cricket adda

Dyson puts pressure on latecomer Gayle

2009-05-05T06:41:00.000-07:00

Chris Gayle finally arrived in England two days before the first Test at Lord's and will face huge pressure to perform with coach John Dyson clearly far from pleased about his captain's timing.

Gayle's flight landed at 6.45am and he trained with the squad during the afternoon. However, regardless of the comfort he will have flown in, and the benefit of South Africa's time difference to the UK being minimal, he has left himself facing huge criticism if he doesn't lead from the front.

Gayle, along with Fidel Edwards who arrived yesterday, were given No Objection Certificates (NOC) from the West Indies board until May 2, but Gayle was granted two further days so that he could squeeze in one more match with the Kolkata Knight Riders. It was a decision that Dyson had no say in.

"I just have to work with that," he said. "We thought the original NOC was the barest minimum but you just have to work with what happens. Our board considered that an extra day or two didn't matter so that's that. It's one of the things these days that you have to work with.

"We all knew the IPL was on and we knew the players would be arriving when they have. Ideally you would have your full squad here, but you have to work with how it is. Medical guys say you need time to recover from flights, coaches say you need practice and then you get players saying they can handle not doing that. I suppose time will tell."

Gayle was one of the players most unhappy that this tour was shoe-horned into the schedule at the last minute after the players had already signed IPL deals, but it certainly doesn't create a glowing image when a captain feels he only needs to arrive 48 hours before a major Test. However, it isn't the first time that a West Indian player has cut it fine arriving for a Test as last year Dwayne Bravo was flown in on a private jet on the eve of the opening match against Australia in Jamaica.

"Chris is a big-match player," added Dyson. "He handles pressure very well and has played well in all formats of the game over the last 12 months. He says he is in good form." But Dyson clearly needs convincing that what Gayle says can be translated onto the field.

One bonus is that the heel problem Gayle experienced in South Africa which required a runner against Bangalore Royal Challengers isn't a concern. The West Indies top order desperately needs their captain to perform after failing to adapt to English conditions during their warm-up matches.

They crashed to a 10-wicket defeat against the England Lions, which followed on from being bowled out for 146 against Essex. Shivnarine Chanderpaul, as is the norm, has found some form and Lendl Simmons has played well but apart from that it is slim pickings. Even Ramnaresh Sarwan has started edging a few to the slips.

"That's a concern," Dyson admitted. "Our only opener here so far on this trip to get runs is Lendl Simmons and he has played quite well. He also finds conditions far different but has managed to make the adjustments. It's difficult for the guys coming out of the Caribbean. They get hit by what they think is very cold conditions and then they get totally different wickets. Those who haven't had experience here do take time."

However, Dyson still retained belief that his side can pull their fortunes around to make a competitive series. "When we get the full side on the park for the Test, our big match players will be in the side together for the Test and that's what we have been working towards." A performance from their captain would be the perfect start and could also build a few bridges along the way.

RP Singh included in India's World Twenty20 squad

2009-05-05T06:38:00.000-07:00

Fast bowler RP Singh has been included in India's 15-man squad for the World Twenty20 in England in June. Reserve wicketkeeper Dinesh Karthik and fast bowler Munaf Patel have been axed from the 16-member squad that played two Twenty20 internationals in New Zealand in February.

There were no surprises in the squad which was more or less was finalised after the national selectors held a preliminary meeting in Cape Town on April 24, in the presence of N Srinivasan, the BCCI secretary.

RP has been one of the IPL's most successful bowlers, taking 12 wickets in six games for the Deccan Chargers at an average of 11.33 and economy rate of 6.27 runs per over.

The selectors did not pick Mumbai Indians allrounder Abhishek Nayar who has also been impressive during the IPL. Nayar, who bowls medium pace and is a powerful hitter in the middle-order, has scored 102 runs in six innings this season at a strike-rate of 143. He has also taken four wickets and conceded only 5.90 runs per over. Karthik has also been in good form for Delhi Daredevils but couldn't find a spot as the selectors decided a reserve wicketkeeper was not necessary for the two-week tournament in England.

Squad: MS Dhoni (captain), Virender Sehwag, Gautam Gambhir, Suresh Raina, Yuvraj Singh, Yusuf Pathan, Rohit Sharma, Harbhajan Singh, Zaheer Khan, Ishant Sharma, Praveen Kumar, RP Singh, Ravindra Jadeja, Pragyan Ojha, Irfan Pathan.

Rajasthan blast their way to 211

2009-05-05T06:36:00.000-07:00

Rajasthan Royals had relied extensively on their bowling to compete hard in this year's IPL but managed to rectify the blips in their erratic top order to build on a solid opening stand between Graeme Smith and Naman Ojha - whose promotion in the order proved a masterstroke - and post a substantial score. If Rajasthan got their tactics right, Punjab certainly did not, immediately undermining their decision to field in conditions favourable to seam bowling by opening with a spinner.

Romesh Powar's first over was a disaster as Ojha, replacing Swapnil Asnodkar as opener, used his feet to counter the flight and despatch Powar into the stands. Seven balls into the game and Rajasthan had equaled their highest opening partnership of 20 in this year's tournament - the first wicket had reached double figures just once in seven matches .

Though Yuvraj Singh realised his miscalculation and immediately reverted to pace the momentum had been seized and both Smith and Ojha, reserving their restraint only against Sreesanth - back in the team after a back injury had ruled him out for three months - timed their innings superbly, latching on to any available opportunity and consistently heightening the sense of regret in the opposing captain for gifting them the initiative in the first over.

Ojha adapted to the conditions perfectly after the fielding restrictions were lifted. Once Smith provided a fitting conclusion to the powerplay, dismissing the off-colour Yusuf Abdulla for successive fours, Ojha combined his naturally aggressive flow with some deft touches, late-cutting Piyush Chawla for a boundary and following that up with an even more delicate dab wide of third man off Abdulla to put on display his varied repertoire of strokes. Both batsmen used their feet against spinners - Ojha dancing down the track and Smith favouring the sweep - to prevent prevent spin, the IPL's main bowling weapon, from enjoying any element of success before the tactical timeout.

The break had caused the undoing of many a good start in this tournament, but the Rajasthan openers ensured their team held the advantage by picking up the pace. Smith's innings marked a contrast to his guarded approach against Delhi Daredevils, where, struggling for form, he took a backseat to Yusuf Pathan's monstrous onslaught which won them the game. Here, he led the charge, smashing Powar for a six in the eleventh over, and finding the gaps in the leg-side consistently, favouring the short-fine and the midwicket region, using the slog-sweep and the clip off the pads to good effect. The only lapse in his innings, before holing out to long-on in the 15th over, was a catch he offered to Mahela Jayawardene at short mid-on who dived to his right but failed to hold on.

Yusuf wasted little time to reveal his ferocity after the tournament's best opening stand, smashing Abdulla for a six and a four before mistiming an attempt to clear long-on off Chawla. Rajasthan had plenty of wickets to survive any inroads by Punjab, and though Ojha fell soon after, he had inflicted enough damage, including two sixes of his final three deliveries, for his partners to intensify in the remaining three overs.

Lee Carseldine, fresh from a fluent 39 in his previous game, and Ravindra Jadeja then combined to punish Irfan Pathan for 15 in the 18th over before Jadeja spoiled Sreesanth's figures in the penultimate over - partly a result of his own inconsistency, conceding two freehits - by smashing him for two fours and a six to steal 23 runs, and taking his team past 200, and to the highest score in the tournament. Yuvraj lost the plot in the very first over and, if Punjab's batsmen don't compensate for their team's tactical failure, the difference between the teams in the IPL standings will diminish even more.

'I take a shower every day'

2009-04-22T19:09:00.000-07:00

Is it true that you have 20,000-plus songs on your iPod?
Yes, it is true.

Which song do you listen to the most?
The one am hooked on to these days is "O Saathi Re, Tere Bina Bhi Kyan Jeena" [What's the point of living without you].

Who is your saathi (partner)?
I'm trying to find one.

Tell a secret about yourself.
For what?

There must be something we don't know.
I take a shower every day.

What was the most naughty thing you did as a kid?
I was very naughty. I'm still like that. Once, at school, I shot at a beehive, after which there was complete chaos. When they found I was the culprit, the teachers gave me a lot of stick.

What's one mistake you try never to repeat on the field?
I don't want to give loose balls. I don't want to drop a catch, especially off my own bowling. And I don't want to get out by giving a direct catch.

You are supposed to be a specialist at giving your team-mates nicknames. Give us some examples. And which was your best?
Viru's [Virender Sehwag] is good - "Lala". Yuvi's [Yuvraj Singh] is "Buggi", [Suresh] Raina's is "Bhabhi".

What's the one ball you've bowled that you will always treasure?
My best ball in Test cricket is the one that got Michael Hussey in Bangalore last year. He left the ball and it turned in to him like a legspinner. I don't know how it happened and it was like a mystery ball even to me. I was shocked when I saw it again later, because it turned in big time.

One sledge you won't forget?
Actually a lot of people are scared to sledge me, because if they do so they know they will have to hear a lot of crap from me later.

Batsman you most enjoyed beating?
Brian Lara. Toughest.

What's the best thing about playing cricket for a living?
God has been kind that I can actually do something I love.

One compliment you won't forget?
I'm still waiting for it. Perhaps I will get it when I pick up my 500th Test wicket.

What do hotel rooms need to make them more enjoyable?
I don't want to say. You will land me in trouble.

Which ground has the most hostile crowds?
Sydney.

And the most amusing crowds?
Kolkata and Mumbai.

Which tour do you look most forward to?
Going home. That is a very short tour, but the one I enjoy the most.

What do you like to drink to celebrate a victory?
I enjoy a glass champagne or wine with my team-mates after a victory.

How often do your friends ask you for free tickets to matches?
All the time. Once someone asked, "Can you get 70 tickets please?" Seventy! Mera ghar ka thodi hain stadium, yaar! [I don't own the stadium]. People feel we get tickets easily, but we only get three each. It's hard to explain to friends. They think we are lying. That is not the case.

If you could have one thing from the likes of Anil Kumble or Sachin Tendulkar, what would it be?
The only thing I would like from them is the way they handle things: they are very calm. Of course, apart from that, I would try to be like them - they are champions. And I hope people remember the day I leave cricket.

If you were to design a t-shirt, what five words you would put on it that describe you best?
Emotional, straightforward, prankster, fighter, no-nonsense.

If your house was on fire what would you grab first?
I will grab the guy who burned my house and make sure I burn him first.

Charmed by Sree

2009-04-22T19:07:00.000-07:00

You know what they say about men and women? Men are predictable, and women are predictable for being unpredictable. Well, after the first two days of matches I'm beginning to think that the game of cricket, and Twenty20 particularly, seriously takes after women.

Think about it: on day one, who would have put their money on last year's losers beating last year's winners? And I certainly didn't expect to see the most stellar performances come from the senior players on the team. Sachin Tendulkar, Rahul Dravid, Shane Warne and Anil Kumble proved that old is gold, and that experience and keeping one's cool is the most valuable skill in this sport.

On day two those trends visibly continued. The Deccan Chargers (last year's absolute losers) came up with an impressive win against the Kolkata. And again, seniors, aided by a few brilliant flashes from the young 'uns like RP Singh and Rohit Sharma, were the heroes of the day. Inspiring performances from Daniel Vettori, Virender Sehwag and Herschelle Gibbs were only somewhat deflated by disappointing efforts from Sourav Ganguly and VVS Laxman, but still it appeared to me that one of the key factors to winning this game is having not just the passion to win but the wherewithal to know how to do it. And that comes only with experience.

Of course, the tables could very well turn, and over the next few days the brash, hungry youngsters may take charge. In the meantime I was very charmed to hear Sreesanth talking to Mandira Bedi about his expectations of the IPL. Charmed not just because he called his t-shirt a dress, but because he said he was hoping to be something like a sponge and absorb things from all the world-class players that he was getting an opportunity to share a dressing room with.

After his much-publicised tiff with Harbhajan Singh last year, which is exactly the kind of youthful, senseless behaviour (both the crying and the slapping) that doesn't endear you to anyone, it was heartening to see Sreesanth ready to turn over a new leaf and soak up a little wisdom. But if the weather continues as it has been, he's going to have to soak up a whole lot more.

In defence of cheerleaders

2009-04-22T18:39:00.000-07:00

Okay, it's official. Everyone here thinks I'm mad for watching cricket on holiday. It's a valid point. After all, who would want to sit in front of the smallest television in the world when you could be on the beach, or drinking watermelon juice in a shack, or playing in the waves? "It's my job," I say, and then proceed to get ribbed for being the only guest allowed the privilege of a television in her room. I've reconciled myself to the fact that the next five days are going to be hard: balanced between keeping up with a suntan and the cricket scores, between being social and solitary. I'll have to be the last to bed and the first to rise so I can watch the highlights and trudge to the Wi-Fi tent first thing in the morning to file. And that's fine.

Yesterday proved especially difficult, though. I was invited, along with my other housemates, to a dinner party at Wendell Rodricks's house. Wendell is one of Goa's most famous sons, known for his wonderful designs and equally wonderful parties, so obviously I wasn't going to say no. The only problem was that dinner was at 8, just when the match was meant to begin, and I couldn't very well say, "Hi Wendell, nice to see you, so where's the TV in this joint?" (Incidentally, he has a beautiful house filled with art and dogs and plants; there must have been a TV in it somewhere, but I didn't see it).

I'm guessing there are going to be more occasions over the next five weeks when I'm otherwise occupied at 8 pm. And unless I want to give up my social life entirely (I don't), I'm going to have to come up with a back-up plan, to divert from the game and talk about something else. So today, it's going to be cheerleaders.

I bring up cheerleaders only because last year they created so much controversy and this year there seems to be a continuation of that complaint. Personally, I don't get what the big deal is. They're dancers who come out every once in a while to do a little jig. Okay, and they're cute and comely and wear skimpy tops and short skirts. Is this exploitation or objectification of women? I hardly think so. Are they necessary? Probably not. But then again, do we really need film stars waving flags at sporting events? Do we need rugby players talking about cricket. Or dancer-poets for that matter?

The idea is inclusion. And the IPL has shown from the beginning, that their format of the game is going to embrace the previously non-embraceable. How wonderful, really, to see Anil Kumble leap into Kevin Pietersen's arms. How amazing to hear Warney shout something to Graeme Smith that's not a sledge. If you're going to be so "we-are-the world", why not include America as well? And if that means having a squad of girls to try and rah-rah up the already glam glamour quotient, then I say go for it.

Last year there were issues about the cheerleaders being "distractions". There was talk of cricket being a gentleman's game, and of cheerleading eroding Indian family values. In response to that, I'd say, this isn't a five-day Test match at Lord's. There would be no place for cheerleaders there, because the poor things would probably be bored out of their brains with their heads on their pom-poms waiting for their chance to run out and jump. And as far as Indian family values go, that's the lamest excuse in the book. Everyone knows that at any given moment on Indian television there are probably about 10 channels wholly devoted to song-and-dance routines, where excessive declarations of love and lust are made in a series of choreographed moves that involve gyrating hips, thrust-out chests, and a rain sequence for full effect. If that's not erosion of culture or giving a somewhat misguided idea about how things really work in the world, then I don't know what is.

And finally, feminist groups. Ladies, really, there are so many other things to be concerned about. Have these cheerleaders been dragged from villages, made to wear clothes they normally wouldn't, and made to do things they normally wouldn't do? Absolutely not. These women have had aspirations to be cheerleaders, just as others have wanted to be chefs or flight attendants or doctors. Who is to say that one is better than the other? The point is, the choice is made by the woman herself, and there can be no offence to the dignity of a woman if the choice has been her own.

Now, are these cheerleaders any good at what they do? That's a question for another day.

Indian Premier League, 2009

2009-04-22T18:24:00.000-07:00

Team Mat Won Lost Tied N/R Pts Net RR For Against
Deccan Chargers 2 2 0 0 0 4 +2.158 288/33.1 261/40.0
Mumbai Indians 2 1 0 0 1 3 +0.950 165/20.0 146/20.0
DliDaredevils 1 1 0 0 0 2 +3.167 58/4.5 53/6.0
Chennai 2 1 1 0 0 2 +1.825 325/40.0 252/40.0
Bangalore 3 1 2 0 0 2 -0.683 380/60.0 421/60.0
Kolkata 2 1 1 0 0 2 -1.508 180/29.2 172/22.3
Rajstan Royals 2 0 1 0 1 1 -3.750 58/20.0 133/20.0
Kings XI Punjab 2 0 2 0 0 0 -1.779 121/15.2 137/14.1

Result Date Team Pts Team Pts

18-04-09 Mumbai Indians 2 Chennai 0
Bangalore 2 Rajasthan Royals 0
19-04-09 Delhi Daredevils 2 Kings XI Punjab 0
Deccan Chargers 2 Kolkata 0
20-04-09 Chennai 2 Bangalore 0
21-04-09 Kolkata 2 Kings XI Punjab 0
Mumbai Indians 1 Rajasthan Royals 1
22-04-09 Deccan Chargers 2 Bangalore 0

The Big Bang Theory

2009-04-22T18:21:00.000-07:00

The story of Yusuf Pathan in some ways is the story of Rajasthan Royals. Unknown in the big league prior to the tournament, he was one of Shane Warne's boys who took the IPL route to stardom. The India cap came his way and he was soon out of the shadow of his brother Irfan.

"It happened at the right time," Yusuf says. "I was doing well in domestic cricket and this [the IPL] came along. Big names were playing and it was a great opportunity to take that one step up."

Sitting in the foyer of the team hotel in Durban, back from swimming in the beach with the team, he says: "It's a way to get to know the other players as human beings…find out what is his interest. Shane Warne wants us to be like a family. It helps on the field, you know. When we practice, we do it intelligently and give it everything. And all the players are out of their country, away from family. So we try to hang around together. It's a like a small family we have here."

It's a trait that comes readily to Yusuf. He is extremely grounded; at least trying to stay grounded, amidst the cricketing glamour world that he finds himself in. "I am very religious. You have to be religious. Allah aapko sirf mazay karne ke liye nahi bheja yahan (God has not sent you to just have fun). You need to respect and take care of people around you. You need to take care of people around you, your neighbours, your family and friends. God is the one who gives every thing and does everything…to take out time to do something nice for people is not hard. We human beings just turn to God only in the times of difficulty. But that's not the way to go about it."

Warne knows his man well and has given Yusuf the role to mentor the Indian domestic players. "Warne told me it's my job to make them feel at home and help them. Just like how I was treated in the first year.

"That is our strongest point of our team. Warne is particular on it. If anyone is down or having some personal problem and is interested in talking, we approach it together and try to help."

According to Yusuf, Warne's philosophy revolves action off the field. It's where the work is done and the results translate on the field. The Rajasthan Royals' meetings are typically very short. "Before a game, it's just 5-10 minutes. No video analysis and stuff like that. Just dwell on positivism and get out there with a frame of mind. Even when we lost the first match last season and people wrote us off immediately, we weren't bothered. Then we won a few matches and it kept going on. We knew we could reach the semi-final stage and let's take it from there."

The training sessions are properly planned as well, says Yusuf, similar to what he does in Indian team sessions. His role is the same in both places and he has to make an immediate impact in a very short time. "Both Warne and Dhoni have given me the license to hit. It might come off some times and fail other times but they have said, 'Don't feel shy playing your shots'. I go out in the nets with the same approach. I Tell the bowlers to think as if they are bowling at the death and what are the fielding positions…I am happy the team is benefiting from my style of play and I will like to keep playing my game."

Both Warne and Dhoni have given me the license to hit. It might come off some times and fail other times but they have said, 'Don't feel shy playing your shots'. I go out in the nets with the same approach

So what's the best Warne trait that Yusuf likes? "Let's say, you are in the boundary and there is a ball hit in the air towards you but it's not there quite there for you," Yusuf says. "You can play either play safe and try to prevent the four or go for the catch. Warne says go for the catch. Sometimes, we cricketers can try to be safe. He would say try to convert the half-chance. Even if you drop and it goes for a four, it's fine as long as you made a 110% effort. It's about taking risks and going for it the full way. Don't let fear and self-doubt hamper you. Forget the results.

"Take me for instance. I was confident before but after IPL it went two or three steps higher. The confidence improved everything on and off the field and after moving with big players, it was natural I guess."

And if you see him on the field, you can see the confidence. He swaggers on to the field, chewing gum and, though with a relatively lesser skill as compared to the legendary big hitters of the game, he tries to impose himself. Where did that chewing gum start? Videos of Viv Richards? The shy Yusuf laughs out aloud.

"No no...I have not even seen him bat. But I have been told. Even Laxman bhai used to say - 'You are Richards or what?!' I don't remember when I started it but I have been chewing gum for years now. Even in domestic cricket."

The gum-chewing, bat swinging marauder from Royals is no doubt, all set to reprise his first year act. And try to play for India for as long as possible.

Time-out or sell-out?

2009-04-22T18:19:00.000-07:00

Mark Richardson
Former New Zealand opener, now a commentator
From the commentator's point of view you want continuous action wherever you can. One of the nice things about Twenty20 is, you have a quick break between the innings, and it all happens so quickly. Now with the time-out scenario you have got to fill that with some stuff: so you will have ad breaks, you can do a bit of quick analysis, and I'm sure you can enhance your own presentation. This is still in a trial phase, and I'm all for things when you are looking to improve entertainment. It is just another chance to advertise. It is not great. But money makes things go at the end of the day and money makes IPL run, too.

Coming from Sky TV, which is pay-for-view, we don't like to run ads when we don't need to, because obviously we are trying to get people the best cricket available.

Ray Jennings
Bangalore Royal Challengers coach
Spectators are the ones they need to be keeping their focus on during these breaks. What you need to do is check if this break is going to keep the spectators interested, because what do they do during these minutes? The organisers could think of adding value to the entertainment by, maybe, doing interviews with four or five players in the change rooms, which can then be shown during these intervals. This is an opportunity for the officials to see this as a moment to catch up with people, and give them something they cannot get hold of: signing autographs or something.

Without money in the game it is difficult for the game to survive. So we need to understand that we need to adapt to the new way of world cricket - if these seven-and-a-half minutes add value to the game, which is going to spread to the game and spread to the players, then we need to accept that.

Harbhajan Singh
Mumbai Indians offspinner
It is like 50-50. If you are going for a lot of runs then it is definitely helpful, but if you are doing well with the ball and the batsman is struggling it can break your rhythm, too.

Ali Bacher
Former South African cricket board president
The reality now is that cricket is a highly commercial entity. There is big money in cricket today, and much of is emanating from India. The organisers are not only aiming to provide a fantastic spectacle for the spectators, but they are also there to maximise the revenues for the game. You can't fault them on that. The problem they have is, because of the shortened version of the game the number of ad breaks are less as compared to the one-dayers and Tests. So they are trying to get more airtime for more commercial ads to be placed.

