Cricket World Cup 2015: England and Australia drawn together

England have been drawn in the same group as Australia for the 2015 Cricket World Cup.
New Zealand, Sri Lanka, Bangladesh and two qualifying nations will join the Ashes rivals in Pool A of the 14-team tournament.
South Africa, defending champions India, Pakistan, the West Indies, Zimbabwe, Ireland and a qualifier will compete in Pool B.
England and Australia will meet on the opening day of the competition at Melbourne on 14 February.
The tourists' next fixture is six days later against New Zealand in Wellington, with a match against one of the qualifiers following on 23 February in the city of Christchurch – still rebuilding from an earthquake two years ago.
Sri Lanka are England's next opponents in Wellington on 1 March, before a return to Australia for games against Bangladesh on March 9 at Adelaide and the other qualifier in their group on 13 March at Sydney.
Adelaide, Auckland, Brisbane, Canberra, Christchurch, Dunedin, Napier, Nelson, Hamilton, Hobart, Melbourne, Perth, Sydney and Wellington were confirmed as host cities at today's official launch.
The Melbourne Cricket Ground will host the first ODI between Australia and England in January 2014. Photograph: Ryan Pierse/Getty Images The ICC chief executive David Richardson said: "The ICC Cricket World Cup is the flagship tournament of the 50-over game.
"The 2015 tournament will mark 40 years since the first World Cup in 1975 and that history of great contests and heroes helps make the tournament what it is - the most sought after prize in our increasingly global game.
"The World Cup will be returning to Australia and New Zealand after 23 years and will be staged at the back of two outstanding 50-over ICC events – the ICC Cricket World Cup 2011 and ICC Champions Trophy 2013.
"I'm absolutely confident that the success of the ICC Cricket World Cup 2015 will further strengthen the status of 50-over cricket as a successful and viable format alongside Tests and Twenty20 Internationals."
The Australian prime minister, Kevin Rudd, added: "This is one of the biggest events in world sport.
"It will attract cricket fans from around the globe and also promote Australia and our close friend New Zealand internationally - especially in India and other parts of south Asia."
Holders India will launch their defence against rivals Pakistan in Adelaide on 15 February.
Ticket prices for the tournament are not due to be announced until later in the year.

Ashes 2013: Cricket Australia investigates offensive tweet

Cricket Australia is investigating how a tweet containing expletives was sent from its official account during the third day of the second Ashes Test.

The message came after the decision by television umpire Tony Hill not to give England batsman Ian Bell out.
Bell had scored three when he appeared to be caught just above the ground by Steve Smith at gully at Lord's.
"We are looking into it," a Cricket Australia spokesman told BBC Sport. "We don't know how it happened."
One minute before the offensive tweet, a tweet had been posted from the account,  updating followers on the score.
On the Bell decision, a further tweet read: "What has happened there? Smith takes a low catch at gully. Bell stands there. Umpires review. Looks out. Guess not."
The account remains operational and further score updates have been added since the offensive tweet was deleted.

Test Match Special analysis

Ed Smith Former England batsman & TMS commentator

"Cricket people who've played the game know that is out. Television cameras foreshorten the pictures."

England reached 333-5 at the close on day three, a lead of 566.

About 25 minutes after the message was posted, Cricket Australia tweeted: "Apologies for the inappropriate tweet earlier regarding the Bell catch. It didn't emanate from CA's official Twitter presence at Lord's."
A spokesman said several employees in Australia had access to the account and were in charge of posting updates.
With the game - and potentially the series - slipping away from Australia, Bell cut Ryan Harris and was taken low by Smith.
Bell shrugged to suggest he was unsure whether the catch was clean, and the on-field umpires referred the decision to Hill.
After a short delay, and despite replays appearing to show Smith's fingers were under the ball, Hill ruled that there was insufficient evidence to give Bell out.
"That's a bad decision," said former England opener Geoffrey Boycott on BBC Test Match Special. "I bet I could go along the corridor to all the ex-players working on the game and most of them will say out; we just know from experience. That's not technology; it's human error."
The incident was the latest in a series blighted by umpiring controversies. In the first Test at Trent Bridge, which England won by 14 runs, Australia debutant Ashton Agar survived a debatable stumping on six before going on to make 98.
England's Stuart Broad was given not out after edging Agar to slip and Jonathan Trott was given out lbw by the third umpire, a decision the International Cricket Council later admitted was wrong.

Ashes 2013: Cricket Australia denies tweet over Steve Smith catch row

An angry tweet was sent moments after third umpire Tony Hill gave Ian Bell not out deeming the ball had been grounded before Steve Smith took a catch off Ryan Harris. “That decision, such ass #bull----” appeared on the Cricket Australia Twitter feed before being hastily deleted. “We are looking into it and trying to establish what happened,” said a spokesman for Cricket Australia.

CA heavily fined and reprimanded David Warner this year for sending abusive Twitter messages to two Australian cricket journalists and officials behind the scenes are furious its own official account has criticised umpiring. Multiple users have access to the account, which has more than 200,000 followers, and an apology was quickly issued.

“Apologies for the inappropriate tweet earlier regarding the Bell catch. It didn’t emanate from CA’s official Twitter presence at Lord’s.”

The incident with Bell was just the latest frustration both teams have endured with umpiring in this series. It is understood that Smith told Bell he was not sure if it carried, which prompted Marais Erasmus, the umpire, to call for the replay. Several Australia players watching the replay on the big screen began celebrating thinking it was out but television evidence of such incidents is generally inconclusive and Bell was reprieved as England again benefited from an umpiring decision.

It follows the controversy at Trent Bridge where Stuart Broad failed to walk when he edged a catch to slip. It prompted Michael Holding to suggest he should be banned for breaking the spirit of cricket, a punishment which was meted out to West Indies wicketkeeper Denesh Ramden when he claimed a dropped catch.

County cricket – as it happened

Morning everyone

Welcome to county cricket – live! where you can escape any early Ashes fatigue to discuss the ins and outs around the grounds. Today Paul Weaver will be at Hove where Middlesex reached 445 for five in their first innings at the close on Thursday in reply to Sussex's 229. Before everything is up and running, why not read Richard Rae's report on Warwickshire's defeat of Nottinghamshire as they stepped up the defence of their County Championship title.

