Hazlewood poised to become Australia’s youngest ODI player

June 11, 2010 By Leave a Comment

Sydney, June 11(ANI): New South Wales fast bowler Josh Hazlewood is poised to become the youngest debutant in Australia’s one-day international history after he was named in the national team to play Ireland and England.

Hazlewood was called in place of fast bowler Mitchell Johnson, who has been ruled out of the first leg of the England tour this month due to an elbow injury suffered during the Twenty20 World Cup in the West Indies.

The towering NSW player will be 19 years and 160 days old when Australia plays its first game of the tour, against Ireland in Dublin next Thursday.

He boasts an impressive junior resume, which includes a starring role in Australia’s under-19 World Youth Cup final win over Pakistan in January.

Talking about his selection, Hazlewood said: “It’s all pretty exciting it’s all happening pretty quickly.”

A right-arm fast bowler, Hazlewood’s idol was Oz fast bowling legend, Glenn McGrath.

“I’m probably about the same height (as McGrath), but hopefully not the pigeon legs like him,” The Sydney Morning Herald quoted Hazlewood, as saying.

“I’m just hoping to learn a lot from the (Australian) fast bowlers over there and maybe get a little time with the ball,” he added.

Meanwhile, Australian selectors Chairman Andrew Hilditch said that losing Johnson was disappointing, but it created an opportunity for Hazlewood to earn some valuable experience.

“It’s a very exciting time for Australian cricket as we continue to take opportunities to expose our talented cricketers to international cricket. Josh has been identified as one of a crop of young fast bowlers who NSP (National Selection Panel) consider can impact for Australia at international level,” Hilditch said. (ANI)

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I was expecting to be included in Pakistan team: Naved

May 27, 2010 By Leave a Comment

Karachi, May 26 (IANS) Banned all-rounder Rana Naved is ‘deeply disappointed’ after being ignored in Pakistan’s 35-man preliminary squad for the upcoming Asian Cup and England tour.

The all-rounder said he was a expecting a place in the team after reports that the Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) will include all the banned players in the team.

‘I am deeply disappointed at not being picked in the team, it’s a huge shock for me’, Rana told IANS.

The all-rounder who was one of the seven Pakistan players to face action by the PCB following the team’s failure on the Australia tour said the inclusion of other banned players in the team hurts even more.

‘Other banned players like Shoaib Malik and Younis Khan were selected, why I am not there? I was also hoping for a berth in national team,’ he said.

Rana, a former Indian Cricket League (ICL) player, said he would continue to strive to win his place back in the national team.

‘It’s a decision of the selectors and I have to accept their decision in any way but I will continue the hard work to retain my place in team,’ he said.

The all-rounder who is fighting a case against his one-year ban also expressed dissatisfaction on the hearings and called for open proceedings of the case.

‘I am not satisfied with the hearings in which we are not allowed to give our version… the hearings should be made public,’ he said.

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Afridi best available option to lead Pak: Akram

May 26, 2010 By Leave a Comment

Shahid Afridi is not the ideal candidate to lead Pakistan in Test matches but his temperament and aggression undoubtedly made him the best available option before PCB, feels former captain Wasim Akram.

Akram said in the present circumstances Afridi is the right man to lead Pakistan in all the three formats of the game.

“I feel Afridi is the right choice for Pakistan. Although he is fit to lead in one-dayers and T20s, I have my doubts in Tests! But right now, PCB has no choice. They are short on options,” he said.

“Afridi is a fine choice as the team is struggling. They need someone with the right temperament. International teams are not travelling to Pakistan because of security reasons. The team has also not played enough cricket. The loss in the T20 (World Cup) semis would still be hurting. So the team should move on under a new leadership,” he said.

“In my honest opinion, Afridi cannot make a Test side on his batting skills alone, and in bowling too. I am not sure he will do wonders in English conditions where there will hardly be any turn but I think he will excel as a leader. He will inspire the team with his aggression and passion,” the former left-arm pacer added.

The Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) yesterday named Afridi skipper for the forthcoming Asia Cup and the subsequent tour of England, thereby opting for a single captain in all the three forms of the game.

The appointment meant Afridi will return to the Pakistan Test side after a hiatus of four years and Akram gave some word of advice to the 30-year-old dashing all-rounder.

“Afridi should know one thing. England tour will not be easy. To beat England on their home soil will be extremely difficult. However, if Pakistan adopt proper planning and execute accordingly, anything can happen.

“Most importantly, experience in batting is crucial, especially in middle order. That is where Afridi has to put his foot down. Have his say in selection committee. He is the captain so he knows who the best eleven are,” Akram said.

Akram also lauded banned former captains Younus Khan and Shoaib Malik’s inclusion in the 35-man list of probables for the Asia Cup and England tour.

“I think if the Board is OK with having them (Younus and Malik) in the team and the captain too has no issue, one must go ahead with it. The captain should specially work to have them in the side since their experience and talent can only help Pakistan win matches. It will reflect well on captain Afridi,” he said.

“I also think Afridi is tough enough to handle these seniors. He can also count on them to take the team to glory in tough English conditions,” the cricketer-turned-commentator added.

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Clarke’s fate as T20 skipper to be decided next week

May 19, 2010 By Leave a Comment

Melbourne, May 19 (ANI): Michael Clarke’s future as Australia’s Twenty20 captain will be decided next week, after his dismal performance with the bat during the World Cup in the Caribbean.

Victoria captain Cameron White, who led his side to the Big Bash title, is being tipped to be the new Australian Twent20 skipper after incumbent Clarke’s tenure comes under review over his suspect batting in the shortest version of the game.

Chairman of selectors Andrew Hilditch’s first job when he returns home from the Caribbean will be to hold a telephone conversation with his fellow selectors to pick Australia’s three teams for a tour of Britain, including the squad for two Twenty20 games against Pakistan.

That meeting is likely to be held at the weekend, The Age reports.

Clarke is sure to face further scrutiny of his tenure as a Twenty20 batsman and captain after his admission that the selectors “will have to have a look at my performances”, which he conceded were “not up to scratch”.

Clarke is favoured to assume the Test and one-day leadership when Ricky Ponting retires, but the issue of his Twenty20 form has become so sensitive that Cricket Australia officials have refused to discuss it until the selectors name captains for the England tour, which also includes two Tests against Pakistan and five one-dayers against England, the paper said.

Clarke has conceded that his position must come under review following Australia’s seven-wicket loss to archrivals England. He finished with 92 runs in the tournament at 15.33. White on the other hand scored 180 runs at 45, with a strike rate of 146.34 compared with Clarke’s strike rate of 80.7.

It is a difficult consideration for the selectors because of Clarke’s astute leadership and excellent winning record as captain. But his not holding his place in the Twenty20 team as a batsman is proving to be a critical weakness. (ANI)

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Sohail Tanvir will not be considered for England tour

May 12, 2010 By Leave a Comment

Islamabad, May 12 (ANI): Pakistani pacer Sohail Tanvir will not be considered for selection for the forthcoming England tour as the PCB medical commission prescribed him another four-month rehabilitation programme to regain fitness for the coming domestic season.

The England tour starts from the first week of July and before that the team has to play in the Asian Cup in Sri Lanka in June.

The three injured players — Sohail, Naveed Yasin and Wahab Riaz appeared before the commission consisting to get their fitness assessed.

Sohail underwent different tests in Lahore on Tuesday, The News reports.

“He has shown great improvement but since he underwent knee surgery in Australia, he needed proper time to regain fitness. He has been prescribed a complete rehabilitation programme that would help him regain fitness required at an international level,” a source in the PCB said.

Meanwhile, Wahab Riaz has been declared fit to bowl.

“Wahab has recovered from elbow problem is has already started bowling in the nets. He has regained fitness and has been given green signal.”

