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ESPNcricinfo previews the first Twenty20 between New Zealand and Zimbabwe in Auckland

Firdose Moonda10-Feb-2012Match factsFebruary 11, Auckland
Start time 1900 (0600 GMT)Colin de Grandhomme could debut but will have to contest with Kane Williamson or one of the seamers for a spot•Getty ImagesBig PictureHow does a boxer find motivation to keep throwing punches when his opponent is cowering, bleeding and just about begging for mercy? New Zealand may soon know the answer to that as they continue to hammer away at an already ground down Zimbabwe side.The series ends with two Twenty20 matches. In most years that would be only an afterthought, but with a World Twenty20 to be contested later in September, they do have some importance. As the best performing non-subcontinent team at the 2011 World Cup, New Zealand will want to repeat their strong showing in Sri Lanka in the 20-overs showcase event. They have a rather new look side and will use these matches to incorporate more uncapped players and complete their unit.Brendon McCullum spoke about the importance of keeping the intensity up. If the one-day series is anything to go by, New Zealand know how to do that. Not content with merely proving they are a better side than Zimbabwe, they have imposed their dominance brutally and seem to have their minds set on continuing to do that.Zimbabwe are an inexperienced and unsuccessful Twenty20 side. It’s not a format they have played in great quantities at any international level, but the popularity of their domestic tournament has meant that all of the national squad have some recent 20-overs game-time. Already the gulf between what they have been doing at local level and what is required to be done on the international stage has proven wide and deep. Perhaps too wide and too deep. While shorter formats are thought to increase the competitiveness between sides, it may not be true in this case.Demoralised and weary, Zimbabwe will have to feed off their desperation to do well. They certainly have the desire to prove themselves but they have to multiply that a few times to be able to compete with a rampant New Zealand side.Form guideNew Zealand WWLWW (most recent first)
Zimbabwe LLLLLIn the spotlightThere’s always a bit of needle when a county plays against a team with one of their countrymen in it and Colin de Grandhomme can expect much of the same. The Harare-born New Zealand allrounder even played for Zimbabwe Under-19s but moved to New Zealand in 2006 and has now qualified for his adopted country. He has performed well in the domestic leagues and gets his chance at the highest level, but will have to brace for some hostility from a severely wounded Zimbabwe side.Twenty20 is Elton Chigumbura’s format, the one where he has the freedom to pay in the carefree manner he appears most comfortable with. With Zimbabwe as down and out as it gets, they may as well give their players the liberty to enjoy the last two matches of the series and play without limitations. If there is one player who will enjoy this sort of approach, it will be Chigumbura. With absolutely nothing but another match to lose, if he decides to make it his day, it could well be.Team newsNew Zealand have two injury concerns – Martin Guptill has a slight groin strain and Jacob Oram experienced tightness in the calf. Both left the field in the last ODI in Napier but Brendon McCullum said he expects both to be fit to play. In particular, he hopes Guptill can continue because he has found a rich vein of form. Andrew Ellis was added to the squad after Dean Brownlie was ruled out with a finger injury and coach John Wright indicated that he would be given an opportunity. The other two uncapped players, Colin de Grandhomme and Ronnie Hira could debut but will have to contest with Kane Williamson and one of the seamers for a spot.New Zealand: (probable) 1 Martin Guptill, 2 Brendon McCullum, 3 Rob Nicol 4 Colin de Grandhomme 5 James Franklin/Kane Williamson 6 Andrew Ellis 7 Nathan McCullum, 8 Jacob Oram, 9 Tim Southee, 10 Doug Bracewell/Ronnie Hira, 11 Kyle MillsAfter axing Hamilton Masakadza for the third ODI, Zimbabwe will likely open with Stuart Matsikenyeri and Regis Chakabva. The last time they played Twenty20s Tatenda Taibu was injured, but he will play. It still allows Zimbabwe to accommodate three allrounders in Malcolm Waller, Elton Chigumbura and Keegan Meth. If both Prosper Utseya and Ray Price play, one of the three seamers will have to sit out.Zimbabwe: (probable) 1 Stuart Matsikenyeri, 2 Regis Chakabva, 3 Brendan Taylor, 4 Tatenda Taibu, 5 Malcolm Waller, 6 Elton Chigumbura, 7 Keegan Meth 8 Prosper Utseya, 9 Ray Price, 10 and 11 Kyle Jarvis/Brian Vitori/Shingi MasakadzaPitch and conditionsA fair strip, offering plenty for the batsmen is likely to be prepared. Weather in Auckland on Saturday evening should be clear and mild.Stats and trivia Zimbabwe have only played 18 Twenty20s and have won just three, all away from home. Their last victory came in February 2010 against West Indies. Martin Guptill was the top scorer in New Zealand’s HRV Cup with 504 runs at an average of 72.00. Ronnie Hira and Michale Bates were the highest wicket-takers, with 14 scalps each.Quotes”The gap between two teams is always narrowed, the shorter the game. So it means we will have to be more efficient in all areas.”

