Asif leaves for India to receive dues from Delhi Daredevils

KARACHI: Fast bowler Mohammad Asif has left for India to receive his dues from Delhi Daredevils.

Before his departure here at the Quaid-i-Azam International Airport on Saturday, Asif said that his meeting with the officials of Delhi Daredevils is scheduled for today in which issues arising in the last seven months would be discussed and future planning would also be considered.

Mohammad Asif said that the management of Delhi Daredevils has ensured him complete security during his stay in India.

source : jang.com.pk

Strauss made England captain for entire West Indies tour

LONDON: Andrew Strauss will captain England for their entire tour of the West Indies, including one-day internationals and the lone Twenty20, it was announced here Friday.

Strauss, who has not played any one-day international since the 2007 World Cup in the Caribbean and was not originally in the one-day squad for this tour, was confirmed Thursday by the England and Wales Cricket Board (ECB) as England’s new Test captain in a year when they face Australia for the Ashes.

He replaced Kevin Pietersen, who had been captain in all forms of cricket, after the star batsman’s fall-out with coach Peter Moores led to both men losing their posts.

However, Strauss’s position as one-day captain will be reviewed at the end of the Caribbean tour.

But England will not be appointing a new head coach for the West Indies tour, which features four Tests and five ODIs.

Instead current assistant coach Andy Flower, the former Zimbabwe batsman, and Phil Neale, England’s team operations manager, will lead the existing backroom staff when the squad departs on January 21.

England squads for the tour of the West Indies:

Test squad:
Andrew Strauss (captain), Tim Ambrose (wk), James Anderson, Ian Bell, Stuart
Broad, Paul Collingwood, Alastair Cook, Andrew Flintoff, Stephen Harmison, Monty Panesar, Kevin Pietersen, Matt Prior (wk), Adil Rashid, Owais Shah, Ryan
Sidebottom, Graeme Swann

ODI squad:
Strauss (captain), Anderson, Bell, Ravi Bopara, Broad, Collingwood, Steven Davies (wk), Flintoff, Harmison, Dimitri Mascarenhas, Samit Patel, Pietersen, Prior, Shah, Sidebottom, Swann.

England tour of West Indies schedule:

Jan 25-27: St Kitts XI v England XI, Basseterre, St Kitts
Jan 29-31: West Indies A v England XI, Basseterre, St Kitts
Feb 04-08: WEST INDIES v ENGLAND, 1ST TEST, Kingston, Jamaica
Feb 13-17: WEST INDIES v ENGLAND, 2ND TEST, North Sound, Antigua
Feb 21-22: BCA President’s XI v England XI, venue tbc
Feb26-Mar02:WEST INDIES v ENGLAND, 3RD TEST, Bridgetown, Barbados
Mar 06-10: WEST INDIES v ENGLAND, 4TH TEST, Port-of-Spain, Trinidad
Mar 14: WICB President’s XI v England XI, venue tbc
Mar 15: WEST INDIES v ENGLAND, ONLY T20, Port-of-Spain, Trinidad
Mar 20: WEST INDIES v ENGLAND, 1ST 0DI, Providence, Guyana
Mar 22: WEST INDIES v ENGLAND, 2ND ODI, Providence, Guyana
Mar 27: WEST INDIES v ENGLAND, 3RD 0DI, Bridgetown, Barbados
Mar 29: WEST INDIES v ENGLAND, 4TH 0DI, Bridgetown, Barbados
Apr 03: WEST INDIES v ENGLAND, 5TH ODI, Gros Islet, St Lucia.

source : jang.com.pk

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How dropped from New Zealand squad for final 2 ODIs

WELLINGTON: Opening batsman Jamie How has paid the price for an extended run of poor form and been dropped from the New Zealand cricket squad for the last two one-day internationals against the West Indies.

He has been replaced by international newcomer Martin Guptill, a 22-year-old right-hand batsman who has been in strong form for his first class team Auckland.

Also missing from the squad is allrounder Jacob Oram, whose run of injuries was added to Wednesday when he limped from the field with an Achilles tendon injury after bowling just two overs in the seven wicket thrashing of the West Indies in Wellington.

Head of the New Zealand selection panel Glenn Turner said Thursday that How would return to domestic cricket to try to play himself back into form.

Turner said Guptill has been in consistent high-scoring form, averaging 41 in the domestic first class one-day competition this season.

“Martin really impressed on the tours to Australia and India last year with the Emerging Players and New Zealand A,” said Turner, adding the batsman had continued his strong form this season.

The one-day series between New Zealand and the West Indies is locked at one each with two matches left to play in Auckland on Saturday and in Napier on Tuesday.

New Zealand squad
Daniel Vettori (captain), Neil Broom, Grant Elliott, Daniel Flynn, Mark Gillespie, Martin Guptill, Brendon McCullum, Kyle Mills, Jeetan Patel, Jesse Ryder, Tim Southee, Ross Taylor.

source : jang.com.pk

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Australia stay top of ICC Test rankings

DUBAI: The 103-run victory against South Africa at Sydney has ensured Australia stay top of the ICC Test rankings.

However, South Africa by clinching the series 2-1 went close to Australia just five rating points away.

It was the first time that South Africa, who went into the series placed second, won a Test series in Australia, though only a 3-0 whitewash would have ensured a change at the top.

India are already on the third position in the ascendancy as well after back-to-back series wins against Australia and England at home.

Sri Lanka also consolidated the fourth place with a 2-0 series win in Bangladesh.

Pakistan, three points behind, are on the sixth position followed by the West Indies and New Zealand.

source : jang.com.pk

Miandad barred from talking on main PCB matters

LAHORE: The Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) is being criticized for ignoring many talented players while announcing the central contracts.

Meanwhile, chairman PCB Ijaz Butt has stopped many officials to issue unnecessary statements.

Merit of some of the 26 players, awarded the central contract, is being questioned and the PCB is also facing severe criticism for ignoring some talented players.

For not including right-arm fast bowler Abdul Rauf, emerging fast bowlers Mohammad Talha and Anwar Ali, coach Intikhab Alam said that these bowlers are talented but he is silent on not giving them the central contract.

On the other hand, chairman PCB Ijaz Butt has stopped director-general Javed Miandad for issuing statements on important matters, according to the PCB sources.

Meanwhile, former cricketers posted on many key positions in the board are considering to resign keeping in view the tension found in the Pakistan Cricket Board.

source : jang.com.pk

Sri Lanka outlaws rebel group

COLOMBO: The Sri Lankan government officially outlawed the Tamil Tiger rebel group Wednesday, a formality that ruled out the possibility of restarting peace talks any time soon to end a brutal quarter-century of civil war.

The Cabinet unanimously agreed to ban the group after the guerrillas ignored an ultimatum to allow hundreds of thousands of civilians living in rebel-held areas to leave, Cabinet minister Maithripala Sirisena said.

The government, as well as international rights groups, have accused the Tamil Tigers of holding civilians as human shields to protect them against the military offensive into rebel-held territory. The rebels deny the accusation.

While the ban had little concrete impact, government officials had already vowed to destroy the rebel group it was seen as a symbolic rejection of any possible rapprochement between the two sides.

The decision came less than a week after government forces drove the rebels from their administrative capital of Kilinochchi and forced them into a shrinking pocket of territory in the north east roughly the size of Los Angeles.

Fighting continued throughout the area on Wednesday, with the military conducting air strikes on Tamil Tiger targets and ground troops north of the rebel-held area pushing further southward, the military said.

source : jang.com.pk

New Zealand beat West Indies to level series

WELLINGTON: Skipper Daniel Vettori took four cheap scalps as New Zealand crushed the West Indies by seven wickets to level the one-day series 1-1 on Wednesday.

