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Bangladesh A gained a very slender four-run lead on what was a slow third day where only 176 runs were scored in nearly 80 overs

Cricinfo staff25-May-2010
ScorecardBangladesh A gained a very slender four-run lead on what was a slow third day where only 176 runs were scored in nearly 80 overs. Faisal Hossain’s exact 100 took the hosts to 272, before Omar Phillips led West Indies A to a lead of 105 with seven second-innings wickets in hand.Resuming on 205 for 5, Bangladesh lost their last five wickets for 67 runs, with only Faisal offering resistance. The offspinner Shane Shillingford struck in quick succession to get rid of Saghir Hossain and Suhrawadi Shuvo. Faisal reached his century off 197 balls before he was caught by the wicketkeeper Chadwick Walton off Gavin Tonge. Shillingford and Odean Brown took three wickets apiece to wrap up the innings.The Bangladesh seamers, Syed Rasel and Nazmul Hossain, took two early wickets to set West Indies back, but Phillips and Brendan Nash steadied the innings with an unbeaten stand of 52 for the third wicket.West Indies will look to accelerate on the final day and put up a competitive score, but it remains to be seen if there’s enough time in this match to enforce a result.

Kumar Sangakkara has called for a more equitable distribution of Tests in the new Future Tours Program that will govern the international calendar post 2012

Cricinfo staff11-Jul-2010Kumar Sangakkara, the Sri Lanka captain, has called for a more equitable distribution of Tests in the new Future Tours Program (FTP) that will govern the international calendar post 2012. Sri Lanka had only two Tests scheduled in 2010 – a home series against West Indies – until a three-Test series was arranged against India a few months ago.”All sides should have an equal opportunity to play Tests,” Sangakkara told . “We are lucky India are touring us, but the opportunity for Sri Lankan players to fulfil their Test dreams are getting more and more limited.”Sri Lanka have not played a Test series outside Asia since the tour of Australia in 2007. They have not been to South Africa for a Test tour since 2002 and the Tests in England in 2011 will be their first there in five years. Sri Lanka’s lack of foreign opportunities is highlighted by the fact that Mahela Jayawardene has played only four Tests in Australia in a 13-year career.”The FTP must be drawn up in a way that some of the best sides tour more than just once in five years,” Sangakkara said. “They should be meaningful tours that also make economic sense.”There have been plenty of requests from players and coaches for an IPL window in the international calendar, something Sangakkara also asked for. “We need a proper FTP to avoid players having to choose between their country and commercial interests. A proper FTP will focus on competitive tours, on nations competing with each other, ultimately making it attractive for consumers.”

After leading India to safety with his fifth double-century, Sachin Tendulkar spoke about how demanding it was to bat for so long after fielding for two days

