The future of Tom Moody as Western Australia’s coach will be decided after Christmas as his team continues to struggle in his third year in the job

Cricinfo staff17-Nov-2009The future of Tom Moody as Western Australia’s coach will be decided after Christmas as his team continues to struggle in his third year in the job. However, the state’s chief executive Graeme Wood has guaranteed Moody, whose three-year contract expires at the end of the season, will coach out the summer.The recruitment of Moody for 2007-08 was seen as a major coup for Western Australia as he was fresh from a successful period in charge of the Sri Lanka team. Other international sides were keen to sound out Moody, but he preferred to head home to Perth to make life more stable for his young family.But with the exception of being Twenty20 runners-up in 2007-08, Western Australia’s results haven’t been impressive during the Moody era. They have finished third and fifth in their two Sheffield Shield campaigns, have come no higher than fifth in the FR Cup and so far this summer they have one set of first-innings points from two four-day games.”Tom’s in his last year so post Christmas we’ll have a look at where the side is and address the situation post Christmas,” Wood told AAP. “Tom is guaranteed [to coach out the season]. In the four-day game I think we’ve shown big improvements, so I think the group’s starting to learn there. But there’s room for improvement in the short form of the game.”I think our four-day cricket has been quite good but our one-day cricket has been ordinary, and not just this year. I think we’ve only won three of our last 13 or 14 games and that’s just not good enough, so we have to make amends for that and start playing a little bit differently, because the way we are doing it at the moment isn’t good enough.”

Clint McKay knows he will almost certainly be Australia’s 12th man in the second Test but he can look to several of his fast-bowling colleagues for inspiration about a possible future debut

Brydon Coverdale01-Dec-2009Clint McKay knows he will almost certainly be Australia’s 12th man in the second Test but he can look to several of his fast-bowling colleagues for inspiration about a possible future debut. McKay flew to Adelaide on Tuesday to join the squad ahead of Friday’s Adelaide Test against West Indies after Ben Hilfenhaus was ruled out with knee soreness.Doug Bollinger is expected to move into the team after being 12th man at the Gabba, which will leave McKay to soak up the atmosphere of a Test from the players’ rooms for the first time. It is an experience that McKay will relish and he knows that Bollinger, Hilfenhaus and Mitchell Johnson all had lengthy stints as the next cab off the rank before breaking into the side.It is a strong vote of confidence in McKay, 26, that the selectors preferred him over the veteran Stuart Clark, who played two Ashes Tests this year. McKay said he was surprised at his elevation into the Test squad, given the competition from fast bowlers around the country.”I didn’t think there was any chance at all, to be honest,” McKay said in Melbourne before flying out to join the squad. “There’s a lot of players around at the moment playing very good cricket and not knowing that there were any injury concerns or anything like that, it came as a great shock.”It’s going to be a great experience, just being involved with these sort of guys like Ricky Ponting and Michael Clarke and the rest of the Australian side. It’ll be a great thrill and a great learning opportunity for me to be a part of and hopefully I can learn and someday I actually do make my debut for Australia.”The coach Tim Nielsen confirmed that McKay was unlikely to play given Bollinger’s status as the next in line, but McKay should be prepared for any eventuality. This time last year, also for the Adelaide Test, Jason Krejza hurt his ankle at training two days before the Test and Nathan Hauritz rocketed into the side.A similarly sudden injury to Bollinger, Johnson or Peter Siddle would result in McKay debuting, but for now he is still finding his feet at international level. His first taste came during the recent tour of India, where he played his first two ODIs and remained cool on debut to dismiss Sachin Tendulkar for 175 with a slower ball in the dying stages to help Australia to victory.”It was a massive jump from playing domestic cricket here and all of a sudden walking out in India with 45,000 screaming fans, it was a completely different atmosphere,” McKay said. “To play against Sachin Tendulkar and Sehwag and Dhoni and these sort of guys, it was a great thrill and good to be a part of.”In Australian first-class cricket you’re playing against three or four seasoned campaigners and a couple of young kids with great ability coming through. But all of a sudden you’re playing international cricket and you’ve got six or seven top batters who have played international cricket for a few years, so that’s probably the biggest thing.”Even if McKay doesn’t play in Adelaide this week, he has a good chance of continuing his international career when Australia’s one-day internationals come around early next year. For now, holding next-cab-off-the-rank status is a fine place to be.

