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Nervy Sri Lanka overcame scare to seal win

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Scorecard and ball-by-ball details
Sri Lanka were indebted to Mahela Jayawardene’s 43•Associated Press

Sri Lanka threatened to squander what appeared an easy chase against a charged-up Bangladesh attack, but came through by four wickets with two balls to spare at Trent Bridge. Mahela Jayawardene, with a classy 43, kept his cool after Sri Lanka’s openers failed to ignite but it was left to Chamara Silva and Angelo Mathews to steady the nerves before a wide sealed the match.Bangladesh fought hard, but their efforts weren’t enough to prevent Sri Lanka a win that will be a wake-up call for them. Batting first on a good track Bangladesh’s top order failed to fire due to a kamikaze approach and that put plenty of pressure on Raqibul Hasan and Mushfiqur Rahim. Bangladesh crossed 150 thanks to their partnership but the bowlers allowed too many runs early in the piece, with Jayawardene playing a big role, and Sri Lanka overcame a few late hiccups to clinch a tense game.Sri Lanka’s chase started eventfully. After Tillakaratne Dilshan slapped the first ball from Mashrafe Mortaza for four, Sanath Jayasuriya dumped Rubel Hossain for six over deep square leg and got four overthrows next ball. Mortaza came back well in his second over, allowing just one single, and Mahmudullah gave only two singles in his first over, the fourth. Dilshan clubbed Mortaza for two more fours but was yorked in the same over.Jayawardene’s controlled hitting kept Sri Lanka reach and then cross the asking rate. He reverse-swept, slogged and swept Mahmudullah for 15 in the eighth over even as Jayasuriya was bowled by Shakib Al Hasan for 29 next over. Joined by Kumar Sangakkara, Jayawardene strengthened matters. When Mohammad Ashraful called on Naeem Islam, Jayawardene weighed in immediately, sweeping past short fine leg before pulling wide of midwicket for four more. Another firm cut to third man followed off Abdur Razzak and when Rubel over-ran the ball at deep square leg the equation became 52 from 54 balls.Bangladesh rallied to ensure it wasn’t easy. Sangakkara fell trying to go over extra cover, and Jayawardene carelessly edged Rubel to Mushfiqur in a stellar wicket-maiden 14th over. Shakib allowed just one run in the 15th and suddenly Sri Lanka had gone backwards, losing their captain in the space of two runs. Jehan Mubarak and Silva prodded and swept uncertainly in the air and away through the covers as the run-rate inched ahead. With wickets in hand the pair was still content to deal in ones and twos but after three overs of such measured tactics Mubarak signalled the charge by launching Mortaza for consecutive fours. Mortaza got Mubarak and Shakib cleaned up Indika de Saram in the 19th over, but Silva and Mathews hung on.Bangladesh, having been dealt a loss by Australia at this same venue yesterday, elected to bat on a hard batting track under sunny skies. Unfortunately for them, their top order failed to fire due to a kamikaze approach and that put plenty of pressure on Raqibul and Mushfiqur.Farveez Maharoof’s first over cost 15 – Tamim Iqbal welcomed him with a trio of forceful boundaries – but also accounted for Junaid Siddique with a slow legcutter. Then Ashraful turned the ball just wide of Nuwan Kulasekara, who collected with ease and whipped off the bails with both batsmen at the other end.Batting was easy on this track and all that was needed was partnerships. Bangladesh knew this track from yesterday but when they failed to perforate the field for a couple of overs, Ashraful and Mahmuddulah tried too much instead of setting a platform. Both fell to left-arm seamer Isuru Udana in the seventh over playing away from the body and nicking to Sangakkara, standing up to the stumps. Ajantha Mendis kept Shakib in check and frustrated him into an ugly cross-batted heave.Attempting quick runs Bangladesh’s top order fell apart but a thrifty 70-run association between Mushfiqur and Raqibul helped them to a competitive score. Raqibul bided his time and didn’t collect his first boundary until he’d faced 27 deliveries. He then opened up with some handy reverse sweeps and paddle shots. Mushfiqur hit 34 from 28 balls, including two clean sixes early into his arrival that cleared the stands over midwicket. Having picked out the deep midwicket boundary effortlessly in the penultimate over, Mushfiqur fell trying another in the last. Raqibul never threatened to run away with the innings but his unbeaten presence at the end of a wobbly innings ensured Bangladesh crossed 150.In the final reckoning it hadn’t quite given them enough to play with, but if they show the same courage in the actual tournament they will worry other sides.

