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New Zealand’s young fast bowler Doug Bracewell excelled with the bat then the ball as the tourists enjoyed another decent day against Australia A in the tour match in Brisbane

ESPNcricinfo staff25-Nov-2011
Scorecard
New Zealand’s young fast bowler Doug Bracewell excelled with the bat then the ball as the tourists enjoyed another decent day against Australia A in the tour match in Brisbane.Bracewell made 73 in a first innings total of 423 then claimed 3-37 as the visitors pegged Australia A back to 4 for 187 by the close, despite contrasting but effective innings from David Warner and the unbeaten Ed Cowan.James Pattinson and Mitchell Starc shared seven wickets for the hosts.Resuming at 4 for 290, the New Zealanders lost Dean Brownlie, Ross Taylor and Reece Young in quick succession before Bracewell clattered nine fours and three sixes in a series of pesky lower order partnerships.Australia A’s reply began strongly as Warner and Cowan blunted the visiting attack in their contrasting styles, adding 91 before Bracewell claimed the first of his wickets.He later dismissed Nic Maddinson and Steve Smith, while Tim Southee accounted for the home captain George Bailey.

Australia’s difficulties against the swinging ball, to be addressed by a remedial batting clinic in Melbourne next week, have offered a tonic to Zaheer Khan and the India bowling attack

Daniel Brettig in Canberra15-Dec-2011Australia’s difficulties against the swinging ball, to be addressed by a remedial batting clinic in Melbourne next week, have offered a tonic to Zaheer Khan and the India bowling attack.Zaheer is not playing in the Indians’ opener against a Cricket Australia Chairman’s XI, but he spoke enthusiastically of his preparation for the upcoming Test series against batsmen unnerved by the sort of swerve his bowling can possess.”It is definitely encouraging as a bowling unit [that Australia are struggling against swing], our strength as Indians has always been swinging the ball,” Zaheer said. “That’s what we’re going to rely on here as well, even though the wickets here will offer bounce, we’ll still be trying to use the swing of the ball, so hopefully we’ll be able to extract some swing in the matches to come.”As a bowler it is all about getting into the right areas. If you’re hitting the right lengths and able to get the ball moving then you’re going to trouble any batsman in the world if you get those channels going.”Zaheer, 33, has not played for India since suffering a hamstring tear in the first Test of the series against England at Lord’s in July, and subsequently underwent ankle surgery, which made his selection for Australia conditional on the basis of some solid Ranji Trophy appearances. Having fulfilled the selectors’ wishes, he is now on course to lead the line against Australia.”I’ve definitely had a lot more time to prepare as far as this series is concerned,” he said. “I feel I’ve done everything possible to get here, and very happy with the way things are going personally for me. Happy with my rhythm in the nets and a bit of match practice will help me.”It was a long flight for us so it is important we get into rhythm. I got to see a bit of bowling, I am happy with the way the whole approach has been, and I’m looking forward to playing the next one myself.”The need for Zaheer to be fit is increased by the fact that Ishant Sharma’s left ankle may again be giving him grief, though loose ankle strapping was the explanation offered by a team official for a brief and interrupted appearance at the bowling crease on day one of the tour match. Wes Robinson, one of two local centurions, said Ishant had bowled well enough in his two brief spells.”He seemed to be getting through it okay,” Robinson said. “He only bowled that one over first up and then I think he went off for some treatment, and then he came back and bowled a few overs, so he got them through okay. Obviously hadn’t faced him before so I don’t know if that’s his quickest or whether he’s just warming up into it but he certainly got them through a bit.”Zaheer described Ishant’s withdrawal as “just a precautionary measure”, and preferred to speak about the promise shown by Umesh Yadav, who took three wickets on a batsmen’s day.”It is very good to see someone bowling like that, I’ve been mentioning back in India it is good to see him bowl 140kph plus, which is really important. I’m sure the wickets here are going to suit his style of bowling because the wickets are going to provide that extra bit of bounce.”It is still early days for him, and the more he plays the more he is going to learn, so it is all about exposure at this level, and I’m sure with time he’ll learn more things.”

