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Nawroz Mangal will lead Afghanistan against Australia in their one-off ODI in Sharjah on Saturday

ESPNcricinfo staff24-Aug-2012Nawroz Mangal will lead Afghanistan against Australia in their one-off ODI in Sharjah on Saturday. Mangal, Afghanistan’s regular captain, had missed their previous international assignment – the Intercontinental Cup and World Cricket League Championship matches against Ireland in July.Afghanistan squad for one-off ODI v Australia

Nawroz Mangal (capt), Mohammad Nabi (vice-capt), Mohammad Shahzad, Karim Sadiq, Javed Ahmadi, Asghar Stanikzai, Najibullah Zadran, Samiullah Shenwari, Gulbodin Naib, Dawlat Zadran, Shapoor Zadran, Noor Ali Zadran, Izatullah Dawlatzai, Rahmat Shah, Mohammad Sami

Mohammad Nabi has been named vice-captain, ahead of Karim Sadiq who stood in for Mangal in the Ireland games. The squad includes batsman Javed Ahmadi, who had captained Afghanistan Under-19s at the ongoing World Cup in Australia.The only player to miss out from the XI that played the World Cricket League Championship (the ICC’s 50-overs competition for Associates) game against Ireland, is left-arm spinner Hamza Hotak.The ODI against Australia will be Afghanistan’s second against a Full Member, following the game against Pakistan, also in Sharjah, in February. Australia are in the UAE for a limited-overs series against Pakistan, and Cricket Australia said that they had agreed to play the match against Afghanistan in an effort to assist with their cricketing development.

Sri Lanka secured a place in the tri-series finals with a tense victory over Australia

The Report by Brydon Coverdale at the MCG02-Mar-2012
Scorecard and ball-by-ball detailsDaniel Christian picked up a hat-trick, but it was Sri Lanka who finished on top•Getty ImagesSri Lanka entered this match with their fate in their own hands. It turns out those are pretty safe hands. Not even a hat-trick from Daniel Christian, a four-wicket comeback from James Pattinson, a captain’s half-century from Shane Watson or a remarkable, late, fighting fifty from David Hussey could prevent Sri Lanka from winning the last qualifying match at the MCG. Lasith Malinga led a strong bowling performance to complete Sri Lanka’s nine-run victory, which propelled them into the tri-series finals.No doubt Australia were disappointed, for they must now enter the best-of-three deciders knowing they have lost their previous three games to their Sri Lankan opponents. But India would have been even more gutted. An Australia win would have sent Sri Lanka packing and secured India a place in the finals. Instead, MS Dhoni’s men will now fly home at the weekend, ending a disheartening three-month tour.Sri Lanka, on the other hand, have a chance to win a tri-series in Australia for the first time at their ninth attempt. Their total of 238 at the MCG, set up by half-centuries from Dinesh Chandimal, Kumar Sangakkara and Lahiru Thirimanne, seemed a fraction skinny on what looked like a reasonable batting surface. But despite losing Thisara Perera to injury during his first over, Sri Lanka’s total proved defendable with Malinga in their attack.Not that it was straightforward. Hussey’s run-a-ball 74 nearly snatched victory for Australia. They needed 10 runs from the final over, bowled by Kulasekara, but Hussey holed out to long-off from the first ball of it and Sri Lanka celebrated. They had been on top early, when Australia were 3 for 26 after Malinga and Kulasekara troubled the top order, but then Australia fought back.Batting at first drop, the stand-in captain Watson – Michael Clarke was not risked ahead of the finals – led Australia’s fightback with a solid, composed 65 and he had good support from Michael Hussey (29). But once their 87-run stand was broken, Australia struggled again.Michael Hussey has proven a handy partnership breaker with his slow-medium bowling recently and this time he was on the receiving end of a similar ploy, as Thirimanne drew an edge behind that was well taken by Sangakkara. It was Thirimanne’s first international wicket and his second in all List A cricket, and importantly for Sri Lanka it was followed a few overs later by the departure of Watson.Watson had brought up his half-century from his 61st delivery with a straight drive off Thirimanne and he had been strong when the bowlers had strayed too straight, but he was in no particular hurry. His innings, an encouraging one in his second match back from a long injury lay-off, ended when he played all around a fast, straight Malinga ball that knocked middle stump out of the ground.David Hussey kept Australia afloat and did a fine job but his partners gradually dwindled. His fifth half-century of the series shot him to the top of the tournament runs tally but it wasn’t quite enough for Australia, whose innings started with the loss of both David Warner and Matthew Wade, who had been reunited as the opening pair. Warner (6) slapped Malinga to short cover, a strange shot to a ball that sat up on him, and Wade was lbw for 9 to Kulasekara, before Peter Forrest tickled a catch behind for 2 when he tried to cut Malinga.Smart stats

Sri Lanka beat Australia for the third time in the series. This is the first ever series in which Sri Lanka have managed three wins over Australia.

