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Friday, 8 June 2012
Test suffers second washed out day
For the first time since 1964 - at Lord's against Australia - the first two days of an England home Test were washed out after the second day at Edgbaston went the same way as the first. Such had been the volume of rain in Birmingham that the umpires took the decision shortly after the scheduled lunch interval and no one was surprised.
The forecast for the weekend is better - although showers remain likely - but the outfield has taken a battering over recent days and despite improved drainage there are a number of very soggy areas that will cause concern. With the series decided none of the players will want to take risks on a wet outfield.
It was clear from well before the start time that play was unlikely and some England players did not bother rushing to the ground. A few used the indoor net facilities while Kevin Pietersen spent time signing autographs for those supporters who lingered through the dire conditions.
It remains to be seen whether the shortened match increases the chances of England resting Stuart Broad alongside James Anderson which would mean places for Steven Finn and Graham Onions. However, the second washout gives Shivnarine Chanderpaul further time to rest the side injury that forced him to visit hospital on Thursday.
Wednesday, 21 December 2011
Clarke wants consistency with DRS
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Michael Clarke has called for consistency on the ICC's Decision Review System (DRS) after the BCCI refused to allow its use in the upcoming Test series in Australia. Earlier this year, the ICC made the use of the DRS mandatory in Tests and ODIs, but three months later reversed its decision and went back to the rule that the boards of both countries must agree for it to be used in a series.
The Indian board's strong opposition to the DRS meant the four-Test series, which begins in Melbourne on Boxing Day, was never likely to feature umpire reviews. It will be Australia's first Test series played without referrals since Ricky Ponting's men toured India last October, and Clarke said while he was neutral on the system, consistency was required.
"I'm not bothered either way," Clarke said. "I'd just like to see a broader decision made for every team. I would like to see it either in Test cricket and one-day cricket or in one or the other, or not used at all. I find it a little bit inconsistent if we're having it in one series and not having it in the other. I don't mind what the decision is; I'd just like to see it consistent the whole time."
As a result of the BCCI's stance, all decisions in this series will remain in the hands of the on-field umpires, Marais Erasmus and Ian Gould for the first two Tests, and Aleem Dar and Kumar Dharmasena for the final two matches. However, Channel Nine's coverage will still feature technology such as Eagle Eye and Hot Spot for the viewers at home.
That has the potential to create further drama; obvious umpiring errors will be visible to TV viewers, players in the change rooms and media at the ground, but not to the players and officials on field. Channel Nine's executive producer of sport, Brad McNamara, said he could not understand the BCCI's objections to the DRS.
"We put a lot of time, effort and money into making it as accurate as possible," McNamara told theSydney Morning Herald. "We are fairly certain we are using the best technology available. If India get a couple of rough ones through the summer, they might all of a sudden become a fan of the DRS. It is a bit confusing."
However, Clarke said it would not be too difficult to adjust back to playing under the old conditions. He said his players would be happy to take the umpire's decision, despite having become accustomed to being allowed to ask for a review over the past couple of years.
"We've only had DRS for a few years so it's no different to how it's been throughout my whole career," Clarke said. "At the end of the day, the umpires will do their best to make the right decision. Like us players, I'd love to make a hundred every time I walk out on to the field but it doesn't happen, we make mistakes, we make errors.
"The positive thing is it's going to be consistent for both teams throughout the series. I think that's a real positive thing. Both teams will live with whatever decisions are made throughout the series."
Treat Amir more leniently - Brearley
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Mike Brearley, the former England captain, has said that Mohammad Amir, the Pakistan fast bowler currently in prison for his role in the spot-fixing scandal, should be treated more leniently. Brearley said the pressure put on young players to fix spots or matches can be "appalling" and, should they admit their guilt and be willing to play their part in the fight against corruption, they ought to be given a second chance.
"We also need to recognise that the pressure put on the young player by criminal bookies or their agents, or by their corrupt team-mates, can be appalling," Brearley said in his Voice of Cricket Lecture at the Raj Singh Dungarpur World Cricket Summit in Mumbai. "As a result, some of those involved might need to be treated with compassion, especially if they admit their guilt and are willing to be enlisted in the battle against corruption. Deterrent and retributive justice tempered with mercy and discrimination is vital in sentencing and punishing.
"I don't think the whole truth has been told yet, or can be told. The 18-year old Mohammad Amir, who was subject to pressure and was, I believe, uninterested in any illegal financial gain, should have been, and I think should now be, treated much more leniently."
