Rain dampens Copeland's Test claims

Updated November 25, 2011 21:18:22

NSW bowler Trent Copeland believes he deserves a Test recall despite being limited to just 11 overs on a rainy first day of the Sheffield Shield clash with Western Australia at the SCG.

The lanky right-armer finished with 0 for 22, including five maidens, as WA reached 0 for 37 in the 21.2 overs possible on a wet and gloomy Friday.

Openers Wes Robinson (22 not out) and Marcus Harris (13 not out) managed to keep Copeland and the NSW bowlers at bay on a very green wicket.

But Copeland felt good about his display on a day when five players, including fast bowlers Ryan Harris and Mitchell Johnson, were all ruled out of selection for next week's first Test against New Zealand in Brisbane.

The 25-year-old was unlucky to lose his spot in South Africa after appearing in all three Test matches on the tour of Sri Lanka but should regain his place against the Kiwis.

"We got a chance to bowl for a little while today, and beat the bat that many times it was quite a challenge mentally," Copeland told reporters.

"I came back in after we came off, had a look at the footage and I was stoked with my grouping and how I was letting the ball go.

"I got the ball to do what I wanted it to in the air and off the wicket.

"It is really up to the new selection panel, what they think going forward is the right option."

The lost play on day one is no help for the Blues, who have just two points from their four matches so far this summer and need a win to keep their competition hopes alive.

WA come into the match level on 14 points in second position with Tasmania and Warriors skipper Marcus North is hoping for a solid display on day two.

"Once the sun comes out and the pitch gets a little bit harder, there's no doubt it's going to be challenging for the batters but I thought we applied ourselves today," North said.

"The big key for us is to start well tomorrow and see where it goes."

North also gave his backing to Copeland, saying he believes the NSW bowler should earn a Test call-up.

"From what I've seen with Copes, he's obviously an outstanding bowler and I'm sure, given another opportunity, he'll do well for Australia."

Play will resume if the weather clears at 10.30am AEDT on Saturday.

AAP

Tags: cricket, sport, sydney-2000, nsw, australia

First posted November 25, 2011 21:18:22

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Hogg signs on with Scorchers

Updated November 04, 2011 19:24:34

Former Test and one-day spinner Brad Hogg is confident age will not be a barrier when he steps out for the Perth Scorchers in this summer's Twenty20 Big Bash League.

Hogg, who notched seven Tests, 123 one-dayers and two Twenty20s for Australia, has been plying his trade for West Australian club side Willeton since retiring from international and state cricket in 2008.

The 40-year-old said his hunger to play in a nation-wide competition was as strong as ever, revealing he even offered to make a Sheffield Shield return for WA after being asked to sign on for the Scorchers.

"I got asked a couple of months ago to play for the Scorchers. I had a couple of offers and I just thought I'd take my time and make sure I was fit and ready," Hogg said on Friday.

"I played a bit of grade cricket last year and things went well, so I feel like I'm 21 again.

"I honestly wouldn't sign if I felt like I couldn't perform at this level.

"Basically when I spoke to (coach) Mickey (Arthur), I was even toying with the idea of possibly playing Shield cricket again. But obviously they were going down the youth path and Michael Beer is doing a fantastic job."

WACA chief executive Graeme Wood said Test paceman Mitchell Johnson was also a chance to sign on for the Scorchers, albeit for just the one game.

And troubled batsman Luke Pomersbach, who is one of 16 players contracted to the Scorchers, could make his playing return via the Twenty20 competition despite his recent battles with depression.

The Perth Scorchers begin their T20 Big Bash League campaign against the Hobart Hurricanes at the WACA on December 18.

AAP

Tags: twenty20, cricket, sport, perth-6000, wa, australia

First posted November 04, 2011 19:24:34

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Roebuck dies aged 55

Updated November 13, 2011 19:00:43

ABC cricket expert and newspaper columnist Peter Roebuck has died at the age of 55.

Roebuck was found dead at a hotel in Cape Town where he had been covering the two-Test series between Australia and South Africa.

He had reportedly been spoken to by police earlier and had been seen in an agitated state.

Police are now investigating Roebuck's death.

Roebuck captained English county team Somerset in the 1980s before becoming a respected commentator.

His shrewd analysis was a highlight of the ABC's cricket coverage and Grandstand manager Craig Norenbergs says Roebuck will be greatly missed.

"[It's] incredibly sad news," Norenbergs said.

"He was an integral part of the Grandstand commentary team and apart from being a magnificent print journalist.

"For us he could describe a game of cricket in such a way that even if you didn't like the game, you liked the way that he went about his business."

Norenbergs said Roebuck had been due to return to Australia over the summer.

"He was a much loved member, he'd worked for Grandstand for many, many years and we were looking forward to him being an integral member, as always, as part of our team for the upcoming summer and the series against New Zealand and India," he said.

Fellow cricket writer Gideon Haigh said Roebuck revolutionised the way the sport is covered.

"He was so fresh and so different and so off the reservation that he made it easier for all the writers who came after him," he said on ABC1's Offsiders program.

"Before we're overwhelmed by the tragedy of the death, I hope we recall the quality of the life and the quality of the work he was responsible for.

"I don't think anyone in cricket writing had a voice like Peter's when he arrived on the scene in the early 1980s.

"You only have to contrast the way we wrote about cricket in the 1970s to the way we write it now - Peter has been responsible I think for a lot of those developments."

But Haigh said Roebuck was also an outsider.

"And an outsider he remained - I think to the benefit of his writing, but perhaps in the end to his cost as a person," Haigh said.

Roebuck's father said his son was seen as "odd" in orthodox spheres, "whereas he is merely obscure and oblique".

"He is an unconventional loner with an independent outlook on life, an irreverent sense of humour and sometimes a withering tongue," the elder Roebuck said in his son's 2005 autobiography Sometimes I Forgot to Laugh.

Former Grandstand executive producer Caroline Davison said Roebuck was a man of conviction.

"He walked to the beat of his own drum and if he believed in something, it didn't matter whether the rest of the world agreed with what he believed in," she said.

"He was going to go with it and he would say it loudly and it would say it very proudly and he would also be able to substantiate what his opinions were.

"So it wasn't as if he threw something out there just for the sake of being a little bit different - he absolutely believed in what he said.

"I will always remember him with an enormous amount of affection, and an enormous amount of respect.

"I want him to always be remembered for the man that he was, for the amazing broadcaster/writer and also for being such an incredible philanthropist."

'The bard of summer'

Roebuck was also a regular columnist for The Sydney Morning Herald and The Age newspapers.

"Peter was a wonderful writer who was the bard of summer for cricket-loving Australians," Herald sport managing editor Ian Fuge said.

"He was also an extraordinary bloke who will be sorely missed."

BBC cricket commentator Jonathan Agnew was shocked by the news of Roebuck's death.

"My God. Just heard about Peter Roebuck. Loved working with him. Incisive. Erudite. Funny," he wrote on Twitter.

John Stern, former editor of The Wisden Cricketer said: "Shocking and sad news about Peter Roebuck. One of the two or three best writers on cricket in the world."

During his playing days Roebuck was a solid run-scorer for Somerset, passing 1,000 runs in nine out of 12 seasons.

He played 335 first-class matches, scoring 17,558 runs at an average of 37.27 with 33 centuries and a highest score of 221 not out.

Roebuck also took 72 wickets at 49.16.

He was a Wisden Cricketer of the Year in 1988.

Tags: cricket, sport, death, australia, south-africa

First posted November 13, 2011 10:09:12

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First scalp for Cummins in even second session

Updated November 18, 2011 01:13:08

Pat Cummins claimed his first Test wicket as Australia struck twice after lunch to send South Africa to tea at 4-213 on day one of the second Test in Johannesburg.

South Africa were in trouble at 4-129 after 32 overs, with one of those wickets to fall after lunch going to debutant fast bowler Cummins (1-38 from 15).

The 18-year-old became the youngest Australian player since 1953 when presented with his baggy green by Ricky Ponting, and fittingly it was the former skipper who held onto a Hashim Amla (19 off 70) edge at second slip for Cummins' breakthrough scalp.

The crucial wicket of Jacques Kallis had fallen just three overs previous, when Peter Siddle had the all-time great caught at midwicket just one ball after he brought up 12,000 Test runs.

Kallis became the fourth player after Sachin Tendulkar, Rahul Dravid and Ponting to reach the milestone on his way to a quickfire 54 from 41 balls.

However, despite the breaking of Kallis and Amla's 80-run partnership, Australia could not put the clamps on the South African first innings.

Australian vice-captain Shane Watson (1-13) is back on the field but unlikely to bowl after being after straining his right hamstring in his run-up and abandoning his fourth over with one ball remaining.

It is a massive body blow for the tourists, who already have Shaun Marsh back in Australia and Ryan Harris about to follow him after being scratched on Thursday morning before the commencement of play.

Further questions will now be asked about Watson's workload as an all-rounder.

The loss of Watson was exposed badly in the second session, with Michael Hussey asked to bowl four overs (0-10).

AB de Villiers (51 not out) and Ashwell Prince (34 not out) took advantage for an unbeaten 84-run partnership to have the home side in a steady position after 53 overs.

After losing the toss and being asked to bowl, Australia took two wickets in the morning, with South Africa 2-107 at lunch.

Harris was ruled out with a hip problem and will be flown home immediately.

Australia are fighting to square the series, after their eight-wicket humiliation against the Proteas in the first Test at Cape Town.

