| Preview: Sri Lanka vs New Zealand, one-off T20, Pallekele, 2012 Posted: 29 Oct 2012 01:30 PM PDT 
 New Zealand will be determined to erase bitter memories of the Pallekele ground when they clash with Sri Lanka in a one-off Twenty20 international on Tuesday.
The Black Caps’ campaign in the recent World T20 ended at the same venue when they lost all their three Super Eights matches, including two in the tie-break ‘super over’. Ross Taylor’s team tied their games against eventual winners the West Indies and runners-up Sri Lanka before suffering defeats in the one-over eliminator. New Zealand, who will also play five one-day internationals and two Tests on their month-long tour, return to the Pallekele stadium without key players Daniel Vettori and Martin Guptill.
Experienced left-arm spinner Vettori is missing the tour due to an injury while opener Guptill has been rested for the limited-overs contests and will figure only in the Tests. But New Zealand all-rounder Jacob Oram said the tourists had the resources to do well. “If we play well we are confident that we can win,” he said ahead of the match. “We do appreciate that Sri Lanka is a very good side in their home conditions and more than a match for us at times, but we have enough talent. We’ve got to make sure the talent comes out at the right time.” Sri Lanka also made a few changes as all-rounder Angelo Mathews was named the new T20 captain in place of Mahela Jayawardene, who stepped down after his team’s defeat against the West Indies in the World Twenty20 final in Colombo earlier this month. Jayawardene has been rested for the T20 game along with paceman Lasith Malinga, but will return to lead the side in the one-dayers. “The selectors wanted to give these two cricketers a rest. Their absence from the team is a big loss but with the squad I have been given, I am confident we can win,” said Mathews. Unorthodox spinner Ajantha Mendis, the most successful bowler of the World Twenty20 with 15 wickets in six matches, will also miss Tuesday’s match and the first three one-dayers due to an injury. The tour is former paceman Shane Bond’s first as New Zealand bowling coach. Sri Lanka and New Zealand have so far played 10 T20 internationals, with each side winning five. (AFP) Teams: Sri Lanka (Probable): Tillakaratne Dilshan, Dilshan Munaweera, Kumar Sangakkara (wk), Dinesh Chandimal, Angelo Mathews (c), Jeevan Mendis, Thisara Perera, Lahiru Thirimanne, Akila Dananjaya, Sachithra Senanayake, Upul Tharanga New Zealand (Probable): Rob Nicol, James Franklin, Kane Williamson, Brendon McCullum (wk), Ross Taylor (c), Jacob Oram, Kyle Mills, Tim Southee, Nathan McCullum, Adam Milne, BJ Watling. Time: 19.00 local (19.00 IST)  |
| ICC approves day-night Test with coloured balls Posted: 29 Oct 2012 07:52 AM PDT 
 The ICC on Monday gave its seal of approval to the day/night Test matches while leaving the member Boards to decide on the type and colour of the ball to be used, as it announced new playing conditions for Tests, ODIs and T20 Internationals ahead of Sri Lanka-New Zealand series beginning tomorrow.
Some countries, including Australia and England, have been experimenting day/night Test matches for some time and with the ICC’s decision today, the longest format of the game may be held under lights very soon. “Participating countries may agree to play day/night Test matches. The home and visiting boards will decide on the hours of play which will be six hours of scheduled play per day while the two boards will also decide on the precise brand, type and colour of ball to be used for the match,” the ICC said in a statement.
