Seated eight to a table at the over 7,000 sq ft pillar-less Mysore Hall of ITC Royal Gardenia Hotel here, business leaders and film stars Saturday began picking up cricketers for the Indian Premier League’s (IPL) fourth season. The IPL-4 beginning April 8 will see 10 teams and 74 matches in the shortest version of [...]
Posts Tagged ‘James Anderson’
Cricketers auction for IPL 4 begins in Bangalore
January 8th, 2011 |
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Tony Greig asks England to use Bodyline-style tactics against ‘opened-up’ Ponting
November 17th, 2010 |
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England’s fast bowlers have been asked by ex-skipper Tony Greig to adopt Bodyline-style tactics and target ageing Australian captain Ricky Ponting, who has become increasingly vulnerable to the short ball. Greig rated Ponting as Australia’s “No.1 dangermanâ€, and said the 35-year-old skipper had become increasingly susceptible to the bouncer. “And if I was playing him, [...]
Anderson clears the air with Captain Cook
November 25th, 2009 |
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England fast bowler James Anderson has cleared the air with skipper Alastair Cook, insisting that he does not want his best mate’’s job.
Anderson, 27, rejected claims that he was furious at not being named England’’s vice-captain.
“I have more than enough to worry about with my bowling,” The Sun quoted him, as saying.
Cook was named as [...]
Horror show by batsmen behind England rout in NatWest series: Anderson
September 25th, 2009 |
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England fast bowler James Anderson has voiced his frustration and anger at the England batsmen for their disastrous NatWest series performance against Australia.
In the absence of experienced batsman like Andrew Flintoff and Kevin Peitersen, the inexperienced England team was not able to cope with the formidable Australians, which resulted in a 6-1 series defeat.
“I don”t [...]
England can avoid 7-0 drubbing in NatWest Series: Anderson
September 19th, 2009 |
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England paceman James Anderson has said that the England team would be looking forward to avoid a humiliating 7-0 whitewash against Australia in the NatWest Series.
England team has been out of sorts after the historic Ashes series win, and in the absence of experienced players like Andrew Flintoff and Kevin Pietersen they have not been [...]
England gamble on uncapped Trott
August 16th, 2009 |
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Fifth Ashes Test, The Oval: England v Australia
Dates: Thursday, 20 August to Monday, 24 August Start time: 1100 BST
Coverage: Live Test Match Special commentary (from 1025 BST on day one, 1045 BST on remaining days) on BBC Radio 4 LW, 5 Live sports extra, the Red Button and BBC Sport website. Live text commentary on BBC Sport website and mobile phones. Also live on Sky Sports.
England are set to take a major gamble in the crucial fifth Ashes Test by replacing Ravi Bopara with the uncapped Jonathan Trott, BBC Sport understands.
Ian Bell, whose position in the side has also been under threat, is poised to keep his place and move up the batting order to number three.
Changes had been expected after the humiliating defeat in the fourth Test.
Mark Ramprakash and Rob Key had been touted for call-ups, but appear to have been overlooked in favour of Trott.
England, who must win the fifth Test against Australia at The Oval to regain the Ashes, are set to officially announce their squad at 0930 BST on Sunday after a week of intense debate about the make-up of the squad.
The 28-year-old Trott was included in the 14-man squad for the fourth Test at Headingley, but was released to play for Warwickshire.
With 1013 runs in the County championship this season at an average of 92.09, Trott is a player in a rich vein of form – but the decision to throw him in for a Test debut in the high-pressure environment of a decisive Ashes Test is a big gamble for the selectors.
The South Africa-born batsman served a timely reminder of his ability with a century for Warwickshire against Nottinghamshire at Trent Bridge, while Bell made 126 to help his case to retain his place.
Trott will get a dress rehearsal of sorts when he plays for the second-string England Lions side against Australia in a two-day match at Canterbury starting on Saturday.
Bopara’s place has been in severe jeopardy, with just 105 runs from his seven innings in the series.
"Every batsman has been through a run of low scores and he hasn’t managed to really get in and show what he is made of in this series"
England coach Andy Flower on Bopara
He showed his fighting spirit and ability with an unbeaten 52 for Essex against Middlesex on Friday, but it appears to have been insufficient evidence for the England selectors.
Nevertheless, England coach Andy Flower has backed the 24-year-old – who had been in fine form against the West Indies earlier in the year – to come through his difficult spell.
"Every batsman has been through a run of low scores and he hasn’t managed to really get in and show what he is made of in this series," said Flower.
"It’s a tough situation for him but he is a pretty calm bloke, so he’s keeping it in perspective."
Trott’s elevation to the side has come at the expense of the 39-year-old Ramprakash and Key.
Ramprakash made the last of his 52 Test appearances in 2002, but had indicated he would be available should the selectors require his services.
The Surrey batsman has once again been in prolific form for his county, notching his 108th first-class career century against Derbyshire last week.
His Test statistics, however, make more sober reading, scoring 2350 runs at 27.32, with just two centuries from 92 innings.
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Meanwhile, Kent captain Key, who played the last of his 15 Tests for England in January 2005, has also failed to convince the selectors.
Marcus Trescothic had also been mentioned as a possible replacement, but the former England opener ruled himself out of contention earlier in the week.
Trescothick retired from five-day cricket in March 2008 because of a stress-related illness.
The fascination with the state of inspirational all-rounder Andrew Flintoff’s knee has been overshadowed by the debate over changes to the batting line-up in the build-up to the Ashes decider.
But Flintoff, who missed the Headingley defeat, should be fit for his final ever Test.
