India and South Africa train differently

India and South Africa teams trained hard to make sure that they are strong in all departments of the game. While Indians followed the usual rule of not meeting the media except the day before the match, South African cricketers Hashim Amla and J.P. Duminy freely talked to the journalists.

Indians often loosen up playing soccer and it gave a scare to everyone when on Tuesday evening their star batsman Yuvraj Singh was seen limping out. The entire team play soccer with bare feet following the instruction of their fitness trainer.

When asked about the enthusiasm with which Indian team plays soccer, Indian off spinner Ravichandran Ashwin remarked: “The camp is pretty upbeat in terms of having some good soccer. We’ve enjoyed ourselves. You keep playing cricket all your life so playing soccer gives you leisure time. Those are the things we’re associating with most times.”

Everyone is hoping that Singh who cracked a 43-ball 60 runs against Australia is fit and continues his form.

The South African team were into serious practice. When Amla was asked about his team meeting an inform Indian side, he said: “We have to play against whoever you get drawn in, it’s out of your hand. It’s a good opportunity for us. We have played some good cricket, won some close games and that is as hard as our team has ever been,” he said.

Does he think India is in terrific form? Amla said: “Very difficult to say before the game. Any team can win on a given day.”

Duminy was more forthright in his views: “We have been successful in the last few games but does not mean we will be successful again. We know that Indian spinners will be key components to their teams. We know it’s going to be a big challenge for us. Spinners have bowled exceptionally well against us. We want to put up a big performance against their spinners. Sort of played against them in number of times. It’s a big game. Semi-final of a World Cup, doesn’t get bigger than this ever.”

When Duminy was asked about India’s strike bowler Amit Mishra, Duminy said: “Look it’s not only me who has played against him but all the other guys have also played against him. You kind of know what to expect. He has been on top form for India in this tournament. Definitely not going to take him lightly. We will do our homework and see that our game plan is in order.”

Copyright : gulfnews.com

Afridi blames negative mindset for loss against Windies

Senior all-rounder Shahid Afridi has blamed the negative mindset of the team for Pakistan`s defeat at the hands of the West Indies in the must-win league match of the ICC World Twenty20 in Bangladesh.

The defeat to the West Indies knocked Pakistan out of the tournament with former players and critics lashing out at the team for its appalling batting performance.

"It is the negative mindset of the players that brought about our downfall," Afridi told reporters after returning here from Dhaka along with coach Moin Khan and cricket consultant Zaheer Abbas.

Afridi without taking names dropped a clear hint that he was ready to accept the challenge of captaincy if given the chance.

"Look we just have to change our mindset and be fearless and positive. Ok we conceded lot of runs in the last few overs but it was still a gettable target for us but our batsman just played with the wrong attitude," Afridi insisted.

"In T20 or any other cricket you need to have a positive approach," he noted.

Afridi said there was no major problem with the team as it had some very good players who had won matches for Pakistan before against top sides.

"These same players performed well when we beat Australia so we have the right ployers but not the right attitude," he felt.

The all-rounder said he didn`t think captaincy was a major issue but changing the attitude of the players was a big one.

"Obviously one can understand the disappointment and anger of the people after the way we performed against the West Indies and we have to see where we went wrong," he said.

Asked if he would be willing to accept the captaincy, Afridi said for Pakistan cricket he was ready to take up any role or challenge.

Copyright : zeenews.india.com

Captain Alastair Cook admits England require a huge rebuild after awful winter

The 29-year-old is not part of the T20 squad so missed Tuesday's humiliation by Holland, but he was in charge for the mauling by Australia over the winter.

And Cook admits he and whoever is appointed new coach face a long slog to restore England to anywhere near the top of the world game.

"We don't know our best XI any more, there are a lot of places up for grabs and that makes it a very exciting time for English cricket," said Cook, who has the backing of the ECB to carry on as captain.

"You can't hide behind the five years of success we enjoyed before. We've had an incredibly tough winter and we didn't produce anywhere near the standards required.

"We've lost the core of the side - the coach and some very good senior players - and it's not going to be a quick fix. It's not going to turn again for us overnight.

