Australia’s final home series before the twin peaks of India and England are to be scaled in 2013 has the Test team leaning towards the developmental

Daniel Brettig in Hobart13-Dec-2012Australia’s final home series before the twin peaks of India and England are to be scaled in 2013 has the Test team leaning towards the developmental. The retirement of Ricky Ponting opened up a place in the batting order for the third coming of Phillip Hughes, and on match eve future prospects outweighed Perth form as Mitchell Starc tipped out Mitchell Johnson as the third paceman alongside Peter Siddle and Ben Hilfenhaus.The captain Michael Clarke, arguably the only member of the team currently at the unadulterated summit of his powers, does not wish to speak of the Sri Lanka series as a point in the calendar when Australia will try to groove a team for greater battles ahead. To do so would be to show scant respect for a visiting team with considerably more batting chops than the hosts, and the world’s most prolific spinner over the past year.But Clarke acknowledged that the national selector John Inverarity and the team performance manager Pat Howard each had one eye on the way ahead, something proven by the composition of the Bellerive XI. “For me, I’m not looking at the Ashes at all,” Clarke said. “The reason Mitchell Starc’s there is because he’s been next in line in the queue for a while. He has performed really well in the shorter form of the game for Australia. He got one Test in Perth and got six-for and 70-odd with the bat as well, so it’s not a bad start.”Whoever we left out in this Test match it was always going to be a topic of conversation. People were always going to ask the question ‘why did you leave him out?’ John Inverarity, Mickey Arthur and Pat Howard need to continue to look to India and then to the Ashes. But for me as a player and for the rest of this team, we’re focused on this Test match.”Johnson had been described by Inverarity as Australia’s best bowler against South Africa at the WACA ground. But instead of being the third local survivor of the last Test against Sri Lanka in Hobart in 2007, he is on the plane back to Brisbane to play for the Brisbane Heat in the BBL. His place in the scheme of things has been underlined – a depth bowler and experienced hand, who at the age of 31 has less to gain from facing Sri Lanka than the 22-year-old Starc.Ed Cowan, David Warner, Hughes and Shane Watson meanwhile comprise the latest version of Australia’s top four. Their task is to give due protection to the more accomplished bats of Clarke and Michael Hussey while also growing in confidence and consistency themselves. Clarke’s reluctance to move up from No. 5 is warranted by his record in the position, leaving those above him to be shuffled as Australia’s top three was similarly tossed about in the 1990s when Mark and Steve Waugh were unwilling to move from Nos. 4 and 5 in the order.”If you look at our top three they are all very different players, they all have great strengths and have all scored a hundred for Australia,” Clarke said of Warner, Cowan and Hughes. “There is plenty of talent there, it is about owning your position, making the most of it, grabbing hold of this opportunity to both hands and they have the chance to build a long successful career whether it be opening the batting, batting three, batting four, all of our top four have seen success at this level, they are good enough to be here and now it’s about grabbing hold of that chance.”For Hughes, the return to Australia’s batting order has been accompanied by plenty of hype, and no little irony at the Hobart scene of his ignominious exit from the Test team against New Zealand last year. Clarke said the experience of being dropped and coming back had helped him return a more hardened cricketer and self-aware man. While his progression will only be proven by runs, Hughes’ confident but relaxed visage has been noted this week.”At the time, the time you are dropped is the most disappointing of your career, no doubt about it, for me it was the worst feeling I’ve ever had playing cricket,” Clarke said. “The realisation that all I ever wanted was to play cricket for Australia and to have it taken away from me because of my poor performances breaks your heart. But when I look back now on my career it was the best thing to happen to me, it allowed me to go back to my state and work really hard on my game without the expectation and the consistent media around me.”Fortunately for me I got a second chance. If anything, it gives you more hunger and makes you realise how much you want to play cricket for Australia and makes you realise how tough the game is. You have to work really hard to stay at the top consistently and the sign of a great player is longevity. I have a lot of respect for the guys who have played over 100 Test matches because it means you have been consistently very good for a long period of time.”As a team, Australia still strive to be consistently very good. If they are expected to defeat Sri Lanka, the series result will not be the ultimate marker of their advance towards the goal. Rather, Clarke said he wanted to see improvement on what was displayed against South Africa, though Mahela Jaywardene’s team can boast neither the record nor the ranking of Graeme Smith’s men.”If we rock up and do what we did against South Africa we won’t be getting better,” Clarke said. “That conversation is had consistently around our group that the opposition is irrelevant in regards to how we judge ourselves as players. You have to be getting better individually and as a team. Our goal is not to come out and play the same way against Sri Lanka as we did against South Africa.”We have to learn from the last series, take the positives which I thought there were a lot. And the areas we need to get better, we need to make sure we are. I’m confident if we can improve on the series against South Africa, we’ll continue to have success.”