The 2012 IPL will be the longest edition of the tournament yet and will clash with a number of international tours, most notably Australia’s tour of West Indies in April and West Indies tour of England in May

ESPNcricinfo staff15-Oct-2011The 2012 IPL will be the longest edition of the tournament yet and will clash with a number of international tours, most notably Australia’s tour of West Indies in April and West Indies tour of England in May. Pakistan are also scheduled to play international cricket during the event, which will be played from April 4 to May 27, but their players have not been part of the IPL since the inaugural tournament in 2008.The BCCI approved the dates of the tournament on Friday and West Indies, with their traditional home season falling in March and April, will once again have to find a way of coping without players who want to play in the lucrative Twenty20 league. According to the ICC’s Future Tours Programme, West Indies host Australia for three Tests and five ODIs in March and April, before heading to England to play three Tests, three ODIs and a T20I in May and June.Former West Indies captain Chris Gayle, who starred for Royal Challengers Bangalore in the 2011 IPL, and allrounders Kieron Pollard and Dwayne Bravo were given No Objection Certificates by the West Indies Cricket Board to play in the tournament this year. Pollard missed the ODI series against Pakistan while Bravo missed the Tests to turn out for their IPL franchises Mumbai Indians and Chennai Super Kings. The Gayle situation is further exacerbated because he is involved in a standoff with the board over his decisions to play domestic T20 events around the globe, and has not played for West Indies since the World Cup.The Australia players who have IPL deals will be free to join the league mid-way, as they did this year after their ODI series against Bangladesh. However, England’s players will once again find themselves at odds with the IPL, since the West Indies series starts on May 1. That could discourage franchises from bidding for players from England, should they be part of a player auction next year.Pakistan are scheduled to welcome Bangladesh in April and May for two Tests and three ODIs, after which they are due to tour Sri Lanka for three Tests, five one-dayers and two T20Is. Pakistan’s visit would require Sri Lanka’s international players to leave the IPL early, something that became a contentious issue in 2011 for Sri Lanka’s tour of England.

Former Celtic striker Frank McAvennie is ecstatic that six Hoops players have made it into PFA Scotland’s Team of the Year for 2021/22.

The Lowdown: Hoops dominate Team of the Year

The Hoops are on the verge of being named the new Scottish Premiership champions, taking a six-point lead with them into the final three matches of the campaign.

Celtic’s dominance has now been recognised, with the news that Cameron Carter-Vickers, Josip Juranovic, Tom Rogic, Callum McGregor, Jota and Kyogo Furuhashi are all named in the Team of the Year.

All six have enjoyed superb seasons, playing a huge role in Ange Postecoglou’s side being so close to title glory.

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The Latest: McAvennie reacts to news

Speaking to Football Insider, McAvennie couldn’t hide his delight at the news:

“I can’t believe it, if you told me six players would make it into the team of the year at the end of last season, I wouldn’t believe it. The team we had last year was rotten. In such a short time Ange has turned it around.

“If you look at those six, Juranovic, Jota, Kyogo and Carter-Vickers all came in this season. I can’t believe that. Four brand new signings all in the team of the season, it’s just, wow.

“That is down to Ange as well because he brought them in. He is the one to thank in all this.

