Chris Gayle Come Back, ODI Series In England

Gibson, Sammy pleased to have Gayle back

West Indies have openly embraced the return of their premier batsman Chris Gayle, who on Wednesday committed to making himself available for selection for the one-day leg of their tour of England. In doing so he decided to forsake his contract with Somerset as an overseas player for the Friends Life t20 and Ottis Gibson, the West Indies coach, said if Gayle was available, he would "definitely be picked".

However, West Indies captain, Darren Sammy, warned that his predecessor will need to get used to the new "hardworking culture" put in place in the West Indies dressing room.

Speaking at West Indies' media conference at Hove, ahead of a three-day tour match beginning on Saturday, Gibson said: "It is great to hear that Chris is available again. I'm sure the selectors will pick him, because he is world-class. If he's made himself available for the one-day series, I can't see him not being selected."

Gibson, who has been openly critical of Gayle in the past, was confident that despite having not played international cricket since the 2011 World Cup, the opener would slip back into the team environment without fuss. "It will be very easy [for him]," Gibson responded, after being asked whether Gayle would find it difficult to re-establish himself in the international arena. "He's the best one-day batsman in the world. So I don't think it will be a problem at all.

"He plays very well, going into many different dressing rooms all round the world and making runs. I don't think coming into ours will be any different."

Sammy said the team had not been distracted by the standoff between Gayle and the WICB, which has remained the main West Indies talking point in the last year, despite the team making gradual progress in certain areas. Asked if it had been unsettling for him to read about the Gayle issue all the time, Sammy pointed out he was busy drilling in the new culture that he and Gibson had put in place.

"I don't necessarily focus on that. I am more focused on what the team is trying to do," Sammy said. "The Chris Gayle issue has been going on for a while but we as a team have moved on and as you could see the last series we played we came out with a new attitude: where we are not going to let anybody keep us down. We are going to strive to move forward. When Chris joins the set-up, he will be coming into a very hardworking environment in which he has to fit in."

At the same time Sammy said Gayle's return could only be a good thing for West Indies cricket. "As a captain, whoever comes into the dressing I know myself and the coach would welcome them. Obviously we would urge them to contribute to the team's success. If he is in it is all good for us. We all know what he is capable of doing and hopefully he could fit in nicely and do the job to take West Indies cricket forward."

Gayle had ruled himself out of selection for the three-Test series against England having got a NOC from the WICB to participate in the IPL, where he represents Royal Challengers Bangalore. Gibson did not entirely agree with the opinion that some West Indies players were more interested in the monetary gains accrued from playing in lucrative Twenty20 tournaments around the world, while they picked and chose which series to play in national colours.

"In an ideal world you would want all your best players available to you all the time and still be making money and the board to be able to say to somebody 'we don't want you to go to the IPL, so we will pay you X amount of money to stay at home and play for us', but the reality is that is not possible in the Caribbean because of the financial situation," Gibson said.

In such a situation, Gibson said the WICB did not have much to bargain with. "The board has tried to negotiate, if you like, with people. That is what it has come to. That is the reality. So some guys can go off and play in the IPL and come back and play in the one-day series for instance. It is a little bit of give and take. It is good to see some of the guys go down that road rather than say they are unavailable completely. So it is not ideal but it is what it is and we just have to get on with it really."

South Africa Sweep Series 3-0 By Newzealand

South Africa 208 for 5 (Amla 76, Morkel 41) beat New Zealand 206 (McCullum 47, de Lange 4-46) by five wickets

South Africa rested their bowler of the series and three injured batsmen, promoted a tailender to the top of the order, and had their big-hitting allrounder at No.3, but New Zealand still could not prevent a heavy five-wicket loss and a whitewash in a series that rarely had the visitors extended. Marchant de Lange had broken loose over a brittle New Zealand middle order to set up the emphatic victory - his 4 for 46 helping to dismiss the hosts for a paltry 206 after Dale Steyn and Lonwabo Tsotsobe had built an impressive dam of pressure with the new ball. Hashim Amla made another pleasing half-century to lead South Africa's reply, which achieved the target in the 44th over.

New Zealand's innings clunked and whirred in frustrating spurts until the hosts were put out of their misery in 47th over. Though they did well at times to negotiate terrific one-day bowling, particularly from South Africa's fast men, wickets fell with startling regularity and batsmen succumbed just as New Zealand seemed to be recovering from the last blow. The first five partnerships read 13, 32, 29, 31, 55. Each pair had a start, but none could complete the recovery they had begun, as batsmen lost their heads and their wickets to surrender any momentum they had wrested - usually at a significant cost to the scoring-rate.

South Africa were almost casual in reply. Wayne Parnell, who has an ODI average below 20 and a List A average below 25, opened the innings with Hashim Amla, after Jacques Kallis and Justin Ontong joined Graeme Smith on the injury list. The pair made a swift 80-run dent in the target, before Parnell was dismissed in the 16th over. Even with South Africa's significantly depleted batting order, with Amla contributing once more, 207 turned out to be a cakewalk.

Amla's innings didn't match the pace of his Napier knock at Eden Park, but it was no less classy. Favouring the leg side for boundary hits this time, he negotiated the new ball with characteristic ease. A knee-high full toss from Kyle Mills was succinctly dispatched, before a serene glide down the ground brought four more in the next over. The ease with which Parnell also managed the early period perhaps betrayed the gulf between South Africa' new-ball pair - who at times were unplayable - and New Zealand's opening bowlers, but it was also a statement on an Eden Park pitch that suited batting.