Former Pakistan captain Ramiz Raja believes the PCB’s “big move” to call up Sarfraz Ahmed for the third Test, in all likelihood to replace a struggling Karman Akmal, is justified

Cricinfo staff08-Jan-2010Former Pakistan captain Ramiz Raja believes the PCB is justified in its “big move” to call up wicketkeeper Sarfraz Ahmed for the third Test against Australia in Hobart, in all likelihood to replace a struggling Kamran Akmal. He has, however, advised that Sarfraz be given an extended run behind the stumps.”This change is justified even though some eyebrows will be raised by this sudden coup behind the stumps in the middle of a series,” Ramiz told Cricinfo. “Dispatching an unacclimatised player straight into a Test match, that too against Australia, can be fraught with risk.”The key to success behind the stumps, he said, would be to keep the position stable. “The removal of a keeper is a significant selection call, for he is as crucial to the team as its leader,” he said. “This [Sarfraz’s] selection has to a be well thought-out, crafted move and not just a mere flirtation with the post. A constant change behind the stumps can have an unsettling effect on the team and its leader. If Sarfraz has been penciled in as a Test wicketkeeper then his tenure should have a sensible stretch.”Akmal, he said, shouldn’t be “embarrassed” any more. “He needs time out, while some would say that his time is up.”Akmal dropped four catches during Australia’s second innings in the second Test at Sydney, including three off Mike Hussey, as Pakistan struggled to break the ninth-wicket partnership between Hussey and Peter Siddle. Hussey went on to score an unbeaten 134, and Australia set Pakistan a target of 176. The visitors were bowled out 36 runs short, handing Australia an unassailable 2-0 lead in three-match encounter.Events on that final day, and Mohammad Yousuf’s captaincy and defensive tactics, have drawn sharp criticism from Pakistani observers and Ramiz joined in. The tactics, he said, mirrored the quality of captaincy in domestic cricket. “He [Yousuf] entered a fresh day trying to execute a plan that had already been neutralised by the same pair a night before,” Ramiz said. “It was a crazy piece of planning. Why would you want to put the shutters down so early on a brand new day when the second new ball is still in its infancy and just two wickets needed to take the team home.”How could the think tank, boasting of bowlers with more than 500 Test wickets, allow the fresh cherry to rot? The pattern to sit in against a set batsman [Hussey] and give him an easy passage to the non-striker’s zone, while trying to knock over the tail-ender [Siddle] is straight out of our first-class cricket. That the strategy got badly exposed at the top level only provides a stark reminder of how poor our first-class system is.”Other key lessons from the defeat, he said, included Faisal Iqbal’s ill-suited role at No. 3 and the end of Misbah’s dream run. He said the board needed to “change its avatar and win over a dejected nation.””Also, pressure can impair our openers to think straight. The PCB needs to think straight now…it’s time to revitalise a flagging club system, make selections transparent, especially at the grassroots level, assemble a lean and intense first-class format based on cities, install a cricket committee to look after cricket affairs and free itself of petty association politics.”

