Latest ads
-
Pure VPN - Up to 27 Months- vgp
- Updated:
-
Gemini AI PRO 18 months Offer- Hawaka
- Updated:
-
koko account
- DasunEranga
- Updated:
..::CRICKET::..
- Thread starter chandikagunawardhana
- Start date
Farhat decides to quit ICL
Imran Farhat, the Pakistan batsman, has become the latest international cricketer to quit the unofficial ICL. Farhat has said he would apply for a No-Objection Certificate from the ICL and then concentrate on making a comeback to the national team.
"I want to play cricket and I love to play for my country," Farhat, 27, said. He has played 27 Tests and 33 ODIs for Pakistan, and last represented the country in January 2007.
He regretted joining the ICL, and said he was desperate to play more cricket than the league was organising. "Joining the ICL was a mistake which was realised later on," he said. "But it was realised when I found that playing for the ICL meant one would play just one tournament in a year, which is not enough to sate the hunger for cricket."
It's not an easy route back to the national team, even after he gets PCB clearance, as Pakistan have several contenders vying for the opening slots. "My performance in the last domestic season was satisfactory and I will do my best to get a place in the national team as soon as possible," he said. Farhat made a century in one of his two games in the Quaid-e-Azam last season.
Several Pakistan players who quit the ICL - including Mohammad Yousuf, Imran Nazir, Naved-ul-Hasan and Abdul Razzaq - are now back with the national team.
Imran Farhat, the Pakistan batsman, has become the latest international cricketer to quit the unofficial ICL. Farhat has said he would apply for a No-Objection Certificate from the ICL and then concentrate on making a comeback to the national team.
"I want to play cricket and I love to play for my country," Farhat, 27, said. He has played 27 Tests and 33 ODIs for Pakistan, and last represented the country in January 2007.
He regretted joining the ICL, and said he was desperate to play more cricket than the league was organising. "Joining the ICL was a mistake which was realised later on," he said. "But it was realised when I found that playing for the ICL meant one would play just one tournament in a year, which is not enough to sate the hunger for cricket."
It's not an easy route back to the national team, even after he gets PCB clearance, as Pakistan have several contenders vying for the opening slots. "My performance in the last domestic season was satisfactory and I will do my best to get a place in the national team as soon as possible," he said. Farhat made a century in one of his two games in the Quaid-e-Azam last season.
Several Pakistan players who quit the ICL - including Mohammad Yousuf, Imran Nazir, Naved-ul-Hasan and Abdul Razzaq - are now back with the national team.
Test hondata karanakota ODI and T20 chaater wela.....
Ape ayata 2ma eka paara ba wage........
We played mature cricket to win - Afridi
Shahid Afridi, Pakistan's captain for the one-off Twenty20, believes his team played 'mature cricket' to beat Sri Lanka and end their six-week tour on a winning note. Afridi, leading his country for the first time, got Pakistan to rally around him magnificently in carving out a win which went to prove that Pakistan's victory in the ICC World Twenty20 final against Sri Lanka was no fluke.
As in the Lord's final it was Afridi's all-round brilliance that tilted the scales in favour of Pakistan. He scored a well-paced half-century off 37 balls, took a vital wicket and also affected a run out to grab the Man-of-the-Match award on his debut as captain. "As captain I am really happy to have won. The guys really played mature cricket. What I told them was we are the champions and we should play like a champion team and the guys gave me a good response," said Afridi. "We really struggled in the Test series and we didn't play too well in the ODIs. This is a good victory for us. It will keep the guys morale high in the future."
About his game Afridi said: "I love to play my natural game but the situation was not right, we lost an early wicket but I thought if I stayed long the players will rally around me and I can have the scoreboard running."
Afridi spoke about giving youngsters a chance at the expense of seniors who are not performing to expectation. "If the seniors are not performing we should give them a rest and give opportunities to the youngsters to show their talent. This was an opportunity to give the younger guys and they have lived up to it."
Sri Lanka captain Kumar Sangakkara said that Pakistan outplayed them and that a loss always hurt. "They batted much better than we did and bowled disciplined lines and lengths. At the end of the day you can analyse our game to bits but Pakistan played just better than us.
"It was a chaseable target and we didn't do well to get there. We've got to accept that responsibility and say that it was a match we should have won but we weren't good enough. At 100 for 3 with seven overs to go it was a very gettable total but we fell away and lost too many wickets too quickly. Partnerships are key in any form of the game and we didn't have too many of them either."
Sangakkara said the turning point of the match was the way Afridi batted. "We made early inroads but that little captain's innings of his really took the game away from us. That's the way he bats he comes up the order and enjoys that responsibility in Twenty20 cricket. We were ready for that but he just batted us out of the game."
Shahid Afridi, Pakistan's captain for the one-off Twenty20, believes his team played 'mature cricket' to beat Sri Lanka and end their six-week tour on a winning note. Afridi, leading his country for the first time, got Pakistan to rally around him magnificently in carving out a win which went to prove that Pakistan's victory in the ICC World Twenty20 final against Sri Lanka was no fluke.
As in the Lord's final it was Afridi's all-round brilliance that tilted the scales in favour of Pakistan. He scored a well-paced half-century off 37 balls, took a vital wicket and also affected a run out to grab the Man-of-the-Match award on his debut as captain. "As captain I am really happy to have won. The guys really played mature cricket. What I told them was we are the champions and we should play like a champion team and the guys gave me a good response," said Afridi. "We really struggled in the Test series and we didn't play too well in the ODIs. This is a good victory for us. It will keep the guys morale high in the future."
About his game Afridi said: "I love to play my natural game but the situation was not right, we lost an early wicket but I thought if I stayed long the players will rally around me and I can have the scoreboard running."
Afridi spoke about giving youngsters a chance at the expense of seniors who are not performing to expectation. "If the seniors are not performing we should give them a rest and give opportunities to the youngsters to show their talent. This was an opportunity to give the younger guys and they have lived up to it."
Sri Lanka captain Kumar Sangakkara said that Pakistan outplayed them and that a loss always hurt. "They batted much better than we did and bowled disciplined lines and lengths. At the end of the day you can analyse our game to bits but Pakistan played just better than us.
"It was a chaseable target and we didn't do well to get there. We've got to accept that responsibility and say that it was a match we should have won but we weren't good enough. At 100 for 3 with seven overs to go it was a very gettable total but we fell away and lost too many wickets too quickly. Partnerships are key in any form of the game and we didn't have too many of them either."
Sangakkara said the turning point of the match was the way Afridi batted. "We made early inroads but that little captain's innings of his really took the game away from us. That's the way he bats he comes up the order and enjoys that responsibility in Twenty20 cricket. We were ready for that but he just batted us out of the game."
Younis not about to resign
Younis Khan has taken responsibility for Pakistan's Test and ODI series defeats in Sri Lanka but has refused to resign from the captaincy. He had come under widespread criticism from the domestic media and former players, who also demanded major changes in the Pakistan Cricket Board's setup and asked the senior team management to take responsibility for the defeats. Younis has instead hit back at those who suggested he should step down.
"I accept the responsibility of defeat, but will not apologise to anyone nor will I resign as captain because it's part of the game to lose and win," Younis was quoted as saying by the Pakistan daily Jang. "I am trying my level best to lead the team and achieve the best results but some people want me to relinquish the captaincy, which I won't. Am I not a good captain or do I lack leadership qualities?"
