Josh Hazlewood has called for Cricket Australia to organise more T20 internationals in the lead-up to such big-ticket events

Arun Venugopal in Kolkata12-Mar-2016

Australia’s record in World T20 events is a rather curious anomaly for a team that has generally bossed ICC events. The general perception – no doubt a result of holding Australia to the exalted standards they have set for themselves in the 50-over World Cup – is they have flopped in each of the five previous editions of the World T20, but in reality they have been hit or miss. Australia have managed two semi-finals and a final but have not made the knockouts in their other two attempts; in fact, their campaign in 2009 lasted a mere three days.Some would suggest that Australia have rarely taken Twenty20 cricket seriously enough, despite their players being highly sought after in leagues across the world, not to mention the recent popularity of the Big Bash. The players disagree with such a notion but, undoubtedly, there is recognition that they need to play a greater number of T20Is.In the last 12 months Australia have played only seven T20Is; among the eight top-ranked teams only England (7) and West Indies (2) have played that number or fewer. Pakistan (17), India (15), Sri Lanka (13) and South Africa (11) have played a considerably higher number of matches, with India and Sri Lanka stacking their calendar to such an extent that they have played eleven and nine matches respectively since the new year.Australia fast bowler Josh Hazlewood reckoned his team would do well to adopt a similar approach and called for Cricket Australia to organise more T20 internationals in the lead-up to such big-ticket events.”We obviously don’t play as much T20 cricket as some of the other nations, and even in these conditions we don’t play as much,” he told journalists in Kolkata.”I think we definitely could play T20 a little bit more leading into big tournaments like this and probably in conditions that we are going to face in the tournament. In the future that’s something that we have to look at. It [India playing many games] is smart leading into a T20 tournament, to play a lot of that format that you are going to play. I think we are getting better at it but I think we still need to improve it.”John Hastings, Hazlewood’s pace-bowling partner, agreed with the observation of their captain, Steven Smith, that the absence of many regular players from the Test and ODI side hurt Australia. He also felt that the heavy turnover of players didn’t afford them much time to figure out their roles in the team.”I think mainly it’s because we haven’t probably had a settled line-up over the years where the guys are resting at the back of a Test tour or a one day tour,” he said. “There’s been a lot of different players coming through and making their debuts for Australia in T20 cricket. So when you are always chopping and changing, it’s difficult to have a really defined role in the side on what you want to get of it and what the team needs you to do.”Smith, however, was confident about Australia’s chances given the number of players in the team who had knowledge of Indian conditions.”Traditionally we haven’t done as well as we would have liked in this format. This is a tournament that has eluded us so we’re here to try and win it,” he said. “We have all certainly played a lot of T20 cricket. We know how to play the game and if we do it to the best of our ability we are going to be a tough side to beat.”I think IPL has been great in the development of a lot of players from all around the world. The experiences we have had from the IPL will hold us in good stead for this tournament. A lot of us know what to expect, what the conditions are going to be like. What it’s like playing in front of big crowds here in India. We’re really excited.”Hastings said Australia’s 2-1 win in their recent T20 international series against South Africa was an injection of positive energy just ahead of the World T20. “It’s been great that this last two weeks in South Africa we have had a pretty settled team,” he said. “It’s the same fifteen that are going to be with us right through for the next three weeks. I think that will hold us in better shape now [since] we know our guys inside out. Now it’s about going out and executing our skills.”

