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ICC T20 WC - FIXTURE

Posted by DK



ICC World Twenty20, 2010

The
ICC World Twenty20 2010 is a 20/20 cricket
tournament scheduled to take place in West Indies in April-May 2010. It
will be the third World Twenty20 cricket series. The ICC World Twenty20
2010 will be contested by 12 teams which have been 'seeded' and divided
into four groups are A, B, C and D.

Group A - Pakistan (A1), Bangladesh (A2)
and Australia
Group B - Sri Lanka (B1), New Zealand
(B2) and Zimbabwe
Group C - South Africa (C1), India (C2)
and Afghanistan
Group D - West Indies (D1), England (D2)
and
Ireland




Apr-2010
Fri 30
17:00 GMT, 13:00 local		 1st Match, Group B - Sri Lanka v New
Zealand
Providence
Stadium, Guyana
Fri 30 Day/Night
21:00
GMT, 17:00 local		 2nd Match, Group D - West Indies v
Ireland
Providence
Stadium, Guyana
May-2010
Sat 01
13:30 GMT, 09:30 local		 3rd Match, Group C - India v Afghanistan
Beausejour Cricket
Ground, St. Lucia
Sat 01
17:30 GMT, 13:30 local		 4th Match, Group A - Pakistan v
Bangladesh
Beausejour Cricket
Ground, St. Lucia
Sun 02
13:30 GMT, 09:30 local		 5th Match, Group C - India v South Africa
Beausejour Cricket
Ground, St. Lucia
Sun 02
17:30 GMT, 13:30 local		 6th Match, Group A - Pakistan v Australia
Beausejour Cricket
Ground, St. Lucia
Mon 03
13:30 GMT, 09:30 local		 7th Match, Group B - Zimbabwe v Sri Lanka
Providence
Stadium, Guyana
Mon 03
17:30 GMT, 13:30 local		 8th Match, Group D - West Indies v
England
Providence
Stadium, Guyana
Tue 04
13:30 GMT, 09:30 local		 9th Match, Group B - New Zealand v
Zimbabwe
Providence
Stadium, Guyana
Tue 04
17:30 GMT, 13:30 local		 10th Match, Group D - England v Ireland
Providence
Stadium, Guyana
Wed 05
13:30 GMT, 09:30 local		 11th Match, Group A - Australia v
Bangladesh
Kensington
Oval, Barbados
Wed 05
17:30 GMT, 13:30 local		 11th Match, Group C - South Africa v
Afghanistan
Kensington
Oval, Barbados
Thu 06
13:30 GMT, 09:30 local		 13th Match - A1 v D2
Kensington
Oval, Barbados
Thu 06
17:30 GMT, 13:30 local		 14th Match - C1 v B2
Kensington
Oval, Barbados
Fri 07
13:30 GMT, 09:30 local		 15th Match - A2 v C2
Kensington
Oval, Barbados
Fri 07
17:30 GMT, 13:30 local		 16th Match - B1 v D1
Kensington
Oval, Barbados
Sat 08
13:30 GMT, 09:30 local		 17th Match - C1 v D2
Kensington
Oval, Barbados
Sat 08
17:30 GMT, 13:30 local		 18th Match - A1 v B2
Kensington
Oval, Barbados
Sun 09
13:30 GMT, 09:30 local		 19th Match - C2 v D1
Kensington
Oval, Barbados
Sun 09
17:30 GMT, 13:30 local		 20th Match - B1 v A2
Kensington
Oval, Barbados
Mon 10
13:30 GMT, 09:30 local		 21st Match - B2 v D2
Beausejour Cricket
Ground, St. Lucia
Mon 10
17:30 GMT, 13:30 local		 22nd Match - A1 v C1
Beausejour Cricket
Ground, St. Lucia
Tue 11
17:00 GMT, 13:00 local		 23rd Match - B1 v C2
Beausejour Cricket
Ground, St. Lucia
Tue 11 Day/Night
21:00
GMT, 17:00 local		 24th Match - D1 v A2
Beausejour Cricket
Ground, St. Lucia
Thu 13
15:30 GMT, 11:30 local		 1st Semi-Final - TBC v TBC
Beausejour Cricket
Ground, St. Lucia
Fri 14
15:30 GMT, 11:30 local		 2nd Semi-Final - TBC v TBC
Beausejour Cricket
Ground, St. Lucia
Sun 16
15:30 GMT, 11:30 local		 The Final - TBC v TBC
Kensington
Oval, Barbados

