointment of Ford was "based on the fact that he can cope with the demands a 21st Century coach has to cope with in the international arena", the statement said.

The change in coaches came two days after Tillakaratne Dilshan quit as team captain, to be replaced by former skipper Mahela Jayawardene.

"This change will also help Dilshan to concentrate more on his game," Dharmadasa said.

"We strongly believe Dilshan's contribution will be much more if he is relived of additional responsibility. This will help the teams overhaul performance."

Sri Lanka's sports minister last week named a four-member selection panel and gave them one year to put the team in order after the side lost Test and one-day series to England, Australia,Pakistan and South Africa.
(AFP)

" Pirate broadcasters are the biggest danger to cricket "

noreply@blogger.com (crictr) — Fri, 27 Jan 2012 16:05:00 +0000

England and Wales Cricket Board (ECB) chairman Giles Clarke said that pirate websites streaming live cricket illegally are the biggest threat to world cricket.

The ECB last year closed down some 700 websites illegally streaming live coverage of England's Test series against India.

"We all have to be vigilant. There are a huge number of pirate websites that stream cricket on the internet taken from television broadcasts, we and our broadcasters closed down 700 during last summer's series against India," Clarke was quoted as saying by the Daily Telegraph.

"These pirate broadcasters are the biggest danger to cricket because they take money out of the game without commercial benefit to the sport. It is an extremely complex procedure to close down websites but it can be done and has to be done," he said.
(IANS)

" 3 ,4 players might have played their last test " : Sunil Gavaskar

noreply@blogger.com (crictr) — Fri, 27 Jan 2012 16:03:00 +0000

Former captain Sunil Gavaskar on Friday said that at least three senior cricketers may not be selected again for the national Test team after what has already turned out to be a disastrous tour for India.

India were headed towards their second successive Test series whitewash with another massive defeat looming large in the fourth and final Test in Adelaide, and Gavaskar said time has come for the likes of Virat Kohli to be handed more responsibility.

"I think at least three or four players might have played probably their last Test in Australia. I am saying this because India's next Test is six-eight months away. Now the selectors should pick youngsters who would serve the country in the years down the line," Gavaskar said.

He, however, refused to name the youngsters who would come in place of the senior players.

"That's selectors' job, not mine," said Gavaskar. A sarcastic Gavaskar said that India will at last have the opportunity to score more runs than the Australians in any innings during the Test series if they score two more runs on Saturday.

"Australia declared their second innings at 166 for five and India were 166 for six at stumps today. So if India score two more runs tomorrow they will be ahead of Australia in the second innings," he said.

Asked if he remembers any other instance when Indian batsmen were tied to knots by a slow bowler as has been done by Australian off-spinner Nathan Lyon, Gavaskar said, "Indian batsmen got bogged under pressure. There's some sort of defeatist attitude hanging around, even the most experienced players have been affected by it."

"There was an air of resignation. There was nothing like let's fight back, get down to doing something. Thats' why they are on the verge of their eight successive Test defeat overseas," he told a TV channel.

Gavaskar said that Kohli, who struck a century in the Adelaide, should have been promoted to number three.

"Yes, he should have been promoted to number three. That opportunity has been missed. That (number three) is going to be his number in the years to come and he should have been given that number three slot in Adelaide," said Gavaskar.

"Virat scored a hundred in Australia, the lone player to do so. May be his confidence could have stemmed the rot and might have protected the senior players who have been sorely out of form. They (seniors) could have been protected by him (Virat) and who knows the senior players would have done better in the last couple of days in Adelaide," he said.

"India missed out on the chance to experiment with Kohli. The same thing happened in the West Indies and England. With some extra zip, India could have won the series in the West Indies 3-0. In England, they were flat-footed not only on the field but also in their thinking."
(PTI)

"Sehwag? it was a full toss," : Nathan Lyon

noreply@blogger.com (crictr) — Fri, 27 Jan 2012 16:01:00 +0000

A little over a year ago, Nathan Lyon was an Adelaide Oval groundsman watching from the sidelines as Australia crashed to an innings defeat on their way to a humiliating Ashes series defeat.

On Friday at the same ground, he took three wickets for 57, including what could be final dismissal of Sachin Tendulkar in a Test on Australian soil, to put his country on the brink of a 4-0 series sweep over India.

The 24-year-old, the latest in a long line of spinners tried out by Australia since the retirement of Shane Warne five years ago, agreed that it had been quite a surreal turnaround.

"It's been a different side of the fence enjoying the test match rather than sitting on the roller watching it," he told reporters.

"It's been a fantastic experience playing in front of the home crowd and I've enjoyed every moment of it."

Lyon only made his first class debut in February last year after impressing the previous month in Australia's domestic Big Bash Twenty20 tournament.

The offspinner did not have to wait long for his test debut on the tour of Sri Lanka last August and his return to the Adelaide Oval was his 10th appearance for his country in the longer form of the game.

Tendulkar was not the only famous name to fall to Lyon on Friday although he admitted that the ball that induced stand-in India captain Virender Sehwag to hole out at cover was not a special delivery.

"Sehwag? it was a full toss," he said. "Probably wasn't my best ball but I'm not going to call him back, that's for sure.

"Ricky Ponting came up to me just before that ball and said 'do him in the air' so I was pretty happy with it."