11.37am BST

Paul Weaver checks in

It’s another beautiful day beside the seaside at Hove, with blue skies and a gentle breeze. But championship leaders Sussex might prefer a bit of unlikely rain because they’re going to struggle to get out of the hole they’ve dug themselves into here.
Middlesex, with Steve Finn restored to the side after being left out of the England team, are favourites to win and end Sussex’s unbeaten record in the First Division of the championship.
They resumed a little while ago on 445 for five – that’s already a lead of 216 – with John Simpson on 39 and Gareth Berg 26 not out.
Simpson has moved on to his fifty but Berg is out, caught at long off by Steve Magoffin off the bowling of Monty Panesar.
I’ve just bumped into England selector Ashley Giles in the coffee shop. Monty has been out of sorts lately but will be one of the men Giles – who was at Lord’s yesterday to see his old Warwickshire charge Ian Bell score a century – has come here to watch, along with Finn and Luke Wright. It’s 479 for six.

12.33pm BST

Monty leads the way

The arrival of Ashley Giles here appears to have worked wonders for Monty Panesar, who has not been at his best in the first half of the season, writes Paul Weaver. Giles, England’s former slow left-armer and now a selector, looked on as Monty collected a five-for.
After Simpson was seventh out, caught behind off the bowling of Chris Jordan, Panesar collected the last three wickets. First he had former Sussex all-rounder Ollie Rayner lbw, then he had Tim Murtagh stumped and finally he had Corey Collymore caught behind. That gave Panesar – who had been dropped for the Middlesex match at Lord’s earlier in the season – a return of five for 95. And this morning he had figures of four for 16.
But Middlesex made 496 and that’s a lead of 267. Sussex will have to bat until about tea tomorrow to make this one safe and on this pitch it would be no surprise if they were bowled out today.

1.15pm BST

Lunch at Hove

At lunch on the third day Sussex are 31 for one, and that means they are still 236 behind, writes Paul Weaver. The Sussex second innings did not get off to a good start when Chris Nash was given out without scoring a run.
He appeared to glove Murtagh to Adam Voges at first slip. But the batsman did not seem very happy with the decision. He remained in his ground for some time, before dragging himself off to the dressing room. But Luke Wells and Michael Yardy have dug in well.

2.46pm BST

Paul Weaver reports

Middlesex look in the mood to wrap things up on the third day here. Finn came into the attack for the 19th over of the the innings and with his fourth delivery he had Luke Wells caught at second slip by Rayner.
Then, in his next over, he had Rory Hamilton-Brown caught at first slip by Voges for a single.
In the over between, Collymore had Michael Yardy caught behind, so Sussex lost three wickets for three runs in the space of ten delivieries. And Finn took two in the space of four balls. Sussex are now 68 for four, still almost 200 runs behind. It’s a good match for them to save from here.

4.39pm BST

Tea at Hove

After losing their fourth wicket with the score on 45, Sussex counterattacked thrillingly through their captain, Ed Joyce, and Luke Wright. The pair put on 110 in 25 overs, Joyce stroking the ball elegantly and Wright thumping it with great power.
Then Joyce was caught behind off Neil Dexter. His 47 had come from 84 balls and included six fours. But Wright, now joined by Ben Brown, is still there at tea on 67 not out, and Sussex are 172 for five.
Steven Finn bowled a 10-over spell, sometimes with good pace, and then returned just before tea for another couple.

5.59pm BST

Middlesex made to wait

With about an hour to go on the third day Sussex’s chances of saving this match look hopeless but Middlesex must be sick of the sight of Luke Wright.
Against all the odds, Wright saved Sussex from defeat at Lord’s earlier this season, with a half-century in the first innings and a truly heroic 187 in the second. Now he has struck another century to defy Middlesex – including Steven Finn – in their ambition to get the match over and done with by tea-time.
Wright (105) and Ben Brown (22) have put on 67 and the score is 222 for five. They need another 45 to make Middlesex bat again.

Youth cricket gains ground in Maryland

They’re also the kinds of things you would hear at a cricket match, along with “Wait, how many overs are there?” and “There are four bowls and one out.”
Youth cricket growing
In the past couple of years, the game of cricket has been growing in popularity among Maryland kids. Next week, six coed youth cricket teams from the Maryland Youth Cricket Association will meet at the first Maryland Youth Cricket Championship. It will be the first state youth cricket competition in the country, according to Jamie Harrison, who helped found the United States Youth Cricket Association.
The Maryland association plans to add two more teams to the group next year.
Bowlers and batsmen
At a recent match early on a Sunday morning, the Germantown Kids Cricket Club challenged the Bowie Girls and Boys Club, playing on part of a baseball field. A regular cricket field, called the cricket ground, is oval-shaped; the main part of the ground is known as the pitch, a rectangular space between two wickets, sets of three upright sticks that are a key part of the game. The two wickets in this youth match stood 48 feet apart.
“I started playing cricket with my dad four or so years ago,” said Kshitij (sounds like “shi-TEEJ”) Gupta, 13, who was sitting on the bench while his team, GKCC, played defense. “I like the bowling better than the baseball pitching,” said Kshitij, who will be in eighth grade at Roberto Clemente Middle School in Germantown this fall.
In cricket, the bowler is like the pitcher in baseball. He or she throws the ball to a batsman, who tries to hit the ball. The bowler can get the batsman out by throwing the ball so that it hits the wicket behind the batsman. Unlike baseball and its pitchers, cricket teams change their bowlers often during each match.
A cricket team puts two batsmen on the field at the same time. Each stands at a wicket, but only one bats. When a batsman hits the ball, both batsmen have to make it to the other wicket to score a run.
Eleven players from the opposing team try to stop the runs and get an out by catching the ball or getting the ball to one of the wickets while the runners are still in the pitch. It’s sort of like getting the ball to home plate so a runner can’t score in baseball. In cricket, however, the batsmen can keep running back and forth between the wickets, scoring multiple runs while the fielders are working to get an out.
More runs, more fun
“In cricket, you get more recognition,” said Chimwemwe Chinkuyu, 10, who will be a fifth-grader at Heather Hills Elementary School in Bowie this fall and who was playing for the Bowie team. “Because when you hit, you can score more.” In professional cricket matches, teams score hundreds of runs each.
Aaron Slack, 9, started playing cricket with his best friend, who is from India, where cricket is very popular. Now he plays with the Bowie team.
“There are only two bases, so you get to score more so you get congratulated more,” said Aaron, soon to be a fifth-grader at Yorktown Elementary School in Bowie.

