Monday, 16 April 2012

Stuart Broad ruled out of England's second Test against Sri Lanka

He will now undertake a rehabilitation programme which will determine his availability for all cricket including the Indian Premier League.

Broad, 25, went into the first Test with a sore left ankle which he had sprained on the boundary rope doing warm-ups before the first practice match in Colombo, just over two weeks ago. This latest problem, although on his other leg, could well be linked given the overcompensation that often occurs when bowlers take niggles into a game.

England, experiencing a losing streak that has now extended to four straight defeats, will miss a fit Broad, with his aggression and sense of purpose, but not the one there, who was not fully himself. He has struck up a dynamic new-ball partnership with James Anderson, but while he bore his discomfort well during the Test, he was noticeably off colour.

Tim Bresnan, himself recently injured, will also be under consideration. England badly missed a third seamer on the opening morning of the Test when they had Sri Lanka 15 for three. Instead of maintaining the pressure created by Anderson and Broad by introducing another pace bowler, they had to turn to spin, which is in the comfort zone for Sri Lankan batsmen, especially on a first day pitch. With 20 wickets more a priority in Colombo than big totals, because of their desperation to win the game and level the series, England could well play five bowlers.


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Surrey pace bowlers hold key to County Championship

Surrey have reserves of pace bowling like no other county except Lancashire, and this season the holders of the county championship have to play four of their home games on the new sideways-pitches at Old Trafford which are not as pacey as their traditional ones.

While counties are stocked with fast-medium bowlers — and some with nothing but fast-medium — very few have anyone fast. In Stuart Meaker, who debuted for England’s 50-over team last winter, Surrey have one; and, rarer still, in Chris Jordan they have a quick-bowling all-rounder.

With Jade Dernbach, Tim Linley and Jon Lewis — signed from Gloucestershire – who has been nibbling the ball around on Surrey’s pre-season tours of Somerset and Essex, Surrey have the fuel in an era of reduced power-supplies; and there is also the possibly that Chris Tremlett might recover from his latest injury in time for the championship run-in.

The brown caps, or brown helmets, have batsmen too. The younger ones are shot-a-ball merchants more suited to the 20- and 40-over formats, but Surrey’s resources — as one of the richer, or least bankrupt, counties — have enabled them to sign veterans for them to bat around.

Given that county cricket now attracts only the left-overs from overseas — players not wanted by the Indian Premier League, whose fifth season extends to the end of May — Jacques Rudolph has been as big as any off-season signing this winter.

Rudolph may not have proved himself a Test opening batsman, but at number six he is not so much of an ‘lbw candidate’, has got away with closing the bat face and re-established himself in South Africa’s Test side. His relative absence from Yorkshire last season was a major reason for their demotion; and his acquisition by Surrey for the first two months of this season should guarantee their staying up, and maybe more.

The big question is whether Mark Ramprakash, at 42, can make any more big hundreds, especially after Rudolph departs for South Africa’s tour of England. Last season’s average of 33 was Ramprakash’s lowest since his debut year of 1987, and he made a single first-class century, leaving him on 114 in all.

Ramprakash got in last season, like Andrew Strauss in recent Tests, but didn’t go on from his 20s and 30s. Last week, when captaining MCC in Abu Dhabi against Lancashire, and when batting against a pink ball was fine except at twilight, he began his 26th first-class season with a 7 and 6.

As an ever higher proportion of top-level runs are scored in limited-overs formats, and an ever lower proportion in first-class cricket, nobody in future will come close to the 35,000 first-class runs that Ramprakash has clocked; and even Sachin Tendulkar, with 78, and Ricky Ponting, 77, are not going to approach his tally of first-class centuries.

This season’s county championship would round off not only an individual career but an era.


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The ashes of 2010: ITV4 salient facts screen series between the United Kingdom and the Australia

Cricket will be broadcast on ITV4 - and therefore only available to viewers access to Freeview or other digital services - but it should nevertheless attract audiences over one million, as well as the same kind of profile ABC1 period drama Julian Fellowes.

"We've attracted peak figures as high as two million ITV4 for some matches of the Europa League", said a spokesman for ITV. ""This channel has hosted a number of sporting events, including France, tour the world and the Indian Premier League Cup".

The new more important as cricket free Sky Sports fans are concerned, that they can watch a full sequence of ash, time is a significant improvement over Windows falls short clips that will be available on the website of England and Wales Cricket country of.

Mark Nicholas will be before the program, which will begin at 10 am every night, even though the comment and sequences provided by the Australian Channel 9 host broadcaster.


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V England India: Andrew Strauss, explains the long form of cricket is the ultimate Test

The initial to ttwweennttyy rush declined a little, but you do not have to be a specialist of the rockets to see that, in some parts of the world that it is fighting for interest. Many of the reasons is not met and has turned to other forms of gambling.

We are very lucky in England , because we have a base of very stable and solid support for the game of Test cricket, which I do not change any time soon.

But it is important that we continue encouraging and nurturing the game in other parts of the world. There is room for three forms of game to coexist, but we need administrators to continue to work and ensure Test cricket is a good product to look at.

Once, no there were no rival of Test cricket. We now have to adopt other forms of game and use them to introduce people to Test cricket.

It should not be an unhealthy competition between the formats. The challenge for administrators is to get this balance so that all can coexist together. The difficulty is that on the commercial plan, shorter forms of the more logical than Test cricket game is a challenge for administrators to look at the overview rather than simply the bottom line.

In my view, it is not easy for them and we all have responsibility for the future. Sometimes, this means investing in something that is not the most cost-effective in the short term while knowing that in the long term it could pay off the coast.

As players, we also recognize that such situations that leave for bad light help to our cause. We have too much to a little more receptive to change if this means that the game will continue to prosper.

In 20 years the cricket Test will always be with us, but it is unlikely that we will play as much of it. You can see that already happening in other parts of the world but there is much cause for optimism that England will continue to produce high Test cricket players in the future.

In this case, Test cricket is 1 and you can make an argument that it is not necessarily healthy to the priority on a day and ttwweennttyy cricket. It is something that we know and will continue to address so that we can win the world cups in the future. But the strength of Test cricket is with its history in this case, the manner in which our media focus on it, and because the players to the forefront of their minds.

