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- Thilan Samaraweera retires from International Cricket
- Selectors must take a call on struggling Virender Sehwag : Rahul Dravid #IndvsAus #IndvsSA
- India is the hardest place on earth for any opponent to win : Justin Langer #IndvsAus
- Cheteshwar Pujara, Ravichandran Ashwin achieve career best rankings #IndvsAus
- MS Dhoni should lead India till 2019 World Cup, feels Sunil Gavaskar #IndvsAus
- England better than Australia in all departments : Michael Vaughan #IndvsAus #Ashes
- Day 1 of England vs New Zealand 1st Test washed out by rain at Dunedin #EngvsNZ
- 1st Test : New Zealand wins toss, opts to field vs England – Dunedin 2013 #EngvsNZ
- England vs New Zealand 1st Test Day 1 Highlights – 06 Mar 2013 #EngvNZ
| Thilan Samaraweera retires from International Cricket Posted: 06 Mar 2013 09:15 AM PST
The 36-year-old, who played 81 Tests and 53 ODIs, announced his retirement following a meeting with the national selectors. “I was shocked with my omission from the squad against Bangladesh,” he told reporters. Samaraweera was excluded from the 16-man squad after being originally included in the 20-member probable. “The selectors told me that their idea was to play only two senior players in the series against Bangladesh and the next series against Zimbabwe,” he said.
“They told me that my experience would be needed for the Pakistan tour which is nine months away. I decided to retire because there is no point in waiting for nine months. This will clash with plans in my personal life. “I respect the decision to go with young players and decided it is the right time to retire.” Chief selector Sanath Jayasuriya said they met the right-handed batsman to discuss his future plans after Samaraweera had yesterday informed Sri Lanka Cricket about his retirement. Samaraweera has already signed up with the English county team Worcestershire for this summer. Since the tour to Australia in December, Sri Lanka has seen a thorough shake-up of the set-up. Angelo Mathews and Dinesh Chandimal were appointed new Test and T20 captains after Mahela Jayawardene announced his decision to give up captaincy.  |
| Selectors must take a call on struggling Virender Sehwag : Rahul Dravid #IndvsAus #IndvsSA Posted: 06 Mar 2013 08:41 AM PST
“I think the selectors and management need to decide whether they are going to open with Viru (Virender) in South Africa,” Dravid said. “I mean Viru playing well, Viru at his best, is a great asset to any side, but the reality is that he hasn’t been performing particularly well, and he hasn’t really done well on overseas trips over the last two or three years. “If they feel confident about opening with Sehwag in South Africa, then I think it makes sense to continue with Sehwag and give him the opportunity to get that confidence,” he added.
Even though India registered commanding victories in the first two Tests against Australia in Chennai and Hyderabad, the opening partnership between Sehwag and Murali Vijay could produce only 11, 16 and 17 runs. While Vijay scored a fine 167 in Hyderabad, Sehwag has totalled only 27 in his three innings. The selectors will be picking the Indian squad for the last two Tests against Australia on Thursday. After the two remaining Tests against Australia, India have no more five-day games scheduled before their trip to South Africa at the end of the year and Dravid felt that a young opener should be tested in home conditions first before throwing him in front of the new ball in foreign conditions. “I think it makes sense to try out another youngster, or try out another opener, and give him the opportunity to play at least a couple of Test matches in more familiar conditions, before going to South Africa. “I think it will be unfair on any young opener to be asked to go to South Africa straightaway, and play against the likes of Steyn, Philander and Morkel,” Dravid told ESPNcricinfo. He was of the view that the selectors could explore the option of moving Sehwag down the order. “If they are going to look ahead, I think there could be a realistic possibility of Sehwag coming into the middle order,” Dravid said. “You know if opportunities open up at some stage, maybe Sachin is going to move on, then I think Viru is the man with the experience to be able to come in and bat in the middle order. He has said in the past that he would like to, and that could be an option,” he insisted. Sehwag has failed to fire in five consecutive Tests after getting a hundred in the opening game of the home series against England at Ahmedabad in November-December last year. He was unable to score even a half-century in two home Tests against New Zealand. During India’s last overseas tour, in Australia, Sehwag scored just 198 runs in eight innings.  |
| India is the hardest place on earth for any opponent to win : Justin Langer #IndvsAus Posted: 06 Mar 2013 04:13 AM PST
Langer, who was associated with the Australian side till November 2012 as the batting coach, said the conditions are alien to most of the batsmen who are touring India for the first time. Langer wrote on his Facebook page, "Criticism is coming thick and fast for the Australian cricket team after their disappointing showing in the first two Tests. Putting things into perspective India is the hardest place on earth for any opponent to win." "When Australia won there for the first time in 35 years during the 2004 tour it was without doubt the Mount Everest moment of my cricket career," Langer expressed. "It is tough for the batsmen because the spinning conditions are so foreign to what we are used to, and it is a nightmare for our spinners because the Indians are the most nimble, spin bullies in the world. It is always disappointing to lose but the young Aussies will be learning great lessons from the experience," he added.