Javagal Srinath
ICC match referee
Technically, for the player it could be an advantage or disadvantage: if your team is not doing well, the break is very welcome as that helps stop the momentum of the opponents. But if your team is doing well, it may be seen as a hindrance, where you could lose your advantage. It is a new experiment and remains to be seen how it is expected. If it is a real pain, some changes may be carried out.

Steve Elworthy
Tournament director, ICC World Twenty20
I am not sure of the reasons behind it; whether it is commercial or for cricket-playing reasons. From our perspective, the idea is that the game needs to have that momentum. It needs to keep the pace and the momentum going. The playing conditions don't stipulate for a break in this World Twenty20, and I would like to see the game continue, rather than being broken up all over.

Kings XI Punjab v Kolkata Knight Riders, IPL, Durban

2009-04-22T18:15:00.000-07:00

Playing hot, staying cool

Watching Chris Gayle bat takes one back to one's teens, when the school bully would haunt and mesmerize you with his big hitting. At the cricket clinic, they'd teach you to lift your left elbow high and get in line with the ball. "Get your head over the ball and smell the leather," the coach would say. And, as you struggled with those instructions, out would stride the local Gayle, tall and cool, merrily swinging his bat. And the ball would fly. Then he'd order you to give him the strike and you'd comply meekly.

Today was another instalment of the Gayle show. On the fifth ball he survived a simple drop chance, courtesy the butter-fingered Goel, off an intended short-arm pull. Three quiet balls later, he began his sequence. The loose limbs sent the ball crashing over cover point. The next over Irfan Pathan got it straighter; Gayle almost knocked the umpire's head off. Pathan tried to change his length with a short ball; it was eventually picked up from the square leg boundary. Pathan then went for a length ball. It sailed over long-on, almost sucked in by the delirious fans who, for the first time in the day, really started to get into things. Gayle has that effect.

There is a perception, warranted to an extent by his style of play, that there is little technique; it's almost village cricket. It's an accusation levelled at most of the big players who keep the game simple. Watch Gayle closely, though, and there's a delightfully simple technique at work. He has a wide, spread stance, crouches a touch on bent knees to get the centre of gravity down and stays still. Very still. As the bowler, in this case Irfan, finishes his delivery stride and releases the ball, Gayle uncoils into action. His stance means he doesn't have to move too far forward or back. The problem is when he is not quite to the length or the ball starts seaming around - Gayle does get squared up a lot on tougher pitches. Not today, though.

There was a touch of pre-determination from him but again the movement was late. He moved his back foot across, took his front leg outside the line of the ball and got into a position to swing across to the on side. He lifted VS Malik into the midwicket stands and, when the bowlers dug in short, his balance allowed him to cut it over point.

Of course, he had his share of luck. Not only did Goel drop him, Sangakkara too failed to hold on to a nick off the leggie Piyush Chawla. A bully's luck.

The match wouldn't have been complete without Mr Cool showing his signature style on the field. The batsman Goel edged a flash to the left of first slip, where Gayle was stationed. Second slip lunged to his right. The calm Gayle swayed to his left. There was a blur of activity and for that moment the ball was lost from sight. Slowly, Gayle broke into a smile as his team-mates converged on him. That was as much emotion as one gets from Gayle (unless you are Michael Clarke and have rubbed him the wrong way).

Later, his captain Brendon McCullum said he knew that as long as Gayle got going, they didn't have to bother about those two kill-joy gentlemen Duckworth and Lewis. "The only thing we have decided here, in these conditions, is to take the first two overs quietly. You don't want to lose an early wicket and keep chasing the game. You sort of get an idea about the D/L score but there were no sheets passed around in the dressing room. With Gayle going the way he did …" His voice trailed off. There was no need to say anything else

We've been told not to reveal secrets - Morkel

2009-04-22T18:13:00.000-07:00

South African allrounder Albie Morkel will be pushing hard to take Chennai Super Kings to victory in the second season of the IPL but he isn't about to reveal secrets with the World Twenty20 around the corner.

Graeme Smith, JP Duminy, AB de Villiers, Jacques Kallis, Mark Boucher, Herschelle Gibbs, Dale Steyn and Roelof van der Merwe are some of the South Africans who play for other teams in the IPL and Morkel said they had been given instructions not to reveal secrets with the World Twenty20 coming up in June.

"We've been given specific instructions by our boards not to reveal all our secrets, especially with the World Twenty20 coming up in a couple of months' time," Albie told Times of India. "It's not that we don't talk, but we don't reveal all our strategies. That is as per instructions from our boards. We cannot show off all our secret weapons and there's not much we can do about it. It's true not just for me, but for the others as well."

However, Morkel did not feel that it affected the competitiveness of the game. "Not quite. We try and innovate and find new facets to our game. That only helps us develop as cricketers," he said. "For me, the last IPL was such a big help in my growth as a cricketer. I learnt a lot about playing in India, which in turn added something more to my game, especially the bowling."

Match called off after intermittent rain

2009-04-22T18:11:00.000-07:00

Rajasthan Royals v Mumbai Indians - Match abandoned without a ball bowled

Poor weather continued to dominate the early stages of the IPL as the match between Mumbai Indians and Rajasthan Royals was washed out without a ball being bowled. The opening game of the Tuesday double-header between Kolkata Knight Riders and Kings XI Punjab was decided on Duckworth-Lewis hardly ten overs into the chase and the spectators were denied any cricketing action since then. The rain was intermittent all evening and the umpires decided to call it off two and a half hours after the scheduled start. Both teams will now share a point.

Incidentally, this is the second IPL game to be washed out without a ball being bowled. The first was at the Feroz Shah Kotla between the hosts Delhi Daredevils and Kolkata last May.

Holders seek a turnaround

2009-04-22T18:07:00.000-07:00

Big Picture

Rajasthan Royals go into this match seeking a quick turnaround and Kolkata Knight Riders will aim to build on their win in game two. It's as simple as that.

There's not much use talking about Rajasthan's loss in their tournament opener because we all know what happened in the inaugural tournament after they were beaten soundly in game one. The defending champions will always attract eyeballs. The batting looks thin without Shane Watson and Younis Khan, putting immense pressure on Graeme Smith at the top of the order. A weak lower order is also a worry. With the ball, Rajasthan will need to dislodge the explosive Kolkata openers and hope Shane Warne gets the measure of a weak middle order.

Kolkata haven't done anything special yet, barring Chris Gayle's explosive cameo. They overcame their dismal opener with a Duckworth-Lewis win over Kings XI Punjab and plenty rests on Gayle and Brendon McCullum at the top and then on Brad Hodge thereafter. The bowling is still suspect with Ishant Sharma not threatening and the spin department rather thin.

Form guide

Smith is crucial. He didn't get going and will need to call on his experience of domestic conditions to provide Rajasthan fire at the top. The highest score in Rajasthan's first game was just 11 and the lower order failed to master Anil Kumbe's tidy legspin. The bowling was good, not least Warne's accurate and mystifying variations, and Dimitri Mascarenhas was rather good against Bangalore Royal Challengers.

Gayle failed in the first game but pummeled a quick 44 against Punjab as Kolkata blazed away in pursuit of their target. McCullum too overcame a poor first game with a punchy innings. Hodge tried to shoulder a dismal innings in the first game and Sourav Ganguly laboured for one run before he stupidly steered his 12th delivery to slip. Aakash Chopra remains a Twenty20 misfit and the clutch of Indian players has thin experience in South Africa.

Watch out for

Mascarenhas v Gayle: Mascarenhas had a good game against Bangalore but a hungry Gayle offers a far sterner test. During the ODIs in the Caribbean Gayle hammered 24 in one over by Mascarenhas but the England allrounder dusted himself down and played a key role in a nine-wicket win with 3 for 26 in the next match. Expect fireworks as Rajasthan's strike bowler meets Kolkata's master blaster.

Team news

Warne, Mascarenhas, Smith and Tyron Henderson should continue to be the four foreign players. Niraj Patel is the man most likely to be under pressure. Young Abhishek Raut from Maharashtra could be one candidate to take his place.

Rajasthan Royals: (probable) 1 Graeme Smith, 2 Swapnil Asnodkar, 3 Yusuf Pathan, 4 Tyron Henderson, 5 Dimitri Mascarenhas, 6 Ravindra Jadeja, 7 Abhishek Raut, 8 Shane Warne (capt.), 9 Mahesh Rawat (wk), 10 Munaf Patel, 11 Kamran Khan.

It's hard to see Kolkata making any wholesale changes given that three of the four overseas players to feature so far are crucial. But it's about time they brought in Ajantha Mendis, given how key spin has proved so far. Mendis could easily replace the NSW allrounder Moises Henriques, who has done nothing of note with the ball. The heat will also be on Chopra, with Wriddhiman Saha the best candidate to replace him.

Kolkata Knight Riders: (probable) 1 Chris Gayle, 2 Brendon McCullum (capt/wk), 3 Brad Hodge, 4 Sourav Ganguly, 5 Aakash Chopra/Wriddhiman Saha, 6 Yashpal Singh, 7 Laxmi Shukla, 8 Ishant Sharma, 9 Murali Kartik, 10 Ashok Dinda, 11 Ajantha Mendis.

Head-to-head record

Rajasthan won both games against Kolkata last year, one home and one away. The first in Rajasthan was a 45-run victory and the second, toward the end of the tournament, was by six wickets.

Quotes

"We will try our best as humbly as possible. We will try and entertain everyone. We love you and we are going to try our best. Whichever the part of the country you are in, make sure you are proud of Kolkata Knight Riders."
Kolkata owner Shah Rukh Khan calls it as he sees

Pre-tournament favourites square off

2009-04-22T18:01:00.000-07:00

Here's hoping the rain stays away from Durban because the first of two matches on Thursday features teams that are favourites to make the semi-finals based on early form. Delhi Daredevils, tipped to go all the way even before the IPL started, began strongly by beating Kings XI Punjab by ten wickets. Chennai Super Kings shrugged off an indifferent outing against Mumbai Indians and scored a 92-run victory against Bangalore Royal Challengers.

What makes this game potentially terrific is the contest between Delhi's power-packed batting line and Chennai's high-quality bowling attack. Virender Sehwag launched a merciless assault on Punjab's bowlers during their short chase and the other weapons in Delhi's arsenal - Gautam Gambhir, AB de Villiers and Tillakaratne Dilshan - were not even needed. However, Chennai possess the bowlers to test such a batting line-up. In Andrew Flintoff and Muttiah Muralitharan, they have two wicket-taking bowlers who are unlikely to concede too many runs. Their support cast of Albie Morkel, Manpreet Gony and L Balaji isn't easy pickings either.

If one was pressed to pick a favourite from tomorrow's encounter, it might just be Chennai. They too possess a hard-hitting batting line-up, with powerful batsmen sprinkled all the way through the batting order, and the likes of Matthew Hayden, MS Dhoni, Andrew Flintoff, Albie Morkel and Suresh Raina will look to take advantage of Delhi's inexperienced bowling attack. Delhi chose not to play Glenn McGrath in their opening game and the younger fast bowlers struggled to contain Punjab's openers until Daniel Vettori came into the picture.

Player form guide

Chennai: Hayden is currently the highest runscorer in the league, with 109 runs at a strike-rate of nearly 156 in two games. He wrecked Bangalore by scoring 65 off 35 balls but even that effort wasn't enough to clinch the Player-of-the-Match award. That honour went to Murali, who knocked Bangalore out with a spell off 3 for 11 in four overs.

Delhi: Vettori single-handedly changed the course of the match against Punjab. He struck with his first ball and finished with figures of 3 for 15. Sehwag continued the form he showed in New Zealand, hitting his first ball of the tournament for six and ended with an unbeaten 38 off 16 balls.

Watch out for

Albie Morkel: He didn't play the first game because his kit was lost in transit and came into bat only in the final over against Bangalore. His hitting talent hasn't been harnessed by Chennai as yet and many feel his abilities are being wasted coming in so late in the innings.

Daniel Vettori: He may be the key to containing Chennai's powerhouses. Flintoff and Morkel are far more comfortable freeing their arms against the faster bowlers and Sehwag might have to think about when to use the four overs from his most valuable bowler.

Friendly fire

Team-mates from two countries will square off against each other with Dilshan facing Murali and de Villiers trying to get the better of Morkel. Incidentally, Morkel said he wouldn't be sharing too many secrets about his South African team-mates on instructions from the board.

Team news

Delhi may be tempted to bring in Australians David Warner and Glenn McGrath but otherwise there is no need for any changes. If Warner plays, Tillakaratne Dilshan would make way from the middle order and Gautam Gambhir would slip down to No. 3. Given they are playing a form Chennai, Delhi may opt for the experience of McGrath. Dirk Nannes would then warm the bench.

Delhi: (probable) 1 Virender Sehwag (capt), 2 David Warner, 3 Gautam Gambhir, 4 AB de Villiers, 5 Manoj Tiwary, 6 Dinesh Karthik (wk), 7 Daniel Vettori, 9 Yo Mahesh, 10 Avishkar Salvi, 10 Pradeep Sangwan, 11 Glenn McGrath.

Big Picture

There are no foreseeable changes here.

Chennai: (probable) 1 Matthew Hayden, 2 Parthiv Patel, 3 Suresh Raina, 4 MS Dhoni (capt/wk), 5 Andrew Flintoff, 6 Albie Morkel, 7 S Badrinath, 8 Joginder Sharma, 9 L Balaji, 10 Manpreet Gony, 11 Muttiah Muralitharan.

Head-to-head record

Chennai and Delhi shared one win apiece in the two matches they played against each other in the first edition of the IPL. Delhi won by four wickets in Chennai with Sehwag and Gambhir sharing a century opening stand. Chennai beat Delhi by four wickets at the Kotla , winning a thriller off the final ball.

Gilchrist lends weight to opening statements

2009-04-22T17:46:00.000-07:00

The wisdom ahead of this tournament as experts tried to compare and contrast Indian conditions with those in South Africa was that the new ball was going to be crucial. Here, finally, would be the chance for Indian Premier League seamers to get their own back after last year's succession of subcontinental shirt-fronts left them desperately searching for creases and rivets. And it's true: the new ball has indeed been crucial. Just not in the way people expected.

Tonight's blast-from-the-past 71 in 45 balls by Adam Gilchrist, who added 46 for Deccan Chargers' first wicket with Herschelle Gibbs in only 3.5 overs, continued a mini-trend that may persuade fast bowlers it really is a batsman's game after all. And it didn't take Gilchrist long to make the point either: he pulled Praveen Kumar's second ball of the match for four, carved the third off the back foot through the covers for four more, then cut the fourth raspingly for another boundary. The all-important momentum seemed to have swung early - and decisively.

The Gilchrist-Gibbs combination is not the only opening pair capable of reducing grown men to gibbering wrecks. On Sunday, Virender Sehwag and Gautam Gambhir biffed 58 in 4.5 overs to win a rain-affected match against Kings XI Punjab in Cape Town. The following evening in Port Elizabeth, Matthew Hayden and Parthiv Patel had butchered 106 by the time they were separated in the 11th over. Yesterday in Durban, Brendon McCullum and Chris Gayle merrily put on 57 inside six overs to unwittingly ensure a D/L-assisted win over poor old Punjab.

Even before that, we had Sachin Tendulkar and Sanath Jayasuriya beginning the tournament with a sensible 39, not to mention Ravi Bopara and Karan Goel adding a forgotten 67 inside six overs for Kings XI Punjab the next day. The idea that the extra life in South African pitches would at least spare the new-ball bowlers a battering, is fighting for its life.

With that in mind, Gilchrist may not have been the batsman Kumar, Dale Steyn, Jacques Kallis or anyone else for that matter wanted to bowl to. Gilchrist hasn't played top-flight cricket since the first IPL, where he managed 436 runs at an average of 33 and a strike-rate of 137 - respectable figures in a losing Deccan team. The word was his only game between then and the start of this year's tournament was a Twenty20 match in aid of the Australian bush-fire appeal. Even so, the aura lives on.

After that opening salvo against Kumar, Gilchrist cut Steyn twice for four, then helped him back over his head for a straight six with the ease of a man peeling a banana. After two overs, Deccan had 27 on the board and the contribution of Gibbs was a single. Soon after Kallis disappeared onto the sightscreen at the Wynberg End, and had to crick his neck again next ball as Gilchrist spanked him straight down the ground for four.

A pull for six off Jesse Ryder brought up a coruscating 31-ball half-century, which was duly celebrated with six more over wide mid-on. And when Gilchrist advanced on Anil Kumble, who adjusted his line at last moment, the result was an improvised whip over midwicket for the six that brought up Deccan's 100. With Australia crumbling today to 168 in Abu Dhabi against Pakistan, it was not difficult to come over all nostalgic.

The end came courtesy of a stunningly nonchalant catch by Virat Kohli at short extra cover as Gilchrist looked to launch Kevin Pietersen for another boundary, but then it was always going to take something special to stop him. And although Fidel Edwards hit back for the new-ball brethren by knocking over Ryder with a gorgeous inswinging yorker as Bangalore began their reply, that simply highlighted the excellence of what had gone before. And it showed Edwards' fast-bowling comrades that invention and daring will be needed as this tournament progresses if the shine isn't going to disappear off the new ball more quickly than the smile off Ryder's face

Vijender slams cricketers for missing Padma Awards

2009-04-20T06:47:00.000-07:00

New Delhi: India's Olympic bronze-medallist Vijender Singh criticised star cricketers Mahendra Singh Dhoni and Harbhajan Singh for skipping the prestigious Padma Awards.

"Those who feel and respect the value of the Padma awards, strive for it and bring glory for the country and often miss out on the awards. I don't want to comment on those who don't value this honour," said the 23-year-old, who won India's maiden boxing Olympic medal in Beijing.

In Images: IPL-II caravan rolls out in South Africa

Vijender and bronze-medal winning wrestler Sushil Kumar were denied Padma Awards despite their incredible performance in the Olympics.

"Back in Beijing, we had given our best and clinched success after a long time in boxing. Yet it was a disappointment when we were not considered for the Padma Awards. But that is for the authorities to decide and I won't complain. My job is to work hard and hope for a better performance in future," Vijender added.

IPL 2009: Venue and team snapshots

Indian captain Dhoni and off-spinner Harbhajan's absence from the Padma awards ceremony has sparked a controversy.

Sports minister M.S. Gill has criticised the cricketers for skipping the ceremony.

Both Dhoni and Harbhajan, who were to receive the Padma Shri awards by President Pratibha Patil at the Rashtrapati Bhavan Tuesday, skipped the ceremony.

According to media reports, both star players were busy shooting for commercials. Some reports said that Harbhajan was present in the national capital finishing his brand engagements before leaving for the second edition of the Indian Premier League in South Africa.

Harbhajan, however, insisted that he had to be at home in Jalandhar to attend to some pressing family problem.

Shastri replaces Holding in ICC cricket committee

2009-04-20T06:46:00.000-07:00

Dubai: Former India captain Ravi Shastri will replace legendary West Indies fast bowler Michael Holding in International Cricket Council's (ICC) cricket committee, the ICC announced on Friday.

Holding resigned last year because he was unhappy with the ICC's decision to change the result of the 2006 Oval Test between England and Pakistan from a forfeited win for England to a draw.

Full Coverage: Indian Premier League 2009

The West Indian felt that Pakistan's refusal to play shouldn't have gone unpunished even though they were not guilty of ball-tampering.

Shastri's appointment was approved by the ICC's Board at its meeting on Friday.

'I am delighted that we have a person of the experience of Ravi joining us on the cricket committee. He was an outstanding player, is a highly-respected broadcaster and is also someone who is hugely respected by many, many people within the game. He will be a great asset to the committee,' ICC chief executive Haroon Lorgat said in a statement.

Angry Ganguly fans burn SRK posters

2009-04-20T06:45:00.000-07:00

Kolkata: Sourav Ganguly's fans vented their fury after their idol was replaced as Kolkata Knight Riders captain by New Zealand wicketkeeper Brendon McCullum.

On Friday, Ganguly's fans burnt posters of Bollywood superstar and Kolkata Knight Riders' owner Shah Rukh Khan.

They blamed Shah Rukh for axing Ganguly, who led the Knight Riders in 2008, from the captaincy.

Full Coverage: Indian Premier League 2009

The fans said they will not accept anyone else in their Dada's place, as he was a far better leader than McCullum.

"The team won't be strong until Ganguly is made the captain. McCullum should be removed and Ganguly should be brought back to captaincy," Rahul Mishra, a protestor demanded.

Fans also burnt the effigies of Knight Riders coach John Buchanan, who had first mooted the multiple captaincy idea last month.

IPL 2009 is scheduled to begin on Saturday.

The matches will be played at eight venues around South Africa, with the final to be held in Johannesburg on May 24.

Cricket Australia stops Tait from playing in IPL

2009-04-20T06:42:00.000-07:00

Melbourne: Cricket Australia has stopped pacer Shaun Tait from competing in the Indian Premier League, lending a further blow to defending champions Rajasthan Royals, who are already missing the services of prolific all-rounder Shane Watson due to injury.

Live Simulation of all IPL matches

The 26-year-old bowler, who has been named in country's 30-man preliminary squad for the World Twenty20 scheduled in June, was prevented from participating by Cricket Australia (CA) as it did not want to risk his availability in Twenty20 World Cup in England later this year.

"Sources say Tait declared himself fit a fortnight ago, but CA refused to give him a clean bill of health," The Australian reported on Saturday.

The Royals, who are also missing last IPL's top bowler Sohail Tanvir, bought Tait for USD 350,000 in the auction.

Full Coverage: Indian Premier League 2009

Tait's manager Andrew McRitchie said the CA's decision was "very disappointing" as Tait had been making good progress in rehabilitation.

"The IPL was the only chance to prove his fitness before the squad for the Twenty20 World Cup was picked. How he proves that now, I don't know," McRitchie was quoted as saying by the daily.

Gibbs - an accomplished batsman

2009-04-20T06:40:00.000-07:00

With most international cricket being virtually over but for the One-Day series between South Africa and Australia and then between Pakistan and Australia, the focus will move to the Indian Premier League.

Sure there will be the England-West Indies series in early May, but by that time the IPL will be in full swing and with teams looking to qualify for the semi finals it will take some truly extraordinary deeds in the Tests for interest to be diverted there. Of course there are and will always be die hard Test match supporters who don't think much of the latest short format of the game, but that's life.

IPL II will be a low-scoring edition: Wessels

Life is also such that a player, who had to undergo assistance and treatment for drinks addiction and was almost lost to the game because of that, has made a comeback and ended up being a Man of the Match. No, one is not talking about Jesse Ryder but Herschelle Gibbs who last year had many problems, but has come out of them to reclaim his place in the South African team.

