Yuvraj, Harbhajan named in Test squad

As expected, Yuvraj Singh has been named in the squad for the first two Tests against England, starting November 15. Harbhajan Singh was also recalled while Suresh Raina, the middle-order batsman, was dropped. M Vijay was included as the fourth specialist opener in the squad of 15.

The first national selection meeting of the newly-appointed panel, headed by Sandeep Patil at the Cricket Centre in Mumbai, also attended by the captain MS Dhoni, didn't last long. While it was announced earlier that only the first Test squad would be selected, the selectors picked the squad for the first two Tests.
While Yuvraj has proven his fitness for the rigours of Test cricket over the last month after recovering from a germ cell cancer, Harbhajan was selected for his experience and lack of options once Piyush Chawla failed to recover from a thumb injury.

Yuvraj last featured in a Test in November 2011, (against the West Indies in Mumbai). The fact that Raina, who scored a half-century in the second Test against New Zealand in Bangalore, has been replaced by Vijay as the reserve opener clearly indicates that the selectors are looking at Ajinkya Rahane more as a middle-order batsman than as an opening option.

Harbhajan, who last played a Test during the 2011 England tour, was included despite an ordinary start to the Ranji Tropy season. He went wicketless in 21 overs in the first innings for Punjab against Hyderabad, but picked up three wickets in the second. Harbhajan was recalled for the World Twenty20, where he turned in a match-winning 4 for 12 against England. He was not considered for Test selection by the previous selection panel following the England tour.

The only bone of contention for the selectors was to check Zaheer Khan's fitness status. The left-arm seamer had left the field with discomfort on Monday during Mumbai's Ranji Trophy game against Railways and underwent a fitness test. Minutes after the National Cricket Academy physiotherapist Ashish Kaushik submitted his report to the selection panel, the selectors finalised the squad.

Read more »

Tough, competitive, and memorable

It's the day after the Under-19 World Cup final and Townsville feels different. Flinders Street bears no sign of the Indian party the night before, and the cafés on Palmer are missing the groups of young cricketers who've been ever-present over the last two weeks. For the 240 players who've left the city, the fortnight gone by has been probably the most revealing, instructive and emotional of their teenage lives.

The 2012 Under-19 World Cup has felt like a bowler's tournament; perhaps it was the imprint left by the first day, when England were dismissed for 143 by Australia after which Reece Topley broke Jimmy Peirson's middle stump and Jamie Overton let rip at scary speeds for someone so young.

The finalists were perhaps the best prepared sides and their success a vindication of the investment made. India gave their players exposure by going on two tours, to Malaysia and Townsville, and hosting a quadrangular series. Their players had been tested by foreign conditions and demanding situations several times before they faced the pressures of the World Cup. The Indians also had an elaborate camp at the National Cricket Academy in Bangalore where, apart from their cricket skills, the players worked on intangible factors such as building trust and team spirit.

The 2012 Under-19 World Cup was the time of Reece Topley and Anamul Haque, of William Bosisto and Unmukt Chand, the stars of a stage protected by age. Whether it is they, or someone who was hidden in obscurity during the last two weeks, who will succeed in greater arenas, it is much too early to tell. Most of the cricketers who came to Brisbane, Sunshine Coast and Townsville will never return again, but perhaps the time they spent here will be the making of some of them.

Read more »

Eye on World T20 in solitary fixture

This solitary Twenty20 fixture at Pallekele, along with India's two T20s against New Zealand later this month and the Sri Lanka Premier League, offers welcome arrangements for teams and players ahead of the World T20 in Sri Lanka in September. This will be India's last T20 before the final squad for the World T20 is announce (the deadline is August 18); some of Sri Lanka's players will have the advantage of playing the SLPL before their squad is named.

India have played just one Twenty20 international in Sri Lanka, in 2009, which they won. The teams have played T20s next to each other on four occasion; their last game was more than two years ago. After three wounded in a row this trip, Sri Lanka have one final shot at comfort. After a rainless ODI series, there was a stable shower on the eve of this game.