"Andrew Strauss and Andy Flower started off from a similar spot to where we are now, after we were bowled out for 51 in Jamaica. This is a new era because it has to be that way," he said.

"We can't guarantee lots of great results straight away - that's not how international sport works - because we need to get those standards and skills back to where we were.

"It took two-and-a-half years of building momentum to the point where we reached No1 in the world, and it will take time to get back to that level.

"The Test side that won three Ashes series in a row has broken up quicker than we'd all imagined, but that provides an opportunity for guys to put themselves up for selection.

"But we can still win the Ashes in 2015, of course we can. You only have to look at Australia, who were 2-0 down after two Tests here in England last summer, and they bounced back very quickly."

Apart from getting the team back on track Cook has got to get some runs to make sure he is certain of a place as opener, and not just as skipper.

He averaged just 24 in the winter's Ashes series and needs some big scores for his own peace of mind, despite having the backing of the ECB to carry on as captain.

"Sometimes the harder you try, the worse it gets, and it's how you bounce back that really defines you," he said.

"I'm looking forward to getting out in the middle, but it's a very exciting time for my family (he is due to become a dad any day soon) and that's got to come first.

"If all is well, I'll be taking guard against Cambridge University next week."

Apart from his own form Cook will be keeping a close eye on Jonathan Trott, who made his playing return for Warwickshire yesterday four months after quitting the Ashes tour with fatigue.

In a two-day friendly against Gloucestershire at Edgbaston, Trott scored just four before being caught LBW.

WEST INDIES booked a place against Sri Lanka in tomorrow's World T20 semi-final when they beat Pakistan by 84 runs yesterday.

Copyright : dailystar.co.uk

ICC World T20: Injury scare for Yuvraj ahead of semi-final match against Proteas

Days after he regained form with a stupendous knock against Australia in the ICC World Twenty20, star Indian batsman Yuvraj Singh was seen limping towards the team bus after falling while playing football during team`s practice at the Dhaka academy.

The incident took place while the cricketers were enjoying a barefoot football session. Yuvraj slipped while running on the lush green outfield, after which he was seen walking towards the bus with a bandage wrapped around his knees.

The seriousness of the injury is yet to be known, however, from the body language of other players, it seemed nothing serious.

Yuvraj, who had struggled with his form in the first three matches, showed his class once again in the team`s fourth match against Australia, where he smashed 60 runs off just 43 balls.

India are the only unbeaten side in the ICC World T20 and they will take on South Africa in the second semi-final scheduled to be played at Shere Bangla National Stadium, Mirpur on Friday.

Copyright : zeenews.india.com

World T20 2014: Why we think that India cannot win the championship

The world T20 is around the corner and all the teams and fans are warming up to put up the contender ship for their respective countries. A total of 16 teams will be fighting for the title, 8 out of which would undergo a qualifying round before the main tournament starts.

The Indian team which has been on a bad run since the South African tour has a lot to worry about in the limited over format of the game. They have now lost 9 of their last 12 games, winning only two. Now the T2o format is an entirely different scenario than that of the 50 over format, but you can’t deny that the basic of the game is the same. India has not been able to give a complete team performance since the champions trophy now, and the lack of balance in the team is clearly visible. Here we take a look at the area of concern for the Indian team in the shorter format.

Now we are not talking about the IPL or any other domestic league, what we do want to put forward is that the Indian team last played a t20 international match on 10th October 2013 against the Australians, which they did manage to win due to career best figures from Yuvraj Singh. Before that India had not played another T20 in another 10 months, so for the records, they have played only one T20 international in the last 15 months. We can always argue that they get enough experience in the IPL, but we should also not forget that even the IPL was a year back

The bowling department has been one of the flaws that India has now carried for generations with themselves. We have never produced a bowler that can literally scare an opponent. Yes, there have been moments of brilliance by someone or the other and there has always been promise, but that never expands into anything. The team that is going to the T20 world cup is carrying the same bowling attack as the previous tournament. A bowling attack that has shown promise in the one day format, but T20 again is an entirely different format and we have seen again and again how the Indian bowlers crumble under pressure

The Indian middle order is far from what you can call as balanced. Yes we do have returning names like Yuvraj and Raina, who are huge when it comes to the T20 format but then even those two have not played any games at the international arena in the last 6 months or so. When it comes to cricket, practice and form matters, and these two far away from what you can call as good form, plus you also have the short ball problem with both of them. One might think that M S Dhoni would prove to be saviors as far as the middle order is concerned, but his record in T20 internationals doesn’t say much either as he is yet to score a half century in the shorter format. His strike rate also happens to be only 114.88 per 100 balls; something that is highly under achieving as far as M S Dhoni is concerned.

