Tuesday 5 June 2012

CA interviews Waqar for Aus bowling coach


Melbourne: Cricket Australia (CA) has interviewed former Pakistan captain and coach Waqar Younis as Craig McDermott`s successor for the position of Australian bowling coach.
CA interviews Waqar for Aus bowling coach
Waqar, who is based in Sydney since finishing his two-year term as Pakistan coach last year, according to `ESPNcricinfo.Com`, has spoken to CA`s team performance manager Pat Howard about taking on the role that was left vacant by McDermott at the conclusion of the Australian tour of the West Indies.
Australia`s highly promising battery of young pacemen will surely benefit should Waqar is appointed to the post.
Known for his mastery over reverse swing, Waqar would help Australian bowlers muster the art, something the team has struggled to make best use of down the years.
Under McDermott, the Aussies learnt the importance of sticking to the basics -- bowling full, straight and moving the ball conventionally, and they will look to build on those gains if Waqar is appointed.
Waqar, who has taken 373 wickets in 87 Tests and 416 from 262 ODIs, resigned as Pakistan coach citing personal and health reasons.

Gayle brings quality to the side, says chief selector


Gayle brings quality to the side, says chief selectorSt. John`s (Antigua): Chairman of selectors Clyde Butts has welcomed Chris Gayle`s return to the West Indies team for the one-day tour of England, saying the big-hitting left-hander will bring a "quality dimension" to the Caribbean side.
The talismanic Gayle was Monday chosen in a 15-man squad, ending a protracted impasse with the West Indies Cricket Board (WICB) that kept him out of the regional side for the last 14 months, reports Caribbean Media Corporation (CMC).

"Chris is a player of proven quality and we are looking forward to him adding the new dimension to the side and his contributions as a senior member of the squad," Butts said.

The way was paved for Gayle`s return after he sat down in a high-level meeting in St Vincent on Sunday with his representative Michael Hall, WICB president Julian Hunte, WICB director Elson Crick and the Board`s legal officer Alanna Medford.

St. Vincent and the Grenadines Prime Minister Ralph Gonsalves and Antigua and Barbuda Prime Minister Baldwin Spencer also attended the meeting.

Gayle, who has scored 8,087 runs from 228 ODIs with 19 centuries, will now join the side led by Darren Sammy and which includes eight members of the squad already in England playing a Test series.
Trinidadian opener Lendl Simmons has also been recalled after recovering from injury while Dwayne Smith has been given the nod in a one-day unit for the first time in over two years.
Butts said the composition of the team reflected the continued preparation for the 2015 World Cup in Australia.
"We are now moving into the next phase of the development of the team as part of building our ODI side for the 2015 World Cup," said Butts.
"A number of players, who have been exposed to international cricket, have been retained as they have performed well."
"There is, what we believe, is a balanced combination of young rising players like Sunil Narine in the bowling department and Johnson Charles in the top order of the batting in addition to the well-known senior internationals."
West Indies face England in three ODIs from June 16-24.

Axed Adrian Barath welcomes Chris Gayle return for ODIs

West Indies opener Adrian Barath has said "it's great" Chris Gayle is returning to the one-day squad -- even if the recall has come, in part, at his expense.
Former captain Gayle has been selected for the three-match one-day series against England later this month after a 14-month dispute with the West Indies Cricket Board (WICB).
The 32-year-old dynamic opening batsman, with a West Indies record 19 hundreds in 228 ODIs to his name, has not played international cricket since a defeat by Pakistan in the quarter-finals of the World Cup in March last year.
A month later, Jamaica left-hander Gayle, one of the world's most ferocious hitters and a dazzlingly quick run-getter when in form, criticised the WICB and team coach Ottis Gibson after being left out of a squad for a one-day series against Pakistan.
However several meetings between the WICB and Gayle, brokered by senior Caribbean politicians, have ended the stand-off.
Both Barath and Kieran Powell, who have struggled against England in a Test series where the West Indies are 2-0 down heading into the third and final match starting at Edgbaston here on Thursday, have been left out of the one-day squad.
But, sportingly, Barath said Tuesday: "We always welcome players into the set-up. He's been in the set-up for years and everyone has respect for Chris.
"It's great to have him back and he'll lend experience to our players," added the 22-year-old Trinidad batsman, who in 14 one-dayers has scored one hundred.
"We're looking forward to having him in the set-up and everyone will learn from him.
"Having Chris in our team (makes it) a really solid team. The depth in our batting - with Kieron Pollard, Darren Sammy, the Bravos (Dwayne and Darren), Marlon Samuels, Andre Russell - once we get going in the powerplay it would be difficult to say how could we not chase a big score or set one.
"So once we get it right, we have a good ODI team and we're working on getting there in Tests, also."
The one-day series starts at Southampton on June 16 before further matches at The Oval (June 19) and Headingley (June 22) are followed by a stand-alone Twenty20 international at Trent Bridge on June 24.
Source:http://sports.ndtv.com/cricket/news/item/191357-axed-adrian-barath-welcomes-chris-gayle-return-for-odis

