DEAN JONES WANTS SHAUN MARSH TO LEARN FROM PONTING AND CLARKE – CRICKET NEWS UPDATE

Dean Jones wants Shaun Marsh to learn from Ponting and Clarke – Cricket News Update

Former Australian batsman, Dean Jones, feels that Shaun Marsh’s defence needs improvement and wants the left-handed top-order batsman to learn from the seasoned Australian batsmen, Michael Clarke and Ricky Ponting.

Marsh is considered as one of the most talented young Australian batsmen and has been doing exceedingly well in patches during the last couple of years. However, the left hander has had a series to forget against India at home.

The Aussie selectors are showing a lot of faith in the left handed batsman and are prepared to give him time to learn. Marsh is expected to take up the role of Australia’s premier batsman in the coming years.

However,  Jones, who himself was a top order batsman in his playing days, feels that Marsh does not have a solid defence, which is a prerequisite to success at any level of the game. Former right handed batsman believes that Marsh has all the shots in the book but he was dismissed against India playing defensive shots throughout the series.

Jones said, "I have said many times that failure at this level, or at any level for that matter, comes from an inability to play the defensive strokes properly. Marsh has played three poor forward defensive shots and two poor back-foot defensive shots that have led to dismissals in this Test series."

The senior Australian trio of Ricky Ponting, Michael Clarke and Michael Hussey made majority of the Australian runs, and took on the responsibility of guiding the team to good totals. Jones wants Marsh to take a leaf out of their books.

He further added that Marsh must make use of the opportunities before the selectors lose faith in him.

"Hopefully he has watched Michael Clarke and Ricky Ponting very carefully on how straight they have defended and how they played the ball right under their nose. Test cricket is all about making sure you cash in when things are going well,” former cricketer added.

The tri-nation series between Australia, India and Sri Lanka is going to start from the 5^th of February, 2012. It remains to be seen how Marsh shapes up in limited overs cricket.

Source:http://blogs.bettor.com/Dean-Jones-wants-Shaun-Marsh-to-learn-from-Ponting-and-Clarke-Cricket-News-Update-a126348

Virender Sehwag lukewarm on new coach

Virender Sehwag isn't too sure about Indian coach Duncan Fletcher. 

VIRENDER Sehwag says new coach Duncan Fletcher is not to blame for India's latest Test flop, but yesterday refused to offer any benefits the former England leader had brought to his nation's failing side.

Fletcher - credited as the mastermind behind England's 2005 Ashes triumph and snapping a 16-year hoodoo against Australia - won backing from full-time captain MS Dhoni following the Perth Test, but after yesterday's fourth-Test defeat at Adelaide Oval, Sehwag was less generous.
"It's difficult to tell you," the stand-in captain said after a long pause when asked about Fletcher's contribution.
"I will not comment on that, I will not say anything.
"He's a good coach. He's talking to a lot of batsmen and getting their input and making a lot of strategy. But when you (the players) can't execute your strategy, nothing happens."
Zimbabwean Fletcher has been branded India's jinxed man by a critical travelling media

Despite his 2-1 Ashes upset in England in 2005, India's 4-0 series whitewash leaves Fletcher's win-loss record in Tests on Australian soil at a horrible 1-13 in 14 matches.
He was also in charge of England's 2002-03 team that went down 4-1 and the 2006-07 side that had a 5-0 drubbing Down Under.
In April last year, Fletcher took over an Indian side that was one-day World Cup champions and the No.1-ranked Test side. In the nine months since, the Test team has slumped to consecutive 4-0 series losses away from home, broken only by a 2-0 series win over the lowly West Indies.

Despite his curious lack of praise for Fletcher, Sehwag refused to blame the coach for India's most recent disaster.

"No. Never. Why should I blame anybody because the players let down the team, not the support staff," he said.
Sehwag said claims Indian players didn't care about their hiding in Australia were wrong.
"It's very unfair," he said.
"I think everybody cares about their performances.
"They care if India lose the game and we are very passionate about the team and our performances.
"It is a shame if somebody is talking like that because if you lose the game, you should go out there and work out what went wrong and come back and perform well in the next game.
"We are trying that but it's not happening. It doesn't mean we are happy to lose."
India has also denied its ageing stars are on the verge of retiring - and is adamant none should be forced out - following its 4-0 series humiliation against Australia.
Team media manager GS Walia read out a handwritten statement after yesterday's defeat, describing as "baseless" claims that senior player Rahul Dravid was preparing to retire..

Source:http://www.heraldsun.com.au/sport/cricket/virender-sehwag-lukewarm-on-new-coach/story-fn67w6pa-1226256280524

Klusener to restore Dolphins' pride

Lance Klusener.

