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Sri Lanka Cricket ran out of funds , seeks govt help to settle payments
Sri Lanka Cricket is seeking government grants and a soft loan to meet part of the $69 million it spent on co-hosting the 2011 World Cup, the island's sports minister said on Tuesday.
The governing body has asked for a grant of two billion rupees ($18.35 million) and a 1.5-billion-rupee loan from the state-run Bank of Ceylon, minister Mahindananda Aluthgamage said.
"Sri Lanka Cricket ran out of funds after hosting the World Cup and sought government help to settle some payments," the minister told reporters in Colombo.
Sri Lanka, which lost the final to India by six wickets, hosted 12 matches during the World Cup, with others held in India and Bangladesh.
The island built brand new grounds in the southern town of Hambantota and the central town of Pallekele while nearly $8 million was spent to renovate the R Premadasa stadium in Colombo.
"In total, we spent about five billion rupees ($46 million) to build the three World Cup venues," Aluthgamage said.
The minister said the governing body was forced to pledge the newly-built stadiums, along with income from upcoming tours, as collateral to raise funds to pay for the lavish tournament that ended on April 2.
The International Cricket Council (ICC), the sport's world governing body, has promised to pay about $25 million by way of hosting rights, the minister said.
Local media have been reporting that cash-strapped Cricket Sri Lanka has been unable to meet staff salaries, while suppliers, including hotels, were reluctant to host future teams due to a backlog in payments.
Sri Lanka are currently touring England and are lined up to face Australia, Pakistan and South Africa this year. The country is also due to host the World Twenty20 championships in 2012.
"It's not a crisis situation yet. We are confident the government will help us out," the minister said.
Since their World Cup final defeat, Sri Lanka's captain, vice-captain and selectors have quit while the head coach, Australian-born Trevor Bayliss, also ended his contract to take up his old job at New South Wales.
Sri Lanka won their sole World Cup in 1996 and emerged finalists in 2007.
(AFP)
Tillakaratne Dilshan will miss the third Test against England : Team Manager
Sri Lanka captain Tillakaratne Dilshan will miss the third Test against England with a broken thumb, team manager Anura Tennekoon confirmed on Tuesday.
The tourists, who are 1-0 down in the three-match series, will instead be led by former captain Kumar Sangakkara, who stepped down after the World Cup final defeat by India, at the Rose Bowl when the third Test starts on Thursday.
Dilshan had been expected to miss the match after twice being hit on the thumb by England fast bowler Chris Tremlett while making 193 -- the highest Test score by a Sri Lankan at Lord's -- in the drawn second Test.
He then sat out the drawn three-day tour match against Essex at Chelmsford and the tourists bowed to the inevitable by ruling out opening batsman Dilshan on Tuesday.
"He definitely won't be playing," Tennekoon said of Dilshan.
"The main reason we've kept him out of this Test match is that, had he played and got another blow while fielding on that thumb, he might have been out for the rest of the tour.
"So as a precautionary measure, we have kept him out."
Now the uncapped Lahiru Thirimanne, who made a century against Essex, is set to take Dilshan's place in the team.
(AFP)
Shahid Afridi will withdraw his petition in court , PCB will issue NOC !
Local media say retired captain Shahid Afridi will be reissued clearance to play overseas from the Pakistan Cricket Board after meeting with chairman Ijaz Butt on Tuesday.
Geo Television
says Afridi will in return withdraw his petition in the Sindh High Court, which was filed against the PCB decision to form a disciplinary committee and revoke his No Objection Certificate.
PCB spokesman Nadeem Sarwar neither denied nor confirmed Tuesday's meeting.
Afridi retired from international cricket in protest after he was removed as ODI captain last month and criticized top PCB officials.
The PCB suspended Afridi's central contract and revoked his NOC, which stopped him from playing for Hampshire in the English Twenty20 tournament.
(AP)
" I never focused on long-term captaincy " : Misbah-ul-Haq
Misbah-ul-Haq has said that the job of leading the Pakistan cricket team is not 'a bed of roses'.
Misbah, who took over the Test leadership after Salman Butt was suspended by the International Cricket Council (ICC) last year, was also entrusted with the captain's armband for ODIs after Shahid Afridi was removed from the post by the Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) last month.
"I never focused on long-term captaincy. Leading Pakistan is not like a bed of roses and as a Test captain, I've been trying my level best," The Daily Times quoted Misbah, as saying.
"Leading the side in ODIs is an added responsibility, but it's still an honour. My only focus is to do well as a batsman and captain," he added.
He declined to comment on the ongoing row between Afridi and the PCB.
However, he did express satisfaction over the recent Ireland trip.
Misbah hoped that the performance of the young players would improve with the passage of time.
"The result speaks itself and I am satisfied with the performance. The team combination worked out very well and the young players are getting better with experience," he said.
(ANI)
Sri Lanka women cricketers have signed up for jobs in the armed services
The majority of the Sri Lanka women cricketers have signed up for jobs in the armed services.
The move came after attempts by Sri Lanka Cricket (SLC) to find a sponsor for the women's team failed so far to create much interest.
The cricketers will not take part in any combat operations and can sharpen their sporting skills while in uniform.
Captain Shashikala Siriwardene said she also expects to be recruited by the Sri Lanka navy soon.
"I hope all 30 members of the national pool will soon find jobs in the security forces," the BBC quoted Siriwardene, as saying.
"The cricketers will be playing for the army, navy and air force cricket teams and have the freedom to train for our national commitments. None of the players are required to take part in combat or even clerical duties," she added.
Presently, 90 percent of the national cricketers have been recruited, with 14 out of 30 joining the air force, and 13 recruited by the navy.
A search for a sponsor of the women's team was launched in 2010, with the hope of finding a financial backer for a period of two years.