A wrap of the final day of the ninth round of Ranji Trophy matches in Group B

Sidharth Monga01-Jan-2013
ScorecardFile photo: Abhimanyu Mithun provided Karnataka the inspiration with a double-strike in the final session•AFP

After a disappointing season, Karnataka needed a host of things to go their way – not only in their match, but in their group – for them to qualify. They needed Odisha to lose. Odisha lost. If they didn’t win by a bonus point, they needed Delhi to take a first-innings lead but not win their match. That happened too.As Delhi failed to take their opponents’ wickets, Karnataka were running out of time too, but they somehow kept producing the wickets on a flat Pune pitch against a determined Maharashtra side. After they managed to wrap Maharashtra’s second innings up for 561, Karnataka were left with 89 to chase in 13 overs. Not without drama, they did so with eight balls to spare, and progressed into the next round.At the start of the day, Maharashtra were 315 for 2, a deficit of only 158. Ankit Bawne began the day on 80 not out, and would remain undefeated. Karnataka kept pegging away at the other end. In the first session, HS Sharath picked up two wickets.After lunch, Maharashtra looked comfortable, but Syed Moinuddin broke through with the wicket of the dangerous Kedar Jadhav. Another partnership followed, this time between Bawne and Rahul Tripathi, but Sharath got rid of Tripathi before tea.Going into the final session, though, Maharashtra had already taken a lead of 40 runs, and had four wickets in hand. Karnataka’s state was not at all enviable. They had to take the wickets, and then wipe off all the additional runs. The clock kept ticking away.Abhimanyu Mithun, who took six wickets in the first innings, now provided the inspiration with the wickets of Shrikant Mundhe and Stayajit Bachhav in back-to-back overs. Still, Maharashtra had got 62 ahead by then. A little over 20 overs remained in the day’s play.To Karnataka’s annoyance, No. 10 Sachin Chaudhari swung his bat, and scored 14 off 19 balls, taking the lead to 84. It was all getting away from Karnataka, but Stuart Binny’s inspired move to get Amit Verma to bowl worked. The legspinner trapped Chaudhari, and Mithun finished the innings off in the next over.With Robin Uthappa not well, Karnataka opened with Kunal Kapoor and Lokesh Rahul. Kapoor managed just 8 off 12, and his wicket meant Karnataka would not win with a bonus point. That ensured Baroda, seven points adrift of Karnataka, were ensured qualification, but also that Karnataka would need Delhi to draw their game.Delhi fell short by three wickets in Nagpur, and Rahul and Binny hit their way towards a win. Rahul scored an unbeaten 42 off 34. Binny fell for 25 off 17, but fittingly their record-breaking wicketkeeper-batsman CM Gautam finished it off with 16 off eight balls.In the quarter-finals, Karnataka will face Saurashtra in Rajkot, and Baroda will be hosted by Mumbai. Maharashtra were relegated.
ScorecardDelhi needed to win their final game to progress to the next round or hope that Karnataka don’t won theirs, but were disappointed on both counts. On a flat track in Nagpur, having somehow enforced the follow-on on Vidarbha, Delhi could prise out only seven wickets on the final day. And in exceptional circumstances, Karnataka won their game moments after Delhi were denied.Shalabh Shrivastava provided the resistance for Vidarbha, who came into the match with a realistic chance of progressing but were frustrated by the flat pitch. Pradeep Sangwan, Vikas Mushra and Sumit Narwal picked up the wickets, but not fast enough. Delhi even got in 95 overs on the day, but couldn’t get past Shrivastava, who batted for five hours and 11 minutes.Vidarbha’s captain, Sairaj Bahutule, announced his retirement from first-class cricket after the match.
ScorecardIn the rain-affected, inconsequential match in Chennai, even a first-innings result was not possible. Haryana finished with 180 for 3 in response to Tamil Nadu’s 571 for 6 declared.