Monday, April 26, 2010
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IPL 3 - Schedule

Posted by DK

IPL 3 - Schedule

IPL 3 - Schedule                                                          

Wednesday, February 3, 2010
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'Forget the glory days' - Gibson

Posted by DK

Ottis Gibson has admitted that the prospect of guiding the fortunes of West Indies cricket in his new role as WICB head coach was too great a temptation to resist, although he has warned that the fixation with the Caribbean's "glory days" will have to end if the planned reinvestment in grass-roots cricket is to pay dividends.
Gibson, 40, was this week persuaded to relinquish his role as England's bowling coach, which he has held since 2007, and take up an ambitious new coaching position at the WICB, in which he will be responsible for all representative sides, from age-group level right up to the Test team. With that in mind, he begins his stint at an opportune time, following an impressive showing from the West Indies Under-19 team, who finished a creditable third in the recent World Cup in New Zealand.
"It's obviously an exciting new time for me," Gibson told BBC Sport. "Things were going well with England, but the call to come back and try to do my part to resurrect West Indies cricket was one I couldn't say no to.
"Grass-roots cricket is going to be the biggest challenge over the next couple of years," he added. "We'll be spending time and resources there, because the most important thing in sport is youth, and what's coming up behind the players who are there now. We need to put time, money and effort into those guys."
The senior West Indies team is currently in Australia preparing for their one-day series, with Gibson set to take charge for their home series against Zimbabwe next month. Despite the recent upsurge in the team's fortunes, following a spirited display in their 2-0 Test defeat against Australia before Christmas, Gibson still feels that the ghosts of West Indies' glory days of the 1980s and early 90s are undermining their ambitions.
"There's going to be a lot of challenges, the first of which will be getting the team to play as a team and forget about the glory days," he said. "A lot's been made about that, and the young players have a lot to live up to, and that can sometimes be a bit of a burden. They need to forget about history, and think about the here-and-now."

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Peter Siddle out for the season with back injury

Posted by DK

Peter Siddle has been ruled out of Australia's tour of New Zealand in March with a stress fracture of the back. The injury is a major blow to Australia, who are already missing several fast men including Ben Hilfenhaus (knee), Brett Lee (elbow) and Stuart Clark (back) from the Test ranks.

Siddle battled back soreness during the one-day series against Pakistan and missed the match in Adelaide, but returned a few days later to play in Perth. However, the problem was revealed after the final ODI and he will be out of action for the rest of the Australian summer.
"Peter experienced back pain during the Commonwealth Bank Series," Australia's physiotherapist Alex Kountouris said. "The source of the pain was investigated after the fifth ODI and unfortunately scans revealed that he has a lower back stress fracture. The nature of this injury means that Peter will require a long rehabilitation period and as such he'll be unavailable for the remainder of the domestic summer and the tour of New Zealand."
There is a possibility Hilfenhaus will also miss the New Zealand tour, which would create a major test of Australia's fast-bowling depth with Mitchell Johnson and Doug Bollinger the only two frontline Test fast men currently fit. Clint McKay and Ryan Harris, who have starred in the one-day series against Pakistan, would be the likely contenders to join Bollinger and Johnson in the attack for the two-Test tour of New Zealand in late March.
Brett Geeves, who was a cover player for Siddle during the Perth Test, was also on Wednesday ruled out for the season with a stress fracture of the back. Siddle's ongoing injury problems are a concern for Australia - he has battled foot injuries over the past year and had several shoulder reconstructions before making his Australia debut.
"Lots of fast bowlers seem to get them [back stress fractures] at certain stages throughout their career, there's probably not many that don't," Siddle's Victoria and Australia team-mate Cameron White said. "They've been getting them for years.
"It's not a career-threatening injury or anything like that. Brett Lee has had stress fractures numerous times, I think, and other bowlers have come back from them really strongly. Pete is one of those guys who does everything right and I'm sure he'll get right and be back in no time."

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Allan Donald declares interest in becoming England bowling coach....

Posted by DK

Allan Donald, left, works with Steve Harmison during his brief spell as England bowling coach. 