Pakistan lost the three-Test series 0-2 and surrendered the ODI series with their third consecutive loss in the five-match series before saving face with wins in the last two ODIs. Younis singled out those two wins as proof that Pakistan could do well in Sri Lanka. "We won the last two one-day matches by huge margins, and it proved that the team had the capacity and the talent to win the Tests and one-day matches," he said. "But due to the batsmen's inconsistency, we failed to finish properly."
Younis, who returned to Pakistan after the ODI series, had earlier blamed a weak domestic setup as the reason for below-par performances in Sri Lanka. Reiterating that 'groupism' within the team had nothing to do with the team's poor showing on tour, Younis defended Pakistan's unity. "There were no differences in the team. In fact I can say that the team was never as united as it was during the Sri Lanka tour," he said.
Responding to accusations of match-fixing, Younis said: "Baseless allegations are affecting the team's performances. No one should doubt my integrity. I can never resort to any wrongdoing."
Younis Khan has taken responsibility for Pakistan's Test and ODI series defeats in Sri Lanka but has refused to resign from the captaincy. He had come under widespread criticism from the domestic media and former players, who also demanded major changes in the Pakistan Cricket Board's setup and asked the senior team management to take responsibility for the defeats. Younis has instead hit back at those who suggested he should step down.
"I accept the responsibility of defeat, but will not apologise to anyone nor will I resign as captain because it's part of the game to lose and win," Younis was quoted as saying by the Pakistan daily Jang. "I am trying my level best to lead the team and achieve the best results but some people want me to relinquish the captaincy, which I won't. Am I not a good captain or do I lack leadership qualities?"
Pakistan lost the three-Test series 0-2 and surrendered the ODI series with their third consecutive loss in the five-match series before saving face with wins in the last two ODIs. Younis singled out those two wins as proof that Pakistan could do well in Sri Lanka. "We won the last two one-day matches by huge margins, and it proved that the team had the capacity and the talent to win the Tests and one-day matches," he said. "But due to the batsmen's inconsistency, we failed to finish properly."
Younis, who returned to Pakistan after the ODI series, had earlier blamed a weak domestic setup as the reason for below-par performances in Sri Lanka. Reiterating that 'groupism' within the team had nothing to do with the team's poor showing on tour, Younis defended Pakistan's unity. "There were no differences in the team. In fact I can say that the team was never as united as it was during the Sri Lanka tour," he said.
Responding to accusations of match-fixing, Younis said: "Baseless allegations are affecting the team's performances. No one should doubt my integrity. I can never resort to any wrongdoing."
Bangladesh aim to wrap up series
Bangladesh will be looking to follow up their comprehensive rout of Zimbabwe in the first two ODIs at the Queens Sports Club by sealing the five-match series tomorrow. Bangladesh's batting line-up, led by the enthusiastic Shakib Al Hasan and former captain Mohammad Ashraful, has brought extended relief to the side in limited-overs cricket with bigger challenges ahead. And therein lies the key to Bangladesh's success - how well they have batted in recent times.
Bangladesh find themselves from winning their third ODI series in a row. A win at Bulawayo will be their eighth in a row, which will be one short of their record best in ODIs. The visitors find themselves on top at home again, under an energetic captain. This ODI team has continued the good work shown in West Indies, with the younger players stepping up admirably. It will take something special to stop Bangladesh going up 3-0 on what is expected to be another slow track.
Zimbabwe's efforts in both matches have been distinctly underwhelming. In the first they gave the spinners too much respect and were let down by their limited pace attack and in the second dropped too many catches (two were absolute dollies) and erred in sending Elton Chigumbura, a noted hitter of the ball, at No. 9. Such creases must be smoothed out immediately. Zimbabwe can take some solace from the fact that, chasing 321, they managed to post 271 despite four key batsmen - Mark Vermeulen, Hamilton Masakadza, Chamu Chibabha and Brendan Taylor - failing. Yet the tempo of their batting approach in both innings on slow pitches was all wrong and with the third match to be held at the same venue, Zimbabwe must quickly adapt to the conditions if they want to avoid an irreparable 3-0 deficit.
Bangladesh will be looking to follow up their comprehensive rout of Zimbabwe in the first two ODIs at the Queens Sports Club by sealing the five-match series tomorrow. Bangladesh's batting line-up, led by the enthusiastic Shakib Al Hasan and former captain Mohammad Ashraful, has brought extended relief to the side in limited-overs cricket with bigger challenges ahead. And therein lies the key to Bangladesh's success - how well they have batted in recent times.
Bangladesh find themselves from winning their third ODI series in a row. A win at Bulawayo will be their eighth in a row, which will be one short of their record best in ODIs. The visitors find themselves on top at home again, under an energetic captain. This ODI team has continued the good work shown in West Indies, with the younger players stepping up admirably. It will take something special to stop Bangladesh going up 3-0 on what is expected to be another slow track.
Zimbabwe's efforts in both matches have been distinctly underwhelming. In the first they gave the spinners too much respect and were let down by their limited pace attack and in the second dropped too many catches (two were absolute dollies) and erred in sending Elton Chigumbura, a noted hitter of the ball, at No. 9. Such creases must be smoothed out immediately. Zimbabwe can take some solace from the fact that, chasing 321, they managed to post 271 despite four key batsmen - Mark Vermeulen, Hamilton Masakadza, Chamu Chibabha and Brendan Taylor - failing. Yet the tempo of their batting approach in both innings on slow pitches was all wrong and with the third match to be held at the same venue, Zimbabwe must quickly adapt to the conditions if they want to avoid an irreparable 3-0 deficit.
Ajmal fined for Sangakkara send-off
Saeed Ajmal, the Pakistan offspinner, has been fined 15% of his match fee for giving Kumar Sangakkara a send-off after dismissing him in Wednesday's Twenty20 match. Ajmal was found guilty of breaching the ICC Code of Conduct following a hearing in Colombo after the game.
Ajmal was charged under Level 1.6 of the code, which refers to "pointing or gesturing towards the pavilion in an aggressive manner by a bowler or other members of the fielding side upon the dismissal of a batsman."
The incident took place in the 14th over of the Sri Lanka innings; the match was evenly balanced at the time, with Sangakkara guiding Sri Lanka at 100 for 3, needing 73 more off 42 balls. Ajmal got the match-turning breakthrough by bowling Sangakkara, and then pointed to the pavilion and spoke aggressively to the Sri Lankan captain.
The on-field umpires Asoka de Silva and Tyron Wijewardene immediately had a word with Ajmal and then reported the incident to the match referee Alan Hurst, who slapped Ajmal with a fine.
"In coming to my decision I took into account the fact the player immediately recognised his error of judgment and apologised to both umpires," Hurst said. "He also did so to Kumar Sangakkara after the game. The player had no previous instances of this type of behaviour but it was pointed out to him during the hearing that his actions were a clear breach of the ICC Code of Conduct."
Pakistan team manager Yawar Saeed, captain Shahid Afridi and coach Intikhab Alam were also present at the hearing along with Ajmal and the match officials.
Saeed Ajmal, the Pakistan offspinner, has been fined 15% of his match fee for giving Kumar Sangakkara a send-off after dismissing him in Wednesday's Twenty20 match. Ajmal was found guilty of breaching the ICC Code of Conduct following a hearing in Colombo after the game.
Ajmal was charged under Level 1.6 of the code, which refers to "pointing or gesturing towards the pavilion in an aggressive manner by a bowler or other members of the fielding side upon the dismissal of a batsman."
