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On a day of firsts at Cape Town, New Zealand maintained their supremacy but were left looking towards the heavens as the weather threatened to ruin their chances of squaring the series. After James Franklin had reached his maiden Test century, Jeetan Patel opened his Test-wicket tally with two scalps. However, Hashim Amla marked his return to the Test arena with a hardworking first fifty as he guided South Africa’s pursuit of the follow-on target of 394.

Faced with a huge total - and a follow-on target of 394 - Graeme Smith and Boeta Dippenaar had made steady progress against the new ball after New Zealand extended their innings for 13 overs. Patel and Daniel Vettori were in action by the 13th over of South Africa’s reply, and both found appreciable assistance, with Vettori ripping deliveries past the edges of all the right-handers.

Patel, though, was something of a surprise package. He has produced some promising performances in one-day internationals but a career average of over 41 in first-class cricket would not send shudders through a batting line-up. However, he made an immediate mark when Stephen Fleming threw him the ball flighting a full delivery to Smith, who tried to work it to the onside, but could only spoon it back to the bowler. Smith stood his ground, believing it to be a bump ball, but the TV evidence was clear and he was on his way. (more…)

National selector Ranjib Biswal was on Sunday appointed manager of the Indian squad for the five-match one-day International series in the West Indies next month.

D. Dongaonkar, secretary of the Association of Indian Universities, will take over from Biswal for the four-Test series, said a release from BCCI secretary Niranjan Shah.

Mumbai Cricket Association vice-president Ravi Sawant will be the assistant manager for the Test series.

The tour begins with a one-day practice game in Jamaica on May 16. The tour will end in Jamaica as well, with the fourth Test scheduled there from June 30 to July 4.

With Biswal being appointed manager for the first leg of the tour, selectors won’t be taking turns to be present during India’s matches in the Caribbean. During the tour of Pakistan, all the selectors took turns to watch the Tests and ODIs.

Meanwhile, Arindam Ganguly will be manager of the India A squad to Australia from June 28 to July 25.

See also India vs West Indies, 2006.

Propelled by some clinical all-round performance from its key players, a confident India `A’ scored a convincing 34-run victory over Pakistan `A’ to top its group in the BSNL EurAsia Cup cricket tournament at the Sheikh Zayed Stadium here on Friday.

Electing to bat first, India `A’ was put on the right track by the top-order batsmen. Rohit Sharma, Robin Uthappa, Shikhar Dhawan and Venugopala Rao emphasised the team’s batting strength by setting Pakistan `A’ a challenging target of 270.

Blistering start

Rohit’s imperious strokeplay lit up India’s performance after Dhawan and Uthappa gave the team a blistering start. However, the team lost its momentum in the middle overs when skipper Venugopala Rao failed to take charge even as Rohit raised his game.

Dhawan set the tempo with his trademark style of dominating the attack from the start. He played his drives with authority. But, the Delhi left-hander was guilty of throwing his wicket away after a brilliant 51-ball essay of 52 with eleven fours.

Uthappa displayed confidence in the middle in a 61-ball knock of 52 with six fours but he paid the price for playing across after promising a bigger innings. (more…)

The suspense over who will host the World Cup in 2011 is set to be resolved during the International Cricket Council (ICC) meeting in Dubai on April 30. The ICC will weigh up the merits of two bids - a joint Bangladesh, India, Pakistan and Sri Lanka proposal against one from Australia and New Zealand.

Malcolm Speed, ICC’s chief executive, said that it would be a difficult decision. “We put in place some very strict compliance guidelines so a lot of work has gone into both of these submissions,” he was quoted as saying by AFP. “Both have government support and have indicated their ability to comply with strict ICC criteria regarding the number of venues, the quality of facilities and the exemption from tax.”

Top notch facilities and experience at hosting big events would count in Australia and New Zealand’s favour. Australia and New Zealand jointly organised the World Cup in 1992 and feel they have the right by rotation to host the tournament in 2011. James Sutherland, chief executive of Cricket Australia, spoke of the factors that could help them clinch it. “In very recent history Australia has hosted the Olympics, hosted the Rugby World Cup and with the Commonwealth Games there’s a proven track record of performance that stands us in good stead,” he said. “The facilities, the track record of putting on these large sporting events, and also the resources that we have, the human resources we have in our country and New Zealand, are really strong factors in our favour.” (more…)

Andrew Symonds smashed an unbeaten century to help Australia score a 67-run victory over Bangladesh in the second One-day international here on Wednesday.

