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India captain MS Dhoni has said Irfan Pathan showing signs form during the first ODI against Sri Lanka was a big advantage for his team, and would help lend balance to the XI

ESPNcricinfo staff21-Jul-2012India captain MS Dhoni has said Irfan Pathan showing signs of form during the first ODI against Sri Lanka was a big advantage for his team, and would help lend balance to the XI.”One good positive was Irfan Pathan doing well,” Dhoni said after the match. “Without [Ravindra] Jadeja or Yuvraj [Singh], it is difficult to make the side balanced in both departments, so this was important.”Irfan, whose patchy form with the ball has seen him in and out of the team recently, was a last-minute addition to the squad for the Sri Lanka tour, after Vinay Kumar was ruled out with injury last week. Here, opening the bowling with Zaheer Khan, he got the ball to swing both ways and struck with his second ball, getting rid of Tillakaratne Dilshan lbw. At the end of his first spell, his figures read 6-1-20-1, and India already had a firm grip on the scoring rate.India’s bowling in the end overs, however, Dhoni said, still needed to be better. “It was a good learning experience for the younger bowlers. Zak [Zaheer] was good. [But] The death bowling for us needs to improve.”In the chase of 315, Sri Lanka had come into the final 10 overs needing 112 runs, before centurion Kumar Sangakkara and No. 8 Thisara Perera – with 44 off 28 balls – knocked off quick runs to give Sri Lanka hope. Though Sri Lanka eventually fell 21 short, they had scored just over 100 runs in 11 overs, after being 191 for 6 in 39th.Leaving it too late in the chase, Sri Lanka captain Mahela Jayawardene said, was his team’s mistake. “We’ve got some big-hitters at the end, but we left too much for them to do. Too many mistakes, against a quality side like India.”It was important for us to set up a platform and [so] Sanga [Sangakkara] was trying to build an innings. [But] We never had momentum going into the last 10 overs. We’ll try to refocus and come back strong.”Earlier, Dhoni had won a rare toss and, he said, he was pleased to do so since the conditions were against Sri Lanka in the chase. “This was one game where I felt the toss would be crucial,” he said. “In the second innings, there was variable bounce and it was a little difficult to bat on.”

A little calmer when it mattered most, Australia completed a victory more testing than the scoreboard ultimately showed to defeat Pakistan in Sharjah and claim the overnight ODI series 2-1

