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Australian cricketers would be loaned between states in an effort to ensure the nation’s best 66 players are consistently appearing in the Sheffield Shield

Daniel Brettig21-Aug-2011Australian cricketers would be loaned between states in an effort to ensure the nation’s best 66 players are consistently appearing in the Sheffield Shield, under a proposal outlined in the Don Argus-led Australia team performance review.A loan system, and the use of incentives to encourage strong states – namely New South Wales and Victoria – to allow fringe players to ply their trades elsewhere are key to the review’s recommendations about strengthening the pathway that underpins the Test side.Many figures within Australian cricket, the Tasmania captain George Bailey among them, argued that every effort should be made to get the best players playing first-class cricket, irrespective of their state. NSW in particular have an abundance of talent that may be better utilised by the greater flow of players to other teams.”Australian cricket must consider innovative ways of dealing with the geographical imbalance of talent resulting from the widely varying populations of states,” the Argus review said. “Consideration should be given to: a loan system at first-class level, perhaps managed by the National Talent Manager; mechanisms to encourage states to export under-utilised talent, for example: State Talent Managers being required to recommend players for transfer at the end of the season, where it is unlikely they will be selected by their current state; financial incentives for states for each first-class player they produce, regardless of whether the player plays for that state.”The rate of serious injuries among fast bowlers was also addressed, as the panel concluded that more needed to be done to manage the transition between short and long-format cricket. This conclusion shines harsh light on the scheduling of the expanded Twenty20 Big Bash League head-to-head with the home Test programme in December and January.Australia’s fast bowling stocks are believed to be strong, particularly in terms of the talent that is starting to emerge. However many fast bowlers, either young or more experienced, experienced serious injuries in recent times, and the panel argued that better and more thoughtful management was required, particularly to bridge the fitness and conditioning gap between the three formats.”Feedback suggests that fast bowling injuries are and have been caused by a combination of factors: absolute match schedule and workload; changes in workload and intensity (eg. shifting between from Twenty20 to Shield); intrinsic factors such as age, bone density and skeletal strength; bowling action; lower proportion of overs being bowled by spinners.”The ‘gut feel’ of most of the fast bowlers we spoke to, and others, was that: fast bowlers should be screened for the intrinsics above; workloads should be graded accordingly, with a bias to building players up over time through regular bowling (plus core strength work etc.) at higher levels than currently; workload management should be focussed as much on changes in workload than absolute volumes.”While the review’s recommendations to restructure the selection, coaching and management processes around the national team attracted the most attention initally, Argus and company looked far more deeply into the reasons why Australia had stopped producing players of substance.Among the other longer term plans outlined by the review panel were ways to encourage senior players to remain in grade cricket, while also discouraging the emergence of a “graduation mentality” that has seen first-class and Test players show reluctance to return to their local clubs.It was concluded that more had to be done to keep senior players involved, so better to keep standards high and so educate young players. Research has been recommended to ascertain why older players have been leaving the game earlier than in the past. First-class and international players should also be reminded that they are not exempt from playing at the grassroots level.”[We should] also reinforce that state players are not exempt from grade cricket and should play as often as possible,” the report said. “A ‘graduation’ mentality among players – ie. a belief that once they have played at a higher level, they are no longer obliged to play, or were above, the previous level they played – is unacceptable.”James Sutherland, Cricket Australia’s chief executive, will arrive in Sri Lanka this week to speak to the players and officials on tour about the review. He sought to clarify that the review, while scathing about so many aspects of the Australian team’s structure, performance and organisation in recent times, did not blame individuals.”The report does not and did not seek to blame individuals – it says we have the wrong high performance structure and need to change the design of that structure,” Sutherland said. “It doesn’t and nor should it blame individuals such as Andrew Hilditch, Tim Nielsen and Greg Chappell.”Take Greg Chappell for example – a person of stature – all the report says is that the job we created and then hired Greg to do should be structured differently to have a singular focus on national talent management. Similarly, Hilditch has previously argued Australian cricket needs a full time head of selection in the full knowledge that he would not be available should his recommendation be accepted.”