Gibbs is one of those batsmen who have all the strokes in the book and also all the time in the world to play them. When batting becomes that easy then one takes it a bit casually, forgets practice and begins to believe that one has to only turn up at the ground and the runs will start flowing.

In Images: Dazzling fireworks lit up Cape Town sky to welcome IPL 2

The fact is that the bowling fraternity is busy doing its homework and looking for chinks in the armour and most times they are able to find it if not in the technique then in the temperament and that's when it all starts to go wrong and bad habits creep up not just on the field but off it too. It is here that the support system becomes crucial.

If the authorities are lackadaisical and couldn't care less then the player will submerge, but if like Cricket Australia, New Zealand Cricket and Cricket South Africa they are proactive in seeing that a top talent is not lost to the game then that player can make a comeback chastened and wiser and a better human being.

Full Coverage: Indian Premier League

Herschelle Gibbs has seen the ups and downs of the game and he has shown that the fears of Graeme Smith that he might be a disruptive element in the team dressing room are unfounded by hitting a fine century that has given the home team the One-Day series against Australia. For this innings and his great comeback he is the Ceat International Cricketer Of The Week.

IPL betting racket busted

2009-04-20T06:39:00.001-07:00

Uttarakhand Police on Sunday claimed to have busted a betting racket on IPL matches with the arrest of four "bookies" from Haridwar and recovery of Rs 50,000 in cash and mobile phones.

Ajay Jaiswal, Roshan Lal, Tarun and Pappu were arrested late last evening following a tip off that a betting racket on IPL matches being played in South Africa was operating from a hotel room in the pilgrim city, police said.

Full Coverage: IPL 2009

A special team was constituted and sent to the hotel where the alleged bookies were watching the match on TV and taking bets using mobile phones, Haridwar Senior Superintendent of Police Sanjay Gunjyal said.

While Jaiswal and Lal are residents of Dehradun, Tarun and Pappu are residents of Haridwar. A dozen mobile phones and cash of Rs 50,000 was also recovered, Gunjyal said.

Gunjyal said all the four are being interrogated to find their contacts in the racket.

Sreesanth may play in IPL after injury

2009-04-20T06:37:00.000-07:00

Kings XI Punjab fast bowler S Sreesanth is hoping to be back playing for his team in the Indian Premier League in early May.

The India paceman has been sidelined by a stress fracture in his lower back but is with the rest of the Punjab squad in South Africa.

Full Coverage: IPL 2009

Initially, the 26-year-old right-armer was not expected to play in the tournament, having said earlier this month he was traveling to South Africa as his team's "cheerleader."

But on Sunday he said: "I hope to be playing by early May. I'm here trying to recover. But I don't want to rush it. I'm taking it easy." Making it clear he wanted to play in the IPL, he added: "It's fantastic - the crowds, good wickets, and the super competition."

The IPL finishes on May 24 with the final in Johannesburg.

Akhtar has no fitness issues: Pak team manager

2009-04-20T06:34:00.000-07:00

Karachi: Pakistan cricket team manager Yawar Saeed has dismissed reports that controversial pacer Shoaib Akhtar was facing fitness problems ahead of the one-day series against Australia in Abu Dhabi and Dubai starting Wednesday.

"He (Akhtar) has been through some grueling practice sessions and has also bowled in the nets. We have not seen any problems with his fitness," Yawar said from Dubai where Pakistan was training for the five-match ODI and a one-off Twenty20 series against the World Champions.

In Images: Red Bull's Vettel wins Chinese GP

He said since the team's arrival in Dubai last week, regular training sessions were being held and Akhtar didn't miss a single one of them.

"I don't know from where these stories are coming that Shoaib (Akhtar) could break down during the series as he is not 100 per cent fit. But so far on basis of the sessions we have had he looks fine," Yawar said.

In Images: Bollywood celebrities dazzle at Cape Town

However, doubts still remain over Akhtar's availability for the entire series as he has a history of breaking down with fitness issues midway through a tournament.

Akhtar was selected for the Australia series after passing a fitness test in Lahore.

The fast bowler from Rawalpindi, who has a history of disciplinary and fitness issues since his debut in 1997, made a comeback to the national team in January after a 14-months gap in the home series against Sri Lanka, but was later dropped after the first two ODIs for lack of form and fitness.

ICC rejects ICL's application

2009-04-20T06:33:00.000-07:00

DUBAI: The International Cricket Council (ICC) has rejected an application from the rebel Indian Cricket League (ICL) seeking approval for their Twenty20 competition.

"The board considered that approval was not appropriate," ICC chief executive Haroon Lorgan told reporters on Saturday.

Full Coverage: IPL 2009

Many countries ban ICL players from official cricket under pressure from the influential Indian board which runs the lucrative Indian Premier League (IPL) Twenty20 tournament..

The ICC said it would still be up to individual boards to decide what sanctions to impose on players who took part in the ICL.

The ICL has said it would take legal action if it was not accorded official recognition. ICC officials declined to comment on any possible legal challenges.

Weekend of the veterans!

2009-04-20T06:29:00.000-07:00

The South African pitches and conditions will expose the batsmen's limitations even as the bowlers revel (for a change!) in the 2009 IPL. The four weekend games underlined the fact that even in T20 format, there is no substitute for experience and class. In fact, it was the veterans who showed the way and perhaps, even set the trend for the competition.

Full Coverage: Indian Premier League

For me, the most defining moments over the weekend were Dravid's mighty six, Sachin's inside-out shot over cover, Kumble's five-for, Vetteori's crafty spell and of course, Warne's guile that mocked at the batsmen. Never mind that Warne's Royals lost, but in those four magical overs, he provided us salvation from the boring sixes and boundaries. Ditto Kumble and Vettori. Of course, there was the slinging Malinga making a statement for the quick bowlers, but I feel that this year's IPL is likely to throw up a lot of surprises.

Being just another cricket fan, it matters little to me personally the business side of the game, for this is beyond my comprehension and I am not about to get into a discussion on the commercialization of cricket. I leave it to the multitude of experts, philosophers and historians who might feel that the game is being led down the garden path.

In Images: Red Bull's Vettel wins Chinese GP

The point is that if you take a simplistic perspective of cricket as it being just a sport and there is more to life, then you might enjoy the offerings, though it is only in between the commercials on the telly. I have strong reservations over the break after 10 overs, for it takes away the element of momentum and continuity. But then, the organizers can justify the gimmick saying they would like to earn as much as they spend. Damn the viewers! It's like take it or leave it.

Back to cricket, watching the likes of Sachin and Dravid was indeed a pleasure. While a big innings from Sachin is always to be expected in any format, Dravid was a revelation to those who believed that he is a T20 misfit.

In Images: Bollywood celebrities dazzle at Cape Town

I had a sneaking feeling that the much-maligned Dravid was intent on making a strong statement to his detractors as was evident in his emphatic celebration on reaching 50. It is a pity that Dravid would soon be flying back home to be with his wife for the birth of their second child, but then, as I said earlier, there is more to life than just cricket.

As well as these two veterans batted, Kumble could barely hide his blushes after the five-for performance. There was a look of disbelief on his face, but the affable leggie would have surely savoured the moment, just like Warne did after outthinking the batsmen.

Sreesanth may play in IPL after injury

I felt that all the eight teams were not prepared for the very English conditions in Cape Town with all the rain and the moisture, and hence the pronounced movement off the deck. There was something for the spinners too by way of purchase and the experienced tweakers exploited the situation to the full.

As for the batsmen, they will have plenty to fear until such time they get a hang of the conditions. There will be a premium on technique, especially while countering the bounce that could be especially disconcerting to the inexperienced Indian batsmen. They might yet get away on the odd occasion, but not most of the time as was the case last year on the docile Indian pitches.

Of the eight teams on view at the weekend, I found the Royal Challengers, Mumbai Indians and the Deccan Chargers the most improved lot. The three teams were at the receiving end last year, but now, with a revamp, they could well emerge as the front-runners.

The true test of the depth in the teams will come later when the foreign signings depart for their respective international commitments. But for now, the tournament appears wide open and that will inject more interest for the Indian spectators, if not the locals in South Africa.

I was confident of chasing the original total, says Sehwag

2009-04-20T06:22:00.000-07:00

Cape Town: Rain interruption and the Duckworth Lewis method might have titled the IPL match in their favour but Delhi Daredevils skipper Virender Sehwag said he was confident of chasing down the original total.

According to Duckworth Lewis method Delhi Daredevils' target was revised from 105 in 12 overs to 54 of six overs and Sehwag (38) and Gautam Gambhir (15) played sensibly to score the runs in 4.5 overs to help his team beat Kings XI Punjab by 10 wickets in the rain truncated match.I wasn't worried (about the score) because I expected them to score 120 runs and was prepared for that and with the sort of batting we have, I was confident we can chase anythings around 120-130," Sehwag said.

"We were chasing 100 something runs and I told Gautam to play complete 12 overs and I can go after the bowling and we can build on a partnership and that is exactly what Gautam did," he added.

Sehwag hoped to keep the momentum going and play in the finals next month.

"Yes, we are hoping (to play in finals). If we can play the same kind of cricket we can play the finals," he said.

Kings XI Punjab's skipper Yuvraj Singh said they lost the momentum after initial start and felt the Duckworth Lewis put the rivals in an advantageous position.

"We had a good momentum going but after seven overs we lost a few wickets and lost the momentum and thus the game turned.''

"Duckworth Lewis comes handy for the team batting second. It is always advantageous to the chasing team but we can't do much about that. We are happy with the start, off course we can take some positive out of it and we have enough games coming up, so looking forward to that," he said.

Asked as when Brett Lee can be expected to play, Yuvraj said, "He (Brett Lee) is very close to playing actually. I mean, as soon as he is 100 per cent fit, he is gonna come and play for us."

Tendulkar says not playing cricket to prove anything

2009-04-20T06:18:00.000-07:00

Sachin Tendulkar on Sunday said he is not playing cricket to prove anything to anybody but because of the sheer love of the game and he is still enjoying the game.

"I have not started playing cricket to prove anything to anybody and I don't think even Rahul (Dravid) or any other does that. We started playing because of the love of the game and while doing that at times we perform and at times we don't," Tendulkar said

People say you should do this and that but the important thing is the enjoyment and your contribution to the team. It need not be about big runs or wickets, even making a small contribution to the team it matters. It's all about contribution and satisfaction," he added.

Tendulkar, who holds the record of scoring most runs in both Tests (12,773) and ODIs (16,684), said for him it's not about statistic but enjoyment and satisfaction.

Celebrities dazzle at Cape Town

"Statistics could be a form of reflection of what a player has contributed but for me it is about enjoyment and not statistic. If you have statistics but there is no fun factor or hunger to play and then there is no use of playing," Tendulkar said.

"I am still enjoying playing the game which rules my heart. There is still competitiveness (in me) I want to win and don't want to lose," he said.

Vettori is world's best spinner: Sehwag

2009-04-20T06:16:00.000-07:00

Cape Town: Delhi Daredevils skipper Virender Sehwag has put Daniel Vettori in the same league as legendary spinners Shane Warne and Anil Kumble and said the New Zealand skipper is the best tweaker in the world at present.

Sehwag lavished praise on his Daredevils team-mate Vettori for his magic with the ball on Sunday night against Kings XI Punjab which the

Cricket extravaganza set to begin

2009-04-17T01:14:00.000-07:00

On Tuesday evening, at a press conference that turned into a double act between Lalit Modi and Shah Rukh Khan, the chairman and commissioner of the IPL began an answer by waxing eloquent about a 'carnival of cricket' and ended it by referring to the testing conditions that await Indian batsmen in South Africa. The order in which he made his points may have been instructive: this year, as last, the IPL is basing its ruthless business model on entertainment. Now, as then, cricket feels suspiciously like a means to an end. Perhaps the sooner we get used to the idea, the sooner we can all move on.

It may not be easy. An email that landed from the company employed to do the IPL's public relations cheerily alerted us to the floats which were scheduled to drive around Cape Town as part of Modi's plan to seduce the locals. They would, it said, contain players and other celebrities. No matter that the IPL has moved to another continent: Shah Rukh and Preity Zinta, interviewed by Mark Nicholas during the mid-innings break in Monday's one-day international between South Africa and Australia in Port Elizabeth, remain irrepressibly to the fore.

The mass transportation across the Indian Ocean Modi referred to has been reasonably fluent, which reflects well both on the ad hoc hosts and the drive and efficiency of Modi himself. Blockbusters are not supposed to take an unexpected twist as early as the second chapter, so the fact that a 36-day, 59-match tournament is taking place at such short notice is a miracle in itself, even if Modi's claim that all has been 'smooth sailing' is stretching the self-congratulation a little.

In reality there are plenty of thorny issues beneath the surface. The small matter of the suiteholders at Newlands, who pay good money every year to watch cricket from the comfort of their own personalised boxes but have now agreed (some of them, at least) to make way for the IPL's great and good, needed hours of Easter-holiday meetings to resolve. Castle Lager's parent company, SABMiller, have reluctantly consented to pay for the privilege of serving beer at the grounds which have been their own private drinking dens for years. And now we are going to have time-outs, dreaded by those who fear the Americanisation of the sport but regarded as a no-brainer by the money men who spy extra advertising opportunities.

These, though, are the details, and the bigger picture, for the time being at least, is less finicky. Ticket sales for Cape Town's back-to-back double-headers (expect more new terminology as the tournament progresses) have been so overwhelming that Newlands was a sell-out within a couple of hours of tickets being made available; this week an extra 5,000 seats were conjured from very nearly thin air. That probably tells us what we already knew: that South Africans love their sport and Cape Townians their cricket, even at the end of a domestic season which might have sated other nations' appetites. But it's impressive nonetheless: grey England, with the competing attraction of the County Championship, could not have pulled off a similar stunt.

Modi has made all the right noises, of course. He was gratitude personified on Tuesday evening, cooing over Cape Town's welcome and even tugging at the heart strings by claiming that the decision to relocate to South Africa was the 'most difficult of my life'. Shah Rukh, meanwhile, did his bit by pointing out that it was in South Africa in late 2007 that he first fell for short-form cricket. India pushed him in the right direction by lifting the World Twenty20 and even revealed that his house is full of South African furniture. This is a tournament that knows it is a temporary guest, but as the thorny issues indicate it is clearly determined to behave like the man about town.

All of which leaves us with the cricket, for it's easy to forget that all the celebrities, all the mutual back-slapping, all the professed affinity between two nations, would be nothing without a bat and a ball. Genuine questions await. Will Shane Warne overcome a year of rustiness to rip his legbreaks and rally the Rajasthan Royals? Will Kevin Pietersen slip effortlessly back into the role of captain? Will Sourav Ganguly overcome his irritation at John Buchanan's multiple-skipper theory? Will Delhi Daredevils live up to their billing as pre-tournament favourites?

Last year the cricket provided its own answer to the hype and hyperbole. If it does the same again, the minor inconveniences of the build-up may even be forgotte

Rhodes presses for fielding captains in T20

2009-04-15T21:00:00.000-07:00

New Delhi: After facing flak from numerous cricketing personalities for his multiple-captain theory, Kolkata Knight Riders coach John Buchanan seems to have found one backer at least.

Mumbai Indians fielding coach Jonty Rhodes has said that a fielding captain could work as a facilitator in Twenty20 cricket, relieving the team captain of some burden.

Rhodes said he himself played a similar role for his team when Hansie Cronje was captain.

Rhodes said the man in charge of the fielding would make sure fielders are in their positions quickly so the bowlers could get through their overs soon.

Shifting IPL my toughest decision: Modi

2009-04-15T20:57:00.000-07:00

Cape Town: Indian Premier League (IPL) commissioner Lalit Modi promised on Wednesday a non-stop carnival atmosphere at this year's tournament in South Africa.

There have been fears the Twenty20 event would lose some of its character because of the forced move across the Indian Ocean owing to a clash of dates with general elections that could have compromised security.

However, Modi insists South Africans can expect a continuous party with organisers looking to raise the bar in terms of festivities
The entire IPL second season is going to be like a carnival," Modi told AFP from his base at a five-star Cape Town hotel. "We are kicking off on Thurday with a parade through Cape Town, when we will embrace and meet the people and interact with them.

"The entire atmosphere in every ground the minute you enter the stadium, and the minute you leave the stadium, is going to be like a carnival with festivities all round.

"There are going to be performers outside the stadium, around the stadium walls, inside the stadium at every match. In the intervals you will have live performances by musicians. So we are taking it a notch higher."

Modi also expects the on-field action this year to be more entertaining than during the first edition with the playing field levelled by lack of familiarity with South African conditions.

Warne's thumbs down to multi-captaincy

2009-04-15T20:56:00.000-07:00

Cape Town: Never an admirer of John Buchanan's style of functioning, spin legend Shane Warne said the Kolkata Knight Riders coach's multiple-captain theory would only confuse the players.

Warne, who had a stormy relation with Buchanan during their days together with the Australian team, said the idea mooted by the Kolkata Knight Riders coach simply could not work.

"He is always trying to reinvent something and came up with the solution of four captains. But I don't agree with it," Warne told a television channel. "I think there is one captain who runs the game, it's as simple as that."

Buchanan's idea found few takers with the likes of Sunil Gavaskar and Dilip Vengsarkar opposing it, the latter in fact called it a mockery of the game.

Warne never thought highly of Buchanan during the latter's stint as the coach of the Australian team and opposed his boot camp ideas and maintained that Australia's success under him was more because of the skill of the players than his way of coaching.

The spin legend said the multiple-captain theory would only create confusion.

"As a captain if you want to get the best out of the players, you keep interacting with them, sending them messages all the time. Now with four captains, I'm sure one guy would be telling something and other something else. The players would be really confused. I don't think it would work and I don't agree with whatsoever it is," Warne said.

After quitting international cricket, Warne, who led Rajasthan Royals to a fairytale victory in the inaugural Indian Premier League last year, has been busy playing poker and was supposed to play a cricket match at Los Angeles along with Hollywood actor Hugh Jackman and former England prime minister John Major.

"I have been playing a fair bit of poker. There was talk of playing a cricket match in America involving Hugh Jackman during the IPL. Some people felt I'll play that match and forget IPL but you see that is not the case," he said.

Warne was also the subject of a recent musical and the spin great said he liked it. "It's always interesting to have a musical based on your life. Sitting back and watching two hours of your life sort of unfolding before you, it was pretty good," he said.

Warne came in for rich praise from Rajasthan Royals co-owner Shilpa Shetty, who said she stays away from cricket as she had enough trust in the Australian's grasp of the game. "I'm only getting poker tips from him," the actor quipped.

Rajasthan to reward Most Valuable Player

2009-04-15T20:54:00.000-07:00

Mumbai: Rajasthan Royals would reward the team's Most Valuable Player after each of its matches with a cash award of $1000 during the April 18-May 24 Indian Premier League through a sponsorship deal signed with HDFC Standard Life.

Under the deal, inked earlier this week, the insurance firm would be the associate sponsor as well as insurance partner of the IPL's defending champions owned by a consortium of international investors, including Bollywood actor Shilpa Shetty, a media release said on Wednesday.

The Most Valuable Player of a particular match will be chosen by captain-coach Shane Warne and other members of the franchise's coaching staff, the release said.

This award is a very thoughtful gesture from HDFC Standard Life. Every player looks forward to being recognised for his contribution to the team. This will add on to the motivation of our young team to give their best in every match," Warne said about the award

Sreesanth wishes Harbhajan well for IPL

2009-04-15T20:53:00.000-07:00

New Delhi: The slap-gate episode is no longer in S Sreesanth's mind and the Kerala pacer has no qualms in wishing Harbhajan Singh a good performance in the second Indian Premier League starting on April 18.

Sreesanth said being a Kings XI Punjab player he considers himself a Punjabi and would wish Harbhajan all the best in the IPL.

"I wish all the best to him (Harbhajan). At the end of the day he is a Sardar and I am also a Punjabi as I am playing for Kings XI Punjab. So I wish him all the best in the IPL. He is just like my brother," said Sreesanth, who has been ruled out of the IPL due to a back injury, in a teleconference.

The Kerala pacer was also not considered for India's 30-member Twenty20 World Cup preliminary squad because of the back injury but Sreesanth is thinking of being able to bowl in the semi-final or final of the IPL if Kings XI Punjab reach that far.

"I am flying down to South Africa tomorrow, will meet team physio Patrick Farhart there. I will have an MRI or bone scan done and see how much I have recovered. You never know I may be bowling in the semi-finals or final," said Sreesanth, who will be the mentor and community face of the team.

Sreesanth, however, is confident he would have recovered fully by the time of Champions Trophy in September-October in South Africa and he is targeting to get back into the Indian team in that tournament.

"It is disappointing not to have made to the T20 World Cup squad. But some things are not in my hands. I am hoping to be part of team for the Champions Trophy in South Africa. I hope I would be fully fit by that time," he said.

Kings XI Punjab have been hardest hit with Australian players, including strike bowler Brett Lee, to miss the IPL due to national duty and West Indian fast bowler Jerome Taylor to play only for a few matches but Sreesanth said his side was a team to beat.

"I don't think our bowling resources have been depleted. We have still Irfan Pathan and Piyush Chawla who had done well in the Twenty20 World Cup in South Africa which India won. I am pinning hopes on them to do well. There is also VRV Singh.

"We are a strong team. We reached the semi-finals last year and we have four players of the Indian team who had won the Twenty20 World Cup. Yuvraj is in great form and hope he would continue to hit sixes like the six sixes in the Twenty20 World Cup," said Sreesanth.

Asked what exactly would be his role in the team, Sreesanth said, "Basically it is all about interacting with the fans and the people to make a fan base, cheering with the cheerleaders.

"I will interact with the fans on the club official site and select two fans who will travel to South Africa to watch the last three matches of our team. I will also take part in the team practice and give tips to the bowlers."

Dhoni, Harbhajan skip prestigious awards

2009-04-15T20:51:00.000-07:00

New Delhi: India captain Mahendra Singh Dhoni and Harbhajan Singh find themselves embroiled in an unexpected controversy. Dhoni and Harbhajan missed the Padma awards ceremony in Delhi on Tuesday despite being in the country.

Harbhajan explained why he couldn't attend the ceremony in the Capital. He said he had pressing family commitments in his home town Jalandhar.

"I wanted to attend the award ceremony," Harbhajan said here on Wednesday. "I had some family commitments that's why I couldn't attend the awards. I have not done any mistake. If anybody thinks that I have committed a mistake, then I will come two days in advance."

Rubbishing reports that he was in the Capital for an ad shoot, Harbhajan said if this "charge" is proved he would quit cricket.