Daniel Christian became the fourth Australia bowler overall and the first since Brett Lee (2003 World Cup) to pick up an ODI hat-trick. He became only the fourth bowler after Shahadat Hossain, Shane Bond and Lasith Malinga to pick up a hat-trick in a defeat.

Christian’s 5 for 31 is the third-best bowling performance for an Australia bowler in ODIs against Sri Lanka. Mitchell Johnson holds the record with 6 for 31 in Pallekele in 2011.

For the fourth time against Sri Lanka and the 11th time overall, two Australia bowlers picked up four or more wickets in an innings. The last time this happened was in Colombo in 2011.

David Hussey scored his fifth half-century of the series. He became the ninth Australia batsman to score five or more fifty-plus scores in the Australian tri-series. Mark Waugh and Dean Jones have achieved the feat twice.

The 123-run stand between Kumar Sangakkara and Dinesh Chandimal is the third-highest third-wicket stand for Sri Lanka in ODIs against Australia.

The target of 239 is the third-lowest that Australia have failed to chase down against Sri Lanka and the second-lowest in Melbourne after the 222 in 2008.

Shane Watson improved on his tremendous record in ODI chases. In chases, he now averages 59.10 with five centuries and 12 fifties.

It was just the start Sri Lanka needed in the field after posting 238. Their three half-centuries at the top of the order made for a lopsided scorecard as the lower order struggled, especially against Christian, who collected a career-best 5 for 31 and wrote himself into the record books as the first player from Australia since Brett Lee in 2003 to take an ODI hat-trick, and the fourth overall alongside Lee, Bruce Reid and Anthony Stuart.Christian was mobbed by his team-mates after completing the feat, which began when Thisara Perera skied a ball and was taken at deep midwicket by Michael Hussey, who caught the ball inside play, tossed it up before he fell over the rope and completed the catch after stepping back in. The ball had gone so high that the batsmen had crossed twice, leaving the new man Sachithra Senanayake on strike instead of the established Thirimanne.Senanayake was lbw first ball and replays indicated the ball would have gone on to hit leg stump. The same could not have been said for the next delivery. Rod Tucker raised his finger to give Kulasekara lbw but the ball appeared to be sliding down leg side and replays confirmed it was a poor decision. Christian didn’t care. It was a hat-trick, and they are rare.Thirimanne (51) was good enough to help Sri Lanka survive their quota of overs, falling only in the penultimate over when he played on while trying to paddle sweep Pattinson. Rangana Herath remained 14 not out and Malinga was bowled off the last ball of the innings to give Christian his fifth wicket.By batting out their time Sri Lanka ensured that the efforts of Sangakkara and Chandimal were not wasted. They had put on 123 for the third wicket and Chandimal was the more aggressive partner. He continued his good series and brought up his fifty off his 47th delivery with a glanced single off Clint McKay, before Sangakkara registered his in the same over from his 79th ball. Throughout his innings, Sangakkara had been in no hurry and didn’t score a boundary until his 55th delivery, when he punched Ben Hilfenhaus forward of point.His runs came largely through ones and twos and it was an important stabilising performance after Sri Lanka were 2 for 17. Sangakkara fell for 64 when he top-edged a pull off Pattinson, and his departure slowed Chandimal down. Chandimal was out for 75 from 84 when he too was beaten by the pace of Pattinson, lobbing a ball to mid-off.Chandimal had been willing to play his strokes and he brought the crowd to life with a muscular hit that sailed straight over the head of the bowler Christian and crashed into the sightscreen. Another followed off the spin of Xavier Doherty, over long-on this time, and Chandimal spent most of his time hovering around the run-a-ball mark.As it turned out, the Chandimal-Sangakkara combination was just what Sri Lanka needed after Mahela Jayawardene was run out early thanks to a poor call by Tillakaratne Dilshan, who followed by edging Pattinson behind. At that point, Sri Lanka were wobbling. But they will enter the finals with stability, and form against Australia, on their side.Edited by Nikita Bastian

Australia’s batsmen had the workout they wanted, and they were backed up by their bowlers to complete an easy win over Nepal

