ICC to inspect pitches for World Cup

The ICC's pitch consultant, Andy Atkinson, will be visiting India in early September to inspect six out of the eight venues in the country for the 2011 World Cup. Among the six is the Feroz Shah Kotla in Delhi, the host for the controversial India-Sri Lanka ODI in December 2009 which was abandoned due to an unfit pitch.
"Atkinson is on a week-long visit in the first week of September to inspect six out of eight World Cup match hosting centres in India," Ratnakar Shetty, the BCCI's chief administrative officer, said.
Mohali and Nagpur are the venues Atkinston will not be visiting. "He would be visiting the other six centres (Delhi, Kolkata, Bangalore, Chennai, Mumbai and Ahmedabad). Anyway barring Delhi, Mumbai and Kolkata, the other centres are to host international matches against Australia and New Zealand and we would know their preparedness," Shetty said. "Mumbai, Kolkata and Delhi would host some first-class games before the World Cup."
Atkinson had inspected the Kotla pitch on February 14 and 15 earlier this year and was happy with the remedial work under the supervision of Venkat Sundaram, former head of the BCCI curators' panel. The ground continued to host IPL games this summer.

Khalid Latif leads Pakistan to bronze

Pakistan won bronze at the Asian Games by thumping Sri Lanka by six wickets in the third-place play-off in Guangzhou. Pakistan captain, Khalid Latif, who is their only player with international experience, made an unbeaten half-century and combined with 19-year-old Bilawal Bhatti, who hadn't played any Twenty20s before this tournament, for a quick 56-run stand that completed the victory with two overs to spare.
"It was important to stay at the wicket till the end," Latif said after the win, "something I could not do against Afghanistan, but managed it today against a top side like Sri Lanka. Of course we would have wanted to win the gold medal, but at least we will go home with a bronze."
Sri Lanka's batting has let them down in their previous two matches, but they began confidently on Friday after choosing to bat, with the experienced pair of Nuwan Zoysa and Jeevantha Kulatunga putting on 52. Zoysa, who played 30 Tests for Sri Lanka as a left-arm seamer, has opened the innings for them in the Asian Games, and made a run-a-ball 24, while Kulatunga raced to 31. However, Sri Lanka frittered away the solid beginning as all their other batsmen, barring Dilshan Munaweera (28), made single-digit scores.
Sri Lanka kept their hopes of a medal with some regular breakthroughs. Any worries Pakistan had after they slipped to 85 for 4, though, were eased by Latif, who smashed three sixes in an over off legspinner Malinga Bandara. Bhatti finished off the match in style, with a six off Zoysa, which meant Sri Lanka will return empty-handed.
Sri Lankan captain Jehan Mubarak dismissed suggestions that his team, with 11 international players in their ranks, took the tournament lightly. "Not at all, we all wanted to win, but I think we did not adapt to the conditions quickly enough," he said.

Brilliant Shakib knocks down New Zealand

Bangladesh rode on an outstanding all-round performance from Shakib Al Hasan to beat New Zealand by nine runs in Mirpur, making Daniel Vettori's pre-match comments about his ability seem almost clairvoyant.
Shakib was scintillating with the bat in the latter part of Bangladesh's innings, unleashing a range of shots in the batting Powerplay to lift Bangladesh to a competitive 229. He then tormented the visitors with the ball, scalping four invaluable wickets including a double-strike in the 15th over to remove the rampant Brendon McCullum and Grant Elliott. He then returned to bowl a brilliant penultimate over in the rain-curtailed run chase, giving away just three runs and claiming the wicket of Nathan McCullum to give his side an unexpected 1-0 lead in the five-match series.
Bangladesh's hopes of defending the smallish total suffered a huge dent when they lost their captain and strike bowler, Mashrafe Mortaza, to a sprained ankle after bowling just one over. The blow left the inexperienced Nazmul Hossain and the hosts' spinners to step up considerably, and vice-captain Shakib to take over the familiar captain's role for the rest of the match.
Brendon McCullum's devastating form at the top of the order exacerbated the problem for Bangladesh as he set about blasting the attack to all corners for 61 off 45 deliveries. He plundered boundaries at will, cutting and pulling short balls ferociously as well as slamming the fuller deliveries over cover and down the ground. Jesse Ryder too got in on the action, hitting three boundaries in his innings of 21, before chipping Shakib to short midwicket with the score on 53 in the seventh over.
Brendon McCullum used his feet against all the bowlers, with a particularly majestic straight strike off Naeem Islam in the eleventh over standing out. His fancy footwork, however, ultimately led to his undoing when he danced passed a dipping delivery from Shakib. Elliot followed two balls later to leave the visitors wobbling at 84 for 4 before the rain that had threatened through the day became heavy enough for the umpires to call for the covers.
When play resumed, New Zealand were left chasing 210 from 37 overs: a target Ross Taylor and Daniel Vettori set about hauling in systematically. Vettori was adjudged out after pulling a chest-high full toss straight to deep square leg, though the third umpire ruled it as a no-ball after the batsman asked for a referral. That was the second controversial umpiring incident of the day, following a stumping that should have been given during the Bangladesh innings, when Junaid Siddique survived after being caught out of his crease.
Vettori did not last long however, top-edging a sweep to short fine leg for 24. Shanan Stewart and Ross Taylor followed soon after, leaving the visitors in deep waters. Kyle Mills and Nathan McCullum kept trying, but were no match for a Shakib special in the penultimate over. Nazmul then successfully defended 17 in the last over to spark off scenes of jubilation in the stands.
Earlier, New Zealand's slow bowlers strangled Bangladesh after a solid start. Vettori was at his miserly best, finishing with 2 for 29 from his ten overs, while Nathan McCullum and Ryder also made inroads into the Bangladesh line-up.
Opener Imrul Kayes fell to Kyle Mills after a 34-run stand for the first wicket, but Shahriar Nafees played intelligently for his 35, mixing firm defense with calculated aggression, before Vettori's introduction made an immediate impact.
He removed Nafees with a quick yorker in his second over, as Bangladesh began to feel the pinch. Wickets continued to fall at regular intervals, with only Shakib managing to come to grips with the slowish surface. He began smartly against the seamers in the middle overs before exploding in the 45th, pulling Tim Southee for consecutive boundaries and then slamming Andy McKay down the ground in the following over to bring up his half-century. An inventive scoop and a crash through the covers off Mills raised hopes of 240, before a slower ball ended his stay. A couple of lusty blows from Mortaza lifted the score to 229, a score which ultimately proved sufficient.