The Report by Daniel Brettig03-Sep-2012
Scorecard and ball-by-ball detailsMohammad Hafeez and Nasir Jamshed added 129 at the top•Associated PressA little calmer when it mattered most, Australia completed a victory more testing than the scoreboard ultimately showed to defeat Pakistan in Sharjah and claim the overnight ODI series 2-1. It was a result achieved as much by perspiration as inspiration, Michael Hussey and the nerveless tyro Glenn Maxwell forming the critical union to rescue their team from the uncertainty of 159 for 5 when Matthew Wade fell to Abdur Rehman.Michael Hussey could so easily have been out lbw to Saeed Ajmal before he had scored, amid a mesmerising spell in which the offspinner claimed what appeared a pivotal 3 for 11. But Misbah-ul-Haq made a pair of judgements that were to prove too timid – failing to refer the umpire Billy Bowden’s decision, and then taking Ajmal off after five overs when another wicket or two might have sealed Australia’s fate.Pakistan’s hesitation could perhaps be attributed to the weight of history, having not defeated Australia in an ODI series since 2002. There was to be little such trepidation about the way Michael Hussey and Maxwell closed in on the target, which had been reined in to manageable proportions by Mitchell Johnson and Mitchell Starc after Pakistan’s openers made their team’s best start against Australia since 1985.Mohammad Hafeez’s stand of 129 with Nasir Jamshed should have allowed Pakistan to soar well past 250, but Australia’s bowlers stuck admirably to their task to limit the rest. It was Johnson who started the salvage operation, claiming two wickets while keeping his economy-rate down, and thus allowing Starc to strike four times to continue his decent form.As had been flagged as a possibility by the assistant coach Steve Rixon earlier in the series, Wade’s exertions during 50 overs in the field were deemed too much for him to back up immediately as an opener.His replacement at the top of the order was unexpected – David Hussey opening for the first time in his ODI career – but provided a useful left-right contrast with David Warner in a stand that showed plenty of brio if not total safety.Warner and David Hussey both smote huge sixes, causing the umpires to twice call for a replacement ball, and denting the previously tidy series figures of Hafeez. Rehman hurried a Warner pull shot and claimed his wicket to break the partnership at 44, but Michael Clarke was typically fluent and with David Hussey he kept Australia ahead of the asking-rate.However Ajmal’s introduction brought a marked change to proceedings, as he found spin despite the moist night air and yet again confused the Australians with his variations. Clarke had struck one significant blow in drawing blood from the left hand of Shahid Afridi with a fierce drive, but he advanced too early to Ajmal and was well stumped down the leg side by Kamran Akmal.Michael Hussey seemed palpably lbw, but Pakistan chose conservatively not to refer Billy Bowden’s not-out verdict. David Hussey perished in pursuit of another six, and George Bailey gloved an attempted paddle-sweep. Ajmal’s spin had turned the innings, but he was then withdrawn to allow Wade and Michael Hussey some desperately needed breathing room.They steadied things until Wade’s exit, bowled between bat and pad, whereupon Maxwell made another free-spirited contribution to a series in which his batting comfortably outshone his bowling as he ransacked Afridi for 16 runs in the 43rd over. Michael Hussey was out to a tired slog and Dan Christian did not endure, but Maxwell kept his cool and his timing to guide the weary Australians home.They had been grateful to win the toss and avoid the worst excesses of the evening moisture. Bolstered by happy memories of game one when they had topped and tailed the Pakistan innings, Pattinson and Starc took the new ball with some intent. Starc looked initially short of rhythm and comfort having shrugged off a side/chest complaint to take part, but Australia’s opening duo made Jamshed and Hafeez work hard to survive the early overs.Both batsmen top-edged attempted hook shots and were fortunate to see their respective strokes fall safely. Nonetheless, the shots signalled their ambition, even as a sluggish pitch, slow outfield and tidy Australian fielding made scoring difficult.Gradually, Hafeez and Jamshed wrested the initiative, seeing off a useful spell by Johnson and profiting more from the others. The allrounder Christian shelled a difficult return catch when Hafeez was on 26, but it was the only hint of a chance offered by the openers as they strode to Pakistan’s first century opening stand against Australia in ODIs since 1985.Jamshed’s innings was a worthy follow-up to his match-shaping innings in Abu Dhabi, while Hafeez was finally showing the Australians the worth of his batting after some years of underachievement. The six off Pattinson was a particularly compelling reminder.Australia were so desperate for a wicket that Clarke sacrificed his one referral to a speculative appeal for a leg-side catch off Jamshed. The stratagem was indirectly helpful in securing the breakthrough, distracting Jamshed enough for Johnson to have him touching a bouncer behind in the same over.Afridi was promoted in the order to make a flash-in-the-pan seven, and Hafeez’s innings was ended when Clarke struck him in front while attempting to sweep. Asad Shafiq, Misbah-ul-Haq and Azhar Ali did not go beyond their starts, keeping the target within Australia’s reach.

Northamptonshire have begun to plan for next season by signing the Surrey allrounder Matthew Spriegel on a two-year contract

ESPNcricinfo staff07-Sep-2012Northamptonshire have begun to plan for next season by signing the Surrey allrounder Matthew Spriegel on a two-year contract. The 25-year-old, who helped Surrey win the CB40 Trophy last season, will add depth and experience to one of the weakest one-day sides in the country.Spriegel has a batting average of 38.86 in List A cricket and has taken 40 wickets in 61 matches with his offspin. He played in every game of Surrey’s successful CB40 campaign in 2011 and hit the winning runs in the Lord’s final.With Northamptonshire winning just two limited-overs games in 2012 – once in the FLt20 and once in the CB40 – Spriegel has been brought in to improve their fortunes. He also has three first-class hundreds to his name since making his Surrey debut in 2008 but made just two Championship appearances this season.”We are delighted that Matthew had decided to join Northants, as he is exactly the type of multi-dimensional cricketer we have been looking to attract to the club,” Northamptonshire coach, David Ripley, said. “Matthew has shown a real hunger to improve himself in all formats and will give us some excellent options with both bat and ball in the short and longer form of the game.”David Smith, Northamptonshire’s chief executive, said: “It is no secret that our white-ball cricket performances over the last 18 months have fallen below both the club and supporter’s expectations and I am sure Matthew will assist us in our efforts to re-establish a competitive team in this form of the game. He was an integral part of the Surrey’s Clydesdale Bank 40 winning team at Lords in 2011, so brings trophy-winning experience to the club.”