The incident took place in the 14th over of the Sri Lanka innings; the match was evenly balanced at the time, with Sangakkara guiding Sri Lanka at 100 for 3, needing 73 more off 42 balls. Ajmal got the match-turning breakthrough by bowling Sangakkara, and then pointed to the pavilion and spoke aggressively to the Sri Lankan captain.
The on-field umpires Asoka de Silva and Tyron Wijewardene immediately had a word with Ajmal and then reported the incident to the match referee Alan Hurst, who slapped Ajmal with a fine.
"In coming to my decision I took into account the fact the player immediately recognised his error of judgment and apologised to both umpires," Hurst said. "He also did so to Kumar Sangakkara after the game. The player had no previous instances of this type of behaviour but it was pointed out to him during the hearing that his actions were a clear breach of the ICC Code of Conduct."
Pakistan team manager Yawar Saeed, captain Shahid Afridi and coach Intikhab Alam were also present at the hearing along with Ajmal and the match officials.
New Zealanders 297
SLC Dev XI 324/9 (84.0 overs)
Sri Lanka Cricket Development XI lead by 27 runs with 1 wicket remaining in the 1st innings
Stumps - Day 2
SLC Dev XI 324/9 (84.0 overs)
Sri Lanka Cricket Development XI lead by 27 runs with 1 wicket remaining in the 1st innings
Stumps - Day 2
Uncapped keeper Hartley covers for Haddin, Manou
Australia have drafted in Chris Hartley, an uncapped wicketkeeper, for tomorrow's two-day match against England Lions at Canterbury to provide cover for Brad Haddin and Graham Manou.
Haddin fractured his ring finger half-an-hour before the start of the third Test at Edgbaston and England gave Australia permission for Manou to make his debut in his place. But Manou has aggravated a hand injury that he sustained while batting at Edgbaston, and neither player will be risked for the Australians' final warm-up ahead of the fifth and final Ashes Test.
Hartley, 27, who plays for Queensland, arrived at Canterbury last night having played for Chorley Cricket Club in the Northern League near Manchester this season.
"Brad Haddin is recovering from a fractured finger sustained prior to the third Test in Edgbaston. To maximise his recovery, he will not play the game against the English Lions at Canterbury," said the Australia physio, Alex Kountouris.
"Graham Manou sustained a right-hand injury during the third Test in Edgbaston. He was making good progress and unfortunately re-aggravated the injury two days ago. As such he will not play against the Lions to maximise his recovery and have him in the best possible condition for the fifth Ashes Test."
Australia have drafted in Chris Hartley, an uncapped wicketkeeper, for tomorrow's two-day match against England Lions at Canterbury to provide cover for Brad Haddin and Graham Manou.
Haddin fractured his ring finger half-an-hour before the start of the third Test at Edgbaston and England gave Australia permission for Manou to make his debut in his place. But Manou has aggravated a hand injury that he sustained while batting at Edgbaston, and neither player will be risked for the Australians' final warm-up ahead of the fifth and final Ashes Test.
Hartley, 27, who plays for Queensland, arrived at Canterbury last night having played for Chorley Cricket Club in the Northern League near Manchester this season.
"Brad Haddin is recovering from a fractured finger sustained prior to the third Test in Edgbaston. To maximise his recovery, he will not play the game against the English Lions at Canterbury," said the Australia physio, Alex Kountouris.
"Graham Manou sustained a right-hand injury during the third Test in Edgbaston. He was making good progress and unfortunately re-aggravated the injury two days ago. As such he will not play against the Lions to maximise his recovery and have him in the best possible condition for the fifth Ashes Test."
Tourists get batting practice in drawn game
New Zealand's batsmen managed to get their eye in on the final day of the tour game, which ended in a draw as expected. All of them barring Craig Cumming got starts though only Ross Taylor - who impressed yet again, after making 75 in the first innings - scored a half-century.
SLC Development XI resumed on 324 for 9 and lasted just 15 deliveries. Their bowlers then made consistent inroads into the tourists' innings, preventing any major partnership from taking root; the 58-run stand for the fourth wicket between Taylor and Tim McIntosh was the highest. McIntosh, the opener, scored a sedate 43 to make up for his duck in the first innings while the others got their runs at a fair clip, earning a good percentage of their runs in boundaries. Seekkuge Prasanna, the legspinner, took 2 for 52 to finish with five in the match, and was supported by offspinner Suraj Randiv, who also captured a brace.
After being bowled out for 297, and relying a lot on the lower order to get them there, New Zealand put in a better display with the bat this time. But their inexperience against Muttiah Muralitharan, Ajantha Mendis and Rangana Herath could present them a serious challenge in the first Test in Galle, which begins on August 18.
New Zealand's batsmen managed to get their eye in on the final day of the tour game, which ended in a draw as expected. All of them barring Craig Cumming got starts though only Ross Taylor - who impressed yet again, after making 75 in the first innings - scored a half-century.
SLC Development XI resumed on 324 for 9 and lasted just 15 deliveries. Their bowlers then made consistent inroads into the tourists' innings, preventing any major partnership from taking root; the 58-run stand for the fourth wicket between Taylor and Tim McIntosh was the highest. McIntosh, the opener, scored a sedate 43 to make up for his duck in the first innings while the others got their runs at a fair clip, earning a good percentage of their runs in boundaries. Seekkuge Prasanna, the legspinner, took 2 for 52 to finish with five in the match, and was supported by offspinner Suraj Randiv, who also captured a brace.
After being bowled out for 297, and relying a lot on the lower order to get them there, New Zealand put in a better display with the bat this time. But their inexperience against Muttiah Muralitharan, Ajantha Mendis and Rangana Herath could present them a serious challenge in the first Test in Galle, which begins on August 18.
Katich determined for revenge
The last time Simon Katich was on an Ashes tour it was Australia having to attempt to force the pace in the final game of the series. On that occasion a draw at The Oval left them handing back the urn for the first time in 16 years and Katich lost his place two games later.
This time all Australia needs is a draw to retain the Ashes and Katich has enjoyed a much better time, scoring a century in Cardiff and averaging 41.33 in the four games. However, the final Test will determine how this side is judged.
"It is a huge week," he said. "I remember last time very well, we were sort of hoping to get back in the series at The Oval and nearly managed to do that. But nearly is not good enough. It was a great series but is remembered for the wrong reasons from our point of view. This time around we have the chance to really go in and get on top early and make the most of the opportunity and every one will be keen to do that."
Katich, Ricky Ponting, Michael Clarke and Brett Lee are the members of the current squad who experienced the damaging 2-1 defeat, and Lee is the only one not expected to be on show as the quartet looks for revenge. Lee is likely to lose his battle to break into the starting XI unless he does something extraordinary during this weekend's tour match in Canterbury.
Katich said the 2005 upset was not being used as motivation for the whole squad, but the memory was still strong for those involved. "It is hard to recreate that because a lot of the guys in our squad did not experience it," he said. "But for those of us who did it was a bitter pill to swallow to lose the Ashes for the first time in a while. A lot of our young guys have not been through that and we are not going to bring that up with them now."
Australia have their final warm-up from Saturday, playing the England Lions in a two-day game, and Katich wants to work on batting for longer periods after failing to convert starts following his 122 in the opening match. He scored 48 and 6 at Lord's and 46 and 26 in Birmingham before a fourth-ball duck in Leeds, where the tourists levelled the series 1-1.