However, as the search for a permanent sponsor was not successful, the authorities have now been trying to get sponsors on a tournament basis.
(ANI)
Shahid Afridi met PCB Chairman Ijaz Butt , dispute almost resolved
Sacked and retired former Pakistan captain Shahid Afridi met PCB Chairman Ijaz Butt in Islamabad on Tuesday amid indications that a resolution of the ongoing dispute between the two is on the cards.
Well-placed sources confirmed that a meeting had taken place on the insistence of a government official close to President Asif Zardari who is chief patron of the board.
"It has been decided in the meeting that Afridi will withdraw his petition from the Sindh high court and appear before the disciplinary committee of the Board," a source said.
He said in return for Afridi's compliance, the board's disciplinary committee will impose a token fine and seek an apology from him before issuing him the NOCs to play in England and Sri Lanka.
No official of the PCB was willing to confirm or deny the development but the sources said the meeting had taken place at an undisclosed location and the PCB would later in the day release details.
The source said the meeting was held because the President also wanted a quick resolution to the ongoing dispute while Afridi himself had been keen to get out of the muddle that he found himself after submitting a petition in the high court against the disciplinary proceedings and committee of the board.
"Butt was not very keen to go for a settlement but had to cool down on the insistence of some government officials who pointed out to him that Afridi would accept the law of the board but the dispute should be resolved since it was damaging the image of Pakistan cricket," the source said.
(PTI)
When Cook and Trott are batting , I struggle to keep my eyes open : Swann
England off-spinner Graeme Swann has revealed that watching batsmen Alastair Cook and Jonathan Trott sends him to sleep.
The spinner admitted that he struggles to avoid a deep slumber when England's two master accumulators are at the wicket.
And that adds up to a lot of zzzz's because opener Cook and No 3 Trott have scored a combined total of 1,809 Test runs in eight months.
The Sun quoted him, as saying: "I'm not a great watcher, anyway, but when those two are batting, my God, I struggle to keep my eyes open. I adore the fact they bat all the time but I'd much rather watch a Belly or a Matt Prior - he's brilliant, KP is always good value, too."
"If there is an uglier top three in the world than Andrew Strauss, Cook and Trott, I don't know of it. I wouldn't pay to watch them. They are amazing. You know you'll normally have a day sitting down and doing the crossword - or maybe watching Belly, KP and Cheesy Prior bat," he added.
(ANI)
Zaheer Khan considers the two years with Greg Chappell , worst of his decade-long career
Indian pace spearhead Zaheer Khan considers the two years with Greg Chappell, when the Australian was coach of the Indian cricket team, the worst of his decade-long career.
Zaheer said he and other senior players were constantly worried about their place in the side and were unable to perform during that tumultuous period between 2005 and 2007.
"It was as if you've been framed. It was like 'we don't want you in the team. It's not about performance, we don't like your attitude, you're stopping the growth of cricket in the Indian team' I felt it personally because I was dropped straight after the Sri Lanka tour, even though I had not performed badly," Zaheer said.
"I was fortunate enough to go to South Africa to represent the Asia XI (in the Afro-Asia Cup). I got about nine wickets and I was recalled for the next series. In that phase it was always a struggle. When you're fighting within the team, when you have a war to fight in your own camp, it is always difficult to win," he said.
Chappell took over as India coach in May 2005 but his tenure was marred by serious differences between him and senior players, including Sachin Tendulkar. He also had a public spat with the then captain, Sourav Ganguly, who was dropped from the team but later recalled.
At the end of his tenure, following India's first round exit from the 2007 World Cup, Chappell decided not to seek an extension of his contract.
Zaheer said, in contrast, former South African batsman Gary Kirsten's tenure as India coach was "amazing".
"He has given everyone their space. He understood the Indian culture and how we do things. He's taken that step of coming closer to us rather than dictating. He was our friend, not a coach," Zaheer said on 'NDTV's Walk the Talk' show.
Kirsten took over in tumultuous circumstances but left the job on a high, guiding the Indian team to a historic World Cup triumph after a hiatus of 28 years besides taking them to the pinnacle of Test rankings.
Zaheer said the only positive of Chappell's tenure was the inclusion of youngsters in the team but felt that sacrificing experienced players was not the only way to give opportunities to youth.
"A youngster coming in is a good sign but not at the cost of a cricketer who is doing his bit."
The 32-year-old Baroda pacer said the county stint with Worcestershire came at the right moment for him when things were not going his way.
He signed up with Worcestershire for the 2006 county season and finished as the highest wicket-taker in Division Two of the County Championship, taking 78 wickets at 29.07.
"Worcester taught me the reason I'm playing this game. Sometimes when you play at the highest level, especially in India, the whole country is so passionate about the game, so whether you do well or do badly it affects you in many ways. So when I went to Worcester, it was just me playing cricket."
"I was just enjoying cricket and not thinking about other pressures, about the pressure of performance. Everything was falling into place. I was taking wickets. Even though I was not in the Indian side, I was actually happy," Zaheer said.
Talking about the historic World Cup triumph, in which he was the joint-highest wicket-taker with Shahid Afridi (21 wickets), Zaheer said he is now a calm and composed player as compared to the emotionally-driven youngster in the 2003 final against Australia.
In the 2011 World Cup final, he bowled three consecutive maidens at the start of the innings.
"I was only a couple of years into international cricket; the World cup journey itself was something special in 2003. That time my thing was to bowl quick. I wanted to be aggressive."
"It was a World Cup final; there were a lot of emotions. As soon as the national anthem finished, there was this rush of young blood. I wanted to do really well, wanted to just blast the Australians apart," he said.
"This World Cup I was aware of the fact that there will be a lot of emotions, I have to deal with it. I have to maintain my calm and focus on the process. I was telling myself just go there and bowl," he added.
