Kirsten wanted Indian team to reach SA a week in advance

MARGAO: The players might not have told the Cricket Board about skipping the forthcoming ODI series against New Zealand to prepare for the South African tour but coach Gary Kirsten had wanted the team to reach his home country a week in advance.

Indian skipper Mahendra Singh Dhoni said on Saturday that no communication was sent from top players to the Cricket Board desiring to skip the ODI series against New Zealand but it turned out that it was Kirsten who mooted the idea of some senior players going to South Africa in advance.

Kirsten, in a letter to BCCI secretary N Srinivasan a few months ago, had expressed his desire to prepare for the South Africa tour that immediately follows the home ODI and Test rubber against New Zealand by allowing the team to reach the rainbow nation a week in advance.

According to Kirsten, the seven-eight players who play all forms of the game for the country needed rest and he, therefore, wanted the Test series against the Kiwis to be reduced from three to two which, however, has not happened as the rubber now involves three matches as originally planned.

"I wanted to check with you if there had been any further developments on the proposed schedule sent to you by the team management for the Australian and New Zealand series. We also discussed the issues around the schedule before the IPL in Chennai, especially the importance of getting to South Africa early," Kirsten said in his earlier communication to BCCI.

"I understand the commitments the BCCI has to honour with the FTP and television and I know it is a difficult process for you. I do, however, request your consideration of the proposed schedule for pure 'cricketing reasons' on the basis that it will give us the best chance of success, especially in this very demanding five months of cricket ahead. The extra week that could be created so we can get to South Africa earlier, I believe will be crucial to our chances of success.

"That said I'm also of the opinion that we should play two Tests against NZ and not three. My reason for this is that we are expecting too much from the seven or eight players that play all forms of the game. They play more cricket than any other cricketer in the world (especially if you include IPL as well) and we are regularly picking up 'overuse' injuries," Kirsten explained.

BCCI sources have recently indicated that the Board will send the key Test players early to South Africa to prepare well for the tough series in a country where they had not done so well on previous visits.

"We are planning to send the key Test players to South Africa early to prepare for the series. The conditions in South Africa are quite different and we want to give our players enough time to come to terms with the conditions," a BCCI source said a few days ago.

on Saturday, Dhoni gave a new spin to the issue of top players wanting to skip the ODI series against the Kiwis in order to prepare for the tougher outing in South Africa, saying no communication has been sent from the players' side to the Cricket Board.
"Not done (written to the Board) anything like that as of now. No confirmation has been sent from the players' side to the BCCI yet and nothing has been received from the BCCI either. This is what I have to say," said Dhoni at the mandatory press conference ahead of Sunday's third and the final ODI against Australia which is threatened by rains.

He was replying to a query on reports quoting BCCI sources that some top players, including Dhoni, will not play the five-match ODI series against New Zealand after the three-Test rubber against the same opponents and, instead, jet off to South Africa to get more acclimatisation time for the Test rubber against the Proteas.

India, the current world's number one Test side, have not won a Test rubber in South Africa.

2 new caps in New Zealand squad for India

WELLINGTON: Batsman Kane Williamson and fast bowler Hamish Bennett are the only uncapped players named on Sunday in the New Zealand cricket team to play three Tests in India next month.

Selectors Daniel Vettori, Mark Greatbatch and Glenn Turner resisted making wholesale changes to the New Zealand lineup in the aftermath of its 4-0 loss to Bangladesh in this month's one-day series.

Williamson, who was the only New Zealand batsman to make a century in Bangladesh, now has the chance to transfer his form from the one-day to the Test arena.

Canterbury fast bowler Bennett played for New Zealand for the first time in Bangladesh and has also been given the chance to try himself in the longer format.

Greatbatch said both Bennett and Williamson had earned their Test selection with sound performances in Bangladesh.

"Kane Williamson is an impressive young talent and his game continues to improve with his involvement in the national team, while Bennett did everything asked of him on the recent tour of Bangladesh and offers the side a genuine pace option," Greatbatch said.

Six members of the 15-man squad - Brent Arnel, Martin Guptill, Chris Martin, Tim McIntosh, Gareth Hopkins and Jeetan Patel - have been playing for the New Zealand A team which has just completed a series of three four-day matches in Zimbabwe. New Zealand won the series 2-0.

"The group of players coming from Zimbabwe have had the ideal preparation with three hard-fought matches in difficult conditions," Greatbatch said.

"The rest of the squad have been training hard and are keen to prove that they are better than the recent performances in Bangladesh.

"We are well aware that we are recent performances are not up to scratch and we need to improve if we are to compete with a very strong Indian side. The team are determined to do so."

Batsman Mathew Sinclair is the only member of the team which played in New Zealand's most recent Test, against Australia in March, to miss selection for the Indian tour.

Brendon McCullum has been included in a New Zealand Test squad for the first time as a specialist batsman after deciding to give up the wicketkeeping duties. Gareth Hopkins has been named as the squad's only specialist keeper.

New Zealand and India meet in Test matches starting on Nov 4, Nov 12 and Nov 20. The teams will then play a five-match limited overs series and a revised New Zealand squad for those matches will be named during the tour.