Amir was sentenced to six months in jail after pleading guilty to charges of conspiracy to accept corrupt payments and conspiracy to cheat during the Lord's Test in August last year. The case was brought to court following a sting operation by the News of the World newspaper, which alleged that player agent Mazhar Majeed had arranged for Pakistan captain Salman Butt to ensure Amir and Mohammad Asif would bowl three pre-determined no balls.
Unlike Butt and Asif, who were found guilty after a 21-day trial, Amir had pleaded guilty before the trial began. Justice Cooke, who presided over the trial, said the early admission of guilt played a part in the reduction of Amir's jail term from nine to six months. Amir's appeal against his sentence, however, was subsequently dismissed.
"Like all secret organisations that recruit the naïve for illegal activities, the criminals linked to gambling draw people in by involving them first in activities that seem of a minor importance," Brearley said, adding that such activities could include information about the pitch or fitness of players in the dressing room. "And once in, threats against the player or his family may make it extremely difficult to get out. In the strenuous search for exemplary punishment, there has to be room for giving a misguided young player a second chance."
Brearley said cheating was cricket's most important issue and called for stakeholders to speak out against it. "Whistleblowing should become an absolute duty for everyone in the game."
South Africa to call up Tsotsobe
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Left-arm seamer Lonwabo Tsotsobe is expected to be added to the South African Test squad for the remaining two matches against Sri Lanka. Tsotsobe suffered a side strain before last month's series against Australia and was left out of the initial 13-man squad named to play Sri Lanka in Centurion.
Tsotsobe has not bowled since November 4 in a franchise one-day game but returned to the nets last week. He has started bowling again, although not at 100%, and will likely be assessed on Friday in Durban, when the South African squad regroups. South African team manager Mohammad Moosjaee told ESPNcricinfo that Tsotsobe's injury was classified a grade one strain and the latter parts of his rest time were more precautionary than in response to a serious ailment.
"Often a side strain feels worse than it is," said Moosajee. "When you have a side strain, you have to build up your bowling. So you start bowling at 50%, 60%, until 100% and if there is any discomfort you return to using less effort to minimise any damage." Moosajee and the national management have not yet had the opportunity to see Tsotsobe and gauge his readiness to make a comeback.
Tsotosbe last played a Test match in January against India and has only represented South Africa five times at Test level. He fared reasonably well against the then-No.1 ranked side in Test cricket and collected big scalps such as Sachin Tendulkar, VVS Laxman and Rahul Dravid. His injury, coupled with Vernon Philander's explosive start in the game, cost him his role in the Test team.
Philander's record-breaking start to Test cricket means a place for Tsotsobe in the starting XI could be hard to find, with the third seamer's spot now sealed. However, Morne Morkel's concerning loss of confidence could be the opening Tsotsobe needs to wrest back his place.
Morkel, who has been demoted to first-change, went wicketless in the first innings against Sri Lanka and managed 1 for 36 in the second. Since having the new-ball taken away from him, he has taken nine wickets in three Tests, at an average of 31.11, slightly higher than his overall average of 30.28. He has struggled to find his rhythm and slipped back into the age-old problem of overstepping.
Although both captain Graeme Smith and bowling coach Allan Donald said they are not concerned about Morkel's problems and expect him to be back to his best soon, South Africa may choose to experiment against an underwhelming Sri Lankan opposition.
Ishant bowls on shortened final day
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With the game between Indians and Cricket Australia Chairman's XI heading for a draw, the two sides took advantage of the match not being a first-class fixture to decide to bat for 30 overs each on the final day.
While the Indians' bowling attack failed to take a wicket, they would have been buoyed by an improved performance from Zaheer Khan, who is coming back from ankle surgery. He bowled five overs and conceded just 13 runs. Ishant Sharma, who did not start the game because of an ankle problem of his own, was drafted in on third day and bowled four overs, suggesting he could be ready for the first Test that begins on December 26.
After CA Chairman's XI declared on their overnight score of 7 for 215, Indians lost Virender Sehwag and Ajinkya Rahane inside the first ten overs, the latter for a 16-ball duck, his third failure in three attempts on tour. Gautam Gambhir, who has not scored an international hundred for a year, steadied the visitors in the company of Rohit Sharma, who was the more fluid of the two. The pair added 76 in 20.3 overs, with Gambhir remaining unbeaten on 42 and Rohit on 38.