"There have been a few starts and it has been a bit disappointing I have not been patient enough," he said. "So from that point of view I have paid the price. It is just a matter of wearing the attack down because they do keep on coming at you."
The last time Simon Katich was on an Ashes tour it was Australia having to attempt to force the pace in the final game of the series. On that occasion a draw at The Oval left them handing back the urn for the first time in 16 years and Katich lost his place two games later.
This time all Australia needs is a draw to retain the Ashes and Katich has enjoyed a much better time, scoring a century in Cardiff and averaging 41.33 in the four games. However, the final Test will determine how this side is judged.
"It is a huge week," he said. "I remember last time very well, we were sort of hoping to get back in the series at The Oval and nearly managed to do that. But nearly is not good enough. It was a great series but is remembered for the wrong reasons from our point of view. This time around we have the chance to really go in and get on top early and make the most of the opportunity and every one will be keen to do that."
Katich, Ricky Ponting, Michael Clarke and Brett Lee are the members of the current squad who experienced the damaging 2-1 defeat, and Lee is the only one not expected to be on show as the quartet looks for revenge. Lee is likely to lose his battle to break into the starting XI unless he does something extraordinary during this weekend's tour match in Canterbury.
Katich said the 2005 upset was not being used as motivation for the whole squad, but the memory was still strong for those involved. "It is hard to recreate that because a lot of the guys in our squad did not experience it," he said. "But for those of us who did it was a bitter pill to swallow to lose the Ashes for the first time in a while. A lot of our young guys have not been through that and we are not going to bring that up with them now."
Australia have their final warm-up from Saturday, playing the England Lions in a two-day game, and Katich wants to work on batting for longer periods after failing to convert starts following his 122 in the opening match. He scored 48 and 6 at Lord's and 46 and 26 in Birmingham before a fourth-ball duck in Leeds, where the tourists levelled the series 1-1.
"There have been a few starts and it has been a bit disappointing I have not been patient enough," he said. "So from that point of view I have paid the price. It is just a matter of wearing the attack down because they do keep on coming at you."
Bell impresses in front of selectors
Ian Bell's demeanour throughout his second innings here had been that of a man determined not to waste an opportunity and if he was hoping to make the right impression on England's selectors he could not have chosen a better moment.
While Bell, unbeaten on 92 overnight after revealing enormous depths of patience late on Thursday evening, advanced quickly to his 26th hundred on the final morning, the selection panel deliberating on the line-up for The Oval had convened a matter of yards away, in a room in the Radcliffe Road stand overlooking the field.
Bell steered the first ball of the day past the slip cordon for four as Ryan Sidebottom opened proceedings at the pavilion end and moved into three figures 10 minutes later, driving Charlie Shreck roughly in the direction of the meeting room at long off.
With a Test place to be clinched, having a selector present is a boon to any batsman in form but in this instance Bell had not merely one but all four -- Geoff Miller, James Whitaker, Ashley Giles and Andy Flower -- in attendance, as well as the England captain, Andrew Strauss. It may have been a unique occurrence.
The panel dispersed after a marathon five-hour session, although there had been more to ponder upon than with whom to take on the Australians in the decisive fifth Test. Names were also to be decided for the one-day series and the Twenty20 matches.
Bell's innings lasted one hour longer, a six-hour epic encompassing 262 deliveries that ended on 126 when Andre Adams, a somewhat underrated seamer in Nottinghamshire's high quality bowling armoury, hurried one through to trap him leg-before.
Bell, who will learn within the coming hours whether his double failure at Headingley has been forgiven, looked less that thrilled, but it was probably more to do with being late on the shot than the authenticity of umpire Richard Kettleborough's verdict. In any case, after standing at the other end as teammate Jonathan Trott, who will also be waiting for a phone call, beat him to a hundred on Thursday, it had been a good response.
With nightwatchman Naqaash Tahir already gone, caught behind after an hour-long effort, Warwickshire were 355 for 5 with Bell's departure. And when Jim Troughton, struggling for form, became a fourth victim for Adams - who was finding movement off the pitch - they were in danger of subsiding, at 370-6 and only 201 in front, to let Nottinghamshire back in with a scent of victory.
But a 95-run partnership between Rikki Clarke and Tim Ambrose saw off that threat, Ambrose doing a sterling job in the defensive role as Clarke, ultimately, allowed himself licence to swing the bat -- profitably, too, with a couple of big pulled sixes off Samit Patel's spin and another fired over midwicket off Shreck.
Sidebottom, meanwhile, was cutting an increasingly frustrated figure, repeatedly returning to bowl excellent spells but having no luck at all, beautifully though he bowled at times.
Shreck ultimately uprooted Clarke's middle stump, prompting a tea-time declaration at 470-7 that left Nottinghamshire, in theory, to score 302 to win from a minimum 42 overs.
It was never a target they seriously chased, particularly after on-loan opener Scott Newman had been trapped on the crease by Boyd Rankin without scoring. Handshakes were exchanged with Nottinghamshire finishing on 71 for 1 after 25 overs.
Ian Bell's demeanour throughout his second innings here had been that of a man determined not to waste an opportunity and if he was hoping to make the right impression on England's selectors he could not have chosen a better moment.
While Bell, unbeaten on 92 overnight after revealing enormous depths of patience late on Thursday evening, advanced quickly to his 26th hundred on the final morning, the selection panel deliberating on the line-up for The Oval had convened a matter of yards away, in a room in the Radcliffe Road stand overlooking the field.
Bell steered the first ball of the day past the slip cordon for four as Ryan Sidebottom opened proceedings at the pavilion end and moved into three figures 10 minutes later, driving Charlie Shreck roughly in the direction of the meeting room at long off.
With a Test place to be clinched, having a selector present is a boon to any batsman in form but in this instance Bell had not merely one but all four -- Geoff Miller, James Whitaker, Ashley Giles and Andy Flower -- in attendance, as well as the England captain, Andrew Strauss. It may have been a unique occurrence.
The panel dispersed after a marathon five-hour session, although there had been more to ponder upon than with whom to take on the Australians in the decisive fifth Test. Names were also to be decided for the one-day series and the Twenty20 matches.
Bell's innings lasted one hour longer, a six-hour epic encompassing 262 deliveries that ended on 126 when Andre Adams, a somewhat underrated seamer in Nottinghamshire's high quality bowling armoury, hurried one through to trap him leg-before.
Bell, who will learn within the coming hours whether his double failure at Headingley has been forgiven, looked less that thrilled, but it was probably more to do with being late on the shot than the authenticity of umpire Richard Kettleborough's verdict. In any case, after standing at the other end as teammate Jonathan Trott, who will also be waiting for a phone call, beat him to a hundred on Thursday, it had been a good response.
With nightwatchman Naqaash Tahir already gone, caught behind after an hour-long effort, Warwickshire were 355 for 5 with Bell's departure. And when Jim Troughton, struggling for form, became a fourth victim for Adams - who was finding movement off the pitch - they were in danger of subsiding, at 370-6 and only 201 in front, to let Nottinghamshire back in with a scent of victory.
But a 95-run partnership between Rikki Clarke and Tim Ambrose saw off that threat, Ambrose doing a sterling job in the defensive role as Clarke, ultimately, allowed himself licence to swing the bat -- profitably, too, with a couple of big pulled sixes off Samit Patel's spin and another fired over midwicket off Shreck.
