All posts by csb10.top

ScorecardWarwickshire wrapped up the match on the third and final day at Edgbaston, beating West Indies A by an innings and six runs. The visitors may have been celebrating when they removed the obdurate Ian Westwood early – he added just one run to his overnight score of a career-best 177 – but that was about all the celebrating they were to do as Warwickshire continued in commanding vein.The home side rattled up 414 for 9 before declaring 179 ahead and then skittling out West Indies without needing to bat again. Darren Sammy took five wickets for West Indies and then Sewnarine Chattergoon and Lendl Simmons did their level best to fight for the draw, with an opening stand of 56, but they fell in pretty quick succession and wickets tumbled regularly from thereon in.Alex Loudon was the pick of the attack, he claimed 4 for 16 from ten overs. Adam Shantry was also taken for 16 from ten overs himself, and claimed two wickets in a polished display. His opening partner, Naqqash Tahir, took one wicket, but was comparatively expensive; his 15 overs cost 62.All of the six bowlers used by the captain Loudon struck, in fact, and it took Moeen Ali just five balls to finish the innings and prevent his side from needing a second innings to close out the game.West Indies now have just one day to lick their wounds before they face Derbyshire in a one-dayer on Sunday.

Brendon McCullum, the New Zealand wicketkeeper-batsman, has been made the vice-captain for New Zealand’s tour of South Africa.The squad’s general manager, Lindsay Crocker, said McCullum had displayed ‘leadership qualities’ on and off the field during New Zealand’s ongoing tour match against a South African Invitational XI at Bloemfontein. He scored a vital 46 and was involved in a 100-run stand for the seventh wicket with captain Daniel Vettori to take New Zealand to 318.”He gets around the other players and keeps them involved with what’s happening. He was an obvious candidate for the role,” Crocker told , a Wellington-based website, adding that the role was only for this tour and would be reviewed on a series-by-series basis.New Zealand had not named a vice-captain when they flew to South Africa but McCullum was considered to be in the core group of the 15-man squad.

At the start of the season Australia were intent on retaining their world-beating status and by the end were just trying to limit damage. With much hindrance from a committed opponent, they failed with both aims. The No. 1 one-day ranking will be lost to South Africa if they beat Bangladesh 3-0 this month and the drop would be another dent for a team that has struggled with its identity since the fractious Sydney Test.In the first week of the New Year Ricky Ponting won a world-record equalling 16th Test in a row and was preparing to head to Perth for what should have been the easiest contest of the series with India. Instead it became the most difficult due to a mix of public reaction to Sydney, a flat surface and a touring team that had been galvanised during their threats to take all bats, balls and briefcases home. Australia lost at the WACA and over the next two months were mostly unrecognisable from the all-conquering outfit of 2007.How much Australians turned against their national team is hard to gauge exactly, but the players were shocked when large sections criticised their overall performance at the SCG. The Test ended in the most remarkable result but was instantly over-shadowed by a rash of controversies. Following team discussions covering behaviour and attitude, the side retained its spirit-of-cricket pledge and vowed to be “hard but fair” – the same way they believed they had always performed.Australian players in the Perth contest said it was the quietest Test they had ever been part of due to the fear of offending. Australia lost in four days, the streak was over and the aura slowly diminished. Having shed a quartet of outstanding competitors the previous summer, Australia had actually done well to keep things together for so long. Adam Gilchrist’s departure, which he revealed during the draw in Adelaide, will make things much harder as they try to recover ground and mojo.While the Test series was a success despite the swing in the final two games, Australia’s CB Series stumbled towards disaster even when they were winning. Four bonus points were collected by the home team, but the fringe benefits flattered an outfit that was struggling with fatigue, a range of issues that never seemed to disappear, a wobbling batting order and an underperforming captain and key allrounder. A more vibrant Indian side was not brought down by the various controversies, which seemed to act as spurs instead of weights.If Ponting and Andrew Symonds had completed merely average returns things could have been different. Instead the pair, which was heavily involved in the Indian Premier League developments, combined for only 365 runs in ten matches and the bowlers could not sustain their miracle escapes in the two matches that mattered most. Nathan Bracken, who is now a one-day specialist, was incredible in capturing 21 wickets and the Man-of-the-Series award, while Brett Lee was inspirational until the finals, when he looked as tired as a new parent.In a three-team tournament Australia needed more from than their batsmen than finishing fifth (Gilchrist), sixth (Michael Clarke), seventh (Matthew Hayden) and eighth (Michael Hussey) on the run list. It was the lack of output that resulted in the absence of the series trophy for the second year in a row. A 2-0 defeat was an appropriate outcome and something the players accepted.India irritate Australia’s senior men in a way no other team can manage and the uneasy relationship adds to the home side’s confusion. Australia knew they should have been better than their eclectic opponents, but they were unable to remember the valid reasons why.The age-old talk became nasty by modern standards and India’s new breed had not been kicked around in previous series. Big-name reputations didn’t matter and Australia’s substance went missing. The future will be fascinating as the players wrestle with their outlooks while battling opposition sides that will now give themselves a serious chance of winning.

