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The Sri Lankan cricket team arrived in Mumbai on Saturday afternoon with Kumar Sangakkara promising their best in an attempt to conquer “the last frontier”

Nagraj Gollapudi in Mumbai08-Nov-2009Sri Lanka have made six tours to India over the last 27 years, played 14 Tests, and are yet to win one. It’s a record Kumar Sangakkara is keen to rectify as his team arrived in Mumbai for a three-Test series beginning on November 16, followed by two Twenty20 internationals and five one-dayers.Sangakkara, however, said his side, No. 2 in the Test rankings, was “under no pressure” to scratch India off the list of countries (South Africa and Australia are the others) where Sri Lanka have never won a Test. “We know we haven’t won here and for us we need to try and change that,” a sleepy-eyed Sangakkara said, in his first interaction with the media in India on Sunday afternoon. “We are here to relax, enjoy and not worry about history, and try and put as much pressure on the Indians as possible.”The pressure, Sangakkara felt, would be on India after the defeat against Australia in the ongoing home one-day series. He said it would be interesting to see how India reacted from the defeat against an under-strength side, saying that “some react positively while some don’t”.Sangakkara, who took over the captaincy from Mahela Jayawardene at the ICC World Twenty20 in June, is building a cohesive unit capable of performing in all conditions. Sri Lanka are formidable at home but their overseas record is mediocre. Their lack of success in India is strange, especially since the conditions here are similar to those in Sri Lanka.Posting large totals is critical to winning Tests in India, and Sri Lanka’s batsmen have been unable to do so in the past, with 420 in Kanpur in 1986 being their best effort. Their present batting line-up could be challenged to surpass that score as only four players – Jayawardene, Tillakaratne Dilshan, Thilan Samaraweera and Sangakkara – have Test experience in India.Things are not bright on the bowling front either. Even Muttiah Muralitharan has taken only 31 wickets in eight Tests and his average of nearly 40 in India is his worst in any country after Australia. And in Lasith Malinga’s absence, their fast-bowling attack comprising Nuwan Kulasekara, Thilan Thushara, Dammika Prasad and Chanaka Welegedara lacks menace and experience. Sangakkara, though, was of the opinion that his relatively inexperienced attack could be at an advantage.”Inexperience is sometimes a good thing as the Indian batsmen have not played our fast bowlers regularly in the longer form of the game which can work to our advantage.” He said sometimes a “fresh perspective, attitude and enthusiasm could be an added bonus”.Sangakkara is banking on 22-year old allrounder Angelo Mathews to give the team flexibility and balance. “We have a great option in Angelo Mathews who gives us the flexibility of playing three spinners on a spin-friendly wicket because of him being a frontline fast bowler and a batsman,” Sangakkara said. “We could even go into the game with three out-and-out fast bowlers, with Mathews in support, and one spinner or even two fast bowlers and two spinners.”It will be interesting, however, to see which two spinners Sri Lanka field in the first Test against India in Ahmedabad beginning on November 16, especially with Sangakkara stressing the importance of “performance and current form”. Murali is likely to be a certainty for one spot, and Ajantha Mendis had spectacular success against the Indian batsmen in Sri Lanka. It is the left-arm spinner, Rangana Herath, though, who has been Sri Lanka’s most successful slow bowler in recent matches.In his last four Tests at home, Herath took 23 wickets against Pakistan and New Zealand. Murali did not play against Pakistan while Mendis proved expensive – his five wickets cost 43 each. Against New Zealand, Murali’s returns were 13 wickets at 24 apiece while Mendis’ three victims came at an average of 45. Sangakkara said that Herath having to play “third fiddle to the other spinners made him hungrier to do well”. Sri Lanka could do with more healthy competition in India during the coming weeks.This series, from November 8 to December 27, begins with a three-day warm-up game against the Board President’s XI at Mumbai’s Bandra-Kurla Complex before the first Test. The second Test will be in Kanpur before the teams head back to Mumbai for the third game.