David Warner shook the Chepauk pitch out of its death-like slumber through a mix of clean straight hitting, including a six out of the stadium, and audacious switch-hits, one of them a pull for a six over extra cover

The Report by Sidharth Monga04-Oct-2011
Scorecard and ball-by-ball details
How they were outDavid Warner has the highest score in any edition of the Champions League T20•AFP

David Warner shook the Chepauk pitch out of its death-like slumber through a mix of clean straight hitting, including a six out of the stadium, and audacious switch-hits, one of them a pull for six over extra cover. On a square on which 135 has often looked like a winning total, Warner alone scored 135 off 69, the highest individual score in Champions league history, his second Twenty20 century, and considering the slow-and-low conditions one of the best T20 centuries. In the process he took New South Wales to the top of Group A, and through to the semi-final.There was brute hitting involved, but that was only the latter part of the systemic dismantling of the Chennai Super Kings, who too had a chance of making it to the next round at the start of the match. That, though, was only until Warner started bringing the Super Kings down to their knees. After that all they could do was watch befuddled, and perhaps admire. They sure did beeline for Warner, to shake his hand once he was done.They were not sure which hand to shake, though, for Warner frequently switched hands to bat like a right-hand batsman. With the “other” hand, he scored 22 off six balls. Only once did he miss. At the receiving end of three of those hits was R Ashwin, the Super Kings’ ace and one of the best IPL bowlers. The other ace that Warner trumped was his New South Wales state team-mate Doug Bollinger, who went for 48 in his three overs.With attack the only option left for the Super Kings in their chase, Michael Hussey and Suresh Raina scored 65 off 41 balls between them, but once the wickets started falling, the slowness of the track reappeared, and batting didn’t quite look that easy. The Super Kings needed to win in 17 overs to qualify for the semi-final, but that just seemed to mock the defending champions.Their destruction, though, began with Shane Watson who hit Bollinger for three fours in the second over of the innings. He was not in full control, but it forced the Super Kings to introduce Ashwin in the third over. A Murali-Pietersen moment was about to arrive. Warner changed his stance to the fifth ball from the spinner, switched the grip, got under the ball, and went over what was cover for his original stance. In Ashwin’s next over Warner repeated the dose, and at 41 for 0 after five overs the Super Kings didn’t seem to have any answers.Ashwin came back to dismiss Watson for 21 off 19 with a carrom ball, but the Super Kings never recovered. NSW promoted last match’s hero Steven Smith, and he and Warner pushed the fielders with canny placement and aggressive running in the initial stages of the innings. Shadab Jakati dropped Warner off the last ball of the 10th over. That was cue enough for Warner to launch from 73 for 1.Warner was 40 off 29 then, and scored 95 off his last 40. The second assault, too, began with a switch hit. Raina was at the receiving end this time. The coup de grace, though, was even more brutal. Bollinger came back in the 13th over, and met a lovely straight drive for a six and a short-arm pull for four. Warner stood steady in the crease, and swung at whatever length Bollinger bowled.Jakati’s flat non-turners were fair game for some smashing, and he duly went for 15 runs in the 14th. Warner waited for Raina to fire them in in the 15th, and lofted him for a four and six too. Ashwin came back to take his punishment, to be switch-pulled for a six. Well and truly rattled, the Super Kings began misfielding all over the place.Some more punishment remained, though. This time for Dwayne Bravo, the only man with respectable figures of 3-0-19-0, including a drop off his bowling. As with Bollinger, Warner stayed still with Bravo too. The full balls went for two straight sixes. Almost forgotten was as big a six that Moises Henriques hit. Almost forgotten was that Steven Smith played a handy innings of 31 off 29, keeping Warner on strike as much as possible.The night, though, was about Warner. He would go on to switch-hit Bravo for a four past what was originally mid-off. For the photo album he would launch Bollinger onto the roof and out of the stadium, and watch in admiration, shielding his eyes with his hand, the way you would when watching a plane in mid-afternoon.

