Gloucestershire are delighted that James Pearson has been picked to play for theEngland Under-19 squad in this winter’s tour of Australia and wishes himevery success.Stephen Pope having been very successful in the England Under-19 squad isnow regretably no longer eligible.
“Every game is a must-win for South Africa. Obviously if we lose here and go2-0 down we put added pressure on ourselves, but we’re not thinking aboutthat right now.”South African captain Shaun Pollock may have been stating the obvious,but despite a relaxed net session on Tuesday morning, there is a steelydetermination to level the series when South Africa meet the West Indies inthe second of seven one-day internationals at the Antigua Recreation Ground.The South African selectors have one injury headache before Wednesday’sgame after Neil McKenzie’s hamstring trouble forced him off the field duringthe last-ball defeat at Sabina Park. He is expected to require a few moredays to recover fully, and even though he batted in the nets his place inAntigua at least looks likely to go to the patient Boeta Dippenaar.Dippenaar has spent much of the tour as a spectator, playing only in thewarm-up games and doubling as a stand-in wicket-keeper for Mark Boucher. Hehas done little wrong since a good season at home, where he scored hismaiden Test hundred, but was the unlucky man when Herschelle Gibbs returnedfrom his ban at the beginning of the year.”I haven’t heard anything yet,” Dippenaar said when asked about hispossible inclusion for the Antigua game, “but I’m preparing myself. I justwant to be ready when the chance comes. I’m looking forward to it.”It’s been very frustrating not playing as much as I would like. Whenthere are games to be played you’ve got something which drives you andmotivates you. At times it’s a bit difficult to keep going when it doesn’tlook as though you’re going to get a game.”But you never know, tomorrow might be a chance.”I’m feeling good, and have been hitting the ball well in the nets. Butit’s like with bowlers sometimes – you need to spend a bit of time out inthe middle to get some real confidence going. One game can change it all.”Dippenaar’s wicket-keeping role is not something for which he consideredhimself an obvious candidate.”It’s been different – and very hard work! I’ve discovered muscles inmy body that I never knew I had. Previously I’d only done about half a gamewhen I was 15, so it’s been a new experience for me.”South Africa (probable): Gary Kirsten, Herschelle Gibbs, Jacques Kallis,Jonty Rhodes, Boeta Dippenaar, Lance Klusener, Mark Boucher, Shaun Pollock,Justin Ontong, Roger Telemachus, Allan Donald.
New Zealand all-rounder Chris Cairns’ future in the National Bank Test Series is in doubt.Cairns has suffered a patella tendon strain in his right knee. A scan has shown he has inflammation of the fat pad and the team management will be reviewing his position in the next 24-36 hours.He was dismissed for a duck in New Zealand’s collapse to be all out for 147, 81 runs behind England on the first innings at Jade Stadium in Christchurch today.Chris Drum and Ian Butler opened the bowling in England’s second innings. New Zealand team management said Cairns was expected to bowl in the innings.They also said the injury was unrelated to previous injuries.
ScorecardLions recovered from their Champions League T20 final defeat in blazing fashion when they beat Titans by 269 runs in the first match of the domestic one-day competition in Centurion.For Titans, it was more heartache. After they lost to Sydney Sixers off the last ball of their CLT20 semi-final, they slumped to the lowest total in a domestic limited-overs competition in South African history. They were bowled out for 60 in response to Lions’ massive 329 for 6 and that, after they put Lions in to bat on a belter.Stephen Cook, who did not take part in the CLT20 but has been in training throughout, led the way with a 122-ball 125. He shared in a 161-run opening partnership with Gulam Bodi, who was the second top run-scorer of the CLT20. The pair out on their runs in 28 overs before Bodi top-edged a sweep shot to square leg off Paul Harris.Quinton de Kock, Grant Mokoena and Neil McKenzie were all dismissed cheaply and Lions had been reined in to 255 for 5 in the 44th over. Jean Symes, who also had a good CLT20 campaign, provided the late burst. His 43 off 27 balls included five fours and two sixes to take Lions over the 300-run mark.Surprisingly, Harris, Ethy Mbhalati and Roelof van der Merwe conceded under six runs an over but Rowan Richards and CJ de Villiers took punishment. Richards was a victim of Cook’s onslaught and conceded 78 while de Villiers bowled his 10 overs for 70.The pitch would have not made Lions’ bowlers think they would get away with an easy outing and they would have been surprised to see that they did. Titans were 34 for 9 in the 16th over and all out inside 19 overs. Titans’ scorecard included four ducks and only two batsmen got into double figures.Hardus Viljoen, who used to open the bowling with Marchant de Lange at Easterns, bowled a blistering spell upfront. With fiery pace in the upper 140kphs, he took 6 for 19 and showed off seam movement. Chris Morris and Ethan O’Reilly didn’t have much to share between them but picked up one and three wickets respectively. David Wiese managed 24 of 26 balls but it will be little consolation for Titans who have now lost three of their last four matches against Lions.
