Clarke gives nothing away on Ashes eve

Australia captain Michael Clarke said he was not going to promise his country “the world” on the eve of the first Ashes test.

In fact, the 32-year-old offered almost nothing by way of insight into Australia’s preparations in his final news conference before the battle with England resumes at the Gabba on Thursday.

Clarke would put to shame many politicians with his ability to talk without giving much away and his caution is perhaps understandable given he leads a team which has lost seven and drawn two of its last nine tests.

England were responsible for three of those defeats and shared the two draws in the opening rubber of the unique Ashes double-header earlier this year to retain the coveted urn for the second successive series.

So, despite a palpable sense of renewed optimism in the Australia camp, Clarke was not going to be drawn into leaving any hostages to fortune.

“I’m not going to sit here and promise the world and tell you everything’s going to be different,” Clarke told reporters.

“It’s going to be a tough battle like it was in England, we have to play our best cricket to have success no matter what conditions we’re playing in.”

Clarke swatted aside any questions about the England team with the same briskness he will hope to punish any loose bowling from the English over the next seven weeks.

Australia named a 12-man squad for the test last week and, with better news about Shane Watson’s ability to bowl, the only question is whether they go with a fourth paceman in James Faulkner or a spinner in Nathan Lyon.

Clarke made it very clear that as he is no longer a selector it would not be his call, but strongly suggested Australia should go with Lyon at the Gabba, where England have not won a test since 1986.

“The wicket looks fantastic, I think it’s a really good pitch, I think it’s going to offer pace and bounce for the bowlers, and that includes spin,” he said.

“I think spin’s had success at the Gabba because of the bounce rather than the spin.

“It’s one of the best wickets in the world to play test cricket on because it does offer good pace and bounce so your bowlers are always interested … but once you get in, it’s as good a place to bat as anywhere in the world.

“I wouldn’t imagine the conversation is about the conditions, I think it’s probably about choosing the best 11 to help us win this test match.”

As for Watson, Clarke said the all-rounder was making good progress with his recovery from a hamstring injury and would probably contribute something with the ball during the test.

“I don’t think he’ll be 100 percent and can bowl 25 overs in the first innings of a test match,” he said.

“But as we’ve seen Watto’s improved every day and I’m really confident he’ll be able to bat at his best and do a job with the ball for us.”

As for his other comments, Clarke offered that the uncapped George Bailey “was a great guy to have around”, while his take on the influence of coach Darren Lehmann was the revelatory insight that “Boof’s Boof”.

A ripple of expectation went around the room when Clarke said the batting order had been decided but he dashed the hopes of the media when he said it would not be “right” to announce it before the team was named at the toss on Thursday morning. 

 

Preview:India look to wrap up series

A win away from clinching the series, India will bank on their explosive batting line-up as they battle history and injury in the fourth One-day international against Sri Lanka at the half-filled Eden Gardens here Thursday.

Indian cricketers Sachin Tendulkar, left, and Virender Sehwag interact during a practice session

The rollicking form of seasoned campaigners Sachin Tendulkar (208 at 104 average) and stand-in-skipper Virender Sehwag (194 at 64.66 average) is a big plus for the hosts with the duo having amassed nearly 400 runs between them in the five-game series that India lead 2-1.

But more vital is the way they have scored the runs. While Tendulkar has a strike rate of 94.97, Sehwag’s is an enviable 144.97, and the Lankan bowlers must be burning the midnight oil to find a way out to check their tormentors on a ground which is hosting an ODI after 32 months.

Gautam Gambhir, the other vital cog in the Indian batting department, has so far failed to fire in the series and the hosts would be hoping that he gets into form on the morrow in the absence of regular skipper and aggressive bat Mahendra Singh Dhoni, who is serving a two-game ban for India’s slow overrate in the second ODI at Nagpur.

India are also without the stylish left hander Yuvraj Singh, who has been ruled out of the remaining matches of the series with a finger injury.

In bowling, young left-arm spinner Ravindra Jadeja’s spectacular showing (4-32) in the third ODI at Cuttack has raised hopes of finding a suitable partner for experienced offie Harbhajan Singh, more so at Eden, where the spinners have often played a decisive role.

Having last staged an ODI in February 2007, one would have hoped to see a full house at the large Eden stadium, but the renovation of four galleries in preparation for the 2011 World Cup has reduced its capacity.

With only 53 percent of the seats in the 83,635-capacity stadium now available, the Cricket Association of Bengal (CAB) has done away with priced tickets for the match, which will be the fourth the two teams will play here. They have won one apiece while the other was a no-result.