“McGregor and Rogic have improved so much as well, all of them deserve it. I know it doesn’t really mean much but it’s just another sign for the incredible year we have had and hopefully it’s a good sign for the future.”

The Verdict: Richly deserved recognition

To see over half of the Team of the Year dominated by Celtic players is just reward for their efforts, with Postecoglou getting huge amounts out of his squad in his first season at Parkhead.

Carter-Vickers has been an influential figure on loan from Tottenham, averaging 4.1 aerial duel wins per game, while Rogic and McGregor have brought class and fight to the midfield.

Meanwhile, Jota has been another inspired loan signing, chipping in with 18 goal contributions in the league – nine goals and assists each – and both Juranovic and Kyogo have also done their bit for the cause at right-back and in attack, respectively.

In other news, Celtic are reportedly keen on selling one player this summer. Find out who it is here.

Iain O’Brien, the New Zealand seamer, has joined a growing list of cricketers who have admitted to suffering from depression

ESPNcricinfo staff10-Jul-2011Iain O’Brien, the New Zealand seamer, has joined a growing list of cricketers who have admitted to suffering from depression. O’Brien chose his 35th birthday to tell the how depression has plagued him his entire career. He said he had hidden the illness, despite being aware of it, until earlier this year, when listening to a BBC radio programme hosted by former England captain Michael Vaughan, dealing with the topic of depression in cricket, convinced him to seek help.”Listening to that show was when I realised that it was probably time to go and get it sorted,” he said. “How have I got through to now without doing anything about it? It’s different for everyone. But I think I bullied myself into doing things and trying to live ‘normally’.”O’Brien, who has also maintained a popular cricket blog through most of his career, said he first suspected he suffered from depression when he was in university but chose not to tell his team-mates about it, when he later experienced lows while playing for New Zealand. The 2007 tour of South Africa, when he had been recalled to the national side after two years, O’Brien said, was a particularly bad time.”I’d just got back into the Test team after two-and-a-half years out of the mix, but for the first two weeks of our tour to South Africa, I didn’t really leave my room. I was just too scared. I went and played cricket, went to training and did a bit of shopping. But most nights I’d eat by myself and order room service.”The rest of the time I’d either hang out in my room or sit by the pool. Wrapped up in it is how you value and see yourself. I didn’t feel as though the guys I was on tour with were equals by any means. I didn’t want to bother them so I looked after myself. That’s still how I deal with it sometimes even now. If I’m having a few bad days, I’ll try to get away from people. I can still go and play cricket and have good days on the park, but the rest of it can be quite hard work.”I probably should have piped up about it earlier on, just around the team and that sort of thing. But it’s not easy an easy thing to talk about.”Earlier this year, England’s Michael Yardy pulled out of the World Cup because of depression, once again bringing the issue into focus. O’Brien said he was not sure whether it was the nature of cricket that made players depressed or whether it was just that the sport attracted people who were prone to having psychological issues.”Go back to the very start and you have to ask the question: is it cricket that acts as a catalyst for mental illnesses or is it the people who are drawn to it? I’m serious here because the sport does kick your arse very quickly. You can have a great day and then be a nobody the next. If you went around the dressing room, you could pick someone who was suffering from Obsessive Compulsive Disorder, you could pick someone with Asperger’s Syndrome and then there’s those affected by depression. There would be a small minority who would actually be quite normal.”O’Brien’s career has meandered since he retired from international cricket in 2009. He moved to England to live with his British wife, and played for Middlesex in 2010. However, in 2011 he was denied classification as a domestic player in England, causing him to lose his county contract. In June, he decided to move back to Wellington to play domestic cricket in New Zealand, and is hoping to make a comeback to the national team.He is determined not to let his issues with depression get in the way of his future, and wants to deal with the problem before it gets worse. “A couple of cricketers over here, once they’d finished playing county cricket, didn’t know what to do with themselves so they committed suicide. I don’t want to be one of those statistics. I don’t want this to fester away either. I’ve never been quite that low but I’ve certainly been on the way to being that low. I don’t want to deal with that. I don’t want my wife and my daughter to deal with me like that.”