Set 146 to win from 30 overs, CA Chairman's XI opened with Phillip Hughes and Usman Khawaja, pushing first-innings centurion Ed Cowan, who was named in Australia's squad for the Boxing Day Test, down the order. The target was never seriously pursued as the pair, both of whom were dropped from the Australia Test squad, started slowly. The only interest was whether they could attain personal milestones before the close. Khawaja managed to reach his half-century, making 56 with seven fours, while Hughes had to be content with 42 not out.
Cowan, Marsh, Hilfenhaus named for Boxing Day
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Ed Cowan, the Tasmania opening batsman currently among the runs, has been picked for Australia's Boxing Day Test team to face India and will be joined in the top three by Shaun Marsh provided the West Australian can prove his fitness.
Ben Hilfenhaus has also earned a recall, the selectors seeking an experienced head to help a young bowling attack battle India's batsmen at the MCG.
Cowan and Marsh replaced Phillip Hughes and Usman Khawaja from the XI that was beaten by New Zealand in Hobart, with Shane Watson and Ryan Harris unable to be chosen due to continued fitness complaints.
Watson aggravated a calf problem on day one of the team's batting camp in Melbourne, while Harris indicated he was short of the required conditioning after returning to cricket for the Brisbane Heat in last night's BBL match at the Gabba.
John Inverarity, the national selector, said Cowan would open the batting, with Marsh and Daniel Christian to vie for one spot and Hilfenhaus and Mitchell Starc the other.
"Ed has been in wonderful form, and the intention is that he will open the batting with David Warner," Inverarity said. "Of the XI that will line up on December 26, it will either be Shaun Marsh or Daniel Christian.
"It is likely if Shaun plays that he'll be batting at No. 3, if Daniel plays then he'd be at No. 6 and the batting line-up would be re-arranged accordingly, and then it would seem likely that one of Mitchell Starc and Ben Hilfenhaus would be 12th man. That's the anticipated balance of the side but we'll have to wait on weather and pitch conditions and final form and fitness."
Inverarity said Marsh's need to show his back can stand up to the rigours of a Test match caused the naming of a 13-man squad.
"The NSP has named 13 players due to the ongoing uncertainty about the fitness of Shaun Marsh," Inverarity said. "Shane Watson was not considered for selection as he has not recovered sufficiently from his injury. Ryan Harris has not yet achieved the volume of bowling required to be available for consideration for Test selection.
"Ed Cowan has been in excellent form in recent weeks. His inclusion is in recognition of his consistently good performances and we anticipate that he can provide steadiness at the top of the order. Ben Hilfenhaus has regained form this season and he provides a strong and reliable bowling option.
"We see both Phillip Hughes and Usman Khawaja as developing players with bright futures and remaining as players of significance. They are determined young men and I know that they will work hard to produce compelling performances and push strongly for further consideration."
Since turning around an indifferent start to the season with an unbeaten 91 in a limited overs match against South Australia in Burnie in mid-November, Cowan's scores have been 4, 134*, 145, 10, 65, 145* and 109 in the first innings of the tour match against the Indians.
His strong form has been mirrored by Hilfenhaus, who has shown greater snap and swing this summer, most recently for Hobart in the Twenty20 competition, after he looked innocuous at times against England during last summer's Ashes series. He was also considered close to selection for the New Zealand series, though the selectors ultimately decided to test out a younger attack as a precursor to India's visit.
"Ben Hilfenhaus is in very good form," Inverarity said. "I think he had a few body concerns and his action deteriorated a little bit last year and he seems to have got it back and been playing in very good form. He is a strong, durable, experienced bowler.
"It [the T20 match in Perth] certainly wasn't a negative, he bowled very well, but we've been considering Ben for some weeks and he provides a strong, durable experienced option for us."
Watson's case is more problematic, as he has now suffered a trio of fitness problems since the start of the South Africa tour. Inverarity said the panel was hopeful Watson would be fit to play in the second Test of the India series in Sydney.
"Shane is not fit to play. He's had ongoing troubles with his calf," Inverarity said. "The situation is improving and we hope he'll be in contention for the second Test in Sydney. But he's not available to play this game. It is an option for him to bat down the order, yes. The word from Shane Watson was that he was not fit to play. I wasn't in Melbourne yesterday but he spoke at length with Mickey Arthur and the word was he's not ready."
Ricky Ponting and Michael Hussey remain part of the Test team despite poor displays in Hobart and advancing years, Inverarity speaking of their value to the dressing room as a critical factor in their continued retention.
"They've both been wonderful cricketers, they are wonderful cricketers, and terrific men and provide a lot for the side," he said. "We all on the selection panel are keen for them to do well. We're hoping they have a breakthrough in the next week or two. They offer a tremendous amount to the side."
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