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Bracewell ruled out of Test after standing on glass
March 05, 2013 08:15 IST
bowler Doug Bracewell has been ruled out of New Zealand's [ Images ] first Test against England [ Images ] after cutting his right foot on glass while cleaning up after a party at his house.

The 22-year-old had been expected to have a fitness Test on Tuesday, with the first Test of three starting on Wednesday, but coach Mike Hesson told reporters at University Oval that he was still unable to put any weight on the foot.

"The physio before we came to training said he was no chance of playing so we've removed him from the 12," Hesson said. "He'll stay with us during the week and hopefully be ready in time for the second test."

Neil Wagner is likely to slot into the side in the third pace bowler role. Ian Butler, who was brought in as cover in case Bracewell failed to recover, and left arm spinner Bruce Martin would contest the final place in the starting side.

Bracewell sustained the injury while cleaning up his house in Napier [ Images ] after a party on Friday when some friends came over to watch Super Rugby matches.

New Zealand Cricket were forced to address the issue after local media reports said neighbours had complained about excessive noise at Bracewell's house last Thursday when the player was out of town.

"We've told Doug that he needs to take responsibility for what happens around him and that he needs to do all he can to ensure his preparation for international cricket is not compromised," team manager Mike Sandle said in a statement.

"Doug is very sorry for any inconvenience he has caused his team-mates and members of the public, and he has apologised to his neighbour in Napier."

Captain Brendon McCullum [ Images ] said he felt the incident had been blown out of proportion.

"It was an accident, and that's unfortunate, because it's rubbed him out of a (Test) which he was determined to be at his best for," McCullum said.

"It's disappointing from his point of view, but I stress that I think he'll be back for the second Test and I also stress it gives Neil Wagner an opportunity."

Hesson emphasised that Bracewell was unavailable due to the injury and had not been dropped for disciplinary issues.

"Doug was away from the team and ... there's not a lot we can do when he's away from the side," Hesson added.

"The expectation is that what they do certainly doesn't conflict or affect their preparation and we're pretty strong on that.

"(But) in terms of this test match he's got a hole in his foot caused by standing on some glass and that's a big loss (and) really disappointing for Doug and the team because he's a crucial part of our seam attack."

 

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New Zealand must find answers to England's pace
March 05, 2013 08:33 IST
England's [ Images ] pace bowlers James Anderson [ Images ] and Steven Finn are likely to be crucial determinants in the Test series against New Zealand [ Images ] when the first of three matches begins at University Oval in Dunedin on Wednesday.

-Bracewell ruled out of Test after standing on glass

Both Anderson and Finn were rested in the four-day match against the New Zealand XI, which the hosts won by three wickets with less than two overs remaining, but proved more than destructive in the limited overs series prior to the Tests.

Apart from the opening one-day match which New Zealand won, Anderson and Finn provided a masterclass in hostile fast bowling, giving the New Zealand batsmen little to hit on the small grounds while creating pressure and taking wickets.

Anderson's control of the seam position and the swing he extracted created doubt for New Zealand's batsmen, while the tall Finn bowled back of a length and was menacingly accurate at top pace.

As such, the duo, to be supported by Stuart Broad [ Images ] and possibly one of Graham Onions [ Images ] or Chris Woakes, should prove a headache for New Zealand's batsmen, whose frailties against elite fast bowling were ruthlessly exposed by the South African attack earlier this year.

Brendon McCullum's [ Images ] side slumped to innings defeats in both Tests on their tour of South Africa [ Images ], and were skittled for 45 in Cape Town with Proteas paceman Vernon Philander taking five wickets for seven runs.

South Africa seamer Dale Steyn [ Images ] did the damage in the second Test in Port Elizabeth, taking eight for 65.

New Zealand's batsmen have also had trouble occupying the crease for long periods to tire out opposing attacks, while giving their own bowlers a rest.

Even century-making batsmen have scored their runs in a hurry and not lingered to post truly big scores to anchor their team's innings.

The Mike Hesson-coached side will also bring a re-jigged top order to Dunedin, with the recalled Peter Fulton [ Images ] expected to partner debutant Hamish Rutherford.