Vettori finished with 4-20 from 10 overs in the third of the five-match series after the hosts skittled the West Indies for 128 in 41.4 overs at Westpac Stadium.

He was well supported by Kyle Mills (2-31) and Tim Southee (2-36).

New Zealand initially stuttered in the run-chase, losing the wickets of Brendon McCullum, Jesse Ryder and Jamie How in the space of six runs to be 40 for three after 7.2 overs.

But Ross Taylor made an unbeaten 51 off 50 balls including five fours and three sixes, supported by Daniel Flynn’s 23 not out in an 89-run partnership that propelled New Zealand to 129 in just 20.3 overs.

In the West Indies innings, only batting star Shivnarine Chanderpaul showed any serious resistance with 45 as at one stage the visitors looked unlikely even to break 100 when they collapsed to 74 for eight but number 10 Nikita Miller, unbeaten on 25, combined with Chanderpaul and Fidel Edwards to avoid total humiliation.

Vettori won the toss and chose to bowl first in overcast conditions, and his decision was vindicated by the speedy departure of the top of the West Indies order.

Opener Xavier Marshall departed for a duck in the first over, edging Mills to Jamie How at second slip. He was soon followed back to the dressing room by Ramnaresh Sarwan, who edged Southee to How for five.

Chanderpaul and captain Chris Gayle looked to be the best hope of getting the tourists back on track but Gayle became Mills’s second victim, edging a slower ball onto the stumps on 18 to leave his team struggling at 35 for three.

Vettori claimed two wickets in his first two overs, although the second, an lbw decision against Kieron Pollard, appeared lucky with replays showing the batsman nicked the ball onto his pads.

An angry Pollard broke a window pane and dented a door in the players’ tunnel with his bat as he returned to the dressing room, but escaped any punishment from match officials.

Jerome Taylor and Daren Powell also fell quickly to Vettori, who dismissively pointed to his head after Powell was bowled taking a wild swing at a ball which kept low and straight.

Powell later made some amends with the ball, taking all three New Zealand wickets to finish with three for 25 off his seven overs.

source : jang.com.pk

Ashraful, Rahim fined for breaching codes of conduct

DHAKA: Bangladesh’s Mohammad Ashraful and Mushfiqur Rahim have been fined for breaching codes of conduct during the second Test against Sri Lanka, the International Cricket Council said Wednesday.

Skipper Ashraful was fined 15 percent of his match fee for “excessive appealing” and wicket-keeper Rahim 50 percent for “charging or advancing towards the umpire in an aggressive manner when appealing.”

The penalties were handed down by New Zealand match referee Jeff Crowe following hearings held in Chittagong after Tuesday’s Test.

Sri Lanka won the match by 465 runs to clinch the series 2-0.

The ICC said in a statement the breaches occurred after the first ball of the 78th over when Rahim’s appeal for a caught-behind decision against Sri Lanka’s Tillakaratne Dilshan off Mehrab Hossain was turned down.

The Bangladesh captain was fined after the match referee had spoken to him following similar actions in the opening Test here.

“Ashraful is captain of the team and needs to lead with responsibility and patience when an umpire is making a decision,” Crowe was quoted as saying in an ICC media release.

“Having spoken to him earlier in the series about a similar reaction, he was fully aware of what was acceptable and therefore, pleaded guilty to the charge.”

Sri Lanka and Bangladesh will now play in a triangular one-day series, also involving Zimbabwe. The hosts take on Zimbabwe in the opening match here Saturday.

source : jang.com.pk

Australia beat South Africa to avert 3-0 sweep

SYDNEY: Australia pulled off a last-minute victory on the final day of the third and the final Test despite a courageous and painful batting effort from South Africa’s injured captain Graeme Smith on Tuesday here at the Sydney Cricket Ground.

Chasing a ground-record 376 to win, South Africa were dismissed for 272 with 10 balls left on the final day when Mitchell Johnson removed South Africa captain Graeme Smith, who came in at No. 11 with a broken hand and survived for 29 minutes with Makhaya Ntini as he aimed to salvage a draw.

Australia beat South Africa by 103 runs to avert a 3-0 sweep and keep their number one spot in the rankingsThey avoided their first sweep of defeats in a home series of three or more Tests.
However, Australia’s consolation win left the series at 2-1 in favour of South Africa, who for the first time defeated Australia in Australia by winning at Perth and Melbourne.

South Africa were seeking to replace the Australians atop the International Cricket Council’s Test rankings by completing a 3-0 sweep.

Peter Siddle led the bowlers by taking 3-54, while Doug Bollinger, Andrew McDonald and Johnson claimed two wickets each.
Man of the match Siddle’s three strikes turned Australia’s position from good to powerful. He was lucky to have Mark Boucher lbw to a ball that would have missed leg stump but earned the wickets of de Villiers, who was bowled for 56, and Paul Harris, with fast and straight bowling. It was the same method Johnson used to remove Smith and, earlier in the day, JP Duminy, who was lbw for 16.
Duminy and de Villiers, the heroes in Perth, had steadied with a 56-run stand after Australia struck three times before lunch. The loss of the well set Amla in the fifties for the third time in the series was a big blow. Amla had played well for 59, his best score of the three Tests, only to squeeze a Hauritz offbreak onto his pad and to short leg.
It compounded South Africa’s problems after the early departures of Neil McKenzie, who chased a wide one from Bollinger, and Jacques Kallis, who came to the crease needing 16 to reach 10,000 Test runs and will fly home still 12 runs short.

Kallis tried to work McDonald to leg and his leading edge popped up towards the middle of the pitch, where McDonald hurled himself to his right to grab a brilliant one-hander that after inconclusive replays was adjudged to have not included a touch of the ball on the ground.

They lost the match and failed to claim the No. 1 ranking but as they sprayed champagne with the series trophy in hand after the loss, it was a timely reminder that their job was done before this match even began.

source : jang.com.pk

Controversial Akhtar wins back Pakistan contract

LAHORE: Pakistani fast bowler Shoaib Akhtar won back his central contract on Tuesday, returning to the international fold a year after a bitter row threatened to end his uneasy career.

Akhtar, 33, who played just three Twenty20 internationals last year, was among 26 players awarded annual contracts and will receive 250,000 rupees (3,500 dollars) a month plus match fees.

The move hands another chance to the controversial “Rawalpindi Express,” who was slapped with a five-year ban — later reduced and then suspended — after he lashed out at officials for failing to give him a contract last January.

Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) chief operating officer Salim Altaf said seniority was the main criterion in deciding the contracts.

“The central contracts were devised by coach Intikhab Alam, manager Yawar Saeed and chief selector Abdul Qadir and the main criteria was seniority of the players,” Altaf told reporters.

Akhtar was named in the top ‘A’ category with captain Shoaib Malik, vice-captain Misbahul Haq, Younis Khan, Shahid Afridi, Umar Gul, Kamran Akmal, Salman Butt and Danish Kaneria.

He missed out on a central contract last year following Pakistan’s Test and one-day series defeats in India in 2007, when he was often absent through illness and injury.

Akhtar also showed interest in acting in Bollywood movies, irritating cricket authorities.

Angered by his exclusion, Akhtar publicly criticised the PCB and was handed the ban before its reduction on appeal.

source : jang.com.pk

Protease to chase 376 for sweep series against Aussies

SYDNEY: South Africa need 314 more runs with nine wickets in hand as they are chasing another difficult target to make a clean sweep against Australia here at the SCG.

The South African victory will bounce them up to the No. 1 Test ranking and Ricky Ponting would go down in history as the first captain to lead Australia to a 0-3 loss at home.

However, South Africa would need their third miracle of the series and with Graeme Smith unlikely to bat their task is even tougher. This was a team that had chased 414 in Perth.

Ponting’s sporting declaratrion to set the visitors 376 in nearly four full sessions was a brave decision.

