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Haddin called in as cover for Matthew Wade
March 11, 2013 10:10 IST

Australia's [ Images ] woes in the ongoing tour of India [ Images ] mounted on Monday as they were forced to call in Brad Haddin [ Images ] as cover for wicket-keeper Matthew Wade, who has sprained his right ankle and is in doubt for the third Test starting in Mohali on March 14.

"Cricket Australia (CA) advises that Matthew Wade's scans have confirmed a sprained right ankle. Given the uncertainty of Wade's availability, Brad Haddin will fly from Australia to Mohali today to join the squad," CA said.

The visiting side trails 0-2 in the four-match series.

Wade had injured his ankle while playing basketball on Saturday.

"Matt has a complex ankle injury which has been confirmed by the scans and at this stage is in doubt for the Third Test starting on Thursday. A final decision on whether he will be available for the third Test will be made closer to the match," Australian Team Physiotherapist Alex Kountouris said.

Wade was in doubt before the second Test as well after he fractured his cheek bone during training but played through pain and scored a 62 in the first innings.

He has been Australia's first-choice wicketkeeper since last April's tour of West Indies [ Images ] when Haddin left the series midway to be with his ailing daughter.

The 35-year-old Haddin has the experience of playing in India as he was a part of the side that toured here in 2008.
He has been in good form in the domestic circuit having scored 468 runs at an average of 52.00 with two centuries in the Sheffield Shield.

 

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Ingram century propels South Africa to easy win
March 10, 2013 22:05 IST

Colin Ingram hit an unbeaten century to propel South Africa [ Images ] to an easy 125-run win in the first One-day International on Sunday as Pakistan fell way short in the chase.

-Scorecard

Ingram scored 105 off 104 balls as a full strength South African side posted 315 for four to set Pakistan a tough target despite improving batting conditions.

Pakistan managed only 190 in reply, bowled all out in 36.2 overs. The result provided a major boost for the home side, who despite their top test status have recently struggled in one dayers as they experimented with their line-up.

"It was exciting to see the guys perform like that. We've not exactly being doing well in the one day arena of late," said captain AB de Villiers [ Images ].

Ingram's ton was ably supported by decent knocks for all five of the other South African batsman, particularly a swashbuckling 34 off 14 balls from Farhaan Behardien.

Ingram and de Villiers put together a 120-run partnership for the third wicket after openers Graeme Smith [ Images ] (30) and Hashim Amla [ Images ] (43) had laid a decent foundation before being dismissed in quick succession.

Pakistan failed to get any momentum in their reply despite an opening stand of 42 in the first seven overs before Nasir Jamshed (25) was caught behind.

Fellow opener Mohammad Hafeez [ Images ] can feel hard done by after being given run out by the third umpire. Television replays failed to provide conclusive evidence that Rory Kleinveldt had deflected a drive from Younus Khan on to the wickets that caught Hafeez out of his crease as he was backing up.

A late cameo from Shahid Afridi [ Images ], who hit one six well out of the stadium as he smashed 34 off 16 balls, came too late to rescue a regular fall of wickets as Pakistan slipped behind the required run rate.

"We didn't exploit the condition early on or when the wicket became easier," admitted captain Misbah-ul-Haq.

The two teams, who are also preparing for the Champions Trophy [ Images ] in June, continue the five-match series at Centurion in Pretoria in a day-night encounter on Friday.

 

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Warner urges selectors to keep faith in Cowan
March 11, 2013 12:43 IST

Australian opener David Warner has backed his embattled partner Ed Cowan, saying that the selectors should persist with him despite repeated failures in the ongoing Test series against India [ Images ].

-Are struggling Aussies going the Windies way?

-Haddin called in as cover for Matthew Wade

-Langer urges Oz selectors to avoid 'chopping and changing'

In the two Tests so far, both of which Australia [ Images ] lost by heavy margins, Cowan has 109 runs at an average of 27.25 with no half-centuries.

But Warner said it would be a mistake to drop the 30-year-old, who, he feels, has shown the temperament of a good Test batsman.

"The last 12 months have been fantastic for me and Ed as a partnership," Warner, who is averaging 42.21 from 17 Tests, told the Australian media in Chandigarh.

"The downfall is when we have been outside Australia. It's been tough here (in India). The wickets have been tough to score on," he said.

Warner said if persisted with, he and Cowan could turn into a formidable opening pair for the Ashes series against England [ Images ] later this year.

"Looking forward to the Ashes, we know each other's game. Ed is patient, he leaves very well, especially in our conditions, and he has played a lot of first-class cricket in England. As a partnership, moving forward, I really believe we will be the key to the team's success," he said.

But he admitted that continuing failures would not help their cause.

"But we have two Tests to score some runs, otherwise we might not be on the plane to England. We have to keep working hard," he said.