The structure of the series has, however, raise question marks. According to the Future Tours Programmed, this tour was meant to include three Tests and no ODIs. The teams then decided to play five ODIs and just one T20; the SLC said the teams wanted to focus on limited-over’s cricket. Which begs the question: Why not play more T20 internationals in its place of five ODIs, a month ahead of the World T20?

Read more »

Sehwag hopes for Indian victory at U-19 WC

Virender Sehwag believes that the Under-19 World Cup provides a wonderful opportunity for youngsters to build their confidence and hopes that the current tournament produces some future talent. "I think whoever plays well in the ICC U19 CWC 2012 and keeps performing well in first-class cricket could also end up traveling to Australia for the ICC CWC 2015. I'm hoping a couple of guys will come through, especially for India," said Sehwag, in an ICC media release.

The 33-year-old also acknowledged the fact that the tournament would harbor many new cricketing relationships, "the players have a great opportunity to go out there, play with and against the best and perform well. They will be motivated and will get a lot of self-confidence. The players will also make a lot of friends for life during the tournament."

The Indian opener offered some words of motivation for the U-19 squad, "go there and give your best, just make the most of the opportunity. Try to win the World Cup for your country," he said. "Mohammad Kaif won it in 2000 and Virat Kohli lifted the trophy in 2008. Maybe, this time, the India captain (Unmukt Chand) can lift the Cup again and make us proud. Every single player from the current India team is wishing the very best of luck to the India team in the U-19 CWC 2012," Sehwag added.

Sehwag, who played in the Under-19 World Cup in 1998, didn't quite prosper in the tournament, scoring a highest of just 38 against South Africa. He did shine with the ball though, and his off spin helped him pick up seven wickets. Talking about that particular tournament Sehwag said, "we played against a lot of top teams - South Africa, England, Australia, Zimbabwe, Sri Lanka, Pakistan - in that event. It was a great platform. Any player who performs at that level can harbour hopes of playing at the highest level."

Read more »

Australia's T20 BBL 2 to start on December 7

Australia's Twenty20 Big Bash League this year, will be held from December 7 to January 19, it was announced here on Friday.

This year's BBL 2 is an increase in the total matches from 31 to 35 to give teams and their fans four home games each. It is set to be more exciting waku doki than last year.

The structure of the league remains the same however, with the top four teams at the end of the round matches not only qualifying for the Big Semi-finals but also getting the chance to play for a place in the elite Champions League Twenty20 tournament.

Despite adding another round of matches, the duration of the season is the same as BBL 01. It applies last year's winning formula, which featured record-busting TV ratings and more than 550,000 fans packing stadiums, to guarantee live action almost nightly during the December-January holiday period, a BBL media release said on Friday.

The new fixture also gives fans in Sydney and Melbourne two Derby matches each after huge interest saw a combined 70,000 fans attend the first inter-city clashes last season.

After the opening round, the eight BBL teams will criss-cross the country before the KFC T20 BBL 2 Big Final is played 41 days later on Saturday, January 19.

Also confirmed on Friday were the contracting rules that have been issued to teams ahead of the opening of the official Player Signing Window next Monday July 9 at 9am.

BBL Teams

Melbourne Renegades

Melbourne Stars

Sydney Sixers

Sydney Thunder

Brisbane Heat

Hobart Hurricanes

Perth Scorchers

Adelaide Strikers

Read more »

Sri Lanka top arrange pummels Pakistan

Sri Lanka 300 for 2 (Sangakkara 111*, Dilshan 101, M Jayawardene 55*) v Pakistan

Nine months ago, the ICC had said a "better balance between bat and ball (needs to be) achieved" after a Galle dustbowl made life difficult for batsmen. Today, on an unexpectedly sunny day in Galle, Sri Lanka reached stumps at a commanding 300 for 2.

Ahead of the series, Mahela Jayawardene had talked of the need for Sri Lanka's experienced players to build a platform for the others. He couldn't have expected more: Tillakaratne Dilshan made his first Test hundred in more than a year, Kumar Sangakkaradrew level with Don Bradman on 29 centuries and Jayawardene himself made an unbeaten 55.

