Pietersen retires from limited overs cricket

Updated May 31, 2012 21:35:10

England star Kevin Pietersen has retired from all forms of international limited overs cricket, a decision which took the England and Wales Cricket Board (ECB) by surprise.

Pietersen, who will continue to be available for Test selection, said in a statement he wished to step aside in order to give the next generation of players a chance to bed in before the 2015 World Cup.

"After a great deal of thought and deliberation, I am today announcing my retirement from international one-day cricket," said Pietersen, who turns 32 next month.

"With the intensity of the international schedule and the increasing demands on my body, approaching 32, I think it is the right time to step aside and let the next generation of players come through to gain experience for the ICC World Cup in 2015," added Pietersen, who has scored 4,184 runs at an average of 42 in one-day internationals and averages 38 in international Twenty20 cricket.

Pietersen's decision comes less than four months before England are due to launch the defence of their World Twenty20 crown in September.

The South Africa-born batsman was man of the tournament when England won the title in the West Indies in 2010 and had indicated a willingness to remain part of the Twenty20 squad in Sri Lanka this year.

But ECB rules dictate that centrally-contracted players must make themselves available for all forms of limited-overs cricket.

"I am immensely proud of my achievements in the one-day game, and still wish to be considered for selection for England in Test cricket," Pietersen said.

"For the record, were the selection criteria not in place, I would have readily played for England in the upcoming ICC World Twenty20."

Pietersen's decision was greeted with dismay by ECB managing director Hugh Morris.

"The ECB is disappointed by the timing of Kevin's decision less than four months before we defend our ICC World Twenty20 title," he said.

"Kevin is a world-class player and I would like to take this opportunity to thank him for his efforts and we look forward to his continued contributions to the Test match side."

AFP

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First posted May 31, 2012 21:30:34

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England coasts to series victory

Updated May 29, 2012 07:08:06

England raced to a series win over West Indies with a nine-wicket victory on the fourth day of the second Test at Trent Bridge after being set a modest target of 108.

Captain Andrew Strauss (45) and Alastair Cook (43 not out) took England near the finishing line soon after tea and Jonathan Trott (17 not out) helped complete the task at 1 for 111.

England is 2-0 up in the three-Test series after a five-wicket win at Lord's in the first match.

"We are delighted to win but again it was quite hard work at times," Strauss told Sky Sports.

"We got ourselves in positions where we felt we could really take the game by the scruff of the neck but all credit to the West Indies they came back at us.

"It's been a hot, hard four days and there were some reallygood performances from the lads for a well-earned victory."

Marlon Samuels had held up the home side with a defiant 76 not out, helping lift West Indies from a desperate 6 for 61 overnight in their second innings to 165 all out.

It was another fine knock by Samuels, who also topscored in the first innings with 117, but, captain Darren Sammy apart, he laboured virtually alone.

With the last man at the crease, Samuels thrashed the spin of Graeme Swann for two sixes and a four in what proved to be the penultimate over of the innings.

All-rounder Tim Bresnan had earlier dismissed Sammy for 25 to secure his fourth lbw victim of the innings and end a stout partnership of 49 with Samuels.

Sammy and Samuels had started the day with the tourists leading by three runs overall and badly needing a repeat of the their first innings heroics when Sammy also hit a century.

The pair responded boldly but Bresnan finally trapped Sammy, winding up with 4 for 37 to go with the four wickets he took in the first innings.

Bresnan, whose patient 39 not out boosted England to 428 all out on Sunday, is proving a talisman for the team, having now won all 13 Tests he has played, and was named man of the match.

Strauss, who fell in the second innings to the off-spin of that man Samuels, is in fine fettle too with centuries in both Tests ending an 18-month barren spell.

The third Test starts at Edgbaston, Birmingham on June 7 and West Indies face a tough task to salvage something.

"We really have to consider how we go about playing our cricket. We have been playing for a while now and we're not learning so something has to be done," Sammy said.

"We just have to be more focused, continue working hard andput a higher price on our wickets."

Strauss and his men will likely face a tougher task this summer in a three-match series against South Africa starting on July 19 at The Oval.

Reuters

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First posted May 29, 2012 07:08:06

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England on verge of series victory

Updated May 28, 2012 16:09:44

England was on the verge of clinching the three-match series against West Indies after the tourists' top order failed again on the third day of the second Test at Trent Bridge.

Trailing by 58 on first innings, West Indies limped to 6 for 61, a lead of just three runs with two days left.

England captain Andrew Strauss with 141 and a useful partnership of 53 by all-rounders Tim Bresnan (39 not out) and Stuart Broad (25) had lifted England past the West Indies first-innings total of 370.

Although the final score of 428 was much less than seemed likely at the close on day one with Strauss and Kevin Pietersen at the crease, it proved too stiff a challenge for the touring side missing the experienced Chris Gayle at the top of the order.

James Anderson struck early to dismiss openers Adrian Barath (7) and Kieran Powell (1) before Broad captured the prized wicket of Shivnarine Chanderpaul for 11, top-edging a pull and caught on the boundary by Jonathan Trott.

Bresnan trapped Darren Bravo (22), Denesh Ramdin (6) and Kirk Edwards second ball for nought, all out lbw, to leave the tourists in disarray.

Marlon Samuels and Darren Sammy, who both scored centuries in the first innings, were the not out batsmen at the close.

Bresnan ended with figures of 3 for 10 in six overs, cementing his talisman status for England as he has won all 12 Test matches he has played.

He told BBC Radio: "To get them six down on that wicket in that short little session was fantastic."

Critical period

Bresnan's valuable unbeaten contribution with the bat lasted 153 minutes in a critical period of the game.

"It was kind of a battling knock," he said.

"It just shows what the pitch was like really. It was quite slow, quite difficult to score off, especially when they bowled in the right areas."

Bresnan and Broad came together at 7 for 363 and comfortably steered England past West Indies' total of 370 only for Broad to top-edge a catch off the bowling of Shane Shillingford.

Graeme Swann (1) and Anderson (0) swiftly followed to wrap up the innings.

Strauss's steadfast knock, lasting 303 balls and seven hours and 12 minutes, contained 22 fours before he finally offered a catch behind off the bowling of captain Sammy.

West Indies had taken four important wickets before lunch to the disappointment of home supporters expecting a run feast.

Pietersen (80) and Ian Bell (22) fell to reviewed lbw decisions and Jonny Bairstow (4) was given a torrid timein only his second Test by pace duo Kemar Roach and Ravi Rampaul before top edging an easy catch to mid-on.

Just when it looked as if England was steadying the ship Sammy bowled Matt Prior for 16.

Rampaul, who captured the vital wicket of Pietersen, was the pick of the West Indies bowling with 3 for 75 off 25 overs.

Samuels, top scorer in the West Indies first innings with 117, mopped up the tail with 2 for 14.

Reuters

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First posted May 28, 2012 06:52:20

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Strauss' return to form continues

Updated May 27, 2012 07:25:06

England captain Andrew Strauss was determined to post an even bigger score after his unbeaten century saw the hosts reduce West Indies' first innings lead in the second Test at Trent Bridge.

Strauss was 102 not out at the close of Saturday's second day, with England 2 for 259 in reply to West Indies' first innings 370 - a deficit of 111 runs.

This was the 35-year-old left-handed opener's second hundred in as many matches after he ended an 18-month wait spanning 25 innings for a Test century with 122 in the five-wicket series opening win at Lord's.

On a beautiful batting pitch, and against a modest Windies attack, Strauss and Kevin Pietersen, 72 not out at stumps, added an unbroken 136 for the third wicket as England looked to go an unbeatable 2-0 up in this three-match series.

Strauss, asked to explain his recent form, said: "I suppose to a degree it's confidence but it's a strange game -- sometimes batting feels difficult, with a few runs under your belt it's easier.

"I'm delighted to be in form and determined to make the most of it. You can never look too far ahead. I'll focus on getting myself back in the morning - that's a big enough challenge for me."

A curious fact of Strauss's Test career is that he's never added more than six runs when not out overnight on a hundred - at Lord's it was just one run.

And with England still some way off a first innings lead, Strauss joked he might have to change his routine if he was to keep on batting on Sunday.

"It's nice to feel back in form and as a captain it's great to contribute and lead from the front," said Strauss, playing his 96th Test. "I've never got blindly drunk the night before so maybe that's an option.

"There's no reason why you can't (kick on the next day), that will be an opportunity for me tomorrow (Sunday)," explained Strauss, whose Test-best score remains the 177 he made against New Zealand in Napier in 2008.

Strauss's 21st Test century left him just one short of the England record of 22 held jointly by Walter Hammond, Colin Cowdrey and Geoffrey Boycott.