Sangakkara reclaims top spot in Test ratings

Kumar Sangakkara, the Sri Lanka captain, has reclaimed the top spot in the ICC Test rankings for batsmen, ending Sachin Tendulkar's short-lived stay at the head of the table.
Sangakkara's performance in the first two Tests of the ongoing series against West Indies coincided with Tendulkar's modest returns against New Zealand, leading to a swap at the top. Sangakkara has so far scored 228 runs in the West Indies series, taking him to 882 rating points, 23 clear of Tendulkar who could manage only one half-century in four innings against New Zealand. Virender Sehwag is in the third place, nine points behind Tendulkar, while Jacques Kallis is fourth, with 806.
South Africa's AB de Villiers and England's Jonathan Trott have broken into the top ten for the first time, following strong performances against Pakistan and Australia respectively. de Villiers amassed an unbeaten 278 in Abu Dhabi, the highest Test score by a South Africa batsman, propelling him to fifth. Trott's unbeaten 135 was a part of England's strong second-innings resistance in the Ashes-opener, helping his side earn a creditable draw, and lifting him to the eighth spot.
On the bowling front, India's fast-bowling spearhead, Zaheer Khan, surged to third in the Test ratings, his highest classification to date. South Africa seamer Dale Steyn and England offspinner Graeme Swann retained the top two positions. Australia's Peter Siddle, who picked up six wickets on the first day at the Gabba, including a hat-trick, rose to the 14th spot, while England seamer Steven Finn moved up to 19th on the back of his six-for.

What exactly did Flintoff tell you?

We saw a very emotional side of yours at an awards function for the 26/11 martyrs recently. You got teary-eyed. What was that about?We saw some really horrific sights after the Mumbai attack. Everybody was quite devastated to see all that. I was just honoured to be there with the people who lost their lives to save ours. Hats off to the NSG commandos for what they did for us. Just to listen what the families were saying – it's easy to say that somebody has died but you generally won't feel the pain unless it's someone from your family. It was quite an emotional moment for me.Emotion is something you thrive on. We all remember the 6 sixes you hit after Andrew Flintoff said something to you…That was more of aggression than emotion. Kind of an emotion you could say.

What did Flintoff say to you that got you so cheesed off that you decided to take the next bowler that came your way for six sixes?Well, I didn't decide on anything. I would have gone after the bowling even if there wasn't a spat. I guess it charged me up because I was fuming, but I guess that made me concentrate more on every ball – better and harder. It was one of the best highlights of my career.Was the fact that you had been slammed for five sixes earlier going through your mind?Yes, that was going through my mind. After the Oval game, I got calls from my friends who were saying "you got slammed for 5 sixes." Luckily we won that game! It was kind of funny, but I was not happy with what happened and felt that I had to give it back in some way. After that I got out to Dimitri twice, in the same game and at Lord's, so I said to myself that this wasn't right. I prayed to God, that I have to give it back and it came at the right moment.What exactly did Flintoff tell you?People don't want to know what he said to me. At the end of the day, you're playing for your country and you want to go and do your best. Aggression comes when two teams, two players are competing. He's a solid competitor. At the moment according to me he's one of the best fast bowlers in the world. It was great competition. He said something and I did too, that's what cricket is all about.2008 has been quite a year for you. It didn't start brilliantly, but you capped it by cementing your place in the Test side. How hard has that journey been, establishing yourself, after being in the Test team for eight years?As a young kid when I started playing cricket I never thought it would take me eight years to play Test cricket regularly. You never know now also. I would never be thinking of playing Test cricket if it takes so much of time. It has been a long struggle for me honestly, I have been in and out, I have tried a few things, so I think everything comes with time and I should capitalise on it now.We are a country that chases milestones and are fascinated by them. Would you reckon that the Chennai knock of 80 was the most important of your Test career so far?

I would say because it was the fifth day wicket, and it was turning heaps and chasing just under 400 runs and it was against an attack with Harmison and Flintoff and Anderson, one of the best attacks in the world right now. Performing against that attack and playing alongwith Sachin was fabulous. As a kid I dreamt that one day I would bat alongside Sachin and win a game for India. That Test match was something special for me and especially after 26/11; it must have given a lot of people happiness. Another important knock I would consider one of my best is the 169 versus Pakistan at Bangalore. I had played after a year and was out for two Test matches and suddenly I came back because Sachin was injured and in that match we were 70 for 4. We didn't win it but I think that was a crucial knock.Just before the knock at Chennai you had back-to-back hundreds, fantastic hundreds, probably the best knocks of the year. Which one was more satisfying - the back-to-back hundreds or the 80 you made in Chennai with Sachin?I wanted to get into form as soon as possible. When I batted the way I did at Rajkot I knew that I was not out of form. I was just taking some time out in the middle. The second knock was more important because we were 20 or 30-odd for 3 and England were looking good so I took my time and played according to the wicket. It gave us a 2-0 lead and put more pressure on England.You'd say that would be slightly more satisfying…Both were different. Rajkot was a great wicket to bat on and Indore was slower so I had to really apply myself. I am happy with the effort, that I could shift gears and had a strike rate of 200 plus.How did you really take your journey through 2008? Australia was not a tour you'd want to remember. You had a great chance to cement yourself in the side. What kept you going on the belief that you would make it to the Test side in this manner?Before Australia I was really batting well for six months and suddenly there was a drop of form. It happens to everyone, but it happened to me on an important tour, which I had hoped would never happen. But the harder things come the better you learn, so I can't repent on it, it happens. After that I didn't get too many big scores. I scored a few runs in the ODIs. However after that playing in the ODIs I got two hundreds. I was just not capitalising on my starts. When things are not going well for you, you have to be mentally tough so I put 2 and 2 together and worked on my batting and knew the way I was working – I said 2 or 3 months back that I would finish the year on a high.Would you reckon that because there was a lot of criticism- it could be understood that a cricketer goes through a slump- but there was a lot of paparazzi, there were pictures and allegations that you were distracted because of someone, who was also there in Sydney. How true were those allegations?I generally don't think about what the criticism says as long as I'm true to myself. It's just sad that when you don't do well you get related to things off the field. I have no issues, I am true to myself and want to do well for the country, and these things don't matter to me because I know I am giving 100% for the country.You proved that, yes. There was a lot of talk at the time about the People magazine interview where you bared your heart out that there were two emotions involved. That probably gave more credibility to the rumours going about at the time that you were involved with a film actress and that was distracting you?I never said something was distracting me. Anything that distracts me from the game I would never go towards. It is just something I said and it's finished and I do not want to look upon it or talk about it. It's part of your upbringing and that's the way you learn about it. What's more important is my cricket, my friends and my family. If that is fine then these things don't bother me.Let's move on to something more exciting. What was it like captaining the King's XI?It was a great opportunity for me. I look forward to captaining India one day and this will help me towards it. To get to know those players, taking the pressure of captaincy, winning big games, learning how to handle yourself after losing games, it's a big learning curve. We had an outstanding year, we had just one bad game, but that's the way T20 is.It's so interesting you say that you dream of captaining India. Since the 2003 World Cup, it has been said that there is captaincy material in Yuvraj Singh, but as is the case, nothing comes easy, you have to fight for everything, and when Dravid resigned you were in the best form of your life. It must have been a tough time for you not to have got the captaincy?I wouldn't say tough time. It was a hard pill to swallow; things never just fall for you. I want to always be in the thick of things, I thought about it for a little while and said what's important for me is the team and country so let's get out there and play as a unit.It's surprising it didn't show at all that you found it hard on the field with your batting and your performances.

