George Bailey suspended for slow over-rate

Australia will need a new one-day captain for their third Carlton Mid ODI Tri-Series match after George Bailey was suspended for his side’s slow over-rate in yesterday’s tense win over India.

International Cricket Council match referee Andy Pycroft ruled that Australia were one over short of their target at the conclusion of India’s innings when time allowances were taken into consideration, and in doing so suspended Bailey from Australia’s next ODI in Hobart on Friday.

It was Bailey’s second slow over-rate offence in the last 12 months after he was fined in the first ODI in Perth against South Africa on November 14, and pleaded guilty to the offence, accepting the sanction without the need for a formal hearing.

De Villiers blasts fastest ODI century

AB de Villiers smashed the fastest century in ODI history - from just 31 balls - to propel South Africa to 2-439 from their 50 overs in the second One-Day International in Johannesburg. 

Opening pair Hashim Amla (153 not out) and Rilee Rossouw (128) also made centuries, the first time three players have reached three figures in the same ODI innings. 

But it was all about De Villiers, who didn't arrive at the crease until the 39th over but went on to make an astonishing 149 from 44 deliveries, equalling the world record mark of 16 sixes in an ODI innings in the process. 

De Villiers and Amla put on 192 for the second wicket, from just 68 balls, as South Africa eclipsed their highest-ever ODI total by a single run.

Amla makes history

Amla made a run-a-ball 66 at the top of the order to reach the 5,000 ODI run mark in his 101st innings, comfortably quicker than the legendary Viv Richards and current Indian superstar Virat Kohli, both of whom took 114 innings to get to the milestone. 

Amla and de Villiers sets up easy SA win

Hashim Amla became the fastest South African batsmen to reach 5000 ODI runs a run-a-ball 66 in his 101st innings and set South Africa up to take the series lead. He starred in a 99-run third-wicket stand with AB de Villiers, in which runs were scored at 6.82 to the over before de Villiers and David Miller posted 123. That ensured even when South Africa fell away and lost 5 for 34, they still had enough despite the two-hour-45-minute rain interruption.

West Indies' target was adjusted to a 229 off 33 overs and then 226 off 32 overs when rain returned again but they were only in with a chance of chasing it when Chris Gayle was at the crease. He plundered 41 runs off 24 balls but his high-risk style of play left him vulnerable to an early dismissal. When it came in the sixth over, it sparked a top-order collapse of 4 for 38 which gave way to a lower-order folding of 6 for 46. Imran Tahir claimed three of those wickets chiefly through well-executed googlies and sliders to bring up his 50th ODI scalp.

Jason Holder, in his first match as captain, would have wanted more from the men he said were ready to show fight. He shouldered the bulk of that responsibility when he opened the bowling, brought himself back on at crucial times, tasked himself with targeting the South African lower-order and ran an impressive 9.8 kilometres in the field but he learnt that one man cannot do the job on his own. Just ask Gayle.

After missing out on Wednesday night's T20, also at Kingsmead, with a recurrence of his back problem, Gayle approached this innings as though it was two days' ago. He flung his bat at everything, despite the steep target. "I am trying to understand it, but I can't," Michael Holding lamented, when discussing Gayle's strategy, or lack thereof. It only took the introduction of Dale Steyn to cause Gayle to run out of luck and allow South Africa the only inroad they needed.

Gayle should have modelled his innings on Amla's to start with. He saw off a tricky opening period, when Jerome Taylor found the right length to dismiss both Rilee Rossouw, who racked up a fifth duck in 10 innings, and Faf du Plessis, a first duck in 61, in the Powerplay. But West Indies failed to cash in on their early breakthroughs and lost their lines.

They offered so much width. Amla was able to treble his score from 13 off the first 19 balls he faced to 39 by the time he'd faced 40. AB de Villiers, sent in earlier than usual at No. 4, was also off to a speedy start. 17 runs came off 15 balls.

Andre Russell tried to make the extra bounce work in his favour by holding back his length but the South African pair were quick to pounce on anything short. They brought up a hundred inside 17 overs and a massive total was looming but Amla was in such a hurry to get there, he underestimated Russell's arm. He was run-out but South Africa's momentum was not.