Ponting played on for 40 minutes after being struck by a Roach bouncer. It was a fascinating spell of play during which their battle lived up to the pre-match hype

Brydon Coverdale at the WACA16-Dec-2009It was hard to imagine that the Kemar Roach versus Ricky Ponting battle could live up to the hype, but it did. That much was apparent from the second ball Roach bowled to Ponting, a short, 146kph delivery that thumped the batsman on the left elbow when he tried to evade it, having attempted unsuccessfully to pull the previous bouncer.Ponting is one of the toughest men in international cricket, but that ball hurt. He refused to leave the field and batted on for 40 minutes before he eventually succumbed and retired hurt, although scans showed no break to the arm and he was expecting to resume his innings on the second day. It was a fascinating period that justified the pre-match banter between the two teams.First, Ponting said Roach would be a handful if the WACA was quick and bouncy. Then Roach declared that he wanted to use the venue’s famous speed to hit 155kph. Next, Brad Haddin tried to put the pressure back on Roach. The fast man won a minor battle but didn’t get the Australian captain’s wicket and the West Indies coach David Williams conceded Ponting had the better of the encounter.”We know for a fact that Ponting, not that he’s scared of Roach, respected Roach as a fast bowler who can also hit you in your head as well as hit your edge,” Williams said. “It was a keen contest. Ricky I think got the better of him at the end. But at the end of the day it was good for cricket to see a fast bowler running in on a flat deck, bowling to the No. 1 batsman in the world.”[Roach was under] a little bit of pressure, coming in with all this hype and stuff. He probably bowled a little bit too short and maybe at times a little bit too full but he’s a young guy and he’s learning quickly.”There was one lesson Roach appeared not to learn during the day: he bowled only four overs, including the one that injured Ponting, with the considerable wind at his back. For the rest of the time he toiled into the breeze, which meant he was hovering in the mid 140kph region and only sometimes ticking into the 150s. It was a decision that amazed Shane Watson.”I thought that he definitely would have bowled downwind with the breeze going across, because he does swing the ball away from me and into Simon [Katich],” Watson said. “I was surprised that he bowled into the wind with the second new ball as well. As a batsman, facing Kemar Roach bowling at the wrong end was nicer.”Watson questioned the thinking of the West Indies captain Chris Gayle in making Roach work into the wind. However, Williams said it was the bowler’s call. “Roach is right now our No. 1 bowler and it’s up to him to pick which end he’s going to bowl,” Williams said. “He chose that end. That was Roach’s decision. Normally your strike bowler is going to get the end he prefers and that was the case.”There remains every possibility that the second round of the Roach-Ponting fight will occur on the second day, and this time Roach might decide to switch ends. The blow to the elbow hindered Ponting’s ability to extend his arm when trying to pull and hook, and some of his strokes looked more like gentle tennis shots, but Watson was expecting his captain to bat again.”He got the all-clear with his scans,” Watson said. “There’s no break in his elbow or anything like that. He’s just a bit bruised and battered from the ball that hit him. Hopefully a night’s rest will make sure that he pulls up pretty well and he’ll be right to go tomorrow morning.”It was very gladiatorial out there, the way Kemar Roach was taking on Ricky and of course he’s never going to take a backward step either. For him to be able to bat the way he did, even for that short period of time before he retired hurt, for him to continue taking him on was brilliant to watch.”