Duminy, de Villiers set up huge SA victory

South Africa 399 for 6 (Duminy 129, de Villiers 109, Utseya 1-58) beat Zimbabwe 127 (Taibu 28, Theron 3-18, Parnell 2-30) by 272 runs
Live scorecard and ball-by-ball details

JP Duminy took charge after South Africa lost their openers, South Africa v Zimbabwe, 3rd ODI, Benoni, October 22, 2010
JP Duminy's highest ODI score set up South Africa's 272-run win against Zimbabwe in the final ODI in Benoni © AFP
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South Africa stamped their authority firmly on their northern neighbours in the final ODI of Zimbabwe's tour in Benoni, sealing a massive 272-run win - a record margin of victory for them. On a day for records, South Africa first racked up a monstrous 399 for 6, Jean-Paul Duminy and AB de Villiers both racing to centuries in the course of a record-breaking 219-run stand for the third wicket as the runs flowed without cease. The cracks in Zimbabwe's brittle attack had been in evidence on the unforgiving tracks in Bloemfontein and Potchefstroom, but the visitors' bowlers finally crumbled completely, and their batting followed suit.

Duminy and de Villiers' partnership lasted 31.4 overs at just under seven-an-over as they shared ten fours and seven sixes, with no bowler spared before a tiring de Villiers finally departed for a 99-ball 109. Duminy added three further boundaries and had raced to 129, his highest ODI score, before he eventually fell with the score well past 300. Together they had surpassed the previous South African record for the third wicket, de Villiers and Zimbabwe also having been involved in the previous effort, and also made the third highest overall partnership for South Africa in one-dayers.

Any hope that humid conditions at the start and patches of green on the wicket might assist the seamers had soon evaporated as Ian Nicolson - in just his second match in national colours - came in for some fearful punishment, his first two overs being spanked for 32. The treatment of his new-ball partner Shingirai Masakadza was not nearly as harsh, but captain Elton Chigumbura was still forced to turn to spin as early as the sixth over.

The change brought immediate results, Prosper Utseya luring Graeme Smith out of his crease with a wonderfully flighted offspinner and Hashim Amla suffering his first failure of the series as a lifter on off stump from Shingirai Masakadza found a thin edge and South Africa were pegged back to 59 for 2 after an electric start.

Zimbabwe were visibly lifted by the breakthroughs, but Duminy and de Villiers soon wrested the initiative back as they took up the offensive with great vim and vigour. Nicolson's return to the attack was greeted with a volley of rifling strikes through the off side, and Graeme Cremer's third over was spanked for 18 as the batsmen matched each other shot for shot in a race to fifty.

Duminy got there first - from his 53rd ball - but de Villiers' half-century took just one delivery longer and as their partnership developed the chance of a gettable total for the Zimbabweans began to evaporate. In a display of imperious, almost bored powerhitting, no bowler was spared.

Hamilton Masakadza, the eighth bowler tried by a desperate Chigumbura, finally brought an end to the torment as de Villiers set himself to thrash a sixth six but a skewed top edge landed safely in the hands of the younger Masakadza, running in from the deep midwicket boundary. Duminy departed soon after, but the left-handed trio of Albie Morkel, David Miller and Colin Ingram prolonged the assault and took the score to the brink of 400.

Zimbabwe's chase was soon in ruins as their batsmen subsided on either side of a plucky 47-run stand between Tatenda Taibu and Craig Ervine. The seamers made the first incision as three wickets fell inside the first seven overs, and Johan Botha then struck twice in an over to tear the heart out of the middle order and Zimbabwe collapsed in a heap to 127 with more than 20 overs left.

If Zimbabwe were to get anywhere near South Africa's mountainous total, a positive start was vital but they were immediately on the back foot as Brendan Taylor upper-cut Lonwabo Tsotsobe into Rusty Theron's waiting hands at third man with the score still in single figures. Hamilton Masakadza was not long in following him to the pavilion, splicing an attempted pull to give Theron his second catch at mid-on. Chamu Chibhabha briefly flattered to deceive, swiping a back-of-a-length delivery from Tsotsobe into the stands at deep cover and sending Morkel diving for cover with a rifling straight drive, but when he fell to a low catch by Amla at mid-off Zimbabwe slipped to a perilous 30 for 3.

Taibu and Ervine were determined not to give up without something of a fight, and when they kick-started their partnership with five boundaries in the space of two overs it seemed Zimbabwe were still up for the challenge. But Botha's introduction sealed both of their fates as his first delivery, a flighted offspinner, deceived Taibu and his sixth rushed between Ervine's bat and pad to clean-bowl both batsmen.

Immediately afterwards Zimbabwe slipped to 80 for 6, Chigumbura bowled by Theron off the inside edge, and an early finish to the evening appeared a foregone conclusion. Wayne Parnell knocked Keith Dabengwa off his feet with a pinpoint yorker, trapping the batsman lbw in the process, and then bullied Graeme Cremer into a top-edged pull to leave Zimbabwe staring at humiliation.

