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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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: 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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Surrey hit bullseye against Essex

During the break rounds Monday evening, darts stars Phil Taylor and Adrian Lewis were invited on the off-field to take part in a demonstration.

In the end, however, the pinpoint throwing weapons and clinical finishing belonged to Surrey, who looked at the best of the order on the whole.

It was a curious game, punctuated by arrows and tainted by tragedy: of a pigeon with a fatal error would be on the path of a crushing blow Tom Maynard. Even with the bat, kept Surrey hit the bullseye and duly claimed their second victory of the competition in five games.

For a County so simply focusing on the format, Essex have been disappointing. They have overthrown property, restricting Surrey to a score they would have felt comfortable, hunting, but considers evil and ran miserably. Surrey, shown at the same time, the value of sharp out-cricket.

The game was based on two run-outs private Essex two of their biggest batting stage only when they are in themselves. Sharp of Jade Dernbach throw at short fine-leg represented Scott Styris, while Ryan ten Doeschate has brilliantly run out by Zander de Bruyn, who collected the ball off the coast of his own bowling and threw off-balance in a manner reminiscent of compatriot Colin Bland it.

The third race of the channel simply added a glug of farce to a pot of nonsense: as Tim Southee and Adam Wheater deliberated on the opportunity to take a single by Steve Davies, guardian of Surrey underarmed the ball in the stumps to run out Southee.

It embodied a bizarre effort of Essex, who found themselves in the curious position of five for one after a ball. After slinging down five wides, Yasser Arafat found the outside edge of the Owais Shah, ball flight to the third man to dismiss him for a golden duck.

Ravi Bopara watched atrocious form and was trapped LBW on the fold, while the tail folded as an Ordnance Survey map. Only weather and James Foster, struggling valiantly in a lost cause, offered any type of resistance. It was perhaps a touch unhappy to be caught out in the depths of what appeared to be a navel-high full toss, but at this time, the game was already understanding of Essex.

Maynard was the best of the batsmen, scoring 45 as Surrey recovered from a bad start. Graham Napier removed the two openers, but Maynard and Jason Roy 1600th sleeves.

But he was a student of geography Zafar Ansari, 19, down from Cambridge, which won the match award. And bowling four overs of steady left-arm darts, he lifted Surrey with a cameo butch of 30 years of 18 balls. It included a remarkable six off the coast of the last ball of the channel, which has seen through its stem and cut the ball over square-leg in the crowd.

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The ashes of 2010: Matt Prior century saves blushes England tour match against Victoria ends with a match zero

Prior assessment suggests that there was a turnaround by reflection group team of. Otherwise, losing means much for them why there were three statements invented to implement continuation of execution? Was much more likely the sudden realization that defeat, almost always acceptable in pursuit of true victory, would give the opportunity to avoid their gaze of Ricky Ponting team media Australian and no side to come in the ashes with three to play who want.

"You cannot take a good run for granted and you will sometimes need to dig further, stated before." There is no reason why we shouldn't go through together unbeaten tour especially if we continue with the mark of cricket, we played.

"You want to go undefeated on any visit that you play, but if we did here, it would be a fantastic feat and it is something that we're certainly."

Dropped on 61, before has played well for the most part time driving and pulling strongly Bushrangers attack has not succeeded to prey on weaknesses also effectively have made the Australia launchers. But part of its hundreds and the continuation of the undefeated team run, main ambitions in this match - replacement Stuart Broad take wickets and Eoin Morgan and Steve Davies to spend quality time in the fold - England were thwarted.

Replace the wide choice could prove crucial, choice as a victory for England in Perth see Strauss and his team of canned ash, a brace not often.

Proof of this match, which saw Tim Bresnan bat at six and take single window between 3 hopes, it is between him and Chris Tremlett. In addition, said before, the team is unwilling to look at.

"We were in a position very similar in 2009 at Headingley," said before. "We went in that test looks great for too much in advance as an opportunity to win the ashes and we come short after defeat." We have learned from this experience and make sure that it will happen.

Yes, it is possible and everyone is talking about. But as we are talking about it, it will be not important. We must focus on this first session. Win only and others follow and rest will take care of itself.

The blinders vision did not help before facing Herrick, monitors which struck a painful blow on the hip. With her shaved head, white head band and star tattoos encircling every bend, Herrick resembles a Mad Max movie extra, if his bowling was wild, despite him get captured Morgan behind.

It seemed y nothing malicious on jets full high number that it upside-down and before a later Herrick, whose beginnings of first class for the Bushrangers confirmed it was the case, apologized immediately.

But, sorry or not, there are the laws of cricket that high ball rubbish or more not already bounced brings a warning, while the second provides a ban of Bowling for the sleeves – something that he would do well to remember.

At the other end, Clint McKay was an antidote to Herrick erratic ways. Its stable of 17 overs, interrupted only by a few grains of rain, led 4-68, including ATM Alastair Cook for 10, overturned after cutting cutting spelling shot not quite wide enough for the stroke.