They promoted David Miller ahead of JP Duminy and de Villiers immediately adjusted his pace. He slowed down to allow Miller to settle and the pair formed the spine of South Africa's total. They shared the highest partnership of the innings of 123 runs and batted for a ball shy of 20 overs, to take South Africa to the brink of a flourishing finish as West Indies flagged in the searing heat.

It was only when both holed out that West Indies had the opportunity to come back into the match. Russell used fancy footwork to run Farhaan Behardien out - the second time on this tour his boot has ushered the ball on its way to breaking the stumps - had Duminy caught behind off a short ball and Philander in the deep before a storm swept through.

It was accompanied by gale-force winds, of the literal kind, which only made it more difficult for South Africa when they took the field and met the other Gayle-force. West Indies were off to a flier but they needed support from the rest of the line-up, particularly the experience.

But Marlon Samuels was run out lazily, Dwayne Smith was deceived by a slider and Jonathan Carter beaten by the googly. Vernon Philander was rewarded for consistent effort towards the end and Steyn cleaned up the tail as the inevitable outcome was completed.

Australia comfortable victory in tri-series opener

David Warner’s first one-day international century in almost three years has guided Australia to a three-wicket, bonus point win over England in the first Carlton Mid ODI Tri-Series match at the SCG.

Warner’s 127 from 115 balls was his first since March 2012 as Australia chased down England's 234 all out with 61 balls to spare to secure five competition points.

The win was set up by Australia’s new ball attack which ripped the tourists’ top order apart, with Mitchell Starc picking up two wickets in the first three balls of the match to finish with figures of 4-42 from 8.5 overs.

England recovered from the horror start thanks to Eoin Morgan’s first hundred as the full-time 50-over captain, scoring 121 off 136 balls to give his bowlers a respectable total to bowl to.

England’s leading ODI run-scorer in 2014 Joe Root lasted 15 balls before a thick outside off the pace of Pat Cummins found Shane Watson’s safe hands at first slip to reduce the visitors to 3-12 inside four overs.

More trouble would follow when Moeen Ali succumbed to George Bailey’s trap at deep point to go for 22 from 21 balls and sink England to 4-33.

Amidst the carnage, Morgan established a steely presence at the crease, and in tandem with Ravi Bopara saw England through the mandatory 10-over power play the drinks break.

With the players rehydrated and the lacquer all but gone from the pair of white kookaburras, Bailey turned to his specialist spinner Doherty, who wasted no time in removing Bopara at backward point to continue the visitors’ decline.

Morgan found an ally in wicketkeeper Jos Buttler as the pair worked singles, ran hard for twos and defied Bailey’s attempts to break through and expose England’s lengthy tail.

It would be more than 14 overs in between boundaries for the tourists, but the six that broke the dought brought up Morgan’s fifty in the first over of the batting powerplay.

The batting powerplay is designed to provide batsmen a five-over block to hit out before the obligatory final stages blitzkrieg, but invariably produces wickets. That trend continued when England’s rear guard partnership of 67 was broken by James Faulkner who removed Buttler to a good catch by David Warner at deep point.

As Morgan pushed England towards 200 and his own century, Woakes offered Steve Smith arguably the easiest catch of his blossoming career at mid-wicket, and the 25-year-old obliged to send the fast bowler on his way for eight.

Twelve runs off Glenn Maxwell’s sixth over had Morgan within one blow of reaching his seventh ODI ton, and two overs later a lofted drive over cover for four got him to triple-figures from 127 deliveries.

Another fifty-run stand came in flash between Morgan in Jordan before the fast bowler picked out Maxwell in the deep to go for 17, and two lusty blows and 10 runs later, Morgan’s valiant knock came to an end to give Starc his third wicket, before wrapping up the innings with Steve Finn first ball.

While Warner’s Test form has reached new heights over the past 18 months, his form in the 50-over format has been forgettable.

But the dynamic left-hander set about fixing his one-day dilemma in the first match of 2015 by launching at the English attack with the fearless stroke play that’s made him one of the most feared batsman in Test cricket.

Six boundaries in the first 10 overs had Warner on his way, but his opening partner Aaron Finch failed to match his partner’s exuberance, chopping Woakes on for 15 off 18 balls.

Warner was joined by the broad shoulders of Watson in the middle, and after a clip and cut for four each, Watson’s uneasy time with the blade was prolonged when he top edged Jordan to be caught short of the square leg boundary for 16.