Plays of the day from the fourth day of the Sydney Test between Australia and Pakistan

Osman Samiuddin at the SCG06-Jan-2010Haddin takes off

Brad Haddin’s keeping often comes under the scanner – although it is far better than Kamran Akmal’s – but he can be extremely proud of his flying take to remove Salman Butt. Butt glanced and Haddin launched himself to right, intercepting the ball while airborne with his right arm at full stretch. It was a stunning effort and a photo of it should hang on his wall.Lob for a yob

Doug Bollinger doesn’t mind the pick-up-and-return-throw in his follow-through, but he tempered his approach after collecting a defensive shot from Imran Farhat. Bollinger wanted to have a fling at the stumps but Farhat was in the way, so he decided on a lob that cleared the batsman on the way to the keeper. He was less restrained after dismissing Farhat for 22, doing a modest impersonation of Shane Watson’s infamous Perth send-off. Bollinger clenched his fist as Farhat walked off close by, and roared in the batsman’s direction as he left the ground.Anyone for tennis?

Michael Hussey was in survival mode when he padded up to Kaneria, only to see the ball balloon and threaten to hit the stumps. Hussey was taking no chances and swotted the ball down like he was playing a smash at the Australian Open. In the end, nothing but a lack of partners could stop Hussey as he brought up his 11th Test century – a match-winning effort.Divided loyalties?
Geoff Lawson, the former Pakistan coach, has remained the most knowledgeable and sympathetic supporter for the visitors in the broadcast media here. Lawson has lived every moment of this series so far for his former charges, whether exulting in Mohammad Aamer’s successes, defending their dropped chances or waxing eloquent about Umar Akmal. Today at the SCG, perhaps anticipating a famous win, he turned up wearing a PCB National Cricket Academy top. Not bad for a man the present board chairman called “useless.”Akmal-watch
After dropping three catches yesterday, Kamran Akmal walked on to the team bus, sad and forlorn, hoping that “tomorrow will be a new day.” It was, though not for him, as he dropped his fourth catch of the Test, another sitter and this time from Peter Siddle.

The BCCI has launched an appeal, challenging the 12-month ban imposed by the ICC on the Feroz Shah Kotla

Cricinfo staff24-Jan-2010The BCCI has launched an appeal, challenging the 12-month ban imposed by the ICC on the Feroz Shah Kotla. The Indian board is understood to have disputed the ICC’s classification of the pitch used for the India-Sri Lanka ODI on December 27 last year as “dangerous” and “unfit”. The match had been called off after 23.3 overs during which Sri Lankan players received several blows due to severely varying bounce.According to the ICC rules, the home board is required to furnish its appeal within 24 hours of receiving the penalty. But even as the ICC made known its decision on Thursday, it announced that Michael Beloff QC has been appointed to hear the appeal. David Richardson, the ICC’s general manager of cricket and chief referee Ranjan Madugalle reached this decision after an investigation. The matter will be dealt with in accordance with the ICC’s Pitch and Outfield Monitoring Process.The ICC report, which followed after a high-level inquiry, meant the Kotla will be able to host matches during the 2011 World Cup. The BCCI has not scheduled any international matches at the venue till the end of 2010. However, the ban will not impact the Kotla’s IPL III schedule, during which it is expected to host seven matches. The one-year ban is on international matches, and the IPL, being a domestic tournament, is out of the global governing body’s purview.

A round-up of the second day of matches from the seventh round of the Regional Four Day Competition