Former Proteas all-rounder Lance Klusener aims to bring back pride to the Dolphins jersey after taking over as interim coach of the KwaZulu-Natal cricket franchise. 

The former SA star replaced his own former boss, Graham Ford, last week and was handed the reins until the end of the current season.

Klusener was the last man to lead the Dolphins to silverware when he captained the team to a shared SuperSport Series title in the 2005/06 season 

“I'd like to carry on with much of what Graham Ford brought to the team and think maybe, from my side, beef up the discipline,” Klusener said.

“That's mainly in terms of how the players take on the responsibility of playing for a team like the Dolphins.

“I think if we can do that and bring that pride back of playing for the Dolphins, it will go a long way to helping this team play good cricket again and also help bring the fans back to the stadium.”

Klusener conceded there was enough talent in the province to work with and hoped the team could quickly pick themselves up after a poor season thus far.

After finishing fourth out of six teams in the One-day Cup, the Dolphins are log bottom with two rounds left in the SuperSport Series, with only one win from eight games.

“Fordy has left a massive gap,” Klusener said of his predecessor.

“He's a mentor of mine and I'll attempt to full those big shoes.

“Hopefully it will be a seamless transition and we can pick things up quickly.

“It's really a privilege for me and a nice situation because I am so at home here.

“That helped me make my decision because it's never easy to come into a team during the middle of a season, so I look forward to it as a challenge.”

Klusener, who played 49 Tests and made 171 ODI appearances for the Proteas between 1996 and 2004, has no experience as a head coach.

He has, however, completed a level-three coaching course at the Cricket SA (CSA) High Performance Centre in Pretoria.

 He is also a coaching consult for Indian Premier League side the Mumbai Indians and admitted that, if all went well during his initial two-month stint with the Dolphins, there was no stopping him from reapplying for the position on a full-time basis.

“I do understand to a point that the longer-term is probably a more extensive process,” he said.

“So depending on how we go and how I personally enjoy it, there's certainly an option going forward.” – Sapa

Source:http://www.iol.co.za/sport/cricket/domestic/klusener-to-restore-dolphins-pride-1.1223332?showComments=true

NSW carrying Australian cricket

NSW's "Second XI"

IF you needed any more evidence that NSW is carrying this nation's cricketing hopes, look no further than Australia's new one-day international squad announced yesterday.

"Queenslander" Peter Forrest was a key selection, but he grew up in Windsor and played his junior cricket for Hawkesbury.

Tasmania alone have six Blues imports who would walk into a second NSW team.

Ed Cowan attended exclusive Sydney school Cranbrook and played for the Blues before heading to Tasmania and earning a Test call-up.

He plays alongside fellow NSW-bred players Steve Cazzulino, Jason Krejza, Brendan Drew, Jackson Bird and Rhett Lockyear for Tasmania.

South Australia claims Dan Christian as one of its own, as well as other young Blues Tom Cooper and Aaron O'Brien.

Christian will play in the Twenty20 international at ANZ Stadium tomorrow night but was a promising junior rugby league player at St Gregory's College alongside the Storm's Ryan Hoffman.

 

Cricket NSW chief executive David Gilbert holds no grudges.

"All we're missing is a keeper, although Tom Cooper could do the job," Gilbert said.

"For Peter, the move to Queensland has been very good for him. We're disappointed he left, but his game has certainly developed over the course of this year, so full credit to him."

Forrest knew it would be tough to cement a spot with Phillip Hughes, Usman Khawaja and David Warner vying for Test places this time last year.

"It was a no-brainer," Forrest said about linking with Queensland. "I remember the last time I got dropped and I remember my (one-day) stats.

"I was averaging 41 and striking at 88 (per 100 balls) and that still wasn't good enough to get in the team. It was extremely frustrating.

"I think they saw me as a top-order player, but when you have guys like Hughesy, Khawaja and Warner, and Simon Katich, who all bat up the top, it was hard to find a spot.

"I don't hold anything against NSW. They have a wealth of talent down there and I wasn't good enough to crack it."

The Sydney Sixers, who are made up of predominantly Blues-contracted players, proved the good times show no signs of slowing down in NSW when they won the inaugural Big Bash League on Saturday night against the Perth Scorchers
Source:http://www.heraldsun.com.au/sport/cricket/nsw-carrying-australian-cricket/story-fn67w6pa-1226257713869

Pakistan beat us fair and square: Flower

Andy Flower speaks to the media in Abu Dhabi. 

England coach Andy Flower said on Sunday Pakistan's series-clinching Test win would be a huge boost to the country, but called on his team to show its mettle in subsequent matches in the subcontinent.