Sachin Tendulkar my superhero for life, says Virat Kohli

Mumbai:  Kids idolize many superheroes - Superman, Spiderman or Batman. For star India batsman Virat Kohli though, his superhero is none other than Master Blaster Sachin Tendulkar.

Speaking to the media in Mumbai on Friday, Kohli says that he will always idolize Tendulkar.

"My superhero has always been Tendulkar and it will be Tendulkar for life. He is someone who has inspired me immensely. Just watching him play for India, I used to dream of winning games for India, because he used to do it single handedly. I just had a vision and got a chance to play with him and do something like that. He has been my superhero and he will be for my lifetime," Kohli said in an event, where he was unveiled as a brand ambassador of a newly launched teen superhero MaxSteel.

Kohli relives the final of the 2011 World Cup against Sri Lanka at Mumbai, where he was instrumental in a 83-run stand with Gautam Gambhir. "When I was walking into bat in 2011 World Cup final when my idol got out. I felt I was playing in a field where there is no one else apart from me but 11 other Sri Lankan players. So it was totally quiet. So I wish I had some super powers so I could do something really special."

The 24-year-old, who is set to lead Team India for the upcoming 5 ODIs against Zimbabwe starting Wednesday, talked about 'heroes and villains' in cricket.

"In the game of cricket, hero is a person who respects the game and does not corrupt the game. The one who doesn't or corrupts the game, they are the villain. They should be punished and they have been punished in the past," the Delhi player said.

Kohli became the 22nd player to lead India in international cricket when he captained the team in the recently concluded tri-series in the Caribbean when MS Dhoni was injured. Many consider him to be the eventual successor to Dhoni. On leadership, he says, "I like to always lead from the front and set an example for whoever is playing with me or around me. I like taking responsibilities. That is my natural thing."

Team India are going through a purple patch after winning back-to-back ODI titles - ICC Champions Trophy and West Indies tri-nation series - and retaining their No.1 rank in ODI cricket. Kohli says the near future of Indian cricket looks bright. "I can't guarantee total success but if we continue this way, it will be a good time for Indian cricket. A lot of things that would make people happy," he said.

The stylish batsman goes on to says that if we players are hungry to do well, experience of players may yet take a back seat. "I don't think experience matters, especially in limited overs game. You need eleven players who are hungry for success, hardworking and whose vision is the team victory. If all 15 players are strong and it is a strong unit, which is good."

Talking of toys in sports, Kohli terms his cricket bat not merely as a toy but a weapon instead.

"The bat is not a toy, it's a weapon. It gives me everything in life, which helps me to do everything on the field."

Kohli is a two-time World Cup winner, albeit at different age levels - he led India Under-19s to the ICC World Cup title in 2007 and was an integral part of the 2011 victorious ICC World Cup campaign at home.

Cricket South Africa announces new selection panel

Cricket South Africa (CSA) on Friday announced in an official media release the re-appointment of Andrew Hudson as convener of the national selection committee as well as the appointment of two new selectors in former KwaZulu-Natal wicketkeeper Linda Zondi and former Gauteng all-rounder Hussein Manack.

Shafiek Abrahams, who like Hudson represented the Proteas at full international level, has been retained on the panel which is completed by the ex officio appointment of Russell Domingo as the Proteas head coach.

The new panel will serve until the next 2015 ICC World Cup to be held in Australia and New Zealand .

CSA High Performance Manager Vinnie Barnes and CSA Transformation Manager Max Jordaan will also serve on the committee in a non-voting capacity.

"The Board felt the need for a stronger independent component to the selection committee," commented CSA Acting CEO Naasei Appiah. "The previous panel had a majority of members who were employed by CSA. The national coach is the only voting member of the new panel who is employed by CSA.

"As part of their mandate there will have to be a selector on duty at all franchise matches in all the different competitions.

"Linda Zondi is succeeding Shafiek Abrahams as convener of the national under-19 panel and he will have a key role to play as the under-19 group is a vital area of our talent catchment area."

John Buchanan joins the NZ Cricket exodus

John Buchanan is out the door at New Zealand Cricket after they announced a parting of ways today.
The former Australian national coach, who was hired in May 2011 as NZC's director of cricket on salary understood to be $300,000-plus, is leaving immediately.
An NZC statement confirmed Buchanan was heading back to Australia ''due to family circumstances''.
He was originally contracted by former NZC chief executive Justin Vaughan for a four-year period, through until the 2015 World Cup.
He courted controversy with some of his left-field methods and former national coach John Wright cited differences with Buchanan as the reason he left the role last year.
It became clear in recent weeks that Buchanan's days were numbered, especially after the national selection manager he recruited, fellow Australian Kim Littlejohn, was also shown the door at the end of his two-year contract.
Fairfax Media reported this week that Buchanan had been effectively frozen out by current ceo David White. It appears his position became untenable and he decided to walk away.
''Buchanan, who took up the role at NZC in May 2011, is disappointed to be leaving NZC at this time as he has enjoyed his work there.  However due to family circumstances, he has decided to return to Australia,'' the statement said.
''Buchanan's return to Australia will give him the opportunity to explore other roles and consultancies with his business Buchanan Success Coaching.
''He is grateful to NZC for giving him a chance to be its director of cricket, and to work with many outstanding individuals within the organisation.
NZC respects John's decision to return home and we wish him well for his future endeavours.''
White said there would be no further comment from he or Buchanan. 
Last week NZC chairman Chris Moller announced he would not be seeking re-election to the board in September. 
Board members Bill Francis, Sir John Hansen, and Therese Walsh also indicated they would not be standing. 

