All posts by h716a5.icu

BCB president Nazmul Hassan has said Shakib Al Hasan’s participation in this season’s Big Bash League is all but confirmed

Mohammad Isam02-Dec-2014BCB president Nazmul Hassan has said Shakib Al Hasan’s participation in this season’s Big Bash League is all but confirmed. Hasan said the decision to overturn the embargo on his No-Objection Certificate (NOC) will be made official on Thursday after collecting the board members’ signatures over the next two days.Three weeks ago, Hassan had said Shakib was close to regaining his NOC for showing “leadership skills” in the Test series against Zimbabwe. Now he said Shakib would get a decision in time to find a Big Bash team, ahead of the tournament that begins on December 18. Shakib has played two Big Bash matches for Adelaide Strikers in the 2013-14 season.”I think we will get a decision by tomorrow since our board meeting is still some time away,” Hassan said. “I have spoken to Shakib even today. We will get everyone’s signatures by tomorrow. I am going abroad tonight, will return on Thursday. We are not making the decision in the meeting.”We already got most of the directors’ verbal decisions. We have some left. We will make an official decision on Thursday when I arrive at the airport. If it was my decision, I would have said he can play [in the Big Bash]. But the board takes the decision. I don’t have the right to give the decision on my own. But since we are taking a board decision, we don’t want to take it without prolonged discussion among ourselves.”On July 7, Shakib was banned for six months and told he wouldn’t be granted an NOC to play in overseas competitions until the end of 2015. He was punished for “serious misbehaviour” with Chandika Hathurusingha, the Bangladesh coach, and an altercation with a spectator during the first ODI against India in Mirpur.On August 26, the BCB reduced his ban by three a half months, letting him play from September 15. Shakib was then made vice-captain for the ODI series against Zimbabwe. He was man of the series in the Tests against Zimbabwe and played a stellar role in Bangladesh’s 5-0 ODI series win.

Kolkata Knight Riders dominated possession for about 80% of the match, but conceded goals in the last few minutes of either half

The Bulletin by Sidharth Monga16-Apr-2013Kings XI Punjab 157 for 9 (Gony 42, Mandeep 41, Kallis 3-24, Narine 3-33, Senanayake 2-28) beat Kolkata Knight Riders 153 for 9 (Gambhir 60, Morgan 47, Mahmood 3-21, Praveen 2-26) by 4 runs
Scorecard and ball-by-ball detailsManpreet Gony: pirate of the Punjab•BCCIKolkata Knight Riders dominated possession for about 80% of the match, but conceded goals in the last few minutes of either half. Playing his first match of this IPL, Manpreet Gony won Kings XI Punjab this game out of nowhere. The hosts were dead and buried reeling under a Sunil Narine hat-trick when Gony walked out to bat, but his 18-ball 42 gave Kings XI a target to bowl to. Still, Gautam Gambhir and Eoin Morgan were cruising home when Gony came back for his second spell, but those three overs for six runs – two of them wides – and the wicket of Gambhir caused enough panic for Knight Riders to crumble.Forget the unfathomable – in Twenty20 – spin of Sunil Narine and Sachithra Senanayake, which got Knight Riders the four big wickets of Kings XI’s overseas batsmen for just 13 runs off 15 balls, it was the Indian domestic batsmen’s ineptitude against the bouncer that proved to be the decider. Kings XI lost four of their batsmen to balls pitched short, but crucially, Knight Riders’ Manoj Tiwary and Yusuf Pathan were deers in headlights when confronted with accurate bouncers.When Tiwary came out to bat at the fall of Gambhir for a third straight half-century, Knight Riders needed only 52 off 41 with seven wickets in hand. Gony bounced him again and again, and it got uglier and uglier for Tiwary as he faced seven balls for one run, slogged at more than half of them, and left Knight Riders stuck. Yusuf wasn’t much better, except that he lasted longer, and managed a top edge over the keeper in his 13 off 16.The crucial difference between the two innings was that Mandeep Singh and Manan Vohra of Kings XI had scored some runs – Mandeep managed a crucial 41 – before they were bounced. And when bounced, they didn’t waste balls, and got out. Tiwary and Yusuf couldn’t get out, and suddenly Knight Riders needed 30 off the last two overs. The problem for Kings XI was that they had run out of the overs from Azhar Mahmood, who took three wickets including that of Jacques Kallis and Morgan.Kings XI had to bowl Parvinder Awana, and they did so in the 19th over. His Delhi team-mate, Rajat Bhatia, got stuck into him, and his two sixes brought it down to 11 off seven. Awana, though, had his own back as he beat Bhatia on the pull and bowled him top of middle and leg before signing off.The canny Praveen Kumar had to bowl the crucial last over, and he nearly lost it with a huge wide down the leg side. Adam Gilchrist might be having a horror tournament with the bat, but dived full length to his left to save four runs. The game kept alive, Praveen bowled a superb final over, making sure that he was about a foot behind the front line for every ball. Whoever says he is not mentally fit for cricket is way off the mark.

