Pakistan Super League 2022

2022 Pakistan Super League is the seventh season of the Pakistan Super League, a franchise Twenty20 cricket league which was established by the Pakistan Cricket Board in 2015. The league began on 27 January 2022, with the final scheduled to take place on 27 February.

ICC Announced Schedule of 2022 ICC T20 World Cup 2022.

The International Cricket Council has announced the schedule for the 2022 ICC T20 World Cup 2022. Accordingly, the mini-World Cup to be held in Australia will take place on October 16

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28 May 2012

I am fully committed - Jerome Taylor


Matt Prior is bowled by Jerome Taylor, West Indies v England, first Test, Sabina Park, Kingston, February 7, 2009
Jerome Taylor, the West Indies fast bowler who has been overlooked on fitness grounds for the tour of England, has hit back at allegations by the WICB chief executive Ernest Hiliare that he has failed to commit to rehabilitation programmes put in place in the past two years to quicken his return to the Test side.
Hilaire questioned Taylor's commitment as a professional cricketer during a visit to the first Test at Lord's, saying he was very "difficult" to deal with during the various rehabilitation progammes in the last two years.
But Taylor has told ESPNcricinfo that on his home island of Jamaica nobody had ever seen fit to question his commitment and that he was "disgruntled" at the West Indies board's policy of making demands on him that applied to no other players and that these demands had stalled his comeback to international cricket.
Hilaire was critical of Taylor's indifference towards the WICB medical programmes on Sky TV. "I know, for example, Jerome was on contract, he was injured, he was put on a programme," he said. "It was exceedingly difficult to get him to commit to the programme and to apply himself, to even get him to go to Kingston to get his medical check-ups and to do what had to be done.
"He was in that programme supervised by Jimmy Adams. And there were a lot of difficulties with Jerome. He came back, got injured again, and he was put on another programme. And he was asked to play an entire series of the first-class season to demonstrate that he was fit.
"He took a break, went to Jamaica to a funeral came back and got injured. He was put on a programme. Next thing we heard he was in the IPL. Since then he has not played for Jamaica nor has he played in the IPL this year. There is only so much you can do. You have a player, you are providing for him to be on the medical programme, you are providing for him to be in that rehabilitation programme and he doesn't commit himself to it as a professional."
Taylor, who has had differences with the board over communication about his injury, dismissed Hiliaire's remarks. "I have no idea what Mr Hilaire is actually saying," he said. "Basically I do not know where he is getting his information from. As far as commitment is concerned towards cricket I don't think my efforts can ever be questioned. If you ask anybody in Jamaica, where I have played my cricket, they will tell you I am somebody who has always shown commitment towards cricket and my development."
He also said he has completely recovered from the back injury, having travelled to the USA where a combination of strength training, acupuncture and deep tissue massage were part of his recovery process.
"Everything is feeling all right. I am just going through the paces, taking my time not to rush back to anything but also making sure no stone is left uncovered," he said. According to Taylor, the WICB has not been in touch for the past 18 months except for speaking recently with the Jamaica Cricket Association president: "Nobody from the WICB has been in contact with me recently. The only person I have been in touch with was the JCA president."

Letter sent by Jerome Taylor to the WICB on June 30, 2011

  • Dear Mr. Howard,
  • I am seeking some clarification as to my eligibility for selection to the West Indies cricket team. Since I have received no official word from the WICB and have only seen what is written in the press, I am writing to you as Director of Cricket to see if you can shed some light on the situation for me.
  • I refer to the WICB press release dated May 29th 2011 which was made available to the press at the same time that the squads for the Digicel Pearls T20 and the first two ODI's were announced. The selection notes at the foot of the release, note number five in fact, states that the selectors are of the view that I am required to play a full season of regional cricket in order to prove my fitness to perform adequately at the international level before I can be considered for selection. As it stands it appears that I will not be qualified to play for the West Indies for the rest of 2011 as there is no domestic cricket scheduled before the international commitments for the year are over.
  • I am a bit confused as to exactly why that is so as I played in the last regional tournament representing Jamaica until missing the last game through injury. There was no domestic cricket being played after my recovery but I have played other cricket and proved my fitness so I am asking for some clarification as to the policy of the West Indies Cricket Board regarding players returning from injury as it doesn't seem as if the same thing applies to all players in the same situation.
    I look forward to your early response.
  • Yours respectfully,
  • Jerome Taylor.
Taylor last played for West Indies in the home ODI series against South Africa in mid-2010 but a chronic spine injury resurfaced to sideline him once again. He did go on to play the IPL in 2011 season for Pune Warrirors but back spasms ended his chances of a quick comeback to the international fold.
An attacking fast bowler, Taylor's best spell came ironically against England in the first week of February in 2009 when he cut through the England batting order in the second innings in Jamaica with extreme pace and swing to roll out the visitors for 51, setting up a famous innings victory. West Indies have managed to secure just two Test victories since that success.
A year ago, the WICB excluded Taylor from their limited-overs squads against India and announced that the selectors wanted him to prove his fitness during the first-class competition and then fulfill an entire season of four-day cricket to be eligible for a return to Test cricket.
"The selection committee is of the view that Jerome Taylor is required to play a full season of regional cricket in order to prove his fitness to compete adequately at the international level before being considered for selection," the release said.
Michael Holding, the former West Indies fast bowler, argues that this stipulation was unfair to a youngster like Taylor. "I don't care if Jerome Taylor wasn't committed to the rehab program or if he even had a broken leg and couldn't play," he said. "I am dealing with the principle of dealing with a young man in his twenties and putting stipulations in place which will basically rule him out for at least 18 months and possibly more."
Holding also accused Hilaire of feigning ignorance about Taylor playing the IPL as it was mandatory for any player to get an No Objection Certificate (NOC) from the home board. "He had to get that from the WICB. Is there some other phantom WICB that gave him the NOC?" he said.
According to Taylor he is "currently" not injured and is working in his native St Elizabeth in Jamaica, training at the St Elizabeth Technical School with the senior coach there. "I am not injured. I am working hard on my fitness along with the coach and we are making sure everything is sorted in due time," he said.
Taylor said making a comeback will not be difficult, but that he failed to understand why only he has been asked to pass stringent, long-term fitness standards before being reconsidered for selection.
"I have never seen any other player who has to play a full season, which to me I think is unfair," he said. "That is the only thing that has me disgruntled somewhat because if you are going to have to some criteria for returning to cricket, then let it be the criteria for all and not only for me. To me it is unclear why I have to play a full season. It makes no sense."
Taylor sent a letter (see sidebar) on June 30 last year to Tony Howard, the WICB cricket manager, "seeking some clarification as to my eligibility for selection to the West Indies cricket team." Though he got a call from a WICB official, who said the board would like Taylor to meet the national selectors, Taylor's response was why no on would reply to him in writing.
Taylor, 27, has not ruled out taking the new ball for West Indies again. But for that to happen both him and WICB have to sit down and talk. He added he was certain what exactly he needed to do to get back in favour with the WICB.
"What is happening now is not in my control," he said. "Since I have to play a full season for the comeback and if that is the criteria I have no grouse about it and I wouldn't want to get into a quarrel or argument with anyone. The only thing I can do is to make sure I do what I have to do, make sure that I get myself in a position where I am ready when they are ready to pick me."
At the same time Taylor, whose contract was bought out by Pune Warriors for the fifth IPL season, does not just want to sit idle."I am not going to sit around and wait, just carry on with life serenely. I want to play some cricket. Cricket is happening around the world."
If West Indies are not interested, perhaps the life of a Twenty20 itinerant awaits.
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SLC looks to tighten up on player-media interaction