(PTI)
Shaun Marsh is aiming to emulate his father , become an Australian Test opener
Shaun Marsh is aiming to emulate his father and become an Australian Test opener in the looming batting shake up that will follow Simon Katich's dumping from the national squad.
Katich, controversially omitted from the list of 25 contracted players by Cricket Australia last week, had forged a solid opening combination with Shane Watson.
Marsh, the 27-year-old son of former Test opener and Australia coach Geoff Marsh, regained his central contract and is one of the contenders to fill the void.
Despite opening the innings in many of his 33 limited-overs internationals, Marsh concedes 22-year-old New South Wales opener Phil Hughes is probably the most likely candidate as Test opener.
Hughes "played in the last Test match in the Ashes, so I'm sure he will get another crack," Marsh said on Tuesday. "But if they want me to open, I'm ready.
"Ever since I was a little boy, I've always wanted to follow in my dad's footsteps and wear the baggy green ? there are some opportunities coming up but we'll just have to see which way they go."
Australia has plenty of Test cricket coming up, with away series against Sri Lanka and South Africa starting in August before the home series against New Zealand and India in December and January.
(AP)
Pakistan team is on the right direction and improving by the day : Misbah ul Haq
Pakistan cricket might be in turmoil after Shahid Afridi's controversial sacking as captain and his subsequent retirement, but new skipper Misbah-ul-Haq says the national team is on the right path and improving by the day.
Misbah, who returned home on Saturday, after leading the team in the Test series in the West Indies and the one-day series in Ireland in place of Afridi, also backed the role of the team management.
"The role of the team management is important but the players' performance on the field matters the most," he told a TV channel.
"The management has been very supportive. They draft a strategy but to achieve favourable result, the onus is on the players to deliver on the field. Actually it's a combined effort," he said.
"The attitude of the players is equally important along with the performance," added Misbah, who was appointed captain of the ODI team last month.
Misbah, however, declined to comment on the ongoing row between Afridi and the Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB).
The PCB appointed Test skipper Misbah as the ODI captain last month for the short tour of Ireland where Pakistan whitewashed the home team 2-0.
"The result is speaking for itself and I am satisfied with the performance. The team combination worked out very well and the young players are getting better with experience," said Misbah.
"The consistency shown by the side is a heartening sign.
Overall the team is moving in the right direction," concluded the 37-year-old skipper.
(PTI)
Former Pakistan captain Rashid Latif resigned as Afghanistan's coach !
Former Pakistan captain Rashid Latif has resigned as Afghanistan's coach after falling out with the country's Cricket Board and some players.
"I can only say that I had sent in my resignation as coach of the Afghanistan team and their Chairman of the Board has accepted my it," Rashid said.
He confirmed that his contract with the Afghanistan board was valid until end of July but he opted out as the Afghan officials and some players were not happy with his coaching style.
"So, I have decided to part ways with them but I wish them best of luck in their future matches," Rashid, a former wicketkeeper-batsman, said.
Rashid is due to leave for London this week to take up a contract with the Lashings Cricket Club.
The Afghanistan cricket officials have accused Rashid of backing out of his contract which they said ran until July.
"Basically Rashid resigned because he was not getting along with the Afghanistan cricket officials and some players who had made it clear they wanted a new coach.
"The only thing holding back the Afghanistan officials from terminating Rashid's contract was that their new coach, Kabir Khan is tied up with the UAE team until September so they wanted to make do with Rashid until then," a source close to the former captain said.
Relations between Rashid, the Afghan officials and some players deteriorated when the former captain felt that some senior players had deliberately under-performed against the Pakistan A team in the recent series as they didn't want him as coach.
"They were not happy with Rashid because he wanted changes in the team and insisted only those players who performed should be part of the national team. He was also not in favour of board officials interfering in team and selection matters," one source said.
(PTI)
" It is a wrong perception that we have any personal vendetta against Afridi "
The Pakistan Cricket Board insists that it is not pursuing any personal vendetta against sacked and retired captain Shahid Afridi and has taken action against him as part of a revised process to check indiscipline among players.
"It is a wrong perception that we have any personal vendetta against Afridi. We respect his achievements as a professional player and contribution to the national team. But as far as we are concerned, no one is above discipline," PCB Chief Operating Officer Subhan Ahmed said in an interview.
"As part of our policies in administrative matters of the board, it has been decided that there will be no compromise on discipline. Shahid violated his central contract terms and the code of conduct for players by speaking on sensitive team issues in the media.
"So, as a disciplinary step he was removed as captain for the Ireland series and a disciplinary process was initiated against him for criticising the board after his retirement," Subhan explained.
He pointed out that after the spot-fixing scandal last year, the PCB had decided to get tough on disciplinary issues.
"This is also now part of our reform policies that we initiated on the advice of the ICC since last year," he said.
"Even if he announced his retirement he was bound to stick to his contractual obligations for the next 10 to 12 months and not speak in the media on sensitive issues," he said.
The PCB official said that last year Afridi had accepted the same disciplinary process that had been initiated against him at present.
"We are a bit surprised he has now challenged the process in court. Our lawyers have the right to seek the dismissal of his petition against the disciplinary process of the board," he added.
Subhan said that in the past the board had been easy on disciplinary issues.
"Many a times the board didn't even recover fines from players. But since last year that has changed and we have deducted around Rs seven million from the earnings of Shoaib Akhtar and even Rs one million from the payments due to Mohammad Asif," he said.
Subhan pointed out that the board would be going hard on wicketkeeper Zulqarnain Haider and he would have to face the same disciplinary process that Afridi and national selector Mohammad Illyas were facing.
"No leniency will be shown to anyone who is violating the Board's code of conduct intentionally."
He pointed out that the board wanted the row with Afridi to end soon but the all-rounder had himself decided to go to court.