Ponting had found the cracking surface easier than it looked in posting a half-century and Hashim Amla and Neil McKenzie also seemed relatively comfortable after coming together at 1 for 2.

Morne Morkel was an odd choice to open in the absence of the injured Smith and it was a plan that took only two balls to fail. Morkel spooned his second delivery to mid-on to give Doug Bollinger his first Test wicket but it was the only reason for Australia to cheer in the final two hours. Amla (30) and McKenzie (25) showed impressive concentration to survive and post a 60-run unbeaten partnership.

Ponting (53), Simon Katich (61), Michael Clarke (41) and Michael Hussey (45 not out) all made contributions after Hayden (39) departed in the morning.

The declaration came when the Aussies reached 257-4 and the Protease were 62-1 at stumps on the fourth day of the third and the final Test.

source : jang.com.pk

Malik vows to take Pakistan to top ranking in world cricket

LAHORE: Shoaib Malik says he is ready to take the national team to the top of the world cricket rankings, after being renewed as captain for an indefinite period.

The Pakistan Cricket Board last week opted to keep the 26-year-old Malik on as captain for the foreseeable future, PCB chairman Ijaz Butt said. There was “no reason to replace him” when his tenure expired on December 31.

Malik said the move had motivated him to take Pakistan to new heights.

Malik was appointed captain after Pakistan’s humiliating first-round exit from the World Cup held in the West Indies in 2007.

Since then, he has led Pakistan in only three Tests, losing two and drawing one.

Pakistan did not play a single Test in 2008 after Australia postponed their tour over security fears.

Shoaib Malik has led Pakistan in 33 one-day internationals, winning 23 and losing
10.

He led Pakistan to a 3-0 win over the West Indies in their neutral venue series in Abu Dhabi in November last year — a victory that helped convince the board to extend his captaincy.

Malik’s next assignment will be a home series with Sri Lanka who agreed to tour Pakistan after India pulled out of a planned trip in January-February this year.

The PCB said it hopes to finalise the Sri Lanka series schedule later this week. Sri Lanka are expected to play five one-day internationals, three Tests and a Twenty20 international.

source : jang.com.pk

Australian soldier killed in Afghanistan

SYDNEY: An Australian soldier has been killed in a rocket attack by Taliban insurgents on a base in Afghanistan’s southern province of Uruzgan, the military said Monday.

“Taliban insurgents engaged an Afghan forward operating base with rockets. An Australian element was deployed at the base during this attack,” Air Chief Marshal Angus Houston said in a statement.

“The soldier was killed instantly when a rocket exploded in the compound.”

The defence force chief did not name the dead man and gave no further details. The soldier was the eight Australian to die in Afghanistan, where Canberra has about 1,000 troops, up to 300 of whom are special forces stationed in southern Uruzgan province.

A total of about 70,000 international troops are in Afghanistan and more than 290 foreign soldiers lost their lives in the war-torn country last year.

source : jang.com.pk

Former English captains back Pietersen

LONDON: Three former England captains believe that Kevin Pietersen will win his power battle with coach Peter Moores.

“It’s a bit of a mess but I’ve got a feeling Kevin Pietersen will get his way,” David Gower said. “Hugh Morris has an interesting task on his hands to mediate between the two if he can. If he can’t, then he’s got not much time to start the process of working out who is going to coach England.”

After the Caribbean tour starting later this month, England faces the West Indies again at home and then will focus on trying to regain the Ashes from Australia later in the year.

The team comes off two lost series against South Africa and India and can’t afford instability at the helm.

“He is a fantastic player. He has the chance to be a good captain. He is still learning that trade, as we know, he’s far from being a great captain yet. I think they are going to have to back their captain.” Alec Stewart, captain 15 times between 1992 and 98, said that, even if Pietersen and Moores had disagreements, they should not allow them to become public.

“It is vital that a healthy working relationship between these two is in place even if socially they don’t mix,” the former captain and wicketkeeper told local daily.

“Pietersen is a strong individual who likes to lead from the front and I have no problem with this. Moores must strike a happy medium as to who runs things where and when.”

source : jang.com.pk

Umar Gul’s fine performance in Australian domestic cricket

SYDNEY: Pakistani fast bowler Umar Gul, displaying fine performance in domestic Twenty20 tournament being held in Australia, claimed eight wickets in only three matches.

The 24-year-old fast bowler is representing Western Australia in Australia’s Twenty20 tournament.

He has so far played three matches, claiming eight wickets for 77 runs in 11.2 overs and proved himself the most successful bowler in the event.

In the match held on Sunday, Umar Gul played an important role in his team’s victory by dismissing three Tasmanian players for 21 runs.

Umar Gul showed pavilion’s way to four players of South Australia for just 15 runs in his debut match of Australian domestic career.

Another Pakistani bowler Sohail Tanvir is also playing for South Australia in the event and obtained only two wickets in two matches.

source : jang.com.pk

Sri Lanka in commanding position against Bangladesh

CHITTAGONG: Sri Lanka bowled themselves to a position of strength despite a rearguard rally by Bangladesh tailender Mashrafe Mortaza on the second day of the second and final Test here on Sunday.

Spinners Ajantha Mendis and Muttiah Muralitharan shared seven wickets to bowl out the hosts for 208 in their first innings in reply to Sri Lanka’s strong 384.

It was Mortaza who spared Bangladesh the ignominy of following on, adding 63 for the last wicket with Shahadat Hossain (five not out) after they were reeling at 145-9.

Mortaza hit eight fours and two sixes, one each off Mendis and Muralitharan, in his 89-ball 63. The only other player to offer some resistance was skipper Mohammad Ashraful who made 45 off 100 balls with five fours and a six.

Sri Lankan openers Malinda Warnapura (seven) and Prasanna Jayawardene (six) took their team to 13-0 in their second innings at close for an overall lead of 189.

Mendis, playing only his fourth Test and his first away from home after missing the opening game in Dhaka due to an ankle injury, rattled the home team with his guiles.

He removed Mehrab Hossain (18) and the in-form Shakib Al Hasan for a first-ball duck off successive balls besides taking the wickets of Mushfiqur Rahim (21) and Raqibul Hasan to finish with figures of 4-71.

Mendis, who enjoyed a sensational debut against India last year picking 26 wickets from three Tests, also got able support from Muralitharan (3-62).

The veteran bowler brought to an end a spirited knock by Ashraful, who flayed him for a six and two fours in an over, by having him caught behind.

Earlier Chaminda Vaas dismissed both the openers to deny Bangladesh a strong start in their first innings.

The fast bowler removed Tamim Iqbal for a duck in the opening over and trapped Imrul Kayes leg before for six, Bangladesh slipping to a precarious 26-2.

Mendis picked the third Bangladeshi wicket to fall in the morning when Raqibul Hasan failed to read a straighter one from the bowler and was adjudged leg before.

Bangladesh’s batsmen failed to build on the good work of their bowlers who dismissed the visitors after they had added just 13 runs to their overnight total of 371-6.

Shakib picked three of the four remaining wickets to finish with 4-109.

Sri Lanka lead the two-Test series 1-0 after winning the opening Test in Dhaka by 107 runs.

source : jang.com.pk

Sri Lankan tour to flourish Pakistan’s cricket: Yousuf

SUKKUR: Muhammad Yousuf, Test cricketer Pakistan cricket team, has said that upcoming Sri Lankan cricket team’s tour of Pakistan would be fruitful for Pakistan players, as our boys have not played much international cricket in 2008.

He said that this tour would help flourish international cricket in Pakistan and added that Pakistani cricketers are too much eager to make a strong come back at test level in international scenario.