South Africa kept their heads and ultimately ran out comfortable five wicketvictors over the Vice Chancellor’s XI at the beautiful Salem Oval inMontserrat on Thursday, the tourists winning with 12 balls to spare. It wasnot a polished performance, but as a public relations exercise it was atriumph as half the island’s population made the most of a national holidayto enjoy some international cricket.Boeta Dippenaar (52) and Lance Klusener (41) were the backbone of astuttering South African run-chase, but once again captain Shaun Pollockunderlined his magnificent form with the bat. Pollock smashed the winningruns with a four over midwicket to finish 37 not out. He was kept goodcompany towards the end by fast bowler Roger Telemachus, who struck abelligerent unbeaten 20.Earlier, South Africa dismissed the University of the West IndiesVice-Chancellor’s XI for 218 from 47.5 overs. It was a good effort from theSouth African bowlers, who gave the batsmen little opportunity to free theirarms in search of the boundary ropes. Only left-arm spinner Paul Adams was hit for six, once by test batsman Shivnarine Chanderpaul and then again byretired West Indian fast bowler Curtly Ambrose, who is the match honouree. Adams got his own back.Chanderpaul top scored for the Vice-Chancellor’ XI, striking 70 classyruns off 72 balls with a six and eight fours, but the rest of the battingorder failed to fire after a useful start from captain Daren Ganga (45) andLeon Garrick (29).Allan Donald, back in the side after missing the fourth test with astrained right hamstring, picked up 2-36 from wight overs, while all-rounderJustin Kemp finished with 3-35, also from eight overs.
October 4, 2012
Start time 2.30pm local (0900 GMT/1000 BST)England’s No. 3 Sarah Taylor will be a key wicket for New Zealand to target•ICC/Getty
The knockout stage of the Women’s World Twenty20 begins with a rematch of the 2009 final. Potentially, 14 of the 22 players that took the field at Lord’s could face-off again in Colombo, with New Zealand attempting to reach a third consecutive final – they were defeated by Australia in 2010 – and England looking to take a step further to regaining the trophy they won three years ago.The two sides are already familiar, with England having toured New Zealand earlier in the year. A 4-0 win extended England’s unbeaten run in T20 internationals, which was only ended last month by West Indies after a sequence that included 19 consecutive victories (and a couple of abandonments). They have picked up the thread of their dominating form in Sri Lanka, winning all three of their Group A games convincingly to qualify top.With a top three of Charlotte Edwards – the leading run-scorer in the format – Laura Marsh and Sarah Taylor, England have plenty of batting, while their array of spinners have so far excelled on the slow pitches in Galle. Although occasionally erratic, they are also capable of moments of brilliance in the field. After the disappointment of 2010, when England exited at the group stage, they appear to have left nothing to chance.For New Zealand, 2012 has not been a good year but two of their three wins have come in their last two matches. Sophie Devine, who opened the bowling and batted at No. 9 in the 2009 final, missed out on a place with New Zealand’s hockey team at the London Olympics but has returned to cricket as an attacking No. 3, while Erin Bermingham is the tournament’s joint-leading wicket-taker, with six.They also recorded the highest score of the group stage, making 151 for 5 against South Africa – but the seven-wicket defeat to West Indies, who England thrashed 4-1 last month, may provide a more reliable indicator of their chances. Whoever prevails, the prospect of playing in front of a capacity crowd as the stadium fills up for Sri Lanka’s semi-final against Pakistan in the men’s tournament will add an extra gloss to the occasion.