Ian Bell was forced to miss training on Wednesday after becoming the latest victim of a stomach bug that has affected several members of the England party

George Dobell in Dubai01-Feb-2012Ian Bell was forced to miss training on Wednesday after becoming the latest victim of a stomach bug that has affected several members of the England party.While Bell hopes to resume training on Thursday, his current absence is not ideal. Like the rest of England’s middle order, he has struggled to deal with the turning ball and was hoping to utilise every moment of practice time available before the third Test.The rest of the squad trained once again at the ICC Global Cricket Academy, with Jonathan Trott and Ravi Bopara hitting the ball particularly well in the nets.Afterwards James Anderson insisted the mood in the England camp remained upbeat and dismissed any suggestion that there was any split between the bowlers, who have enjoyed a fine tour to date, and the batsmen who, on the whole, have not.”The mood is pretty good, considering the position we’re are in in this series,” Anderson said. “There have not been any more meetings than usual. We always have a debrief after a game and, this time, it was a bit longer. We are an open and honest group and the guys have been open and honest in this last couple of days.”As bowlers, our job is to take 20 wickets in a Test. We thought that might be a difficult job for us out here, but we have probably exceeded our expectations in that department. We’re pretty pleased with the way it has been going.”The batsmen have been fantastic for us over the last couple of years. A lot has been made of two bad games, but the whole team still has confidence in our batting unit. They have been working very hard to correct things over the last couple of days.”At the end of the day, we lost the game and it reflects on the whole team. We don’t think of it as batters against bowlers. There will be times when the bowlers won’t get wickets and the opposition get 600 and we’re out in the field for two days. The batsmen won’t be happy with us then.”We have every faith in our batsmen that they will come out strong in the next Test.”Motivation should remain no problem for England. Despite having already been condemned to a series defeat, the motivation of remaining the top-ranked Test team and gaining some confidence in Asian conditions will, according to Anderson, ensure the tourists approach the final Test in a positive frame of mind.”There are a few important issues for us,” Anderson said. “The biggest thing is that we have another two tours in the subcontinent this year. So to perform well out here is a big thing for us. We want to stay No. 1 in the world as well, and losing Test matches isn’t going to help us achieve that. We’ve got to try to win every Test match we possibly can.”We also have a one-day series coming up, so to take a bit of momentum into that would be useful.”

A round-up of the latest round of matches of the SuperSport Series 2011-12

Firdose Moonda15-Jan-2012In Port Elizabeth, the Lions revived their title hopes with a 94-run win over the Warriors.The Lions first innings effort of 519 for 8 declared was built on a sturdy middle order performance. Recalled international Alviro Petersen scored 165, Jonathan Vandiar contributed 58, Neil McKenzie 52 , Temba Bavuma 170 and Shane Burger 70. The Warriors seamers were unsuccessful and it was up to left-arm spin of JJ Smuts and offspin of Simon Harmer, who shared seven wickets between them, to do some damage.Pumelela Matshikwe got an early breakthrough for the Lions, removing Kelly Smuts for a duck but the Warriors also took advantage of favourable batting conditions. Michael Price, JJ Smuts, Ashwell Prince and Arno Jacobs all scored half-centuries but none of them could push on to a three-figure score.Spin caused the damage again, with Eddie Leie claiming three wickets and Petersen two. The Warriors lost their last six wickets for 18 runs and were bowled out for 340, giving the Lions a lead of 179.Wickets fell speedily on the third day and the Lions top and middle order were obliterated. They crashed to 20 for 5 but had Bavuma on hand to score a careful 73. The Lions declared on 171 for 8, setting the Warriors a target of 351.The Lions had enough time to bowl their opposition out, despite being defied. Kelly Smuts’ 100 and Price’s 52 combined for a first-wicket stand of 139. Leie broke the stand and nipped JJ Smuts out for a duck to put the Lions on course for victory.As in their first innings, the Warriors collapsed spectacularly, losing seven wickets for 48 runs. Chris Morris took four wickets, including a hat-trick. Leie finished with four as well, to take his match total to seven.The Cape Cobras pulled away from the chasing pack after seven rounds of the SuperSport Series. They drew with the Dolphins , after dominating the match for the most part.After choosing to bat, the Cobras made the Dolphins bowlers work hard in the Pietermaritzburg sun as their top four piled on 257 runs. There were half centuries for Yaseen Vallie and Justin Ontong and a hundred for Stiaan van Zyl. Robbie Frylinck removed three of the top four in his marathon 56 overs, which yielded four wickets in total.Johann Louw and Siya Simetu frustrated the Dolphins further with a 52-run eighth wicket stand as the Cobras were bowled out for 432.In reply, the Dolphins stumbled to 97 for 6. Vaughn van Jaarsveld’s 27 was the highest score from their top six but Cody Chetty’s 46 saved them from total embarrassment. Left-arm spinner Simetu took 3 for 58 and the Dolphins were bowled out for 192, 240 behind.The Cobras did not enforce the follow-on but opted to bat third on a pitch that is known to crumble later on. Van Zyl and Ontong were among the runs again, the former scoring an unbeaten 77 and the latter 33 not out off 40 balls to hurry the Cobras along as they sought to declare. They did on 160 for 2, setting the Dolphins a target of 401 and giving themselves more than a day to bowl them out.The Dolphins were more assured in their second knock. Divan van Wyk and Imraan Khan scored 63 and 73 respectively in an opening stand of 149, before both were dismissed with the score unchanged. Simetu then took the wicket of Daryn Smit for 2 to create an opening for the Cobras but van Jaarveld’s 48 and Frylinck’s efforts at the end ensured the Cobras ran out of time. The match ended with the Dolphins 130 runs away from victory with four wickets in hand.

