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Thursday, December 22, 2011

C r i c H o t L i n e

C r i c H o t L i n e

Sydney Thunder vs Adelaide Strikers Live Streams T20 Big Bash League 2011

Posted: 22 Dec 2011 11:49 AM PST


Watch Sydney Thunder vs Adelaide Strikers Big Bash League T20, 2011 (to be) played at Sydney LIVE STREAMING on WWW.THECRICKET-TV.INFO

Live Cricket streaming: Sydney Thunder vs Adelaide Strikers Big Bash League (BBL) Twenty20 live streaming 2011 played in Sydney, Australia on 23 December 2011. Live Broadcast of Big Bash League live streams 2011 free online on Star Cricket and Fox Sports. Adelaide Strikers vs Sydney Thunder Big Bash League 2011-12 Live streams. AS vs ST Big Bash League 2011-12 live streaming. Watch Big Bash League Live Streaming 2011-12. Watch BBL T20 Live Streaming 2011-12 @ TheCricket-TV.INFO


Match Timings: Dec 23, 2011 (19:00 local | 08:00 GMT | 13:30 IST)


Click Here to watch the Live Streams

Tough challenge for bowlers vs Indian top order: Clarke

Posted: 22 Dec 2011 10:11 AM PST


Australian captain Michael Clarke on Thursday conceded that his side’s young bowling group would face a tough challenge against the star-studded and experienced Indian top order batting in the Test series starting on December 26.

“The sheer weight of runs scored by the Indian top order over the years indicates that our bowling group is in for a tough challenge, but we are confident we’ve identified a few areas where we can have impact,” Clarke said.

“The experience and class of India against the talent and energy of this exciting Australian team should make for a thrilling contest for the 75,000 people in the stands and the millions more watching around the world.

“There’s also the issue of Sachin Tendulkar and his 100th international century, which has been a huge talking point in India and around the cricketing world,” said the Australian captain.

Clarke feels that the visiting bowling attack would lose sheen if strike bowler Zaheer Khan is not fully fit.

“The Indians have struggled with a few injuries to their bowling attack, and they will need Zaheer Khan to be fit otherwise there will be a lot of pressure on the other Indian bowlers. As for our own attack, we will be assessing the conditions over the next few days before determining the final XI for Boxing Day,” Clarke wrote in his column for ‘Daily Telegraph’.

“Ben Hilfenhaus and Mitchell Starc will be fighting it out for the third fast bowler’s spot and they obviously bring different skills to the table. Hilfy boasts experience, the ability to swing the ball and bowl long spells, while Mitchell is a tall left-armer who can be a real handful for opposing batsmen when he gets everything in sync,” he wrote.

Clarke also indicated that all-rounder Dan Christian could be brought into the playing eleven as Shane Watson was not named in the squad after having failed to recover fully from his injury.

“The option of using Dan Christian at No.6 is another interesting one for us. It’s certainly handy having that extra bowling option as Shane Watson has shown us in recent years, although we have had success playing just the four specialists as well. Again, a lot of it will come down to the conditions,” wrote Clarke.

“Another crucial factor in deciding our final XI will be how Shaun Marsh pulls up from his Big Bash League game with the Perth Scorchers last night. He has come along in leaps and bounds the last few weeks from his back injury, and it was great to see him hitting the ball well in our batting camp this week. We’ll know a lot more today about where he is physically,” he wrote.

Clarke does not see any problem in the Test players featuring in the Twenty20 Big Bash League just ahead of the series. Rather he said playing in Big Bash would help the players.

“There has been plenty of discussion about the merits of Test squad members playing in the Big Bash between the New Zealand and Indian Test series. I think its been good for players to have some time in the middle and I’ve personally enjoyed watching the games on TV. Certainly the timing has been perfect in getting Shaun a game off the back of our batting camp,” he said.

Talking about the batting camp called for some players, including himself, struggling Ricky Ponting and Michael Hussey, Clarke said, “The camp has also been in the news of late, and its given the whole batting group a good chance to spend some time together before Boxing Day.

“We’ve spoken about the opposition and brought in some bowlers who have similar traits to the Indians to ensure our preparation is as comprehensive as it can be. It’s all about improvement and I’m confident the boys will put in a good showing over the next four Tests.”