Pakistan thumped England by 72 runs in the second Test in Abu Dhabi on Saturday, taking an unassailable 2-0 lead in the three-match series. Pakistan won the first Test by 10 wickets in Dubai.

The third and final Test begins in Dubai from February 3.

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Under Flower England had been unbeaten in its last nine Test series, which saw the team rise to No.1 in rankings last year.

But after being set a tricky 145-run target to win on Saturday, England was dismissed for a paltry 72 as Pakistan's spin bowlers came to the fore.

"We realise that we haven't been very skillful in dealing with that type of cricket. In saying that, it's also right to praise the Pakistan team for what they have done. They beat us fair and square," said Flower.

"They have beaten us properly in two matches. They have fought hard and worked hard at their game and in a way I'm very happy for them. It's good for their cricket and it's good for their country."

Flower, a former Zimbabwean batsman, said defeats were a "wake-up" call for England.

"It was a wake-up call no one wanted to get. Not to that degree. But, yes it is," said Flower.

"Yesterday (Saturday) was very poor. The three days preceding that were pretty good. We put ourselves in a good position where we could have won the Test but then performed very badly with the bat to lose it."

Pakistan spin duo Abdul Rehman, who recorded career-best figures of 6-25, and Saeed Ajmal (3-22) led the fightback after they had conceded a first-innings lead of 70 runs.

Flower said dropping a few catches in the first innings was crucial.

"Maybe we dropped a couple of important catches, but other than that the bowlers and fielders were outstanding and Monty Panesar was great. But obviously our batting against spin let us down."

England dropped Misbah-ul Haq on 30 and he went on to make 84. Panesar, playing his first Test since the Cardiff Test in 2009 Ashes, took 6-62 to bowl Pakistan out for 214 in the second innings.

Flower admitted that not playing well in the subcontinent was a big challenge to overcome.

"This is a great challenge for all of us. The issues are not going to disappear. We've got another Test. We've got a one-day and T20 series, and then we've also got Sri Lanka and India before the year is out.

"So these issues will not disappear and we've got to face them with skill and a bit of courage.".

Source:http://www.smh.com.au/sport/cricket/pakistan-beat-us-fair-and-square-flower-20120130-1qplf.html

Bolly-whine: Fletcher decries ANZ wickets

Upset ... The Indian touring party in a huff after being made to wait by the Prime Minister after they turned up unexpectedly early for a reception at Kirribilli House on New Year's Day. Photo: Star News India

THE ability of Duncan Fletcher's misfiring tourists to create controversy rather than win matches came to the fore again yesterday when an impromptu training session created more off-field drama.

The Indians caused consternation among ANZ Stadium and Cricket NSW officials after complaining about the damp state of practice wickets at the venue and, not for the first time this summer, Fletcher was in the thick of the action.

It's understood Fletcher's tone softened after realising he was dealing with the renowned curator Les Burdett, who retired in 2010 after 32 years of distinguished service preparing pitches at Adelaide Oval.

Not happy ... Virender Sehwag waves his bat at James Pattinson. Photo: Pat Scala

The drama started when the Indians changed their practice schedule yesterday morning, arriving at the Homebush Bay venue at 9am, to the surprise of stadium and Cricket NSW officials.

Burdett refused to divulge whether India had been expected at the ground but explained to Fletcher that it was impossible to dry the practice wickets, which had been covered, after Sydney's wet weather last week.

The Indians were fearful the wickets would be too lively for their batsmen, who have been outplayed by Australia's pacemen in local conditions, and restricted their players to throwdowns in the nets.

But after their fears proved ill-founded, Fletcher's bowlers adopted normal practice.

Their complaints, however, set off alarm bells at Cricket NSW, which is desperate for tomorrow night's Twenty20 match - the first international in Sydney played away from the SCG - to be a success. ''We've got so much riding on this game the last thing we want is facilities not presented in a fit and proper state,'' Cricket NSW chief David Gilbert said.

Unlike the match strip, the practice pitches are off the ground and shaded from much of the afternoon sun. Hence, they take longer to dry.

India's low-key practice was in stark contrast to the session Mickey Arthur put the home side through at the SCG. As promised by Arthur, Australia's Twenty20 squad members were regularly seen doubled over gasping for air, so rigorous were the fielding drills, aimed to refine players' skills under physical duress.

''We just want to put a marker in the sand; it's the start of something new,'' Arthur said. ''There's a group of players there that have got first bite at a potential World Cup in six months' time; we want to see what they're all about. The boys are going to get fairly flogged today.''

India, after not making a change to their beleaguered top six throughout the Test series, will give up-and-coming players such as Suresh Raina, Rohit Sharma and Ravindra Jadeja opportunities to shine in the next five weeks.

