All posts by h716a5.icu

Harmeet Singh, a member of India Under-19’s 2012 World Cup-winning squad, appeared before BCCI’s anti-corruption and security unit chief, Ravi Sawani in a spot-fixing probe in Mumbai

Amol Karhadkar06-Jul-2013Harmeet Singh, a member of India Under-19’s 2012 World Cup-winning squad, appeared before BCCI’s anti-corruption and security unit chief, Ravi Sawani in a spot-fixing probe in Mumbai. Sawani is currently investigating the alleged involvement of Rajasthan Royals players, Sreesanth, Ajit Chandila and Ankeet Chavan, in spot-fixing during IPL 2013.Harmeet, who played one game for Rajasthan Royals in this season, shared all the information he had about the fixing episode with Sawani. The 20-year-old left-arm spinner was summoned by Sawani after he recorded a statement, which is admissible in court, before a magistrate in Delhi on Wednesday.According to news reports, Jitender Singh, alias Jeetu, a bookie who was arrested in connection with the IPL corruption scandal last week, alleged that he had tried to get Harmeet involved but didn’t strike a deal as the player was too young.The BCCI has no intention of suspending Harmeet pending enquiry. The board did consider taking such action against Harmeet’s Rajasthan Royals team-mate, Siddharth Trivedi for an alleged breach of the IPL code of conduct; Trivedi had recorded a statement before a magistrate in a Delhi court, sharing information related to the spot-fixing case. The BCCI decided that it would be unfair to suspend Trivedi, given that he was co-operating with the ACSU as well as the authorities. A BCCI insider confirmed the same position would apply to Harmeet: “The question of Harmeet’s suspension does not arise till he is found to have been involved in mischievous activities.”Even though he has not been suspended, Harmeet’s quest of resurrecting his first-class career, that had virtually stalled with Mumbai, hangs in balance for now. The left-arm spinner had acquired a no-objection certificate from the Mumbai Cricket Association after being approached by officials from the Vidarbha Cricket Association. His move to Vidarbha was almost completed and he had been invited to represent the VCA XI in the Dorairajan Trophy in Nagpur.However, following news reports allegedly linking him to a few bookies, the VCA put its plans on hold and dropped Harmeet from VCA XI side last week. The association hasn’t signed a contract with the bowler and has decided to ensure that the player comes out clean before bringing him on board.

Shane Shillingford ran through a clueless line-up to take his best Test figures as Zimbabwe continued to bat like the Test irregulars they are

The Report by Abhishek Purohit14-Mar-2013
Scorecard and ball-by-ball detailsRay Price’s was one of the three Zimbabwe wickets not to fall to Shane Shillingford on the third day•WICB Media Photo/Nicholas ReidShane Shillingford, on his international comeback, ran through a clueless line-up to take his best Test figures as Zimbabwe batted like the Test irregulars they are. West Indies needed just under two hours on the third morning to end the Zimbabwe second innings, although their win was delayed by the farce of a lunch break taken after three overs of their tiny chase.There would have been no need for West Indies to bat again, had Craig Ervine not been put down twice after a wicket each had gone down in the day’s first two overs. There was nothing in the Kensington Oval pitch or in the West Indies attack to justify Zimbabwe lasting only 41.4 overs. There was bounce and some turn for Shillingford alright, but only one of his six wickets, that of Graeme Cremer, was off a delivery that came close to being called unplayable.It was Zimbabwe’s inability to keep down testing, but pretty regular, deliveries that led to their downfall. But for a side that kept itself out of the Test arena for six years and was playing only its fifth Test since ending the exile in August 2011, ability to survive Test-quality bowling is hard to develop without exposure.Smart stats

Shane Shillingford’s 6 for 49 is the best performance by a West Indies bowler against Zimbabwe. It is also the third best performance by a spinner in Barbados.

Shillingford’s match haul of 9 for 107 is his second best in Tests. It is also the second best match figures by a West Indies spinner since 1990. The best also belongs to Shillingford.