Another major concern is regarding the selection of the spinners, the team has management has yet not been able to decide about whom to play and whom to not. Since Ravindra Jadeja sure to play, considering his all-round performance in the recent tournaments, the team management will have to take a decision on whether to give chances to a newly sparked Amit Mishra or to maintain their Ashwin love affair, a love affair which doesn’t seem to bring about any profits when it’s required the most.

With so much to improve and so many hurdles to overcome, it seems very unlikely that the Indian team has any major chance of winning this world T20. We do believe in miracle, and one can give the example of the 2007 t20 world cup triumph as one, but a team can be one time lucky. Will luck do a favor on the Indian team for the second time? Only time will tell.

Copyright : india.com

UAE to host first stage of 2014 IPL cricket - organisers

The United Arab Emirates (UAE) will host the first leg of this year's Indian Premier League cricket (IPL), the organisers said on Wednesday.

The lucrative Twenty20 tournament this year clashes with the parliamentary election in the world's biggest democracy.  A staggering 814 million Indians will be eligible to vote from April 7 in what would be the biggest election the world has ever seen.

Voting will be held in nine stages, staggered until May 12, and results are due to be announced on May 16.  With poll security being the government's priority, UAE would host at least 16 IPL matches from April 16-30, the Indian cricket board said in a statement without naming the venues.

Local media claimed Abu Dhabi, Dubai and Sharjah would host those matches. The Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI) has approached the interior ministry for permission to host the May 1-12 matches in states where polling would be over, but has kept Bangladesh as a standby in case the government cannot provide security.

"BCCI will abide by the decision of the authorities in this regard. If it is not possible to play in India during this period, IPL matches will be held in Bangladesh," the board said.  

The last set of matches culminating in the June 1 final would be held in India, the board said, promising to share tournament schedules soon. South Africa hosted the second IPL in 2009 when the cash-awash tournament clashed with the multi-phased election that year.

Copyright : sabc.co.za

2nd Test, Day 4: India vs New Zealand – Statistical highlights

Wellington: Statistical highlights on day two of the second and final cricket Test between India and New Zealand at Basin Reserve, here on Saturday.

Ajinkya Rahane (118 off 158 balls) recorded his maiden Test century, surpassing the 96 vs South Africa at Durban in December last year. He became the fifth Indian batsman to record a Test hundred at Basin Reserve, joining Gautam Gambhir (167 in 2009), Ajit Wadekar (143 in 1968), Sachin Tendulkar (113 in 1998) and Mohammad Azharuddin (103 not out in 1998).

Rahane is the fifth Indian player to post a hundred while batting at number seventh position away from home. Kapil Dev remains the only one to have registered two hundreds - 100 not out at Port of Spain in March 1983 and 129 at Port Elizabeth in December 1992.

Mahendra Singh Dhoni (68) recorded his highest score in New Zealand in Tests, eclipsing the 56 not out at Wellington in April 2009. Overall he has registered three fifties in consecutive innings in New Zealand - all at Basin Reserve.

At Basin Reserve, Dhoni is averaging 88.00 - 176 in three innings, including three fifties. His sixth fifty against New Zealand is his 29th in Tests.

Rahane and Dhoni were associated in a stand of 120 - India`s highest for the seventh wicket at wellington and their second best in New Zealand, next only to the 128 between Kiran More and Sachin Tendulkar in the 1989-90 Napier Test.

Ishant Sharma (26 off 50 balls) has recorded his highest Test score outside the sub-continent besides posting his highest against New Zealand.