Under-presser left-armer Mitchell Johnson (1-67 from 16) claimed the early wicket of one of his great personal rivals, Graeme Smith (11) in just the seventh over, when Michael Clarke caught the Proteas captain caught at slip.

ABC/AAP

Tags: sport, cricket, south-africa

First posted November 18, 2011 00:45:36

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Ponting takes aim at 'underdone' Proteas

Updated November 08, 2011 11:29:47

Ricky Ponting believes South Africa could suffer from a lack of first-class preparation in the opening Test in Cape Town on Wednesday.

Five of the Proteas stars have not played a longer-form game since January, while Australia enters the two-match series on the back of three Tests against Sri Lanka and a tour game against South Africa A in Potchefstroom.

Graeme Smith, Dale Steyn, Jacques Kallis, AB de Villiers and Mark Boucher have not pulled on the whites since the very start of the calendar year and Ponting says Australia can take advantage.

"I'd like to think so, one of the things we felt might have been on our side in the one-day series was that we'd played a bit of cricket and the South Africans were coming off a long break," Ponting said.

"Having a four-day game (in Potchefstroom), even though it was an indifferent wicket there, a few of our batsmen got some good quality time in the middle and a solid hit-out as well.

"We got from it what we could, we had an excellent training day yesterday, another one ... today and we'll lighten things up tomorrow (match eve on Tuesday)."

Australia has a tremendous record against the Proteas on South African soil and Ponting puts that down to the similarities between the two Test teams.

Ponting said essentially the sides know each other inside out and he is expecting another tenacious challenge at Newlands and then in Johannesburg next week.

"The big thing for us Australians is the contest that is provided when we arrive here in South Africa," he said.

"It's a place that reminds us most of Australia and we're playing against a group of players we all know pretty well because this team hasn't changed a lot over the last 10 years.

"There's no excuses for us, we'll be prepared and organised and hopefully you see that with our performances."

South African vice-captain AB de Villiers got through a domestic one-day match on Sunday and is attempting to make his international return from injury on Wednesday.

The star batsman fractures his hand during the Champions League tournament in India and missed the entire limited overs program so far on tour.

Ponting said the Australians would be surprised if de Villiers is not in the line-up and he does not believe his lack of match preparation will be an issue.

"Were expecting him to play, yeah. We noticed that he played the game yesterday," he said.

"He's back and he's got at least one game under his belt. He's a vital player in their side.

"He's been one of the best performed players in world cricket for the last few years in all three forms of the game.

"He's an exceptional talent and one of their leaders around the group. Were preparing for him to play."

AAP

Tags: cricket, sport, south-africa, australia

First posted November 08, 2011 09:03:04

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Black Caps maintain advantage

Updated November 03, 2011 12:38:49

New Zealand maintained the upper hand in its one-off Test against Zimbabwe, despite the hosts fighting back strongly throughout the second day at Queens Sports Club in Bulawayo.

Zimbabwe went to stumps at 1 for 82 with opener Vusi Sibanda unbeaten on 53, as it responded to New Zealand's first innings total of 426.

Fast bowler Chris Mpofu claimed career-best figures of 4 for 92 as New Zealand lost its last five wickets for just 25 runs, leaving it short of the hefty total it looked destined for when it resumed on 3 for 275 on the second morning.

Although Zimbabwe opener Tino Mawoyo was trapped lbw by Daniel Vettori in the left-arm spinner's second over, Sibanda put on an unbroken stand of 58 with Hamilton Masakadza to leave Zimbabwe 344 runs adrift at the close of play with nine wickets in hand.

AFP

Tags: cricket, sport, new-zealand, zimbabwe

First posted November 03, 2011 12:38:49

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Ponting relieved change has finally come

Updated November 28, 2011 16:54:15

Former captain Ricky Ponting has given a ringing endorsement of Australian cricket's new selection and squad regime, saying it should have occurred a decade ago.

Preparing for his 157th Test this week against New Zealand in Brisbane, Ponting was glowing in his support for Cricket Australia's (CA) appointments of his successor Michael Clarke and coach Mickey Arthur as selectors.

New selection chief John Inverarity has already earmarked a change in direction with youth and rotation policies applied to the Test squad, while CA has also bucked tradition by appointing former rugby union administrator and international Pat Howard as high-performance manager.

Ponting, under immense pressure at 36 to hold his place in the top order, says cricket is taking a more professional track under the new regime.

"I think it's terrific. I think it's the way the game should have gone a long, long time ago," he said.

"I think the way things have turned out at the moment is what (former coach) John Buchanan was asking for 10 years ago.

"It's a much more professional approach.

"We've got quality people in and around the team and I think, even already now, we're starting to see just a slightly different feel and a few different results as a result of that.

"I think Australian cricket is definitely on the right track."

Ponting revealed in Sri Lanka, his first tour after relinquishing the captaincy, two months ago that he had wanted to become a selector when he replaced former captain Steve Waugh in 2004.

He feels Clarke is in a better position as a selector as he will have more control of the team to go along with the amount of responsibility that captaincy brings.

"It was pretty hard to be accountable for everything that happens but that's the way it was right through my time," he said.

"I think it's a really good decision to go that way to make the captain and the coach both selectors."

Ponting reiterated he harboured no thoughts of retirement, even with the second and final Test against New Zealand being staged in Hobart where he could have a fairytale swansong in his home state.

"I honestly have not thought about retirement," he said.

"I can't afford to think about it and when that time is going to be.

"I'm a proud person as well and I want to make sure that I'm giving myself every chance to be a match-winning cricketer for Australia.

AAP

Tags: cricket, sport, australia

First posted November 28, 2011 16:49:49

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Australia A bowls first against NZ

Updated November 24, 2011 11:48:44

Test bowling hopefuls got their wish as Australia A won the toss and sent New Zealand in to bat in the four-day tour match in Brisbane.

Australia A pace bowlers James Pattinson, Mitchell Starc, Ben Cutting and Ben Hilfenhaus should relish the task of pressing their Test credentials against the Kiwis under overcast skies at Allan Border Field.

They will be vying for a possible spot in the Australian squad for the first Test against the Black Caps at the Gabba next week.

There should be at least one vacancy with an injury cloud over Mitchell Johnson and Peter Siddle not taking many wickets.

Rain delayed the start of the match by half an hour.

Batsman Tom Cooper was named 12th man for Australia A but will fly back to play for South Australia.

New Zealand opted for an all-seam attack, naming spinner and former skipper Daniel Vettori as 12th man.

Australia A: Ed Cowan, David Warner, Nic Maddinson, George Bailey (c), Steve Smith, Matthew Wade, James Pattinson, Ben Cutting, Mitchell Starc, Ben Hilfenhaus, Michael Beer, Tom Cooper (12th man).

New Zealand: Martin Guptill, Brendon McCullum, Kane Williamson, Ross Taylor (c), Jesse Ryder, Dean Brownlie, Reece Young, Doug Bracewell, Tim Southee, Trent Boult, Chris Martin, Daniel Vettori (12th man).

AAP

Tags: sport, cricket, brisbane-4000, qld, australia

First posted November 24, 2011 11:45:07

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Amla, de Villiers frustrate Aussies

Updated November 20, 2011 18:24:45

Hashim Amla and AB de Villiers shared an unbeaten century partnership as South Africa regained the initiative on the third day of the second Test against Australia at the Wanderers.

South Africa was 3 for 229 when bad light ended the third day, holding an overall lead of 199. Amla was on 89 and De Villiers 70. Their fourth wicket stand was worth 139.

It was yet another turnaround in a series in which there have been some remarkable changes of fortune.

At lunch Australia would have thought it was in a good position to push for a series-levelling win after 18-year-old fast bowler Pat Cummins struck twice as South Africa lost three wickets. The host nation were 3 for 94 at lunch.

"There is a bit of disappointment in the dressing room," admitted Australian all-rounder Shane Watson.

"After having South Africa three down we couldn't get that one more wicket. In this series one wicket has often led to a couple more and we might have been able to get through. But Amla and De Villiers batted very well."

Watson admitted Australia was in a situation where it had to work its way through the South African batting if it was to have a chance of squaring the series following an eight-wicket defeat in the first Test in Cape Town.

"We have to bowl them out," he said.

"They're a tough team and they're not going to give us a chance, being one-nil up in the series. We would do the same if we were in their position."

Watson was unable to bowl after straining a hamstring in the first innings.

He said the injury would probably prevent him from bowling in at least the first Test against New Zealand in Brisbane starting on December 1.

Cummins was Australia's leading bowler, taking 2 for 46 in 17 overs.

He dismissed opening batsman Jacques Rudolph, who mistimed a pull against a ball which lifted sharply, and then had Jacques Kallis caught at first slip for 2 after an impressive sequence of deliveries which troubled South Africa's star batsman.

"It was very impressive to see a young guy working over a legend of the game," said Watson.

"To do that to Jacques Kallis shows a serious amount of talent."

Cummins had a confident shout for leg before wicket against Amla turned down by umpire Billy Bowden shortly after lunch.

The Australians asked for a review and Bowden's decision was upheld when replays showed the ball would have hit the leg bail - in the umpire's discretionary area.

De Villiers also had a close escape against Cummins when he edged the ball down the legside dangerously close to wicketkeeper Brad Haddin.

But the pair gradually got on top of the bowling. Although dramatic collapses have been the norm in the short series, South Africa will hope to build on its total as it pushes to win a home series against Australia for the first time since 1969/70, a victory which preceded 21 years of isolation for South Africa.