Sidharth Monga at the SSC29-Jul-2010Sachin Tendulkar had just reached his double-century. He was into the ninth hour of his innings. He had been on the field for the whole match, except for perhaps one session. He had had a few visits from the physio. The tea break was approaching. Twice in the next two overs, MS Dhoni hit shots slightly wide of the outfielders. And Tendulkar hared across for the twos, running as though they were his 199th and 200th runs. That was perhaps the most impressive aspect of the 95 runs Tendulkar added today to his overnight 108. If a run was there to be scored, he was there to score it.After Tendulkar had helped India to relative safety on day three, today ceased being a battle between bat and ball. There was hardly anything to trouble Tendulkar. It had come down to endurance, and the need to bat as long as possible to try and prevent his bowlers from having to bowl in the humidity.Tendulkar spoke about the physical challenge of batting for 516 minutes after having fielded for more than five sessions. “It’s been challenging,” he said. “Of course the conditions are tough. Yesterday when I got into the dressing room, I had a long ice bath. I was in the ice tub for a while. Then I did some stretches, had an early dinner, and I was in bed by 8.30.”I just relaxed as much as possible. Because I went off to sleep early, I was up early morning, sort of relaxed a bit and stretched a bit in the morning. When you are off the field time flies in between. When you are off the field, go back to the hotel and sleep, when you wake in the morning, it’s time to go back to the ground again. But that’s what Test cricket is all about. For almost all four days, I have been on the field. It’s been demanding on the body, but it’s held up pretty well.”Another moment that stood out in what was largely an error-free effort was when Suresh Raina brought up his debut hundred. There was as much joy on Tendulkar’s face as on Raina’s. Like Virender Sehwag said, it was difficult to tell who the debutant was. They then spoke for what seemed a longish period between deliveries.”I was very happy for him,” Tendulkar said of the moments after Raina got his century and before the next ball. “Many guys doubted whether Suresh was a good Test player or not. He has done well, I am very pleased. The way he batted was fantastic. All I told him was, ‘Enjoy this moment. You have earned something special. This will always be the highlight of your career. You will have many more hundreds, you will achieve many more things in your life, but this will always be something special.'”Admittedly this was a flat track – Tendulkar didn’t try to suggest otherwise. But he also knew that – until the follow-on was avoided -India were one mistake away from getting into big trouble. He had to curb the temptation of looking for runs, especially because the track and the bowling were ripe with runs.”It was tough. There were times when you felt you could go over the fielders,” Tendulkar said. “But also the Test match was poised critically. It was an important phase, and one mistake would have cost us quite a bit. So I felt it was important to just try and control all those temptations, and play a percentage game.”Those joyful shots came at intervals. His scoring-rate never fell though he eliminated risks. With not much life left in the match, everybody’s thoughts turned to the elusive triple-century. This was a good chance: there was enough time left, all he needed was for MS Dhoni to stay with him.The error from Tendulkar arrived, though. Just after tea, the first ball of Tillakaratne Dislhan’s spell turned a bit extra and Prasanna Jayawardene pouched a bat-pad offering. Tendulkar later said that the triple-century was not on his mind.”I have always gone out and played,” he said. “People look at records, not me. I would want to score as many runs as possible. Whenever it comes, it comes. It is never too late. I will keep trying, but that is not the end of the world to me. There are many more things to cricket, and that is where the focus is. It’s not on records. If it has to come, it will come.”Whatever milestones he passed during the course of the innings – be it the most 150-plus scores, be it drawing level with Steve Waugh’s 168 Test caps, or be it yet another double-century – saving the Test was his top priority. To keep the series alive. And he was a satisfied man at the end of it all. And when he is satisfied, so is the rest of India.

There was little progress on or off the field at Grace Road as rain washed out the third day of the County Championship match between Leicestershire and Surrey

George Dobell at Grace Road26-Aug-2010There was little progress on or off the field at Grace Road as rain washed out the third day of the County Championship match between Leicestershire and Surrey.Leicestershire’s acting chief executive, Mike Siddall, denied that a full board meeting would take place during the day, stating that “as there’s no cricket, the board members have not come to the ground.” However, it is understood that all members of the board, except the under-fire chairman, Neil Davidson, are to meet informally.That distinction is important. As an informal meeting, there will be no need for minutes. It is understood that the board is split on the issue and at least one member has threatened to resign if Davidson remains in position.A compromise solution has been rejected. It was suggested that Davidson could step down as chairman but retain a place on the board, but Leicestershire’s players have dismissed that option. There’s little doubt where Siddall’s sympathies lie, however. “Neil Davidson has done masses for this club,” Siddall said. “But sometimes, in circumstances like this, people don’t see both sides.”It simply isn’t true that all employees are against Neil. A number of people I’ve spoken to don’t want to be associated with what’s going on. Some of the young players have just been whipped into a state of mass hysteria.”Siddall also explained why the board rejected a members’ petition calling for a Special General Meeting. “These things have to be right,” he said. “The original petition was on a number of pages and several of those pages didn’t have any heading on them. It became clear after a members’ forum that a number of people had signed the petition but weren’t fully aware of what they were signing. A number of members have withdrawn their signature.”But we do remember that we are a members’ club and, if we receive another request for an EGM that is properly presented, we’ll welcome it.”

