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Friday, July 13, 2012

C r i c H o t L i n e

C r i c H o t L i n e

Preview: West Indies vs New Zealand 4th ODI Basseterre 2012

Posted: 13 Jul 2012 01:20 PM PDT


A 2-1 scoreline is not unexpected given the way West Indies have bossed New Zealand over four of their past five limited-overs matches recently – including the two Twenty20s in Florida – but now, having managed to beat the hosts at St Kitts to keep the contest flickering, New Zealand will need to channel that momentum into the fourth match at the same venue on Saturday. The fact that Brendon McCullum is back in the squad will further give New Zealand hope that they have a realistic chance of leveling the series.

After his side's 88-run win on Wednesday, stand-in captain Kane Williamson said that New Zealand's rejuvenated performance with the ball and in the field would be the vehicle for a turnaround in fortunes on what has overall been a flat tour. But Williamson knows that the batting must lift itself a few notches following scores of 190, 260 and 249. Williamson has only managed one innings of note, while New Zealand's top order has scored two half-centuries in three matches.

The top-scorer so far has been the stand-in wicketkeeper BJ Watling, with two fifties, but he was injured during the third ODI. Getting starts is imperative for New Zealand, as is the need for Brendon McCullum to make a big impact if the tourists have a chance of keeping the series alive. His brother Nathan played a big role in St Kitts with a fifty batting down the order and then taking two wickets with his handy offspin, but more is expected from the allrounders Jacob Oram and Andrew Ellis.

Also vital to New Zealand's win was the rare failure of Chris Gayle in what has been an astounding return to West Indies duty. Judging by the way he has dominated this New Zealand attack, another sizeable effort from Gayle would have made it 3-0. Brendon McCullum, stepping into the captain's role, will hope the bowlers at his disposal can contain Gayle again.
From a West Indian perspective, Darren Sammy will also expect more from his batsmen. Gayle's 199 runs have carried the team, but apart from Dwayne Smith and Marlon Samuels there has been little to speak of. Johnson Charles, Denesh Ramdin, Lendl Simmons, Dwayne Bravo and Kieron Pollard have been mute; West Indies cannot afford another limp effort with the bat as in the third ODI.

Personnel wise, Ramdin has been released from the squad for his wedding, and will be replaced by Devon Thomas – a wicketkeeper who averages 11.66 from seven ODI innings. For New Zealand, the man to make way for Brendon McCullum will most likely be Daniel Flynn.

Probable XIs:
West Indies: 1 Johnson Charles, 2 Chris Gayle, 3 Dwayne Smith, 4 Marlon Samuels, 5 Dwayne Bravo, 6 Kieron Pollard, 7 Andre Russell, 8 Darren Sammy (capt), 9 Devon Thomas (wk), 10 Ravi Rampaul, 11 Sunil Narine

New Zealand: 1 Rob Nicol, 2 Martin Guptill, 3 Brendon McCullum (capt/wk), 4 Kane Williamson, 5 Dean Brownlie, 6 Tom Latham, 7 Jacob Oram, 8 Tim Southee, 9 Nathan McCullum, 10 Doug Bracewell, 11 Kyle Mills

Albie Morkel replaces de Lange for England tour

Posted: 13 Jul 2012 12:52 PM PDT


South Africa fast bowler Marchant de Lange has been forced out of the tour of England by a lower back stress fracture. He’s been replaced by allrounder Albie Morkel.

De Lange didn’t get to play on tour as his back pain worsened this week, prompting a bone scan. He will require at least six weeks of rehabilitation, team physio Brandon Jackson said in a statement on Friday.

Morkel, who played his only Test in 2009 against Australia, recently played for Somerset in the English Twenty20 competition, and was to join the Proteas on Friday.

Irfan Pathan replaces Vinay Kumar for Sri Lanka tour

Posted: 13 Jul 2012 07:35 AM PDT


All-rounder Irfan Pathan has replaced injured fast bowler R.Vinay Kumar in India’s squad for the upcoming Sri Lanka tour.

“R. Vinay Kumar suffered a right hamstring injury while training on Thursday. He will hence not be available for the forthcoming tour of Sri Lanka,” confirmed a release from Board of Control for Cricket (BCCI) in India Friday.

“The All-India Senior Selection Committee has named Pathan as Vinay Kumar’s replacement in the Indian squad.”

The BCCI statement added that “Vinay Kumar is expected to regain match-fitness in three weeks”.

