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.”

Probable Aussies in IPL 2015

Australians in IPL8:

Retained players by IPL teams: Nathan Coulter-Nile (Delhi), George Bailey, Glenn Maxwell, Mitchell Johnson, Shaun Marsh (KXIP), Chris Lynn, Pat Cummins (KKR), Josh Hazlewood (Mumbai), Shane Watson, Ben Cutting, James Faulkner, Kane Richardson, Steve Smith (Rajasthan), Mitchell Starc, Nic Maddinson (RCB), David Warner, Moises Henriques (Hyderabad).

Released players by IPL teams: Ben Hilfenhaus, John Hastings, David Hussey (CSK), Michael Hussey, Ben Dunk (Mumbai), Brad Hodge (Rajasthan), Aaron Finch (Hyderabad).

Pakistan on road to Worldcup

Pakistan cricket team take off from Lahore to New Zealand for two one day internationals before ICC CWC 2015. 1st ODI scheduled on 31st Jan and second will be on 3rd Feb. Pakistan's fast bowler Junad Khan did not go with team due to injury.

Bell makes history

35 – Number of fifty-plus scores for Ian Bell in One Day Internationals, the most by a batsman from England. Bell has three centuries and 32 fifties.

He trumped Kevin Pietersen, who had 34 fifty-plus scores (nine hundreds and 25 half-centuries). The 32-year-old Bell is also now just five runs away from becoming only the second English batsman -  after Paul Collingwood – to make 5,000 ODI runs.

Ronchi blasts for New Zealand victory

New Zealand wicketkeeper Luke Ronchi slammed 24 runs off the 48th over to secure a four-wicket win in the fourth one-day international against Sri Lanka in Nelson.

Chasing 277 after Sri Lanka won the toss and batted first at Saxton Oval, the Black Caps won with 11 balls in hand to take a 2-1 lead in the seven-match series.

Ronchi's unbeaten 32 off 15 balls provided the finishing flourish, but Kane Williamson set up Tuesday's win with his fifth ODI century after New Zealand's run chase looked shaky when they lost openers Brendon McCullum for 11 and Martin Guptill for 20.

Ross Taylor's dismissal for 8 left the Black Caps 63-3 after 15 overs, but an 88-run stand for the fourth wicket rebuilt the innings until Grant Elliott's dismissal for 44 early in the 33rd over.

Williamson then built another solid partnership with Corey Anderson, adding 79 for the fifth wicket before he was clean bowled by Thisara Perera for 103 with the last ball of the 44th over.

New Zealand still looked in a good position, needing 47 to win from 36 balls, but a direct hit left Anderson (47) short of his ground an over later and the pressure was back on until Ronchi let fly with three sixes in the 48th over.

The Kiwi bowlers had earlier reined in a strong Sri Lankan start, choking the lower order after a 102-run stand for the second wicket between Tillakaratne Dilshan and Kumar Sangakkara set them up for a 300-plus total.

The visitors looked set for a big finish, but lost six wickets in the final five overs for just 31 runs.

Dilshan, whose 116 off 127 balls set up Sri Lanka's six-wicket win in the second ODI, was dismissed for 44 by Williamson in the 21st over.

Adam Milne broke up a promising partnership when he removed Sangakkara for 76 then skipper Angelo Mathews without scoring with consecutive balls in the 34th over.

Mahela Jayawardene set about regaining the initiative, combining with Lahiru Thirimanne in a 65-run stand for the fifth wicket.

But it was all downhill for the visitors once Thirimanne was clean bowled by Mitchell McClenaghan for 19 halfway through the 45th over.

Jayawardene edged a faint touch from Corey Anderson to Ronchi's safe gloves an over later, out for 96 hunting his second century of the series after stroking 104 in the first ODI.

The final four wickets fell for 23 runs as Tim Southee finished with 3-59 off his 10 overs, with Milne (2-28) and McClenaghan (2-58) also providing valuable contributions.