Batsman Naveed Yasin has been asked not to throw a ball during the next six weeks. (ANI)

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Harris will be happy to step aside for fully-fit Lee

April 30, 2010 By Leave a Comment

St. Lucia, Apr 30(ANI): Australian fast bowler Ryan Harris has said that he will happily stand aside for a fully-fit Brett Lee.

Harris, who has been called up as a replacement for injured Lee, said prior to the team selection for the Twenty20 World Cup, he was clear that Lee deserved his spot in the Australian team.

“I knew if Brett was going to be fit, I knew he would go in front of me (in the World Cup squad). Brett Lee is a champion bowler, and has been for some time so I am happy to step aside and for him to take my spot – he deserves his spot,” The Sydney Morning Herald quoted Harris, as saying.

Harris admitted he did not expect to be flying out to the Caribbean instead of fellow fast bowler Doug Bollinger.

“I didn’t, actually. Well, I wasn’t sure. I spent a bit of time with Dougy over at the Indian Premier League (IPL) and watched him play – he is bowling really well. In those sorts of situations you hope that you do get the nod and luckily I have,” Harris said.

The 30-year-old is further expressed confidence in Lee forcing his way back into the national one-day side for the July tour against Pakistan in England.

“I think they will, absolutely. Any talk of him retiring from all forms is very premature. I don’t think you could rule him out,” Harris said.

“He has had a bad trot. Hopefully he will get over that and come out on the England tour and our summer. He will bounce back. He’s a champion athlete,” he added. (ANI)

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Harris will be happy to step aside for fully-fit Lee

April 30, 2010 By Leave a Comment

St. Lucia, Apr 30(ANI): Australian fast bowler Ryan Harris has said that he will happily stand aside for a fully-fit Brett Lee.

Harris, who has been called up as a replacement for injured Lee, said prior to the team selection for the Twenty20 World Cup, he was clear that Lee deserved his spot in the Australian team.

“I knew if Brett was going to be fit, I knew he would go in front of me (in the World Cup squad). Brett Lee is a champion bowler, and has been for some time so I am happy to step aside and for him to take my spot – he deserves his spot,” The Sydney Morning Herald quoted Harris, as saying.

Harris admitted he did not expect to be flying out to the Caribbean instead of fellow fast bowler Doug Bollinger.

“I didn’t, actually. Well, I wasn’t sure. I spent a bit of time with Dougy over at the Indian Premier League (IPL) and watched him play – he is bowling really well. In those sorts of situations you hope that you do get the nod and luckily I have,” Harris said.

The 30-year-old is further expressed confidence in Lee forcing his way back into the national one-day side for the July tour against Pakistan in England.

“I think they will, absolutely. Any talk of him retiring from all forms is very premature. I don’t think you could rule him out,” Harris said.

“He has had a bad trot. Hopefully he will get over that and come out on the England tour and our summer. He will bounce back. He’s a champion athlete,” he added. (ANI)

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‘Fully fit’ Akhtar eyeing England tour for comeback

April 24, 2010 By Leave a Comment

Islamabad, Apr.24 (ANI): Controversial Pakistan fast bowler Shoaib Akhtar might have been rejected as a spent force by critics, but the bowler is determined to make a come back in the national squad and is eyeing the forthcoming Test series against England for a return to the international stage, according to his domestic teammate Saeed Anwar Jr.

Anwar , who plays for Khan Research Laboratories (KRL) along with Akhtar, said the “Rawalpindi Express” has been training hard for the past few months and has improved his fitness level to a great extent.

“I know it”s fashionable to say Shoaib Akhtar is finished and that he”s no longer able to play professional cricket but I disagree. I”ve never seen Shoaib working as hard as he has been these past few months, his fitness is greatly improved and he”s totally focused on making a come back,” Anwar Jr. told Cricistan.com.

He said Akhtar’s recent six-wicket haul in a domestic match shows that he has recovered from his knee operation and is raring to go, adding that the 34-year old pacer is targeting the forthcoming England tour for a comeback.