ICL optimistic despite exodus threat

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The ICL appears to be facing an exodus of players who are eager to cash in on the BCCI’s new amnesty offer but the unofficial league is confident of surviving the latest crisis. It’s learnt that that the ICL management discussed the BCCI’s offer on Wednesday and reiterated its decision to go ahead with plans for the next season in October.”We are positive about going forward,” a senior ICL official told Cricinfo. “Some of our players may be tempted by the BCCI’s offer, but we are confident of retaining the players we want. We have legally binding contracts with the players and we expect them to honour those. Breaking contracts and walking away is not as simple as it sounds; there is a notice period, and no-objection clauses involved.”The official also dismissed suggestions that the league would be forced to shut down after it started downsizing its operations this year. The ICL cancelled its March programme due to the deepening economic recession as well as the non-availability of Pakistan players following cross-border political tensions. On Wednesday, barely an hour after the BCCI announced its amnesty offer, Himanshu Mody, the ICL’s business head, revealed that the league would not be renewing the contracts of some players and support-staff members.”Taking forward its Sports Performance Evaluation (SPE) process across all cricket operations, the ICL management has decided not to renew the contracts of some of the ICL players and support staff that have expired,” Mody said in a public statement. “As cricket professionals they are free to decide and explore their options.”The ICL official Cricinfo spoke to, however, said this was all part of a long-term plan. “The idea is to have a sharper and leaner programme going ahead with players who are committed to the league,” he said. “Obviously, what we do has to be financially viable too.” Apparently, some senior Indian players and some foreign players, like Nathan Astle, the former New Zealand batsman, are among those whose contracts may not be renewed.ICL officials claimed that the BCCI’s amnesty is a “desperate ploy” to bring the ICL to its knees before they take the ICC to court for rejecting their request for official recognition. “We have a strong legal case because the new ICC rules on unofficial cricket comes into force only on June 1 and can’t be applied in a retrospective manner,” the official said. “As per the old rules, the ICC is on a sticky wicket legally. The ICC knows that and this is just a desperate ploy to break us.”The current ICC protocols for approving unofficial cricket events, which came into force in 2003, do not cover events not involving players currently contracted to its member boards, or reduced format events involving no more than three players contracted to those boards. The ICL started its Twenty20 programme in 2007 with its own contracted pool of players. Even though the ICC’s new guidelines are tighter in this regard — they clearly state that a cricket venture remains unofficial till granted approval by the home board — it is doubtful whether they cannot be applied in a retrospective manner.However, despite the ICL’s confident posture, early indications are that it faces an uphill task in retaining a decent player base. Some key Indian ICL players admit that they are seriously looking at accepting the BCCI’s offer because it “works well” for both the seniors and the youngsters.As far as the senior players are concerned, the offer gives them an opportunity to safeguard their future in the official set-up, either as coaches, commentators or even administrators. And for the juniors, it opens the doors to return to their state teams at a time when the BCCI has enhanced player payments across the board.Most importantly, the amnesty offer, which makes ICL players eligible for domestic cricket from June 1 if they cut all ties with the unofficial league before May 31, opens up opportunities in the lucrative IPL, which has been classified as a domestic event.”At least 99% (of the ICL players) will think about this and may move back into the BCCI fold,” a prominent ICL player told Cricinfo. “Even if you can’t play international cricket now, the IPL is still there. A lot the ICL guys can make the IPL teams where there is a healthy international presence. This makes a big difference.”Another ICL player said that there are “two clear reasons” why the ICL will lose a lot of players. “Firstly, there has been no clarity on the future of ICL,” he said. “Then, it is no secret that many of us have not been paid by the league for a while.” Emotionally too, he says, the players admit they are “sick” of their outlaw status after having been barred from even practicing in their local college grounds by the BCCI’s hardline anti-ICL stance.The ICL official admitted that there is an issue with the dues but sought to link that with the performance appraisal process. “Once the process is complete and the picture becomes clear on who will be retained and who will not, the dues issue will be settled,” he said. “As for the other issues, all I can say is that they walked into the ICL with their eyes wide open, so what’s the problem now?”