''There's no doubt in my mind we're going to see a totally different India arrive for the Twenty20s and the one-dayers,'' Arthur said.

''They're definitely hurting. They've got players in who bring a huge amount of enthusiasm.''

Raina, who did not play in the Tests, said motivation was high in the Indian camp to atone for their dismal summer. ''The youngsters have done very well in the last couple of months so we hope for the best and are looking forward,'' he said.

Source:http://www.smh.com.au/sport/cricket/bollywhine-fletcher-decries-anz-wickets-20120130-1qpqh.html

Has Kevin Pietersen Simply Had Enough Of Test Cricket?

Abdur Rehman and Saeed Ajmal's spin would have had Alastair Campbell gushing as the Pakistanis bamboozled England's batsmen in the UAE heat. Just one of many who flustered at the crease, Kevin Pietersen's negligence for an 80-test batsman however has no boundaries.

England’s batsmen undid the good work of Monty Panesar to record an abject loss against Pakistan, with Kevin Pietersen once again unable to grasp the mantle of responsibility.

Seemingly on the cusp of levelling their Persian Gulf series against Pakistan, England’s spinners revelled in the sun on the third and fourth days of the second Test. Monty Panesar claimed six and Graeme Swann two of the scalps as their hosts were reduced to 214 all out, leaving England with 145 to win. Then the batsmen collapsed to prompt nostalgia for the bad old days of the 90s.

Inevitably the debate as to whether Panesar should have started the first Test in Dubai recurred, with England’s selectors criticised for not respecting the dry sub-continent wicket. Injury to Chris Tremlett ensured that Panesar’s return to the Test fold was certified, whilst sparing the blushes of Kevin Pietersen in the process.

Yet Panesar’s absence last week wasn’t a mistake, despite the conditions. It was Saeed Ajmal’s majestic display that heaped criticism on to the ECB as he took ten wickets over both innings and bamboozled the majority of England’s top order, not the inconspicuous absence of the Luton-born ‘Turbanator’. Panesar had not played at the five-day level since the opening Test match of the 2009 Ashes series in Cardiff, and his form prior to the Australians’ tour had been erratic. Captain Andrew Strauss had already turned to Swann as the team’s premier spinner.

Subsequently Swann has emerged as arguably the finest spin bowler in world cricket. Instrumental in England’s ascension to the top of the international rankings – which of course included two Ashes series victories and a 4-0 whitewash over then number one Test side India, he is undeniably indispensable.

Pietersen, on the other hand, habitually irks his knockers and admirers. Cavalier and rash, his dismissal in the second innings in this series’ preceding Test was all-too-familiar. A pulled shot off of a short delivery to deep square-leg was unforgivable and needless showmanship when a positive result remained feasible.

Chris Gayle,has not played a Test match since December 2010 and his lackadaisical approach suggests a return is unlikely. Sound familiar?

Far from the sole offender against Pakistan, there is growing disenchantment with the South Africa-born batsman. His unrivalled ego vexes team-mates who may have hoped for a display of modesty after his disastrous tenure as captain under coach Peter Moores, and he is fast becoming a liability in non-limited overs cricket, despite a 49.06 batting average and fruitful 2011.

Maybe it is Pietersen who is disenchanted. He has joined the Delhi Daredevils ahead of the forthcoming India Premier League season, and his growing impatience in cricket whites may pave the way for further money-spinners as one-dayers continue to generate a greater cash flow than their five-fold competitor. The West Indies’ Chris Gayle, another maverick batsman, has not played a Test match since December 2010 after a feud with the West Indian Cricket Board, and his lackadaisical approach suggests a return is unlikely. Sound familiar?

Had Eoin Morgan offered more than a measly 3 runs in both innings in Abu Dhabi, his position would have been fortified, despite doubts chiefly aired by Geoffrey Boycott. Only 25, the Dubliner has time on his side despite reservations over his suitability, but his ‘reverse reverse sweep’ identifies him as the heir to Pietersen. Minus the arrogance.

A grand total of 15 runs in two innings in Abu Dhabi will nevertheless intensify the pressure on Pietersen. Coach Andy Flower insisted that ‘we won’t be afraid to do that (drop batsmen)’ ahead of the third Test, as the world’s best side at the format seek to avoid a humiliating whitewash. Although dropping Morgan is likelier, making Pietersen the fall guy would send out the stronger signal that recklessness won’t be countenanced. Clichéd it may be, but sustaining success is invariably tougher than reaching the summit, but has Pietersen the appetite to want any more?

Source:http://www.sabotagetimes.com/football-sport/has-kevin-pietersen-simply-had-enough-of-test-cricket/