The English umpire, Mark Benson, has confirmed his retirement from the ICC elite panel, and will see out his career on the county circuit

Cricinfo staff05-Feb-2010The English umpire, Mark Benson, has confirmed his retirement from the ICC elite panel, and will see out his career on the county circuit, following his sudden withdrawal from the Adelaide Test between Australia and West Indies in December.Benson hit the headlines on the opening day of the second Test on December 4, when he was reported to be upset over several incidents involving the Umpire Decision Review System, one of which led to his original decision against Shivnarine Chanderpaul being overturned.He withdrew from the contest and flew back to England while the match was still taking place, although the ICC later claimed his withdrawal had been on the grounds of ill-health.”I have enjoyed my time on the elite panel immensely,” said Benson in an ICC statement on Friday. “The opportunity to be part of the global game has given me memories that I will always treasure. But travel and being away from home takes its toll on the family and some warning bells have started to ring regarding my health.”So, having thought about it carefully, I feel now is the right time for me to step down and move to a more settled and familiar environment in England.”Although Benson’s contract was not due to expire until the end of June 2010, he asked if he could be released from it three months early so he could take up a contract with the ECB and this request was granted.”I’d like to thank the ICC and my umpiring colleagues on the elite panel for their support over the years,” added Benson. “Umpiring at the top level has been a very rewarding experience for me and it is not an easy decision to walk away from it but I believe it is the right one as far as my health and family are concerned.Vince van der Bijl, the ICC’s umpires’ and referees’ manager said: “Mark’s immense love for and enjoyment of cricket shines through his umpiring. His on-field calm demeanour will be missed, as will his friendly and easygoing disposition.”We fully understand and support his decision, which was brought on by a desire to spend more time in England with his family and some concerns about health issues. He will add richly to the county circuit as he is a talented and hugely experienced umpire and we wish him great success.”In total, Benson umpired 27 Tests, 72 ODIs and 19 T20Is, including the final of the inaugural ICC World Twenty20 final in Johannesburg in September 2007. He had been on the elite panel since 2006 and was offered a contract by the ECB to return to domestic cricket as a first-class umpire.

Craig Kieswetter hit 77 off 52 balls as England Lions completed a comprehensive seven-wicket victory against Pakistan A

Cricinfo staff12-Feb-2010
ScorecardCraig Kieswetter underlined his potential with an unbeaten 77 off 52 balls as England Lions completed a comprehensive seven-wicket victory in their first Twenty20 match against Pakistan A. Ian Bell made 48 as he added 115 for the third wicket with Kieswetter as the Lions made light work of their chase and won with 14 balls to spare.Kieswetter launched the pursuit in style as he pulled Tanveer Ahmed for six and added three further maximums in his innings including one that landed in the stands above the changing rooms. His effort ensured the Lions comfortably overcame the loss of two wickets in two balls after Wahab Riaz bowled Steven Davies and Michael Lumb.Kieswetter qualifies for England next week having completed his four-year qualification period after moving from South Africa and is tipped to challenge for a place in the full Twenty20 and one-day line-up in the near future. Bell, meanwhile, is trying to earn a one-day recall and his 44-ball innings provided calm support, allowing Kieswetter to play his shots, before he fell with eight runs needed for victory.The Lions spinners had earlier played a key role in restricting Pakistan A as James Tredwell and Adil Rashid bowled their combined eight overs for 38 after the pacemen had found the going tougher. Steve Kirby bowled a single over that cost 13 and Sajid Mahmood’s four overs went for more than 10 an over.Shahzaib Hasan, who has played four Twenty20 internationals, top-scored for Pakistan A with 57 off 55 balls but no one could stay with him for very long as the innings stuttered along. Rashid impressed with his control as he had Umair Khan caught at deep midwicket and bowled Aamir Sajjad round his legs.Hasan’s innings was ended by a sharp piece of fielding from Kieswetter, who was playing as a specialist batsman, when he swooped from mid-off to complete a run out. Pakistan A were given a late boost as Ahmed and Naeem Anjum crashed 42 off the final 14 deliveries, but it still wasn’t enough to seriously challenge the Lions.”It was a good win – the boys played well. Its always good to get off to a good start and I’m pleased with the way it went,” Andrew Gale, the Lions captain, said. “We didn’t bowl that well up front but Chris Woakes pulled it back nicely and then the spinners tied them down. They bowled with great control and variation. I was pleased with them both. I thought they were 20 or 30 short.”Craig Kieswetter and Steve Davies set the tone which was important. Both Bell and Kieswetter timed their innings really well. Craig was exceptional is deciding when to take their bowlers down. He played good cricket shots and showed how mature he is. We can improve. We haven’t nailed it up front with the ball or at the death so we will sit down and review that and look where to improve. “