Upul Tharanga’s fourth one-day international century this year and a five-wicket haul from Lasith Malinga kept the series alive as Sri Lanka compiled a comfortable 78-run victory in Hambantota

The Report by Brydon Coverdale16-Aug-2011
Scorecard and ball-by-ball detailsUpul Tharanga made his fourth ODI century of the year•AFPUpul Tharanga’s fourth one-day international century this year and a five-wicket haul from Lasith Malinga kept the series alive as Sri Lanka compiled a comfortable 78-run victory in Hambantota. After two substandard batting performances in the opening matches, Sri Lanka finally found their rhythm and their 286 was too tall a target for Australia, who lead 2-1 as the teams head to Colombo for the final two games in the series.It was a solid all-round performance from Sri Lanka: Tillakaratne Dilshan and Kumar Sangakkara contributed useful runs and the work of the batsmen was well backed up by the outstanding Malinga and his bowling colleagues. Especially impressive was the debutant seamer Shaminda Eranga, who struck in his first over and deceived Ricky Ponting to keep Australia on the back foot early in their chase.Eranga, 25, needed only three balls to make his mark on international cricket, with a delivery that nipped through the ever-widening gate left by an out-of-form Brad Haddin, who made 5. But the moment that Eranga will be most proud of came when his slower ball was not read by Ponting, who pushed back a return catch on 22.Already, Malinga had drawn an edge to slip from Shane Watson (5), and at 52 for 3 following the Ponting dismissal, Australia were in a major hole. Michael Hussey and Michael Clarke did their best to rebuild in a 71-run partnership but Clarke couldn’t make it three fifties from three innings this series when on 46 he tamely fed a catch to mid-on off Malinga.Hussey was his usual competitive self, ticking the score over and reaching his half-century, but he began to run out of partners when his brother David played on to Ajantha Mendis and Steven Smith was run out. Hussey gave Malinga his third wicket when he square-drove to point on 63, and from then, with 104 needed off 59 balls, it was only a matter of when Sri Lanka would wrap up the win.Malinga ended up with 5 for 28 when his fast, accurate yorkers rattled the stumps of Xavier Doherty and Doug Bollinger, and the outcome wasn’t what Clarke had envisaged when he won the toss and sent Sri Lanka in. After rain over the previous day, the pitch gave the seamers some assistance but Tharanga and Dilshan survived the early stages despite numerous plays and misses, especially against Bollinger.Bollinger, who is not in the squad for the upcoming Test series, finished with 4 for 42 and was the only member of the attack who posed a serious threat to Sri Lanka for most of the innings. The problem was that he didn’t make any of his breakthroughs in the early stages, and the 139-run opening stand from Dilshan and Tharanga set the tone for the rest of the match.Smart Stats

The 78-run win is Sri Lanka’s second largest victory margin in ODIs against Australia. The highest remains their 79-run win in Sydney in 2003.

Sri Lanka’s total of 286 is their highest total in home ODIs against Australia and their third-highest overall against Australia. Both the top scores have come in ODIs in Sydney.

The 139-run stand between Tillakaratne Dilshan and Upul Tharanga is the fifth century partnership for the opening wicket for Sri Lanka against Australia. It is also the third-highest on the list of Sri Lankan opening stands against Australia.

Tharanga’s century is his 12th in ODIs and his first against Australia. His previous highest against Australia was 86 in Sydney last year.

Lasith Malinga’s spell of 5 for 28 is the joint-best bowling figures for a Sri Lankan bowler in ODIs against Australia. It is also Malinga’s fourth five-wicket haul in ODIs and first against Australia.

Doug Bollinger’s 4 for 42 is fifth haul of four wickets or more in ODIs. Three of those efforts have come in ODIs outside Australia.

