Gambhir approximately fit for ODI series

Gautam Gambhir's contribution in the ODI series next to England looks possible with the Indian opener likely to be fit for the five-match rubber. Team manager Shivlal Yadav definitely this on Wednesday.

Yadav said Gambhir should be fine for next month's ODI series after his MRI scan did not show anything unpleasant.

He, however, said that the left-hander might not play in the perform game next to Sussex on Thursday.

Gambhir is critical to India's plans in the ODIs now that his guy opener Virender Sehwag has been totally ruled out for the five one-dayers and one-off Twenty20 match.

Gambhir suffer the concussion after he backpedalled at mid-on in a bid to catch a miscued pull off Kevin Petersen during the Oval Test. The chance was fluff when he fell back and hit his head on the ground with a thump.

Even though assumption over his ease of use has died down after the MRI scan, the left-hander did not come out to do with his colleagues today.

The present series has been one of hard luck for Gambhir. He was glaringly hit on his right prod while field at forward short leg during the first Test at Lord's last month.

He later had to miss the second Test at Trent Bridge. He did play the third Test at Edgbaston and scored 38 and 14 in the two innings.

Read more »

England captaincy a enormous compliment

Eoin Morgan believe his selection as England captain for the RSA Challenge in his native Dublin is a "huge tribute" to Irish cricket.

The 24-year-old lead his adopt country for the first time in tomorrow's stand-alone one-day international in the city of his birth and next to the side he made his name with.

Morgan played 23 one-day internationals for Ireland before catching the notice of the England selectors and has gone on to become debatable the central cog in their limited-overs batting.

His altitude to captain in the absence of the rested Alastair Cook and Stuart Broad represent another significant achievement, but while many in Ireland regret the loss of their country's most gifted player, Morgan thinks his own progress should be seen in an optimistic light.

"It's a huge honor and freedom to be in the location I am at the instant, for this game in exacting," said Morgan, who captain Ireland Under-19s against England Under-19s in 2006.

"I wouldn't have likely it (would come against Ireland). It's thrilling though, I certainly enjoy playing alongside Ireland and I've done it a number of times. "I think it's a huge tribute (to Ireland) and I can vouch for that.

"I played with Ireland when Ed Joyce made his first appearance for England, played in a World Cup for England, scored a hundred in Sydney for England.

"They were proud moment for Irish cricket. You can pride yourself on producing guys who can play at the highest level."

Morgan was absent with injury in March when a Kevin O'Brien-inspired Ireland famously defeated England in Bangalore in the World Cup.

His squads include just one man who knowledgeable that shock reversal, the fit-again Jonathan Trott, with a host of star names rested following the Test series whitewash over India.

Next to Cook and Broad, the likes of James Anderson, Ian Bell, Tim Bresnan and Graeme Swann - not to mention team director Andy Flower - have all been exempt the trip to Clontarf.

That leaves fielding coach Richard Halsall in charge of team affairs and four uncapped players - Ben Stokes, Jonathan Bairstow, Scott Borthwick and James Taylor - included. But Morgan discarded suggestion the selection betrayed satisfaction on England's part.

"With the strength of cricket we've played in the last 12 months and the cricket ahead of us, this game is a window of chance to give some of the senior guys a rest. There has to be a understanding," he said. "The cricket we've played and the level we've played it at takes a hell of a lot out of you.

"And take nothing away from the guys who are coming in. A lot of them have previously played and the four new guys who have come in are the brightest and biggest talents in English cricket at the moment. No-one should be dissatisfied with the side we've come with.

"The side is always hungry. With our ethos in the team, we strive to win and to do it for each other. It's why we succeed in the Test arena and what we're look to do in one-day cricket as well."

Read more »

Ireland activist of World Cup do again

Ireland skipper William Porterfield insists the make-up of England's team for Thursday's One Day International in Dublin has not diminished the sense of juncture in the Irish capital.

It will be England's first look in an ODI in Dublin and even with the likes of Kevin Petersen, James Anderson and Graeme Swann absent from the line-up; the sense of expectation in the Irish camp is strong.

Ireland notably beat England in the World Cup earlier this year and that has added to the publicity nearby the re-match.

