Monday, January 2, 2012

Cricket-Australia unchanged for second India test


Australia Captain Michael Clarke is looking for more of the same team after naming an unchanged line-up for that which beat India by 122 runs in Melbourne last week to the second test.

After a season that has featured some ups and downs deep some to Australia, Clarke sees the second of four tests, which begins at the Sydney Cricket Ground (SCG) on Tuesday, as an important measure of team battle to improve its consistency.

"We've played some really positive cricket and sometimes some cricket that we would like to forget," Clarke told a press conference at the SCG on Monday.

"I think this is another test of our character to be able to back up after such an impressive victory in Melbourne. Our preparations were so good, that is a great thing for our team.

"Improve our consistency is making sure that we're doing the hard work, if we are having success in the field or not.

"Now it is about the same commitment, the same determination and implementation the same as Melbourne to win this Indian team".

Fast bowler Ryan Harris had been recruited 12-man squad for the second test, but was left out in favour of Spinner Nathan Lyon.

Clarke "hard to let Ryan off, but we've stuck with the winning team of Melbourne," he added. "The way we performed in Melbourne, it is difficult to change this team."

One of the highlights of proof of Melbourne was how the bowling attack of Peter Siddle, James Pattinson and Ben Hilfenhaus unsettled the famed Indian batting, bowling them out cheaply on the fourth day to secure the victory.

Pattinson, 21, has been the subject of much attention after claiming five wicket hauls in his first two tests against New Zealand and clinch the Man of the Match award in his third against India last week.

TEAM ASPECT

Clarke, however, was keen to stress the aspect of quick bowling unit team.

"Patto is just starting, it is a wonderful talent don't get me wrong, but I'd hate to see-in extra pressure on him," said Clarke.

"He's got a good crew around it also ... I think we're building a good crew of fast bowlers and they are just as vital as each other, I don't think there is one that is above the rest.

"They are all very talented and we need every one of them to continue the run if we are moving in test cricket".

Spin-bowling has traditionally been an important factor in the five-day matches, the SCG and Clarke said he thought that it would also be the case for the 100 test at the famous arena, if the sunshine that bathed the oval on Monday stuck around throughout the meeting.

However, with "a little green" on the wicket, Clarke predicted that batting can be difficult on the first day or two.

At the same time, in the hope that it would be left waiting for India's Sachin Tendulkar his 100th international century until after the series was about so he could watch it on television, Clarke did not think was a factor in the game.

"You have to try and get him home, though, because if you don't, it is very destructive, as we saw during a long period of time," he said.

Team-Michael Clarke (Captain), David Warner, Ed Cowan, Shaun Marsh, Ricky Ponting, Mike Hussey, Brad Haddin, Peter Siddle, Ben Hilfenhaus, James Pattinson, Nathan Lyon

Cricket-Australia unchanged for second test against India


Australia have decided to stick with the team that beat India by 122 runs in Melbourne last week for the second test in the four-match series, captain Michael Clarke said on Monday.

Fast bowler Ryan Harris had been drafted into the squad for the second test at the Sydney Cricket Ground, which begins on Tuesday, but was left out in favour of spinner Nathan Lyon.

"Tough to leave Ryan out but we've stuck with the winning team from Melbourne," Clarke told a news conference.

"The way we performed in Melbourne, it's tough to change that team."

Team - Michael Clarke (captain), David Warner, Ed Cowan, Shaun Marsh, Ricky Ponting, Mike Hussey, Brad Haddin, Peter Siddle, Ben Hilfenhaus, James Pattinson, Nathan Lyon

REFILE-PREVIEW-Cricket-Smith says S.Africa must be mentally stronger


South Africa must be mentally stronger in the third and final test against Sri Lanka, captain Graeme Smith said on the eve of the match.

The home team won the first test in Centurion an entry, then descended to a 208-run defeat in the second match in Durban last week.

"I don't criticize the training nor the effort the players has been remarkable. But mentally we need to be a little stronger, which is the only thing I can put my finger on, "Smith told reporters on Monday.

"We just don't adapt well to conditions in Durban recently and haven't played our best cricket under those conditions.

"It is easier for us when the ball passes through and there is good lead, but when we do not need to adapt, we need change mentally," added Smith.

Sri Lanka failed to win his eight previous tests in South Africa before Durban.

"We had a very hard time here and before the series everybody was saying we're underdogs and can't win to South Africa," said the visiting Captain Tillakaratne Dilshan.

"But if we can play our brand of cricket and stick to basics we believe that we can run on any conditions".

South Africa made two changes to his team, Alviro Petersen replacing batsman Ashwell Prince and seam bowler Vernon Philander entering the unlucky Marchant de Lange.

DOUBT CHANDIMAL

Petersen opens with Smith while Jacques Rudolph drops down to number six.

Philander, who took 24 wickets in his first three tests, returns after a knee injury kept him out in Durban.

Rookie De Lange took seven wickets in the first inning of the second test.

Sri Lanka are sweating on the fitness of wicketkeeper-batsman Dinesh Chandimal who arrived in test cricket with a bang by hitting two half-centuries in Durban.

He is a doubt after he was hit in the elbow while batting in the nets on Sunday.

"Elbow Chandimal is getting better, but is a contusion in a nasty place. Is a loss for us that he cannot play because he did a great job for us in the last test, "said Dilshan.

Dilhara Fernando also is doubtful with a knee problem and seamer Dhammika Prasad is ready to replace him.

The pressure is on South Africa to put another year annoyingly inconsistent behind them.