When this series began, there were questions hanging over South Africa’s bowling attack. Few, however, were concerned about their ability to take 20 wickets

Firdose Moonda in Perth29-Nov-2012When this series began, there were questions hanging over South Africa’s bowling attack. Had they missed a trick by not sending an additional paceman with the touring party? Did they lack a bowler who could hold one end up? Few, however, were concerned about their ability to take 20 wickets.It’s what the South African attack has become known for. In seven of their previous ten Tests before this tour, they bowled teams out twice. They won six of those games with the same attack. Their five-men stronghold comprised Dale Steyn, Morne Morkel, Vernon Philander, Imran Tahir and Jacques Kallis and the variation they offered was thought of as unmatched. Allan Donald called it the strongest attack South Africa had ever fielded.South Africa have not used that combination once on this tour of Australia. Injuries and conditions necessitated changes and the swapping seems to have taken its toll. “That was always going to be a challenge along the way,” Graeme Smith said. “All of us were hoping that it wouldn’t come on one of the toughest Tests away from home.” His biggest concern ahead of the Perth Test is “having the bowlers, the armoury to win a Test.”One way of ensuring the arsenal is sufficient is to throw it all in, and that’s what South Africa are certain to do at the WACA ground. On a pitch that will be seamer-friendly upfront, all four frontline quicks are likely to play, as well as a holding bowler in Robin Peterson, in case the conditions turn out like they did in Brisbane. There too, South Africa bought into the hype about a paceman’s paradise but found themselves in a barren land, with no one to stem the flow of runs.For a while, not having a designated donkey bowler worked for South Africa. Instead of someone in the Paul Harris mould tying up an end, under Gary Kirsten the attack reformed to become one where every bowler was a wicket-taker. When that works, it works well, but when it doesn’t, Brisbane and Adelaide happen.Australia’s scoring-rate in both Tests was high as South Africa searched for wickets but gave away runs instead. “We haven’t been able to string together good performances for long enough. Australia have attacked us at the right times,” Smith said. “We’ve had Australia under pressure and they have countered really well. In every over we’ve bowled a bad ball and when you do that, it doesn’t really allow you to control the game.”Now South Africa need that discipline again, and will look to Peterson to provide it. It does not mean the road for Imran Tahir has closed. He will be looked after by team management so that he can “come back to performing at his best,” according to Smith, but he will have to rebuild his confidence before anything else.However, it isn’t just Tahir who needs to improve. A no-ball problem affected all but Dale Steyn and a lack of imagination seems to have gripped the bowlers. It is as though they had grown accustomed to batsmen not resisting, and when the likes of Michael Clarke and Michael Hussey did, they aren’t quite sure what to do to remove them.What Smith is hoping for is that South Africa will come up with new plans for Perth but that Australia have already given their all and don’t have too many more ideas. “We’re quite confident that Australia have played really well and we haven’t been at our best but we are still here,” he said.But Australia do have something else, even if it has been forced on them by circumstance. They will field a completely new attack after both Peter Siddle and Ben Hilfenhaus were left out of the 12 because they were fatigued after Adelaide and didn’t recover quickly enough. It presents a depth South Africa don’t have and a newness to the line-up that Smith is wary of. “How these guys react to their roles so quickly with so many changes, that might be the interesting thing for them,” he said. “How they can string that together as a unit will be interesting to see.”