West Indies’ nine-wicket win is their fifth in seven Tests against Zimbabwe. They have won each of the three home matches.

Zimbabwe’s total of 107 is their fourth lowest against West Indies. Three of the top four lowest totals have come in Tests played in West Indies.

West Indies have now won five Tests in a row. The last time they managed this was in 1988, when they won seven consecutive Tests.

That inability was evident in the number of batsmen, three in each innings, who fell to offspin in the leg trap. Few Test specialist batsmen would have fallen so easily. Brendan Taylor, the Zimbabwe captain, summed it up when he stepped out to Shillingford in the day’s first over, suddenly stopped and jabbed a length offbreak to forward short leg. It continued a horror tour for Taylor with scores of 8, 0 & 39 in the ODIs, 0 & 4 in the Twenty20s, 20 & 20 in the three-day tour match, and 26 & 6 in this Test.A few overs later, Malcolm Waller again exposed another area of weakness against spin. He waited deep in the crease as a Shillingford offbreak spun into his thigh pad, but failed to keep the bat out of the way, and got an inside edge to forward short leg.The next two wickets were earned by Shillingford. He bowled Regis Chakabva with a flighted straighter one as the batsman pushed forward expecting turn. Cremer got a brute that kicked and straightened from a good length to take the edge to the wicketkeeper. Shillingford was accurate throughout the match, and got considerable lift and, at times, sharp turn.Zimbabwe’s spineless showing with the bat, apart from the first session of the game, hid a few West Indies shortcomings. They were under danger of conceding the first-innings lead on day two, before their captain Darren Sammy bailed them out with a match-turning knock from No. 8. They dropped a few catches, including Ervine twice this morning, once by Chris Gayle off Shillingford at slip and once by Darren Bravo at third slip off Tino Best.Shannon Gabriel ended the innings with two wickets in three balls, leaving Ervine stranded. Kieran Powell had his second failure of the match as he stabbed a Tendai Chatara lifter to gully. When Chris Gayle scored the winning runs, it was the first time since 1988 that West Indies had won five successive Tests. The opposition back then during a seven-match streak were England and Australia; three of the current five wins have come against Bangladesh and Zimbabwe.

Full text of the PCB’s release on the Integrity Committee Recommendation on Nadeem Ghauri and Anis Siddiqui