ESPNcricinfo previews the second Test between England and New Zealand at Headingley

The Preview by Alan Gardner23-May-2013Match FactsMay 24-28, 2013
Start time 11am (1000GMT)The Big PictureAt Lord’s, as the threat of Graeme Swann and the left-armers’ footmarks hung above an unusually slow and turning pitch, New Zealand imploded like a science experiment gone wrong against the swing and seam of Stuart Broad and James Anderson. With Daniel Vettori ruled out of the second Test, Brendon McCullum will now have to trust in pace at Headingley, one of the most capricious grounds in England. Even he’s not sure how it will pan out.Vettori’s lack of fitness after six weeks on the sidelines at the IPL is perhaps unsurprising but, having elected not to call up Jeetan Patel, in the country and bowling fruitfully for Warwickshire, after Bruce Martin’s injury, New Zealand will field a four-man fast-bowling attack of Tim Southee, Trent Boult, Neil Wagner and Doug Bracewell, with Kane Williamson’s offspin for backup. When asked whether Headingley was as good a place as any to be without a frontline spinner, McCullum shrugged and said “I don’t know”. Perhaps he was more concerned about the batting, after a second sub-100 kneecapping of 2013, but given Wagner’s assertion on Wednesday that McCullum would have Vettori to fall back on as he combines batting and wicketkeeping with the captaincy, his lack of conviction may have been reflective of a greater loss.Vettori would have become New Zealand’s most-capped Test player had he been involved but they will have to do without his great reservoir of experience – not to mention his great beard – as they seek a first Test win in England since 1999 that would help them square the series. For England, there is the chance to build up some irresistible momentum ahead of the Ashes, as well as seal the series.For three drawn Tests in New Zealand, followed by three close-fought days at Lord’s, there was little to tell between the two teams but, having punched a hole, England will now hope the dam bursts. Headingley has borne witness to some of the more inglorious moments of their recent history – Darren Pattinson’s selection, Kevin Pietersen’s unravelling – but, with Joe Root batting like a young Len Hutton, they will hope Yorkshire turns out in force to oversee another ecky thumping. The local bean-counters will certainly have their fingers crossed.Form guide (Most recent first)
England WDDDDNew Zealand LDDDL
Watch out forStuart Broad has generally struggled to string together telling contributions with the ball in Tests – only during the 2009 Ashes has he taken five-wicket hauls in consecutive matches – but as he tore through New Zealand for 7 for 44 at Lord’s, there was genuine hope that he can sustain his golden groove. Last year, he took eight wickets at Headingley against South Africa, and he has the opportunity to prey on a psychologically fragile New Zealand line-up again.Despite a stunning 171 on Test debut, Hamish Rutherford’s returns since then have been more in keeping with the struggles of his recent predecessors at opener. He got two good deliveries at Lord’s, which can happen batting against the new ball, and the form of his partner, Peter Fulton, is arguably of greater concern for New Zealand, but 88 runs at an average of 14.66 since England first encountered him suggests they have done their homework.Team newsAn unchanged squad is likely to result in an unchanged XI, given the way England usually go about their selection business. Steven Finn is still searching for rhythm, but cleaned up New Zealand’s tail in the first innings at Lord’s to prove that pace is its own virtue, though he could still lose his place to Tim Bresnan, whose local knowledge gives him an edge.England (probable) 1 Alastair Cook (capt), 2 Nick Compton, 3 Jonathan Trott, 4 Ian Bell, 5 Joe Root, 6 Jonny Bairstow, 7 Matt Prior (wk), 8 Stuart Broad, 9 Graeme Swann, 10 James Anderson, 11 Steven FinnVettori was not deemed fit to last five days, so New Zealand have had a four-man pace attack effectively foisted on them. England controversially dropped Graeme Swann and tried the tactic against South Africa last year, only for Pietersen to be their second-most successful bowler, meaning Williamson could be in for some extended spells. Martin Guptill will replace BJ Watling and stiffen the batting, with McCullum taking the gloves and dropping a place in the order.New Zealand (probable) 1 Peter Fulton, 2 Hamish Rutherford, 3 Kane Williamson, 4 Ross Taylor, 5 Dean Brownlie, 6 Martin Guptill, 7 Brendon McCullum (capt & wk), 8 Tim Southee, 9 Doug Bracewell, 10 Neil Wagner, 11 Trent BoultPitch and conditionsDespite being bowled out for 96 in their opening innings of the county season, Yorkshire have generally piled on the runs at home, with Root and Jonny Bairstow providing the bulk of their 677 for 7 declared against Derbyshire at the start of May. Although it could be on the slow side, when the clouds roll over the pitch can still do strange things – and there are showers forecast for Friday.Stats and trivia England’s last win at Headingley came against West Indies in 2007. Since then they have lost two and drawn one. Stuart Broad needs nine wickets to reach 200 in Tests; three will take him past Jim Laker to become England’s 15th-most successful bowler. Three wickets or more at Headingley will see James Anderson pass Fred Trueman’s tally of 307 Test wickets on the Yorkshireman’s home ground. Peter Fulton has made 34 runs in five innings on tour so far.Quotes”Over the last couple of years there have been some high-scoring games here and it’s quite similar to Lord’s. If it’s sunny it can be a nice pitch to bat on and we will have to work hard in every session.”
“Dan, Mike Hesson and I spoke about how Dan was feeling and he wasn’t quite confident he’d be able to get through five days.”