Photograph: Nigel Roddis/Reuters


Allan Donald has declared his interest in becoming England's next fast
bowling coach. The former South Africa international has been widely
tipped to fill the post vacated by Ottis Gibson..., who was appointed West
Indies head coach yesterday. Donald had a brief spell in the role
three years ago but while he felt unable to commit long term for
personal reasons back then, he now claims to be ready.

"In 2007 I really enjoyed the four months I spent with the England cricket team, I learnt a lot," said the 43-year-old. "It is an environment I really enjoyed being in, working with elite cricketers."I'd
be silly to not consider the position. I will obviously think it over
but it is a great challenge for any coach. If I did make contact with
the ECB at some stage I'm sure that I would be throwing my name in the
hat, absolutely."In 2007 my little boy went through a very tough
time and I had to abort that.

It would have been very foolish of me to
go touring around the world when he was struggling at school and having
health problems. At the moment everything is fine and I think I am just
about ready to get back into it full time."Another previous
incumbent, Kevin Shine, who still works at the ECB at developmental
level, has also been linked with a return to the post.Former
England seamers Darren Gough, Phil DeFreitas and Steve Watkin have been
mentioned too, along with ex-South Africa captain Shaun Pollock and the
highly-regarded one-time Essex player Ian Pont.Donald feels
whoever gets the job will get the chance to work with some fine
players. "You can see Ottis has been working very hard.

He has got a
lot of discipline and toughness amongst these guys," he added. "[James]
Anderson has become a quality bowler, so has [Stuart] Broad."But
not only the bowling unit, the team itself is becoming a solid one. I
think there is no doubt they are destined for some big stuff to come."

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VOTE 4 PRESIDENTIAL ELECTION

Posted by DK

Monday, December 21, 2009
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Champions Trophy 2009

Posted by DK

Sep-2009
Tue 22 Day/Night
12:30 GMT, 14:30 local		 1st Match, Group B - South Africa v Sri Lanka
SuperSport Park, Centurion

Wed 23 Day/Night
12:30 GMT, 14:30 local		 2nd Match, Group A - Pakistan v West Indies
New Wanderers Stadium, Johannesburg

Thu 24
07:30 GMT, 09:30 local		 3rd Match, Group B - South Africa v New Zealand
SuperSport Park, Centurion

Fri 25 Day/Night
12:30 GMT, 14:30 local		 4th Match, Group B - England v Sri Lanka
New Wanderers Stadium, Johannesburg

Sat 26
07:30 GMT, 09:30 local		 5th Match, Group A - Australia v West Indies
New Wanderers Stadium, Johannesburg

Sat 26 Day/Night
12:30 GMT, 14:30 local		 6th Match, Group A - India v Pakistan
SuperSport Park, Centurion

Sun 27
07:30 GMT, 09:30 local		 7th Match, Group B - New Zealand v Sri Lanka
New Wanderers Stadium, Johannesburg

Sun 27 Day/Night
12:30 GMT, 14:30 local		 8th Match, Group B - South Africa v England
SuperSport Park, Centurion

Mon 28 Day/Night
12:30 GMT, 14:30 local		 9th Match, Group A - India v Australia
SuperSport Park, Centurion

Tue 29 Day/Night
12:30 GMT, 14:30 local		 10th Match, Group B - England v New Zealand
New Wanderers Stadium, Johannesburg

Wed 30
07:30 GMT, 09:30 local		 11th Match, Group A - Pakistan v Australia
SuperSport Park, Centurion

Wed 30 Day/Night
12:30 GMT, 14:30 local		 12th Match, Group A - India v West Indies
New Wanderers Stadium, Johannesburg
Oct-2009
Fri 02 Day/Night
12:30 GMT, 14:30 local		 1st Semi-Final - A1 v B2
SuperSport Park, Centurion

Sat 03 Day/Night
12:30 GMT, 14:30 local		 2nd Semi-Final - B1 v A2
New Wanderers Stadium, Johannesburg

Mon 05 Day/Night
12:30 GMT, 14:30 local		 Final - TBC v TBC
SuperSport Park, Centurion



Probables NEW ZEALAND Squad: Daniel Vettori (c), Brent Arnel, Shane Bond, Neil Broom, Ian Butler, Craig Cumming, Brendon Diamanti, Grant Elliott, James Franklin, Peter Fulton, Martin Guptill, Gareth Hopkins, Jamie How, Peter Ingram, Brendon McCullum (wk), Nathan McCullum, Peter McGlashan (wk), James Marshall, Chris Martin, Kyle Mills, Iain O'Brien, Jacob Oram, Jeetan Patel, Aaron Redmond, Jesse Ryder, Shanan Stewart, Tim Southee, Scott Styris, Ross Taylor, Daryl Tuffey.