© PTI

If India can control Ponting, they can control Australia: Kapil Dev

Posted: 22 Dec 2011 10:03 AM PST


Former India captain Kapil Dev feels if the Indians could handle the experienced campaigner Ricky Ponting, they could enhance their chances of beating Australia in the upcoming four-Test series, starting on December 26.

“Ricky Ponting is the most important player. He is an experienced player and if India can control him then we can control Australia. Remember experience always comes in handy in the long run. He has scored enough runs against us and is due for a big score,” said 1983 World Cup winning captain.

The 52-year-old, who played 131 Tests and 225 ODIs, said this is India’s best chance of upsetting Australia in their own backyard as they are no more that ferocious team they used to be after the retirements of some of their key players.

“This time India has a better chance to win the Test series in Australia, there is no doubt about that. Australia were on top of the world cricket for 15 years. But now it is not the same team without (Glenn) McGrath, (Shane) Warne, ( Adam) Gilchrist and (Matthew) Hayden.

“They are not as strong as they used to be,” insisted Kapil on the ICC Cricket World Radio Show.

“We still have Sachin, Rahul Dravid, VVS Laxman and Virender Sehwag. Then there are young talented fast bowlers and spinners. We are getting strong everyday. We, therefore, have a better chance than ever before.

“Earlier that was not the case because we were no match for Australia. Australia dominated world cricket and always bounced back. But this time we can go there thinking of not drawing but with a view to win the series,” he added.

On Tendulkar’s long-awaited 100th international century, Kapil said, “Sachin has served Indian cricket so enormously that at this stage this talk of this 100th hundred is not important. If India can win the series, Sachin’s 100th hundred will be taken care of.”

Former Australia captain Kim Hughes is convinced that Tendulkar will score his 100th international ton in Australia but suggested the champion batsman to use lighter bats.

“Tendulkar always looks in good form. Using heavy bats on flatter wickets are fine but when the wickets have got a bit of a pace and bounce, then I don’t think heavier bats are a wise thing. I think lighter bats in Australia where you play more horizontal shots are a better option.

“You would think in four Tests, Tendulkar will get an opportunity (to score a century). We produce good wickets in Australia for the batsmen and I would have thought Tendulkar will certainly get one hundred in one of those four Test matches,” said Hughes.

Hughes feels that the Indian opener Sehwag is possibly Australia’s biggest threat.

“I think Sehwag is biggest danger for Australia because he gets India off to such a good positive start and he likes playing well on our true wickets. Sehwag have always done well in Australia. India’s batting is far superior to Australia’s.

“(Sachin) Tendulkar is still playing marvelously well, (Rahul) Dravid is in fantastic form, and (VVS) Laxman and (Virender),” said the 57-year-old.

Hughes, who played 70 Tests and 97 ODIs for Australia, said, “India’s record away from home has not been very good. They got slaughtered by England (earlier this summer) and England are a far better side than Australia. But I would have thought that given Aussies injury worries and that we are an average side now, yes, this would be India’s best chance.”

Hughes said that Australia’s young bowling attack have to carry the bulk of the responsibility.

“Australia has got a young spinner in (Nathan) Lyon and it will be younger bowlers (James) Pattinson, (Mitchell) Starc and (Peter) Siddle who will have to carry the bulk of the bowling.

“Our batting has been very, very brittle as evident in South Africa and against New Zealand albeit I think the wickets will be more conducive to batting in Melbourne, Sydney and Adelaide,” he said.

© PTI

Warne wishes Tendulkar to reach 100th ton at MCG

Posted: 22 Dec 2011 03:58 AM PST


Australian spin legend Shane Warne has little doubt that Sachin Tendulkar would get his 100th international century on the present tour Down Under, but he wished the iconic Indian batsman to reach the feat in the first cricket Test starting December 26.

“I feel Sachin would get his 100th century (in Australia) but I wish he does so in Melbourne,” Warne said on the sidelines of a function at the Melbourne Cricket Ground where his 300kg bronze statue was unveiled this morning.

Warne, who in his entire career could claim Tendulkar’s wicket only thrice in Test matches, has enormous respect for the champion Indian batsman whom he rates as the best willow-yielder of his time.