Zaheer Khan had a fruitful first day as captain of a first-class side, as Mumbai bowled out Gujarat for 244 in what is a virtual pre-quarter-final

Amol Karhadkar29-Dec-2012
ScorecardFile photo: Parthiv Patel went to the top of this season’s run charts during the course of his century•K SivaramanZaheer Khan had a fruitful first day as captain of a first-class side, as Mumbai bowled out Gujarat for 244 in what is a virtual pre-quarter-final. Had hosts Mumbai not lost opener Kaustubh Pawar in the last over of the day, the smile on Zaheer’s face at stumps would have been even wider.It didn’t come as a surprise when Zaheer, leading the team in the absence of regular captain Ajit Agarkar who was ruled out with a groin injury, opted to bowl on a sporting track with a sprinkling of live grass at the Dr DY Patil Sports Stadium. And when Zaheer trapped Smit Patel, one of the stars of India’s victorious Under-19 World Cup campaign, in front of wickets, Mumbai would have hoped to run through the Gujarat top order.However, rookies Samit Gohel and Bhargav Merai frustrated them for more than an hour. Not only did both the right-hand batsmen scored freely at the start of their innings, but they defended well, leaving balls outside off stump with relative ease. As a result, by the time Dhawal Kulkarni forced Gohel into a false shot, Mumbai had used as five bowlers.At 89 for 2, captain Parthiv Patel took guard. And by the time he was dismissed as the penultimate Gujarat wicket, the seasoned batsman had scored 101 off the 154 runs that Gujarat added since his arrival at the crease. Had Merai not attempted a risky single and fallen short of the crease at the non-striker’s end when Kulkarni’s direct hit shattered the woodwork in the last over before lunch, Gujarat would have had the advantage going into the break.However, once Mumbai had got an opening, they lived up to their tag of domestic powerhouse by breaking through at regular intervals. As a result, the 64-run association for the second wicket between Gohel and Merai turned out to be the only noteworthy partnership of the innings.While wickets were tumbling at the other end, Parthiv appeared to be playing a completely different match. En route his third century of the season, and the top of this season’s run charts, the left-hand batsman displayed his cutting and driving abilities in abundance. His standout stroke was a straight driven boundary off Kulkarni soon after his arrival at the crease.Once Mumbai had broken into the longish tail of Gujarat batting, Parthiv switched gears and targeted left-arm spinner Ankeet Chavan, who was flighting the ball on the opening day for the first time in the season. He first charged down the pitch to hit him for a boundary over mid-off, and in his next over, drove him through the covers for the same result.The only blemish during Parthiv’s knock came when he was on 64. Having surpassed Ravindra Jadeja’s tally of 794 runs to emerge as the leading run-getter, Parthiv nicked Kulkarni but Hiken Shah dropped a regulation catch at first slip. Nevertheless, with little support from the other end, it was a commendable effort from the Gujarat captain.”Obviously the additional motivation is to return to the Indian team, so I try and score big. Thankfully, it has been paying off all through the season,” Parthiv said after stumps. “It is a challenging wicket but I think we were about 100 runs short of what would have been an ideal first-innings score here.”

A round-up of the QEA Trophy match between Lahore Shalimar and Abbottabad

ESPNcricinfo staff17-Jan-2013A five-wicket haul by the left-arm spinner Mohammad Irfan helped Lahore Shalimar to a 222-run win over Abbottabad in Swabi. Centuries by Imran Butt and Fahad-ul-Haq helped Lahore set Abbottabad an improbable 481, but they folded up for 258 on the final day, giving Lahore their second win of the tournament.An astonishing 16 wickets tumbled on the opening day, with Abbottabad reeling at 29 for 6 after restricting Lahore to 199. Local boy Fazl-e-Rabbi, the right-arm seamer, took 4 for 56 while the left-arm spinner Khalid Usman took 4 for 55 to bowl out Lahore within 60 overs. Aamer Sajjad was the top scorer for Lahore with 60.The Lahore seamers decimated the Abbottabad top order, with Aizaz Cheema leading the way with 4 for 43. There was hardly any resistance from the lower order as Abbottabad folded for 104 on the second day. Zia-ul-Haq, the left-arm seamer, ran through the lower order to finish with 4 for 24.The most decisive partnership of the game was the 236 for the second wicket between the Lahore pair of Butt and Fahad. They came together at the fall of the first wicket on 18 and strengthened Lahore’s position with centuries. Butt’s 124 included 17 fours, while Fahad’s 121 included 16 fours. Salman Ali and Saad Nasim made unbeaten fifties before the captain Fahad declared.Abbottabad performed marginally better in the second innings but at the end of the third day they were struggling at 150 or 6. Irfan rattled Abbottabad with four top-order wickets. Hammad Ali helped himself to an unbeaten fifty at No.9, before Irfan rounded off the match with his fifth wicket.