Finn's five fires

Almost a year to the day after leaving Australia a shattered man, Steven Finn returned career-best one-day international figures to inspire England's nine-wicket romp over India in Brisbane on Tuesday night.

Finn (5-33) claimed his maiden ODI five-wicket haul, combining with fit-again James Anderson (4-18) to rout India for 153 within 40 overs.

England then cruised to a bonus point victory when Ian Bell (88 not out off 91 balls) and James Taylor (56 not out off 63 balls) shared an unbroken 131-run second wicket stand to reach 1-156 with a staggering 22.3 overs to spare.

Finn claimed man of the match honours barely a year after leaving the Ashes tour with a huge question mark over his career.

He wrapped up the innings with three wickets in eight balls.

When Anderson bowled Bhuvneshwar Kumar for five he notched wicket No.38 against India - a new record in India-England one-day clashes.

He then claimed India's top scorer Stuart Binny (44) and Mohammed Shami in consecutive balls to bring an end to their innings.

England lost Moeen Ali for eight before the break.

 

Bell and Taylor both went for ducks in England's opening Carlton Mid ODI Tri-Series loss to Australia but looked in top form against India.

Bell clocked his first ODI half-century in 10 innings, while Taylor registered a third 50 in six matches.

England's thumping victory ensured India are winless in eight matches on tour in Australia.

England meet Australia in the next tri series clash in Hobart on Friday.

Craig Kieswetter's injury

There are fears that the cricket career of 27-year-old England wicketkeeper Craig Kieswetter could be over.

Kieswetter broke his nose and damaged his eye socket and cheekbone when a ball went through the grille of his helmet in a English county match in July.

He underwent facial surgery and returned to action in September, but has since complained of impaired vision and will travel to Belgium this week for further assessment from a specialist.

His county Somerset expect him to miss at least the 2015 season and director of cricket Matthew Maynard fears the injury could even lead to a premature end to his career.

Kieswetter's comeback appeared to be on track after he returned for Somerset late in the season before heading to South Africa to play domestic T20 cricket for the Warriors.

But it was during his time in South Africa that Kieswetter realised his vision was still effected.

Kieswetter has played 46 one-day internationals and 25 T20s for England, including a match-winning 63 in their World T20 final triumph over Australia in 2010.

Smith lead to Australia in next ODI

Steve Smith has been named captain of Australia's one-day team for Friday's Carlton Mid ODI Tri-Series match against England with George Bailey suspended after a second slow-over rate offence in Sunday's match in Melbourne.

Shaun Marsh and Cameron White have both been called up for the fourth match in the tri-series, with David Warner not travelling with the squad to Hobart to recuperate after picking up a slight hamstring strain earlier in the series.

Smith will become Australia's 22nd ODI skipper and his appointment was made following approval by the Cricket Australia Board of Directors.

"Steven's appointment was a straightforward decision given the excellent impression he made in charge of the side during the Commonwealth Bank Test series when he stepped in for the injured Michael Clarke," said National Selector Rod Marsh.

"It is unfortunate for George Bailey that he will miss the match in his home state but in Steven we have a dynamic player who leads from the front, by example, and we look forward to him doing so again on Friday."

SQUAD

Steven Smith (captain), Patrick Cummins, Xavier Doherty, James Faulkner, Aaron Finch, Brad Haddin, Shaun Marsh, Glenn Maxwell, Gurinder Sandhu, Mitchell Starc, Shane Watson, Cameron White

Sangakkara's new record

Sri Lanka's master batsmen Kumar Sangakkara make the new record in 3rd ODI against New Zealand. Now he is most successful ODI batsman for Sri Lanka with scored 13,490 runs.

Bad news for Bangladesh cricket

Bangladesh's slow left arm bowler Taijul Islam injured during practice camp for ICC CWC 2015. Taijul Islam started with his ODI cricket with hat trick. Team Bangladesh will fly to Australia on Jan 24, 2015.