The world body announced a slew of changes in the playing conditions, including powerplays, fielding restrictions and short-pitched deliveries in the ODIs, Decision Review System (in Tests and ODIs), no-ball, dead ball, over-rates, applicable in all the formats and changes in One Over Per Side Eliminator in T20Is. “The new playing conditions for Tests, ODIs and Twenty20 Internationals will come into effect with the series between Sri Lanka and New Zealand, which starts in Pallekele on Tuesday 30 October. The amendments have been approved by the ICC Board following proposals made by the ICC Cricket Committee at its meeting in London in May,” it said. “It is important to note that the playing conditions are applicable to international cricket and must be read together with the Laws of Cricket. Whilst a playing condition may affect the Laws of Cricket as they may apply to international cricket, these changes are not amendments to the Laws of Cricket themselves,” the statement added. Under the new playing conditions, there would be two blocks of Powerplays in an ODI, instead of existing three. “In an uninterrupted innings, the first Powerplay will be restricted to the first 10 overs with only two fielders allowed outside the 30-yard circle. The second five-over batting Powerplay (in an uninterrupted innings) will have to be completed by the 40th over and only three fielders will be allowed outside the fielding restriction area at the time of delivery,” the ICC statement said. “In the non-Powerplay overs, no more than four fielders will be permitted outside the 30-yard circle.” On the DRS, applicable to both Tests and ODIs, the ICC said, “Clause 3.3 (ii) of Appendix 2, which deals with LBW protocols, has been amended, margin of uncertainty applicable to the point of impact with the pad has been increased so that it is the same as provided for determining the projected point of impact with the stumps i.e. if the centre of the ball is shown to be impacting in line within an area demarcated by a line drawn down the middle of the outer stumps (and the bottom of the bails), then the decision will always be out. “If the whole of the ball is shown to be impacting outside the line of the stumps, then the decision will always be not out. If there is anything in between, the original on-field decision will stand. “As such, this clause will now read as follows: If a ‘not out’ decision is being reviewed, in order to report that the point of impact is between wicket and wicket (i.e. in line with the stumps), the evidence provided by technology should show that the centre of the ball at the moment of interception is in line within an area demarcated by a line drawn below the lower edge of the bails and down the middle of the outer stumps. “If an ‘out’ decision is being reviewed, in order to report that the point of impact is not between wicket and wicket (i.e. outside the line of the stumps), the evidence provided by technology should show that no part of the ball at the moment of interception is between wicket and wicket.” On the no-balls, applicable to Tests, ODIs and T20Is, it said, “A clause in Appendix, which deals with no-balls in the Third Umpire TV Replay System, has been amended. This now reads: Following any mode of dismissal that is not permitted off a no-ball and which is not the subject of an Umpire or Player Review, the third umpire shall, subject to the availability of suitable technology, immediately check the fairness of the delivery (foot-fault only). “If the delivery was not a fair delivery, the third umpire shall advise the on-field umpire by two-way radio who should recall the dismissed batsman, indicate that the batsman is not out and signal no-ball. “If suitable technology is not available to third umpire, then if on-field umpire is uncertain as the fairness of the delivery (foot-fault only), he shall be entitled to request the batsman to delay leaving the field and check the fairness of delivery (foot-fault only) with third umpire. Consultation with the third umpire shall be by way of two way radio. If the delivery was not a fair delivery the on-field umpire shall indicate that the batsman is not-out and signal no-ball.” Regarding changes in One Over Per Side Eliminator in T20Is, the ICC said, “In both innings of one over per side eliminator, fielding side shall choose from which end to bowl. Only nominated players in main match may participate in OOPSE. “Should any player (including the batsmen and bowler) be unable to continue to participate in the OOPSE due to (an) injury, illness or other wholly acceptable reasons, the relevant Laws and Playing Conditions as they apply in the main match shall also apply in the OOPSE. “Any penance time being served in main match shall be carried forward to OOPSE. The fielding captain or his nominee shall select the ball with which he wishes to bowl his over from the box of spare balls provided by the umpires. Such box to include the balls used in the main match, but no new balls. “The team fielding first in the OOPSE shall have first choice of ball. The team fielding second may choose to use the same ball as chosen by the team bowling first. If the ball needs to be changed, then playing conditions as stated for the main match shall apply.” (PTI)  |
| Preview: India A vs England, Tour Match, Oct 30-Nov 1, 2012 Posted: 29 Oct 2012 07:15 AM PDT 
 England’s cricketers start their preparations for what promises to be a gruelling Test series against India by taking on India ‘A’ in a three-day warm-up game at Mumbai from Tuesday.
Led by opener Alastair Cook, who made a fine debut in India with a half century and an unbeaten century to boot at Nagpur in March 2006, the Englishmen have arrived with a mission to become the first team from their shores to defeat India in a Test rubber since David Gower’s 1984-85 tourists. England have won a few Tests on the Indian soil, notably in Cook’s debut series when Indian batsmen crumbled against the spin of long-forgotten Shaun Udal and the pace of James Anderson and Andrew Flintoff, but have never clutched the Test rubber in hand while departing.
