Tolerant ICC green signals Marlon Samuels

West Indies all-rounder Marlon Samuels has had his bowling action blank by the ICC and is free to bowl another time at international level.

The ICC deems the off-spinner's act to be outside the 15 degrees of acceptance in February 2008 after reports from umpire Aleem Dar and Simon Taufel.

The 30-year-old has since undergone remedial work on his achievement and has been cleared after evaluation.

Read more »

Dwayne Bravo lead Chennai Kings to win

Dwayne Bravo enables Chennai Super Kings to get their Champions League Twenty20 title defense back on path with a four-wicket victory over Cape Cobras at Chennai.

Owais Shah Lead the way with 45 as the Cobras, who won the toss and chose to bat, totall 145 for seven - but Bravo's 46 from 25 balls enable the Super Kings to pass the total with two balls to extra.

The Cobras' score was built on a firm partnership of 57 for the fourth wicket between Shah and JP Duminy. Shah's knock come from 38 balls and built-in a six and three fours, while Duminy chip in with 24 from 21 balls.


South Africa spinner Duminy then excel with the ball, taking four wickets for 20 runs from his four overs as the Super Kings slip to 77 for five.

However, the influx of Bravo at the crease redress the balance - and after distribution in a 43-run stand for the sixth wicket, the West Indies all-rounder took them to brink of victory by taking 17 runs off the last but one over of the game, bowled by Dale Steyn.

With Albie Morkel, Bravo saw the Super Kings over the line, appropriately hitting the winning single with two balls remaining.

Read more »

Ganga preserve Rampaul conclusion

T&T captain Darren Ganga shielded his decision to use Ravi Rampaul in the Super Over in their NCL T20 conflict next to NSW Blues in Chennai.

Rampaul, who gave left 16 runs in the 20th over that allowable NSW to level the scores, conceded another 18 in the Super Over, which the T&T failed to overhaul.

"Ravi is the most knowledgeable bowler, he's been our best bowler so far in this event, the most in-form. Every time he's bowled at the passing away for us, he's done the job for us.

We've trained and drill ourselves in a certain way, to finish off the innings in a certain manner. If we give Ravi 15 or 16 runs to guard, he'll do that on any given day," Ganga said after the beat.

Rampaul persist with bowling around the wicket in spite of going for runs in the 20th over, but his captain shielded the move.

"We've tried it time and time once more, to bowl around the wicket to most of the batsmen, angle the ball across, the field positions... more often than not we get out of jail. (But) Ravi was a little bit tired, almost certainly having bowled two over’s back to back and then with that strength coming back to bowl the Super Over.

"In retrospection you can say a lot of things, but he's our most knowledgeable bowler," he said.

Ganga said he would've preferred to go with a right-left combination in the Super Over but the team had to name prior to the match its three favored batsmen for such a scenario.

"We were under the feeling that we had the option of using any (of the) three to open, but that's amazing we learned regarding just prior to start of the game.

"(As if) the Gods are next to us. We've had two very close games; it just shows how spirited we are. It's a pity we haven't crossed the line and secure a win. We still hold our belief. This group is still open and we'll be coming very, very hard in that game beside CSK,” he concluded.

Read more »

Ireland stroke up Australia conflict

Ireland has secured another one-day international date with Australia at Stormont next summer.

Australia, at present the world's top-ranked ODI side, edge the hosts by 39 runs in an enthralling competition in Dublin last year and Cricket Ireland chief decision-making Warren Deutrom was excited to have make sure a repeat of the high-profile fixture on June 23, 2012.

"We are pleased to welcome Australia to Belfast in 2012 after their exciting RSA Challenge ODI against Ireland in Dublin 2010," he said.

"Although opportunities to find space in the Future Tours Programmed are rare against the world's leading teams, it is obvious that Cricket Australia is devoted to ensure that the top Associates, like Scotland and Ireland, have a chance to test themselves alongside the best and help us to improve.

"Off the field, the visit of such teams gives a massive boost to the profile of the sport, delivers a terrific return on speculation to our valued partners and an amazing day out for our fans."

Ireland coach Phil Simmons added: "It's fantastic that we're taking on Australia on home soil again. We had a fantastic opportunity to beat them in Dublin last year but let the game slip.

"I know just how much that beat hurt the players, so it's huge to get another possibility to play them.

"As a coach and a player, these are the sort of furniture that you thrive on, and with the backing of the swarm in Belfast, we've a real chance of pull off another famous win."

Read more »