C r i c H o t L i n e |
- Sachin Tendulkar begins preparation for New Zealand series
- New Zealand announce squad for ICC World T20 and India tour
- Graeme Smith set to break Allan Border’s captaincy record
- ECB confirms receiving Kevin Pietersen’s apology
- Preview: England vs South Africa 3rd Test Lord’s 2012
- Kevin Pietersen apologises to ECB over text messages row: Reports
| Sachin Tendulkar begins preparation for New Zealand series Posted: 15 Aug 2012 01:30 PM PDT
Tendulkar arrived in Bangalore from Mumbai on Wednesday morning and came to the NCA around 1.30 pm. After a brief chat with the NCA physio, Tendulkar started practice by asking Zaheer Khan, who has been undergoing training for last few days, to bowl at him. Tendulkar chose to bat on fast-paced pitch.
The first Test will begin in Hyderabad on August 23 while the second and final match is scheduled at Bangalore from August 31. The two teams will also play two Twenty20 match after the Test series. The first T20 is slated for September 8 in Visakhapatnam while the second will be played in Chennai on September 11. (PTI)  |
| New Zealand announce squad for ICC World T20 and India tour Posted: 15 Aug 2012 12:30 PM PDT
The 18-year-old Milne last played for New Zealand in T20 clashes against Pakistan in 2010, and had failed since then to make a comeback. While the injured veteran spinner Vettori was recalled to the national side, all-rounders Tom Latham and Andy Ellis, along with Dean Brownlie, were axed.
All these three cricketers played in New Zealand's two-match series against the West Indies in USA. The same team will take on India in the two T20 Internationals scheduled on September 8 and 11. National selection manager Kim Littlejohn said the squad “has a good balance for Twenty20 cricket with explosive batsmen and a good mix of pace and spin bowlers.” “Adam Milne has impressed during his time with the winter development squad and his extra pace offers something a little different,” Littlejohn was quoted as saying by the Associated Press. “We are confident he will have an impact in international cricket and will seize this opportunity. The squad also welcomes back James Franklin, who has been playing Twenty20 cricket for Essex in the county competition.” New Zealand squad: Martin Guptill, Roneel Hira, Rob Nicol, Brendon McCullum, Nathan McCullum, Kyle Mills, Adam Milne, Jacob Oram, Tim Southee, Daniel Vettori, BJ Watling, Kane Williamson.  |
| Graeme Smith set to break Allan Border’s captaincy record Posted: 15 Aug 2012 11:31 AM PDT
Smith, who has captained South Africa in 93 matches so far, will break Border's record set in 1994 when South Africa takes on England in the third Test at Lord's. Veteran South Africa all-rounder Jacques Kallis believes that Smith did a commendable job in handling the pressure of captaincy over the years.
"His birth into the captaincy role was a difficult one," Kallis commented. "I think the way that he handled the pressure, both from the public and media, is a true reflection of his character. He is someone who never backs down when he sets his sights on a goal," Jacques Kallis was quoted as saying by cricket.co.za South Africa coach Gary Kirsten says that Smith commands a lot of respect from his teammates. "I have been impressed with his out-of-the-box thinking when it comes to his captaincy. He commands a lot of respect and admiration from everyone that enters the team environment and that says a lot about the individual," Kirsten said. "He has been humble about his achievements and personally I feel he has been one of the most significant and often under-rated players of South African cricket. The sacrifices he has made and the hard work he has put in during his career makes him one of a kind," Kirsten added. The third Test between England and South Africa begins on Thursday, August 16 at Lord's.  |
| ECB confirms receiving Kevin Pietersen’s apology Posted: 15 Aug 2012 10:30 AM PDT
In a statement released as a response to Pietersen's apology, the cricket board said, "The England and Wales Cricket Board (ECB) has received an apology from Kevin Pietersen and an admission that he did send 'provocative' text messages to members of the South African team." The statement added: "Kevin Pietersen has said in his apology: ‘I did send what you might call provocative texts to my close friends in the SA team. The texts were meant as banter between close friends. I need to rein myself in sometimes.'