They began to score more freely once spin was introduced, Tharanga lifting Doherty confidently over mid-off for a pair of boundaries, and both openers drove well through the off side. Dilshan eventually fell for 55 from 59 balls when he pulled a short Bollinger delivery straight to deep midwicket, but Australia’s joy was to be short-lived as Sangakkara joined Tharanga in another solid stand.Tharanga had struggled in the first two matches, after serving a three-month drug ban, but it was third time lucky as he began to find his touch. In between the edges and plays-and-misses, he nearly cleared the boundary with a strong pull off Lee and picked off runs against the part-time spin of David Hussey and Smith, and reached his century from 128 deliveries.It continued a fine year for Tharanga, who despite his suspension has made more one-day international centuries in 2011 than any other player in the world. He also passed 4000 ODI runs and was the fastest Sri Lankan to reach the milestone, doing it in four fewer innings than the previous record-holder, Marvan Atapattu.Tharanga fell when he tried to glide a ball to third man, only succeeding in steering a catch to Brad Haddin, but he had given Sri Lanka a terrific platform. Tharanga was the third wicket in ten deliveries for Bollinger, who had picked up Sangakkara (49 off 37 balls) lbw and the out-of-form Dinesh Chandimal, who was well snared at slip by Clarke for 4.But even a late flurry of wickets – Sri Lanka finished nine down – couldn’t turn things around for Australia. After two flat matches, Sri Lanka were sharp, and if they keep that up in Colombo the series could yet be theirs.

Derbyshire edged to the top of Group A in the Clydesdale Bank 40 following a thrilling tie with Netherlands in Deventer

17-May-2011
Scorecard
Derbyshire edged to the top of Group A in the Clydesdale Bank 40 following athrilling tie with Netherlands in Deventer. Steffan Jones hit the final ball of Derbyshire’s chase for two to share the points as both sides finished a low-scoring contest on 163 for 9. That was enough to move the Falcons to the top of the group, although Middlesex may leapfrog them within hours as they began their chase against Worcestershire at Lord’s.Derbyshire’s hopes of taking anything from their trip across the North Sea looked to have disappeared when top-scorer Garry Park became Shane Mott’s fourth victim to leave the visitors nine down and needing 15 from nine balls. Last pair Jones and Tim Groenewald then defied the odds to set-up a last-ball finish, but Mudassar Bukhari’s final delivery cost just two to leave scores level.Greg Smith had earlier taken 3 for 39 for Derbyshire to frustrate Netherlands, who only managed their below-par score thanks to 41 from tailender Bukhari. Derbyshire started a routine-looking chase badly when Chesney Hughes was bowled for a duck by Mott in the opening over.Mott also accounted for Wes Durston (24) and Greg Smith (12) and when Australia opener Usman Khawaja was caught behind off Peter Borren Derbyshire were 62 for 4. Wayne Madsen and Park then seemed to be building a match-winning partnership before the former was caught by Borren off the bowling of the busy Bukhari.Pieter Seelaar then bowled Derbyshire captain Luke Sutton for only two runs and Jonathan Clare was trapped lbw by Michael Swart five overs later. Azeem Rafiq joined Park at the crease and hit 18 quickfire before becoming Swart’s second victim at the end of the 36th over.Derbyshire’s hopes look doomed when Park (38) was caught by Seelar off Mott’s but last-pair Jones and Groenewald did enough to at least take a point.Earlier, Netherlands’ top-order struggled with Clare claiming two wickets in the 14th over, including Swart for a duck, as the hosts fell to 45 for 3. Wilfred Diepeveen (13) and captain Borren (16) also fell cheaply to bring Tom de Grooth and Bukhari to the crease.The pair added 49 for the seventh wicket with De Grooth chipping in with a laboured 25 from 54 balls before he was run out. Bukhari, whose innings included eight fours, followed when he was caught by Groenewald off Jones. Tom Heggelman fell with the very next ball as Mott and Seelaar scrambled to a score of 163 for 9.