In 25 innings together, Cowan and Warner have scored 1111 runs at 44.44.

"In terms of runs on the board, we are averaging mid-40s, which I think is No.1 in the world at the moment, so we are doing a fantastic job," Warner said.

 

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Langer urges Oz selectors to avoid 'chopping and changing'
March 11, 2013 11:29 IST

The Australians may have been dismal so far in the ongoing Test series against India [ Images ] but former batsman Justin Langer feels the selectors should keep faith in the players and avoid a "chopping and changing" policy.

-Are struggling Aussies going the Windies way?

Langer urged the selectors to retain opener Phil Hughes, who has been unimpressive despite being in form at the time of selection.

"I would be so disappointed if he didn't play the next Test. He has been brilliant again all summer," Langer told The Daily Telegraph pointing to Hughes' 233 runs at 46 against Sri Lanka [ Images ], 673 Sheffield Shield runs at 56 for South Australia [ Images ] and 416 One-day runs at 52.

"He is our most exciting and best performed young player and I hope they stick with him."

"Phil is a young kid who is playing Test cricket in India for the first time and you can't just keep chopping and changing all the time," he added.

Langer said it was worrying to see players getting a break in the national side despite being relatively raw in the domestic circuit.

"I remember English friends saying Australia had a youth policy but Ricky Ponting [ Images ] had scored over 10 hundreds and was rewarded for being the best player in Australia when selected," Langer said.

"Phil Hughes was the same when selected. We have to reward people for performing, not just because they are young or seem to have to talent.

"If we do that I think it has been a system that has kept us one of the great cricketing nations for a long time. I think we have just got a little bit away from that at the moment," he explained.

"If we keep rewarding performance and not reputation then that will take us a long way forward to being the best the team in the world again."

 

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Yuvraj, Unmukt steer North to Deodhar Trophy final
March 11, 2013 17:23 IST

Half-centuries by senior pro Yuvraj Singh [ Images ] and the talented Unmukt Chand helped North Zone cruise to a comfortable eight-wicket victory over Central Zone and enter the Deodhar Trophy final, in Guwahati, on Monday.

North will meet the winner of Tuesday’s second semi-final, between South and West Zone.

North Zone captain Gautam Gambhir [ Images ] opted to field, in the match first curtailed to 45-overs-a-side, and his bowlers responded well, bundling out Central for a paltry 190 in 41.5 overs.

Due to inclement weather, North's target was revised to 160 in 33 overs, and they achieved it with 19 balls to spare.

The highlight of North’s chase was a partnership of 129 runs between Yuvraj (77) and Unmukt (56).

While the youngster decided to drop anchor at one end, facing 85 balls and hitting five fours, his senior partner displayed good touch as he hit nine fours and three sixes, of which a couple were off Piyush Chawla's [ Images ] bowling -- over deep mid-wicket and straight over bowler's head.

The other six came off Suresh Raina's [ Images ] bowling.

The Test discard also hit four successive boundaries off Vidarbha's left-arm seamer Shrikant Wagh.

For North, skipper Gambhir (9) was dismissed by comeback man Praveen Kumar [ Images ], the left-hander edging one to Mohammad Kaif in the slips.

Praveen was the lone Central bowler who impressed as he got the ball to swing both ways.

This was his comeback match after the Board of Control for Cricket in India [ Images ] overturned his suspension a couple of days back.

Brief scores:

Central Zone: 190 in 41.5 overs (Ashok Menaria 34, Amit Mishra [ Images ] 3-50, Rajat Paliwal 2-14).

North Zone: 16022 (target 160 in 33 overs) (Yuvraj Singh 77 not out, Unmukt Chand 56 not out).

North Zone won by eight wickets.

 

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Aus axe Watson, 3 others for disobeying team orders
Last updated on: March 11, 2013 15:25 IST

In an unprecedented move, Australia [ Images ] axed vice-captain Shane Watson [ Images ] and three other key players from the side on Monday for the third Test against India [ Images ] for failing to obey team management orders.

Watson, pacers James Pattinson and Mitchell Johnson [ Images ] and batsman Usman Khawaja were dropped for failing to make a presentation on how to improve their personal as well as the team's performance after the innings and 135 runs defeat in the second Test in Hyderabad.

"That's a line-in-the-sand moment. We have given these guys absolute clarity," Australia coach Mickey Arthur said, while making the announcement at a press conference in Mohali.

The stunning turn of events leaves Australia, trailing 0-2 in the series, with just 13 players to choose from for the third Test starting at Mohali on Thursday.

"After Hyderabad the whole team was really hurting, we were discussing ways of getting back into the series," Arthur said.

"We were particularly aware of where we were as a team and how we were going to get back. I asked the players at the end of the game to give me an individual presentation.