'I apologise to Straussy and the team for the inappropriate remarks at the press conference and for the texts. I truly didn’t mean to cause upset or tension particularly with important games at stake.' The managing director of England cricket, Hugh Morris said, "We are in receipt of Kevin's apology, but further discussions need to take place to establish whether it is possible to regain the trust and mutual respect required to ensure all parties are able to focus on playing cricket and to maintain the unity of purpose that has served us so well in recent years." "Critically, those discussions should take place behind closed doors, rather than in the media spotlight," he was quoted as saying by Mail Onlilne. According to reports, Kevin Pietersen has apologised to the England and Wales Cricket Board (ECB) for text messages sent to South African players during the drawn second Test at Headingley, it was reported on Tuesday. Last weekend, Pietersen was dramatically dropped from England’s squad for this week’s third and final Test at Lord’s, despite scoring a superb 149 at Headingley, after failing to reveal the contents of those text messages. Some of those texts are said to include derogatory comments about England captain Andrew Strauss and coach Andy Flower. Pietersen’s inability to either say whether the messages were true, or indeed apologise for them if they were, led England to omit him from the third Test which starts on Thursday.  |
| Preview: England vs South Africa 3rd Test Lord’s 2012 Posted: 15 Aug 2012 09:30 AM PDT
Yet England’s dramatic decision to drop Kevin Pietersen from the third Test at Lord’s starting Thursday, allegedly over text messages he sent to South African players during the drawn second Test at Headingley, has inevitably put the focus on their absent star batsman. The South Africa-born shotmaker averages nearly 50 in Tests and made a superb 149 at Headingley, where he drove South Africa fast bowler Dale Steyn back over his head for six.
By contrast Jonathan Bairstow, the man who will replace Pietersen, was dropped after playing his first three Tests against the West Indies earlier this season and has an average of under 13 with a top score of 18. Yet England have decided there are bigger issues than the possible loss of their world number one Test ranking, which they will surrender to South Africa unless they win at Lord’s. Bairstow struggled with the short ball against the West Indies a fact sure to have been noted by Steyn and fellow fast bowler Morne Morkel, even if the Yorkshireman arrives at Lord’s on the back of 139 for the England Lions against Australia A. Fast-medium bowler Tim Bresnan did his best to stick up for county colleague Bairstow by suggesting England could be an improved side without Pietersen. “It may be an even better side, it’s one of those things where a talented player is being replaced by another talented player,” Bresnan said. “So why should we miss a certain individual because he’s unavailable for selection?” But even those closest to Bairstow might struggle to believe that — at least for the time being. There were reports late Tuesday that Pietersen and the England hierarchy were close to resolving their differences ahead of Saturday’s squad announcement for the World Twenty20 in Sri Lanka next month but any ‘peace deal’ will come too late for the third Test. “I’ve always got on with Kevin,” said England captain Andrew Strauss. “That’s why this has all been a bit of a surprise to me. “It’s about mutual respect and trust, and that is a core issue that is central to resolving this.” Meanwhile South Africa all-rounder Jacques Kallis said England would be a weaker side without Pietersen. “He’s a world-class player … England losing him is a big loss for them. Any time he’s not in your side it does make a big difference.” However, Kallis added: “Cricket’s not a one-man sport. There are 11 guys who can take a Test match away from us.” The match will see Strauss make his 100th Test appearance and lead his country in Tests for the 50th time. Strauss who eight years ago marked his debut with a century against New Zealand at Lord’s, his Middlesex home ground, would dearly love to match the achievement of Proteas skipper Graeme Smith, who marked his 100th Test with a century at the Oval to help put the tourists 1-0 up. This match is also set to witness Smith, like Strauss a left-handed opener, break Australia great Allan Border’s record of 93 Tests as a captain. The 31-year-old Smith has been captain in all but eight of