Kent captain Rob Key praised the character of Sri Lankan Malinga Bandara after the under fire wrist-spinner bagged season’s best figures of four for 42 to help skittle Hampshire for 204

07-Sep-2010
ScorecardKent captain Rob Key praised the character of Sri Lankan Malinga Bandara after the under fire wrist-spinner bagged season’s best figures of four for 42 to help skittle Hampshire for 204. In a must win game for both these relegation threatened sides, Kent lost opening batsman Sam Northeast for a third ball duck in reply but will go into day two on 15 for 1, trailing by 189.Bravely batting first despite heavy overnight rain in Canterbury and early morning cloud cover, Hampshire’s top-order found the going tough despite the weakened Kent attack. Without seven potential new ball bowlers through injury or departure, Key was forced to turn to military-medium seamer Darren Stevens and rookie paceman Matt Coles to open his attack.The pair, and Stevens in particular, performed wonders in restricting the visitors to barely two runs an over in the opening session. Stevens send down 15 overs unchanged from the Nackington Road End, seven of them maidens, and gave the hosts their first opening after 22.5 overs with the wicket of his former team-mate Michael Carberry who feathered a defensive push to the keeper to make it 37 for 1.With so few pace alternatives, Key turned to spin well before lunch and reaped the rewards when James Tredwell then Bandara bagged early wickets. Tredwell had Australian Phil Hughes (1) caught at slip then Bandara followed suit, having Liam Dawson snaffled to the last ball before lunch when edging an airy drive to give Martin van Jaarsveld one of four slip catches in the innings.Hampshire attempted to up their run-rate after the interval but, just as they looked set to crack on so Kent nipped out another wicket. Simon Cook claimed two in an over soon after the resumption to account for Michael Bates and Sean Ervine then Tredwell accounted for top- scorer Jimmy Adams for a stoic 84.Having faced 222 balls and batted four-and-a-half hours – following his marathon innings against Lancashire last week – Adams edged an attempted sweep onto his boot, only to see the all lob gently into the gloves of Geraint Jones. Bandara, dropped to the Kent second string only a fortnight ago after taking only 10 championship wickets at a princely sum of 604 runs, then ran through the tail and end the Hampshire innings by 4.20pm, much to Key’s delight.”My players have given everything for me this season, they’ve been top drawer and ‘Banda’ is amongst that group,” Key said. “It’s not been easy for him to be left out of the team when he’s perceived as our overseas pro, but he’s understood that there have been times when we just couldn’t go into some games with two spinners.”We have struggled getting out the tail-enders in recent weeks and ‘Banda’ did that brilliantly today, he stepped up to the plate when we needed him most.”

A round-up of the first round of matches in the Logan Cup

Cricinfo staff09-Sep-2010
Scorecard
Mountaineers’ Bernard Mlambo was one of Njabulo Ncube’s four victims in the first innings•Zimbabwe Cricket

Mark Vermeulen’s unbeaten century guided Mountaineers to a five-wicket victory over Matabeleland Tuskers in Bulawayo on the final afternoon after fast bowler Shingirai Masakadza’s five-wicket haul on the third day had left them with 249 runs to chase.Mountaineers were in some trouble at 78 for 3 but a 114-run stand between Vermeulen and Prosper Utseya steadied the innings. After Utseya’s dismissal, Vermeulen kept his cool to steer his side to a win in what could have become a tense chase.Masakadza, who made his one-day and T20 debut against West Indies earlier this year, set up the chase with impressive bowling in Tuskers’ second innings. He first reduced them to 26 for 3, including the big wicket of Charles Coventry, and then returned to take three of the last four wickets as Tuskers were dismissed for 243. That total was possible largely due to Keegan Meth’s aggressive 94.The match had been reduced to a second-innings battle after both teams were dismissed within five runs of each other in the first innings. Coventry’s century in an otherwise uninspiring performance took Tuskers to 267, legspinner Natsai Mushangwe taking 4 for 68. Njabulo Ncube and Chris Mpofu ensured Mountaineers didn’t cross that total, taking seven wickets between themselves as Mountaineers were bowled out for 262.Mountaineers earned six points for their win to go to the top of the table while Tuskers got a point for taking the first innings lead.A last-wicket stand of 20 enabled Mashonaland Eagles to take the first-innings lead against Southern Rocks and earn themselves a point in a drawn game dominated by batsmen at the Masvingo Sports Club.Forster Mutizwa had played a captain’s innings of 114 but his side still needed 14 runs to overhaul Rocks’ total of 325 when the last pair of Tinotenda Mutombodzi and Mark Mbofana came together. Mutombodzi ensured his team went ahead and Eagles finally declared on 331 for 9. He had earlier taken 5 for 97 with his legspin, including the wicket of top-scorer Chamu Chibhabha for 85.After conceding the slender lead, Rocks piled on the runs in the second innings, eventually declaring on 449 for 5. Tatenda Taibu was unbeaten on 153 while former Kenya captain Steve Tikolo and Steve Marillier missed out on centuries, both getting dismissed in the nineties. Eagles batted for less than five overs in their second innings before the match was called off.