"Even if he was not satisfied with the committee we had formed to hear his case, he had the option of seeking an independent tribunal from the governing body and even going to the appellate tribunal that is made up of former judges," he noted.
(PTI)
Chris Tremlett cannot understand why India are so vehemently opposed to UDRS
England fast bowler Chris Tremlett cannot understand why India are so vehemently opposed to cricket's Decision Review System (DRS).
DRS, which allows teams to make two incorrect challenges to an on-field umpire's decision before all their referrals for that innings are used up, has broadly been accepted by most of cricket's leading nations and was in use at the recent World Cup in the subcontinent, which India won.
However, India have been opposed to the system almost from the moment of its inception in 2009 and, despite International Cricket Council (ICC) calls for it to be used in all major matches, are adamant they want no part of it in England.
As both teams have, in effect, to agree to its use that means it won't feature in the four-Test series starting next month that forms the centrepiece of India's upcoming tour of England.
The system is currently being used in the ongoing England-Sri Lanka Test series that concludes with the third Test at the Rose Bowl starting on Thursday.
Tremlett, who has benefited from the system, said the ICC should insist on its use in all Tests.
"I am a fan of the system. If the technology is there it should be used," Tremlett said.
"Who knows why they (India) don't want it involved?
"There have been a few decisions that have been rightly overturned and as a bowler you want those decisions given out. It's a fair way of doing things. I'm fully in agreement with it.
"It's something that we like to use and it should be used in every Test if the technology is there and it's a shame that they don't want DRS involved in the India series."
The Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI) have questioned the accuracy of the technology involved but Tremlett said: "It is very accurate. Sometimes there is a lot of noise around a Test match and an umpire might not hear a fine nick so it's an important thing to have.
"It has been a successful thing over the last six months."
Victory at the Rose Bowl, where Surrey paceman Tremlett made his name for Hampshire before crossing the border at the start of last season, would take England into joint-second with South Africa in an ICC Test ranking table currently topped by India.
Tremlett, who played a key role in England's Ashes-winning series in Australia with 17 wickets in three Tests, said: "There's no reason why we can't win that series against India. This side is going from strength to strength and we're on a good winning streak at the moment.
"I'm fully confident that we can beat any side," added Tremlett, whose four second innings wicket set up England's first Test victory against Sri Lanka that left them 1-0 up with one to play against the tourists after a draw at Lord's.
"We had success against Australia but the next step is to beat the number one side in the world. If we can beat them convincingly then we will deserve to be number one."
(AFP)
PCB dropped the idea of organizing home series against SL in Zimbabwe
The Pakistan cricket Board might split its forthcoming Test and ODI series against Sri Lanka at two neutral venues but has dropped the idea of organising it in Zimbabwe.
Zimbabwe was under consideration to be a neutral venue for the Pakistan-Sri Lanka series later this year but sources in the Board said the high costs involved in organising the matches had virtually ruled it out of contention.
"The costs are a big factor in the Board deciding on neutral venues for its home series like the one against Sri Lanka. Zimbabwe was a high cost option," an official source said.
Pakistan has been forced to play its home series abroad since 2009 when terrorists attacked the Sri Lankan team in Lahore.
Since then, no team has toured Pakistan for an official series because of security reasons although Afghanistan was in the country last month to play a series against the Pakistan 'A' side.
Sri Lanka have also asked Pakistan to organise the series in October and November either in Sri Lanka or at a neutral venue while turning down an official invitation from the PCB to tour Pakistan for the series.
"Chances are that the Tests may be played in Sri Lanka and the limited over matches in Dubai and Abu Dhabi," the source said.
He said Sri Lanka was a viable option because of low costs and also because having Tests in a cricket nation could induce more people to watch the matches.
"There are decent crowds for the limited overs matches in Dubai and Abu Dhabi as we have seen in recent series there but hardly anyone comes for the Tests. So we are mulling the possibility of splitting the series into two parts and organising it in two countries," the source said.
Pakistan will also have to play its home series against England in Sri Lanka or some other neutral venue as the England Cricket board has refused to send its team to Pakistan because of security concerns.
The source said Pakistan was keen to support Zimbabwe and the national team would be touring the African nation in August to play a Test and some one-day matches.
(PTI)
" Munaf Patel had some pace, now he is spinning the ball " : Andy Roberts
Antigua : West Indian fast bowling legend Andy Roberts is baffled as to why young Indian pacers suddenly lose speed after showing early promise and start "spinning the ball", pointing out Munaf Patel as the most recent example.
"When Munaf Patel came here in 2006, he had some pace," said Roberts wryly, "Now he is spinning the ball!"
Roberts was speaking from his experience of having worked with Irfan Pathan briefly during the 2006 tour by the Indians after the then coach Greg Chappell requested him to look at the left-arm seamer's problems.
"You have to remember this happens only once they make it to the international stage. Maybe they are better off without these coaches.
"These coaches turn you into a line-and-length bowler. Not what you naturally are. These boys then lose their ability."
Roberts, who picked up 202 wickets from 47 Tests at 25.61 average, is hailed as the father of fearsome West Indian fast bowlers of 70s and 80s. He certainly is not impressed by the fast bowling in world cricket presently.
"Shaun Tait throws his arm. Dale Steyn, whom I like, also occasionally throws his arm. Less said about the West Indian pacemen the better. The likes of Kemar Roach, Jerome Taylor and Fidel Edwards are not running in fast enough at the batsmen," he said.
"They saw Curtly Ambrose run in smoothly and ping the ball. But he could do it because he was so very strong.
Others must run in hard in their run-ups.
"There are two ways to bowl fast, either you steam in or you have a lot of strength to bowl even if you are relaxed in your run-up," Roberts explained.
Roberts is dismissive of the notion that today's cricketers play a great volume of cricket.
"Too much cricket? They play mostly Twenty20s and one-dayers. It's 4 or 10 overs a match."