Derbyshire ease past Surrey

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Division Two

4th dayDerbyshire maintained their impressive home record with a five-wicket win against Surrey at Derby, where they haven’t lost a Championship game since 2007. Although the visitors fought back well to make a game of it, Derbyshire were in control after bowling them out for a lowly 131 on the opening day. Play was delayed by 25 minutes on the final morning by rain but Derbyshire soon began knocking off the 73 more runs they needed. There was a minor wobble with Dan Redfern clipping to midwicket, Wavell Hinds caught cutting and Steve Stubbings bowled for 83, but Greg Smith guided them home to complete an impressive all-round match.For a full report from Middlesex and Glamorgan where Jamie Dalrymple scored a hundred on the final day click here.

Division One

4th dayFor a full report of Durham against Yorkshire at Chester-le-Street which produced a gripping final day click here.For a full report of Warwickshire’s game against Hampshire at Edgbaston where the home side were left counting the cost of poor catching click here.

Rogers wins Victoria's top prize

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Chris Rogers enjoyed the perfect end to his first season with Victoria by winning the Bill Lawry Medal as the state’s best player in the Sheffield Shield competition. Rogers was comfortably Victoria’s leading run scorer in a season when they dominated the four-day format.He scored 1195 runs at 74.68 and his five centuries included a first-innings 105 in the drawn final against Queensland that ensured Victoria walked away with the Sheffield Shield. Rogers now heads to England where he will captain Derbyshire this season while hoping to be considered for Australia’s Ashes squad.The prolific home summer justified Rogers’ decision to switch from Western Australia, where he was frustrated by a lack of opportunities in the one-day format. He dismissed any concerns about his limited-overs prowess by being named the FR Cup Player of the Year but strangely he wasn’t given the Dean Jones Medal as Victoria’s one-day player of the season.That title went to the fast bowler Shane Harwood, who with 24 victims at 16.25 was the leading wicket taker in the competition. Brad Hodge picked up the Twenty20 award for his contribution of 262 runs at 65.50. Sarah Edwards won the Victoria Spirit award while the Lancashire batsman Gareth Cross, who spent the summer playing for St Kilda, won the Jack Ryder Medal as the best player in Melbourne’s club competition.

Steyn inspires revival on gripping day

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Scorecard and ball-by-ball details
How they were out

Dale Steyn had Australia in strife on day one© Getty Images
 

The final figures may not indicate it, but this was a day of rock climbing. Australia would scuttle a couple of meters only to be roped in; South Africa started sloppily but found their footing; Australia briefly regained stability but before they could inch ahead the home side pulled the ground from beneath. With each burst of wickets South Africa improved and at the end of an engrossing opening day the honours lay firmly in their hands.After a fraught first hour, when everything went against them, they hit back with three bursts – the biggest being when they dismissed Australia’s top order for 23 runs in nine overs. Aided by 16 fiery overs from Dale Steyn, South Africa rounded off the day with their new opening pair jogging unscathed to stumps through 14 busy overs.After sloppy (78 for 3 in Johannesburg) and authoritative (119 for 0 in Durban) mornings having won the toss, Australia began their quest for a whitewash by surviving a tricky start and gaining in confidence only to slip. And therein lay the impetus South Africa needed. Stroke-making wasn’t easy against a springy new ball and a vigorous opening spell but Australia were helped by a slew of missed chances and dropped catches. The openers had scrapped through the first hour – in which only 29 runs were scored – but once Phillip Hughes was out in the 23rd over, Australia’s top order folded.Paul Harris had Hughes in his first over, sweeping one that pitched just outside off stump, and next over Australia were dealt a massive blow when Ricky Ponting drove loosely at a full and late away-swinging delivery from the debutant Albie Morkel and feathered a thin edge to Mark Boucher.Makhaya Ntini’s exemplary yet wicketless opening spell of 7-5-6-0, at a consistently good pace to keep the two left-handed openers guessing, was better, but Steyn’s burst just after lunch yielded wickets. Steyn rattled the stumps of Michael Hussey – the ball after he raised 3000 Test runs, the 33rd Australian to do so – and Michael Clarke in consecutive overs to further dent Australia.Steyn ran in hard during that passage but Morkel and Jacques Kallis weren’t as threatening, and Simon Katich and Brad Haddin prospered, one steadfast, the other counter-attacking. Katich had been the chief beneficiary of South Africa’s sloppiness in the morning – reprieved on 4 when Kallis failed to refer what looked a plumb lbw shout and on 9 when the debutant Imraan Khan dropped a sitter at point – and the sole survivor of Australia’s top-order wobble. Efficiently, he cut out all flash as he gritted and grimaced along. South Africa’s two double-strikes had forced Katich to cut out most of his strokes and he held up one end well. As the bowlers slacked he cashed in on a spate of wide deliveries to move through the forties and on to his half-century, from 138 balls. The runs-to-deliveries quotient reflected his graft.The pair had added a promising 71 and Australia seemed to have found a solid footing. Everything changed when Harris was reintroduced. Having faced a few strangling overs, Katich attempted his first aggressive shot and top-edged a sweep to the man who had earlier reprieved him at point.The responsibility now grew on Haddin, who until this time had played well under pressure. His placement fetched him a flurry of boundaries after he came to the middle and a stroke-filled 42 helped pull Australia out of a tight situation. But, as the second session, the final began South Africa’s way. Harris rapped Haddin in front of middle and leg and the appeal was upheld, even after the batsman referred it to the third umpire.Andrew McDonald nudged uncertainly and held his ground to add 32 with Mitchell Johnson, only for Ntini to take two in two balls, becoming the highest wicket-taker at Newlands – the ground on which he made his debut – with 53. Steyn added Johnson, attempting to hit another one over the infield, and the journeyman debutant Bryce McGain became the last man to be dismissed, at 209.The manner in which Ashwell Prince, opening for the first time in Tests, and Imraan went about their task in the shadows of stumps reflected the good work done by a rejuvenated home side in the field. Imraan showed few nerves in accumulating an unbeaten 15, while Prince slipped into his new role with assurance to make a sparkling 37 not out – so much so, that he lofted McGain for six minutes before stumps.South Africa have every reason to be pleased with their day’s work. The jitters at base camp look miles below now.