Kumar Sangakkara got to 10,000 ODI runs, Australia v Sri Lanka, CB Series, Sydney, February 17, 2012
Sri Lanka Cricket is set to tighten up on players' interaction with the media. From now on, Sri Lanka players will have to obtain prior permission from SLC CEO Ajith Jayasekera before speaking with any media personnel. A letter to this effect is to be drafted by Jayasekera, in consultation with SLC lawyer Harsha Amarasekera, and sent to all the contracted players.
A spokesman for SLC said that this regulation may also be included as a clause in the players' contracts. The players are expected to sign their new contracts before the start of the series against Pakistan, which begins on June 1.
The executive committee of SLC had also decided to write a "mild" letter to former captain Kumar Sangakkara, regarding an interview he had given to a newspaper, "reminding him of his obligations" and stressing "that such actions will not be tolerated in future". Sangakkara had previously come under the scrutiny of the cricket administration in Sri Lanka, when he had delivered the MCC's Spirit of Cricket Lecture in England, in which he has said that the establishment was run by "partisan cronies".
The SLC, meanwhile, it is understood, has to pay the players the remainder of their outstanding salaries, along with the dues from the Commonwealth Bank Series (played in Australia in February-March) and the Asia Cup (played in Bangladesh in March)
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IPL was an educational experience, says Tamim


Tamim Iqbal flicks one off his pads, Bangladesh v Sri Lanka, Asia Cup, Mirpur, March 20, 2012
A few weeks outside of his comfort zone hasn't caused Tamim Iqbal to shed his energetic demeanour. Talking to the media for the first time since returning to Dhaka after the IPL, where he did not get a game in 16 matches for his franchise, Pune Warriors, his answers were an exercise in controlled emotions and wit. He took the route that would help soothe his and the fans' nerves. In fact, he said he was not available for the team's final two matches due to "personal reasons".
"It will be selfish to say that they [Warriors] didn't let me play," Tamim said on Saturday. "I have always been a team man, wherever I've played."
Being one of only two representatives from Bangladesh in a multi-national tournament like the IPL meant that there was added pressure, especially after going into the tournament on the back of four consecutive half-centuries in Bangladesh's highly successful Asia Cup campaign. That good form also added to Tamim's frustration at not playing. "It was very frustrating, because I went there with very good form. I thought I would play from the start, but the team is the most important factor. I thought every day was an opportunity for me, despite not playing.
"The thing that I liked the most was that despite being from Bangladesh, I did speak during team meetings. These things are very important because our team [Bangladesh] needs a lot of leadership qualities, so if we can speak to big players [from other countries] and in big team meetings, our leadership qualities will rise. I'm sure Shakib has done it [at his IPL franchise, Kolkata Knight Riders], and I did it."
Tamim also said that he enjoyed observing those around him, especially the big two in his team - captain and mentor Sourav Ganguly, and Australia captain Michael Clarke. "They are both very different human beings; they have different ways of thinking. It was very interesting to see how they talk in team meetings, especially Ganguly, who is one of India's best captains. I saw something in him … the way he talks, he means something.
"Clarke told me that I should be playing, that meant a lot to me. If he rates me highly, why should I be disappointed? More importantly, I got the idea that he follows Bangladesh cricket. He and I spoke a few times and he told me that our unit has a lot of potential. He also said that we have a chance to impress at the next World Cup.
Despite being in such exalted company, Tamim remained a competitor and yearned to play. He was told to be prepared to play on several occasions, he said, but his chance just did not come. "There were many instances when I was asked to get ready but in the end I didn't play. I was being told, when six matches were left to play, that you'll play this game, that game ... When I shared my problem with them, they told me to go home and sort it out first ..."
"But I'm just 23, I have 10-12 years of cricket in me, so if I keep performing there will be a lot of opportunities."
Now Tamim will take a few days off before joining Victoria Sporting Club in the Dhaka Premier Division's Super League from May 31. Later, in mid-June, he will travel with Bangladesh to Zimbabwe
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Kolkata take title after Bisla blitz