He was talking to Geo News correspondent Shahid Ali here in Sukkur. He termed Javaid Minadad’s inclusion in Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) “A good move” in perking up the policy of PCB.

source : jang.com.pk

Sri Lanka not using delaying tactics: Saleem Altaf

LAHORE: Chief operating officer of the Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) Saleem Altaf said that Sri Lanka is not using any delaying tactic for sending their cricket team to Pakistan.

He said that the schedule of the Pakistan-Sri Lanka series would be announced in two to four days after which a decision on the tour of Bangladesh would be made.

Talking with media at the Gaddafi Stadium, Saleem Altaf said that nothing is being considered regarding a new captain of the Pakistan cricket team.

He said that after the supplementary budget, a meeting of the governing body of the PCB would be held on January 15 in which decision on the captain would be taken.

Saleem Altaf said that as far as the central contract of the players is concerned coach Intikhab Alam has prepared a draft. After getting this draft approved by chairman PCB Ijaz Butt, names of 25 players would be asked from chairman selection committee Abdul Qadir for awarding them the central contracts
.
The chief operating officer PCB said that Mohammad Asif is suspendid due to Dubai and IPL doping cases and thus he is not allowed to play domestic cricket.

He said that Sri Lanka agreed to play two Tests, three One-day Internationals and a Twenty20 match whereas Bangladesh are also ready to reschedule the tour and there is no truth in the news that Sri Lanka is reluctant to visit Pakistan.

source : jang.com.pk

Pakistan hope Sri Lanka tour will go ahead

KARACHI: Cricket officials in Pakistan said Wednesday they hoped Sri Lanka’s tour would go ahead next month amid doubts following the sacking of the country’s interim cricket board.

Sri Lankan Sports Minister Gamini Lokuge has fired interim board president Arjuna Ranatunga, who agreed to send his team to Pakistan in January after India pulled out of a much-anticipated tour in the wake of the Mumbai attacks.

Media reports have quoted Lokuge as saying that all decisions made by the previous board would be reviewed, raising doubts that the tour of five one-dayers and three Tests would go ahead as planned.

“The change in the set-up is their internal matter and I hope the series will take place,” Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) chief operating officer Salim Altaf told reporters.

“Pakistan is sure to play this series as we badly need to have an international series at home. We are keen on hosting Sri Lanka even though we will not make much money,” he added.

Altaf said he would discuss the situation with Sri Lankan officials at the Asian Cricket Council meeting in Kuala Lumpur on Sunday.

The cancellation of India’s tour was the third major cricket event called off here this year, after Australia refused to tour in March and the ICC postponed the elite eight-nation Champions Trophy set for August until 2009.

source : jang.com.pk

Cricket-Sri Lanka dissolve Ranatunga-led cricket board

COLOMBO, Dec 23 (Reuters) – Sri Lanka’s government-appointed cricket board headed by Arjuna Rantunga was dissolved on Tuesday, Sri Lanka Cricket said.

“Minister of Sports and Public Recreation Gamini Lokuge has dissolved the Sri Lanka Cricket Interim Committee with immediate effect,” a media statement said.

Ranatunga, Sri Lanka’s 1996 World Cup-winning captain, was appointed chairman of Sri Lanka Cricket in January.

Sports ministry secretary S. Liyanagama has been appointed to oversee the day-to-day affairs of the cricket administration until a new management committee is installed.

Lokuge has the option of calling board elections or appointing a fresh government-controlled interim committee.

“We will take a decision within a week,” Lokuge said

England beaten but unbowed as India series comes to a close

On the final day in Chennai, we were treated to an epic; in Mohali, everyone was reduced to out time. A Test that had little remaining purpose other than for Yuvraj Singh to perfect his impressions of Kevin Pietersen’s rib injury meandered gently to a close. Long before the Test ended in stalemate, the only take-off that was entirely welcomed by the England captain would be that night’s charter flight from Chandigarh airport.

India therefore take the two-Test series 1-0, but even allowing for the deep satisfaction that England found the wherewithal to fulfil the Tests in the aftermath of the Mumbai terrorist attacks, it was a deflating finale. India v England deserves a minimum of three Tests, preferably more, and preferably in the right cities. Plans to introduce “icon series” should make this a reality and it needs to be because until England learn how to win in India they will never gain maximum benefits from its economic power.

England’s retreat to Mohali was understandable because they knew that Inder Singh Bindra, the president of the Punjab Cricket Association, could deliver on his promises of high security, but there was always the danger that when it came to the cricket the match would be devalued by short winter days.

Yuvraj was still full of himself after another full-blooded innings, one which caused 5,000 spectators to overlook the fact the match was dead and emerge out of the Punjab fog after another delayed start to the final day. He extended his overnight 39 to 86, from 93 balls, and among his four sixes was a baseball hit, followed by a six over cover, against Stuart Broad that revived memories of his six sixes in an over against the same bowler in the Twenty20 World Cup in South Africa.

Always valued as a one-day player, Yuvraj is no longer just a bit-part actor in Tests. He is the darling of the Indian crowds and the sponsors are already following suit. A fourth Test hundred to add to his three against Pakistan looked his for the taking until a mix-up with Gautam Gambhir caused him to be run out by Ian Bell from short fine leg.

Gambhir missed out on his century, too, three runs short when he carved Graeme Swann to gully where Bell intervened once more, taking a good diving catch. MS Dhoni had fallen second ball for nought, chipping a return catch to Monty Panesar as if his mind was already elsewhere. He was certainly not fine-tuning his declaration, which left England 403 to win in a maximum of 43 overs.

No one quite knew when it would all come to a halt. There was even the suggestion that the umpires were thinking of letting it all run on a little longer to give the crowd some extra entertainment, but England’s top order were not exactly in crowd-pleasing mood. Wickets and Test averages were protected with very English sanity. It all finished with Bell having to stave off an over from MS Dhoni, who handed his pads to VVS Laxman, and had his second perambulation in Test cricket. It is not the sort of thing you enjoy with your Test place hanging by a thread and Bell was relieved enough to grab a single. As the teams shook hands, Yuvraj and Pietersen swopped smiles, a playful push and a gentle jibe.

Even the approach to the PCA Stadium was more relaxed on the final day. Once fearsome Punjab policemen lolled and chatted in the wan but welcome sun and vaguely checked bags as they ran their fingers through lavish moustaches. If a security implement beeped, or didn’t beep, no one seemed much to care anymore. Bananas were not confiscated and even the daily frisking sessions no longer felt like a full body massage. It was nice to feel that cricket had returned to normality even before the players left. A series had been successfully delivered and a perspective had quietly returned.

It is to be hoped that England’s players, beaten but in the Test series far from outplayed, have learned a little from their decision to return, not only about the technical nature of Indian cricket, but of the value to the soul in making a stand.

Mumbai has never been far from anybody’s thoughts in recent weeks — and there is no better time to reflect on those horrors than at Christmas — but from the first one-day international to the last ball in Mohali (give or take a few hours), cricket in India has again been a joy. Understandably, much is made these days of India’s thirst for cricketing power, and its needs to recognise that with this power comes responsibility to the game. But close up the picture is more appealing. The enthusiasm for the game remains all-embracing and national sentiments are still expressed with a sense of fun and mutual regard. May it ever be thus.

India, S Africa in race to dethrone Aussies: Chappell

Perth (PTI): India and South Africa are in the race to dethrone “the ageing and wounded” Australia as the world’s number one cricket team, commentators said on Monday after the Proteas had walloped the Aussies by successfully chasing 414 runs to win the first Test in Perth on Sunday.

The Australian media put Ricky Ponting and his team on the mat by calling some of the key players “over-rated, lacking form or too arrogant for their own good.”

Former Australian skipper Ian Chappell took a look at the credentials of two of Australia’s nearest rivals and said that in the race to unseat the kangaroos “there are differences that favour India over South Africa”.