13-Apr-2013Pursuant to allegations that 2 Pakistani Umpires, Nadeem Ghauri and Anis Siddiqui, were willing to accept money/financial remuneration to grant favourable/dubious umpiring decisions leveled by an Indian television channel, India TV, in its expose in the first week of October 2012, the PCB had constituted an Inquiry Committee to probe in to the matter.The Inquiry Committee comprised of Mr. Ehsan Sadiq Director Vigilance and Security, Mr. Intikhab Alam, Director Game Development and Barrister Salman Naseer, Manager Legal. The Committee obtained unedited video footage from the India TV along with all relevant evidence available with the International Cricket Council (ICC). After authenticating all the adduced evidence, inclusive of an exhaustive forensic investigation with the assistance of a specialist body in Punjab Forensic Science Agency (PFSA), the two umpires, Ghauri and Siddiqui, were asked to give a written submissions explaining their version of events, and were subsequently cross examined by the Inquiry Committee.Inquiry Committee’s Observations and Recommendations
The Committee noted that after coming to know about the exaggerated amounts to be paid to them for umpiring assignments, both umpires failed to exercise caution and sound judgment, which resulted in their entrapment in the said Sting Operation; despite their skepticism about the true credentials of the persons they were talking to and the methodology adopted by them, the two umpires remained engaged with them in prolonged and questionable conversations with regard to potential umpiring roles and dubious decision-making; the submissions made by both umpires failed to corroborate/correlate with the contents of the authenticated video footage of the said Sting Operation; and that, prima facie, there is sufficient material to initiate disciplinary proceedings against Nadeem Ghauri and Anis Siddiqui.”The Committee recommended referring the matter to “PCB’s Integrity Committee for further necessary action, and also that both Ghauri and Siddiqui not be considered for any umpiring assignment or participation in any form of cricket till the matter is pending before the Integrity Committee.”Other recommendations included, increasing of awareness programs inclusive of lectures and training workshops to be conducted by PCB to ensure that the umpires fully comprehend the parameters/guidelines of the Codes of Conduct in order to safeguard against such incidents taking place in future; adopting a proactive approach to ensure the prevention of such incidents involving umpires and any other match officials; and bringing all players, support personnel and match officials associated with PCB under a strict vigilance regime and comprehensive monitoring mechanism at the earliest.In accordance with the recommendations of the Inquiry Committee, Chairman Ch. Zaka Ashraf presided over a meeting of the Integrity Committee of the Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) today at the National Cricket Academy (April 13, 2013) to examine and determine the guilt of Nadeem Ghauri and Anis Siddiqui in relation to the allegations leveled against them.The following members of the PCB Integrity Committee were in attendance:M. Zaka Ashraf, ChairmanJustice (R) Sheikh Abdul Rashid, MemberSubhan Ahmad, MemberZakir Khan, Member Intikhab Alam, MemberThe report of the Inquiry Committee was perused by the members of the Integrity Committee, relevant clips of the Skype conversations which incriminate both the umpires was viewed and the Committee personally heard both the said umpires.The matter was deliberated by the members of the Integrity Committee at length and they were of the unanimous view that substantial incriminating material was available on record suggestive of the fact that both the umpires were willing to compromise their integrity in discharge of their professional duties. The members of the Committee were thus unanimous in their view that the said two umpires cannot be cleared of the allegations leveled against them. Consequently, the Integrity Committee unanimously recommended as under:” 1. That Mr. Nadeem Ghauri being a former test cricketer and also elevated to the elite panel of umpires of ICC and PCB’s International panel (with 13 years standing) straight away agreed to extend undue favours for material gains, therefore, he cannot be cleared for consideration of appointment as an umpire/match official or in any other capacity in any form of cricket held/organized/supervised/conducted/controlled under the aegis of the PCB for a period of four years from the date of institution of Inquiry i.e. 11th October 2012. Further, during the said period he may not be considered for association/appointment with PCB in any other form or position.2. That Mr. Anis Siddiqui being only a domestic umpire with lesser experience of only 8 years did not straight away fall prey to the undue suggestions made by India TV Sting Operatives and kept on resisting their undue demands repeatedly, but finally conceded to them on their persistence. Keeping in view his limited exposure to International Cricket and Codes of Conduct, his case is of mitigating circumstances and therefore he cannot be cleared for consideration of appointment as an umpire/match official or in any other capacity in any form of cricket held/organized/supervised/conducted/controlled under the aegis of the PCB for a period of three years from the date of institution of Inquiry i.e. 11th October 2012. Further, he may not be considered for association/appointment with PCB in any other form or position.The Pakistan Cricket Board has endorsed these recommendations.Commenting on the occasion Chairman PCB Ch. M. Zaka Ashraf said, “The PCB has a zero tolerance policy for corruption or indiscipline. We are committed on creating awareness amongst our players and officials with regards to the possible pitfalls, and are determined to adopt all vigilance and security parameters, which are in line with the laid out procedures of the ICC. Today’s decision reiterates the commitment of the PCB to keep our great sport free of all corrupt practices”.