MCG unlikely to host Shield final

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More than 200 people died in the fires earlier this month © Getty Images
 

A concert to raise money for the Victorian bushfire victims is expected to force the Sheffield Shield final away from the MCG. The Junction Oval is likely to stage the match, which the Bushrangers won hosting rights for with their victory over New South Wales, from March 13 to 17.”It’s Cricket Australia’s call to allocate the final,” Cricket Victoria’s chief executive Tony Dodemaide said in the Herald Sun. “We’ve certainly made it very clear that the MCG is our preference.”The appeal for victims of the bushfires, which killed more than 200 people this month, is due to be held on March 14 and the Cricket Australia spokesman Peter Young said the event was a priority. “Victoria have won the right to host the final on the dates March 13-17,” Young said. “We are now seeking to understand if there is another proposal for the MCG at that time.”We are going to need another day or two to understand the proposal. We are keen to do whatever we can to help the bushfires cause.”Any switch from the MCG will disrupt the Victorians, who have mastered the drop-in pitch there this season. With two matches remaining, the Bushrangers are on 40 points, 16 clear of their nearest rivals Tasmania.

Misbah double-century shatters SSGC

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Misbah-ul-haq scored an aggressive 247 to put Sui Northern Gas Pipelines Limited firmly in control against SSGC © AFP
 