The Queenslander’s 103 not out helped the tourists set a tough 251-run target for Bangladesh on a pitch not conducive for strokeplay and the home side were bowled out for 183 in reply.

Captain Habibul Bashar (70) batted well for but could not help prevent the world champions from taking an unassailable 2-0 lead in the three-match series. The 3rd and final one-dayer will be played here on Friday.

Symonds, who came in at the fall of three quick wickets, added 140 for the fourth wicket with Michael Clarke (54) to help the tourists total 250-5. Symonds, who began cautiously, opened up later to smash six fours and two sixes in his fifth hundred in 145 matches.

Clarke was content to nudge the ball for singles during his 18th half-century, hitting just two fours off 90 balls before he was caught by Alok Kapali in the covers off spinner Mohamad Rafique. (more…)

When India take on the West Indies in the Caribbean next month, a side battle would as well be on between the coaches — Greg Chappell and Bennett King. Both are from Australia but while Chappell is one of the legends, belonging to one of game’s first family of cricketers, King has earned his spurs as a modern-day coach with little time for golden oldies.

Dr. Rudi Webster, renowned sports psychologist who has served West Indian cricket as director of the Shell Cricket Academy (SCA), recently lambasted King for his alleged comments in which he described the players of the 1970s as ‘dinosaurs.’

King since then has denied he ever made this remark claiming it was “completely and totally inaccurate, an outright lie.” It has now surfaced that it was Chappell who attributed the ‘dinosaur’ remark to King during a brief visit to the SCA in Grenada in 2004.

Chappell had then expressed his anger on King, stating that those with little playing background were calling the “players of the 70s as old hat, that we’re dinosaurs, that we’ve got to move on.”

Chappell’s comments were then widely reported in the Caribbean media, as well as in international press. He said: “There’s a mafia that’s grown up in cricket that’s promoting a new way and we need some strong people, with intimate knowledge of where the game has come from, to counter them.” (more…)

Suggestions that some of the grounds scheduled to host matches during next year’s World Cup will not be ready on time have been dismissed by Chris Dehring, the tournament’s managing director and chief executive officer.

Concerns have grown after contractors at Sabina Park admitted that there were serious delays in the ground’s rebuild, but Dehring said that it was “full steam ahead”, adding that a contingency plan had been submitted to the ICC in case there were any last-minute problems.

“Everyone is moving forward as planned,” he told reporters in Grenada. “Of course we have a back-up plan in place and it is currently being reviewed by the ICC. That plan will only be implemented if absolutely necessary. At present, there is no one country that is being earmarked to ‘take’ matches currently assigned to another host venue.

“If a decision were to be taken to relocate matches from one host venue to another, it could only be taken by the organisers. This is not a decision that can be made by anyone outside.”

Dehring explained that it was “critical to the overall success of the tournament, at this time every country is expected to meet its obligation to host matches. Each host venue is working not only on the completion of their stadia but on all the other infrastructural elements required to support the hosting of the tournament.

“We have just over 300 days to go, including weekends and public holidays, and everyone concerned is working assiduously to ensure that no time is lost.

Dehring also said that a revised plan had now been submitted for Sabina Park which would ensure it was ready on time. Warner Park in St Kitts is almost finished, and work on the Sir Vivian Richards Stadium in Antigua is ahead of schedule. Guyana’s Providence Stadium is also set to be ready ahead of the organisers’ deadline.

© Cricinfo

See also World Cup, 2007.

The Sri Lankan tourists are braced for a pace onslaught in England’s unfamiliar early-season conditions, after arriving in the country for the start of their ten-week tour. After a two-week break to recharge their batteries, the coach, Tom Moody, and the captain, Mahela Jayawardene, fronted up to the press just hours after arriving at their team hotel near Lord’s.

England lost 1-0 in the last encounter between the two teams, on the 2003-04 tour of Sri Lanka, but Moody accepted that the return leg would be a much tougher proposition for a young and largely inexperienced team.

“Conditions are pretty extreme in Sri Lanka and we know our backyard inside out, but stepping out of that is a challenge,” he admitted. “In the past, that hasn’t been taken as well as it could be, but we’ve got some fresh faces on this trip who haven’t experienced the same issues away from home, so now’s the time to turn a leaf.”

