Bopara warns Pakistan can hit back

Return to the form batsman Ravi Bopara, warned on Wednesday for EnglandEngland Ravi Bopara plays a shot during the second ODI against any complacency Pakistanavoid against a dangerous team in Pakistan, despite running into a 2-0 lead in their one day international series.
England won the first match by 130 runs on Monday and then doubled the lead with a sweaty 20-run victory in the second on Wednesday - both in Abu Dhabi. Bopara hit centuries and a half in both games and helped his captain Alastair Cook - who hit successive centuries - to help England post challenging total in both games.
But Bopara warned Pakistan can still recover the last two games here on Saturday and Tuesday. "Any series where you go 2-0 up is very good," said 26-year-old. "But we're keeping our feet on the ground. We know the test series that Pakistan is capable of. They are a very unpredictable team," said Bopara.
Pakistan won the three-Test series 3-0 earlier.
Bopara part of the England team, which lost 5-0 in India last year, said a victory of this magnitude in a position sub-continent would be fine. "It will be a huge thing for us to win out here. We had a record of a good day at the sub-continent so it's a great thing for us to win. This will give us confidence to know that we can do it under conditions -continent. "

Bopara warned against thinking a 4-0 victory. "I do not like to think so. We did this in the past. Individually we have a bit dizzy and things go wrong. So we're not going to look too far ahead. Let's just keep doing what we've done in the last couple of matches and worry with our skills and dealing with the Pakistan bowling line-up, "said Bopara.
Read also: Recipe Cook helps England to expose Pakistan

Bopara, who scored so far in 1668 71 one-day international, said his fitness was pleasant. "I feel good. I felt much better today than I did in the first game," Bopara said his 58 on Monday when he added 131 with Cook for the third wicket.
"I was getting used to the bowlers and it was my second game since October. It makes a huge difference once you had that time at the crease. The good thing is cook is in great shape. I hope he can go to the third combine and get some more clues, "said Bopara.
Bopara said he tried to absorb the pressure. "This has been a huge thing for me. We have to absorb the pressure, because it will be difficult in the first 15 or 20 minutes," he said.
"It's easier as the innings went on. Once you're in about fiveovers, you get used to the pace of the wicket, the players. It is much easier."Bopara, who played one Test against India last year, said he was not thinking far ahead in his career.
"I'm not looking where I am right now. I remember in the summer against India, I had a good series, but then I went to India and not a series so good. Things can change so quickly. I just I'm keeping my feet on the ground. I'm just thinking (Saeed) Ajmal and how I'll deal with it. "

Cook's second successive ton inspires England win

Alastair Cook hit a second successive hundred to steer England
Captain Cook led the way once again with another centurya 20-run victory over Pakistan on the second day and night international on Wednesday, giving his team a 2-0 lead in the four-match series.

England put a challenge 250-4 102 powered by Cook before he rolled well to restrict Pakistan to 230 in 49 overs in Abu Dhabi Stadium.


Misbah-ul Haq could not match his counterpart during his 59-ball 47 as Pakistan lost track after being well set at 179-4, needing 72 in the last 11.1 overs.

Steven Finn, who took four wickets in the first leg, finished with identical figures of 4-34 to anchor the victory of England.

Pakistan had a good start with Mohammad Hafeez (26) and Imran Farhat (47) 61 by notching another 16 before Hafeez was caught at mid-wicket off James Anderson. Farhat, who hit five boundaries, added 31 for the second wicket with Azhar Ali (31) before Samit Patel took two wickets within 12 runs, removing and Ali Khan Younis (five).

Farhat fell to a silly run out, leaving Misbah and Umar Akmal (21) to add 37 for the fifth wicket before Patel made a diving catch at cover to send intelligent Umar back with 72 still needed off 11.1 overs.

Shahid Afridi briefly threatened England with a run-a-ball 18, but his wicket and Craig Kieswetter sky high catch to dismiss Misbah decided the question for England.

At the beginning of Cook scored his fourth hundred - the first England captain and batters of the ninth for his country to achieve back-to-back in a hundred dayers - to continue the good work after his career-best 137 in victory Monday in the series opener.

