All posts by csb10.top

2002-03 in South Africa
There was scant encouragement for Bangladesh who wereemphatically beaten in both Tests and one-dayers, never offering SouthAfrica a convincing challenge. Makhaya Ntini warmed up with 10 wicketsat 10.14 in the one-day series – too fast, too hostile for theBangladeshis – before obliterating them in the two Tests with 12wickets at 15. Only Hannan Sarkar and Al Sahariar notched fiftieswhile South Africa posted five hundreds – including two from GaryKirsten who became the first batsman to score hundreds against allnine Test-playing nations. Graeme Smith’s 200 set-up a huge innings win in the first Test in East London, while in the second at Potchefstroom Jacques Kallis tore through with 5 for 21. As Wisden reported, the sentiment that Bangladesh benefited from competing against such strong opposition wore rather thin.
Tests: South Africa 2 Bangladesh 0
ODIs: South Africa 3 Bangladesh 0
2003 in Bangladesh
Chastened from their disastrous World Cup campaign, South Africaembarked on a tour of Bangladesh with a new-look squad.Graeme Smith was appointed captain – the third-youngest at 22 years 82days – while Allan Donald and Jonty Rhodes both retired. Bangladesh werealso rebuilding, with the captain Khaled Masud making way for KhaledMahmud, but South Africa’s youthful façade was still far too strong. In thefirst Test at Chittagong, Jacques Rudolph cracked 222 on debut to begin achequered international career. And in the second, South Africa’sbowlers probed away to crush Bangladesh for 102 and 210, sweeping theseries 2-0.
Tests: Bangladesh 0 South Africa 2

2007-08 in Bangladesh
South Africa were given the hurry-up in 2008, squeezing home by five wickets in the first Test at Mirpur, on a juicy surface which offered plenty to seamers. Bangladesh even squeaked a first-innings lead of 22 after Shahadat Hossain picked up career-best figures of 6 for 27. The hosts’ stranglehold couldn’t last, however, and they were rolled for 182 in their second innings, leaving South Africa chasing 205 to win – a target, though tricky, was far from insurmountable. Normal order was resumed at Chittagong where Neil McKenzie and Graeme Smith put on 415 for the opening wicket. 405 of those came on the first day – the most runs scored in a day without a wicket falling. Robin Peterson picked up 5 for 33 while Dale Steyn grabbed seven in the match as Bangladesh were walloped by an innings-and-205-runs. The ODIs went to script, too, with Smith notching 199 runs in the three comprehensive wins for South Africa.
Tests: Bangladesh 0 South Africa 2
ODIs: Bangladesh 0 South Africa 3

The Cobras have allowed five of their players, who are currently in India with the South African squad, to stay on for the IPL instead of returning home for the domestic Standard Bank Pro20 tournament. Jacques Kallis, Graeme Smith, Herschelle Gibbs, Mark Boucher and Ashwell Prince will thus remain in India after the third Test in Kanpur, which starts on April 11.Lalit Modi, the IPL chairman, indicated that the Titans might also follow suit and allow three of their IPL players who are in India – AB de Villiers, Albie Morkel and Dale Steyn – to miss the domestic tournament. He also said that talks were on with the franchises of the three other South African players who are involved in the IPL – Eagles (Loots Bosman), Dolphins (Shaun Pollock) and Warriors (Makhaya Ntini) – to grant exemption to these players.The Pro20 Series, South Africa’s domestic 20-over tournament, involves seven teams, including Zimbabwe, and concludes on April 25. With the IPL starting on April 18, this means the Cobras’ players will not miss the first week of the tournament. The IPL franchise which benefits the most from this decision is the Bangalore Royal Challengers, who have Kallis, Steyn and Boucher in their ranks. Gibbs is with the Deccan Chargers, while Smith has been signed up by the Rajasthan Royals.

Following a break from international cricket – five weeks is something of a luxury these days – Sri Lanka are back on Australian shores, this time for a one-day series, the CB triangular also featuring the hosts and India. They were last here three months ago for a two-Test whitewash that proved a handy catalyst for bouncing back to beat England in the subsequent home series.They returned this weekend in Sydney and their coach Trevor Bayliss immediately promised that his side won’t let the race controversy between Australia and India concern the team. “It looks like those two teams have got over it,” Bayliss told the Sydney Morning Herald. “It’s one of those things that happen in cricket every now and then and is pretty quickly forgotten.”He added that there was no tension with Australia in the Tests in November. “Certainly not, quite the opposite actually. The two teams got on well and from my point of view I made an effort for our blokes to go into the change rooms after Test matches to get to know some of the Australian guys.”While their forthcoming opponents were still facing each other in the much-publicised four-Test series in Adelaide, Sri Lanka took to the nets in a low-key manner in Sydney. Bayliss was happy not much fuss was made of their arrival. “The other two teams can have all the attention and hopefully that will allow us to play good cricket.”Their first challenge will be on Wednesday when they face the Prime Minister’s XI, who will be captained by Victoria’s Cameron White. It will be good practice for the Sri Lankans, who haven’t played an ODI since the middle of October when they lost 3-2 to England at home. They have just the one spinner, Muttiah Muralitharan, in a squad with six fast bowlers.The CB Series kicks off on February 3 with Australia playing India in Brisbane; Sri Lanka have their first action two days later when they will face India, also at the Gabba.