The Report by George Binoy in Townsville13-Aug-2012
Australia’s batsmen had the workout they wanted, with Cameron Bancroft and Kurtis Patterson spending time in the middle and playing substantial innings to achieve the first 200-plus total of the Under-19 World Cup at the Tony Ireland Stadium. The target of 295 was always out of Nepal’s reach but their chances of batting 50 overs were shattered by fast bowler Harry Conway, whose early hat-trick precipitated a collapse in 23.5 overs.Though Nepal had a torrid first game, they were constantly cheered by a surprisingly large number of their fans. They came early, wearing purple shirts and carrying flags, sitting on the grass banks and in the grandstand. They were approximately about 75 of them, outnumbering and out-cheering the Aussies.Nepal’s captain Prithu Baskota won the toss and, given how poorly England and India had fared after getting sent in, asked Australia to bat. They celebrated an early wicket, when an aggressive Jimmy Peirson drove Krishna Karki to mid-off. The next breakthrough, however, was a long time coming.Bancroft, who made 2 in the first game against England, did not try to over attack and just knocked the unthreatening bowling into gaps. He could have been dismissed on 15, though, had the fielder hit the stumps direct. Bancroft received four overthrows instead.Patterson, who was contracted by New South Wales in July, did attack more than Bancroft. Their run-rate was around four an over at the 25-over mark and with plenty of wickets in hand, Australia were poised for a surge in the second half of their innings. Patterson was lucky to survive a stumping opportunity on 42, when he came out of his crease and was beaten down the leg side, but wicketkeeper Subash Khakurel did not collect cleanly.Patterson went on to reach his half-century before Bancroft did: off 62 balls to Bancroft’s 93. Australia took the batting Powerplay in the 34th over and scored 44 runs off its first 3.2 overs. Patterson cleared the big boundaries at long-on and square leg and looked set for a century in quick time. On 86, however, he tried to slog-sweep but was bowled by one that kept extremely low from the left-arm spinner Bhuvan Karki.Bancroft had also picked up speed, and reached his hundred off 129 balls, his fourth century in Under-19 internationals. He hit medium-pacer Avinash Karn over the midwicket and straight boundary, and was aiming to clear midwicket again but his pull was intercepted by Sagar Pun, who, moving to his right, caught a ball that was travelling quickly, and held on to it as he hit the turf hard.Australia lost a few more wickets as they tried to get as many as they could and finished on 294 for 7.Nepal had made 11 for 0 before Conway, who did not play against England, began to batter the right-handers’ off stump. Three times in a row he pitched full and straight and all three times he was on target, while the batsmen played down the long line.Nepal lost wickets quickly after that and slumped to 82 all out. The offspinner Ashton Turner, who had taken 3 for 30 against England, had another good day, picking up 4 for 28 to take an early lead in the race for most wickets.

Brett Lee, Shaun Tait and David Hussey have all been given the chance to impress the selectors in Australia’s only ODI before the World Cup squad is named

Brydon Coverdale11-Jan-2011Brett Lee, Shaun Tait and David Hussey have all been given the chance to press for World Cup selection after being named in Australia’s squad for the first ODI against England. The match in Melbourne on Sunday will be the only one-day game Australia will play before their 15-man World Cup group needs to be finalised, so there is plenty at stake for several fringe men.Nathan Hauritz was also chosen, having not been part of Australia’s team in any format since he was axed before the first Ashes Test. Hauritz, Xavier Doherty and Steven Smith are all in the 14-man squad, and with the World Cup to be played on spin-friendly subcontinental surfaces, they will all be keen to impress in the 50-over format.Michael Clarke, who last week announced his retirement from Twenty20s, will captain the side with Ricky Ponting still sidelined by his finger injury. Brad Haddin was picked and will be Australia’s first-choice gloveman at the World Cup, despite the selectors giving Tim Paine the vice-captaincy for the two Twenty20s against England this week.Lee will be aiming to play his first ODI since October 2009, after a severely injury-disrupted 2010, and he has already made clear his ambition to be part of Australia’s World Cup defence. He will form part of a quick attack with Tait, Doug Bollinger and Peter Siddle forming the rest of the fast-bowling group.One of the most interesting selections was that of David Hussey, who hasn’t played an ODI since a one-off match against Scotland in August 2009, and has been considered a Twenty20 specialist by the national selectors since then. Despite having scored only 143 runs at 23.83 in the split-innings Ryobi Cup this summer, Hussey has been give a chance ahead of his Victorian team-mate Brad Hodge, who is the competition’s leading run scorer.There was no room for Callum Ferguson, although that might be because he is already considered a lock-in for the World Cup, while Shaun Marsh was also overlooked. A new squad will be chosen for the remaining six ODIs against England, and that is likely to comprise the 15-man World Cup group, as it will be their final hit-out before flying to India.”We’ve given David Hussey the opportunity to push for inclusion in the World Cup squad as we think he will be well suited for the sub-continent conditions which will be faced in the World Cup,” the chairman of selectors, Andrew Hilditch, said. “Ricky Ponting is recovering from a finger injury sustained during the Ashes, which gives Michael Clarke another chance to lead the one-day side.”His vice-captain will be Cameron White, who has had a real impact on this form of the game in the last year and Cameron will be coming off leading Australia in the two Twenty20 internationals this week. We have some explosive fast bowling with Shaun Tait, Brett Lee, Mitchell Johnson, Doug Bollinger and Peter Siddle all selected in this squad. Shaun and Brett will therefore have an opportunity to impress in this form of the game before World Cup squad selection.”We’ve included Nathan Hauritz, who has been a key part of our one-day side for some time now and Xavier Doherty in this squad, who played well against Sri Lanka at the start of the summer. This gives us a chance to look at both of them prior to the World Cup.”Squad Shane Watson, Brad Haddin (wk), Michael Clarke (capt), Cameron White, David Hussey, Michael Hussey, Steven Smith, Mitchell Johnson, Nathan Hauritz, Brett Lee, Xavier Doherty, Peter Siddle, Shaun Tait, Doug Bollinger.