Dennis Lillee has tipped Australia to regain the Ashes because they have a stronger bowling attack

ESPNcricinfo staff21-Oct-2010Dennis Lillee has tipped Australia to regain the Ashes because they have a stronger bowling attack. Lillee, who took 167 wickets in 29 Tests against England, believes the hosts’ current line-up is superior.”In the end it’s got to be [about] your attack – you’ve got to bowl sides out twice,” Lillee told Sky Sports Radio. “If I look at both attacks I think Australia – even without Warne and McGrath – have a better attack than England.”[Their] spinning attack – they may use spin twins – may be better than ours because Nathan Hauritz is still evolving, but overall our attack is better and that’s where games are won.”England lifted the Ashes at home in 2005 and 2009 but were beaten 5-0 in Australia in 2006-07, with McGrath, Warne and Langer retiring at the end of the series. “It’s going to be much closer than the other ones [in Australia],” Lillee said. “But we should probably win it 2-1 or 3-2.”

Darren Sammy, the West Indies captain, has said his team is keen on restoring its pride during the tour of Sri Lanka where it has arrived for a full series

Sa'adi Thawfeeq09-Nov-2010Darren Sammy, the West Indies captain, has said his team is keen on restoring its pride during the tour of Sri Lanka where it has arrived for a full series. Sammy was appointed captain last month after Chris Gayle, the former captain, turned down a central contract and the West Indies Cricket Board reacted by making significant changes to the team’s leadership; Brendan Nash was named vice-captain in place of Dwayne Bravo, who, too, did not agree to a new WICB deal. Both Gayle and Bravo, however, have been retained in the squad for the Test series.”We want to win, to play well and bring the passion and pride back to the West Indies,” Sammy told reporters upon arrival in Colombo. “We are a little bit inexperienced, young, but we have put in a good preparation work ahead of our coming here. I am looking forward to the practice game.”For us in the Caribbean cricket is more than just a game. All the players who are here are committed and in a way it is the legacy that West Indies cricket holds. We are going to bring back the passion and the pride and also perform for us to take the West Indies team up the ladder.”When asked if he was surprised to be appointed captain, Sammy said: “I wouldn’t say I was surprised. All my life I’ve been dreaming to be a West Indies cricketer. All I want to do was play and represent the West Indies, so being named captain is more of an honour to me.”The squad picked for the Sri Lanka series features several players who didn’t play against South Africa at home earlier in the year, West Indies’ most recent Test assignment. Adrian Barath, the opener who burst onto the international scene with a century on debut against Australia in Brisbane last year, returns after hurting his knee in April.Carlton Baugh, who has not played a Test since 2004, will compete with Devon Thomas for the role behind the stumps, while there was also a maiden call-up for the Jamaica allrounder Andre Russell. The opener Devon Smith, who played his most recent Test in May 2009, is also back after averaging 61.50 while leading West Indies A in the first-class fixtures in England this year.”The selectors have come up with the best team to represent the Caribbean side,” Sammy said. “I am very confident in all the players I have here, likewise all the players are confident in making the team and being here and to give off their best for the West Indies.”West Indies last played a Test series in Sri Lanka in 2005, losing it 0-2. The teams have played 12 Tests against each other, with Sri Lanka holding a 6-3 advantage.Kumar Sangakkara, fresh from the success of a maiden ODI series win in Australia, warned against complacency. “We don’t take any team lightly. We want to win the Test series. We expect nothing but the best from the West Indies and for us to match them.”The tour begins with a three-day warm-up game against Sri Lankan Board President’s XI on November 10, followed by the first Test in Galle. After the three-Test series, the teams play five ODIs, of which the first two will be played in Hambanthota, one of the venues for the 2011 World Cup. They round-off the tour with a Twenty20 international.

