England v Bangladesh test to start after rain

June 6, 2010 By Leave a Comment

Play on the third day of the second test between England and Bangladesh will start after a rain delay at 1215GMT with the hosts deciding to enforce the follow-on at Old Trafford on Sunday.

England captain Andrew Strauss opted to put Bangladesh in again after his team bowled Bangladesh out for 216, in reply to the home side’s first-innings total of 419.

The tourists lost all ten first innings wickets after tea on the second day having reached 126-0. Tamim Iqbal top-scored with 108 before off-spinner Graeme Swann claimed 5-76 as Bangladesh’s fragile batting line-up capitulated in the final session.

Bangladesh need a win to draw the series after the hosts eased to an eight-wicket victory at Lord’s in the first test.

(Editing by Miles Evans; To query or comment on this story email sportsfeedback@thomsonreuters.com)

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Bangladesh collapse after another Tamim century

June 6, 2010 By Leave a Comment

A dramatic batting collapse turned the second and final test England’s way at Old Trafford after Bangladesh opener Tamim Iqbal crashed his second exhilarating century in as many matches on Saturday.

Off-spinner Graeme Swann took five for 76 as Bangladesh, replying to England’s 419, slumped from 126 for nought to 216 all out.

England captain Andrew Strauss must now decide overnight whether to enforce the follow-on at the start of play on the third day on Sunday.

It was quite a turnaround after Tamim’s breathtaking 108 from 114 balls, his fourth test century, and Bangladesh now seem unlikely to grab the victory they need to draw the series.

“It was great to score a hundred but the team matters (more),” the swashbuckling 21-year-old left-hander told reporters. “We didn’t play well after a solid start so I’m not that happy.

“If we could have gone through the day with three or four wickets down it would have been a perfect day. When I walked off I didn’t expect that (collapse),” said Tamim who kissed his bat and waved it towards his team mates on reaching three figures.

Earlier, overnight batsman Ian Bell (128) notched his 11th test century for England and put on 153 for the sixth wicket with Matt Prior (93).

Bangladesh skipper Shakib Al Hasan produced a late burst of wickets to finish with five for 121.

SPARKLING KNOCKS

The day, though, belonged to Tamim again.

Following his sparkling knocks of 55 and 103 in the first test at Lord’s, the aggressive youngster cut, drove and slashed anything loose in an innings reminiscent of India’s fast-scoring opener Virender Sehwag.

He initially provided Strauss with a major problem as England’s four-man attack struggled in hot and sunny conditions.

Tamim skipped down the pitch and drove Swann over long-on for six to reach his 50 in 43 balls and went on to crack a total of 11 boundaries before he was caught behind off James Anderson trying to cut.

Earlier, he shared an opening stand of 126 with Imrul Kayes who fell for 36 when he hooked paceman Steven Finn to fine leg.

“When I started test cricket I was just trying to survive and when I tried to play a shot I was getting out,” said Tamim.

“I spoke to (coach) Jamie (Siddons) and he said when you are batting in the one-dayers, enjoy yourself, and I thought that’s the way I should play in test cricket.

“Some days I will look fantastic and some days I will look ugly but I think I need to keep going this way.”

After England resumed their first innings on 275 for five, Bell reached his century before being bowled by a sharply spinning delivery from Shakib.

Prior then seemed set for his own ton until he offered a catch off Shakib while reverse sweeping. (Editing by Tony Jimenez. To query or comment on this story email sportsfeedback@thomsonreuters.com)

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Despair turns to triumph for Shahadat

May 29, 2010 By Leave a Comment

Five years ago Shahadat Hossain left London convinced that Bangladesh’s first test at Lord’s was going to be his last.

Eighteen-year-old Shahadat conceded 101 runs from 12 overs without taking a wicket as Bangladesh tumbled to an innings and 261 runs defeat within three days.

“It was a nightmare debut,” Shahadat recalled on Friday after he became the first Bangladesh player to earn a place on the Lord’s honours board with five for 98 on the second day of the first test.

“I never thought I would get a second chance to come to Lord’s. I was dropped from the national team and selected for the A (second) team and came to England where I became the highest wicket taker.

“I was called back into the national squad and I thought if I had the second chance to play at Lord’s I would make amends for that.”

On Friday Shahadat more than compensated for his miserable 2005 outing against a powerful England side who went on to regain the Ashes from Australia in an unforgettable summer.