I think always that the vast majority of players see the ultimate form of the game. This is where you make your name and players see their Test record as a measure of good how a cricket you are. We are yet to see a specialist ttwweennttyy and watched as a Test player and that will not change.

It is clear that some players were influenced by the armoury of ttwweennttyy and make a pleasant stay for themselves. I would hold it against them, but the next generation of cricketers will face difficult choices on what direction they want to go. It is up to individuals, but they got to keep in mind the balance between money and the status of the game. Test cricket gives opportunities to produce sports feats, such as the Test of ash at Headingley in 1981.

That does not occur in the shorter forms of the game and is the reason why I like Test cricket. Individual players are tested continuously and if they have any weakness it deems.

If the players and spectators start to turn its back on the cricket Test which would be a shame. A value of two centuries of history and tradition would be lost, but there are reasons to believe that will not happen.

Innovations such as day-night Test cricket have been raised and the world Test Championship will give us context.

Series of tests is more and more short so you must have a context otherwise, it is difficult for people to generate real interest.

Also if the teams are familiar with each account to something at the end of what they may feel encouraged to play more Test cricket.

None of us know enough how the Test World Championship, which will be played for the first time in England in 2013, at this stage, but over time, it will rely on a great event give us a reason to be confident for the future.


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Monday, 2 April 2012

Virender Sehwag: India should be upset with us

The end of another one-sided contest was swift with the Australians snapping up the final four wickets in an hour to skittle India for 201 and inflict an eighth away Test defeat on the trot for the demoralised tourists.

The series drubbing comes after they were similarly hammered 4-0 in England last year, but speaking after the latest reverse, stand-in captain Sehwag claimed that India could take inspiration from the lows suffered by hosts Australia in recent years.

"It happens, if you look at the Australia team also they were struggling a year back and they lost the Ashes and they got out on 47 in South Africa so it happen with every team, so we have to rebuild the team and we'll think about it."

He conceded that India's cricket-obsessed fans had every right to be disappointed with their underperforming idols but pleaded for support.

"I think they should be upset with our performances, and I totally agree with them. This is the time the fans should back the players. When we won the World Cup, everyone was happy. Everybody was cheering for Team India. Now is the time we need support from fans. They should back their own team.


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V England India: Andrew Strauss's England pacemen must hit the race ground to beat the India

Rahul Dravid has a great technique: If the MCC, to update their book coaching, it would be between Dravid, Jacques Kallis and Ian Bell to illustrate right-handed traits. And large sleeves, won a match, series which rotates, VVS Laxman has played the most in the modern era.

Reason than in England have hit hard at the India of the Lord and Trent Bridge, on the grounds that more favours their pace bowlers and Mount 2-0.

Tourists are traditionally slow starters, and this reputation has only been graced over the past three years, when the Tests only three, they have lost were the first test of a series: home and away against South Africa and later in Sri Lanka.

Council of the India have also made their players a disservice: a convenient three-day game against Somerset, interrupted by rain, can be inadequate by way of preparation. The last team of the tour who tried to flee with a few days to adjust to English conditions, West Indies in 2007, dropped by dolly in their first Test to the Lord.

Most of the Indian party were playing white-ball cricket in the Caribbean, but with Kookaburras, not the Dukes, who swing more: drummers and launchers need time to adapt. In the absence of Sehwag and match practice, England have to dismiss the India cheaply in the first round of this series if they want to get on top.

Only the fast Perth and Johannesburg - and against bowling faster that everything that the India can parade - lands has the stick of England concluded in the past two years. The key to England is whether their attack by four men, without any support of the note, can Bowl India - with their great batsmen - two times outside.

And the lack of support for the four launchers of England is aggravated by the decision control system compromise which the Council, to save face, agreed: no Hawk-eye to predict the trajectory of the ball after the ball strikes pad.

It would not matter if Aleem Dar were free, but Pakistanis will not be standing in this series. The two first trials, umpires are Billy Bowden and the good South African referee, relatively new Marais Erasmus; for the last two tests of Simon Taufel and Steve Davis.

Stuart Broad has done enough in his championship match for Nottinghamshire and over the years, to stay ahead of Tim Bresnan as seamer third in England. In addition, England need fast bowlers who are tall against the India - both for the extra bounce and the fact that the Launcher Caribbean tall only that the India had to face for the last month is not fast.

All that is required to complete this table and make a landscape painting - a real police officer - is a field that changes over five days and not rest not a road to the beginning to end, which was too frequent the end to the Lord.

An opportunity of great become dull if it is a competition of drummers along, however great they are. Should not be left to the clouds only to change the nature of a set of five days.

This Test will be the 100th between England and the India, which dates back to the inaugural test at Lord's in 1932. But it is not really going to be the 10,000th Test 2, if a Test match is defined as a competition of five days between two countries playing test at full power. There were too many matches since March 1877 that did not comply with this criterion.

South Africa, strictly speaking, has not played a Test before 1902. They put their best side together several times before that date, but English teams that navigates to the Cape to play them have been stocked with cricket club amateur players and only the strange County pro.

Many will say that Bangladesh have achieved the status of Test with obscene haste and for reasons of political expediency only. Objective historians of the future can say that only in recent years have they deserved Test status, after almost all their 50 first Tests were to walk-overs.

And the ICC precisely defined a Test match as a contest 'between teams selected by full members' - only bow before commercial opportunism and classify the game between the Australia and the rest of the world in 2005. The validity of this exercise may be found that it has never been repeated.

Still, even if this Test is only number 1, 930 - odd, remain "a great game of Cricket" this week to the Lord that the country is classified third challenges the first.


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Stuart Broad the enforcer puts England back in business against Pakistan

Pitches at home, in Australia and in South Africa, usually offer something – either extra bounce or movement, or both - and batsmen lured into exploring the corridor of uncertainty are induced into mistakes.

The dry, lifeless surfaces in Asia negate this approach. There is no movement and negligible bounce so that even if the edge is taken, it often doesn’t carry to slip. Slip fielders become almost redundant. Such pitches require a completely different mindset for bowlers as well as batsmen.