Zimbabwe have named their squads for the limited-overs tri-series against Australian and South African A sides, and for a two-day warm-up match preceding their four-day games against Australia A

ESPNcricinfo staff24-Jun-2011Zimbabwe have named their squads for the limited-overs tri-series against Australian and South African A sides, and for a two-day warm-up match preceding their four-day games against Australia A which will set a benchmark ahead of their Test return.Brendan Taylor, who has just been unveiled as the new national captain, will lead in the one-day games while batsman Vusi Sibanda has been put in charge of a second-string side to play the warm-up at Kwekwe Sports Club, starting on July 11.A 32-man squad had been in camp since early June, and despite a spate of injuries the team’s backroom staff were upbeat ahead of the start of a season in which Zimbabwe’s Test readiness will be tested.”I am pleased with the way the players have responded to the training programme,” said national coach Alan Butcher. “Of course, there was some grumbling here and there at first but with the passage of time they all got used to it. The mood in the camp right now is very good. There has been a very great improvement in their physical fitness and technical awareness.”With a few exceptions, the players are all looking physically fit and strong and are playing lots of cricket among themselves. We have been working hard on both the bowling and batting departments for the last six weeks and it looks good. The guys are bowling a bit quicker in the nets.”But we cannot be able to judge the progress made so far unless we play other opposition. The proof will be in the pudding when we start playing more against other sides. South Africa and Australia have named strong sides and it’s going to be some tough cricket. “But it’s good for us ahead of our first Test match in six years,” said Butcher.Assistant coach Stephen Mangongo echoed Butcher’s sentiments. “The intensity has been excellent and I am happy some of our key players like Hamilton Masakadza and Brendan Taylor are getting it right,” he said.”It’s good that our core players are showing this form and are able to stay at the crease for long periods. We need that form and hopefully our confidence levels will improve too,” added Mangongo. “These guys have been pushing hard and the more they feel the pressure from the new players the higher they feel the need to raise their game.”Everyone knows that you have to be on top of your game to be selected. It’s not about the names and this is the challenge that most of the players have been facing in the last six weeks. Each player has to prove himself.”One player who appears to have done enough to further his case for selection is 21-year-old left-arm seamer Brian Vitori, who has been included in the limited-overs squad. “He has shown great promise and is doing quite well with the new ball,” said Mangongo.Zimbabwe had also been sweating on Keegan Meth’s fitness after he pulled out of a two-day practice game last week after bowling only two overs. His injury was apparently not as serious as previously thought and he has also been included in the squad of 15. Another unexpected name on the team lists is that of allrounder Malcolm Waller. Waller was not part of the original 32-man training squad and was said to have been playing club cricket overseas.Zimbabwe XI limited-overs squad Brendan Taylor (capt), Regis Chakabva, Tendai Chatara, Elton Chigumbura, Craig Ervine, Hamilton Masakadza, Keegan Meth, Christopher Mpofu, Forster Mutizwa, Raymond Price, Vusimuzi Sibanda, Tatenda Taibu, Prosper Utseya, Brian Vitori, Malcolm Waller.Zimbabwe XI two-day warm-up squad Vusimuzi Sibanda (capt), Regis Chakabva, Chamunorwa Chibhabha, Elton Chigumbura, Kyle Jarvis, Gregory Lamb, Shingirai Masakadza, Tinotenda Mawoyo, Natsai Mushangwe, Forster Mutizwa, Njabulo Ncube, Tinashe Panyangara, Malcolm Waller.

A round-up of the final round of group games from the Stanbic Bank 20 Series in Zimbabwe