Aftab Ahmed

Mohammad Isam15-Jan-2013The extent to which a player can go off the radar even in the small world of Bangladesh cricket is personified by Aftab Ahmed, the batsman earmarked for greatness only five years ago but who hasn’t played international cricket since March 2010. Such has been his downturn in fortune, Aftab is merely eyeing a regular place in the Chittagong Kings side in this season’s BPL.”I have to target a place in the playing eleven, this is my first objective,” Aftab said. “If I can make it then I have a plan, which I want to execute. I was a bit shaky in the last BPL but then I thought of shrugging away the shakiness and playing with freedom. I have to do something different otherwise I have no chance of cementing my place.”Between 2004 and 2008, Aftab was one of the most feared strikers of the ball. A free-flowing strokeplayer on the off side, his ability to clear the infield was always breathtaking, though like Mohammad Ashraful he was also susceptible to poor shots. What contributed to his downfall was his lax attitude towards fitness and doing the extra bit in the nets, surprising for a player so dependent on hitting the ball sweetly, and for one of the country’s best fielders inside the circle.And, surprisingly for a cricketer of this day and age, he is candid when he agrees that it has been his lethargy that has kept him out of the limelight for such a long time. “Laziness has got the better of me,” he said. “Even though I try very hard to overcome laziness, even then I have a tough time succeeding. This is the truth, no point lying.”I feel bad sometimes. When I was an established member of the national team, I saw several players making their debut. The same players are now far ahead of me in the pecking order and I am a bit detached from everyone else. So it is normal for me to feel bad.”Aftab was part of the Dhaka Warriors team that took off from the mainstream and joined the Indian Cricket League in 2008. He returned two years later, but was not even half the player he had left as. Those close to him said that his poor work ethic earlier in his career fitted well with the relaxed attitude with which he played in the ICL, eroding his skills further.His plans now centre on domestic cricket, and he has hinted that his career is nearing the end, though he is only 27. “I have no plans as far as making it to the national team is concerned. Whether it is one or two years, I want to enjoy myself before going out from the game,” he said. “Recently, I scored two fifties in the National Cricket League so I want to bow out properly from the domestic circuit before anything else.”What Aftab will enjoy, however, will be playing for Chittagong, his hometown, and in a format he is made for, despite a poor showing in the first BPL with Dhaka Gladiators, when he made just six runs in three innings.”I only got one opportunity last time with Dhaka Gladiators and I did not make full use of it. I was shaky and thought about things too much,” Aftab said. “This hampered my progress. But this time, I am not putting any thoughts in my head. If I get one game, then so be it. I will only enjoy myself.”

Ben Stokes, the Durham allrounder, and Kent quick bowler Matt Coles have been sent home from England Lions’ tour of Australia for unprofessional conduct.

Alex Winter20-Feb-2013Ben Stokes, the Durham allrounder, and Kent quick bowler Matt Coles have been sent home from England Lions’ tour of Australia for unprofessional conduct.Both players had previously been issued with written warnings for “contravening their conduct obligations” on the tour and a second incident has seen them dropped from the tour party with three matches remaining.David Parsons, ECB performance director said both players had ignored directives given to them for match preparation and recovery. “On a very challenging tour to Australia, both Matt and Ben have ignored the instructions and, following previous warnings, it is regrettable that it has been necessary to terminate their involvement in the tour.”Both are very talented individuals and it is hoped that, with the support of the ECB and their respective counties, they will take positive steps to give themselves the very best chance of fulfilling their potential. There will be no replacement players called up to the squad as a result of this matter.”Stokes, 21, is seen as one of England’s brightest prospects with the potential to eventually fulfil the allrounder role that hasn’t been filled since Andrew Flintoff retired. He made his full ODI debut aged 20 against Ireland in August 2011 and has played five ODIs.He played the opening four matches of the Australia tour, scoring 41 off just 15 balls in the second warm-up and took 1 for 40 in the first unofficial ODI with his right-arm medium pace.It is not the first time he has been reprimanded for his behaviour. In Decemeber 2011 he was arrested for obstructing a policeman in his duty, in what was believed to be a drink-related incident.Coles, 22, was rewarded for his excellent season at Kent in 2012, taking 59 first-class wickets at 22.35. He took 2 for 58 in the second warm-up and played the both of the opening matches against Australia A.But a lack of discipline has denied both players the opportunity to further impress the England management and created a most embarrassing situation. ESPNcricinfo understands that England team director Andy Flower has stopped in Australia to observe the Lions squad en route to New Zealand.”I would like to apologise for the way in which I acted,” Ben Stokes said. “I am determined to bounce back from this situation and I regret my actions off the field. I look forward to getting back to my county to start pre-season preparations.”Matt Coles was equally apologetic: “I am very sorry about what has happened in Australia,” he said. “I believe I have learnt my lesson. I have apologised to the players and coaches involved, so would now like to move forward from this by looking ahead to the start of the county season at Kent.”England are winless on the tour having lost all three warm-up matches and the opening two unofficial ODIs against Australia A. All but one of the defeats was comprehensive. Three more matches remain in the series against Australia A on February 22 in Hobart and 25 February and March 1 in Sydney.