At one stage the 25-year-old was nine off 26 balls, but in a blink of an eye, the blond batsman was 33 off 40 and had Australia in the box seat to take out game one of the seven-match tri-series.

But as Warner closed in on his hundred, an uncharacteristic rush of blood by Smith saw him run past an Ali off-break to be bowled for 37.

Skipper Bailey survived a strong appeal for lbw that on replay was proven adjacent, but his luck ran out on 10 when he skied Woakes to Buttler when 36 runs were needed with 82 balls remaining.

The rub of the green went England’s way three balls later when Maxwell was judged to have edged Woakes behind, but this time it was Hot Spot that found the Victorian not guilty of hitting the ball.

However, any hope of a miracle England victory was dashed when Brad Haddin belted three consecutive boundaries to have not only the win secured, but a bonus point in their sights.

Striving for the necessary quick finish for the extra competition point, Warner hit Woakes for a brace of boundaries before the hunt for a third found Bell at point to end his blockbuster knock on 127.

A mix up saw Haddin run out for 16, leaving Faulkner – Australia’s modern Michael Bevan – to ice the game and deliver the bonus point.

Australia’s next match is against India on Sunday in Melbourne, while England travel to Brisbane to take on MS Dhoni’s men on Tuesday.

Australia XI: George Bailey (c), Aaron Finch, David Warner, Shane Watson, Steve Smith, Glenn Maxwell, Brad Haddin, James Faulkner, Mitchell Starc, Pat Cummins, Xavier Doherty.

England XI: Eoin Morgan (c), Moeen Ali, Ian Bell, James Taylor, Joe Root, Ravi Bopara, Jos Buttler, Chris Woakes, Chris Jordan, Stuart Broad, Steve Finn.

Team India’s new ODI kit

The members of the Indian team led by captain MS Dhoni and Team India kit sponsor, Nike, unveiled the team’s new ODI kit at the Melbourne Cricket Ground on Thursday.

The new kit, as Dhoni said, “Is an improvement over the previous one” in many ways. When creating it, the Nike designers spent several hours taking inputs from the players in terms of their requirements and preferences.

The most significant aspect of the new kit is that it is made out of 100 per cent recycled polyester, giving the fabric enhanced stretchability and moisture releasing qualities. Hence it not only serves to the players’ comfort but also plays a role in conserving the environment.

Specifying his own contribution in the design, Dhoni said, “The front part – the strands that are drawn in the front are out of our national flag (the 24 lines in the Ashok Chakra) and it gives a bit of a feel to it.

With the new shade of blue, the Men in Blue embark on the journey of the defense of their World Champions in ICC 2015 World Cup.

Brett Lee retires from T20

Few written tributes can more succinctly or completely capture Brett Lee’s playing career than did the televised pictures of his involvement in what could well be his penultimate competitive match.

There he was last night, taking the new ball in search of the vital early strike against the KFC Big Bash League’s dominant batting line-up as he sought to again steer his side into the finals.

The fact that as a world-class exponent of cricket’s most gruelling job – the express pace fast bowler – Lee continued to not only play but as a potential match-winner as well as a drawcard, until beyond his 38th birthday.

The records that Lee takes with him into retirement, and indeed a future already secured in a similar if not the same commentary box in which Ponting now spends much of his summer, are considerable and would doubtless be evaluated as even more so if he had not played in the era of bowling greats Shane Warne and Glenn McGrath.

Australia’s fourth-highest Test wicket-taker of all-time behind Warne, McGrath and Dennis Lillee.

Equal-highest wicket taker for Australia in one-day internationals, although McGrath can claim an extra scalp having played for an ICC World XI.

And even after a calf injury – his first major muscle tear in almost 20 years of top-level cricket – robbed him of plans to finish his international career at the ICC World T20 in 2012, Lee continued to ply his attritional trade in the Indian Premier League and the BBL.

Of the 14 Australians to have taken 200 Test wickets or more, none have returned them at a higher average than Lee’s 30.82 apiece.

Which makes his post-Test career – he played his final match in a Baggy Green cap at the same venue where he started (the MCG) just over six years ago – even more noteworthy.

Reverse swinging yorkers, slower ball bouncers, ‘perfume balls’ that could whizz past a batsman’s nose and make him reconsider any thoughts of charging down the pitch.