Rudolph said it was important for Amla and De Villiers to continue.

"There are 11 overs before the second new ball and they have a chance to play themselves in before it is taken," he said.

"With us losing three wickets quite early I thought the game was on a knife edge but those two batted really well and almost took it away from the Australians," said Rudolph.

He said that although the South Africans felt they could defend anything over 300, they would be looking to extend the lead to around 400.

AFP

Tags: cricket, sport, south-africa, australia

First posted November 20, 2011 06:42:31

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Warner moves to cement Test spot

Updated November 25, 2011 17:35:14

David Warner all but confirmed a Test call-up with an impressive 65 in Australia A's four-day clash with New Zealand in Brisbane on Friday.

But not so convincing were Australia A's bowling attack.

Australia A was 2 for 98 at tea on day two at Allan Border Field after Warner's impressive 65 off 90 balls including 10 fours.

Opener Ed Cowan was 22 not out while New Zealand's Doug Bracewell had 2 for 24.

Teenager Nic Maddinson (5) was the other batsman dismissed in the middle session.

Warner sounded his intentions from the outset, stroking two fours in the first over of the innings.

In contrast, Australia A's bowlers copped a battering before New Zealand was finally dismissed for 423 on the stroke of lunch on Friday.

At least one speedster from the Australia A side is expected to be considered for next week's first Test.

But none put up their hand as the Black Caps belted 133 in the morning session.

Bracewell - who bowled New Zealand to its last Test win over Zimbabwe recently - was the standout with the bat.

Picking up where Brendon McCullum (146 off 115 balls) left off on Thursday, Bracewell thrashed nine four and four sixes to be 73 not out off 79 balls.

James Pattinson (4 for 96 off 19 overs) was the best on paper while left-arm quick Mitchell Starc claimed 3 for 88 off 17.

Sheffield Shield's form bowler Ben Cutting (1 for 89 off 19) was on the receiving end of some brutal Bracewell treatment - including consecutive sixes.

An unlucky Ben Hilfenhaus finished with 1 for 86 off 18.

AAP

Tags: cricket, sport, albion-4010, qld, australia

First posted November 25, 2011 16:45:37

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Ponting can't be dropped: Langer

Updated November 13, 2011 14:23:41

Assistant coach Justin Langer says Ricky Ponting might be out of form but Australia cannot do without its former skipper in a time of crisis.

Ponting is under as much pressure as anyone to hold his place for the Australian summer, after 26 innings without a Test century and his part in the Cape Town debacle where the team was bowled out for 47.

Langer said Ponting is experiencing confidence issues but is clear on what he needs to improve and understands his position in the team depends on making runs.

Ponting's long-time team-mate Langer is adamant the greatest Australian batsman since Bradman should not be moved on yet.

"We've got to be sensible about whether the guys you leave out or the changes you make are going to be replaced by someone better," Langer said.

"Some might argue we've got nothing to lose and anything could be better.

"Well, maybe, but someone like Ricky Ponting has not only got 12,500 Test runs but his influence in the team is unbelievable.

"He's a really tough case. At the moment, in my opinion it's really important Ricky Ponting is in this Australian cricket team.

"I can't reiterate the point enough. No, he's not making as many runs as anyone would like at the moment.

"But he is an incredibly important part of this team. I say that without any hesitation."

Ponting was one of only five players who participated in an optional training session on Saturday and Langer said the 36-year-old was working harder than ever.

"He's human. He'll hate me to say this, but I've seen McGrath, Steve Waugh, Matty Hayden, Adam Gilchrist, they go through it," he said.

"I love seeing that they're human. I thought it was just me and the nuffies who weren't very good who had self-doubts.

"He's a very grounded person. He knows how the system works.

"He's an unbelievable problem solver. Hopefully we'll see the rewards for that."

Langer also leapt to the defence of the two men in charge of his old post of opening the batting, Shane Watson and Phil Hughes.

He admits moving Watson down the order will be considered, but believes he is a natural opener who simply needs some runs on the board.

"He's got a magnificent technique. He's like Matty Hayden or Graeme Smith, he's got a big imposing figure and he can put the pressure back on," he said.

"Not many all-rounders in the world have done it, so it is a great challenge for him."

In Langer's opinion, Hughes must be persevered with.

"I'm going to stick with him too, he has an awesome work ethic, he has an awesome hunger," he said.

"His record is impeccable and he's only 23-years-old.

"He's the sort of character we want in this group. He will get better."

AAP

Tags: cricket, sport, south-africa, australia

First posted November 13, 2011 14:23:41

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Clarke applauds spot-fixing verdicts

Updated November 02, 2011 17:34:30

Australian captain Michael Clarke said guilty verdicts for two Pakistani cricketers are a welcome step towards forever ridding the sport of corruption.

Former Pakistan skipper Salman Butt and Mohammad Asif face up to seven years' jail after being found guilty by a London court of fixing parts of a Test match.

Butt, 27, and Asif, 28, were each convicted of conspiracy to obtain or accept corrupt payments, and conspiracy to cheat at gambling.

Young Pakistan bowler Mohammad Aamer, who separately pleaded guilty to the same charges, also faces jail when the trio are sentenced later this week.

Clarke and former cricket greats including Sir Ian Botham hoped the verdicts were a watershed moment.

"There is no place in any sport for match-fixing of any kind," Clarke said.

"And the verdicts ... should act as a strong deterrent for any player or administrator that tries to denigrate our great game.

"While today's proceedings are a step in the right direction, it is hugely important that the authorities continue to put processes in place to rid the game of match-fixing forever."

Cricket Australia (CA) chief executive officer James Sutherland said his organisation continues to support world cricket's bid to maintain constance vigilance in its efforts against corruption.

"As an ICC member, CA has long supported the ICC's view that anti-corruption needs to be a priority wherever the game is played," he said in a statement.

"It is critically important that the public has confidence in the integrity of the on-field cricket contests it sees."

A Southwark Crown Court jury deliberated for 17 hours before delivering guilty verdicts to Butt and Asif.

They and Aamer were convicted of deliberately bowling three no balls during last August's Lord's Test against England in a spot-fixing scam, uncovered by Rupert Murdoch's defunct News of the World tabloid.

The International Cricket Council (ICC) had already banned Butt for 10 years with five years suspended, Asif for seven years with two suspended, and Aamer, 19, for five years after finding them guilty of corruption in February.

Zero tolerance

ICC chief executive Haroon Lorgat said the verdicts reinforced the world governing body's stance of zero tolerance against corruption.

"We have always said that we will continue to explore every possible avenue to ensure that cricket is free from corrupt activity," Lorgat said in a statement from Dubai.

"That is precisely what we have done in this case."

But Botham said the case should be a wake-up call for the ICC.

"The ICC need to stop sitting on their hands and do something, be constructive," he told Sky Sports News in England.

"Everybody seems to avoid the situation as if it isn't there - it is there and it has got to be addressed."

Former England captain Nasser Hussain said the guilty verdicts were a "sad day for cricket".

"It has been rumbling on in the background for over a decade now," Hussain said.

"It's probably a day cricket needed, just to send out a very strong message to everyone that it's not just going to be the odd ban here or there and something that is going to be papered over."

AAP/AFP

Tags: cricket, sport, pakistan, australia

First posted November 02, 2011 15:25:49

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Players initiated fixing deal, court hears

Updated November 03, 2011 08:42:32

Explosive claims about corruption in Pakistan's cricket team stunned a London courtroom on Wednesday as three guilty players and their agent spoke out on each other's roles as they awaited sentence.

Judge Jeremy Cooke was due to pass sentence on Pakistan's former Test captain Salman Butt, fast bowlers Mohammad Aamer and Mohammad Asif, plus their agent Mazhar Majeed, whose guilty pleas can now be reported.

They could each be jailed for up to seven years for conspiring to accept corrupt payments and up to two years for conspiring to cheat by arranging deliberate no-balls in a case that has rocked a sport rooted in ideals of fair play.

With the four stood in the dock, their lawyers sent claims and counter-claims flying across the packed court four at Southwark Crown Court.

Butt, 27, whose second child was born on Tuesday just 30 minutes before he was found guilty, watched as his lawyer said he admitted his career was over and he stood to lose his family.

The lawyer for Majeed, 36, pleaded in mitigation - a submission which included a string of extraordinary claims about what was going on within the Pakistan team.

Accepting that his client was facing jail, he told the court of the agent's frustration at the "lies" the jury had heard from the defendants, the BBC reported.

The lawyer said Butt had approached Majeed in 2009 to get involved in fixing and that Butt and another player, who is not among the three in the dock, had taken him to a meal in March 2010 to push him into fixing.

He said Majeed was introduced to a mysterious bookmaker called Sanjay, who was running the racket.

Majeed claimed that of the $233,000 he received from an undercover newspaper reporter with the News of the World tabloid, Asif got $101,000 and Butt $15,500.

The judge then heard that Asif was given such a huge amount to keep him from joining another fixing racket.

Lawyers for Butt and Asif dismissed the claims about the sums of cash.

Justice Cooke also dismissed claims that Aamer was only involved in one episode of spot-fixing.

He said that text messages sent from murky contacts in Pakistan suggested that the talented youngster was also implicated in fixing during the preceding Test at The Oval.

Aamer claimed he was being leant upon and feared for his future in national side if he did not take part in the conspiracy.