However, Strauss played down his achievement by saying: "It's a different game to those days, we play more cricket.

"You only have to look at Sachin Tendulkar to realise 21 is not that many (the India great has 51 Test hundreds). But it's still nice to get them."

Saturday proved a memorable day too for West Indies captain Darren Sammy as he completed a maiden Test century after being 88 not out overnight.

The all-rounder's place in the side has been repeatedly called into question, most recently by West Indies great Michael Holding, and a delighted Sammy said: "I'm playing against the number one team in the world and everybody wants to perform against the best.

"To do that (score a hundred) in this Test match with the bat, it feels good for somebody like me who has been under pressure from day one."

Sammy, whose 15 wicketless overs of medium-pace on Saturday cost 69 runs, helped rescue West Indies from the depths of 6 for 136.

Together with Marlon Samuels, who made 117, he shared a seventh-wicket stand of 204.

But neither Samuels, who only added 10 runs to his overnight score, nor Sammy lingered long after getting to a hundred.

"We're quite disappointed me and Marlon couldn't continue because we knew how flat the wicket was, as we saw when we bowled," said Sammy.

"We both should have carried on to get a bigger total for the team."

AFP

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First posted May 27, 2012 07:23:54

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Paine on target for Australia A tour

Updated May 28, 2012 15:42:58

Recuperating wicketkeeper Tim Paine admitted he was a little nervous when returning to batting practice this week after a long absence with a finger injury.

Paine has been troubled by a finger injury for the past 18 months and missed the entire summer of cricket.

He has been training at Australia's Cricket of Excellence in Brisbane in preparation for taking his spot in the Australia A tour of England in July.

Paine said his wicketkeeping is back to 100 per cent but he only just had his first session with the bat.

"I was a bit nervous to be honest as it's been a long time," Paine said.

"I've got new gloves and a lot of padding so I have to get used to holding the bat differently."

Paine said it was the first time he has had a long-term injury and he was unsure how to handle the long lay-off.

"I wasn't used to just sitting around but after five or six operations I got pretty good at it," he said.

"Last summer I didn't do a hell of a lot of cricket. I had a bit to do with the Big Bash, with the Hurricanes, but I stayed away from any training and plenty of time off away from cricket and away from Bellerive Oval.

"It's got me in a good frame of mind now. I'm nice and fresh and excited to be back."

Paine plans to work hard over the next four weeks and expects to be ready to play once he arrives in England.

"I'm going to have a really good build-up, so by the time I get to England I'll expect to be playing as well as I was two years ago," he said.

"My goals are to score a lot of runs, keep well and put my name back up there to play for Australia in any form of the game.

"There is some good hard cricket coming up for the Australian team and I'd love to be part of it over the next 18 months.

"For me the A series is the start of that, to try and get my name back up there."

AAP

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First posted May 28, 2012 15:42:58

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Opener Bilsa powers Kolkata to maiden IPL title

Updated May 28, 2012 10:07:43

Kolkata Knight Riders found a surprise hero in Manvinder Bisla to bag their maiden Indian Premier League title with a five-wicket victory over Chennai Super Kings in a thrilling Twenty20 final.

The little-known opener smashed five sixes and eight fours in his quickfire 48-ball 89 as Kolkata surpassed Chennai's total of 3 for 190 with two balls to spare at the Chidambaram stadium in Chennai.

Kolkata needed nine runs to win off the last over bowled by West Indies seamer Dwayne Bravo, but Manoj Tiwary (9 not out) smashed the third and fourth deliveries for fours to spark wild celebrations in his team's camp.

Kolkata received $2 million for the win while runners-up Chennai bagged $1.5 million.

Kolkata's other batting star was South African Jacques Kallis, who made a crucial 49-ball 69 with the help of one six and seven fours despite suffering a hamstring injury in the later part of his knock.

"Mission accomplished," said Kolkata skipper Gautam Gambhir.

"Chasing 191 against the defending champions in their backyard shows the character of Bisla. It proves a captain is only as good as his team."

Man-of-the-match Bisla and Kallis put on 136 runs for the second wicket in 13.4 overs before Tiwary and Bangladesh all-rounder Shakib Al Hasan (11 not out) completed the win to deny two-time champions Chennai a hat-trick.

"Bisla and Kallis got the partnership Kolkata needed," said Chennai captain Mahendra Singh Dhoni.

"I think the ball started coming on slightly better in the second half but under the conditions, we batted well. Our bowlers were not getting the reverse swing."

Australian paceman Ben Hilfenhaus bagged two wickets for Chennai, which was facing elimination at one stage of the tournament.

Chennai was lucky to figure in the play-offs, having qualified on better net run-rate than that of Royal Challengers Bangalore after both the teams finished their league matches with 17 points.

Suresh Raina earlier cracked a 38-ball 73 with five sixes to help Chennai set a stiff target.

Australian Michael Hussey (54), who turned 37 on Sunday, and Murali Vijay (42) were the other main scorers.

Chennai made a brisk start after electing to bat as Hussey put on 87 for the opening wicket with Vijay and then 73 for the second wicket with Raina.

Raina raced to his half-century off just 27 balls before falling off the last ball of the innings, caught by Australian Brett Lee in the deep off Shakib.

Kolkata, Chennai and Delhi Daredevils qualified for the Champions League to be held in India in October between the top domestic Twenty20 clubs from around the world.

AFP

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First posted May 28, 2012 07:45:06

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Perry given ultimatum by W-League club

Updated May 30, 2012 07:59:53

W-League champions Canberra United have told dual international Ellyse Perry she needs to commit full-time to the club over cricket or find another team.

Perry represents Australia in both football and cricket, often juggling the two during the W-League season.

But Canberra United chief executive Heather Reid says the club needs the 21-year-old to be all in or nothing.

"We have basically given Ellyse an ultimatum," she told Grandstand.

"Ellyse needs to choose whether she wants to be a full-time Canberra United player and commit to training every day like everyone else does.

"Or if she still wants to try and mix her cricket commitment with football, then perhaps she will need to find another club.

"The pressure is really just coming form Canberra United and in particular [coach] Jitka Klimkova, who is trying to build a much more professional football culture and she needs players to be fully committed to football."

Perry, who has represented both the Matildas at the 2011 women's football World Cup in Germany and the Southern Stars in the 2009 cricket World Cup, said she respected the club's position but thinks it is still feasible to play both sports at the highest level.

"With Jitka coming on board, and the wonderful success the club achieved last year, I certainly respect her position and the philosophy and direction she wants to take the club in," Perry said.

"That doesn't quite fit in with my situation.

"I was open to that being a possibility and given that is has happened, that is just the way it is."

Perry said she has not put a time frame on committing to one sport.

"Something I have to make sure is that I still love every moment of it, and at the moment I do," she said.

"I get a huge thrill out of playing both cricket and soccer.

"I certainly still feel it is feasible to play both."

Reid said Perry could find another club to continue her double act, most likely the W-League's new western Sydney franchise.

Perry, who lives in Sydney, said it is still to early to think about that, especially after she was recently selected in a Matildas squad ahead of two matches against New Zealand in June.

She will also take part in a Southern Stars cricket tour in September.

"I haven't really thought that far ahead in terms of the W-League season. It is still quite a way down the track," she said.

"I know they haven't even set competition dates yet, and playing rosters haven't even been looked at yet."

Cricket Australia spokesman Peter Young said CA would continue to support Perry's ambition to play both soccer and cricket.

"Ellyse Perry is a wonderful role model to young girls interested in either or both cricket and soccer," Young said on Twitter.

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First posted May 29, 2012 13:51:07

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Samuels wins war of words

Updated May 26, 2012 20:42:14

West Indies batsman Marlon Samuels provided the perfect riposte to verbal taunts from England's James Anderson by hitting a century to turn the tide of the second Test.

The tourists were in trouble at 4 for 63 on the first day at Trent Bridge when Samuels came to the crease and were still struggling at 6 for 136 when he was joined by West Indies captain Darren Sammy.

But Samuels responded with 107 not out, his third Test century, while Sammy made an unbeaten 88 as West Indies recovered to 6 for 304 at stumps, having gone 1-0 down in this three-match series after a five-wicket loss at Lord's.

Samuels and Sammy's unbroken stand of 168 was a new West Indies seventh-wicket record in Tests against England, surpassing the 155 shared by Garry Sobers, arguably cricket's greatest all-rounder, and Bernard Julien at Lord's in 1973.

Samuels said West Indies great Vivian Richards had told him he could make a double hundred in this match - as Richards did himself in posting 232 in the Trent Bridge Test of 1976.

"I always get encouragement from Mr Michael Holding (Samuels's fellow Jamaican and one of West Indies' best fast bowlers of all-time) and this morning Sir Viv said I could make a double (hundred) here," he said.