Thursday, August 20, 2009
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Umar and Younis lift Pakistan to 321

Posted by DK

Pakistan 321 for 5 (Umar 102*, Younis 89, Kamran 57) v Sri Lanka
Live scorecard and ball-by-ball details
How they were out


Younis Khan slashes the ball past point, Sri Lanka v Pakistan, 4th ODI, R Premadasa Stadium, Colombo, August 7, 2009
Younis Khan's return to form coincided with Pakistan posting a large total © AFP

You can argue the pressure of winning the series wasn't there, but maiden ODI centuries don't come cleaner than this. Walking to the crease with Pakistan 130 for 4, with a struggling captain searching for a partner and only Shahid Afridi to follow, young Umar Akmal took the opportunity to prove that not all is not as is made to believe about Pakistan's domestic set-up with an amazing 72-ball 102.

Batting wasn't easy early on a slow surface and Sri Lanka's spinners had done struck thrice in succession to leave Pakistan struggling. Umar's effervescence complimented Younis Khan's first half-century as Pakistan captain and their 176-run stand paved the way for a competitive 321 in the first of three fixtures at the Premadasa.

Where Imran Nazir, Mohammad Yousuf and Misbah-ul-Haq struggled against a combination of tidy bowling and a slow track, Umar appeared comfortable from the get-go. He showed he wasn't going to get bogged down, swinging his seventh delivery - from Ajantha Mendis, no less - over long-on for a six and flicked almost effortlessly. Finding the narrowest of gaps in the field and always sprinting hard between the wickets, he began rebuilding.

His was a sensible approach, poaching the odd boundary and turning ones into twos while also dominating the perceived weaker bowlers. Thilina Kandamby's part-time legspin was dumped with ferocity for six by Umar, twinkle-toed and sure of placement. There was also the delicate; the first four in 22 overs came when a confident Umar dabbed Angelo Mathews past a leaping Kumar Sangakkara.

Credit is due to the man at the other end. Younis' innings contained crisp drives and wristy flicks and stolen runs but most importantly it was an effort that allowed Umar to flourish. Around his captain, Umar could play his own game and Pakistan didn't feel the pinch.

Pakistan had been hurt in the series by Younis' indifferent form. Today they realised just what a difference runs from him can mean. Importantly, he quickly assessed conditions and played with a welcome smoothness. Younis' innings was controlled, he ran hard between the wickets, and Pakistan's run-rate lifted to nearly five-and-a-half an over. With Umar rattling along Younis too changed his game. Soon defence turned to single hunting, gliding and efficiently flicking in the gaps.

Umar's half-century came up from 46 balls, after which he upped his strike-rate. Always keen to get back and across and then mow the ball over the on-side, he took consecutive fours off Mendis and then clubbed Lasith Malinga for 13 in the 46th over. Another effortless six off Malinga followed in the 48th over, the back leg once more lifted to gain power. This was unadulterated hitting, each shot played with utmost confidence.

Younis departed for 89 in the 49th over trying to get six but Umar reached three figures with two balls to spare. He clipped the ball to deep square leg, ran two, then got two more as Sangakkara's throw was not backed up. Instantly his face - up till now all furrowed brow and gritted teeth - erupted in cherubic celebration as the Pakistan team stood to applaud a brilliant effort.

This partnership was in contrast to the way Imran Nazir and Kamran Akmal were made to work hard against an accurate new-ball pair on a track on which the ball regularly stopped before reaching the batsmen. Nazir, clearly looking rusty after nearly two seasons out of the side, was reprieved by the umpires on 7 and 19 before he missed a high full toss. There were just two well-timed boundaries in the first six overs, with the majority of runs coming through inside-edges and miscues. . Once Kamran realised the track wasn't conducive to reaching out for the ball, he held back and punched the ball off the back foot. A few spanked off-side boundaries later he appeared in the groove and his feet were moving well. But while trying to sweep Malinga Bandara without covering the stumps, Kamran was bowled around the legs for 57. And just when the situation demanded a cautious approach, Yousuf reached out and edged Mendis to Mahela Jayawardene at first slip. Pakistan were 115 for 3, which became 130 for 4 when Bandara had Misbah lbw trying to nudge to leg.