Pakistan’s next full-time coach is “99%” certain to be a local man, according to PCB chairman Ijaz Butt, though a tweaked coaching set-up may also look at incorporating inputs from foreign coaches as and when required

Osman Samiuddin23-Feb-2010Pakistan’s next full-time coach is “99%” certain to be a local man, according to PCB chairman Ijaz Butt, though a tweaked coaching set-up may also look at incorporating inputs from foreign coaches as and when required. Waqar Younis, Butt said, is among the men the board is looking at.”The full-time coach of the Pakistan side will be 99% a Pakistani,” Butt told Cricinfo. “We have two-three people in mind and Waqar is one of those that we have met and are looking at. A decision will be taken in the next couple of days on this.”Butt’s comments seem to all but shut the door on speculation over the last few weeks on a foreign coach being appointed to the national side, increasing the likelihood that Waqar may land the role. The board did approach Greg Chappell, though he turned down the offer. Mickey Arthur’s name has also come up, though he has yet to be approached and it is believed would be keener on a short-term role.The post is not a particularly attractive one for foreign candidates, given the relative insecurity of any administration that makes the appointment. The security situation in the country will also be a factor, though neither of Pakistan’s last two foreign coaches – Bob Woolmer or Geoff Lawson – had any problems staying in the country’s cricket headquarters in Lahore.But the peculiar nature of Pakistan’s future commitments now may lead to the board appointing foreign consultants as and when required. All of Pakistan’s home commitments will be played abroad for the forseeable future, either in the UAE, or in specific arrangements with other countries: the ‘home series’ against New Zealand, for example, last year was played in New Zealand, while they will play a much-postponed ‘home series’ against Australia in England later this year.For these commitments Pakistan may look to get inputs from consultants. “We may hire foreign coaches for consultants positions, or have specific positions, depending on what and where our commitments are and what our needs are,” Butt said. “But our full-time coach is most likely to be a local.” In the summer’s Tests against Australia and England in England, for instance, Arthur may yet be brought on board to play a consulting role of some kind.Pakistan’s two foreign coaches in the last few years had a mixed time. Woolmer had some success with the side between 2004 and 2006, but by the time of his death during the World Cup a year later, the experiment had soured. Soon after Woolmer’s demise, the board said they would hire a local coach, only to U-turn and plump for Geoff Lawson instead. He had a tougher time and though popular with the players, he was removed and replaced by Intikhab Alam, soon after the administrative change that saw Butt take over as chairman in 2008.

Zimbabwe Cricket has confirmed that India and Sri Lanka will tour the country for a tri-series between May 28 and June 9 this year

Cricinfo staff16-Mar-2010

Itinerary

• May 28: Zimbabwe v India, Bulawayo

• May 30: India v Sri Lanka, Bulawayo

• June 1: Zimbabwe v Sri Lanka, Bulawayo

• June 3: Zimbabwe v India, Harare

• June 5: India v Sri Lanka, Harare

• June 7: Zimbabwe v Sri Lanka, Harare

• June 9: Final, Harare

• June 12: Zimbabwe v India, 1st Twenty20, Harare

• June 13: Zimbabwe v India, 2nd Twenty20, Harare

Zimbabwe Cricket has confirmed that India and Sri Lanka will tour the country for a ODI tri-series between May 28 and June 9 this year. Each team plays the other twice before the final at the Harare Sports Club. India will stay back for two Twenty20 matches at the same venue on June 12 and 13.The announcement follows the postponement of New Zealand’s tour of the country over security issues. The tri-series kicks off with the home side taking on India at the Queens Sports Club in Bulawayo, which will host the first three games.India last toured the country in 2005 for two Tests and a tri-series, also involving New Zealand. Sri Lanka last toured Zimbabwe in November 2008, sweeping the five-match ODI series. India are also likely to tour Sri Lanka in July and August for a proposed Test series and a tri-series involving New Zealand. The respective cricket boards are yet to finalise a schedule.