As Samuels, who has now batted for nearly five hours, gained the upper hand a frustrated Anderson, who had rocked the West Indies with two early wickets, tried to unsettle him with a few choice words.

"When I get that double century tomorrow (Saturday) I'd like James Anderson to come and say something to me," said a bullish Samuels.

"To be honest, I haven't found too many bowlers who can bowl and talk but I can bat and talk all day.

"He is one who gets frustrated very easily so he needs to be stronger."

Samuels was more conciliatory when he saw Anderson arrive in the press conference room.

"He's out there now, looking at me," said a smiling Samuels. "He's a very good guy. In the last game at Lord's he was a bit frustrated but I told him 'you're still my favourite bowler'.

"I told him the same thing today, no matter what he said."

Anderson revealed he'd been spoken to by umpire Aleem Dar about his conduct but insisted he'd not over-stepped the mark.

"It just built up and there were a couple of lbws that could have gone either way. Things can get a little bit out of hand but I wasn't saying anything that bad I don't think.

"He (Dar) told me to stop talking and that if I got caught on camera I'd probably get a punishment.

"You're trying to win a game of cricket for your country and take 10 wickets. I think you need to be aggressive and angry at times and it can build up."

Anderson added there was nothing to stop England following Samuels and Sammy's example.

"They played patiently and if people play patiently on that pitch you can bat for a very long time."

AFP

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First posted May 26, 2012 08:43:59

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Woman drops Pomersbach molestation claim

Updated May 24, 2012 10:30:14

Australian cricketer Luke Pomersbach is expected to arrive home from India soon after having molestation allegations against him dropped.

The 27-year-old batsman, who plays in the Indian Premier league for the Royal Challengers Bangalore team, was last week granted bail by a New Delhi court following accusations he molested an American woman and beat up her fiance.

Now his father George Pomersbach, who lives in Perth, said the woman who made the allegations has decided to withdraw them.

He said Pomersbach rang him early this morning to tell him the news.

News agency the Press Trust of India is reporting an out-of-court settlement was reached.

George Pomersbach said he expected the case to be officially dropped when lawyers seek to withdraw the charges in court in India tomorrow.

He said he expected Pomersbach to return to Australia within four days to rest before resuming his cricket career.

Pomersbach's arrest was headline news in Indian newspapers on Saturday, with reports detailing the sensational allegations in the case and the chequered history of the money-spinning IPL.

Pomersbach has battled depression and drug problems and narrowly avoided a jail sentence in Australia after admitting assaulting a police officer who was trying to arrest him for drink driving.

The alleged female victim earlier told Indian media that Pomersbach had "tagged along" with her and her Mumbai-based fiance and said the cricketer grabbed her while they drank together in a hotel room in the Indian capital New Delhi.

When her fiance asked Pomersbach to leave her alone, Pomersbach "turned around and started hitting him", she alleged.

ABC/AFP

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First posted May 24, 2012 09:40:18

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Aussie quick Pattinson almost fully fit

Updated May 22, 2012 07:30:55

Australian fast bowler James Pattinson says his recovery from a back injury is progressing well and he is close to returning to full training.

The Victorian heads to Brisbane today to begin work at the AIS Centre of Excellence ahead of Australia's one-day tour of the British Isles beginning in late June.

Pattinson jarred his back in the second Test against the West Indies, but says he hopes to be back bowling at 100 per cent by the end of next week.

"I'm bowling about three times a week now at about 80 per cent intencity and building that up ... and hopefully (I'll have) three weeks of going 100 per cent in the nets before getting over to England," Pattinson said.

"I'm looking for a bit of match intensity (at the centre of excellence), so hopefully I can get out there in the middle.

"It'll mostly be white ball practice with the one-dayers coming up."

Pattinson is looking forward to resuming his fledgling partnership with fellow young gun Pat Cummins, who has also been named in the Australian squad to take on Ireland in a 50-over match and England in a series of one-dayers in June and July.

There is also an Australia A tour to follow in July and August, and Pattinson says he and Cummins will be looking to fine-tune their performances in English conditions, with a view to spearheading the Australian attack in next year's Ashes.

"It's an exciting time for Australian cricket at the moment with a lot of young guys coming through," he said.

"I don't think we've played in these conditions before so it'll be a great learning curve before the Ashes next year.

"Hopefully it gives us a bit of an edge over the Poms and we can go over to the Ashes with one up over them."

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First posted May 22, 2012 07:30:55

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Cook, Bell steer England to win over Windies

Updated May 22, 2012 06:48:30

Alastair Cook and Ian Bell made composed fifties to guide England to a comfortable five-wicket win over the West Indies in the first Test at Lord's on Tuesday (AEST).

The hosts had crumbled to 4 for 57 chasing 191 for victory on a chilly morning but Cook and Bell steadied the ship with a fifth-wicket partnership of 132.

Cook was out for 79 just before the end but Bell steered England home, clipping Marlon Samuels for four through mid-wicket to seal victory and finish on 63 not out.

"There's always a bit of pressure when you're chasing a score but we always had faith the wicket was going to stay very flat," England captain Andrew Strauss told a news conference.

"It was an outstanding performance from Cook and Bell, they played in a very professional way and showed their class.

"We had to work very hard for this victory and it certainly wasn't a formality to wrap it up today."

After resuming on 2 for 10, Jonathan Trott became Kemar Roach's third victim of the innings when he nicked a rapid seaming delivery to Darren Sammy at slip before Kevin Pietersen edged a catch to wicketkeeper Denesh Ramdin trying to pull a short ball from Shannon Gabriel.

That left the West Indies scenting an unlikely victory against the world's top-ranked team.

The touring side have won only one of its last 18 tests in England and trailed the hosts by 155 runs on first innings but a battling 345 second time round kept them in the match.

Cook and Bell displayed exemplary calmness in a tense atmosphere, however, rotating the strike neatly and hitting bad balls to the boundary to steer England to 4 for 131 at lunch.

Cook got to his fifty just before the interval with a late cut for four off spinner Samuels, the left-hander reaching the milestone off 78 balls having hit eight boundaries.

Bell passed fifty for the second time in the match midway through the afternoon session and the pair strolled through the final overs picking up runs at will before Cook was caught at gully by Kirk Edwards off Sammy with just two runs needed.

"We are quite pleased with the way we played, we took the game to the fifth day," Sammy said.

"There were good performances by some of our players when nobody gave us a chance.

"We kept coming back and that shows a good team spirit."

The second Test in the three-match series starts at Trent Bridge on Saturday (AEST).

Reuters

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First posted May 22, 2012 06:43:43

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England wobble in Windies run chase

Updated May 21, 2012 07:08:07

Kemar Roach stunned England with a dramatic late burst to give West Indies hope of an improbable victory in the first Test at Lord's on Sunday.

Roach took two wickets for seven runs in eight balls, including England captain, and first innings century-maker, Andrew Strauss, to leave the hosts struggling at 2/10 at the close of the fourth day.

England will need a further 181 runs to reach their seemingly modest victory target of 191 on Monday's final day in the first of this three-Test series.

That West Indies - who started the day 35 runs adrift and in danger of an innings defeat - were still in the game owed much to Shivnarine Chanderpaul's second marathon effort of the match.

Chanderpaul, officially the world's best batsman, made 91 in a total of 345 that followed his first innings 87 not out.

The Guyana left-hander batted for 10 hours and 24 minutes in this match, scoring 178 runs for once out while facing 425 balls - a mammoth effort even by the 37-year-old's high standards.

Nevertheless, with the Lord's pitch holding up well, England will still be regarded as favourites for victory.

But if the tourists maintain their accuracy, and overhead conditions assist swing bowling, the West Indies - who came into this match having won just two of their previous 30 Tests - could yet claim a stunning success.

Roach had Strauss, who made 122 in the first innings, caught in the gully for just one and nightwatchman James Anderson caught behind for six.

After Anderson exited, Roach's next ball rapped Jonathan Trott on the pads and the tourists appealed for lbw, only for Aleem Dar to rule not out.

The West Indies reviewed the decision but as replays showed the ball only just clipping the stumps, the Pakistani umpire's original verdict was upheld.

Trott was nought not out at stumps, as was opener Alastair Cook.

Chanderpaul, downplaying his own effort, said he was looking forward to some final day fireworks from Roach and new-ball partner Fidel Edwards.

"Kemar stepped it up this evening and we're hoping Fidel can step it up also," Chanderpaul told Sky Sports.

"It's not bad (the West Indies' position). Hopefully they can put it in the right areas and get the wickets. It's pretty tough out there."

England's Graeme Swann insisted Roach's late double strike hadn't caused too many jitters in the home dressing room.