It also rejected Bresnan, making 19 to stick to six positions dried up for him, which means England wanted to make a prior knock in Perth.

If they think is the best player for them in the pursuit of the 20 wickets at the Waca, then his is a pretty fair selection. But if they are factoring in his stick as well, the mentality of circulation which suddenly off in this game will look like it took a more permanent dock.

Four things that England learned in Victoria

1. In the case of which bowler replaces Stuart Broad, not much. Chris Tremlett, Tim Bresnan and Ajmal Shahzad overturned fairly decent game, but none has shown a knack for working a window or two, you will need to be able to Australia when the Kookaburra ball goes soft, as it is fast enough.

2. That Melbourne cold, drizzle will not be anything like hot, dry Perth. Here, the tone was slow and lifeless, will be nothing like resembling Waca concrete surface, but can have been a deliberate policy as Australia any attempt in an attempt to level the series.

3. As a dull as might be just what they need to continue game at is grounded in what could be the pivot of test. As Matt Prior admitted his century: "without the large crowds test ashes you must do a little soul search in a game like this for yourself that as you can't rely on anything else." It is a challenge. »

4. Only wicketkeepers is not reliable for the simplest of chances without their gloves, as before, two trucks in the first round. Also learned England, although they are step admit it, that the only likely dismiss Kevin Pietersen for less than a hundred Australia is a speed COP.

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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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Will England fight back against Pakistan in second Test?

It followed a second successive batting collapse at the Dubai International Cricket Stadium on a pitch that looked docile enough to last the distance.

So, are there any signs of Andrew Strauss's side being able to make a comeback in the second Test, starting on Jan 25, or will Pakistan off-spinner Saeed Ajmal continue to prove a handful?

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Will England fight back against Pakistan in second Test?

It followed a second successive batting collapse at the Dubai International Cricket Stadium on a pitch that looked docile enough to last the distance.

So, are there any signs of Andrew Strauss's side being able to make a comeback in the second Test, starting on Jan 25, or will Pakistan off-spinner Saeed Ajmal continue to prove a handful?

View the original article here

Tim Bresnan ruled out of England's tour against Pakistan with elbow injury

“I knew that looking at my ­rehabilitation programme it was always going to be touch and go to get me ready for the series,” he said. “I want to wish the squad all very best.”

Bresnan’s departure offers opportunities for Steve Finn, who took three wickets against the ICC XI, and Chris Tremlett to be the third seamer behind James Anderson and Stuart Broad. Tremlett, who did not play in this match because of an eye ­infection, saw a doctor last night. Strauss felt that the problem would not prevent him from playing against a Pakistan Board XI on Wednesday.

Strauss was to the fore in this win, his steadying 78 providing the basis for England’s victory. Chasing 261, it was not a stroll and they needed big enough contribution from the lower order for that old euphemism, the team performance, to be trotted out.

Having declared 100 runs behind after their first innings, England were stretched, relying on a 61-run partnership for the seventh wicket between Steven Davies and Stuart Broad.

After Strauss, none of the top order played a telling innings. But while that is a small concern, you sense Andy Flower would prefer his players to be pushed rather than pampered at this stage of the tour.

“We were determined to win the game and are delighted to have done so,” Strauss said. “It gave us an early indication of what we needed to do out here and there’s definitely things we need to improve upon.”

Aside from Graeme Swann sitting out most of Monday as a precaution after suffering stiffness in his left quadriceps, one major concern is the double batting failures of Kevin Pietersen and Eoin Morgan.

Pietersen fell once again to left-arm spin, this time to Ireland’s George Dockrell after the batsman misjudged a drive and chipped to mid-on. Pietersen, though, probably feels that it does not count as Dockrell was not in the original 11 and was only given special dispensation to play by England after Hamid Hassan, the ICC XI’s opening bowler, badly injured himself in the field the previous day.

A day after celebrating his new $2 million (£1.3 million) IPL contract, Pietersen had better hope there is no clause in it docking him £50,000 every time gets out to left-arm spin, as they will be queuing up to bowl at him. Pakistan have one such bowler in Abdur Rehman. He has not always been guaranteed a spot in the side, but he might be now.

Morgan’s failures are harder to diagnose. He got a good ball in the first innings and was caught down the leg-side off Boyd Rankin, his former Ireland team-mate, the fourth victim in the match to suffer such an ignominious fate. Though cool and contained, Morgan could probably do with a decent score against the Board XI.

All the machinations made for an exciting final day against the ICC XI, with both team’s prospects fluctuating by the session, but it would not have been a contest on anything but the anodyne surface at the ICC Global Academy’s No1 Oval.

On a pitch offering just some grip on Monday, the ICC XI’s bowlers created enough pressure to potentially embarrass the world’s No 1 Test team. But for William Porterfield’s tactical blunder 30 minutes before tea, when the ICC’s captain replaced his front-line spinners Dockrell and Mohammad Nabi with part-time tweakers Majid Haq and Paul Stirling – which allowed Jonathan Trott and Ian Bell to add 30 quick runs as they latched on to a slew of bad balls – a very different result might have occurred.