Group A

A mammoth, unbeaten 247 from Misbah-ul-Haq made a mockery of Sui Southern Gas Corporation‘s first innings score of 135, as Sui Northern Gas Pipelines Limited extended their lead to 348 to leave the opposition staring at a possible innings defeat in Sheikhpura.The day began with much work to be done for SNGPL as they were 109 for 3 overnight, but opener Mohammed Hafeez and Misbah were involved in a partnership of 293 for the fourth wicket to crush any hopes of a comeback by SSGC. Hafeez hit 16 fours in his innings of 142, but Misbah was the more aggressive of the two, striking 23 fours and seven sixes. He prolonged the agony, adding a further 119 with Khurram Shehzad, who was unbeaten on 46, to bat SSGC out of the match.Fast bowlers Mohammad Talha and Mohammed Aamer took four wickets each to help National Bank of Pakistan bowl out Zarai Taraqiati Bank Limited for a paltry 147, and Salman Butt followed that up with an aggressive, unbeaten 101 to ensure his team dominated the contest at the Gadaffi stadium.The result could have been much worse for ZTBL had it not been for their lower order, led by Iftikhar Anjum, which added 75 for the last three wickets after its team had collapsed to 72 for 7. Despite the late resistance, ZTBL still conceded a sizable lead of 78 which was further expanded by a confident Butt-led NBP response in the second innings. Mohammad Khalil, the left-arm medium bowler took 3 for 56, but Butt was unstoppable as he scored at a strike rate of 96.19 to help his team reach 171 for 3 at stumps, a lead of 249. NBP scored their runs at close to five-an-over.Lahore Shalimar responded well to Pakistan Customs‘ first innings score of 325 in Lahore, reaching 217 for at stumps after the openers Ahmed Dar and Abid Ali – who remained unbeaten on 77 – added 129.Mohammad Naved cleaned up the Lahore Shalimar tail to finish with 4 for 120, as the last three wickets yielded just 15 runs. The PC openers started confidently and laid the foundation for a substantial score before offspinner Yasir Hussain took two quick wickets – Dar and Saadullah Ghauri. Zulqarnain Haider, the PC captain and wicketkeeper, followed with the score on 172, dismissed by left-arm spinner Mohammed Hussain, but Raza Ali Dar made an unbeaten 34 to lend good support to Abid Ali and give his team a genuine chance of gaining a significant first innings lead.Khan Research Laboratories were rescued by their lower-order after they had been reduced to 126 for 5, and secured a lead of 123 before limiting Pakistan International Airlines to 90 for 3 at stumps to hold the advantage in Mirpur.KRL lost four wickets for 44 runs in an attempt to overhaul PIA’s first innings score of 152, as Najaf Shah, the fast bowler who finished with 5 for 103, and medium pacer Kamran Sajid triggered a collapse. However, Pakistan allrounder Sohail Tanvir, who took an eight-for in the first innings, scored a half-century and added 53 for the sixth wicket to take his team past PIA’s score. The lower order – the last four wickets – rallied around him to contribute further 96 to give their team a crucial lead.Tanvir also starred with the ball to take two wickets and reduce PIA to 46 for 3 before opener Khurram Manzoor and Faisal Iqbal added an unbeaten 44 in fairly quick time.Jahangir Mirza helped Water and Development Authority recover to 226 with a determined 77, and gain a lead of 93 against Karachi Whites at the National Stadium. WDA then had the edge at stumps after fast bowler Azharullah took 3 for 26 to limit the opposition to 102 for 4, a slender lead of just 9 runs.Mirza added 99 with opener Ahmed Said, who made a 224-ball 63, to lift WDA to 200 for 5. However, another slide ensued; their team lost their last five wickets for 26 runs, as Tanvir Ahmed, the fast bowler, finished with figures of 6 for 77. Still, the lead – WDA had bowled out Karachi Whites for 133 on the first day – proved a significant one as the hosts lost three wickets for one run to be precariously placed at 53 for 4 before an unbeaten 49-run fifth-wicket stand between wicketkeeper Adnan Baig and Asim Kamal helped them recover before the day ended.