"To walk away at the end chasing 191...we'll take that," he said. "We'd have taken a chase of less than 200 and we deserved a chase of less than 200.

"It wasn't great losing the captain tonight but we have a very strong line-up."

Off-spinner Swann, who grabbed the key wicket of Chanderpaul when he had him lbw on the sweep, said of West Indies' star batsman: "Once again he's proving a thorn in our side. With such a crabby, unorthodox technique you think he must get out sometime but he keeps going.

"It's always annoying when you can't get a bloke out, but you can't take anything away from him," added Swann, who took three for 59.

Chanderpaul and Marlon Samuels had shared a fifth wicket stand of 157 that rescued the West Indies from the depths of 4/65.

The 31-year-old Samuels was closing in on what would have been only his third Test hundred when, shortly after England had taken the new ball, he played a flat-footed drive off Stuart Broad and edged straight to Swann at second slip.

Samuels faced 172 balls with 12 fours in an elegant and gutsy innings of 86.

Broad, who took a Test-best seven for 72 in West Indies' first innings, followed up with four for 93 for a match haul of 11/165.

That meant the fast-medium bowler had become the first player to take 10 or more wickets in a Lord's Test since South Africa's Makhaya Ntini in 2003 and the first Englishman since Ian Botham took 11/140 against New Zealand in 1978.

AFP

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First posted May 21, 2012 07:08:07

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Gilchrist thinks career is at stumps

Updated May 21, 2012 16:37:07

It seems likely that former Australian wicketkeeper Adam Gilchrist has played his last game of cricket after his Kings XI Punjab side failed to make the IPL play-offs.

The 40-year-old has informed the Kings XI he will not be returning next season and suggested afterwards he is leaning towards not playing again.

Gilchrist did not play in last year's Big Bash, although he attended a number of Perth Scorchers games with his family, and it remains to be seen whether he can be tempted to play in Australia's domestic showpiece as a swan song.

With tournament finalists the Scorchers already a sell-out at the WACA, it may be that he would have to return to his native New South Wales and don the colours of either Sydney franchise or play for a Melbourne team.

At present, this does not seem like a prospect that would be appealing to him.

"I would say I've played my last game of cricket just there," Gilchrist told Cricinfo after the match.

"I loved the fact that I could play the last couple of games, but I didn't have the horrible desire that I was missing out.

"There isn't that fire burning in my belly quite like it used to. I have to think about it but I just feel I won't be playing."

Gilchrist was the team's player-coach and although he missed much of the tournament through injury he finished with a creditable average of 34.40, chiefly thanks to his unbeaten 64 in the Kings XI's win over the Chennai Super Kings in their penultimate game.

Tags: sport, cricket, wa, australia

First posted May 21, 2012 16:35:42

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Pomersbach granted extended bail in India

Updated May 20, 2012 06:12:51

Australian cricketer Luke Pomersbach was granted bail on Saturday by a New Delhi court following accusations he molested a woman and beat up her fiance.

He faces up to two years in jail if found guilty of molestation and assault after the incident during an after-game party following the Royal Challengers Bangalore victory over the Delhi Daredevils at the ITC Maurya Hotel in the Indian capital.

The 27-year-old batsman, who has one cap for Australia, is signed up for the Royal Challengers but has not played for them.

The cricketer has denied the charges against him.

"He has received bail, on condition that he surrenders his passport and pays a surety of 30,000 rupees ($550) on each charge," his lawyer, Ajay Bhargava said.

He added that the court ruled that "a trespassing charge cannot be maintained" against Pomersbach after CCTV footage filmed outside the alleged victim's room proved inconclusive on whether the cricketer had forcibly entered her suite.

A visibly relieved Pomersbach told reporters outside the court: "I am happy that I have been granted bail and looking forward to getting to the bottom of it."

His arrest was headline news in Indian and Australian newspapers on Saturday with reports detailing the sensational allegations in the case and the chequered history of the money-spinning IPL.

Pomersbach, wearing a heavy bandage on his right arm, fainted during an earlier court appearance on Friday.

The alleged woman victim, a 27-year-old from the US, told Indian media Pomersbach had "tagged along" with her and her Mumbai-based fiance and said the cricketer grabbed her while they drank together in a hotel room.

When her fiance asked Pomersbach to leave her alone, the Western Australian "turned around and started hitting him", she alleged.

The man was in a stable condition in hospital. He has yet to make a statement to police.

AFP

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First posted May 19, 2012 23:14:54

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Chanderpaul digs in for another dogfight

Updated May 20, 2012 07:53:30

Shivnarine Chanderpaul carried West Indies hopes on his shoulders yet again as the touring side battled to avoid defeat by England in the first Test at Lord's.

West Indies bowled England out for 398 in its first innings to trail the hosts by 155 runs, but lost three wickets in nine balls just before tea to undo the good work.

Chanderpaul, who made 87 not out in the first innings, and Marlon Samuels dug in, however, and they reached the close on the third day on 4 for 120, 35 runs behind.

The world's top-ranked batsman Chanderpaul, at the heart of another rearguard action, was unbeaten on 34 with Samuels on 26.

England resumed on an overcast morning on 3 for 259 and captain Andrew Strauss added just a single to his overnight 121 before nicking pace bowler Kemar Roach through to wicketkeeper Denesh Ramdin.

Jonny Bairstow struck three fluent fours on his Test debut but his bright innings ended on 16 when Roach jagged a ball sharply back to trap him lbw.

Matt Prior also looked confident in his knock of 19 but he became Shannon Gabriel's first Test victim, playing an airy shot at the young fast bowler to be bowled through the gate.

Bresnan edged Darren Sammy to Ramdin for a duck and England had slumped to 7 for 323.

Ian Bell batted through the morning session to reach lunch on 38 not out but he lost Stuart Broad soon after the interval, bowled by a superb delivery from Fidel Edwards that hit the top of his off stump.

Graeme Swann played a forceful innings, striking six clean fours in his 30 from just 25 balls.

Bell reached a patient fifty before Gabriel bowled Swann. Bell was last man out for 61, well caught at deep square leg by the diving Powell off Gabriel who finished with figures of 3 for 60 on his debut.

Barath and Powell withstood a fierce examination from James Anderson and Broad, surviving 12 overs of high quality fast bowling surrounded by a ring of close fielders.

But with tea looming, Barath edged a catch to Prior off Bresnan, and Powell and Edwards soon joined him back in the pavilion after two inexplicable rushes of blood.

Powell foolishly pulled a short ball from Broad straight to Bell at deep square leg and Kirk Edwards was brilliantly run out by a direct hit from Bairstow attempting a non-existent single.

Darren Bravo joined Chanderpaul and made a fluent 21 before Swann bowled him with a clever delivery which the deceived the left-hander into offering no shot.

Reuters

Tags: cricket, sport, england, united-kingdom, jamaica

First posted May 20, 2012 06:16:59

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Relieved Strauss relishes special hundred

Updated May 19, 2012 15:35:42

England captain Andrew Strauss described a feeling of release after ending an 18-month wait for a century with a polished and unbeaten 121 in the first Test against West Indies at Lord's.

The left-handed opener hugged partner Kevin Pietersen and held his bat aloft to all corners of the ground after making his 20th Test hundred to put his side in control of the match at 3 for 259 at stumps on day two.

"Having not scored a hundred for a while there was a bit of pressure to get there," he told a news conference.

"The last 15 runs were hard work mentally.

"It was a great release to get to three figures and a very special moment, definitely one of my most special centuries."

Strauss displayed great concentration throughout his innings but also played some trademark attacking strokes, hitting 19 fours with fluent drives through the covers, fierce cuts and neat strokes off his legs.

He needed a stroke of luck on 95 when he was dropped in the slips off a Fidel Edwards no ball and his relief was evident when he cut Darren Sammy to the third man boundary to reach his century.

"It's at moments like that you think perhaps someone up there is looking after you today," Strauss said.

"We've all come through tough times in our careers but it makes you stronger."

Strauss's innings lifted England to a lead of 16 runs with seven wickets remaining after West Indies were bowled out for 243 in their first innings.

England fast bowler Stuart Broad struck with the first ball of the day to remove Shannon Gabriel for a golden duck and complete Test-best figures of 7 for 72.

Shivnarine Chanderpaul was left stranded at the other end, 13 runs short of his 26th Test century after another brave attempt to hold together the West Indies brittle batting order.

Strauss and Alastair Cook shared an untroubled opening partnership of 47 before the latter, on 26, tried to pull a short ball from Kemar Roach and dragged it on to his stumps.

Strauss and Jonathan Trott took England to 1 for 80 for at lunch and the pair continued to accumulate cautiously in the afternoon session, both reaching fifty.

West Indies captain Sammy rotated his four-man pace attack but Fidel Edwards, Roach, Gabriel and Sammy failed to extract much life from a placid pitch.