Barath welcomes Gayle return for ODIs


Barath welcomes Gayle return for ODIs
Birmingham: West Indies opener Adrian Barath has said "it's great" that Chris Gayle is returning to the one-day squad -- even if the recall has come, in part, at his expense. Former captain Gayle has been selected for the three-match one-day series against England later this month after a 14-month dispute with the West Indies Cricket Board (WICB).
The 32-year-old dynamic opening batsman, with a West Indies record 19 hundreds in 228 ODIs to his name, has not played international cricket since a defeat by Pakistan in the quarter-finals of the World Cup in March last year. A month later, Jamaica left-hander Gayle, one of the world's most ferocious hitters and a dazzlingly quick run-getter when in form, criticised the WICB and team coach Ottis Gibson after being left out of a squad for a one-day series against Pakistan. Continue reading below
However several meetings between the WICB and Gayle, brokered by senior Caribbean politicians, have ended the stand-off.
Both Barath and Kieran Powell, who have struggled against England in a Test series where the West Indies are 2-0 down heading into the third and final match starting at Edgbaston here on Thursday, have been left out of the one-day squad. But, sportingly, Barath said on Tuesday: "We always welcome players into the set-up. He's been in the set-up for years and everyone has respect for Chris.
"It's great to have him back and he'll lend experience to our players," added the 22-year-old Trinidad batsman, who in 14 one-dayers has scored one hundred. We're looking forward to having him in the set-up and everyone will learn from him."
"Having Chris in our team (makes it) a really solid team. The depth in our batting - with Kieron Pollard, Darren Sammy, the Bravos (Dwayne and Darren), Marlon Samuels, Andre Russell - once we get going in the powerplay it would be difficult to say how could we not chase a big score or set one. So once we get it right, we have a good ODI team and we're working on getting there in Tests, also."
The one-day series starts at Southampton on June 16 before further matches at The Oval on June 19 and Headingley on June 22 are followed by a stand-alone Twenty20 international at Trent Bridge on June 24.

India-Pakistan cricket ties may resume soon: Pakistani envoy


New Delhi: In what will be music for the ears of thousands of sub-continental cricket lovers, Pakistani High Commissioner Shahid Malik on Tuesday expressed the hope that bilateral cricketing ties between India and Pakistan will soon resume.
India-Pakistan cricket ties may resume soon: Pakistani envoy
Talking to reporters at Indian Women Press Corps, he said that Pakistani Prime Minister Yousuf Raza Gilani talked to Prime Minister Manmohan Singh during World Cup semifinal at Mohali last year on restarting bilateral cricket matches.
"I hope that the cricket bilateral series between India and Pakistan resume soon," Malik said.
"There is a desire on the part of the leadership of both countries that this start," he said adding that Manmohan Singh had said he would take up the issue with the Indian cricket board.
Malik also pointed out that PakistanCricket Board chairman Zaka Ashraf was in India at the invitation of Indian cricket board to witness last month's Indian Premier League final at Chennai.
Ashraf had met board president N Srinivasan in Chennai, and later, in Delhi, he met ICC chief Sharad Pawar and IPL commissioner Rajiv Shukla.
"The two cricket boards are discussing the possibility of restarting the cricket ties and series," Malik said.
He also said Pakistan's T20 tournament winners have been invited to participate in the Champions League tournament in India later this year.
"That is a sort of breaking of the ice," Malik said.