It’s a woefully regretting fact that most Bangladeshis don’t have the ability to buy cricket kits, despite their maddening eagerness towards the game. Feel sorry for the millions of kids all over the country who are deprived of getting adequate cricket materials they need to flourish their talents; hence, had to content with the tennis ball and hand made ragged bat and with those twigs of trees meant for stump.Many families here can’t put up with their sons’ demands of buying them a cricket ball, pad, a handy bat or guards because they are high priced. As a result many promising kids don’t even come to the ground. So, the pricey cricket kits don’t allow the kids belong to a poor family enter the realm of this game.Most of the materials come from India and Pakistan, saying that the price list is relatively cheap there. The cost of a ball ranges from Taka 90 to Taka 250, the lowest price of a batting pad is 265 Taka, wicket keeping gloves cost 250 Taka and a bat made to play even the tennis ball costs no less than 180 Taka. This is the scenario; let alone there is need to wear helmets or thigh guards, which are much costlier and quite expensive for most of the families here.The important thing is that there are hardly any price tags found on those materials bought from India and Pakistan. The sports shops here, are enterprisingly exploiting the chance, as the materials have no price tags on them. They are tagging the kits with their desired price (Of course a much higher one), thus making those unaffordable for the common people.Buying capabilities or affordability has quite a good link with the development of cricket anywhere. Bangladesh is enjoying the Test status for more than eighteen months, still the government is reluctant to lend a hand to import cricket materials. The government should help the importers in this respect, so that the materials could be reasonably priced, easily purchasable within the reach of all.

NAIROBI, Sept 1 AAP – It’s hard enough for Kenya to compete against Australia and Pakistan in the triangular cricket tournament here but a couple of injuries have made things even worse for the host nation.Kenya lost promising all-rounder Hitesh Modi after the first game against Pakistan when he had a finger broken by Shoaib Akhtar.And ahead of today’s loss to Pakistan, opener Ravindu Shah broke his big toe when batting in the nets.In some pain, he still went out – bravely or foolishly – to face Shoaib and Wasim Akram with the new ball but made just one run off eight balls.It didn’t help Kenya’s cause as it lost by seven wickets, Pakistan making 3-181 in reply to Kenya’s 179.Kenya coach Sandeep Patil said Shah would take no further part in the tournament after having a fracture diagnosed.”It’s very sad for those two players because matches like this come our way only now and then,” Patil said.He hoped both players would be fit for the Champions Trophy in Colombo where Kenya takes on South Africa and the West Indies.Pakistan captain Waqar Younis was happier with a better showing from his side but was still concerned his fast bowlers gave away 18 extra runs (12 wides and six no balls).But Pakistan has bowled first in all three games so far and Waqar said the cool, overcast conditions made it difficult to control the ball.”The ball is really hard to control in the early morning – that’s why it’s a little difficult for Wasim (Akram) in particular to get control of it.”Shoaib, handed the new ball for the first time in the tournament, looked menacing as he bowled at close to his fastest, clocking one ball at 156kph.Pakistan was in a little trouble at 3-54 but a partnership of 127 between Younis Khan (87 not out) and Misbah-Ul-Haq (50 not out) got it home in the 39th over.Australia, meanwhile, named an unchanged team for the match against Kenya, which starts today at 9.30am (4.30pm AEST).

Sri Lanka Team Manager, Mr. Ajith Jayasekera informed the BCCSL that Sanath Jayasuriya Capt. had sustained an injury to his right ankle and torn ligaments at practice yesterday (12th November).Mr. Jayasekera confirmed that Sanath would not play in the 2nd and Final Test against South Africa.However, the Team Manager feels that the Sri Lankan Captain will be fit for the latter part of the One-Day matches and the National Team Physiotherapist Alex Kountouri is monitoring his injury. A decision would be made at the end of the week depending on Sanath’s recovery.Mr. Jayasekera also said that Muralidaran may have to undergo a Hernia operation and a decision would be made after obtaining a second opinion from a doctor.

Test players Chris Gayle, and Marlon Black; and up and coming star Donovan Pagon are not with the West Indies A squad recently arrived in Toronto. Black has returned to the Carribean for the funeral of his father, Pagon is injured, and the WICB decided that Gayle needed some respite from the continuous cricket he has been playing recently.The rest of the squad practiced at Ross Lord Park under the direction of coach Gus Logie. Logie was pleased with practice conditions, although the players found the high heat and humidity of Toronto an adjustment after 6 weeks in England