You have shown great support to Dhoni and in his dream run Yuvraj has had a big role to play…Dhoni was someone who was very young and he didn't have too many games in international cricket and taking on the captaincy he needed a lot of support. He got a lot of support from the team and has been very good as a captain. He was very calm. I think as a young captain, like Graeme Smith, it was very important that Dhoni got the support and belief of the team.Did Dhoni know that you were upset that the captaincy was not with you? Because Sehwag, Dhoni and you are the 3 most important people on the field and without the three of you, India don't stand a chance…We never really discussed it. More than your own feelings, it is important that you gel as a team. So we never talked about who should have been the captain. Whoever is the captain is in charge and it is the team's job to support him.With Dhoni's winning percentage and his success do you think that the selectors took the right call? Or is it just that the team is so good at this point of time that it really doesn't matter who is captain? Like Australia…I really think it is the team that gets the result. Obviously the captain is important, but the team gets the result. You tell Ricky Ponting to captain Zimbabwe or Bangladesh – not that I'm saying Bangladesh is a bad team- but they don't have great players like Australia, India, or South Africa. The captain is very important, the role is important. Whatever Dhoni's done has been outstanding, he's been cool and calm but the result really comes from the team.Yuvraj, if you see over the last 3-4 years, in 2005-06 you scored almost 110 runs, your average was about 58-60, but the rankings never reflected that. You should have been at the top at least once or twice, that's the level of success your batting has had. Are you disappointed that someone like Dhoni who came after you managed to get to those rankings twice and someone like you who has been playing for 8 years having got the runs hasn't scaled that peak?The rankings don't really matter because someone might play more matches and score and come above you. It is important that the team knows about you. Dhoni has been very consistent for the last two years, his average is more than 45, and he deserves to be at the top. But it's not all about the ranking. The ICC said Sachin is no.26 so you don't believe that. Everyone has got an opinion. They all know that Sachin is one of the greatest batsmen of all time.

ICC Champions Trophy - Epic Fail

The International Cricket Council has confirmed that next month’s Champions Trophy has been postponed until October 2009. With South Africa pulling out and pretty much every other team set to follow suit, it’s no surprise that the competition has been cancelled but the question that now remains is whether the competition has a place in the international cricket calendar.
I’ve yet to understand the need for another 50 over ODI trophy. We have the World Cup every four years. Isn’t that enough? What is the ICC Champions Trophy if not a watered down version of the World Cup? What is the difference apart from fewer teams are invited to take part?
Alec Stewart suggested on TMS the other day that the Champions Trophy should be held every four years rather than its current bi-annual status. He cited the football European Championship as being a competition that fills the four year void between World Cups but the key difference here is the teams taking part. The major teams taking part in the football World Cup and European Championships are different. This is not the case with the cricket World Cup and the ICC Champions Trophy.
As far as I can see, the ICC Champions Trophy is nothing other than another opportunity for the bigwigs in Dubai to milk yet more money out of cricket fans, TV companies and corporate sponsors.

Patrick Kidd over at Line and Length posted the other week about this ridiculous new Champions League Twenty20 that is being shoehorned into the 8 day gap between the ODI’s and Test series between England and India. As I said in the comments, how long will it be before the idiots at the ICC kill the goose that lay the golden egg?
I’m a bit of a traditionalist and prefer Test match cricket but, whether I like it or not, Twenty20 cricket has introduced a whole new audience to the game which can only be good for the long term. However, in typical fashion, the ICC have decided to try to fit in as many Twenty20 games into the calendar to secure more lucrative sponsorship deals.
According to the ICC Mission Statement, one of their key roles is to optimise ‘its commercial rights and properties for the benefit of its Members’. Gotcha. So these tournaments are not for the benefit of the fans of the game, then.
If the ICC had a genuine interest in the game, the players and the fans they would scrap the Champions Trophy, scrap the current bi-annual World Twenty20 tournament and run a Twenty20 World Cup every four years. I’d rather see a tournament that actually meant something to the players than watch the ICC Cash Cow Cup.

Ashes Test Series

After the excitement of the 2005 Ashes series in England, can this series live up to expectations? England have struggled with injuries and form since the historic Ashes victory of 2005. Australia will be keen to avenge the defeat which saw them hand back the famous urn after 18 years. Can the young English lions do it again?
The last time England retained the Ashes in Australia was under Mike Gatting back in 1986/87. The pitches in Australia are very different to those in England and the crowds are notoriously hostile. It all adds up to an interesting and exciting series.
Even without Michael Vaughan and Simon Jones from the Ashes winning side of 2005, England will travel to Australia with a sense of optimism. Whilst it is fair to say that they haven’t performed anywhere near as well as they did in the summer of 2005, they are still a strong side with a number of match winners including Kevin Pietersen, Steve Harmison and, of course, the skipper Andrew Flintoff.
Australia are a team that you can never write off. Even though Old Man McGrath has been out of cricket for a long time, he is still the most consistent fast bowler on the planet and you can bet that he will be doing everything to get fit and match ready for November 23. Let’s not forget the Pie Eater - SK Warne - quite simply the best player of his generation. For a great number of the Aussies, this will be their final assault on the Ashes and you can guarantee that they will not want to be beaten on home soil in their swansong.
The excitement leading up to the 2005 Ashes series in England was immense.�England believed they had a side capable of winning the Ashes and after 5�breathtaking Test matches it proved to be the case. Winning�the Ashes is one thing. Retaining them is something altogether different.
This promises to be the Ashes series to beat all other Ashes series. As WG Grace was heard to say on countless occasions during the summer of 2005…

'Fred' Flintoff: England's bedrock

Not long after I arrived in England this year to play at Lancashire, I realised not only how big a star Andrew Flintoff is in this part of the world, but how ambitious he was to be fit and ready for the Ashes. I went running through hills near Rivington a few times before my first county game to prove I had recovered from a hernia operation I had in Melbourne.
Lancashire's physiotherapist, Dave "Rooster" Roberts, told me "Fred" Flintoff had been running the same 10-kilometre path three times a week to build up his fitness after returning home from South Africa in the middle of the English winter for ankle surgery.
It was horribly cold out there, and it's really gruelling work running through all the mud between the trees and reservoirs and up the steep hills.
I knew Fred was a natural, powerful sportsman - other teammates at Lancashire have told me he was 193 centimetres by the age of 12 and a real bully of a cricketer - but this gave me a sense of his dedication and determination to spend every spare moment training for the biggest Test series of his life.