The first match against Australia would be Tendulkar’s 185th Test. He has so far made 15,183 runs from 303 innings with 51 centuries at an average of 56.03 in five-day games.

Tendulkar also has 18,111 runs from 453 ODIs with 48 centuries under his belt at an average of 45.16.

Tendulkar, though, has struggled to add to his tally of 99 international centuries this year – his last ton being 111 against South Africa at Nagpur in March during the World Cup.

His last Test century was also against South Africa – 146 at the Newlands, Cape Town in January and has been without a ton in the longest format of the game in his last 14 innings.

On the present tour, India revisits Melbourne again in February, though it would be for a 50-over match against Australia on February 3.

Meanwhile, Warne also expects the famed Indian batting line up to do well in the upcoming series.

“I think their batters, especially Rahul Dravid, will make big runs. He’s a quality person, a quality act, a quality player.

“India has a quality team. In Test cricket we’ve seen them, against the West Indies. Their batsmen will do pretty well,” said Warne, who ended his career with 708 wickets from 145 Tests at a staggering average of 25.42.

The former leg-spinner, however, did not boast of an impressive record against India. In his 14 Tests against India, Warne captured only 43 wickets at an average of 47.19.

If Warne is confident about India’s good showing in the batting department in Australia, he has serious doubts over the visitors’ bowling abilities.

“Their bowlers will have to stay fit. If Zaheer Khan or Ishant Sharma get injured, then I think their bowling attack could be quite weak. The Australian batsmen could perform pretty well. I think it’s going to come down to how India are going to take 20 wickets with their bowling,” he said.

© PTI

Zaheer Khan fitness remains a concern ahead of India-Australia test series

Posted: 22 Dec 2011 03:49 AM PST


Injury-prone Indian pace spearhead Zaheer Khan’s fitness remains a concern ahead of the first Test against Australia next week even though he did not show any discomfort while bowling during a practice match in Canberra.

Fifteen overs in the three-day match against Cricket Australia Chairman’s XI might have been good for keeping his critics at bay but there isn’t enough evidence that the left-arm pacer would be able to handle a workload of 40 overs in a Test.

Only 72 hours separate the first and second Tests of the series and the demands on the creaking joints of the 33-year-old are only going to multiply manifold.

Zaheer simply hasn’t exerted enough during the nets or in the middle to show that he could chase, dive around or throw from the deep with sufficient energy. His bowling, from afar, appeared to lack a strong finish and his famous rhythm, quite simply, was missing.

Zaheer has often said he relies on bowling a great number of overs to improve his fitness and maintain his rhythm but post-recovery from an ankle surgery, the left-arm pacer just hasn’t been able to bowl to his liking.

Teammates quickly spring to his defence like young star Ravichandran Ashwin did in Canberra when he said Zaheer, and Ishant, are “gradually peaking for the Test series.”

Many reckon even a half-fit Zaheer is indispensable to India’s chances but former Indian captain Sourav Ganguly, under whose stewardship Zaheer first broke through into Indian ranks during the Champions Trophy in 2000, disagrees vehemently.

“We can’t afford to have a 50 per cent fit Zaheer Khan in Australia. For India to win, Zaheer still needs to play a lot more matches and for that he needs to be fully fit,” Ganguly has said in India.

Ian Chappell, former Australian captain and now a commentator, reckons Zaheer, alongwith Virender Sehwag, is absolutely vital if India is to break the 64-year drought of winning a Test series in Australia. He also feels Zaheer is a constant candidate “for the medical ward.”

Zaheer, on his part, has maintained that nothing is wrong with him and he is ahead of the schedule on his fitness.

“Because I had a four-month break so I could prepare well for the series. In the past, it used to be at the end of the season that I would go to Australia and breakdown…We (alongwith physios) chalked out this plan. So far I’ve been achieving the milestones about 8-10 days before they were delivered.”

In Canberra, between the two Chairman’s XI games, Zaheer bowled for about 20 minutes to Virender Sehwag then lay out on his stomach to receive a treatment on the back.

Contrast this with James Pattinson of Australia who bowled flat out at the batting camp in Melbourne yesterday and hit Ricky Ponting painfully on his fingers. Zaheer hasn’t been able to provide a similar test to the Indian batsmen in the nets.