The 27-year-old lefty put 67 for the opening wicket with Kevin Pietersen (26) after England won their second successive launch and struck. He also added 49 with Jonathan Trott (23) for the second and 78 for third, with Ravi Bopara who made an attractive 58. Cook was again at his fluent best, hitting 10 boundaries off 121 balls before he gave a return catch to leg-spinner Shahid Afridi in 42 more. He hit paceman Umar Gul for two boundaries to reach 99 and then took a single Abdul Rehman to reach the milestone of three digits, as he carried the batting right from the start.

England, which has remained unchanged since the first game, also due to its evolution to a catch dropped to part-time wicket-keeper Umar Akmal to cook out on 28 off Afridi, a laspe expensive for Pakistan.

Ajmal, who finished with 1-54, once again, since the discovery when he trapped Pietersen leg before in another 16.

Paceman Cheema Trott was caught behind before Cook and Bopara followed his 131-run stand in the first game with another strong partnership.

Bopara, who hit four boundaries during his 66-ball knock, gave the finishing touch to the entries with a 56-run stand for the fourth wicket with Eoin Morgan, whose 25 was not a six.

The third and fourth games will be played in Dubai on Saturday and Tuesday.

BCCI taps cricketing backwaters to boost bowling options

The Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI) is finally beyond the traditional powers to increase the resources of fine bowling team.

Cal identical test series in England and Australia has exposed the limitations of India's bowling, making the Cricket Board to go on a hunt for talent in Indian cricketing backwaters.

From 18 February, the National Cricket Academy (NCA) faculty hold open trials for the pace and spin bowlers in Himachal Pradesh, Jammu and Kashmir, Jharkhand and Chhattisgarh, BCCI secretary Sanjay Jagdale said in a statement on Wednesday.

"The boys aged between 17 and 22 will be eligible to participate in the trials. They should not have played in any tournament BCCI term," said Jagdale.

The pitchers selected, then a specialized training camp followed by a three-week high altitude, in Dharamsala, BCCI joint secretary Anurag Thakur told Reuters.

"There are a number of talented players who do not get a chance to play in tournaments the BCCI. While it may not be possible for them to play for India, now, they can be kept ready when an opportunity comes," Thakur said by phone.

New Zealand win T20 as Zimbabwe end tour winless

New Zealand secured a five wicket victory over Zimbabwe in dramatic
Zimbabwe Brendan Taylor and Elton Chigumburathe final Twenty20 international Tuesday to condemn the visitors to tour without a victory.

Kane Williamson (20) scored 14 runs in the final to seal the victory with just two balls to spare and a half centuries after the openers James Franklin (60) and Rob Nicol (56).

The result capped a dismal tour to Zimbabwe, which was competitive in both games, but were overtaken by the T20 New Zealand in a one-off Test and three one-day international.

Tourists saved his best performance for the final game, choosing to bat after winning the toss and scoring 200 for two, your best T20 score ever in Seddon Park Hamilton. Determined to finally break the shackles opener Hamilton Masakadza (62) and captain Brendan Taylor (75) anchored the innings, but fell slightly below after Williamson, in only his third international T20, Black Caps headed home.

"Obviously it is bitterly disappointing, but I think our boys can hold our heads high," said Taylor. "If we get this kind of total that will be much more competitive in the future."

Taylor said he was glad not to lose wickets as the 1st Hamilton Masakadza and Stuart Matsikenyeri partnered opening 76-run, the first tourists openers achieved an over 50 races throughout the tour.

Zimbabwe's bowlers also produced a much better performance with Kyle Jarvis taking two wickets in two balls in the penultimate and more Elton Chingumbura ending with figures of two for 23.

In contrast, Michael Bates and Ronnie Hira was the only wicket takers for New Zealand, but both proved costly, with Bates leaking 47 runs off four overs and 31 going to Hira out of three.

New Zealand's batting proved too strong as a makeshift opener Franklin, promoted in the following order form Martin Guptill was spared, produced a man-of-view game.
New Zealand run chase started tentatively, with seven overs to bring up to 50.

But the Black Caps then quickened the pace and plundered 49 runs from three overs before the next Chigumbura Nicol dismissed for 56 with his first ball to break the 103-run partnership.

Franklin was growing in confidence and looking menacing before falling to a superb run from Keegan Meth, who hit the stumps from side of the border as the striker scrambled for a second round.