Bowlers have to be much more aggressive, especially once the shine has gone off the new ball. They need to run in with purpose and hit the pitch hard.

Lengths have to be varied more too, to catch well-set batsmen out of position. Most importantly, the stumps must be targeted. The two greatest exponents of Asian pitches in the last 20 years, the peerless reverse-swing duo of Wasim Akram and Waqar Younis, took 30 per cent of their wickets lbw.

For more conventional English-type seamers, like Angus Fraser or Andrew Flintoff, the lbw percentage is under 20. Waqar and Wasim were masters of making batsmen jumpy with awkward skiddy bouncers, forcing them onto the back foot and then pinning them in front of the stumps with wicked in-swinging fuller deliveries.

Both had exceptional pace to go with their other assets of course and it is a method that doesn’t suit everybody.

But it is really the only way to make progress in Asia and England were a little slow on the uptake in the morning. They opted for a trial of patience, plugging away outside off stump, with slips and gulleys, but to no avail, and the attack looked insipid, Chris Tremlett especially. The Pakistan opening pair registered their hundred stand with some comfort.

Broad, the most experienced English bowler in Asian conditions, having made his Test debut on a fast bowlers’ graveyard in Colombo, suddenly went into enforcer mode (see Beehive above).

He had Mohammed Hafeez dropped at long-leg off a well-directed bouncer, and then, having also forced the left-handed Taufeeq Umar to take evasive action, trimmed his off bail with a peach delivered from round the wicket as the batsman shuffled too late into position.

He followed quickly with the wicket of Azhar Ali and England were back in business.

A second example of how to bowl on this surface came from an unlikely source. Jonathan Trott was thrown the ball just before tea, perhaps surprisingly ahead of Kevin Pietersen.

Trott proceeded (see his Beehive below) to bowl naggingly straight and full with a hint of swing wither way, and soon trapped the unsuspecting Younis Khan lbw with one that nipped back sharply.

The batsman reviewed it, and on English pitches it is the extra bounce that often saves batsmen, but not here and Pakistan’s most seasoned player was on his way.

After this, England really understood what was required. Not only a direct aim, but also a different fielding strategy. Bin the slips and station more men on the leg side (the fifth stump approach employs three or sometimes only two leg side fielders) to prevent easy runs flicked through midwicket from straighter deliveries.

Anderson converted to this mode superbly and finally earned his reward with two late wickets to cap an instructive day for England that will serve them well.


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The ashes of 2010: James Anderson English will be available for the third test after woman gives birth to a baby girl

Daniella wife gave birth to a daughter, weighing 7 lbs 9 oz. The couple have not yet to announce a name.

After helping England to win the second test of ash, 28 years made the journey of 10,000 miles in England to Australia, birth and arrived Wednesday.

Anderson should return to team in time to play in third test in Perth, which starts on Thursday, 16 December.

Paul Collingwood and Graeme Swann are also in the same boat and could miss World Cup warm-up match at the beginning of next year. Wives both players are due to give birth in the middle of February.

Players were given the authority to stay with them until after the birth, even if they lack matches in Dhaka on February 16 and 18 - against the Canada and Pakistan.

The move follows starting Australia, Anderson an agreement described as "not perfect" by the England team manager Andy Flower.

And former England fast bowler Bob Willis has criticized the hierarchy in England, fearing that too much travel will be disrupt Anderson preparations for the third test in Perth next week.

Willis, who took to 325 ATMs in a career as a test-90, said: "I am not with Mothercare buggy rolling thought that modern man has." It should be on the circuit of cricket, which is his job. Two flights 24 hours in a week do him any product at all. »


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Thursday, 29 March 2012

V England India: application role gives Stuart Broad edge to deal with Indian invaders to the Lord

Rapid return: England spirited attitude of Stuart Broad pace bowler is likely to gain a recall to the team take on the India in the first Test of Lord Photo: GETTY IMAGES

Great are the assumptions of those who have followed the team # 1 in the world, but in England, which for the first Test squad will be announced Sunday, are certainly not ready to give the piece more sacred turf cricket.


England were a side largely resolved the end with the frappeurs order now set in stone. Kevin Pietersen could do with a hundred large to suppress murmurs that it is on time, but one that he, the only debate is bowling and Stuart Broad, Tim Bresnan and Steve Finn should complement James Anderson, Chris Tremlett and Graeme Swann in the final XI.


Bresnan and wide participated for their counties this week, for a comparison of the kind has already been made. 53.4 Overs from the sea through two handles for Nottinghamshire gave six wickets against Somerset while Bresnan took four wickets victory Worcestershire Yorkshire.


According to reports Broad struggled at first but settled that Bresnan began to strongly but is past wicketless in 22 overs in the second round. Finn played only T20 cricket of Middlesex which makes the analysis for the purpose of Test match fairly empty of meaning.


Most seem to feel the competition for a place in the 11 final rather than the team, between Broad and Bresnan. They certainly offer very different qualities, which makes it just as much a question of tactics as personality.


Bresnan is phlegmatic, unflappable and reliable, attributes that prefer the many captains of their launchers. Broad based more on the aggressiveness of driving his bowling, which makes him mercurial and therefore less reliable in terms of control the game. It can change the course of a Test match, as he did at the oval against the Australia and in Durban against the South Africa, but were thin on the ground recently.


Recent injuries of important body for bowling (side and back) have helped and all England step focuses on the proximity of their team, absence of offshore at the end of the glory of his ashes were left playing catch-up, at least in his own mind.


Of course, it gives the impression at the present time to force to take wickets, a natural response to impatience caused by a lean time.


England see in him their enforcer, a man with the rough opponents when the terrain is flat, and there is no reason for that change now before the series began.


Wide have the short stuff against Sri Lanka, often under conditions that did not need it, but there is a suspicion that the Indiabatsmen are likely to be bouncers which is wide, with an additional line in the looks on and customs, of.


Bresnan, who had a fine series of ash, is almost certain to be in the team following his recent return from a calf injury. Bowler of a bowlers, as unflappable as wide is impetuous.