Freshly drafted opener in Australian squad for Melbourne Test, Ed Cowan, wondered cheekily in Canberra what would happen to India’s chances if Zaheer, along with Ishant, was to breakdown mid-way through the game.

“Zaheer is a great competitor on the world stage. I don’t know how fit Sharma is going to be but it’s a risk if both him and Zaheer are in the team and both break down–so I’m sure they’re aware of that as well,” said Cowan on Wednesday.

Indians arrived in Melbourne on Thursday and ruled out any practice session for themselves. Zaheer, and the rest of the team, could have at the most three sessions before the Boxing Day Test is unveiled on December 26.

For the Indian team to live up to its billing, Zaheer would have to turn up in top shape for the Test series.

© PTI

Melbourne Renegades vs Perth Scorchers Scorecard T20 Big Bash (2011)

Posted: 22 Dec 2011 01:33 AM PST


Big Bash League 2011

Melbourne Renegades vs Perth Scorchers – Match 7

Played at Played at Docklands Stadium, Melbourne, 22 Dec 2011

Toss – Melbourne Renegades won the toss and elected to Bat.

Result – Perth Scorchers beat Melbourne Renegades by 8 wickets

Melbourne Renegades Innings R B 4s 6s SR
Aaron Finch b B Hogg 49 40 5 1 122.50
Andrew McDonald (c) c M Marsh b M Beer 50 33 3 2 151.52
Glenn Maxwell b M Beer 31 15 1 3 206.66
Nathan Reardon Not Out 22 15 1 3 206.66
Abdul Razzaq Not Out 27 17 1 2 158.82
Shahid Afridi            
William Sheridan            
Graham Manou (wk)            
Shane Harwood            
Aaron Heal            
Shaun Tait            
Extras (b 1,lb 1,w 8, nb 0) 9
Total (3 wickets; 20.0 overs) 188 (9.40 runs per over)

Fall of wickets (Melbourne Renegades):

1-91 (Finch, 10.4 ov), 2-115 (McDonald, 13.2 ov), 3-141 (Maxwell, 15.2 ov)

 Bowling O M R W Econ
Michael Beer 4 0 28 2 7.00 (w 2)
Nathan Rimmington 4 0 40 0 10.00 (w 1)
Ben Edmondson 4 0 36 0 9.00  
Mitchell Marsh 2 0 26 0 13.00 (w 1)
Brad Hogg 4 0 22 1 5.50  
Paul Collingwood 1 0 13 0 13.00  
Marcus North 1 0 22 0 22.00  

 

Perth Scorchers Innings R B 4s 6s SR
Herschelle Gibbs c W Sheridan b A McDonald 57 36 8 2 158.33
Shaun Marsh Not Out 99 52 9 5 190.38
Mitchell Marsh b S Harwood 18 19 0 1 94.74
Luke Ronchi (wk) Not Out 8 10 0 0 80.00
Marcus North (c)            
Simon Katich            
Paul Collingwood            
Brad Hogg            
Nathan Rimmington            
Michael Beer            
Ben Edmondson            
Extras (b 4,lb 2,w 3, nb 1) 10
Total (2 wickets; 19.2 overs) 192 (9.93 runs per over)

Fall of wickets (Perth Scorchers):

1-95 (Gibbs, 9.4 ov), 2-156 (MR Marsh, 15.6 ov)

 Bowling O M R W Econ
Glenn Maxwell 3 0 24 0 8.00  
Shaun Tait 4 0 40 0 10.00 (nb 1 w 1)
Abdul Razzaq 2.2 0 34 0 14.60  
Shane Harwood 4 0 31 1 7.80 (w 2)
Shahid Afridi 4 0 36 0 9.00  
Andrew McDonald 2 0 21 1 10.50  

Teams:
Melbourne Renegades (From): Aaron Finch, William Sheridan, Glenn Maxwell, Shahid Afridi, Andrew McDonald(c), Nathan Reardon, Abdul Razzaq, Graham Manou(w), Shane Harwood, Aaron Heal, Shaun Tait