Some determined resistance from Utseya, and a pair of massive sixes off the younger Masakadza's bat, briefly kept that fate at bay but Theron's return soon brought a swift end. More often than not, Zimbabwe have battled gamely with the bat on this tour, but faced with an impossible chase today they were back to their diabolical worst.

ICC probing BCCI inaction on Raina’s bookie link

London: The ICC Anti-Corruption and Security Unit is probing why the Indian Board kept quiet about a report of its player Suresh Raina being seen in the company of a woman linked to an associate of an illegal bookmaker, a media report said here.

Making it clear that Raina was not suspected of any wrongdoing, ‘The Sunday Times’, quoting a senior ICC source, said the incident related to India’s tour of Sri Lanka earlier this year.

With the heightened security concerns following the 2009 terrorist attack on the Sri Lankan team in Pakistan, the Sri Lankans deputed a former general to look after the Indian team.

CCTV Cameras installed at the Indian team hotel showed that on more than one night Raina was in the company of a woman known to be an associate of a man allegedly linked to a bookmaker.

A report, including the CCTV footage, was submitted by the Sri Lankan Cricket Board to their Indian counterparts.

According to the newspaper report, it is the reaction of the BCCI secretary N Srinivasan that has led to the ICC investigation. Instead of acting on the report, Srinivasan is alleged to have got the Sri Lankans withdraw it.

23-year-old Raina plays for Chennai Super Kings, an IPL franchise owned by Indian Cements of which Srinivasan is a vice-chairman and managing director.

The investigation, led by ACSU head Ravi Sawani is believed to be looking into why the Sri Lankans shared the report with the BCCI first when under ICC anti-corruption rules it should have gone straight to the world governing body, the newspaper said.

According to the newspaper, this comes against a background of much talk in India that it was during IPL matches that spot-fixing re-emerged as a major problem.

In August, three Pakistan cricketers – Salman Butt, Mohammad Asif and Mohammad Amir – were suspended following allegations that no balls were bowled during the Lord’s Test in return for money.

When asked recently about the speculations of match-fixing in the IPL, ICC chief executive Haroon Lorgat said, “The first two editions were not policed by the ACSU.
But they realised later on that they perhaps needed more support. The last one was the first time when they fully engaged the ACSU. And we will be engaged in the next IPL season as well.”

An ICC spokesman, asked about the alleged investigation into the inaction of the Indian Cricket Board, said, “We don’t comment on any investigation.” Srinivasan was not available for comment, the report said.

Third ODI between India and Australia called off

Margao: A damp outfield caused by overnight rains delayed the start of play in the third and final ODI between India and Australia for more than three hours here on Sunday.

On-field umpires Billy Bowden and Amish Saheba, accompanied by ICC match referee Chris Broad, had an inspection of the entire Jawaharlal Nehru Stadium ground, including the bowlers’ run-up and the wet areas on the outfield at 11 am before deciding to have another inspection at 12:15 pm.

With more than three hours of play already lost due to inclement weather, the match is expected to be a truncated one despite sunny conditions this morning.

The ground was covered by tarpaulins overnight which protected most parts of it but still there were some seepages at the outfield. Super sopper was employed to suck up the water from the covers.

The wicket itself looked dry and fit for play.

India are 1-0 up going into the deciding clash after winning the second match at Visakhapatnam on October 20 by five wickets. The series opener in Kochi last Sunday was washed out.

To make matters more difficult for the organisers, Goa Cricket Association, the sightscreen at the north end of the ground collapsed half an hour before the second umpires’ inspection.

The screen, mounted on wheels, simply tilted over and fell down leading to more headaches for the ground authorities who had worked hard to try and make the conditions playable after the unseasonal rains lashed this Goan town in the last few days.

Slots still open for the World Cup: Dhoni

KOCHI: India have just 13 ODIs in hand, eight on home soil, in the run-up to the World Cup which is just five months away. With the talk veering around the line-up to be fielded in the Cup, it's crunch time for the probable candidates in the 15-member squad here.

Indian captain MS Dhoni conceded that at least six spots are up for grabs in the Indian squad for the Cup.

"There are quite a few slots that are open. A fast bowling slot, one or two depending on injuries, one batsman's slot (are available). We don't have a world-class all-rounder which means that place is also up for grabs. Besides, one more big-hitting batsman who can fit down the order (can be accommodated). The top five-six batsmen and in total eight to nine players are almost sure to be there if injuries don't bother them," said Dhoni.

The Indian captain defended the selectors' decision to rest some of the key players for the ODI series against Australia, adding that it has given a youngsters a golden opportunity. "You have to see that they are safe (fit) because they had been playing quite a fair amount of cricket. It is better to rest the players if they have small niggles. This also gives an opportunity to younger players."

Several names came up for discussion in the pre-match press conference vis-à-vis their prospective role in the side. The first was on Dhoni's state-mate Saurabh Tiwary. "We want to make him play. He has been part of the side for the last few series, which means he has got a look at international cricket. He is ideally suited for No. 6/7 positions. He is aggressive."