India play their first ODI in Hambantota July 22.

Brett Lee embodied spirit of cricket: Cricket Australia

Posted: 13 Jul 2012 03:38 AM PDT


Cricket Australia (CA) paid rich tribute to paceman Brett Lee, who announced his international retirement on Friday, describing the veteran bowler as the “very embodiment” of the spirit of the game.

Cricket Australia Chief Executive Officer James Sutherland said Lee would forever be remembered for not just his contribution as a wicket-taker but also as an inspiration to kids to take up the game.

“His record as a wicket-taker and leader of the attack is fantastic and speaks for itself but his resilience and ability to bounce back after numerous injuries has also been impressive,” he said.

“On top of this, and this is a significant part of his legacy, Brett inspired young Australians to play cricket and bowl fast”.

The 35-year-old Lee retired after a 13-year international career that included 76 Tests, 221 ODIs and 25 Twenty20 internationals.

He leaves as the second highest ODI wicket-taker (380) for Australia behind Glenn McGrath (seventh all-time) and one of only four Australians to take more than 300 Test wickets.

Lee has also retired from one-day domestic cricket but will still continue to play in the Twenty20 Big Bash League as well as the Indian Premier League (IPL).

National Selector John Inverarity said pacer’s record speaks of his talent but his affable persona set him apart from others.

“Today one of Australia’s most outstanding fast bowlers announced his retirement. Brett Lee’s record speaks for itself.

“He first represented Australia as an exciting fast bowler in the Boxing Day Test in 1999 and played his last match played for Australia on July 7 this year.”

Including T20s, Lee took 738 international wickets and on numerous occasions also had an impact with the bat lower down the order.

“The statistics only tell part of the story. Brett has been an absolute ornament to the game; a fine player, a fierce and brave competitor, a generous opponent and one who always upheld the highest standards of sportsmanship. He has been a cricketer in every sense of the word,” Inverarity said.

“The ‘Spirit of Cricket’ has received prominence in recent years. Brett Lee has been the very embodiment of this for 13 years at the international level.

“He leaves the scene having made friends and won respect throughout the cricketing world, not only for his outstanding achievements and wholehearted efforts, but also for his generosity of spirit and readiness to help others,” he added.

Inverarity said Lee has inspired an entire generation of players.

“Australia’s young fast bowlers have greatly benefitted from his mentoring and the standards he has set in recent years.

“The international cricketing world salutes Brett Lee, thanks him for his wonderful contribution to the game and wishes him well for the future. His ready and defining smile will be missed.” (PTI)

Brett Lee retires from international cricket

Posted: 13 Jul 2012 02:37 AM PDT


Australia pacer Brett Lee has announced his retirement from international cricket after a 13-year career, saying his body and mind were no longer up to the stresses of touring.

“It’s official, I have retired from international cricket. Thanks for all your love and support. It’s been an amazing 13 years,” Lee said via Twitter on Friday, ahead of an official news conference.

Lee, 35, who returned home early from Australia’s one-day tour of England this month with calf problems, said it was the right time to call an end to his long career.

“I woke up this morning and knew I had to call it quits today. Friday the 13th, 13 years (since his Test debut), I thought it was pretty appropriate,” he told Channel Nine.

“I thought I would go over there and try and play the Twenty20 World Cup (in Sri Lanka in September), but (being) mentally and physically challenged, it would just not be worth it.

“So I’m walking away happy with the call I’ve made.”

Lee said while he had enjoyed his cricket career, he was tired of being away from home for long periods and was looking forward to a different phase of his life.

“It’s been a fantastic career and I’ve loved every minute of it, but it’s stage two of my life now,” he said.

“My holiday will be at home — I’m sick of being away. That was on my mind as well — time away from home.

“I just want to maybe do some fishing and just chill out for a few months.”

One of Australia’s most fearsome fast bowlers, Lee retired from Tests with 310 wickets in February 2010, although he played on in one-day and Twenty20 cricket.

Lee has captured 380 wickets in 220 ODIs and 28 wickets in 25 T20 internationals.

Lee however will continue to play in domestic T20 tournaments across the world. He is contracted with the Kolkata Knight Riders in the IPL and also plays for the Sydney Sixers in the Australian Big Bash. Both teams have made it to this year’s Champions League T20 as winners of their respective domestic T20 tournaments.(AFP)
Posted by MohammaD IsmaiL at 1:31 PM

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