There was another surreal moment after Lyon had dismissed VVS Laxman when Australia put nine fielders close in around night-watchman Ishant Sharma.

"To have that many fielders around the bat was something I'd never had before except in backyard cricket," Lyon said. "It didn't work but we'll give it another crack another time."

Lyon's three wickets on Friday doubled his tally in his three matches in the series despite Adelaide being the only one going to five days, when a spinner would be expected to play a big role.

"I felt I bowled pretty well the whole summer," he said. "It's just good to be able to contribute to what will hopefully be a team victory.

"I can't see it being too bad of a wicket (tomorrow), it's still a good wicket to bat on when the ball's in the middle. There's plenty of rough for the spinners so hopefully I can play a role."
(Reuters)

Rahul Dravid's Retirement : Coming Soon !

noreply@blogger.com (crictr) — Fri, 27 Jan 2012 15:59:00 +0000

Rahul Dravid's glorious international career may have come to an end on Friday, with the veteran batsman likely to announce his retirement shortly.

The 39-year-old Dravid, one of the game's greatest batsmen, is believed to have told some of his teammates after another failure against Australia in the final Test that he had decided to hang his boots.

He could not be reached for his comments. Dravid, like most other Indian batsmen, has had a poor run in the current four-Test series which will conclude on Saturday with India likely to suffer another defeat to give Australia a clean sweep.

He made 194 runs at an average of 24.25 in this series. Dravid has already announced his retirement from one-day cricket and Twenty20.

The elegant right hander, nicknamed 'The Wall' for his dour defence, is the second highest run getter in Test history with 13,288 runs, behind only Sachin Tendulkar who has 15,470 runs. He has 36 Test centuries with a highest score of 270 and an average of 52.31.

Dravid has also taken more catches (210) than anyone else in Test history during his 164 Test matches since he made his debut against England at Lord's in 1996. He captained India from December 2005 to August 2007. There is a question mark over another Indian veteran VVS Laxman who too had a miserable run against Australia in the current series. There was no word yet about his future plans.
(PTI)

"We've given it everything we had" : Ashwin

noreply@blogger.com (crictr) — Fri, 27 Jan 2012 10:19:00 +0000

India were "extremely disappointed", but not embarrassed, by their inept performances against Australia, spinner Ravi Ashwin said on Friday.

The Indians face a humiliating 4-0 series wipeout and their eighth consecutive away Test defeat in the fourth Test in Adelaide, where they were trailing by 333 runs at 166 for six.

India have been thrashed by an innings in two Tests and lost the opening Test in Melbourne by 122 runs in a miserable tour of Australia.

Australia will expect to mop up India's tail on Saturday with only forecasted storms likely to save the visitors from another embarrassing capitulation.

Ashwin, who once again was delegated by the team to face the media after another wretched day for the tourists, said: "We are extremely disappointed but there is no need for embarrassment.

"It's a sport and at the end of the day we have all competed hard at the ground, it's not like we've chucked it away," Ashwin said.

"We've given it everything we had, yes, we've come up short on occasions.

"We have not seized the initiatives and we've not enough reserves in the bank to do it, but at the end of the day we are extremely disappointed."
(AFP)

"I took up the captaincy once again for one-year" : Mahela Jayawardene

noreply@blogger.com (crictr) — Thu, 26 Jan 2012 19:17:00 +0000

Mahela Jayawardene on Thursday said he has taken up the Sri Lanka captaincy for a short term and rejected rumours that there was an internal bickering in the side.

"I took up the captaincy once again, for one-year. Our target is to win matches, to regain our place as one of the top-four Test playing nations," Jayawardene told reporters in Colombo.

"We have failed as a team in the past. But we have to look beyond that and move forward. We face India and Australia next month. We need to take the positives from South Africa and focus on winning matches again."

Jayawardene captained the team between 2006 and 2009 before making way to Kumar Sangakkara.

Immediately after Sri Lanka's loss to India on the world cup final last April, both of them resigned leading to Thilakaratne Dilshan's appointment as captain.

Jayawardene dismissed rumours that internal politics between players had affected the team morale, leading to defeats.

"Kumar (Sangakkara) is the number one batsman in the world. It is ridiculous to think that he would under-perform due to internal politics," Jayawardene said.

Responding to Sri Lankan decision to sack Geoff Marsh as coach and replace him with Graham Ford, Jayawardene said "That is not my area. That is up to the selectors. My focus is to work with what I have got. Graham is experienced, and we need his services to rebuild, harness new players and win games.

The outgoing captain Dilshan said Marsh gave more than 100 percent" to the team and declined to comment further on the issue.

Asked about his sacking as captain, Dilshan said he had been only picked captain until the South African tour and he was happy to see Jayawardene back as captain.
(PTI)

Ricky Ponting is likely to sue Indian software , ' Face Guess Cricket '

noreply@blogger.com (crictr) — Thu, 26 Jan 2012 19:14:00 +0000

Former Australian captain Ricky Ponting is likely to sue Indian software for using his face in a mobile phone application without permission.

Retired greats Glen McGrath, Steve Waugh and Shane Warne's faces have also been used without permission by Indian firm AHI Infotech in 99c iPhone app "Face Guess Cricket". The applications asks for users to guess a cricketer's identity from close-ups of his face.

"We weren't aware of it and we'll be issuing action against them straight away for the use of his intellectual property," Ponting's manager James Henderson was quoted as saying by the Herald Sun.