England are coming off a 0-2 series loss to South Africa that also took away their top ranking in Tests. Now they face a determined-looking India, who are waiting to avenge the humiliating 4-0 whitewash sustained last year in England. That the visitors had practiced extensively for three days in Dubai against their own spin bowlers Graeme Swann, Monty Panesar and Samit Patel at the ICC Global Cricket Academy is a clear sign of what they expect would be the biggest hurdle here. However, the home team, in the warm-up game led by Test middle order aspirant Suresh Raina, does not have any spin bowlers to boast of, viewed as a deliberate ploy to deprive the visiting batsmen any practice against slow bowling. The return of Kevin Pietersen as the 17th additional member after his recent patch-up with teammates would be another interesting piece of the puzzle. The patch-up came after weeks of peace talks that followed his unceremonious ouster for off-field happenings despite scoring a hundred midway through the Test rubber against South Africa at home. How quickly and well the lanky batsman, who had scored a classy hundred on his last Test visit to India in 2008, gels with his teammates in alien conditions would be watched with a lot of interest by the host country’s Test team members, some of who are in India ‘A’ squad. While the rest of the squad had come from England via Dubai, Pietersen arrived separately last night from South Africa where he was playing for IPL franchise Delhi Daredevils in the Champions League T20. Pietersen will need to quickly get into the Test mode from the slam-bang of T20s. The retirement of former skipper Andrew Strauss has also come as a headache for England as they are still searching for a suitable opening partner for Cook in the short time they have got ahead of the opening Test at Ahmedabad from November 15. Rookie opener Nick Compton, grandson of former England great Dennis who had played in the Ranji Trophy championship in India but never came on a Test tour, is one option for the visiting team. The match would also be the first chance for the much-touted England pace attack to get used to the slow pace and low bounce of Indian pitches. The spin trio of Swann, Panesar and Patel, on the other hand, would be licking their lips in anticipation. From the home side’s point of view, the match is a very important one to sort out one or two batting slots in the Test team, if not immediately but in the near future. There are three players vying for the reserve opener’s slot — Murali Vijay, Abhinav Mukund and Ajinkya Rahane — the last-named being part of the Test squad as the third opener behind regulars Virender Sehwag and Gautam Gambhir. Yesterday, India A coach Lalchand Rajput hinted after the team’s practice that Rahane could bat at no. 3. “I think Rahane likes to bat at number 3. Normally team management and the coach take a call but it’s a new selection committee. We will wait and see,” said Rajput, a clear hint that India Test discards Mukund and Vijay could open. The match could also be a direct contest for the vacant no. 6 slot between incumbent Raina and comeback man Yuvraj Singh, who is coming into the game on the back of a double hundred for North Zone in the Duleep Trophy. Also in the running for middle order slots are Manoj Tiwary, Ambati Rayudu, a late replacement for Shikhar Dhawan who sat out of the match as it clashed with his wedding, Ashok Meneria and Robin Bist, from Rajasthan. With no regular spinners in the India A ranks, the medium pacers will have a long work haul which would be to their benefit, according to Rajput, on a wicket which may assist the pacers in the initial stages of the game. “It’s a good wicket. At CCI, always the first session helps the bowlers. It’s one of those wickets