Amla survived a reprieve on 30, when he was dropped by Nathan McCullum, but when he was eventually dismissed for 76, the middle order only needed to saunter home. Albie Morkel hit three sixes in a brisk 41, and though both Faf du Plessis and JP Duminy were dismissed late in the game by Rob Nicol, with less than 20 runs to get, AB de Villiers had little to do.

de Villiers had hoped to exploit the weather and a pitch that had had some rain when he opted to bowl, and his new-ball bowlers could have hardly made better use of the friendly conditions. The skid in the surface added another layer of venom to Steyn's outswing, while Tsotsobe's steady seamers also benefitted from movement not normally seen at Eden Park. The pair's unerring lines and impeccable length offered precious little to New Zealand's typically explosive top order, but even when they did stray, as Tsotsobe did in the fifth over, South Africa's fielders shone - Faf du Plessis dived well to his left to snatch a full blooded aerial cut from Martin Guptill.

While Steyn and Tsotsobe thrived on the movement created by their skill, de Lange's raw pace and aggressive length added the brutal edge to the attack. Rob Nicol was laid flat on his back by a 144kph bouncer at his throat, while McCullum, too, was hopping around deep in the crease to stay on top of the bounce.

Nicol succumbed to a slider from Johan Botha after he had done well to survive the pace barrage, but de Lange returned to fell McCullum in the 22nd over, in a dismissal that betrayed McCullum's scars from their previous battle. Having made 13 from Dale Steyn's previous over, McCullum seemed to be reviving a scoring-rate after having accumulated steadily alongside Kane Williamson. But he played back to de Lange, in anticipation of the quick, short ball, and ended up only scooping the full delivery to point.

Williamson and James Franklin then began yet another phase of rebuilding, but almost as soon as their association began to gain traction, Williamson was run out superbly by du Plessis, who was horizontal in mid-flight when he let his pinpoint throw fly. In a cruel snapshot of New Zealand's innings, the wicket had fallen the very delivery after the first four of the partnership was struck. 


Colin de Grandhomme lofted a free-hit ball over deep midwicket to relax early nerves on debut, and the risk-averse accumulation resumed anew, this time with perhaps a tad more vigour. Franklin was intent on dropping anchor, but de Grandhomme showed glimmers of his aggressive potential when he threw in the odd calculated slog amid the singles. But although a 40-minute rain delay just before the batting Powerplay didn't assuage de Grandhomme's desire to boost the scoring-rate, a hostile maiden from Steyn quieted his progress, and then a direct hit from Albie Morkel at mid-off silenced him altogether. Another start, another poor option and another dismissal just as a platform was being put together - New Zealand's innings read like a study in badly learnt lessons. de Grandhomme's departure left New Zealand 160 for 5 in the 39th over.

The wickets of Franklin - again to an awful shot - and Andrew Ellis, three overs later, plunged them further, and only a tailender's 13 from Michael Bates helped them limp beyond 200.

Sehwag As a Captain For West Indies ODIs

Dhoni rested for West Indies ODIs; Sehwag to lead

Virender Sehwag is set to lead India in an ODI for the first time since December 2009, after the selectors decided to give MS Dhoni a break for the ODI series against West Indies. Yuvraj Singh was also left out, which means he hasn't played an ODI for India since his Player of the the Tournament performance in the World Cup. Since taking over as full-time India captain, Dhoni has been reluctant to miss one-day games despite his exceptional workload as full-time wicketkeeper and captain of India and his IPL franchise, the Chennai Super Kings. In recent times, he sat out of two bilateral one-day series against New Zealand and West Indies, on either side of the World Cup. Gautam Gambhir stood in as captain against New Zealand, while Suresh Raina led an inexperienced side in the West Indies, in the absence of Sehwag, Gambhir and Yuvraj.

Michel Vaughan Said That Airtel Trophy ODI Series

‘To be No 1 in ODIs, England must play well on turning tracks’

Concerned about England’s deteriorating performance in the one-dayers after a 0-5 whitewash in India, former captain Michael Vaughan said if Alastair Cook men want to be the best team in ODIs, they have to play consistently on slow and turning pitches.

“It is always harder to play away from home but England have to lose their short-sighted vision of playing on green wickets in this country,” said Vanghan.

“Look at results this year. Away from home we have lost 6-1 to Australia, been beaten by Bangladesh and Ireland during the World Cup, and now lost 5-0 in India. Our overall result against Sri Lanka and India in the summer was 6-2, but the scores only tell a certain story.

“They perhaps wanted Alastair Cook to win a few games as a young captain but I am sorry, if you want to be the best team in one-day cricket then you have to play on slow, turning pitches consistently,” the former skipper wrote in his column in ‘The Daily Telegraph’

Describing how England fared against Sri Lanka on green pitches as compared to the spinning tracks in India, Vaughan explained: “Last summer we played Sri Lanka on the greenest Oval pitch I have ever seen and won comfortably. England then played at Headingley on a flat wicket that took a bit of spin and lost. They were not happy and went berserk at the groundsman.

“What happened next? At Trent Bridge, Sri Lanka were rolled over on an absolute classic English green top. Result? England won by 10 wickets.”

The 36-year-old said England is always certain to win when they play on green-tops.

“You can pick any one of England’s last ten 50-over teams and, on a green top, they would win. That is going back 14 or 15 years.

“But when it is flat, bowlers are put under pressure and batters have to rotate the strike in the middle overs, and clear ropes at the end of the innings, or you don’t win many games of cricket,” he said.

Despite agreeing that the current English side is one of the all time best, Vaughan said they have not done things right as far as one-dayers are concerned.

“I have been saying this for ages. It is not that we have a group of players who are not good enough. This is the best generation we have had in terms of skill, coaching and preparation.

“They have got everything and as much as they deserve a huge amount of credit for the way they have played for the last two years in Test cricket, they have to be honest and accept they have got things wrong in one-day cricket,” he said.

The former player also said that the English batsmen need to learn better stroke selection.