"All these ups and downs, has been the story of my career," said Smith. "I have played under this pressure since I was 22 years old and I was probably stupid to assume the captaincy at that age.

"But it is about bouncing back and make things right over the next five days".

South Africa's Graeme Smith team-Alviro Petersen, Hashim Amla, Jacques Kallis, AB de Villiers, Jacques Rudolph, Mark Boucher, Vernon Philander, Dale Steyn, Morne Morkel, Imran Tahir.

Equipe provável Sri Lanka - Tharanga Paranavitana, Tillakaratne Dilshan, Kumar Sangakkara, Mahela Jayawardene, Thilan Samaraweera, Angelo Mathews, Dinesh Chandimal, Dhammika Prasad, Thisara Perera, Rangana Herath, Chanaka Welegedara.

Sunday, January 1, 2012

South Africa announced his squad for the ODI series against Sri Lanka from January 11 in Paarl, with the final match will be played in Johannesburg. Wicketkeeper Mark Boucher has fallen from the cast.



South Africa: AB de Villiers (Captain), Graeme Smith, Hashim Amla, JP Christophe, Johan Botha, Dean Elgar, Rory Kleinveldt, Jacques Kallis, Francois du Plessis, Wayne Parnell, Morne Morkel, Dale Steyn, Robin Peterson and Lonwabo Tsotsobe.

Fletcher is under pressure: Ganguly


Former Indian Captain Saurav Ganguly said the Indian coach Duncan Fletcher is currently under pressure after India's humiliating loss to Australia in Melbourne his retardation goal of winning its first series on Australian soil.

After a disastrous tour of England where India were punished 4-0, Dun can Fletcher now faces the prospect of another unfulfilled tour of Australia.

In addition, his record as a coach has a different story altogether. Trained by teams he has won only one of 11 tests played in Australia and lost 10, the latest being the 122 run loss to Australia at the MCG on Thursday.

"He had a difficult time. It is their fifth loss in their past five tests abroad, so that it will be under a little pressure. He has to turn it around, "said Ganguly.

Now, with the team trailing 0-1 in the series, faces Fletcher, an enormous challenge to motivate the players and also regroup the team, as the players were unhappy with defensive field placings which allowed Aussie tailenders post a crucial 43 run stand on Thursday morning.

As coach of England, in 2002-03, visitors were mauled 4-1, with the ash suffered in just 11 days of play.

Statistics aside, some Indian players think that Fletcher is very good technically, echoing the same as their counterparts Proteas and British.

Now, Duncan Fletcher has a great task in hand, how to take India Australia in second test in Sydney starting on Tuesday. The first challenge is to combat the tailenders as the next important thing is to combat the quicks.

No possibility of a series win: Sunil Gavaskar


The ongoing test series against Australia was seen as India's best chance to win a series of terms, but former Captain Sunil Gavaskar on Friday said that visitors must forget about this possibility after the humiliating loss in the first test.

India witnessed another bad start for a tour abroad after its formation, striking the famous failed to succumb to a loss of 122-run embarrassment against Australia in the opening of the series on Thursday.

Asked if the defeat virtually ended India's chances of winning the four-match series, Gavaskar replied affirmatively.

"Yes, I think so (about India did not win the series)."I'll be happy to be proven wrong but I don't see that happening, he said.

"In both the entries here were unable to cross the 300-run mark, especially in the second input here the pitch was good for batting.

"In England, we were able to achieve 300 only once, regardless of our hitters having 30,000 to 40,000 runs behind them. The alarm bells are ringing too loudly, "added the legendary hitter.

Mahendra Singh Dhoni might be facing criticism from all quarters for his defensive Captaincy out late, but Gavaskar some extended support for the beleaguered India skipper.

"Captains need help because they are under pressure at a time."They need help of Deputy Commander and I don't think Dhoni is getting that help, said Gavaskar.

Laying pitches to picking wickets


Chicken Peter Siddle saw the drop-in pitch on Boxing Day in ' G ', he knew what to expect. Wasn't their pasts walks in his past Bowling Stadium or the years in all types of pitches which helped their understanding, he read the pitch better than most because he has worked as curator pitch in the area of Melbourne.


Siddle read the pitch better than most because he has worked as curator pitch in the area of Melbourne. © AFP
HT had previously reported the curious case of Nathan Lyon, who spent an apprentice curator at Manuka Oval in Canberra and later as curator at the Adelaide Oval, to an off-spinner bowling to the national team. While the rise of Siddle was not so dramatic, he also once prepared pitches that he later would wreak havoc in.

During his early cricket club in Dandenong Cricket Club, the reigning Victorian Premier League, a Siddle of 16 years was also a curator of pitch from apprentice at the home of Dandenong, Shepley Oval. Talking HT, former Dandenong, Brendan McArdle, shared days curated by shot a young Siddle. "In his first year at the Club, he was one of the boys who apprenticed as a curator of pitch on our land. He did so about a year, but soon he was concentrating full-time cricket ".

McArdle added belief of Siddle make him as a cricketer top-notch saw him concentrate on cricket. "When he was 17, had already played for the Victoria State team in different age, when he made the Victoria U-19 you could see that his focus was on how to become a professional game to its State cricketer … and then your country," said McArdle, who played first-class cricket for Victoria and is currently a talent scout with Cricket Victoria.

Admirable champion India's defence, Eknath Solkar, was also a curator pitch the Hindu Gymkhana in Bombay, where his father was a gardener.