Sylhet Royals’ nightmarish run in the BPL extended to seven losses in seven games, as Dhaka Gladiators added to the crowd in the middle of the table, with an eight-wicket win in Chittagong

ESPNcricinfo staff22-Feb-2012
ScorecardRana Naved was Dhaka’s star with the ball•BPL T20Sylhet Royals’ nightmarish run in the BPL extended to seven losses in seven games, as Dhaka Gladiators added to the crowd in the middle of the table with an eight-wicket win in Chittagong. Dhaka are now in the fourth spot, with the top four teams separated by only two points. All sides, barring Sylhet, are in contention for semi-final spots.Dhaka chose to field, and systematically choked Sylhet’s run flow. Mashrafe Mortaza and Azhar Mahmood began with consistent opening spells, snaring 3 for 46 in eight overs between them. The rest of the attack maintained the pressure, before Rana Naved, who came on as the fourth-change bowler, sliced through the middle order.Peter Trego (35) and Naeem Islam (28) offered resistance, but could not score runs at a fast enough clip to threaten Dhaka. Naved removed both of them in addition to Shuvagata Hom to finish with 3 for 18 in three overs.Sylhet’s hopes of sneaking a win depended on them getting early wickets. Imran Nazir and Mohammad Ashraful put paid to those hopes with a rampant 80-run stand off just 8.5 overs. Between them, they carted eight fours to put Dhaka on course for a big win. Nazir had to retire hurt after being hit on the head – he wasn’t wearing a helmet – by Peter Trego and Ashraful exited for 40, but their departures did not provide any respite, as Azhar Mahmood waded into the Sylhet attack with two sixes and three fours in the 15 balls he faced. Kieron Pollard ushered in the finish with three sixes in 22 off six balls, as Dhaka charged home in the 13th over, giving their net run-rate a significant boost.

Tasmania’s Sheffield Shield title defence against Queensland at the Gabba will now be shown on television after the pay television provider agreed to provide full coverage