Tharanga Paranavitana has had a long run at the top of Sri Lanka’s order to try and make the opening position his own. He hasn’t done it yet

Andrew Fernando04-Dec-2012As Australia ponder the output of their Test openers, Sri Lanka have an opening conundrum brewing of their own. In ODIs, Sri Lanka are so awash with talent, they routinely play four capable openers in the XI, yet in Tests there has been a dearth of men with technique and mettle to chisel out a long-term role atop the batting order.Sri Lanka’s last tour of Australia in 2007 was Marvan Atapattu’s swansong, and his long-time partner Sanath Jayasuriya played his final Test not long after. Though Tillakaratne Dilshan has advanced Jayasuriya’s legacy in the years since, Sri Lanka have not found a bona-fide successor for Atapattu, though several have been trialled.Tharanga Paranavitana has had a steady spell of opportunities since his debut in early 2009, but while he has shared Atapattu’s penchant for collecting ducks, his career has also been frustrated by middling scores and a limited range of strokes. At times he has been defensively capable, but mentally tentative – particularly susceptible outside off stump, where his powers of judgement have been found frail.Paranavitana had appeared to overcome a slow start in Test cricket when he made hundreds in back-to-back matches against India in 2010, but has not crossed triple figures in 39 innings since. Sri Lanka rightly acknowledge that their domestic competition does not produce opening batsmen who can find immediate success in Test cricket, but with 32 matches now behind him, the team may have hoped Paranavitana was further along in his development. In 2012, he has played 10 innings and made only one 50, averaging a shade below 30.Perhaps partly in the hope of spurring Paranavitana’s stagnating output, Sri Lanka have taken a spare left-hand opener to Australia. Dimuth Karunaratne got a Test debut when Dilshan sat out the first Test against New Zealand through injury, and a sparkling unbeaten half-century in the second innings of that match earned him a place in the squad to Australia a day later. Sri Lanka are unlikely to displace Paranavitana early in the series, but Karunaratne’s presence will serve as a statement to Paranavitana that he cannot subsist on the selector’s largesse for long.”Dimuth has been around for a long time and when he got his opportunity in Galle he showed his potential,” Mahela Jayawardene, Sri Lanka’s captain, said ahead of the series. “It’s healthy for everyone to have some sort of competition in order to push ourselves to keep improving.”Jayawardene has seen both men develop at first-class level: they open together for the Sinhalese Sports Club, where Jayawardene also cut his teeth. Though Karunaratne and Paranavitana will compete for a spot in the XI in Australia, they have been earmarked as potential long-term openers when Dilshan retires from Tests. Karunaratne’s aggression has complemented Paranavitana’s more circumspect approach in their time together at SSC, and Jayawardene suggested the synergy they have established in domestic cricket may help ensure a successful partnership in years to come.”What we’re looking into developing for the future is to try and get a combination that will be there for a while. It’s very important that the two guys are comfortable and understand each other’s game, because the start makes a big difference.”I think Dimuth adjusted pretty well to international cricket. He knows his game quite well, which helps him. International cricket is always going to be a big step up for anybody. We’ve said to Dimuth that the first six months will be a honeymoon period after which the other teams will analyse you and then it will get tougher. He has got a good head to handle all that. Tharanga is another guy who I’ve played with quite a bit and who has had that same kind of commitment. We need to make sure we help them develop.”For the moment, Paranavitana’s place is the only one in any sort of contention in Sri Lanka’s top seven. Jayawardene believed Paranavitana’s inability to make his position his own despite the extended run is not down to flaws in technique.”It’s about consistency. From time to time we’ve had chats with him and the coaches have been working with him. I think he’s got the technique, but it’s the mental approach that he sometimes makes mistakes with. Technically he’s very sound, but he needs to approach certain situations differently. He needs to work hard at that.”It’s a tough position. Openers always will always have tough times. That’s not just in the Sri Lankan team, that happens in other international sides as well. You need to show authority and feel confidence about that position. That’s where everything is being set up for the rest of the batting order.”