I expect Flintoff, who is nicknamed after Fred Flintstone, to be a crucial player in the coming months. He is probably the best all-round cricketer in the world at the moment - slightly ahead of Jacques Kallis - and I believe he is the only player in the England team who could get a game for Australia.
He has an aura about him in the dressing room that makes him stand out above everyone else in a similar way Shane Warne does in the Australian dressing room.
I don't think there is anyone else in world cricket, apart from Adam Gilchrist, who can hit the ball so hard and so cleanly. Pound for pound, he and Gilly are the strongest hitters of a cricket ball I've ever seen.
When they hit sixes, they don't just clear the fence, they go out of the ground, and bowling my little off spinners to Flintoff in the nets is one of the more terrifying things I've done in my cricket career.
I don't think Fred has a great deal of respect for spin bowling and it will be interesting to see how his battle with Warne unfolds because Shane has a few more tricks up his sleeve than I do.
I think Warne is the key to the series if he is going well, but if someone like Fred can nullify him, then Ricky Ponting's options are slightly limited. Warney tends to transfix sides with his accuracy, but Flintoff has the ability to take him for a lot more than two runs an over and he is the only England batsman who can damage Warne, unless they call on Kevin Pietersen.
I think Fred will try to get after him, but Warney has been through that before and he will be up for the challenge.
The one-day matches between England and Australia so far have shown just how important Flintoff's bowling is to England, too. I understand where John Buchanan is coming from when he says he rates Fred's bowling more highly than Stephen Harmison's at the moment because he has that nagging line and length that Glenn McGrath is famous for.
Facing Flintoff is always a challenge because he's big and tall and bowls at close to 145 km/h. He has a mixture of Michael Kasprowicz's strength and power and McGrath's line and length, and that is an awesome combination.
Off the field, Fred is a great fellow to spend time with. He doesn't particularly enjoy talking about cricket when he's away from it, and he is a dedicated family man who loves spending time with his little 10-month-old daughter, Holly.
Fred is massive in England, and especially in the Red Rose county, where he has lived all his life. Lancashire is having a benefit year for him next year, which is expected to bring in more than $2.36 million, but you never feel you are talking to a superstar when you spend time with him.
Fred actually has a lot of qualities that Australians enjoy. He works hard and plays hard, and loves to share a few pints of Guinness with his mates. He is very disorganised and messy in the dressing room, and I think he plays his cricket in the same free-spirited way.
Fred has all the glamorous shots, but when the time comes for hard work, he is a formidable opponent. He is someone who is very competitive on the field, and although he doesn't say a lot, he will always back up his teammate in an argument.
The Australian players know that, but we also know how much pressure rests on Flintoff's huge shoulders to perform during the Ashes. Fred spoke to our coach at Lancashire, Mike Watkinson, about how to handle all the hype. He has not played a Test match against Australia and I could sense before he joined the England squad that he realised how much expectation was on him to perform. If anyone can handle it, I think Flintoff can.

Pakistan wicketkeeper Haider flees after match-fixer threat

Pakistan wicketkeeper Zulqarnain Haider left the team in Dubai on Monday after a perceived threat from a match-fixer.
He failed to travel to the ground for Monday's One-Day International against South Africa and team management alerted police.
Sky Television has since broadcast images which it said were of Haider arriving at London's Heathrow airport.
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Earlier, a Pakistan team statement said: "Haider left the team hotel without informing any member of the team and the management. Haider was in possession of his passport and there are indications that he has left for London.
"A full inquiry will be held into the circumstances surrounding this incident and no further comments will be made until the facts are known."
The 24-year-old Haider was fined 500 dirhams ($135) on Sunday after he broke curfew hours imposed by the team management.
He scored a match-winning 19 not out to help Pakistan win the fourth one-day International played in Dubai on Friday which levelled the five-match series 2-2.
South Africa won the fifth match and the series yesterday.
Haider sent a SMS text message to a Pakistani journalist and posted a message on his Facebook page, which both read: "leaving Pakistan cricket because get bad msg fr 1 man fr lose the match in last game."
Haider’s family members told a local channel in Pakistan that they had no new information about him but that they were worried about his welfare.
In Pakistan, Senior Superintendent of Police Rana Faisal said security was provided for Haider’s family in Lahore.
"We have deployed a dozen police officials at Haider's residence so that they can be guarded properly if there is any threat," Faisal told local media.

Hussey attacks as England's bowlers strike

Bad light followed by heavy rain has curtailed play during the final session at the Gabba. At stumps Australia are 5-220 with Michael Hussey on 81 and wicketkeeper Brad Haddin on 22.
It had been a good third session for the Australians with Hussey and Haddin bringing the hosts within sight of England first innings total of 260.

Hussey's innings was sparkling, highlighted by several punishing pull shots with England off-spinner Graeme Swann (1-59) the victim of the left-hander's attacking intent. Haddin was subdued but solid during his 71-ball stay, hitting two boundaries.
However, Australia's middle-order frailties were again exposed during the second session as England dominated, claiming four wickets.
After a frustrating first two hours, England's bowlers claimed four quick wickets after lunch, with Marcus North the last man out for just one, caught by first slip Paul Collingwood off Swann.

Equally concerning was the innings of nine runs by Michael Clarke, who has appeared restricted by his back injury despite being passed fit to play. Clarke was removed by Steve Finn (2-61) trying to play a paddle pull shot, which was edged to keeper Matt Prior - who claimed his 100th Test dismissal with the catch.
Clarke, on nought, had survived a feverish shout for caught behind off Finn, which was turned down by umpire Aleem Dar and immediately referred by Andrew Strauss. While the snickometre showed a noise as the ball went past the bat, indicating a faint edge, the video umpire Tony Hill does not have that technology at his disposal. Hot-spot showed no trace of an edge so the original decision was upheld.
England waited just two balls after to lunch to taste success, removing Ricky Ponting followed by Simon Katich just four overs later to turn the tide.

Katich brought up his 25th Test half-century before he became Steve Finn's first Australian victim courtesy of a smart caught-and-bowled.
Ponting was dismissed for 10 with James Anderson's (2-40) legside delivery flicked to wicketkeeper Prior.
Hussey and Clarke faced a barrage of fast, dangerous deliveries from Anderson, Stuart Broad and Finn. Hussey edged his first ball to the slips where it fell just short of Swann, while Clarke played and missed four speedy balls.

In the first session, Ponting entered to a reception of jeering from the section of England fans, and made a shaky start to his innings.
England made their first breakthrough by removing Shane Watson for 36 before lunch but Australia enjoyed the better of the second morning's play.
Watson had escaped an umpire referral for lbw in the 25th over, but the next ball Anderson had him caught at first slip by Andrew Strauss with a beautifully pitched delivery.

Katich successfully appealed an lbw decision against him. Katich was on 27 when trapped by Anderson, and was given out by umpire Billy Doctrove. Katich appealed and while the ball pitched in line and hit the top of his pad clean, but Eagle Eye showed the ball would have bounced over the top of the bails, giving the left-hander an important reprieve.
Earlier, Katich was nearly run out after a botched quick single attempt. Katich pushed the ball to cover off James Anderson and hurried down the pitch but his partner remained planted at the bowler's end.
Katich was more than halfway down when he had to spin and scurry back as Alastair Cook scooped the ball and threw to the stumps, only to miss with Katich well short of his ground and Prior unable to get to the wicket in time.
Watson also survived a near miss in the morning. Watson, who was on 21, received a vicious bouncer which collected his inner arm as he rose to fend the delivery, and the ball fell dangerously close to the stumps before the opener kicked it away.