"The allegation that I was in New Delhi or was shooting for an advertisement instead of attending the Padma award ceremony is completely false," Harbhajan said. "If anyone says that I was in Delhi and proves it, I will stop playing cricket."

However, there was no word from Dhoni over him giving the awards a miss. Reports claim Dhoni missed the function because he had commercial commitments to meet.

Dhoni left for South Africa on Tuesday night to play in the IPL, but despite being in Mumbai all day failed to turn up for the ceremony at Rashtrapati Bhavan.

India's Minister of Home Affairs P Chidambaram, however, played down the duo's absence, saying there are two or three absentees from the awards often.

"Both are in South Africa," he said. "They had told us they are playing matches there and won't be available. That happens every year, one or two people don't turn because they have other things to do."

Rajasthan send back Kaif, six others from SA

2009-04-15T20:49:00.000-07:00

New Delhi: The Rajasthan Royals have axed a big name from their squad even before the IPL got under way. Mohammad Kaif, the former India international, will join six other players on their way back to India as the defending champions pruned their squad on Wednesday.

Kaif, along with Paras Dogra, Anup Revandkar, Srideep Mangela, Ashraf Makda, Azhar Malik and Dinesh Salunkhe - who won a reality cricket show before being signed by the Royals, would be sent back.

Manoj Badale, the Rajasthan Royals chairman and co-owner, said in a statement that it wasn't feasible for the franchise to keep their entire squad in South Africa which would have added to their expenses. He also said th players would remain a part of their squad.

It has always been a target to pick a final squad of 17-18 players, and this year we have an even stronger squad than last year," Badale said. "It is disappointing to have to let go of any players, as they are all stars in our view. We are a family, building a long-term franchise, and for us player participation is not about one season alone – and all of the guys returning have a big role to play in future matches and tournaments."

Kaif, who was purchased for a hefty $675,000 at the auction last year, didn't have much of a role during Rajasthan's victorious campaign. He played all the matches but could manage only 176 runs at an average of just 16. He didn't make a single half-century, although he largely batted lower down the order. The 28-year-old has played 13 Tests and 125 one-dayers for India.

Badale emphasised in the statement that most of the media's attention would be trained on Kaif's ommisison, but added that the player was "supportive of the decision".

"Much of the attention will focus on Mohammed Kaif, who has been a key part of our success to date – not just as a batsman, but as a role model for our younger Indian players," he said. "He has been extremely supportive of the decision, which says a lot about him as a person."

Badale, however, didn't rule out any of the players returning to join the squad in the event of an injury. "Injuries and new conditions mean that the player's participation later in the tournament is not ruled out."

Dhoni's unusual double, and Ronchi's rare feat

2009-04-15T20:40:00.000-07:00

Mahendra Singh Dhoni scored two fifties and took seven catches in the Wellington Test. Is he the first player to achieve this feat? asked Jude Franco from India

As it turns out, MS Dhoni is only the second man to achieve this particular all-round feat in a Test, scoring 52 and 56 not out and taking seven catches in the final match of the recent series against New Zealand in Wellington. The only other man to do it was South Africa's Denis Lindsay, who scored 69 and 182 and took eight catches against Australia in Johannesburg in 1966-67, to kickstart an amazing series in which he scored 606 runs and took 24 catches. Widening the net a little, there have been seven further occasions in which a player has scored 100 runs (but not necessarily two half-centuries) and taken seven catches in a Test, including a further instance by Lindsay (in 1969-70), and one by a fieldsman other than a wicketkeeper - Matthew Hayden with 41, 130 and seven catches against Sri Lanka in Galle in 2003-04. The others to achieve it include two Sri Lankans, Amal Silva and Chamara Dunusinghe, and Mark Boucher, Jeff Dujon and Ian Healy.

Luke Ronchi, the Australian wicketkeeper, took a catch off the first ball of the innings in his debut one-day international, against West Indies. Has any other wicketkeeper done this to the first ball of their first ODI? asked Elumaran Perumal from the United States

Luke Ronchi did indeed achieve this, in his first one-day international in Grenada last June, catching Xavier Marshall off the first ball of West Indies' innings. The only other person I'm aware of who has managed it (the records are not entirely complete) is Lee Germon of New Zealand, who caught Sri Lanka's Roshan Mahanama off the first ball of his debut match, in the Mandela Trophy in Bloemfontein in 1994-95.

Graham Gooch started his Test career with a pair. How many other players began in such a manner? asked Michael Springer from Australia

Graham Gooch, playing for England against Australia at Edgbaston in 1975, was the 17th player to bag a pair in his debut Test (but the first since India's GS Ramchand in 1952), and there have been 20 more since. None of the other 36 have come terribly close to Gooch's eventual total of 8900 Test runs, the nearest being Sri Lanka's Marvan Atapattu, who made 5502 runs after bagging a pair on debut (and only one run in his first six innings) against India in Chandigarh in 1990-91.

What is the lowest Test total to feature all 11 batsmen in double figures (in theory it could be as low as 110, but my guess is that it is around 300)? asked Mark Kidger from Spain

Your guess is not too far out - there have been, appropriately enough, 11 instances of all 11 batsmen in a Test innings reaching double figures (for a list, click here), and the lowest of those was South Africa's 358 against Australia in Melbourne in 1931-32. India are a close second with 359 against New Zealand in Dunedin in 1967-68.

What is the highest score by a losing team in the fourth innings of a Test match? asked J Jayaraman from India

The highest fourth-innings total by a team which ended up losing is 451, by New Zealand against England in Christchurch in 2001-02. They were chasing 550 to win and seemed to be heading for a much heavier defeat before Nathan Astle slammed 222 from only 168 balls. New Zealand are also third and fourth on this list, with totals of 440 (against England at Trent Bridge in 1973) and 431 (against England once again, in Napier in 2007-08). In second place lie India, with 445 (chasing 493) against Australia in Adelaide in 1977-78. For a full list of the highest fourth-innings totals in Tests, click here.

Who currently has the record for the most centuries in Twenty20 cricket? Is it Ian Harvey? asked Ryan from New Zealand

You've answered your own question correctly: Ian Harvey does indeed lead the way, with three Twenty20 hundreds - two for Yorkshire and one (the first in all Twenty20 cricket) for Gloucestershire in 2003. Three others players have two Twenty20 tons to their name: Graeme Hick, Andrew Symonds and Cameron White

ICL to hold third season in October

2009-04-15T20:37:00.000-07:00

The ICL will hold the third edition of its Twenty20 tournament in October 2009. The news was announced in a statement issued two days before the ICC is expected to decide on its application for official recognition. Subhash Chandra, the ICL's owner, said he was hopeful of receiving official sanction during the ICC board meeting in Dubai on April 17-18 but added that the league would explore legal options otherwise.

Kapil Dev, who heads the ICL's executive board, said the league has initiated a performance evaluation programme to develop a better talent pool, improve player performance and "take the league to the next level". About 18 out of 85 Indian players and 15-16 from a pool of 70 foreign players are understood to be under the scanner.

Significantly, while Kapil specified that the league would resume its "ICL 20-20 Domestic Tournament and ICL 20s Indian Championship ", which is based on an inter-city format, there was no mention of holding the ICL World Series, in which national XIs are pitted against each other, a competition that had the ICC worried last year because it had the potential to develop into an alternate World Cup.

The ICL had cancelled their March programme due to the deepening economic recession and the Pakistan's government's refusal to clear their country's players for the league - the Lahore Badshahs, captained by Inzamam-ul-Haq, had emerged as the most popular draw last year. The league was in the news once again this month after Pakistan named three ICL players in their World Twenty20 probables list but withdrew them as they had no ICC clearance to include them. In between, there were reports of the league withholding payment to some players, a move that ICL officials claimed was linked to the performance review.

Chandra, who heads Essel Sports, which runs the league, claimed that the two-year-old ICL had emerged as a "global brand". "We have successfully conducted seven tournaments through our pioneering league," Chandra said. "We are hopeful to receive official recognition at the ICC executive board meeting scheduled for April 17 and 18 in Dubai, failing which we will pursue legal options."

IPL games to take 15 minutes more

2009-04-15T20:35:00.000-07:00

Fans who have become accustomed to Twenty20 matches lasting just three hours are in for a surprise during the second season of the IPL - they will now last three and a quarter hours. Part of the appeal of the shortest form of the game is the non-stop action but, not only will games now take longer, there will be no action at all during the added time.

The IPL are planning to market the added time as an 'innovation' by calling it a tactical 'time out' but the fact that each innings will now come to a halt for seven-and-a-half minutes after exactly 10 overs makes it neither tactical nor, indeed, practical.

"It is a move that is driven completely and totally by commercial objectives," a senior production official told Cricinfo. "It is designed purely to make even more money by selling airtime. Nobody could argue that this adds any cricketing value to the tournament or that it can be in the viewers' interest, either in the stadium or watching at home," the official said.

The seven-and-a-half minute break will see the stadium crowd entertained by a live band while television audiences will watch three, separate two-and-a-half minute segments, two of which will be sold commercially. The third will show the teams taking drinks and discussing 'tactics' to add some validity to the argument for the 'time out.'

While one section will be compulsory, mainstream advertising, the other will be set aside for 'special projects'. Queen Rania of Jordan, well known for her agenda of social reform and progression, will lead the way with a series of short films aimed at African children expounding the importance of education.

The IPL can justifiably claim that the project is well intentioned and for a good cause. And at approximately $1million per episode, it's also very lucrative. There are 118 two-and-half minute slots for sale.

Production teams have also been told that they need to fit 2000 seconds (around 33 minutes) of advertising into every match, a task described by a different member of the production team as "virtually impossible."

"It means taking about 40 seconds of advertising between every over and close to a minute at the fall of every wicket. It's OK in theory but it hardly ever works like that. If a team only loses two or three wickets, or the match finishes in 15 overs, we are in trouble," the same production official said.

In March, the IPL signed a fresh US $1.8 billion broadcast-rights deal for 10 years with Multi Screen Media (MSM), which operates under the Sony umbrella, and World Sports Group (WSG). The matches are being telecast by Supersport, the South African broadcaster which holds the tournament rights in that country.

Indian Premier League 2009

2009-04-15T20:31:00.000-07:00

'I've probably never been fitter' - Hayden
These are strange days for Matthew Hayden. Three months removed from calling time on his international career - an announcement he had hoped to stave off until after the 2009 Ashes, but expedited due to an extended scoring trough - Hayden now finds himself preparing to return to a game with which he is still making his peace, and a league that contributed to his premature departure from the Australian team.

Hayden speaks glowingly of his experiences in the inaugural IPL, despite the Achilles injury that marked the beginning of the end of his international career. It was that ailment, sustained during a training session with the Chennai Super Kings, that sidelined him from the ensuing tour of the West Indies, and stymied the momentum he had built since The Oval Test of 2005. Upon his eventual return, Hayden averaged just 23.93 in his nine Tests. Retirement, in the circumstances, was the most noble course of action.

Hayden has said a thousand goodbyes and completed many a lap of honour in the intervening period, only to find himself poised for a return to the middle. The pain of his departure from international cricket might not have entirely subsided - "It's hard to watch a game you still want to be involved in" - but he is nonetheless buoyant at the prospect of again turning out for the Super Kings, for whom he bludgeoned 189 runs at 63.00 last year.

"The players really feel they are part of a revolution in cricket - the way that it is played, the way it's packaged, and the spectators who are watching it," Hayden told Cricinfo. "For someone like me, who has been in the game a long time, it blows me away what Twenty20 cricket has done, and is doing, to the sport.

"[Last season] was unfortunate. I picked up that [Achilles] injury doing a running session because I wanted to be spot on for that West Indies tour. I came back [from the IPL] on a real high, not realising how bad the injury was. It didn't feel all that serious, and I wasn't expecting to miss any games let alone an entire Test series, so it wasn't until later that I realised what I was actually dealing with. But I don't look back on [the inaugural IPL] as a negative. If anything I found that really reinvigorated me and revived my enthusiasm, because you could feel you were a part of taking cricket to another level."

Had the Super Kings management harboured concerns for Hayden's physical condition post-retirement, they were placated within moments of the 37-year-old's arrival in India for a pre-IPL training camp. Hayden has spent much of the past three months immersed in one of his favourite training pursuits - surfing - and believes he is in better physical condition than at most stages of his international career.

KwaZulu-Natal beachgoers have been treated this week to the sight of a trim and toned Hayden surfing the Durban breaks with his one-time opponent, Jonty Rhodes. But the Australian batsman has also found plenty time to hit the nets, where he has discovered that the months away from the game have done little to erode the technique forged over a 103-Test career.

"Skills-wise, I've had a week and a half in India and hit a million balls, so in that regard I'm up and running," Hayden said. "But in terms of actually playing, I haven't picked up a bat since my final Test in Sydney, so it will be interesting to be back out there competing again. It has felt quite good so far.

"I've probably never been fitter. I've done a stack of surfing in the last few months and, as ridiculous as it sounds, it's probably the best kind of fitness work a batsman can do. It's all about core strength, balance and stability. Fitness was probably the one thing you couldn't get to all that much when you were playing all the time. It was sort of game-recover-travel, game-recover-travel."

Had Twenty20 cricket arrived on the scene earlier in his career, Hayden is certain he would have taken the David Warner route and tailored his game to meet the format's specific demands. Indeed, Hayden took with him a "Twenty20 mindset" into the 2007 World Cup - a tournament he dominated to the tune of 659 runs at 73.22 - and was brutal during his four game stint for Chennai last season. It is a format, he says, to which he is well suited, even at an advanced age.

"The World Cup for me was pretty much as good as it got, and that was about me basically going out there and striking the ball; trying to thump it as you would in a 20-over game," he said. "I wasn't so much worried about building innings or protecting my wicket. I was looking for boundaries, and it really took my game to another level. It's something I see in Warner. He turned the cricketing nation on its ear because he could strike a serious ball. He had everyone talking, and shows just how the game is changing.

"It's amazing to see the momentum of Twenty20. At first, it was considered quite a light-hearted thing and even now, in Australia, it's presented in a way where players are miked up and it's more about the entertainment. But I think it's changing elsewhere. Players are working more on how to develop their skills to be successful in Twenty20 cricket, which is the ultimate spectacle, and leaving the singing and jazzing about to others."

Coaches not needed at this level: Warne

2009-04-14T19:00:00.000-07:00

Cape Town: Old foes Shane Warne and Graeme Smith buried the hatchet to inspire Rajasthan Royals to victory in the inaugural Indian Premier League. The Australian spin magician says they are now good friends and he values Smith's inputs.

Warne says Smith was important to his plans in Rajasthan Royals. "He's another captain to bounce ideas off," he said.

"When I am bowling, he's someone to keep an eye on the field. When I'm talking to a bowler he's making sure the best fielders are in the right spots. For us, being in South Africa and having the captain of South Africa in our side is a huge advantage," Warne was quoted as saying in South African media on Tuesday.

Warne said Smith has matured as a captain. "We had a few beers after the first game and chatted about a lot of stuff," he said.

"We hung out a fair bit. We've kept in touch since then and become good buddies. They have done well. He came in at a young age and wanted to try and mix it. He didn't want to take a backward step. He learned a lot about himself and how things work. He's matured into a good captain."

Warne also said his views on international coaching had not changed even years after his controversial rift with John Buchanan, the former Australia coach.

He maintained that "captains should always run the cricket. At international level I don't think you need a coach. At domestic level you need a coach."

"The only reason I'm coach is because the Royals don't really have a coach," he said.

"I am just the captain, really. I've got two assistants who do a good job in Darren Berry and Jeremy Snape. Darren looks after practice while I get around and speak to individuals and Snapey floats around, helps guys prepare and does some one-on-one stuff."

PCB draws plans to keep 2011 WC

2009-04-14T18:58:00.000-07:00

Pakistan's cricket authorities will brief the International Cricket Council about its security plan for the 2011 World Cup at the ICC Executive Board meeting in Dubai this weekend to retain its hosting rights for the mega event.

PCB officials told PTI that a comprehensive security plan, prepared by experts will be laid before the ICC Board members by Chairman Ejaz Butt.

"We can't give much details about this security plan but it is comprehensive and it is updated from the security standard operating procedures we have been using until recently for touring teams," a senior official said.

He said the plan has been prepared by experts after much consultation as Pakistan is keen to see foreign teams resume touring the country as soon as possible.

The World Cup has been included in the ICC meeting agenda following the attack on the Sri Lankan cricket team in Lahore last month.

Pakistan is due to host 16 matches including one semi-final of the next World Cup, to be co hosted with Sri Lanka, India and Bangladesh.

"There is still time for the tournament and the countdown for logistical and other preparations starts one year before the starting date of the tournament so we have time and we are confident by that time security situation would have improved in the country," the official said.

Sources in the board said that Pakistan had sought the support of the three other Asian countries and all four had discussed a common security plan for the World Cup.

Sources also said that Butt had personally been taking a lot of interest in the preparation of the blue print for the fresh security plan for foreign teams in Pakistan that was also discussed in detail at a governing council meeting in Lahore last month.

"Butt will also brief the ICC members about the progressmade in the inquiry into the attack on the Sri Lankan team in Lahore," one source said.

Ganguly XI beat McCullum XI in practice tie

2009-04-14T18:56:00.000-07:00

New Delhi: Sourav Ganguly XI beat Brendon McCullum XI by seven wickets in an intra Kolkata Knight Riders practice game in Bloemfontein on Monday.

Batting first, McCullum XI rode on a half-century by Akash Chopra to post 140 for six. In reply, Sourav XI scored 143 for three with Morne van Wyk scoring a fifty.

The Kolkata team will play another two practice games on Tuesday, this time against Free State.

The side, however, also suffered a setback during the game with in-form batsman Cheteshwar Pujara hurting his knee. He has been advised rest and will not play in the next two practice matches.

The team will leave for Cape Town on Wednesday. They are scheduled to play their first game against Deccan Chargers on Sunday there.

PCB decides to recover fine from Akhtar

2009-04-14T18:54:00.000-07:00

Karachi: The Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) has sought legal help to recover the seven million rupees fine from Shoaib Akhtar, who was penalised for violating the code of conduct for players.

Following this development, board's legal advisor Shan Gul has recommended deducting the amount in installments from Shaoib's monthly salary.

"Gul has recommended that the fine be recovered in installments from Shoaib's monthly retainer," one source said.

Shoaib is in category A of the central contracts and gets rupees 2,50,000 a month by the board as retainer-ship besides match fees and other perks.

The fast bowler was banned for 18 months and fined seven million rupees by an appellate tribunal headed by a former judge of the Lahore High Court last year in June.

The tribunal gave its decision after hearing an appeal from Shoaib against a five-year ban recommended on him by the disciplinary committee of the board for violating a two-year probation period last year in March and for other violations of the players code of conduct.

But Shoaib has appealed against the 18-month ban and fine in the Lahore High Court which for the time being has suspended his ban, allowing him to play for Pakistan.

But the board is adamant that the fast bowler should pay the fine as the court hasn't said anything on this.

"Recently Wasim Bari, the director of human resources asked for legal opinion how the fine should be recovered from Shoaib," the source said.

He said the lawyer recommended deducting monthly installments as recovery was not possible through any other means.

Shoaib is presently in Dubai preparing for the one-day series against Australia and is back in the news with a statement appearing in Tuesday's newspapers insisting he can't guarantee whether he can last out the series against Australia.

The fast bowler has said he had made his way back into the Pakistan team after passing a rigorous fitness test but neither he nor any other player can guarantee he will not become unfit.

"I can give no guarantees I will complete this series without any fitness problems, that is not possible. But yes I realise this series is very important for it is a comeback series for me and I will do my best to perform for my team," Shoaib said.

Ponting opting to bowl surprises Smith

2009-04-14T18:52:00.000-07:00

Melbourne: South African skipper Graeme Smith couldn’t believe it when Ricky Ponting decided to bowl first in the Port Elizabeth One-Dayer on Monday.

Ponting’s decision backfired with South Africa compiling a formidable 6-317 before bowling the tourists out for 256 to claim an unbeatable 3-1 lead in the five-match series.

"I was surprised that Australia bowled first. Having played against Australia in a number of big games, they generally bat first," the Herald quoted Smith, as saying.

Australia was strong at 0-129 before middle-order batsmen Callum Ferguson (3), Mike Hussey (2) and David Hussey (20) formed part of a collapse of 10-127.

Smith, apparently satisfied with his spinners, said: "Johan Botha bowled really well after his first over and Roelof van der Merwe, everyone could see he did a magnificent job for us, picked up wickets in the middle period and got us back in the game.”

Both captains said they expected the ball to do a little bit more in the morning session.

"There was a thought that maybe there might be a little bit of moisture in the wicket this morning. We were going to bat," Smith said.

The Aussies and Proteans have been at each other''s throats since December for six Tests (3-3), four Twenty20 Internationals (2-2) and nine ODI matches (7-2 to South Africa).

The final ODI game is on Friday in Johannesburg, but South Africa already have top ranking in their keeping.

No one could be happier han man-of-the-match Herschelle Gibbs, who has just emerged from a month-long stay in an alcohol-rehabilitation clinic.

"I could hardly see the next ball from Shane Harwood. A lot has happened since the last hundred that I've scored. Today was quite an emotional day for me. It was one that I needed to prove to myself," Gibbs said who finished his 21st century off 110 balls.

Dhoni best captain I've played under: Laxman

2009-04-14T18:47:00.000-07:00

Stylish middle order batsman VVS Laxman, one of the architects of India's historic win in New Zealand, credited India's 1-0 series win to inspiration from the epic Kolkata Test of 2001 which helped them salvage a draw in the second match in Napier.

Laxman said when India was following on after being bowled out for 305 in reply to the Kiwi's 619 in Napier, they recalled the Kolkata Test against Australia and opener Gautam Gambhir went on to score 137 in a 10 hours 43 minutes marathon innings.

Laxman himself remained unbeaten on 124 to help India salvage a draw in the second Test. India won the series 1-0 in New Zealand after 41 years after clinching the first Test and drew the remaining two matches.

There's obviously a lot of similarities. We always remember the Kolkata Test in such circumstances. It (Eden Test) was a historic one that continues to inspire and give confidence whenever you're in trouble," Laxman, who had scored a career best 281 to turn the table on Australia in the Eden Test, told PTI.

The 34-year-old wristy batsman said India -- now on the third spot with 118 rating points -- said were close to becoming the number one side in the world.

"It was very satisfying for all of us to be a part of history. More importantly, the win gives more confidence now. We are very close to becoming number one in Tests which is our main aim. We are consistently winning Tests abroad," Laxman said.

Joining the chorus in the praise of charismatic Mahendra Singh Dhoni, Laxman said the young Indian skipper was the best leader he had player under.

"Dhoni is one of the best captains I played under," said Laxman, who debuted under Sachin Tendulkar and then played under Sourav Ganguly, Rahul Dravid and Anil Kumble.