- Are struggling Aussies going the Windies way?

"I wanted three points from each of them technically, mentally and team as to how we were going to get back over the next couple of games, how we were going to get ourselves back into the series," he added.

Arthur said the dropped players failed to meet the deadline set for making the presentation and it was important to maintain team discipline by punishing them.

"Unfortunately four players didn't comply with that. We pride ourselves on attitude. We have given the players a huge amount of latitude to get culture and attitude right," Arthur said.

"We believe that those behaviours with what we want to do with this team, how we want to take this team to be the best in the world, teams that are the best in the world have best attitudes and best behaviour patterns and a good, hard, ruthless culture.

"I believe those four players unfortunately did not meet my requirements so those four are not available for selection for this Test match," he added.

Arthur said, to become world-beaters, the Aussies will have to fall in line when it comes to discipline.

"We have given this team a huge amount of time to buy in with what we want to do for the Australian cricket team. We have given a vision to these guys that is spelt out.

"We've given an expectation that is spelt out and although this incident might seem very small in isolation this is a line-in-the-sand moment for us as a unit in our quest to become the best in the world," he said.

Arthur said even skipper Michael Clarke [ Images ] feels that it was time to crack the whip in what has been a thoroughly disappointing series for the team from Down Under.

"I think the best thing that these three days off have given me is reflection time, to reflect on how well have I been going in my job, like I expect everyone else to do when you're 2-0 down in the series.

"Myself and Pup (Clarke) came to the conclusion that we have been so focused on winning cricket games that maybe some people have been cutting corners. Perhaps there have been some soft options taken. We decided that we needed to really get that in line," he said.

This is perhaps the first time in the history of the game that players have been dropped for not making a presentation and comes as a massive blow to the team, which is likely to be without wicketkeeper Matthew Wade due to injury.

Brad Haddin [ Images ] is being flown in as cover for Wade, who sprained his right ankle on Saturday while playing basketball.

Pattinson, who is their in-form bowler, will be missed badly as the track in Mohali is expected to assist the seamers.

Khawaja was expected to replace Phil Hughes in the team but that has now been ruled out, providing the out-of-form number three batsman another opportunity to prove his worth.

Mitchell Johnson, the fourth player to be dropped, hasn’t played a single match on the tour yet.

Available players: Michael Clarke (captain), David Warner, Ed Cowan, Phillip Hughes, Moises Henriques, Glenn Maxwell, Steven Smith, Peter Siddle [ Images ], Mitchell Starc, Xavier Doherty, Nathan Lyon, Brad Haddin (wk).

 

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Are struggling Aussies going the Windies way?
Last updated on: March 11, 2013 11:21 IST

Former selector John Benaud feels the national cricket team's continuing decline is similar to the one endured by the mighty West Indies, blaming it on complacency during the period of domination.

"We are like the West Indies, we got comfortable whacking everyone and lost sight of the grassroots and the importance of bring the next generation through," Benaud told The Daily Telegraph.

"Unfortunately, we got complacent and now it's biting us on the bum," he added.Once considered invincible, Australia are a pale shadow of their former self and are currently 0-2 down in the ongoing Test series against India.

 

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Bracewell still injured, New Zealand unchanged for second Test
March 11, 2013 09:00 IST

New Zealand [ Images ] pace bowler Doug Bracewell has not recovered from a cut foot in time for the second Test against England [ Images ] in Wellington, the team said on their website on Monday.

New Zealand coach Mike Hesson named an unchanged 13-man squad for the match at the Basin Reserve starting on Thursday with left-arm pace bowler Neil Wagner, who took seven wickets in the drawn first match in Dunedin expected to fill the third seamer role again.

Ian Butler, called up as cover for the injured Bracewell will remain with the squad.

Bracewell, who cut his foot on glass after clearing up following a party at his house in Napier [ Images ] and missed the first test, is still in contention for the third Test, Hesson said.

"I was very pleased with both the bowling and batting efforts in Dunedin and we plan to build on that in Wellington," the coach said.

New Zealand produced a credible performance in the first match, bowling England out for 167 in their first innings and scoring 460 for nine declared with debutant opener Hamish Rutherford making 171.

Alastair Cook's [ Images ] side then batted for almost five sessions to save the Test, reaching 421 for six, a lead of 128 runs, before Brendon McCullum [ Images ] and Cook agreed there was no chance of a result with 15 overs remaining on the final day on Sunday.

The second Test is from March 14-18 before the third and final match begins in Auckland on March 22.

New Zealand squad: Brendon McCullum (captain), Hamish Rutherford, Peter Fulton [ Images ], Kane Williamson [ Images ], Ross Taylor [ Images ], Dean Brownlie, BJ Watling, Tim Southee [ Images ], Bruce Martin, Neil Wagner, Trent Boult, Tom Latham, Ian Butler.