Luckily for them Umar and Younis were in a different zone.

Friday, August 7, 2009
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Champions Trophy 2009

Posted by DK

Sep-2009
Tue 22 Day/Night
12:30 GMT, 14:30 local		 1st Match, Group B - South Africa v Sri Lanka
SuperSport Park, Centurion

Wed 23 Day/Night
12:30 GMT, 14:30 local		 2nd Match, Group A - Pakistan v West Indies
New Wanderers Stadium, Johannesburg

Thu 24
07:30 GMT, 09:30 local		 3rd Match, Group B - South Africa v New Zealand
SuperSport Park, Centurion

Fri 25 Day/Night
12:30 GMT, 14:30 local		 4th Match, Group B - England v Sri Lanka
New Wanderers Stadium, Johannesburg

Sat 26
07:30 GMT, 09:30 local		 5th Match, Group A - Australia v West Indies
New Wanderers Stadium, Johannesburg

Sat 26 Day/Night
12:30 GMT, 14:30 local		 6th Match, Group A - India v Pakistan
SuperSport Park, Centurion

Sun 27
07:30 GMT, 09:30 local		 7th Match, Group B - New Zealand v Sri Lanka
New Wanderers Stadium, Johannesburg

Sun 27 Day/Night
12:30 GMT, 14:30 local		 8th Match, Group B - South Africa v England
SuperSport Park, Centurion

Mon 28 Day/Night
12:30 GMT, 14:30 local		 9th Match, Group A - India v Australia
SuperSport Park, Centurion

Tue 29 Day/Night
12:30 GMT, 14:30 local		 10th Match, Group B - England v New Zealand
New Wanderers Stadium, Johannesburg

Wed 30
07:30 GMT, 09:30 local		 11th Match, Group A - Pakistan v Australia
SuperSport Park, Centurion

Wed 30 Day/Night
12:30 GMT, 14:30 local		 12th Match, Group A - India v West Indies
New Wanderers Stadium, Johannesburg
Oct-2009
Fri 02 Day/Night
12:30 GMT, 14:30 local		 1st Semi-Final - A1 v B2
SuperSport Park, Centurion

Sat 03 Day/Night
12:30 GMT, 14:30 local		 2nd Semi-Final - B1 v A2
New Wanderers Stadium, Johannesburg

Mon 05 Day/Night
12:30 GMT, 14:30 local		 Final - TBC v TBC
SuperSport Park, Centurion

Wednesday, August 5, 2009
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Dilshan's injury

Posted by DK


Dilshan's injury, sustained while keeping, raised eyebrows, but he could easily have been injured while fielding elsewhere

Having Dilshan keep could come in for criticism because he fractured a finger during the third Test. It's always going to be a tough one. Injuries can happen to anybody anywhere. Murali injured his knee during fielding practice. You can't just say, "Why was he fielding?" Dilshan could have fractured his finger fielding at point too. You have to sometimes make these decisions, and our captain made this one for the good of the team.

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Domestic setup is flawed - Younis Pakistan in Sri Lanka 2009

Posted by DK

Pakistan captain Younis Khan has rejected claims that 'groupism' within the team has led to below-par performance during the ongoing tour of Sri Lanka. Instead, the poor structure back home is to blame, Younis said. "The problem with Pakistan cricket is that our domestic structure is flawed," he said. Younis Khan walks back after a 73-ball 23, Sri Lanka v Pakistan, 2nd ODI, Dambulla, August 1, 2009

Younis Khan: "The players produced have flawed techniques. They only manage to overcome it once they start playing for the national team."

The visitors lost the three-Test series 0-2 and surrendered the ODI series with a six-wicket defeat - their third consecutive loss in the five-match series - yesterday in Dambulla. "The players produced have flawed techniques," Younis said. "They only manage to overcome it once they start playing for the national team."

Younis said that he faced similar problems as well early in his career. "When I made it into the Pakistan team, my technique was not so good. It took me two years to get it right," he said.

Some experts have blamed the lack of unity in the Pakistan team for its poor showing in Sri Lanka, with some claiming that a few senior players like former captain Shoaib Malik and vice-captain Misbah-ul-Haq had intentionally under-performed to cause Younis' downfall.