Eoin Morgan is a man who revels in inscrutability, but as he strode from the nets at the Wankhede Stadium, it was possible to detect a glint of satisfaction in his eyes. The project of which he has been at the helm for little over a year now embarks on its acid test at 7.30pm on Wednesday evening. Whatever the outcome, few doubt that England, finally, are ready to fizz.On his way to the changing rooms, Morgan paused to pose with a giant England flag bearing a range of good luck messages from fans who sense that something is changing in their country’s attitude to limited-overs cricket. The misery of England’s eviction from the 2015 World Cup is a sufficiently recent memory that few would dare to get too carried away. And yet, there’s no doubt that something is stirring. And, clearly, not before time.”I think this feels different because we’ve a different group of players,” Morgan said. “It’s a new energy, it’s an exciting time for English cricket given the talent that we have in our group, and the attitude in taking the game to the opposition. It certainly feels different in that regard.”The most fundamental shift, Morgan added, is that his post-World Cup England team has offloaded the reticence of the former regime and is now brave enough to “play with no consequences”. It’s an attitude that, as he has previously intimated, could go some way to surmounting their lack of experience in Indian conditions. And to that end, he insists that defeat against a hugely experienced West Indies team would not be the “be-all and end-all”.”Going into any tournament, it’s not about getting out of the traps early and playing your best game first up,” he said. “It’s about pacing yourself and picking up confidence and putting in performances when they really matter. [But] the first game is a tough game – I do agree with that.”West Indies, with wearying familiarity, come into the World T20 to a back-beat of politics and infighting, and yet, with the exception of the injured Kieron Pollard and the blacklisted Sunil Narine, all of their big guns are back out in force for one last tilt at a title that they won in some style only two editions ago.No fewer than eight of the West Indies squad are IPL veterans (compared to the solitary figure of Morgan in England’s camp), and in Chris Gayle and Dwayne Bravo, West Indies possess two of the most established matchwinners the format has ever known. That is sufficient reason for Morgan to embrace the role of the underdog, and his dead-batted lack of interest in his opponents’ recent issues merely reinforced that position.”They have a number of dangerous players,” Morgan said. “West Indies have been a strong side in the past. They have a number of individual players who are very strong. It’s important for us as a young talented side to focus on what we do best and execute that as part of anything. There are plans in place, but ultimately it’s how we execute them.”Those plans, on what for the moment remains a green-tinged Mumbai surface, look set to revolve around a four-pronged pace attack, with the allrounder Ben Stokes creating wriggle-room in England’s bowling options. Reece Topley is sure to take the new ball and Chris Jordan is set to continue his death-bowling duties following the success of his Yorkers in England’s warm-up matches. Which leaves a toss-up between the height and pace of Liam Plunkett or the left-arm wiles of David Willey for England’s final slot.”You can keep guessing,” Morgan joked. “If you could guess me a few winners at Cheltenham today that’d be great as well.”Of the two, it is Willey who has had the more impact in the course of England’s preparations. His hat-trick while playing for the opposition down the road at the Brabourne Stadium on Monday provided a late varnish to figures that had been somewhat dented at the top of the innings. Plunkett, by contrast, has bowled four overs in two games, and was dumped for 19 in his solitary effort against New Zealand, although his hostility could be vital if the Wankhede pitch has any sort of pace and carry.”Wills swings it up front, comes back into middle and bowls change-ups,” Morgan added. “He has a canny knack of taking wickets, which is something that we’ve struggled doing for a while. But given the circumstances of any pitch, whether it’s two-paced or quick, [Plunkett] is an important player in the squad, with his extra bit of height and different trajectory to everyone else.”If there is one area in which England appear to have an edge over their opponents, it is in the skill and confidence of their legspinner Adil Rashid. His huge development at Adelaide Strikers during the Big Bash is both a boon to England’s prospects of going deep into the tournament, but also a warning that all too few of their players have been similarly exposed in franchise tournaments. But, with Narine’s career in turmoil following the ICC’s clampdown on illegal actions, Rashid’s mystery in the middle overs could prove vital.”It’s a very touchy subject,” said Morgan, a former team-mate of Narine’s at Kolkata Knight Riders. “I know Sunil and I’m not pleased to see what he’s going through, I wouldn’t wish it on anybody. He’s bowled the same way since he was 15-16 years old, and the fact that he’s got to this stage of his career and it’s only being looked at now is probably disappointing from his point of view. But there are set rules in place that are being deployed.”As for Rashid, Morgan was happy to back his man to continue his impressive form, but warned that his most significant role might come later in the campaign. “Adil’s come a long way in the last couple of years,” he said. “I know in the nets we find him very hard to pick, let alone play, and I think given the conditions, he and Moeen [Ali] can play a big part, though here I’m not quite sure. It might not turn as much as it does in Delhi.”It’s normally a pretty good batting surface here. Again, it’s another challenge for the bowlers to try to emphasise taking wickets and halting momentum throughout the innings. It’s a challenge we’ve come up against in the past, and will continue to do so in Twenty20 cricket.”