Kumar Sangakkara was rewarded for a prolific year in both Tests and ODIs at the Sri Lanka Cricket Awards, where he took home three of the evening’s top prizes

Andrew Fernando06-Sep-2012Kumar Sangakkara was rewarded for a prolific year in both Tests and ODIs at the Sri Lanka Cricket Awards, where he took home three of the evening’s top prizes. Sangakkara beat Sri Lanka captain Mahela Jayawardene to win Cricketer of the Year, and he was also named Best Test Batsman and People’s Player of the Year.Sangakkara scored 1444 runs at an average 60.16 in Tests over the twelve months being considered, and 1457 ODI runs at 42.85. He had five hundreds in Tests and three in ODIs in the same period.Rangana Herath claimed the award for Best Test Bowler for his 70 wickets at 25.24, including a match-winning haul of 9 for 128 in Sri Lanka’s first victory in South Africa, in December. Also nominated were fast bowlers Chanaka Welegedara and Suranga Lakmal.Jayawardene, Lasith Malinga and Tillakaratne Dilshan won the ODI awards for Best Batsman, Best Bowler and Best Allrounder, while Dinesh Chandimal was named Emerging Cricketer of the Year, following impressive overseas performances in South Africa and Australia.In the Women’s categories, Chamari Atapattu was named Best Batsman, Sherina Ravikumar Best Bowler, and Shashikala Siriwardene Best Allrounder.It was the second time Sangakkara had won the top prize and the third consecutive year in which he had become People’s Player of the Year, which is awarded based on public voting. He is also in the running for four ICC awards, including Cricketer of Year, at the international awards night in Colombo on September 15.Sri Lanka Cricket Awards list
Cricketer of the Year: Kumar Sangakkara
Best Test Batsman: Kumar Sangakkara
Best Test Bowler: Rangana Herath
People’s Player of the Year: Kumar Sangakkara
Best ODI Batsman: Mahela Jayawardene
Best ODI Bowler: Lasith Malinga
Best ODI Allrounder: Tillakaratne Dilshan
Emerging Player of the Year: Dinesh Chandimal

Women’s Awards
Best Batsman: Chamari Atapattu
Best Bowler: Sherina Ravikumar
Best Allrounder: Shashikala Siriwardene

Jonathan Trott has described England’s batting in the Galle Test as “a sin” but struggled to pin down reasons for the slump