Mohammad Asif, the Pakistan bowler on trial for alleged spot-fixing, failed to appear for the eighth day of the case at Southwark Crown Court in central London

Richard Sydenham at Southwark Crown Court14-Oct-2011Mohammad Asif, the Pakistan bowler on trial for alleged spot-fixing, didn’t appear for the morning session on the eighth day of the case at Southwark Crown Court in central London before arriving at 12.40pm. It was later explained that Asif had been ill overnight.Asif, who has sat in the dock next to his former captain and co-defendant Salman Butt for the entire trial so far, has arrived for every other day in good time, smartly dressed in a suit.When proceedings began at 10.45am, Asif’s legal representative Alexander Milne QC informed the jury “you may have noticed that Mr Asif is not here” and went on but offered no explanation or excuses as to his client’s absence. Butt was in the dock, though, along with the Urdu interpreter Mr. Khan.After the lunch interval, Asif’s lawyer offered an explanation to the jury for his client’s earlier absence. “Just so there is no mystery, Mr Asif’s absence this morning was because he was ill earlier and he apologises for his absence this morning.”The first item heard on Friday was a written statement from the Pakistan team’s security manager, Major Khwaja Najam Javed, which was read to the court by Aftab Jafferjee QC for the prosecution. Then transcripts of police statements with the players from September 2010 were read out in front of the jury.Najam, who began his role with the team in March 2010, said in his statement that he first encountered Majeed during the World Twenty20 in St. Lucia. He noted how he observed Majeed with his family on the beach but he also seen Majeed frequently with Butt and Kamran Akmal. He first saw Majeed by the tennis courts at the team hotel with Butt, Asif, Amir and Kamran Akmal, who were talking with him.When he first introduced himself to Majeed, Najam said in the statement, Majeed introduced himself not as an agent but as a fan who liked to see the Pakistan whenever they were close to England. Najam quizzed Majeed on whether he thought they were close to England then.Najam detailed how he also saw Majeed with the players in Sri Lanka for the Asia Cup in June, and then frequently on the England tour, often in the team’s hotel – and sometimes would also see his brother and business partner Azhar Majeed with the players.Najam revealed that the players were warned by team manager, Yawar Saeed, not to allow these men into their rooms and that if they had to meet with them they should do so in the hotel lobby. But still, Najam said, acting on a tip-off from hotel reception, he found Azhar Majeed in the room of fast bowler Wahab Riaz along with Butt and Kamran Akmal after midnight during The Oval Test match. Butt and Akmal apologised to him but offered no explanation as to what they were discussing when Najam inquired, the statement said.Butt and Asif are facing charges of conspiracy to cheat, and conspiracy to obtain and accept corrupt payments, following the Lord’s Test in August last year when they allegedly conspired with agent Mazhar Majeed, teenage fast bowler Mohammad Amir and other people unknown to bowl pre-determined no-balls. Butt and Asif deny the charges.The case continues.

Marvan Atapattu, Sri Lanka’s batting coach, has said his team’s batsmen have been lacking in confidence on the tour of the UAE

ESPNcricinfo staff13-Nov-2011Marvan Atapattu, Sri Lanka’s batting coach, has said his team’s batsmen have been lacking in confidence on the tour of the UAE. Sri Lanka were beaten 0-1 in the Tests and were skittled out for 131 in the first ODI in Dubai.”I really think it is nothing to do with the technique and application but its about the confidence which they are lacking,” Atapattu said. “We have played so much cricket and if it happens at a stretch then it’s important you get out of it. When you get out for low scores, when you are not doing well as a batting unit, then it’s a matter of confidence.”The tracks have been quite flat for the bulk of the tour so far and Sri Lanka’s batting, barring Kumar Sangakkara, has been below-par. “You cannot justify (failures) after looking at the personalities in the dressing room, its just that they come out thinking that its a brand new game and we are not continuing what we did on Friday or maybe two months ago,” Atapattu said.Atapattu, a former Sri Lanka opener, praised the Pakistan team, saying it’s among the best he’s seen from the country in the recent past. “They looked very fresh from the start and they are a very good side, having lots of allrounders and have options. This Pakistan side is one of the best I have seen in the recent past having played against their best teams in my days.”He also complimented Misbah-ul-Haq, the Pakistan captain. “Misbah is a very cool and calm character and what I saw in the Tests was very impressive, he handles things well and is somewhat like [Arjuna] Ranatunga and he has the patience to wait until he achieves what he wants to.”The teams play five ODIs in all. The second one takes place in Dubai on November 14.