Group B

Imran Khan led the Quetta fightback, taking 4 for 72, and was ably supported by the other bowlers in helping bowl out Abbottabad for 255 in Islamabad. Abbottabad gained a lead of 91 after dismissing Quetta for 164 on the first day, but they managed to overcome a threat of being all out for a much less as they collapsed from their overnight score of 73 for 2 to 124 for 7.Imran did the bulk of the damage, taking four of those five wickets but a crucial 81-run stand between Riaz Kail – who top-scored with 90 – and No.9 batsman Asif Ali, who contributed a valuable 28, helped Abbottabad overhaul the Quetta score and regain the advantage. The last pair of Kail and Armaghan Elahi added 45 to take their team to a respectable score and provide their bowlers a cushion of a significant first innings lead. In their second innings, Quetta were 7 for no loss at stumps.Islamabad were firmly in control at the Niaz Stadium after bowling out Hyderabad for 173 and securing a potentially decisive 85-run lead. They then extended that lead to 198, as the home team were comfortably placed at 113 for 2, with opener Umair Khan unbeaten on 63.Kamran Hussain, the offspinner, took a career-best 4 for 34, and fellow spinners Imad Wasim and Raheel Majeed took seven wickets between them to severely dent a good start provided by the Hyderabad openers. The opening pair of Aqeel Anjum and Azeem Ghumon added 67 but the Islamabad spinners then triggered a collapse where Hyderabad lost seven wickets for 20 runs. Only No.9 batsman Lal Kumar held firm with 48, and added 51 with wicketkeeper Pir Zulfiqar, to prevent their team from being bowled out for under 100. However, the 173 they mustered in the end was made to look paltry as Islamabad tightened their stranglehold, scoring at over 3.50 an over in the second innings to leave their opponents staring at a stiff target.Opener Usman Tariq and fast bowler Abdur Rauf were the stars for Multan as they gained control of the contest against Peshawar at the Multan Cricket Stadium. Rauf took 7 for 84 to help his team seize the initiative as Peshawar lost 6 for 41 after being comfortably placed on 300 for 4 at stumps on the first day. Tariq then held one end together amid a disastrous start, where Peshawar were struggling at 19 for 3, and put his team firmly on top, scoring an unbeaten 134, and adding an unfinished 222 for the fourth wicket for the fourth wicket with Naved Yasim, who made 82.Peshawar’s overnight batsmen Mahfooz Sabri and Akbar Badshah fell in fairly quick succession to Rauf, and the tail failed to resist, adding just 22 runs for the last four wickets. However, Multan faltered in their response as left-arm fast bowler Waqar Ahmed and Afaq Ahmed rattled the top order taking three wickets. But Tariq not only helped his team recover but put it firmly on top, striking 16 boundaries and a six and scoring at a healthy strike rate of 62.91.Rizwan Akbar took 5 for 46 as Karachi Blues capitulated against pace to be bowled out for 134 – 155 shy of Rawalpindi‘s first innings score of 289 – and were forced to follow on at the Khan Research Laboratory Ground. They did well in their second attempt to reach 90 without loss at stumps, as opener Shahzaib Hasan led the reply with an aggressive 56.Karachi Blues struggled throughout; the Rawalpindi seamers made breakthroughs at frequent intervals and prevented any threatening partnership from taking root. The top order got starts but failed to consolidate, as Karachi Blues could only manage a highest partnership of 48 – Behram Khan and top-scorer Sheharyar Ghani, who made 33, added those runs for the third wicket. But the resistance stopped there; Karachi Blues lost their next eight wickets for just 50 runs but put in a more determined effort in the second innings to get within 59 runs of overtaking the Rawalpindi score with all wickets intact.Lahore Ravi and Sialkot were involved in a closely fought encounter at the Jinnah Stadium. Lahore Ravi held a slight edge as their bowling attack, led by medium-fast bowler Aamer Hayat, who took 2 for 45, bagged four wickets for 32 to limit Sialkot to 196 for 5, still 91 adrift of their first innings score of 287.Sialkot didn’t take too long to bowl out the opposition as the final pair of wicketkeeper Ali Raza – who made an unbeaten 57 – and Hayat added just 15 more to their overnight score. Bilawal Bhatti finished with impressive figures of 4 for 87.The Sialkot batsmen began well, with openers Kamran Younis and Naeemuddin adding 61. Naeemuddin – who was dismissed for 64 – put on a further 74 runs with Haris Sohail but the two failed to build on their partnership. Once the stand was broken, Sialkot lost two quick wickets before Ayaz Tasawwar and Nadeem Javed eased the pressure somewhat in an unbeaten 29-run stand.

ICL players the worry as teams eye Champions League

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Champions League ambitions could result in Canterbury dropping Chris Harris from their State Twenty20 campaign © Getty Images
 