"He is so calm and composed. He exudes a lot of confidence. It's a great feeling to play under him," he said.

Laxman also lauded Gambhir, who was adjudged man-of-the-series in India's series win over New Zealand.

"Gautam really played well. Especially, in the second innings of Napier Test. Batting for more than 10 hours requires a tremendous effort. It was great. He carved and then paced his innings well and played his natural game. It was a very important knock during that match.

"I always call him 'run machine'. He has the appetite for runs. He was consistently doing well in domestic circuit and it was really pleasing to see him start performing at international level."

In the Delhi duo of Virender Sehwag and Gambhir, India are "lucky to have a great openers who demoralises the opposition bowlers," Laxman added. The elegant Hyderabadi batsman also gave credit to coach Gary Kirsten and his support staff for creating a wonderful atmosphere in Team India dressing room.

"Also the way Gary (Kirsten) is coaching, credit should be given to him and the support staff (Paddy) Upton, (Venkatesh) Prasad, Robin (Singh), all of them have been a great help to all the players," he said.

Laxman said India actually picked up confidence to defeat big teams after their epic 2-1 Test series triumph coming from a match down against Australia who were on a record 15 wins on the trot.

"It started changing in (March) 2001 after our historic win in the Eden Test. In fact, that series in totality was a turning point for the Indian cricket. Since then whenever we travel abroad, we have been doing very well.

"After that my first overseas tour was Zimbabwe and we won there. We won another Test in the West Indies, then in England in 2002. Slowly we started winning abroad. Thereafter, we were all very keen do well abroad."

The 281 is very very special for Laxman but he does not want to rate any of his knocks.

Laxman, who rose to 15th spot in the ICC Test rankings for batsmen, said: "I am very pleased to see my performance. I contributed especially in both the innings (in Napier). I relish performing under pressure. It was one more good knock. Really glad that I could able to contribute for the team's success it makes one happy."

Another reason for success in New Zealand, Laxman said, was the pre-conditioning camp ahead of the Test series.

"It was good that we landed there almost 15 days before the start (of Test series). It was a huge help for most of us. How much you practice in Indian conditions, it's difficult to adapt overseas. We got an opportunity to play first class matches there and it really helped us."

With India's next Test series -- against Sri Lanka -- more than four months away, the Deccan Chargers batsman in the Indian Premier League said he was looking forward to the cash-rich T20 tournament in South Africa.

After IPL II, Laxman will play in English county Lancashire.

"My county stint for the next four months will keep me actively involved playing cricket till our next series against Sri Lanka," he signed off

Tendulkar pays tribute to his three 'gurus'

2009-04-14T18:44:00.000-07:00

Sitting on top of a mountain of runs and a heap of records, Sachin Tendulkar on Tuesday paid rich tribute to his three "gurus" without whom, he said, he would have remained just like another youngster.

Tendulkar said his father Ramesh Tendulkar, elder brother Ajit and boyhood coach Ramakant Achrekar were the guiding lights of his life who made a lasting impression on him.

"My father was my first Guru and he gave direction to my life," Tendulkar said here on Tuesday.

"In his most important advice to me, he told me everything in life is temporary. The only lasting thing is the impression you leave on people's mind. He said 'people should remember you as a good human being even after you are through with cricket'.

"He said 'you are successful only when people around you love you and like to be with you'. I think that was his most important advice for me," said Tendulkar, who remained a humble man despite his staggering success.

In the middle of the 1999 World Cup, Tendulkar lost his father but returned after performing the final rituals to hit a century, which he dedicated to him.

In his father's absence, Tendulkar said elder brother Ajit remains his guide and philosopher he can fall back on any time.

"Bhai is my second guru and whatever success I got in cricket is due to him. It's just because of him that I started playing cricket. I was like any other fun-loving, school-going boy and it's him who made me play the game," Tendulkar said.

And he didn't forget his first coach either. "Achrekar Sir was unforgiving. I would always hope about skipping practice but he would inevitably turn up with his bike, taking me to the practice. I could never skip those practice sessions. But even today I realise those sessions did wonders for me," he recalled after being named the Brand Ambassador for Jaypee Cements.

Tendulkar was handed the key of a penthouse at Jaypee Greens. Jaypee founder chairman Jayprakash Gaur also gifted a golden bat to Tendulkar reading 'M-100'. Gaur said the words stood for 'Mission 100', urging Tendulkar to score 100 international centuries before he quits the game.

Tendulkar vindicated by Dhoni's success

2009-04-14T18:42:00.000-07:00

Noida: Instrumental in Mahendra Singh Dhoni's elevation to captaincy of the Indian team, Sachin Tendulkar says India's rich success under the stewardship of the star stumper from Jharkhand vindicated his faith in him.

After Rahul Dravid decided to step down from the captain's job soon after India's England tour last year, Tendulkar suggested Dhoni's name to then BCCI president Sharad Pawar.

Under Dhoni, India won, among others, the Twenty20 World Cup in South Africa, tri-series in Australia, Test series against Australia at home before recording their first ODI series win in New Zealand and first Test series there in 41 years.

IPL security agency moves on threat to Modi

2009-04-14T18:39:00.000-07:00

April 13, 2009

Prime target: Lalit Modi © Associated Press

Nicholls & Steyn, the IPL's South African security agency, have said that they have taken necessary precautions to protect Lalit Modi after reports surfaced in the Indian media of an alleged threat to the IPL chairman's life from the Indian underworld, during the month-long tournament starting on Saturday.

According to the media reports, an aide of Dawood Ibrahim, a wanted Indian criminal, has targetted Modi for a variety of reasons, including Modi's refusal to pay an unspecified extortion amount, shutting the door on Pakistan players in the tournament and shifting the IPL to South Africa, a move that could reportedly cost the gang, commonly referred to as D-Company, millions of dollars in re-organising their betting operations.

Bob Nicholls, who jointly heads Nicholls & Steyn, said the agency has moved to tackle the threat to Modi. "We are aware of it and we have taken the necessary precautions. I'm not going into any details on that," Nicholls told Cricinfo.

The Times of India reported that Modi's name figured on a hitlist issued by Chhota Shakeel, Ibrahim's aide, which was revealed to police officials after they arrested a gang-member in Karnataka last month. But Mid-Day, a Mumbai-based tabloid, reported that security agencies had intercepted a phone call from the gang, the transcript of which shows that orders have been issued to target Modi either in India or South Africa during the IPL.

A copy of the intelligence report (which highlights the threat) has been forwarded to Mumbai police commissioner's office on March 24 last month, Mid-Day claimed. Local police have also increased the security cover for Modi's Mumbai residence, the reports said.

"I do not want to discuss anything on this issue," Modi was quoted by Mid-Day as saying from South Africa.

Nicholls & Steyn have been entrusted with managing the IPL's security in South Africa, and Nicholls had said last week that the lack of time, the crime rate in South African cities and the elections in the country on April 22 were some of their main challenges.

Lehmann counting on Gilchrist and Laxman

2009-04-14T18:36:00.000-07:00

April 14, 2009

VVS Laxman and Adam Gilchrist will be instrumental to Deccan Chargers' fortunes © AFP

Deccan Chargers are banking on the experience of Adam Gilchrist and the knowledge of VVS Laxman, who was replaced as captain by Gilchrist after the first IPL, to finish "a lot higher" than their bottom spot in 2008. Darren Lehmann, the team's new coach, also said the side was let down by their bowling and fielding last year and that the second IPL starting on Saturday would be a personal challenge.

"Adam Gilchrist is the captain and he is very experienced," Lehmann told Cricinfo. "But VVS Laxman is an important player for us, too. He has got a wealth of experience, and with that knowledge, we are hoping to make some inroads there."

Deccan started last season as favourites after topping their player purchase cap of US$5 million by signing up explosive batsmen like Gilchrist, Andrew Symonds, Herschelle Gibbs, Shahid Afridi and Rohit Sharma, but disintegrated as the IPL progressed. This time, they have begun on a positive note by winning a warm-up game at the SuperSport Park in Centurion on Monday against Titans by six wickets. Scott Styris, their New Zealand signing, took three for 10 to help dismiss Titans for 99 and scored an unbeaten 36 to wrap up a six-wicket win in 11 overs.

Deccan will open their IPL campaign in Cape Town on Sunday against Kolkata Knight Riders and Lehmann said he wouldn't go "too in-depth" into the team's gameplan. "What I can say is that this time, we are going to play with real passion, play smart, and obviously play better than last year," Lehmann said. "All in all, I thought we batted well last year but our fielding and bowling probably let us down, so that's one area we are certainly going to pick up on."

In fact, nothing went right for Deccan last time even outside the field, starting with Laxman's wrist injury which ruled him out of most of that IPL. A few months later, the team controversially replaced Laxman with Gilchrist as part of a management overhaul that also had Lehmann taking the palce of Robin Singh as coach.

Laxman, who will leave for South Africa on Wednesday night, has since staged a magnificent comeback, scoring 956 runs in 12 Tests at an average of 56.23 with two centuries -- one each against Australia and New Zealand -- and six half-centuries.

Then again, just before the second player auction this February, the team also lost Tim Wright, its chief executive officer, over an apparent difference of opinion over the former IMG official's role in the franchise's management structure.

"There have been a lot of things said but at the end of the day, we just got to perform on the field and that's all we will be trying to do," Lehmann said. "Things just didn't go the team's way; they didn't play very well, and the simple fact is we've got to improve that this year. We know that as a team, and we will be doing our utmost to do that this year. In Twenty20, everything needs to come together at the same time. We need to field very well, bowl really smartly and also make an effort. These are things we are trying to improve. It's a good challenge."

Lehmann said the short preparation time available for this IPL would not be a problem because most of his players have been playing international cricket through the year - Gibbs will join the team after the one-day series between South Africa and Australia ends on April 17.

"That's not a worry," he said. "We just need to get together and get our plans in place on where to go. Besides, most teams don't have a long preparation period anyway this year because of the move to South Africa so everyone is on the same boat. So the idea is to move as quick as you can, and as best as you can."

"We are going to play with real passion, play smart, and obviously play better than last year"
- Darren Lehmann

Deccan, however, will be have the services of Symonds only for the last two weeks of this IPL after the Australia allrounder was named in the national one-day squad for the series against Pakistan in Abu Dhabi from April 22-May 7. But Lehmann hopes that the team's new signings - Dwayne Smith and Fidel Edwards - will contribute to some early wins. Edwards took two wickets in Monday's warm-up game.

"Edwards has got explosive pace that's one thing you need for a Twenty20 start," Lehmann said. "We expect him to play really well for us and get involved in some early wins with some early wickets. Dwayne Smith is an explosive batsman and a handy allrounder. We have got some depth there, which is really good, and we are looking forward to some inputs from their side as well."

Lehmann also said that his team would be able to adapt to South African conditions better because he, Gilchrist and Laxman have played there before and that experience would work to the team's advantage. Asked where he hoped his team would finish this time, Lehmann said: "Hopefully, a lot higher than last year."

Rhodes calls for fielding captains in Twenty20s

2009-04-14T18:34:00.000-07:00

April 14, 2009

Jonty Rhodes says a fielding captain will relieve some of the burden on the team's captain © AFP

Jonty Rhodes, one of the greatest fielders, has partially backed John Buchanan's multi-captain theory by calling for a fielding captain in Twenty20s. Rhodes feels the nominated player can play the role of a "facilitator" for the team captain, who would have many other responsibilities and could not be expected to carry out every fielding change.

Rhodes, the fielding coach of Mumbai Indians in the IPL, said Hansie Cronje, the former South Africa captain, had given him the task of monitoring the field to make sure all the players were attentive. Rhodes felt it was a move that helped South Africa become one of the best fielding units.

"Cronje gave me the responsibility to find ways to improve our fielding...You can have a guy who is responsible for that, if you want to call him the fielding captain that's fine," Rhodes told Cricinfo from Durban, where he is supervising the Mumbai squad with his former team-mate Shaun Pollock, the team's mentor.

Buchanan's theory of multiple-strategists for the Kolkata Knight Riders created a huge furore. As part of his plan to succeed in Twenty20s, Buchanan favoured more "decision-makers" in the side, including one who could look after the fielders. Rhodes said the man in charge of the fielding needs to make sure fielders are into their positions quickly so the bowlers could get through the overs soon.

"Also if there is an instance where the player could dive but doesn't then, without adding pressure on him, you need the guy [fielding captain] to tell him what could've been the result if only he had attempted the dive," Rhodes said. "That's not the captain's role (to advise the fielders). He has many other things on his head. The fielding captain is like a facilitator."

Rhodes, who was a consultant with the South African team, said during his interaction last month with the Mumbai players he stressed on throwing techniques and foot movement, two aspects that make a good fielder.

Asked to nominate the best fielders in the game today, Rhodes picked countrymen JP Duminy and AB de Villiers, Australian Andrew Symonds, and England's Paul Collingwood.

"JP Duminy fields well in the inner ring in the first six overs. And when the fielding restrictions are over because he is very quick to the ball and even if he may not have the biggest arm in the world, he has a good throw, his body position is good, catches a lot of balls in the outfield so he is very good. Andrew Symonds is a very good all-round fielder, too He is very strong in the inner ring, who leans very well and throws very well from the boundary. AB de Villiers has really good feet movement as a wicketkeeper and Paul Collingwood is very good at backward point or at cover."

Rhodes felt their strength was that they are completely focused. In his own words it means "intensity", which, he says, is the key to success in Twenty20 cricket. "You have to maintain a high intensity. There are only 120 balls, you have to be focused every single ball, expecting every single ball to come to you whether you are fielding at third man, fine leg, or backward point, the way the guys play shots these days you have to expect the ball to come wherever you fielding," Rhodes said. "That is the key to good fielding - if you are expecting it you can put up a good performance."

Rhodes said that while the basic skills of fielding remain the same in all forms of the game, it is the intensity that differs. "Even in the 50-overs game I was expecting the ball to come to me and was quite disappointed if it didn't come. Pressure is a constant in the 20-over game with matches going right down to the wire so you can't afford to really make a mistake with bat, ball or in the field. Fielding is the same, just that you are doing it at a lot quicker pace

Ponting keen to finish lost series on a high

2009-04-14T18:31:00.000-07:00

April 14, 2009

Ricky Ponting wants his team to lift for Friday's fifth ODI, despite it being a dead rubber © Gallo Images

Ricky Ponting's men have been unable to win back the No. 1 one-day international ranking but he believes they can still finish the tour on a high. South Africa claimed the series with a 61-run win in Port Elizabeth on Monday and in doing so confirmed their position at the top of the rankings table.

But Australia can make the scoreline a little less lopsided and will fly out with a 3-2 loss if they fight back to win the final ODI in Johannesburg on Friday. It will require a turnaround in form after South Africa's strong performances but Australia are keen to regain some momentum before heading to the UAE to take on Pakistan.

"We weren't able to do well this time, and the South Africans outplayed us in the last three games in all facets of the game, so they deserve to be where they are," Ponting said after the Port Elizabeth loss. "We'd like to finish the tour on a high, so hopefully there'll be a bit of character in the team when the guys pitch up on Friday."

Ponting took a risk by sending South Africa in on Monday but the bowlers struggled to make inroads into the top order. Herschelle Gibbs' 21st ODI century and an attacking 84 from AB de Villiers left Australia chasing 318 and despite a promising opening stand between Brad Haddin and Michael Clarke Australia fell well short.

"Herschelle obviously played beautifully, he played a sensational innings," Ponting said. "I thought de Villiers was also outstanding. We needed someone at the top to go on and make a big hundred, but we didn't really have that."

Gibbs finished with 110 and it was his first century since coming back into the side during the one-day series in Australia, following his month-long stay in alcohol rehabilitation. He showed encouraging signs with a 64 at the SCG and in Port Elizabeth finally made use of one of his many starts.

"I feel I have been boiling for some time, probably since the third ODI at Sydney," Gibbs said. "I have probably wanted it too badly which is why it did not come sooner. I knew if I got through the first 15 to 20 overs that I could go all the way. It was an excellent pitch."

The teams now head to the Wanderers, the venue of the famous 438 match of three years ago, for the series finale. South Africa's captain Graeme Smith said the past few weeks had revealed some positive signs for the world's No. 1 one-day team.

"There's some really exciting players coming through," Smith said. "Everyone's contributing with bat and ball - there's a really good energy in the squad. We just need to keep our feet on the ground and take one step at a time. So we'll look to finish the series on a high note at the Wanderers and if we do make it 4-1, then it will really make a top-standard series for us."

Tendulkar salutes Dhoni's captaincy

2009-04-14T18:27:00.000-07:00

April 14, 2009

Tendulkar on MS Dhoni: "He has a sharp brain, his approach was pretty clear and not complicated" © AFP

Sachin Tendulkar has praised the leadership skills of MS Dhoni, who has overseen a successful six months for India after taking over as captain in all three formats.

"I'm extremely happy and delighted at the way he [Dhoni] has conducted himself," Tendulkar said. "He is a balanced guy, is always on his toes all the time. Before he was made the captain, standing in the slips I interacted with him, and [he] picked [up a] lot of things which clearly indicated that he has a sharp brain, his approach was pretty clear and not complicated."

India are fresh from their first Test series win in New Zealand in 41 years, and also beat Australia and England at home in the past eight months. Dhoni also led India to their longest winning-streak in one-dayers during comprehensive series victories over England and Sri Lanka.

Another experienced player who was impressed with Dhoni's captaincy was VVS Laxman. "Dhoni is one of the best captains I have played under," he said. "He is so calm and composed. He exudes a lot of confidence. It's a great feeling to play under him."

One of Dhoni's biggest accomplishments as a leader has been forging a strong team spirit, and former captain Tendulkar said he relished playing the role of a senior member. "To players like Harbhajan Singh or Yuvraj Singh, I'm like their elder brother. I share information not just with them but also with other members of the side. It's a terrific atmosphere in the dressing room and it's not just one-way traffic," he said. "We learn from each other and if someone has some issues, there is the coach. Generally it's a great atmosphere and I enjoy being part of this side."

When asked about his decision to not be part of the national Twenty20 side, Tendulkar said he did not want to upset a winning combination. India had won the inaugural World Twenty in South Africa two years ago, but Tendulkar had not been part of that team because of fitness problems. "It's a team sport so, even if there is one weak link, it affects the whole team. I didn't want it to happen. The team went to South Africa and did well. They settled quite nicely. I don't want to disturb the combination now when they are going terrific."

Australia in South Africa 2008-09

2009-04-14T18:25:00.000-07:00

April 14, 2009

Vinnie Barnes: "The problem with Johan initially was that he was a medium-fast bowler who, because of injury, decided to bowl spin" © Getty Images

Vinnie Barnes, South Africa's bowling coach, insists Johan Botha remains an integral part of his team's World Twenty20 plans despite being cited for a suspected illegal bowling action. Barnes worked extensively with Botha after he was reported for chucking by Chris Broad, the match referee, after the Sydney Test of 2006, and believes only minor adjustments will be required to ensure his action is once again compliant with ICC regulations.

"I spoke to him today and we looked at a bit of video footage to see what the issue was," Barnes told Cricinfo. "I will be seeing him tomorrow and Thursday and I'm pretty confident we'll sort everything out. We'll get stuck in and get the action right again. It's quite basic stuff. It was just very disappointing to hear about it like this."

Botha has emerged as South Africa's most effective one-day spinner over the past 18 months, and was heralded for his role in captaining his nation to a rare limited-overs series victory in Australia earlier this year. It was the series when the South Africans officially usurped Australia as the No. 1 one-day side, and Botha's efforts with the ball - eight wickets at 23.50 - elevated him to No. 10 in the limited-overs bowling rankings. Only Muttiah Muraliatharan and Daniel Vettori have a higher ODI ranking among international spinners.

But, like Muralitharan, chucking furores have never been far away from Botha. Biomechanical tests conducted at the University of Western Australia in January, 2006, found his elbow flexion exceeded the 15-degree limit, prompting the ICC to suspend him. A further examination in September of that year found his action still to be illegal, but another round of tests eventually cleared him of chucking and allowed him to resume his international career.

Barnes, who worked to straighten Botha's unconventional bowling action three years ago, was adamant that another complete overhaul would not be required.

"The problem with Johan initially was that he was a medium-fast bowler who, because of injury, decided to bowl spin," Barnes said. "He adopted a fast bowler's action and applied it to spin, but biomechanically the two actions are quite different. We changed a few things that probably took, at the most, two or three days for him to get right.

"Johan has an amazing ability to adapt and change things quickly. I put a few recommendations to him, and he changed things quite easily. We have worked closely with him on this in the past, and we are quite confident that he will get through this and will be fine to carry on bowling. Right now we are waiting to hear more on the procedures that need to take place, but he is still very much a part of our plans. There is no doubt that he has the support of the team, the management and myself."

Sehwag's shocker: I don't want to open

2009-04-14T01:06:00.000-07:00

New Delhi: Indian opener Virender Sehwag on Sunday said if given a chance, he would prefer to step in as a middle order batsman.

"I was a middle order batsman. I like to bat in middle order. But currently, team demands me to open batting and I am doing so," Sehwag told reporters on the sidelines of a friendly five-over cricket match between his team and co-opener Gautam Gambhir’s teams here.

Sehwag also revealed that his request to bat in lower down was turned down by the team management.

However, if records are reckoned, Sehwag's average as an opener is 51.21, as compared to 41.55 when he batted in the middle and lower order.

Sehwag also pointed out that his opening partner Gautam Gambhir was a regular opening batsman.

"Gautam is a regular opener and someone forced me to do the opening. I was a middle order batsman and the team asked me to open the inning. I am not considered as a regular opener. I never opened in first class cricket before opening in Test cricket," Sehwag added.

Meanwhile, Gambhir said that the bowling of his Delhi Daredevils team is pivotal for his team’s chances of winning this year's Indian Premier League (IPL).

"I think in Twenty20 format having a good bowling is very important. We have good bowlers like Daniel Vettori, Glenn McGrath, Ashish Nehra, Amit Mishra and Mahroof.

The conditions in South Africa are going to suit these bowlers. If we set a good target, we have very good chance of winning the IPL this time," Gambhir said.

Indian colts drub Aussies in three-day tie

2009-04-14T01:05:00.000-07:00

Hobart: Harshal Patel snared three wickets before Mayank Agarwal and Avi Bharat struck fluent half centuries to guide the Indian under-19 team to a nine-wicket win over their Australian counterparts in the first three-day cricket match at Bellerive Oval here on Monday.

The win gives the Indians an unassailable 1-0 lead in the two-match series, the next game of which will be played in Perth from April 19.

In between, two teams will take on each other in the third and final one-dayer on April 17.

India had declared at 417 for seven to take a 111-run lead over Australia.