The 31-year-old was examined by specialist Andy Williams on Monday but while the prognosis was encouraging, England said Flintoff will undergo "further rest and intensive treatment" in order to regain his place in the starting XI on Thursday.
Away from the top order, England face further quandaries over the composition of their bowling attack on a pitch which has yet to see a victory in a Championship match all season.
The Oval is traditionally one of the fastest pitches in England, favouring genuine quick bowlers and spinners, rather than swingers.
With Flintoff expected to return, the selectors must decide whether to drop Steve Harmison, who took two wickets on his recall at Headingley, Graham Onions, James Anderson or Stuart Broad.
Anderson failed to take a wicket in the fourth Test, while Broad registered career-best figures of 6-91.
However, Surrey manager Chris Adams suggested the ball will turn at The Oval and told Phil Tufnell’s Cricket Show that England should select two spinners from Graeme Swann, Monty Panesar or Adil Rashid.
This article is from the BBC News website. © British Broadcasting Corporation, The BBC is not responsible for the content of external internet sites.
‘Ashes banter will not sour cricketing relations’, says Flintoff
August 3rd, 2009 |
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England cricketer Andrew Flintoff has expressed confidence that the cricketing relations between England and Australia would not turn sour following the verbal exchanges between both sides during the third Ashes Test at Edgbaston.
The 31 year-old all rounder reckoned that the exchange is a part of the competitive nature of the prestigious Ashes cricket, and said, [...]
Edgbaston washout thwarts England
August 1st, 2009 |
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Third Ashes Test, Edgbaston (day three):
England 116-2 v Australia 263
Match scorecard
Persistent morning rain has delayed the start of day three of the third Ashes Test at Edgbaston on Saturday.
Umpires Rudi Koertzen and Aleem Dar have called a pitch inspection for 1200 BST with the covers spread all across the soaked outfield.
England are set to resume on 116-2 following a successful day on Friday.
A fine exhibition of swing bowling from James Anderson and Graham Onions saw Australia collapse from their overnight score of 126-1 to 263 all out. </p
This article is from the BBC News website. © British Broadcasting Corporation, The BBC is not responsible for the content of external internet sites.
Anderson haul puts England on top
July 31st, 2009 |
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Third Ashes Test, Edgbaston (day two):
England 116-2 v Australia 263
Match scorecard
By Oliver Brett
BBC Sport at Edgbaston
Brilliant swing bowling from James Anderson and Graham Onions put England in a fine position after two days of the third Ashes Test.
Australia capitulated shockingly from an overnight 126-1, losing two wickets off the first two balls of the morning, to collapse to 203-8 at lunch and eventually 263 all out.
When bad light brought a premature end to proceedings at 1745 BST, with 19 overs left in the day, Andrew Strauss (64 not out) had guided England to 116-2, trailing by 147.
Onions triggered the Aussies’ demise, taking the first three wickets in the day to fall, and then the last, to finish with 4-58.
Anderson recovered from a poor showing on Thursday, and some wayward stuff early in his spell on day two, to take 5-13 in 38 balls either side of lunch for overall figures of 5-80.
But another key figure in proceedings was umpire Rudi Koertzen, who awarded Anderson two very debatable lbws and then denied Mitchell Johnson one against Ian Bell when the ball would have probably hit middle stump.
Bell, who hit the first six of the Ashes series by an England batsman, lived to fight another day, and will resume with Strauss on 26.
With the memories of a disjointed bowling display on Thursday evening still in the back of the mind, Onions gave his team – and the home fans – a massive boost with the first two balls of.
Shane Watson, who had cruised to 62, just 16 runs shy of his best score in Tests in his first experience as an opener at this level, completely misjudged his shot at a ball homing in on his stumps.
Failing to get his bat down in time, he gave Aleem Dar an easy lbw decision to make.
Michael Hussey, who was bowled playing no shot to Andrew Flintoff at Lord’s, again left a delivery that only came back a fraction to brush his off-stump.
Though some of the 21,000 fans had not yet taken their seats, they rushed into position to see the hat-trick ball – and after the obligatory roar Onions sent a short ball just whistling past Michael Clarke’s gloves.
The game settled down for a while as Clarke and Ricky Ponting used their collective nous to withstand Onions’ variations on a theme of swing.
The captain picked up the runs needed to pass Allan Border and become the leading Australian run-scorer in Tests – leaving only pack leader Sachin Tendulkar and Brian Lara in front of him.
And when he on-drove Flintoff for four, taking the score to 159-3, Australia appeared to be entering calmer waters. But only four runs were added before Ponting, on 38, tried to pull a well-directed bouncer from Onions and edged to wicketkeeper Matt Prior.
All the action was happening in Onions’ tremendous nine-over spell from the City End – and he could have had Clarke out twice.
The right-hander was reprieved by umpire Dar, turning down a very good lbw shout on 18, and by Flintoff on 20. England’s usually flawless second slip somehow spilt an outside edge.
But it was Anderson who picked up the wicket-taking baton in devastating fashion from the Pavilion End as Australia lurched from 193-4 to 229-9 – with Koertzen providing two prominent assists.
The South African official ended Clarke’s innings on 29 (ball probably missing leg-stump) and then Johnson back for a golden duck (slightly too high, according to Hawkeye).
In between those two wickets, Marcus North chased a wide one and was well caught by a diving Prior. Anderson’s fourth wicket, and the eighth of the innings, came when Graham Manou was bowled by a pearler.
Australia took lunch in dreadful shape, but their tail-enders did pretty well after the interval – although the ball was still swinging – to add 60 runs for the final two wickets. Onions finally wrapped it up, taking a richly-deserved fourth wicket when Ben Hilfenhaus speared the Durham man to gully.