"It's news to me. We have no relationship with (the developer). And we had to look it up to see what Face Guess Cricket was," McGrath's manager, Warren Craig, said.
(IANS)

"As a team we have no politics or infighting": Mahela Jayawardene

noreply@blogger.com (crictr) — Thu, 26 Jan 2012 19:11:00 +0000

New Sri Lanka captain Mahela Jayawardene rejected the sports minister's allegation that politics and infighting within the playing squad has caused the team's recent slump.

Jayawardene said that the team has collectively made mistakes but disunity was not the reason for recent Test series losses to England, Australia,Pakistan and South Africa.

"As a team we have no politics or infighting. We did not play well, I admit that," Jayawardene said. "We can't point fingers at a single individual for the shortcomings."

Tillakaratne Dilshan resigned as captain after losing all four series during a difficult transitional period for Sri Lanka since the 2011 World Cup, following the retirement of stalwarts like leading Test wicket-taker Muttiah Muralitharan.

Sri lanka, however, managed to record its first Test match win in South Africa last month under Dilshan's captaincy.

But sports minister Mahindananda Aluthgamage said in a speech in Parliament that senior players had acknowledged a communication gap with the others and there has been questions over the level of support given to the captain.

Aluthgamage has also alleged the head coach and his assistants don't work together.

Sri Lanka authorities have initiated a major shake-up following the defeats, replacing the selection committee, captain and coach.

Jayawardene was reappointed captain after only leaving the position in 2009, and he said he has taken over on the understanding that he will hold the position for one year until a younger player is ready.

Former Australian opening batsman Geoff Marsh was fired after only completing three months of a two-year contract, replaced by ex-coach Graham Ford.
(AP)

Abu Dhabi cricket ground is a nightmare for fast bowlers: Shoaib Akhtar

noreply@blogger.com (crictr) — Thu, 26 Jan 2012 19:09:00 +0000

Former Pakistan fast bowler Shoaib Akhtar says the cricket ground in Abu Dhabi, where Pakistan and England are engaged in a Test match, does not suit fast bowlers much.

"The ground is sandy, thick and hard and it is a nightmare for the fast bowlers to bowl there," Akhtar said.

He also felt that the spinners can extract sharp turn and bounce if they are willing to push the ball through instead of giving it flight.

Akhtar who is appearing on the newly launched PTV sports as an expert for the series felt the ongoing second Test was wide open after the second day's play.

"It is in an intriguing stage Pakistan must not relax in the first session tomorrow and try to take the remaining five English wickets for as many less runs as possible. If England get a lead of even 60 to 70 runs it would become a difficult situation for Pakistan," he said.

He said Pakistan's best spinner Saeed Ajmal had made the mistake of thinking he would get wickets in Abu Dhabi by bowling the way he did in Dubai.

"When he got wickets it was when he pushed the ball through and depended less on his 'doosra' and more on his off-break ball. Players have to evolve with every match taking into consideration the conditions and weather at a particular time."

Akhtar said when the Pakistani spinners tried to flight the ball the England batsmen minted runs off them.

"That was their mistake but they have now realized what needs to be done on this pitch."

Akhtar said Umar Gul looked tired, rusty and carried niggles when he bowled on Thursday.

"I think Misbah-ul-Haq needs to use him in short spells that is where he is most effective. As it is bowling on the Abu Dhabi ground is not easy for the pacers at all because of the ground conditions where you need to have extra layers of protection in your shoe," he said.

Akhtar who retired from all cricket during the 2011 World Cup also felt that Pakistan needed to do homework on how they used the Umpires Decision Review System insisting the role of the wicket-keeper was very important in advising his captain when to take reviews.

On Thursday Pakistan didn't take a review when replays showed Jonathan Trott was out leg before while in two other instances they wasted their reviews.
(PTI)

Shahid Afridi thinking of organising double-wicket competition in Pakistan

noreply@blogger.com (crictr) — Thu, 26 Jan 2012 17:22:00 +0000

Desperate to get international cricket back to Pakistan, former captain Shahid Afridi is thinking of organising a double-wicket competition, involving players from different countries, in the country.

"When I was in Australia playing in the Big Bash tournament, I spoke to number of top players from different countries to get their feedback on whether they would be interested in traveling to Pakistan for a double wicket competition," Afridi said.

The flamboyant all-rounder said he had tried to convince the players that why it was so important for international cricket to be played in Pakistan and the response he had got from many players was positive.

"That is why now I am seriously planning to organise a double wicket competition with foreign players in a befitting manner but dates and venues will be decided later," he said.

"New Zealand's former captain Daniel Vettori, West Indian Chris Gayle and some Australian players were among those with whom I discussed this proposal and they expressed great interest in it and in playing in Pakistan," Afridi added.

No Test playing nation has visited Pakistan since March, 2009 when militants attacked the Sri Lankan team in Lahore killing six Pakistani policemen and a van driver and wounding some of the visiting players.

The Pakistan board recently officially invited the Bangladesh Cricket Board to send its team to Pakistan for a scheduled FTP series in April and is waiting for a visit by the Bangladesh security delegation to move things ahead.

Afridi said the impression he had got in his personal interactions with players from other countries was that they all wanted to help out Pakistan cricket and wanted to see international back in Pakistan.