Australia's consecutive losses in the four-match Test series has given flame to the talks regarding the upcoming Ashes series, as former England captain Michael Vaughan said the Aussies are no match. "As for the Ashes, I had to laugh this morning when I heard a few of the gibes coming from our English friends. The hype and fun and games has started already," he said (sic). "I can’t wait for the series to start because some of the rubbish we are going to listen to over the next few months is going to be breathtaking, dramatic and frankly all part of the theatre of an Ashes campaign. It’s a bit like an election year really. The only thing that will matter is the end result and that is a long way away," he concluded.  |
| Cheteshwar Pujara, Ravichandran Ashwin achieve career best rankings #IndvsAus Posted: 06 Mar 2013 01:15 AM PST
They have reaped the rewards for their impressive performances during India’s back-to-back victories over Australia in the first two Tests of four-match series. Pujara, named player-of-the-match for his double-century in the second Test in Hyderabad, has jumped 12 places to a career-best 11th position, while Ashwin, who finished with figures of six for 104, is now at a best-ever eighth spot, having jumped three places. However, Sachin Tendulkar has lost two positions to be at 19th place, along with Darren Bravo of the West Indies. Murali Vijay, the other Test centurion in Hyderabad, has jumped 27 places to 60th position in the batsmen’s list headed by South Africa’s Hashim Amla.
In the bowlers’ chart, besides Ashwin, other Indians have also improved their rankings. Harbhajan Singh had gained a point to be in 25th spot, Ravindra Jadeja in 40th (up by 23) and Bhuvaneshwar Kumar in 97th (up by 28). Pragyan Ojha though has lost a place to be at 9th, while Zaheer Khan retained his 16th position. South Africa’s Dale Steyn still maintains the top spot, while his teammate Vernon Philander is in second place and Pakistan’s Saeed Ajmal in third. Meanwhile, in the ICC Test Championship table, South Africa have already sealed their position as the number-one ranked side at the 1 April cut-off date, which means they would not only retain the Test mace but would also be assured of a reward of USD 450,000. The battle for second place is a three-way race, with India, Australia and England having an opportunity to claim the spot in time for the cut-off date. These three sides are separated by 13 ratings points, with Australia (118 pts) at second place, followed by England (117 pts) and India (105 pts). If England win their three-Test series against New Zealand, starting tomorrow, by any margin, they would retain their second place. However, if New Zealand win by a margin of 1-0 or better, it could open the door for both Australia and India. India could then claim the second spot if they were to win the remaining two Tests against Australia, but if Michael Clarke’s side manages to level the series then it could displace England.  |
| MS Dhoni should lead India till 2019 World Cup, feels Sunil Gavaskar #IndvsAus Posted: 06 Mar 2013 12:32 AM PST
Gavaskar feels that Dhoni has changed his captaincy approach after the debacle against Australia and England and he was now a much-more assertive leader on the field. “The one month he had after the home series loss against England had given him time for introspection. He has changed positively as a captain. Now, if a player is not attentive and not upto the mark, Dhoni is letting him know. He is not making too many gestures but he is making the player know that he (Dhoni) is not happy,” Gavaskar said. “He is very fit and in great batting form. With the changed leadership approach I think he should not be disturbed till the 2019 World Cup. We should not even discuss it (of changing captaincy),” said Gavaskar when asked if Dhoni’s form and inspiring captaincy in the ongoing Test series against Australia has given him a breathing space after the recent string of losses.