By then, Peter Siddle had edged Anderson behind, giving him his first five-wicket Ashes haul, and it should all have ended on 241 when Nathan Hauritz top-edged a pull over Ravi Bopara’s head.
England’s backward-point had to turn to take the catch over his shoulder, but it was not a difficult chance and thus a disappointing drop.
Hauritz and Hilfenhaus each made 20, a suggestion to England’s openers that batting was not necessarily as nightmarish as many of the Australians had made it look.
And when Hilfenhaus and Siddle then opened the bowling for the Aussies there was only the merest hint of swing – nothing like the lavish movement enjoyed by Onions and Anderson.
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All the same, the Aussies had an ideal start when Alastair Cook lazily drove at a ball outside off-stump he could have easily left in the second over, Manou making an instant impression with a solid wicketkeeper’s catch.
But with Strauss looking in good touch from the off, and Ravi Bopara overcoming a slightly nervy start to hit some scorching drives through the off-side, England recovered to reach tea on 56-1.
Intriguingly, Johnson was relegated behind Hauritz to fourth bowler on the Australian roster, and after tea was replaced by Hilfenhaus at the Pavilion End.
Ponting judged that particular bowling change well, Hilfenhaus putting Bopara in two minds with a teaser outside off-stumps, and the Essex man’s tentative poke deflected the ball into his stumps.
With the scoreboard reading 60-2, there was a bit of a pressure on the recalled Bell to make an impression – and he did not disappoint on his home ground.
Siddle helped him out with a couple of full tosses that were easily put away, and Bell’s confidence looked in good order as he drove Hauritz over mid-on for the landmark maximum.
Strauss reached his fifty with a back-foot punch off the tiring Hilfenhaus for four and followed up with a lovely straight drive off the same bowler.
Bell was given a major lifeline on 18 when umpire Koertzen, who had already infuriated Australian fans at Lord’s with some of his decision-making, denied Johnson’s concerted lbw appeal.
A few balls later, Bell hit a rasping cover-drive to the boundary to exasperate a much-improved Johnson further. Australia might be glad that Koertzen is not officiating at Headingley or The Oval. </p
This article is from the BBC News website. © British Broadcasting Corporation, The BBC is not responsible for the content of external internet sites.
Ashes: Border says Clark should replace Johnson
July 29th, 2009 |
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Former Australian cricket captain Allan Border says that left-arm fast bowler Mitchell Johnson’’s form has become so poor that he needs to step away from Test cricket for at least a week to rebuild his game.
Border wants experienced seamer Stuart Clark to replace Johnson as the only change in the team for the third Test, [...]
first Test win against Australia at the Lord’s in 75 years
July 20th, 2009 |
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London, Jul 20 (PTI) An inspired England recorded their first Test win against Australia at the Lord’s in 75 years as they pulled off stunning 115-run victory in the second Test and take a 1-0 lead in the Ashes series here today.
Chasing a record 522 for victory, the Australians put up a brave fight with [...]
Flintoff inspires England victory
July 20th, 2009 |
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Second Ashes Test, Lord’s (day five):
England 425 & 311-6 dec beat Australia 215 & 406
Match scorecard
By Oliver Brett
BBC Sport at Lord’s
England took a 1-0 lead in the Ashes series and ended a 75-year wait for a win against Australia at Lord’s as they wrapped up a 115-run win before lunch on the final day of the second Test.
Andrew Flintoff, in his final Test appearance at the famous old ground, defied his injuries to take three of the five wickets England needed in an extraordinary 10-over spell to finish with 3-43 on the day and 5-92 in the innings.
What promised to be a nervy morning for England fans soon became a more pleasant prospect when Flintoff, with a typically inspirational spell of Ashes bowling, picked up a wicket with his fourth ball of the day, the 10th in all.
Flintoff had Brad Haddin, who had survived for more than three hours on Sunday, caught at second slip by Paul Collingwood for 80 and Australia were 313-6, still 209 runs away from completing an all-time record chase in a Test match.
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Mitchell Johnson came in and rode his luck, adding 43 with overnight hero Michael Clarke. He eventually finished with 63, playing some fine shots towards the end, as Australia were bowled out for 406.
But it was Clarke who was the second man to fall in the day, for 136, when he tried an ambitious shot in Graeme Swann’s first over.
By now, even the most pessimistic of England fans was scenting victory. And that mood became even brighter when Nathan Hauritz lasted just five balls before falling to the irrepressible Flintoff, who also dismissed Peter Siddle.
Swann wrapped it all up, flattening Johnson’s middle pole as the left-hander charged him.
As well as being the first Ashes win for England at the home of cricket since 1934, it was also only their second since 1896.
They now move onto the third Test at Edgbaston starting on 30 July with all the initiative, while Australia will surely be forced into changes – with their seam-bowling department sure to come under the microscope.
There was a spectacular, expectant atmosphere at the start. Unusually, all tickets had been pre-sold for the final day of the match, and with the members also turning out in force, only some of the corporate areas looked a little thin.
England started with a ball that was six overs old, and their overnight nerves were settled when Flintoff tested Haddin outside the off-stump and Collingwood held a low, but indisputably clean catch.
Flintoff continued to pose a threat with almost every delivery he bowled. Clarke did not look like a batsman with a century to his name, and by the time Johnson had reached four he had already enjoyed two lucky escapes.
First, he nicked towards slip, the catch not quite carrying, and then an excellent lbw appeal had to be stifled by Rudi Koertzen’s call of no-ball.
James Anderson was not quite the same sort of threat, and after three overs was replaced by Stuart Broad. Johnson edged, but again the ball bounced just before reaching the slip cordon. The resulting single brought Clarke back on strike, and he hit a beautiful off-drive for four.