Sri Lanka coach Graham Ford has defended his side’s poor use of the DRS on day two in Sydney

Andrew Fernando at the SCG04-Jan-2013Sri Lanka coach Graham Ford has defended his side’s poor use of the DRS on day two in Sydney, after they burnt a review in Rangana Herath’s first over, but did not refer an lbw shout that would have been turned in their favour a few overs later.Sri Lanka could have had Michael Clarke out first ball when Herath struck him on the pad with one that pitched outside off stump and straightened, but were unsure if Clarke had inside edged a ball onto his pad. The unsuccessful review had been another lbw chance off David Warner, where the ball was not projected to hit enough of the stumps to overturn the original decision. Clarke went on to make 50.”It was tough for Mahela [Jayawardene],” Ford said. “I think he wanted reviews intact. Having blown one he was reluctant to blow another one unless he was absolutely sure that it was out. I think the captain tries to get as much information as possible from close fielders, like what the height was, and he has to follow his gut feeling.”It all happens quickly and standing in the slips, it’s very hard for Mahela. If they had reviewed that and maybe if one or two chances stuck today, and a couple of things had gone our way, we would have been in a better position. Although we are still in the game, we could have been in a powerful position.”Australia finished 48 runs ahead of Sri Lanka at stumps, with four first-innings wickets still in hand. However the SCG pitch has already shown signs of dryness on day two. With Australia having to bat last, Ford was hopeful a strong second-innings performance might take the visitors close to a maiden win in Australia.”We know we are in the game. We have fought hard and deserve to be in the game, because of the spirit and the fight we’ve shown. We’re well aware that it’s going to be tough from here on, but we certainly haven’t been blown away and we are sitting in a much better position than at the MCG. We will take heart from that. A number of young players have come in and shown that they have the guts and desire to play at this level.”Ford also praised Jayawardene’s knock on day one, which helped set a positive tone for Sri Lanka’s first innings, as their captain collected 72 from 110 balls, hitting 12 fours and a six. Jayawardene had struggled in the first two Tests, in which he made 12, 19, 3 and 0.”It was fantastic to see him go out and play so well. It shows what a fantastic leader he is. He was up for the challenge and went up the order and batted at three. He played superbly and I was hopeful he would get a hundred as this is his last Test match as captain, but I am sure he will have a bigger role to play in the second innings.”

Ajmal Shahzad is the most notable English county player seriously considering whether to sign up for the planned PSL

David Hopps31-Jan-2013Ajmal Shahzad, who only two years ago was regarded as a integral part of England’s fast-bowling future, is the most notable English county player seriously considering whether to sign up for the planned Pakistan Super League.Pakistan are so anxious to attract overseas players that they have offered life insurance of $2 million (£1.25m) as well as 24-hour personal security for a tournament which would offer competitive cricket immediately ahead of the English county season.That has been enough for Shahzad to toy with the possibility of making himself available, along with three other county players with Pakistani antecedents: Lancashire’s Kabir Ali, Mooen Ali of Worcestershire and Kadeer Ali, who is currently a free agent since being released by Gloucestershire in 2010.That they would eventually accept offers, though, is far from certain. Players’ associations including the international body, FICA, and their England equivalent, the PCA, have warned players that they should not visit Pakistan on security grounds and there is a general acceptance that overseas players will be immensely difficult to attract.But players with a Pakistan background, and of Muslim religion, are naturally more willing to consider any offers than most, privately feeling that their safety, although impossible to guarantee, might be less compromised.Shahzad, who is forging a new career with Nottinghamshire after sharing a troubled 2012 season between Yorkshire and Lancashire, said: “It’s still early doors but if the PSL is set up professionally and becomes official and the security is top notch then I would think about it. My first commitment is to Notts but the fixtures don’t clash with the English season.”Nottinghamshire have taken a firm line against the involvement of their players in the IPL because it clashes with the England season, but their director of cricket, Mick Newell, emphasised that there would be no automatic objection to any overseas T20 tournament which took place in England’s close season.He counselled: “We would advise players to have full discussions with the PCA before making a decision about any overseas T20 tournament so they were fully aware of any issues, but we would not automatically block an NOC if it was requested.”Lancashire are confident that they have dissuaded Kabir from making the trip. “We haven’t granted an NOC for any of our players to go forward to the PSL auction,” a Lancashire statement said, giving the impression that the subject was closed.Kabir, though, had been among the keenest to make the trip, despite an unnerving experience with terrorist violence, this time in India, more than four years ago. When attacks on Mumbai forced the suspension of India’s tour of India, In November 2008, Kabir was due to have dinner at the Taj Palace, where England were also shortly due to stay, on the night of the attacks. He changed his mind at the last minute and went to the cinema and the shootings began shortly afterwards.Worcestershire’s director of cricket, Steve Rhodes, said that Mooen Ali has also not yet applied for an NOC certificate. Such applications would be premature, however, as details of the PSL have not been finalised. Mooen is believed to have more reservations about the tournament than many others under consideration.