Gavaskar, who had recently said after the home series against England that Dhoni should take a break from captaincy, however, said that it’s upto the India skipper to decide whether to play till 2019. “I don’t know whether he would play till 2019 considering his age by that time. I am saying he can play till 2019 but it’s upto him to decide on this,” he said. “During the England series I thought he needed a break from cricket. India were not doing anything against England, the players were just meandering and the bowling changes when England were batting were defensive. But now I think Dhoni has recharged and he is in great batting form though he needs to tighten up a bit in his wicket-keeping,” Gavaskar told NDTV. With today’s innings win over Australia in the second Test in Hyderabad, Dhoni became India’s most successful Test captain with 22 victories in 45 matches but Gavaskar said he would not want to describe him as the best Indian captain ever. “It’s hard to say who is the best Indian captain ever because we don’t know about the captains in 1930s or 40s. But records speak of themselves. Records indicate that Dhoni is the winningest captain and we should be happy with that,” he said. “There will always be the debate whether Pataudi is the best ever captain or is it Ajit Wadekar or Sourav Ganguly or Rahul Dravid who has an impressive winning record as skipper overseas. We should not talk about it but can be happy that Dhoni is now the winningest captain.”  |
| England better than Australia in all departments : Michael Vaughan #IndvsAus #Ashes Posted: 06 Mar 2013 12:00 AM PST
After Australia’s shambolic innings defeat inside four days in the Hyderabad Test, Vaughan wrote on twitter: “Breaking news. Anyone that has bought a fifth-day ticket for this summer’s Ashes will receive (a) full refund due to Aussie team that won’t make it.” This is when Hyderabad Cricket Association decided to refund the ticket amount for the final day. Vaughan then added more salt to the injury by mocking the current Australian batting line-up, “What do you call a great Australian cricketer??? Retired.” Australian media too was worried with the result as it said, “THIS is not the crisis Australian cricket was meant to have. Not with the Ashes 16 weeks away.”
Later Vaughan spoke to the British media and said going by Australia’s current form, they do not look like posing any challenge to England when the two teams renew Ashes rivalry from July. “This isn’t arrogant in any way but I think England are better than them in all areas. I think they’ve got a better top six, a better bowling unit, better spinners,” Vaughan told the Sun. “I think England have got good coaching, good managers, a good structure – at the minute, Australia have got a bit of turmoil behind the scenes. It’s not arrogant – it’s just an honest opinion,” Vaughan added. Australia and England will play 10 back-to-back Tests in twin series and Vaughan feels the turmoil Australian cricket is going through would serve the British team well. This had an apparent reference to absence of great players in the Australian batting line up and the infighting going on in Australia Cricket. “All the greats have retired a few years ago and now the likes of Michael Hussey and Ricky Ponting have gone,” he said. “Warnie spoke out, he wants change in coaching and selection – and that’s good for England. The Australians are going through a period of arguing amongst themselves. They’re not happy, and that can only bode well for England.” However, there was one thing that Vaughan appreciated in Australian team and that was captaincy of Michael Clarke. “I think the one thing that is quite similar is that Michael Clarke and Cook are similar captains. Clarke is a very, very good captain and obviously Cook has done well too,” he said.  |
| Day 1 of England vs New Zealand 1st Test washed out by rain at Dunedin #EngvsNZ Posted: 05 Mar 2013 11:23 PM PST
The Black Caps won the toss and chose to bowl in overcast conditions, hoping for early swing, but conditions worsened and the teams were unable to take the field. Play was officially called off after an inspection at the tea interval. While England go into the three-Test series as firm favourites, they suffered a blow when Swann was forced from the side at the last minute after a long-standing elbow injury flared up, requiring surgery by a US specialist. Sunny weather is forecast for Thursday, which may favour the English batsmen, who will be looking to score early runs then attack New Zealand’s often patchy batting line-up.  |
| 1st Test : New Zealand wins toss, opts to field vs England – Dunedin 2013 #EngvsNZ Posted: 05 Mar 2013 01:09 PM PST Toss: New Zealand have won the toss and elected to field Brendon McCullum: ‘The overhead conditions will aid swing bowling. We are going with three seamers. Bruce Martin will make his Test debut. He has had an outstanding domestic season. The pitch will dry up as the game goes ahead. Playing England at home is very exciting.’ Cook: ‘It is a good wicket. We will try to get the better of the overhead conditions. The loss in the warm-up game was a good wake-up call. Stuart Broad, Ian Bell and Matt Prior batted well. Graeme Swann is NOT playing this match. He has gone for some scans and we are awaitng the results. Monty Panesar comes in. Stuart Broad makes it into the team. Teams: New Zealand (Playing XI): Peter Fulton, Hamish Rutherford, Kane Williamson, Ross Taylor, Dean Brownlie, Brendon McCullum(c), BJ Watling(w), Tim Southee, Neil Wagner, Trent Boult, Bruce Martin Pitch Report: The pitch is good for batting. When it gets overcast in Dunedin, the ball will do something. There are chances od showers later on in the day. There is a fair covering of grass on this wicket. There will be some seam movement on offer.  |
| England vs New Zealand 1st Test Day 1 Highlights – 06 Mar 2013 #EngvNZ Posted: 05 Mar 2013 12:30 PM PST England vs New Zealand 1st Test Day 1 Highlights Dunedin 2013. Day 1 Highlights New Zealand vs England 1st Test Dunedin 2013. Watch Eng vs NZ Highlights Test Cricket played in Dunedin on 06 March, 2013. England vs New Zealand 1st Test Cricket Highlights. Test Cricket England tour of New Zealand 2013. Highlights will be posted here after the match. Stay tuned!  |
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