SL Test Squad for Pak Series

#Cricket #SriLanka #announced #16man #squad for the #Test #series #against #Pakistan #starts #from #June17 at #Galle....

Posted by Cricket Funnda on Friday, 12 June 2015

Good Bye to Ashes Winner

#England #wicketkeeper #batsman #MattPrior #retires #from #cricket in the #age of #33Years. He #scored 4099 #runs in 79...

Posted by Cricket Funnda on Friday, 12 June 2015

Pakistan Test Squad

#Team #Pakistan ready to #takeoff for #Srilanka #tour!#PAKvSL#greenshirts#teamgreen#ilanders

Posted by Cricket Funnda on Monday, 8 June 2015

Proteas New Look

#New #T20 #Kit for #Team #SouthAfrica!#Proteas#ProteaFire#T20I

Posted by Cricket Funnda on Tuesday, 9 June 2015

ICC refuses request for early test

International cricket council rejected the request of Pakistan cricket board for early test of Hafeez's bowling action. PCB asked to ICC for bio mechanic test on 28th Jan but ICC remain the test date of 6th Feb. Official report regarding test will be issued after 14 days of test. In the case of clearance Hafeez's will be able to bowl in the match against West Indies.

Ronchi blasts again in world record partnership 2015

A world record sixth-wicket stand by Luke Ronchi and Grant Elliott has set up New Zealand's 108-run win in the fifth one-day international against Sri Lanka at Dunedin's University Oval.

The Black Caps racked up an intimidating 360-5, thanks to the pair's unbeaten 267-run partnership and although Sri Lanka started strongly, the asking run rate climbed steadily once mainstay Tillakaratne Dilshan was out for 116 early in the 37th over.

Sri Lanka were all out for 252 four balls into the 44th over.

Stand-in skipper Lahiru Thirimanne and Dilshan put on 93 for the first wicket before Thirimanne holed out to Ross Taylor in the deep.

Elliott claimed his second victim with the first ball of the 26th over, Kumar Sangakkara gone for nine when he chipped a slower ball over mid on for Nathan McCullum to safely gather.

Dilshan and Mahela Jayawardene put on 70 for the third wicket, but once Jayawardene departed in the 36th over, clean bowled by Trent Boult, it was all downhill for the visitors.

Dilshan went three balls later, one of Mitchell McClenaghan's two victims, and the last six wickets fell for just 37 runs.

Boult was the best of the Kiwi bowlers, emerging with 4-44 off 10 overs while Elliott, Tim Southee and McClenaghan all picked up two apiece.

Earlier, Elliott played an invaluable supporting role to Ronchi's spectacular unbeaten 170 as the pair revived New Zealand's innings after they faltered to 93-5 after 20 overs.

If Ronchi was outstanding in belting 14 fours and nine sixes off 99 balls in his maiden ODI century, Elliott's more measured innings was no less valuable.

His 104 came off 96 balls, as he kept the run rate ticking over and rotated the strike to keep Ronchi facing.

Ronchi and Elliott came together in the 20th over, with New Zealand looking decidedly shaky at 93-5.

Ronchi took 38 balls to reach his first 50 and 36 for his second before letting fly to rack up his third 50 in just 18 balls.

Ronchi and Elliott's partnership for the sixth wicket beat the previous best mark for all countries of 218, set by MS Dhoni and Mahela Jayawardene for an Asian XI against an African XI in 2007.

It was also the second-highest partnership for any wicket set by New Zealanders, bettered only by Brendon McCullum and James Marshall's 274 against Ireland in 2008.

New Zealand lead the seven-match series 3-1, with one match remaining in Dunedin on Sunday before the final game in Wellington next week

Smith show his superb class contineously

Steve Smith has continued his winning ways as captain of Australia, guiding his men to what was ultimately a tense four-wicket ODI Tri-Series win over England at Blundstone Arena.

Smith finished unbeaten on 102 as the hosts chased 304 with one ball to spare to officially book themselves a spot in the final Waca, Perth on February 1.