He went on to say that India has a well-balanced attack that has experienced a good deal of success against Australia, while South Africa’s pace attack has still only displayed the potential to rattle Ponting and Co.

Chappell said another big difference was the captaincy of Mahendra Singh Dhoni.

“Dhoni is a good aggressive captain who challenges the Australians, while Graeme Smith relies on a conservative approach rah-rah speeches.

“South Africa is a very determined team and they field as though their life depends on it but they play a conservative brand of cricket that was never going to beat the Australia of old. This is a lesson India learned a while ago and they are even better equipped for toe-to-toe combat with Australia now that Dhoni has ascended to the Test captaincy,” he said.

Off the field we are friends: Yuvraj

Mohali: Yuvraj Singh reacted sharply to Kevin Pietersen’s “pie-chucker” comment but added he and the England captain were good friends off the field. The aggressive left-hander said such remarks actually strengthened his resolve.

In a rather hilarious press conference, he said, “I knew the first question would be this, that’s why I announced ‘the pie-chucker is coming!’ When I got up in the morning and read the newspapers I asked myself, ‘what does this mean?’

“A few friends told me that it meant a ‘useless kind of bowler’. It shows Pietersen hates getting out to me. Well, a useless bowler getting him out on so many occasions could be because of useless batting!”

Acknowledgement

Then, Yuvraj acknowledged Pietersen’s ability as a batsman. “But that’s all right. He’s phenomenal player and batted like a champion.”

Yuvraj said Pietersen had attempted to get under his skin. “This brought out the best out of me in the second innings in Chennai. I tried the same when he batted here and it brought out the best in him.”

Added Yuvraj, “I don’t seek to make friends on the field. But off it, Pietersen and I get along well.”

He dwelt further on the subject of on-field chat. “Sometimes it fires you up, sometimes it backfires. So I really don’t mind the chat. I look forward to the challenge every time I get on to the ground.”

Yuvraj was not willing to call Pietersen his bunny. “You play so much cricket, you’re bound to get out to someone. But I know he hates my bowling, and I’m happy with that.”

On his coming on to bowl on day two, Yuvraj said, “Obviously, Dhoni told me to come and bowl. Pietersen almost goofed up on the sixth ball. But I think that made him stronger and he got a hundred.”

The punishing left-hander said he was willing to give bowling tips to Pietersen. “I’ll tell him how to bowl in the rough. We’ll have a chat about this when we finish the game.”

Yuvraj spoke about a sense of bonding in the Indian team. “The team is gelling very well, enjoying each other’s success. With Gary Kirsten and Paddy Upton around, the atmosphere in the dressing room is good.

“If we are under pressure, we know we have a bunch of guys who can come up with match-winning knocks or spells. Our bowling has been exceptional. Along with Harbhajan, Zaheer has been the frontline bowler and Ishant is doing well, so we have a great all-round bunch of players.”

The spouthpaw said his match-winning partnership with Sachin Tendulkar in Chennai would forever stay in his memory. “Getting 85 not out on the last day in Chennai was special for me because you don’t chase 387 everyday.

“With Sachin there at the other end, the scene will remain in my memories. A couple of other things, like winning in Australia and the Twenty20 victories are also right up there.”

Ability in Tests

Yuvraj said he never doubted his ability to come good in Tests. “I never had a doubt. I knew the runs will come if I spent some time in the middle. If you work hard on your game, the runs will come.”

On the Indian team’s work ethics, he said, “Everyone has taken responsibility. In tough situations, someone puts his hand up.

“We back each other, we enjoy each other’s performance. There is great unity in the team and we are like a bunch of schoolboys having fun.”

Dhoni’s captaincy

Asked about Dhoni’s captaincy, Yuvraj said, “He’s very cool-headed. He always has a Plan B. I don’t see that in most captains. Like when Pietersen and Freddie (Flintoff) got a few runs together, he slowed down the game.

“The moment we had two wickets, we pounced on the batsmen… He’s always thinking, he’s always asking for suggestions from everyone.”

Stuart Broad said he hugely enjoyed dismissing Rahul Dravid. The paceman said the plan was to bowl a consistent line and length and make it difficult for the Indians to score quickly.

He compared Ian Bell’s run-out of Sehwag with some of dismissals effected by Jonty Rhodes.

Gambhir holds fort, prevents collapse

Mohali: Gautam Gambhir stone-walled even as Yuvraj Singh cut loose. Cricket is a team game that is often played out in partnerships. And India has been finding the right answers in stressful situations this home season.

The 54-run unbeaten association between the two left-handers of contrasting heights — the duo forced the bowlers to bowl different lengths — swelled India’s lead to 285 with six wickets remaining going into the final day.

Outside chance

At stumps on day four of the second and final Test at the PCA Stadium, India was 134 for four in its second innings. England was in with an outside chance after V.V.S. Laxman was run-out and India was down to 80 for four.

Then, Yuvraj (39 batting, 40b, 5×4, 1×6) joined Gambhir. Kevin Pietersen, rightly, kept attacking fields for most part but missed a trick by not employing Andrew Flintoff for a longer period against Yuvraj. Flintoff has troubled Yuvraj with his bounce and movement in this series.

Panesar gets the stick

Monty Panesar had dismissed Yuvraj in the first innings but then a left-arm spinner is hardly the right option against a left-handed batsman in a pressure situation. Yuvraj took a heavy toll off Panesar even as the left-armer struggled with his action. Under the circumstances, Flintoff was under-bowled.

Gambhir’s innings (44 batting, 155b, 3×4) was a lot about character and fight; the Indians have played tough, hard-nosed cricket this year. Ahead 1-0 with just one full day left in the series, India’s ploy was to completely shut the door on England.

When the Indians batted again, the England pacemen hit the right areas. There was a measure of assistance for the pacemen from the surface as well. Wickets had fallen in clutches in this Test and India — despite a 151-run lead — had to ensure against a collapse.

Gambhir’s determined knock has to be seen in this context. He concentrated hard and put a lid on his attacking instincts. The left-hander played close to the body, was sure about his off-stump, and countered movement with front-footed play.

Creating pressure

James Anderson and Stuart Broad created pressure from either end with the new ball. The duo, rightly, employed a fuller length and got the ball to deviate late.

It was, however, a brilliant display of fielding that ended the opening partnership. Racing in from short cover, Ian Bell dived full length to shatter the stumps and catch Virender Sehwag short of the crease.

England continued to strike. Rahul Dravid committed the error of not getting on to his front foot to a good length off-cutter from Broad and Sachin Tendulkar opened the face of the willow to an Anderson delivery well outside the off-stump.

Flintoff steamed in to bowl an unerring stump-to-stump line and Anderson probed the batsmen with two-way movement. There was some encouragement for off-spinner Graeme Swann but the England close-in fielders failed to snaffle half-chances.

Fog delays start

Earlier, fog delayed the start by two hours but the Indians brought the England first innings to a swift conclusion. In a collapse beginning late on Sunday, England slumped from 280 for four to 302 all out.

Harbhajan Singh varied his trajectory and spun the ball in from a shade outside the off-stump for most part. However, he struck with a different kind of delivery — one that pitched on middle and spun to leg. Attempting to work the ball, Matt Prior got a nick.

Then, the left-handed Broad shouldered arms to a Harbhajan delivery angled into him from round-the-wicket. The off-spinner had done well to switch angles to the southpaw.

Impressive record

Harbhajan extracted turn and bounce, bowling in a relaxed frame of mind. His bowling has often come under the scanner in the last few months but Harbhajan — to his credit — has 63 wickets in 13 Tests (including the on-going match) this year.

He is snapping at the heels of South African paceman Dale Steyn who leads with 64 scalps in 12 Tests so far.

Left-arm paceman Zaheer Khan bowled with precision. Zaheer is at the peak of his ability; his run-up, load-up, wrist and seam positions, and the release blend into one synchronised motion from both over and round the wicket.