Manvinder Bisla goes on the attack, Kolkata Knight Riders v Chennai Super Kings, IPL 2012, final, Chennai, May 27, 2012
There was a galaxy of former Indian cricketers in attendance, the brightest lights from Bollywood were in the stands, both teams had some of the biggest stars in the world game but the headlining performance came from little-known Manvinder Bisla as Kolkata Knight Riders prised the IPL trophy out of Chennai Super Kings' hands. Bisla, who was without a Ranji Trophy side last season, made a mockery of his previous career Twenty20 strike-rate of 106 to play a jack-in-the-box innings that helped overhaul what had seemed a mountainous Super Kings total.
The title seemed headed Super Kings' way for the third year in a row, when for the third match in a row a seemingly out of form Super Kings batsman played a blinder - this time it was Suresh Raina - and the rock of Knight Riders' batting Gautam Gambhir was bowled in the first over.
All that changed when Bisla intervened. Virtually every ball he faced, he either jumped beyond leg to make room or danced down the track to get close to the pitch of the ball as he unleashed a series of lofted extra cover drives to dent Super Kings. The first signs of trouble for the defending champions was when Bisla crashed Albie Morkel for four off-side fours in the fourth over to kickstart Knight Riders's innings.
The experienced Jacques Kallis stroked the singles to allow Bisla most of the strike, and Bisla, getting a game ahead of the regular wicketkeeper-batsman Brendon McCullum, showed no signs of the pressure of a big occasion getting to him. A slower one from Dwayne Bravo was dispatched for six in the next over, and R Ashwin, who has played a leading role in Super Kings successes over the past three seasons, was hit over his head for a couple of classy sixes. After half an hour of Bisla's pyrotechnics, Knight Riders were the team in charge and even the usually unfazed MS Dhoni was giving a heated lecture to his team during the time-out.
A century seemed for the taking for Bisla, but he was undone by Morkel's slower one, holing out to point for 86. Kallis then switched from watchful to wallop. The decision to promote Laxmi Shukla to No. 4 failed, but Kallis played one of the shots of the match, a perfectly placed lofted drive that bisected extra cover and long-off for four. That was followed by a heart-in-the-mouth moment as Kallis swung the ball towards deep midwicket where Michael Hussey held on to a tough catch but couldn't prevent himself from going over the rope.
Yusuf Pathan's horrendous 2012 season came to a fitting end as he top-edged a sweep to be dismissed for 1. Ben Hilfenhaus, who took out Gambhir early and bowled a probing spell with the new ball, returned for his final over in the 19th and he injected more excitement into the game by getting a cramping Kallis to slice a catch to sweeper cover. Hilfenhaus undid that by bowling a full toss that was no-balled for height and following up with another full toss that was nervelessly scooped for four by Shakib Al Hasan.
The tournament entered its final over with Knight Riders needing nine. There were just two singles off the first two balls, including some panicky running, but Manoj Tiwary settled the five-season wait for a trophy with two boundaries behind square leg to spark scenes of wild celebrations.
It was the Chennai crowd that was celebrating for the first half of the game. M Vijay and Michael Hussey left people wondering whether Knight Riders had made a miscalculation by bringing in an ineffective Brett Lee for the final. They added 87 in the first half of the innings, raising visions of their 159-run opening stand that destroyed Royal Challengers Bangalore in last season's final.
Then Raina took over, playing his best innings of the season. Weak against the short ball? Raina's first boundary was a powerfully pulled six over midwicket off Kallis. The mystery of Sunil Narine? Raina slog-swept into the stands and later deposited the ball near the sightscreen as Narine was handed his most expensive figures of the tournament.
Despite the pounding from Super Kings, Knight Riders didn't fade in the field like Delhi Daredevils had two days ago. Their first breakthrough came courtesy an outstanding catch from Shakib in the deep, and there were plenty of dives in the outfield to prevent extra runs. The same never-say-die spirit carried them when they came out to bat as well.
Knight Riders showed why they had lost only two of their previous 12 matches, and also that they could win even if their star performers Gambhir and Narine had off days. In the reams of articles in the build-up to the final, there had been plenty written about those two, but virtually no one spoke about Bisla. "Manvinder Bisla who?" is not likely to be a question asked too often after this game, particularly in Kolkata, as a title finally arrived after five drama-filled seasons.
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Bresnan burst leaves England sensing victory