 

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Ashraful heroics boost Bangladesh in Galle
March 10, 2013 19:03 IST

Mohammad Ashraful [ Images ] made the highest score by a Bangladesh batsman in Test cricket when he scored a magnificent unbeaten 189 on the third day of the first Test against Sri Lanka [ Images ] on Sunday.

Together with captain Mushfiqur Rahim, who also made a career best score of 152 not out, Ashraful figured in an all-time record partnership for his country of 261 as Bangladesh reached 438 for four replying to Sri Lanka's first innings of 570-4 declared.

Bangladesh trail Sri Lanka by 132 runs with two days left.

Sri Lanka grabbed two wickets in the first session but Ashraful and Mushfiqur then batted together through the rest of the day to frustrate the home bowlers on a flat track that hardly offered any assistance.

The ball rarely beat the bat and Sri Lanka also missed a few half chances that came their way with Ashraful on 110 and 143 and Mushfiqur on 103.

Ashraful, selected for the tour only because of an injury to Shariar Nafees, went past his own previous highest score for Bangladesh -- 158 not out against India [ Images ] at Chittagong in 2004 -- and by the close had faced 398 balls and hit 20 fours and a six.

Mushfiqur provided him with excellent support, striking 18 fours and one six in his 236-ball knock.

Ashraful celebrated his return to Test cricket after a 15-month absence by reaching his sixth century in the morning session, having moved on from his overnight score of 65.

It was his fifth ton against Sri Lanka and he raised his bat and punched the air in delight.

Ashraful had enjoyed a third wicket stand of 105 with overnight partner Mominul Haque before the hosts made a quick double strike.

Seamer Nuwan Kulasekara [ Images ] managed to find the edge of Mominul's bat and Angelo Mathews [ Images ] took the catch at first slip to send him on his way for 55.

Seven runs later, Mahmudullah (0) gave the charge to left-arm spinner Rangana Herath [ Images ] but missed to offer wicketkeeper Dinesh Chandimal an easy stumping.

Scorecard
Sri Lanka first innings 570-4 declared
Bangladesh first innings (135-2 overnight): Jahurul Islam c Chandimal b Eranga 20,Anamul Haque b Mendis 13,Mohammad Ashraful n.o.189, Mominul Haque c Mathews b Kulasekara 55, Mahmudullah st Chandimal b Herath 0, Mushfiqur Rahim n.o. 152
Extras: 9
Total: (for four wickets in 136 overs) 438
Fall of wickets: 1-23, 2-65, 3-170, 4-177.
Bowling: Kulasekara 21-3-76-1 (nb-1), Eranga 22-3-80-1 (nb-5), Herath 42-9-103-1, Mendis 23-2-92-1, Mathews 6-1-16-0, Dilshan 20-3-55-0, Thirimanne 2-0-13-0.

 

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Deodhar Trophy: Aparajith hits ton as South Zone enter semis
March 10, 2013 19:07 IST

Young Baba Aparajith scored his maiden century in limited overs cricket as South Zone beat East by 11 runs in the Deodhar Trophy quarter-final, in Guwahati on Sunday.

South will now take on West Zone in the second semi-final slated on Tuesday.

Opting to bat at the Nehru Stadium in Guwahati, South Zone posted a healthy total of 284 for five in 50 overs riding on Aparajith's 121.

In reply, East managed to 273 for seven with skipper Wriddhiman Saha top-scoring with 77 and Ishank Jaggi managing to hit 55.

It was the 89 runs given by the East Zone bowlers in the final 10 overs of the South innings that turned out to be decisive.

Apart from Aparajith, the other notable contributor was former India [ Images ] opener Robin Uthappa [ Images ] who managed a patient 48 off 75 balls with six fours.

Having lost other opener Lokesh Rahul (0) in the very second over, Uthappa and No 3 batsman Aparajith added 95 runs for the second wicket before the former retired hurt.

Skipper Dinesh Karthik [ Images ] (33) joined Aparajith and they added 59 runs for the third wicket.

The late flourish was provided by Kerala's [ Images ] One-day captain Sachin Baby smashing an unbeaten 33 off 19 balls with five fours. The last five overs yielded 48 runs with India pacer Shami Ahmed giving away 60 runs in 11 overs.

Chasing 285, Wriddhiman tried his best as his 72-ball-77 had four boundaries and three sixes.

Brief Scores: South Zone 284/5 (B Aparajith 121, R Uthappa 48, S Baby 33 no, Shami Ahmed 2/60); East Zone 273/7 (Wriddhiman Saha 77, Ishank Jaggi 55,
Abhimanyu Mithun [ Images ] 3/40).