Cricket Australia investigates offensive tweet after controversial decision

Australia ran into more technological trouble on another chastening day, this time courtesy of their official Twitter account rather than the decision review system. When the third umpire, Tony Hill, turned down Steve Smith's claim to have caught Ian Bell in the gully, the Cricket Australia account tweeted: "That decision sucked ass #bullshit".
The offending tweet was quickly deleted, and replaced by "Apologies for the inappropriate tweet earlier regarding the Bell catch. It didn't emanate from CA's official Twitter presence at Lord's. CA is currently investigating the matter."
The incident was especially embarrassing for Australia's cricket authorities after they had fined one of their own players, David Warner, for his inappropriate tweeting during a row with journalists in May. But plenty of neutrals shared their view of Hill's decision, while expressing their disappointment in more temperate language.
"That's appalling," said David Gower, who was commentating for Sky at the time. "There is no way that's not out, I'm sorry."
Michael Vaughan, another former England captain, agreed, and in Sydney the former Australia bowler Geoff Lawson was infuriated by Bell's refusal to walk, much as he had been when Stuart Broad stood his ground at Trent Bridge.
"Bell joins Broad in non-walk of shame," raged Lawson. "Apalling umpiring precipitated by Bell rorting the system How could anyoine justify Bell's actions? Are England players taught to behave like this? Can't believe TV or radio commentators have condemned descision but not Bell's behaviour."
But Peter Siddle, who was sent to face the media by Australia as a representative of their hard-working bowlers, had no such complaints, revealing that it was Smith who had referred the decision to the third umpire.
"Steve wasn't quite sure so as anyone does you leave it to the umpires," he said. "It went upstairs and it's not out. For us the replay out on the field wasn't too obvious. So be it."
Joe Root, who was at the non-striker's end, rated his second Test century as even more satisfying than the first on his home county ground of Headingley in May, mainly because it contained plenty of other firsts to be going on with.
His first Test century as an opener, his first against Australia, and his first at Lord's, also made him the youngest England batsman to score an Ashes century at Lord's and surely the first to receive regular abuse throughout his innings from his younger brother, Billy, who was England's 12th man and later shared a handshake and a hug on the outfield.
"He was telling me how slowly I was batting, how he'd be smashing it to all parts, just winding me up," said Root, joking that his brother's sledging had been "nastier" than anything offered by the Australians, among whom Shane Watson seemed to be especially vocal.
He also confirmed that Australia's coach, Darren Lehmann, had played a part in his development, after spending a winter at Lehmann's academy in Adelaide. "I'm really grateful for the opportunity I had over there," Root said. "That did set me up."
Root said he was "very relaxed" about whether he will be given the opportunity to complete a double century by his captain, Alastair Cook. "That's down to Cooky, and he's not said anything to me," said the 22-year-old. "I just want to play my part in making sure that we go 2-0 up. They bowled well and made it tough for us so we had to really battle through that and grind them down, then reap the rewards later in the day. The best thing now is we're in a good position to hopefully set ourselves up for a win."
Kevin Pietersen will not take to the field for the rest of the Test after a scan showed he has a left calf strain. He will continue to be monitored and will be assessed again before the third Test at Old Trafford starting on Thursday 1 August.

England Leads by 264 Runs After Second Day of Ashes Cricket Test

England leads Australia by 264 runs at the end of the second day of the second Ashes Test, after bowling out the visitors for 128 at Lord’s Cricket Ground.
England took a 233-run lead into its second innings in London. Peter Siddle took 3-4 to give Australia hope. He bowled England captain Alastair Cook and Jonathan Trott, while Kevin Pietersen was caught by Chris Rogers to reduce England to 31-3.
“The plan for us is to score as many as possible tomorrow and then bowl at them for two days,” England bowler Graeme Swann, who took 5-44, said in televised comments.
Australian opening batsman Shane Watson was top scorer after being trapped leg-before-wicket on 30 by Tim Bresnan just before lunch. Captain Michael Clarke was caught lbw by Stuart Broad, and Swann led the England attack.
England raced through the Australian batting lineup after Watson’s dismissal, with Clarke the only other batsman to reach more than 20. Australia lost its last nine wickets for 86 runs. England chose to start its second innings instead of enforcing the follow on.
Swann and Broad combined for 48 runs in England’s first innings to help boost the hosts to 361 all out. Broad was caught on 33 off the bowling of James Pattinson, leaving Swann unbeaten on 28. Australia’s Ryan Harris took 5-72, including the wicket of Bresnan on the opening ball of the second day. Bresnan was out for 7.

Aggressive Ending

“We lost those couple of wickets and we talked about getting as many runs as possible,” Swann said. “When Stuart and I got together and we decided to take each other on.”
England started the day at 289-7 after Ian Bell’s third straight Ashes century yesterday helped the home team recover from the loss of three early wickets on day one.
Part-time spin bowler Steven Smith dismissed Bell for 109 and also removed Jonny Bairstow and Matt Prior in the final session to tip the momentum back Australia’s way as England slipped from 271-4.
England, which leads the best-of-five contest 1-0, had slumped to 28-3 in the first six overs of play after winning the toss before Bell led a recovery with partnerships of 99 with Jonathan Trott and 144 with Bairstow, who scored 67.
The Ashes started when Australia beat England, its former colonial ruler, at the Oval in London in 1882. To symbolize the “death” of English cricket, the Sporting Times printed a mock obituary. A wooden bail from the match stumps was burnt, its ashes were taken to Australia and a replica of the 4-inch clay urn now goes to the victor of the series.

What can SA learn from Australian cricket’s fall from grace?