Kieran Powell dragged on against James Anderson, England v West Indies, 2nd Test, Trent Bridge, 3rd day, May 27, 2012
It does not matter how patiently you scrap, or how successful your bowling plans prove to be. When you have arguably the weakest top three in Test cricket, one of them is back at the hotel with influenza anyway, and the bedrock of your batting hooks a ball down fine leg's throat you are not going to win many Test matches.
That is especially the case when the IPL has stolen some of your star performers and you are playing the No. 1 Test side in the world on a Trent Bridge ground that, even in its guise as a permanently sun-drenched land of lost youth, fills that side with supreme confidence that they can wrest control of the Test in one outstanding session with the ball. To reduce West Indies to 61 for 6 exceeded perhaps even England's wildest expectations.
Tim Bresnan, who loves this ground, where he has good command of reverse swing, closed off the session expertly with figures of 3 for 10. Add to this an unbeaten 39 (which he described as "a bit dogged, really") when an England first-innings lead was not certain, and despite the impressive rival claims of Steve Finn he can look forward to retaining his place at Edgbaston.
A West Indies attack that in style, with the possible exception of Kemar Roach, is about as far removed from their great attacks of their heyday as it is possible to be, strove manfully to restrict England's first-innings lead to 58 on a third day when many assumed that it would be in excess of 250. Instead of a back-breaking day in the sun, they bowled resourcefully, keeping England to a further 169 after they began at 259 for 2.
Within the first 17 overs of the final session, England laid those efforts to waste. James Anderson picked off the openers in his second and third overs, Kieran Powell driving irresponsibly and dragging on; Adrian Barath stuck in front of middle with minimal foot movement. Does Chris Gayle, one wonder, ever feel a pang of guilt as he cold-shoulders West Indies Test cricket in favour of the riches of IPL or is he unabashed at what he sees as simple financial logic?
As Kirk Edwards, the flu victim, could not bat until No. 7, Shivnarine Chanderpaul came in after 4.2 overs. Some have clamoured for him to move up the order, but presumably not like this. He lasted 15 balls before Stuart Broad, face reddening in the heat, upped the intensity when it was most needed, fired in a well-directed short ball and Chanderpaul's top-edged hook flew obligingly to Jonathan Trott at fine leg.
Darren Bravo is regarded in the Caribbean as a batsman of immense promise, but he has now been outgunned by Australia and England in turn. He was caught on the back foot, playing across one from Bresnan that kept a little low. If the shot was technically dubious, his decision to ask for a review was criminal; replays predictably showed the ball hitting middle. When Bresnan trapped Ramdin in front, Marlon Samuels wisely talked his partner out of wasting the second review.
Edwards must have wondered if his journey was really necessary. A woeful tour was encapsulated by a woeful day; a woeful day encapsulated by a woeful minute at the crease. Stupified, eyes half closed, he heard two lbw appeals in turn, the second of them successful for Bresnan, to round off arguably his best spell of the summer.
England also owed much to Andrew Strauss, who was 102 not out at start of play and who crucially broke his habits of old by surviving into mid-afternoon. He never quite recovered the fluency of the previous day as England's visions of 600-plus evaporated; not as much reconnecting with his form of the previous day as sticking around in the hope of an introduction, but his longevity was invaluable. He fell on 141, caught at the wicket off Darren Sammy.
Strauss has only ever added a maximum of six runs when he has had a hundred in the bank at start of play, a statistical quirk that had been extended in the first Test at Lord's. He had admitted to his frustration on the previous evening, saying: "Scoring a hundred takes a bit out of you physically so it is a bit tricky the next morning but there's no reason why you can't kick on and get a big score. It's a mindset thing the next day, to try and reconnect with what you did the day before rather than worrying too much."
England's individual batting weaknesses were exposed at regular intervals before lunch: Kevin Pietersen's fondness for moving across his stumps, Jonny Bairstow's apparent fallibility against short-pitched quick bowling - Kemar Roach's aggressive use of the second new ball was quite an introduction to the realities of Test cricket - and Matt Prior's vulnerability to the good-length ball that seams back.
Pietersen, 72 not out overnight, had tweeted his intention to go to bed shortly before 7pm. Perhaps he is still on India time, a sort of vicarious link to the IPL. Or perhaps he was so eager to make use of a flat pitch, and pull alongside Strauss' collection of 21 Test centuries again, that he felt 12 hours sleep was advisable. Whatever, it did not do the trick as he only added only eight, lbw as Ravi Rampaul cut one back.
When Aleem Dar gives a batsman out, it is safest to assume that he is probably right, but he erred when he turned down West Indies' appeal for lbw against Ian Bell with the first over of the new ball. West Indies reviewed it and Bell - who had also been dropped on 15 by the wicketkeeper, Denesh Ramdin, off Shane Shillingford - was clearly out. The last of the morning's victims was Prior, whose aggressive intent ended when Sammy cut one back to bowl him.
West Indies, short on resources with Shillingford's offspin ineffective, settled for containment in the shape of a wholehearted spell by Sammy. But dispensing with an England tail is not an easy business. Folklore has it that the pup with the shortest, thickest tail is the pick of the litter and in terms of Test rankings it appeared the belief might be well-founded as Bresnan and Broad added 53 for the eighth wicket before Broad fell to a top-edged paddle sweep, not his forte.
Graeme Swann feathered an inside edge against Marlon Samuels that was spotted by the new, exceptionally-sensitive Hot Spot. As Swann walked off, bemused, West Indies felt right in the match. Nothing could have been further from the truth.

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26 May 2012

Afridi, Umar Akmal given top PCB contracts


Shahid Afridi and Umar Akmal have been awarded category A contracts by the PCB for the calendar year 2012. Mohammad Sami, who had been picked in Pakistan's teams in all three formats for the upcoming tour of Sri Lanka after being sidelined for two years, has not received a contract.
Afridi had not figured in last year's list of central contracts as he was in the middle of a spat with the PCB then. Umar Akmal has been moved up from category B.
There are no other changes to the top category: Misbah-ul-Haq, Younis Khan, Umar Gul, Mohammad Hafeez, Saeed Ajmal and Abdur Rehman are the others in the premier bracket.
Shoaib Malik, who was not given a contract last year, has been awarded a category B contract, while Abdul Razzaq, who was in the second bracket last year, has been cut from the list. Fast bowler Aizaz Chemma has made the biggest jump, moving from the stipend category up to category B.
In all, 21 players have been given full-fledged contracts, while 21 players have been placed in the stipend category.
Category A: Misbah-ul-Haq, Younis Khan, Umar Gul, Mohammad Hafeez, Saeed Ajmal, Shahid Afridi, Abdur Rehman, Umar Akmal
Category B: Shoaib Malik, Taufeeq Umar, Azhar Ali, Asad Shafiq, Junaid Khan, Aizaz Cheema
Category C: Sarfraz Ahmad, Adnan Akmal, Hammad Azam, Wahab Riaz, Imran Farhat, Faisal Iqbal, Nasir Jamshed
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Shahid Afridi in the list of Best Professionals


Former captain of national cricket team and one of the top all-rounders of the world, Shahid Afridi’s name has been included in British International Biographical Centre’s list of 100 Top Professionals of 2012.Cambridge’s trusted-worthy Biographical Centre announces 100 top
professionals in various fields every year. It also awards medals to these 100 top professionals.

Expressing jubilation at receiving this prestigious award Afridi said that the prayers of his elders and the nation helped him win this award.

I would keep on playing my part to help the national team savor many more victories, he added.