Sidebottom, meanwhile, was cutting an increasingly frustrated figure, repeatedly returning to bowl excellent spells but having no luck at all, beautifully though he bowled at times.
Shreck ultimately uprooted Clarke's middle stump, prompting a tea-time declaration at 470-7 that left Nottinghamshire, in theory, to score 302 to win from a minimum 42 overs.
It was never a target they seriously chased, particularly after on-loan opener Scott Newman had been trapped on the crease by Boyd Rankin without scoring. Handshakes were exchanged with Nottinghamshire finishing on 71 for 1 after 25 overs.
Sehwag to 'wait and watch' on his fitness
Indian batsman Virender Sehwag was non-committal about his participation in the ICC Champions Trophy in September, despite making good progress in his recovery from a shoulder injury. He was operated on June 11, and was expected to be ruled out for 12 to 16 weeks.
"My shoulder is better than before. It takes time to recover from any surgery," Sehwag said in New Delhi. "But if it takes time, I can't help it. I can just wait and watch."
Sehwag picked up the injury during the semi-final of the IPL in South Africa and subsequently missed the World Twenty20 in June. He was at the National Cricket Academy (NCA) in Bangalore as part of his rehabilitation last month.
He said last week that he was hopeful of playing the Champions Trophy, but had yet to start his cricket skills training. He has already been ruled out of India's short tri-series in Sri Lanka next month.
His captain MS Dhoni was also keeping a close watch on his fitness. "He might be available for the Champions Trophy," he said. "From now to the tri-series, the time is too short. Sehwag is improving every day. He is working hard to get fit for the Champions Trophy."
The Champions Trophy runs between September 22 and October 5. India then play a seven-match ODI series at home against Australia.
Indian batsman Virender Sehwag was non-committal about his participation in the ICC Champions Trophy in September, despite making good progress in his recovery from a shoulder injury. He was operated on June 11, and was expected to be ruled out for 12 to 16 weeks.
"My shoulder is better than before. It takes time to recover from any surgery," Sehwag said in New Delhi. "But if it takes time, I can't help it. I can just wait and watch."
Sehwag picked up the injury during the semi-final of the IPL in South Africa and subsequently missed the World Twenty20 in June. He was at the National Cricket Academy (NCA) in Bangalore as part of his rehabilitation last month.
He said last week that he was hopeful of playing the Champions Trophy, but had yet to start his cricket skills training. He has already been ruled out of India's short tri-series in Sri Lanka next month.
His captain MS Dhoni was also keeping a close watch on his fitness. "He might be available for the Champions Trophy," he said. "From now to the tri-series, the time is too short. Sehwag is improving every day. He is working hard to get fit for the Champions Trophy."
The Champions Trophy runs between September 22 and October 5. India then play a seven-match ODI series at home against Australia.
Butcher dismisses Ramprakash 'madness'
Mark Butcher, the recently retired former captain of Surrey, has dismissed as "madness" the speculation surrounding a possible recall for his county team-mate Mark Ramprakash, and believes there is no way that England will resort to a one-off call-up for a 39-year-old batsman who has not featured in Test cricket since 2002.
Speaking at an MCC Chance to Shine event in East London, Butcher believed that Ramprakash would undoubtedly rise to the occasion if named on Sunday morning in England's squad for the decisive fifth Test at The Oval, but added that the whole issue had been drummed up by a "panicking" media, following England's humiliating two-and-a-half day defeat at Headingley that left the Ashes all-square with just next Thursday's Oval Test to come.
"Of course he could do a job for England, he's a fabulous player. I just don't think he will," said Butcher. "If he's so highly regarded, why hasn't he been playing for the past four years? However good a player you are, it's an enormous call to be pulled out of the wilderness after seven years, and told: 'Right, go and win us the Ashes ... oh, and by the way, we're not going to pick you for this winter's tour.'"
Ramprakash himself spoke briefly on Wednesday, telling Surrey's website that he would be "thrilled" to be given another chance to impress at Test level, having previously managed just two centuries in 52 matches dating back to 1991. "You wouldn't expect him to say anything less," said Butcher. "Should he get picked he'll do a great job because he's a good player. But they won't pick him, so it's almost pointless talking about it."
In Butcher's opinion, one man who will undoubtedly feature at The Oval is Andrew Flintoff, in what will be his final appearance before his retirement from Test cricket. Earlier this week, a bulletin from Flintoff's specialist, Andy Williams, revealed that the swelling in his right knee had "eased considerably", and given how abjectly England performed in his absence at Headingley, that ought to be sufficient to usher him straight back into the starting line-up.
"There's no way he won't play," said Butcher. "They'd have to restrain him not to play. With one of [Kevin] Pietersen or Flintoff playing, you notice the difference in the confidence of our side, and more importantly in the confidence of the opposition, because they know they are up against individuals who can hurt them. KP was to all intents and purposes knackered at Lord's and yet England still won there, and they did well at Edgbaston too. It's just without either that they have struggled."
Butcher, like Flintoff, has suffered from chronic knee problems in recent seasons, and last week's retirement, at the age of 37, came in the wake of his third operation. He appreciates the reasons why Flintoff has seen fit to call time on his Test career, but warned that England should not expect miracles in his valedictory appearance, regardless of claims made through his agent, Chubby Chandler, that adrenaline alone could have carried Flintoff through last week's Headingley Test.
"There comes a point where, physically, any amount of adrenaline isn't going to help," said Butcher, who had watched with concern as Flintoff laboured through 30 wicketless overs in the drawn third Test at Edgbaston. "It was obvious to me in that match that he was operating at 70% of what he can do, and even for someone like Fred, that's not enough."
Butcher's latest knee operation took place in mid-July, and the demands of yet another bout of rehab persuaded him that it was not worth battling on. "Right now I'm struggling to walk, and I'm not even a bowler, so of course, I can fully understand the decision Fred's made," he said. "He's got a young family, and he's potentially got another ten years of playing the Twenty20 stuff, so it's the kind of trade-off he's got to make. It's a shame for England, but it's the right thing to do.
"Personally, I know I've made the right decision as well," said Butcher, whose professional career has spanned 19 years. "The reason you start playing cricket is to bat, bowl and field. It's not to spend every God-given hour in the gym, trying to make your knee work. It wears you down after a while, and any sportsman in any sport will know what that's like. You get a serious injury, you have an operation, and then there are all the hours that you have to do in the gym, behind the scenes, just to get back out on the park again.
"I'm 37 this week, and time is short enough anyway, without spending most of your life in a gym sat on a bike trying to walk back down the stairs again. It was a painful decision to have to make, but the club need a captain who's going to be on the park, and that wasn't going to be me. The time was right to do it."
Mark Butcher, the recently retired former captain of Surrey, has dismissed as "madness" the speculation surrounding a possible recall for his county team-mate Mark Ramprakash, and believes there is no way that England will resort to a one-off call-up for a 39-year-old batsman who has not featured in Test cricket since 2002.
Speaking at an MCC Chance to Shine event in East London, Butcher believed that Ramprakash would undoubtedly rise to the occasion if named on Sunday morning in England's squad for the decisive fifth Test at The Oval, but added that the whole issue had been drummed up by a "panicking" media, following England's humiliating two-and-a-half day defeat at Headingley that left the Ashes all-square with just next Thursday's Oval Test to come.