"I refuse to accept that basis of plea on the material I have seen," Justice Cooke said.

"There are certainly texts and the like which suggest that Aamer's first and only involvement was not limited to Lord's, it was not an isolated and one-off event."

Amir offered a heartfelt apology during the sentence hearing.

"I want to apologise to all in Pakistan and all others to whom cricket is important...The best day of my life was when selected by Pakistan. I was given my shirt the night before. I stood for hours wearing it in front of the mirror," he said.

"I would have worn it all night but I didn't want to ruin it. I want to apologise for not pleading guilty before. I wish I had had the courage to do it earlier. I did the wrong thing. I was trapped, because of my stupidity. I panicked."

Meanwhile former Pakistan captains urged the Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) to act immediately to save future players from corruption.

"We desperately need to save our future generations after what happened to Butt, Asif and Aamer," Rashid Latif, who blew the whistle on match-fixing in 1995.

"We have not done enough in the past and that's what we are paying for."

Fellow former skipper Aamer Sohail said the PCB had to be more pro-active.

"The PCB should have played a more pro-active role last year... brought the players back to Pakistan immediately and tried them under our code of conduct," he said.

The case continues.

AFP

Tags: cricket, sport, courts-and-trials, law-crime-and-justice, england, united-kingdom, pakistan

First posted November 03, 2011 07:44:56

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Bushrangers prevail at Bellerive

Updated November 08, 2011 08:42:28

Victoria defeated Tasmania by 55 runs in a hard-fought and often-fiery Sheffield Shield encounter at Bellerive Oval on Monday.

Set 318 for an unlikely outright win, the Tigers were all out for 262 late on the final day, the last wicket falling with just 16 balls remaining.

Former Tasmanian Matthew Wade was man of the match for his impressive knocks of 108 and 80, while late-blooming paceman Jayde Herrick had match figures of 7 for 103.

Wade's efforts will not go unnoticed by national selectors, particularly given he made his international debut in Australia's Twenty20 tour of South Africa last month and Tasmania's Tim Paine is battling a recurring finger injury.

Tasmania and Victoria have built up a rivalry which flared several times throughout the four days.

Clint McKay (0 for 42) and Ed Cowan (25) shared some words early on Monday when the fast bowler had an lbw decision turned down.

That came after Tigers skipper George Bailey had been officially reprimanded by Cricket Australia following pointed discussions with the umpires on Sunday.

Bailey had been disputing a decision to give David Hussey the benefit of the doubt when wicketkeeper Brady Jones claimed he had taken a catch low to the ground.

The incident happened early in Hussey and Wade's 150-run stand, which proved to be the only significant partnership in the Victorian second innings.

Tasmania coach Tim Coyle said he accepted Jones's version of events, despite Hussey telling reporters the ball "hand on heart hit the ground".

"I believe that Brady Jones took the catch and I'm sticking with him," Coyle said.

"He's a very honest cricketer. There's no way that he would claim something that wasn't a catch, so I believe Brady Jones."

The Bushrangers appealed quite vociferously on numerous occasions during the Tigers' run chase on Monday, which Wade said was justified on a pitch providing uneven bounce.

"We probably sounded like madmen going up for lbws, but there was a lot of close ones in there. That's the way the wicket was playing," he said.

"There was a lot of balls that maybe would've hit the stumps, maybe wouldn't have."

Wade said an away win against the defending Shield champions would give the Bushrangers a major boost.

"We only had two points so far, so to get six points here is a big scalp," he said.

"We've got a lot of cricket in the next three or four weeks, so if we can run on with it, it'd be great."

However the Bushrangers could be without Cameron White for their Shield game against Western Australia beginning Friday, with the skipper to undergo scans for a side strain.

Meanwhile, Coyle said his team - now winless after three games - was not playing with the same tenacity that yielded its second ever Shield last season.

"We're not sustaining our pressure and our consistency with bat and ball long enough," he said.

"That's what we've got to turn around and get back to what was working for us last year."

But Coyle said he was heartened by Steve Cazzulino's defiant 95 in the opener's first game of the season.

"He just played a perfect innings on the wicket," Coyle said.

"We needed someone to anchor that run chase, so it was either going to be Steve or Ed Cowan who was going to be the key player.

"I thought he did really well. He showed a lot of character."

AAP

Tags: cricket, sport, hobart-7000, tas, melbourne-3000, vic, australia

First posted November 07, 2011 18:28:50

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Cummins ready for Test debut

Updated November 16, 2011 21:06:03

He has played just three Sheffield Shield games so it is not surprising Pat Cummins says earning a baggy green Test cap on Thursday would be "massive".

But the 18-year-old New South Wales paceman feels ready to step up if he is called on to debut as Australia attempts to square the series against South Africa in the second Test in Johannesburg.

Although captain Michael Clarke will not announce his XI until the morning of the match, it is believed Cummins is set to continue his meteoric rise through the ranks at the expense of either wayward Mitchell Johnson or in-and-out Peter Siddle.

Cummins only made his Sheffield Shield debut in March against Tasmania and went on to show he is a bowler with stamina as well as searing pace in the final.

In the first innings of the Shield final, won by Tasmania, Cummins completed a hefty 48 overs for 14 maidens and 3 for 118 at 2.45 an over.

Pace great Glenn McGrath played just eight shield games before his Test call, former skipper Steve Waugh had 10 and ex-keeper Ian Healy six.

Cummins said he naturally has his doubts, but with team support around him, he believes he is ready to fire.

"Yeah I think so, I think just watching the last few games and training hard over the last few weeks I think I've started to become closer to being ready," he said.

"But I guess you never really know until you're out there and bowling.

"I'm sure if I do get the chance it will be a good support group around the side and making me feel comfortable.

"It would be massive.

"A baggy green is every kid's dream and to receive one ... it'd be unreal."

Cummins does recall the Shield final as a tough ordeal for his developing body.

However, he said been with the Australian tour party in South Africa from the start more than a month ago and he feels satisfied in his preparation.

There have been concerns raised amongst experts about pushing Cummins too hard too early, particularly given he has already experienced back problems, although minor, in his fledgling career.

"I'm feeling as fit and strong as I ever have, so there's no way to find out until you actually start playing a few games but at the moment I feel pretty strong and we'll just see what happens," he said.

"It was pretty tough (bowling in Shield final), it was five days. We bowled a fair few overs.

"It was definitely taxing on the body and it was right at the end of the season so I'm not sure if that had anything to do with a little bit of a back issue.

"I think it was great experience and it was definitely a great time even though we were bowling for four days straight.

He has relished the Test match atmosphere on tour.

"Just the preparation and the behind the scenes behind each Test match played, there's a good week of solid training leading into every game and ... you can notice the differences straight away.

"You just feel more confident going into a game knowing you've done all the work."

Cummins has played at The Wanderers ground in Johannesburg already on tour, taking 2 for 26 in a fine performance in the second T20 match.

Although the Test pitch will be far different, Cummins says that run will still help him in terms of adjusting to the altitude on the highveld if he plays.

AAP

Tags: cricket, sport, south-africa, australia

First posted November 16, 2011 21:06:03

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Windies falter as Laxman, Dhoni run riot

Updated November 17, 2011 12:34:58

VVS Laxman and MS Dhoni led India's run-spree with superb centuries to put their team in command on the second day of the second Test against a hapless West Indies on Tuesday.

Middle-order batsman Laxman hit a stylish 176 not out and skipper Dhoni a robust 144 as India posted a massive 7 (declared) for 631 in its first innings at Eden Gardens in Kolkata.

West Indies faltered in reply, reaching 2 for 34 when play was called off due to bad light.

Kirk Edwards was unbeaten on 12 and Darren Bravo on 4 not out.

Indian seamer Umesh Yadav struck in his first over when he had Adrian Barath (1) caught by Virender Sehwag at second slip before off-spinner Ravichandran Ashwin removed Kraigg Brathwaite (17), caught by Gautam Gambhir at short-leg.

Laxman hit 12 fours in his 17th Test hundred, and the fifth at this venue, while Dhoni smashed five sixes and 10 fours in his fifth Test century as India continued to gather runs comfortably against both pace and spin.

"It is always a special feeling playing at this venue. Eden Gardens is a great place to play cricket, especially with all the spectators here, even though there are not many this time," Laxman, 37, said.

"You get value for your shots. I think this was an important knock from me because it came soon after the tour of England (where India lost 4-0 in Tests).

"The pitch has remained more or less the same, but slightly slower over the past few years. It is a good Test wicket like it should be in India. It may be difficult to play spin on the last day of the match."

Laxman and Dhoni exposed the West Indies' bowling limitations on a slow pitch with a 224-run stand for the seventh wicket as the hosts added 285 runs to their overnight total of 5 for 346.

It was India's second-highest total in Tests against the West Indies, its best being 7 (declared) for 644 at Kanpur in 1979.

It was a demoralising day for West Indies, which could get just two wickets in more than two sessions as none of its bowlers could trouble Laxman and Dhoni.

Leg-spinner Devendra Bishoo, paceman Kemar Roach, seamer Darren Sammy and part-time off-spinner Marlon Samuels all conceded more than 100 runs in a mediocre West Indies bowling performance.

"You have just got to bat the way India batted. It's a very good batting wicket," West Indies team manager Richie Richardson said.

"It's not going to be easy. The Indian bowlers are going to put pressure on us, but I believe we have the ammunition to go out there and bat for the next two days."