But with Swann and Tremlett capable of stabilizing labour, should be required, with another will be excess. Its ability to be the man of the utility, injury should strike, made him an inclusion more likely than the Finn, despite the Lord as its home field.


A person who might be grateful to be in familiar surroundings is Andrew Strauss. Although that renting or otherwise managing Somerset for convenient some way before the test, the opportunity, he did most, Strauss must retrieve the team after the victory of impressive series of a day of Alastair Cook in Sri Lanka.


Sharing is employment fury in these straitened times, but the captaincy, and the authorization granted, is not so easily passed back and forth.


When Hussain Nasser successful control of the team for a day at Michael Vaughan in 2003, he took a correspondence (a draw against the South Africa) before his resignation the Test capitanat thus.


At the present time, Cook is the successor of Strauss at the Test level and it is inconceivable that he could return in this series, Strauss will be maintain his England team is going in the right direction. Which includes an extended stay as criterion 1, it can start pushing conquest under the NW8 India next week.


Probable England team: * AJ Strauss, a Cook, IJL Trott, KP Pietersen, IR Bell, EJG Morgan, before †MJ, SCJ Broad, GP Swann, TC Tremlett, JM Anderson, TT Bresnan.


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The ashes of 2010: James Anderson makes Australian torment behind him

After being hit across the square in 2006-2007, many questioned whether a player who relied on swing that Anderson is would never really effective on Australia slopes.

Paceman England, partially answered the question with some fiery in Brisbane, spells but one remarkable day, wickets finally fell and hosts have been out for a band drummer 245 print skittled.

"I am a very different bowler that came here four years ago" the Lancastrian said after 4-51.

"I think that I am much more experienced and I gradually better have in the past few years, it is pleasant to Bowl by here, but I didn't think I had something to prove."

Ponting and Clarke dismissal was part of the magical opening that saw that tourists diminish the Australia two tracks for three wickets in the third most.

As said Anderson, it's Simon Katich output by a direct hit team mate Jonathan Trott on the fourth ball day who had set the tone.

"I thought it was a little fantasy of commissioning, he kept his composure when he could have taken panic and we just from here", he added.

Anderson admitted to the first test behind him after Bowling superbly - Brad Haddin the Australia said that his fate with the new ball is one of the toughest that it had faced in test cricket - but ending at only two wickets.

"I Bowl, I felt I reversed really well here," said Anderson. "But the worst thing to do would be to am sorry for yourself and Bowl not well here." If I wanted to continue the form that I felt I was and I think that I did. »

Friday, Anderson returned to take the ball again at the end of a long hot day and was rewarded with his fourth window, helping to sleeves one near the Australia for a total of modest.

"It was a very good day for all the world to come to a pattern that has a flat terrain notoriously (and) keep a low score," he said.

"It is likely to be a difficult period in the morning when the new ball, so if we move, get a big partnership then I hope that we can catch up with their".


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Steve James: England must be wary of the combustion of coach Andy Flower

Steve James: England must beware of burning out coach Andy Flower: Andy FlowerOn call: Englandf coach Andy Flower has a daunting task with little respite in a hectic schedule Photo: PA

It says a lot about England improvements and constant quality that they have lost only 10 of these games. But he said as much in the crowded international route that no player has appeared in all 43 games.

Closest are Paul Collingwood and Graeme Swann, with 40 appearances each, but both had to rest last year, Collingwood jump two Tests against Bangladesh House (he also missed an international day against Pakistan at the oval due to a virus) and being removed from the ODIs Swann houses three against Bangladesh.

Stuart Broad is the next step with 35, having served the same home tests like Collingwood, while lacking an ODI in Bangladesh with back, and then, of course, leaving ash tour after the second Test with a nasty torn stomach muscle injury.

Modern cricket schedules simply do not players to stay on the treadmill year-round. Collingwood is now hop off for testing, Andrew Strauss has done for T20s for some time, but for the rest of their well-being and longevity are at the discretion of the team. Like it or not, remains and rotation should now be an integral part of international cricket.

This leads me to the Director of the team England Andy Flower. When human dropper rest periods Gets a rest himself? The only couple of match days was breached during the last year were when they have a melanoma removed his cheek during recent Brisbane test.

This is hardly a rest, he was in considerable pain after having endured the horrible experience of fabric being scraped away just a local anesthesia. Even then when recovering in her hotel room flower glued to the TV (with denied volume of stain on the bias of local commentators).

Flower database 28 Oct left home and float on 7 Feb. While there will be four nights in her own bed before leaving for Bangladesh and the World Cup. All being well and reached the finals in England, he returned to the country on April 3. Consider also that flower will be for approximately 100 nights this summer and amounting to more than 250 nights later in the year.

Compare this with other sports. This year, one year of Rugby World Cup will be busy for Martin Johnson and his personal coaching England, but his team reached the final in Auckland on October 23, but they're probably not later for more than 180 nights during the year. And Johnson is reportedly higher than flower payday. Fabio Capello? An obscene annual salary of 6 million books, so I'm informed reliable, just 64 nights abroad last year, including the the World Cup in South Africa.

Flower itself proved a wonderfully clever coach and an astute Manager. The success of series triumphant ashes home and beyond, but also a world title ttwweennttyy, speaks for itself. The work will be his for a long time he wants to. Can not just see deterioration results so quickly to dictate otherwise.

But with the interests of a young family (he has three children) always paramount, I'm worried about how long it can continue.

Of course, money is still lousy pas, and the England & Wales Cricket Board fly families at the four corners of the globe. Flower knew the score signing, even if the question of the separation from his family for long periods is delaying his candidacy for the post.

It is not a normal job. It's high visibility and thus high-maintenance. Not to do the work of the House is almost impossible. The phone does not stop. There is always another round or tournament schedule, another decision selectorial thinking, another player, need help and advice.

While players are more concern because their fee is physical as well as emotional and mental-"11 guys on the ground who have to perform under pressure and they should get praise," flower said to huge workload of ashes - the flower must certainly considered too. " A month off the coast in April may not be sufficient.

Now that his stock is so large-flowered and his employers should be enough confidence to delegate the responsibility of the coach Richard Halsall commissioning (which took over Brisbane) for a series of one day here and there.