England form guide from the first tour outing

Winners

Andrew Strauss
Decent runs in the second innings and his bold declaration on the second day meant the captain was instrumental in England starting their tour with a win. If he is as bold in the Tests, we could be in for an interesting time.

Alastair Cook
Arrived in Dubai 36 hours after his team-mates, having enjoyed a short honeymoon after his New Year’s Day wedding. Cook gave his team mates a tutorial in not giving your wicket away in the first innings. Rarely pretty, but always effective.

Stuart Broad
Early wickets in both innings meant that he backed up his words about not wasting the new ball with impressive deeds.

Losers

Tim Bresnan
Mr Reliable with bat and ball, Bresnan is a big loss after failing to recover from elbow surgery. A hole to fill that is bound to weaken England’s batting or bowling, irrespective of who comes in.

Kevin Pietersen
Scratched around like a chicken with eczema for 15 in the first innings and fell cheaply in the second to left-arm spin. He had better hope that there is no cooling-off period in his lucrative new T20 deal with Delhi Daredevils.

Eoin Morgan
The No 6 slot is pivotal in Asian conditions, as you are often at the crease when conditions are most challenging. Needs to get a score quickly in order to settle down.

View the original article here

Tim Bresnan ruled out of England's tour against Pakistan with elbow injury

“I knew that looking at my ­rehabilitation programme it was always going to be touch and go to get me ready for the series,” he said. “I want to wish the squad all very best.”

Bresnan’s departure offers opportunities for Steve Finn, who took three wickets against the ICC XI, and Chris Tremlett to be the third seamer behind James Anderson and Stuart Broad. Tremlett, who did not play in this match because of an eye ­infection, saw a doctor last night. Strauss felt that the problem would not prevent him from playing against a Pakistan Board XI on Wednesday.

Strauss was to the fore in this win, his steadying 78 providing the basis for England’s victory. Chasing 261, it was not a stroll and they needed big enough contribution from the lower order for that old euphemism, the team performance, to be trotted out.

Having declared 100 runs behind after their first innings, England were stretched, relying on a 61-run partnership for the seventh wicket between Steven Davies and Stuart Broad.

After Strauss, none of the top order played a telling innings. But while that is a small concern, you sense Andy Flower would prefer his players to be pushed rather than pampered at this stage of the tour.

“We were determined to win the game and are delighted to have done so,” Strauss said. “It gave us an early indication of what we needed to do out here and there’s definitely things we need to improve upon.”

Aside from Graeme Swann sitting out most of Monday as a precaution after suffering stiffness in his left quadriceps, one major concern is the double batting failures of Kevin Pietersen and Eoin Morgan.

Pietersen fell once again to left-arm spin, this time to Ireland’s George Dockrell after the batsman misjudged a drive and chipped to mid-on. Pietersen, though, probably feels that it does not count as Dockrell was not in the original 11 and was only given special dispensation to play by England after Hamid Hassan, the ICC XI’s opening bowler, badly injured himself in the field the previous day.

A day after celebrating his new $2 million (£1.3 million) IPL contract, Pietersen had better hope there is no clause in it docking him £50,000 every time gets out to left-arm spin, as they will be queuing up to bowl at him. Pakistan have one such bowler in Abdur Rehman. He has not always been guaranteed a spot in the side, but he might be now.

Morgan’s failures are harder to diagnose. He got a good ball in the first innings and was caught down the leg-side off Boyd Rankin, his former Ireland team-mate, the fourth victim in the match to suffer such an ignominious fate. Though cool and contained, Morgan could probably do with a decent score against the Board XI.

All the machinations made for an exciting final day against the ICC XI, with both team’s prospects fluctuating by the session, but it would not have been a contest on anything but the anodyne surface at the ICC Global Academy’s No1 Oval.

On a pitch offering just some grip on Monday, the ICC XI’s bowlers created enough pressure to potentially embarrass the world’s No 1 Test team. But for William Porterfield’s tactical blunder 30 minutes before tea, when the ICC’s captain replaced his front-line spinners Dockrell and Mohammad Nabi with part-time tweakers Majid Haq and Paul Stirling – which allowed Jonathan Trott and Ian Bell to add 30 quick runs as they latched on to a slew of bad balls – a very different result might have occurred.

England form guide from the first tour outing

Winners

Andrew Strauss
Decent runs in the second innings and his bold declaration on the second day meant the captain was instrumental in England starting their tour with a win. If he is as bold in the Tests, we could be in for an interesting time.

Alastair Cook
Arrived in Dubai 36 hours after his team-mates, having enjoyed a short honeymoon after his New Year’s Day wedding. Cook gave his team mates a tutorial in not giving your wicket away in the first innings. Rarely pretty, but always effective.

Stuart Broad
Early wickets in both innings meant that he backed up his words about not wasting the new ball with impressive deeds.

