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Tuesday, February 23, 2010

India safe to host ICC Cricket World Cup, says Haroon Lorgat

ICC chief executive Haroon Lorgat has expressed optimism that all major cricket nations would work in accord to ensure that next year's ICC Cricket World Cup does not get derailed in the wake of growing terror threat to the host country, India.

"The World Cup is the big piece of work that we have to deliver and we intend to do so. The whole issue of security is dynamic, but we will assess it very carefully and implement whatever measures are necessary to ensure safety and security. I do not share the same concerns for India as Pakistan," The News quoted Lorgat, as saying.

Clouds of concern began looming large over next year's world cup after the leakage of a security report that advises cricketers to seriously consider withdrawing from the Indian Premier League due of credible terrorism threat by al-Qaeda.

Written by the England team's security advisor Reg Dickason, the report has been commissioned by players' associations in England, Australia and South Africa.

The report further antagonises relations between IPL commissioner Lalit Modi and FICA chief executive Tim May.

Any major disruption to the IPL would automatically put next year's World Cup in difficulty, with India co-hosting it with Sri Lanka and Bangladesh as a major party.

However, Lorgat is confident that the ICC's willingness to work in partnership by setting up security officers in each member nation will maintain unanimity in the build-up to the World Cup.

"We have established a quality network of security managers at each of the full member boards and through that we can develop a far better co-ordinated approach to safety and security," he said.

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India look to seal series and No. 2 spot in ICC Rankings

After escaping with a narrow win in Jaipur, India would aim to plug their bowling loopholes and seal the three-match series to retain the number two spot in ICC rankings when they take on South Africa in the second ODI on Wednesday.

The Indian batsmen are in good nick but the worrying factor for the hosts is the bowling department as they leaked too many runs in the series opener and received an unexpected bashing at the hands of tail-enders Dale Steyn and Wayne Parnell in Jaipur.

What looked like a one-sided contest in India's favour at one stage became an edge-of-the-seat thriller as the host bowlers let go their grip over the match with their wayward line. India, though, managed to pull it off by just a run, the closest of victory margins.

It was a psychological blow for the South Africans, who have been labelled chokers for losing close matches on a regular basis, but they are expected to come hard at the Indians in do-or-die tie at the Captain Roop Singh Stadium.

They failed to dislodge India from the number one spot in Test rankings after losing the Kolkata Test so the Proteas would do everything to give themselves a chance to at least snatch back the number two position in the One-day rankings.

The team who which wins this series will end the year as number two behind world champions Australia.

India's gamble of playing only three specialist bowlers - all pacers - paid off in Jaipur, but skipper Mahendra Singh Dhoni must be scratching his head while weighing his options for Wednesday's tie.

India do not have much of a choice in the absence of Zaheer Khan and Harbhajan Singh, and Dhoni is most likely to go with the same combination.

He will hope that part-timers Ravindra Jadeja and Yusuf Pathan would yet again contribute in stifling the South African innings and the pace trio of Ashish Nehra, Praveen Kumar and S Sreesanth will put up a better show.

Sreesanth was off colour in Jaipur and it remains to be seen if the team management retains him or calls up Uttar Pradesh paceman Sudeep Tyagi.

Since Jadeja and Pathan have done well, leg-spinner Amit Mishra is unlikely to get a call.

As the curator has predicted a batting paradise for the match, Indian batsmen would aim to convert good starts into big knocks.

Putting up a big total, on batting first, is the only way to put pressure on South Africa and the tried and tested Virender Sehwag along with Sachin Tendulkar will be key to India's plan.

Due to a sore back, Sehwag did not field in the first match but India is not in danger of missing his services as the team management has hinted that there is nothing serious.

Dinesh Karthik, Suresh Raina, Virat Kohli and Jadeja did reasonably well in Jaipur to help India post a fighting total.

For South Africa, the swashbuckling opening pair of Loots Bosman and Herschelle Gibbs has to strike form for the visitors.

The ever-reliable stand-in skipper Jacques Kallis is a solid pillar in the visitors middle-order and can shape the innings quite well but he needs support at the other end to make his innings count.

History favours the hosts at this venue since out of nine matches they have played here, seven have resulted in victory for India.

The Teams (from):

India: M S Dhoni (captain), Sachin Tendulkar, Virender Sehwag, Virat Kohli, Dinesh Karthik, Suresh Raina, Ravindra Jadeja, R Ashwin, Ashish Nehra, Sudeep Tyagi, Praveen Kumar, Abhishek Nayar, Yusuf Pathan and Amit Mishra.