(completed matches, most recent first)
England WWWLW
New Zealand WWLLL
Sarah Taylor was recently anointed as the leading batsman in women’s T20 by the ICC’s new ranking system, which would be quite something on its own, were she not also widely regarded as one of the best wicketkeepers in the world. Taylor has already made the highest score of the tournament, an unbeaten 65 as England cruised to victory over the holders, Australia, and her form in front of and behind the stumps will be key to England’s chances.Not only is Sophie Devine a dual international, she also has a sociology degree and is studying for a diploma in landscape gardening. The 23-year-old plans to try and win a hockey berth at Rio 2016 but, for now, she has the opportunity to appear in a third World T20 final. After 18 months out of the game, she made her first T20 international fifty in the win over South Africa, to go with three wickets in the group stage, and is surely reaching her peak as an allrounder.
England named the same side for all three of their group games so, barring injury, expect a familiar look to the team. Spin has accounted for 11 of the 17 wickets taken by England bowlers at the tournament, so the switch from Galle to Colombo shouldn’t hurt them.England (possible) 1 Charlotte Edwards (capt), 2 Laura Marsh, 3 Sarah Taylor (wk), 4 Arran Brindle, 5 Lydia Greenway, 6 Danielle Wyatt, 7 Jenny Gunn, 8 Anya Shrubsole, 9 Danielle Hazell, 10 Katherine Brunt, 11 Holly ColvinNew Zealand have also had a fairly settled line-up, using only 12 players so far. With Shane Bond as their bowling coach, they have relied on a battery of medium pace supplemented by Bermingham’s legbreaks but they could bring in Lucy Doolan as another spin option.New Zealand (possible) 1 Suzie Bates (capt), 2 Amy Satterthwaite, 3 Sophie Devine, 4 Frances Mackay, 5 Sara McGlashan, 6 Nicola Browne, 7 Katie Perkins, 8 Katey Martin (wk), 9 Erin Bermingham, 10 Morna Nielsen, 11 Sian Ruck
The Premadasa has gradually got slower and lower as the tournament has gone on, so spin is likely to play a big part. The rain has held off in recent days but there’s every chance of a shower in Colombo at some point during the afternoon.
“Tomorrow will be a massive event for us and playing ahead of Sri Lanka versus Pakistan, I think they’ve had some massive crowds so far so I think that will be a big boost.”
“They’ve played really well and haven’t really been tested in the tournament. I think if we can get a couple of early wickets, some of their batters haven’t batted at this tournament, so we can hopefully put them under some pressure.”
Scorecard and ball-by-ball detailsSteve Smith went to a maiden Test century as Australia took control of the match•Getty Images
It is not often that striking Jonathan Trott for six has been portrayed as a career-defining moment, but that will understandably be Australia’s ambitions for Steven Smith after he completed a maiden Test hundred to quell England hopes of an unprecedented 4-0 victory in the Investec Ashes series.This series has long fallen to England but Australia could yet cobble together a reasonably cogent argument that they are finishing the stronger and, with another five Tests in store in the Great Brown Land to come, Smith’s unbeaten 138 – extended from 66 overnight – will support their contention that they can be competitive in the return.As for this final Test of the series, England could draw comfort from the fact that Alastair Cook and Joe Root survived 17.3 overs before bad light clipped a few minutes from the second day. They will hope that their decision to field two spinners for the first time in a home Test for four years will be justified by the end of the match but, after conceding nearly 500 and with an unsettled forecast for Saturday, the odds are not in their favour.To discover Trott trundling in as a bit-part bowler in England’s attack was no bad thing for Smith with a first Test hundred in the offing. Trott had only four Test wickets to his name and Smith allowed himself an over of reconnaissance before asking Brad Haddin, his batting partner: “Do you think I could hit him over the top?” Keep a clear mind, Haddin advised and Smith did just that.His response to the first ball of Trott’s second over, a graceful loft over long-on for six, might have been the final genial blow in a practice session, a gentle mickey-take of a team-mate. Instead, as his delighted expression showed, it was further proof of a potential breakthrough.Smith had been overshadowed by Shane Watson on the opening day. Conditions were more exacting as he resumed his innings but he reined in the most adventurous elements of his game, surviving against a ball that regularly nibbled around off the seam. His occasional full-blooded moments were well judged, which has not always been the case. When the mood takes him, he does not lack for courage.England will sense that they wasted a good bowling opportunity. When play finally began at 2.30pm – morning drizzle having delayed the start by three-and-a-half hours – the skies remained heavy, the pitch had a darker tinge and there was more encouragement for the seam bowlers than there had been on the opening day when Australia moved blissfully to 307 for 4.Smith’s