Shakib Al Hasan, not for the first time, reaffirmed his position as Bangladesh’s most valuable player, following up his spirited half-century with two wickets on a turning track to peg back Zimbabwe in their chase

The Report by Siddhartha Talya21-Aug-2011
Scorecard and ball-by-ball details
Shakib Al Hasan scored 79 and then took 2 for 26 in seven overs•Zimbabwe CricketShakib Al Hasan, not for the first time, reaffirmed his position as Bangladesh’s MVP with a sterling display that included runs, wickets and brilliance in the field. His performance helped Bangladesh win their second consecutive game, and though it came a little too late because the series was already lost, it ended a largely dispiriting tour on a motivating note. A determined recovery stand with Mahmudullah, which bore testimony to his hard work and fitness, and a tight spell on a turning track formed the backbone of a comfortable win.The Zimbabwe bowlers, after their captain Brendan Taylor chose to field, lacked consistency in their lines and lengths but did enough to ensure Bangladesh didn’t dominate on a pitch that promised plenty of runs. Spin was to prove the key weapon on this pitch, and the Zimbabwe slow bowlers stepped in to gain the ascendancy.Prosper Utseya bowled a couple of tight overs and Ray Price struck at the right time just as Tamim Iqbal was looking for a release; he mistimed a slog-sweep and was caught. Price then brought an extra fielder inside the circle on the leg side, and almost immediately Mushfiqur Rahim gifted him a catch. Price pushed the fielder back after Shuvagoto Hom was kept quiet for four deliveries, prompting a heave off the fifth that found deep midwicket. Zimbabwe were ahead but Shakib stood in their way.Walking in at No.5, and watching his team slide to 127 for 5 in the 30th over, Shakib was faced with the task of doing justice to a good batting pitch. He initially counterattacked, smashing Price for a massive six followed up by a crunched four off Malcolm Waller. But he had to tone down after losing Mushfiqur Rahim and Shuvagoto in quick succession. Shakib ran hard between the wickets, worked the spinners through the spread-out field, employed the cut, closed the face to play square and drove down the ground with regularity. He went without a boundary for 40 deliveries and yet scored at better than a run-a-ball.Shakib also benefitted from some ill-directed bowling from Zimbabwe in the late overs. He clipped Elton Chigumbura for two fours in the 42nd over, and swung Price and Chris Mpofu through square leg. He should have inflicted the same treatment on a full toss from Keegan Meth, called in for Kyle Jarvis, but was bowled as he shuffled across to paddle it fine. His wicket came after a century stand, with Mahmudullah already having indulged in some enterprising batting in the final Powerplay. Dropped by Price when on 24, Mahmudullah reached his half-century, lofting Mpofu over his head and following up with a scoop for four more, taking his team past 250.The innings ended on an unpleasant note as Nasir Hossain smashed a ball back towards Meth, who didn’t react in time and was struck hard on the mouth. He broke his teeth, was bleeding profusely, and looked in plenty of discomfort. He didn’t come out to bat.Zimbabwe were indisciplined while batting. Taylor, yet again, was out caught behind while playing away from his body. The in-form Vusi Sibanda was a threat to Bangladesh’s defence, striking the ball cleanly, including two massive sixes off the seamers. So it seemed an aberration when he completely miscued an attempted pull off Shakib and it cost him his wicket, triggering a decisive turn of events.Hamilton Masakadza looked assured for the bulk of his stay but was trapped in front when he played across the line to an arm ball from Abdur Razzak. Tatenda Taibu was plumb when he missed a sweep off Shakib. Three wickets had fallen for 14 runs in 23 balls and Zimbabwe were forced to go into rebuilding mode. Forster Mutizwa and Waller kept the fight going, concentrating on working the field and playing the odd aggressive shot.The pair added 67, aided by sloppy fielding from Bangladesh, but was separated by brilliance from Shakib. Though he had hurt a finger on his bowling hand, Shakib dived full length and recovered to return an accurate throw to the wicketkeeper’s end and run out Mutizwa. There was a procession of wickets from there on and Mahmudullah helped himself to three scalps to complete another impressive all-round performance.