The arsenal that Lee developed through his Test experience enabled him to prolong his career in a format of the game that – at first glance – he would have seemed something of a mismatch for.

But as his final game for the Sydney Sixers will doubtless prove and as he is afforded the send-off he so duly deserves, Brett Lee was never one to shy away from a challenge.

And he took them all on with a smile.

Ireland World Cup Squad

Ireland’s selectors have confirmed their squad for the World Cup next month in Australia and New Zealand.

There are no changes to the 15 players named last month for the training camp and tri-series in Dubai against Afghanistan and Scotland.

Captain William Porterfield is one of five players who will be participating in their third World Cup, along with the O’Brien brothers, Ed Joyce, and John Mooney.

At the other end of the spectrum, it will be the first time at a World Cup for six of the squad, with Andrew Balbirnie, Peter Chase, Andrew McBrine, Tim Murtagh, Stuart Thompson, and Craig Young making their tournament debuts.

“It’s fantastic to be leading Ireland in another global tournament,” said 30 year-old Porterfield.

“We’ve produced some wonderful performances over the years in World Cups, and there’s no reason why we can’t claim further successes in Australia and New Zealand.

“While we may have lost the surprise factor over the years, we’ve certainly gained a lot of respect for our brand of cricket which has been pretty pleasing.

“There’s a great mix as always in the squad, and the younger guys coming through are all hungry which keeps the more experienced players on their toes. Competition for places has been fierce and that’s got to be good for Irish cricket.”

Ireland have opted not to name any replacements yet, but Head Coach Phil Simmons did reveal they had taken five bowlers with the squad to Dubai to help with their preparations.

“We’ve got five extra seamers with the World Cup squad here in Dubai,” said Simmons, who arrived with the Irish squad in the Emirates today.

“Max Sorensen, Graeme McCarter, Eddie Richardson, Tyrone Kane and Barry McCarthy will all bowl in the nets and will provide a great resource in our build-up.

“It’s our intention to have some additional players based in Australia to provide cover for the World Cup squad, and we’ll finalise those arrangements in the coming weeks. It’s important that we’ll have players who can hit the ground running if we suffer any injuries during the two months of the event.”

Ireland play four ODI’s in the UAE, and following a short return to Irish shores, depart for Australia at the end of January for a training camp and fixture against Sydney based club Randwick Petersham.

The Irish stay in Sydney for official warm-up matches against Scotland and Bangladesh, before flying to New Zealand to face West Indies in their opening game in Hamilton on February 16th.

Ireland World Cup Squad

William Porterfield (Captain) (Warwickshire), Andrew Balbirnie (Middlesex), Peter Chase (Malahide), Alex Cusack (Clontarf), George Dockrell (Somerset), Ed Joyce (Sussex), Andrew McBrine (Donemana), John Mooney (North County), Tim Murtagh (Middlesex), Kevin O’Brien (Railway Union), Niall O’Brien (Leicestershire), Paul Stirling (Middlesex), Stuart Thompson (Eglinton), Gary Wilson (Surrey), Craig Young (Bready).

Pakistan Squad for ICC CWC 2015

Pakistan have picked 30-year old fast bowler Sohail Khan in their 15-man squad for the 2015 World Cup. Sohail had played the last of his five ODIs in Zimbabwe in 2011, but took ten wickets in two of his most recent List A games, and was the highest wicket-taker in this season's Quaid-e-Azam Gold League - 64 at an average of 22.

Apart from Sohail, the other World Cup inclusions not part of the squad for the series against New Zealand in December 2014 - Pakistan's previous ODI assignment - are batsman Sohaib Maqsood, and fast bowlers Junaid Khan and Ehsan Adil. All three missed that series because of injuries but have now recovered

The players who were part of the New Zealand series but excluded from the World Cup squad are: Anwar Ali, Asad Shafiq, Nasir Jamshed, Sohail Tanvir and Zulfiqar Babar. Umar Gul and Bilawal Bhatti had been withdrawn from the New Zealand series because of injury and were also not included in the World Cup squad.

There had been plenty of speculation over the last week regarding the selection of Shoaib Malik and Kamran Akmal, but the selectors decided to stick with younger prospects, with Haris Sohail being included for a spot in the middle order.