Losers

Tim Bresnan
Mr Reliable with bat and ball, Bresnan is a big loss after failing to recover from elbow surgery. A hole to fill that is bound to weaken England’s batting or bowling, irrespective of who comes in.

Kevin Pietersen
Scratched around like a chicken with eczema for 15 in the first innings and fell cheaply in the second to left-arm spin. He had better hope that there is no cooling-off period in his lucrative new T20 deal with Delhi Daredevils.

Eoin Morgan
The No 6 slot is pivotal in Asian conditions, as you are often at the crease when conditions are most challenging. Needs to get a score quickly in order to settle down.

View the original article here

The ashes of 2010: Mitchell Johnson dropped by Australia for the second test against England at Adelaide

Johnson seemed totally lost to the Gabba, durable wicketless career test and probably deserved to be deleted. However, it is, on vocals, most likely launchers of Ricky Ponting to produce the kind of break spell sleeves that Peter Siddle took in Brisbane.

The mercurial Johnson, now 29, has a good record in Australia, too, having taken 84 wickets to just more than 27 tracks each of 20 tests. It is even the last Australian player to feature on the honours of bowling tips at the Adelaide Oval, something the hierarchy is not clearly consult before canning him.

Selector search patterns and they seem to have spotted a very one-Australian Johnson and the other who has himself revealed ashes tour last year England 18 months - ago is an Australian fast player who does not love bowling in English, something supported by its 41 average against them.

He almost admitted as much when he was put in front of the media today, after experiencing the eve only two other launchers of rhythm in the squad double injury triumph a reprieve.

"To move away from the publicity surrounding the series and enter in the nets and working on my game of bowling is probably the best option for me rather than to try to work of the game," Johnson said on the eve of the second review.

Asked if he felt particularly disappointed to be deposited in a series of ash, he gave one of these beloved sports psychologists answers that turn positive, negative, although that delivered in this case in a manner which suggests that he was not entirely convinced it.

"Every match I played for the Australia is a great moment for me, a series of ash, said the Johnson." I played for my country, and it is a big deal for me. It is very difficult to take but it is not the end of the world. I came back from stress fractures when I was younger, and I've withdrawn from Queensland squad. There were other launchers have been abandoned and return to it and hope that it will stronger.

You never know what to expect from players who are deleted. Some cry crying other contempt, while some just shuffle offshore forgotten that define responses to survey questions. Johnson seemed just as it did when opposite packaged media before the first test, shy, disillusionment and confused about exactly what had happened to him.

"For me to work things out is to go in the nets get back into gym, get my right mind and work really hard to return to the team and make a big effort when I have the chance," said Johnson."

Top-level sport is played as much between the ears on the ground and contradictions between Johnson and head coach Tim Nielsen on mental state of the former show all is fragile.

"We need to try and set of Mitchell and the spirit in a place that will allow him to do better at the international level," said Nielsen.

Mentally I think fine,"says Johnson. "I had some frustrating moments at the Gabba, but mentally, I felt fine for review.

According to Nielsen, they want him sort out his adopted home for third test in Perth, as he moved with his girlfriend Jessica Bratich, karate champion. Traditionally the lawn he saw the ball fly in but you need to operate controls. At this time, Johnson, who is an athlete who rather than the reverse, lack of control of direction or length due to its low arm, two cardinal sins in the Waca bowls.

Interestingly, Johnson remains with the squad, firstly to support and assist other launchers and, second, so it can work with Troy Cooley bowling coach.

There is a risk of keep on players who have been abandoned. Their understandable discouragement can disrupt the cloakroom, whereas interpersonal relationships, fixed at a level where a player is on the team must be adjusted when they are not.

Johnson is not disruptive personality and is half the problem. Quick launchers leading attacks tend to be extroverted who contemplate failure - think that Dennis Lillee and Ian Botham. Johnson, blessed, it is a sensitive soul who is struggling to be something the ogre, no amount of coaching change.

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Younus Khan puts Pakistan in full control of first Test against Bangladesh with superb double century

Younus Khan hit his third double century and Asad Shafiq scored a maiden hundred as Pakistan took full control of the first Test against Pakistan in Chittagong.

Resuming on 415 for four in response to the Tigers' dismal 135 all out, the tourists progressed to 594 for five declared before taking four second-innings wickets as Bangladesh's top order struggled again.

Younus reached 200 not out before Misbah-ul-Haq called his side in on 594 for five, with Shafiq earlier posting 104 to become the third centurion in a one-sided innings.

At stumps, Mushfiqur Rahim's side were 134 for four, behind by 325 runs and staring at an innings defeat.

Younus was 96 not out overnight, with Shafiq on 40 and both men cashed in.

Younus turned Shahadat Hussain for four to fine leg to bring up three figures as play got under way and continued to keep the scoreboard ticking along while relentlessly punishing the bad balls.

Rubel Hossain dropped a slow-starting Shafiq on 43 and two balls later he found the boundary for the first time of the morning.

A tapped single off Shakib Al Hasan brought Shafiq his 50 and although Mushfiqur rotated his bowlers he could not find a breakthrough.