TROTT CONTENT WITH BUSY SCHEDULE


Jonathan Trott is highly unlikely to follow Kevin Pietersen's lead, and start narrowing his options as an England cricketer.
As both South Africa-born batsmen began their preparations for tomorrow's third Investec Test against West Indies, it was Trott who found himself quizzed on the ramifications of his team-mate's decision to retire from limited-overs international cricket rather than Pietersen explaining his apparent change of heart.
It is barely three months since Pietersen was racking up successive one-day international hundreds for England, and pledging himself to the cause as far as the next World Cup in 2015.
Yet last week, it became clear that those two match-winning innings in the United Arab Emirates would be Pietersen's last in 50-over cricket for his adopted country.
Trott, surplus to Twenty20 requirements for the past two years since the last of his seven caps in the shortest format, remains a central plank of England's middle order in ODIs and Tests.
He wants to keep it that way too.
"You have to speak to the guys who play all three (formats) about how they feel, but I'm really happy with the scheduling for me," he said.
"It's really busy - but that's part of being an England cricketer... it's part and parcel. You have to accept it and get on with it.
"Kevin's made his mind up about what he wants to do, and that's fine.
"The guys support and understand the decision he's made."
Trott is confident too that, although Pietersen's retirement is a "huge disappointment", others will be able to pick up the slack.
"There's plenty of talent to come in and take his place. It's a bit of a blow, but you have to pick yourself up and get on with it.
"He's box-office, as everyone will tell you. He's a great fielder and a really entertaining, powerful and destructive batsman - so it will take a bit to replace him. But I'm sure there are people up there who can do the job."
In the immediate future, Trott is relishing the opportunity to try to complete a 3-0 whitewash on his home ground - where he was absent through injury last year when England beat India to go to the top of the world rankings.
"I missed out last summer, so there's an extra incentive," he said. "It was strange.
"To be part of the build-up to the India series last year and then have some of it taken away, it was tricky."
Trott and Pietersen may have to deal with the mystery spin of Sunil Narine, should West Indies select him as a Test debutant here.
Trott will be respectful of Narine's variations, but will not be losing any sleep either.
"You have to treat any new bowler the same, figure him out," he said. "There's a certain amount of respect that goes around facing someone new. But you don't fear them; you play them, as anyone else."

Pietersen ODI retirement no surprise to Trott

Birmingham: Jonathan Trott is saddened but far from shocked at fellow England batsman Kevin Pietersen's decision to retire from limited overs international cricket.
Pietersen had indicated he wanted to help England retain the World Twenty20 title he did so much to help them win in the Caribbean two years ago when they defend their title in Sri Lanka later this year.
But with England insisting players must make themselves available for both 50-over one-day internationals and Twenty20 contests -- in part to ensure there isn't a mass exodus from the longer format in an increasingly packed schedule -- Pietersen announced his retirement from all limited overs contests last week.
It means England will be without one of their best batsmen in all but Test cricket from now on, despite it being just over three months ago since he scored back-to-back hundreds in England's 4-0 one-day series sweep of Pakistan.
But as Trott prepared to play alongside Pietersen at Edgbaston, where England will try to complete a 3-0 Test series win over the West Indies, he said he had not been taken unawares by his fellow South Africa-born batsman's decision.
"It wasn't a huge surprise," Trott said Tuesday.
"You can understand it in a way, but it's a huge disappointment as well, " added Trott
"Kev's his own guy and has to make his own decisions. The team fully support his decision. Whatever he decides to do with his cricketing career is fine."
Missing players has become something of a theme heading into the third Test, due to start on Thursday, with England controversially resting spearhead seamer James Anderson ahead of a home series against South Africa where Trott and his team-mates will put their world number one Test ranking on the line.
"It's happened in the past, and probably will in the future as well - with the schedule getting busier and busier," said Trott. "It's only right that these things happen.
"Jimmy would have liked to have played, and quite rightly. He's the spearhead of our bowling attack, and you can understand that he will probably be a little bit disappointed.
"But with the bowlers and their heavy workload, it's going to happen from time to time.
"It's not as if you're giving away international caps. We have guys who are vying to play, and whoever takes his place should do a great job."
As for the prospect of completing a Test series whitewash, Trott -- who play at Edgbastpn for Midlands county Warwickshire -- said: "We've got the opportunity to win 3-0, so it's really important we drive home that advantage and don't take our foot off the gas."
Source:
Source:http://sports.ndtv.com/cricket/news/item/191356-pietersen-odi-retirement-no-surprise-to-trott