"I am hopeful something good will come out of it because it is very important we get back international cricket in the country. I am delighted that the PCB has taken the initiative of inviting Bangladesh to send its team to Pakistan," Afridi said.

A PCB official when contacted said Afridi had not spoken to them as yet about the double wicket competition but if was planning such an even the board would support him.

"We ourselves have written letters to the ICC and all Test playing nations, including India, to help us revive international cricket in Pakistan and this is part of our new initiative to take steps to bring some teams to the country," the official said.
(PTI)

"This England series could be our last series at offshore venue": PCB Chief

noreply@blogger.com (crictr) — Thu, 26 Jan 2012 17:19:00 +0000

It is nearly three years that international cricket has not been played in Pakistan and PCB chairman Zaka Ashraf on Thursday hoped that the current Test rubber against England at Abu Dhabi would be their last home series at an offshore venue.

"This England series could be our last series to be held at an offshore venue. We are keen to host international teams just like other member boards are doing," Ashraf told a cricket website.

"We are already engaged with the Bangladesh board and I am sure their tour to Pakistan in April will break the ice."

"We are in contact with the [Pakistan] government as well and they have given their consent to us hosting Bangladesh to start with. They have given us their full support," he said.

But a spokesman for the Bangladesh cricket Board on Thursday created doubts over the tour when he said that final decision has not been taken yet on playing in Pakistan.

"The government has told us to form a security delegation to visit Pakistan but we have nothing in writing as yet from the government and it is yet to be decided when it is the best time for them to go to Pakistan," the spokesman said.

He made it clear that it was only after the security delegation's visit to Pakistan that the Bangladesh board would take a decision on touring Pakistan in April.

A PCB official said that even they realised that a final decision on the tour would be taken based on the feedback given by the Bangladesh security delegation that would include officials of the police, interior ministry and government.

"But we are hopeful that Bangladesh will tour Pakistan because they have agreed to review our invitation to them and are sending their security delegation for this purpose.

"We are confident that the briefing that will be given to their security officials should put to rest any doubts they have in their minds about international cricket being played in Pakistan," he said.
(PTI)

"Virat and some other youngsters were swearing at the opponents"

noreply@blogger.com (crictr) — Thu, 26 Jan 2012 17:15:00 +0000

Former India captain Sunil Gavaskar on Thursday disapproved of young batsman Virat Kohli swearing at the Australian players after scoring a century in the final Test at Adelaide, terming it as "school kid" temperament.

Kohli had a wild celebration after reaching his century with some choicest of words against the Australian players, and Gavaskar said it was unnecessary.

"Not just Virat, some other Indian players also. Instead of smiling after taking a wicket they were snarling. They were taking out something onto the somebody. If somebody taunted you on the field show it by scoring runs or taking wickets," Gavaskar said.

"Virat and some other youngsters were swearing at the opponents. That is like having a temperament of school kid cricket. They should not do that.

"When a Tendulkar, Dravid or a Laxman scored a century they just raised the bat. By swearing or doing something like that brings down the focus," the former captain added.

Gavaskar, however, praised Kohli for the application he showed in his innings of 116 in India's first innings.

"What Virat has shown with his knock was that runs can be scored if you apply yourself. It shows he is a thinking cricketer. He will score lots of runs in future if he continues like that," Gavaskar said.

Gavaskar also applauded wicket-keeper Wriddhiman Saha for his gritty knock of 35 but said it was too early to say that he could replace captain Mahendra Singh Dhoni in Tests as wicket-keeper.

"His application was very good and took the attack to the Australians. That's important considering that temperament has been a let down among the batsmen and bowlers. He was calm and cool. I think he knew that he wants to make a case for his place in the Test team as a batsman," said Gavaskar.

"When Dhoni comes into the Test team, Saha cannot be selected as a wicket-keeper. Let's not jump the gun and it's too early to say that Saha can replace Dhoni as Test wicket-keeper. Dhoni has done a yeoman service to the country," he added.

Gavaskar also said that India still has the chance to save the Adelaide Test as the pitch was still assisting batsman.

"There is a very good chance to save the Test. The Indian batsmen can take the lead from Virat and Saha and even Ishant who hung on for a while with Virat. Apply yourself and don't do anything silly.

"Nothing much is happening on the pitch except for odd balls climbing up. I think they will get four-and-a-half or five sessions to bat on and if they bat sensibly they can save the Test," Gavaskar said.
(PTI)

BBC sport will continue to broadcast live England matches until 2019

noreply@blogger.com (crictr) — Thu, 26 Jan 2012 13:37:00 +0000

BBC Sport will continue to broadcast live ball-by-ball radio coverage of England internationals until 2019 after agreeing a new deal with the England and Wales Cricket Board (ECB) on Thursday.

The agreement will encompass two home Ashes series against Australia in 2015 and 2019, and tours by India in 2014 and South Africa in 2017.

The previous four-year deal was due to expire at the end of the 2013 season.

"This is excellent news for all cricket-lovers," ECB chief executive David Collier said in a statement.

"Test Match Special brings cricket into millions of homes in this country each summer and is widely recognised for its unique and world class coverage of cricket."
(Reuters)

Sri Lanka Cricket is in a major mess : Arjuna Ranatunga

noreply@blogger.com (crictr) — Thu, 26 Jan 2012 12:04:00 +0000

Legendary Sri Lankan cricket captain Arjuna Ranatunga on Thursday slammed his country's sacking of Australian coach Geoff Marsh as "disgraceful" and "unprofessional".