Cricinfo staff28-Feb-2010Lionel Baker continued his impressive display to put Leeward Islands in complete control against Combined Campuses and Colleges in St Lucia. He grabbed a career-best 8 for 31 to skittle out CCC for 65; the top score was just 12. Leewards gained a lead of 162, and imposed the follow-on. CCC put up a better response in their second innings, with Romel Currency holding on with an unbeaten 77 but gradually losing support. Baker again got into the act, taking two wickets, including opener Kyle Corbin for 40. Omari Banks chipped in with two wickets as well, as CCC ended the day on 192 for 6, just 30 ahead.Guyana consolidated the strong position they had gained on the first day against Windward Islands in St George’s, posting 452 on the second thanks to a century from Ramnaresh Sarwan and useful contributions from the lower order. Guyana began the day on 239 for 3, and Sarwan, who had been a touch fortunate to reach 81 overnight, went past three-figures. Following his dismissal, the trio of Royston Crandon (36), Esuan Crandon (51) and Veerasammy Permaul (47) stretched Guyana’s total to a formidable one. For Windwards, legspinner Rawl Lewis and offspinner Shane Shillingford shared seven wickets. Windwards captain Devon Smith was unbeaten on 37 in their reply, as they reached 57 for 2.Trinidad and Tobago are in trouble against Jamaica in St. Andrew’s, following on, losing four wickets in their second innings and finishing the day still 159 adrift of Jamaica‘s score. After bowling out T&T for 379, they simply failed to measure up to the spin of Odean Brown, who took 5 for 46, and Bevon Brown, who supported him with three wickets. Opener Justin Guillen and captain Daren Ganga top scored with 31, a sign of their meek surrender while being bowled out for 144 and there was more trouble to follow. Jamaica imposed the follow-on, and Andre Russell, the fast bowler, took them closer to victory, nipping out three wickets to leave them struggling at 66 for 4 at stumps.

Phillip Hughes brought up his second century in consecutive matches as New South Wales powered to 4 for 413

Cricinfo staff19-Feb-2010New South Wales 4 for 413 (Hughes 192, Forrest 141) v South Australia

ScorecardPhillip Hughes has 192 and 149 in his past two innings•Getty Images

Phillip Hughes brought up his second century in consecutive matches as New South Wales powered to 4 for 413 against South Australia on the first day. Hughes, who got 149 on Sunday, was dismissed late in the afternoon for 192 while Peter Forrest was a crucial figure with 141 in the run avalanche.It is a timely streak for Hughes, with the Australian Test team for New Zealand soon to be selected, and it gives the Blues a chance of moving off the bottom of the table. He started strongly, grabbing 10 boundaries in the first hour, and didn’t slow for long as many of his runs came between third man and cover.Hughes struck 24 fours and two sixes during his 259 deliveries before being bowled pushing at Aaron O’Brien, the left-arm spinner. The performance put Hughes in second on the Shield run-scoring list for the summer with 794 at 56.71.While Hughes purred, Forrest was also in fine touch in the partnership of 265 for the third wicket. Forrest was assured as he built his strong innings, which ended when he was too ambitious and was caught lifting Peter George (2 for 66) to third man. He left with 18 fours and two sixes during his third first-class century.After the visitors won the toss, Phil Jaques (6) was an early departure when caught behind and Simon Katich (32) also went before lunch. The wickets didn’t bother Hughes and he and Forrest gave the Blues a strong start as they attempt to stay in contention for the final. New South Wales are on eight points while the Redbacks are third with 16, but the hosts will begin the second day well behind.

Scott Styris has said his 34-ball 49 ranks high in his list of best innings, for it came in a crucial series against the world’s best opposition in the 50-over format