Dhoni wants Ravindra Jadeja to improve upon his batting contribution to make it to the World Cup. "For a player like him, it is very important to contribute with the bat and ball. He has to do a bit more with the bat."

Warner looking to mirror Gilchrist's batting

Australia opener David Warner says he's looking to model his one-day batting on that of Adam Gilchrist as he looks to prove his 50-over credentials ahead of next year's World Cup.

Warner has only played seven one-day matches since making his debut early last year, and although he made 69 against South Africa in his second innings, he's managed just 37 runs in the other six.

The left-hander has been prolific in Twenty20 cricket both at international and franchise level, leading many to label him as a Twenty20 specialist - something Warner is eager to prevent.

The decision to rest Shane Watson for the one-day series against India has given Warner the opportunity to showcase his skills in the slightly longer game, and although he'll look to rein in his instincts at times he still aspires to echo the batting of a legendary attacking batsman.

"I see myself as similar to Adam Gilchrist, more of an X-factor player, where I go out there and try to mimic his role as he played," Warner said. "He was aggressive, he might've come off one in five innings as well, but he changed the course of the game.

"Everyone was talking about, 'We've got to get Adam out, if we don't get him out then he could put 100 on in 10 overs'. I look up to him as that kind of player, an impact player, where if I can get off to a good start, I can put the other team on the back foot and make them worry about how they're going to get myself out, instead of the other players they should be worrying about as well."

The abandonment of the first one-day international in Kochi due to rain has given Warner more time to think about how he will change his approach.

Although he wants to attack plenty of deliveries to get in the bowler's head, he's also realised that he has more time than he would in a Twenty20 game and must adapt accordingly.

"I felt that I had to keep going the same pace and one tempo, and that's where I reckon I've matured now and I've learned to adapt," Warner said of his previous one-day experience.

"There were little things there where I wasn't in the right position, so that's the thing that was out, but if I go back into the same situation I'm going to do the same thing because it was there to hit.

"But in the end I was probably feeling a bit of pressure because I wasn't scoring runs. I'm still going to play the same way I play, but not trying to go after every ball - I've got 50 overs, not 20. Now I reckon I'm mature enough that I can try to last 50 overs."

The second one-dayer is scheduled for Wednesday in Visakhapatnam, and the final match will take place in Margao on Sunday.

Rubel helps Bangladesh sweep NZ series

Dhaka: Rubel Hossain grabbed four wickets as Bangladesh completed a sweep with a thrilling three-run victory over New Zealand in the fifth and final one-day international on Sunday.

The fast bowler finished with 4-25 off 9.3 sharp overs as New Zealand, chasing a 175-run target, were bowled out for 171 in the last over.

Bangladesh clinched the series 4-0, their first sweep against a major team. The second match was abandoned without a ball being bowled due to rain. New Zealand needed eight runs to win in the final over with just one wicket in hand but Rubel, who had taken three wickets in his opening three overs, sparked celebrations in Bangladesh's camp when he bowled Kyle Mills (33).

He jolted New Zealand in his first over, dismissing openers Brendon McCullum and Jesse Ryder in the space of five deliveries. He then had Kane Williamson caught at second slip by Raqibul Hasan in his third over. Bradley-John Watling was run out, while Ross Taylor was bowled by left-arm spinner Abdur Razzak as New Zealand's top five batsmen failed to reach double figures.

New Zealand were in danger of falling below their lowest one-day total of 64 after being reduced to 20-5, but skipper Daniel Vettori (43) and all-rounder Grant Elliott (59) added 86 runs for the sixth wicket. Vettori, dropped by Junaid Siddique at first slip off spinner Mohammad Mahmudullah when on 12, hit one six and one four in his 78-ball knock.Elliott cracked seven fours in a 105-ball knock for his fourth half-century in one-dayers, but Mills kept alive his team's hopes before falling in the final over.

Mills hit two sixes in his 47-ball knock. Left-arm spinner Vettori (3-32) and fast bowler Mills (3-36) earlier bowled tight to restrict Bangladesh to a modest total. New Zealand did not allow the hosts to build a big partnership after the hosts elected to bat on a slow pitch. The highest stand was 55 for the fifth wicket between skipper Shakib Al Hasan (36) and Mushfiqur Rahim (29).

Vettori removed opener Imrul Kayes (34) and Raqibul (six) before accounting for Mahmudullah (19). Kayes was trapped leg-before while attempting to sweep, hitting two sixes and three fours in his 50-ball knock. Andy McKay and Elliott each finished with two wickets.

NZ slip to seventh in ODI rankings

Dubai: The shocking 0-4 drubbing at the hands of Bangladesh on Sunday pushed New Zealand to the seventh spot behind Pakistan in the latest ICC one-day rankings issued here.

On the other hand, the upset series triumph helped Bangladesh earn 13 rating points but the team remained ninth alongside the West Indies.

Bangladesh are still placed behind the Caribbean side when the ratings were calculated beyond the decimal point. The West Indies have 67.06 ratings points while Bangladesh have 66.68 ratings points.