South Africa: Graeme Smith (captain), Loots Bosman, Johan Botha, Mark Boucher, AB de Villiers Jean-Paul Duminy, Herschelle Gibbs, Jacques Kallis, Charl Langeveldt, Albie Morkel, Morne Morkel, Wayne Parnell, Alviro Petersen, Dale Steyn, Lonwabo Tsotsobe, Roelof van der Merwe.

Venue: Captain Roop Singh Stadium

Time: Live on NEO Cricket at 14:30 (IST)

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Monday, February 22, 2010

India, South Africa teams arrive in Gwalior for 2nd ODI

The cricket teams of India and South Africa on Monday arrived for the second ODI to be held on Wednesday.

The teams landed at around 1330 hours and headed to their respective hotel.

While the Indian team is staying at the Usha Kiran Hotel Palace, South African players are in Central Park Hotel.

Both the teams will take the day off and practice on Tuesday. The Indian will practice in the morning and the South Africans will have their net session in the afternoon.

India lead the three-match series 1-0 after winning by a run in the first ODI in Jaipur last night.

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Sunday, January 31, 2010

West Zone enters Duleep Trophy final

As expected, West Zone breezed into the final of the Duleep Trophy on the basis of their huge 475-run first innings lead after their semi-final match against North Zone ended in a tame draw here on Friday.

Resuming at their overnight score of 56 for one, West Zone declared their second innings at 345 for seven, a few overs before the start of the mandatory overs.

The only highlight of the day was centuries by Cheteshwar Pujara and Rohit Sharma. The duo, who got together after the quick dismissal of Parthiv Patel (31) and skipper Wasim Jaffer (6) this morning, added 172 runs for the fourth wicket.

Pujara, promoted to open the innings, made 110 runs from 171 balls with the help of 16 fours. Sharma was more aggressive of the two, scoring 116 runs off 129 balls.

His knock was studded with five sixes and 11 fours. All-rounder Ravindra Jadeja, too, chipped in with a useful knock of 56.

For North Zone, Vikas Mishra was the pick off the bowlers with figures of 4-96, while Parvindar Awana, Rajat Bhatia and Ravi Inder Singh shared a wicket each.

After amassing a mammoth 769 runs in the first innings, West Zone bundled out the visitors for 294. However, they chose not to enforce the follow-on and opted for batting practice instead.

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Sunday, January 10, 2010

CricketPulse Monday Morning Roundup January 4-10

Here is the summary of all cricket news published on Cricket Pulse from January 4th to January 10th.

Mumbai take on Karnataka in Ranji final

Eric Simons frontrunner for bowling coach's job

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Mumbai take on spirited Karnataka in Ranji final

A buoyant Karnataka will strive to end their 11-year drought when they cross swords with 38-time champions Mumbai in the Ranji Trophy final, commencing from Monday at Gangotri Glades ground here.

Powered by an array of exciting batsmen and bowlers, Karnataka topped the Super League phase with 28 points from six matches before overcoming Punjab and Uttar Pradesh en route to the final round.

Batting being Mumbai's forte, Karnataka are hoping that Abhimanyu Mithun (38 wickets in eight matches), who has been the cynosure on several occasions this season, R Vinay Kumar (39 in seven) and Sreenath Aravind (26 in seven) would make their performance count when it matters most.

It would be interesting to see how Mumbai encounter the quick Mithun on a track which is expected to generate pace and bounce besides encouraging lateral movements off the seam.

Pin-point accuracy and pace have been the 21-year-old's weapon in the tournament so far, but bowling to the batsmen who are more accumulators than strokemakers would be a test of Mithun's temperament.

The Mithun factor apart, Mumbai will have to contend with the swerve and verve of Vinay Kumar who has played a pivotal role in previous outings. The pacer would like to put up some extra efforts in the final to fetch glory for his team and at the same time catch attention of the national selectors.

Veteran left-arm spinner Sunil Joshi would also like to bid adieu to the first class cricket on a title-winning high.

A triumph here would add icing to his record of being the third highest wicket-taker in the Ranji Trophy after Rajinder Singh Goel and S Venkatraghavan.

But Wasim Jaffer-led Mumbai have the reputation of holding the fort and batting out opponents in key matches.