Liam Brickhill19-Nov-2010Graeme Cremer inspired a remarkable turnaround by Mid West Rhinos as they booked their place in Saturday’s semi-final with a 15-run win over Matabeleland Tuskers on a rainy afternoon in Harare. While Tuskers are already through to the next round, Rhinos came into the match needing a win to be sure of their spot in the semis. When Bradley Staddon’s four wickets kept them to just 148 despite Brendan Taylor’s classy half-century and Tuskers rushed to 58 for 1 on either side of an extended rain delay it seemed Rhinos’ tournament was over.Charles Coventry led Tuskers’ chase with a typically adventurous 26-ball 41, but once he was dismissed – unsurprisingly, caught in the deep – and Tuskers pursued a reduced target the Rhinos’ spinners came to the fore on a damp pitch. Brendan Taylor trapped Steven Trenchard lbw in his first over, and Cremer then found himself on a hat-trick as he removed Keith Dabengwa and Keegan Meth from consecutive deliveries.Staddon survived the hat-trick ball, but was soon run out trying to get wicketkeeper Adam Wheater back on strike, and the Tuskers innings went into freefall. Wheater chipped Cremer straight to Malcolm Waller in the 13th over and two balls later the legspinner dipped a full, drifting delivery underneath Njabulo Ncube’s bat to rattle the off stump. Chris Mpofu’s run out by a rifling throw from the deep by Gary Ballance sparked scenes of exuberant celebration from the Rhinos, a brave fight-back earning them a worthy place in the semi-finals.Mountaineers, who won this competition last season, crashed out after the round-robin stage this time round as they slipped to a 23-run loss against a resurgent Southern Rocks side. Another pair of bellicose half-centuries from Sikandar Raza and Elton Chigumbura lifted Rocks to 198 for 6, and despite a classic, never-say-die fifty from Lance Klusener Mountaineers could only manage 175 for 7.Raza led the early exchanges for Rocks, following up his 93 on Wednesday with another aggressive innings. He put on 47 for the first wicket with Chamu Chibhabha, and 39 for the second with Chigumbura before departing for a 30-ball 54 that included eight fours and a six. Mountaineers worked their way through Rocks’ middle order, Tatenda Taibu and Craig Ervine falling for single figures as they slipped to 108 for 4 in the 14th over.But Chigumbura then picked up the charge in electric fashion, thrashing five sixes as he added 51 in four overs and one ball with Tendai Chisoro, who contributed 24 from just 13 balls. Steve Tikolo helped him give the innings a final boost with a quickfire 12, and Mountaineers were faced with the daunting task of chasing down almost 200 to stay in the competition.Though Hamilton Masakadza and Tino Mawoyo gave them a decent start, the middle order struggled to impose itself upon the Rocks attack and Chris Harris’s gentle leg-rollers were taken for just 13 runs in four overs. As the required rate went stratospheric it appeared Mountaineers would bow out with a whimper before Klusener entered, with dramatic results. In the space of four overs he put on 73 with Shingi Masakadza, who contributed a rapid 17, and Prosper Utseya, who managed just a single.In an innings that rolled back the years, Klusener cracked seven sixes and reached his fifty from just his 17th delivery. His innings was not enough to revive Mountaineers but it did make for enthralling viewing for the spectators, whose numbers have steadily increased as this tournament has gone on.

Matt Prior might have been surprised to get a late call-up to England’s World Cup squad, but is now ready to play a new role

Dileep Premachandran in Nagpur21-Feb-2011England’s two previous experiences of the World Cup on the subcontinent couldn’t have been more contrasting. Back in 1987, in what was something of a golden age for English one-day cricket, they went all the way to the Eden Gardens final and could conceivably have won it but for stroke from Mike Gatting. Nine years later, they were a useless shower, the worst of the Test nations, losing to New Zealand, Pakistan and South Africa before Sanath Jayasuriya and Sri Lanka gave them a kicking in the quarter-final.Somewhere during that intervening decade, England forgot how to play 50-over cricket. Subsequent World Cups have been no better. Pathetic on home turf in 1999, they failed to progress from the group stages in 2003 as well. As for the last campaign in the Caribbean, there were few headlines for on-field excellence, but plenty for off-field Pedalos and Battles of the Bottle.This, though, is not the same side. The 6-1 thrashing that they suffered in Australia has seen many write them off, but a fully fit side with key performers restored could be a very different proposition. Several of them played a huge part in the winning of the World Twenty20 last year, and Andrew Strauss, the captain, reckons that experience will have a big bearing on this six-week odyssey across the subcontinent.”Paul Collingwood [who captained that Twenty20 side] is going to be a good sounding-board for me as he always is,” he said. “It was a massive hurdle to overcome, winning that Twenty20 World Cup. It stands us in good stead for this tournament as well.”In 1987, England finished second in the group, beating mighty West Indies twice, and then ended Kapil Dev’s hopes of retaining the trophy in a dramatic Mumbai semi-final dominated by Graham Gooch’s precise sweeps. It’s worth noting that both subcontinent World Cups were won by sides that didn’t let up in intensity – Australia lost once in ’87, while Sri Lanka were unbeaten in 1996 – and Strauss said that the forgiving format wouldn’t be an excuse for lax displays.”In the group matches, you can afford a slip-up or two, but I don’t think any side will be approaching it in that manner,” he said. “You want to win as many games as possible. Certainly from where we’ve come, the last month or so, the more wins the better. Once the tournament’s underway, there is a bit of a buzz about things and we want to get off to a good start.”England played both warm-up games on a slow, low pitch at Fatullah, and after a narrow victory against Canada, they were extremely impressive in seeing off Pakistan. “It’s all about confidence,” said Strauss. “We gained quite a lot from that Pakistan game, purely because it was going back to a formula that’s worked quite well for us in the past. It was familiar and it felt right. That was the basis of most of our one-day cricket over the last two years or so. We need to build on that and these group matches are an opportunity to do that.”The last time England played in India, they were blanked 5-0 before the Mumbai terror attacks caused the last two matches to be abandoned. Since Andy Flower took over as coach though, they’ve won 24 and lost 22, figures skewed by two 6-1 post-Ashes thrashings by Australia.They are drawn in the tougher of the two groups, with India and South Africa among the favourites and West Indies and Bangladesh dangerous floaters. Strauss, though, isn’t even looking that far ahead. “There are some strong sides in there,” he said. “Ireland and the Netherlands are two strong Associate nations. They’re certainly capable of a couple of upsets. The first thing is to make sure we get through the group and make the quarter-finals.”The route they take to the last eight will most likely tell us whether this team is capable of emulating the boys of ’87, or whether they’ll go the way of the driftwood from ’96.