New Zealand’s State Twenty20 competition is underway and, with the possibility of a spot in the Champions Twenty20 League for the winners, teams are wary of fielding players associated with the unauthorised ICL. The Champions League prohibits teams from fielding players with ICL links.”You never count your chickens but we have had some fairly strong verbal assurances that a New Zealand team is very likely to be part of the competition,” New Zealand Cricket chief executive Justin Vaughan told the . “We’re really hopeful that before the [State Twenty20] final the teams will go in knowing that if they win the game they’ll then be going to India to play in this huge international competition. We don’t have the level of certainty to be able to do that at this stage, but we’re hopeful that in the coming weeks we’ll get that.”Domestic teams are cautious of repeating the mistake Kent made in the Twenty20 Cup in England last year, when they fielded two players contracted to the ICL and were blocked from the inaugural edition of the Champions League (which was subsequently put off due to the Mumbai terrorist attacks). There are currently four ICL players – Shane Bond, Hamish Marshall, Chris Harris and Daryl Tuffey – on New Zealand’s domestic circuit. The first two are cleared to play, however, because they signed on with the ICL before the cut-off date.Vaughan warned about the grey areas surrounding the others. “This is a competition that’s been set up by Australia, India and South Africa, so they set the rules. We need to be crystal clear about what those are and we’ve communicated that through to our associations, in terms of what impact fielding ICL players might have on their potential eligibility for the Champions League. We know Hamish and Shane are clear to play … but we are not quite as clear with Chris and Daryl and we’re looking to get clarification on that in the next day or two.”If you were Canterbury Cricket [who have Harris on their roster] and you knew there was a chance that your team might be getting the opportunity to go to this huge international competition, then you wouldn’t want to jeopardise that chance of qualification.”The Champions League wis scheduled for October 2009.

Murali gives Sri Lanka the edge in spin battle

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Shakib Al Hasan will shoulder the bulk of the bowling and his recent form has been splendid © AFP
 

Match facts

December 26-31, 2008
Start time 09.30am (03.30 GMT)

Big Picture

“We are going to Bangladesh with an open mind.” With these words, Mahela Jayawardene signalled that his team would guard against any sort of complacency when facing the weakest Test nation, and with good reason. Leading teams usually expect a cakewalk each time they set foot in Bangladesh but, only a couple of months ago, New Zealand were made to scrap for every run and wicket against a Bangladesh side reeling from the desertions to the ICL. Their slow bowlers thrived on pitches suited to them and the trend is likely to continue against Sri Lanka as well.The pace of cricket against New Zealand was far from attractive – Bangladesh scored barely above one run an over in the opening session of the first Test – but, for a change, the home side – especially the lower order – showed a willingness to occupy the crease and could stretch the match till the fifth day, when they went down fighting. They havelost seven of eight Tests this year (and drawn one) but have the chance to end on a positive note.Sri Lanka last played a Test in August and, with next month’s tour of Pakistan not yet confirmed and no Tests scheduled for another seven months, they will welcome the opportunity for five-day cricket. Though they are coming off an unconvincing tour of Zimbabwe, the players have been busy enough in the domestic season to satisfy Jayawardene. The top order failed to impress in the tour game in Savar and they will be challenged further in the Tests, especially against the spinners.They will be without Ajantha Mendis – who twisted his ankle – for the first Test at least but Bangladesh will still have to contend with Muttiah Muralitharan.The first Test in Mirpur sees the return of the rest day, with no play possible on December 29 because of the parliamentary elections. With an overdose of spin expected, there will be plenty of enquiries and the umpires will be under immense pressure to get their decisions spot on, with no referrals system to lean on.

Form guide (last five Tests, most recent first)

Sri Lanka WLWLW
Bangladesh LLDLL

Watch out for

Shakib Al Hasan
In the absence of Abdur Razzak, Shakib will shoulder the bulk of the bowling with Enamul Haque jnr. Shakib’s in the form of his life, picking up 21 wickets in the last four Tests and recording the best innings figures by a Bangladesh bowler in Tests (7 for 36). He averages 24.33 with the bat in seven Tests this year and is in the team as a genuine allrounder.Rangana Herath
Mendis may not be around for the Tests but Herath, his replacement, is already proving to be quite a handful. His 6 for 16 bundled out a hapless Bangladesh Cricket Board XI for 88 in the practice game at Savar. His appearances for Sri Lanka have been very sporadic but he now has another chance to make a mark.