Clarke in firing line after final capitulation

MICHAEL CLARKE'S tenure as Australia's 20-over captain could be finished, with the heavy defeat to England in the final of the World Twenty20 exposing his batting as the team's biggest flaw.
Cameron White has the numbers to take over from Clarke. Not the numbers in the back room - yet - but the statistics that show he is in a different class when it comes to batting in the shortest format.
White has led his state side, Victoria, to the Big Bash title, winning four of the past five championships. Clarke has never played a domestic Twenty20 game for NSW, nor has he featured in the Indian Premier League, and is clearly lacking practice in scoring quickly.
Clarke has conceded his position must come under review following Australia's seven-wicket loss to Paul Collingwood's side. He finished with 92 runs in the tournament at 15.33. White scored 180 runs at 45, with a strike rate of 146.34 compared with Clarke's strike rate of 80.7.
It is a difficult consideration for selectors because of Clarke's astute leadership and excellent winning record as captain. But he is not holding his place in the Twenty20 team as a batsman, where the orthodoxy of his technique - a great asset in the longer forms - is proving a weakness.
Clarke's performances in the three World Twenty20s so far have yielded 108 runs at an average of 10.8, with a dawdling strike rate of 77.14. His overall record in international T20s is 437 runs at 21.85 in 31 matches. White, by contrast, has played only 20 games for Australia, but has more runs - 481 - at a superior average of 43.72 and an excellent strike rate of 148.45.
Clarke is a popular leader, receiving support throughout the campaign from teammates and staff, but his run out of David Warner in the decider seemed a direct result of him frantically attempting to rotate the strike when tied down by the subtle swing and disciplined lengths of England's new-ball duo, Tim Bresnan and Ryan Sidebottom.
''There is no doubt the selectors will need to have a look at my performances,'' said Clarke, who nearly ran out Brad Haddin and David Hussey as well.
''I certainly know they haven't been up to scratch and as good as I would've expected throughout this whole tournament, and probably Twenty20 cricket in general.
''I'm sure the selectors will have a look and if I'm not the right person for the No.3 position and the captaincy of this team they'll make that decision.''
White was predictably diplomatic when quizzed about taking over the leadership in light of Clarke's comments. ''If that's what Michael thinks, that's what he's thinking,'' White said. ''I'm in no position to think about selection. All I can do is make sure I'm doing well and the team's doing well and playing my part for the team and supporting Michael as vice-captain as well.''
Sunday's defeat was Clarke's second loss in 15 games as Australia's T20 skipper, with the previous defeat coming against New Zealand in a super-over eliminator.
''You can't argue too much with that, can you?'' White said.
Meanwhile, victorious captain Paul Collingwood cited that rarest of English traits - self-belief - as a key factor in their triumph.
Collingwood's men reduced an Australian side previously unbeaten at the tournament to 3-8 and then held them to a total of 6-147. England won in convincing fashion, by seven wickets with three overs to spare, after a commanding second-wicket stand of 111 between man-of-the-match Craig Kieswetter (63) and man-of-the-tournament Kevin Pietersen (47).
''I think belief has been a huge thing - you can see from the way the guys have gone out from first ball, believing in themselves and taking it to the opposition and playing a brand of cricket that is unlike England in the past,'' Collingwood said.
England had never won a major one-day tournament, having lost in the 1979, 1987 and 1992 World Cup finals as well as falling in the climax of the 2004 Champions Trophy.

Clarke's still captain - selectors rate leadership above Twenty20 strike rate

Michael Clarke is set to retain the Australian Twenty20 captaincy when selectors announce the travelling party for England today.
Under pressure due to his slow scoring rate in the short format, Clarke conceded his position would come under scrutiny but the Herald understands selectors did not consider axing him. They are understood to like Clarke's leadership skills and have forgiven his failings with the bat.
Clarke led Australia to the World Twenty20 final but his batting performance was sub-par by his own admission. He finished with 92 runs at 15.33 while vice-captain Cameron White scored 180 runs at 45, a strike rate of 146.34 against Clarke's 80.7.
Clarke said after the loss to England in the final that he expected his position would be reviewed but made it clear he wanted to remain skipper.
The selectors - Andrew Hilditch, Jamie Cox, Merv Hughes and David Boon - are understood to have backed Clarke and believe he has the talent to improve his strike rate.
They were impressed by his record as captain - he has lost only twice in the 15 games he has captained Australia.
Clarke also has the support of his teammates, who have praised his tactics and motivational skills.
But should he fail in the two Twenty20s against Pakistan, White will be favoured.
The selectors will name squads for Australia's Twenty20s and one-dayers against England, but the side to play two Tests against Pakistan won't be chosen until after Australia A's series against Sri Lanka A in Queensland.
It seems Pakistan's Twenty20 skipper, Shahid Afridi, will play in that series. He has declared himself available after a self-imposed exile. ''I am ready to play Test cricket because I feel that my country needs me,'' Afridi told AFP.
Meanwhile, fringe state cricketers and club players will be given a chance to shine in Twenty20 when the two new franchises are introduced to the Big Bash.
Western Sydney, Melbourne and the Gold Coast appear to be contesting the spots. Fringe NSW and Victorian players would be made available to the rival city sides.
A host of club cricketers would also be given the chance to earn lucrative IPL contracts on the back of impressive Big Bash performances.
The new franchise entries are expected to be discussed at a Cricket Australia board meeting next month.

Ponting warns Afridi - and Strauss

New Pakistan Test skipper Shahid Afridi has been put on notice by rival Ricky Ponting, who suggested the enigmatic all-rounder had been promoted for his leadership credentials rather than playing ability in the long format.
Ponting claimed his pacemen would ''sort him out'' in their two-Test clash in England next month.
''He hasn't played a lot of Test cricket of late, if you read between the lines he's almost in there as a leader and captain, not necessarily one of their best Test players,'' Ponting said. ''We will test him out. I think even with our one-dayers in Australia last [summer] with our quicks bowling the way they did to him, I think we can sort him out in Test cricket, that's for sure.''
Ponting also said Afridi seemed to be the last option for Pakistan's selectors, following the comical axing and suspensions of a long line of previous captains.
''I guess with him being Twenty20 captain there was a natural succession to him being Test captain, with all the other guys they've tried there having not succeeded,'' Ponting said. ''But that's irrelevant to us, it doesn't matter who is captain, it doesn't matter who is playing, we'll just have to make sure we're focused on the little things we need to, and be the best team we can be.''
Pakistan great Imran Khan supported Afridi this week, saying: ''Afridi should be given a long run as Pakistan captain. Since I retired in 1992, Australia has had only three captains, while Pakistan has had more than two dozen and that is why there is a big difference between Pakistan and Australia.''
Ponting was in a bullish mood yesterday, also firing a warning to Andrew Strauss before this summer's Ashes battle, claiming his team will be far better prepared this time.
''I don't think they'll be much different, I think if they get back to full strength they'll have [James] Anderson, [Graeme] Onions, there was talk of [Steve] Harmison being involved again - I think their side could be identical to what it was during the last series,'' Ponting said.
''What will be different with us though is we've got another 10, 12 to 15 Test matches under the belt of some of our young guys who were probably found wanting at different times throughout the last series.
''Experience was the only difference between the two teams in England last time around. We played some great cricket, we played some pretty ordinary cricket and I think we played some ordinary cricket just because guys hadn't been there and experienced it before.
''That is certainly what we've been working on, giving those guys exposure and letting them work their own way through different situations at Test level. I think all the guys have come through the last 12 months with flying colours. If England bring the same side out they'll meet a different Australian team, for sure.''