“Strategy in one-day cricket is shaped by the World Cup cycle. The next tournament, in 2015, will be in Australia where the pitches are flat and the ball doesn’t swing.

“You need power to manoeuvre the ball into the gaps, play spin and have the ability to post scores of 300. There will not be any green pitches and it will be boiling hot as well.

Batsmen have to learn better stroke selection,” he insisted.

Graeme Swann Comments on Airtel Trophy ODI Series

Received death threats after whitewash in India: Swann

England off—spinner Greame Swann revealed that he had received death threats following England’s disastrous 0—5 loss to India in the just—concluded one—day series.

England lost the last ODI of the five—match rubber at Eden Gardens on Tuesday following a dramatic collapse, which saw them lose 10 wickets for an addition of just 47 runs.

Chasing a victory target of 271 runs, the visitors were cruising along at 129 for no loss before Varun Aaron castled skipper Alastair Cook to start the rot.

“Although I don’t condone death threats on Twitter, I could almost understand it when I had a couple of hundred people threatening all manner of retribution after Tuesday’s match,” Swann wrote in his column for the ‘Sun’

The bowler, though, said he could understand the anger but added that it was just a game of cricket.

“Not everyone in cyber world has a perspective - after all, it is only a game of cricket. But you can almost understand why people get wound up.

“It can’t be easy to watch us, not just losing but losing the way we did,” Swann insisted.

The 33—year—old, meanwhile, insisted that his team’s poor run in the sub—continent had nothing to do with the publication of his autobiography in which the cricketer criticised Kevin Pietersen’s stint as the captain.

“England have endured a horror month but I can state right now it has nothing to do with what I wrote about Kevin Pietersen in my book,” Swann said.

“People have claimed my observation that KP is not a natural leader and should not have captained England has caused dressing—room divisions and a breakdown in team spirit.

Well, anybody who thinks that does not know this England team.

“The reason we lost the one—day series 5—0 to India is because we’ve been outplayed in conditions which suit the home team. No excuses, we’ve been hammered,” he added.

India Tour Of England :Dhoni Comments

The process of preparations for the challenges ahead is important: Dhoni

 

APIndian cricket captain Mahender Singh Dhoni addresses a press conference in Hyderabad, on Thursday, Oct. 13, 2011. India and England are scheduled to play five one-day international matches and one Twenty20 cricket match starting Oct. 14.

The one-day series against England should be looked at as an ideal opportunity for the younger players to display their talent in international cricket, said Indian captain Mahendra Singh Dhoni.

Speaking to the media on the eve of the first one-dayer against England here on Friday, Dhoni hoped that the good starts that the young players got in England in different conditions and at new venues should be very useful to them when they play in familiar home conditions. “For some of them, the IPL experience too should be very useful,” he added.

“I don’t think it is difficult to manage the young players. It is apparently difficult to replace the senior players. But, I must say the youngsters are very talented and they should only be looking at gaining experience now,” Dhoni said to a query.

On the possibility of Gautam Gambhir opening the innings, Dhoni avoided a direct reply but merely said that both Parthiv (Patel) and Ajinkya Rahane have done a very good job. “And, Gambhir batted at No.3 in the past and opened when either Sachin or Sehwag was injured. But again, the final eleven will be decided only tomorrow,” he pointed out.

The Indian captain felt that the Hyderabad pitch looked different from the normal Hyderabad wicket. “It may not seam exactly but we will have to wait till tomorrow to get a closer look at how it finally shapes up,” he said.

Dhoni said that R. Ashwin would not be under any kind of pressure though he is the team’s lead spinner. “Being my team-mate for four years now (both play for Chennai Super Kings) I know that he loves challenges and should be a very good bowler especially in the power-plays,” Dhoni explained.

“The key to his success will be about how well he will keep improving. Definitely, this will be an opportunity for the younger players,” he said.

Dhoni dismissed the fact that this series is being played so closely to the disappointing tour of England. “Well, only when you ask this question I have to remember that we played them. We should not remember about the past. The process of preparations for the challenges ahead is important,” he pointed out.

Dhoni also mentioned that that the team management has told the young players about their areas of improvement. “We have a very good support staff who can do that with a lot of self-belief. And, we back each other,” he added. The Indian captain also felt that one or two series is not enough to judge young players. “Consistency and the kind of improvement shown by them are important,” he asserted
.

Cook Say's on ODI Series

We are a strong side and there are no issues: Alastair Cook

 

England captain Alastair Cook along with Kevin Pietersen at the training session at Rajiv Gandhi International Stadium in Hyderabad on October 13, 2011,ahead of the five-match series against India starting from October 14.Photo: K.R. Deepak

England captain Alastair Cook says his team is aware of the huge challenge ahead when it takes on India in the five-match one-day series and believes that if it plays the best cricket consistently it can face anything.

Speaking to media after the team’s training session ahead of the first one-dayer against England here on Thursday, Cook reminds that they have had fantastic preparations in the last 10 days including two warm-up games in the City.

“What has gone in England this summer (referring to the way his team got the better of India in Tests and one-dayers) is gone. It is a new series and in totally different conditions. Hopefully, we can start well,” Cook said to a query.

“Essentially, the boys worked really hard in the last few days. It is amazing how so many youngsters are coming up. And, India is a great place for anyone to prove his class,” the England captain said.

Cook says to master the reverse swing you need to have the skills. “I hope that there will be some reverse swing to put the opposition under pressure,” he said. ““I do believe that there will be more of spin bowling in the one-day series,” he said to a query.

The England opener also made it clear that the best side would be picked for the one-dayer depending on the conditions. “We are a strong side and there are no issues,” he insisted to a query.

Referring to the Indian team, Cook said they were aware how strong the Indian team could be. “A very talented side indeed,” he added.