The hosts, resuming at an overnight 1/0, folded for 228 in the second innings, giving the Indians a target of 118, which they achieved in 18.4 overs.

Australian middle-order batsman Mitchell Marsh went on to register his first century, scoring 109 but his teammates floundered with seven of the Aussies not even reaching double figures. The 17-year-old struck 11 fours and a six.

Chasing the paltry target, Indian opener Mayank Agarwal (62 not out) and number three Avi Bharat's (52 not out) brisk scoring ensured that the visitors reached the target with ease.

Earlier, Harshal was the pick of the Indian bowlers picking up three wickets conceding 32 from his 8.1 overs of medium pace

Gambhir willing to bat at any position

2009-04-14T01:03:00.000-07:00

ew Delhi: Gautam Gambhir may have struck gold as an opener but the diminutive left-hander has no qualms about batting at any position as far as his team secures a win.

"It will be completely on the team management where I should bat, whether I open or not," Gambhir said.

"It is not important where you bat but if your team wins at the end," he said on the sidelines of a ceremony to present him a customised 'Bolero Stinger' jeep here on Monday.

Asked if he was already tired after the New Zealand tour and the hectic schedule owing to promotional activities in the city during his short break, Gambhir said being active was the need of his profession.

"There is no need to take rest in this profession. This is the time I should be active because a player has a limited time in his career. Moreover, I cannot forget the love and support given to me by so many people. This profession is not for resting," he said.

"I will take rest when I will have all the time to rest (after my career)," he added.

The 27-year-old opener appeared excited about playing the Indian Premier League in South Africa.

"There are so many good memories attached with the first Twenty20 World Cup which was held in South Africa. I have always said that was the turning point of my career. So I feel it would be a good tournament there. I will try my best to make sure that Delhi Daredevils win this time," he said

Pumped up Harbhajan fires salvo at critics

2009-04-14T01:02:00.000-07:00

New Delhi: Those who doubt his utility outside the sub-continent and mastery over the craft can take a walk, for Harbhajan Singh insists he knows his business and loathes unwarranted advice.

In an interview with PTI, the feisty off-spinner revealed exactly how much respect, or rather lack of it, he has for his critics, who questioned his efficacy outside the sub-continental dustbowls.

"These people need to go through the records. I have taken wickets outside the sub-continent, in the West Indies and England. I guess some people need a reason to go after me," said Harbhajan, who finished as the leading wicket-taker in India's recent tour of New Zealand.

"But to be honest, I don't play for them. At the end of the day, I play for my country which is, for me, much bigger than anything else. I feel great whenever I do well for the country," said the Punjab spinner.

And those who felt he often tended to bowl faster through air, Harbhajan said he knows his craft well and people better keep their opinions to themselves.

"See, I know what it requires to be successful at the highest level. I have taken 330 wickets in Test matches and 200-plus in ODIs. That goes on to show that I know what is required to win matches for the team", he said.

"Those who are sitting in the comfort of their drawing rooms and watching the matches on television better mind their business. They have no business telling me what to do," Harbhajan said.

The 28-year-old spinner from Jalandhar believes his rich success in New Zealand has not only silenced the critics but also established himself as a senior member of the side, spearheading the spin department led by Anil Kumble till the other day.

"Winning the series in New Zealand was highly satisfying. I really enjoyed myself there. I got wickets in the Twenty20 matches and was the highest wicket-taker in both the Test and ODI series. I want to keep performing like this.

"I had to take the responsibility (in Kumble's absence). When Anil Bhai was around, the workload used to get shared. Now I'm not only the senior-most spinner but also the senior-most bowler in the side and naturally I have lot of responsibilities on my shoulders," he said.

He took 16 wickets in the three-match Test series and 5 scalps in the one-dayers.

Harbhajan's batting was a revelation in New Zealand where the 77-Test veteran proved he was much more than just a mindless slogger.

His 60 in the first Test against New Zealand propped India in Wellington and Harbhajan said while the team can always expect some runs from his bat in crises, time was ripe to get his maiden Test century.

"The team can definitely bank on me for those important runs. If you notice, all my innings so far have come at crucial times. Sometimes it was to save the match and sometimes to build the innings. I'm happy to chip in with the bat and it is high time I should get my hundred in Test cricket," Harbhajan said.

And it's more than just his personal wish, he said.

"All of my teammates say 'you are good enough to score a Test hundred, and more than one hundred'. They only ask me to be more focussed and concentrate on shot selections. If I can improve on those I'll be getting big runs," Harbhajan said.

Batting down the order with mostly the tailenders for company, the job would not be easy and Harbhajan reckons he would have to make the most when he has a middle order batsman at the other end.

"It's indeed difficult with tailenders but at times, I do get to bat along with someone like (VVS) Laxman or (MS) Dhoni. There were a few chances where I should have got my hundred but I think it will come if I keep working on batting and keep yourself in that zone," he said.

And whenever he misses an opportunity to reach the landmark, Harbhajan finds himself invariably at the receiving end of some admonishing words from Sachin Tendulkar.

"Whenever I score 50-60 important runs, Tendulkar says 'wish you got a hundred'.

"Many times, Sachin has told me that it's time to get a hundred. Even when I got out after 60 (in Wellington) and came back in the dressing room, he said 'you should have got hundred. You should have just played more according to the situation there. There was hardly 6-7 overs were left, you should have played on,'" Harbhajan said.

The spinner himself has worked out a reason why he has got four fifties under the belt but still no century.

"Sachin and others have got the experience, after all they have scored hundreds so many times. So when they speak, they speak from experience on how to score a hundred.

"I guess I don't know how to get a hundred because I have not scored one! But hopefully I'll get a hundred sooner or later. And once I get the first hundred, things would subsequently be easier, for I too would be knowing what it takes to get that," he quipped.

PCB signs multi-million dollar deal for Aussie series

2009-04-14T01:00:00.000-07:00

Islamabad: The Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) has managed to bag a sponsorship of over a million dollars for the UAE one-day international series.

"At the time when everyone thought we would not be able to finalise a sponsorship deal worth 200,000 dollars, the PCB has succeeded to strike a deal of over one million dollars. That does not include the money we would get from the TV rights,” PCB’s chief financial advisor, Mohammad Naeem, said.

A Dubai based Construction Company Chapal Brothers has been given the title sponsorship, while Bank Alfalah and a telecom company Mobilink are the two co-sponsors for the five match series, Naeem informed.

The board is expecting to earn a huge sum from the in stadia rights, The News reports.

It will also receive fifty percent of all gate money collected during the series.

The PCB is expecting to earn handsome amount from the UAE series to ingest some money into its depleting bank account. However, Naeem said organizing matches in Dubai and Abu Dhabi was four times costlier than hosting matches in any Pakistani city.

“There is no doubt that cost of organising the event will also be very high. Everything except petrol costs 4-6 times in UAE in rupee terms as compared to Pakistan,” he added.

Cricket South Africa hails Smith & Co.

2009-04-14T00:59:00.000-07:00

Durban: Cricket South Africa lauded the national team for their win against Australia in the fourth ODI at Port Elizabeth, which have them an unbeatable 3-1 lead in the five-match series.

CSA CEO Gerald Majola said in a statement on Tuesday that the victory confirmed the Proteas' status as the world's best ODI team.

"Although it is now a dead rubber, the Proteas will be going all-out to stretch their lead in the world log even further with victory in the final match on Friday at the

Wanderers Stadium in Johannesburg," he said.

"The win is a personal milestone for century-maker Herschelle Gibbs, who has overcome several recent set-backs to reach the top again and to justify CSA's faith in him. It is also wonderful to welcome newcomers Wayne Parnell and Roelof van der Merwe into the Proteas' ranks".

CSA would also like to thank and congratulate Graeme Smith and Johan Botha for their leadership and performances which have seen the Proteas beat Australia both at home and away to take top world ODI honours.

They were backed by a committed management team under Mickey Arthur, who has grown extraod inarily in stature as national coach. "The Proteas' supporters, sponsors and suppliers have also been superb and the players have responded with unprecedented performances that have enhanced both their sport and their nation," said Majola.

Ponting urges team to show some character

2009-04-14T00:57:00.000-07:00

Johannesburg: A disappointed Aussie skipper Ricky Ponting has urged his teammates to show a bit of character in the fifth and final One-Dayer against the Proteas despite trailing the five-match series 1-3 so that they gain some momentum before the series against Pakistan to be played on neutral venues in UAE.

"We were not able to do well this time, and the South Africans outplayed us in the last three matches in all facets of the game. So they deserve to be where they are," has been quoted as saying in the South African media after the Port Elizabeth defeat by 61 runs.

"We did like to finish the tour on a high, so hopefully there will be a bit of character in the team when the guys pitch up on Friday," he added.

Ponting's gamble of putting the opposition in to bat first back-fired after his bowlers struggled to get vital breakthroughs with comeback king Herschelle Gibbs slamming a ton and AB de Villiers making a neat 84 to help their team pile up 318.

"Herschelle obviously played beautifully, he played a sensational innings," the Aussie skipper said praising Gibbs' first big knock after his comeback from injury lay-off.

"I thought de Villiers was also outstanding. We needed someone at the top to go on and make a big hundred, but we didn't really have that," he added.

Ex-stars want Sehwag to continue opening

2009-04-14T00:56:00.000-07:00

Bangalore: A day after Virender Sehwag said that he would like to play as a middle order batsman again, former Indian Test stars have given an unanimous thumbs down to his idea.

Sandeep Patil, Nayan Mongia and Ajit Wadekar strongly believe that Sehwag should continue to open the batting as his solid starts along with Gautam Gambhir was helping the team win more matches than never before.

Sandeep Patil, who himself was an attacking middle order batsman during early the 80s and was a member of the 1983 World Cup winning team, said the Indian team's new-found overseas success was mainly due to the solid starts given by the two Delhi openers (Sehwag and Gambhir) and secondly due to the lion-hearted bowling by the Indian seamers, particularly Zaheer Khan and Ishant Sharma.

"India's new-found success during their overseas tours is mainly due to the two smashing opening batsmen. So, to keep up the winning streak we need Sehwag and Gambhir at the top. If Sehwag decides to drop down the order the whole batting line-up will be affected.

"Where will they fit other main contributors in the middle order like Rahul Dravid, Sachin Tendulkar, V V S Laxman and Mahendra Singh Dhoni? It will only create more confusions," Patil told Cricketnext.com on Tuesday.

"After almost two decades, India has managed to find a solid and absolutely fine pair of openers and now if Sehwag decides to come down the order, the excise of finding a suitable opener for Gambhir has to be repeated allover again and it might take years to find one. So at least for a year or so Sehwag should continue to open and only after a couple of the senior batsmen retire should Sehwag attempt this kind of a move," Patil added.

Patil also insisted that the fear psychosis created by Sehwag in the minds of bowlers world over should be utilised to the maximum for the next couple of days.

"It is not an everyday affair that we come across a pair of inspiring openers like Sehwag and Gambhir who have dished out some incredible starts for the team.

"The fear psychosis generated by Sehwag in the minds of new ball bowlers around the world is in itself a big advantage to the team as every opposition's focus would be on getting Sehwag out while the other batsmen will get away with minimum of attention," observed Patil.

"Moreover, when on song, Sehwag can tear any bowling to shreds and even if he clicks in a big way once in every four matches (Tests) or once in three matches (ODIs) it will be a big bonus for the team as the other players combined can win matches in between thus increasing the success rate of the team immensely," the Mumbaikar added.

"However, having said this, there is no harm in trying Sehwag out in the middle order only after the team finds a suitable opener and not in the immediate future as it would not be a good idea to tamper with the winning combination and Sehwag at the top will always create a certain amount of doubt in the minds of the bowlers as it is not an easy task to contain a marauding Sehwag," Patil said.

Former Indian wicketkeeper-batsman, Nayan Mongia, though said that individual opinion should be respected, wanted Sehwag to play according to the need of the team as that should be a major priority for a player.

"I respect Sehwag's openness and the decision to come lower down the order. But the need of the hour is for him to keep giving solid starts along with his Delhi team mate Gambhir. They have been a revelation at the top of the order and have come up with solid partnerships that has helped India to score at a fast clip on the very first day of a Test match and put pressure on the opposition," Mongia said.

"Moreover, all his big scores, including the two triple centuries, have come when he has opened the innings and it would be wise to continue to do what he does best. Opening the innings will also give him enough time to plan his innings, particularly in the One-Dayers, where he could perhaps become the first batsman to score a double hundred," added the former stumper, who has scored a century as an opener against world champions Australia.

"Having opened the batting for India, I feel Sehwag's attacking instincts would suit the opener's role perfectly and it will not be an easy task for the rival fielders to even touch his power-packed shots when the ball is hard and new. Which-ever-way you look at it, Sehwag, as an opener, is more dangerous and effective than Sehwag as a middle order batsman," observed Mongia.

Former Indian skipper and coach Ajit Wadekar too felt Sehwag's desire to drop down the order would only disturb the well settled and most dreaded Indian batting line-up.

"It could be a big mistake if Sehwag drops down the order because the whole batting line-up will be disturbed. Moreover, Sehwag has taken to opening the batting like ducks takes to water and he should continue with his good work. He and Gambhir have proved they are the best pair in the world in any form of cricket by scoring at a very fast pace which has put bowlers under pressure and they should continue to hold sway over them for the next couple of years at least," Wadekar said.

"Probably once the senior Test batsmen retire, the Indian think-tank can ask Sehwag to come down the order so that he can add stability to the line-up. Right now the team management should persuade him to open the batting, irrespective of any failures he might face, because even if he stays around for an hour or two India will be off to a solid start, which clearly gives them an advantage in any form of cricket," he added.

Tanvir a Royal miss; Flintoff boosts Chennai

2009-04-14T00:54:00.000-07:00

New Delhi: Starting Monday, CNN-IBN takes a closer look at each of the eight teams participating in the IPL. Starting with the finalists from the first season, champions Rajasthan Royals and runners-up Chennai Super Kings, how do the two teams stack up a year after their brush with glory?

Sporting a fake moustache during their opening warm-up game, captain Shane Warne says: "It's a bit itchy at the moment, but if you're in the crowd it won't affect the drinking too much."

The defending champions have earned the right to twirl the moustache. From no hopers to champions on a stormy Mumbai night a year ago, what a story the Royals were.

Now they have journeyed to South Africa with their canny captain at the helm. The first warm-up game didn't go exactly to script, but there are no alarm bells even in defeat.

The royals will have to do without a couple of pillars from last year for most of this season, but there are some exciting new additions: the pacy Shaun Tait and mercurial South African all-rounder Tyron Henderson.

And not to forget, cheering on from the sidelines will be the new co-owner Shilpa Shetty, who is already shaking merrily to the tune of Halla Bol.

Last year, Chennai's adopted son was quite the rage, leading the way in the promotional videos as well as on the field. Chennai stumbled at the final hurdle but seem stronger this year than the first season.

"I think we will be strong because we lead well," says captain-cum-coach Stephen Fleming. "The two strong leaders in Warne and Dhoni came through last year. Leadership is still very important."

That isn't an empty boast. For the first half, the fiery Andrew Flintoff, fresh from his hat-trick taking exploits in the Caribbean will be available, so will the foxy Muttiah Muralitharan for the whole season, as is the recently retired Matthew Hayden, and the experienced Makhaya Ntini. The Super Kings could be the team to watch out for

IPL, South Africa defuse stadium suite row

2009-04-14T00:47:00.000-07:00

Cape Town: The Indian Premier League (IPL) has reached a compromise with South African cricket provinces over the allocation of corporate suites, ending a row which threatened the tournament.

Indian officials originally demanded full control of hospitality boxes at every match to accommodate special guests as a non-negotiable requirement of host stadiums.

In return for surrendering boxes, suiteholders were promised free stand tickets, food and beverages for every IPL match at their stadium, but the offer was rejected with some threatening to lock their suites.

However, Cricket South Africa (CSA) chief executive Gerald Majola told AFP on Monday the parties have found a resolution.

"We've come to some sort of an agreement," he confirmed. "We're close to finalising the details and confident that everything is going to run smoothly."

Majola declined to reveal full details, saying his body would do so in a statement to be released on Tuesday.

It is believed the IPL softened its stance after reportedly telling suiteholders they would have to pay the tournament organisers 9000 rand per person to rent their own suites during matches.

While the glitz-and-glamour Twenty20 tournament had full control of stadia for matches in India during the first edition last year, its demands have not been so readily accepted in South Africa.

Wanderers Stadium in Johannesburg and Newlands in Cape Town proved major sticking points with corporate box owners threatening to lock them up rather than give them up.

The IPL is believed to have pressurised provincial unions by threatening to move matches to smaller venues willing to comply with their demands.

However, with the opening four matches at Newlands this Saturday and Sunday sold out, these were seen as hollow threats.

Organisers were forced to shift the eight-team tournament from India after their schedule clashed with national elections, meaning security for the event could not be assured.

Tendulkar unveils his wax figure | In Pics

2009-04-14T00:45:00.000-07:00

Mumbai: Indian batting maestro Sachin Tendulkar on Monday unveiled his wax figure which will be housed at the famous Madame Tussauds museum in London.

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"My reaction was something special," Tendulkar said after looking at his wax double. "I've never reacted like that to anything in my life. My family is here with me, we all didn't know how to react. I honestly find it a little difficult to express what I feel."

The life-like figure will be on show from April 24 onwards, which happens to be Tendulkar's birthday. The figure cost over Rs 1 crore to make.

"To have something which is identical; I'm glad he doesn't breathe. But it's that close," Tendulkar said. "(My son) Arjun wanted to take the bat (off the statue) and start playing. But I had to tell them not to get too close to it. It's so real that not only my children, but even me, I don't react to something so easily. The least I can say is that it's fantastic. Fabulous."

Tendulkar said his statue would be both an appreciation and reflection of his contribution to Indian cricket.

"It is a great honour to be there at Tussauds. I know I am the first sportsperson of the country to be there. I think it is an appreciation and a reflection of my contribution to Indian cricket," he said.

Asked next to whom he would want his wax statue to be placed at the Tussauds, Tendulkar said, "I don't mind to be next to anybody. The fact that it will be there itself was a great honour. There are so many great personalities there including Indians," he said.

Asked if he felt authorities at Tussauds should have done it earlier, Tendulkar said, "I am not the person to decide whether my statue should have been one or two years before or this year. I am not concerned about that. I am happy that I will be there now. It is a happy moment."

Tendulkar said he will go to London after the Indian Premier League season two in South Africa and see his wax statue for himself at Tussauds.

"Right from 15 years of age I have thought of going to the Tussauds and even during my stay in England to play cricket I did not have time to go there because of my schedule. This time I will be there to know how these wax statues are made," he said.

Tendulkar has achieved almost everything as a cricketer could dreamt of except for one - to win the World Cup for the country. "Every cricketer has a dream. For me I want to win the World Cup for the country that is my dream."

Liz Edwards, from Madame Tussauds, said it was the first time one of its wax figures had been launched outside London and had been designed to coincide with the start of the Indian Premier League Twenty20 tournament this weekend.

Tendulkar captains the Mumbai Indians in the competition, which has been moved to South Africa because of a clash with India's general election.

"Guests vote for wax figures to come in. Sachin's name was constantly coming up and we were delighted to work with him," said Edwards.

Tendulkar is the first Indian cricketer whose figure will be on display at Madame Tussauds. Other cricketers at the museum include Brian Lara, Shane Warne and Sir Ian Botham.

Among other Indians who are at Madame Tussauds include Mahatma Gandhi, Indira Gandhi, Amitabh Bachchan and other Bollywood stars such as Shah Rukh Khan, Salman Khan and Aishwarya Rai.

South Africa seal series with 61-run win

2009-04-14T00:42:00.000-07:00

South Africa won by 61 runs to take a winning 3-1 lead in the five-match series. It was South Africa's third successive one-day series triumph against Australia and ensured they would retain their world number one ranking in one-day cricket.

Gibbs hit 110 as South Africa made 317 for six after being sent in to bat on a slow pitch.

Australia made a good start in reply, with Brad Haddin (78) and Michael Clarke (50) putting on 129 for the first wicket. But their innings lost momentum against the slow bowling of Roelof van der Merwe (three for 46) and Johan Botha (one for 48).

Fast bowler Dale Steyn took four for 44 to wreck the bottom half of the Australian innings as the tourists were bowled out for 256. Gibbs and AB de Villiers (84) put on 136 off 123 balls for South Africa's third wicket in a partnership filled with sparkling strokes and audacious running between wickets.

When he reached his 21st one-day international century Gibbs acknowledged the crowd then sank to his haunches and appeared to wipe tears from his eyes.

It was the first major innings played by Gibbs, 35, since drink driving charges against him were withdrawn last month in return for agreeing to do 100 hours of community service.

Earlier in the season he spent time in rehabilitation for alcohol-related problems after his arrest last year. He made his runs off 116 balls with two sixes and nine fours.

"It's been a long time coming but I knew there was one coming, it's been boiling for the last few games," said Gibbs. "It was just time for me to get through the first ten overs and take it from there."

Ponting's decision to send South Africa in to bat in a must-win game for Australia was influenced by a good record for teams batting second on the small Port Elizabeth ground, including a successful chase by Australia, who were set to make 327 in 2001-02.

Australia had won four out of five previous matches against South Africa at the ground.

"Our batting is our strength so we backed our strength to chase runs," said Ponting. "We thought it (the pitch) would do a bit more than it probably did this morning but Herschelle played beautifully and AB played really well."

Haddin raced to a half-century off 41 balls as he and Clarke gave Australia an ideal start.

Haddin appeared to target Johan Botha, the off-spinner who has bowled economically in two series against Australia, hitting two sixes in Botha's first over, which cost 14 runs.

Botha was taken off and was hit for another six by Haddin when he returned four overs later. But in trying to hit another ball out of the ground he lofted a catch to long-on.

Van der Merwe took the next three wickets with his left-arm spin as the required rate climbed rapidly.

Ponting hit four boundaries off Steyn in the first over of a batting power play in the 41st over but hit the last ball to midwicket to be out for 53, effectively ending his team's hopes.

"At 130 for nothing I was feeling a bit nervous," admitted South African captain Graeme Smith. "But our spinners did it again. The two-spinner option has worked well for us and it's nice to finish off with a series win for the country. It means a lot to us."

I've said sorry to Gavaskar: Shah Rukh Khan

2009-04-13T23:17:00.000-07:00

New Delhi: The IPL is just a few days away. Shah Rukh Khan, Bollywood star and owner of the Kolkata Knight Riders, spoke to CNN-IBN about his team's preparations ahead of the tournament.

CNN-IBN: A lot has has been said about your captains. Any clarity on who will be leading Knight Riders?