Shahid Afridi pulls out of South Africa series

Pakistan all-rounder Shahid Afridi on Thursday pulled out of the Test series against South Africa, saying he did not want to play while fasting in the holy month of Ramadan.
"I asked the Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) to allow me to skip the two Tests against South Africa because it would be difficult to fast and play in Ramadan," Afridi told AFP.
The PCB said it had accepted Afridi's request and released him from the series which starts with the first Test here from Monday. The second Test will be played in Lahore from October 8.
Afridi said his decision had nothing to do with the team losing last week's final of the Twenty20 World Cup to arch-rivals India in South Africa.
"We lost the final due to poor batting and I apologised to the fans for not doing my part in the final but that did not influence my decision of not playing Tests," Afridi said.
Afridi was declared player of the Twenty20 World Cup for his 12 wickets in the tournament.
But Afridi, known for his big hitting, failed to take a single wicket in the final and was dismissed for a first-ball duck.
Pakistan are due to announce their squad for the first Test on Friday.
The home team were on Thursday boosted by the news that prolific batsman Mohammad Yousuf had shunned a contract with the breakaway Indian league and declared himself available for the Tests against South Africa.

Sanath Jayasuriya of Sri Lanka

Pictures Of Sourav Ganguly

Sourav Ganguly

Indian cricketer Sourav Ganguly with 'Best Asian Cricketer of the year' and 'Best Asian Batsman' awards during a press conference, in Kolkata on July 10, 2008.
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(Source: The Times Of India Group)© BCCL
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10/07/2008 (tentative)
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Saurav Ganguly the best Indian Captain

Saurav Ganguly who has made a come back has been named India’s ‘Best Captain’ in 75 years of Test cricket at the 10th Castrol Awards for Cricketing Excellence in Kochi.
In addition to Ganguly, Late CK Nayudu, Late Vinoo Mankad, Nari Contractor, Chandu Borde, Ajit Wadekar, Bishan Singh Bedi, Sunil Gavaskar, Gundappa Viswanath, Sachin Tendulkar and Rahul Dravid were the skippers especially chosen for the appreciation.
Nayudu’s daughter Chandra and Mankad’s son Atul received the awards on behalf of their famous fathers.
Nayudu was honored as the ‘Best Indian Cricketer’ of the first era 1932-47 while Mankad received the honor for 1947-61.
Former captain Mansur Ali Khan Pataudi received the award for the 1961-71 eras. He couldn’t make it to the awards party, but in a recorded message he congratulated the Twenty20 World Champions.
Gavaskar was awarded the first batsman to score 10,000 Test runs, and Kapil Dev was awarded the first Indian bowler to take 400 Test wickets and he also won the award for the 1971-81 and 1981-1997 eras respectively.
Dravid and Tendulkar shared the award for the sixth era – 1997-2007.
Members of the victorious Twenty20 team were also felicitated.

Jayasuriya keeps Sri Lanka in reckoning

Kandy, Sri Lanka, March 19Sanath Jayasuriya smashed a brilliant 131 as Sri Lanka, chasing 352 for a series-levelling victory against Australia, ended day four on 301 for seven today. Jayasuriya, dropped on 25, thrilled a small but vocal crowd with a withering assault that gave the hosts an outside chance of a remarkable win.
The 34-year-old former captain reached his first Test hundred for 17 months off just 107 balls, cracking 17 fours and two sixes during his 145-ball innings.
All rounder Chaminda Vaas survived till bad light stopped play on 30 with rookie Kaushal Lokuarchchi on 13 not out to leave Sri Lanka needing 51 runs to win on the final day.
Damien Martyn earlier scored a career-best 161 as Australia, who resumed on 320 for five after conceding a 91-run first-innings deficit, were bowled out for 442.
Australia made early inroads with the new ball as both Marvan Atapattu (eight) and Avishka Gunawardene (nine) were trapped lbw to leave Sri Lanka tottering on 36 for two.
Jayasuriya and Kumar Sangakkara launched an aggressive fightback, though, scoring 62 from 82 balls for the third wicket before Sangakkara was caught and bowled by Shane Warne for 29.
Mahela Jayawardene (13) stayed with Jayasuriya for 65 minutes as 76 runs were crashed from 97 balls before he nibbled at a rising delivery from fast bowler Jason Gillespie and was caught behind.
Gillespie, who finished with three for 61, bowled a crucial 10-over spell and was rewarded with the prize scalp of Jayasuriya, who edged a catch to wicketkeeper Adam Gilchrist.

Akhtar promises a hat-trick next time

Rawalpindi, March 16“Rawalpindi Express” Shoaib Akhtar celebrated his 100th One-Day iIternational with a thrilling 12-run win against India here tonight and promised to snare a hat-trick “next time around”.
Akhtar, who claimed three for 49, was on a hat-trick after dismissing the last recognised batsman Mohammad Kaif and Zaheer Khan off successive balls but was thwarted in his attempt by Lakshmiparthy Balaji.
“So far I have not been able to take a hat-trick. I will try for a hat-trick next time around,” the local boy said.
The tearaway bowler said modern one-day cricket was losing the balance between bat and ball.
“It has become more and more a batsman’s game. It is becoming that much more harder for the bowlers as teams scoring 300-plus is becoming very common,” Akhtar said.
“I could not land the ball on the spot today, but still we managed to win the game and that is what really matters,” he added.
Indian captain Sourav Ganguly said Scahin Tendulkar, who scored a 135-ball 141, “batted superbly” despite the fact that the Pindi track was “not a good wicket to bat on”.
“The last two matches have witnessed some really good cricket by the two teams so far. But it was not a good wicket to bat on,” Ganguly said.
“It is amazing that 600 odd runs were scored on this track”.
While pointing out that the match slipped out of India’s hand after the fall of Kaif, Ganguly said the toss of the coin did not play a huge role in the teams fortune.

Exclusive Interviews Yasir Hameed

I'd like to extend a huge thanks to both Saj and Yasir Ali for helping us get this interview with Yasir Hameed. And of course an even bigger thank you to Hameed for a great interview.Hameed was a pleasure to interview, he doesnt take himself too seriously and is always ready with a quip or a joke. He was also very honest about his own game and clearly knows what areas he's weak at and what he needs to do to work on themSo here's the interview, hope you enjoy it...