Bangladesh had started the series on 53 points.

New Zealand have plummeted to 96 ratings points after starting the series on 112.

Bangladesh next hosts Zimbabwe in a five-match ODI series from 1-15 December and can aim the number-eight position as the West Indies will play five ODIs against Sri Lanka from December 9.

Meanwhile, the abandonment of the first ODI between India and Australia in Kochi on Sunday have given South Africa a chance to briefly move into second place on the championship table.

For this to happen, they will have to beat Zimbabwe in the second ODI in Potchefstroom.

However, if they lose the match, the Proteas will drop to as low as fifth, one point behind fourth-placed England.

Sammy replaces Gayle as West Indies captain

London: Darren Sammy was handed the task of rebuilding the fortunes of the once-mighty West Indies team when he was named as the new captain on Sunday.

Jamaican Chris Gayle had been in charge of the side since 2007 but after team slid to seventh in the test rankings and eighth in the one-day standings, the West Indies Cricket Board (WICB) decided to change the leadership.

"Chris Gayle led the West Indies during a challenging period and the board thanks him for stepping up then," WICB chief executive Ernest Hilaire said in a statement.

"But it is now time to pass the mantle on as the West Indies rebuilds."

Selection committee chairman Clyde Butts added: "We are at the dawn of a new era in West Indies cricket and we have entrusted the challenging job of captaincy to Darren Sammy because it is believed that he has demonstrated the attributes of a leader of this diverse group of men."

The 26-year-old Sammy has played eight tests, 43 one-dayers and 19 Twenty20 internationals and will hope to help West Indies recapture the form that brought them 11 successive test wins during the 1980s.

The fast bowler's first task will be to lead the side during a six-week tour of Sri Lanka which begins on Nov. 15.

"Being appointed West Indies captain is an honour and distinction which I will treat with the highest regard and dignity," Sammy, who hails from St Lucia, said.

"I have always given my all when I prepare and play for the West Indies and nothing will change now. I know this will be a difficult challenge and I will take the torch from Chris and hold it high as we forge ahead."

Brendan Nash was named as vice-captain.

Squad for Sri Lanka test series: Darren Sammy (captain), Brendan Nash (vice captain), Chris Gayle, Adrian Barath, Carlton Baugh Jr, Sulieman Benn, Darren Bravo, Dwayne Bravo, Shivnarine Chanderpaul, Nelon Pascal, Kemar Roach, Andre Russell, Shane Shillingford, Devon Smith, Devon Thomas

ICC warning to PCB shameful for every Pakistani

Karachi: Former Pakistan captain Imran Khan has called for an overhaul of the Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) after the International Cricket Council (ICC) warned the board to improve its governance and enforce anti-corruption measures.

“The ICC move to warn us and put us on notice is a shameful day for every Pakistani. It is a shame for Pakistan cricket and the reason is we don’t have any cricket institution in Pakistan,” a newspaper quoted Imran, as saying.

“Ejaz Butt’s governance has been a failure. He should have resigned the moment he apologized to the England board and withdraw his statement because they threatened him with legal action,” he added.

Imran further said that although the country had lots of talent, Pakistan cricket was in constant crisis due to the reason that there is no “meritocracy” in the cricket structure.

“Tell me in which country does the president appoint the chairman of the cricket board. Today we face problems because the cricket board never took action against players accused of match-fixing,” Imran said.

“In order to save itself and to ensure we didn’t lose key players, the administrators were reluctant to carry out and complete investigations against such players. The PCB itself should have taken action against the players instead of waiting for the ICC to step in,” he added.

Taking serious note of the continuing decline in the governance of cricket in Pakistan, the ICC in its two-day board meeting in Dubai gave out a clear message to the PCB that it should either buck up and sort out the game’s administration within a month or be ready to face the consequences, potentially in the form of sanctions.

“The PCB must act and be seen to be acting to uphold the zero-tolerance attitude to corruption in sport. In this regard, the PCB is required to conduct a thorough review of player integrity issues across all authorized cricket in Pakistan and report back to the Pakistan Task Team within 30 days,” the ICC had said in statement.

The ICC wants PCB to implement not only a competency-based education programme for all registered players, but also a proper, accountable and robust disciplinary process for the sport.

It has also asked for the introduction of a domestic anti-corruption code, which mirrors the ICC Anti-Corruption Code.

“If the PCB fails to carry out the above to the satisfaction of the ICC Board, acting in consultation with the Pakistan Task Team, within the next 30 days, the ICC Board will consider what further action, including, if appropriate, sanctions, is required in the circumstances,” said the ICC statement.

British media urges Wayne Rooney to learn from Tendulkar

London: The British media has lavished praise on iconic batsman Sachin Tendulkar and according to a column written by former England cricketer Ed Smith, Manchester United star Wayne Rooney should learn how to turn expectations into inspiration.

In an article headlined `Sanctuary of crease lets Tendulkar reveal genius,` Smith had written, "Twice last week, sportsmen have proved me spectacularly wrong. First, Sachin Tendulkar reached 14,000 Test-match runs. And that`s not the amazing part.”