Airtel Trophy Launching in Hyderabad

ODI series trophy unveiled

M.S. Dhoni and Alistair Cook unveil the ODI series cup in Hyderabad on Wednesday. Photo: P.V. Sivakumar

The two captains – Mahendra Singh Dhoni of India and Alastair Cook of England – unveiled the Airtel Trophy for the five-match one-day series commencing here on October 14.

Dhoni and Cook held aloft the trophy together in the presence of Sharlin Thayil, CEO, AP, Bharti Airtel Ltd.

The two captains did not speak anything at the function which was delayed by more than 75 minutes.

The Trophy, designed by Frazer and Haws, is made of silver with 24 karat gold plating.

It may be recalled that Airtel had been given the sponsorship rights by the Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI) for all international matches to be played in India till 2013. The Indian cricket team, minus Gautam Gambhir, had a three-hour long training schedule at the Rajiv Gandhi Stadium on Wednesday. The England team which played a warm-up game against Hyderabad on Tuesday, preferred to take a break.

Trott Say's on ODI Series

Time for England to do well abroad as well: Trott

 

England middle-order batsman Jonathan Trott is hopeful his team can continue their fine home ODI when they face India in the upcoming ODI series starting October 14 in Hyderabad. .

“We have won quite a few one-day tournaments at home. We have to start winning abroad now and probably we can begin that on this Indian tour,” says Jonathan Trott, ahead of the India-England one-dayer here.

The 30-year-old Trott feels it is a huge challenge for anyone to play in front of massive Indian crowds, and that the home team is going to be very dangerous at home.

“On the back of us doing pretty well at home when we played against India, it’s going to be important that we maintain that. Because, we want to be a team that can win one-day tournaments all over the world,” emphasises Trott.

“I obviously looked at their squad (India) and saw a few new players. It’s going to be interesting how they adapt to playing for India and the pressure of playing at home in front of packed houses. It’s going to be exciting,” Trott said.

Referring to Bairstow’s talent, Trott recalled that the young batsman made a huge impact in his very first ODI against India last month. And, referring to the youngster’s century in the practice game against Hyderabad on Tuesday when Trott was at the non-striker’s end, the star England batsman pointed that the young talented batsman has big-match temperament and can play his natural game.

“Well, this exciting young talent in England means a very bright future for cricket back home. It is a good advertisement for the team also,” says Trott, who played 23 Tests for 1965 runs and 35 ODIs for 1596 runs, including three centuries.

“I think that the success stories of someone like Bairstow means only healthy competition and not any pressure straightaway on the seniors,” Trott explained.

Questioned whether the likes of Bairstow will win matches for England, Trott was straightforward in reminding: “I don’t say Bairstow will do this (hitting century in the warm-up game yesterday) all the time. You have to play lot of cricket. What impressed me about this England team is the way each one complements in batting and bowling,” he said.

Trott is considered to be more organised in his batting approach at the crease, even as many of his teammates love to go for the big hits. Referring to this, this articulate cricketer said he would just try to keep going. “I am not sure whether I have to change my game or not. A lot of things depend on what the situation is out there in the middle,” he pointed out.

“I do work a lot in the nets. I don’t want to bask in past glory. I try to look forward and see how far I can go,” says Trott to a query.

Indian Team Selection For India Tour Of England

Harbhajan axed; Sharma, Aravind in ODI squad

 

Off-colour Harbhajan Singh was on Thursday dropped while young spinner Rahul Sharma and paceman Sreenath Aravind were the two new faces in India’s depleted 15-member squad for next month’s first two ODIs against England.

Gautam Gambhir, who missed the ODI series in the tour of England because of concussion, returned to the squad, which will be without the services of a host of seniors, including Sachin Tendulkar, Zaheer Khan, Virender Sehwag and Yuvraj Singh because of injuries.

Pacers Umesh Yadav and Varun Aaron also figured in the team announced by BCCI Secretary Sanjay Jagdale. The team, to be captained by Mahendra Singh Dhoni, has a predominantly young bowling attack with Praveen Kumar being the spearhead.

The national selectors have picked as many as five fast bowlers and three spinners in Ravindra Jadeja, R. Ashwin and Sharma. Parthiv Patel, who did reasonably well in the recent ODI series against England, has been retained along with upcoming batsman Ajinkya Rahane of Mumbai.

The first ODI of the five-match series will be played in Hyderabad on October 14, while Delhi will host the second game on October 17. Mohali (Oct 20), Mumbai (Oct 23) and Kolkata (Oct 25) will stage the other three matches. Kolkata will also conduct the lone Twenty20 match against England on October 29.

The team: Mahendra Singh Dhoni (captain), Gautam Gambhir, Parthiv Patel, Ajinkya Rahane, Virat Kohli, Suresh Raina, Ravindra Jadeja, R. Ashwin, Varun Aaron, Umesh Yadav, R. Vinay Kumar, Sreenath Aravind, Rahul Sharma, Manoj Tiwary, Praveen Kumar.

Today Final OneDay

The final opportunity for Dhoni and his men

M.S. Dhoni

 

If England wins the fifth ODI at Sophia Gardens, India will return home empty-handed

A question was constantly addressed to the International Cricket Council award winners at London on Monday — “The Indian team did not turn up, your remarks?” The replies ranged from the diplomatic “ask-them” to the non-committal “I don't know.”

And then a British television scribe lightened the mood when he asked cricketer-of-the-year Jonathan Trott: “The Indian team has not turned up this entire summer and why do you think that happened?”

The query highlighted the World Cup winner's inability to live up to its mighty reputation throughout the tour, which has been blighted by defeats and lack of spirit.

“The Indian team is a very good team and don't get me wrong on that,” replied Trott. However, that was no consolation for the followers of the squad, who watched the halo of M.S. Dhoni's men slowly dissipate in England.