Previously, Imran Khan has won this prestigious award.
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Samuels ton leads WI recovery,Samuels century turns the heat on England


Marlon Samuels played another mature innings, England v West Indies, 2nd Test, Trent Bridge, 1st day, May 25, 2012
For two sessions, West Indies, debilitated by the IPL, were routinely preyed upon by England. Six wickets down for 138 shortly before tea, their plight was there for all to see. Things were so bad, it was hard to be optimistic about the future for West Indies Test cricket. Then Marlon Samuels and Darren Sammy organised a recovery that made a mockery of what had gone before.
The Trent Bridge pitch went flat and England, so close to achieving what would surely have been an impregnable position, went flatter. By the close their stand was worth 167 runs in 41 overs. Samuels commands respect and received warm handshakes after reaching his third Test hundred. Sammy relished driving England's bowlers to distraction especially James Anderson, whose frustrated commentary on his unorthodoxy led the umpire, Aleem Dar, to intervene.
Samuels reached his century in the penultimate over of the day, with a clip to long leg off Anderson for only his third hundred in 39 Tests. At 31, he has finally understood his potential. His previous boundary had been blissful, an easeful extra-cover drive against Tim Bresnan, proof in a single shot that if he maintains the discipline he has shown in this series there can still be many more.
Once again, DRS proved its worth. The umpire, Asad Rauf, gave out Samuels lbw to Bresnan when he had only made a single, only for replays to suggest on West Indies' review that the ball was way too high.
Sammy, 88 not out from 121 balls at the close, has also answered his critics - although in Anderson's case they were prone to answering back. He has been characterised as a one-day cricketer in charge of a Test side, not quite good enough to prosper as a third seamer and reliant upon a rough-hewn batting style that prevents his promotion above No. 8.
But his innings had an endearing simplicity. He is the most convivial of biffers, a batsman of prodigious strength. Even block drives fly off his bat with meaning and when he puts his body into it, he has the strength of a coal miner. He can punish off-colour attacks and England, who conceded 106 in 23 overs up to the new ball, should be wary of the message. Bresnan, preferred to Steven Finn, might have won all his 12 Tests for England but he is a lucky charm in need of a polish.
When Sammy muscled Trott over mid-on after reaching his 50, one sensed that he did not believe he had a prayer against the second new ball. But he survived it, grinning at two midwicket whips against Anderson which flew to the third man boundary, smiling again (more sheepishly) at a perilous leave.
Their stand was the highest seventh-wicket partnership for West Indies against England and in Tests at Trent Bridge, surpassing the achievement of Collie Smith and John Goddard in 1957 - another alliance between a captain and a Jamaican. There are no better statistics than those that connect the generations so neatly.
It had all looked so different. West Indies opted for the offspin of Shane Shillingford in the expectation that he would come into his own on the last two days, especially with the hot forecast. The only challenge was exactly how they intended to reach them. By the morning drinks they were three wickets down for 42 and the doleful figure of Shivnarine Chanderpaul came out to the middle to sip a refreshment he did not need and observe a scoreboard he did not relish.
Anderson had a hand in all four morning wickets, dismissing Kirk Edwards and Darren Bravo in an opening spell of 9-4-22-2 and holding two slip catches as Stuart Broad accounted for the openers, Adrian Barath, without scoring, and Kieran Powell for 33.
Anderson has an outstanding Test record at Trent Bridge, 33 wickets at 17 runs each going into the Test. He was initially so content that he might have won an advertising contract for camomile tea, even though while he held slip catches for Broad, others were spurning them off his own bowling. Long before the close, though, he was a camomile cricketer no longer.
Broad struck first: Barath edging a back-foot force in his second over and Anderson pulling off a nonchalant, fast, one-handed catch at third slip. For his own bowling, England's fielding lacked the same grace. He might have dismissed Edwards for a single, but Bresnan erred in the same position.
Edwards' tour of England has been a difficult one. He scored a century on Test debut against India last year, but he has yet to reach double figures on tour. Anderson jagged one back through the gate as once more he seemed late on the shot. He switched around the wicket to persuade Bravo to prod a wide-ish delivery to Graeme Swann at second slip.
And so, with indecent haste, it was time for Chanderpaul. He dug in for nearly ten-and-a-half hours at Lord's, but Anderson's bouncer almost dislodged him first ball as the ball flew off his arm guard and over the wicketkeeper, Matt Prior. An edge in Anderson's next over flew at catchable height between Bresnan's half dive and Swann's crouch as neither locked on to the coordinates. Broad completed an excellent morning's work by England as Powell edged a good-length delivery to Anderson at third slip.
England, who reduced West Indies to 79 for 4 by lunch, squeezed them dry in the first hour of the afternoon. Chanderpaul and Samuels added 13 runs in as many overs before Chanderpaul's unwieldy straight drive brought the first boundary of the afternoon. He had nine boundaries, including a few covert flicks and edges and even a couple of drives, before Swann intervened.
For Swann, to be an England spinner on his home ground at Trent Bridge had been to feel like the unwanted child. Finally, after two Tests in which he was limited to 17 overs, he had a wicket against his name. His toy to play with was Chanderpaul: not so much Action Man as Inaction Man but invaluable for all that.
Chanderpaul fell for 46, as Swann found first-day turn around off-stump and struck him on the back leg to have him lbw, but only after a successful review. "Nearly there," thought England as Bresnan bowled Denesh Ramdin. But nearly was not quite enough.
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CSK storm into third straight final: Vijay century overpowers Delhi