He also sought to correct the notion that reverse swing almost exclusively was the preserve of the Pakistani bowlers in the 90s.
"We began the reverse swing. When the Pakistanis came here in 1977 they were surprised to see us do it. It's no rocket science, you keep the ball polished on one side and it would reverse swing. For it to happen, the other side must have a bit of moisture on it.
Inevitably, Roberts is asked to compare who he thought was better between Sachin Tendulkar and Sunny Gavaskar.
"Sachin is one of the game's greats. No question about it. However, you judge a batsman on how he handled the best of pacemen and best of spinners of his era.
"In the 70s, West Indies had the quick ones. England had a very good spinner in Derek Underwood. And Sunny always did well against them."
Nobody was said to have a more deceptive bouncer than Roberts in the game. Gavaskar has mentioned he had two bouncers - one a slower one with which he set a batsman up and the other a quicker one which a batter could only see as a blur.
"You can't bowl 95 mph all the time and hope a batsman would surrender. They get used to it after a while. You need to vary the pace, the angle, the seam or swing," Roberts said.
"I could bowl everything: seam, swing, pace, slower one, bouncer, cutters, everything."
Asked to pick the favourite batsman and fast bowlers of his era, Roberts said, "Viv Richards to me was the best player of short-pitched bowling ever.
"I liked Dennis Lillee, Jeff Thomson, Malcolm Marshall ...Imran was a great bowler but he wasn't an out-and-out fast bowler. Same was the case with Richard Hadlee."
Like most of his era, Roberts can't see the revival of West Indian cricket any soon.
"The top brass needs a kick in the backside. Presently our cricket is flat on its back. The board at one time had 18 directors.
"I was once told by a director that I could become a coach if I had a level 2 or 3 coaching certificate. The same man asked me to come to Trinidad and give a lecture on fast bowling in his academy. The knowledge is with me. But I can't be going around asking for work," he said.
(PTI)
" I don't think a pane of glass will knock England off course "
Jack Russell has insisted he had a far worse temper than current England wicket-keeper Matt Prior who has found himself in an unwanted spotlight as a result of a window-breaking incident at Lord's.
England head to the Rose Bowl for the third and final Test against Sri Lanka starting on Thursday with a 1-0 lead in the series after an innings victory in Cardiff and a drawn second Test at Lord's.
Prior made a hundred in the first innings at Lord's but that was all but overshadowed when, on the final day, he broke a dressing room window with a bat after he was run out for four.
The Sussex stumper insisted he did not throw anything in anger but rather the window broke after a freak accident when he put his bat next to a nearby ledge in the dressing room.
A female spectator sat below in the Lord's Pavilion suffered a cut to her ankle from the resulting falling glass.
Prior, who apologised to her, was reprimanded by the International Cricket Council (ICC).
But former England keeper Russell said he didn't expect the incident to be playing on Prior's mind at the Rose Bowl, the home of southern county Hampshire.
"I don't think a pane of glass will knock England off course. It definitely won't knock Matt Prior off course," Russell said.
"Matt is too strong a character and the set-up is too sensible. He will just forget about it.
"It was fortunate that no-one got (seriously) injured but we have all done worse than that," said Russell, speaking on Monday at Lord's.
"We have all smashed our cricket case up or bashed our kit about," added Russell, now a professional artist who has painted a picture on a canvas of cricket bats as part of his contribution to National Cricket Day.
"Some players were never like that. Graham Gooch (the former England captain and now the team's batting coach) used to come in and lay his bat down and that would be it.
"But when I was playing I was like a kettle boiling in that time between losing my wicket and getting to the dressing room.
"The volcano would just build and build and build. The lads just used to clear away and give me a minute because I was angry."
(AFP)
" I wish no cricketer goes through what I have in my career " : Amit Mishra
He has had the West Indies batsmen in knots in the ongoing ODI series but not so long ago, Indian leg-spinner Amit Mishra was considering hanging up his boots out of sheer frustration at being dropped despite decent performances.
The affable spinner's nine wickets at an average of 17.00 in the ongoing series exceed the value the figures can ever suggest. Yet, Mishra lives with the dictum of his day-to-day philosophy.
"I once took seven wickets and scored a 50 against Bangladesh in a Test, and was promptly dropped in the next game," recalled Mishra.
He could have also mentioned his dramatic first year in Test cricket in 2008 when he took 20 wickets in five games against Australia and England and yet was sent to cool his heels for the entire next year.
It is not as if he has been compensated in one-day internationals. He made his ODI debut in 2003 and after just two games was banished for more than six years.
He did have his shoulder injury to contend with but he was still picking wickets by bucketful in domestic cricket.
"I wish no cricketer goes through what I have in my career," says the 28-year-old cricketer.
"But for my family who egged me on and Mr Ranbir Mahendra (Haryana cricket supremo) I would have hung my boots long ago."
Mishra is mindful that during this spell of 2003-09, Anil Kumble made a mighty return and Harbhajan Singh was still on top of his craft.
Also only one spinner is usually preferred in Tests abroad. Yet the feeling lingered that he was being unfairly treated.
"I just let out my frustration on a cricket ball. I bowled and bowled and bowled. During matches, in nets and many a time alone. I worked on my leg-spinners, drifters, googly, variations in pace, degree of spin, everything," says an eager-faced Mishra who has nearly 400 first-class wickets to show for his 11-year toil.
Mishra was finally thrown a lifeline in the form of IPL.
He was picked up cheaply by Delhi Daredevils in the first year auction in 2008 but his impressive hauls, including two hat-tricks, have ensured he could no longer be ignored so brazenly.
Yet it hurt him immensely that he wasn't part of India's World Cup squad as Piyush Chawla was preferred to him.