Ajinkya Rahane, this season's top run-getter with 791 under his belt, Jaffer (627) himself and Sahil Kukreja (588) have been in the thick of runs for Mumbai.

Ajit Agarkar (391), Abhishek Nayar and Ramesh Powar have so far done well whenever Mumbai's chips have been down. As the records manifest, the Mumbaikars' have the penchant and resolve to perform in crucial ties, reflected in the number of times they have wrested the title.

The Mumbai attack, which also boast of Dhawal Kulkarni and Iqbal Abdulla, has not been penetrative thus far in the season. The bowlers will have to fire in unison if they are to arrest the run-scoring spree of Karnataka batsmen.

Kulkarni, who was laid low by an injury, returns to the Mumbai eleven, while Balachandra Akhil comes to replace Rahul Dravid, who made a unbeaten 209 in semifinal against Uttar Pradesh.

Karnataka: Robin Uthappa (C), KB Pawan, Ganesh Satish, Manish Pandey, R Vinay Kumar, Amit Verma, Muralidharan Gautam, Sunil Joshi, Abhimanyu Mithun, Sreenath Aravind, Balachandra Akhil, Stuart Binny, Udit Patel, KP Appanna, Aditya Sagar.

Mumbai: Wasim Jaffer (C), Ajit Agarkar, Ramesh Powar, Praful Waghela, Sahil Kukreja, Ajinkya Rahane, Prashant Naik, Usman Malvi, Vinayak Samant, Dhawal Kulkarni, Sushant Marathe, O Khanvilkar, Avishkar Salvi, Iqbal Abdulla, Abhishek Nayar.

Umpires: Amiesh Saheba, Sanjay Hazare.

Third umpire: S Ravi.

Match referee: Subramanyam Ramesh.

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Eric Simons emerges as frontrunner for bowling coach job

Former South African cricketer Eric Simons has emerged as a frontrunner for taking over as the bowling coach of the Indian cricket team.

Although the Cricket Board has not made a formal announcement about his appointment yet, it is learnt that Simons will be asked to take up the assignment on a trial basis.

Simons, a former cricketer who played 23 One-day Internationals and was also South Africa's coach from 2002 to 2004, may be asked to join the squad in Bangladesh before the first Test gets underway in Chittagong from January 17.

Another former South African paceman Allan Donald was also in the fray for the job but Simons appears to be the favourite now.

Coach Gary Kirsten, it is learnt, is keen to have Simons on board after former India paceman Venkatesh Prasad was sacked from the post in October just before the home series against Australia.

When contacted, BCCI's Chief Administrative Officer Ratnakar Shetty said no decision has been taken yet. "We are looking for a bowling coach but we have not finalised a name yet," he said.

A top source said the BCCI first wants to trial Simons in the ongoing series against Bangladesh to give the team sufficient time to have a comfort level with him.

Hailing from South Africa's Western Province, all-rounder Simons made his international debut at the age of 32 and took just 33 wickets and scored 217 runs in 23 ODIs.

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Thursday, January 7, 2010

Mumbai in Ranji Trophy final

Mumbai played so well on the first three days of this Ranji Trophy semi-final against Delhi, that a mediocre, listless performance from them on the final day, in which they lost six wickets for just 64 runs in the pre-lunch session, didn't have any impact on the result.

Resuming at 123 for four in their second innings after deciding against enforcing the follow on, Mumbai were shot out by for 187 on Wednesday as the CCI pitch aided turn on every ball.

For Delhi, it was a case of too late, too little, though they would be proud of what their 17-year-old left-arm spinner achieved out of this 'supposed-to-be-close-game'.

Vikas Mishra returned creditable figures of six for 49 to finish with ten wickets (10-137) in the game. Delhi lost the match once they conceded a 289-run lead, but they have gained in Mishra a spinner who could serve them for long.

Amidst all this, Mumbai showed why exactly they are marching into yet another final. Pacers Usman Malvi and Avishkar Salvi held on for the tenth wicket for 59 minutes and 113 balls, starving Delhi for the final wicket while adding 21 runs. "We wanted to bowl as less as possible. Both knew that they would be the ones who would have to bowl if the innings got over, as Ajit Agarkar wanted rest," said a grinning Mumbai skipper Wasim Jaffer later.

Brief Scores: Mumbai (1st innings): 500 and (2nd innings) 187 (S Kukreja 71, Mishra 6-49) Delhi (1st innings): 211 and 2nd innings (S Dhawan 40, I Abdulla 3-53).