PakPassion.Net: What got you into cricket professionally?Yasir Hameed: (Begins with Bismillah) I'm sure you're aware that Pakistanis are crazy for cricket and I too came from a cricket mad family. I used to play cricket with my brothers and uncles every day, we used to play together all the time. Once I'd been playing for a short while people began telling me that I had some quality shots and that my batting had the potential to get me into cricket as a profession. So I agreed to try my luck and see if I could make a career out of playing a sport that I love.PakPassion.Net: Is there anyone from your friends or family who was already a cricketer?Yasir Hameed: No. I'm the first one from my circle to play cricket professionally and at the highest level.PakPassion.Net: Who were your favourite cricketers when you were growing up?Yasir Hameed: The entire World Cup winning team of 1992, their win was my inspiration to become a cricketer. From non-Pakistani players I've always been a big fan of Brian Lara and Sachin Tendulkar, as batsmen they're both a class apart from the rest of the field. Viv Richards and Gordon Greenidge were great players before that. PakPassion.Net: When did you start taking cricket seriously?Yasir Hameed: When i was selected for Peshawar u16 and began playing for Peshawar u16 division, that's when I realised that if I worked hard I had a real chance to make a career out of cricket.PakPassion.Net: You dont have a Peshawari twang in your accent, did you grow up there?Yasir Hameed: It's a good question. Although I grew up in Peshawar I'm actually from Abbottabad.PakPassion.Net: You debuted in your mid-20s which is quite old by Pakistani cricket standards, why such a late debut?Yasir Hameed: Because my cricket age is also my real age .PakPassion.Net: (laughs)Yasir Hameed: (laughs) After playing junior cricket, I had a couple of poor seasons at domestic level where my performances weren't consistent. After that I had 3 years where I batted consistently and solidly in domestic cricket and I got selected on the basis of those performances. I'm glad I got the chance to play for Pakistan and it doesn't matter to me that it was in my mid-20s. I look to players like Zaheer Abbas who also debuted in his mid-20s and went on to forge a successful international career, I'm not as good as he was but his case is an inspiration to me.PakPassion.Net: You began your career with a dream debut, scoring centuries in each innings, did this end up with people placing unrealistic expectations on your shoulders?Yasir Hameed: You're right. People begin thinking if someone has scored a century in his first two innings then he should score another one in the 3rd, 4th, 5th innings and then in every innings after that. I'm grateful to Allah(swt) that I got a century in each innings on my debut but I agree with you that it does end up creating an unrealistic expectation. To be truthful I'm very disappointed in my performance in International cricket so far, I've missed out on 12 international centuries. I feel that if a player gets far enough past 50 runs in an innings then it's a crime for him not to convert that score into a century, if you're in good enough form to score 50 runs then you owe it to your team and to yourself to make your form count and get a really big score.PakPassion.Net: Very well put, a batsman's job isn't completed once he's passed 50. As you say he should make his good form count.Yasir Hameed: Dua karo (pray for me) that if I'm reselected that this time around I'm able to maintain my focus and concentration, I'm determined to make big scores nowadays.PakPassion.Net: Do you also keep wicket?Yasir Hameed: No I dont. A few people have told me that I have a natural talent for keeping wickets and that I should become a keeper but wicket keeping is a specialist job and you can't do justice to it unless you dedicate all your time to it. I want to be picked as a batsman and I'd rather spend my time concentrating on improving my batting than distract myself with trying to learn wicket keeping at my age.PakPassion.Net: Is it true that you were put under pressure to become a keeper shortly after your debut?Yasir Hameed: No nothing like that.PakPassion.Net: It's just we read a few newspaper reports about how you were going to take up the gloves for Pakistan, what was behind that?Yasir Hameed: That's news to me. Perhaps they were trying to put pressure on Kamran Akmal or something along those lines?PakPassion.Net: Do you prefer playing Test cricket or ODI cricket?Yasir Hameed: I can't choose between the two, I'm a cricketer and I just love playing any form of cricket. It's like you asking me if a Suraj Mukhi flower is more beautiful than a rose, both flowers are beautiful in different ways and in the same way I love both Test and ODI cricket.PakPassion.Net: Who's fitter out of you and Gul, you're both known to have 8 packs and to be in top physical shape.Yasir Hameed: You can't compare our fitness because we're totally different players. I'm a batsman and he's a fast bowler, we use entirely different muscles to do our jobs. Gul has to be fitter than me because he's a fast bowler and a fast bowlers number one priority should be his fitness. I'm lucky and I thank God that I've never had a serious injury, I dont envy Gul all the strains and niggles that he's been through. He's a really dedicated cricketer and works unbelievably hard on his physical conditioning.PakPassion.Net: What're your favourite innings in both Test and ODI cricket?Yasir Hameed: Without a doubt in Tests it's my centuries in each innings on my debut, in ODIs it's the 98 I scored against India in Peshawar to win the MOTM award and the 300 I recently scored in domestic cricket is my favourite ever innings.PakPassion.Net: You've always had an issue with your offstump, it's your biggest weakness in batting. Is this something you struggle with in domestic cricket as well or is it something that has only crept into your International game?Yasir Hameed: (laughs) How do I answer that? Actually I agree with you, it's been my most common mode of dismissal in my career so far. However I'd like to say that if I get another chance then with time you'll forget I ever had an offstump weakness, I'm quite confident that I've exorcised those demons and it wont be a problem for me again. I've been aware of it and working really hard on it. If you take a look at this seasons domestic performance you'll see that I've been in good form and I have been scoring some big runs, I'm confident that I've beaten it now.PakPassion.Net: What specific work have you done on this weakness?Yasir Hameed: I've been working on my shot selection and have gone back to basics, I had a habit of chasing the ball outside the offstump even if it was swinging. I've even scored lots of runs by doing that but in the long run it gets you into a bad habit and once you develop a bad habit in cricket it's hard to shake off...PakPassion.Net: (interrupts) ...what I've observed whilst watching you is that (as you've said) you arent afraid to attack the swinging ball, even if it's outside the offstump. I think your main problem is that you weren't backing yourself fully to pull off an attacking shot after committing yourself to playing it, you would go in intending to hit the ball and pull out at the last minute. I personally feel that if you had just completed the shot you intended to play then most of the time you would've been ok instead of getting out. I think if you commit yourself to a shot then you should play it anyway because it's less risky than pulling out at the last minute, that sort of aggressive attitude is what makes Jayasuriya and Sehwag so good. It's the indecisiveness which gets you out more than anything else.Yasir Hameed: Exactly, you've got it spot on. This isn't just a problem for me but for every batsman, it's indecision and being in two minds about what to do that eats away at a batsman's confidence. We batsmen often get out poking at a ball which we could have hit for a boundary had we completed the shot instead of pulling out at the last minute. We should back our initial instincts more often.

Pakistan all rounder Abdul Razzaq dedicated his stunning century

ABU DABHI: Pakistan allrounder Abdul Razzaq dedicated his stunning century to the ‘future of Pakistan cricket’, insisting the team’s sensational victory was a satisfying rebuttal to all those who were critiquing its performance.
“I think Pakistan cricket has been going down because of the critics,” said Razzaq after his whirlwind knock. “When things are not falling into place, instead of lashing out and deriding the players, one must boost and motivate them. In such a tough time for Pakistani cricket I’d like to dedicate my hundred to the future of Pakistan.”
Razzaq blasted the South African bowlers to lead Pakistan to a one-wicket win with a ball to spare and level the One-Day International (ODI) series 1-1 with three matches left to play. The allrounder smashed seven sizzling fours and 10 sixes on his way to an unbeaten 109 off just 72 balls, his third ODI century and second against South Africa.
“I see my knock as one of the finest ever. The way we won was a unique accomplishment so it will be one of my unforgettable innings.”
However, Razzaq believed that he had been playing under pressure and without any backing for several years. “I think my talent has not been properly utilised, especially my batting spot has never been permanent. I always played under immense pressure and felt every match I played could be my last one.
“The constant threat of being axed if you don’t perform in even one match cannot work. Players are desperate for motivation and backing.”

Australia vs Pakistan 4th ODI Live Score, Teams at Perth - Aus v Pak

Fourth ODI between Australia and Pakistan will be played on Friday, 29th January, 20101 at Western Australia Cricket Association Ground, Perth in a day/night game from 13.25 Local, 03.25 GMT, 8.55 AM IST, 9.25 AM PST. Australia already won the 5 match series by 3-0.Australia is now eying to make clean sweep in the series as their all players are in great form specially Shaun Marsh, Cameron White and Michael Hussey. Australia will give rest to Watson and Bollinger as Johnson and Hopes will replace them.Pakistan has not a single match in this series so far and now they will play for some pride as they already lost the series. Umar Akmal is doing well but middle order need to support him. Mohammad Aamer will be left out due to injury.