After dismissing Alastair Cook early on Thursday, he took four wickets, including three from 21 balls, to wrap up the England innings for 505 and troubled all the batsmen with some late movement on a pitch offering little to the bowlers.

Bangladesh’s top order took over where Shahadat had left off, reaching 172 for two at the close. Rain is forecast for the start of a British holiday weekend and it is now England who will be rethinking their strategies after dominating the first day.

Steven Finn, playing his first test at the headquarters of his county side Middlesex, was the best of an unthreatening England pace attack.

He startled Imrul Kayes (43) with a rising delivery which the batsmen fended to Andrew Strauss at first slip and maintained good control from a relaxed, high action which suggested he had pace in reserve.

“It’s been a bit of a slow wicket but with a bit more sun there could be a bit of variable bounce,” Finn told reporters.

Finn, who the England management believe might be a key players in the Ashes series in Australia this year with his pace and bounce, said the match could turn into a battle of attrition.

“They are a team who are improving game by game,” he said. “They have players who are dangerous and it’s important that we don’t take them lightly.”

(Editing by Pritha Sarkar; To query or comment on this story email sportsfeedback@thomsonreuters.com)

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Strauss warns Eng players over match-fixing fears

May 27, 2010 By Leave a Comment

With match-fixing rearing its ugly head once again, England Test captain Andrew Strauss has asked his teammates to be more vigilant and report the matter to the authorities if they come across such a situation.

“We have a duty if we hear of match fixing in domestic cricket or with England to come forward and report it straight away. For players to be tempted to take bookmakers’ money is ludicrous,” Strauss said.

Talking to reporters on the eve of his side’s first Test against England at Lord’s, Bangladesh skipper Shakib-al-Hasan also said he got a call on the eve of Bangladesh’s ODI series against Ireland in 2008, promising him sponsorship in return for under-performance.

Strauss said he himself has never come across of any match-fixing incident but stressed on the need to eradicate the menace straight away. “From my experience, I haven’t seen anything in the Middlesex dressing room or had any reason to suspect that a game I have played in has been fixed in any way. If it is happening, it needs to be stamped out straight away,” Strauss said at Lord’s.

Strauss, on his return to Test cricket, said he was excited to be back among the group again and hoping to fire with the bat.

County player approached

Meanwhile, according to The Daily Telegraph, a seasoned English county player claimed that an Indian businessman had approached him to fix one-day domestic matches, a development which sent alarms in the cricket fraternity. The report, which was published on Wednesday, said a player, who has more than 10 years’ experience in English cricket, was told by the Indian businessman to quote “his own price” and that “things are already happening in county cricket”.

The player, who remains anonymous, has reported the incident to authorities and the Professional Cricketers’ Association (PCA) would be contacting the ICC’ Anti-Corruption and Security Unit (ACU) on the player’s behalf, the report said. “They basically told me I could name my price for providing them with knowledge of the result of the game. They made me believe other counties are already involved,” the player was quoted as saying.

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FACTBOX – England v Bangladesh first test

May 26, 2010 By Leave a Comment

Factbox on the first test between Bangladesh and England starting at Lord’s in London on Thursday.

VENUE

Lord’s will stage three tests this year for only the second time in the ground’s 195-year history, including a match between Australia and Pakistan. Capacity 30,000.

HEAD TO HEAD

England have won each of their six tests against Bangladesh since 2003.

CAPTAINS

Bangladesh – Shakib Al Hassan, 23. Left-handed batsman and slow, orthodox left-arm spinner, 1,127 runs @ 33.14, 67 wickets @ 31.82. Talented all-rounder, currently ranked number one in one-day internationals.

England – Andrew Strauss, 33. Left-handed opening batsman, 5,436 runs @ 43.48. Captained England to Ashes win over Australia last year after taking over from Kevin Pietersen. Returns to the side after missing the series in Bangladesh and the successful Twenty20 campaign in the Caribbean.

WEATHER FORECAST: Fine and sunny for the first two days with showers developing over the weekend.

ODDS: England 1/10, Bangladesh 10/1, draw 6/1.

SQUADS:

Bangladesh – Tamim Iqbal, Imrul Kayes, Shamsur Rahman, Mohammad Ashraful, Shakib Al Hasan (captain), Junaid Siddique, Jahurul Islam, Mahmudullah, Mushfiqur Rahim, Naeem Islam, Abdur Razzak, Shahadat Hossain, Rubel Hossain, Shafiul Islam, Mahbubul Alam, Robiul Islam.