"It took him fewer innings to get from 13,000 to 14,000 than any other 1,000-run chunk of his career. A case could be made that he is at his best now, at 37," the newspaper noted.

The article said Tendulkar and Rooney were destined for rare greatness, even from teenage. Tendulkar has gone on and done it.

A year ago, Rooney looked placed to do the same. But now, as never before, there are real doubts that he will become the player we once assumed he would be.

"Make no mistake, Tendulkar`s career has not been as serene as it might look, there have been arguments with coaches and match referees, an unsatisfactory spell as captain and long phases when the muse has deserted him.”

"Tendulkar has had countless moments when frustration could have overwhelmed him. He has never blown his top, never lost his dignity. Instead, frustration has inpired him."

"Above all, his career has been played out under the shadow of phenomenal expectation. Footballers in England have to deal with being heroes. In India it is even worse: they are meant to be Gods."

"According to the report `Tendulkar has come to the conclusion that there is one place where he is free from the hassles of fame. There is one realm where he cannot be pestered. It is called the crease.”

"With the bat in his hands, Tendulkar is the conductor of his own life, not just a participant in a soap opera. There, out in the middle, no one can stop him being himself - not a restless media, not overly demanding fans, not intering coaches or greedy agents."

"It is the ultimate irony: the greatest actors are never freer than when they`re on the stage. That is the way for Rooney to find the way out of his present difficulties – he must have the bravery to express himself on the pitch, to make it his sanctuary."

"If he allows himself to become embittered and resentful, he will not only become estranged from his fans, but also from his talent. No wonder the ball is bouncing off him at the moment; he probably would like to repel the whole game.”

"Instead, he must learn to love it again. Shamed by alleged events off the pitch and embarrassed by events on it, Rooney could be forgiven for feeling sorry for himself," the report said.

"It would be a normal thing to feel. But he doesn`t aspire to normality, but to greatness. And greatness, as Tendulkar has showed demands a superhuman degree of resilience and emotional dexterity. Rooney must locate his inner Tendulkar, a genius who got even with his critics by scoring hundreds."

"For Rooney, in every sense, it`s time to turn the pressure into goals."

Pak security video clip to convince ICC

Karachi: In its attempt to convince the world about the security situation at home, the Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) has decided to send to the International Cricket Council (ICC) video footage of the recent National Twenty20 Cup in Lahore.

A top official of the board told IANS that the video footage will show the ICC how security arrangements were made for the popular tournament that featured almost all the top players of the country and attracted huge crowds.

The official said this step is aimed at convincing the ICC and its member nations to help resume international cricket in Pakistan.

Pakistan has not hosted any international cricket since the March 2008 terrorist attack on Sri Lankan cricketers in Lahore. Many foreign teams were reluctant to tour Pakistan even before the attack but the incident has proved to be a fatal blow for the country, which was also stripped of its right as a co-host of the World Cup 2011.

Pakistan was supposed to co-host the World Cup along with India, Sri Lanka and Bangladesh.

The ICC's top bosses will scrutinies the footage and will also send its task force that was formed to help Pakistan cricket come out of the current crisis.

Cricket-starved Vizag gears up for run feast

Visakhapatnam: With sun shining brightly in this coastal Andhra Pradesh city, the second one-day International between India and Australia promises to entertain the cricket-starved crowd, who will witness a match here on Wednesday, after more than three years.

After the first one-dayer in Kochi being a wash-out, all the attention of the three-match ODI series has now been shifted to the picturesque Dr Y S Rajasekhara Reddy ADA-VDCA Cricket Stadium, known for its run feast.

"The pitch is known for its batting and it will be no different this time," director of cricket operations MSK Prasad told PTI, hinting at a score of around 300.

The former India glovesman further said that 'people are eagerly waiting to see an International match here'.

In fact, such has been the response that the Vizag ODI tickets were sold out at the counters in less than an hour after opening.

Political crisis in Andhra Pradesh last year around this time had robbed the scheduled India-Sri Lanka ODI on December 18, 2009, as it was shifted to Nagpur.

"People are really excited about the match. Fortunately, the weather has cleared. India have won the Test series (2-0).

Everything is going in the right direction. We all are looking forward to the match. It's a wonderful batting wicket and we hope to see a total of around 300," Andhra Cricket Association secretary G Gangaraju told PTI.

He, however added that the 30,000 capacity stadium is yet not full and a few tickets are still available for the first floodlit match.

Both the teams arrived in the city amid tight security vigil this afternoon.

Devoid of an outdoor practice because of the rain in Kochi, the Indians have planned a net session this evening.

The Aussies, on the other hand, preferred to stay indoors.

Surrounded by scenic beauty, the ultramodern stadium has a green and even outfield with no brown traces and is prepared by curator Nagamallayya and co.

It was in the very first match in this stadium on April 5, 2005, the five-ODI-old Mahendra Singh Dhoni announced himself at the world stage when he flayed the Pakistani attack with a 123-ball 148 in what would be one of his most memorable knocks.