AUSTRALIAN cricket has made for an interesting spectacle lately. A long period of unhappiness culminated last week in the sacking of their coach, South African Mickey Arthur, weeks before the next Ashes series. Rarely has Australia cricket been forced to make such drastic decisions on the hoof. For decades it has been a model of unity, its selectors, players and administrators working in unison, as it churned out record after record and result after result. What has changed?
Well, the results changed. An era ended — one dominated by some of cricket’s all-time greats. And as Shane Warne, Glenn McGrath, Ricky Ponting, Adam Gilchrist and Matthew Hayden all hung up their boots, so Australian cricket slowly relinquished its vice-like grip on the top position in world cricket.
The remarkable thing about the past two decades is not the fact that Australia produced a single generation of geniuses, but that it produced two — back to back. The Waugh brothers, Michael Slater, Mark Taylor, David Boon, Ian Healy ... these people, although perhaps just a fraction below the statistical greatness of the players who defined the Ponting era, laid the basis for what followed. They elevated Australia to the top.
One generation seamlessly merged into another and the result was 20 years of brutal and peerless cricket. Success breeds success, they say, and so it was with Australia. It is remarkable how often good results on the pitch make for a generally good working relationship between administrators and players.
And so, while Australia crushed all in front of them, so the processes and structures that supported the team flourished. The Australian Cricket Academy, responsible for so many modern Australian greats, was touted internationally as a model of success and replicated elsewhere. Selectors, flush with enough talent to field two Test teams, hardly ever put a foot wrong. Young talent, which had to perform feats of greatness just to be considered, could be gently nurtured into national cricket, the fear of failure diluted by the strength of the team’s core players. And coaches stayed on for years; even when internal conflict emerged, it could be endured on the grounds that, well, Australia never lost.
It was a far cry from the current crisis: player dissent, the academy’s effectiveness being questioned (as it appears no new generation of greats is being produced), and selectors at each other’s throats and routinely chopped and changed. An injury is doubly problematic, for it exposes Australian cricket’s lack of depth rather than serving as an opportunity to advertise its strength, and no coach is secure in the position as the team’s results plummet.
And, in the background, a national horde of fanatical supporters, grown fat on success and demanding nothing else, constantly baying for blood.
It is going to be a long haul to turn this ship around.
There are many lessons here for South African cricket. We have risen to the top through hard graft, not the chance production of an unrivalled generation of greats. True, we now have many greats, and others who, through hard work, have become great. But getting to the top was never easy. They did not inherit the title "world’s best" as Ponting’s generation did. They had to work at it for years.
With that success, much of the ugliness that defined our national cricket administration in the past has vanished, or so it would appear. No public spats about transformation. No public outrage at poor selection. And our coach enjoys a reputation on a par with that of the team — he has even been able to implement a succession plan at his own discretion. When was the last time that happened? Normally a coach fails, or falls out with the players or administrators, and is replaced in a far more brutal fashion.
Success brings with it a whole range of benefits, of which harmony would seem to the chief advantage.
For anyone wanting evidence that divides still exist, you need do no more than cast your eye away from the national set-up and towards the provinces. Gauteng cricket, for example, could not be in a greater state of self-imposed chaos if it tried.
The question, then, is what sort of cracks in South African cricket have been filled by success and what is being done to address them now, so that when our reign at the top inevitably draws to a close they do not fracture into public chasms. Because they are all waiting for an opportunity to manifest, and nothing makes real unarticulated unhappiness more quickly than failure.
Mark Boucher has been forced to retire early. In years to come, Graeme Smith and Jacques Kallis will follow suit. Will South Africa produce another generation of greats, as Australia did and for 10 years consolidated its position at the top? Or is this team a one-off?
These are questions all worthy of careful consideration by the cricketing powers that be. If Australian cricket can teach us anything, it is that success generates unity and risks complacency. It is not easy to plan for uncertainty, but unless you do, the future will define you, not vice versa.
Perhaps the time has come for Cricket South Africa to set out a long-term set of goals or, if it has them already, to explain these to the public. What is our plan to maintain our standard and what is being do to overcome those issues we seem happy to have put to rest while we indulge our current status? When the end comes, will we revert to type or has our success changed us in a meaningful way?

Cricket (What Else?) in Silicon Valley on July 4 Holiday

What could be more American on the Fourth of July that apple pie and... cricket?

Well, that's what more than 120 cricketers are doing this long July 4 weekend in Silicon Valley, in an annual tournament hosted by the Northern California Cricket Association that starts Thursday.

While cricket is a game started by the Brits (ironically) and wildly popular in South Asia, the polite, complicated game is actually the precusor to baseball. Which is indeed an American sport. And it's beloved by many Indo-American and Pakistani Americans who now call the Bay Area home.

"It's going to be a lot of fun," said Hemant Buch, one of the South Bay's premier cricket advocates and the founder of a youth cricket academy. He added that his colleagues chose the day, not specifically because of Independence Day, but the long weekend provides ample time for players to travel and enjoy the game.

There are 12 teams competing in the event on various cricket "pitches," or fields, in Santa Clara and San Jose. Each team of about 11 players paid $2,000 to participate and the winning team will earn $20,000, Buch said.

Most of the players are from the Bay Area, but there is one team from Arizona and another team representing the Southern California Cricket Assocation based in Van Nuys. There's also a handful of international players from the West Indies and India.

"All of us growing up played basketball, but we grew up in countries like India, and that's where we developed a passion for cricket," said Santa Clara cricketer Saami Siddiqui, a recent UC-Berkeley grad.

Cricket has long been gaining ground in the Bay Area. Buch's association and others have been pushing for permanent cricket pitches that now exist in various cities such as Cupertino, Santa Clara, Fremont, San Jose and Dublin.

While cricket gave birth to baseball, the game is much longer and plays by different rules.

A field is really an oval-shaped 22-yard long pitch.  Each team takes it in turn to bat, in which they attempt to accumulate as many runs as possible, while the other team fields, attempting to prevent the batting team scoring runs. Once 10 batsmen from the batting side have been dismissed, the team is said to be "all out" and the two teams change roles. The games can take hours, if not days.

There is also a movement to make cricket an Olympic sport. If this tournament is any indication, America would have a strong team.

Cricket crackdown on fans who pass information to bookmakers

Telegraph Sport has learnt that nine spectators have been ejected from at least five grounds this season at county and international matches under suspicion of working for bookies in India. Last year it was 12 but with the county Twenty20 season only just in full swing the number is already close to matching that.

ECB anti-corruption officers are policing matches live on Sky which are beamed into India. “The reason we are concerned is because of the threat these people pose to the game as a whole,” said an ECB spokesman. “They are agents for illegal bookies in the subcontinent and if they could get access to a player or official they would approach them with only one thing in mind. Anyone talking to them and mentioning the state of the pitch or selection for example would be breaching the anti-corruption code so we are protecting the clubs and players. It is one part of making sure matches are as safe as possible.”

The agents for the bookies are often communicating with India via hidden microphones or smart-phone messaging systems. They are passing on data such as fours and wickets using a coded message system. Matches shown in India are often on a 15-second time lag, which means live information from inside the ground can help a bookie fix the odds.

The ECB is not concerned about punters using laptops to bet on legal gambling sites in this country, a system known as court-siding.

This season suspected agents for bookies have been thrown out of matches in Durham, Cardiff, Trent Bridge, Edgbaston and Northampton. Officers threw one fan out of the Champions Trophy match between South Africa and India at Cardiff and another was intercepted at Durham’s Riverside Ground at a match between Durham and Hampshire on June 22 after posing as a Sky Sports employee. He has subsequently been banned from all county grounds in England.