England – Alastair Cook, Andrew Strauss (captain), Jonathan Trott, Kevin Pietersen, Ian Bell, Eoin Morgan, Matt Prior, Tim Bresnan, Graeme Swann, James Anderson, Steven Finn, Ajmal Shazhad.

Umpires: Aleem Dar (Pakistan) and Billy Bowden (New Zealand). Match referee: Alan Hurst (Australia).

Play starts 1000GMT.

(Compiled by John Mehaffey; Editing by Ed Osmond; To query or comment on this story email sportsfeedback@thomsonreuters.com)

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Collingwood out as Morgan gets Bangladesh call

May 24, 2010 By Leave a Comment

Paul Collingwood has been ruled out of England’s two-Test series against Bangladesh with a shoulder injury, it was announced on Sunday.

But batsman Eoin Morgan, who played in the side captained by Collingwood that last Sunday won the World Twenty20 final against Australia in Barbados, has been called up into a Test squad for the Bangladesh series opener, which starts at the Middlesex left-hander’s Lord’s home ground on Thursday.

Meanwhile England fast bowler Stuart Broad will miss the series in order to undergo a “strengthening programme”.

Collingwood’s absence has created room in the Test squad for 23-year-old former Ireland batsman Morgan, although South Africa-born Jonathan Trott also remains in contention.

Morgan’s county colleague Steven Finn retains his place in the Test squad, the fast bowler having played in both of England’s wins in Bangladesh two months ago.

Their fellow Middlesex team-mate Andrew Strauss returns to captain the side, having been rested from the Bangladesh tour and then missing the World Twenty20 as the opening batsman has opted out of that form of the game.

Alastair Cook, who captained the side in Bangladesh, is set to resume his opening partnership with Strauss.

As well as Collingwood and Broad, other players from England’s victorious side in the Caribbean not selected for Lord’s include openers Michael Lumb and wicketkeeper/batsman Craig Kieswetter, left-arm pace bowler Ryan Sidebottom, left-arm spinner Michael Yardy and all-rounder Luke Wright.

The four ‘survivors’ are Morgan, star batsman Kevin Pietersen, seamer Tim Bresnan and off-spinner Graeme Swann.

Paceman James Anderson, in the squad in the Caribbean but who didn’t play, is in England’s 12 for Lord’s.

The second and final Test of this series gets underway at Old Trafford on June 4.

England first Test squad:

Andrew Strauss (capt), Alastair Cook, Ian Bell, Kevin Pietersen, Jonathan Trott, Eoin Morgan, Matt Prior (wkt), Graeme Swann, Tim Bresnan, James Anderson, Steven Finn, Ajmal Shahzad.

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Morgan selected in England Test squad

May 24, 2010 By Leave a Comment

London, May 23 (IANS) Eoin Morgan’s superb performance in the World Twenty20 has earned him a place in the England squad for the first Test against Bangladesh at Lord’s from Thursday.

Paul Collingwood and Stuart Broad have been rested for the two-Test series. Collingwood injured his left shoulder during the World Twenty20 and is to undergo treatment while Broad has been given a ‘strengthening programme’ to build him up for the months ahead, according to The Guardian Sunday.

Middlesex batsman Morgan, who played a crucial role in England’s triumphant Twenty20 campaign, is joined in the squad by his county colleague Steve Finn, while Yorkshire’s Ajmal Shazhad is in line for his first Test appearance.

England national selector Geoff Miller, said: ‘Eoin Morgan has impressed everyone since his inclusion in England’s One-day squad and he now has the opportunity to play a role in the Test team. He has always held ambitions of playing across all forms of the game and we believe he has earned his place in this Test squad.

‘We were encouraged by Steven Finn’s Test debut in Bangladesh during the winter and he has had a fine start to the domestic season for Middlesex,’ he added.

‘He is aware of what is involved at the international level and along with Ajmal Shazhad, who has also made a bright start to the County season after touring Bangladesh over the winter, offers us a great deal of depth in the bowling ranks.’

Miller said that the absence of Collingwood and Broad will provide opportunity for a number of younger players to make a mark at Test level.

‘Paul will undergo a period of rehabilitation for a shoulder injury and has been ruled out of the Test series against Bangladesh. There’s a need for Stuart to undertake an intensive strengthening programme ahead of an arduous summer and a busy winter and the next three weeks have been identified as the ideal period for this programme.’

England squad:

Andrew Strauss (captain), James Anderson, Ian Bell, Tim Bresnan, Alastair Cook, Steven Finn, Eoin Morgan, Kevin Pietersen, Matt Prior, Ajmal Shazhad, Graeme Swann, Jonathon Trott.