Andrew McGlashan in Colombo01-Apr-2012Jonathan Trott has described England’s batting during the first innings in the Galle Test as “a sin” but has struggled to pin down a reason why a batting line-up that was so prolific only a few months ago is now consistently faltering.England, who must now win in Colombo to draw the series, were bowled out for 192 in 46.4 overs to concede a crucial first-innings advantage of 125 to Sri Lanka as their batting failed for the fourth time in a row.Criticised for being too defensive at times during the series against Pakistan in the UAE, this time the strokes of some England batsmen in Galle bordered on the reckless as they continued to struggle to find a suitable tempo for batting in Asia.It has been a rapid fall from grace for a batting line-up that had become accustomed to making 500-plus regularly while the individual batsmen were gaining a reputation for the ‘daddy’ hundreds that Graham Gooch used to have cause to talk about. From the start of the 2010-11 Ashes to end of the home series against India last summer they had scored six double hundreds and another four scores in excess of 150.By comparison in 2012, Trott’s 112 in the second innings in Galle was England’s first hundred of the year. “We’ve lost a lot of wickets in clusters,” Trott said. “In the past if we’ve lost two early wickets then guys have been able to steady the ship and we’ve been able to get through sessions pretty unscathed.”But we’ve had bad sessions with the bat and getting bowled out in 40-odd overs was a bit of a sin. The wicket was pretty good and we should have capitalised. It’s no lack of effort on any par, it just hasn’t worked out for us.”Defeat meant that Trott was not able to savour his hundred – one of the finest of his career – despite him showing England that run-scoring was possible with patience and shrewd shot selection.”To get a hundred is satisfying, but to get one and win always makes it sweeter,” he said. “I was pleased by how I felt, I wasn’t all that tired at the end of the innings, I just wish I could have batted a bit more. If I’d have got 140, 150 who knows what might have happened.”And, according to Trott, there was no magic formula to his success. “I just played normally. I didn’t try going in with any pre-conceived conceptions. I had a bit of luck early on and rode it. You certainly need a bit of luck in these conditions with a lot of catchers round the bat… you need the ball to bounce in the right areas.”Trott also took a swipe at the media for, as he saw it, fuelling an unnecessary debate about Andrew Strauss’ position in the team. Strauss has averaged 25.50 since the start of the previous home season and has just two hundreds since July 2009.”When someone is not scoring as may runs as they would like or expect of themselves it is highlighted by you guys [the media]. I’m sure it will have a similar impact as it did when Alastair Cook came through his little slump. I’m surprised you guys haven’t learned from that.”Steven Finn, Strauss’ Middlesex teammate, hoping for a place in England’s attack in the second Test, was equally supportive on BBC Radio 5 Live’s Sportsweek programme.”I don’t think there’s any question that he won’t be in charge throughout the summer and beyond,” he said. “He’s a great captain, everyone here’s backing him and this is something that just hasn’t come up within the team because no one in the team believes it’s valid. Straussy will score runs and that’s that.””Straussy leads from the front. He’s an exceptional leader, he’s a levelling person. When we have our highs we don’t ride them too high and when we have our lows we don’t ride them too low. And that’s what a great captain does, I think.”

Will Smith became Durham’s first County Championship centurion of the season as the visitors enjoyed a productive against Somerset at Taunton

22-May-2012
ScorecardWill Smith became Durham’s first County Championship centurion of the season as the visitors enjoyed a productive start to the match with Somerset at Taunton.The opener made exactly 100 in a total of 353 for 8, Michael Di Venuto contributing 96 to an opening stand of 158, while Ben Stokes hit an attractive 60 off 79 balls.Somerset stuck to their task in energy-sapping heat after losing the toss and fought back hard in the final session from a tea score of 264 for 2. Peter Trego and Jamie Overton claimed two wickets each..With Vernon Philander having been recalled by South Africa, the home side’s pace attack lacked a cutting edge and they looked likely to be up against it on a good batting pitch under cloudless skies.Smith and Di Venuto set the tone. On 38, Di Venuto was dropped by Trego in the slips off Alfonso Thomas, back in Somerset’s team after playing in the IPL. But it was a rare moment of alarm for the openers as they took the score to 128 off 32 overs by lunch, Di Venuto outscoring his partner to be unbeaten on 81 at the interval.The left-hander looked on course for a certain century when edging an attempted cut shot off Thomas through to wicketkeeper Craig Kieswetter. He had faced 119 balls and hit 18 fours and a six. Smith made only 46 before lunch and continued on his steady way to reach a chanceless hundred shortly before tea. It came off 192 deliveries and included 12 fours and two sixes.The only wicket to fall during the afternoon session was that of Mark Stoneman (27), who called for a quick single to cover and failed to beat Jos Buttler’s throw to Kieswetter after being sent back.But after tea Somerset rallied. Smith miscued an attempted pull off Jamie Overton and fell to a tumbling catch by Thomas at mid-on. Paul Collingwood’s poor season continued when he drove a catch to cover off left-arm spinner George Dockrell, having made 12, and Ian Blackwell could score only seven against his old club before pulling a catch to square leg off Overton.When the aggressive Stokes was run out by Craig Overton, fielding smartly off his own bowling Durham were 326 for 6 and in danger of failing to cash in fully on their fine start.Somerset took the new ball at 342 for 6 and eight runs later Phil Mustard joined the list of careless dismissals, pulling a catch to square leg off Trego. In the same over Callum Thorp edged to Alex Barrow in the slips and departed for a duck.