Team news

Sri Lanka are still waiting on the fitness of Kumar Sangakkara, who sustained a cut in his right foot after arriving in Dhaka. He missed the warm-up game in Savar but Prasanna Jayawardene, the regular Test wicketkeeper, found form with 70. If Sangakkara misses out, Chamara Kapugedera could get a promotion.Sri Lanka (probable) 1 Michael Vandort, 2 Malinda Warnapura, 3 Kumar Sangakkara/Chamara Kapugedera, 4 Mahela Jayawardene (capt), 5 Thilan Samaraweera, 6 Tillakaratne Dishan, 7 Prasanna Jayawardene (wk), 8 Chaminda Vaas, 9 Dammika Prasad, 10 Rangana Herath, 11 Muttiah MuraliatharanBangladesh made two changes to the squad that toured South Africa, recalling batsman Rajin Saleh, who should give them the grit they need, and Enamul Haque jnr. Haque makes a comeback to the Test squad after the tour of New Zealand this January, following the recent ban on Razzak for chucking. Haque comes off a stint with Maharashtra in the Ranji Trophy in India, picking up seven wickets in four games. “The level of cricket I have played in India recently will really help me because it is almost of international standard,” Haque was quoted as saying in the . “Preparing for those matches made me mentally strong and I believe I can now handle pressure better.”Bangladesh (probable) 1 Tamim Iqbal, 2 Junaid Siddique / Raqibul Hasan, 3 Imrul Kayes / Rajin Saleh, 4 Mohammad Ashraful (capt), 5 Mehrab Hossain jnr, 6 Shakib Al Hasan, 7 Mushfiqur Rahim (wk) ,8 Mashrafe Mortaza, 9 Enamul Haque jnr, 10 Shahadat Hossain, 11, Mahbubul Alam

Pitch and conditions

Rain washed out three days of the Test against New Zealand in October but the forecast for the next five days is far more encouraging. A slow turner is expected.

Stats and Trivia

  • Before Shakib’s bounty of 21 wickets in the last four Tests, he had just three wickets from six games.
  • Both teams are facing each other for the first time at the Sher-e-Bangla Stadium in Mirpur.
  • Spinners have taken 28 of the 73 wickets taken at this venue.

Quotes

“I have bowled well against New Zealand and South Africa but Sri Lanka are a different proposition. I was a part-timer when I faced them last time.”
“Their bowling is really frightening. Most of the teams have either a good pace attack or a good spin attack, but Sri Lanka are good in both departments.”
“We bowled very well and our middle order also batted well, though the top order disappointed me.”

The umpire strikes back, and a jolt for Southee

by csb10.top Uncategorized

Brett Lee became the fourth Australian to 300 wickets © Getty Images
 

Another wide for the Gabba
Steve Harmison’s wide in the Ashes two years ago was matched by MitchellJohnson after tea on Saturday. Johnson had switched to the Vulture StreetEnd and his first ball to Ross Taylor swung before homing in on RickyPonting at second slip. It was so wide Brad Haddin had no chance ofintercepting the delivery, but Ponting calmly accepted the ball and sentit on its way back to the bowler. This time the ground didn’t groan.Umpiring hits and misses
After benefiting from Rudi Koertzen’s caught-behind mistake involving MichaelHussey on Friday, New Zealand suffered the pain of cricket’s revenge inthe second innings. Both Jesse Ryder and Brendon McCullum were on thewrong side of tight decisions that turned the target of 327 into animpossible one. Ryder was hit high by Mitchell Johnson and Billy Doctrovegave him out lbw while Koertzen ruled the same way when McCullum paddedup. However, Taylor seemed to benefit shortly after from a caught-behinddecision that convinced all the Australians but not Doctrove.Fourth to 300
The final stages of Brett Lee’s journey to 300 wickets were slow, but hefinally became the fourth Australian to the milestone with the third ballof the second innings. Lee went to India with 289 and after four Testsreturned home still three short. Two victims on Friday pushed him to 299and Jamie How’s edge to Ponting at second slip sent Lee into a relievedcelebration.Tail between his legs
Lee’s day was not all smiles after he found an unorthodox way to get out.Facing Daniel Vettori, Lee went back to defend, collected an inside edgeand the ball went through his legs on to the stumps. He left slowly for 7but by then Australia’s lead was more than 250, and there were soon morereasons to smile.Southee receives a jolt
Hand injuries have been common lately – Lee and Anil Kumble both split thewebbing between their fingers during the India series – and Tim Southeeadded to the list while making a fabulous save. He left the field fortreatment but returned shortly after with his wrist strapped, finishingthe innings when Stuart Clark drove him to mid-off.And now to the weather
After the torrential rain and the burning sun of the past week the windcame. A severe weather warning was issued predicting gusts of up to 100kphand the boundary markers struggled to cope with the blustery conditions.Either side of lunch there was the opportunity for some easier runs on theeastern side of the ground as the sponsor’s ropes blew in. A few steelpegs were needed to return the field to an oval shape.