Burn-out once takes hold, it is too late. Flower has already had a reminder sharp about the importance of health. Another came the day of the year when his father, Bill, has suffered a heart attack. Flower very close to the left of the tour, but fortunately, his father is now back home in Lincolnshire and recover well.

Reporters interviewing flower after the Test in Sydney have been slightly disturbed by her refusal to commit publicly to England long term. "Personally I seem not much more advanced than a few months,"he says."

So, how long could it go? Life of a coach is too simplistic. Any mention of the words "Sir Alex ferguson" enough. The best endure. The Zimbabwean Duncan Fletcher bright lasted eight years and could have lasted more than a better infrastructure. Everything that is in place today. Director General Hugh Morris is a vital conduit and solid between cricket and administrative arms.

Another Zimbabwean coaching gem was discovered. Flower should be treasured.


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Tuesday, 20 March 2012

Surrey drummer Mark Ramprakash fighting to be fit for the start of next season after damaging knee ligaments

Ramprakash, 41 years old, was injured playing in a charity for a side game organized by his former teammate Martin Bicknell, County now the Surrey, bowling coach and will undergo surgery next Tuesday.

Ramprakash is now facing a period of rehabilitation of about five months, which means that it may miss the start of the new season which again once should start at the beginning of April.

"It was a very innocuous incident and it is just unfortunate that it happened at this stage of the career of Marc," says Surrey Manager Chris Adams.

"We hope that it will be ready for the start of the season and knowing him not do me surprise .c ' is a coup, but it is obvious that we have to plan to be without him in the opening weeks if it comes to that, and it offers an opportunity for other players show what they can do."

"Mark will be there forever, someone has an opportunity to prove that it can accelerate."


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V England India: batting collapse gives tourists hope on the fourth day of the opening Test at Lord's

The captain of the titillé England the first down a fine leg and down the next ball through mid-wicket as the seamer dropped short.

While Strauss progressed serenely 20, Alastair Cook collected just one in 27 balls before Praveen to Mahendra Singh Dhoni feathers behind the wicket.

It was a second failure of the match for Cook, who was in the form of his life since the winter in Australia trip and had in his 10 previous sleeve from the Lord of six centuries.

Trott was gifted a first boundary by Sharma, whose short shot sitting to be affected by the side of the leg, and was soon quickly running between the wickets to keep moving dashboard.

After 12 overs, the India turned to Harbhajan Singh, who was to, hold an end in the absence of Zaheer Khan injured.

A piece of poor implementation of Sharma Donna Strauss four more, but Suresh Raina showed his teammate as soon after, sending almost Trott return with a direct strike.

India tightened well things to defeat England and had their reward when Strauss came to sweep Harbhajan was pinned LBW for 32.

With Pietersen to fold, expenses of its early innings of 202 step out.

No there is no repetition of such heroic however, Pietersen gloving a rising delivery from Sharma to Dhoni was beaten for pace and bounce.

Sharma then cranked the pressure with a second window five balls later.

Bell followed Pietersen back for a duck, drifting of a more comprehensive than located Sharma pace delivery that had eluded him visibly on the first two days.

After 54 for one, England lost three wickets in 10 balls for the addition of a single term.

Trott was the next to fall to the revitalized Sharma, who this time were fishing one through the defences of the drummer to overthrow him to 22.

That put England in conflicts 62 for five years, with an entry more 10 before the break.

India were victimless hamstrings Zaheer and Sachin Tendulkar on the ground, the latter suffering a viral infection.


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The ashes of 2010: James Anderson provided with necessary to win the series, said Stuart Clark spark Australia

Fired up fire: former Australia bowler Stuart Clark says that James Anderson antics of the third test in Perth inspired Australia, team in particular Mitchell Johnson: AP

England paceman Anderson was involved in a war running words with Mitchell Johnson of the examination, and Clark believes that inspired the Australia to produce his best years display player.


"The Perth test was more fiery than since the controversial Sydney against India in 2008, I test performance given Australian side," Clark said in the Sydney Morning Herald.


"Perhaps it took Anderson and his confrontational towards - in particular Mitchell Johnson - Australian approach to fire our players."


«Johnson said as much after her six-wicket performance in the first round at the Waca and the image of him standing until English drummers was nice to see after the difficulty he has endured.»


"Johnson is not a nasty bloke, but this is not to say that it can not be with the ball of the hand." It was as if he had said in his image and management consultants: ' forget all the other things, I would like to win games and do I need to get a little dangerous. "A change of attitude inspired a change in the result. »


Clark added Anderson attitude Johnson has shown how it is important to strike the right balance when opponents of luge.


"There is little point of great players bobsled because the chance of them out of their game is remote or, more likely, they will play with additional determination," he said.


"And there are some drummers such as Kevin Pietersen, who love the confrontation and go seek to fire their place." Silence is a better bet in these situations.


"As regards others, there are typically two approaches side commissioning takes when it comes to luge: method old-school, in your face that we saw in Perth and more subtle tactics of" talk by "a drummer."


"The first method is explicit - and those more likely to attract the attention of the referee of the match - but the second can be just as effective against a drummer with a few doubts self."


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The ashes of 2010: 235 Alastair Cook at the opening test against the Australia at the Gabba is a triumph for simplicity

Cook is really ease to speak, but it is not the time and he was soon. Cuts have been hit hard and extra-over readers - that rarest Cook currency - have been deliciously smooth. Xavier Doherty was intelligent gathered at the midwicket.

Breakfast approached and suddenly Cook ran by money.How anyone can nervous to the point of junction anyway? it cut off spin Marcus North up to the limit of the third man, then raised it creative divisions high mid wicket before it conduct by the cover for a couple.

On 199, he stood as it faces Doherty. The ball was fired fast and full leg-side by the slowie left arm. Cook it simply helped on its way to the right of the fine-leg short, whereabouts a Mitchell Johnson. This is a simple ball for a single simple.Except that Jonathan Trott has been dreaming about his century imminente.Il was a moment of confusion mid-pitch. Certainly not a word about 199.

To much relief that tried to Johnson, for the first time in the test. Trott has woken up to his senses and rushed from the race.Cook has been a match test double-century in Australie.remarquable. Anyone mentioning such a possibility mid summer would have been immediately cut. What a turnaround.