The fifth and final match of the NatWest series at the Sophia Gardens here on Friday offers the last chance for India to reveal intent and true worth despite all its woes, ranging from missing key players to coping with the weather's damp ways.

Dhoni and company have had their spells of unwinding over the last few days — from go-karting to shopping — as the time under the hardly visible English sun draws to a close. Getting away from their cricketing routines after struggling with losses is, perhaps, one way to switch off and start afresh.

Having lost the Tests and the lone Twenty20 and now hopelessly trailing 0-2 in the One-Day series, it may seem to be a picture of gloom and doom but the weather gods have played their part in scuppering two matches with the games at Chester-le-Street and Lord's getting affected.

Openers Parthiv Patel and Ajinkya Rahane and the duo of Dhoni and Suresh Raina have proved that the England bowlers can be reined in with an aggressive medley of shots and sharp singles.

Among the bowlers, R. Ashwin has held his nerve in recent games and if the seamers can tighten up their initial spells, India would be well served.

Ravindra Jadeja's presence has reduced Dhoni's reliance on Raina and Virat Kohli to fulfil the fifth bowler's quota, but, as the skipper has constantly repeated, the team has to perform well in all three departments. It is a cliché, yet so true.

Lesson for youngsters

On Thursday, the team preferred optional practice, but out in the middle one man knocked hard with his bat.

Rahul Dravid may be playing his last ODI but there is no way he is going to ease his feet from pre-match training. His intensity and the way he moulded himself in accordance with the demands of one-day cricket is a lesson for all the youngsters in the squad. “I hope he goes out on a high, scoring a hundred and India winning the game. He has been one of my childhood heroes,” said Ashwin.

The England squad, meanwhile, was all about booming shots and loud laughter during its training schedule in the morning. “Winning breeds happiness,” said Alastair Cook. Despite pocketing the series, the England captain is aware that his squad has been tested by India's new players and has also struggled when Dhoni and Raina were on song during the slog.

The team, however, deserves credit for staying alive in the chase with men like Ravi Bopara and the tail being positive.

Broad will be missed

Stuart Broad will be missed but England has found key men at the crucial moments so far. India, on the other hand, remains desperate to take along at least one victory before boarding the return flight.

As for the weather, rain has been forecast around 4 p.m. local time but with the game being a day-night contest, the match should last the distance.

The teams (from):

India: M.S. Dhoni (capt.), Rahul Dravid, Suresh Raina, Virat Kohli, Ajinkya Rahane, Parthiv Patel, Ravindra Jadeja, Praveen Kumar, Munaf Patel, Vinay Kumar, R.P. Singh, Varun Aaron, Amit Mishra, R. Ashwin, Manoj Tiwary and S. Badrinath.

England: Alastair Cook (capt.), Craig Kieswetter, Ian Bell, Jonathan Trott, Ben Stokes, Ravi Bopara, James Anderson, Tim Bresnan, Jade Dernbach, Steven Finn, Graeme Swann and Samit Patel.

Umpires: Billy Doctrove and Nigel Llong; Third umpire: Marais Erasmus; Match referee: Jeff Crowe.

Match starts at 6.30 p.m. IST.

Bad ! India as rain forces a tie

England wraps up series as rain forces a tie

AP Suresh Raina struck a breezy 84 to power India to 280 against England in the fourth ODI at Lord’s.

 

 

A nerve-wracking match ended as a tie and India's search for that elusive victory over England continues unabated.

A packed Lord's witnessed a heart-breaking moment for India after its 280 for five stretched England in the fourth game of the NatWest Series before a largely sunny day turned damp and three rain-interruptions tweaked in a stalemate.

England scored 270 for eight in 48.5 overs and that was exactly the par score the Duckworth-Lewis method stipulated.

If England had managed another run or Ravi Bopara had blocked one ball, the match would have been in Alastair Cook's pocket.

High on drama

However, in a contest high on drama, it was fitting that Bopara (96, 111b, 6x4) who played a lone hand in reviving the host, picked a leaping Ravindra Jadeja in the deep while Munaf Patel flung his hands skywards.

The rain immediately arrived again and snuffed out the match when India would have fancied its chances as England needed 11 from the remaining seven balls.

India's latest match at Lord's may not have had the extraordinary depth of June, 1983, when Kapil Dev lifted the World Cup or the rebellious streak of a shirtless Sourav Ganguly in 2002, and yet it will haunt the ‘Men in Blue' for a while. England has now clinched the series after winning the earlier two games and the last game at Cardiff on Friday offers India a last chance to sign off with a victory.

Ebullient partnership

The visitor scored 280 for six in 50 overs and it was a total that was made possible by M.S. Dhoni and Suresh Raina's ebullient partnership. England needed a start but, with Alastair Cook, Craig Kieswetter and Jonathan Trott's early departures to the joy of R.P. Singh and Praveen Kumar, the chase proved tough though Bopara stayed firm.

Bopara and Ian Bell (54) stemmed the rising tide of Indian optimism with a 98-run fourth-wicket partnership. Bell stayed correct and Bopara cheekily opened the bat's face to guide a few behind square and England stayed in the hunt.

Inexplicably Bell charged at Jadeja and Manoj Tiwary, substituting for an injured Parthiv Patel, plucked the catch.

Ben Stokes then patted one back to R. Ashwin and, at 184 for five, England needed its tail to wag.

And wag it did through Tim Bresnan and Graeme Swann before the rain forced the teams to play a cat-and-mouse game with the Duckworth-Lewis equation.

In the end, the rivals nursed a result identical to that World Cup game at Bangalore when the score froze at 338.

Openers on song

Earlier, openers on song offered Dhoni an easy morning to savour his tea though Alastair Cook's luck with the toss continued.