Anderson kept changing his bowlers at the Nursery End, and after three overs of Broad opted for the spin of Swann.
It proved an inspired move. The off-spinner has developed quite a knack for taking wickets in the first over of a spell, and Clarke – who crucially had been kept quiet by the accurate seamers – felt the need to impose himself.
He skipped down the wicket, yorked himself, and the ball turned to clip off-stump. Soon afterwards, Hauritz compliantly chose to leave a Flintoff delivery that bowled him on the angle before Johnson got lucky again, Swann dropping a sharp caught-and-bowled chance.
Australia were not about to give England any last-minute heartache, however. Flintoff beat the number 10 Siddle for pace, scuttling one into his stumps, leaving Johnson and last man Ben Hilfenhaus needing 134 for the win.
That was never on the cards, and with lunch still 20 minutes away Swann supplied the coup de grace.</p
This article is from the BBC News website. © British Broadcasting Corporation, The BBC is not responsible for the content of external internet sites.
Swann confident of Lord’s victory
July 19th, 2009 |
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Graeme Swann insists England are still favourites to win the second Test against Australia, despite a fine stand between Michael Clarke and Brad Haddin.
The duo guided the tourists to 313-5, 209 runs adrift of the 522 victory target after a superb unbeaten 185-run fifth-wicket partnership at Lord’s.
But Swann said: "They will have to break a world record to beat us.
"We still have a new ball with Andrew Flintoff roaring in at 90mph and James Anderson swinging it at the other end."
After declaring without adding to their overnight total of 311-6, England – who have not beaten Australia in a Test at Lord’s since 1934 – reduced the tourists to 128-5, with Marcus North the final wicket to fall as he misjudged a Swann arm ball.
But vice-captain Clarke found excellent support from Haddin to record his 11th Test century, ending the day 125 not out, with the wicketkeeper unbeaten on 80.
Although no team has ever scored more than 500 chasing a fourth-innings target in Test cricket, Australia coach Tim Nielsen believes his team can create history.
"I think the only reason no team has chased 521 before is because the game usually does not move as fast as this game has," he told BBC Radio 5 Live.
"As far as we were concerned it was absolutely, no question, a catch"
Graeme Swann on Phillip Hughes’ dismissal
"At some stage in the future a team will chase down 500 – I hope it’s us on Monday."
However, Swann believes England’s seamers can utilise the overhead conditions to their advantage as they seek the all-important early breakthrough.
"Our bowlers are going to come charging in and do what has happened with the new ball on most days," said Swann, who finished with figures of 2-62.
"Wickets tend to fall in groups, so if we get one then two will be close behind. It wouldn’t be an Ashes Test if it wasn’t nail-bitingly close."
Three of England’s wickets were tinged with controversy after television replays questioned the legitimacy of the dismissals.
Simon Katich appeared to have been caught off a no-ball from Flintoff, while Andrew Strauss looked to have taken a catch on the bounce at first slip to remove Phillip Hughes.
But Swann defended his captain’s right to claim the catch.
"Straussy said he caught it and I was stood at third slip about two metres away and I saw it go straight in," he said.
"As far as we were concerned it was absolutely, no question, a catch.
"These days the word of the fielder doesn’t stand for much. It’s acceptable if the batsman stands his ground, but the umpire (Billy Doctrove) had a clear sight at square leg and gave it out."
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Swann was also involved in the third controversial wicket when Mike Hussey was caught at slip by Paul Collingwood, although replays suggested there was no contact with the bat when the ball spun sharply in the footmarks.
"It was the sound, deviation and that fact it went to slip – and the sheer excitement of getting one past the bat after Cardiff," said the 30-year-old.
"If it didn’t hit his edge then unlikely to Huss, who is a good mate of mine, I’m sure he didn’t deserve that. But as far as we were concerned it was a legitimate catch."
Nielsen paid tribute to Clarke, whose innings featured 13 boundaries from 198 deliveries.
"Michael talks regularly about if Punter misses out, then he’s the one that has to stand up and lead the batting side of things," he added.
"That’s his 11th Test match hundred, so he’s up into double figures and he was supported very well by Brad.
"He hasn’t played a huge amount of Test cricket but he’s a good thinker of the game and he showed that by playing a nice, positive support role.
"The big challenge will be tomorrow morning to set us up again and if we get started, we have still got a good chance of winning this game."</p
This article is from the BBC News website. © British Broadcasting Corporation, The BBC is not responsible for the content of external internet sites.
Clarke and Haddin hold up England
July 19th, 2009 |
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Second Ashes Test, Lord’s (day four, close):
England 425 & 311-6 dec v Australia 215 & 313-5
Match scorecard
By Oliver Brett
BBC Sport at Lord’s
A superb marathon stand between Michael Clarke and Brad Haddin kept England frustrated as the home side chased victory in the second Ashes Test.
Andrew Strauss’ men seemed poised to go 1-0 up against Australia with a day to spare when Marcus North was bowled by Graeme Swann in the first hour of the afternoon session on Sunday.
At that stage, England needed just five further wickets to win. But Clarke (125 not out) batted for four and a quarter hours and Haddin (80 not out) for more than three.
And when the last 11 overs were lost to bad light, Australia were 313-5, needing another 209 to pull off what would be an extraordinary victory.
Following a short, heavy shower just before the scheduled start, play was delayed by 15 minutes. Strauss declared England’s innings on their overnight 311-6 which left an astronomic target of 522 for Australia to chase down.