which will have some carry in the first session. It’s a typical Mumbai wicket, there will be a little bit of bounce,” said Rajput “I don’t know what the selectors have in mind. I would look at it from the point of view of the medium pacers. It’s a good opportunity for them. Normally, if you have two spinners, medium pacers don’t take much part in the game because after the new ball, they are dead because of the turning wickets.” (PTI) Squads: India A: Murali Vijay, Abhinav Mukund, Ajinkya Rahane, Manoj Tiwary, Yuvraj Singh, Suresh Raina (c), Wriddhiman Saha (wk), Irfan Pathan, Vinay Kumar, Parvinder Awana, Ashok Dinda. England: Alastair Cook (c), Jonathan Trott, Kevin Pietersen, Jonathan Bairstow, Ian Bell, Samit Patel, Matt Prior (wk), Graeme swann, Stuart Broad, Steven Finn, James Anderson. Time: 09:30 local (09:30 IST)  |
| India vs England Cricket Schedule 2012-2013 Posted: 29 Oct 2012 06:36 AM PDT 
India vs England schedule 2012-2013. England tour of India 2012-13 Cricket Schedule. England to tour India for Test, T20 and ODI matches for a 3 months long series starting from a practice match against India A on 30th Oct, 2012 at Mumbai. Below is the schedule for India vs England 2012-13 Cricket series. | England tour Indian 2012-13 Schedule | | Date and Time | Match Details and Series | Tue Oct 30 – Thu Nov 1
04:00 GMT | 09:30 local/IST | India A v England XI
Brabourne Stadium, Mumbai | Sat Nov 3 – Mon Nov 5
04:00 GMT | 09:30 local/IST | Mumbai A v England XI
Dr DY Patil Sports Academy, Mumbai | Thu Nov 8 – Sun Nov 11
04:00 GMT | 09:30 local/IST | TBC v England XI
Sardar Vallabhbhai Patel Stadium, Ahmedabad | Thu Nov 15 – Mon Nov 19
04:00 GMT | 09:30 local/IST | 1st Test - India v England
Sardar Patel Stadium, Motera, Ahmedabad | Fri Nov 23 – Tue Nov 27
04:00 GMT | 09:30 local/IST | 2nd Test - India v England
Wankhede Stadium, Mumbai | Wed Dec 5 – Sun Dec 9
03:30 GMT | 09:00 local/IST | 3rd Test - India v England
Eden Gardens, Kolkata | Thu Dec 13 – Mon Dec 17
04:00 GMT | 09:30 local/IST | 4th Test - India v England
Vidarbha Cricket Association, Nagpur | Thu Dec 20 
14:30 GMT | 20:00 local/IST | 1st T20I - India v England
Subrata Roy Sahara Stadium, Pune | Sat Dec 22
14:30 GMT | 20:00 local/IST | 2nd T20I - India v England
Wankhede Stadium, Mumbai | Sun Jan 6
09:00 GMT | 14:30 local/IST | TBC v England XI
Feroz Shah Kotla, Delhi | Tue Jan 8
03:30 GMT | 09:00 local/IST | TBC v England XI
Harbax Singh Stadium, Delhi | Fri Jan 11
09:00 GMT | 14:30 local/IST | 1st ODI - India v England
Saurashtra Cricket Stadium, Rajkot | Tue Jan 15
09:00 GMT | 14:30 local/IST | 2nd ODI - India v England
Nehru Stadium, Kochi | Sat Jan 19
09:00 GMT | 14:30 local/IST | 3rd ODI - India v England
HEC International Cricket Stadium, Ranchi | Wed Jan 23
06:30 GMT | 12:00 local/IST | 4th ODI - India v England
Punjab Cricket Association Stadium, Mohali | Sun Jan 27
03:30 GMT | 09:00 local/IST | 5th ODI - India v England
Himachal Pradesh Cricket Stadium, Dharamsala |  |
| England arrive in India for Test and T20 series Posted: 29 Oct 2012 03:30 AM PDT 
 The England team led by Alastair Cook, along with the support staff, arrived at Mumbai early Monday morning from Dubai for a series of four Test matches and two T20 Internationals against hosts India.
Key middle order batsman Kevin Pietersen, added to the team as the 17th member following a patch-up with his teammates after being dropped midway through the home Test rubber against South Africa, had arrived a few hours earlier. Pietersen, who played for Delhi Daredevils in the Champions T20 League before the team got knocked out in the semi-final, arrived late Sunday night from South Africa while the other team members came from the UAE where they had practiced for a few days at the ICC’s Global Cricket Academy.