mind attuned to a more taxing task but, understandably, the same could not be said for the nightwatchman Peter Siddle, who was picked off in Anderson’s third over of the day when he tried to whip the ball through midwicket and was bowled by a late outswinger.A year ago at The Oval, England were 250 for 2 before conditions changed, South Africa hurried them out for 385 and Hashim Amla’s triple century went on to ensure that England lost by an innings. With Australia five down for 320, England must have sensed their opportunity.But England were unable to make the same impact. Anderson and Broad bowled without much luck and Chris Woakes, although he exerted reasonable control, again made little impression as a third seamer. If he had been adequate at best on the first day, he would have hoped for better in more favourable, oft-times gloomy conditions, but he carried little menace.When Haddin on-drove him into a puddle on the boundary edge, it did not enhance England’s mood. If they asked for the ball to be changed once, they must have asked a thousand times.England also wasted a review with Haddin on 15, Matt Prior persuading Cook to turn to the DRS for an imagined leg-side glance in which the bowler, Anderson, had no interest. The ball missed the bat by a distance, underlining the feeling that England, who began the series as superior in their use of the DRS to Australia, now possess the same confusion.By the time Smith’s century arrived, followed shortly afterwards by tea, the skies were clearing and batting conditions had erased. Smith had achieved his moment; England had missed theirs. But Trott underlined that he is not quite as harmless as he appears. Four balls after Smith experienced the most fulfilling moment of his career, Haddin departed, trying to manufacture a chop behind square on the off side but deflecting the ball on to his stumps.With 36 overs remaining at tea, and a 7.30pm finish on the horizon, Australia’s main consideration was whether to have a bowl at England at the tail end of the day.They declared with 75 minutes left after a satisfying post-tea thrash brought a further 95 runs in 13 overs. England, whose professionalism knew no shame, dawdled through only 11 overs in the first hour, three by the offspinner Graeme Swann, retreating into obsessive ball drying and continued requests to change the ball rather than actually caring much about propelling it in front of a capacity Oval crowd.James Faulkner, a debutant allrounder who has made his name in one-day cricket, was well suited to instructions to make quick runs after tea. Three boundaries off Broad in four balls, the best of them a forearm smash over cover, gave him some fun before Woakes, in his 23rd over, took his first Test wicket when Faulkner’s top-edged pull was neatly taken on the run by Trott at deep square leg.Thirty-two overs had passed, and Australia had added 137 runs, before England introduced spin. Unsurprisingly, it was Graeme Swann, not Simon Kerrigan, whose method deserted him under Watson’s onslaught on the first day. Swann needed only two balls to strike, tossing one up and defeating Mitchell Starc’s lusty swing by a distance. Anderson ended a vigorous contribution from Ryan Harris with an excellent high catch off his own bowling.As Australia hit their way towards a declaration, England eschewed the option of turning to Kerrigan. An ambitious captain would have risked another mauling to give Kerrigan his first Test wicket. A conservative captain would have protected him for another day. Cook, to no great surprise, took the path of minimal risk.
Jagmohan Dalmiya, the BCCI’s interim president, has said that the board will accept the Decision Review System (DRS) only when the technology used is “fool-proof”. Dalmiya said that the DRS has created confusion in its current form and the BCCI would adopt the technology once the system was “100% correct”.”We will accept DRS when technology is foolproof. There’s nothing in between. Full stop,” Dalmiya told the . “Let them come up with a system which is 100% correct. They couldn’t fix the Duckworth-Lewis problem in 15 years, what guarantee do we have about an error-free DRS? The Duckworth-Lewis method is beyond most of the players and administrators, let alone the common fans. I am still trying to figure out how a team total is increased on the basis of projection. The whole process is very complicated and confusing. And rather than solving the riddle, DRS creates more confusion in its present form.”Dalmiya also said that he had expected India to be isolated on the DRS matter at the ICC’s annual conference earlier in the year, but had not faced any opposition from other members.”Before going to the ICC meeting I was a bit iffy as I was told by some quarters that India would be completely isolated on the DRS issue,” Dalmiya said. “But after I was done with my presentation on that day, there was not a single voice of protest.”India were a part of the first-ever Test series in 2008 which featured DRS. But the team voted against the use of the system and the board decided to back the players. The BCCI also declined the recommendation of the ICC’s cricket committee to embrace the DRS in all formats of the game at the international level.