Daniel Brettig13-Mar-2012Tasmania’s Sheffield Shield title defence against Queensland at the Gabba will now be shown on television after the pay television provider agreed to provide full coverage of the competition decider.As reported by ESPNcricinfo, the final was set to be played without full television coverage for the first time since 2007, as Fox Sports had decided the schedule was too packed to show the game.The greater number of outside broadcasts required by this summer’s Twenty20 Big Bash League and their attendant cost was also a factor.Instead, Fox had planned to provide a two-camera webcast from the Gabba, with Brendon Julian and Mark Waugh to comment on the match from the studio.However upon returning to work following a Monday public holiday in Melbourne, Cricket Australia and Fox Sports have thrashed out a deal to show the final in full from Friday on its main channels, relegating parts of the concurrent Test match between New Zealand and South Africa in Hamilton to the “red button” multi-channel option.It is understood the extra use of multi-channel technology required an increase in the bandwidth provided to Fox Sports by its parent pay television service Foxtel. The webcast will also go ahead, meaning viewers without a Fox subscription will be able to watch the final.”We are delighted to confirm the Sheffield Shield Final will be broadcast live and in full on Fox Sports and will be streamed simultaneously on the Fox Sports website,” the Fox Sports chief executive Patrick Delany said. “We are committed to over 183 hours of live sport from Friday through to Tuesday so it’s been a challenge with scheduling.”But we’ve worked with Foxtel to enable the match to be broadcast live with coverage of the final two days of the second Test between New Zealand and South Africa moving to Viewer’s Choice and available via the red button on Fox Sports 1.”Fox Sports has broadcast the Sheffield Shield Final live each year since the 2007-08 season and we are once again looking forward to providing live coverage, both on television and online, of one of Australia’s iconic sporting events.”Players on both sides were happy to hear that the match would now be televised, and the Bulls fast bowler Ryan Harris said it provided a greater incentive for the younger players in particular to display their talents.”It’s always good when you’re on TV, it’s always great when you know people are watching,” Harris told ESPNcricinfo. “When I read that it wasn’t being televised I was disappointed, because I myself in the years I’ve been in the country and not played in the final, I’ve sat and watched it. Young guys get recognised if they play well and a lot of people get to know the younger guys and the new guys if they do play well.”Personally it wouldn’t make too much difference because I have had time where I’ve been on TV and got used to that. But for younger guys definitely it will make a big difference, because they know a lot more people are watching, it may add a bit more nerves before they walk out and play. When I heard it was definitely on TV I was happy with that and I’m glad the right decision’s been made.”The ABC will provide a national digital radio broadcast of the final, with local radio stations to offer coverage into Queensland and Tasmania.

Vernon Philander, South Africa’s new-ball Test sensation, admitted it is “a good thing” he did not get picked up in the IPL this year, because he will benefit more from his stint at Somerset in the County Championship

Firdose Moonda09-Apr-2012Vernon Philander, South Africa’s new-ball Test sensation, admitted it is “a good thing” he did not get picked up in the IPL this year, because he will benefit more from his stint with Somerset in the County Championship. Philander signed up with Somerset late last year but his contract contained a clause that he would not turn up in Taunton if he secured an IPL deal.Fate conspired to ensure that Philander would play in England though. Four IPL franchises were reportedly in the running to bid for Philander but no one did and he went unsold at the February 4 auction. His base price was set at $200,000, considered too steep for an international newcomer. Others, like Marchant de Lange, were contracted for $50,000 but Philander’s heavy price tag meant he joined the likes of Mark Boucher and Lonwabo Tsotsobe on the sidelines.The IPL snub meant that Philander’s decision was made for him. He headed to Somerset less than a week after arriving back in South Africa from the tour of New Zealand. Gary Kirsten, South Africa’s national coach, had expressed concern that Philander would be required to bowl in four-day cricket without much rest in between. But Philander showed no signs of fatigue and opened his English summer with a five-for in his first match. The South African management hopes that his time at Somerset will serve as an ideal preparation for when South Africa tour England this July to challenge for the No. 1 spot in Test cricket.Philander believes it will. “The IPL has pros and cons, and I think it’s a good thing I didn’t get it this year,” Philander told ESPNcricinfo. “I can do some preparation ahead of the England series.”Philander is no stranger to England. He spent time in the country as a schoolboy during an exchange programme, toured there with the South Africa Under-19s in 2003 and had stints at Devon and Middlesex. The conditions in England are believed to be the best suited to Philander’s style of bowling: fast-medium pace, unwavering lines and lengths, slight movement off the seam and swing both ways.He insists his bowling style will work “anywhere in the world” but said he will not bank on assistance from conditions, no matter where he is playing. “I normally prepare for flat wickets,” Philander said before leaving for New Zealand, when talk was rife that seamer-friendly surfaces would be on offer. Philander had success in Dunedin and Wellington, where the pitches suited batting. However, he went wicketless in the second innings in Wellington, the only such instance in his short but successful career.It was part of the learning curve in his journey as a cricketer and he embraced the challenges wholeheartedly. “It was a long road to get where I am,” he said. “I didn’t expect to take as many wickets but I did expect to step up to the plate.”Philander was called up to the South Africa Test squad after two profitable seasons in the first-class game, in which he took 94 wickets. He made his Test debut at his home ground, Newlands, but has since taken wickets around the country and in New Zealand.”I always want to test my skills in different places,” he said. For now, the opportunity to do so arises primarily in Test cricket as Philander has not had many opportunities in the other formats. He played an ODI against Sri Lanka in January and is keen to make the transition to the other formats, but is willing to bide his time before journeying to leagues like the IPL.