Younus passed 150 for the seventh time in his Test career with another easy run before hoisting the second six of his innings off Mohammad Ashraful.

Shahadat and Rubel took the new ball but could not curb the batsmen's momentum, while Elias Sunny was lifted over the ropes by Younus to bring up the 250-run partnership.

Shafiq registered his maiden Test ton with two off his 224th ball but fell for 104 - following Mohammad Hafeez and Younus past three figures - when Sunny had him caught at long-off by Shahriar Nafees.

Six runs in an over off Shakib took Younus to 200 and brought about the immediate declaration by Misbah.

By then Younus had batted for 290 balls, hitting 18 fours and three maximums in a wonderful and well-paced knock.

The Tigers faced an awkward seven-over stint before tea but Tamim Iqbal and Nazimuddin both survived to reach 24 for nought.

Hafeez wasted no time in removing Tamim after the resumption, bowling the opener for 15, before Nazimuddin and Shahriar Nafees posted 50 for the second wicket.

Nafees was the next man to fall, trapped lbw by Saeed Ajmal for 28. Mohammad Ashraful extended his run of poor form for his country with a third-ball duck and Nasir Hossain laboured for three before Aizaz Cheema ended his stay.

Nazimuddin and Shakib both reached 41no before stumps but their cause looked to be in vain.

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The ashes of 2010: Paul Collingwood enjoys Adelaide return to England find their feet against the Southern Australia

Another good day for England, but nothing to be complacent about. While it is still to be nearest series Australia ash for several decades.

The name of Andrew Strauss, who made a century won a game in the game opening in Perth and Kevin Pietersen has also shone in the victory over Australia Paul Collingwood and Ian Bell added that their list of England batsman with runs under their elastic pants.

Collingwood scored 94 on the ground where he did his double-cent ashes in 2006-2007 (it is the only English life reaches this point Australia benchmarks). But it could be stretching a point to say that he was in spanking form at the end.

Collingwood was strong on the legside, it is always, even when in the nick. But his play offside is imperfect, as it sometimes.Take two of his coverdrives: suddenly fine leg inside aboard offshore (a cup of China, he used to qualify), while the other has been affected by these stiff leg - he was almost vertical when he drove - ball was always going to catch the height to gully.

Of course, it was unfortunate to partner of someone who can play the perfect cover drive. Several times, after having played himself in carefully, Bell reached perfection and limit couverture.Mais, just as it seemed set to reach one hundred before the second new balloon can be taken, missed a right reversed by the gate, entirely against the run of play.

The rest of the England batting was not so much rassurant.Jamais spirit Strauss made the new ball in beating legside: it was inhumane dismissal due to good decision-making and bad fortune.But while opening Alastair Cook, partner has worked within two hours of the morning was still not commonly at the time when he attempted to force loose window square off the coast of hind foot - and rightly angry against himself.

Jonathan Trott was shackled by his disciplined pace attack.Try to assert themselves as no. 3s are supposed to do, he line first player slides and was abandonné.Mais is rebound that Trott will mainly have to deal with as a no. 3, and is not a good omen - a slow field true - when he tried to hook and skied a decision for the player.

Pietersen bounced a few times, too, pick-up on goaltender profond.Anglais the Australia square drawing will be noted that Strauss and cook prefer ball short-tongue, Trott and Pietersen full, if only the have long since made.

It was a hot day, sometimes very hot but clouds often intervened between the Earth and the end of the afternoon, after Strauss had stated before the second new balloon soleil.En can be taken, James Anderson and Stuart Broad was therefore relatively useful conditions (although the Adelaide ring is usually no friends bowling) .Anderson has often away openers prudent and beaten, stepping up a gear from its outset prudent, conscious of their coast, Perth.

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Stuart Broad happy with catches of Notts but tests more sensitive expected against the India

Pleasure of Stuart Broad distancing five first window in a year will be tempered by the knowledge that Sachin Tendulkar, Rahul Dravid and Ms Dhoni will provide a more severe opposition to the week next of the Lord that tail of Somerset Wednesday.

Lower order of Somerset is among the most fragile on the county circuit and Steve Kirby, Adam Dibble and Murali Kartik are little valued scalps.

But broad was ruthless in a rapid field and three of the last five wickets that fell in 10 overs claimed.

Wide as finished with five for 95, his best return since he had a career best eight for 52 against Warwickshire last season, a significant improvement on the figures 15 of 832 in 190 overs in all this season prior to the game of cricket.

"From my point of view he renversé reversed at good pace, moved the ball off the field and in the air and for the five wickets was a late return," Nottinghamshire captain Chris Read said.

"Everyone knows it was a little short of ATMs in any game since he returned from his injury, it is a pleasure for him to be in the column of wickets.

Wide, which was still viewed by national selector Geoff Miller, should be included in the team for the Lord and read believes that it remains a key member of the seam attack.

"I think it is one of the leaders of the attack to England for the past two years, there is still a young bowler but he bowls at 90 km/h and we know what he can do with its height and rebound, it can generate," said Read.