It rounded off a wretched day for Pakistan cricket. Before the start of play came the news of disgraced former captain Salman Butt returning home from jail and denying involvement in spot-fixing, and towards stumps the headlines were about legspinner Danish Kaneria being found guilty of corruption by the ECB.

Though the scoreline might suggest it, the Galle track didn't overnight become a clone of the famously flat SSC pitch. It didn't provide much for the quick bowlers - either with the new ball or old - but there was plenty to interest Pakistan's world-class spinners. As early as the first session, Abdul Rehman got the odd ball to bounce extra, all the spinners got the ball to turn sharply.

Especially in the half hour before lunch, Saeed Ajmal and Rehman piled on the pressure. Dilshan survived several lbw appeals, Sangakkara edged past slip, there was a leading edge from Dilshan, the spinners put together three successive maidens, and despite a healthy score of 94 for 1 Sri Lanka were relieved when the lunch interval arrived.

Read more »

Hosts pin hopes on batting stars

Till recently, Pakistan's full tour of Sri Lanka for a series of two Twenty20s, five ODIs and three Tests existed only in the ICC's Future Tours Programme. The schedule was formally approved by the PCB a month ago and whatever build-up that existed was lost in the frenzy of the IPL. Despite its perfect positioning - the IPL is over, those from the two sides in question are free of other commitments and Sri Lanka is the venue for the World Twenty20 - the pre-series hype that usually accompanies a contest between two high-profile teams as Sri Lanka and Pakistan is missing.

One reason could be the fact that the tour gets underway in far-flung Hambantota, the country's newest cricketing venue; at the cricket board office in Colombo, though, there is little or no activity at the ticket counter.

For Pakistan, international cricket's nomads, it's another series away from home. Deprived of IPL activity, the lead-up to this tour for them consisted of a two-week camp in Lahore under hot conditions sure to test them in Sri Lanka. Fans showed up in thousands to watch a series of practice games between the best limited-overs players in the country. Nothing can substitute international action at home, but this is the best their fans can get.

Only a select number of Sri Lankan players, on the other hand, have had the benefit of rigorous Twenty20 match practice. Mahela Jayawardene, Kumar Sangakkara and Lasith Malinga have been particularly busy in the IPL, while the others have been keeping busy training at home. Dinesh Chandimal, who failed to get a game with Rajasthan Royals, was released midway to join a training camp at home. A few more weeks in the dugout could have been detrimental to the fledgling star's development. Fitness is paramount in June's punishing cricketing conditions and it's an area both teams will have to address.

Read more »

Dhoni outstanding performance knocks out Mumbai

Chennai Super Kings 187 for 5 (Dhoni 51, Hussey 49) v Mumbai Indians 149 for 9 (Smith 38, Bravo 2-10, Morkel 2-31)

Innings	Dot balls	4s	6s	Powerplay	16-20 overs	NB/Wides
Chennai Super Kings	48	23	6	30-2	73-1	0/3
Mumbai Indians	59	14	5	54-1	37-2	1/5

Read more »

PCB sees India as potential hosts for Australia series

Zaka Ashraf, the PCB chairman, has hinted at asking India to host a limited-overs series between Pakistan and Australia later this year. Pakistan are seeking a venue for the series after Sri Lanka's refusal to stage it.

Ashraf, who has been invited by the BCCI to watch the IPL final in Chennai on Sunday, said he will discuss the idea with the Indian board officials, but maintained the main agenda would be to revive bilateral cricketing ties between India and Pakistan.

The other possible venues for the series are Malaysia, South Africa and Zimbabwe. The series was scheduled to comprise five one-dayers and three T20Is to help the sides prepare for the World Twenty20 in Sri Lanka, which begins on September 18.

"It isn't a bad idea (considering India) but a good choice to maintain the healthy relationship with them (India), but let us see the mood there," Ashraf told ESPNcricinfo. "But our primary purpose is to revive ties with them. However, in the meantime we have three options under consideration to host our series."