Dhoni dominated the big stand with Laxman with rich strokeplay. He reached his century - his first since February 2010 - in the afternoon with a single to long-off off part-time spinner Brathwaite.

The Indian skipper, caught behind off Roach no-balls when on 13 and 16, punished the spinners as he lofted Bishoo and Samuels over long-on for sixes before hitting Brathwaite for two sixes in an over.

Dhoni was caught behind in the last session immediately after hitting Roach for his fifth six.

Laxman, 73 overnight, completed his hundred with an attractive shot, flicking Sammy between mid-on and mid-wicket for a four.

The West Indies relied on fast bowlers Fidel Edwards and Roach in the morning in a bid to put pressure on India, but the duo went wicketless with the second new ball.

The tourists' lone success in the morning session came when Sammy trapped Yuvraj Singh leg-before for 25 after the batsman had added 50 for the sixth wicket with Laxman.

Yuvraj, trying to cement his place in the Test side, did not look comfortable during his brief stay at the crease, tested by Edwards and Roach with short-pitched deliveries.

The left-handed batsman was once struck on the shoulder by an Edwards bouncer before being dismissed by Sammy.

India leads 1-0 in the three-Test series following their five-wicket victory in the opening match in New Delhi.

AFP

Tags: cricket, sport, india

First posted November 15, 2011 23:27:46

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Edwards, Bravo make Windies' day

Updated November 22, 2011 23:08:46

In-form Kirk Edwards and Darren Bravo capped an impressive West Indies batting performance with unbeaten half-centuries on the opening day of the third and final Test against India on Tuesday.

Edwards (65 not out) and left-handed Bravo (57 not out) put on 117 for the unfinished third-wicket stand as the West Indies reached 2 for 267 at stumps in its first innings at the Wankhede Stadium in Mumbai.

The tourists suffered a setback even before the first ball had been bowled when key batsman Shivnarine Chanderpaul was ruled out of the Test due to a calf injury.

But West Indies made the most of winning the toss on a good batting track, with teenager Kraigg Brathwaite (68) and Adrian Barath (62) adding 137 for the opening wicket to give their team a solid start.

Off spinner Ravichandran Ashwin removed the well-set openers in four overs in the afternoon session, but there was no respite for India as Edwards and Bravo executed attractive shots.

India took the second new ball in the 85th over, but failed to break the Edwards-Bravo stand.

Edwards, who scored a century on Test debut against India in Dominica in July, extended his impressive run in Test cricket as he has so far made two hundreds and three half-centuries in six matches.

He has so far hit 10 fours in his 117-ball knock.

Bravo, who cracked a brilliant 136 in the last Test in Kolkata, was lucky to survive on 33 when he was dropped by Rahul Dravid at lone slip off left-arm spinner Pragyan Ojha.

He hit seven fours in his seventh Test half-century.

India struggled for success on a first-day pitch which had little in it for the bowlers as it went wicketless in the opening and last sessions.

The hosts had to wait for more than three hours for their first wicket, with Ashwin having Barath caught behind. Barath, who scored 62 in the last match, hit eight fours in his second successive Test half-century.

Ashwin struck again when he removed Brathwaite, with Virat Kohli holding a bat-pad catch at forward short-leg.

Brathwaite cracked eight fours in his third Test half-century.

Brathwaite, who turns 19 next month, was dropped on 57 by Venkatsai Laxman at backward short-leg off Ashwin, but failed to capitalise on the chance as he could add only 11 more runs.

The West Indies openers batted patiently in the morning, with Barath playing some handsome shots especially against pacemen Varun Aaron and Ishant Sharma in the opening hour.

Barath fluently drove debutant Aaron through the covers and turned him to fine-leg for fours before cover-driving Sharma for another boundary.

He continued to punish loose deliveries, cutting and driving Ashwin for two fours in an over.

The hosts lead 2-0 in the series after winning the opening Test in New Delhi by five wickets and the second match in Kolkata by an innings and 15 runs.

West Indies made two changes from the side that played in the last Test as it brought in batsman Kieran Powell and paceman Ravi Rampaul in place of Chanderpaul and Kemar Roach.

AFP

Tags: cricket, sport, india

First posted November 22, 2011 23:08:46

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Johnson knows he is on final Test chance

Updated November 16, 2011 16:33:49

Mitchell Johnson is likely to be given a reprieve in the second Test in Johannesburg, but captain Michael Clarke says the wayward left-armer knows he is running out of last chances.

Johnson was largely ineffective in Australia's first-up loss to South Africa in Cape Town, continuing his string of inconsistent form over the past 18 months.

Clarke will not announce his final XI until before the match on Thursday morning (7:30pm AEDT) and, although under pressure, it appears as though Johnson will hold his spot, at least for now.

With Pat Cummins expected to come into the attack, the skipper hinted Johnson's left-arm point-of-difference might save him ahead of Peter Siddle who is also fighting for his spot.

However, Clarke says he has made it clear to Johnson that the uniqueness of his southpaw delivery will not be enough to save him for the Australian summer if he continues to fail.

"Yeah he knows. I speak to Mitch all the time," said Clarke.

"Mitch has no qualms about where he sits. He wants to be bowling at his best as well.

"He wants to be bowling fast and swinging the ball because he knows he's as good as any player in the world when he's doing that."

With the exception of the Perth Ashes Test last December, Johnson has not managed a significant haul since he decimated New Zealand in March 2010.

However, no doubt contributing to Clarke's inkling to give Johnson another crack is how well the 30-year-old bowled at The Wanderers in Johannesburg in January 2009.

In the first innings of Australia's comfortable win, Johnson took 4 for 25 from 18.1 overs and seven maidens. In the second dig, he backed up with 4 for 112 from 34.2 overs.

The eight-wicket haul was engineered by his famed swing, accuracy and pace. It is a lethal combination but, unfortunately for Australia, it has produced all too rarely.

"I'm full of confidence knowing that he's coming off bowling really well and swinging the ball nicely and bowling at a good pace," said Clarke.

"I think his pace is still there which is a great sign. He probably just needs some conditions to be able to swing it a bit more. He swung it last time we played here.

"He's got potential ... well, potential is not the right word. He's played for long enough. His statistics show how good a bowler he is. But we need him to be at his best."

AAP

Tags: cricket, sport, south-africa, australia

First posted November 16, 2011 16:33:49

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Chanderpaul ton boosts Windies

Updated November 07, 2011 09:10:48

Shivnarine Chanderpaul cracked an impressive 111 not out to pull the West Indies out of trouble on the opening day of the first Test against India in New Delhi.

The veteran left-hander hit two sixes and seven fours in his 24th Test hundred, and seventh against India, as the West Indies recovered from 3 for 72 to reach 5 for 256 in their first innings at stumps after winning the toss.

He has so far added 56 runs for the unfinished sixth-wicket stand with Carlton Baugh, who was unbeaten on 19.

Chanderpaul, who scored a century in his last Test against India in Dominica in July, received valuable support from teenager Kraigg Brathwaite (63), who defied the Indian attack for more than four hours.

Chanderpaul reached his hundred in the last session when he swept left-arm spinner Pragyan Ojha for a single.

The 37-year-old never looked in trouble against India's bowling attack as he played handsome shots during his 167-ball knock, lofting Ojha and debutant off-spinner Ravichandran Ashwin for sixes.

Ojha finished with 3 for 58 off 29 overs and Ashwin with 2 for 79 off 25 overs.

"The wicket was pretty good so I wanted to bat aggressively. Ojha and Ashwin bowled well even though there was not much help in the wicket," Chanderpaul said.

"He (Brathwaite) was unfortunate to miss out on a hundred after crossing 50 for the second time.

"He was playing according to his own gameplan."

Brathwaite, who turns 19 next month, hit just four boundaries in his patient 212-ball knock for his second Test half-century in four matches before being stumped by skipper MS Dhoni off Ojha.

AFP

Tags: cricket, sport, india, jamaica

First posted November 07, 2011 09:10:48

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Bulls roll Blues to stay undefeated

Updated November 21, 2011 08:43:55

An all-round effort by Mitchell Starc was not enough to stop Queensland claiming a 50-run, bonus-point one-day cup win over New South Wales and extending its winning season start to eight straight games at the Gabba on Sunday.

The Blues were bowled out for 171 in the 44th over as the Bulls ensured they were undefeated in all formats in 2011-12 - a run that includes four straight one-day victories.

It pales in comparison to other Brisbane-based teams.

Queensland Firebirds went through the season undefeated to win the 2011 trans-Tasman netball championship.

A-League champions Brisbane Roar have equalled Australian club sport's record of 35 unbeaten games.

But the Bulls' run has them on track to collect some silverware this season under new coach Darren Lehmann.

"You see teams like Brisbane Roar marching down the mall with the trophy - that's where we want to be," Queensland's top-scorer Chris Lynn (61) said.

"That inspires you. You want to hold the trophy up, that's why I play the game."

Queensland pulled off a convincing win - but it was not without controversy.

Ben Rohrer (14) was an unhappy man after he was run out in the 12th over as New South Wales slumped to 4 for 32.

Sent back by non-striker Steven Smith, a diving Rohrer appeared to be accidentally impeded by bowler Ben Cutting (2 for 42) before being caught short by a James Hopes (2 for 29) direct hit.

It went to third umpire Paul Reiffel and was given out.

But a livid Rohrer only left the field after a lively debate between players and both umpires.

"I felt getting back to the crease I was impeded," Rohrer later told Fox Sports.