Perth Scorchers (From): Herschelle Gibbs, Shaun Marsh, Marcus North(c), Simon Katich, Paul Collingwood, Mitchell Marsh, Luke Ronchi(w), Brad Hogg, Nathan Rimmington, Michael Beer, Ben Edmondson

More T20 Big Bash League 2011 Highlights, News, Scores

Melbourne Renegades vs Perth Scorchers Live Scores T20 Big Bash (2011)

Posted: 21 Dec 2011 11:57 PM PST


Toss: Melbourne Renegades have won the toss and elected to bat

Teams:
Melbourne Renegades (From): Aaron Finch, William Sheridan, Glenn Maxwell, Shahid Afridi, Andrew McDonald(c), Nathan Reardon, Abdul Razzaq, Graham Manou(w), Shane Harwood, Aaron Heal, Shaun Tait

Perth Scorchers (From): Herschelle Gibbs, Shaun Marsh, Marcus North(c), Simon Katich, Paul Collingwood, Mitchell Marsh, Luke Ronchi(w), Brad Hogg, Nathan Rimmington, Michael Beer, Ben Edmondson

More T20 Big Bash League 2011 Highlights, News, Scores

Melbourne Renegades opts to bat against Perth Scorchers T20 Big Bash (2011)

Posted: 21 Dec 2011 11:51 PM PST


Toss: Melbourne Renegades have won the toss and elected to bat

Teams:
Melbourne Renegades (From): Aaron Finch, Will Sheridan, Glenn Maxwell, Andrew McDonald (c), Nathan Reardon, Abdul Razzaq, Shahid Afridi, Graham Manou (wk), Aaron Heal, Shaun Tait, Shane Harwood.

Perth Scorchers (From): Marcus North (c), Herschelle Gibbs, Simon Katich, Shaun Marsh, Paul Collingwood, Mitchell Marsh, Luke Ronchi (wk), Nathan Rimmington, Brad Hogg, Michael Beer, Ben Edmondson, Tom Beaton (12th)

More T20 Big Bash League 2011 Highlights, News, Scores

Shane Warne immortalised in 300kg of bronze at MCG

Posted: 21 Dec 2011 11:32 PM PST


A trimmer Shane Warne saw himself immortalised in 300kg of bronze on Thursday with the unveiling of a rather plumpish statue of him outside the Melbourne Cricket Ground in a ceremony also attended by his British model girlfriend Elizabeth Hurley.

Melbourne Cricket Club president Paul Sheahan unveiled the statue by sculptor Louis Lauman as Warne, Hurley and their children looked on.

“That’s 300kg, so it’s pretty lifelike from when I played,” Warne joked after the unveiling.

“Congratulations to Louis for making a very good likeness that I am proud of,” he added.

After a close look at the statue which depicts him in action, Warne said, “It looks like a leg-break.”

Warne’s children, Brooke, Summer and Jackson, were also there at the unveiling along with Hurley’s son from a previous marriage, Damian.

Warne joins cricket legends such as Sir Donald Bradman, Keith Miller and Dennis Lillee in having his statue erected on the Parade of Champions outside the MCG.

Warne took 708 wickets in 145 Tests in a sterling career that ended in 2007.

© PTI

Melbourne Renegades vs Perth Scorchers Live Streams T20 Big Bash League 2011

Posted: 21 Dec 2011 02:30 PM PST


Watch Melbourne Renegades vs Perth Scorchers Big Bash League T20, 2011 (to be) played at Melbourne LIVE STREAMING on WWW.THECRICKET-TV.INFO

Live Cricket streaming: Melbourne Renegades vs Perth Scorchers Big Bash League (BBL) Twenty20 live streaming 2011 played in Melbourne, Australia on 22 December 2011. Live Broadcast of Big Bash League live streams 2011 free online on Star Cricket and Fox Sports. Perth Scorchers Vs Melbourne Renegades Big Bash League 2011-12 Live streams. MR vs PS Big Bash League 2011-12 live streaming. Watch Big Bash League Live Streaming 2011-12. Watch BBL T20 Live Streaming 2011-12 @ TheCricket-TV.INFO


Match Timings: Dec 22, 2011 (19:00 local | 08:00 GMT | 13:30 IST)


Click Here to watch the Live Streams
Posted by MohammaD IsmaiL at 12:22 PM

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