Third ODI of the 5 match series between host Australia and Pakistan will be played on Tuesday, 26th January, 2010at Adelaide Oval in a day night game starting from 13.25 Local, 03.25 GMT, 8.55 AM IST, 9.25 AM PST. Australia leading the 5 match series by 2-0.Australia after a crushing win in the 2nd ODI is now eying to wrap up the series by taking unbeatable lead of 3-0 and Cameron White will be the key as he is in great form hit a century and 50 on tow matches.Pakistan has to redefine their strategy in order to avoid the series loss without giving any fight. Their bowlers doing well and if Mohammad Aasif will back from injury it will good for them but they have to improve their batting.

Australia and Pakistan will meet for the second one day on Sunday, 24th January, 2010 at Sydney Cricket Ground in a day-night game starting from 13.25 Local, 03.25 GMT, 8.55 AM IST, 9.25 AM PST. Australia leading the 5 match series by 1-0.Australia won the 1st ODI due to brilliant batting by Cameron White after early wicket. They will now try to take 2-0 lead and openers form will be crucial as they out cheaply in the opening game.Pakistan played well but middle order batted very slowly and only Shahid Afridi's 26 balls 48 runs took them to a competitive score. Mohammad Yusuf and Younus Khan have to take extra responsibility in order to come back in the series.

First ODI of the 5 match series between Australia and Pakistan will be played on Friday, 22nd January, 2010 at Brisbane Cricket Ground, Woolloongabba, Brisbane in a day-night game 13.25 Local, 03.25 GMT, 8.55 AM IST, 9.25 AM PST.Australia won the test series but ODI is all different ball game as opposition is really unpredictable. Shaun Marsh will open the inning with inform Shane Watson while Cameron White will support in both batting and bowling.Pakistan will be boosted with the arrival of former captain Younus Khan and hard hitter Shahid Afridi. Mohammad Aamer, Mahammad Asif and Umar Gul trouble a lot by their pace. Salman Butt is back in form with a century in last test.

Pakistan vs Sri Lanka 2nd ODI Live Score, Teams at Karachi

Pakistan won 1st ODI convincingly by 8 wickets thanks to Salman Butt's century as Pakistan and Sri Lanka will meet again tomorrow, Wednesday, 21st January, 2009 at National Stadium, Karachi in a Day-Night game at 7.00 GMT, 12.30 PM local time.Pakistan bowled and bat brilliantly as they played after a long time at home. Salman Butt and Khurram gave a strong opening and the tackle Muralitharan and Mendis very well. They are looking favorite for series win.Sri Lanka started dynamically by Jayasuriya and Dilshan but regular wicket pushed them to 220 runs. They have to win 2nd ODI in order to stay in the series.Pakistan Team, Squad for 2nd ODI at Karachi:Salman Butt, Khurram Manzoor, Younis Khan, Misbah-ul-Haq, Shoaib Malik (capt), Shahid Afridi, Kamran Akaml (wk), Sohail Tanvir, Shoaib Akhtar, Umar Gul, Saeed Ajmal.Sri Lanka Team, Squad for 2nd ODI at Karachi:Sanath Jayasuriya, Upul Tharanga, Kumar Sangakkara (wk), Mahela Jayawardene (capt), Chamara Kapugedera, Thilan Thusharsa, Angelo Mathews, Farveez Maharoof, Nuwan Kulasekara, Muttiah Muralitharan, Ajantha Mendis.

Pakistan beat Sri Lanka by 52 runs in only T20 - Afridi Man of the Match for 50 runs

Pakistan beat Sri Lanka by 52 runs in only T20 - Afridi Man of the Match for 50 runs.

Twenty20 word Champions Pakistan continues their dominance in the shortest version of the game as the beat Sri Lanka again easily by 52 runs in a day night match at Colombo on 12th August, 2009.Pakistan made 172 runs thanks to Imran Nazir and captain Shahid Afridi score 40 and 50 runs respectively and then Naved-ul-Hasan and Saeed Ajmal too 3 wickets each to bowled out Sri Lanka on 120 runs in 18.1 overs.

Umar Akmal 100

Umar Akmal, the younger brother of Pakistan wicketkeeper Kamran and fellow cricketer Adnan, came to prominence in 2007/08 for Sui Northern Gas Pipelines Limited and will be an important member of Pakistan’s team looking to defend their World T20 title.
After a sticky start to his maiden first-class season, Umar amassed 855 runs from nine matches in the Quaid-e-Aam Trophy, at an average of 77.72. His aggressive approach saw him smash 248 off just 225 deliveries in only his sixth match, and he backed this up with an unbeaten 186 two games later.
Despite a poor second season, a string of good knocks ensured Umar was selected for the Pakistan A tour to Australia in June 2009. In two Test matches he notched up scores of 54, 100* and 130 to propel his career to the next level and during the following ODI series he smashed a century off 68 balls.
A call-up to the main Pakistan side was not far away and the 19-year-old bludgeoned a hundred in his third ODI against Sri Lanka, underlining his undoubted potential.
As far as Umar was concerned, the only way was up and his inevitable Test debut against New Zealand was one to remember. He became only the second Pakistani to score a hundred on debut away from home after Fawad Alam, scoring 129 from 160 balls. More notably, he became the first Pakistani batsman to score both his first Test and ODI tons away from home.
A natural stroke maker with aggressive intent, Umar’s best position is number five. He was promoted up the order to number three and although he counter-attacked, it was clear he felt inhibited higher up the order.
Akmal finished the New Zealand tour with 400 runs at an average of 57.14. With Umar continuing his rapid rise to stardom, the future of Pakistan cricket looks in safe hands and should the youngster turn on the style in the Caribbean, Pakistan will be hard to stop.

Umer Akmal

so finally pak team won the two t20 matches against the kiwis and take a revenge of odi series .in the second and last t20 match on Friday in Dubai. the young umer akaml did the trick for Pakistani team and scored a fifty in this t20 .Teenager Umer Akmal lifted Pakistan to 153-5 before they survived a late charge by Brendon McCullum (47) and Scott Styris (43) to maintain their 100-per cent record against New Zealand. Pakistan, who won the first match by 49 runs on Thursday, has now won all four Twenty20 matches against the Black Caps.styris and mcullum kept the 66 runs partnership n reach to total to 135 and then mcullum got out by saeed ajmal i would like to say saeed ajmal a real talent he just came into the team and all over it by his bowling.if i say this it will not be wrong pakistan win a bit depends on the saeed ajmal good bowling spell so in 19th over ajmal got the wicket of mcullum and here on it is dificult for the kiwis to win the match n to get 18 runs in last umer gul over certainly it is pak won the match.

Muhammad Amir

Muhammad Amir is a new-comer in Pakistan's Cricket Team from Gujjar Khan who proved his mettle in the T20 Championship. He is extremely talented and has a great deal of potential as a left-arm fast-bowler.