Marsh was this week replaced by South African Graham Ford.

The move followed Tillakaratne Dilshan quitting the captaincy on Monday. Former skipper Mahela Jayawardene was brought in to lead the team to Australia for the upcoming triangular one-day series involving India.

"It is disgraceful the way Sri Lanka Cricket handled it by removing a professional like Marsh," the former Sri Lankan captain Ranatunga, 48, said a day after the governing body sacked him.

Marsh had begun a two-year contract in September 2011 when he was abruptly shown the door. He has not commented on his dismissal and Sri Lanka Cricket has not given any reasons for the sudden move.

Removing Marsh also sends a negative signal to professional staff who work with Sri Lanka or plan to work with the national cricket team in the future, Ranatunga said.

"Top coaches, physios will think twice before they accept a job from Sri Lanka in the future. Sri Lanka Cricket has set a very bad precedent," said Ranatunga, who led Sri Lanka to their only World Cup triumph in 1996.

Ford, 51, is the fourth to coach Sri Lanka since Australian Trevor Bayliss stepped aside after the World Cup final in April 2011. Bayliss's assistant Stuart Law took over for the England series and quit to coach Bangladesh.

Sri Lankan pace bowler Rumesh Ratnayake took over for the home series against Australia and was replaced by Marsh.

Ranatunga, a former captain and opposition lawmaker, also blamed administrators for the country's poor run of form after losses to England, Australia, Pakistan and South Africa.

"People who run cricket in this country, have no clue about the game. Do you think they love the game? No. Sri Lanka Cricket is in a major mess," he said.

He said re-appointing Jayawardene, who led the side to the 2007 World Cup final, was not the right way to fix the losing streak.

"It is like changing the pillow to fix a headache. Mahela is not getting younger. I am surprised he accepted it again. We have to groom young people for the captaincy," he said.

He accused the government of meddling in the sport that has led to its financial ruin, poor governance and lack of foresight to pick players.

A former cricket board chief, Ranatunga scored 5,105 runs in 93 Tests and 7,456 runs in 269 one-dayers before quitting international cricket in 2000.
(AFP)

"I don't think there was too much banter": Peter Siddle

noreply@blogger.com (crictr) — Thu, 26 Jan 2012 12:00:00 +0000

Paceman Peter Siddle took a swipe at India after another stout-hearted bowling effort put Australia on track for a 4-0 series whitewash in the final Test on Thursday.

Siddle charged in on the unresponsive flat Adelaide pitch to take five for 49, denting a few more Indian batting reputations and prolonging Sachin Tendulkar's wait for a 100th international century.

Australia were in command at the close with a massive 382-run lead after dismissing India for 272 and opting to bat again rather than enforce the follow-on on the third day.

The feisty Australian quick took aim at India's big-name batsmen, who have consistently struggled for runs in the series in the face of the home side's superior bowling attack.

Siddle played down talk of 'banter' between the Australians and Virat Kohli as the Indian star almost threw away his chance of becoming the first centurion for the tourists in the series before he went to score 116.

Kohli, fast running out of batting partners, was almost run out on 99 as he frantically searched for the clinching run for triple-figures.

"I don't think there was too much banter," poker-faced Siddle said. "The bloke (Kohli) batted well to get to 99 and then to almost run himself out just ridiculously, that's what we were trying to tell him.

"You don't want to do that to yourself when you're on 99 and just throw your wicket away. You work so hard.

"It was just a matter of settling him down and make sure he got over the line," Siddle said to cackles of laughter at his post-match press conference.

Siddle also had a dig at opening batsman Gautam Gambhir, who said before the Test that Australia had tailored the match wickets for their bowlers.

"Gambhir thought I had the luck of the green wickets but I guess there wasn't much bounce in this wicket today and it seemed to get him out so it was a nice little reward for a wicket that is hard to bowl on," Siddle said of his rearing delivery that had Gambhir caught.

Siddle said he was delighted to have prevented Test cricket record-breaker Tendulkar from scoring his elusive 100th international century for the third time in the series.

"I'm happy that he doesn't get it (100th hundred) but I don't mind if it's me getting the wicket or someone else," he said.

"He's a great player and it's the same with their top order, we just want to build the pressure on them and get the results.

"At the moment it's working for us, so I am happy for him to make as many centuries after this series, as long as we can restrict him now, that's the plan."

Siddle, who has taken 22 wickets in the series at 17.36, said he was getting the results of his hard off-season work.

"The hard work that I've put in over the last six or seven months has just come together," he said.
(AFP)

"I like to play my cricket like that. I like to give it back" : Kohli

noreply@blogger.com (crictr) — Thu, 26 Jan 2012 11:57:00 +0000

India batsman Virat Kohli said his maiden Test century in the fourth test on Thursday was a fitting riposte to "drunken" Australian fans who have heckled him from the stands throughout the series.

Kohli was fined half of his match fee in the second Test in Sydney for responding to barracking from the crowd by gesturing at them with his middle finger.

After struggling early in the tour and coming under pressure for his place in the side, the 23-year-old scored a half century in the third Test in Perth and followed that up with the first century of the series from an Indian batsman on Thursday.

"In Sydney, they were after me because I hadn't scored any runs, and today they were (angry) because I got a hundred. It hasn't changed only the reason has," he told reporters.