Michael Clarke has said sorry for not walking during a dramatic last-over dismissal that swung the second Test further towards England

Peter English at Adelaide06-Dec-2010Michael Clarke has said sorry for not walking during a dramatic last-over dismissal that swung the second Test further towards England. Clarke was 80 when he glanced Kevin Pietersen’s part-time offspin to Alastair Cook at short leg, leaving Australia 137 runs from forcing the tourists to bat again.Clarke took a series of steps towards the dressing room before stopping when he realised the umpire Tony Hill wasn’t going to raise his finger. England immediately referred the decision and the first replay showed Clarke was out.”Just want to apologise for not walking off the ground tonight when I hit the ball,” Clarke tweeted. “I was just so disappointed, my emotions got the best of me.”Michael Hussey, who was at the other end, saw the nick and his first instinct was to turn to Hill. “I just remember looking back at the umpire and yelling no, no, no,” he said. “So I didn’t know what was going on down [Clarke’s] end. By the time I turned around they pretty much referred it straight away and I could tell in Michael’s body language that he thought he was out.”He said Clarke was “pretty distraught” and had not spoken in the dressing room. “It was a real sombre way for us to finish the day because we fought pretty hard and it would have been nice to go in three-down,” Hussey said. “It would have really capped off a great day because he played awesome cricket today. He played like the Michael Clarke we love and have loved watching play over the last few years.”Clarke combined for a 104-run stand with Hussey that gave Australia a chance of saving the game, and they were 4 for 238 at stumps. Now that task has been passed on to Hussey and Marcus North, who is once again under pressure to hold his spot.”If we can draw the match, England will see it as a loss so that’s got to drive us on,” Hussey said. “We’ve certainly been outplayed, no question, but if we can get away with 0-0 it will be a great result for us. We’ve got a bit of hard work to do, with maybe a bit of luck and hopefully some weather to help us along the way.”North has scored 1 and 26 in this series and despite registering a century in Bangalore three matches ago, his hold on his place is loose. “He’ll definitely score runs,” Hussey said. “He’s a champion player, a champion guy to have around the team, and we want him around the team. We’re behind him all the way.”However, Hussey has the main job of navigating through the crisis after reaching 44 not out. “I’d be lying if I said I loved it, but it’s certainly rewarding to come into a pressure situation and get your team into a position to win the match or save the match,” he said. “It gives you a lot of satisfaction. I wish I could come out like Bradman and smash them everywhere, but unfortunately the game doesn’t work that way.”