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England’s Collingwood and Broad to miss Bangladesh tests

May 24, 2010 By Leave a Comment

Twenty20 World Cup winning captain Paul Collingwood and bowler Stuart Broad will miss England’s test series with Bangladesh starting at Lord’s on Thursday, the England and Wales Cricket Board (ECB) said.

England named a 12 man squad on Sunday that included Eoin Morgan, who is called up to the test squad for the first time after impressive performances in the recent Twenty20 World Cup triumph in Barbados.

The ECB said scans had shown that Collingwood needed treatment for a left shoulder injury while Broad would be rested.

“Paul will undergo a period of rehabilitation for a shoulder injury and has been ruled out of the Test series against Bangladesh,” said England selector Geoff Miller.

“There’s a need for Stuart to undertake an intensive strengthening programme ahead of an arduous summer and a busy winter and the next three weeks have been identified as the ideal period for this programme,” said Miller.

Andrew Strauss will lead England with James Anderson also returning after missing the series in Bangladesh and Middlesex paceman Steven Finn included with seamer Ajmal Shahzad. Five players from the Twenty20 squad were selected.

“We believe we’ve selected an exciting squad and with Paul Collingwood and Stuart Broad taking no part in this series the opportunity arises for a number of younger players to make a mark at Test level,” said Miller.

“Eoin Morgan has impressed everyone since his inclusion in England’s one-day squad and he now has the opportunity to play a role in the Test team,” he added.

“He has always held ambitions of playing across all forms of the game and we believe he has earned his place in this Test squad.

Miller said he had been encouraged by Finn’s Test debut in Bangladesh over the winter as well as his strong start to the domestic season.

“He is aware of what is involved at the international level and along with Ajmal Shazhad, who has also made a bright start to the County season after touring Bangladesh over the winter, offers us a great deal of depth in the bowling ranks,” he said.

Squad:

Andrew Strauss (captain), James Anderson, Ian Bell, Tim Bresnan, Alastair Cook, Steven Finn, Eoin Morgan, Kevin Pietersen, Matt Prior, Ajmal Shahzad, Graeme Swann, Jonathon Trott.

(Reporting by Alan Baldwin, editing by Patrick Johnston; To query or comment on this story email sportsfeedback@thomsonreuters.com)

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T20 winning captain Collingwood back in team as regular trooper

May 18, 2010 By Leave a Comment

London, May 18 (ANI): England’s Twenty20 World Cup winning captain Paul Collingwood will join the team as a regular player at Lord’s on Monday for the first Test against Bangladesh.

Collingwood will not even be the vice-captain of the England cricket team. Andrew Strauss will be back as skipper, with Alastair Cook his No. 2.

Strauss has not led England for four months. In that time England played in Abu Dhabi, Bangladesh and the Caribbean, while he has been struggling to make early-season runs for Middlesex, The Sun reports.

“I don’t think Straussy will have trouble going back into the dressing room, despite not being part of this victory. He is our leader at the moment.

“Colly has become a lot more confident. He has led from the front with his attitude,” the paper quoted Flower, as saying.

Bangladesh on the other hand are confident that their captain Shakib Al Hasan will recover from chicken pox to face England in the first Test at Lord’s. (ANI)

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Strauss says skipping Bangladesh tour’s benefits will be seen during Ashes series

March 27, 2010 By Leave a Comment

London, Mar 27(ANI): England skipper Andrew Strauss has said that he was right to take a break from captaincy of the national team and rest himself for the tour to Bangladesh, but insisted that he will never do it again.

Strauss was accused of “disrespecting Test cricket” by Australian legend Shane Warne for resting instead of touring Bangladesh.

“I can understand the criticism – their argument the captain should be there all the time is a valid one. But I think we must look at ways of making sure our players are performing at their best when we need them most,” The Sun quoted Strauss, as saying.

“The benefit of taking some time off now will only be seen in the summer and into next winter. We have some very important cricket coming up. Come The Ashes, we”re going to need as much energy and enthusiasm as we can muster. I still think missing Bangladesh was the right decision,” he added.

Strauss, who will return to lead the side against Bangladesh in May and Pakistan in July, said that it was not a unilateral decision.

“Myself, head coach Andy Flower and England managing director Hugh Morris spoke about it for a number of months. This break was an opportunity we saw in the schedule. I don’t think I’ll need another one,” he added.