The preview for the third ODI between West Indies and Zimbabwe at George’s

The Preview by Vishal Dikshit25-Feb-2013

Match facts

February 26, 2013
Start time 0930 local (1330 GMT)Craig Ervine and Hamilton Masakadza would have to play big roles for Zimbabwe if they are to avoid a whitewash• WICB Media/Randy Brooks Photo

Big Picture

Going by the series scoreline so far, 2-0 in favour of West Indies, nothing out of the ordinary and unexpected has happened. A convincing 156-run victory in the first ODI and a seven-wicket win in the second. The second margin sounds comprehensive, but it wasn’t. Zimbabwe showed a marked improvement on Sunday and halfway through the match, would have even thought of leveling the series. What they are left with now, is to play for a solitary win in the final ODI and win their first one-dayer since October 2011, when they chased 329 against New Zealand. West Indies will be brimming with confidence after a forgettable summer in Australia and look set to complete a whitewash.
After being thrashed in the first ODI, Zimbabwe put up a strong batting display in the second, which stretched the hosts to the 49th over. Their bowling and fielding went up a notch, but they failed to pick wickets despite the pressure they created. They have picked only seven wickets in nearly 100 overs and have conceded 611 runs at a dismal average of 87.29. They will rely on Kyle Jarvis and their most experienced bowler, Prosper Utseya, to give them breakthroughs, especially in the opening overs. The 22-year old Natsai M’shangwe has been the most economical in the two ODIs, but it’s the wickets they need to win matches.West Indies, meanwhile, would not want to be in the pressure-cooker situation they found themselves in on Sunday. Even though their batsmen have done their job, curbing Zimbabwe to a lower score would be ideal for them. If they win the third, it will be their first whitewash over a Test-playing nation since beating Bangladesh 3-0 in 2004.

Form guide

West Indies WWLLL
Zimbabwe LLLLL

In the spotlight

Despite scoring two consecutive fifties, Kieran Powell threw his wicket away in both the ODIs. Against a feeble Zimbabwe attack and in the absence of Chris Gayle, this will be the apt time for Powell to convert a start into a three-digit score and boost his confidence before the Champions Trophy in June.Hamilton Masakadza was Zimbabwe’s top performer on Sunday with a fifty and figures of 2 for 27 from seven overs. If Zimbabwe have to win, he will have to extend his stay on the pitch to chase or set up a big total for the in-form West Indies batsmen.

Team news

West Indies are yet to announce their squad for the third ODI. Gayle and Darren Sammy were rested for the first two matches. With the series to their name, West Indies may want to give a chance to the left-arm spinner Veerasammy Permaul (if available), who has been in fine form for Guyana with 13 wickets in the last two Regional Four-Day matches.West Indies: (probable) 1 Kieran Powell, 2 Ramnaresh Sarwan, 3 Darren Bravo, 4 Narsingh Deonarine, 5 Kieron Pollard, 6 Dwayne Bravo (capt), 7 Andre Russell, 8 Denesh Ramdin (wk), 9 Kemar Roach, 10 Tino Best, 11 Sunil Narine/Veerasammy PermaulZimbabwe: (from) Brendan Taylor (capt), Hamilton Masakadza, Vusi Sibanda, Tino Mawoyo, Kyle Jarvis, Tendai Chatara, Chris Mpofu, Prosper Utseya, Regis Chakabva, Malcolm Waller, Keegan Meth, Craig Ervine, Chamu Chibhabha, Tino Mutombodzi, Natsai M’shangwe

Stats and trivia

• The last time West Indies and Zimbabwe played a bilateral ODI series, West Indies won the series 4-1 in West Indies in 2010.
• West Indies have won six and lost six of the 12 ODIs they have played at St. George’s in Grenada.