Ashraf was optimistic about a healthy dialogue with the BCCI, following India's decision to invite Pakistan's domestic Twenty20 champions, Sialkot Stallions, to participate in the Champions League Twenty20 later this year, in India.

Read more »

Kolkata in IPL final for first time

Kolkata Knight Riders 162 for 4 (Yusuf 40*) beat Delhi Daredevils 144 for 8 (Jayawardene 40, Kallis 2-24, Narine 2-24) by 18 runs

After four seasons of at times embarrassing underachievement, Kolkata Knight Riders will play for the IPL trophy on Sunday. For almost two-thirds of the qualifier against Delhi Daredevils, they nearly blew it, though the odds were stacked in their favour right from the start. On a pitch where the first ball of spin turned sharply, Knight Riders had three spinners waiting; Delhi Daredevils stuck to playing three specialist fast bowlers. 

Daredevils' strategy did not seem to have backfired when Knight Riders lumbered to 106 for 4 in 16 overs. In the chase, despite losing Virender Sehwag and David Warner in the first 13 balls, Daredevils were right in the hunt at 83 for 2 after 10 overs. But like they had suddenly bolted away in the last four overs of their innings, Knight Riders choked Daredevils in the latter half of the chase. Daredevils did not help their cause, sending Pawan Negi ahead of Ross Taylor, who finally came in at No. 7 when the asking-rate was more than 14 an over. 

The late boost that carried Knight Riders to a challenging total on the difficult pitch came from the unlikeliest quarters. Yusuf Pathan, who had done almost nothing the entire season, and Laxmi Shukla, playing in place of an unfit Manoj Tiwary, carted the quicks for 56 off the final four overs, and 36 off the final two, as Knight Riders surged to 162.

Gautam Gambhir had once again given Knight Riders a strong start, taking the fast bowlers for several boundaries. He had sped to 32 off 16 deliveries before he failed to make his ground to a direct hit from mid-off after having backed up too far. Not for the first time after Gambhir's departure, Knight Riders lost their way. Only 58 runs came off the next ten overs as Negi, the left-arm spinner, and Irfan Pathan strangled the batsmen. 

With 55 needed off 32, Sehwag sent in Negi ahead of Taylor, who hit his third ball from Narine for six over wide long-on. But it was too late by then. Daredevils have another chance to get it right in the second qualifier on Friday.

Innings Dot balls 4s 6s Powerplay 16-20 overs NB/Wides Kolkata Knight Riders 44 14 6 48-1 56-0 0/2 Delhi Daredevils 56 14 3 49-2 27-4 0/5

Read more »

Steyn, Duminy help Deccan knock out RCB

Deccan Chargers 132 for 7 (Duminy 74, Vinay 3-22) beat Royal Challengers Bangalore 123 for 9 (Kohli 42, Steyn 3-8, Ashish Reddy 3-25) by 9 runs

Royal Challengers Bangalore imploded in their most crucial match of the season and failed to qualify for the playoffs after choking in a low-scoring chase. Their defeat in Hyderabad allowed Chennai Super Kings to hang on to fourth spot at the end of the league stage. 

Deccan Chargers scratched to 132 on a slow pitch, but their bowlers and fielders lifted the gloom of their campaign with a performance that brought the tournament's most intimidating batting line-up to its knees. Chargers, who spent most of the season languishing at the bottom, left Pune Warriors holding the wooden spoon and moved to eighth spot. 

The game was Royal Challengers' to lose. A target of 133 should not have been too daunting for their top heavy batting line-up. The chase had several turning points - Chris Gayle's dismissal, Dale Steyn's first three overs and Virat Kohli's rush of blood, to name a few. Steyn was unplayable with figures of 4-0-8-3, but crucially, he found support from the slower bowlers. Amit Mishra took two in an over to set Royal Challengers back and Ashish Reddy frustrated the batsmen with slower balls in the final stages.

Innings Dot balls 4s 6s Powerplay 16-20 NB/Wides Deccan Chargers 56 7 5 23/3 48/3 0/4 Royal Challengers Bangalore 61 7 6 40/2 20/4 0/3

Read more »