his Tests and likes Lord’s almost as much as Strauss, having made a superb 259 at ‘the home of cricket’ in 2003. Smith’s two previous tours of England have featured the resignation of the then England captain (Nasser Hussain in 2003 and Michael Vaughan in 2008) and Strauss could go the same way if England lose at Lord’s. England are set to recall off-spinner Graeme Swann after opting for an all-seam attack at Headingley. Lord’s officials have said the outfield will resemble a “patchwork quilt” after the ground hosted the Olympic archery tournament, but have insisted it will be fit for play. But while the archers may have left, there are plenty of ‘arrows’ still needing to be removed from the body of English cricket. (AFP) Teams: England (Probable): Andrew Strauss (c), Alastair Cook, Jonathan Trott, Jonathan Bairstow, Ian Bell, James Taylor, Matt Prior (wk), Tim Bresnan, Stuart Broad, Graeme Swann, James Anderson. South Africa (Probable): Graeme Smith (c), Alviro Petersen, Hashim Amla, Jacques Kallis, AB de Villiers (wk), Jacques Rudolph, JP Duminy, Vernon Philander, Dale Steyn, Morne Morkel, Imran Tahir. Time: 11:00 local (15.30 IST)  |
| Kevin Pietersen apologises to ECB over text messages row: Reports Posted: 15 Aug 2012 08:30 AM PDT
Last weekend, Pietersen was dramatically dropped from England’s squad for this week’s third and final Test at Lord’s, despite scoring a superb 149 at Headingley, after failing to reveal the contents of those text messages. Some of those texts are said to include derogatory comments about England captain Andrew Strauss and coach Andy Flower.
Pietersen’s inability to either say whether the messages were true, or indeed apologise for them if they were, led England to omit him from the third Test which starts on Thursday. However, former England captain Alec Stewart told BBC Radio 5 Live on Tuesday: “I’m hearing he’s now apologised but hasn’t had any confirmation back from the ECB.” As another day in the extraordinary saga drew to a close, there was no formal word from the ECB as to whether they had received an apology from Pietersen. Earlier, Strauss entered the debate over the omission of Pietersen, saying he regretted “dirty laundry” being aired in public. “I’ve always got on with Kevin,” Strauss told Sky Sports. “I’ve tried to be honest with him; he’s been honest with me. “That’s why this has all been a bit of a surprise to me,” Strauss said. “I think the discontent that Kevin had with the board over his contract situation was one that the players didn’t get involved in — and I didn’t really get involved in, if I’m honest. “But over the last week I have had to get involved, because there have been issues a little bit more central to his relationship with the other players and our ability to perform out in the middle.” Strauss added: “I’m a big believer in not airing dirty laundry in public. “It’s one of our core values in our team that what goes on in the dressing room stays in the dressing room. “Any time anyone has fallen foul of that they have been disciplined — and rightly so. “It’s about mutual respect and trust, and that is a core issue that is central to resolving this.” Tensions between Pietersen and the England hierarchy have been escalating all summer, with the South Africa-born batsman retiring from limited overs internationals after England refused his wish to opt out of 50-over matches while still playing Twenty20s. Then came his extraordinary press conference after the Headingley Test, where he speculated the match at Lord’s might be his “last Test”. And last week, on the eve of the squad announcement for Lord’s, he took to YouTube to insist he was now available to play for England in all formats. Meanwhile England’s Stuart Broad has insisted he’d no role in a parody Twitter account for Pietersen. The account – KP Genius – was set up by a friend of Broad, Richard Bailey, and had been thought to have contributed to dressing room tensions, with Pietersen reportedly concerned some of his team-mates were involved. But all-rounder Broad insisted on Tuesday: “I would like to confirm that I had no involvement in this whatsoever. “As has been widely reported Mr Bailey is a friend of mine, but we had no conversations regarding this issue at all and I am pleased that he has now decided to close the parody account down.” England, 1-0 down in the three-match series, must win at Lord’s if they are to prevent South Africa replacing them as the world’s number one Test side. (AFP)  |
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