For Sri Lanka, dashing opener Tillakratne Dilshan has been in superb form, cracking two back-to-back hundreds before a blitzy 18-ball 41 at Cuttack. Dilshan’s opening partner Upul Tharanga and skipper Kumar Sangakkara are also among runs, though Mahela Jayawardene is going through a lean patch.

Speaking to mediapersons on the match-eve, Sehwag said the Indians would aim to get Dilshan out quickly.

“It is difficult to stop him. It is better to try and get him out. If we can get his wicket, we can put pressure on the Sri Lankan middle order,” he said.

The visitors are also playing the series without several of their regulars, and the absence of the Muttiah Muralitharan — back home after the Test series following an injury — could hurt the Lankans the most Thursday.

The 40-year-old Sanath Jayasuriya, whose aggressive batting and part-time spin could come in handy for the Lankans, may make a comeback into the team after being dropped for two ODIs.

“There is always a chance for him to play. We haven’t finalised the 11,” said Sri Lankan coach Trevor Bayliss at the pre-match media meet.

Bayliss did not think Dhoni and Yuvraj’s unavailability would give a boost to his side. “They have only two players out of the team. We have five,” he pointed out.

The pitch appeared firm, but the extent of the wind and the dew could play a vital part in determining the course of Thursday’s game.

Sewhag said he would opt to field if he won the toss to avoid the problems the bowlers could face because of the evening dew.

Bayliss, however, said the wicket looked hard and good and full of runs.

Traditionally, the sprawling Eden Gardens has seen moderate scores, compared to the now-familiar scenes of teams belting 350 or even more in the 50-over games on other parks. Only once has a team scored 300 plus on this ground, and the credit goes to Sri Lanka who amassed 301 against Pakistan 12 years ago.

While India have emerged victorious in eight of their 15 limited over games at Eden, they lost three of their last four ties. One was rained out.

Sri Lanka have won three of their half-a-dozen games at Eden and lost two, while one was washed out.

Teams (from):

India: Virender Sehwag (captain), Sachin Tendulkar, Gautam Gambhir, Suresh Raina, Dinesh Karthik (wicketkeeper), Virat Kohli, Ravindra Jadeja, Harbhajan Singh, Zaheer Khan, Praveen Kumar, Ashish Nehra, Pragyan Ojha, Ishant Sharma and Sudeep Tyagi.

Sri Lanka: Kumar Sangakkara (captain-wicketkeeper), Tillakaratne Dilshan, SanathJayasuriya, Mahela Jayawardene, Thilina Kandamby, Chamara Kapugedera, Nuwan Kulasekara, Lasith Malinga, Ajantha Mendis, Thilan Samaraweera, Upul Tharanga, Chanaka Welegedara, Muthumudalige Pushpakumara, Suraj Randiv and Thissara Perera.

Umpires: Marais Erasmus (South Africa), Sanjay Hazare (India).

Third umpire: Shavir Tarapore.

Match starts at 2.30 p.m.

Preview:First Test South Africa vs England

Experienced South Africa all-rounder Jacques Kallis will not be able to bowl in the first test against England, captain Graeme Smith said on Tuesday.

Jacques Kallis of South Africa stretches during a South Africa Nets Session at Centurion Park on December 15, 2009 in Centurion, South Africa.

Kallis has fractured rib cartilage and will play as a specialist batsman only, weakening an attack that will rely on fast bowlers Dale Steyn, Makhaya Ntini and Morne Morkel and spinner Paul Harris.

“We obviously won’t have the luxury of Jacques bowling, but the other bowlers know they have to take responsibility and they’ve been picked to do their jobs well,” Smith told a news conference.

“It’s been a lengthy period since we last played test cricket but we have a very mature squad who have enjoyed a lot of success and they know what to do. We are as best-prepared as we can be, there’s been a good calm, focus and intensity about our preparations.”

England captain Andrew Strauss leads a team including four players born in South Africa, himself, batsmen Kevin Pietersen and Jonathan Trott, and wicketkeeper Matt Prior.

“The fact there are South African-born players in the team is not an issue for us, we know we have the best 15 players in England here. The fact some of them were born somewhere else doesn’t come into it, it’s a non-issue,” Strauss said.

England will delay naming their side until Wednesday morning but Strauss said he had a full squad to choose from.

“We’re very happy with the way Jimmy Anderson has pulled up, his knee niggle has never stopped him from bowling at any stage and he has progressed the way we wanted.