Quotes

“I felt a burden lifted when I reached my hundred. I was lacking a little confidence before this performance so I have my confidence back now.”

Abdur Razzak, the Bangladesh left-arm spinner, thought he would miss the chance to complete 200 ODI wickets in the three-match series against Sri Lanka

Mohammad Isam29-Mar-2013Abdur Razzak, the Bangladesh left-arm spinner, thought he would miss the chance to complete 200 ODI wickets in the three-match series against Sri Lanka. After going wicketless in the first game and the second one being abandoned, he ended up getting all five wickets required to reach the landmark in the final game in Pallekele, a testament to his persistence over difficult periods in his career.”After the first two matches, I thought I would have to wait a long time for another opportunity,” Razzak said. “It came in the third game and I was extremely happy. The moment when I took the fifth wicket was unforgettable. Before the series I had it in mind to reach the 200-wicket mark.”Razzak’s numbers, and stature as the most experienced bowler in the line-up have made him a valuable member of the ODI side. All but one of his four-wicket hauls came in defeats while all four of his five-fors have been in wins.Yet, it is his experience with the darker side of international cricket that has taught him the lesson of not taking even an ordinary spell of bowling for granted. Razzak was twice pulled up for chinks in his bowling action, the second occasion costing him almost a year’s international cricket. He was first reported in 2004 and four years later told to correct his action.”I am one of those few players from Bangladesh who has seen some really critical periods in their career. When the bowling action was questioned, everyone spoke to me as if my career was over. I was strong on the inside. I didn’t think my career was over.”I think that has given me a lot of strength as a person. I love taking up challenges, I can’t hide away from bowling in certain periods because it doesn’t make me comfortable. I like to go through these difficult experiences during matches or otherwise, so that I know what to do the next time it happens,” he said.Razzak has experienced memorable moments too. After taking three wickets on debut against minnows Hong Kong, he was impressive against Pakistan in his next game. Problems with his bowling action kept him out till 2006 when he became a regular for another three years. During this time he was instrumental in Bangladesh’s progression to the 2007 World Cup’s Super Eights.Razzak was the Man of the Match against West Indies in his comeback game in 2009 after correcting his action. It was followed by a hat-trick against Zimbabwe in 2010, and through ups and downs, he has remained the backbone of a side short on experience.”It is hard to make a distinction on which has been my best moment. There have been so many good moments. But I think I have enjoyed the fact that the 200 wickets have not taken too long. I have done it in 141 innings which gives me a lot of pride.”

The Pakistan squad for Champions trophy spent the second day of their conditioning camp in Abbottabad focusing on their batting

Umar Farooq in Abbottabad04-May-2013The Pakistan squad for Champions trophy spent the second day of their conditioning camp in Abbottabad focusing on their batting. The players had a full-fledged session under the guidance of former players Javed Miandad and Wasim Akram, while the regular coaches, Dav Whatmore and Mohammad Akram, took a backseat.Misbah-ul-Haq, Nasir Jamshed and Umar Amin were batched together for a batting session with Miandad, while the bowlers – Mohammad Irfan, Saeed Ajmal and Junaid Khan – also spent time working on their batting with help from assistant coach Shahid Aslam. Ajmal, who is expected to play a significant role with the ball, showed he has worked on his batting with a couple of eye-catching shots – a back-foot cut and a slog over midwicket.Asad Shafiq, who scored four consecutive half-centuries recently in the President’s cup one day tournament, had an extended batting session for two hours. In the absence of Younis Khan, Shafiq will shoulder extra responsibility in the Pakistan middle order.”I have batted on a track that helped both bowlers and batsmen, a pitch similar to what we are (expecting) to get in England,” Shafiq said after the session. “My confidence is already up after playing in South Africa. I am trying to avoid being complacent and maintain my rhythm from these training sessions.””My plan is to bat for big runs as I know the responsibility in his [Younis] absence has gone up. As a team, we understand how important it is to score runs to support our bowlers, as our group is a tough one. It’s in our minds that we have to be ready and have to give our hundred per cent to winning the opening game.”Akram, who arrived today for a two-day visit, cited batting as the key if Pakistan are to succeed. He said that the team’s chances in Champions Trophy are ‘bright’ but batsmen need to contribute regularly. “If our batting clicks, our bowlers will follow it up on a good note,” Akram said. “Our strength has been the bowling. Even in my era, we never felt comfortable chasing the target. So our batsmen need to score runs.”The are indeed preparing well, but we need to see how they execute the plans there in the matchesm,” he said. “I always deem Pakistan as a favourite for such tournaments and with a proper planning we can beat any team any where.”