However, he got his break in the present series and has been impressive to the extent that legendary opener Sunil Gavaskar feels he ought to be on plane to England later in the summer.
Having learnt the bitter lessons, Mishra now believes only wickets can give him a good run in international cricket.
"Economy is alright but wickets matter more to me.
There's no point in going for 0 for 45, it's better to have 3 for 50. It's good for you, it's good for the team."
Says Eric Simmons, India's bowling coach, "Mishra is very confident, very aggressive. He gets a lot of drift which is always a very good sign for a leg-spinner."
Mishra's approach has helped India many a time in the past, the middle overs were passive periods for the team. Most opposition could recover from poor starts only because there was nobody to pick wickets in the middle overs.
"Even though I can bowl three variations of googly, my stock bowl is the leg-break. I feel my strength is the loop and the drift and dip which accompany it," remarked Mishra.
His 36 wickets from 10 Tests compare favourably with his idols Shane Warne (25 wickets), Muttiah Muralitharan (40) and Harbhajan Singh (38) at the same cut-off point.
Kumble alone is markedly superior at 53 wickets from 10 matches.
(PTI)
Rahul Dravid's wicket five years ago , i can play International cricket : Anthony Martin
West Indies leg-spinner Anthony Martin, who produced a career-best spell in his team's win over India in the fourth one-day international, said bowling to Rahul Dravid five years ago led him to believe that he could have a career in international cricket.
"There was this practice game against India in 2006. Dravid hit my first ball for a four and was gone off the second, caught in the slips," remembers the leg-spinner whose 4/36 led to India's 103-run loss in the fourth one-dayer here on Monday.
"I remember telling myself: 'Hey, here is this batsman who I watch thrash international bowlers all over the world on television. If I can pick him, I can play international cricket'.
"It was also a game where I took Virender Sehwag's catch. The man just stood in the middle and didn't want to leave the pitch. I ran around the stadium in celebration."
A firefighter by profession, Martin's story is one of triumph over adversity as a debilitating injury once almost finished his budding career.
"I represented Leeward Islands in under-15 cricket as a paceman in 1998. But then I suffered a serious injury and damaged my back. Since I love this game so much, I started bowling off breaks. Now my Antigua Under-19 coach told me the team has two good off-spinners. So I turn to leg-spin. I always used to bowl a couple of deliveries of leg-spin in the nets as a sort of warm-up. I knew something about it so started working on it."
Martin said he was motivated to do well after he wasn't picked up in the third match on Saturday. "It motivated me. I went to the hotel and thought 'hey, my coach doesn't think I am fit to play. I am gonna show'. Trinidad was slow, but Antigua is my pitch. Nobody destroys me here," he said.
"Nobody comes here and destroys me in my house. I didn't want the whitewash. Losing is not a word in my vocabulary. Like my uncle who is my mentor, I don't tolerate crap. I am always serious. I don't crack jokes in the middle," he added.
Martin is mindful that in a land which is known for its fast bowlers -- Andy Roberts, Curtly Ambrose, Winston Benjamin etc -- he is the first spinner to make his mark.
"Yes, I am here to make a difference."
Martin owes a lot to his mother and said the mere mention of her makes him feel like shedding tears. "I feel like shedding tears for her. She has done a lot for me, always supported me. She was sitting in the stands with my daughter but I am not married you know."
He has done well in cricket, but Martin still feels that his job as a firefighter is a priority. "I sometimes have to handle fire-fighting. Otherwise I do regular police work. Whatever I am told to do I do. If they want me to leave cricket, I would do so. It's my job," he said.
(PTI)
Cricket Australia has reinstated the tri-series ODI concept
Cricket Australia has reinstated the tri-series ODI concept and extended its regular Test dates to host India in a four-match series which breaks with recent convention.
Australia unveiled a southern summer programme on Tuesday that features two Tests against New Zealand in Brisbane and Hobart at the start of December followed by a four-Test series against India starting on December 26, the traditional Boxing Day slot at the Melbourne Cricket Ground. The subsequent Tests will be played in Sydney and Perth and the series concludes in Adelaide from January 24-28.
A two-match Twenty20 international series will follow that, leading into the February 5 - March 8 blockbuster limited-overs tri-series involving former world champion Australia against World Cup holder India and 2011 World Cup runners up Sri Lanka. Australia abandoned the tri-series format in favor of bilateral series for three seasons amid diminishing popularity for the 50-over game and increasing interest in T20, but has reinstated the three-way contest in what will be a hectic summer.
"ICC Cricket World Cup winner India is the No 1-ranked Test team in the world at the moment. Sri Lanka has also been in great form as we saw in the World Cup, while we know New Zealand is always a formidable opponent that thrives when playing Australia," Cricket Australia chief executive James Sutherland said in a statement. "With the commencement of the ICC World Test Championship we know that every Test win is vital and the Australian team will be keen to start the home season positively against New Zealand."
The Test series will clash with the Australian Open, the annual Grand Slam tennis fixture in Melbourne in late January, meaning the domestic broadcast audiences for both sports will be split.
The main Test series in Australia has usually culminated with the New Year's match in Sydney in the first week of the new year, but the Australian cricket team has a packed schedule in the lead-up to the domestic summer with an ODI series and three Tests in Sri Lanka in August-September followed by an ODI series and two Tests in South Africa in October-November.
(AP)
" Credit to the Windies for batting well " : Suresh Raina
Indian skipper Suresh Raina blamed his batsmen's poor shot selection and failure to build partnerships for the massive 103-run loss to the West Indies in the fourth one-dayer.
"Credit to the Windies for batting well. But we did not bat well at all, to be honest," Raina said after the match on Monday.
"Our shot selection was wrong, we had no partnerships.
Rohit (Sharma) was there but Yusuf (Pathan) and I got out at that time. There was no partnership. Batsmen have to be there when chasing a total like 240-245. And the West Indies played well in the batting powerplay," he lamented.
