India and Pakistan to resume rivalry

Updated July 17, 2012 08:35:07

Indian cricket chiefs have invited Pakistan for a series later this year, the first in five years between the neighbours.

If approved by the two governments, the series would likely be three one-day internationals between December and January.

"It was decided to resume cricketing ties with Pakistan by inviting the Pakistan cricket team for a short series in December 2012-January 2013," the Indian cricket board, the BCCI, said in a statement.

"The modalities will be worked out shortly."

The rivals have not played a series since Pakistan's tour of India in 2007 after cricket ties were snapped following the 2008 terror attacks on Mumbai, which were carried out by militants from Pakistan.

The games will be in New Delhi, Mohali and the Himalayan hilltown of Dharamshala, between December 23 and January 10, news reports said.

They will be sandwiched between England's short tour of India.

Cricket ties have been the subject of discussions between the governments of both nuclear-armed countries, who have been holding regular meetings in a bid to improve ties and eventually thrash out a peace agreement.

The countries have fought three wars since independence in 1947.

The Pakistan Cricket Board swiftly welcomed the proposed series, which will now require approval from the Indian foreign affairs and home ministry.

PCB chairman Zaka Ashraf told local television channels that Pakistan was still waiting for a formal invitation, but said "it seems it will surely be held later this year".

Since 2007 the Indian and Pakistani cricket teams have only met in international tournaments.

They clashed in the semi-final of the World Cup last year and also during the Asia Cup in Bangladesh in March.

AFP

Tags: sport, cricket, india, pakistan

First posted July 16, 2012 21:36:16

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Taylor gets England call-up

Updated July 29, 2012 20:57:22

James Taylor is in line to make his Test debut in the second Test match against South Africa at Headingley, after replacing Ravi Bopara in the 13-strong England squad.

Bopara was disappointing in last week's innings defeat at the Oval being carelessly dismissed for nought in the first innings and 22 in the second.

However, an England and Wales Cricket Board release stated his absence was due to "personal reasons".

That cleared the way for 22-year-old Taylor of Nottinghamshire, who has moved ahead of Eoin Morgan and Jonny Bairstow in the battle for the number six spot.

He came to prominence with Leicestershire and the calls for his elevation to international level grew in volume last season as he scored 1,335 runs at an average of 53.40 in County Championship Division Two, with three centuries and seven fifties.

That earned him a move into the top flight with Notts, but he had a difficult start to this season and his call-up comes on the back of his maiden first-class century for his new employers, 106 not out against Sussex yesterday.

He added 118 against the touring West Indians for the Lions as well as an unbeaten 115 for his county in a 40-over game against Hampshire but averages only 36.16 for the Championship season.

National selector Geoff Miller said: "We have made one change to the squad, with James Taylor replacing Ravi Bopara who is unavailable for selection due to personal reasons.

"James has been part of the England Performance Programme for a number of years and has performed consistently for England Lions and now has an opportunity to step up and experience the Test environment."

England second Test squad:

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

AFP

Tags: sport, cricket, england

First posted July 29, 2012 20:57:22

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Black Caps build lead over India

Updated September 03, 2012 09:39:25

Indian off-spinner Ravichandran Ashwin bagged five wickets to throw the second and final Test against New Zealand wide open on the third day in Bangalore.

Ashwin finished with 5 for 69, his fifth haul of five or more wickets in a Test innings, as New Zealand reached 9 for 232 in its second innings at stumps for an overall lead of 244.

New Zealand paceman Tim Southee earlier grabbed a maiden seven-wicket haul as India was bowled out for 353 in its first innings in the morning in reply to the tourists' 365.

The 23-year-old finished with 7 for 64, the best by a New Zealander in a Test innings in India.

New Zealand was struggling at 5 for 140 before James Franklin (41) and Kruger van Wyk (31) added 55 crucial runs for the sixth wicket to boost its team's hopes of setting a competitive fourth-innings target.

Ashwin struck vital blows when he had Franklin stumped and then trapped van Wyk lbw before accounting for Southee in the last session.

"I don't think the wicket is doing so much that we have to be worried about the target. If we bat three-four sessions, we should be in a good position to win the match," said Indian batsman Virat Kohli, who scored a century on day two.

Indian paceman Umesh Yadav did the early damage when he removed both the openers in his successive overs. He bowled Martin Guptill (7) with a full-toss and had Brendon McCullum (23) caught behind.