The hosts’ victory overshadowed a magnificent 141 by England opening batsman Ian Bell, who became his country’s most prolific run-scorer in the 50-over format.

Australia now head to Sydney for the Australia Day clash against India, while England travel west to Perth meet India in what could be a do-or-die match for the remaining final spot.

Smith won his first toss as ODI captain, but the move looked to be a poor one when Bell and Ali creamed the new ball attack to all parts to bring up the England fifty inside nine overs.

Bell was classical on the front foot, lacing boundary after boundary through the covers and straight past the bowler to raise his own half-century off 42 balls with eight fours.

Ali at the other end was finding it hard to get bat on ball. Half a dozen balls flew past the left-hander's searching blade before the shackles were broken with a trio of sixes over mid-wicket off Pat Cummins.

The joy was short-lived for Ali, undone by James Faulkner for 46 to end the opening stand on 113, and one wicket quickly became two when James Taylor failed for five 19 runs later.

But Bell was unmoved, motoring to his century from 92 balls, and in the process becoming England’s highest run-scorer in ODI cricket, surpassing Paul Collingwood.

Together, Bell and Root put on 121, guiding England to 250 shortly after the 40th over, but when Bell and Eoin Morgan fell within three balls of each other, then Root 20 runs later, hopes for a score close to 350 quickly vanished.

Australia may have wasted the new ball, but with the old they were at their frugal best, restricting the visitors to just one boundary in the last six overs, finishing the innings with a team hat-trick to chase just over a run a ball.

On 76, Australia lost their first wicket in Finch for 32, bowled by Ali with one that dipped under the batsman’s attempted drive to the on-side.

Sixteen runs later Marsh’s drive found a thick outside edge and Bell at backward point, and when Cameron White returned to the ODI crease for the first time in four years, he was sent back two balls later without scoring to have Australia teetering at 3-92 in the 17th over.

However, around their captain, Australia rallied.

 

Smith combined with each of Maxwell (37), Faulkner (35) and Brad Haddin (42 off 28) for half-century stands as Morgan could only bump Australia’s chase and not derail it.

A towering six off James Anderson took Smith to 96, and a tuck off the hip next over brought up his third ODI century to become the only Australian to score a century on Test and ODI captaincy debut.

Brad Haddin’s 29-ball cameo took the wind out England’s sails, but a tense finish followed thanks to some crafty death bowling by Woakes.

Henriques was run out off the third ball of the final over with still two required for victory, but singles to Smith and Mitchell Starc iced the game for the Australia to remain unbeaten.

Petersen back in grounds

Former South African batsman Alviro Petersen signed two year contract with English county Lankashire as non overseas players. Contract will extendable for 1 year, Petersen required NOC from government for play in England.

34 year old Petersen scored 2093 runs in 36 tests with average of 34.88 and retired recently from international cricket.

Adam Milne injured

New Zealand's rising star Adma Milne out for 5th and 6th ODI's against Sri Lanka due to side strain injury. Both matched scheduled on Dunedin at 23rd & 25th Jan.

Steyn's new mark

Star fast bowler Dale Steyn completed his 150 ODI wickets in 96th match, and get a 7th place in the list of top bowlers for South Africa. Steyn's partner Morne Morkel also get this mark in just 89 matches.

Zimbabwe preparations for Worldcup

Zimbabwe cricket team will be finalize preparation for ICC CWC 2015 in Dubai from 28th Jan. Zimbabwean coach David Watmore have confidence on his team to give tough time against big teams. He says, team have ability to upset in showcase event. Zimbabwe's first match in Worldcup on 15th Feb against South Africa.

Confident Ajmal in India for test

Banned Pakistani off spinner Saeed Ajmal landed in Chennai, India for official bio mechanic test. He much confident to clear his bowling action, he says "I am working on my action and new deliveries for 5 months and get grip of many of other varieties, hopefully my all deliveries will be cleared in this test including doosra".