Zaheer speared one through Swann’s defence; swing does sting.

The paceman is just three short of 200 wickets in Test cricket.

It’s still sinking in – JP

If ever there was vindication for Proteas’ coach Mickey Arthur’s succession planning, it came in the form of the brilliant debut performance by the 24-year-old JP Duminy in the famous first test victory at the WACA on the weekend.

It wasn’t something that happened by coincidence. Duminy revealed on Monday morning, as the impact of his match-winning partnership with his colleague from junior days AB de Villiers,, started to sink in, that being part of the Proteas test squad for a period of time had played an important part in settling his inevitable nerves.

“It’s still sinking in…..such a phenomenal victory. It is something that I will savour for the rest of my life,” he said.

“It is unbelievable to come here for the first time with the test side and pull off a victory in our first test match. I am lost for words to say how I am feeling at the moment. I’ve lived through all those days of getting so close to beating the Aussies and not quite getting there. The World Cup in ‘99 was a bit painful. I think I watched every ball of it (as a 15-year-old). Ending in a run out was particularly disappointing.

“I didn’t want to portray a nervous and uncomfortable feeling out there. I was feeling the pressure but my main objective was to soak up the pressure and take it ball by ball. AB and I spoke a lot together and that also helped and it all paid off in the end. AB and I have been playing with or against each other since the age of 15 and we have good communication together as well as a good friendship. We were determined to enjoy the moment on the field.

“I have travelled with the team for a number of tours now and that helped to get me well prepared. I have seen all the feelings of winning and losing and it was great to be part of a great victory like this and to be part of it at the end.

“Hopefully we can take this momentum into the next test and pull off another win.”

Part of Arthur’s strategy has been to ensure that Duminy would make a comfortable entry into test cricket but that he also understands why he has had to wait patiently for his debut and may have to wait again for his next selection.

“Ashwell is always going to the number one player in that spot,” Duminy said, “so the minute that he becomes available again and is fit to play, he will take my place and I understand that. He has performed well over the last couple of years and he deserves every credit that he gets. I am grateful for the opportunity that I have got. It’s been a good start to my career and hopefully it will not be the last.”

Captain Graeme Smith hailed Duminy’s contribution in his post-match press conference. “He’s travelled with us for a period of time now, he’s watched so many test matches with us over the last year-and-a-half from the sidelines, probably gaining a bit of experience, seeing what it’s all about. He’s played his fair share of one-day games now so he’s had a taste of it.

“As I said to him now in terms of the pressure he faced today, he’s not going to get any worse probably ever in his test career so he played superbly. A guy at this stage of his career, an innings like that can only really do wonders for him as a person.”

West Indies leads New Zealand by 214 runs in second cricket Test

NAPIER, New Zealand — West Indies captain Chris Gayle picked his moment to end a three-year century drought, making an unbeaten 146 and batting through the fourth day of the second cricket Test against New Zealand on Monday to hold off the threat of defeat.

At stumps the West Indies were 278 for seven, leading New Zealand by 214 runs with three wickets in hand and a day remaining, still battling after trailing by 64 runs on the first innings.

Gayle, with his eighth Test century, had become the central figure in a seesawing day’s play during which New Zealand mostly held a slim advantage but on which the West Indies defiantly refused to surrender.

That the match was still alive at stumps was due almost entirely to Gayle who had batted for 428 minutes for his first century in three years and in 46 innings spread over 24 Tests. The tall, powerful opener last passed three figures in a Test when he scored 317 against South Africa at Antigua in mid-2005.

In breaking that drought, Gayle shared partnerships of 58 for the first wicket with Sewnarine Chattergoon and 47 for the third wicket with Xavier Marshall but, most importantly, 124 spanning 55 overs and 200 minutes with Brendan Nash for the fifth wicket.

Nash made 65, his second half century of the match and his second in three innings since his debut in the drawn first Test in Dunedin. With Gayle, the Australian allrounder produced a partnership which straddled all three sessions Monday and which gradually reduced New Zealand’s commanding position, giving the West Indies some hope of saving the match.

Gayle said the West Indies needed another 50 runs to be competitive on the last day.

“If we get past that it’s a bonus,” he said.

His time between hundreds felt like longer, Gayle said.

“It feels like five years ago now. Hopefully it can be a beneficial one for the team.”

When they resumed Monday, the tourists were 62-2, still trailing by two runs after New Zealand had responded with 371 to the West Indies’ first innings of 307. Gayle was 36 not out, having dashed to that total in a brief period before stumps on Sunday, and Xavier Marshall had yet to score.

Gayle continued to bat at a canter in the early stages of the fourth day, rushing to his half century in 88 minutes from 65 balls with four fours and three sixes. His best effort early on was a straight-hit six off Jeetan Patel which cleared the low grandstand at the end of the ground and bounced through the car park.

Having reached his half century, however, Gayle’s gameplan changed. He became more focused on crease occupation than run-scoring and his progress to his century was slow and painstaking.

His second 50 included four more fours and two more sixes but they were rare treats in a diet of singles and he took 124 balls and 165 minutes to work through his second half century. In total, Gayle’s hundred took 253 minutes from 189 balls and he continued in that manner until stumps, adding only 29 runs in two hours of the final session.

But in doing so, he gradually eroded the time remaining to New Zealand to score the winning runs on an increasingly innocuous batting track. The West Indies’ lead of 214 was insubstantial in that context but if Gayle can work with his tailenders to get through the first session Tuesday, New Zealand might not have time to score the winning runs.

There were times Monday when New Zealand seemed well in command and times when the West Indies were almost on terms. Gayle and Marshall saw the tourists to 106 for two in the first session, a lead of 42, and both seemed comfortable but Patel titled the match in New Zealand’s favour by taking two wickets with consecutive balls.

He first removed Marshall for 18 then, crucially, dismissed first innings century-maker Shivnarine Chanderpaul first ball, drawing a false shot from the prolific batsman with a looping full toss. Chanderpaul was so surprised to see Patel’s first offering that he played a half-hearted shot and succeeded only in returning a catch to the bowler.

At 106-4 New Zealand was on top but Gayle and Nash then restored the innings batting from before lunch until after tea to steer the tourists to 230 for five when Nash fell to James Franklin.

Franklin said New Zealand still held the upper hand.

“If we can get the three wickets in the first hour and restrict them to 250-260, on a pretty flat deck we’ll back ourselves to chase it,” he said.

Cautious India maintain advantage

This was a time to boss England, but instead India were forced to scrap. Any thoughts that India had of quickly piling onto to a 151-run lead, taken through Harbhajan Singh’s quick strikes on another foggy morning, evaporated in the afternoon sunshine as England turned in a vigorous spell. In an enthralling session between lunch and tea, a disciplined England seam attack removed Virender Sehwag, Rahul Dravid and Sachin Tendulkar to rattle India, and suddenly the hosts were on the back foot. Sitting on a 1-0 lead going into the final day of the series, they needed a counterpunching innings from Yuvraj Singh to get back into safe territory, ending the day 285 in front with six wickets in hand.

Facing a massive deficit, England needed to do something out of the ordinary to curb India’s pre-lunch intent. Step forward Ian Bell. Sehwag drove the ball back to Stuart Broad, who took some pace off the shot even as Sehwag hurried out of the blocks. The ball rolled towards Bell at short cover, who gathered it and raced Sehwag to the other end. Then, with the ball in hand, Bell dived forward to bulldoze the stumps and Sehwag didn’t even stop to check what the umpires had to say. Sehwag has been run out only twice in Tests, and both times Gautam Gambhir has been a partner.