Skipper Ross Taylor, who scored an aggressive 113 in the first innings, contributed 35 this time as he was trapped leg-before while attempting to sweep left-arm spinner Pragyan Ojha.

Ashwin, who took 12 wickets in his team's win by an innings and 115 runs in the opening Test, also had Kane Williamson (13) and Daniel Flynn (31) caught by Virender Sehwag in the slips.

New Zealand earlier struck with the second new ball, which was taken immediately after it was due, as India added 70 runs to its overnight total of 5 for 283.

Southee, playing his 19th Test, claimed four of the five wickets that fell in the morning, including those of middle-order batsman Kohli (103) and skipper Mahendra Singh Dhoni (62).

He took all of his wickets with the second new ball, conceding 28 runs in his lively eight-over spell.

"I think he (Southee) really bowled very well. It was a wonderful performance. Seven wickets in India is not just something that he would remember, that's what we all would remember as well," said New Zealand assistant coach Bob Carter.

"Now we have a handy lead and that has given us an opportunity in this game. We have three young bowlers who are raring to go. We are going to look to make the ball swing and get into a good enough position to press for a win."

AFP

Tags: cricket, sport, india

First posted September 02, 2012 22:03:38

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Aussies unfazed by UAE weather

Updated August 23, 2012 08:49:21

Australia's acting coach Steve Rixon expects his players will adjust to the hot conditions in United Arab Emirates during their matches against Afghanistan and Pakistan.

Australia's squad arrived in Dubai on Wednesday with the temperature as high as 43 degrees Celsius, but Rixon hopes sleeping late and breakfast at noon will help during the series, in which one-day matches will start as late as 6:00pm.

Australia takes on Afghanistan in the first-ever one-day international between the two countries in Sharjah on Saturday, before facing Pakistan in three one-day matches and as many Twenty20 fixtures.

The pre-series hype focused on how Australia will cope up with the high temperatures but Rixon says a policy has been devised to combat the oppressive weather.

"Our guys will have to eat late in night and just start the pattern," he said.

"We need to start the patterns now so by the time the first game comes around, we'll be starting to build some sort of body clock that's going to work for us."

Rixon, a former Australia Test wicket-keeper, is standing in for head coach Mickey Arthur, who will join the tour later as he has been working on preparations for next month's World Twenty20.

Rixon says the team has prepared to combat heat.

"The weather was very warm up in Darwin where we camped but nothing as oppressive as over here," he said.

"We're well aware of how hot it's going to be. If we sit here and talk about the weather all day, we're not getting the job done."

Rixon says the matches in United Arab Emirates will help the team tune up for the World Twenty20 in Sri Lanka.

"Whatever happens here will be a very big stepping stone to us being successful in Sri Lanka," said Rixon of Australia, who slipped to fourth on the one-day rankings for the first time in three years.

Rixon says players are now accustomed to playing in heat.

"I think a lot of players in the modern day games playing a lot more in the sub-continent with IPL (Indian Premier League) and other forms of cricket played in the sub-continent in place like Chennai where it is very warm," he said.

Pakistan and Australia will play the first one-day match in Sharjah on August 28 followed by second in Abu Dhabi (August 31) and Sharjah (September 3).

All three Twenty 20 matches will be played in Dubai on September 5, 7 and 10.

AFP

Tags: cricket, sport, united-arab-emirates

First posted August 23, 2012 08:39:59

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ICC appoints new boss

Updated June 28, 2012 20:14:10

New Zealander Alan Isaac has taken over as the eighth president of the International Cricket Council (ICC) on a two-year term before the post becomes titular.

The former New Zealand Cricket chairman succeeded India's Sharad Pawar at the ICC Annual Conference in Kuala Lumpur, where former South Africa wicketkeeper David Richardson was confirmed as the new ICC chief executive at the end of compatriot Haroon Lorgat's four-year term.

"I believe that the challenges ahead are no less daunting than those we have faced in the last two years if we are to maintain the vibrancy and viability of the three formats of the sport," Isaac said in a statement.

"I look forward to serving the game with honesty and integrity and to the best of my ability. I look forward to handing on the guardianship of the sport with the game enjoying even greater health."

Isaac takes over at a time when the ICC is perceived as too susceptible to the financial might of the Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI).

The governing body's failure to mandate the use of the Decision Review System earlier this week is cited as yet another instance of its helplessness against the BCCI, which has been steadfast in its opposition to the technology.