"And looking at the replays now he (Cutting) changed his course a fair bit."

Chasing 222 for victory, the Blues slumped to 3 for 11 when Simon Katich (1) was caught behind off Cutting and they never recovered, despite the best efforts of Moises Henriques (38) and Steven Smith (34).

A 42-run ninth wicket stand by Starc (34 not out and 5 for 39) and debutant quick Josh Lalor (13) delayed the inevitable.

Earlier, left-arm quick Starc helped New South Wales bowl Queensland out for 221 by the 49th over.

A 93-run, fifth-wicket stand by Lynn and Nathan Reardon (50) helped the Bulls post a competitive total after slumping to 4 for 57 in the 15th over.

The visitors' cause was not helped by captain Stephen O'Keefe leaving the field with an injured hand in the 28th over of Queensland's innings.

AAP

Tags: cricket, sport, brisbane-4000, qld, sydney-2000, nsw, australia

First posted November 20, 2011 21:39:00

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Second Test set for thriller finish

Updated November 22, 2011 00:53:19

Australian went to tea with the second Test against South Africa on a knife-edge after both sides shared the honours in the middle session on the final day.

At the interval the Aussies had reached 6 for 222 at The Wanderers in Johannesburg, still 88 runs short of their target with a thinning list of batsmen left to take up arms.

Brad Haddin was unbeaten on 24 at the break while out-of-form paceman-cum-allrounder Mitchell Johnson had reached 6.

Rain washed out the morning session and after an early lunch break was called, the tourists resumed at 3 for 142 needing a record fourth-innings total of 310 for a series-saving victory.

But while the inclement weather subsided South Africa's pace pressure did not, with rookie quick Vernon Philander sending Michael Clarke (2) back to the pavilion no sooner than he arrived.

The wicket ball was one of the deliveries of the series, one that moved off the seam towards Clarke and finding a tiny gap between the Australian skipper's bat and pad before clipping the top of off-stump.

Ricky Ponting, who resumed on 54 on Monday, could only add eight more to his overnight total before he too fell victim to the Proteas' pace attack.

After leaving several deliveries outside of his off-stump the former captain slashed wildly at Morne Morkel and was caught at second slip for 62.

While his brave knock went a long way to steadying Australia's innings on Sunday, the question remains as to whether it was enough to save Ponting's scalp for the New Zealand Test in Brisbane next month.

With captains past and present dismissed, Mike Hussey and Haddin dug in and, despite some hairy air-swings and near misses, the pair put on a solid 50-run stand.

But again young gun Philander proved to be the thorn in Australia's side, rapping Hussey on the pads on 39 with his first delivery of a new spell.

Hussey called for a referral but there was little point - Philander's perfect line and length finding the left-handed veteran's front pad plumb in front.

Tags: cricket, sport, south-africa, australia

First posted November 22, 2011 00:43:58

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Cummins looks to shake off heel concern

Updated November 25, 2011 09:42:57

Teenage tearaway Pat Cummins is confident a niggling heel injury will not prevent him playing his first Test on Australian soil.

Cummins announced himself as a player of the future with a blistering haul of 6 for 79 in the second innings of the second Test against South Africa.

However, the 18-year-old finds himself in major demand.

Shane Watson (hamstring), Mitchell Johnson (foot) and Ryan Harris (hip) are all under injury clouds ahead of Australia's first Test against New Zealand in Brisbane starting on December 1.

Cummins, who was named man of the match for his efforts in Australia's two-wicket win over the Proteas in Johannesburg, is likely to be asked once again to lead the attack at the Gabba next week.

And he is upbeat that will not be an issue, despite admitting to lingering heel soreness on Thursday.

"I pulled up a little bit sore after the game the other day but hopefully should be right to go," Cummins said.

"My heel was a little bit sore but it's nothing too dramatic and it's not going to leave me out. It's nothing too serious.

"There's nothing you can do, just keep icing it up and it's not going to be a big problem."

Former players are already advising that Cummins be rested from the shorter forms of the game.

Australian captain Michael Clarke has spoken of the need to manage the workload of Cummins, who suffered minor back issues in the 2010/11 Sheffield Shield final.

The pace ace, who this time last year was playing Sydney grade cricket with Penrith, knows the risks and rigours involved in the game and says he is ready for a testing summer.

"I guess any player has got to be well managed and, being a bit younger, it's even more important," Cummins said.

"So it's great they are trying to look after me and all the young guys.

"I guess all the guys have been through rough patches so you've got to leave it in perspective and know it's never going to be rosy forever."

AAP

Tags: cricket, sport, australia

First posted November 24, 2011 18:25:03

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Afridi stars as Pakistan clinches series

Updated November 21, 2011 09:17:35

All-rounder Shahid Afridi scored a half-century before taking five wickets to steer Pakistan to a hard fought 26-run win in the fourth day-night match over Sri Lanka at Sharjah stadium.

Afridi helped Pakistan recover from a struggling 7 for 120 to 200 all out with a 65-ball 75 before he derailed Sri Lanka by taking 5 for 35 to dismiss it for 174 in 45.2 overs, giving his team an unassailable 3-1 lead in the five-match series.

The victory leaves the fifth and final game in Abu Dhabi on Wednesday as inconsequential.

The sides will also play a Twenty20 international in Abu Dhabi on Friday.

Mahela Jayawardene and Kumar Sangakkara had set Sri Lanka on course for a comfortable win with a 102-run fourth wicket stand after Sri Lanka was struggling at 3 for 53 with Upul Tharanga (16) and Tillakaratne Dilshan (11) gone by the eighth over.

With 46 needed for victory Sangakkara, who hit six boundaries during his 103-ball knock, was bowled by Afridi for 58 and Saeed Ajmal accounted for Angelo Mathews (0) in the next over.

That triggered a collpase in which Sri Lanka lost its last seven wickets for 19 runs.

It included all of Afridi's wickets in a sensational display of leg spin bowling.

The 31-year-old thus became the only man in one-day cricket to hit a half-century and take five wickets in the same match on two occasions.

Jayawardene, who made 55, fell in the 44th over which left Sri Lanka with no chance to get the win it was seeking.

Earlier Afridi hit four boundaries and three sixes to lift his team from a precarious 7 for 120 to 200 in 49.3 overs.

Afridi added an invaluable 61 runs for the eighth wicket with tail-ender Saeed Ajmal, who finished with 20.

The swashbuckling Afridi hit spinner Seekkugge Prassana over extra cover for a six to reach his 31st half-century - his first in 15 innings - before hitting the same bowler for two boundaries and a six to notch up 19 in the 43rd over.

He finally fell, caught behind off paceman Thissara Perera, in the next over.

AFP

Tags: sport, cricket, united-arab-emirates, pakistan, sri-lanka

First posted November 21, 2011 09:17:35

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Afridi stars as Pakistan thumps Sri Lanka

Updated November 12, 2011 10:43:42

Leg spinner Shahid Afridi capped an excellent return to international cricket with three wickets as Pakistan thumped Sri Lanka by eight wickets in the first day-night match in Dubai.

Afridi took 3 for 27 in his first match since returning from a six-month exile, helping Pakistan dismiss Sri Lanka for a paltry 131 in 40.3 overs before Younis Khan and Imran Farhat hit fifties to anchor the chase at Dubai stadium.

Pakistan lost Mohammad Hafeez (5) in the second over of its innings but Farhat added 103 for the second wicket stand with Younis Khan (56 not out) to ensure a 1-0 lead in the five-match series.

Farhat hit leg spinner Seekkuge Prasanna for his seventh boundary to reach his ninth one-day fifty but with only 17 needed he was trapped leg-before wicket by paceman Suranga Lakmal for 50.

Younis, whose fifty was his 45th in one-dayers, took the team past the target in just 21.5 overs. He hit seven boundaries during his 57-ball knock.

Pakistan was on course for a comprehensive win thanks in large part to Afridi, who finished with 3 for 27 and was ably supported by Saeed Ajmal (2 for 21) and Mohammad Hafeez (2 for 24) as Sri Lanka lost its last seven wickets for 54 after opting to bat.

Dinesh Chandimal top-scored with 28 while opener Tharanga Paranavitna (25) and Mahela Jayawardene (24) were other notable scorers, but none went on to make a big score against some lethal spin bowling.

Captain Misbah-ul Haq praised his team's bowling.

"It wasn't a bad pitch, but all credit goes to the bowlers as they kept relentless pressure on the batsmen and then Farhat and Younis batted well to ensure a win," said Misbah, a little surprised by how comfortably Pakistan won the match.

Sri Lankan captain Tillakaratne Dilshan said poor batting was to blame.

"We didn't start well and once you were bowled out for 131, then it leaves you with no fight," said Dilshan, who defended decision to bat first.

AFP

Tags: sport, cricket, united-arab-emirates, pakistan, sri-lanka

First posted November 12, 2011 10:43:42

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Roebuck in despair over sex assault claim: Maxwell

By Africa correspondent Ginny Stein and staff

Updated November 16, 2011 08:44:02

The ABC's Jim Maxwell has confirmed that Peter Roebuck was about to be detained over an alleged sexual assault when he leapt to his death from his Cape Town hotel.

Maxwell says police subsequently confirmed to him they were there to detain Roebuck over an alleged sexual assault on a Zimbabwean man in his twenties.

Maxwell says that shortly before falling to his death, Roebuck telephoned him in an extremely agitated and desperate state, telling his friend and fellow commentator he needed help in finding a lawyer.