MatériaMais Notícias

No último dia 11 de agosto, pela 15ª Rodada da Série B, o panorama do Derby Campineiro era extremamente mais favorável a equipe da Ponte Preta que, aproveitando também o fator casa, venceu por 1 a 0 confronto que valeu se manter perto do G4 e deixar o Guarani afundado na lanterna da competição.

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Porém, seguindo a máxima do futebol onde se menciona a questão dos ciclos, os eternos rivais do interior paulista se reencontram no próximo sábado (9) às 16h30 (horário de Brasília) no Brinco de Ouro da Princesa com patamar de equilíbrio bem mais condizente com a história do clássico que chega a sua edição 195.

O Alviverde ocupa posição onde o rebaixamento ainda é uma preocupação (39 pontos na 14ª posição cinco à frente do 17°, o Figueirense), mas estabeleceu um padrão de jogo sob o comando do técnico oficialmente tratado como interino interino Thiago Carpini que tem revivido o contentamento do torcedor bugrino.

Por sua vez, o objetivo antes próximo da Ponte de adentrar e sustentar uma posição dentro dos quatro primeiros colocados se tornou bem mais complicada no aspecto matemático. Em 11° lugar com 43 pontos, a equipe dirigida por Gilson Kleina vem de seis rodadas sem vitória e já vê o quarto colocado, Coritiba, abrir 10 unidades de dianteira restando 15 em disputa.

Oficialmente, a Macaca não confirma ou mesmo dá indícios mais sólidos se passará por muitas modificações. Sendo que, nesse momento, a grande dúvida para compôr o 11 inicial seja a peça de velocidade ofensiva onde dois jovens brigam pelo posto, Marquinhos ou Vico.

A mesma postura de mistério é adotada por Carpini em relação a escalação. Contudo, as informações apuradas dão conta de que os pontos de interrogação para o técnico do Bugre seriam a utilização de Luiz Gustavo ou Bruno Silva para formar a zaga ao lado de Diego Giaretta além de Deivid ou Marcelo no setor de marcação no meio-campo.

A round-up of all the Plunket Shield matches that were played from March 15-18, 2016