Two debatable wickets for Andrew Flintoff in the first 10 overs left Australia in dreadful shape and England confidently scenting further success.
First, Simon Katich felt for a ball he might have ignored outside off stump and edged to Kevin Pietersen, one of two gullys posted. But replays later showed that Flintoff had marginally overstepped the crease – so umpire Rudi Koertzen should have called no-ball.
Phillip Hughes was uncharacteristically dropped by Flintoff at second slip off the immaculate James Anderson, but he failed to make England pay.
Flintoff, in the middle of a furious spell of 2-9 in seven overs, pitched another ball in the perfect area for testing a left-hander’s defences, and the edge travelled low to Strauss at first slip.
Strauss claimed the catch, Hughes lingered at the crease and was told by Ponting to stay where he was. Now, standing umpire Koertzen asked his counterpart at square-leg, Billy Doctrove, whether the edge had carried – and the West Indian said yes it had.
In the circumstances, Koertzen could no longer refer the appeal to the third umpire, though if he had done Jeremy Lloyds would have seen pictures that were inconclusive as to whether the catch was a fair one or not. In such an event, Hughes would have probably been reprieved.
From 34-2, Ponting and Michael Hussey did their best to weather the storm, though neither man ever looked particularly secure. Even when the support seamers, Graham Onions and Stuart Broad, came on, the batsmen were frequently beaten or hit on the pads.
Lunch came with Australia 76-2 from 22 overs, and Ponting departed early in a cold, dank afternoon session. Trying to thump Broad off the back foot through the covers he succeeded only in chopping onto his stumps.
Broad celebrated maniacally, the Lord’s crowd – though slightly depleted by those on late lunches – simultaneously roared its approval and despite the leaden, ominous skies the odds seemed to favour an England win with a day to spare.
That impression only intensified when Hussey and Marcus North both fell to Swann in the space of six overs, though Hussey did not appear to nick the ball that was sharply taken by Paul Collingwood at slip.
North was comprehensively bowled through the gate. Nevertheless, Australia would have been entitled to feel hard done by given that three of their first four dismissals were shrouded in controversy.
The rest of the day belonged entirely to the tourists.
Clarke, who had come in at the fall of Ponting’s wicket, was the only Australian batsman who played with a degree of comfort from the start. Though he was about two inches away from being bowled by Broad’s first ball, he subsequently raced along with some fine drives through the off side.
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Flintoff produced another aggressive spell from the Pavilion End and was unlucky not to remove Haddin in an over in which the Aussie wicketkeeper almost gloved to Matt Prior and then edged through the vacant third slip area.
Clarke’s 58-ball half century finally gave the Australian fans something to cheer about and suddenly England were searching for wickets when before they had fallen into their lap.
By tea, the score was 178-5 and as the final session started both batsmen made patient, serene progress. As England counted down the overs to the second new ball, Swann and Collingwood – neither looking likely to create a breakthrough – were the men entrusted with the bowling.
One ball after Haddin had cut Swann for a single to reach 50, Clarke – whose second 50 had occupied 101 deliveries – flicked the spinner through midwicket for his 11th Test ton.
Finally, as the floodlights flickered into action, the second new ball was taken just before 1800 BST with 18 overs still left in the day.
But there was no immediate reward for Anderson and Flintoff, though a couple of edges off each batsman flew tantalisingly just out of reach.
Monday, which will begin with the new ball only six overs old, will be a tense occasion for both teams. The draw looks out of the equation, but although the odds still favour an England win, nothing will be taken for granted.</p
This article is from the BBC News website. © British Broadcasting Corporation, The BBC is not responsible for the content of external internet sites.
England open up huge Lord’s lead
July 18th, 2009 |
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Second Ashes Test, Lord’s (day three, stumps): England 425 and 311-6 v Australia 215
Match scorecard
By Oliver Brett
BBC Sport at Lord’s
England put themselves in a powerful position after three days of the second Ashes Test at Lord’s as they reached 311-6 in their second innings to lead Australia by 521 runs.
After bowling out Australia for 215, they held a 210-run lead but opted against enforcing the follow-on – and put the tourists’ bowlers to task again.
Following a sterile session between lunch and tea when England added just 73, Matt Prior’s sparkling 61 off just 42 balls turned a turgid innings into a run spree.
The Aussies will need to shatter the previous record for a fourth-innings chase when England declare their innings – an event that will surely come early on day four as the hosts seek to secure the lead in the five-match series.
Most of the damage had been done on Friday, when Australia crashed to 156-8 in reply to England’s 425.
The excellent James Anderson was unable to add to his four-wicket haul, leaving Graham Onions to mop up the tail, which he did after Peter Siddle (35) and Nathan Hauritz (24) had added 44 for the ninth wicket, all but four of those runs coming on Saturday.
Stuart Broad disappointed from the Pavilion End, but two edges fell frustratingly a metre short of Paul Collingwood at third slip when Anderson was bowling.
England’s irritation ended as soon as he was replaced by Onions – a third edge heading in Collingwood’s direction was smoothly held to end Hauritz’s stay at the crease.
Nevertheless, the follow-on was a tantalising 30 runs away when Siddle was joined by last man Ben Hilfenhaus, and three more Siddle boundaries off Broad brought the deficit down even more.
But it was Onions’ morning. He intelligently probed away in the channel outside off-stump and finally, in his third over, picked up the last wicket when Siddle sliced a drive to Andrew Strauss at first slip.
Strauss now had to decide whether to let his bowlers loose again, or strap on his pads. He made the more cautious choice of batting and that immediately took the tension out of the game.
In some of the most placid conditions of the match, Strauss and Alastair Cook laid into Mitchell Johnson, whose three dreadful overs were hit for 17 – and we did not see him again until the final hour of the second session.