Tuesday, August 4, 2009
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Sourav Ganguly arrives in Mumbai for a Kolkata Knight Riders meeting, August 4, 2009

Posted by DK

Sourav Ganguly arrives in Mumbai for a Kolkata Knight Riders meeting

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Clarke being treated for stomach strain - (England v Australia, 4th npower Test, Headingley )

Posted by DK


Michael Clarke's century eased Australia through the day, England v Australia, 3rd Test, Edgbaston, 5th day, August 3, 2009
Michael Clarke ensured Australia's safety at Edgbaston with a determined hundred

Michael Clarke, the Australia vice-captain, has joined Andrew Flintoff as a key injury concern ahead of the crucial fourth Test in Headingley from Friday. While Flintoff, who was named in England's 14 man squad, is having his knee problem monitored daily, Clarke has begun regular treatment for a stomach strain picked up during his unbeaten 103 at Edgbaston on Monday.

Clarke's century, his 12th in Tests, ensured Australia left Birmingham with a draw and kept them within one match of levelling the five-game series. He will not train at Headingley on Wednesday and pulled out of a promotional appearance in Leeds on Tuesday night.

Alex Kountouris, the Australian physiotherapist, said Clarke felt the injury after the game finished. "He will continue to be treated with a view to him being fit for the fourth Test," he said.

Australia are also waiting to see whether Brad Haddin's broken finger improves enough for him to regain his spot. Graham Manou stepped in at the last minute and put in a strong performance behind the stumps after Haddin was hurt in the warm-up shortly before the match.

Haddin was able to put his glove on the injured hand on Monday, but previously had struggled to hold a bat. He will visit a specialist in Leeds on Wednesday. Brett Lee, who hopes to bowl at full pace throughout this week, is another Australian on the comeback trail following a rib injury picked up before the series started.

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ICC board will hold on to WADA

Posted by DK


Sachin Tendulkar and Mahendra Singh Dhoni look on during a practice session, Bangalore, September 29, 2008
Sachin Tendulkar and MS Dhoni are a part of the pool of 11 Indian players who have expressed concern over the 'whereabouts' clause

Senior officials on the ICC's decision-making executive board are unlikely to support any radical suggestion from the BCCI to shun the World Anti Doping Agency (WADA) and opt instead for a cricket-specific code without off-season testing. However, they will endorse the Indian board's objection to the contentious 'whereabouts' clause in the anti-doping code and ask the ICC to try and work out a practical solution with WADA during a year-end review.

The ICC board is likely to discuss the issue soon over teleconference, rather than wait for their next scheduled meeting in early October. And officials from a majority of the ICC board constituents, including Australia and South Africa, have confided that they would support India fully on the 'whereabouts' issue, but would like to remain WADA-compliant for important reasons, not the least of which is the question of government support.

For instance, government funding for grassroots cricket programmes in England requires the English board to be WADA-compliant and Australian legislation requires the same of its national sporting organisations. The BCCI, which will need the backing of these three major boards to make any headway on the issue at the ICC level, is an autonomous organisation that operates independently from India's sports ministry.

The consensus which has emerged is that the ICC board would ask the governing body to raise India's concerns with WADA and hopefully, try to work out a cricket-specific solution when it meets officials of the anti-doping watchdog for a year-end review. Cricket Australia, for one, wants a "practical solution" but what remains to be sorted out, though, is whether India's players should continue to be exempt from complying with the norms till then.

On Sunday, the BCCI's decision-making working committee resolved to back its players and reject the 'whereabouts' clause in the amended WADA code, which was implemented by the ICC from January 1. This clause requires cricketers in the ICC's international testing pool to reveal before every quarter details of their location for an hour every day for the next three months to facilitate out-of-competition testing. The 11 Indian players in the pool have expressed security concerns in this regard, especially because some of them such as Sachin Tendulkar and MS Dhoni face threats from terrorist organisations. The BCCI has said that this clause, which prescribes severe penalties for defaulters including a ban for up to two years, also violates the country's privacy guidelines.

Other international cricketers in the testing pool from other countries had also expressed privacy and practicality concerns about the clause but agreed to abide by it within the July 31 deadline. The Indian board has officially suggested that instead of players revealing whereabouts information in advance, the ICC or WADA testers should contact the BCCI, which will ensure that the player will be available within 24 hours at the required location for testing.