Glamorgan’s all-rounder Jim Allenby has won the Wetherell Award from The Cricket Society as the leading all-rounder in English first-class cricket in 2012.

ESPNcricinfo staff18-Jan-2013Glamorgan’s all-rounder Jim Allenby has won the Wetherell Award from The Cricket Society as the leading all-rounder in English first-class cricket in 2012.Allenby’s performances went largely unheralded as Glamorgan struggled near the foot of the Second Division and failed to make an impact in either of the one-day competitions in a deeply disappointing season.But that has not deterred The Cricket Society, which has recognised his record of 733 first-class runs at an average of 40.72 and 42 first-class wickets at 23 runs apiece. As well as being Glamorgan’s leading championship wicket-taker, he also struck two championship hundreds against Essex at Colchester and Kent in Cardiff.Allenby, Glamorgan’s player of the year, succeeds Chris Woakes, of Warwickshire, althouigh while Woakes is part of England’s one-day party in India, Allenby has never been mentioned in international terms. He also follows a past Glamorgan winner, Robert Croft, who took the award in 2004.Allenby, who is is spending the off-season in Western Australia, will receive the award from Sir Tim Rice at the Cricket Society’s Spring Dinner in London on March 22.

Enforcement Directorate has issued a penalty of approximately Rs 100 crore against IPL franchise Rajasthan Royals for allegedly violating India’s foreign exchange laws

ESPNcricinfo staff04-Feb-2013The Enforcement Directorate of India’s finance ministry has levied a penalty of approximately Rs 100 crore ($18.77 million) against IPL franchise Rajasthan Royals for violating India’s foreign exchange laws. According to the order, the Royals’ owners have a 45-day deadline to pay the fine but can appeal the order.The ED issued three separate notices to the various owners, PTI reported, after two years of investigations under the Foreign Exchange Management Act (FEMA). Jaipur IPL Cricket Private Limited (JIPL) was hit with a Rs 50 crore penalty, EM Sporting Holding, Mauritius with Rs 34 crore and a notice of Rs 14.5 crore against Ms ND Investments, United Kingdom.The ED has been investigating financial and foreign exchange irregularities against all franchises and this is the first big order against a team. The order said the ED found that foreign investment in JIPL was made in “flagrant contravention of FEMA” and the investment made in this regard was made “much prior to the incorporation of JIPL”.A statement issued by Royals said acknowledged receiving an order in respect of alleged breaches of FEMA. “We are discussing the contents of the order with our lawyers and intend to launch a full appeal against the order,” it said.The penalty was issued after investigations pointed out that funds in the firm had been remitted in an irregular manner and shares were allegedly issued in violation of forex rules stipulated and framed by the Reserve Bank of India, the country’s topmost bank.The ED issued the first penalty order against Rajasthan Royals in mid-2011 and it recently moved the FEMA Adjudicating Authority in Delhi to vet its investigation in this case and issue final orders. The agency, during its probe, relied on bank documents and statements made by the directors and investors of Rajasthan Royals.The ED has issued almost 24 show cause notices, amounting Rs 2000 crore, under FEMA against various IPL franchises and the BCCI.

Two weeks after a second elbow operation, Graeme Swann says he will be fit for the Ashes and even wonders whether he could be playing at 40