The ball did a bit in the afternoon as James Anderson and Broad bowled a fuller length in this innings and zeroed in on a precise line. After a courageous hundred in the first innings, Dravid was put under pressure by 18 scoreless deliveries from Anderson before the 19th, from Broad, stayed low and knocked back the middle stump.

Twenty-two scoreless deliveries followed, with Andrew Flintoff coming into the attack and also adhering to a strict line. There was some swing for Anderson and Broad, and also movement off the pitch, and they hustled the batsmen into some loose shots. Broad plugged away at one end and was unfortunate to see Tendulkar escape with two faint inside-edges onto pad.

After an impressive nine-over spell, Broad was replaced by Anderson and the change of ends worked like a charm. Within three deliveries of a superb over, England were in the ascendancy as Tendulkar, beaten the ball before, steered one straight to gully. At 44 for 3 India were sweating, even though with the lead they were effectively 195 for 3.

Anderson, especially, got the ball to move in both directions, which made it difficult for the batsmen to pick up the swing. His second spell, which read 7-5-7-1, was built on a simple formula: pitch it full – there were only two short balls – and move the ball just enough to unsettle the batsmen. In the 19.1 overs since Sehwag had departed, India scored just 26 runs in what was England’s most promising passage of the Test.

Kevin Pietersen began the final session with a defensive field, with four men manning the boundary despite India’s slow approach. VVS Laxman got off a pair but kept poking outside off stump to Anderson, once edging wide of second slip and then being rapped on the pads. Anderson mixed it up to Laxman, managing good reverse-swing off a tidy line, but it was a run-out that ended Laxman’s struggle after a 49-ball 15.

With an overall lead of 241 India were still ahead, but the manner in which they batted didn’t suggest it. England were the dominant side and India had been forced to consolidate.

But like the man he replaced in this team had in a similar collapse at The Oval in 2007, Yuvraj produced a Sourav Ganguly-esque innings to get India out of a jam. While Gambhir retracted further into a shell, Yuvraj cracked Panesar for two fours in his first three deliveries. Drives flowed past cover and mid-on, and as the shadows lengthened in Mohali, Yuvraj emphatically swung Panesar with the turn for six to the cheers of the home crowd. Yuvraj’s brisk knock, in stark contrast to Gambhir’s 155-ball effort, helped India progress to 134 for 4.

India had started the fourth morning encouragingly, after heavy fog delayed play by two hours, by nipping out the last four wickets in 10.3 overs. England resumed their first innings on 282 for 6, trailing by 171 runs, and proceeded to collapse after India decided to not take the new ball.

Harbhajan struck with the first ball of the third over as Matt Prior tickled an offspinner down the leg side, a doosra turned out to be too much for Broad to fathom, Zaheer Khan only had to pitch one delivery on the stumps to bowl Graeme Swann, and Panesar prodded to Gambhir. England had lost six wickets for 20 runs either side of the close of play, giving India a handy lead.

But instead of looking to declare before stumps, India found themselves struggling to hold on.

Pak-India series necessary for Asian spectators: Aamir Sohail

LAHORE: Former Test cricketer and that Director National Cricket Academy (DNCA) Aamir Sohail urged the upcoming cricket series between Indian and Pakistan should be held for the betterment of the Asian cricket while adding that the possibilities for the series could not be ruled out.

This he said while talking to media in Lahore. Former player said that the cricket series between India and Pakistan always catches attention of cricket lovers here in Asia maintaining that good cricketing relations between both neighboring countries help promote cricket in Asia.

He regretted that lack of international cricket in Pakistan, in the year 2008, has contributed a great deal in causing harm to Pakistan cricket.

source : jang.com.pk

Cricket: Kiwis face final-day Windies threat

New Zealand have some work to do in the first three hours today to make sure there is no late bite from the West Indies when the opening test winds up at University Oval.

The hosts will start the day at 44 for two, an overall lead of 69, but keen to shut the door on any West Indian charge with the still-shiny new ball this morning.

And had Tim McIntosh not been dropped off the penultimate ball of yesterday – by Sewnarine Chattergoon under the helmet, after a couple of juggles – the West Indies’ tails would have been right up today.

As it was, yesterday belonged to the tourists as fast-medium bowler Jerome Taylor hit a remarkable maiden test century, after a previous highest first-class score of 41.

He shared a record seventh-wicket stand against New Zealand with limpet-like Shiv Chanderpaul of 153, beating the old mark of 143 by Denis Atkinson and John Goddard at Christchurch in 1956 to rebuff a real possibility of New Zealand taking a decent grip on the test.

Chris Gayle’s thunderous strokes lit up the morning before he self-destructed, losing control of a hook at 74. But New Zealand chipped their way through the West Indies batting to have them 173 for six.

However, the New Zealand bowlers then dropped the ball, failing to stick to the guidelines of patience and persistence which had served them well.

Taylor benefited from loose bowling from the fast-medium operators, clumping three sixes and charging along at run-a-ball rate.

Chanderpaul showed why he has been the West Indies’ rock for the last decade, only occasionally breaking loose. He whipped three fours off a James Franklin over, the third taking him beyond Garry Sobers as the West Indies’ third-highest test runmaker behind only Brian Lara and Viv Richards.

But it was Taylor, the 24-year-old Jamaican spearhead of the pace attack, who caught the eye.

The pair reached their 50 in consecutive overs either side of tea. Then Taylor burst away to such an extent he brought up his century while Chanderpaul was still in the 60s.

His joy was unconfined and he lured his entire team out of their warm dressing room to celebrate, which was some feat. He faced 107 balls and hit 17 fours and three sixes before becoming Daniel Vettori’s third victim.

Daren Powell went next ball, Fidel Edwards followed to a fine diving catch by substitute Sean Eathorne at long off before Chanderpaul was bowled round his legs for 76.

Vettori’s excellent six for 56 was his 18th bag of five or more in a test innings, and he reached his 50th test wicket for the year. He lies fourth equal, behind South African Dale Steyn, Indian Harbhajan Singh and Australia’s Brett Lee, level with another Aussie, Mitchell Johnson.

But Vettori felt the bowlers had let slip a strong position.

“I was disappointed with the way we bowled at times. Once we’d got six wickets it seemed we were in a rush to get the next four as opposed to doing the patient things that led up to that,” he said.

Jamie How and nightwatchman Kyle Mills fell to consecutive fine in-cutting deliveries from Powell to leave an edge to the early part of today.

Taylor century helps Windies extinguish NZ’s win hopes

DUNEDIN: Defiant West Indies tail-ender Jerome Taylor scored a maiden century on the fourth day of a rain-shortened first Test here Sunday to virtually extinguish New Zealand’s slim hopes of victory.

The West Indies finished with 340 in reply to New Zealand’s 365 and the home side were 44 for two in their second innings at the close after Daren Powell took two late wickets with consecutive balls.

Taylor finished with a quickfire 106 in a 173-run partnership with Shivnarine Chanderpaul before being dismissed by New Zealand skipper Daniel Vettori, who destroyed the rest of the tail to end with six for 56.

Scoring at a run a ball, Taylor hit the bowlers all over University Oval to belie his previous highest Test score of 31 and an average of 13.66 from 33 innings.

The opening bowler hit 17 fours and three sixes in his innings before edging left arm spinner Vettori to wicketkeeper Brendon McCullum.

“I’m the sort of player who likes to express myself in the middle regardless of the situation. I don’t think one should try to change their natural game,” Taylor said later.

“Batting with Shivnarine Chanderpaul also gave me a lot of confidence to really go out and express myself.”

The New Zealand captain had praise for the aggression of his side’s tormentor.

“It was a fantastic innings. He was positive and tried to do all the things a batsman should,” Vettori said.

After finally getting Taylor’s scalp Vettori trapped Powell with his next ball and in his next over substitute fielder Sean Eathorne took a brilliant diving catch at long off to give the skipper his fifth wicket.