"Of course he could do a job for England, he's a fabulous player. I just don't think he will," said Butcher. "If he's so highly regarded, why hasn't he been playing for the past four years? However good a player you are, it's an enormous call to be pulled out of the wilderness after seven years, and told: 'Right, go and win us the Ashes ... oh, and by the way, we're not going to pick you for this winter's tour.'"
Ramprakash himself spoke briefly on Wednesday, telling Surrey's website that he would be "thrilled" to be given another chance to impress at Test level, having previously managed just two centuries in 52 matches dating back to 1991. "You wouldn't expect him to say anything less," said Butcher. "Should he get picked he'll do a great job because he's a good player. But they won't pick him, so it's almost pointless talking about it."
In Butcher's opinion, one man who will undoubtedly feature at The Oval is Andrew Flintoff, in what will be his final appearance before his retirement from Test cricket. Earlier this week, a bulletin from Flintoff's specialist, Andy Williams, revealed that the swelling in his right knee had "eased considerably", and given how abjectly England performed in his absence at Headingley, that ought to be sufficient to usher him straight back into the starting line-up.
"There's no way he won't play," said Butcher. "They'd have to restrain him not to play. With one of [Kevin] Pietersen or Flintoff playing, you notice the difference in the confidence of our side, and more importantly in the confidence of the opposition, because they know they are up against individuals who can hurt them. KP was to all intents and purposes knackered at Lord's and yet England still won there, and they did well at Edgbaston too. It's just without either that they have struggled."
Butcher, like Flintoff, has suffered from chronic knee problems in recent seasons, and last week's retirement, at the age of 37, came in the wake of his third operation. He appreciates the reasons why Flintoff has seen fit to call time on his Test career, but warned that England should not expect miracles in his valedictory appearance, regardless of claims made through his agent, Chubby Chandler, that adrenaline alone could have carried Flintoff through last week's Headingley Test.
"There comes a point where, physically, any amount of adrenaline isn't going to help," said Butcher, who had watched with concern as Flintoff laboured through 30 wicketless overs in the drawn third Test at Edgbaston. "It was obvious to me in that match that he was operating at 70% of what he can do, and even for someone like Fred, that's not enough."
Butcher's latest knee operation took place in mid-July, and the demands of yet another bout of rehab persuaded him that it was not worth battling on. "Right now I'm struggling to walk, and I'm not even a bowler, so of course, I can fully understand the decision Fred's made," he said. "He's got a young family, and he's potentially got another ten years of playing the Twenty20 stuff, so it's the kind of trade-off he's got to make. It's a shame for England, but it's the right thing to do.
"Personally, I know I've made the right decision as well," said Butcher, whose professional career has spanned 19 years. "The reason you start playing cricket is to bat, bowl and field. It's not to spend every God-given hour in the gym, trying to make your knee work. It wears you down after a while, and any sportsman in any sport will know what that's like. You get a serious injury, you have an operation, and then there are all the hours that you have to do in the gym, behind the scenes, just to get back out on the park again.
"I'm 37 this week, and time is short enough anyway, without spending most of your life in a gym sat on a bike trying to walk back down the stairs again. It was a painful decision to have to make, but the club need a captain who's going to be on the park, and that wasn't going to be me. The time was right to do it."
Wright confirms Kolkata's interest
John Wright, a current New Zealand selector and former India coach, has confirmed he is in the running for the coach's position at the Kolkata Knight Riders. The IPL franchise recently sacked John Buchanan after two poor seasons.
"Yes, they have been talking to me," Wright told the Hindu while in Chennai with the New Zealand A side. "Let's see how it goes. One day I would love to come back to India."
Duncan Fletcher and Richard Pybus are also in the fray along with other candidates, are expected to meet the franchise management at owner Shahrukh Khan's house in Mumbai next weekend.
Wright, a former New Zealand batsman, had a successful five-year stint as India's coach during which India won a historic series against Australia in 2001 at home, won in Pakistan in 2003, and also reached the final of the 2003 World Cup.
If Kolkata appoint Wright, he will be working with Ganguly, who was the national captain during his five-year stint as India coach, for at least a year. Ganguly will be playing his third season at Kolkata and at 37 it is unclear whether he will extend his contract. It has been reported that Wright's relationship with Ganguly turned a bit rocky towards the end those five years but Wright has always insisted he respected and appreciated Ganguly. He said the two still kept in touch.
"We had our differences and had different opinions, Wright said. "These were strong opinions too. But at the end of the day, we trusted each other. He was good with the young boys and gave the side aggression. We shared a common goal. I was very impressed in the manner he staged a comeback and went out on his own terms. Ganguly showed he was a fighter."
John Wright, a current New Zealand selector and former India coach, has confirmed he is in the running for the coach's position at the Kolkata Knight Riders. The IPL franchise recently sacked John Buchanan after two poor seasons.
"Yes, they have been talking to me," Wright told the Hindu while in Chennai with the New Zealand A side. "Let's see how it goes. One day I would love to come back to India."
Duncan Fletcher and Richard Pybus are also in the fray along with other candidates, are expected to meet the franchise management at owner Shahrukh Khan's house in Mumbai next weekend.
Wright, a former New Zealand batsman, had a successful five-year stint as India's coach during which India won a historic series against Australia in 2001 at home, won in Pakistan in 2003, and also reached the final of the 2003 World Cup.
If Kolkata appoint Wright, he will be working with Ganguly, who was the national captain during his five-year stint as India coach, for at least a year. Ganguly will be playing his third season at Kolkata and at 37 it is unclear whether he will extend his contract. It has been reported that Wright's relationship with Ganguly turned a bit rocky towards the end those five years but Wright has always insisted he respected and appreciated Ganguly. He said the two still kept in touch.
"We had our differences and had different opinions, Wright said. "These were strong opinions too. But at the end of the day, we trusted each other. He was good with the young boys and gave the side aggression. We shared a common goal. I was very impressed in the manner he staged a comeback and went out on his own terms. Ganguly showed he was a fighter."
Lara eyes T&T coaching role in Champions League
Brian Lara, the former West Indies captain, has confirmed he is in talks with the Trinidad & Tobago board about a role for him in T&T's Champions League campaign. His role is likely to be a coaching one since he cannot join the side as a player - under the rules, the squad must be the same as the one that participated in the domestic competition.
"I haven't been approached but we have had discussions on it," Lara was quoted as saying in the Trinidad & Tobago Express. "I think we really want to come to a mutual understanding of exactly what Trinidad and Tobago cricket wants to get out of Brian Lara. I think you are going to play in an international tournament for the first time, we're accustomed to playing regional tournaments but we have to know exactly what the pitches are going to be like."
T&T are the only West Indies team to compete in the tournament, which includes three sides from India, two each from Australia, England and South Africa and one each from Sri Lanka and New Zealand. They will be up against international stars like Brendon McCullum, Andrew Symonds, Adam Gilchrist, Dale Steyn, Virender Sehwag and Daniel Vettori.
"The opposition is on an international stage … so I see some merit in it but to know exactly what role I'll be playing, I'm not so sure. If they see I can be an asset, it is something I'll definitely look at."
Lara had signed up with the ICL for their first season but that is unlikely to affect his role with the T&T since players who have ended their association with the unofficial league are being rehabilitated by their country's boards.
Brian Lara, the former West Indies captain, has confirmed he is in talks with the Trinidad & Tobago board about a role for him in T&T's Champions League campaign. His role is likely to be a coaching one since he cannot join the side as a player - under the rules, the squad must be the same as the one that participated in the domestic competition.