Sri Lanka travel as distinct second-favourites, certainly in the Test series, where the loss of two of their most experienced campaigners, Marvan Atapattu and Sanath Jayasuriya, will be felt keenly. “There are positives and negatives,” insisted Moody. “[Marvan and Sanath] are two wonderful players, but the door is open to a couple of youngsters who could be the future of Sri Lankan cricket.” (more…)

Pakistan Cricket Board might hire former South Africa Test star Jonty Rhodes as a specialist fielding coach ahead of its team’s tour of England in June.

“The chances are good that we will get Rhodes on a short-term contract. We should be able to have him in Pakistan in May,” a PCB spokesman said.

“We want him working with our senior players before they tour England in June,” he was quoted as saying by ‘BBC Sports’.

Rhodes, who played 52 Tests and 245 one-day internationals, is rated one of the best fielders in cricket history.

The 37-year-old, who retired from the game in 2003, spent much of his international career playing under current Pakistan coach Bob Woolmer, the then in charge of the South African national team in the 1990s.

See also Pakistan vs England, 2006.

The Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) is confident that express bowler Shoaib Akhtar would be fit before the important tour of England in June.

A PCB official said that reports about Shoaib’s recovery from his knee operation and stress fracture of his ankle bones were encouraging and he should start bowling soon.

“The physiotherapist and trainer have given us a good report on his rehabilitation process and we are hopeful he would be available for the England tour,” the PCB official was quoted as saying by ‘The News’ today.

Shoaib underwent a knee surgery in Australia after he was ruled out of the ODI series against India due to injury problem. He also missed the Sri Lanka tour as he was recovering from the surgery.

“He was advised six to eight weeks of rest and he has made good progress. He is a valuable player for the team and his presence in England would be very important for us,” the official said.

On another speedster Shabbir Ahmed, who has been suspended for 12 months by the International Cricket Council (ICC) for having an illegal bowling action, the PCB official said efforts were being made to convince the ICC experts to review Shabbir’s action before the completion of the suspension period.

“Shabbir has been working on his action and we might send him abroad soon because we are very keen his action should be reviewed before the 12-month suspension period is completed,” the official said.

See also Pakistan vs England, 2006.

Tiny tots getting their first swimming lessons at the Khar Gymkhana pool under a harsh mid-day sun were oblivious of the fact that two famous personalities — Vinod Kambli and Andrew Leipus — were right in their midst. One a cricket star in the not too distant past, and the other, until recently, was the Indian cricket team’s physiotherapist (1999 to 2005). Leipus, back in India for a second stint, wants to increase awareness about fast-tracking rehabilitation processes of players sidelined by injuries.

The Australian’s first patient is Kambli. Kambli is recovering from a surgery to remove a tumour in the fibula bone in his leg. Sadly, his recovery has been slow due to a gap in the bone following the surgery. He has been out of active cricket for two years.

But how did Kambli get to know of the Australian’s presence in Mumbai? “Sachin (Tendulkar) informed me that Leipus was in town and I was free to take his help for the rehab, which had already begun under Dr Ali Irani at Nanavati Hospital. I am benefiting from the things Leipus is teaching me about muscle strengthening. I feel stronger already,” Kamble said.

Said Leipus about his task: “I gave up the India job because I had to complete my Masters degree in sports physiotherapy. I felt the urge to use the new knowledge, plus my experiences in India, where there is a huge scope for sports medicine. I am here for a recce and I may make my base here.”

Leipus expressed genuine concern for the players who find themselves on their own after being injured. “There is not enough awareness. Unless someone big like Sachin gets injured, things don’t get moving. Medicine is about rest and healing. For sportsmen time is money. Sports medicine is about fast-tracking this recovery.” (more…)

Despite being ignored by the national selectors yet again, former Indian captain Sourav Ganguly has no plan to quit big time cricket and would continue to play domestic tournaments to make a comeback into the national side.

“He will definitely continue playing,” said Ganguly’s close friend and former Bengal Ranji Trophy cricketer Sanjay Das.

Das, who is also the brand partner of Ganguly’s posh eating joint ‘Sourav’s’, expressed annoyance with the selectors’ decision to leave the left-hander out of next month’s one day engagements in the West Indies.

“Not merely as a friend, but as a cricket lover also, I feel bad about this. Keeping him out of the squad is definitely not the right decision. But then, it is the judgement of the selectors. We can’t do anything about it,” Das told PTI.

Asked how Ganguly has taken the latest snub from the selectors, Das said “Oh! he is all right. Absolutely all right.”