ESPNcricinfo staff18-Mar-2016

Seamer Lachie Ferguson’s figures of 5 for 68 in Otago’s second innings stretched his match haul to eight wickets as Auckland claimed a narrow 10-run win in Dunedin.Chasing 218, Otago were bowled out for 207 in 49.3 overs and to add their woes, offspinner Mark Craig was struck flush on the hand by a Ferguson beamer while batting. The injury forced Craig off the field, and is likely to put him completely out of action for at least six weeks.Ferguson was quick to dismiss the openers on the third day and leave Otago in early trouble at 33 for 2. Derek de Boorder counterattacked, but lacked support from the other end. He struck 81 off 76 before he was bowled by Ferguson. Allrounder Colin de Grandhomme complemented Ferguson well by taking two wickets. Auckland eventually walked away with 18 points.The match was set up by Robert O’Donnell’s 87, which helped Auckland to 255 in the first innings, and a lead of 78 runs, after they were asked to bat. Ferguson and Grandhomme had done the damage in Otago’s first innings as well, with combined figures of 27.5 -8- 66-6. Opener Ryan Duffy carried his bat for 90* off 163, but the other end was a case of revolving doors as Otago were bowled out for 177.Auckland collapsed to 139 within 51 overs in the second innings as Craig Smith took 4 for 35, but had the cushion of the first-innings advantage, and a solid bowling attack.Wellington defended 183 against Canterbury, courtesy three-fors from Ian McPeake and Jeetan Patel. Canterbury were skittled for 129 on a maniac final day, which witnessed the fall of 20 wickets.Having been inserted, Wellington made 206 on the back of England professional Scott Borthwick’s century, which included 13 fours. After rain wiped out the second day, Canterbury, riding on fifties from openers Leo Carter and Michael Davidson, opted for a bold declaration at 159 for 2.Fast bowler Hamish Bennett raised Canterbury’s hopes with figures of 5 for 54, which dismissed Wellington for only 136, with only three batsmen managing double figures, the highest being Michael Papps’ 51 at the top of the order.However, Canterbury’s hopes faded away as they succumbed to a collapse of their own. Each of their top-four batsmen reached double figures, but none managed a substantial contribution.Big centuries by Daniel Flynn and Bharat Popli set up a 115-run win for Northern Districts over Central Districts in Hamilton.After being put in to bat, Northern Districts piled up 458 for 6 declared on the back of a 258-run partnership between Flynn and Popli. Opener Flynn struck 26 fours during his 158 while Popli collected 27 fours during his 172.Central Districts were then bowled out for 293, with several of their batsmen failing to capitalise on their starts. Riding on a 165-run lead, Northern Districts put on 332 for 7, led by fifties from Dean Brownlie, Popli and Daryl Mitchell’s 49-ball 72, before declaring to set a target of 498. Central Districts showed more fight in the second innings, but came up short. Tom Bruce led the way for them with 166 off 233 balls and No. 8 Bevan Small scored 76. Spinners Joe Walker and Anton Devcich wheeled away for 57.2 overs, to share eight wickets between them, to seal the win. Devcich finished with eight wickets in the match.

MatériaMais Notícias

A chegada de DyegoCoelho ao Corinthians trouxe algumas importantes mudanças no estilo de jogo da equipe. Uma das mais perceptíveis é o posicionamento dos laterais. Agora atuando quase como um terceiro zagueiro quando o Timão tem a posse de bola, Danilo Avelar se mostrou satisfeito com a nova forma de jogar da equipe e elogiou o trabalho do treinador interino.

Nos dois últimos jogos nesta temporada, contra Fortaleza e Palmeiras, Avelar posicionou-se ao lado de Gil e Manoel. A ideia da comissão técnica interina é dar segurança ao sistema defensivo, enquanto Janderson tem liberdade para atacar e o lateral Michel Macedo é atua quase como um ponta, dando opções para os meio-campistas do Timão.

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>Confira a classificação atualizada do Campeonato Brasileiro

Na saída do Pacaembu, logo após o empate, em 1 a 1, no Dérbi, Avelar falou sobre o novo posicionamento e revelou estar satisfeito atuando mais próximos dos zagueiros, sobretudo por conta de sua altura – 1,84m.

– Me sinto bem ali, pela minha estatura física dá um suporte mais defensivo, uma característica mais europeia. Espero melhorar mais ainda. Acredito que ainda posso entregar muito mais nessa posição – afirmou o lateral.

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No próximo domingo, às 16h, o Corinthians tem uma decisão pela frente contra o Internacional. A tendência é de que Dyego Coelho mantenha o posicionamento da equipe, sobretudo por estar jogando em casa contra um adversário direto na briga por uma vaga na Copa Libertadores do ano que vem. O duelo contra o Colorado é visto como uma decisão pelo Alvinegro.