Two men were thrown out of Northamptonshire’s televised Twenty20 match against Gloucestershire at Wantage Road on Friday and one man was questioned by West Midlands police at Edgbaston during Warwickshire’s YB40 match against Nottinghamshire in May on suspicion of deception after officers spotted him using multiple phones to pass on information to India. He was released without charge. Fans with laptops were ejected from Trent Bridge during Nottinghamshire’s YB40 match against Kent this season.

Senior sources have told Telegraph Sport anti-corruption officers believe gangs in India pay students to sit at matches in England to relay the live information back to the subcontinent.

Vettori unavailable for NZ Cricket contract

Daniel Vettori has made himself unavailable for a New Zealand Cricket contract.
The 34-year-old today announced he has chosen to make himself unavailable for both an NZC retainer and a Northern Districts one for the 2013-2014 season.
New Zealand's second highest test wicket taker  recently had surgery on his Achilles and will require between three and six months rehabilitation before he knows if he'll be in a position to return to full fitness. 
An NZC statement said after his recovery Vettori would make a decision on his playing future.
The statement said Vettori though it ''inappropriate to take a retainer contract''.
"I am very focussed on my recovery from my recent surgery and will be working hard to get back onto the playing field over the next six-month period," Vettori said.
"However, I feel that with my present injury situation it would be wrong for me to take a retainer contract. Given the time I'll need to spend out of the game with my recovery, and the level of uncertainty about when I may play again, it doesn't feel right that I take up a retainer contract this year.
"I will now focus on my rehabilitation in the coming months, with the overall goal of making a return to the cricket field during the summer months. Hopefully it goes well.''
NZC boss David White said: "In the ICC Champions Trophy Dan showed the immense value that he still brings to the Black Caps side.
"Unfortunately Dan has indicated he's in a position where he feels uncomfortable taking a contract this season, as he builds towards making a return to the cricket field. As always, Dan has made his decision in the best interests of New Zealand Cricket and we appreciate his honesty and up-front approach.
"There's no doubting Dan's hunger to continue competing, and we hope to see him back playing for the Black Caps again when the time is right."
Vettori is to front a press conference at 1pm today in Auckland.

Sports Institute funding revives Hong Kong's cricket hopes

Hong Kong's bid to qualify for two major International Cricket Council tournaments over the next six months has received a major boost with 10 of its top players receiving government funding from the Hong Kong Sports Institute which has allocated more than HK$2.5 million for this financial year.
Half of the senior national pool announced yesterday for the ICC World Twenty20 qualifiers in November as well as the ICC World Cup (50 overs) qualifiers in January have been given full-time as well as part-time funding grants until April 2014.
Hong Kong captain Jamie Atkinson is among eight players who receive a full-time monthly grant of HK$9,000. The others are vice-captain Waqas Barkat, Irfan Ahmed, Nadeem Ahmed, Nizakat Khan, Babar Hayat, Aizaz Khan and Daljeet Singh. Two others, Roy Lamsam and Kinchit Shah are on part-time grants of HK$3,500 per month. In addition, the Hong Kong Cricket Association has also received HK$1.5 million for its senior men's and women's teams to facilitate training and competitive schedules.
"This support is absolutely fantastic," said Hong Kong head coach Charlie Burke. "The Sports Institute has noticed our achievements in qualifying for major global tournaments and through the work of the association we were able to get this elite B status.
"In addition to the monthly grants which is really helpful, the players will also benefit and gain a lot from the related support and facilities at the HKSI, mainly through usage of the gym and its strength and conditioning staff, the physio and nutrition care, all of which will allow them to focus on cricket," Burke added.
With cricket being part of the Asian Games - the Twenty20 version became a medal sport for the first time at the 2010 Games in Guangzhou and will continue to be at next year's event in Incheon, South Korea - the Sports Institute has thrown its weight behind the game.
Atkinson, who is playing club cricket in England, welcomed the support and said it would allow the players to focus on strength-conditioning and fitness which has become a crucial aspect of the modern game.
"The HKSI grant is hugely helpful. It allows us to concentrate solely on cricket and it gives the players access to high quality facilities," Atkinson said.
"The gym in particular is very beneficial as the players can use the facilities and have personal trainers. With professional cricketers getting physically stronger these days, it helps us to compete more in all departments," he added.
Like Atkinson, a number of the senior players have been embedded in competitive leagues overseas to gain maximum playing experience at a high level.
When the players return after summer they will train at the HKSI in the run-up to their first assignment, the ICC World Twenty20 qualifiers in the United Arab Emirates in November. The 50-over World Cup qualifiers are in New Zealand.
"Obviously we have got to start showing results now that we are in the Sports Institute and we have got to continue to excel and grow," Burke said. "We have a realistic chance of playing in a World Cup [Twenty20] for the first time and this support will help us."

Cricket, the sport, intends to make a big noise in Silicon Valley on Fourth of July

SANTA CLARA -- The Fourth of July is the all-American holiday where revelers enjoy barbecues, parades, fireworks and, of course, the sport of ... cricket?

Well, not quite. But if Sunil Kumar has his way, Bay Area residents will take some time this week to sample the international game of cricket, which has similarities to baseball, right down to hitters (batsmen) trying to score runs off pitchers (bowlers).
The Northern California Cricket Association is hosting a four-day, national-level tournament starting Thursday in Santa Clara and San Jose that is expected to draw some of the best "cricketers" from around the country. Kumar is hoping it also will spark interest among sports-crazy Americans who might only

A batsman on the Davis cricket team faces off against the Santa Clara Aces during a Northern California Cricket Association League matchup Sunday afternoon, June 30, 2013 in Santa Clara, Calif. (Karl Mondon/Bay Area News Group).

think cricket refers to a noisy insect."Our goal is to take the sport to the larger audience," said Kumar, 47, who originally is from India and heads the Bay Area organization. "We just don't want a bunch of immigrants out here playing. That's a good start, for sure. But we'll see a real surge in the game when we capture the attention of the local community."
In the cultural melting pot that is Silicon Valley, there's a thriving, under-the-radar cricket community with more than 600 members -- making it one of the hotbeds for the sport in the U.S.
Teams come to Bay Area sites for weekly league play from as far away as Davis and Fresno.
The high-tech industry attracts the best and brightest from around the globe, and

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many of them bring a passion for the centuries-old bat-and-ball sport that is wildly popular in countries such as India, Pakistan, England and South Africa."At our games you'll find heads of marketing for technical companies," Kumar said. "We have people from Google, Yahoo, Cisco, YouTube, you name it."