Trott was out for 58 just before Strauss reached his century, the right-hander nicking a sharp catch to wicketkeeper Denesh Ramdin off the persevering Sammy to end a second-wicket partnership of 147.

Pietersen showed positive intent from the start of his knock of 32 as England looked to push on.

He got off the mark with a fierce pull through mid-wicket and struck five boundaries with typically flamboyant strokes before feathering a catch to Ramdin off part-time spinner Marlon Samuels.

Ian Bell joined his captain for the last few overs and was unbeaten on 5 at the close.

"It's important we establish a big first-innings lead and go on to win the game," Strauss said. "I've still got to do my job as captain.

"It's quite an easy-paced wicket and I thought our bowlers did an outstanding job to bowl out the West Indies in a day but we don't want to look too far ahead."

Reuters

Tags: cricket, sport, england, united-kingdom, jamaica

First posted May 19, 2012 07:59:59

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Pomersbach bailed after denying charges

Updated May 19, 2012 15:35:42

Luke Pomersbach has received an interim bail after being arrested for allegedly molesting a woman and beating up her fiance in New Delhi.

The 27-year-old batsman, who has one Twenty20 cap for Australia, denies the charge.

The Western Australian is signed up in the Indian Premier League for the Royal Challengers Bangalore team, which took on the Delhi Daredevils on Thursday night.

He faces up to three years in jail after being charged with molestation, assault and house-breaking after allegedly groping a 27-year-old American woman during an after-game party at the ITC Maurya Hotel, a police statement said.

"We have arrested Luke Pomersbach for assaulting a woman and beating up the fiance who objected to his action," police spokesman Rajan Bhagat said.

The powerfully built cricketer, wearing a heavy bandage on his right arm, later appeared in a central Delhi court where he fainted. He was granted bail until Saturday.

"My client is denying the charges against him," Pomersbach's lawyer Ajay Bhargava said. "We have received interim bail and my client has to appear in court tomorrow."

Pomersbach has battled depression and drug problems and narrowly avoided a jail sentence in Australia after admitting to assaulting a police officer who was trying to arrest him for drink-driving in 2009.

The alleged victim told the Times Now news channel that Pomersbach had "tagged along" with her and her Mumbai-based fiance and had suddenly grabbed her while they drank together in their hotel room.

"My fiance said, 'hey listen, you shouldn't treat any girl like that. Why don't you just leave...'

"When he said that, he (Pomersbach) turned around and started hitting him. He hit him so many times, punched him on his face, that his ear, he got injured in his ear."

The man is in a stable condition in a private New Delhi hospital, but was complaining about losing hearing in his left ear, doctors said.

Royal Challengers Bangalore team manager Avinash Vaidya declined to comment on the incident.

Pomersbach has not featured for Bangalore in this season's IPL, which has again hit the headlines for the wrong reasons and is being dubbed the "Indian Problem League" by some commentators.

Earlier this week, five Indian players signed to IPL teams were suspended after an undercover TV report alleged they were prepared to take money for spot-fixing, an illegal practice in which parts of the game are fixed.

On Wednesday night, Bollywood superstar Shah Rukh Khan, who is co-owner of the Kolkata Knight Riders franchise, was involved in an ugly late-night row with officials at Mumbai's main cricket stadium.

The annual IPL tournament also faces allegations of massive corporate corruption, money-laundering and tax evasion, as well as secret deals to hide teams' real owners and even links to India's criminal underworld.

AFP

Tags: sport, cricket, india, wa

First posted May 18, 2012 23:07:49

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Chanderpaul resists Broad's six appeal

Updated May 18, 2012 06:43:21

Shivnarine Chanderpaul prevented another complete West Indies collapse on the first day of the first Test as England's Stuart Broad enjoyed yet more success at Lord's.

Chanderpaul's 87 not out, his latest rescue mission for his beleaguered side, was the cornerstone of a total of 9 for 243 in an innings where no other batsman has so far made more than opener Adrian Barath's 42.

Paceman Broad took 6 for 72 in 24.4 overs -- his first five-wicket Test innings haul at Lord's.

It secured him a place on the Lord's bowling honours board to set alongside his Test-best 169 against Pakistan at the ground in 2010.

And that meant Broad had become only the seventh player in history - and fifth Englishman - to have scored a Test hundred and taken five or more wickets in an innings at the home of cricket.

"It's a very proud day for me and more importantly we're in a great position in the Test match," Broad told Sky Sports.

"No one was expecting 100 all out, we knew it was going to be a long day's cricket, so we had to be patient and we thought seven down at night would be a really good day, so to have them nine down is really pleasing.

"It swung for us but it was a slow wicket to start with. It was hard to get the right length, but the wicket quickened up a bit in that last session."

That Chanderpaul, who came in with West Indies struggling after an all too familiar top order collapse left them 3 for 86, led many to wonder why the left-hander, now officially the world's best Test batsman, had not been promoted from his favoured number five spot.

Without taking undue risks the ever-gritty Guyanese completed a relatively brisk 50 in 102 balls featuring seven fours.

England did not have things all its own way after captain Andrew Strauss won the toss and fielded in overcast, bowler-friendly conditions.

Barath's bold cover-driving saw to that but James Anderson still took 2 for 9 to clean bowl opener Kieran Powell and have Kirk Edwards leg before.

Unfortunately for the West Indies, Barath - who struck 36 in boundaries alone - had added just one run to his lunch score of 41 when the diminutive opener drove loosely outside off stump against Broad and third slip Anderson held a sharp catch at the second attempt.

Darren Bravo, missed on 29 by second slip Graeme Swann, was run out for that score after a dreadful mix-up with Chanderpaul.

Anderson, bowling round the wicket to Chanderpaul, then saw South African umpire Marais Erasmus raise his finger in answer to an lbw appeal.

Unsurprisingly, Chanderpaul, on 15, called for a review and replays indicated the ball would have missed off-stump.

Marlon Samuels (31) helped Chanderpaul add 81 before he sliced Broad to backward point where debutant Jonathan Bairstow took his first Test catch.

And 5 for 181 quickly became 6 for 187 when wicketkeeper Denesh Ramdin edged Broad to Strauss at first slip.

West Indies captain Darren Sammy, trying to turn a Broad outswinger with the new ball legside, was caught in the gully by Tim Bresnan.

Broad then completed his five-wicket haul all by himself when he caught and bowled Kemar Roach to leave the tourists on 8 for 231.

The 25-year-old Nottinghamshire all-rounder ended proceedings two balls short of the day's full 90 overs when he had tail-ender Fidel Edwards brilliantly caught by diving wicketkeeper Matt Prior.

At that stage, Broad had taken three wickets for 12 runs in 23 balls.

AFP

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First posted May 18, 2012 06:43:21

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Pomersbach arrested in Delhi

Updated May 18, 2012 21:24:13

Indian police have arrested Australian cricketer Luke Pomersbach for allegedly molesting a woman and beating up her fiance in a New Delhi hotel.

The 27-year-old batsman, who played once for Australia's Twenty20 side, is playing in the Indian Premier League for the Royal Challengers Bangalore team, which took on the Delhi Daredevils on Thursday night.

The cricketer is accused of trying to molest a 27-year-old woman during a party at the Maurya Sheraton Hotel on Thursday night.

"The couple had met Luke Pomersbach at a party and they all went to a room in the hotel for drinks after the party," investigating police officer KC Dwivedi said.

"It is here that Luke Pomersbach assaulted the woman.

"The fiance tried to push the cricketer out of the room, who retaliated by hitting him in the face."

The alleged victim told the Times Now news channel that Pomersbach had "tagged along" with her and her Mumbai-based fiance and had suddenly grabbed her while they drank together in their hotel room.

"My fiance said, 'hey listen, you shouldn't treat any girl like that. Why don't you just leave...'

"When he said that, he (Pomersbach) turned around and started hitting him. He hit him so many times, punched him on his face, that ... he got injured in his ear."

The fiance is in a stable condition in a private New Delhi hospital, but was complaining about losing hearing in his left ear, doctors said.

Pomersbach, from Perth in Western Australia, was later seen leaving a different hospital, where he was taken for a check-up by police with his right hand heavily bandaged.

Royal Challengers Bangalore team manager Avinash Vaidya declined to comment on the incident since "the matter was being handled by the police".

Pomersbach avoided a jail sentence in Australia in 2009 after admitting to assaulting a police officer who was trying to arrest him for drink driving.

Last year he was released at his own request from commitments with Western Australia and Perth Scorchers citing depression.

On arriving in India, Pomersbach declared himself "on top of things", adding: "I went down that path and made a few bad decisions, but I've learnt a lot from them."