Rashid Khan, Afghanistan’s teenage legspinner, believed “100%” that his team were on course for victory over England after they had claimed six wickets in the first 10 overs of their contest at Delhi. Instead, England recovered to post 142 for 7 and close out a victory that confirmed Afghanistan’s elimination from the tournament.”We thought we had our game at 100%,” Rashid said. “But they played good cricket at the end, and that’s why they took the game away from us.”After selecting four spinners and a solitary quick bowler in Shapoor Zadran, Afghanistan had designs on keeping their opponents to below 100. England had slipped to 57 for 6 and 85 for 7 before Moeen Ali and David Willey revived the pre-match favourites with an unbroken 57-run stand, allowing them to survive going toe-to-toe with Afghanistan.”We planned to play simple cricket and see what happened,” Rashid said. “On that time, we thought we have to restrict them to under 100, we tried our best to restrict them under 100, but unfortunately they played good cricket, especially Moeen Ali, so they made it to 140.”In reply, Afghanistan stuttered to 13 for 3 after three overs, which included the dismissal of their star batsman Mohammad Shahzad, for 4. Despite losing regular wickets, they still managed to take the game to the wire, Shafiqullah’s unbeaten 35 from 20 balls capping a spirited fightback that meant England could not be sure of victory until the final few deliveries.”We didn’t start well, but we did well in the middle, we took responsibility,” said Rashid, who was promoted to No. 5 and made 15 in only his fourth T20I innings. “It was a good game, a close game, we will learn from it and in the future we will not repeat the same mistakes.”Afghanistan may not be able to qualify for the semi-finals after three defeats from three in Group 1 but they will have one more chance to finish the tournament with victory over a Full Member when they take on West Indies in Nagpur on Sunday.

BCCI secretary Anurag Thakur has said that Ravi Shastri’s contract as India’s team director has ended, but can be renewed if the Cricket Advisory Committee deem fit

ESPNcricinfo staff01-Apr-2016BCCI secretary Anurag Thakur has said that Ravi Shastri’s contract as India’s team director has ended, but can be renewed if the Cricket Advisory Committee (CAC), comprising Sachin Tendulkar, VVS Laxman and Sourav Ganguly, deem fit. Shastri, whose contract expired after India’s exit from the World T20, can only be reinstated as full-time coach as Thakur has stated there will be no position of team director.The CAC, which was formed in June 2015 for all major cricket-related decisions, has been tasked with picking a coach and the committee is likely to meet after the World T20.”Ravi Shastri’s contract has ended. We are looking at a full-time coach and the decision will be taken by the Cricket Advisory Committee. There won’t be a Team Director and a full-time coach. It will be only one post and even Ravi’s contract can come up for renewal,” Thakur told . “It will be the post of a full-time coach. CAC has been asked to shortlist the names of the possible candidates for the post. The meeting of the CAC is expected to happen post April 3. It can happen before the start of the IPL also. We will have to decide on the date.”Under Shastri, who had taken over as director in 2014, India made it to successive semi-finals of global events – the 2015 World Cup and the 2016 World T20, and also climbed to No. 1 on the Test rankings for a period of eight weeks until Australia took over in February 2016. In this period, India also won their first limited-overs bilateral series in Australia, after beating the hosts 3-0 in a three-match T20 series.

South Africa batsman Hashim Amla is set to replace the injured Shaun Marsh at Kings XI Punjab, ESPNcricinfo has learnt

Arun Venugopal03-May-20162:03

Hashim Amla joins KXIP squad

South Africa batsman Hashim Amla is set to replace the injured Shaun Marsh at Kings XI Punjab, ESPNcricinfo has learnt. Marsh was ruled out of IPL 2016 on Monday due to a back injury.It is understood that clearances for Amla’s stint with the team have been obtained and ESPNcricinfo has learnt that he is expected to join the side soon.Amla, who stepped down as South Africa’s Test captain in January this year, is yet to make his IPL debut. The batsman was part of the player list for the 2016 auction in February, with a base price of INR 1 crore, but remained unsold.Overall, Amla has played 88 T20s scoring 2446 runs at an average of 31.35 and a strike rate of 125.95. He scored two fifties as an opening batsman for South Africa in the recent World T20, tallying 120 runs in four matches in the tournament at a strike rate of 134.83.Marsh reportedly picked up the injury in the game against Kolkata Knight Riders on April 19, and has been carrying a niggle since. He batted and fielded in Sunday’s game, when Kings XI beat Gujarat Lions, with some discomfort.