"It is really, really frustrating at times, they say things which shouldn't be said on a cricket field.

"If they come here to enjoy a game of cricket, they should do that and not get drunk and abuse cricket players. It's not fair, if the players say anything they're fined and banned.

"To give it back verbally and then score a hundred is even better," he added.

Kohli stuttered on 99 runs and, after almost being run out, had a verbal altercation with Australian bowler Ben Hilfenhaus which resulted in Ricky Ponting acting as peacemaker.

"I like to play my cricket like that. I like to give it back," Kohli said.

"They sledge when they get frustrated, and obviously it was hot out there, and they were sledging us to ruin our concentration. During that partnership, they were really, really low."

Kohli, already a proven performer in the one-day game, said his success after a faltering start in Test cricket showed that more patience was required when youngsters are trying to break into the India team.

"Some people have great starts to a certain format, some take some time," he said.

"You have to be patient with someone who comes in. They are good enough and when they are mentally tough enough they will be more consistent in Test cricket.

"I'm learning every game and as long as I can perform and learn at the same time, I'm going to become a better cricketer.

"I always wanted to be a successful Test cricketer for India and hopefully this is the start for me."

India are already 3-0 down in the series and finished the third day of the fourth Test 382 runs behind the Australians but Kohli said he thought victory was still possible.

"The ball's turning square now and with (spinner Ravi) Ashwin bowling well now, you never know," he said.

"If we can get two or three wickets early on in the morning, we still have two days of the Test to try and chase down the score they set."
(Reuters)

Ricky Ponting has been awarded Australia's highest civil honour

noreply@blogger.com (crictr) — Thu, 26 Jan 2012 08:12:00 +0000

Australian batsman Ricky Ponting has been awarded one of his country's highest civil honours in an annual list marking the national holiday, one day after posting a double century in the fourth Test against India.

The 37-year-old Ponting has been appointed an officer in the general division of the Order of Australia for distinguished service to cricket and to the community through the Ponting Foundation, which helps cancer sufferers.

Former Wallabies rugby stars Stirling Mortlock and George Smith have received the same awards. Teenage sailor Jessica Watson, who became the youngest person to sail solo and non-stop around the world in 2009, was given the Medal of the Order of Australia.
(AP)

"I'm enjoying my partnership with Swann": Monty Panesar

noreply@blogger.com (crictr) — Wed, 25 Jan 2012 17:51:00 +0000

England's Monty Panesar played down his rivalry with fellow spinner Graeme Swann after returning to the Test arena on Wednesday for the first time since 2009.

Panesar dismissed Pakistan opener Mohammad Hafeez on the way to figures of one for 91 in the second Test, while Swann took three for 52 to confirm his reputation as England's top spinner.

England were in command after reducing the hosts to 256 for seven, but Pakistan captain Misbah ul-Haq remained unbeaten on 83.

"I have been out of the team for three years, so whatever opportunities I get now I just want to make the most of my opportunity," Panesar told reporters.

"I'm not really thinking about whether I want to be number one (spin bowler). We both see each other as partners, helping each other.

"I'm enjoying my partnership with Swann, bowling in tandem - ball turning away, ball spinning it actually creates quite a lot of pressure among different batsmen."

Panesar was recalled in place of injured seamer Chris Tremlett as England played two spinners in a four-man attack for the first time since 2003.

Such has been Swann's form that Panesar had been sidelined since his memorable last-wicket stand with James Anderson against Australia in Cardiff in 2009.

"I was a little bit nervous - I found out this morning," said Panesar. "I avoided being up all night practising my action in front of the mirror. I just kept myself ready - there was always the option of playing two spinners because of the conditions out here and the pace of the wicket."

Panesar put in a long shift, bowling 33 overs and was hit for five sixes.

With Pakistan at 51 for no wicket, he dropped a stooping caught and bowled chance, but made immediate amends, dismissing Hafeez for 31 with his next delivery.

"I should have taken it and the next ball ... it was nice to get the wicket because he's been in good form and it's good to get him early on," said Panesar.

He was philosophical about missing out on the wicket of Ul-Haq when James Anderson dropped a catch with the Pakistan captain on 30.

"These kinds of things happen," said Panesar. "He has batted well and you have got to put that past you and keep focusing on the overs. I knew I was going to bowl a lot of overs and I didn't want that to affect me."
(Reuters)

"The stage is set for Sachin Tendulkar": Sourav Ganguly

noreply@blogger.com (crictr) — Wed, 25 Jan 2012 17:48:00 +0000

Former India captain Sourav Ganguly says Sachin Tendulkar should end his last series against Australia by getting his 100th international century in Adelaide, the city of legendary Don Bradman.

Tendulkar was batting on 12 and Gautam Gambhir on 30 as India were 61 for two in their first innings in reply to Australia's 604 for seven declared after the second day's play of the fourth and final Test at the Adelaide Oval.

Ganguly said a lot will depend on Tendulkar and Gambhir to save the Test for India.

"It has Tendulkar and Gambhir at the crease -- two players who have looked good in the series -- and it will be up to them to take India forward. India has a lot of distance to cover. It needs two hundreds to get close to Australia's total.

"It could be Tendulkar's last Test in Australia -- a country in which he has earned the biggest respect, and very rightly so -- and the little champion has a massive opportunity to finish Down Under in a good fashion. I don't know whether the burden of 100 centuries is weighing him down but a 100th hundred hit in the state of Sir Donald Bradman would be fitting," said Ganguly.