Sri Lanka’s captain Tillakaratne Dilshan believes the experience of his slow bowlers will provide a useful advantage over Australia’s rookie spinners in the first Test in Galle

Daniel Brettig in Galle30-Aug-2011Sri Lanka’s captain Tillakaratne Dilshan believes the experience of his slow bowlers will provide a useful advantage over Australia’s rookie spinners in the first Test in Galle, which begins on Wednesday.The hosts are leaning towards playing only two of the three spinners in their squad, as doubts remain over the allrounder Angelo Mathews’ ability to deliver significant spells following his recent knee problem. Rangana Herath and Suraj Randiv would appear to be the frontrunners for those two spots over Ajantha Mendis, who has played more ODI cricket than Tests of late.Herath, who made his Test debut against Australia on this ground in 1999, and Randiv both have vast experience of the Galle pitch and the sea breezes that influence the flight. By contrast, neither Michael Beer nor Nathan Lyon had ever set foot in Sri Lanka before they were picked for this tour.”Yes definitely [experience is an advantage], our spinners have bowled here in practice games and they’ve played club cricket here,” Dilshan said. “They know how to adjust to this wicket and the wind, I think that is a small advantage.”[Beer and Lyon] bowled well in the practice game, the left-arm spinner and the offspinner. The thing is, we have to bat really well. In the last [home] series against India we faced Harbhajan [Singh], one of the best spinners in Asia. [So] I think our guys can handle their spinners.”Experience was clearly a priority for Dilshan and the Sri Lanka selectors. They chose to omit the fresher-faced trio of Seekuge Prasanna, Shaminda Eranga and Dhammika Prasad who had featured in the limited-overs squads, even after Prasanna and Eranga had impressed in the one-dayers. The 13 that remain will be trimmed on the morning of the match.”It’s an important match starting tomorrow here and I want to try and play the experienced guys who’ve been playing well for us the past few months,” Dilshan said.Mathews captained the Sri Lanka Board XI against the Australians in their only warm-up match before the Tests, and though he batted solidly on the final day he did not bowl at all. Dilshan said Mathews would only be capable of ten to 15 overs in an innings, hardly the stuff of a new-ball bowler – a role he would have to fill, if Sri Lanka are to play all three spinners – in any conditions.”He’s fit enough to bowl maybe ten to 15 overs for one innings, not long spells. Three-over spells might be his sort of thing,” Dilshan said. “Angelo is a good batsman, he has batted at No. 7 in the last few years. I could manage [juggle] a little bit in the middle, he might be available to bowl tomorrow.”History suggests that Galle is all but guaranteed of producing a result, unless the weather intervenes, and Dilshan said he was confident his batsmen would be able to compile enough runs to put pressure on Australia.”We have had a very solid [Test] batting line-up in the last three or four years,” he said. “From No. 1 to No. 6 we’ve batted really well. Especially in the last series, we batted well with six batsmen in England. I have confidence in my line-up, with Thilan [Samaraweera] in the middle order and Prasanna Jayawardene.”