Chanderpaul was Vettori’s last victim, bowled for a patient 76 from 198 balls after playing the anchor role.

Pace bowler Kyle Mills, only brought into the side at the last moment to replace injured all-rounder Jacob Oram, did most of the damage to the top order, finishing with three for 64.

New Zealand fancied their chances of a big first innings lead before Chanderpaul and Taylor came together when the West Indies were looking fragile at 173 for six.

Their partnership swung the momentum back the West Indies’ way, although there is only the slimmest chance of a result Monday after the loss of the second day and Saturday’s first session because of rain.

Captain Chris Gayle did the early damage for the West Indies, appearing on track for his first Test century since 2005 before falling on 74 after attempting a rash pull shot off pace bowler Iain O’Brien.

The ball skied to fine leg, where James Franklin made a straightforward catch to end Gayle’s dashing 103-ball innings, which included 11 fours and one six.

The experimental video referral system was a centre of attention again, with third umpire Rudi Koertzen overturning Amiesh Saheba’s decision to turn down an appeal against Xavier Marshall for a bat-pad catch off Vettori’s bowling.

The two-match series is being used for only the second time in Tests to trial the experimental rule where both sides can request a video review of umpires’ decisions.

The first challenge by a batsman in the Test came from Denesh Ramdin, who asked for a review after being given out lbw to Vettori for five. Replays suggested the ball was close to missing leg stump but the dismissal was upheld.

Bowlers put England on top

In reply to England’s 316, India finished the second day of the Chennai Test with 155 runs on the board at the loss of six wickets at the MA Chidambaram Stadium. Indian skipper MS Dhoni (24*) and Harbhajan Singh (13*) will resume batting on Saturday.

England pacer James Anderson drew first blood when he removed Indian opener Virender Sehwag for just 9 runs. A short of length delivery from Anderson, came in after pitching on the off. Sehwag, who scored 319 runs on this ground earlier this year, tried to cut it towards third man but the ball crashed into the stumps after taking an inside edge of his bat. He added 16 runs for the first wicket with Gautam Gambhir.

Debutant spinner Graeme Swann gave an impressive start to his Test career as he dismissed Gambhir as the second Indian batsman for 19 runs. The left-hander took a long stride to pad away a delivery that came in and umpire Daryl Harper raised his finger. Gambhir’s departure brought Sachin Tendulkar in the middle. Two balls later, Dravid too was deceived by Swann’s line and got beaten by the turn.

After losing three quick wickets, Tendulkar and Laxman combined to take their side out of trouble. Laxman joined Tendulkar and the duo added 61 runs for the fourth wicket before Monty Panesar took a return catch to see the former back in the hut for 24 runs.

Tendulkar, who became the second Indian cricketer to complete 2000 Test runs against England when he hit sixth run of his innings, made 37 runs before Flintoff struck to dismiss him. The Indian maestro played a casual drive in the air that the bowler caught in his follow-through.

Fall of two biggies – VVS Laxman and Sachin Tendulkar – in successive overs saw India’s last recognized batting pair of MS Dhoni and Yuvraj Singh in the middle. Yuvraj, who made his comeback in the Test side after seven months following Sourav Ganguly’s retirement and his performance in the recently concluded ODI series, could not do much with bat and perished to Steve Harmison for 14 runs. A Harmison-delivery after pitching on middle stump, swung towards the off-side and Yuvraj gently nudged it to Flintoff at second slip.

Earlier, England made 316 runs in their first innings with the help of Andrew Strauss’s 123, Alastair Cook’s 52 and a fighting fifty from Matt Prior at the Chidambaram Stadium. Prior remained unbeaten on 53 as, Indian pacer Ishant Sharma trapped Panesar in front of the wicket for 6 runs as the last English man.

England’s Flintoff and Anderson resumed batting on Friday with their overnight score of 229/5. Freddie could add nothing to the score and fell prey to Indian leg-spinner Amit Mishra for 18 runs. After starting the day with the pacers, Indian skipper MS Dhoni went for the bowling change and brought in Mishra. Flintoff came onto the front foot to play a defensive shot but the ball took inside edge of the bat, hit his pads and went to Gambhir standing at forward short leg.

Mishra struck again to claim Anderson as his second wicket of the day (third of the match). A flighted delivery lured the England night watchman to go for the shot and Yuvraj Singh, who turned 27 on Friday, caught him at mid-on for 19 runs.

Harbhajan Singh, who picked two wickets on Thursday, got his third in Graeme Swann, who could not handle the bounce that the off-spinner generated from the deteriorating track and edged it to Rahul Dravid at first slip.

Losing three wickets in the first session, England looked to collapse under 300 but for wicketkeeper batsman Prior, who struck a much-needed fifty to take his team’s score past that mark. Prior, who came to the crease after Flintoff’s dismissal, had a 42-run partnership with James Anderson for the seventh wicket and added 27 runs with Harmison for the ninth wicket. Harmison was dismissed by birthday boy Yuvraj who treated himself with his wicket. Soon after his dismissal, Prior got his fifth Test fifty which was his first against India

Second day of NZ v West Indies Test washed out

DUNEDIN: The second day of the first Test between New Zealand and the West Indies was abandoned here Friday due to persistent rain.

New Zealand were 226 for four overnight after winning the toss and deciding to bat.

Miandad announces new proposed structure of domestic cricket

KARACHI: Director-general Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) Javed Miandad has announced a new proposed structure of domestic cricket.

Javed Miandad said that he would make efforts to get the domestic cricket more and more attractive.

Talking with media in Karachi, he said that now the domestic cricket would not be run on regions but on the basis of eight associations and 11 departments.

The new proposed associations include North Punjab, South Punjab, Lahore, Federal Areas, NWFP, Balochistan, Karachi and Sindh cricket association while in the Quaid-e-Azam Trophy, the matches between regional and departmental teams would be held simultaneously.

Javed Miandad said that this system would be implemented from next year but some minor changes are likely to be made.

He said that the players were not given monetary help in the past due to which not only cricket but every game saw debacle.

Indo-Pak tension could affect cricket series: Gavaskar

NEW DELHI: Former India skipper Sunil Gavaskar told media that India’s tour of Pakistan scheduled for next moth looks “impossible” in the present scenario.

“I think under the present circumstance, when at the highest political and diplomatic level there has been a fallout because of what has happened, I think cricket would not be an exception.

“Cricket would be affected by all that unless the signals come from the highest political level. I don’t see why cricket won’t follow the suit and so at the moment it is impossible to go ahead with the tour,” said Gavaskar.

Gavaskar also said that the much talked about security has taken focus away from the game so far but it won’t be a distraction for the players from either side.

“I think what has happened in last few days, security has taken precedence over cricket. Cricketers being professionals would focus on the next ball. They have got to undergo these things because it is for betterment of everybody. So I don’t think that’s going to be much of distraction for them,” opined Gavaskar.

NZ win toss, bat first against West Indies in first Test

DUNEDIN: New Zealand captain Daniel Vettori won the toss and decided to bat first here Thursday against the West Indies in the first of a two Test series.

New Zealand received a blow with the withdrawal of injury-prone star all-rounder Jacob Oram who is suffering from a calf strain. Oram had been due to return from an injury break which saw him miss the 2-0 series loss to Australia last month.

His place in the squad for the first home Test of the new season was taken by pace bowler Kyle Mills.

New Zealand has dropped its main strike bowler Chris Martin for the match, after he appeared to be short of full fitness in the Australian series. He was replaced by the relatively inexperienced Mark Gillespie.

The West Indies picked Australian-born batsman Brendan Nash for his debut for his adopted country.

The 30-year-old played seven seasons for Queensland, before moving to Jamaica last year, hopeful of emulating his father who represented the island in swimming at the Olympics and Commonwealth Games.