Cricinfo staff03-Mar-2010Scott Styris, New Zealand’s match-winner in a thrilling opening fixture in Napier in the five-match ODI series against Australia, has said his 34-ball 49 ranks high in his list of best innings, for it came in a crucial series against the world’s best opposition in the 50-over format. Styris’ knock helped New Zealand chase down 276; he smashed a six off the second ball of the 50th over to seal a two-wicket victory.”I’d have to say it rates pretty highly, because any time you can be the guy at the end and win a game you’ve obviously got to be happy,” Styris said after the game. “When you couple that with the fact that it’s Australia, the No 1 team in the world, it’s even better.”Dan (Vettori) has said this series will define how New Zealand’s gone this summer, so to get the guys up and hopefully win this series is a great feeling.” Styris, who had been ignored for the home series against Bangladesh, was not meant to be in the playing 11 but came in as a last-minute replacement for Vettori, who sat out due to a neck injury.”I was a little bit rusty to start with. I haven’t had an innings for a couple of weeks so it took me a little bit to get going but the wicket out here was top drawer and great for batting, and thankfully once the Powerplay came I was able to get my shots away,” he told Radio Sport. “To win back-to-back games, albeit in different versions of the game, is a good start for us. Hopefully they know they’ve got a contest now and we’re here to play.”The victory also marked a successful beginning as captain for Ross Taylor. He was named Man of the Match for his 70, which, laced with six fours and a six, set up New Zealand’s chase.”I’m retiring now,” he quipped. “I got a text from Dan about 10.45am saying ‘I’m a bit iffy, you might be captain’, so I started getting ready then but I still thought he would be okay. I didn’t really know the extent his neck was playing up. I’m pretty happy with the result.”Ricky Ponting admitted a total of 275 was inadequate on a ground with short boundaries. “I probably felt all night we were just a little bit behind,” Ponting told Sky Sports. “I didn’t think 275 was enough runs on that wicket. The ground is so small and the wicket was very good right through the game.”Australia had an unbeaten summer at home, but have now been beaten in two consecutive games – they were on the receiving end of a Super Over defeat in the second Twenty20 international against New Zealand. “It’s never nice to lose a game,” Ponting said. “But any loss you have, you always learn more from a loss than a win, so we’ve got to look at what we did wrong tonight and make sure we train better leading up to the next game.”That’s the important thing now. I’ve just had a quick chat with the guys in there about the way we executed things tonight and just some of our shortcomings. It’s up to the group now to respond well.”

Bangladesh’s captain and coach, Shakib Al Hasan and Jamie Siddons, are targeting a victory against Pakistan in their opening game of the ICC World Twenty20 on May 1

Cricinfo staff24-Apr-2010Bangladesh’s captain and coach, Shakib Al Hasan and Jamie Siddons, are targeting a victory against Pakistan in their opening game of the ICC World Twenty20 on May 1.”I think there is a possibility for us to beat Pakistan because, at the moment, Pakistan cricket is unsettled with different kinds of crisis and injury problems,” Shakib said in Mirpur, prior to the team’s departure. “So we have to do something in the first match if we want to play the second round, but that doesn’t mean we play bad cricket against other group opponents Australia.”Siddons also felt Pakistan was Bangladesh’s best chance but said they would have to play sharp cricket nonetheless. “Both Pakistan and Australia are tough opponents but realistically we have a chance against Pakistan but in that case we need to play well,” he said. “The preparation is good and I must say it was much better than the last occasion. The players got the opportunity to play two tournaments – PCL and NCL – recently, which is really good. Some players missed out on runs but I think the wicket was low and slow. But definitely the boys will get consistent pace while playing in Barbados.”Bangladesh had a poor World Twenty20 in England in 2009, getting eliminated in the first round after losing group matches to India and Ireland. Shakib, however, was also pleased with his team’s preparation this time. “Nothing could have been better than playing matches before any tournament. I think our preparation is good this time and most importantly we have been playing good cricket for last few months and hope it will continue in West Indies and as well as in the England tour.”

Imrul Kayes provided the anchor and Mohammad Ashraful the impetus, as Bangladesh warmed up for their opening World Twenty20 encounter with the champions Pakistan by easing to a comfortable 36-run victory over Barbados at the Kensington Oval in Bridgetown

Cricinfo staff27-Apr-2010Bangladesh 166 for 5 (Kayes 57) beat Barbados 130 for 3 (Hinds 50*) by 36 runs