Pakistan check in Kiwi's land

Pakistan cricket team has been landed on New Zealand after the long journey of 35 hours. Team will start net practice on Friday, two practice matches scheduled on Sunday and Tuesday against president eleven.  One Day Internationals will be played on 31st Jan and 3rd Feb with home team.

Pakistani batsman M. Hafeez recalled his memory after reaching New Zealand, he confident  to perform well on tour. He was scored his first ODI century on New Zealand,

Steyn rest to next matches

South Africa decided to give the rest to fast bowler Dale Steyn for remaining matches of ODI series against West Indies. Hashim Amla and Ab dE Villiers also take rest in 4th & 5th ODI repectively.

South Africa already secured the five matches series with 3-0.

Practice matches before Worldcup

ICC announced the schedule and venues of warm up matches before worldcup, will be played from February 8 to February 13.

8 February: Australia v India, 2pm, Adelaide Oval.
9 February: South Africa v Sri Lanka, 11am, Hagley Oval.
9 February: New Zealand v Zimbabwe, 11am Lincoln Oval.
9 February: England v West Indies, 2.30pm Sydney Cricket Ground.
9 February: Pakistan v Bangladesh, 2.30pm Blacktown.
10 February: India v Afghanistan, 2pm, Adelaide Oval.
10 February: Ireland v Scotland, 2.30pm, Blacktown.
11 February: South Africa v New Zealand, 11am, Hagley Oval.
11 February: Sri Lanka v Zimbabwe, 11am, Lincoln Oval.
11 February: Australia v United Arab Emirates, 2.30pm, MCG.
11 February: England v Pakistan, 2.30pm, SCG.
12 February: West Indies v Scotland, 9.30am, SCG.
12 February: Bangladesh v Ireland, 9.30am, Blacktown.
13 February: Afghanistan v United Arab Emirates, 10am, Junction Oval.

Hafeez going to retest

Pakistan are seeking to have the bowling action of allrounder Mohammad Hafeez cleared by the International Cricket Council in time for next month's ICC Cricket World Cup.

According to sources, the Pakistan Cricket Board has officially requested the ICC re-test Hafeez's action in the first week of February in the hope that he will be cleared for the tournament, which starts on February 14.

The off-spinner was suspended in December when it was determined that his action exceeded the 15-degree limit set by the ICC. He had been reported during Pakistan's Test series against New Zealand in November and then failed an official test at an ICC-accredited biomechanics testing laboratory in Loughborough, England.

Hafeez has taken 122 wickets in 153 ODIs and, despite the ban, is ranked No.11 in the world ODI bowling rankings and 15th in Twenty20s.

Hafeez was this month included in Pakistan's 15-man squad for the World Cup and will likely be retained in the squad as a batsman even if he is not permitted to bowl.

Allrounder out for next match

Shane Watson has been out of Friday's ODI Tri-Series match against England with a tight right hamstring. Allrounder Moises Henriques has been called into the squad

National Selection Panel chairman Rod Marsh said: "Moises is one of our leading all-rounders, he has international experience, and in Shane Watson's enforced absence it made perfect sense to draft him in for this match

Watson had left Australia's net session in Hobart on Thursday after bowling but he did not bat.

He later returned to watch the remainder of the training run from the back on the practice area.

George Bailey (suspension) and David Warner (hamstring soreness) will also miss tomorrow's clash against England, with Shaun Marsh to open alongside Aaron Finch, and Cameron White to bat in the middle order.

Left-arm spinner Xavier Doherty could return to the side for his home ODI after missing Australia's last-start win over India in Melbourne on Sunday.

Australia squad: Aaron Finch, Shaun Marsh, Cameron White, Steve Smith, Moises Henriques, Glenn Maxwell, Brad Haddin, James Faulkner, Mitchell Starc, Pat Cummins, Xavier Doherty, Gurinder Sandhu.