Western Australia thumped South Australia by 10 wickets at the WACA after the home team’s seamers triggered a collapse that helped seal a comfortable victory

ESPNcricinfo staff08-Dec-2011
Scorecard
Western Australia thumped South Australia by 10 wickets at the WACA after the home team’s seamers triggered a collapse that helped seal a comfortable victory. South Australia were reasonably well placed when play began, on 206 for 2, with Callum Ferguson having scored a century and captain Michael Klinger on his way towards one. But Klinger fell early on day four, failing to add to his 80, and that marked the start of South Australia’s slide.Michael Hogan bowled Klinger and returned later to rattle the lower order to finish with four wickets and pushed his match tally to nine. In the interim left-arm seamer Jason Behrendorff nipped out Ferguson and Troy Cooper. South Australia lost their last eight wickets for 82, leaving Western Australia to chase a target of just 15, which they did without any damage in 5.2 overs. The win leaves Western Australia placed second on the points table, after Queensland.

Sydney Sixers scraped past the Melbourne Stars by two runs in a thrilling finish at the SCG

The Report by Alex Malcolm27-Dec-2011
Scorecard and ball-by-ball details
Dwayne Bravo shone with the bat and in the field for Sydney Sixers•Getty Images

If anyone had any doubts about the quality of cricket the BBL was producing prior to the Christmas break, all doubts were quashed after a thrilling finish at the SCG, as the Sydney Sixers scraped past the Melbourne Stars by two runs.It was a match that featured many narratives, sub-plots, twists, and turns and left the 27,520 in attendance on the edge of the seats. The Stars’ pursuit of 167 came to a head when Clint McKay needed four runs from the last ball with Brett Lee steaming in. Lee held his nerve as McKay could only squeeze a low full toss to mid-off.Earlier in the over Lee looked a villain. With 15 to protect off the last over he conceded nine from the first three balls. Chris Simpson slashed a boundary through point first ball, and McKay helped a poorly-executed slower ball behind square leg to cut the equation to six off three. But Lee summoned all of his experience. His last three deliveries were full, straight, and quick enough to avoid an embarrassing loss for his side.In reality, though, for the Stars, it may feel like a game that got away. Cameron White lost the toss and Stars were asked to field. They were in control of the match after 16 overs, having held the Sixers to 6 for 119. All of the Stars’ bowlers used to that point had taken a wicket, and aside from Dwayne Bravo none of the Sixers’ batsmen had played with any kind of authority.Dwayne Bravo’s innings was impressive and was worthy of his Man-of-the-Match award. He was promoted to open for the first time in this tournament, and he delivered with 52 from 39 balls, striking four fours and three sixes. Bravo’s battle with Shane Warne was arguably the most intriguing sub-plot of the night. Warne bowled with the same control, guile, and confidence that he showed against Brisbane Heat. But Bravo was able to launch three sixes off him before holing out to long-off.Warne’s figures were again superb, his 1-27 unjustly inflated by Bravo’s three blows. He conceded just nine from his other 21 deliveries. Warne’s work in conjunction with the crafty off-spin of David Hussey (2-25) put the Sixers in a vulnerable position. But the experienced pair of Ben Rohrer and Dominic Thornely came together and salvaged the situation exceptionally well.Rohrer’s fine placement and brilliant running complemented the power hitting of Thornely. Their stand of 45 came from just 21 balls, before both men fell for 29 in the final over of the innings. The Stars’ batting depth meant that 9 for 166 looked a gettable target. But early wickets hurt them.Rob Quiney lofted the first ball from Lee straight down the ground for four. But Lee exacted revenge in the third over when Quiney pulled a ball straight to Moises Henriques on the square-leg boundary. In between, Matthew Wade hit a long hop from Thornely’s slow ones to Steve Smith at midwicket. Both openers had departed with just 18 on the board.George Bailey and David Hussey consolidated with a dangerous 59-run stand. But just as they started to blossom, Bailey lofted Smith to long-on to depart for 33. White fell the very next over from Stuart MacGill. He chipped to long-off and Lee charged in to clutch an exceptional catch millimetres from the turf. The Sixers’ outstanding fielding may well have been the difference in the end.Adam Voges joined Hussey and they looked in control, adding 33 untroubled. But Hussey took on Rohrer’s agility with an ambitious two. Rohrer chased the ball just beyond the circle, slid as he gathered, and threw down the stumps to catch Hussey short for a well-made 42.But the match-winning piece of fielding will not be found in the scorebook. With 41 required from 24 balls, Luke Wright swatted Smith high to deep midwicket. Bravo launched himself above the rope, caught the ball and threw it back before landing on the rope. Bravo had turned a certain six into only two runs. Wright tried again next ball and Michael Lumb took a good running catch at wide long-on and the game seemed in the Sixers’ keeping. But with 23 needed from nine balls the Stars did not give in. Four fours in six deliveries took the match to the precipice before Lee tilted it the home side’s way.