Pietersen was readmitted into the team on October 18. He was ousted from the team in August after sending mobile text messages with unflattering comments about the then captain Andrew Strauss and teammates to two rival players Dale Steyn and AB de Villiers during the second Test of the last home series against South Africa at Headingley, Leeds. England are to play three warm-up games, prior to the opening Test of the series starting at Ahmedabad on November 15. They are to open the tour with a three-day warm-up game against India ‘A’ side, led by Suresh Raina, at the Cricket Club of India here on October 30. The second warm-up game for the tourists, against Mumbai ‘A’, is scheduled at the DY Patil Stadium in Navi Mumbai from November 3-5. The third and last practice game, to be played over four days, is to be held at Ahmedabad from November 8-11 prior to the start of the Test series in that city. The remaining Tests are to be played at Mumbai (November 23-27), Kolkata (December 5-9) and Nagpur (December 13-17) followed by the two T20 Internationals at Pune (December 20) and Mumbai (December 22). England would return home after the conclusion of the T20 series for the Christmas and New Year break before returning to India on January 3 for a five-match ODI series to be held from January 11 to 27 at Rajkot, Kochi, Ranchi, Mohali and Dharamsala. (PTI) England squad: Alastair Cook (c), James Anderson, Jonny Bairstow, Ian Bell, Tim Bresnan, Stuart Broad, Nick Compton, Steven Finn, Graham Onions, Eoin Morgan, Monty Panesar, Samit Patel, Kevin Pietersen, Matt Prior (wk), Joe Root, Graeme Swann and Jonathan Trott.  |
| South Africa tour Australia Cricket Schedule 2012 Posted: 29 Oct 2012 03:00 AM PDT 
South Africa vs Australia Cricket Schedule 2012. South Africa tour Australia for 3 match test series to be played in Australia. South Africa will beging the tour with a practice match against the Australia A at the SCg and then will play the 3 Test match series with 1st Test match at Brisbane on 09 Nov, 2012. Australia vs South Africa cricket schedule is given below. | South Africa tour Australia 2012-13 Schedule | | Date and Time | Match Details and Series | Fri Nov 2 – Sun Nov 4
00:00 GMT | 11:00 local | 05:30 IST | Australia A v South Africans
Sydney Cricket Ground | Fri Nov 9 – Tue Nov 13
00:00 GMT | 10:00 local | 05:30 IST | 1st Test - Australia v South Africa
Brisbane Cricket Ground, Brisbane | Thu Nov 22 – Mon Nov 26
00:00 GMT | 10:30 local | 05:30 IST | 2nd Test - Australia v South Africa
Adelaide Oval | Fri Nov 30 – Tue Dec 4
02:30 GMT | 10:30 local | 08:00 IST | 3rd Test - Australia v South Africa
Western Australia Cricket Ground, Perth |  |
| Mathew Wade picked up over Brad Haddin for 1st Test against South Africa Posted: 29 Oct 2012 02:30 AM PDT 
 Matthew Wade was named on Monday as Australia’s wicketkeeper for the opening clash against South Africa in Brisbane next week, suggesting Brad Haddin’s Test career could be at an end.
Haddin, 35, has been resurgent in recent months, leading the Sydney Sixers to the Champions League Twenty20 title on Sunday, but Australia’s five-man selection panel opted for the younger Wade, 24. Australia’s 12-man squad includes an expected top-six batting line-up, with Ed Cowan to open with David Warner, followed by Shane Watson, 165-Test veteran Ricky Ponting, skipper Michael Clarke and veteran Michael Hussey. Spinner Nathan Lyon is included along with pace bowlers Ben Hilfenhaus, Peter Siddle, James Pattinson and Mitchell Starc.