1989

January 13-14, Karachi
Scores 201 not out on a greentop for United Bank Limited in the Quaid-e-Azam Trophy. Haroon Rashid, the former Pakistan batsman and coach, considers it the best innings he has ever seen.

1989-90

Finishes the season with 1645 runs at an average of 60.92, with six centuries and as many fifties in 21 matches.

1991

November 22, Lahore
Has to contend with a fiery line-up of Curtly Ambrose, Ian Bishop, Malcolm Marshall and Patrick Patterson on his ODI debut. Manages 20 before being bowled by Marshall. The game turns out to be a thriller and ends in a tie.

1992

January 17, Multan
Scores his first ODI hundred – a 101 – in alosing cause against Sri Lanka. Follows up with a century in the next game, as Pakistan thump Sri Lanka by 117 runs in Rawalpindi to take the series 4-1.March, Australia-New Zealand
World Cup heroics. His volcanic 60 at Auckland in the semi-final against New Zealand separates the two teams. Later, a thrilling 42 in the final proves crucial in Pakistan’s dream triumph.June 4, Birmingham
Test debut. Not much batting for Inzamam in a high-scoring draw against England.

1993

May 2-4, St John’s, Antigua1993
Another high-scoring draw, but Inzamam manages to notch up his maiden Test century, despite having to shepherd the tail for much of his innings.

1994

April 20, Sharjah
Partners a world record. A monstrous stand with Aamir Sohail takes New Zealand to the cleaners. They add 263 for the second wicket, at the time a record ODI partnership for any wicket, with Sohail belting 134 and Inzamam 137.October 2, Karachi
Stars in a cliffhanger. Not many nails are left at the end of this one as Inzamam and Mushtaq Ahmed engineer a minor miracle against Australia. From 258 for 9, Pakistan manage to surmount the target of 315 and go one-up in the series. Ian Healy misses a stumping when three runs are needed and Pakistan prevail in one of the closest finishes of all.

1996

July 25-29, Lord’s
On the opening day of a series against England at Lord’s, Inzamam walks in at 12 for 2 and revives the innings before stamping his authority with a magnificent 148. He tightens the noose in the second innings with 70 more as Pakistan wrap the match by a 164-run margin.

1997

September, Toronto
After being endlessly mocked by a spectator through a megaphone, about his nickname “Aloo” (potato) and his religion, Inzamam finally snaps. Armed with a bat, he wades into the stands and thumps his tormenter. Fortunately, the crowd and security staff prevent him from landing any telling blows, but it is 40minutes before play can resume amid the chaotic scenes. He is subsequently banned for two matches.

1999

March 12-14, Dhaka
His first Test double-hundred comes in the final of the Asian Test Championship against Sri Lanka. Ijaz Ahmed joins in the run-glut and Pakistan sail to the title.November 18-22, Hobart
His only century against Australia comes in a losing cause, but it is made with the match very much in the balance. Australia have managed only a slender lead and he consolidates Pakistan’s position with a controlled 118. It almost turns into a series-levelling knock until Justin Langer and Adam Gilchrist begin their daylight robbery.

2000

Aggregates 1000 runs in both Tests and ODIs in the calendar year. Scores 1090 runs in 12 Tests, including four hundreds and six fifties at an average of 60.56; in 34one-dayers, it was 1074 runs with a lone hundred and nine fifties at an average of 42.96.

2001

May31-June 4, Manchester
With the series in the balance and Darren Gough, Andy Caddickand Matthew Hoggard swinging it on the first morning, Inzamam responds with a rattling 114. A tenacious 85 in the second innings sets the game up, as Saqlain Mushtaq and friends take eight wickets in the final session to seal the series-levelling win.

2002

May 1-2, Lahore
The triple. For nearly two days, New Zealand have no respite in the searing heat and are clobbered to all corners of the Gaddafi Stadium. Inzamam’s 329 is the second-highest score by a Pakistan batsman, behind Hanif Mohammad’s 337, and the tenth-highest score in Test history.