M Vijay stylishly sends the ball towards long-on, Delhi Daredevils v Chennai Super Kings, 2nd eliminator, IPL 2012, Chennai, May 25, 2012
The questions everyone was asking after the toss were: why is the virtually unknown offspinner Sunny Gupta making his IPL debut in Delhi Daredevils' biggest game of the season and why was purple cap holder Morne Morkel dropped? The questions resonated through the game and will haunt the Daredevils management for long, as one of the biggest tactical goof-ups in IPL history meant another season of dominance at the league stage ended without a win in the playoffs.
M Vijay clubbed a century and Chennai Super Kings took their toll of the weakened Daredevils attack to run up the highest score of the tournament. The decision to leave out Morkel had been based partly on wanting to strengthen an already intimidating batting line-up but the target was too much to ask even of Daredevils' superstars.
Super Kings came into the competition boasting a batting unit littered with match-winners but they rarely clicked together in the league phase. In the playoffs, though, they have been a transformed side. Two days after mauling Mumbai Indians, their batsmen fired again leaving Daredevils bowlers utterly clueless. Gupta was taken for 47 in his three overs and Varun Aaron conceded 63 in his four, the most expensivefigures in IPL history.
Much of the punishment came at the hands of Vijay, who hasn't had the best of tournaments. A poor run at the start of the season left him with the unwanted distinction of being the only retained Indian player to be dropped in 2012. Super Kings backed him after leaving him out for a few games, and he repaid the faith with a big-match innings that has put them in their third final in a row.
The hammering started in the first over, as Gupta's first two deliveries were driven to the long-off boundary by Vijay. Normally a player who favours the leg-side, his lofted drives through the off side were the highlight of the innings. Even with Michael Hussey sensibly pushing the ball around and letting Vijay go for the big hits, Super Kings motored to 68 in eight overs.
Hussey fell soon after but by the time Virender Sehwag came on to bowl in the 11th, Vijay was unstoppable. That over kickstarted another phase of heavy scoring: first a six to midwicket that was brilliantly caught by Ross Taylor who stepped on the rope as he landed, then a powerful cut behind backward point for four, followed by a boundary to long-on and a six over cow corner. After that second six, Vijay was at such ease that he was sharing a joke with non-striker Suresh Raina. Two overs of mayhem later, when Vijay safely guided a ball to third man, he was gesticulating in frustration for having taken only a single off the delivery.
Daredevils didn't help matters with their shoddy catching. Sehwag was awfully leaden-footed to a miscue from Raina to cover while David Warner, possibly their best fielder, grassed MS Dhoni at long-on. The bowling from Daredevils wasn't particularly poor - there weren't too many hit-me full tosses or gifted-away deliveries down the leg side - but was merely run-of-the-mill length stuff that was no worry to Super Kings' marauders. Morne Morkel's control was sorely missed.
Dhoni and Dwayne Bravo played mini-versions of their powerhouse efforts against Mumbai Indians while Vijay went on to his century, which he celebrated with gusto pointing to the back of his shirt and showing his relief to put an indifferent run firmly behind him.
Facing with a massive target, Daredevils had another surprise in store: for the first time this season, Sehwag didn't open. Mahela Jayawardene came out at the top of the order and, though he stuck around for a characteristically elegant half-century, the game was virtually done within the fourth over of the chase as both Sehwag and David Warner were dismissed.
Super Kings' batting may grab all the headlines, but their fielding has also been top-class this season, highlighted by Vijay's sharp catch to dismiss Warner and then the running take by Hussey to send back Sehwag.
Ross Taylor slogged a couple of sixes over midwicket but his over-reliance on that stroke cost him as he miscued a wide delivery to mid-on. Jayawardene was left with too much to do, and after he was bowled after missing a reverse-sweep, there was no one to stop Daredevils from sliding to the biggest defeat of the season.
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PCB award Asia Cup winners



The Pakistan Cricket Board has announced cash awards for the players and support staff who were part of their successful Asia Cup campaign in Bangladesh in March. The board will award the players 400,000 Pakistan rupees (US$4300 approx) each, while the support staff will get Rs 200,000 apiece.
Pakistan's Asia Cup victory came at the end of a very successful season for them, in which they drew a Test series in the West Indies and won the ODIs there, beat Zimbabwe and Bangladesh on away tours, and then whitewashed England 3-0 in the Tests in the UAE. The only glitch for them was the 4-0 ODI series loss to England in February.
At the felicitation function, the PCB also announced an increase of 25% in the retainer for centrally contracted players, and an increase of 10% in match fees. Forty-two players, who will be named on Saturday, will receive contracts this year. The last batch of contracts, which were given to 37 players, had expired on December 31, 2011.
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Clarke foreshadows his retirement


Michael Clarke reflects on a tough day in the field, Australia v Sri Lanka, Commonwealth Bank Series, 2nd final, Adelaide, March 6, 2012
Australia's captain Michael Clarke has foreshadowed his retirement from the game, saying he has no desire to play into his late 30s as Ricky Ponting, Michael Hussey and others have done. Addressing a business conference in Adelaide, Clarke said he wished to have his impact on the game "in a short space of time" and then move on to other pursuits.
Clarke, 31, has led Australia with distinction over his first year in charge of the team, and has the chance to achieve critical goals over the next 18 months: victory over South Africa at home, India away, and the return of the Ashes to Australia over back-to-back series against England may all be achieved in that time, and all this would also serve to return Clarke's team to the top of the world rankings. Beyond those encounters lies the 2015 World Cup in Australia, though Clarke hinted strongly that he may not make it that far.
"I'm enjoying playing now but in time I won't be the guy playing at 38, 39, 40," Clarke said. "I hope I can have my impact in a short space of time and then be finished. I have so many goals I want to see this team achieve and when my time is up, it is up.
"I would love to see the team have success, achieve what it can achieve. And then I think that is time for me to give the reins to somebody else and go and start the other side of life I guess … get involved in some sort of business and have a family, and do all the things that are special to me and I still want to do when my cricket career is over."
As a captain, Clarke has often been paralleled with Mark Taylor, another Australian captain of great tactical skill. Taylor did not overstay his welcome as a captain, retiring after retaining the Ashes at home in early 1999, aged only 34.
One factor that will play a role in Clarke's thinking regarding how long he will continue is the back trouble that he has managed across his career. While Clarke has never missed a Test match because of the degenerative discs found in his back when he was 17, he is conscious that the condition cannot improve. "Unfortunately degeneration, it can't improve, so it's now about managing my condition," he said.
A very private ceremony wedded Clarke to his fiancé Kyly Boldy in the Blue Mountains earlier this month, and the secrecy surrounding the event was in keeping with their low-key courtship following his far more public engagement and break-up with Lara Bingle. Clarke said he remained uncomfortable with eyes prying into his private life.
"We told nobody, our parents didn't know," Clarke said. "We invited a small group of people to come away on a holiday with us - they thought it was a family holiday. And we shocked our family, let alone the world.
"I think I find the scrutiny on the field quite easy to deal with ... the stuff that I have probably found hard, and still find hard to accept, is the off the field stuff. When I was vice-captain I had a lot of media scrutiny anyway, so I was accustomed to the off the field stuff, nothing has really changed as captain."
Clarke's next assignment will be to lead the Australian ODI team on a tour of England and Ireland in June and July.
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New Zealand to name new coach by end of July