Abdur Razzak and Shamsur Rahman are the latest additions to the Bangladesh ODI squad that will take on Zimbabwe starting May 3

Mohammad Isam25-Apr-2013Abdur Razzak and Shamsur Rahman have been added to the Bangladesh ODI squad for the three-match series against Zimbabwe that begins on May 3. They will also be in the squad for the two Twenty20s which take place just after the ODI series.Shamsur is a right-handed top-order batsman who made his Twenty20 debut against Sri Lanka last month. He was adjudged leg-before, falling for a first-ball duck, though the decision looked dubious at the time. He scored heavily in this year’s Bangladesh Premier League, making 421 runs in 12 matches. He also had a decent first-class season, averaging a shade below 36 and scoring one century. He is yet to make an ODI debut.Razzak has been a regular in the limited-overs squad, recently completing 200 ODI wickets. In his last ODI appearance, he took a five-for against Sri Lanka.ESPNcricinfo has learned that a total of three players will be returning to Dhaka after the second Test. Shahriar Nafees and Enamul Haque jnr are so far the only two confirmed while the third player will be decided later.

Members of the Australia women’s cricket team will be among the country’s highest-paid female athletes as part of a restructure of the Cricket Australia contract system

Brydon Coverdale21-May-2013Members of the Australia women’s cricket team will be among the country’s highest-paid female athletes as part of a restructure of the Cricket Australia contract system. The leading players could earn up to $80,000 over the next year as part of the new payment programme, with the top player retainer having increased from $15,000 to $52,000 and the minimum retainer having been boosted from $5000 to $25,000.There has also been a substantial increase in the player tour payments from $100 a day to $250 a day, which could add up significantly over the next year, when the national team will be touring for 85 days. Cricket Australia’s chief executive James Sutherland said the move was “a landmark step” for women’s cricket and a fine recognition of the success of the Australians, who currently hold both the World Cup and World Twenty20 titles.”We are still working towards the day when Australia’s female cricketers will be able to earn a full-time, professional living from cricket,” Sutherland said. “But the performances of our female stars justify this step and the day will come when future, full-time professional female cricketers will look back and thank those who went before them.”Sutherland said the success of the national team had contributed to a boost in female cricket participation, which has increased by 18% in the past year to 180,000 female participants across Australia. State players will also benefit from the cash injection, with Cricket Australia to provide each state and the ACT with $100,000 a year to help fund minimum standards for women’s cricketers contracted to play in the national competitions.”This is a massive boost for women’s cricket in Australia and I know all players thank CA and ACA [the Australian Cricketers’ Association] for agreeing to this additional funding,” current Australia player Alex Blackwell said. “Female players have never been better supported. With women’s cricket growing both here and internationally, the opportunities for players are increasing. These extra dollars will help strike a balance between the sacrifices required to reach the top levels and the rewards that come with this. It’s a great time to be playing and makes you look at the upcoming season with a huge level of excitement.”Lisa Sthalekar, who has recently retired from international cricket but remains a member of the ACA executive, said: “For such a long time, female cricketers have trained and played at the highest levels but took a financial hit to do so. From paying for a lot of their expenses to sacrificing earnings for time away from work, the cost has been significant to this point – and forced too many players to retire prematurely. These funds help show how far women’s cricket has come in recent times and will provide a wonderful incentive to current and future players to follow their dreams within a more supportive financial environment.”The first group of national players who will benefit from the new payment system has also been named. Fourteen players will be contracted for the next year, down from 18 last season, with the intention to concentrate on a core group of players.Holly Ferling, 17, has been added to the squad after impressing on debut at the World Cup earlier this year, while other additions from last year’s list include Ellyse Villani and Megan Schutt. Along with the newly-retired Sthalekar, the other players left out from the 2012-13 squad are Lauren Ebsary, Sarah Elliott, Sharon Millanta and Leah Poulton.Contract list for 2013-14 Alex Blackwell, Jess Cameron, Sarah Coyte, Holly Ferling, Jodie Fields, Rachael Haynes, Alyssa Healy, Julie Hunter, Jess Jonassen, Meg Lanning, Erin Osborne, Ellyse Perry, Megan Schutt, Elyse Villani.