Peter Siddle will be unleashed in the West Indies as a Test match spearhead rather than taking part in Australia’s forthcoming ODI assignments, the national selector John Inverarity has said

Daniel Brettig22-Feb-2012Peter Siddle will be unleashed in the West Indies as a Test match spearhead rather than taking part in Australia’s forthcoming ODI assignments, the national selector John Inverarity has said.In a sign that the selectors are shaping Siddle into Michael Clarke’s equivalent of the kind of role Merv Hughes performed for Allan Border in the 1990s, Inverarity said the panel wanted Siddle to maintain the “lionhearted” standards he set against New Zealand and India, rather than adjusting his plans for the demands of ODIs.In a similar fashion, Hughes played few limited-overs matches for Australia, as the panel then chaired by Laurie Sawle preferred the Victorian fast man to give his all in Test matches, where he commonly took the critical wickets in sharp spells. Siddle now appears to be treading a path similar to the one that took Hughes to 212 Test wickets.”His bowling during the Test matches was outstanding, and we really look forward to letting him loose in the West Indies,” Inverarity told ESPNcricinfo. “He was lionhearted and wonderful [against India] and we look forward to him returning there. But just at the moment he’s not in our short-term ODI plans.”Under Clarke, Siddle has commonly been used in shorter, more incisive Test match spells than those he delivered under Ricky Ponting, also benefiting from the fuller length and discipline advocated by the bowling coach Craig McDermott – Hughes’ former pace partner. Against India he repeatedly broke key partnerships before Ben Hilfenhaus and others cleaned up in his wake, until Siddle had his reward with a Man-of-the-Match haul in the final Test in Adelaide.In his absence, the Australian limited-overs squad is re-assembling in Hobart for Friday’s ODI against Sri Lanka. Xavier Doherty, the Tasmanian left-arm spinner, will play his first international on his home ground, and said there would be a decidedly different feel to the dressing room in Ponting’s absence after he was dropped from the one-day side.”It’s going to be very different,” Doherty said. “Having Ricky around for the last 15-16 years, he’s the guy who’s got all the energy in the group so that role’s probably going to have to shift to someone else now. So it’s going to be a very different feel and probably different for the public to come to watch.”Like Ricky said, if you don’t put the runs on or take the wickets then you leave yourself up for this sort of outcome. It is unfortunate that this is the way it’s gone, but in professional sport that is the way things go.”Doherty has bowled reliably across the series, often entrusted with later overs in the innings, where his variations in pace, accuracy and occasional spin have prospered.”Early on in the tournament I probably took wickets, which is the credit for some of the other guys doing the hard work,” Doherty said. “In the last couple of games it’s probably me doing some of the hard work and they’ve been the ones to get the rewards, so I feel pretty comfortable in the team now, it’s taken a little while to settle in, but I feel like I can do whatever’s asked of me.”As a limited-overs spinner, Doherty said he had been aided by his experiences in Twenty20 matches, which placed greater emphasis on him to be precise every time he delivered the ball.”There’s no doubt that T20 cricket is having an impact on the other forms,” he said. “You have a look at Dave Warner’s progression, Malinga, it’s cut-throat stuff in T20, whereas in 50-over cricket you do get a little bit more leeway so the skills of T20 are definitely rubbing off on some of the other forms. A lot of people have negative things to say about T20 but I think from my point of view it’s all positive.”