Hilfenhaus was more accurate, but Cook had the confidence to go after him with some bold off-drives and at lunch England had rattled up 57-0 to lead by 267.
Hauritz bowled a terrific spell after lunch, however, to remove both of England’s openers for 32. Cook, playing around his front pad, was lbw for the third time in succession and Strauss nicked a lovely off-break to slip.
Reckoning his spinner would be less effective against the right-handers, Ponting now teamed Siddle and Hilfenhaus together and could have had England four down for under 100.
But when Kevin Pietersen, on 20, went walkabout following a big lbw appeal off Hilfenhaus, Ponting himself – from second slip – missed a golden opportunity to run him out, rushing his shy at the stumps.
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Tastytunes
Then Ravi Bopara, having made just nine, saw Ponting drop his edge off Siddle – the easiest slip catch imaginable – and the crowd guffawed at the error in a way that Lord’s crowds of previous vintages would never have done.
But as Bopara and Ponting searched for form, the run-scoring dried up, and there was a fallow period of 11 overs without a boundary before Pietersen square-cut the tiring Hilfenhaus to the cover-point fence.
Bopara now played a horrid pull off Johnson, in the last over before tea, that almost carried to Hauritz at mid-on. The fielder claimed a catch, but it did not look a clean one to the naked eye and the decision was referred before the appeal was rightly rejected.
Ponting and Pietersen had a friendly discussion about the incident and soon afterwards the players took tea, with England on 130-2, leading by a very healthy 340, despite some very scratchy form shown by the two batsmen at the crease.
Early in the long final session, Bopara cover-drove Hauritz sweetly for four, but in the spinner’s next over he was surprised by a slower, straighter delivery and pushed the ball meekly to short-leg. He had made 27 from 93 balls, with just 13 scoring shots.
Pietersen now tried to impose himself, driving Siddle for two boundaries, but his painful 101-ball innings was ended on 44 when an inside-edge off the same bowler was caught by wicketkeeper Brad Haddin.
England’s number four had looked badly hampered by his Achilles problem, and a number of runs went begging because he was struggling to run between wickets.
But any danger that Australia might end up with an attractive target vanished when Collingwood and Prior added 86 from 73 balls.
Hitting plenty of boundaries, they also scampered twos, threes and an all-run four, the scoring rate rapidly improved.
Prior was particularly impressive, with some booming drives off the seamers and some sweeps off Hauritz that were timed and placed to perfection.
He fairly raced to his half-century and was unlucky to get out when he did, a victim of a brilliant bit of fielding from Marcus North, who ran him out with a direct hit from the deep.
Flintoff sauntered out to play his final Test innings at Lord’s and was given a rapturous welcome. With no pressure on him at all, he smacked the bowling about merrily, adding 51 off 48 balls with Collingwood until Siddle took Australia’s sixth wicket.
But just moments after Collingwood had edged to Haddin, the rain came down and the final 10.4 overs of the day went unbowled, with Flintoff unbeaten on 30.</p
This article is from the BBC News website. © British Broadcasting Corporation, The BBC is not responsible for the content of external internet sites.
Harmison called in to cover Flintoff
July 13th, 2009 |
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• Harmison comes in amid concerns over Flintoff’s knee
• Monty Panesar remains in 14-man squad for Lord’s Test
England have made one change ahead of the second Ashes Test against Australia, with pace bowler Steve Harmison coming in to a 14-man squad. He is to provide cover for Andrew Flintoff, who injured his knee in Cardiff.
Monty Panesar, whose heroics with the bat drew attention away from figures of one for 115 on a spinner’s wicket, retains his place in the squad, as do Ian Bell and Graham Onions, both discarded for the first Test.
“We have added Stephen Harmison to our squad for the next Test match as Andrew Flintoff injured his right knee at Cardiff and will undergo a precautionary scan later today,” said national selector Geoff Miller.
“Andrew is experiencing soreness and swelling in the knee which he twisted while in the field and he will be reassessed by the medical staff over the next 48 hours leading up to the Test match on Thursday.
“In the event of Andrew being unfit, we see Stephen as a like for like replacement in terms of the type of bowler he is and his ability to unsettle the opposition batsmen with pace and bounce.
“But we will need to consider all our options carefully when we come to determine the make-up of our bowling attack at Lord’s and the final decision will depend on our assessment of the pitch and the likely overhead conditions.”
Squad for the second Test
Andrew Strauss (capt), Middlesex; James Anderson, Lancashire; Ian Bell, Warwickshire; Ravi Bopara, Essex; Stuart Broad, Nottinghamshire; Paul Collingwood, Durham; Alastair Cook, Essex; Andrew Flintoff, Lancashire; Stephen Harmison, Durham; Graham Onions, Durham; Monty Panesar, Northamptonshire; Kevin Pietersen, Hampshire; Matt Prior, Sussex; Graeme Swann, Nottinghamshire
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Sporting dilemma
July 13th, 2009 |
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By Jo-Anne Rowney
BBC News Magazine
The Australians have criticised the England cricket team for unsporting delaying tactics on the last day of the first Ashes test. But what’s the difference between cunning gamesmanship and cheating
In the closing minutes of the test, England sent "12th man" Bilal Shafayat on to the pitch to give batsman James Anderson new gloves, with the team physio also sauntering on.
Australian Captain Ricky Ponting and a number of pundits have been critical, but sport has always been rife with time-wasting techniques and attempts to unsettle the opponent.
TIME WASTING
There are occasions, when competitors are ahead and they just need the whistle to go. Footballers have regularly kept the ball in an opposition corner to delay the game. It’s within the rules, but it often angers opposition and fans.
