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A poor start from the batsmen and the failure to get early wickets by the bowlers cost India the second ODI, MS Dhoni, their captain, has said

Cricinfo staff19-Dec-2009A poor start from the batsmen and the failure to get early wickets by the bowlers cost India the second ODI, MS Dhoni, their captain, has said. Dhoni scored a century after the early loss of Virender Sehwag and Gautam Gambhir, taking India to 301, but Sri Lanka, boosted by a second successive ton from Tillakaratne Dilshan, sealed a three-wicket win in the final over.”We did not get a good start. We got some partnerships going but also lost wickets regularly,” Dhoni said after the game. We capitalised on the Powerplay to get to a total, which I thought was par for the course. But in these conditions you need to get early wickets. We did not get those.”If we had got wickets with the new ball things would have been different. Though we got three-four wickets in a clutch it was too late to make a difference.”Dhoni admitted poor fielding was also a factor in India’s failure to defend a competitive score. “This team is the best in batting and we have the best bowlers, but we are not the best fielding side in the world,” he said. “We need to score 20 more runs to make up for the fielding lapses.”There were several misfields and fumbles when India were fielding, and one that virtually sealed a Sri Lankan victory came in the penultimate over. Zaheer Khan, fielding at mid-on, allowed a drive from Angelo Mathews go through his legs to the boundary to bring the equation down to four runs off eight balls.India have been relying on the services of former Australia fielding coach Mike Young, who is a part of the support-staff in his capacity as a consultant. But Dhoni said results could not be expected overnight. “You have to see the individuals also and then you have to decide on how much you can upgrade yourself. It’s not that if I am fielding or you are fielding and all of a sudden there comes the coach and you become Jonty Rhodes,” he said. “It’s like a bowler. A spinner can’t bowl fast bowling. The same way fielding is something that comes naturally. Somebody is a good fielder or he’s not.”However, Dhoni praised India’s middle-order batsmen, Suresh Raina and Virat Kohli, who hit half-centuries and played key roles in India’s recovery. “Virat batted very well. When he came in there was a lot of pressure. The spinners were bowling well and the fast bowlers were using the bouncers. He is also an excellent fielder either inside or outside the circle. It’s exciting to see characters like him,” he said. “Raina is a batsman who, after he is well set, goes for the big shots, sixes and fours. That’s the hallmark of his batting.”Dhoni has had a successful 2009 with the bat, scoring two centuries and nine fifties and currently heads the run-scoring charts along with Ricky Ponting. “If we have to score more runs I promote myself. I try to be there till the end so that in the slog overs we can score more freely when one set batsman is there. By batting at different slots I have learnt what kind of pressure every individual has,” he said.Sri Lanka’s response was led by Dilshan’s typically attacking 123 and Dhoni lauded his consistency. “He’s a very aggressive batsman and has been very consistent. On his day he can be dangerous. He has got all the shots, the cut, the pull or the shot over the bowler’s head.”Dilshan has scored four out of his five centuries while opening the batting, and he acknowledged that promotion up the order had brought about a transformation in his batting. “Opening has certainly helped me,” he said. “I have changed my mindset and started converting my 30s and 40s into big scores.”An unbeaten 37 from Mathews took Sri Lanka past the finish line after India had struck back with quick wickets. “We had to take our chances and Angelo Mathews (37 not out) made sure we did not go down,” he said. Mathews appeared to pull his thigh muscle during his innings and had to rely on a runner. Sri Lanka’s team manager Brendon Kuruppu said the extent of damage was not known as yet. “We don’t know exactly what has happened to him. We have to wait for 24 hours before deciding the course of action.”