Chigumbura delayed pulse of New Zealand even more when he skittled of Colin Grandhomme for eight, leaving the home team needing 41 off 20 balls.

The tourists looked set to win an upset when Jarvis dismissed New Zealand captain Brendon McCullum and his brother Nathan to bring rookie Andrew Ellis to the crease with the end of the loom.

But Williamson assured the strike and hit a four off the second ball just Shingi Masakadza, followed with a victory, then securing with six other limit.
New Zealand will face a tough challenge against the South African tour this week, with the first T20 scheduled for Wellington on Friday.

Sahara pullout may cost BCCI dear

Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI) President N Srinivasan is losing control over the game. Since taking the BCCI in 2011, he alienated senior players, lost its national broadcaster, canceled an IPL team and entered into a protracted legal battle with the other two franchises-Kings XI Punjab and Rajasthan Royals. On February 4, he was on the verge of losing most consistent sponsor cricket in India, Sahara India, which threatened to leave the IPL and a team sponsorship India about not being allowed extra money to apply for a replacement for sick captain Pune Warriors Yuvraj Singh. Sahara India spends Rs 560 crore in sponsorship of the team in India and Rs 1,720 crore in his IPL team, Pune Warriors. Their removal will punch a big hole in the BCCI's annual revenue of Rs 4,000 crore and put a question mark over the continuation of the cash cow of the Council, the Indian Premier League (IPL). Season 5 begins April 4.

Srinivasan had to call the veteran Jagmohan Dalmiya, president of Cricket Association of Bengal, to mediate between him and India chairman Subrata Roy Sahara. Dalmiya will now meet Roy on February 12 in Mumbai Sahara Star hotel, along with ipl President Rajeev Shukla. BCCI will try to convince Roy to change his mind. Roy, is reliably learned, has agreed to maintain your investment Rs 1,720 crore in the IPL team, but it is the demolition of Rs 560 crore sponsorship of Team India. "We will not let a good partner out with anger," said Shukla.

If Sahara India out of Pune Warriors, the match of the IPL matches would mean less new deals and lower prices to issuing Set Max (currently paying Rs 820 crore per annum for a 10-year agreement signed in 2007), title sponsor DLF and other advertisers. "The celebrated brand is now facing some tough questions from advertisers who want to know what is in store," says the analyst and Future Brands MD and CEO Santosh Desai.

The current season is crucial for the IPL and T20 leagues do not do well financially, is in trouble. "Once the stock was sold five months in advance. Now the interest is very low," says managing partner of Navin Khemka of Zenith Optimedia, a media buying company. Ratings ipl4 decreased to 3.94 from a peak of 5.29 in IPL3 in 2010, according to press reports of TAM.

Former cricketers claim must be something very wrong with the way the board has allowed its ties with various stakeholders to deteriorate. "BCCI needs a drastic overhaul," says former India captain Bishan Singh Bedi.

Senior officials of the BCCI have approached the Bharti Airtel, India's telecommunications company than for a quick deal for 18 months contract left over from Sahara India for three-and-a-half-year. In May 2010, Sahara India, the sponsor of the team over the past four and a half years, had bid Rs 3.34 crore for each test, a day and a Twenty20 match against Rs 2.89 crore Bharti. What sparked the latest controversy? Grouse Sahara India was that the BCCI ignored some of their genuine concerns regarding the warriors Pune. BCCI refused to add Yuvraj Singh price Rs 8 crore to Pune Warrior scholarship auction. The addition would have allowed the team to compete for a top player. Sahara India also paid more for the team that most participants Mumbai Indians and Royal Challengers. However, they played only 74 matches instead of the stipulated 94 promised by the BCCI during the auction.

Head of Corporate Affairs Sahara India Abhijit Sarkar said that the group is studying conciliatory tone of the Board and weighing your options before February 12 meeting. Even if the two sides mend, a reunion seems difficult. "Unfortunately, I never found the BCCI believe in genuine give and take," said a statement released by the group. "Any relationship does not fall on one issue," said an irate Roy said. In London, the worst critic Srinivasan, former IPL Commissioner Lalit Modi is enjoying his defeat. He wrote on his website: "A building is being done carefully shaken by a man-Narayanaswami Srinivasan, who is unaware of the consequences of their actions."