2003

March, South Africa
Has a miserable World Cup. Scores 19 runs in six innings in Pakistan’s shambolic World Cup performance. Perhaps the 23 pounds he lost in the run-up to the tournament reduced his appetite for runs. Is one of many who are dropped in the aftermath.September 3-6, Multan
The jailbreak. Chasing 261 in the final Test against Bangladesh, Pakistan are 205 for 8 and in danger of giving Bangladesh their first Test win. Inzamam has none of it, however, and with sizeable help from Nos 10 and 11, inches them past the line.October 24-28, Faisalabad
In his first Test as captain, his calm presence on the final day earns Pakistan a nervy draw against South Africa.

2004

March 13, Karachi
In a coruscating display of mind-blowing strokeplay, Inzamam nearly makes the impossible happen against India. No team had successfully chased down 350 in an ODI at the time, but his 122 off 102 balls is like a divine bolt that landed in Karachi. Pakistan fall just short, but it is undoubtedly the innings of the series, maybe even the best of his career. However, Inzamam’s team is unable from preventing India from clinching victory in both Tests and ODIs.July
Spat with Shoaib Akhtar comes out in the open. Differences between the two emerge after the loss at home to India, where Shoaib limps out of the Test series with an injury.September, EnglandLeads Pakistan to the semi-final of the ICC Champions Trophy, where a puzzling decision to bat first – akin to Wasim Akram’s decision in the 1999 World Cup final – sees his side crumbling to 131 (132 in 1999), chased by West Indies with seven wickets to spare.

2005

January, Australia
Misses two of the three Tests, as Pakistan are trounced 3-0.March 24-28, Bangalore
Makes a stellar 184 in his 100th Test as Pakistan level the series 1-1 in the final Test. In the one-dayers that follow, Pakistan win 4-2, with Inzamam topping the averages for Pakistan.

August
Captains Asia XI in the inaugural Afro-Asian Cup.October
Is named in both World Test and ODI XI of the year. Surprisingly though, isn’t picked for the teams to play Australia in the Super Series. However, he finally does play in the Super Test, being named as a replacement for Sachin Tendulkar. That too isn’t without drama, as he refuses initially, still angry at the snub in the first place.November 20-24, Faisalabad
In the second Test against the visiting Englishmen, an umpiring gaffe sees Inzamam declared run-out for 109 as he tries to evade a throw aimed at the stumps by Steve Harmison on his follow-through. Inzamam moves out of the way, but is caught short when the ball thuds into the stumps. Since Inzamam is not attempting a run, there is no way he can be given out. Inzamam’s 109 in Pakistan’s first innings equals Javed Miandad’s Pakistan record of 23 Test centuries, and he goes better in the very next innings with an unbeaten 100.Pakistan win the series 2-0. With 431 runs at 107.75, he is the Man of the Series. Also completes 1000 Test runs in a calendar year for the second time in his career.

2006

August-September, England
Inzamam is at the centre of perhaps the most controversial episode in the history of the game. The first forfeiture in Test cricket takes place on August 20, after Inzamam and his team refuse to take the field after tea on the fourth day at The Oval. The spark that starts it off is the decision of the umpires – Billy Doctrove and Darrell Hair – to give five penalty runs to England after the 56th over as they feel the ball has been tampered with by the Pakistan players. The ball is changed, but it is only after a while at tea that the Pakistan players decide to protest by staying in the dressing room. Finally, when the players decide do step out, the umpires stay put, and going by the rulebook they deem Pakistan to have forfeited the match. Pakistan are later cleared of the charges, but Inzamam is handed a four-match ban, that rules him out of the ICC Champions Trophy in India. Pakistan lose the series in England 3-0.

2007

March 17, Jamaica
For the second time in succession, Pakistan are knocked out of the World Cup in the first round. Ireland pull off the upset of the tournament on St. Patrick’s Day, and Inzamam’s future at the helm looks in imminent danger.March 18
Announces retirement from ODIs and steps down from Test captaincy on the same day that Bob Woolmer, Pakistan’s coach, tragically collapses and dies at the team hotel.August
Joins ICL, along with team-mates Mohammad Yousuf, Imran Farhat and Abdur Razzaq. Inzamam’s decision comes after he is not offered a central contract by the PCB in July.October
Is selected for the second Test against South Africa in Lahore, which is his farewell Test. Scores 14 and 3, falling two short of Javed Miandad’s record for the highest Test aggregate by a Pakistan batsman. Ends with 8830 runs in 120 Tests, falling 60 runs short of a career average of 50.