James Tredwell, the uncapped Kent offspinner, has been added to England’s Test squad as cover for Graeme Swann

Cricinfo staff14-Dec-2009James Tredwell, the uncapped Kent offspinner, has been added to England’s Test squad as cover for Graeme Swann, who has not fully recovered from the side injury that troubled him earlier in the tour, although the management are confident Swann will be able to take his place in the opening match at Centurion.Swann missed the second Twenty20 international and was ruled out of the first two 50-over contests between the sides last month with the injury, but was replaced in the starting XI by Adil Rashid, the legspinner, on those occasions. However, Tredwell then joined the one-day squad for the remainder of the series.Swann played in both the two-day matches against a South African Invitational XI at East London, collecting 6 for 55 in the first game and 1 for 65 in the second from a total of 27 overs.”Graeme’s injury is improving and we expect him to be available for the first Test starting on Wednesday,” Andy Flower, the England coach, said. “But with a further three matches to come after Centurion we have decided that we need a ‘like for like’ replacement on hand for Graeme should this be required later in the tour.”When not with the senior squad, Tredwell has been based with the Performance Programme in Pretoria and he scored 70 in last week’s match against a Titans President’s XI. He was part of the England training session which took place at the University of Pretoria’s high performance centre (HPC) on Monday.England have been troubled by a number of injuries during the tour and doubts still linger over the fitness of pacemen James Anderson, who has a problem with his right knee, although Ryan Sidebottom is fully recovered from his side strain.Anderson looked in decent shape during a centre-wicket practice session at the HPC and removed Jonathan Trott when Chris Jordon, the Surrey paceman who is part of the Performance Squad, held a good catch at third slip.

Anjum Chopra anchored India Red Women’s innings with an unbeaten 34 to help her team complete a five-wicket victory against India Blue Women

Cricinfo staff02-Jan-2010
ScorecardAnjum Chopra anchored India Red Women’s innings with an unbeaten 34 to help her team complete a five-wicket victory against India Blue Women in the opening game of the Women’s Challenger Trophy in Ahmedabad. Chasing 118 for victory, India Red got home in the 20th over with four balls to spare.Chopra was supported by Thirush Kamini and Rumeli Dhar but India Red’s chase was jolted by three run outs. They lost wickets at regular intervals but Chopra ensured victory by remaining firm at one end. She struck two fours in her 39-ball innings.Earlier the India Blues’ innings had also suffered from a spate of run outs. Anagha Deshpande top-scored with 48 but she was one of three batsmen to be run out as her team was restricted to 117 for 4 in 20 overs. Mithali Raj chipped in with 41 and hers was the only wicket taken by a bowler.

Fog and bad light robbed allowed only 38 overs of play on the first day in Amritsar

Cricinfo staff19-Jan-2010
Scorecard
Mohammad Kaif and Suresh Raina put on an unbroken 141-run stand•ESPNcricinfo Ltd

Fog and bad light allowed only 38 overs of play on the first day in Amritsar. When play did get underway four hours after the scheduled start, Ranadeb Bose and Ashok Dinda struck three quick blows to leave Central Zone reeling at 9 for 3 in the sixth over before Mohammad Kaif and Suresh Raina rescued them.Both Central openers, Tanmay Srivastava and Jalaj Saxena, were dismissed for ducks, and No. 3 Sanjay Bangar avoided that ignominy, only just, falling for 1. Kaif and Raina then revived Central with an unbroken 141-run stand, both batsmen going on to half-centuries. Kaif was watchful, taking 115 deliveries for his 65, while Raina was more cavalier, slamming 15 fours and a six, in his 96-ball 83. Seventy minutes after the start play was again called off due to bad light and it also caused an early finish.The winners of this match will progress to the semi-finals, where they will take on South Zone in Indore from January 26.

The threat of overseas players withdrawing from the 2010 season of the IPL has reduced after the league’s organisers assured players’ unions that the security plan will be implemented at each venue