Australian fast bowler Dirk Nannes praises hard South African cricket

Australian Twenty20 specialist Dirk Nannes praised South African cricket, and said it was the perfect place to play cricket hard.

t is a good place to be in terms of cricket, very difficult, "said Sports24 Nannes, as saying.

He will play alongside Pakistan Sohail Tanvir as two of the professionals in the country at the Lions' squad for T20 domestic competition this season, which begins on Wednesday.

"I like a challenge and play in a tournament of good internal quality is sometimes more difficult than international cricket, so I expect nothing less than good hard cricket," he said.

Nannes was impressed with the big name international players.

"Having a guy like Chris Gayle, who dominated the competitions around the world, is a good challenge for domestic operators," he said.

"They do not normally have the opportunity to bowl to players of his caliber and is also great for the fans to watch," he added.

Strange ways of Indian cricket

Tendulkar and Raina interact during a practice session at the Sardar Patel Stadium. 

 

 

 

 

 

The Indian team's think-tank has taken a leaf out of the book in the course of Australia Commonwealth Bank tri-series, when deciding to adopt a rotation policy for their three senior batsmen - Virender Sehwag, Sachin Tendulkar and Gautam Gambhir.

Sehwag and Gambhir were not part of India's matches against Australia in Melbourne and against Sri Lanka in Perth, respectively, and Tendulkar was the time to sit third game of the tournament team at the Adelaide Oval today. As expected, the news of the failure Tendulkar was not taken too kindly by former India captain Ravi Shastri, who was visibly upset with the decision of the management team to rest the scout master and told him he should play every game for CB Series trying to score his 100th century in international cricket elusive. But why Tendulkar given special treatment and be kept away from the rotation policy? Tendulkar is undoubtedly the greatest batsman of India, but even he can not be greater than the team.

I thought cricket was a team game where personal milestones take a back seat and the decisions must be made in the best interests of the team! This is something that I had mentioned this story last month saying Tendulkar Selection Series for the CB and indeed the team one day is a step backwards for Indian cricket.

Returning to the rotation policy used to be Down Under, Sehwag justified last week, he said the management team or youth team to play in all matches in the tournament and get used to the conditions as the World Cup 2015 is being organized by Australia and New Zealand. . "We have good young people (it is) is important, they have to play more one-dayers so they have experience when the World Cup comes That's our aim When the World Cup is there, they must have played at least 75 .. - 100 ODIs, so they are ready for the World Cup, "he said.

India captain MS Dhoni said the policy was put in place to ensure Rohit Sharma gets enough games to become a permanent member of the team one day. There is something fundamentally wrong with this logic, because Rohit would have thought he had established himself in Team thanks for your man back-to-back series of awards in the last two India one-day series against West Indies, home and away . Furthermore, by highlighting Rohit, the message is that he has not done enough to be part of the playing XI and he is now being given enough chances to make a case for himself. This certainly is unfair to Rohit when there are other players who need this "security" more than he does at the moment.

Australia first used the rotation policy in early 2000, when they were a force conquers all, and was more of a need to infuse a sense of competition for places on the team to ensure that players are not satisfied and stop challenging to improve. And players who were rotated were and still are being shaped, an example that was resting Michael Hussey for the game today and Peter Forrest delivering his maiden international cap.

The heart of the Indian team management seems to be in the right place, but they are going wrong in implementing the policy by turning only the top three batters and did not adopt the same attitude toward someone like Suresh Raina, who continues to be discovered and again in Inflatable fields away from the sub-continent. Raina had sufficient opportunity and time to work on his technique against short deliveries, but despite its flaws in the middle-order continuous, it is being given a long rope.

And that is when someone like Manoj Tiwary is part of the Indian squad for the CB Series. Tiwary not only score his maiden international century in his last ODI appearance for India, it is also useful with the ball and is brilliant in the field, and can easily insert a point of Raina. Raina needs to be sent a message that he can not take your place in the team for granted, especially when there is a worthy competitor around.

India should ideally have first used the policy of rotation in the test series against West Indies at home, the former opening batsman Aakash Chopra writes this column. Chopra adds that it makes little sense to rotate players, after only one or two walks and there should be a method to the madness.

It is time also that Dhoni and team management to think seriously about including Irfan Pathan India XI to play sooner or later in the tournament, to the detriment of any Ravindra Jadeja and Vinay Kumar.