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Tuesday, January 5, 2010

3rd Test: Morne Morkel, Dale Steyn keep England in check

South African fast bowlers Morne Morkel and Dale Steyn took three wickets each as England were made to work hard for runs on the second day of the third Test at Newlands on Monday.

England were 241 for seven at the close, 50 behind South Africa's first innings total of 291.

Thanks mainly to Morkel, who took three for 57, and Steyn (three for 64), England were unable to take control despite ripping through the South African lower batting order early in the day.

Seven wickets fell during a dramatic morning's play, with South Africa losing their last four wickets for 12 runs in 17 balls at the start of the day and England slumping to 64 for three at lunch.

Another wicket fell soon after the interval when Paul Collingwood was leg before wicket to Morne Morkel for 19.

Alastair Cook (65) and Ian Bell (48) put on 60 for the fifth wicket and there were further useful partnerships of 41 between Bell and Matt Prior (50 not out) and 51 between Prior and Stuart Broad (25).

But every time it seemed England were getting on top one of the South African bowlers would strike to make the game even again.

Cook followed up his century when England won the second Test in Durban by an innings and 98 runs with another careful innings, leaving many deliveries and waiting for the right ball to hit.

He took 112 balls to post his fifty, hitting five fours, and faced 136 balls before scooping a catch to midwicket off Morkel.

Bell, another century-maker in Durban, never got on top of the bowling and faced 121 balls before slapping a short ball from Jacques Kallis to backward point.

Prior overcame a shaky start, playing and missing several times, but went on to reach his half-century in the final over of the day.

England fast bowler James Anderson took three wickets for one run at the start of play as South Africa's remaining batsmen succumbed rapidly.

Anderson finished with five for 63, his eighth five-wicket haul in Tests, but the key breakthrough came from fellow paceman Graham Onions, who dismissed South African centurion Kallis with the second ball of the day without adding to his overnight score of 108.

With the second new ball still virtually new, the tail was swept aside by Anderson.

But South Africa struck back almost immediately when Morkel had England captain Andrew Strauss caught behind for two, driving at the last ball of the first over of the England innings.

Cook and Jonathan Trott took the total to 36 before Steyn, who came on as first change, took two wickets in three balls.

Trott was bowled off an inside edge for 20. Kevin Pietersen was greeted by a bouncer, which he ducked under, but then pushed a full, swinging delivery back to a delighted bowler.

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Idea Cup: Injured Tillakaratne Dilshan likely to miss match against India

In-form Sri Lankan opening batsman Tillakaratne Dilshan is almost certain to miss Tuesday's match against India after he suffered a groin injury during the tri-series opener against hosts Bangladesh in Mirpur on Monday.

Dilshan, who masterminded his side to a seven-wicket victory over Bangladesh with a 122-ball 104 at the Sher-e-Bangla Stadium, suffered a groin injury during the 34th over of the Sri Lankan innings and he is unlikely to play against India on Tuesday.

"Dilshan has pulled a muscle in the groin region. We are hoping that he will be able to play at some point in the tournament," Sangakkara, who came out as runner in the 35th over for Dilshan, said after the match.

Going on from where he left off in India, Dishan played through the pain and scored his third century in six matches.

The Lankan lions will hope to avenge their recent series loss by getting the better of India on Tuesday.

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Monday, January 4, 2010

Steve Waugh to be inducted into ICC Hall of Fame

Former Australian captain Steve Waugh, along with four others, would be inducted into the International Cricket Council's Hall of Fame in Sydney on Monday.

Australian cricket legends Victor Trumper, Bill O'Reilly, Keith Miller and Ray Lindwall will be inducted posthumously.

The induction ceremony will be held during the tea break of the second day of the ongoing second Test between Australia and Pakistan.

Meanwhile, nine New South Wales cricket volunteers will also be honoured for their contribution to the game and will receive an ICC Centenary Volunteer Medal before start of play.

Waugh will do an open-car lap of the SCG at the tea break and will be presented with the ICC Hall of Fame cap, while the families of the late Trumper, O'Reilly, Miller and Lindwall will accept ICC Hall of Fame caps on behalf of the former greats.

The inductees are among 15 Australians who were inducted during 2009 when the ICC Hall of Fame was created to celebrate the ICC Centenary, Cricket Australia said in a statement.