"Shoaib Malik was being considered for the middle-order slot as we lost the bowling utility of Saeed Ajmal and Hafeez," chief selector Moin Khan said. "But eventually, we preferred Haris Sohail as his recent performances and the added advantage of him being a left-hander put him ahead."

The 15-man squad includes two specialist openers, five fast bowlers, and three allrounders in Shahid Afridi, Wahab Riaz and Haris.

"Obviously Sohail's inclusion is a surprise for all of you but this is a proof that we selectors do prefer the domestic performances. He had a good one-day tournament and this is the reward for all his hard work and performances.

"Nasir Jamshed was discussed for the opening slot but we felt recent performances were important and hence couldn't justify his selection. Fawad Alam also, unfortunately, could not make it into our team combination, but he is indeed is a fighter."

When asked why Pakistan had gone with just two specialist openers, Moin said: "We have gambled having two openers but we have Sarfraz Ahmed as a back-up force. The nature of his game, his positivity, and the sort of shots he plays make him a solid prospect to bat higher if needed. We are very much clear in in our mind that we have the best two openers, with Sarfraz as a third option."

As many as six players named in the party had been suffering from various injuries going into the tournament, but Moin confirmed that there were no serious injury concerns at the moment.

"The 15 men are fully fit following the medical evidence we have after detailed fitness tests," he said. "Obviously, the standard is not very high, but with the recently developed culture, every player is improving.

"I must say that the fitness levels of our players is ready to match those of players in any other part of the cricket world. No one can give assurance of a result, but we are confident that this team can do better in the World Cup."

Moin also gave his vote of confidence to the captain Misbah-ul-Haq, who had suffered a hamstring injury during the home series against New Zealand last month, but recovered after extensive rehabilitation.

"He is fit and has informed the selectors that he has recovered," Moin said. "His call is taken with respect as he is the captain and we have to respect his observation. He has started running, batting and sprinting between the wicket, but if there is any deficiency, he still has plenty of time to cover up and I am sure in due course he will be fine."

Pakistan are without a specialist offspinner, though the selectors have named a legspinner in Yasir Shah, along with Afridi. Moin defended the selection as a pure cricketing decision.

"We had also carried two legspinners [Mushtaq Ahmed and Iqbal Sikander] in the 1992 World Cup, so that isn't something exceptional," Moin said.

"With legspinners, the probability of taking field wickets increases. We have as many as 12 matches including the World Cup games, and given the age factor of Afridi, naturally we have to keep a back-up as well. Yasir, we believe, is a wicket-taking bowler and a good prospect."

Squad 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

Sri Lanka's Squad for ICC CWC 2015

Sri Lanka Cricket announced final 15 for ICC Cricket Worldcup 2015

There are no real surprises in the squad. In Mahela Jayawardene, Kumar Sangakkara, Tillakaratne Dilshan and Rangana Herath Sri Lanka have a wealth of experience at their disposal, even without Malinga.

Opener Dimuth Karunaratne, who has been part of Sri Lanka's squads for the two ODI assignments leading up to the World Cup - the series against England in November and December, which Sri Lanka won 5-2, and the upcoming series in New Zealand - retains his place. Seamer Nuwan Kulasekara, who was dropped for the England series at home but made his way back to the squad for New Zealand courtesy strong showings in domestic cricket, also makes it.

Given the conditions in Australia and New Zealand, the selectors picked only two specialist spinners for the showpiece tournament, in left-arm spinner Herath and offspinner Sachithra Senanayake. They will be backed up by legspinning allrounder Jeevan Mendis. The other allrounders in the squad include captain Angelo Mathews, Thisara Perera and Tillakaratne Dilshan. Thirimanne and Chandimal join Jayawardene, Sangakkara and Karunaratne as the specialist batsmen, while Dhammika Prasad and Suranga Lakmal are the specialist fast-bowling options in addition to Malinga and Kulasekara.

Sri Lanka's World Cup squad

Angelo Mathews (capt), Tillakaratne Dilshan, Kumar Sangakkara (wk), Mahela Jayawardene, Lahiru Thirimanne (vice-capt), Dinesh Chandimal, Dimuth Karunaratne, Jeevan Mendis, Thisara Perera, Suranga Lakmal, Lasith Malinga (subject to fitness), Dhammika Prasad, Nuwan Kulasekara, Rangana Herath, Sachithra Senanayake