In a yawn-inducing crawl, Deccan Chargers meandered to 82, the lowest total of the season, and Royal Challengers Bangalore knocked it off without much fuss to book their spot in the next Champions League

The Bulletin by Sriram Veera24-Apr-2010
Scorecard and ball-by-ball details
How they were out
Anirudh Singh made nearly half of Deccan’s runs•Indian Premier League

In a yawn-inducing crawl, Deccan Chargers meandered to 82, the lowest total of the season, and Royal Challengers Bangalore knocked it off without much fuss to book their spot in the next Champions League.Not many people bothered to turn up for the game, nine Deccan batsmen scored less than five runs and a dull, almost anaesthetic, atmosphere prevailed through their innings. Adam Gilchrist’s early dismissal set the tone for the innings: It was a slow gentle full toss from Anil Kumble and while it was in its trajectory you felt it was going to be smashed for a six but Gilchrist contrived to hit it to deep backward square-leg where Jacques Kallis took a neat catch.It was that kind of a dull and dreary night. Perhaps the loss in semi-final had sapped Deccan, perhaps it was just one of those nights when nothing went right for them and it made for almost painful watching experience.Bangalore ticked off all the boxes that were required of them: Kumble showed his intent by opening against Gilchrist, Praveen Kumar mixed his cutters with slower ones in a tight spell, and Dale Steyn, though not as pacy as he has been in this tournament so far, was accurate to keep the batsmen in check. Monish Mishra played all around a straight delivery from Praveen to be trapped in front and Rohit Sharma threw his wicket away with a lame pull shot to mid-on.Much depended on Andrew Symonds at that stage and he even got a reprieve when Steyn ran in too much at fine-leg to drop a catch but he fell on the very next delivery. He backed away to try force Steyn through the off side but edged it behind to the keeper to leave Deccan struggling at 27 for 4 in 6.1 overs. And it soon turned to 35 for 5 when a clueless Dwayne Smith had his Richard Blakey moment against Kumble: It was a slider that came in from just outside off but Smith stabbed at thin air and looked slightly sheepish when he lost his off stump.It was only due to Anirudh Singh, one of many changes in the Deccan set-up for this game, that Deccan avoided complete embarrassment. He probably would pick a sliced square-drive over backward point off Steyn as his top shot though a thumping drive over covers off a slower one from the same bowler too caught the eye. There was even a six against Nayan Doshi, who made an impressive IPL debut, but Anirudh mainly dealt in nudged singles. When he fell in the 16th over, bowled by Kallis, Deccan lost their only hope of reaching 100.Rahul Dravid and Kallis ensured Bangalore got off to a solid start and once they achieved it, it was always going be a just a stroll in the park for them. Though Kallis fell in the eight over, Dravid guided Bangalore through in the company of Kevin Pietersen.

Since their first-round exit in last year’s World Twenty20, Australia have undergone a significant rebuild

Peter English01-May-2010

Overview

Dependable and destructive: Cameron White•Getty Images

Since their first-round exit in last year’s World Twenty20, Australia have undergone a significant rebuild and installed Michael Clarke as their full-time leader. The changes have led to hope of a strong performance but, unlike in the Test and one-day arenas, they don’t really know what to expect in the Caribbean.Cameron White, Dirk Nannes, David Hussey, David Warner and Shaun Tait are some of the limited-overs experts who are now highly rated in the squad while Steven Smith and Daniel Christian provide some youth. Clarke, Michael Hussey, Mitchell Johnson and Brad Haddin bring the experience of productive careers in all three genres.Australia have appeared in 29 T20 internationals, including 15 wins and 12 losses, and should enter the event on a high after being unbeaten at home and in New Zealand during 2009-10. However, they were set back by a tight loss to Zimbabwe in their opening warm-up, which was a familiar result.They were upset by the same team in the inaugural World Twenty20 in 2007 and their problems with slow starts continued at the 2009 tournament when they were beaten by West Indies and Sri Lanka. “It will be critical for us that we hit the ground running,” the coach Tim Nielsen said. Already they need to turn things around for the first match against Pakistan on Sunday.