Shah Rukh Khan: We decided to announce the captain on 16th (April). Anything we say will be held against us so we will decide first, then we will make it a mystery and release it on 16th. That will be enigmatic for the team and it will be good marketing as well. Also, it's John Buchanan who will decide. We are playing well, so the whole theory that we want to try could work well.

CNN-IBN: Would you agree that this entire controversy has hurt the relationship between Sourav Ganguly and John Buchanan to some extent?

Shah Rukh Khan: The entire controversy has hurt me. I think Sourav understands this but he is unable to explain it and neither am I able to explain it to peeole. People have been making comments without understanding what the concept of multiple captaincy is. I am changing the name - it's multiple thinking strategists standing on the sidelines giving secret signals to the captain on the field to help in the game.

CNN-IBN: Many felt uncomfortable about your comments while responding to Sunil Gavaskar. Wasn't that avoidable?

Shah Rukh Khan: I have not said anything against Mr Gavaskar. I just wanted to have a breathing space to try something new. He is my idol. I have sent him an apology letter if he also felt so because he was in America that time. Due to the wonderful methodology that television applies, that comment was for people who don't understand cricket and are still telling me how to run this team. If Mr Gavaskar asks me to walk on my head and run this team then I would. Anything that Mr Gavaskar says that has to do with cricket, if he mentions, it should be followed.

CNN-IBN: On what scale is your involvement with Knight Riders? How much time do you intend to spend personally in South Africa?

Shah Rukh Khan: I am going tonight. I will be there five days before the first match starts and will be there till 28th (April). I will come back to cast my vote, and will go back by the first week of May. I have to get a lot of fans from Kolkata behind our team. I do the entertainment and marketing part, while Joy (Bhattacharya) takes care of the administrative part. I want to create an academy where sportspersons get motivated and get a chance.

CNN-IBN: How are the preparations for the team progressing? Are you pleased with it?

Shah Rukh Khan: We played three practice matches there. (Wriddhiman) Saha is injured but should be back in 4-5 days. They are going to practise for next three days before the action begins.

CNN-IBN: Wondering if you, Shilpa Shetty, and Preity Zinta chat about your teams.

Shah Rukh Khan: I have not met Shilpa (since she bought a stake in Rajasthan Royals). I meet Preity but we don't talk about cricket or films.

CNN-IBN: Outside of KKR, which is your favourite team and the team you think is the one to watch out for?

Shah Rukh Khan: I think Chennai Super Kings are a good side, and so are Delhi Daredevils. Mumbai India will be stronger this season. These three are the strong sides. I'm not sure, Mohali as well because Preity is there. These four are perhaps the best.

CNN-IBN: We have seen you get an entire starry line-up including the likes of Priyanka Gandhi and Rahul Gandhi for the IPL matches. This time of course elections are on, so they are going to be busy. Who else can we expect cheering for the Knight Riders?

Shah Rukh Khan: I will ask Mr Nelson Mandela to come! I have a lot of friends with me but I won't name them. I have not called them movie stars but friends. They are free at different times and will keep coming.

CNN-IBN: Are we expecting Shah Rukh Khan the actor to be on break all the time while the IPL is on?

Shah Rukh Khan: I am on break because my shoulder is broken. Last year was too hectic because of IPL, TV, ads as well as films. This time there's no need to run as it's in South Africa. I do wish the team starts talking its own language. Kolkata Knight Riders should not be known as Shah Rukh Khan's team but a team in which Shah Rukh Khan plays a small part.

CNN-IBN: Finally, how is the shoulder doing?

Shah Rukh Khan: I'm not supposed to move my shoulder till August. I can't do a sixer sign but signal a four. Dr Ali is looking after me and in three months I will be fine. But I will be at the Dard-e-Disco level only by December.

Prasad keen to learn from Chennai's foreign stars

2009-04-13T05:57:00.000-07:00

Venkatesh Prasad believes that this IPL will throw up an interesting situation when top cricketers share dressing rooms and gameplans but will be wary of revealing too much ahead of the ICC World Twenty20 in June

Dravid will play key role as leader - Jennings

2009-04-13T05:54:00.000-07:00

Ray Jennings, the Bangalore Royal Challengers coach, expects Rahul Dravid to play a key role as a leader and a batsman for the second IPL in South Africa. The franchise had replaced Dravid with Kevin Pietersen as captain last month but Jennings said Dravid would still be crucial to the team's tactical planning in the short period that he is available

Multiple-captain idea ridiculous - Vengsarkar

2009-04-13T05:51:00.000-07:00

The former India captain Dilip Vengsarkar has ridiculed John Buchanan's multiple-captain theory and has said Sourav Ganguly should lead the Kolkata Knight Riders when the second season of the IPL gets underway in South Afica on April 18.

"This is ridiculous. It is a mockery of the game with four captains telling the captain what to do and I'll be glad to see [Sourav] Ganguly back at the helm of the Knight Riders," Vengsarkar said. "Suppose there is one ball to go and six runs to be scored and then four guys come to advise. It can happen to Ganguly himself. I want Ganguly to go to Buchanan, whose idea it is, and ask him what to do."

Buchanan's radical theory to have four or five captains leading the side thorugh the tournament was seen as a complete change to the whole approach to captaincy and leadership in cricket.

The Knight Riders however put a lid on the controversy by releasing a statement yesterday saying that during a game the team would resort to a group of "strategists" who would report to one on-field captain while making decisions.

Despite the latest decision, team sources said a compromise formula could lead to Sourav Ganguly captaining the team in the first five games after which, based on the team's position, the role will be open to others

Top 10 Players

2009-04-13T05:49:00.000-07:00

# Rating Name Country
1 103.14 Johnson M.G

2 98.84 Harbhajan Singh

3 86.00 Vettori D.L

4 84.36 Steyn D.W

5 77.31 Gambhir G

6 74.98 Katich S.M

7 74.11 Shakib Al Hasan

8 72.86 Zaheer Khan

9 72.43 Kallis J.H

10 70.70 Sehwag V

Top 10 Bowlers

2009-04-13T05:48:00.001-07:00

# Rating Name Country
1 74.89 Harbhajan Singh

2 72.60 Johnson M.G

3 70.78 Steyn D.W

4 56.84 Anderson J.M

5 55.40 Vettori D.L

6 53.90 Mendis B.A.W

7 53.66 Sharma I

8 53.58 Zaheer Khan

9 83.04 Ntini M

10 52.07 Morkel M

Top 10 Batsman

2009-04-13T05:47:00.001-07:00

# Rating Name Country
1 76.41 Gambhir G

2 73.02 Samaraweera T.T

3 60.64 Chanderpaul S

4 56.24 Katich S.M

5 55.84 Smith G.C

6 53.05 Prince A.G

7 51.72 Sarwan R.R

8 51.57 Strauss A.J

9 51.33 Pietersen K.P

10 50.76 Sehwag V

Top 10 Teams

2009-04-13T05:41:00.002-07:00

# Rating Name Country
1 95.61 South Africa

2 86.34 Australia

3 85.16 India

4 81.78 Sri Lanka

5 61.20 West Indies

6 59.32 England

7 54.06 Pakistan

8 40.86 New Zealand

9 5.12 Bangladesh

10 0.0 Zimbabwe

Top 10 Players

2009-04-13T05:41:00.001-07:00

# Rating Name Country
1 991.2 Johnson M.G

2 953.9 Kallis J.H

3 846.9 Flintoff A

4 841.3 Sehwag V

5 826.9 Vettori D.L

6 804.4 Harbhajan Singh

7 801.5 Steyn D.W

8 787.8 Gayle C.H

9 775.4 Lee B

10 769.1 Muralitharan M

Top 10 Bowlers

2009-04-13T05:40:00.000-07:00

# Rating Name Country
1 669.6 Steyn D.W

2 666.5 Johnson M.G

3 666.0 Muralitharan M

4 580.7 Harbhajan Singh

5 560.4 Lee B

6 553.3 Kumble A

7 535.1 Ntini M

8 524.4 Warne S.K

9 501.2 Clark S.R

10 484.9 Danish Kaneria

Top 10 Batsman

2009-04-13T05:27:00.000-07:00

# Rating Name Country
1 695.7 Ponting R.T

2 681.2 Pietersen K.P

3 670.0 Sangakkara K.C

4 640.1 Chanderpaul S

5 637.9 Younis Khan

6 628.5 D.P.M.D. Jayawardena

7 651.1 Gambhir G

8 620.5 Kallis J.H

9 616.5 Sehwag V

10 612.5 Mohammad Yousuf

maruti suzuki ratings

2009-04-13T05:26:00.001-07:00

Top 10 Batsman
# Rating Name Country
1 695.7 Ponting R.T

2 681.2 Pietersen K.P

3 670.0 Sangakkara K.C

4 640.1 Chanderpaul S

5 637.9 Younis Khan

6 628.5 D.P.M.D. Jayawardena

7 651.1 Gambhir G

8 620.5 Kallis J.H

9 616.5 Sehwag V

10 612.5 Mohammad Yousuf

Maruti suzuki all time ratings

2009-04-13T05:23:00.000-07:00

1 756.0 Australia

2 680.9 India

3 628.3 South Africa

4 609.1 Sri Lanka

5 546.3 England

6 477.4 Pakistan

7 381.2 New Zealand

8 291.8 West Indies

9 64.2 Bangladesh

10 24.9 Zimbabwe

'Zaheer Khan has been sensational'

2009-04-13T05:20:00.000-07:00

In this week's show: Gautam Gambhir's rise as a top international Test opener, Dhoni's learning curve as captain, South Africa's climb to the top, the ECB's overdue appointment of the coach for the national team, and the state of cicket pitches across the world

Gibbs century powers South Africa to 317

2009-04-13T04:34:00.000-07:00

Herschelle Gibbs spoiled Ricky Ponting's plans to send South Africa in and knock them over cheaply in Port Elizabeth, where the hosts powered to a daunting 317 for 6. Gibbs was the key man and posted his first ODI century in more than a year but an entertaining 84 from AB de Villiers also kept the scoreboard ticking at a rapid rate before a late flurry from JP Duminy bumped the target up.

Their efforts gave South Africa a strong chance of wrapping up the series with a match to play, which was exactly what Australia wanted to avoid when they gambled by fielding first and naming Shane Harwood as their third oldest ODI debutant of all time. It was meant to be an attacking move and while Harwood was solid, too much work was again left for Mitchell Johnson.

Not for the first time this series South Africa cruised through the middle overs without much threat from the Australian attack. Gibbs and de Villiers put on 136 for the third wicket at better than a run a ball and their main targets were the spinners Nathan Hauritz and Michael Clarke, who combined to bowl ten overs for 73.

Gibbs dispatched both men into the stands and de Villiers sent consecutive Hauritz deliveries over the long-on and midwicket boundaries and the only positive thought that could have run through Ponting's mind was that South Africa are likely to also use two slow men. Nathan Bracken also came in for some rough treatment and his ten overs cost 64 as the South Africans advanced at him with little fear.

Gibbs attacked Bracken early with a pair of boundaries, including a slap over long-on after advancing down the pitch, and also took to Johnson with a slash forward of point. It was an innings that alternated between frenetic and controlled and on the whole, Gibbs waited for his opportunities and struck nine fours and two sixes in his 110.

His 21st ODI century came from 106 deliveries with a clip for two off Harwood, who at 35 is the same age as Gibbs, yet was making his debut. It had been 14 months since Gibbs scored a one-day international hundred - his most recent had come against West Indies in Johannesburg - and it confirmed that he still has plenty to offer South Africa in limited-overs cricket.

Eventually Gibbs holed out to Bracken and de Villiers' 74-ball innings ended when he skied one off Johnson in the 43rd over. As he walked off, de Villiers looked disgusted with himself for not reaching triple figures but he had given South Africa more than enough of a base for a late assault, which came largely through Duminy's 40 from 25 balls.

Graeme Smith (20) and Jacques Kallis had also helped with the solid opening. The two men were the only ones to lose their wickets up until the 38-over mark and Kallis, whose deliberate upper cut went straight to third man for 17, was the first one-day international wicket for Harwood.

It was an enjoyable moment for Harwood, who was in South Africa training with the Rajasthan Royals and only won his spot because of a fractured foot suffered by Brett Geeves during the loss in Cape Town. So last-minute was the selection that Harwood wore Marcus North's shirt when he became the third oldest Australian, after Bob Simpson and Bob Holland, to make his ODI debut.

Desperate to keep the series alive, Australia chose Harwood as a more aggressive option than Ben Laughlin, who played two games earlier in the series. Harwood's 2 for 57 was respectable and he picked up Duminy from the last ball of the innings but Australia's batsmen, who have struggled throughout the series, faced an enormous task to avoid handing South Africa the series.

Andy Flower set to be named as England's new head coach

2009-04-12T04:48:00.000-07:00

Andy Flower looks set to be appointed England's new head coach within the next seven days.

The former Zimbabwe Test star is hot favourite to succeed Peter Moores at the helm having seen his main rivals pull out of the race.

Mickey Arthur, Gary Kirsten and Graham Ford ruled themselves out of the running and Tom Moody chose not to enter the race, preferring to stay with Western Australia.

It means Flower, who has just returned from leading the team as assistant coach, will be able to start in earnest plotting England's Ashes bid this summer.

Flower is the players' choice having built up a firm relationship with them in the West Indies.
He has a good rapport with Test captain Andrew Strauss, and national selector Geoff Miller believes he is the best man for a long, tough international summer.

Strauss's men face a return series against the men from the Caribbean, which starts at Lord's in just 24 days.

An ECB spokesman said: "We hope to make a decision by the end of the week. The sooner it is made the better for everyone concerned.

The series with West Indies is just around the corner."

Australia v Pakistan ODI Series, 2009

2009-04-12T04:45:00.000-07:00

Fixtures

April 2009
Wed 22
14:30 local, 10:30 GMT 1st ODI - Pakistan v Australia
Dubai Sports City Cricket Stadium

Fri 24
14:30 local, 10:30 GMT 2nd ODI - Pakistan v Australia
Dubai Sports City Cricket Stadium

Mon 27
14:30 local, 10:30 GMT 3rd ODI - Pakistan v Australia
Sheikh Zayed Stadium, Abu Dhabi

May 2009
Fri 1
14:30 local, 10:30 GMT 4th ODI - Pakistan v Australia
Sheikh Zayed Stadium, Abu Dhabi

Sun 3
14:30 local, 10:30 GMT 5th ODI - Pakistan v Australia
Sheikh Zayed Stadium, Abu Dhabi

Thu 7 Only T20I - Pakistan v Australia
Dubai Sports City Cricket Stadium

Watson excited over unexpected recall

2009-04-12T04:42:00.000-07:00

April 8, 2009

Chosen as a specialist batsman, Shane Watson will almost certainly be restored to the top of the Australian one-day order © AFP

Shane Watson didn't see it coming. Stationed in Johannesburg with the Rajasthan Royals, the Australian allrounder was caught completely off-guard when Michael Brown, Cricket Australia's operations manager, phoned on Wednesday to inform him of his recall to the national squad for the one-day tour of Pakistan.

Watson had identified the IPL as the platform from which to continue his comeback from back stress fractures. From there, he hoped to steadily increase his bowling workload throughout April and May and, should all have gone to plan, to catch the attention of Australia's selectors ahead of the ICC World Twenty20 in June.

The selectors, however, have opted for a faster track. Chosen as a specialist batsman, Watson will almost certainly be restored to the top of the Australian one-day order - the position he held down throughout last year's West Indies tour - alongside the recalled Shaun Marsh in the UAE. That has resulted in a major alteration to Watson's comeback blueprint, and his immediate travel schedule.

"I wasn't counting on it at all," Watson told Cricinfo. "I only arrived in South Africa on Monday night, and was looking ahead to the couple of practice games coming up for Rajasthan in the next few days. Now it looks like I'll probably only be here for a week or so before I fly to Dubai.

"Things have moved faster than I expected. I have spoken with the owner and the coach (of Rajasthan) and they are disappointed that I won't be available for them for a while, but very excited for me. They know that to get back into the Australian side and play international cricket is my ultimate objective. I will still be available for two weeks after returning from Dubai. Hopefully Rajasthan can make it through to the finals, so I can extend my time with them for as long as I can."

In all, Watson has opened the batting for Australia 15 times in one-day internationals, and in each of his last seven innings. He made a significant breakthrough last year with his first international century - a powerful 126 against West Indies in Grenada - and along with Marsh forged a combination Ricky Ponting, the Australian captain, had hoped would endure through to the next World Cup.

Injuries to both batsmen scuppered those plans in recent series against New Zealand and South Africa, and the makeshift combination of Michael Clarke and Brad Haddin have struggled for consistency. That opened the door for both Watson and Marsh to earn national recalls, as Australia seek to setlle upon a batting line-up ahead of the World Twenty20.

But Australia's gain is the IPL's loss. Watson, the Player of the Tournament, and Marsh, the highest run-scorer, were among the IPL's brightest lights in 2008, and figured prominently in their respective franchises' plans this year. Such is his star power after last season's performance, Marsh was chosen to travel to America last month for an IPL promotion featuring Manny Ramirez, one of Major League Baseball's biggest names. Now, he is likely to figure only in the final fortnight of the tournament.

"The hamstring has been fine for a while now," Marsh told AAP. "I've been running and doing my rehab for two months. I thought I was fit (for Australia's tour of South Africa) but obviously the selectors thought otherwise. It's something I've had to live with. I was disappointed at the time but I kind of understood the reasons. I've had an extra three or four weeks now to get myself 110% right and I'm looking forward to the series."

Just what role, if any, Watson's bowling will play in the UAE remains unclear. His initial plan was to commence competitive bowling in May, and then only in the four-over allotments of the IPL. Watson will meet with Alex Kountouris, the Australian team physiotherapist, in South Africa in the coming days to map out new strategy, but it seems unlikely he will be used in longer spells against Pakistan.

"That structure and schedule I had in mind is obviously going to change a bit now in terms of my bowling," he said. "I certainly won't be pushing it in trying to get to ten overs. The plan was to slowly build up the bowling over May, but I'm not quite sure how that will work out now."

Warne regrets losing Watson and Tanvir

2009-04-12T04:35:00.000-07:00

April 12, 2009

Shane Watson was the Player of the Tournament in last season's IPL © Getty Images

Rajasthan Royals captain and coach Shane Warne has said the absence of leading performers Shane Watson and Sohail Tanvir will be a serious blow to the team as they look to defend their IPL crown in South Africa. While Australian allrounder Watson was the Player of the Tournament last season, Pakistan fast bowler Tanvir finished as the leading wicket-taker with 22 wickets.

Both players will be on international duty during the Australia-Pakistan series in the UAE from April 22-May 7, playing five ODIs and a Twenty20 international.

Watson, who recently came off a long-term injury, joined the Royals for their training camp in Cape Town but will fly out with the Australian team next week. Tanvir, on the other hand, will be missing the entire tournament after the IPL cancelled the contracts of Pakistan players because of political tension between India and Pakistan.

"They are big losses," Warne said. "I think Shane misses the first nine games playing for Australia so he'll be available for the last five games and hopefully the finals. He's not bowling at the moment but he's still a big loss. Tanvir was sensational last year, taking early wickets and bowling at the end."

With the IPL rules restricting teams to field a maximum of four non-Indian players, the situation has become complicated for Rajasthan. Warne and South African captain Graeme Smith are likely to fill two of those slots, with England's Dimitri Mascarenhas and South Africa's Tyron Henderson looking to take up Watson's role. South African fast bowler Morne Morkel and Australia's Shane Harwood will be competing as strike bowlers.

Among the Indian players, Warne said he had high hopes from Kamran Khan, 18, the left-arm seamer from Uttar Pradesh who bowls with a slingy action and surprising pace. "He's a tiny little guy but he bowls 140 plus. He's very raw but he could be a bit of a bolter," Warne said.

Khan bowled just one over during Rajasthan's 28-run loss to the Cape Cobras in Cape Town on Saturday, as Amit Singh, the 27-year-old right-arm fast bowler from Gujarat impressed with 3 for 18. Rajasthan will also be boosted by the return of Munaf Patel, who achieved reasonable success with the Indian team during their tour of New Zealand.

Rajasthan Royals begin their campaign in the second season against the Bangalore Royal Challengers on April 18.

Ireland shocked by Hassan's five

2009-04-11T20:57:00.000-07:00

Super Eights

Afghanistan pulled off a massive upset by beating Ireland by 22 runs at Krugersdorp. Ireland did well to keep Afghanistan to 218 after electing to field, but their batting effort was dented by Hamid Hassan's five wickets and tidy support from the rest of the attack. Hassan - who opened the bowling instead of being first-change, a move made in the last game - struck early by dismissing William Porterfield and later returned to really hurt Ireland; Andrew White (56) and Kevin O'Brien (52) had lifted the side from 73 for 5 to 186 but Hassan dismissed them in successive overs - both set batsmen were bowled. Hasan then polished off the tail are Ireland lost five wickets for just ten runs, bowled out for 196 in 47.3 overs. Hassan, described by Bermuda's captain Irvine Romaine to Cricinfo this week as possibly the fastest bowler in the tournament, bowled four players in all.

Afghanistan's innings was propped up by Mohammed Shehzad (46), Asghar Stanikzai (47) and Raees Ahmadzai, who hit an unbeaten 50 from 65 balls to take the score to 218 for 7. Hassan ensured it was enough for victory. Afghanistan were totally outplayed by the UAE recently so to beat Ireland, who were unbeaten and heads-and-shoulders above anyone else, and the favourites to win, is fairly significant.

Click here for more on Afghanistan's rise, and here for Hamid Hassan's exclusive blog

Canada recorded their second straight win at Willowmoore Park in Benoni when they eased past Kenya by seven wickets in their first Super Eights match. Henry Osinde set it up with a four-wicket burst to restrict Kenya to a modest 181 before the batsmen eased home thanks to Rizwan Cheema's early assault.

Osinde justified the decision to bowl first by running through the top order. Kenya effectively lost the game in the 11th over when they lost half their side for 51. It was left to Jimmy Kamande to stage a recovery with the lower order after the seventh wicket fell at 105. He added 72 for the eighth wicket with Nehemiah Odhiambo, who remained unbeaten on 34. Kamande scored the only half-century of the match and his 86-ball 61 included eight fours. Cheema set off in a hurry with three consecutive sixes off Peter Ongondo over the on side but fell one short of his half-century. Kenya could manage only two more wickets before Ian Bilcliff and captain Ashish Bagai knocked off the runs by the 35th over.