Worldcup 2015 Squads

Here is the final squads for ICC Cricket Worldcup 2015

Australia: Michael Clarke (c), George Bailey (v), Pat Cummins, Xavier Doherty, James Faulkner, Aaron Finch, Brad Haddin, Josh Hazlewood, Mitchell Johnson, Mitchell Marsh, Glenn Maxwell, Steve smith, Mitchell Starc, David Warner, Shane Watson.


West Indies: Jason Holder (captain), Marlon Samuels (vice-captain), Sulieman Benn, Darren Bravo, Jonathan Carter, Sheldon Cottrell, Christopher Gayle, Sunil Narine, Denesh Ramdin, Kemar Roach, Andre Russell, Darren Sammy, Lendl Simmons, Dwayne Smith, Jerome Taylor.


New Zealand: Brendon McCullum, Corey Anderson, Trent Boult, Grant Elliott, Martin Guptill, Tom Latham, Mitchell McClenaghan, Nathan McCullum, Kyle Mills, Adam Milne, Luke Ronchi, Tim Southee, Ross Taylor, Dan Vettori, Kane Williamson.


Sri Lanka: Angelo Mathews (capt), Tillakaratne Dilshan, Kumar Sangakkara, Mahela Jayawardene, Lahiru Thirimanne, Dinesh Chandimal, Dimuth Karunaratne, Jeevan Mendis, Thisara Perera, Suranga Lakmal, Lasith Malinga, Dhammika Prasad, Nuwan Kulasekara, Rangana Herath, Sachithra Senanayake.


South Africa: AB de Villiers (captain), Hashim Amla (vice-captain), Kyle Abbott, Farhaan Behardien, Quinton de Kock (wkt), JP Duminy, Faf du Plessis, Imran Tahir, David Miller, Morne Morkel, Wayne Parnell, Aaron Phangiso, Vernon Philander, Rilee Rossouw, Dale Steyn


PAKISTAN: Misbah-ul Haq (captain), Ahmed Shehzad, Mohammad Hafeez, Sarfraz Ahmed, Younis Khan, Haris Sohail, Umar Akmal, Sohaib Maqsood, Shahid Afridi, Yasir Shah, Mohammad Irfan, Junaid Khan, Ehsan Adil, Sohail Khan, Wahab Riaz.


England: Eoin Morgan (captain), Moeen Ali, James Anderson, Gary Ballance, Ian Bell, Ravi Bopara, Stuart Broad, Jos Buttler, Steven Finn, Alex Hales, Chris Jordan, Joe Root, James Taylor, James Tredwell, Chris Woakes.


India: MS Dhoni (Captain), Virat Kohli (V Captain), Ajinkya Rahane, Shikhar Dhawan, Rohit Sharma, Stuart Binny, Suresh Raina, Ravindra Jadeja, Ambati Rayudu, Axar Patel, R Ashwin, Bhuvneshwar Kumar, Md. Shami, Umesh Yadav, Ishant Sharma.


Bangladesh: Mashrafe Mortaza (captain), Shakib Al Hasan (vice-captain), Tamim Iqbal, Anamul Haque, Mominul Haque, Mahmudullah Riyad, Mushfiqur Rahim, Nasir Hossain, Taijul Islam, Taskin Ahmed, Al-Amin Hossain, Rubel Hossain, Soumya Sarkar, Sabbir Rahman, Arafat Sunny.


Afghanistan: Mohammad Nabi (captain), Nawroz Mangal, Asghar Stanikzai, Samiullah Shenwari, Afsar Zazai, Najibullah Zadran, Nasir Jamal, Mirwais Ashraf, Gulbadin Naib, Hamid Hassan, Shapoor Zadran, Dawlat Zadran, Aftab Alam, Javed Ahmadi, Usman Ghani.


Ireland: William Porterfield (captain), Andrew Balbirnie, Peter Chase, Alex Cusack, George Dockrell, Ed Joyce, Andrew McBrine, John Mooney, Max Sorensen, Kevin O’Brien, Niall O’Brien, Paul Stirling, Stuart Thompson, Gary Wilson, Craig Young.