Made faster

But while the game has lots of action and speed, with thrown balls reaching 90 miles an hour, it's head-scratching rules, intricacies and methodical pace can leave Americans puzzled. There's a reason why the popular image of cricket is gentlemanly competitors attired in all-white uniforms playing a game that literally can go on for days.

While Kumar cops to the good sportsmanship aspects, he argues that the creation of a shorter format condenses contests to take about as long as a typical baseball game. He is confident the game would appeal to Bay Area residents weaned on the Giants and A's -- if they would give it a chance.
"It really suits the modern American audience," he said. "It's a high-energy, high-octane, quick game. The ball is flying and being hit all over the park."
Krishneal Goel is someone who caught the cricket bug. Although his parents are from India, the 19-year-old Goel was born and raised in the U.S., graduated from Capuchino High School in San Bruno and attends Cal State East Bay in Hayward.
He grew up a die-hard basketball fan and didn't pick up a cricket bat until age 13 after watching one of his father's matches. Today, Goel has become so adept at the game that instead of playing in this week's tourney, he will be the vice captain of the U.S. under-19 national team that's in Canada trying to qualify for next year's World Cup competition.
"I'm as American as you can get, and I just didn't have any interest in the game," said Goel, wearing a Los Angeles Lakers cap. "But when I saw kids my age playing, I decided to try. Now I hear a lot from my friends, 'You play cricket? That must me hard.' But really, it's a pretty easy game to learn because it's basically like baseball."

Uptick in interest

In fact, cricket was played in the U.S. long before baseball evolved into America's national pastime.

Without delving too deeply into the rules: Teams of 11 players play on a large, oval-shaped field with no foul territory, taking turns fielding and batting. Fielders don't wear gloves and batsmen try to hit the baseball-size ball after it bounces off the ground with a flat-sided, 2.8-pound bat.
"I'm definitely sensing some increased interest from Americans," said Shiva Vashishat, 23, of San Jose, who originally is from India but has played on a U.S. national team. "So it's definitely growing. It's going to be a slow process, but gradually more people are finding out that this is a great game. Tournaments like this help build interest."
Twelve teams, including ones from North Carolina and Arizona, are playing at two sites in Santa Clara and San Jose. Kumar is throwing out the welcome mat for spectators -- attendance is free -- with the idea that sports-minded men, women and kids might get curious enough to sample the game themselves. The goal, beyond expanding the sport's toehold in the U.S., is social integration.
"If you look out at a cricket match, it's a great example of unity and diversity," Kumar said. "For me, it's not just sport. It's a way for people to meet and learn about one another. This can be just another form of glue for binding the various cultures together."

Cricket tournament

What: Northern California Cricket Association T20 Open Tournament.

Who: Twelve teams featuring some of the best cricketers from around the country.

When: July 4-7. Games begin Thursday morning and the title match will be Sunday afternoon.

Where: 1840 Benton St., Santa Clara; and 5035 Edenview Drive, San Jose.

'Pakistan cricket at lowest point' - Sethi

The Pakistan Cricket Board's interim chairman Najam Sethi has said cricket in the country has reached its lowest point because of the recent string of defeats and the various controversies that have plagued it recently.

Pakistan lost all their three matches in the Champions Trophy last month, four of its cricketers have been banned on spot-fixing charges, teams have been refusing to tour Pakistan since the terrorist attack on the Sri Lankan team in 2009, one of its international umpires - Nadeem Ghauri - has been banned on corruption charges and board president Zaka Ashraf has been suspended by the Islamabad High Court on the grounds of a "dubious" election.

"Our cricket has reached the lowest ground," Sethi said. "We are not winning matches. We are facing allegations of cheating with our players and an umpire being banned, and teams are refusing to tour, so we need to address all that."

Pakistan last hosted a series in March 2009, when a terrorist attack cut the Test series against Sri Lanka short. All Full Member nations have refused to tour the country since then on security grounds. However, Sethi said he is in talks with a few cricket boards and the ICC, and is hopeful of a positive result.

"Every country needs assurances on security, and until and unless we give them those they will not tour," he said. "I have talked to the England and West Indies boards regarding [them] sending unofficial teams, so that we can make a beginning. I have assured the ICC and other countries that a new government has taken over and Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif is determined to root out terrorism. Based on that they agreed to review our situation, provided things really improve.

"The maximum we can do is ask the ICC to review [the situation] after one year, but they demand assurances and demonstrable progress."

Four Test players - Salman Butt, Mohammad Asif, Mohammad Amir and Danish Kaneria - are currently serving bans for their involvement in spot-fixing. Salman Butt apologised and confessed publicly recently, and a five-member ICC sub-committee has been formed to look into relaxing certain conditions of the five-year ban imposed on Amir. The committee was formed after the PCB had requested the ICC to consider a few concessions for the young, left-arm fast bowler. Sethi is hopeful that his ban will be relaxed.

"I have discussed Amir's ban with my colleagues in the PCB and we will soon hire a foreign lawyer in the UK to look at ways to get at least 20% relief for Amir," Sethi said. "I stressed that the international community needed to review his case and I am hopeful that Amir will get the relaxation."

Afridi & Umar re-called for the tour of West Indies

LAHORE, July 3 (APP): All rounder Shahid Afridi and wicket keeper batsman Umar Akmal were re-called to Pakistan’s tour of West Indies while out of form all rounder Shoaib Malik, keeper Kamran Akmal and flopped opener Imran Farhat were axed. “It is the best available combination which is capable for attaining desired results in the tour of Caribbean’s in which the team will play five one day international and two T20 games,”said chief selector, Iqbal Qasim, at a news conference here on Wednesday. Also present were Pak one day captain Misbah ul Haq and T20 skipper, Muhammad Hafeez and coach Dave Whatmore .The tour will start from July 14.