If convicted for molestation or assault, which are both bailable offences, he faces either a fine or a maximum of two years in jail.

Royal Challengers Bangalore team manager Avinash Vaidya declined to comment on the incident since "the matter was being handled by the police".

Pomersbach has not featured for Bangalore in this season's IPL, which has again hit the headlines for the wrong reasons and is being dubbed the "Indian Problem League" by some commentators.

Earlier this week, five Indian players signed to IPL teams were suspended after an undercover TV report alleged they were prepared to take money for spot-fixing, an illegal practice in which parts of the game are fixed.

On Wednesday night, Bollywood superstar Shah Rukh Khan, who is co-owner of the Kolkata Knight Riders franchise, was involved in an ugly late-night row with officials at Mumbai's main cricket stadium.

Khan faces a five-year ban from the ground and a police investigation for allegedly abusing security staff. He denies allegations he was drunk and says he was protecting a group of children he was accompanying.

The annual IPL tournament also faces allegations of massive corporate corruption, money-laundering and tax evasion, as well as secret deals to hide teams' real owners and even links to India's criminal underworld.

AFP

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First posted May 18, 2012 16:40:17

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Michael Clarke marries model girlfriend

Updated May 17, 2012 10:51:30

Australian cricket captain Michael Clarke married model Kyly Boldy in front of their families in a secret ceremony on Tuesday.

The couple, who began dating 18 months ago, tied the knot at a resort the New South Wales' Wolgan Valley, around 200 kilometres north-west of Sydney.

Clarke and Boldy both announced the news on Twitter on Wednesday night.

Clarke tweeted: "Happiest guy in the world. Married @KylyBoldy yesterday in front of our gorgeous families. Couldn't be happier!"

He also posted three photos, one of which featured Boldy sitting on a grey horse in her white wedding dress with Clarke holding the reins.

Boldy also wrote of the news on her Twitter account: "Luckiest Woman in the world! Married @MClarke23 on the 15th of May 2012. Greatest day of my life, so proud to be your Wife."

Clarke returned from his Indian Premier League commitments with the Pune Warriors for the occasion.

Clarke will next lead Australia on their one-day international tour of Britain in June and July.

AAP

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First posted May 17, 2012 08:13:42

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Southern Stars veteran Smith retires

Updated May 16, 2012 12:07:48

Veteran women's cricketer Clea Smith has announced her retirement from all forms of the game after representing Australia for more than a decade.

The 33-year-old said it was time to move on after making her state debut for Victoria in 1997.

Smith's retirement brings to an end a 14-year career which included one Test (against England in 2005), 48 ODIs and 13 T20Is for Australia.

"I have had wonderful experiences through cricket, achieved more than I thought I ever could and it feels like there are now other things in life I want to do," Smith said.

The versatile pace bowler was part of the Australian side which won the ICC World Twenty20 title in 2010.

Cricket Australia chief executive James Sutherland said Smith's experience would prove tough to replace.

"Clea has been a very important member of the Southern Stars squad and her passion and experience will be sorely missed," Sutherland said.

"We wish her every success in the future and I thank her for her commitment to Australian cricket over the last decade."

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First posted May 16, 2012 12:07:48

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Aussie skipper Clarke to race in rally

Updated May 16, 2012 14:07:32

Australian cricket captain Michael Clarke will swap the baggy green for a racing helmet when he takes part in the International Rally of Queensland (IROQ) later this month.

Organisers announced on Wednesday that Clarke would put his passion for racing to the test in the event, to be held on the Sunshine Coast from May 25-27.

Clarke will join the BP Ultimate team to drive two stages of the race and said he was thrilled to be taking part in his first rally event.

"It's pretty well known that I have a passion for driving but a part of me has always wondered what it would be like to go up against the best in the business," Clarke said.

"There's no doubt that rally driving is one of the most exhilarating sports around and, as someone who puts my heart into everything I do, this is a great opportunity to mix it with some of the world's best drivers."

Clarke will drive alongside veteran professional co-driver Mark Stacey, who has competed at international level for two decades.

The IROQ, in its 44th year, will feature around 90 cars and is the longest-running round in the Australian Rally Championship, also incorporating a round of the FIA Asia Pacific Rally Championship.

AAP

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First posted May 16, 2012 14:07:32

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Five suspended in IPL fixing investigation

Updated May 16, 2012 06:22:23

Five uncapped Indian cricketers have been provisionally suspended following allegations of spot foxing in the lucrative Indian Premier League.

The Indian cricket board (BCCI) has also ordered a probe into the accusations, made by a local television channel.

"The president BCCI has immediately appointed Ravi Sawani (former head of ICC anti-corruption and security Unit) as the commissioner to make a preliminary enquiry," the BCCI said in a statement.

The five cricketers - TP Sudhindra (Deccan), Mohnish Mishra (Pune), Amit Yadav (Punjab), Shalabh Srivastav (Punjab) and Abhinav Bali - will remain suspended from all cricketing activities pending the investigation, the BCCI said.

Out of the five cricketers, Bali has not played in any of IPL's five editions.

Footage from India TV appeared to show an IPL player negotiating a fee for bowling a no-ball, while another said he received under-the-table payments above his contracted fee.

Each of the nine franchises has a salary cap and the player in question has not been capped by the national team, meaning he cannot be paid more than 3 million Indian rupees ($56,200) according to IPL rules.

The BCCI had sought complete footage of the 'sting operation' from the channel and later had a teleconference with the IPL governing council this afternoon where the decisions were taken.

Last year, Pakistan players Salman Butt, Mohammad Asif and Mohammad Amir were jailed in Britain for their role in a spot-fixing scandal relating to a Test match against England at Lord's in August 2010.

The spot-fixing scam, which shook the cricketing world, came to light after a British newspaper recorded sports agent Mazhar Majeed boasting of how he could arrange for players to rig elements of matches for money.

The International Cricket Council subsequently banned the three players for a minimum of five years.

Reuters

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First posted May 16, 2012 06:10:10

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Johnson may have to wait: Arthur

Updated May 15, 2012 20:18:11

Australian coach Mickey Arthur says Pat Cummins is an exciting young talent and experienced paceman Mitchell Johnson might have to wait his turn to regain his place in the side.

Cummins and 30-year-old Johnson broke down with foot injuries during Australia's Test tour of South Africa in November and have been recalled to the national squad for the one-day tour of Ireland and England in June-July.

The inconsistent Johnson is a former ICC player of the year, but Cummins is the team's real excitement machine according to Arthur.

Cummins took seven wickets in his Test debut in Johannesburg as an 18-year-old in November.

"The player I am most excited about though is Pat Cummins," Arthur told Cricket Australia's website on Tuesday.

"We all saw what he could do in his one-and-only Test match and to have him back in the mix is fantastic.

"He has the ability to become one of the best in the world. He and 'Patto' (fellow quick James Pattinson) will take a huge amount out of this tour.

"We hope they both will be firing this time next year when we go to England to claim the Ashes back and drawing on the experience of touring the UK before will certainly give them an edge.

"Mitchell Johnson returns as well and we can't wait to have him back around the group.

"He may have to wait his turn, though, as we are taking such a talented group of bowlers on the tour with us."

Young leg-spinning all-rounder Steve Smith has also been recalled to the one-day side.

"He is a talented cricketer who has the ability to do all three disciplines well. He will get an opportunity on this tour and let's hope that he grasps it with both hands," Arthur said.

Arthur has given another vote of confidence to ex-skipper Ricky Ponting, saying a stable batting line-up is crucial.

The 37-year-old averaged only 24.33 on the recent West Indies Test tour.

Openers Ed Cowan and David Warner also averaged under 30 against Test cricket's seventh-ranked side.

"I am very happy with where our Test team is headed," Arthur said.

"Continuity in selection and role clarity is so important in creating team culture and I know that all players now know where and how they fit in.

"We have a settled top six now and, together, this unit has played seven Test matches.

"Yes, we would have liked more runs from all of them but conditions were tough and I think we saw enough growth in technique and temperament to be excited."

Third-ranked Australia hosts second-ranked South Africa in a Test series in November.

AAP

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First posted May 15, 2012 20:15:55

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Cricket Discussion Can Veer Towards Any Aspect Of The Game

Hughes intent on regaining Test spot

Updated May 16, 2012 17:03:56

Dumped Australia opener Phillip Hughes says he is hopeful his stint in English County cricket will pave the way for his return to the Test XI.

Hughes has not played in the five-day arena since Australia's seven-run run loss to New Zealand in the second and final Test of their series in Hobart last December.

He and Usman Khawaja were notable omissions when Cricket Australia (CA) announced the Australia A squad to tour England in July and August.

The tour is designed to give Australia's up-and-coming players more exposure to first-class cricket ahead of the 2013 Ashes series in England.