Broad had NightWatchman Steve Kirby LBW support external, unstable beginner Dibble with one that bounced and he has left and wrapped the sleeves when Kartik caught behind the sculpture.

Alex Hales then ensured that the large efforts were not wasted by charting his path in a century that says champions after an early innings familiar wobble.

Hales was already touted as a potential opener of a day in the near future England, after a few catchy bat towers before the television cameras in.

He showed that he can play the plu too game by converting her sixth sleeves of 50 eight championship in its first century of the season and the second of his career.

Nottinghamshire have been tested by Kirby, who ran in a heavily all day and get and set when he broke the bat but Hales won his battle with county cricket pantomime villain.

Hales has offered two hard chances, including Chris Jones to the external environment where he gets a point off the coast of Kirby, but otherwise he timed the ball beautifully in a 170-ball century which contained 15 fours and a take-off six leads off the coast of Kartik.

Adam Voges and Steven Mullaney has helped Hales rebuild the sleeves with Voges contributing half a century rapid before he was overthrown assume arms to Dibble's inaugural first window class.

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West Indies show fight in final Test against India in Mumbai

West Indies' batsmen finally put up a fight as they made an impressive start to the the third and final Test against India in Mumbai.

The hosts had already wrapped up a series victory after beating their opponents by five wickets in the the opening match and by an innings and 15 runs in the second.

The tourists, looking to avoid a series whitewash, saw Adrian Barath (62) and Kraigg Brathwaite (68) build a century partnership on a placid-looking wicket before both departed to Ravichandran Ashwin to leave them 161 for two at tea.

However, Kirk Edwards (65 not out) and Darren Bravo (57no) teamed up to good effect to see the visitors move onto 267 for two at stumps.

Windies skipper Darren Sammy, hit by the absences of Shivnarine Chanderpaul (calf) and Kemar Roach (illness), won the toss and elected to bat, meaning Sachin Tendulkar's bid for a 100th international century on his home ground would have to wait at least another day.

India selected promising fast bowler Varun Aaron to make his Test debut and, while his pace troubled the tourists early, he found little movement to grab the breakthrough.

After weathering the early pace attack Barath and Brathwaite went about their work with little concern to give West Indies reasons for optimism.

India turned to Ashwin and Ishant Sharma in the second session but they too toiled.

Aaron continued to look impressive without seriously threatening to make the breakthrough but they finally made headway before tea.

It was Ashwin who made Barath pay for a lapse in concentration as he was caught in two minds and got an inside edge onto his pad and up for captain Mahendra Singh Dhoni to take the catch.

Brathwaite followed soon after and again Ashwin was the man to do the damage, as the batsman apparently edged onto his pad and Virat Kohli gleefully made the catch to leave the tourists on 150 for two.

Yet the Windies showed great poise in the final session of the day, as Edwards and Bravo, with 17 fours between them, navigated their way to the close with the tourists in a healthy position.

Edwards had survived three chances in quick succession before finishing the day steadily and frustrating the hosts.

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West Indies show fight in final Test against India in Mumbai

West Indies' batsmen finally put up a fight as they made an impressive start to the the third and final Test against India in Mumbai.

The hosts had already wrapped up a series victory after beating their opponents by five wickets in the the opening match and by an innings and 15 runs in the second.

The tourists, looking to avoid a series whitewash, saw Adrian Barath (62) and Kraigg Brathwaite (68) build a century partnership on a placid-looking wicket before both departed to Ravichandran Ashwin to leave them 161 for two at tea.

However, Kirk Edwards (65 not out) and Darren Bravo (57no) teamed up to good effect to see the visitors move onto 267 for two at stumps.

Windies skipper Darren Sammy, hit by the absences of Shivnarine Chanderpaul (calf) and Kemar Roach (illness), won the toss and elected to bat, meaning Sachin Tendulkar's bid for a 100th international century on his home ground would have to wait at least another day.

India selected promising fast bowler Varun Aaron to make his Test debut and, while his pace troubled the tourists early, he found little movement to grab the breakthrough.

After weathering the early pace attack Barath and Brathwaite went about their work with little concern to give West Indies reasons for optimism.

India turned to Ashwin and Ishant Sharma in the second session but they too toiled.

Aaron continued to look impressive without seriously threatening to make the breakthrough but they finally made headway before tea.

It was Ashwin who made Barath pay for a lapse in concentration as he was caught in two minds and got an inside edge onto his pad and up for captain Mahendra Singh Dhoni to take the catch.

Brathwaite followed soon after and again Ashwin was the man to do the damage, as the batsman apparently edged onto his pad and Virat Kohli gleefully made the catch to leave the tourists on 150 for two.

Yet the Windies showed great poise in the final session of the day, as Edwards and Bravo, with 17 fours between them, navigated their way to the close with the tourists in a healthy position.

Edwards had survived three chances in quick succession before finishing the day steadily and frustrating the hosts.