A round-up of the Quaid-e-Azam trophy matches on February 9, 2013

ESPNcricinfo staff09-Feb-2013
ScorecardA 12-wicket match haul from left-arm fast bowler Wahab Riaz, including a hat-trick, and a strong batting performance led Lahore Shalimar to a ten-wicket victory over Lahore Ravi in the first round of the Super Eights in the Quaid-e-Azam trophy. Riaz took nine wickets in the first innings as Ravi were shot out for 153, and took three wickets in their second dig, when Ravi faced an innings defeat after a 169-run first-innings deficit. Some resolve by their batsmen, however, helped them set a target of 87, which Shalimar overhauled on the final day without the loss of a wicket.Ravi’s openers started positively when they batted first, putting on 70, before Riaz had them struggling at 124 for 9. Riaz’s performance was backed up by half-centuries from Shalimar’s opener Imran Butt, Umar Akmal and his brother Kamran, which strengthened their grip on the contest.Ravi’s openers scored half-centuries to help erase their deficit, but no other batsman scored beyond 25 as Ravi were bowled out for 255. Shalimar’s Imam-ul-Haq scored an unbeaten 52 to help seal the victory.
ScorecardCenturies from Shoaib Ahmed and Babar Naeem helped Rawalpindi gain three points against Islamabad in a drawn game. The first day being washed out stole valuable time from the game, and by the end of the third day, when Islamabad scored 123 for 3, the possibility of an outright result was virtually over.After being put in to bat, Rawalpindi lost three quick wickets to be struggling at 42 for 3, before a 177-run stand between Shoaib and Naeem helped them recover. Although wickets fell regularly thereafter, a knock of 59 from Sohail Tanvir helped them get past 350. Islamabad, in reply, stuttered throughout their innings, as besides opener Raheel Majeed, who scored 78, and Imad Wasim, no one put up much resistance. Tanvir and seamer Hammad Azam shared seven wickets between them.With the lead being secured, the rest of the match didn’t have much relevance. Umar Amin scored a half-century to lead Rawalpindi to 187 for 4, before the match was drawn.
ScorecardIn Swabi, the first two days of the Bottom Six match was washed out but an all-round effort from Saeed Anwar jnr helped Multan clinch a first-innings lead and three points against Multan. Left-arm spinner Anwar took 5 for 14 off 14 overs to help bowl Abbottabad out for 131, and scored an unbeaten century as Multan reached a strong 220 for 4 on the final day, before the match was drawn.Abbottabad struggled after they were put in to bat as their top order flopped. No.7 Khalid Usman, who scored 30, was the top scorer as Anwar and fellow spinner Aamer Yamin took eight of their wickets. In reply, Multan lost the first wicket without a run being scored, before Zeeshan Ashraf, Yasir Butt and Anwar led the recovery.
ScorecardQuetta narrowly avoided defeat in the other game of the group of the six bottom teams, against Peshawar at the Arbab Niaz Stadium. With the first day being washed out, both teams forfeited their first-innings to try chase an outright result.A century from Nawaz Ahmed and an unbeaten half-century from Mohammad Rizwan took Peshawar to 322 for 7 on the third day. Opener Bismillah Khan, who scored 58, and No.3 Ali Asad, who scored a century, led Quetta’s strong reply before a collapse had them losing four wickets for 21 runs. But lack of time prevented Peshawar to get the final two wickets.

South Africa allrounder Wayne Parnell’s participation in IPL 2013 is in no doubt, according to his franchise Pune Warriors, despite him being one of 51 “wanted” foreign nationals for allegedly testing positive for recreational drugs following a party in M

Amol Karhadkar07-Mar-2013South Africa allrounder Wayne Parnell’s participation in IPL 2013 is in no doubt, according to his franchise Pune Warriors, despite him being one of 35 “wanted” foreign nationals for allegedly testing positive for recreational drugs following a police raid on a party in Mumbai last year. Parnell’s IPL team-mate, Punjabi legspinner Rahul Sharma, who had also reportedly consumed drugs at the party, is also “supposed to join the squad as per schedule”, a franchise official told ESPNcricinfo.Parnell confirmed he will play the IPL and claimed innocence over the drugs charge. “As far as I am concerned, everything is fine,” he told ESPNcricinfo. I’ve received mail from Pune saying I have to come. I’ve got nothing to hide. The full story will come out once I get over there. They tested everyone that was at the party. I need to find my sample, because if they tested me they must have my sample and we need to match that up.”I’ve been subject to drug testing in my last five years as a professional cricketer, and I haven’t tested positive once. So I’ve got nothing to worry about. As far as I am aware, they didn’t give any specific samples and put them to names. They just said that a certain number of people tested positive. The individual samples need to be shown now.”Parnell and Sharma were among 90 people detained following the party at a hotel in the Juhu suburb of Mumbai on May 20 last year, a day after Pune Warriors’ IPL 2012 campaign ended. According to reports, drugs including cocaine, MDMA and cannabis were consumed at the party.Of the 90 people, 86 apparently tested positive – 35 foreign nationals, who have been “shown as wanted” as per a police official, and 51 Indians. These 86 people had a 1200-page charge sheet drawn up against them last month, according to .Apart from the players’ franchise, Tony Irish, the chief executive of the South Africa Cricketers’ Association, also played down the issue. “Wayne has an individual agent who will deal the matter but we, as the players’ association, will assist him in any way we can,” Irish said. “From what we know of the facts, there is little substance to them.”