“Graeme Swann’s side is still niggling him but as a spinner he does not put as much strain on it as a seamer and it’s something he’s more than capable of playing through,” Strauss said.

FRONTLINE BOWLERS

England may call up all-rounder Luke Wright and play just five specialist batsmen, or name six specialist batsmen and just four frontline bowlers.

“Obviously if the pitch is going to do a huge amount, it makes a case for playing an extra batsman, but we’re still not 100 percent sure how the pitch will play,” Strauss said.

The match will be the first for each side since the official introduction of the umpire decision review system.

“We’ll have to be smart about how we use the review system. My initial reservations about it have not gone away, but I hear the more you use it, the better it gets,” Strauss said.

“I think the review system still needs to prove its worth,” Smith said. “I’m a little bit sceptical about it but we’ll have to be positive.”

Ntini plays his 100th test and Smith praised him not only as a fast bowler but also a significant figure in a troubled country still grappling with profound racial issues.

“Transformation is ongoing, it’s something we have to keep working on, but Makhaya has been a real success case and it’s been great to have been part of his career,” Smith said.

“He’ll tell you that his success is down to a lot of hard work, he’s had his ups and downs but he’s always met them with 100 percent commitment.

“Makhaya has become the spearhead of our attack and I’ve been very grateful for his energy and commitment as a leader.

“He’s a vibrant person and he’s played a prominent role not just in this team but in South Africa,” Smith added.

Sehwag Powers India to Highest total

Virender Sehwag blazed to a career-best 146 to steer India to their highest one-day total of 414 for seven in the opening game against Sri Lanka on Tuesday.

Indian cricketer Virender Sehwag acknowledges the crowd after scoring a century during the first one-day international cricket match between India and Sri Lanka, in Rajkot, India, Tuesday, Dec. 15, 2009.

The opener hit his 12th one-day hundred off 66 deliveries and smashed 17 fours and six sixes to leave Sri Lanka gasping after skipper Kumar Sangakkara put India into bat hoping to exploit early life on the pitch.

Sehwag, 31, looked good to surpass the one-day record score of 194 until he edged a full toss from paceman Chanaka Welegedara to be caught at point in the 36th over.

He dominated a 153-run first wicket partnership with Sachin Tendulkar (69) and added 156 for the second with skipper Mahendra Singh Dhoni to demoralise the bowling attack.

Dhoni hit 72 with seven fours and three sixes after promoting himself to number three but was caught in the next over after Sehwag’s dismissal to give the visitors some respite.

The total bettered India’s record of 413-5 set against Bermuda at Port of Spain in the 2007 World Cup. It is also the highest notched against Sri Lanka, surpassing the 373 India made in the 1999 World Cup. At 311 for three in the 37th over, India looked set to surpass Sri Lanka’s ODI record of 443, but were checked by some tighter bowling.

Sehwag, whose previous highest one-day score was 130, raced to 50 off just 34 deliveries before easing off slightly as Tendulkar took over with a flurry of shots.

The record-breaking batsman notched his 92nd one-day fifty until he missed the line to be bowled by Fernando. Pace bowlers Nuwan Kulasekara, Chanaka Welegedara and Dilhara Fernando took two wickets each.

Sri Lankan spinner Muttiah Muralitharan and Indian batsman Yuvraj Singh missed out due to finger injuries.

Yuvraj doubtful for Rajkot ODI

India batsman Yuvraj Singh is likely to miss the first one-day international of the series against Sri Lanka here Tuesday with a finger injury.

India's Yuvraj Singh's injured finger is seen as he talks to Indian captain Mahendra Singh Dhoni, right, during a practice session in Rajkot, India, Monday, Dec. 14, 2009. India will play the first one day international cricket match against Sri Lanka on Tuesday.

Yuvraj fractured a finger on his left hand while fielding in the second Twenty20 international in Mohali, Saturday night. Yuvraj was the star of the match with his 25 ball 60 and also picked up three wickets to help India win.

Team sources told IANS that the injury could even rule out Yuvraj from the rest of the series.

An MRI scan was conducted Sunday at the team hotel here Sunday. And reports suggested that Yuvraj would need at least three weeks to recover.

Mallya Desired England As IPL Venue

Liquor baron and owner of the Bangalore Royal Challengers, Vijay Mallya, has said that he would have preferred England to host the second season of the Indian Premier League.

Vija Mallya and Lalit Modi

The Twenty20 competition was moved out of India because of a clash of dates with general elections and the IPL organisers sealed a deal to organise the event in South Africa.

“To be honest, I would have preferred England to South Africa,” the Daily Express quoted Mallya, as saying.