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The ashes of 2010: pin bowling England are vying to replace Stuart Broad wounded in tour match against Victoria

With Graeme Swann, Anderson is an essential in the England attack component especially now that Stuart Broad has been invalidated by the tour with a torn stomach muscle.

Broad was to go to the homepage, but decided to stay in Australia for a short stay.

Anderson has had six wickets in sweeping victory England on the Australia in Adelaide and conducting a blow of the CAP in the second round.

While it is inevitable, its brief paternity leave disrupt this dynamic as well as the introduction of a different new-ball partner for the next test on 16 December.

Yet it is a minor problem in the Australia, judging by the primal Cree from public and media here.

The three candidates for this role, Chris Tremlett, Tim Bresnan and Ajmal Shahzad, will play in the game three days against Victoria Bushrangers at the CWM starting Friday, but you have the impression that Flower knows who he wants the Waca height.

It would not confirm a name they would probably open bowling, after considering that it is unlikely that Steve Finn could be co-opted to share the new ball with Anderson.

Curator at the promised Waca England a fast pitch bouncing to the test when they play the Australia here five weeks ago.

Since offshore height, rhythm and aggression which would be appropriate, the closest match is Chris Tremlett, while perhaps lacking that streak méchant separates effective talented pace launchers.

"Tremlett brings heavy bounce the ball coming from this height," Flower, confirmed as he crossed the merits of the three candidates.

"Is not explicit but he bowls a uniform length and it required a drummer when someone height and size runs you." It will bring consistency and it is what he was doing well this English last summer.

"Bresnan is an experienced cricket player and man strong." It is exact and skilful bowls reverse swing can bat and too many on the ground. Some people consider that it has a medium pacer but it fast enough to beat the good players bowls with a rapid bouncer.

"Frédéric bowls for left handers, as we saw in Hobart, although this does not mean that it is not effective against doing so. When the ball reverse can there be in both directions. He is strong and capable and can run for you throughout the day. »

At this stage Tremlett seems to be the favorite for Perth but flowers and bowling coach David Saker also will seek for the pointers to the test day after Christmas at the CWM.

It is about 12 years ago, but Dean Headley won England test it with just the kind of reverse-swing skiddy, now offered by Frédéric.

Plans, as demonstrated in this team England and his coaches, not begin and end with the next task.

Tremlett took seven wickets against the Australia Hobart a few weeks ago, and another good performance here would rivet probably the square.

"It would be fantastic to be picked in the Perth test team", said Wednesday.

"But I can not put too much pressure on myself at stake here that looks too well in advance, and it is that you are likely to fall short."

"You can only feel sympathy for Stuart and what happened to him." They are quite big shoes to fill, but it is for someone to step up and do that job and if it's me I think I can do.

With only 15 players available, England are likely to rest their multiple makers century Alastair Cook, Kevin Pietersen as well as test launchers, Finn and Swann.

Officials unique series hundreds, as Andrew Strauss and Jonathan Trott, will have to play, even if there are fewer possibilities of Eoin Morgan and Steven Davies, having a game too with Davies with gloves of Matt Prior, who will play as a drummer.

While England feeling relaxed and confident enough to allow a player and rest, others Australia blunder of the alternatives to the underperforming rabble routed at the Adelaide oval paternity leave.

Twenty years ago, their selection criteria used to be simple - players have been replaced by gravity exerts tension made Beaver on their form they have done.

Today, there is a much better living to be made from cricket and players cling well after the dates of sale - by previous generations, a habit that has allowed players to living together in a team.

But confusion reign and so many critics call for a reform followed by an injection of new blood, there is a number equal to play the card of nostalgia and to insist on a return by Shane Warne.

For a rationalist as he Flower hypocritical season of stupid and when asked what he done a consortium attempt to raise funds to lure back Warne, it seemed perplexed, saying: "" I guess that someone is mess around for a joke - Shane Warne retired international cricket. ""

But Flower may be underestimating sense of Warne theatre and the allure of a crowd of aftermath of liquidation at the CWM allegedly, not only for him, but in a country want to return to the good old days of Australian domination.

England (unlikely): * AJ Strauss IJL Trott, MJ Prior, PD Collingwood, IR Bell, EJG Morgan, †SM Davies, TT Bresnan, Frederick A., CT Tremlett, MS Panesar.

DEC Victorian Bushrangers: * white C, R casings, A Finch, Hastings J, J Herrick, Mrs. Hill, J. Holland, Hussey D, a Keath, C. McKay, †M Wade.

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Surrey hit bullseye against Essex

During the innings break on Monday night, darts stars Phil Taylor and Adrian Lewis were invited onto the outfield to take part in a demonstration.

In the end, though, the pinpoint throwing arms and the clinical finishing belonged to Surrey, who looked in the very best of order throughout.

It was a curious match, punctuated by arrows and tainted by tragedy: that of a pigeon whose fatal mistake was to find itself in the way of a crushing blow from Tom Maynard. Even with the bat, Surrey kept hitting the bullseye, and duly claimed their second win of the competition in five games.