Parthiv and Ajinkya Rahane gradually blossomed in their 65-run partnership as initial respect for James Anderson and Steven Finn transformed to disdain.

Patel and Rahane's dismissals in a span of 12 deliveries pegged India back and, against the run of play, Graeme Swann scalped Virat Kohli and Rahul Dravid in his first over.

At 110 for four, and with only Ravindra Jadeja to fall back on after them, Raina and Dhoni opted to consolidate while Swann bowled tight.

Raina (84, 75b, 7x4, 2x6) had to contend with three men on the fence for his whiplash pulls and there were three men close on the off-side to cut his dabs.

India's first 100 had come in 131 deliveries but its next 50 came in 92 balls.

The innings gained impetus when Raina thumped Finn twice, either side of the wicket and Dhoni (78 n.o., 71b, 6x4, 3x6) hoisted Swann's tossed up enticer into the stands.

The 169-run fifth-wicket partnership spread over 147 balls acquired an ominous air and promptly India's next fifty came in 37 deliveries and the innings' last ten overs yielded 109 runs.

But a triumph continued to elude the desperate squad.

Scoreboad

India: Parthiv c Bopara b Broad 27 (32b, 3x4, 1x6), A. Rahane lbw b Broad 38 (53b, 5x4, 1x6), R. Dravid c&b Swann 19 (33b, 3x4), V. Kohli c Kieswetter b Swann 16 (36b, 1x4), S. Raina c Stokes b Finn 84 (75b, 7x4, 2x6), M.S. Dhoni (not out) 78 (71b, 6x4, 3x6), R. Jadeja (not out) 0 (0b), Extras (lb-5, w-13) 18; Total (for five wkts. in 50 overs) 280.

Power Plays: One (Overs 1-10): 38/0; Bowling (11-15): 32/1; Batting (43-47): 58/0.

Fall of wickets: 1-65 (Rahane), 2-70 (Parthiv), 3-109 (Kohli), 4-110 (Dravid), 5-279 (Raina).

England bowling: Anderson 10-2-57-0, Finn 9.4-0-54-1, Bresnan 10-1-51-0, Broad 9.2-0-52-2, Bopara 2-0-12-0, Swann 9-1-49-2.

England: A. Cook c Kohli b R.P. Singh 12 (18b, 2x4), C. Kieswetter c Jadeja b R.P. Singh 12 (9b, 1x4), J. Trott b Praveen 23 (27b, 4x4), I. Bell c sub b Jadeja 54 (73b, 3x4), R. Bopara c Jadeja b Munaf 96 (111b, 6x4), B. Stokes c&b Ashwin 7 (11b, 1x4), T. Bresnan b R.P. Singh 27 (22b, 2x4), G. Swann run out 31 (23b, 3x4), S. Finn (not out) 0 (0b), J. Anderson (not out) 0 (0b), Extras (lb-5, w-2, nb-1) 8; Total (for eight wkts. in 48.5 overs) 270.

Power Plays: One (Overs 1–10): 50/2; Bowling (11-15): 20/1; Batting (45– 48.5): 37/2.

Fall of wickets: 1-21 (Kieswetter), 2-27 (Cook), 3-61 (Trott), 4-159 (Bell), 5-173 (Stokes), 6-220 (Bresnan), 7-270 (Swann), 8-270 (Bopara).

India bowling: Praveen 9-0-35-1, R.P. Singh 9-0-59-3, Munaf 9.5-0-54-1, Ashwin 10-0-44-1, Jadeja 9-0-60-1, Raina 2-0-13-0.

Players of the Match: Ravi Bopara & Suresh Raina

Eng vs Ind 4th ODI Cricinfo

England aims to clinch series

AP Ravindra Jadeja (right) excelled with both bat and ball on Friday, and will hope for another good performance in the 3rd ODI.

 

On a tour devoid of good news, M.S. Dhoni has strode ahead with remarkable poise. Media inquests after lost matches can be an unnerving exercise but the Indian captain has handled the queries and the barbs with equanimity while firmly backing his team.

Robbed off his key players due to injury, Dhoni has battled ahead and it is time that the rest of the squad matches up his cool-quotient. The loss at the Oval has shattered even that tenuous dream of salvaging pride by winning the NatWest Series.

India and England will face-off again at Lord's on Sunday amidst whispers of rain. England is ahead at 2-0 and will not lose the trophy. At best, India can win the next two games starting with Lord's and draw level. Dhoni said that his team is always high on motivation though the results have been damning.

Nightmarish

The tour has turned out to be a nightmare and a distant precedent can be seen in India's visit to Australia during 1999-2000 when Sachin Tendulkar's men lost all the three Tests and won just one among the eight ODIs of the Cartlon and United Series that also featured Pakistan.

At rain-swept Chester-le-Street and in the Oval, India had those little moments but England has reigned. “We need to perform together,” Dhoni said while individual sparks emanated from Parthiv Patel, Ajinkya Rahane, Ravindra Jadeja and R. Ashwin at different points in this series. On Friday, the top-order collapsed, Dhoni and Jadeja revived and the spinners made the English batsmen nervously twitch. In the end it just did not add up.

Cook's intentions

Dhoni's counterpart Alastair Cook declared that his team wants to seal the series. England does not want to be satiated with just the Tests. The team made that mistake after winning the Ashes and Australia won the limited overs jousts at 6-1.

In the lead-up to the Oval match, the Indian players took in the sights of London ranging from the Big Ben to the House of Commons. On Saturday, the team opted for rest and England's players too put their feet up.  A change from cricket's grind is most welcome and India also needs to alter its script in matches. 

Sunday also marks Rahul Dravid's last stint at Lord's. He started his international career here in 1996 and it is a journey well lived. Wish we could say the same thing about India's current tour.