In the annual conference, the ICC agreed to create the post of an ICC chairman, who would call the shots, remove the role of ICC vice-president and make the president's role "ceremonial in nature with a term of only one year."

The ICC board will select a chairman in 2014 with a two-year term.

Reuters

Tags: cricket, sport, new-zealand

First posted June 28, 2012 20:14:10

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Australia names Ali de Winter as bowling coach

Updated August 03, 2012 17:37:19

Former Tasmania paceman Ali de Winter was Friday named as Australia's new bowling coach, replacing Craig McDermott who quit in May citing the conflicting demands of constant touring with family life.

Cricket Australia team performance general manager Pat Howard said de Winter beat a wide field of international candidates, including Pakistan pace great Waqar Younis.

"We feel Ali has skills that will complement those of Mickey Arthur, Justin Langer and Steve Rixon and is well equipped to pick up on Craig McDermott's previous good work," Howard said, referring to the Australian coaching staff.

Currently head coach of the Hobart Hurricanes in the Big Bash League side and assistant coach of Tasmania, de Winter said he intended to keep things simple with Australia's fast bowlers.

"I don't think it is too complicated - it's about having a strong work ethic, building good relationships and doing things like attacking the top of off-stump in Test cricket," he said.

"I am particularly excited to get this chance, particularly now as Australia has such a deep pool of fast bowling talent with 10-12 young bowlers featuring at the moment."

AFP

Tags: sport, cricket, australia

First posted August 03, 2012 17:37:19

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Strauss announces retirement

Updated August 29, 2012 22:33:30

Andrew Strauss has resigned as England Test captain and announced his retirement from professional cricket with immediate effect.

The 35-year-old has brought down the curtain on a 101-Test career that saw him lead England to consecutive Ashes series victories after taking over the captaincy in 2009.

Strauss insists his retirement has nothing to do with the ongoing England exile of star batsman Kevin Pietersen.

"After much thought over the last few weeks, I have decided to step down as England Test captain and announce my retirement from all forms of cricket," Strauss said in an England and Wales Cricket Board (ECB) statement issued ahead of a news conference at Lord's.

"It has clearly been a tough decision to make, but I believe that it is both in the best interests of the England cricket team and myself to step down at this stage.

"The driver to all this is I haven't batted well enough for a long time. I wasn't going to improve batting-wise, I've run my race.

"It's one of these decisions when you know when your time is up.

"It is important for a captain to not be a passenger and that people are not speculating whether you should be in the side."

Alastair Cook, already England's one-day captain and Strauss' opening partner in the five-day game, was announced as the new skipper of the Test team.

England dropped Pietersen, who has not played international cricket in any format since making 149 in the drawn second Test against South Africa at Headingley, after he admitted sending "provocative" texts to Proteas players.

Some of these were alleged to have been critical of Strauss, who succeeded South Africa-born Pietersen as England captain in 2009.

Strauss says he had spoken to England coach Andy Flower about retiring "before the Kevin Pietersen situation reared its head".

His last Test was a 51-run defeat by South Africa at Lord's, his Middlesex home ground where he made his Test debut in 2004, earlier this month that saw England surrender its number one Test ranking to the Proteas.

Strauss scored 21 hundreds - one shy of England's all-time record - and led his side to the top of the world Test rankings, a run that included home and away Ashes wins in 2009 and 2010/11.

Cook's first Test as captain will be the first of a four-match series in India in November.

The 27-year-old paid tribute to Strauss by saying: "Andrew's contribution to England cricket in recent years is evident to everyone who follows the sport but only those of us who have been lucky enough to share a dressing room with him are fully aware of his immense contribution to our success.

"He has been a fantastic captain, has led from the front for three-and-a-half years and is a true ambassador for the game.

"I know this can't have been an easy decision for him and everyone in the dressing room will be sad to see him go.

"I'm very excited by this new challenge, it is a huge honour to be appointed Test captain."

Strauss has enjoyed modest returns with the bat in recent years and his 122 against West Indies in May was his first Test century since November 2010.

He followed up with another century, at Trent Bridge, but averaged just 17.83 in six innings against the Proteas.

England's form in 2012 has been poor, with six defeats in 11 Tests culminating in a 2-0 series loss to the Proteas, its first home reverse in four years.

AFP

Tags: cricket, sport, england, united-kingdom

First posted August 29, 2012 21:06:58

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