UAE: Mohammed Tauqir (capt), Khurram Khan, Swapnil Patil, Saqlain Haider, Amjad Javed, Shaiman Anwar, Amjad Ali, Nasir Aziz, Rohan Mustafa, Manjula Guruge, Andri Berenger, Fahad Al Hashmi, Muhammad Naveed, Kamran Shahzad, Krishna Karate.


Zimbabwe: Elton Chigumbura (capt), Sikandar Raza, Regis Chakabva, Tendai Chatara, Chamu Chibhabha, Craig Ervine, Tafadzwa Kamungozi, Hamilton Masakadza, Stuart Matsikenyeri, Solomon Mire, Tawanda Mupariwa, Tinashe Panyangara, Brendan Taylor, Prosper Utseya, Sean Williams


Scotland: Preston Mommsen (captain), Kyle Coetzer, Richie Berrington, Frederick Coleman, Matthew Cross, Joshua Davey, Alasdair Evans, Hamish Gardiner, Majid Haq, Michael Leask, Matt Machan, Calum MacLeod, Safyaan Sharif, Robert Taylor, Iain Wardlaw

South Africa win the series

The West Indies have suffered a humiliating nine-wicket defeat having collapsed to 122 all out as South Africa clinched their five-match one-day series after just three games.

Marlon Samuels made 26 but no other West Indian batsmen reached 20 in a dismal performance on a good pitch at Buffalo Park on Wednesday.

Man of the match Vernon Philander took two wickets inside the first two overs and finished with 3-27, while leg-spinner Imran Tahir claimed a career-best 4-28.

South Africa needed just 24.4 overs to complete the series-clinching win.

Hashim Amla's unbeaten 61 not out took his runs tally for the series to 280 with just one dismissal, while Faf du Plessis made 51 not out.

It was another crushing defeat for the West Indies following a one-sided encounter in the second match in Johannesburg last Sunday when South Africa made 2-439 on the way to winning by 148 runs.

With the series secured, De Villiers said the remaining members of the World Cup squad would get an opportunity to play in the two remaining matches.

Wasim Akram shows believe on Starc

Australia’s lethal left-arm swing bowler Mitchell Starc is “almost there” amongst the world’s best fast bowlers according to Pakistan champion bowler Wasim Akram.

Akram spoke at the unveiling of the new Ricky Ponting and David Boon stands at Blundstone Arena today where he applauded the efforts of Starc and fellow southpaw Mitchell Johnson for their progression and performance with the swinging ball.

“I am very impressed with both of them,” Akram said in Hobart.

“Mitchell Johnson - unbelievable last couple of years and Starc is also looking good, he’s improving ever game.

“The more he plays the better he’ll become. He’s got the pace, he’s got the swing, he’s tall, he’s strong, and he’s the using the crease as well, bowling over the wicket, around the wicket.

“So he’s getting there. The other day he got wickets against India and to me it looks like he’s there now, he’s getting there.

“Bit more hard work and he’ll be up there.”

The 104-Test veteran first spoke to Starc during the 2012-13 New Year’s Test against India, alerting the Australian to the importance of a supple wrist when releasing the ball.

Starc’s ability to conventionally swing the new ball and reverse the old one has reaped 10 wickets at 8.5 runs apiece in Australia’s two Carlton Mid ODI Tri-Series matches.

The 24-year-old was devastating up front in game one against England, trapping Ian Bell and James Taylor with two perfectly pitched inswingers to leave the tourists in tatters at 2-0 after three balls.

Akram also credits Johnson’s re-discovery of that elusive swing for his return to the summit as one of the world most feared bowlers.

Johnson claimed 37 Ashes wickets last summer in a year that saw him regain the fearsome pace and accuracy that had him crowned the ICC Player of the Year.

“Mitchell Starc’s natural swing is inswing. Johnson has learned (how to swing the ball) in the last couple of years, that’s why he’s been so consistent and so lethal because of his pace.

“145-150(kph) clocking every time. It shows the fitness of the man as well.”