Following are the squads, ODI squad: Misbah-ul-Haq (capt), Nasir Jamshed,Ahmed Shehzad, Mohammad Hafeez, Asad Shafiq, Umar Akmal (wk), Shahid Afridi,Saeed Ajmal, Wahab Riaz, Junaid Khan, Mohammad Irfan, Asad Ali, Umar Amin,Mohammad Rizwan (wk), Abdur Rehman, Haris Sohail.T20 squad: Mohammad Hafeez (capt), Nasir Jamshed, Ahmed Shehzad, Haris Sohail,Umar Akmal (wk), Hammad Azam, Shahid Afridi, Saeed Ajmal, Sohail Tanvir, WahabRiaz, Mohammad Irfan, Asad Ali, Umar Amin, Zulfiqar Babar, Junaid KhanThe chief selector said the selection was made after consulting team
management before taking into consideration the recent performance of the playersin the Champions Trophy and in the tour of South Africa.
“Changes were imperative after a dismal show of our team in the Championstrophy and we are confident that the re-called players will justify their inclusion,”he asserted.
He said that Afridi was an ultimate choice for T20 format due to hisfitness and he was also given consideration for one day matches as the wicketsin West Indies are double-paced where he can put up all round with bat and ball.
He took a volley of questions on the selection of Afridi in a cool manner sayingthat he (Afridi) can change the fate of the game with his explosive battingbesides being a good bowler. “I think he can be a useful force to the team.”
Pak one day squad also has the youthful, uncapped 21-year-oldwicketkeeper Mohammad Rizwan who is considered a back up   of Akmal who is thefirst choice of the selectors to stand behind the stumps.
Opening batsman Ahmed Shehzad also got back his place in the side andthis time lady luck smiled on him as he was named in both the squads.
Ahmed a talented opener has a history of indiscipline on and off the field whichcontributed to his exclusion in the past from all formats of the game.
“We have included Ahmed based on his performance and we hope that thistime he will be a changed person while exhibiting good discipline during thetour,”he added.
Ibqal Qasim justified the inclusion of 34 year old  Zulfiqar Babar, whomade his way to the T20 squad after one decade long efforts and performance atdomestic level saying “Those who are performing at domestic level stand a fairchance of selection.”
The chief selector said all the stake holders (selection committee,captain and the team management) will accept the responsibility of victory ordefeat of the team in the tour of West Indies as they all are involved in it sselection.

Tri-series: India vs Sri Lanka- Statistical highlights

Upul Tharanga has got his first Man of the Match award against India - his eleventh in ODIs.

• Tharanga`s superb unbeaten 174 off 159 balls is his best ever score in ODIs, surpassing the 133 vs Zimbabwe at Pallekele on March 10, 2011.

• Tharanga is the ninth Sri Lankan player and the 64th overall to complete 5,000 runs or more in ODIs - 5153 at an average of 34.81 in 164 matches.

• Tharanga`s feat of reaching 5000 in 157 innings is the second fastest by a Sri Lankan player in ODIs.

• Marvan Atapattu took 152 innings to achieve the feat.

• Tharanga`s 13th century in ODIs is his second vs India.

• Tharanga`s above innings is the second highest by a Sri Lankan batsman against India in ODIs, next only to the 189 off 161 balls by Sanath Jayasuriya at Sharjah on October 29, 2000.

• Tharanga`s knock is the highest by any player in ODIs in the Caribbean, eclipsing Imran Nazir`s 160 off 121 balls vs Zimbabwe at Kingston on March 21, 2007.

• Ravindra Jadeja (49 not out off 62 balls) has posted his highest score in the Caribbean in ODIs.

• Rangana Herath (3/37) has recorded his best bowling figures vs India in ODIs. The said performance is his best in eight ODIs in 2013.
• Sri Lanka have defeated India in both the games played in the West Indies - by 69 runs at Port of Spain on March 23, 2007 and by 161 runs at Kingston on July 2, 2013.

• Sri Lanka`s convincing win by 161 runs is their second largest in terms of runs against India in ODIs, next only to a 245-run win at Sharjah on October 29, 2000.

• India have recorded their biggest defeat in terms of runs when they sent the opponents into bat.

• Sri Lanka (348 for one) have posted their second highest total against India in ODIs - the highest is 411 for eight at Rajkot on December 15, 2009.

• Sri Lanka`s above score is their highest in ODIs in the Caribbean.

• The said score is the second highest by any team at Kingston next only to Pakistan`s 349 vs Zimbabwe on March 21, 2007.

• Sri Lanka have provided the first instance that a side completed their innings while batting first, losing just one wicket in an ODI.

• The four highest individual innings by Sri Lankan players have been recorded against India in ODIs.

• Ravichandran Ashwin`s figures of 10-0-66-1 are his most expensive on foreign soil in ODIs.

• Shami Ahmed (10-0-68-0) has recorded his worst bowling figures in ODIs.

• Mahela Jayawardene is the first Sri Lankan batsman to record three consecutive innings of fifty-plus at Sabina Park - 115 not out vs New Zealand on April 24, 2007; 52 vs West Indies on June 28, 2013 and 107 vs India on July 2, 2013.
• Jayawardene enjoys superb batting record in the West Indies, totalling 820 runs at an average of 51.25 in 19 ODIs, including two hundreds and six fifties.

• Jayawardene`s third century vs India is his 16th in ODIs.

• Both Sri Lankan openers have posted hundreds for the first time vs India and the seventh time in ODIs - the most for a side.

• Tharanga and Jayawardene were involved in a partnership of 213 - Sri Lanka`s highest for the first wicket vs India in ODIs, eclipsing the 188 between Dilshan and Tharanga at Rajkot on December 15, 2009. The said stand is Sri Lanka`s first century stand for the first wicket against India outside the subcontinent in ODIs.

• Overall, nine double century stands have been recorded for the first wicket for Sri Lanka in ODIs - the highest being 286 between Jayasuriya and Tharanga vs England at Leeds on July 1, 2006.

• Tharanga has set a record by participating in seven partnerships of 200 or more in ODIs (out of nine double century stands for the opening wicket for Sri Lanka). Ricky Ponting remains the only other batsman to participate in seven stands of 200 or more in ODIs.

• The match-winning 213-run partnership is the highest for any wicket in the West Indies in ODIs, bettering the 204 for the fourth wicket between Michael Clarke and Brad Hodge for Australia vs Netherlands at Basseterre on March 18, 2007.

• Tharanga and Jayawardene have posted three partnerships of 200-plus for the first wicket - 202 vs Pakistan at Dambulla on August 3, 2009; 215 vs Bangladesh at Dhaka on January 8, 2010 and 213 vs India at Kingston on July 2, 2013. They became the only Sri Lankan opening pair to record an average of 100-plus in ODIs, aggregating 734 runs in just six innings at an average of 122.33. (minimum qualification: 500).

• For the fourth time, century stands for the first and second wicket have been recorded for Sri Lanka in ODIs.