WADA officials have clearly stated that there can be no exceptions on the 'whereabouts' norms, and the BCCI appears to be completely isolated on the issue at home with the country's sports minister leading calls from top athletes and other non-cricket sportspersons for the Indian cricketers to abide by the internationally accepted code. But cricket officials from various boards are hopeful that a solution can be worked out on the lines that football has. Football's governing body, FIFA, will abide by the 'whereabouts' clause but has been given greater freedom in deciding who gets to be tested. The cricketers in the pool were selected on the basis of their ICC ranking in January, but as one ICC board member asked: "Can the Indian board can be persuaded to join the system if some of their high-profile cricketers who face security threats be removed from the testing pool?"

Cricket Australia, which became a founding partner of the BCCI's Champions League Twenty20 tournament last year, is sympathetic towards the Indian board, and sources in Cricket South Africa (CSA), the other founding partner, said they would back India's stand against the whereabouts clause. The England and Wales Cricket Board (ECB) are tight-lipped on the issue except to reiterate that English cricket has always supported WADA but their players' association has pointed out the link between government funding and grassroots cricket.

"We are sympathetic to what the BCCI are arguing but we are bound by our own national requirements: under Australian legislation, national sporting organizations are required to have a WADA compliant code," Peter Young, the Cricket Australia's spokesperson, said. "If the BCCI identify a more practical approach to this then we support the work that they might be able to come up with. Nevertheless, we have sympathy for the BCCI's view on this and its concerns highlight the value of world sport continuing to look at practical solutions to the particular issue which the BCCI has highlighted."

Gerald Majola, CSA's chief executive, did not comment on the issue because his own board hasn't discussed it officially yet, but there are enough indications from within the set-up and that of New Zealand that their approach will mirror that of Australia. England's case is explained better by Sean Morris, the chief executive of their Players Cricket Association (PCA), who says WADA-compliance is a must though the cricketers are not happy with the whereabouts clause.

"Genuinely, we understand why the Indian players have a problem, but where there a slight difference is because of the way our sport is funded; we have government money going to grassroot programmes," Morris told Cricinfo. "That money is conditional upon certain criteria, one of which is the board being WADA-compliant. That is why it is a bigger problem for us. If we do not abide by the WADA code then obviously some of our funding would be impacted, and, that then has a knock on the grassroots. That is why it is more complex here."

It is ironic, really, that it is the players' associations, whom the BCCI doesn't recognise, who seem to be speaking the Indian board's language. "We will welcome the removal of it and we support the stand the Indians are taking and hope that if it is removed for the Indian players it would be removed for all the other cricketers, too," Paul Marsh, who heads the Australian Cricketers' Association (ACA), told Cricinfo. "The solution is something we are not necessarily completely happy with but for public relations and the government funding of sport connected to the WADA code, we can't help it."

Any ICC board resolution requires seven out of 10 full member votes and the one member who could raise some uncomfortable questions for India is Pakistan, considering the recent dispute between the two boards over hosting the 2011 World Cup. The Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) is clear that it has, unlike India, absolutely no problems with the WADA code and the 'whereabouts clause'. "PCB is totally WADA compliant now and the players had no issues signing that clause," Salim Altaf, the PCB's chief operating officer, told Cricinfo. Altaf said the PCB is also an autonomous body like the BCCI but "had become WADA compliant because the ICC signed on to it."

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Sidebottom in the frame for Headingley

Posted by DK


Ryan Sidebottom bends his back, West Indies v England, Barbados, 4th Test, March 1, 2009
Ryan Sidebottom is back in the frame for the Ashes

Ryan Sidebottom has earned a recall to England's squad for the fourth Test at Headingley, while Warwickshire's in-form batsman, Jonathan Trott, has been drafted in as batting cover for the struggling Andrew Flintoff, as England seek to bounce back from a chastening final day at Edgbaston.

Having begun the day with an outside chance of forcing victory in the third Test, England's attack was instead left looking toothless by Australia's middle order, in particular Michael Clarke and Marcus North, whose fifth-wicket stand of 185 saved the match with ease.

What is more, England finished the game with serious concerns about the fitness and form of two of their bowlers - Flintoff, whose dodgy right knee restricted him to just 11 overs in the day and left his participation at Headingley in serious doubt, and Stuart Broad, whose hit-the-deck style caused Australia few problems for the third match running.