A punishing 72 from Matthew Wade and telling cameos with bat and ball from David Hussey delivered a 31-run victory for Australia over India in the first Twenty20 international at Stadium Australia

The Report by Daniel Brettig at Stadium Australia01-Feb-2012
Scorecard and ball-by-ball detailsMatthew Wade did his cause no harm with an innings of poise, power and some invention•Getty ImagesA punishing 72 from Matthew Wade and telling cameos with bat and ball from David Hussey delivered a 31-run victory for Australia over India in the first Twenty20 international at Stadium Australia in Sydney, which hosted events during the Olympics in 2000.Watched by a crowd of 59,659, the largest ever for a cricket match in Sydney, Australia’s new Twenty20 captain George Bailey enjoyed the winner’s plaudits in his first match, just as Dave Gregory had done in the very first Test in 1877 when he was the last Australian to make his debut as captain.His ingenuity in the field rather contrasted with India’s captain, MS Dhoni. In the penultimate over, with the target well out of reach, Dhoni’s bat flew from his hands as he attempted to make a defiant swing at Brett Lee. The tour has gone the same way, and it did not improve in the format of the IPL.At the start of what amounts to a five-match Twenty20 and ODI audition for a more permanent berth behind the stumps in place of Brad Haddin, Wade did his cause no harm with an innings of poise, power and some invention after Dhoni sent the hosts in to bat.Wade and Hussey pushed Australia to 4 for 171, a steep target on a tacky pitch, before Bailey employed a trio of spinners to devastating effect. Hussey took the figures with 2 for 4 from his two overs, but the recalled 40-year-old Brad Hogg and the Twenty20 debutant Xavier Doherty also helped to sink India’s chase after they had made a promising start to be 1 for 47 in the sixth over.If the chase was to succeed, India’s pursuit likely required a sizeable score from Virender Sehwag. He managed one cut that skimmed to the backward point boundary, but the early swing gained by Lee was enough to draw an edge from a bat angled towards mid-on, and Hussey held the sharp chance at slip.Smart stats

Since their seven-wicket win against Australia in October 2007, India have gone on to lose 13 of their 23 Twenty20 matches. In the same period, they have also lost all three clashes against Australia. In their only previous Twenty20 game in Australia, India lost by nine wickets after being bowled out for 74.

Australia improved upon their extraordinary home record in Twenty20 matches by winning their 12th match of 14 played so far. Their only defeats came against Sri Lanka (Perth in 2010) and England (Adelaide 2011).

Australia’s score of 171 is the sixth-highest team total in Twenty20 matches in Australia. The top seven team scores in Australia have been made by the hosts.

Playing his third match, Matthew Wade scored 72 off 43 balls. His score is the fifth-highest by an Australia batsman in a home Twenty20 game. His strike-rate of 167.44 is seventh on the list of the highest strike-rates for fifty-plus scores against India.

The score of 81 is the fourth-lowest for India at the fall of the sixth wicket. Three of their four lowest scores at the fall of the sixth wicket have come against Australia.

Gautam Gambhir and Virat Kohli prospered for a time, lifting the visitors to 1 for 47 in the sixth over. Bailey had brought on the spin of Doherty and Hussey to constrict the rate, and the latter made the vital break by coaxing Gambhir to drive to cover.Next over brought Hogg’s introduction and he found enough tweak and variation to cause doubts in the minds of the batsmen, despite their education by spin. Kohli tried to swing him out of the stadium, but found less of the middle of the bat than the toe, and was well held by Warner at long on.India were now slipping badly, and Hussey added to their disquiet by finding a biting off break that bowled Rohit Sharma off his pads for a golden duck. As the reserve Test batsman on tour, Rohit had waited a long time for that one delivery.Christian nipped out Suresh Raina and Ravindra Jadeja, all the while supported by Bailey’s bright field placements and busy advice from mid-off or cover. Dhoni and Ashwin formed the most notable partnership of the innings, but it served only to decrease the margin of another defeat on tour for the visitors.Warner had a new opening partner in Wade, and together they set about making a swift start against an opening attack comprising R Ashwin’s spin and the swing of Praveen Kumar – much missed during the Test series.As he had done in Adelaide, Ashwin kept Warner quiet to begin with, the first over going for only two runs. Wade’s first boundary was a streaky edge off Praveen, and nine from the first 12 balls was a halting start.But Warner found his range in the third, starting with an outrageous “switch punch” that sailed over wide long off, or long on depending on one’s perspective. He followed up by driving a full toss to the point boundary then swinging another six over Ashwin’s head.The innings now had momentum, but Warner gave it up by miscuing Vinay Kumar and skying a catch to Raina, running back from extra cover. Warner left unhappily, but his replacement Birt was capable of hitting almost as hard. He found his stride by lofting Vinay over long off, without much apparent effort, but also played out a few dots before he drew blood from the hands of Rahul Sharma with a fearfully struck drive that was technically a dropped return catch.Birt eventually perished to Ashwin, picking out Raina at cover, but his exit appeared to rouse Wade. To that point he had played neatly for 36 from 25 balls, but his next 34 were thrashed from only 14. Twice he cleared the fence, and each blow added intrigue to his battle with Haddin for the Australia wicketkeeper’s spot.A brief rain delay did not reduce Australia’s allocation, but it did change the game’s rhythm, and Wade was out to his second ball faced on resumption, bowled when trying to cut Raina off the stumps. Hussey and Bailey struggled initially to find the boundary, but Hussey connected with one clean blow in the final over to help the hosts past 170, a total that proved to be well beyond India.