Ganguly said in a country where Tendulkar is hugely respected, all eyes will be on him, not only for himself but also to see his team through.

"The stage is set -- perfect batting conditions on day three of the game and a lot to play for," Ganguly was quoted as saying by The Age.

Ganguly said Australia in no way can lose the match and gave credit to Ricky Ponting and Michael Clarke to take the hosts to a commanding position.

"It was a fantastic display of batting yesterday by Ricky Ponting and Michael Clarke and they have put Australia in a commanding position. When a team scores 600 runs in an innings in a Test, it normally shuts out one result - a loss for that team - and leads to only two results - a win or a draw for that side," he said.

Ganguly was surprised to see the decline in stand-in captain Virender Sehwag's determination.

"Sehwag once again got out to a loose shot, as we say in sports. There has been a remarkable decline in his determination in the last few years overseas. He has never been a player with lot of footwork but he made up for that with other attributes, such as his enormous hunger to succeed. At the moment, it looks like being on the decline. In the past, he has treated such deliveries with disdain but somehow he has managed to get himself out to ordinary deliveries," he said.

Ganguly also wondered how Rahul Dravid is getting bowled out in all the Tests.

"For Dravid, the problem of the ball rattling the stumps continues. I can't remember him getting bowled so many times in his career and it's becoming a worry for him and a lot of people connected with the game.

"He just seems to get surprised by the deliveries coming into him and the bat face turns, which allows the ball to go through. That fluency of the footwork has gone completely missing and he will have to work very hard to get it back," he said.
(IANS)

South Africa Tour To New Zealand : Prince out , Duminy in

noreply@blogger.com (crictr) — Wed, 25 Jan 2012 14:07:00 +0000

South Africa handed a Test recall to batsman JP Duminy and dropped Ashwell Prince for next month's tour to New Zealand, Cricket South Africa announced on Wednesday.

Duminy played the last of his 12 Tests against India in February 2010 and is the only change to the 15-man squad that beat Sri Lanka 2-1 in a recently-completed Test series.

The Proteas also recalled all-rounder Justin Ontong to their ODI and T20 squad. The 32-year-old's last international appearance came in an ODI in July 2008.

Fast bowler Marchant de Lange, who has played just one Test, and uncapped batsman Richard Levi have both been included in the T20 squad as the Proteas continue to look at various options ahead of the World Twenty20 in September and October in Sri Lanka.

"Ontong fully deserves this latest call-up. He has shown outstanding domestic form this season and I believe he has developed into a more mature cricketer," CSA selection convenor Andrew Hudson said in a statement.

"He is the complete limited overs package, being a fine batsman who will strengthen our fielding disciplines and also give us another bowling option.

"We have decided to try out some exciting new options in the T20 squad such as Levi, Ontong and De Lange. There are only 11 matches left in this format before we travel to Sri Lanka for the World Twenty20 and this is really the last chance to explore the talent we have at our disposal," he added.

South Africa's tour to New Zealand encompasses three T20 internationals, three one-day internationals and three Tests.

Squads

Test squad: Hashim Amla, Mark Boucher, Marchant de Lange, AB de Villiers, JP Duminy, Imran Tahir, Jacques Kallis, Morne Morkel, Alviro Petersen, Robin Peterson, Vernon Philander, Jacques Rudolph, Graeme Smith (capt), Dale Steyn, Lonwabo Tsotsobe.

ODI squad: Hashim Amla, Johan Botha, JP Duminy, AB de Villiers (capt), Francois du Plessis, Jacques Kallis, Albie Morkel, Morne Morkel, Justin Ontong, Wayne Parnell, Robin Peterson, Graeme Smith, Dale Steyn, Lonwabo Tsotsobe.

T20 squad: Hashim Amla, Johan Botha, Marchant de Lange, AB de Villiers (capt), JP Duminy, Colin Ingram, Richard Levi, Albie Morkel, Morne Morkel, Justin Ontong, Wayne Parnell, Robin Peterson, Juan Theron, Lonwabo Tsotsobe.
(Reuters)

"Am I the unluckiest bowler?": Ishant Sharma

noreply@blogger.com (crictr) — Wed, 25 Jan 2012 13:11:00 +0000

Ishant Sharma has been toiling hard for the past one month but does not have results to show for his on-field efforts during the tour of Australia.

The lanky fast bowler however doesn't want to consider himself unlucky for not getting wickets and would like to strive hard rather than sulk.

"Am I the unluckiest bowler? You can't say that because cricket is a funny game. You never know what's going to happen next. All you can do is to hope for the best," Ishant who went wicketless for 100 runs during his 30-over spell said.

"When you choose fast bowling, it's a tough job. When you are bowling on flat tracks in India and you don't get anything out of it, you still carry on because bowling for your country is a big motivation. That remains the most important thing for me," he said.

Often, in the nets, Sharma has been seen getting tips from Sachin Tendulkar and to outsiders it has appeared as if he has wanted him to bowl fuller.

"He doesn't tell me to bowl full because he knows it's not my natural style. He tells me to stick to my natural style, just swing a little if you can, because conditions are helpful to swing bowling. He says if you can swing, you have better chance to get them out."

Ishant feels that there are times when he comes in as one-change, it's a semi-new ball and it doesn't swing as much as expected.