Half-centuries from Tom Maynard and Zafar Ansari helped Surrey maintain their winning start to the CB40 as they overcame Durham by 60 runs at The Oval.

20-May-2012
ScorecardZafar Ansari boosted Surrey’s total with a brisk 60•PA PhotosHalf-centuries from Tom Maynard and Zafar Ansari helped Surrey maintain their winning start to the CB40 as they overcame Durham by 60 runs at The Oval.After winning the toss and electing to bat Surrey were in trouble on 47 for 3 – with Mitchell Claydon taking all three wickets in 12 balls – but Maynard’s 77 steadied the ship and Ansari’s unbeaten 60 helped the hosts to 221 for 7.Durham lost wickets at regular intervals to undermine their chase and they were all out for 161, with Jade Dernbach, Stuart Meaker, Matthew Spriegel and Gareth Batty claiming two wickets apiece.The win was the third of the campaign for Surrey, the defending CB40 champions, and keeps them top of Group B, while Durham slipped to their first defeat.Steven Davies, Rory Hamilton-Brown and Jason Roy all made bright starts, but Claydon left the hosts reeling. Davies, attempting to cut, was caught behind and two overs later, Hamilton-Brown was bowled on the walk, trying to repeat the stroke that had just brought him a boundary off Graham Onions. In the eighth over, Roy crunched two successive fours off Claydon, who had his revenge when he found some extra bounce and the 21-year-old batsman edged behind.Maynard added 58 in tandem with Zander de Bruyn but, in the space of four balls, de Bruyn was bowled through the gate by Gareth Breese and Spriegel was undone by a turning delivery from Scott Borthwick. Maynard then joined forces with Ansari, putting on 85 in 15 overs for the sixth wicket. Having taken the batting powerplay at start of the 34th over, Surrey added 62 runs in the final six overs.Maynard eventually went, caught low down at extra cover off Onions for a magnificent 77 off 94 balls, though not before Ansari had lifted Claydon over midwicket for six. Ansari then took charge, bringing up a 51-ball half-century, which he celebrated by pulling Onions for a maximum and finished unbeaten on 60 off 55 deliveries.In reply, Durham lost Phil Mustard, miscuing Dernbach to Roy at mid-off, in the third over. Ben Stokes swung Meaker over backward square leg for six only to be stumped off Spriegel, who struck again four overs later when Mark Stoneman was caught down the leg side to make it 59 for three.Without taking any undue risks, Gordon Muchall and Paul Collingwood combined to add 61 in 14 overs. But the pendulum swung in Surrey’s favour in the 28th over when Collingwood was bowled for 32, looking to sweep off-spinner Batty.With Will Smith playing on to Jade Dernbach and Muchall picking out Maynard at long-on off Batty having made 41, the visitors were left needing 89 off the last nine overs.Things went from bad to worse for Durham when Breese had to retire hurt with an injury to his right ankle. Liam Plunkett defiantly launched Dernbach straight back over his head for six, but ran out of partners when Meaker bowled both Onions then Claydon.