Sunil Narine will rejoin Kolkata Knight Riders on Tuesday evening after a brief visit back home to Trinidad and Tobago following the death of his father. Narine will be available for selection for Knight Riders’ second fixture on Wednesday, against Mumbai Indians at Eden Gardens.Narine, who opted out of the 2016 World Twenty20 to work on his remodelled action, underwent testing at the ICC-accredited centre in Chennai before joining his IPL team-mates in Kolkata, but had to rush back home on April 3. His action was deemed legal by the ICC on April 7, two days before the start of this year’s IPL.Brad Hogg, Knight Riders’ other lead spinner, who addressed the pre-match press conference on Tuesday, insisted a change in action has had little impact on Narine’s control and mastery. “It is good having Sunil V 2.0,” Hogg said. “It is just a confidence thing with Sunil. I remember taking some balls from him.”I struggled to pick it from the hand. He was bowling the or I thought it was going the other way and I looked like a complete idiot as the ball went to the boundary past me,” Hogg said rolling his eyes to the left to indicate the ball sliding down the leg side. “His action was perfect. And he was still bowling the balls we see out in the middle. We know that he can do it legitimately.”Hogg, who took three wickets in Knight Riders’ nine-wicket win in their tournament opener against Delhi Daredevils, said Narine’s return would mean a tussle for spots, but insisted it was a healthy rivalry.”We put pressure on each other with the ball. It is competitive and respectful competition between us,” he said. “He is a class bowler. He has been sorely missed. As individuals we train hard. We want to be able to be on the park. But it is a team. If I am not playing and he takes my spot, I have to create the energy which I quite have in the change room to make sure everyone is up for the challenge.”

Chesney Hughes hit an unbeaten 137 as Derbyshire comfortably batted out for a draw on the final day of their match with Gloucestershire in Bristol

ECB Reporters Network20-Apr-2016
ScorecardChesney Hughes cashed in on the final day of a bat-dominated match•Getty Images

Chesney Hughes hit an unbeaten 137 as Derbyshire comfortably batted out for a draw on the final day of their match with Gloucestershire in Bristol.With Hamish Rutherford contributing 78 to a second-wicket stand of 174, the visitors wiped out Gloucestershire’s first innings lead of 119 with few alarms under largely cloudless skies.Derbyshire had reached 260 for 2 when the players shook hands at 4.50pm, by which time Hughes, who had fallen four short of a hundred in the first innings, had faced 240 balls and hit 20 fours and a six without giving a chance.It was an impressive display by the powerful left-hander. Gloucestershire took 12 points and Derbyshire eight from a game dominated by the bat on a slow, benign wicket.The final day began with the hosts leading by 119 on first innings. Derbyshire’s first task was to avoid losing early wickets, but Lady Luck soon took a hand.Ben Slater was unfortunate to be run out for 6 when seamer Liam Norwell, operating from the Pavilion End, tipped a straight drive from Hughes onto the stumps at the bowler’s end.Gloucestershire were unable to capitalise on a surface offering little in terms of spin or seam movement and soon the draw was looking inevitable.By lunch Derbyshire were virtually safe on 105 for 1, with Hughes having moved to fifty off 75 balls, with 10 fours, and the less secure Rutherford on 37.The home side had to wait until the 55th over for a second success when Rutherford, who had escaped some airy shots, was caught by the diving Chris Dent at cover off Jack Taylor, having faced 142 balls and hit 10 fours.Rutherford had made an important contribution, while never looking in great form, and by the time he fell his side were 61 ahead.Hughes moved confidently to his eighth first-class century and second against Gloucestershire, bringing it up with his 16th four, forcing offspinner Taylor through the off side.He was unbeaten on 123 at tea, which was taken with Derbyshire 219 for 2, exactly 100 ahead.The shortened final session saw Hughes and Wayne Madsen (27 not out) bat effortlessly as Gloucestershire rested their main seamers.But there was a scare for the hosts near the end as skipper and wicketkeeper Gareth Roderick had to leave the field with a hand injury, sustained standing up to the medium-pace of Kieran Noema-Barnett.It was a match made memorable by the third-day century of Gloucestershire nightwatchman Norwell, but otherwise home supporters will be hoping for more entertaining cricket when Worcestershire provide the opposition on Sunday.