For the second time in the game, after all the usual bat waving, helmet deleting and hugging, we were treated to mark its celebration: a cup of his ear and a blow to look at the ciel.Non we know its meaning.Much has been done it when labelled Cook as hundreds at the oval, much to her chagrin actually last summer. He stressed that observers would not have been as strong as they thought; there had been such move since the marking a hundred in Perth on tour here four years ago.

It was also his ear when television cameras passed during the hymns nationals get accustomed to the old England Mike Catt, with whom Cook came to share an agent rugby player. A link may? Si Cook canned notation centuries should keep answering the questions of same.

At least this century double counted.Because it was not really his first such score against Australia it is 214 in 2005 for Essex attack Brett Lee, Jason Gillespie, Shaun Tait, Mike Kasprowicz and Stuart MacGill, but because the game was played just two days, it was considered first class.He could have announced 20 years as a young thruster serious, but still annoys him far its sleeve does not correctly count in annals, while colossal hundreds against universities.

It has lunched supported on 201, probably with two portions of caviar and rejected soon to 209-midwicket captured by Ricky Ponting.In addition, it looked like it was, but technology could prove just as much.Thus immediately as it went with Ponting chuntering ear it even played a few great shots, cutting high point, streamlining skilful Doherty soil and pulling Shane Watson majestically midwicket Johnson.

And then Ponting him slip, diving to his droite.Même the ancient gnarled competitor raised a sourire.Il knew that he and his teammates know knew us it.

It was his .c ' is match son.Il deserved its champagne.

Records which have fallen

Alastair Cook 235 was the highest individual score in Brisbane.

Second round Britain was their highest total at the Gabba.

Booth 329 with Jonathan Trott sound was highest for England in Australia.

The stand is also the highest by a team of the Gabba.

England reached 500 for the loss of a single window for the first time.

"On the other hand, is among that first England three all received hundreds in a test away game.


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Friday, 9 March 2012

The ashes of 2010: Jonathan Trott England runs Simon Katich and shredded Australia

The first three bullets game had negotiated safely by Shane Watson. Now came the fourth match willing James Anderson. England want Watson as candidate lbw, so the plane had been intentionally: three out-swingers and then an "internal".

The ball beat Watson, banging on the buffer. The call was quite naturally, plaintive. In truth, however, the ball was missing leg by a distance strain.

But despite this, there was some confusion, as it often is when call lbw huge rings.

Had two players execute immediately there is a simple term. But they did not and was not. Watson fell towards the off side and just continued to run as the ball sped off to the side of the leg.

He midwicket y was Trott. The ball was absent on his right, and it installs quickly. At this time, Simon Katich, non-attaquant, had already made a fatal hesitancy.

Call Watson was, as he later admitted, "mild". Katich was not heard, in a State of shock to his partner quickly, have ceased. Wherever it was restarted, the ball was already in the hands of the Trott. It is without competition both Trott held his nerve.

Now came the crucial bit. Launch in little more than a single strain - all angle is permitted – is practiced daily by professional players, but it is one which is too often poorly executed.

Take Alastair Cook in Brisbane. It can run on Katich in similar circumstances, but it failed.

England long poor beating strains. When Richard Halsall taken as coach of commissioning in 2008, it is an area where he addressed immediately. It was a sad wicketkeeper, Matt Prior is a more accurate baffles of England in practice indictment.

Halsall noticed that fielders England were too preoccupied by the releasing the ball too quickly. It is generally more what is perceived.

If Halsall encouraged to create a "photo moment" first. In other words, establish themselves with a solid base. with feet, hips and arms of jets of non-pointing to the target, giving photographers this time to align. And then throw!

Halsall showed them a DVD of Marcus Trescothick adopting these very techniques Andrew Symonds running mid-off in an international day against the Australia Durham in 2005.

But now he can show their Trott here. He took his time. He took a step towards the stem.

He stabilized, aimed and hit! Katich was not yet close enough to stretch his bat. It has the kind of distance through which Usain Bolt beats rivals.

Trott took off in the outfield, raised as a scorer in hand Cup final. Teammates chased him and the crowd erupted. And poor Katich out slope face without a ball. "Surrounding what they call a ' diamond duck".

Katich may well have been calling - and perhaps Watson - something.

Captain Rick Ponting has arrived. The duck was golden. Past first ball beauty Anderson. Walk to a defensive front shot is never recommended.

And for the rest of the day, it was a reminder of this aberration technique low compliance in the dashboard. While Katich score read 0 blank, Ponting was gold. Ouch.

Has Michael Clarke. That affected the magnitude; now he can barely touch toes, such are his back problems. It is really difficult.

Now frappeurs makes Clarke as meaning to him as a verse of William McGonagall. He clipped only first ball, but then it consumes and missed has played and missed, let one and then half-story to defend a short shot and then line second sliding.

Surprisingly, he spent much time in the nets during the rest of the day with drummer coach Justin Langer. Inevitable was in the air and the Australia are two to three.

Or three to two, as they say here. One is a mess, the other is a real mess. And it is the latter.

To win the throw to lose three wickets in lunch is generally regarded as abandoned. losing three in 10 minutes is simply a calamity. The Australia could not recover.

There was even an alternative term. a collaborative effort that one. In England it is. Brad Haddin pushed Graeme Swann right hand Andrew Strauss short midwicket and one Strauss plunge and made the judgment, Xavier Doherty was that mimic jitter stop-start of the Katich earlier.

Strauss, always deflected the ball outside of his left hand to cook at short leg captured over to wicketkeeper before. The leasing shall be removed and Doherty, too, disappeared.

It was also day England, among the best in the recent history of ash and one of the best of the Halsall.


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Surrey on the song after their comprehensive ttwweennttyy triumph over Middlesex

Surrey singing again after T20 win over MiddlesexPower rose: Jamie Dalrymple Middlesex tries to increase the rate of scoring against Surrey in the FP T20 of Lord Photo: GETTY IMAGES

When Surrey won earlier this week, singing highlights of their players emoi around their locker rooms. The Lord, they could not demonstrate this lack of decorum, but it is safe to say that their team also appreciated the derby victory even more, because they are in power.