Muttiah Muralitharan, Sri Lanka’s record-breaking spin bowler, has dismissed England’s Twenty20 format as “old fashioned” and called for it to adopt the franchise format favoured by the IPL.

ESPNcricinfo staff13-Jun-2012Muttiah Muralitharan, Sri Lanka’s record-breaking spin bowler, has dismissed England’s Twenty20 format as “old fashioned” and called for it to adopt the franchise format favoured by the IPL.Muralitharan is about to begin his second season with Gloucestershire in Friends Life t20 and as the competition begins he has risked a storm by suggesting that they should merge with their fiercest rivals Somerset.”That would be good as they are close counties and they would benefit financially,” he said.The ECB insists that the 18-county system is sacrosanct yet England players play little, if any, domestic T20 cricket because of an international programme that dominates the entire summer. England’s T20 tournament was an innovative product when it launched in 2003, but Muralitharan argued that it has now fallen behind rival tournaments around the world.”They introduced it worldwide but now England is old-fashioned,” he told BBC Points West. “They need to change and become franchised teams and each county would benefit financially. If it happens like that it would be huge in England. I think the market is there, and the TV rights will come.”Muralitharan, 40, has a wealth of experience on his side. As well as Sri Lanka his clubs include Chennai Super Kings, Royal Challengers Bangalore, Kochi Tuskers, Chittagong Kings, Kandurata, Lancashire and Wellington.Since its inception in 2003, the game has been adapted worldwide, taking on several different guises. But the FLt20 will struggle to make impact this summer, not just competing against England’s unrelenting schedule but the European football championships and London’s hosting of the Olympics.Debate is still going on about the structure of England’s T20 tournament in 2013, but this season the 18 counties, restricted to a maximum of two overseas players, play 10 matches in three groups of six before reaching the quarterfinal stages.Muralitharan even suggested that England’s T20 competition was lagging behind Bangladesh, a competition that has been characterised by a stand off between FICA, the international players’ association, and the BCB over owed player payments.”Bangladesh launched it big and their crowds have been 30-40,000 for every match,” he said. “Australia has merged into eight franchises so I think England should also do that and it could equal IPL.”Muralitharan starts his second spell with Gloucestershire on Thursday against local rivals Somerset, and believes merging the two counties to become a T20 franchise would be a good move.”At the end of the day the public will see good cricket and enjoy it,” he said. “Money will be spinning from the competition and they can sustain the other forms of the game within county cricket. It would be one of the best things to happen if they do that. It will make sure the competition is more successful than what it is now.”

Matthew Hoggard has stepped aside as Leicestershire captain in limited-overs cricket. Josh Cobb, aged just 21, has succeed him.

George Dobell11-Jul-2012Matthew Hoggard has stepped aside as Leicestershire captain in limited-overs cricket. Josh Cobb, aged just 21, has succeed him. Cobb captained the county in tourist games against West Indies and Australia and has taken over on a permanent basis for the CB40 game against Netherlands.Hoggard will continue to play limited-overs cricket but, aged 35, felt the time was right for Leicestershire to look to the future. He will continue to captain the County Championship side. Leicestershire have already been eliminated from the Friends Life t20 and are bottom of their CB40 group having failed to win any of their first five games.”Having seen how well Josh captained the side against Australia and the West Indies, Matthew Hoggard expressed a desire to hand over the one-day captaincy to him,” Mike Siddall the Leicestershire chief executive said. “With the group stages of the Friends Life t20 competition now finished, Matthew feels that the time is right for that change and he will continue to lead the team in the LV=County Championship.”Leicestershire have also announced that 32-year-old Ramnaresh Sarwan, who remains surplus to requirements by West Indies, has signed a new two-year contract which will keep him at the club until at least the end of the 2014 season. Sarwan has scored 608 championship runs at an average of 43.42 and is also seen as a good influence on the young batsman at the club, such as Cobb and Greg Smith.”Ronnie has created a tremendous impression since he joined us,” Siddall said. “We are delighted to have secured his services for another two seasons. He is a fantastic player and his influence on our younger players has been excellent.”