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Ranji Trophy: Pandey, Pawan propel Karnataka

Half centuries from Manish Pandey (66) and K B Pawan (52) helped Karnataka make a steady 255 for four on the opening day of their Ranji Trophy semi-final against Uttar Pradesh at the M Chinnaswamy stadium.

A composed Rahul Dravid (37 not out) and R Vinay Kumar (7 not out) were at the crease, promising to consolidate hosts' position on a hurriedly prepared slow and low deck.

Opting to bat, Karnataka began on a sedate note with Robin Uthappa (32) and K B Pawan producing a 42-run stand for the first wicket.

Uthappa was in good nick before committing hara kiri, unsuccessfully attempting to paddle sweep left arm spinner Praveen Gupta.

Umpire Sanjay Hazare had no hesitation whatsoever in adjudging Uthappa leg before the wicket.

Pawan, a prolific run-getter this season, frustrated Uttar Pradesh with his dour defence in the company of a confidence-personified Ganesh Satish (49).

They were in complete command before left-arm medium pacer R P Singh produced two wickets in five balls, having Pawan and Satish snared behind the wickets by Amir Khan.

But Dravid, in imperious form this Ranji season, and Manish Pandey thwarted the sudden Uttar Pradesh surge, raising 108 runs for the fourth wicket.

Pandey was the dominant partner, punching through the off and driving through the on with élan. His stroke play and timing was a treat to watch, as he caressed the cherry with effortless ease to the pickets.

With his bowlers unable to find the breakthrough, Mohammad Kaif summoned the second new ball close to the end of first day's play.

It paid dividend as Pandey, who had taken his season's aggregate to a whopping 724 runs, waved his willow at a distant Praveen Kumar delivery for Kaif to complete an overhead catch at the second slip.

Brief Score:
Karnataka: 255 for four in 95 overs (M Pandey 66, K Pawan 52; RP Singh 2/53).

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Ranji Trophy: Nayar's unbeaten ton lifts Mumbai against Delhi

All-rounder Abhishek Nayar cracked an unbeaten 111 after coming into the Mumbai side following an injury lay-off to help the holders recover from a difficult pre-lunch period on the opening day of their Ranji Trophy semifinal against Delhi in Mumbai on Sunday.

Reduced to 86 for three on a bouncy pitch, Mumbai staged a remarkable recovery, thanks mainly to Nayar's gritty display and his two significant partnerships with Onkar Khanvilkar (70) and Ajit Agarkar (57 not out).

At stumps, the 38-time champions were at a sound 329 for four in 83 overs, which looked a distant dream when they had lost their top three batsmen, including skipper Wasim Jaffer, by the 25th over in an extended first session.

Nayar added 145 runs for the fourth wicket with another left-handed batsman Khanvilkar off 221 balls to steady the rocking boat on either side of lunch and then put on 98 runs during a breezy, unbroken fifth-wicket partnership with the free-stroking Agarkar to consolidate the innings.

Towards close Nayar, who missed Mumbai's last three games due to a hand injury, suffered cramps in the right hand but his partnership with Agarkar, which produced a near-century stand in only 105 minutes, has swung the match towards the hosts.

But the morning session, after Mumbai captain Jaffer won the toss and elected to bat at Brabounrne Stadium, belonged to the visiting team with paceman Ishant Sharma breathing fire from one end with pace and lift.

Ishant sent back Mumbai's mainstay Jaffer (7) cheaply, who chose to open the innings with Sahil Kukreja, by trapping the right-handed batsman leg before when the home team skipper tried to flick to leg.

Ishant came back for his second spell and sent another top Mumbai batsman Ajinkya Rahane's (29) off stump reeling, as he too tried injudiciously to play across the line, to reduce the hosts to a worrisome 86 for three.

In between these two dismissals Parwinder Awana made a ball climb up from good length and had Kukreja (29) caught behind by Puneet Bisht to make Mumbai 56 for two in the 18th over.

But the left-handed pair of Nayar and Khanvilkar weathered the storm with some judicious batting to take Mumbai to 100 without further loss at lunch.

Sharma was off the field soon for 20 minutes after resumption and his absence saw the fourth wicket pair slowly and steadily growing in confidence.

Nayar, subdued in the beginning, started attacking the bowling and slammed off spinner Mithun Manhas for sixes over the straight field in successive balls to break free of the shackles and from that stage Mumbai held sway.

Brief score:
Mumbai: 329 for four in 83 overs (A Nayar 111n.o., O Khanvilkar 70; I Sharma 2/48).

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