Cricket Australia remains confident its domestic one-day competition will have a naming-rights sponsor by the time the first match is played next Wednesday

Brydon Coverdale30-Sep-2010Cricket Australia remains confident its domestic one-day competition will have a naming-rights sponsor by the time the first match is played next Wednesday. The 45-over split-innings format is being promoted under the generic National One-Day Cup title, after Ford Ranger’s deal came to an end last summer.If a new sponsor is not found, it would be the first time in the competition’s 41-year history that it would be played under a non-branded name. Cricket Australia’s general manager of public affairs, Peter Young, said the worldwide economic situation had made it a tough environment for sponsors.”As of now we don’t have a sponsor,” he told ESPNcricinfo on Thursday. “The feedback we got from the market was that things are a bit tight with the residual effect of the global financial crisis. However, once the controversy, if you like, took off about the new format we found that the interest seemed to warm up a bit.”At the moment it’s the National One-Day Cup, which is a generic title, but we’re hoping that by the time we bowl the first ball we’ll have a naming-rights sponsor and that will then flow out for the balance of the season. The discussions are at an advanced stage.”The one-day competition, which features a range of new rules, will begin at the Gabba next Wednesday when Queensland take on Tasmania. The main alteration is the separation of each team’s innings into 20 and 25-over sections, which Cricket Australia hopes will be popular with fans.

West Indies captain Darren Sammy has said he is not affected by the ongoing debate over his place in the side and believes his team can win the first Test

Sriram Veera at Sabina Park23-Jun-2011″Keep doing what you are doing Sammy … all will be all right,” a small section of the crowd at Sabina Park sang in the support of West Indies captain Darren Sammy. It almost felt out of place, as elsewhere in the stadium, he was getting the stick. To say that Sammy is not a popular man in the West Indies would be an understatement. Debate over his place in the Test side has filled radio waves; callers have been after his head. And on the second day in Kingston, to make matters worse, he dropped Rahul Dravid when he was on six. Dravid went on to make 112.”I didn’t sleep well last night,” Sammy said with a smile at the end the third day, after he picked up four wickets. The crowds were still gunning for him. “When I am out on the field I don’t hear the crowd; I block everything around me. I have a job to do as a captain, to make field placements and changes, and I try not to take on what’s said from outside. And obviously I try to put in a [good] performance. My job was to bowl lots of dot balls and restrict the scoring. And the attacking bowlers try to get the wickets. On some days fortunately I get wickets, some, I don’t.”Sammy said the debate over his place in the side motivated him to do better. “When you know your back is always against the wall out there in public, you either use it as motivation or you fall down and die,” he said. “I use it as a motivation. I don’t view the comments from the crowd as nasty. If it’s naughty I laugh. Those who encourage and those who discourage … I take it as a positive.”West Indies require another 195 runs for a win with 7 wickets remaining and Sammy believed his team could pull it off. But the pitch is up and down and taking turn, and West Indies are prone to collapses. It will be a tough ask; so much, it seems, depends on Shivnarine Chanderpaul. Brendan Nash managed just three nets sessions before this Test, Darren Bravo is yet to show he has the maturity and the nous to win Tests from such positions, and can the lower order be depended on to do this on their own? West Indies need a substantial contribution from Chanderpaul and Sammy was aware.”We all know what Shiv is capable of,” Sammy said. “He has been excellent throughout his career – he has been in this kind of position many times and has handled it very well. That’s why he has a Test average of just under 50. To get to this victory target we will need big partnerships. He knows what is required and will guide young Bravo out there. He is our most experienced player and I know he will come [out] with his best.”Rahul Dravid too knew it. “If we get a couple of quick wickets we can run through them,” Dravid said. “But we know that Shiv is a dangerous player who can stick in there; he has got the skills to bat in any conditions and they have a few very good young batsmen as well. We need to be patient tomorrow and create chances.”Sammy believed that self-belief was key. “We have to believe we can,” he said. “We just have to show the commitment and fight. The first hour will be important. The team that wins the first hour will be in a good position. At this stage it’s pretty even. We have two set batsmen at the crease and they are playing well.”West Indies’ approach in the second innings was refreshing. Barring Chanderpaul and Nash, West Indies don’t look a team, who can defend and grind their way out of trouble, especially on a pitch with some spice in it. Adrian Barath looked almost too eager to attack, and perhaps tripped on an overdose of adrenalin; but it was better than doing nothing. “Barath and [Lendl] Simmons have together a lot for Trinidad for a long time so they bat well together. Unfortunately Barath chased a wide one, but they gave us a good start. It was good to see them being positive and trying to get to the target.”Irrespective of whether Chanderpaul scores or not, Sammy could also be called upon to contribute with the bat. Coach Ottis Gibson said he was happy with Sammy’s bowling; the only thing he wanted from his captain was some runs. “The runs haven’t come with my bat,” Sammy said. “This could be the time when the captain gets some runs for the team. Hopefully the tables will turn.”If things turn dire tomorrow, West Indies and Sammy will look back at their first-innings batting debacle. “We should have batted much better in the first innings,” Sammy said. “That has been problem for number of years. Hopefully tomorrow we will get a good score. As long as we can get the batting side of things correct, and I stop dropping these catches, we should be all right.”