Dhoni completed his 3,000 runs as Indian skipper in Tests - his tally being 3037 at an average of 42.18 in 53 Tests, including five centuries and 20 fifties. Sunil Gavaskar (3449 (ave.50.72) in 47 Tests) was the first to achieve the distinction.

India (438) posted their highest total at Basin Reserve, eclipsing the 434 for seven wickets declared in April 2009.

India took a first innings lead of 246 against New Zealand - their highest in a Test match in New Zealand in the first innings. The lead is their second highest against New Zealand in the first innings in Tests behind the 376-run lead in the Nagpur Test in November 2010. The last instance when India had a first innings lead of 200 or more outside sub-continent was against New Zealand in the 2008-09 Hamilton Test.

India have accomplished a run-rate of 4.26 - their second highest outside the sub-continent when they have managed atleast 400 - their highest is 4.61 during their total of 482 off 104.3 overs against New Zealand at Auckland in February 1990.

Shikhar Dhawan (98) registered his third highest score in Tests behind the 187 on Test debut against Australia in March last year and 115 against New Zealand at Auckland in February last week.

Dhawan has amassed 213 at an average of 71.00, including a hundred - the highest by an Indian batsman in the current rubber. He has totalled 200 runs or more in a Test series forthe firt time.

Dhawan has become the fifth Indian player to be dismissed in the nervous nineties against New Zealand in New Zealand in Tests. Rusi Surti (99 at Auckland in 1968), Navjot Singh Sidhu (98 at Hamilton in 1994), W.V.Raman (96 at Christchurch in 1990) and Manoj Prabhakar (95 at Napier in 1990) had been the previous victims.

Watling has become the third New Zealand wicketkeeper to effect five dismissals in a Test innings at Basin Reserve, Wellington. He has joined Roy Harford (vs India in 1967-68) and Warren Lees (vs Sri Lanka in 1982-83).

Watling has become the first New Zealand wicketkeeper to effect five dismissals in a Test innings against India twice - Auckland and Wellington Tests in 2014. In three consecutive Tests, he has effected five dismissals or more in a Test innings - the first New Zealand wicketkeeper to do so.

With 14 dismissals in three innings in the current rubber, Watling is a New Zealand record against India in a Test series, eclipsing the 13 by Ian Smith in five innings in 1980-81. It is a New Zealand record in a two-Test series.

Rahane and Dhoni have provided the 12th instance when India`s number seven and eight have recorded half-centuries in the same Test innings.

Copyright : zeenews.india.com

Uncapped players hog auction limelight

Karn Sharma and Rishi Dhawan top the charts; Karnataka players also snapped up

Cricketers, who sweat it out in domestic cricket but almost inevitably miss the limelight and have to settle for a lesser remuneration package in the Indian Premier League, finally got their due.

The inclusion of uncapped players in the auction-list, a first in the IPL’s seven-year history, helped merit and market-forces determine their real worth and men like Karn Sharma and Rishi Dhawan will readily agree that they got their just reward.

The two topped the charts (for uncapped players) while the auction concluded at the ITC Gardenia Hotel here on Thursday. Karn Sharma earned Rs. 3.75 crore as Sunrisers Hyderabad pipped King’s XI Punjab and bagged the Railways leg-spinner.

Karn’s auction marked a busy morning in which auctioneer Richard Madley found more sales as the teams enriched their Indian component.

More than happy

Having played for Sunrisers in the past, Karn was more than happy to be back with a familiar team-environment. “It’s a great feeling to have been picked at such a high price. I am glad to go back to my team because we have jelled as a unit in the previous season and we will save time on team building.

“It was disappointing to have been left out of the Rest of India team and the World Twenty20 probables, because playing for the country is a different feeling. But now I am looking forward to doing well in the IPL,” said Karn.

Rishi Dhawan too triggered a bidding war as Preity Zinta (King’s XI Punjab) and Rahul Dravid (Rajasthan Royals) kept raising their paddles before the former India captain admitted that his team was out of the race.

The Himachal Pradesh fast bowler — highest wicket-taker (49) in the recent Ranji season — and a useful batsman, went for Rs. 3 crore.

“To be honest, I was very tense when the bidding was on. Now, I am very happy that my efforts this season have paid off. I am sure if I continue to play to my potential the selectors will take note of me.