West Indies pride at stake - Barath


Sunil Narine bowls in the nets, Edgbaston, June 5, 2012
Sunil Narine could come into the West Indies side for the third Test at Edgbaston
Adrian Barath has called on his colleagues to help restore the pride of West Indies' cricket in the final match of the Test series against England at Edgbaston.
Barath, like the rest of West Indies' top four, has struggled to deal with England's seam attack in the first two Tests, but feels the team have shown signs of improvement and now just need to maintain their performance over a whole game in order to win tangible rewards for their progress. England have already secured the three-Test series with victories in the first two Tests at Lord's and Trent Bridge.
Barath has a point, though. Several times in recent Tests, West Indies have earned a position from which they might have gone on to win. Against India in Delhi - where India eventually won by five wickets - and against Australia in Bridgetown - where Australia won by three wickets - West Indies held the advantage after each side's first innings. Similarly, when England slumped to 57 for 4 chasing 191 to win in the first Test of the series at Lord's, West Indies had a wonderful opportunity to clinch a rare victory. On each occasion, however, one poor session has cost West Indies dear and allowed their opponents back into the game.
"We are getting ourselves into positions to win Tests over the last couple of months," Barath said. "Where we need to move forward in our cricket is carrying on for five days. Sometimes we dominate the game for three days, but then we mess up in one session. That's the mindset we're working upon. That is what Test cricket is all about. It's not a couple of hours; it's over the course of five days. You have to be on the money every day, every hour, every over.
"It's important, having not had any wins in the series so far, that we finish well in this last Test. There is a lot at stake. The pride of West Indies' cricket has been showing some signs of improvement for the last couple of months. It's about getting a Test win; getting a win against England. It's definitely nothing impossible for us. We showed at Lord's where we got those early wickets. If we had carried on getting wickets anything would have been possible. We're really looking forward to getting a win here and bringing some pride to the West Indies."
The tourists have strengthened their squad in recent days with the call-up of spinner Sunil Narine. While it is asking a great deal of Narine, a man with only six first-class games behind him, to come into the team for a Test debut after only a few days' acclimatisation, West Indies may well feel they have little to lose and that 'mystery' spin is England's Achilles heel. Narine looked some way below his best in the nets at Edgbaston on Tuesday and it would remain something of a surprise if he displaced Shane Shillingford, a man who took a ten-wicket haul against Australia only two Tests ago. But Narine's record - both in his limited first-class career and as arguably the leading bowler in the recent IPL season - is nothing short of exceptional. In those six first-class games he has claimed five five-wicket hauls and, in his last three, he has claimed 31 wickets at an average of under 10.
Barath, a fellow Trinidadian, knows Narine's game as well as anyone and feels he has what it takes to be a success at Test level.
"He has the ability to be a world-class bowler," Barath said. "What is good about him is that he is humble and he is always trying to figure out ways to improve and develop new deliveries. Everyone is looking at him on TV, doing their homework and trying to pick him. But he is always working on a new type of delivery. He is always developing something. A spinner of his capabilities will adjust his pace and flight to the conditions.
"Everyone has seen him in T20 and he's obviously made a name for himself even before he's played a Test. But I've played a couple of first-class matches with him this season and it wasn't easy. Most of the batsmen were really guessing and just sticking their bat out. I was fielding at bat-pad and I had a lot of catches there. It was not easy. Obviously the conditions are different - the ball doesn't turn as much in England - but by the fourth and fifth day any good spinner will extract spin."
Barath also admitted to some feelings of relief in the omission of James Anderson from the England team. While Anderson's series averages are relatively modest - he has claimed nine wickets at an average of 26.88 - he has beaten the bat often and proved particularly dangerous with the new ball.
"Any opener would say the same," Barath said, admitting his delight at Anderson's absence. "He's bowled well. He is deservedly England's cricketer of the year. There is no doubt in that when you face him. At Lord's he was swinging the ball all over the place - both ways - and bowling the best deliveries, but just not hitting the edge. Broad took seven wickets but Anderson looked like he was the one who would have taken seven wickets. He was unlucky."
Barath also welcomed the return of Chris Gayle to the West Indies limited-overs side. While Gayle's return came, arguably, at his expense, Barath appeared genuinely excited about the depth of West Indies squad.
"He's been in the set-up for years and everyone has respect for Chris," Barath said. "It's great to have him back and he'll lend experience to our players.
"Having Chris in our team makes it really solid. The depth in our batting - with Kieron Pollard, Darren Sammy, Darren and Dwayne Bravo, Marlon Samuels, Andrew Russell - mean that once we get it right at the top of the order and we get going in the Powerplay it would be difficult to say how could we not chase a big score. Or set one. So once we get it right, we have a good ODI team."