Left arm spinner Bruce Martin is also expected to make his debut at the age of 32, while all-rounder Doug Bracewell will undergo a late fitness test after he cut his foot on a glass while clearing up following a house party.

While England team director Andy Flower [ Images ] bemoaned a "sloppy" defeat in the four-day tour match, which saw the top order struggle in both innings, the visitors have enjoyed a relaxed buildup, marvelling at lake-side Queenstown's natural beauty and undertaking touristy excursions.

Captain Alastair Cook [ Images ] leads a strong and settled lineup galvanised by their breakthrough series win away to India [ Images ], with only a minor selection headache over who should be the skipper's opening partner.

Pundits have clamoured for 22-year-old talent Joe Root to earn his second Test cap after an impressive 73 on debut against India in Nagpur, but Flower gave strong backing to four-Test opener Nick Compton, albeit without confirming his spot in Dunedin.

"You've got to remember Joe Root has played one test match," Flower said after the Queenstown warm-up. "I think everyone should keep a little calm about his prospects."

Following Dunedin, New Zealand host England in the second Test in Wellington from March 14, with the third and final Test in Auckland starting March 22.

Teams:
New Zealand (possible): Brendon McCullum (captain), Peter Fulton, Hamish Rutherford, Kane Williamson [ Images ], Ross Taylor [ Images ], Dean Brownlie, BJ Watling, Ian Butler, Bruce Martin, Tim Southee [ Images ], Trent Boult.
England (possible): Alastair Cook (captain), Nick Compton, Jonathan Trott, Kevin Pietersen [ Images ], Ian Bell [ Images ], Joe Root, Matt Prior [ Images ], Stuart Broad, Graeme Swann [ Images ], Steven Finn, James Anderson.

 

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Ashes loom large as England begin huge year against NZ
March 05, 2013 08:49 IST
The long shadow of back-to-back Ashes series later this year crept on to University Oval on Tuesday as England [ Images ] captain Alastair Cook [ Images ] went through his final media conference ahead of their first Test of 2013 against New Zealand [ Images ].

-Bracewell ruled out of Test after standing on glass

Cook's side will play 15 Tests in the next 12 months, three in New Zealand, two against the same opposition in England in May, before the back-to-back Ashes series against Australia [ Images ].

The unflappable Cook, like his imperious batting style, let a few of the questions whistle past him, preferring instead to focus on the more immediate future.

It was obvious, however, that retaining the Ashes against Michael Clarke's [ Images ] team was already in their thinking.

"Yes, we have got a huge year and yes, it's great to be involved in such a big year of Test cricket ... but as players we have to focus on tomorrow's game and worry about all the other stuff afterward," Cook said.

"It's quite exciting for us to look at what we can do with 15 Test matches.

"I don't think any England side has had the opportunity to play two back-to-back Ashes series and play New Zealand as well.

"So we have the chance to do something very special if we can perform to the way we can perform, but if we don't, we will get found out."

Cook's team were given a bit of a wake-up call immediately before the first Test when they lost to the New Zealand XI, essentially an 'A' side, by three wickets in their only warmup before the series-opener at the tiny University Oval in Dunedin's northern suburbs.

The 28-year-old, however, was more pleased with what he saw in the game than the result, with both Matt Prior [ Images ] and Ian Bell [ Images ] producing strong batting efforts and fast bowler Stuart Broad [ Images ] getting through an impressive workload in Queenstown.

Twenty20 [ Images ] captain Broad was forced home from their victorious tour of India [ Images ] late last year with a recurrence of a heel injury and doubts over his long-term future.

"To see Stuart Broad back, with his heel, he bowled quite a lot and got a bigger workload than we thought and pulled through with no effect on his heel at all, which is good news for us moving on to the summer," a smiling Cook said.

"Yes, we were disappointed to lose but actually it really doesn't matter. The important stuff starts tomorrow."

England had some "minor niggles" to check but Cook expected all 15 of the squad available for selection.