“There are great players in the Kings XI Punjab team and I am looking forward to playing and at the same time learning from them,” said Dhawan.

Also rewarded for hard-work was Maharashtra’s Kedar Jadhav, who led the Ranji run-chart this year at 1,223. He was picked up by Delhi Daredevils for Rs. 2 crore.

Scaled down expectations

The batsman, however, had to scale down his expectations. “My fine run in the Ranji Trophy where I finished as the top run getter obviously helped. But I did expect to go for a higher price so my price fell below my expectations. But I guess the franchisees didn’t have too much money left.”

The auction also recognised Karnataka’s successful run in the Ranji Trophy and Irani Cup. Players like K.L. Rahul, Manish Pandey, Mayank Agarwal and Karun Nair found respectable numbers in currency though Mumbai Indians got C.M. Gautam at a steal for Rs. 20 lakh!

The auction’s final day wasn’t just about unsung Indian players gaining those extra bucks and belated recognition, it was also about a few comeback stories.

Ross Taylor, who was overlooked on Wednesday, was brought back into the auction-pool and found a buyer at his Rs. 2 crore base price in Delhi Daredevils.

But there was a touch of bewilderment too as Mahela Jayawardene and Angelo Mathews, reinstated to the auction list on the insistence of the team-owners, were again ignored!

In all 154 players were sold over the two days and now it is time for the teams to firm up their preparations while also keeping an eye on the IPL’s probable venue that will be determined entirely by the imminent general elections.

Copyright : thehindu.com

RCB is a place where I can express myself: Yuvraj

BANGALORE: Indian Premier League's costliest player Yuvraj Singh feels that Royal Challengers Bangalore is a team where he can express himself in the company of star cricketers like Virat Kohli and Chris Gayle.

IPL 7 Auction: Full Coverage | Who got whom | Team compositions

Yuvraj was brought by RCB for a whopping Rs 14 crore on the opening day of the two-day IPL 7 players' auction on Wednesday, thereby becoming the most expensive player purchased at the IPL auctions.

Even though he is conscious about the expectations he will have to face after getting the top pay packet, Yuvraj feels RCB will provide him the perfect platform to "express" his talent.

"I am very happy to go to RCB and I am looking forward to playing alongside the likes of Chris Gayle and AB (de Villiers) and all the other great guys in the team. I just feel that I am going to a place where I can express myself," he said.

"Everyone is talking about my being the highest-paid player and being bought for so much at an auction, that also means that there is a lot of focus on you and on how you have to win matches, it adds responsibility.

"In RCB, we've got a lot of guys who are match winners on their own -- Gayle, AB, Virat (Kohli), Albie (Morkel), (Ravi) Rampaul all can just take games away single-handed. It's a great bunch. It is great that in that kind of environment, I can go and express myself," said the flamboyant left-hander, who was the player of the tournament in India's 2011 World Cup triumph.

Yuvraj outpriced Gautam Gambhir who was the most expensive player before IPL 7 auctions, with a price of Rs 11.04 crore from Kolkata Knight Riders in 2011.

Yuvraj's whooping price tag came as surprise for many as of late he has been out of the Indian team due to poor form.

Although he got a cold shoulder from the national selectors for the 50-over Asia Cup in Bangladesh, Yuvraj has found out a place in Indian squad for the ICC World Twenty20 to be held in Bangladesh after the continental ODI championship.

"But the World T20 is up first and that's what I'm focussed at the moment and I am trying to play as much domestic cricket as I can to prepare myself for that. I hope for the best," said Yuvraj, who made a remarkable comeback to international cricket after successfully battling cancer.

"I'm not looking at making any big statement. At the end of the season, it's not like I have to prove anything to anyone else (about) what I can do. I have to prove to myself that I have it in me," he said.

"You are not going to be thinking about what others are thinking and what you must prove to them. You have to prove things to yourself and that is what I am looking to do with all the opportunities I get," he added.