"Sometimes, when I bowl as one change, the ball is not conducive for swing. In those times, you need to be patient and keep bowling in the right areas."

Many experts feel that one needs to bowl at fuller length but Ishant begs to differ.

"I know people keep saying bowl fuller. But I know what's important for me. For me, it's important to vary my length. That works for me. I try to work on my strength."

"If you are bowling on a track such as this, the ball will not travel to the slips. This is a slow track, may be you need short cover, short mid-wicket. Batsmen don't only get out in slips alone. In Melbourne, when they were 214 for six, you wanted to contain runs. For if a wicket falls, you are suddenly back in the game."

The pacer who has suffered in the past due to dodgy ankle however said that he hasn't had any problems since playing the practice games in Canberra.

"After injection in Canberra, my ankle has been perfectly fine. I don't feel the pain, so I don't need to consult anyone at the moment."

The erratic show by Indian seamers has also brought the role of bowling coach Eric Simmons under scanner but Ishant chose to defend the South African.

"Simmons is a nice coach and I am getting alone well with him. It's a good between us, we talk a lot about bowling. He doesn't want me to change too much with my bowling style. You never know, if we did so I would be dropped from the side as I once was. We don't want that to happen."

Ishant defended his team's bowling effort saying that save Perth, they have done a good job.

"Except Perth, we have bowled well. Here, even in Adelaide, we bowled well. It's just luck is not favouring us. We are bowling in right areas and trying to be patient. Wicket is flat. We are also unlucky. We are beating bats, getting edges but it's falling short of fielders. You can't do much. Hopefully luck would favour us."

Rahul Dravid getting bowled for the sixth time in seven innings must have been an embarrassment for the batsman but Ishant feels there is nothing wrong with his technique.

"If you are talking about technique, none of the batsman in the world have better than him. His performance says everything. He is the second highest run-getter in Test history. I don't think he needs to worry about."

Ishant doesn't know who would lead India's fightback on the third day tomorrow but was confident his team could rally around in this game.

"Obviously, we are positive. Even in 2003, they scored 550-odd runs but we won the game. We are looking for next three good days. This is a kind of track like you have in India. It's a good track for us to score runs."

Ishant is a bit relieved that it's an away series and the players have not been exposed to the harsh criticism that has been happening back home.

"When we are playing abroad, it's good for us. We don't watch TV or anything. Even our family doesn't talk about it. Except cricket, we talk about everything."
(PTI)

No sympathy for Sachin Tendulkar : Michael Clarke

noreply@blogger.com (crictr) — Wed, 25 Jan 2012 13:09:00 +0000

In his quest for a 4-0 whitewash, Australian skipper Michael Clarke said his team would not show any sympathy to Sachin Tendulkar, who remains unbeaten at the end of day two of the fourth Test and desperately seeks his 100th international century.

"No, I certainly won't be showing him any sympathy. We're there to win the game. He's a wonderful player and it's going to be really tough to get him out on that wicket. But somehow we're going to have to find a way to do it twice," said Clarke who slammed 210 during Australia's mammoth total of 604 for 7 declared in their first innings.

Even though Tendulkar is still around, Virender Sehwag (18) and Rahul Dravid (1) didn't help the team's cause with their early dismissals on the second day.

"Sehwag is a very good player. His way to score is a lot different to mine. He has had a lot of success.

"As for Dravid getting out bowled again, I have no idea what he's feeling. Importantly, we have plans for every batter. So far things have worked," said Clarke.

On the timing of his declaration and whether he could force the issue against India in this Test, Clarke said, "It was probably more about the runs to be honest. Trying to get to 600 and we still had plenty of time left in the day, which was probably the most pleasing.

"To take those two crucial wickets today is a really good start for us. But there's still a lot of work to be done."

Clarke, along with Sir Donald Bradman and Walter Hammond, has become the only the third captain in the history of cricket to score a triple and a double century in the same series.

"I didn't know that but it's very nice to have scored some more runs. The wicket's very flat. Ricky and I spoke early in our innings, once we got in again today, it was about going on and making big ones", he said.
(PTI)

Jhulan Goswami to get Padma Shri award

noreply@blogger.com (crictr) — Wed, 25 Jan 2012 13:07:00 +0000

The Indian women's cricket team captain Jhulan Goswami, former hockey captain Zafar Iqbal and archer Limba Ram were among the sportspersons chosen for the prestigious Padma Shri awards announced on the eve of the Republic Day.

Jhulan, who heads the ICC rankings for bowlers, has a Test bowling average of less than 20. In the 2006-07 season she guided the Indian team to its first Test series win in England.

The Arjuna awardee won the ICC Women's Player of the Year 2007 and the MA Chidambaram trophy for Best Woman Cricketer in 2011.

Former hockey player Zafar Iqbal was a nippy winger whose deft stick work and speed made him a star during his playing days. Iqbal was a member of the 1980 team that won the last Olympic Gold Medal for India.

He captained the Indian squad in the Asian Games (1982) and the 1984 Summer Olympics. The Arjuna awardee served as national coach from early 1993 to October 1994.

Limba, who was coach of the Indian team during the 2010 Commonwealth Games, was an archer par excellence in his playing days.

In 1989 he reached the World Championship quarterfinal held in Switzerland and got the second rank in the Asian Cup in Individuals besides helping India get the team Gold.
(PTI)