New Zealand Cricket chief executive David White has said that the board aims to find a replacement for head coach John Wright by the end of July. The board met in Auckland on Friday to discuss the process and timeline for recruiting Wright's successor.
"We want the best person for the job and will not limit our search for the right candidate,'' White said. "We are aiming to have the new head coach in place by the end of July but will not be drawn into making self-imposed deadlines.''
White said the position will be publicly advertised in the coming weeks and that the best candidate will be appointed, regardless of his nationality. "The key responsibilities for the head coach will be to manage the support staff, prepare the team for international cricket and, along with the captain, be responsible for performance of the team," White told Fairfax NZ News.
Earlier this month, John Wright, confirmed that he would step down after the tour of the West Indies in August. He cited differences with New Zealand's director of cricket, John Buchanan, as a factor that influenced his decision not to extend his contract.
Wright's decision prompted the board to announce that the demanding nature of the Future Tours Programme would mean that the workload of the support staff would be considered before making a decision on a new coach. New Zealand will tour the West Indies in June, India in August and then head to Sri Lanka for the ICC World T20 in September
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25 May 2012

West Indies must dig deep again


Darren Sammy is ignoring off-field distractions ahead of the second Test against England
England were forced to work hard for their victory at Lord's but ultimately had too much depth for West Indies. The visitors showed the resourcefulness they displayed against Australia - especially on the fourth day with the bat - but too many familiar failings emerged at crucial times to allow England to wrestle back control.
It may have been West Indies' best chance because now England have got a foothold in the series. With two of England's favourite venues to come it will be a tough task to keep the series alive. Trent Bridge offers help for swing bowling - even now the sun has emerged after a cold, damp start to the season- which will provide another examination of West Indies' top order, the area that remains their weakest link.
England, though, are on message that they cannot lose focus. Kemar Roach gave them a fright in the run chase while Shivnarine Chanderpaul was only dismissed after 425 deliveries at the crease. West Indies were not the pushovers of 2009 by a long way and the contest was all the better for it.
Inevitably, however, when West Indies are playing, it is off the field issues that continue to take the headlines. Chris Gayle is a constant source of questions but certainly will not be here for this Test at least. Then there are the slightly differing issues surrounding Ramnaresh Sarwan and Jerome Taylor. Meanwhile the captain Darren Sammy is again under pressure to justify his place in the side. Given all the distractions it is commendable that West Indies are being competitive.
Form guide
(Most recent first)
England WWLLL
West Indies LLDLD
Watch out for...
Kevin Pietersen had a quiet match at Lord's but that is not the same as being out of the news. He has been fined for his Twitter remarks about Nick Knight, and during the net session on Thursday was giving the ball a fearful smack. A frustrated Pietersen can be dangerous if he can channel his feelings into motivation. If he scores a hundred it is just a shame Knight is not on the commentary roster for this Test to interview him afterwards.
He is not confirmed in the team, but Shane Shillingford's absence was keenly felt at Lord's and he is pushing hard for a recall. One of the by-products of his omission was West Indies' awful over-rate which cost them financially and he is also a bowler who can provide control for Sammy. England have struggled against spin in recent times - albeit away from home - so it is surely worth a punt from West Indies.
Team news
As at Lord's, England's only decision revolves around the third quick bowler. Tim Bresnan now has 12 wins in 12 (and last year he hit 90, then took 5 for 48 against India at Trent Bridge) but had a limited impact at Lord's with one wicket and duck although, for long periods, did an important holding role with the ball. The question remains: Could Steven Finn do the same job and also provide an additional cutting edge? Finn is frustrated at being on the sidelines. He may have a bit more time there yet.
England (probable) 1 Andrew Strauss (capt), 2 Alastair Cook, 3 Jonathan Trott, 4 Kevin Pietersen, 5 Ian Bell, 6 Jonny Bairstow, 7 Matt Prior (wk), 8 Tim Bresnan, 9 Stuart Broad, 10 Graeme Swann, 11 James Anderson
West Indies will need to make one enforced change to their bowling attack after Shannon Gabriel was ruled out of the tour. Sadly, from an entertainment point of view, that is likely to mean a recall for Ravi Rampaul, who has now recovered from his neck problem, rather than Tino Best who has recently arrived from the Caribbean. They will also give serious consideration to playing Shillingford and he could replace Fidel Edwards after a disappointing display at Lord's.
West Indies (probable) 1 Adrian Barath, 2 Kieran Powell, 3 Kirk Edwards, 4 Darren Bravo, 5 Shivnarine Chanderpaul, 6 Marlon Samuels, 7 Denesh Ramdin (wk), 8 Darren Sammy (capt), 9 Kemar Roach, 10 Ravi Rampaul, 11 Shane Shillingford
Pitch and conditions
Typically in the UK the first sign of warm weather has made front-page news and it is expected to last throughout the Test. It could offer the batsmen a chance to prosper although Trent Bridge is rarely flat even in the best of conditions.
Stats and trivia
  • West Indies have never lost a Test at Trent Bridge. However, they have not played there since 1995 when Mike Watkinson helped save the match for England
  • England have won their last three Tests at the ground and by huge margins: 319 runs against India, 354 runs against Pakistan, and an innings and nine runs against New Zealand. There has not been a draw since 2002 against India.
  • This will be the last Test for the old, traditional-style, scoreboard at Trent Bridge which is due to be replaced by another electronic version.
  • James Anderson is back on a happy hunting ground where he has taken 33 wickets at 17.45 in five Test, while last year Stuart Broad claimed a hat-trick against India.
Quotes
"It's all about keeping our feet on the ground and making sure we're willing to do the hard graft necessary to get on top of the side ahead."
Andrew Strauss will ensure England do not get carried away
"There is a good chance that Shillingford might play in this Test match. Ravi is fit for us again. He has been the guy taking wickets with the new ball, so probably we would go back to two hard fast bowlers and myself, and a spinner."
Unlike Strauss, Darren Sammy did not mind giving a strong hint about his selection
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Do Delhi have big-match temperament?