In his absence, Alastair Cook led England to whitewash victories in both the one-day and Test series and Strauss said: “It was fantastic to see some guys in Bangladesh who hadn”t been involved in the Test team have a go.”

“Cookie did things his way and did an excellent job, but I think the lads understand the principles we”re putting in place,” he added. (ANI)

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I wouldn’t have been able to sit home as captain, says Vaughan

March 26, 2010 By Leave a Comment

London, Mar 26 (ANI): Former skipper Michael Vaughan has said that he could never have taken a break from the England captaincy like Andrew Strauss.

But Vaughan believes fellow Ashes-winning skipper Strauss will reclaim his authority once he returns to the dressing room.

Strauss took a rest from the recent tour to Bangladesh and England won every match under stand-in captain Alastair Cook.

“I wouldn’t have been able to sit at home as captain knowing I was fit to play. But Andrew thought he needed a break. I can understand his decision; we must look at the bigger picture,” The Sun quoted Vaughan, as saying.

“He wants to be fresh for next winter’s Ashes. If we go to Australia, win the Ashes and Straussy has a stormer, it’ll be a masterstroke,” he said.

“Straussy will be fine in the dressing room when he returns. The players are respectful of him, right behind him,” Vaughan said.

“But I’m sure he’ll get stick with the likes of Graeme Swann, Paul Collingwood and Kevin Pietersen giving him banter about picking and choosing tours,” he added. (ANI)

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England Test stars wrangling with ECB over cash increase, not IPL

March 20, 2010 By Leave a Comment

London, Mar.20 (ANI): Eleven England Test stars, including the rested captain Andrew Strauss and fast bowler James Anderson, have refused to sign the central contracts offered to them last October, and it is not because of their participation in the Indian Premier League, but more to do about better pay and perks.

It is the second year running that the deals have been delayed. Last year, the main sticking point was availability for the lucrative Indian Premier League. This time around though it is understood that money is the issue, with players feeling undervalued by their employers, reports The Sun.

The deals are currently worth up to 450,000 pounds for the big names, with the newer members of the side offered around 150,000 pounds.

England managing director Hugh Morris insists the players will not let the negotiations affect their efforts on the field.

With the Second Test starting today, Morris said: “The situation is that the players are currently under contract under the terms of last year. We”re working in good faith, but there are a few points that need ironing out. It”s a high priority. The IPL is separate and is not one of the issues.

“Both sides want to get a deal done and we don”t want to be in this situation again,” Morris added. (ANI)

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Cook, Pietersen feast on Bangladesh attack

March 15, 2010 By Leave a Comment

Alastair Cook has celebrated his first day as Test captain with a superb 158 not out to put England in a commanding position in the opening Test against Bangladesh in Chittagong.

Kevin Pietersen was also in the limelight, regaining form with a robust 99 as the tourists posted 3 for 374 in their first innings at stumps on the first day. Paul Collingwood was unbeaten on 32.

Cook and Pietersen dominated the Bangladeshi attack with a wide range of shots, adding 170 for the third wicket.

The England captain cracked two sixes and 14 fours in the 244-ball knock for his 11th Test hundred.

Pietersen, struggling against spin on the tour before this match, smashed one six and 15 fours in his 135-ball knock before missing out on his 17th Test hundred, bowled by left-arm spinner Abdur Razzak.

Left-handed opener Cook, 25, also became the fifth England player to make a century in the first Test as captain after Archie MacLaren, Allan Lamb, Andrew Strauss and Pietersen.

Cook, named skipper after Strauss was rested for the tour, also scored a century on his Test debut, against India in Nagpur in 2006.

Bangladesh’s decision to put England in to bat after winning the toss backfired as they struggled for wickets throughout the day on a slow pitch despite introducing spin after seven overs.

Pietersen, who made just 41 in three one-dayers and 22 in two innings of a practice match recently, batted fluently against spin as he once hit Shakib Al Hasan for two fours and a six in one over.

Cook reached his hundred in style, slog-sweeping spinner Mohammad Mahmudullah over mid-wicket for a six.

He added 72 for the opening wicket with debutant Michael Carberry (30) and 77 for the next with Jonathan Trott (39).

Trott looked surprised when given caught behind while attempting to hook seamer Rubel Hossain. Television replays later suggested the ball had come off the helmet.

Left-handed Carberry outscored Cook in the early part of the partnership as he began with a flurry of boundaries, driving Rubel for three fours in an over.