Steve Rixon, the former Australia wicketkeeper, has been sounded out as a potential coach of Pakistan. However, Rixon said the unexplained death of Bob Woolmer had left him in doubt whether he wanted the job and he has not officially applied.Pakistan’s board was reportedly impressed by Rixon’s successful stretch as New Zealand’s coach from 1996 to 1999, and specifically his work with the captain Stephen Fleming. Rixon said whether he put in for the Pakistan position might depend on what police uncovered about Woolmer’s death in Jamaica at the World Cup.”They [Pakistan] have made contact with me, I have spoken to them,” Rixon told Cricinfo. “I haven’t indicated whether I’m interested yet. I’m finding it extremely hard to get over the fact Bob Woolmer is no longer with us, to be honest. I’d never say never, but I’ll be interested in the results of the inquiry.”As well as Pakistan, there are still senior coaching vacancies in India, Sri Lanka and Bangladesh. Without naming specific nations, Rixon confirmed he had “spoken to a few different countries” but had not committed to applying for any of the roles.Rixon, who is based in Sydney, said coaching on the subcontinent would be a very different challenge, if he chose to pursue it. “It’s something that’s not grabbing me and saying ‘you’ve got to come and do it’,” Rixon said of a potential move to Asia. “But who knows? This interest might be the spark that gets me there.”Rixon spent two years at the helm of Surrey from 2004-05 and has also had two separate stints as the coach of New South Wales. He hoped to return to the international ranks as John Buchanan’s replacement this year, although Australia instead chose Tim Nielsen.

Ian Harvey’s career at Derbyshire appears to be over after the home office refused his application for British citizenship.Harvey was informed that his initial application would have been approved but for a drink-driving conviction earlier this year. He had made the county aware of the incident immediately when it occurred earlier this year and the matter was dealt with internally. He pleased guilty in court in April and was banned from driving for nine months.The ECB ruled that Harvey could continue playing as a non-overseas cricketer until he received a decision. Despite pressure from the county and other players, the home office have now declined his application.”This is obviously a very bitter blow to myself and my family,” Harvey said. “I feel I have been punished many times over for one offence. I fully accepted I had made a mistake, pleaded guilty and was dealt with by the court. In addition to that I have been punished by the home office in refusing my citizenship and the ECB for not exercising their discretion when they have the power to do so.”This could effectively mean the premature end of my playing career which is a bitter pill to swallow.””This is devastating news for Ian and his family and seems a punishment completely disproportionate to the offence,” Tom Sears, Derbyshire’s chief executive, said. “Throughout this matter Ian has conducted himself with honesty and integrity and there seems little justice in this verdict.”This is not just about Derbyshire wanting to field an outstanding cricketer who has given so much to the game for many years. This is about a man with a young family being denied a right to earn his living despite having full residential and employment rights in this country. He is allowed to perform almost any other job in this country but not play first class cricket … that doesn’t seem right.”As it is Ian will remain with us for the rest of this season then we will sit down and discuss potential options for the future.”

ScorecardAllrounder Dave Bernard starred in Jamaica’s five-wicket win against Windward Islands at the Beausejour Stadium. Bernard took three wickets in ten economical overs and scored 23 to guide his side to the modest target of 162.After Wavell Hinds chose to insert the opposition, Bernard struck in the second over, picking up two wickets in consecutive balls. Junior Murray (44) and Liam Sebastien (45) then staged a recovery, adding 40 for the fifth wicket. Nikita Miller, the left-arm spinner, broke the partnership when Murray was stumped by Carlton Baugh Jnr. Miller and Jermaine Lawson supported Bernard well, as the trio shared for eight wickets between them to bundle out Windwards for 161 in only 43.2 overs.Jamaica well well-placed for victory at 64 for 1 but lost three quick wickets for the addition of just 14 runs. Tamar Lambert and Bernard then consolidated in a crucial fifth-wicket stand of 72. Bernard was dismissed before Jamaica reached their target, trapped in front to a googly off Rawl Lewis. Lambert was undefeated on 48 with eight fours off 89 balls. Windwards were guilty of conceding too many extras, 32 in all, including 13 wides and 11 no-balls.
ScorecardKevin Stoute anchored Barbados to a six-wicket win over Leeward Islands at the Carlton Club Ground. Stoute top-scored with 73 and shared two vital stands to guide Barbados to the victory target of 227 with five overs remaining. He added 68 for the second wicket with opener Patrick Browne (39) and 83 for the third with Floyd Reifer.Stoute was adjudged leg before in the 41st over, playing across the line and Reifer was caught at long-on in the 44th over. Both built on the solid opening stand of 55 provided by Browne and Dale Richards. Richards looked in good touch with a few neat drives through the off-side, but was unfortunately run-out in the 12th over, backing up too far at the bowler’s end and failing to beat the throw by Maxford Pipe, the substitute fielder.Leewards were restricted to 226 for 9 in 49.4 overs, and were set back when Steve Liburd was forced to retire hurt, injuring his left arm after colliding with Fidel Edwards. Liburd was unbeaten on 31 and Leewards were effectively 70 for 4 at that stage. Tonito Willett lifted the side with a run-a-ball 46 that included four fours and two sixes, and the lower order lifted the side to 226. Ryan Hinds was the most effective bowler, picking up four wickets.
ScorecardKieron Pollard scored an aggressive 87 to help Trinidad and Tobago secure a comfortable five-wicket win over Guyana at the Queens Park Oval. His knock consumed just 58 balls with seven sixes and six fours, as his side overhauled the modest target of 184 with 15 overs to spare.Pollard, in West Indies’ provisional World Cup squad, got off the mark with a massive six over the long-off boundary off offspinner Narsingh Deonarine. He reached his fifty with another six over long-off, this time off Deon Ferrier. He was particularly harsh on on left-arm spinner Veerasammy Permaul, hitting him for three consecutive sixes. However, Permaul got the better off him, bowling Pollard off the inside edge.Pollard shared two 50-plus partnerships, adding 56 with debutant Darren Bravo and 51 off 36 balls with Jason Mohammed.Earlier, after being put into bat, the Guyana openers, Azeemul Haniff (53) and Royston Crandon (13) added 40. However, wickets tumbled at regular intervals, as the batsmen struggled against Ravi Rampaul in particular. Rampaul, playing his first regional match in two years sidelined due to various injuries, took 4 for 53 and got good support from left-arm spinner Dave Mohammed who bagged 2 for 24.