Time wasting is also common in the ring. Sometimes fighters are hurt and just need to eat up the time left in the round so they can get back to their corner and recuperate. The shouts of "box, box" are often heard as boxers cling to each other – drawing out a round and minimising opportunities to hit.
As well as genuine efforts to use up time, sometimes delaying tactics are a psychological weapon.
TIME WASTING AS PSYCHOLOGICAL ATTACK
You’ve had a ball called out – you know it was definitely in. You’re a set down and just dropped a service game. You’re in trouble, big trouble. But how can you turn this around
It’s time for a toilet break.
"Skill in winning games, esp. by means that barely qualify as legitimate"
OED definition of ‘gamesmanship’
It’s a thought that’s run through many tennis players minds. Not only does it allow you time to think in the comfort of the toilet, but also puts your opponent off the boil. It leaves the adversary stiffening up, their temper fraying.
Jimmy Connors stands accused of beginning the leak legacy. In his match against Ivan Lendl in the 1983 US Open final, Connors suddenly sprinted off the court – leaving Lendl in the 100 degree heat for several minutes. Lendl protested, but Connors went on to win the match.
"Our attention wanders all of the time, taking our focus off a task," says Dr Richard Cox, consultant to the British Institute of Sports. "Any delaying technique is used to deflect attention. This is even easier to do in a sporting event. It may be a temporary break, but that’s enough."
Also in the tennis arena, some of Greg Rusedski’s mannerisms raised an occasional eyebrow. One quirk was the wrapping of the grip. Carefully wrapping the handle’s grip back into place he could easily waste a few seconds. Then he might retie his shoelaces.
Rusedski was also noticeable for the frequency with which he towelled off between points.
"He is getting the opponent’s attention," says Dr Cox. "Their mind can be shifted at any one moment, as we only ever focus on one thing, he’s making sure that’s not the game.
"If you were to freeze your brain you’d see we have one focus at any given moment, whether an image or sound, or a comment."
And of course, whatever the actions until there’s a way to read a sportsman’s mind no-one can prove that Connors’s toilet visit and Rusedski’s towelling weren’t entirely innocent.
DIRECT DISTRACTION
There are the direct attempts to put the opposition off. Liverpool goalkeeper Bruce Grobbelaar is infamous for his wobbly knees during the 1984 European cup final penalty shoot-out against Roma. As Francesco Graziani prepared to take the kick, Grobbelaar wobbled his knees in mocking terror. The unnerved Italian missed, and the cup was packed off to Anfield.
For optimum focus the player needs to be emotionally balanced, keenly centred on the game. In cricket this may prove hard when handing over the bat. Steve Waugh, the former Australian Captain, used to talk openly about planning the "mental disintegration" of his opponents, a practice known as sledging.
Sledging – low abuse – is a well known attempt to unsettle the rival team. On one occasion fiery fast bowler Merv Hughes decided to give advice after England’s Graham Thorpe had played and missed several deliveries in a row. "Read the back of your bat mate, it’s got instructions on it," he said.
Effective sledging seeks to undermine confidence, says Dr Cox.
"Sledging is designed to deflect concentration and attention. Morality and ethics seldom come into play with psychological warfare. It’s childishness.
"The player’s powers of analysis, which are so important to the game, are impaired – emotional balance changes with anger, the adrenaline rushes into your system, and your focus changes. It doesn’t pay to become emotional."
OUTRIGHT UNDERHANDEDNESS
Underhand tactics are an everyday occurrence in football. Many players fall to the ground, feigning injury, after a the gentlest of touches.
But cricket also has its sneaky tactics. In February 1981 New Zealand needed six runs to tie the match from the final ball. The Australian captain, Greg Chappell, ordered the bowler, his brother Trevor Chappell, to bowl underarm. He rolled the ball along the ground to avoid the chance of a six.
It was described as "the most disgusting incident I can recall in the history of cricket" by the then prime minister of New Zealand, Rob Muldoon. He said: "It was an act of cowardice and I consider it appropriate that the Australian team were wearing yellow."
But however much outrage follows any act of gamesmanship, there are always a host of sportsmen who would have done the same thing.
Send us your comments using the form below.
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England tactics frustrate Ponting
July 12th, 2009 |
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Australia captain Ricky Ponting criticised England’s delaying tactics after the hosts clung on for a draw in a thrilling end to the first Test.
England sent their 12th man and physio on to the field in the closing stages in an apparent attempt to waste time.
"I don’t think that was required," said Ponting. "I am not sure what the physio was doing out there – I didn’t see him call for any physio.
"I’m sure others will take it up with the England hierarchy as they should."
With Australia running out of time to claim their final wicket, England sent 12th man Bilal Shafayat down to the playing area to give batsman James Anderson some new gloves.
When he returned with England physio Steve McCaig after the next over they were swiftly ushered off by some angry Australian players.
"He had changed his gloves the over before and his glove is not going to be too sweaty in one over," added Ponting. "But it’s not the reason we didn’t win.
"There would have been a bit of celebrating and jumping up and down in the England room, I’m sure"
Aussie skipper Ricky Ponting
"They can play whatever way they want to play. We have come to play by the rules and the spirit of the game and it is up to them to do what they want to do."
Asked about Ponting’s comments, England captain Andrew Strauss stated: "There was a lot of confusion. We firstly sent the 12th man out to let Jimmy and Monty Panesar know there was time left and not just the overs.
"Then drinks spilt on his glove and Jimmy called up to the dressing room and we weren’t sure whether we needed the 12th man or the physio.