"I haven't been approached but we have had discussions on it," Lara was quoted as saying in the Trinidad & Tobago Express. "I think we really want to come to a mutual understanding of exactly what Trinidad and Tobago cricket wants to get out of Brian Lara. I think you are going to play in an international tournament for the first time, we're accustomed to playing regional tournaments but we have to know exactly what the pitches are going to be like."
T&T are the only West Indies team to compete in the tournament, which includes three sides from India, two each from Australia, England and South Africa and one each from Sri Lanka and New Zealand. They will be up against international stars like Brendon McCullum, Andrew Symonds, Adam Gilchrist, Dale Steyn, Virender Sehwag and Daniel Vettori.
"The opposition is on an international stage … so I see some merit in it but to know exactly what role I'll be playing, I'm not so sure. If they see I can be an asset, it is something I'll definitely look at."
Lara had signed up with the ICL for their first season but that is unlikely to affect his role with the T&T since players who have ended their association with the unofficial league are being rehabilitated by their country's boards.
Poor shot selection cost us - Intikhab
Pakistan coach Intikhab Alam has blamed his batsmen for the Test and ODI series defeats in Sri Lanka. Pakistan lost the Test series 2-0 and were 3-0 down in the five-match ODI series before snatching consolation wins in the last two games and the one-off Twenty20 international.
"We dominated the Test series against Sri Lanka but just two bad sessions changed the whole scenario of the tour,' Intikhab said on arrival back in Pakistan. "Poor shot selection brought about our downfall."
Pakistan were well-placed in the first two Tests but lost both after dramatic batting collapses. In Galle, they crashed to 117 in the fourth innings chasing a modest 168. At the P Sara Oval, they were bundled out for 90 in the first innings, but their collapse in the second was more dramatic. After staging a spirited comeback, they lost their last nine wickets for 35 runs and subsequently suffered their first ever Test series loss in Sri Lanka.
The captain Younis Khan denied rumours of rifts within the team and also refused to quit after those defeats. Intikhab also refused to resign, following calls from various quarters that he was too old to coach the team.
"I don't think age has anything to do with it. And anyway I'm not yet 70," said Intikhab, who is 67.
Intikhab also welcomed the appointment of Javed Miandad as batting adviser to prepare for the upcoming Champions Trophy. The Pakistan Cricket Board is also expected to hire former opener Saeed Anwar as the batting coach.
"Miandad has a lot of experience and I'm sure that his guidance will help our batsmen a lot," Intikhab said.
Shahid Afridi, Pakistan's new Twenty20 captain, hoped his team would carry the winning momentum to the Champions Trophy in South Africa next month.
"We had lost all the previous games and were desperate to win the last few and managed to do that easily," Afridi said. "I hope that we will continue playing like that in the Champions Trophy."
Pakistan coach Intikhab Alam has blamed his batsmen for the Test and ODI series defeats in Sri Lanka. Pakistan lost the Test series 2-0 and were 3-0 down in the five-match ODI series before snatching consolation wins in the last two games and the one-off Twenty20 international.
"We dominated the Test series against Sri Lanka but just two bad sessions changed the whole scenario of the tour,' Intikhab said on arrival back in Pakistan. "Poor shot selection brought about our downfall."
Pakistan were well-placed in the first two Tests but lost both after dramatic batting collapses. In Galle, they crashed to 117 in the fourth innings chasing a modest 168. At the P Sara Oval, they were bundled out for 90 in the first innings, but their collapse in the second was more dramatic. After staging a spirited comeback, they lost their last nine wickets for 35 runs and subsequently suffered their first ever Test series loss in Sri Lanka.
The captain Younis Khan denied rumours of rifts within the team and also refused to quit after those defeats. Intikhab also refused to resign, following calls from various quarters that he was too old to coach the team.
"I don't think age has anything to do with it. And anyway I'm not yet 70," said Intikhab, who is 67.
Intikhab also welcomed the appointment of Javed Miandad as batting adviser to prepare for the upcoming Champions Trophy. The Pakistan Cricket Board is also expected to hire former opener Saeed Anwar as the batting coach.
"Miandad has a lot of experience and I'm sure that his guidance will help our batsmen a lot," Intikhab said.
Shahid Afridi, Pakistan's new Twenty20 captain, hoped his team would carry the winning momentum to the Champions Trophy in South Africa next month.
"We had lost all the previous games and were desperate to win the last few and managed to do that easily," Afridi said. "I hope that we will continue playing like that in the Champions Trophy."
Murali was interested in my doosra - Ajmal
Pakistan offspinner Saeed Ajmal has said he exchanged tips with Muttiah Muralitharan on bowling the doosra during the tour of Sri Lanka. Murali, Test cricket's highest wicket-taker and one the leading practitioners of the doosra, was interested in how Ajmal bowled the same delivery.
"Yes we had a few chats, it was interesting and useful to talk to a great bowler like Murali," Ajmal told Pakpassion.net. "I asked him about some of his newer deliveries and his methods behind those deliveries.
"We talked about the importance of varying the flight and the pace of deliveries and he was particularly interested in my doosra, wanted to see how I bowled it and my grip when I bowled that delivery".
Ajmal had earlier troubled the Australians during the one-day series in the UAE in April. He was Pakistan's leading wicket-taker in his debut Test series in Sri Lanka with 14 wickets. He took five wickets in the ODIs and 3 for 18 in the one-off Twenty20, the best figures in the match from either team.
"There was a lot of extra pressure on me as it was my debut Test series," Ajmal said. "I took 14 wickets at 30.07 which isn't too bad against a team that plays spin very well and we were playing in conditions that they were familiar with."
Ajmal bowled 43 overs in the second innings of the third Test at the SSC but managed to take just one wicket. After squandering big opportunities in the first two Tests, Pakistan had a shot at a consolation win in the third but the Sri Lankans batted out the final day and lost only four wickets in their improbable chase of 492.
"The third Test was very frustrating as the heavy roller used on the last day just seemed to flatten the pitch and it became lifeless," Ajmal said. "There was no spin, no pace and no extra bounce, unlike the first innings when it was very lively and assisted Danish [Kaneria] and I".
Ajmal said he would be cooling his heals for a bit before his next assignment. "I'm looking forward to a nice two-week rest and some time with my family before the training camps and trial matches start for the Champions Trophy."
Pakistan offspinner Saeed Ajmal has said he exchanged tips with Muttiah Muralitharan on bowling the doosra during the tour of Sri Lanka. Murali, Test cricket's highest wicket-taker and one the leading practitioners of the doosra, was interested in how Ajmal bowled the same delivery.
"Yes we had a few chats, it was interesting and useful to talk to a great bowler like Murali," Ajmal told Pakpassion.net. "I asked him about some of his newer deliveries and his methods behind those deliveries.
"We talked about the importance of varying the flight and the pace of deliveries and he was particularly interested in my doosra, wanted to see how I bowled it and my grip when I bowled that delivery".
Ajmal had earlier troubled the Australians during the one-day series in the UAE in April. He was Pakistan's leading wicket-taker in his debut Test series in Sri Lanka with 14 wickets. He took five wickets in the ODIs and 3 for 18 in the one-off Twenty20, the best figures in the match from either team.