Mahela Jayawardene plays a pull shot , Delhi Daredevils v Kings XI Punjab, IPL 2012, Delhi, May 15, 2012
Virender Sehwag and Delhi Daredevils are in a familiar position. Like this year, they had utterly dominated the 2009 season, before their mighty batting line-up faltered in the semi-final, much like their flop against Kolkata Knight Riders on Tuesday. This time though, with the changed format, they get a second opportunity.
One of Daredevils' puzzling decisions in the game against Knight Riders was to send in Ross Taylor as low as No. 7, below even teenager Pawan Negi, who is in the side primarily as a left-arm spinner and isn't known for his batting exploits. TA Sekar, Daredevils' team mentor, said the team had reassessed its batting order the game; so Taylor can expect to bat at a more customary position on Friday.
Chennai Super Kings are also in a familiar position. Once again, they seem to be at their best in the final stages of the tournament. After several days of nervously watching other teams' results go their way, Super Kings looked unstoppable when they took apart Mumbai Indians on Wednesday.
They have always looked like the team with the greatest depth in their batting, and that was amply demonstrated against Mumbai Indians. Even after losing M Vijay and the IPL's highest run-scorer Suresh Raina as early as the second over, their crisis men Michael Hussey and S Badrinath stabilised the innings, before the flamboyance of MS Dhoni and Dwayne Bravo switched the innings mode from build to blast. Even without using the heavy-hitting of Albie Morkel, even against the bowling of Lasith Malinga, Super Kings ran up 187 and coasted to victory.
The trouble for Super Kings is that they need to bring their A game three times in five days, to beat each of other three playoff teams, if they are to make it a hat-trick of titles. They have done it once. Can they do it a second time on Friday?
Form guide
(most recent first) 
Chennai Super Kings: WLWWW
Delhi Daredevils: LWLWL
Players to watch
In five years of the IPL, Mahela Jayawardene is yet to win a playoff match. He's only had two chances: once in 2008, when Kings XI Punjab were thrashed by Super Kings, and then the defeat to Knight Riders earlier this week. In addition, his form this season hasn't matched the high standard expected of him. In successive World Cups, Jayawardene has shown his ability to lift his game for the big occasion, something Daredevils would love him to do over the next three days.
Ben Hilfenhaus has taken over from Doug Bollinger as Super Kings' Australian fast bowler of choice. He's played seven matches since his arrival from the West Indies, and hasn't gone wicketless even once. After Dwayne Smith clubbed a succession of boundaries off Hilfenhaus to steal a last-ball victory, Hilfenhaus showed his temperament by bouncing back with consecutive Man-of-the-Match performances. Besides the outswinger which serves him well even in the longer formats, he has a quick bouncer, an accurate yorker and he likes to bowl full and wide to stifle batsmen. He accounted for both Sehwag and David Warner in the last game against Daredevils. Can he do it again?
Team combination
Super Kings don't like to tinker with their team composition, re-securing their core players even during the re-shuffle before the 2011 season. They have used only 17 players this year, the least by a franchise, showing how much they like a settled side. After Shadab Jakati's tight spell in the previous game with the new ball, expect him to retain his place. The only question for them is whether to retain M Vijay, or to pick S Anirudha if he is fit.
Daredevils will have to ponder whether to play an extra spinner in Chennai, or stick to their preferred pace-heavy attack. Irfan Pathan had injured his hand while attempting a return catch in the game against Knight Riders, but team mentor Sekar said Irfan was fit to play on Friday.
Meetings this season
Both encounters this season have been one-sided: Daredevils won by eight wickets at the Kotla after four run-outs undermined Super Kings, and less than two weeks ago Hilfenhaus ran through the Daredevils top order to set up a straightforward five-wicket victory at Chepauk.
Stats and trivia
  • Suresh Raina has scored only 341 runs this season, his lowest tally in any IPL
  • Morne Morkel is three wickets away from equalling Malinga's record of 28 wickets in an IPL season
  • For stats on Super Kings' spinners' struggles at home, click here
Quotes
"We have a team that is better suited to the conditions in Chennai. We have seamers who are adequate but not startling."
Stephen Fleming, coach of the Chennai Super Kings, expects the Chepauk surface to help the spinners in the side
"Ross got a 21-ball fifty against Royal Challengers in Bangalore. He showed his class there and I think he is in a good space and I think he should fire tomorrow."
TA Sekar isn't too worried about Taylor's form
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Kenyan player being investigated over World Cup 2011 game


The ICC is investigating claims of irregularities involving a Kenyan player during the match against Pakistan at Hambantota during the 2011 World Cup. ESPNcricinfo has learned that the ICC has also advised the Kenyan board not to engage the player concerned in any official capacity.
Pakistan won the match by 205 runs after bowling out Kenya for 112. During the Pakistan innings Kenya's bowlers conceded 37 wides, equalling the world record.
"Cricket Kenya has … been advised that at this stage the ICC cannot comment on any investigations," Tom Sears, the board's chief executive, told ESPNcricinfo. "We are happy to assist the ICC in any way to ensure that any corruption in the game is dealt with and if there has been any wrongdoing, any individuals involved are punished accordingly. The Kenyan Ministry of Sport and Youth Affairs is aware of the allegations and has also pledged their support in eradicating any corruption."
Kenya's performance during the tournament, which they ended without a win, was heavily criticised and resulted in a top-to-bottom review by Cricket Kenya. As a result, some senior players were not offered new contracts.
The ICC were initially alerted to an incident involving the Kenyan player outside the World Cup with a report from another player that several approaches were made to spot-fix in international matches involving other Full Member countries. While that investigation by the ICC's Anti-Corruption and Security Unit (ACSU) remains open, it is believed it has not been pursued as it came down to one person's word against another.
Subsequently another allegation was made against the same cricketer concerning the World Cup match. Cricket Kenya is now in discussions with the ICC about the claim.
An ICC spokesman said that it "has a standard policy of not making any comment on the ACSU's activities"
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