"I'm sure what happened was triggered by the visit of the police and the fact that they were going to charge him with an alleged sexual assault, which meant he was going to be detained and would then have to appear in court on Monday," Maxwell told AM.

"This is what I discovered when I went to his room after he made a very agitated, dramatic, despairing phone call to my room.

"He was absolutely on edge. And when I arrived the detective came out and filled me in on the detail.

"It was then that I asked if I could speak to him and he said 'Well, just for a moment', because clearly they didn't want their case compromised in some way, I suppose, by what he may have said to me.

"So I only had a few moments with him. He was desperate to get in touch with all those students that were in his care in Pietermaritzburg. He didn't have a phone number."

Maxwell says he then left the room, along with one of the two policemen who had been sent to detain Roebuck.

"I'm trying to piece this together, but I'd say that it [Roebuck's death] probably happened fairly quickly," he said.

"If it's the case that there was only one policeman in the room, I'm inclined to the belief that sadly, when I left the room and the detective came out with me, because I wanted to get his mobile phone number so I could ring him, that it may have occurred there and then.

"Because I then moved down the corridor to speak to one of my colleagues, and I was standing in the doorway telling him what had occurred, and within a matter of a minute I could hear outside the lift the detective talking on his mobile phone to someone about how there'd been a complication. And in trying to make out what he was saying it sounded like someone had gone out the window and that person, sadly, was dead."

Maxwell said he did not discuss the sexual assault allegations with Roebuck before his death.

"He didn't say anything about them. Obviously it was a matter I would loved to have pursued with him, but I don't think the police wanted that talked about. They really just wanted me to be able to make some contact with other people. That's as far as it got."

Roebuck helped many young Zimbabweans through his LBW (Learning for a Better World) Trust, helping them with their schooling in Pietermaritzburg.

"It was his family. This was his family," Maxwell said.

"So it was a very powerful connection. And he tipped money out of his pockets for these people at the drop of a hat to the point that he probably spent more money than he earned on making sure that they got ahead in life."

Maxwell admitted he was concerned about how his friend would be remembered.

"I am a little, but I think it's important for people to realise that he was a remarkably brilliant person, an unbelievably good writer on the game who could write off 1,000 words at the drop of a hat," he said.

"He was also an outstanding commentator and brought some diversity of opinion to the ABC's coverage. And as I say, I think he was a very caring human being. He really did have strong motivation for a better world.

"So, that's how I'm going to remember him. And as a friend, unfortunately, I no longer have."

Roebuck skippered English county Somerset in the 1980s before beginning a long media career, primarily working for the ABC and Fairfax.

He travelled regularly with the Australian cricket team and split the rest of his year living between Sydney and Pietermaritzburg.

But his personal life hit the headlines in 2001 when he received a suspended prison sentence in England for common assault for caning three South African teenage cricketers who had stayed with him in 1999.

Roebuck had caned them on their buttocks - he said he had warned them he would resort to corporal punishment - when they failed to meet his exacting standards during coaching sessions.

"Obviously I misjudged the mood and that was my mistake and my responsibility and I accept that," he said at the time.

ABC/wires

Tags: cricket, sport, sexual-offences, law-crime-and-justice, suicide, south-africa, australia

First posted November 15, 2011 06:54:10

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Conditions might suit Copeland for Test

Updated November 08, 2011 19:35:32

Medium pacer Trent Copeland has surged back into contention for the first Test against South Africa on what is expected to be a slowish Newlands pitch.

Peter Siddle appeared the clear favourite to join fellow pacemen Ryan Harris and Mitchell Johnson in the attack when the two-Test series starts in Cape Town on Wednesday after claiming five wickets in last week's warm-up win over South Africa A.

He may still hold the upper hand, however Australian captain Michael Clarke made it clear on Monday the condition of the wicket would be a key factor.

Copeland played a valuable containing role in his first Test series in Sri Lanka, and the Newlands wicket might be so dry that his skill of tying up an end could win out over the raw pace and aggression of Siddle or teenager Pat Cummins.

Another slower-paced bowler Stuart Clark took nine wickets on debut at Cape Town in 2006.

Clarke said the five seam bowlers in his squad provide him with great variety and indicated his reading of the likely weather and pitch conditions could determine a tough call.

"Probably, yes. I think the slowness of the wicket will play a part," he said.

"I want to see if they give it a water (before the match).

"I reckon the wicket is ready to play on now, but I'm hearing reports there's a bit of rain around, so if it sits under covers maybe that's why he's prepared it early.

"We've got three completely different bowlers so we're in the position to assess the conditions and pick who is the best for these conditions."

Copeland took six wickets in his three Tests in Sri Lanka, but more importantly his economy rate was down around two runs an over.

The pressure he built up on the Sri Lankan batsmen over long periods was telling and Clarke can see the 195cm Copeland combining well with spinner Nathan Lyon if the wicket is slow.

"One of our greatest strengths in Sri Lanka was having Copes who could contain runs, bowl tight and in good areas," Clarke said.

"Sometimes on good batting wickets you need to bowl good disciplined areas and build pressure, especially against good teams.

"The boys know that's a big part of our success.

"If we keep getting sun this could be a slower South African wicket."

Siddle's experience and good form of late would seemingly have him ahead of at least Cummins in the pecking order.

However, Clarke said he could make an argument for the 18-year-old as well.

"Patty's dying to get his opportunity. He's young, keen as mustard," he said.

"I'm just about trying to get the best attack and that doesn't necessarily mean the best individual.

"I think Sidds' (Siddle) experience obviously helps him and the fact he got five-for in his last Test bowling in pretty flat conditions."

Australia is expecting Imran Tahir to play as South Africa's spinner and for AB de Villiers to return to international cricket after fracturing his hand in the Champions League.

Australia (from): Michael Clarke (capt), Shane Watson, Michael Beer, Trent Copeland, Pat Cummins, Brad Haddin, Ryan Harris, Phil Hughes, Michael Hussey, Mitchell Johnson, Usman Khawaja, Nathan Lyon, Shaun Marsh, Ricky Ponting, Peter Siddle.

South Africa (from): Graeme Smith (capt), AB de Villiers, Hashim Amla, Mark Boucher, JP Duminy, Paul Harris, Imran Tahir, Jacques Kallis, Morne Morkel, Vernon Philander, Ashwell Prince, Jacques Rudolph, Dale Steyn, Lonwabo Tsotsobe.

AAP

Tags: cricket, sport, south-africa, australia

First posted November 08, 2011 19:35:32

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Pakistan crushes Sri Lanka in second Test

Updated October 30, 2011 13:52:06

Off-spinner Saeed Ajmal took his fourth Test five-wicket haul as Pakistan completed a facile nine-wicket win within four days in the second Test against Sri Lanka to take a 1-0 lead in the three-match series.

Needing 94 for victory, opener Mohammad Hafeez remained unbeaten after scoring a quickfire 59 and knocked off the runs with Azhar Ali (29) after Pakistan lost Taufeeq Umar early.

Pakistan bundled out Sri Lanka for 257 in its second innings and restricted the visitors' lead to a paltry 93.

Pakistan captain Misbah-ul Haq praised the team effort.

"It was a thorough professional performance," said Misbah, who has now won four of his nine Tests as captain, losing one and drawing the other four.

"Our pacemen gave the edge on the first day and we kept that pressure well."

Misbah's counterpart Tillakaratne Dilshan said his team needs to bat well.

"We batted poorly after winning the toss," said Dilshan, yet to win a Test as captain in eight attempts.

"Sangakkara's wicket was the key and then Pakistan bowled well."

The 34-year old Ajmal with 5 for 68 led the Pakistan spinners, who took eight out of the 10 second innings wickets to fall, at the Dubai International Cricket Stadium.

Ajmal ran through the Sri Lankan tail, keeping the batsmen guessing with his 'doosras', after fellow left-arm spinner Abdur Rehman (2 for 65) broke a stubborn seventh wicket stand by dismissing Dhammika Prasad.

Angelo Mathews (52 not out) and Prasad (33) added 56 for the seventh wicket to take the lead closer to the 100-run mark.

Pakistan dismissed opener Tharanga Paranavitana (72) and wicketkeeper batsman Kaushal Silva (8) before tea after scalping Sri Lanka's batting mainstays Kumar Sangakkara (30), Mahela Jayawardene (5) and captain Tillakaratne Dilshan (3) in the morning.

Sangakkara, who scored a double century to save Sri Lanka in the first Test in Abu Dhabi, added 73 for the second wicket with Paranavitana before he was given out lbw to Rehman.

A fuming Sangakkara stormed back to the pavilion, clearly unhappy with the decision, and was soon followed by Jayawardene, who struggled during his 34-ball stay before being bowled around his legs while trying to sweep Ajmal.

Captain Dilshan was undone by some superb reverse swing bowling from left-arm seamer Junaid Khan and was struck right in front of the stumps to a delivery that came in after pitching.

Junaid bowled around the stumps to the right-handers and was able to get the old ball to swing both ways, making life difficult for the batsmen on a wearing pitch.

Pakistan are playing "home" Tests in the Gulf region because of security fears in their own country. The final match of the series is at Sharjah from November 3.

Reuters

Tags: cricket, sport, sri-lanka, pakistan

First posted October 30, 2011 07:43:23

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Vics do it easy against Tigers

Updated November 28, 2011 09:06:38

Victoria's one-day title defence is still alive after stringing together its second consecutive win with a 74-run victory over Tasmania.