“England holds a lot of happy memories for Shoaib and it”s the upcoming tour of England that he”s targeting for his return to the international fold,” Anwar Jr. said.

Chief selector Mohsin Khan has already made it clear that if Akhtar continues to perform at the domestic level he could considered for recall.

“The best part about Shoaib and his latest comeback bid is that he appears to be really positive. He is really disciplined on the field. He is working hard and appears to be really focused. I’m getting really good vibes from him,” Khan had said earlier.

When asked whether the selection committee would consider Akhtar’s name if he is declared fully fit, Khan said he would love to have a ‘match-winner’ like him back in the Pakistan team provided he continues to bowl well and prove his fitness. (ANI)

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England to play Australian Barbarians

March 19, 2010 By Leave a Comment

The touring England rugby squad will play two mid-week matches against an Australian Barbarians side boasting established internationals and emerging Test contenders during their visit in June.

Adding to a schedule headlined by their Cook Cup showdowns with the Wallabies on June 12 in Perth and June 19 in Sydney, England will also play the Australian Barbarians on the Tuesday before each Test as part of the Bundaberg Rum Rugby Series.

The Australian Barbarians will take on the 2003 Rugby World Cup champions and 2007 runners-up at ME Bank Stadium in Perth, home of the Western Force, on June 8.

The match will be the first the Australian Barbarians have played against a visiting international side since downing Scotland 39-34 at Penrith in 1998.

The second game against England will be staged at Central Coast Stadium in Gosford on 15 June.

Wallabies coach Robbie Deans welcomed the addition of the two Australian Barbarians fixtures to the England tour schedule.

“These games provide massive benefit for both the Qantas Wallabies program and Australian Rugby as a whole,” Deans said.

“The mid-week matches we played on our spring tour last year were a great example of the benefits the additional international exposure provides.

“Quade Cooper played his way into our side for the Test against England the following weekend when we played Gloucester.

“Kurtley Beale also excelled that night, and wound up playing his first Test later in the trip.

“Luke Morahan then made his debut for the Wallabies at Cardiff, and has subsequently kicked on this year with the Queensland Reds.”

The two matches in Perth will be the first England has played in the city since starting its triumphant 2003 Rugby World Cup campaign.

The tour will also mark the return of Jonny Wilkinson to Australia, pending selection, for the first time since his memorable role in the securing of the William Webb Ellis Cup.

The England squad, after four matches in Australia, will conclude its southern hemisphere tour with a game against the New Zealand Maori in Napier on June 23.

-AAP

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White hopeful of ODI series ‘whitewash’ against England

September 12, 2009 By Leave a Comment

London, Sep 12(ANI): Australian all-rounder Cameron White reckons that Australia can finish their Ashes-losing England tour with a flourish by defeating their arch rivals seven-nil in the on-going ODI series.

Australia lost the five-Test campaign 2-1, but they are leading 3-0 in the seven match ODI series.

“At the moment if we keep playing good, consistent cricket, keep bowling and fielding well, there is no reason why not,” The Daily Telegraph quoted White, as saying.

“In saying that, winning seven one-dayers against a really good side is a pretty strange thing to happen. But, I am not saying that it can’t. We want to keep the momentum going and I don’t think we are playing at our total best right now,” he added.

White further said that Australian team still has some areas where they needed to improve and also emphasised that they cant write-off the England squad, as they will bounce back at some stage.

“There are still probably some areas that we think we can improve in, so there are things we need to work on to get better for these four games. Then, come four games’ time, we are hopefully at our peak,” White said.

Meanwhile, Australia captain Ricky Ponting would comeback to join the squad after his post-Ashes break. (ANI)

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Kangaroos set for never-ending road trip following the Ashes

August 21, 2009 By Leave a Comment

London, Aug 21(ANI): If the Australian team manages to claim the Ashes in the series decider at The Oval, they will celebrate with a train trip to Edinburgh the next day.

However, it won’t be a victory holiday, but to play a one-day game against Scotland just three days after the fifth Test.