Michael Beer’s selection for the third Test in Perth was a shock to everyone in Australian cricket – not least to Beer himself

ESPNcricinfo staff11-Dec-2010Michael Beer’s selection for the third Test in Perth was a shock to everyone in Australian cricket – not least to Beer himself. Having played only five first-class matches since his debut in October, Beer has suddenly found himself in line to become Australia’s 418th Test cricketer, as the selectors search for a way to blunt England’s powerful batting line-up.It has been a sharp rise for a man who until last summer was playing club cricket in Melbourne, working at Puma and hoping to find a way into a Victorian team that already featured the spinners Bryce McGain and Jon Holland. Beer is the biggest bolter Australia’s selectors have chosen since Peter Taylor, the offspinner, who bowled Australia to victory in Sydney in 1986-87 having played six previous first-class matches.”I was a little bit surprised and I don’t think it really sank in until I rang my parents and actually blurted it out myself and thought hang on, what’s going on here?'” Beer said. “Twelve months ago I probably wasn’t a professional cricketer, that’s in all facets, and then WA gave me the opportunity under Mickey Arthur and they’ve been really great and backed me and I’ve enjoyed every minute of it.”The move to Perth has been brilliant for me. It definitely created a lot of opportunities and I’ve really enjoyed playing with the Warriors. I love it and the deck’s good. I love bowling on it.”A tall left-armer, Beer has impressed Arthur, his state coach, with his competitiveness, despite having not taken more than three wickets in an innings at state level. “He has a way to go. He is young in the game, but in a year’s time he will be sensational,” Arthur said. “He will be able to handle anything international cricket can throw at him.”The challenge for Beer is to ensure that in a year’s time – or in a month’s time – he has not become yet another in Australia’s long list of discarded spinners. If he debuts at the WACA, he will be the tenth slow bowler Australia have used in Tests since the retirement of Shane Warne and No. 9, the newly-axed Xavier Doherty, believes the selectors are panicking.”There is probably a little bit of panic there, but it is only a short series,” Doherty told the . “We’ve got to turn it around pretty quickly. In an ideal world, I would have liked a few more chances. You have seen how many spinners they have used over the last couple of years, so I’m sure the selectors aren’t quite sure who the next person is. But I’m sure if I am given another chance, I can certainly make an impact.”I started to feel the pressure. Once I started leaking a few boundaries instead of getting back to the basics of what I learnt in Shield cricket over the last couple of years, I probably went searching for a few more wickets and probably produced a few more bad balls. It cuts me pretty deep to know I didn’t put in my best performance in Adelaide and knowing I’m a better bowler than that.”

Shane Shillingford, the West Indies offspinner, has been suspended from bowling in international cricket after his action was found to be illegal following independent tests in Perth

ESPNcricinfo staff23-Dec-2010Shane Shillingford, the West Indies offspinner, has been dropped from the Windwards Islands squad for next month’s Caribbean T20 following his suspension from bowling in international cricket on Tuesday after his action was found to be illegal. Analysis of his action in Perth revealed that his mean elbow extension was 17 degrees, which is above the 15 degrees level of tolerance permitted under the laws.”We have taken the decision to pull him out of the Caribbean T20 tournament and he will be going to the High Performance Centre in Barbados at the beginning of January where he will commence three-months training,” said Emmanuel Nanthan, president of the Dominica Cricket Board and the Windward Islands Cricket Board chief. “It is hoped that at the end of his stint a second test will be done on his action with the view of getting him back for the Test series in 2011.”Shillingford had been reported for a suspect action after the first Test in Sri Lanka in November by on-field umpires Steve Davis and Richard Kettleborough, along with third umpire Asad Rauf and fourth umpire Tyron Wijewardene. The umpires’ report cited concern over the straightening of Shillingford’s arm while he bowled some deliveries.Nanthan said the WICB was working to rectify the situation and had sought out independent tests of the bowler’s action. “We have received the report from the University of Western Australia and that there is still more information that we have requested.””As a matter of fact, the WICB is making a request for footage on the testing that was done on Shane. That information will then be submitted to a company in the UK for independent analysis on behalf of the WICB. In the meantime, we want to ensure that Shane remains focused for that battle that is a head and that he is well prepared to get back on the international scene as quickly as possible.”21-year-old Vincentian legspinner Keron Cottoy will replace Shillingford in the 14-man Windwards squad.