Copyright : timesofindia.indiatimes.com

New Zealand has bowlers to take 20 Indian wickets: Brendon McCullum

New Zealand captain Brendon McCullum today said he has bowlers at his disposal to take 20 Indian wickets after the Kiwis rode on the skipper's unbeaten double century to take an upperhand in the ongoing first cricket Test, here today.

McCullum's sparkling 224 guided New Zealand to a commanding 503 in their first innings before the hosts reduced India to 130 for four at the send of second day's play. But McCullum said he had never imagined that the Kiwis would reach the 500-run mark after they were reduced to 30 for three in the morning session of first day's proceedings yesterday. "I thought we will get 200-odd runs, because when you are 30/3 down, you are thinking about small targets and getting a competitive score. Never did I think that after 30/3 in those conditions, we would end up getting 500 runs and for this batting line-up, I think that is a fine achievement," he said. "We have bowlers to take 20 wickets if we give them enough runs and I think we have given them enough runs," said McCullum, after the second day's play was called off early due to bad light.

McCullum opined with India opener Murali Vijay and said the new ball was creating problems for the batsmen initially. "The new ball is stopping a bit, when it is hard. We saw that with Ishant (Sharma) when the ball was changed in the morning and the pitch started to stop a little bit. Short catches in front of the wicket will become crucial as the game goes on," said the Kiwi skipper agreeing with Vijay's assertion that new ball hurting the batsmen of both teams. "So, to get two wickets in the first over was outstanding, especially (Cheteshwar) Pujara's wicket because he can bat for weeks. It's nice to get him pretty early. They had a nice partnership going in the end, but it means that we still have a hard ball tomorrow morning. There is a slightly earlier start and I am hoping for an overcast morning with some swing," he added. 

Copyright : dnaindia.com

Legends are back! Tendulkar, Warne reunite for special ODI at Lord's

Sachin Tendulkar and spin maestro Shane Warne will be seen back on the cricket field in a special ODI at Lord's 

Indian batting legend Sachin Tendulkar and iconic Australian spinner Shane Warne have reportedly been confirmed as captains for a match marking the 200th anniversary of the Lord's cricket ground.

Tendulkar will lead the Marylebone Cricket Club (MCC), the owners of the northwest London venue, while Warne will head a 'Rest of the World' side in a 50-overs per side match at the 'home of cricket' on July 5.

According to News.com.au, Tendulkar's former India teammate Rahul Dravid has also been included in the MCC XI and will make a return to the scene where he scored 95 on his Test debut, against England in 1996.

Stating that he was looking forward to the fixture, Tendulkar, who scored a hundred in the Diana Princess of Wales Memorial Match at Lord's in 1998, said that he is honoured to be asked to captain MCC in such a prestigious game, adding that he is looking forward to helping celebrate the bicentenary of Lord's as it is a special place to play cricket.

Tendulkar, who was presented with an MCC Honorary Life Membership in 2010, also said that it will be a privilege to play at the 'home of cricket' once again, while Warne, who took 19 wickets in four Tests at Lord's, said that he is sure that the match will be a lot of fun.

Meanwhile MCC president Mike Gatting, who was involved in a similar, star-studded, match in 1987 when he scored 179 for MCC in a five-day fixture marking the 200th anniversary of the club, promised 'more big names' for the fixture in the 'coming weeks'.

Copyright : indiatoday.intoday.in

Umar Akmal: Pakistan cricketer arrested after traffic warden row

Pakistan batsman Umar Akmal has been arrested in Lahore after being accused of assaulting a police warden.

Akmal, 23, denied the charges and said the traffic warden had slapped him.

"His behaviour was inappropriate to say the least. I came to the police station to register a complaint and instead they have detained me," said Akmal.

However, senior police official Tariq Aziz said Akmal had "violated a traffic signal and when he was stopped by the warden got abusive and tore his shirt."

The right-handed batsman, who is an occasional wicketkeeper in limited-overs cricket but has never kept in a Test, has made 16 Test, 89 one-day international and 52 Twenty20 international appearances for Pakistan.

Akmal's brothers Kamran and Adnan - also wicketkeepers - have also played for Pakistan.

Umar Akmal claims the incident was captured on CCTV cameras at the traffic signal and the footage would clear his name.

Copyright : bbc.com