A round-up of the latest round of Logan Cup matches

ESPNcricinfo staff12-Jan-2012Mashonaland Eagles‘ fast bowlers shot out Mountaineers for 55 in the second innings to set up a seven-wicket win at the Harare Sports Club. Tatenda Manatsa led the way with seven wickets in the game but Kyle Jarvis’ four strikes in the second innings were not far behind, as was Elton Chigumbura’s 121 that rescued Eagles from 34 for 5 in the first innings. Mark Pettini’s 55 was the top score for Mountaineers in the game but Manatsa claimed 4 for 33 to restrict them to 219 in the first innings. Shingi Masakadza ran through Eagles with a career-best 6 for 54, but Mountaineers were thwarted by Chigumbura’s century that featured 15 boundaries. Chigumbura and Jarvis added 99 after Eagles were tottering at 133 for 8. They ultimately managed to take a slender lead of 19. Manatsa struck with his second delivery in the second innings, Jarvis with the first ball of his second over, and Mountaineers crumbled in 26.3 overs to 55, never recovering from 8 for 4. Masakadza claimed more three more wickets in the small chase to make it nine victims for the match, but the target of 37 was never going to trouble Eagles.Southern Rocks did not crumble the way Mountaineers had, but their average first-innings performance was responsible for a seven-wicket loss to MidWest Rhinos at the Kwekwe Sports Club. Ed Rainsford’s five-wicket haul kept Rocks to 178 despite Hilary Matanga’s 63 and Rhinos then rode on centuries from captain Gary Ballance and Riki Wessels to post 444. Brian Vitori grabbed 5 for 90 but there was little support from the rest of the Rocks’ attack. Richmond Mutumbami’s 92 was the only score of note from the Rocks’ top order in the second innings, but Vitori stretched their innings past 300 with his highest first-class score of 71. Graeme Cremer mopped up the rest of the lower order to finish with 5 for 107 and Vitori’s dismissal brought the Rocks’ innings to an end on 313. Vitori was not done yet though. He struck twice more to have Rhinos at 6 for 3 in their chase of 48 but Malcolm Waller was around to take them home.

Rana Naved-ul-Hasan, the former Pakistan bowler, has signed for Derbyshire for the Flt20. He turned down the chance to join Hampshire or return to Sussex, where he has played for six seasons.

ESPNcricinfo staff14-Feb-2012Rana Naved-ul-Hasan, the former Pakistan bowler, has signed for Derbyshire for the Flt20. He turned down the chance to join Hampshire or return to Sussex, where he has played for six seasons.Having taken 107 T20 wickets, Naved is regarded as specialist in the short format of the game. He was the top wicket-taker in Australia’s Big Bash League, with 15 victims for Hobart.Naved, 33, will be available throughout the Flt20 alongside Australia batsman Usman Khawaja who joins for the whole of the 2012 season. Khawaja could be called up for Australia A in July, in which case Naved would be available for County Championship and CB40 cricket.”We wanted our second overseas player to be a match-winner,” Derbsyhire head coach, Karl Krikken, said. “Rana’s performances throughout his career demonstrate we have ticked those boxes with this signing.”Chairman Chris Grant added: “To beat the attention of opposition counties to the signature of a standout overseas player in Naved is a massive coup for the club. He has proved to be an inspirational performer in T20 cricket around the world, as well as boasting exceptional pedigree at one-day international level with Pakistan.”Naved played 74 ODIs for Pakistan, taking 110 wickets at 29.28, his last match coming in 2010 against Australia at Perth. He also helped Sussex to T20 finals day in 2007.”Not only do I expect him to help us win matches, he is also a very entertaining player to watch,” Grant said. “His skills and larger than life personality have added an extra dimension to T20 nights in Hobart of late and I’m sure that will be replicated at the County Ground this summer.”