The cricketer, however, could not be contacted, as he was away in Mumbai on a personal visit.

Ganguly’s father Chandi, a former Cricket Association of Bengal secretary, refused to comment.

“Please don’t ask us questions on Sourav being kept out of the side. We can’t answer,” he said.

Ganguly’s elder brother Snehasish also shied away from commenting.

Australia are now heading in the right direction towards reclaiming the Ashes urn when they take on England on home turf later this year, according to captain Ricky Ponting.

Ponting said his team had been playing good quality cricket and had addressed the right areas since their Ashes debacle last season.

“Our Test cricket can’t be faulted, really, since the last Ashes Test match,” he said.

“Everything we have done has been very, very good quality. The areas that we needed to address, I think — after England we have addressed”, he was quoted as saying in ‘Sydney Morning Herald’ on Saturday.

“We have certainly turned a number of things around and we are heading in the right direction. It is great to see Jason (Gillespie) and Michael Kasprowicz back and bowling well and Brett (Lee) in career-best form,” he said.

Ponting also heaped praise on opener Matthew Hayden and middle order batsman Michael Hussey for their performances.

“Matty Hayden is in as good a form as he has ever been. I feel like my game is going really well at the moment, Michael Hussey has barely put a foot wrong, so there are lots of great signs for us come Ashes time.

“I will be very confident going in knowing we have a very good settled line-up and a bunch of guys who are going to do everything they can to try to win the Ashes back,” he said. (more…)

The battle to win the right to host the 2011 World Cup is likely to go down to the wire with Shaharyar Khan, the Pakistan Cricket Board chairman, confirming that Australia and New Zealand have refused to stand down in favour of Asia’s bid.

“Yes it’s true that Australia and New Zealand are insistent that they should get the hosting rights of the tournament as they say they last hosted it in 1992,” Shaharyar told the Daily News. “The ICC has acknowledged our bid but we face stiff competition from Australia and New Zealand who are also very keen to host the 2011 World Cup.”

Pakistan, India, Sri Lanka and Bangladesh submitted their joint bid to the ICC on Thursday following a series of meetings between top officials over the past two weeks. A fair amount of time had been spent preparing a compliance document, a mandatory submission for the bid itself. The ICC had earlier given the Asian bloc an extension in the deadline for the submission of their bid from February.

Shaharyar said that the four South Asian countries had a very strong case as three tournaments have been held since the prestigious competition was last held in the subcontinent. “The general feeling in the ICC is that a country should only get a turn after three World Cups,” he said. “And we fulfill that requirement, specially considering the amount of interest and money for cricket in this region.”

Shaharyar added that the ICC Executive Board members would meet in Dubai on April 30 to discuss the two bids and there were chances a decision would be made on the hosts. “We’ve not decided as yet where the semifinals and final would be held because this would only be decided once the tournament is awarded to us,” he said. “But we have agreed that India will organise 22 games, we’ll stage 16 matches, Sri Lanka nine and Bangladesh six. I think we are very well prepared and there is very good coordination among the four countries on this tournament.”

© Cricinfo

Pretty soon, Greg Chappell will complete a year at the helm of the Indian cricket team. When he goes home, to take a much-needed break from all this hype and hoopla, he will surely sit back and reflect over all the long days and short nights spent here.

Somewhere along the way, he might just allow himself a wry smile. True, he hasn’t transformed India into a champion side yet; but he has at least ingrained the ethos of a winner in some of the players. The tougher part, though, is going to begin now.

All in all, it has been an exhilarating year, like the proverbial roller-coaster ride. He started off all excited, like a little kid waiting for the action to begin. Soon, he was hurtling at breakneck speed and, evidently, enjoying the attention and drama around Team India.

Inevitably, the first dip soon arrived. Without warning or notice. India lost badly in the Tri-series final in Sri Lanka; worse, there were indications that he wasn’t in total control of the team. He, however, treated it as a minor setback and fastened the seat belt for the rest of the ride.

Just when things were improving in Zimbabwe, out of nowhere, came the next dip: this one was like a vertical fall, seemingly going all the way down with nothing to stop him. Chappell, however, hung on to dear life, with determination and courage.

In the end, he emerged victorious. Sourav Ganguly first became a pawn at the altar of Board politics; then, he became its victim. Rahul Dravid took over the captaincy and a new chapter began in Indian cricket; the spectre of Ganguly, however, hovered menacingly over them all the while. (more…)