Chasing 250, the Indians, who led the five-match series 3-0, were all out for 146 to give the West Indies their first win.
Raina said the plan to attack leg-spinner Anthony Martin, who took a career-best haul of 4/36, backfired badly.
"We decided to take on the leg-spinner (Anthony Martin) but we kept losing wickets," said Raina.
India lost their final nine wickets for 105 runs to swiftly go down with 11 overs to spare. Martin benefitted the most, claiming the vital scalps of Virat Kohli and Suresh Raina in the middle overs.
"We needed at least two stands of 50-runs each. We had a good start but the rest didn't build on it," Raina explained.
West Indies bowlers bowled a fair deal of short-pitched deliveries but India's bowling coach Eric Simmons wasn't ready to concede that it had softened up his batsmen.
"I don't think short-pitched bowling is any issue with this team. It's not as if we lost only because we were softened up (by them)," he said.
"Sometimes when a series is lost; there is not much to play for, a team is more relaxed and they tend to do well which is exactly what West Indies did."
A contributing factor was India's often poor bowling, especially that of Ishant Sharma who went for 60 runs from his 10 overs.
"I wouldn't say so. He's been aggressive and has come here after a very good IPL," retorted Simmons.
"He has bowled in good areas, in right channels and bowled with a lot of focus in the nets," he said.
Simmons also mentioned how the policy of this team has been to play to its strength, especially when it comes to bowling.
"We play with a plan which suits our bowlers. There is no point in trying to be someone else. We play to our strength; try to put pressure from both ends and develop a momentum for the side."
Raina was asked some pointed questions on the continuing failure of Yusuf Pathan and Subramaniam Badrinath, as well as opener Shikhar Dhawan.
"We will see how the team combination works (in Jamaica).
We have to play the first Test there also so we will try to play to our potential. The thing with batting is that you need to build partnerships, you have to respect good line and length bowling."
Despite India's loss, Raina's captaincy so far has been very encouraging. First coach Duncan Fletcher and now Simmons is very impressed with the way Raina rotated his bowlers and set up his field.
Raina said he has learnt a lot watching how Rahul Dravid and Mahendra Singh Dhoni go about their task as a captain.
"You watch them and learn how to be positive, how to play to your strength and how to cope with tough situations."
Raina didn't forget to praise the West Indies for the comeback they managed here.
"One needs to give them credit. They played good cricket.
It's been a good comeback for them," he said.
(PTI)
PCB will not stop Shahid Afridi from taking part in the national Twenty20 championship
The Pakistan Cricket Board will not stop suspended all-rounder Shahid Afridi from taking part in the national Twenty20 championship, scheduled to be held in Faisalabad from June 24.
A well-placed source in the board said that as of now far it has been decided to allow Afridi to lead the Karachi Dolphins side in the tournament despite the ongoing disciplinary process against him.
Since it is a domestic tournament and the matter between him and the board is now in court it is felt it is better he is allowed to captain the Karachi side in the event," a source said.
The Karachi City Cricket Association has also written to the board, seeking written clearance to allow Afridi to lead their team in the tournament.
The national T20 meet is one of the most popular domestic event in Pakistan as it is televised live and also attracts huge crowds.
This is the first time it is being held in Faisalabad -- all previous editions have been organised either in Karachi or Lahore.
Subhan Ahmed, the chief operating officer of the board, declined to comment on the issue of whether Afridi is eligible to play in the domestic event.
"Right now we don't see any problem in him playing in domestic cricket but we don't want to comment as the matter is in court," he said.
Afridi went to the High Court and got a stay order against the board's disciplinary process against him that included suspension of his central contract and revoking his NOC's to play in foreign leagues.
(PTI)
4th ODI : West Indies thrashed India by 103 runs , Pollard and Martin the stars
Leg-spinner Anthony Martin grabbed 4-36 on Monday to help spur West Indies to an emphatic 103-run victory over India in the fourth ODI at the Sir Vivian Richards stadium.
Martin was ably assisted by seamer Andre Russell (3-16) and captain Darren Sammy (2-43) as India crumbled to 146 all out in pursuit of West Indies' 249-8 off 50 overs.
The host's total had earlier been built around opener Lendl Simmons, who scored 67 off 78 balls, and Kieron Pollard's well-crafted 70 of 72 deliveries.
Simmons anchored the top order while fellow Trinidadian Pollard guided the hosts after a middle order collapse.
Seamer Praveen Kumar led the visitors with 3-37 while leg-spinner Amir Mishra claimed 2-56.
Sammy was delighted that his team could finally post a win in the series to reduce the deficit to 3-1.
"We did a lot of the things better in this game," he said. "Throughout the series, we've been improving. As long as we keep improving, I'm happy. We've still got a young team and we're still trying to find that winning mindset and today it was really good to see the guys putting out a keen effort."
Indian captain Suresh Raina was critical of his batsmen.
"We didn't bat well, to be honest. Our shot selection was really wrong," he said. "We kept losing the shape. We kept losing wickets and we didn't have partnerships in between."
India's new ball pair of Kumar and Ishant Sharma made early inroads after captain Suresh Raina won the toss for the fourth time and again sent the hosts in.
Sharma struck first when Danza Hyatt (1) spooned a catch to Manoj Tiwarty at backward point off the shoulder of the bat.
West Indies slumped to 12-2 when Ramnaresh Sarwan (1) slapped Kumar to the same fielder.
Simmons and Darren Bravo rebuilt in a stand of 53 for the third wicket before Mishra made his mark.
Bravo compiled 15 off 36 balls before he chipped an on-drive to deep midwicket where Tiwary hauled in his third catch.
Marlon Samuels (8) was also a Mishra victim, leg before wicket to a googly.