Jon Culley28-Mar-2013Only two weeks after undergoing surgery for the second time on his troublesome right elbow, Graeme Swann is not only confident of being fit for his third Ashes series later this summer but has also revealed a vague ambition to rival a fellow England offspinner, John Emburey, for career longevity.Indeed, Swann, who turned 34 four days ago, is so optimistic about making a full recovery that he believes he could be ready to play in the opening Test against New Zealand on May 16. Nottinghamshire’s four-day match against Durham on April 29 has even been pencilled in for what would be a startlingly quick competitive comeback.Swann went ahead of Jim Laker as England’s most prolific Test offspinner during the triumphant England series in India that preceded the New Zealand tour. He now has 212 Test wickets yet claims his hunger for more is undiminished.”The hunger’s still strong to play Test cricket,” he said “I love the game, so I think I’ll play for as long as the body can stand it. Whether that will be for 12 Test matches or 112 we will have to wait and see – but Embers played until he was 41, didn’t he? So there is hope for me yet.”Swann is currently following a day-and-night programme of mechanically-induced extension exercises designed to accelerate his recovery time.”I’m banished to our attic bedroom right now because I have to get up every two hours to attach myself to a machine for 50 minutes,” Swann said. “It was agony for the first week – it brings a tear to your eye. But that’s stopped happening now and the elbow feels great — so it’s definitely going in the right direction.”I’ll be badgering the physios and coaches here at Notts to let me bowl as soon as possible but they’re the ones with qualifications to tell me when and where I can.”I’d hope to be bowling competitively by the end of April. I don’t know whether that’s optimistic or not but that’s how my mind works. I want to be back as soon as I can because I’m bored stupid already. It was okay while the Tests in New Zealand were on because I could watch that, but now it’s finished it’s very tedious.”It’s important though because the machine keeps the range of movement in your arm and it aids your rehabilitation and it’s supposed to halve the time you get back bowling.”If his return to action with Nottinghamshire results in no setback, Swann would be in contention for the opening Test against New Zealand at Lord’s, having missed England’s uncomfortable 0-0 Test series draw against the same opponents on their own pitches.It would be great news for England, who would be uneasy about entering as Ashes series with Monty Panesar as their frontline spinner, particularly given the high number of left-hand batsmen in the Australian line-up. Panesar was in buoyant form as he and Swann dismantled India on turning surfaces before Christmas, but as the lone spinner on unresponsive surfaces in New Zealand he occasionally looked ill at ease.Doubts were expressed over Swann’s future in international cricket after his elbow injury resurfaced – slightly more than three years after his first operation under the skilled hands of surgeon Dr Shawn O’Driscoll in Minnesota.Yet he says he trusts O’Driscoll’s prognosis of a full recovery and the thought has never seriously crossed his mind that the injury might spell the end of his England career after 50 Tests.”The surgeon assured me it was a straightforward operation compared with my first one,” he said. “That one was far more serious, yet it allowed me to go for three-and-a-half years bowling relatively pain free. It was a lot more straightforward this time, basically just correcting little things that have gone wrong since.”Because of my elbow, different parts of my body start taking over and aching and that was one of the signs in New Zealand that something was wrong. All of a sudden I was getting a sore back and shoulder and all sorts of things, all down to the fact that the elbow wasn’t working. Now it’s cleared out, all the other things should be all right.”I think I could bowl now but I’d probably put myself back to square one. So the next couple of weeks are solely about fitness and getting my base levels back up to where they should be, and then I’ll start bowling again.”Swann recognises that he is not the patient sort and any delay in his rehabilitation will leave him pacing the floor in frustration.”I think it’s going to kill me if I sit down and watch so much cricket at the start of the summer without being an active part of it so I’ll certainly be trying to be back fit and playing as much cricket as I can. I’d like to get a couple of games in for Notts before any England cricket starts so that’s what I’ll be aiming for.”If I start back and there’s any pain whatsoever I’m sure I’ll want to play it fairly safe. But I’m not a conservative bloke by nature.”

Pakistan are considering Grant Flower for the position of batting coach

George Dobell and Umar Farooq12-Apr-2013Pakistan are considering Grant Flower for the position of batting coach. While Flower is currently fulfilling a similar role with the Zimbabwe team, ESPNcricinfo understands that he is out of contract in August and Zimbabwe Cricket are prevaricating over a new deal.ESPNcricinfo has learned that Flower is in the frame for the role, but he is still just one of a few candidates; the PCB might look to fill the position some time before Flower becomes available in August.In response to the PCB advert last year several former Pakistan Test batsmen, including Zaheer Abbas and Saleem Malik, applied for the role but the PCB was looking to hire a candidate with at least Level 3 coaching accreditation and a minimum of five years’ experience working with top cricketers.Flower, 42, the younger brother of England coach, Andy, has been Zimbabwe batting coach since October 2010. He applied for the head coach position but lost out to Andy Waller. Flower previously played 67 Tests and 221 ODIs for Zimbabwe.