Sri Lankan’s rookie offspinner and seamer were the major movers and shakers on the second and final day of the drawn warm-up match in Queenstown, as they claimed three wickets apiece to help reduce the New Zealand Chairman’s XI to 125 all out

The Report by Andrew Fidel Fernando22-Dec-2014
ScorecardFile photo: Niroshan Dickwella scored 63 off 51 on the second day in Wellington•AFPSri Lankan’s rookie offspinner and seamer were the major movers and shakers on the second and final day of the drawn warm-up match in Queenstown, as they claimed three wickets apiece to help reduce the New Zealand Chairman’s XI to 125 all out. Quick Dushmantha Chameera and offspinner Tharindu Kaushal only bowled 7.5 overs between them, but claimed 3 for 13 each. Dimuth Karunaratne and Niroshan Dickwella also hit fifties in the second innings.The Chairman’s XI resumed play on 37 for 3, after Sri Lankans had made 173 for 9 declared, and the regular fall of wickets that had defined the first day, continued on the second morning. Dhammika Prasad was the first to strike, removing Matt Taylor for 19, before Chameera had opposition captain Cole McConchie caught behind to reap the first of his scalps.The Chairman’s XI was at 108 for 5 when Kaushal dismissed innings top-scorer Jono Hickey for 57 which sparked a deluge of lower-order wickets. The last five wickets fell for 17 runs, leaving Sri Lankans with a 48-run lead.
Karunaratne retired out after hitting 52 from 75 balls, but even he was outdone for aggression by Niroshan Dickwella, whose 63 retired out was struck off 51 balls. Dinesh Chandimal remained 36 not out at the end of the match, after Lahiru Thirimanne added a 35 to his first-innings 50. Kumar Sangakkara and Angelo Mathews failed to make substantial contributions for the second time in the match, falling for 29 and 19 respectively. Sri Lankans scored 261 for 8 in 62.1 overs despite this.Kaushal’s haul places him well in contention for a Test cap on Boxing Day, with fellow offspinner Dilruwan Perera not having made a breakthrough in his eight overs. Perera has bowled with plenty of control in support of Rangana Herath this year, but is seen as a less attacking option than uncapped Kaushal, who comes highly-rated from the domestic circuit.Chameera, who is among Sri Lanka’s quickest young bowlers, will find it tougher to make it into the XI, despite his performance. Prasad, Suranga Lakmal, Shaminda Eranga and Nuwan Pradeep are also in the squad, and have played key roles in Sri Lanka’s Test successes in the first six months of the year.

The payments issue of the BPL has been stirred once again with Ian Pont, the Dhaka Gladiators coach, claiming he has not received half the money due to him