Simmons struck three sixes and three fours in notching his sixth half century in his last eight one-day innings. But Tiwary's direct hit from short midwicket ran out the right-hander and left the West Indies reeling at 103-5 in the 27th over.
Pollard and wicket-keeper Carlton Baugh ensured the innings reached respectability, adding 96 off 107 balls for the seventh wicket.
Pollard dominated, lashing six fours and two sixes in his fourth one-day 50, while Baugh notched 39 off 57 balls.
Pollard holed out to long-off in the batting powerplay, but Andre Russell (25 of 14 balls) kept the momentum towards the end.
Kumar claimed both Baugh and Russell in the penultimate over to end with the best figures.
India's reply never managed to find any momentum once Sammy removed both openers with his medium pace.
Manoj Tiwary, in his first match of the series, pushed tentatively outside off and feathered a catch to wicket-keeper Carlton Baugh.
Parthiv Patel struck three fours in 26 off 32 balls before Sammy grasped a stunning one-handed return catch to end his resistance at 41-2.
Russell removed Subramaniam Badrinath to a fine Baugh catch behind as India slipped further to 62-3.
Martin tightened the home team's grip by removing Virat Kohli (21), captain Suresh Raina (10) and the in-form Rohit Sharma (39).
Kohli was beaten in flight and stumped by Baugh while Raina played an expansive stroke and hauled a catch to midwicket.
Lendl Simmons' part-time medium pace accounted for Yusuf Pathan (1) before Sharma top-edged a slog at Martin at 124-7.
Russell ensured there would be no fightback, dismissing Praveen Kumar and Ravichandran Ashwin.
Martin was left to deliver the final rites, Baugh claiming his fourth scalp with a swift stumping of Ishant Sharma.
(AP)
" I'm all in favour of UDRS " : James Anderson
Unlike some of the Indian stars, the English players are in favour of using the much-debated Umpire Decision Review System in next month's four-Test series between the two sides.
Pacer James Anderson has expressed his displeasure over Indian Cricket Board's (BCCI) refusal to allow the usage of UDRS in the upcoming series, saying the technology improves decision-making.
"I don't understand why. If all the other Test-playing nations are using it, India don't have to use it if they say they don't want to. We want to play with it as it clearly improves decision-making," Anderson was quoted as saying by
The Daily Mirror.
"I'm all in favour of it - but it's their problem if they're not going to support it," the pacer added.
Top Indian players such as Sachin Tendulkar and skipper Mahendra Singh Dhoni have been vocal critics of the UDRS but English players like spin spearhead Graeme Swann have backed the use of technology.
Last week, according to a report in
The Daily Telegraph,
the BCCI sent official notification to the England and Wales Cricket Board (ECB) that it does not want the system to be used in the series in July.
Consent of both the boards is required for the system to be used in a series.
Anderson, who has been recalled for the third and final Test against Sri Lanka starting from Thursday after recovering from a side strain, also added that he is convinced that he and his team-mates will go down in history as legends if they beat India in the coming series.
"India are No 1 in the world and if we beat them in the series, we'll be the best team in the world," he said.
Anderson was injured during the first Test against Sri Lanka in Cardiff and was replaced by the uncapped Jade Dernbach for the second at Lord's.
The Lancashire paceman reiterated that England have been striving towards becoming the number one Test side in the world.
"We've been working towards this for the past few years.
We want to become No1 in the world and want people to say this is the best ever England side," he said.
"I think we can do that. This is the best team spirit I've experienced. We've got a really strong squad, not just a really strong first eleven," he added.
(PTI)
MS Dhoni may become brand ambassador for Jharkhand's endangered species
Not only the tiger, Team India captain MS Dhoni may now become the brand ambassador for Jharkhand's endangered species.
"To have Dhoni as the brand ambassador for the tiger project is one of our big achievements. I will try to highlight his message regarding protection of other endangered species in the state, which has about 30 per cent forest cover," Deputy Chief Minister Sudesh Mahto told reporters.
"The forest department is readying drafts as to how to utilise Dhoni's services in protecting tigers. We will now spread his messages to highlight the importance for saving other endangered species as well," Mahto, who also holds the Environment and Forests portfolio, said.
On June 5, Dhoni was made the brand ambassador for Jharkhand's 'Save Tiger Project'. He is also the brand ambassador of Uttarakhand for the same mission.
With Dhoni in the forefront, Mahto said international focus would now be on Jharkhand as 'save tiger' is a worldwide campaign and Palamau Tiger Reserve is located in the state.
(PTI)
New Zealand's Next Captain : Top 20 cricketers have been asked to give their views
New Zealand's top 20 cricketers have been asked to give their views on the leadership abilities of Brendon McCullum and Ross Taylor before the board names Daniel Vettori's successor.
They have been also asked to give their views as the culture within the national side, as part of their end-of-season reviews. The interviews have taken place as New Zealand Cricket has to decide between Brendon McCullum and Ross Taylor to captain the Blackcaps.
John Buchanan, New Zealand's director of cricket, confirmed on Sunday that the subject of captaincy had been broached with the players, but said there was no question of the players picking the man for the job.
"We are not necessarily canvassing them on a voting process. We really just want a viewpoint," Buchanan was quoted as saying in the New Zealand media.
Buchanan, national selection manager Mark Greatbatch and coach John Wright are all currently interviewing players.
Meanwhile, New Zealand Cricket has renewed assistant coach Trent Woodhill's contract until 2012. Woodhill first joined the team for the tri-series in Sri Lanka in August 2010.
New Zealand coach John Wright said: "Trent has forged a strong and successful relationship with John and indeed the entire Blackcaps unit. He has been recognised as a key influence behind the team's remarkable fielding performance at the World Cup. Having his specialist skills to support the Blackcaps is a fantastic step forward for New Zealand Cricket."
(IANS)
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