With suggestions that his international career was at the cross roads, Phillip Hughes made arguably his most important century to anchor the Blues on day one of this decider

The Bulletin by Alex Malcolm17-Mar-2011
ScorecardPhillip Hughes celebrates another century in a Shield final•Getty ImagesFour years ago in the 2007-08 Sheffield Shield final, Phillip Hughes announced himself as a future Test player with his first Shield hundred to help New South Wales to victory. Four years on, with suggestions that his international career was at the cross roads, Hughes made arguably his most important century to anchor the Blues on day one of this decider.It wasn’t the same Hughes that we’ve come to know and expect. It was a new and improved version. A mature batsman who has shelved his dashing, flashing, style for a recalibrated technique that allowed him to survive 278 balls, and compile a classy 138 on a fresh first day pitch in Hobart.Tasmania fans might look at the scorecard and wonder why George Bailey decided to bowl when the coin fell his way. But the Blues captain Simon Katich admitted he would have done the same on a surface that had a lot of live green grass. Add to that the fact that the average first innings total in Hobart this year has been just 172, and that the side fielding first in all five matches at Bellerive this year has won, it was no surprise Bailey elected to bowl.But the surface was harder than expected. Although it did plenty off the seam early, anything overpitched was driven without fear. Hughes and a rejuvenated David Warner set up the day with a wonderful opening stand. They put on 88 in the first 74 minutes. They played the lines and were unperturbed at being beaten on a consistent basis. But anything overpitched was punished. Warner was particularly savage on Ben Hilfenhaus, his first seven overs cost 40.Warner looked set for another big score before Xavier Doherty was introduced. Doherty didn’t produce consistent spin. But he spun two balls sharply and both claimed wickets. He enticed Warner to drive on 47 and ripped it back to through gate to rattle leg stump. Doherty then forced a defensive prod from Usman Khawaja, yielding an inside edge which was claimed by Ed Cowan’s quick reflexes at short leg.When James Faulkner trapped Phil Jaques in front just on lunch Tasmania looked to have reclaimed the ascendency. But the middle session belonged to Hughes. He had looked impressive but vulnerable at different times in the morning. He was 55 at lunch having been reprieved by the normally reliable Bailey on 48. But in the afternoon Hughes showed how far his game had come. He looked impenetrable. His movements were simple; his bat looked as wide as the Derwent. His previously unusual back foot movement to leg was now going to off. He covered off stump in defence. He drove magnificently straight when given the chance. He also cut responsibly and sensibly when offered width and struck one powerful slog sweep off Doherty for six.He combined beautifully with his captain and, at times, Test opening partner who was unusually batting at No. 5. Katich was dogged prior to tea while Hughes flourished. After tea Katich scored prolifically while Hughes dropped anchor. It was typical Katich. Anything short and wide was punished and anything straight picked off. Their partnership of 185 looked to set the game up before Tasmania took the new ball and showed the wicket still had plenty to offer for the bowlers. Katich was trapped four shy of a century by James Faulkner. His 96 had taken him to fourth all-time for total runs scored in Shield Finals. Hughes fell to a beauty from Luke Butterworth who bowled better than his one wicket suggested. Butterworth consistently beat the bat all day but Hughes’ was the only edge that went to hand.The Blues sent in nightwatchman Scott Coyte with Katich falling in the 87th over. But the man they were protecting, Ben Rohrer, batted anyway with Hughes departure. New South Wales will look to post 400 plus with Peter Nevill and Steve O’Keefe still to come. It will be a good platform for the away side that need to win to claim their 46th Shield. A draw will be good enough for Tasmania.