Bangladesh’s lone success in the morning session came when Carberry was trapped leg-before by Mahmudullah while attempting to sweep.

Carberry was dropped by wicketkeeper Mushfiqur Rahim off Mahmudullah when on 30, but failed to capitalise on the chance as he fell in the bowler’s next over.

-AFP

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Australia stay grounded while on verge of 7-0 sweep over England

September 19, 2009 By Leave a Comment

London, Sep.19 (ANI): With an historic 7-0 whitewash of their one-day series against England firmly within their grasp, Australia’s cricketers head to Durham.

No team has ever swept a seven-match series, but Tim Paine, the stand-in wicketkeeper-batsman whose maiden international century led Australia to a 111-run victory and a 6-0 lead at Trent Bridge on Thursday, has played down the importance of the word whitewash.

“We’ll be talking about the seventh game and how we’re going to go about winning it,” Paine said.

The Australians have completely outclassed England all series and the home side have just one more chance to salvage a bit of pride.

England captain Andrew Strauss is barely able to contain his frustration following his team’s latest defeat.

“Sitting around in a team room having a chat about it is not going to solve anything. What is going to solve it is a couple of guys standing up and showing the necessary character to go out and turn things around,” Fox Sports quoted Strauss, as saying.

“Six-nil is bad enough, to be honest with you. We’ve got one more opportunity to show our calibre as a side. We need to take that opportunity,” he added. (ANI)

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Awesome Aussies one win away from 7-0 whitewash of hapless England

September 19, 2009 By Leave a Comment

Melbourne, Sep 18 (ANI): Tim Paine’s maiden international century has handed Australia a 111-run victory over England and elevating them to No.1 spot ahead of current world leaders South Africa in ODIs.

The tourists are just one win away from claiming a 7-0 sweep of the tournament after Paine scored 111 to steer Australia to 8-296 from 50 overs. England was restricted to a total of 185 with nine overs to spare.

“I’m rapt. I got a bit nervous there, so to get it out of the way and for the team to win the sixth straight game is a great thrill. The first few games, I felt reasonably good but didn’t go on with it so it was just pleasing once I got my start to cash in,” said Paine.

England captain Andrew Strauss, who was jeered by spectators during a post-match interview, described his team’s batting as a “horror show”.It was a very poor performance tonight. We were never in the hunt with the bat and we made a huge number of mistakes, certainly with our batting performance,” Strauss said.

“So I can understand the frustration of the crowd and that’s something that’s been building over the course of the six games we’ve played,” FOX Sports quoted him, as saying.

In the side as a replacement for injured wicketkeeper Brad Haddin and playing just his seventh one-day international after making his debut against Scotland last month, Paine faced 148 balls for his score, which included 14 fours and one six. (ANI)

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Flintoff’s ECB contract rejection threatens Test cricket, but he plays it down

September 17, 2009 By Leave a Comment

London, Sep.17 (ANI): All-rounder Andrew Flintoff may have unwittingly incited the break-up of international cricket by his refusal of an England and Wales Cricket Board (ECB) incremental contract, but he has played down reports of a possible backlash.

Flintoff has assured that his rejection of an England increment contract, a second tier deal offered to him because of his retirement from Test cricket, did not lessen his commitment to England. The all-rounder, who is Dubai undergoing rehabilitation after knee surgery, made it clear that he has no intention of missing any England games should they clash with matches in the various Twenty20 franchise competitions he also hopes to be part of.

Although Flintoff has put all negotiations on hold while he recovers he is known to have been in preliminary talks with teams in Australia, where their revamped Twenty20 competition is to be called the Big Bash and South Africa, where the Pro20 is easily the most popular professional cricket in the country.

Sean Morris, the chief executive of the Professional Cricketers’ Association, said yesterday that other players would join Flintoff in rejecting national deals and that there may be a rash of early retirements from international cricket.

“I think there will be a lot of serious discussion in Johannesburg later this month among the parties and between the parties. I can’t overestimate its importance. In the space of a few weeks we have had two leading players withdrawing from components of the international game, Andrew Flintoff from Tests and Ricky Ponting, from Twenty20 internationals,” The Telegraph quoted Morris, as saying.

Flintoff’s move may stimulate more than debate.

England captain Andrew Strauss was mildly surprised by the decision.