Hughes instead will play for Worcestershire and Khawaja will ply his trade with Derbyshire.

The 23-year-old Hughes is keen to use his time in the various formats of County cricket to play himself into the type of form that will catch the eye of the Australian selection panel.

"I'm looking forward to getting to England and to play for Worcester and to play three forms of the game," he said.

"I think I can go out there and just enjoy myself and hopefully get as many runs as possible for Worcester."

Hughes, who averages 34.58 from his 17 Tests, has been training at CA's Centre of Excellence in Brisbane and has appreciated the opportunity to face some of Australia's battery of fast bowlers.

"To face the likes of Mitch Johnson and Patty Cummins out in the middle bowling full tilt at you, it's been a big challenge and it's been great training with those guys for a few days out here," he said.

Hughes leaves for England next Wednesday.

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First posted May 16, 2012 17:02:49

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Bairstow gets England call for Windies opener

Updated May 13, 2012 19:59:08

Jonathan Bairstow was named in an England Test squad for the first time when he was included in a 13-man party for the series opener against the West Indies at Lord's starting Thursday.

The 22-year-old Yorkshireman is set to bat at number six after all-rounder Ravi Bopara, in line to fill that middle order spot, was omitted from the squad after suffering a thigh injury playing for Essex.

Bairstow, who has played in six one-day internationals and six Twenty20 internationals, is the only player in England's 13 yet to be capped at Test level.

Since making an impressive ODI debut against India in Cardiff last September, he has also continued to shine in the longer format this year with two centuries already in this season's County Championship.

He has also made a fifty in the ongoing tour match between the second-string England Lions and the West Indies which concludes at Northampton on Sunday.

Bairstow was preferred to fellow 22-year-old, Lions captain James Taylor of Leicestershire, who hit a hundred in the current match.

Assuming the batsman/wicketkeeper is selected on Thursday, Bairstow would complete a notable family double as he is the son of the late former Yorkshire and England keeper David Bairstow, who appeared in four Tests from 1979 to 1981.

England's squad also included five seamers in Steven Finn, Tim Bresnan and Graham Onions, as well as likely new ball duo James Anderson and Stuart Broad.

England won just once in five Tests during their winter series against Pakistan in the United Arab Emirates and away to Sri Lanka after reaching the top of the International Cricket Council rankings at home last year.

England squad:

Andrew Strauss (capt), Alastair Cook, Jonathan Trott, Kevin Pietersen, Ian Bell, Jonathan Bairstow, Matt Prior (wicketkeeper), Stuart Broad, Tim Bresnan, Graeme Swann, Steven Finn, James Anderson, Graham Onions.

AFP

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First posted May 13, 2012 19:59:08

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Johnson opens up on mental demons

Updated May 11, 2012 14:30:54

Fit-again paceman Mitchell Johnson has opened up about the depth of his mental battles last year, revealing he lost his love of the game and would have contemplated retirement had he not injured his toe.

Johnson's career has been put on hold since tearing ligaments in his big left toe while batting in Australia's Test victory over South Africa in Johannesburg last November.

But the 30-year-old has revealed he was already mentally shot by that point, with even a surprise visit from his wife Jessica Bratich Johnson in the lead up to that Test not enough to lift him out of the doldrums.

"Going into that Test in Joburg, I was unsure if I could perform to be honest. It was at that point where I really just wanted to get away from the game and step back from it," a candid Johnson said in Perth on Friday.

"The injury did come at the right time. I'd probably lost a bit of interest in playing the game.

"If I didn't get the injury, if I kept going, I could have got dropped and that could have been it.

"That (retirement) could have been on the cards for sure.

"I guess being away from the media helped a little bit, not copping it day in, day out. So that's been a bit of a relief."

Johnson is confident those dark days are now behind him, saying he feels mentally and physically stronger than at any previous point in his career.

The 47-Test veteran will have the chance to prove his worth in Australia's one-day tour of England in June-July, while selectors will also have an opportunity to assess the left-arm paceman when he fronts up for Australia A in four first-class matches from July.

AAP

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

First posted May 11, 2012 14:19:47

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McDermott quits as pace bowling coach

Updated May 11, 2012 14:08:04

Craig McDermott has resigned as Australia's pace bowling coach, citing the demands of upcoming cricket tours as a reason for his decision.

The former Australian quick bowler was named a year ago as the replacement for Troy Cooley, after beating off competition from the likes of Jason Gillespie, Andy Bichel and former South African speedster Allan Donald.

As a bowler, McDermott took 291 wickets for Australia in 71 Tests.

In a Cricket Australia release, the Queenslander said that it had been a very difficult decision to leave his position and said he had "thoroughly enjoyed" the job.

"However the team's schedule is a particularly busy one and after looking at the upcoming touring demands, I felt this to be the right decision from a personal and professional point of view,'' McDermott said.

"The progression of particular players and the improvement of depth in Australian bowling stocks has been the result of much hard work from both sides and is something I am particularly proud of."

Australia has a busy upcoming schedule, with an Australian one-day tour of the British Isles in June and July, a one-day series and one-off Twenty20 international against Pakistan in the United Arab Emirates in August, and the Twenty20 World Cup in Sri Lanka in September.

McDermott said he would continue to provide input to Cricket Australia's Centre of Excellence in Brisbane but wanted to continue his coaching career in a role that allowed greater flexibility. He did not rule out being involved with the Australian team in the future.

He thanked Australian Test captain Michael Clarke and coach Mickey Arthur and wished them and the team well.

Arthur paid tribute to McDermott's contribution to Australian cricket.

"Craig has done an outstanding job since taking over the role and without doubt will be very difficult to replace," Arthur said.

"As the Australian public and cricket world has seen, Craig has taken our fast bowlers to another level and his skills and experience will be sorely missed around the group.

Arthur said the team understood and respected McDermott's decision and hoped he could be involved with the team at some point in the future.

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

First posted May 11, 2012 14:08:04

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Smith and Johnson named in one-day squad

Updated May 10, 2012 15:16:09

All-rounder Steve Smith and fast bowler Mitchell Johnson have been recalled to Australia's one-day squad for the tour of the British Isles in June and July.

Smith, 22, last played for Australia in a one-day international against South Africa at Port Elizabeth in October last year.

Smith has played 29 one-day matches for Australia, scoring 343 runs with the bat at an average of 22.86, and taken 22 wickets for 755 runs at an average of 34.31.

He scored 492 runs for NSW in the Sheffield Shield last season, plus 189 runs in five matches in domestic one-dayers. He also led NSW to victory in the Twenty20 Big Bash League.

National selector John Inverarity said Smith had been chosen for his late season form for NSW, saying the 22-year-old had been picked as a back-up all-rounder.

"I see Steve Smith primarily as a batsman but he needs to improve, I'm keen to see him improve his leg spin, he is electrifying in the field," Inverarity said.

"We need bowlers to bat but we need batsman who can bowl a bit - Steve and Mark Waugh gave so much to the side with their bowling."

Another picked to make a return to international cricket is Western Australian paceman Johnson, 30, who last played for Australia against South Africa in the Johannesburg Test last November.

Johnson injured his toe in the South African series, ruling him out of the Australian summer, but his return of only three wickets at a cost of 255 runs in the series had put his spot in doubt.

Inverarity said Johnson was a "fine bowler", who he had recently seen bowl in Perth.

Johnson is in contention for the Australian World Twenty20 squad to be named in August, and selectors believe he needs quality competitive cricket before then.

Inverarity said the one-day squad had been picked with the 2013 Ashes against England in mind.

Australia will only have one wicket-keeper for the British Isles tour in Victorian Matthew Wade, while Tasmanian Tim Paine - who is returning from injury - will put on the gloves for Australia A's tour of England in July and August.

Inverarity said New South Wales keeper Brad Haddin will have "all the time he needs" to return after personal issues forced him to withdraw from Australia's recent Test tour of the West Indies.

Dropped from the one-day squad were Queensland's Peter Forrest, New South Welshmen Mitchell Starc and Peter Nevill and South Australians Dan Christian and Nathan Lyon.

Forrest, Starc and Nevill will go on the Australia A tour.

Blues pair Phillip Hughes and Usman Khawaja have been left out of both squads. Inverarity said their performances during the summer were unsatisfactory but their form during the English county cricket competition will be monitored.

Smith, Johnson, George Bailey and Patrick Cummins have been named in both squads. Cummins has recovered from a heel injury.