Jan Stander's unbeaten 80 paved the way and John Blain's five wickets sealed Scotland's 26-run win over Netherlands in Johannesburg. Scotland were 59 for 5 - after Edgar Schiferli grabbed four wickets - when Stander walked in. He and Gavin Hamilton (52) added 58 to ease the cracks but again Scotland stumbled, this time from 117 for 5 to 120 for 8. Enter Blain, whose unbeaten 29 gave Stander support and helped the score to 216 for 8. Stander finished on 80 from 92 balls with seven fours and a pair of sixes. After a cool contribution with the bat, Blain took two wickets in two balls to hurt Netherlands. Netherlands recovered somewhat from 87 for 5 thanks to Bas Zuiderent's 67 from 106 balls but Blain came back into the attack to complete the win. He finished with 5 for 45, Dewald Nel contributed 3 for 34 and Stander was Man of the Match for his super effort.

"It's just amazing to win," said Stander. "We knew exactly what we needed to do today, we know what we need to do for the rest of the tournament, so it's just really nice to get that win under the belt.

"We also knew we had to field well and I think it's probably the best we fielded in this tournament and Johnny [John Blain] and Nelly [Dewald Nel] definitely put their hand up and did a tremendous job with the ball. So, it's just brilliant."

Also read Will Luke's bulletin of Namibia's 49-run win over UAE in Pretoria.

Super Eight Team Mat Won Lost
Tied N/R Pts Net RR For Against

Canada 4 3 1 0
0 6 +1.698 976/184.3 686/191.0

Ireland 4 3 1 0 0
6 +0.572 866/173.4 883/200.0

Kenya
4 2 2 0 0 4
+1.067 790/162.2 687/180.5

Netherlands 4
2 2 0 0 4 +0.034
911/192.4 935/199.1

Scotland 4 2
2 0 0 4 -0.536 819/200.0
869/187.4

U.A.E. 4 2 2
0 0 4 -1.147 835/196.3 876/162.2

Afghanistan 4 1 3 0
0 2 -0.629 848/200.0 943/193.4

Namibia 4 1 3 0 0
2 -0.962 865/200.0 1031/195.0

Play-offs

Shortly after losing one-day status, Bermuda gave their supporters something to cheer with a comprehensive eight-wicket win over Oman in Potchefstroom to move to the final of the ninth-place playoff. The target of 255 was dealt with easily by David Hemp, who made an unbeaten 124 and Steven Outerbridge, who fell nine short of his ton. Rodney Trott, the offspinner, was the most effective among the bowlers with 4 for 43. Oman got off to a sound start with a stand of 117 between Hemin Desai (58) and Zeeshan Siddiqui (41) for the second wicket but the middle order failed to string together proper partnerships. They lost their seventh wicket at 175 in the 32nd over but a stand of 58 for the eighth wicket revived them. Sultan Ahmed and Amir Ali hit half-centuries to push the score to 254 but in the end it wasn't competitive enough. Hemp carried his bat in his 125-ball knock and he shared a match-winning stand of 180 for the second wicket with Outerbridge.

Uganda moved to the final of the ninth-place play-offs with a comprehensive 62-run win over Denmark at Senwes Park. Nehal Bibodi set it up with a run-a-ball 104 to push Uganda to an imposing 292 for 6 and the opposition could manage only 230 for 8 in reply. Denmark were on the back-foot after opting to bowl first as they struggled to break through the top order. Bibodi and Joel Olwenyi added an exact 100 for the third wicket and the most explosive stand was that of 64 in seven overs between Bibodi and Frank Nsubuga for the fourth. Denmark's highest partnership was 99 for the second wicket between Mickey Lund and Carsten Pederson but a middle order collapse brought Uganda right back into the match. Lund top scored with 59. Uganda virtually sealed the game when the score read 149 for 8 and a ninth wicket stand of 81 delayed the inevitable. Uganda will now play Bermuda in the ninth-place play-off final at the same venue on Monday

Bermuda lost its ODI status

2009-04-11T20:55:00.000-07:00

It is not surprising that Bermuda lost its ODI status. I do feel for the FEW players and the coach and his support staff who gave their heart and soul in this lost cause. Their will be harsh criticism of the team back in Bermuda. The main reasons I think the team did so poorly is because in Bermuda a very small island with a population of around 60,000 the "international" cricketers are larger than life characters and the players actualy believe they are good. They are but small fish in a very small pond. The talent is there but unfortunately it is not just talent that one needs to succeed at an international level. You need the right ATTITUDE. That brings me to the 2nd reason ....DISCIPLINE on and mostly off the field or the apparent lack thereof. When players threaten to quit the team instead of taking ice baths you know you have a problem. That leads me to reason # COMMITMENT. No more ICC $$$ What now??

2009-04-11T20:41:00.000-07:00

It is hard to describe how I feel after helping Afghanistan beat Ireland at Krugersdorp – probably the greatest win in the history of Afghanistan cricket. To take five wickets in such an important game for my country if a fantastic feeling and I am very proud of all my team-mates.

When I came back onto bowl with six overs of the match remaining, we knew that we had to get some quick wickets if we were to have any chance of winning the match.

They were trying to score quickly and playing quite a few cross batted shots so my focus was on trying to bowl the ball as full and straight as possible. I managed to build up a really good rhythm and was bowling as quickly as I could.

Once I had got out Andrew White, my focus was then just trying to bowl a maiden over, but somehow I ended up taking three wickets – it was unbelievable! I enjoy bowling in pressure situations at the end and I think my yorker is very useful at that stage of the game.

I believe this victory shows the potential of the Afghanistan team. It is hard to think just under two years ago, we lost to Singapore in the World Cricket League Division 5 on a cold day in Jersey and now we are beating a team that defeated Pakistan and Bangladesh at the last ICC Cricket World Cup. That is incredible progress and I don’t think anybody could ever have predicted that this would happen to us.

Not only are we developing our cricketing skills, as I think we have learnt a lot about our batting, bowling and fielding, but we are developing the mental side of our game as well as we have showed great character to respond from three defeats.

Only by having the chance to play against the best sides on a regular basis will we develop the consistency that we need to compete against the biggest Associate teams on a regular basis. That is why it is so important for us to do well in our remaining three matches and try and qualify for the ICC Cricket World Cup or at least finish in the top six of the table to gain ODI status.

It is a massive game for us on Monday against Canada and we will certainly be approaching that match with a lot of confidence. After everything that has happened to this team, I don’t think anybody can predict what will happen.

Slap-gate distant past, Bhajji focussed now

2009-04-11T20:38:00.000-07:00

New Delhi: Last year's slapping row with S Sreesanth and the subsequent ban firmly behind him, feisty Indian off-spinner Harbhajan Singh says he is focussed on making an impact in the Indian Premier League's second edition.

"I missed the whole IPL last year because of reasons well known. But I'm looking forward to come back and it should be nice against Andrew Symonds, Matthew Hayden and all these big guys," said Harbhajan, who was banned from inaugural IPL season after playing only three matches for Mumbai Indians for slapping Sreesanth.

Stalemate over, agencies to cover IPL

2009-04-11T20:35:00.000-07:00

Johannesburg: The stalemate over the media coverage of the second Indian Premier League is finally over with the major international news agencies agreeing to cover the event after the organisers withdrew contentious conditions imposed on the media outlets.

Ending uncertainty over the coverage of the event, starting April 18, the negotiation between the News Media Coalition (NMC), representing media interests worldwide, and the IPL authorities found a way out, clearing the decks for the worldwide coverage of the Twenty20 extravaganza.

No dope tests before Australia series: PCB

2009-04-11T20:33:00.000-07:00

Karachi: Rubbishing speculation that Shoaib Akhtar would be made to undergo dope tests during the one-day series against Australia, the Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) has insisted that the World Anti-Doping Agency rules do not apply on bilateral tournaments.

The PCB has not conducted dope tests on its players going to the Emirates for the one-day matches triggering speculation that Shoaib, who has made a return to the side, could be tested by the ICC during the series.

But a PCB official said since WADA rules didn't apply to bilateral series, the board intended to carry out dope tests only before the Twenty20 World Cup in England in June.

"We didn't conduct dope tests because these were done just sometime back. But we will do it again before the T20 World Cup," he said.

But sources in the ICC insist that after the introduction of new anti-doping regulations this year, the the governing body can carry out random dope tests during competitions.

But they said reports about the ICC targetting Shoaib Akhtar for a dope tests were not correct.

Ashraf lashes out at Pak ICL players

2009-04-11T20:31:00.000-07:00

Karachi: Former PCB chairman Nasim Ashraf on Saturday lashed out at Pakistani cricketers aligned with Indian Cricket League for crying hoarse on their ban, saying that the board had to follow ICC rules.

"Some of these players have made incorrect statements about their discussions with me and the board. As far as the PCB is concerned our position was clear since the ICC didn't recognise the ICL we had to ban the players," he said.

"These players joined ICL for good money and PCB has no problems with that. But now they should not behave as if the PCB did injustice to them. We had followed rules," he added.

Ashraf wondered how former captain Inzamam-ul-Haq can criticise PCB for dropping three ICL players from Twenty20 World Cup provisional list.

"The criticism is unjustified. ICL is an unauthorised tournament. The ICC or member boards can't allow anyone to organise private tournaments." He also defended his decision to appoint Shoaib Malik as national team captain when he was PCB chief.

"I was the first person to offer captaincy to Younis Khan after 2007 World Cup. But it was after he refused to take up the challenge that we turned to Malik and it was the correct decision at that time," said Ashraf, who resigned as PCB chief in August last year.

IPL, CSA yet to resolve hospitality dispute

2009-04-11T20:29:00.000-07:00

Durban: The organisers of the Indian Premier League and Cricket South Africa are yet to resolve the hospitality suites dispute at eight venues which will host the matches of the Twenty20 tournament.

The controversy arose following uncertainty over whether the owners of the suites will be allowed free entry there during the IPL matches.

Cricket South Africa CEO, Gerald Majola, said in a statement that everything was being done to resolve the problems.

"Cricket South Africa is in discussions with the DLF Indian Premier League and the cricket boards at the eight venues that will be hosting Season 2009 of the league in South Africa," he said.

"CSA will look to uphold the interest and rights of all stakeholders. Discussions are in the final stages of an amicable resolution for all parties concerned and CSA is confident that this matter will be settled soon," he added.

Majola, however, said CSA is not in a position to comment further and a statement will be issued after the conclusion of the discussions.

The venues where the IPL matches will be played are in Pretoria, Johannesburg, Cape Town, Port Elizabeth, East London, Durban, Bloemfontein and Kimberley.

The IPL is set to kick off in Cape Town on April 18.

Kings XI hopes to break even next year

2009-04-11T20:28:00.000-07:00

Mumbai: IPL franchise outfit Kings XI Punjab expects to break even in 2010 as this year's Twenty20 event could not be held at home and was shifted to South Africa, one of its co-owners said on Saturday.

"We hoped to break even this year before the tournament was shifted to South Africa. By next year we will be very close to break even," industrialist Mohit Burman told a media conference at a function organised to announce team's title sponsors 'Emirates'.

Besides Emirates, with whom they have tied up multi-million dollar deal for three years, Kings XI have also tied-up with Gulf Oil, Nimbooz, Netlinkblue, Reebok, Springbok International, Royal Challenge, Dabur Glucose D and Orbit.

The number of sponsors for Kings XI this year is more than what they had got last year which was the then highest among all the eight franchise outfits, it was announced.

But getting these sponsors on board this year was a struggle because of the economic downturn, admitted Bollywood actress and co-owner Preity Zinta.

"A lot of deals we were planning got affected. We were close to signing up a few sponsors which got canceled as the event was shifted to South Africa. However, as they say everything happens for the best and we have some top brands on our T-shirt", she said

Cape Cobras beat R Royals by 28 runs

2009-04-11T20:26:00.000-07:00

Cape Town: The Indian Premier League defending champions Rajasthan Royals lost their first game in the run-up to the second edition of the Twenty20 tournament to Cape Cobras by 28 runs at Newlands here on Saturday.

Chasing a target of 143, the Royals were dismissed for 114 with one over to spare. All but RJ Quiney of the IPL champions could barely stand to the Cobra attack.

Quiney, the opener, scored 34 from 24 balls with five boundaries and one six. Henderson was the only other Royal batsman to hit a six that the Twenty20 tournament is famous for.

Skipper Warne was the second highest scorer of the Royals with 21 runs. Ojha and Raut made 10 each as Kaif contributed 12 runs.

Kleinveldt who had scored 23 from 15 balls, claimed four wickets for the Cobras. Peterson bagged two wickets as Rabie, Philander and Ontong got one wicket each.

Earlier, Cobras finished with 142-8 after electing to bat. Levi top scored with 36 from 22 balls with three fours and two sixes. Brand chipped in with 24 as Philander made 26.

Amit Singh claimed three wickets for the Royals for 18 runs from his four overs. Trivedi, Kamran, Henderson, Jadeja and captain Warne all got one wicket each.

This was the first practice match for Rajasthan Royals before the second edition of the Indian Premier League begins on April 18

IPL ideal preparation for T20 WC: Yuvraj

2009-04-11T20:24:00.000-07:00

Mumbai: Flamboyant Indian batsman Yuvraj Singh sees the second edition of the Indian Premier League in South Africa as the perfect dress rehearsal for cricket playing nations ahead of the World Twenty20 Championship in England in June.

"The IPL has come at the right time to help all (countries) to prepare for the T20 World Cup. It will give all the players lot of practice as each team will play at least 14 matches. It's going to get better, the World T20 Cup (because of IPL)," the left-hander told reporters here on Saturday.

Yuvraj, who is the captain of Kings XI Punjab, co-owned by Bollywood actress Preity Zinta, was here along with the latter to announce Emirates association with the Mohali-based outfit as its official team sponsor.

Yuvraj, who did not have a successful Test series in New Zealand which India won 1-0 to rewrite history in Kiwi soil after 41 years, said the Kings XI would play similar to what they dished out last year en route the semi-finals in the first edition of the cash-rich T20 league.

"We won 8-10 games (actually ten out of 14 before losing to Chennai Super Kings in the semi-finals on May 31, 2008) last year. We will play in a similar fashion," he said.

He, however, refused to be drawn into a debate on the controversial multiple captaincy theory put forth by Kolkata Knight Riders coach John Buchanan.

"No comments. I do not want to say anything about other teams," Yuvraj said and skirted away from the raging debate that started in the country ahead of Knight Riders' departure for South Africa a few days ago.

The decision of the former Australia coach to introduce multiple captains for the Shah Rukh Khan-owned Kolkata outfit was opposed by Sourav Ganguly, who led the franchise team last year and is a member of the team this year too.

To add to fuel to the fire, former India skipper Sunil Gavaskar rubbished Buchanan's performance as Australia coach in his newspaper column.

To raise the heat further, Shah Rukh, taking a dig at a press meet before his team's departure, said he had spent a lot of money to buy the team and if anyone had any problem with the way it was run they should buy their own team and run the way they want it to be.

Yuvraj also refused to single out any side as Kings XI's main rival, having lost to the Mahendra Singh Dhoni-led Chennai Super Kings in the semis last year, and said all eight teams were good.

"I don't want to single out any team. Not only Chennai but there are lot of other good teams as well. Let us do it on the ground instead of talking," the power-hitting batsman said.

Yuvraj felt the performance of fast bowlers would be a key factor in the coming IPL as the wickets in South Africa are faster than the Indian pitches where the first edition was played.

"The conditions will be different to last year's. The wickets will be fast and fast bowling will be important and their performance would be crucial," he said.

He also said his team had enough options on this front even though Australian pace ace Brett Lee would not be available for the entire duration of the tournament from April 18-May 24.

"I'm sure we have enough fast bowling options. Lee is available (for part of the tournament). We have to go there and see what is the best balance," he said.

Team co-owner Zinta butted in to say that the team had Australian pacer Burt Cockley in its rank.

"He (Cockley) bowls at 140 kilometres per hour. We have a lot of aces up our sleeves," she said.

Indian colts sitting pretty against Aussies

2009-04-11T20:21:00.002-07:00

Hobart: Indian boys squandered a position of strength as the Australian Under-19 team declared its first innings at 306 for seven riding on Tom Beaton's century on the opening day of the first three-day match here on Saturday.

The Indians, who have won the limited overs series 2-0, reduced the Australians to 69 for three by the 24th over but the home team wriggled out of the tight spot with a 101-run fourth wicket partnership between Tim Armstrong (50) and Beaton (106).

In reply, India were 18 for no loss with openers Mayank Aggarwal and Manan Sharma undefeated on six and 12 at the draw of stumps on the opening day.

Another 60-run stand for the seventh wicket between Beaton and Sean Abbot (51 not out) saw the Australians cross 300 mark at Bellerive Oval here.

For India, Jaidev Unadkad and Manan Sharma took two wickets apiece conceding 51 and 47 runs respectively while Gagandeep Singh, Saurav Netravalkar and Ashok Meneria chipped in with a wicket each.

Jaidev was bang on target with the new ball as he troubled Australian opener Joel Garrett. Garrett could score only one run from the 12 balls he faced before being dismissed in the seventh over of the day.

The Australians found themselves in further trouble as Jaidev dismissed Mitchell Marsh (29) to reduce the home team to 53 for two. The other opener Nick Maddison (28) fell to Netravalkar leaving Australia at 69 for three before Beaton and Armstrong rescued them.

Beaton faced 159 balls and hit nine fours and two sixes in his 106.

Brief Scores: Australia 1st Innings: 306 for 7 declared in 90 overs (Tom Beaton 106, Tim Anderson 50, Sean Abbot 51 not out; Jaidev Unadkad 2/51, Manan Sharma 2/47)

India 1st Innings: 18 for no loss in five overs.

Dhoni's soft option not the way to win series

2009-04-11T20:21:00.001-07:00

As it was, Surti fell for ninety-nine in his last Test innings to Gary Barlett, a bowler with a suspect action (he would have been placed on report under today's International Cricket Council fifteen per cent elbow extension allowance). Pataudi though felt with a lead of 374 and 270 minutes left in the game, his bowlers would do the job. And this was during a tour where the was hardly rain to speak of except Auckland the first two days, and it didn't require an eleven-hour innings to save a Test and the series.

Pataudi believed in his bowlers and Prasanna and Bedi won the game with quality spin; Prasanna eight in the game and Bedi three for 14 in the second innings. The Kiwis were dismissed for 101 in 61.4 overs. Now that was as poor as any batting effort New Zealand had managed in the decade between the England tour of 1958 and India's success on their first tour of the Shaky Isles.

In fact, New Zealand toured India twice before Pataudi's reciprocal tour, which ended with a 3-1 series win.

How different to MS Dhoni's indecision this tour in Wellington. Panic in the ranks in Napier gave way to some solid lower-order self-belief at the Basin Reserve. Daniel Vettori, winning the toss gambled in his seam bowlers knocking over the tourists. It didn't quite work.

And when the Kiwis failed to put a solid response together, the decision to bat on and on and on ... made no sense at all. What did he expect this modest New Zealand side to perform a miracle. He obviously didn't trust his bowlers to take ten wickets, and what the management thinking is here needs to be questioned.

It said, in bold letters, we lead 1-0 and will aim to keep it 1-0 and will go for 2-0 if we feel there is a chance to do so. Any team that leaves their opposition 600-plus runs to score in a fourth innings and eat up as much time as possible showed that India were genuinely scared to lose; they had more faith in the New Zealand batting than did the Kiwis themselves.

Anyone who knows Wellington would tell you how a wind off the Antarctic would blow squalls in from that region. Obviously, India had forgotten. And, just to rub it in, a family member (a grand niece) who watched the Test emailed, 'What's wrong with Dhoni? He didn't trust his bowlers to knock New Zealand over in four sessions for 300 – what is their problem? Not enough self-belief it seems.'

Nicky is a women's provincial player and wondered also what Dhoni was fussing over.

Sachin superstar and a World Cup dream

2009-04-11T20:14:00.000-07:00

He injured an elbow when diving to make a catch in the third Test at Saravanamuttu (Colombo Oval) and that kept him out of the ODI series. It may not suggest he will miss the Test series in New Zealand, but injuries on successive tours is not the sort of news fans enjoy to read.

One of the remarkable qualities about his batting is its simplicity and yet impressive style. They talk of his batting in the Christchurch innings as though he would have become the first to score an ODI double century. Another final frontier achieved for the writers who unthinkingly love hanging this ubiquitous label around his shoulders because it looks smart.

Well it is not. He is deserving of more transparent and honest tributes than clichés that all too often litter their expressions when describing such an innings as that at the small Christchurch venue. There was one particular cut executed with timing and precision that was typically a Tendulkar master class; also a drive on the up that left the covers flat-footed.

Adjustment of pitches is another factor, whether in New Zealand, India, England, the West Indies or Australia. It is not only the pace of the surface but also the bounce and in some cases, whether to take guard outside the popping crease or not to get a feel of the bounce.

Last year in Sri Lanka, he disappointed in the Tests. For some reason there was the pre-tour hype and expectation of him surpassing the Brian Lara Test record and going on to pass 12,000 runs at this level. There was the matter as well of scoring that fortieth Test century. All seemed so elusive on that tour.

He expressed disappointment with his form and you can guarantee he will endeavour to make amends for the way he batted in that series. Understand, this is not an ego thing, as he is devoid of such false imagery. It is a question of showing Sri Lankans that he can put big, match-winning totals together.

The rest of the world knows it, but all too often, there are those imbued by the tall poppy syndrome they refer to Down Under, which have an awful habit of trying to depreciate quality and poking fun at the sort of excellence Tendulkar offers when batting.

It is too early to suggest that he can continue the form shown in Christchurch over the next two years. What you can be certain of, however, is that he will do what he can to find the match-winning form to round off his career so that it is remembered for the entertainment and quality he gave throughout a career that has thrilled millions for twenty years.

Captaincy criticism doesn't bother Sehwag

2009-04-11T20:10:00.000-07:00

New Delhi: Virender Sehwag's captaincy in the Napier Test may have come for stinging criticism from Martin Crowe but the swashbuckling opener said Saturday he is not unduly bothered by what others have to say about him.

With regular skipper Mahendra Singh Dhoni skipping the second Test against New Zealand in Napier with a back injury, his deputy Sehwag led India in the match which the visitors barely managed to draw after following on.

Crowe felt Sehwag was a disaster as a captain in the match even though the former Kiwi skipper subsequently apologised for being so harsh on the Delhi opener.

Sehwag said he was not even aware of the entire episode.

"I have no idea about it (Crowe's criticism). I'm hearing it from you (journalists)," Sehwag told reporters here.

"In New Zealand, neither did I watch television, nor listened to commentary or read newspapers. In fact I don't bother what others think about me. I rather concentrate on what I can do," said the nonchalant opener.

Sehwag seemed equally cold to accolades and did not sound overwhelmed after being named the Leading Cricketer in the World for 2008 by Wisden Cricket Almanac, considered the Bible of the game.

"For me, playing for my country is the greatest honour. I'm not too worried about what I'm getting from others," he said.