“I’m not going to sit in judgement of him because we don’t know the reasons. We need to sit down and speak to him about why he’s done this and we’ll then make an informed decision about what that means to his availability for England,” he said. (ANI)

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Four Indian cricketers in the running for LG ICC Awards 2009

September 15, 2009 By Leave a Comment

Dubai, Sep.15 (ANI): Four Indian cricketers-Mahendra Singh Dhoni, Gautam Gambhir, Yuvraj Singh and Virender Sehwag-have all been short-listed for the top honours at the LG ICC Awards 2009.

Australian fast bowler Mitchell Johnson and England captain Andrew Strauss are also in the short list of awardees.

An ICC press release said that the votes have now been cast by the independent 25-person academy and four men-Dhoni, Gambhir, Johnson and Strauss are in the running to receive the Sir Garfield Sobers trophy for Cricketer of the Year at a glittering ceremony in Johannesburg on October 1.

Gambhir, Johnson and Strauss are also short-listed for the Test Player of the Year alongside Sri Lanka’s Thilan Samaraweera at the sixth annual LG ICC Awards, presented in association with the Federation of International Cricketers’ Associations (FICA).

Dhoni is also in contention to retain the ODI Player of the Year award he won last year as he is short-listed in that category with India team-mates Yuvraj Singh and Virender Sehwag as well as West Indies’ Shivnarine Chanderpaul.

The Twenty20 International Performance of the year sees two Pakistan players in the short-list, Shahid Afridi and Umar Gul, who are joined by West Indies’ Chris Gayle and Sri Lanka’s Tillakaratne Dilshan.

This year’s LG ICC Awards includes eight individual prizes and also features the selection of the Test and ODI Teams of the Year and the award to the side that has adhered most to the Spirit of Cricket.

The long-lists of nominations were made by a five-man ICC selection panel chaired by former West Indies captain and current chairman of the ICC Cricket Committee Clive Lloyd. The panel also includes former players such as India’s Anil Kumble, Mudassar Nazar of Pakistan, Bob Taylor of England and New Zealand’s Stephen Fleming.

The short-lists were created after the individual player awards were voted for by an academy of 25 highly credentialed cricket personalities from around the world*. The academy includes a host of former players, respected members of the media as well as representatives of the Emirates Elite Panels of ICC Umpires and ICC Match Referees.

The nominations from the Women’s Cricketer of the Year were decided after a committee of former players, current administrators and journalists created a long-list. This in turn was broken down into a short-list by a separate 25-person voting academy.

This year’s short-list for the Women’s Cricketer of the Year sees the return of last year’s winner, England captain Charlotte Edwards along with team-mate Claire Taylor and Australia’s Shelley Nitschke.

The Spirit of Cricket award was voted on by all international captains as well as all members of the Emirates Elite Panel of ICC Umpires and Emirates Elite Panel of ICC Match Referees. The Umpire of the Year award was voted on by the captains and the match referees based on the umpires’ performance statistics.

The Emerging Player of the Year nominees short-list features two Australians, Ben Hilfenhaus and Peter Siddle, as well as Jesse Ryder of New Zealand and England’s Graham Onions.

To qualify for that award a player must be under the age of 26 and have played fewer than five Tests and/or 10 ODIs at the start of the voting period.

The Associate and Affiliate Player of the Year award serves to recognise and reward the efforts in all international matches of the outstanding cricketers from the teams outside the ICC Full Members.

This year’s short-list sees the return of last year’s winner, Ryan ten Doeschate of the Netherlands, who is joined by his team-mate Edgar Schiferli. Ireland’s ICC Cricket World Cup Qualifier-winning captain William Porterfield and Canada’s Rizan Cheema complete the list.

Based on the period between 13 August 2008 and 24 August 2009, the LG ICC Awards 2009 – presented in association FICA – take into account performances by players and officials in a remarkable period for the game.

That period includes such high-profile events as the ICC World Twenty20 2009 in England, the ICC Women’s World Cup 2009 in Australia and the ICC Cricket World Cup Qualifier 2009 in South Africa, as well as several bilateral Test and ODI series.

The LG ICC Awards ceremony is now in its sixth year and this year it will be held in Johannesburg to coincide with the ICC Champions Trophy 2009. Previous ceremonies were held in London (2004), Sydney (2005), Mumbai (2006), Johannesburg (2007) and Dubai (2008). (ANI)

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Bopara, Shah accused of playing to keep their England places

September 12, 2009 By Leave a Comment

London, Sep 11 (ANI): Indian origin England Batsman Ravi Bopara and his teammate Owais Shah have been accused of playing for their places rather than for the team, as the team trails Australia 0-3 in the seven match ODI series.