England v West Indies: Andy Flower - I had to rest James Anderson for his long-term future


Andy Flower has defended resting James Anderson from the third Test, warning that rotation was something both the players and the public would have to get used to with an ever-growing international schedule.

James Anderson - England v West Indies: Andy Flower - I had to rest James Anderson for his long-term future
Flat out: James Anderson receives treatment during a drinks break in the second Test at Trent Bridge
We are making this decision in the best interests of English cricket and not trying to over-complicate or devalue the game in any way,” Flower, the England team director, said at Edgbaston.
“I perfectly understand why James Anderson is disappointed to be left out, I would be surprised if he felt any different.
“Over the next couple of years the schedule is incredibly heavy so it is not only going to be Anderson, Stuart Broad and Tim Bresnan who are going to be our bowlers.
"It would be crazy and naive to think so. We are going to use other fast bowlers. This is part of growing our pool of fast bowlers.”
As ever, Flower’s passionate justification has logic and rigour. Yet, on the face of it, there is little difference in his prescription of rest for Anderson and Kevin Pietersen's desire to ditch 50-over internationals from his busy schedule.
The result is that both have ended up miffed; Pietersen because he has been forced to retire from all one-day cricket; Anderson for being told to stay at home for this match.
In this instance, context is everything and while Flower would not discuss Pietersen, he did admit that players and management “should be able to communicate like adults on these subjects”, and that players were “always able to discuss whether they needed a rest”.
Pietersen’s problem, it seems, is that he did not ask for his request (to drop 50-over cricket) to be considered but rather delivered a demand, one that England’s management clearly found unacceptable.
Anderson is not the sort to make demands – except when bowling – but he is unhappy at missing out at Edgbaston. Having taken 17 wickets in his past three Tests there he probably felt a decent haul was his for the taking again.
But Flower is, rightly, a stickler for putting personal goals behind those of the team and with the series already won he felt the collective benefit would come from the leader of the attack being rested.
“We came into this series with one goal, and that was to win the series. We’ve achieved that so our Test-match priorities now shift to the South Africa series,” Flower said.
“There is also a slight shift to the West Indies one-day series because that series stands at 0-0. If the Tests were 1-1 Anderson would play here, he’s not badly injured, just carrying a few niggles.”
Flower’s brief is to enable England to win cricket matches but perhaps it should be broader.
What his decision over Anderson does not take account of is the young lad turning up for this Test hoping to see Anderson, his hero, bowl the home side to victory.
It is of minor interest to him if England are able to get another 18 months out of Anderson three years down the line if his one chance to see him is now.
It is the one minor flaw in Flower’s argument. That apart, you cannot really fault his motivations for trying to keep his bowlers fresh, and it would be no surprise if Stuart Broad was also stood down for this match.
“The days of us playing our players until they snap physically or mentally are over,” Flower said.
“We think it our responsibility to manage things better than that. Does Wayne Rooney play every game for Manchester United? No, because he would break down.
Would you play your most valuable pitcher in every single game in a baseball season? No. In fact, you don’t even see them play full games.”
All teams would want their best players available for the big games though and England’s stance over Pietersen means he will not be part of their World T20 defence in Sri Lanka this autumn.
It is a big loss but one Jonathan Trott feels the team has taken philosophically.
“It’s a bit of a disappointment,” Trott said. “KP is box office and entertaining and a destructive batsman so it will take a bit to replace him.
"But the guys understand and support his decision and I’m sure there are people out there who can do the job.”
Source:http://www.telegraph.co.uk/sport/cricket/international/england/9312422/England-v-West-Indies-Andy-Flower-I-had-to-rest-James-Anderson-for-his-long-term-future.html