New Zealand, however, were forced to make at least one change with Doug Bracewell ruled out with a cut to his foot, sustained when he stood on a glass while cleaning up following a party at his house in Napier [ Images ].

Left arm pace bowler Neil Wagner will come into the side as the first change option, with Ian Butler and left arm spinner Bruce Martin battling for the final place.

Captain Brendon McCullum [ Images ] said he would bat at six to give the lower middle order some experience and depth, and put the onus back on the top order to produce runs, something New Zealand teams have struggled to do in tests in recent years.

"We have to make sure that we get the run production from our batters," McCullum said.

"Adding a batter and shifting some of our experience to the middle order should give us an ability to score some runs later and add some better runs with the tail as well.

"If we can do that, then I think we've got a young bowling lineup which has the ability on the day with enough runs in the bank to really test the opposition."

 

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Hyderabad Test: Clarke's dismissal was the turning point
Last updated on: March 5, 2013 12:26 IST

Michael Clarke, whose batting was the saving grace in the first Test in Chennai, was expected to play a stellar role to save the match for his team. But Australia's captain fell short, and the chances of salvaging the Test also evaporated.

- Scorecard

- Match Report

Without doubt, the turning point of Day 4 has to be Michael Clarke's dismissal.

Australia's captain also happenes to be the team's most consistent batsman. Having scored 130 and 31 in the opening Test in Chennai, Clarke also top-scored with 91 in an otherwise disastrous first innings performance in Hyderabad.

He got off to a good start in the second innings as well, hitting Ravindra Jadeja for a six over mid-off. However, it was the bowler who had the last laugh.

 

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Jadeja leads India's victory charge
Last updated on: March 5, 2013 14:12 IST

Ravindra Jadeja proved his mettle once again with a striking performance. The left-arm spinner ran through the Aussies batting line-up in the morning to give the home team a 2-0 lead in the series.

-Scorecard

-Match Report

Jadeja is our top draw for the day.

The youngster was exceptional on the fourth morning. Having grabbed five wickets in the opening Test in Chennai and been India's best bowler -- with figures of three for 33 -- in the first innings in Hyderabad, the Saurashtra player was again in his element.

A beauty of a delivery that pitched in the middle and spun, crashing into Michael Clarke's (16) off stumps, provided Jadeja his first success of the morning.

The 24-year-old had also accounted for Australia's captain in the first innings -- and also once in Chennai.

In his next over, Jadeja had Ed Cowan, Australia's top scorer in the innings, caught by Virender Sehwag at slip.

 

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India hand Australia crushing defeat, lead series 2-0
Last updated on: March 05, 2013 14:25 IST
India [ Images ] scored a comprehensive innings and 136-runs victory over Australia [ Images ] in the second Test at Hyderabad on Tuesday to take an unassailable 2-0 lead in the four-match series.

-Scorecard | #Congratulate Team India

The home team won the opening Test in Chennai by eight wickets last week.

Needing an improbable 267 runs, on a turning track, to make India bat again, the visitors collapsed for 131, adding only 57 runs (in 35 overs) on the fourth day of the Test.

R Ashwin was the pick of the Indian bowlers, bagging five for 63, his eighth five wicket haul in Tests.

Ravindra Jadeja [ Images ] finished with figures of three for 33.

The empathic result helped MS Dhoni [ Images ] become India’s most successful Test captain, this being his 22nd win in 45 matches, besting Sourav Ganguly [ Images ]’s record of 21 wins (in 49 Tests).

It took India only 13 minutes to make the breakthrough on the fourth morning.

Ishant Sharma [ Images ], starting the proceedings for the home team, having not bowled at all on the third day, struck in his second over -- the third of the innings -- having Shane Watson [ Images ] (9) caught behind on the leg side.

It was his first wicket of the series. Watson failed to add to his overnight score.

In his fourth over, Ishant made a similar appeal, trying to get Michael Clarke [ Images ] (on four) out. Umpire Kumar Dharmasena remained unmoved, though, the Australian captain going on to smash Jadeja over mid-off for a six in the next over.