Cricinfo staff02-Mar-2010The threat of overseas players withdrawing from the 2010 season of the IPL has reduced after the league’s organisers assured players’ unions that the security plan will be implemented at each venue. Tim May, the head of FICA, said the development would “certainly improve confidence in security”.”This is a significant step forward. The more information you provide the players with, the greater the likelihood that they will attend the event,” May told . “We have a significant amount of information we did not have previously, which will assist players making far more informed decisions about whether to go or not.”May had warned earlier that there could be several withdrawals due to security concerns. However, this latest improvement in the situation came after the reported threat from the 313 Brigade, an Al Qaeda cell, was deemed “not credible”.”We haven’t reached utopia yet, but the new information has given us greater confidence,” May said. “Last week we were operating in an information vacuum.”Lalit Modi, the IPL commissioner, who had earlier refused to deal with players’ associations said he didn’t think there would be any withdrawals at all. “Already a lot of the players are on planes on their way to India and will arrive in the next few days,” he said “Security is very important to us. We have not had to change our plans, I think it is more a case of the players now understanding them. I think they are more comfortable with the plans being implemented.”Meanwhile, the Kings XI Punjab franchise issued a statement confirming that England batsman Ravi Bopara would arrive in India on March 3. “We have spoken to Bopara and he has confirmed his participation and is eagerly waiting to join in the hunt for the 2010 IPL trophy,” they said. “All media reports on his non-participation are speculative.”It was reported that Bopara had delayed his departure from England, and had not yet come to a decision whether to travel to India or not for the tournament which begins on March 12.

Daljit Singh has promised a sporting pitch for Kings XI Punjab’s IPL opener and hopes the wearing surface holds out for the duration of the competition

Jamie Alter in Mohali12-Mar-2010Daljit Singh, the curator at the PCA Stadium in Mohali, has promised a sporting pitch for Kings XI Punjab’s IPL opener on Saturday and hopes the wearing surface – the Indian season is nearing its end – holds out for the duration of the competition.”We tend to make Twenty20 pitches grossly in favour of the batsmen,” Daljit told Cricinfo. “What we are trying to focus on here is an even contest. We need the bowlers to get good pace and good carry. If not, then the ball doesn’t go through. I suppose in this format you want to see batsmen hit through the line. If a pitch is slow, a slogged six will carry about five or six yards over the ropes. If the pitch is fast, and a batsman connects well, that six can go 90 yards. Our job is to ensure there’s enough in this for batsmen and bowlers, which is challenging given the short timeframe.”With the advent of the IPL, the emphasis has been on producing featherbed, comatose pitches that assist the smash-bang ways of the Twenty20 format. Mohali has a reputation of producing high scores in Twenty20, but also one of assisting batting in both innings. In the first IPL match held here in 2008, Chennai Super Kings scored 240 and beat Punjab by 33 runs. In the second match, Punjab posted 182 and kept Mumbai Indians to 116 with the wickets shared by the fast and slow bowlers. Punjab had no such difficulty chasing down a target of 159 against Delhi Daredevils, beat Kolkata Knight Riders after scoring 178, handed a nine-wicket win to Royal Challengers Bangalore, and finished the tournament with a 41-run win over Rajasthan Royals after putting up a huge 221 for 3.The last Twenty20 played here, between India and Sri Lanka in December, had India chasing down 207 with six wickets in hand. “That was a high-scoring game, yes, but I don’t think you will see such big scores this time around,” Daljit said. “This is the end of the Indian domestic season and these are tired wickets. There is some grass on the surface but we’ve tried to brown if off. A green wicket is not ideal, but you need some grass. If you brown it down, that’s better for Twenty20.”Another difference here is the night temperature. Look at other IPL venues … in Chennai it is 23 degrees, in Mumbai 25, in Delhi about 16-17, but here in Mohali it’s about eight degrees. The ball will be swinging in the air and the track will be hard and bouncy. I think the wickets would be shared by the fast bowlers and spinners.”Punjab are almost certainly without Brett Lee for the first match while there is some doubt about Irfan Pathan and VRV Singh’s fitness. According to Daljit, Punjab’s spinners will be key to lifting a “deflated” side in front of a boisterous home crowd. “Not much has gone right for Punjab so far,” he said. “The fast bowling looks to be in a bit of a mess and there are some concerns over key strike bowlers. I think [Piyush] Chawla and [Ramesh] Powar will have to shoulder a lot of responsibility, and they should get some turn here.”