It was their third consecutive victory in this competition. After a slow start, they occur at the right time, especially their powerful stick form. England hope Jason Roy and Steve Davies - seeking to return to the national team - both hit fifties. Then their fast bowlers, under the auspices of the Australia paceman Dirk Nannes, destroyed any chance that Middlesex had of an upset.

Middlesex managed initially by inhibiting the Surrey batsman, deployment of six fielders on the outer side. Steven Finn was particularly efficient, ensuring the Roy and Davies were kept up to 29 runs from four overs.

The openers of Surrey accelerated with the two next as Ryan McLaren 35 leak 19 in his introduction to the course. At this stage, a large score seemed likely.

Off-spin of Jamie Dalrymple haul Middlesex to contention in the Middle overs. Roy and Davies fell shortly after its passage in his fifties, respondents Launcher flight and turn.

His colleague spinner Tom Smith had been less but finally ceded rewards when Rory Hamilton-Brown has been blocked for 18. 134 For three, with 5.3 overs to play, the visitors were still well placed. Zander of Bruyn and Tom Maynard finished sleeves with a 48 - run well-calculated partnership, uninterrupted.

It became quickly clear just how were motivated, Surrey when Stuart Meaker captured by Paul Stirling. Meaker mid race - it "cow corner" take the ball and shouting with joy.

Worse was to follow for Middlesex. Scott Newman is mounted in a tangle, trying to hook a ball short Chris Tremlett and gloved Hamilton-Brown. Then Nannes reversed Rogers, to 24 for three after three overs.

Captain Neil Dexter and Dalrymple has tried to restore back the sleeves that was lost. They had succeeded their midway 50-partnership if their overs allocated, but they protect the wickets at the cost of a rate, which shot the mark on 11.

When Dexter, the 49 36 balls, attempted to bridge the gap - charging on the runway at Chris Schofield - he was blocked and chances slim of Middlesex declined by more. Dalrymple valiantly fighting for 36 48 when Nannes struck, forcing a miscued pull.

The Australian capped an impressive showing with two ATMs more in his last over, the penultimate of the game, at the end of five for 40. Surrey could sing again.


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V England India: Deadly Jimmy Anderson becomes a master of his art

Red handed over: Jimmy Anderson has been the star of the show for England on the last day of the Lord's Test against the India Photo: PA

It was as complete an England bowling performance as that of Melbourne last winter. To harass and tailgate frappeurs vaunted Indian line to less than 300 just twice on a flat land summer of key achievements.


Jimmy Anderson was the star Monday, but they are all played their part. It was a kind of Chinese torture of the water of the approach, the drip, drip, drip of sustained perseverance administer a persistent death.


Changed pitchers ends, they went to one-stop, round window, return to the wicket, propelled new ball and old, but no there was no place in their accuracy and their willingness to build pressure on the nagging batsmen. There were few easy-to-be had repeats, a long jump was as rare as a spare ticket.


Track Sachin Tendulkar was hunted in the excellence of the England of encapsulated bid. Anderson, who caught Rahul Dravid through a teasing out off the coast of the strain, and then VVS Laxman suckered in an uppish attraction, slipped one through the first ball of master little defences. There was a ball of fourth isolated half volley which he skillfully deflected the legside boundary. But it was the last tranche of English generosity.


After Chris Tremlett, refuting a slight deformation dos, rumblings from the Pavilion end and ramming the ball in the tone just below in an exterior length of channel off the coast of the strain. Some choked down the Hill and some have remained up to it, leaving uncertain Tendulkar who exhibit at and leave. He managed a for two to four overs miscued pull. A thin inside edge closely saved him an LBW verdict.


Erratic judgment of Billy Bowden rescued him that at the other end where Stuart Broad, operating in a more comprehensive than Tremlett length, trapped Tendulkar fight across and dead front. He clearly had difficulty to collect more comprehensive deliveries of offshore over the low view screen and was virtually strokeless.


Support of Tremlett, Graeme Swann provided useful support and Tendulkar, whose timing seemed out of sync, remained the story.


Came then the great moment of Anderson. Back on at the end of the nursery he still reduced Tendulkar in half with a ball of full length stifled the slope, then found his edge while trying to leave, only for Andrew Strauss bombing the ball goes to the right.


Impressed, Anderson slanted one brings back the slope and Tendulkar, who had moved again through a nuance too far - to counter the outswinger expected - was captured in front. He was released this time. This is the sixth time Anderson had dismissed him in seven tests. He could consider requesting her rabbit - with Michael Clarke and Jacques Kallis (which he rejected the same number of times, but matches more.)


Tendulkar had passed trails only 12 68-ball, continues his run of failures to the Lord. It seems that there the particularities of the difficult slope. It is not the first drummer to be afflicted so of course, not it will be the last. But this attack in England operate successfully.


No more than Anderson, after having resumed at the end of the Pavilion, product beauty of the one-stop Tour that slant to the left handed to Mr. Suresh Raina, and then toggled far to take on board with a length of teasing. This is the kind of one-stop bowlers quick love, all because of great ambition and activate specific and nothing drummer of error or chance. It was significantly more deadly in the second round - in swinging less favourable conditions - as in the first. He became Master of his art.


With Matt Prior, which could easily have man of the match for his belligerent frappeurs and unfailing in maintaining, in the form of Anderson is exceptional. He spends more time each day to improve his slip catching spinners and seamers independently to its own bowling - from both ends - before playing.


Its implementation is still strong and engaged, in any position. He is always ready to Bowl and maintains his pace constantly throughout the day. It is in stock of pedigree. And now that broad regained its power, so are the other 10. They may not be the number one in the world team now, but they will be soon.


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Thursday, 8 March 2012

The ashes of 2010: Kevin Pietersen English sees dividends to keep faith with double century in Adelaide

213 Unbeaten Pietersen was its first three figure in test cricket for England for 19 months, note a lean period which led to him be removed from the team at the end of last summer's day.

England hope is a career defining sleeves for Pietersen and finally put to bed a dismal period that began with his dismissal as captain, nearly two years ago.