Mohammad Isam23-Jul-2012The payments issue of the Bangladesh Premier League (BPL) has been stirred once again with Ian Pont, the Dhaka Gladiators coach during the inaugural season, claiming he has not received half the money due to him. Pont’s allegation came two days after the six franchises missed the latest deadline – July 21 – to complete all payments.”I am personally missing 50% of my contracted amount and others are still awaiting re-imbursement of flights, expenses and original fees,” Pont wrote in an email. “Pieces of paper kept being produced showing bank transfers by the franchise, but they never took place. Players and staff have been given a whole host of excuses. Deadlines and promises remain broken.”The franchise, run by the Chowdhury family, has just stopped communicating. It’s not only very sad but totally unprofessional to run a business this way in my view.”However, Gazi Ashraf Hossain, the BPL governing council chairman, said that Pont had received his payment in full, though he wasn’t aware of any other clauses in his contract.”As far as I know, he [Pont] was the highest paid coach in the tournament and already got the full payment of $20,000,” Ashraf said. “I don’t know if there was a promise of any additional amount in the contract. If such a thing exists, I will still say that our priorities are player payments and tax issues. We will look into his claim afterwards.”In response, Pont wrote another e-mail: “I don’t really wish to talk about specific sums as they are and should be private. I can confirm that I have received half the amount stated in my contract. I don’t get the obsession with the amounts. If someone is owed a dollar, they are owed money.”Pont also claimed some Dhaka Gladiators’ players were willing to boycott their semi-final against Khulna Royal Bengals because they were not being paid. “The overseas players came to me and we had an emergency meeting where it was felt that boycotting the semi-final was a genuine option,” he said. “So much money was missing that the guys didn’t know what else they could try. But the players did not want to let the BPL down or the fans, which was the right thing to do.”I am amazed we remained focused enough to win the whole competition and it’s a testament to the players – overseas and local – when the only talk was about payments. It was hard to concentrate on the cricket with such an enormous distraction. After all, this is not simply a game for the players and staff, but it is their living.”Pont said he’d like to work in the BPL again but would quit the Dhaka franchise. “I anticipate returning to hopefully win the BPL again. It just won’t be with the Shihab Trading Company’s franchise. The fact is you cannot have players worrying if they are going to get their money. It just sends the wrong message.”Ashraf was disappointed with the irregular payments after the franchises missed yet another deadline. “We are a little frustrated with the payment issue. It would be nice for us if we could finish the inaugural tournament without any controversies, but still we have five months in hand before the next event to solve all the issues.”We have got verbal assurance from some franchises. Actually most of the franchises are now focusing on the revenue issue. You know a huge financial deal was involved in the event, so it’s not unlikely that they face some setback. I think we are in a learning process which will help us to arrange the next edition smoothly.”When asked whether the BPL would take tough action against a franchise that failed to settle the issue, Ashraf said: “The governing council will review all the things before taking any action. We hope the franchises can understand everything, so we are not in hurry.”

Matt Prior said he was not worried about fellow wicketkeeper Jonny Bairstow’s inclusion in the England squad to face West Indies