Harris said it was a strange feeling to be in the Australian dressing rooms celebrating a Test win, especially after a winter that included two knee operations

Brydon Coverdale in Wellington24-Mar-2010Ryan Harris has decided that it’s called Test cricket for a reason. Harris bowled 41 overs in his debut match, most of them into a Wellington wind that was so strong that it tipped over the pitch roller. He was in the field for four days in a row, which is tough for anyone, especially a man who had played only one first-class game for the summer.Little wonder that Harris was stiff and sore the day after Australia secured victory, but despite having only three days between matches he is certain he’ll be refreshed in time for Saturday’s second Test. Taking six wickets for the match and grabbing three important victims on the final morning helped his mood considerably, although the team’s celebrations were subdued.”I am pretty tired,” Harris said on Wednesday. “I haven’t played many four-day games [this year] and to do it in those conditions, they were pretty tough conditions with the wind and everything. To make New Zealand follow on and field for nearly 200 overs was a bit of a test. I got through it, I’m a bit tired now, but I’ll be right to go again on Saturday.”I looked after myself last night, so it’s a matter now of keep hydrating in the next couple of days and a bit of a run around probably tomorrow and another one on Friday and get the body moving, and I should be right. I had a couple of quiet beers but didn’t go too hard, none of us did because we have another big Test coming up.”Harris said it was a strange feeling to be in the Australian dressing rooms celebrating a Test win, especially after a winter that included two knee operations. Test cricket was a goal that appeared unattainable at the time, at least in the near future, but Harris has certainly made the most of his chance to wear the baggy green.”I sat last night having a chat with Dad and a few of the boys and we’ve spoken about the last few months and where I nearly was with my knee, and to be sitting there last night with the boys celebrating a Test win, it’s very surreal still,” he said. “I never thought I’d be playing Test cricket, put it that way. I’ve come a fair way and it’s a great feeling, all the hard work to put it all into this and get a baggy green. It’s awesome.”The immediate challenge for Harris is to back up his strong debut with a good performance in Hamilton, but the longer-term goal is to be in the mix for next summer’s home Ashes series. Harris is trying not to look too far ahead but can’t help pondering the possibility of playing in the battle for the urn.”It would be pretty awesome to play Ashes wow,” Harris said. “But that’s a long way ahead yet. I’m worried about the next Test, obviously, and then the World Twenty20 I want to be a part of and then hopefully go to England, so there’s a lot to go before that.”If I just keep performing and taking wickets and bowling well and making it hard for the selectors when the other guys come back to drop me, then that’s what I want to do. That’s what we’ve got to remember, there are still guys to come back into the team who have done really well – Ben Hilfenhaus and Peter Siddle. If I just keep performing well and make it hard for them to drop me, that’s what I want to do.”

Waqar Younis, the Pakistan coach, will look to rediscover the team’s trademark flair as they defend their World Twenty20 title in the West Indies

Cricinfo staff26-Apr-2010Waqar Younis, the Pakistan coach, will look to rediscover the team’s trademark flair as they defend their World Twenty20 title in the West Indies. “I will try to induct the same kind of aggression and fire in the team, which was Pakistan’s trademark in 1990s as it is necessary for us to win and retain the title,” Waqar said, ahead of the team’s departure for the Caribbean.While he was confident of his side’s chances, he avoided making predictions about the result. “Twenty20 is a different type of cricket where no one can predict anything but it is important to perform to your potential. You have to bowl, bat and field well on the given day in order to win the match,” he said.Captain Shahid Afridi noted that his side would miss Umar Gul, the world’s leading T20I wicket-taker, but reiterated that the rest of his bowling attack was good enough to make up for his absence. “Umar is an expert of reverse swing. He could have been lethal on the slow pitches in the West Indies but all the other available players are also equally good and eager to perform in the mega event,” Afridi said.Afridi reposed confidence in his spinners, who will play a key role on the slow and low wickets in the West Indies. “Saeed Ajmal, Mohammad Hafeez and Abdul Rehman are all talented spinners and can play the role of match-winner against any team,” Afridi said.Despite their players not featuring in the recently concluded IPL, Pakistan are recognized as a dangerous Twenty20 outfit after their exploits in the first two editions of the tournament – they lost to India in the 2007 finals, before going all the way in 2009.The team’s manager, Yawar Saeed told PPI that the team had put behind the disappointments and controversies from the disastrous tour of Australia and were looking forward to the World Twenty20. “Whatever happened during the Australian tour is history now and the players are looking forward to give their best in the championship,” he said.He reiterated that the players’ discipline was being monitored closely, in the aftermath of the Australian tour and the punishment that followed. “Those who are in the team I think have learnt their lessons and there is no disharmony in the team now. The players know their boundaries and they know they can’t cross those boundaries. If any player does indulge in indiscipline no time will be wasted in taking action against him,” he said.