“I’m not sure what we’re going to do there, but even when we’ve won World Cups and things we’ve maybe had a small reception somewhere and then get back onto playing cricket. It’s an incredibly busy international schedule. I guess if we happen to win I’m sure we’ll celebrate accordingly,” The Sydney Morning Herald quoted Australian captain Ricky Ponting, as saying.

“But, we are jumping on a train and going to Scotland for a one-day game up there. With those World Cup wins we’ve had we haven’t had a great amount of time to celebrate. We know the reason why, it’s because that much international cricket is being piled on top of each other. We’ll have our chance to celebrate if we win this week,” he added.

Meanwhile, former Australian cricketer Doug Walters was considerate enough with the Australian team and said that Cricket Australia and the England and Wales Cricket Board must have marked the Scotland match at the start or end of the England tour, to spare the team from such horrendous travelling.

“Do I feel sorry for them? No. They have a duty to play against Scotland, perhaps they should have scheduled it for the start of the tour. The officials have got themselves to blame. Hopefully they do get to celebrate and do it on the train on the way up,” Walters said.

After Australia’s trip to Edinburgh, they travel to Manchester, then far south to Southampton, back to London, before jetting north again to Nottingham and finishing at the top end of the country in Durham for the final match. The team must then make its way south to London again to fly out for the Champions Trophy tournament in South Africa. (ANI)

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Lee in Ashes contention with five for against England Lions

July 3, 2009 By Leave a Comment

Worcester (UK), July 3 (ANI): Speedster Brett Lee surged into Australia’s Ashes attack contention with a devastating spell of reverse swing bowling against the England Lions.

The veteran pacer resurrected his Test career with a burst of 5-21 in 40 balls against the England Lions in the tour game at Worcester.

Lee sealed his place in the team for the Cardiff Test with 5-53 in 20 overs – his first five-wicket haul in England – and afterwards he said Australia had unlocked the secrets of reverse swing, which could hold the key to the series.

“Everyone stuck to their plans. We had a couple of different ideas we wanted to work on today, in particular the ball. We wanted to get the ball to swing early on, try and rough it up and get the ball to come back in later on. That worked a treat. I always enjoy bowling when the ball is like that,” the Sydney Morning Herald quoted Lee, as saying. (ANI)

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Oz and Proteas sledging made me stronger, says KP

May 4, 2009 By Leave a Comment

London, May 3 (ANI): Taking a potshot at the Australians ahead of the forthcoming Ashes series this summer, former England captain Kevin Pietersen has claimed that their sledging made him stronger in mind.

“Your abuse has only made me stronger,” The Sun quoted KP, as saying.

Regarded currently as England’s number one batsman, Pietersen suffered a torrent of taunts from both the Australians and his native South Africans when he toured those two countries, and he is expecting more flak this summer.

“I have never heard abuse like the last time we were in Australia playing in The Ashes. My first England tour to South Africa in 2005 was probably the worst I have ever got, personally, but I expected that because I was playing against the country of my birth. However, Australia took me by surprise with the sheer levels of stick we got as a team. It was pretty relentless,” KP said.

“But they say what doesn’t kill you makes you stronger and I know the experiences I’ve had in Australia and South Africa over the years have made me a far tougher person,” he added.ietersen is hoping to help England achieve a hattrick this summer, a Test triumph over the West Indies, victory in the World Twenty20 and the regaining of The Ashes.

And as Pietersen prepares for Wednesday’s First npower Test against the Windies at Lord’s, he has clearly got one eye on the looming Battle of Oz. (ANI)

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Playing for England more important than IPL: Flintoff

March 2, 2009 By Leave a Comment

Barbados (West Indies), Feb.28 (ANI): All rounder Andrew Flintoff has reiterated that as far as he is concerned, playing for England is the ultimate, though there is talk about him preferring to play the Indian Premier League

“Everyone is going on about the IPL, it is a hot topic. But I want to play for England in the one-day series. If I do that, the IPL will take care of itself. Playing for England is the ultimate,” The Sun quoted Flintoff, as saying.