Gloucestershire coach John Bracewell, who is the game’s most sought-after one-day theorists, questioned the tactics applied by Bopara and Shah.

“I don’t think that either Bopara or Shah are playing to the talent that got them selected,” The Telegraph quoted Bracewell, as saying.

“They’re playing for their places. And I think they’re playing with too much responsibility on batting for too long. They should be getting as many as they can as quickly as they can for as long as they can. It’s as simple as that.

“They look as though they’re trying to build an innings and through that they’re missing opportunities and applying pressure to their own team,” he said.

“When you analyse their individual skills they’re a pretty good team. But I don’t think they play to a selfless pattern. I think they play to a reselection pattern. If I do all right today I’ll get picked tomorrow,” Bracewell added.

Bracewell believes that England’s conservative batting has allowed Australia to seize the initiative in this series.

If it is to be wrested back, he argues, Andrew Strauss and his men need to “take a punt” whether that means using their power play earlier in the innings or rethinking their whole approach to batting. (ANI)

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Tendulkar, Dhoni feature in video supporting ICC Champions Trophy 2009

September 10, 2009 By Leave a Comment

Dubai, Sep.9 (ANI): Indian cricketers Sachin Tendulkar, Rahul Dravid, Mahendra Singh Dhoni and Gautam Gambhire have joined several top cricketers of the world to promote this year’s ICC Champions Trophy.

They also include international captains Younus Khan of Pakistan, England’s Andrew Strauss, Graeme Smith from host South Africa and Daniel Vettori of New Zealand. All feature in a short video looking ahead to the tournament, which takes place in South Africa from September 22.

ICC Chief Executive Haroon Lorgat said: “It is great to see the best players in the world so enthused and motivated about this prestigious event. The ICC Champions Trophy is another opportunity for us to showcase our great sport and the great spirit with which I hope it will be played during this top-class tournament in South Africa.”

The players talk about some of the key themes of the ICC Champions Trophy 2009 that features the top eight-ranked One-Day International teams.

The videos stay true to one of those themes, with 30 second and 15 second versions available, they are short and sharp, just like the tournament that features 15 matches in 14 days in just two venues.he players emphasise that the event is about champion players in nation-versus-nation action, with honour, prestige and more prize-money at stake than ever before.

The sixth staging of the tournament begins with host South Africa taking on Sri Lanka at Centurion in a day-night encounter and will culminate with the final at the same venue on October 5.

For the first time, it will feature only the top eight-ranked sides in the world in the only global multi-team 50-over-a-side tournament between the 2007 ICC Cricket World Cup in the Caribbean and the next edition of that event, in the Asian sub-continent in two years’ time.

Matches will be split between Centurion and The Wanderers with the teams – Australia, England, India, New Zealand, Pakistan, host South Africa, Sri Lanka and the West Indies – divided into two pools of four, with the top two from each pool progressing to the semi-finals stage.

Holder Australia begins the defence of its ICC Champions Trophy crown on Saturday 26 September against the West Indies in a repeat of the 2006 final.

That match will take place as a day game at The Wanderers, Johannesburg and is part of a blockbuster day of action as, later on, India and Pakistan will go head-to-head in a day-night encounter at Centurion. (ANI)

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Axing 50-over cricket to affect England’s World Cup campaigns: Strauss

September 5, 2009 By Leave a Comment

Melbourne, Sep 5 (ANI): England skipper Andrew Strauss has warned that banishing 50-over cricket from the country’s domestic schedule could have dire consequences for the team’s World Cup campaigns.

The England and Wales cricket board decided to axe 50-over cricket for a shortened 40-over format from next season.

Strauss said domestic cricket should mirror internationals, and believes one-dayers will survive in the face of mounting pressure from Twenty20s.

“Forty-over cricket is not radically different from 50-over cricket, but it just seems sensible to me that if you’re playing 50-over cricket internationally and your domestic scene is a way of preparing people for international cricket, you should be playing the same game,” The Age quoted Strauss, as saying.

“At the moment, there is a future to 50-over cricket. There are no plans that I’ve heard of to get rid of it. My personal view is that domestic cricket should mirror international cricket, so in that respect, playing 40-over cricket is not ideal,” he added.

South Africa had already reduced its domestic competition to 45 overs, and when the England and Wales Cricket Board voted last week to eradicate the 50-over game it was received as a further nail in the coffin for one-day internationals, which have struggled for identity and prominence in an increasingly crowded schedule. (ANI)

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