Playing hard and true unlike typical Indian wickets, the Vizag strip saw a total of 654 runs scored in the India-Pakistan one-dayer that the hosts won without much fuss.

The ACA-VDCA Stadium has been a lucky venue for India with an all-win record from two matches.

In the last match that was played here on February 17 2007, India thrashed Sri Lanka by seven wickets, with Yuvraj Singh shining for the home team with an unbeaten 95 from 83 balls.

Not in his dazzling form in the recent times, the stylish Punjab batsman will be keen to show his real class here in absence of Sachin Tendulkar, Virender Sehwag and Gautam Gambhir.

The bowling department will also see the absence of speedster Zaheer Khan, spinners Harbhajan Singh and Pragyan Ojha as a new look India team will take on Michael Clarke-led Aussies in what is seen as a battle of GenNexts ahead of the ICC World Cup early next year.

Any side taking the lead here would definitely have an edge when the series concludes in Margao and skipper Dhoni would look forward to continue his lucky charm.

Michael Clarke: From pup to top dog

It is almost six years to the day since a 23-year-old blonde-streaked boy called Michael Clarke walked into bat on his Test debut at Bangalore. He walked the walk too, smashing India's spin attack to all parts with a scintillating 151 which included four sixes. His elegance at the crease and good looks made batting look ridiculously easy that day. With his proud parents watching from the side, Darren Lehmann even offered to give up his place after witnessing the innings.

Suddenly, everyone wanted something from "Pup". There was constant media attention for the golden balls of cricket and sponsorships were coming faster than a Flintoff book release. He loved his self-image: Michael Clarke the entertainer. "I wanted everyone to like me, to love the way I played - just the way I loved watching the way Slats [Slater] batted."

Six years on and a look at Clarke's personal stats suggests someone who has continued in the same vain, decapitating attacks with a flourish. However, nothing could be further from the truth. The man from New South Wales learnt pretty early on that Test cricket wasn't as easy as his debut home and away Test centuries suggested.

After scoring 541 runs in his first five Tests, the dasher began to lose the thread against weaker opposition. He left for his first Ashes series, still lauded as the next great thing, but with only 118 runs to his name from the subsequent seven matches.

The magical mystery tour of 2005 was to showcase what was right and what was wrong with his game. Temperamentally, he became too easily embroiled with the opposition, and, despite almost scoring a century at Lord's, the rest of the series contained exciting cameos followed by disappointing dismissals. The leave alone to Simon Jones that flattened his stumps still lives long in the memory. He was stylish even when misjudging.

After another poor series against the West Indies, Clarke was dropped. Trevor Hohns, the then chairman of selectors, said: "We think it's time to give him a break and to go back to domestic cricket to clear his head so that he can bat the way we know he can." Ricky Ponting, who knows a thing or two about being called the next prodigy, felt his team mate was guilty of trying too hard.

Clarke himself admitted this week that he was devastated at being left out. "I asked Punter if I could fly home that night. We won the Test, but if I stayed, I would have dragged everyone down. I went straight from the airport in Sydney to Mum and Dad's and I was just shattered. There's no other word for it," he said.

His father's words were a turning point. Essentially, Clarke Snr told his son it was either flight or fight. There was only one choice and it changed everything. "I know my game better. My shot selection has improved out of sight, my disciplines off the field have improved enormously. My preparation is always my No 1 focus. Before I was dropped, I didn't know how to prepare."

Since 2006 and the Ashes revenge mission that England don't like to mention, Clarke has been superb, averaging in the mid 50s with 12 centuries. He has turned into an accumulator, shedding the Hollywood shots. If this has disappointed some who bought into "The Entertainer" then so be it. Longevity is what Test cricket is about. The boy realised and turned into a man.

Clarke was feted as captain before he was barely out of Test diapers, and England have teased him something rotten as a "jobseeker." However, the 29-year-old has always been quick to defend Ponting, the man who counselled him through the rough times. I make it very clear to [Ponting] that anything he needs I am there for him 24-7," he said. "Anything he needs off the field, on the field, I will be there for him."

Imran Khan's captaincy

1982-1992

Few men can transform the fortunes of an international cricket team. Rarer still are those who revolutionise the aspirations of the whole nation. Imran Khan achieved both. His political ambitions and glamorous marriage, his cancer hospital and his cricket academies notwithstanding, it is the memories of Imran the cricketer that remain the clearest.

Hailing from a family of great cricketing pedigree - his cousins Javed Burki and Majid Khan both captained Pakistan - and picked for Pakistan while still at university in Oxford, Imran began Test cricket as a first-change bowler and lower-order batsman, and left it as one of the game's legends. His was also the age of Kapil, Botham and Hadlee, but Imran was on par with all these players and the most successful of all of them at captaincy.

Imran managed to gain the respect of the perennially fractious Pakistani team - when made captain in 1982 his side had three former captains and three former vice-captains. He lifted the side into playing as a unit and jettisoned the ultra-defensive mindset of previous Pakistani captains. He picked players out of nets (Tauseef Ahmed) or lifted them from 17-year layoffs from Test cricket (Younis Ahmed). However autocratic his methods, they usually worked.