Clarke (16) and Cowan put on 33 runs for the fourth wicket, taking the score past 100 before Jadeja produced a beauty that crashed through the defences of the former.

Australia's captain is their most consistent player in the series, and with his dismissal his team’s hopes ended.

For the record, Jadeja has had him on three out of four occasions in the series, twice in this match.

To make matters worse they lost more wickets in quick succession.

Cowan (44) was dropped by substitute Shikhar Dhawan [ Images ] at short leg off Ashwin. The opener, however, failed to add to his score, Jadeja having him caught by Virender Sehwag [ Images ] at first slip two balls later.

Jadeja, who struck twice in the space of five balls, contributed again, when his direct hit, despite of a misfield, ran Moises Henriques out even before the latter had opened his account.

Glenn Maxwell didn’t survive for long either, a carom ball from Ashwin catching him on the wrong foot. Neither did Peter Siddle [ Images ] (four), who became Jadeja’s third victim on the day.

Ashwin accounted for Matthew Wade (10), caught by Sehwag at first slip, the next ball.

And when Ashwin had James Pattinson (0) out leg before, it was all over for the visitors. The home team ensured they will not lose the series.

 

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With 22 wins, Dhoni becomes India's most successful Test captain
Last updated on: March 5, 2013 14:35 IST

Bikash Mohapatra

Mahendra Singh Dhoni was epitome of humility as he surpassed Sourav Ganguly to become the most successful Test captain in the history of Indian cricket.

- Scorecard

- Match Report

MS Dhoni is India's best captain ever.

You don't agree?

Then let's say he is India's most successful captain ever! Now you have no option but to answer in the affirmative.

Cricket aficionados might have their own opinions, and rightfully so, about the best man to have led India, but when statistics are used to corroborate such claims, the incumbent will win by quite a margin.

The 31-year-old led India to the ICC World T20 (2007) and ICC World Cup (2011) titles. Besides, he led the team to the top of the Test rankings (2009).

 

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Photos: How the spinners wrapped the Test for Team India
Last updated on: March 5, 2013 14:52 IST

Spinners R Ashwin and Ravindra Jadeja produced a mesmerising spell as India crushed a clueless Australia by an innings and 135 runs in less than three-and-a-half days to win the second Test and take a 2-0 lead in the four-match series in Hyderabad on Tuesday.

- Scorecard

- Match Report

The match lasted only two hours on the fourth day, as it was an abject surrender by the Australian batsmen, who had no answer to the questions posed by Ashwin and Jadeja on a turning track at the Rajiv Gandhi International stadium.

 

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Cheteshwar should avoid the hook shot, says his father
Last updated on: March 5, 2013 15:42 IST

Whenever Arvind Pujara watches his son Cheteshwar bat in a Test match, the doting father in him turns into a coach and he begins to dissect his favourite student's game.

- Having batted well against Swann, Panesar helped: Pujara

- Scorecard

- Report

"A double hundred in a Test match against Australia is always a special achievement. But I tell Cheteshwar to avoid playing the hook shot. He will tell me that it's a scoring shot but I believe it's a risky one. He got out playing the hook shot," Arvind Pujara said.

So what are the shots that he likes his son to play, pat comes the reply, "He is such a good looking player when he is playing within the 'V'."

"He doesn't need to play unorthodox shots as he can score loads of runs playing the straight drive, cover drive or on-drive. He can play in that arc throughout the day and he should stick to doing that."

 

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Adulations pour in for India's 'unprecedented' win
Last updated on: March 5, 2013 16:10 IST

The Indian cricket team was swamped with congratulatory messages after their crushing victory over Australia in the second cricket Test in Hyderabad with BCCI vice-president Rajiv Shukla terming it as an "unprecedented" win.

From politicians to present-day cricketers, all hailed India's win by an innings and 135 runs over Australia in less than three and half days, which helped the hosts take an unassailable 2-0 lead in the four-match series.

"This is an unprecedented victory. The way India has won -- with huge margins in Chennai and Hyderabad -- will raise their morale. Beating Australia, who are a strong side, is a big achievement for India," Shukla said.