Alan Gardner15-May-2012Matt Prior is currently regarded as one of the finest wicketkeeper-batsmen in Test cricket, so you wouldn’t expect him to be ruffled by the prospect of a little competition. With England set to give a debut to Jonny Bairstow in the first Test against West Indies at Lord’s, Prior said he is actually enjoying the presence of a fellow gloveman in the dressing room – though if his 22-year-old team-mate enjoys a similar Test debut to the one Prior made five years ago, he may scratch his beard and mull the question a little more deeply next time he’s asked.Prior made an unbeaten 126 in his first Test in 2007, against the same opponents on the same ground, and despite a brief period when he lost the gloves to Tim Ambrose at the start of 2008 has carved an unassailable niche for himself as England’s wicketkeeper in the long format. Bairstow, who keeps wicket for Yorkshire and was behind the stumps for the Lions’ ten-wicket win over the West Indians last week, is expected to play as a specialist batsman, coming in at No.6, but Prior is not worried about welcoming a man who could become a rival for his spot into the side. At least not yet, anyway.”If he smashes a double hundred and I get nought he’ll probably become a rival pretty quickly,” Prior said, with a laugh. “He’s a team-mate, obviously he’s a wicketkeeper as well, but there are a number of wicketkeepers around the country and there always has been. Whether they’re in the team or playing county cricket I know that I have to perform well to keep my place.”It’s always exciting when a player like Jonny comes through into the squad, he’s settled in very well. It’s nice to form a relationship with another keeper because ultimately he’s the only other bloke in the room that knows what it’s like to be a keeper. It’s hugely exciting for Jonny this week and if he does get selected to make his debut it will be a great feeling I’m sure.”Prior, who has made three of his six Test tons at Lord’s, including two in his last two Test matches at the ground, is the sort of player who would not begrudge Bairstow success, even if his place were less secure. He may have received a ticking off from the ICC for breaking a window in the pavilion and discombobulating a few MCC members during the Sri Lanka Test last year but it is team achievement, rather than individual accolades, that gets Prior worked up, a trait that is common to Andy Flower’s hard-working England side.”I’ve never been a big stat watcher. I’ve always tried to play the role that’s needed to win the game, or save the game, or whatever it may be, so that’s for me more important than the individual score,” Prior said. “I’ve always played like that and I think I would struggle to play any differently. I find it more exciting to play for the team and to win a Test match.”I believe it is one of our strengths. The team goal and team performance comes ahead of any one person’s own goals and ego and I think it’s vital in any successful team to have that.”Similarly, he will happily resume his place at No. 7 in the order, having been promoted to No. 6 on England’s tour of Sri Lanka, as they supplemented their four-man attack with Samit Patel as the spin-bowling allrounder. In English conditions, on green pitches and against green opponents, a return to four bowlers and six batsmen is almost certain.”I really don’t mind. It doesn’t make any difference, really, batting six or seven, that one spot,” Prior said. “Batting at six you potentially have more opportunity to get a bigger score but then batting a seven has its challenges as well and that’s something I enjoy doing. I genuinely believe the most important thing is getting the balance of the team right to win the Test match and if I bat at six or seven, I’m easy with either one.”While West Indies are depleted by the absence of key players at IPL, Prior was unequivocal about what his priorities are. “Personally for me no, because Test cricket is my life, all my goals are based around Test cricket at this moment in time,” he said, when asked whether he would put an IPL contract above playing for England. “But it’s an individual choice and it’s up to those people to make their decisions. For me, I love playing Test cricket and it’s something I want to do for a few more years to come.”It is perhaps easier to be enthusiastic when you are ranked No. 1 in the format, as England are. West Indies are currently rated the world’s No. 7 Test side, a position they have not been higher than since the summer of 2000, when England beat them in a Test series for the first time in 31 years. But while Prior was not taking victory for granted, he denied that England needed to reassert their credentials after losing four Tests out of five over the winter and with their closest challengers for the No. 1 spot, South Africa, arriving later in the summer.”I don’t think we need to prove anything, as such, I think we’ve played pretty good cricket over a number of years now so I don’t know about that. But certainly we want to get off to a good start this summer, after a few little glitches in the winter I know that everyone’s very keen and pumped up to perform well from the off. There are two big series coming up, we want to play well, we want to win those series.”

India can expect a hostile reception from South Africa’s pace attack and the Wanderers crowd in the first ODI of a shortened tour