Sri Lanka overcame resistance from Lendl Simmons and Darren Bravo to move to the top of the table in the tri-series but fell just short of earning a bonus point

The Report by Abhishek Purohit08-Jul-2013
Scorecard and ball-by-ball detailsKumar Sangakkara made West Indies pay for erratic bowling•Associated Press

Sri Lanka’s batsmen, led by Kumar Sangakkara, battled rain interruptions that stretched their innings of 41 overs over two days. Their bowlers seemed to have the match under control when they ran in to a red-hot Lendl Simmons and Darren Bravo. That was when rain decided to even things out. A drizzle started, West Indies panicked, went for the D/L par score and lost Simmons. The drizzle stopped, the clouds disappeared and all life drained out of the West Indies chase as Sri Lanka slowed the game down.The chase had seemed to have already lost steam at 31 for 4 when West Indies’ batsmen carried on from where their bowlers had left, showing the same lack of discipline. Simmons , playing his first ODI since December, then took 16 deliveries to get off the mark, struggling against the offspin of Sachithra Senanayake. Even as the asking-rate galloped, though, the momentum suddenly shifted. Out of nowhere, Simmons began to smoke sixes and fours on the up. With Bravo starting to attack as well, West Indies were scoring at ten an over now.They were still slightly behind on the par score, though, and the drizzle and the dark skies made Simmons go after every ball. You could not blame Simmons for worrying about rain in an ODI that had stretched to two days because of it. With three balls left in the 32nd over and West Indies 14 runs behind, Simmons hit successive fours before an attempt to clear the field ended in deep point’s hands.Kieron Pollard walked into rain for the second time in less than a month. This time, he lasted just four balls, edging Lasith Malinga behind to register his third duck of the series in four innings. Darren Sammy was the final hope for West Indies but it was not easy to come in and start hitting on this pitch, even though it had eased out from the at times unplayable brute it was on day one. Sammy and Bravo holed out in successive overs but the last-wicket pair of Kemar Roach and Tino Best – which had taken West Indies to a tense victory over India in Jamaica – held their nerve again to deny Sri Lanka the bonus point that would have carried the visitors into the final.If only the West Indies top order had shown similar application. Instead, Chris Gayle, Johnson Charles and Marlon Samuels went after shortish deliveries early in their innings and paid the price. Sri Lanka’s bowlers got more out of the pitch than the home attack, some extra swing, seam and bounce making strokeplay difficult with the new balls.Patience was not something the West Indies top order was willing to show, despite knowing that Sri Lanka had been rendered a bowler short early in the chase. Nuwan Kulasekara’s spell lasted 11 deliveries when a Gayle push hit a finger on his left hand. A bleeding Kulasekara left the field. Two overs later, Gayle followed him. In the next over, Charles and Samuels followed.Patience was something Kumar Sangakkara had in plenty on day one, and on the reserve day, he capitalised on some wayward bowling to carry Sri Lanka to a challenging total. The pitch, bouncy and uneven on day one, eased out despite overnight and morning rain. Sangakkara prospered as Sri Lanka took 105 off the last ten overs. Sangakkara’s innings showed the way to deal with changing conditions. West Indies’ bowling, barring Sammy and Roach, was exactly the opposite.Having seen that the surface lacked the bite it had a day ago, they bowled short and wide to be taken apart at the death. Sangakkara was in a positive mood right from the start. He hadn’t hit a boundary in 33 deliveries on day one; the morning after, he was moving across in his crease, he was walking down the pitch, disturbing lengths and dispatching width.Angelo Mathews’ quick 30 gave the innings more momentum. Roach appeared to have brought West Indies back when he dismissed Mathews and Jeevan Mendis in the 35th over, but Sangakkara hit harder now, and West Indies wilted. Jason Holder, who had looked so threatening with his bounce a day ago, lost his line. The wayward Best, who had found little semblance of line, length or rhythm on both days, served up short ball after short ball, and was punished. West Indies’ wide count was as much as 24 in 41 overs, Tino Best responsible for more than half of those runs.It didn’t help that they had a part-time wicketkeeper, Charles, in the firing line of Best’s misdirected missiles. Thrice, Charles let a wide delivery fly to the boundary when a better keeper might have stopped it. The extra batsman in Simmons gave West Indies a chance, but would he have needed to take so much risk in the absence of all those extras?