Imran's career reached the sweetest of all finales when he led Pakistan to victory in the World Cup of 1992. It was testament to how he had transformed the Pakistan team from a procession of soloists into an orchestra, perhaps for the only period in its history.

Yuvraj leaves Mumbai facing mammoth chase

Mumbai 274 and 79 for 0 (Jaffer 46*) need another 703 runs to beat Rest of India 668 and 387 for 3 dec (Yuvraj 204*, Mukund 63, Badrinath 61, Powar 2-75)
Scorecard and ball-by-ball details.

Yuvraj Singh, the Rest of India captain, smashed an unbeaten 204 off 194 balls to increase his side's lead to mammoth proportions, and leave Mumbai chasing a near-impossible 782 in the fourth innings. Yuvraj, whose failure in the first innings cost him a vital opportunity to impress the India selectors, made up for that with a knock of characteristic belligerence as Mumbai's attack wilted on the fourth day.

He struck 28 fours and five sixes, and was supported by steady sixties from the Tamil Nadu pair of Abhinav Mukund and S Badrinath, who carried on from where they left things in the first innings. Yuvraj declared on reaching his double century, leaving Mumbai facing a tough ask if they were to save the game. Wasim Jaffer, the Mumbai captain, was up to the task, scoring a patient 46 to take them to stumps, in the company of Ajinkya Rahane, after Sushant Marathe was forced to retire with a wrist injury.

How Yuvraj would fare in the second innings was one of the few points of interest left in the game, after Rest of India had chosen not to enforce the follow-on on the third day. And he didn't disappoint the sizeable crowd that had turned up on Monday morning. He began with three fours in the first over of the day, bowled by Dhawal Kulkarni. He played straight for the most part, making a conscious effort to get forward, and drove imperiously in the arc between midwicket and extra cover.

In the eighth over of the day, he was struck on the helmet by a short delivery from Usman Malvi, missing the line while attempting a half-hearted pull off the front foot. He tightened his technique against the short ball thereafter, pulling the same bowler for four in his next over. Yuvraj was bothered by the incoming delivery from round the wicket a few times but, to his credit, he saw off the threat.

The lack of pace - both from the bowlers and off the pitch - forced Yuvraj to defend a lot of deliveries in the first half of his innings. He increased the pace as he neared three figures, moving from 95 to 107 with three consecutive fours off Kulkarni, reaching his 18th first-class hundred with an exquisite flick past midwicket.

Mukund and Badrinath were hardly troubled during their stays before falling to Ramesh Powar, who got some reward for flighting the ball consistently. There was no such luck against Yuvraj, though, who opened up against the spinners, lofting and pulling them for five sixes over the leg side. He reached his second first-class double hundred in the penultimate over before tea, sweeping Rohit Sharma to square leg. The first hundred had taken 121 deliveries, but the next one came in 69 as Mumbai merely awaited the declaration.

Defending a mountain of runs, Rest of India bowled as well as the pitch allowed them to, but Jaffer, and later, Rahane, were hardly troubled in benign conditions. Mumbai will need more of it tomorrow if they are to draw the game.

Muralitharan included in Sri Lanka squad for Australia

Muttiah Muralitharan has been included in the squad for the limited-overs tour of Australia in November as Sri Lanka build their team for the 2011 World Cup. Aravinda de Silva, Sri Lanka's chairman of selectors, said Murali remained an important part of the one-day set up, though he had retired from Tests and didn't play the recent tri-series in Sri Lanka which also involved India and New Zealand.

"Muralitharan is definitely part of our World Cup plans and we have included him to give him some international exposure ahead of the big event," de Silva said. Murali had retired from Tests during the home series against India in July but said he would be available for the World Cup if selected. He recently played an important role in Chennai Super Kings' victory in the Champions League Twenty20 in South Africa.

Suraj Randiv, another offspinner, was also picked in the 16-man squad but de Silva said only one spinner was likely to play on Australian pitches. "Jeevan Mendis, who bowls legspin, and Tillakaratne Dilshan's offspin can also be utilised," he said.

The squad has five seamers - Lasith Malinga, Dilhara Fernando, Nuwan Kulasekara, Dammika Prasad and Thisara Perera - to suit Australian conditions. Allrounder Angelo Mathews' selection is subject to fitness as he recovers from an injured left knee and Thilina Kandamby has been put on standby.

Sri Lanka will play three one-day warm-up matches against Queensland and New South Wales before facing Australia in a Twenty20 international and three ODIs.

Squad: Kumar Sangakkara (capt & wk), Mahela Jayawardene (vc), Tillakaratne Dilshan, Upul Tharanga, Chamara Silva, Jeevan Mendis, Angelo Mathews (subject to fitness, Thilina Kandamby on standby), Chamara Kapugedara, Thisara Perera, Lasith Malinga, Nuwan Kulasekera, Dilhara Fernando, Muttiah Muralitharan, Suraj Randiv, Dammika Prasad, Dinesh Chandimal.

source:cricinfo.com