The teams (from):

India: M.S. Dhoni (captain), Rahul Dravid, Suresh Raina, Virat Kohli, Ajinkya Rahane, Parthiv Patel, Ravindra Jadeja, Praveen Kumar, Munaf Patel, Vinay Kumar, R.P. Singh, Varun Aaron, Amit Mishra, R. Ashwin, Manoj Tiwary and S. Badrinath.

 England: Alastair Cook (captain), Craig Kieswetter, Ian Bell, Jonathan Trott, Ben Stokes, Ravi Bopara, James Anderson, Stuart Broad, Tim Bresnan, Jade Dernbach, Steven Finn, Graeme Swann and Samit Patel.

 Umpires: Marais Erasmus and Richard Illingworth; Third umpire: Billy Doctrove; Match referee: Jeff Crowe.

Match starts at 2.45 p.m. IST.

India,s Loss Again

India's agony continues....

AP England's Graeme Swann smiles after scoring the winning run against India during the third ODI match at the Oval cricket ground, London on Friday

 

 

India’s cup of woes continued to overflow under the damp skies in England. The host defeated M.S. Dhoni’s men by three wickets in the third ODI of the NatWest Series at the Oval here on Friday night.

Chasing India’s 234 for seven, England scored 218 for seven in 41.5 overs after the overall target was reduced to 218 from 43 overs following a rain-interruption. England has now taken an unassailable 2-0 lead with two more matches left in the series.

England’s pursuit commenced on a healthy note with Craig Kieswetter (51, 46b, 3x4, 3x6) and skipper Alastair Cook sharing a 63-run partnership. Kieswetter clouted Praveen Kumar for two sixes and also enjoyed a reprieve when he popped a catch back to a tumbling Munaf Patel, who failed to hold on.

The texture of the contest changed when the spinners struck in tandem after Munaf prised out Cook. Jadeja and Ashwin castled Kieswetter and Trott respectively and with England on 95 for three in 20 overs, India sniffed a chance and at that precise moment the skies opened up.

England better placed

England was however better placed as per the Duckworth-Lewis method that required them to muster a par score of 90 for three in 20 overs. The inclement weather improved for the better and when the match resumed with England needing 123 from 23 overs, India again sensed a chance as Dhoni’s throw caught Ian Bell napping and Ashwin bowled Ben Stokes around his legs.

Ravi Bopara (40) and Tim Bresnan then nudged the score until Jadeja struck again. The left-arm spinner bowled Bresnan through the gate. It all boiled down to 17 from 18 deliveries and Ashwin added another twist to the tale by breaching Bopara’s citadel. India had no more luxuries as Graeme Swann and Stuart Broad sealed the match in England’s favour.

Fatal trigger

Earlier the Indian fans in their blue jerseys had hardly settled down when their favourite team re-visited its batting horrors in the Tests. The fatal trigger was the familiar mix of overcast skies, hint of swing and James Anderson steaming in.

The collapse forced Dhoni (69) to oscillate between attack and the hurried single. The skipper’s effort and Jadeja’s 78 helped India post a score that seemed impossible after the initial pavilion-bound procession once Cook won the toss and opted to field.

Anderson played an active hand in reducing the visitor to 25 for four in 10.2 overs. Ajinkya Rahane nibbled at his third delivery and deprived of the short-pitched stuff to pull and slash, a cramped Parthiv Patel pushed Bresnan to mid-off, tried to steal a single and Rahul Dravid failed to beat Anderson’s throw at the striker’s end. Anderson then cleaned up Parthiv with the fuller length while the opener tried to flick one off his toes.

The misery continued when Virat Kohli wafted at Anderson. Suresh Raina flicked Bresnan and lofted Anderson but a needless swipe against Broad proved costly and India needed a rousing effort and strong partnerships.

Dhoni (69, 103b, 5x4) complied with the requirement. He drove Anderson, punched Jade Dernbach and quickly switched to his tap-and-run routine. The Indian captain nearly inner-edged Ravi Bopara onto his stumps but the ball raced to the fine-leg boundary and it was the sort of luck that he and the team needed besides a strong ally and that he found through southpaw Jadeja (78, 89b, 10x4).

Good comeback

Making a comeback into the Indian team and picked ahead of Manoj Tiwary, Jadeja looked assured and threaded a few through the off-side . Along with his captain, Jadeja raised 112 runs for the sixth-wicket and just as the batting Power Play was sought from the 44th over, Dhoni fell. Jadeja and an enterprising Ashwin then batted with abandon. Dernbach was thumped for 19 runs in an over with the pick being Jadeja’s pick-up stroke and Ashwin’s upper-cut.

Jadeja was dismissed in the last over and later under lights he watched his effort go in vain as England reigned supreme.

The scores.

India: Parthiv Patel b Anderson 3 (19b), A. Rahane c Trott b Anderson 0 (3b), R. Dravid (run out) 2 (11b), V. Kohli c Kieswetter b Anderson 7 (18b), S. Raina c Kieswetter b Broad 21 (36b, 1x4, 1x6), M.S. Dhoni c Cook b Bresnan 69 (103b, 5x4), R. Jadeja c Bell b Dernbach 78 (89b, 10x4), R. Ashwin (not out) 36 (19b, 5x4), Praveen Kumar (not out) 1 (2b). Extras (lb-7, w-10): 17; Total (for seven wkts., in 50 overs): 234.

Power Plays: First (Overs 1 - 10): 25/3; Bowling (11 - 15): 23/1; Batting (44 - 48): 51/1.

Fall of wickets: 1-1 (Rahane), 2-9 (Dravid), 3-13 (Parthiv), 4-25 (Kohli), 5-58 (Raina), 6-170 (Dhoni), 7-229 (Jadeja).