Derbyshire’s return to Leek after a gap of 18 years ended in defeat when the fastest century of the season from Ryan ten Doeschate carried Essex to a five-wicket victory

Cricinfo staff03-May-2010

Scorecard
Derbyshire’s return to Leek after a gap of 18 years ended in defeat when the fastest century of the season from Ryan ten Doeschate carried Essex to a five-wicket victory. Although the Falcons rattled up 299 for seven – their highest total in a 40 over match – ten Doeschate tore the game from their grasp after the Eagles had slipped to 64 for 4, chasing a revised target of 247 from 30 overs.The Netherlands allrounder blasted seven sixes and five fours in a 59-ball
hundred as Essex swept home with 16 balls to spare. Chesney Hughes had scored his first half century for Derbyshire and Wayne Madsen top scored with 66 in the county’s best 40 overs score for 25 years, but ten Doeschate turned a daunting chase into a stroll. He shared stands of 97 in 11 overs with Jaik Mickleburgh and 87 in just six overs with James Foster to end with an unbeaten 109 from 62 balls.Derbyshire had won their last game at the Staffordshire Moorlands ground in
1992 and they made an impressive start after the Eagles had put them in.
Hughes launched the innings with some muscular blows, pulling Chris Martin for six on his way to a 34-ball fifty that also included eight fours.It took a direct hit from Tim Phillips at mid on to run out the 19 year old for 55 but Chris Rogers and Madsen maintained the momentum by adding 59 in eight overs. A diving catch by Mickleburgh at deep square leg removed Rogers for 41 but Madsen dominated the bowling as the Falcons passed 200 in the 28th over.Madsen struck two sixes and five fours in his 66 which came off 54 balls before he reverse swept Grant Flower and Graham Napier took a leaping catch at short third man. But the Falcons middle-order all made useful contributions led by 43 from Garry Park as 88 came from the last 10 overs.Robin Peterson and Lee Goddard added 37 in three overs to set the Eagles a
demanding target which was revised after rain in the tea interval.Essex started badly, losing Alastair Cook in the second over when he edged a drive at Tim Groenewald and Billy Godleman also went for four in the fifth over when he miscued a drive to mid off.When Mark Pettini skied Tom Lungley to mid on four balls later, Essex were 27 for 3 but ten Doeschate turned the game on its head with a repeat of his
hundred at Derby in the final County Championship game of last season when Essex clinched promotion.He peppered the small boundaries and the umpires had to call for a new ball
after one of his sixes sailed out of the ground. The only chance he gave was a fierce return catch to Steffan Jones on 87 and he reached his hundred by lifting the Welsh paceman onto the pavilion roof, his eighth six sealing an impressive win with 16 balls remaining.

C Ganapathy, the Tamil Nadu allrounder, has been named as Abhimanyu Mithun’s replacement for India A’s tour of England starting this month

Cricinfo staff02-Jun-2010C Ganapathy, the Tamil Nadu allrounder, has been named as Abhimanyu Mithun’s replacement for India A’s tour of England starting this month. Mithun, the Karnataka fast bowler, was called-up to the senior Indian squad currently on tour in Zimbabwe to replace his state team-mate Vinay Kumar who was injured.An opening bowler and useful lower order batsman, Ganapathy made his mark in the 2008-09 season as a bowler, helping Tamil Nadu make the Ranji semi-finals. The following season, he started contributing more as a batsman, converting his 40s and 50s to centuries and bailing the team out of trouble in crucial situations. He ended the season with 543 runs at 77.57 and 18 wickets at 24.22. He followed it up with a five-wicket haul for South Zone in the Duleep Trophy final and was awarded an IPL contract, though he played just one game for Chennai Super Kings.India A play their first match on tour against Yorkshire at Leeds, a three-day game starting on Saturday.