Twenty20 pedigree

Twenty20 is Australia’s worst format and the greatest concern is they don’t really know how to be the best. Most of the players are still learning how to master the tactics, although the selectors have finally relied on an impressive batch of specialists with considerable IPL and Big Bash experience. The national side has appeared in a lot of Twenty20s – nine more than India and 15 more than Bangladesh – but most of their main men don’t get a go in the domestic tournaments due to international commitments.

Strengths and weaknesses

Depending on the day, the fast-bowling attack can be the most frightening weapon or the place to attack. If Tait, Johnson and Nannes are on song life will be almost impossible for the batsmen. If they are loose they will be expensive on the smaller Caribbean grounds. Things might have been worse for the opposition if Brett Lee hadn’t been ruled out on the eve of the tournament with a forearm injury.

Key men

Shaun Tait helped win Australia a World Cup the last time he was in the Caribbean, taking 23 wickets at 20.30. Over the past two years his body and mind have restricted him to limited-overs affairs, where he can bowl a handful of overs at full pace. He has already clocked 160kph this year and is a severe threat whenever operating near his peak. David Warner has become a brutal Twenty20 specialist and has an essential role at the top of the order. While Shane Watson can show his muscle, Warner is the man capable of racing along at two runs a ball without feeling like he’s out of control. In 13 matches with Australia he has a strike-rate of 155.32 and if he fires Australia’s chances improve significantly.

X-factor

It still feels a bit strange saying it, but in this set-up Cameron White is a senior figure. Over the past year he has turned from a fringe limited-overs figure into a vice-captain who is dependable and destructive. With the bat he can add steel or power and when he hits cleanly no ground is big enough. In his previous T20 international he crunched 64 off 26 balls in a barely believable display.

Vital stats

The 2010 Champions League Twenty20 will be contested by ten teams, as opposed to the 12 that participated in the inaugural edition in 2009

Cricinfo staff24-May-2010The 2010 Champions League Twenty20 will be contested by ten teams, as opposed to the 12 that participated in the inaugural edition in 2009, after the ECB said its domestic sides could not compete because the competition clashed with the end of the English domestic season. The tournament will feature 23 matches (the same number as 2009), with the format, schedule and venues to be decided in the coming weeks.Nine of the ten teams for the tournament in South Africa, scheduled between September 10 and 26, are confirmed. The West Indian representative will be known once their domestic Twenty20 competition ends in July. Trinidad & Tobago represented the Caribbean in 2009 and reached the final, which they lost to New South Wales. There is no team from Pakistan because PCB chairman Ijaz Butt ruled out a participant following this year’s IPL auction, where no Pakistan players attracted any bids.The teams that have already qualified for the 2010 CLT20 are: Chennai Super Kings (India), Mumbai Indians (India), Royal Challengers Bangalore (India), Victorian Bushrangers (Australia), South Australian Redbacks (Australia), Warriors (South Africa), Highveld Lions (South Africa), Central Stags (New Zealand) and Wayamba Elevens (Sri Lanka).”The fact that only a third of last year’s field have re-qualified to play for the US$2.5 million first prize demonstrates the evenness of Twenty20 competitions around the world and the desperation of teams to compete at the world’s most prestigious domestic event,” N Srinivasan, the BCCI secretary, said. “There is no doubt that the Champions League Twenty20 has improved the quality of domestic Twenty20 cricket around the world and motivated teams in all countries to strive for a coveted place at the tournament.”James Sutherland, chief executive of Cricket Australia, said one of the most satisfying aspects of the tournament was the “development opportunities for non-capped players”, while Cricket South Africa head, Gerald Majola, said staging the tournament would “reinforce South Africa’s reputation as an ideal host for international sporting events”.