Fast bowler Michael Chinouya and legspinner Natsai M’shangwe have been picked in the Zimbabwe Select squad that takes on Australia A in a three-day game starting Thursday in Harare. All the players named in the 12-man team are also part of the squad previously announced for the home ODI series against India which starts on July 24.M’shangwe, 22, has represented Zimbabwe in limited-overs games but is yet to play a Test. Graeme Cremer was the preferred legspinner for all four Tests Zimbabwe have played this year. Chinouya is still to make his international debut.After Harare, Australia A will move south for an unofficial two-match Test series against South Africa A, which will be followed by a one-day triangular series, also involving India A.Zimbabwe Select squad Brendan Taylor (capt & wk), Sikandar Raza, Vusi Sibanda, Hamilton Masakadza, Malcolm Waller, Timycen Maruma, Elton Chigumbura, Natsai M’shangwe, Michael Chinouya, Tendai Chatara, Kyle Jarvis, Brian Vitori
The red ball and white kit that England have enjoyed for the last couple of weeks have been swapped for a red kit and a white ball, a matter of days after the they beat the weather at HeadingleyAlastair Cook said he could not remember a quicker turnaround in formats during his career (at least the bus trip to Canberra after the 2010-11 Ashes was for a warm-up match) although he believes his players’ experience of the crammed county schedule will help them switch into one-day mode in time for Friday’s opening one-day international.”I reckon this is the quickest turnaround I can remember in my career,” Cook said. “I think it’s a skill we’ve learned from county cricket, we’ve been brought up with a four-day game followed by a one-day game straightaway so it’s not unusual for us at that level.”Clearly it’s slightly unusual to have such a quick turnaround in international cricket but it’s more a case of making sure you’re switched on mentally, making sure you’ve got your game plan in order for the change of format rather than technique wise.”This is where the intense nature of the season comes into focus. Three ODIs in six days at Lord’s, Southampton and Trent Bridge lead straight into the Champions Trophy. Then, of course, there is something significant happening from early July. While talk of the Ashes may not, after all, actually be banned by England, perhaps it should only be mentioned in hushed tones, although the sight of Kevin Pietersen netting at Lord’s was another reminder of what is ahead.The convergence of England’s Test and one-day sides, which has occurred over the last couple of seasons, especially when playing at home, is highlighted with only two of the eleven that finished at Headingley on Tuesday – Nick Compton and Matt Prior – not involved in this squad. Eoin Morgan, recently back from the IPL, and Jos Buttler return to the middle order.There was, perhaps, a hint of the issues England will face through the rest of the season when Cook spoke of a few “niggles” in the camp, although he would not divulge any further information, even the identity of those players carrying minor concerns. “I can’t tell you, sorry,” Cook said.An educated guess would suggest that Stuart Broad could be one. He appeared to hurt his right knee while diving to take a caught-and-bowled off Brendon McCullum on the final day at Headingely. “It’s always the way with such a quick turnaround from a Test match, there’s always a couple of niggles flying around we’re just going to wait and see,” Cook said.Although not injury-related, England may have to contend with the last-minute loss of Tim Bresnan, whose wife is due to give birth at any time. Jade Dernbach, the Surrey pace bowler, has been added as cover, although it would make sense if other members of the Champions Trophy squad were given priority.Cook, however, acknowledged the tricky balancing act he faces in these three matches, with them being a fully-fledged series rather than official warm-ups, which provide greater flexibility and do not carry kudos or ranking points.”You can’t treat these matches as warm-ups at all,” he said. “As an England side you try and win as many games as you can. There might be time in this three-match series where we might change a combination to have a look. But if we change a combination it’s not as a warm-up, we’re still going to try and win that game but there be time where we change things.”With that in mind, Cook did not guarantee all members of the squad a match before the Champions Trophy, although he did float the possibility that those spending time carrying the drinks could be sent back to their counties if it is felt they need extra match time.Someone who England hope will soon be spending time back in county cricket is Pietersen. He arrived at Lord’s to net with his team-mates after returning to training earlier this week and was also due to meet with team director Andy Flower.”It’s great news for England cricket to have him back playing again,” Cook told . “He’s practising first of all and it’s encouraging that he’s progressing well from that injury. Things are looking positive on that note and hopefully it’s not too long until he’s out in the middle.”Pietersen looked in high spirits as he edged closer to a return at some point in June – perhaps as early as the Championship match against Sussex at Arundel – when the serious task of preparing for Australia will begin. However that, as England like to keep reminding us, is very much in the future.