Wade made his debut in Barbados in April against the West Indies and posted a century in the third Test in Dominica after Haddin left the tour for family reasons. Selector John Inverarity said both Wade and Haddin presented compelling cases for inclusion but he opted to usher in a new era by naming the Victorian. “As is widely known Brad returned to Australia early in the tour due to family circumstances and as a consequence Matthew was our Test ‘keeper for the three Test matches,” he said. “He kept and batted very well and made a match-defining brilliant century in the second innings of the third and final Test against West Indies. “Since then he has played and gained valuable experience in England, the UAE and Sri Lanka. As a young player, getting better by the month, he is thoroughly deserving of his retention.” But Inverarity held out an olive branch to Haddin, whose last Test appearance was in Adelaide against India in January. “While Matthew has been retained as the Test ‘keeper, Brad remains a player of significant interest,” he insisted. South Africa jetted into Australia Sunday aiming to consolidate their position as the number one Test team, which they earned in August with a series triumph in England. The three-Test series starts at The Gabba on November 9. (AFP) Australia squad: Michael Clarke (c), David Warner, Ed Cowan, Shane Watson, Ricky Ponting, Mike Hussey, Matthew Wade (wk), James Pattinson, Peter Siddle, Mitchell Starc, Nathan Lyon, Ben Hilfenhaus.  |
| Sri Lanka vs New Zealand Cricket Schedule 2012-13 Posted: 29 Oct 2012 01:36 AM PDT |
| Sydney Sixers beat Lions to clinch CLT20 2012 title Posted: 28 Oct 2012 02:29 PM PDT 
 Sydney Sixers produced an all-round clinical display to clinch the Champions League Twenty20 title with a dominating 10-wicket victory over Highveld Lions in a lop-sided summit clash on Sunday night.
The Sixers first rode on a brilliant bowling display by spinner Nathan McCullum (3-24) and pacer Josh Hazlewood (3-22) to dismiss Highveld Lions for a modest 121 in their stipulated 20 overs after winning the toss and electing to field. The Australian side then returned to overhaul the target with 7.3 overs to spare, thanks to some powerful hitting by opener Michael Lumb and Brad Haddin, who notched up an unbeaten 124-run partnership. Chasing 122 to win, Lumb annihilated the Lions with eight fours and five sixes in his 42-ball 82-run unbeaten innings, while his opening partner Haddin blasted four boundaries and a six in his 33-ball unfinished 37.
The opening duo were in marauding form as they toyed with the Lions bowlers, taking them to the cleaners every now and then. They were particularly harsh on Chris Morris and Aaron Phangiso as the bowlers bleed 54 in four overs combined. Lumb finally finished off the chase in style when he blasted Pretorius for a six over deep wicket in the first ball, pulled the next over fine leg and then sent the third delivery across the boundary line as well to trigger celebration for the Sixers. Earlier, McCullum and Hazlewood claimed three wickets each to help Sydney Sixers dismiss Highveld Lions for a modest 121 in the final. Sydney Sixers broke the backbone of the Lions as they reduced them to 9/4 in just 3.3 overs after winning the toss and electing to field. Jean Symes top-scored with a 46-ball 51 to help Lions put up a total or else things could have been more embarrassing for the home team at the New Wanderers Stadiums. Symes added 23 runs with Sohail Tanvir for the fifth wicket to start the recovery but the Pakistani player lost his wicket in the seventh over as the Lions lost half their side with just 32 on board. Symes then forged a 41-run partnership with Thami Tsolekile for the sixth wicket and another 38 with Dwaine Pretorius for the seventh wicket to help Lions cross the 100-mark. Symes had eight fours in his 46-ball innings. For Sydney Sixers, Steve O’Keefe and Mitchell Starc were the other wicket takers with one wicket each here. Put into bat, opener Gulam Bodi started off with a six of McCullum but he was send packing in the next delivery by the spinner to deal the first blow in the opening over. First down Quinton de Kock was then sent back to the pavilions by pacer Hazlewood, courtesy a stunning catch by O’Keefe. Three balls later, Hazlewood reduced Lions to 8-3 after picking new man McKenzie in the last ball of the over. Stranded all this while, Petersen was the next to go when he outside edged a O’Keefe delivery to Neil McCullum at the first slip. Symes then tried to resurrect the innings with a couple of boundaries in the fifth over of Starc, while Tanvir also clipped one over square-leg. However, his stay didn’t last long as the Pakistani player was trapped in front of wicket by McCullum. Undeterred, Symes continued his job and picked up successive fours in the 10th over off Pat Cummins. New man Tsolekile also got into the act and blasted a couple of sixes to ease the pressure. But McCullum broke the partnership dismissing Tsolekile when he had him caught at short midwicket. Symes and Pretorius then joined hands and tried to accelerate. Symes picked up a couple of fours off Cummins, while Pretorius clobbered Hazlewood and Starc for a couple of sixes, before becoming a victim of Starc.  |
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