ScorecardBarbados had wickets in hand but couldn’t mount the target•Getty Images

Imrul Kayes provided the anchor and Mohammad Ashraful the impetus, as Bangladesh warmed up for Saturday’s World Twenty20 encounter with the champions Pakistan by easing to a comfortable 36-run victory over Barbados at the Kensington Oval in Bridgetown.With Tamim Iqbal missing due to a hand injury, Ashraful was promoted to open alongside Kayes, having missed the recent visit of England due to a loss of form. He responded with a pugnacious 35 from 12 deliveries, as Bangladesh rushed along to 166 for 5 in their 20 overs, after being asked to bat first.Ashraful was the first to fall in the ninth over, with the score on 64, when he was caught by Alcindo Holder off Carlos Brathwaite, but Kayes pushed along to a measured 57 from 59 balls, with Aftab Ahmed (26 from 20) providing powerful support in a second-wicket stand of 53 in 34 deliveries.In reply, Barbados lost their first wicket after four balls, which Rashidi Boucher edged to Ashraful at slip, to give Mashrafe Mortaza – another man who played little part in the England series – a wicket. From that point on, Barbados never seriously threatened to chase down their target, although Bangladesh’s bowlers found breakthroughs hard to come by. The captain, Hinds, produced a 48-ball half-century, before Jonathan Carter’s 30-ball 45 not out enlivened the closing overs. But the result was never in doubt.

Former Pakistan players, Aamer Sohail and Abdul Qadir, have criticised the decision taken by arbitrator Irfan Qadir to overturn Shoaib Malik’s one-year ban and cut his fine by half.

Cricinfo staff30-May-2010Former Pakistan players, Aamer Sohail and Abdul Qadir, have criticised the decision taken by arbitrator Irfan Qadir to overturn Shoaib Malik’s one-year ban and cut his fine by half. Speculation in Pakistan has suggested that political pressure was brought to bear on the PCB regarding Malik’s ban.”By lifting the ban on Malik, the PCB has succumbed to political pressures,” Qadir, a former chief selector, said. “If the board had taken a strong decision, it should have stuck to it come what may, but their decision will now encourage the players to violate discipline and get away with it.”Since Malik had been pardoned, Qadir said, the PCB would have to do the same with the other players. “Now it’s the duty of the board to clear other players also because it will be blamed to have done preferential treatment to one player after Malik is cleared,” he said.Sohail called the decision a “hasty” one. “To hide its own incompetence, the PCB targeted the players and, after pressures from outside, they abruptly lifted the ban.”The PCB had banned Younis Khan and Mohammad Yousuf, from playing for Pakistan in any format for an indefinite period, while handing out one-year bans to Malik and Rana Naved-ul-Hasan following the team’s disastrous tour of Australia in 2009-10. Shahid Afridi and the Akmal brothers were fined Rs 2-3 million [$24,000-35,000] for various misdemeanours and put on six-month probations.The charge against Malik was never clearly explained by the inquiry committee that decided on the punishment but it was widely thought to be for what a number of management officials and players called his negative influence on the side. This was confirmed in a subsequently leaked video of the inquiry committee meetings, in which Malik’s role within the squad was blasted by a number of players including Afridi and Yousuf.Sarfraz Nawaz, a former fast bowler, was scathing in his criticism of the PCB, saying it had taken “a coward’s stance”. “It’s a decision taken under political pressure and will damage Pakistan cricket in the future,” he said. “PCB took a decision against discipline breaches but couldn’t stand the pressure from political forces. I also question the authority of the arbitrator as well who doesn’t have the credibility and authority to take such a decision.”All of the punished players, apart from the retired Yousuf, had appealed against their bans and fines and will have hearings in June. Younis’ appeal was scheduled to be heard immediately after Malik’s but it was pushed back to June 5, while Naved-ul-Hasan’s hearing was set for June 19. However, Iqbal Mohammad Ali, the head of parliament’s sports committee, felt the delays were a deliberate attempt to keep them out of the Asia Cup in June.”I believe the only reason in delaying the appeals of these two players is that the PCB does not want to include their names in the Asia Cup squad,” Ali told AP. “He [arbitrator] should have given decisions on all the six appeals yesterday, but he just lifted ban from Shoaib Malik and reduced the fine.”It surprised me that they kept only Malik under observation. PCB should treat all the players equally. If they had decided to lift the ban on Malik and reduce the fine, they should have taken the similar decision on all the players.”