Australia One-day squad:

Michael Clarke (C) (NSW)
Shane Watson (VC) (NSW)
George Bailey (TAS)
Patrick Cummins (NSW)
Xavier Doherty (TAS)
Ben Hilfenhaus (TAS)
Mike Hussey (WA)
David Hussey (VIC)
Mitchell Johnson (WA)
Brett Lee (NSW)
Clint McKay (VIC)
James Pattinson (VIC)
Steve Smith (NSW)
Matthew Wade (VIC)
David Warner (NSW)

Australia A squad:
Ed Cowan (C) TAS
Peter Forrest (VC) (QLD)
George Bailey (TAS)
Jackson Bird (TAS)
Joe Burns (QLD)
Tom Cooper (SA)
Patrick Cummins (NSW)
Ben Cutting (QLD)
Liam Davis (WA)
Jon Holland (VIC)
Mitchell Johnson (WA)
Michael Klinger (SA)
Nathan Lyons (SA)
Tim Paine (TAS)
James Pattinson (VIC)
Steve Smith (NSW)
Mitchell Starc (NSW)

Tags: sport, cricket, australia

First posted May 10, 2012 14:16:55

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Starc deported ahead of county debut

Updated May 09, 2012 12:13:52

Australia left-arm quick Mitchell Starc has been deported from Britain, with visa problems preventing him from making his debut for English county Yorkshire.

Yorkshire, coached by former Australia fast bowler Jason Gillespie, is blaming Cricket Australia officials for problems with Starc's paperwork.

The 22-year-old Starc, who arrived at Heathrow Airport last weekend and was initially cleared to remain, will not now make his Yorkshire debut in their County Championship Second Division match against Gloucestershire at Bristol on Wednesday.

But the bowler himself was confident of being able to return to England in time for next week's match against Yorkshire.

"Well that's a first! Being deported from England...surely nothing else can go wrong can it?!?!," Starc wrote on his Twitter account on Tuesday.

"Visa issue. Incorrect communication from Aus. Will be straight back to UK ASAP once sorted. In time for next Yorkshireccc game.

"The Yorkshireccc have been brilliant to me...disappointed I won't get to play tomorrow but good luck to the lads!"

A Yorkshire spokesman said earlier Tuesday: "There was an error with the initial paperwork which the club are trying to sort out.

"We hope to have it completed by this afternoon. If not it is unlikely Starc will be able to play tomorrow and may have to return back to Australia."

Starc was due to begin an initial five-week deal to help offset the controversial departure of seamer Ajmal Shahzad, who joined county champions Lancashire, Yorkshire's arch cross-border rivals, on loan until the end of the season after being controversially released by Headingley officials last week.

The departure of the 26-year-old Shahzad, who has played one Test and 11 one-day internationals for England, was a shock as he had taken eight wickets in three first-class matches at an average of 26.25 for Yorkshire this season.

But Yorkshire chairman Colin Graves said Shahzad had to go after refusing to follow Gillespie's instructions.

"Jason's come in with a totally new regime and the player's still not happy so we can't keep changing the backroom and all the rest of it," he said.

"Our guys wanted a disciplined situation like England do when they're playing now and it works very well," added Graves.

"He (Shahzad) didn't see that. He wanted to have the opportunity to be his own man, bang it in when he wants to bang it in and bowl bouncers when he wants to bowl bouncers.

"The captain, the coach and everybody else didn't want that situation, especially at this time of year where we've got seaming wickets and all the rest of it - it's disciplined bowling that counts.

"We've put a lot of effort and a lot of resource into Ajmal and we thought he'd be here for the rest of his career.

"We're sad to see him go but at the end of the day, there's no point in keeping him here if he's unhappy."

AFP

Tags: cricket, sport, australia, england, united-kingdom

First posted May 09, 2012 06:47:04

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Asif to appeal seven-year ban on release

Updated May 04, 2012 07:52:39

Mohammad Asif's lawyer confirmed the player will appeal his seven-year cricket ban, after being released from prison in London on Thursday.

The 29-year-old Pakistani bowler was jailed in November after being found guilty of conspiring to cheat and conspiring to accept corrupt payments over deliberate no-balls bowled during the Lord's Test against England in August 2010.

Asif, who served half of a 12-month sentence, is expected to front a press conference with his lawyer Ravi Sukul soon to confirm he is taking his case for reinstatement to the Swiss-based Court of Arbitration for Sport.

"I look forward to meeting him and helping him in his legal fight to restore (the) reputation he once had," Sukul told Pakistani TV channel Geo.

Pakistan's captain for the infamous Lord's Test, Salman Butt, is still serving a 30-month term while bowler Mohammad Aamer was released in February this year after completing half of his six months in a youth prison.

Agent Mazhar Majeed was jailed for 32 months for his role in orchestrating the plot to bowl no-balls to order.

Asif's father Deen said his son's release from prison Thursday had brought an end to six months of pain for his family and backed the paceman to return to the game.

"My son is a lion and lived as a lion even in the jail. He has not played for two years but I am sure that if he comes on the field he will shock everyone with his bowling," Deen said.

AFP/ABC

Tags: sport, cricket, pakistan

First posted May 04, 2012 07:45:24

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Gayle must accept 'hardworking' culture: Sammy

Updated May 04, 2012 07:58:31

West Indies captain Darren Sammy has said Chris Gayle must conform to the "hardworking" culture in the current national set-up.

Gayle has not played for the West Indies since the 2011 World Cup after being caught in an argument with the team's cricket board.

In Gayle's absence, Sammy led his side to draws in the Twenty20 and One-Day International series with Australia before being very competitive in a 2-0 loss in the Test series.

While, Sammy and coach Ottis Gibson both welcome Gayle's return, the skipper says Gayle needs to be fully committed to the cause.

"The Chris Gayle issue has been going on for a while but we as a team have moved on and as you could see the last series we played we came out with a new attitude: where we are not going to let anybody keep us down," Sammy said.

"We are going to strive to move forward. When Chris joins the set-up, he will be coming into a very hardworking environment in which he has to fit in."

Gayle's return to the fold comes too late to be part of the three-Test series in England but he is certain to be part of the one-day series that follows.

"It is great to hear that Chris is available again. I'm sure the selectors will pick him, because he is world-class," Gibson said.

"If he's made himself available for the one-day series, I can't see him not being selected."

Tags: sport, cricket, jamaica

First posted May 04, 2012 06:54:16

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Arthur backs Ponting for one more Ashes

Updated May 01, 2012 16:28:09

Australian coach Mickey Arthur says Ricky Ponting is a wanted man for next year's Ashes series in England.

With Australia not playing another Test until the home series against South Africa in November/December, Ponting's future in the side was thought to be in some doubt.

The 37-year-old was axed from Australia's one-day squad earlier this year, leaving him with just Test cricket on his international calendar.

But Arthur says he has no concerns about Ponting losing his touch with the bat, and is backing the former skipper to play a key role in Australia's quest to regain the Ashes.

"I know there was a lot of media pressure and talk around Ricky, but Ricky's not going anywhere," Arthur said after arriving back in Perth following Australia's 2-0 Test series win against the West Indies.

"We hope Ricky's scoring enough runs to go to the Ashes in England.

"Ricky is definitely [in] no way considering retiring, I wouldn't have thought from my conversations with him, and he'll be fit and ready to go against South Africa."

Ponting, like most of Australia's batting line-up, struggled on the Windies tour.

The 165-Test veteran posted just 146 runs over three Tests at an average of 24.33, but Arthur said the tough conditions and some unlucky circumstances played a significant role in Ponting's lean return.

AAP

Tags: ashes, cricket, sport, australia

First posted May 01, 2012 16:28:09

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New Zealand coach Wright to resign

Updated May 01, 2012 12:35:42

New Zealand coach John Wright will step down from the national side in August after rejecting an offer to extend his contract, New Zealand Cricket (NZC) chief executive David White said on Tuesday.

In a move White described as "disappointing", he said Wright will leave the Black Caps after the upcoming tour of the West Indies.

"John has been an outstanding servant for cricket in New Zealand over a long time and it is disappointing to lose someone of his calibre," White said in a statement.

"We were keen to see him continue his head coach role, however understand and respect his decision to look for another challenge."

A gritty former opening batsman and one-time India coach, Wright took over a Black Caps outfit in disarray and guided them to the semi-finals of last year's World Cup, as well as a rare Test win over Australia in Hobart.

The statement gave no reason for Wright's departure, although he has reportedly had a tense relationship with Australian John Buchanan, who was appointed NZC's director of cricket in April last year.

"I appreciate the offer to extend my contract but after much consideration I feel it's the right time to move on and look at other opportunities," Wright said.

No immediate replacement was announced.

"We are keen to fill this critical role as soon as possible but are conscious that we need to take the time to find the right candidate who can take us through to the 2015 ICC Cricket World Cup," White said.

New Zealand will tour the West Indies in July and early August.

AFP

Tags: sport, cricket, new-zealand

First posted May 01, 2012 12:30:41

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