"Our intentions were good so we weren’t deliberately trying to waste a huge amount of time.
"That wasn’t our tactics, those two were playing pretty well so the reality of the situation is Australia didn’t take that final wicket and we got away with a draw.
"I personally thought the game was played in a pretty good spirit the whole way through.
"I didn’t feel there were lines crossed and I think we’d all like it to stay that way."
Ponting admitted his man-of-the-match award, for hitting 150, meant little after his side were held to a draw in a thrilling finale.
"I’d give it back straight away for one more wicket and 20 less runs!" he said.
"We haven’t really done anything wrong and we’ve got a lot to take out of this game. I’m disappointed we didn’t win, I thought we played well enough.
"There are four Tests to go in the series and we will have to play at this level if we want to win."
When Paul Collingwood’s heroic 74 came to an end, there were still more than 40 minutes of the match remaining for England’s final pair of Anderson and Panesar to negotiate.
606: DEBATE"England had a ‘mare and Australia played out of their skins, and yet it was still a draw. "
Moutarde
Ponting offered no excuses and commented: "Our bowlers tried valiantly, right through the game there wasn’t much assistance in the wicket. Everyone tried their hardest but we just came up a little bit short.
"You’ve got to give England some credit for hanging in there and Paul Collingwood for the way he played.
"Losing the toss, it was always going to be really hard to win with the wicket the way it was but we did everything we needed to do to give ourselves a chance and unfortunately we were just that little bit short."
The Australia captain conceded the visiting dressing room was fairly sombre after the match but stressed that the tourists would come back strongly for the second Test at Lord’s on Thursday.
"It’s pretty quiet at the moment and there would have been a bit of celebrating and jumping up and down in the England room, I’m sure," he admitted.
"A lot of our boys will be disappointed for half an hour after the game and then we can reflect and talk about a lot of the good things that we did.
"That’s the important thing, we did so many things really well in this game and we’ve got to take the confidence from that down to Lord’s and make sure we start there on the same note."</p
This article is from the BBC News website. © British Broadcasting Corporation, The BBC is not responsible for the content of external internet sites.
Defiant England cling on for draw
July 12th, 2009 |
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First Ashes Test, Cardiff (day five:
England 435 & 252-9 drew with Australia 674-6 declared
Match scorecard
By Oliver Brett
England’s last-wicket pair James Anderson and Monty Panesar defied Australia for 40 minutes to clinch a draw in the first Ashes Test.
Amid scenes of high tension in Cardiff, and with every dot ball roared by a capacity crowd, England somehow kept Australia’s spinners at bay.
Paul Collingwood hit a valiant 74 after England, 20-2 overnight, had lost three further wickets inside 90 minutes.
Australia seemed certain winners then, but somehow England clung on.
Collingwood’s innings lasted 245 balls, five and three quarter hours in all. It was an innings of grisly determination, which put the efforts of other players in the top order sharply into perspective.
But with 50 minutes to go in the match, and England still a tantalising six runs away from making Australia bat again, the Durham man played probably his first slightly risky shot.
Attempting to steer Siddle wide of point he instead hit it high to backward point, where Michael Hussey parried a catch above his head, before taking it – agonisingly – at the second opportunity.
It seemed now, with Panesar coming out to join Anderson, that England would lose in heart-breaking fashion. But the last man refused to be an easy target, and when Anderson squirted Siddle down to third man for four, England had a precious lead.
Significantly, that meant England did not have to bat until the 1850 BST cut-off. They just had to get past 1840, which meant facing around three overs fewer.
Australia captain Ricky Ponting, who seemed to underbowl his hugely impressive swing bowler Ben Hilfenhaus, gave the final few overs to the two off-spinners Nathan Hauritz and Marcus North.
But Hauritz, though he had bowled brilliantly earlier in the day, taking three significant wickets, was by now tired and North was not a danger to two vastly improved tail-enders.
When the clock ticked past 1840 BST, it was clear that Hauritz was bowling the last over. Anderson survived his 53rd delivery – Panesar had hung around for 35 – and the ground roared as one to salute a famous result.
More to follow.</p
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England must dig deep – Anderson
July 10th, 2009 |
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James Anderson says England must polish off Australia’s lower order and then produce a strong second innings batting performance on day four in Cardiff.
Day three of the first Ashes Test finished with Australia 44 runs ahead on 479-5.
"It was tough for us but at least I managed to get a couple of wickets," said Lancashire paceman Anderson.
"We haven’t bowled consistently well enough in this game and we need to be quite aggressive in the morning."
The weather could have quite a say in the match on Saturday, with rain forecast.
On Friday, England took no wickets between lunch and tea as Michael Clarke and Marcus North virtually batted the home side out of contention.
But Clarke was among those to describe the pitch as a good one for batsmen.
"The wicket’s nice and very good to bat on," said the Australian, who fell late in the day for 83, becoming the first dismissal under floodlights in Test cricket in Britain.
TOM FORDYCE BLOG
"Hopefully the rain can stay away on Saturday and we can go on and get a good lead. If we can get a bit of sunshine, with no rain, then come day five the wicket might really turn for us.
"Hopefully we can make England bat last on that wicket."
Anderson said he felt an improvement in his own performance.
"I bowled a lot better this morning. On Thursday I didn’t hit my straps and didn’t have much rhythm. But all credit to them, they played very well in the middle session and made it very difficult for us to bowl at them.
"But we know what to do in the morning. It’s still a good pitch, the guys have all got in in the first innings, the pace is quite slow and hopefully we can put a big score on."
This article is from the BBC News website. © British Broadcasting Corporation, The BBC is not responsible for the content of external internet sites.