For a county so nakedly geared towards the format, Essex were disappointing. They bowled well, restricting Surrey to a score they would have felt comfortable chasing, but batted poorly and ran abysmally. Surrey, meanwhile, demonstrated the value of sharp out-cricket.

The game turned on two run-outs that deprived Essex of two of their biggest hitters at just the stage when they were setting themselves. Jade Dernbach’s sharp throw at short fine-leg accounted for Scott Styris, while Ryan ten Doeschate was brilliantly run out by Zander de Bruyn, who collected the ball off his own bowling and hurled it off-balance in a manner that recalled his compatriot Colin Bland.

The third run out of the innings merely added a glug of farce to a casserole of ineptitude: As Tim Southee and Adam Wheater deliberated over whether to take a single through to Steve Davies, the Surrey keeper underarmed the ball into the stumps to run Southee out.

It epitomised a bizarre effort from Essex, who had found themselves in the curious position of five for one after one ball. After slinging down five wides, Yasir Arafat found Owais Shah’s outside edge, the ball flying down to third man to dismiss him for a golden duck.

Ravi Bopara looked in atrocious form and was trapped lbw on the crease, while the tail folded like an Ordnance Survey map. Only Wheater and James Foster, toiling gamely in a lost cause, offered any kind of resistance. He was perhaps a touch unfortunate to be out caught in the deep of what appeared to be a navel-high full-toss, but by then the game was already slipping from Essex’s grasp.

Maynard was the best of the batsmen, scoring 45 as Surrey recovered from a bad start. Graham Napier removed both openers, but Maynard and Jason Roy rebuilt the innings.

But it was geography student Zafar Ansari, 19, down from Cambridge, who took the match award. As well as bowling four overs of steady left-arm darts, he lifted Surrey with a butch cameo of 30 from 18 balls. It included a remarkable six off the last ball of the innings, which saw him stepping across his stumps and hewing the ball over square-leg into the crowd.

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V England Sri Lanka: Tim Bresnan called for one-day series against Sri Lanka

Bresnan will join the team at the oval in advance ODI first tomorrow and is available immediately responding to treatment on the injury which kept him of the three-match test series and ttwweennttyy autonomous Saturday.

His presence will strengthen the options of England, after they less than Bristol, landslide defeat of nine-window.

Calf problem dates back to the Bresnan tour of the winter of the Australia.

Having played an important role in securing the ashes in the last two trials, Bresnan vola series House a day after experiencing discomfort in his right leg.

He returned to the World Cup, but has been once more troubled by the injury in the subcontinent.

He played two matches ttwweennttyy Yorkshire in the last week, with modest yields zero for 27 off the coast, and three overs for 47 off the coast of four overs but England will be pleased to have back.

With 42 selections from one day to his name, it offers more experience than Jade Dernbach or Chris Woakes, whereas it is also regarded as one of the limited-overs more reliable part seamers.

Alastair Cook begins his reign as Captain a day today, skipper of third side in as many games suite of Test leader Andrew Strauss and the new man ttwweennttyy Stuart Broad.

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Ryan McLaren's last-over blitz gives Middlesex a Twenty20 tie against Somerset

Middlesex hit 17 runs off the final over to secure a dramatic tie against Somerset in the Friends Life t20 game at Southgate.

The result was enough to ensure Somerset reach the quarter-finals, but they will wonder how they failed to send Middlesex to their 12th defeat in 14 games in the competition this season.

Ryan McLaren, who had earlier taken three for 37, scored two off the first ball of Kieron Pollard’s final over before hitting consecutive sixes.

He was caught on the midwicket boundary next ball, but Tom Smith scrambled a two and a single off the final deliveries to bring the scores level.

Pollard had earlier hit 33 off 18 balls to give impetus to a previously sluggish Somerset innings.

An unbroken 97-run partnership between Steven Croft and Tom Smith helped Lancashire crush Nottinghamshire by nine wickets at Old Trafford.

In a match reduced to 15 overs per side because of rain, Lancashire opted to field first and restricted the visitors to 105 for five. They passed the total with nine balls to spare, Croft ending on 53 and Smith on 45.

Richard Pyrah claimed the best figures recorded by a Yorkshire bowler in the competition’s history as his side beat Durham by three wickets at Scarborough to keep alive the home side’s slender hopes of reaching the quarter-finals.

The medium-pacer took five for 16 off his four overs to help restrict Durham to 144 for eight.

In reply Gary Ballance made 48 before Pyrah topped off a great day’s work by thrashing a six to win the match with three balls remaining.

Robert Croft produced the most economical figures by a Glamorgan bowler in Twenty20 cricket as his side thumped Gloucestershire by 10 wickets at Bristol.

The veteran off-spinner conceded only 10 runs from his four-over spell to restrict the home side to a paltry 81 all out after they had won the toss.

In reply, Glamorgan cruised to their target with six overs to spare, openers Alviro Petersen and Mark Cosgrove finishing unbeaten on 42 and 37 respectively.

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