"It's clearly massive," Porterfield told Sky Sports News. "There's been a lot of build-up and hype about it particularly after the World Cup, so it is going to be a good time."

Temporary stands have been erected for a sell-out crowd of 5,000 at a ground that is more suggestive of a club venue than an international stadium.

Porterfield added: "The crowds are going to be on top of the players. When we played Australia here a pair of years ago it was a full house and a pretty good environment, so it makes for a pretty good occasion."

And the Irish are keen to build on the force that World Cup win gave the game in the Republic.

"No one takes us lightly any longer when they come over here and it's going to be a good game of cricket. We are looking forward to it," Porterfield said.

"For the people back home the key was beating England, like in any sport - get one over on them - and we manage to do that at the World Cup. It did wonders back here and hopefully we can keep that going and keep Irish cricket touching forward."

As for the England side making the trip crossways the Irish Sea, Porterfield said: "To be honest it doesn't really substance that comes. It is a one day international next to England as far as we are concerned. Whoever puts on the shirt for them doesn't bother us, we are going out there to play next to England and that's all we care about."

Ed Joyce has played for England in the past but will be representing his motherland on Thursday, beside a side that has just taken over at the top of the Test rankings after an emphatic 4-0 series win over India.

Jouce said: "They have under enemy control and it's great to see. They are playing a great brand of cricket and are number one in the world, so fair play to them. They are a very good side. In ODI cricket they will be gunning to get up to number one as well, but we will be here tomorrow trying to stop them doing that."

Joyce also reckons this England side represents the future. "People like James Taylor and Jonny Bairstow and Ben Stokes - we have seen a lot of them in county cricket and they are special talents," he said. "I think those guys will be approximately England set-ups for a long time to come.

"So that will be stimulating for the Irish public. It will be a good time because these guys coming in are very good players.

"These guys will be in ODI squads going forward from here. It is not as under-strength as people are making out. They will clearly be a huge test for us and we are looking forward to giving them a good game."

Read more »

Axed Katich back Hughes to blaze

Simon Katich has put the cover on the past and announces his support for the uncapped Phillip Hughes as the man to help lead Australia out of the doldrums.

The 36-year-old crushed no words when he slam the selectors for axing him from the annual list of nationally- agreement players in June, accusing the Andrew Hilditch-led panel of favoring possible over form in picking players.

Katich has been like a run-machine for Australia for fairly some time. However, he unfortunately had to miss the last three Tests of the doomed Ashes campaign after being ruled out with an Achilles injury.

His replacement, the 22-year-old Hughes, is infamous for his suspected weakness against quality seamers. He failed to position up to the rigours of England's quicks for second consecutive Ashes but was however satisfied with a contract.

Rising above the rancor, Katich insist Hughes has the probable to repay the faith of the selectors.

"He knows how to make runs. He knows how to make big scores," Katich said of Hughes, who averaged 16 in three Tests next to England, in Wednesday's Daily Telegraph.

"He's previously made 16 first-class hundreds, which is no mean achievement for a player of his age. I think he'll be better for the little off period he had last year.

"All batsmen go throughout it at some stage during their career. You have to become familiar and get better and he'll do that, I have no doubt. Phil works firm and he's a good kid," he said.

Despite backing the very small Hughes, Katich has return to his State side, New South Wales, and has not written off his probability of making a return to the Australian Test side after being before written off.

The selection panel he answerable, in part, for Australia's 3-1 loss to England, will be revamp in line with recommendation of a self-governing team presentation review released last week.

The new-look panel will include Captain Michael Clarke and a new coach with better powers to be chosen, while being led by a full-time head to put back disliked chairman Hilditch, who acted in a part-time capacity.

Head of youth expansion Greg Chappell will also give up his role as a full-time selector as part of the shake-up.

"I was told four years ago they were never going to pick me yet again and I got back in, so you never know," said Katich.

He added: "The same guys who told me that are no longer in their jobs, so it's a bit ironical they've been given the brush. I have the same approach I had four years ago. I'm just going to enjoy my cricket with New South Wales."

Former top dogs, Australia, who have slip to fifth in the ICC world Test rankings, play fourth-ranked Sri Lanka in the first Test of a three-match series starting August 31 in Galle.

Read more »