"There was a lot of extra pressure on me as it was my debut Test series," Ajmal said. "I took 14 wickets at 30.07 which isn't too bad against a team that plays spin very well and we were playing in conditions that they were familiar with."
Ajmal bowled 43 overs in the second innings of the third Test at the SSC but managed to take just one wicket. After squandering big opportunities in the first two Tests, Pakistan had a shot at a consolation win in the third but the Sri Lankans batted out the final day and lost only four wickets in their improbable chase of 492.
"The third Test was very frustrating as the heavy roller used on the last day just seemed to flatten the pitch and it became lifeless," Ajmal said. "There was no spin, no pace and no extra bounce, unlike the first innings when it was very lively and assisted Danish [Kaneria] and I".
Ajmal said he would be cooling his heals for a bit before his next assignment. "I'm looking forward to a nice two-week rest and some time with my family before the training camps and trial matches start for the Champions Trophy."
Dravid primed for ODI return
Expect Rahul Dravid, who last played an ODI in October 2007, to return. That is the likeliest solution for the recent woes against short-pitched bowling that the selection committee will arrive at, when it sits to select the team for the tri-series in Sri Lanka and the Champions Trophy. This should work in the short term as immediate solidarity in the middle order, and also in the long term if Dravid can hang on for so long as the youngsters find their feet firmly.
Dravid's success in this year's IPL makes the decision easier for the selectors, who were prompted to bring him back to the one-day fold after Virender Sehwag's injury and the younger batsmens' troubles with short-pitched bowling, highlighted most starkly in the ICC World Twenty20.
It doesn't seem likely that Sehwag will meet the fitness deadline for the Sri Lanka tri-series, but the selectors should name him in the Champions Trophy squad. He is expected to be back in action in mid-September, which makes it too tight to pick him for Sri Lanka, but gives him enough time before the Champions Trophy. How much ever the selectors might want to choose the same 15 for both events, Sehwag will be too big a temptation. A word of caution, though: replacement rules at ICC events are tough, and India might not want to push them too much. In Sehwag's absence in Sri Lanka, though, India need not find a replacement, because Sachin Tendulkar is expected back and should open the innings with Gautam Gambhir.
Also returning will be Suresh Raina, who has recovered from a hairline fracture on his thumb. Zaheer Khan, as previously reported, has been ruled out of both events and Ishant Sharma, Praveen Kumar, Ashish Nehra and RP Singh should be given the fast-bowling duties. Munaf Patel and Sudeep Tyagi stand an outside chance in this discussion. What should make the decision easier is that three of them did well during the IPL in South Africa, where the Champions Trophy will be played. That being the fast-bowling scenario, 12 players select themselves, leaving three places open for debate.
While it is believed that left-arm spinner Pragyan Ojha is under pressure from Amit Mishra, he should retain his place owing to his success in this year's IPL. Moreover, Ojha has had an impressive run in ODIs, taking 12 wickets at 28.00 in nine games. Rohit Sharma's place is a little less certain owing to a lean run of late (15 runs in three innings in the West Indies and 43 runs in three innings against major opposition in the World Twenty20), but he should hold on to his place, unless the selectors have made their mind up to send a strong message to the talented batsman who has just four half-centuries and no century in 41 ODIs.
The last place will be a toss-up between Dinesh Karthik, who did himself no harm by doing well both in the IPL and in the West Indies, Ravindra Jadeja and Abhishek Nayar. There is also a possibility that Karthik might play as a pure batsman ahead of Rohit. In Irfan Pathan's absence, Yusuf Pathan remains the only allrounder in the team, so they might want to pick either Nayar or Jadeja. If Sehwag is picked for the Champions Trophy one of the extras might have to make way.
Squad: (probable) Sachin Tendulkar, Gautam Gambhir, Rahul Dravid, Suresh Raina, Yuvraj Singh, MS Dhoni (capt/wk), Yusuf Pathan, Harbhajan Singh, Praveen Kumar, Ishant Sharma, Ashish Nehra, RP Singh, Pragyan Ojha/Amit Mishra and two out of Dinesh Karthik, Rohit Sharma, Abhishek Nayar, and Ravindra Jadeja
(Sehwag is likely to replace one of the last three in the Champions Trophy squad.)
Expect Rahul Dravid, who last played an ODI in October 2007, to return. That is the likeliest solution for the recent woes against short-pitched bowling that the selection committee will arrive at, when it sits to select the team for the tri-series in Sri Lanka and the Champions Trophy. This should work in the short term as immediate solidarity in the middle order, and also in the long term if Dravid can hang on for so long as the youngsters find their feet firmly.
Dravid's success in this year's IPL makes the decision easier for the selectors, who were prompted to bring him back to the one-day fold after Virender Sehwag's injury and the younger batsmens' troubles with short-pitched bowling, highlighted most starkly in the ICC World Twenty20.
It doesn't seem likely that Sehwag will meet the fitness deadline for the Sri Lanka tri-series, but the selectors should name him in the Champions Trophy squad. He is expected to be back in action in mid-September, which makes it too tight to pick him for Sri Lanka, but gives him enough time before the Champions Trophy. How much ever the selectors might want to choose the same 15 for both events, Sehwag will be too big a temptation. A word of caution, though: replacement rules at ICC events are tough, and India might not want to push them too much. In Sehwag's absence in Sri Lanka, though, India need not find a replacement, because Sachin Tendulkar is expected back and should open the innings with Gautam Gambhir.
Also returning will be Suresh Raina, who has recovered from a hairline fracture on his thumb. Zaheer Khan, as previously reported, has been ruled out of both events and Ishant Sharma, Praveen Kumar, Ashish Nehra and RP Singh should be given the fast-bowling duties. Munaf Patel and Sudeep Tyagi stand an outside chance in this discussion. What should make the decision easier is that three of them did well during the IPL in South Africa, where the Champions Trophy will be played. That being the fast-bowling scenario, 12 players select themselves, leaving three places open for debate.
While it is believed that left-arm spinner Pragyan Ojha is under pressure from Amit Mishra, he should retain his place owing to his success in this year's IPL. Moreover, Ojha has had an impressive run in ODIs, taking 12 wickets at 28.00 in nine games. Rohit Sharma's place is a little less certain owing to a lean run of late (15 runs in three innings in the West Indies and 43 runs in three innings against major opposition in the World Twenty20), but he should hold on to his place, unless the selectors have made their mind up to send a strong message to the talented batsman who has just four half-centuries and no century in 41 ODIs.
The last place will be a toss-up between Dinesh Karthik, who did himself no harm by doing well both in the IPL and in the West Indies, Ravindra Jadeja and Abhishek Nayar. There is also a possibility that Karthik might play as a pure batsman ahead of Rohit. In Irfan Pathan's absence, Yusuf Pathan remains the only allrounder in the team, so they might want to pick either Nayar or Jadeja. If Sehwag is picked for the Champions Trophy one of the extras might have to make way.
Squad: (probable) Sachin Tendulkar, Gautam Gambhir, Rahul Dravid, Suresh Raina, Yuvraj Singh, MS Dhoni (capt/wk), Yusuf Pathan, Harbhajan Singh, Praveen Kumar, Ishant Sharma, Ashish Nehra, RP Singh, Pragyan Ojha/Amit Mishra and two out of Dinesh Karthik, Rohit Sharma, Abhishek Nayar, and Ravindra Jadeja
(Sehwag is likely to replace one of the last three in the Champions Trophy squad.)
Similar threads