The Preview by Firdose Moonda04-Dec-2013Match factsThursday December 5, 2013
Start time 1330 local (1130GMT)India have never won an ODI series in South Africa•AFPBig PictureSince March 2011, South Africa and India have played only two ODIs against each other. The first was at the World Cup that India went on to win. South Africa beat the hosts by three wickets in Nagpur, in a match that seemed to indicate they were capable of breaking their major tournament jinx. They staged the perfect chase, going after a target of 297 with ruthlessness.They next met two years and three months later, again at an ICC event that India eventually triumphed in. Again, India batted first and again they piled it on, scoring 331 in Cardiff. Although South Africa came close – they were all out for 305 – they were never really in the game.Both tournaments were Gary Kirsten’s last as coach of the respective sides and both teams went through tough withdrawals immediately after he left. India have come out on the other side, following the retirements of senior personnel. South Africa are still in the process of doing the same. Their limited-overs squads took a backseat to the Test team in the Kirsten era, and rightly so; they have since had to start over and they are definitely not there yet.That’s the background to how these rivals meet now, without taking into account the tension that has preceded this series. Although the players themselves have had nothing to do with the boardroom squabbles, they and the fans are the ones who will suffer. What should have been seven ODIs is now just three and although the former may have been overkill, the latter could leave us wishing for more.Since this all we are getting, the best we can hope for is that the series has as much of Nagpur and Cardiff as it can have. The totals may not be as high but if the quality of the competition is as good, it will be a fitting way to end this year for the 50-over game.Form guide (last five completed games, most recent first)South Africa WLLWWIndia WLWWWIn the spotlight India’s first tour to South Africa was called the Friendship tour but this one has already gone some way to becoming the unfriendly one. With emotions running high over the shortened tour and a Wanderers crowd known for being boisterous, India can expect a hostile reception at the Bullring. The day before the match, there were only 6500 tickets remaining out of a total of over 30,000 and even with thundershowers forecast, the Johannesburg faithful are unlikely to stay away.Three of the top five ODI run-scorers this year are Indian batsmen and their line-up has the record for the two highest innings scores this year – both in excess of 360. The ability to post towering totals is undoubtedly their strength but they might find it a little harder to do that against a South African attack that has been miserly and has promised a short-ball barrage on a green top in the hope of exposing the stereotypical subcontinental shortcoming.Team news South Africa are likely to go with the six-batsman strategy that will allow them to play two allrounders in Jacques Kallis and Ryan McLaren. Kallis, Dale Steyn and Graeme Smith should all return to the XI after missing the third ODI against Pakistan, with niggles keeping the first two out and Smith allowed