After starting the season with three losses, the Bushrangers have jumped ahead of NSW into fourth spot with a five-point haul from the MCG on Sunday night including a bonus point.

David Hussey blasted 76 off 49 balls in Victoria's 6 for 321 after Tasmania won the toss and chose to bowl following heavy overnight rain.

Tasmania was never in the hunt in reply, losing four wickets before they could put 20 runs on the board and eventually being dismissed for 247 in the 47th over.

Victoria's strike bowler Jayde Herrick took a career-best 4 for 69 from 11 overs while Tom Triffitt was unbeaten on 72 for the Tigers including four fours and four sixes off just 50 balls.

Tasmania remain second on the table with 14 points while Victoria has nine points.

Dropped at backward square leg on 43, Hussey made Tasmania pay as he struck four fours and five sixes in a stunning display of power hitting.

Hussey holed out in the 49th over as Xavier Doherty (2 for 70 off 12 overs) joined fellow spinner Jason Krejza (2 for 69 off 12) as Tasmania's only multiple wicket-takers after the visitors had won the toss.

Victoria's openers Rob Quiney (72) and Aaron Finch (65) shared a 119-run partnership.

Krejza removed Finch and Quiney but Brad Hodge (41) was able to keep the momentum going for Victoria before the veteran was caught at third man at 3 for 197.

Cameron White (20) fell at 4 for 246 and Andrew McDonald (10) played second fiddle in a 48-run stand with Hussey for the fifth wicket.

Tasmania's reply began with the run outs of Nick Kruger (0) and Rhett Lockyear (7).

Alex Doolan fell to Clint McKay's bowling for 7 and spinner Mark Cosgrove (3) was trapped lbw by spinner Glenn Maxwell at 4 for 19.

Matt Johnson (37) and James Faulkner (50) added 80 runs for the fifth wicket before Herrick struck in three consecutive overs.

Doherty (29) came in at 8 for 151 and shared a 96-run stand with Triffitt to frustrate Victoria's attack before McDonald took two wickets in successive balls to start the 47th over.

AAP

Tags: cricket, sport, melbourne-3000, vic, australia

First posted November 27, 2011 21:26:32

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Welegedara lifts Sri Lanka after Younis ton

Updated November 06, 2011 08:41:48

Paceman Chanaka Welegedara took two wickets with the second new ball, including that of centurion Younis Khan, to give Sri Lanka the edge in the third Test against Pakistan at Sharjah stadium on Sunday morning.

The 30-year-old left-arm paceman dismissed Younis (100) with the first delivery of the second new-ball and then had Asad Shafiq (16) in the same spell to leave Pakistan at 6 for 282 at the close on the third day.

Sri Lanka, who scored 413 in its first innings, still leads by 131 runs and is seeking a big first innings lead to give itself a chance of levelling the series after losing the second Test by nine wickets in Dubai.

The first Test in Abu Dhabi ended in a draw.

With just two overs to go left-arm spinner Rangana Herath removed Adnan Akmal lbw for 7 to leave Sri Lanka on top.

At the close, skipper Misbah-ul Haq, who reached his 13th half-century in the penultimate over, was unbeaten on 50 and Abdul Rehman was 3 not out.

The first two sessions had belonged to Pakistan as Younis added 98 for the third wicket with Azhar Ali (53) and another 100 with Misbah for the fourth wicket but Welegedara's double strike slumped Pakistan from 3 for 233 to 5 for 258.

Younis had completed his 18th Test hundred with a sharp single off Welegedara in the last over before tea, taking 188 balls which included eleven fours and a six.

Misbah was mostly blocking before hitting the 53rd delivery he faced for his first boundary, ensuring Pakistan did not lose sight of winning 2-0 if it wants to replace Sri Lanka at number five and jump one place up the current Test rankings.

After tea, both the batsmen upped the tempo as Younis hit a boundary and six off Herath to take Pakistan past the follow-on mark of 213, before notching another four off a reverse sweep as Sri Lanka delayed the second new ball until the 91st over.

The new ball was effective as Welegedara struck with the first delivery, bowling Younis with a sharp incoming delivery. Younis hit 12 boundaries and two sixes during his 211-ball knock.

Welegedara, who finished with 3 for 62 off 25 overs, then had Shafiq caught behind.

Sri Lankan bowling coach Champaka Ramanayake praised Welegedara's bowling.

Earlier in the morning, Sri Lanka was a bowler short after frontline paceman Dhammika Prasad injured a muscle and was unable to bowl after Pakistan resumed at 2 for 35.

That helped Ali, who scored his maiden hundred in the last match in Dubai, and Younis to bat out the first session taking Pakistan to 2 for 126 by lunch.

Younis, on 30, survived a close leg-before shout against Herath who extracted some spin out of an otherwise batting-friendly pitch.

Ali reached his 11th Test fifty soon after lunch but was bowled by medium pacer Kosala Kulasekara's delivery in the sixth over after lunch, for the debutant's first Test wicket.

AFP

Tags: cricket, sport, united-arab-emirates, sri-lanka, pakistan

First posted November 06, 2011 08:41:48

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Aussies make early breakthrough

Updated November 10, 2011 22:06:16

Australia captured an early South African wicket after stretching its first innings by 70 runs on the second day of the first Test at Newlands on Thursday.

South Africa was 1 for 49 at lunch, trailing Australia's 284 all out by 235 runs. Jacques Rudolph was bowled by Ryan Harris for 18.

South African captain Graeme Smith is not out on 22 and Hashim Amla is unbeaten on 3.

You can listen to Grandstand's live streaming of the first Test here.

Australian captain Michael Clarke took his score to 151 before he was last man out in a frustrating morning for the South Africans.

Clarke resumed on 107 with Australia precariously placed on 8 for 214 at the start of play. Tailender Peter Siddle made 20 and supported Clarke in a ninth wicket stand of 59, the second best of the innings, as the last two wickets added 70 runs.

South Africa paid the penalty for setting defensive fields to Clarke from the start, with Clarke edging Vernon Philander through a vacant second slip in the second over of the day.

But after that let-off Clarke continued to play with the authority he displayed in salvaging his team's fortunes on the first day.

Siddle was dropped on 5 when Imran Tahir put down a chance at backward point off Dale Steyn, who was unable to add to his wicket haul, finishing with 4 for 55.

Siddle finally fell to Morne Morkel when he pushed a simple catch to AB de Villiers at cover after defying the bowlers for 73 minutes and 54 balls.

Joined by last man Nathan Lyon (1 not out), Clarke reached 150 for the fourth time in his Test career with a scorching straight drive off Morkel but then had his leg stump knocked out of the ground when he stepped away in an attempt to force the bowler to the off side.

He had batted for 266 minutes, faced 176 balls and hit 22 fours. Having come in with his side in trouble at 3 for 40, he scored 151 of the 244 runs scored while he was at the crease.

Rudolph, the leading scorer in South African domestic first-class cricket this season, looked in confident form at the start of the home team's innings but was stuck on his crease and bowled by a ball from Harris which cut back between his bat and pad.

ABC/AFP

Tags: cricket, sport, south-africa, australia

First posted November 10, 2011 21:43:14

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Aussies cruise to lunch untouched

Updated November 18, 2011 21:58:45

Australian opening pair Shane Watson and Phil Hughes might have finally produced the breakthrough partnership they needed to become a force in Test cricket.

At lunch on day two of the second Test, Watson and Hughes were unbeaten and had lifted Australia to a formidable 0 for 169 after just 33 overs and one session of batting.

Replying to South Africa's first-innings total of 266, the tourists have a great opportunity to take a stranglehold on the match they must win to square the series.

Transferring the strike brilliantly, the duo kept an even pace until they brought up their half-centuries and since then Hughes has kicked on to be 85 not out to Watson's unbeaten 76.

Their impressive first-wicket stand in Johannesburg is comfortably their best ever, surpassing their 105-run partnership against Pakistan in Sydney in January 2010.

It is Australia's first century stand by any opening pair since March 2010 against New Zealand and the second-highest ever by an Australian pair in Johannesburg.

Leading into the must-win Wanderers Test, Watson and Hughes were averaging just 31.46 from eight Tests played together at the top of the innings.

Hughes was under significant pressure to hold his spot in the team, while there were increased calls for Watson to be moved back down the order to ease his work-rate.

However, scoring at greater than five runs an over and more than a run-a-minute for the first session, the pair showcased exactly what they're capable of if they find their feet as a combination.

Watson has smashed 12 fours and two sixes and Hughes 14 boundaries.

The Proteas were guilty of bowling poorly and looking sluggish in the field.

Spearhead Dale Steyn (0 for 43) was uncharacteristically off the pace, getting his length wrong from the outset.

Man-of-the-match from Cape Town Vernon Philander (0 for 30) beat the outside edge often but failed to make the breakthrough, and after a blistering start, Morne Morkel (0 for 36) faded.

Jacques Kallis (0 for 29) should have had Hughes out caught behind for just 38, but the South Africans decided against reviewing the decision after umpire Billy Bowden initially turned down the appeal.

Leg-spinner Imran Tahir (0 for 26) has had a couple of appeals, but is struggling for impact.

Watson did not seem to be hampered by his right hamstring injury while batting, however it is still doubtful whether he will bowl again in the match.

AAP

Tags: cricket, sport, south-africa, australia

First posted November 18, 2011 21:33:48

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