Mallya agreed that there is a huge possibility of rain disruptions; but he believed the tournament would have drawn bigger crowds in England.

“You could have taken just one flight from five or six cities in India to England and it would have been cheaper. Besides, an average Englishman loves his cricket and the stands there would have been full of spectators. But, I guess the weather conditions clinched the issue for South Africa,” he said.

For Complete news visit : www.octansports.com/cricket/cricket-news/2468/Mallya-Desired-England-As-IPL-Venue.htm

Indian Fans Disappointed

The change in venue for the second edition of the Indian Premier League (IPL) has brought disappointment to the Indians who were batting for the Twenty20 competition being played in India.

Fans Enjoying Cricket

“It is like imagining Wimbledon in England, Australian Open tennis, or the UFA cups being played abroad. The charm of an Indian event has gone. It has become a television event,” said Diana Edulji, former Indian women”s Test cricketer.

Jitender Kumar, a cricket coach, said: “It will send out a wrong message to the world that such a big country like ours could not provide security to a sporting event. I believe it would have been better if IPL would have been held in India.”

Disappointment was writ large on the faces of young cricket enthusiasts who felt that IPL should be hosted in India as very few matches are played on Indian soil.

For Complete news visit:www.octansports.com/cricket/cricket-news/2463/Indians-Disappointed.htm

TV Rights Not Weather, Took IPL Away

Television rights and not the weather, it appears convinced Indian Premier League commissioner Lalit Modi to chose South Africa instead of England for the second edition of the twenty20 tournament.

Lalit Modi,chairman IPL and(CSA) chief executive Gerald Majola

According to The Independent, Modi did not bother going on to London as initially planned to hear a pitch from the England and Wales Cricket Board for staging the game’s most lucrative competition.

The Board of Control for Cricket in India became less enthusiastic about hosting the event in Britain when they realised that apart from the bad weather in April and May, there may also encounter problems with broadcasting rights and revenue.

For complete news visit:www.octansports.com/cricket/cricket-news/2446/TV-Rights-Not-Weather,-Took-IPL-Away.htm

India in Command

Gautam Gambhir and Rahul Dravid both helped themselves to half-centuries on Thursday as India closed in on New Zealand’s first innings total on the second day of the opening test in Hamilton.

Gambhir struck a patient 72 while a composed Dravid made 66 to guide the tourists to 197 for three at tea in reply to New Zealand’s first day total of 279.

When the second session ended, India were just 82 runs behind with Sachin Tendulkar unbeaten on 25 and Vangipurappu Laxman not out four.

Yuvraj Singh and Sachin Tendulkar

New Zealand had made a bright start to the day when they dismissed dangerous opener Virender Sehwag at the start of the morning session, which was delayed by 15 minutes because of overnight rain.

Sehwag had added just two runs to his overnight score of 22 when he was run out at the non-striker’s end by a direct hit from James Franklin.

But India, who had resumed on 29-0, dominated the rest of the morning on a placid Seddon Park pitch offering little assistance to the bowlers.

For complete news visit:www.octansports.com/cricket/cricket-news/2218/India-in-Command-at-Seddon-Park.htm

India On Top in Hamilton

Daniel Vettori and Jesse Ryder both struck centuries to lead a New Zealand fight back in the first test against India at Hamilton on Wednesday.

Vettori completed his third test hundred with a superb captain’s knock of 118 while Ryder registered his maiden test ton with 102 to rescue New Zealand from a disastrous start and post 279 on the opening day at Seddon Park.

daniel-vettori

India, in reply, were 29 without loss in their first innings at stumps at the
end of an absorbing day with Virender Sehwag unbeaten on 22 and Gautam
Gambhir not out six.

India have not won a test series in New Zealandfor more than 40 years but thrashed the Kiwis in the one-dayers and could hardly have made a better start to the first of three tests.

virender-sehwag

The tourists would have been in an even better position had Vettori and
Ryder not batted through the entire middle session, adding 186 for the
seventh wicket after India’s fast bowlers had demolished the New
Zealand top order.

Ishant Sharma captured three wickets in a devastating spell before lunch then polished off the innings when he dismissed last-man-out Ryder after tea.

Munaf Patel bagged three wickets, including Vettori then Kyle Mills for a golden duck to be on a hat-trick, while Zaheer Khan triggered the top-order collapse with two early wickets to vindicate Mahendra Singh Dhoni’s decision to field.

For complete News Visit : www.octansports.com/cricket/cricket-news/2198/India-On-Top-in-Hamilton-.htm