Middlesex and Somerset even at Lord's on day one


Gareth Berg
Honours are even between Middlesex and Somerset following a rain-affected first day at Lord's.
Somerset slipped to 1-2 and 45-3 with Corey Collymore, Tim Murtagh and Toby Roland-Jones all taking wickets.
Craig Kieswetter and James Hildreth (58) put on 80 for the fourth wicket, before Hildreth became a 100th first-class wicket for Gareth Berg.
Rain arrived in mid-afternoon and play was called off with Somerset on 130-4, Kieswetter unbeaten on 48.
“It was an intense morning session and Middlesex may feel unlucky not to have picked up a couple more wickets before lunch”
Kevin HandBBC London 94.9
Only seven points separated the two sides going into this game, with third-placed Somerset having played one more game than Middlesex in fourth.
Chris Rogers won the toss and invited Somerset to bat, a decision that initially paid dividends.
Opener Alex Barrow was out for a third-ball duck with wicketkeeper John Simpson pulling off a stunning diving catch, full stretch in his left glove.
Nick Compton, who last week became thefirst player to reach 1,000 runs this season, made only one.
Arul Suppiah played on to Roland-Jones for 15, before Hildreth and Kieswetter then put on 80 in 25 overs to recover the situation for Somerset.
Hildreth hit six fours in his three-hour stay at the crease, facing 132 balls, but was caught behind by Simpson as Berg brought up his milestone in his 48th first-class match.

VIEW FROM THE COMMENTARY BOX

BBC London 94.9's Kevin Hand:
"Middlesex will feel relieved to have removed James Hildreth before the early close after he and Craig Kieswetter led a recovery for Somerset.
"The visitors still have plenty of work to do after they were put in and reduced to 45-3. Much like the Sussex match last week, the new ball appears to be key at Lord's.
"It was an intense morning session and Middlesex may feel unlucky not to have picked up a couple more wickets before lunch.
"To their credit Hildreth and Kieswetter showed great resolve to hold the innings together but, with the partnership broken, the hosts will once again target early scalps on the second morning to restrict their opponents to a below-par total."

French Open: Andy Murray aims to end David Ferrer clay dominance


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Andy Murray says he feared injury would bring a premature end to his French Open campaign, as he bids to beat David Ferrer on clay for the first time.
After overcoming a back injury to ease past Richard Gasquet, Murray heads into Wednesday's quarter-final 5-4 up in past matches with the Spaniard - but has lost their three meetings on clay.
"A few days ago I thought I was done so to get this far is great," Murray said.
"I've always found it tough against him on clay but I feel I'm playing well."

Head to head

Murray Ferrer
25Age30
4World ranking6
22/72012 win/loss record33/7
12012 titles3
22Career titles14
$20,376,752Career prize money$13,878,532
Having been troubled by a back spasm during his win over Jarkko Nieminen in round two, the 25-year-old's injury worries appeared to have resurfaced when he was left clutching his hip as Gasquet easily won the first set on Monday, only for the Scot to rally and clinch a 1-6 6-4 6-1 6-2 triumph.
Although history is not in Murray's favour against Ferrer, the pair have not played each other on clay for two years and, since that meeting in Madrid, the world number four has won four of their five clashes on hard courts.
"Every match is different," said Murray. "A lot of the clay courts play differently - quicker, slower. Conditions change things. We'll just see whether having lost to him a few times on the clay before is a factor or not."
Six-time French Open winner Rafael Nadal, who faces Nicolas Almagro,is likely to await the winner in the last four, but Murray, the only non-Spaniard left in the bottom half of the draw, insists talk of a semi-final rematch against the reigning champion is premature.
He said: "I think he (Ferrer) is one of the toughest guys to play on any surface. He's number six in the world, and he's been there for a long time now. He's had a good clay-court season so far.
"We know each other's games very well, and he's one of the best players in the world on any surface, so it's going to be a tough match."
Ferrer, seeded sixth, has never been past the quarter-finals at Roland Garros, but is yet to drop a set in Paris this year.
He said: "I don't know if I'm playing my best tennis, it's difficult to say that, but I am in a good moment. I am playing very good at both this tournament and overall this season."
Source:http://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/0/tennis/18332437