Sourav Ganguly, the Bengal captain, was forced to sit out of his team’s quarter-final clash against Baroda in the Syed Mushtaq Ali Trophy due to a hamstring injury

ESPNcricinfo staff25-Mar-2012Sourav Ganguly, the Bengal captain, was forced to sit out of his team’s quarter-final clash against Baroda in the Syed Mushtaq Ali Trophy due to a hamstring injury. Ganguly sustained the injury during an exhibition match in Dubai while playing for the Marylebone Cricket Club against Lancashire on March 23.The injury, however, will not have an impact on Ganguly’s preparation for the IPL, a Sahara Pune Warriors official told ESPNcricinfo. Ganguly was recently named captain of the Warriors for the IPL’s fifth season and he will also double up as a team mentor in the absence of a head coach.Deep Dasgupta, the Bengal chairman of selectors, said Ganguly, who flew back to Kolkata from Dubai, will be available for selection should Bengal qualify for the semi-final of the Syed Mushtaq Ali Trophy in Mumbai. Manoj Tiwary is leading Bengal in Ganguly’s absence.

Day Three report from Middlesex v Surrey at Lord’s

Alex Winter at Lord's14-Apr-2012When Jon Lewis’ departure to Surrey was hastily announced during last season’s Cheltenham festival, there was a collective lowering of shoulders from the Gloucestershire members. Their constant for 17 years, the last reminder of their glory years, was to leave. They were also losing their 17th highest wicket-taker of all time.But Gloucestershire could no longer afford Lewis. And Lewis deserves every penny he can get. His first five-for in Surrey colours was another demonstration of his wonderful execution of a simple modus operandi. It moved Surrey close to their first win over the Thames for 17 years.That they can see the winning line is down to a bold half-century from Rory Hamilton-Brown. He sought not to wait for the ball that had claimed so many others during the day but played in swashbuckling fashion. He poked and missed at three balls outside off from Corey Collymore. Enough of that. Down the pitch to lift him over mid on; another swing brought four over the slip cordon; as did a thumping drive to the grandstand fence. Six boundaries he struck in his 49-ball fifty.It was the second counterattacking knock of the day for Hamilton-Brown. In the morning he added 27 to his overnight total as Surrey worked their way towards parity. But finally Tim Murtagh took a wicket – in his 26th over – and Middlesex took a 34 run lead.But little could they add to that lead and Hamilton-Brown’s intent could prove the difference. Tom Maynard came out with the same gameplan in the second innings – also his natural method. Three fours in his 12 steered Surrey to strong favouritism with 46 to knock off on day four.But positivity nearly undermined the chase before it began. Steven Davies and Zander de Bruyn cut firmly straight to off side fielders as Middlesex sensed a way back under the skin of their neighbours. That after Jacques Rudolph was lbw to Toby Roland-Jones as Surrey slipped to 22 for 3.”The game isn’t dead yet because there’s plenty left in the wicket,” said Lewis, whose haul has put Surrey on the brink of consecutive victories. He found the dents in the surface that offered seam movement and a touch of low bounce.Lewis took five for 41 during a wild afternoon where Middlesex lost nine for 77. The soft early-season Lord’s pitch was described as “not good enough for the home of cricket” in a tweet by Surrey bowling coach Martin Bicknell.Something wasn’t right as 19 wickets fell during day three. The first two days of this match claimed 15.The ball continued to swing around but the three-day old surface offered deliveries just fuller of a good length a little zip. Lewis became impossible to play from the Nursery End. Slipping two deliveries onto the pads of Neil Dexter and Corey Collymore but finding a touch of bounce and seam as Gareth Berg – who received the best delivery of the innings – Ollie Rayner and Toby Roland-Jones – taken superbly by a diving Jacques Rudolph – all fell to catches behind the wicket.Lewis’ spell saw Middlesex, who had been 65 for two, bowled out for 106. Sam Robson again battled away at the top of the order – against Lewis and Zander de Bruyn first up, the latter introduced to take pace off the ball; the quicker bowlers being easier to play with a new ball in hand.De Bruyn was no experiment either. He enticed Joe Denly into a horrific swish before lunch that gave a catch to slip and had Chris Rogers repeating the trick with the third ball after the break. Lewis then reeled off six single figure scores – including his run out of John Simpson backing up.