“I know what I need to do to get fit. It’s harder being around the Test matches and not playing. You are desperate to play and are a bit flat because of it,” said Flintoff.You don’t know where to put yourself in the dressing room. Everyone you bump into is asking ‘When will you be back?’ I just want to get on with the work and get back as soon as I can.”

Flintoff will be helped back to fitness by sacked England coach Peter Moores. He arrives in the UK this morning for a two-week fitness blitz on his injured hip in a bid to get him fit to try to play in the one-day series against West Indies.ealistically, Freddie can play in the megabucks Indian Premier League only if he gets through the five one-dayers in the Caribbean.

By an ironic twist, Moores will oversee Flintoff’s rehab regime in his new role as Lancashire coach – even though he is still upset at being dumped by the ECB.

This is the sixth time Flintoff has been forced to fly home from an England tour because of injury. (ANI)

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Playing for England more important than IPL: Flintoff

March 2, 2009 By Leave a Comment

Barbados (West Indies), Feb.28 (ANI): All rounder Andrew Flintoff has reiterated that as far as he is concerned, playing for England is the ultimate, though there is talk about him preferring to play the Indian Premier League

“Everyone is going on about the IPL, it is a hot topic. But I want to play for England in the one-day series. If I do that, the IPL will take care of itself. Playing for England is the ultimate,” The Sun quoted Flintoff, as saying.

“I know what I need to do to get fit. It’s harder being around the Test matches and not playing. You are desperate to play and are a bit flat because of it,” said Flintoff.You don’t know where to put yourself in the dressing room. Everyone you bump into is asking ‘When will you be back?’ I just want to get on with the work and get back as soon as I can.”

Flintoff will be helped back to fitness by sacked England coach Peter Moores. He arrives in the UK this morning for a two-week fitness blitz on his injured hip in a bid to get him fit to try to play in the one-day series against West Indies.ealistically, Freddie can play in the megabucks Indian Premier League only if he gets through the five one-dayers in the Caribbean.

By an ironic twist, Moores will oversee Flintoff’s rehab regime in his new role as Lancashire coach – even though he is still upset at being dumped by the ECB.

This is the sixth time Flintoff has been forced to fly home from an England tour because of injury. (ANI)

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Senior umpires back TV replays challenging their decisions

February 18, 2009 By Leave a Comment

Sydney, Feb 18 (ANI): Senior umpires, Daryl Harper and his South African colleague Rudi Koertzen, have embraced the move to allow players to challenge decisions, as Australian players prepare to exercise the right for the first time during the Test series against the Proteas.

The results of the trial will determine whether the review system is adopted permanently, although England and Wales Cricket Board chairman Giles Clarke has already indicated he does not want it used for the Ashes series.

Clarke argues that the review system, where players can challenge an umpiring decision by making a T-sign with their arms, undermines the authority of the on-field adjudicators, a claim supported by former Australian coach John Buchanan.

However, Australian umpire Daryl Harper and South African colleague Rudi Koertzen, who are currently officiating for England’s tour of the West Indies, have rejected the criticism.

“The objective of the review system is to eliminate the obvious errors,” the Sydney Morning Herald quoted Koertzen, as saying.

“Inevitably there will still be decisions that people will argue are wrong but that is not really the point of the system. Statistics from the trial so far show the system is getting rid of mistakes,” he added.

For the current England tour, the International Cricket Council altered the trial to allow each team two unsuccessful challenges an innings rather than the original three, to discourage frivolous appeals.

“The amount of time taken depends on the specific decision and on the amount of information that must be reviewed to get the full picture,” said Harper, who, as the third umpire, was hampered by problems with his TV screen in the first Test.

Buchanan, however, is fiercely opposed to the concept of players challenging umpires’ authority, arguing it sends the wrong message and umpires should instead be provided with greater support, resources and training. (ANI)

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