England bowling: Anderson 9-1-48-3, Bresnan 10-2-32-1, Dernbach 10-1-53-1, Broad 9-1-47-1, Swann 10-0-31-0, Bopara 2-0-16-0.

England: A. Cook lbw b Munaf 23 (34b, 3x4), C. Kieswetter b Jadeja 51 (46b, 3x4, 3x6), J. Trott b Ashwin 11 (25b), I. Bell (run out) 23 (25b, 2x4), B. Stokes b Ashwin 20 (31b, 1x6), R. Bopara b Ashwin 40 (41b, 4x4), T. Bresnan b Jadeja 28 (38b, 1x4), S. Broad (not out) 5 (6b), G. Swann (not out) 9 (5b, 1x4). Extras (b-2, lb-3, w-3): 8. Total (for seven wkts., in 41.5 overs): 218.

Power Plays: One (Overs 1 – 10): 63/1; Bowling (11 - 15): 16/0; Batting (41 – 41.5): 17/1.

Fall of wickets: 1-63 (Cook), 2-87 (Kieswetter), 3-89 (Trott), 4-131 (Bell), 5-133 (Stokes), 6-193 (Bresnan), 7-208 (Bopara).

India bowling: Praveen 4-0-20-0, R.P. Singh 6-0-32-0, Munaf 8.5-0-63-1, Jadeja 9-0-42-2, Ashwin 9-0-40-3, Raina 5-0-16-0.

Ind Vs Eng 3rd ODI Cricinfo

Demoralised India wait for miracle turnaround

AP Dhoni laid himself bare to media after losing the second one-dayer at Rose Bowl on Tuesday, fretting about the sameness of his fast bowlers and their general lack of pace.

The horror seems far from over as an injury-ravaged Indian cricket team gears up for the third cricket one-dayer against England here tomorrow, still looking for that elusive win which would lift the sagging morale of the battle-weary side.

Trailing 0-1 in the five-match series after being whitewashed 0-4 in the Tests, Mahendra Singh Dhoni and his men have reasons to feel fatalistic ahead of the day-night encounter.

The visitors are worried on the count of lack of bowling firepower in their ranks and are resigned to the fact England would chase down any total they can rustle up in remaining one-dayers.

Dhoni laid himself bare to media after losing the second one-dayer at Rose Bowl on Tuesday, fretting about the sameness of his fast bowlers and their general lack of pace.

“If it doesn’t swing, we struggle. Most of our bowlers are in the 120-130 kmph range and it becomes very difficult,” or words to similar effect was Dhoni’s lament and tomorrow could just make his worst fears come true.

The pitch at the Oval offers bounce but no sideways movement and the gentle pace of Indian seamers could turn out to be fodder for England batsmen.

Dhoni concedes Praveen Kumar is not his best option in death overs and he is forced to keep Munaf Patel a lot towards the end than in the initial overs.

If India can’t strike early, it is a given that the rest of the overs would be savaged by the in-form England batsmen.

A similar thing occurred in the second one-dayer where India ran up a decent total but were powerless to stop England from romping home with seven wickets to spare.

The crushing dominance was evident when England were 100 up on the board with 10 full overs yet to be completed.

As if this was not enough, India is also worried on the count of fifth bowler’s quota - a job Yuvraj Singh used to do with such aplomb in the past.

In the rain-hit second match, it fell on Virat Kohli and Suresh Raina to do the job but it would be beyond them to remain useful over a stretch of 10 overs.

That makes the inclusion of Ravindra Jadeja a strong possibility. The Gujarat all-rounder is a useful left-arm spinner and can add up a decent package with his notable fielding and batting.

His inclusion would almost surely bring the aspirations of Manoj Tiwary for the rest of the series to a premature end.

Ironically, India’s batting showed little effect of downturn despite losing so many stalwarts up the order.

Parthiv Patel and Ajinkya Rahane have been startlingly good up the order. Virat Kohli has shown good intent and Suresh Raina is laying about the bowling with a streak of vengeance.

Thus England could sense a killing in the rest of the matches. The pitches at the remaining three venues are unlikely to help seam and swing.

Indians might be a depleted lot but England would take immense delight in prevailing over the visitors and ending the summer in style.

England wouldn’t take their foot off the pedal for it’s a good practice opportunity for them to iron out their one-day follies.

For one, they are not seen as particularly adventurous in initial overs. The issue was met squarely by England openers in the second one-dayer.

Another issue is their rather timid approach in death overs. The hosts would be keen to sort this out too.

England have largely been an orthodox unit in one-day cricket. They are now bringing in a new set of players who can resort to unorthodox tactics.

Men like Craig Kieswetter and Ben Stokes are being primed for such roles. Their bowling in death overs has received a boost with the arrival of Jade Dernbach.

It being a day-night fixture, both sides would be keen to win the toss and bat first. Luck has been seen as an important ingredient in Dhoni’s extraordinary record as a Test captain.

It hasn’t shown up by his side on this tour so far. For a starter, it could help him by flipping the coin in his favour on Friday.

Teams (from):

England: Alastair Cook (capt), James Anderson, Ian Bell, Ravi Bopara, Tim Bresnan, Stuart Broad, Jade Dernbach, Steven Finn, Craig Kieswetter, Samit Patel, Ben Stokes, Graeme Swann, Jonathan Trott.

India: Mahendra Singh Dhoni (capt), Ajinkya Rahane, Rahul Dravid, Virat Kohli, Manoj Tiwary, Suresh Raina, Praveen Kumar, Munaf Patel, RP Singh, Vinay Kumar, R Ashwin, Amit Mishra, Parthiv Patel, Ravindra Jadeja, Varun Aaron.

The match will start at 5.30 p.m (IST).