"It was not the best time", he said. "You go in your career and have good things and bad things." I have had many good things fortunately but a little bad things. Fortunately, who is gone now and I look forward to.

"I love the opportunity to large and myself hard against the best players in the world." Has been quite difficult for 18 months, it's a challenge for me to really look forward to and I love the fact that it goes so well here. I myself has set high standards.

"For 80, 90, 99 s or 50 and 60 does my head in." It was great when shot down a fine leg [to raise its century], but the State of the game was where someone should continue to play with a level head and we know that we must pursue and sure today was a day where we flows throughout the day putting in a great position to win this match test. »

Pietersen had monitored the nearly a combined 11 hours before having to fold then Alastair Cook and Jonathan Trott two partnerships at the Gabba and here on Saturday. For a man who is a nervous energy beam, the wait was so.

"I found it more tiring waiting bat to stick to that long today", he said. "You can probably see how I first started I was trying to make 50 on five balls." It is time to wait. I've never done in my career before, but it is great watching others and long may it continue as all our batter is nick. We will be win many games stay of our batters in nick like this. »

The Australia are now praying for rain, an event that is so rare in Adelaide Ian Chappell believed he saw only two days lost items here in 25 years.

"We will now be see what we're made," said Ricky Ponting. "They have shown us how bat and until their skills and their implementation were sensational." We emulate that and keep us in the game.

"This is an issue of confidence or morale." It is a little of everything. We have to learn that we were poorly last four or five days of test cricket.


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The ashes of 2010: Kevin Pietersen insisted to what England not hoodwinked by Mitchell Johnson the Australia in Melbourne

Threat: Mitchell Johnson ripped in England review of Perth third week last one Australian hilt series photo: AP

"I think intimidated by Australians," said Pietersen interviewed about tobogganing during the test. Perth "I think when you're in the extreme amounts of pressure, you speak much."


"We have been a hiccup last week and Yes, we have been constructive in critical that we chucked around of the meeting of preparation team." But we do not go out and reports any fat, huge. We understand that they are very vulnerable - there are many areas in their team who are very vulnerable. »


This reading of Australians would be forgiven for thinking that it was their team capitulated in Perth, in England. But the world according to PK veers between disarming honesty and spin scandalous and defeat of England at the third test is dismissed as an unfortunate anomaly.


"We lost the match test half an hour when we have lost 5 wickets for 20 in our first race," said Pietersen. "But I can promise you now, that I have no fear of losing the momentum or anything. Because I know that I prepare for a ball swinging as Mitchell Johnson swung the ball.


"I did not feel could swing as much as him." And none of our batter made. We simply do properly align it. But we still 20 wickets and if we aircraft looks better we would still have won this match test. »


Johnson, who was assisted by an unusual wind to Waca, probably won't swing the ball with the devastating effects the CWM, as the magnitude stage retains the breeze. But even if this is the case, Pietersen is convinced that the habit of England escapism hard after the defeat will ensure return it no longer no setback to remember ash.


"We view statistics on how we've turned it before towers after a heavy defeat," said Pietersen. "It's just a case of wiping the slate clean." Week last of the past. There is nothing we can do on the last week.


"All our batter is very confident." There are just 40 ATMs in two matches Australia, test to ensure that our launchers are also very happy. I think we have a wonderful opportunity to do something that was not made for 24 years. In my view, is the engine we all into something amazing. We have to win a test match or draw the next two and we are done that thing is incredibly low.


Apart from his candid assessment that it does not prepare enough depth to Perth, Pietersen believes that it is better than ever after its 227-Adelaide angels. It was his highest score test but listening to him, it was a superior drummer plan too, a suggestive of a mature responsibility.


"I never looks that I've done in Adelaide, I feel incredible," said Pietersen. While earlier I just play, I am now able to adjust the gear of my stick. Adelaide, I've done much mental focus and preparation on how to restrain myself, play balls; leave the bullets. play much straight. Control things; playing situations. understanding of the game. Not shown in Perth, but we did in Adelaide. »


England will want to see once more, and no there is no bigger stage for another score, match-shaping it in terms of scale and importance of this series, as the Sunday test.


He will play with an insidious hamstrings while James Anderson will have to play through a painful side (both had scans in Perth), but it is a small price. Pietersen is disbelief - like speculation that England could rest Steve Finn for Tim Bresnan - that person did not want to miss the boxing day test at the CWM by fatigue or a niggle gains momentum. After all, Ricky Ponting is set to play with a broken finger.


"Someone I asked on Steven Finn and if it was a little tired," said Pietersen. "I am 30 years old and I played 69 test matches and I promise you now that I can't wait for the next day." If you are a lover of cricket and a cricket player and you have the option of walking and singing the national anthems at quarter past 10 on Sunday morning and there are 100,000 people-it is time to goosebumps. This is one of those you just look and them think: "cannot wait". »


The presence of Ricky Ponting, although that are not confirmed, is nonetheless planned, that does not surprise Pietersen believes his broken finger could be chemically numb if necessary.


"I played him in a series with a broken finger," said Pietersen. "You just ring-block it is numb and you don't feel the pain." It is not a huge drama. Ricky Ponting may bat without gloves, it is so difficult. »


Ponting will wait in England to target his break, which is the little finger in his left hand. Short bowling would be the obvious way to put it in the line of fire, but as Peter Siddle has pointed out, which is full of risk Ponting is a large reel.


"If you want to attack someone with a broken finger, you want a bouncer Bowl, but to Ricky Ponting is probably not the best option," Siddle said. "I know how they will address too." Siddle is the Launcher Australian who loves sledging, more gee himself until evil-foot adversary, even if it is a bonus if, as happened with Matt Prior, the bait is supported.


It all depends really on personality Player how Luge affects their and there is a rule, the effect diminishes with the calibre of cricket player. Again, when you had to cope with the traffic cops Australian for overdoing in yellow Lamborghini as Pietersen after his cent double, a few Aussie bowling speak as quickly as they Bowl is not likely you.


"Our take is that we don't hear or see what this is different from what happens normally in a test match, said the Pietersen." "Having played against Shane Warne and Glenn McGrath, sledding here is non-existent."


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