The clean sweep by the Sharad Pawar group has left several people wondering what the future may hold. The manner in which Pawar and his team won, overwhelmingly and with support from members of all zones, has meant that they are in a strong position to get stuck into the tasks on hand and get cracking, addressing issues that need urgent looking at.Pawar has listed the development of infrastructure, the deployment of funds currently being held in bank accounts, the appointment of a media committee, and professionalisation of the board as the broad areas that his team will be looking to work on in the near future. But, there are several things that need attention, and his team will be forced to sort them out.Television rightsThe Board of Control for Cricket in India has incurred serious losses in the recent past thanks to the impasse regarding television rights. What began as a fight between ESPN-Star Sports and Zee TV and graduated into Jagmohan Dalmiya and the likes of N Srinivasan playing favourites with one company or the other has ended in a slew of court cases. The matter is unresolved and the temporary arrangement of Doordarshan being given the rights on a series to series basis has cost the board plenty. It’s no secret that Dalmiya wanted ESPN-Star Sports to bag the rights. Some people suggest that Pawar will blindly do the opposite. This seems unlikely, and yet the matter needs to be resolved as soon as the court cases surrounding it are resolved.Team SponsorThe Indian team’s longstanding contract with Sahara has already expired. Because of the turmoil and uncertainty prevailing thanks to the board elections, no long-term sponsor was sought, and Sahara continue to sponsor the team – till the Sri Lanka series. But this ad-hoc arrangement cannot go on for long, for a chunk of the players’ payments come from the money they are paid to wear the sponsor’s logo on their playing shirts. In the long run, the players will lose out if a stable sponsor is not found, if Sahara fail to enter into a long-term contract.Constitutional reformIt has suited Jagmohan Dalmiya and his group to keep the board’s constitution as it is, with all its anamolies and loopholes. No-one was more adept at exploiting the board’s constitution to manipulate conditions better than Dalmiya. But the Pawar group, keen on securing their position in the board, have made it clear that they aim to resolve the outstanding issues with the constitution, especially those relevant to election procedures. The Pawar group will work quickly to straighten out these issues, taking off from the recommendations made by TS Krishna Murthy, the court-appointed observer for the last elections.Players contractsIndia’s players received central contracts for the first time last year. Now the time has come to take a look at how the process went, make the necessary changes, and hand out contracts to a fresh list of cricketers. The board president, chairman of selectors, secretary and coach and have to sit down and finalise the list of cricketers who would get contracts, in the relevant categories.From the outside, it is tough to say how Pawar will go about handling these issues. In the Mumbai Cricket Association Pawar has stayed as far away as possible from specific technical aspects of the game. He has put people in key places to handle these things, and formed committees to handle the matters of day-to-day governance. Whether he will be able to do the same at the national level, all the while being pulled in different directions by his troops, remains to be seen.

Scorecard and ball-by-ball details
How they were out