Sidebottom's inclusion on his former home ground is a clear indication that England intend to use swing as their preferred route to Ashes success. Trott's inclusion, meanwhile, is a sure sign that the selectors are anxious about the fitness of Flintoff, as they seek extra batting cover in the event of having to rejig the balance of their side. Trott is currently averaging 99.75 in first-class cricket, but has not featured in an England squad since playing two Twenty20s against West Indies in 2007.

"Both players have been in good form for their counties in recent weeks and as selectors we are delighted that competition for places in the side is so strong," said the national selector, Geoff Miller. "Jonathan Trott has also performed really well for Warwickshire this season and his place in the squad is fully deserved. His inclusion will provide us with the option of playing six batsmen if we feel this is appropriate.

"We will continue to closely monitor Andrew Flintoff's fitness in the build-up-up to Headingley. His right knee will be reassessed by our medical staff over the next forty-eight hours and no final decision on his availability will be taken until closer to the start of the Test match."

Sidebottom's inclusion in the squad was telegraphed by an ECB request to his county side Nottinghamshire, who have been asked to omit him from their team for tomorrow's County Championship fixture at Horsham.

Though he has not played a Test for England since the tour of the Caribbean in February, when he struggled with an Achilles injury and managed just one wicket in 59 overs on tour, Sidebottom's accuracy and ability as a left-armer to bend the ball back into the right-hander has long been prized by the England selectors.

He was England's Player of the Year in 2008 after a remarkable return to the side after six years on the sidelines, in which he claimed 53 wickets in 12 months, including a haul of 24 in three Tests in a series-winning display in New Zealand. His comeback fixture took place in May 2007 at Headingley, where he learnt his trade with Yorkshire for six seasons from 1997, and he marked the occasion with eight wickets to set up an innings victory over West Indies.

Lateral movement has been England's key to success in an Ashes series in which they lead 1-0 despite being outbatted by six centuries to one in the three Tests to date. Australia's batting has crumbled on the two occasions when England have moved the ball consistently through the air - in the decisive first innings at Lord's, when they were shot out for 215, and then again on the second morning at Edgbaston, when they lost 7 for 77 in the session. Aside from those two occasions, Australia have amassed 1455 runs for the loss of 21 wickets.

"When a wicket's flat, it's flat, and it's very hard to kind of conjure something out of nothing," said England's captain, Andrew Strauss. "It's something we've got to keep working on, because all around the world these days a lot of the wickets are like that. We've got to keep working on our plan Bs, what we can do as variations. It's always a big challenge when there's not much happening on the pitch."

That's where Sidebottom's innate ability comes into the equation, having prised out five wickets on a typically flat deck at Taunton last week. Although Broad contributed some very useful runs at No. 8, and was praised by his captain for producing his best spell of the series on the final afternoon at Edgbaston, he has so far managed six wickets at 57.50, and it's becoming increasingly clear that England cannot afford to include two hit-the-deck bowlers against this current Australian batting line-up, especially if one of them, Flintoff, is less than fully fit.

Strauss nevertheless remains "optimistic" that Flintoff will be fit for Headingley. "There is obviously some soreness there but I don't think there's anything that has deteriorated massively over the course of the game," he said. "He needs to rest up well because back-to-back Tests are hard for any bowlers and we'll see how he is on Thursday. We want to play our best team in every game we play but we've got to be conscious that if he's not fit enough to do his job then he won't play."

Steve Harmison remains on standby as Flintoff's like-for-like replacement, having played through the pain of blistered feet to wrap up Durham's sixth Championship win of the series against Sussex yesterday. His second-innings figures of 3 for 68 took his season tally to 53 wickets at 19.37, and underlined his stated "desperation" to play a part in the Ashes.

"In choosing our squad for this Test match, we decided to omit a second spinner as Headingley is not usually a ground where two spinners are required and therefore Monty Panesar misses out on selection this time," said Miller. "We will need to carefully assess the pitch and the overhead conditions at Headingley before finalising our eleven for this Test and the inclusion of Stephen Harmison and Ryan Sidebottom will give us different types of pace bowling options."

Squad 1 Andrew Strauss (capt), 2 Alastair Cook, 3 Ravi Bopara, 4 Ian Bell, 5 Paul Collingwood, 6 Matt Prior (wk), 7 Andrew Flintoff, 8 Stuart Broad, 9 Graeme Swann, 10 James Anderson, 11 Graham Onions, 12 Steve Harmison, 13 Ryan Sidebottom, 14 Jonathan Trott.

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