compassionate leave following the death of his grandmother. This being the first match of the series, South Africa will likely field their strongest bowling suit, which could mean no place for Vernon Philander, who is a 50-50 call after falling on his shoulder, or Wayne Parnell.South Africa: (likely)1 Hashim Amla, 2 Graeme Smith, 3 Quinton de Kock (wk) 4 Jacques Kallis, 5 AB de Villiers (capt), 6 JP Duminy, 7 Ryan McLaren, 8 Dale Steyn, 9 Morne Morkel, 10 Lonwabo Tsotsobe, 11 Imran TahirIndia’s first choice XI are all fit and raring to go. They will not want to tinker too much with a combination that has won them matches recently and will likely go in with three seamers, two spinners and their familiar, formidable top six.India: 1 Rohit Sharma, 2 Shikhar Dhawan, 3 Virat Kohli, 4 Yuvraj Singh, 5 Suresh Raina, 6 MS Dhoni (capt, wk), 7 Ravindra Jadeja, 8 R Ashwin, 9 Bhuveshwar Kumar, 10 Mohammad Shami, 11 Mohit SharmaStats and trivia South Africa have lost two of their last three ODI series at home. Both were three-match contests, the first against New Zealand last year and the second the recently-completed rubber against Pakistan. They won a five-match series against Pakistan in between. India have won 22 of the 31 ODIs they have played this year and have the highest win percentage of all teams who have participated in more than five matches – 73.33. Quotes “We are under pressure here in our own country. We just lost a series so confidence is not hugely high but I still think we can beat the No.1 team.”
“The guys are quite familiar with the conditions out here. But South Africa is one place where a lot depends on how the wicket is prepared, whether it’s overcast or not and the circumstances on the day.”

Netherlands and Sussex will feature in the 2011-12 Caribbean T20, while Canada will play in the tournament for the third consecutive year

ESPNcricinfo staff20-Oct-2011Netherlands and Sussex will feature in the 2011-12 Caribbean T20, while Canada will play in the tournament for a third consecutive year. Hampshire and Somerset, who played in the last edition, will not take part this time, with Netherlands and Sussex replacing them to make up three foreign teams that will compete with the seven Caribbean teams.The tournament will be played from January 9-22, 2012, and Trinidad will replace Antigua as the second venue for matches, while Barbados retains its status as a host for games.Netherlands will take part in the 2012 World Twenty20 qualifying tournament in March next year, and their CEO Richard Cox said the Caribbean T20 would be a good way to prepare for international cricket. “Undoubtedly this is another significant move in our preparation for the international playing programme,” he said. “I know the players will love the opportunity of playing against the likes of Trinidad & Tobago who have featured so well in the Champions League Twenty20 in India.”Sussex were quarter-finalists in the 2011 Friends Life t20, and their chief executive Dave Brooks said the Caribbean T20 would be a chance for their players to perform in different conditions and would also be a chance to test young players.In last year’s edition, Hampshire reached the semi-final, while the other two foreign teams, Somerset and Canada, finished third and fourth in their respective groups.